Selenity managed to get half way up the stairs before leaning back and closing her eyes and letting her anger run its course. "That jerk. Bastard. He ruined my plot and gotten me in trouble." Frustrated, she pounded her fists against the wall.

"Is it my fault I want to be a good ruler?!" She shrieked. "I have to learn about my people to rule them! I don't want to be some hoity-toity excuse for a Queen that sits on her throne all day and makes decisions for her people's welfare without even knowing them and what they want!"

Selenity dropped her head against the wall, sorrow numbing her rage. "I'm so pathetic." She said softly. "Here Libidia's gone and gotten herself a husband-that evil prissy bitch- and I've just been dumped the umpteenth time. Perfect. Stupid new marriage law."

Anger in her again, Selenity spread her arms wide. "Why do I need to get married?!" She shouted to the silent halls. She turned and started to jog up the stairs again, muttering, "Maybe it's better if I just don't fall in love after hall."

Had she been paying closer attention, Selenity would have heard the sigh of agreement that echoed through the hall. A few stairs below and around a bend, Endymion had crouched and been listening to her outrage. He couldn't help but admire the obvious passion she felt about being a good ruler. The only thing Libidia really had a passion for was talking. That, and being annoying.

"She's right." He muttered, hearing Libidia's call. "Why do we have to get married at all?"

* * *

Dinner was festive that night, and in a long banquet hall that the Queen happily announced would also be where were to be wed. Endymion said nothing at this, just glanced at Libidia's beaming face, and then looked down the table to where Selenity and her friends were sitting.

She looked-radiant. The Princess of Venus had obviously made a funny comment, and she was smiling and laughing a little. The grin seemed to light up the room far more than the chandeliers far overhead.

At his side, Libidia dug her elbow into him. He jumped, then looked down at her. "Yes?"

She sighed and leaning against him, wrapping her arm around his like a boa constrictor. "Isn't it so romantic, Endy? In less than a week, we'll be married!"

Endymion smiled down at her, slightly queasy. Less than a week? Is that all he had left to be a bachelor?

He glanced down the table at Selenity. Well, last week or not, he was going to enjoy himself here.

Selenity was in discussion with Venus on the best way to flirt with a guy (using curves or personality) when a prickle started at the back of her neck. She turned and saw Endymion watching her closely. A blush spread up her face, then a welcome anger roared through her veins. She clenched her fists, and one hand dropped to a dagger she kept hidden in her dress.

Endymion saw this gesture of defiance, and smiled to himself.

"What's that mule face looking at?" Libidia said, loud enough for him and all the princesses to hear but not loud enough for the adults at the head of the table. "Honestly, she thinks she's so pretty and smart. Why can't she get a guy, then?"

Selenity clearly heard this. Red swarmed in front of her eyes. Her muscles were tensed like a spring, ready to pounce and rip the throat out of that smug little bitch on the other side of the table.

Princess Jupiter saw this. She grabbed Selenity's left arm and held it to the table, while on her other side Venus grabbed the right arm.

"Let me go." Selenity whispered, grounding her teeth. "I'm going to kill her, I don't need my weapons. I-kill-her-with-my-very-own-hands-"

"Selenity!" Jupiter hissed. She forced her friend's silver eyes to meet hers. "Listen to me!" She lowered her voice conspiratorially. "If you want to get revenge, do it in a way you won't get caught!"

Selenity stared at her before a slow smile crept over her face. She turned her head back to the smirking Libidia and Endymion, and concentrated.

Libidia was just picking up her wine glass. She said to Endymion, "I hope they have selection seats at our wedding. We can't have those witches seating up near us-"

The glass in her hand suddenly exploded. Libidia shrieked and fell backward as wine sprayed everywhere, completely ruining her choice gown. Endymion spluttered slightly as a good amount hit his armor. He glared down the table to the laughing princesses.

Selenity saw this look. She raised her glass to him. "Touché, monsieur." She murmured, smiling at Endymion.

For a moment, Endymion wondered if he should use his own powers to tip the glass over on her. Then, to every princesses' surprise, he laughed, shook his head, then sat back down in his seat.

Selenity frowned. That was an unexpected move. What was he planning?

"I don't like that!" Saturn whispered from down the table a little. "He's supposed to get revenge on you now for freaking Libidia. What's his game?"

"Wish I knew." Selenity said, smiling at the small, dark-haired princess.

Down the table, Pluto tensed, then whispered, "Don't look now, but his revenge's coming at you at about one hundred miles an hour!"

Selenity glanced up. Libidia was charged down the row of seats, screeching unintelligible words.

The meaning of the yells were clear enough, though. Selenity jumped to her feet, curtsied to the staring elder rulers, and promptly started to high- tail it out of there.

"Shit." She muttered as Libidia zoomed after her. All that girl did was flirt and talk. How the heck did she run so fast?

She sighed in relief as she neared the huge oak doors that had been a gift from Earth a hundred years ago. Perfect. Just a few more steps.

Before she reached it, however, the two huge doors exploded.

Fragments of wood and glass flew everywhere. From behind her, Libidia shrieked, this time in fright. Selenity dodged a few larger pieces and flung her self to the side, hand going to a small locket hidden just beneath the folds of her neckline.

Endymion's heart had stopped for an instant when the door had exploded right before Selenity and Libidia. Libidia had ran backwards like a shot, but Selenity was gone. Vanished.

Why was his heart still in his throat? Libidia was safe. Nothing to worry about.

He closed his eyes as senses surged in him. Wait, something was wrong. His inner sight pinpointed something coming in at the door. Some evil, dark thing.

He opened his eyes, and sharply caught his breath.

A thing-twelve feet tall at least-was standing in the doorway. It looked- somewhat-humanoid, but the resemblance only went so far as the head's shape. How many human's had burning red eyes and fangs? Or, for that matter, had enough muscles to knock those two huge doors off their hinges?

The thing roared, scaly green body poised to attack. Endymion threw one arm in front of a sobbing Libidia and prepared to draw his sword.

The creature bellowed and jumped twenty feet onto the middle of the marble table. Food flew everywhere. Endymion flew backwards, holding a sobbing Libidia to him. The beast growled, and raised a gigantic claw.

A loud female voice shouted from the end of the hall, "Hold it, youma!"

The creature-the youma-turned slowly around. Endymion desperately tried to peer around it.

From one of the high windows above the hall, the voice said, "I am the defender of love and the champion of justice, righter of wrongs and I triumph over evil."

I know that voice, Endymion thought.

The owner of the voice leapt down and landed gracefully on her feet. She glared icily at the strange creature. "You're a very rude monster, you know. I'm Sailor Moon, and I'm going to have to kill you."

The creature was not impressed. It roared and charged her. Endymion's stomach somersaulted.

The girl dodged as easily as if she were doing nothing more interesting than playing hopscotch.

The youma tried to stop, but its momentum carried it forward through the gaping doorway that still had leftover debris from the doors hanging off it.

The girl-Sailor Moon- looked at Endymion. He noted with some interest her burning silver eyes had turned a delicious sapphire blue. "Are you all right?"

Endymion nodded, lurching to his feet. "Thank you-Selenity."

Sailor Moon's eyes widened, then narrowed. "So I guess this isn't much of a disguise."

Endymion shook his head. "Even with your eyes changed. I mean, how many people have silver hair?" He eyed the senshi fuku. "Skirt's a bit short, isn't it?"

Sailor Moon angrily stuck her tongue out at him. "You're a disgrace."

Endymion chuckled.

The youma had recovered now. It bellowed, causing Libidia to squeak and faint. Endymion tried to support his weight with a collapsed girl on him, and failed. He fell down with an "Oomph!"

It was Sailor Moon's turn to snort in amusement. "Oh, THAT was graceful."

"Look out!" Endymion yelled, choosing to ignore her comment and pointing at the youma that loomed up behind her, ready to slam its weight down on her.

Sailor Moon turned, and looked up at it. The youma screeched a triumphant cry.

"Oh, shut up." The strange Selenity said crossly. "Moon Tiara ACTION!"

The giant creature screeched again, this time in pain, as the girl's tiara turned into a brilliant white glowing disc and hit it right in the stomach. It wailed a death cry, and crumbled into dust.

Sailor Moon dusted herself up, and stared at the pile of dust. "I always hate doing this inside. It always makes a mess."

Endymion wondered if she was laughing at him. He shifted onto his feet, holding Libidia unsteadily. She moaned slightly as her eyelids fluttered open. Her brown eyes locked on his face. "Oh-Endy!" She screeched, sounding somewhat like the youma. She threw her arms around his neck and got him in a strangle-hold.

"Ooof-Libidia!" Endymion protested, trying to loosen her hold a little. "Honey, please! I didn't do anything!"

"You protected me!" Libidia murmured, grabbing him harder.

Sailor Moon chuckled again. Endymion shot her a death glare. She blew him a sarcastic kiss.

Several more figures charged through the ruined doorway.

"Oh, darn it, we missed the fight, didn't we?" A girl with auburn hair and green fuku asked.

"Yes, by a few minutes, Jupiter!" Sailor Moon snapped. "Honestly, I had to kill it all by myself!"

Endymion blinked. "You're Princess Jupiter?"

The girl turned and looked at him. "Yeah.and?"

"It's just-your hair was green at dinner." Endymion said, curiosity overcoming embarrassment.

"We change a little in our soldier forms." A girl in a blue fuku said kindly. "I'm Mercury."

Endymion nodded. "I could tell that. Your hair's still blue."

A red-fuku soldier giggled. "So you actually took care of one yourself instead of being late to a fight, eh, Selenity? Now you know how it feels to kick butt on your own!"

"Shut it, Mars." Moon said grouchily.

Something landed hard on Endymion's head. He yelped and brushed at it, but it was already gone. He glared around. "All right, who hit me?"

Sailor Moon stood up and glared back at him. "No one hit you. You just were used as a landing pad by Luna."

Endymion groaned as he noticed the smug-looking black cat with a crescent moon symbol on its forehead in Sailor Moon's arms. "That stupid cat's going to pay."

"I most certainly will not." The cat said snootily.

Endymion stared at it. "It can TALK?!"

Libidia sat up, sniffing. "What did you say, Endy?"

Sailor Moon grinned at the look on Endymion's face. "Well, of course SHE talks. Why else would she be one of our most valued advisors?"

Libidia eyed the cat in Selenity's arms before letting out a little, fake- sounding sneeze. "I'm allergic to cats. Take it away."

Luna eyed her. "Young lady, that was the fakest sneeze I've ever heard, and I've heard quite a few from Selenity here."

Libidia gasped. "You can TALK?!?!"

All the Senshi stared at her a moment.

"She's an idiot." Venus finally whispered.

"Baka." Mars agreed.

"No name-calling now, girls!" Luna said sharply. "We need to explain what's happening to our-guests-here."

Endymion stared hard at Luna. "You mean why that creature attacked and where it came from?"

Luna's eyes suddenly seemed mirror-like and ancient. "Oh, by the time this is over, that's going to be the least on your minds. You're going to wish you never asked."

"We're not scared." He said sharply.

Luna nodded. "You will be. You will be."