Part 2
Breakfast was a rowdy mealtime, and with almost no sleep behind her, Chibi- Usa found it very taxing on her reserves. Elios was still asleep, at least that's what Diana said, and the other visitors to the court were very loud as they sat around the table and talked. Chibi-Usa felt a headache forming.
"What's wrong? You seem tired."
"I didn't get much sleep last night," Chibi-Usa replied to her mother. Serenity looked down at her with her beautiful smile, and Chibi- Usa gave her best smile back. She didn't want her mother worrying about her, especially since she hadn't slept because she was thinking about a boy.
"She was probably dreaming about some boy." Endymion smiled as he chewed his breakfast, his eyes never leaving Chibi-Usa's face. A face that was quickly becoming bright red.
"Mamo-chan, don't tease like that."
"Mama, um…" Serenity turned to face her daughter. "Well…um…" How can I ask Mama about Elios? I want him to stay in the Palace, but…" "Umm…"
"Chibi-Usa? Is something wrong?"
"It's just that…" In the corner of her eye she saw Elios walk in. She gulped and finished her sentence. "Could Elios stay in the Palace with us forever?"
Both Endymion and Serenity stopped in the act of putting food in their mouths, their eyes on their daughter. Chibi-Usa was red, and Elios was coming over to see Endymion. Chibi-Usa hid her face behind her cup of tea.
"King, thank you for your hospitality, but I have to leave now. Elysion is waiting." He turned his head slightly towards Chibi-Usa, and she thought she saw a look of sadness in his eyes. "Thank you for your hospitality." His words were to her father, but Elios looked only at Chibi- Usa.
Endymion cleared his throat, then stood. No one seemed to pay him mind. "Elios, I'm not so sure. I'm sure the Maidens can handle everything there for a few days. Why don't you stay awhile?"
Elios grudgingly looked his King in the eyes. "I would, but I should really be getting back. It's my duty to guard the world of Elysion."
"I think," Serenity spoke up, standing beside her husband, "that Chibi-Usa would be sad to see you go."
The priest whipped his head towards Chibi-Usa, his eyes bright. ''Really…?"
"Umm…well…"
"I see. Alright then."
Elios turned to leave. "NO!" All eyes turned to see Chibi-Usa leap from her chair, her hands slamming to the table. Serenity hid a smile behind one hand, and Endymion remained calm like a king should. Elios, however, leaped into the air. "Please," Chibi-Usa half whispered as she sat, conscious of the eyes on her, "don't go yet. I'd really like it if you stayed."
Elios blinked, then turned to look at Endymion. "If you don't, you don't, but I think she would be rather unhappy, don't you?"
Elios nodded, then bowed to Serenity and Endymion, then to Chibi-Usa. "I believe I could stay a few more days."
Chibi-Usa had to keep herself from squealing in delight.
That night, as she combed her hair, Chibi-Usa sifted through all her memories of the time she had met Elios. Diana sat beside her, snoring softly.
Her fondest memories where when he let her ride on his back, when he was still a pegasus. She could remember the wind in her hair, and how soft he had been. His gentle voice waking her from dreams, and showing her his world. He was her true prince, the one she had always dreamed of.
Chibi-Usa giggled. "What am I doing? I need to focus. I can't daydream about anyone. Who am I kidding? I'm worse than Usagi."
She stood carefully, so as not to wake Diana. Gliding to her cabinet, she looked through it to find a suitable pair of nightclothes. Quickly changing, Chibi-Usa slid into bed, but she couldn't sleep. Elios was here, in her home! Something she had never thought possible. She brushed a hand to her lips, remembering his kiss from the night before.
Sighing, she put a hand over her face, trying to make herself fall asleep. I can't! I wanna go talk to him, but it's so late. What should I do? She considered going to his rooms, but knew that was out of the question. Her parents would kill her if they found out about that. And as much as she looked an adult now, Chibi-Usa knew that she was still very much a little girl. And little girls weren't allowed to go to boys' chambers in the middle of the night.
Sometime later, Chibi-Usa awoke to a sound near her door. She hadn't remembered falling asleep, but by the looks of it, a few hours had passed. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, trying to adjust to the darkness.
"Diana? Are you still in here?" Probably not, considering she had her own room with her parents. Chibi-Usa lay back down, hoping the noise would go away. It did, after a while, and she tried to get back to sleep. But she couldn't, so got up out of bed, threw on a robe, and decided to take a walk.
Out in the garden, the moon shone down, reflecting off the crystal of the palace. It was a wonderful sight, one Chibi-Usa never tired of. She sat on her swing, rocking slowly back and forth, and didn't hear footsteps until hands snaked across her shoulders, hugging her backwards.
"Ahh!" Chibi-Usa screamed as she fell backwards into strong arms and a gentle embrace. A pleasant fragrance permeated the air around her, and it took her a moment to notice the group of flowers that had been placed in her lap. "Oh! They're beautiful!"
She grabbed one and lifted it to her nose, the smell vibrant and clear, like in a dream. Her eyes widened, and she turned and saw Elios behind her, his arms holding her up. Chibi-Usa blushed and sat up, letting him in turn stand from his kneeling position.
"I hadn't thought you would react that way. You nearly fell off."
"Oh, that's alright. Where did these come from?"
Elios took the seat beside her. "From Elysion. I told you the Maidens had presents for you. These are them."
Chibi-Usa smiled into the flower, breathing deeply of the scent. "They're beautiful. I love them very much. Can you tell them that for me when you go home?" The moment she said it, she felt a stab of pain and guilt. Elios' smile barely wavered, but, nonetheless, it did. "Oh, Elios, I didn't mean it like that! I don't want you to go, but…you have responsibilities, and…"
Elios smiled. "Don't worry. I knew what you meant." Chibi-Usa would have thought he was lying, if only for her absolute faith in him and his purity. If someone like Elios could lie, she didn't want to believe in this world.
Suddenly, he took her hand in his, and made her stand with him. The flowers nearly dropped to the ground if not for some quick movements on Chibi-Usa's part. "Can you show me around? You were busy today, and so was everyone else."
Chibi-Usa nodded, and dragged her prince towards the palace. "We'll start with the Throne Room." Chibi-Usa then began her long walk with Elios through the palace, showing him everything from the kitchens to the highest tower. She took him through the gardens and the stables, and then through the courtyard, showing him all the different tapestries and hangings. Elios took it all in with glee, asking questions and pointing out things she never thought of as important. Finally, after nearly two hours and well into the night, she brought him back to the garden where he'd given her the flowers. She had a brief memory of what this place looked like when she first went back to the past; the spires were all broken, and this garden lay in ruins. Her family was gone, and she had been all alone. But this night, she stood with a beautiful moon above her, and green all around, and the one man she truly loved beside her, looking worried.
"I'm alright. Just remembering some things."
She sat on a swing, and Elios sat beside her. "You've grown much, my Maiden. I can see it in you, even if you don't. Many things have happened to you, but you've handled them well."
"You think so?"
Elios nodded and put his forehead to hers. "Yes, my Lovely Maiden. I do."
Chibi-Usa smiled shyly, but when she tried to move away, Elios put a hand to the back of her head and kissed her. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly surrendered to his kiss. His other arm snaked around her waist, holding her close.
"Elios…?" Chibi-Usa breathed. Why? He's never been so forward before! Finally, though, he released her, and Chibi-Usa stared at him, her eyes wide and unblinking. "Elios…"
"I-I'm sorry…"
"No, it's alright. You just…surprised me. You've never acted like that before."
"That's because I was a pegasus."
"Huh?''
Elios smiled and stood, brushing off his pants, then held out a hand to Chibi-Usa. "Shall we go?"
Chibi-Usa put her hand in his, a little unsure, but his warm smile quelled her fears. This was the man she loved, the only man she would ever love, and she trusted him with all of her being.
He led her back to the palace, then escorted her to her room. Outside the door, someone had left something in a basket by the floor. So that's what that noise was. Someone had left something outside her door. When she tried to open it though, it wouldn't. She gave a questioning look at Elios, but his face was just as curious. He tried a crack at it, and after much prodding, he forced the basket open. To their surprise, there was nothing inside it.
However, the big surprise came when she went to open her door, but it wouldn't open. No matter how hard she pulled at it, or pushed, it wouldn't budge. Even Elios couldn't get it open.
"Well, now what? I don't want to sleep in the hall."
"What about with Diana?"
'Their room is rather small. It was made for cats, after all. I could fit, but…"
"Hmm…any open rooms?"
"None that I can think of."
"Well, now what?"
Elios and Chibi-Usa sat together by her door, wondering what to do, when she thought up the most brilliant plan ever.
"I'll stay with you."
"W-what? You can't though."
"Why not? You stayed with me."
Elios couldn't come up with one suitable answer, so Chibi-Usa started off down the hall, the priest in tow. When they reached his room, the door opened easily enough. Chibi-Usa frowned, then went to the next door down the corridor, and tried to open it. It was locked tight. The same thing with all the other doors: they were all locked.
Chibi-Usa rounded on Elios. "Is this some kind of a trick?" For the first time since she had known him, her trust wavered.
Elios seemed just as surprised about the doors as she did. "I don't know! I had nothing to do with this…trick." His sincerity convinced her, and Chibi-Usa nodded.
"Then we might as well open the door."
Breakfast was a rowdy mealtime, and with almost no sleep behind her, Chibi- Usa found it very taxing on her reserves. Elios was still asleep, at least that's what Diana said, and the other visitors to the court were very loud as they sat around the table and talked. Chibi-Usa felt a headache forming.
"What's wrong? You seem tired."
"I didn't get much sleep last night," Chibi-Usa replied to her mother. Serenity looked down at her with her beautiful smile, and Chibi- Usa gave her best smile back. She didn't want her mother worrying about her, especially since she hadn't slept because she was thinking about a boy.
"She was probably dreaming about some boy." Endymion smiled as he chewed his breakfast, his eyes never leaving Chibi-Usa's face. A face that was quickly becoming bright red.
"Mamo-chan, don't tease like that."
"Mama, um…" Serenity turned to face her daughter. "Well…um…" How can I ask Mama about Elios? I want him to stay in the Palace, but…" "Umm…"
"Chibi-Usa? Is something wrong?"
"It's just that…" In the corner of her eye she saw Elios walk in. She gulped and finished her sentence. "Could Elios stay in the Palace with us forever?"
Both Endymion and Serenity stopped in the act of putting food in their mouths, their eyes on their daughter. Chibi-Usa was red, and Elios was coming over to see Endymion. Chibi-Usa hid her face behind her cup of tea.
"King, thank you for your hospitality, but I have to leave now. Elysion is waiting." He turned his head slightly towards Chibi-Usa, and she thought she saw a look of sadness in his eyes. "Thank you for your hospitality." His words were to her father, but Elios looked only at Chibi- Usa.
Endymion cleared his throat, then stood. No one seemed to pay him mind. "Elios, I'm not so sure. I'm sure the Maidens can handle everything there for a few days. Why don't you stay awhile?"
Elios grudgingly looked his King in the eyes. "I would, but I should really be getting back. It's my duty to guard the world of Elysion."
"I think," Serenity spoke up, standing beside her husband, "that Chibi-Usa would be sad to see you go."
The priest whipped his head towards Chibi-Usa, his eyes bright. ''Really…?"
"Umm…well…"
"I see. Alright then."
Elios turned to leave. "NO!" All eyes turned to see Chibi-Usa leap from her chair, her hands slamming to the table. Serenity hid a smile behind one hand, and Endymion remained calm like a king should. Elios, however, leaped into the air. "Please," Chibi-Usa half whispered as she sat, conscious of the eyes on her, "don't go yet. I'd really like it if you stayed."
Elios blinked, then turned to look at Endymion. "If you don't, you don't, but I think she would be rather unhappy, don't you?"
Elios nodded, then bowed to Serenity and Endymion, then to Chibi-Usa. "I believe I could stay a few more days."
Chibi-Usa had to keep herself from squealing in delight.
That night, as she combed her hair, Chibi-Usa sifted through all her memories of the time she had met Elios. Diana sat beside her, snoring softly.
Her fondest memories where when he let her ride on his back, when he was still a pegasus. She could remember the wind in her hair, and how soft he had been. His gentle voice waking her from dreams, and showing her his world. He was her true prince, the one she had always dreamed of.
Chibi-Usa giggled. "What am I doing? I need to focus. I can't daydream about anyone. Who am I kidding? I'm worse than Usagi."
She stood carefully, so as not to wake Diana. Gliding to her cabinet, she looked through it to find a suitable pair of nightclothes. Quickly changing, Chibi-Usa slid into bed, but she couldn't sleep. Elios was here, in her home! Something she had never thought possible. She brushed a hand to her lips, remembering his kiss from the night before.
Sighing, she put a hand over her face, trying to make herself fall asleep. I can't! I wanna go talk to him, but it's so late. What should I do? She considered going to his rooms, but knew that was out of the question. Her parents would kill her if they found out about that. And as much as she looked an adult now, Chibi-Usa knew that she was still very much a little girl. And little girls weren't allowed to go to boys' chambers in the middle of the night.
Sometime later, Chibi-Usa awoke to a sound near her door. She hadn't remembered falling asleep, but by the looks of it, a few hours had passed. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, trying to adjust to the darkness.
"Diana? Are you still in here?" Probably not, considering she had her own room with her parents. Chibi-Usa lay back down, hoping the noise would go away. It did, after a while, and she tried to get back to sleep. But she couldn't, so got up out of bed, threw on a robe, and decided to take a walk.
Out in the garden, the moon shone down, reflecting off the crystal of the palace. It was a wonderful sight, one Chibi-Usa never tired of. She sat on her swing, rocking slowly back and forth, and didn't hear footsteps until hands snaked across her shoulders, hugging her backwards.
"Ahh!" Chibi-Usa screamed as she fell backwards into strong arms and a gentle embrace. A pleasant fragrance permeated the air around her, and it took her a moment to notice the group of flowers that had been placed in her lap. "Oh! They're beautiful!"
She grabbed one and lifted it to her nose, the smell vibrant and clear, like in a dream. Her eyes widened, and she turned and saw Elios behind her, his arms holding her up. Chibi-Usa blushed and sat up, letting him in turn stand from his kneeling position.
"I hadn't thought you would react that way. You nearly fell off."
"Oh, that's alright. Where did these come from?"
Elios took the seat beside her. "From Elysion. I told you the Maidens had presents for you. These are them."
Chibi-Usa smiled into the flower, breathing deeply of the scent. "They're beautiful. I love them very much. Can you tell them that for me when you go home?" The moment she said it, she felt a stab of pain and guilt. Elios' smile barely wavered, but, nonetheless, it did. "Oh, Elios, I didn't mean it like that! I don't want you to go, but…you have responsibilities, and…"
Elios smiled. "Don't worry. I knew what you meant." Chibi-Usa would have thought he was lying, if only for her absolute faith in him and his purity. If someone like Elios could lie, she didn't want to believe in this world.
Suddenly, he took her hand in his, and made her stand with him. The flowers nearly dropped to the ground if not for some quick movements on Chibi-Usa's part. "Can you show me around? You were busy today, and so was everyone else."
Chibi-Usa nodded, and dragged her prince towards the palace. "We'll start with the Throne Room." Chibi-Usa then began her long walk with Elios through the palace, showing him everything from the kitchens to the highest tower. She took him through the gardens and the stables, and then through the courtyard, showing him all the different tapestries and hangings. Elios took it all in with glee, asking questions and pointing out things she never thought of as important. Finally, after nearly two hours and well into the night, she brought him back to the garden where he'd given her the flowers. She had a brief memory of what this place looked like when she first went back to the past; the spires were all broken, and this garden lay in ruins. Her family was gone, and she had been all alone. But this night, she stood with a beautiful moon above her, and green all around, and the one man she truly loved beside her, looking worried.
"I'm alright. Just remembering some things."
She sat on a swing, and Elios sat beside her. "You've grown much, my Maiden. I can see it in you, even if you don't. Many things have happened to you, but you've handled them well."
"You think so?"
Elios nodded and put his forehead to hers. "Yes, my Lovely Maiden. I do."
Chibi-Usa smiled shyly, but when she tried to move away, Elios put a hand to the back of her head and kissed her. Her eyes widened in surprise, but she quickly surrendered to his kiss. His other arm snaked around her waist, holding her close.
"Elios…?" Chibi-Usa breathed. Why? He's never been so forward before! Finally, though, he released her, and Chibi-Usa stared at him, her eyes wide and unblinking. "Elios…"
"I-I'm sorry…"
"No, it's alright. You just…surprised me. You've never acted like that before."
"That's because I was a pegasus."
"Huh?''
Elios smiled and stood, brushing off his pants, then held out a hand to Chibi-Usa. "Shall we go?"
Chibi-Usa put her hand in his, a little unsure, but his warm smile quelled her fears. This was the man she loved, the only man she would ever love, and she trusted him with all of her being.
He led her back to the palace, then escorted her to her room. Outside the door, someone had left something in a basket by the floor. So that's what that noise was. Someone had left something outside her door. When she tried to open it though, it wouldn't. She gave a questioning look at Elios, but his face was just as curious. He tried a crack at it, and after much prodding, he forced the basket open. To their surprise, there was nothing inside it.
However, the big surprise came when she went to open her door, but it wouldn't open. No matter how hard she pulled at it, or pushed, it wouldn't budge. Even Elios couldn't get it open.
"Well, now what? I don't want to sleep in the hall."
"What about with Diana?"
'Their room is rather small. It was made for cats, after all. I could fit, but…"
"Hmm…any open rooms?"
"None that I can think of."
"Well, now what?"
Elios and Chibi-Usa sat together by her door, wondering what to do, when she thought up the most brilliant plan ever.
"I'll stay with you."
"W-what? You can't though."
"Why not? You stayed with me."
Elios couldn't come up with one suitable answer, so Chibi-Usa started off down the hall, the priest in tow. When they reached his room, the door opened easily enough. Chibi-Usa frowned, then went to the next door down the corridor, and tried to open it. It was locked tight. The same thing with all the other doors: they were all locked.
Chibi-Usa rounded on Elios. "Is this some kind of a trick?" For the first time since she had known him, her trust wavered.
Elios seemed just as surprised about the doors as she did. "I don't know! I had nothing to do with this…trick." His sincerity convinced her, and Chibi-Usa nodded.
"Then we might as well open the door."
