Lunar Boot Camp

[Corwin]

"Please forgive her, she's still young," Filia tells the guards, before gathering the girl up in her arms. "We can visit the library later, if you want to, Mistress Ami," she tells her charge, walking back to the car.

[Brian]

Trying to wipe some of the foam free, Makoto curtsies to Filia as the woman approaches. "Excuse me, I couldn't help overhear you speaking with the, ah, princess. I'm Princess Makoto de la Joviana, and this is my friend," Makoto pauses suddenly, realizing how dispirited Rei is... and covered with foam, too. Wiping away some more of the foam from her own face, Makoto decides to cover for the Princess of Mars. "This is my friend, R..." I need a name! Um, foam-covered girl, foam-covered girl... AH! Rika! That's perfect!, "Rika!" she concludes, smiling. "We just got out of the library," she continues, turning to regard the minute Princess of Mercury. "There was a fire, but it was put out, and there's a good priestess working on fixing up the damage." I hope. Good luck, Misha-chan! "What brings you here?"

[Corwin]

"Mistress Ami was adamant about seeing the St. Claire Library," Filia responds. "It was the reason for our flight to Luna." With a somewhat doubtful look, she nods at the foam-covered girls. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Mistress Makoto, Rika."

[Ebiris]

Jolting out of her stupor as Makoto introduces her, Rei turns a very surprised look on her fellow Princess. "How long have you known?!" she asks, shocked that her clever ruse had been seen through.

She also takes note of the Princess of Mercury and recalls Queen Serenity's opinion of the girl...

[Halbarad]

Ami sighs in defeat. "All right, I know when to regroup and plan a new strategy."

She turns to survey the two new arrivals, giving Makoto a smile. "I apologize for introducing myself like this. I'm afraid I panicked a bit when I saw the smoke over the library. I am Princess Ami Hermesia of Mercury; pleased to make your acquaintance." She gives the library a mournful glance. "I hope that priestess manages to salvage the books-there are volumes in there that have no copies anywhere else."

[Corwin]

"And I'm Filia," the golden-tressed woman says, inclining her head again. "Chief Priestess of Mariner Castle, and Mistress Ami's retainer."

[Brian]

"Play along with me," Makoto whispers to Rei. "We'll pretend you're really Rika until we're more presentable."

Slightly louder, and still futiley trying to remove the foamy lemon-scented bubble-bath from her outfit, Makoto explains, "The queen asked us here on... er... personal business... and we've just gotten some information." Makoto regards the princess, though she appears not to be judging her based on her age.

If anything, Makoto looks at the far younger girl as an equal, which could say great things about Makoto. Or really bad ones. "Ah, Princess Ami, have you met with the Queen yet?"

[Ebiris]

"Wha...?" Rei looks oddly at Makoto, "You mean you haven't figured it out?"

[Brian]

"Of course I figured it out, Re... er... Rika-chan. It's my plan, after all." Makoto winks at Rei before turning her attention bacxk towards Ami and Filia.

[Halbarad]

Ami shakes her head. "No, I was on my way to present myself when I saw the smoke coming from the library. Since it IS the main reason for me to be here right now, I came directly here to see if there was anything I could do."

Noticing the two in obvious discomfort covered in foam, she covers a smile. "Would you, ah, like any help cleaning up?"

[Ebiris]

Rei sighs, wondering what the hell has gotten into Mako-chan. Then she hears Ami's question anc blanches. While 'cleaning up' with Mako-chan would be an immensely enjoyable activity, the Mercurian Princess looks way too young for her taste.

"That's alright, we'll clean up when we get back to our lodgings."

She considers asking why Princess Ami was bothering to present herself to Queen Serenity, given the monarch's earlier comments about the girl, but refrains from commenting.

[Brian]

"Er... yes, we have to get cleaned up at our lodgings," Makoto says, frowning. "If only I could remember where they were."

[Ebiris]

"Well, we'll just go back to the palace, then. I'm sure someone there'll be able to help us out," Rei says, wondering why, in spite of her earlier words, she is not just making tracks for the Spaceport so she can get back to Mars and away from this nightmare...

[Halbarad]

The young princess shrugs. "Suit yourselves then. Very well, Filia. We'd better get to the palace ourselves and report to the queen."

When Filia makes no move to let her go, she stares at the blonde priestess pointedly. "You can put me down, you know. I believe I'm familiar with how to walk on my own."

[Corwin]

"Very well, Mistress Ami," she says, putting the child down. Filia then follows her princess to the air car, giving the other two girls a smile as she goes.