But there is no life on Earth.

[waterfell]

Near the north pole of planet Mercury, there are signs of life, all enclosed in a thin, transparent dome that still allows a clear view of the heavens. Inside, the air is clean and breathable, and even stirs itself in artificial breezes.

The entire city is a mass of blue crystal, luminous with the glow of thousands of solar trees both within and without, their blue cels attached to silvery branches and trunks. It makes a striking contrast, and the structures provide the city's energy, veritable solar power farms, bustling and thriving like the city itself. . Everywhere, the roads lead inward towards a palace, attention drawn to it by its height, taller than any nearby building.

The lush sound of splashing water comes from a clear, ornamental pool in the entryway. Tropical fish swim contentedly there, glimmers of golden koi amid and around the stems of water lilies. There is greenery, too, and flowers provide a seasoning of color. Overhead, the ceiling is dizzyingly high, adding to the sense of open space.

Seated at the edge of the pool, dressed in an elegant gown and with the sigil of her planet showing proudly on her forehead, is the Princess Mercury, now queen of her reborn kingdom. She plays a simple, longing melody on the harp she holds in her lap.

Comments

[one_one_se7en]

His suit reads oxygen on this planet. This world was never terraformed by humanity. His visor gives a quick glance at the sky before he focuses his sight on the ground. If someone colonized this world... then there may be a way back to Earth. The strange thing is that he did not see the body of the planet anywhere over the sky.

The civilization is distinct, as well. The entire enclosure reminds him of Forerunner architecture in terms of scale -it's so high it seems he's outside-, especially the colossal palace in the distance, but the design resembles more Deja's lessons about Ancient Greece. The water pools filled with koi remind him a little of the interiors of the military academies of Reach.

The Spartan takes a few steps forward upon hearing a harp someplace around the city, augmented ears listening and driving him to wherever it may be. His rifle is high only as a measure of caution, knowing anywhere he might venture in might have dangers as well.

He crosses over a massive column, watching over the pool behind it... and sees Ami.

Mercury. Queen Mercury.

After a moment, the Master Chief stands to listen, weapon low and visor looking at her, daring not to interrupt. Despite having stood in presence of royal figures, heads of state, and hierarchs both as an honor guest and as an assassin... She looks so regal. This is where she rules. This was her past life.

This is her home. This is where she longs for.

[repudiate]

[ This.. isn't Earth. She can notice that much from.. well, everything. She doesn't know if Luceti could ever have been on another planet, but aside from that doubt this is definitely the first time she had ever been outside of the planet into space, and just that realisation makes her pause in awe for a few moments as she peers at the surroundings. It seems so livable, even if it's not Earth, like artificially made living circumstances..

And then there's the palace. And the person sitting there.. even if it's slightly different, seeing her in that dress, she's still fairly recognizable.

For a moment she isn't sure what to do, but.. well, Ange wouldn't be Ange if she wouldn't just try to seem casual about it, and so she speaks up with her usual deadpan tone. ]

Nice place you've got here.

[isomorphology]

Quorra finds herself in a place she's never been in. She's dressed as a User wold be - leggings, boots, a black t-shirt and a leather jacket. The User World is still new to her, with all the things she could learn. But even then, the place she finds herself in seems even more alien than that. She makes a slow circle in place, taking everything in.

[mooneternal]

It's difficult for Usagi to determine where exactly she is at first. It's certainly no where familiar, that much is evident by the cold dark space that looms outside from one point of view -- and the closeness of the Sun from another.

As she looks down, the unmistakable gown of her past stares back at her... Is this a memory? But this place still doesn't seem like anywhere she can remember. As the soft music from a harp is heard in the distance... she finds herself tip-toeing towards it, drawn somehow...

[histrionic]

In a way, this planet reminds him of Terra, if only slightly: the luminous trees, the cool colors. But that had been a dying, fading planet (all but reduced to ashes now), and this one seems more lively, more alive.

The planet as a whole is not as interesting to him as the sweet sound of music that he hears, and and so he moves toward it, drawn to the melody, paying far less attention to the scenery than he might otherwise. He pauses only when he stands before her, listening, for once not speaking, waiting for her to finish her song.

Unlike most things, beautiful music deserves his undivided attention.

drive by but had to finally get him in here

[findmyownreason]

It's hard not to gawk but Cloud's had practice at seeing amazing things and looking unimpressed. He's a little older now and just the smallest bit wiser though - or he hopes he is - and so when his blue eyes lift to take in the world around him they're not jaded but instead they're wide and taking in this new world, holding just the hint perhaps of youthful awe. It's elegant and it's beautiful and somehow when he follows the sound of the harp he's not surprised to see who's there.

Something's off though and even if his mind is trying to patch together the last time he saw her near a pool of water in a strange floating castle and here, he's left a little unsure. Heavy boot tread, black and worn, scuffs against the floor as he shifts. There's a question in his greeting.

"Ami?"

[promotedpawn]

[A red cicada, sparkling and bright, flies by near the princess. It's the only warning she gets, a courtesy.

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

The sound of clapping, loud, clear and slow, fills the room as the cicada flies until it suddenly bursts into thousand of other red cicadas that shine and sparkle in a typhoon before they vanish. Primo stands where the cicada typhoon happened, looking at Mercury with a very amused smile on his lips, a mocking gleam in his eyes.]

Congratulations. All your hard work has paid off well to you, your wishes have been fulfilled thanks to that.

[He may very well be sincerely congratulating her for the resurface of the Mercury Kingdom. Or he may very well be mocking her because the resurface of this place is indebted to the destruction of that planet she worked so hard to keep safe. Mercury's own wishes resulted in a destroyed planet, just like the wishes of that princess she hates so much and vowed to kill once because she dared to be too busy to pay her attention. The tone is neutral and friendly enough and he looks both towards the planet's landscape and towards the space, directly at the point where Earth should have been shining as a distant dot. He looks at her again, giving no hint as to what he's doing, but knowing him the answer is probably that he's doing both things at once.]