Finding Comfort In The Waves

[bound_to_water]

Ah... Paradise.

Princess Mercury sat on a rock, shoes resting in the sand nearby, yet safely away from water. Skirt was raised to her knees, the water-attuned senshi letting the crashing waves lap at her feet and ankles. There was even a seagull or two, the only sound aside from the natural sound of water ebbing and flowing. The water was perfect, crystalline and blue, the sky clear and the sand warm. Few things were on Earth that Mercury found rivaled her own planet, but the beach was definitely one of them.

Blue eyes closed as the sea breeze tousled her curled hair, one hand resting gingerly atop her Crystal, the other on the rock. Even the light mist that splashed onto her arm, her dress brought her comfort, some sense of peace. A break deeply needed, from planning and explaining and negotiating a new kingdom. She had averted something truly disastrous with her own two hands. Even now, nobody save her friends knew what truly happened, why the Ginzuishou was no more. And it would stay that way. To change thinking, to assure everyone the new rule was not something to be protected, but something to protect everyone.

She may complain, but as her eyes opened and she looked out at the scenery, she would smile. She was content, busy or no.

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[waterfell]

Even she felt it: the peaceful murmur of the water, the damp sand under feet left bare of their tall boots just this once. There was nothing to intrude here, nothing to demand attention and focus or to push her. It was a place made for her.

It was a place made by her. Surprise written all too clearly on her face before she composed herself, Mercury found herself looking at a perfect image of her own form.

No. Not herself. She knew the face looking back at her, even in those differences and divergences. "Princess Mercury."

[bound_to_water]

The princess turned, to focus her gaze on the reflection before her. No - the other her. Other self. One she knew well as her blue eyes widened some. She didn't dare believe, not after so long, and yet, the hope and potential happiness wells in her, released before she can restrain it.

"... Twin?"

[waterfell]

Dark eyes look back at blue ones. She feels something inside her that she isn't sure how to name. It's an anticipation. It's a meeting that she never thought would happen. Things like that don't happen, for her. Fortunate miracles are for the safe and blessed.

But there is only one person, in any world she's ever seen or been to or heard of, that calls her that.

"I didn't think to see you, after Econtra," she says levelly.

[bound_to_water]

As much as she knows her darker half will not appreciate it, her body moves before her mind can react, soft sand between her toes as she walks to her twin, taking her into a hug. Her eyes close, holding Mercury close even if the motion isn't reciprocated.

So much had happened. Much she wished her twin could be there for, even if it was impossible. There was little to miss from Econtra, but her twin, most definitely, was one of them, if not the only thing.

The princess allowed herself this selfish moment. Just this once.

[waterfell]

It had been years since they'd last seen each other, and yet Mercury still couldn't bring herself to return the gesture. Her body tensed, unused to familiar touch.

Yet she didn't pull away, either.

Her next thought was much easier for her to focus on. "How long has it been since then?" Time has not always moved the same between the worlds she's seen.

[bound_to_water]

Mercury pulled away, a small smile on her lips. "Too long. Though I admit, I usually don't count." That was true enough, given the nearly immortal status of the princesses in that time. A hundred years could pass, and to them, it would feel like mere days. "How have things been, in your world? I do hope they have improved." Her feelings were genuine, her words heartfelt. It was hard for her to be otherwise, around her twin.

[mooneternal]

A nice, calming soothing waterside... It was a nice change of scenery from the dreams she'd been having lately -- even her school life had been hectic. And then, the lack of communication from Mamo-chan... She didn't want to admit that she had been feeling down lately. But this, taking time to herself, walking barefoot amongst the waves... yes, she needed something like this.

Something quiet... serene...

As her thoughts began to turn behind closed eyes, a pang of something painful shot to her temple, causing Usagi to wince, opening her eyes again. But the discomfort was forgotten when she spotted something in the distance. Someone else...?

Wait... a Sailorsenshi? Was it -- "M-mercury?!"

[bound_to_water]

Ah, that voice. Of all things to disrupt her, it had to be one she wanted the least. "Serenity... Are you haunting me now?" She looked somewhat in the blonde's direction, but not fully. Her voice was cold, colder than any ice Mariner Castle held. "I will not apologize; I refused to let your selfishness destroy everything." Other than this, she did not move, the waves lapping at her feet, keeping her anger calm.

[mooneternal]

She froze. Serenity? Why would Mercury be calling her... Her eyebrows laced upwards in confusion; her selfishness? Searching the other girl's face for some kind of clue as to what she could mean, Usagi made note that this Mercury wasn't the same as the girl that had been haunting her dreams lately. She didn't wear the colors of the Dark Kingdom...

"Mercury... What do you mean? Who's haunting you?"

[bound_to_water]

Mercury finally turned to look at the source. Once she got a visual, the tenseness lifting, but only slightly. "My apologies... You sound alike." With that, she turned back to face the water, not caring to elaborate what she meant. If that Usagi was an alternate, then the less she knew, the better.

so sorry for lateness ;A;

[mooneternal]

"Sound alike?" she echoed, worry still etched across her features. She took a step closer towards the other girl, who at the same time while being so familiar... felt quite foreign. "You mean... another me don't you."

[themanoftomorrow]

Along the beach, still in costume and with Krypto wandering at his side, Superman found himself facing someone familiar. A girl who's face he'd only seen in dreams, though wearing different clothing. And this time there was no candy-coated Fortress of Solitude. So, the Man of Steel waved.

"Hello there. Mercury, right?"

[bound_to_water]

Mercury turned her head to look at the person addressing her, a slight cant given. "Do I know you?" It was a fair question; she had never seen him before, after all. And that outfit... She wasn't one for fashion, but what on Mercury was he wearing?

[themanoftomorrow]

He shrugs and looks down at the dog with a raised eyebrow. "We've met once before in a dream, so it's fair to say you may or may not. I'm Superman. And was my guess right?"

[bound_to_water]

She inclined her head the smallest bit. "Indeed, it was. I must admit, my dreams do not regularly include strange men named 'Superman'." May as well be honest with him up front.

[themanoftomorrow]

"And mine didn't used to include blue-haired women named after planets, though I'll admit you look slightly different from the last time. Do you have a sister?"

[luv_n_looks]

"Oh...!"

The surprised exclamation comes from a way behind the Princess, from a blonde staring in wonder at the simple beauty and tranquility of the place where she's suddenly found herself. She hasn't noticed Mercury yet, taking in the sea.

Then she realizes what she's wearing. She's never worn in before in her life - not this lifetime, anyway, yet she knows it immediately as her own Princess dress. The soft, shimmering gold and feeling of her hair pulled back - a style she's purposely not worn in years - is unmistakable to her from a part of her mind that remembers her past life.

The Goddess of Beauty is in her 'true' garb for the first time, and this is not lost on her. Mina's breath catches in her throat.

She sees the other Princess at last, and swallows her emotions as quickly as she's able.

"Sorry to intrude," is all she can eloquently manage with a small smile.

[bound_to_water]

Mercury turned to face the voice, and her head tilts. The face and voice are the same, but something is missing - something critical. "Venus..." Not her Venus, but still. The princess of the planet closest to the sun rose, approaching the blonde. They were not as close as Mercury was to Mars, but she is still a princess.

"You lost them. Your powers." Factual and blunt, as normal for the senshi of knowledge. She knew that her twin trusted none of the senshi, but for Mercury, they were her comrades. Friends. Without them, she had nothing; her twin, at least, had the Shitennou. She could not, would not, turn away. Her bluntness is soon eased by a soft smile, the symbol of Mercury visible through her bangs. "I can help you. I can help you get in touch with your Crystal."

[luv_n_looks]

Speechless, Mina just stares, open-mouthed and stunned. 'How' is the first question she has, but that's pointless. She slowly comes out of the minor torpor, and as it does her eyes well with tears. In the back of her mind, Mina wonders how long it's been since she's seen Ami, the one she knows from home, and she feels an ache in her chest.

"I can't. You don't...know." Mina unconsciously rubs at the symbol on her own brow as she lowers her face in guilt and shame.

"I'm not a Princess anymore." Her heart sinks as she says it, an unspoken truth weighing more heavily when admitted aloud to someone who gets what that means. "I don't have power."

[bound_to_water]

"You do." Voice is firm as Mercury raises a hand, resting it above the neckline of that golden dress, on the collarbone. "It's in here. It's crying out for you, but you can't hear it. But I can. All senshi, so long as they live, have this. It embodies our powers and essence, and proves you are, indeed, Princess Venus."

Mercury moved the hand to tilt up Minako's chin, blue meeting blue as she searched the gaze. "Loss." An accurate summation as she lowered her hand. "It's loss and guilt that is hindering you. You want your powers returned to you, but you feel, perhaps, you don't deserve it." The smallest of smiles tugged her lips. "I can understand that, to a degree. And perhaps because of that, I am even more suited to help you."

HOPE THIS IS OKAY

[decaying]

[How unfortunate Kanda had long since begun to loose the memories of what differed that old polite Ami to the one he had met here. A part of him still thought they were the same person just that Ami had just somehow woken up on the wrong side of the bed and stayed permanently angry. That eventually happened to all nice people.

That's why now, he was treading through the sand in annoyance to where he could see Ami sitting. He didn't warn her, he didn't make much of a sound until he started climbing that rock and taking a seat against the girl. His girl. Or so he thought.]

I get it, Ami. You like water.

[He managed to slip in beside her and took a seat brushing off sticking sand from his coat.]

I still prefer a lake over the damned ocean.

Perfectly fine!

[bound_to_water]

The closeness surprises her, but she does not inch away or make any indication it's not alright for him to sit there. If he knows her twin in that way, then he must be an ally. At his words, she can't fight her smile. "Water is water. It matters not what form it takes." She looks to him, and he can see that this is not her darker self. It's the same face, but the differences, like ripples on the water' surface, are noticeable.

"I take it you know my twin." Mercury rested her hands on her knees, head canting slightly. "I am Mercury." She leaves the 'princess' off intentionally; that held no bearing here.

[decaying]

You're twin? [Okay. Ami was losing it again. He rubbed the back of his neck and heaved a sigh.]

What crazy story are you going to tell me this time. [He really thought they were done with the whole 'I'M NOT AMI, I'M DIFFERENT' sort of talk.]

You changed your name to Mercury?

[bound_to_water]

"I fear you don't understand." Her face and tone grew serious. "The one you know as 'Ami' is an alternate of myself, from a different timeline. We are different people at the core, as hard as that may be to believe."

[decaying]

[He had heard about different timelines back during his stay in star kingdom. Or where he was. He didn't know anymore. Regardless, he believed her and became very away of the lack of space between them. He inched away.]

I understand.