Tales Untold

Soulmates

The day was dark and cold, reflecting Cinder's mood right back at her as she stared out at Artemisia lake. Luna wasn't due for another sunrise until next week, and it always made her anxious not being able to see or feel it's warmth.

Cinder had finally become comfortable with being queen, but she felt all alone, even if she did have Iko. She missed the rest of her friends, even Jacin. She missed Earth, with its sunrise, and real trees, and mountains topped with snow. But most of all, she missed Kai.

She missed Kai's smile, and the way it lit up the entire room. She missed his laugh, and his jokes that made her laugh in return. She missed talking with him face to face about how hard it was, and having him help and comfort her.

Luna was a dull place, but Cinder knew that her biggest issue was being without Kai. It was weird. She had only met him less than a year ago, yet Cinder couldn't remember how she had been able to live without him. It was as though Cinder was living without her heart, and she couldn't function right without it.

Cinder also missed the rest of her friends. She saw Thorne and Cress every so often as they came and went to deliver antidotes. Winter was an ambassador, and so she and Jacin were in and out too. Scarlet and Wolf had come to visit her only a month ago, but they had the farm to look after. Kai was the only one whom she hadn't seen since the revolution.

Sure, Cinder had a d D-comm chip that she used to talk with Kai at least a few times a week, and commed messages with him multiple times a day, but she wanted to actually be with him.

Cinder turned away from the lake and sat down on her lavish throne. She hated the thing, and despised sitting in it. She felt like Levana, who had always looked down on everyone, so she only came into the room by herself, and had appointments held elsewhere.

The palace was completely silent, but that was no surprise to Cinder. Most everybody was asleep by two AM unless they were on guard duty. Cinder sighed, feeling even more depressed in the quiet of the throne room, but also relieved to be alone.

Suddenly, there was a ping from her port, and Cinder quickly picked it up and examined it. She smiled as she read the words, video comm request from Emperor Kaito, and quickly clicked the accept button.

Kai's face appeared on her screen, a huge grin on his tired face. Cinder knew that if she could, she would be blushing in that moment.

"Cinder!" Kai exclaimed, and the image of his face shook as he began bouncing up and down in his excitement. "I missed you a lot. Did I wake you up? Oh my stars, I'm so sorry! I should have checked th-"

"Kai!" Cinder cut him off, chuckling. "I've been awake this whole time. I missed you too." Cinder smiled and watched as Kai's worry turned to calm. "I actually couldn't sleep, so I'm glad that you commed."

The two of them beamed at each other for a moment, Cinder touching the screen, wishing that she could touch Kai. She wished that she could simply fall through the screen and be with him, but she had a moon to run.

"So," Kai started, breaking the comforting silence, "The ball is coming around next month, and I know you said you would be my date and everything, but I just wanted to make sure we were still good for that?" Kai winked, making Cinder laugh.

Cinder shook her head. "Actually, Kai, I've been meaning to tell you something. I am going to go with this guy I met here, on Luna. I just don't see a future for the two of us." Cinder sighed, a mock look of seriousness on her face.

For a moment, Kai looked confused, before he burst out laughing, Cinder joining in with him. It was fun to tease with Kai, because he never took it personally, or seriously. They were like best friends who had known each other their entire lives. They understood each other better than anyone else, and their personalities complemented each other in the most wonderful way. I guess you could say they were soulmates.

It was funny how Cinder had never even noticed any guys before she met Kai. She hadn't even noticed him before actually meeting him and getting to know him. Kai hadn't noticed girls before her. Never taken an interest at the balls. Never even dated a girl, or kissed a girl before Cinder, though he had been married, but that was not his fault. It was as though their stars had aligned, making them perfect for each other. Soulmates.

Soulmates, that somehow got lucky enough to be with each other. Soulmates who actually met, and conquered all other things that tried to keep them apart.

The word made Cinder smile in a cocky sort of way, and Kai laughed. "What are you thinking about up there on that moon?" Kai asked, getting a confused, but happy look on his face. He loved talking to her just as much as she did him, and it was pure agony to be apart. The connection was just as good though, and the long distance had yet to cause them any problems. They still loved each other.

"I was just thinking about how we're soulmates." Cinder said, knowing that if she could blush, she would look like one of Wolf's tomatoes. Kai grinned at her, a pink tint to his cheeks at her words, but an almost childlike look on his face.

"We were pretty much destined to be with each other." Kai teased, causing Cinder to give him a playful glare, before laughing again. "But, even if we are soulmates," Kai made a parenthesis hand gesture and winked, "You still haven't answered my question. Will you come to the ball with me, your most Queenliness?"

"Ah, I guess so, your majesticness." Cinder laughed, then paused. "We need to stop talking like Thorne before I puke." Kai chuckled and Cinder joined in. She was so excited to see Kai. She would dress up in a gauzy dress and twelve inch heels if it meant she got to see him again. Luckily, she was only wearing a simple dress and flats though, which she was grateful for.

Kai twirled a finger through the air, before pointing it at Cinder. "That only leaves one thing left then." Kai smirked, and Cinder became cautious.

"And what might that be?" Cinder inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Will you come down a few days early for me to give you those dance lessons?" Kai asked, wiggling his eyebrows.

Cinder sighed, mockingly, though she was only joking. She wasn't even kidding though, when she said her response. "Fine, I'll do it."