Chapter 3

India stood at the bottom of the stairway. Quickly, people started to surround her asking her tons of questions all at once. It was quite overwhelming. They seemed to want to know where she had been for almost a millennia, who she was in love with, why she had left in the first place, and more. All questions that were very hard to answer without giving away too much information that would be cause for gossip. India looked around helplessly finding no means of escape in this inferno of questions.

What happened to friends being here to make sure I was not embarrassed or anything? India thought to herself. What happened to everyone being too busy talking to each other to even notice me?

India walked to one side of the crowd to escape, but was only confronted by paparazzi who started another, even more embarrassing set of questions. She was blinded by all the flashes of lights coming from all the cameras that were sure to catch every single flaw. She tried her best to smile so they couldn't see the anxiety on her face.

India began to feel lightheaded at all the people around her. She felt suffocated with her heart pounding and was nauseated. If only she could find a means of escape she would feel better.

It would be too embarrassing if I were to pass out in front of all these people, India reasoned to herself.

Serenity looked on amused. She and Endymion were on the dance floor. She had quickly made sure that Endymion would be too occupied to go and save her. The others had been bombarded by the press to give their feelings on the return of Princess Neo. Luckily, Serenity had also given her bogus feelings to them already, and Endymion the same.

Suddenly, India felt someone take her hand and lead her away from the punishment that she had somehow brought upon herself. She was whisked away to the dance floor before she had time to see whom it was who had saved her. A slow waltz was being played and the mystery person had positioned them to begin.

India had been looking down at the floor, while she was being saved from the ring of fire. She danced for a while without looking up to see who her hero was. Reflecting on the usual events and hoping, she initially thought it was Endymion, but after a while knew that to be false.

"What, no thank you?" An amused voice said to India.

Finally, she looked up to see who it was. She looked into two of the deepest black pools of water that she had ever seen. They were beautiful. Along with them, was wave after wave of black hair that framed the strong, masculine face of her luminary perfectly. It was truly a handsome face to behold.

"Thank you," India said, as she blushed deeply.

"You are welcome, my dear Princess Neo," the stranger said. "You looked very flustered, yet beautiful, surrounded by all of those hell hounds."

India continued to blush much more from his comment. "I just cannot stand being surrounded by so many people. I am just not the type for much attention, it scares me."

"With your wealth and beauty, you should be accustomed to it by now," he said. "All of the royal family is blessed with such gifts."

"I think being accustomed to attention skipped a generation, not that I am really a generation," India replied.

"Nonsense," he said, obviously amused by her still. "Even though you might have come into the world a bit differently, you are still accepted as a member of the royal family here to help the rule and protect us all. You know where you come from and your reason for life. You have been blessed with gifts most people search their whole lives to find out."

"Thank you," India said, as she smiled. He had really given her much more perspective on her life and things that she had been obsessing about for years, and in such a short amount of time.

"You are welcome again," he laughed.

* A woman stood off to the side of the party with her friend, steaming over the events she saw taking place.

"I cannot believe him," she growled. "Can you?"

Her friend looked away. "I cannot, either," she agreed.

"How can he just go off and dance with her?" She hissed. "That bastard! Who does he think he is? Look at that whore pretending to be so innocent."

"Calm down," her friend advised. "It would not fair well in your favor for him to get mad at you."

"Whatever!" The woman said, fuming silently to herself as she watched.

* Endymion watched what had been happening. Who was this that had come to save India? Also, what was he saying that was embarrassing her so? He didn't feel at all comfortable with what he saw.

* Serenity looked on at India and this man with her with interest. This could be her ticket to get rid of the little home-wrecker. If he could get India's attention away from Endymion, then Endymion would be all hers without distraction. This could be good for her. Her smile brightened at the thought.

* "I have not caught your name yet," India said, after she had gathered enough courage.

"How rude of me!" The man proclaimed, with lavish enthusiasm that made India smile. He bowed to her, and took her hand to kiss it. "My name is Wisdom Lore." After introducing himself, he looked up from her hand with lustful eyes that made India weak in the knees.

India looked at the floor again, blushing so much that she was sure she radiated red. "My name is India Present, Princess Neo," she introduced herself, quietly.

Wisdom brought India close to him and continued dancing. "Just when I thought I had gotten you to open up, you close again," he whispered in her ear. "You are an enigma I am just waiting to figure out. No need to introduce yourself, either. I already know enough about you already."

India felt exposed and uncomfortable now. She was sure anybody looking on could see her embarrassment. She was lit up like fire, and just as hot. "Surely, I do not know what you mean by that," India mumbled.

"I am quite sure you do," Wisdom replied.

India was becoming more flustered by the moment and had to get out. "I need to go talk to some of the members of the court," India said, quickly as she began to walk off, but was stopped by Wisdom who had grabbed her hand.

"Princess, I will see you again, will I not?" Wisdom asked.

"I am quite sure you will," India said, waiting for him to let her hand go. As soon as she was released, she retreated to her friends.

The Scouts had seen everything that was going on and where ready to pounce on India like hungry lions on their prey. As soon as she reached them, they started the feast.

"So who is your new betroth over there?" Mina asked first.

"Well," India began, but was cut off.

"Stop it, Mina," Rei ordered. "So, it looked like things were getting hot and heavy over there. What is going on, India?"

India blushed instantly. "It was not like that!" She protested, but not with much confidence.

"You have only been back for a week and you are already playing the field?" Lita asked, amazed.

"He was staring at you rather provocatively," Ami said, embarrassed. She never really got into things like this, but she had to put her two cents in this time.

"I do not know what you all are talking about," India responded, acting innocently. "He just saved me from all those reporters and before I knew it we were on the dance floor. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Are you really trying to fool us?" Mina asked. "We have known you for over a millennia and more, we know you better than that. You especially cannot fool me, Venus, Goddess of Love! I specialize in these areas, remember?"

"Well, I specialize in fire," Rei interrupted, "and it was defiantly on fire over there."

"He was striking you dead with flirtatious looks of thunder," Lita replied.

"You were drowning in his sea of pickup lines, which seemed very soothing," Ami said, enjoying adding her own analogy.

"How can you all say that?" India asked appalled. "You know I would never fall for someone so quickly. You also know I could not handle all of that, that attention."

"It never hurts though, does it?" Mina asked.

India couldn't find words to answer that. She was absolutely speechless.

"My point exactly!" Mina cried, triumphantly.

Serenity and Endymion walked over to the others after they had finished dancing.

"What is going on over here?" Serenity asked smiling. It was remarkably obvious that the Scouts had started their own approach to questioning. They were predictable, and you could tell from the look of embarrassment on India's face.

"Nothing," India replied, too quickly. "I mean, nothing that would interest you, Serenity."

"I know what would interest me," Serenity replied. "Who was that man you were dancing with? He seemed awfully charming." Serenity held on to Endymion's arm possessively.

"No one important really," India answered coolly.

Endymion looked away. He didn't really care to learn about who this man was. He tried not to pay much attention to their conversation.

* "I see you are back from playing around with that floozy," the woman said to Wisdom.

"Please, you don't want him to get mad at you," the other woman warned softly.

"I do not see how that is any of your business, Courage!" Wisdom snapped at the woman. She had a smart tongue that should have been cut centuries ago. Her hair was a raging fire of red that came to her knees. For the time being, she wore it up in a bun with bangs hanging just above her eyes. She had jade green eyes that could be set on fire at any moment. Her quick temper didn't always help her out, but it made her stick out like blood on white cloth.

"Well, you are the one flirting with the enemy," Courage said, backing off.

"As I have told you a thousand times before, you will do well to heed Serenity's words," Wisdom lectured.

Serenity was looking on silently, hoping Courage wouldn't put herself in a tight spot that she wouldn't be able to get out of. Serenity usually went by the nickname Serene. She had long silver hair that came to the small of her back that she now had in a French roll. Her bangs covered part of her steely gray eyes, that could give a look that would kill. She usually stayed calm and went with the flow of things, and her wit was something that couldn't be ignored.

"I am sure she meant nothing by her comments," Serene said.

"I am, too," Wisdom replied. "Just make sure you watch your tongue next time, Courage. I might not be in such a good mood."

"Whatever you say, oh Nefarious One," Courage responded.

"That is much better," Wisdom said.

"Queen, your presence is needed in a conversation about the subject of the protection of the kingdom," a servant told Serenity and pointed to a group standing off to the side talking intensely.

"Thank you," Serenity said. "I will be back shortly." Serenity eyed India, then Endymion, and walked off.

"So, are you going to tell us anything else about this mystery man?" Mina asked.

"I think that is enough talk for one ball," Endymion said hiding his frustration. "Princess, would you like to dance?"

"Well," India hesitated, "sure."

Endymion led India to the dance floor by her hand. He placed his hand at the small of her back and took her other hand to begin. They turned and moved together silently, looking into each other's eyes for a while. Then, their silence was broken by Endymion.

"So, who was this 'mystery man?'" He asked, trying to be nonchalant.

"As I said, no one important," India replied, just as emotionless. "All I know is that his name is Wisdom Lore. You must know him, either you are Serenity. I mean, he is a guest at your ball. It is not like it is easy to sneak into a palace."

"Lore," Endymion thought to himself. "The name does sound familiar." He directed his comment to India that time.

"When you remember, you can tell me," India replied.

"I will," Endymion assured her. "I cannot have you hanging with the wrong people, now can I?"

"If it were up to you, I would not expect to talk to anyone of the opposite sex," India joked, laughing.

"You know it is true, right?" Endymion whispered, in her ear. India stopped laughing and looked up at Endymion surprised. "If it were not for everything that stops me, you would be by my side everyday. I would be even more scared of some man just coming to snatch you away."

"Why must you keep saying things like that?" India asked.

"I say them because they are true," he responded. "Stop holding back what you feel. For one thing, it is not healthy. For another, it would do me some good to know that I am not just holding on to something that is in the past, to know I am not alone with these feelings."

"Endymion, you know you are not alone. It just seems that, I do not know. It is just so hard."

"It will get easier with time," Endymion promised, bringing India closer to him. They continued to dance silently, with India's head laying on Endymion's chest. His heartbeat had quickened, but it was soothing and in sync with her own.

"I must return to Serenity now," Endymion whispered. His lips grazed India's cheek ever so slightly before he turned and walked away.

* Wisdom stood in the shadows watching. Only his eyes were visible in the blackness. He seemed at home in the blanket of darkness.

So my dear King Endymion, it seems you are still just a prince after the young princess, Wisdom thought to himself. Or are my eyes just deceiving me? Do not worry, I have plenty of time to sort this out for myself.

He laughed and backed away further into the darkness.

You will get your just deserts soon, whore, Courage thought, as she stared at the Princess.

Look out for yourself, you might get burned, Serenity thought. She could see all the suffering just waiting for India. It was going envelop her before she could get out.