Notes: Episode 163, "Labyrinth of Mirrors! Chibi-Moon Captured" (Or, "The one with all the mirrors.")

Episode 163

"It's done."

Charis hopped in the air and cheered. "Yeah! You showed her, Serenity!"

Serenity had thought she couldn't feel any more pleased with herself, but praise from her Senshi never failed to make her pride swell. It was a good day. The battle – and it hadn't really been a battle, for the girl was so far below her – took only a few minutes. The imprisonment had taken longer, but permanent magic tended to be complex and time consuming, and she wanted to get it right. Zoe might think her impetuous, but she WAS Queen now, and took her responsibilities seriously.

That didn't mean she couldn't also enjoy them.

Of course that wasn't what Zoe's crossed arms and pursed lips said.

Charis nudged her friend with her shoulder and winked at Serenity. "Zoe is still upset about you using the Golden Crystal."

Zoe's glare at her teammate was piercing, but when she turned back to Serenity, her eyes softened. Not angry, then, but disappointed. "I do wish you hadn't."

Serenity was tempted to give in to the dramatic sigh she felt rising, but remembered she was working on her patience. She still huffed a little though; she wasn't a saint, and honestly, it was frustrating how Zoe refused to see how perfect it was!

"I respect that you disagree," she said magnanimously.

"I don't believe respect is a factor in this situation at all," Zoe replied, her voice sharp and condemning.

As soon as the words were out, her eyes widened and her mouth snapped shut with an audible clack. Serenity flinched involuntarily and felt her good mood draining away, helpless to stop it.

Then, in a blur of motion, Charis had Zoe against the flawless marble walls. Her forearm was pressed to Zoe's throat, and she was leaning with all of her strength. Charis was shorter than Zoe by several inches, but already the other girl was beginning to turn red.

"Respect clearly is NOT a factor," growled Charis. "How dare you?" Now the question was out, it seemed only to fuel Charis's wrath. "How DARE you?" she demanded again, leaning into Zoe so hard it seemed her entire neck had disappeared. Zoe gasped for air, but otherwise didn't move, did nothing to defend herself. "She is your QUEEN."

"Charis."

It was neither a warning nor a plea. Just a name, almost casual, yet it was enough. Charis immediately stepped away, leaving Zoe on shaking legs and clutching at her throat. She stumbled, and would have fallen, but Serenity was there. She supported her Senshi easily, her earlier mood returned in full force.

Leaning down, Serenity caught Zoe's bloodshot eye and smiled. "This girl, this Nefl … Nera …"

"Nehellenia," Charis supplied.

"Nehellenia," Serenity repeated with a grateful nod. "She attacked and consumed her own people. She would have attacked ours." Serenity's burden became lighter as Charis slipped in and bore the weight of her fellow Senshi. Free now, Serenity stood facing them both. "She would have attacked ME. Should I have let her try?"

"Never," Zoe rasped out. Charis nodded in complete agreement.

"She reached for what was never hers to take, and now she has an eternity to think on it." Serenity knew she sounded harsh and cold, but the audacity of her would-be usurper had angered her more than she'd realized.

"I do enjoy dramatic irony," Zoe reluctantly admitted, and Charis barked a laugh. She jostled Zoe and they shared a grin, no trace of the fury and tension between them from minutes before. Back straight, Zoe put her right fist over her heart and bowed at the waist. "I apologize, Serenity. My tongue is ever quicker than my reason."

"Oh, none of that," Serenity said, making a fuss over righting Zoe and batting her hand back down to her side. "You know your council is invaluable to me. One day I may even prove it by listening!"

Her Senshi laughed at that, and Serenity basked in their affection. "Come," she said, looping her arm through both of theirs and leading them further into the palace. "We must find our sisters and celebrate!"

"You're thinking a ball, perhaps?" Zoe wondered, fighting to keep her expression neutral.

Charis cackled. "If Serenity gets up in the morning, she wants to throw a ball!"

They continued to tease her as she put up a token protest. Serenity allowed their camaraderie to smother any lingering anger. This Nehellenia had not lasted long enough to leave a mark on any who mattered, and soon even her memory would fade. Serenity would grant her no more than that.