Author's Notes:
Oh the sweet reviews I have gotten over my stories... yall all must be such excellent liars!
Thank you for loving my stories so much and letting me know!
Enjoy this! It's a cliffhanger... Sorry! Kisses!
Sunlight crept in through the open windows and she blinked her eyes open towards it. Bright red eyes stared back at her and she jumped immediately.
"Why must Earthlings do that?" Senshi Cosmos hissed and Usa grinned at her.
"Father says you are chatty. Shall we chat?" She questioned jovially and Cosmos sat up, eyeing the woman curiously. She was no longer in her Senshi form but the hair easily gave her away.
"Yes," she responded and the woman before her relaxed leaning against one of her bed's massive banisters. "Are you excited about being with child?" She questioned and Usa smiled sweetly at her.
"I could not dream of a better dream and I am married to the keeper of dreams," she smirked and Cosmos smiled slightly.
"Are you worried about becoming a mother?"
"No. I had a grand example… I have many memories and stories that will help me," she breathed and Cosmos pulled her knees up and rested her chin upon them.
"You sounded bitter at your mother yesterday for leaving you," she offered and Usa leaned forward towards her, her eyes suddenly going a bit intense.
"Not at her… at the universe that robbed me of her. That took my best friend…" She breathed and Cosmos frowned sadly at her.
"Why have I not heard of her? Someone of her power should have registered with the order… we would have been watching her, protecting her, pur…" She trailed off and Usa grinned.
"Pursing her," she finished and Cosmos gulped a bit. "Your order did that indeed," she breathed. "If you have not heard of her she is most likely long gone by now…" She whispered, a small tear escaping from her eye and suddenly Cosmos was there wiping it away. Usa gulped at the sudden interaction and the Senshi shrunk back surprised at herself.
"This world has a strange gravitational pull that creates personality shifts doesn't it?" She suddenly questioned and Chiba Usa let out a laugh.
"No. You are just becoming more human by hanging around them," she smiled taking the Senshi's hand.
"I am a human. There are only a few of my same species in La Luna but they are not as touchy as your culture seems to be," she mused and Chiba Usa laughed once more than pulled the woman into her arms for a hug. Cosmos stilled, her body slightly tensing as the Princess held onto her. "Very touchy," she breathed.
"Indeed. What planet are you from Senshi Cosmos?" Usa inquired releasing her and Senshi Cosmos let out a soft breath.
"I am not from a planet. I was born from the Star Couldren and raised on La Luna," Senshi Cosmos informed politely and Usa nodded slightly.
"Who raised you?" She inquired and Cosmos pressed her lips together thoughtfully. This woman was rather curious wasn't she?
"I am not sure where this line of questioning is going," she pressed and Usa shrugged easily.
"Just curious about your life. You seem wild yet contained. A perfect balance," Usa mumbled studying the woman before her curiously. She was calm, at ease yet Usa could feel a fire raging in her of adventure, of humor.
"Perfection is not a goal I aspire too," Cosmos admitted with a small smirk and Usa nodded.
"Do you have a name other than Cosmos?" The Princess inquired and Cosmos stilled for a moment as that question seemed to hit her. Usa held her breath a moment as she watched a conflicted expression flicker across the young woman's face before her than quickly vanish as she let out a breath.
"No. I do not," Cosmos whispered than her bright grey eyes met Usa's red. "Should I?" She questioned quietly and Usa gently took her hand in her own and patted it reassuringly.
"We could call you Coszi," Usa joked and Cosmos face scrunched in dislike. "We could choose a name for you," Usa offered with a smile and Cosmos gently shook her head.
"I am content with who I am. I serve a grand purpose. Meeting people like you and your father remind me of the great mission I have been given, the great honor I have been chosen to protect," she soothed gently running her thumb over the princess' hand.
"I have much to learn from you Senshi Cosmos," Usa breathed quietly, a few tears pricking at her bright red eyes.
"Forgive me for changing the subject… but may I ask how the human race becomes with child?" Cosmos questioned with a delicately raised eyebrow and Usa's eyes widened and laughter bubbled from her lips.
"Oh my goodness…" She breathed shocked. "The irony," she mumbled to herself than glanced at the young woman before her who was not in the least bit embarrassed by her forthright question. "Did they not teach you about your own anatomy?" She questioned and Cosmos eyes narrowed playfully at her and Usa immediately grabbed a pillow smacking the warrior with it. "Oh you are playing me!" Usa cried in enjoyment and Cosmos giggled moving away from her attack. "Stuffy Warrior my arse!" Usa bellowed chasing after the playful warrior.
She felt her power coming down the hall and she braced herself. She let out a deep breath and her bright blue eyes lifted towards the slightly ajar door to her office.
"You can come in Senshi Cosmos." Minet called as she glanced back at the papers strewn across her mahogany desk. The door creaked open and bright grey eyes and white hair poked inside as soon the graceful warrior entered and moved to stand before her desk. Minet sighed and glanced at the famed warrior. "You have questions for me don't you?" She asked and Cosmos nodded, a smile on her pert lips and Minet motioned to a chair before her desk. "Go ahead."
"I have read your historical documents a bit past the fall of the Moon Kingdom and into your awakening," Cosmos began and Minet's eyes widened a bit in shock.
"Wow… you really don't sleep," the Venetian Princess mumbled.
"Was it difficult to be a senshi among people?" The odd question caught Minet off guard completely.
"Yes. We had something called a, secret identity," Minet suddenly giggled at the memory. "By day we were average teenagers and by night we were saving the world against the scum of the Negaverse," Minet finished and Senshi Cosmos nodded as her eyes suddenly wandered the room. They stilled on a large life size painting to the left. Minet shifted uncomfortably as it displayed a portrait of the original Nine Senshi in their ultimate forms. Thankfully their faces were a bit blurred due to the abstract nature of the painting.
"Is that your team?" She asked softly and Minet nodded with a small smile.
"We are all old women now I am afraid… after we lost our Senshi Moon we did the one thing she wished most for us," Minet paused and than smiled deeply at the Senshi before her. "Live a semi-normal life."
"What is that like?" Cosmos questioned quietly and Minet sighed.
"Boring," she snarked and Cosmos turned her amused gaze back to the woman before her.
"Do you miss her desperately?"
"Serenity?" Minet questioned and Cosmos nodded softly. "Every hour…" Minet breathed and her eyes misted a bit. "She is my cousin. We were two peas in a pod… our Princess. I'm not sure how it works in the Galactic Order but in our galaxy she was our shining star and all of our planets were devoted to her protection."
"That seems quite excessive for a level three," Cosmos questioned suddenly and Minet felt her tiers curl up in a smirk.
"We did not learn about your ranking system until we were way past the point of caring about it. In our small galaxy… a level three is still quite the shining star."
"Even now without your powers you must know you radiate a level five," Cosmos pointed out, her eyes locked on the blondes before her.
"Guess I haven't lost my touch…" Minet winked at her and Cosmos felt the corners of her lips curl upwards.
"Thank you for your time Lady Minet," Cosmos smiled as she stood and bowed deeply to the ex-senshi. "Forgive me for saying but I would have greatly enjoyed seeing you and your warriors in their hey-day."
Minet bowed her head thankfully at the compliment and she pressed her lips together tightly, not trusting them to not respond… to tell her she had been in the thick of their "hey-day" and was the best of them all. Silently she watched the famed Warrior leave and she felt her heart deflate a bit.
"Did you marry him?" The question entered the air suddenly and Minet looked up to see Cosmos stilled in the doorway, a curious excitement on her face.
"Marry him?" Minet repeated.
"The Head General of King Endymion's guards… from the Moon Kingdom," Cosmos clarified and a small blush plucked at Minet's cheeks and a broad grin crossed her features.
"Indeed I did and we are living quite happily ever after," she confirmed with a small wink to the Senshi and Cosmos eyes lit up at bit at her.
"Do you have children?" She intruded once more and Minet held her smile yet slowly shook her head.
"Our powers unlike Serenity's is not passed on through an heir. I think it would have been nice though…" Minet breathed and Cosmos looked thoughtful for a moment.
"You are not immortal aren't you?" She began and Minet raised an eyebrow at her. "Why give up now?" With a small bow the powerful woman grinned and moved to depart. "Thank you once again, it was a delight."
Minet watched silently as she exited and could only chuckle a little to herself… reborn with no memories and the woman still knew how to put her in her place and hit on the important topics. She let out a deep sigh and put a hand to her heart as she leaned back in her chair.
"Are you all right love?" A voice questioned suddenly and Minet shook her head with a deep sigh.
"Not really, but speaking to ghosts usually does that to you…" She replied easily and she felt him move behind her and push her hair aside, his lips going for her neck sweetly. She smiled, his touch soothing on her skin.
"She has a point you know… we are immortal… I mean it wouldn't hurt…" He mumbled against the skin of her neck and she let out a laugh, her bright eyes turning to the love of her life and she let out a satisfied breath.
"It certainly wouldn't," she teased as he pulled her effortlessly to her feet and into his arms.
"I am also not opposed to adoption," He mumbled against her temple and she giggled.
"What? And not have a daughter with my beautiful golden hair?" She gasped and his hand gently cupped her cheek, his eyes digging lovingly into hers.
"Darling, what daughter could compare to the most beautiful woman in the world?" He whispered and she melted into his embrace.
"Oh you charmer…" She hissed before her lips finally captured his own.
"Cosmos. How is Senshi Moon?" Judge Fernell's face filled the view screen and Cosmos bowed her head politely.
"She is with child. I am afraid that was the cause of her brief instability," she mumbled and Judge Rocan nodded.
"I have heard that can be a difficult cycle," she mumbled. "Than you shall be on your way home then?"
"There is something strange about this planet. Senshi Moon's predecessor… she was so powerful yet there is no record of her in the Galactic Database. How is that possible?" She questioned and Judge Fernell looked thoughtful.
"Are you sure?" She questioned and Cosmos nodded looking over her database once more.
"I have checked it thoroughly. This quadrant isn't even properly categorized. The powers exhibited here would make this galaxy a Level Six at minimum," she breathed and Fernell and Rocan looked taken a back.
"A level six?" Rocan repeated and Senshi Cosmos let out a breath.
"Perhaps you should come home and we can check this out more thoroughly." Fernell offered and Senshi Cosmos nodded.
"That galaxy will definitely need to be re-evaluated… if their power signature is that high we should even have a representative here from them." Rocan stated and immediately Cosmos stilled.
"Let me make sure… I may have been reading it wrong. I will have a thorough and accurate report when I return," she said suddenly and Fernell and Rocan nodded and the transmission ended. Realization dawned on Cosmos face… this galaxy was hidden on purpose… Serenity had… Suddenly Cosmos was on her feet, her staff in her hands as she spied the intruder upon her.
"She had gone to great pains to represent us as a Level Three." A voice said into the room and Cosmos stilled taking in Lunar's frame.
"So that none of you would be taken to Galactic Headquarters," she whispered and Lunar nodded guiltily.
"She was very big on family. Did everything in her power to always keep us together," she mumbled and Cosmos relaxed before her. "This grand Galactic Council… what do you do all day?" She questioned and Cosmos let out a breath as that thought settled on her. "Do you have a family? Friends?" She pressed and Cosmos gulped slightly turning away from her.
"I am blessed with my duty. It is my honor to bring peace to the galaxies."
"Indeed it is and we are honored for your sacrifice," Lunar breathed with a respectful bow and Senshi Cosmos balked a bit.
"Sacrifice?" She questioned and Lunar let out a breath. "Is there something more vital than duty?" Cosmos demanded and Lunar bowed her head gently with a sigh.
"If you would have asked me that when I was your age I would have said nothing is more vital than duty…" Lunar replied confidently and Cosmos gulped, taken a back by her answer. She was not use to people ever questioning her.
"I imagine love and family is better than duty?" Cosmos offered and Lunar could sense her displeasure at that thought and waited patiently for her to elaborate. "While I recognize these things as precious and worthy of protection, are they not a distraction away from duty?"
"They can be," Lunar agreed and Cosmos let out a breath.
"Forgive me but it seems on this planet that you do not separate your warriors from this exception. Warriors are meant to serve and protect and only that," Cosmos stated strongly, secure in her words and Lunar tilted her head to the side thoughtfully.
"Is family or love outlawed for a warrior?" Lunar inquired and Cosmos balked offended a bit.
"Certainly not," she snapped than stilled as that thought took over her. "Just never discussed… there is no law," Cosmos offered and Lunar nodded patiently. "LaLuna has no civilians, only soldiers. We are there to insure that our people have those joys of family and love…"
"I believe Serenity thought very much like you did when she was younger. Duty and people first," Lunar began and Cosmos stiffened.
"She then threw those away for love?" Cosmos accused and Lunar shook her head with a small smile.
"Never. It was a hard balance… duty and family. It took sacrifice, but sacrifice is not a bad thing," Lunar explained and Cosmos relaxed her posture a bit. "I feel having love and family made our duty stronger, gave us something to fight for," she finished and Cosmos gaze fell away from her to the beautiful kingdom out of the large windows before her. She had expressed that same thing to the King last night. While duty is a powerful motivator, knowing exactly what was at stake was an even more urgent motivation.
"Yes, I have observed that from your historical documents. Thank you Lunar for your insight," Cosmos breathed with a respectful bow and Lunar returned the gesture. "Can you take me to your King so I may bid my farewells?" She questioned and the Advisor nodded, gently leading her from the room.
She approached his throne slowly, watching an Earthen inhabitant finish their conversation than head out the door on the left. He turned to her slowly as Lunar quickly took her leave, leaving them alone in the vast room.
"Did you get some sleep?" He questioned and Cosmos nodded with a bow of her head.
"I… I have more questions," she breathed, suddenly nervous and he nodded settling back into his chair.
"Let's hope I have the answers," he said motioning her to continue with her barrage of questions.
"Your galaxy is classified as Level Three when there seems to be no possible way… Your Earthen Council without their powers radiate a level five, from which I can only assume with their powers they were level sevens. For some reason I cannot even gage the level of your current warriors… as if they have been shielded from me," she paused at this juncture, her gaze falling to the floor and Endymion watched her patiently. "And you sire radiate a level six," she confirmed her eyes rising to meet his and his expression never changed.
"That does my old ego good to hear," he mumbled casually and Senshi Cosmos used her self-control to prevent her from snorting with annoyance.
"It is impossible this realm be considered a level three… It must have been tampered with, were you aware of this deception?" She questioned and Endymion pressed his lips together thoughtfully.
"Did you know that great Power attracts power? From the moment we were reborn we seemed to have a beacon on our back crying for every scum of the universe to attack us," he began as he leaned forward. "And they did… we won, we lost, we died, we were reborn… In full disclosure I must confess we were at our peak a Level Nine," he breathed standing and Cosmos let out a gasp and moved towards him.
"But that is impossible. Only I am a…" she trailed off and he gently held out a hand to her. Quickly she put hers in his and he pulled her close.
"Without my wife we are a Level Seven at best… yet her sacrifice insured to the rest of the galaxy we would be a Level Three. She wanted us to rest… to have peace… to have a daughter that wasn't killed every other year just because she had the power," he said gently rubbing his thumbs across her hands as he stared at them. "I could never ask you to lie about what you have seen here but now you know why I did not want you to stay," he breathed and she shook her head taking a step closer to him. His heart seemed to skip a beat but he wouldn't move an inch for anything in the galaxy. Just the feel of her warmth inches away from him hit him deeply in his heart, his soul.
"I had no right to come," she confessed and he smiled.
"Curiosity killed the cat," he responded with a smile.
"King Endymion… I must ask…" She started hesitantly and he held his breath. "Why do I feel electric shocks each time you touch me… is it a power… something on this world," she began and gently he released her hand and he let out a chuckle.
"Perhaps you and I just have chemistry," he teased and she looked at him confused.
"I beg your pardon?" She questioned and he shook his head and gently took her face into his hands. She stilled as he sweetly pressed his lips against her forehead and a warmth shot through her entire system.
"You should go home Senshi. I am greatly honored by your visit to our world."
"Forgive me for trespassing?" She whispered quietly and he stilled, her face still in his hands as he looked upon her.
"I have a feeling I would forgive you a lot of things," he mumbled and he regrettably pulled his hands away from her.
"Thank you King Endymion. I will honor your wife and I am honored to have met you and your family," she breathed bowing before him and he nodded with a small smile. With that she turned on her heel and he watched her march quietly out of the room and out of his life for the second time.
"A parting gift," Senshi Moon smiled handing her a bouquet of flowers. Senshi Cosmos bowed respectfully handling the bouquet as she headed to her transport. "Thank you for coming… I really needed you here for that moment," she whispered and Senshi Cosoms blinked looking at her. She sucked in a deep breath and turned to the strong Senshi.
"If you ever need me… you can always call me," she breathed and Senshi Moon pulled her tightly into her embrace. Slowly she wrapped her arms around the young woman and closed her eyes as a feeling washed over her of completeness. This must be what it is like to have a family. Regrettably she pulled away and took a step back towards her transport. "Thank you for the…" she began looking at the bouquet in her arms when suddenly she froze. "What are these?" She questioned pulling back to touch one of the silken petals.
"Roses. My Fathers favorite flower… I think they only grow on Earth," Senshi Moon smiled fondly and Cosmos felt her stomach drop. "You look sick. Are you all right? Are you allergic?" She questioned suddenly alarmed. She moved to take the flowers from the Senshi but she turned, guarding them closely to herself. Lunar and Moon looked at her with surprise but Cosmos moved past them back into the palace.
"Senshi Cosmos." Lunar mumbled curiously. "Is everything all right?"
"Roses," she breathed and the advisor looked at her taken aback. "Their family portrait. The King's… does he have one?" She questioned quickly and Lunar's jaw dropped open a bit in surprise.
"What are you doing?" Senshi Moon questioned and Cosmos gulped turning to her.
"Our hair," she breathed and Senshi Moon felt color drain from her face. "Where is your family portrait?" She demanded and Senshi Moon let out a breath.
"We do not have one with my mother. It is too painful to see her," she tried and Cosmos shook her head, not believing her for an instant.
"You lie. Unstable," she hissed and than took off down the hall.
"Cosmos wait!" Senshi Moon cried rushing after her, panic entering her system.