Hi guys, it's been a really long time since I've posted anything, and today I just got a sudden urge to write! This is a collection of one-shots of the TLC crew growing old. Enjoy!
-starstruck02
Kaider
Cinder looked out of the palace window, looking at the garden, where her grandchildren where playing. Iko, still young and youthful, joined in on their game of tag. Cinder sighed. It was 43 years since Levana's rule was ended, thanks to Cinder and the crew. They had all gotten their happily ever after. All of them. Especially Cinder and Kai. Their wedding was true and heartfelt, and their love for each other went from the moon and back.
"Hey honey, sorry to disturb you, but its time for our walk," Kai's wrinkled face came into Cinder's ever-shrinking line of sight. Cinder smiled, and held her hand out for Kai to pull her up.
"It's alright. I was just reflecting on old memories," Cinder replied wistfully, staring off into the sky.
"I know, it's coming back more and more these days. You would have thought being old would make you forget things often. But no, I remember the past as if it were yesterday." Kai also smiled.
Cinder, grinning at her husband, forced her legs to walk. Her left leg was becoming heavier and heavier these days. Her muscles were failing, and soon, Cinder would be forced to sit in a wheelchair, or suffer the consequences of her muscles trying to support her too-heavy leg. It was alright though, Cinder thought. She had her fair share of running in the past. It would be nice to have time to sit and think.
Cinder and Kai rounded the bend to the garden, where Iko and Peony, Cinder and Kai's only daughter, were watching two children laughing and running around the pond. Cinder smiled. Growing old was pleasant, and she actually enjoyed it. Running a country was tough, but she and Kai pulled it off. Really well, if she thought so herself. Cyborgs were treated with equal rights now, and had their own freedom, and belonged to nobody. Cyborgs were accepted as a part of society, and they freely flaunted their metal limbs in public with no shame or embarrassment. It was a peaceful reign, and Cinder and Kai had stepped down so Peony could rule, and so they could catch up on years where Cinder was gone to supervise Artemesia, and to keep order on Luna.
Peony was just like Kai. The same copper eyes and the same grace and curve Cinder had always admired about Kai. But in other ways, Peony was like Cinder too. Her logical thinking, her twitching hands, and her heart big enough to rival Cinder's own. She looked like Peony, even though they weren't related. Raven black hair, the same face and nose and mouth. Sometimes it broke Cinder's heart to look at her, yet Kai would always remind her that the real Peony was still alive, alive inside their daughter.
Cinder's grandchildren, Rikan and Summer, ran up to them. They were twins, a minute apart, and although they were twins, they were as different as the sun and moon.
"Good evening grandpa! Grandma! Do you want to play with us?" Summer asked with puppy eyes. Summer was the apple of Kai's eye, and there was nothing he would refuse her. For Cinder, it was Rikan. Of course, both Cinder and Kai loved their grandchildren equally, but they each had their soft spots for each of them.
"Summer, play with Iko. Your grandparents are too old to kneel in the grass. Mom, dad, how are you doing today?" Peony's face lighted up with a smile that reminded Cinder of her step-sister's .
"We're doing fine Peony. Just on our walk. Rikan is growing to be so big!" Kai chuckled and reached down to Rikan, 8 years old, and with green apple eyes like Cinder's.
"Grandpa, can you tell me a story?" Summer tugged on Kai's sleeve. Kai's eyes melted and he pulled Summer onto his lap.
"Sure sweetie, what story would you like?" Kai asked.
Summer's eyes lit up. "Can you tell me the story of how the evil Levana was overthrown?" It was her favourite story, and she asked for it every time.
"Alright," Kai settled into a comfortable spot on the grass, and spoke in a somber voice. "Forty three years ago, there was an evil moon queen terrorizing the peaceful country of Earth. Now one day, a prince, happened to stumble upon a beautiful mechanic's booth, and asked her to fix his android..."
Cinder, having heard the story many times, leaned back against her daughter and looked up at the sky. So there is such thing as true happiness, she thought, as she closed her eyes in bliss.
