AN: So, here is finally the next chapter and it's exactly as the title says (as well as a callback to Serenity mentioning that this is what nobles do at the balls to kill time. Since the Venusians play a prominent role, it might be worthwhile to reread the chapter "The Venusian Way" in case you get lost in some details about Queen Sirani, Minarin (Minako's past self), her sisters and her brother 😉 although it should not be necessary to get the gist of what is going on. Otherwise, enjoy.
The ball was still underway and the guests were busy to mingle at least as much as their political boundaries allowed it.
Although Methys was kinda spaced out, a nudge from her youngest brother brought her back from wherever her mind had wandered. "That woman is either an excellent actor or she is an expert in repression." Natai commented morosely.
"What?" Methys asked him confused, apparently not getting what he was talking about.
"The Venusian Queen. Sirani. You were watching her, weren't you?" He pointed in the general direction Methys had stared, not knowing that she had been lost in space.
"Em, not really. I wasn't really looking at anyone." However, now that he mentioned it, her attention was focusing on the blond and feathery blob in the far corner, who was surrounded by a cluster of overeager men. Her daughters had already scattered, reigning over the dance floor as if they were born to do so.
"Truly, after what happened, I expected them to be a bit more… subdued. The Queen does not take too much issue in being one daughter short, does she?" Natai commented disapprovingly.
Methys just frowned. "Maybe she just does not care. I don't know, it's hard to read her behind that … façade."
Her youngest brother's eyes almost bored into the Queen an expression of incomprehension on his face. "How can she not care? She was her daughter, her second-born, and it's barely two months, since it happened. I mean I know backstabbing and political scheming is kinda a public sport on Venus, but come on… she was poisoned. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that she was murdered. The circumstances of her death were suspicious no matter how you look at it."
"I know. What puzzles me even more was that it does not appear as if there were much of an investigation going on. They dropped the case way too soon considering a royal was the victim and rather chose to sweep the whole thing under the carpet. The Queen must have ordered that, she is Queen after all, so it's in her power. The question is, why? I mean, wouldn't you want to know, who killed your daughter?"
It was then that Michiko chose to comment. "Her actions or rather the lack thereof already caused plenty of rumors. Most imply that the Venusian royal house itself is involved in this matter more than they are willing to admit."
"You think she was killed by one of her own siblings?" Laertes asked and he wasn't phrasing that question with a scandalized undertone, but just in a way as if he was interested in Michiko's opinion.
He didn't consider that notion unlikely. The knowledge shocked Michiru and she couldn't suppress a side-glance towards Minako who listened raptly, but with growing worry.
Meanwhile, the discussion went on undisturbed. "It might have been one of the siblings or maybe even the Queen herself. Anyway, it must have been someone close to her. She was found in her private quarters after all."
"If it was an aide or a servant you would want to catch him before he causes further damage, wouldn't you? You would want to make an example out of him by putting him to justice. Sentencing the culprit to a grim penalty, just to make everyone know what happens to someone, who dares hurting the royal family, is what would be the likeliest thing to do. The only reason to abandon the investigations would be to hide certain things."
"You sure they truly abandoned the investigations?" Methys asked Natai. "Maybe that's just the impression they want to give. Maybe, there are more things going on in secrecy and penalties are dealt in a way they prefer not to get public."
Her youngest brother just shook his head. "I have read the final report from one of our spies this morning, who infiltrated the inner circle. He said all investigations have come to a stop, a permanent stop. He further said the Queen plays her cards close to her chest concerning that matter as do her remaining daughters, but well, yeah, officially the matter is settled."
Michiko grunted unsurprised by Natai's revelations. "Maybe it's true and Queen Sirani knows exactly who it was; maybe she even ordered it herself. That poisoned daughter of hers, Bly, was known to be quite obsessed to get the throne, although she was only the second in line concerning succession. Queen Sirani has dealt before with overeager upstarts, who were idiotic enough to think they could overthrow her. Typically, those who dared to challenge her vanished without a trace from the political stage or suffered some other unfortunate accidents. Depending on her adversaries that could be either actual accidents or they just conveniently commit political suicide. She is known not to be squeamish in her dealings with anyone, who tries to cross her. A reputation that serves her well on Venus, where you need to be wary of your back and willing to get your hands dirty, if you want to stay in power. Weaklings or people with a conscience with no idea how to play on the political stage tend to go to rack and ruin quite fast."
"Well, the Queen is an expert in holding the power-hungry wolf pack at bay and I can only imagine how far she is willing to go to secure her position. It's the other darker side of the party- and fun-loving image she rather likes to portray. If you look closer, though… She is a wolf in sheep's clothing with the sharpest fangs and the keenest mind out there, but the enemies, who get to see that side of her, are already torn halfway to shreds, before they even get the chance to bite back. That woman might not look the part, but she is dangerous."
"I know. You don't want to be on her bad side and being on her good side comes with a lot of benefits. That's why people still swarm her like moths the fire and still she is always the one in control. Mother always warned us that she is cunning."
"Now, that I have seen her in action there are no doubts about it left. And she wasn't even serious… she was only trifling with me." Methys pointed out.
"The only question is whether she would also use the same underhanded and brutal means against family, against her own daughter?"
"Well, that's indeed the question, isn't it? Rumors say that lately the now deceased one, Bly, took it too far with her ambitions for the throne. Queen Sirani wasn't amused by it, that's for sure. Other people say, it might have also been one of her sisters and the Queen protects the culprit for some reason. The relationship between the siblings seems to be pretty tense and especially the eldest, Andami, wasn't pleased by Bly's tries at omitting her in the succession. And that's only two of them. The relationship with the one that is now Senshi, Minarin, was openly hostile from what I heard… for whatever reasons I don't know. Another rumor said that Bly had a secret affair with the lover of the third sister Cori. And then, Dena… apparently Bly has ruined a huge investment of hers, if the rumors are true."
"Man, that sounds like a lovely family. Basically, each of them had a motive then?"
"Yes, those sisters are not exactly on best terms with each other." Michiko confirmed. "There are often quarrels and power plays at work between them and apparently, they use each opportunity to get back at the others. Oh, and each wants to be in her mother's favor to be the future Queen."
"But how can that be enough to warrant killing her? She was their sister!"
"Half-sister probably." Natai pointed out dryly. "With the number of romantic liaisons, the Queen has had, it's safe to say that all of them have different fathers. Although she has never made their identities public. Maybe even they don't know."
Methys made a face. "Wonderful."
"Still, I had to be insane to kill my own siblings just for a damn Throne." Laertes hesitated, genuine denial radiating from his whole form. "It's something I simply cannot understand. You two are my closest family. I would never do anything to harm you. Ever. Not for anything in the world..."
Both of his siblings just sent him looks in between affectionate and surprised upon his sappiness.
On the other hand, Michiru as a silent spectator from a time when he indeed hurt his sibling, only winced, knowing very well that his heartfelt assurances of loyalty would prove very much untrue in the very future, she had seen.
Her past counterpart, Michiko on the other hand just huffed. "Great, and what am I?"
"Em, …second-closest family?" He suggested sweetly. That only made her raise a miffed eyebrow and Laertes winced when he noticed that she took that comment to heart.
Natai giggled looking at Michiko. "Man, you are looking so much like your mom right now, when she was tearing your dad a new one for daring to look at Queen Sirani…"
"You are not making it better, Natai…" She threatened half-heartedly, albeit still disgruntled. Natai only laughed and put an overbearing arm over her shoulders, tugging her close gently despite her squirming protest. "Yeah, I do. Just like your mother, you hate it to be excluded from something you direly want to be a part of. And you rather get miffed than admitting it to anyone…"
"Utter nonsense. And I am not miffed. After all, Laertes is right. I am your cousin, so I am second-closest family."
Laertes winced and scratched the back of his head sheepishly, before he put a gentle hand on her shoulder to stop her squirming in his brother's grip. She did stop and Laertes squeezed reassuringly. "That wasn't meant like that. Sorry, for my poor choice of words. You are like a second sister to me, you know that, don't you Michiko? So, am I forgiven?" He smirked at her, knowing very well what the answer would be.
Michiko sighed and her posture relaxed visibly. "It's fine and I know." She reached for the back of his head gently tugging one of his many thin braids forward over his shoulder. It was one of the three beaded ones. Her thumb and forefinger reverently touched one of the beads attached to it. "This one proves it."
Laertes indulged her forward gesture patiently. "Never doubt it. You know very well what the third braid stands for and why we wear it like that, when no one else does. In fact, you are one of the very few, who does know…" He looked at her expectantly.
When Michiko just played absent-mindedly with the one bead, she still held carefully between thumb and forefinger, he gently nudged her. "Care to explain it to me? Just to make sure you haven't forgotten…"
Michiko just sighed, as if she knew exactly what he was doing, but indulged anyway.
So, she recited as if he asked her for a definition, which he technically did. "The Mercurian philosophy of life is based on two balanced pillars. One for the mind and one for the body. Hence, the two braids. Each bead stands for an achievement, a passed exam for challenges of the mind and trials of your body. That's the norm, … but the third braid you added… " She made a small pause, her eyes darting to the other two siblings.
"… that one that stands for the heart… for the people you love." Michiko mumbled under her breath and played with the same bead that had caught her attention before.
It was made out of a larimar, a turquoise gemstone Michiru recognized from her painting lessons. It looked like the ocean itself and Michiru had always loved it. Here, it apparently symbolized Michiko.
Natai shrugged. "A simplified summary that's borderline cheesy, but yes, that fits it well enough."
Michiko just sighed. "Sorry, I didn't want to be so touchy about the subject. It's just … sometimes, I truly wish I wasn't an only child. It can get so boring on Neptune. You at least have each other." She admitted, her gaze straying rather than looking at any of them and it was clear that she was fighting off a pang of jealousy.
Laertes fixed Michiko in an intense eye-lock and Methys put a soothing hand on her shoulder. "You have siblings in us Michiko. Never doubt that. We might not see each other often enough due to being planets apart, but you are family. Close family. You will always be."
For a moment, Michiko was unable to respond. Flustered, she hit him on the arm, hard. "You can be such a charmer."
Hearing Laertes utter these words made a lump appear in Michiru's throat. He means that. He truly does. She could hear the genuine honesty and see the care in his gestures. How can he say those things, when he later on tried to kill Methys? …. when according to her words, he already did kill her once in the Silver Millennium. The same as he did Michiko. His sister and his cousin. He went against both of them. Why? What happened to make him vacate all vows of love and family he apparently cherished so much? How could he become the cruel parody of this man, she has come to meet? He hadn't shown any mercy, had inflicted bodily pain on Methys and chose to hurt her with barbs and scathing words as well. He hadn't cared one bit. He did it all for his own amusement without showing any remorse or regret. HOW? How was that possible? How could one person change so much?
What Michiru witnessed here, made one thing painfully clear.
This man wasn't the Laertes, they got to know. He wasn't a blood-crazed lunatic. He wasn't a sadistic murderer. Not yet, at least. Right now, he was the complete opposite. Whatever was bound to happen here, it would make him go back on his word in the worst possible way. For whatever reasons he would try to kill the people closest to him and to make matters worse: he would succeed. The mere notion made Michiru's heart clench painfully. Did she truly want to see that? Did she truly want to see everything fall apart? Did she truly want to shoulder that past in addition to what she already went through herself?
She had no answer to these questions and pondering more about matters that confused and scared the hell out of her, didn't seem neither prudent nor healthy. Instead, she chose the cowards way out and put her focus elsewhere. Distraction just delayed what was unavoidable and still it was all she could accomplish right now. And she already found her means…
Michiru's eyes settled on her Silver Millennium counterpart. Michiko.
She had some time now to get an expression of her. She was… not what she expected. There was a carefreeness about her, Michiru had long lost, if she ever even had it in the beginning. She didn't appear shackled by duty nor by her title. Despite of who she was, expectations weren't weighing her down like they did for Michiru her entire life. She had always been expected to excel. As the heir of her father's business, as an artist, as a violinist and as a Senshi. From a young age there had always been pressure and when it might have been put on her by her parents and her teachers first, she had taken over this role herself. It had taken Haruka in her life to relax a bit, but by nature she was an overachiever. Someone, who needed to succeed and accomplish in order to look at herself in the mirror.
Michiko seemed to be different. Not much appeared to faze her. In fact, as she recalled, being accepted by Laertes and his siblings as one of their own had been the only topic when she had shown a more serious side of herself. Otherwise, she had played it cool, in a way that portrayed confidence and a high degree of familiarity with almost everyone she had interacted so far. Was she as relaxed with everyone else? Did she not shoulder a high degree of responsibility as Neptune's only Crown Princess? And why wasn't she Senshi?
That question confused her the most. If there was one thing she had been sure about, then that her past self was the Neptunian Senshi. And now, she wasn't. What did that mean for her?
The one stepping stone she had believed to be a given, broke away right under her. What was left now, to grasp onto?
Well, Senshi or not, she could have gotten way worse. Maybe that notion alone was enough to grasp onto. Maybe she shouldn't overthink and interpret every miniscule detail. Maybe she should just devote herself into being an unattached bystander, keeping as much emotional distance as possible. Yes, that was a good plan. An excellent one. Too bad it already set sails long ago. She was in this come hell or highwater, had been so from the beginning, whether she wanted it or not.
All that was left to hope that it wouldn't be her downfall.
Too late she realized she had already drifted again into dangerous territory. Into exactly the kind of overthinking, worrying and questioning herself over spilled milk, she had tried to avoid all along. Splendid work. Just watch and listen, Michiko.
Focus on what is in front of you. Don't look backwards nor forward when you can least afford it.
It took effort, and still she willed her eyes to concentrate on what was happening. She needed to pay attention. Words that had barely registered before, fought through the molasses that was her brain to reach a point when comprehension set in. They were still talking about the Venusians. About the murder case amidst their royal family, about the estranged sisters who lost one of their own and didn't seem to care much.
Natai was currently speaking, commenting their previous in house fighting. "… However, the way they use to deal with each other explains their lack of mourning and overall hard-nosed behavior after Bly was murdered."
Methys scoffed. "Well, that's putting it lightly. Those siblings lined up as if the sister didn't exist in the first place. They just filled up the gap, when they entered the hall."
"Well, the way it looks now, whoever killed her is apparently getting away with it." Michiko pointed out.
"I am still curious about it. I am not exactly up to date with the current view on things. Therefore, I have been too busy with other things lately. So, what else was in the final report about the incident besides the rumors you already told us?"
"It's truly odd. There is not much new to tell I have to admit; besides that, she was apparently poisoned. It's kept under wraps as best as they can and I think even amongst themselves they don't know for sure who is the culprit. In the report of our spy, it is written that they are even tenser around each other than normal, distrustful and wary. Well, you just have to look around; as soon as they entered the hall, they spread out as if they couldn't flee from the others' company fast enough."
In response to his words Methys' gaze darted from one blond blob in the hall to the next. Her brother was right, they had not formed a group like they did, but spread everywhere. Natai subtly nodded to the left. "Do you see the one at the banquet, right next to the appetizer table, the one with the dangly crimson earrings?"
"Yes." Methys confirmed. The other two just nodded.
"That's the eldest I mentioned, Andami. As the one, who is supposed to inherit the throne officially, she is now constantly surrounded by bodyguards."
"So that guy dangling at her arm is not her date slash bedmate slash plaything?" Michiko asked dryly with the appropriate air quotes.
"No, he is her guard and typically she has three. She just tuned it down for the conference to not make it all that obvious. Hence, he is acting more like a lover than a guard… to be always close enough in case something happens."
"Well, she seems to be definitely intimidated by what happened to her sister, if she deems such an extensive security entail appropriate."
"She lives dangerously and she knows it. Those precautions she took to protect herself make it obvious and of course it's never officially mentioned that it's probably her own sisters she needs protection from."
"I see. So, I guess it's probably the same with their Senshi? That man with the silver mane at her side is not her lover then?" Methys nodded towards the other end of the banquet, where Minarin was standing.
"Not sure about Mr. Silverhair…" Natai shrugged.
"Oh, that guy's name is Artemis. I talked to him briefly when I had to fend off all the blond hyenas from tearing off my clothes. I have to admit with those two I am not sure. They might as well be lovers. Officially, he is her aide and he was even before the incident. Unofficially, who knows…"
Michiru grimaced upon hearing this and her eyes darted to the transparent form of Minako a few meters away from her. The blonde's jaw has dropped and she had visibly blanched after the revelation. Right now, her taint turned a tad bit greenish upon the suggestion that her former self and Artemis might be a … thing.
The conversation continued as if nothing was wrong, though and Methys felt the need to comment on the suspicious relationship between the Venusian Senshi and her aide as well. "Interesting. Although on second glance and with knowing what you told me right now, I think he is more than an aide."
"Why do you think so?"
"Look closely. He is constantly covering her blind spot. Look where he stands and as soon as she moves, he adjusts his stance. And then… see… he passes her his drink after he tried it."
"Man, you are right. He is guarding her and he is even testing her food for poison."
"I think it's a safe bet that Andami isn't the only one fearing for her life. And Senshi or not, she is unarmed as per the regulations and no Senshi powers help her against poison."
"I am not entirely sure she is unarmed." Methys whispered as if she talked to herself.
"What!? How do you get that idea? The regulations say: no weapons. And we checked them upon entrance. Subtly, of course."
"I know we did, but those detectors won't work on a talisman…"
"Oh, you think…"
"That bracelet on her forearm. You noticed that one? It winds up the limb like twines, made to look like jewelry, but I don't think it is."
"You think it's the Venusian talisman?"
"Yeah, it's a known fact that it can shapeshift between weapons. I think she used that ability to make it look harmless and to deceive our scanners."
Laertes brown furrowed in concern. "Then we need to report this breach of security."
"We can't. There is no evidence. If we don't want to make a scene there is no way to confront her. She would deny it and even if it is the talisman, we have no way to prove it. As long as she doesn't willingly shape it back it will remain a piece of jewelry, no matter what we claim it to be. We have no way to catch her lying if we do not catch her red-handed while using it."
"She can't just smuggle a weapon in here."
"Well, apparently she can. At least, if I am right. The question is why would she take that risk to go against the security regulations?"
Laertes frowned. "Well, there are only two possibilities: either to cause trouble or to save herself from trouble. I would rather bet on the latter for her sake."
"I don't like either of those options."
"Me neither, but there is nothing we can do."
"Warn Atget?" The suggestion came from Natai.
Methys pondered about that for a moment. "Yeah, I will do that. Though, if I have seen it, she will have as well. If she as our Senshi saw no need to take action…"
"Well, send her a message anyway. Just to make sure… Atget is busy with the Lunarians. She can't have her eyes everywhere."
"Oh, I am not so sure about that. She has the Glacials to work as her extended arms and eyes and they are stationed everywhere throughout the palace and the conference areal. She is not here to enjoy the party like the rest of us, but for work. Neither is Ithoran. He acts as the middle man to keep her informed."
"Yeah, I have seen them talk earlier and the way it looked Neso has volunteered help as well."
"Of course, she has." Michiko commented dryly. "She is typically very bored during those parties if she is just supposed to attend. She would always prefer her Senshi duties rather than intermingling with the guests."
"Be that as it may, I am still worried about that Venusian Senshi and her smuggling her talisman in here."
"Potentially smuggling it in here…" Methys corrected him, partially regretting that she pointed it out in the first place.
"No, it makes sense and I think you are right. The lot of them might appear all relaxed on the surface but beneath that charade, they are on high alert. And with all that intrafamilial squabble about Bly's murder and who gets the Throne…"
"True, but with Minarin, that's still odd. She became their Senshi after all and Venusian tradition is similar to our own in that regard. Senshi are excluded from ruling. They are omitted in the succession. So why does she consider herself endangered? Her sisters have no motive to get rid of her."
"At least none that is as obvious as the throne. I guess there is more to whatever is going on than meets the eye or she wouldn't be that cautious."
"If its caution and not aggression on her part. I wouldn't exclude that Senshi as the culprit for the murder, either. On Venus being Senshi isn't a revered job like on Mercury. Actually, no one wants the position since it comes with quite a lot of drawbacks. She was named Senshi right after the murder happened, making it impossible for her to ever sit on the Throne."
"You think it was done as a punishment?"
"I don't know. Might be, but if nothing else the timing is definitely suspicious. What I can tell you about Minarin is that she always was the Queen's unrivaled favorite, which is what earned her the open spite of both Andami and Bly. Both felt threatened by her and feared to lose their claim to the throne in case their mother ever decided on gut feeling alone and not on age as to who was going to be her successor."
"And now she was taken entirely out of the game just like that? And her mother consented to it or even ordered it?"
"Yes, if you ask me some of her siblings are probably more than pleased by that development."
"Maybe Minarin was even blackmailed to give up her claim. It could be all a ploy to get rid of the competition…"
"Still does not explain why she deems it necessary to carry her talisman…" Natai pointed out talking more to himself.
"If she's the one who needs to finish something being on foreign soil might be an excellent opportunity for that. Loads of scapegoats to put the blame on and you could even use it to vilify some of the other Empires, if you play your cards right…"
"If so, the Queen must be in the loop. She wouldn't be able to hide the talisman from her…"
"Not very reassuring… if they plan something, it can't look good on us. We are responsible for security here. Even if they act out on someone convenient for us, like let's say the Lunarians, we would still be blamed for it happening under our jurisdiction…"
"I just pulled their princess out of a freezing water pond and dealt with a very uncomfortable talk with her mother to avoid an outcome like that. I don't care what they plan. It will not come to fruition here. We won't be their pawns."
"Well, there is still the other possibility. Maybe crowding Minarin out of succession wasn't enough for someone. Maybe that someone wants the job finished just like with Bly and she is just cautious and has it with her to defend herself, if the need arises…"
"Everything is possible. If it is, Andami as the first-born is the most likely schemer. She has gotten rid of her most dangerous rivals in one fell swoop. However, if you look at how heavily she surrounds herself with guards one of the third-row siblings Cori, Dena or Fava might have also used the opportunity to get rid of two out of three likely candidates for the throne in a rather cunning way. Let's see if there are more Venusian royal casualties in the near future… If Andami drops dead as well, then things get really interesting…"
"Please, not here. If they want to kill each other, they should do it on Venus."
"What's with the son? Fazu."
"He has no chance on the throne. No guys allowed. At all. They are even stricter with that rule than we are. However, he appears to change sides however he sees fit. It's not clear, which sister he truly supports, if any at all."
"Charming. Well, compared to that I feel the need to point out how glad I am that I am stuck with the lot of you as my siblings. I can't imagine living with siblings who hate me, constantly expecting to end up with a dagger in my back as soon as I don't pay rigorous attention."
"And all that for a damn throne. I mean I might consider murdering someone if I get rid of it by doing so… but the other way around, I truly don't see the appeal."
"Maybe we will get to know at some point what all of it was really about…"
"Well, that won't be very soon. The report about the murder case is closed. I finished reading it this morning." He paused. "And I have to admit, this one wasn't even the worst report I had today." He made a face that looked way too grim.
Laertes picked up his mood immediately and asked tentatively. "Mars?"
"Yes. Mars. It started."
Methys inhaled sharply and Michiko looked to the ground ghostly whispering. "It was only a matter of time…"
"How bad is it?" Laertes dared to ask.
"The curfew is still intact, but most people do not adhere to it. The small skirmishes from the last days assumed alarming proportions. There were extensive riots in Amarna last night and … plenty of people died. It's already spreading like wild fire to the smaller settlements, maybe it was even a coordinated attack as soon as someone shot the start signal. Dozens of the old Acolyte temples are burning and the whole city is clouded in smoke. It is said that it can be seen from miles away and the chaos and violence took place unchecked. The Acolyte priests tried to defend their temples; some even resorted to armed resistance although their vows dictate to use violence only as a last resort. However, in most cases they stood no chance against the adherers of the Cataclysts, who claimed to 'cleanse' the capital from their degenerated and errant ways. Those temples have been thousands of years old and the relics in them can be traced back to the founder era. They destroy their own cultural heritage in a fit of religious madness and greed for power. Thousands still loyal to the old religion have started to flee from Amarna, but they have begun closing the gates. Soon, the remaining Acolytes will be trapped with nowhere to go and the Cataclysts will have a walk-over to arrest them or do much worse…"
Methys gulped. "It was to be expected that things would take a turn for the worse. The King sent a rather rushed cancellation to the invitation for the summit we sent."
"I can see why. They have their hands full to stop the breakout of a civil war."
Natai scoffed. "More like a genocide. The Cataclysts will purge the whole planet from the old faith. They will destroy each and every Acolyte temple they can find and kill everyone, who is not willing to convert… their willingness to resort to violence, is more than obvious. I don't understand why the royal troops do not intervene. The King cannot approve the open murder of his people."
"He doesn't exactly think highly of the Acolytes himself. Not anymore." Methys pointed out hollowly.
"They are still the ruling religious caste of Mars as they have been for centuries. And his late wife was a leading figure in their ranks."
"Exactly. And he blames them for her death. So, it makes sense that he isn't too eager to jump to their rescue."
Methys winced. "I…" She halted, unsure whether she should put that comment in the ring. "I am not sure the King still has any say in the matter."
Michiko looked at her confused with that dubious statement. "What do you mean by that, Methys?"
The Mercurian exchanged quick glances with her brothers. "The message they send to inform us they would not send a delegation to take part in the summit… It was supposed to be signed by the King… and it was signed in his name, however it was not his signature. The sigil was correct, the security code was correct, however, the signature was not… I got suspicious, since I had a look at the older Charta documents rather recently and well, then I run it through one of our programs…"
The Neptunian was shocked. "Somebody else signed using all the royal insignias and posing as the King?"
"Yes, that's what it looks like…" Methys confirmed.
"Not good, not good at all." Michiko babbled to herself.
Laertes hummed. "Maybe it's not entirely what we fear it to be. Wasn't it reported, that the King is in bad health for quite some time? Maybe his handwriting just deteriorated or he handed over some of his work to an advisor."
"His health is steadily declining for years now… well, since his wife died. His signature always remained constant … and he still carried out all his duties, especially the paperwork. Plus, the notification said, they would not attend due to his bad health, but they could have at least sent a delegation of diplomats in his stead, but they chose not to do so. They chose to send no one, as if they had no interest in it anymore at all. That timing is just conspicuous. And there is something else…"
"What?"
"The program I used to unveil the forgery … I used it to compare the new signature with other handwriting samples we got from Mars' leading figures. The highest match was Caana with 63%. That's way above of what can be considered pure chance."
Michiko's eyes widened to saucers. "Caana as in High Priestess Caana?! The leader of the Cataclysts?! Oh shit!"
"Ok, forget what I said. That would mean they already took over control on all but paper…"
"Yes, and it also means the royal troops will do nothing to stop the massacre on the Acolytes…"
"That's the most likely conclusion… no one can-" Suddenly, she stopped talking mid-sentence and her eyes widened as if she just remembered something important. "Wait, yesterday was … Natai, those riots, what was the cause?" He just looked at her with a tortured expression, which only appeared to affirm Methys in her fears. "Wasn't the Firebearer Ritual scheduled to yesterday evening? Oh my god, please don't tell me…"
Natai bit on his lip, a troubled frown appearing on his face, that appeared already all the answer she needed. "She is dead. No Fire Bearer was appointed. The talisman rejected her just as all the others. They lost another Senshi candidate…"
Methys just closed her eyes with a dejected sigh.
Michiko's hand flew to her mouth in shock.
Laertes frowned darkly. "Well, she was way more than that. She was one of the strongest advocates the Acolytes had left… and she was the Martian Crown Princess."
"Princess Reina is dead…?" Methys whispered disbelievingly and in a way as if that mere fact changed everything.
"That means when the King dies…" Michiko started with widened eyes.
"… the Martian royal house will cease to exist and the Cataclysts will probably take over and cleanse their world of the old belief for good." Laertes completed her thought darkly.
"This is a disaster. She was their last chance. Their last hope. And the talisman still rejected her, although her mother was the previous Fire Bearer? My god, this must have played right into the hands of the Cataclysts. The best suited champion the Acolytes have to offer, failed in becoming the next Senshi. What more ammunition do they need for their poisonous propaganda? Princess Reina's death also explains why the King wasn't doing anything against the riots. He now lost a wife and a daughter to the Acolytes' rites and traditions. Of course, he is blaming them. It just adds fuel to the Cataclysts toxic preaching that Mars has lost its way and needs to be reborn after it was cleansed by fire. That the talisman deserted its old followers, because they vacated the inherent Path and that they will never find a new Senshi, as long as the talisman remains in Acolyte hands…"
Natai groaned. "Princess Reina shouldn't have tried it. She played right into their hands."
"I don't think she had much of a choice. As far as I know they had her already put under house arrest since she spoke out against the violent ways of the Cataclysts and their instigative propaganda. She was under close watch and more of a prisoner in her own palace. She had to try it. Declining would have served their purposes in the same way. They would have just argued that the old faith wouldn't deserve the talisman anymore as proven by her cowardice. They had her backed in a corner."
"Maybe, but had she declined, she would still be alive and able to help the Acolytes. Instead, she was burned to a pile of ashes…"
"You act on the assumption that it was the Cataclysts that forced her to take on the Fire Bearer ritual just to see her fail, when it could have as well been the Acolyte Elders in a last-ditch effort to save their hides with sending in their most promising champion."
"They would have gambled with her life."
"Yes, and maybe they just didn't care. Either way she had not much of a choice."
"Had she declined; she would still be under house arrest not able to do much of anything and waiting for the day, when the Cataclysts realized she was not worth keeping around. Rightful heir or not, she would have been just a puppet at best. One they could use for their own benefit, until they could get rid of her in a convenient way and that only under the condition that she was willing to play by their rules. No matter how you look at it, this way there was at least the chance for her to be the chosen one. The one the talisman would finally accept as the fire bearer. That position could have granted her the power and leverage to stop the madness we have now."
"How likely was that supposed to be? Dozens have tried it over the last years and they were all burned to a crisp. Some immediately, some later. Daughter or no daughter of the previous Senshi, that made no difference for the talisman. You can't force a bearer on the talisman and she knew that…"
"Yes, she knew the chances and she still took the risk. How much of it was truly her choice we will probably never know."
"Great, and now the situation is basically not salvageable anymore. Without her the Acolytes will be hunted down and as soon as the King dies, the Cataclysts can build up their reign legally…"
"For them the King outlived his purpose. They are probably just waiting for him to die and if he does not, they will make sure he has a convenient accident quite soon. Then that Dragon priestess will crown herself."
"That's bad, real bad. I mean you could still talk to King Achar but that Caana lady is an aggressive bitch. The first thing she will do as soon as Mars is under her full control is probably declaring war on someone else. They will go all out with their 'Fire is destruction and rebirth' credo."
"I know. We should intervene now, when we still have the chance to stop the takeover, when she is not already at full power." Methys argued with a frown.
"Let me guess, mother disagrees."
"Well spotted. I told her about the forged signature and she only reacted with an 'As to be expected' and told me to act, as if I didn't notice and phrase an appropriate response…"
Michiko sighed. "They are turning a blind eye to what is happening there. My mother is no different. She said Neptune and Mercury won't interfere, before they do not attack us."
"But they will kill thousands in their wake. We can't just watch…"
Michiko sighed again. "Mother said, they won't be able to take Mars over without facing substantial resistance. She said the general populace will rebel against their aggressive ways sooner or later and I tend to agree. Resistance already started. They expect Civil War and are convinced that at the end of it, whenever that will be, Mars will be too weakened to pose a danger anymore."
"So, we just watch…"
"To be honest, even if they get out of this with fewer casualties than expected, even if they are willing to go through another war with one of the other Empires right after, it's not very likely they are gonna target us. Neptune and Mercury together are too strong for them, even under the best circumstances. The same is true for the Lunarians and the Jovians. They will likely go for an easier target like the Venusians, since they are the most isolated concerning alliances right now. So, you can see why both of our mothers do not consider them an acute threat right now. They count on this problem solving itself and even if that's not happening; they still have plenty of time to decide what to do…."
"And in the meantime, still thousands will die…"
"Yes, Martians. But that is their problem… It's their Civil War. If they want to rip each other's throats out just for religious disagreements, this is hardly our fault. And what do you think would happen, if we interfered to support the Acolytes. This is not black against white. The Acolytes have committed their fair share of mistakes in the past. They pissed off plenty of people with their obsolete and dismissive ways and the abuse of power in their higher ranks. Their victims were only too willing to listen to the Cataclysts. They made the Cataclysts as strong as they are now. The Acolyte priests were just too sure of themselves and gambled too high in thinking they have the support of the people, when they have done too little to deserve it in the last decades. It's not only the Cataclysts that wish them doom. Too many are just too willing to stand by and let the old system die, a system that has grown corrupt, entitled and arrogant. And that's only one aspect: I can assure you the other Empires would not approve, if we supported the Acolytes. They would likely see it as another try to expand our territory and usurp Martian property by exploiting their tight situation. They already accuse us in doing so with Pluto. That's the whole pretense why the Uranians stake their claims on Pluto so vehemently, so that we don't get it."
"Oh, don't start with Pluto…"
"Pluto? Pluto itself is fine… don't start with the Uranians. Those shits feel affronted as soon as you step a foot on an asteroid that might cross their territory at some point in a thousand years…"
"Well, to be fair… Pluto is not just an asteroid. Its mines produce the purest metal alloys this galaxy has to offer. The temptation lies right in front of their door step. And we are not protecting Pluto from their military raids out of sheer grace of charity, either." Laertes noted.
"Well, charity always sounds nice in public statements, especially when it's accompanied with vast mining allowances in return for our hard work. But hey, of course we are just doing this out of the kindness of our heart. I bet mother will try again to talk Viceroy Kratos into selling her the Tombaugh mine in Abudis. She is working on him for months now, but so far he remained firm in not giving up his third-most lucrative mine no matter what we offer in return."
"That man is an idiot, if he gives in." Natai commented.
Michiko scoffed. "Excuse me, have you ever talked to Viceroy Kratos? That man IS an idiot. After the Riven War, Pluto never even remotely recovered from all the damage and the casualties they suffered. More than 60% of their mines were unusable at that time on top of all the additional destruction the war caused. Up to now, that number only marginally declined. On top of that, he is bartering away the rest of their property as well as the extracted ores to bottom prizes. Of course, the Plutonians had no way to get back on their feet, the way he handled things. They had to ask for our help, when the Uranians tried to occupy their remaining mines, knowing they were easy prey, and of course we could ask for whatever we wanted in exchange. That's all this guy's fault. I don't know who put such a dumb birdbrain in power and how he managed to stay there. He is driving his people into ruin…"
Methys frowned. "It's truly a pity. They deserve better than that… way better for all they have done…"
"They paid the heaviest price in the War and without Queen Setsna's passionate commitment we probably wouldn't even stand here. She convinced all Empires to show up on the summit to band together in the Riven War against our common enemy. They only gave the gathering a chance because she asked for it. She made the Alliance happen. She made it possible for us to win. Without her not even five of the Empires would have banded together. They only agreed because she was made leader. And then… after the war was over, she just vanished without a trace and has not returned ever since."
"Were she here, Pluto would have already recovered long ago. Plenty of the Plutonians are still hoping for her return. If that happened, things would change for sure. Viceroy Kratos is just her place-holder after all, one she did not even appoint herself. They could finally ditch him and get someone competent on the Throne."
Natai shrugged indifferently. "Won't happen. It's just wishful thinking on their part. She vanished almost a decade ago. She won't return. She probably died a long time ago in the chaos after the war ended and her body just was not found. She is gone. They need someone new to replace that buffoon, but as long as he does not declare her dead officially, he can hold onto that position without a new Queen ever being crowned. He clings to power like a leech just to reap the benefits."
"As long as the right people benefit from him being in power he will stay there and unfortunately he knows which people to bribe."
Methys scoffed. "Well, I guess we are among them."
Natai shrugged helplessly. "We need those ores for our shield generators. Simple as that and as long as he is providing those nobody will complain that he sits on a throne that is technically not his."
"The same as all the others are out for their share. It's a bit like vultures fighting over a corpse." The crass comments came from the Neptunian Crown princess.
"Oh, come on, don't you think that's a bit tactless."
Michiko shrugged. "How else would you describe it? We are not better than the Uranians. They might use military raids and open war to get the mines and the ores; but we are also raiding them, just with a signed paper."
"It's not entirely the same. At least we offer them protection in return and do not slaughter any Plutonians, if they dare to stand in our way. And a business deal is still way better than violence. The Uranians already occupy a quarter of the planet. They wanted its resources right from the beginning. That's why they did not participate in the Riven War in the first place. They counted on being the only ones with an intact army afterwards to do as they pleased with no one left to stop them. And that plan almost worked. Had we not interfered they would already control all of Pluto."
"Then at least the fighting and skirmishes would cease. The planet would be occupied then, yes, but it wouldn't be an open warzone anymore."
"Yes, and the Uranians would use all those ores to further build up their war machinery to a larger extent than they already do, preparing a grand assault against whoever they dislike. I hate to say it, but the Neptunians are no doubt on top of that list, Michiko. It was foremost you who threw a wrench in the works concerning Pluto and they won't forget it. Right now, we still have them under control and the hostilities are limited to smaller skirmishes at the territory borders. It could be worse."
"Maybe we will have that kind of worse soon. Have you heard already, Michiko? Atget and Neso are leaving to Pluto as soon as the conference is over."
"Are they? One of Neso's premonitions?" Michiko guessed.
Natai nodded. "Yes, did she not mention it? The mirror apparently gave away strong hunches that something might happen. They are fearing the Uranians prepare a military campaign against Abudis to obtain control over the Plutonian capital and its mines. Our mothers decided the presence of our Senshi along with a steady military presence might thwart that plan."
"Well, if the Neptunian talisman gives away strong hunches, you better listen to it. The output of the mirror might be difficult to interpret, but I trust Neso's warnings more than those of our actual spies."
"What if they attack right now, when Atget and Neso are still here?" Michiko asked worried.
"According to our spies that's unlikely. They monitor every single movement of their fleet and so far, nothing hints to elevated activity from their side. I am still worried and apparently both of our mothers are as well or they wouldn't have come up with this plan. I hope nothing happens, but Atget told me, she didn't even unpack her stuff. She is ready to leave in a heartbeat in case things turn for the worse on Pluto." Natai noted.
Laertes turned to Methys. "That reminds me… You were not attending the full gathering of the Glacials, Atget held yesterday..."
"I was excused from attendance since I had to organize the conference and since I was training for the Senshi trial. But yes, I wondered why it was necessary to squeeze that assembly of our elite forces into the already tight schedule as well."
Laertes frowned. "I know. I sent you a summary of the most important points this morning. I guess you had no time to read it, yet. To make a long story short: Atget explained the current situation on Pluto and Neso's premonition. She already ordered half of the Glacials to be stationed in Abudis for the time being, along with plenty of Neptunian troops. The rest, including the both of us, will remain here under Ithoran's command as backup on call. In case the situation at the frontlines escalates, we have to march out as well."
Methys groaned. "That's just what I need. I don't have the time to fight a battle."
"I know and Atget does as well. The Senshi aspirants and their Glacial partners are excused for as long as possible. She made that crystal-clear. If this does not develop into the worst shit, we have ever seen, we are supposed to remain here."
Methys just looked at him in utter doubt. "Wonderful… just wonderful…"
Michiko chose this moment to pat her shoulder. "Don't worry too much about it. The Uranians won't attack, when so many troops of us are gathered there. That's the whole point of why we are doing this. As disincentive."
"I hope they do get the memo. Damn and I thought I could talk to Atget a bit more. I wish she could stay. She isn't even back home for long." Methys pointed out with a dissatisfied frown.
"Then you have to do it during the conference."
"Ithoran also complained that he barely gets to see her lately. He is her Glacial partner after all and with her gone he has to lead the Glacials in her stead. At least those that remain here."
"Well, I guess it's gonna be the same for us then as soon as you get the Senshi title. While you travel around god knows where, I am supposed to guard hearth and home, wonderful…" Laertes complained.
"That's what Glacial partners are there for, dear brother, to support each other and work as one. Just see it as practice for being King one day. And if I become Senshi I will command the Glacials just as Atget does now, and you will be my second in command."
"I rather prefer you keep Ithoran in that position… at least for the time being. He does a remarkable job and it would do you good to have someone experienced at your side."
"I will think about it as soon as I get that far." Methys noted darkly. Silence settled on them for a moment before Methys chose to add in a tone that wasn't much more positive. "Thanks for the report about the Glacials meeting by the way. You were right; I had no time to read it, but what you told me about this… development worries me. The Uranians didn't even respond to their invite to the summit. I… I don't like it."
"Don't worry too much. They might hate us way more than they do you, but you still stand in their way for their Pluto plans. Of course, they wouldn't show up on a conference held by you with us as your closest allies. It's probably simple as that." Michiko pointed out.
"And if it's not? What if it is something bigger as Neso apparently suspects?"
"Then we are as ready as we will ever be."
"And don't forget they are not the only ones who did not respond to the invite for the summit."
"Oh, come on, the Saturnians do not count. They do not respond to anything. No one has seen one in more than a millennium. There might be none left at all."
"You believe in those rumors?"
Methys folded her arms in front of her chest defiantly. "You know very well that I believe in those rumors the same as everyone else does. We do know nothing for a fact. Every message we send to them remains unanswered. Every satellite we send does lose contact and every ship that dares to fly in their territory just vanishes. They might be still there or they might be all dead. Who knows? What's apparent though is, that in the case they are still out there, they want nothing to do with us."
"Any contact approach in the last 110 years failed. It would have been a miracle if they answered the invite. Actually, I don't see why we even bothered sending one."
"I just wanted to try, ok? Maybe someone was listening…" Methys defended a decision she was apparently responsible for although there was not much vigor behind it.
"I still think they are all dead." Natai pointed out.
"And why do those ships keep vanishing, if they have no hand in it?" Methys argued.
"The space around Saturn is… for the lack of a better term weird. No technical device works there. It's as if the laws of physics cease existing there. It might be that whatever accident extinguished their people might have affected the space around their home planet as well. After all, we measured something 110 years ago, a spike of energy that went through all our computers like a devastating earthquake. And despite our best scientists trying to get behind of it we are none the wiser what actually happened back then. "
"Oh, don't start again with your ludicrous theories. And now you are gonna claim again it was their Senshi…"
"They have a Senshi that has power over life and death. Of course, she must have had a hand in this… How else do you twist space? And that surge of power was just incredible."
"Stop it, please there is no evidence for it. Why would their own Senshi destroy their civilization? We do not know what happened and as long as we find no way to counter those strange space anomalies, we can't fly there to have a look what actually happened."
"Well, at least that way they don't cause any trouble. One Empire less on our list of worries."
"Man, I am getting thirsty from all these political discussions. Wasn't the idea here to have some fun without divulging in the usual bothersome topics? And… I still need a cute girl to dance with."
Laertes groaned. "I wondered when that would come up again."
"Well, Michiko wasn't really a great help and Methys didn't even bother to begin with. I guess I just have to give it a try for real then…"
"That poor girl… Please pick someone who deserves it."
"Oh, I think I have already someone in mind." Natai bragged entirely ignoring his brother's antics.
"I don't think I wanna know…"
"What do you say, Methys, my share of the sugar algae that she will dance with me?"
"Who?"
"You'll gonna see. Do we have a deal?" He smirked at her challengingly.
Methys seemed to ponder about it. "You are aware I already offered you my share of the sugar algae as compensation for covering for me today and taking over my workload?"
"I remember. Let's just say I would feel better, if I had to earn it."
"Ok, if that is how you want it… deal."
"Splendid. Now, watch and learn."
He sorted out his robes, brushed with one hand through his braids and turned on his heel.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Laertes turned towards his sister, whispering in a low voice. "Are you gonna bail him out or shall I?"
"Oh, come on give him a chance. Don't underestimate our dear little brother. He might surprise you."
Natai steered towards the banquet were the Venusian Senshi and one of her younger siblings stood.
As soon as Methys realized who he was aiming for, she sighed in defeat, her confidence in Natai dying a premature death. "You go."
"Don't tell me he is…" Laertes started with horror in his tone.
Methys sighed again. "I am afraid he is." They then watched him approaching the younger of the Venusian ones. Talking to her briefly, he offered his hand gallantly and she … accepted. The both of them turned to step towards the dance floor, while the Venusian Senshi kept track of them with a smug grin.
"Well, at least he didn't ask their Senshi." Laertes commented dryly as if pointing out the slim silver line on the horizon.
"He might not have asked her, but he definitely caught her interest." Methys was anything but thrilled by it and it showed. Rather than observing what her brother was doing, her eyes were fixed on the Venusian Senshi.
Meanwhile, Minarin whispered something to Artemis eyeing the dancing couple closely. She smirked clearly amused and then a snicker escaped her lips, apparently exchanging a joke with Artemis.
The display seemed to annoy Methys even more. Clearly, she didn't like it when people made jokes at her brother's expanse.
Suddenly, the Venusian's eyes darted to them, noticing the audience. Her eyes finally settled on Methys and a radiant smile bloomed on her features, one that was as fake as a plastic flower. On first glance, it looked genuine, on a second closer one it was anything but that.
Michiko leaned down towards Methys and whispered into her ear. "Careful, Methys. This smile isn't an act of kindness. It's a warning."
"Oh, don't worry, I got that. What I don't get is why she should care about her sister? Didn't we already establish that they can't stand each other." Methys whispered back through her teeth, while barely lifting the corners of her mouth in response to satisfy the prying eyes.
"That goes for every sister but that one. Fava, the one Natai is dancing with, is her youngest sister and the only one she cares about."
Methys still held eye contact with the Venusian Senshi, a silent battle of dominance. "Is that so? So, the blind spot her aide is covering isn't the only one. She is at least as much aware of it to guard this one herself. Interesting."
"Right now, she probably just wants us to know that she has an eye on us... and Natai."
"Fair enough. Then she will probably understand it, if I return that favor."
"You are glaring at her." Michiko pointed out needlessly.
"I am only reminding her that she is not the only worried sister around. She might stand guard over her sister, but Natai has us to do the same. The lot of them rather treads carefully or there will be hell to pay. I have absolutely no sense of humor, when someone messes with my brother and if she really carries her talisman..." Methys' face turned even darker.
In contrast, Minarin's smile turned even more vibrant. And then she toasted her with her cocktail glass.
Michiko raised a brow. "I don't think your warning got across."
A muscle twitched in her jaw. "That blondie has guts." Methys' disgruntled grumble was accompanied with an even fiercer glare towards the Venusian, until Michiko stepped into her line of sight.
"Let her be, you don't need to raise the hackles of all the Senshi here in one single evening, you know."
"She is provoking it."
"And you are responding to it."
Laertes chose that moment to interfere as well. "Calm down, sis, Natai seems to be enjoying himself. And I came to talk with all of the Venusian siblings, when I encountered them. That one appeared to be the least of a seductive vixen. So, just let them dance…"
Methys complied, but couldn't stop herself from ranting. "One minute he is complaining about the Venusians and then he asks one to dance… right after we elaborated that they might be up to something."
"Actually, that was me… the one who complained, I mean."
"Fine, but if she makes one wrong move…" Methys grumbled, letting the rest of her threat trail off.
"That goes without saying." Laertes reassured her.
She followed the couple on the dance floor with her eyes. When Natai laughed briefly and she couldn't spot any wandering hands or predatory smirks, a bit of the accumulated tension left Methys' shoulders. Then her eyes strayed to an approaching figure, that clearly steered towards their lounging spot. It was Ithoran.
A flicker of understanding danced over Methys' features, before she addressed her twin. "Is it already nine?"
"In five minutes, yes."
"Then I am going to take my leave for today?"
"What? Already? Wait… Right now? What's with the operation: Venusian dance battle?"
"I guess that's cancelled… at least for me."
Laertes sent her a disbelieving gaze.
"Not my choice. My pick-up service is approaching quickly." She nodded in Ithoran's direction.
"Don't tell me it's for another meeting! You can't be serious." He was entirely scandalized for her sake.
"Officially it is. Unofficially I bow out for some direly needed meditation time and rest."
"As much as I want to be disgruntled about it, I am afraid the last idea I can fully support. For the first one I definitely would have given him an earful."
"No need. It's just…" Her eyes darted briefly to Natai and the Venusian on the dancefloor in worry.
Laertes interpreted the look with ease. "Don't worry, we will have an eye on them."
"Please do, Queen Sirani did mention you two earlier and I didn't like her tone at all. And now that Minarin might have her Senshi weapon with her… I don't want this to be an elaborate plot for using him for whatever political agenda they might have. That whole family of hers, I don't trust either of them and you know how Natai is. Right now, he would be an easy target."
"He approached her. It should be fine." Her twin brother reassured her.
"I just want to make sure, Laertes."
"Ok, I just know the best way to approach this. Michiko, don't you feel like dancing? I could use a bit of exercise."
"Sure. Why not? I am anyway curious what they are talking about. I am a pro in eavesdropping." Michiko confirmed immediately.
Methys nodded gratefully and her eyes darted again towards the Venusian Senshi, who was also watching the dancing couple with Artemis at her side. A hand landed on her shoulder, catching her attention. It belonged to Laertes. "Just go. We got it handled. And Methys… if you need me for anything-"
"I'll call." She promised.
"Good. And I mean it. Whatever you need me for…"
An exasperated sigh escaped her lips. "Laertes, I got it. I am not the sibling who needs you right now, though. Now, scram… mister mother hen and make sure no one fools around with our baby brother." She shushed them away.
AN: That's it for today. Again, I added plenty of politics, but in general it's just for setting up the stage and making clear, that the starting point of the Silver Millennium isn't exactly ideal, since most of the Empires deal with their own shit and don't care much what's happening beyond their own doorstep as long as it's no threat. In the future it won't be as heavy in that regard.
To explain the past universe I need to elaborate a bit on the other Empires for plot reasons (as you already noticed). However, out of obvious reasons (I will never finish this if I stray too much) and to get the story going, I will mostly focus on the Mercurians and Methys. That does not mean I do not have plans for the other Senshi of that time. In fact, I have with the most elaborate backstories so far for Minarin and Reina. If you guys are interested in them, I plan to put these into separate stories at a later timepoint. For Dreamers though, we will continue to follow Methys and whoever she encounters… Let me know what you want to read about and I will do my best not to confuse you too much. Thanks and until next time.