Until next time,
Evening Star
For Love of the Past
Chapter 8
Over the next year, many happenings came to pass in the lives of the beloved children of the Sun Queen. Malachite's training was drawing to an end; the time was coming at hand that he would finally become a true Warrior of Pluto. Aurora's training, however, was truly only beginning.
For years, Queen Kiaya had worked on training Aurora to learn how to control and manipulate her powers; her training had commenced at the young age of 5, yet still even at the age of 13, Aurora's powers were erratic. Everyday after her academic studies, as Malachite would train, so would Aurora. Queen Kiaya worked in vain to help her niece, for wild powers were dangerous, and if they were left untamed, deaths could result. Aurora would grow frustrated at each passing day, for no matter how hard she tried, her powers would simply not bend to her will. She felt frustrated at herself, at her incompetence, and her inability to do what seemed to come so easily to those around her. Watching Malachite succeed and advance in his training only worsened Aurora's condition. She began to feel she was unequal to him, that she did not deserve him; that she was not good enough. A small part of her in fact, had always felt that way. Malachite was after all a prince, and she was no more than an orphan, who'd once saved the life of the Queen. Even with his training incomplete, Malachite was the strongest warrior on the Sun. Yet, what was she? Her inability to answer that question angered Aurora. But the power she possessed was great, and its existence could not be ignored. So, diligently, Aurora kept at her training. Yet, it was not until she lost all hope did she finally come to realize her true importance.
The training session involving her and the Queen was drawing to an end for the day, a training session that as of yet, remained unsuccessful. Kiaya had been working hard with Aurora, trying to teach her how to focus her energy, and release it upon a certain object in the room. Never did her powers harm its target. Malachite, who had completed his training interval for the day, came in search of Aurora. Upon finding her, he kept himself hidden, so as to permit himself the chance to observe her progress. Never had he been a witness to Aurora's training; it had not been permitted. Now he could see what drove his beloved's spirits to such depths. He watched as she struggled to complete even an easy task, and questioned himself as to why it was such a struggle for her. Seeing her to be on the verge of tears, Malachite shed the cover of the shadows within which he had been hiding, to comfort Aurora.
He never got to her. Her eyes fell on him the moment he shed his cover, and their look stopped him. Hopelessness, despair, self-disgust, anger, complete frustration, all swirled within her eye's silvery depths. Standing only a few feet behind his Queen, Kiaya was not yet aware of Malachite's presence. Her attention was focused on Aurora, and the internal struggle her niece was battling against. I've done this. I've pushed her too hard, Kiaya spoke softly to her self. For there Aurora stood in the center of the Throne Room, eyes closed shut against the world, tears escaping through their tiny slits, fists clenched tight at her sides. She shook as she tried to control the sheer force and intensity of the emotions rampaging through her body. Neither of the other two occupants in the room spoke, for fear of the repercussions.
It was then that Lady Destiny decided it had come time for Fate to make its journey, once again, to the Golden City of the Sun. In the Center of the Throne Room of the Sun Palace a Star was born, shinning brightly against the darkness of self-doubt, which threatened to extinguish it. Queen Kiaya and Malachite were held spellbound as they looked on at Aurora; for there shinning on her forehead was the Mark of the Star. Its ruby red light cast a pale glow throughout the throne room, and seemed only to shine brighter as Aurora's emotions intensified. A voice was heard; but only by Aurora's ears. The voice was of one she did not know, and found herself struggling to identify. The voice whispered to her three words, one command. And upon doing so, the voice left as quickly as it had come.
Suddenly Aurora looked up, truly seeing Queen Kiaya and Malachite for what seemed like the first time. The aforementioned onlookers began to look on with more ease, as the chaotic emotions that had shown in Aurora's eyes began to dissipate. In their place was left knowledge, confidence, and determination. Aurora now knew what she must do. Casting her head down, as if to press it against her right-shoulder, and closing her eyes, Aurora spoke assertively the first word. " Imperial!" Turning her head up to the Stars, eyes opened, the Mark of the Star sending a star shaped beam of light up to the heavens, Aurora spoke the second word. " Star!" Then bowing her head down once more in front of her chest, and closing her eyes, Aurora spoke the last word, completing the command whispered to her by an unknown voice. " Power!"
Ruby red light exploded throughout the Throne Room, forcing Malachite and Queen Kiaya to shield their eyes against its intensity, as Aurora's transformation ensued. The star on her forehead was the key to her transformation; she used no magic wands or brooches as the Sailor Soldiers of the Moon, for Aurora was more powerful. The power she possessed to transform came from within her; a power destined to make her a Solitary Soldier, destined to make her fight alone.
Straining against the searing light, Malachite was witness to Aurora's transformation. The star upon her forehead seemed to become as liquid, and from it came a beam of stardust. The star itself splashed, and rippled upon the star beam's exiting, the beam being diagonally pointed at the front end exiting the star mark, and straight along the upper edge. Yet from the straight edge down, the beam trailed off into stardust, leaving it to fall sparkling to the ground around her. The beam shot high into the air in front of Aurora, then fell back, and began to circle round her. As it did so, the stardust trailing from the beam fell upon Aurora and took shape. First earrings could be seen, consisting of three pearls hanging down, finished with a small star. The beam continued to circle lower, and from the stardust was formed a choker round Aurora's neck, a star set in front. As the beam continued circling lower still, a sailor soldier uniform was formed upon Aurora's body. As the star beam circled her legs and surrounded her feet, high-heeled shoes took their proper place. Yet her entire uniform remained the color of the stardust- ruby red. No other colors were present.
All the while Aurora stood perfectly still, her head bowed, arms spread ever so slightly at her sides, so that should you consider her head the top point, and draw an imaginary line horizontally between her hands, she formed almost a triangle. Her feet and legs remained together, and hovered just above the Throne Room's floor. Finally the beam reached its place in front of Aurora's feet, and in the instant that it did so, a grand explosion resulted. Kiaya and Malachite were once again blinded as a second explosion of light ripped through the Throne Room. The edges of the blast were of a ruby red, while the center was of silver. When the light faded, Aurora stood suspended, still in the air, yet now her uniform held color. Her shoes were of a glittering ruby red, as were the bows of her uniform gracing her front and the small of her back. Her skirt was of glittering silver, as was her sailor uniform's collar. Her choker was of the same silver, though the star adorning the choker's front was of a glittering ruby red. The pearls of her earrings were cream in color, as most pearls, and the star hanging from their ends were as the star adorning her choker. Within the center of her front's bow was held a silver brooch, upon which was engraved within the silver, the mark of a five pointed star. Her uniform varied from that of the Moon's Sailor Soldiers in only one way- Aurora wore no gloves reaching to her elbows. Aurora's arms were left bare, the nails of her fingers glittering brightly with a polish of ruby red. In the end, all that remained to appear was Aurora's tiara.
For but a moment Aurora remained still, suspended in the air around her. Then silently and swiftly she raised her hands above her head, crossing them one in front of another at the wrists, one wrist's side against the other's. Her hands were arched back, forming a parabola shape, and were brought down in front of her star mark. There she held them as her tiara took shape upon her brow. The tiara itself was silver, with intricate leafless, curving vine-like designs engraved into its surface. The mark of the Star solidified into a star shaped, ruby red gem, which was three-dimensional to the tiara; it stood out, and was not simply a two dimensional mark within the tiara.
Upon the completion of her tiara, Aurora swiftly brought her hands out to her sides, at the position they were in during her transformation. She extended her left leg forward slightly, widening her stance, and stood proudly. " I am Sailor Star!" she proclaimed proudly to the astonished witnesses in the room, " and for the Honor of Love and by the Power of the Sun, you will be destroyed!"
Kiaya was the first to regain her composure, for she was Sun Queen, and had mastered long ago the art of controlling her emotions. " Congratulations Sailor Star. I do believe your training with me has come to an end, would you not agree?" Kiaya smiled lovingly at Aurora, pride radiating from her gaze. Sailor Star met and held her Queen's soft, loving gaze. For a moment in time Aurora seemed far older than her years, as she stood proud and strong in front of Kiaya, her eyes reflecting great thought and wisdom. The moment then passed, as quickly as it had come, and bowing deeply, Aurora came to a kneel in front of Queen Kiaya. Bowing her head, Sailor Star made to her a pledge.
" By the power of the Stars, I give to you my life's pledge. I vow to honor you, and protect you from all harms, which may seek you out. I pledge to you my unwavering devotion and loyalty; but above all, I give to you my love… my trust… my respect. I take it now to be my duty to be your Guardian, to sacrifice my life so you would live; if you will have me, Your Majesty." Aurora did not raise her head to look at her Queen, as she believed she had no right to be so bold; but if she had she would have seen much love and pride in the teary eyes of her Queen. " Rise Sailor Star," she commanded softly. Aurora stood, looking into the eyes of her Queen. Shocked was she at what she saw, but Aurora retained her serious composure. " It would be my pleasure Aurora to have you as my Guardian; of course I will have you." And with that she enveloped Aurora in a tight embrace, crying softly into her hair, for finally Aurora's destiny was taking shape, finally she was becoming the magically powerful young woman Kiaya had always known she could be.
Malachite stood to the side, and was paid little heed by the two embracing women in front of him. But he was not offended, for their apparent disinterest in him permitted him the chance to look lovingly upon Aurora, allowing the awe he felt for her wash over him. He had been held spellbound by her transformation, his mind struggling to grasp the full beauty of it all. He was certain he had never seen Aurora look more beautiful, as much of an impossibility he thought that to be. He never thought she could do something to make him love her more, and yet she did. The sheer joy she felt coursed through him, and he knew, that no longer would her soul be cast into such levels of despair as he had seen, again.
Aurora and Kiaya broke free from their embrace, and after ensuring all was well with her Queen, Aurora turned to face Malachite. She looked to him hesitantly, unsure of what his reaction would be. Softly she walked up to stand in front of him. Looking into his eyes she lost herself, suddenly filled with such a strong love for him she could hardly draw breath. In his eyes was shinning the purest of love, joy, and pride for her she had ever seen. In truth, she knew not what she had feared so, but now looking to him, her heart grew calm and her breathing commenced once again, for suddenly she knew all was right and well throughout the cosmos.
Never did the two break eye contact. It was now Kiaya's turn to stand quietly by, as the two young lovers seemed oblivious to any other worlds outside of their own. They stood not a foot apart, facing each other, yet still Malachite found room to bow to Aurora, drawing his left hand across his waist when doing so. Aurora was startled by his actions, and stared at him with wide eyes as he moved to stand straight before her once again. A blush crept onto her cheeks, and upon sighting this, Malachite could no longer restrain himself. In one fluid movement he held her in his arms, and held her lips lightly, at first, with his own. Then his kissed deepened as Aurora relaxed from her initial shock, and fell in to return his kiss. Time stopped, only to start again as Malachite slowly, gently broke their kiss. He kept his head close to hers, moving it ever so slightly to whisper into her ear. " I love you," he whispered softly, " I love you for all that you are, and all you have become. Be proud, my Star, stand tall and be proud, for you have proven yourself this day to be the greatest of Warriors- Sailor Star!" Drawing away, he kissed her lips softly then stood back to see more clearly her face. Tears had come to her eyes and threatened to fall. She smiled at him, her tears spilling over as she laughed softly, blushing fiercely. " Thank you," she whispered loudly enough so only he could hear, " and I love you." "I know Star," he responded, " I know."
Star. Little did Aurora know then, but that would be his name for her from then on. She would come to live only to hear him say that one word, as if it were an eternal declaration of his love for her. In a way it was, as only Malachite would call her by that name. Star.
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