AN: The next chaper is finally online. We continue where we left right after Methys escorted Serenity back to her quarters…
Previously:
Serenity appeared to be not listening to Luna's ranting at all and only followed her reluctantly back to her quarters, throwing searching looks over her shoulder all the time.
Unbeknownst to her, Methys was still watching her, hidden in a copse of some air root trees. Mumbling to herself in a mixture of worry, resignation and irony, she waited until the blonde woman vanished inside the building. "Don't worry. You will get to know my name soon enough… and I doubt you want to show me any Lunarian sights then." She sighed.
Suddenly, her wristwatch started beeping.
"Oh shit. Natai will skin me alive."
She opened the channel. "You know, I could have sworn you said you would be back asap… Did you take the scenic route to make Krana extra mad? You know, I have to listen to her ranting…" His voice sounded a tad bit unnerved.
"Sorry, Nat. I am on my way, I promise. There was some unexpected incident." She apologized right away, hurrying out of the greenery and taking on the path at rapid speed.
"You know, sometimes being your brother is really a pain in the ass. Hurry, and this time for real, ok?" He complained leniently.
"I'll make it up to you. I promise."
"Yeah… whatever. I don't care whether you encounter a horde of fans pestering you for your autograph or five cats stuck in a tree waiting to be saved. I expect you to cold-shoulder everything and everyone. Got it?"
"As if I would ever let you down for a horde of fans… not that I have any fans…" She retorted confused.
"Oh, I don't know. You should at some point eavesdrop on the aides and waiters. I assure you I really showed enormous restraint in not beating them up straight away."
"Good to know. Anyone good-looking and worth my time?"
He scoffed. "Oh, please. Just imagine mother's face, if you date a waiter."
"That's why I am asking. Maybe, she would finally exclude me from being in line to the throne." She responded cheekily.
"Wishful thinking, Methys… that accounts for wishful thinking."
Methys sighed. "Unfortunately, true."
"How is it going with the Jovians?"
"As you know I am not responsible for them, but so far there were to my knowledge no incidents. Although Atget would probably also remain professional, if they started to tear apart the palace."
"Wait? No complaints about the accommodation, the curriculum, the weather or about the flights? Not even about the welcome drinks? That would be a first." Methys joked.
A static groan was audible. "Still about to happen. The Venusians are next in line at least as per schedule. And you know how they are. Couldn't you have chosen some other party to be responsible for? I mean you are the chief organizer… Now, I have to deal with them in your stead." He lamented.
Methys shrugged. "You said you wanted the beauties. Not my fault if you neglected to consider the attitude. Besides you got the Neptunian delegation. So, don't complain."
"Oh, come on, they were a given. You would never pass on the opportunity to be their personal guide, not that they need one. Michiko already asked for you, as did Uncle Altan and Aunt Galatea."
A fond smile appeared on her face. "I'll great them as soon as possible. Tell them I can't wait to see them. If Michiko is bored, she can already have a look at the shawls and tunics she wanted. They are in my quarters along with the color powders she was so eager to get."
"I'll tell her. She brought sugar algae and Atlesian shrimps and a Deepwater Pearl you apparently explicitly asked her for."
"Really, that's great. Last time we talked, she wasn't sure, whether it would not be too early for the shrimps season wise. And… you can have my share of the sugar algae."
"What?! Why? I know you love them as much as I do."
Methys shrugged not that he could see it. "My compensation for saddling you with my workload."
There was a brief silence. "You do know I complain just for show, don't you?"
"Doesn't matter. I want you…"
"Stop fussing about it. It's not as if you are slacking. You are up since 4:30 am and brooded over the organization of this whole spectacle until past midnight yesterday. You have a good reason why you are not here shaking hands, exchanging pleasantries and whatnot. Just consider this my part in supporting you."
"What did I do to get a brother like you?"
"Yeah, I know. Good looking, hardworking, intelligent and eloquent... You are really lucky. I could be a useless and ugly klutz."
Methys rolled her eyes. "Don't forget modest."
"Yeah, that's a given anyway. You see this time the ladies will line up to dance with me."
"You wouldn't even know what to do with them." Methys jested with a laugh.
There was a small pause before he asked suggestively. "Dancing or otherwise?"
"I meant otherwise, you dummy, not that there should be an 'otherwise' I want to know about."
"Well, for the first time there actually could be an 'otherwise'." He pointed out dubiously.
"Well, in that case, I will cover for you if she is worth it, although I doubt it will be necessary. I have seen you flirting. Calling that a train wreck would be flattering." She jabbed.
"Hey, I just need a bit more practice. I'll use you and Michiko for starters."
"Oh, she will be thrilled."
"I already told her. In fact, she already laughed her ass of listening to some of my romantic advances."
"You do realize that's not a compliment to your skills." She deadpanned.
"Argh, just shut up. It's not as if you would be the master flirt."
"Well, apparently I am at least popular with the aides and the waiters."
"Yeah, and with that pompous assgrabber… what was his name?... Hessington… Harlington?"
Methys sighed miserably. "Hemington. And I crossed him out from the guest list… very early on."
There was a snicker on the other side. "Oh really? What a pity. That guy was hilarious."
Methys made a face. "Yeah, you didn't have to dance with him through three pieces. Very long and slow pieces in fact."
"You looked ready to decapitate the idiot on the spot. We already took bets, when you would hit him in his crown jewels." Natai quipped.
"Yeah, because the both of you took your sweet time to come to my rescue." Methys complained.
"Oh, come on, it was the most entertaining thing that happened this whole evening. Of course, we wanted to savor it."
"Glad, at least some of us were entertained." Methys grumbled.
You could hear the grin out of his voice. "Thoroughly entertained. The best part was when mother noticed him doing the same to Lady Iela. One look was all it took and that coward fled the scene." He laughed out loud at the other end.
Methys just grunted.
"I would have so loved him to try his luck with Sanai. She would have reduced him to minced meat."
Methys face darkened. "Sanai wasn't even at court back then." She responded sourly.
Natai seemed to sense her change of mood. "Yeah, sorry you are right. Not the best topic, is it?" He responded sheepishly.
She scoffed. "No, not really. Listen, we can talk more later. I have to hurry now." Her tone sounded slightly detached, the relaxed and goofy mood they had before, gone.
"Yeah, of course." His response was a bit dampened, as if he knew that her ending their conversation was due to his last comment. It was obvious that he regretted letting it slip. He sighed. "See you soon."
Methys closed the connection and continued on her path. By now, she had left the ponds and lakes behind and followed a path flanked by more of the strange trees. On her right side there was a wall.
At some point she stopped in her track right next to a huge tree with crimson leaves, which resembled a plane tree with its two-colored bark. She looked left and right before she left the path. When she was sure no one was around, she climbed the tree, her movements swift and precise as if she could do it in her sleep. Reaching a height similar to the top of the wall she used one branch to reach the other side only to climb down nimbly. With a last jump she graciously touched the soil, which they could only assume was inside the palace grounds. When she straightened up, she was greeted by the baritone of a man waiting for her.
"You know… typically the unruly princesses break out of the royal palace not into it."
Methys jumped not expecting his presence. Whirling around, she relaxed, when she apparently recognized him. "Ithoran!"
The name stirred something in their memories. Ithoran. That was the name Methys had called Inspector Chen Hattorima in their own time frame. So, this was his Silver Millennium pendant. They had to admit they looked similar at least if you focused on the facial features. This man was younger, albeit still in his mid to late thirties. He had folded his arms in front of his chest. The formal looking robe in silver and aquamarine colors gave him a noble aura. His long dark-blue hair was held in a complicated up do, braided along his skull and held up in the back by a top knot. Only at his left temple he had two single thin braids that were adorned with plenty color marked silver beads. He had a similar wristband to the one Methys had and metal studded boots were visible beneath the hem of the long overcoat that split at his sides.
He waited for her to approach him, a tad bit of impatience showing in his posture.
"That's it? You have nothing more to say than my name?"
"Well, I kinda did break out of the palace beforehand, so I did fit the criteria for a proper princess, didn't I?" She showed a croaked smile.
Ithoran groaned. "That's definitely not what I meant. Do you know how long I have been waiting for you? Natai said, you would show up here. I probably should have asked for more specification as to when." He responded sourly.
"He didn't say anything about that and … I was delayed."
"Oh, that much I noticed."
"You shouldn't have waited for me…. In fact, you shouldn't even have known I was away." She added a tad bit confused.
He raised a brow. "Well, in that case you should have been back half an hour ago already. Then Natai wouldn't have been forced to improvise using you being with me discussing the last details for the conference as excuse for your absence. That wouldn't be believable, if I was seen walking around on the palace grounds on my own, would it? Ergo, I chose to waste my time here, eagerly awaiting your return to escort you back to your appointment with Krana."
Methys inhaled sharply to retort, before she almost seemed to deflate. "Sorry." She admitted ruefully.
Ithoran's stance softened a bit, but he didn't bite back reprimanding her. "If you ask someone to cover for you than at least stick to the plan and don't let others take the fall for you. I thought I at least taught you that common curtesy."
Methys grimaced, but hung her head. "You did. I didn't want to cause you any hassle."
"Don't apologize to me but to Natai. He would never tell you right to your face, because he is your brother and he loves you a great deal, but he had to come up with excuses for you all morning."
"I know. I already told him I would make it up to him. And to you as well. Thank you for not ratting me out."
Ithoran sighed deeply. "I know you don't have it easy right now, therefore I chose to cover for you as well, but as soon as the trial is over these little escapades will cease. You are the crown princess and not a common thief, who has to break into her own palace. The reception starts in three hours and looking at you Krana has a piece of work ahead of her." He just shook his head in resignation.
Methys made a face that told them she considered the scolding unjust. "You know that I don't sneak out because I want to. I need to train. The next trial is in four days right in the middle of this illustrious gathering. I don't have time for this conference and even less for taking the full brunt of organizing it."
Ithoran's brows furrowed. "I know that and I tried to change Queen Anairin's mind and convince her to let someone else oversee the organization. However, she persisted you could use the experience."
Methys responded sourly. "To hell with that subterfuge. You know very well, why mother chose me for that particular task. The opportunity was just too convenient to let it pass."
"I do know her opinion on the matter, yes." He responded stiffly.
Methys' snort sounded displeased. "That doesn't mean she has to sabotage me. The others have time to prepare, to train. It's just not fair that she is loading work onto me until I can barely breathe to keep me from practicing for the 4th trial. If I fail here, it will be the end, and she knows it. That's why she is doing it, not because I am required as chief organizer, but because this is her only way to throw me out of the competition."
Ithoran sighed. "Methys, complaining about it won't change a thing. I don't consider it fair either, that's why I am helping you. All aspirants should have the same chance and you won't have that, when the opportunity to train is taken from you. The amount of effort you already put into the trials tells me you are dead serious with it and I know when you have set your mind onto something, you will pull through with it, no matter what your mother or anyone else says."
Methys huffed in a way that sounded utterly frustrated and to a lesser part even worried. "I might want to, but the times for taking the trials on the light shoulder are over. Out of more than 60 aspirants there are only seven left and they are good. Sanai is only two points behind me. I don't have time for shaking the hands of pompous delegates and listening to their petty complaints about the color of the tablecloths all day long. If I want to succeed Atget in being the Mercurian Senshi, now is the worst time to slacken in my efforts."
"You already passed three trials and the fourth is not designed to reduce the number of aspirants further. You will master this one as well. I am sure of it. And don't worry too much about Sanai. She might be good, but you are better. I have trained you for the past twelve years. I should know. I have faith in you, Methys."
There was a small pause.
"I… Thank you." She added a respectful half bow. "I appreciate your support, Grandmaster."
He grumbled some incoherent words apparently not liking her reverent gesture. "Come on, now. We don't have all day. In fact, Krana is already expecting you at your quarters."
"I at least have time for a shower, haven't I?" She asked somewhat shell-shocked.
Ithoran raised a derisive brow. "Depends whether you wanna turn smelling like a fish market with frog spawn in your hair into a new fashion trend. The Venusians might buy it." He responded dryly.
A small smile tore at Methys' lips. "Good grief, at least I have not given them to you for guiding."
"I had them last time and believe me they left a lasting impression. I don't need to repeat that experience."
"Then I might owe Natai another one."
"Might serve him a lesson not to pine for the prettiest ones."
Methys raised a brow. "He is 15. What do you expect?"
"After having to babysit you in that age, I expect not much. It can only get better." He jested good-heartedly.
"Hey, I did not pine after any boys."
"No, they made a wide berth around you, because you challenged every single one for a duel when you were barely ten."
"I had to test my skills." Methys defended herself.
"You had your brother for that. You frightened the shit out of those snotty court boys, who might have read all about how to handle a sword in a theoretical handbook, but forgot that the pointy end can actually hurt even if it wasn't a real blade."
"Some of them weren't too bad."
"In what? You used wooden sticks and made all kind of fighting noises for the effect." He retorted dryly.
"I was ten! And you didn't allow me to use real swords for training."
"And that's probably the only reason why everyone involved still has all of their limbs." He deadpanned.
Methys pouted. "Oh, come on, I wasn't that bad, even at the age of ten."
"No, you weren't. Unfortunately, you also wanted everyone to know. A cocky pipsqueak, if I have ever seen one. I still remember you challenging one of the Glacials, and finally the roles were reversed and the snotty overconfident princess got her ass handed to her. You stood no chance against him and he took it more than easy on you."
"No, not at the beginning and not even at the age of 15. However, I always dreamt about being as good as them. Thanks to your tutelage I am now on par with most of them, though."
Ithoran gauged her thoroughly before adding. "You are more than that. You qualified for the position of Senshi and are now one of the seven remaining aspirants applying for the title of the best fighter this planet has to offer. Show some pride in achieving that already, Methys. It's not always only the first place that counts. You should know that."
Her expression darkened. "In this case it is."
"If that's what you got out of my teachings, then I must have done something severely wrong."
"Listen, I get your point and I understand your reasoning. Becoming proficient in something is always a journey and it's the path that matters, the things you learn about yourself on the way and the people who accompany your growth and setbacks. It's coming to the conclusion that you will never finish learning and that there will always be someone with another lesson for you. Et cetera… et cetera. I have not forgotten those credos and I value their wisdom. However,… in this particular case the end matters more than anything."
"You pressure yourself too much. Being Senshi is more than just raw skills and skills alone also not define who you are."
Methys scoffed weakly. "I am the Crown Princess, Ithoran, the first royal who has ever taken part in the competition for the Senshi title in … forever. You know what they say about us. I am… I am expected to come out on top and win this. The people in the streets are already celebrating me as if I already have, although I am only first in the ranking for now with barely a lead. If I win this, it won't be much of an achievement. The people will just say it was bound to happen anyway and no one will value the effort, I put into it. I am considered to be a genius after all. Everything should come easily to me. We are always expected to succeed in whatever we do and when we do it's certainly not our hard work that is appreciated, but just our talent that is scorned or envied. I have learned to live with that. I have come to accept that most people don't see that talent alone gets you nowhere. However,… if I lose, then the scandal is preprogrammed."
"Are you afraid of the uproar it might cause or about the concept of facing someone better."
"I am not used to losing and so is no one else. I would prefer not to start now." She admitted morosely.
"Losing isn't necessarily something bad. Your losses can teach you way more than your wins ever could. And you lost against your brother plenty of times. He has always been on par with you."
"He is not competing and with the both of us it is always playful banter. It's games to pass the time or bets at best. Just harmless fun between us with no hard feelings and nothing on the line. But now, the whole planet is watching me and they expect their expectations to be fulfilled."
"I wasn't aware you are the type for stage fright."
Methys' gaze darted to the floor and she had started fidgeting. "I wasn't, either. It's just … I am not so sure anymore, whether I can do this. Whether I truly meet all the requirements to succeed. At the same time, I know I have to. This is a once in your lifetime opportunity. I can't wait until I feel entirely ready. Atget is retiring and the next Senshi will embody that function for millennia to come. If I screw up now, then that's it and given the closeness to the royal family, whoever will get that title in my stead will be around me my entire life… It would be a failure; I would have to face on a daily basis." She admitted hesitantly.
Ithoran's brows furrowed thoughtfully. "You think it's going to be Sanai. You think she would bask in her win, rubbing it in constantly."
Methys snorted. "Have you watched her? Of course she would. If it's going to be her and I am going to be Queen I am not sure, we could ever work together like we should. She hates me and she makes no secret of it."
"Well, to be honest, the other way around isn't much better. You can't put it all on her."
"I do not hate her… but the way it's going, she might make me." She admitted dejectedly.
Ithoran just shook his head. "You both started a rivalry that got slightly out of hand. It's unbecoming of you to act that way."
Methys appeared to shrink a bit upon his criticism. "I know. It was a mistake. I… may have misjudged the situation, when all of this started. I thought some kind of friendly competition would benefit the both of us. At the beginning, I was sort of in awe of her skills, especially coming from someone that's not even nobility and with not as much training as I had. She caught my interest… and I thought we could both learn from each other, just like you taught me. However, things came to pass differently as soon as I realized that she was not interested in any of that. The further we came throughout the competition the more we were handled as the favorites. And her dislike for me evolved into sheer spite with every passed trial. I tried to ignore it, but that appears to make it even worse. Now, it… frightens me. The way she acts… it makes me doubt myself. And… I have seen her fight. She can defeat me. All it takes is one slight mistake on my part. And I don't know what will happen, if she does. If anything, it would prove mother and all those traditionalists right."
"I am afraid you are losing your focus with the way things are. Concentrate on your goal and not on her or the surrounding circumstances. She does not matter in what you are trying to achieve. Ascending to be Senshi is a spiritual journey that happens inside you. It's not supposed to be a spectacle orchestrated as a media battle for popularity nor a catfight between rivals. In the end the talisman is the final judge and whatever points you scored beforehand will be irrelevant. The talisman decides for what is inside you so you should rather concentrate on honing and sharpening those inner qualities."
"If it was that easy… people are watching me and they expect to see me winning. However, her blatant disregard of me has earned her recognition and support in the circle of people, who stick to the tradition that royalty shouldn't participate in the competition. People who are of the same opinion as mother is. A Queen by blood with a Senshi chosen by the talisman by her side. That's how it always was and that's all those traditionalists are going to accept."
Ithoran made a face. "You knew from the beginning; you would step on toes with your participation. It's not because people dislike you, quite the opposite. You are Queen Anairin's only daughter. You were always destined to be the future Queen and plenty of people wanted to see you on that throne. They see the same potential in you that I see. However, if you become the Senshi that rules out your ascension. You can't have both positions. That has been defined by law long ago and your people are affronted that you apparently refuse to be their future Queen."
"I don't want to be Queen."
"That much I know and it's that fact in particular that worries me. Ask yourself, whether you are doing this solely to escape the throne or whether being Senshi is truly what you want."
"I thought about it. Thoroughly. This was not decided on a whim."
"It better not. You need to be entirely sure, Methys. This is no inane tournament about prestige, approval or fame. You won't win a trophy here, that you can put in a glass vitrine and forget about it as soon as you lose interest. Nor is it a decision you can simply revoke. Being Senshi is a revered duty and an exceptional honor to whoever is chosen. It's an obligation that will define the rest of your life. And it will seal the end of your ascension on the throne for good with no way back. Selfish reasons and petty motivations have no place in this. You have to be entirely sure about it." He emphasized worriedly.
"I know. I know what I am signing up for. But how am I supposed to deal with Sanai? I tried to be civil. She is keeping it alive and to be honest it's starting to piss me off."
He shrugged. "Well, people like to watch a good show. What is more suspenseful than a face-off between sworn rivals especially if their upbringing is as different as yours is? She is probably counting on it to win her share of support by the people. And it works… You have to see the differences between you two: While the people know you as their crown princess for all of your life, she started this as a virtual nobody. She uses that rivalry to her benefit to gain the support and attention you already have."
"I don't want to put on a show and I am not entirely sure that that is what she is doing, either. It appears to be more… personal." Methys mused darkly.
"Have you confronted her about it?"
"No. I am not eager in making a scene. And it's not as if she would be talking to me, when she has a choice. And frankly I am tired of her unjustified behavior. I did nothing to offend her, so why should I make the first step in installing peace, when she is apparently not interested at all. If the only way she wants to express herself is during the trials, then let her have her way. She will see what it got her. I for sure won't grovel at her feet, when I have done nothing wrong to warrant an apology."
He just shook his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You two turned this into a feud that is entirely unnecessary and out of place. You want to be the best, Methys and so does she. I see that. However, if that is the only reason why you are participating then you should rather revoke your claim."
"I told you, it's not, but maybe you should tell her the same."
"She has her own advisors."
"Apparently, they are not very good ones."
"Oh, I think they are doing an excellent job if you look at where she started and where she is now and that is exactly what frightens me. Just do me the favor and do not play right into her hands. Do not provoke her any further."
"I did not provoke her." Methys objected vehemently.
Ithoran sighed. "You do so often enough without truly noticing. Political tact and diplomacy aren't exactly your forte. It's one off the things you have to work on. There is a small line between being charismatic or just plainly brash. On the bright side of things this situation can be practice for you. You still need to learn when it's better to keep your mouth shut and when it's required for you to be outspoken. With Sanai you obviously only did the latter."
"I did not…" She protested, but Ithoran interrupted her. "I know it's part of your personality and I know you don't mean ill by it, but I do know you since you were born. Not everyone you meet will have that luxury. You need to be more careful with your attitude. Look, all I am asking you is to not put more oil into the flame."
"That won't matter much if she is adding the explosives." Methys pouted, apparently miffed by the lecture.
"Yes, it will matter, because that is what a Senshi is supposed to do. A Senshi is supposed to be the wise one, who recognizes what fight should be fought and what fight is not worth fighting for. If you are going to embody that role any decision you take will have consequences to thousands of people if not more. They will look up to you as their example, their well-being will depend on your actions. At the end, it's your decision what first impression you will portray to your people. They see you as their trustworthy and reliable protector and if all you are willing to protect, is yourself…" He left the rest of the sentence unfinished.
Methys groaned. "I get it, ok? I will pull myself together and keep this under wraps as best as I can. However, I cannot make the same promise for her."
"Good, that's all I am asking for. And now I am done with talking about Sanai. How was your training?"
Methys did not seem to consider that a better topic to talk about. "I still did not reach the required time."
"You will get there."
"I only have four more days… and… no time." She noted worriedly.
"What did I say about putting too much pressure on you? Fear is your worst enemy. So, don't even start racing against it. You can only lose."
"You know, sometimes your lectures are entirely useless in a practical aspect." She noted skeptically.
"Maybe you apply the wrong practical aspect…"
"Then it would be highly welcome for you to correct me, my oh so wise cherished grandmaster."
Ithoran rolled his eyes, but he appeared to be more comfortable with her using his title in a jesting manner. "It's not your lungs that are the problem but your head. Your fear and doubt decenter you. Your focus is off and you are stressed and don't let me mention the circles under your eyes. Meditation is the correct means to get to the root of the problem."
Methys scoffed. "Well, you know time is not something I have abundantly. I had to skip my daily morning sessions in favor of training for days now."
"It shows. I do recommend you do an evening session today."
She scoffed. "I am expected at the opening ball. That's why Krana is supposed to doll me up, remember?"
Ithoran seemed to ponder about her words for a bit. Then: "I will create an opportunity for you to leave earlier. Use it efficiently and just to make sure you get it right: I mean meditation and sleep by that."
Methys abruptly stopped in her tracks completely astonished. "You serious?"
"Do I look like I am joking?"
"Well, now that I come to think about it, I don't really know, how you look when you are joking. You never do so."
He subtly rolled his eyes. "Well, that should answer your question sufficiently, then."
Methys started walking again albeit not without throwing him suspicious side glances. "To... to be honest, I didn't expect you helping me to slip away."
"Is that why you didn't ask for my help at all?" He asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes. Kinda… I didn't really… well know where you stand."
He sighed. "What did I teach you on the battlefield when facing a superior foe?"
"Hit him in the balls to make him really mad and then blame someone else?" She suggested with a sly grin.
This time his eye roll was apparent. "I never told you that and you know it. Now answer seriously."
"Use your surroundings and don't act rashly?" Was her second more serious guess.
"That and I also told you to abandon fighting fair and square, when you see no way of winning like that. When it's about your own survival use everything you've got, even the mean tactics. If you die an honorable death, because you are too proud to use underhanded tactics you can protect no one and fail everyone."
"Ah… that. I remember. And… what does it have to do with everything?" She responded a bit lost.
"Seriously? Did you quick-freeze your brain while training? Sneaking away is the underhanded tactics. So, in your current situation it is the right tactical choice."
"Oh, ahem right." She kinda looked at him as if she didn't know him anymore.
He of course noticed. Turning a tad bit scarlet he murmured. "But don't tell your mother I said that."
A sly grin appeared on her face. "Are you kidding? That way I could throw myself under the bus along with you." She halted briefly. "Wait, does that mean you would throw yourself under the bus for me?"
He grunted in response and mumbled something that suspiciously sounded like. "Slow in the uptake is not giving it justice, right now."
While talking they were walking through vast halls and corridors that deserved to be part of a palace. Most of the walls were made of a speckled stone that resembled marmot with the difference that the veins were of a blue color. Columns and arcs flanked their paths and detailed reliefs decorated the capitals. Some were covered in Silver, others painted in aquamarine patterns. The floor was shiny and made partly as a mosaic with tiles in the same color range. The whole design consisted of geometrical patterns: complicated spirals and entangled knots, circles and squares. If they had to compare it with art out of their history, the basic elements resembled a bit the Celtic design, but also had Mayan and Indic characteristics, a mix of everything. However, they were portrayed in complex and repeating mathematical patterns. Symmetry appeared to be a common feature. That and opposing walls showed always the same design, as did the pillars and other decorative elements.
Methys bare feet left a trail of dripping water on the tiles, but neither she nor Ithoran seemed to care. In fact, the Mercurian advisor hadn't batted an eyelash about her scarce clothing. The next moment they halted in her steps and Methys exhaled torturously. "Here, it comes…"
She reached for a touchpad and a door opened right in front of them. They entered what must be her quarters, which were vast and richly decorated. However, most of the decoration vanished entirely behind all her possessions, which were lined up everywhere and ranged from apparent combat equipment over books that might have as well been a whole library to technical devices and components draped on a way too fancy workplace to things they could only speculate what they were supposed to be used for. To be frank the layout and decoration clashed immensely with the interior of the room, the same as if you would rent the President Suite of the White House to a nerdy scientist who couldn't throw anything away.
Right in the middle stood an impatient and stern-looking woman, who was maybe in her late fifties. She had a disapproving frown on her face and her hands were stemmed into her sides. Her already graying dark-blue hair was bound in a thick braid. On her left temple were two thin braids with similar colored beads in it as Ithoran had. Her foot was tapping on the ground and her lips pursed disapprovingly, when she spotted Methys. "Well, our cherished princess honors my lowly self with her rare presence. I guess you must believe me to be able to work miracles with a snap of my fingers."
She displayed her best captivating smile. "Well, in fact I know you can."
It rolled off the older woman like oil from a pan. She just narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Flattery gets you nowhere, young lady. You have five minutes to shower and not a second longer."
"Five minutes?!" Methys protested indignantly.
"Precisely. And I guess you need four of them to get that grisly slimy stuff out of your hair. Where the hell did you manage to pick that up? In the sewers?"
"Oh, come on, Krana. Take it easy for a minute… You still have almost three hours." Methys whined.
A sharp eyebrow rose. "And I will need every single second to make you look somewhat presentable."
"Give me at least ten minutes!"
She folded her arms categorically. "Four minutes and 30 seconds and it's only becoming less. Princess." Her title sounded almost like an affront, while the older woman tapped resolutely with her foot, not budging an inch.
Methys rolled her eyes but hurried to what must be the bathroom mumbling to herself. "This day can only get better…"
From then on, the scenery seemed to blur for a moment and swirls of color surrounded them. They looked at each other inquiringly and Michiru already prepared herself to end up in the void or in their living room with the real Methys. However, her surroundings seemed to stabilize again and the same room took form only their occupants seemed to have changed their positions. Ithoran was gone and Methys sat on a chair with Krana fussing with her hair, chattering all the while.
We skipped forward in time. Michiru realized.
"… if you just had showed up earlier, I could have really done this new cornrow up do I have practiced for an occasion like that. I have been looking forward to trying it on you. That would have definitely caught some attention, but, no, you had to smash all those plans to bits by showing up more than one hour late."
Methys yawned obviously used to the lecture by now. "The waterfall braids will do." She replied, only listening with half an ear. Instead, she typed something on her wrist computer and let Krana continue ranting.
"You already had those at the last meeting with the Plutonian delegation three months ago and a princess should always be aware of that. You should be the one to set new trends."
"I like those. They are at least somewhat practical. I don't need a hairdo which might fall apart upon the slightest movement."
Krana scoffed clearly offended. "As if any of my hairstyles would ever fall apart."
"Of course not, you put in enough styling glue that I could summersault without a strand going amiss." Methys noted dryly.
"Don't you dare complain. That's a special mixture I invented myself. Its adhesive properties are exceptional while suppling nutrition and shine to the hair." She protested proudly. "And don't even think about summersaulting." She added as an afterthought.
"It smells like wallpaper paste." Methys noted dryly.
"Only in its liquid form. And … I added fragrances."
"Yeah, I still remember the one with Tagrenian waterlily. My hair smelled like rotten eggs for three days after it dried."
Krana blushed. "That was one unfortunate occasion. I couldn't know the fragrances would add up to … well … that."
"I would still appreciate it, if you don't use me as a guinea pig for your experimental hair products anymore. Although smelling like rotten eggs might be a convenient excuse for not attending that damn ball, I doubt my absence would be taken well. I might keep it in mind for future occasions, though." She twinkled at her cheekily.
"Hmpff, my talents are wasted here. The Venusians would hire me on the spot and I would be a well-known trend setter, surrounded by people who would appreciate and praise my unique talents…" She bragged dreamily.
"Oh, I don't know, smelling like rotten eggs would have been a definite no-go with them."
"That was ONE time. My other creations are outstanding."
Methys snickered. "That one was for sure outstanding, as well."
Krana scoffed, but chose to drop the embarrassing subject. "I am almost done. Where are our beads? You didn't wear them."
"First drawer on the left."
She reached for it and took out a small chattel. When she opened it, plenty of multicolored silver beads were revealed.
Krana frowned. "I almost don't want to ask… Two braids at your left temple?"
"No, you definitely shouldn't ask anymore. Three. In the back." She declared matter-of-factly.
Krana sighed defeated. "It's always the same with you three."
Methys shrugged nonchalantly. "You wanted us to be trendsetters five seconds ago."
"Not by refusing tradition."
"People have accepted that we wear them differently. It has become something of a trademark."
"Sure, it has." She arranged three long strands of hair at Methys' nape and carefully attached the silver beads in a certain order with two braids adorning plenty of them and the third only having only four at the top.
"I am done now. Not one of my masterpieces, but it will do. Although you wore that hairstyle before on official occasions, I do admit it suits you. After this conference is over, we could try some alterations. That way it won't be the same, but you could still wear it more often. I have some ideas that might work. Don't worry, nothing too overly fancy. I know the stipulations with you."
"That would be… acceptable. Then I might also have the time for it."
"You would have it now as well, if you just forgot about this Senshi endeavor of yours." Krana responded disapprovingly.
Methys groaned. "Don't even start it. I am tired of hearing it again and again."
"Then step out of the competition. You are bound to be Queen."
Methys rolled her eyes in apparent annoyance. "Not for much longer."
"How can you just give it up like that? Who is going to sit on the Throne if not you?"
"My brother obviously. Who else?" She responded nonchalantly.
Krana scoffed. "Bah, another breach of tradition. The Mercurian Empire is a matriarchate. We have Queens ruling, not Kings."
"That hardly makes a difference. My brother will be a better King than I can be Queen."
"That's not true. You might not be ready for the Throne yet, but there is still time anyway. Your mother's rule will last for decades to come. By the time your time to ascend will come, you will be ready. It is foolish to give up your right for the throne, now though."
"Krana, just accept that things will change. A king ruling is not a bad thing. My father was a good king, wasn't he?"
"Your mother was always the one ruling. He was just co-ruler." She clarified.
"Oh, please… He had more power than you want to admit. Way more. And he was a good king. At least that's what everyone is telling me."
Krana frowned and sadness crept into every crevice of her face. "He was the best." She admitted morosely. Her sharp gaze darted to Methys. "And he died on the same bloody battlefields you strive to be fighting in as Senshi, when you could sit safely on the throne as the rightful heir, instead."
There was a tense pause.
"You are concerned." Methys realized clearly astonished by her words.
Krana made a face as if she making a bad joke. "Concerned?! Of course, I am concerned when a war is looming at the horizon. My own husband died in the last one. I have seen the lot of you grow up. I did your very first braids when you have learned to do your first steps. I fastened your very first beads for passing your science exam. I was there when the news of the final battle got in. I was at court when it was announced that our King and so many others died. I saw what his loss did to everyone… and to his family. And now you lot are all members of the Glacials. Whenever you and your brothers draw your swords to prepare for battle, I fear for you. I fear what might happen, if hell truly breaks lose, I fear that you won't come back, just like him. That the next time I will see you, there will be no more cheeky jokes nor any other kind of talk. When all that's left for me is to braid in iridescent banyan petals as part of the traditional deathbed braids…"
Methys laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. "As Senshi I will be strong. Stronger than most."
Krana's frown only deepened. "Your father was strong as well… and he still died. The Glacials were all strong and still so many of them died. Senshi can be killed too, especially if they have to face other Senshi."
"You worry too much, Krana. There is no war, yet and I want to make sure that it stays that way."
"You can do so as Queen. You don't need to put yourself in danger. As heir you would not be send out and by extension, your brother would not, either. You don't need to fight. Just let Sanai do it."
Methys' expression darkened. "It's what I decided for myself to be."
"And you will regret that decision."
"Maybe… maybe not. Only time will tell. However, what I do need to know is: do I have your support no matter who I will be?"
Krana scoffed. "What does it matter? I am your hairdresser not an important political ally that might be of substantial use…"
A thoughtful frown appeared on her face. "It does matter… to me."
Krana eyed her suspiciously as if she expected a joke to follow at her expanse. When she said no more, Krana huffed albeit a bit of confusion was leaking through. "So, our princess turns sentimental. I never thought I'd see the day."
"I just would have … liked you to take my side in this."
Krana folded her hands categorically. "I don't take sides. And I still think your mother is right and you should listen to her. So, don't expect me to hold my tongue. I will try to talk you out of this outrageous idea of becoming the next Senshi as long as I still can and I am not too proud to use the dirty tricks either."
"And after you tried that…?" She asked rather earnestly.
"Then, I of course succeed in making you see reason. And afterwards I nag you with my 'I told you so.' at least a million times."
Methys smirked slightly. "Have you ever made me `see reason', before?"
Krana froze for a moment taken aback by the question.
"Well, there was this one time, when I told you cropping your hair entirely would cause a scandal and you… listened as much as a surprise as it was to me back then."
"I was twelve and fed up with sitting still for hours for you to do that terrible hairdo with the ribbons for Natai's birthday party. I thought threatening to crop them entirely would scandalize you enough to go easier on me and choose another simpler hairdo instead."
Krana raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Please tell me I didn't fall for a cheap trick like that."
Methys made a face. "Rest assured, you didn't. Well, to be honest, it kinda backfired. You chose an even more complicated design stating that should I ever crop my hair entirely you would have to attach extensions every single time. In fact, you explained the whole procedure in every gruesome time consuming and boring detail and I relented to common sense and the fact that it indeed could get worse."
"See, that's an excellent example for one of your crazy ideas, I managed to avert."
"This is not about hairdos though and I am not twelve anymore." Methys pointed out.
"No, it isn't. It's about something of way greater importance and that alone already says something at least when it is about braids in the Mercurian culture. Your decision caused unrest and set apart the Mercurian folk at a time when we need it least. Your mother's job is to hold everything together and you made that task particularly difficult when everyone starts arguing left and right, questioning tradition, royal succession and politics as a whole. You shouldn't wonder that she is upset with you."
"Oh, I am not wondering about that." Methys deadpanned.
Krana sighed. "She sees your potential and just doesn't want it to go to waste."
"I told her a thousand times already that it's not going to happen. I am not going to sit on that Throne. She just has to be stubborn about it."
"The same way you are. You are just a chip of the old block after all, butting heads with the very person you got it from. Thick-headed mules if I have ever seen some."
"I am definitely not."
"Just tell yourself that, darling." She patted her shoulder in a mocking way.
Methys huffed indignantly.
"Atget says, I would make a good Senshi."
"Yes, and that's why those two are at odds with each other as well. It's not Atget's decision who is going to be her successor and Queen Anairin isn't pleased about her putting that idea in your head."
"It wasn't her that did that. I decided on my own."
"What for? If you want to serve Mercurian society you can do that just as well as Queen. Well, you could do it even better that way."
"No, I cannot. Out of the three of us I am the least suited to sit on that chair."
"Your brother does not want to sit there, either."
"Alone… no. That's why Natai and I decided to be his right and left hand. We will do it together, but we are gonna do it our way." She insisted.
"I just said it: stubborn, the whole lot of you. Typical for youth as a whole to always think they can do everything so much better with just a flick of their fingers."
"Well, we can't do much worse. As you already pointed out we are already at the brink of war."
"Yes, and it's thanks to your mother and everyone in charge that it isn't already ' we are right in the middle of a war'. Besides, we don't have to shy away from one. The losses of the last war made us stronger and everyone who wants to oppose us knows that and will think twice to actually make a move on us. Our alliance with the Neptunians guarantees a combined military force to reckon with to protect both of our worlds."
"You said yourself you don't want war. Why are you now hailing one?"
"I am not. I value peace, but I am neither naïve nor blind. With everything that's going on, we can't be seen as weak. Only the threat of retribution keeps the fragile balance between the Empires intact."
"One day that won't be enough." Methys responded morosely.
"No, one day it won't. And we are ready for that day."
"I am tired of living like that. The Alliance was once held together by more than constant fear, threats and vigilance."
"You can thank the Denyers for that. They destroyed the Alliance by refusing to do their part when they were desperately needed. We did our part in defending this galaxy. We sacrificed our own King and thousands of brave Mercurian soldiers on the battlefield to gain their freedom. If anything, the Riven War showed us one thing. At the end Mercurians can only count on Mercurians. We protect our world and they can protect theirs. That everything else is not working, was proved by history."
"That's not entirely true and you know it. Besides the Denyers the other nations banded together and only together the Riven War was won. Alone we would have stood no chance."
"Yes, and look what happened afterwards… That partial unity fell apart like a house of cards. We are stronger now. We learned out of our mistakes."
"Apparently not from all of them. War is a likely consequence of our current politics, but do we make any changes? We should reach out conciliatory hands instead of boasting with our military power. We are not trying to better the situation, but just wait for it to escalate."
"It's not our job to better the situation."
"It should be everyone's job."
"That won't ever happen. The nations are not interested in bettering anything."
"If you are convinced by that, then the conference is superfluous."
Krana shrugged as if that was a given. "Of course, it is. We show good will by hosting it, but at the end it's for Mercurian interests only. Let the rest of the galaxy deal with their own problems. The more they have, the more we will benefit from them and for everyone else I don't care just as they do the other way around as well."
"There was a time when my father believed there was another way."
"Your father is dead because of that very belief, Methys, as is my husband. Believing brings you nothing but suffering and grief when all others just use those beliefs that are meant to be altruistic for their own benefit instead of contributing their part to make the whole thing work."
"The way it is now, it isn't working either. It just needs a tip in the wrong direction and everything falls apart."
"And that's why you shouldn't cause chaos by being selfish and vacating the Throne. Trust your mother in this. She knows what she is doing. She is balancing this peace on a needle's tip for decades now."
"Maybe she is doing it so long that she doesn't even look for alternatives anymore."
"You can look all you want if there are none. It's just a waste of time. Don't waste your time, Methys and don't waste hers in forcing her to do damage control due to your actions."
"Ahh, now are coming the mean tactics you announced earlier. You trying to give me a bad conscience? I assure you, I have only Mercury's best intentions at heart. The old gridlocked tactics have long outlived their usefulness. Nothing can ever change if we stick to the old animosities and if we don't look beyond our own nose. Something has to change and whether it's towards war or something else is still in our hands. Soon it might not be anymore…"
"Hmpf, your intentions are too good to ever survive reality. The Empires are selfish and greedy. That's what has been shown in the past over and over. It's not worth our time to play protector for the realm. We have already done that before and see what it cost us. We are already showing great benevolence in hosting the conference, when we should throw a great deal of the participants off our planet with a kick up the bum."
Methys wrinkled her nose. "That's exactly the kind of thinking that makes everyone think we are arrogant asses."
"I don't care what they think. It's true. And god believe me, it's better that I stay away from the ball or I would probably say something less than ladylike to that Lunarian bitch of a Queen. That she even dares to show her face here…"
"They have diplomatic immunity, so you rather leave them alone. If nothing else, we need to be civil. It can't be us who starts it." She added pensively.
"Pah, that snake in the grass is probably already scheming against us. Why else would she be here, if not to get her plans going?"
Methys' expression darkened. "I doubt she will have much of an opportunity here. Mother has her probably on close watch."
"Of course she has. From what I heard Atget is supposed to stick to her hackles."
"Makes sense."
"Well, if you say so. To some extent I really wish she would try something. However, that's unlikely. She rather lets others get her hands dirty, after all. That Queenie is way too much of a coward to act out against our Senshi."
"Don't forget she is one as well. And I didn't only mean it that way. Atget will act as wall and shield. Mother plans to isolate her. Queen Serenity will not only be restricted in her interactions with others, but those others will also have their fair share of problems to get to her without Atget noticing."
"Well, I am sure if it's an assassin, Atget will gladly step aside." Krana sneered sweetly.
"Don't even joke about it." Methys looked towards the ground, troubled by the notion. Then she murmured darkly. "Something like that must not happen on our home turf."
"It's not that unlikely. The whole planet hates her. And well, I for sure know, what I would do, if I came even close towards a 10-meter radius to her. Spitting on her feet is the most harmless on the list. That much I can assure you." The venom in her voice did not seem to surprise Methys. Still she sympathized.
"Krana…"
The hairdresser continued as if Methys didn't even say anything. "Too bad, that ten seconds later the Jovians would come running to her heroic rescue just like the good little henchmen they are. If I were Queen Anairin, I would have refused to host them. If they want to participate in the conference so badly, they might as well sleep under some bridge for all I care. They don't deserve walking though these halls." She spat, hurt shining through the anger.
"If she did, we might as well have canceled the whole thing. Excluding the ones, one or more other parties can't stand, would leave us with no one. It's bad enough that some declined the invitations right away or did not respond at all. This conference is about solving issues between the Empires and not about generating new ones."
"Yeah, I bet. And you are eager to approach the Lunarian Queen and act as if nothing happened?" She asked acerbically.
Methys hesitated in her response, but her expression darkened considerably. "No, I don't like Queen Serenity very much either. Her decisions in the last war are… unforgivable."
Krana scoffed. "That's putting it mildly. My husband would still be around, if it wasn't for her. And so would your father." Krana noted darkly.
"I am sorry, Krana."
"You have done nothing to be sorry for. I knew what I got myself into when I fell for a military man in times of war." Her voice turned softer. "I hope you know what you are getting yourself into as well."
Methys shrugged helplessly. "I guess I will see when I am at that point."
AN: And that's it for today. Again lots of background information in this chapter to flesh out the past a bit more… and we got to see Ithoran again. It's actually harder than I thought to write from the mirror's perspective. It's purely descriptive and I cannot really tell what people are thinking but need to express it solely through their behavior, used words and their overall presence, which might not be always equivalent to what they are thinking. Well, I put myself in that pit so I gotta learn to deal with it. Next time we will meet some Senshi… As always thanks for reading and let me know what you think.