Another Life
Chapter 10
Rating: PG-ish
Timeline: After "Stars" and "Endless Waltz"
Author: Moonchild DJ
E-Mail: moonchilddj@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and Gundam Wing do not belong to me, never will. :p But a girl can dream, ne? Then I could make my fic a reality, that would be cool! ^_~ But while I'm dreaming, this fic and its plot do belong to me, so please don't take? Ish my baby, and my longest fic. 10 chapters...and no end in sight, yet..@_@
Author's Notes: Kon'wa! Moonchild DJ here, and actually alive! Kami, it's been a while since I updated! *bashes herself* But I've been so busy, not much of anything has gotten updated, til recently. I'm doing a drastic overhaul! :p I'm very sorry for the wait, I didn't mean to abandon this fic..I hope to pick things back up to speed, here, starting with this chapter, which is extra long in honor of being the 10th chapter and a special treat for you all. I hope you like it, and let me know what you think, ne? Reviews are so loverly to a frazzled, over-ficced authoress..^^;;
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Previously: Well, we're still in the flashback caused by the merge of the Inner Senshi and the Gundam Pilots and Usagi/Heero's retelling. So just account for that, it's been a while since I've written anything for this, I've kinda forgotten..^^;;;;;
****
Serenity sighed as she glimpsed the lunar waterfall, clear and sparkling, lit by the blue and green Terran planet. This was their meeting place, where she and Raye, Amy, Lita and Mina could just be girls, not princesses, not warriors, just girls with their whole lives ahead of them. They trained here, as well, but this place was sacred to them, where they could dream and laugh and talk and just BE.
She smiled and stepped out of her slippers, raising the gown's hem just a bit to let her toes meet the water. Beside her, Amy did the same, and Mina contented herself by sitting by the water's edge, but Lita and Raye cannonballed into the water full-force, succeeding in splashing all three at the edge.
Indignant shrieks met their ears, and Lita and Raye grinned triumphantly, glancing over to three angry, soaking wet friends.
"Might as well join us, you're already wet--you cannot get any wetter!" Lita laughed as their princess ground her teeth.
"Serenity, you look like a soggy dumpling!" Raye giggled. "Maybe I should use my fire to keep you from wrinkling?"
"Raye, when I get my hands on you..! Moon Dust, Pyro!!" Serenity growled, stomping into the water before losing her footing and toppling sideways into the water. She came up sputtering and slapped the water with an angry hand. Raye grinned and swam over, her red gown trailing behind her, and helped her up.
"You were saying, little Princess?"
"Ooooohh..! You..you...!" A rather damp spark fizzled from her fingertips and she crossed her arms. "One of these days, Mars.."
"Sure. And the Lunarians will live on the Earth someday."
"Why you--!!"
Raye giggled, splashing her friend. They had a little water fight until she sobered. "Tell me, Sere..truthfully, what do you think of Sir Wufei?"
Her own thoughts on Heero, Serenity's eyes widened in surprise, the hugeness and clearness of them making her look like some wild fae creature of the night told in the Terran legends. "Sir Wufei? He seems like a good man, if a bit high-headed."
"You mean stubborn and egotistical and chauvanistic?"
Serenity giggled. "That, too, but your words, not mine. Except for the chauvanistic part, he reminds me quite a bit of you, Lady Mars!"
Raye sputtered, indignant violet eyes snapping. "I am nothing like him!" Her friend and princess winked.
"Mmm-hmm. You put yourself on quite a high pedestal sometimes, always professing to know best.."
"And you do not?"
"Ah, but we are not talking about me, and I am not the one setting her sights on Sir Wufei!"
"Oh, and you are not sighing over Sir Heero, then?"
It was Serenity's turn to sputter, and Raye grinned as she finally got one over on her best friend. It was fun to watch the gentle, regal Moon Princess lose her temper..and could she fight with the best of them!
"You..you..how many times do I have to tell you to not read my mind, Pyro?!" Serenity growled, the calm light blue eyes turning dark, like her homeworld during a lunar eclipse.
"Ah, so you DO like him! Has your mother read the banns for the Bonding yet?" Raye teased. She laughed as Serenity shrieked the Lunarian war cry and tackled her best friend, resulting in yet another water fight, this one involving Martian fireballs and Lunarian light blasts sizzling and bouncing off the water.
Amy, Mina and Lita shook their head and waded out to the tussling pair, pulling back Raye, who had a firm grip on one long blonde streamer, its flower clasp long gone, and Serenity, who had managed to have a sizeable hank of long black hair and the hem of a long red gown in her grip. Grumbling, the trio separated the two until the fireballs and light blasts fizzled away.
"Ladies--and I use the term loosely--what are you fighting about THIS time?" Lita sighed, glancing at her friends, restrained now to a tongue duel. "I heard mention of Sir Wufei and Sir Heero--please do not tell me this is a war over them!"
Serenity and Raye had the courtesy to blush, as what the Jupitarian princess mentioned was half-right. They glanced at each other, then Serenity murmured, "Not OVER them, ABOUT them. Raye is smitten with Sir Wufei--"
"And Serenity is entranced with Sir Heero." Raye finished, giggling as Serenity shot her a dirty look.
"But..how can that be? We have only just met them a few hours ago!" Amy replied sensibly, but found herself blushing at the thought of Sir Quatre, and heard Lita and Mina sigh beside her. A glance at them insured her they were staring off happily into space, both blushing, probably at the thought of Sir Trowa and Sir Duo.
"The heart loves at its will, not when the soul around the heart ordains it." Mina smiled. "I should know, my homeworld is of the Love variety! If Aphrodite wills it, so it shall be."
"But..we do not even know them..!" Amy sputtered, losing the battle as she thought of the gentle blond-haired Earth warrior.
As if in agreement with Mina's words, five lights the color of their respective powers abruptly shot down, revealing and highlighting the five Terran warriors hidden a few feet away from the water's edge in the foliage surrounding them.
"Well," Lita grinned as the girls gasped and the young men started in surprise at being revealed in their hiding place. "Looks like we have company."
The five Terran warriors had nothing to say, not even Duo. Speechless, they stood and stared at the five maidens in the water, each looking like an ethereal water sprite as the evening mist rolled in.
Trowa had to sit down at the sight of Lita, her chestnut curls blowing in the soft breeze and green eyes smiling at him. Her dark green gown floated gracefully in the waist-high water, and her skin glowed a strange jade- white in the evening light. He felt as if he should either be on his knees before her or she should have a pair of faery wings, she was so beautiful..
Quatre felt as if he was seeing a real-life mermaid as he glanced at Amy. She was so natural in the water, not a stumble or mis-step, even in the long gown that blended with the water. Her short blue hair curled with the moisture in the air and all around her, her blue eyes wide, emphasizing the blush darkening her cheeks. The evening light gave her an almost- transparent quality, different shades of blue reflecting and outlining her pale skin. Almost like a ghost, he realized. One he wished would haunt him until the end of his days..how could such a girl, practically a stranger, affect him so suddenly? He didn't know the answer, didn't really care, only wished to know the Mercurian princess better, training or not. He smiled shyly at the maiden, delighted when she smiled back.
Wufei was still rather flushed at the conversation he had heard. The Martian princess liked him, and he didn't quite know how to react to that. She was an interesting maiden, not at all like the Earth princesses he found so annoying and tedious as they fluttered and cooed and simpered over Prince Endymion or even themselves. He had been on the verge of strangling several the last couple of times before the lunar trip, they were about to drive him mad! But these women--Raye in particular--were different. No false ways, no weakness, not a thing he normally associated with high-nosed royalty. They were strong, smart, independent, warriors..and beautiful.
He met Raye's violet eyes and flushed again when she winked at him. The breeze blew her long dark hair around her face and shoulders, and the evening light brought about a strange unearthly red sheen to her skin that wasn't reflecting off of the red gown..the fires of Mars ran through her blood, and he almost fell to his knees to pay homage to the beautiful fire goddess standing before him like a triumphant warrior celebrating victory in the water..but he didn't. Instead, he smiled genuinely at the maiden(which made HER blush!)and dipped his head in great respect, going to one knee beside the seated Trowa and just admiring the view of the goddesses before him.
Duo, for once in his young life, had nothing to say. He was in complete aw of the beauty before him. He knew they were princesses, maidens of their respective planets, but he felt sure he was face-to-face with angels, they were so..magical in the evening light. Mina..she *had* to be a true goddess, the way her hair and skin gleamed with that faint orange light in the darkness. Even the gown she wore shimmered, her face, her eyes..gods, he felt he should turn away, a warrior such as he should not be fortunate enough to gaze upon such a divine entity, but he couldn't look away, she was simply too beautiful.
She may have spoke truth, the heart chooses how and when and who to love, but how could it be the attraction was so intense so suddenly? How could he feel as if he'd known her forever, would know her, perhaps love her, until the end of time? It wasn't possible to feel so much so soon..was it? He met Mina's eyes and all questions faded into the background, unimportant, as she smiled at him. That orange glow shone on him like the rays of the sun, and he felt warm and happy and content and..*whole* in her gaze, as if he was only half-living until now, until he met her, knew her.
He smiled back at the Venusian princess, watching the long blonde hair wave in the breeze, her face redden with a becoming blush and knew with certainty that this trip, this encounter was destined, that he was fated to find a brand-new love on this mission. The King may have sent them and Queen Serenity may have requested their presence, but he was more than happy to get to know Mina better..he grinned widely like a lovestruck idiot and looked forward to this "mission"..
Heero had no idea what to do with himself. Not after hearing the conversation between the court..Serenity liked him! He knew, faintly, that that was wrong, he was here to be a trainer to Serenity and observe her for the potential match of her and Prince Endymion, but for some reason, he couldn't get his mind wrapped around that mission, it just hovered around the fact that Serenity liked him. Him, a lowly Earth Royal Guard warrior who happened to have been rather stuck on her since she fell into his arms with his arrival on the Moon.
Why would she be.."entranced"..with him? He was nothing, a soldier with blood on his hands, she was a princess. More, she was the Princess of the Moon Kingdom, the daughter and heir of Queen Serenity, the future ruler to the Silver Millenium. What could she possibly like about him? He had been told he was handsome, enigmatic, a good man, if a bit too.."soldierly" and didn't know how to express emotion. He used to not care about his good or bad qualities, he was a warrior for the Earth Royal Guard, proud to serve for the Earth King and Endymion. He had that and his friends, that was enough, he didn't need love or a good woman or even emotion, he was a warrior.
But now...Serenity, Princess of the Moon Kingdom, beautiful, gentle, kind, stubborn, had seen something in him and liked it. What could she possibly see, and why was he eager to please her? He shook his head. This was all wrong..he glanced up into Serenity's luminescent blue eyes, trailed his gaze along the long golden hair, the silver touch to her pale smooth skin, her innocent, ethereal features, even(with a quick, embarrassed glance)her body, which was nearly all revealed in the wet white gown that trailed along like mist behind her in the water, along with the golden streamers of hair that didn't cling to her face and arms. She looked like a siren from the old tales told, a beautiful creature that lured men to their doom with their beauty and song.
And he was willing..but wouldn't it be treason to fall for a potential bride to his prince? She was too good for him anyways..he just wouldn't develop any feelings for this lunar maiden, simple as that..that notion flew out the proverbial window as soon as Serenity smiled warmly at him, he knew the battle was lost before it was even begun.
She made him *feel*, for a change, and he knew it wouldn't be hard to fall for Serenity. She had a beautiful soul to go along with the beautiful form, and he would be hard-pressed to stick with the mission, but he HAD to. She was just a princess--a beautiful, compassionate, gentle princess--nothing special, he had seen and known them before, why should this one be any different?
This was going to be a LONG mission, he realized as she and her court stepped slowly out of the water like goddesses appearing before mortals as they came to them. Gods, how was he going to resist falling for the Moon Princess, it would be so natural..but he had to be strong. He had to harden his heart against her innocent charms, or he would be lost..
Modestly wringing out the hem of her gown, Serenity dipped her head in greeting, smiling shyly. "As Princess Lita observed, so we have company. We shall have to be more careful, as we have five new pairs of eyes to operate under. I thought lessons did not start until tomorrow..?"
"They do, m'lady, it's just..uh.." Duo grinned weakly as he fished for an excuse. "We saw you leave, and thought to make sure you were safe."
Serenity laughed. "Why would we not be safe in our own home? My court has been here often enough to know the Moon Kingdom as well as any Lunarian. You want to try another reason, Sir Duo?"
"Oops.." Duo muttered, seeing that excuse fall through. But Serenity decided to be kind to the obviously-curious group and grinned mischieviously.
"Thought to catch the maidens unawares, eh? And I thought you were gentlemen.." She and the court giggled in delight as each warrior flushed at her words, for her words were halfway true..but she let it pass. "It is getting late. If you wish us to be prepared for your lessons, we best all get back to the palace and retire for the night. Here.."
She and the othrs gathered in a quick circle around the young men, joining hands and calling upon their abilities to execute a quick teleportation back into the halls of the palace. Serenity smiled as the warriors wobbled on their feet as the court broke the circle.
"The power is a bit much when first experiencing it. It will take some getting used to if you use the Senshi Teleport often. Well..good night, and have pleasant dreams."
The court murmured their goodnights and left the five alone, who were all in various stages of shock before they managed to wander off to bed. There was infinitely more to the five members of the royal court than just beauty or their abilities..they just may have their work cut out for them..
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The morning sun shone upon Serenity's slumbering face. She groaned and sleepily buried her head under her pillow, hiding from the bright rays and disturbing her Guardian's place alongside her pillow.
Luna gave an indignant meow, amber eyes glaring groggily at her charge and mistress for wrecking her niche she'd made in the blankets alongside Serenity's head, then sat up and stretched out her slim, lithe black feline form and padded over to the pillow.
"Wake up, Serenity, it's time to start the day."
The pillow raised an inch, allowing one barely-open light blue eye to peer out at the lunar cat. "Too early, Luna. Can you not just allow me to sleep just a few more minutes..?" The pillow lowered back down, and Luna sighed.
"And let you embarrass your mother on your first day of lessons? I think not!" With that hissed reply, Luna curled into a ball, her black form stretching and lengthening until a beautiful young woman a bit older than Serenity, with long black curly hair done up in a similar bunned hairstyle as her princess' sat on the side of the bed.
Reaching out pale arms, she grabbed the pillow from Serenity and none too gently thwacked her with it.
"Wake up, lazybones! Or do you want Sir Heero to think you nothing but a weak-willed little girl?"
"Luna!!" Serenity wailed, fully awake and glaring into the now-blue eyes of her Guardian. "All right, I am awake and you have made your point, nosy! Satisfied?"
Luna grinned as her mistress rose, shifting back to her feline form. "Completely. This Sir Heero must be quite a man to make you move so fast! I simply must meet him, see if he would be a good paramour for you."
"Luuuunnnaaaa!" Serenity squealed, mortified as she blushed furiously. "He is to be my mentor, he cannot be my paramour!"
"But you would like him to be a suitor, wouldn't you?" Luna winked, taking in the becoming blush blossoming over her features at the mere mention of his name.
"It does not matter what I would like him to be, he simply is Sir Heero, an Earth warrior sent to train me."
"Mmm-hmm. You can't fool your Guardian, Princess." She got to her feet and raced out of the room, Serenity, now fully dressed, right behind her.
"Luna! What are you up toooo-oomph!"
She had been so busy chasing after Luna, she hadn't been paying attention where she was going and had crashed into a warm, hard brick wall. She squeaked as she bounced off, falling backwards and landing in a flurry of silken white and gold on her rump on the floor. She winced and grumbled, "You will pay for that, cat."
"Why would a cat be the cause for one's clumsiness?"
Serenity gasped at the low male voice that made shivers go up her back. No..it can't be him. She can't have been that unfortunate to..she glanced up and cursed Selene for her misfortune.
Heero stood before her, even more handsome in the sunlight, his Prussian blue gaze glancing at her curiously, Luna purring in his arms. Of all the people to run into, the one who filled her thoughts constantly..how was it possible for such a man to capture her attention so utterly? She knew the others were the same with Heero's friends..perhaps she should ask her mother about it..or her father..it was so strange. But in the meantime, how to deal with this encounter..
She smiled in thanks as Heero reached out a hand to help her to her feet, then brushed off her gown. "I am sorry for running into you, Sir Heero. Luna had all of my attention and I was not paying attention to things around me."
Heero shrugged as Serenity gently took Luna from him. "It's all right, Princess. What an unusual cat, to have a crescent moon mark like the Lunarian royalty.."
Luna chuckled, her tail switching in satisfaction. "It's the mark to signify my loyalty. I AM Serenity's Guardian and her mother's advisor, after all."
Heero jumped, startled at the feminine voice coming from the cat in Serenity's arms. "Did she..? Are you..? That's impossible..!!"
Serenity smiled. "Luna's a very special cat. Terran felines do not speak?"
He shook his head, eyes wide as he stared at the smiling feline.
"Well, then, you learn something new every day. Lady Mina's Guardian, Artemis, is the same as Luna, only male and white. They do an excellent job of keeping us out of trouble, and they can turn human if the matter requires it. The denizens of the planet Mau are very special, indeed. Well..shall we get on to business, Sir Heero? There are lessons to be taught."
Heero nodded and followed Serenity, but he wondered--who was teacher and who was student, indeed?
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~End Chapter 10~
Chapter 10
Rating: PG-ish
Timeline: After "Stars" and "Endless Waltz"
Author: Moonchild DJ
E-Mail: moonchilddj@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: Sailor Moon and Gundam Wing do not belong to me, never will. :p But a girl can dream, ne? Then I could make my fic a reality, that would be cool! ^_~ But while I'm dreaming, this fic and its plot do belong to me, so please don't take? Ish my baby, and my longest fic. 10 chapters...and no end in sight, yet..@_@
Author's Notes: Kon'wa! Moonchild DJ here, and actually alive! Kami, it's been a while since I updated! *bashes herself* But I've been so busy, not much of anything has gotten updated, til recently. I'm doing a drastic overhaul! :p I'm very sorry for the wait, I didn't mean to abandon this fic..I hope to pick things back up to speed, here, starting with this chapter, which is extra long in honor of being the 10th chapter and a special treat for you all. I hope you like it, and let me know what you think, ne? Reviews are so loverly to a frazzled, over-ficced authoress..^^;;
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Previously: Well, we're still in the flashback caused by the merge of the Inner Senshi and the Gundam Pilots and Usagi/Heero's retelling. So just account for that, it's been a while since I've written anything for this, I've kinda forgotten..^^;;;;;
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Serenity sighed as she glimpsed the lunar waterfall, clear and sparkling, lit by the blue and green Terran planet. This was their meeting place, where she and Raye, Amy, Lita and Mina could just be girls, not princesses, not warriors, just girls with their whole lives ahead of them. They trained here, as well, but this place was sacred to them, where they could dream and laugh and talk and just BE.
She smiled and stepped out of her slippers, raising the gown's hem just a bit to let her toes meet the water. Beside her, Amy did the same, and Mina contented herself by sitting by the water's edge, but Lita and Raye cannonballed into the water full-force, succeeding in splashing all three at the edge.
Indignant shrieks met their ears, and Lita and Raye grinned triumphantly, glancing over to three angry, soaking wet friends.
"Might as well join us, you're already wet--you cannot get any wetter!" Lita laughed as their princess ground her teeth.
"Serenity, you look like a soggy dumpling!" Raye giggled. "Maybe I should use my fire to keep you from wrinkling?"
"Raye, when I get my hands on you..! Moon Dust, Pyro!!" Serenity growled, stomping into the water before losing her footing and toppling sideways into the water. She came up sputtering and slapped the water with an angry hand. Raye grinned and swam over, her red gown trailing behind her, and helped her up.
"You were saying, little Princess?"
"Ooooohh..! You..you...!" A rather damp spark fizzled from her fingertips and she crossed her arms. "One of these days, Mars.."
"Sure. And the Lunarians will live on the Earth someday."
"Why you--!!"
Raye giggled, splashing her friend. They had a little water fight until she sobered. "Tell me, Sere..truthfully, what do you think of Sir Wufei?"
Her own thoughts on Heero, Serenity's eyes widened in surprise, the hugeness and clearness of them making her look like some wild fae creature of the night told in the Terran legends. "Sir Wufei? He seems like a good man, if a bit high-headed."
"You mean stubborn and egotistical and chauvanistic?"
Serenity giggled. "That, too, but your words, not mine. Except for the chauvanistic part, he reminds me quite a bit of you, Lady Mars!"
Raye sputtered, indignant violet eyes snapping. "I am nothing like him!" Her friend and princess winked.
"Mmm-hmm. You put yourself on quite a high pedestal sometimes, always professing to know best.."
"And you do not?"
"Ah, but we are not talking about me, and I am not the one setting her sights on Sir Wufei!"
"Oh, and you are not sighing over Sir Heero, then?"
It was Serenity's turn to sputter, and Raye grinned as she finally got one over on her best friend. It was fun to watch the gentle, regal Moon Princess lose her temper..and could she fight with the best of them!
"You..you..how many times do I have to tell you to not read my mind, Pyro?!" Serenity growled, the calm light blue eyes turning dark, like her homeworld during a lunar eclipse.
"Ah, so you DO like him! Has your mother read the banns for the Bonding yet?" Raye teased. She laughed as Serenity shrieked the Lunarian war cry and tackled her best friend, resulting in yet another water fight, this one involving Martian fireballs and Lunarian light blasts sizzling and bouncing off the water.
Amy, Mina and Lita shook their head and waded out to the tussling pair, pulling back Raye, who had a firm grip on one long blonde streamer, its flower clasp long gone, and Serenity, who had managed to have a sizeable hank of long black hair and the hem of a long red gown in her grip. Grumbling, the trio separated the two until the fireballs and light blasts fizzled away.
"Ladies--and I use the term loosely--what are you fighting about THIS time?" Lita sighed, glancing at her friends, restrained now to a tongue duel. "I heard mention of Sir Wufei and Sir Heero--please do not tell me this is a war over them!"
Serenity and Raye had the courtesy to blush, as what the Jupitarian princess mentioned was half-right. They glanced at each other, then Serenity murmured, "Not OVER them, ABOUT them. Raye is smitten with Sir Wufei--"
"And Serenity is entranced with Sir Heero." Raye finished, giggling as Serenity shot her a dirty look.
"But..how can that be? We have only just met them a few hours ago!" Amy replied sensibly, but found herself blushing at the thought of Sir Quatre, and heard Lita and Mina sigh beside her. A glance at them insured her they were staring off happily into space, both blushing, probably at the thought of Sir Trowa and Sir Duo.
"The heart loves at its will, not when the soul around the heart ordains it." Mina smiled. "I should know, my homeworld is of the Love variety! If Aphrodite wills it, so it shall be."
"But..we do not even know them..!" Amy sputtered, losing the battle as she thought of the gentle blond-haired Earth warrior.
As if in agreement with Mina's words, five lights the color of their respective powers abruptly shot down, revealing and highlighting the five Terran warriors hidden a few feet away from the water's edge in the foliage surrounding them.
"Well," Lita grinned as the girls gasped and the young men started in surprise at being revealed in their hiding place. "Looks like we have company."
The five Terran warriors had nothing to say, not even Duo. Speechless, they stood and stared at the five maidens in the water, each looking like an ethereal water sprite as the evening mist rolled in.
Trowa had to sit down at the sight of Lita, her chestnut curls blowing in the soft breeze and green eyes smiling at him. Her dark green gown floated gracefully in the waist-high water, and her skin glowed a strange jade- white in the evening light. He felt as if he should either be on his knees before her or she should have a pair of faery wings, she was so beautiful..
Quatre felt as if he was seeing a real-life mermaid as he glanced at Amy. She was so natural in the water, not a stumble or mis-step, even in the long gown that blended with the water. Her short blue hair curled with the moisture in the air and all around her, her blue eyes wide, emphasizing the blush darkening her cheeks. The evening light gave her an almost- transparent quality, different shades of blue reflecting and outlining her pale skin. Almost like a ghost, he realized. One he wished would haunt him until the end of his days..how could such a girl, practically a stranger, affect him so suddenly? He didn't know the answer, didn't really care, only wished to know the Mercurian princess better, training or not. He smiled shyly at the maiden, delighted when she smiled back.
Wufei was still rather flushed at the conversation he had heard. The Martian princess liked him, and he didn't quite know how to react to that. She was an interesting maiden, not at all like the Earth princesses he found so annoying and tedious as they fluttered and cooed and simpered over Prince Endymion or even themselves. He had been on the verge of strangling several the last couple of times before the lunar trip, they were about to drive him mad! But these women--Raye in particular--were different. No false ways, no weakness, not a thing he normally associated with high-nosed royalty. They were strong, smart, independent, warriors..and beautiful.
He met Raye's violet eyes and flushed again when she winked at him. The breeze blew her long dark hair around her face and shoulders, and the evening light brought about a strange unearthly red sheen to her skin that wasn't reflecting off of the red gown..the fires of Mars ran through her blood, and he almost fell to his knees to pay homage to the beautiful fire goddess standing before him like a triumphant warrior celebrating victory in the water..but he didn't. Instead, he smiled genuinely at the maiden(which made HER blush!)and dipped his head in great respect, going to one knee beside the seated Trowa and just admiring the view of the goddesses before him.
Duo, for once in his young life, had nothing to say. He was in complete aw of the beauty before him. He knew they were princesses, maidens of their respective planets, but he felt sure he was face-to-face with angels, they were so..magical in the evening light. Mina..she *had* to be a true goddess, the way her hair and skin gleamed with that faint orange light in the darkness. Even the gown she wore shimmered, her face, her eyes..gods, he felt he should turn away, a warrior such as he should not be fortunate enough to gaze upon such a divine entity, but he couldn't look away, she was simply too beautiful.
She may have spoke truth, the heart chooses how and when and who to love, but how could it be the attraction was so intense so suddenly? How could he feel as if he'd known her forever, would know her, perhaps love her, until the end of time? It wasn't possible to feel so much so soon..was it? He met Mina's eyes and all questions faded into the background, unimportant, as she smiled at him. That orange glow shone on him like the rays of the sun, and he felt warm and happy and content and..*whole* in her gaze, as if he was only half-living until now, until he met her, knew her.
He smiled back at the Venusian princess, watching the long blonde hair wave in the breeze, her face redden with a becoming blush and knew with certainty that this trip, this encounter was destined, that he was fated to find a brand-new love on this mission. The King may have sent them and Queen Serenity may have requested their presence, but he was more than happy to get to know Mina better..he grinned widely like a lovestruck idiot and looked forward to this "mission"..
Heero had no idea what to do with himself. Not after hearing the conversation between the court..Serenity liked him! He knew, faintly, that that was wrong, he was here to be a trainer to Serenity and observe her for the potential match of her and Prince Endymion, but for some reason, he couldn't get his mind wrapped around that mission, it just hovered around the fact that Serenity liked him. Him, a lowly Earth Royal Guard warrior who happened to have been rather stuck on her since she fell into his arms with his arrival on the Moon.
Why would she be.."entranced"..with him? He was nothing, a soldier with blood on his hands, she was a princess. More, she was the Princess of the Moon Kingdom, the daughter and heir of Queen Serenity, the future ruler to the Silver Millenium. What could she possibly like about him? He had been told he was handsome, enigmatic, a good man, if a bit too.."soldierly" and didn't know how to express emotion. He used to not care about his good or bad qualities, he was a warrior for the Earth Royal Guard, proud to serve for the Earth King and Endymion. He had that and his friends, that was enough, he didn't need love or a good woman or even emotion, he was a warrior.
But now...Serenity, Princess of the Moon Kingdom, beautiful, gentle, kind, stubborn, had seen something in him and liked it. What could she possibly see, and why was he eager to please her? He shook his head. This was all wrong..he glanced up into Serenity's luminescent blue eyes, trailed his gaze along the long golden hair, the silver touch to her pale smooth skin, her innocent, ethereal features, even(with a quick, embarrassed glance)her body, which was nearly all revealed in the wet white gown that trailed along like mist behind her in the water, along with the golden streamers of hair that didn't cling to her face and arms. She looked like a siren from the old tales told, a beautiful creature that lured men to their doom with their beauty and song.
And he was willing..but wouldn't it be treason to fall for a potential bride to his prince? She was too good for him anyways..he just wouldn't develop any feelings for this lunar maiden, simple as that..that notion flew out the proverbial window as soon as Serenity smiled warmly at him, he knew the battle was lost before it was even begun.
She made him *feel*, for a change, and he knew it wouldn't be hard to fall for Serenity. She had a beautiful soul to go along with the beautiful form, and he would be hard-pressed to stick with the mission, but he HAD to. She was just a princess--a beautiful, compassionate, gentle princess--nothing special, he had seen and known them before, why should this one be any different?
This was going to be a LONG mission, he realized as she and her court stepped slowly out of the water like goddesses appearing before mortals as they came to them. Gods, how was he going to resist falling for the Moon Princess, it would be so natural..but he had to be strong. He had to harden his heart against her innocent charms, or he would be lost..
Modestly wringing out the hem of her gown, Serenity dipped her head in greeting, smiling shyly. "As Princess Lita observed, so we have company. We shall have to be more careful, as we have five new pairs of eyes to operate under. I thought lessons did not start until tomorrow..?"
"They do, m'lady, it's just..uh.." Duo grinned weakly as he fished for an excuse. "We saw you leave, and thought to make sure you were safe."
Serenity laughed. "Why would we not be safe in our own home? My court has been here often enough to know the Moon Kingdom as well as any Lunarian. You want to try another reason, Sir Duo?"
"Oops.." Duo muttered, seeing that excuse fall through. But Serenity decided to be kind to the obviously-curious group and grinned mischieviously.
"Thought to catch the maidens unawares, eh? And I thought you were gentlemen.." She and the court giggled in delight as each warrior flushed at her words, for her words were halfway true..but she let it pass. "It is getting late. If you wish us to be prepared for your lessons, we best all get back to the palace and retire for the night. Here.."
She and the othrs gathered in a quick circle around the young men, joining hands and calling upon their abilities to execute a quick teleportation back into the halls of the palace. Serenity smiled as the warriors wobbled on their feet as the court broke the circle.
"The power is a bit much when first experiencing it. It will take some getting used to if you use the Senshi Teleport often. Well..good night, and have pleasant dreams."
The court murmured their goodnights and left the five alone, who were all in various stages of shock before they managed to wander off to bed. There was infinitely more to the five members of the royal court than just beauty or their abilities..they just may have their work cut out for them..
******
The morning sun shone upon Serenity's slumbering face. She groaned and sleepily buried her head under her pillow, hiding from the bright rays and disturbing her Guardian's place alongside her pillow.
Luna gave an indignant meow, amber eyes glaring groggily at her charge and mistress for wrecking her niche she'd made in the blankets alongside Serenity's head, then sat up and stretched out her slim, lithe black feline form and padded over to the pillow.
"Wake up, Serenity, it's time to start the day."
The pillow raised an inch, allowing one barely-open light blue eye to peer out at the lunar cat. "Too early, Luna. Can you not just allow me to sleep just a few more minutes..?" The pillow lowered back down, and Luna sighed.
"And let you embarrass your mother on your first day of lessons? I think not!" With that hissed reply, Luna curled into a ball, her black form stretching and lengthening until a beautiful young woman a bit older than Serenity, with long black curly hair done up in a similar bunned hairstyle as her princess' sat on the side of the bed.
Reaching out pale arms, she grabbed the pillow from Serenity and none too gently thwacked her with it.
"Wake up, lazybones! Or do you want Sir Heero to think you nothing but a weak-willed little girl?"
"Luna!!" Serenity wailed, fully awake and glaring into the now-blue eyes of her Guardian. "All right, I am awake and you have made your point, nosy! Satisfied?"
Luna grinned as her mistress rose, shifting back to her feline form. "Completely. This Sir Heero must be quite a man to make you move so fast! I simply must meet him, see if he would be a good paramour for you."
"Luuuunnnaaaa!" Serenity squealed, mortified as she blushed furiously. "He is to be my mentor, he cannot be my paramour!"
"But you would like him to be a suitor, wouldn't you?" Luna winked, taking in the becoming blush blossoming over her features at the mere mention of his name.
"It does not matter what I would like him to be, he simply is Sir Heero, an Earth warrior sent to train me."
"Mmm-hmm. You can't fool your Guardian, Princess." She got to her feet and raced out of the room, Serenity, now fully dressed, right behind her.
"Luna! What are you up toooo-oomph!"
She had been so busy chasing after Luna, she hadn't been paying attention where she was going and had crashed into a warm, hard brick wall. She squeaked as she bounced off, falling backwards and landing in a flurry of silken white and gold on her rump on the floor. She winced and grumbled, "You will pay for that, cat."
"Why would a cat be the cause for one's clumsiness?"
Serenity gasped at the low male voice that made shivers go up her back. No..it can't be him. She can't have been that unfortunate to..she glanced up and cursed Selene for her misfortune.
Heero stood before her, even more handsome in the sunlight, his Prussian blue gaze glancing at her curiously, Luna purring in his arms. Of all the people to run into, the one who filled her thoughts constantly..how was it possible for such a man to capture her attention so utterly? She knew the others were the same with Heero's friends..perhaps she should ask her mother about it..or her father..it was so strange. But in the meantime, how to deal with this encounter..
She smiled in thanks as Heero reached out a hand to help her to her feet, then brushed off her gown. "I am sorry for running into you, Sir Heero. Luna had all of my attention and I was not paying attention to things around me."
Heero shrugged as Serenity gently took Luna from him. "It's all right, Princess. What an unusual cat, to have a crescent moon mark like the Lunarian royalty.."
Luna chuckled, her tail switching in satisfaction. "It's the mark to signify my loyalty. I AM Serenity's Guardian and her mother's advisor, after all."
Heero jumped, startled at the feminine voice coming from the cat in Serenity's arms. "Did she..? Are you..? That's impossible..!!"
Serenity smiled. "Luna's a very special cat. Terran felines do not speak?"
He shook his head, eyes wide as he stared at the smiling feline.
"Well, then, you learn something new every day. Lady Mina's Guardian, Artemis, is the same as Luna, only male and white. They do an excellent job of keeping us out of trouble, and they can turn human if the matter requires it. The denizens of the planet Mau are very special, indeed. Well..shall we get on to business, Sir Heero? There are lessons to be taught."
Heero nodded and followed Serenity, but he wondered--who was teacher and who was student, indeed?
********
~End Chapter 10~