A/N: Yes two updates in one week. I am catching up from last week. Malachite finally makes his appearance. Oh by the way, I forgot to mention Zoisite's mask. It's black with the pattern of the lace on it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Not now, not ever.

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Is this is a dream?

If it is,

Please don't wake me from this high.

I'd become comfortably numb

Until you opened up my eyes

To what's like

When everything's right.

You Found Me- Kelly Clarkson

Malachite

I let a smile crawl over my features as I closed my bag. I was going…back to the palace. I don't call it home. Home is where the heart is. And there's a reason I'm called the Ice King. I was thankful to be leaving Venus. The planet was beautiful and the people were nice, but I had had enough of a certain princess trying to win my affection. Knock. knock. I looked up at the sudden noise and walked to the door. I prayed that it wasn't the princess. I open the door and a servant stood with a letter in his hand. Bowing he gave me the letter and left. Turning back into the room, I opened the letter. It was from Endymion. It read:

Malachite,

Hope this reaches you before you leave for Earth. I found a new general. She's from the North and will be a great asset to our group. By the way, in case you conveniently forgot, the Midsummer ball is tonight. And you are required to attend. It won't hurt you to be social for once. I know how you feel about balls and parties so I want you to stay long enough for me to a least see you talking to someone other than the generals or myself once. That's all I ask.

Endymion

P.S. There's a meeting tomorrow morning 8:30.

A new general? I didn't even know that Endymion was looking for someone. And it didn't escape my notice that he wrote 'she'. I hope he knew what he was doing. A girl wouldn't last a day in our training. I give her a week.

I was aggravated that Endymion was going to make me go to the ball. I hate balls; they're boring. It was just an excuse for court officials to show off how much money they had. But I had a strange feeling. A feeling that maybe the beginning of something was going to start at the ball. I shook it off. It wasn't good for the head general to be preoccupied with silly notions.

I gathered my bag and left the room. I ventured down the hallway to meet the farewell committee. Reaching the entrance of the foyer, I noticed that Princess Venus was the only one there. Taking a breath to keep my annoyance in, I walked over to greet her.

"Princess," I greeted.

"Hello, Malachite. I guess you are leaving now?" she asked.

"Yes. There are many things I need to do back at the palace on Earth."

"Well, I hoped to give you something before you left," she said. Venus stood on her tippy-toes, closed her eyes, and started to reach for a kiss. I was startled. I knew she liked me, but for her to be so forward…It made me kind of disgusted.

"Princess," I said trying to make my voice sound nicer. I put my hands on her shoulders.

"Yes, Malachite," she chimed back with a smile. If she thought I was playing games with her than she was wrong. Time to make the Ice King persona real. Well, to her anyways.

"I don't like you that way. I know you do, but I don't. So I'd appreciate it if you don't throw yourself on me," I hissed at her. She looked down. My voice must have sounded harsh. It sounded icy even to me. But I couldn't help it. She was so annoying. Venus was not the type of girl I was looking for. I wanted someone who was beautiful, who could hold her own, and could stimulate me with intelligent conversation. Someone who could love me and need me without being clingy. Venus was not her. I wondered if I could ever find her. All these women from these courts never matched what I was looking for. Was I searching in vain? I looked back to the Princess.

"Well. I hope your trip goes well. Please thank Endymion for his concern for me," she said with a somber tone while still looking down. I nodded.

"Good-bye, Princess," I told her as I bowed. I turned to the exit of the foyer that led to the hanger where my ship awaited.

"Good-bye, Malachite," I heard her whisper before I went out the door.

An unrecognizable feeling grew in me as I got into the vehicle. That same feeling from earlier. It felt as though I was about to take a path that would lead to the end. To all my answers. And when we left the atmosphere of Venus, I wondered what was going to meet me.

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The ball as usual was boring and extravagant. The decorations were better this year; green and purple fabrics. I leaned on a pillar out of sight from the crowds. It was bad enough that Endymion hadn't shown up yet, and I would rather avoid the stares from people. I watched the crowd dancing and mingling and turned to look at the door to see if Endymion had come through.

Instead of the prince, the most beautiful creature I had ever seen walked inside. She wore a dark green dress with black lace gloves and a black mask. Her hair was a copper gold that was half-up and half-down. She held herself like she was important, but didn't know where to go. She turned as if looking for somebody and met my eyes. They were a striking green. Like emeralds shining in the darkness. Her eyes seemed to capture my heart and lighten my mood. A force pulled me towards her and I met her as she reached the bottom of the stairs, our eyes never leaving each other. I was nervous and I am never nervous. I didn't know what was happening to me. I was at a lost for words. It was like I wasn't even myself, but a smile played on her lips that made me want to make her mine for now and forever no matter what she did.

"Hi," I breathed to her. Great job, Malachite. You're so going to woo her that way my head told me.

"Hi," she said back as her eyes brightened with her smile. I must have done something right my heart countered back.

"Would you like to dance?" I asked her as I offered her my hand. She nervously looked down and then quickly back up. My heart was beating so fast that I was surprised that she couldn't hear it.

Lifting her arm, she took my hand as she said, "I'd love to."

Smiling at her, I got a smile in reply. I was happy and for once I felt like I was actually going to have a good time at one of these balls.

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We had a lot in common. We both loved the arts, literature, history, and training. But we were different. She liked music while I liked paintings. She was interested in Earth history while I was interested in Moon History. And she was into martial arts while I was into magic. She didn't even seem disturbed that I was able to do magic. Maybe she could do it herself…

I gazed at her as she leaned on the white marble railing of a balcony that overlooked the lake beside the palace. The full moon shone on her making her glow. She was dream-like. A goddess sent to watch over me. We sat in silence; she looking over at the lake and I taking in her beauty. My nerves had quieted down, but my heart raced every time I looked at her. I wondered how such a creature could make the Ice King's heart race. I guess love really is a mystery.

"It's beautiful, isn't it?" she said out of nowhere. I walked over to her cautiously.

"Yes, it is," I replied now leaning with my back on the railing. I wondered what she was thinking as she kept staring to the lake. "But, not as beautiful as you are." I saw her blush as she moved her gaze down with a smile. I smiled and she looked over to me. My heart raced even faster. Every time she smiled I felt as though I could stop Beryl myself.

I broke my day-dreaming gaze to find that she was walking away. Panicking, I ran to her. She glanced over at me and shook her head as she smiled. I stopped, confused by her sudden movements. Not wanting her to leave me, I called out to her.

"Where are you going?"

"Inside. I have an important meeting in the morning," she replied. I looked at my watch; it was almost midnight. Remembering my meeting with Endymion that was bright and early, I figured she was right and that I should go inside too. I looked up to find her walking farther away.

"Wait!" She turned around to look at me. "Can I at least have your name?"

"If I can have yours in return," she replied. My heart fluttered. If she wants my name, she must want to see me again!

"Malachite," I told her. She smiled as I waited in anticipation for hers.

"Zoisite," she said before she walked inside and was lost in the crowds.

Zoisite. It fit her well. I swore to find her and never let her leave again. I sighed as I pushed through the crowds to the foyer where I went down the hallway that led to the generals' quarters thinking about her.

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Zoisite

I leaned on the door and let out a huge sigh when I entered my quarters. I was happy. Happy beyond any happiness I had ever had before. He was in my mind perfect. His blue-silver eyes seemed to pierce my soul, capture my heart, read every thought and wish that I've ever had. He was perfect down to the last strand of silver hair. Malachite. I smiled as his name moved across my lips. I slowly moved from the doorway to the bedroom to get ready for bed. As pulled the dress off and put my pajamas on, I looked at the moon and thought how we were perfect compliments for each other. Completely the same, but totally different. I grinned larger. Apparently my body didn't understand the facial expressions of neutrality and frowning. I let out a content sigh as I crawled into bed thinking about if Malachite was thinking about me. And as I closed my eyes, I wondered if, no not if, when I would see him again.

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A/N: I didn't mention it nor do I think will write the ball from Zoisite's POV (I could change my mind though), but Malachite is wearing a dress military uniform with a cape (of course!) and a silver mask. Umm…yeah I know it's Monday, but I have school off (in case you were wondering about my weekend comment). IDK if I'll update this weekend because I'll be at French immersion camp. Just keep an eye out though! Sorry for the long A/N. say "masquerade" if you read the notes.