Book One Index
She sits among the trees, reveling in the life surrounding her. The land itself glows with a shimmering white light, and the roots of the vegetation around her soaks up the warmth and light, sending it into the branches and leaves, adding a silver-green tint to the surrounds.
This place is like nothing on Earth. Indeed, it is not on Earth. The forest is one of many on one of seven planets in the system known as the Black Hole Worlds. It is the Silver Millennium on Earth’s moon, but here, there is no name for time periods; only events have names.
The woman who sits in the forest is in her early adulthood. Her black hair falls nearly to her hips and the red framing her face stands out like ribbons of vibrant silk fire among the black ebony. He eyes, completely black, save for the neon green pupils, glow slightly as she watches the energy patterns of the plants, animals and planet. A gentle wind springs up and ruffles her hair and thin silk-like blouse that she wears with leggings.
This is her world, as are the others, for she is their Pharaoh; the thirteenth one, one of the most powerful and, unknowingly, the last.
“HLM?” A voice calls in a musical language unlike anything spoken on the Earth or Moon.
She looks up, intelligent eyes scanning for the source.
“Yes?”
A man, slightly younger than she, but taller by about five inches, steps into view. His hair black, is tied back, and his eyes are black with blue pupils.
“My apologies for interrupting your meditation, pharaoh, but Queen Serenity from the Moon Kingdom has contacted us and has given us permission to visit her.”
HLM nods. “Excellent.”
“When do you wish to leave?”
She stands gracefully and goes to the man, “Immediately. My thanks, Cal.”
He nods. “Are you sure you are prepared?”
She looks at him and grins. “You just don’t want me to go, do you, my friend?”
He chuckles. “You caught me. Seriously, though, this can be very dangerous. We know next to nothing about these people, and anything can happen. You are the first to ever leave our worlds.”
She smiles gently. “Cal? Answer me this…was there not a person to first set foot off of their world when those of our system were originally discovering each other?”
Cal nods.
“And imagine how their friends and family must have felt. I’m sure they felt the same way you do now,” she smiles warmly and puts a friendly arm around his shoulders. “Do not worry; everything will be alright. If anything happens, I am only one comm. Link away.”
“But what if something happens to you? We have yet to find a new heir to the throne, and you have no children.”
She nods. “I understand your concerns, but we will be able to handle anything that comes up. Both Queen Serenity and King Endymion have their guardians, as do their children. There is also a young warrior sworn to both lands. If their leaders ask it of them, they will protect me as well. That is assuming I am disabled, or have you forgotten that I am a warrior as well?”
He sighs. “I would still feel better if you had guards accompanying you on your visit.”
“All right, Cal, I shall have five accompany me there, and if a guardian is not appointed, I will allow them to stay. However, if there is one appointed, I want them to come back here to help guard my people.”
Cal sighs and nods, knowing that this is the best he’s likely to get out of his stubborn leader. She chuckles softly at his look and stops, putting both of her hands on his upper arms and looking up at him. They’re on the threshold of a city made of crystal and stone. Perfectly in balance with the planet, there’s no pollution, and the huge buildings seem to fit perfectly into the landscape.
“Cal! Relax, will you? I’ll be in communication with you and always open to messages. My friend, it’s only for a month! How about once I get back, we sit on the beach and eat the frozen fruit juice like we did when we were kids?”
He chuckles a little and hugs her with a grin. “Well, all right, Pharaoh. I’m taking this as a promise that you will return in once piece.”
“Of course it is! Now come on, we need to notify the Silver Queen of my expected arrival time, and get all of that ceremonial stuff out of the way,” she responds, draping an arm over her old friend’s shoulders.
Nephrite raises a brow at Jadeite as he hurries into the meeting late.
“Having some fun with Diana, eh Jae?” He telepaths to the wild haired general.
Jae just smirks. “You’re just jealous, Nephrite.”
Neph simply shrugs as Kunzite, Zoisite and Endymion all arrive. The four generals hold a loose fist over their hearts and bow respectfully to the Prince of the Earth Kingdom.
“You may be seated,” the Prince tells them once he acknowledges their salutes. Immediately, the dark haired prince launches into telling them about the strange sun-spots appearing on the sun, which they all knew about anyway. However, the Prince is training to take his ailing father’s place, and he’s a stickler for protocol.
The auburn haired general keeps his eyes trained calmly on the Prince as he chatters on. The only way he can stay awake, though, is to keep himself entertained with other thoughts.
This morning, the stars had given him an odd message that he’s been having problems deciphering. They told him of the arrival of a mysterious person who would bring him great joy, while at the same time, great sorrow. They said that this person’s arrival will mark a time of many beginnings and many endings. They would not, however, tell him who this person would be, or when they would be arriving.
“Finally,” the Prince says, taking Neph from his distracted thoughts, “this afternoon, at one o’clock Moontime, the Pharaoh of the Black Hold Worlds will be arriving for her month long visit. This is a great honor because we will be the first ones ever to meet someone from that system, much less their ruler. I wish to appoint one of you as her guide and protector. Are there any volunteers?”
Neph raises his hand. “Being as close to the stars as I am, I would like the honor of guiding and protecting one from them.”
Endymion smiles. “Granted, General Nephrite. You are absolved from your other duties when hosting our guest.
That was the last issue I wished to address. If there are any questions, you may ask me, otherwise, meeting dismissed.”
The Guardians stand and bow when the Prince stands. Neph goes up to the Prince while the other three return to their rooms to prepare for the day.
“My Prince?”
Endymion looks up at Neph with a pleasant smile on his face. “Yes, Neph?”
“Forgive me, but what do we know about this ambassador?”
“Well, her name is HLM, she’s slightly older than Diana and she’s very powerful.”
“That’s it?”
The Prince nods with a grin, “That’s it.”
“Hmm. Then this will be an interesting experience indeed.”
“My beloved people! I will miss you all greatly, but fear not!” HLM speaks to the mass of blue on black eyed people gathered before her podium, knowing she is being watched by the other planets via communication crystals. She does truly love her people, and seeing their eyes watching her every move almost makes her change her mind about going to the Moon Kingdom.
Ah, but if I don’t go, who will? We need as many friends as we can get.
“I will return to you in one month with new knowledge to share and new stories to tell! You must trust Cal and his advisors, for they are wise and will be in close contact with me,” she rests a gentle hand on her friend’s broad shoulder.
“I leave with him a piece of myself.” She unsheathes one of her little used, diamond sharp claws, and takes the mass of her braided hair ceremoniously in her other hand. She neatly brings the claw down and cuts off the lower part of the braid, her remaining hair hanging at mid-back. A gasp ripples through the crowd at seeing their leader slice a piece of herself that took years to grow off. She then turns and presents the soft braid to Cal, who takes it with a deep bow. She turns back to the crowd.
"I love you all! You are safe in Cal’s hands, and I will return the moment he thinks I should. Wish me luck, my beautiful people, for I am about the embark in a journey to gain new knowledge and friends!” She closes her eyes, and in a flash of black, her ceremonial gown of silver transforms into her black dress uniform that clings tightly to her powerfully, though slightly, built body. The only marks on the outfit are the bright green characters going down the sides that tell her story and of her power. They stand out as if they are three dimensional.
Amid cheers of well wishes and tears of sorrow for being separated from their leader, HLM steps confidently into to sleep, pitch black aircraft awaiting her.
Even as HLM is being prepared by her servants for her appearance on the Moon, Nephrite is busy putting on his dress uniform. He looks himself over in the mirror as he adjusts his cape across his broad shoulders.
I wonder if she’s the one the stars were referring to, he ponders to himself as he teleports to the site of the landing.
And why do I feel as if I’m about to face my destiny?
HLM breaths deeply and tries to stay still enough to keep her hair piled neatly on her head.
Now I’m glad I cut it, I don’t know how much more weight I can handle before falling flat on my face.
She has to laugh, envisioning the reactions there would be if she had the misfortune of tripping and falling on her way from the ship. Her guards look at her oddly.
“Are you all right, Pharaoh?”
She nods and looks at him kindly.
“Rik is it?” At his nod, she continues, “I’m fine, if not a bit nervous. Thank you for asking. I just had the image of what would happen if a strong wind blew, caught my hair, and sent me falling flat on my face.”
Rik and the others just nod, apparently not wanting to think about such a thing happening.
“We’re descending, Pharaoh HLM,” the pilot’s voice comes over the intercom.
She speaks into the crystal box on the wall. “noted.”
Grinning encouragingly at her guards, she buckles herself in and braces herself for an even that will forever change the lives of everyone she knows.