Chapter 28: Loving Stars

On no particular day in Earth’s main Lunar Colony, Diana found herself rising first, instead of her loyal bodyguard. In fact, the dragon-like demi-human had risen out of bed several hours ahead of her guardian, so much so that she was able to do many of her morning rituals while “he” slept. Diana did everything except eat breakfast, saving that part of the morn for later. Instead, she made her way to her bodyguard’s bedroom, noticing that the blonde elf was still asleep. It was almost 10:45.

Zatore Esgaroth Thrindale looked quite sweet as he slept there on that bed, oblivious to any trouble or danger at all. From head to toe, Zatore (as only Diana seemed to call him) could have easily passed as a lady’s man, and not just because of his elfish appearance. Aside from his golden, spiky hair, the hypnotic greenish-gray eyes he had, and the attractive face, Zet knew how to treat a person well, even if at times they did not often deserve it. He was as dedicated as he was punctual, and would have literally died for Diana’s safety. Not too many other men could brag about that, so of course Diana was beginning to like him.

She smiled sweetly as he rolled over on his stomach, burying his chin in the pillow and snoring just a little bit, like a cat’s purr. With her clawed hands, she delicately reached out and combed through his platinum-blonde hair, ands wondered what kind of dreams he was having. Before she could think about it, however, Zet moaned and woke up, looking bleary from his sudden departure from Slumberland. Diana kept her smile, and she even kept rubbing his hair as she greeted him.

“Hey. Morning, sleepy-head.”

“Mmh?” he mumbled. Zet wearily rolled over to check the digital clock in his room, and groaned when he read the time. “Is it really ten forty-six already? Diana, why did you not wake me? You know I like to rise early so I have more time in the day.”

“I couldn’t bear myself to do it,” she said with that same sweet smile. “You looked so cute and adorable sleeping there that I just couldn’t bring myself to wake you. Besides, you deserve it after those all-nighters.”

“Ah, yes...” Zet let out a polite yawn, and rubbed the sleep and crust from his eyes as he tried to sit up. Because he was in the presence of a Lady, Zet wished to utilize the bathroom to make himself more presentable and fresh. He had blushed enough when Diana called him cute and adorable, so he needed the cold shower. Besides, he daren’t speak to her for long without brushing his teeth...

An hour passed, and Zet put on a long-sleeved maroon shirt, the kind he usually wore. He greeted Diana cordially, and while the two sat down for brunch, they discussed what they were going to do for the day. Since they first met so many months ago, both Zet and Diana had tried balancing a coexistence together along with the eternal job of watching out for members of the dreaded Magic Stars, who sought to retrieve Diana back into their clutches and use her uncanny skills for their purposes. On peaceful days, the two nonhumans would try and decide how the day would be best spent, but most of the time, it was in tranquility.

“We should really do something today,” said Diana. “I dunno about you, but the charms of being in this apartment don’t last forever. I need to get out and do something, y’know? What do you think?” Zet paused just long enough to finish chewing his food before speaking.

“It does sound like a good idea ... If it does not bother you too much, I was just recently contemplating on going somewhere slightly classy, the kind of place that I was accustomed to visiting back in my world. I am sure that Earth does not have such accommodations, but perhaps this moon might.”

“What did you have in mind?” she asked as she sipped some tea, and Zet’s face turned slightly pink. He smiled weakly, a good sign that he had something personal on his mind.

“Well ... this may seem a bit odd, but I was hoping that we could go see an opera.”

“An opera?!” she balked. “Zatore Thrindale! I didn’t know you liked opera!”

“Perhaps, but not as much as it sounds. I really only like operas because of the music and the visual art that one sees, and occasionally, I will watch one for the entire experience. What, is it so wrong for a man to appreciate fine art?”

“No, not at all,” she smiled. “In fact, I think I like it. Yeah. But hey Zatore, is this just gonna be you and me in a dress and suit, or is this gonna turn into a date?”

Zet’s pink face turned a few shades darker.

“ ... I was hoping that it would be a romantic evening outing between the two of us,” he said softly. “So, yes, I guess you could say that ... I was hoping this would turn into a date.” Bashfully, Zet looked into Diana’s face to see her reaction, and all he got was a reassuring smile. The young lady was just as flushed as he was, and her smile was equally shy as well.

“Why, Zatore Esgaroth Thrindale...” she whispered. “Are you going back on your word?”

“Eh?”

“You said that the purpose of this relationship was not to swoon me, but to protect me...”

“Yes, well...” Poor Zet’s face became redder by the minute, and though he tried to smile, it ultimately failed. “ ... I do apologize for that,” he sighed at last, “but ... well, since I’ve met you, I ... have grown to care for you, very much--beyond the limits that a normal bodyguard would. I ... well, let us just say that I have grown very fond of you, very, very much...” Zet was practically sinking in his seat by now, but the warmth from Diana’s smiling face eased his worries.

“I see. Well, I don’t mind one bit. You know, Zatore, I feel the same way about you. I care for you a lot, and in the time we spent together, I’ve grown to know you and to like you in ways that no normal person would. I think you’re great, and really kind and sweet, with more honor in you than a soldier. Anyway, I’m rambling on, but my point is--Zatore, I thought you would never ask! I’d be delighted!”

“Really?“ he squealed, smiling blindly. Diana chuckled and swallowed the rest of her drink.

“Sure! An opera sounds nice for a first date! Besides,” she added slyly, “how else are we gonna see each other dressed up?”

“ ... I see,” he chuckled meekly. Diana gave him a friendly wink.

“Well, until that time comes, we should finish breakfast. And Zatore?”

“Hm?”

“Thanks for asking me first,” she grinned. “To be honest, I ... well, I guess I woulda gotten around to it if you hadn’t.” Zet smiled, his face aglow, and continued to eat brunch in silence. Inwardly, though, he was singing.

Taking a deep breath, Zet stepped out of his room first, dressed in a dark-blue suit that made his handsome features stand out twice as much. He had the usual tie and corsage on, and the equally-usual bulge of nervousness in his throat as he waited to see what kind of dress Diana would wear. The demi-human was usually not one for fashion--her first set of clothes had been tattered rags--but Zet still wanted to see what she would wear. He figured it would either be something red, to match her hair and overall personality, or something green, to match her eyes.

With a slight flair, she emerged from her room wearing an almost-skintight red dress, as crimson as blood and sparkling faintly in the late afternoon light. Except for a pair of white evening gloves, and high-heeled red shoes, Diana was not wearing anything else. Even though the dress was not provocative at all, Zet couldn’t help but allow his face to match its color.

“Oh, wow!” grinned Diana. “You look great! Blue is definitely your color! Why don’t you wear it more often, instead of all that maroon and red?” Zet could not speak to save his life, let alone comment on the lady’s apparel. Somehow, though, he found his voice and his nerve, and bowed to her like the country gentleman he once was.

“You are looking quite magnificent, my lady,” he said. Quietly, he reached into a box and pulled out a corsage, a lotus flower, and pinned it to the strap of Diana’s dress. “For you, Diana. I must admit, you do look stunning in that.”

“Thanks,” she smiled, her own face flushed a little. “Well, I guess this is it. Time to go on my first date.”

“Oh, is this your first?”

“Yeah,” she sighed. “Most people would think I’m too much of a freak of nature--hence the bitterness you were forced to cope with earlier--so I didn’t exactly fit into the dating scene. But y’know what, it’s really sweet of you to ask me. I guess there are just some people who can see past the outer image.” Zet nodded his head absently, agreeing with the lady’s philosophy. In his mind’s eye, however, Diana was not a freak, but an image of beauty and warmth. Though she had claws and talons instead of fingernails, and slits in her eyes instead of round pupils, and a reptilian tail, and dragon-like wings, he still thought she was nothing less than gorgeous.

“Indeed...” he muttered. “Lady Diana, if it is any consolation, I think you are quite beautiful.”

“Really?” she squealed, grinning at him.

“Yes. I am not trying to flatter you or charm you into something; I am merely expressing the truth.” Her grin increased, showing normal human teeth mixed in with a few dragon’s fangs, and her face blushed as she chuckled from happiness.

“Heheheh ... wow, gee, thanks! You know something, Zatore? You’re a really sweet guy! And you treat me like I’m the most important thing in the world, not some freak or ... or ... sex toy.”

“My lady, I would never do such a thing!!” he stated soundly. “It would sully my family’s good name for its only living son to act lecherously! I would find offense if there were some savage who would dare mistreat such a kindhearted young lady as you!”

“Shut up!!” she chuckled, pushing him gently. “C’mon, Zatore! If you don’t stop flattering me, I’m gonna leave for the opera without you!”

“I hope not,” he muttered darkly. “I chose a production that I have been looking forward to seeing for some time.”

“What’s it called?” she asked.

“Belleza, Verdad, y Amor.”

“No way!” she gawked. “You mean you got tickets to that show?! I heard it was sold out months ago!” Zet smiled proudly, and meekly held out two tickets he had dug out of his pocket.

“Not... exactly,” he said. “I seem to have ... ehh ... shall we say ... possession of the last two. I shall tell you how I came about them after the production; until then, my dear lady, I do believe that we shall be late if we do not hurry.”

The Opera House of Earth’s Lunar Colony was a breathtaking building, standing out magnificently in the center of the classiest city on the moon. The building’s rooftop was curved in a peculiar but beautiful way, and the brick walls were covered with vines of ivy, to give it a more mystical look. The windows glowed with a golden light, and the stars visible above made the dark evening atmosphere come alive with magic. There were already hundreds of people gathered around, dressed in their finest and waiting to see one of the most acclaimed operas around.

“Dear me,” sighed Zet as he saw the crowd. “It seems this will be a full house.”

“ ... Yeah ... Hey, uh...” Bashfully, Diana looked down at the floor. She could not bring herself to suggest anything beyond what they were already doing.

“Here, take my hand,” whispered Zet. “That way, we will not get lost. Was that what you were about to suggest?”

“ ... Yeah,” she said quietly. Diana’s clawed hand folded neatly over Zet’s, and she smiled at the softness and coolness of it.

“There is nothing to be ashamed of, milady,” smiled Zet. “We are on a romantic outing, after all. It is perfectly acceptable to hold hands. But rest assured, milady: I shall not turn to barbarism and try to--as they say on Earth--’put the moves on you’. I respect you far too much to even think of making you feel uncomfortable.”

“This dress makes me feel uncomfortable,” she grumbled. Zet laughed out loud, and guided his date to the front door while trying to keep himself from falling over.

“Dear me, what an honest and unexpected reply! Well, you shall be free of it by the time we are home. Really, though, you should have worn something comfortable, my lady!”

“Yeah, I know,” she said with a pasty half-smile. “But ... this is my best dress. I only have one other, and it’s not suited for something so classy as this.”

“I understand.” Zet smiled at her brightly, and took her to the front door (though they did have to squeeze by a few people in the process. Some, noted the couple, were giving second looks to the handsome elf or the beautiful demi-human). Standing there to receive the tickets was a surprise: a demi-human, resembling a cross between a human and a wolf. She smiled as she saw the couple, and gave them a salute.

“Bonjour, monsieur and mademoiselle! Eet ees rare to see ozzer demi-humans attending zees operas!”

“And it is rare to see such a sophisticated demi-human working for this opera,” noted Zet. The half-wolf smiled and held her furry hand out.

“Sil vous plait, teeckets?” Zet gave the lady the tickets he had gotten, and received a smile from the womanly wolf. “Enjoy ze production, monsieur, mademoiselle! I can tell zat vous weel have a good time, oui?”

“Merci,” replied Zet cheerfully, and the couple proceeded on, into the magnificent opera house, which was twice as spectacular and ornate as the outside. Both Zet and Diana had to gape at it for awhile, to absorb the splendor of the place. Everything was drenched in red and gold, from the thick carpet below to the crystal chandelier hanging above, even the banister to the stairs. If things were not romantic yet, then they were out in full force now.

“Astounding!” whispered Zet. “I am impressed! I have rarely gotten the chance to see such beautiful establishments, even in my own dimension! Lady Diana, do you think this place is beautiful?”

“Yes,” she said gently, smiling as she looked at Zet’s amazed face. “It is quite beautiful indeed.” He looked at her and smiled, and suddenly remembered that they had a production to attend to.

“Oh, I almost forgot! Let us hurry, so we do not miss the show!” With that, he took her hand and guided her to their seat. Despite the fact that Diana’s nonhuman features were attracting attention, Zet cared not that his date was physically different than anyone else. It was the gentleness of her heart he so admired, and the strength of her will, and it was this inner beauty that poured out of her, coating her outer features with it like chocolate would coat a cherry. Yes, Diana could also be bitter and disagreeable, but that was only because she had the right to. With the way she had been treated in the past, it was a miracle that her kindness survived at all--and this was another trait of hers that Zet admired. The strength of her kindness towards others overpowered even the volcanic bitterness she could sometimes have.

Besides ... she really was beautiful, claws and all.

“I apologize that we could not get better seats,” said Zet as he and his date sunk into their chairs. They were on the floor, about midway from the stage, and sitting very close to the aisle. Diana merely shrugged.

“It’s okay. It’s a blessing we even got these! From what I heard, Belleza, Verdad, y Amor is extremely popular. I guess you just used a bit of the Thrindale fortune and influence to get those tickets.”

“No, my family name is not known in these parts,” he replied. “If you really must know, the tickets were payment in lieu of a job I did before I met you. My client could not pay me with money, but he was happy to give me these tickets instead. He claimed they were worth about as much as he would have otherwise paid me, and from the looks of the crowd, I now believe him ... Thank God I did not sell those things!!!”

“Indeed...” Slowly, the lights darkened in the house, and the curtain began to rise. A warm feeling of anticipation and enjoyment crept into Zet’s and Diana’s bodies, and they rested back in their chairs as the magnificent Belleza, Verdad, y Amor began. Unlike most operas, this was not a tale of depression or death, but a celebration of life. It focused around a small but enduring cast of characters who each went through their days in search of beauty, truth, and love--hence the title. Such an expression of joy had won many awards before, and considering the play’s immense popularity, it would run on long after that day.

The post-entr’acte atmosphere of the play was the most astounding, however. It claimed to have the power to bring tears flowing from the eyes of even the strongest men, and so much beauty and magnificence that some said the part had been written by the divine, and not human hands. The Prima Donna of the play, a shining middle-aged woman named Camilla, was singing a mournful and touching aria with more precision and feeling than the original composer would consider. Zet honestly did shed a few tears as the beautiful music and song played, and his hand never left the palm of Diana’s.

Once the diva had removed herself from the stage, the audience gave her a standing ovation, for what seemed to be five whole minutes. Zet and Diana didn’t hold anything back, and cheered violently as the diva returned and took a few bows. After that, the opera would sweep on further into enchantment and magic, captivating everyone in the house until they begged for more, then finishing off with a hot-blooded climax inspired by actual events. To make the moment just a little more touching, Diana rested her head on Zet’s shoulder, and smiled warmly at him as he kissed her hand. The date could not get any better--no, it could not, unless the divine powers of Heaven itself intervened.

But as was the case in most peaceful scenarios, something happened that made the evening a little less magical. As the actors and singers went back onstage to set up for the climax, Diana nearly jerked out of her chair as she recognized one of them. Standing on the stage was an average-sized man, with flowing golden hair and a plain face. He had on a green robe with white hems, and a striking medallion on his chest that identified him as someone especially unique. Diana recognized the medallion immediately, and hissed fiercely at her date and bodyguard.

“(Zatore!)” she almost screamed. “(That man, up there, with the medal! I know him!!)”

“Oh, is he a friend of yours?” asked Zet innocently.

“(No! I know that man! It’s Lethe, the leader of the Magic Stars!!)”

“You mean--!!” Zet suddenly forgot that he was in a public place, and lowered his voice to a fierce whisper. “(You mean that that man is the leader of the mages who are out looking for you?!)”

“(Yes!!)” she hissed. “(He’s here! I don’t know how he followed me, but he’s here! Zatore, what are we going to do?! If Lethe is here, then he’s either looking for me, or recruiting others for his cult, or else up to no good!!)”

“(What else can we do?)” said Zet. “(We are going to put an end to this, once and for all! If that man is endangering you, then it is my job as your bodyguard to stop him, by any means necessary!)”

“(Zatore, you can’t--)”

“(I must!)” he stated viciously. “(Lady Diana, if we let that man continue doing whatever he is doing, then he and his followers will follow you to the edge of the universe and beyond! Do you want that to happen?)”

“(No! I meant--)”

“(Then let us stop him! Come on!)” Zet gently pulled on her arm, but Diana yanked him back down before he could charge at the singing mage.

“(I don’t mean we can’t fight him!)” she whispered. “(I mean, we can’t fight him here! It will ruin the opera!)” Though Zet was distressed by the sudden appearance of Diana’s persistent enemy, he couldn’t help but give her a noble smile as she placed the entertainment of other people over her own safety. That was just another characteristic of hers that Zet liked so much.