Kingdom of Glass
Summary:
One day all the lights in the sky will devour everything. Our galaxy is a graveyard of dying stars, illuminating, and changing the courses of our histories. Nothing is set in stone; even if you believe your future has already been constituted before you, it can always be changed.
"If I was to die. If I was to reincarnate. Let me come back as another memory. Perhaps, then, you will not forget about me so easily."
Prologue:
The Silver Millennium era: The Moon Kingdom that stood tall.
"I do not understand."
"How is it so hard to comprehend?"
"How can one being be two genders?! Doesn't that, I don't know, disrupt nature?"
Luna and Artemis could only sigh. Rei, on the other hand, cringed inwardly at how her Princess could be, well, rather daft to the ethics of culture outside their own Solar System. The rest of the scouts mumbled to each other, then mutually decided to snicker softly in their small group of three while the two Advisors and the Princess from Mars bickered over the Moon Queen's only heir.
"From the top: please try to listen, Princess." Artemis's lips thinned, then shook his head slowly; his long, white hair followed his slow movement, blue eyes narrowing in a form of patience; though, the man was rather tired. "The people of Kinmoku do not have a particular gender, merely they choose whatever they believe to be convenient; they are the only civilization to be known to do such a thing."
"That's why addressing them correctly, and not by gender until being certain, is important, Princess. In their eyes, gender is only an illusion and does not make an individual. Respectively, their character and sense of honor is what makes them so unique. This is your first time interacting with aristocrats outside of our Solar System, knowing and respecting their culture only pulls us closer to form close alliances with foreign planets," Luna added, adjusting her posture. "Your mother is counting on you while she is away on diplomatic business with Earth."
A pregnant pause, and the young Princess Serenity pondered over something so – unheard of. Idly, her fingers curled over her knees, flattening out the wrinkle that creased the virginal white of her dress.
"I think I get it," said the Princess, and everyone finally eased into the idea that their Queen's daughter was finally comprehending cultural differences. "But -," everyone tensed, "How do they, you know, do -,"
"You will not dare ask such a question!" Rei reeled, eyes narrowing down at her princess. She loved her princess, dearly. Though, she believed that the young monarch could be rather slow to acceptance in understanding the common curtesy of cultural dos and don'ts. "Your duty is to entertain the court, not turn it into an anatomy lesson."
"Can you imagine the political outcry," Makoto grinned, "Our beloved princess asks the Princess of Kinmoku: just what is between your legs?"
"Let's not be insensitive to their customs, Makoto," Minako started on a serious note, only to have her composer washed away and replaced with childlike maturity, "We don't know if we should call our guest prince or princess yet. Though, if you do ask, Serenity, be sure to pass the knowledge over my way."
There's a hollow laugh between the Princesses of Venus and Jupiter; they huddled close, still keen with idea of talking about a subject that they had no business in discussing. Luna was about to open her mouth to scold the young princesses, reminding them that their planetary district's reputation was also on the line, but Ami quickly intervened.
With a smile and the tilt of the head, Ami was more than willing to describe the delicate matters to the rest of the scouts and her princess. "From what I've read of old text and scribes over Kinmoku's culture – that they do not rely on gender as a means of the intimate nature. For reproduction purposes, one party willing changes their sex through a form of transformation to suit their partner's needs. Rather interesting, really. It depends on the individual and where their preferences lie; one could favor taking on a male's form or a females. There are cases where even fish, and other forms of amphibians also change their sex to suit their environment."
"I wasn't told they were frog people!" Princess Serenity cringed, and Ami laughed off her Princess's innocent ignorance.
"Have no fear, Princess. They look normal. However, from what I've read, their features are striking and have been known to be very beautiful; both in their male and female counterparts."
"Think of it this way, Princess: Luna and I, are not from the Moon Kingdom; you know this. We are from Mau; a planet known for the feline race. We are able to take on the form of a cat, or a human, considering the circumstance. Do you understand now?" Said Artemis, crossing his arms behind his own back to remind himself not to slouch – even if he knew that he felt physically drained from today's lecture.
"Yes, I believe so," Serenity said slowly, eyes narrowing and processing the given information. "I just want this court business to be over with already; I'm so hungry, and my head hurts with everyone yelling at me all day."
"If we don't yell at you, Usagi, how else are you going to listen?" An audible sigh comes from Rei, but she smiles lightly when she watches her friend's face wrinkle up over the use of her nickname.
Next: Chapter one. Off the coast: Sea of Serenity.
A/N:
Well, here's a sample of what I'm working with. And, no worries, the chapters will be longer (4,000+ word) range per chapter. I'm planning on breaking up this story into three parts: The Silver Millennium, Current Day, and The Rising. My updating will slow as I get started with my second year of college; so, please, be patient with me!
The main pairing will be Seiya and Usagi. (I wanted to inform now – so I don't piss off my future readers). I wanted to write something different instead of the cliché of Usage cheating on Mamoru, or Mamoru doing the same. But, no. The thought of them cheating on each other just seemed out of character to me – and they will be civil with each other. (And, yes, there will be a Chibi).
The rating is set for Teen, but as the story progresses I will up the rating.
If I make any mistakes, I will go back over them. I write only to brush up on my practice – and I am no English Major.
I ask for nothing in return! Thank you so much for actually acknowledging my work.