A Waltz Before the End


I do not own anything except for OCs. Enjoy!


"My lady, everything is in order. We can launch a full-scale assault on their capital at any given moment. Our spies had pinpointed and installed the teleportation marks at several of their security and armed forces. They will not expect a large slashing from the inside, giving us time to charge straight to the palace with little to no resistance. The only defense they will have for the queen is the Star Guardians who visit the ball. Still, even then, I doubt they will expect a legion of monsters to come to interrupt their fun after bathing themselves with one victory after another. Just say the word, my queen, and the legacy of the Silver Millennium will mark its end. Then, only you are the one most beautiful and true queen of this universe and beyond."

Those words feel like sweet notes of music to her ears. Yes, she is the one and only. The old legacy of those…

Creatures, she would call them, will end tonight. And she will be the one who opens the path to the era of this world's history.

"What about this Phoenix Dawn cavalry force? I heard they returned to the moon from the outer ring with their commander, Prince Fenix, I believe? Another street drop child of Serenity, yes? Will they be a concern to our strategy?"

She finally turned to look at the clocked-wearing figure, who had little to no expression under the darkness that devoured his face except for the golden glow that served as his eyes.

"Ahh, yes. The Phoenix Dawn is low in numbers but made up of skilled elites collected across the solar system and outer ring. Fenix the Immortal, is a formidable fighter and leader himself. However, I believe that having enjoyed playing peacekeepers for a while, a sense of arrogance must have roots in them. You need not worry about them, if need be, I will release a pet or two to play with them."

Even without being able to see their expression under that clock, she can tell they are eagerly grinning, thirsty for the sight of blood being dyed the soil.

"Very well, I'll leave them to you and the generals then."

While she isn't sure of the man's purpose for his desire to ally with her, he has proven himself to have what it takes to join her in the foreseeable downfall of the Moon Kingdom.

By dirtying his hands and bringing back the corpses of those Generals to be used.

"If you like, I will let you have your fun. Just make sure those newcomers don't interrupt our plans."

"Thank you, my lady. However, there's something else that I think might impress you, Your Majesty."

"Oh? Do tell then."

"It's only humor based on the old record of the Moon Kingdom when it was still dust on the soil, aging back to the time of the primal. About the Children of Serenity."

He says before unrolling an old scroll stolen from the Moon Kingdom royal library…

The writing faded over time, but still readable, it amazes how it still holds 'till now…

She listened as he read the context of the scroll, nowadays, the time of Primal, and the information regarding it was far from being ever mentioned outside of the story you tell to scare children away from going out at night.

But…

With this newfound power, she has been granted by that shadow…

She knows now that those stories were true, after all, legend and myth were made because they were true once upon a time.

To think that this very ground she is standing on, these very stars she was meant to rule, was but a tiny piece of dust at the hands of these elderly entities…

"So what you're saying is…"

"Yes, and if these records were true in any bit, then the children of Serenity may bear the light of the Titan. The Titans had not interpreted our world affairs for thousands of years now after the great Starcross War. The last titan who remained in the solar ring was also never again seen after preventing the sun's combustion that threatened to consume the solar ring in the flame of Apollo's wrath. The rest of anything else regarding Titan or the exact location of the Land of Light lies only with Queen Serenity, and most likely, her offspring."

After finishing, he tosses the ancient scroll to the fireplace, paying no mind to the wisdom it had contained until this point.

"Whether those Titans exist or not isn't my concern at the moment. But…"

She shares a wicked smirk at the black General, sitting on her throne.

"What are YOU going to do with that knowledge? What are you going to DO with those "children of the titan"?"

Before replying, however, the man took down his hood and set those empty golden sights on her without even a hint of hesitation.

A daring attitude of men that can be admitted, yet often, comes from those who enjoy admitting the body of women more than any sense of honesty regardless of their status.

It's disgusting to her. But this man…

There's simply something that isn't right about his very presence, despite havingn't shown any sign of rebelling against her yet. His skin tone is far paler than any human, with jet-black hair, and soulless golden eyes.

She can tell now this thing was anything but human.

"If it would not trouble you, my lady. I would like to witness for myself the form of these titans. I would like to capture and cut them open to see what makes them tick. It is for personal research, and for a shared goal, it may be the key to fasting the revival of Metalia should the Silver Crystal fail to do so."

Not a tip of emotion can be detected in its expression. The way it speaks almost feels like a doll dancing at the twines of its puppeteer. And whoever it is the puppeteer, whether it is human or not, is dangerous, she can sense it in her skin.

Perhaps it is best to maintain some fair partnerships until neither of them has a use for the other without needing to backstab one another once it is over.

"Does that include that little Princess Serenity?"

Yet, despite knowing she was making a deal with the devil, which she already did for the power she had now, it didn't stop the edge of her lip from breaking into a wicked smirk. Excited at the thought.

"Indeed, the queen gave birth to two children, a pair of twins, a baby boy and a girl, Fenix, and young Serenity, they were both born from the union of the first Star Guardian and the Immortal Titan. A deadly combination if I may say, but if we could get a hold of their power through their immature offspring, they could become excellent power sources for us to harvest. If it would please you, I will let you enjoy the views of young Princess Serenity drifting to despair as her world, dream, and everything she loved perished."

Yes… that little b*cth will pay, after anything I have done… all the struggle and bleeding…

She dares to rob him from me…!

"Her beloved brother will be no exception. His awakening is inevitable, it will be interesting to see a Titan, whose beings symbolize hope and justice, giving into despair, anger, and bloodlust, especially when it is the offspring of one of the most powerful heroic titans who had saved the solar system from the sun destruction before disappeared from the realm of mortals. Crawling in despair as we slowly drink away the life of his beloved sister."

For what seems like the first time, the man or thing before her breaks his expressionless one of frost into a sinister smirk that manages to send a chill down her own spine.

She can sense it now, this thing, for whatever it was or why it was created, it a being of pure evil…

"Metalia will be revived, only then will she have the power to bring back the old law of nature that had been robbed from this world and bring back the realm of the ancient gods."

He turned a solid lock at the illustrated Luna above without softening the simulated display of emotion on his expression, as it's those pierced golden gazes mark just exactly the objective of their attention.

"Darkness, Chaos, Hatred, and Evil, are the inevitable features limited not to man only, yet only through these will sentient creatures be able to experience the true taste of freedom. To live as you please, to follow your own sense of justice, to bleed, kill, and die a senseless death."

"That is the Age of Primal. A paradise without borders between rich or poor, strong or weak, all there is to it, is survival to the fittest, where everyone is destined to return to nature when they die."

The sound of their laughter echoes through the black stone castle. Outside are human soldiers lined up among the ranks of numerous monsters, ogres, demons, and beasts.

Four human men took a stand in front of the demonic army, dressing in a dark gray version of their once knightly white uniform, along with their expressions once full of emotions and personalities, replaced with nothing but soulless gazes, a pale degraded of how they used to be in the name of King and country…

War is coming, and only through conflict will history be shaped.

"pant… pant… pant…"

Doing his best to ignore the pain and exhaustion across his wounded body. With each step taken, his feet threaded to give in to the soil beneath.

But he can't rest yet, he can't and will not give up even if he had to crawl his weight to where he needs to be.

I will not die here just yet until I can see her for just one last time…

"Ah…! There's the teleportation temple…"

Almost with newfound strength, he picked up the pace and went inside the old yet standing strong pantheon. Inside resting only but an object in the shape of a blue crystal floating mysteriously above the floor, its glowing blue light illustrates the stone chamber with its presence.

His hand's fishing a golden moon-shaped pendant under the battle-torn chest piece. Yet his attention stays on the small object in the palm of his hand, memorizing the day it was gifted to him, sharpening his resolve.

"Wait for me, Serena. I'm coming…"

With renewed resolve, he reaches for the crystal as it glows brighter and bathes his form in light.

For everyone, my friends, our kingdom, I will not die and let your sacrifice be in vain…!

"Mother…"

"Yes, Fenix? Is there something on your mind?"

Since our eyes made contact, rarely have I made an effort to avert my eye from her divine beauty.

I'm still not sure of what to make of this situation, I feel as though I have always known her for the rest of my life and yet, it's a complete conflict with the reality of what I have in my any wake-up morning…

I still have Mom and Dad, and nothing is going to change the way I address them as such. Despite the fact that we're not…

"It just… I don't know if I was still dreaming or not, standing here in this castle, meeting these people, Serena, and… you, Mother. It just wasn't like what I thought to be my everyday life…"

What a mess… Now I actually prefer the usual boring school day compared to dealing with this headache.

"I see, then, could you tell me of what is your definition of your reality? Were you happy in that life? Were you and your sister eating well?"

"What… was your life like in that world…?"

With each question listed up, not one would her gentle smiles faded. The look in her silver eye isn't one of the same amusing looks most adults would give to a child when talking about dreams and fantasies…

Instead, what I see in those eyes…

Was hope…? But for what…?

"Our life was… normal, I guess? In here, we weren't princes or princesses or anyone of any higher standards. We're just middle school kids. We have our mom and dad and even a younger kid brother. We weren't rich, but we were manageable in our daily life. Sometimes, it was boring, but… we are happy with what we have and we love each other as a family."

The more I talked, the more it felt like my heart and mind were at ease, so open to her peaceful presence without needing to hide my emotions.

It's as if she has always been my…

"School may be boring and a headache sometimes, but I made good friends there and we go a bit crazy around for a laugh or two. I have friends and a family, so I'm happy and definitely don't want that to change anytime soon. But…"

"But, Fenix? Is there something you're uncomfortable speaking of, dear?"

Should I really tell her…? I just don't want to make her sad…

"It just… it never crossed my mind as often as it did when I was a kid, I have a cool dad to look up to and a caring mom, I have a family and I couldn't ask for more. But now…"

I feel as though my eyes were misting up, to speak my aching heart like this…

"I just wanted to ask…"

"Was you really my mother? My bionic mother? Because I have never heard or met you in the life I'm living, but your voice… It's the same melody that lulls me to sleep whenever the moon is high and keeps the nightmare always. And when I dream, I dream of being in the warm embrace of a motherly figure that appears in the night…"

Once again, my eyes are connected with her own. Everything about her just convinces me those thoughts were true, that she was real and not something I had imagined when I was still a kid…

"So I just wanted to ask…, are you really my mother…?"

"Fenix… I…"

After a bit of talking with the queen, his presence was noticed by the guests who came to congratulate his coming-of-age, but it was mostly for their own interest, trade, and business, or hell, hoping to introduce their daughter for him to pick as his dance partner tonight.

Hell, the losers back at the class might be the type to actually let these high-castle chicks whip their ass. Hehe…

"groan… This is tiring, no wonder Serena complains so much…"

He managed to excuse himself and went to a more isolated corner in the hall.

Needing more time for himself, he decided to make his way back to the garden he'd been in before.

The conversation with the Queen continues to echo in his mind. He felt as though this was where he belonged, his birthplace, here with the Queen as his mother and sister…

And yet, he also knew that he still had a home to go back to, he couldn't just leave anything just like that…

That looks in her eyes… it's as if she was glad, glad for the life I had before coming here…

I don't get it… did she feel I'd be happier living in the modern day than this…?

I have to go back… it's probably 3 or 4 A.M. By now I'll probably just skip class and go to the roof for a long nap…

And besides…

There's still a collection of "PLASHU SPEEDU 4!" he hadn't finished yet!

PlashSpeed4

THE ULTRA-MATE HIGH-SPEED WIFI ROUTER

Don't let your wife/mom know

"Sure won't, buddy!"

~singing~

"Huh, Someone singing…?"

The moment he entered the garden, his sense of hearing was pleasantly greeted by the gentle humming that flowed with the passing wind…

Open that door

The time remaining

Is being drawn away

Lift up your eyes

Stare straight ahead

Give me one last kiss

And walk away

Leaning against the shadow of the tree, he watches and listens in silence as the mystery singer continues her performance in peace. Not missing a spelling of her song…

Truly

So much

That the wind is biting

My spirit is restrained

Our paths divide apart, I know

It's destiny, the stars have decided

The one that you chose

The white route

The future looms ahead

Don't lose your way

The figure is yet to be aware of his presence, which he intentionally uses to admit the gentle air surrounding her being.

She wore a simple long dress of which color nearly merged with that of her weight-length sun-kissed blonde hair, which came with a yellow ribbon resting on the back of her hair. From where he is standing, it's not possible yet to make her facial features…

And he is eager to see it…

The sea spreads out wide

The wind comes blowing this way

It may be a little cold

But start running forth

Do not forget

About yourself

The one I love the most

Even though it's hard

From here I look out

And see the desert daybreak

*slapping!*

The sound of hands slapping nearly got her out of her skin as the mystery singer turned to and finally noticed her unexpected audience.

"What a voice you have there, missy. You should really sing it in the gathering hall, I'm sure the prince will go into fanboy mode the moment he hears it."

He says, stepping out of the shadow and greeting her with a relaxing smile.

"A-ah…, Yes, thank you, you flattered me. But I am here to get some air for myself, the atmosphere feels right here so I might as well practice this old song…"

"I see, we're on the same boat then, definitely not my kind of party. I prefer something a bit more laid back and hit it up."

Now that they are face-to-face, he now took the time to admire her divine blessed beauty.

Golden blonde hair that nearly blended with the yellow and orange color of the long dress she had for the night. The rose garden and the stars that illustrate only seem to apply to the surroundings of her radiating presence.

And her eyes, they have the color shape of a type of sapphire jewelry…

If he was an artist, he would have pleased her to allow him to draw a portrait of this scene.

"Yes, I heard of your rather… "barbaric" reputation, if I may, Lord Fenix. I can see you're not the type to sit down for a cup of tea and chat. giggle~"

She says and flashes the redhead royalty a smile.

"Aye, you got me, and here I tried to play it cool and mysterious… Let me guess, you're a friend of Serena, right? 'Cuz I'm sure no one would have the guts to call me a barbaric like that. You know, got to be a good boy in front of Mama."

He casually replies and takes a sit on the bed of grass.

"giggle~ I don't mean it in a bad way, my lord. And I know you have been doing your job to secure the peace across the solar ring from being threatened by space beasts, war-seeking tribes, and wanted criminals. The achievement of the Phoenix Dawn order, under the leadership of Crown Prince Fenix the Immortal, was something worth singing raise for."

She says admiringly as she joins him on the gentle grass bed before continuing.

"Although it is admirable, would you fancy me as to why you decided to take on these dangerous tasks upon yourself other than just to get away from castle life? The Phoenix Dawn is a mixture elite force of your personal royal guards and fighters, bounty hunters, and mercenaries you'd gather across the solar ring and outer ring. Still, these duties you have taken upon your shoulders are heavy and dangerous."

For a moment, their eyes are linked to one another, he can see the sharpness of experience in those sapphire blue eyes of hers.

"An overlook in strategy, misjudging your enemy's strength, and personnel morality unstable are things that can easily turn the tide of battle into a disaster and total defeat, and the price to pay is the loss of life of those under your command and the responsibility you owe them. If you weren't among the list of the dead count, that is."

…!

Her eyes widened in horror as she realized the words slid out of her throat.

"AH! I'msorryI'msorry! I don't mean to say anything bad, your highness! That was unbecoming of me."

"Haha."

"Huh...?"

But instead of a look of anger or offense, she received an easy laugh from the scarlet-haired royalty.

If anything, he seems… impressed.

"chuckle, nah don't worry about it. To be able to say those in such a natural behavior, I guess that means you have some experience in military activities yourself? Were you a commander of sorts as well? I wouldn't have guessed from someone who has such an angelic voice. Oh, and let's just chill and drop the format, just call me Fenix or "barbaric" if you like."

His amber-golden eyes set a fitted contact with her sapphire blue one, they were as pure as the sea in his opinion.

Yet at the same time, did not hide themselves from reflecting on the experience that shaped her resolve. He can tell that she is far stronger than her appearance and manner would give the impression.

I better not tell Ange or Serena, they will just tease me again…

He says I have an angelic voice…

"phew, Thank you, Your Highness…, Fenix. Still, it was unbecoming of me to assume such a thing from a capable warrior and leader like you, but for myself as the leader of the Queen's Star Guardians, chosen by the crystal heart of Venus, it is my utmost responsibility to look after the safety of the royal family and civilians of the Silver Millennium. So while I had yet to see your capability as a fighter beyond the stories and humor Princess Serenity has frequently spoken of, by returning to the Moon Kingdom, you are already under my protection as well."

She stood up from the ground and gave him an elegant curtsy.

"Allow me to introduce myself properly. I am called Mina de Aphrodite, a descendant of the first Star Guardian of Venus. I had been chosen by the heart of the goddess Venus to continue the legacy of my ancestor and serve the Queen and the kingdom of Silver Millennium. A pleasure to be of your service my lord, Crown Prince Fenix Tzu Kyrano."

And yet, it took him a good three seconds to obtain the information before acknowledging the gestures and clumsily stood up face to face with her.

"The pleasure is mine, Lady Ath-Ro… Dio…"

"You thought it was Aphrodite's name you speaking, but it was I -"

Yeah yeah, nobody cares.

"giggle~ Mina is alright, my lord."

Nice laugh.

"Alright, just call me Fenix as well. Like I said, there's no need for overly formality when we are friends and not in front of the public."

Despite saying those, he still returns her greeting in kin with a gentleman now.

Hey, I'm still a prince, after all, got to act like it…

"Friend? You consider me a friend already, my lord?"

"Why the surprise? You're Serena's friend, right? And it's seen you have been doing your best to protect my mother, sister, and the people of the kingdom. With that, you're already on my list of close friends, I don't care what others have to say about our status or titles, Mina."

Well, it is fruitless, if he hasn't seen me blushing with that compliment before, he certainly will now…

"I see, you are far kinder than what I had heard from the tale the princess had shared with us. I am honored, my lord… Fenix."

And…

Perhaps it was simply the way he carried himself in such a carefree manner that set no boundaries between acting formally and causality, it might also mean that he doesn't see himself as above or below anyone for his status regardless of whether they are nobles or civilians.

And his personality so far was kinda…

"Alright. But Mina, this Star Guardian… I've been hearing that term for a while now but didn't get the chance to ask about it. And you introduce yourself as the leader of the Queen's Star Guardians, mind fill me in the basic details?"

He asked as they once again took their seat down the soft silage, facing one another in a casual manner that set aside any need for formality.

"Huh? You don't know what a Star Guardian is? The basic knowledge is not secret to anyone."

"Uhh… that is…, you're some kinda sexy space magical girl that wears super tiny miniskirts while shooting fireballs or something…?"

"That's actually the basics of it, yes. "Sexy Space Magical Girls with super tiny miniskirts" has a nice ring to it. Great suggestions, Lord Fenix"

I feel like dying inside…

"The actual description, however, Star Guardians: commonly referred to as Sailors, are female warriors who are naturally blessed by the Star Seed born within them, do which they were named after the planet their Star Seed representative."

Nevertheless, she enlightened him as they sat in the comforts found in the rose garden, bathed in the soft light of the celebrities and the gentle breeze.

"The powers of the stars were said to have been awakened in the heart of our ancestors the date the first Guardian of the Moon was chosen by the sleeping Silver Crystal as they gathered and formed the first generation of Star Crusaders as they form an alliance with a band of titan warriors to turn the tide of battle and freed the world from the terrorizing of the elder beings."

"The final stage of the conflict ultimately led the first Star Guardians to sacrifice their physical bodies to add the power for the Titans, defeat, and seal the primal evils deep under the crater of various stars. Since then, the Titans too have all vanished from our realm as well. Become myth and legend as the wind blows…

He watches as she rests her hand over the center of where her heart is beating.

"However, we, as the descendants of the first Star Guardians, knew the stories of the old were truths as their spirits frequently returned to our dream and lulled us to sleep with tales of justice, happiness, and love from their very point of view."

"I do not know how much it will take from me to live up to the legacy of my ancestor as the bearer of the Venus seed. But I know that sitting in my room and lambing about how hard it was will not solve anything. Besides, I got this far, Queen Serenity didn't personally choose me as the leader of the solar ring guardians for nothing, you know."

She's talking, he's listening and nodding, that seems to be their kind of conversation at the moment. And so far, the more he listened to the tale that he might have heard many times now, the more he wanted to hear it more, more specifically, from his mother and sister…

And now…

"Eh…, was I talking too much? I apologize if I bore you out…"

"smile No, it's actually the opposite, yes."

Her as well…

"The way you're going about it, it's almost like how Mother and Serena used to me. It almost feels like I'm back to the bed again, choking on my blankets as Mom reads me the tale by the side of my bed."

"Eh!? Uhm, thank you, Fenix. But that is too much of a praise, there's no way I could be comparable with the Queen and Princess that way…"

Even if I was chosen by the seed of the goddess herself, there's no way he could have seen like that when we just getting to…

"But who to say you won't when you become a mom to one or two kids jogging around? I can see one to be a bit of a troublemaker, like me."

Damn, you were right, Ange. I'm smooth~ as a kitten.

"Hold your horse, you not getting a harem any time soon in the early chapters of this fic."

Dammit, why not…?

All the while, the blonde singer and sailor warrior fails to stop herself from turning bean red, feeling her heart rapidly pounding the blood to her face.

Princess Serenity was right, Lord Fenix really knew how to…

Make a girl feel special if he wants to…

"That's… abuse, my lord… there is no way my future child could look like you… unless…"

Oh, Aphrodite, I am at a loss of words here… it doesn't help that he is quite…

Quite…!

"Haha, yeah, you're right. That was a BIT way too early for this kind of talk. I was just messing with ya, sorry for turning ya all red like that. It's kinda cute, actually. Haha…"

Dammit! At this rate, I'm never gonna get a girlfriend…!

"Cute? I… I see… yes, i-it a bit too early. I agree…"

She almost sounds…

Disappointed…?

"Hahaha… sorry 'bout that, Mina. I really don't want to make you feel uncomfortable. But…"

"Yes, Fenix…?"

For just but a moment, it almost feels as though his original desire to go back to the way it was before has slightly faded for just but a moment…

For just but a moment, to be lost in the magic of her eyes…

"Hey, Mina…"

"Yes, Fenix…?"

"They're about to have another dance…"

"Yes, I can hear the music is playing again."

"Mina… would you… honor me with… a dance…?"

"...Yes… it… will be my honor, Lord Fenix…"

"I'm glad then…, but uhm…"

"It… something the matter…?"

"Can you… sing me another song as we are on it? I like to hear more of you singing…"

"Yes…, of course…"

By the calm sea of the evening, we had lots of fun together

You, who are so warm to me, I saw your dream

Like this was our first love, our spirits were made to dance

Every time we passed by, we became so sweet with each other

As we shined together, as we laughed together, the seasons went by us

I believed that the two of us would never change

My love, that time we talked about the future

Ah, after it all, when I look back on it

Warm feelings are all I have

In a city far away, now what kind of dream are you dreaming

Open the window, and I ask the cool wind for an answer

My love, even if you fall in love with somebody somewhere

Ah, once in a while, remember us in that corner of your heart

My love, with all our hearts we talked about the future

Ah, you are so radiant

Shine like that forever more

"phew, And here you complain no one would want to dance with you, seems like you finally got someone to accompany you tonight, after all, Mina. I'm not even surprised that it's to be the big hothead meanie of all people…"

So she says while supposing herself as behind the white stone pillar, watching from an unseen distance as the two figures hold on to each other close and waltz across the royal garden.

The way her hand is by his shoulder as his own resting on the back of her dress, their remaining one locked in one another and guiding each other to wherever the music leads them…

The way their eyes are connected and the stars above blessing the on them…

To be honest, she is jealous…

Jealous that anyone she knew seemed to be accompanied by one or another partner that would set this night a memorable one.

Countless men have come and asked for her hand to a dance or two. But she knows…

There is only one, only one person that she would want to share this sacred night with…

It's only…

"Serena!"

…?!

That voice… it can't be…

Even though she tries to convince herself that she was just mishearing things or that someone might have a similar name as her…

That voice, it was too familiar, too familiar to her that she knew it could only belong to one person. That person…

"Endymion…?"

"Serena…"

This time, she finally mustered the courage to turn and face him…

Those same deep blue eyes of his, it almost resemble the blue shade of the star that is his home…

And before she realized it, she was already in the familiar warm embrace of his arms, holding her close to his being…

"Endymion…"

"Serena… I finally got to see you again…"

"Endymion… it's been so long for me…"

She slowly returned the embrace she had been longing for so long…

But…

"What…?! This is… blood!?"

She let go and looked at the palms of her hands, they were coated with the deep red color of human blood.

His blood…

"Endymion?!"

"Serena…"

As if the world has slowed down before her, he finally loses the strength and…

To Be Continued…?


Thank you for reading! If you have any questions, just leave them in the comments!