They had known one another for what felt like an eternity.
Since they had been called to their duty to the Princess of the Moon, they had been bound; it was almost as if by fate, though someone else might say it was all because of the Queen. But, regardless, they were brought together for more than one reason.
She and Venus had bonded from the moment their eyes had met that day- the day they had all four arrived on the Moon from their own home planets. Just children themselves at the time, they had been born Senshi, princesses in their own right, but their duty was to another. They gladly stepped into the roles of guardians to the princess of the Silver Millennium, daughter to their ruling Queen Serenity. Her birth was somewhat of a mystery to the galaxy, but everyone in it had felt the birth of her warm, shining light. From the moment their eyes fell upon the princess, the four Senshi pledged their lives to protect her, the one who would someday be their queen.
From across the room, Mars looked on the scene with a mix of irritation and tenderness; the princess was on her knees before a trunk, throwing various articles of clothing around the room as she apparently searched for something. Venus came up beside her, unable to stifle a laugh, though Mars elbowed her in the ribs only a second before the princess was up and turning, looking much like the guilty child that she was. "Are you looking for something?" Venus asked, stepping across the threshold and going to stand before the silver-haired princess. Mars followed her in, waving away the maids, who had been coming in to dress the princess for the day, she realized, now seeing the princess was still in her nightgown.
The girl rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet, lower lip caught between her teeth; she looked torn between speaking up and keeping quiet, the latter option eventually winning. "No?" Venus tilted her head to the side, her golden hair falling across her shoulder. "Come on, it's late," she said, pushing the princess towards her vanity, sitting her down at it. As she began to brush out the long, flowing locks, Mars took it upon herself to pull the white satin gown from its place across the back of a chair. Sighing, she could not help but to smile, knowing things would probably never change with their charge. Things were much worse now that she was running off to the Earth constantly- she was disappearing more and more lately, keeping all four guardians on their toes. The Queen had told them not to worry, to give her some freedom, but it was hard to let her go down there… To meet with that boy. That prince. "You have studies with Mercury today, do you not?" Venus asked, breaking the silence after a few minutes, her nimble hands setting to work on one side of the princess' hair. A nod was her only response. She finished up the other side and turned the princess on her stool, cupping her cheeks into her palms. "Are you giving me the silent treatment?"
It had been only yesterday that Venus and the others had descended upon the earth to bring her back, forcing her out of a meeting with the earthen prince, Endymion. Serenity had been anything but happy about being caught on earth yet again, but even worse- being brought back like a child. And right in front of Endymion too! A heavy sigh escaped and Venus patted her cheek, eyes softening as a smile graced her lovely features. "No, no… Of course not…" Serenity shook her head as Venus stepped back, giving her space to rise up, allowing Mars to step up instead, turning her around as her fingers began to unlace the ribbons at the neck of her nightgown. A moment later the gown fell into a puddle at her feet and Serenity instead stepped into her day dress, adjusting its sleeves at her shoulders as she thought over something to say. She turned back around to face the two of her guardians and felt an overwhelming sense of gladness, to have them there, to know she was well loved. Reaching out, Serenity slipped her arms around Venus, giving her guardian a tight squeeze. She felt Venus' return the embrace and then she pulled back, catching Mars off guard as she dove in for a hug from her as well.
"Go on," Venus said with a fond smile, waving the girl out of the room. "You're going to be late to see your mother," she admonished, wagging her finger at her. Serenity giggled and turned, racing from the room, nearly knocking aside the maids as she went. "Do you mind?" Venus asked the two with a sheepish smile, gesturing around the messy room, knowing that of course they didn't. "Come on, Mars," she reached for the other Senshi's hand, tugging her from the room.
They both felt the electric charge at the touch, both felt the steady rise in their own beating hearts. How many times had they been here before? There was no denying the feelings between them, but so dedicated to their duty and their princess, that said feelings were far from their thoughts. At least, most of the time. There were many nights were each of them had been up, late into the night thinking of the other, wondering so many things… But the biggest question of all was always: did she feel the same? Ask anyone else, they would have said yes, of course! But, ask one of them and the answer would have been no. So caught up in the life of their charge, they hardly had time to think about their feelings, let alone talk to the other about them. That and Mars was almost certain she would die from shame and embarrassment if Venus didn't feel the same; rejection was not something she dealt well with.
"How long til she sneaks off again?" Venus' voice broke into her thoughts and Mars grinned as they turned a corner. "I'll say… Three hours." They both laughed, pushing open a set of double doors, entering the chambers the four guardians shared; there was one, large presence chamber with four doors (two on the left, two on the right) that were each of their bedrooms. "I'll be she doesn't even make it to her lessons with Mercury," Venus chuckled, shaking her head, running a hand through her long golden locks.
"I just hope she doesn't get hurt," Mars could not help but turn the conversation to something a little darker. The tensions between the earth and moon were rising and Mars wasn't so certain what would happen to their precious princess if she were discovered alone on the blue planet. Though she wasn't fond of their budding relationship, she knew she could trust Endymion to protect her, but what if Endymion wasn't there? What if they weren't there? She shuddered at the very thought. And even worse… It wasn't just the earth they had to worry about. She felt the growing darkness every now and again, threatening to spill over, threatening to destroy their happiness. Mars knew the Queen was aware, her lilac hues always watching; she had been in correspondence with others, never revealing their identities, but always promising they were loyal subjects.
"We'll protect her," Venus said, her tone changing from cheerful to somber, her blue eyes darkening. Venus, as the leader of the guardians, took her role very seriously. She had swore to protect the princess with her very life and she would do just that. "Aw, come on Mars, don't look like that," Venus reached out, taking her hands into hers, giving them a gentle squeeze.
"But what if we can't?" The flicker of self doubt returned, the cloud of darkness hanging over both of their heads. What if the darkness that was coming closer was just too strong, just too much for them? They had fought enemies before and had always won… So why… Why did this feel so very different? Before another word could be spoken, Venus was pulling her into her arms, cradling her against her warm chest, one hand stroking her long, raven locks.
"Don't say that," Venus murmured, her vocals muffled against the top of her head. "We'll always win." She went on, giving her golden head a shake, a small, shaking laugh escaping her lips. "We will always protect her. We will always be together." Rei felt a twinge in her heart but she did not speak, instead, she merely nodded, holding onto Venus a little more tightly, needing to feel her arms tighten around her. For the first time in weeks, Mars actually felt like it was true, that they could come out on top. They were sailor Senshi, they would never lose. She felt Venus shifting, her hands coming to rest upon her shoulders, gently pushing her back several inches. "Say it."
Mars blinked, but then she nodded, parroting the words back to Venus. "We'll always protect her." Venus nodded, silent encouragement for her to speak on. "We'll always be together." Another nod, but this time Venus was smiling, her perfect features radiant with it. Silence descended and they remained like that, Venus with her hands on her shoulders, Mars with a hand still lingering at her waist… Without thinking another second, Venus leaned forward, gently brushing the raven-haired Senshi's lips with her own; Mars jumped slightly, her grip at her waist tightening slightly. "Venus…" Mars murmured softly, tipping her forehead against the other's, a small smile tugging at her lips. Hearing her name upon her lips was sweeter than anything Venus had ever heard before and she loved it. Just how long had she waited for a moment like this? Kissing the girl tenderly, Venus felt Mars relax against her, one hand still at her waist, the other reaching up to entangle its digits in her golden locks.
And that was how they planned to stay, at least until…
From behind them, a soft cough was heard and immediately they sprang apart, both guardians whipping around to face their discoverer. Mars inwardly groaned at the sight of Serenity standing in the doorway, her beautiful features twisted up in glee. "I knew it!" Was all she said as she bounded across the room, collapsing into a giggling heap of silk and ribbons on a plush chair. Mars tilted her head back, a deep sigh escaping, while beside her Venus could not help but to giggle herself. The golden Senshi crossed the room, dropping onto the chair beside the princess, reaching out to tickle her sides, her most vulnerable spot. Within seconds the princess was shrieking, slipping from the chair and onto the floor, all the while Venus above her, head thrown back in her laughter.
And, as Mars looked upon them, she realized just how lucky she was, just how happy she was. Seeing the two together, the two people she cared for most, it was beautiful. To have them right there with her, always, it was amazing. Venus was right- they would always be together. Nothing would ever, nothing could ever, destroy what they had built. Crossing the room, she too joined in, grasping the princess' flailing hands, pinning them back as Venus dove in to tickle her yet again, another wave of gasping, shrill laughter filling the room. Mars knew, if time froze on this moment, and she never lived another one, well, then that would really be just fine.
After all, they were the only things that mattered.