Chapter 6: The little girl and her apple

12.

Michiru hid for a few days in the sewers of the city. Her white dress had turned into a total mess and she hadn't eaten in days. Finally she encountered Artemis; if faith had sent him or if it was by accident, she didn't know. When she reached Minako's house she was exhausted; but it weren't the few hard days that had brought her down.

"We need to get rid of this," Minako said pushing the dress into a metal container and burning it. "It smells horrible. Where is Michiru?" she asked Ami.

"In the bathroom."

"Good," she said putting the lid on the container. "Ami, I am afraid we won't be able to stay much longer here."

"The knight's guards are searching for her and me everywhere. We need to plan our next move."

Michiru came out of the bathroom and found Rei and Makoto in the room. Makoto asked her to sit at the table; she had boiled some soup for her.

"I thought you were lost, turned dark, or…I went over all possible scenarios in my mind," Rei said.

Michiru gulped her soup down.

"Haruka…," Michiru whispered.

"Who's Haruka?"

"Haruka…her past name, you can't recall it. Oh, heaven," she placed her spoon away. "The Shaded Knight…Haruka…no wonder we were so withdrawn to each other. She is Uranus; the Dark Force has turned her against us. And not only is she Uranus she is also my…partner. I have fought with Haruka in the past, I have…," she covered her mouth. "They took what was most dear to me and turned it against me."

"How can…how can a Sailor Princess turn dark?" Makoto asked.

"You remember?" Michiru whispered.

"Artemis awoke me and also Ami."

"Haruka has always had her issues with her mission, always believed her hands were stained in blood. I think they used this pain to turn her dark, to turn her against us."

"How did you find out who she was?" Rei asked.

"She…my memory came back when…it came back. And not only that…my whole memory came back I can recall every single moment of our past. I know how the princess looks; I know who Luna is. Another cat. I know we also need to find the prince. And Saturn and Pluto…the one who should never be awoken and time. I don't believe Pluto was reborn, but hid in time; it was her who stopped time for us, who held us from aging so we could meet again," she covered her eyes with her hands.

"Look if Uranus is on the Dark side that means she must know everything about the ruler and the location of the princess. We must find a way to turn her towards us again," Makoto said. "If she recovers her memory…is there any pleasant memory that would make her…want to be Uranus again?"

"One pleasant memory? There is an infinity of…not only the pleasant part, but Uranus has always followed her duty no matter what. It came first to her no matter what. One glimpse to her past and I think…but why did it cause my memory to came back, but it didn't move her at all?"

Minako and Ami came in. Rei made a short summary for the two. Makoto approached Michiru.

"What happened that made your memory return?"

"Something that moved my whole being…something that I would have expected her to react to as well. Maybe I am not true to her anymore, maybe…," she turned to Minako. "Our new world is a mix of all words that have ever existed. Even fairy tale words. So…a true love's kiss…could that work?" she asked Minako.

"You want to kiss her?" Rei, who was walking around turned to her. "Are you insane?"

"I already did and…it only brought my memory back."

"What?"

"If it's true love indeed it should have worked," Minako said.

Michiru's shoulders dropped.

"But who kissed who?" Minako asked.

"She kissed me."

"But she can't recall your past."

"True love? You and Uranus share true love?" Rei asked again.

"Rei…" Ami blushed, pulling the girl by her sleeve.

"She kissed you and your memory came back. You just answered to her kiss…I suppose," Minako shrugged. "That might be the reason."

"So we can awake Uranus by making Michiru kiss her?" Makoto asked.

"What else? She barely escaped! Why don't we cut her in pieces and feed her to the wolves?" Rei collapsed in a chair.

"And I am not sure it will work. Fairy tales might be true in this world, but there is no certainty that they apply to everybody. Especially as fairy tales…involve a man and a woman," Minako explained.

"They involve true love, no matter what kind of love," Michiru said.

"Indeed, then we have a chance."

"Didn't we all agree it was best to keep from the Dark Force until we find the princess?" Rei said.

13.

Haruka was in the middle of the plaza, looking at her guards searching every possible house. Her face was covered in a dark frown sending shivers down the spine of the people passing her.

"I'll find you…" she grunted like thunder.

Suddenly she felt something pull on her jacket and looked down at a child.

"What?" Haruka growled.

"Would you like an apple? Only two cent," the girl smiled.

"I am the commander of this land you don't sell apples to me," Haruka looked back at her guards.

"You are a very pretty lady, I will give it for free to you," the girl offered her the reddest apple.

"I don't eat red apples; you might be a witch trying to poison me."

"Do I look like a witch to you?" the girl widened her eyes.

Haruka looked down at the cute child. She hated children. She hated them because something didn't let her touch them. And this one, in particular, had a strange impact on her.

"Go away," Haruka demanded.

"Can I give you a kiss?" the girl asked.

"Why would you give me a kiss?" Haruka was utterly annoyed.

"It's true loves kiss. For good luck."

"I hate love and I forge my own luck. Now go away."

"You are one upset lady. Come on; let me kiss your cheek," the girl started jumping up and down, up and down, making Haruka crazy.

Haruka rolled her eyes annoyed. She bent down and all the people on the street watched the Shaded Knight receive a kiss from a peasant girl.

"That was nice. Now good bye," the girl waved and ran away.

She walked a few streets until she reached a dark corner. A tall woman was expecting her.

"Thank you little girl," she handed a golden coin to the girl. "Now wait and you will see how your luck will change. And when she'll come after you, go with her."

"That was horrible," the girl wiped her mouth with her dirty sleeve. "I had to kiss the Shaded Knight."

"I am sure she will come back after you. And she will take you with her and offer you shelter, food, a good life. Go with her; you are the one to never awaken," the woman walked away.

"What is your name?" the girl called after her. "Don't go."

"We'll meet again. And you will recall me as Setsuna. Good bye, Hotaru."

Haruka felt so angry her head ached. Her guards had searched the streets in vein; they couldn't find Michiru or Ami. She returned to her castle and went to her dark room to calm the ache in her head. She fell into a deep sleep.

14.

Haruka trembled and woke up. She grabbed the arms of her chair, a desolated look in her eyes. She tried to stand, but collapsed to the ground, her body lifeless. She crawled on the floor.

"Guard!" she screamed.

"Yes, you grace?" a guard opened the door.

"Bring me that girl from the market. Now! Before I don't roast your head on a stick!"

"Are you all right, your grace?" the guard rushed to her.

"Don't touch me! That girl poisoned me! Bring her to me now," she pushed the man away.

"Immediately, your grace!" the guard rushed out.

Note: Wouldn't be all that fun without Hotaru and Setsuna.