Chapter 9
The entire Sun City came to know of their Queen's new Guardian. A grand ball was held in Sailor Star's honor, with all the inhabitants of the Sun coming from a far to pay homage to the new found powers of the one they recently declared the Star Princess. Part of their minds seemed to remember vaguely having once bestowed upon someone else such a title, but as quickly as the vague memory came, it passed, lost in the great oblivion of their minds. Of course no one had ever be named Star Princess before, for no one had ever bore the Mark of the Star before Aurora. Or so the power of the Sun Stone had led them to believe.
Kiaya had worried greatly at the return of Aurora's mark. As strong as her joy and pride had been, it could not be out done by the nagging fear that Aurora's memories would return. Never, in all the many years Aurora had been on the Sun, had her Mark shone. It became apparent to Kiaya that with the loss of her memories, so were lost her powers. It was with the return of Aurora's powers that Kiaya feared her memories would return as well. But they did not, and Kiaya's relief was great. So great in fact she spared no expense for the ball she held in her niece's honor, dressing her in the finest silk that could be found on the Sun.
Upon hearing news of the ball to be held in Aurora's honor, Malachite began to make preparations of his own. Not many had thought the Prince of Pluto held much interested in the fine arts; or at least, that he had any talent for them. In most cases, they were correct. Malachite had never been much of an artist, yet his mind was creative. He could not play an instrument, or read music, though many had complimented him on his voice for song. It was with this in mind that he went to the Palace's greatest Music Composer and Songwriter, with words to a song he had written in honor of his love, Aurora. For while Malachite knew the words he wished to be spoken through the song, he could not write the music. By the nightfall before the Ball, the song was finished and the orchestra began to prepare for its performance.
Everyone attended. Foods, music, drink, and laughter filled the Palace. Queen Kiaya sat upon her throne, enjoying the happiness of her people. Many would come to speak to her, telling her of their children, their businesses, or their farms. Kiaya would listen intently, loving that her people made her such an important part of their lives. She was dressed in her ceremonial gown, and Malachite, standing at her side beside the throne, wore his traditional Plutonian Prince uniform. Aurora had yet to arrive. And oh, how desperately Malachite wished she would take haste; he was becoming more over whelmed every moment she was not with him, over whelmed with many different emotions. His wish did not go unanswered.
The trumpets blared, announcing the arrival of the guest of honor. The room fell silent; all looking to the grand archway which acted as the entrance into the ballroom. There stood, within the archway, an angel. No one moved; no one spoke. Aurora's Star was shinning brightly upon her forehead. Her hair was down from its usual bun, and ponytail. It cascaded down her back in golden, silvery waves, curling slightly near the ends. The curls that graced the sides of her face remained in place.
The dress she wore was unlike any the Sun had seen.
The dress was sleeveless and strapless, yet had an off the shoulders cuff (much like the one of Princess Aurora's dress in Disney's movie The Sleeping Beauty). Yet this cuff was of glittering silver, and sparkled as the light touched it. The rest of the gown was white, and fitted snuggly around her bust and waist. At her waist was a 'belt' of glittering ruby red stars, which circled around her waist, forming a pointed V at her front. From the belt down the gown flowed as Princess Serenity's, loosely and flowing, appearing as hers had, to be of two layers, one coming up shorter than the other. (See the picture below for better understanding for the dress's bottom.)
Upon her feet where the daintiest high heeled slippers, sparkling silver in color. Aurora was absolutely breath taking. For a moment no one moved, being able to stare at her only in awe. Malachite finally broke the spell by leaving Queen Kiaya's side, and walking up to take Aurora's hand to keep her at his side. After his swift movements, everything returned to what it had been- a celebration full of life and love.
Leading Aurora to Queen Kiaya, Malachite noticed Aurora's hands were shaking ever so slightly. Her looked down at her, her shoulders and arms bare, her nails sparkling with the most interesting of ruby red polish, and smiled. She's nervous being the guest of honor Malachite thought to himself. Aurora had never enjoyed being in the spotlight as she was now. He stopped her progress towards the Queen, holding her close to him. She looked up into his eyes quizzically, and was about to inquire about his actions when his lips silenced her own. That she was not expecting but did not deny him. " How beautiful you are, my Star, shinning so brightly as you are now." Aurora blushed at Malachite's words, further adding to her beauty. " I feel as if I'm on display! I don't feel comfortable in this dress. It seems that everyone's eyes are on me!" Aurora protested temperamentally. Her patience was running thin. She had never wanted the ball in the first place.
Malachite chuckled softly, one of those rare moments he showed his human side. "Well, Star, you're beautiful none the less," Malachite smiled down at her. In all of her years, Aurora had never realized her beauty. "Dance with me, my lady?" Malachite asked, teasing her gently. "Of course brave knight," Aurora accepted his hand with grace and a smile. Leading her out onto the dance floor, the orchestra began to play upon Malachite's signal, a song never before heard. Malachite and Aurora began to dance, Malachite sweeping Aurora around the dance floor, the indoor pool of water skirting the outside of the Ballroom reflecting their images in the 'moonlight'. Their movements were fluid, graceful, each lost in the eyes of the other; Malachite with a small smile playing across his lips. This made Aurora curious, and she began to listen to the new song the orchestra was playing. Listening to the words, Aurora soon realized the song had been written for her; written for her by the man holding her in his arms as they danced across the Ballroom floor.
The song playing was the song High (sung in our modern times by the Lighthouse Family). Tears alighted in Aurora's eyes as the lyrics were played out, sung by the most talented vocalists on the Sun, listening as Malachite's heart felt words were sung out for all to hear. In the years to come, this song would become their song, a testament to their love. The Ballroom was filled to capacity, and all 500 000 guests stopped a moment to watch the young lovers dance by. Queen Kiaya sat upon her throne, looking on with love, respect, and admiration at her children. In her heart she prayed to the Sun Stone to forever ensure that they were kept safe, and that should danger ever threaten their lives, or their love, that they be able to face that danger together. But Kiaya was one for premonitions, and some how she knew, even as her heart spoke the words, what she asked was too much - that it would never come to pass.
The songs final notes faded into the night as the song came to an end. Malachite brought their dance to an end, and their thoughts back to the world around them by bowing in front of Aurora as a sign of respect. Gently he kissed the back of her hand, then escorted her to Kiaya's side. There they stayed for an hour or more, Aurora and Queen Kiaya speaking quietly to each other and the people that came to speak to them. On occasion Aurora would accept a dance from elderly gentlemen, only those whom she'd come to know from her time upon the Sun, and from having seen at many of the past celebrations.
Though before the evening was half over, Malachite could no longer stand to share Aurora, and bending over, whispered for her to join him on the balcony.
Taking her hand in his, he led her out onto the terrace. Very shocked was she to find Firewalker bridled and awaiting them below, his reins tired loosely around a bush's limb. Aurora looked to Malachite questioningly, realizing suddenly that he'd planned all of this. Yet there was one discrepancy. " Malachite, my love," she spoke, turning to him, " I can see now all that you have done for me on this night, much of which I will never forget, but" she giggled softly, " how do you expect us to get down?" The Ballroom's terrace was two stories above the ground. Aurora began to laugh harder, all the while trying to keep quiet. Malachite looked to her with an expression of mock hurt upon his face. " You doubt me Star?" Shaking her head, and stifling her laughter behind a hand, Aurora shook her head. "Of course not!" she spoke brokenly between giggles. Suddenly she found herself rather hyper, and Malachite's every move, every expression seemed so funny to her. "Then trust in me," he said seriously. Wrapping his arm around her waist to support her weight, Malachite effortlessly jumped from the terrace, landing without a sound upon the grassy carpet below. His movements had been so sudden, Aurora had had little time to react, and only when her feet were upon solid ground once more did she allow her shock to become known.
"Malachite! How….when did you learn to do that?" Malachite chuckled softly to himself, "It's been part of my training for a while Star." Motioning to Firewalker, Malachite extended his hand to Aurora and said, "Shall we?" Accepting his hand with grace, she replied, "We shall!" Mounting Firewalker the two stole into the night, heading for a little bridge, deep with the Gardens.
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