Fic: On Razor's Edge -- Epilogue
Title: On Razor’s Edge - Epilogue
Summary: Crystal Tokyo has arrived. So has Ando Tanaka.
A/N: And this wraps it up, this was On Razor’s Edge. Thanks to everyone who stuck with the story despite the spotty updates; I appreciate both your patience and your enthusiasm!
The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.
~ verse in the Katha-Upanishad
Two weeks had passed since the Queen had instructed Venus to assassinate the Terran enchantress, meaning it had also been two weeks since Venus had found out about Jupiter’s child and Kunzite had come to impart his final warning. Two weeks. Such a long time, and so little in the way of results.
Somewhere in the dungeons nobody knew about, Mercury was holed up in some dingy and dark room, experimenting with new spells. She was confident that she could find ways to break any and every of Beryl’s shields, but she needed time, and more importantly, a safe place to experiment. Even in Mercury’s careful hands, new magic was often explosive.
In the meantime, Venus had tried and failed to find out where Beryl was hiding. The last she had heard had been that blasted excursion east; and no spy or spell could tell her anything else. As far as she knew, Beryl was still somewhere in the eastern part of Endymion’s troubled kingdom, Jadeite and Zoisite by her side like silly puppies.
It was frustrating and utterly ridiculous. Venus was not by nature violent, but killing Beryl was something she almost looked forward to. It felt right, it felt important. And yet, how could she kill someone whose location she didn’t know?
A knock at the door interrupted her musings.
“Come in,” she called. Probably Serenity; wanting to go down to that blasted planet again. Or Jupiter; perhaps the fool needed help crocheting a blanket. The thought alone made her want to hurl a candle stick at the wall.
It was Artemis.
“The Queen is asking for you, my Lady.”
“Lord Artemis, when did you get here?” Venus exclaimed and smiled. They’d always gotten along well, and the Mauan had helped her when she first became a senshi. Without him, she’d still not know the proper protocol when talking to the Queen. The Venusian Court was far less formal than the Lunar one, and at first, every step had been a mystery to her. She would have also never found out what happened to Serenity’s father were it not for the Mauan ambassador, who was by far and wide the best gossip on the planet. For the past weeks, he had been holed up in an Interconstellationary lecture series; a pet project of his that he extravagantly liked to indulge in.
“Just this morning,” he smiled, the joy of the last days still present in his eyes. “The ambassador from Andromeda had the most interesting questions on the nature of stardust and its magical properties. Fascinating, but I won’t bore you with it.”
Venus, who had always simply used magic rather than thought about it, smiled back at him. “Tell the Lady Mercury about it; I’m sure she’ll be most keen to hear what you have learned.”
Artemis nodded while Venus crossed the room and stepped past him into the hallway.
“A most insightful scholar, the Lady Mercury,” he replied, “but from what I gather, currently a little too preoccupied to indulge an old man.”
“You’re not old,” Venus teased, “you’re just wise.” Artemis’s age was a mystery nobody had yet uncovered, but then of course, since he was rather vain, nobody ever asked for fear of offending him. Luna knew, of course, but then Luna knew a lot. Thankfully, neither Mauan, no matter how keen their ears or how sharp their eyes, had heard about all the silly things the princess and, Venus grudgingly admitted to herself, her guardians had been up to the past year. Heavens forbid they found out about Jupiter.
They reached the end of a candle lit hallway and Artemis fell back.
“You aren’t coming?” Venus asked, a little surprised. It was not like the Queen to use a high ranking ambassador as a messenger.
Artemis looked down, but Venus could still catch the smile sliding off his unlined face. “No, my lady. You go on ahead.” Had he been slighted? Was he upset? Before Venus could inquire, the white double-doors in front of them opened, spilling bright light into the dark hallway.
***
Serenity lounged on the floor, a ballgown balled up as a pillow under her head. Jupiter, a little pale, sat in the corner, stitching a rose pattern on a new veil, while Mars stared out at the night sky.
“It’s become so boring around here,” Serenity yawned, wondering if she could cajole one of her two guardians into taking her down to Earth. She missed the heavy smell of the roses and sweet song of the blue birds outside Endymion’s window in the morning. But she didn’t miss Endymion himself, and for very good reason. She had to stifle back a laugh. Little did her senshi know that Endymion had taken to spending every night on the Moon. Oh, last night had been--- beautiful. And fun. Beautiful fun. She twirled a long strand of silver hair, giving herself to the pleasurable memories while doing her best to look decidedly bored.
Serenity was a lot of things: playful, naive, enchanting, but stupid she was not. And she was the crown princess, so magic came easily to her. If she wanted to open a secret magical portal for Endymion, then she could. Didn’t take her more energy than rolling onto her stomach. In order to keep up appearances, she did of course have to whine a little, lest her sisters became suspicious.
“If you are bored, my princess,” Mars said without turning back, “then read a book. Mercury has left you a nice selection over there on the chaise.”
Serenity faked a snort. In fact, she and Endymion had a most fun hour last night, reading the volume of Venusian poetry. Poor Mercury had thought she’d given Serenity some nice love poems, when in fact, she’d given Serenity some nice love poems of the wink wink, nudge nudge variety, and thus, Endymion and Serenity a lot of ideas. Venus would have noticed the mix-up, but her head guardian was more than a little preoccupied with politics these days. Probably pouring over maps and consulting people again.
“Where’s Venus?” she thus continued her little charade, kicking her bare feet up in the air and playing using her toes to play with the hem of her chiffon dress. This was all too easy.
“Busy,” Mars replied.
“And Mercury?”
“Busier.”
Serenity sighed again, this time more dramatically. Better lay it on thick. “I’m bored.” It would be only a couple more hours before she could see Endymion again. “You know what, I’m so bored, I might as well go to bed. And Jupiter is already tired anyway; you’ve been yawning all evening. Actually, all day. You yawn a lot,” Serenity observed, and stopped kicking her feet. For just a second, she thought Jupiter looked panicked, but then the moment passed. Serenity pulled her feet down and got up, not bothering to straighten her dress. She’d get rid of it in a minute anyway.
“Please send in my maid; I’ll turn in.”
Mars turned around, facing her princess for the first time in twenty minutes. The circles under her eyes looked like bruises by now. “As you wish. Jupiter, let’s go.”
For a moment, Serenity felt guilty. Here she was, playing the fool, when her sister was clearly unhappy. Before she could reconsider, Mars had withdrawn, taking Jupiter with her.
***
Venus blinked and shielded her eyes. What the---
“Venus. Come in.”
The light subsided, like a big wave drawing back to leave a bare beach behind. It was like one of those mornings on Halimede. God forsaken place, both beautiful and terrifying. Venus had only been there once, with her father when he was still alive and she was little. That was before Neptune had properly civilised the place and long before its inclusion into the Silver Alliance. It had entered only two years ago, and the whole thing had been a bit of a scandal. She’d once talked to Jadeite about it, who had laughed and said that of course the Silver Alliance would admit a planet that was basically just one big ocean with three giant waves and a tiny population living on a single mountain before it would consider Earth. She missed him, but now was no time to indulge personal feelings. She was in front of her queen, and not yet kneeling. Bad form, Venus, she scolded herself and advanced into the room.
The Queen was sitting in her throne on the dais and holding the silver crystal in her thin hands. For the first time in many years, she did not look eternally youthful, just eternally alive. Next to her, tall and strong, and above all, graceful, was a seldom visitor. Venus forced herself forward; this was most unusual.
“My Queen,” she bowed. Straightening up again, she turned to the visitor and inclined her head. More she would not get. “Lady Pluto.”
The Guardian of Time and Space did not reply, leaving the room in uncomfortable silence until the Queen cast her an inquisitive look. Whatever thought had been holding Pluto captive, the senshi visibly cast it aside. “Venus. It’s been a long--” she seemed to trip over the word, “time.” There was an odd look in Pluto’s eyes, one Venus could do nothing to place.
“Lady Pluto has arrived with information for you, Venus.”
Pluto and information, what an unconventional combination, Venus thought cynically before arranging an expression of polite curiosity. “How wonderful. I am most grateful. What information, my lady?”
Pluto ran a hand over her gown; it was made from fine, dark grey silk and looked like a river made from metal. It was exquisite. It would look even better on Mars, Venus thought with unusual spite.
“You seek the enchantress. It is imperative that you find her, so I have come to offer you assistance.”
Venus’s poker face threatened to slip, and only years of training under Artemis’s careful tutelage and in Kunzite’s bedroom kept her from betraying the intensity of her surprise. “My Lady, forgive me, but I thought you were forbidden from---” she searched for a word. Meddling, interfering, betraying that thrice blasted oath you oh so like to remind us mere mortals of, “---sharing”.
Pluto smirked; looking for all intents and purposes as if any and every thought of Venus’s had been an open book to her. “I am sworn to protect my princess, same as you. And sometimes, new avenues must be undertaken. I am also just telling you where to go, not what to do. The choice”, she stressed the word, “is after all always yours.” Pluto descended the stairs leading up to the throne just as the Queen got up and disappeared behind the white curtains leading out into the Eternal Gardens.
Whatever was going on here, it seemed to Venus, was happening with the implicit blessing of their ruler. “So,” Pluto resumed, now face to face with the leader of Serenity’s guard, “Lady Venus, the one you seek is in the lower kingdom of Eastern Aurum. There is village at the foot of the largest fire mountain. Find the volcano, find it before it erupts. Do so tonight.” She pressed a map into her hands. Oddly, it looked just like one she had seen on Kunzite’s desk months ago. She stared at it. The handwriting was his.
“I---”
“Shush,” Pluto hushed her, and then did the oddest thing. She leaned in and hugged the younger senshi. She was cool to the touch, and smelled of the purple flowers Jupiter occasionally wore in her hair. Her words were a whisper, but there was no mistaking the urgency in her voice. “Find a way, Venus.”
Pluto let go of her and stepped back. “Farewell, Lady Venus.”
Out of thin air, Pluto’s staff materialised. The senshi reached for it, grey mists curled around them, and when it was gone, so was Pluto.
***
Clutching the map, Venus hurried down, down, down, down, until finally, she threw open a rusted door. “Mercury! I need you!”
***
Golden light twinkled in the air for just a second before skilled hands flicked it out. Shielded in Mercury’s protective magic, Venus almost felt safe.
She looked around. Behind her, the mountain loomed large, but it was not yet warm, not yet burning. Her heart beat in her chest. A couple of large tents were scattered around her; this must be the village Pluto referred to. Now. Time to find Beryl.
“You won’t,” a voice cut into her thoughts and she slowly turned around. He was leaning against a leafless tree, lighting a pipe with a snap of his fingers. The flame was almost as golden as the signs of her teleportation had been. Pure magic. They had come far.
“Nasty habit, you know,” she said lightly and pushed her hood down. There was no need to hide now. She walked over to him, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. The last she’d heard about him was that he had fallen to Beryl hook, line, and sinker. That would make him her enemy, and yet, he looked just as he had when she’d still called him a friend.
“Kunzite warned you about us, didn’t he?” He looked up at the night sky, an odd expression on his face. Oh, if she could read people like he could read minds. The world would be all open doors to her. But alas, this was not to be, so she might as well answer his question.
“More specifically,” she corrected him, “he warned me about you and Beryl.”
“Mhhm,” Jadeite said, and took a deep drag. “And about himself, I wager.”
“Of course.”
The two looked at each other. Here they were, two old friends, at the foot of a mountain that could spew fire. She reached out and touched his stubbled cheek. “You look horrible.”
“And you should look afraid, yet you don’t.”
And suddenly, Venus realised something. The one you seek is there, Pluto had said. She’d of course thought that the senshi meant Beryl, but whom had Venus been seeking for weeks? Not the witch. Her friend.
What she must do was suddenly so clear. Risky, but clear. How could she not have seen this before? With new-found confidence, she grinned at him. “I’ve got two missions tonight, and my instincts tell me that this one is more important.”
“And less scary?”
She laughed, genuinely. “Dear me, no.”
“So, try to kill me then. Even though I have to say, I’m quite flattered that the Queen would send you to dispose of such a lowly Terran as myself. You’ve got quite the reputation, you know.” In fact, she didn’t. They’d thought that all of her secret missions were just that: secrets. At some point, she’d have to talk to the Queen and let her know that her secret assassin was a secret no more.
For now, Venus cocked her head. “I am the Soldier of Love and Beauty, Jadeite. This part of my mission relates to the latter part of my title. My other mission relates to the former.”
“You wanna make me pretty?” he asked, the old glint in his eyes and a hint of a smile on his lips.
“That’s a lost cause,” she teased, wondering where the lightness came from. Originally, she was here to kill, and yet the only thing missing from their usual banter was the wine.
“I’m not here as a soldier, I’ve come about Mars.”
The smile remained in place, frozen.
“What about her?”
Venus took a deep breath. She wasn’t keen on Pluto, didn’t like her all that much, even though she never really knew why, but she trusted her. If Pluto said this was important, if Pluto of all people for once imparted a warning, then she would be a fool not to heed it. Even if heeding it meant breaking vows, forsaking oaths, and defying her Queen. She’d kill Beryl later, now it was time to take care of Jadeite and Mars, once and for all. She took a deep breath.
“You will marry her.”
He snorted. “Not on the cards.”
“I put it on the cards.”
“Because you’re the Soldier of Love and Beauty?” He laughed at her now, but there it was, the despair that she’d seen so many times in Mars’s eyes.
Venus smiled. You only despaired if you loved. That was the whole point. This battle was one she would win.
“Yes.”
“You are my friend, Venus. Even though you’re not supposed to be. And she was my lover. Even though she wasn’t supposed to be. Friendship can exist in secret, but marriage cannot. I will not make my love for her a dirty secret. Kunzite already told you as much. For once, we are in agreement, my commander and I.” His voice caught and he busied himself with his pipe.
“You are not listening to me. Marry her. In public. We can’t do it on the Moon, obviously, but we have two other planets available. Earth or Venus. Personally, I’d go with the latter. People there love love. They will invite love. They will celebrate love. Especially so if the Head of State officiates.”
His head snapped up. “That’s you.”
“I am aware of that,” she said firmly.
“What of your Queen?”
Venus thought back to the Queen’s aged face, to the silver crystal in her hands, to her disappearance into the Eternal Gardens. To Pluto’s presence and the silver light. “She will not approve officially, but no harm will come to you or Mars.” Venus thought for a moment, then sighed. “I might as well chuck Jupiter into the mix.”
Jadeite laughed, madness and despair and a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “You’re not on the cattle market on Solstice, Venus.”
“She is with child. You know whose it is.”
Jadeite’s jaw dropped. “You’re serious.”
“I am. You and Mars, Nephrite and Jupiter. They’ll have to leave Serenity’s service, but we will find other ways to make use of their considerable talents. Maybe guard her when she’s with your prince, or enter diplomatic service.”
“You’d reduce your princess’ guard to two?” Jadeite asked, incredulous.
Behind them, a tent rustled, and Zoisite stepped out. He didn’t even pretend he hadn’t been listening. “She’ll replace them,” he offered. As he ambled closer, hands in his pockets, he threw her a shrewd glance. “Uranus and who else?”
Venus turned to him. He’d always been smart. Frighteningly so. “Neptune. Do I need to shield myself? Any daggers?”
He shrugged, looking like an innocent boy. “Maybe. Depends on whether what you promise is genuine.”
“And otherwise you’ll stab me?”
“I will before I let you hurt my friend,” he said solemnly, “but it might reassure you that I would take no joy from it.”
“Zoisite,” Jadeite said softly, and the two men exchanged a look.
“Fair enough,” said the younger one after a silent moment. “I will talk to Endymion. Then he can talk to Kunzite. That will be a bit of a problem, naturally.”
“And who talks to Beryl?” Venus asked, her voice quiet.
Jadeite opened his mouth to answer, but Zoisite silenced him with a gesture. “What you are promising, Venus, is not just a match of love. It is a match that will pave the way, not for Earth’s inclusion in the Silver Alliance, not just yet, but for Serenity and Endymion. This is more about politics than anything else, no matter what you say about the love that runs rampant on your planet. If you offer us politics, why then do we need war? Beryl will see that, too. And if she doesn’t, there are other ways. Now, Soldier of Love and Beauty, take this man to Venus, and then reunite him with his loved one.”
Venus arched a brow. “I am not in the habit of taking orders.”
“You are also usually not in the habit of committing treason.”
She bristled. “And I am not doing so now. These are negotiations for the sanity of my sisters and the safety of my princess. There is no treason in that. Now, where is Beryl?”
“So that you can kill her?”
“Yes.”
“Not here. Not anymore. Whoever informed you was working with old news.”
Venus frowned. “I seriously doubt that.” If there was one person in the universe whose news were never old, it was Sailor Pluto, Guardian of Time and Space. Zoisite looked at Venus. “A penny for your thought.”
She waved her hands at him, and Jadeite laughed. “Her thoughts are worth more than that.”
Pluto had sent her here, and she must have known that Beryl was no longer present. She also must have known that this would give her a chance to negotiate with Zoisite and Jadeite. Making one thing more important than the other. Find a way, Venus, she’d said.
Well, she had. But there was much more still to do, much more to solve.
Helping Serenity and Endymion in that foolhardy quest to make their love official, for one. Without anyone getting killed, preferably. Getting the Venusian soldiers here on earth back under her command, and finding the one who’d stabbed her. Training Uranus and Neptune (and what a battle that would be). Watching Jupiter embrace her happily ever after with that oaf and their unborn Terran child, now that it was suddenly safer than it had ever been.
Her heart clenched.
Returning Kunzite to their side.
Her side.
Find a way, Venus. That’s what the Guardian of Time and Space had said.
And damn, she would.
*** End of On Razor’s Edge***
Summary: Crystal Tokyo has arrived. So has Ando Tanaka.
A/N: And this wraps it up, this was On Razor’s Edge. Thanks to everyone who stuck with the story despite the spotty updates; I appreciate both your patience and your enthusiasm!
The sharp edge of a razor is difficult to pass over; thus the wise say the path to Salvation is hard.
~ verse in the Katha-Upanishad
Two weeks had passed since the Queen had instructed Venus to assassinate the Terran enchantress, meaning it had also been two weeks since Venus had found out about Jupiter’s child and Kunzite had come to impart his final warning. Two weeks. Such a long time, and so little in the way of results.
Somewhere in the dungeons nobody knew about, Mercury was holed up in some dingy and dark room, experimenting with new spells. She was confident that she could find ways to break any and every of Beryl’s shields, but she needed time, and more importantly, a safe place to experiment. Even in Mercury’s careful hands, new magic was often explosive.
In the meantime, Venus had tried and failed to find out where Beryl was hiding. The last she had heard had been that blasted excursion east; and no spy or spell could tell her anything else. As far as she knew, Beryl was still somewhere in the eastern part of Endymion’s troubled kingdom, Jadeite and Zoisite by her side like silly puppies.
It was frustrating and utterly ridiculous. Venus was not by nature violent, but killing Beryl was something she almost looked forward to. It felt right, it felt important. And yet, how could she kill someone whose location she didn’t know?
A knock at the door interrupted her musings.
“Come in,” she called. Probably Serenity; wanting to go down to that blasted planet again. Or Jupiter; perhaps the fool needed help crocheting a blanket. The thought alone made her want to hurl a candle stick at the wall.
It was Artemis.
“The Queen is asking for you, my Lady.”
“Lord Artemis, when did you get here?” Venus exclaimed and smiled. They’d always gotten along well, and the Mauan had helped her when she first became a senshi. Without him, she’d still not know the proper protocol when talking to the Queen. The Venusian Court was far less formal than the Lunar one, and at first, every step had been a mystery to her. She would have also never found out what happened to Serenity’s father were it not for the Mauan ambassador, who was by far and wide the best gossip on the planet. For the past weeks, he had been holed up in an Interconstellationary lecture series; a pet project of his that he extravagantly liked to indulge in.
“Just this morning,” he smiled, the joy of the last days still present in his eyes. “The ambassador from Andromeda had the most interesting questions on the nature of stardust and its magical properties. Fascinating, but I won’t bore you with it.”
Venus, who had always simply used magic rather than thought about it, smiled back at him. “Tell the Lady Mercury about it; I’m sure she’ll be most keen to hear what you have learned.”
Artemis nodded while Venus crossed the room and stepped past him into the hallway.
“A most insightful scholar, the Lady Mercury,” he replied, “but from what I gather, currently a little too preoccupied to indulge an old man.”
“You’re not old,” Venus teased, “you’re just wise.” Artemis’s age was a mystery nobody had yet uncovered, but then of course, since he was rather vain, nobody ever asked for fear of offending him. Luna knew, of course, but then Luna knew a lot. Thankfully, neither Mauan, no matter how keen their ears or how sharp their eyes, had heard about all the silly things the princess and, Venus grudgingly admitted to herself, her guardians had been up to the past year. Heavens forbid they found out about Jupiter.
They reached the end of a candle lit hallway and Artemis fell back.
“You aren’t coming?” Venus asked, a little surprised. It was not like the Queen to use a high ranking ambassador as a messenger.
Artemis looked down, but Venus could still catch the smile sliding off his unlined face. “No, my lady. You go on ahead.” Had he been slighted? Was he upset? Before Venus could inquire, the white double-doors in front of them opened, spilling bright light into the dark hallway.
***
Serenity lounged on the floor, a ballgown balled up as a pillow under her head. Jupiter, a little pale, sat in the corner, stitching a rose pattern on a new veil, while Mars stared out at the night sky.
“It’s become so boring around here,” Serenity yawned, wondering if she could cajole one of her two guardians into taking her down to Earth. She missed the heavy smell of the roses and sweet song of the blue birds outside Endymion’s window in the morning. But she didn’t miss Endymion himself, and for very good reason. She had to stifle back a laugh. Little did her senshi know that Endymion had taken to spending every night on the Moon. Oh, last night had been--- beautiful. And fun. Beautiful fun. She twirled a long strand of silver hair, giving herself to the pleasurable memories while doing her best to look decidedly bored.
Serenity was a lot of things: playful, naive, enchanting, but stupid she was not. And she was the crown princess, so magic came easily to her. If she wanted to open a secret magical portal for Endymion, then she could. Didn’t take her more energy than rolling onto her stomach. In order to keep up appearances, she did of course have to whine a little, lest her sisters became suspicious.
“If you are bored, my princess,” Mars said without turning back, “then read a book. Mercury has left you a nice selection over there on the chaise.”
Serenity faked a snort. In fact, she and Endymion had a most fun hour last night, reading the volume of Venusian poetry. Poor Mercury had thought she’d given Serenity some nice love poems, when in fact, she’d given Serenity some nice love poems of the wink wink, nudge nudge variety, and thus, Endymion and Serenity a lot of ideas. Venus would have noticed the mix-up, but her head guardian was more than a little preoccupied with politics these days. Probably pouring over maps and consulting people again.
“Where’s Venus?” she thus continued her little charade, kicking her bare feet up in the air and playing using her toes to play with the hem of her chiffon dress. This was all too easy.
“Busy,” Mars replied.
“And Mercury?”
“Busier.”
Serenity sighed again, this time more dramatically. Better lay it on thick. “I’m bored.” It would be only a couple more hours before she could see Endymion again. “You know what, I’m so bored, I might as well go to bed. And Jupiter is already tired anyway; you’ve been yawning all evening. Actually, all day. You yawn a lot,” Serenity observed, and stopped kicking her feet. For just a second, she thought Jupiter looked panicked, but then the moment passed. Serenity pulled her feet down and got up, not bothering to straighten her dress. She’d get rid of it in a minute anyway.
“Please send in my maid; I’ll turn in.”
Mars turned around, facing her princess for the first time in twenty minutes. The circles under her eyes looked like bruises by now. “As you wish. Jupiter, let’s go.”
For a moment, Serenity felt guilty. Here she was, playing the fool, when her sister was clearly unhappy. Before she could reconsider, Mars had withdrawn, taking Jupiter with her.
***
Venus blinked and shielded her eyes. What the---
“Venus. Come in.”
The light subsided, like a big wave drawing back to leave a bare beach behind. It was like one of those mornings on Halimede. God forsaken place, both beautiful and terrifying. Venus had only been there once, with her father when he was still alive and she was little. That was before Neptune had properly civilised the place and long before its inclusion into the Silver Alliance. It had entered only two years ago, and the whole thing had been a bit of a scandal. She’d once talked to Jadeite about it, who had laughed and said that of course the Silver Alliance would admit a planet that was basically just one big ocean with three giant waves and a tiny population living on a single mountain before it would consider Earth. She missed him, but now was no time to indulge personal feelings. She was in front of her queen, and not yet kneeling. Bad form, Venus, she scolded herself and advanced into the room.
The Queen was sitting in her throne on the dais and holding the silver crystal in her thin hands. For the first time in many years, she did not look eternally youthful, just eternally alive. Next to her, tall and strong, and above all, graceful, was a seldom visitor. Venus forced herself forward; this was most unusual.
“My Queen,” she bowed. Straightening up again, she turned to the visitor and inclined her head. More she would not get. “Lady Pluto.”
The Guardian of Time and Space did not reply, leaving the room in uncomfortable silence until the Queen cast her an inquisitive look. Whatever thought had been holding Pluto captive, the senshi visibly cast it aside. “Venus. It’s been a long--” she seemed to trip over the word, “time.” There was an odd look in Pluto’s eyes, one Venus could do nothing to place.
“Lady Pluto has arrived with information for you, Venus.”
Pluto and information, what an unconventional combination, Venus thought cynically before arranging an expression of polite curiosity. “How wonderful. I am most grateful. What information, my lady?”
Pluto ran a hand over her gown; it was made from fine, dark grey silk and looked like a river made from metal. It was exquisite. It would look even better on Mars, Venus thought with unusual spite.
“You seek the enchantress. It is imperative that you find her, so I have come to offer you assistance.”
Venus’s poker face threatened to slip, and only years of training under Artemis’s careful tutelage and in Kunzite’s bedroom kept her from betraying the intensity of her surprise. “My Lady, forgive me, but I thought you were forbidden from---” she searched for a word. Meddling, interfering, betraying that thrice blasted oath you oh so like to remind us mere mortals of, “---sharing”.
Pluto smirked; looking for all intents and purposes as if any and every thought of Venus’s had been an open book to her. “I am sworn to protect my princess, same as you. And sometimes, new avenues must be undertaken. I am also just telling you where to go, not what to do. The choice”, she stressed the word, “is after all always yours.” Pluto descended the stairs leading up to the throne just as the Queen got up and disappeared behind the white curtains leading out into the Eternal Gardens.
Whatever was going on here, it seemed to Venus, was happening with the implicit blessing of their ruler. “So,” Pluto resumed, now face to face with the leader of Serenity’s guard, “Lady Venus, the one you seek is in the lower kingdom of Eastern Aurum. There is village at the foot of the largest fire mountain. Find the volcano, find it before it erupts. Do so tonight.” She pressed a map into her hands. Oddly, it looked just like one she had seen on Kunzite’s desk months ago. She stared at it. The handwriting was his.
“I---”
“Shush,” Pluto hushed her, and then did the oddest thing. She leaned in and hugged the younger senshi. She was cool to the touch, and smelled of the purple flowers Jupiter occasionally wore in her hair. Her words were a whisper, but there was no mistaking the urgency in her voice. “Find a way, Venus.”
Pluto let go of her and stepped back. “Farewell, Lady Venus.”
Out of thin air, Pluto’s staff materialised. The senshi reached for it, grey mists curled around them, and when it was gone, so was Pluto.
***
Clutching the map, Venus hurried down, down, down, down, until finally, she threw open a rusted door. “Mercury! I need you!”
***
Golden light twinkled in the air for just a second before skilled hands flicked it out. Shielded in Mercury’s protective magic, Venus almost felt safe.
She looked around. Behind her, the mountain loomed large, but it was not yet warm, not yet burning. Her heart beat in her chest. A couple of large tents were scattered around her; this must be the village Pluto referred to. Now. Time to find Beryl.
“You won’t,” a voice cut into her thoughts and she slowly turned around. He was leaning against a leafless tree, lighting a pipe with a snap of his fingers. The flame was almost as golden as the signs of her teleportation had been. Pure magic. They had come far.
“Nasty habit, you know,” she said lightly and pushed her hood down. There was no need to hide now. She walked over to him, her heart beating rapidly in her chest. The last she’d heard about him was that he had fallen to Beryl hook, line, and sinker. That would make him her enemy, and yet, he looked just as he had when she’d still called him a friend.
“Kunzite warned you about us, didn’t he?” He looked up at the night sky, an odd expression on his face. Oh, if she could read people like he could read minds. The world would be all open doors to her. But alas, this was not to be, so she might as well answer his question.
“More specifically,” she corrected him, “he warned me about you and Beryl.”
“Mhhm,” Jadeite said, and took a deep drag. “And about himself, I wager.”
“Of course.”
The two looked at each other. Here they were, two old friends, at the foot of a mountain that could spew fire. She reached out and touched his stubbled cheek. “You look horrible.”
“And you should look afraid, yet you don’t.”
And suddenly, Venus realised something. The one you seek is there, Pluto had said. She’d of course thought that the senshi meant Beryl, but whom had Venus been seeking for weeks? Not the witch. Her friend.
What she must do was suddenly so clear. Risky, but clear. How could she not have seen this before? With new-found confidence, she grinned at him. “I’ve got two missions tonight, and my instincts tell me that this one is more important.”
“And less scary?”
She laughed, genuinely. “Dear me, no.”
“So, try to kill me then. Even though I have to say, I’m quite flattered that the Queen would send you to dispose of such a lowly Terran as myself. You’ve got quite the reputation, you know.” In fact, she didn’t. They’d thought that all of her secret missions were just that: secrets. At some point, she’d have to talk to the Queen and let her know that her secret assassin was a secret no more.
For now, Venus cocked her head. “I am the Soldier of Love and Beauty, Jadeite. This part of my mission relates to the latter part of my title. My other mission relates to the former.”
“You wanna make me pretty?” he asked, the old glint in his eyes and a hint of a smile on his lips.
“That’s a lost cause,” she teased, wondering where the lightness came from. Originally, she was here to kill, and yet the only thing missing from their usual banter was the wine.
“I’m not here as a soldier, I’ve come about Mars.”
The smile remained in place, frozen.
“What about her?”
Venus took a deep breath. She wasn’t keen on Pluto, didn’t like her all that much, even though she never really knew why, but she trusted her. If Pluto said this was important, if Pluto of all people for once imparted a warning, then she would be a fool not to heed it. Even if heeding it meant breaking vows, forsaking oaths, and defying her Queen. She’d kill Beryl later, now it was time to take care of Jadeite and Mars, once and for all. She took a deep breath.
“You will marry her.”
He snorted. “Not on the cards.”
“I put it on the cards.”
“Because you’re the Soldier of Love and Beauty?” He laughed at her now, but there it was, the despair that she’d seen so many times in Mars’s eyes.
Venus smiled. You only despaired if you loved. That was the whole point. This battle was one she would win.
“Yes.”
“You are my friend, Venus. Even though you’re not supposed to be. And she was my lover. Even though she wasn’t supposed to be. Friendship can exist in secret, but marriage cannot. I will not make my love for her a dirty secret. Kunzite already told you as much. For once, we are in agreement, my commander and I.” His voice caught and he busied himself with his pipe.
“You are not listening to me. Marry her. In public. We can’t do it on the Moon, obviously, but we have two other planets available. Earth or Venus. Personally, I’d go with the latter. People there love love. They will invite love. They will celebrate love. Especially so if the Head of State officiates.”
His head snapped up. “That’s you.”
“I am aware of that,” she said firmly.
“What of your Queen?”
Venus thought back to the Queen’s aged face, to the silver crystal in her hands, to her disappearance into the Eternal Gardens. To Pluto’s presence and the silver light. “She will not approve officially, but no harm will come to you or Mars.” Venus thought for a moment, then sighed. “I might as well chuck Jupiter into the mix.”
Jadeite laughed, madness and despair and a glimmer of hope in his eyes. “You’re not on the cattle market on Solstice, Venus.”
“She is with child. You know whose it is.”
Jadeite’s jaw dropped. “You’re serious.”
“I am. You and Mars, Nephrite and Jupiter. They’ll have to leave Serenity’s service, but we will find other ways to make use of their considerable talents. Maybe guard her when she’s with your prince, or enter diplomatic service.”
“You’d reduce your princess’ guard to two?” Jadeite asked, incredulous.
Behind them, a tent rustled, and Zoisite stepped out. He didn’t even pretend he hadn’t been listening. “She’ll replace them,” he offered. As he ambled closer, hands in his pockets, he threw her a shrewd glance. “Uranus and who else?”
Venus turned to him. He’d always been smart. Frighteningly so. “Neptune. Do I need to shield myself? Any daggers?”
He shrugged, looking like an innocent boy. “Maybe. Depends on whether what you promise is genuine.”
“And otherwise you’ll stab me?”
“I will before I let you hurt my friend,” he said solemnly, “but it might reassure you that I would take no joy from it.”
“Zoisite,” Jadeite said softly, and the two men exchanged a look.
“Fair enough,” said the younger one after a silent moment. “I will talk to Endymion. Then he can talk to Kunzite. That will be a bit of a problem, naturally.”
“And who talks to Beryl?” Venus asked, her voice quiet.
Jadeite opened his mouth to answer, but Zoisite silenced him with a gesture. “What you are promising, Venus, is not just a match of love. It is a match that will pave the way, not for Earth’s inclusion in the Silver Alliance, not just yet, but for Serenity and Endymion. This is more about politics than anything else, no matter what you say about the love that runs rampant on your planet. If you offer us politics, why then do we need war? Beryl will see that, too. And if she doesn’t, there are other ways. Now, Soldier of Love and Beauty, take this man to Venus, and then reunite him with his loved one.”
Venus arched a brow. “I am not in the habit of taking orders.”
“You are also usually not in the habit of committing treason.”
She bristled. “And I am not doing so now. These are negotiations for the sanity of my sisters and the safety of my princess. There is no treason in that. Now, where is Beryl?”
“So that you can kill her?”
“Yes.”
“Not here. Not anymore. Whoever informed you was working with old news.”
Venus frowned. “I seriously doubt that.” If there was one person in the universe whose news were never old, it was Sailor Pluto, Guardian of Time and Space. Zoisite looked at Venus. “A penny for your thought.”
She waved her hands at him, and Jadeite laughed. “Her thoughts are worth more than that.”
Pluto had sent her here, and she must have known that Beryl was no longer present. She also must have known that this would give her a chance to negotiate with Zoisite and Jadeite. Making one thing more important than the other. Find a way, Venus, she’d said.
Well, she had. But there was much more still to do, much more to solve.
Helping Serenity and Endymion in that foolhardy quest to make their love official, for one. Without anyone getting killed, preferably. Getting the Venusian soldiers here on earth back under her command, and finding the one who’d stabbed her. Training Uranus and Neptune (and what a battle that would be). Watching Jupiter embrace her happily ever after with that oaf and their unborn Terran child, now that it was suddenly safer than it had ever been.
Her heart clenched.
Returning Kunzite to their side.
Her side.
Find a way, Venus. That’s what the Guardian of Time and Space had said.
And damn, she would.
*** End of On Razor’s Edge***