Life's Lessons
By Kristin Renee Taylor
Chapter 1
"The human soul is composed of three parts: the heart crystal which contains our deepest desires, the dream mirror which holds our greatest wish, and the star seed which makes all things in this life possible. Should either of these artifacts be removed, the victim will lose touch with himself and, invariably, die."
Terri sighed. She had heard this lecture a million times in the past four years, and it had yet to become interesting. With the ease of long practice, she schooled her expression into something reminiscent of attentiveness and readied herself for the long, dull wait.
"Now, of these three it is most dangerous to tamper with one's star seed, since the body weakens and dies very quickly. Centuries ago, when the Kingdom's scientists were first studying the concept of the Three, they would use condemned criminals as their test subjects, saying that the removal of the criminals artifacts was more humane than the current century's method of frying the felons alive in a chair. Naturally, none of these early test subjects survived."
Terri caught Yoko staring at her. Yoko made a face and a dramatic show of staving off sleep. In return, Terri rolled her eyes and looked away. Some people could be so immature.
Someone in the back of the classroom raised a hand. "What about the Senshi? Did they die when their star seeds were removed?"
'Pluto, save us,' Terri thought, bracing herself for the inevitable verbal assault. 'Here it comes.'
"The Senshi?!" their teacher said, outraged. "You dare rank the leaders and protectors of our Kingdom at the same level as we mere mortals! The Senshi are immortal, and minor things like star seeds, otherwise is heresy! For such words you shall have the pleasure of cleaning the entire auditorium with your bare hands, and while you do this task you shall reflect upon the awesome power of the Senshi. Now, leave!"
Terri and the others watched as the chastened student made his silent way out of the lecture hall. She glanced at Yoko, and saw that her fellow student looked more than a little stunned and, perhaps, scared as well.
"Well," the teacher said, catching everyone's attention, "let's continue, shall we? Attend."
Terri tuned him out.
* * * * * * * * * *
'Finally, some time to myself.' Terri stood on the roof of the women's dormitory and gazed southward, towards the crystal towers that lay at the heart of Crystal Tokyo. It was cold here, almost two degrees, and Terri was glad for her long coat. The University was situated at the outskirts of the city, and beyond the city limits the perpetual winter had yet to break. Farther into the city was, and always remained, late spring.
Spring. Terri barely remembered what it was like to have a true spring, and not Crystal Tokyo's magically controlled climate. True, she had been eighteen when, along with the almost the rest of the world, she had been put into stasis to wait out the never-ending winter, but her life before her millennia-long sleep seemed like a fading dream. But she still remembered some things.
Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and clasped both hands to her chest, directly over her heart. A moment's pause, and she drew her hands away, feeling the tingle in her hands and body that meant her little trick had worked.
Steeling herself, she opened her eyes and gazed the small, glowing crystal that floated and twirled above her cupped hands.
'My star seed.'
It didn't look like much, just two six-sided crystal pyramids attached at their bases, with a yellow sphere of light floating
inside of it. However, she had studied plenty of star seeds along with her fellow classmates to know that hers, and hers alone, was special. Her's was the only star seed that was the light grey of a winter's sky."You shouldn't be playing with that out here. It's too dangerous."
Terri started and spun around, automatically closing her hands around the precious star seed. "Who's there?"
The woman stood near the door that led back down into dormitory, leaning casually against the frame, seemingly undisturbed by the frigid air despite the fact she was only wearing a short-sleeved shirt, a light jacket, and a pair of jean shorts. She smiled warmly and fixed her pale blue eyes on Terri's light grey ones. "You're pretty bold, taking your star seed out right in sight of the Wildlands. You've grown stronger since I've seen you last."
She spoke a strange dialect of Neo-Japanese, so it took Terri a moment to understand her. "Seen me... last? I'm sorry, but you must be mistaken. You and I have never met."
She blinked and came closer to Terri, brushing a strand of blonde hair out of her eyes so she could study the tall student carefully. "Funny... you look exactly the same as..." She peered up into Terri's face. "Yeah, you're definitely her... Oh! This must be that memory corrosion thingy that Ami-chan was telling me about. Hmph. I didn't know it could do this kinda damage so fast. I figured you'd have to be out longer than three hundred years before you lost any major memories."
Terri bristled, "I was 'out' for one thousand and forty-five years. I think I'm entitled to losing a few memories."
"Bah," said the woman, dismissing Terri's words with a wave of one hand, "we put you under three hundred years ago and you know it. Oh, wait. You don't. Gomen." She laughed sheepishly. Just as quickly, she grabbed Terri's hands. "Lemme see that star seed."
Terri yanked her hands away and staggered backwards a few steps. "Leave me alone!"
The woman straightened up, but made no move to pursue Terri. "Why don't you want to remember?"
"What?"
"You're special, Terri-chan. Like the Senshi, you command a magic that is different than what the general populace uses."
Surprised by this statement, Terri glanced around, but she and her unnamed companion were the only two on the roof. Nevertheless, she dropped her voice. "Comparing me to the Senshi is heresy! Do you want us to be punished, or even killed?"
In response the woman once again stepped forward and gently took Terri's hands. She closed her eyes and Terri gasped as a strange warmth spread throughout her body. The world spun around her, her awareness expanding to the point that she was conscious of every strand of hair on her head, each caress of the wind on her exposed skin, of the very movement of her blood throughout her body. She felt it all from a distance, but she felt no fear. 'This feeling... it's so familiar...' Even her thoughts seemed to come from a distance.
The woman opened her eyes. "You feel it don't you? Your soul remembers, even if you don't."
"Who are you?" Terri whispered.
"Who are *you*?" the woman said just as softly.
Terri looked down at their clasped hands. "I... I'm not sure anymore."
The woman released Terri, stepping back as she did so. The strange sensations vanished as soon as she broke contact, leaving Terri feeling smaller than she had been just a few seconds ago. Terri opened her hands and wasn't surprised to see that her star seed had vanished.
"Terri-chan, I, *we,* need your help."
Terri's head jerked up. "My help?"
"You're the only one who's able to act. The rest of us are bound by the oaths we made to Sel... to *her.*" She shook her head and sighed in frustration. "I have to go soon. I'd tell you more, but I've already wasted way to much time just trying to convince you that you don't remember any of this in the first place."
"Go? But, wait, I don't understand any of this!"
"And you won't. Not while you're still here, at least.
"Now that I've awakened your soul, your powers will begin to manifest themselves. Normally, this wouldn't be a problem, but with your memory lapse, you probably don't even know what you're capable of. You'll need a teacher to guide you. Unfortunately, Rei-chan's unavailable, so that leaves me." She pointed past Terri, towards the palace. "I'll be waiting for you there."
Terri followed the woman's hand and gasped. "There? Now I know you're crazy. Nobody but the Priests and Priestesses are allowed there!"
She stared hard at Terri. "Then consider this your first lesson, Terri-chan. In this world, the world that humanity wished for and was granted, nothing is as it seems. You will need to make the distinction between truth and falsehood, reality and fiction, with incredible accuracy if you are to survive for very long. And survive you must, because the fate of reality itself weighs on your shoulders.
"I'll see you at the palace."
"Wait!" A blinding flash, and Terri was suddenly alone. Something wet landed on her, and she looked up in surprise as snow spiraled down onto the campus, driven by a bitter northern wind.
* * * * * * * * * *
Yoko nearly tackled her when she got back to her room. "Where have you been, Terri? The whole campus is in an uproar." She grabbed Terri's arm and dragged her towards the ground floor. "I've been looking all over the entire place, and I find you mooning in your room." She clucked her tongue in displeasure. "I've probably lost my seat searching for you."
Terri realized that they were headed cross-campus, towards the auditorium. They weren't the only ones, either. A veritable flood of students crowded near the entrance, all waiting to be let inside.
"Wait, Yoko. What are you talking about? What's going on?"
"Shit, there's no way we're getting in through there," Yoko growled, ignoring Terri. "Oh well, we'll just have to take my short cut." They detoured the crowd and headed to a small, locked side entrance.
"Yoko! For Pluto's sake, tell me what's going on!"
Yoko released Terri's hand and fiddled with the door. "There's a Senshi on campus." There was a soft click, and Yoko sighed in satisfaction as the door swung inwards without a squeak. "Ha! And they said I was nothing more than a powerless runt. That'll show them." She glanced over her shoulder at a stunned Terri. "Coming?" She walked through the doorway without waiting for an answer, and Terri had no choice but to follow along. The door closed silently behind them, locking them in darkness.
But not for long, as Yoko produced a small object in her hand that turned out to be her star seed. She grinned at Terri, "Who needs flashlights?"
"You shouldn't be doing that," Terri replied absently. She was still trying to believe that a Senshi -an actual Senshi!- was on the campus. Yoko flashed her another smile and set off towards the interior of the auditorium. Terri trailed behind.
"You should've seen it, Terri. I swear that every Priest and Priestess in Crystal Tokyo showed up with Her and they had such beautiful cloth--"
"Which one is it?"
Yoko glared at Terri for the interruption. "I don't know."
"You don't *know!*"
"Well, unlike *some* people I could name, I don't go off mooning whenever I hear news of a Senshi coming to campus."
The two women glared at each other briefly, then Yoko continued on. "I don't know which one it is, but the Priests were wearing green and the Priestesses were wearing pink."
"Jupiter," Terri breathed, astounded. "But why would She be here? Why not Mercury or Neptune? I mean, they're the patron Senshi of Education and the Arts."
"Do I look like a Priestess? Of course I don't. Maybe She needs soldiers in the Wasteland. I've heard attacks have gotten worse, lately. Now, hush. We're getting close."
Terri recognized that they were creeping through the backstage wings. Voices drifted towards them, and Yoko's light vanished as she returned her star seed to it's proper place. They reached the edge of one of the wings and, with Terri standing over a crouched Yoko, peered their heads out.
Two people stood at center stage, having an animated discussion. Terri immediately recognized the University's Chairman. And the other person, the woman, was obviously the Senshi. "Look at how tall She is. She's taller than me!" Terri murmured. "It's got to be Jupiter."
"Quiet!" Yoko hissed, but Terri could see that Yoko was also amazed at the Senshi's height.
Terri shifted, bracing a hand on Yoko's back, and studied the Senshi's outfit. White body suit and gloves, deep green skirt to match the bands on the gloves, and two pink bows, one on her chest the other at the base of her spine.
Terri frowned slightly. Something was strange about the Senshi's clothing, but she couldn't figure out what it was.
The thought nagged at her, until swept away by the Senshi's words. "Your concern for Terri Ganabile is justified, Chairman. As soon as my job here is complete, I shall investigate this person."
Terri inhaled sharply. Yoko covered Terri's hand with one of her own and squeezed it lightly. Jupiter looked towards the wings, directly at Terri.
The Chairman looked around as well and wringed his hands nervously, something Terri had never seen him do. "Thank you, Lady." He hesitated, then said slowly, "Will You send her to the Wasteland?" Jupiter looked at him and he stammered on, "Th-that is the natural punishment for one such as her, r-right? Exile?"
For the briefest of instants, a green aura flared around the tall Senshi. Terri's vision swam, and she caught herself on Yoko's shoulders before she fell. Yoko glanced up at her, worried.
Jupiter glanced again towards the wings and said, "That is not your concern, Chairman. Nor is it my decision. The choice is, and always has been, our Excellency Queen Serenity's."
The man paled and dropped to one knee, praying feverishly under his breath. "Praise be to Serenity," he finally said and stood back up again.
One of Jupiter's Priests climbed onto the stage and spoke to the Senshi quietly. She nodded, "Let them in." To the Chairman, "Enough of this. I have some things to say to your student body. We shall finish this discussion later."
The chairman knew a dismissal when he heard one. He left rapidly, heading for the wings on the other side of the stage.
Terri straightened and Yoko stood. They shared a silent look and, as one, turned to walk back to the side exit.
Jupiter stood behind them, waiting.
Terri yelped and leaped backwards, into Yoko. They both fell to the floor in a heap.
"Spying on a Senshi is an offense punishable by death," Jupiter said coldly.
Terri joined Yoko in kneeling, with their heads at the Senshi's feet. "W-we d-didn't mean t-to, m-m-my Lady," Yoko stammered.
"SILENCE!"
Terri flinched. Yoko whimpered.
Movement. "Look at me," the Senshi said in a much gentler, but no less colder, tone. Terri glanced quickly at Yoko, who shrugged slightly. They both sat up.
Terri found herself eye-to-eye with the Senshi of lightening. Jupiter crouched just in front of her, and Her gaze struck Terri like a slap. She looked away quickly.
"Who are you?" Jupiter said softly. "You look like just like... But that would be impossible. She's dead." Terri said nothing and, a moment later, she felt that deadly gaze slide off of her. She risked a look, and saw that the Senshi had stood and moved away.
Jupiter called one of Her Priests to Her and spoke quietly to him. He nodded, slipped the hood of his green robe over his head, and moved off into the darkness. Jupiter glared at the women, "Both of you will follow Kanz. You will wait for me."
Yoko hurriedly climbed to her feet, all but dragging Terri after her. The Senshi watched them go, her face an expressionless mask.
* * * * * * * * * *
Yoko paced the width of the Chairman's main office. Terri watched her from one of the seats. Five steps to the window. Turn. Five steps to the wall. Turn. Back to the window. Turn. Back to the wall.
"SHIT!" Yoko punched the wall with her fist, and Terri winced at the sound.
It was the first word either of them had spoken since Kanz had left them here, locking the door behind him. That had been almost an hour ago.
Yoko resumed her pacing. "What are we going to do, Terri?"
"I don't know, Yoko-chan."
Yoko paused. "What the Hells did you call me?!"
Terri winced. "Nothing. Ignore it."
Yoko grunted. Five steps to the window. Turn. "What did you do that attracted a Senshi's attention?"
"If I had known, I wouldn't have done it."
Five steps to the wall. "What kind of answer is that?" Yoko said angrily.
"It's the only answer I've got!" Terri retorted.
They glared at each other. Terri sighed and slumped in her chair. "This can't be happening."
"Believe me. It's happening."
Terri shot to her feet as Jupiter, accompanied by Kanz, stepped through the doorway. The Priest closed it behind them and set himself in front of it. Yoko immediately threw herself onto the ground. Terri started to emulate her friend, but then she paused, and straightened, staring the Senshi in the eye as She walked behind the Chairman's desk and sat down.
Surprisingly, Jupiter smiled at this small defiance. "You have backbone. I admire that."
Realizing that she wasn't going to be struck down where she stood, Terri nudged Yoko and helped her to her feet.
Jupiter studied them both for a long, uncomfortable moment. Leaning Her elbows on the desk, She pressed Her fingertips together in front of Her face and stared hard at Yoko.
Again, the green aura came into being, and Yoko gasped, her eyes dilating as her entire body locked up.
Jupiter made a sound partway between amusement and anger. "Interesting. You're a heretic."
Terri barely had more than an instant to register that statement before Jupiter looked at her. Her entire body tense. Her vision doubled, then tripled. Something pounded inside of her head, searching through and discarding memories and emotions, destroying barriers like they were paper. One barrier withstood the onslaught, and when Jupiter's power came in contact with it, golden light flared, filling every part of Terri's being with warmth.
"My Lady!" Someone shouted distantly, probably Kanz.
"Terri!" Yoko cried. Her voice echoed strangely.
"That was certainly... unexpected." Jupiter's voice came from far away.
"My Lady, what happened?"
"I attempted to discover this one's level of magic, but someone is protecting her, preventing me from accessing any part of her mind that even knows the meaning of the word 'magic.'" She paused, then said, "The signature is reminiscent of Venus's, but Venus wouldn't bother with one as physically weak as this one so obviously is."
Terri's hands tingled. She tried to move them, but the most she accomplished was a slight twitching of her fingers. Black spots swirled through the golden light.
"Hm... First the Chairman of the University claims that one of his students has been practicing deadly magic. Then I find this student in the company of a heretic. And now, when I search for the truth, it is hidden from me.
"I don't believe in coincidence."
The black spots spread and slowly Terri's vision cleared. She found herself lying on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Yoko hovered over her, anxious. Terri blinked, and the effort took almost all the strength she had. She decided to keep her eyes closed for a few minutes more.
"What will you do, my Lady?"
"Why, take them with me, of course. True, Serenity only wanted a count of able-bodied people living at the University, but that doesn't mean I have to conduct the count personally. I have much more important matters to deal with at the Palace, and I might as well drop these two off with Mercury when I take care of it."
<I'll see you at the Palace.>
Terri didn't believe in coincidence, either.