"Hello Sailor Epsilon, welcome to the team!" Minako blurted as she bowed.
"Thanks Minako. I feel honored to be counted amongst you all!" Naru said, pride in her voice as she performed the Senshi/Shitennou salute.
Moon Kingdom
Silver Millennium
Under the reign of Selene, the Silver Millennium became a wonderful time for all Lunarians, that was, until the insidious workings of the mysterious curse, and then, as the throne passed from mother to daughter, the betrayal of the Terrans and the advent of a bitter child of Chaos's jealous rage.
Serenity thought she saw a dark shadow in the archway to the gardens, a small golden bat, but she must have been mistaken, for when she looked again there was nothing there. Shrugging it off, she loosened her dress to show a little more skin than was fitting, especially for such a young princesses Serenity, it was the fertility Festival so she disregarded this edict on this occasion.
The festivities once practiced many thousands of years in the past almost forgotten and confined to myth and folklore. Yet, these survived in a new form, the Lunarian Rabbit, surrounded by a litter of baby bunnies had come to symbolize the once practiced rite that remained shrouded in mystery.
According to the stone murals uncovered at the Lunarian Southern Pole buried under tons of rock and debris, the site was cleared and declared a living museum. What had struck the Lunarian archaeologists were the images of a being known as the Oberisku no Shoujo. Also, a map of the Terran world far older than anything the palace had on record. Equally fascinating were the four missing moons and the planet the Moon Kingdom was said to be a part – it was all very interesting to the minds of the young and old alike.
Of course, there were other strange curiosities unearthed and ascribed to an overzealous and talented artisan who wished to make the outpost a retreat of some kind. Serenity had a feeling there was something more to the story than that. The murals spoke of a planet, a sister world by the name of Orpheus that had been expelled from the star system by the Ginzuishou, but nobody could confirm or disprove the legend.
The fertility right celebrating the Rabbit of the Moon was well underway. Serenity, a young and gregarious, and attractive seventeen-year-old princess longed to experience her first sexual encounter with the man to whom she was betrothed, somewhat of an enigma, a warrior and member of an elite guard known as The Lords of the Scimitar, the equivalent of the Shitennou, the four kings, he fascinated her.
Their elemental houses on Terra where cadets who fought in their name: Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite and Zoisite governed the Four Directions supporting the High King and his queen whom resided in the City of Pearls, Atlantari.
Young Serenity remembered the ancient tales told to her as a little girl by firelight, she knew these tales were embellished but she didn't care, they were enchanting, exciting and at times, a little frightening.
But this time, she was older, on the cusp of womanhood, and making eyes at the man she swore she would have in her bed after the wine and dancing.
Dianara poked her older cousin in the ribs.
"Must you be so obvious?" she chided.
"What do you mean, Dianara?" Serenity put on her best innocent expression, but a burst of laughter blew that to the four winds.
"Your cleavage, it's practically leaping out of your dress, he is seeing your breasts more than he is your face and personality. He can get that in the village ringing the city."
"Dianara! That was uncalled for, but you might have a point."
She adjusted her clothing, and Agamemnon feigned disappointment and winked at Serenity.
"You're both as bad as each other, Gods know I've tried. You were definitely made for one another of that I've no doubt," she sighed, shaking her head.
She went red as a beetroot. "Um, yes I think he is onto me, but I'd rather have him… on top of me, if you know what I mean."
"Woman, I don't believe I just heard you say that – you intoxicated on Lunarian Sea Mushrooms or something?" she giggled.
"I might be… but the thought is so… enticing!"
"I think I've lost the fight to keep you prim and proper, and me the young one, you're a corrupting influence on me you know Sere!" She threw up her hands and they both laughed.
Agamemnon, five years Serenity's senior, found the whispering girls most amusing. He also found his betrothed most pleasing on the eye. He longed to meet with her at their appointed rendezvous. The ancient shrine built before the Silver Millennium under the light of the blue planet was a most seductive meeting place.
He couldn't help but imagine running his hands over serenity's legs. Agamemnon coughed, finding his body was one jump ahead of his need for control.
The princesses, unaware of his plight, giggled once more, exchanging friendly insults.
Serenity was so young, yet, she was a powerful being, the holder of the Ginzuishou. The princess was the living embodiment of its magic. He understood little of its power and meaning, but it was the beautiful young woman he cherished, not her occult nature.
Serenity then allowed her long golden lashes to flutter, her eyes like lapis pools sending him a message of desire and a promise of things to come. Agamemnon gave her a surreptitious look and winked, chuckling at the antics of the crown princess of the Moon Kingdom and her younger cousin by one solar rotation.
"He's salivating over you. I don't think you have to be a little whore to snare his affections, remember your lessons on courtly manners and social etiquette. If you want to impress him," she said - her tone more serious, as she whispered her advice.
Drawing her knees under her chin, she deliberately allowed her skirts to slide down her thighs as the fabric fanned out about her waist revealing her long shapely bare legs. She threw the prince a come-get-me look.
"Serenity!" she gasped at the golden haired princess's abandon and daring, this setting off the girl in question into fresh fits of laughter.
"Oh, by the Gods, he's coming this way!" Serenity squealed, placing her hands on her knees and pressing her chin on her hands, trying not to seem nervous.
"Don't mess up, Sere!" Dianara whispered her encouragement.
"I won't, now keep quiet!" she said under her breath.
"And, dear ladies, what is it you find so amusing?" Prince Agamemnon arched an eyebrow, his chiseled face, a face of a hardened warrior softened to that of a poet who had just met the subject of his love poem.
"Oh nothing in particular, my Lord. Tell me please, are you enjoying the festival?"
"Yes, indeed… may I?"
"Of course," she wriggled to allow him to sit beside her, and soon he'd reached for her hand and she held it against her silken thigh, and it was her turn to feel aroused.
The holographic entertainment had just begun; images of beautiful worlds, powerful gods and of stellar craft that were glorious to behold had the crowds singing and clapping.
But there were dark times ahead, but for now, the people of the Silver Millennium celebrated.
