Chapter V
Life Between Worlds Index
She stands nervously before the mirror, smoothing the satiny royal purple material over her body. The dress she wears was made from a design sent from the Moon to her worlds about a week before she left. The material is like satin, only far more durable, stain resistant and lighter in weight. Her people had tried following the criteria sent for making the material, but for some reason, when they completed the process, the cloth became rough and scratchy against the skin. They were forced to alter the elements used to make the material, and the result flows gracefully around HLM’s body.
I hope I’m pleasing to his eyes…this…I think the word is “bodice” feels so strange…
The dress has long sleeves that flair at the wrists, and extend past her hand for about half an inch. A snug fitting bodice with a very low neckline falls into a full skirt that falls in graceful folds around her strong legs. On her feet, she wears a delicate looking pair of deep, translucent crystal. Her hair, instead of being piled atop her head, half is pulled back in a lose half-tail, and the other half curls gently around her shoulders. She looks over her reflection in the mirror, and her eyes fall to her cleavage.
I wonder if that’s too revealing… My people are very comfortable with their bodies, and some of the ceremonies I’ve done had to be done in the nude, but these people don’t seem as comfortable with their bodies.
There’s a knock at the door that tears her from her nervous thoughts. She takes a deep breath, and fastens the choker that Cal gave her of peacock stone the exact shade of her dress around her throat.
I guess I’m about to find out. I just won’t bend
over at all…I think I’d fall out if I did…
Nephrite raises his eyes to meet those of the woman who opens the door in response to his knock. He couldn’t help but take in the gentle curves of her body and the soft swell of her breasts.
In all of my travels, and of all of the women I’ve seen, this one must be the most beautiful…
“M-chan, you are a vision.”
He smiles charmingly at her blush and offers his arm. She takes it and closes the door behind her.
“Kunzite and Zoisite will be joining us on our tour. Is that all right?”
She smiles. “Of course. I’m very interested in meeting the others before all of the ceremonies and meetings begin.”
He nods. “Understandable. If you don’t mind, I have a few more questions to ask of you.”
“Oh, that’s not a problem at all,” she responds as they walk slowly down the hallway, the click of his boots and the oddly musical chime of her crystal slippers hitting the marble floor complimenting each other.
He nods, looking at his lovely companion. “I have been thinking out our conversation from before, and I was wondering why ‘Pharaoh’ is the only word that translates your rank. Do you not have religion?”
She chuckles softly, chimes sounding in her voice. “I had the feeling that question was going to come up. At one time, my worlds did have religion. Many different ones, in fact. This was long, long ago. With every religion there comes fanatics. These people were very dangerous because they would war with each other, and they’d blame one another for innocents who died in the crossfire. The Pharaoh back then, the third of the first thirteen, saw what was happening, and greatly pained at seeing his people suffer so. Among his powers was one somewhat like hypnotism. He used it to make his people see reason, and showed him that taking about their differences in opinion instead of fighting and killing for them. After a long span of time, religion just sort of died out. However, the idea of godlike power remained. Thus, ‘Pharaoh’ is the word closest to the true meaning of my rank.”
Neph nods a little. “Interesting. How many Pharaohs have there been?”
She pauses in thought. “Ah…I am the thirteenth Pharaoh of the thirteenth millennia, so, including myself, there have been one-hundred-sixty-nine of us.”
He blinks. “Aren’t your worlds older than that?”
“Ah…yes, they are, but each Pharaoh reins for one-hundred years in Earth and Moon terms.”
“Oh my…your people are quite long lived.”
She nods. “Yes, their average life spans are eighty to ninety years, while the Pharaohs are much longer. The Pharaohs usually begin ruling at the age of twenty, at which time we stop aging until twenty years before we die.”
Nephrite holds the door open for her. She steps through, thanking him and freezing at the beauty surrounding her. The sun shines out of a clear blue sky. The light ripples off of the pools and the colors of all the different plants and flowers leap at her eyes in graceful bounds.
“M-chan?” Neph asks, worried. “Are you alright?”
“Ah…yes. This place is so beautiful.”
He smiles, her awestruck expression making her look innocent and almost childlike. When she turns to smile at him, his heart melts.
So this is what those girls feel like when they swoon at my smile…
He gently leads her to where Kunzite and Zoisite are sitting by a crystal fountain. They stand at Neph and HLM’s approach.
“You look lovely, HLM-san,” Kunzite comments as he leans down to touch his lips to the back of her hand.
She smiles. “Thank you, Kunzite, it is good to see you again.” She then turns to Zoisite who does the same as Kunzite.
“That is a beautiful color, and I’ve never seen fabric quite like that before,” he comments, looking at her gown.
“Thank you, Zoisite,” she holds a sleeve up to let him examine the material. “If you like, I can have my people make you something out of it.”
Zoisite smiles. “I’d appreciate it greatly.”
“Well, M-chan,” Neph speaks up, “are you ready for the tour?”
She nods and takes his arm. “I’m looking forward to it.”
He smiles and rests his other hand on hers. “Let us go, then.”
As Neph and HLM begin to stroll off, Zoi and Kunz share a quick look before following them.
Several hours later, after the tour, HLM is standing in front of the crows with Queen Serenity, Prince Endymion, the Senshi, the Prince’s Guardians and Lady Diana. They all stand around a shrouded sculpture.
“The Silver Queen’s garden is famous all over the universe for its beauty and symbolization of peace. Now that I’ve seen it, I can see why,” HLM begins in a strong, slightly accented voice with a warm smile. “I would have loved to bring a few of the Trees of Peace from our beautiful forests, but, unfortunately, I fear they would not be able to survive here due to the vast differences in our environments. Instead,” she signals the servants to being pulling the cover slowly off of the sculpture. “I offer this…ah…statue?” She looks at Serenity to see if that’s the right word. The Queen nods reassuringly and smiles warmly.
HLM grins a little sheepishly. “My apologies, I am still learning your beautiful language; words still evade me,” there’s a polite ripple of chuckling through the crowd. “Anyway, I offer this statue of a Tree of Peace made by the most skilled artisans in the Blank Hole Worlds from the best star-marble available to show our wish for peace and learning between our worlds.”
Everyone present, save HLM, gasps as the huge cloth finally slides off of the sculpture, revealing a tree made of a black stone that shimmers with seemingly millions of stars with a dim light all its own. Each tiny, oval leaf is carved individually, each vein intricately integrated into the design. The bark on the trunk seems so really it looks as if it would flake off if touched with any force.
Serenity pulls her gaze from the amazing tree and looks to her visitor. “I’m honored to accept this beautiful gift. Thank you, Pharaoh HLM. May our worlds be forever at peace.”
That signals the end of the formalities, and everyone heads into the shimmering ballroom for dancing and refreshments. While the royalty is exchanging pleasantries with the nobility, HLM feels a light touch on her shoulder. She turns and looks up into familiar cobalt blue eyes.
“Nephrite,” she says with a lovely smile.
“Would you care to accompany me to the gardens?” he asks.
“It would by my pleasure,” she says with a smile. She turns to the noble she was chatting with and excuses herself.
As they step into the gardens, Diana sprints past them, followed closely by Jae. HLM looks to her companion in confusion.
“Wha’?? Where’s he going in such a hurry?”
“Hmm, after her, I suppose,” he answers, motioning after the fleeing woman.
“Ah…but…uhm…aren’t they already lovers?”
“Hai…”
“Then…why is she running from him?”
Neph chuckles softly. “To escape from Mars, the boredom of the ball or both.”
The exotic alien’s brows knit, as if she wants to ask another question.
He looks down at her and smiles gently. “You have another question, M-chan. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Well, hai, I do, but I’d imagine answering all these questions must be getting annoying.” She looks at him with a sheepish grin.
“Iie, of course it’s not getting annoying.” He smiles gently at her. “Go ahead and ask your question.”
“Well, ah, is that how one who is interested in another romantically shows their feelings? By running from then?”
He blinks. “No…there are other ways to show one’s affection. Why?”
She smiles shyly and blushes slightly.
This is no way for a Pharaoh to act…but who’s looking?
“Well,” she answers shyly, “I was wondering if I should start running.”
Chapter
III
Chapter V
Life Between Worlds
Index