|
|
"You’ve been acting strange lately Annika, is something wrong?"
"No, I just wish I had been chosen to go on the scouting mission to Planet Six, that’s all.," she looked back up at the planet and sighed. Circelle laughed. "Why? It’s just a huge ice-covered ball. There’s no life there, you know?"
"I know that, it’s just I can’t help feeling like there is something I’m supposed to be doing. Something important."
"Important? You don’t think being a Princess is important? You’ve got everything here, a loving family, a palace, and a great best friend. What more could you ask for?," Circelle smiled. She had been a Maiden-in-Waiting to Annika for seventeen years and her best friend for almost as long.
"It’s not important, Circ. It’s not what I was destined for, I can feel it. I should’ve been on that scouting trip, I’ve got a bad feeling about it."
"A bad feeling? You’ve been hanging around the Monks too much, I think."
The door to the balcony opened and Ambassador Nelix stepped through. He was a stately man, in his middle age. He wore the traditional symbol of Bakura on his green robes and his white hair was cut short.
"Excuse me Your Highness, but your presence is requested by the Prime Minister. It is of utmost urgency."
She nodded and turned to Circelle. "I’m behind you, Your Highness." Annika followed the Ambassador down the long hallway of the Bakurian palace. Her footsteps echoed off the high marbled ceilings while she wondered why her presence was needed. Surely, her mother, the Queen, would handle any situation. Annika was a Princess, but held no real power and would only come to power when her mother, Queen Nikana, resigned the throne.
Ambassador Nelix led her to the sitting room. She entered to find her mother and father awaiting her arrival. A small child apparently from a nearby village stood in the room as well, he was flanked by several Royal Guards and Monks.
Before Annika had a moment to speak, Queen Nikana stepped forward and beckoned her closer. "Come here, my daughter, it is time." The Queen took her hand and led her to the small child. He bowed before them and spoke in a strange language. One of the Monks, Bezaerl, translated: "He says, it is true, it is true, the prophecy was true.’" Annika looked confused. "Mother, I don’t understand. What prophecy?" Nikana let out a heavy sigh and took both her daughter’s hands in her own.
"The prophecy refers to you, Annika. Your father, myself, and the Monks have always known, we hoped this day would not come."
"Forgive me, but I still don’t understand." The Queen led her over to a small banquette. "I will explain to you. Long before you were born, the Monk Bezaerl had a vision; a prophecy. In this vision, the first child born to your father and myself would be very special. She would be one who has been chosen to protect the Universe from the Dark Side of the Force."
"Isn’t that what the Jedi do?," Annika asked.
"Yes, but you are different. You and others like you, have been endowed with special powers. You can fight in ways the Jedi can’t. The powers are special to this Planet system, and they belong to you."
"But, how do you know it’s me? I don’t have any special powers, I don’t have any special anything."
"Oh, you are wrong my love. When you were born, a small, golden symbol shaped like a heart was visible on your forehead, Bezaerl’s vision foretold of this symbol. It disappeared when you were seven, and we thought you would not be called. But, the vision also told of the time when you would be called upon to defend the Universe. That time has arrived."
The small child walked over to where the Queen and Princess sat. He held out a small piece of namana fruit. He split it open and a small diamond fell out onto the floor. Annika picked it up, and it began to glow in her hand. The Queen touched her face, and continued talking.
"This child found the fruit and brought it to his mother. She knew what it was, and brought it to the Monks. Then, this morning, the group returned from Planet Six. They found this." She held up a little silver talisman, there was a hollow place in the centre. Instinctively, Annika placed the diamond in the centre of the talisman, it was a perfect fit. A burst of light erupted from the middle of the diamond. "It is time for you to become the warrior, the Sailor Scout, you were born to be."
Annika stood and looked back at Circelle. She smiled and nodded her head. Feelings flooded her and she knew what to do without being told. Everything made sense now. She held the talisman high above her head and said, "Bakura Force Power Make Up!" Ribbons of soft pink and silver light flowed from the diamond and enveloped her. She felt the gown she had on dissolve and transform into a black and white and pink outfit. Her shoes changed into high boots and a tiny golden heart appeared on her forehead.
When she opened her eyes, she saw she had long white gloves on, and she knew who she was. "I am Sailor Bakura, defender of the innocent! I stand for love and peace and will defeat the Dark Side." Queen Nikana stood and looked with pride upon her daughter.
"Now, I understand why I had to take all those defence lessons when I was a kid.," Annika smiled.
That night Annika had a long talk with her family and an even longer talk with Circelle.
"So, what are you going to do now Annika? Or should I say Sailor Bakura?"
"Annika is fine, Circ. I’ve got a job to do, I can’t waste too much time here. My mother said there were others like me. I wish I knew where they were, I hope one day I’ll find them."
"You will, just don’t forget the friends you’ve got here."
"I could never do that!," she said. Annika hugged Circelle and turned to leave.
"Do you know where you are going?"
"Yes, Bezaerl told me where to go, he said I’ll run into the other Senshi eventually. Besides, I want to fly my new ship! You want to go for a ride before I leave?"
"A ride? In The Silver Swan? I’d love to! Hey, let me ask you something, why doesn’t your hair change when your clothes do? I mean, all that Force magic, you think your hair would change. Don’t get me wrong, I love the two buns, but, well!"
"Yeah, look, do you want a ride or not?"
"I sure do!"
"Then let’s go, we’ll talk about my hair later."
After the ride with her friend, she said goodbye to everyone. Sitting behind the controls of her ship, and leaving the Bakura star system, she felt a tear come down her face, she was finally living her destiny. She hoped she would make her family and planet proud.
