Once Upon a Moonlit Tale
The Moon prince laughed maniacally as he and the darkness next to him bounded up to the stables, a babbling princess hot on their heels. He had never been the reckless type, disregarding manners and polite behavior, not to mention the rules which had been clearly established at the Luna Palace. Tonight, everything seemed to be flying out of his crystal window.
He could hear the Shadow Prince chuckling darkly next to him, a dusky arm wrapping tightly around his waist as he was pulled inside of the building.
Running at full speed, the two ran to the one stall in which was sure to be the best hiding space, shrouded in darkness and mystery.
Endymion neighed happily when the dark beast caught sight of the two, stomping in his stall to be let out. Yami unhinged the door, ushering Yuugi inside then following in himself.
Stuffing themselves into a corner, they tried to suppress their giggling as a small light filled the outer isle.
Endymion looked back at the two, a confused look etched in his glowing amber eyes. Yuugi held a finger up to his lips, making a silent shush. He knew that Endymion would keep their secret of where they were hiding. This had been, after all, his favorite hiding space when he was but a toddler.
The dark creature whinnied with good spirit, allowing the shadows that were ever flowing about him to grow in size, hiding the rest of the stall, and its two stowaways, safely in secret.
The princess's voice drifted down the halls, calling out to see if the Luna heir was anywhere near.
Yuugi felt the Shadow Royalty grin against his neck, his face buried between the Moon prince's head and shoulder. He was enjoying this game. Perhaps a little too much?
Yuugi pushed the ridiculous thought from his mind.
"Yuugi, are you in here?"
The prince shrunk further into the corner despite himself, the thrill of hiding flowing back to him after so many years.
"It's been a while since you've enjoyed a good thrill, hasn't it prince?" The sinfully dark voice, rich and deep, so strongly seductive and warm, sounded softly with the faintest hint of a whisper in his ear.
"Shh," Yuugi shushed, not caring to be caught anytime soon, and yet grinning despite himself.
He almost squeaked when an electric touch slithered up beneath his shirt, yet another dipping dangerously low beneath his waist line. Before he could respond, however, a hot mouth tasting of spice and rum and blood and darkness and sacred desires covered his own, invading his lips and sparring with his tongue.
Thank the goddess that Endymion stomped vigorously, crying his warning as the princess stepped nearer his stall when the prince let out a guttural moan, allowing himself to be devoured without another thought.
Anzu backed up nervously as the dark creature glared at her, heavy hooves moving vehemently that could crush stone and steel. The prince could not be in there. He'd have to be crazy.
Frowning at her ill luck, she moved on.
The darkness purred heavily into the intimate embrace, tasting for the first time light and energies beyond his comprehension. He pulled back when porcelain hands pulled desperately at his leather shirt, trying to hold him closer.
He laughed a little despite himself as Yuugi glared at him, growling in frustration. "Why did you stop?"
Yami brought his lips down to Yuugi's ear, twining his fingers into silk ebony tresses. "Do you really want to end up making love in a stable?"
The prince was silent for a moment, contemplating not just that idea, but the idea alone of making love to the Shadow Royalty whose hand was currently in a very, very naughty place. "I suppose not." He wrapped a leg around the leather clad waist. "Of course, on the other hand, it might be kind of fun…"
Yami laughed. "Only a couple of hours and I'm already rubbing off on you. Shame on me."
Yuugi laughed, too. "For shame." His eyes were sparkling with a newly kindled sense of adventure. "Why not a trip to the Miihalla?"
The bloodied crimson orbs looked at him questioningly. "I do not know what that is."
Yuugi smiled. "Imagine all of the surprises you'll find this evening." With one last lingering kiss, the Moon prince begrudgingly detached himself from the darkness, walking back out of the stall and giving Endymion a grateful pat on the back.
"Grab a ride," Yuugi explained, stepping out of the stall and letting Selene out of her own. "We've got quite a trip ahead of us."
~ * ~
The two princes sped off away from the palace and further into the Luna countryside. The music from the ball was nothing but a small background noise, dimming all the more, as their excursion moved onward.
Steady pounding, other than that of the creatures they were riding, sounded behind them, each one a miniature earthquake as it moved forward.
Yuugi pulled Selene to a stop just outside of a small village, Endymion following suite. Turning around, the two could see a horse the color of gold sandstone stride forward, a fiery mane and tale and watery hooves. Electric yellow eyes looked at the two, slowing only when its rider pulled harshly at its mane.
"Easy, Gaia! Easy! Slow it down!"
The Moon prince looked on at the blonde riding the mare, recognizing him instantly. "Jou! What on earth are you doing out here?"
The blonde prince looked at the two other royalties with glittering green eyes. "Heh, I could ask you da same question." He looked over at the darkness. "Hey, kkwy, didn't think I'd see you here! Enjoying da moon so far?" Jou, the prince of Earth, heir to the house of Gaia, had known the Shadow royalty for quite some time, the two bumping into each other now and again as they roamed the fields of earth. Of course, the blonde also knew the Luna prince from his many visits to the moon, too.
Yami gave a sly grin in Yuugi's direction, causing the other to blush in spite of the fact that he was trying vainly not to. "Oh, yes. Very much so."
Yuugi cleared his throat. "So ah, Jou, what are you doing out here? Shouldn't you be at the ball?"
"Yeah, but dis creepy guy keeps on trying to douse me with his water attacks. You know him? Steel blue eyes, tall, brown hair?"
"Kind of sour looking?"
"Yeah, dat's the one!"
The prince chuckled. "Jou, that's the Neptune prince Seto." He chuckled again, giving his friend a knowing wink.
Jou seemed to blanch. "Hey, dat's not funny, Yug'!"
Yami seemed to be thinking to himself, eyes looking up and lost in thought. "You know, I bet if you kissed him you'd feel like you're floating."
Yuugi doubled over in laughter when the Earth prince's face turned beat red. "Have fun, Jou. You can't run from him forever, you know. The moon is only so big."
"Yeah, just let me borrow dat dark horse 'a yours, Endywhoman. I'll just hide in da shadows till mornin."
Endymion snapped his jaws at the Earth prince, stomping vigorously again. "It's Endymion, Earth prince. It's not that hard to pronounce," Yami chided. "And besides, he'd probably eat you for dinner before Seto could even find you."
Jou shook his head, his honey tresses glinting in the light of the moon. "Whatever. So, why aren't you two at da ball?"
Yami grinned. "We have better things to do."
Jou didn't miss the blush on Yuugi's face this time. He decided it was time for him to go. "Just don't get into too much trouble tonight, you two. Yuugi's mom'll kill ya as soon as she gets her hands on ya."
"Have fun, Jou!" Yuugi cried as they turned their horses and went on their different paths. Yuugi swore that he saw a beast of pure water in the corner of his eye with a tall brunette rider as they moved on, but after all, it could have just been a trick of his imagination. Right?
Yuugi found himself being moved further on their way as Selene accelerated her speed, keeping herself neck and neck with the beast of the shadows.
The small village they had stopped in front of grew in size as they drew closer, the lights inside of the homes now visible. The Shadow Royalty heard music drifting their way, seeing many different colored banners of pastels flying about. Suddenly, people seemed to be popping up everywhere.
Endymion slowed along with Selene as they approached the small town, keeping their steps light as they walked onward.
"What's going on," Yami inquired, looking on with wonder as he smelled incredible foods and spices wafting in the air, seeing the people dance in the street as musicians played a lively tune on a lyre and a flute.
Yuugi smiled. "Whenever the Royal family has an event here, it is tradition for the natives to hold special festivals. It is considered a huge honor to hold the Suisho Ball, and so they celebrate, and pray to the goddess for another good year, and to be able to hold the ball again in the future. It is believed by some that the Suisho Ball will bring luck and prosperity to the Host Family." He looked over at the Shadow Royalty, face gleaming. "And so they dance."
Endymion dodged a tottering child as they walked through the village, Yami realizing that they couldn't go around. Mountains were surrounding the small area on both sides, making the town nestled in the heart of Lunar territory. It seemed only the main rode had been carved through the usurped Lunar earth.
People were, much to the darkness's pleasure, smiling and waving to the two royalties as they traversed on. He was surprised, however, that no one bowed to the Moon prince. They simply heralded his presence with smiles and a friendly demeanor.
Selene gave a strong whinny when a young girl stepped in front of her, the young child unaware of the dangers of hooves.
Yuugi pulled Selene abruptly to a stop, looking down to make sure that the young Moon Child had not been hurt. Hearing no cries of pain, and noticing the music had stopped playing, Yuugi dismounted, keeping a hand on Selene's back as he looked by her legs.
The little girl sat quiet and content next to the glimmering silver hooves, twirling a small, opaque flower in her delicate little hands. Her silvery-blue hair was loose, softly falling about her face as she concentrated.
"Hi there."
She looked up at the sound of the prince's voice, seeing the familiar small band of silver on his forehead, donning but a small symbol of a crescent moon, both tips pointing upward. "Prince Yuugi," she declared with a giggle. Getting up, she trotted over to him as he knelt, holding the flower in her hands.
"You need to be more careful. I don't want to see you get hurt under Selene's hooves," the prince explained softly.
She grinned, looking up at the Shadow Royalty. Her small pink eyes grew wide for a moment, suddenly looking back at Yuugi with a sense of urgency. "Can I tell you a secret?"
Yuugi smiled. "Fire away."
Moving in ever so slowly, she tilted her head in and whispered, pointing a finger that she was trying to hide towards the darkness. "He's pretty."
Yuugi laughed, looking up at Yami who as still on Endymion. "He is, isn't he?"
Did the darkness's dusky cheeks suddenly grow a bit flushed? A blush perhaps?
"Can I tell you another secret?"
Yuugi leaned in, wanting to hear what else the little child had to say. "Tell me."
She handed him her tiny little flower, smiling ever so slightly. "I think you should keep him."
Yuugi laughed again, giving the little girl a kiss on the forehead. "You know, I think you're right."
She giggled yet again, bouncing off with her silver-blue hair flowing like clouds behind her.
Making sure no more children were in the way, he mounted Selene again, setting off very slowly.
Yami saw the little girl being held by a woman with powder blue hair, waving and smiling. Her mother, apparently.
Yami leaned over slightly, looking at the Moon prince. "You know, I like your people here. They're very smart at a very young age."
"Must be something in the water," the prince replied.
Yami laughed.
The music started up again, the two royalties hearing cheers and shouted good-byes as they left the little town. Turning in the beast of the moonlight's bare back, Yuugi waved goodbye as well.
"So just how much of a ride do we have ahead of us," Yami asked, seeing nothing but mountain side as far as the sky seemed to reach.
Yuugi gave a dark chuckle. "This is one of Selene's favorite running tracks. Just make sure you hold on tight. If you don't move fast through this territory on horseback, you'll get bombarded by the piasuse that live around here."
"Piasuse," Yami asked.
Yuugi gave a grin. "Dive-bombing faeries."
The darkness raised an eloquent eyebrow as Selene and Endymion began to pick up their pace, quickly resuming the all out run they had been at but minutes before.
~ * ~
Gosh, but it seems that this story goes on forever. I'll tell you what. I'll continue this story until the night is done. I won't have any real closure, just the first night of Yami and Yuugi's relationship. Trust me. It'll have a bang for a last chapter. After that, I'll put up another story, and that will continue until I'm satisfied with it. (I'm terrible with conclusions. The reason that most of my stories go on hiatus in the first place. I know the ending is coming soon, and I have no idea how to close it off.)
So until then, enjoy! More on the way! For future ideas, anything anyone would like to see? Space rangers? Farmers? Parallel dimensions? Just tell me!