Everlasting Light - Chapter 14

“Announcing the return of Princess Prisma, Princess Ardoris, and Princess Rejuveiis!”

Strange-looking horns blared as Hikari, Suki and Megumi walked into the Entrance Hall with Obsidian. Suki and Megumi waved to the members of the Court with a practiced smile, but Hikari just strode purposefully forward.

“Announcing the guests of the Princesses! Friends from the planet Earth!”

ChibiUsa lead her friends in as they walked in cautiously, aware of the surprised and curious looks that were instantly glued to them. The people began to whisper, and it made them all feel more self-conscious. Diana waved excitedly to everyone, seemingly unaware. ChibiUsa wished her fuku didn’t have such big wings; she felt like everyone was staring at her, especially. Why did I offer to come in first? Why didn’t I detransform? Why did I offer to come in first?!

“Mom! Dad!” Hikari shouted, causing everyone to fall silent and look at her. “I need to talk with you!”

“Your parents are transmitting through the opal,” Obsidian told her, pointing to a round crystal sitting atop a pedestal not far from them. It was among a row of other jewels, each on their own pedestal. “I’ll see if I can get my parents on through one of the others.”

Running over to the opal, Hikari waved a hand over it. As ChibiUsa and the others hurried up behind her, they could see a light begin to burn within it and soon, the faces of a man and woman appeared beneath the smooth surface. “Oh Hikari, you’re finally back!” The woman smiled, looking relieved to see her daughter. “Are the Shadow Youmas finally gone?”

“No Mom, they’re actually getting worse,” Hikari watched her father’s eyes widen, and a horrified expression cross her mother’s face. “But I’ve brought visitors, friends, who are willing to help us.”

“We’ll see about that,” JunJun muttered, still looking very cross. She glanced at her sisters, half expecting an elbow from CereCere, but they too looked displeased. Even PallaPalla, who was normally too carefree to get angry very often.

Hikari heard her and felt a pang of guilt, but kept her face a mask to hide it from parents. “Friends? From where?” Her father asked, trying to peer around his daughter through the opal.

“Come Mother,” Obsidian was carrying a large ruby over, a woman’s face looking out through it. “These are Hikari’s friends. From Earth!”

“Earth?!” Came the collective gasp from the three adults via gemstone.

Always shooting his mouth off… Hikari thought angrily before lifting up the opal and turning around. “Yes, from Earth. They were kind enough to take me in and heal me, but the Shadow Youmas followed us there.”

“You’re from Earth!” Obsidian’s mother gushed, looking about as excited as her son had when he had talked about Earth earlier. “Oh, you truly are as kind as the textbooks say! Taking in Prisma when she was in need!”

ChibiUsa tugged on her brooch and detransformed in a quick flash of light, back in her regal garb. She moved closer so that the adults could better see her. “My name is Princess Lady Serenity, Your Majesties. I bring with me my Senshi, Sailors Saturn, Ceres, Juno, Vesta and Palls. I have also brought my Guide, Diana, and…” She smiled slightly. “My fiancé, Priest Helios. We have come in the stead of my parents, Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion.”

“Serenity? Endymion?” Hikari’s father cocked his head. “Perhaps named after those who once ruled the Moon and Earth so long ago?”

ChibiUsa blinked, still not used to their knowledge. “Yes…in fact, my parents were actually those people in a past life.”

“I always hoped things would right themselves after what happened to the Moon,” Obsidian’s mother said with a wistful sigh. “We lost contact then…such a shame.”

More news. “Your planet was once in contact with Earth and the Moon?” Hotaru asked with surprise evident in her voice.

“Oh yes darling, many of our ancestors are from Earth.” Hikari’s mother said with a bright smile. “So are a lot of our animals. Our Earthly ancestors moved here after the collapse of the Moon Kingdom. This planet was very new when they arrived here, with only a weak reflective ability, so it was easy to find. And the native Refractrians were welcoming. They were fearful, though, of the power that killed the Moon, so the two races combined their magics to enhance the natural power of the planet and its moons to reflect light, and we’ve stayed hidden ever since.”

Well, that revealed a lot. “So that’s why you kept an eye on Earth?” Helios guessed, to which the adults nodded. “It was once home to some of your people.” The adults nodded again. “I see…”

“Anyway dear, what were you saying?” Hikari’s mother turned back to ChibiUsa.

Her thoughts still whirling after the recent revelation, ChibiUsa tried to stay focused. “My parents are gathering my Mother’s Senshi, and they will be coming shortly. They sent us ahead, so you can better inform us about what the Shadows are doing to your planet.”

“Not like they need much help.” Suki piped up. “This girl, Lady Serenity, wiped out a full storm of Shadows on her own!”

The adults stared at ChibiUsa, who’s cheeks warmed under their stares. “She can defeat Shadow Youmas like you can, Hikari?” Obsidian’s mother asked.

“No. She’s far stronger then me.” The Senshi of Light and Colorsaid quietly, thinking back to how easily the Princess of Crystal Tokyo dispelled the Shadows when she could not.

To this ChibiUsa blushed further. “I only reacted…my Mama – er, my Mother, was in danger,” She explained, being so flustered she nearly forgot she was speaking formally with a King and two Queens.

“Strong White Light surrounds them,” Hikari’s mother observed. “Yes, their help will be monumental.” She turned to her husband. “Let’s go in person, shall we?”

The opal glimmered and a stream of light burst from its center, and suddenly they were standing alongside their daughter. The King, with pale brown hair and grey eyes, was dressed in a white suit of armor, and the Queen, her hair platinum blonde and her eyes bright purple, was in a sparkling silver dress. They each wore silver crowns adorned with soft blue jewels, much like Hikari’s own. Her father and mother moved forward, towardsthe travellers from Earth. “I formally accept your gracious offer for assistance,” The King said, shaking ChibiUsa’s hand. The members of the Court behind them clapped and cheered.

ChibiUsa smiled at him, then stole a glance at Hikari. The blonde mouthed to her, “Still mad at me?” to which ChibiUsa shook her head. Hikari looked relieved, and Suki and Megumi did as well. The Senshi from Earth also looked like their anger had cooled, so it seemed that things were looking up.

However, things weren’t going so well back on Earth…