In the company of wolves
Part 2
"It's starting to rain" Minako pointed out despondently. Any other day she would have been twirling and raving in front of a mirror. But she was sitting lazily in a chair, ignoring the creases forming in her glowing yellow dress.
"You shouldn't worry about it, their will be a roof over you at all times, your hair won't get messy" Artemis said as he stood in front of the mirror and rearranged his bow for the hundredth time.
"I don't care" the blonde responded solemnly as she flicked a stray piece of lint from one of her short sleeves.
The guardian laughed "You can't fool me! You've been pestering me since the day we arrived to organize a formal introduction for yourself. I highly doubt an event like tonight isn't similar or greater than your previous plans to shine" he said knowingly.
"Everyone will be looking at the other girls as well, not to mention the Generals" Minako emphasized the last word with a childish, sarcastic melody.
"Well, I can guarantee you'll be the shiniest of them all, especially in your mother's beautiful gown. It's a shame it had to be tampered with to fit you" Artemis jested at his princess's lack of growth in a certain area.
The blonde pouted as she looked down at the v-shaped collar which bared her upper chest to the shoulders. It was true, she certainly lacked a more substantial womanly figure. But she was still young and in no hurry. She giggled for the first time and smiled "At least I'm not old and grey haired like you!" she replied evilly.
The man turned to look at her, he wore a very red face "My hair is not grey, it's white! And I am not old, I just seem so because I am so wise!" he said seriously before bursting into laughter at the thought of his words.
Minako was glowing again with her usual beauty intact "You won't leave me, will you Artemis? When I marry General Kunzite" she asked as she got up and helped her guardian into his evening jacket. He placed his hand on hers once it was on.
"Of course not my princess. Things will be just the same as they are now, we'll hardly notice the man. If he doesn't like it then I'll turn you into a cat and we'll run away" Artemis reassured jokingly.
"I wish you could. What about Luna?" she asked gently.
The man, guardian to the Princess of Venus, blushed and smiled "You'll be the first I'll tell when I myself know. Being on Venus kept me far from her for a very long time. I hope this new contract will keep us together, as well as you and Usagi" he replied honestly. The two shared a nod before they proceeded to look at themselves one last time in the mirror. Satisfied, Artemis lent Minako his arm and they walked out feeling and looking like true royalty.
"Well, I must say, with so little time and options for fabric, the gown looks wonderful on you. It's very tasteful and reserved, a true revelation of what we stand for as a people" Saeko said as she continued tampering with the very tight, lacy collar which reached her daughter's neck.
Ami shook her head exasperated by her mother's silly words "The long sleeves would have been sufficient, I can barely breathe in this ridiculous thing" she complained. She picked at the odd design on the hem of the sleeve which reached to her middle finger, successfully hiding the unwomanly scar on her hand.
"Nonsense, the fabric is spotless and the model fits your body perfectly. I would've preferred a darker blue to give you more years but I believe the seamstress was scarce on patterns. Nevertheless, General Zoisite will appreciate your youthfulness" the queen continued to speak in an almost foreign tongue. She was inept when it came to fashion and even more so at sounding so foolishly superficial.
"It wouldn't matter anyway" - Ami repeated in the same tone as she did at breakfast - "I also wonder if the man I should marry will also be so careful to choose his attire" she added sourly. For a moment she felt bad since her mother was seemingly trying to be friendly. She also wondered what would become of the expensive dress after she escaped and dumped the thing wherever she could. Perhaps a scullery maid would find it and fix it more to her own liking; the material was good but the design, so old fashioned and meant for widows, was far from pretty.
"Men are meant to look bold. A sword and strong jaw is all they need. Stop pouting and give me smile" Saeko said with a crooked smile. It was evident how hard playing nice for her daughter's sake and sanity was, she had a small window to make right and now was the time. The older woman placed her hands on Ami's shoulders and stepped behind her. The queen and daughter looked outrageously brilliant in front of the mirror. The last remaining pride of Mercurian royalty. A soft tap on the door turned both their heads as Maiestas had poked his head in.
"Your highness, lady. My princess Rei-chan is waiting. Shall we walk together to the ball?" he asked unlike himself, perhaps a tad bit more polite and genuinely seeking approval.
"I don't see why not. Come on then Ami, your moment awaits" Saeko said as she guided her tense daughter out the door. Rei was outside sporting her very elegant and bright red gown which received a skeptical yet polite bow from the queen. The two princesses gave each other one last knowing look before they walked alongside their sponsors to their godly duty.
Makoto thanked the plump woman, as well as her apprentices, who had helped her get ready. They were kind and polite, as though they could be anything else to royalty, but the uncertainty etched in their faces was clear. She couldn't blame them, especially since she herself was very disappointed with her wardrobe. She couldn't blame whoever on Jupiter had chosen such garments since the tall girl was meant to be on Ceres, a land where elegant and fragile clothing was never seen. Makoto had only been there once as a child of only eight years and from what she could remember even the women, of high ranks nonetheless, wore designs of a very masculine style. It was not strange to a Jovian woman since activities, as opposed to sipping tea and playing the harp, were known to be physical and even dangerous.
The brunette looked at herself in the mirror. No matter how much rose petal powder and feminine, flowery jewelry she wore, her demeanor was of a knight and not of a princess. The green of her outfit was lighter than what a Jovian man would wear but it wouldn't make a difference since no one on the Moon could verify the gender defining fashion of her planet.
The door opened unannounced which angered Makoto since she herself was not entirely ready to be acknowledged by a higher court. Fortunately it was Luna whom she regarded as a very humble and generous spirited person.
"I'm sorry Lady Makoto-chan for intruding so boldly, have I interrupted?" the woman, wearing a simple black dress with bits of gold trimmed here and there, asked with a genuine smile.
The brunette returned the gesture "Please Luna, call me Makoto. It's tiresome enough to be addressed so formally and I don't doubt tonight will be exhausting. As you can see" - she frowned down at her appearance - "I'm ready. I can only pray the women of Earth are not as formal and elegant as on the Moon" she stated referring to Luna's features as a compliment.
"You look perfect Makoto, a fine example of a Jovian princess" the guardian said proudly and emphasizing the word Jovian. Anything other would have been a a polite but empty lie.
The tall girl agreed as she twirled a bit making her tunic imitate the movements of a gown, still, it could not hide her leather boots "I look like a very rich Jovian lord, it would've been a bit more suitable to wear a maidens formal dress, if such of my size could have been provided" she recognized solemnly and considered the very beautiful but again masculine jacket she wore which presented fine Jovian qualities such as the fur of a giant beast, horse, bear, wolf perhaps, that aligned the collar and reinforced the girl's full body of very feminine hair.
"I don't think a Jovian Lord could possibly acquire such womanly attributes as you have Makoto" Luna quipped in cheerfully and with an innocent blush tainting her cheeks.
Makoto laughed "I suppose not" she agreed and also considered the corset she wore which made it clear how unmanly she truly was. No layering of any kind could hide the fact that, unlike her fellow princesses, she had had no trouble growing into a prominent young woman.
"That's the spirit. We shall be off then. Queen Serenity has desired specifically that you join her and the Princess to the ball" Luna instructed as she opened the door and lent out an inviting hand.
The brunette knew the request was born out of pity since she had no guardian or otherwise to accompany her but she would hold her tongue and smile respectfully. The two treaded silently to the great room where Usagi was standing anxiously waiting for her mother. She gave Makoto a strange look, her outfit to blame, but said nothing and hugged the taller girl warmly. She wore such a white and delicate gown that it made the brunette nervous to touch it.
"You look astonishing Usagi-chan. Not a single eye will leave you tonight. I venture to say Prince Endymion will have a difficult time keeping you away from greedy hands"
"Stop it Makoto-chan!" - the blonde giggled happily before taking another look at her friend - "You look lovely as well" she tried lying.
The jovian chuckled "You lie! But I appreciate it. It's just as well, everyone will be looking at you anyway. Hopefully my inappropriate attire will go unnoticed" she said earnestly wishing so.
With nothing she could fathom to say, Usagi-chan simply nodded kindly. The heavy footsteps of a soldier, a General or no less do to his uniform, echoed up into the corridor as he reached the landing where they stood and he bowed between shallow breathes. The three woman stared at him quizzically but curtsied politely.
The man, pleased with the gesture, made his way past them and to the great room's door where he knocked furiously. The entrance was opened quite quickly by the queen who allowed the soldier to enter without a single word. The suspicious actions were puzzling to the princesses and guardian as they patiently waited for their ruler to finish with her affairs.
Inside the grand chamber, Serenity allowed the important man to speak to her frankly and at a close proximity, wanting to avoid their whispers being taken by the wind and into curious ears. She nodded for him to commence.
"The Prince has arrived with a dozen militant ships; five are royal but heavily equipped with cannon devices and the likes, clearly made for warfare. It troubles me to see such an aggressive procession from people who claim to be our allies, your Highness"
The queen did not react to the news "The Prince and Generals are the last remaining power on Earth. I am most certain they are taking the utmost precaution and would not dare trample so cynically into our midsts. Anything else?" she asked hurriedly.
The soldier lowered his head in shame but reinforced the sword at his waist for confidence "We remain at a clear advantage of twenty lunar soldiers to one terran but we are not equally ranked" he informed, hopeful this news was alarming enough to better his place amongst the woman.
"Not equally ranked? What do you mean?"
"Well, for every twenty common soldiers they have a knight. There seems to be no lower rank amongst them. I highly doubt they promoted them for the sheer pretense of the ball, your Highness. They seem to be true warriors, in discipline and strength. It is a very dangerous demonstration by them to bring such a fleet" the soldier proclaimed looking quite nervous about the whole thing.
"You are right to be concerned. I wonder how they've left Earth? Bringing such a powerful army to an important yes but superficial occasion seems very queer..." Serenity said, clearly she was finally becoming as troubled as the man. The ruler took a much needed seat on her chair, ignoring that her blown up gown was being prematurely flattened.
"My thoughts, if they come as any comfort, are far beyond the possibility of Earth's fall to Beryl. There is no sign of urgency or dismay from the terran soldiers who have already reached land. They seem, much like ourselves, calm and eager to work as one for your protection, your Highness"
"And are we also beyond the possibility of treachery? My own feelings towards the visit have drastically changed and with no longer time to engage I must follow your stratagem and militant advice. I value the safety of our people above all, so please, I turn to you" Serenity announced sternly.
The soldier was more than uncomfortable with the demand but it fell on him as head of the army to decide, "As you have said, there is no time to engage. I strongly recommend we allow no more than thirty terran knights to enter the Palace. The others must remain at the port heavily outnumbered by our soldiers by no less than ten to one" he responded quite confidently.
"Is it prudent to leave our royalty so under protected?"
"If there is to be treachery it will come from the soldiers blocking any escape, I highly doubt the Prince and Generals will engage in a battle at such close quarters. Their security and well-being will go untampered with. They must take the Palace from the outside in, I believe"
"Then make it so. Hurry and make the order. If you hear so much as a whisper of any kind of treachery you must make it your last living task to keep my daughter and her guardians alive and well. You may leave" The queen, already standing and walking towards the bowing and retreating soldier, said as she held the door open and watched the man dart down the main staircase. She smiled at the confused women outside.
"We best be going ladies, we mustn't allow the rain or high times stop us from enjoying ourselves. Usagi-chan?" Serenity said, she had clearly regained her calm and collected composure. She offered her arm and a very excited looking Usagi gladly took it. With that, Luna and Makoto walking behind them in tow, the Queen and Princess of the Moon proceeded towards the Great Hall.
The breathtaking beauty and grandeur of the hall was greatly appreciated by guests who were unimportant to the nature of the event. There were curious remarks about the organization of the place; it was as uncommon as snow in the spring the see the Great Hall and it's tables sharing a form of ballroom as well. This new construction of space was criticized by many as they awkwardly stood by the seating arrangements and the large empty area where one would dance, uncertain which was proper.
"I can't decide whether to be looking up at the staircase or to expect the visitors at the entrance. This whole procedure is absurd! Not to mention vulgarly displayed!" an Earl claimed drastically as he gulped the last of his wine. Another glass was presented to him immediately.
His peer, a fellow Lord, laughed "You'll be sent to the gallows for such talk!" he joked.
"Not likely. A woman would never do such a thing! The soft queen hasn't the heart to kill a mouse, not even a country one!" the Earl continued to jest, unabashed.
"I take it you are referring so angrily to the plebs. They no longer work so forcefully around your castle, do they? The Queen is kind to the poor and stern to the rich, is that it? She undoubtedly produced a very generous party for us, the rich" the Lord sympathized with his ruler.
"At our expense, of course. It's my land she taxes to create this silly circus. It comes out of my pocket and yours!"
The two powerful men continued to quarrel without much worry of who could easily overhear them. Such talk of the Queen and her rule had become very common around the circles of Earls, Dukes and Lords of the land. Proditor became quickly aware of it as he walked around the place looking for doors he had to lock. The only openings left were the thin spaces of the very high windows which ventilated the monstrous area. He didn't think twice about it and sure of himself left to stand post next to the double-doors that connected to the palace and from where the unimportant guests had entered.
Saeko and her daughter, followed by Rei and Maiestas, entered a private room safely kept at the top of the main stairway to the hall. They met Minako and Artemis who were sitting on a long cushioned bench, they both looked very bored.
"Are we to present ourselves as a group?" Rei asked curiously and a little worried since it would imply that they would be constantly seen as such which made it harder to escape.
"Of course not! You'll wait until instructed by me" Maeistas ordered, returning to his usual, foul personality. He would have received a very painful blow to the head but the miko knew better then to meddle with linear inactivity. The smoother things continued, the less could corrupt her plans.
A loud horn quieted the buzzing down in the hall, followed by three very dramatic clanks of metal against marble. "The honorable Queen Saeko and Princess Ami-chan of Mercury!" a man`s extraordinary voice rang from below. Two soldiers from outside of the private room opened the door and stood erect for the royal party to present itself.
Saeko lent her arm to her daughter and they both glided elegantly to the top of the stairway, finally showing themselves. Every single person, including servants, looked up at the two Mercurians. Easily three hundred pairs of eyes stared at them. It made Ami extremely nervous, she could feel cold sweat drown her head, she feared it would make her fall over and ruin the entire thing. The queen took the lead and the princess followed as calmly as she could down the flight of stairs as the kingdom watched her. To keep her head steady, Ami remembered she was walking right over the hidden passageway that would lead to her escape. With that in mind, she ignored the polite awes from the crowd and made it safely to the landing where her mother directed her to one side but in full view as they received a generous applause.
Another three clanks of metal against marble quieted the guests. "Princess Rei-chan of Mars and her guardian Master Maiestas!" the strong voice announced. The miko appeared looking very confidant and unfazed by so much attention drawn to her. The old man walked behind her, since he was not a Martian, his sultry appearance could not save him from ugly looks, especially since he walked so closely to a divinity like Rei. The two arrived at the landing, were met with applause and took their places next to Saeko and Ami. Maiestas was shooed away by the priestess and sent to stand, much to his displeasure, next to the squires.
Rei caught Ami's attention and motioned over behind them. The genius took a quick look over her shoulder and just barely caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a door handle hidden in the dark corner under the staircase. If it hadn't been for the overwhelming number of candles and torches lighting the place, she would have never seen it. She gave her accomplice a subtle nod.
Again, three annoying clanks rang making the ground tremble. "Princess Minako-chan and Master Artemis of Venus!" the delicate featured and stunningly attractive pair were summoned. The two very bright people walked down arm in arm, clearly comfortable and aware of the commotion they caused with their beauty, the blonde was especially radiant.
Rei couldn't help but stare stupidly at Minako. Her heart raced dangerously, her palms soaked in sweat she rarely knew as the princess walked so breathtakingly down towards her. The blonde caught her staring and gave her a precious smile, it warmed the priestess's heart so that she forgot, or simply denied the existence, of everyone around her. Her eyes did not leave Minako's until she was standing beside her, still smiling.
"Don't be nervous, everything will be fine" the Venusian princess reassured with a soft voice before she bravely took Rei's hand in hers and redirected her sight to the stairway, as if nothing had just happened. The miko accepted the gesture overjoyed, all thoughts of disappearing were clear out of her mind.
The windows shook again as three bangs rang throughout the room. "Princess Makoto-chan of Jupiter and Mistress Luna of the Moon!" the strange pair were called for. The two walked at the same pace but they did not share arms. The sight of Makoto caused a different kind of awe, no doubt due to her height and unusual choice of clothes. This made her panic and grow red and it didn't help how apparent her awkwardness was. Ami was surprised by this since she could not recall the brunette being so insecure, her first impression of her was quite the opposite. The strange looks and hushed critiques from the guests made the blue haired girl mad. She looked up and caught Makoto's attention. Smiling with a crimson blush, Ami nodded lovingly at the tall girl who needed nothing more than that to straighten herself and walk down proudly. Even Luna noticed the change and slowed down her pace to allow the girl to shine.
Ami couldn't help but shrink a little as a warm sensation, one she had only felt on the Moon, conquered her body. She knew the cause but decided to continue watching the Jovian walk down so powerfully towards her. This was the Makoto that she knew and that was the driving force behind her recently born courage. Yes, her fashion was manly but that only made the genius desire her more. The protective qualities of the brunette were somehow balanced with the very feminine proportion of her muscular body. But more importantly, behind that dangerous face, was a beautiful and gentle woman as well, outside and in. Finally, after contemplating her feelings with a struggle, Makoto joined them and Ami could avert her eyes to anything else.
A pure or almost chilling silence in the enormous hall made everyone anxious. Only the rolling of distant thunder and weak raindrops from outside could be heard. A succession of six trumpets and a band of drums played to a tune familiar in royal families and amongst those of a very high class.
"All rise and bow to the honorable Queen Serenity and Princess Usagi-chan of the Moon!" not one but three men cried. A unified single sound of everyone in the hall bowing was followed. There was another trio of trumpets before everyone straightened and stared in awe at their ruler and her descendant. The pair looked and moved like angels as they practically glided down the staircase. A dozen royal soldiers marched behind them in perfect formation. The scene was magical and it certainly reminded everyone there who was boss and why. There was an overpowering sense of dominance and strength from the queen. Everyone who had critiqued her so freely now felt threatened and very eager to please the woman. The mother and daughter arrived at the landing and were met with a deafening applause. The older woman bowed and the guests were silenced again.
"Honorable guests, I present to you the Princesses of the kingdom and guardians to your future queen!" Serenity announced as she bowed to the four girls who were left alone. Ami, Makoto, Minako and Rei formed a pleasant single file due to their respective colors. A formidable applause filled the place, many even raised their arms to the girls. They curtsied to their queen and princess who nodded back.
"To join us tonight, we have invited the honorable Prince Endymion and his most esteemed peers; General Zoisite, General Jadeite, General Nephrite and General Kunzite of the great kingdom of Earth!" Serenity cried with a beautiful tone as she drew everyone's attention to the ceiling high double-doors facing the Mare where their lit ships could be seen. It took several men to pull the doors open. The crowd was met with a fierce, wet wind, driving them all further away and against the walls until the hall was practically emptied at the center.
The howling of the wind was drowned out by the sounds of well constructed marching. The sound grew stronger and nearer, the people were now subtly pushing each other to get away. Only the queen and five princesses remained unmoving and calm, only for the sake of each other. The ruckus was such that no one but Maiestas saw Proditor slip away from the palace entrance to the hall and closed it's doors firmly behind him.
A well structured block of blue and black, armed terran soldiers approached. As they reached the entrance, the group divided in half and they marched along the sides of the wall and in front of the guests until they formed a protective sphere. This unannounced form of entry caused trouble with the lunar soldiers who assembled closer to their queen and grabbed the hilt of their swords as a common sign of readiness. Serenity was surprised as well but was brilliant enough not to show it, though it made her extremely uneasy to have foreign soldiers standing behind her and her daughter, they had encapsulated them with their strange formation. The imperial guards managed to push their way through and barricade the terrans from their queen.
A very handsome man with beautiful dark hair and penetrating black eyes entered. He wore a true knight's uniform with an impressive dark cape flowing powerfully with every step he took. The prince stopped and standing at the other end of the queen and princess, bowed with one hand tucked neatly over his chest. But despite the implication of the man, he was far from looking healthy or for that matter like royalty if it weren't for his clothing. He looked quite pale and anxious, a certain kind of rage or discomfort plagued his eyes as he looked at his princess. The once overjoyed and excited Usagi now recoiled at the sight of her lover, his demeanor disappointed and even frightened her. Serenity noticed too and wondered if the Earth had in fact been overtaken by Beryl and if that poor man was politely avoiding causing any commotion on such a night.
Endymion, after receiving a noticeably forced applause, stepped to one side and waited nervously. After a moment of sheer silence, one by one, four men entered and formed a single file facing the queen. They shared a similar uniform as their leader with obvious differences between them and their prince. Curiously, they shared no physical aspects with Endymion except for maybe the intense glare in their eyes and equally pale and sickly looking skin. They didn't share particular aspects between themselves either; they were differently proportioned and not only had differing hair colors but also the way they wore it. But then again, Earth was known for it's openness to immigrants and relative social equality. It sounded nice but the impression the dangerous looking men gave was quite the opposite of peaceful and open. One could even feel for them but they looked so uncomfortable if it weren't for the very threatening looking swords on their belts.
The four men bowed just like their prince did, receiving lazy applause before they joined Endymion to one side. The terran guests were diagonal to where the four princesses stood on the other side of the large hall. The girls were far from impressed but rather nervous about meeting this tense and sickly looking men. Then again, they were probably against the whole idea as well and weren't polite enough to hide it any better. Rei began fidgeting anxiously and couldn't contain her constant glancing towards Ami who was at her far end.
The room moved like ants waiting in line to get into their hole. The prince and generals were surrounded by the lunar guests all wanting to get a glimpse and to give appropriate gestures to the five men. The princesses went unnoticed as the crowd was whisked away by the Earth's royalty. As Rei was about to ask Ami to accompany her for a moment, the miko panicked when she looked behind her and noticed for the first time that terran soldiers were blocking her passage to the door under the stairway. She saw the genius had also noticed and wore the same uneasy look as she did. How was it possible for these men to be there without them even catching a whiff of their movements? And how long were they planning to stand there? Hope still lingered since the attentions the Terrans were receiving would surely take a sufficient amount of time. But as the hall began filling out again with people who were satisfied with meeting the men, the window to escape was slowly but surely thiner.
"You're not planning on escaping, are you?" Makoto's soft voice made Ami jump. She looked up at the taller girl beside her, startled.
"Sorry?"
The brunette chuckled "You keep looking back and you're very jumpy, that's all I meant. I'm joking" she said kindly.
Ami blushed. "I suppose I am a little nervous. I'm not used to this sort of occasion..." she whispered.
"And I don't think you're very fond of it either"
The blue haired princess sighed "My odd behavior at breakfast is hard to forget" she replied embarrassed.
Makoto grinned "It is but only because it is very admirable. I myself could not muster up the courage to flee from my balcony. I could only pray the rain and storm would delay the ball for at least a night" she admitted shamelessly.
Ami smirked at her and nodded "I thought it was strange weather for the season. Still, your prayers were not sufficient and here we are pressing our backs against a knife while another threatens our throats. I'm afraid you'll make me cry if you continue..." she said solemnly between a choke.
The brunette fumbled carelessly through the pocket of her jacket, catching Minako's curious looks; Rei was too busy scanning the area for another way out. Satisfied with her search, Makoto took out a wooden carved ring "Here" she said before unabashedly taking Ami's left hand and placing the item on her index finger.
The genius stared at her hand in surprise, examining the fine carvings on the round top of the ring. The symbol of Jupiter clearly etched inside the delicately carved vines and roses on the edges. The gesture was insanely confusing.
"I know it's not very exquisite but I was hoping General Zoisite might think twice before announcing your engagement without a second thought. Perhaps he'll see that you're not for the taking and you belong to someone else" the tall girl explained quietly as she watched the room fill in even more.
"Someone else?" Ami asked feeling her heart tighten at the thought of the possible, oh she wished so, crazy answer.
"Yourself of course! Your heart is yours and yours only. Remember that when you look at this ring" - Makoto answered seriously as she took the smaller girl's hand in hers - "He can never have you if you don't want him to. Be brave and hold that which you are closest to in a deadly grip. This isn't the end" she added strongly before letting go and returning to her stiff posture.
If it was possible, Ami felt even more heartbroken. And like the day must turn into night, the moment to meet her future husband was only minutes away. She looked at Rei who tried to give her a reassuring nod, but she couldn't see how they were going to get out of it.
The four sad looking princesses watched as the crowd had moved to the tables aligning the walls of the hall, all staring at them as the Generals began making their way lazily towards them. Rei cursed as she felt the terran soldiers guarding her escape route march in a single file past them and towards their masters. There was no way she and Ami could avoid being seen. Even less now that Maiestas had shown up and was beaming at the high ranked men. Usagi-chan was taken aside to the far end of the hall by Endymion who did no look happy or sad to see her, he simply looked indifferent but pale as ever; as if touching the girl was like touching dirt. The blonde didn't look too pleased either since her affections were being ignored tremendously by her prince. Heartbroken, she stood obediently next to him and looking like she was about to cry. Serenity noticed this but before she could go to her daughter's aid, a crowd of Lords and whatnot had swarmed around her to discuss the political problems of the kingdom.
Zoisite arrived first and bowed to the girls who curtsied. He examined them carefully and after an awkward staring duel he finally deduced who the Mercurian princess was. The ponytailed man, who looked oddly feminine, took Ami's hand and kissed it, the ring on her finger making it difficult to seem graceful. She blushed and smiled crookedly at Zoisite who proceeded to stand there looking like a broken toy.
Nephrite also bowed politely and had no trouble discovering who Makoto was. The two looked so much a like that anyone else would have confused them for brother and sister. The tall, wavy, brown haired man hesitated as he took the Jovian's hand; he wasn't sure whether to kiss it or shake it. But following protocol he kissed the reluctantly offered hand and went to stand next to his zombie-like peer.
Kunzite, who seemed to be the most serious of the group, bowed and immediately took Minako's hand and kissed it with charming skill. "You look lovely princess" he said seductively for which the blonde could not help but blush. Beside her, Rei groaned which was not missed by the man. He winked at the priestess and then at Minako before taking his place with the others. Well, at least she was receiving proper treatment the other three thought.
Finally, Jadeite presented himself. Undoubtedly the youngest of the men and to go with it the most shaken, followed the white haired man's lead but less smoothly by far. His hands shook, his kiss was wet on Rei's hand which enraged her and he stuttered when he complimented her. His boyish looks and short childish hair seemed to be his only salvation and pardon for his frailty. Jadeite received a spiteful glare from Kunzite when he joined him and the rest. Once very quiet and uncomfortable introductions were made the princesses and generals stood silently looking amongst themselves for a sign of what to do next.
"We do hope you find the arrangements of the Palace to your liking. A visit from men like yourselves is very special to us, you rarely find such strapping men on a planet like this. Too many women!" Maiestas laughed trying to break the ice. His remark was vulgar and out of place, the generals agreed on this since none even replied with a polite chuckle. The stupidity of what he said and the reaction pleased the princesses. Perhaps these men where not so terrible after all.
The old man, red in the face and beginning to sweat, snapped his fingers in the air "Have a drink! You must be tired from the long journey!" he remarked as a servant offered wine which they forcefully took.
Nephrite scoffed "Long journey? It took us longer to receive disembarking permission than it did to sail here. It was not very welcoming" he added bitterly.
"Times are pressing sir! Precautions must be taken, you can appreciate that, no?" Maiestas stammered before taking a large gulp of his wine.
"Yes, yes..." - Zoisite agreed carelessly, waving his hand for the man to stop talking - "When do we take the girls with us?" he asked as though they were not standing right in front of him. Ami mechanically took a step back, away from him.
Kunzite whipped his head and gave him a dangerous look before grinning apologetically to the offended princesses "Forgive him, the weather makes him moody. We are of course here to meet and enjoy ourselves with the company of these lovely ladies" he said looking hungrily at Minako.
"Quite right! And what better way to solidify a marriage then sharing a fond memory such as this one" Maiestas added much too dramatically.
"I doubt an evening can solidify anything, especially a marriage" Makoto suddenly said with a very coarse and angered voice. She was tired of the how little the men brought to the table, it was as if they had already won.
Jadeite laughed "Perhaps Nephrite should be worried that he will have a wife that speaks and looks like a man!" he cried rudely only to receive a blow to the head from Kunzite. Ami made a move but was stopped by Makoto who pulled her back.
"As long as she can produce children" Nephrite said bored as he considered the tall girl's very feminine body. Rei's fists were balled up and her face was as red as her dress. But she tried remaining as calm as possible. Perhaps an argument could scare them away and give her and Ami a chance to leave. The possibility was becoming smaller, especially being so close to Minako; her heart was no longer in it.
"What a chore! I'd rather she be barren than fat all the time!" Jadeite, the immature, cried with disgust. Again, he spoke as if the princesses were not standing and listening right in front of him. Indeed, this was heading in the direction of a very fierce argument.
Maiestas smiled and tried calming the tense girls with his hands "Now, now young sir, the ladies are present. I'm sure you'll grow into the idea of children, remember; a man without sons is a man without future" he sang while holding one finger up as if he were reciting poetry.
The four generals laughed and nodded sarcastically at the old man's "wisdom". He laughed with them as well, not sure what was going on. Maiestas huddled in and took a swig from his cup, jumping excitedly around the men who metaphorically and literally looked down on him. Seeing that the women were not enjoying the jesting and commotion, they were relieved by the old man to go "chatter like chickens" somewhere else. This did not bode well with the Generals but Maiestas insisted. Kunzite took a long and careful look around, his nods directed at the terran soldiers guarding every post where lunar soldiers stood. Satisfied, he saw no problem with the girls leaving since they are were looking bored yet anxious to chatter like chickens. Rei growled but remembered her plan and there was no better moment then that to take their leave.
The princesses were glad and just as they were walking away, a command from Jadeite stopped them "Hold on there! You, the Jovian! Come here for a moment" he instructed with a leering finger. Makoto didn't move until Minako pulled her, giving her a reassuring smile. The two approached the men with frowns. As if the stars had schemed to answer the priestess's prayers, Ami and Rei were left hanging in the back alone and ignored.
"I thought you weren't concerning yourself with the women" Nephrite pointed out despondently. He barely gave his "future wife" a glance as she stood before him.
"I don't. But this specimen is rare! She's so tall, taller than this man's body! And he's a General!" Jadeite exclaimed excitedly and referring to himself. Odd for the young man to refer to himself in the third person.
Kunzite punched the short haired terran hard in the arm before coughing and again giving a charming smile, directed at Minako "The drink has affected him, pay no heed. Also, we are not accustomed to tall women on Earth. Jadeite here simply feels insecure being that he is still growing, hopefully" he joked and grinned at Makoto who shrugged indifferently. She certainly envied the other people who were already dancing to one side of the ballroom while the rest watched happily, filling themselves with drink and food.
Whatever they continued to talk about was a mystery to Ami and Rei who carefully retreated until they were almost safely hidden by the shadow of the large stairway. No one was watching them or wondering where they were. Usagi was still trying to get Endymion's attention who continued to sulk and look away, Serenity was hidden in the midst of angered lords and ladies, Saeko was facing away from them without a single movement as ladies spoke to her excitedly and poor Minako and Makoto seemed to be the topic of wild conversation with the terran men.
Rei would have been quicker to commence her plan but she couldn't stop staring at the blonde in front of her; these were to be the last moments she would probably ever appreciate her beauty. Only when Ami fumbled beside her, twisting the ring on her finger nervously, did the miko react. With a quick glance she made sure the door was sill there.
"Keep a lookout. I'll go first and when I tap the floor you follow, I'll leave the door open just enough for you to see it" Rei explained in a whisper. She received a nod and was off towards the famous door. Ami could feel her ring loosen from the sweat on her hands. Her heart in her throat, she looked one last time at Makoto, or at least her broad back. She truly wished the tall girl happiness and strength, that which she herself could never achieve living such a lie. Zoisite was no man and he deserved to be humiliated and cursed to rule without a queen! This thought gave her a much needed push to proceed but her accomplice was taking awfully long.
"Rei-chan? Are you still there?" Ami asked as she sunk deeper into the darkness. Had her friend been caught?
"It's locked! Damn it! It's locked!" Rei responded, frustrated and panicked. The hard rattling of a handle reached the blue haired girl's sharp ears.
"Locked? What do you mean, locked?" Ami asked, horrified as she got closer to the commotion.
Rei's silhouette was frightening as she continued to pull the handle "I mean it...can't...be...opened!" - she cried a little too loudly before detaining herself and catching her breath - "I don't understand it! It was unlocked this afternoon!" she complained furiously.
"What do we do?" the genius asked hurriedly.
It took a moment for the miko to answer "Nothing, for now. Let's return to the party and act normal. I'll think of something, you should as well" she instructed, worried by the growing storm and the flittering of the candles hanging above them. Without another thought, they reentered the light to find their group separated by a hysterical Maiestas.
"The world you grew up in, little girl, doesn't exist anymore, it's changed!" Nephrite shouted at Makoto's face. The two tall brunette's were only separated by Maiestas's flailing hands. The argument was beginning to attract a crowd; some who giggled and others who shook their heads disapprovingly.
"Don't tell me how to manage my affairs! Perhaps if you spent less time grooming and more time engaging you'd understand what a Jovian woman does!" Makoto yelled back, the remark was followed by grunts and whispers from the people staring.
For Serenity and Usagi's sake, Ami gently took the taller girl's arm and pulled her away before she could pounce on her opponent. Meanwhile, Minako could not wait to flee from Kunzite's constant, lustful glares. Her hand was taken by Rei who led her to a far away table where they sat. Minako grabbed a glass of wine and finished it in one gulp. The priestess chuckled and gave her a knowing look as she took away a second glass.
Close to the stairway was, semi-hidden, Ami trying to calm down Makoto "They're spoiled, immature men. You have to treat them like children, that's the only way we'll get by. Cheer up" she begged with a smile. She placed a comforting hand on the taller girl's cheek which received a warm blush.
"I'm glad you're warming up to the idea and still wearing the ring. Do you still believe we'll be engaged at the end of the night?" the brunette asked as she played with Ami's hand, hidden from view.
"I don't think the Generals will be up for it" the smaller girl chuckled, enjoying the touch.
Outside, in the freezing and cold rain, the terran men had not moved an inch while the lunar soldiers were huddled over and trying to warm their hands by a strong enough fire. The blue and black uniformed men were clearly outnumbered so their disciplined tactic unfazed the silver clad men of the Moon. The only thing that seemed to make the terran's move was the largest ship in their fleet, even the soldiers inside it were taking turns guarding, changing shifts every few minutes.
"Poor lads. I wonder if we shouldn't ask them to join us" one of the lunar men said over the fire as he rubbed his hands together and then blew into them.
"No! We're here to defend the kingdom from them, not to fraternize" a highly ranked soldier ordered which made the huddled men jump.
"I thought we were in an allegiance" one questioned, startled.
"Let's hope so" the soldier advised.
All the men cocked their heads and stood when they heard the sound of cries and barking from one of the ships. The armed terran's on the vessel could be seen fighting with someone or something. The ones on land were presenting arms but waited to see what the outcome of the battle was. Everyone stood still, waiting anxiously with one hand on their swords and the other on their shields as the cries began to die down; some men from the boat had been thrown easily out into the Mare which was slowly turning a crimson red.
"...come on! Come out beast!" a lunar soldier shouted with urgency to see what was causing such destruction.
The ship suddenly exploded in an array of red and orange flames ricocheting up to the sky. The sinking construction was in a blaze, an uncontainable fire taking down it's mast and sails despite the rain. The terrans panicked and formed a kind of phalanx and taking out their spears, protecting the entry into the port from the ship. The sound of a horse whinny was heard before a black cloaked rider came through a bursting flame on the ship and towards the soldiers guarding the boardwalk.
The mysterious warrior flung his sword and his aim was true when two terran's had ventured to attack him midway across the wooden planks leading to the shore. The phalanx reinforced itself as the rider hurried his pace; the war-horse he rode jumped before reaching the menacing spears and landed on the soldier's shields which they held over their heads. The beast's sheer weight and strength crushed the soldiers it stepped over, either killing them or injuring gravely.
The terran's aligned along the side of the Mare ran towards the threat. The unknown warrior was fighting or rather fending himself from the lunar men who were having a difficult time getting a hit in but they went unharmed since the cloaked stranger merely pushed them of or avoided their attacks but he never made a move to hurt them, unlike the terrans. What happened next was so quick that it was hard to believe. The black and blue army that ran along the sand to the fight did not attack the man and his horse but instead went for the lunar soldiers, catching them off guard and surprised they easily wiped out a handful despite being outnumbered. Only the rider seemed to have an advantage over the blood thirsty army as the Moon and Earth battled each other at a dangerous proximity to the Palace.
Please, read and review, especially if there are any questions. It is a little confusing! Thanx for the feedback