Chapter 1: The Brightest Flower in Sky Garden


The Temple of Love. A massive stone pyramid-like, flat-topped structure, built much like the ziggurats of the earliest days of human civilization. Inside, it was full of offices and living quarters for those who served the goddess, and the building itself was untouched by time and put its earthly counterparts to shame even in their heydays. What exactly it contained had evolved with humanity, but for thousands of years, it had been the central building of Sky Garden, from the dawn-of-history days when humans built temples like it, up to the present day in what they now called the mid-19th century. It was the home of their ruler and the hub that fairy society revolved around, unless one considered their constant interest in, and well-meaning meddling with, humans to be the other half of that hub.

It was also where the best love fairies hoped to work one day, and one such fairy was seeing just how demanding that could be.

Charity Petaldew rubbed her wrist and flexed her fingers as she leaned against the hallway's wall. When the love fairy was offered the promotion she'd long sought to work in the Temple of Love, she jumped at the chance. And why not? Only the best love fairies were extended such an invitation.

What she wasn't prepared for was how much work it was, even at the bottom of the Temple's hierarchy, and after only a week here, she was feeling the burn. Juggling the progress of so many clients wasn't new to her, it was part of why she was offered the job, but these were so high-profile, and as if that weren't enough, what happened to some clients affected other clients: One bad breakup at their level could start a domino effect that would threaten many relationships. All the work took a heavy toll on her body, mind, and social life: Just for starters, she hadn't had sex in three days. She had been hitting the hot springs on the Temple's grounds after work every day, about the only thing that could soothe her sore muscles and mind alike. And, her current problem: There was so much reporting to write up and keep track of, which was why she had ducked away from her desk to give her hand a break.

And by "ducked away," that was as in "shirking off work."

So, when she heard footsteps approaching, she sighed without looking at who it was. "Just give me a few minutes, okay? I'm the new girl."

"And you're already having second thoughts, Charity Petaldew," the other fairy stated dryly, making Charity feel a chill as she recognized that voice.

She nervously turned to the speaker, now face-to-face with a fairy known throughout Sky Garden. Still fond of Earth's Greco-Roman fashion from the time when she came into her greatest prominence, she wore a white and dark red robe over her trim figure that accentuated her curvaceous chest and hips, with a red sash draped behind her back and hanging over one arm. Her green hair practically shone in the light and reached down to her thighs with not a strand out of place, a testament to the time and care she put into it. A pair of roses from her personal garden, one red and one white, were tied in sides of her hair, and complimented and highlighted its color. Her wings, showing by their covering of snow-white feathers that she came from a time long before butterfly and other insect-themed wings were the norm in fairies, were folded against her back. Eyes the same color as her hair regarded "the new girl" disapprovingly.

"Ah...s-s-sorry, ma'am-"

"Address me properly if you're going to apologize," she interrupted, sounding like she was calmly but firmly reminding Charity of a rule.

She swallowed, starting over, "Sorry, Lady Theiatena."

"Better," the green-haired fairy said. "Now, you might have been able to get away with avoiding work where you came from...but while you're here, you represent our goddess," her eyebrows lowered, "and I will not tolerate you reflecting poorly on our goddess."

"Y-Yes," she agreed, hoping she wasn't sweating as much as she felt.

Theiatena relaxed a bit. "Then consider this the first warning you have earned. Here's another one, for free: Do not forget that I spend most of my time here at the Temple, so expect to see me again. Whether it's under better circumstances or not is up to you. Do you understand?"

"Yes," she agreed again, pleading in her head for this to end.

"Good. One final piece of advice." To Charity's surprise, she smiled a bit. "Be grateful you're starting to work here in a time when pencils exist and alphabetical writing is the most common type of writing on Earth. I remember the millennia when I worked in the Temple when I had to be literate in Egyptian hieroglyphs."

She made herself smile back and laugh, "Haha, that...doesn't sound easy."

"Then you know you have it better than you think. So..." she turned away, spreading one of her wings just enough as she turned to give the move some dramatic flair, "get back to work."

Charity didn't need to be told twice and hurried back to her desk. Under other circumstances, she would've been delighted to meet that fairy, a living legend of Sky Garden. But as it was, she could see why she was warned about her, and why she didn't want to be on the bad side of that legend. Still, it was hard to not be a little starstruck at meeting her.

Theiatena Brightflower, the Hand of Ishtar, Goddess of Love.


Theiatena, or Theia to those few she allowed to address her informally, already thought little of the minor scolding she'd just given. It was a common enough thing, after all, for other fairies to need her corrections. She had more than enough experience to be worthy of her reputation, having seen the dawns and dusks of almost every Earthly civilization that could have reasonably been called "civilization." For thousands of years, she guided mortals around the world on the paths to sex and soulmates, earning a place of high esteem among the love fairies and rising through the ranks to oversee those she once worked beside.

But it was during the time of Greek civilization that she truly came into her own. One day, Ishtar, Goddess of Love took Theia aside and offered her the chance to be her representative for that entire civilization: Managing all the love fairies in the region, having permission to take clients as she saw fit, and reporting to the goddess directly. She took the offer without hesitation and never regretted it. As Greek civilization developed and spread, she played her part, seen only by those few mortals she permitted to see her but felt throughout the lands and leaving her mark on their history as much as their mythology. Once Rome took over, she continued her work with them, which spread her influence even more, influence that was still felt far and wide all these centuries after Rome fell.

What Theia hadn't expected was when, after those many centuries, her goddess made another offer: To be her second-in-command as the Hand of the Goddess. Authority second only to Ishtar herself over all the fairies of Sky Garden.

And so, for almost a millennium now, that was Theia's life. A life better than she could ever have imagined thousands of years ago. She had respect, she had satisfaction, she had everything she wanted...except one thing. Or rather, one person.

But she had no time to dwell on it. She'd gotten very used to controlling those feelings, another testament to her dedication if a love fairy of all things could stay so focused and suppress her sex drive...though it helped she'd gotten quite good at releasing her own "stress" regularly.

For now, she had a report to make, and the goddess had told her to clear her schedule for afterwards as there was something important for them to discuss.

Teleporting outside to nearly the top of the Temple, she appeared on a landing at the top of the largest flight of stairs in the whole building, with no walls or ceiling and leaving the scenery and sky of Sky Garden on full display. She was greeted by two of the goddess's attendants, whom she followed up the last few steps before they announced her presence. "My Goddess, Lady Theiatena Brightflower is here."

"Good. She may approach," came a voice that still lit a warm glow in Theia.

The attendants stood aside as she finished walking the steps, bringing her goddess into view, and the sight of the fairy seated on her throne still made that warm glow burn a little hotter.

Theia's usual attire made her look something like a goddess herself, but one look at Ishtar and there was no question of who was in charge. She wore a pure white robe that always managed to tantalizingly cling to her figure, accessorized by a cape of white dove feathers. Further showing her regality was a gold crown covering the top of her head, adorned with her ancient symbols of an eight-pointed star on the forehead, a headband engraved with lion-like figures across it, and the top of her head covered by a web of tiny interlinked golden doves in flight.

But no matter what she wore, Ishtar inspired awe and lust wherever she went. She was less buxom than Theia, but her graceful, fit figure was no less a standard of feminine beauty, if not even more with how often bodies just like hers had been represented in human art for millennia. Her curly just-past-shoulder-length hair was a blend of light pink and white that matched the sky of Sky Garden to the point that its colors ever so slowly changed like a sky with clouds drifting across it. Just like the sky, it even twinkled lightly, and that twinkling had nothing to do with the bits of gold braided into it. Her skin was naturally bronzed to a perfect tan. Finally, what may have commanded the most attention were her eyes, as red and bright as the fires of passion.

So was Ishtar, Goddess of Love, Theia's only superior, the only one to command her heart, and as of the day Ishtar elevated her above all other fairies, the only one she found worthy of her affection...and perhaps the only one she couldn't give it to.

"Greetings, My Goddess," she began as she approached the throne, her gaze drifting not a bit to the other fairies in attendance.

"Good to see you, Theia," Ishtar replied. "You may begin with your report."

"Yes, My Goddess," she said obediently as she summoned a huge, thick book that floated in front of her and was titled Reports - Earth - 19th Century - Volume 61. Opening it, she read, "Firstly, the report on theater you required. I'm pleased to say burlesque remains strong, and in fact is rising in popularity on multiple continents. I'm directing the Talent sprites to continue that trend, though I've been receiving reports from the Sexuality pixies that it would catch on better if it had more risqué elements to it."

She looked up from the book for Ishtar's reaction and was surprised to see Ishtar wasn't looking at her but was instead looking off to the side. She glanced in that direction, seeing nothing out of the ordinary. Strange; usually, Ishtar didn't sit quietly, she would have told Theia to continue her report if there was nothing to say.

"Moving on-"

"What do you think, Theia?" Ishtar asked.

"About...their suggestion? I believe that may be more appropriate in the future, but that time is not now."

"A shame," she commented as she looked at Theia again, "you seemed to enjoy yourself. I'd like you to enjoy it more."

Theia was unsure how to answer, going with, "I did enjoy taking part, My Goddess, but I was mainly motivated to gain experience and perspective, not fun."

"It suited you," Ishtar said, "and the outfit you performed in looked like it was made for you."

Again, she needed a moment to think of what to say, this time stating the simple fact of, "That's correct, I had it made for me."

The goddess smiled at her. "That's not the only way I meant it, Theia."

The fairy heated up just a bit and her heart nearly skipped a beat, but she kept her composure. "Thank you, My Goddess."

She smiled a bit wider and nodded. "Continue."

Theia went on with her report, her eyes glancing back and forth between the page and Ishtar. She noticed Ishtar kept looking elsewhere, or tapping her fingers, or giving other signs that she was only partly listening. That was even stranger; usually, Theia had Ishtar's full attention when she spoke.

Eventually...

"...This concludes my report, My Goddess," Theia recited, closing the book, which disappeared in a poof of twinkling dust.

"Very well, Theiatena. Thank you," Ishtar replied, still seeming distracted. Not from Theia, no; even while her gaze wandered during her right-hand fairy's report, when it was focused at all, it was focused on Theia.

As much as Theia wanted to ask if something was the matter, she knew Ishtar would give her a task if there was anything that deserved her attention, so she asked, "It is my honor to serve you, My Goddess. On which note, you wished to speak to me after my report?"

Once again, Ishtar's attention drifted back to Theia. Then she spoke up, "The rest of you, leave."

Theia flinched not a muscle at hearing Ishtar's command as the other fairies in attendance obediently departed, whether by foot, by flight, or by teleporting. She and Ishtar had shared many a private conversation over the millennia, but when the goddess spoke to her alone here, at the top of the Temple of Love, it had only ever been for matters of such importance that she trusted only her closest confidant to hear them.

Once it was just the two of them, Ishtar stood and approached Theia, who continued to stand nearly as still as a statue. She mentally prepared herself for whatever task Ishtar had for her. To inspire or record some great love again? To appear to yet another early civilization on some younger world as their goddess of love and start them on the right track?

Then...

Ishtar smiled and motioned for her to follow as she kept walking. "Come," she said calmly.

Theia's discipline kept her at attention, though ironically, this lack of an order was what almost made her composure falter as she moved to stay at Ishtar's side. "Yes, My G-"

The goddess held up a hand. "We're alone now, Theia, you know the rule," she reminded her. Even with their height difference shown standing side by side, with Ishtar some six inches shorter than Theia, no one would mistake who was the superior or subordinate.

"Yes, Ishtar," Theia agreed. "I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting you to have summoned me for a...chat. Let alone, here."

She smiled a bit wider, nodding as they walked side by side around the top of the Temple. "It's no less important. In fact, it may be the most important thing we've ever discussed."

Hearing such words, she mentally readied herself for whatever Ishtar was going to say, but that still left the unanswered question, which she now asked out loud: "Then...may I ask why you're so...relaxed? I would even say, happy?"

"Hahaha," Ishtar laughed quietly, "so very...like you, Theia."

Now Theia was just getting confused. "You no longer find me pleasing?" she asked, feeling a twinge of fear at the thought that was what Ishtar wanted to tell her: That she was being demoted in some way.

She looked over at her friend, shaking her head. "Quite the opposite. I enjoy your service as much as your company, just as I have for a very long time, long even by fairy standards."

Phew. "Then please tell me how I may serve or accompany you further," she said directly.

Ishtar sighed quietly, though her smile didn't fade. It wasn't a sigh of exasperation, rather, a sigh of contentment. "It is both your service and your company that I want to discuss," she began, turning her gaze ahead again as that distracted attitude came back to her, though this time it was mixed with thoughtfulness. "Every task I've ever given you, you've accepted without hesitation and performed to your best. In the days of Greece, you inspired the stories of Aphrodite that are known to this day and helped keep my own story alive through you. You've been an unseen aid and confidant to some of the most famous lovers in the world. And when being the goddess tired my body or spirit, I could always count on you to help me shoulder the weight...or even when I was in a good mood, you could always lift me up that little bit higher."

Theia was finally able to smile at that, feeling her heart flutter at the compliments. "As I said, it's my honor to serve you...and my pleasure to be your friend."

"But more than that, you look at me in a way no one else, fairy or mortal alike, ever has," Ishtar went on.

Her nerves started to tense again. Did Ishtar know the feelings she'd been keeping to herself for so long? She always suspected it; Theia had millennia of practice in social interaction, both reading (and writing) the moods of others and controlling how she appeared to them, but if there was anyone who was better than her at that, it was her goddess.

Still, it would be a great disservice to lie to the Goddess of Love about something like this, as well as contrary to Theia's very nature. "I would like to think I do, Ishtar," she said honestly.

Ishtar was quiet for a little while, the silence besides only their footsteps weighing heavily in the air. As their walk around the room took them near the throne, Ishtar spoke again.

"What if I gave you the chance to prove it?"

Theia had been perfectly keeping pace at Ishtar's side so far, and now she froze mid-step. Ishtar stopped only a moment later.

"W...What?" was all she could say.

"Hmhm," Ishtar chuckled, "I still have some charm, after all." Theia was still unable to speak, so Ishtar stepped in front of her and turned to face her. "You've been running Sky Garden as much as I have. You've more than earned the right to make it official."

Now Theia's eyes widened at what it sounded like her goddess was suggesting. "I...I don't understand."

Ishtar glanced aside, then motioned with her head for Theia to do the same. She did so, seeing Ishtar was having her look to the throne just as the goddess reached up and rested her hands on Theia's shoulders.

"Theiatena Brightflower, Hand of the Goddess, and my oldest and closest friend," Ishtar said, "how would you like to be the Goddess of Love?"


A/N

As of the time of posting this, I've been the beta reader for user TheCrackerMan's HuniePop fic "Sugary" for several months, and it's been quite a few years since I've beta read for anyone so it's nice to be back in that position. I consider it a privilege to enjoy someone's work and have my assistance accepted as a collaborator on it.

It came with an unexpected benefit. Namely, I was in the process of writing something else when chapter 5 was posted (just after which I became the beta reader) and ended up inspiring me to take the author's ideas regarding Venus's past and turn it into an actual story. Venus herself is just as fun a character as the others, and definitely gives off the vibes of a thousands-of-year-old woman calling herself the Goddess of Love, kind of a "I never settle, I accept only the best" and "when you're done with these girls and want a woman, come and earn it." I especially didn't expect to get some possible new ideas for a story about Venus's past because I already had some ideas of my own about it and they aren't really compatible with this...but the idea ended up gripping me too much not to do it, especially when I wrote a lot of notes for a plot skeleton in quick succession.

I've always liked seeing people's thoughts on what goes on with Kyu, Venus, and Sky Garden beyond what we see and know in the games, which I also explored (at least in Kyu's case) in "Guide to Dating an Alien." The challenge of writing a story about Venus and fleshing out her past and character also sounded very satisfying, considering we know less about her since her Q&A sessions have her talking about other girls instead of interacting with the player on a more conversational level like the regular girls do.

Small side note: I have not seen the similarly named anime or manga.

I really wanted to give Theia the last name Stardust and I still think that's a better name for her, but I also think it's too much like Kyu's last name Sugardust.

Coming up with my own HuniePop OC wasn't something I ever expected to do, let alone the idea of "Mesopotamian-themed Goddess of Love who would fit in a dating game full of anime babes." I only hope I made her credible.

HuniePop (c) HuniePot.
"Sugary," the story that inspired this, can be found in this site's HuniePop section.
Thumbnail done for me by NailsTRabbit.

This story's copyright policy: "Sharing is caring." Do what you like with this story, not like I can do anything to stop you, in fact I'd be flattered you'd want to share it or save it so you can read it whenever you want. All I ask is that you link back to the original source.