Chapter 2
(Venus)
"OK, I can do this," I muttered to myself, walking down the stairs. The other three were coming down behind me-Mars; Mercury, then Jupiter- Selenity and her mother would come last. I sighed. We had an hour's wait until the Prince and his Generals arrived.
I wandered restlessly around the ballroom, dancing with a guy here, getting a drink there. I spotted Princess Mars across the room, a guy pursuing her, while she was looking incredibly bored. I smiled to myself. Typical Mars, never giving a guy a chance.
I went over to where the orchestra was playing, and watched them. Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I had the feeling I was being watched. I whirled around, and met the eyes of Hogoshi Kou, son of one of the most important people in Queen Selenity's court. I groaned inwardly, not at all pleased to see the loser, but plastered on a big fake smile instead. Even thought it was unknown for the Princess of Venus to not flirt with any guy, he was the exception to the rule. He was tall, tan, and gorgeous-what wasn't to like? However, he was incredibly conceited, rude, and the way he talked to me, like he OWNED me. He sidled over to me.
"Princess Venus," he said in that smirking way of his, raising my hand to his lips. I snatched it away, and walked off. He followed me. "Dance with me, won't you, Princess Venus?" he asked me. I shook my head and bit my tongue. I don't get angry often, but when I do
"Come on, you know you want to," he said, putting his hand on my waist. That was it. I elbowed him in the stomach and whirled. "Normally, I'd flirt up a storm with a guy. Not you," I hissed. "Don't come near me again."
Just then, Queen Selenity came over to me. "Come, Princess Venus, King Eros and Queen Aphrodite want to see you, as well as the rest of the Guardians."
(Mars)
I stopped with relief. Queen Selenity had saved Venus from that man. I
couldn't remember his name, but the others had often reminded me of his
importance, though they acknowledged his arrogance openly. None of us were
fond of him, and he had my eternal enmity for bothering Venus. Now I had to
worry about myself. He wasn't horrible, I noted as I gazed coolly at the
man who was attempting to request a dance from me. He wasn't conceited, and
he was quite polite about it. But he was a man, after all. I couldn't be
curt with him like I would have been with the man who always troubled Venus.
I gazed across the room, looking for Princess Mercury and Princess Jupiter
(Princess Selenity was, of course, with
her mother), but I couldn't see them. All though blue hair wasn't a
trademark among Lunarians, there were a few Mercurials and Neptunians, both
famed for blue hair, though Neptunians tend to have sea green hair. There
were too many blue dresses for me to find her that way. So I turned to look
for Princess
Jupiter. Unfortunately, while every planet does tend to be famed for a
certain hair color, Princess Jupiter hadn't inherited her family's green
hair. At least 1,000 brown heads could be found on any planet, and the Moon
was no exception. Green dresses were also surprisingly popular. Usually,
white dominated the ballroom. Perhaps the Lunarians were reveling in the
new colors and customs we Sailor Princesses had brought to the Moon. Either
way, finding them was going to be difficult, most likely impossible. Queen
Selenity approached me at that moment. "Princess Mars, the King Ares and
Queen Bellona have arrived." I glanced at the floor briefly, composing
myself so the Queen wouldn't see my troubled expression. While my head was
bowed, the prospective dance partner turned and left. "Are Phobos and
Deimos here too?" I asked hopefully, trying my best to keep my facial
expression neutral. She nodded, and I lifted my head with a smile, as I
followed her to my Sailor Guardians. With every step I took I was hoping
they would spare me from the critiques and advice of my parents.
(Mercury)
Sigh. Why did I bother to come? Oh yeah, that's right, I had no choice. I reach up and pulled the crystal snowflake out of my hair. I Sigh. There's Venus again, and Hogoshi Kou with her. Nasty man, well at least I think he's a man.... Poor Venus, he seems to like hitting on her. And there's Queen Selenity, saving her, thank god. Maybe I can find Mars or Jupiter. Oh and there Mars now, oh and there she goes again. My raven haired friend disappered into the sea of people, followed by a young man.
"Miss," I turn, "may I have this dance?" I can feel my cheeks going red; I've never seen him before, a new member of the court maybe?
"You may sir." he gives a quick bow and kisses my hand. Once again I feel the color rise in my face. I've never seen a man with long hair...I wonder who he could be. I spin across the floor, he's a wonderful dancer, and now the song is over. It's really too bad, he was so nice.
"Maybe you could save another dance for me M'lady?"
"It would be my pleasure sir." I smile, and so does he, he bows and kisses my hand again, and then he disappears into the crowd.
"Princess Mercury." I turn, "Queen Faith and King Hermes have arrived." I sigh.
"I'm coming Queen Selenity." I'm ready for any kinds of things they have to say to me, but I'll keep that young man in my mind. I wonder who he could be...
(Jupiter)
I nervously stepped into the ballroom. Immediately, I felt invisible. My plain hair matched almost 1,000 other heads in the room. My green dress, no matter how proud I was of it, was copied by at least a trillion others. I could tell it was going to be a difficult night. I strolled casually over to the refreshment stand, and passed over some of my own cooking, to a delicious-looking plate of small desserts. I took one and nibbled on it, and decided I had to get the recipe from whoever made it. Suddenly, a finger tapped my shoulder. I whirled around, surprised.
"Like my dish?" a high, false-sounding voice said. Before me was a girl, face so covered by makeup that no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see a patch of real skin. She was from Jupiter, and she had the trademark green hair that I lacked, though she was very low on the social ranking. Somehow, she chose me as her competitor. Everything I did, she had to attempt to do it twice as better. Perhaps she was trying to make herself believe that she would be a better princess than I.
I sighed. "What do you want?"
"One of the generals." she said, evilly grinning. "Let's see if you can beat that." I glared. My temper was starting to flare. "You know," she whispered, "I bet you aren't even supposed to be the princess. Your parents felt sorry for you, after they found you in a dumpster!"
"Well, at least I'm not a sorry brat who tries to be a princess because I couldn't live with myself unless I found out I could do something better than SOMEONE!" my voice started to rise in volume. At that moment, someone else tapped my shoulder.
"Care to dance?" a tenor voice asked. I looked around, to see a tall, blonde boy, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Why, yes!" I said. I took a deep breath to get myself under control, telling myself I'd settle things with her later. By the time I was finished dancing with him, I was calm and collected. I went to get a drink, and no surprise, there she was. "So, have a nice time dancing with plug-ugly?" she asked. I took a deep breath. "Yes," she continued, "the only guys that'll dance with you are the UGLY ones. They all feel sorry for you!" she snickered. I couldn't let her get away with that one. I raised my arm, and somebody took hold of my elbow. I whirled around, to see Queen Selenity. I promptly turned a shade of crimson.
"Princess, your parents are waiting, along with the guardians." I sighed. Hopefully the guardians would salvage some of my honor. My parents were so embarrassing... my father used to gamble, and my mother brags constantly.
(Venus)
"OK, I can do this," I muttered to myself, walking down the stairs. The other three were coming down behind me-Mars; Mercury, then Jupiter- Selenity and her mother would come last. I sighed. We had an hour's wait until the Prince and his Generals arrived.
I wandered restlessly around the ballroom, dancing with a guy here, getting a drink there. I spotted Princess Mars across the room, a guy pursuing her, while she was looking incredibly bored. I smiled to myself. Typical Mars, never giving a guy a chance.
I went over to where the orchestra was playing, and watched them. Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood up, and I had the feeling I was being watched. I whirled around, and met the eyes of Hogoshi Kou, son of one of the most important people in Queen Selenity's court. I groaned inwardly, not at all pleased to see the loser, but plastered on a big fake smile instead. Even thought it was unknown for the Princess of Venus to not flirt with any guy, he was the exception to the rule. He was tall, tan, and gorgeous-what wasn't to like? However, he was incredibly conceited, rude, and the way he talked to me, like he OWNED me. He sidled over to me.
"Princess Venus," he said in that smirking way of his, raising my hand to his lips. I snatched it away, and walked off. He followed me. "Dance with me, won't you, Princess Venus?" he asked me. I shook my head and bit my tongue. I don't get angry often, but when I do
"Come on, you know you want to," he said, putting his hand on my waist. That was it. I elbowed him in the stomach and whirled. "Normally, I'd flirt up a storm with a guy. Not you," I hissed. "Don't come near me again."
Just then, Queen Selenity came over to me. "Come, Princess Venus, King Eros and Queen Aphrodite want to see you, as well as the rest of the Guardians."
(Mars)
I stopped with relief. Queen Selenity had saved Venus from that man. I
couldn't remember his name, but the others had often reminded me of his
importance, though they acknowledged his arrogance openly. None of us were
fond of him, and he had my eternal enmity for bothering Venus. Now I had to
worry about myself. He wasn't horrible, I noted as I gazed coolly at the
man who was attempting to request a dance from me. He wasn't conceited, and
he was quite polite about it. But he was a man, after all. I couldn't be
curt with him like I would have been with the man who always troubled Venus.
I gazed across the room, looking for Princess Mercury and Princess Jupiter
(Princess Selenity was, of course, with
her mother), but I couldn't see them. All though blue hair wasn't a
trademark among Lunarians, there were a few Mercurials and Neptunians, both
famed for blue hair, though Neptunians tend to have sea green hair. There
were too many blue dresses for me to find her that way. So I turned to look
for Princess
Jupiter. Unfortunately, while every planet does tend to be famed for a
certain hair color, Princess Jupiter hadn't inherited her family's green
hair. At least 1,000 brown heads could be found on any planet, and the Moon
was no exception. Green dresses were also surprisingly popular. Usually,
white dominated the ballroom. Perhaps the Lunarians were reveling in the
new colors and customs we Sailor Princesses had brought to the Moon. Either
way, finding them was going to be difficult, most likely impossible. Queen
Selenity approached me at that moment. "Princess Mars, the King Ares and
Queen Bellona have arrived." I glanced at the floor briefly, composing
myself so the Queen wouldn't see my troubled expression. While my head was
bowed, the prospective dance partner turned and left. "Are Phobos and
Deimos here too?" I asked hopefully, trying my best to keep my facial
expression neutral. She nodded, and I lifted my head with a smile, as I
followed her to my Sailor Guardians. With every step I took I was hoping
they would spare me from the critiques and advice of my parents.
(Mercury)
Sigh. Why did I bother to come? Oh yeah, that's right, I had no choice. I reach up and pulled the crystal snowflake out of my hair. I Sigh. There's Venus again, and Hogoshi Kou with her. Nasty man, well at least I think he's a man.... Poor Venus, he seems to like hitting on her. And there's Queen Selenity, saving her, thank god. Maybe I can find Mars or Jupiter. Oh and there Mars now, oh and there she goes again. My raven haired friend disappered into the sea of people, followed by a young man.
"Miss," I turn, "may I have this dance?" I can feel my cheeks going red; I've never seen him before, a new member of the court maybe?
"You may sir." he gives a quick bow and kisses my hand. Once again I feel the color rise in my face. I've never seen a man with long hair...I wonder who he could be. I spin across the floor, he's a wonderful dancer, and now the song is over. It's really too bad, he was so nice.
"Maybe you could save another dance for me M'lady?"
"It would be my pleasure sir." I smile, and so does he, he bows and kisses my hand again, and then he disappears into the crowd.
"Princess Mercury." I turn, "Queen Faith and King Hermes have arrived." I sigh.
"I'm coming Queen Selenity." I'm ready for any kinds of things they have to say to me, but I'll keep that young man in my mind. I wonder who he could be...
(Jupiter)
I nervously stepped into the ballroom. Immediately, I felt invisible. My plain hair matched almost 1,000 other heads in the room. My green dress, no matter how proud I was of it, was copied by at least a trillion others. I could tell it was going to be a difficult night. I strolled casually over to the refreshment stand, and passed over some of my own cooking, to a delicious-looking plate of small desserts. I took one and nibbled on it, and decided I had to get the recipe from whoever made it. Suddenly, a finger tapped my shoulder. I whirled around, surprised.
"Like my dish?" a high, false-sounding voice said. Before me was a girl, face so covered by makeup that no matter how hard I looked, I couldn't see a patch of real skin. She was from Jupiter, and she had the trademark green hair that I lacked, though she was very low on the social ranking. Somehow, she chose me as her competitor. Everything I did, she had to attempt to do it twice as better. Perhaps she was trying to make herself believe that she would be a better princess than I.
I sighed. "What do you want?"
"One of the generals." she said, evilly grinning. "Let's see if you can beat that." I glared. My temper was starting to flare. "You know," she whispered, "I bet you aren't even supposed to be the princess. Your parents felt sorry for you, after they found you in a dumpster!"
"Well, at least I'm not a sorry brat who tries to be a princess because I couldn't live with myself unless I found out I could do something better than SOMEONE!" my voice started to rise in volume. At that moment, someone else tapped my shoulder.
"Care to dance?" a tenor voice asked. I looked around, to see a tall, blonde boy, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Why, yes!" I said. I took a deep breath to get myself under control, telling myself I'd settle things with her later. By the time I was finished dancing with him, I was calm and collected. I went to get a drink, and no surprise, there she was. "So, have a nice time dancing with plug-ugly?" she asked. I took a deep breath. "Yes," she continued, "the only guys that'll dance with you are the UGLY ones. They all feel sorry for you!" she snickered. I couldn't let her get away with that one. I raised my arm, and somebody took hold of my elbow. I whirled around, to see Queen Selenity. I promptly turned a shade of crimson.
"Princess, your parents are waiting, along with the guardians." I sighed. Hopefully the guardians would salvage some of my honor. My parents were so embarrassing... my father used to gamble, and my mother brags constantly.
