Helping restless spirits, fighting spies,
saving the kingdom from foreigners and
from the nutsy decisions of its own queen,
exploring the universe, yet still
managing to return in time for
Etiquette Class 301…
Life isn’t too bad for a princess…
or a classroom full of ‘em…
…in Hotaru’s Classroom
PRE-CLASS REPORT 1: Past, Present, and Future
Once upon a time, there was group of five ordinary girls who one day
realized that life wasn’t simply about finding boyfriends and a way to pass
the high school entrance exam; they found that they were the reincarnations
of people from an ancient, majestic realm called the Moon Kingdom. Through
the years they have struggled to fulfill their continuing mission to keep
evil (whatever form it may come in) from wreaking havoc in their world.
Centuries later, they have succeeded in restoring their kingdom of peace,
an utter utopia…
“It may have taken only decades…I mean, the centuries were just to train
the queen…”
“SAILOR MARS!!!”
“Oh, sorry, did I say that out loud?”
“Oh, great, here it comes.”
“BWWWWAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! You are so mean, after all those years of hard
work…!!”
“In front of foreign delegates, yet.”
<*SIGH*>
…well, about as much utopia as one could imagine, living in future earth.
However, there were a lot more to consider before true peace could reign.
They had to contend not only with the residents of earth, but also with
those from other parts of the universe. There were some secrets of past
lives and of legends that were yet to be revealed.
Securing the peace and maintaining it would take a lot more than the power
released by a silver crystal. It would probably take centuries more of hard
work and determination. Now those ruling the kingdom must think of their
children, who will take over the duty of preserving and fighting for their
values through the next millenium or so.
Tonight is their initiation. Tonight they will receive their parents’ power
and the responsibilities that go with it.
Or so they thought.
PRE-CLASS REPORT 2: The Millenium Ball Part 1
The young girl nervously ran a hand through her long, wavy hair. She then
proceeded to tug at the sides of her gown, trying to straighten out the
wrinkles. She put out one foot from within the long mess of silk and
studied the dainty green slipper. Satisfied, she stuck out the other foot,
and contemplated the slipper for a rather long minute.
She raised her head slowly to meet the gaze of a young man watching her
intently.
He watched as the girl’s eyes widened…
“Oh, uh, sorry, I wasn’t really staring, I was just…”
…and widened…
“Uh, admiring your dress! That’s it! I uh, my family trades in um, plants…”
…and widened…
“Y’know, uh, that is the stuff they make cloth out of right? So I was just
admiring that shade of green…”
…and widened…
“YeeEEEKKKK!! Are you…all right…??” He squeaked out as she edged closer to
him, her eyes so huge and brimming with tears.
“Is that soda?”
“Huh…uh?” He blinked in surprise. How could such a tall person, with such
an expressive face, have such a whisper of a voice?
“Is that soda?” Her voice was still whisper-soft, although tinged with
desperation.
“Uh…yeah…”
Without another word, she grabbed the glass of clear liquid from him and
dumped it on her shoe. He watched, dumbfounded, as she took out a dainty
little green purse, and from it, a dainty little green hanky, and started
rubbing furiously at her shoe.
“It won’t go away!” She wailed, still so softly.
“What?” He stared at the clean green shoe.
“That spot!”
“Spot?” He echoed quite dumbly.
“Over there!” It was amazing how such a soft voice can be tinged with so
much hysteria.
“I don’t see anything!”
“Don’t try to make me feel better! Oh, someone of my rank and upbringing,
not to mention of my femininity should always be clean, presentable, and
shiny. Such a spot is a disgrace I can not bear to live with!!”
“Really…it was nice meeting you, Lady, but now I have to
go…uh, forgot to feed my goldfish!!” He rushed off without another word.
“Oh, but wait!” She cried out. “Dear, we were just getting to know each
other too.” She frowned slightly. She always thought goldfish were extinct.
She glanced around the crowd for one of her friends, but to no avail.
“Where could they be? Surely they should know it is only the proper thing
to be here an hour before the time given to us.”
She brightened when she saw Raine’s father standing in a corner, straight
and still, methodically drinking a cup of white liquid every few moments.
“Hello! You’re Raine’s father aren’t you?”
“Aa.” He made that short answer without a change in position, or even
facial expression.
“Do you mind if I stand here with you? It would be proper, since you are my
friend’s daddy and all, don’t you think?”
“Aa.”
“Isn’t this a lovely party?”
“Aa.”
She peered up at him curiously. “Pardon me…but are you always this
stone-faced…ah, I mean, stoic…that’s right…stoic…”
“Aa.” He was still staring straight, his face devoid of expression. She
felt a chill run down her spine.
“Um…have you seen Raine?”
“At breakfast.”
“Ah, of course…er…any other time?”
“At lunch.”
“Chiiiiiibiiiiii-Jupiteeeeeeeerrrrrrr!!!” A voice yelled.
She sighed in relief, then frowned at her friend, Chiharu. “You really
shouldn’t yell like that, especially in the middle of a ball!”
She rolled her eyes, shoving the long bangs from her face. She was in a
tight-fit red gown, and looked as pretty as ever, but her lack of interest
in fixing herself and her lack of social graces hid the looks she inherited
from her mother.
“Yes, Lady Jupiter. Have you seen Raine?”
“I was in a discussion with Chibi-Venus’ father, but he hasn’t seen her…”
She lowered her voice. “…and he hasn’t even cracked a smile since I started
talking to him. Is he always like that?”
“Naw, you just don’t know how to deal with him.” She took out one of her
voodoo dolls and a bright silver pin from the many that were arranged in an
intricate design on her hair. “Hello there! I just mastered the art of
voodoo. Wanna see?”
“…”
“See, I told you he…”
“Shh!! Watch this, I pull the leg up…”
A commotion erupted near the entrance as one of the guards suddenly kicked
a lady entering the ballroom.
“What are you doing?!”
“I…I didn’t mean to…it just…”
“And then we pull on the other leg.”
“Wow, man, I didn’t think you could do a split!”
“Neither could I!! Help me up!!!”
“But…but…” Yuri stammered. “That’s Raine’s boyfriend!” She glanced up to
see Raine’s father’s eyes glinting, his mouth curved up in a broad smile.
He took the voodoo doll from Chiharu and stared at it a long while, turning
it over every now and then.
“Woow…” They heard Raine say. “I didn’t know you could do such wonderful
acrobatics.”
“Raine…” He yelped. “Save me…it’s some…black magic…”
“Aw, isn’t he humble?” She said, patting him on the head. “Do some more
tricks…”
“Raine..I…ow! ow! Owowowoowowoowowowowowowowow!!”
“Hey, what’s going on?!” Raine yelled.
Yuri stared in shock as Raine’s father started poking the doll in several
places with a pin Chiharu sweetly offered.
“Rai---” She thought the better of it. Article 355 of Proper Decorum for
Young Ladies…do not ever, ever raise your voice, especially not in public,
ESPECIALLY not at a party, unless it is an emergency. She smiled at herself
for remembering the code then thought about it. Was it an emergency?
“Owowowoowowowowowowow!” Continued to echo in the ballroom.
Nah, he’ll live. She settled for running after Raine instead. Oh, dear, I
musn’t run either…Article 432 of Proper Decorum for Young Ladies…
“OWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!”
She settled for walking briskly towards Raine, who was scolding her
boyfriend for not telling her where it hurt.
“It hurts here…no there…no…OW!”
“Well, if you keep acting that way, how am I supposed to help you?”
“Raine!” Yuri said, taking time to smooth back her hair and straighten out
her dress before continuing. “It’s your father. He’s causing this pain.”
“What?” She stomped over to the corner of the ballroom. Her father had let
the doll lie peacefully on the ground…that was good…he had this gargantuan
gun pointing at it…that was bad. “Daaa-aaadddyy!!” She cried out, glaring
furiously at him, even as he strove to hide the large gun behind his back
and started whistling. She picked up the doll and dusted it.
“Honestly! Who started this!”
He and Chibi-Mars pointed to the other at the same time.
She sighed resignedly. “Get the spell off the doll.” Chiharu stared at
Heero. Heero stared back at her. They both shook their heads.
“Do it or I’ll tell mom to cook some appetizers for this ball.”
Chiharu immediately started her mantra. Heero handed Raine the gun.
She grabbed it so quickly and so forcefully from him, it fired. She glanced
in horror at the doll with black markings on it’s neck…above
that…nothing!!!
“Oh my---!!! The head’s come off!!” Someone from the middle of the ballroom
shrieked. “Somebody, heeeeellllpppp!!!!”
“Raine…”
“Uh, Raine?”
“RAINE!!!”
“She fainted.”
"Well, then, is HE Ok?"
"Who?" Chiharu blinked. "Oh, him. Of course, I already took the spell off."
"What? Then who screamed . . . and why?"
"Calm down, my lady, we can ship it up again and make a …uh…smaller…uh,
what was this anyway?"
"A SWAN!!!" Queen Serenity said, sniffling. "I made it myself and now
it's…it's…BWAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
"Oh, look, she's coming to…" Yuri said.
Raine shook her head as she struggled to sit up. "I had the weirdest
dream…I thought…"
"HEY, SOMEBODY FIND A WAY TO GET THE HEAD BACK ON!!!"
"'FRAID THAT'S IT FOR THIS, POOR THING! SO SORRY…"
"Raine…"
"Uh, Raine?"
"Raine!!! No it's not…"
"Too late. She blacked out again."
PRE-CLASS REPORT 2: The Millenium Ball Part 2
Chiharu reached in the little red backpack she brought with her, taking a
small stick with a cluster of petals at the end that emitted different
fragrances. She waved it over Raine’s face.
“Ah, good, she’s alive again,” Chiharu said.
“Oh, and look! Here come Chibi-Moon and Chibi-Mercury,” Yuri said
cheerfully.
“How can those two stand each other?” Chiharu muttered.
“Can’t you guess?”
As the two came closer to them, it became more and more apparent just how
the two princesses could get along with such different personas. Usagi, the
crown princess, was as animated as usual, talking about some sort of new
video game while munching hungrily on a plate piled up with mountains of
appetizers. Rumine stood calmly next to her, nodding every now and then,
seemingly signifying that she was listening, but her eyes were glazed and
not once did she turn to look at her companion. Neither did she laugh. Nor
smile. Nor frown. But neither did she interrupt her friend’s dialogue.
“Hi guys! I was just telling Rumine about the new video game mom showed me
the other night, it’s so great, but the title…I always keep forgetting,
something about a final fantasy for about the 23rd time or so…it’s one of
the best I’ve ever played and…oh, what happened to Raine?” Usagi brushed a
long pigtail of pink over her shoulder as she bent over to examine her
friend. “Hey, Raine, you missed the dramatics. My mother was in hysterics
over the, uh, swan sculpture she made…it lost its head.”
“A swan sculpture…?” She murmured, slightly dazed. “Was that what it was
all about?”
“You look like you need a drink. C’mon, let’s head back to the food table,
I was getting hungry again, anyway,” She said rapidly, tugging on Raine’s
arm. She turned to the rest of the Chibi-senshi. “We’ll be back soon,
meanwhile, Rumine can tell you all about that game I was talking about.”
Yuri and Chiharu sweat dropped as they left.
“She’ll always be a little kid,” Chiharu commented.
“Now, now, we mustn’t say such awful things about the crown princess,” She
said firmly, then added in her softest voice, “…even if it is true.”
They smiled and shrugged. It seemed that Usagi was just like her mother.
Perhaps those destined to be the keepers of the silver crystal will always
be children at heart to keep their inner selves pure.
“So, ah, Rumine,” Chiharu said knowingly, nudging Yuri. “What did Usagi
tell you?”
Chibi Mercury seemed to jump slightly, her eyes widening as she turned to
the other two. “What?” She said blankly. Her gaze lowered to their dresses,
and she blinked, staring at her own formal clothes. “Oh, dear, when did
this party start?”
“About an hour or so ago, which reminds me, you all have a lot to learn
about being prompt. Article 235 of Proper Decorum for Young Ladies clearly
states that…”
Yuri trailed off as Rumine’s eyes glazed over again and she started walking
of her own accord around the ballroom.
At the other side of the ballroom…
“I am telling you, cousin, the people here are insane.”
Alexandrite sighed as Lignite continued his tirade on how useless their
mission was and how they had better things to do with their lives. His
latest reason was the most original one yet: that Crystal Tokyo was
actually a habitat for the clinically insane.
“Lignite, for the last time,” He said in exasperation. “We are not backing
out of this. Stop being such a coward! And we are at a party tonight, not a
battlefield, so will you relax? I for one, am going to eat to the fullest
and…” His eyes widened. “Do you see that?”
“What?”
“That! That vision with the short blue hair…she…she…I can see it in her
eyes…the intelligence, the…” Alexandrite rushed after her. He stood a few
feet from her, brushing back is hair and straightening his suit in an
effort to further beautify himself.
“Hello, m’lady, I’m…”
He blinked in surprise as she walked past him, her gaze still fixed
straight ahead. He cleared his throat and tried again, rushing past her and
standing in position, some feet from her, standing poised at a side.
“Good eve, m’lady, and might I…”
His mouth was still hanging open as she again brushed past him.
“You see? I told you everyone here is a tad nuts!”
“Nonsense!” Alexandrite said determinedly. “She’s just being like a royal
lady…a little cool on the outside, but unable to resist my charms from the
inside. Watch.”
He again rushed past her, but this time stood directly in front of her. She
stood still, gazing straight at his chest.
“Might I compliment you on your beauty tonight, m’lady?” He said, smiling.
“I am Alexandrite, a visitor from a distant country. Had I known there were
such as beautiful as you here, I would’ve come earlier.”
She continued to stare at his chest.
Confused, he looked down at the pendant dangling from the chain around his
neck. “Oh, this…” He picked it up. “It’s a gem, a transparent one of its
kind…the beryl. It’s an Alexandrite. I wear it because that’s my
name…ha…ha…”
Lignite slapped his palm against his forehead. His cousin may be the brains
of the family, but aside from fancy introductions thought to all young men
of royal or rich birth, he couldn’t be counted on to continue a
conversation like a normal human being. He reached down to straighten his
own suit, thinking to help his cousin, when he realized a pair of dainty
hands were already pulling at his outfit.
“Will you look at all those wrinkles?” A soft voice said, chilling his
bones. “There, all better now, and oh! You’re that nice young man from a
while ago. We haven’t been properly introduced…”
“Oh, oh…” He said, shaking slightly as he took a step back. “That’s all
right…I…”
“Are you all right? You look rather pale.” She touched the side of his head
in concern.
“Yaaaagggggghhh!!” he cried out, jumping back. “Uh…ah…uh…I a…have to
go…feed my goldfish…”
“But you just did that!” Yuri called out after his fleeing figure.
“…It’s ah…their second feeding! See ya!” He stumbled slightly in his haste
to reach his cousin. He immediately began pulling on Alexandrite’s arm.
“C’mon, we have to go, she’s back.”
“Who? And will you stop it, I am in the middle of a conversation here.” He
cleared his throat. “So what do you say, lady? Will you have a dance with
me later?”
Rumine blinked once, twice. She was staring at some sort of jewel. She
shook her head slightly and looked up. “Oh…I’m sorry, do I know you?”
Alexandrite stared back at her, dumbfounded. “But I…I…just told you most of
my family history…” He took a step back, bumping against someone. “Oh, I’m
sorry, I…yeeeekkkkk!!”
A girl with sharp eyes and short, messy hair looked back at him, grinning
devilishly. “Wanna see a trick?” She asked, holding up a straw figure of a
man and a long silver pin.
“YAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!” The two cousins knocked down several bewildered
guests in their efforts to escape.
“Men,” Chiharu scoffed, hiding the straw figure. She swooped one hand over
hair, using the other to push the pins in place, and soon her hair was
again elegantly set up, her pins forming an artistic design.
“Who are they? I’ve never seen them before.”
“Alexandrite,” Rumine said quietly.
“What?”
“That gem on his neck…it was a transparent gem also known as Alexandrite.”
Her eyes clouded over. “From the family of Beryl.”
* * * * * * *
“Usagi, are you listening to me?”
“Uh-huh, hey you gotta try these pastries…”
Raine sighed. Given a choice between food and vital information that could
help save Crystal Tokyo, only Usagi would choose the former. She arrived at
the party later than her parents did, because there was news of foreigners
invited to the ball. That did not strike her as odd, for Queen Serenity
encouraged foreign visits to start treaties, but their family background
sent a chill down her spine…
“Usagi, if you won’t listen to me, I’m heading back to the others so we
could figure out what to do, and…” She stared at her friend, whose face had
just turned red. “Usagi?”
Usagi started gagging. “Cho-king…” She managed to gasp out.
“Ok, just hold on…” Raine made a move to perform a first-aid, when a shrill
voice made her stop in her tracks. Even Usagi, agitated as she was, stood
stone still.
“Raaaaiiinnnnneee honey!” Minako cried out, rushing over to her daughter
wearing a ridiculous nurse’s outfit. “I heard you’d fainted…and oh, my, are
you choking, princess? Let me nurse you back to health!”
Raine grabbed her friends arm and broke out in a run. “S…sorry mom! We have
to do something!”
“But wait, dear! Let me treat you first!”
Raine quickened her pace.
“R…Ra…ai…n…”
“I’m sorry, Usagi, but would you rather I leave you to my mom to have you
treated…”
Usagi’s face turned a peculiar shade of blue, but she shook her head
vigorously and allowed Raine to drag her across the ballroom.
Meanwhile…
“We’re telling you guys, the people here are, well strange.”
“Strange? They’re nuts!”
Malachite frowned in concern. “Do you think they know of our intent and are
trying to psych us out?”
Morganite laughed. “I think you three are being paranoid. This is a basic
utopia. Everyone’s at peace, and they’ve all grown to be so naïve. You
can’t expect me to believe that they would even suspect…” He shook his
head. “It’s simply absurd…I’ll have to ban you from drinking too much
wine…”
“So there you are!”
Lignite and Alexandrite trembled at the sound of the familiar voices.
“All right, you…whoever you are!” Chiharu said menacingly. “We want to talk
to you.”
“Chiharu, really!” Yuri said haughtily. “You’re scaring them. Now,
gentlemen, perhaps you would like to begin by telling us your names, then
we can discuss this in a calm manner.”
Morganite smiled. “Did my cousins offend you? Is that why you’re chasing
them?” He bowed. “I will apologize on their behalf for whatever crude
behavior they have displayed. I am Morganite, and this is another one of
our cousins, Malachite.”
“All the names of gems…” Rumine said in a sinister voice. “…from the family
of Beryl.”
The four stiffened considerably at that.
“Uh…it’s been lovely to meet you young ladies, but I’m afraid we have other
matters to attend to, so if you will excuse us…”
“I’d rather not,” Chibi Mars said, holding up four dolls. “Unlike my
friends here, I love to get straight to the point, by any means possible.
Would some form of torture be enough to get you to reveal your true
natures?” She pulled out another silver pin and poked one doll. Lignite
screeched in pain and jumped slightly.
“Maybe…” Malachite said.
“Absolutely…” Alexandrite nodded. “We’ll tell you anything…”
“Some other time!” Morganite finished. Smoke erupted between them.
“AFTER THEM!!” Chiharu yelled, already in pursuit. Rumine, ever ready to
perform a direct order, rushed after them.
“Wait!” Yuri cried out, picking up her skirts and running after them.
“Article 199 of Proper Decorum for Young Ladies states that…”
And somewhere else in the ballroom, front and center…
“So we are all in agreement, then?”
“It’s for the best.”
“It’s just as well, we are only lacking Venus’s vote now, but since most of
this was her idea, I hardly think it’s necessary to ask her again.”
“She’s busy nursing Raine back to health.”
“Oh, the poor girl.”
“Well, shall we get started then? Oh, look, I believe they’re headed this
way, and just in time too.”
“They seem to be…in an awful hurry…”
“Well, of course, Mars! It’s their initiation. I’ll bet they’re just
excited. Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please?”
Raine, Usagi, and Minako are rushing from the West of the ballroom.
“The initiation is about to begin. I, Queen Serenity of Crystal Tokyo,
would like to present…”
The four members of the Beryl family, Yuri, Chiharu, and Rumine are also
rushing, but from the East of the ballroom.
“…our princesses…!”
CRASH!!!!
Everyone sweat drops as they stare at the tangle of bodies, arms, legs, and
smoke in the middle of the ballroom. One good thing that came out of it was
that Usagi was able to cough out the food due to the impact. She breathed a
sigh of relief, then promptly fainted. Yuri was wailing loudly over the
disgrace of finding herself in such a position. Chiharu is struggling to
free herself, Rumine is simply staring into space again, and Raine is at
the bottom, tapping her fingers on the ground.
PRE-CLASS REPORT 3: The Initiation
It took a while to revive Chibi-Moon, untangle the bodies, fix Yuri until
she found herself “worthy” again; and an even longer while to convince
Minako that nursing everyone back to health wasn’t necessary. Once
everything was settled, five exhausted, red-faced girls in soiled, torn,
and rumpled gowns stood in a line, facing the queen. For a few moments,
everything was solemn as Queen Serenity began the ceremony. As soon as she
was finished with her speech, she stood before Chibi-Moon. Likewise, the
other senshi stood before their children.
“…and so…” the Queen continued serenely. “…we will be bequeathing to you,
our children, and future senshi who have now come of age, a part of the
power within ourselves to…”
“WHAT?!” Four very enraged girls shrieked. The senshi, save for Jupiter,
winced.
“Is that true, mother?” Chibi-Jupiter said, her eyes wide. “But we
thought…we thought you would be surrendering all your power to us…”
The murmurs in the crowd escalated and soon the ballroom was in uproar. The
chibi-senshi stared hard at their mothers.
“Silence, please,” Queen Serenity said softly. “Hear us out. You are not
children anymore. That much we are celebrating. But you may not be ready
yet to receive so much power and responsibility all at once. Being a senshi
takes a lot of work and plenty of difficult situations and decisions. You
will be needing proper training, which we are prepared to give to you.”
The other senshi nodded solemnly.
The chibi senshi raised their eyebrows.
“But according to the history books you didn’t need much training,”
Chibi-Mercury said. “You were just awakened and given power. Isn’t that
what we’re experiencing now?”
The senshi blinked and glanced at each other.
“Well, and see where that got us,” Mars said easily. “We had to wait
centuries for Serenity to get her act right. We were hoping to get it right
this time.” She added, winking at Chibi-Moon.
“Saaaiiillllooooorrr Maaaaarrrrssss!!” Queen Serenity shrieked.
“Usa…I mean, your highness, you shouldn’t wail in public…” Mercury
whispered frantically.
“Forget it, she’s a lost cause now,” Jupiter said, sighing. “Venus, you’d
better explain.” In the background, Mars and Queen Serenity started
arguing.
“Actually, it was all my idea. You are blessed with natural power…we can
see that now. You have your own powers within you…however weak at the
moment. Notice how even at a young age Chibi-Moon was able to use small
heart attacks? We did not want to stifle that true kind of energy. You have
to learn first how to harness it. However, along with your training, we
will be blessing you with the items you will need to make-up, and at least
a bit of our power to guide you until you are ready to achieve it in its
entirety.”
They nodded reluctantly.
Venus smiled slightly. “We also feel…after tonight’s escapade…that you need
to work on your social skills. Starting next week, you will all be enrolled
in the elite training center for soldiers. Other details can be discussed
later on. For now, I congratulate you on behalf of the senshi…and er…”
(sweat drop) “…of Queen Serenity for reaching this far into your maturity.
Along with your classes, you are free to take on certain missions that will
help in your training.”
"Together with your newfound power, we are also granting you the privilege
to discuss or oppose any royal treaty in our kingdom. You are already
considered part of our royal council, but all final decisions are ours
alone until such a time that you are ready to take on all our
responsibilities."
The chibi-senshi still appeared to be a little dumbstruck. Only Chibi-Venus
looked resigned (her father had insisted long ago that she join in one of
the training centers and she had already graduated from a special form of
military training).
"Attend a school? But how will I learn proper social graces at a training
center? For soldiers?" Chibi-Jupiter said, her soft voice tinged with
anxiety.
"I'm sure you'll find the curriculum pleasing enough," Jupiter said,
patting her daughter's shoulder. "You'll see. Just give it a try Ok?"
"But I was supposed to take a special school for priestesses like mom did!"
"Wasn't all that home tutoring enough?!"
"Apparently not," Mars said, staring hard at their ruined outfits. Behind
her, a sniffling Serenity tried to pull her buns back in place.
"All we are asking is that you take the training we have planned for you
for at least two years," Queen Serenity said, amazing everyone by quickly
regaining her composure. "Then you are free to choose any path you take."
She smiled at them. "This training isn't as ordinary as you think…" She
opened her hands to reveal the silver crystal. It shone brightly in the
room, calming and silencing everyone at once. Suddenly, there was a
blinding burst of light and everyone shielded themselves.
When they opened their eyes, they found that the crystal had broken into
two. Everyone gasped.
"This crystal is a symbol of power brought about by the pureness of one's
heart. Do not fret so much, it will be whole again…someday…" She handed the
half to her daughter. It shone slightly, then disappeared in Chibi-Moon's
heart shaped locket. "…when you become queen. We are entrusting all of you
to protect the princess and the crystal within her, for we do need its
whole power in times of strife. Thus, it's just as important as the one I
keep."
She held hers to her chest, and the crowd watched silently as it, too,
disappeared within their queen's locket.
"Now," The queen stated cheerfully. "That's that!"
The chibi-senshi sweat-dropped.
Mercury sighed. "Such an informal way to end it."
"Well, we do have other matters to take care off. Four new students will be
going to the same training center. They are special guests from a distant
country, and I had planned to welcome them today. May I present Sir
Morganite, Sir Malachite, Sir Alexandrite, and Sir Lignite."
The four men stepped forward confidently, then shrank back due to the
harshness of Chibi-Venus, and Chibi-Mars' stares.
"Your highness, do you know the family background of these men?!"
Chibi-Venus said, stepping forward.
"Why, of course." Queen Serenity smiled. "I have reason to believe that
they are the reincarnations of the four generals under King Endymion."
The chibi-senshi and senshi stared at their queen in surprise. Even the
generals appeared taken aback at the queen's confession.
"You knew that they belonged to the Beryl family?" Chibi-Venus said,
stunned.
"They are?" The Queen's eyes widened. "Why, no, I had no idea. I had only
to study their names. They all end with the same 'ite', isn't it amazing?"
"YAAAAAA!!!" The chibi-senshi and senshi crashed to the ground in surprise.
"Irregardless, is it wise to let them study here?" (Venus)
"I say we question them first!" (Mars)
"Maybe we should research on their family background." (Mercury)
"Do you want to hold them here for interrogation?" (Jupiter)
"Enough!" Queen Serenity said, silencing them. She may not appear to be
serious all the time, but when she was, she took the attention of everyone
in the vicinity. "I know of their background, and the positive threat they
carry, but I have also learned from Endymion that they were once good,
loyal soldiers and if we are to preach peace and love we should start by
giving them a chance. To doubt them and treat them with hostility will only
show weakness in our part and in our beliefs. We did not create this
kingdom for ourselves only. We've built it for the good of everyone on this
earth, which they are undoubtedly a part of. They shall be honored and
welcomed, especially by our chibi-senshi."
Everyone stared up at the queen with a mixture of pride and awe.
"Only she could have the purest hear that would suggest such a thing…"
Diana breathed.
"Of course, I helped her to grow into the respectable queen she is now,"
Luna whispered proudly.
The silence was broken by a loud grrooooowwwllll…
Queen Serenity scratched the back of her ruefully. "I'm kind of hungry."
Everyone sweat-drops. A slight crash is heard from the thrones where the
cats were perched at the armrests.
"Daddy, is mommy ok?" Diana said worriedly.
"Yup," Artemis said, peering between the two thrones. "Just a little too
dumbstruck to do anything right now."
They started to move again, when Chibi-Mercury suddenly let out a loud,
"Oh!"
Everyone blinked and stared back at her.
"What has happened?" She asked, blinking.
Everyone groaned.
And thus begins the training and missions of the chibi-senshi.