Evening Star
For Love of the Past
Chapter 14
The knowledge of the existence of Warrior Pluto swept the Sun City within days. The people held celebrations all across the City in Warrior Pluto's honor – now the Official Guardian of the Sun City. How legendary, the people mused, was the love of Malachite and Aurora – their love, and their duties. One was destined to stay at her Queen's side, in protection of her, while the other stood to protect the Queen's City. Should disaster ever strike, never would it be that they would fight together – Warrior Pluto's duties would call him to the field of battle, Sailor Star's to her Queen's side. The people took this to very romantic, yet their Queen could see it only as Fate's cruel trick.
Kiaya paced the floors of the Throne Room. Dressed in her ceremonial gown, with the sunlight shinning down upon her from sources unknown, the Sun Queen shamed radiance. Though entertaining the idea of her sublime beauty was the least of many oppressive concerns on Kiaya's mind. She felt physically ill at the idea of what she was about to do, the anxiety, panic, and fear were that great. Her heart and mind racing, questioning herself one more time if this was truly necessary, and knowing the answer, Kiaya awaited the arrival of two she considered her own children; and loved them as such. Oh, but they were so happy. And oh, how it tore at Kiaya to know she would bring an end to that happiness. So lost was she in her own dark, and fearful thoughts, Kiaya didn't not take notice of the arrival of Warrior Pluto and Sailor Star. Noticing her preoccupation, Warrior Pluto called his Queen back to attention. "Your Majesty," he spoke, his voice strong, deep, and softly commanding, "you called for us?"
Kiaya looked up then and turned sad, tired eyes to the two other occupants of the room before drawing herself up, and pooling her strength around her. She stood tall, her face expressionless, her commanding air standing as testimony to her power. The two Guardians knew the woman who stood before them now was Sun Queen Kiaya - not their friend, not their mother, but their Queen. Both stood tall, eyes focused on Kiaya, awaiting her command. Nothing could have prepared them.
"Warrior Pluto, you will train Sailor Star as you, yourself, have trained. As my guardian she must be adequately prepared to handle any crisis that may arise, and as it stands now, her present skills are inadequate." Kiaya internally cringed at how cold and harsh her words seemed, however unchanging her exterior air of indifference remained. Yet the commanding strength behind her words could not be denied.
Warrior Pluto paled visibly, and felt his whole body tense. His face remained expressionless, belying the chaos that raged within his heart and mind. Sailor Star felt her chest tight with panic. Fear swept through her like wild fire, mercilessly knowing what Kiaya's command fully encompassed. Hurt also reigned in Aurora's heart, a hurt born with the knowledge that her Queen thought her inadequate. Neither Guardian could find the strength to speak, until Warrior Pluto set out to bring an end to the madness of such a command.
"My Queen," Warrior Pluto spoke, straining to keep his voice level, and calm, "do you know what it is you are asking? Are you fully aware of the consequences, which may be suffered, by all those involved?" His voice rang deep throughout the stark quiet Throne Room. Queen Kiaya kept her head held high, and looking to Warrior Pluto, her gaze cold, level, replied simply, "Yes; I am." Malachite held his Queen's gaze, trying desperately to discern what it was she was trying to accomplish. Why this? Why now? His face, as well as his Queen's, held no trace of emotion, the steel blue of his eyes were as ice. His penetrating gaze remained unwavering upon his Queen, his stance strong, tall, and defensive.
Sailor Star held her breath, unable to breathe even if she had wished it. Very rarely did Malachite and Kiaya's disagreements ever take on such a sense of severity; such a sense of underlying anger. She felt fear, anxiety; her heart pounded painfully in her chest. She felt as if, at that very moment, her fate was being decided – and she was without any means to fend for herself. That feeling unnerved her – and the strained silence that had developed between Warrior Pluto and her Queen. She decided to take her destiny by the reins. "Why?" The simplicity of her question somewhat took Kiaya by surprise. "I have given you my reasons, Sailor Star," Kiaya spoke, her voice reflecting her emotional detachment to the situation at hand. With a coldness in her voice, which rivaled that of her Queen's, Sailor Star responded. "I do not except these reasons." Kiaya did not allow her surprise to show at Aurora's insubordination. Speaking in tones which warned, however, that further insubordination would not be tolerated, Kiaya brought an end to the discussion at hand. "That matters little; it will be done."
"Yes," came a deep voice, obviously straining to keep in check raging emotions, "it will be." Sailor Star whirled to her left, looking to Warrior Pluto in shock, the hurt of betrayal evident in her silvery eyes. He did not look at her, keeping his eyes trained on Kiaya, and Kiaya alone. Aurora sucked in her breath at the look of near pure loathing that burned in Pluto's eyes. Whispering in hushed toned, seemingly to himself, Warrior Pluto growled again, "Yes, it will be done," and with the swirl of his cape, was gone from the throne room. Unable to hide the look of betrayal, abandonment, and heart break that was illustrated so plainly in her eyes, Sailor Star, her head bowed, unable to meet her Queen's unrelenting gaze, silently exited the Throne Room; leaving Kiaya so very, utterly, alone.
Upon hearing the Throne Room's vast double doors close, signaling the final departure of the Guardians, Kiaya fell to her knees in anguish. Wrapping her arms around herself, she rocked back and forth, half-kneeling, half sitting on the Throne Room floor. The pain in her heart over whelmed her, releasing the onslaught of tears that had threatened to fall for so long, in broken sobs, which racked Kiaya's frail form. She had hurt them; betrayed them. Her children; the two people in her life she could not live without, whom she had promised to protect from all harm, all pain; and was now the one inflicting such harm, such pain upon them. Kiaya's self-loathing consumed her, and as she cried out her misery onto the Throne Room floor, she questioned Fate again, wondering why, what was to happen, had to be done.
The early morning air (how early? Aurora wondered again), was damp and chilled, but Aurora's senses gave these slight discomforts little heed. She surprised herself. Tomorrow, her world would surely end; and yet, she felt nothing. No fear, no remorse – no anger. She felt numb, hollow; as if her soul had simply resigned itself to her Fate, had laid down its arms, and died. Her lack of sleep did nothing to dull the sharpness of her mind, as she relived memories of what Malachite had suffered through during his training: the screams of agony she'd heard, wafting up from the Palace's depths. The nights spent at his bedside, calming and quieting the nightmares that had haunted him. The scars that he bore. She relived these memories, and they affected her little. She too seemed to have followed suit with her soul, and had resigned to the fact that, what had once been Malachite's fate to suffer through, was now hers. The fact that her own Queen, a woman she'd considered her mother all of her remembered life, had forced this upon her, the fact that Malachite, the man she loved, had done nothing but agree to it, did nothing to stir even the slightest bit of emotion in her heart. It must be shock, Aurora reasoned. Tomorrow, today, is a new day - the day it begins. Then reality will hit, and all of this will seem real - but only then.
Looking to the heavens, Aurora gazed at the stars for a brief moment more, before turning to return to her bed. Returning to my bed? Aurora scoffed, I've yet to be there! Lying down and pulling the comforter around her, Aurora closed her eyes, praying sleep would come soon. Heavens knows, my body will need its rest, Aurora thought to herself, surprised at the bitterness in her mind's tone.
Upon closing her eyes, sleep came swiftly to the forsaken Princess of
the Stars, carrying her gently and quietly into the on coming day.