Authors Note:
Forgive me for taking so long... I've been wanting to add more to this story but... I don't think I can make it longer.
I'm use to like 200 page stories but this one should be under 30 because sometimes... to express a story you don't need a million pages.
Enjoy!
Artemis gently brushed off his King's shoulder and made sure he looked his best.
"It does not matter Artie," Endymion mumbled to him and the old advisor shook his head.
"It does my King," he breathed as he turned and watched the transport before them dock. Steam rose from its nuts and bolts as it's door slowly opened. Heels. Higher than he had ever seen her wear enveloped her feet and led to long slender legs barely covered by a shimmering white silk skirt. He couldn't stop himself from studying every inch of her and he sucked in a deep breath as his gaze traveled up her slim perfect neck to the glowing face before him. Granted he should have been use to the Senshi uniform by now but this one was different… it was solid white save for a small patch in the front that displayed eight separate color ribbons. Gold wrapped around her shoulders as a cloak rested on top of that, it's billowing fabric dragging on the floor behind her. She held a long slender staff in her right hand that had a small glowing globe at the top of it. She looked young, ageless.
"King Endymion," she greeted stepping before him, her hands clasped before her reverently. Her voice was exactly the same and it sent tingles up his spine. "Forgive me for imposing… I am afraid I do not get out much and would not relinquish this opportunity," she confessed with a small grin and he couldn't stop the small curve of his lips upwards.
"I imagine they keep the most powerful being in the universe under tight lock and key," he whispered and she smiled lifting her head to him.
"Surprisingly," she mumbled thoughtfully and he motioned out of the room into his palace.
"So, you impose upon this poor Earthling in order to feel a bit of freedom?" He questioned and she had the decency to blush a little bit.
"It seems I have. Perhaps that is why the senate keeps such a close guard on me… I am apparently reckless," she responded amused at herself and he grinned a bit. "May I meet your daughter King Endymion?" She asked softly and Endymion motioned forward.
"It seems she would like nothing more," he whispered and Senshi Cosmos looked at him curiously. This world was strange. It sparked with electricity and she felt her heart rate accelerate. The crystal walls seemed to shimmer and she felt a sudden comfort in them.
"Do you have historical documents?" She suddenly inquired and Endymion raised an eyebrow at her.
"Are you an avid reader Senshi Cosmos?" He questioned and she interlaced her fingers behind herself as she turned to face him.
"Those who dwell alone usually are King," she responded easily and he looked at her a bit sadly, his daughter's words bouncing around his head.
"You are welcome to read them but they may not make much sense," he offered and she looked at him curiously. "They tell of a man who fell in love with the same woman over and over only to keep losing her," he informed as they stepped before two giant doors. "Inside is my council made up of the previous Senshi and than my daughter with her Senshi," he said motioning towards the door and it opened before her.
"Are you leaving King Endymion?" She asked quietly taking a step towards him and Endymion let out a breath, her proximity causing his heart to sped up a bit. Apparently she did not get out much cause she was grossly unaware of the appropriate amount of personal space.
"Do you need me to stay Senshi Cosmos?" He asked quietly and she smiled a bit.
"I think it makes much sense your highness," she whispered and he blinked.
"For me to stay?" He questioned.
"For one man to love one woman his whole life no matter what," she breathed than bowed respectfully. He felt his throat go dry as he watched her proceed into the throne room. He meant to leave, to be out of her presence as soon as he could but stupidly he found himself following. She was magnetic. Flawless. Everything he remembered and more except she had no idea who he was.
"Senshi Cosmos. I am Minet. The last remaining of the planet Venus and one of the predecessors to the Senshi now before you," a woman draped in an orange gown announced as she walked towards the tall glowing senshi. "We are honored by your presence," she continued and Senshi Cosmos bowed.
"I am honored to be here," she breathed respectfully and Minet visibly shook at her voice. It took a moment for her to recover than she turned to her fellow council members.
"We are the Earthen Council. We are reborn princesses from the fallen worlds of the Milky Way. We have served as advisors to Senshi Moon and her Senshi for the last thousand years."
"How very blessed she is," Senshi Cosmos observed when suddenly the woman of question approached. Her pink hair was held up in two diamond buns at the top of her head and a bright pink skirt hugged lovingly at her waist. Senshi Cosmos bowed to her and Senshi Moon returned the gesture.
"I am Senshi Moon," she announced and Senshi Cosmos tilted her head to the side, inspecting the woman before her thoroughly.
"You do not look unstable," she mumbled and Senshi Moon let out a small chuckle. "But we did only just meet."
"I am afraid I am a bit unstable… grew up without a mother the past thousand years," Senshi Moon returned and Senshi Cosmos nodded slowly.
"If it makes you feel better I've met many unstable people who had two parents their whole life. I am afraid your excuse would hold no water in my eyes," she replied casually and a chuckle off to their left made them turn that way.
"She has a point," Litelle argued with a small curtsy and Senshi Cosmos grinned at the brunette beauty draped in a dark green.
"Why did you call me here?" Senshi Cosmos questioned and Senshi Moon let out a deep breath.
"How was I to know they would send the most powerful woman in the universe?" She questioned and the silver haired beauty nodded.
"I must confess that title seems unjustified… I have never actually blown anything up to justify such a moniker," she mumbled thoughtfully and Senshi Moon suddenly giggled.
"Well, perhaps you are a grand fraud. Shall I try and defeat you?" She questioned and Senshi Cosmos let out a breath.
"That would be rather messy and I am afraid I have a respect for your father not to kill you," she whispered conversationally and Minet blinked as a smirk came over her features, impressed at Cosmos' dry wit. "So, shall you stop being unstable than?" She asked and Senshi Moon smiled at her. She looked different. Her eyes were gray, her hair white… but inside… her aura was the same.
"I am afraid I will continue to be unstable for seven or so more months Senshi Cosmos," she breathed and Minet's eyes suddenly widened.
"How very knowing of you," Senshi Cosmos offered and Senshi Moon gently reached out for the older senshi's hand. Cosmos took a small step back than gently reached out her fingertips and when their fingertips grazed she felt a shock travel through her. She stepped back immediately.
"I am pregnant with the next heir to our line," Senshi Moon breathed and gasps filled the room around her. "I wanted you to know," she whispered, a few tears spilling from her eyes when suddenly arms rushed forward to embrace the Senshi. Senshi Cosmos took a few steps back in alarm. She watched quietly as each began to shower love and excitement over the small Senshi. Confusion spread across her face as she tried to understand their rituals.
"Congratulations," a voice breathed beside her and she turned to encounter deep ocean eyes. "I am going to be a grandfather," he finished and she glanced at the King than at his celebrating daughter.
"Is that what she means?" Senshi Cosmos whispered and he gently touched her fingertips, taking her hand in his own.
"You really are sheltered aren't you Senshi Cosmos?" He questioned and she felt a tremor travel through her yet she couldn't pull away. She gulped to try and moisten her drying throat as she stared into his eyes. They were deep and inviting and she felt a bit nauseated in her stomach.
"Apparently. Why would she want me here to share in this private moment?" She asked softly and Endymion lifted his shoulders in a deep shrug.
"Perhaps she did not know they would send you… or she wanted someone grand to be at her big announcement. She is unstable after all," he mused and Senshi Cosmos felt herself giggle. Her laughter was the sweetest melody and he closed his eyes reveling in it. "You sound beautiful," he breathed out and she blinked surprised. He took in a deep breath than nodded to her. "Forgive me. I must go congratulate my baby," he said softly and she nodded, his compliment still bouncing around in her stomach. She felt heat travel through her and she quickly shook it away.
"You have traveled far Senshi Cosmos. May I escort you to your quarters?" A soft female voice said beside her and the soldier turned from the celebrating group to the woman before her. "I am Lunar. I shall be your guide while you are here. You look like you have many questions," she offered sweetly and Senshi Cosmos nodded, turning away from the scene to follow the woman out of the room.
"I do. Would you mind me asking them?" Senshi Cosmos replied and Lunar bowed her head gently.
"I will do my best to answer Senshi," she breathed and Cosmos nodded, gently following her out of the room. What a strange day it had been.
The flame flickered near her and she turned another page in Earth's Historical Documents. The galaxy's moon hung high above her as the rest of the kingdom slept peacefully. She read often yet had never had the pleasure to read something so riveting. Earth had been quite detailed in their documenting and she found herself engrossed in the pages before her. She felt as if her mind was spinning… a whole galaxy was existing with all of these lives and she had just known them as a name. She had no idea of their story… their grand…beautiful story…
"You do not sleep do you?" A male voice asked softly and Senshi Cosmos' eyes widened in surprise. She turned her head and encountered tired blue eyes before her.
"King Endymion… I am afraid you have just done the impossible," she informed, her frame lounged on two chairs before him and he waited for her to continue. "You have snuck upon me and I did not know," she confessed and he let out a breath and took a seat beside her. She was occupying their Royal Library where no doubt Lunar had shown her their Historical Documents. She was out of her Senshi uniform and in a simple night shift and thin robe and he had to admit he liked her much more that way. She looked… normal to him.
"I shall not tell anyone you are losing your touch," he breathed and she smirked sliding back down in her seat, the documents resting on her knees as her legs were propped up in another chair facing her. He was greatly amused at her relaxed posture. Reminded him of when she was a teenager.
"If these documents are correct King Endymion… you are a very old man," she mused turning another page and Endymion smiled a bit to himself.
"Indeed I am," he mused quietly, his gaze turning out the windows towards the Moon. When he turned back to her he found himself being stared down by the grey eyed beauty.
"Did you love her greatly?" She asked softly, her eyes alight with intrigue and he found himself a bit intoxicated by her interest. She was like a young teenager enthralled by a grand romance novel.
"I loved her like no one will ever love another human on this planet," he breathed and she pressed her lips together as that thought settled in her brain.
"We do not have grand love stories in LaLuna," she whispered sitting back up and looking at the worn sheets once more. "I find…" she began than took a deep breath turning back to him. "I find reading this gives me a perspective of what I am doing. What I fight everyday to save…" she smiled softly and his heart beat a bit faster at it. "Love is a grand thing to save," she mumbled running her slender digits over the sheets. With a sigh she closed the book and let her feet drop to the floor. "What happened to your heart?" She asked quietly and he let out a breath as that question seemed to linger on his chest.
"Stupid crystal," he mumbled suddenly and she blinked. "She was a very powerful and loving woman… she desired peace and she worked her existence to assure it for this galaxy. Because of her sacrifice we have it today," he finished slowly and she ran her fingers over the worn book and placed it back on the table before her.
"I think I would have liked her," Senshi Cosmos mumbled and Endymion smirked a bit.
"I'm sure you would have," he grinned and she sat back down, pulling her knees up to her chest to spy him.
"You do not seem like a normal King," she observed and he shrugged.
"I've had time to get over my stuffiness. Hopefully with the birth of my granddaughter this world will let me retire," he mused.
"How do you know it will be a girl?" She questioned and he laced his fingers together, getting comfy knowing these questions weren't going to stop anytime soon.
"My wife's lineage… she is the keeper of a powerful crystal that transfers from mother to daughter," he answered and she smiled a bit at him.
"Why does this realm have so many Senshi?"
"Why have only one when you can have nine amazing women?"
"What does it feel like to be in love?"
He paused as her question floated between them.
"I think it is different for every person. Each time I did it even though it was to the same woman it felt different each time…" He breathed and she tilted her head curiously at him. "When I was Endymion I felt like I had found my match, my other half and when she was around I felt complete… When I was Mamoru she was like coming home. When I had her I was never lonely, I had a family."
"Some days I feel as if I'm missing something… as if a part of me hasn't started. Is that odd?" She questioned quite vulnerably and he let out a breath and gently took her hand in his own. She held her breath as the spark traveled through her once more at his touch.
"Senshi Cosmos… that may be the only normal thing about you," he grinned and she let out a small laugh. Gently he leaned forward and brushed his lips against her knuckles. Immediately she yanked from him her frame already on the other side of the room before he realized she had pulled away. He blinked looking up to see an odd mix of emotions suddenly flicker across her face. "Are you all right?" He questioned quickly and she nodded and bowed before him.
"Forgive me," she breathed and she vanished from the room.