AN I can't see my screen very well, because my eyes are watery from a terrible cold I caught recently. I don't like this. I hope you folks will enjoy this update. It picks up from where we left off last time.
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A silver wrapped gift
Chapter 5: A princess's guard
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Endymion felt Selenity slump against his chest. The close proximity made him swallow, hard. He looked down at her head. She was occasionally still trembling. He had to get her out if here. Problem was, he couldn't. She could, though.
"Selenity," he spoke softly, "Selenity, we have to go."
"Already?" she mumbled.
"Come on, you're freezing. Do your thing and let's go back."
"Fine," she muttered.
Suddenly the world started swirling before his eyes. In a second he squeezed them shut. At least now he knew why she told him to close his eyes. That was a very unpleasant sensation.
It lasted only a few moments though. A soft breeze played around them, warming their frozen bodies. He could let go of her now. She was no longer in danger of freezing. The snowflakes in her hair began to melt, making it slightly damp.
He chanced a peek around him and saw they were not in the garden. "Umh, Selenity? Where are we?"
"Hmm?" She pushed herself away from his chest and looked around. "Oh, we're on those plains on the other side of the palace than the city."
"Oh," was all he could say. When she had stepped back, his cloak had slid of her shoulders. She was now about an arm length away from him. He silently debated with himself what he liked better, holding her or watching her. He couldn't make up his mind.
Her hands rested on his chest. The touch set his skin on fire. His hands fitted neatly around her waist. As he looked at her taking in their surroundings, his heart swelled in his chest. How he loved her! He knew it was forbidden, he knew people from Earth and Moon shouldn't mingle, but he couldn't help himself. He couldn't possibly deny his heart. It spoke too loud to be ignored.
Her clear blue eyes looked up at him. "What are you staring at? Do I have something on my face?"
He laughed softly. "No, I was just..." He stopped. How could he say he was staring at her, because he couldn't believe he was holding such a marvelous being so close to him? Her scent tantalized his nose. He drowned in her cerulean blue orbs. His heart pounded in his chest.
She looked at him quizzically. "Well, what is it then?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing. What did you want to show me?"
"I saw some really strange creatures on the South Pole. They looked like misshaped birds and they swam in the water."
Endymion frowned. "Sounds like penguins."
"What?"
Her incredulous tone made him laugh. "Penguins. They are birds adjusted to living with the ocean. They can't fly anymore, but they are brilliant swimmers."
She frowned. "Why call them birds, if they don't fly?"
"Because," and he unconsciously changed his tone to match Zoicite's, "they show every biological property of a bird, except flying. But neither do ostriches. They run great distances at great speed."
"Oh," was all she said. Then, "You sounded like Mercury just now."
"Who?" he asked confused.
"My tutor," she grunted. "She is determined to teach me everything that has ever been written in a book and is occupying a spot in the library. Really tiring."
He smiled. It was amazing how much they were alike. Perhaps she was right after all. They were somewhat equals. Until she became queen.
He had to remember that. Selenity would one day be the one ruling the Moon kingdom, watching over his Earth. But that could be even long after he had died. It was all very confusing. She seemed his age now, and he suspected she was, but he couldn't be sure. Yet asking how old she was, was very, very improper. It just didn't do to ask a lady's age, as Jadeite had often admonished him.
He was jerked out of his thoughts when the pressure on his chest suddenly increased. He looked down to find the princess leaning into him, her eyes seemingly ready to fall shut. He removed one hand from her back and raised it to brush a few strands of hair from her face. His fingertips stroked her cheeks and he bit his lip at the feeling of her soft skin.
"Endymion?" it sounded sleepily.
"Yes?" he whispered.
"When you said I was pretty... Remember the other day? Did you mean it? I mean... Do you really think I'm pretty?" She was falling asleep on the spot, her muttered words barely comprehendible.
"I think you're the most gorgeous creature in the world," he whispered in her ear.
Her hands moved to grab his shoulders and steady herself. "You're very sweet," she murmured softly.
He was oddly moved by her statement. He had been called a great many things, ranging from proud to kind. But never had he been called 'sweet'. He liked it. Especially coming from her. Or maybe because. He wasn't sure, it could be both.
Carefully he lowered her to the ground. That might not be a person's first choice for a bed, but the grass was soft and the air was warm. He cradled the sleeping princess to his chest and rested his head atop hers. Before he realized he had fallen asleep as well.
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Sailor Venus stomped through the halls. Servants scurried from her path as the angered Sailor Soldier of Love threatened to plow right through them. She stalked towards the throne room, where she knew the Queen must be now.
Forgetting proper courtesy she threw open the doors and walked right up to the throne. "My Queen, I need to discuss an urgent matter with you," she interrupted the counselor's reading.
The Queen looked at the young woman in front of her and decided her face was grim enough. "Very well. You are excused, counselor. We will continue our discussion later."
The man bowed and walked away, leaving the Queen and the Sailor Soldier to themselves.
"What is it, my dear?" the Queen spoke.
"Selenity, your daughter, can not be disciplined. I don't know what is wrong with that girl, but for the past week she hasn't showed up for any of her classes and she keeps disappearing. I need your permission to search in Earth for her, because I believe that's where she has gone."
"Do you really think that's necessary?"
"She needs to know how irresponsible she is right now. She can't just ignore her training. What kind of an irresponsible queen would she make?"
Queen Selenity smiled suddenly. "I don't think a few weeks of rebellion will undo the centuries of life she has already had. But if you think it necessary, you have my permission to search for my daughter, wherever she may be."
Sailor Venus bowed in thanks and headed out, determined to begin her search immediately. She wouldn't be able to sense her princess on Earth, so she had to cover as much ground as possible. The problem was, if Selenity could not be found somewhere today, didn't mean she couldn't be there a week from now. In other words, her search was near impossible. But she couldn't mobilize the entire guard. That would arouse suspicion and maybe even panic.
No, she was on her own. This would take ages. She couldn't trace the princess either, because of something within the Earth's atmosphere. So she was really on her own.
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Angrily Sailor Venus wiped the dirt of her knees. It had been a week since she had started her search for the princess. So far, she hadn't found anything yet, not a trace. Where could the princess be? It was almost seven o'clock, Moon time. That meant she would be returning soon, otherwise she would be missed at dinner.
Great, another day wasted in search of their stubborn princess. And she couldn't just confront the Lunarian girl. That would scare her into hiding. Well, she had to make a slip up one day. Then she would catch that stupid girl.
Venus grinned. She would never say it out loud, but sometimes Selenity could cause so much trouble, it was a wonder how she made a proper princess.
Sighing Venus gathered her power around her and teleported herself back to the Moon, to her own chambers. Inspecting herself in the mirror she decided there was no way she could present herself before the Queen in such a state. Her uniform was a mess. Tonight Sailor Venus would be absent from the dinner table. Tonight she would be princess Minako of Venus.
Pulling her royal gown from her closet she untied the red ribbon from her hair. Her Senshi uniform was discarded on the floor and she walked into the bathroom for a quick shower.
That night at the dinner table, princess Minako stood out amongst her fellow Senshi. Instead of her uniform, she wore an orange gown, hugging her body, the skirt billowing around her legs.
"What's wrong, Minako? What did you do to your uniform?" Jupiter said, a teasing note in her voice.
"I accidently befouled it just before dinner. It didn't seem appropriate to appear unwashed before the Queen. So tonight, I am princess Minako, instead of Sailor Venus."
"Well, I like it," Selenity spoke. "It means I'm not the only princess for a change. And I think all the names are very confusing. What does it matter what a person wears? They still remain the same person."
Mercury sighed. "I explained this to you a thousand times, princess. We do remain the same person, but in our Senshi form, our powers are active, thus we act as your guard. Princess Minako in not in her Senshi form, thus she is off duty and cannot be called Sailor Venus."
"I know that," Selenity sighed. "I just think it's a little... excessive, that's all. You are who you are and a different name, doesn't indicate a different personality. So I get a little confused as how to address certain people."
Jupiter smiled at her princess's confession. "I know what you mean, Selenity. I get confused at times as well."
Selenity returned her Jovian guard's smile gratefully, glad she wasn't the only one struggling with the names.
Minako sighed inwardly. She wasn't particularly fond of the whole names thing either, but why did Selenity have to bring it up? As princess Minako of Venus her duties were quite different from Sailor Venus. In fact, they didn't differ much from Selenity's. Hopefully, Mercury wouldn't take the opportunity and start piling books in her arms as well. Whether she was Mercury or princess Ami, she would always find an excuse to be in the library and read a book or twenty a day. Something was seriously wrong with the blue-haired girl. What kind of girl wanted to spend the rest of her life among dusty books? Minako would rather have some fun.
No. Tomorrow she would continue her search for the princess's whereabouts on Earth. And tonight was too late for Mercury anyways to load her with knowledge. So instead she enjoyed dinner.
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AN If you really want to express your sympathy to my poor little head, please leave a review. And I'm not sure how much writing I'll be able to get done with this cold, so it may take some time before I update again. I'll try to be as fast as possible, I promise.
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A silver wrapped gift
Chapter 5: A princess's guard
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Endymion felt Selenity slump against his chest. The close proximity made him swallow, hard. He looked down at her head. She was occasionally still trembling. He had to get her out if here. Problem was, he couldn't. She could, though.
"Selenity," he spoke softly, "Selenity, we have to go."
"Already?" she mumbled.
"Come on, you're freezing. Do your thing and let's go back."
"Fine," she muttered.
Suddenly the world started swirling before his eyes. In a second he squeezed them shut. At least now he knew why she told him to close his eyes. That was a very unpleasant sensation.
It lasted only a few moments though. A soft breeze played around them, warming their frozen bodies. He could let go of her now. She was no longer in danger of freezing. The snowflakes in her hair began to melt, making it slightly damp.
He chanced a peek around him and saw they were not in the garden. "Umh, Selenity? Where are we?"
"Hmm?" She pushed herself away from his chest and looked around. "Oh, we're on those plains on the other side of the palace than the city."
"Oh," was all he could say. When she had stepped back, his cloak had slid of her shoulders. She was now about an arm length away from him. He silently debated with himself what he liked better, holding her or watching her. He couldn't make up his mind.
Her hands rested on his chest. The touch set his skin on fire. His hands fitted neatly around her waist. As he looked at her taking in their surroundings, his heart swelled in his chest. How he loved her! He knew it was forbidden, he knew people from Earth and Moon shouldn't mingle, but he couldn't help himself. He couldn't possibly deny his heart. It spoke too loud to be ignored.
Her clear blue eyes looked up at him. "What are you staring at? Do I have something on my face?"
He laughed softly. "No, I was just..." He stopped. How could he say he was staring at her, because he couldn't believe he was holding such a marvelous being so close to him? Her scent tantalized his nose. He drowned in her cerulean blue orbs. His heart pounded in his chest.
She looked at him quizzically. "Well, what is it then?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. It's nothing. What did you want to show me?"
"I saw some really strange creatures on the South Pole. They looked like misshaped birds and they swam in the water."
Endymion frowned. "Sounds like penguins."
"What?"
Her incredulous tone made him laugh. "Penguins. They are birds adjusted to living with the ocean. They can't fly anymore, but they are brilliant swimmers."
She frowned. "Why call them birds, if they don't fly?"
"Because," and he unconsciously changed his tone to match Zoicite's, "they show every biological property of a bird, except flying. But neither do ostriches. They run great distances at great speed."
"Oh," was all she said. Then, "You sounded like Mercury just now."
"Who?" he asked confused.
"My tutor," she grunted. "She is determined to teach me everything that has ever been written in a book and is occupying a spot in the library. Really tiring."
He smiled. It was amazing how much they were alike. Perhaps she was right after all. They were somewhat equals. Until she became queen.
He had to remember that. Selenity would one day be the one ruling the Moon kingdom, watching over his Earth. But that could be even long after he had died. It was all very confusing. She seemed his age now, and he suspected she was, but he couldn't be sure. Yet asking how old she was, was very, very improper. It just didn't do to ask a lady's age, as Jadeite had often admonished him.
He was jerked out of his thoughts when the pressure on his chest suddenly increased. He looked down to find the princess leaning into him, her eyes seemingly ready to fall shut. He removed one hand from her back and raised it to brush a few strands of hair from her face. His fingertips stroked her cheeks and he bit his lip at the feeling of her soft skin.
"Endymion?" it sounded sleepily.
"Yes?" he whispered.
"When you said I was pretty... Remember the other day? Did you mean it? I mean... Do you really think I'm pretty?" She was falling asleep on the spot, her muttered words barely comprehendible.
"I think you're the most gorgeous creature in the world," he whispered in her ear.
Her hands moved to grab his shoulders and steady herself. "You're very sweet," she murmured softly.
He was oddly moved by her statement. He had been called a great many things, ranging from proud to kind. But never had he been called 'sweet'. He liked it. Especially coming from her. Or maybe because. He wasn't sure, it could be both.
Carefully he lowered her to the ground. That might not be a person's first choice for a bed, but the grass was soft and the air was warm. He cradled the sleeping princess to his chest and rested his head atop hers. Before he realized he had fallen asleep as well.
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Sailor Venus stomped through the halls. Servants scurried from her path as the angered Sailor Soldier of Love threatened to plow right through them. She stalked towards the throne room, where she knew the Queen must be now.
Forgetting proper courtesy she threw open the doors and walked right up to the throne. "My Queen, I need to discuss an urgent matter with you," she interrupted the counselor's reading.
The Queen looked at the young woman in front of her and decided her face was grim enough. "Very well. You are excused, counselor. We will continue our discussion later."
The man bowed and walked away, leaving the Queen and the Sailor Soldier to themselves.
"What is it, my dear?" the Queen spoke.
"Selenity, your daughter, can not be disciplined. I don't know what is wrong with that girl, but for the past week she hasn't showed up for any of her classes and she keeps disappearing. I need your permission to search in Earth for her, because I believe that's where she has gone."
"Do you really think that's necessary?"
"She needs to know how irresponsible she is right now. She can't just ignore her training. What kind of an irresponsible queen would she make?"
Queen Selenity smiled suddenly. "I don't think a few weeks of rebellion will undo the centuries of life she has already had. But if you think it necessary, you have my permission to search for my daughter, wherever she may be."
Sailor Venus bowed in thanks and headed out, determined to begin her search immediately. She wouldn't be able to sense her princess on Earth, so she had to cover as much ground as possible. The problem was, if Selenity could not be found somewhere today, didn't mean she couldn't be there a week from now. In other words, her search was near impossible. But she couldn't mobilize the entire guard. That would arouse suspicion and maybe even panic.
No, she was on her own. This would take ages. She couldn't trace the princess either, because of something within the Earth's atmosphere. So she was really on her own.
~~~~~~
Angrily Sailor Venus wiped the dirt of her knees. It had been a week since she had started her search for the princess. So far, she hadn't found anything yet, not a trace. Where could the princess be? It was almost seven o'clock, Moon time. That meant she would be returning soon, otherwise she would be missed at dinner.
Great, another day wasted in search of their stubborn princess. And she couldn't just confront the Lunarian girl. That would scare her into hiding. Well, she had to make a slip up one day. Then she would catch that stupid girl.
Venus grinned. She would never say it out loud, but sometimes Selenity could cause so much trouble, it was a wonder how she made a proper princess.
Sighing Venus gathered her power around her and teleported herself back to the Moon, to her own chambers. Inspecting herself in the mirror she decided there was no way she could present herself before the Queen in such a state. Her uniform was a mess. Tonight Sailor Venus would be absent from the dinner table. Tonight she would be princess Minako of Venus.
Pulling her royal gown from her closet she untied the red ribbon from her hair. Her Senshi uniform was discarded on the floor and she walked into the bathroom for a quick shower.
That night at the dinner table, princess Minako stood out amongst her fellow Senshi. Instead of her uniform, she wore an orange gown, hugging her body, the skirt billowing around her legs.
"What's wrong, Minako? What did you do to your uniform?" Jupiter said, a teasing note in her voice.
"I accidently befouled it just before dinner. It didn't seem appropriate to appear unwashed before the Queen. So tonight, I am princess Minako, instead of Sailor Venus."
"Well, I like it," Selenity spoke. "It means I'm not the only princess for a change. And I think all the names are very confusing. What does it matter what a person wears? They still remain the same person."
Mercury sighed. "I explained this to you a thousand times, princess. We do remain the same person, but in our Senshi form, our powers are active, thus we act as your guard. Princess Minako in not in her Senshi form, thus she is off duty and cannot be called Sailor Venus."
"I know that," Selenity sighed. "I just think it's a little... excessive, that's all. You are who you are and a different name, doesn't indicate a different personality. So I get a little confused as how to address certain people."
Jupiter smiled at her princess's confession. "I know what you mean, Selenity. I get confused at times as well."
Selenity returned her Jovian guard's smile gratefully, glad she wasn't the only one struggling with the names.
Minako sighed inwardly. She wasn't particularly fond of the whole names thing either, but why did Selenity have to bring it up? As princess Minako of Venus her duties were quite different from Sailor Venus. In fact, they didn't differ much from Selenity's. Hopefully, Mercury wouldn't take the opportunity and start piling books in her arms as well. Whether she was Mercury or princess Ami, she would always find an excuse to be in the library and read a book or twenty a day. Something was seriously wrong with the blue-haired girl. What kind of girl wanted to spend the rest of her life among dusty books? Minako would rather have some fun.
No. Tomorrow she would continue her search for the princess's whereabouts on Earth. And tonight was too late for Mercury anyways to load her with knowledge. So instead she enjoyed dinner.
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AN If you really want to express your sympathy to my poor little head, please leave a review. And I'm not sure how much writing I'll be able to get done with this cold, so it may take some time before I update again. I'll try to be as fast as possible, I promise.