A/N: Thank you to those of you who have reviewed. I truly appreciate your comments, and I'm glad you have enjoyed this unusual coupling so far. This is for the theme Physics. I hope you will like it!

Disclaimer: Owns nothing

An Object in Motion. . .

She had been avoiding the Priest ever since that dazzling, confusing night. Not that it was hard. Kept busy with small tasks for Serenity and catching up with the other senshi, Hotaru had barely seen glimpses of him as she moved about the Crystal Palace. She knew he was most likely busy himself, what with his duties as the Priest, and attending Small Lady as she went about her own responsibilities. It relieved her that she would not have to confront her strange emotions towards the man with the warm ocher eyes, though deep down there was a part of her that was undeniably drawn to him like a firefly towards a spark of light in the darkness.

In an effort to distract herself, she had sought out the pink haired Princess in the palace gardens, glad to find her alone for once with no sign of the Priest or any attendants lurking nearby. It was a relief to walk in the bright sunshine with someone unburden with darkness, someone who could make her smile and laugh as no one else could. Small Lady made her feel young again, something she had almost forgotten how to feel.

“Don’t you like Helios?” Chibi-Usa inquired suddenly, her ruby eyes curious, her head tilted to the side.

Her head snapped up from the white roses she had smelled, her death-pale face flushing. “Why?” she asked, her voice quiet and controlled, even if her emotions were not. “Has he said something?”

“Mm, no,” the younger Princess responded slowly, watching her friend straighten with a thoughtful expression on her youthful face. “He doesn’t have to though. You seem to be avoiding him- I’ve noticed. Did something happen between you two?”

How could she explain when she didn’t even really understand it herself? Her emotions to the Priest were confusing, frustrating and lovely all at the same time. She didn’t want to think about them, as that only made things worse.

“No,” she answered at last, letting her fingertips gloss over the silky delicate petals of the snowy blooms, sighing. “You know how hard it is for me to meet new people. I think I just need a little more time to get used to him.”

This seemed to satisfy Chibi-Usa and she nodded in acceptance. “It’s hard for him too,” she assured the other girl, taking her hand to draw her along the stone pathway to other areas of the grounds. “But he really is a wonderful person, Hotaru. Give him a chance? For me?”

Inwardly Hotaru winced. That was what it came down to. No matter her own feelings toward Helios, she would have to learn to deal and put up with them for Chibi-Usa’s sake. “I’ll try,” Hotaru assured the other girl, attempting a smile.

Smiling, the young woman nodded. “That’s all I ask,” she told her cheerfully. “I just want the people I care about most to get along!”

“I understand.” Blinking she lifted her gaze to the heavens, her fingers still encased in the Princess’s grasp as they walked along the path, smelling the sweet fragrance of all the flowers. “He unnerves me, sometimes,” she admitted. “He. . . intimidates me, and I’m not sure why.”

“Really?” Chibi-Usa inquired, her eyes surprised. “I can’t imagine why. He’s very sweet and gentle; he would never speak to you in an unkind way or hurt you, not intentionally.” She plucked a few crimson poppies to add to her growing bouquet, glancing sideways at her slender dark friend as she contemplated the matter. “Perhaps you should try talking to him instead of running from him.”

Eyes flashing, Hotaru couldn’t help the rising indignation in her voice. “I’m not running from him!”

A raised eyebrow and a small smile were the only response she received from the Moon Princess, and she flushed, knowing that Chibi-Usa saw through her all too well. “Of course not,” she responded lightly, then with her ever cheerful optimism she changed the subject. “What other flowers do you think we should get? Mama hasn’t been able to come outside for awhile, and I thought a bouquet would cheer her up!”

Drawing her mind away from her brooding thoughts, Hotaru tried to focus on the task at hand, suggesting some blue forget-me-nots, followed by a few tall purple irises and several white lilies. She was grateful for Small Lady’s chatter and happiness, her own spirits lifting and able to forget about the cream and gold priest for the time being unaware that from the shadows of the Crystal Palace the King was passing by all in light lavender, a slim figure in palest white walking at his side, though his golden gaze was on the young women amongst the greenery.

--

The cool shadows of the night were familiar and comforting to the young Princess of Saturn as she glided through the silent halls, most of the palace’s residents already in their beds, dreaming without fear or care. Night was a time of peace for her; it reminded her of home, the beautiful dark Titan palace. A twinge of homesickness clenched at her heart and she sighed. It never ended it seemed- when she was there she longed for Crystal Tokyo, and when she was here she longed for home. It was a never ending cycle.

A light touch of her fingers and the door of her chambers swung open soundlessly to emit her. She glided in with equal lack of noise, more feeling than hearing the entryway close behind her. This was her own personal area of the palace where no one came without her permission, not even the Royal Family though it was technically part of their home, but when Hotaru had pointed this out, the Queen had merely laughed, shaking her head before hugging her affectionately.

These rooms had been decorated in darker colors than the main palace; deep navy blues and purples, touches of black and cool gray, colors that she loved. Some of her lamp collection was also here; their soft lights glowing like stars as she walked past to her bedroom.

Here there was no light, and she stood still for a moment, allowing her eyes to adjust to the comforting dark, her ears drinking in the soothing sound of silence. A gentle smile curved her lips and she went about beginning to change for bed, slipping on a short cream colored nightgown before moving towards her canopy bed, draped in rich, dark violet and black. But there was something out of place, resting on her pillow. She drew back, eyes flashing and she felt her anger rise at the thought of someone disturbing her sanctuary without permission. Violet eyes cold as chips of purple ice, she stepped forward again into the shadows of the canopy, at last able to make out the seemingly innocent object there.

A single iris, a beautiful pale purple with a thick green stem rested there, and she blinked, startled. With slightly trembling fingers she reached out to touch it, lifting the bloom to her nose and inhaling its fresh fragrance. Then she spied the thin strip of paper tied with a delicate silver ribbon around the stem, frowning once again as she flipped it over.

Penned in a hand she did not know was a single incomplete sentence: An object in motion stays in motion. . .

Her nose wrinkled and irritated she took the note off, tossing it into a small garbage bin under her desk. The iris, however, she placed in a crystal vase with fresh water from the bathroom before putting it on her dresser. It wasn’t the flower’s fault that it had been brought there by some trespasser, and she couldn’t bring herself to throw away such a lovely bloom.

Soon however the flower and the note were far from her mind as she curled up in her cool bed, dark hair fanning out across the purple pillowcase, her breathing growing deeper and more even as at last sleep took her to dreams.

Mist curled around her feet clad in thin princess slippers of light violet silk as she walked the path of a labyrinth. It was a great ancient thing constructed of thick brown stone covered in moss and bright green clinging ivy, a sharp contrast to her pale form in her white nightgown.

There was a rustling behind her, the sound of someone not far behind her in the twisting corridors.

A chill twisted down her spine, not caused by the temperature of the chilly vapor in the air; she had to move faster, or she would be lost. Her body responded almost immediately, her pace quickening, though she made no sound as she went. Practically flying down the narrow dark corridors of stone she turned randomly at the junctions, hoping to confuse her pursuer.

Her soul cried out for help, for someone to protect and rescue her, though she did not expect anyone to come. Frantic salty tears burned her cheeks as she fled, her panic mounting with each moment, glancing briefly over her shoulder to see if the one who chased was closer than she realized-

She crashed into a white solid form before her, and she fell down with a cry, wrapping her arms around her dark head as she huddled on the ground, waiting her fate. A gentle velvety touch on her arm and a soft whicker made her lift her head slightly, meeting dark curious eyes. The creature she had ran headlong into was one that could never cause harm to a young maiden, silky white and with beautiful sweeping wings like that of an angel. Trembling, she lifted her hand out to touch the animal’s nose gently. A Pegasus, she recalled dimly.

As if it had been waiting for such an invitation, the creature knelt, curling up beside her, its warm bulk oddly comforting. As if by instinct she moved closer, wrapping her around the mythical animal’s neck and closed her eyes, her trembling beginning to stop, feeling the gentle breath of the great creature on her hair and the rustle of feathers as it folded a wing over her to draw her near. A feeling of peace and security slipped over her and she sighed, her body relaxing, all thought of what pursued her gone, the threat forgotten in the presence of the Pegasus.

Amethyst orbs blinked open slowly, dark lashed lids fluttering. Though no light could break into her rooms unless she drew the curtains back, Hotaru knew morning had arrived. Almost poetic, her mind mussed as she sighed and snuggled back down to drowse for a few more minutes, eyes beginning to close but then they snapped open, staring with a slightly open mouth at the object that rested on the nightstand beside her bed.

Hair as dark as raven wings tumbled about her delicate features as she sat up slowly, reaching out to touch the smooth thornless stem of a barely budding white rose. Its fragrance filled her senses, heady and intoxicating, and she brought it closer to her nose, breathing it in. Silky petals brushed against her lips as she took the small slip of paper from the ribbon tied around it, lifting it to read the delicate script, a continuation of the other note.

“. . . until an opposing force stops it.”