Agapé - Seiya x Usagi // Sailor Moon // Chapter Five
Agapé
Written by: Mikami
Chapter Five
The Calm Before the Storm
Queen Serenity gazed down through the arena’s still lively uproar at Crystal Tokyo’s win. There was an underlying irony to these circumstances and the realization pierced her thoughts when her eyes rested on the red Templar standing in the middle of the victorious trio. The Moon forum cheered on, now pleased with the notion that their Empire was soon to recognize one of their greatest rivals in a binding alliance. It was hard to believe that almost two weeks ago Aristaeus’ generals were formulating stratagems to attack the state of Laude. They had known Laude was well aided by Crystal Tokyo and expected an intervention from the military city-state. But now everything had changed so rapidly, the Moon Queen herself was hard-pressed to follow.
An aching void swallowed her chest when she remembered her husband, Aristaeus, who was bedridden for months and wasted away by sickness. He reminded her at least once every day that he was going to die and assured her it wasn’t to shatter her hope but to prepare for change. Like a woman who loved her husband so fiercely, she denied his morbid claims and told him that he would live to see the war end and the Moon triumphant. The ailing Emperor had smiled and touched her tear-stained cheek with emaciated fingers. He told her his plan for the tournament three months before he passed away. Queen Serenity neglected to tell her daughter, keeping it to herself until Aristaeus lay unmoving and was only a dry husk of a once great man.
“Soma,” Queen Serenity called her personal attendant.
“Yes, My Lady,” she said, stepping forward.
“Send word down to the armed guard by the pillars. Tell them that I desire an audience with the victors of the tournament later this evening.”
“Of course,” the attendant bowed and proceeded down past the platform.
It was time to meet them-specifically him: the dark-haired one. Queen Serenity was preparing herself for this ever since Aristaeus’ passing. She had to be strong in order to be in the same room with the man who almost assassinated her husband years ago. When she closed her eyes, the memory was still clear-cut and vivid. She recalled his speed, his cunning and above all, his emotionless eyes as he pulled out his glinting Earthen weapons. The Queen couldn’t remember what the soldiers called them; only that he possessed two handheld armaments that carried a lethal range of artillery. She couldn’t fathom how he had gotten into the palace, let alone the royal chambers. Everything in the room seemed to explode, creating a spray of force that matched magia in every sense of the way. Queen Serenity didn’t imagine the face of battle would be brought into her very abode. Even as Aristaeus countered the terrible invasion with his own staff of magia, the dark-haired assassin was notoriously difficult to kill.
Just as her husband received a grievous bullet wound to his shoulder, the swarm of palace guards entered the royal chambers and was able to subdue the Templar-but only after two thirds of them were eliminated by him. He was unmasked and dragged out of the chambers. As Queen Serenity withdrew the bullet from Aristaeus’ shoulder with her own talents as a Priestess of Healing, a single guard confirmed that the Templar had already assassinated one of the Chief Generals on that same night. In rage, Aristaeus exited the chambers, demanding to personally execute his would-be killer. Queen Serenity protested but was brushed aside. A dreadful while later, she was roused from the chambers to discover that the entire palace was in discord because the assassin had escaped. After that night, a vengeful Aristaeus sent the Mars garrison to launch a full-scale raid on one of Sagramor’s strongholds.
Queen Serenity opened her eyes and found her surroundings hadn’t vanished nor were they just a dream. She was still looking upon the three representatives from Crystal Tokyo, who were bowing low in respect to her acknowledgement.
The Moon Queen couldn’t deny that she was afraid of the future but the most fear lay with the thought of her daughter, resulting in the distance both of them felt now. In the face of change, there was no other choice for the Queen except a show of strength. Though she felt she was dying inside, it was covered up by an impenetrable mask. It was a barricade that she didn’t intend between herself and Usagi, though it occurred out of her control. She knew her daughter would respond the way she had and Queen Serenity tried her best to understand. The Princess had a greater luxury of expressing emotion than the Queen. And now, her only daughter was to be taken away across a vast field of darkness to a place where Lunar soldiers once went to die.
She stepped away from the railing when she discerned one of the armed guard approaching the trio in the center of the arena. Queen Serenity decided to depart the Moon forum, knowing full well that her daughter desired to be left alone. She glanced once at Usagi’s personal guard. Princess Venus looked most concerned but hesitated to address Usagi’s abrupt disappearance from the vicinity. Without another word, the Moon Queen left the balcony.
Two tiers below, Seiya, Yaten and Taiki were approached by a single armed guard just as they saw the Moon royal’s departure from the premises.
“Her Majesty has sent word that she greatly desires to congratulate the winning Earth state in privacy,” he said.
“We would be most honored,” Taiki replied.
The Lunar guard nodded and added, “Very well. There will be time for you to retire to your guest estate before an escort conveys you to an evening audience with the Queen.”
Seiya exchanged looks with Yaten. “Yes, we graciously accept Her Majesty’s invitation,” he said.
“Until then,” the guard responded and departed from the ring.
The dark-haired Templar turned to his companions as they began to leave the red circle.
“This is it,” Seiya said with a smile.
“We’re going to have to notify the Chairman immediately. He’ll want to make preparations for the Princess’ arrival,” stated Taiki.
Despite the high of victory in the air, Yaten cringed slightly to what his taller comrade could have also been insinuating. Aside from obvious preparations to consider, Endymion was a difficult factor in the equation and all three Templars shared the same uneasiness when it came to recognizing the Prince’s longstanding unhappiness with the situation. Yaten neglected to voice his thoughts and concentrated instead on the winning moment.
The three of them headed off toward the side where Rion was still seated on his chair, being aided by a magia healer. The bald soldier had his massive arms propped on the armrests with his torn knee extended out in front of him. The Moon healer was crouched by his injury, one hand over the other and hovering just above the gash. A warm glow radiated from his outstretched fingers as he concentrated on knitting back tendon and skin. Rion was averse to showing any sign of pain and was thoroughly glad for the distraction the Templars brought when they arrived at his side.
“How’s the knee?” Seiya asked with a smug grin.
Rion’s silver teeth glinted sharply at him. “It was just a scratch.”
“Oh really?”
“I’ve got evidence,” he said pointedly at his partially recovered knee.
Taiki laughed, knowing Rion’s tendency to take even the most brutal injuries lightly. Years ago, before he had his artificial, steel hand grafted to his arm, Rion’s hand was completely incinerated to ash when the Moon’s reinforcements from Mars raided one of Sagramor’s strongholds. Crystal Tokyo had sent Taiki and a battalion of troopers to aid in the battle. The tallest Templar couldn’t forget the look of utter bewilderment on Rion’s face when his limb was caught in the stream of fire magia. Later, in the recovery barracks, Rion could only state in wheezing humor that at least he wasn’t bleeding to death.
Rion smiled at his comrades widely. “I knew this was coming,” he said. “Though I can’t deny I had a speck of doubt.”
“If you doubted, I’m glad to know I can still surprise you,” replied Seiya.
“Where are your generals?” asked Yaten, looking around the arena. “Did they abandon you the moment you became an invalid?”
The burly soldier expelled a laugh. “Nah. Marrok and Balfour have gone ahead to prepare for the trip home and don’t want to carry my heavy ass.”
“That’s what the transport warp is for,” Yaten replied lightly.
Seiya saw Rion try to shift his weight but was met with a strict look from the silent healer still working at his injury. By then, the arena’s congregation was starting to clear out when the remaining Moon entourage vacated the third tier balcony. Earth’s other competitors were preparing to depart as well, while the same pageboys from the beginning were seen returning with the wooden sword cases. They approached each competitor, urging them to replace the rapiers and daggers. They declared all at once that the Moon Queen wished them to keep the blades as gifts.
Seiya relinquished his rapier and dagger to the case but sent the pageboy away to drop it off at the guest estate where the Templars were taking residence. He spotted Marquise, who was equally pleased to receive a souvenir from the tournament as Seiya. The redheaded genius stopped by specifically to remind his ally of his promise concerning the magia weapon development with Godfrey. The one-eyed Pollux from Maze and Valmont from Laude also came around to offer good wishes and to speak lightheartedly with Rion about his latest brush with death.
There was lots of bustling when citizens, common and noble, of the Moon forum left their places in swarms. Soon, the emptying arena was left with only remnants of the tournament’s participants.
“The Queen has requested an audience with us,” Seiya mentioned.
Rion just nodded thoughtfully. “That’s to be expected… Do you think she remembers?”
“It’s hard to forget being ambushed in your private chambers with your husband as the target,” said Seiya nonchalantly.
“An unforgiving Queen is a scary thing,” responded Rion, shaking his head. “But, if she’s dead set on seeing the asshole that came close to killing the Moon sovereign, she must have considered some kind of forgiveness.”
The corner of Seiya’s mouth lifted. “It’s odd that I never thought about this until now. If she knew that, she’d think I was heartless.”
Rion replied, “Well, you’ll be making up a fraction of that by winning her daughter for Crystal Tokyo-the Princess’ safety is guaranteed. I’m sure this meeting won’t be anything other than to scrutinize you while you try to boost Prince Endymion’s stats.”
The dark-haired Templar chuckled but Yaten cut in bluntly. “You mean, while trying to convince the Queen that her daughter will be happy, omitting the fact that Endymion only wants one woman.”
“That isn’t anything we should be worrying about,” Seiya said, his voice suddenly turning toneless. “What’s done is done.”
Yaten looked at his comrade skeptically. He knew Seiya was lying. If anything it bothered him the most that Endymion was distraught over being separated from Kakyuu. And it was done through the Chairman’s orders that Seiya himself followed unrelentingly. Yaten didn’t want to think about either but he felt it wasn’t wise to push aside the complicated matter that awaited them back home.
Taiki stopped Yaten with a warning gaze before he uttered anything else.
“The Prince issue aside, are you sure the Moon Queen is aware of your rank?” asked Rion with an impish grin.
“What kind of a question is that?” Seiya said, raising a brow.
The larger man shrugged simply. “Well, just saying…she’ll clearly remember who you are but I don’t think your position was widely known. For all she knows, you could be the fucking Chairman that’s decided to win the contract on his own. She could be scared out of her mind thinking her poor little girl is going to marry Aristaeus’ would-be assassin.”
Rion erupted into laughter at his own preposterous theory. His muscled bulk shook with amusement but was scolded by the Moon healer for moving too much.
“We’ll find the answer to that later this evening, though I highly doubt that’s what she’s thinking,” replied Seiya, somewhat entertained by Rion’s ridiculous assumption. “Besides, it’s a lot less ironic considering my lowly status as a soldier. I’m just here to hand over the prize.”
“Yeah, you might want to give Endymion the heads up whether or not his future wife is a dog,” added Rion with a snort. This time, Seiya let out a laugh, as did Yaten. However, Taiki met their uproar with an exasperated sigh.
“The beauty of theories,” snickered Yaten. “It’s possible the Queen’s audience would include the Princess.”
“In that case we should be getting ourselves along,” Taiki suggested in a firmer voice. He looked up momentarily to see the arena almost empty.
“All right,” said Seiya on his last vestiges of amusement. He walked up to his burly friend’s side and landed a firm hand on his shoulder.
“Go on,” said Rion, who received narrowed eyes from the healer. “I’ll be fine once this magic trick being performed on my leg is over.”
“Take care of yourself,” Yaten added. “We’ll be seeing you back on Earth soon.”
Rion’s lips stretched into a silver grin. “Yeah, I guarantee it. I’ll be good as new.”
The three Templars left the company of their Sagramor ally, who assured them he’d be meeting the generals, Balfour and Marrok back at their own guest estate. An escort appeared beside Rion, awaiting the completion of healing just as the trio departed. They met their own escort at the one of the three exits of the arena and promptly followed him back through the warp transfer.
- - - - - - -
A slight breeze lifted the long gossamer curtains at the gilded windows. Twilight had descended upon the Templars’ guest villa, bringing from outside a waft of evening whispers through Seiya’s room. The dark-haired Templar finished fastening his high-necked collar. His fingers swept diligently over the six gunmetal buttons that lined down his torso in two rows. He was glad to regain his standard black garb, feeling most at home in his knee-length overcoat.
Seiya peered over at the red ensemble that was draped on a chair; the blazer was torn cleanly in several places, as were the slacks. It appeared unsalvageable after the tournament and he knew he would miss it.
Upon arriving back to their estate, the Templars spent the remainder of their time readying a return to Earth. Their escort notified them again of their audience with Queen Serenity and confirmed he would be back shortly when the time came.
Yaten was perfectly content in exploring the remaining rooms of the villa, relishing the limited hours by an extended stay in the piano common room. Taiki discovered a large study that doubled as a private library. The room was lined with shelves of books, many of them very old and all of them in the Lunar language. Up in his guest quarters, Seiya was able to treat his own wounds-most of them minor gashes that he quickly remedied with bandages he brought along.
It seemed to be getting late but Seiya didn’t bother checking his watch. Time ran differently on the Moon. Instead, he crossed the room and headed for the table standing adjacent to the bed. He remembered that along with an invitation to see the Queen, they were forbidden to carry their weapons in her presence.
It felt strange to see his double harness sitting atop the table and not feeling it hanging underneath his overcoat. From the two holsters peeked the gleaming steel of modified, twin M1911’s. Attached to the bottom of each holster, a short row of compartments housed additional cartridges.
Seiya stretched out a hand and caught a glimpse of the black curving marks etched on his palm. He peered down and slowly brought his other hand up to gaze at the second one. The memory attached to them was a cold one…Seiya could still feel the sharp blade searing the flesh of his palms open. His enemy had carved these symbols of revenge and the Templar tattooed over them in an attempt to vanquish the memory. He was wrong because it stayed ever vivid since then.
Quickly reaching for his black leather gloves, Seiya pulled them on to hide the scars from the past. Just then, a brief knock sounded at his door and a moment later, Yaten was peeking his head through.
“Let’s go,” beckoned the silver-haired Templar. Seiya nodded and followed him out.
Downstairs, all three of them were a little surprised to discover a different escort than the one who promised to fetch them earlier. It was a woman with honey-blonde tresses, flowing in ringlets around her slim shoulders. She wore a modest, periwinkle-colored gown and a white sash that identified her as a servant to the Queen.
“Good evening,” she curtsied graciously. “I am Soma, one of Her Majesty’s personal attendants. The Queen has dispatched me to collect the victors and most honored guests to a private audience.”
Soma gestured for the Templars to follow her. “We mustn’t waste any time. Her Majesty awaits you.”
While they began their short journey back to the warp transfer at the end of the white colonnade, Seiya briefly wondered if their meeting with the Queen would take place inside the Moon palace. However, there was no point in voicing his question to Soma when she led them through the blue column of light. Their small group of four ascended to a warp platform that landed them outside the palace walls but in a cluster of bureaucratic buildings. The white architecture almost glowed blue from the reflection of the sun’s faraway light on the Moon’s surface.
Soma led them through the wrought iron gates that revealed the largest administrative building. The stone courtyard beneath their feet was a glittering mosaic that formed a path toward the heavily ornamented entryway. The establishment stood tall and towering; its front was decked with many windows.
They entered the sweeping, front foyer where two staircases arced along both walls on the left and right, and met in the center to showcase the beginnings of the second floor. Statues stood guard at the banisters while soft lantern light illuminated the pallid stone.
“This is the Palace of Justice,” Soma said. Her voice echoed off the walls, as did all their footsteps.
The Templars trailed the Queen’s personal attendant up the stairs. The path led to an extensive corridor that spanned in several directions. After picking the rightmost one, Soma’s pace seemed to quicken.
“Have you contacted the Chairman?” Seiya asked.
“Already done,” replied Taiki. “He’s been expecting it.”
The hallway was filled with many doors but their destination were the large, double doors at the very end.
Soma turned to face them when they arrived. “This way, please.”
Seiya, Taiki and Yaten stepped through the threshold and found themselves in an elegantly decorated conference room. The windows that lined the sides each had their curtains drawn as bright lamps served to give the room a soft glow. Three high-backed leather chairs were pulled away from the long table and placed off to the side where a spacious, private area was situated.
Soma motioned to the chairs for the Templars to take a seat.
“Please wait here. Her Majesty will be with you in a few moments.”
She bowed and made her exit through the same set of double doors.
At once, Yaten sat down as Taiki began to wander around the conference room in speculation. Seiya chose to move toward the window.
He pulled back the curtain a little, just enough to reveal the same illustrious sight that always greeted him when he looked upon the Moon’s Capital. Seiya never had time to appreciate such things but he let himself silently marvel at its white magnificence. It was unfortunate for Princess Serenity II to be taken away from all of it.
“Do you think we’ll see her?” Yaten mused, relaxing his hands on the armrests. “I found it weird that she suddenly disappeared at the end of the final round.”
“Maybe she was upset at the selection,” smirked Taiki. He walked back toward the chairs and took a seat beside Yaten.
“It’ll be better if we could just get this over with,” Seiya replied curtly. “Cut the anticipation short since the Princess has been scarce-”
“Then I am sorry to disappoint you, Master Templar, but my daughter will not be joining us this evening,” interrupted a smooth and melodic voice.
Yaten and Taiki immediately rose from their seats as Seiya turned around. The three Templars took in the sight of the regal white Queen, not comprehending when she had arrived and from where.
Queen Serenity was attired in a strapless, waist-cinching gown that cascaded in voluminous layers of tulle. Her long, silver tresses were intricately fastened to her head in a complex arrangement of braids and opal pins. Her svelte form stood stationary as she gazed at the three men with an unreadable expression.
“Your Majesty,” they all addressed the Queen in unison.
Taiki said, “We are thoroughly honored that you would consider us at this time.”
She gave him the slightest lift from her lips; it was barely noticable. Though her outside demeanor remained unwavering, inside her heart had started to hammer. Ice blue eyes roamed over Taiki, who had formally greeted her, and Yaten, who had given a bow of respect. Queen Serenity stopped at Seiya. He moved slowly away from the window and stepped forward.
“By seizing victory in this tournament, we offer the Moon Empire and its Princess an alliance with Crystal Tokyo, one of Earth’s valiant city-states,” Seiya spoke. “The merger will unite us all and bring prosperity to both our nations.”
“An impressive victory,” the Queen said. “One that Aristaeus would have expected from a once formidable rival.”
“For you to voice those thoughts alone and for us to hear them is a privilege in itself,” replied Seiya with a bit of caution.
“Indeed.”
Queen Serenity gestured softly for them to be at ease and take their seats. Yaten and Taiki followed suit but Seiya remained standing. There was something in the Queen’s gaze that kept him still. He tried to read her when she approached them-slowly, cautiously. There was a flash of determination in her lightened blue irises, which seemed to be trained solely on Seiya.
“There will be no pretenses, Master Templar,” she said. “The only concern now that I have is for my daughter. While this alliance has sprung forth from the Emperor’s passing, it was certainly not a path I ever advocated.”
Though her face was calm and collected, her tone was firm and laced with authority.
“Your daughter’s wellbeing will soon be in the hands of the Chairman. As his personal representative, I assure you of her utmost safety,” Seiya responded, fully aware of the Queen’s recognition of him.
“Yes, I am familiar with Kardeiz Gamma’s militant preservation of everything in his possession,” Queen Serenity told him. “I also hear he has a son.”
“Prince Endymion. The Chairman has intended for the Moon Princess to be wed to his sole heir.”
There was no surprise that flickered on the Queen’s features and Rion’s earlier theory was irrelevant from the moment she singled Seiya out.
Queen Serenity looked upon him as she did all those years ago, but he was much younger back then. When her palace guards had finally subdued him, they stripped him off his mask to reveal a boy who was barely a man. Presently, when she set her sights on the familiarity of his face, the Queen distinguished the faint traces of the boy assassin. He was much taller now and broader across the shoulders. Though he was a soldier, his stance was regal and very much in tune with the knowledge of his rank. If he held the favor of Kardeiz Gamma, he was already expected to win the tournament.
She was without choice in the matter of trusting the Templars now the alliance would bind them together. The only comfort that arose from the situation was that their resilience through the war would affirm her daughter’s protection.
Taiki exchanged glances with Yaten. The silver-haired Templar seemed perfectly content in not having to deal directly with the Moon Queen’s sole attention. Taiki could only surmise that it had everything to do with the unspoken past.
“You will be leaving tomorrow,” the Queen stated.
“Yes,” affirmed Seiya with a short nod.
“See to it that she will not be a prisoner in her new home.”
“Endymion is a well respected figure and will be a strong leader when the Chairman retires his position. His virtuous stature and dignified manner will be significant in ensuring the Princess’ comfort.”
“Very well,” Queen Serenity said. “But there is one more question I will ask of you.”
Seiya paused and waited. The Queen peered at him, her expression turning slightly hard.
“Are you at peace with everything that’s transpired in your path, Master Templar?”
The question was like a projectile, backed by the tone of accusation. However, Seiya wasn’t sure if she was broaching the subject of what he attempted to do the last time he was in her presence.
There was a silent delay as Seiya chose his words carefully, making sure they sounded impersonal but skirted the issue that bubbled dangerously underneath the surface.
“My path has required me to execute my sovereign’s orders by any possible means. Failure is a very rare occurrence,” the dark-haired Templar conveyed. “I am an instrument to certain aspirations that may not necessarily be my own.”
He gave the Queen a standard answer but it sidestepped the principle of her question. Seiya wasn’t sure if he was at peace-living in strife made inner peace a difficult concept to grasp.
When Queen Serenity looked at him, Seiya knew she wasn’t satisfied with his answer. She turned her face away.
“I wish you well on your journey back to Crystal Tokyo,” she said, almost tonelessly. “Even though our two Empires won’t be bound until the marriage, our alliance begins as of this moment.”
Taiki and Yaten were more intrigued to watch the entire scene play out as spectators. Earlier, Yaten had leaned over to murmur at Taiki that he didn’t understand why the Queen bothered to call for all three of them when it was their comrade she was so anxious at scrutinizing. Taiki had shrugged and listened intently to Seiya evade the past.
The Queen’s attendant, Soma, stepped back into the conference room and took her Mistress’ side. At her appearance, Yaten and Taiki vacated the chairs and headed over to stand with their comrade. By then, Yaten had sensed the Queen’s drawback when she addressed them once again as three.
“In the morning, you will be taken to a warp different from the one you first set foot,” she told them. “Everything will be prepared beforehand to speed your journey back to Earth.”
“We thank you, your Majesty,” Yaten spoke.
“We will also be keeping your words in mind,” added Taiki.
Queen Serenity gave all of them a slight bow of her head. “Then I will say farewell. May circumstances be much lighter the next time we meet.”
Seiya watched the Moon Queen give him another glance as she began to make her way out of the room. The Templars discovered the door she came through when they hadn’t expected her in the beginning. It was off to the side and colored the same as the walls. Through the lantern light the outline of the door was barely distinct. Soma unlocked it with a key and the Queen stepped through, leaving her guests.
- - - - - - -
It was after midnight when the Moon Princess left her chambers for the darkened halls of the palace. Her steps were bathed in golden lantern light as she made her way down the cathedral corridor. It would take another left turn at the fork and a relocation from the warp transfer to leave the cluster of chambers and halls that designated her section of the palace alone. Usagi’s private dwellings, along with numerous rooms for her chambermaids, attendants and maidservants was in the eastern wing and also encompassed one of the palace’s main towers.
Tonight was the last night she would spend on the Moon and last time she would walk the halls as the Princess. However, the event that removed Usagi from her quarters wasn’t necessarily a nostalgic one. She moved quickly through the warp transfer to journey to the palace’s northern wing. The foyer greeted her, grand and dark, while bright orbs of light floated gently along the rounded walls on either side of two elongated doors.
The Moon Princess passed through the magia field barrier that the orbs created. She entered easily when the heavy stone doors opened of their own accord to her presence, permitting her entrance into the most guarded abode of the Moon palace-the chamber of the Silver Crystal.
Usagi could feel her very core become stimulated by the radiating power that flooded the massive room. The chamber itself was spherical in nature, allowing the flow of magia to remain unbroken as it circled never-ending within the space. From the stone doors was a single, long but narrow platform that jutted out from the rounded wall. It led to the center of the white sphere room, where the Silver Crystal hovered high above.
It seemed to whisper to her softly and Usagi drifted closer, feeling the familiar awe that came with every visitation to this chamber since she was a child. The Crystal shone with an otherworldly glow, bobbing minimally in its floating state. It appeared alive and almost breathing-something Usagi experienced resonating in her chest.
She walked the narrow platform toward the silver beacon and when she stopped at the very end, her eyes slipped closed to bask in its presence. A thread of vibration passed through her bloodstream and Usagi smiled, content in knowing that from this power source sprung the Moon dynasty many eons ago. It was the lifeblood, it was feeling and was the very heart of every citizen that dwelled on the Moon’s body.
Without knowing it, Usagi had slowly raised her hands. The teeming vibration through her spine grew.
“I remember when you were a little girl, you were scared of calling it to you,” said her mother from behind her.
Usagi’s eyes opened at the sound of Queen Serenity’s voice but found the silver entity hovering between her hands. She turned around to meet the gaze of her mother, who closed the distance between them at the end of the platform.
“I didn’t know what it was back then,” Usagi answered, looking back at the small, glowing orb. “The force that circulated in this room made me nervous.”
“That’s difficult to believe now,” said Queen Serenity.
There was a long pause between mother and daughter. Silence filled the chamber, but as pureblooded descendants from the Crystal’s first spring of life, their intuition could pick up its hums and flutters.
“I’ll be leaving everything behind,” Usagi said softly. She raised pleading eyes toward her mother. “Are you really sending me away?”
The turmoil in her daughter’s face ripped a seam in Queen Serenity’s composed demeanor. She had prepared words for this final confrontation but it was dust in the wind when she was faced with the situation as a mother and not a Queen.
“Usagi…” she started.
“Were Father and his wish your only considerations? You knew for months even before he died that he planned to sell me off to the highest bidder. Why didn’t you stop him? Why didn’t you protect me?”
Usagi’s last question was a strained hush as she tried to keep herself calm. Her hands, which still held the Silver Crystal between them, shook in barely bottled frustration.
“I’m not an ignorant child,” the Princess said. “I’ve known my entire life the war with Earth meant more to Father than I ever did. Even at death, he still concerned himself with it…”
Queen Serenity took cautioned steps toward Usagi even though her heart ached for the uncompromising position they both were thrust in.
“He was thinking of you,” the Queen managed out. “Only you, and a chance for a prosperous future. I could never deny you that.”
“But he could deny my happiness,” Usagi countered. “I can see it in your eyes. It’s fear of this ‘prosperous future’ and I know you hate this as much as I do.”
“With all that I am, yes. It broke my heart to make him that promise but it was his last request. And I am his wife…”
Queen Serenity trailed off to lull the quiver in her voice. Her royal mask was cracking at the accusation that she chose her husband over her daughter. But how could a mother and wife choose? She was being pulled in one direction and then harder in another. It was a difficult choice and she wished Usagi could see it through her eyes.
The Moon Princess had been stubborn. There was a part of Usagi that wouldn’t relinquish hope that somehow her mother could save her from the path that seized her future. However, it was now a dying hope as every hour brought her closer to her time of departure.
“Of course…” said Usagi gravely. “I’ve been to see Setsuna. My fate is fixed…”
Reaching out for her, Queen Serenity’s hands came to cover her daughter’s. The union of their hands made the Silver Crystal pulse urgently. It recognized the inherent power stored within them, while connecting with the very core that made them pureblood.
“Though the Crystal has bestowed upon us a prestigious position, we have always possessed less freedom than the rest of the hierarchy,” Queen Serenity said, a wave of sadness flashing in her eyes. “We are bound to duty and so it has been since the Crystal created life.”
Usagi looked up at her mother, seeing traces of old longings etched into the delicate lines of her face. Her hardened front against the Queen tempered at the wordless admission of forgotten dreams and wishes of freedom. The Princess was being called to take her place in the endless chain of royals that were obligated before her.
“What must I do?” Usagi spoke softly. She stared hard at the silver body until her eyes started to burn.
“The new alliance will bind together our two nations,” the Queen replied. “Crystal Tokyo will be apart of the Empire and will thus receive just consideration in every aspect.”
Queen Serenity took the Silver Crystal from Usagi’s hands and held it still between her own. She raised it higher, bringing the now rotating entity to eye level.
“They will be protected by our magia and the Earth shall be bonded with the Crystal.”
She looked past the growing pulsation of light and into her daughter’s face. A gentle smile appeared on her lips despite the increasing power that radiated from the spinning orb.
“Two halves make one whole, so too will two nations make one alliance.”
There was little time for her mother’s words to fully register before Usagi was blinded by an instant flare of white light. It seared the space between mother and daughter, lashing through the circular chamber in a burst of beams.
For a long moment, everything in her vision was white and sound was reduced to a deadened silence. Little by little, the alabaster screen before her widened eyes was lessened until it gave way to the sight of her mother’s gown and the surrounding chamber. The flash of beams withdrew and remained suspended around Queen Serenity’s outstretched hands. The Silver Crystal hovered between her fingers but was now in two separate parts.
“One half of the Crystal will go to Earth,” Queen Serenity said, seeing Usagi regard the pieces with awe.
“It cannot be transported any other way but through a vessel of royal blood.”
Usagi lifted her gaze and stared straight into her mother’s eyes. There was suddenly fear and warning in the Queen’s ice blue depths.
“You will have to bond with it in order to carry it to its destination,” she told her slowly. “During this time, danger may be imminent if there’s carelessness involved.”
“I don’t understand,” said Usagi, starting to reach out for the Crystal piece.
Queen Serenity pulled her hand back a little out of her daughter’s reach.
“Listen carefully to me when I say this,” said the Queen firmly. “As the vessel, when the Crystal is bonded to your very being, you will find a vast increase to your core source of magia. Such power has never even been fathomed by you, as the Crystal feeds off the latent potential you still haven’t discovered within.”
Usagi saw her mother look down at one of the pieces as if it wasn’t to be trusted.
“The power of healing magia will surge tenfold should you choose that avenue…but the use of offensive magia is a dire path while one is bonded. I’m imploring you to completely discard the latter while transferring the Crystal to Earth.”
Queen Serenity was pleading. The worry in her voice grew as the warning expression on her face became severe.
“Under any circumstances, do not perform offensive magia while carrying it,” she repeated urgently. “Promise me this.”
“I…” said the Moon Princess. “But why-”
“Promise me, Usagi.”
She was taken aback by her mother’s uncompromising tone but the insistent command in Queen Serenity’s normally passive irises instilled in Usagi a sense of dread and a will to obey.
“I promise,” said Usagi, giving the Queen an unflinching reply.
Queen Serenity nodded. “Then I will tell you that once the Crystal is inside, you cannot be bonded with it for more than three days or else it will try to take permanent residence within your core of magia. It will be difficult and very excruciating to remove it if time isn’t carefully monitored.”
“Yes,” Usagi responded.
The Princess could tell that with every warning and ground rule the Queen placed on this duty, the less inclined she appeared to do the final step. Usagi was also feeling great apprehension to taking such a beacon of power into her being.
Lifting one hand into the air, Queen Serenity tossed one of the halves back toward the space above the narrow platform. The Crystal half that stayed between her hands was brought forward.
“I know you’re afraid,” she said to her daughter. “But just remember what I’ve told you and there won’t be a reason to feel that way.”
One moment, her mother was stationary. The next, both her hands were flattened harshly against Usagi’s chest and the Silver Crystal was no longer hovering in front of her.
Usagi’s breath was stolen from her body and every attempt to swallow air constricted her entire being. Panic burst inside her. She didn’t know if she was physically frozen upright or if she was writhing on the ground trying to fight the incredible force that plundered her body. Usagi felt she was falling away, being dragged down and turned inside out by an invisible entity that lashed at her again and again. She was slipping, screaming in fear and confusion as she could no longer comprehend any other surroundings but the same blinding white screen. She felt like she was dying.
A tumultuous rush seared her bloodstream and arced painfully through her spine, exploding viciously in her head before the whole world turned black.
The Moon Queen fell to her knees at her daughter’s motionless form sprawled upon the platform. Usagi was out cold but the rise and fall of her chest hammered rapidly in an unnatural state. A last column of silver light shot up toward the chamber ceiling and vanished into particles that joined the circular flow of the Crystal’s other half.
Behind Queen Serenity two pairs of footsteps approached just as the Princess’ state of breathing returned to normal.
“She’s very strong,” said Princess Venus.
“A sleeping titan,” added Princess Jupiter.
“One that should never tap into her true latent ability,” the Queen spoke. “It would bode ill not only for her, but perhaps for all of us.”
Makoto knelt down beside Usagi’s unconscious form, as did Minako. Queen Serenity reached for Usagi’s hand and squeezed it gently.
“Remember my words,” she said. “Keep her and her use of magia under strict supervision.”
“We’ll be seeing to it personally, My Lady,” Minako replied.
Makoto agreed just as two palace guards were making their way down the narrow platform to collect the Moon Princess.