A/N: Mmm..yeah. A year later. I seem to have forgotten about this but found it this week and wrote this chapter in three days during work hours. I love getting paid while writing stories. -

Let me know what you think of it so far. Thanks again for those who reviewed the first chapter! I tried editing it a bit for your convenience, but not too much. Sorry. I'll try not to be so lazy in the next chapter. I just get the itches to post every time I write down a word.

Chapter 2: Masquerade Dreams

The radiant light shining off from white marble walls and floors made it painfully difficult to see clearly. The swaying of ball gown skirts and the gliding of bodies made the world seem blurred and out of focus. Faint sounds of laughter and chatter drifted throughout the close confines of the, rather large when empty, room. And though the impression of the event was to be of light fun the faces of the many were covered in brilliantly jeweled and feathered masks, causing the eyes of the wearer to be shadowed in blackness. The feeling was unworldly and the atmosphere was heavily carried.

Something wasn't right.

As difficult as it was to draw breath, the man continued walking further into the room, hoping to find a familiar face or feeling. With attempts at making long strides across the crowded room, he allowed his feet to lead him towards the curved, white, grand staircase and stopped beside the railing. Letting his own masked eyes drift to the top, he felt himself go stiff at the sight that awaited him there. The fuzziness of his vision turned sharp and the blinding light around him grew dim and gentle. Though the soul that stood above the staircase wore a gown of moonlight white that matched wonderfully with the wearers moonshine hair, the eyes are what capture his awed attention. Even from where he stood at the bottom of the stairs he saw the blue richness of the skies he remembered back on his own world.

The figure watched him as a smile played across its tempting mouth. His eyes never pulled away as the vision began descending the stairs. When at last nearing the final steps he offered his gloved hand and a simple greeting, "Princess." he acknowledged.

The smile grew as a soft pink tint rose up into her cheeks and she cast her eyes down in shyness. Taking his hand she took the final step down on to the ballroom floor. At that moment a booming sound from outside shook the ground beneath them and was soon followed by a thunderous clap and what sounded like a tidal wave. Tightening his grip on the princess's hand, he kept his eyes on the front door and his ears on the obvious battle raging on the outer walls of the palace. In what felt like a blink of an eye the two found themselves the sole survivors of what appeared to have been a massive explosion.

Lifeless bodies littered the ground around them and the beauty he held in his arms had tear stained cheeks. Before them stood the image of darkness, and all that plagued their universe. Four young women in odd clothing lay kneeling on the ground in front of them, making a shield of protection from the dark mass and the man and princess. Evident signs of having fought long and hard displayed themselves physically and emotionally on the women. One of them stood and faced them, staring in his direction and screaming muted words before heaving a deep breath and facing the darkness once again, unleashing a bright chain of light at the mass before falling unconscious once again. Four uniformed men appeared then, before each fallen warrior sprawled on the rubble covered ground, laughing.

Why did he know those faces? Why was he receiving this strange feeling of dejavu.

Another woman suddenly materialized before the two. Long, red hair that seemed to wave from the energy emitting within her skin-clinging purple dress. She was laughing at them. Though he couldn't hear her, he saw the gesture and couldn't understand why such death and chaos would please these people. What would they want from such a happy and peaceful looking place?

He got his answer.

The red head smiled adoringly at him for a moment before shifting her focus on the princess beside him. The look was far from near pleasant. This woman was looking to cause hurt, and without knowing why, he had decided on refusing to allow anything from happening to this girl he barely knew. Something inside him told him it was his duty and he should follow through with it. The red head was laughing again and raising her arms to conjure up what looked like crackling black lightning. Without a second thought, he threw himself between the girl and woman, determination set on his face. This made the woman falter a bit, but not for long. Widening her arms and throwing her head back, she sent the dark bolts of electricity hurdling straight towards them. The world went white for a long moment but he didn't feel the slightest bit of pain. When his eyes cleared he found himself laying on the ground on his back, spread eagle and blinking in confusion.

Sitting up and looking himself over, he discovered his cloths looked more like scorched rags and he was very much alone. After that moment of comprehension he heard the faintest scream from a nearby distance and jumped to his feet. Just a scream, but he knew it was hers. He sprinted toward the direction he had heard the sound and came around a corner to find the red headed woman smirking at him. Taking a stance he unsheathed a sword that he realized rested against his left hip, preparing to do battle, then froze. The woman stepped to one side, revealing the floating, lifeless body of his princess. Enraged, he charged at the woman only to be struck back by another wave of dark electricity. Pulling himself up, he tried again and again he was hit, over and over. Glimpsing back to his princess he was surprised to see her eyes fluttering open. She was alive!

In desperation, he hoisted himself off the ground again and pushed forward, fighting through the barrier of dark energy slamming into his body at an attempt to reach the awakening girl. He could see her tilting her head to glance at him and her smile brought him renewed strength to reach her. Just as he was an arms length away something sharp hit the square of his back and this he painfully felt. His face twisted in pain and his mouth opened wide in an effort to gasp, he watched his princess scream and try to reach out for him. Before the world went black he finally heard the first real word since the time he arrived and it came out in a heartbreaking scream from his mysterious princess.

"Endym…!" and it wasn't even a full word.

Darien shot up from his bed in a sweat. It was the fourth time this week he had this dream. There was only one significant difference in this particular one from those past.

"A name? But what does it mean!" he spoke into the empty room.

Pulling the sheets back from his body he got out of bed and made his way to the bathroom sink. After splashing his face with freezing cold water he rested his arms against the edge of the sink, staring at his reflection in the mirror with brows drawn together.

"Who are you?"