Fairy Tales and Legends
Minako sat in front of her vanity looking in the mirror with her chin resting in her cupped hands. She was dressed in an elegant light blue gown that pooled at her feet. The dress had been a gift from Ami for her help in negotiating a peace treaty on Mercury and she eagerly awaited the arrival of the seamstress to have the dress properly fitted. The sleeves of her dress where open along the top, clasped tightly at her shoulders with a silver clasp and then lower down her arm, just above her elbows where it then travelled freely past her wrists. It was definitely Mercurian in its fashion as it was relatively modest in the front. The neckline was lose and rose nearly to her neck while the other side of the dress left most of her back bare. Perhaps the Mercurian Princess had become somewhat rebellious in her style after having been exposed to the fashions of the other planets, Minako mused.
She stared at her reflection alternating between puckering her lips and frowning. Since she was a small child people had always been quick to tell her how fortunate she was to be so beautiful, yet her looks had done little to bring her happiness. Men pursued her frequently either to satisfy their own lustful needs or out of greed to gain the title of her kingdom. She wondered now why her looks were not enough to give her the one thing that she truly desired, the love of her Heavenly King as he was appropriately named.
“Mirror, mirror….” She murmured to herself.
“….on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?” a voice chuckled from behind her.
Minako quickly looked up to see the reflection of Sailor Pluto behind her, standing on her balcony with her body outlined by the glow of the Palace lights as she stood behind the translucent curtains. The Senshi of Time parted the curtains and gracefully entered the Senshi of Love’s bedroom, setting herself carefully on the edge of the cream colored bed, the garnet rod clutched tightly in one hand. “Isn’t that how the line goes in fairy tales?”
“I must not be familiar with that one,” Minako answered warily.
“I’m surprised,” Pluto smiled. “I thought all parents told their children the story of Nephelania to make them behave lest she come for them through the mirror.” Minako still looked unfazed by her words. “She was once the beautiful queen who envied the Queen of the white moon. When she dared to challenge the Queen she was banished to live on the other side of the mirror she was so fond of, hence the saying.”
“An interesting tale, but I’m sure that you have not come all the way from the time gates just to tell me a bedtime story.”
“Of course not,” the older woman responded with a gentle smile.
“If you are here to tell me about your concerns for the Princess, I will tell you now that I do not wish to hear any more of them. She is in love with her Prince.”
“It’s a love that cannot be.”
“It’s a love that cannot be stopped.”
“Yes, you out of everyone should understand this best.” Pluto smiled softly at the younger girl as she rose from the bed. “But what of your own love?”
“My love is for my Princess.”
“Do you know the story of Aphrodite and her mythological lover?”
“I grew up with the legends of my birthright,” Venus responded.
“Legends are sometimes more than just that. Perhaps you should take more stock in the words of your people. Without them you will never find what your heart most desires.”
“What do you -“ Minako quickly spun around to find that Sailor Pluto was gone from her room. She rose from her seat, nearly tripping on the long layers of her dress as she stumbled towards the bed. Could she have imagined the whole conversation? Her hand cautiously touched the bed where she had seen Sailor Pluto’s reflection sit and reflexively yanked her hand back as she felt warmth that could only have been left from a human body. Why would Pluto have stopped by to tell her a fairy tale and leave her with a cryptic message about legends and love? The Senshi of Time was well known for appearing at will and departing just as quickly, but it never ceased to leave Minako feeling unnerved by the close contact.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock on her door followed by the hasty entrance of the seamstress as she started to fuss about Minako’s dress. The older woman quickly pushed the blonde in front of a full length mirror and started making adjustments to the pale blue dress. Minako found herself continuously glancing into the mirror watching to see if she would once again catch a glimpse of the elusive Senshi of time, hoping to understand the message that had been left for her.