Haruka grunted as she came to a landing at the top of the staircase, her great golden wings complaining at the strain of the carefully controlled flight. She stood up, stretching her limbs before knocking on the white door at the top of the staircase. A tall woman with red hair and golden eyes opened the door, wearing a long silky dress that seemed to be absorb the pink tint in the light and darken it to red in the material. "Oh, a Sky Person. I don't know why you came through the caves—there is a balcony entrance, though I suppose it is hard to find in the rain. Are you cold? You don't seem to be wearing that much. Or are you hungry? I imagine the Darklings didn't feed you—most of their food makes outsiders sick, though the poor dears do try. Your eyes remind me of Kazeko; you must be one of her daughters. She had two, right? I guess you're the older one, Haruka—I'm told that Kotori is a little redhead." The woman reached out and grabbed Haruka's hand, her rapid-fire question-and-answer session leaving the Skyling reeling, unable to think. "I know you must be tired if you flew up that staircase! Come on inside and we'll see what we can do for you." The woman pulled Haruka inside, leading her down a short marbled corridor to a huge chamber carved out of the very heart of the mountain, crystal columns reaching out of sight, a fountain tinkling peacefully in the center, light streaming in from windows on the sides of the mountain, colorful carpet covering the floor, women seated on couches and pillows scattered throughout the room. One, a gorgeous pale blonde with pink eyes, rose off her pillow, white dress changing to gold as she passed under one of the skylights, smiling as she took the redhead's free head. "Who is our Skyling guest, Riko?" "Asakaze, meet Haruka, daughter of Kazeko and rightful Queen of the Sky People. My name is Rikuriko and this is my partner, Asakaze." "Are you all women?" Rikuriko nodded. "All Speakers of the Guardian—or Keepers of the Light as the Darklings call us—are women. When the Guardian of Time began to recruit us, she knew that the males that Darklings birthed every now and then would soon die out and their species would be all female. In order to show that she respects every species, she made all of her Oracles female so that there would be no conflict with the mountain-dwellers. We can adapt to her power much more easily than males, in any case. All Speakers are paired, too; the Guardian chooses soul mates always. She doesn't want us to be lonely in her service. Natsuko! Fuyuko! Our guest is no doubt hungry and will be joining us for the midday meal." Two of the Speakers—one with orange-gold eyes and chestnut hair and one with white eyes and pale blue hair—nodded and slipped into another room, obviously heading to the kitchen or wherever food was prepared. "What do you guys do up here?" "We serve the peoples of this planet. We're peacekeepers, though few have asked for our help in almost twenty years. The Guardian doesn't seem too worried, though." Haruka walked forward, wings open wide as she tried to imagine the size of the cave. "This place is huge . . . where's the Dark Queen the Darklings mentioned?" "Oh, she's off somewhere with our newest member. Ailan was the first Keeper to come here without a soul mate. We think that the Queen fell in love with her herself and chose her to be her partner. I imagine it must be lonely at the top, and all. She probably won't join us for supper, but I'll take you to meet her afterwards. By the way, why are you headed through our mountains, anyway? Don't you Sky People live father west?" "I'm heading for the sea, which I am told is to the east." "Then the queen should be able to help you." *~*~*~*~*~*~* Ailan purred as Setsuna ran her hands over her breasts, the silky material of her dress scratching her as the Dark Queen's hands moved lower, searching blindly for the hem of her dress. Ailan gasped as Setsuna covered her lips with her own, the fire in their kiss igniting the silver-haired woman's lust. Then she felt Setsuna's hand find its target between her legs, and she arched her back, pressing her body against Setsuna's, moaning in anticipation of what was to come. Unfortunately for the young Seer, it never came. A short, sharp knock sounded on the wooden paneling, eliciting a curse from the very aroused Dark Queen. Ailan sighed and rolled off the low couch, straightening her dress as Rikuriko spoke from the other side of the door. "Megami-sama? We have a guest, a Skyling princess." Ailan leaned over and kissed Setsuna, letting her tongue tease the older woman before she pulled away and headed for the huge balcony, leaving the glass doors open behind her. "Later, my love," she called as she vanished into the gardens. Setsuna sighed and straightened her dark robes, calming her lust with a lot of effort and millennia of practice, brushing her long green hair over her shoulders and sitting on the ornate black throne her Keepers had carved from opal hundreds of years earlier. Her Time Key, the tool through which she focused her power, waited quiescently in the stand by her throne, waiting for her need. When she was ready, she cleared her throat and spoke in her most majestic voice. "Enter, Rikuriko." The red-haired Speaker entered the Throne Room and bowed briefly before pulling a tall Sky Woman with short blonde hair, emerald eyes, and golden wings into the chamber. "Kurai Ojo'ou-sama, this is Haruka, daughter of Kazeko, of the Sky People." Setsuna smiled as she waved a hand. "You are dismissed, Rikuriko." The Speaker left, and Setsuna descended from her throne and dais. "A Skyling," she breathed. "There hasn't been one of your people here in centuries. You have all forgotten me." Haruka raised one eyebrow. "I'm not so sure. We still worship the Goddess of Storms, a dark-robed queen with dark green hair and fiery red eyes. I think that's you." "That's nice. I am called Setsuna by my friends. Why have you come to me, Haruka?" "I'm trying to find my people's ancestral home, and Kiyoshi-kun said that it was by the sea. Therefore, I am pointed fairly eastward." Setsuna took Haruka's arm and led her out onto the huge balcony, complete with sprawling gardens, majestic fountains, and marble temple-like buildings where visitors could pray to her or the other gods. A slender woman in a white dress that shimmered silver in the light with silver hair and purple eyes met them, a question on her lips. "Ailan, this is Haruka, Kazeko's oldest daughter and heir." Ailan bowed, and Haruka smiled at the two. "The other Seers told me that you two are an item, that you brought her here as your soul mate." Setsuna nodded. "They're right, and they know it. I couldn't help it—I was lonely, I fell in love, and I tempted her back to my mountain home." "And I never regretted a moment of it," Ailan whispered lovingly. She waved her hand, turning to the sun-caressed flowers. "What do you think of my gardens?" "They're breathtaking; I don't think any of my people are so skilled. You did all of this?" "Yes. Before I met Setsuna, my last girlfriend was wonderful with flowers—we joked that she had to be part Elf. When she died I devoted myself to her flowers. This garden has become a beacon of love, and I made this for Setsuna." "Who were you before you became a Keeper?" "I was the High Princess of the Plains that lie between the hills on the other side of these mountains and the forests by the edge of the sea. I haven't been here that long, only one generation, and my little sister is High Queen now." Her smile saddened a little, and she glanced at Setsuna. "What's wrong, Ailan-san?" "Nothing, Haruka-san," the silver-haired woman whispered, turning away. Setsuna rested her hand on the slender woman's shoulder, trying to comfort her lover. "It's just that . . . a few years after I came here, my sister, Noriko, visited to tell me that she was sterile. She couldn't have the daughter needed to take over as queen after her. Her husband had no idea. In order to keep my kingdom alive, I agreed to help, and Setsuna used some of her magic to impregnate me." Ailan sighed, one hand fluttering across her flat belly, remembering the child. "Two months into my pregnancy I visited my sister and had her announce that she was with child and brought her here, to my mountain retreat. Eight or so months later, after I nursed little Serenity long enough for the wet nurse we found to take over—actually, it was Rikuriko who volunteered—Noriko went home, carrying her heir. Every oldest daughter of my line is named Serenity, but I think they call her Usagi. I really miss her, you know. I could visit, but I haven't been able to find the strength to see my daughter without her knowing the truth." "I can't believe that you gave up your only daughter like that. I know I couldn't have." "She has a better life down there, anyway. She's High Princess of the Plains and one day will be queen in her own right. Just because I didn't want the throne doesn't mean that she should be denied that choice." The three finally reached the edge of the flowered plateau, and Setsuna stepped aside so Haruka could have an unobstructed view of the land before her. Haruka gasped at the simple beauty beyond the mountains. Rolling green hills topped by simple cities flattened into golden plain studded by simple huts and fields of grain tinged by green forest along the horizon, tiny red volcanoes rising out of red desert to the south. "It's beautiful . . ." she breathed. "The ruins of your ancestral home is beyond the forest. So is the sea. If you pass by the palace on your flight, you should stop by to visit our daughter." "I will, Setsuna-san." Her boldness amused the dark queen. She bowed deeply, wings curled in friendly submissiveness. "I thank you for the help and the directions. I will stop by on my way home. If I go home." Setsuna smiled at the Skyling. "Oh, I have no doubt that we will meet again, young princess. Good luck on your journey." Haruka opened her great wings, carefully testing the winds billowing under her before leaping into the startlingly blue sky, adjusting her golden feathers before soaring off toward the plains. Setsuna smiled as she pulled Ailan into her arms. "I was wondering when she would come." "She's so young and full of life. I'm going to miss her, Setsu-chan." Setsuna kissed the side of Ailan's neck, pulling the former princess back into her rooms. "I have a few ideas how to make you forget." Ailan stopped her, placing a hand on Setsuna's collarbone. "I need to ask you something first. Setsu-chan, three months ago when we were celebrating the Darkling Unification, did you . . . did we . . . that burst of power . . . am I pregnant?" "God I hope so. I tried so hard." Setsuna grinned as the silver-haired woman jumped into her arms. "You had been so melancholy and I just wanted to see you smile again." "I'm so happy, Setsu-chan! And that explains this damn morning sickness. I never had any with Usagi. Another daughter . . ." "Actually, twins."
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