"Tales of the Stars"

Book 1: Homecoming

Chapter 21

"Staria are you ok?" Kyoya asked joining her again.

"I feel like I'm being watched. It's creepy." she rubbed her arms still feeling chills. "I didn't mean to act weird back there but I needed to move."

"You still feel like you're being watched though?"

"Yeah I do. Maybe I'm just being paranoid. I mean we are at a party and people do tend to people watch naturally right?"

"True. Um…I have a little bad news."

"What?"

"I've been given the obligation of dancing with Toriyama's daughter." Staria frowned as he told her. "Trust me I don't want to, but I should. It'll just be one and then I'm done socializing for the night. It'll just be us."

"Alright, but I'm jealous that I have to share."

"Want to keep me all to yourself?" Kyoya leaned as he teased her and kissed her on the forehead.

"And what if I do?"

"I like it." he smiled. "I'd introduce you to Onika, but I'll spare you the pain. She seems like a spoiled princess."

"Well you call me princess, does that mean you think I'm spoiled too?"

"No, it means you're fun to tease." He took her hand and kissed the back of it. "Meet me on the balcony after this next song?" the music was starting up again as he spoke.

"Alright, I'll wait for you."

"Thank you." He went back to face his work and hoped in the future he'd be rewarded for his efforts.

Staria watched him lead the younger girl out onto the dance floor and really was a bit jealous of the girl. She sighed to herself and finished the drink she'd taken.

"Excuse me miss." a deep sexy voice got her attention. She turned to find a tall man, with straight violet hair falling just past his chin holding his hand out to her.

"May I have this dance?" he asked, his bright green eyes shining from behind his mask.

"Um….I…" she was a bit taken back by the handsome man. He smiled at her and took her hand, lifting it up to his lips, and kissing her knuckles softly.

"I won't bite, you just look a bit lonely. Just one dance?" He asked again.

"Alright…." Staria gave in and let the man lead her to the dance floor. The light kiss on her hand had sent a tingle through her. Maybe it was just because someone more mature was paying attention to her.

Lusion smiled at the flustered girl before him. He wasn't about to tell her who he was yet, but he also wasn't leaving without getting to touch her. He took her in his arms on the dance floor finding a rhythm for them quickly.

"May I ask your name, my lady?" He smiled.

"Staria Chiba." She hesitated but told him. "What's your name?"

"Who would you like me to be, Miss Chiba?" He wanted to play with her a bit.

"You don't want to tell me? I told you mine didn't I?" she didn't like the way her heart was starting to race. He was making her nervous.

"My name isn't exactly a usual name."

"Neither is Staria."

"True. You have a point there." He spun her quickly, to make her a little light headed. "If you believe in destiny I'll tell you my name."

Kyoya decided shortly after starting to dance with Onika that girls are better with curves. The girl was such a stick he might as well have been dancing with a boy in a dress. Staria was thin but at least she had curves. Her hips didn't just shoot straight down her legs. Yep girls were better with curves.

He was brought out of his thoughts when he saw a guy who had to be in his mid twenties leading Staria onto the dance floor. Who the hell was he, hitting on a high school student? Before he could think about it too much the whole room began to shake an rumble. Onika cried out and latched onto him tightly, but Kyoya was watching as the man pulled Staria close against him. He needed to get to her, but he knew he also couldn't leave Toriyama's daughter if something bad was happening.

The main doors to the ball room burst open with a violent gust of wind and energy. A young girl in a frilly red dress and crown ran into the room clutching a large box to her chest. Over the noise of the panicked crowd, it was hard to make out what she was saying.

Staria's head was spinning as her mystery partner held her tightly against his chest. Something bad was happening and she needed to get to Kyoya, but couldn't. She tried to push away from him, but he held her tight.

"Please I've go to find Kyoya…." she said desperately.

"You'll be safer where you are." Lusion said looking around for a clear exit. He saw the betrayer on the out door balcony holding his hands out. He was calling to the power overdosed girl, who burst into the room. He'd somehow taken over the young princess, who was hostess of the party. Staria was able to look up enough to see the man. She knew that face. He had been one of Endymion's royal guards, and friends.

"Nephrite…" she muttered, as more memories flooded her mind, making her head hurt.

Lusion frowned and snorted. "So you remember him. Then you should know he's bad news for you." Staria stared wide eyed at the man holding her. How did he know? Did he have a connection to all of this too? And more importantly could he explain any of it?

"Don't give me those puzzled eyes. I need to get you somewhere safe."

"Who are you?" Staria asked, trying to hold her ground.

"And you still wound my heart." He picked her up, over the thresh hold style and started to make his way for an exit.

"Put me down I can't leave Kyoya!" she struggled against him, but he held her tight. He was much stronger than she would have guessed.

"Your Kyoya, as you call him, is with another woman is he not?" He met her eyes with what seemed like cruel honestly.

"Not by choice." she threw back.

"It's always by choice." Lusion's voice grew very serious. "It's just not always your own choices that make things happen."

He carried her out of the room through the same main doors that had been blown open moments ago. Staria watched helplessly over his shoulder, trying to spot Kyoya. All she caught was Tuxedo Mask running out onto the balcony after Nephrite. Once again the Dark Kingdom was attacking and she couldn't do anything to help her brother.

'Be careful Mamoru.' she thought to herself and prayed that Kyoya would get somewhere safe.

Nephrite was going to get away, but Mamoru had other things to worry about. Mainly the girl dangling off the balcony from his hand. He'd barely had time to grab her as she fell. He wasn't about to let the girl, who might very well be his princess, fall to her death. They had been dancing when the chaos began. She'd ran out after the possessed Princess Diamond and got shoved over the railing.

"Hang on!" he called out to her and tried to lift her back up. The leverage was bad though. If he wasn't careful he'd fall over too. To make matter worse her glove was starting to slip.

The next thing he knew, he was shoved from behind. The possessed Princess laughed as he and the blond started to fall from the sixth story balcony. He twisted as they fell, pulling her against him and placing himself in line to take the impact. If nothing else he could protect her from the fall. He wasn't sure exactly what was happening, but he saw her reach out to grab something from the air. It looked like a pen but in a flash it turned into an umbrella, and started to slow their fall. He was too relieved that they were saved to care where the item had come from or how it was strong enough to be carrying them to safety.

He started to take off after Nephrite as soon as they touched the ground. Sailor Mercury got in his way though.

"Why are you after Nephrite?" she demanded.

"Get out of my way." he practically growled at her.

"Are you our friend or enemy?" she persisted.

"I don't know! My only goal right now is to get that crystal. I will fight anyone who get's in my way and if that makes us enemies then so be it." He shoved past her in hopes of catching the general. It was too late though, the man had made his escape. The only saving grace was that the princess still had the case containing the crystal.

Seiki crossed his arms and glared at his leader. "So what happened to just observing?" He gave the young girl in Lusion's arms a once over with his eyes. He didn't see what was so special about her, but then again his tastes leaned in other directions.

"I wasn't about to leave her in there without being able to defend herself." Lusion stated simply.

"So instead we're getting involved?" Seiki asked.

"No, the Dark Kingdom is not our concern."

"Could you put me down, and stop acting like I'm not fucking here please?" Staria asked angrily. "And while you're at it, mind telling me who the hell you are, what's going on, and what you know about the Dark Kingdom?"

Lusion looked at her and shook his head, "Who's taught you such vulgar language? It's not becoming of a lady."

Seiki snickered. "She doesn't even know you, and yet you nit pick about profanities."

"Can you put me down, please?" Staria tried again. "Or do I need to start screaming that I'm being kidnapped? Did I mention that my date for tonight is in charge of more than half of the security personnel working this shin dig?"

"Practical as always." Lusion mused for a moment. "I will let you down when we are somewhere safe, my dear. Then, against my better judgment, I will answer what I can about the current situation. Until then please just behave yourself. I truly mean you no harm."

"I can walk you know…." Staria crossed her own arms, pouting a she gave up her struggle. The guy was more than strong enough to carry her without her clinging to him so she wouldn't fall.

"Humor him for a bit and he'll be less cranky when he realizes you really have no clue who he is." Seiki told her as they headed down the hall to the stairwell.

"I don't know who either of you are or why I'm going along with this. Why are you so concerned about me, but you're leaving everyone else to fend for themselves?" Staria pressed the issue.

"I told you I would explain, and I will, but we need somewhere a bit more private for this conversation." Lusion repeated himself as they headed up the stairs.

Kyoya had managed to find Toriyama and dumped his daughter off on him. Onika tried her hardest to stay attached to him, but he play off the situation at hand as business and excused himself quickly. Luckily the fact that his family's security team was on hand helped with his excuse. He ran off looking for the first guard he could find.

"You!" He hollered at the uniformed man. "Get me to the hotel's surveillance room now." He ordered.

"Yes Master Kyoya. This way sir." As they burst into the room the guard on duty jumped up.

"I've a…already call…called for more back up…." he stuttered, flustered that he might be in trouble.

"That's great but I have another emergency. I need to see the tape from the main ballroom's door, from the time this attack started."

"Uh… sure. We already got that it was the princess who busted through though." the guard stated as he typed in a few commands on the console.

"We're looking for a man carrying a girl out to the hall shortly after the chaos broke." Kyoya explained.

"Is it a kidnapping?"

"Possibly." Kyoya watched over the short span of video. "There! That's them. I need a trail from the other cameras. I need to know where he's taking her."

"It doesn't seem like they've left the building. That stairwell only leads to the higher floors, but there aren't any cameras in there." the guard explained.

"Then start at the time they entered the stairwell and start checking the cameras on each floor. There are cameras near the stairs entrances correct?" Kyoya asked.

"Yes, but it will take some time."

"Then don't waste any more of it and get a move on."

"Nice view…." Staria looked out the window of Lusion and Seiki's hotel room, as the two men shed their masks and got comfortable. "So what's the deal?"

"First I need to know how far have your powers awakened?" Lusion asked.

"Powers?" She tried to play dumb. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't play coy. You know what I'm talking about." Lusion stretched a bit before lounging in one of the room's large plush chairs. Seiki was content at the mini bar, getting himself a treat.

"I wouldn't really call them powers. I've been having some dreams. My brother and I are pretty sure they're memories of a past life." she paused thinking about it, taking her own mask off in the process. She felt a little silly still wearing it when the men weren't. "I did some how heal a room full of people after a monster attack, not to long ago. It put me in the hospital for a few days. I really have no clue what's going on."

"You're coming into your abilities. That is the gifts your past self had" Lusion smiled, getting to see her face unobstructed. "You were the princess of the Earth's Golden Kingdom. Your brother, Endymion, betrayed your people and an uprising led to the hostel take over by the Dark Kingdom.

In the hope of saving your home world, you married a neighboring star system's prince to gain the powers of his dying sister. Healing yourself and others was one of those abilities."

"I understand that much, but if this is all from another time what does it have to do with now? Why are these people back and still causing problems?" Staria frowned. This man clearly knew something but he was taking his sweet time explaining.

"Have a seat and relax Princess, please." Lusion motioned to the chair opposite of him.

"I'm not a princess any more." She stayed perched by the window.

"I could argue that, but I won't for now." Lusion went on to explain what he knew hoping it might coax the girl into trusting him more.

"The Moon Kingdom's queen defeated the army of the Dark Kingdom, but it was only after many people, including those dearest to her, were already dead. So she sealed them all away, good and evil, in hopes that one day all would be reborn and live normal lives. My best guess is that Beryl woke up, still the evil witch she was, and is continuing her conquest. Her man tonight, Nephrite as you called him, was most likely searching for the Silver Imperial Crystal. It was the Moon Kingdom's greatest weapon. Though it can only be wielded properly by someone of the Moon Kingdom's blood line."

"My brother's been trying to find it for his mystery princess. I guess that would by why she keeps asking him for it in his dreams."

"So the two who started the war don't even know one another yet in this life." Lusion laughed. "I'm sorry that's just very fitting to this situation. I saw they were dancing together before this lovely mess began. The puzzle pieces of Earth's new war should start to come together soon. Though either way the Dark Kingdom is none of my concern." Lusion brushed it all off. "Endymion and Serenity's business is there own. Finding you was the reason for my visit to this place."

"Why me? I'm not really a part of this either, though wish I could help my brother." Staria was a bit more at ease but still confused and the purple haired man had yet to tell her his name at all.

"As I said, you are coming into your powers. Our oracle, if you will, predicted when you would resurface. The Earth seems to have turned a blind eye to the rest of the universe for the most part. I've seen your population is expanding to space with it's colonies and exploration, but in the long run you've all forgotten that you are not the only powers to be."

"So you're saying you're an alien?"

Seiki snorted. " Sure, paint me gray and point me to Roswell. We're as human as you sweetheart, we're just not Earthlings."

"True, though my cousin put's it bit more colorfully than I would." Lusion continued. "These powers, come from our world. If you don't learn to handle them properly they may drive you mad."

"Great so I can heal people but I might go bonkers in the process. Should have figured there was a trade off." Staria laughed in a defeated tone. The night was just getting just plain weird. "So what if I don't want these powers? What if I just want to be a normal person?"

Lusion gave her a sad smile, "I'm afraid that isn't a choice. Once the chosen pillar has received the powers they will have them until either their first born child comes of age and inherits them, or if they are on their death bed and perform the power transfer ceremony. If they die while still having the powers they will be reborn again with those powers until one of the other two possibilities happens. I've never seen or heard of the cycle being broken any other way."

"So I have no choice. Awesome. Thanks a lot Tranquility for sealing my fate for me."

"I'm sorry." Lusion apologized, but made an attempt to persuade her. "Is being able to help others that bad of a fate?"

Staria thought about it briefly. "No, but won't it also put people in danger? I mean what if I can't get the hang of it? Do I run the risk of hurting people too?"

"Depends. If you can control your emotions you should be able to control you powers." Seiki added his two sense. "If not then you're better off cutting all ties with anyone you care about."

"That's enough Seiki, you don't need to scare her." Lusion warned.

"I'm just being truthful. Don't want another Lyra on our hands now do we? Though in this case I guess you might enjoy it…"

"That's enough!" Lusion raised his voice and actually stood up taking a step towards the taller man. "I've told you never to say that name around me!"

Staria backed against the window as far as she could. She could feel the rage roll off the violet haired man, but it wasn't just anger it almost seemed like fear was mixed in with it. She was a bit scared herself, but she wanted to under stand.

"The old princess was crazy?" She dared to ask.

"Crackers." Seiki answered, watching Lusion. "The royals and their people kept it quiet for her whole life. She came into her powers rather early, they thought she'd be a prodigy, but after a few years it cracked her mind. If she was kept happy no problem, but if not all would have faced doom."

"I am not listening to this. Seiki just stop." Lusion rubbed the bridge of his nose. Staria raised a eye brow. In the process of getting worked up he let his cousin's name slip. Maybe she could get his if she pressed farther.

"Are you alright?" she ventured to ask the flustered man. Lusion just shook his head and didn't answer.

"He's just having some bad memories of the former princess. We all had to make sacrifices to keep her happy, but one more than most. See, as her sanity slipped, she got a bit obsessed with one thing…"

"Shut up!" Lusion yelled at Seiki. "Get out now!" he pointed to the door. "She doesn't need to know about what a nightmare that woman was."

Seiki walked past him to the door. "No she does need to know, so she'll understand. But whatever. Cool your head before you scare her too." He went out into the hall way, but stayed just outside the door.

Staria watched in silence as the angry man recomposed himself. Once he seemed calm again she ventured to ask one last time. "Why won't you tell me you're name?" She was very careful with her tone as she asked.

Lusion looked up at her, and gave a slightly defeated smile. "Because I'm selfish and want you to remember on your own. I'd rather hear my name from you without my prompting. I feel like I deserve that much after everything." He fell back into his chair covering his eyes with a hand.

"I'm sorry, I didn't want you to see or hear any of that." He choked on the name as he spoke it. "Lyra wasn't always a nightmare, but most of my memories of her are more nightmarish than anything. She may have lost her mind but she was also only twelve when her powers awoke. You're sixteen, right?"

Staria nodded.

"You're mind and body are already more mature than her's was. The powers won't eat at you the way they did to her. They won't twist you, so you shouldn't fear them."

Staria dared to walk closer to him. "The fact that I don't remember, is really bothering you, isn't it? I'm sorry for that. My memories haven't gone past the Moon Kingdom. I haven't glimpsed at your world yet. I have a few names, but if I just guess that's the same as you telling me right?"

Lusion looked up at her again. "You're so much like you were. You may argue it but you are very much still Tranquility. Would you humor me with one request?" He stood up and walked over to her.

"What would that be?" he was close enough that she had to look up to meet his eyes.

"I believe this will jog your memories, but I request that you forgive me, Tranquility." Before Staria could ask for what, or take a step back, he leaned down and kissed her.