Evening Star
For Love of the Past
Chapter 18
With the coming of the night came the departure of the Moon Queen, and Malachite's attempts to obtain salvation. For weeks afterward he tempted fate by trying to talking to her, leaving her white roses where he knew only she would find them, and going beneath her balcony and calling for her every night at twilight. Aurora was responsive to none of it. She threw away the roses, ignored his calling for her at twilight, and responded to his efforts of talking to her only when protocol demanded it. And even then, her replies were short, brief, and bordering on being 'politely rude'. Malachite faced Aurora's wrath and coldness again and again, keeping in mind Serenity's words, "Try, and keep trying…" But after nearly two months of his every effort failing, Malachite began to realize the damage he had done was irreversible. He knew he had had no right to ask for Aurora's forgiveness, and decided out of love and respect, to leave her be.
Kiaya then knew the time had come for her to intercede, and take matters into her own hands. She herself went to talk to Aurora, asking her to give Malachite a chance – to hear him out. Aurora waited, out of respect, for Kiaya to finish pleading her case, remaining in silence.
"Aurora, Malachite did as I commanded him to do. You've admitted
yourself the training was necessary. And so the time as come – forgive
him. He does love you, so very much. And I know you love him in return."
Kiaya looked to Aurora's face, which remained emotionless and stoic, in
hopes that there may have shown some sigh she was getting through to the
young Guardian. Sighing when she saw none, Kiaya continued. " At least
give him the chance to defend himself, hear him out. You wouldn't
be suffering as you are now if you didn't still love him," Kiaya paused,
looking into Aurora's eyes, "So give the both of you a chance. If you don't,
you may live forever regretting that you didn't." Aurora looked away at
Kiaya's final words, and then nodding her head softly she turned and exited
the Gardens. Watching her go, Kiaya reflected back on Aurora's silence,
and wondered if her Guardian's not saying anything at all, was the sign
of hope she had been looking for.
The night's air was cool; a soft wind played with his hair as he stood out upon his balcony. His sharp gaze looked out over the City before him as he assured himself that all was well that night for the People of the Sun; his City was safe. But even his duties could not keep Malachite's mind from remembering his pain, and his eyes closed as another wave of heartache swept through him. His heart ached with such intensity, in fact, and had done so for so long, he wondered if he would ever find respite from it. He rested his head in his hand, leaning as he did so, against his balcony's railing. The exhaustion he felt settled into the very marrow of his bones, and yet he knew sleep would not come to him tonight – just as it had not come to him for so many nights before.
He looked up again, and couldn't help but be touched by the beauty before him. The stars were shinning brightly, as the 'moon' made its way higher into the sky. The lights and glow of the City below him made for a breath taking sight, with the 'moonlight' only adding to the beauty of nature by reflecting itself off of the leaves of the trees and flowers throughout the Gardens. The air was sweet smelling, and freshly cool. Oh yes, it was beautiful, but the beauty did little to ease Malachite's pain. Then again, he hadn't expected it too. Signing, he turned around, heading into his room. Removing his white shirt, he was about to remove his black dress pants to prepare for bed, when he heard his name being called. Stopping to listen, Malachite stood straight, waiting for the soft voice to repeat itself. Again it came, and Malachite, not believing the voice could belong to whom he thought it did, moved out onto the terrace. Looking down, he saw her.
There, standing beside Firewalker transformed, stood Sailor Star – looking up right at him. "Malachite, Warrior Prince of Pluto, I ask that I have a moment to speak with you. May I?" Aurora's voice came, her tone very professional. Malachite's face remained emotionless as he reacted quickly to her words, and leapt down from his balcony, some 200 feet up from the ground. Sailor Star could not stop a worried gasp from escaping her lips as she watched him fall. Seconds later, Malachite fell softly, and gracefully to the green grass below, hardly making a sound. As he rose, Sailor Star's breath caught as she noticed his chest was bare, and how beautiful he looked standing in the 'moonlight'. Damn him! Aurora swore to herself, watching him, in turn, watching her. She looked into his eyes to find the walls had been dropped, and the pain she saw there was a pain much like that which shone in her eyes. Malachite watched her intently, committing every move, every turn of her head, and look of her eyes, to memory. For in his heart, he believed this was her way of ending it all.
He then found himself wondering if she had any concept of her beauty.
There before him, she stood. Her Sailor Uniform a blaze in the 'moonlight', shinning brightly silver, and ruby red. The star gem set in her tiara, too, caught the 'moonlight' and glinted with every turn of her head. And her eyes… oh her eyes, that beautiful color of silver. Malachite closed his eyes, and shook his head. The ethereal being before him had once been his, and was now lost to him forever. Oh, how Fate knew painful torments well.
"You wanted to speak with me?" He asked, his voice toneless. With his question, Aurora's mask dropped, and tears came to her eyes, catching in her lashes. Seeing this sudden transformation in her, Malachite stepped instinctively forward. "Star?" Malachite looked down at her with loving concern, wanting nothing more than to hold her, to at least touch her. But he stopped himself, as a soft sob escaped Aurora's pale lips. She looked up to him then, and tentatively reached forward to lay her hand on his bare stomach. Malachite's eyes closed, and his breath caught at her touch, as he leaned into it. Opening his eyes, he looked to her as she spoke in a choked whisper, "I want us back."
Malachite's very existence stopped at those words; time for him seemed to pause. Had he heard her right? His eyes flooded with raw emotion as he looked down into hers, seeing that she was waiting for his answer. "So do I." He could manage only a whisper, as the overwhelming emotions that he found himself drowning in, clutched at his throat, preventing his speech. Malachite's mind filled with a daze; he couldn't believe it…the greatest miracle of his life had come true – Aurora had come back to him. He hadn't lost her - not yet.
Waiting for his answer, Aurora had bowed her head, looking down at her hand as it stroked his chest. Upon hearing his answer, she looked up at him, eyes wide and brimming with unshed tears. The look in his eyes took her breath away. Never had she seen so much unbridled emotion in him before. The love she saw there, in those eyes of metallic blue, the passion, and the need – the need for her – was so complete and overwhelming, Aurora could only wonder if this was the same man she had fallen in love with. But before she could question it further, he forcefully brought his lips down to hers and kissed her passionately. She felt his tongue brush against her lips, and understanding his request, parted her lips, her tongue meeting his half way.
Aurora couldn't stop the soft moan from escaping her lips at the intimate contact. And wrapping her arms around his shoulders, she too more felt than heard, Malachite groan in response. It had been years since he had last kissed her like this, and she felt half starved for his kisses and caress. Malachite's arms wrapped tightly around her waist, pulling her flush against him, purposefully deepening the kiss. Time then re-began its slow march onward as the two young lovers pulled away from each other, breathless.
"Transform," Aurora breathed. At first Malachite didn't understand what she was asking, "What?" Laughing quietly, she repeated, "Transform." Looking surprised at her request, but obeying it all the same, Malachite commenced his transformation. "Sword," he commanded, " to me." A soft glow of light appeared around Malachite's right hand, held out at his side. The glowing light solidified, taking the shape of the Sword of Pluto. Raising the Sword to the heavens, he cried out, "Pluto Warrior Power!" Aurora stood back, close to Firewalker, shielding her eyes against the intense bright white light. She felt the chill of an arctic wind sweep through the area in which they stood, and shuddering, attempted to look on as Malachite transformed. What a beautiful sight, she heard Firewalker comment, his voice resonating softly throughout her mind. Indeed it is, Aurora agreed, Indeed it is.
With the fading of the light came the revealing of Warrior Pluto, where once stood Malachite. Smiling at him, Sailor Star turned, and mounted Firewalker, offering Warrior Pluto a hand to do the same. With both upon his back, Firewalker took to the sky. Though he knew exactly where Sailor Star wanted him to take them, Firewalker decided on a detour around the Sun City, delighting in the sounds of his charge's joyous laughter, and the deep, rare laugh of Warrior Pluto. It was only after some prompting from both Sailor Star and Warrior Pluto that Firewalker flew them to their wanted destination – a small, silver bridge, settled in the middle of an isolated clearing.
The 'Sun' was rising on the horizon, and still they stood there: Warrior Pluto with Sailor Star, his arms wrapped protectively, and almost possessively, about her waist, her leaning her back against his chest. Leaning down, he kissed her neck, and for the countless time that late evening / early morn, said, "I'm sorry," with every kiss he placed gently upon her neck. Sailor Star closed her eyes, allowing the tingling sensation of his touch to move through her. And for the second time that night and early morn, she felt his tears fall hot against her skin, and could sense more than feel, his attempts to hide them from her – to keep himself from crying. Turning around in his embrace, Aurora faced Malachite.
Tear were silently making their way down his cheeks as she looked at him. He looked away, ashamed of himself and his weakness. Aurora, placing her hand against his cheek, gently moved his head to look into his eyes. "Don't hide your tears from me, Malachite," she whispered, "You've no reason to be ashamed of them." Taking a shaky breath, Malachite leaned his forehead against Aurora's, and closed his eyes. "How close I came to losing you Star," his voice strained from his attempts not to cry, "Gods, I don't know what I would have done with out you; I would have been lost." Aurora stroked his hair, trying to comfort him. "Shhhh… it's okay." Malachite shook his head against her own. "No. What I've done, can't be forgiven. Gods, Star… I'd look at you, screaming and in pain because of me, watching as you died inside, and shut yourself off from the world – as you struggled to keep fighting regardless of the odds. And I lived knowing you suffered because of me." Malachite choked back a sob, with tears streaming down his face as he continued. "How can you forgive me?"
Malachite pulled her into a tight embrace then, his body racked with sobs as he cried. Aurora, caught up in the overwhelming force of his emotions, found herself fighting back her own tears. Whispering through his tears, and her own, Aurora answered him. "Because I love you, and have, for as long as I can remember. I never stopped loving you. Not for one moment." Malachite pulled away at that, to look into her eyes. His face was moist from fallen tears, and his eyes red from crying. A tear found its way down Aurora's cheek, only to be softly brushed away by Malachite's thumb, as both of his hands came up to cup her face. He searched her eyes, to assure himself that all of this was real, and then leaned forward gently to brush his lips against hers. Sighing blissfully, Aurora deepened the kiss, only to find she was losing herself to it. Moments later, Malachite broke the kiss, and whispering into Aurora's ear said, "I love you too Star, always and forever."
Looking behind Malachite then, Aurora laughed. Malachite, startled at her reaction to his words, pulled away to look at her. "Star?!" By his tone, Aurora could tell he was mortified. Laughing still, she put her hand up against his cheek, "Oh no, my love - look, look at Firewalker." Finding her request rather strange, Malachite turned to see Firewalker asleep, his head cradled in the nook of a tree, still standing. Chuckling, Malachite dried his eyes. When he was satisfied that his composure had been regained, Malachite looked back at Aurora, his Sailor Star, only to find her looking at him. Taking her hands in his, and cursing his weakness as he felt his eyes brim with tears once again, Malachite looked into Aurora's eyes. "Can you forgive me Star?"
Sailor Star smiled softly, her eyes warm with life, light, and love. Running her hand through Warrior Pluto's bangs, she replied, "I can, my love, and I do. But the true question here to ask is, Can you forgive yourself?" Pluto looked right at her, his response quick, "No, never." Sailor Star returned his level gaze, replying simply, "Try." A small smile tugged at the corner of Pluto's lips, as he realized with great joy, that he was slowly getting his old Aurora back. For the first time in many years, his heart, his soul, felt at peace – felt at rest. He nodded amicably to her blatant demand , then drew her close to him once again. He wasn't prepared to be separated from her for a moment, not after so long of being apart from her.
Both looked to the East, and watched in awed silence, as the City's 'sun' rose into the heavens. With the coming of the dawn, and feeling the golden rays of light wash over her in all of their warmth and glory, Aurora felt at peace and contentment. Never had she though she would ever find such happiness again, but here she was, in the arms of the man she loved more than life itself. Closing her eyes, Sailor Star allowed herself to be swept away by the moment, but her duty to her Queen brought her back to the earth of the Sun City again. "Warrior Pluto, we must go. We must sleep; there is much that is needed to be done today." Malachite couldn't help the streams of disappointment that ran through him. But he knew she spoke the truth, and so with a heavy heart, complied. "Alright, let us go then, Star." And taking her hand in his, they woke Firewalker, and with the rising sun in their eyes, returned to the Palace.
And so it was. The Universe, for the briefest of moments, found peace
and balance in the reuniting of the two destined lovers. But this peace,
this balance, was soon to be destroyed forever. For an evil, though forgotten,
continued to thrive, only to become relentless in gaining supremacy throughout
the Galaxies. And so came this evil's uprising – with it came the final
fall of the City of the Sun; and an end to the Silver Millennium.