The Moon Palace was eeriely quiet, even with both Moon Princesses back

The Moon Palace was eeriely quiet, even with both Moon Princesses back. Luna and Artemis were only teens, but they were advisors, never the less.


Maids and severents were running back and forth, trying to make Princess Selene as comfortable as possible. Yet, Selene wasn't barking orders, nor was she loud and complaining to her fellow court.

The Outers had only been informed about the entire thing, only a day ago, and yet, they had not come. Rei guessed that they figured she'd be okay, that or Pluto had told them in advance.

In the Throne Room, Queen Selenity was talking to Princess Usagi, in a serious tone.

"Usagi, you will inherit my throne. Now, I know that Selene has the birthright, but this is not in her destiny. She dose not have the crescent moon that you have. She has a whole moon, and she probably can not control the Silver Crystal.

"I will talk to her soon, so you are not the one that has to break the news to her. Though, I highly, suspect that she knows that she will not inherit the throne. Now, a ball will take place in less then a month. We have sent out invitations out, and a suitor is coming from a distant star. That Queen and I have already decided that if you too do marry, you will rule here, on the Moon, and only of the Moon. She has another son, and he already has his wife, and will take the throne."

"Mother, have you seen him?"

"No, I have't, Usagi. I haven't. But, the rumors say that is quite the catch."

Usagi grinned at the thought.

"Usagi, don't you dare get an airhead. Things could work out to where he and Selene works out better. He is a bit older then the both of you, and may prefer an older one."

"She's only 1 year older then me! Surely, that won't do a thing!"

"Yes, it can, Usagi. Remember, you are the youngest of the senshi and of the ones that are going to attend the ball."

Usagi sighed, "What if I don't find a suitor?"

"You will, if worse comes to worse, Selene can have a child, and you take the child in as your own."

"Mother, you know that she *hates* men, and if she did have a baby, she wouldn't let me take care of it."

"You don't know that, Usagi. Now, off you go and pick an apporiate gown to wear this time!"

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ONE MONTH LATER....

Rei looked at herself at the mirror, wanting to make sure that everything was perfect. Rumor had it to where, not only *one* suitor was coming, but *5* were coming.

She spun around, watching her floor length ruby red gown gently swirl outwards then back to the normal, her small red heels barely visiable. She looked at herself one more time. Her knee length raven hair was soft and shown like silk. She smiled softly, then walked into Usagi's room, where they were all to meet.


Makoto put on her emerald necklace, a gift from her mother, as if she knew that tonight would be the big night. Her forest green tight bodice showed off her toned figured and she smiled at the fact it did; the skirt flared out gently as if she were a porclien doll, a very strong porclien doll to be exact. She was wearing small heels, all the princesses were, in the case of this situation. She, too, left for Usagi's room.

Ami groaned, it wasn't as if she didn't like the balls, she loved the balls. It was just these heels that they had to wear, and to this one as well. She didn't like the dress that her mother had picked out for her though. It was very tight and stiff. It was beautfuil, Ami agreed on that, she just wondered how she was supposed to dance in it. The sky blue material, with all of the beads, forming a wave of water on the bodic. She then left to join the others.


Minako, had the biggest grin that you ever seen. She, out of all of the princesses, was the most excited about it. She smiled, she was wearing a sleeveless golden gown. It was simple, but it showed her curves, never the less. She slided into her heels and she went off to Usagi's room.


Usagi, however, was having a terrible time with getting ready. She had 'mis-placed' both her broach and her accesories. Running around her room, in her moon-white gown, with small golden crescent moons adorning it, looking for them. Her hair was up in her traditional meatballs, when the Inner Princesses arrived.

Eventually, they found it (turns out it was on the dresser, that was next to where Usagi got dressed), and were late for the ball, which was usual.

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The ball room was gorgous, as if it knew tonight would change everybody's lives. Queen Selenity sat on her throne, with Luna and Artemis on either side of her. To her right, the suitors were lined up, each looking very serious, and hot for that matter.

Selene however, was nowhere to be seen, but nobody took notice of that, except Artemis. He remembered several talks with Selene....



"Selene, what do you think you're going to do when you or your sister take the throne?"

"Don't lie to me, Artemis, you know that Usagi will get the throne. I know it, mother knows it, and Usagi knows it."

"That is not a fact, Princess. What do you plan on doing?"

"Its simple, when Usagi takes the throne, I'm going to die. When she turns 16, I'm going to die. Its simple, Artemis."

"You're not going to *die*, Selene."

"Yes, I am, Artemis. I know that, and I accept it. Now, leave me be, before I get tired of this and blast you to smitherins."



Artemis sighed, as he replayed that memory. He was probably the only one that she ever told that too, besides the Outers, and even *if* she told them.

The Inners entered the room, and hush fell onto the guests. They curstied and walked up to Queen Selenity.

"Princes Sol, Draco, Orion, Star, and Comet; Princesses Usagi, Ami, Minako, Rei and Makoto." Queen Selenity paused, as the she looked for Selene. Just at that moment the huge and heavy doors flew open, and everbody's eyes went to it.

In the doorway, a very angry Selene stood, in a tight black dress. The full moon, shown fiercely on her forehead, then she stormed through the crowd. The guests moved away, not wanting to be victom of her temper.

"This is Pr---"

"Don't you dare, use that 'Princess Selene' crap, Mother! You explain this at once!"

Queen Selenity looked at Selene, "Selene, don't you da----"

"Shut it, Mother. I have every right to blast you to smitherins, and I will given the chance!"

"Selene! You will not act in this manner----"

"Oh really, Mother? Then why is it that Usagi gets a ball for her 16th birthday, and I didn't? Tell me that, Mother! I have the birthright for the throne, but Usagi is getting it! I shall not let this happen!"

The Inners, excluding Usagi, pulled out their hension pens. Selene pulled out her broach.

"You're going to battle with death, *princesses*. You know that I will clean all of your slates."

"We'll just see about that, eh?" Rei hissed at Selene.

"Bug out of this, Selene. Usagi has more right to the throne then you ever will!" Makoto added.

"You will never have a throne, you ugly tramp!" Minako added, only realizing what she said *after* she said it.

Selene's almost emotionless eyes, watered up, and she looked at the open doors, to see the Outers standing there. Her eyes went back to her mother, who was standing up, anger and sadness in her eyes.

"I knew, I wasn't accepted here," Selene muttered, and turned to leave, to have somebody grab her arm. She looked at him, one of the suitors had.

"Selene, would you care to dance?" Sol asked, it was him who did that.

Selene's eyes watered up even more, and she looked towards the Outers for support, but found that they were gone. No longer there, if they were even there in the first place.

She looked back at the rest of them. Selenity was looking, as if urging her to accept the offer.

Her watery eyes now shone with a fire that was deep in her soul, her hatred shone through her emerald green eyes. She then jerked her arm away, "Goodnight, Mother ," she icely hissed and stormed from the ballroom.

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The Outers had witnessed the entire act, and they knew that it had to come, sooner or later.

"Don't you dare try anything, Saturn," Haurka said, and Hotaru didn't dare move. Haurka hardly ever called the Outers by their planetary names, unless something drastic was happening, or she was in a very bad mood.

"Haur--," Michiru started, a bit shocked at the tone that Haurka had used towards Hotaru.

"She is right, we must stay out of this one. Selene has to over come this one by herself. We can only train her, but not assist her in any of her battles," Sestunna stated.

"Not even once," inquired Hotaru.

"Not even once," Michiru said, accepting it as she said it.

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Selene stormed through the empty halls, passing a servant every couple of minutes.

"The nerve of them! I can not believe this!" She stopped infront of a painting of herself, Usagi, and her mother. Without a second of thought she ripped the painting apart and sread the pieces of it all over the hall.

"They shall never, ever, forget me!" She yelled out, her full moon still burning firecly on her forehead, as if it stopped, she wouldn't know who she was.

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