Luna blushed deeply. "Well, I, I, I… I, well, um… The heat of the moment?" She finished weakly.

Artimis just nodded in a sarcastic way. He didn't believe a word she said.

"Oh, you are impossible! You'd think that you would be content with my forgiving you! I shouldn't have forgiven you! But of course the Prince just *had* to pry, didn't you? You just can't stand not knowing everything about someone, can you? Tell me, do you pry this much in the nights, or are you to out of breath?!" Luna didn't wait for an answer. She turned and grabbed the doorknob. She pulled, but the door refused to open. She pulled again. Nothing. Again. Nothing.

"I don't think that is going to work." Artimis told her, holding up a key. "I took the liberty of locking the door. I didn't want to be intruded upon, did you? Besides, you have a nasty little habit of leaving before something is over."

Luna's face had a dark look. "Open this door right now! I will not be held prisoner to an arrogant Prince!"

"Arrogant?" Artimis chuckled. "I think that if either of us is arrogant it is you." Artimis sat down easily upon and over-cushioned couch.

"Me? I am not the one flaunting around my high status to get someone into my bed! That is the only reason *anyone* would share a bed with you! Just trying to gain power!" Luna yelled, approaching the couch as she spoke.

Artimis snorted. "You know that isn't true. I saw your face when you finally opened your mouth last night! I felt you melt in my arms!"

Luna's face became red with anger. "I was simply ready to pass out from nausea at having your mouth upon mine!"

"Is that so?" Artimis looked very amused. "Your kiss would have suggested otherwise." Mistake number two.

"Why you arrogant, self-absorbed, womanizer!" Luna shouted, her voice strained with anger. "If you weren't my Prince, I would… I would hit you right now!"

"That didn't stop you last night." He told her lazily, as if all of this was quite common. His voice remained level and light, only aggravating Luna further.

"Last night you were nothing more than a low-life hoping to see what was under my dress!" Luna screamed at him.

"How do you know I am not now, hiding under my title as prince?" Artimis asked, his eyes held a dare.

Luna looked shocked. "You… you wouldn't?" It was more of a question than the intended statement.

"Your right. Not now. We have a ball to prepare ourselves for, remember? If my memory serves me correctly, you have given me the honor of escorting you." Artimis stood, and Luna walked to the door.

"I would sooner go with a toad!" She told him, nose in the air.

Artimis walked up to her, bringing his face close to hers. "You are bound to your word, m'lady. What would Queen Serenity say?"

"I do not know or care." Luna retorted. He was so close she could feel his breath.

"I warn you, Governess," Artimis said "Governess" very sarcastically, "I could easily become your so-called 'womanizer' at this very moment. I think you would be wise to let me escort you."

Luna swallowed visibly, obviously trying to decided what to do. Her heart pounded and her mind raced to find something snappy to say back, but she could come up with nothing. Her heart told her kiss him again, and her mind told her to slap him. She tried to push them both away and let her business mind take over. "Very well." She nodded. "Let me out." She hissed.

Artimis quietly put the key in the door and turned it. Before opening the door he said, "Then I will see you tonight, m'love." She pushed the door open, and Luna nearly fell backward, she had been leaning so heavily on the door. She stumbled backwards, catching her balance at the last moment and knocking into a suit of shinning armor.

[*Insertion from the Authoress: As this moment, my rather large cat is sitting on the *very* narrow back of my chair with his chin on my shoulder. Aw. This has absolutely nothing to do with the story, but it's so cute I just had to tell you all about it! ^^ Now, back to the story!]

Artimis laughed at her as he shut the door again and walked down the corridor, his laughter staying with Luna.

Luna scowled at the place he had turned the corner and stood up, smoothing out her skirt and hair, and just in time. Queen Serenity, Galaxia, and Luna's rival Nyanko came around the corner at that moment.

"Good afternoon Luna." Serenity smiled.

"Why, hello Luna! So you are the one my sister speaks so fondly of!" Galaxia exclaimed.

Luna smiled and curtsied quickly to Serenity and nodded her head to Galaxia. "Good afternoon, Queen Serenity, Galaxia."

"Do you know Nyanko?" Galaxia asked Luna.

"Yes, I know her." Luna said flatly.

Galaxia made a small movement and Nyanko frowned at her before turning to Luna.

"Hello, Governess. So nice to see you again." Nyanko acted as though the words were poisonous snakes that she wanted nothing to do with.

Luna felt the same when she spoke. "Hello, Nyanko."

Galaxia cleared her throat and gave Nyanko a look that clearly said "leave."

Nyanko nodded. "If you will excuse me, I have something I must attend to." She turned around and followed the corridor Artimis had taken a few moments earlier.

"Come, Governess, let us get better acquainted. My sister talks to fondly of you, I just *must* get to know you." Galaxia linked arms with Luna and began to lead her down the hall, while also linking arms with Serenity.

"Please, call me Luna." Luna said.

~*~

"M'lord." Nyanko bowed very low. "I am sorry for angering you today." She remained bowed.

"You are forgiven." Artimis told her.

"I would like to extend my apology to the Governess as well. Have you seen her by chance?" Nyanko asked, rising.

"No." Artimis told her. "She may be preparing for the ball tonight. I am sure you will see her there."

"I am sure." Nyanko agreed. She began walking with Artimis.

"That is very noble of you to wish to apologize to the Governess." Artimis commented.

"I have always been told that an apology is the civilized thing to do." Nyanko said in a low, sensual voice. "In my opinion it shows poor character not to apologize. Don't you agree, you majesty?"

"Yes. Quite." Artimis nodded. "If you will pardon me now, there is some business I must take care of before the ball tonight."

"Of course." Nyanko once again bowed low. She waited until Artimis was out of sight and then went in search of Tenus.

~*~

"Nyanko, what is the matter?" Tenus asked, pulling Nyanko to him. She looked flustered and scared and utterly disgusted.

"I… He… Tried to…" She cried into his shoulder.

"Shh." Tenus soothed. "Calm down. Now, who did what to you to make you so upset?"

"It was… I was the Prince." Nyanko started. "We were in the hallway, and he came up behind me… And just… He just… He tried to take advantage of me!" She wailed, crying into his shoulder again.

"He did what?!" Tenus bellowed, obviously enraged. "Are you alright?"

Nyanko nodded weakly and looked up into his deep gray eyes with her solid black ones, making herself look small, mild, meek, and frightened.

"That son of a bitch! How dare he!" Tenus growled. "Do not worry, I will take care of it." His eyes blazed like fire.

"Oh, no, please don't!" Nyanko cried. "He… he said that if I told anyone then he'd make someone an Ambassador in my place! He said he'd keep me here for his… his… his bed wench!" She cried again.

"Don't worry then. I will not say a thing. The sooner we get you home, the sooner you will feel better. I will stay with you if you like." Tenus rubbed her back.

"Oh, thank you!" Nyanko smiled greatfully, pressing herself up to Tenus in what she knew to be a very provocative manner.

Tenus looked strained, but pushed back his desires right now. "Nyanko, if you wish we can leave right now."

"No." Nyanko wrapped her arms around Tenus' mid-section, pulling him close to herself provocatively. "He would know, and send someone to take my place." She thought for a moment. "But, I do know of one thing we can do."

"What is it?" Tenus asked, willing to do anything to help.

"I cannot speak of it here. Can we go somewhere more private?" She asked sweetly.

Tenus led her to his room, making sure to lock the door behind him. He sat down in a large chair, and Nyanko came and sat on his lap and clung to him like a frightened child.

"You said there was something we could do?" He said, pushing back all his male urges.

"Yes." Nyanko sniffed. "Galaxia is planning a… a revolution. Against the Prince." Nyanko looked around to make sure no one was listening. "She knows of what he does. He is a horrible ruler, and if he secedes to the throne there is no telling what could happen!"

Tenus nodded. "Yes. Something must be done. A revolution? It seems that that is what it has all come to."

Nyanko sniffed again. "But you must go through with the negotiations as if nothing has changed." She cautioned. "Make them continue as long as you can. We need time to spread the word. There are some who are still loyal to the Prince, and we need time to figure out who they are so we can avoid them. And above all, you must tell no one!"

"Does the Queen of the Moon know of this? Surely she does, Galaxia is her sister." Tenus answered his own question. His answer was wrong.

"No. Not yet. She might be loyal to the Prince. We are not sure yet." Nyanko sighed sadly. "Galaxia will tell her when the time is right. But you must say nothing to anyone."

"Of course." Tenus nodded in confirmation.

"Oh, thank you!" Nyanko looked very relived. She threw herself onto him, her head resting against his chest.

Tenus sat rigid, fighting his male urges. She snuggled up on him and appeared to fall asleep. His eyes traveled up and down her body. How perfect… he pulled her closer to him, and she looked up and smiled.

"You should prepare for the ball." Tenus told Nyanko.

Nyanko nodded. She stood and left the room.

Tenus stood and began to prepare a cold shower.

~*~

Luna hurried around her room, checking herself in the mirror every time she passed by it. She wore a long yellow silk gown. It was tight around her upper body until her waist, where it softly became lose. It covered her feet and glided on the grown so that she looked as if floating. It had thin straps and a largely open back that dipped very low, stopping just before it revealed her rear end. Around the edges of the back it had an amethyst pattern weaved into it that followed around all the edges of the dress. In front it dipped low. Around her neck she wore a large amethyst necklace with matching earrings. Her hair was pulled back tight into the four buns she wore each day. Around them was a gold band, adorned with the same amethyst pattern that was found on her dress. She wore her gold band around her bicep like normal and another gold band around her ankle. Though it was hidden, Luna enjoyed knowing it was there. It had appeared upon her dresser that afternoon while she was cleaning herself. It was gold, thin like the one she wore in plain view. But this one had a large white diamond in the front and small white diamonds around the band. It was one of Artimis' own Luna knew, she remembered seeing him wear it when they had first met.

She chuckled to herself remembering how she had admired it.

[Flashback]

"What are *you* looking at?" Artimis sneered at the strange girl who was apparently staring at him.

"Your bracelet." Luna told him. "Let me see it!" She reached out to take it from him, but Artimis pulled it out of her reach.

"It's mine! And it's not a bracelet, bracelets are for *girls*!" He stuck his tongue out at her.

"It is so a bracelet!" Luna retorted, reaching for the alleged bracelet again. "Now let me see it!"

"No!" Artimis pulled it away again. "Your just a yucky girl. What do you know. It is *not* a bracelet."

"It is so." Luna put her hands on her hips and stomped her foot.

"No it isn't!" Artimis frowned.

"Yes it is!" Luna yelled. "Let me see it!"

"No!" Artimis yelled back. "You can't see it, you'll mess it up! And it isn't a bracelet!"

"Let me see it!" Luna demanded. "I won't mess it up!"

"Will to!"

"No I won't!" Luna stomped her foot in rage. Artimis had *always* been able to bother her. "Let me see the bracelet!" She yelled.

"No! I won't let you see my bracelet!" Artimis yelled.

"See, you even said it was a bracelet!" Luna said triumphantly.

Artimis glared at her.

"Give me the bracelet! Boys shouldn't were bracelets anyway!" Luna demanded once again.

Artimis held it out over the pond he stood next to. "I don't want it anymore. I'm going to drop it in the pond!"

"No, don't! I want it!" Luna said, coming to get it.

Artimis stuck out his foot, and Luna tripped, and landed right in the pond, without the bracelet.

Luna let out an angry scream.

Artimis laughed at her and put on the "bracelet."

"Don't laugh at me!" Luna yelled, on the verge of tears.

"See, I told you! You're just a stupid girl!" Artimis turned around and walked away.

[End of Flashback]

Luna smiled to herself at the memory. She jumped slightly when there was a sudden knock on the door.

Artimis smiled at the appearance of Luna. She looked so beautiful.

Luna caught her breath. Was this really the prince she despised to much? He wore a white skirt that had a small opening around his stomach. His hair was a dazzling white and his face was even more handsome than when he had sat upon his throne and seen Luna for the first time in years.

"Good evening." Artimis started formally.

Luna shook off the formalities. She pulled up her skirt and revealed her ankle with the bracelet around it. "Thank you for the bracelet, m'lord."

Artimis linked arms with Luna and they began to walk. "It isn't a bracelet." He told her.

"Yes it is." She said calmly.

"No, it's not." Artimis corrected.

Luna shook her head. "It is so. But for the sake of your pride, we will say it is not."

"You are to kind." Artimis said sarcastically.

"And just what is that supposed to mean?" Luna asked sharply.

"Just that you are to kind." Artimis shrugged.

Luna stared intently in front of her. "I should not have come with you."

"You had no choice." Artimis told her. "However, I do believe the mistake was mine. You seem to have converted back to your stubborn, former self."

"What are you talking about? It's you who is awful!" Luna told him. But she knew he was only teasing her, as she was only teasing him. She refused to admit to herself that she may be starting to at least tolerate such an arrogant creature though.

"Well, you do seem to know everything, now don't you?" Artimis retorted. "Tell me, will you be like this all evening?"

"Only when in the company of such a person as you!" Luna told him. They arrived at the large arch entering the ball room. They stepped in together, both standing tall. Now came the formal part of the evening.

"Artimis, Crown Prince of Mau! Luna, High Governess and Ambassador to the Moon!" Cried a guard. The two walked regally to their spots on the dais and watched as the music began. A long evening was about to follow.