Prince Endymion of Earth sighed and pushed a raven-black lock of hair out of his face as he looked out of the carriage window at the pretty countryside of the Moon. It wasn't that he wasn't glad to be there- anyplace was better than his home, with all those people fawning over him. But the reason he had come was unpleasant.

He had come to get married.

Well, not exactly. But he WAS betrothed-to the Tenth Planet Princess who was riding beside him in the carriage, her pretty face framed by brown curls. Lady Libidia was pretty and kind, but was ditzy and not very intelligent, and certainly not first on his list as a bride. But his mother and father had insisted, probably because of the warnings of war that were starting to spread across the galaxy. Warnings of evil. Of a terrible menace, Metallia, and her servant, Beryl.

Endymion frowned. Rumors were one thing, but Queen Serenity of the Moon seemed to take them seriously. She had ordered all princes and princesses to find matches, and soon. Ruling couples were stronger than individuals.

A cold hand suddenly grabbed his. Endymion looked up into the smiling face of Libidia. "Endy, honey, you look too depressed! Relax! Enjoy this. After all, it's the last visit of our pilgrimage to the other nine planets! Then we can go home and get married."

Endymion weakly smiled at her, hiding his disgust at her happiness. Relax. That was it. Ignore the huge threat bearing down on them and chill. Yep, that was it exactly.

* * *

Princess Selenity stormed out onto her balcony that adjoined her bedroom. She gazed out over the city, fighting the two emotions raging in her: sorrow and anger.

Her mother-Queen Serenity- had made the proclamation of ruling couples official, so any complaints she had were all for nothing. The law had come at a terrible time, as she had just had her heart broken by her now ex- boyfriend.

Her mother and her friends had all said the same thing, to the effect, "There are plenty of fish in the sea, don't spend all your time moping over a lost one!"

Selenity sighed. They didn't understand. He had felt so right-but it didn't matter now. He was gone. Like all the others.

Half-consciously she brushed a long pigtails aside and stared down at busy streets. Vaguely she remembered an entourage from Earth was coming in an hour or so-but she could change before then. Right now she wanted to do something fun.

A childish sparkle back in her eyes, she went to her wardrobe to find the most peasant like clothes she could.

* * *

On the busy streets of the city surrounding the Moon Palace, Endymion sighed.

Damnit, he thought. I am so bored!

Libidia had insisted on seeing the "cute little bazaars" on the city streets to look for a scarf in a shade of blue that probably didn't even exist. Now he was standing in the middle of a busy street while his mother and his fiancée oohed and ahhed over dresses, feeling rather stupid. He suspected it was probably because she wanted to take as much time as possible to get to the Palace-the rumor was she and the Moon Princess didn't get along quite as well as the others. As a matter of fact, Libidia didn't get along with ANY of the Planet Princesses well, but she seemed to have a special relationship with the Moon Princess, what was her name now- Selenity, that was it. Selenity had a reputation all her own, including the hint that she enjoyed fighting more than being a princess. The very idea was somewhat ridiculous, but it was the same of all the other Planet Princesses. Only Libidia seemed to stick to the uniform standards of ladyship. Which was probably why his parents chose her in the first place.

A shout from nearby caused him to turn, one hand automatically dropping to the holt of his sword concealed under his cloak.

A few shops away, under a dusty canopy, a rough, mean looking man had grabbed someone in a muddy brown cloak. He was trying to pull whoever it was towards him. The cloaked figure struggled violently.

Endymion sighed. Great. At home on Earth he had to be a non-stop defender, now he had to be one on the Moon too. Perfect. As if he didn't have anything better to do.

Still, it was better than standing around trying to blend in with commoners while Libidia exclaimed over the smallest of jewelry.

He started to make his way through the crowds, drawing his sword ever so slightly. He had almost reached the two when suddenly, he stopped in awe.

The cloaked figure had grabbed the tramp's wrist and twisted it around, forcing him to the ground. It was done with ease, almost jauntily.

Sweat broke out on Endymion's forehead. Whatever the cloaked person was, he didn't want to tangle with it.

Letting go of the man's hand, the figure started to walk away. The tramp sprang up again, bellowing. In his hand was the longest knife Endymion had ever seen, and its edge was wicked sharp.

He shouted a warning. The cloaked figure turned in time to see the man jab at him. Endymion waited for the worst.

But instead of being hit, the figure dodged, then pushed the man's wrist up and caught his elbow. Bending it, he pulled it up and completely flipped the tramp.

Then a silver dagger was embedded in the ground by the tramp's head. Endymion was just close enough to hear the figure say, "I would love to jam this thing right through your heart, you bastard. Now you can either melt back into the crowds and make me forget I ever met you, or I can continue and rearrange your insides."

The tramp didn't think twice. The second the cloaked one stood up, he took off down the dusty streets.

The figure spat in disgust on the ground, then turned around and looked at Endymion.

A small breeze flicked up, blowing back the hood the slightest bit. A silver lock of hair flew out. The person's hand came up and quickly concealed it again. Silver eyes shone out at Endymion through the hood's darkness.

Then figure turned, and disappeared into the crowds.

More coming soon.