AN: Eek! I'm really sorry about the delay in update, you guys. I've been feeling so blocked lately, and I couldn't get anything out. And everything I did write I felt like wasn't any good. Anyways, I think (I hope!) I've gotten past my writer's block, and I hope to get some regular updates out. This chapter ended up being kind of monstrous, and WAY longer than I expected. I was tempted to split it into two parts, but I couldn't figure out how. Anyways, it's done, and I'm pretty happy with the final result.
As always, thanks a billion to my reviewers: midnight blue08, Moonprincess998, and Ash. While three reviews certainly isn't bad, and is what I aim to get each chapter, the reviewing hasn't been consistent. So if you're reading this, please review! Even if it's short. Even if you don't like it, and want to tell me in a constructive manner what you don't like about it! Reviews keep me writing, so... review! (Please!)
Serenity woke up early the next day, someone lightly shaking her shoulder. Light was streaming in through the window, and she squinted against the brightness.
"Time to get up, Princess," a voice was saying.
Serenity rolled over and saw that it was her lady-in-waiting, Kaiya.
"What is it?" Serenity mumbled sleepily.
"You have a big day ahead of you, Princess," Kaiya said. "Time to get started."
Serenity was about to protest, when she remembered. That evening was the night of the masquerade ball. The night when she would finally make her entrance into society, and be able to attend all sorts of balls and parties, and have suitors come calling for her. Of course, now that she'd met Endymion she didn't care about the suitors like she used to, but it was still exciting. She quickly got out of bed, all traces of sleepiness gone.
"That's right," she said. "It's the ball tonight! I'm finally going to go to my first ball. My very first ball, Kaiya!"
"I know," Kaiya said, smiling at her. "Come, let's get you ready for the day. I already have a hot bath drawn up for you."
Serenity followed her into the bathroom, slipping out of her nightgown and sinking into the hot bath. "Ahh," she sighed. The bath felt heavenly, the warm water caressing her skin, and the scent of roses wafting through the air.
"After you're clean and dressed you have a fitting at the Royal Seamstress, to make sure your new dress fits just right. And then you have dancing lessons, to make sure you're ready for the ball. And finally, the Queen wants you to lunch with her, in her quarters."
"Busy day," Serenity said. "I just wish I could skip ahead to the ball!"
Kaiya smiled. "It is indeed a very busy day. But an exciting one, too."
Serenity smiled happily. She would be seeing Endymion tonight, and she got to experience her first ball. It seemed like a perfect day.
After her bath, Kaiya helped Serenity get dressed, and they walked towards the wing of the Palace where the seamstress kept shop.
"Oh good, you're here," Hamako, the seamstress, said as Serenity walked in. "Ladies Venus, Mercury, Mars and Jupiter are already here and waiting."
"Sorry if I'm late," Serenity said.
Hamako waved off her apology, and led her, Kaiya, and the Senshi to a back room. "All right, your dress is nearly ready, I just need to make a few last small adjustments."
The seamstress pulled out a bundle of white cloth. She shook it out lightly, and Serenity saw the most beautiful dress. She knew the materials she had chosen, white silk with gold silk trim. And she knew the style she'd chosen, an empire waist with capped sleeves and flowing, layered skirts. But… it was more beautiful than she'd imagined.
"Come on then, try it on," Hamako said, handing her the cloth, and giving her a little push towards the changing screen.
Serenity stripped of the dress she was wearing, and slipped the new one over head. She stepped out shyly, unsure of how she looked.
"Oh, Princess, you look beautiful!" Kaiya gasped.
"Truly, you look majestic," Hamako added. "It's a perfect fit."
Serenity looked at herself in the mirror. The high waist and long, flowing skirts made her seem taller than she actually was. The fitted bodice emphasized the curves on her slender body, and the gold accents made it all look elegant and sophisticated.
"You'll be the star of the ball," Aphrodite said.
"All right, now take it off, so you don't soil it before the big event," Hamako said, ushering her back towards the changing screen. Serenity reluctantly took the dress off, and slipped on her other one. She walked back out, and handed it to Hamako, who hung it up on a dummy.
"All right, who do I have next?" Hamako asked, turning to the Senshi.
Enyo gave Aphrodite a little shove, and she stumbled forward.
"Lady Venus," Hamako said, She pulled out a golden yellow dress, the fabric shimmering in the light of the room. Aphrodite went to go change, and when she stepped out, everyone oohed and aahed over how beautiful she looked. While Aphrodite was always beautiful, this dress brought out the best in her. The golden yellow silk shone, and complemented her golden hair. The ruffles and pale yellow layers added complexity to the dress.
Next, Enyo tried on her dress. The fiery red stood in contrast to her pale skin and raven hair, making her stand out. The thin straps showed off her toned arms, from hours and hours of training.
Athena's forest green wrap dress hugged her tall frame, and made her look tall and majestic, instead of awkwardly tall. Metis's light blue dress was modest and simple, but made her beauty shine.
Finally, they were all done, and the girls thanked Hamako, and left. The Senshi parted ways, and Kaiya and Serenity walked back to Serenity's quarters.
"I simply cannot wait for the ball!" Serenity cried.
"You'll look wonderful in your dress," Kaiya said, but there was a hint of sadness in her voice. Serenity had forgotten that Kaiya wouldn't be going to the ball, since she was only a lady-in-waiting.
"Say, Kaiya," Serenity said.
"Yes, Princess?"
"You're going to be helping out at the ball, right?" she asked. "Running various errands?"
"Yes, why?" Kaiya asked.
"Oh, no reason," Serenity said. "But the kitchens are generally short-staffed during balls, so you might be spending some time there, right?"
"Yes…" Kaiya said. "Where is this going, Princess?"
"Nowhere in particular," Serenity said. "Just that I know a certain boy named Osamu is going to be working there, and seeing as he's in charge of appetizers, and that's where you might very well be placed, you might be seeing quite a lot of him."
Kaiya gasped. "Really?"
Serenity laughed. Osamu was a kitchen boy, who Kaiya had long had a crush on, but she was always too shy to speak to him.
"Come on, you'll need something nice to wear," Serenity said.
"But… I'll just be working in the kitchens," Kaiya said.
"Still, Osamu will be there, so you need something nicer to wear than the usual."
They had gotten back to Serenity's quarters, and she immediately went off to her closet to find something for Kaiya. Most of the dresses she had were too extravagant for working in the kitchens, but after some hunting, she found the perfect one. It was one of Serenity's simplest dresses, and made out of cotton, instead of silk or velvet. Still, the soft cotton would be far better than the stiff linen of the typical serving girl's dresses.
"All right, try this one on," Serenity said, holing out the dress.
"Oh no, I can't," Kaiya said. "It's far too fancy!"
"Come on, just wear it," Serenity said. "You need to wear something nice to impress Osamu!"
"Okay," Kaiya said, shyly taking the dress, and slipping behind the changing screen. She stepped out a minute later, timidly tucking her hair behind her ear.
"You look wonderful!" Serenity said. The soft peach color of the dress complimented Kaiya's brown hair and rosy complexion. It reached her ankles, and had short sleeves, so it wouldn't get in the way of her work. There was a yellow sash, which tied in the back. Although Kaiya was a year younger than Serenity, the dress fit her perfectly, due to Serenity's small size.
"Princess?" a voice said.
Serenity turned around and saw Luna, one of her mother's advisors, and a friend and guardian of Serenity.
"Luna!" she said, picking up the black cat. "I haven't seen you in awhile."
"The Queen has been keeping me and Artemis busy," Luna said. "But what are you doing in your room? You have dancing lessons you need to attend."
"Sorry, I guess I lost track of time," Serenity said. "Have you seen my dress, Luna? It's simply gorgeous!"
Luna smiled. "I'm sure it is. But if you're not in the ballroom in five minutes, Queen Serenity will not be happy."
"I'm coming," Serenity said. "Let me get changed into a better dancing dress."
She slipped behind the screen, putting on a sapphire ball gown, and grabbing matching dance slippers from her closet. After she was dressed, she headed out with Luna down the winding corridors towards the ballroom.
"Just in time, Princess," the ballroom instructor, Haru, said. "I was just about to start lessons."
Serenity pulled off her shoes, and quickly put on her dance slippers, before heading across the floor towards her partner. Aphrodite, Athena, Metis and Enyo were already there with their dance partners.
"We will start with the basic waltz," Haru said. "A classic, elegant dance." He turned on the music, and the soft lilting of a piano started to play. For the ball they would have live music, but it was too much of a hassle for rehearsals.
"One two three, one two three… back straighter, Princess," Haru called out. "Listen to the music, Lady Mars, don't rush."
There were few things Serenity loved more than dancing. She felt her feet gliding over the floor, and the firm, yet gentle grip of her partner as he spun her around. Dancing was a time when she felt like she could almost fly.
"Good," Haru said when the song ended. "Let's run that again, you must be absolutely solid in the dance moves."
The music started playing again, and Serenity curtsied gracefully. Her partner took her hand, and led her through the intricate steps of the waltz again, spinning and dipping her, while she drifted over the floor, her feet light as a feather.
"Neater footwork, Lady Jupiter," Haru called out. "Princess, elongate your neck more. Don't forget to count! If you don't count, you won't stay on the music."
Serenity was counting in her head as she whirled past Aphrodite and her partner.
"Next, we will run a minuet," Haru said. "Get ready to start."
The music came on, and Serenity curtsied gracefully to her partner as he bowed. He took her hand, and they started the dance. Although waltzes were her favorite kind of dance, she loved the minuet as well. It was slow and formal, but graceful and elegant if danced right.
"Lady Mars, don't grip your partner so tightly," Haru sad. "Lady Venus, don't step, glide."
The song came to an end, but Haru called out for them to run it again. They ran several other dances, but finally the lesson came to an end.
"Excellent work," Haru said. "You ladies will look lovely at the ball."
Serenity walked over and grabbed a glass of water from a maid standing nearby. Her cheeks were flushed, and she was a bit out of breath, but she was smiling.
"So, are you excited for the dance?" Aphrodite asked.
"Excited?" Serenity said. "I simply cannot wait! My very first ball!"
"And it will be mine, too," Aphrodite said. "Well… that's not entirely true. I did go to a ball on Saturn once, but I was undercover, and trying to find some important information. So that hardly counts. And before I came to the Moon, I would attend balls on Venus. But I was just a child, so I didn't dance."
Serenity smiled. "What do you think the ball will be like?"
"Well, there will be lots of dancing," Aphrodite said. "And of course all eyes will be on you, belle of the ball. You'll have suitors lining up just to dance with you. Maybe you'll meet a guy."
Serenity's smile wavered a little.
"I know, I know," Aphrodite said. "You love Endymion. But just think about it, Serenity. You know you can't marry him, and you have to marry someone."
"I know," Serenity said. She did know that, but she didn't want to. "What about you, Aphrodite? I may be the Princess, but there's sure to be plenty of guys flocking around you."
Aphrodite blushed. "Oh, I don't know."
Serenity was puzzled by Aphrodite's reaction, but she dropped it. Aphrodite used to talk all the time about how she couldn't wait to go to balls, and have suitors tripping over their feet to court her. And she'd certainly never been modest about it.
"Anyways," Aphrodite said, quickly changing the subject. "It's nearly time for lunch."
Serenity had changed out of her dancing clothes and into a more suitable dress, when she knocked on her mother's door. It was noon, and Serenity was famished. She hoped she would have a chance to talk with her mother, the Queen had been so busy lately.
Queen Serenity opened the door, and Princess Serenity gave a small curtsy.
"Come, let's eat lunch in the courtyard," the Queen said, smiling at her daughter. "It's such a beautiful day, is it not?"
"It's wonderful," Serenity agreed. The sun was shining brightly, birds were chirping, and it was warm.
The Queen led them to the courtyard, where a meal was already laid out for them, with a butler on hand, in case they needed anything.
"I can't believe tonight will be your first ball," the Queen said. "It seems so soon. I remember my first ball like it was yesterday."
"Really?" Serenity asked. "What was it like?"
The Queen laughed. "It was wonderful. I was very nervous ahead of time, but as soon as I got to the ball, all of that faded away. There was live music, and dancing, and I danced with so many suitors their faces all became a blur. By the end of the night I'd had about fifteen different marriage proposals, from all over the place."
"Marriage proposals?" Serenity said. She hadn't been expecting that.
"Don't worry, you don't have to take any of them seriously yet," the Queen said. "My father was old, and my mother was very sick. They wanted me to find a husband as soon as I was of age, so I could start to slowly take over the throne. I ascended the throne when I was only 17. But I don't plan on going anywhere, so I won't force you into any marriages. Now, let's eat."
Serenity nodded her head, and picked up her fork.
On Earth, Endymion was practicing swordplay with Kunzite, but his mind was somewhere else. It was the night of the ball Serenity had told him about, and he had to find a way to slip away.
"Something wrong, Endymion?" Kunzite asked.
"No, it's nothing," he said.
"So, you're not thinking about the Moon Princess?" Jadeite drawled from where he was sitting with Nephrite and Zoisite.
"How do you know about that?" Endymion asked. As far as he'd been aware, only Kunzite knew that he'd been seeing Serenity.
"Come on, Endy, it's obvious," he said. "Suddenly busy all the time, mysterious disappearances, hanging around the teleport room… not mention that I saw you two embracing."
Endymion didn't have an answer for that.
"But," Jadeite said. "That's not the point. The point is, I heard her invite you to a ball. And I think we should go along with you. You know, for protection. And, um, enforcement."
"You just want to go to the ball," Kunzite said.
Jadeite just grinned at him.
"No," Endymion said. "I'm going to the Moon alone."
"Oh come on, Endy," Jadeite whined. "Pleeaaasseee? We'll be totally inconspicuous."
Nephrite snorted. "Like inconspicuous could ever apply to you, Jadeite."
"Be quiet," Jadeite said. "Anyways, Endy, we'll go whether you want us to or not. So, to make things easier, why don't you just give in?"
Endymion groaned. "I can't stop you, but it's a supremely stupid idea."
"Knew you'd give in," Jadeite said, smirking.
"I still think you shouldn't go," Endymion said.
"You know, I haven't been to the Moon in awhile," Jadeite said. "It will be nice to see it again tonight."
Endymion groaned and buried his head in his hands.
Serenity was standing on the balcony, looking out at grounds below. Right below her were the beautiful Palace gardens, filled with all of her favorite flowers. The Lake of Serenity shone majestically, but she wasn't looking at either. Her gaze was focused entirely on Earth, which hung low in the sky. Even now that she'd been to Earth, she couldn't help but fantasize about it. The green of the land, and the swirling blue of the ocean called out to her. Earth had so many colors, it was so vibrant. Serenity loved the Moon, but everything was the same pale color.
"Princess!"
She looked down and saw Endymion standing there. "Endymion! What are you doing here?"
"I have some urgent news I need to share with you," he said.
"Will you still be able to come to the ball?" Serenity asked.
"I'll be there," he said. "We must talk then."
Palace guards rounded the corner, running towards Endymion. "Stop!"
"I'll see you tonight!" Endymion said, running off, the guards chasing after them.
Serenity looked on worriedly. Tensions were so high between Earth and the Moon that the Palace guards suspected anyone and everyone.
It was nearly time for the ball to begin, and Serenity was waiting in her quarters when she heard a knocking at the door.
"Mother," Serenity said, surprised to see her mother standing there.
"Mind if I come in for a bit?" the Queen asked. "I have some things for you." She walked over to Serenity's vanity table, and placed a package on it.
"What did you bring?" Serenity asked.
"Just a few special things," the Queen said, smiling. She opened the package and pulled out two pearl hair combs. "These were the same hair combs I wore at my coming out ball. But even back then they weren't new. My mother had worn them to her ball, and her mother. I'm not sure how many generations it has been passed down through, but it has been in our family for generations. I hope someday you will do the same for your daughter."
"They're beautiful," Serenity breathed.
Queen Serenity gently placed them in Serenity's hair. "And finally, I have something new for you."
The Queen pulled out a delicate pearl bracelet. "I just had this made for you. A little extra something, to celebrate this important day."
"Thank you, Mother," Serenity said, as the Queen fastened the bracelet around her wrist. "These are stunning."
"I'm very glad you enjoy them," the Queen said. "You look beautiful. Now, I must go greet the King of Mars."
The Queen left, and Serenity was left waiting for the ball to begin.
It was finally time for Serenity to make her entrance at the ball. She was excited and nervous, knowing all eyes would be on her. Metis, Aphrodite, Athena and Enyo had already left, and were in the ballroom. Slowly, she descended the staircase into the ballroom, searching for Endymion.
"Introducing Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Serenity," a page called out. All eyes in the room turned to her, watching as the Princess made her first public appearance at a ball.
She was nearly at the bottom of the staircase when a hand stopped her. She turned to see Endymion, dressed in a tuxedo and a mask.
"May I have this dance, Princess?" he asked.
Serenity nodded her head, smiling, and let him guide her down the rest of the staircase and into the center of the floor. People turned their heads as they walked by, staring at the Princess and the mysterious young man accompanying her. The orchestra started playing the opening notes to a waltz, and Serenity curtsied to Endymion. Bowing, he took her hand led her into the beginning steps of the waltz.
"You look beautiful tonight," he said, making Serenity blush. "Truly, I mean it. You always do, but… tonight you look especially beautiful."
"Well, thank you," Serenity said, smiling. Neither said anything for a few minutes while they danced. "What was that important news you had to share?"
"It's about the Earth," he said grimly.
"And?" she asked, worried. The situation was already tense, but she feared it could get much, much worse.
"Earth has been…. quieter lately," he said. "It seems that the people who once wished war with the Moon have simply… stopped."
"But that's wonderful news!" Serenity said. She paused a moment, looking at Endymion's worried, grim face. "Isn't it?"
"It should be, yes," he said. "But… we don't know who was behind all this, or why, or why they've given up now. Something about it just feels… wrong. They haven't said anything, so we don't even know that they have given up. They could just be gathering their strength for a big attack. But that hasn't been their strategy so far, so far they've been trying to corrupt the people of the Earth as quickly as they can. All we know is that things are quieter now, but we don't know if it's permanent, or how long it will last."
"Let's hope for the best," Serenity said. "If things between Earth and the Moon are indeed peaceful, that would be wonderful. And… we might be able to be married, if that is the case." She blushed, looking down, knowing it was unladylike to suggest things such as marriage.
Endymion grinned. "I quite like that idea."
The song ended, and Serenity reluctantly stepped away form Endymion, curtsying. No sooner has she finished her curtsy then a man stepped forward, asking for the next dance. Serenity agreed, and let the man lead her into a light minuet.
"I must say, Princess, you look absolutely stunning," the man said. "Really, truly beautiful. Regal. Oh! But, where are my manners? My name is Kohei Fukushima, I'm the Royal Advisor to King Yuta of Saturn."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Fukushima-san," Serenity replied demurely.
"I know that I'm a bit old for you, and I'm not a prince, but I hope you'll consider an offer of marriage from me," he said. "I believe we could make a fine couple. I am used to the inner workings of the court, being the Royal Advisor and all. And I have plenty of money to my name, not that we would have to worry about that anyways, of course, you being the Princess and all. And I believe a stronger alliance between Saturn and the Moon can only bring good. There are many resources the royal court of Saturn could bring, and seeing as the Prince of Saturn is only a child, I would obviously be the logical choice to join Saturn and the Moon together. And the Moon as so many wondrous things to offer Saturn. Really, I do believe it would be a perfect match!"
Serenity faked a smile, listening to him ramble on, and focused on her footwork. The minuet is a light, airy dance, but he was heavy-footed and awkward, making it difficult for her to keep to the music. Finally, the song was over, and Serenity was glad to get away. She was hoping to find Endymion for another dance, but a different man requested a dance, and she knew she shouldn't decline.
The next man was stiff as a board and didn't speak a word as we twirled her around the dance floor. He was a competent enough dancer, but she found herself getting bored quickly, instead of enjoying the dance like she usually did. He was completely silent until the end, when he bowed awkwardly and introduced himself.
"Princess, I am Daichi Tottori, the second son of Queen Hana and King Ichirou of Mercury. I would be honored to have your hand in marriage and join our two noble kingdoms." He kissed her hand, and walked off.
"May I have this next dance, Princess?"
Serenity turned and saw a young man, probably a few years older than herself, standing there. He had dark hair and dark, piercing eyes. Something about him seemed familiar to her, but she couldn't place where she'd seen him.
"Of course," Serenity said, dipping into a curtsy yet again. Although she was loving the ball, she was getting a little tired of curtsying before and after every single dance.
"It is a pleasure to see you again, Princess," he said. "You look very beautiful."
"Thank you," Serenity said a bit absentmindedly. She obviously had seen him before, but where? She couldn't place him, and it was annoying her immensely.
"It has been several years, so you many not remember me," he said. "I am Tatsuhiro Oshiro, the Prince of Mars, and brother of your guardian, Princess Enyo."
"Tatsuhiro-san!" Serenity exclaimed. Of course, she had met him when she was younger. She remembered a time when she and Enyo were 7, and were playing in the gardens of the Moon Palace. The entire royal family of Mars had come to visit, and Tatsuhiro, at 16, seemed so mature to Serenity. He had the piercing, dark eyes that Enyo had, along with a strong jaw and shiny jet black hair. At the time, Serenity had a crush on him.
"It is good to see you as well," she said. "I hope you have been well?"
"Yes, thank you," he replied. "I have recently returned home, after spending six years at the military academy."
"You are a soldier, then?" she asked.
"For the moment, yes," he said. "I am due to inherit the crown of Mars eventually, of course, but my father is healthy, and not very old, so I am making a living as a soldier."
Serenity smiled, and the rest of the dance passed in relative silence. She enjoyed dancing with Tatsuhiro much more than her previous two suitors. The first had been clumsy and heavy-footed, the second stiff and awkward. But Tatsuhiro knew the steps to the dance well, and performed it gracefully, and with confidence.
"Princess," Tatsuhiro said as they finished their dance. "Would you care to take a stroll with me? I would like to have the opportunity to talk to you in a less… public place."
"Certainly," Serenity said. She was rather tired from all the dancing, and a walk around the Palace sounded lovely and refreshing. She craned her neck to see if she could spot Endymion again, but it was hard to find him in the large crowd. She took Tatsuhiro's arm, and let him lead her out of the ballroom, and into the Palace gardens.
"I realize that you will have many marriage proposals," he said. "Being the Crown Princess of course. But I hope you will consider an alliance between Mars and the Moon by giving me your hand in marriage. It is my father's wish, and I believe Queen Serenity's as well, that we marry and join our two kingdoms together."
Serenity wasn't sure what to say. She knew that a match between her and the Prince of Mars would indeed be a great match for both kingdoms, and a good Queen always put her kingdom before herself. Tatsuhiro was a good person, and he would be a fine leader by her side. But… he was missing Endymion's warmth, his radiant smile. He was too much like Enyo in some ways. Stoic, cool and coming across as borderline cold.
With Enyo that all changed as you got to know her better, and she had a fiery temper and passion you wouldn't want to cross. But she had no way of knowing if Tatsuhiro was like his sister. And even if he was, Serenity knew she couldn't love him. Although Enyo was a dear friend and guardian, their personalities were too conflicting, and they argued near constantly. And Enyo wasn't the sot of person you'd ever describe as being warm or friendly.
But really, the truth of it was… Serenity loved Endymion. She loved him with all her heart, and no one could ever change that. Yet, a marriage between them seemed impossible at the moment, even with the change in Earth behavior. The Moon and the Earth's relationship was tumultuous at the moment, and until things became stronger—if they became stronger—a marriage between her and Endymion would only make things worse. Serenity knew what she should do as the future Queen, but all she wanted to do was act like a young girl in love.
"Princess?" Tatsuhiro asked, pulling Serenity out of her thoughts. She realized she hadn't answered him yet.
"I…" Serenity started, not sure how she was going to finish that sentence. "I'm sorry, but I can't answer that question. May I get back to you with a response later?"
"Of course," he said.
"I should really get back to the ball," she said. "But… thank you for this lovely walk."
"Allow me to walk you back," he said, taking her arm.
Serenity forced a smile. She knew Tatsuhiro meant well, but right now all she wanted to do was find Endymion and dance with him, kiss him, hold him, and tell him that she might be marrying another man. The mere thought of it made Serenity want to cry.
Meanwhile at the ball, Aphrodite was enjoying dancing with multiple suitors. Although of course Serenity was the real belle of the ball, Aphrodite had plenty of attention focused on her as well. She knew part of it was just in her blood, as a descendant from Aphrodite, and couldn't be helped. But a little extra flirting never hurt anyone. After all, she had been named after the Goddess Aphrodite herself, who was the goddess of love and beauty. She figured she simply had to live up to her reputation, and her namesake.
She was enjoying dancing with a prospective suitor, when something caught her eye. She thought she'd seen a tall, muscular man with long, silvery-white hair. But no, surely that wasn't possible. What would Kunzite be doing at the ball? Aphrodite had spotted Endymion, but Kunzite had not reason to be here.
"May I cut in?" a deep voice asked.
Aphrodite whirled her head around and saw Kunzite standing there, with a slight smirk on his face.
"Of course," Aphrodite said, abandoning her partner without a second thought.
"Lady Venus, how nice to see you again," Kunzite said, still half-smiling half-smirking.
"And you as well, Lord Kunzite," she said, mimicking his formal tone. "What brings you to this fair kingdom tonight?"
"I wanted to see you," he said.
Aphrodite's eyes widened as she took that in. Until now, they had just flirted a little and shared a few deep conversations. She knew that she was starting to have feelings for him, but she had no idea it was reciprocated.
"Oh really?" she said, recovering from the shock, and regaining her confidence. She was in full-on flirt mode when she tossed her hair over her shoulder and said, "So, you decided to risk your life and or imprisonment by traveling to a planet you're at war with, just so you could dance with me?"
"Pretty much," he said. "Well, also, Endymion couldn't very well come here by himself, could he? It would be far too dangerous. So, after some careful deliberation, Jadeite, Nephrite and myself decided it would be best to accompany our Prince."
Aphrodite smiled. "I'm glad you're here."
"Me too," he said. "If I hadn't come, you might have spent the night dancing with other, less worthy men."
She laughed. "Don't worry, now that you're here, I only have eyes for you."
The dance ended, and they walked up the stairs towards the balcony. There, under the starry sky and many fireworks going off, Kunzite kissed her for the first time.
"What's a pretty lady like yourself doing without a dance partner?"
Enyo turned around. The man who had spoken to her was young, probably not much older than herself, with sandy blonde hair, dark blue eyes and a mischievous smile.
"Hmph," she said disdainfully, turning her back to him again. "I haven't found a man worthy enough to dance with me yet. And you may address me as Princess Enyo of Mars, or Lady Mars if you must. Not 'pretty lady'."
The man took her hand, and pulled her back towards him. His smile had turned into a grin. "Trust me, I'm worthy, 'Princess Mars.'" He said her title mockingly.
Enyo's eyes narrowed. She was certain he wasn't worthy enough of her attention, but she never backed down from a challenge, and he certainly sounded like he was challenging her.
"Fine then," she said icily. "Let's dance."
The music started, and Enyo dipped into an elegant, graceful curtsy. He bowed, never wiping the grin off his face. The dance was a waltz, elegant and graceful, but she was too busy showing him up to worry about being graceful.
"So, what makes you think you're better than everyone else?" he asked.
"Excuse me?" she said. "I do not think I'm better than everyone else!"
"Oh yeah? What about that whole 'I'm waiting for someone worthy'?"
"I didn't feel like dancing with any common moron who only wanted to dance with me for my looks," she said. She paused a moment, and narrowed her eyes. "Like you clearly are."
"Did you just call me a moron?" he asked, faking offense. "I'm hurt. Really."
"Hmph!" Enyo said. "I don't know who you are, or who you think you are, but that is no way to speak to a lady! And a Princess!"
"Oh, I'm so sorry to offend you, your high and mightiness," he said, still smirking. "You see some of us are just poor soldiers and guardians who don't get the chance to talk to such a gorgeous lady like yourself that often."
"I can see why, with manners like that!"
He suddenly dipped her low, and Enyo let out a gasp of surprise.
"That's not part of the dance!"
"I like to improvise," he said. "Have a problem with that?"
"Yes, I most certainly do!"
"Why don't you just lighten up a little and enjoy yourself? You're at a ball, dressed in finery, dancing with a smart, handsome man—"
"You are most certainly not handsome or smart!" Enyo interrupted.
"—And there's beautiful music playing, the mood is romantic…" he continued on, as if she hadn't interrupted.
"Nothing about this is romantic in the slightest! You're a terrible dancer, you're rude, cocky and utterly insufferable!"
"You're such a sweet talker," he said. "That's why I like you."
She narrowed her eyes at him, icily staring at him as she said, "I have had quite enough of you. I'd suggest you improve your attitude and fast, because all it takes is one simple cry from me, and I can have guards on top of you in a second."
"Oh, you wouldn't do that," he said. "You're having too much fun."
She opened her mouth to call for them, but he kissed her before she could get a word out.
"You!" Enyo said, slapping him across the cheek. For the first time, she was rendered speechless by this horrible man. She had nothing to say to him, so she stormed off, hoping she had really hurt him with her slap.
"I love a girl with some fire in her," she heard him say as she walked off. Who did this man think he was? How dare he treat her like that? Did he have no manners? Enyo couldn't stop thinking about him, which only made her angrier. If she ever saw that horrid man again, there would be hell to pay.