Chapter Text
“Ooh, yummy!” Kaguya squealed, practically bouncing in her seat. She gestured excitedly at the array of colorful dishes spread across the long dining table. “This is amazing! Who knew Sailor Guardian training came with food like this? That’s my favorite—oh, and that one, and that one, too!”
Mana smirked, leaning on her elbow. “Kaguya, you’re acting like you’ve never seen food before. Calm down before you scare the chefs.”
Kaguya giggled, waving her fork at Mana. “It’s called appreciating the little things, Mana. Besides, we need all the fuel we can get for training. Right, Ava?”
Ava, always quiet and measured, nodded with a small smile. “It’s true. Our energy expenditure is bound to increase significantly with the training regimen Luna and Artemis planned. It’s smart to eat properly.”
Kakyuu, seated between Ava and Kiana, watched the exchange with mild amusement. The group’s dynamics were fascinating to her—each princess so different, yet they shared a bond of camaraderie that had already begun to bloom.
Mana stretched lazily. “Speaking of training, you all know next week is going to be hectic, right? My presentation to Martian society is finally happening.”
“Yeah, yeah, we know,” Kiana groaned, twirling a strand of golden hair around her finger. “You’ve only mentioned it a thousand times.”
“Don’t tease her, Kiana,” Kaguya said, grinning. “She’s probably just nervous about seeing Raito.”
Mana froze mid-stretch, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t start, Kaguya.”
“Oh, but I must,” Kaguya teased, her voice full of mock seriousness. “I mean, you’ve been so quiet about your engagement, Mana. It’s practically suspicious. Are you secretly planning a surprise wedding? Should we all be practicing our speeches?”
Kiana laughed, clapping her hands together. “She’s totally right, Mana. You’ve been weirdly tight-lipped about it. C’mon, spill! What’s it like being engaged to the Raito of Venus?”
Mana groaned, covering her face with her hands. “I hate all of you.”
“Love you too,” Kaguya replied sweetly, popping a grape into her mouth.
Ava raised an eyebrow, her expression calm but curious. “It is a valid question, Mana. Your betrothal is significant—not just personally, but politically.”
Kiana nodded enthusiastically. “Exactly! You’re literally tying the Martian and Venusian bloodlines together. That’s history-making stuff.”
“Well,” Mana muttered, her voice muffled behind her hands, “it’s not like I had much of a choice. Our families arranged it years ago. It’s not exactly romantic.”
“But it’s practical,” Ava countered. “Venus has historically had blood ties with every planet in the Sol System except Mars. Your union ensures a stronger alliance between your kingdoms.”
Kakyuu, who had been quietly observing, leaned forward. “Wait, Venus has bloodlines in every royal house? Even the Outer Planets?”
“Of course,” Kiana replied, tossing her hair over her shoulder. “Our family’s blood is everywhere—Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, even Neptune and Uranus. Venusian bloodlines go way back.”
“Even the Moon Kingdom?” Kakyuu asked, tilting her head.
Kiana smirked. “Especially the Moon Kingdom. Serenity and I are cousins. Her dad is my mom’s younger brother.”
“And my grandmother, Queen Prudence of Mars, is also Mana’s grandma,” Kaguya added cheerfully, her eyes sparkling. “That’s why we look so much alike!”
Kakyuu blinked, processing this revelation. The resemblance between Kaguya and Kiana suddenly made a lot more sense. “You two could be twins,” she murmured, more to herself than to anyone else.
Kaguya’s face lit up. “Oh my stars, Kakyuu, that’s such a great idea! Mana, we should totally pretend to be twins. It would be so much fun!” She whipped around to face the other table, where the Outer Princesses were seated. “Sandra! Sandra! You and Billie won’t be the only twins anymore. Kiana and I are coming for your title!”
Sandra, who had been quietly eating her lunch, looked up with a bemused smile. “Good luck with that, Kaguya. Billie and I have had years of practice.”
Billie, sitting beside her, rolled her eyes. “As if anyone could compete with us. Dream on, Kaguya.”
Kaguya stuck out her tongue playfully before turning back to the Inner Princesses.
“Well, I think it’s adorable,” Kiana declared, giving Kaguya a wink. “Twins unite!”
Ava cleared her throat, steering the conversation back. “While all this is fascinating, I think we should focus on the week ahead. The knights are arriving today, aren’t they?”
Kaguya gasped, nearly dropping her fork. “The knights are here?! Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
Theresa, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “It’s true. I saw Raito and the others arriving earlier. They’re training alongside us, though separately.”
Kiana leaned forward eagerly. “Ooh, I hope they’re sparring today. Raito always looks so good with a sword.”
Kaguya’s eyes sparkled. “I can’t wait to see them! It’s been forever.”
Mana groaned. “Great. More distractions.”
Theresa smirked. “Says the girl who’s engaged to one of them.”
Mana turned bright red, muttering, “I’m never eating lunch with you people again.”
The table erupted in laughter as the princesses continued their teasing, the tension from earlier completely forgotten.
XXX
Loki leaned against the shadows of the marble colonnade, his sharp green eyes fixed on the gathered Sailor Guardians. His demeanor was nonchalant, yet his gaze betrayed a deeper fascination—specifically for the raven-haired figure standing among them. Kaguya—Sailor Moon—shone with a celestial radiance, a beacon of light that demanded attention. He couldn’t help but admire her, her determination barely masked beneath a layer of nervousness.
The midday sun caught the crescent moon on her brow, and Loki allowed a soft, private smile. She carried a quiet power, a potential she hadn’t yet realized, but which he saw clearly. She reminded him of starlight: distant yet impossibly bright, illuminating all around her.
“Transform!” Luna’s voice rang out, and the Guardians lifted their lockets in unison.
Kaguya’s voice rose above the others, clear and vibrant. “Moon Prism Power, Make-Up!”
Silver and pink light enveloped her, ribbons of energy coiling like vines around her body. Loki tilted his head, intrigued, as he watched her transformation. The power felt raw, untempered—like a freshly forged blade yearning for a wielder’s hand. As the light settled, Kaguya stood clad in her shimmering fuku, the crescent moon on her brow now glowing brighter.
Loki smirked as he flicked his fingers subtly, weaving an imperceptible thread of his magic into the air. The shimmer around her seemed to intensify, her silver aura glowing more luminous than the rest. Her power resonated like a song carried on the wind, and the other Guardians turned to her, marveling at the heightened display.
“Wow, Serenity,” Mana gasped, breaking the silence. “That was incredible!”
Kaguya looked momentarily startled, then smiled bashfully. Loki allowed himself a moment of satisfaction. He wanted her to shine—not through vanity, but because she deserved to see herself as he did: a force capable of greatness.
As the training began, the Guardians took turns testing their abilities against distant targets. Each display was impressive—Mercury’s fog cloaked the field, Venus’ chains whipped through the air, and Mars’ fire roared fiercely. Yet Loki found their precision predictable, their talents honed but lacking in the unpredictable beauty of chaos.
Then it was Kaguya’s turn.
She stepped forward, clutching her tiara. Her movements were hesitant, her brow furrowed in concentration. Loki leaned forward, intrigued. This was where the true magic lay—in uncertainty and growth.
“Moon Tiara Magic!” she called, her voice ringing with resolve.
The golden tiara flared to life in her hand, but as she flung it, something unexpected happened. Instead of spinning in its usual circular motion, the tiara straightened mid-air, transforming into a streak of light like an arrow. It veered sharply, piercing through the target with uncanny precision before circling back to her.
The Guardians gasped in astonishment. Even Kaguya stared at her tiara, her fingers brushing it with awe.
“That was… different,” Luna said, her tone thoughtful. “Sailor Moon, your attack seems to have… evolved.”
Kaguya’s cheeks flushed as she clutched the tiara tightly. Loki narrowed his eyes, the smirk fading from his lips. The motion of the tiara—it hadn’t been random. It had behaved like a sacred arrow, guided by something ancient and instinctual.
A priestess, Loki realized with a start, his mind racing. She doesn’t even know yet.
He pulled back his magic, unwilling to interfere further. Whatever power had stirred within her wasn’t his to guide. It was her own, something born of her connection to the Moon Kingdom. Still, his admiration for her deepened. She was more than just a warrior—she was a vessel for something divine.
As Loki’s thoughts turned, his attention was caught by Sailor Pluto. Moa.
The green-haired Guardian stepped forward, the Garnet Rod gleaming in her hands. Her attack, “Dead Scream,” erupted with silent precision, obliterating her target in an instant. The elegance of her power matched her regal bearing, and Loki’s breath hitched.
He had seen her before—on Asgard.
The memory surfaced unbidden. Moa, the Guardian of Time, standing at the edge of the Bifrost beside Heimdall. Their hands had brushed—subtle, but intimate. Loki had often wandered the realms unnoticed, and he had seen them together more than once. She had looked at Heimdall the way mortals gazed at stars, and Heimdall’s stoic demeanor had softened in her presence.
The Guardian of Time and the Watcher of the Bifrost.
Loki pondered the union, enraptured by its symbolism. Two keepers of gates—one of time, the other of space—joined by a bond that transcended realms. It was poetic in a way that even Loki, a master of words and illusions, found himself unable to articulate.
His gaze lingered on Moa as she stepped back into line, her expression calm but distant. How could someone so rooted in duty find love across worlds? And why did the sight of her awaken an ache in him—a longing he couldn’t name?
For a fleeting moment, he imagined Kaguya and himself in their place, standing together at the precipice of something greater. He quickly dismissed the thought, shaking his head. Such musings were dangerous. Yet as the training continued, Loki found it impossible to look away from the two figures who now occupied his thoughts: Kaguya, the radiant light, and Moa, the enigmatic shadow
Both drew him in, but for very different reasons. And as the Guardians’ powers lit up the field, Loki resolved to uncover the truths hidden within them both
XXX
Kaguya watched as the tension unfolded between Loki and the royal advisors, Luna and Artemis, with growing unease. The courtyard was bathed in a soft golden glow from the afternoon sun, but the atmosphere was anything but serene. Loki stood at the center of it all, his emerald eyes sharp and unrelenting as he addressed Luna and Artemis with barely contained disdain.
She clutched her hands together tightly, trying not to draw attention to herself. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel caught in the middle, an unwilling witness to a conflict she didn’t fully understand. Loki’s presence dominated the space, his words cutting with precision as he turned his ire on the feline advisors.
“I must admit,” Loki began, his voice silken with mockery, “there’s a delicious irony in the two of you standing here as heralds of the Silver Millennium’s crown. Magical creatures, bound to serve a monarchy that once fought to subjugate your kind.”
Luna bristled, her tail twitching with suppressed anger. “We serve the crown because it represents peace, Loki. The Silver Millennium protects—”
“Peace?” Loki interrupted, his voice rising slightly, the first cracks of anger showing beneath his calm exterior. “The kind of peace forged in chains, perhaps. I fought in that war, Luna. I saw magical beings hunted and pressed into servitude—or slaughtered—because they refused to bow. And here you are, standing on the same side as the very system that sought to destroy you.”
Kaguya’s breath hitched. She had never seen Loki like this—his usual sharp wit tempered by fury that seemed ancient and unshakable. His words carried weight, not just accusations but memories, laden with pain and betrayal. She wanted to speak up, to ask him what he meant, but fear of interrupting kept her rooted in silence.
“You don’t understand what it was like,” Artemis snapped, stepping forward defensively. “The war was chaos, and sacrifices had to be made to preserve order—”
“Order,” Loki sneered, cutting him off. “That’s what you call it? When the bodies of magical creatures lined the Moon Kingdom’s fields? When allies I fought beside—dragons, fae, spirits—were branded as threats and exterminated after the war was won? Yes, Artemis, I remember your ‘order’ well.”
Luna’s claws glinted in the light as they extended. Her voice was steady but quivering with anger. “And what would you have had us do? Defy the crown and join the rebellion that would have plunged the entire galaxy into darkness? We made a choice to protect what we could.”
“And how noble of you to protect yourselves,” Loki countered, his tone now ice-cold. “But don’t pretend it wasn’t at the expense of others.”
Kaguya’s heart twisted. She had always trusted Luna and Artemis, their wisdom and guidance shaping much of her life as Sailor Moon. Yet Loki’s words painted them in a new and troubling light. Could they really have stood by while others suffered? And if they had, could she blame them for choosing survival over resistance?
Loki turned slightly, his eyes briefly meeting Kaguya’s. There was a flicker of something softer there—regret, perhaps—but it was gone as quickly as it came. He shifted his attention back to Luna and Artemis, his voice now quieter but no less cutting.
“You are hypocrites,” he said, almost conversationally. “Parading around with titles like ‘countess’ and ‘advisor,’ when you owe your lives to the very creatures the Silver Millennium condemned. Do you ever think of them? The ones who died so that you could stand here now, bowing and scraping at the queen’s feet?”
The words hung in the air like a blade poised to fall. For the first time, Luna and Artemis seemed at a loss for how to respond. Kaguya could see the tension in Luna’s shoulders, the way Artemis avoided Loki’s gaze. It was as if the weight of his accusations had momentarily silenced them.
“Enough,” Artemis finally said, his voice low. “You have no right to judge us, Loki. You don’t know what it took to survive.”
Loki tilted his head, his expression unreadable. “Don’t I?” he murmured. Artemis stepped forward, his white hair catching the light as he squared his shoulders, attempting to reassert control. “That’s enough, Loki. You’ve made your point. Your grievances with the Silver Millennium are well-documented, but this is neither the time nor place to relitigate old wounds. If you cannot act with respect, I suggest you leave.”
Loki turned slowly, a shadow of a smirk playing on his lips. “Leave? My, my, how gracious of you to dismiss me so boldly.” His voice was laced with mockery, though there was an undercurrent of something deeper—something dangerous. “But no, I think I’ll stay.”
Luna bristled. “You’ve disrupted the training long enough, Loki. We have a duty to prepare these young warriors for the challenges ahead. Your presence is a distraction.”
“A distraction?” Loki repeated, arching a dark eyebrow. “I wonder, is it my presence that’s the distraction, or the truth you’re so desperate to avoid? Besides,” he added, his gaze flickering briefly toward Kaguya, “I find the proceedings… intriguing.”
XXX
Kaguya felt a rush of heat rise to her cheeks. Loki’s eyes lingered on her for only a moment, but it was enough to send her heart fluttering. He had a way of looking at her that made her feel both vulnerable and oddly powerful, as if she were the center of the universe, even if only for an instant. She wasn’t sure whether to be flattered or alarmed.
Luna crossed her arms tightly, her tail swishing behind her in irritation. “This is a serious matter, Loki. If you’re only here to disrupt—”
“I’m here to observe,” Loki interrupted smoothly, his voice dripping with faux innocence. “Queen Serenity herself invited me to oversee the training of the Sol System’s warriors. Surely you wouldn’t defy the queen’s wishes, would you?”
Artemis opened his mouth, clearly about to retort, but then he stopped, his expression tightening. It was true, Kaguya realized. Loki had been invited by her mother—though she doubted this was exactly what the queen had envisioned when she extended the invitation.
“Fine,” Artemis said at last, his tone clipped. “But stay out of the way. These girls need focus, not your commentary.”
Loki inclined his head ever so slightly, his smirk growing. “Of course. I wouldn’t dream of interfering.”
Yet as Kaguya glanced back at him, she caught the flicker of mischief in his green eyes. He was lying—she was certain of it. Loki might have promised not to interfere, but his very presence seemed to command attention, pulling her gaze toward him like a magnet. She had the distinct feeling that, for reasons she couldn’t quite understand, he wanted to be here. And that realization sent a shiver down her spine.
As Luna and Artemis turned their focus back to the other senshi, Kaguya couldn’t shake the feeling of Loki’s eyes on her. He leaned casually against a nearby pillar, his stance deceptively relaxed. But there was an intensity about him, a quiet, unyielding focus that seemed to suggest he wasn’t just watching the training—he was watching her.
And she couldn’t decide if she wanted him to stop… or if she wanted him to keep looking.
XXX
Sailor Moon stood frozen in the center of the field, clutching her tiara tightly. Her failure to summon her power earlier still lingered, casting a shadow over her confidence. The other senshi had performed brilliantly, their attacks dazzling and precise. But for her, the future queen, to falter—it felt like an unbearable shame. She could feel the weight of everyone’s expectations pressing down on her shoulders.
Loki’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Sailor Moon, are you afraid to reach for your true power?” His words were soft, almost teasing, but there was an undertone of something darker—something knowing.
Kaguya turned to look at him, her heart skipping a beat. His emerald eyes gleamed with amusement, but also something deeper that she couldn’t quite place. She opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, Loki gestured toward her.
“Let me help you,” he said smoothly, though there was an edge to his tone that made Artemis and Luna bristle.
“We don’t need your interference,” Luna snapped. “She is the guardian of the Moon. Her power will come to her in time.”
“And yet, here she stands, struggling,” Loki replied, his smirk widening. “Perhaps you’re afraid of what she might become if she fully unlocked her potential?”
Kaguya’s breath hitched. What did he mean by that?
Ignoring the glares from Luna and Artemis, Loki stepped closer to Sailor Moon. His presence was overwhelming, both comforting and intimidating. He raised a hand, and a subtle, emerald glow surrounded it.
“Close your eyes, Kaguya,” he said, his voice low and hypnotic. “Feel the chaos within you. Don’t fight it—embrace it.”
“Chaos?” she whispered, unsure.
“Yes,” he murmured. “It is not something to fear. Chaos is power—it is creation, destruction, and everything in between. You, more than anyone, should understand that.”
Something about his words resonated deep within her, and despite Luna’s sharp protests, Kaguya closed her eyes. She focused on the warmth of her tiara, on the strange, swirling energy Loki seemed to coax to the surface. Her breathing slowed as her mind opened to the chaotic, unformed power buried within her.
The tiara in her hands grew heavier, its golden light shifting to an otherworldly, deep silver hue. Loki’s magic intertwined with her own, enhancing it, shaping it, molding it into something far more potent than before.
When Kaguya opened her eyes, they glowed faintly with a silver luminescence. She raised the tiara and shouted, “Moon Tiara Magic!”
But this time, the attack was different. The tiara transformed into a spinning, arrow-like projectile streaked with silver and black energy, carving through the air with deadly precision. It tore through the target, leaving nothing but a smoldering void in its wake.
The field fell silent.
“That was… amazing,” Sailor Mars whispered, breaking the stillness. The other senshi murmured in awe, their eyes wide as they took in the raw power Kaguya had just unleashed.
But Luna and Artemis were anything but impressed. “What have you done?” Artemis demanded, stepping forward. “That’s not Moon magic—it’s something else entirely!”
“Chaos magic,” Luna hissed, her voice trembling with fury. “You’ve tainted her power, Loki!”
“Have I?” Loki replied lazily, though the gleam in his eyes suggested he had done exactly what they accused him of. “Or have I merely allowed her to become what she was always meant to be?”
“Chaos is destructive,” Luna spat. “It cannot be controlled—it will consume her!”
“And yet,” Loki countered, gesturing to Kaguya, who stood taller and more confident than before, “she wields it beautifully. Do not deny what she is, Luna. To do so would be to cripple her.”
Kaguya’s heart pounded as she listened to their exchange. Chaos magic? She didn’t understand what it meant, but the power she had felt—it was intoxicating, and it felt… right. She looked down at her tiara, now glowing faintly with that strange silver-black energy, and clenched it tightly.
“You have no right to meddle with her,” Artemis growled. “This isn’t your battle, Loki.”
Loki’s expression darkened, his smirk fading into something more serious. “It was always my battle. I fought in the war for the magical creatures your queen abandoned. I fought for those who were cast aside while you stood by, serving your crown without question.”
“That war is over,” Luna snapped. “And this is not your kingdom to judge.”
“Perhaps not,” Loki said, his tone soft but dangerous. “But I see now that my role is far from finished. You may deny her true nature, but I will not. She is more than your perfect queen-to-be. She is chaos incarnate—and chaos will always reign.”
His words sent a shiver down Kaguya’s spine. As he turned and stepped back, she felt his gaze linger on her, as though he were silently willing her to embrace the truth he had revealed.
And deep down, a part of her wanted to.