BACK AGAIN, I AM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I absolutely love this chapter!!!!!!!!
Then again, I love all my chapters (Or most of them anyway! (). So here it
is, the completion of the ball!!!!!!!!!!!
-Falcon
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After Malachite had gotten over his mortifying embarrassment, he went to sulk in a corner of the ballroom. He was avoiding Mina and he knew it, but didn't care. Her goody-goody mood wasn't all that appealing to him at the moment. But, as was inevitable... she found him.
"There you are!" she said triumphantly, coming upon a very annoyed looking general, "Come, let's dance!" Mal felt his blood being brought to a boil and he saw red.
And that was when he exploded.
"You want to DANCE!!! You want to dance after what I did!? How can you be so unfeeling Mina! I have been humiliated beyond belief, and now you come and ask me about the one thing that I don't want to be thinking of at the moment! Who do you think you are, doing something like that? I was right about you all along. You're just a bubble headed, scatterbrained, unthinking ditz who could never, ever fathom the feelings of others and only worries about how good she looks or what she'll wear the next day!"
As soon as he had started his rant, Mina had begun to feel steadily crushed into the marble at her feet. Her eyes had absorbed his angry eyes, stiff arms and clenched fists and felt like she was being torn apart by them. She had been hoping that she and the head General of Earth could become great friends. After all, she did make him smile a great deal and even laugh a few times. But finally, hearing him begin to scream his insults, she made up her mind and, turning coldly away from him, left his presence with the most dignity she could muster.
As he finished, he noticed at last that their was no one their. His madness still clouding his mind, he stormed off to the washrooms to begin slamming his head into the wall and yelling himself hoarse in a primal show of rage.
Mina found herself at the side of the dance floor, accepting all invitations to dance that she received and flirting with all the men that came within a five-foot radius of her. Noticing this from her place beside her mother, Serenity was to her in a matter of moments. The moon princess recognized Mina's antics as a form of relief for the Venusian. 'But relief from what?' she asked herself.
Bluntly stepping in between Mina and her current partner, Serenity mouthed, 'We need to talk.' The princess of Venus rolled her eyes and excused herself from her company rudely.
Once alone, Sere turned to her with blazing eyes, "What's this about?" she hissed, "What has happened to you, Mina?"
Mina felt an uncommon furiousness well up inside her. "It's none of your gods damned business, Sere." She bit back.
"I've never seen you in such a state. Tell me now what has passed this night or I shall fetch Rei and Lita to force it from you." She threatened.
"By Sunyena, would you just keep your head out of my business? I haven't had the best night, alright. Just stop pestering me for once." This said, she stalked off to commence her previous activities. Serenity sighed and returned to her place, she herself praying that Endymion wouldn't ask her dance more than was absolutely necessary.
*******************************
Ami found herself continuously shaking her head to a single, repetitive question: Would you dance with me, Princess Ami? Of all the nerve of these men! After all the balls that she'd been to in her life, not one of these foolish admirers had learned that she didn't dance with anyone unless it was required.
After watching her turn away a particularly handsome blonde man, Zoicite was feeling like an ant in her presence. His chances of dancing with her were now one million to zero and he was pretty sure he knew which one would avail. Finally opting to simply see if he could make some pleasant conversation with her, Zoicite made his way to her side.
Seeing yet another shadow above her, Ami yawned and said firmly, without even waiting for him to speak, "No, I fear I am much too tired to oblige you, Sir. Please forgive me." She said it like a much-rehearsed speech.
Raising an eyebrow in amusement, Zoi sat down beside her and lay a hand on her shoulder gently, "You do know that I didn't say anything, don't you?" He said with a grin. Looking up, she flushed in embarrassment before returning to reading her book. He heard her mumble an incoherent apology. "Perhaps you had been saving that dance for me?" he asked, a mischievous gleam coming to his eyes.
At this, her head darted up, outrage apparent in her face as she said, "How dare you!" she spoke with authority and incredulity, "I had thought you to be a gentleman, General Zoicite. I was told you were a man of knowledge and one who contained abundant perseverance to his duty as a strategic designer for your prince. Where do you come off trying to charm me so roguishly, thinking me to be some common court lady who you could bend to your will? What sort of woman do you think I am?"
Zoi was shocked out of his skin by her ongoing bombast of his bad qualities. What in hell's name had instilled her fury so violently? All he had done was make a mild jest and she began to destroy his ego with her torrent of insults. He may be a gentleman, but he would not stand for such treatment. "Forgive me for believing you to be an amiable lady who would see no harm in such a harmless remark. I see now that your true nature has been revealed to me and, to be quite frank, it doesn't appeal to me a great deal. Now, if you would pardon me, my princess, I will take up some other kind lady's offer of a good chat." This said, he stood and walked from her to speak with another woman, being sure to put himself in the Mercurian's line of vision.
Ami was deeply troubled by his fast made retort. No man had ever placed such a fire under her tongue. Unwillingly, a tear trickled down her pale cheek, a tremor coming into her body as she excused herself to a quiet corner to contemplate her strange actions. She knew that it had been her fault and she had dented his pride with her remarks, but it stung even more to know that he thought that was the way she was constantly.
The Princess of Mercury was known for her quiet grace. Ami found herself releasing more tears at the idea of all her hard work at self-restraint and peacefulness gone out the ballroom window by her little show of exasperation. What had this Earthen General done to her?
***********************************
Having had enough of Jadeite simply staring at her in what he somehow believed to be a discreet manner, Rei stomped over to him, holding out her hand and rolling her eyes, "Would you just dance with me already, you big dolt!"
Jade was stunned, but not so much that he couldn't grin and, taking the offered extremity, pulled her to the dance floor. "I don't know what you were talking about, Princess Rei. The thought of dancing with you never crossed my mind." She snorted in a very unladylike manner and raised a delicate eyebrow to stare at him with her big amethyst eyes. The general crumbled into powder under her gaze and finally sputtered out, "Okay, okay, so maybe the idea occurred to me a few times."
Jade pulled her close to him to begin the dance, securing an arm about her waist and the fingers of his other hand entwined in a set of her own. As they began moving through the complicated steps, Rei couldn't help but notice the proximity between their bodies was slowly getting smaller and smaller. She flushed as he whirled her into one of the steps that required his body to be form fitting against her own. A few hours ago she had been intent upon hating this man with a passion. You would never have been able to tell.
As the dance came to a close, Jade couldn't help but dip her back daringly in his arms. The look on her face after he pulled her up was priceless and he silently congratulated himself on his accomplishment. Jadeite led her away again to go out onto the balcony, which was currently devoid of all people.
"What are we doing out here?" she asked quietly, feeling she would somehow break the beautiful feeling she was experienced if she spoke normally.
The general found himself looking her over for about the hundredth time that night. Her dark radiance enchanted his senses and all he wanted to do was grab her and ravish her perfectly red lips. Retaining himself, he said, "Tell me about yourself, Lady Mars. I want to know who you are."
She was confused by this, but decided to give him the shortened version of her life. "My name is Reilana Arisdel of the royal family of Mars and I am 20 years of age. I am the crown princess of Mars and heir to the throne. When I was 5 years old, I came here to become one of Princess Serenity's protectors and part of her court. I hardly ever go to my home on the Red Planet, though. The other princesses are my best friends in the whole universe. I am a controller of fire, true to my heritage and a priestess of Fira, the goddess of flames. I love being left alone and burning the hides of those who don't."
By the end of this statement, Jadeite found himself laughing and falling under her spell even more than he already was. Unwittingly, he remarked, "I suppose that was what you were aiming for when we fought. Too bad that you missed." He teased.
Rei's face went from astonished, to pale, to angry beyond belief. Realizing his mistake, Jadeite began to sputter apologies, which of course didn't take with her. She advanced on him, a predatory gleam in her eyes, raised one dainty hand...and left a resounding smack across the general's face, turning his head completely in another direction with its force. Picking up her skirts, eyes glazing over, Rei stormed back into the ballroom and out from there to her room.
Cursing himself for his mistake, the general also returned to his rooms.
***************************************
Lita had to admit it to herself. This was turning out to be one of the most splendid nights of her life. Neph had taken her out to the dance floor, talked pleasantly over glasses of wine, and out to the balcony to watch the stars overhead. She had been surprised at first when he had spoken about the dark sky with such passion, but it turned into admiration with each wise word that fell from his lips. She was entranced by the way he told her of all the constellations and what the meaning of each and every star was. She had never met a man with such a zest for something other than combat or ladies.
"Lita? Lita is something wrong?" his voice pulled her back to their presence. Currently, they were sitting beside a little table, talking amiably of the different battle tactics of hand-to-hand combat. Nephrite was sure that it was more a matter of strength while Lita argued that speed was indeed the most important asset.
"No, no I was just thinking." She replied with a smile.
"Of what?" he asked, a light coming into his navy eyes, "Me?"
Lita smirked and pointed to one of her admirers. She knew that he had been staring at her for the past fifteen minutes that they had decided to retire here. "No. Actually I was thinking of what it would be like if I went to dance with that young gentleman over there." She grinned happily as his face became a slight shade of pink from his anger. "I believe that I will do that now." She made a move to stand before she felt an iron grasp upon her wrist. Turning to him with a triumphant expression, she was surprised by the cold look he was giving her.
"As memory serves me, it was I who asked you to this ball. You will not embarrass me by seeking the company of another. If you wish to dance then you may have said so." His grip on her wrist tightened and he stood to yank her toward the dance floor.
Appalled by this show of possessiveness, Lita jerked her hand from him and faced him with anger. Nephrite, however, had different ideas and once again hauled her up against him to force her to begin dancing with him or embarrass herself further. She glared at him with spite.
"What do you think you're doing?" she spat, "Unhand me this instant!"
"Lita, as ashamed as I am by my own behavior," he sighed, "Please understand that I do not share that which belongs to me."
She blushed with fury, "And who do you think you are to claim me as you have done? I assure you Nephrite that I am the prize of no man."
He growled in frustration and spun her away for a brief instant. "Come, we are done here." He said as he dragged her from the dance floor.
Lita had then had enough, "I demand that you escort me to my rooms. I have worn myself out for the evening." He remained silent as he did as she ordered and briskly walked her to her chamber.
As she placed her hand on the knob, the earthen general made a quick and rash decision. Seizing her waist and spinning her around, he gazed into her surprised eyes for a moment before capturing her lips. The Jovian princess somehow responded immediately as she moaned and wrapped her arms about his neck, pulling him down even more. The kiss was fast and harsh and Neph soon broke away to turn on his heel and jog away from her. 'I hope I got my message across' he prayed.
Lita was swooning as he departed and at last found the strength to turn and drag herself into her room.
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Okay! What do you think? I really would like more reviews if you deem me worth of them so if you could, please do! I love you all and I'll see you soon with the chapter on Sere and Endy!
-Moon Falcon
-Falcon
**********************************
After Malachite had gotten over his mortifying embarrassment, he went to sulk in a corner of the ballroom. He was avoiding Mina and he knew it, but didn't care. Her goody-goody mood wasn't all that appealing to him at the moment. But, as was inevitable... she found him.
"There you are!" she said triumphantly, coming upon a very annoyed looking general, "Come, let's dance!" Mal felt his blood being brought to a boil and he saw red.
And that was when he exploded.
"You want to DANCE!!! You want to dance after what I did!? How can you be so unfeeling Mina! I have been humiliated beyond belief, and now you come and ask me about the one thing that I don't want to be thinking of at the moment! Who do you think you are, doing something like that? I was right about you all along. You're just a bubble headed, scatterbrained, unthinking ditz who could never, ever fathom the feelings of others and only worries about how good she looks or what she'll wear the next day!"
As soon as he had started his rant, Mina had begun to feel steadily crushed into the marble at her feet. Her eyes had absorbed his angry eyes, stiff arms and clenched fists and felt like she was being torn apart by them. She had been hoping that she and the head General of Earth could become great friends. After all, she did make him smile a great deal and even laugh a few times. But finally, hearing him begin to scream his insults, she made up her mind and, turning coldly away from him, left his presence with the most dignity she could muster.
As he finished, he noticed at last that their was no one their. His madness still clouding his mind, he stormed off to the washrooms to begin slamming his head into the wall and yelling himself hoarse in a primal show of rage.
Mina found herself at the side of the dance floor, accepting all invitations to dance that she received and flirting with all the men that came within a five-foot radius of her. Noticing this from her place beside her mother, Serenity was to her in a matter of moments. The moon princess recognized Mina's antics as a form of relief for the Venusian. 'But relief from what?' she asked herself.
Bluntly stepping in between Mina and her current partner, Serenity mouthed, 'We need to talk.' The princess of Venus rolled her eyes and excused herself from her company rudely.
Once alone, Sere turned to her with blazing eyes, "What's this about?" she hissed, "What has happened to you, Mina?"
Mina felt an uncommon furiousness well up inside her. "It's none of your gods damned business, Sere." She bit back.
"I've never seen you in such a state. Tell me now what has passed this night or I shall fetch Rei and Lita to force it from you." She threatened.
"By Sunyena, would you just keep your head out of my business? I haven't had the best night, alright. Just stop pestering me for once." This said, she stalked off to commence her previous activities. Serenity sighed and returned to her place, she herself praying that Endymion wouldn't ask her dance more than was absolutely necessary.
*******************************
Ami found herself continuously shaking her head to a single, repetitive question: Would you dance with me, Princess Ami? Of all the nerve of these men! After all the balls that she'd been to in her life, not one of these foolish admirers had learned that she didn't dance with anyone unless it was required.
After watching her turn away a particularly handsome blonde man, Zoicite was feeling like an ant in her presence. His chances of dancing with her were now one million to zero and he was pretty sure he knew which one would avail. Finally opting to simply see if he could make some pleasant conversation with her, Zoicite made his way to her side.
Seeing yet another shadow above her, Ami yawned and said firmly, without even waiting for him to speak, "No, I fear I am much too tired to oblige you, Sir. Please forgive me." She said it like a much-rehearsed speech.
Raising an eyebrow in amusement, Zoi sat down beside her and lay a hand on her shoulder gently, "You do know that I didn't say anything, don't you?" He said with a grin. Looking up, she flushed in embarrassment before returning to reading her book. He heard her mumble an incoherent apology. "Perhaps you had been saving that dance for me?" he asked, a mischievous gleam coming to his eyes.
At this, her head darted up, outrage apparent in her face as she said, "How dare you!" she spoke with authority and incredulity, "I had thought you to be a gentleman, General Zoicite. I was told you were a man of knowledge and one who contained abundant perseverance to his duty as a strategic designer for your prince. Where do you come off trying to charm me so roguishly, thinking me to be some common court lady who you could bend to your will? What sort of woman do you think I am?"
Zoi was shocked out of his skin by her ongoing bombast of his bad qualities. What in hell's name had instilled her fury so violently? All he had done was make a mild jest and she began to destroy his ego with her torrent of insults. He may be a gentleman, but he would not stand for such treatment. "Forgive me for believing you to be an amiable lady who would see no harm in such a harmless remark. I see now that your true nature has been revealed to me and, to be quite frank, it doesn't appeal to me a great deal. Now, if you would pardon me, my princess, I will take up some other kind lady's offer of a good chat." This said, he stood and walked from her to speak with another woman, being sure to put himself in the Mercurian's line of vision.
Ami was deeply troubled by his fast made retort. No man had ever placed such a fire under her tongue. Unwillingly, a tear trickled down her pale cheek, a tremor coming into her body as she excused herself to a quiet corner to contemplate her strange actions. She knew that it had been her fault and she had dented his pride with her remarks, but it stung even more to know that he thought that was the way she was constantly.
The Princess of Mercury was known for her quiet grace. Ami found herself releasing more tears at the idea of all her hard work at self-restraint and peacefulness gone out the ballroom window by her little show of exasperation. What had this Earthen General done to her?
***********************************
Having had enough of Jadeite simply staring at her in what he somehow believed to be a discreet manner, Rei stomped over to him, holding out her hand and rolling her eyes, "Would you just dance with me already, you big dolt!"
Jade was stunned, but not so much that he couldn't grin and, taking the offered extremity, pulled her to the dance floor. "I don't know what you were talking about, Princess Rei. The thought of dancing with you never crossed my mind." She snorted in a very unladylike manner and raised a delicate eyebrow to stare at him with her big amethyst eyes. The general crumbled into powder under her gaze and finally sputtered out, "Okay, okay, so maybe the idea occurred to me a few times."
Jade pulled her close to him to begin the dance, securing an arm about her waist and the fingers of his other hand entwined in a set of her own. As they began moving through the complicated steps, Rei couldn't help but notice the proximity between their bodies was slowly getting smaller and smaller. She flushed as he whirled her into one of the steps that required his body to be form fitting against her own. A few hours ago she had been intent upon hating this man with a passion. You would never have been able to tell.
As the dance came to a close, Jade couldn't help but dip her back daringly in his arms. The look on her face after he pulled her up was priceless and he silently congratulated himself on his accomplishment. Jadeite led her away again to go out onto the balcony, which was currently devoid of all people.
"What are we doing out here?" she asked quietly, feeling she would somehow break the beautiful feeling she was experienced if she spoke normally.
The general found himself looking her over for about the hundredth time that night. Her dark radiance enchanted his senses and all he wanted to do was grab her and ravish her perfectly red lips. Retaining himself, he said, "Tell me about yourself, Lady Mars. I want to know who you are."
She was confused by this, but decided to give him the shortened version of her life. "My name is Reilana Arisdel of the royal family of Mars and I am 20 years of age. I am the crown princess of Mars and heir to the throne. When I was 5 years old, I came here to become one of Princess Serenity's protectors and part of her court. I hardly ever go to my home on the Red Planet, though. The other princesses are my best friends in the whole universe. I am a controller of fire, true to my heritage and a priestess of Fira, the goddess of flames. I love being left alone and burning the hides of those who don't."
By the end of this statement, Jadeite found himself laughing and falling under her spell even more than he already was. Unwittingly, he remarked, "I suppose that was what you were aiming for when we fought. Too bad that you missed." He teased.
Rei's face went from astonished, to pale, to angry beyond belief. Realizing his mistake, Jadeite began to sputter apologies, which of course didn't take with her. She advanced on him, a predatory gleam in her eyes, raised one dainty hand...and left a resounding smack across the general's face, turning his head completely in another direction with its force. Picking up her skirts, eyes glazing over, Rei stormed back into the ballroom and out from there to her room.
Cursing himself for his mistake, the general also returned to his rooms.
***************************************
Lita had to admit it to herself. This was turning out to be one of the most splendid nights of her life. Neph had taken her out to the dance floor, talked pleasantly over glasses of wine, and out to the balcony to watch the stars overhead. She had been surprised at first when he had spoken about the dark sky with such passion, but it turned into admiration with each wise word that fell from his lips. She was entranced by the way he told her of all the constellations and what the meaning of each and every star was. She had never met a man with such a zest for something other than combat or ladies.
"Lita? Lita is something wrong?" his voice pulled her back to their presence. Currently, they were sitting beside a little table, talking amiably of the different battle tactics of hand-to-hand combat. Nephrite was sure that it was more a matter of strength while Lita argued that speed was indeed the most important asset.
"No, no I was just thinking." She replied with a smile.
"Of what?" he asked, a light coming into his navy eyes, "Me?"
Lita smirked and pointed to one of her admirers. She knew that he had been staring at her for the past fifteen minutes that they had decided to retire here. "No. Actually I was thinking of what it would be like if I went to dance with that young gentleman over there." She grinned happily as his face became a slight shade of pink from his anger. "I believe that I will do that now." She made a move to stand before she felt an iron grasp upon her wrist. Turning to him with a triumphant expression, she was surprised by the cold look he was giving her.
"As memory serves me, it was I who asked you to this ball. You will not embarrass me by seeking the company of another. If you wish to dance then you may have said so." His grip on her wrist tightened and he stood to yank her toward the dance floor.
Appalled by this show of possessiveness, Lita jerked her hand from him and faced him with anger. Nephrite, however, had different ideas and once again hauled her up against him to force her to begin dancing with him or embarrass herself further. She glared at him with spite.
"What do you think you're doing?" she spat, "Unhand me this instant!"
"Lita, as ashamed as I am by my own behavior," he sighed, "Please understand that I do not share that which belongs to me."
She blushed with fury, "And who do you think you are to claim me as you have done? I assure you Nephrite that I am the prize of no man."
He growled in frustration and spun her away for a brief instant. "Come, we are done here." He said as he dragged her from the dance floor.
Lita had then had enough, "I demand that you escort me to my rooms. I have worn myself out for the evening." He remained silent as he did as she ordered and briskly walked her to her chamber.
As she placed her hand on the knob, the earthen general made a quick and rash decision. Seizing her waist and spinning her around, he gazed into her surprised eyes for a moment before capturing her lips. The Jovian princess somehow responded immediately as she moaned and wrapped her arms about his neck, pulling him down even more. The kiss was fast and harsh and Neph soon broke away to turn on his heel and jog away from her. 'I hope I got my message across' he prayed.
Lita was swooning as he departed and at last found the strength to turn and drag herself into her room.
***********************************
Okay! What do you think? I really would like more reviews if you deem me worth of them so if you could, please do! I love you all and I'll see you soon with the chapter on Sere and Endy!
-Moon Falcon