"In honor of our guests, we will hold a grand festival!" the Frog King exclaimed.
"Sounds good to me!" Chibiusa grinned while the islanders cheered.
Suddenly, Setsuna looked worried. "I'm afraid we can't stay for the festivities."
"WHat?" both of the younger Senshi asked at once. "Why?"
"Yes, please, stay just a bit longer," Prince Charming pleaded. Several fairy tale creatures standing around him nodded.
"I'm afraid we have to go," Setsuna sighed. "Or do I have to remind you girls that Hotaru still has homework to do... and she has school tomorrow. We should have already left at least an hour ago."
"Oh no!" Hotaru shouted. "When Haruka-papa realizes that I broke my promise, she'll ground me for sure."
"We can't let that happen," the Frog King proclaimed. "Quick, does anyone have a solution?"
"Of course I do, Your Majesty!" Puss-in-Boots said while giving his king and the Senshi a bow. "Let them use the 'Alice in Wonderland' path."
Setsuna frowned. "'Alice in Wonderland' path?"
"Of course!" The king slapped his forehead. "We call it that because of the similarities between it and the path young Alice used to reach Wonderland... a hidden country, quite similar to ours. You just have to go through it, and a few minutes later, you're wherever you want to go."
"And it can take us to Juuban?" Diana wondered. "All the way across the ocean?"
"Yes, indeed, my little cutie," Puss-in-Boots smiled. "All you have to do is to think of your home, and it will take you there."
"Well, it's worth a try," Chibiusa said. "Okay, where's the entrance?"
"Beneath me," the Frog King smirked. "In the pond. There are only 50 centimeters of water in there. Underneath the pond, the dry tunnel begins."
"Good, then let's not waste any more time, girls!" Setsuna said. She turned around to Prince Charming and smiled. "Too bad we never got the chance to get to know each other more closely... but I assure you that we'll be back."
"I certainly hope so," the prince smiled and kissed her hand. "You are a very interesting woman, Sailor Pluto, far more interesting than all the women I've had in all the different fairy tales..."
"Womanizer..." Rumpelstiltzkin grumbled.
"Good luck!" the king said as the Senshi approached the edge of his pond. "And please, don't forget your promise..."
"Don't worry, we wont!" Hotaru promised.
Diana sniffed. "It's so unfair... I've found my true love, and still I already have to leave..."
"I'm afraid you're still a bit too young for my tastes, kitten!" Puss-in-Boots said with an apologetic smile. "But don't worry, as long as Fairy Tale Island exists, I won't age. So return after you've gained a few years, and we'll see what we can do."
"Really?" Diana asked in a hopeful voice. "Darn, why does growing up always have to take so long?"
"Diana, c'mon!" Chibimoon shouted. "Hurry up!"
The little grey kitten jumped on her princess' arms, and together, the Senshi waved one last time before they turned around and jumped into the pond.
The frog was right, there wasn't too much water below. Just a short drop later, they landed in a dark tunnel underneath the pond. Above them, they could see the dark silhouettes of the Fairy Tale Islanders.
"What a pity we already had to leave..." Hotaru murmured.
"You know how cranky Haruka can be when she gets upset, Hotaru," Setsuna said. "Now remember what the king told us: Think about where you want to go."
The two younger Senshi nodded and followed the Guardian of Time as they walked along the tunnel. While they were doing this, all they thought of was their respective home back in Juuban...
Suddenly, the tunnel ended abruptly in front of them, and they were standing at the bottom of a vertical shaft. Setsuna felt the steps of a ladder in front of her. "This seems to be the exit," she said. "Everyone, follow me!"
She climbed up the ladder, reached the top of the shaft, pushed a lid that was in her way to the side... and gentle moonlight was shining in her face.
Pluto climbed out of the shaft and turned around. She now realized that she had come out of a trashcan, which had temporarily turned into the exit of the 'Alice in Wonderland' path.
Chibimoon, Saturn and Diana climbed out of the trashcan as well, and when they were all outside, the tunnel vanished and got replaced by the true contents of the trashcan, a smelly amount of garbage.
Hotaru looked around. "Setsuna-mama, this is... isn't this our house?"
She was right. The trashcan they came out was standing on the other side of the street where the Outers' house was situated. Hotaru recognized the car standing inside the garage as Haruka's car.
"Why did we come out here?" Chibiusa pouted. "Why not at my place?"
"I think that's because both of us thought of our own home at the same time," Pluto said apologetically. "But don't worry, I'll take you home... I don't think Haruka would mind if we took her car. Hotaru-chan, I think it's best when you go inside, so you can do your homework."
"Yeah, you're right," Saturn nodded. "Oh, I almost forgot..." She dropped her Senshi magic and became just regular Hotaru. Pluto and Chibimoon did the same, and together, they crossed the street.
"Bye, Chibiusa-chan!" Hotaru shouted, then she went inside.
In the living room, she met a surprised Haruka.
"Hotaru?" the tall blonde asked in surprise. "I was just going to pick you up... did Usagi's Mom take you home?"
"Nope!" Hotaru grinned. "Setsuna-mama picked me up. And she wanted me to tell you that she's borrowing your car."
Haruka frowned, then she shrugged. "Oh well, at least she's a person I can rely on... but say, what's she doing here, anyway? I thought she was on her way to Beijing..."
"Don't try to understand Setsuna," Michiru snickered as she entered the room. "I've given up on that matter years ago. Say, Hotaru, don't you still have homework to do?"
"I'll do it at once, Michiru-mama," Hotaru promised. "But first, can I ask you something?"
"Sure, what's up?"
Hotaru smiled. "Please, can you read a fairy tale to me tonight? I'd really like to hear one..."
"A... fairy tale?" Michiru wondered. "Since when are you so interested in such old stories, Hotaru?"
"Why not?" the purple-haired girl shrugged. "I need to hear a fairy tale tonight, Michiru-mama... please? Maybe Hansel and Gretel?"
"Well, okay!" Michiru finally agreed. "But only after you've finished your homework."
Hotaru beamed. "Deal!"
Hotaru wasn't the only one who did not forget the promise they made to the Frog King. This evening, Usagi read to Chibiusa and Diana the tale of Puss-in-Boots. She did wonder why Diana sighed every time she read the cat's name, though...
And Setsuna? After coming home, she read 'Sleeping Beauty'... to herself.
And the Senshi really managed to fulfil their promise, and spark the people's interest in the old fairy tales, and not just the myths and legends of Japan.
But that's a different story.
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(Posted Mon, 31 Dec 2007 10:45)
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