*~*~*The Silver Millennium*~*~*

III: Suggestion and Change

Meanwhile, Esa and Cassie having quite forgotten why they had gone outside to begin with were instead standing in the lake fiercely throwing water at one another. The sun beat strongly on the landscape and the many inhabitants of the castle who had gathered for a day at the lake watched amazed at the two Princesses fighting each other with water and all were blissfully unawares of the intruders to their planet. Cassie eventually fell over
�Stop it Ese� she yelled. �I�m giving up!�
Esa stopped immediately and sat in the water
�Hehe, I won�
�You so did not�
�You gave up� Esa protested
�Anyways� Cassie quickly changed the subject �Lita and I were talking and��
Esa groaned. She fell back into the water �What did you come up with this time? If it�s about Endymion�s general Jadeite falling for Rei then I know� Cassie smiled mischievously �Not that. Just that you are soon going to have a visitor�
�Who?�
�Oh come on Ese. You really can�t hack life can you?� Cassie plucked her tiara off her head and inspected the jewel with a serious look on her face. Esa sat up, she was annoyed at Cassie�s last comment. �I�m not that bad.� She retorted �But seriously who�
Cassie looked at her with one eye �Who else but a certain younger brother of a dashing prince�
�Eh? Topaz. He�s pretty but so full of himself and the whole �male chivalry� thing�
Cassie placed her tiara back on her head choosing to ignore Esa�s comment.
�We have a winnerrr� she yelled then immediately began to laugh. �Lita and I think he has an eye on a special person here.
�Ok Cass. I get it. I don�t see why, I don�t care. I always thought he liked Mell� Esa tried to dismiss the conversation. Her mood became sullen and moody very quickly.
Cassie shrugged and shook her head �Nuh uh. I�d feel happy if I were you�
�He�s annoying. And besides it�s just you can Lita speculating� the blonde frowned.
�Hardly. More like common knowledge�
�What about you� Esa tried to ask �Tarnite�.�
�Don�t change the subject� Cassie shrieked. �This is too much fun to let go� she grinned throwing some more water at her friend.

*     *     *

�I can�t believe what you are trying to do madam� Craxic addressed Ria in a sterner tone than was his norm. The two were in the great hall of Atlantis, Ria sat determinedly upon the aqua-green glass throne and shot her senator a withering glare. Craxic was heavily trusted by Ria but on this issue their nationalities would clash.
�Diplomacy� he stated in disbelief �how can you?�
A third voice shortly interrupted the senator as more advisors and ministers began to congregate and among them Vela who strode confidently into the hall, his footsteps echoing above the silence. He bowed deeply to the Queen.
�His lordship is bringing them. They have agreed to come here�

�Reasoning with invaders, Madam� Craxic still continued his rant off to one side.
Ria turned to him �I understand your people simply used your armies� she addressed Craxic coldly.
�Yes and largely it worked� he replied indignantly.
Ria shifted in her seat casting her eyes over the small assembly.
�I am a pacifist� she stated �I reason if I can�
�Well yes. The whole Millennium is Pacifist� Craxic agreed with a slightly sarcastic tone. �But sometimes war is necessary�
�Wars, Craxic� Ria spoke calmly and slowly �can be lost. And if we lose we are ended and there is a glitch in the Federation. My actions at least try to save that�
Craxic suddenly understood, he made as if to say something in response but decided against it. With a smile he bowed �yes madam�.
Ria nodded, stood and addressed her advisors. �Well. Make preparations for a honourable entry. The more we seek to conciliate the less hostile we shall be received. At the least inform our generals to prepare a Guard of Honour.� She turned to a younger dark haired man.
�Parras, ask the maids to prepare some rooms� He nodded and left.
�We shall treat them as our guests� she continued �and I only want the most vital areas of the castle to be alerted. I do not want a general upcry.� Ria sat once more to signal she had finished, the assortment of senators and ministers all bowed and exited the hallway.
�Except Craxic� Ria called out to her silver-haired senator who has made to leave with the rest. �I understand some of your earlier sympathies and I would like to speak over some issues more�
Craxic immediately turned �yes madam�

*     *     *

Cassie squealed loudly as a succession of small Esa-made waves hit her face on She toppled over backwards into the lake once more.
�Argh you soaked my brand new fuku� she protested trying to wring out the scarlet coloured skirt.
�Then don�t tease� Esa replied throwing another wave. Cassie shielded her face. Strands of bright auburn hair fell in darkened damp streaks attaching themselves to her skin.
�We should do in� she decided placing her hands on her hips. �I need to tell you about my dress for the ball on the Moon tonight. My mother had it specially made for me by the dressmakers of her gowns in Taria�
Esa nodded and sat back in the water �Sure. I�ll have to find mine, Eleyna put it somewhere or perhaps I did� she gazed off airily into the sky.
�Dearie me Esa. You can handle Latin but you can�t remember where your dress is� Cassie sighed. She offered her hand out to her friend. �I�ll find it. Now transport or walk�
Esa smiled �Now what would I do without you Cass?�
�Die Ese, die� Cassie replied dryly.

*     *     *

Ria stood imperialistic in the aqua-green chiffon layered toga dress. Her long blonde hair lay neatly down her back as she stood at the foot of the flight of marble steps, which led to the grand door of Atlantis. She was flanked on either side by her advisors and senators Craxic, Vela, Parras and Alus. Ria stood arms by her side, her face steely with determination. Suddenly a call of trumpets was heard, a fanfare to herald the arrival.
�They are here madam� Craxic spoke �Are you perfectly content with this?�
Ria nodded as Aque passed the gates with his small imperial guard and followed by the Saiya-jin king and his son�
�De duobus malis, minus est semper eligendum� (Of two evils, the lesser must always be chosen) she replied to her senator then curtsied politely as the king approached. He himself made no such formal greeting.
�You devalue yourself to stand and greet at your door� the King remarked. He certainly looked powerful. Ria felt her decision however would be correct.
She knew of her powers of persuasion and did not let his snide assured manner affect her.
�I stand because I value my guests� she returned �You are highly confident to arrive without guard�
The King smiled smugly �My son and I have no need to protection� he replied.
�I see� was Ria�s only response. �Then if you would follow me� she turned with an effortless grace, long blonde hair swinging in time with the gown which floated around the tall monarch in soft chiffon folds. She moved with a very stiff straight back but slow and careful in an almost ghostlike movement. As she progressed up the stairs she was followed first by the King, his son and single guard, then Aque of Aquarius with his small company and finally the mix of advisors and senators who bowed as the regalities passed, then adjusting their white togas followed their lead Craxic into the castle of Atlantis.

*     *     *

The two Princesses of Aquarius and Leo had managed to remain oblivious. Ria�s protection of her court and castle had been effective. It helped that the two girls, being far too lazy to walk had used their crescent moon crystals around their necks to transport back to Esa�s quarters. Cassie now perched herself upon the edge of the Aquarian�s bed as Esa rummaged furiously in her wardrobe.
�Can�t find it?� Cassie called out sweetly, peering through the door to the clothing.
�Eleyna usually sorts it� Esa replied flustered. �No hang on� she suddenly yelled. The blonde began to tug at some hangers.
�I..think�� she continued talking through gritted teeth as she pulled harder. �Got it� the turned smiling softly at the redhead, her blue eyes glistened as she proudly held up a gorgeous aqua-blue and white chiffon organza layered toga with two ice blue silken straps.

�Oooh� Cassie mouthed �Pretty� she pointed. �Mine� she stood up to give a mimed demonstration �Is red, orange and white. My colours basically. Straps, heart-shaped neckline, slim line to the waist� she indicated by holding her own waist �and then flips out at the bottom�. She made a flicking movement with two hands around her ankles. �It�s very pretty� she smiled gently. �Very� she pondered over her last word. Cassie shook her head, the flame coloured waves bouncing softly around her face.
�Well let�s see� she announced with a great beaming grin.
Esa shook her head. �I can�t� she said.
Cassie studied her puzzled �Aww why� she pouted. �Can�t I see my little aquatic angel in her dress�
Esa shot Cassie a confused look. �Aquatic Angel?� she enquired. �That was weird�
Cassie shrugged �Ok, Aquatic Senshi then.� There was a long pause. Cassie stared out at the blue sky above Mara.
�I wonder what that thing was earlier� she changed the subject.
�I have no idea� her friend replied sullenly. Esa�s mind was still weighed down by Cassie�s earlier comment. ��MY�, it played itself over. She hated the feeling of being owned, even by Cassie, but then again something inside had leapt.
�Hmm� Cassie still pondered. �I hope its ok. I should return to Leo� she felt very uncomfortable suddenly.
�You don�t have to� Esa said. But her back was turned sorting out odd pieces in her room, shifting little bedside trinkets around. Cassie sighed.
�I think I should� she decided. The Leonine Princess stood up still in her fuku and walked to where Esa tidied busily. She hesitated slightly though before throwing her arms around her friend�s back and kissing her shoulder lightly.
�See you later. Love you Ese� she hugged harder before disappearing.

Esa hardly had time to react, she was conscious of Cassie�s closeness for the first time in her life. �Ca�� she began turning to find that Cassie was no longer there. Esa sighed and fell backwards onto her bed, she shook her head vigorously trying to rid herself of a sudden huge weight.

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