Hotaru's Classroom Pre-Class Report Three
The Initiation
It took a while to revive Chibi-Moon, untangle the bodies, fix Yuri until she found herself "worthy" again; and an even longer while to convince Minako that nursing everyone back to health wasn't necessary. Once everything was settled, five exhausted, red-faced girls in soiled, torn, and rumpled gowns stood in a line, facing the queen. For a few moments, everything was solemn as Queen Serenity began the ceremony. As soon as she was finished with her speech, she stood before Chibi-Moon. Likewise, the other senshi stood before their children.". . . and so . . ." the Queen continued serenely. ". . . we will be bequeathing to you, our children, and future senshi who have now come of age, a part of the power within ourselves to . . ."
"WHAT?!" Four very enraged girls shrieked. The senshi, save for Jupiter, winced.
"Is that true, mother?" Chibi-Jupiter said, her eyes wide. "But we thought . . . we thought you would be surrendering all your power to us . . ."
The murmurs in the crowd escalated and soon the ballroom was in uproar. The chibi-senshi stared hard at their mothers.
"Silence, please," Queen Serenity said softly. "Hear us out. You are not children anymore. That much we are celebrating. But you may not be ready yet to receive so much power and responsibility all at once. Being a senshi takes a lot of work and plenty of difficult situations and decisions. You will be needing proper training, which we are prepared to give to you."
The other senshi nodded solemnly.
The chibi senshi raised their eyebrows.
"But according to the history books you didn't need much training," Chibi-Mercury said. "You were just awakened and given power. Isn't that what we're experiencing now?"
The senshi blinked and glanced at each other.
"Well, and see where that got us," Mars said easily. "We had to wait centuries for Serenity to get her act right. We were hoping to get it right this time." She added, winking at Chibi-Moon.
"Saaaiiillllooooorrr Maaaaarrrrssss!!" Queen Serenity shrieked.
"Usa . . . I mean, your highness, you shouldn't wail in public . . ." Mercury whispered frantically.
"Forget it, she's a lost cause now," Jupiter said, sighing. "Venus, you'd better explain." In the background, Mars and Queen Serenity started arguing.
"Actually, it was all my idea. You are blessed with natural power . . . we can see that now. You have your own powers within you . . . however weak at the moment. Notice how even at a young age Chibi-Moon was able to use small heart attacks? We did not want to stifle that true kind of energy. You have to learn first how to harness it. However, along with your training, we will be blessing you with the items you will need to make-up, and at least a bit of our power to guide you until you are ready to achieve it in its entirety."
They nodded reluctantly.
Venus smiled slightly. "We also feel . . . after tonight's escapade . . . that you need to work on your social skills. Starting next week, you will all be enrolled in the elite training center for soldiers. Other details can be discussed later on. For now, I congratulate you on behalf of the senshi . . . and er . . ." (sweatdrop) " . . . of Queen Serenity for reaching this far into your maturity. Along with your classes, you are free to take on certain missions that will help in your training."
"Together with your newfound power, we are also granting you the privilege to discuss or oppose any royal treaty in our kingdom. You are already considered part of our royal council, but all final decisions are ours alone until such a time that you are ready to take on all our responsibilities."
The chibi-senshi still appeared to be a little dumbstruck. Only Chibi-Venus looked resigned (her father had insisted long ago that she join in one of the training centers and she had already graduated from a special form of military training).
"Attend a school? But how will I learn proper social graces at a training center? For soldiers?" Chibi-Jupiter said, her soft voice tinged with anxiety.
"I'm sure you'll find the curriculum pleasing enough," Jupiter said, patting her daughter's shoulder. "You'll see. Just give it a try Ok?"
"But I was supposed to take a special school for priestesses like mom did!"
"Wasn't all that home tutoring enough?!""Apparently not," Mars said, staring hard at their ruined outfits. Behind her, a sniffling Serenity tried to pull her buns back in place.
"All we are asking is that you take the training we have planned for you for at least two years," Queen Serenity said, amazing everyone by quickly regaining her composure. "Then you are free to choose any path you take." She smiled at them. "This training isn't as ordinary as you think . . ." She opened her hands to reveal the silver crystal. It shone brightly in the room, calming and silencing everyone at once. Suddenly, there was a blinding burst of light and everyone shielded themselves.
When they opened their eyes, they found that the crystal had broken into two. Everyone gasped.
"This crystal is a symbol of power brought about by the pureness of one's heart. Do not fret so much, it will be whole again…someday…" She handed the half to her daughter. It shone slightly, then disappeared in Chibi-Moon's heart shaped locket. "…when you become queen. We are entrusting all of you to protect the princess and the crystal within her, for we do need its whole power in times of strife. Thus, it's just as important as the one I keep."
She held hers to her chest, and the crowd watched silently as it, too, disappeared within their queen's locket.
"Now," The queen stated cheerfully. "That's that!"
The chibi-senshi sweat-dropped.
Mercury sighed. "Such an informal way to end it."
"Well, we do have other matters to take care off. Four new students will be going to the same training center. They are special guests from a distant country, and I had planned to welcome them today. May I present Sir Morganite, Sir Malachite, Sir Alexandrite, and Sir Lignite."
The four men stepped forward confidently, then shrank back due to the harshness of Chibi-Venus, and Chibi-Mars' stares.
"Your highness, do you know the family background of these men?!" Chibi-Venus said, stepping forward.
"Why, of course." Queen Serenity smiled. "I have reason to believe that they are the reincarnations of the four generals under King Endymion."
The chibi-senshi and senshi stared at their queen in surprise. Even the generals appeared taken aback at the queen's confession.
"You knew that they belonged to the Beryl family?" Chibi-Venus said, stunned.
"They are?" The Queen's eyes widened. "Why, no, I had no idea. I had only to study their names. They all end with the same 'ite', isn't it amazing?"
"YAAAAAA!!!" The chibi-senshi and senshi crashed to the ground in surprise.
"Irregardless, is it wise to let them study here?" (Venus)
"I say we question them first!" (Mars)
"Maybe we should research on their family background." (Mercury)
"Do you want to hold them here for interrogation?" (Jupiter)"Enough!" Queen Serenity said, silencing them. She may not appear to be serious all the time, but when she was, she took the attention of everyone in the vicinity. "I know of their background, and the positive threat they carry, but I have also learned from Endymion that they were once good, loyal soldiers and if we are to preach peace and love we should start by giving them a chance. To doubt them and treat them with hostility will only show weakness in our part and in our beliefs. We did not create this kingdom for ourselves only. We've built it for the good of everyone on this earth, which they are undoubtedly a part of. They shall be honored and welcomed, especially by our chibi-senshi."
Everyone stared up at the queen with a mixture of pride and awe.
"Only she could have the purest heart that would suggest such a thing . . ." Diana breathed.
"Of course, I helped her to grow into the respectable queen she is now," Luna whispered proudly.
The silence was broken by a loud grrooooowwwllll . . .
Queen Serenity scratched the back of her head ruefully. "I'm kind of hungry."
Everyone sweat-drops. A slight crash is heard from the thrones where the cats were perched at the armrests.
"Daddy, is mommy ok?" Diana said worriedly.
"Yup," Artemis said, peering between the two thrones. "Just a little too dumbstruck to do anything right now."
They started to move again, when Chibi-Mercury suddenly let out a loud, "Oh!"
Everyone blinked and stared back at her.
"What has happened?" She asked, blinking.
Everyone groaned.
And thus begins the training and missions of the chibi-senshi.
(Hey who is narrating this anyway?)
(King Endymion appears at a corner, smiling sheepishly. "I had to find some space in this adventure!!")
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