His wide green eyes fixed to the horizon, water stretching further than even his keen eyes could see and it felt like the ocean stretched forever. An adequate analogy for the last fourteen years away from his wife toiled by long hours and painstakingly hard work, it felt like an eternity. Part of him told himself it was worth it, that it all boiled down to this specific day where all he could do was stare ahead to ignore the tense scene behind him. The wind bounced wildly off the black cliffs, tangling in his long, stark white hair and bothered him because he held pride in how well groomed the waist length of his hair remained. A petty thing to be annoyed by given the joyous nature of the day given its rarity and his own curiosity. Artemis was just merely anxious, maybe more so than anyone else standing on that beach.
He buried his toes in the sand, relishing the warmth absorbed by the sun because there was a chill to the breeze that came with the cool months of Earth's harvest season. Artemis nodded thanks to the Venusian soldier to his left, a younger man with careless white-blonde hair and excited green eyes the pale shade of peridots. He extended a simple thick red ribbon with which Artemis tied back his long hair. The beach they stood on was unassuming and small, almost too small for the crowd behind him who were all too eager to stay away from the others as much as possible.
Behind him to his left, the beach was packed with throngs of royalty from all over the Galaxy. Beautiful beings of ethereal light and immense power that Artemis was all too accustomed to as one of the diplomats of the Moon Kingdom himself. The Terran natives no doubt could feel their powers ripple over the sandy shores and vibrate through the halls of their homes from a great distance. The Moon Queen who ruled by default due to her ability to wield the legendary crystal was amongst the party and possibly stood out the most.
Queen Serenity had rescued the very few of the Mauan population when his planet was destroyed and he and his wife offered their lives to serve her purpose. Her purpose was to achieve the Silver Millenium- a time of perfect peace, harmony, acceptance, and protection. Being the logical man he was, Artemis knew it was far fetched based if nothing else than by their relationship with the very planet they stood on now. A planet otherwise forbidden. His wife however, believed in this Silver Millenium wholeheartedly, and so he agreed to do its bidding beneath the Lunar Queen with blind hope for her noble goals.
Behind him to his right was a much more tense and brooding party. Natives to Earth from the highest ranks of their kingdoms were present in the forms of priests, scholars, noblemen, and official representation of the Four Kingdoms beneath Elysium. Their recently appointed Heavenly Kings were not present to Artemis' dismay as they were one of the myths and legends of Earth he knew to be true. A well kept secret still it seemed. All gathered together for once to bear witness to what they might call a miracle.
In the divide between the two parties behind him directly were the King and Queen of Earth, the Royals of the Golden Kingdom of Elysium. In great contrast to the Gods and Goddesses to his left, the Terrans looked utterly barbaric. They wore fine clothes, but they were dull and dirtier looking than the beings that seemed to glow with inner light and magic that people from Earth lacked. Artemis still saw their beauty, the King and Queen were by far the most stunning Terrans he'd ever seen, all dark and draped with rich colors and fabrics and shimmering gold. He could almost feel a latent magic in them yet no one would say it because there was little the people of Earth feared more than magic.
Artemis could feel the King and Queen's eyes boring holes in the back of his head though he told himself it was simply his nerves. They had been completely gracious and hospitable in even allowing what would be known as the Silver Alliance's diplomats to utilize their planet this day. Accepting or not, the scene on the beach, how their groups were divided tense and silent spoke volumes of the relationship they had with Earth and its people. Other than the wind blowing through the grasses of the shore and the waves crashing on the sand, the air was nothing but a thick tense silence. He was grateful for the shift in the wind, the Sun breaking free of the clouds and exposing a brilliant blue sky above them. It meant the ceremony would begin soon.
Artemis served the Moon Goddess Serenity first and always, yet for the last fourteen years he enlisted his service to Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, Beauty, and Desire. There was little that could steal the limelight from her this day as she stepped to the center of the beach in front of him by the shore, draped in a heavy velvet robe of red. Her hair was a vibrant gold peeking from the top of the heavy garment, her molten gold eyes gazing over the gathered crowd slowly with tension on her full and perfect mouth. He stood between her and the Earthen King and Queen, suffering the wrath of heavy eyes from all angles. Two of Aphrodite's servants that Artemis had come to know well as her right hands, helped the Goddess shrug from the crimson robe and the gathered crowd was blinded by raw beauty.
She wore a simple short toga style dress that did little to hide a body too perfect, and her golden curls fell down to the sand in bright cascades in the warming Sun. He paid little mind of the multitudes of gasps from behind him, mostly from the Terran party because Artemis was probably the only one used to being in the presence of such perfection aside from her house staff. Terran men broke into prayer, artists began to feverishly work their graphite over paper and paint brushes over canvas. He knew they would never be able to capture her likeness, it was part of her power. Aphrodite held her head high though there was sorrow in the liquid gold of her eyes that Artemis had seen often in the previous days before this, though even he began to feel his eyes sting slightly because she'd never been this radiant.
Aphrodite calmly pulled at the chord around her neck, removing a necklace consisting of nothing but a simple closed oyster shell that she had worn for an untold many years. Artemis knew it well. He spent much time in travel with the trinket, touring planet to planet with the shell tucked secure in a purple velvet pouch and protecting it with his own life. The Goddesses and Gods of the other planets infused their gifts upon the shell, power and knowledge that were all to relevant to today. Artemis told himself again that it would be worth the time away from his post, and his loving wife. A mantra he hadn't been entirely convinced of until the excitement of this moment bubbled in his stomach with unrestrained curiosity.
The Goddess pried the shell open with ease, plucking a blindingly bright gold pearl from the casing. She rest it in her palm a moment, the most loving and beautiful smile spreading across her features and she plucked it in her finger and thumb, holding it to the heavens and allowing the Sun to blind them all with it's brilliance. It was now that the Venusian party to his left began to sing, their chorus followed by a louder, impossibly sad and beautiful note from the Goddess herself. Goosebumps spread to every inch of his skin, his toes curling further in the sand when she palmed the jewel again, lowering her hand to present the pearl to the Terrans first. Her hand moved slowly across the beach, offering the jewel, offering love itself to Earth's people, to the King and Queen, to himself, and all the diplomats of the Silver Alliance, resting in front of the Moon Queen lastly.
He didn't miss the single tear that fell from her eye as her molten gold stare bore into Queen Serenity's liquid silver eyes and she closed her palm, holding it tenderly against her chest. All the while, the Venusian's song did not cease and Aphrodite continued to lift her voice against the beat of the wind that had picked up considerably despite the bright Sun. Artemis found himself moved to tears and fought the urge to sob. Never had there been a more beautiful display of pure love embodied in a single being, or given to anything the way the Goddess gave it to the jewel in her palm. Golden sparks lit the air around them and Aphrodite slowly turned her back on the crowd, stepping slowly into the lapping surf. Her voice only ceased after a short distance when the ocean claimed her and she disappeared beneath the waves.
The Sun became blinding and intense, he had to shield his eyes from it and the Terran's cowered behind him when the golden magic floating through the air became like fireflies and the sea began to bubble and foam where the Goddess had vanished. Artemis lost count of the minutes that the chorus of Venusians sang and Aphrodite remained submerged but the clouds moved in and the sparks began to fade in the air. He swallowed hard, knowing the moment was coming that the fruits of his labor and absence from his wife would be made worth his hard work. Even Queen Serenity, the brief second he allowed himself to look at her, stared in awe when the crown of Aphrodite's golden head emerged from the sea. Her eyes were fixed in determination, bright and too gold when they regarded the crowd in her ascent back to the shore. Her golden hair was a darkened saturated gold, trailing behind her in a train of deep waves and curls, the scant white toga dress translucent and clung to her golden sheened skin.
No one noticed this of course, everyone was taken aback and staring in disbelief at the young woman the Goddess cradled in her arms. She was already about the age of thirteen as Artemis knew she would be and yet he couldn't help but still be floored. She was naked, her body already showing signs of budding womanhood and the perfection that was yet to develop. Even in her youth, the Goddess of Love herself seemed to pale in comparison to the young girl's brilliance and beauty. Aphrodite paused, the young girl stirred just slightly in her arms and eyes of the bluest opened slowly, becoming wide when they beheld her mother. Mother and daughter smiled at each other, almost identical but the girl's eyes were the shade of the sea she came from, too blue and from the mere feet between them Artemis thought they glittered gold with magic.
He felt something in his heart break for this child's beauty but the purity of her smile alone was devastating. Aphrodite stepped closer to him until his chest almost brushed the arms she held the young girl in and his breath ceased to flow in his lungs. Her hair was the same gold as her mother's, eyes wide and almost too soft and he could see the vibrant flecks of emerald green and gold laced within them. Her lashes were thick and long, the bridge of her small and perfect nose dotted with light freckles that crinkled slightly when she stared up at him. Her lips were full, perfectly formed like her mother's and a perfect shell pink that complimented the pale tone of her skin. The bone structure of her face and body was molded by the Gods, already sinful, eliciting impure thought from some of the male party already, including the young soldier at his side. He barely heard the awing gasps of the Terrans behind him because her eyes were staring up at his own strange appearance in awed fascination. She was in theory- perfect.
Artemis shrunk when he noticed the hard stare of Aphrodite, and the young girl's gaze went back up to her mother adoringly before they shifted back to him. He swallowed hard, trying to relax under the curiosity of the girl when she studied the crescent moon symbol on his forehead, reaching up to trace it with a delicate finger. Artemis was gone, his heart breaking again. He loved her- he loved her like the child he and his wife had yet to bear and decided in that moment that he would gladly die for her. Her gentle and loving smile was a reward that more than made up for the long fourteen years away, even if the heartbreak in Aphrodite's gaze reminded him of what life would mean for this little angel. A Goddess could only give divine birth once in their eternal lives, and the Goddess of Love would not be able to hold her daughter for long.
"Her name will be Mina, but you will regard her as Venus herself. A symbol and tribute of our great and powerful Kingdom of Magellan." Her tone was commanding, a calm in her torment. It was a tone that Artemis would never forget, because one day it would become the voice of her daughter. "She will make you proud, she will be strong." Her voice lowered for Artemis' ears alone. "And as Queen Serenity takes this heart from my chest, her Silver Millennium will be complete."
Artemis nodded, nervous because the Moon Goddess stood mere feet away and yet showed no sign of hearing the words. He turned to the soldier at his side to retrieve a pure white and gold robe and had to nudge him harshly in the ribs to break his intense stare on the young Goddess in Aphrodite's arms.
"I will protect her with my life. I will teach and mold her into a Princess, Warrior, and Guardian that you can be proud of My Queen. A soldier that this Galaxy has never known." He took on the difficult task of holding her intense gold stare and lowered his voice as well. "She will never be alone in life. This I can promise. You will know her." Aphrodite gave a tearful nod, kissing the Venusian crest on her child's forehead and helping her stand on wobbly legs so Artemis could help her into the robe. 'I'm not letting you out of my sight.' He thought to himself as he affectionately slipped the robe over her shoulders to cover her nude form from the prying eyes of the soldier beside him. Not that it deterred his staring at all.
The Goddess seemed to regain her composure, allowing her servants to help her back into the thick red robe to cover the meager wet garment she wore that left nothing to the imagination in its saturated state. It was well known that Terrans had an aversion to nudity that Venusians did not have and it was a sign of respect that Aphrodite covered herself. She sauntered slowly toward the Terran King and Queen to express her solemn gratitude while Artemis wrapped a protective arm around Mina's waist to help her walk behind her Mother toward the King and Queen for introductions.
He felt her cower at his side, pressing into him and hiding her face beneath the King's intimidating stare that even rattled himself. The Queen nudged her husband's side, earning a warm smile from Aphrodite because the love of the Earthen King and Queen was legendary. The Queen's black curls bounced over her shoulder when she leaned down to gush over little Mina who came to life and practically jumped out of her robe to hug her. She laughed when the King placed his large hand on top of the girl's head and she flushed and smiled before she threw herself in his arms too. The King and Queen were radiant suddenly and it took Artemis off guard the way they smiled and doted over the young girl who laughed for the first time and melted his insides. He had a mind to flush for her though because knowing the knowledge this young Princess had been infused with, he knew she knew better manners. Mina was going to be a handful, already set in her ways to tackle life her own loving and gentle way.
They didn't remain on Earth much longer. The Terran royalty were beautiful and gracious with Aphrodite and her kind thanks for allowing her this place to perform the birth rites for the new incarnation of herself. Things tensed quickly with the approach of Queen Serenity who congratulated them on their own Prince born nearly sixteen years prior and the identification of the Heavenly Kings. Earth's King remained solid in her presence, Artemis admired his steel resolve where the Queen grew silent and withdrawn, content to continue gushing over Mina who became enthralled with the vibrant blue fabric of her gown.
Reports came in daily, the overall consensus of the Earthen people were at unrest because they assumed the way Queen Serenity offered her protection that the Lunar Kingdom spied on them. The Moon Goddess purposefully left Earth out of her great plans for the Silver Millenium, claiming the Terran people were erratic, powerless, and their rash behavior made them dangerous, that they held secrets harmful to her goals. The agreement remained that the actions of the Silver Alliance would remain guardian like in nature to the planet in exchange that they keep to themselves. Basically they would leave Earth alone as long as they did nothing to disrupt their peace. So Artemis turned a blind eye to the reports most of the time that spoke of nothing but mistrust between Earth and Moon and the Terran King obliged to their agreement graciously. Queen Serenity had seen many of the King's ancestors fall in her long life- each more gracious and accepting than the last in efforts to absolve Terrans of their barbaric reputations. Interactions with Terrans was otherwise forbidden, and today's events were only allowed by the good will of the Elysian King. Some would say the King was no advocate for his people, and in lesser words was a traitor to his kingdom. Even Artemis could see that King Adrian was anything but a traitor.
Brief farewells were given, and Artemis had seen Terrans in a new light that spoke of acceptance and warmth. He thought perhaps that their capacity for such things were their form of magic but he was from a foreign planet himself and chose to keep his thoughts in solitude. Upon teleporting home, the very dull and quiet roar of the swirling gasses that made up the planet of Venus below Magellan made him realize just how loud the oceans of Earth were. The palace of Venus was a vast structure, encased within a false atmosphere and was the size of a small Moon. It held the entire Venusian population, the top floors being the castle and the rest of the floors contained markets, temples, homes, gardens, everything normally contained within a normal planet. It was hard to adjust to at first but after so long, Artemis found the layout brilliant.
Mina's eye were huge, drifting around the wide halls of the palace slowly taking in the white marble architecture accented with bright florals, gold, red and orange sashes and candles that created the romantic atmosphere and accented the elegant structure with grecian pillars and open balconies. Artemis smiled at the endearing sight, face falling when he saw the worn and tired Goddess who looked so sad with her worn gold eyes and hair matted by the ocean's salt and wind. She needed to rest. Aphrodite snuggled the young girl into her robes affectionately, kissing her forehead like the golden pearl she came from.
"Goodnight my Mina, my little child of love." She kissed her again, shifting her robes and standing straight to give Artemis a tired smile and began the short walk to her rooms.
"I love you Mother." Her voice was light and small like a sweet love song. The Goddess stopped, the words making her eyes water as she smiled proudly. Artemis beamed as well. Her first words of love.
"I love you most Mina." The Golden Goddess had relented her reign of all things sensual and beautiful and was purely the embodiment of a Mother's love in that moment. She disappeared behind the large gilded doors to her rooms and Mina yawned beside him. She was still entranced by each sight of the gold lined orange and red banners, the scent of lillies and oranges blossoming in the nearby gardens mingling with the incense in the air. She fought sleep like a small child too content and absorbed in her surroundings and he had to place a hand at the small of her back to lead her down the white corridor to her rooms.
Artemis helped her bathe and redress in a white cotton gown, tending to her already very long gold hair that fell in waves down her back. The bed was comically large for her rather small frame but she fit well against the gold satin of the sheets like a perfect pearl. He grinned like a fool the whole time because she seemed to trust him already, always looking at him with affection as though her no doubt overburdened mind was trying to form proper thought. She had been infused with so much information that Artemis had grown concerned for her capacity to function as a coherent being at first, pleased that he was proven wrong by her utterly sweet demeanor. Mina didn't even flinch, or appear afraid though he could see the way things seemed to process behind her eyes in moments where her expression appeared blank as though she were trying to comprehend something unspoken.
"A-Artemis?" She spoke quietly still, speech would come to her in the coming days and he fell in love even more with each sound of her voice. "Thank you." It was whispered as she reached to trace the Moon adorning his forehead again with a light touch that made his stomach flip.
"I'll always be here for you Mina. I hope you understand that I will never leave your side." She grinned, her blue eyes glittering with gold when she threw her arms around his neck and nodded. "You just sleep tonight little one." Artemis kissed her own seal of Venus on her forehead, tucking her into the warm covers. He was in love with each of her long black lashes as they drifted closed and he found himself envious of the fast manner she fell asleep. He had been told by Aphrodite that she would sleep a long time, that it's when the majority of all the information she's been infused with would come to her. Her soul had been coherent in that pearl, imagery of other planets, voices of people, warmth and good intention would overtone the sometimes harder facts to deal with as information came to her.
The days events weighed on him heavier now than when he woke up that morning as he slipped from the room to head toward his own. The day started as nothing more than another mission for him to tend to. A diplomatic errand that turned into the Mauan falling into a deep love that he'd never recover from. A weariness that came over every letter of the report he wrote of the account of her birth began to weigh him down as reality sunk in from every moment between the ceremony and their brief goodnight. Despite the Moon Goddess's very presence there she wanted it on paper accompanied by his own plans to teach, train, and mold the young girl into the fiercest warrior, most powerful diplomat, and effective guardian ever to exist to the Silver Millenium. All in three short years. As though the fourteen years away from his time on the Lunar court and life he'd built there wasn't long enough- three years suddenly seemed like such a short time.
Venusians matured and came of age at sixteen. It marked their marrying years and the years in which their nature of sensuality and maturity developed in full bloom. She would not peak into her powers as Goddess and worthy of claiming the Venusian throne until she was twenty-five and yet his task was a dismal one. Artemis had to make sure that as she came of age, her true nature was suppressed into a sense of duty that overwhelmed her want and need to fall in love, to learn of her soul mate and marry amongst the many things that came natural to their race. Venus was to lead the Soldiers of the Silver Millenium into greatness without the luxury of marriage or children. Even infatuation would be a luxury, a temporary solution to whatever loneliness loomed over her life. A distraction. It was hypocritical really because sex was not off limits, though the act meant something entirely different in his own culture. Venus was the only planet that regarded it so casually.
Artemis felt wrong sealing the letter, and her fate, with the Moon's crest and placing it where it would be sent off the next day. Mina was born far more perfect than Aphrodite anticipated, and she was the last piece of the puzzle that would form the Silver Millennium since the other Sailor Warriors were already discovered and in training. Mina had not been allowed the time they had to grow bonds and learn what it meant to be a warrior but she was given far more precious experience. The gifts and knowledge that were bestowed on that pearl, would come to her slowly. Battle tactics, manners, diplomatic speech and coaching, war secrets, laws both new and old, history - all from each of the nine planets, including the forbidden terrain of Earth. All Artemis really had to do was help her make sense and use the knowledge she was given- right?.
He spent the next day with Mina after a hearty breakfast with Aphrodite, he took her on a tour of Magellan showing her the temples of Ancient Thread Spinners who wove the red threads of fated lovers and provided love fortunes that earned Venus visitors from all over the Galaxy to learn their fated loves. He was pleased when she was more intrigued by the markets than learning more about them. She was even enthralled by watching the Venusian army run drills on the training grounds, captivated by the fluid and dance like methods of their movements. The young beauty's eyes, vibrant and blue watched the army commander with fascination and even began to try and mock his movements. Her speech was still coming and so she was quiet mostly but tried to talk more than she should- half of it was in jumbled Venusian with some Mercurian language thrown in. She was excited, so he got the sentiment that she wanted to learn to fight before anything else.
They settled beneath an orange tree in one of the quieter gardens reserved for Aphrodite. Her appetite for the fruit was insatiable and he laughed as she asked relentless questions between shoving slices of oranges in her mouth.
"Why don't you look like me?" She asked, eyes wide and regarding the way his ears stood out and moved depending on the direction of sound he was focused on. Or how his eyes were larger and the pupils adjusted according to the light intensity into slits. His lips were even slightly feline and he had small fangs. He was strange to behold to most, but in regards to his own race, Artemis was proud to say he was one of the better looking Mauan men. He told her the story of how one of his own kind damned their race and his planet was destroyed. It was the perfect segway into discussing her own purpose though he was touched when she grasped onto his hand with big sad eyes, and continued to stuff her face with oranges.
"You know of the Silver Millenium?" Mina nodded quickly, the fringe around her eyes bouncing and she put another slice of orange in her mouth. The air was fragrant with them and peels littered the ground around her. "Well, Queen Serenity of the Moon Kingdom... this is where you will live in a few years. She saved me, and my wife Luna. A few of us are scattered about the Moon now but Luna and I entered Queen Serenity's court in gratitude for our lives."
"Is Queen Serenity kind?" Her eyes were wide, and a little afraid. Mina knew the general basis of her role to the Lunar Queen but it was up to Artemis to fill in the gaps.
"Some would say she is a slave to old laws, but she is the kindest ruler. She is fair and compassionate. She will love you as she loves her daughter." Mina's bottom lip quivered a little and he felt his heart break.
"I'm afraid. I want to stay with my Mother." He knew it was going to be a challenge to overcome this heartbreak in her that was so infectious. If only she knew what was yet to come.
"You will know your Mother. I'll always be at your side and I'll make sure you spend as much time as you can with her. You will be very busy though, and you cannot stay here on Venus. You will have three other soldiers, and a Princess to watch over who you will love very much. She's like you in a lot of ways." He shifted her hair behind her ear, brushing a tear from her cheek. "Don't cry Venus... Soldiers aren't allowed such a luxury of tears, it shows what makes you vulnerable and in the face of an enemy or fellow diplomat that is a dangerous thing to show. It's okay to cry, just in private."
"It just gets... so loud sometimes Artie..." He frowned, seeing that she was somewhat overwhelmed and her nickname for him made the whole thing harder. Artemis pulled her gently against him, rubbing a supporting hand up and down her arm. She sniffled and nodded, resting her head on his shoulder he began to tutor her. Artemis felt somewhat guilty for his words. She was a Princess, and shouldn't a Princess be allowed to cry if she needs to? His own big green eyes trailed down to the golden top of her head and he frowned, reminding himself that she was not his daughter, this girl had a mission. These were lessons she must learn so he told himself as his long fingers grazed through her hair that seemed to match the gold pearl she came from.
Artemis cleared his throat, tensing his lip he began to explain things. Help her make sense of some of the knowledge racing through her head. Artemis was a scholar, a man well versed in history, the sciences, and legend. He discussed the Silver Crystal, and how Queen Serenity alone was able to wield its power because it chose her. He discussed Earth and its forbidden nature and Golden Crystal that lay dormant in the confines of mere legend.
"The Earth people..." She struggled a moment, "Terrans... they were very kind to me. If they are so short lived and powerless why do we fear them?" Artemis stumbled a moment, meeting her inquisitive gaze.
"Well part of it is the Golden Crystal... there are still mystical properties about the planet that could prove unstable. Also there is potential that some of their people DO have magic... but their populations are larger than what we are used to. Their short lives make them desperate... irrational. They often strive for what they can't have." He watched her pretty little mouth turn downward, staring at the last slice of orange in her fingers as though she was clearly trying to process something.
"I don't understand it... their violence toward each other is no different than some of our societies... I don't see a threat." Artemis blinked, wided eyed a moment at her while she shoved the last piece of orange between her lips. He knew the divine born were different but Venus was down right disarming in her confidence. He cleared his throat and continued his explanations.
The Silver Millenium began as a legend older than Pluto's gates of time that described a time of peace unlike any other. It was Queen Serenity's favorite legend so when she came to be Queen of the Lunar Kingdom she sought to make it reality as soon as the Silver Crystal chose her as it's wielder. After all, who wouldn't want absolute peace, acceptance, and protection? The crystal's mysterious magics would make it possible.
First steps weren't hard. Queen Serenity alone brought Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter into a treaty pact that formed the core of the Silver Alliance, this part had been easy. Each planet was home to enemies, rebels, people who sought what the aristocratic and powerful kingdoms had in all their power and wealth. There were those in amongst these rebels that had power themselves and some settlements on their planets were ill prepared to protect themselves. Queen Serenity delivered plans that left no room for argument, and her goals aligned perfectly with the needs of not just her own people, but the betterment of the entire Solar System.
Uranus, Neptune, Saturn, and Pluto were Older Gods, more mysterious in their ways and yet as the new generations of Goddesses were born they were more forward thinking and less concerned by the stale old laws their elders enforced. These were more powerful, brutal societies shrouded in mystery because the stiff organization of the Silver Millenium and harsh treatment of Earth did not sit well with them. They had their reasons but always implied there was more to the world that held no magic than Queen Serenity lead on. Older Gods knew the secrets of each world and the stories of each ruler, and no one was exempt from secrets. The newer Goddesses were not convinced Earth posed a threat at all, and Pluto's daughter even fell in love with a Terran boy. This was almost as taboo as the manipulation of time, an ancient law that meant punishment of the harshest.
Rumors said she fell in love with the Elysian Prince himself. Pluto had entered through the Time Gate to visit the Prince's future, knowing the many stories around Earth's role to the Silver Millenium she claimed to merely be curious. Lucky for this Prince, he hadn't noticed her because loving a Goddess spelled death. The Plutonian Princess was no Goddess of Beauty, but it was believed that the magical beings of their world were far more beautiful than those of Earth who were not touched by power and magic. Queen Serenity had other plans for the Plutonian Princess, not death or destruction, the Silver Queen was a gracious one though some might argue her punishment was worse. Artemis was convinced this created the hesitation in which the Outer Planets aligned with them, though as he explained things to Mina he was sure to leave this part out.
Queen Serenity banished the Plutonian Princess. It was unclear if the girl knew something she shouldn't, or it was the mere act of manipulating time and falling in love with one of the forbidden people of Earth, a blatant act of insubordination. Due to this, the treaty with the Outer Planets was conditional. Neptune and Uranus would serve as guardians to the outer space with the help of the watch of Pluto who stood guard at the Time Gates for all time. Tasked to watch each timeline unfold and only interfere when summoned. It turned Pluto into one of the most powerful of Goddesses, her mind a woven entanglement of events and timelines, decisions and outcomes. She knew all and had to bear it alone. Her gift, and her curse. They were also tasked with keeping Saturn's daughter dormant. The dark Goddess of Destruction and Rebirth was born again to countless incarnations as a baby and died of old age over and over again. She was ancient, and held as much power as the Silver Crystal itself, some thought more. Saturn was an entity they did not want summoned.
Once the alliances were in place, Queen Serenity used her Silver Crystal to synchronize pregnancies amongst the Queens of the Inner Alliance, each to be born seperate under different Moon phases and strengths to maintain the strongest powers and attributes of their planets. As part of their pact, they would each bear a daughter to serve as a Guardian of the Silver Millenium- warriors of God-like power. Serenity's own daughter and Venus would be the only born of Divine Birth. Venus would be able to wield holy weapons and act as leader of their guard, a holy protector who could lead them into the ultimate peace. She would command their armies, and enforce wrath to anyone who threatened the sanctity of their goals. Most importantly she would guard Queen Serenity's daughter, who would take her name and her place as Queen of the Silver Millennium one day.
His stomach sank at the excited look in her eyes. He could tell Mina liked the idea of being powerful and famous as she was beautiful. Vanity was an unfortunate trait of Vensians that he thought he might have to work with her on, though today she would issue her first surprise to him. It would be Mina over the centuries to issue her own surprises because she was a paradox to her people, and to herself.
"When do I get to meet the Princess? I want to meet her soon. Is she pretty? Do you think she'll like me? I need to get stronger if I'm going to protect her. When do I start training Artemis?" The words seemed to pour from the girl's mouth and Artemis was left dumbfounded by her concern for a girl she hadn't even met yet. The determination laced within her eyes gave him hope and he knew that Mina wouldn't let Queen Serenity down. Failure wasn't an option in the young girl's eyes and she was just born yesterday. She stared dumbfounded through her string of questions when the Mauan man began to laugh.
The weeks following were a whirlwind. She came to life as a bundle of pure sunlight that often left him dizzy in her wake. Her ability to make anyone do whatever she wanted based on charm and wit alone lead him to believe she would be a powerful diplomat. Combat training frightened Artemis and he often found himself unable to watch while she sparred with the already well trained soldiers and even the Venusian Commander himself. Some of the boys and young men often tried to gain her attention beyond the training ring and Artemis was proud to watch as she used unbelievable strength, agility and unrelenting determination to best them all who ended up injured or too enthralled with her beauty to care. Mina was surreal to him the way she adapted almost too steadily to her role as Princess and Warrior.
Her studies were a struggle, and Artemis had a feeling they might be. The attention span most children learn in the classroom was lost on Mina due to her birth. Her attention span was non existent- all she wanted to do was read, or try food, sample gowns, and to his horror after the first year she began to notice the boys. Her determination was all that kept Artemis sane during this time because she sought to turn his hair whiter- if that were possible- when she'd return from training with proclamations that she was in love. Aphrodite was quick to tell him it was just a childish crush because when a Venusian truly fell in love, he'd notice.
Mina grew more focused on that task at hand by the week. He was thankful for this because over another year one of the Venusian guard had become quite taken with her. They trained together often though his attentions and stolen kisses did nothing to impress her. She sent him to the medical ward more than once and yet she was kind to him otherwise because that's just how she was. Artemis was like an overbearing Father to the young Goddess, hardly able to blame the men for falling at her feet because the nearer her sixteenth birthday came the more her beauty amplified beyond the expectations of even her own Mother, the Goddess of Beauty herself. Mina became as wrathful as she was beautiful and they began to train her with Martians and Jovians until she could best the strongest of them in battle.
The closer the day came to her sixteenth birthday- the more awareness she gained of what life lie ahead of her. Sometimes she looked terrified and others simply determined because she spent more time with soldiers than most other people and she refused to let her Mother down. Aphrodite doted on Mina as a Princess and Artemis let her. The Venusian people came to love Mina because she was more charming than fearsome though as her guardian he noticed that the young Goddess had an edge to her.
Even during the week long party that served as celebration to her sixteenth year there was a hardness to her eyes, a determination and command that couldn't be learned on a battlefield or classroom. It was the mere result of being born with such knowledge and purpose and Artemis decided fast that only she could bear the weight of her expectations. He was fiercely proud of Mina and the last night would serve as private ceremony while the rest of the city gorged themselves on wine, dance, and acts of love that kept his face a scarlet hue even after his seventeen years on the planet itself. He was almost sad his time was ending as he stood beside Aphrodite. Artemis served the Goddess of Love as loyally as he served the Silver Goddess of the Moon. He almost preferred the warmth and affection of this planet in comparison to the crystal and white landscapes and regality of the Moon Kingdom, though the people were just as lively and playful.
Aphrodite was draped in her gold and red satins and he in his usual pristine white Lunar uniform beside her in the white marble hall filled with elegantly carved statues, incense drifting on the warm breeze while the sounds of music and parties filled the air from the lower sections of the palace. Mina stood in front of them, draped in gold and though she looked the way a Venusian Goddess should look, her eyes were hard like some battleworn soldier. He cleared his throat and stepped forward, a marble table between himself and the girl he was charged with. She tried to stifle her giggles at his professional and too straight posture. Artemis could only give the girl a look before he began his speech.
"Princess Mina, I proudly present to you, your future as the Legendary Soldier Sailor Venus, Guardian of the Silver Millenium. Lead General to the Silver Alliance, and Guardian to the Moon Princess Serenity of the Lunar Court. You will lead the Legendary Sailor Soldiers to victory as we achieve this age of peace or fight to the death to protect it." Artemis took a deep breath as he opened a blue velvet box in front of him. A small orange wand shimmered faintly in the dimly lit room and Mina's eyes stared down at the trinket with intense eyes. "I present you this wand of transformation. As acceptance of your title as Princess of Venus, please hold this wand and say Venus Planet Power. In doing so.. you forsake your name as Mina and will be called Venus as a proud representation of your people."
She took a slow step. He could hear Aphrodite inhale sharply behind her when Mina's hand brushed against the wand's surface and it hummed with power he knew would call to her. The henshin wand was just a formality- once used she could summon the transformation without it but useful technology should they find the soldiers in a state of weakened ability. Her blue eyes lifted when her fingers wrapped around it, holding it to her chest. She stared past him to her Mother and Artemis knew the Goddess was distraught. She didn't want this day to come.
"Mother." Her voice was practiced strength. As much as Mina had accepted her fate he knew this day would break her heart the same as it would break Aphrodite's. There is no love bond stronger than the bond between Mother and Daughter. "Please take no shame in granting me this life. I accept this burden as my own, and I will make you proud." The Love Goddess' liquid gold eyes were wide when he snuck a glance back at her, she would have little influence in her daughters life after tonight. There was already pride in her face, mingling with the heartbreak. Mina gave a final nod, exhaling between her lips when her hand raised in the air, clutching the wand in hand with white knuckles. As the last bit of breath left her lungs, she exhaled all she knew of her name, and this life. "Venus Planet Power!"
Goosebumps rose to his skin as they did the day she was born. Her body was enveloped in light, her clothing seeming to turn shades of orange ribbon and golden magic before she stood before them in the signature very short skirted uniform adorning her figure in white, orange, blue, and gold. She felt power that rolled from her in waves that she had never known before, the henshin wand pulling forth power she already possessed that would have remained dormant otherwise. She felt liberated and a sense of purpose that overwhelmed her into action. A sense of duty that did not belong to Princess Mina because she was simply Venus now.
Aphrodite stepped forward, another larger blue box was eased open and the two women stared at each other for a moment, before Venus looked down at the Holy Chain. A gift Aphrodite thought suited her new status. It hummed and glowed with iridescent power infusing the links which were a mix of red orbs and heart shaped gold metal that came to life when Venus ran her fingers over the surface.
"This is Love's Punishment. A holy chain passed down by legendary Venusian warriors over the span of our history. It is a symbol of love's unbreaking power and the unwavering strength and determination of our people. As you are chained to this fate my Venus, I fear its weight will be heaviest for you." She lifted the chain with gloved hands slowly and it seemed to come to life, wrapping itself loosely around her hips. "It will have a psychic link to you. You can wield this with your mind and morphe it to your will. It will burn any mortal that touches it and can become bladed at your command."
Venus noted as she ran her fingers over it again, she felt a strange kinship with the item as though it had accepted her. Aphrodite ran her fingers through her hair lovingly, it was comforting and Venus leaned into her when she came to embrace her. Artemis stepped forward, clearing his throat lightly again and rest a hand on her shoulder as well.
"There will be another holy gift, but Princess Serenity has insisted she give this to you in person tomorrow." Venus watched his green eyes shift between her and her Mother, there was a sadness about this moment that she knew she'd cry about later but Artemis always told her to keep that to private moments. "I will leave you to your mother, we depart for the Moon in the morning." Artemis brushed his lips over her cheek, and kissed her Mother's cheek as well. He issued a formal bow because he was a dork like that and seemed to rush from the room in a hurry.
"My child, words have not been invented yet for the extent that I love you." She buried herself further into her Mother's arms, trying to contain her emotions. "I know you will wear that chain with pride and be more than only your duties. I only ask that you come to me... if love finds you and you feel lost. This is a safe place for you... no matter what." Venus furrowed her brows and nodded. Her Mother never hid the disdain for her destiny from her. She knew that while Aphrodite was one of the strongest supporters of the Silver Millenium, the bitterness of giving up her only child was a sacrifice she wasn't sure was worth it. Venus had been told on more than one occasion by her Mother that there wasn't a thing she wouldn't do for her. She wondered how deeply that promise ran and was scared to find out. She slept in Aphrodite's bed with her like a child that night. The two women unwilling to let the other go for long and neither could enjoy the party.
Morning came far too soon. Artemis slipped in to wake them, his eyes anxious and excited and sad all at once. Venus knew he had a life on the Moon, one he had forsaken for her preparation for entry to the Silver Millenium which was always a driving factor in her behavior. Artemis was the closest thing to a Father she knew though he had become more of a best friend to her. Soon he would be something of a servant and she hated it. Aphrodite couldn't bear to be present when they left, Venus could feel her heartbreak because her heart hurt as well. Their goodbye was tearful, and Artemis promised that she could come home to visit soon, and often though her life was about to become very busy and full. Magellan would always be her safe haven.
Adonis, yes she knew his name, was there as well. He was probably the closest thing she had to a friend and yet Venus only ever trained with him. She suspected he probably knew her better than she knew him but it was touching that he thought to see her off. Artemis stared intensely at them when he offered her a plain red satin ribbon that was thick and probably more of a sash used in ceremony. He came behind her, rather intimately she thought, but allowed it because this was goodbye. His fingers were gentle in her hair when he pulled it half back rather skillfully and tied it for her.
"It suits you." He whispered softly in her ear, an intimate tone she had heard before but often sent her fist hard into his abdomen afterward to knock the wind out of him. She bit her lip, beginning to turn to him. He was handsome and Venus decided she liked his pale features though her stomach tied itself into knots when it seemed like he might kiss her. "Come home to us soon." From the corner of her eye, Artemis shifted in impatience.
"Goodbye... and thank you." Venus bowed gently to the soldier who frowned, his eyes hardening and he gave her a gracious bow before she joined her rather anxious guardian.
Her breath came slow and deep, fighting the urge to sob as she took in the bright and elegant halls of her home. She bit her lip to keep it from quivering in her efforts to stifle her nerves and emotions, leaning gently into Artemis's side earning a comforting touch. With a last shaky breath, they teleported and the vibrant planet of Venus faded into a pale, silvery landscape in front of the Moon Palace.
The teleport itself was disorienting but nothing like the feeling of stepping onto an actual planet instead of her stationary palace of Magellan. Her eyes were wide and her fingers clung to her guardian's white shirt when she tried with all her might to absorb the scenery. The ground glittered with a diamond like powder that coated areas marked with greyish green grasses. The pathways were all marble, lined with fountains and tall Grecian pillars veined by silver. She could see lakes that looked silver against the star speckled sky with the clearest waters. The trees were strange, bearing crystal fruits and Venus spotted gardens that were vast with flora and vegetation she'd never seen before. She could scarcely take it all in really and though she tried to focus on the white and silver palace that took up the skyline, all Venus could really see was the strange sight of Earth seeming to frame the castle from behind in its blue marbled glory with swirling white clouds in all its silent beauty. She fell spellbound by the scene really though Artemis probably thought it was how everything was laced with silver and rainbows from crystals that showed up in random places amongst the white statues of Goddesses and lovers.
Impatient as he was, Artemis allowed the girl a few moments to absorb her surroundings. He himself had forgotten easily how monochromatic and elegant the Moon Kingdom was in contrast to the vibrant luxury of Venus. All he truly wanted to do was run up that walkway and burst through the castle doors into Luna's arms but he remained patient, and offered his arm to the new soldier like a gentleman. She accepted this reluctantly, her blue eyes shifting from the palace back to him. Venus didn't fit there of course, she stood out as golden Sun amongst the silver and something about it put him at unease.
Her posture straightened suddenly, eyes closing with a deep breath before her face went steady, and she nodded more to herself than him. He smiled despite the nerves he felt himself and they began to walk toward the palace past the curious and distracted Lunar guard, each one bowing as they passed by.
Stay strong little one- he thinks to himself, eyeing her and thinking she's not so little anymore. Three years and she's a woman by her standards at home and acts like a warlord. She's perfect. She always has been.
"I've had a beautiful story so far, come what may, I can do this. I fear however, my story starts here." - Venus.