Note on Planet Names: Ten'ousei=Uranus; Kaiousei=Neptune; Meiousei=Pluto; Dosei=Saturn; Kasei=Mars; Suisei=Mercury; Mokusei=Jupiter; Kinsei=Venus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Haruka carefully cut the last crystal, placing it on her creation. She touched each key, and a pure, beautiful note filled the air, magically contained on the tiny airless moon of Uranus. She had created her own sanctuary moons away from her father's palace where she could create the perfect musical instrument to mimic the cries of the wind. She had finally perfected it, and she ran her fingers across the keys experimentally, thinking, composing. Ten'ou Haruka sighed at the beautiful sounds, wishing that she had someone with whom to share her love of music. She thought about that beautiful young princess from Neptune, but her father would not let her visit the other kingdoms. "Not until you start dressing like a princess, anyway." Koshu's words burned in her memory, and Haruka's eyes filled with tears of fury. Why should she wear those stupid dresses, anyway? She was more comfortable in suits like her father wore; he should be proud of her for learning from him. "By Uranus, I'm not a child anymore! I should be able to dress as I like and go where I want to. I'm old enough to rule if he would just let me! I'm easily his superior with the sword and unarmed combat, and I'm ready to be Sailor Uranus if he would only let me hold that sword or transform! He doesn't have to be so protective!" Haruka slammed her fist against the stone wall, eyes closed to keep from tearing up. "You don't have to stay." Haruka turned around at the voice, shocked to find herself facing Sailor Pluto. The Queen of Meiousei rarely went anywhere in normal clothes; most often she was dressed in the dark uniform of her position. "What? How did you find me?" "You're asking the Guardian of Time and Space how she found one Princess of the Silver Millennium? Really, Haruka-san; you're smarter than that." Haruka stood up, surprised to find that she was easily as tall as the green-haired lady. "What do you mean?" "Do what you've always wanted to do; visit the other kingdoms. Disguise yourself as some Duke's son, if you wish, and visit the other princesses. They have changed a lot since you last saw them. Minako and Rei are best of friends, currently together on one of Kasei's moon's resorts. Makoto and Ami are touring Mokusei's moons, building a close friendship that will endure into their next lives, I'd guess. They have all received their henshin sticks and mastered their powers, in case the Silver Millennium is attacked. The princess of Dosei, of course, hopefully will never have need to become Sailor Saturn, for that will mean the greatest enemy, but Michiru will receive her henshin stick on her next birthday, which is quickly approaching. You might want to attend the party, regardless of your father's wishes." "I can't do that! What would my father think?!" "He'd see that you're growing up and that you're no longer a little girl to be protected. You should take your henshin stick and go see what this Solar System has to offer." Haruka slowly smiled, a small, tight smile of calculation and amusement as the last of her doubts were washed away. "I might at that. What about Princess Serenity?" "Ah, that one. She is much like you, in that she does not wish to obey her mother. The Queen wants Serenity to marry some Duke of the moon, but the Princess has her eyes set on a young Earth Prince." "Really? I think perhaps it is time for me to travel, Queen Setsuna." "Just Setsuna, Haruka-san. We are equals." "Setsuna-san, should I take the Space Sword?" "Do you feel drawn to it?" Haruka nodded, no longer needing an answer from the queen. "Don't tell my father." "I wouldn't. Good luck, Haruka-san, and I hope you find what you are looking for." *~*~*~*~*~*~* "What?! The Space Sword has been stolen?! But no one can get into that room but me! Who let this happen?" Setsuna glared at the king, glancing significantly at the bruises and cuts on the three guards. "Let? No one let this happen; these three were unconscious at the time." "Do you remember anything?" "No, Ten'ou-sama. We didn't even see him." "Initiate a search and summon my daughter." "That's the other thing, Majesty. Haruka-sama has also disappeared." "What?! My daughter, kidnapped? I will not allow this! Initiate the search; we will find them both." "Perhaps you should have let her Transform into Sailor Uranus so she could defend herself," Setsuna commented, steel lacing her voice. "After all, I did warn you many long years ago that Haruka would not be ready." "There's no time for regrets now. For now, we just need to find my daughter." Setsuna neglected to mention that the henshin stick was also "missing".
Back to The Last Sacrifice: The End of the Silver Millenium Index - Back to Sailor Moon Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction