Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Shared Destiny ❯ Chapter 17: Duty Versus Love ( Chapter 17 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Angel Della Notte 
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance | Type: Yuri | Uploaded On: 08.11.2014 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 157 | Status: Completed
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Drama / Romance | Type: Yuri | Uploaded On: 08.11.2014 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.9K | Visits: 157 | Status: Completed
Chapter 17: Duty
Versus Love
Author Notes: I’m jumping ahead in time a bit but don’t worry it’s necessary for the plot.
(Moon palace on month later)
Lady Taima was a tall woman much like her daughter she had dark brown hair that she wore loose. She stood outside in a courtyard with the senshi around her. Today’s class was an afternoon class. She wanted to see how well the senshi were doing with controlling their elements. Pluto had started this lesson and Lady Taima hadn’t really hit on it much but she figured the senshi had been practicing. “Today we are going to go over controlling your elements. I know you have already covered this lesson but I want to review it and see how much you advanced. So let’s start with Mercury.” Lady Taima said pointing to the pond next to them.
Mercury walked over to the lake kneeled down putting her hand on the top of the water resting it just above the surface. She closed her eyes and starting with where her hand was the lake froze over as if it were the dead of winter. Mercury opened her eyes and stood walking onto the lake showing how solid the ice was. “Good work Mercury and since we’ve some ice Mars you go next.” Lady Taima said gesturing for Mercury to walk back over to the land.
Mars grinned then held her hand out pointing at the lake with one finger. A small flame appeared on the tip of her finger then it grew into a large flame shooting at the lake. Within a few seconds the lake was melted and bubbling. “What can I say I’m hot” Mars said still smiling.
“Not bad. Neptune your element deals with water as well so you go next.” Lady Taima said.
Neptune nodded and walked over to the lake she stopped next to the shore and closed her eyes. The water in the pond started to spin like a whirlpool out of the center of the pool water shot up taking the shape of a dolphin. The dolphin looked like it was jumping in and out of the fountain of water. Then suddenly it just stopped and the water came crashing down. Everyone looked over to Neptune who had collapsed falling into Jupiter’s arms.
(Palace infirmary later)
Queen Serenity walked into the infirmary seeing the doctor standing at counter going over some results. “Doctor, is she alright?” Queen Serenity asked. Earlier that day the senshi had been training with Lady Taima and Neptune had collapsed.
“I’m still going over the results from the tests but so far they aren’t showing anything. Has she been having any health problems that you know of?” The doctor asked.
“Not that I know of I haven’t noticed anything.” Queen Serenity said she had notice that Neptune had distanced herself from everyone and spent more and more time in her room with her violin but she figured that the girl was still missing her lover.
“It’s rather odd that she passed out. I can’t seem to find anything wrong with her. She has been asleep for the last two hours. The only thing I can think of is she over used her powers.” The doctor said. “If she has been sick it could easier explain her fainting.”
“I’m not sick.” Neptune said waking up and looking at the doctor and the Queen.
“Princess Neptune you’re awake.” The doctor said hearing her speak but not really what she said, “How have you been feeling? Have you been sick lately?”
“I told you I’m not sick.” Neptune said realizing she could keep it a secret anymore. “I’m pregnant. I haven’t had a period in two months not since… not since he…”
Queen Serenity stepped closer hugging Neptune not able to imagine what might be going through her head, getting pregnant from a man that had raped you. “Why haven’t you told anyone?”
“I was scared I didn’t want to admit it at first thinking I was just irregular but when I didn’t get one the second month I didn’t know what to do I kept it to myself.” Neptune said then looked up at the Queen, “Queen Serenity please don’t tell anyone. Not even my mother.”
“I will respect your wishes but you can’t keep this a secret for long.” Queen Serenity said. “And I want you to come see the doctor for regular checkups. I don’t want to hear that you’ve missed a single on do you understand?”
“Yes, your highness.” Neptune said. “Can I go now?”
“Not quite yet I want to run a few more tests then I want you on bed rest for three days and you are not to over exert your powers again.” The doctor said.
(Training Hall Miranda Palace, Uranus)
Uranus stood in the hall next to Pluto both transformed into their senshi forms. Pluto held up her hand a glowing orb appearing she threw it out in front of them it flowing around rather fast some hundred years from them. Uranus raised her hand and called an energy ball to her hand. “World Shaking!” She said throwing it at the orb hitting it dead on.
“Again,” Pluto said creating another orb and throwing it this one moving faster than then other.
Once again Uranus shouted “World Shaking” hitting the orb just as easily as she had the one before.
“Again.” Pluto said throwing another orb down the hall.
“No, this is stupid I’ve hit the last thirty-seven of those you’ve thrown and haven’t missed one yet.” Uranus said turning around and starting to walk off, “This is a waste of my time.”
“We aren’t done yet.” Pluto said looking at the young senshi walk off.
“I am.” Uranus said still walking. “I’m sick of fighting targets I’m sick of you wasting my time.”
Pluto watched as Uranus walked away then a small smile appeared on her face. Uranus thought she was done training and Pluto was close to agreeing. “Dead Scream.” She called as she threw an attack at Uranus.
The energy ball flew across the hall grazing Uranus’ shoulder knocking her to the ground. She was on her feet quickly and facing Pluto both her hands balled into fists. “What the hell did you do that for?”
“You are tried of fighting targets then fight me.” Pluto said holding her staff out in front of her.
No.” Uranus said turning and walking away again her fists still clenched together.
“Dead Scream” Pluto said again throwing another energy ball at Uranus hitting her square in the back. Uranus fell to the ground again in pain this time hurting far worse than the last. She pushed herself up didn’t turn to Pluto and kept walking. “Come on attack me I know you want to.” Pluto said in a chiding tone. She threw another Dead Scream this one flying mere inches past Uranus’ head causing her to stop but not turn around breathing deeply. “You’re not fooling anyone I know you want to I’m the reason you can’t be with her.” Pluto said and was rewarded with a drop of the hat.
“World Shaking!” Uranus shouted as she turned throwing it at Pluto.
Pluto lazily stepped to the side and let the energy ball hit the stone pillar beside her. Uranus threw off another World Shaking and her opponent simply jumped up to avoid it. Pluto landed on the top of the pillar with the grace of a dancer, her left foot in the stone and her right just above her left ankle. She let her time stuff go and it just floated as she pulled at her emerald locks and yawned finally taking her staff back into hand. “Let’s see where you really stand.”She thought as she looked at Uranus glowering up at her. Her features riddled with annoyance and anger. Pluto took to looking at her fuku and feigned ignorance of Uranus’s presence.
It had the effect she was looking for. Uranus took two lunging steps and leapt off of the side of a pole and then another with the agility of a cat. By the time she got level with Pluto she gripped the pillar and kicked her legs up knocking Pluto’s feet from under her. The Senshi of Time put her free hand where her feet had been and vaulted herself into a flip and landed on the ground more roughly then she intended but still with grace.
“That’s it! Let it all out. You can’t be with her because of me I’m the one that took your love away. Tell me though did you ever really love her?” Pluto chided in an insulting tone. Again, Uranus took the bait. Again, she let her anger get the better of her. This time Pluto responded but letting her body slack down a little to give the impression of carelessness.
Uranus had already forgotten the first rule of battle. She wanted to see if it affected her senses as well. Uranus used her speed and tried to come up behind Pluto to try to restrain her. Pluto simply ducked and used her opponent’s drunken-like moments to allow her to delver and elbow to Uranus’s stomach causing her to gasp. But Pluto had left herself open deliberately and Uranus took the chance and slammed her elbow into the small of Pluto’s back causing her to yelp in pain and fall to the ground. “Smart girl, you were paying attention”. Pluto thought.
“My love for her is true!” Uranus spoke holding her stomach. She thought it was safe to stop.
“Foolish little girl. You think you know what you are doing but you are clueless.” Pluto thought sliding on to her hands and kicking Uranus in the face causing her to shift her hands cover the new pain. In shock that Pluto would attack when she was trying to talk. Pluto landed on her feet next to the disillusioned Uranus. “You stand as if I’ve just taken your doll instead of insulting your woman. My, my we want to be a senshi but were still very much a little girl.” Pluto thought as she took Uranus’s arm and ripped it behind her causing The Senshi of Winds to flip and land on her back harshly. Pluto called her staff to her and it flew from its resting place and into her hand. Pluto brought it down into the marble just landing inches away from Uranus’s face.
“Or was she just a play thing?” Pluto asked as if Neptune was a notch on Uranus’s hilt. Yet another woman she deflowered. She expected the angry response. What she didn’t expect what Uranus’s hand chopping her neck causing her to lunge forward or Uranus’s knee between her legs. Contrary to popular battle lore, it hurt just as it would a man getting hit in the groin. She allowed herself a few tears and tried to will her legs to stand but they wouldn’t just yet. “Well, I think she’s clear on the issue. But, I’ll test her some more. Marking Neptune with defilading words seems to make her brutally efficient.” Pluto thought as her legs strained to bring her to full height. She knew Uranus now had to defend her honor vocally.
“How dare you say that about her? I love her with all my heart!” Uranus shrieked and then let her form get sloppy. Pluto simply grabbed her throat and slammed her on her back. She then landed her knee into Uranus’s gut knocking the wind out of her and even causing her to vomit a little as she got back up. Pluto felt the full strength of her legs return and back flipped to put some distance between her and Uranus.
“Oh really?” Pluto sounded unconvinced. She threw off a Dead Scream catching Uranus in the stomach slamming into a pillar. She coughed up blood. Pluto figured it wouldn’t be long before her body just gave out on her.
“What do you know of love?” Uranus shot off, her cockiness returning, she called for her space buster and the saber appeared back in its normal state. She lunged at Pluto with it and her opponent just laugh and knocked it away with her staff. When she tried again she made contact with her target, but only managed barely scratch Pluto not even drawing blood. Uranus was knocked off balance with Pluto’s block staggering a bit past Pluto. She used her staff and blatantly knocked Uranus over the head as if it were a club. She felt bad about disrespecting her weapon in such a way, but it was an insult she could live with.
“I know plenty.” Pluto said trying to block the images of him out. The sensation of him touching her and whispering things in her ears. Uranus lunged again like a stupid farm animal. Pluto managed to catch her body in such a way that she missed her flesh again.
“I doubt you have ever had a lover.” Uranus stated, as if she was the only person to have to spend time away from her lover. Pluto used this opportunity to perch herself on a pillar and gather her thoughts. Uranus’s insistence on the subject was starting to make her think about distractions she shouldn’t be thinking about. “I have.” stated Pluto then allowed herself a small break trying to focus her thoughts and not to think of the love she had given up.
“Do you know what is like to be taken from the one you love?” Uranus asked trying to connect to Pluto.
But she couldn’t have said anything worse. “You have no clue what it’s like to be separated. You get to forget it every time you die. I have to remember forever.” Pluto thought leaping back down catching Uranus’s face with another kick to the face. Uranus blocked but she was no match for Pluto’s controlled fury. “Yes, but I have a duty to perform.” Pluto raised her voice slightly. The bonds of duty and oath were stronger then love. Or she had believed until she saw Michelle and Amara reborn. Now she was starting to doubt herself. But She could not let the latter’s incarnate know that. It would defeat the purpose of this brawl. Rules had to be followed and order maintained no matter what. Some things had to be sacrificed for the greater good.
“How can you say you love them if you won’t fight for them?” Uranus rasped, clearly not getting the point. But Uranians could be quite stupid and stubborn when they thought what they were doing was right. Uranus began her slash bit again and attack after attack clanged on the staff. She tried to lunge again and missed.
Stepping back she lunged again and this time met flesh. Though it was just a little scratch it bled like a real wound. Stunned that she actually managed to draw blood Uranus stepped back worried she had hurt Pluto. The woman that had taken care of her after her parents died. “Don’t ever hesitate.” Pluto thought delivering a final blow to Uranus’s stomach. She crashed to the floor and this time gave up her lunch on the golden marble.
“I have a duty and it is because of that duty that I sacrifice my love.” Pluto said walking away leaving Uranus to finish throwing up her meal. She had been beaten well enough to prove the point of the match. Pluto got the needed results from the experiment and no longer needed to be there. It was by her estimation that Uranus’s training was complete for the most part, even though she had lost the spar. She continued down the hall to her quarters not even noticing the people who saw her bruised and bleeding.
(One month later Miranda Palace Throne Room)
Uranus sat on her thrown looking out at the people that came to her and she was bored. They came to her hoping she would solve all their problems. She did the best she could but couldn’t help everyone and then there were those whose problems were trivial she wondered why they were brothering to come to her. She looked over next to her where Pluto stood always looking over her shoulder ready to whisper something to her in guidance. They hadn’t really talked about the fight they had a month ago and their training time had decreased greatly it was now down to once a week and only for a couple hours then it was straight back to the duties of court. “Prince Raidon of Jupiter,” The man at the door announced as a young man with long dark brown hair walked into the room. He was very handsome though a few years younger than Uranus he still was taller than the already tall Queen of Uranus.
He walked over to the throne bowing before Uranus then taking her hand kissing it gently, “My Queen, I thought since court was over you would enjoy a walk in the gardens.”
Pluto watched as Uranus held her hand out for the young prince and watched as a smile had formed on Uranus’ face. The prince had come to Uranus about two weeks prior and seemed to always be in the company of Uranus. A short while before that Pluto had asked Uranus about the amount of letters coming from the Jovian Prince and Uranus had claimed he had started writing her shortly after her becoming Queen offering to court her for her hand in marriage.
“Of course my lord.” Uranus said standing and linking her arm in his walking out of the throne room. They walked to the gardens neither one really noticing Pluto had followed them.
“I have another letter from her.” Prince Raidon said discretely handing her the envelope. Uranus nodded and slipped it into her pocket. “That is the sixth one are you going to write back? I’ll address it to my sister. Lady Pluto won’t think it’s odd of her to be writing me nor will she think it odd of me writing her back.”
“I can’t. I have to make everyone believe I’ve moved on, even her.” Uranus said as they stopped and she caught movement out of the corner of her eye seeing the time guardian following them. “Kiss me.”
“What?” Prince Raidon said.
“Just do it.” Uranus said and the prince leaned forward taking her in her arms kissing her. Uranus took a couple of steps back taking him with her leaning against a wall. Prince Raidon stopped kissing her but Uranus kept her hands around his waist holding him there. “Pluto is watching us act like you are trying to woo me.”
Prince Raidon leaned in again and began whispering in her ear while his own hands rubbed her sides. Pluto wondering what was going on walked closer to the pair making sure she was seen. Uranus feigned being surprised and stepped away from Raidon a flushed look on her face. “A word with you, your highness,” Pluto said then looked at Prince Raidon. “Alone.” Prince Raidon caught on and nodded kissing Uranus’ hand one last time before walking away from them. “What is going on here?”
“Are you spying on me?” Uranus asked ignoring her question and shooting another back out.
“What game are you playing at?” Pluto said also ignoring the question.
“I’m not playing at anything.” Uranus said looking down, “I’ve realized I have a duty to perform and as you said some things have to be sacrificed in the name of duty. Raidon is a good man he will make a good king and a good father. That’s part of my duties too isn’t it? To marry and produce an heir?”
“Do you love him?” Pluto asked.
“No, but I suppose someday I may learn to.” Uranus said. “I know I can’t be with Michiru. I have to move on. Prince Raidon has asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes.”
To Be Continued…
Author Notes: I’m jumping ahead in time a bit but don’t worry it’s necessary for the plot.
(Moon palace on month later)
Lady Taima was a tall woman much like her daughter she had dark brown hair that she wore loose. She stood outside in a courtyard with the senshi around her. Today’s class was an afternoon class. She wanted to see how well the senshi were doing with controlling their elements. Pluto had started this lesson and Lady Taima hadn’t really hit on it much but she figured the senshi had been practicing. “Today we are going to go over controlling your elements. I know you have already covered this lesson but I want to review it and see how much you advanced. So let’s start with Mercury.” Lady Taima said pointing to the pond next to them.
Mercury walked over to the lake kneeled down putting her hand on the top of the water resting it just above the surface. She closed her eyes and starting with where her hand was the lake froze over as if it were the dead of winter. Mercury opened her eyes and stood walking onto the lake showing how solid the ice was. “Good work Mercury and since we’ve some ice Mars you go next.” Lady Taima said gesturing for Mercury to walk back over to the land.
Mars grinned then held her hand out pointing at the lake with one finger. A small flame appeared on the tip of her finger then it grew into a large flame shooting at the lake. Within a few seconds the lake was melted and bubbling. “What can I say I’m hot” Mars said still smiling.
“Not bad. Neptune your element deals with water as well so you go next.” Lady Taima said.
Neptune nodded and walked over to the lake she stopped next to the shore and closed her eyes. The water in the pond started to spin like a whirlpool out of the center of the pool water shot up taking the shape of a dolphin. The dolphin looked like it was jumping in and out of the fountain of water. Then suddenly it just stopped and the water came crashing down. Everyone looked over to Neptune who had collapsed falling into Jupiter’s arms.
(Palace infirmary later)
Queen Serenity walked into the infirmary seeing the doctor standing at counter going over some results. “Doctor, is she alright?” Queen Serenity asked. Earlier that day the senshi had been training with Lady Taima and Neptune had collapsed.
“I’m still going over the results from the tests but so far they aren’t showing anything. Has she been having any health problems that you know of?” The doctor asked.
“Not that I know of I haven’t noticed anything.” Queen Serenity said she had notice that Neptune had distanced herself from everyone and spent more and more time in her room with her violin but she figured that the girl was still missing her lover.
“It’s rather odd that she passed out. I can’t seem to find anything wrong with her. She has been asleep for the last two hours. The only thing I can think of is she over used her powers.” The doctor said. “If she has been sick it could easier explain her fainting.”
“I’m not sick.” Neptune said waking up and looking at the doctor and the Queen.
“Princess Neptune you’re awake.” The doctor said hearing her speak but not really what she said, “How have you been feeling? Have you been sick lately?”
“I told you I’m not sick.” Neptune said realizing she could keep it a secret anymore. “I’m pregnant. I haven’t had a period in two months not since… not since he…”
Queen Serenity stepped closer hugging Neptune not able to imagine what might be going through her head, getting pregnant from a man that had raped you. “Why haven’t you told anyone?”
“I was scared I didn’t want to admit it at first thinking I was just irregular but when I didn’t get one the second month I didn’t know what to do I kept it to myself.” Neptune said then looked up at the Queen, “Queen Serenity please don’t tell anyone. Not even my mother.”
“I will respect your wishes but you can’t keep this a secret for long.” Queen Serenity said. “And I want you to come see the doctor for regular checkups. I don’t want to hear that you’ve missed a single on do you understand?”
“Yes, your highness.” Neptune said. “Can I go now?”
“Not quite yet I want to run a few more tests then I want you on bed rest for three days and you are not to over exert your powers again.” The doctor said.
(Training Hall Miranda Palace, Uranus)
Uranus stood in the hall next to Pluto both transformed into their senshi forms. Pluto held up her hand a glowing orb appearing she threw it out in front of them it flowing around rather fast some hundred years from them. Uranus raised her hand and called an energy ball to her hand. “World Shaking!” She said throwing it at the orb hitting it dead on.
“Again,” Pluto said creating another orb and throwing it this one moving faster than then other.
Once again Uranus shouted “World Shaking” hitting the orb just as easily as she had the one before.
“Again.” Pluto said throwing another orb down the hall.
“No, this is stupid I’ve hit the last thirty-seven of those you’ve thrown and haven’t missed one yet.” Uranus said turning around and starting to walk off, “This is a waste of my time.”
“We aren’t done yet.” Pluto said looking at the young senshi walk off.
“I am.” Uranus said still walking. “I’m sick of fighting targets I’m sick of you wasting my time.”
Pluto watched as Uranus walked away then a small smile appeared on her face. Uranus thought she was done training and Pluto was close to agreeing. “Dead Scream.” She called as she threw an attack at Uranus.
The energy ball flew across the hall grazing Uranus’ shoulder knocking her to the ground. She was on her feet quickly and facing Pluto both her hands balled into fists. “What the hell did you do that for?”
“You are tried of fighting targets then fight me.” Pluto said holding her staff out in front of her.
No.” Uranus said turning and walking away again her fists still clenched together.
“Dead Scream” Pluto said again throwing another energy ball at Uranus hitting her square in the back. Uranus fell to the ground again in pain this time hurting far worse than the last. She pushed herself up didn’t turn to Pluto and kept walking. “Come on attack me I know you want to.” Pluto said in a chiding tone. She threw another Dead Scream this one flying mere inches past Uranus’ head causing her to stop but not turn around breathing deeply. “You’re not fooling anyone I know you want to I’m the reason you can’t be with her.” Pluto said and was rewarded with a drop of the hat.
“World Shaking!” Uranus shouted as she turned throwing it at Pluto.
Pluto lazily stepped to the side and let the energy ball hit the stone pillar beside her. Uranus threw off another World Shaking and her opponent simply jumped up to avoid it. Pluto landed on the top of the pillar with the grace of a dancer, her left foot in the stone and her right just above her left ankle. She let her time stuff go and it just floated as she pulled at her emerald locks and yawned finally taking her staff back into hand. “Let’s see where you really stand.”She thought as she looked at Uranus glowering up at her. Her features riddled with annoyance and anger. Pluto took to looking at her fuku and feigned ignorance of Uranus’s presence.
It had the effect she was looking for. Uranus took two lunging steps and leapt off of the side of a pole and then another with the agility of a cat. By the time she got level with Pluto she gripped the pillar and kicked her legs up knocking Pluto’s feet from under her. The Senshi of Time put her free hand where her feet had been and vaulted herself into a flip and landed on the ground more roughly then she intended but still with grace.
“That’s it! Let it all out. You can’t be with her because of me I’m the one that took your love away. Tell me though did you ever really love her?” Pluto chided in an insulting tone. Again, Uranus took the bait. Again, she let her anger get the better of her. This time Pluto responded but letting her body slack down a little to give the impression of carelessness.
Uranus had already forgotten the first rule of battle. She wanted to see if it affected her senses as well. Uranus used her speed and tried to come up behind Pluto to try to restrain her. Pluto simply ducked and used her opponent’s drunken-like moments to allow her to delver and elbow to Uranus’s stomach causing her to gasp. But Pluto had left herself open deliberately and Uranus took the chance and slammed her elbow into the small of Pluto’s back causing her to yelp in pain and fall to the ground. “Smart girl, you were paying attention”. Pluto thought.
“My love for her is true!” Uranus spoke holding her stomach. She thought it was safe to stop.
“Foolish little girl. You think you know what you are doing but you are clueless.” Pluto thought sliding on to her hands and kicking Uranus in the face causing her to shift her hands cover the new pain. In shock that Pluto would attack when she was trying to talk. Pluto landed on her feet next to the disillusioned Uranus. “You stand as if I’ve just taken your doll instead of insulting your woman. My, my we want to be a senshi but were still very much a little girl.” Pluto thought as she took Uranus’s arm and ripped it behind her causing The Senshi of Winds to flip and land on her back harshly. Pluto called her staff to her and it flew from its resting place and into her hand. Pluto brought it down into the marble just landing inches away from Uranus’s face.
“Or was she just a play thing?” Pluto asked as if Neptune was a notch on Uranus’s hilt. Yet another woman she deflowered. She expected the angry response. What she didn’t expect what Uranus’s hand chopping her neck causing her to lunge forward or Uranus’s knee between her legs. Contrary to popular battle lore, it hurt just as it would a man getting hit in the groin. She allowed herself a few tears and tried to will her legs to stand but they wouldn’t just yet. “Well, I think she’s clear on the issue. But, I’ll test her some more. Marking Neptune with defilading words seems to make her brutally efficient.” Pluto thought as her legs strained to bring her to full height. She knew Uranus now had to defend her honor vocally.
“How dare you say that about her? I love her with all my heart!” Uranus shrieked and then let her form get sloppy. Pluto simply grabbed her throat and slammed her on her back. She then landed her knee into Uranus’s gut knocking the wind out of her and even causing her to vomit a little as she got back up. Pluto felt the full strength of her legs return and back flipped to put some distance between her and Uranus.
“Oh really?” Pluto sounded unconvinced. She threw off a Dead Scream catching Uranus in the stomach slamming into a pillar. She coughed up blood. Pluto figured it wouldn’t be long before her body just gave out on her.
“What do you know of love?” Uranus shot off, her cockiness returning, she called for her space buster and the saber appeared back in its normal state. She lunged at Pluto with it and her opponent just laugh and knocked it away with her staff. When she tried again she made contact with her target, but only managed barely scratch Pluto not even drawing blood. Uranus was knocked off balance with Pluto’s block staggering a bit past Pluto. She used her staff and blatantly knocked Uranus over the head as if it were a club. She felt bad about disrespecting her weapon in such a way, but it was an insult she could live with.
“I know plenty.” Pluto said trying to block the images of him out. The sensation of him touching her and whispering things in her ears. Uranus lunged again like a stupid farm animal. Pluto managed to catch her body in such a way that she missed her flesh again.
“I doubt you have ever had a lover.” Uranus stated, as if she was the only person to have to spend time away from her lover. Pluto used this opportunity to perch herself on a pillar and gather her thoughts. Uranus’s insistence on the subject was starting to make her think about distractions she shouldn’t be thinking about. “I have.” stated Pluto then allowed herself a small break trying to focus her thoughts and not to think of the love she had given up.
“Do you know what is like to be taken from the one you love?” Uranus asked trying to connect to Pluto.
But she couldn’t have said anything worse. “You have no clue what it’s like to be separated. You get to forget it every time you die. I have to remember forever.” Pluto thought leaping back down catching Uranus’s face with another kick to the face. Uranus blocked but she was no match for Pluto’s controlled fury. “Yes, but I have a duty to perform.” Pluto raised her voice slightly. The bonds of duty and oath were stronger then love. Or she had believed until she saw Michelle and Amara reborn. Now she was starting to doubt herself. But She could not let the latter’s incarnate know that. It would defeat the purpose of this brawl. Rules had to be followed and order maintained no matter what. Some things had to be sacrificed for the greater good.
“How can you say you love them if you won’t fight for them?” Uranus rasped, clearly not getting the point. But Uranians could be quite stupid and stubborn when they thought what they were doing was right. Uranus began her slash bit again and attack after attack clanged on the staff. She tried to lunge again and missed.
Stepping back she lunged again and this time met flesh. Though it was just a little scratch it bled like a real wound. Stunned that she actually managed to draw blood Uranus stepped back worried she had hurt Pluto. The woman that had taken care of her after her parents died. “Don’t ever hesitate.” Pluto thought delivering a final blow to Uranus’s stomach. She crashed to the floor and this time gave up her lunch on the golden marble.
“I have a duty and it is because of that duty that I sacrifice my love.” Pluto said walking away leaving Uranus to finish throwing up her meal. She had been beaten well enough to prove the point of the match. Pluto got the needed results from the experiment and no longer needed to be there. It was by her estimation that Uranus’s training was complete for the most part, even though she had lost the spar. She continued down the hall to her quarters not even noticing the people who saw her bruised and bleeding.
(One month later Miranda Palace Throne Room)
Uranus sat on her thrown looking out at the people that came to her and she was bored. They came to her hoping she would solve all their problems. She did the best she could but couldn’t help everyone and then there were those whose problems were trivial she wondered why they were brothering to come to her. She looked over next to her where Pluto stood always looking over her shoulder ready to whisper something to her in guidance. They hadn’t really talked about the fight they had a month ago and their training time had decreased greatly it was now down to once a week and only for a couple hours then it was straight back to the duties of court. “Prince Raidon of Jupiter,” The man at the door announced as a young man with long dark brown hair walked into the room. He was very handsome though a few years younger than Uranus he still was taller than the already tall Queen of Uranus.
He walked over to the throne bowing before Uranus then taking her hand kissing it gently, “My Queen, I thought since court was over you would enjoy a walk in the gardens.”
Pluto watched as Uranus held her hand out for the young prince and watched as a smile had formed on Uranus’ face. The prince had come to Uranus about two weeks prior and seemed to always be in the company of Uranus. A short while before that Pluto had asked Uranus about the amount of letters coming from the Jovian Prince and Uranus had claimed he had started writing her shortly after her becoming Queen offering to court her for her hand in marriage.
“Of course my lord.” Uranus said standing and linking her arm in his walking out of the throne room. They walked to the gardens neither one really noticing Pluto had followed them.
“I have another letter from her.” Prince Raidon said discretely handing her the envelope. Uranus nodded and slipped it into her pocket. “That is the sixth one are you going to write back? I’ll address it to my sister. Lady Pluto won’t think it’s odd of her to be writing me nor will she think it odd of me writing her back.”
“I can’t. I have to make everyone believe I’ve moved on, even her.” Uranus said as they stopped and she caught movement out of the corner of her eye seeing the time guardian following them. “Kiss me.”
“What?” Prince Raidon said.
“Just do it.” Uranus said and the prince leaned forward taking her in her arms kissing her. Uranus took a couple of steps back taking him with her leaning against a wall. Prince Raidon stopped kissing her but Uranus kept her hands around his waist holding him there. “Pluto is watching us act like you are trying to woo me.”
Prince Raidon leaned in again and began whispering in her ear while his own hands rubbed her sides. Pluto wondering what was going on walked closer to the pair making sure she was seen. Uranus feigned being surprised and stepped away from Raidon a flushed look on her face. “A word with you, your highness,” Pluto said then looked at Prince Raidon. “Alone.” Prince Raidon caught on and nodded kissing Uranus’ hand one last time before walking away from them. “What is going on here?”
“Are you spying on me?” Uranus asked ignoring her question and shooting another back out.
“What game are you playing at?” Pluto said also ignoring the question.
“I’m not playing at anything.” Uranus said looking down, “I’ve realized I have a duty to perform and as you said some things have to be sacrificed in the name of duty. Raidon is a good man he will make a good king and a good father. That’s part of my duties too isn’t it? To marry and produce an heir?”
“Do you love him?” Pluto asked.
“No, but I suppose someday I may learn to.” Uranus said. “I know I can’t be with Michiru. I have to move on. Prince Raidon has asked me to marry him and I’ve said yes.”
To Be Continued…