Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It's a perfect clear night. Perfect for Marcy's studies.

Marcy smiled to herself as she organized her notes. She's been writing night logs of planets and stars in her journals for months, however the moon had never been a priority until now. She'd never thought about the grey satellite in the sky. It was just a rock in the sky with an odd face on it(A face that she never noticed until someone pointed it out to her, and she still didn't really see it). If anything, she pointed her telescope away from it. No, the moon wasn't on her list of priorities, until Andrias had brought it up.

King Andrias had looked at her work and asked why there was nothing on the moon. Marcy had just chuckled.

"What about it?"

"Well it appears you have notes about almost everything in here, yet nothing about the object that rotates around us!"

Marcy took the journal from him.

"It's called a satellite. Also, it doesn't rotate, it revolves, it can't rotate, hence why we always see the same side!"

Andrias grinned and ruffled her hair.

"See? You already know so much about it. Why not learn more? See what you can find about it, and expand what we know about it."

Marcy didn't want to disappoint her father. So she did as he asked, she started her research. However, Marcy found that most books didn't talk about it, apart from the legends of it. Marcy was looking for fact, not legend, so they weren't helpful anyways.

So, the books couldn't help her. That didn't matter, she could do it herself. For an entire month she watched the moon wane and wax. It was...boring at most. It had only been a month and she had figured out the moon was incredibly mundane and nothing ever happened on it. She understood why there was only legends about it, there was nothing else to write about it.

Old astronomers had probably studied it like her and seen how boring it was, they created those myths so the moon was interesting in some way. Marcy could feel herself wanting to do the same thing.

Tonight would hopefully be different. It was a full moon, which meant she was done with the moon after tonight. She would finish her section (her section, which was only 2 pages long, because really there was nothing to fill in her usual 50 pages) and be done with the rock in the sky.

Or so she thought.

Marcy picked up her journals and telescope parts, it was a lot to carry, but she could manage until she got to the balcony. She awkwardly flipped open a page in her journal and started reading her notes. She paused when she got the balcony and murmured the words under her breath. She'd have to edit a lot of it since it was extremely repetitive.

An odd feeling overcame her. The feeling of being watched.

Marcy glanced up and almost spilled every thing in her hands.

Sitting on the edge of the balcony, was the most beautiful person Marcy had ever seen - and that wasn't the point Marcy! A stranger was on her balcony! Near her room! A possible murderer! A really pretty murderer- but still! Marcy opened her mouth several times before finally being able to speak.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The women snorted and stood up. She held an air of authority, like she was use to always being in change. She wore a pale silky dress and a golden like crown. Her hair was light blonde- Marcy shook her head and tried to stop thinking about how the women looked. She blinked several times before repeating herself.

"I said, who are you and why are you here?"

The stranger made a humming noise before speaking. She tapped her chin.

"I've been called many names. Some call me Luna, other's call me the Moon, in myths I'm Selene. If I'm being honest I hate all of those names, they aren't even close to my actual name, but if you must call me something, my friends call me Sasha."

Marcy gawked. The goddess of the moon was on her balcony. Marcy threw her stuff to the ground and bowed. It was probably not as graceful as she wanted it to be.

"I-im sorry! For my rudeness and not recognizing you, goddess of the moon. My deepest apologies, I'm so sorry if I've offend-"

Marcy stopped. She glanced up and saw Sasha was laughing.

"Um... Did I say something funny...?"

Sasha laughed again. Marcy noticed how her face looked like she didn't smile often, but when she did it was wonderful. Marcy shook her head, she had to stop noticing all of those details.

"No, no, I just don't do the whole, 'goddess of the moon let me worship you' thing. However when you do it, it's quite cute. You're a strange mortal aren't you?"

Marcy stood up straight and fixed her skirt. She wasn't sure if strange was a compliment, but it was better than the names she had been called her whole life. She adjusted her glasses and cleared her throat.

"Okay so, Sasha why are you here? Have I dishonored the gods? Are you here to kill me- oh that's probably it! Your here to kill m-"

She was cut off again by Sasha laughing. Apparently she was quite amusing to the goddess of the moon. Marcy couldn't help but smile a bit.

"If I was here to kill you, I would have done it the moment you walked through the entrance."

Marcy flushed.

"Oh...that's... Reasurring I guess, so why are you here?"

Sasha walked over, she peered down at the books and journals Marcy had dropped.

"I've seen you out here each night. I have to make sure the moon does it's job, and everytime I passed you were out here, staring into that weird golden tube thing. Naturally I was curious of why you were up till dawn looking at the sky."

Marcy wasn't sure whether to feel honored that a god was watching over her or freaked out that she had been watched by a person this entire time. It was probably a mix of both.

Sasha picked up one of the journals, the one about the moon. Marcy squeaked and grabbed the journal from her hands.

"S-sorry that one isn't done..."

Sasha rose her eyebrow and picked up another. She flipped through the pages and studied Marcy's drawings. Her finger traced the lines.

"You still haven't told me what you've been doing and your name"

"Oh! Yeah right sorry. My name is Marcy. Well Princess Marcy Wu, but the title isn't needed. As for what I'm doing I've been studying the planets and stars, kind of my whole thing."

Sasha closed the book with a loud clap. Marcy jumped a little and hopped Sasha hadn't noticed it.

"Marcy huh? A princess as well? Well I knew you were interesting, but I didn't expect that interesting. Most mortals are vegetable farmers or merchants."

Marcy slid the journal up to her face to hide the fact she was blushing. She fumbled for words before lowering herself to the ground and picking up her books.

"So Princess Marcy Wu, what have you learned about the great cosmos?"

Marcy couldn't help smiling. Someone other than Andrias, was interested in her work. She quickly scooped up the books and walked over to the edge of the balcony.

"Oh where to begin! There's so much to explain! I-if you don't mind of course."

Sasha sat down on the ground and waved her hand. Marcy was surprised a god would sit on the cold ground, maybe she should offer a chair or something...

"That's why I'm here, to find out what your doing. In fact, I demand that you tell me about your studies right now."

Marcy grinned and started setting up the telescope.

"Ah okay! Let's see...well first I've noticed the first 4 planets, Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars appear to be different from the other larger planets! See the first four look more rocky, their surfaces are easier to see, where as the larger planets I can't seem to see a surface at all!"

Marcy screwed the top part of the telescope to the middle part. She glanced at Sasha to see if she was listening. Sasha had her head on top of one of her hands, she was nodding as if to tell Marcy to go on.

"So I think this explains why Jupiter , Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are massive! They're made of something else that isn't solid! Gravity is just keeping those particles together! They have no surface! Isn't that amazing?"

Sasha grinned.

"It certainly is."

There was no tone of sarcasm in her voice. Marcy was surprised an actual god was listening to her right now. No one ever listened to her, if she tried explaining to anyone they would either scoff (most weren't interested in science as it opposed their mythology) or they would get extremely confused by Marcy's words. Yet a god was more interested than anyone she knew.

"Oh! Did you know the Earth is round? Not flat?"

The moon goddess was twirling her hair around her finger. Marcy noticed how Sasha didn't take her eyes off of her.

"Well obviously. I never understood why you mortals thought it was flat in the first place."

Marcy finished setting up the telescope. She frowned at Sasha's words. That was easy enough for her to say, she lived on the moon or something. She could actually see Earth. She'd been hopping for a bigger reaction.

"So what are you researching now? You said that journal wasn't finished"

Marcy looked at the journal in her hand. It probably wasn't the best thing to give the moon goddess, after all, she hadn't been the nicest about the moon.

"Ah...that...that is not ready! I'm still researching it! But come look at this!"

Sasha stood up and walked over to Marcy. Marcy couldn't help but notice how she was taller than her, it probably looked funny when they stood beside each other. Marcy shook her head and beckoned for Sasha to look through the telescope.

The goddess leaned down and looked into the telescope. She made an assumed noise.

"I see you have found Pluto..."

"Pluto? Is that it's name? I thought it was an undiscovered planet! I'm the first one to see it actually...King Andrias was helping me getting a book printed about it. How does it have a name?"

"That's what we God's call it, it's sort of a joke. Pluto is another name for Hades, god of the underworld. Since it's so far from the other planets, it's like him. An outcast. We call it that to annoy him."

Marcy was already opening up a journal and writing in it.

"That's a better name than what I was going to call it."

Sasha looked up with a teasing look on her face.

"What were you going to call it?"

"Marcus..."

Sasha snorted so hard she almost fell over. Marcy should've been insulted but Sasha's laughing was infectious, she giggled and reached to help Sasha steady herself.

"Are you okay? I mean- I don't think it's that bad of a name!"

Sasha patted Marcy's cheek and she had to use every muscle in her body to not squeak or blush.

"Marcy is a good name, Marcus? Not so much, I'd go with Pluto."

Marcy quickly scribbled out the name Marcus in her journal and wrote the new name.

"Thanks, but shouldn't you be going? With the moon and all, you're probably really busy..."

Sasha made a humming noise.

"Well mortal, you have sparked my curiosity, and I have decided something"

Marcy closed the journal and held it against her chest.

"Oh?"

"I shall visit you every night to help you with your studies. As I am the goddess of the moon, I'm sure I can help, and you're terrible at picking names."

Marcy felt herself struggling for words, Sasha smiled and patted her head.

"See you later, Princess Marcy Wu"

Sasha disappeared just as fast as she had appeared. Marcy was left alone, murmuring to herself that a goddess was going to visit her, every single night. She looked at the journal with the moon notes and grabbed it, writing as much as she could about the moon.

The moon had never been a priority.

Now it was the only thing on her mind.

Chapter Text

The meetings became nightly.

At first, Sasha would show up on Marcy's balcony every other night. She never knew when Sasha was going to appear, but when she did the whole night seemed to brighten. Marcy would explain what she was doing or what she learned and Sasha would help in any way she could. Eventually night would turn to morning, and Sasha would leave.

It was enough for Marcy, after all, this was a goddess. She had better things to be doing then spending time with a weird mortal. She probably hung out with Marcy because she pitied her, like all the others before her. The thought stung, but Marcy came to accept it. She knew people too well, that logic, also applied to gods.

Yet something was different.

Sasha didn't seem to mind Marcy's rambles. She always listened and smiled. The smile that lit up Marcy's heart and motivated her to go on with life. No one ever made her feel that way. Sasha would make fun of her sometimes, but in a light hearted way, she never meant it in a bad way. When she called Marcy a weird mortal, she said it with so much affection in her voice. Marcy wasn't sure how she hadn't exploded from the nicknames, laughter, and smiles. Now Sasha came every night as if she couldn't wait to be with Marcy.

Marcy shook her head and continued down the hallway, her boots were the only noise that echoed in the halls.

King Andrias had called for her and she was fully prepared. After Sasha had started coming, she had been able to write a whole section on the moon (she had to get rid of some parts because she kept writing things about Sasha and not the moon itself.) He would be so proud of her, that was all she wanted. Approval.

Marcy walked excitedly into the throne room, skipping almost. The guards at the door bowed to her and she gave them both quick nods before she stopped at Andrias's throne. Marcy bowed, waiting for her father to speak.

He never did.

Marcy glanced up and saw he was glaring down at her. Marcy felt her blood turn to ice. A gross sickly taste appeared in her mouth and her hands shook with every movement.

"Um...King Andrias, I have finished my studies of the moon. I apologize it's a month late but I believe-"

"Stop."

Marcy stood up straight and held her breath. She shouldn't be afraid of her father, but she was. She was in trouble.

Andrias gave her one more glare, he stood up, waving his hand at the two guards.

"Leave us."

The guards bowed to both of them quickly before they scurried out of the room. Now she was alone.

Marcy forced herself to look back at Andrias. He was sitting again, the glare had disappeared, but not the flare of anger in his eyes. Marcy smiled and reached out to hand him the journal. She tried to ignore how her hand was shaking so much, the journal was moving up and down.

"As...I was saying, my report is done and-"

"Who is she?"

Marcy froze. Andrias hadn't taken the journal so she brought it back to her chest.

"W-who..?"

The king narrowed his eyes.

"You know who I'm talking about."

Oh.

Oh no.

"Um..I...I ... I mean...she- she's well...not a friend... maybe more? She's a um...a god or goddess...I-i was going to tell you-but I uh..didn't know..."

Marcy's words trailed off as Andrias stood up and snatched the journal from her hands. She flinched and backed away.

"More than a friend?"

"No...no. Just a...research partner..?"

Andrias was flipping between the pages, reading each one with such insensitivity that Marcy thought the pages would explode.

"I'm very disappointed in you."

With a grunt, Andrias threw the journal across the room. Marcy wanted to speak but all she could manage was a small whimpering noise.

"I...I'm not doing a-anything wrong."

Andrias swung around and Marcy braced herself for a hit. It didn't come.

"You are in love with a god?"

Marcy opened her eyes. Was she? Was it obvious? How did he even know? Did Sasha like her back? Maybe that was why she came every night. The thought brought her back to her senses. Sasha would want her to stand up for herself.

"...Yes."

"So, the servant was correct. Shameful Marcy. Shameful."

"Dad..?"

King Andrias walked back over to his throne.

"You are not allowed to see her any more. I forbid you too. I will not have my daughter in love with a despicable god. Do you understand?"

Marcy kept her eyes on the ground as her father spat out the word god, like it was a spoiled piece of food. She couldn't not see Sasha, they had work to do. If she stopped coming would Sasha hate her? Would she think she meant nothing to her? She couldn't risk that.

"Her name is Sasha and no, I won't stop seeing her."

Andrias stepped forward and suddenly Marcy is a kid again. In trouble for doing something wrong and being horribly punished for it. As the princess, she had to keep up a status, one she can never break. It took years for her to be "normal" and even now she wasn't quite there. Andrias wasn't a bad father, she believed he was good still, but when she stepped out of place, she had to be punished for it.

"What did you say?"

"N-no."

Andrias doesn't hurt her but he does grab her chin and makes her look into his eyes. Marcy is shaking and wants to get away, anywhere else than this.

"She doesn't have a name. She is a soulless god. I knew a god once and she betrayed me, they don't care. Now, swear it. Swear you won't see her again."

She can lie. She has to lie. She needs Sasha.

"...I swear it."

The king stared deep into her eyes for a long time. Marcy's entire body feels numb, she could never make eye contact and now she was looking into the eyes of pure rage and hatred. After a minute too long, Andrias smiled and let go of her chin. Marcy stumbled as she was let go, she rubbed her chin trying to not back away. She wouldn't step out of line again.

"Good. Now return to your studies, your work is going quite well I think. I'll see you at dinner."

His voice is sickeningly sweet. Marcy nodded several times as she murmured sorry over and over. She grabbed her journal off of the floor and bolted out of the throne room. He can't stop her from seeing Sasha, she just needs to find a way to do it in secret.

-------

"Why are you so obsessed with this mortal?"

Anne hovered beside Sasha, looking as tired as she always does. Sasha glared at her. Why was she even here?

"I'm not. She needed a friend."

Anne laid back and floated around Sasha. Sasha hated how she was always so calm and acted like nothing was ever wrong, but Anne was her only other friend. Her only true friend before Marcy.

"Oh, so you don't like like her then? You're just playing her?"

Sasha pushed her, causing Anne to spin in the air.

"No. I would never do that to Marcy."

Anne sat cross legged in the air and hovered closer to Sasha.

"The mortal has a name! Which means you like her!"

"Don't you have something better to be doing? Like your job? It's night, people need you to help them sleep and shit."

Anne grinned and patted Sasha's head. Sasha growled and swung at her but Anne moved out of the way with ease.

"I could ask you the same thing!"

"The moon doesn't need me to revolve. People need you to sleep."

The god of sleep shrugged.

"You still didn't tell me why you like this...Marsha..? So much."

"Marcy. And because she's different, she's not like other mortals."

Sasha looked up as the bedroom door closed.

"Alright shoo!"

Sasha waved her hands at Anne.

Anne floated over the edge of the balcony and waved.

"Have fun with your mortal girlfriend!"

Sasha frowned as Anne disappeared. The word girlfriend echoed around her though. It sounded nice. She wondered how Marcy would feel about it.
-------

Sasha is outside on the edge of the balcony as always.

Marcy's heart jumped a little but she can't seem to smile. Not after what happened that morning.

"Hey sad eyes, what happened? Did you finally accept you're terrible at naming things?"

Sasha let out a small laugh but stopped she saw Marcy wasn't responding. Marcy shrugged and walked over to the telescope. She wouldn't look at Sasha, she couldn't.

"Mars?"

Marcy looked back.

"Hm?"

"Are you okay? You look like Hades but maybe a bit worst."

Marcy gave a small smile at the jab at Hades.

"Yeah...it's...it's fine.."

Sasha stood up and hugged Marcy from behind. Marcy stiffened. Partly out of the fact someone was hugging her and that person was Sasha. She felt herself soften.

"I am a god and it is very stupid to lie to one. You, Marcy Regina Wu, are not stupid, so tell me what's wrong or I'll smite you!"

She regretted telling Sasha her full name.

Sasha started ruffling Marcy's hair and tickling her. Marcy giggled and tried to get away. She couldn't get away from Sasha's hold, she was defeated and had to talk.

"Do you want to get smited?"

"No! No-ah stop! Stop! I'll talk!"

Sasha let her go with a laugh. Marcy glared at her as she fixed her hair.

"Fine. Fine, you win."

The goddess grinned and sat down on the edge of the balcony.

"As always. Now tell me what's on your mind."

Marcy played with her hands, trying to figure out how to tell Sasha. She could just stop seeing her, but Marcy wasn't going to. She could make up a lie but Sasha would see through it. She could twist the truth or just tell what really happened. Maybe that wasn't good either, what if Sasha went after King Andrias? Sure he could be harsh but he was her father and her only friend for years. She couldn't betray him either.

"I...I'm not suppose to see you anymore..."

Marcy expected Sasha to flare up with anger and yell at her, but she didn't.

Instead, Sasha titled her head, her face still had her amused smile on it.

"Oh? Did the princess decide even she is too cool for a god?"

Marcy snorted and walked over to sit beside Sasha.

"No, no, no. I could never be as cool as you. No. My father forbids us to see each other...."

Sasha made a humming noise.

"Well he's a bitch."

"Sasha!"

Sasha grinned. She reached to hold Marcy's hand, and Marcy let her.

"Alright, why does old Andri-ass, forbid it?"

Marcy giggled at the name. A couple of months ago she would have defended Andrias. She didn't now.

"He said you're all soulless monsters and I can't be with you...he said something about knowing a god? Do you know who it was?"

Sasha rolled her eyes.

"Soulless? Really? Well actually, he's right. Hades might be, but me? Definitely not."

Marcy laughed and laid her head on Sasha's shoulder.

"As for that god...can't say I've heard of them. He's probably just making it all up because he's jealous he can't get himself a girl!"

Marcy snorted and looked up at Sasha. Her eyes were teasing but there was something behind the teasing eyes. Marcy flushed and sat up again.

"I shouldn't be here, I'm putting you in danger and you have much better things to be doing. I'm not worth your time."

"Marcy."

This time, Sasha grabbed both of her hands, forcing Marcy to look at her. Marcy felt like her chest was going to explode. She hopped her face wasn't as red as it felt.

"I'm here because I choose to be. Yes, I could be doing my job but I don't need to. The king is just a king. I am a god, if he tries to tear us apart he will be my next victim. We are safe. You are safe."

Marcy struggled to find words. She wanted to believe Sasha, that she was safe and things would be okay. When she looked into Sasha's eyes she believed it, but she knew it wasn't that easy. It would never be easy and she would forever have to hide their meetings. She would stay in place as much as she could. Sasha was safe. Marcy wasn't.

"Okay..."

Sasha smiled and that made the lie easier for Marcy. Sasha was happy and her father was happy. That was good enough for her. Sasha let go of her hands, Marcy wanted to grab them back but she didn't.

"Now, tell me what you've been studying Mars!"

Marcy smiled as she explained the moons of Jupiter, what she had named them all (which Sasha renamed because really, Marcy was terrible at the naming things.), and what she learned about each moon.

The night seemed to melt away as the two of them looked through the telescope and drew each moon. Questions and theories floated around them.

"Are you the god of all moons or just our moon?"

"I'm going to be exposed. I'm only the god of your moon."

"Oh! Oh! This one has blue on it! It could be water!"

"How can you even see that through that tube thing?"

"Telescope."

"Close enough."

Marcy's worries melted away as she and Sasha talked. She had made the right choice. Gods were not soulless monsters, if anything Sasha was better than any mortal she had ever met. Andrias was being protective, but she was 18 now. She didn't need to be protected, and if she did she had Sasha.

Marcy yawned as the sun rose above the city. She rubbed her eyes and closed the journal she was writing in. The morning had come so quickly.

"Oh...morning, you should get going..."

Sasha stopped stacking books and looked at Marcy.

"I suppose I should, but I have something important to give you."

Marcy blinked trying to get rid of her sleepiness. Sasha walked over, kneeled down, and held Marcy's face in her hands. Marcy suddenly snapped out of her tiredness as her cheeks flared up with heat.

"Sashy- I mean- Sasha- what-"

Marcy was cut off as Sasha kissed her. Kissed her. She. Wow.

Sasha let go and walked to the edge of the balcony as Marcy fumbled for words or something. Her brain was a mix of tiredness and panic over what just happened. Sasha waved.

"See you tomorrow. Ya amar."

Marcy managed to speak again.

"What does that mean...?"

"It means my moon."

Sasha was about to step off the balcony, but before she did, she looked back.

"But it also means my beautiful."

Before Marcy could say anything, Sasha disappeared. Marcy sat there blinking several times, trying to get a hold of herself. Marcy dropped the journals in her hands and walked over to her bed. She fell on the bed and fell asleep instantly. (Thanks to Anne)

She didn't even hear her door shut close quietly, and the loud footsteps walking away.

Chapter Text

Her first warning should have been how different Andrias was.

After what Marcy called, the incident, he'd been more distant. Quieter. Colder. Marcy was constantly on her tip toes. She had to be perfect and stay in line. Nothing could be risked. Her only freedom was night, the highlight of her day. Her only form of freedom. But even her freedom was dangerous.

Over the past year, Marcy and Sasha had grown closer. At first, the visits had been about studying the cosmos, now it was for each other. Some nights no work got done. It was just about them, being together.

Sasha might have changed Marcy a bit on top of that. She was more confident, she wasn't a pushover, and she didn't need Andrias to help her get her work published( which made it easier for her to avoid him.) Sasha was also helping her stand up to her father when he did acknowledge her. She was still careful of course, but if needed, she could defend herself a bit. Just a bit, not too much.

Past Marcy would have seen the red flags, present Marcy didn't. Present Marcy didn't want to see the warnings.

It was evening and Marcy was already preparing for the night. She walked around the royal library finding books about Saturn (their job tonight was to study it's rings) and Greek myths (Sasha loved pointing out the inaccuracies and Marcy liked laughing at them.) As Marcy pulled out the myth of Apollo and his mortal lover, someone walked behind her. She inhaled sharply.

"King Andrias."

Her voice came out small. She hoped he didn't notice.

The king cleared his throat and Marcy slowly turned around still holding the book. She hoped she didn't look as tense as she felt.

"Yes...?"

Andrias peered down at her, his gaze was calm but calculating, Marcy could work with that (it was harder when he was angry.) Her father took the book from her hands, flipping it over as he studied it like it was some new bug species. Marcy steadied her breathing.

In and out, like Sasha showed you. Don't let them know you're scared. If they see you're scared, then you're an easier target.

"An odd choice for you Marcy. Aren't you studying rings? You were never into mythology, I hope for your sake, this doesn't have to do with that god."

Marcy held her ground even though every muscle in her body was screaming at her to run or hide.

"There is...some truth to the myths...I uh- just needed something to read when I take my break..."

The lies Marcy told had gotten easier. She didn't have to explain herself, she didn't need to feel guilty, she didn't need to be scared. The lies kept Sasha safe. No. The lies kept her safe.

Andrias simply hummed and handed her back the book. Marcy reached for it slowly, thinking it had to be a trick. A trick to make her have a false sense of security.

It wasn't.

Marcy slipped the book into her bag, and when she looked up Andrias was smiling. She almost jumped.

"That one is quite tragic. A sad ending for those two lovers I must say!"

King Andrias chuckled as he left the library, leaving Marcy completely confused. She let out a breath she didn't know she'd been holding. Marcy could almost hear Sasha telling her she'd handled that well.

A part of her was happy. He smiled at her. He still did care. He was still her friend. Her father. She had done good again and was being rewarded after so long. Maybe things could even go back to normal if she tried hard enough.

Marcy smiled to herself as she left the library and walked down the hall to her room.

Things could work. She would make them work. She could live in both worlds.

Marcy hurried down the hall. They had so much work to do.

The other part of her knew something was wrong. A thousand alarms went off in her head but she chose to ignore them. The tenses muscles around her father's eyes. The fake smile. The way he gripped the book. The way his shadow leaned over her, like Hades himself was about to strike her down. But Marcy pushed those thoughts away. She should be happy. She was happy.

Past Marcy would have never visited Sasha that night. She would have seen the signs and protected herself.

That Marcy wasn't here anymore.

------

Somewhere in the castle he's preparing.

The voices are urging him to do it. To get it over with.

Do this and you'll be forgiven for what you did, they say.

Do this and you can have everything you want in the underworld with us. Everything, they say.

Do this to get back at her. That line echoed around him. It dug into his chest and crushed him with anger and betrayal.

The king felt the fire blade in his hands. He clicked the switch on and off, causing the dark room to light up and go dark every few seconds. Revealing the voices and their disgusting faces. His lord's faces.

Do it. It's not a question, it's a order. One he must obey to gain his place in their ranks once more.

Andrias shut off the blade with a sigh.

"Such a shame. She would have been perfect."

There's no turning back now.
-----

The night was warm and quiet.

Sasha made sure of that. After all, being a god had its perks. She wanted Marcy to be happy and if Mar could see through her golden tube and fully see Saturn's rings, then Sasha was happy. She'd made sure everything was perfect, her mortal had been sad lately, she was determined to make Marcy smile as much as possible. She couldn't help with Marcy's days, but she could make the nights enjoyable. Luckily tonight, Anne hadn't followed her. The sleep god was getting too nosy and Sasha didn't need her teasing her about Marcy. Still, Sasha somewhat wanted Anne to meet Marcy. They'd make good friends. Maybe.

Even though she was a god, she didn't have...friends. She had Anne, but no one else. She'd always been so busy with the moon and no one on Olympus enjoyed her jokes. Not like Marcy did. The small weird mortal had stolen her heart, she'd do anything for Marcy, and that's why she tried to make each night as enjoyable as possible.

Sasha was shaken from her thoughts as the bedroom door closed. She jumped up from the edge of the balcony where she had been sitting and waited for her lover.

Marcy was smiling as she walked onto the balcony, which softened Sasha. Her smile was genuine and pure Marcy. Tonight she only held two books in her arms. Her eyes gleamed with mischief and excitement.

"Sashy! I found another story! I think you'll find this on-"

Marcy's words were cut off as she froze. She looked like as though Hades was Infront of her and not Sasha.

Sasha titled her head, she couldn't help laughing a bit. What little joke was she doing tonight?

"You okay Mars? Too much excitement got you frozen?"

Marcy's mouth opened and closed like she was trying to speak, but only air came out. Sasha's smile disappeared, it was now replaced with a worried look. The two books dropped to the ground. Finally something came out of Marcy's mouth, but it wasn't what Sasha expected. Blood welled up in Marcy's throat where she spat it out the ground. Now Sasha was the one freezing.

"Marcy?"

She finally saw it. Shooting through Marcy's torso was a small fire blade. Stabbing through what was definitely some important organs. The world closed around Sasha as Marcy fell to her knees and slumped to the ground. The blade slid out of Marcy as she fell, causing the poor girl to scream, as if she wasn't in enough pain.

"MARCY!"

Sasha rushed to her side, she grabbed the mortal's shoulders, pulling her into her lap. Sasha cupped her hands around Marcy's face.

"No. No. No. You're fine. Come on Mars...Stay with me..."

Marcy's eyes flickered as blood poured out of her chest and mouth. Sasha had been around for a very long time. She had seen mortal wars and godly wars. She knew what a fatal wound looked like. A deep chuckle echoed behind Marcy. Sasha's head snapped up and she saw him.

King Andrias had the bloodied fire dagger in his hand. The king was grinning at both of them like this was some sort of messed up game, and her just won. Checkmate. The fire of the dagger lit up his face, making him look more insane. Sasha felt rage well up in her.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"

Andrias clicked off the fire dagger, he kept smiling. That smug disgusting smile. The smile of a monster.

"Doing what my lord demands. If that means killing the princess, then so be it."

Sasha could feel waves of rage radiating off of her. They must have been actual waves of heat, as Marcy whimpered and tried to push away. Sasha couldn't help it, how could this bastard do this? How could anyone hurt little Marcy? How could anyone hurt her Marcy?

"YOUR LORD? SHES YOUR CHILD YOU MONSTER."

Sasha let go of the rage, sending a bolt of fire right into Andrias's chest. The king shouted as he was knocked into the bedroom wall. The moon goddess set down Marcy gently, the mortal whimpered and grabbed at her. Sasha stroked Marcy's hair, trying to reassure her, she turned around to where Andrias was lying. She had a job to finish.

Sasha's body flared up with pink fire again as she entered the room, towering over Andrias.

"She's your child."

The king was pathetic looking, and yet he was laughing. Sasha sent another wave of fire at his chest to shut him up. It worked as King Andrias's stopped laughing and gripped his chest.

"She...was never... my child."

Sasha's fire flickered for a second.

"What?"

"She was never...mine..."

Clearly the blast of energy had weakened him, his words came out slow and pained. Good.

"I found her..when she...was young...I took...her in...as my lord...asked...she was never...mine."

The rage came back, stronger this time. Waves of fire rose up around her, lighting up the entire room.

"She was your daughter. You still raised her you fucking bastard. Yet she meant nothing to you. You are the most disgusting mortal I have ever met. I hope Hades has a special punishment planned for you."

With one last blast, the king was dead. The room turned back to black as though nothing had happened. But something had.

Marcy whimpered loudly and Sasha stopped glaring at Andrias's body. She turned around, and saw Marcy was trying to sit up, her hand gave out and Marcy flopped to the ground.

"Marcy, no, no, no..."

Sasha rushed to the entrance of the balcony where Marcy now laid. The poor girl was loosing so much blood by the second. She was barely alive, yet her brown eyes were looking at Sasha. The moon god couldn't help it, she let out a choked sob as she reached to hold Marcy.

"It's okay Mar...he's gone...he can't hurt you anymore. I'm sorry...I'm sorry"

"...no...sorry...n-no...bad..."

Marcy smiled up at her, a smile full of love. How could she be smiling? Sasha hadn't saved her in time. This was her fault. With a weak hand Marcy brushed away Sasha's tears.

"...Ya...amar..."

Sasha started laughing as more tears rolled down her face. Even though Marcy was in pain, she smiled more at Sasha laughing. Marcy coughed again and started twitching, her body finally giving out. Sasha held in her tears as she held Marcy's face, trying to keep her awake. She had to be strong for Marcy.

"You're going to be okay Marcy...just stay with me...come on...please..."

Marcy's smile started to fade as her eyes flickered. Sasha gripped her harder.

"Marcy. Stay with me. You can't die. Your not allowed to die! I forbid it! I order you to stay alive!"

Not even the command of a god could stop this. Sasha could already feel Marcy had gone limp in her lap. She tried to fight back the tears, but it was no use, she was practically soaking Marcy with her sobs. She tried shaking Marcy slightly, begging her to wake up.

"You aren't dead. You can't die!"

Her mortal didn't respond.

Marcy couldn't die. This was not how their future would end. She wasn't going to allow it. She would get Marcy to wake up again, they had so many things to do tonight. Marcy could not die without fully seeing Saturn's rings.

Sasha scooped up Marcy, being as gentle as possible. She could bring Marcy back, she had too.

She knew who could help her fix this.

--------

By the time Sasha got to Anne's realm, Marcy was definitely gone. Her skin had gone cold and she no longer bled, she looked so tiny in Sasha's arms. Sasha refused to believe it. She wasn't dead. This was something she could fix. A minor inconvenience.

Sasha walked through the clouds, she must have looked terrifying carrying a dead body, as sleep creatures scurried away from her with yelps. She barely noticed, her only goal was to find Anne and get her Marcy back.

Eventually Sasha found Anne, sleeping on her cloud throne, as usual.

"ANNE!"

The sleep god yelped as she fell out of the throne. She shook her curly hair and stared up at Sasha.

"What? I don't disturb your job when-"

Anne froze as she saw Marcy's body. She grimanced.

"Oh...oh Hades... What the underworld happened?!?"

Anne scrambled up and looked down at Marcy, she looked at Marcy's chest and made a disturbed noise. Sasha protectively pulled Marcy closer.

"...He...the king...he...did this..."

"He did this to his own daughter?"

Andrias's words echoed in her head. That Marcy was never his. Now that Sasha thought about it, they looked nothing alike. The rotten bastard had probably stolen Marcy as a child. Sasha shook her head, getting Marcy back was more important right now.

"Yes. Now fix her."

Sasha attempted to give Anne the body, but the sleep god stepped back holding up her hands.

"Me? Wait, hold on. I can't fix-"

Anne waved her hand over Marcy.

"-all of this! I'm not that kind of god!"

"Do something."

Anne threw up her hands.

"Like what? Put her to sleep? Sorry to bust your bubble but she's dead!"

"SHE'S NOT DEAD."

Anne flinched at Sasha's sudden outburst. The moon goddess glared at her, making it very clear this is what she wanted Anne to do. Anne sighed and shook her head.

"Look. I know you love her, but I...maybe you should ask Hades instead...I'm sure you could beat any challenge he gives you"

"You know I don't get along with that asshole. Now do something."

Anne stared at her with an exasperated look.

"I-I...I can't I don't know if it'll work..."

Sasha gripped Marcy harder.

"Please. Anne please. I need her, she doesn't deserve this. She had so much more to live. I'm begging you. Do anything. You're the only one I trust."

Anne had always been a person of heart. With a slow sigh, she carefully took Marcy from Sasha's arms.

"She really means a lot to you, huh?"

Sasha nodded slowly. Anne hummed to herself as she looked at Marcy.

"I have one way to bring her back...it's not exactly what you want but, it's something"

Anne waved her hand, in a second a cloud table appeared, where the sleep god laid down Marcy. Sasha stepped closer, holding her breath.

She didn't know what Anne was doing, but it mostly involved Anne closing her eyes and murmuring under her breath (it didn't sound like a spell, more like she was talking to someone, like she was persuading someone). She did this for a long time, Sasha could barely take it. She was about to give up when something happened. Marcy's chest started moving again, the color started returning to her face, her pained expression changed to peaceful.

Anne opened her eyes and peered down at Marcy. She looked proud of herself.

"Wow. That worked."

"What worked?"

Anne snapped her fingers in front of Marcy's face but the mortal didn't respond. The god of sleep made a humming noise and poked her lightly. Anne nodded and finally looked up at Sasha.

"Well. I'm not the god of the underworld and I'm sure Hades is very displeased right now but she's alive...just not the way you wanted..."

Sasha looked from Marcy to Anne.

"What did you do?"

"An eternal sleep. She's alive but she'll never wake up. She'll forever be asleep...it's like she's still dead but...not. I'm sorry. It's all I could do."

Sasha gently scooped up Marcy, who murmured in her sleep. The sleep she'd never wake up from. But she was alive. She was safe with her at last.

"Thank you"

Anne looked surprised.

"Oh. Yeah. You're welcome. So...now what?"

"Huh?"

Anne summoned her throne and plopped down on it.

"I mean, you killed the king. The princess is alive but never going to wake up. The whole kingdom will be a mess and I'm sure the gods of Olympus aren't going to be happy you brought back a mortal, which did I mention she's immortal now too? So, nothing is going to be easy to fix."

Anne was right. Nothing would be the same.

The king was dead and his only heir was in a forever coma. She didn't know who would rule next, and if they would be worst or better. Was it even safe to bring Marcy back to the castle? She'd also gone against the godly code, she'd made a mortal immortal without asking Zeus. That was not going to look good.

But the thing was. Sasha didn't care.

Marcy was alive and Sasha would make sure everything went smoothly, even if it wasn't what she'd thought their future would be. Any future with Marcy was fine with her though.

"No. It won't be. But I can enjoy tonight at least."

Sasha turned to leave, there was nothing left to say.

"Good luck."

She stopped and turned to looked back at Anne but her friend was already gone.

-------

Against her better judgement, Sasha took Marcy back home.

Why? Because that's what Marcy would have wanted, and Sasha do anything for her. She would have wanted to be surrounded by what she loved, even if after tonight they got exiled (from the kingdom or the ranks of God's), she deserved one last night at home.

As she stepped up onto the balcony, Sasha considered bringing Marcy back into her room, but something stopped her. As if almost Marcy herself was pulling on her sleeve. Sasha looked up at the sky, and for the first time that night, she finally relaxed.

The sky was gorgeous. So clear and still that you could see the edge of the galaxy itself. It was beautiful. It was perfect. Yet Marcy never got to see it. She won't ever see it. Sasha can almost hear Marcy telling her each constellation, thinking of that almost ripped Sasha's heart out, but somehow she managed to stay quiet.

Sasha laid down Marcy slowly onto the ground. Now she was below the stars and planets she loved so much. The moon goddess sat down beside her, holding Marcy in her arms.

"It's beautiful tonight isn't it..?"

The only response Marcy gave was a small murmur.

"...I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I should've- I..."

Sasha cut herself off. No. Marcy didn't want that either. Sasha let out a sigh and looked at the mortal.

She supposed she could be happy Marcy would never die, but she wasn't here. Then again, she wasn't gone. Sasha felt crushed by her guilt. If she had listened to Marcy the first time she could've protected her but she was too stupid and stubborn, that's what got Marcy killed. Sasha should be the one dead, not Marcy, but that was stupid too. Then Marcy would have to live with her guilt. No one deserved this.

Sasha softly kissed Marcy's forehead, then she pressed her head to Marcy's hoping she could hear her.

"I love you, and I'm sorry. I wish I'd said it more before you were gone."

The exhaustion of the whole night must have gotten to her, as she drifted off into a deep sleep.

------

"Sasha?"

Her surroundings are blurry, or maybe she just can't open her eyes wide enough. Sasha vaguely feels someone shaking her shoulders gently, but she isn't fully there, it's like she's trying to wake up through something thick.

"Hey! Sasha!"

The voice calling her is familiar...

"Goddess of the moon! Oh thou moon! Wake up!"

That snapped her awake.

Sasha sat up panting, like she just ran a race with Hermes himself. She blinked several times trying to absorb the new area. It was a forest with sunlight slowly filtering down, birds chirped softly around her, a soft breeze blew around her every few seconds. How'd she get here? Wasn't she just on the balcony a moment ago?

"Took you long enough!"

Sasha realized someone is holding her hand, and not just anyone.

"Marcy..."

Marcy smiled up at Sasha. Her pure, genuine, and soft smile, like nothing had ever happened. Sasha didn't hesitate as she embraced Marcy, her mortal embraced her back with a laugh.

It felt normal and safe, as if nothing had ever harmed Marcy. Something had happened though, how was she here? Marcy was gone. She couldn't be here because she was in a forever sleep. This couldn't be real, unless...

Sasha let go of Marcy and looked into her eyes.

"Are you...real? Is this...really happening?"

Sasha had never been so uncertain or scared.

Marcy titled her head with confusion. After a moment she tapped her head lightly and looked around herself, like she was trying to confirm Sasha's question.

"Hmm yeah! Think I'm really here, I'm not sure how I got here either, one moment I was...well with you, the next I'm waiting in line to go somewhere...then the weirdest thing happened! Some person called Anne dragged me out of line and brought me here. Where ever here is, I'm not sure..."

The moon goddess nodded slowly as the pieces connected in her brain, she was starting to understand what happened. Somehow, she'd entered Marcy's dream, it was real...or well somewhat real. The Marcy beside her, was her Marcy.

Sasha grabbed both of Marcy's hands and squeezed them. She ignored how red Marcy's face turned.

"I'm...so sorry, I should have protected you. I'm sorry, I could have-"

Sasha stopped as Marcy placed her hand on Sasha's cheek.

"I meant it when I said no apologizing. It's no one's fault, just stupid Andri-ass's."

Sasha snorted at the name.

"I thought you said no cursing?"

"Guess that rule changed when I got stabbed by him, I think I have the right to curse his name."

The moon goddess laughed again and I just felt good. It felt good to just laugh after everything and it felt even better to see Marcy's eyes sparkle as Sasha laughed.

Marcy turned away from Sasha, her gaze looked across the forest before her.

"...So now what?"

Sasha made a humming noise before she smiled and gestured her hand.

"Whatever you want Princess Marcy Wu, after all, these are your dreams. This is your world now and you can do whatever you want, forever. Oh, did I mention you're immortal now? Maybe I should hav-"

"I'M WHAT?"

She silenced Marcy by gently kissing her on the forehead. Marcy stumbled, the poor girl still couldn't handle any form of love without fumbling for words or turning red.

Sasha ignored Marcy's gay panic, instead she grabbed Marcy and swung her around, it did just what Sasha wanted. Marcy dissolved into giggles and as soon as Sasha set her down, Marcy ran off into the woods.

"Come on! We've got all a whole new world to see and all the time we could need!"

Sasha started to follow her but paused, thinking about Marcy's words. She was right, they did have all the time in the world. They had time to be together. They had time. Those three words never sounded so good to her.

As Sasha chased after Marcy, things finally felt right. She didn't know it now, but things would turn out alright. The kingdom would be taken over by someone named Lady Olivia, or well, Queen Olivia now and her wife, Yunan. Marcy would be kept safe in Anne's realm (and yes they did eventually meet, and yes, became instant best friends). Sasha's secret of turning a mortal into an immortal was never found out and as always, she visited Marcy every night.

Because now it was just her and her lover, or as Marcy would put it,

The moon and I.