Disclaimer: I do not own anything of Sailor Moon. Yes, this chapter took me many, many months to complete, but at last it is. This is the romantic and tragic chapter of the Silver Millennium. There will be some sexual connotations, lime themes, blood, and partial nudity, so everyone knows.
Chapter 22
Matter of the Souls
~ Tokyo Tower ~
"My gods, Stephen and Glamour are the Prince and princess!" Cyrus yelped before a pain took him as well, and all Mars could do was gaze at his friends. "Stephen's a prince…. one we have been searching was right under our nose…gods." Mars uttered softly.
Kitty hissed at the glowing pair, her claws flexing at her sides. The prince and princess stood perfectly still in her dark gaze, their eyes full of passive thoughtfulness. Then they looked up at the crystal and it glowed softly. It flashed subtly, and the prince and princess became a silver and golden ball of light. The Soul Crystal pulled them inside and then fell to the ground, barely moving an inch as it struck the tiles. Kitty's eyes lit up greedily and her body moved into a crouch.
"All this time….Kitty had the prince of the moon and the princess of the earth at Kitty's claws. Now Kitty will take the Soul Crystal then destroy you for what you did to Kitty!! You can't stop Kitty now!" she screeched and leapt at then, her eyes flaring with rage and hatred.
As Kitty screamed wildly suddenly, her claws shimmering with razor sharp violence to grab the crystal, only to meet with a silver beam of light. She howled as her body was destroyed by the crystal's blessed attack. When the light was gone, all that remained of Kitty were white flurries of fur rising out a window into the sky to oblivion. The crystal remained untouched, settled gently upon the ruined tiles as if innocent of the attack.
Jupiter Knight breathed out slowly, his eyes on the crystal. "He…the prince…all this time, right in front of our faces. The prince was right there….and Glamour….was the princess. Too trippy." He said quietly.
Mars nodded, his eyes also captivated by the small round crystal. It put diamonds to shame, sparkling like a star in the sky, yet as simple and tiny as an egg. Something so small was so important, and Glamour and Moon were inside, but why now? How did they thwart their own deaths? 'Just how powerful is that crystal….huh?' he thought, catching a glint of silver in the corner of his eye.
Mercury started forward. "Snowflake….we have to get him out of there. Ah!" she began, but a silver slip of light made her halt her movements. Mars looked quickly as the slip of silver light flipped and rolled back from where it came, in the hands of a man that looked like a creamy skinned cyber punk. His silvery white hair shimmered in the dull light, the purple and blue streaks like jeweled paint. There was a painted blue star over his left eye and his attire was almost like armored silk. There was a solid piece of armor upon his left shoulder with spikes jutting out, and his silvery boots were tightly kept together. He didn't look as flashy in personality as his clothes. He looked like he didn't feel anything.
"Who are you?" Mars hissed, aiming his sword at the man. The man didn't even give Mars the courtesy of an eyebrow raise, those lavender eyes shifting towards the crystal. "You won't need to remember it, you'll be dead soon." He said coldly, walking for the jewel calmly.
Mars hissed and rushed him. The silver haired man barely gave him a glance. With a flick of his wrist, a silver shard of light shot at Mars. The Knight dodged to the side. The silver shard sliced his arm deeply, warmth and redness leaking from his wound. "Ah…"he yelped, grabbing his arm.
The man kept walking as Mars growled, then Mercury attacked. "Mercury no!" he shouted, but she kept going. The man threw another silver light shard, but mercury jumped right over it. "Icicle Daggers! Freeze him dead!" she shouted, slashing her sword in mid air. The shard of cold flew at the man's back at lightening speed, but moments from impact he whirled around and a swish of silver shattered her attack. She landed in shock.
He held a long blade, a masame from what Mars knew of swords, with a bone hilt of black. "How….no one deflects our attacks!!" She yelled.
The man seemed not to care for her hysterical reply, pointing the blade at her. "Since you insist on ending you existence now, I shall oblige you, Galaxy Knights. Perhaps you would have suffered less if you had simply run away." He sniffed and held his blade high.
"I don't think so, Dark Knight!" Cyrus shouted. Mars blinks and a dark shape leapt over the man and landed neatly between the knights on all fours. It was a young man with long silken black hair. Mars blinked softly, the crystal was in the young man's mouth and he had an odd moon shaped tattoo on his forehead. He was dressed all in black medieval clothing, silver claw gauntlets on his hands.
The man snorted roughly. "Then you die too." He glowered, his sword glowing. "Time to leave. Moon Gate!" Hina's voice cried out. Mars just kept his eyes on the man as his silvery white hair began to billow and swirl, silver tendrils of flame moving about his stoic form.
Mars just watched, barely aware of the golden sparkles of light showering him or the others. The man's eyes slit sharply, his mouth opening to call up his deadly powers as he whirl, arching his sword for them. "Silver Fang Reaper!" he shouted, sharp silver lights in the shape of hellish jaws ripping towards them, shattering the floor in its charge. Mars shut his eyes tightly, explosions ringing in his ears, but without pain. 'Killed me instantly…how nice…' he thought.
WHAP!
"Ray…open your damn eyes, we're in your room!" Mercury let out. Mars yelped and glared at her, but she was right, they were alive and in his bedroom, the boy in black on the bed sitting as if he were an animal and a young woman with amber colored hair in a pale yellow sundress. She had the same gauntlets, only golden. Mars de-transformed, Mercury, Jupiter and Venus following his lead. He walked up to the pain and stared right into the young man's golden eyes. "Cyrus?" he asked. The young man blinked and nodded.
"How'd you …change?"
Cyrus looked puzzled. Ray shook his head and grabbed up one of Cyrus' gauntlet donned hands and held it in front of his face. Cyrus blinked softly, the crystal glowing inside his mouth a moment. He blinked again and then sat normally. Spitting the crystal into his hand. "I was human once….of the Neko clan, we both were….Hina and I are brother and sister." Cyrus breathed softly, his lips quivering softly as if waking from a long nightmare.
Hina nodded. "Its all coming back, the fall of the kingdom….our parents were murdered with the Moon Kingdom. We were vassals to Prince Thoth* and his father King Jericho**, and body guards."
Angela sat on the floor, Martina already in a chair. Lamont popped a stick of gum in his mouth and leaned against the wall. Ray sighed softly and sat beside Angel quietly. "Tell us everything…were we royalty too then?" Angela asked, eagerness filling her voice. 'Thinking about Stephen again….doesn't she get it he's not attracted to her….but Glamour, whoever she is.' He thought, frowning a bit.
Cyrus sat at the foot of the bed while Hina sat on Ray's pillow. They faced each other as Cyrus places the shimmering jewel upon the quilt. "You and Martina were royalty of your planets."
"We ruled planets too…?!" Ray yelped.
Cyrus nodded. "Not you Ray, though nothing remains, only dust on all of the worlds and the moon. You and Lamont were warriors who guarded a princes and princess with their lives. Though she sent Lamont to the moon to aid in keeping the power the Dark Universe sought safe….his princess perished, as did the knights and royalty of the outer planets. Knights we have not yet begun to locate. The Dark Universe sought the power of the Soul Crystal that King Jericho possessed."
Hina sighed. "Right now, the prince and princess, Thoth and Alexia, are now reliving the story that we can only tell you what we know from our point of view. It lacks a happy ending, though we do not know why Princess Alexia*** gained part of the crystal, why she died with Prince Thoth. Please…listen to our story which began during the great peace of the universe….the Silver Millennium." She said softly, the crystal shimmering softly.
Author's Note: This section needs a little explaining as it is both Cyrus and Hina telling the tale and also Gaia and Stephen reliving their memories.
These will surround Cyrus and Hina's Point Of View *………*
Stephen and Gaia's POV will be written like I normally write.
I hope this doesn't confuse anyone and that this helps give a better understanding of my remake of the Silver Millennium and the tragic love of the Prince and Princess. Also, there will be lime themes towards the end of the story of the past. Thank you.
~ The Silver Millennium ~
- The Moon Kingdom -
*"The Silver Millennium was a time of great peace and prosperity….all the planets in the universe were in celebration through the treaties drawn up for such. Thanks to the bravery of the Queen of Earth, *^Adamina, and the Moon King Jericho, the Dark Universe Lord Specter was banished to the far and dark reaches of space. He had tried to steal the Queen's powers as well as Jericho's to rule all universes….but we had no idea the Dark Goddess would bring him back to undo all the good they had when they were teenagers. She had fallen from a dark portal near the sun and moved Specter to become what he is, a pure monster. She and he lusted to snuff out all goodness and take what was of this universe.*
*As he gained in strength, creating more monsters and the Dark Goddess was gaining in power as time passed, the peace was troubled. The people of Earth and the Moon grew distrustful of each other, blaming one another for Specter's existence remaining. King Jericho decided his only son had to quell the fears and anger of the people by bringing them a great happiness….wedding a princess. What better way to make people happy, it was a joyous day for us to hear in planning, but the Prince….was reluctant.*
"WHAT IN THE NAME OF THE NINE HELLS DID YOU SAY!" Thoth screamed, his eyes wide with anger and betrayal. The king looked upon his son from his throne, the Soul Crystal round his neck. His long white hair hung over the arms of the chair, a face of true beauty and kindness, living for the people always. He wore all white, like a medieval knight, the chest armor glistening pearly white, the golden moon symbol on the chest as well as his forehead.
"I said I am betrothing you to the Princess of Mercury, Yuki….you are old enough to be wed and it would ease the people's fears if they saw such a joyous occasion, my son." His light and soft voice uttered.
Sir Cyrus looked displeased with the prince's discourteous remarks, as did Lady Hina, but they held their tongues. They never questioned their lords, no matter what was said. Prince Thoth hissed out a breath. "How can you do this, marry me off to…to that braggart!?? She's nothing more than a boisterous warrior who likes to fight. That's not love, that's a bandage!! And a poor one at that! Don't I get a choice? You just up and promise me to whoever you please….behind my back, Father?! I will not stand for such an atrocity! I do not want to marry her!" He shouted, his white and silver clothes shifting. The golden moon symbol on his forehead glowed brightly, but no attacks came.
"The party welcoming the delegates of the Universal Council, and your bride to be is tonight. I suggest you improve your manners. I have a lot to deal with….Please Thoth….for my sake….and the sake of the people….don't misbehave." Jericho let out softly.
Thoth hissed out a breath and turns sharply on his boots, growling. "Always for you and the people, when can I choose my life!? When?!!" he shouted and stormed away. Cyrus sighed, sweating a little. "That went….well…." he said quietly.
Jericho stood up, rubbing the crystal. "I wish he could understand. I want him to marry for love, but….the people press us so. Life as a prince is hard…I know. I was one before he….and I grew to love the woman I wed….even though….with the gift of my son, I lost her. In time, he will love her," Jericho uttered gently, looking to the ceiling a moment," But I must keep him distracted from the coming threat of Specter. My son must not be forced into battle, he's too young…"
"Yes, my king." Cyrus nodded.
"Yes your highness" Hina answered.
Jericho gave a melancholy smile and walked away. "I will be in my quarters talking to Queen Alexia, see to it that we are not disturbed until the engagement party, yes Cyrus?"
Cyrus nodded, standing stuff and tall. "Yes sire. It will be done."
"And Hina….keep an eye on Thoth. I don't want him running off to Earth again. Alexia's people might see him there and think him a spy again."
She nodded. "Yes…Cyrus and I did not enjoy fighting off civilians and guards alike because he had to see the red roses again."
The king chuckled softly and nodded. "All right, may the Soul Crystal light shine on the universe this night. We sincerely need it."
~
*Hina and I followed our orders, as we always did, ever faithful. The Prince simply was too angry with us all to do much of anything but sit on his balcony and stare at the Earth. He sincerely loved running off to it, exploring. Ever since he was a child, he would go thee and see all the colors there. His favorite was red, the roses that were near the Queen's palace. They literally surrounded the palace with passionate red and lush green. He would never pick them, only touch and smell, admiring their beauty.*
*He never ventured farther, but the guards and people soon took offence to it when rumors of Specter's rise in activity surfaced. They thought he was a spy, as the Moon People always remained on their world, content with it. Thoth was bored with the Moon, and desired the colors of Earth, the smells, and tastes. If ever our backs were turned, he would go there. He was so impulsive and romanticizing over it.*
*When the engagement part began, all was wonderful. The food was the finest any of us had ever seen, brought from all the inner planets. The Knight of Jupiter was called Nariko$ and was, as always, sneaking bites and trying to remain stoic. His princess remained behind instead of him, why, we never found out. The Knight of Mars Pirro% was telling of how his soldiers would send the darkness back to the blazes it came from. The Venus Princess Freya$% was steadily turning every head with her lovely face and heart. The Princess of Mercury, Yuki#$, was fashionably late. A warrior princess, she was, and very proud, even so proud as to boast against Mars' abilities to battle evil. *
*Our prince did not mind nearly as much as our king did. He sipped wine most of the night, from the same glass poured from the beginning. He looked terribly bored, then another guest arrived, the Princess of Earth, Alexia.*
Thoth looked up softly as the trumpets sounded by the doors of the ballroom. He sorely wanted to leave out the doors nearby that led to the garden. White roses, always white and colorless, that is what the gardens of the palace contained. It was just endless white roses, as endless as the stars, but without their brilliance or life. Only the red roses of Earth were the most perfect roses. Sadly, his father and the Earth folk would not permit them n the moon. So he, as endless as the white roses, endlessly ran to the Earth to admire them.
His heart sunk as the boisterous Princess Yuki of Mercury entered, wearing a flowing lavender blue gown. She was beautiful, that was true, but she was a brute and braggart. He knew all the stories about her, the warrior princess who was admired highly by all for her strength and beauty, for her planet's tolerance of the others, and for her open mind.
He felt thoroughly sick, his heart shrinking like a raisin, as he felt no love for her. She moved to greet his father, moving away from the door. He was about to look away when a new figure stepped in. His heart skipped a beat as the dark sparkling figure of a beautiful woman stepped in. Her hair was long, lustrous and black, eyes so blue and cherished as the sky, and the figure of an angel in a lovely sparkling, black sleeveless dress.
Thoth's grip on his goblet tightened a moment as she strode in elegantly, a choker about her pale, smooth neck. It was clasped together by a carved and colored opal, almost like Earth itself. Her eyes were scanning the room as he was watching her, then their eyes met suddenly. He froze, unable to look away, his lips parted softly. Her eyes shimmered a moment, and shut, then opened slowly, a small smile upon her ruby lips. "Alexia…come on, let us both greet his majesty Jericho. Its rude to dawdle like you are." Yuki said proudly, tutting the woman called Alexia.
Alexia blinks softly and looked to Yuki, then moved to her, red rose held neatly between her fingers. He flushed softly, his eyes ever present on her. She was right near Princess Yuki, so his father and those bothersome vassals would think he was looking at her, not Alexia. Something in her eyes screamed to his heart.
Yuki looked up as his father was pointing him out, and he never saw the hungry grin, or even her approach. He felt her cold scent wash over him, the roses in his eyes wilting. He blinked, looking startled and annoyed, then the frost queen grinned. "So you're going to marry me, hmm? I like what I see." She purred, rubbing his chin with her fingers. He gasped a bit and tugged his chin to the side.
It didn't even daunt her. Her arms slowly wrapped about his neck, tightly. "Mmmmm, like a unique snowflake. You are most beautiful…and I hear you're quite fancy with a blade. We will have to duel a lot….aggressiveness keeps the crystals of love shimmering, my Snowflake…." She uttered evenly, knowing what she wanted. Her entire presence spoke a woman used to earning things through hard work and battle. No one was he equal unless they could defeat her, and she had none.
Thoth opened his mouth to dismiss her, but his father gave him a quick glare, and the prince sighed. "Yes….I….will be marrying you, Princess Yuki." He said as softly as possible, his eyes darting from side to side, looking for Alexia. He could not find her anywhere, his heart falling deathly fast. 'Perhaps later…we can talk….it would be nice to know this princess of earth as she comes from a planet nearly as beautiful as she.' He thought softly, holding back a gag as Yuki snuggled his neck.
Yuki never released his right arm the entire time, holding it tightly, announcing to everyone she would be his wife and he her husband. She emphasized the word my loudly when saying," MY husband," and "MY prince" and "MY Snowflake" so much felt like she was staking a claim on valuable property. He tried numerous times to disentangle his clenched arm from her, never succeeding as she'd snuggle more and talk about battle. He could have cared less to battle others. All he truly wanted was to be happy, to have those roses in his eyes always#, but all he had now was a barnacle in a party dress bragging and dragging him about.
A miracle came when she had to excuse herself to the powder room, asking him to wait. He nodded, and ran off the moment she was gone, ran for the gardens of white roses to hide from this nightmare that was fate. 'I will not marry that…I refuse to. She's so boorish, and rude, and possessive. I could never love such a person, there's no love in fighting for the sake of fighting. That's….barbarism. There's no beauty in a fight….no love in her except for battle. Father…why….why her?' he thought sadly, running faster through the gardens.
His feet hurt after a while, carrying him through the white and slate gray sparkle of the garden. He couldn't hear the party anymore and it made him somewhat happy. Thoth stopped running as he reached the gazebo of pearl. It had been built for his mother, a woman without a face for him. She left when he was born, not by choice, but all he knew of her was an unfinished portrait, where there was no face. Father would touch that painting at times, a longing in his eyes he showed no one else. He would say how beautiful the blonde maiden was. His mother was noblewoman from Mercury as well. It was tradition, Thoth supposed. In his anger, he looked through the family tree to see how many arranged marriages there were.
His heart had shattered when he found out that every royal family of the Moon Kingdom had wed a Mercurian Royal and always with different families, though the moon family was always the same. Mercury was a world of regal soldiers, so they all had the blood and status to be worthy of a royal wedding. It disgusted him, even though father and mother had grown to love each other. His father's pining of the painting proved as much. The man was always sad if Thoth was behaving, and had barely offered a smile when Thoth became an adolescent.
From the tales he was told as a child of her kindness and beauty by Cyrus and Hina during his lessons, he didn't doubt she was special to father, but Yuki was a pain. Tradition or no, he wouldn't accept it. He would not give her children, he would make them regret it. But still, he would be trapped in a sham, an utter lie to benefit the people. Why did royalty have to always make them happy, couldn't they make happiness in their hearts on their own. Did they need a beacon of hope always guiding them like lost children? It wasn't right, that he had to give up his free will, because they had none?
He sighed heavily and took a step when he heard a soft rustling in the bushes. He quickly took out his blade in defense. Fighting to protect yourself was better than for the hell of it. "Who goes there?" he called.
The person stepped out, his breath almost suffocating his mind. It was Princess Alexia, her sparkling night sky dress pouring out from behind the white roses. She looked apologetic, bowing her head softly. "I apologize, Prince Thoth, I did not mean to be rude, but I rather grow tired of parties where I cannot dance with anyone. The air seems too thick and dead….personally, when you don't quite know what to do at a gathering. I did not mean to insult your generous gathering." She said softly, her voice silvery sweet. His mouth grew dry, the life leaving him to be closer to her.
"Prince Thoth?" her voice chimed softly. He shook his head, his voice regaining itself. "Oh…I do not mind you exploring the gardens. Actually, I was rather bored myself….I'm not much for parties really. I can….barely keep up with the gossip that flows so easily there. I would much rather….admire the roses….of your Earth, Princess." He said gently.
"My Mother's Earth, I am but her daughter until she passes on to be with my Father," she said softly, looking to the roses smooth and swift," They sparkle with so much purity, your roses. I have never seen a white rose till I came here. I have seen the frozen crystal gardens of mercury, and the storm blossoms that crackle and shine for the people of Jupiter and its moons, even the delicate golden flowers of Venus, but never something that shines so bright as the Moon Roses."
He smiled a bit, walking up beside her. "Thank you…I don't look much at them anymore. I grew up running through here as a lad. The roses about your palace hold far greater interest to me. Such colors I never saw till I ventured to Earth, so curious about the colorful world you reside on. I envy it for being such a beautiful jewel….so still and tranquil. It is comforting to gaze upon from my balcony."
She smiled at him, the lips of red spreading like a warm streak of blood. He smiled back, his pale lips warming. "You speak so poetically about such a plain planet. But, still, I have lived upon it since birth. As plain as your flowers seem to you, my world is an everyday thing as well. I look up each night to the moon, we all do. It shines from your white flowers like a silver pearl. I suppose our worlds give one another comfort. The moon keeps the Earth in its protective light, and the Earth never leaves the Moon's side." She replied, walking around him towards the pearly gazebo.
He followed, quietly, watching her raven black hair sway across her back. He could smell the earthen perfume of the land and roses from her. It was like wine, but what more could he do than admire her beauty from afar, never to have and hold such perfection close to his heart. He smiled at each step her black party shoes mate, the click-clack sending tumblings of pleasant shivers through his spine. His boots followed, tapping upon the pearl steps gradually, as if to make his gazing last longer.
'She probably doesn't feel anything for me. The Earth folk always marry other Earth folk, they never marry outside their world. I am a foolish man, in love with and Earthling I just met. I feel sick with love, like I'd die without her smell and sight. I'm a hopeless dreamer….but….dreams….are beautiful when they come alive. She must truly be a dream from heaven.' He thought, following her stride too she stopped at the far end of the echoing gazebo. Her breathing was amplified in pitch, vibrating through the ceiling and down through his brain. He had to gather his sounded similar.
Thoth walked up beside her, his eyes moving sidelong to take in her features. Her perfect skin shimmered in the glow of Earth, the planet of her origins reflecting in her beautiful blue eyes. It was if she was Earth itself, the mother of all, protecting all in her pure gaze. He took a shaky breath and tipped his face upwards, gazing with her.
"It looks so tiny from here, like I could hold it in my hands. How odd to feel so superior to what would take many lifetimes to compare to…." She said suddenly.
"Princess Yuki certainly has no trouble expression her superiority. Why did you come with her?" he asked, trying to hide his annoyance of the Mercury Princess.
Alexia sighed softly. "Mother wanted me to come to the Moon Kingdom, she insisted. She's been on the Moon so very long, I was growing worried, but my bodyguard kept me in the castle."
Thoth blinked softly. "Your mother is on the Moon? I mean she has been?" he stammered. Why had father kept that from him? Was there a problem? Queen Adamina never came unless it was important, like a dispute between planets or a….war.
He looked at Alexia softly, her gaze saddened now upon her world. "Princess Alexia….what's wrong? Did I say something to offend you?"
She sighed, her eyes now downcast. "No, not you. My mother….she worries me. She has been terribly secretive as of late….usually she tells me everything going on with other worlds, even disputes over the exportations of materials. Yet….for a few months, she has not spoken much of anything to me. She tells my bodyguard to take me to places to aid her, but they're truly trivial missions, like quelling petty fights amongst merchants and farmers. She truly worries me….as if something awful is about to happen, and she hopes to shield me. And now I see it is not merely my mother alone, but your father as well. What could be wrong?"
Thoth shrugged softly. "Apparently, they don't want us involved….he's been quite distant to me. I try and come to his 'secret' meetings with Sir Cyrus and Lady Hina, but they stop taking and Hina escorts me to my room. Something is probably wrong, and they think us too young to understand. I'm nearing my 19th birthday, I'm not so young." He said crossly.
She looked up at him, and chuckled softly. He blinked. "What?"
She smiled, those ruby lips shining. "Oh….I did not know you were younger than I am by so little. I will be 20 in time. You surprise me so….Prince Thoth. I thought you were much younger."
He blushed a soft pink. "I….Father says I look young for me age. He still looked young as well. I'm….flattered you think so. You look….very beautiful…."he said softly.
Her eyes fluttered a moment, as if she was wondering if she had heard him correctly. The red rose in her fingers came up and she gave it a soft sniff. He watched her, feeling his tongue thicken at the sight of the petals grazing her lips. He let out a soft breath, a cool sensation registering upon his throat. His eyes lowered, widening a little at the rose she held to his pounding jugular.
"I can always pick another….you seem to admire them so, please. Take it." She said. He nodded slowly, reaching up for it. He couldn't breath, looking at those lovely, slim fingers grasping the thorny stem of emerald. The scent of her lips and the rose mingled sweetly, rolling a hair length on his skin a moment.
He tangled his fingers to the stem, finding her fingers greeting him. She felt warm and soft, a spark breaking between their fingertips. She looked up a bit more at him, startled by their skin touching.
"Sorry I…."she began, but his body was already moving. He leaned to her and captured her red mouth in a deep keep. A deep breath of air rushed through his nose, as he tasted her, their fingers tightening around the stem. He felt like he was jumping off a cliff into a raging surf, a burning in his mind to hold her mouth with his. He felt some pressure from her warm lips, a response. His heart hammered madly. This was worth fighting for, not the sake of a battle, for a heart, for love.
'Love….Father….Oh my god, what am I doing!' he thought and wretched back. She did so as well, at the same time.
"I can't do this." they said together, then blinked gently. "I…..," he began, his eyes full of guilt," I shouldn't have kissed you. I was wrong. I'm supposed to maintain the harmony and peace of the Universe with the betrothal…I….I can't drag you into this. I can't….hurt you because I….I….."
She shook her head. "No….we can't….no matter how much….we believe we…want to….No, how much we….really want to."
'Want to? Does she care for me? This is a cruel fate, I love this woman, yet I love her too much to drag her name through the mud as a person who 'tempted' me from my future wife….Tempt, hah….I feel so much love for her….It feels so right but…Father, argh, why!?' he thought, a warm feeling sliding down his wrist. He looked to it.
He was bleeding and so was Alexia. They had gripped the rose stem so tightly that the thorns had pierced their skin. They were bleeding on each other, into each other's wounds. 'Like a blood bond….how….ironically cruel." He thought, his eyes saddened.
Thoth plucked the rose from her hand softly, and gripped her bleeding hand with his clean one. "I….want it to. From the moment I saw you….I felt everything. But….as a prince, I have an obligation to my kingdom….and my father."
"As I have obligations to my planet and my mother….." she said softly, gripping his hand tightly. He nodded, a wisp of his white hair fall across his eyes. He watched as she pushed the hair back into place with her clean hand, her blue eyes warm, yet pained.
"We're prisoners of privilege….prisons made by our people's hearts, because they need the will of others to guide them to happiness and safety. 'Tis a sad fate….we make laws and treaties to protect them, but 'tis never enough. We must….put on plays for them….as they cannot be happy unless we make it all like a happy fairy tale."
"But life is not a fairy tale….reality be not as sweet as true love's kiss. And I shall always regret knowing what it feels like….and accepting a cage of happiness built by others." She replied.
Thoth's heart swelled with grief. A kiss, it was so much, it was everything, the Moon, the stars, the powers of all hope and a power beyond measure, yet so simply as two lips touching. How could he wed a woman he cared nothing for when the kiss would be cold and empty, devoid of the realness of Alexia's warm taste? The honeyed taste, smooth and inviting, how could he give it up? Give up someone he loved deeply.
'Because they will blame Alexia….they'll blame and Earthling before a Moon citizen. Because they need lies to be happy, and I can't be happy.' He thought, taking his hand away from her slowly.
"I love you sincerely…so….I must not do this to you. Even at the cost of what could be utter bliss. I can't let you….or my father hurt because of me."
"As I cannot risk Mercury declaring war upon anyone. I will…not let my feelings interfere….with peace." Alexia uttered, stepping away and off the gazebo. She walked to the rose bushes, towards the palace. She stopped as she reached the roses, and plucked one gently. Alexia looked back at him, his body shadowed partially in the gazebo's pearl canopy. She smiled sadly at him, then turned quickly and ran into the bushes.
His heart feel further into the darkness as her form vanished, the sound of sifting leaves escaping him. Thoth lifted the rose to his nose and sniffed it, his lips adoring the petals. He let his tongue slip out a little, the taste of her lipstick granted eventually. He shivered, a tear slipping from his eye. 'Why….must I be hurt….when all I want to do is love her? Why must I live a lie….with a broken heart?' he thought the tears flowing down his cheeks swiftly. The pain would never leave him.
~ One Month Later ~
*The wedding plans were going swimmingly, though Prince Thoth was often seen gazing at the Earth, though he stopped running off to it. He seemed sad, regretful. It was the fact about him marrying a woman he wasn't in love with. Many princes and princesses we angry and upset about being in arranged marriages. So, we thought little of it. King Jericho worked endlessly with Queen Adamina to hide the fact that Specter was still gaining in power and could strike at the planets at any moment, while we were to keep his son and Princess Yuki busy with the wedding arrangements. *
*Oddly enough, Princess Yuki maintained herself well with the arrangements, though Prince Thoth seemed distracted. We wondered at times if he knew what was going on, but he showed no sign of being anything more than depressed. God only knew what was wrong with him. And to this day, we never found out. As only days later from the day of a special match between Yuki and Thoth occurred….,all the kingdoms except that of Earth….fell.*
~ Earth ~
- The Rose Palace -
Alexia walked about her and her mother's palace quietly. Her eyes often strayed to the moon above, though not quite as full as it had been the night she committed a wonderful sin. She could feel him kissing her still, those anxious, hungry lips, hot and soothing like a bath. She'd wanted more, no matter how guilty she felt. She and Yuki were close friends. They even sparred with each other when Yuki would come to see if any of the soldiers of Earth could best her. Boisterous and proud Yuki, Alexia respected her as a warrior, but deeply pitied her for not seeing how her pride turned eyes away from her beauty. Yuki didn't need to constantly prove she was better, nor constantly proclaim it, or take what she wanted through battle.
'Yet she has the man you've helplessly fallen in love with. The man you look to while your friend paws him. Oh Thoth, why can't I be that open….or respected. The Earth is seen as a fickle place by many of the worlds, yet respected. The Earth and Moon ruled as heads of the council of this Universe, though the Earth had gone slightly down in respect ever since Lord Specter's cult emerged. Though the royalty did not blame Earth entirely, the minds of the people were harder to convince. Hatred was easy when you were afraid, when you lacked your own will most times. One person was not nearly as dangerous as a group of people easily talked into gossip.
It was depressing, though even the Earth people were susceptible to their own petty ambitions and fears. Earth was a plethora of people of different terrains, races, and mind sets that those of others. The moon was a silvery world of rivers, lakes and silvery sand, packed neatly not loosely like the deserts of Earth. Venus was surrounded by layers of poison gasses that took special spells and equipment to pass through to beauty beneath. Pluto was cold and near barren of plant and animal, a dead world with a tragic prince and princess. Even the swirling cerulean world of Neptune did not nearly have the amount of color that Earth did, nor the variety of terrain.
Regardless of that, people were people, no matter the planet or land. People readily feared what they didn't understand and blamed the easiest targets, such as the royal families and other planets. It was easier than blaming oneself for the turmoil their fear created. Her eyes lifted again to the full moon, the sparkling silver orb shining over her skin. She smiled softly, running her fingers up and down her arms, then her throat. Alexia's mind longed it to be him, but in her heart that desire would never be realized.
Dreaming was painful, dreaming of him there, caressing her skin, and wooing her with those lovely eyes that sparkled like icy endless pools. No matter how great the guilt, dreaming of his touch brought a small amount of comfort, but in the end, the pain remained. Her chest heaved softly, her cheeks flushing a soft pink.
Alexia quickly shook her head and moved quickly to her room. Her body splayed across her dark sheets, her fingers trailing about her arms and stomach. It was such a simple need, to be his, but so far when he was mindlessly promised to another. Arranged marriages were fickle, even if all royal families and nobles did it. Mother and Father, King Jericho and the Queen Aura, and so on. Mother always said the same thing," I grew to love him." It was always that way, but Mother rarely spoke of him except when talking to fellow royalty and guests, never her own and only child.
The roses were all she knew of him. He had loved them greatly in life and always had the servants tending them and spreading the garden farther and farther until endless blood red roses surrounded the castle for miles. They brought her part of the lost memories of her father and inadvertently the attention of the young Moon Prince. Truly the roses caught his eyes and she never saw the white haired beauty all the time he had snuck through the gardens, but still his heart bloomed with hers as their eyes met. She'd felt an unnatural shiver in her body, warmth spreading from the soothing gaze. Her heart pounded softly at first until Yuki called for her, then it sped up the more the party dragged on.
She had lied in a way to him. She had not known she had smitten him as she had as well. Alexia had left out of being unable to stand gazing at Yuki hanging on him like a sparkling leech. She felt if she could not see them, her heart would stop pounding….that she'd stop imagining herself being the one beside him. Her heart went on pounding as she walked farther through the gardens of white roses, her mouth drying terribly. The roses were as white has his beautifully downy hair. He was like a living angel with gold kissed to his soft skin. Then he appeared in the garden and she did her best to keep from making a fool out of herself, but it never mattered. Her control left in the gazebo, her rose touching his throat. They both lost themselves to their desires and sinned together.
Alexia sighed heavily on the sheets, her hands neatly folded upon her stomach. She couldn't stop thinking about that kiss or his beautiful eyes. It felt so right, yet would be wrong to all other eyes. She had to think more, before she lost him forever to the prison of the people.
"My lady Alexia, are you all right?" a smooth voice breathed. She sat up slowly, tucking her warm legs up. The man in the silver armor and fully silvery white hair looked upon her, his lavender eyes shadowed. He had a scar over his left eye, but not enough that he couldn't see out of the jagged mark of soft pink. "Oh…Sir Xeno….I didn't hear you come in." Alexia replied.
Xeno looked at her softly, sword on his hip, and looking as guarded as ever. He was a quiet man, but a loyal knight and the superior of all the Earth knights of the palace. He had been guarding his mother and her since Alexia was born, and then he was but 15 years old. He gained the scar when he was away before Alexia was even 7. He also became distant, even quieter and reserved than before, but he never left their family. All be it an older man, he always looked barely over 25, but he was just that way, like a specter, misting through the halls as a silent and deadly force.
"Are you all right….?" He repeated.
He was also stubborn and pushy, in his own reserved way. "I am ….all right….just thinking." She said softly, looking down, then heard the click of his silver boots sound. Her eyes lifted, his silvery figure looking upon her only a foot away from her bed. "Thinking….and moaning."
Her cheeks reddened a moment, but a quick shake seemed to push it away. Sometimes he was annoying with how alert he was. He was a superb knight, really the greatest of the 9 planets and moon, but also an excellent tracker. He chuckled softly, short and crisp as a cold snap. "You are a young woman, not a little girl, my Princess. It is nothing to feel ashamed of. But, it is not a cure for what ails a heart. Perhaps….if I may be so bold as to ask, Princess Alexia, if I could offer my assistance in your….thinking."
Alexia felt her abdomen tighten a little, but Sir Xeno was a loyal man. She could confide a little, just not say who she was infatuated with. "It's a young man I met….he….he makes me feel….so terribly alive. More than anything, it's like breaking the surface of a cool lake, those first colors of the sky when morning breaks.
Sir Xeno nodded softly, his eyes lidding a bit. "So you are greatly in love with this young man." He stated quietly.
Yes. This love makes me feel so new and refreshed, but….people would be against us being together. People would frown upon it and our families….but deep down, part of me could care less. Still, it will hurt people, I simply just want to be happy with him, just him, like I'd die if he were no longer there. I don't know what to do, he's in my every waking thought and when I sleep, every dream takes me to him. It's becoming unbearable to keep away from him….for both our sakes and others. I feel so lost…." She sighed, her hand to her heart.
Sir Xeno nodded, rubbing his chin with his long, pale fingers. He was silent for a long time, barely moving except the unseen breeze moving his hair. Alexia's throat felt like it was closing up, fearing he would tell her to forget the man, to find a real life, to act her age, something mature. As time dragged on, she hoped he would just make a noise and stop torturing her with the awful silence.
"Princess….before I answer you….may I tell you a small story##?" he said suddenly, crossing his arms behind his back.
She blinked gently. "A story….but why?"
He tilted his head to the side, his expressionless face reflecting the glow of the moon. "Just….hear me out, my Princess."
She nodded, unsure of what to say to the contrary.
Sir Xeno breathed out softly and turned his head towards the moon. "There was a young man who was deeply in love with a maiden from the moon of Ganymede. The maiden wasn't an extraordinary beauty, but something about her caught the young man's eye. Though as unimportant as she seemed to many, the young man treasured her like a rare jewel. The young man wooed her, paid her every respect, and even gave sweet kisses in public, and spoke his heart endlessly to her. He was in pleasurable torment to know she loved him back." He spoke softly, his right hand coming down and gripping the hold of his blade.
Alexia nodded softly, a smile on her lips. "It sounds so romantic."
He nodded. "Yes….that is how it began….but then, people became jealous. Gossip filtered through Ganymede and Titan, then to other worlds that this young man was with this ordinary woman. Words like whore….gold digger….slut….and witch reached their ears. The young man defended her, but still, the pitiful gossipers spread the lies further of why the woman was with someone like him. The woman….however, was crushed. She could not go anywhere without people whispering, without the cold stares and accusing looks of why she was with the man. No one believed it was love, they called her temptress and deceiver, that she had cast spells to trick the man to find her beautiful. They did not understand through the jealous lies of women that he loved her for everything she was, not the masks of beauty without a heart."
Alexia nodded gently, feeling her skin tighten, her eyes watering hotly. It sounded awful. She wondered if she would be seen that way if she dared to love Thoth openly. Would Yuki feel as the jealous females did? Would the kingdoms call her whore?
"The man did not care, and sought to pluck her from the sickness of that place, from the tears, the taunts, and the terrible green eyes that infected that world….but….he tried too late. The woman he fell in love with….died….her beauty became horrible, her heart like sharp stone, and hateful. The good woman he had loved, became what had tormented her, hate."
"What….what did the young man do?" she asked softly.
He looked back, his eyes telling no tales. "He fought her….to save her homeland from her dark hate. The woman he had loved was murdered by the hate, and would take others with her to feel good about herself, instead of the young man's love to heal her. He was foolish to wait so long, to allow the lies to poison her goodness," he replied evenly, his fingers brushing his scar," Then he came home….and vowed not only to end her suffering when he found her again….but to never love another, as he still believed that somewhere in that shell of darkness was his ordinary love."
"You were the young man….weren't you Sir Xeno." She replied.
He looked at her, not even hinting a thing. "That is not the point," he spoke, lowering his hand," the point is the moral of the story. Did you see it?"
"I…," she said softly, thinking a moment," I believe it is….not to take love for granted and to cherish what you have?"
He smiled briefly with a knowing sigh. It surprised her, no matter how brief it was. "I commend your effort…but no, Princess Alexia. The moral is….to fight for your love. Do not let it be stolen by anyone, no matter what anyone thinks of it. Never let go….as that young woman did."
Alexia opened her mouth a bit, but he started to walk out. "Cherish this moral, as there is no greater power than love….no greater treasure. It is your choice to make, my princess," he said softly, standing by the door and pulling it open," But for now, we must go to the Moon. The Queen insists that you come as soon as possible. As does Princess Yuki, she needs you to try on your dress for the wedding."
Alexia nodded, and stood. "Yes, Sir Xeno. A lot needs to be done….yes."
~ The Moon Kingdom ~
A silver blade with a blue hilt embedded itself into a white tree trunk hard. A hush fell over spectators. Prince Thoth stood over Princess Yuki, his blade to her neck. "Match." He said quietly, his eyes narrowed.
Yuki smiled, licking her lips. "Yes….my Snowflake….you win."
Thoth felt the wild urge to clock her on the head with the hilt for flirting with him at such a moment. She was always flirting and normally all over him every time she came. He could barely breath with her grabbing at him like a runaway dog. The sparring match was her idea, a tradition with her family to decide who was in charge. In all the years of her family, the Mercury royals always won, male and female, but this was the first time one of her family's skills fell.
He only beat her to make her look bad, but it only seemed to arouse her interest in him. Nothing had gone right, nothing felt right, and nothing would be right married to this lunatic. His life would be as unpleasant as rolling on hot coals, blistering and aggravating.
Thoth tugged his blade away, sheathing it swiftly. He didn't offer his hand to help her up, but she just sighed happily and hopped up, then smooshed her front into his back. He mentally gagged, wishing it were princess Alexia, not this brute. "Ah, my Snowflake, you still effortlessly impress me. I can hardly wait to see how you are in bed…mm…I bet you're a wild man." She purred. The revulsion in his stomach boiled, partially swishing in his throat.
He swallowed hard and looked around for an escape, but everyone was watching them, except for his father. The king had been out of touch for days at a time, and it was really bothering him. He'd have to confront his father about his evasive behavior the next time he saw him. Thoth was tired of being left to the battle crazy barbarian princess.
"Princess Yuki….please, you must wait for your wedding night for such antics." Sir Xeno piped softly.
'I'd kiss that guy if he weren't a guy. Ahhh….' He thought, feeling Yuki slide off. "Yes, Sir Xeno….a wonderful night indeed." She purred and pecked Thoth's cheek. He bit the inside of his mouth a moment, then his eyes washed away all anger. Alexia was with Sir Xeno, dressed as beautifully as before, a sword on her hip and a red rose in her hair. What a sight for sore eyes. After a long month of being hung on and his arm turning purple from the constant squeezing and smothering, he was freed. He'd barely been able to bathe without her trying to hang on him.
"Tonight is a special gathering of royalty, Princess Yuki, Prince Thoth," he said, bowing softly," Since the wedding will be quite soon, many of the planet's will be sending delegates and royalty to show their support. I am here to escort you all to your chambers….and then the ballroom."
Thoth nodded slightly. "Yes….how nice it will be to….clean off a few stains." He said a bit crassly. Xeno's eyes narrowed a little, but then became emotionless again. "Yes….this way please." He uttered, and turned sharply on his heels. Thoth followed closely, but not nearly enough as Yuki latched onto him again. 'I pray I die in bed with her before she gets her claws in me….I don't want to remember a wedding night.' He thought crossly.
His eyes swiveled to Alexia, who was now beside him and Yuki. She looked as beautiful as the day they met, no, more so. She was blooming with strength and chaste beauty. His guilty mind had never been the same since he kissed her. Dreams, endless red rose dreams of them standing upon his balcony, or on the palace steps, reaching out to one another or kissing. His dreams even went as far to make love to the sins of his brain, resulting in an uncomfortable day and cold bathes.
He felt sick with love for her, suffocating longing squeezing on his body. Through all the wedding plans, the boring talks of Yuki and her achievements, her opinions of how to win and what was great, he always drifted away, thinking of that kiss, something he had no right to take, but wanted to keep robbing those lips of flavor. He saw Alexia instead of Yuki, Alexia instead of his father or the vassals. It was always Alexia, more and more and more until his eyes hurt with the wonderful hallucination.
To see her now, he wondered if he were daydreaming again, if the smell of the blood red rose in her hand was just a hope and empty of life. He sniffed softly, taking the warm, smooth odor in, then her scent of blossoms and the land. His body burned with desire, burned with rage against the cage that bound him, and the heat nearly made him gasp for air. She was truly here, Alexia had returned after a long lonely month of stomaching Yuki's miserable company.
'I feel tormented by this visit, but I welcome it too. If only to forget my fate….to forget the lock will soon be sealed. Alexia…my darling Alexia…' he thought, a small smile curling no his lips as they walked on.
~ That Night ~
~ Ballroom ~
*The ball of the Prince of the Moon and the Princess of Mercury had come, within the week they would soon be wed. It was utterly joyous. All those who had come for engagement party had come to the ball, and many more. It was utterly beautiful, champagne, fine foods, crystal dishes and glasses, and even the King of the Moon and Queen of Earth was present for the occasion. The party was so large that we lost track of a lot of the guests. *
*Hina and I were trying to maintain the flow of guests so much, we lost track of our ward Prince Thoth. Yuki brought it to our attention that he was missing….just before…everything ended. Before Specter and the Goddess came and destroyed so many innocent lives.*
Thoth scurried out of the palace down the steps. He felt sick from the talk of his future at the hands of others. It was too much, not when Alexia was here. He had seen her leave the party nearly and hour ago, but escaping Yuki had been another matter. He'd had to stomach her four another hour and let her get in a conversation with Pirro. The two always got into heated arguments to prove one or the other was better, though Pirro seemed more intent on getting Yuki to talk more to him.
Thoth didn't care either way, and took instant advantage of the lucky stroke and escape out one of the side doors. His feet took him swiftly through the forest, his long silvery white cape flowing behind him. It caught a bit on some of the rose bushes' thorns, but he tore from them, anything to seek her out.
His feet carried him to the pearl gazebo, where the kiss occurred. It was vacant to him at first, lattice pearl fencing around it blocking his eyes from it. As he moved to the steps that led inside it, his eyes fell on a single red rose, glistening with soft raindrops, upon the center of the gazebo. He breathed softly a moment, and then entered it, walking right up to the rose. It had not rained on the moon at all, but still, it was Alexia's rose. He picked it up as if it were glass, one of the drops falling onto his hand. He looked at the clear drop and gave it a lick. 'Salty…tears…they're tears….Oh Alexia.' He thought painfully. She had wept, what pain was she suffering now because of his sin?
He kissed it softly, his lips enjoying the soft, moist feel of the petals. "I am glad you game, Prince Thoth." Alexia's silken voice uttered.
Thoth turned slightly, holding the rose in his fingers gently. She stood there, wearing a small black party mask, her body shimmering in the Earth's glow until she walked within the gazebo, right up before him. "I am too." He said softly, reaching to touch her face. She stopped his hand, gripping it softly. "I came to tell you….I cannot do this anymore. The pain is too great."
His heart sank. "Oh….I see."
"I cannot let….myself deny what I feel for you,….Thoth." she whispered. His eyes widened, the grip on his hand lacing with his. The rose remained between them, wonder and longing filling his eyes. "You….want to….be with me…." He breathed. She nodded gently, taking off her mask. "I love you, no matter what happens. I love you with all my guilty heart. I didn't want to, but I can't stop thinking of you and I. Truly, I envy Yuki, though she was only promised to you. I feel so filthy….betraying my friend for my heart, but….the pain is too much to forget why I ache. It's too great to….take any longer. I can't let go of something so real and alive as what I felt in that kiss. I don't want to lose you." Her voice was so pained and desirable, the longing like poison to his ears, beautifully infectious.
"I can't either….I tried….to forget it, but I can't. You're in my every thought. I'm almost glad in a way you suffered as much as I did, to know you love me….as I love you as well. I had that kiss, knowing what that prison can never instill in me….love so strong it hurts. If we must hurt, we shall hurt together, forever and ever, my beloved Alexia." He replied gently.
"Oh Thoth….damn us, damn us to hell for this." She wept softly, her mask falling from her hands.
"Alexia….sweet Alexia." He gasped, the rose slipping through his fingers, his lips hungrily dipping into her, tasting her sweet mouth as the Earth hung overhead. His hands slipped up her back hotly, searching for the way.
Her chest heaved sharply as she press into his body, her fingers pushing away his cape. His knees gave as their tongues dances together, the heat spreading through their anxious bodies. He lowered himself to his knees, taking her with him, the strings of her dress coming loose in his fingers as the roses lost sight of their passion.
~ 1 Hour Later ~
Thoth smiled warmly at Alexia as he buttoned his shirt. Her eyes swam with emotions, tying her dress back up neatly. "We best get back quickly….they'll have missed you by now."
He nodded, standing himself up, tucking her rose away in his shirt. "I'll just tell then I was bored and you can drag me back." He replied.
She gave a gentle smile. He was her first love, her first kiss, her first time, all so right and wonderful, yet it had to be a secret. Doing what you wanted as a person would cause problems for the planets. Life would be difficult, but as long as they had each other, nothing would give them pain again.
"Let's go then." She sighed, walking out of the gazebo. Thoth followed and hugged her softly from behind. She smiled, leaning into him gently. She wanted this moment to last as long as it could. His embrace was so wonderful and safe, nothing could wrench her from it except her own mind. She sighed, looking back softly. He smiled at her, his pale lips inviting as ever.
BOOM!!!!
Alexia cried out, grasping onto Thoth tightly. "What was that….??" She yelped, but he wasn't answering, his eyes locked ahead of where they stood.
She looked, her eyes greeted by a horror among horrors. A dark, menacing cloud was in the sky, and there was smoke curling up towards it. "That palace! Father!" Thoth shouted, grabbing Alexia's hand, then unsheathed his sword and too of running with her.
"Oh Mother! We must help them!" she yelled out, regretting leaving her blade in her room. 'Dammit!' she thought, her mind full of worry for her friends and mother.
As they broke out of the garden, Thoth gagged at the burning castle. They were just several feet from the steps that led up, and the bodies were simply everywhere.
The dark Princess Raven was dismembering guests and soldiers alike while Prince Viper was fighting his way through guests like a sick child. The vassals Hina and Cyrus were fighting alone against monsters and the horrible Princess Kittiana.
"Sir Cyrus!!" he shouted, running with Alexia towards the battle. Cyrus lifted his head up as his claws hacked through a bird monster. "My Prince! Get to safety! Please! Ah!" he shouted, getting cut across the chest.
Hina slashes the creature for the attack, but another cut her across her back. Thoth went for them, his sword screaming for his friends' attackers.
A dark bubble crashed between him and them, knocking him and Alexia back hard. Cyrus and Hina began screaming, Kittiana's sick laughter burning into Alexia's mind. "Ahahahahah! Kitty has improved the annoying Nekos….and Kitty will skin them and make them perfect for Kitty's needs!" the princess cackled, floating over two piles of torn clothes, two cat heads sticking out of the shirts. "Cyrus! Hina! You evil bitch, don't you touch them!!" he shouted and slashed at her. The princess was so busy laughing, she never saw the blade coming until her arm was severed.
Her screams rang clear in the battlefield, the blood vomiting across Thoth's body before she shot off like a light. Alexia ran up beside him, the cat vassals squirming out of the clothing, looking so helpless.
"Find my Father, just go! You can't fight now….just get a Moon Gate ready when you find him! We'll be right behind you. Go!" Thoth told Cyrus, getting a slight nod before the black cat Cyrus and amber Hina ran off into the crumbling palace.
He turned around a moment to look at Alexia a moment, to probably tell her to follow, but he didn't. He looked around her, his eyes narrowing angrily. Her heart seemed to speed up terribly the longer he stared, his grip on his hilt tightening. Her body whirled, unable to take the rising sick fear in her stomach. It only grew as her eyes lay upon a darkly dressed man with a great blade. His entire form screamed evil, those terrible eyes of purple stabbing into her soul. "Greetings, your highness, I am Lord Specter. Now, time to die …." His dark voice uttered, then his body rushed at her.
She backed off as fast as she could, but her shoe cough on the rubble of the steps, her body falling backwards as those purples eyes rushed at her with their dark rage. "NOOOOOO!!!!" Thoth screamed, his silvery white form in front of her suddenly. There was a sharp clang, then another as she landed on her back hard, her mind dazed with white.
The next clang came, then…a thick wet crunch, red mixing into the red. Her vision was clearing, her body forcing it shaking form up. Thoth stood, quivering a bit, a thick sheet of red wetness pooling around his boots and cape. The end of a blade was sticking out his back, soaked with blood. Thoth was choking and coughing loudly, trying to breathe. "Th…Thoth!?" she cried out, reaching for him. Another sickly wet crunch came, the blade exiting his body. His form jerked sharply, and fell into her arms, his blade clattering at her feet. His head swung back, surprise and anguish filtering across his features. "Al…Ale….xia….I…'m….sorry. I….cough …love…you." he coughed, blood vomiting from his once tranquil pale lips. He simply just stopped all together, his eyes shutting softly with his final cough, a bleeding angel in its final hour.
"Thoth!" she screamed, looking up hatefully at his killer. "You murderer! He died for me! You….you monster why!?" she shouted.
He smiled and pointed the blade at her. "You….I was hoping he'd get in my way, no need for a hero. I came for you….as I try for the Soul Crystal again, but now you are needed as well. And now, they'll both be mind and the Goddess will become flesh! Hahahah!" he cackled.
"Me!? Why do you need me??" she shouted, the tears pouring from her eyes.
He grinned, so terrible and evil that she felt as if the world had gone completely cold. "Your mother will never know what I wanted, but you will, my sweet. I want your womb. You're going to be MY Queen, and we shall birth the ultimate being, the host body for the Dark Goddess, and soon she will rule all universes forever with the tainted Soul Crystal. Accept your fate, no one can save you, not your prince. The warriors and royalty are dead….only you and that hack Jericho remain. Now, I shall have my vengeance against him and your mother, and the Goddess shall rule all!" he cackled gleefully, raising his sword high.
'No…I won't let it be. Thoth….you died….for me….now I….will die for you.' She thought sadly, grabbing up Thoth's fallen blade. Thoth's body fell upon the cracked ground with a loud thud. "I love only one man, and I shall never be another's! Thoth! I am coming!" she cried out, looking to the stars as she raised the sword.
Specter's eyes jerked towards her, the evil feeling washing over her skin, but she felt no fear and she rammed the blade through her chest. The pain was all too real, suffocating her with her own blood. Her eyes fluttered, then, darkness sent her tumbling.
~
"The princess!!" Hina cried, tears streaming down her firry face.
"Prince Thoth!! My King, Specter has murdered him! What can we do?" Cyrus shouted.
The despondent king looked at the ruins of the moon kingdom, the swarms of monsters ever multiplying across the surface, then the dark laughing sky where the Dark Goddess' essence boiled. He was holding his torso, his wound was fatal in his liver. He would not survive if he fought neither with his blade nor with the power about his neck. "I must….give them another chance, a life away from this pain, even at the cost of mine. There truly is no choice. I cannot let Specter or the Goddess have the Soul Crystal, or the chance to defile the bodies of….those who died today. My son….Thoth, please forgive me….I cannot go where you are, but I pray….you will be safe this time." He uttered softly, pulling his necklace off.
He held it high as the dark forces advanced towards him. "Soul Crystal Light! I call upon your power to seal the powers of darkness and rebirth those who have lost their lives this night. Grant the wish from my heart for the safety of these people. Grant them your guidance to a safer time and life! Take my life for theirs! SHINE!" he shouted, the Soul Crystal unleashing swirls of blinding light.
Specter screamed with the Goddess in the sky, his monsters and soldier thrashing violently in the blessed light of the King's pure wish. Their agonized screams went hurtling away, but also ripped up what remained of the once beautiful Moon Kingdom and sent it flying into dust.
Despite the pain that was taking his body, King Jericho remained standing tall, the crystal raised high to the stars. The warriors of the Dark became seal, hurtling to the earth in crystals, to be hidden away for all times, he prayed. The innocent, royal, soldier or common, all of them floated away in balls of light. Jericho shed tears as he saw his son curled in one, looking so peaceful, it was as if his son were merely sleeping, Princess Alexia's form floating above him. The cat vassals were the last to vanish from his eyes, his strength leaving him.
The crystal split into a gold and silver light, and then vanished like the wind as he fell upon the cold ruined ground. His head slumped to the side, his glazing eyes hoping against hope that Specter would never return. Even if they did, he had ensured their safety. His eyes cast upon the ruined painting of him and his queen, the painting flaking apart as his heart slowed.
"Aura…."he whispered softly, reaching out weakly as the paint came apart," We shall….watch over them. Yes….."
Then, everything stopped.
~ The Soul Menagerie^ ~
Stephen blinked softly, his sore bare skin wrapped in endless silken sheets. His eyes were full of tears. His life, he had lived that life, and now had seen it anew. He remembered it all, so vivid and painful. His heart hurt from the pain he and his princess had endured, then lost each other in a moment. How it was all so forgotten hours ago, now, he couldn't let go of the memories. His father had given his life to give them all another chance, not thinking of resurrecting himself.
'Father….you tried so hard,….I never realized how important this all was really. It was lives, yes, but….he's after her again….and the crystal. You put the pieces inside us, you knew….You knew I was in love with her….you knew.' He thought.
A soft rustling came across from him, a woman's soft weeping as well. He moved best he could, remaining covered, towards it and found Alessa weeping in her own tangled sheets. "Alessa…." He uttered gently, his eyes starved for the sight of her. She looked up swiftly, those tearful blue eyes reflecting his face.
"Stephen….I can't believe it….all this time, the man I was searching for was you. All this time, you were right before my eyes." She said softly.
He nodded, carefully sitting before her as he took in her beauty. She was radiant, even though wracked with the sadness of the past as he was, he felt as if his eyes were cheating heaven to gaze upon her like this. They had shared so few moments in the past, and now they had interacted nearly every day never knowing truly what lay beneath their modern forms. There had never been much reason to wonder, but how could they have even known their bodies held such secrets. He'd loved Gaia from the moment Glamour came into his life, feeling new yet familiar. His body remembered their love, but his mind had been lost to it.
Until now. He slowly wrapped his warm arms about her sheet-covered form, his fingers grazing a bit of her soft skin. He could almost smell that earthen rose scent, her bright eyes tilting up towards him. "Alessa….Specter will never hurt you like that again. This time, I'll destroy him and we can be together like we dreamed. I promise."
Alessa smiled a little, sliding her arms best she could about his neck. "And I will fight by your side….the Dark will not take us from each other. We will avenge our parents….and all those who suffered for the sake of madness."
Stephen let out a soft chuckle, and leaned closer. "Dear Alessa…."
"Stephen…." She murmured softly, their lips meeting hotly, the taste of her mouth filling his. He barely felt the sheets blow about them. They were flying off of them, as the kiss grew more passionate, his hands rubbing at her back. He didn't care so long as the kiss continued. He had his princess again, he had his love, and no force of heaven or hell could take it from him.
~ Ray's Bedroom ~
"And that's the story of how the kingdom fell." Cyrus finished, rubbing at his stomach.
Lamont nodded. "So we all died, and the King gave up his life to give us all another chance? So all of us, many people we see in our daily lives….died when Specter attacked."
Hina nodded. "Not all, but most of the Earth population is of those from other worlds that perished, even the planets of Uranus, Saturn, and Neptune fell. They never knew what hit them due to the swiftness of the attacks."
"So there are more knights?" Ray piped, looking curious. Angela felt the same way. So she had been meant to marry the prince, her Snowflake, even then, but it was robbed of her because of Specter. 'Always something gets in my way, but not this time. Nothing can take my wonderful Snowflake from me.'
Cyrus was about to answer when he and Hina grabbed their stomach and fell out of sight off the bed. The crystal began to glow, splitting down the middle into a golden and silver orb each. Angela shielded her eyes quickly as the pieces began to flash brightly, Cyrus and Hina's yelps filtering through her senses.
The light cleared after a few moments, the feel of it making her vision splotching. She could see some dark red and then some white and light blue blurs, and her ears heard rustling, and heavy breathing. She rubbed at her eyes hard to clear it, but Martina was the first to shatter her mind.
"Wow, Stephen gay…." Martina said quietly, shocked then started tittering.
Angela's heart near jumped out of her chest, her eyes jerking up to behold Stephen, kissing Gary. 'Gay??? He's gay!!?? Dammit! I went after two gay guys? This can't be, he's my Snowflake! Not his!' her mind screamed, but the kiss was so passionate and heated, she couldn't move, let alone speak. She was just frozen by the sight of Stephen giving such a kiss to a guy.
Ray had no trouble getting up, and Lamont was following him, both bending over a bit to gawk at what they were seeing. Lamont just looked a bit surprised. Ray looked stunned a moment, then his face grew angry. His fist rose and bopped Stephen on the head.
Stephen "Mmmphed!" loudly into Gary's mouth, then pulled back, his arms still wrapped about his tutor's torso. "RAY? How'd you get in here?"
"You're making out on my bed, meathead! If you want to tongue wrestle, you and your boyfriend go outside." Ray seethed. Stephen blinked softly, and Gary's sunglass donned face looked surprised. "Boyfriend?" Stephen said, and looked to Gary.
Gary reddened and shook his head. "Go ahead…tell them." He said, his voice softer, not as sickly sounding. Ray's eyes narrowed.
"Gary's a woman….Gaia. Show them Gaia." Stephen said crisply, annoyed with the assumptions.
Angela felt a glimmer of hope at those words, and more so when Gary took off 'his' jacket and sunglasses and undid 'his' braid. He turned his back a bit and his long black hair came loose, lustrous and full, like Glamour's had been. After a bit of shuffling Gary pulled out a strap and turn back to face them again, with a woman's chest quite obvious under the shirt. 'A woman….I had a crush on a girl….and Stephen is kissing…her….this can't be happening. Stephen's my Snowflake, not this Gaia's!' she thought, biting her lip tightly.
"So now you see….I'm a girl in disguise….and you probably…know who else I am too." Gaia replied softly.
Lamont nodded a bit. "The prince and princess went into the crystal….but you were Moon and Glamour before that. Yeah, it is obvious….wow, all this time, you were both in plain sight."
Martina blinked softly. "What's obvious?"
Lamont groaned and threw ray's pillow at her. She yelped softly and flopped over. "Gaia is Lady Glamour, you wiffle! And she's our Princess."
Cyrus' cat form hopped onto the bed suddenly, setting himself in Stephen's lap. "And we must protect them both now….now that they have awakened and the Soul Crystal has returned, Lord Specter will stop at nothing to claim it."
Lamont blinked. "Hey, you're a cat again??"
Cyrus nodded as Hina walked to a sputtering Martina, sitting in her lap. "Its part of Kittiana's curse….only because the prince and princess recalled themselves were we able to assume human form. We can at least retain the memory of that time, but you all will never fully remember so long as darkness survives. Her curses are quite bothersome, and even if she were still alive….she'd never take it off. Her fun would be all the more spoiled."
Stephen looked like he was a little confused, but managed a small nod. "So my family and friends are safe from her…."
"But I am not….Specter still wants to birth a host body from me for the Dark Goddess. He won't stop until he has me…and the Soul Crystal inside our souls." Gaia said quietly. Stephen gripped her gloved hand tightly. "I won't let it happen. Specter's going to fall….and we'll all be safe, like my father…wanted. History is not going to…repeat itself." He assured her. Angela felt pangs of jealousy. This Gaia was stealing Stephen away, she had been since they met.
'He's my Snowflake….not hers. I'll fight for him….' She thought, but her heart sank as Gaia and Stephen hugged tenderly. Could she really break it up? Why were they so in love? Wasn't the prince supposed to marry her? Why the Earth Princess?
Angela stood up swiftly, startling the others, but Stephen just glanced up at her. "Well…we better get to work before your….little cross-dressing girlfriend get kidnapped." She said crassly. Stephen glared a little, but nodded. "I'm taking Gaia home…. I'll talk to you all after school at the arcade…."
"Why so bossy suddenly?" Ray quipped as Stephen and Gaia stood, Cyrus bounding off the downy haired boy's lap. Stephen looked up, and that look of pain nearly forced a tear from Angela's eyes. It was of loss….regret, and the helplessness of a tragic life. "Cause we saw what happened then….we lived it all over again. I do not want that to happen to any of us again. And I will never let Specter get his hands on Gaia again." Stephen replied evenly, and he and Gaia walks out of the room, leaving Ray dumfounded.
Angela simply stared at the door for a while, even long after they had gone. 'What does she have that I don't? What Snowflake? What's so great about Gaia….?' She thought angrily, and then ran out of the room, running all the way home. "Why her!?" she shouted at the sky, her eyes full of blame towards the sky. It offered no answers, only silent stars and the cool darkness they rested upon.
To Be Continued….
*- Thoth is the name of the Egyptian God of the Moon.
**- Jericho is the City of the Moon.
***- Alexia means the defender of mankind.
*^- Adamina means the daughter of the Earth.
$- Nariko is Japanese for gentle child.
%- Pirro means red-haired, reminiscent of flaming hair.
$%- Freya is the Norse Queen of the Gods.
#$- Yuki is Japanese for snow.
#- The phrase is in reference to rose-colored glasses, seeing everything that way.
##- This story Xeno tells is sort of a side story about Xeno and the woman who became Raven. Yes, Raven was not always evil, she was made evil when Specter offered her a way to stop the gossip and disrespect, but it cost her Xeno and her soul. Xeno and her fought when she tried to kill all those of her home world, and earned him a scar and the endless pursuit of the woman he loved, to try and guide her. You all know that he was found before anyone good could, and made evil. Sad huh?
On a side note, yes, I was very cruel to Lady Mercury, but she deserved it. She needs a good hard kick in the pant to stop harassing Stephen.
Teaser: With the past selves revealed, The Dark Universe begins to hunt the Earth Princess with their most valued warrior, Xeno, the Tragic Dark Knight. Stephen and Gaia struggle to protect each other, and face their future. That, and hiding their relationship from Allan.