* 2021-12-21 Update
Welcome everyone to the Sequel! Yes, I'm finally finishing it. Just finished updating a Late Night Escape as I felt that Darien's approach was too forced. So I added his perspective and changed their interactions. Finally happy with the end result.
As for this story, please let me remind you of something, this is an OC story. And no, it's not a fluffy smut as I wanted to bring a more realistic point to SM. Simply because although I will always love this story, it prettifies fighting, at least the original 90s series that I'm familiar did. And there's nothing pretty about war. There's nothing pretty about fighting in the name of love and justice…
As such, this story will deal with some trauma's the generals and scouts have to get over. But don't worry, I believe soul mates have to end up together and everyone deserves a happy ending, you just need to get through a lot of shit to get to it.
So, again, please be warned that my stories contain mature subject and are PG18+++. There is graphic violence, coarse language, sexual situations and triggers as my characters deal with emotional, physical or mental traumas.
I still hope you enjoy the story!
A Final Escape
Chapter 1
Prologue
"You're not going to help me?" asked the long-legged young woman without looking up. Her fingers didn't stop as her mind conjured a thousand schemes to bend the man sitting across her to her will.
"No." Short, curt, straight to point, was his style of communication. AND, the woman in front of him was testing his patience. Yes, she was a Princess of a whole darn planet. Yes, she was a guardian of the solar system and the Crystal's bearer's protector. Yes, she was the avatar of the Goddess of Love. But god damn, he was not a man who got involved with drama. AND was there ever anyone more involved with drama than Princess Melaina?
Without any outward reaction to his refusal, her nimble fingers continued braiding seductively a strand of golden flaked hair. Involuntarily, his eyes shifter to her lips as she nibbled them distractedly, ascertaining him.
No matter how drop dead gorgeous the young woman was, it took more than a pretty face and sexy body to tempt him.
Nevertheless, her body was tempting… The Tuscan sun gown left little to the imagination. But that was the Venusian style, after all. A low cut over the bosom with loose fabric tumbling to the floor, golden chains embracing the satin to the plum figure, and a high cut on the right thigh leaving lean long legs for his perusal. Interestingly enough, no matter how she shifted, the fabric never revealed much more. Her posture, her presence remained elegant.
'Yup, damn Venusians! Always teasing, always taunting…' it was probably why he trusted the Venusians the least out of all the Solar system's people.
And yet, it was the most desired woman in the whole system who had cornered him that morning with the rising sun. So, he took the unexpected turn of events to study her up-close. Melaina had eyes painted the color of the night sky, in which light reflected like stars. Her figure was framed with long straight hair down to her thighs, a mix of light blond and pure gold streaks. Of course, her lips were naturally the color of ripe strawberries, pouting mischievously. If that wasn't enough, she had a voice that matched the best symphony. Melodious. Add her ample bosom, a tiny waist, a great shaped ass, long legs…
AND he wasn't having it.
Because this Princess was known for one thing in particular: her long list of lovers, both male and female, throughout the kingdoms. As of yet, no one had satisfied her enough to keep her for more than a night.
Not to mention that she was unfortunately as fickle as a Venusian love interest… But what most Venusians lacked, she had ample of. Brains. As the leader of the Inner Guard, the girl was as shrewd, calculating, and effective as they came. That was the only reason her whole seduction was not lost on him as much as he would have liked it to be. Which only made him more reserved, detached, and of course, wary.
But Kunzite wasn't about to let his reputation be tarnished by being added to that list.
Princess Melaina was trying to corner him like a mouse.
As her arm draped languorously over the back of her chair, allowing her body to stretch languorously, his senses came alive. They blared danger! Even if the danger was but a petite female; his risk assessing skills never wavered. Melaina was more dangerous and lethal than a fully armed male. Just your "typical" royal lioness playing with her pray. Yup… Really.
"So, you are not going to help Terra form an alliance with the most powerful kingdom in the System?" A calculated pause as she examined her sharp nails. "Interesting."
Her focus re-shifted back to the man as she took in every little miniscule detail of him through her long lashes. Kunzite was the Duke of the North-Eastern continent of Terra. More importantly, the head General of the Shittennou and the personal guard/advisor of Prince Endymion, the royal heir of Terra. As the eldest of the guard, he was renowned as an incomparable tactician of few words. 'But not much else…' she thought. There was a mystery to him. Why chose a man that barely spoke to lead?
That baffled her.
Nothing that they had said so far had given her a glimpse of what was going in that head of his. Nothing gave any sign of weakness, of temptation. All her attributes seemed lost on the man… He was as plain as the grey soldier uniform he wore.
Of course, most women would believe him a fine specimen, a perfect example of masculine attributes. With broad shoulders and a domineering presence, the General stood easily above most people. Plus, few people had hair as white as freshly fallen snow. But then his grey eyes reminded you of metal; cold, unmovable, fixated. His lips were thin lines, unexpressive matched only by his perpetually tattooed frown.
Ice. Yes, that was what he reminded her of.
His looks had nothing to do with the name he was given. Kunzite was a violet/pink/clear gem that symbolized emotions. A stone that could be used to open the channel between the mind and the heart; to connect them, to even heal them both. It was used throughout the system to experience unconditional love without restraint.
And yet, looking at the General, there was no love there. Instead, it was like communicating with a stone wall. 'Really entertaining…' she mused with all the sarcasm found in the Solar System and then some.
But respect the man, she did. Melaina could count on two hands the people who didn't fall under her charm. And the fact Kunzite didn't treat her as a ditzy Venusian had fortified the need to treat him with equal regard.
Unexpectedly, she sensed a hint of his patience snapping.
Dropping the act, she sat up straight in her chair, assuming her Royal Guardian posture. She pressed: "I'm not going to waste our time. If you do not plan on helping, just stay out of my way."
With that, she rose elegantly and made to leave, but the General's hand shot out, motioning for her to sit.
"Before I even consider answering, why are you doing this?" His eyes were glued to hers, unmoving. "You know Endymion's reputation. How would this match be beneficial to the Moon Princess? And more importantly, how would it benefit you?"
Her easy laugh broke out before he was done talking, making him even more wary. How could she laugh about such a serious matter? Was she seriously that fickle?
"I am the physical and spiritual manifestation of my Goddess. Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, granted me all I could ever want. Health, happiness, love, beauty, strength, intelligence… Why would I need anything else?" Venus answered without the Venusian presumptuous airs. "General Kunzite, not all people are manipulative and calculating, with malicious intents… But then again, having to clean up Endymion's messes must come with a price." To which she got a grunt out of him.
"No, I don't get anything out of it but to accomplish my role as the manifestation of my Goddess. She allows me to see true matches. And my beloved Serenity and your foolish Endymion are one, unfortunately."
"He is no longer the Casanova he was five years ago, nor is he or has he ever been foolish." His tone dropped one note deeper, a coldness not missed by her sharp senses.
"Details, my dear, details. If he hadn't wasted his time fooling around and creating chaos in the high families on Terra and the other kingdoms, we wouldn't be having this discussion. An alliance between the Moon Princess and the Terra Prince should have been a given." A deep sigh accompanied the last part. "But it is not so now because of his black sheep reputation."
"How is his reputation any different from yours, milady?" He pointed out in a matter of fact manner.
"Has any of my lovers started a war because I refused to marry them after I slept with them?" Venus answered indifferently, unaffected at all by his small jab.
"Point taken. But still, how can 'true love' benefit the Moon Kingdom? I do not see Queen Selena allowing her only daughter and heir to marry a tarnished Prince."
"That is where you are wrong. She will because out of all the people in the system, she knows it first hand. It is the source of her power; it is what feeds the Crystal. The more intense the unconditional love she feels for someone, the stronger she is; the more unconditional is her love for everyone in the Solar system that she protects. But since her true love has passed away, the Queen has felt a sorrow and emptiness that only her daughter can lift." Her hands returned to her braid, her movement a minuscule display of the unease she felt. "And seeing her daughter find love as true as hers, she will be reassured that all will be well."
"If that is the case, why do we even need to step in?" This conversation brought interesting facts to light but he had other obligations to attend to. It was way past time to get to the point.
"Relax Kunzite darling, we're not done yet. Your impatience is practically saturating the air."
Glaring suddenly at the Princess, he thought: 'How dare this chit of a woman read me.'
"Relax, will you! I was born with the ability to read emotions, even hints of them." Her finger roamed his knee lightly. "You're good but not that good. Work on it if you like, since we'll be working together from now on." He had expected the playful wink followed by her blowing him a kiss, but not her touch. Did Princess Venus seriously really say and do what ever came to her mind… How could she show so little decorum?
"We need to step in because they need us to guide them. So, they won't do anything foolish. If we want the other kingdoms to accept their relationship, you need to make Endymion act like a proper courting Prince, with a capable hand at ruling. And I need to make sure my little Serenity doesn't do anything foolish and give in before their relationship is accepted. Innocent girls are far too easily swept off their feet by dashing young man running after them. We can't have that happen, now can we?" The last sentence was pronounced like a death sentence. "But where's the fun, the romance, the excitement in that!?" Her sudden change of mood, matched by her pouty outburst actually cracked a side of the General's mouth. He almost grinned.
Kunzite could do without any of those. After all, Endymion had too much of those already… Why couldn't have his Prince met the Princess sooner?
There was no point in regret, only in action. And Princess Venus was right, it would be very beneficial if Terra had an alliance with the Moon. And if his Prince had finally found a woman that would keep him occupied, FOR GOOD, maybe Kunzite could finally get a life of his own.
As four starving and sick men weaved their way through the cold freezing tunnels, the leader of the band with long white hair kept silent. Memory after memory of his life back on Terra assaulted his mind. Intermixed with fragmented glimpses of his clone's memories, it was enough to distract a man while splitting his skull in half in pain.
'Melaina will have my head… Served on a gold platter… With a cherry pie stuffed in my mouth…' He could picture it clearly as she stood over him laughing manically.
Kunzite had failed.
He had failed the Shittennou; he had failed his Prince; he had failed Terra. Worst, he had failed the Venusian Princess… The most vengeful Guardian of the System.
And though he feared no man or circumstances, he felt uneasy about the retribution she would inflict on him…
But that would have to wait. Kunzite needed to get his men and himself to safety. As they reached the cave's opening, avoiding detection from all the monsters lurking in the underground tunnels, he felt reassured. He knew this scenery. His home country. His native land. The tall snow-covered pine trees lower down the mountain would provide them with all they'd need.
Once they had their strength back, they would search for Endymion. The broken memories of his clone already giving him a hint of where to look.
