~ Differences
Chibi-Chibi had always noticed the differences between herself and her friends. Of course, it wasn’t an issue for any of her friends who were royalty, or offspring of Senshi and generals. But most children outside these circles had no idea of what daily life was like for a princess, nor did they comprehend the marvelous powers possessed by herself and their kind. It made her sad, because she wanted to share the power she had within her being with everyone. She was a princess, and she knew that one had to embrace his or her birthright if a warrior, monarch, or mage. Age, was not the big barrier most thought it was. She felt one could’ hang’ with anyone of any age and be friends. No, only one thing set her apart, the powers and abilities her family possessed and their way of life. She had a huge family, part of the greater family that protected the Crystal Kingdom and kept the peace beyond as best they might.
Like Aunt Makoto – her Obaa-san’s Senshi, until recently, she was all but a mystery to her. She and the other Senshi belonging to her Obaa-san took care of her, as grandparents would. But most of the time, they weren’t around all that much. She knew it was for a complicated reason. Chibi-Chibi didn’t understand, something about protecting the planets and the stars beyond. Closer to home, shields were set around the palace and she understood this was to protect them all. Then there were her mother’s Senshi. Though they loved her, played with her, and attended to her every need the way they would any princess, they had families of their own. That narrowed those she could depend on to Diana, her dream Pegasus, and though absent, she counted her Mother. She loved Diana very much, her Nana, she knew, would always be there for her, no matter what. She was more of a parent than her real mother. Diana would discipline her whenever required, and she knew she loved her dearly. Pegasus however, was somewhat of an enigma to her. He was there whenever she was afraid, or had secrets to share. Chibi-Chibi found him so easy to talk to whenever she needed a friend, and that was just about all the time.
He had expressed many intellectual ideas that expanded her young mind, maybe that explained why she was so smart and gifted beyond her years. He also told her she had a great responsibility, to use her gifts wisely and with strength, courage and justice. Chibi-Chibi felt he would make a perfect dad for her if he were human. She shook her head, thinking it a silly thought.
Then there was her mother. That’s where everything fell out of place. Whenever she watched her friends with their families, listening to them talking about the wonderful weekends they had spent together, Chibi-Chibi pouted on the inside, her heart filled with envy. Sure, she did most of the things her friends talked about with Diana, but she would love just for once, to do something with her mom. It was with these deep musings she rose and got ready for a new day.
Twirling her hair into the familiar plaits -- her Moon family hairstyle -- as Diana described it to her, she styled her hair a little differently. Her Obaa-san and great Obaa-san wore their hair in what her Ogii-san had once described, as “an odango hairstyle.” She saw her mom’s bunny rabbit ear shaped hair, but she thought her own was way too short, her plaits reminding her of a pair of odango hearts suspended on either side of her head. This made her giggle. She adored her mother’s long flowing tresses that almost fell to the floor when untied.
Chibi-Chibi loved watching her mother walk in the garden from her balcony, which was a rare sight. Her mother’s stride was graceful as she glided, her feet barely touching the ground, stopping every now and again to breathe in the scent of a fragrant flower, or smile at a beautiful songbird in full voice.
~*~
It was another glorious sunny day, the kitchen alight with cheerfulness as a Rainbow Parrot that Motoki had given to Chibi-Chibi for her third birthday presided over the rows of long oak tables set with plentiful breakfast faire, the cheerful creature filling the chamber with song, and amusing utterances. The bird could address them all by name, even Luna, Artemis and Diana, especially when in their cat forms. Mauan feline metamorphs weren’t a problem for Nijizuishou.
She thought she was almost human. And why not, an imitation crystal of the Ginzuishou about her neck that rang like a miniature chime, the little bird allotted a special place amongst the rulers of Crystal Tokyo. The bird fascinated the little girl whenever she talked to it, trying to get it to say, “Moon Crystal Make-up!” Not easily could such an invocation be elicited from the bird. But every now and again, she would surprise everyone with the invocation.
But right now, the bird was annoyed by ChibiChibi’s lack of attention. Its brilliant plumage fluttering as it had on occasion. During breakfast, when all were seated eating their meals, a sudden squawking, “Moon Crystal Make-Up!” would raise the roof and Chibi-Chibi would jump from her chair and attempt her own transformation before the would-be winged Senshi, much to the delight of those present. Nijizuishou would even sit atop her perch within the training hall and declare her intentions to transform during mock battles, and this provided light relief for all. She was loved by Senshi and general alike. The parrot even spent time with the queen and would often say to Serenity, “I am your humble servant, my queen!” But this morning, the jovial bird seemed to scowl as its colorful crest flicked back and forth in puzzlement at her young mistress’s preoccupied state.
Chibi-Chibi fidgeted with her spoon at the table. Makoto sighed, having unsuccessfully tried to cheer up the little girl, who would one day inherit the legacy of her forbears. Right now, she looked as if she had the weight of the world on her tiny shoulders.
~Poor kid~ Makoto wished she could say something to lift the spirits of Chibi-Chibi, but she was at a loss. Tantrums she could handle, and what adult couldn’t come up with some sort of remedy for that, or tears over a fall, or a broken toy. But a pre-occupied child, lost in thought and not eating her breakfast, especially since Makoto had prepared her favorite blueberry pancakes, the ones so loved by her mother, failed to lift her spirits.
“Come on Chibi-Chibi. I made these just for you. Now you don’t want Paris to finish them off for you, do you?”
She knew she wasn’t playing fair, and knew the very thought of young Paris eating her delicious treats would rouse the little princess from her contemplation.
~ Hey, I was a kid myself once, and I remember many times when it was used on me… So, it works, have to play your hand.~ she grinned as the little girl’s mood immediately perked up.
She straightened, and took her fork in her small hand, stabbed at the pancake as if it were Paris in miniature, trapped beneath a coating of maple syrup, drowned in ice cream and stuffed this combination into her mouth. Much to the delight of Makoto and Nijizuishou it seemed by the, “Moon Healing Activation!” that resounded off the kitchen walls, bringing a smile to Makoto’s lips, and in spite of herself, a giggle from Chibi-Chibi.
Makoto was pleased to see the little girl back to her cheerful self and crossed the floor wrapping her arms about the little girl’s shoulders, and planted a kiss atop her head.
~She is such a cutie, just like my little girl.~ she mused as she set down a glass of freshly squeezed orange and mango punch.
“Yummy?”
Chibi-Chibi nodded, her kitten-like tongue catching the traces of ice cream on her upper lip before she attacked another circular victim and devoured it with equal abandon. “Mmm…d-delicious, Makoto-sama…” she managed.
Makoto handed her the glass and Chibi-Chibi smiled her thanks and gulped it down before jumping out of her chair and hugging her aunt with gusto. “Okay, go wash your hands, Ami-sama will be waiting for you in the library with the other children, so don’t keep her waiting.”
“Chibi-Chibi jumped up on tiptoes and kissed Makoto’s cheek and ran from the room as Makoto took off her apron.
“I will, Makoto-sama. I love you and thank you for making my favorite breakfast and being so wonderful. Oh, would you give my unfinished pancakes to Nijizuishou!”
Makoto nodded at the dancing figure on the threshold of the kitchen’s stone arched entrance and the princess pirouetted and skipped along the corridor as if not a care in the world in her frilly pink dress and bouncing plaits.
“Oh dear child, you have a difficult road ahead of you. I just hope we can make the journey a little more comfortable for you. You’re going to need all the help you can get, little princess,” Makoto whispered to herself. Sighing, she cleaned up and started on breakfast for the older members of the household, not yet gracing her table.
~*~
Paris, Mayer, Janus, Cassandra, and Chibi-Chibi sat at the fountain in the middle of the palace garden.
Mayer spoke first, “Mom made me cookies yesterday. It’s Double Chocolate Chip. I can taste it.” Everyone responded with “yum…” Mayer continued, “Then we sang a song about baking, it was funny. Want to hear?”
Janus said, “No way! Who wants to hear you sing!” He laughed and ducked as her flying fist flew inches from his nose.
“Cut it out you two.” Cassandra admonished.
“Cookies sound yummy, but mommy and I spent the whole afternoon folding origami. She told me it’s an ancient art form.” She then pulled out a paper crane from her dress pocket. “See.”
Everyone went “Woo…” Cassandra gave it to Chibi-Chibi. “Present for the princess,” she said with a warm smile. Chibi-Chibi accepted the proffered gift, returning the smile and stared at the toy. Most children are usually too hyper to notice ChibiChibi’s unusual quietness, but only Mayer knew her temperament and was her best friend.
Paris soon jumped in and added his thoughts concerning the topic about his very exciting and interesting fishing trip with his mom and dad. Janus made out he hadn’t known of any lake and something called fishing. Chibi-Chibi took him at his word. She had never seen Janus leaving the palace area with his parents.
The Crystal Palace’s grounds spread far beyond its entrance and lavish gardens, these extended deep into large sections of the city of Crystal Tokyo. She herself had never ever been fishing. Despite Paris’s vivid descriptions, she still couldn’t figure out what fishing was all about. Janus said he had a great time eating ice cream with his folks at the nearby park and did absolutely nothing at all but lay on the grass looking at the sky, which was actually fun to him and he wasn’t bored in the slightest. Then he changed the topic of conversation onto another mischievous tale he had conjured up.
~*~
She said goodbye to her friends and left them to talk amongst themselves. Chibi-Chibi got up to wander around the flowerbeds. Suddenly, a feeling of sadness overwhelmed her.
~Being a princess is not so easy, and most of the time not really much fun, especially when I don’t get to do all those great things city children get to do.~
Then there was her mother. She sighed. She would give up anything, her royal status , anything, to get closer to her mother. Sure, she had secretly watched her in the gardens walking alone, or talking with the Senshi, diplomats and others. But she never got up close to the stranger who had given her life. Chibi-Chibi thought her especially pretty and graceful. She hoped to be like her someday.
~*~
Before too long, the sun had reached its zenith in the violet skies overhead, the others were likely in school with Ami-sensei. The little princess pouted and sighed, remembering not to run lest she fall, for she tended to keep tripping or falling down, a trait she had inherited from her Obaa-san. Before her thoughts wandered too far, Diana called for her to come inside.
~*~
She ran along the hall and slid to a stop, loving the sensation of her shoes sliding upon the crystal floors. It was such a buzz and always lifted her spirits.
She giggled, pushed open the door, and bowed to Artemis and Luna. The latter taking the princess’s hands in her own and led her to the circle of students where Mercury , in her royal blue shift, sat cross-legged -- a pair of reading glasses perched upon the bridge of her nose. She lifted her eyes and smiled at the little girl taking her place next to Mayer.
“Good morning Ami-sensei,” she breathed.
“Good morning, Chibi-Chibi,” Ami said cheerfully.
The little girl pulled the crystal disk from a velvet pouch tied around her waist and slipped it into the cradle on the small table before her. Holo-Images from the far off past in animated form danced before her eyes. These she thought pretty. But more important, these were her learning tools that opened a vista on the world having faded long before the historical “Big Freeze” set in. A twirling ballerina, kiekie Bella, an international Japanese dancer and singer performed a pirouette, bowed to Chibi-Chibi, waved, and with a giggle vanished and then her work schedule appeared before her.
Ami smiled with affection at the latecomer. “Okay, everyone, I want you to tell me about the beautiful mountains of Kyoto, and of the people who once lived in the ancient city.”
As the lesson continued, a pleasant ambiance descended upon the children and learning, as always, was fun and creative under the tutelage of Mercury.
~*~
After class, Mayer and Chibi-Chibi held hands and walked to the planetarium, deep within the palace gardens where a workspace had been set up for the children to paint, draw and read Manga.
“Mayer, what’s it like being a priestess in training?”
Mayer smiled and brushed the little girl’s bangs out of her eyes, and sighed with happiness, “It’s good. But not as much fun as being here with you guys. I get to do lots of cool stuff. I have held the garnet rod. It glows a beautiful rose-red and throws off pretty colors whenever I touch it, and it tickles!”
The girls giggled and raced up the steps of the rotunda and climbed over the narrow wall onto the wide edge and assumed their favorite positions whenever they had time alone. Chibi-Chibi swung her legs over the ledge, both girls leaning back propping themselves up upon thin bare arms stretched out behind them, the workroom at their backs. The botanical array of flowers, shrubs, and fruit and Sakura trees enfolded them in an arc of brilliant color, forming an honor guard around the young princesses.
“You don’t suppose I could see it? I mean, it would be so cool to hold the garnet rod. I bet it is exciting to know that in three years time it will be yours,” Chibi-Chibi said with enthusiasm.
The older girl hugged her friend, jumped to the lawn, and turned to face the younger of the two. Mayer thought Chibi-Chibi looked like a cute little butterfly in her pink and magenta dress that fanned out in a wide arc on the pink marble ledge. The crystals woven into the hem glittering in the sunlight as it fluttered over her knees and all around her as the gentle breeze toyed with her skirts and her heart-shaped plaits. ChibiChibi's wide-eyed expression made her look the perfect little fairy-princess.
This thought brought a smile to Mayer’s lips and she stepped back and announced, “You shall be my official fairy-princess, Lady Chibi-Chibi. I will entrust you with the garnet rod when I am sick, or daddy or mommy needs me to take care of the palace!” Mayer giggled as she broke off a large frond from a nearby tree and tapped a blinking Chibi-Chibi upon her head, shoulders and nose and made her proclamation to all in sundry, “I bestow the title of, official caretaker time fairy-princess!”
The girls laughed. Suddenly, a loud whistle came from a short distance off and they looked to see who was there. Paris and Janus stood there smiling like loons , covered in grass and dust. The boys holding what appeared to be a large box covered in dirt. Both girls pouted and shook their heads in unison.
“Yuck! Paris…Janus… I want you to keep that dirty thing away from us. I can’t get dirt on my robes, or Daphne will give me an ear-full.”
“It’s treasure!” Paris boldly announced and winked at the older girl, a hint of mischief in his eyes.
At this, Chibi-Chibi jumped to the ground and before Mayer could stop the little munchkin, she was soon with the boys. All three of them grinning like Cheshire cats as ChibiChibi’s eyes lit up with excitement at the prospect of treasure. The box was heavy. It was carved from an ancient wood, but it had crystallized. The golden handles either side covered in mud.
“Eeeep! Don’t touch it, Chibi-Chibi, its muddy!” the older girl cried out, but nobody was prepared for what happened next. As the princess touched the box, it began to pulse with a brilliant sapphire-blue light that washed over everyone.
Suddenly, they found themselves unable to move. Where Chibi-Chibi stood seconds before, now a most beautiful woman towered over them all. She looked more like the queen they thought. In her silver fuku and crystal shoes, her hair was long and tied in the style of Neo-Queen Serenity, a blazing golden moon upon her brow and moon scepter like nothing they’d ever seen before in her hands. She blinked and looked at the children for a moment, confused. But then she straightened as a light lit up in her azure-eyes and she smiled in recognition.
“It is time my children. Be brave, as I will not harm you. I must ask you all to keep a very important secret. Can you do that for me ?”
The children, wide-eyed as Chibi-Chibi touched the mysterious box the boys had earlier dug out of a pile of collapsed earth and stone beneath a rugged rocky outcrop not far from the palace, found themselves now able to move. They immediately dropped the ancient box and stepped back a pace as the pretty lady knelt upon one knee and touched its crystallized lid.
“Oh, it is so pretty now,” Mayer, cried as it flew open. As the other children gasped in awe.
Inside were a number of glowing gems. The woman looked at Paris and motioned for him to come forward. Gingerly, he did as he was asked. She held out a stone and placed it in his hand. “ I want you to call to the stone on June thirtieth, ChibiChibi’s birthday. Many years from now, our world will need your help, your strength and wisdom. Your guardians will teach you what you need to know. It is time. I have much to do, but I cannot do it without you .” She looked a little sad for a moment or two before continuing, “You may be young, but you are our greatest hope. All will be well if you listen to the Shitennou and heed their advice.”
“Lady, but there were four Shitennou. There are hundreds here?” Paris said, with a tremulous voice.
“Yes, but the Shitennou came from a noble house of warriors that served the king of long ago Earth, when it was known as the Terran Kingdom before the great Selene assumed the throne on the Moon. Please ask Chibi-Chibi to touch each stone on her birthday in the Moon Temple.”
“But my lady,” Mayer protested, but fell silent as the Senshi raised her hand for silence.
“Fear not, my children, for on that night the queen shall otherwise be occupied with matters of state. Now remember what I asked of each of you. Your Shitennou will lead the forces of your respective planets and will strengthen the Crystal Kingdom in readiness for the trials it must yet endure.” She smiled and extended her hands to the children, “Chibi-Chibi will return to you shortly. But for now, I want you to keep the box in this rotunda. It will be secure here. And remember what I said, Chibi-Chibi watches and listens behind these eyes, as I am she many years from this day… so be strong. Live with love and honor and always remember the Ginzuishou protects us all!”
No sooner had the beautiful Senshi said these words then had Chibi-Chibi reappeared, her hand pressed atop the stones that glowed under her touch. Paris placed his stone in the box with the others. Chibi-Chibi closed the lid, smiled at her friends and the box, of its own accord, lifted into the air and floated into the rotunda.
“By the Kamis...!” Janus said, breathless at all that had transpired, “I had never in my wildest imaginings thought I would see magic like this.”
Chibi-Chibi sighed and Mayer hugged her friend. “Hey guys, we’re not to tell a soul, remember what the lady said. We must wait until ChibiChibi’s birthday before we speak of it again.”
Mayer looked down at the little girl, a tad overwhelmed by the mystical experience of seeing through her own eyes, as her future self-spoke. It seemed to Chibi-Chibi as if they were of one mind and body. She had seen much, though her older self had tried to shield her. She saw shadows, frightening shadows. That black-clad girl of her nightmares and a strange monster with steel claws and evil jewels for eyes.
~Who was he? He looked like a dark dragon!~
She sat on the steps and none of them spoke for a time. Then the boys excused themselves and returned to the palace.
“You all right, Chibi-Chibi? I will stay with you a while if you like,” Mayer said, hugging the little girl. “I know it was a little scary, but you will be all right. We all will. I will leave you some time on your own if you like.”
Chibi-Chibi nodded and sat with her elbows upon her knees, chin resting in her hands , eyes closed as the older girl returned to the palace.
~*~
She was daydreaming. She thought she could hear a whistling sound coming from somewhere off to her right. Without a second thought, she got up, took a deep breath and followed the sound. After walking a while, she came to an open clearing, a spot she’d never visited before. She stood there listening intently, then the strangest thing happened. A gentle rumble beneath her feet startled her as a series of indigo crystal mushrooms sprouted in quick succession all around her. She was amazed, and a little frightened.
“No need to be afraid, Chibi-Chibi, or can I address you as Princess Serenity Dawn, ahaha! I love titles, don’t you?”
“Who is that. Won’t you show yourself so I can see you?”
“In good time, little one. In good time. I am your friend and guardian of the stones, but I am much more than that. Tell you what, imagine your most favorite image that best suits my voice and personality and it shall be done!”
Chibi-Chibi frowned and sat on the damp grass, the moisture seeping through her dress, and immediately regretted it, wincing at the thought of the scolding she would receive from Diana-nana because of the stain. It was then the humorous image of an obsidian crystal frog jumped into her mind. And with a start, she heard a loud croak beside her.
“Well, a crystal frog. I have been many things, but this…I like, hello princess, I am Pan of Atlantari.” As she lifted her gaze, she saw him, sitting upon a large translucent purple mushroom, the cutest ebony crystal frog imaginable.
~He is beautiful~ she thought and giggled as the frog, twice the size of a dinner plate, hopped nimbly from its perch and sat before her looking up into her blinking eyes expectantly.
“H-Hello?”
”You are very special, my little princess!” Pan said, in genuine reverence and she swore the frog winked at her with a glittering sapphire-blue eye.
