"Saruka! You getting ready for the concert yet, sweet heart?"

Saruka sat up from her bed when she heard her mother calling. She had fallen asleep after Mina and the girls had all left. Saruka got up from her bed. She was still in her baggy clothes and her hair was completely messed up. Saruka decided it wouldn't be appropriate for her mother to see her so messy. She flattened her hair and straightened her clothes as much as she could before her mother came in.

The door opened and Saruka's mother stepped in. "There you are. Shouldn't you be getting ready yet?" The concert begins in less than an hour."

Saruka smiled as she rubbed her tired eyes. "Ok, I'll be there in a sec. What should I wear?"

"You can decide. This I your big day and I want you to look the way you feel most comfortable." Saruka's mother said before turning around and leaving.

"I get to decide?" Saruka asked her self. It took a while for the words to process in her mind. When she finally realized, Saruka sat up proudly and said more cunningly, "I get to decide!"

Saruka jumped up from her bed and walked to her dresser, "Hmm… what to wear, what to wear." Saruka stopped at her pale purple dress with the short sleeves and frilly bottom. It was her mother's favourite for her, and Saruka didn't mind it too much herself, but she'd always put up a fight anyway when she was asked to wear it. Her mother had given her a choice this time, and Saruka was going to make the decision.

She continued to flip through her wardrobe until she found what she was looking for. Saruka smiled as she studied the short frilly purple skirt, white body suit, purple bow and purple collar. It was her personal favourite. It made her look and feel like a sailor scout. Aydel and her made their own not that long ago, but they never wore them in public… yet. Saruka sighed and flipped back to the pale purple dress. She took it out and threw it on the bed.

"Now for shoes and accessories." Saruka said to herself. She reached down and pulled out a pair of silver highheels, then walked to her desk and pulled her jewelry box of its stand. She took out a pair of silver-star earrings, a silver band ring, a star bracelet, and her crown. She looked into her mirror and put on all her decorations.

"There, perfect." Saruka said. She found herself looking at her bare neck. She had no necklaces. Each of her jewelry bits were given to her by her parents on different birthdays for different reasons, showing her responsibilities as they grew too. She hadn't received a necklace yet. She was only 8, and she wouldn't receive one till her 10th birthday, and that was only if she deserved it.

Saruka ran a brush through her hair a few times, then threw it back in a braid before running out of the room and down the hall towards the entrance room. The concert would be held outside of the castle in another building made specially to project sounds. The building was just beyond the fountain, and the walk there would be rather long, but Saruka didn't mind. Saruka smiled and waved as she got closer to the entrance hall and saw Mina there waiting for her.

"Hey, slow down there!" Mina called to her. Saruka ran right up to her and slid to a halt in front of her. She threw her arms around Mina for a hug, but pulled back in surprise when her hand found Mina's transformation pen hidden in a secret pocket in her dress. Mina held a finger to her mouth for Saruka to keep quiet just as Saruka was bout to ask about it. Mina then turned Saruka around to greet their parents, Lord Trek, Aydel, and Lita.

Mina bowed properly, Saruka following. "Evening mother, father, Lord Trek. May I ask where Duchess Melody is this fine evening?" Mina said sweetly.

Saruka smiled as she noticed Lita holding back a giggle at Mina's performance. She didn't bother listening to the conversation cause she had heard it all before. Duchess Melody was sick, though you wouldn't know unless someone told you. She looked and acted fine, but she had a terrible disease that would get the best of her soon if she partied all night. Saruka also knew that they wouldn't be leaving until the palace until the rest got here.

Saruka waved to Aydel, who waved back with her good hand. Aydel was wearing a burgundy and sky blue dress with a navy cape. The cape was intended to better hide her stump of an arm, but Aydel didn't seem to mind showing the world she was missing half of her right arm. In a way, she seemed proud of it.

It wasn't long until the rules of Mercury and Mars both joined, followed by Queen Serenity and Princess Serena. There was a few exchanges of greetings, information, stuff that Saruka didn't care for, then they were heading out the door to the concert. They were leaving early so Queen Serenity could check up on the work of the cooks and builders.

Right as they left the grownups got into another boring business talk about the planets, Serena, Mina, Lita, Rei and Ami began to walk extra slow and fell behind so they too could talk, and Saruka and Aydel were left in the middle.

"What did you end up doing after I left?" Aydel asked, straightening her cape with her one arm.

"I fell asleep. I was really tired." Saruka said. She looked out a head to the concert building. It was more beautiful then normal. Thousands of tiny lights lit it up, vines of flowers and leaves crawled up the sides, and the garden out in front was lit with multicolored lights. It looked way more extravagant than it did in the daytime. Saruka couldn't remember the last big concert they had. They always had celebrations, but those were normally in the castle, not in the actual concert hall.

"Saruka? Saruka!" Aydel yelled, annoyed.

"Oh, sorry. Did I trail off?" Saruka explained.

"Oh, ok." Aydel smiled, "I was just commenting on your dress. Loose the fight again to you mother?"

"Actually, I wanted to wear it! Well, I was going to wear my sailor outfit, but I didn't think my mom would like that much." Saruka told Aydel.

Aydel seemed impressed, but didn't mention anything of it. Saruka dimly listened to the girls behind her as they kept walking. Rei kept saying how her father and her had gotten weird vibes and that they should tell Queen Serenity. Saruka didn't understand them. Nothing was going to happen. Everything was fine! People they passed greeted them and commented them and stopped Queen Serenity to as questions, but it was all normal.

Saruka laughed when Aydel threw a small glass of water on her dress. "What? Why you!" Saruka said as she teasingly chased Aydel around the field and in front of the grown ups.

"Careful you two." Saruka's father said, as Saruka and Aydel entered the concert hall, laughing and yelling. The inside was beautiful. The ceiling was high and made of glass, the floor was shining and marble, and the chairs, tables, and dance floors were wonderful. It was like a dream come true. There were people all ready in the concert hall, most of which were servants still preparing for the guests, then a bunch of commoners, but Saruka was most excited to see Prince Darien of Earth.

"Darien!" She squealed, ending their little game to run over and hug him.

"Saruka, hi." Darien said, then looked up and bowed to Queen Serenity and the planet rulers. He smiled greatly when he noticed Serena fiddling with her dress. "Serena." He said while he waved. He patted Saruka's head gently before walking off in Serena's direction.

The concert began a little later. Guests soon filled the concert hall and the music soon began. People were dancing, laughing, and having a good time. It was like a little celebration for the new alliance. Saruka laughed and participated in the fun. Mina and the other princesses had line ups for dances, the Queens and Kings greeted important people, and Aydel and Saruka herself made their own fun.

It wasn't long before Saruka started to get tired out from the whole thing. She would be performing soon, then she could go back to her room and go to sleep. She had many years coming up to party and enjoy the celebrations, and the next day Saruka had an early morning appointment with a specialist to determine her individual powers. Every one on the Moon had their own special powers, but most didn't gain control or show signs of their powers till later on in their lives. Saruka had to beg her mother to set the appointment, and soon she would know what her specialty was.

"Lady's and gentlemen, please put your hands together for our very own Princess Saruka of Venus." The announcer called out. Saruka skipped up onto stage and confidently waved to everyone. She knew her piece off by heart, and was happy to soon get it over with.

Saruka took her seat at the piano. The crowd silenced and gave her their full attention. Saruka placed her fingers on the keys, and began. The piece was simple but fluent. The keys played into each other in harmony and with perfect precision. Saruka heard quiet 'oo's and 'aw's from the audience as she performed difficult arrangements of keys. It was a success!

When Saruka completed her piece she dismissed herself off stage with a smile and wave. The crown broke out into applause. Saruka received pats of the back and congratulations as she made her way through the crowd to find her mother or father. When Saruka found King Victor she tugged gently on his tuxedo to get his attention.

"Daddy…" Saruka whined, "I'm going back to the palace, ok?"

King Victor looked down at her. He messed up her hair a little then said, "Sure thing. Be careful though, it's dark out."

"I will, daddy." Saruka kissed her father's cheek and hurried out to the closest exit. Saruka turned out of the hall and looked around for the stairs that would lead her back to the palace. She walked up and down the balcony until she heard voices. Saruka crouched behind a plant and listened in.

"Mother, you have to trust us on this!" Saruka heard Serena's voice.

"Serena, it's not that I don't trust you, but I can't put my hopes on a feeling you have. I just can't! Alzamont is a perfectly fine alliance. And that alliance is final!" Queen Serenity said back.

"But mother, Rei is having horrible visions, and we all get the worst chills from Goxard, even Aydel felt it, and her power is weak now. You can't pretend everything is fine!" Serena argued. Saruka knew that by the trembling note in her voice she was crying.

"I will not have it! Serena, dismiss yourself from my presence, now!" Queen Serenity ordered.

"What? Why do you treat me as a child? I am old enough to know when something's wrong, and the scouts and I are right, if you could only just see that. It's not just Rei, it's been prophesized too! 'On the night of just, a terror shall arrive. The second born of the evening star must be protected, or all is lost on that night of just'. This is the night! I know it, we know it, and I know that you know it too!"

"Stop it!" Queen Serenity snapped. "I said dismiss yourself from my presence…" she said in a more even tone.

"But, you can't…" Serena begged.

"Now!"

There was a long silence. "Ok, but the scouts and I will be ready any way… I love you mom." Saruka heard footsteps as Serena ran away back to the ball.

Saruka stood and stepped back into view when she knew that Queen Serenity was gone too. She ran along, continuing on down the balcony that went around the entire hall. Saruka wouldn't help but wonder to herself what the scouts were up to. They knew something was wrong, they were counting on it, but what could happen on such a perfect night.

When Saruka found the stairway they had entered on, she started down it but stopped when a hand tapped her shoulder. Saruka spun around to see Darien facing her.

"Hey Darien." Saruka said in a shy voice.

Darien smiled at her and bent down close to her. "Saruka, where are you off to?"

Saruka rubbed her tired eyes, "I'm going back to the castle. Mom and I have a bug appointment in the morning I don't want to be sleepy for."

Darien nodded, "Oh yea, that's right. I heard. You're going to the soul searcher specialist in the morning, aren't you? Good luck with that." Darien watched as a commoner passed them with little notice. Darien bent a little nearer, "Little princess of the evening star, when you get to your room, I want you to hide, and stay hidden. There is danger in the air, and you must stay hidden. Can you do that for me?"

Saruka looked at him bravely and said, "Yes, Darien. I promise I will stay safe."

Darien pinched her cheek affectionately, "Good girl. Now, before you're off, do you know where Aydel is?"

Saruka looked around. "No, sorry Darien. I don't."

Darien nodded distantly, then stood. "Sweet dreams, little princess."

Saruka smiled, "Thank you." She waved to him, turned, then continued to run back towards the palace. Her mind was swimming with possibilities of what everyone was so worried about. All Saruka had to do was get home, hide, and be safe. That wasn't too bad. In the morning all would be well again and everyone will be laughing at their foolishness tonight. Everything had to be ok. It had to be. Saruka huffed happily as she saw the castle getting closer. Only a little ways more, and she could uphold her end of her promise to Darien.

Saruka readied herself to climb the many steps, when a large hand wrapped itself over her mouth. Saruka squealed in fear and surprise as another strong hand pulled both of her arms behind her back. She struggled and kicked, trying to get away but it was no use. She couldn't see who was holding her, but she could see who was in front of her. She felt her heart race uncontrollably as she found herself face to face with Goxard, the man from that morning.