In the rose garden

[secretofthemoon]

It's a lovely day, the sun shines with strength and the sky has a beautiful blue color on it. However it's easy to see that there's something wrong with this sky. The blue is beautiful but darker than it should, almost a navy blue and there are no clouds, instead the whole sky seems covered with small dots of light... Stars when the sun is glowing

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[queenofkindness]

Mercury is no stranger to such academies, or their locations on various planets in various star systems. She arrives just at the wrong time and doesn't hear the names he's calling for, but when she sees the lost-looking student, she heads over there to offer help.

"Excuse me," she interrupts. "Are you lost?"

[queenofkindness]

"Not a class," Mercury explains. "I have to go home. I am not a student here." This is, of course, quite true, and she can say it without any qualm of conscience. It feels like a relief.

"But..." she adds thoughtfully, "I think it might be nice if I were."

[secretofthemoon]

"Oh, you were visiting?" Students aren't allowed to leave the academy but they aren't really cut out of contact with the outside. Everyday there's a space ship that brings visits and there's not a limit for those, though they do have limited time before the space ship leaves.

Serenity pales as she remembers that; "But... The space ship must have already left, you will have to wait until tomorrow..." Did she really delay her that much? She didn't want to cause problems!

Her last comment about the school makes Serenity smile; "Well, this place is great. Mercury always told me that school was tons of fun and interesting. Well, I think she exaggerated with some things, lessons are still as boring as ever but it's indeed pretty fun in other things!"

[queenofkindness]

Mercury smiles vaguely; there's no real answer she can give. So she throws herself into the last comment of Usagi's. She nods.

"It certainly seems like a very fine school," she says. "One I was glad to be able to visit."

[secretofthemoon]

Serenity nods; "Yeah, I'm glad I'm able to attend it. Even if lessons are boring and my roommate is a jerk. Besides, everyone is here, Mars, Mercury, Uranus, Pluto, Saturn, Jupiter, Neptune, Venus... It's worth it if I can be with them." Even if it's disguised as a boy.

Still they should better move; "Come, Ami. Let's go see the headmaster, maybe he can call for a special space ship or something to get you back home."

[queenofkindness]

"No need," Mercury argues politely. "It would only cause added troubles. In a little while, I will go back home."

[secretofthemoon]

"You'll go back? But... The space ship has already left and no other ships are allowed in. How are you going to go back? Can you fly and breath in space or what?" That sounds... Quite fantastic but there isn't another way she can think of for her to return.

[queenofkindness]

Well... yes. But Usagi's reaction tells Mercury that isn't precisely common here, so she doesn't say it.

"Please, go back to your room," she offers. "This will be fine. Thank you for helping me so far."

[secretofthemoon]

But she hasn't helped her at all! Just delayed her and caused problems! Besides she still has to find her friends.

"But I haven't helped you at all..." She mutters back.

[queenofkindness]

"You have," Mercury assures Usagi solemnly. "Please, go back before you are missed." This is for the best - especially Usagi going back before she ends up in trouble herself.

[secretofthemoon]

She's on free time now, that's why she was going to meet with the others, but she met her instead. Serenity remains where she is, looking at 'Ami' with a lost and confused expression. She's still confused over her appearance, still sure that it's Mercury... But Mercury would never tell her to go away like that, would she? She just has the impression that she's not wanted at all.

It's not a nice feeling. And why should she go anywhere to begin with? It's the other who wants to go somewhere else. It should be her the one leaving. Serenity stays, stubbornly; "I don't have to go back to anywhere, I am where I'm supposed to be. Looking for my friends." She's not going to turn around and go back to her room just because this girl walks to her, talks to her for a moment and immediately starts to tell her to go away.

[queenofkindness]

It's not that the princess isn't wanted; never that. But Mercury still can't quite equate this boy-girl to her princess. And besides, it's even better for the princess to think Mercury doesn't want her, than to drag another world into the nexus. She won't do it, no matter how painful it turns out to be.

"I see. I wish you good luck in finding them, then," she says.

[secretofthemoon]

"Uh, thanks... Good luck to you too in... Getting back home... Soon;" without a ship or going to tell the headmaster. It does seem quite impossible for her but there's nothing she can do about it, can she?

Serenity stays a bit longer and takes an hesitant step backwards, as if about to leave. But she keeps looking at the other, as if expecting her to go 'just joking' or something, even if that would fit Mercury even less than telling her to go away.

[queenofkindness]

No joke. Mercury feels a twinge of conscience, but she reminds herself, again, that this is for the best.

"Goodbye," she says softly. "I was glad to meet you."

[secretofthemoon]

No joke. Neither a change of mind apparently. Serenity still hesitates a bit longer but nods softly; "Goodbye. Have a safe trip, 'Ami'..." She replies.

It still takes a bit longer before finally she wills herself to move away, slowly and peeking over her shoulder at the other girl. Still lost and confused. She will be even more confused when she finally meets her Mercury and sees her blue hair intact.