A/N: This fic is a gift for disaster_bi_jupiter and a sequel of sorts to my other fic 'Hotaru's Gift'.
/works/36252706
A bead of sweat trickled down Hotaru's back; though that had little to do with the scorching Mediterranean heat. In truth, despite years of protecting the planet her perspiration owed far more to the dozens of eyes watching her descent down the aisle at what she prayed was the right pace.
However, her nerves alleviated when she caught the glowing smile of her best friend, seated amidst the left-hand set of guests, her bubblegum pink hair standing out as always. At last Hotaru reached her destination, feeling as though the journey had taken her over a thousand years. Perhaps, she thought, that was divine retribution for her leapfrogging from the 20th century all the way into 31st.
Maintaining her composure she breathed in deeply through her nostril and exhaled, centring herself and exorcising the experience of a few minutes ago. Her mind cleared she was at last free to properly take in her surroundings.
They stood beneath a wood panel roof just off to the side of a fine courtyard where waiters had moments before been offering champagne and other drinks on silver trays to the milling guests. Hanging from the roof were rows of dangling flowers with petals as white as the wisps of cloud that sporadically broke up the bright blue sky above them. Hotaru's trained eyes also spotted the conspicuously concealed fairy lights that criss-crossed the hanging flowers and, soon enough, would illuminate the venue when the golden orb hanging above them all concluded its descent.
Hotaru briefly closed her eyes and took in another breath. As she did so, she became acutely aware of a refreshing salty scent and the sound of gently lapping waves that send a wave of comfort and serenity through her. Dimly she chalked this up to the crystal clear cove that lay below the cliff where they were all gathered. She was given cause to doubt however when she opened her eyes and beheld the woman descending the aisle towards her.
With pride (and slight envy) Hotaru watched as she neared the head of the gathering, her graceful pace perfectly in harmony with the ocean waves below them. Or perhaps it was the ocean that had harmonised with her?
As she reached Hotaru's side, a gentle breeze seemed to sweep across the scene, momentarily making the bride's wavy turquoise hair mimic real oceanic waves. With the breeze, Hotaru felt once more that precious sensation of peace and comfort.
That was when the next bride appeared.
Her pace was graceful too, though somehow different. Rather than marching in step with the waves, it was almost as if she was gliding upon the wind itself, her sole companion down the aisle.
It was when both brides stood side by side, when the wind carried the scent of the sea up from the cove, that Hotaru felt a new, yet familiar sensation. Belonging.
It was a feeling she owed not just to both brides, but also to the woman who stood before them, reading aloud.
"Plato once wrote of how Zeus, King of the Olympian Gods, divided humans in two, thus they seek out their other halves." She turned to the second bride. "Haruka." Then to the first. "Michiru." A knowing smile crossed Setsuna's face. "Your search is over."
Haruka and Michuru's lips met, sending the guests into an eruption of cheers and applause. It was then, amidst the jubilation, Hotaru looked up, and spotted amidst the daylight sky, a final 'guest'. A bright, silver guest, who's attendance became ever more apparent as they all danced long into the night.
A/N: For the record I was envisioning Haruka and Michiru in the wedding dresses they wore in that famous double page spread Naoko Takeuchi drew of all the Senshi in wedding dresses. I was going to put a descriptor of their respective dresses in this fic but ultimately changed my mind as I felt simplicity was better in this case.
The idea for this fic occurred to me very recently when I myself attended a wedding in Greece for an old family friend. The venue itself was breathtaking but it was the officiator's speech invoking Plato that really struck me as romantic and ingenious. I was determined to work it into a fic somehow and realising it was my friend disaster_bi_jupiter's birthday (and how she ships Haruka and Michiru) that gave me the impetus to write this piece. Plus I have written 2 anime canon Outer Senshi fics for this anthology so I felt kinda bad about only doing 1 manga canon fic for them.
Hope you liked it dbj!
Oh and a thank you to Senchatunes, who's resplendent cover of 'Beauty' from the Sailor Moon OST accompanied me whilst writing this fic!
Also just to let you know I am involved in a discord called 'Moonlight Legends' which is dedicated to sharing all sorts of Sailor Moon fanworks, including other fanfics. If you would like to join so you can share your own work, get help with your current projects or just connect to other fan creators shoot me a PM and I'll send you an invite. All are welcome!