Here it is folks, Chapter 2 (Yay!!!) Once again, the characters in this story don't belong to me (*sniffle*) but the ideas sure do, so please don't borrow without asking, 'kay?
Thanks to the lovely beautiful people who reviewed. I LOOOVE feedback, so please keep reviewing!
Chapter 2
As the vestiges of sunset sent one last burst of burnt orange across the land, two tall men in gray uniforms entered the Grand Palace courtyard, a look of disbelief on the face of one and amusement on the face of the other.
"I have looked all over the place, but there is no sign of our ghost Prince," Nephrite commented, his voice rich with amusement. His blond companion simply rolled his eyes and mumbled something about derelict princes and hungry Guardians.
"I swear, Endy disappears faster than Cook's famous pies!" Jadeite exclaimed. "How can he anticipate when we are coming? I thought I was being sneaky this time."
His brown-haired companion laughed heartily.
"If I hadn't been raised with him practically from birth I would never know he was the Crown Prince. He dresses like a peasant and is physically in the Throne Room about once every two weeks!" Jadeite exclaimed indignantly. He secretly did not care what his best friend did with himself, but the blond Guardian was getting tired of missing supper to hunt down his wayward charge.
'He is getting way too old for this!' Jadeite thought tiredly.
"You know I love cavorting in peasants clothes just as much as Endy does, but why do we always get stuck looking for him? And today of all days, when there are so many gorgeous women around?"
Nephrite silently agreed. The All Souls Night festivities in the royal province always brought people from miles away, and there were many pretty girls helping their families take wood and food to the festival sites.
As the two generals started walking back toward the training area, another man ran up to join them. His long blond hair was tied back in a simple queue and he leaned over to regain his breath.
"I (breath) found (breath) him (long sigh)" Zoicite gasped before falling in a heap on the ground. Nephrite looked at Jadeite in surprise.
"So quickly," Jadeite responded, "The Prince must be slipping." Nephrite smiled and Zoicite managed a wheezing groan.
"Where was he?" Nephrite asked Zoicite. Zoicite stood up and gave a lopsided grin.
"He was at the northwest gate, helping some family with their wagon. I almost didn't see him because he was leaning over. I barely managed to catch him before he squeezed past the guards and lost himself in the crowds."
"Goddess, he does this every year, and every year the Queen has a royal fit because Endy manages to sneak away right when he should be 'discharging his royal duty.'" Nephrite moaned jokingly. Prince Endymion hated entertaining visiting dignitaries and loved teasing his mother, even at the expense of making a laughingstock out of half the court.
"So what's his disguise this time?" Jadeite asked curiously. Zoiciste answered that their friend was carrying a harp when he last saw him.
"A minstrel then? He always does like to show off!" Jadeite snorted.
"You would to if your voice was half as good as Endy's! He can't help it if all the ladies swoon as soon as he opens his mouth. Besides, your one to talk," Zoicite retorted amusedly. Jadeite was famous for his outrageous and usually successful attempts at gaining women's affections. He was infamous for his unsuccessful attempts at avoiding said women's husbands.
Jadeites shot Zoicite a quelling look and loudly suggested they all slip into one of the kitchens and get something to eat. Twilight cast a cerulean shadow on the three men as they prepared to fill their bellies and enjoy the upcoming royal banquet. Strolling through the crowds of people leaving for the hills, the Guardians could sense the excitement in the pale red and orange auras surrounding the masses.
"Zoicite, where is Endymion now?" Nephrite said suddenly. Jadeite waited expectantly was a smug smile came to Zoicite's lips.
Zoicite tried to look pitying, but his lips kept twitching.
"I left him with Kunzite," he said sorrowfully.
"Goddess help him!" Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoicite all burst in laughter, a loud jolly sound that floated through the courtyard, over the heads of the throngs of people, and to the ears of poor Prince Endymion.
Kunzite, his long white hair flapping in the breeze gazed at his prince sternly, albeit sympathetically. Light from recently lit lanterns caught his silver eyes and made them glint like shards of smoky glass.
"You should have waited until after banquet to sneak away Endy. The bonfires aren't going anywhere."
Endymion sighed and ran his hand through his long dark hair agitatedly.
"I just can't stand staying another minute in this castle!" Endymion snorted disgustedly. "Everyone hangs onto my every word and all the courtesans follow me like moon-sick calves whenever I go the fields to train." He sighed frustratingly and started to pace, the scuffing sounds of his boats echoing in the suddenly silent courtyard.
"Everyone rushes to obey my every command at the expense of getting behind in their own work. You, Nephrite, Jadeite, and Zoicite are the only people who I can sneeze with, let alone be myself with." Endymion paused and glanced at his friend.
Kunzite heard a thought trickle out of his Prince's mind before Enymion's mind shields slammed shut again.
It's not enough anymore. Maybe it never was...
Kunzite gazed silently at his young friend, his mind focused on the clashing auras radiating around the Prince. Reds and blacks whirled and clashed in a reflection of Endymion's conflicting mood. But in the midst of the storm of emotions and colors, Kunzite caught a thread of silver. A hint of confusion, a sense of intrigue, and maybe a little bit of fear.
"Endymion, what is the matter?" Kunzite asked quietly. His Prince had been acting strange lately, but they had all assumed it was in response to the increased number of people at court.
"I... I am not sure," Endymion answered slowly. Kunzite had never seen his Prince so hesitant before. During training, while interacting with his subjects, in all aspects Endymion always acted decisively and unfalteringly. But this...
"Two nights ago, I started having strange dreams. When I visited the Sacred Stones, I sensed the disturbance within me was affecting energy channels within Earth. I am afraid if I don't resolve this, I might disrupt a natural balance." Just then, the loud laughs and noises from the distant celebrations filtered by and pierced the strange still silence. Endymion turned toward the hills and then looked back toward the castle.
"There is something about tonight, something special. The Earth has been humming with expectation all day, and the amount of magic floating around is enough to choke an advanced mage," Kunzite responded, trying to be helpful. This was all very odd.
A curious expression crossed Endymion's face, and he tensed slightly as his mind stretched forth, sensing something...
"So close," he murmured, "I almost had it."
"Endymion, we should head back to the castle and start preparing for the banquet. Your mother expressly insisted that you make an appearance and start taking your position as Crown Prince seriously." Kunzite cut into Endymion's musings. Endymion turned sharply and frowned at his Guardian.
Then, with an enigmatic smile hovering around his lips, Endymion turned toward the hills. He leaned over, grabbed his harp, and strapped it firmly to his back.
"I am not going, as you very well know," he said quietly, " I care about my people, but Mother wants to keep me in a gilded cage like I am some fragile egg. I may be the Crown Prince, but I am first and foremost a man." He paused and let a deep breath out, slowly.
"And whatever is out there haunting my dreams and disturbing my thoughts, I know, deep down I know I will find it. Only tonight."
With the lanterns casting a pale shadow over his face, Endymion stared into Kunzite's silver eyes and held up one callused hand.
"My friend, I hope that you will go back to my mother and report that you could not find me. I hesitate to force my status on you of all people, but God help me Kunzite if you don't let me go I will order you to leave me."
Kunzite quickly glanced at the prince, his eyes shooting angry silver sparks at the hard tone of his liege. At the unwavering yet strangely pleading look on the prince's face Kunzite grudgingly conceded.
"My Prince, I live to serve you. If you must defy the Queen again and leave the palace ..." Kunzite trailed off and looked at the moon, sitting white and swollen in the sky. His somber face broke out into a rare smile. "Try to be more clever about it next time," he finished lamely.
Endymion gave Kunzite a grateful smile and, with a small wave, began walking out of the courtyard and down the path leading to the peasant festivals. Before him, the hills glowed like fire; the light from the bonfires shooting mystical and spiritual sparks at the heavens. The sky was already a deep dark blue, the color of tempestuous seas.
"By the Goddess, I will find out tonight what has been tormenting me these last few days. What do my dreams mean?" Endymion mused to himself. He noticed a small group of villagers leaving through the last set of palace gates and he walked quickly to join them.
His dark ebony hair glowing dark silver in the moonlight, the Crown Prince of Earth walked with peasants to the All Souls Night festival, a harp strapped to his back and his thoughts a whirlwind.
"Tonight." He whispered, almost reverently.
Thanks to the lovely beautiful people who reviewed. I LOOOVE feedback, so please keep reviewing!
Chapter 2
As the vestiges of sunset sent one last burst of burnt orange across the land, two tall men in gray uniforms entered the Grand Palace courtyard, a look of disbelief on the face of one and amusement on the face of the other.
"I have looked all over the place, but there is no sign of our ghost Prince," Nephrite commented, his voice rich with amusement. His blond companion simply rolled his eyes and mumbled something about derelict princes and hungry Guardians.
"I swear, Endy disappears faster than Cook's famous pies!" Jadeite exclaimed. "How can he anticipate when we are coming? I thought I was being sneaky this time."
His brown-haired companion laughed heartily.
"If I hadn't been raised with him practically from birth I would never know he was the Crown Prince. He dresses like a peasant and is physically in the Throne Room about once every two weeks!" Jadeite exclaimed indignantly. He secretly did not care what his best friend did with himself, but the blond Guardian was getting tired of missing supper to hunt down his wayward charge.
'He is getting way too old for this!' Jadeite thought tiredly.
"You know I love cavorting in peasants clothes just as much as Endy does, but why do we always get stuck looking for him? And today of all days, when there are so many gorgeous women around?"
Nephrite silently agreed. The All Souls Night festivities in the royal province always brought people from miles away, and there were many pretty girls helping their families take wood and food to the festival sites.
As the two generals started walking back toward the training area, another man ran up to join them. His long blond hair was tied back in a simple queue and he leaned over to regain his breath.
"I (breath) found (breath) him (long sigh)" Zoicite gasped before falling in a heap on the ground. Nephrite looked at Jadeite in surprise.
"So quickly," Jadeite responded, "The Prince must be slipping." Nephrite smiled and Zoicite managed a wheezing groan.
"Where was he?" Nephrite asked Zoicite. Zoicite stood up and gave a lopsided grin.
"He was at the northwest gate, helping some family with their wagon. I almost didn't see him because he was leaning over. I barely managed to catch him before he squeezed past the guards and lost himself in the crowds."
"Goddess, he does this every year, and every year the Queen has a royal fit because Endy manages to sneak away right when he should be 'discharging his royal duty.'" Nephrite moaned jokingly. Prince Endymion hated entertaining visiting dignitaries and loved teasing his mother, even at the expense of making a laughingstock out of half the court.
"So what's his disguise this time?" Jadeite asked curiously. Zoiciste answered that their friend was carrying a harp when he last saw him.
"A minstrel then? He always does like to show off!" Jadeite snorted.
"You would to if your voice was half as good as Endy's! He can't help it if all the ladies swoon as soon as he opens his mouth. Besides, your one to talk," Zoicite retorted amusedly. Jadeite was famous for his outrageous and usually successful attempts at gaining women's affections. He was infamous for his unsuccessful attempts at avoiding said women's husbands.
Jadeites shot Zoicite a quelling look and loudly suggested they all slip into one of the kitchens and get something to eat. Twilight cast a cerulean shadow on the three men as they prepared to fill their bellies and enjoy the upcoming royal banquet. Strolling through the crowds of people leaving for the hills, the Guardians could sense the excitement in the pale red and orange auras surrounding the masses.
"Zoicite, where is Endymion now?" Nephrite said suddenly. Jadeite waited expectantly was a smug smile came to Zoicite's lips.
Zoicite tried to look pitying, but his lips kept twitching.
"I left him with Kunzite," he said sorrowfully.
"Goddess help him!" Jadeite, Nephrite, and Zoicite all burst in laughter, a loud jolly sound that floated through the courtyard, over the heads of the throngs of people, and to the ears of poor Prince Endymion.
Kunzite, his long white hair flapping in the breeze gazed at his prince sternly, albeit sympathetically. Light from recently lit lanterns caught his silver eyes and made them glint like shards of smoky glass.
"You should have waited until after banquet to sneak away Endy. The bonfires aren't going anywhere."
Endymion sighed and ran his hand through his long dark hair agitatedly.
"I just can't stand staying another minute in this castle!" Endymion snorted disgustedly. "Everyone hangs onto my every word and all the courtesans follow me like moon-sick calves whenever I go the fields to train." He sighed frustratingly and started to pace, the scuffing sounds of his boats echoing in the suddenly silent courtyard.
"Everyone rushes to obey my every command at the expense of getting behind in their own work. You, Nephrite, Jadeite, and Zoicite are the only people who I can sneeze with, let alone be myself with." Endymion paused and glanced at his friend.
Kunzite heard a thought trickle out of his Prince's mind before Enymion's mind shields slammed shut again.
It's not enough anymore. Maybe it never was...
Kunzite gazed silently at his young friend, his mind focused on the clashing auras radiating around the Prince. Reds and blacks whirled and clashed in a reflection of Endymion's conflicting mood. But in the midst of the storm of emotions and colors, Kunzite caught a thread of silver. A hint of confusion, a sense of intrigue, and maybe a little bit of fear.
"Endymion, what is the matter?" Kunzite asked quietly. His Prince had been acting strange lately, but they had all assumed it was in response to the increased number of people at court.
"I... I am not sure," Endymion answered slowly. Kunzite had never seen his Prince so hesitant before. During training, while interacting with his subjects, in all aspects Endymion always acted decisively and unfalteringly. But this...
"Two nights ago, I started having strange dreams. When I visited the Sacred Stones, I sensed the disturbance within me was affecting energy channels within Earth. I am afraid if I don't resolve this, I might disrupt a natural balance." Just then, the loud laughs and noises from the distant celebrations filtered by and pierced the strange still silence. Endymion turned toward the hills and then looked back toward the castle.
"There is something about tonight, something special. The Earth has been humming with expectation all day, and the amount of magic floating around is enough to choke an advanced mage," Kunzite responded, trying to be helpful. This was all very odd.
A curious expression crossed Endymion's face, and he tensed slightly as his mind stretched forth, sensing something...
"So close," he murmured, "I almost had it."
"Endymion, we should head back to the castle and start preparing for the banquet. Your mother expressly insisted that you make an appearance and start taking your position as Crown Prince seriously." Kunzite cut into Endymion's musings. Endymion turned sharply and frowned at his Guardian.
Then, with an enigmatic smile hovering around his lips, Endymion turned toward the hills. He leaned over, grabbed his harp, and strapped it firmly to his back.
"I am not going, as you very well know," he said quietly, " I care about my people, but Mother wants to keep me in a gilded cage like I am some fragile egg. I may be the Crown Prince, but I am first and foremost a man." He paused and let a deep breath out, slowly.
"And whatever is out there haunting my dreams and disturbing my thoughts, I know, deep down I know I will find it. Only tonight."
With the lanterns casting a pale shadow over his face, Endymion stared into Kunzite's silver eyes and held up one callused hand.
"My friend, I hope that you will go back to my mother and report that you could not find me. I hesitate to force my status on you of all people, but God help me Kunzite if you don't let me go I will order you to leave me."
Kunzite quickly glanced at the prince, his eyes shooting angry silver sparks at the hard tone of his liege. At the unwavering yet strangely pleading look on the prince's face Kunzite grudgingly conceded.
"My Prince, I live to serve you. If you must defy the Queen again and leave the palace ..." Kunzite trailed off and looked at the moon, sitting white and swollen in the sky. His somber face broke out into a rare smile. "Try to be more clever about it next time," he finished lamely.
Endymion gave Kunzite a grateful smile and, with a small wave, began walking out of the courtyard and down the path leading to the peasant festivals. Before him, the hills glowed like fire; the light from the bonfires shooting mystical and spiritual sparks at the heavens. The sky was already a deep dark blue, the color of tempestuous seas.
"By the Goddess, I will find out tonight what has been tormenting me these last few days. What do my dreams mean?" Endymion mused to himself. He noticed a small group of villagers leaving through the last set of palace gates and he walked quickly to join them.
His dark ebony hair glowing dark silver in the moonlight, the Crown Prince of Earth walked with peasants to the All Souls Night festival, a harp strapped to his back and his thoughts a whirlwind.
"Tonight." He whispered, almost reverently.
