Chapter Nineteen

The Bitterness of Disgrace

Charon's eyes momentarily glassed over and a vacant expression covered her face as she sensed something very strange in the air…

What…?

On the other side of the hall Universe felt it too - flinching she stumbled against Char as she felt a sharp jolt deep down in her mind that distracted her from the dance. "HUH?" she gasped blinking furiously. "What the hell was THAT?!!"

"Are you alright Princess?" Char asked gently realising that something had unsettled her.

Universe had been brooding about the way her mind had seemed to freeze and then explode a minute ago but as he spoke to her she felt her heart skip a beat. As she looked up at him sharply she realised that her body was very close to his - it that exact moment Char realised that her breasts were now touching his chest. "Your highness…forgive me!" he exclaimed as he backed away and his face flamed - he looked and felt incredibly embarrassed and he completely expected her to slap him. "I didn't do it on purpose…"

Quickly recovering from her shock Universe gave him a quizzical look - how strange this situation felt to her. A few years ago she had spent a lot of her time feel different because of the way the shape of her body had started to change becoming different from the people who she had lived among. Having grown up among them she'd spent days wondering what it could mean…wondering if she herself was normal. On top of this her comrades had seemed to become interested in the way she had developed in ways that she hadn't liked at all…she'd even caught Grift looking at her more than once and she'd only felt all the more terrible when he'd immediately looked away from her as if ashamed by what he'd been caught doing. Now that she found herself in this situation Universe felt that it wasn't strange at all…for herself anyway.

"It's okay Char. You have a nice firm chest." she assured him with a smile. "At least now I know who to lean on if I have too much to drink." Char looked at her in shock and she grinned broadly. "Kidding, kidding!" she assured him. "I NEVER need help standing up after I've been drinking!"

Char stared at her for a while longer and then shook his head in disbelief. "You're a strange one your highness…" he murmured but with a smile on his face.

Xizor walked over to where Queen Serenity was standing looking around anxiously - he had noticed the strange uneasy look on his Queen's face and made his way over to her. "Is there anything amiss your majesty?" he asked in concern – the ambassador had returned from Earth only a few hours earlier, blushing furiously and muttering, "Very well, very well indeed your Majesty." when asked about the outcome of his mission.

Serenity looked at him and the anxiousness on her face made him feel a little uneasy himself. "He comes." She declared gravely. "Any moment now Emperor Mu will arrive."

"Oh really?" Xizor turned his eyes to look at the double-doors expecting to see them swing open and Emperor Mu to come striding into the hall.

However Serenity who knew so much better about the Emperor of Earth knew just what to expect of him. "Emperor Mu will be arriving shortly." She announced for the benefit of the people in the ball-room, her soft and silver voice reaching the ears of everybody who was present.

"How does she know that?" Venus murmured looking puzzled.

Beside her Charon shook her head and her face gradually returned to normal and sense returned to her eyes. "I know…" she whispered but her voice was so quiet that her friend didn't catch it.

As all eyes turned in her direction Queen Serenity pointed into the middle of the room with a single slender finger. "See!" she declared, her clear voice ringing throughout the ball-room.

As everyone looked in the direction their eyes had been steered towards a gasp of surprise rippled among the assembled courtiers. A golden light had begun to gather in the middle of the hall like a rich pulsating yellow mist! Like a living thing the eerie aura that had flooded beneath the great double-doors swept into the very centre of the hall lifted up from the floor and began to solidify into a pair of human outlines…as she watched along with the others Universe's eyes narrowed - she knew what was happening here. Somebody was teleporting into the ball-room! She'd seen it done a few times before but never as flashily as this…

One thing was for sure about Mu. "He sure loves to make an entrance…" Universe muttered under her breath.

Knowing what would happen next Queen Serenity shielded her eyes with her hand and was able to avoid being dazzled as the gentle glow flared up intensely. Then the glow vanished somewhat anti-climactically and as it died away the merry light of the hall became normal again. Serenity's eyes were grave as she lowered her hand knowing that she would see him standing there - as she uncovered her eyes she prepared herself to do what she must - her duty as Queen of the Moon Kingdom.

Emperor Mu gazed around the ball-room sweeping the people who stood all around staring open-mouthed at him with his appraising eyes. Queen Serenity and the seven Princesses of her court gazed at him. For the Princesses this was the first time that any of them had ever seen the infamous Emperor and right from that very first moment Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter Charon, Universe and Serenity's daughter saw Mu he made an impression on each and every one of them. That night Mu was resplendent in a suit of blue armour (Which reminded Universe of the pale sickly blue - the colour of rotting meat.) and a velvet cloak that shone like warm flowing blood in the light cast down from the chandeliers. Mu's hands were covered up to his wrists by jet-black gloves that glimmered almost sullenly…

Universe judged with an expert eye that the gloves were actually made of skin and was willing to bet that they'd come from the hide of some endangered beast. Her heart went out to the poor slaughtered wretch…

The most compelling thing about Mu - not that any part of him was appealing but the aspect about him that seized the attention of any who looked up him - was definitely his eyes. As he sifted them around the room from face to face his eyes seemed to glow softly now and then. There was definitely something bizarre about Mu's golden eyes - they seemed to soothe and yet repel any who met his sly gaze and their light seemed to change depending on his mood…

Venus whistled softly - the Princesses had gathered into a group again for they knew that they would soon be introduced to Mu one by one. "Impressive!" the blonde Princess exclaimed with awe in her voice.

"Show off." Universe muttered making a point of looking decidedly unimpressed by Mu's spectacular entrance. "That's second-rate teleportation polished up with glittery pyrotechnics…I've seen it done a million times before and way better than that too!"

Despite the fact that her voice had been a soft mutter Mu seemed to be aware that they were talking about him for he gave them a quick sideways glance and smirked - a chill went through each of the Princess' bones as they met his eye and even Universe couldn't hide that shudder that rippled through her body.

"Who's that other man with him?" Jupiter asked suddenly her eyes narrowing.

Universe and the others turned to look in the direction that the brown-haired Princess was staring into. Another man had also appeared with Mu and now stood by his side as he surveyed the occupants of the ball-room noting the presence of the many 'pleasing-to-the-eye' young ladies with obvious appreciation on his face. This man's resemblance to the Emperor was quite startling but it would have been obvious to anyone even on a dark night that they weren't the same person. For one thing his shoulder-length hair was as black as a ravens wing unlike his brother's golden locks and unlike Mu's sharply edged features his face was smoother and more relaxed - and a lot much more friendlier the Princesses could not help but notice.

This man was clearly younger than Mu and his eyes were like a pair of polished black pearls. He was dressed virtually the same way as the Emperor only his armour was silver and his cloak black.

After a few seconds Universe made an accurate guess about who he was. "Prince Darien…the younger brother of the more 'famous' Mu." She whispered to the others. "Is he really? I've never heard of him before." The Moon Princess remarked in surprise and then a faintly puzzled frown appeared on her face. "But then again…when I think about it my mother has never really told me much about Emperor Mu himself…or even all that much about the planet Earth itself." for a moment or so she remained silent as she wondered why her mother had not said much to her about Earth and then she asked, "How is it that you know him Universe?"

Universe realised that as she had spoken the others had looked intently at her - even Jupiter hung on for her reply. "I don't really." She shrugged blushing in spite of herself. "I just heard a few things about certain people while on my journeys throughout the galaxies."

Charon was gazing curiously at her as she listened to her flustered explanation. "It sounds to me as though you've been everywhere Universe!" she remarked with a smile.

"Here and there…" Universe muttered as her face became redder and she wished that she'd just kept her mouth shut…

"Universe…I'd love to have been to all the places and seen all the things that you have in your life!" Charon exclaimed and then hopefully she added. "Will you tell me about your travels sometime?"

"Um…yeah, maybe some other time Charon." Universe muttered and then gave a loud gasp of exaggerated excitement. "Hey look!! Queen Serenity's saying something to him!!!" she exclaimed relieved at this chance to take the attention away from herself.

Mu had turned to stare at Queen Serenity and as soon as they fell upon her his eyes seemed to light up. A grin lit his face as he ran his slit-like eyes first up and then down her body and the spark in them danced sickeningly as he appreciated what he saw.

Serenity returned his gaze her eyes expressing nothing at all as she looked at him. Not so much as a flicker of her own emotions showed through but Charon thought that she could see just the very faintest trace of something hiding in the depths of her eyes…

Could it be recognition? Or was it just her imagination playing tricks on her?

"Good evening to you Emperor Mu." Serenity greeted him formally and the Princesses noticed that she spoke without a trace of her usual warmth. "My royal court, the Princesses of our galaxy and I myself greet you. Welcome to our kingdom and please accept out hospitality."

Mu smirked and with a flourish he returned the Queen's eloquent greeting. "Salutations O Queen of the Moon Kingdom!" there was something decidedly strange about the Earthern Emperor's voice. It contained an oddly wheedling and compelling quality and whenever he spoke Mu commanded the attention of anybody who listened to his voice unless they had the strength of will to close their minds to him.

Charon was certain that she felt something vaguely familiar as she listened to his voice…a subtle movement in her mind as Mu's thoughts reverberated. Could it be that he was using the power of suggestion on the whole room? It was an amazingly powerful telepathy but it also made her skin crawl…

As with his deeply beautiful eyes his voice was faintly unpleasant and all of his polished mannerisms and charms could not disguise a deeper nastiness that flowed beneath his voice. Knowing that the undivided attention of the entire hall was his Mu continued his response to Serenity's welcoming speech. "I cannot do justice to the degree of thankfulness I now feel having met your majesty." Mu grinned as he looked deep into Serenity's lilac eyes. "Now I see that in truth words spoken by man or inscribed in stone are not sufficient enough to tell tale of the peerless beauty of the Queen of the Moon."

Universe almost gagged as she listened to all of this. Around her the ladies of the court seemed to be quite taken by Mu's compliment of their Queen but Serenity herself looked very unimpressed. By his brother's side Darien did a double-take and stared at Mu - surprise was written all over his face as he stared at his elder brother.

Hadn't he once told him that…?

Universe noticed the look on his face and stared at Mu - she could sense that something about what had just happened was wrong. For some reason Mu's greeting had not rang true and she was sure that something silent had just passed been him and Queen Serenity.

But what…?

But Mu was not yet finished. Reaching out with his black-gloved hand he took Serenity's hand in his own. Serenity's face remained impassive as he raised her hand up to his mouth.

Universe could not help but think about the legends she had heard about vampires…

However all that Mu did was kiss Serenity's hand - still the Queen showed great restraint as he released her hand and to Universe's astonishment she did not even wipe it. Realising that the unexpected presence of his brother was causing a great deal of whispering Mu sniggered - causing displeasure was his forte. "May I also introduce you to my younger brother Darien?" he smiled in a manner that infuriated any who were close enough to see it. "He expressed such an eagerness to see your kingdom for the first time that I could not leave him behind. You do not mind of course…don't you majesty?" Mu arched his yellow eyebrows as he awaited her response.

Queen Serenity's face remained polite in the face of this silent challenge. "Of course not." She replied civilly and turned to greet the prince. "I am happy to meet you Darien." She greeted him courteously and offered her gentle hand to him resignedly - palm turned downward expecting him to want to kiss it.

However Darien surprised her - as he looked at her, his eyes widened and he blushed. His brother had told him many times about the two Moon Queen's of their galaxy but now that he was looking at her Darien realised that he had never quite believed that anybody could really be as beautifully as his brother had begrudgingly described. "Hello there." He exclaimed stammering a little in his excitement. "My brother told me all about you your majesty but believe me meeting you face to face like this is a real treat!"

By his side it was Mu's turn to flinch and he glowered at his brother as he hoped that none of the people would notice anything odd about what he'd just said.

Universe scowled as she began to put two and two together. "Hang on…" she said out loud. "Didn't Mu say that he'd never met Queen Serenity before tonight?"

"What do you mean?" Venus asked.

"Well look - Mu said that he'd only ever heard about her from other people but Darien just said that he's described her to him before!" Universe replied. "Doesn't that strike you as a little bit strange?"

Venus and the others thought about it. "It is odd." Charon agreed after a few seconds. "But why would Mu lie about it?"

"Who knows?" Universe shrugged. "Maybe he just enjoys it." Then something else crossed her mind and she turned to glance over at the Moon Princess. "Hey…Moon Princess didn't you say that your mom's never told you anything about Earth?"

The Moon Princess nodded her head. "Yes that's right. But why do you bring that up?" she asked curiously.

Universe just fell silent and shrugged but as she turned her head to face straight ahead a few suspicions were beginning to come together in her mind…

Seeing Serenity's hand held out for him to take Darien seized it but to the surprise of everyone else in the hall and not least the Queen herself he shook it heartily.

Serenity looked startled as she gazed thoughtfully at him. "Oh…" she murmured softly as a faint smile came to her face. "Well…I am happy about that."

Her smile was welcoming as Darien released her hand - the fact that Mu had brought his brother with him without asking if it was alright by her had displeased Serenity but now that she'd spoken to him she realised that Darien hadn't known about the part he had played in the attempt to annoy her. Also she found herself beginning to quite like him for unlike his brother who had unfortunately inherited the throne of their country on Earth he was so genuine. And he was obviously so excited to meet her that she really could not help the smile that now adorned her face as she gazed at him.

What a pity it was that he did not become the ruler of Earth… she thought sorrowfully as she directed her gaze back to Mu's now faintly scowling face and the pleasant expression gradually faded from her face. The Queen could hardly bear to look at this man but she knew that this was something that she had to do for her kingdom - not herself. "Now if you wish then I would like to introduce you to the Princesses who are present here tonight." She offered calmly even though the last thing she wanted to do was let any of her charges meet this man.

Mu smirked and his serpent-like eyes gleamed. "I would be delighted your majesty." He purred.

"AHA…the Princesses!" Darien exclaimed as his eyes widened in expectation. "Lovely jubbly!"

"Feel that?" Universe muttered to Charon through the corner of her lips.

"What?" Charon whispered back as a smile played at her lips.

"The sudden drop in the temperature."

Charon resisted the urge to laugh out loud as the Princesses all stood in a row - ready to greet the two guests from planet Earth.

As she led Mu and Darien over to them Queen Serenity took a moment to give each of them an apologetic look and then began the introductions. "This is my daughter." She declared as she indicated the Moon Princess with her hand.

As Mu and Darien looked at the Princess of the Moon Kingdom the elder brother's eyes flashed - he saw the strong resemblance that she bore to her mother and his eyes glimmered…

"Good evening." She greeted them courteously knowing that it was her duty to give a good impression to the visitors - but she felt strangely uneasy as Mu stared at her so intently…it felt almost like he recognized her somehow though she had never met him before in her life.

"Well met your highness." Mu replied blandly as he stared hard at the prodigal daughter of the Queen of the Moon Kingdom.

Uncomfortable with his intense scrutiny she averted her eyes and instead gazed at the other Earthman…and found that Darien had been looking at her all along.

Darien's dark eyes had been excited as he'd thought about meeting the much-talked about Princesses of the Royal Court of the Moon Kingdom but as he'd gazed upon the Moon Princess' face his fascination had ebbed and he hadn't been able to look away. And now as she turned to look at him the warmest pair of eyes that had ever reflected candlelight gazed curiously back at him - as she waited for him to speak Darien found himself lost for words.

One thought leapt right into his mind as he stared at her - it was ridiculously simple yet whenever he tried to say it, it caught in his throat and left him red-faced and floundering helplessly.

She's…gorgeous.

The Moon Princess' eyes were curious as she gazed at him intently - other than Mu who made her shudder when she'd met his stare this boy was the only person from Earth who she had ever met and so he fascinated her. A genuine smile formed on her gentle features…yes, she liked him. Unlike his brother Darien seemed incapable of thinking the unpleasant and even suggestive remarks that Mu hid behind fine words - his eyes were honest and she felt interested by him.

She just wished that he'd say something…

Darien's heart pounded as she looked at him, that friendly and expectant smile on her face - she was so…gorgeous.

So why wasn't he greeting her…?

Queen Serenity stood watching Mu with slightly narrowed eyes - she had noticed the way that he had almost glowered at her daughter and an almost dangerous look flitted into her eyes warning him silently though it did not show in her voice. "Let us move on." She suggested with a tinge of iron in her voice.

Darien groaned inwardly and the Moon Princess felt a deep sense of disappointment as he and his brother were led away - a wasted chance for the both of them.

Darien's eyes lingered regretfully on her for a long moment and then he broke away and went on along beside Mu - left where she stood the Princess sighed quietly and wished that she could have shared words with the younger brother who seemed to shy and almost afraid to her.

Next Venus was introduced to the visitors and managed to maintain her usual charm though this time it took real effort to do so as Mu so clearly noticed her elegance and natural loveliness. Mars remained cool and collected despite the suggestive leer that crossed Mu's face as they were introduced. Jupiter mustered all of her self-control and her face stayed completely straight as Mu looked her over with disapproval.

Eventually only Mercury, Universe and Charon were left. "Now for the last three." Serenity said leading them over to where Mercury stood.

Mu looked at the young Mercurian…and his eyes widened a touch as he stared intently at the blue-haired Princess' face. Evidently he liked what he saw there for a smile of real pleasure flitted across his face as Mercury felt deeply uncomfortable. "Well hello! And who might this sweet-faced little thing be?" he murmured as he stared deeply into her aquamarine eyes.

By Mercury's side Universe gave a flinch and glowered at him. Deep resentment welled up inside her as she watched the Emperor so looking so suggestively at her friend. Universe knew that it would have sounded awful if she had ever said it aloud but she thought of Mercury as being exclusively her own and the thought of somebody, ANYBODY looking at her like this raised her anger…

"This is Princess Mercury." Serenity proclaimed as she eyed Mu warily - the Queen noticed how he was staring at the Mercurian and she didn't like it one bit.

Mu's smile broadened as his eyes travelled up and down Mercury's comely figure. "Oh really?" he murmured softly. "How marvellous! Well met your highness." He said warmly to mercury. "May I say that you are looking particularly ravishing this night?"

Mercury winced and as her face became as red as a beetroot she could not think of a single thing to say in return. With a smile Mu reached for the blue-haired Princess' dainty hand which hung by her side…

"HEY!" Universe suddenly exclaimed as loudly as she could as she stepped out of her place and went right up to Mu. "What about ME?"

The air in the ball-room became almost suffocating as everybody turned to stare at her.

Mu's eyes filled up with pure hatred as he gazed at the purple-haired Princess who had stopped him in speechless rage. Universe returned his ferocious glower with a false charming smile as she batted her eyelids girlishly at him. Darien gave a snort as he fought to hold back the delighted grin that threatened to cover his face at the sight of the speechless rage in his brother's eyes.

Mercury turned her head slightly to one side to smile gratefully at Universe before she transferred her eyes back towards the Emperor and his brother. The other Princesses were watching breathlessly as Universe and Mu spent what felt to them like a century staring into each others eyes...

Finally Mu's taut face eased into a smile and the tension evaporated. "And who is this delightful piece of rough?" he inquired in an overly syrupy voice.

Queen Serenity who had actually smiled as Universe had rescued Mercury from being kissed turned to regard him with a look of distinct satisfaction in her lilac eyes. "She is Princess Universe. She only joined my court fairly recently." The Lunarian explained.

Mu and Darien stared blankly at the purple-haired girl…neither of them had ever heard of there being a Princess of the Universe before.

Who could she be and where had she come from?

With an effort Mu smiled. "Oh really? How splendid!" he exclaimed though his voice sounded a little too extravagant to be convincingly natural. "It is wonderful to meet you Princess!"

Universe resisted the urge to scowl as she felt her skin crawl all over her body. "You're exactly the way I imagined you'd be Emperor Mu." She remarked in a voice that dripped with poisoned honey.

Mercury who knew her better than anybody else understood what she meant as did Serenity who suppressed a smile of pride. "And now we come to the last Princess of my court." She said mildly not wanting this scene to continue.

Mu gave her a puzzled look. "Another your majesty? But I believe that we have already met all of the Princesses from the Inner solar-system."

"This Princess is from the Outer system Emperor Mu." Serenity declared as she led them towards the last Princess in the line. "Allow me to introduce you to the daughter of the king and queen of the Outer moon…Princess Charon."

Mu and Darien exchanged looks of astonishment as they realised what she had just told them. "Princess Charon?" Mu breathed in wonder as he craned his neck to look at the green-haired girl.

"Do you mean to say that she really exists?!!" Darien asked looking thunder-struck.

Princess Charon clasped her hands as the two from Earth stared at her like a rare portrait in fascination. After what the others had told her she had felt dismayed at the thought of having to meet him but for some reason what she had heard about the Emperor made her feel just as fascinated about him as he was about her.

Mu rolled his eyes in response to his brother's inane question. "DO you exist your highness?" he asked Charon sarcastically.

"I think so." Charon replied smoothly.

Mu smiled strangely, his eyes cold as he looked at the Charonian in a way that not only made her feel uncomfortable but caused her skin to start trying to pull itself further up her body. "How CHARMING." he purred narrowing his slightly as he added with deep emphasis, "Why I would dearly love to take her back to Earth with me..."

As the crowd began to murmur quietly Universe scowled darkly then noticed that Char was now staring at Emperor Mu and that his eyes were blazing as they narrowed. "Heyyy..." she whispered putting her hand on his wrist, worried that his towering anger might cause him to do something...

"Princess Charon is a member of my court Emperor Mu." said Queen Serenity with such coolness that Universe had to stare at her.

Mu's eyes had widened and then narrowed as he stared at Charon - now as his initial shock at meeting Charon passed a subtle change came over the expression on his face. A sour tinge glimmered in his eyes and just as he had done so to the Moon Princess while he had looked at her his stare made Charon feel as though he was recognizing her…even though she knew that he had never seen him before. Darien's face was awash with joy and awe as he gazed at Charon for she was exactly as the legend had described her to be. But Mu was practically glowering at Charon in bitter resentment…

Then startlingly he smiled - an idea had been born in his mind, born of vindictive and malice working together. "Your highness." He said loudly and slowly as if he had only just thought of something that struck him as a good point. "I have heard much about you before tonight…many are the books I have read which describe your unmatched grace and enviable dancing…"

Charon blushed uncomfortably - not because of this over compliment but because of the way that he was drawing so much attention to her. "You are too kind my lord…" she said quietly and wished that he would stop it.

"I read those books TO you…" Darien muttered but nobody paid any attention to him.

"I am overjoyed to see with my own eyes that your loveliness is just as great to see as to hear about my Princess." Mu pressed and now an almost predatory smile crossed his face as he got to the point. "However my curiosity is stimulated by one thing which I simply must ask you about - can your great and doubtless to some small extent - EXAGGERATED - talents be as wondrous as I have been told?"

Charon simply stared at him in silence as the assembled courtiers around her began to murmur softly among themselves. Darien gave his brother a sharp and worried look - what in the cosmos did Mu think he was doing?

Queen Serenity frowned for though she could not think what it could be she knew simply by looking at the now sly smirk on Mu's face that he was up to something…

Venus was angry that the golden-haired Emperor had questioned her friend's talents which she had always firmly believed were fantastic. "How can you say that?" she suddenly exclaimed and at once all eyes turned in her direction. "Everybody here knows what a wonderful dancer Charon is!"

"Venus…" Charon whispered pleading as she felt intensely uncomfortable and then put her hand to her mouth as she felt another cough brewing up in her throat.

Mu smiled as the blonde-haired Princess stared at him indignantly with her hands on her hips - Venus was speaking against him but though she didn't realise it she was serving his purpose. "Well I do not mean to cast any doubt on that your highness but I find it difficult to credit such a thing when I have yet to see it with my own eyes." He replied smoothly and just a hint of mockery glimmered through his words.

The sound of a cough interrupted the heated discussion and Charon felt extremely embarrassed as they all turned to look at her again.

"Sounds like you've got a bit of a frog in your throat Princess Charon." Darien noted and then blushed apologetically as he realised how rude he'd been.

Mu's smile became wolf-like as he shuffled his malignant thoughts around like a deck of cards to fit this new turn of events into his plan…

Charon looked directly into his eyes with a stern look on her face - this man had questioned her ability to dance that she had spent so many years of her young life perfecting. She had put so much joy and love into every second she had spent practising and even though she kept calm she felt angry now and tired of all the spiteful jibes and veiled remarks that she and her friend's had been forced to endure.

"Is there something that you would like to ask of me Emperor Mu?" Charon asked her crystal clear voice ringing with each word like a silver bell.

Mu smiled as she played right into his hands. "Indeed." He purred. "If I may be so bold as to ask your highness would you care to give me a demonstration of your legendary skill tonight?"

All eyes were fixed on Charon's cool and almost severe face as the entire room waited for her to answer Mu's request. "I shall give you what you ask Emperor Mu." Charon said and her voice though quite was firm and carried to everybody in the ball-room. "I will dance for you before you and your brother leave tonight. Consider my dance as a leaving present and when you have seen it I would like you to judge for yourself and tell me what you think of my skill."

Mu smiled in triumph. "I will count the minutes until then your highness." He replied and silently he exulted what had just happened.

As Queen Serenity looked at him and as she saw the glimmer in his eyes a feeling of dread stole over her heart…

~*~*~

After the introductions were completed the revelries proceeded well into the evening until only half an hour remained before it was time for the two visitors to depart. None of the Princesses danced for none of them were in the mood after what Mu had said. As soon as Queen Serenity had given them leave, Charon had walked over to the drapes on the other side of the Ballroom wanting to be alone. Pushing past the drapes she arrived on the balcony outside and walked up to the rail.

Darien had spent much of the evening hovering at the edge of the dance floor holding a glass of wine he'd procured from one of the tables. In the shadow of his charismatic and far more spectacular brother he was content to remain so that he wouldn't be disturbed as he took in the unfamiliar sights of the Royal Palace of the Moon Kingdom. The star-filled heavens that were completely free of the clouds of his own world kept him watching the sky for several minutes - but the gorgeous shimmering sky was only something to keep his mind away from something else which as far as he was concerned shone more beautifully than all the stars in the Universe shining together in harmony.

Covertly Darien looked over his shoulder and sought out the face of the Moon Princess who stood a short way from himself - her eyes sparkled as a lake in the summer sun of his home-world and as she blushed slightly he realised that she was not quite so unaware of his attraction to her.

Jumping and spinning back in the direction he'd been facing before Darien locked eyes with Queen Serenity who had quietly come over to him making no more sound than the evening wind while he'd been so enthralled by her daughter's bright loveliness.

Serenity smiled genuinely as he went red knowing full well which person he'd been staring at a moment ago. "I - I was just checking that I could see her hair…" Darien spluttered helplessly. "…which I notice is rather like your own now that I come to look at it your Majesty…"

The Queen's silvery laugh calmed him - Serenity already found herself liking Darien quite a lot despite his relation to Mu. The pleasantness of her laughter reassured the dark-haired Prince who actually managed to laugh in return. "You know - I had not heard that much about you prior to this evening." Serenity remarked glad that he felt comfortable again.

"That's because of my brothers' reputation." Darien said quietly but pointedly.

Serenity nodded sympathetically understanding how he must feel being tied-in with the deeds of his brother. "You are not him." She said quietly her voice remaining just as gentle as before but now becoming serious. "I know that your brother's infamy tortures your soul Darien but that does not make it impossible for you to bring honour to your country and redeem the good name of your ancestors."

Darien gazed at her silently, his dark eyes growing sombre as he thought about what she had just said. "How can I do that?" he asked softly.

Gazing at him the Queen of the Moon gave him a simple answer that came from her heart. "By being as different to him as your sun is to this moon," she told him quietly.

Darien was overcome - nobody had ever said anything as inspiring to him as the Queen's words and her voice was so clear and beautiful that when she spoke to him he felt sure that he could do just as she encouraged him…

The Prince of Earth felt that he could do anything. "Queen Serenity…I thank you from the bottom of my heart." He told her sincerely. "You're the first person I've ever met who didn't see me as my brother's shadow."

Serenity simply looked into the depths of his black eyes. "You may look a little like him…" she admitted. "…but there is nothing of him in your heart." She said firmly as she reached out and placed her gentle hand on his young shoulder.

With a sigh the Princess of Charon put her hands on the rail and leaned over as she considered what had just happened. Mu had questioned her talent in front of the entire court and she was still angry because of that - but now she was beginning to have some doubts about the whole thing.

Charon's eyes were slightly doubtful now as she gazed at the sky and tried to take her mind off things by counting the stars - all the time she was battling with her own determination to prove her worth. My own problem is that I'm stubborn. She thought with a wry smile. I can't just let this drop because I'm not sure I'd be able to look at myself in the mirror ever again…

Charon felt a gentle but firm hand come to rest on her shoulder. "What do you think you're doing Charon?" Venus protested as she tried to turn her friend around.

"I'm doing what I have to Venus." Charon replied firmly as she tried to ease her shoulder from the blonde Princess's hand.

"Whatever are you talking about?" Mars exclaimed as she stepped to her other side and putting her hand on her other shoulder turned Charon around - the raven-haired Princess's face was anxious as she gazed at her friend, afraid that she was doing something foolish. "You can't go through with this Charon! You aren't well! You won't last three minutes on the dance floor with your cold!"

Beside Universe, Mercury suddenly felt her entire body stiffen from head to toe as a strange sensation overcame her - she didn't feel unwell exactly but for some reason her body now seemed to have become completely numb as if she had been immersed in ice-cold water for too long.

As Mars tried to convince Charon not to go ahead with her plan Mercury's eyes glassed over and a vague expression washed away all of the concern that had been on her face. In the very back of her mind a silent urging whispered to her constantly, it told her to slip away, to get as far away as she could from her friend's…

Charon's face was set with a stubborn scowl as she folded her arms steadily over her chest, shrugging off Venus and Mars's hands as she met the eyes of her concerned friend's who stood around her in a tight circle blocking off all venues of escape - determined to make her see sense.

"Now that's a perfect impression of Universe you've got going there Charon!" Jupiter complimented the dark-haired Princess with a grin. "You've succeeded in re-creating her rebellious look right down to the sullen pout!"

"Eat lead." Universe retorted and that was the full extent of her reaction to Jupiter's crack - she was surprised at herself and wondered if it meant that she was growing up. "Sugar what do you think you're doing? You don't have to prove anything to anyone…'specially not that jerkweed!" she exclaimed as she turned to face Charon.

"I am not doing this to prove myself to Emperor Mu, Universe." Charon explained sternly though she felt genuinely touched by the worry that she saw in the purple-haired girl's eyes. "I want to prove my talent to the people of the court. If I hadn't accepted Mu's request then they would all have believed that his remark about me being afraid of failing. I couldn't bear for anybody to think that of me! So you understand that it really has nothing at all to do with proving myself to him…and when I come to think of it, it doesn't have anything to do with the court either. I want to do this to prove myself to myself. Do you see now?"

Universe was breath-taken by the depth of the determination she saw in the Charonian's eyes - the courage that she was showing now filled her with awe because she knew that Charon had come to this conclusion all on her own while she herself had needed Mercury's help to find the courage that she'd needed to sing for Queen Serenity a few months ago. "Charon…you're so courageous!" she declared grinning as she reached out and put her encouraging hand on Charon's shoulder. "Whenever I get to think that I've seen everything there is to you, you show me a completely deeper layer of your strength. Okay kiddo - you've got me convinced. Go gettim' Charon…show him how we do things here!"

Charon smiled radiantly as she basked in the support and confidence in her that Universe was giving her. "Universe…thank you." She told the other girl as she beamed gratefully and hugged her. "Thank you for understanding. You're a true friend."

Mars scowled darkly at Universe as she felt her resentment towards the purple-haired girl rising in her chest just as it had many times since the day she had come to live with them. The Martian had been alarmed for her friend and had tried to talk her out of doing something that could end up getting her hurt.

Mars's effort had been met with by stubborn resistance on Charon's part but when Universe had whole-heartedly approved of Charon's decision the green-haired Princess was showering her with gratitude. The thing that made Mars particularly ache was that Charon had called Universe her true friend… "I still think that it's a bad idea Charon." She said just a little frostily. "And what's more Mercury agrees with me." Turning to look at the blue-haired Princess she began. "Don't you Merc…?"

Mercury was nowhere to be seen. A worried look crossed the Moon Princess's face as the others looked around and saw no sign of her anywhere. "Where could she have gone?" she wondered aloud.

"I'll go look for her." Universe replied and there was just an edge of agitation in her voice as she walked away from the balcony before anybody could say a word.

Mercury shook her head as she felt herself gradually coming out of the strange trance that had crept over her. As awareness filtered back into her startled eyes the blue-haired Princess blinked around and stopped as she saw her new surroundings.

Without even realising it she had slipped away from the others and walked all the way out to an isolated spot in the shadows of an alcove at the edge of the Ballroom… "Where…?" she murmured aloud as she wondered why she had walked such a long way away from her friend's - she had barely known what she'd been doing as she had slid silently away from her friend's but now that she had gotten a hold of herself again she had no idea what had made her do so.

It felt as if she had been drawn to this specific spot by the desire of something else and then left there to wait for something…

A quiet movement behind her alerted her of the close presence of another person and she turned to find out who was standing behind her…there was a satisfied smile on Mu's face as he took this chance to appraise the Princess of Mercury at his leisure. Mercury felt her blood run cold as she stared speechlessly at him - how had he known…?

"If it pleases you I'd like to get to know you a little better your Highness." Mu said smarmily and Mercury noticed that he wasn't quite as eloquent and formal as he'd spoke when addressing her in front of Queen Serenity. "I noticed you standing here all alone and thought that you might like a little company."

Mercury gazed at him aghast and her watchful eyes caught a secretive edge to his smile. Instinctively she realised that she did not believe a word he had just spoken to her. Mercury couldn't imagine how but she believed that Mu had somehow been responsible for the strange light-headed spell that had caused her to come all the way out here.

In the bat of an eye the Emperor's gloved hand produced a glass of purple tinted wine. With a dark and devious smile he held this out to Mercury offering the drink to her. "Please honour me by taking a sip from my wine glass Princess." He invited her as his eyes gleamed slyly at her.

Mercury wanted to recoil appalled by his suggestion but found that she couldn't break her gaze away from the wine in the crystal glass. The purple liquid that pulsed in the light of the room almost mesmerised the Mercurian and held her eyes fixed upon it. As she felt the stiffness creeping through her body again and numbing her mind Mercury reached out for the wine-glass with her hand against her better nature and sensibility - almost dying to taste the bitter liquid shimmering within…

"There you are girl!!" Universe exclaimed as loudly as she could as she walked straight up to the dazed Mercury and took her hands in her own - intercepting the one that had been stretching out to take the glass - as she turned her firmly away from Mu. "We've all been worried about you ya know!"

Glancing over her shoulder she caught Mu's narrowing eyes and smirked quickly at him before looking back at Mercury's face. Mercury's eyes had glassed over again completely as she had been lulled into the temptation of tasting Mu's wine but as she heard Universe's voice she found it in her to shake off the trace and recover her senses.

"Why'd you come all the way out here?" Universe asked as she put her arm around Mercury's shoulders and eased her gently away in the direction where the other Princesses stood. "I came to find you…it's almost time for Charon to dance now!"

Mercury gave her a look of more gratitude than her words could have said and nodded her head with a faint smile. As she turned to make her way back however she could not help but glance back at the Emperor.

Mu's golden eyes burned at her the greedy fire blazing in their pupils threatening to devour as the glowed with the desire to possess her. A deathly cold shudder ran through her body as she turned away sickened and unable to bear to look at him for a second longer. Universe had also read the desire in Mu's eyes and the darkest scowl she had ever mustered covered her face as she wrapped her arm protectively around Mercury's shoulder and urged her away.

Eagerly the blue-haired Princess hurried away from the spot and alone with him Universe turned to regard the glaring Emperor in deep silence.

Pure hatred burned in his golden eyes and equal enmity for him smouldered in her own as they both stood locked in their silent battle of wills. Realising that she would never back down if he waited until the end of time Mu eventually broke the straining silence and his voice was as cold as black ice. "Your manners are somewhat lacking Princess. Maybe one day I'll have the pleasure of educating you in the appropriate duties of your station."

Universe returned his hate-filled glower with the infuriating smirk she'd spent years perfecting…it was a killer. "Who knows? Maybe one day I'll take you up on the offer my liege." She purred and then added with just a touch of spite in her voice. "Whoops better skedaddle…looks like MY Mercury needs a little attention!"

Mu ground his teeth and almost exploded as she smartly turned her back on him and walked cheerily away leaving him behind to stew.

The Emperor seethed as he stood in the ruins of his attempt to trap Princess Mercury in conversation - his success in entering the Mercurian's innocent and unsuspecting mind with his telepathy and luring her into this isolated area had come to nothing and his rage was boiling over.

Mu loathed Universe ferociously and it was as he stoked his hatred that the sense of foreboding the purple-haired Princess had felt that morning became horribly justified. A leering grin born of spite crawled across his face like some slithering reptile as another scheme was hatched in his bitter and vindictive mind.

Summing his formidable telepathic powers Mu fixed his ice-cold stare in the direction of the Princess's who stood together in a group as they were rejoined by Mercury and Universe. His slit-like eyes flitted from each of their faces as he tried to make up his mind…not Universe herself - he'd detected a sharp cunning in her eyes when she'd looked at him just now and she just might suspect something if he tried to do it to her.

Mu contemplated Mercury but then decided against using the blue-haired Princess again - since she'd already been under his thrall twice she might put two and two together and realise what he'd done to her and that would be disastrous for him…

Then his stare shifted to Venus's face and his eyes danced - yes!

The blonde-haired Princess was perfect for what he planned to do. Dropping his breath to a low and guttural rhythm Mu focused his thoughts and dived into Venus's mind with his telepathy - he judged that the Venusian was the most trusting and unsuspicious-minded of the Princesses and would be the least likely to feel the presence of his mind invading her thoughts and memories…

Her memories of Universe to be precise.

Venus's face stared cheerful and bright as he immersed himself in her thoughts and set about learning all that he could about Princess Universe. It was his plan to discover some hurtful secret that Venus might know about Universe but his eyes widened in astonishment as he secured the knowledge of just where she had come from before coming to the Moon Kingdom. What he'd discovered by interloping in Venus's mind staggered him but a sneering grin crossed his face as he realised just how valuable - or damaging - the information he had just stolen could be. Malice and spite covered his face as he mulled over what he now knew about Universe's past.

With this knowledge he could at last settle not only his debt with Universe but also others that he had harboured for far too long a time now.

Mu's eyes gleamed unpleasantly as they flitted to settle on the face of Queen Serenity who stood a short distance away from him. There was a firm and reserved look on the Lunarian Queen's face as she met his anticipating stare, daring him to say something to her about what had happened between then back then.

Mu bestowed her with an ugly smirk and looked away leaving the Queen feeling worried about the look that she had see in his eyes as he had looked at her.

Serenity knew that he was planning something but what could it be?

Mu's black heart filled with cold laughter as he contemplated Queen Serenity, Queen Chara, King Char, their daughters and now Princess Universe.

However his plotting was interrupted as he heard a polite but loud enough to be heard cough come from behind him. "Ahhh my Lord." Smarmed a voice that almost put his own best effort to shame. "I see that you are starved of company at the moment?"

Turning Mu met the appraising eyes of the Duchess Ashral who was at her most charming as she stood in the presence of the ruler of the planet Earth who had above any other impression struck her as a dashing and highly complimentary gentleman that evening.

Mu forced himself to smile in return but inwardly he suppressed the desire to roll his eyes and turn away from her to see if he could catch a glimpse of Princess Mercury again - though she was a handsome woman and must have been ravishing in her own day she was nothing compared to the youthful beauty of the Mercurian Princess "In your radiant company my lady no man could want for anything." He purred lying but with charm - he'd been about to walk pointedly away from her but a spiteful idea of how he could use this shallow noblewoman had entered his mind. "Indeed your arrival is most timely - the taste of bad company is bitter in my mouth and I hope that a little civilized conversation with more congenial company will rid me of it."

Ashral swelled as he flattered her shamelessly - she was right in her element with the snide yet charming Emperor. "Ahh…" she said knowingly, feeling quite equal to him as she turned her head to gaze in the direction that the tyrant had been facing before she had approached him. " I see that you too have had to suffer the embarrassment of being subjected to the vulgarity of her unmannered Highness, Princess Universe." The Duchess sighed in a long-suffering kind of way at Universe's back which was faced to her. "Really…what her Majesty is thinking by allowing her to burden our polite society with her uncivilized behaviour I do not know."

Mu's eyes glimmered calculatingly as he saw the bitter and hostile scowl on Ashral's face as she stared across the room at Universe. "Well I am glad to know that there is at least one lady in this Kingdom who has a little more sensibility than Serenity." He remarked flatteringly and she looked at him in surprise and then laughed as he winked conspiratorially at her - she was lapping up the attention that he was lavishing upon her. "I agree that, that particular Princess is most untutored in the ways and mannerisms of civilized company. Now tell me honestly your Grace…what is the opinion of the Royal Court on the matter of her Highness?"

Thrilled that he valued her opinion Ashral thought long and hard before replying with a touch of her own opinion thrown in, "Well…I must say that her presence here and how little is known about her has aroused much curiosity among us. The people of the Moon Kingdom don't know very much about her…though a lot of us have made some guesses of our own. Why some even firmly believe that she left her home-planet in order to hide from the persistent advances of a rejected suitor and that her Majesty gave her sanctuary among us to repay a debt to Universe' mother who is an old friend of hers." her tone made it clear that she herself had attempted to learn about Universe's life before coming to the Moon without success. "…honestly I believe that we gossips at Court would just love to hear something especially juicy about her to satisfy our curiosity. Anything INTERESTING would do."

Anything…as long as it makes a good subject for you and your fellow vultures to chatter about… Mu thought but with a pleased glint in his vindictive eyes as his smile broadened. "I see…" he purred. "You know…if something, as you say, INTERESTING was to be learned about her Highness, something that the people of the Court might dislike if they knew about it, then would you not think that it would be best for the truth to be widely spread? Do you not think that I am right?"

Ashral looked startled for a moment as she realised what he was implying with his forthrightness but as she realised that he was serious a smirk slowly spread across her face. "Why I would consider it to be my duty as a noblewoman of the Moon Kingdom my Lord." She said sweetly as she cast another unfriendly and malevolent glance in Universe's direction.

Mu's grin showed his teeth as he narrowed his eyes. Perfect…just a little while longer and then he would settle four scores in one devastating blow...

Universe had increased her pace just a little so that she could catch up with Mercury before she got back to the others without having to abandon her infuriating swagger that she was desperate to keep for the sake of ticking off Mu alone. "Are you okay Mercury?" whispered the purple-haired girl as she placed her hand on her friend's wrist.

"Yes I'm fine." Mercury assured Universe with a smile as the two of them walked together. "Due to you Universe."

Universe hesitated for a moment and then leaned over to look into the Mercurians eyes. "Did he touch you?" she demanded, concern in her eyes as she watched her friend's face closely. "Tell me!"

Mercury shook her head but she could not help but shudder as she recalled the greedy desire that she had seen burning in Mu's eyes as he had stared at her. "Of course not." She assured her friend as she went red at what Universe had implied.

For a moment Universe stared searchingly at the blue-haired Princess for a little longer and then noticed that they were now drawing near to the others. "Well…if he ever does then you tell ME babes." She told Mercury as she slid her hand down to her friend's fingers and squeezed them slightly as if to let her know that she were there.

Mercury looked surprised as she gazed at the brown-eyed girl but she smiled because now she felt safer than she had just a moment ago. "Thank you Universe!" the blue-haired Princess whispered affectionately.

The music to which the members of the court had been dancing now ceased to play and realising that the time had come for Princess Charon to dance everyone fell silent.

Charon walked into the middle of the room with a grace and proud posture that belonged only to a true Princess as she stood where they could all see her ready to begin.

Queen Serenity stood a little way behind her with concern written all over her face. For a moment she hesitated as she watched Charon preparing to prove her worth but then she walked over to her side and spoke frankly to her. "There isn't any need for this Charon." Serenity said in an anxious whispered intended only for Charon to her. "Please allow me to call this entire thing off."

Charon merely shook her head determinedly. "No your Majesty. Please let me does this!" she said earnestly. "I need to show everybody that I dance for myself not because I like to impress people like Emperor Mu. Please may I go ahead with this?"

Queen Serenity realised as she looked into her blue eyes that she was not going to be able to change her mind. "Very well - you have my permission Charon." She relented with a wave of her hand but though her voice was regretful she smiled ruefully. "But know this Charon - I admire you for the stand you now take. I hope that you do your best."

Charon smiled and the Queen turned and began to make her way over to a distance where the Princesses stood watching and waiting.

The smile on her face became cold as she turned to face Mu who also stood at a distance watching her intently. "I hope that you find this to your liking sire." She said courteously without any trace of the charm she had shown when they had been introduced earlier that evening. "And I would like you to know that the effort I am about to put into this dance is just for you."

Mu smiled as Darien joined him and gazed open-mouthed at the Outer moon Princess. "Indeed? That is very good to know your Highness." He murmured and then added maliciously. "How is your little cold my Princess?"

"I feel very well." Charon replied now impatient to get the dance over with so that Mu could finally leave and things could get back to normal. "Thank you very much for asking." there just a touch of sarcasm in her voice. "I shall begin now…pray enjoy this while it lasts Emperor Mu."

Universe noticed Estrella skittering about on the floor trying desperately to find a place where she would be able to watch the dance. "C'mere hon!" she beamed stooping down and catching the kitten up to hold her in her arms. "Grand stand view! Enjoy!"

Estrella purred with pleasure as the musician at the grand piano began to play again - she had provided the dance tunes for the evening but now the melody that she played was a popular waltz that was very common at parties on planet Venus.

It was a good tune that was easy to dance to and Charon knew it well so she had an advantage - and almost as soon as the melody reached her, her slender body began to move in time to the music with sweeping grace as it played. The entire room soon watched spellbound as she danced without a partner, without need of one as her body responded to the Venusian music moving rhythmically as if she were one with the melody.

There was a sour look on Mu's face as he begrudgingly agreed silently that the green-haired Princess was every bit as skilled as he had been told but he did not feel glad about the revelation - instead he grinned almost sarcastically as he watched and waited…

Darien's face was in striking contrast covered in wonder as he watched Charon dancing on her light feet as easily as he himself would have breathed in the cool air of his home-world. "There goes your theory that her talents were completely based on the legend." He remarked out of the corner of his mouth without taking his eyes away from the dancing Princess for a second. "Looks like you'll be eating your words at the end of the performance dear brother."

Mu's eyes narrowed. "Don't be so certain." He replied with a cruel smile as he watched Charon's face closely.

Charon closed her eyes as she danced before the many people - earlier that evening she had begun to feel a little under the weather but now after a few minutes of dancing she wasn't feeling well at all. Her head was beginning to ache and as her ankles began to sway slightly with every spin she realised that the room was beginning to swim around her. In despair she realised that the cold she had tried to hide from her friend's was far worse than she had tried to convince herself it was...

From the crowd the proud grin that had been on Char's face died away as he saw his sister swaying unsteadily. "What's the matter with her?" he demanded in alarm.

"She's ill." Mercury said as she watched Charon anxiously.

"WHAT?" Char exclaimed as he looked sharply at her.

"She has a cold." Venus explained in agitation. "We tried to convince her not to dance but…"

The blonde Princess was interrupted by several cries of alarm - particularly from the women of the court and as she and the others to quickly to look at the dance floor again Venus herself filled with panic at what she saw.

Charon was trembling from head to toe as the exhaustion filled her body leaving it numb - with a faint wail she stopped dancing and fainted clean out on the floor.

As the people in the room cried out in concern as Charon lay out cold on the floor it was all Mu could to do keep from bursting into laughter.

"Charon!" Venus and Mars cried in horror as they ran to where their friend lay collapsed and dropped down by her side to tend to her as best they could.

Horrified by what had just happened Estrella hopped down from Universe's arms and disappeared into the crowd crying out Charon's name in panic.

In a panic herself Universe also elbowed her way through the crowd of gawkers that now milled around Charon who was breathing painfully where she had collapsed on the floor.

The purple-haired girl could also see Jujuka hovering nearby as he watched in concern for Charon's well-being but she didn't have time to wonder about what he was doing here. "Is she okay?!!" Universe yelled trying to make herself heard over the noise as she tried to get closer to where the Charonian lay stricken. "She's gonna be alright isn't she?!! ISN'T she?!!"

"Get out of my way!" Char snapped as he shoved his way through the crowd to get to his sister.

Queen Serenity had arrived at the scene of Charon's collapse and was already taking charge of the situation in the sensible and responsible way that only she could. "Everybody listen to me…she is alright." She announced loudly remaining calm even though her face had become whiter than usual as she watched the fainted Princess anxiously. "Give her room to breath all of you - Mars, Venus carry her over to that chair over there, slide your arms underneath hers and support her."

Tenderly the blonde and raven-haired Princesses lifted Charon from the floor as Char and Jujuka made sure that the way was made clear for them to pass. Mars and Venus carried the stricken girl over to the cushioned chair at the far end of the hall away from the dance floor and pressed her down in it.

As Charon slumped back she began to breath a little easier as she recovered from her collapse - as Mars, Venus and her brother hovered over her anxiously Charon moaned softly and opened her eyes to gaze bleakly at them all.

"Oh you're alright!" Venus exclaimed as she fought the fierce wish to hug Charon since she needed all the air she could get at that moment.

"Charon…" Mars whispered quietly in sheer relief.

Mu stood watching Charon suffering in her humiliation and the sneering grin on his face was triumphant as he attracted the attention of the courtiers with a derisive chuckle. "So…this is Princess Charon! Such a shame that the girl herself could not live up to the fantastic standards of the legend!"

The Princesses stared at him in disgust and Queen Serenity felt her skin crawl as she saw that familiar leer on his face. She recognized it from a night very much like this one long ago…

Char's eyes narrowed but he did nothing since he wanted to stay near his sister.

But as she glared at him from the midst of the crowd Universe was trembling - she could feel the anger gathering in her stomach and never before in her life had it been more intense than it was now.

Mu chuckled but then he gave a start of surprise as he felt something very small collide with the back of his leg. Scowling he looked down at the floor to find out what it could have been…

Estrella's face looked worried as she gazed up at him. The kitten had been so terrified when Charon had collapsed that she had wanted to go to her but she had been unable to reach her beloved Princess because of the crowd that had been gathered all around her. Estrella had been so frantic to see Charon that she had run this way and that not watching where she had been running as she had scurried towards her…and in her hurry she had bumped into Mu's leg.

There was undisguised irritation on Mu's face as he glowered down at her. "Odious little animal!" he growled unpleasantly and bared his teeth at the kitten who cringed in terror. "Get it a cage!"

The effect that his words had on the Princesses was shocking - all of them gasped in horror and stared at him with disbelieving faces. Estrella cowered and fled towards Charon who caught her up in her arms. Charon hugged her tightly to her chest and kissed her furry head comfortingly as she glared weakly over at Mu.

Universe was shaking with violent rage as she glared at the Emperor with white-hot fury that would have melted steel blazing in her eyes as it burned in her heart. Queen Serenity saw the terrible rage in her eyes and quickly stepped over to her side. "No Universe." She whispered urgently ass he moved to put her hand on Universe's shoulder to restrain her.

But it was as if those whispered words were the catalyst that finally pushed her over the edge she been trembling upon. Universe whirled around to stare at her in disbelief, astonished by the sternness of the Queen's eyes as she placed her hand on her shoulder and gazed at her. "W-what did you just say?" she stammered unable to take it in.

"Universe calm yourself this very minute!" Serenity ordered her sternly, her eyes severe and unyielding.

Universe's eyes narrowed in anger and disbelief. "YOU'RE cutting into ME?!!" she cried out in astonished rage not caring who heard her. "After everything he's done you're telling ME to shut my mouth?!! No freakin' way!!!"

Shaking Serenity's hand from her shoulder the purple-haired girl made her way through the crowd with fire in her eyes as she barged several people out of her way to get to Mu.

Mu smirked as she stood right in front of him with her fists clenched and her eyes burning with anger. "You frickin'…savage!!!! You went too far!!!!" she shouted furiously at him.

The room fell into deathly silence as everybody stared at her, shocked by what she had just yelled at the top of her voice and waiting to see what would happen next. Queen Serenity's heart sank as she hurried over to Universe to try and calm her down or if that failed drag her away. Char, Jujuka and Xizor followed her feeling concerned about Universe and also feeling that it was their duty to stand by her.

Mu looked casually at Universe returning her fury-filled glare with a sneer. "Ahhh…Princess Universe!" he sighed almost regretfully, utterly unconcerned by her anger. "Would I be right in thinking that you have lost your temper with me? Surely not!"

"Shut your hole!" Universe spat almost beside herself with anger, sick of all the sly, sneering, poking little remarks by now. "Get the hell outta here you son of a bitch!"

A shocked gasp rippled through the courtiers as she cursed and Mercury put her hands to her mouth as she felt terrified by the mindless rage she saw in Universe's passionate eyes.

Mu simply chuckled mockingly in response to her demand. "Tut tut! We cannot have that!" he jeered. "All are equal here…though others less than some of us!"

Serenity's eyes blinked as she detected a hidden meaning to his words and then widened in shock as she understood - he knew!

The Queen knew in that very moment that somehow Mu had discovered the truth about Universe…as she floundered helplessly unsure of what to do Mu sighed and rolled his eyes. "Well…my brother and I really must be on our way for the way back to Earth us long and the hour is late. Won't you be sure to give your Star Raider friend's my best regards the next time you consort with them your Highness?"

Universe stared at him in shock as what he'd just said registered…in an instant her anger had faded into speechless dismay as she stared at him shocked into silence…he knew!

A murmur rippled through the courtiers…what was this?

Mu laughed mockingly at the crestfallen girl. "Do you feel giddy Universe?" he taunted her but she was too shocked to reply. "How does it feel to look down upon your lowly origins from the dizzy heights? Do you feel afraid of falling back down into the dust and dirt?"

"Don't…" she whispered desperately as her eyes shone at him pleadingly.

It was a bitter thing for her to do - plead with someone she despised and the thing that made it even worse was that she knew that it was useless. Mu had her at his mercy and this tyrant had no mercy at all…he'd teased this out for as long as he possibly could and now he was going to crush her like a cockroach.

"From peasant-girl to Princess!" Mu sneered. "My, my…ANYTHING can happen in this kingdom!"

"Don't you talk to her like that!" Char roared moving towards him his eyes furious.

Mu glanced carelessly at him but as he looked at the Prince of Charon his eyes widened in shock - here before him now was another face he almost recognized and as he stared coldly at Char his lip curled into a snarl.

By now the words 'Star Raiders' had circulated throughout the room and in conjunction with all that Mu had said to Universe several people were already making their own speculations...Duchess Ashral had sidled up to a group of ladies and was talking to them in a thrilling whisper - it didn't take a lot of cleverness to guess that she was giving them her own spiced up version of the morning that Universe had punched her son simply because he tried to kiss her hand.

Universe was getting some very strange and horrible looks…

With a look of pure hatred in her eyes she looked at Mu one last time. "You rotten bastard…" she whispered with chilling fierceness.

Unable to meet the staring eyes all around her Universe clenched her own shut, turned and ran out of the room.

Mercury stood and watched blankly as she ran past. For a moment she was too shocked by what had happened to do or say anything to stop her but then she shook her head. "Universe!" she cried out as she came to her senses.

But it was too late…Universe was gone.

Mu smirked and glanced over at Queen Serenity. "Bringing somebody so low into your home…what were you thinking? Why to give such a girl the title of 'Princess' strikes me as plain dishonest your Majesty!"

As Serenity stared speechlessly at him Jujuka flared up beside her. "Churl! Do you mean to give the lady the lie to her very face?" he exclaimed angrily.

Char was shocked as everything that had happened sank in - Universe was not really a Princess…? The revelation left him feeling numb especially as he remembered the way she had looked at him before with her soulful brown eyes…

Darien's gaze was lowered and his discomfort was intense - even he was appalled by the terrible thing that his brother had done to Universe and he wished that he could just disappear from the Universe…

Realising that nobody was going to say anything the Moon Princess looked around and hesitated for a moment…then she walked resolutely towards Mu. Her eyes were shining in anger as she confronted him just as Universe had done moments before. "You laugh your heartiest when you have wronged somebody Emperor Mu." She said, her voice cold but proud as she gazed accusingly at him. "You called Universe a peasant but what do you have that makes you worthier than her? Tell me that! What do you have at the end of the day Emperor Mu?"

Mu looked at the Moon Princess critically summing her up for several minutes and then turned to look at Queen Serenity with a smile. "A charming daughter you have your Majesty." He remarked blandly. "Don't know if you've spoilt her or anything but I can see that she has never learnt any manners."

The Moon Princess blushed, mortified and her mother's eyes narrowed as she breathed heavily in anger. Serenity was beyond anger - past fury about what Mu had done to Universe that night. What she felt for him transcended hate. The Queen's heart ached for the pain that Universe was going through now and she longed to scream at Mu ordering him to get out of her home but she would not make his victory over her that night complete by throwing away the one thing that he had still not taken from her…

Her dignity.

"Well, well…you've done it again haven't you?" Darien muttered, his eyes downcast and his voice thick with embarrassment and discomfort beyond measure. "How could you do that to her? I mean did you see the way some of them were sniggering about her after she ran out?"

Mu chuckled at the memory which was still blessedly fresh in his mind. "Well it's enough to make a cat laugh isn't it?" he returned as he now completely dropped the upper-class vocabulary he'd been throwing around the whole night.

Darien just shook his head disgusted by what his brother had done. "You just had to make them hate the sight of us didn't you?" he muttered under his breath. "Mind you I wouldn't care to show my face around here again after tonight…come on. Let's get out of here."

As Mu just laughed Darien stole a hesitant glance over at Queen Serenity and he winced at the sight of the strained look in her lovely yet now greatly care-worn eyes. Unable to watch the distress of the lady he had come to respect so much so quickly in such a short time because of what his brother had done he turned his eyes away from her with a heavy heart.

Inevitably though he turned to look sadly at the Moon Princess and the sight of her reddened humiliated face made him feel sick at heart. Darien lowered his eyes and turned his head away as his mind became choked with a whole world of 'might-have been's'.

How could he ever hope to speak to her now without being met with anger and disgust...?

As Mu prepared to teleport away from her kingdom taking his shame-faced brother with him back to their own planet he was delighted by the dismay that covered Queen Serenity's lovely face now that he had revealed the secret that she had kept for two months to all.