Introductions
It had been ten years since the sealing of the Mountain and the death
of Callisto, and in that ten years Serenity and Endymion had only seen each
other once since his visit to the Moon, and that was across a crowd
room at Freyja and Ruach's wedding. Tonight, they would see each other
again. Selene was taking Serenity and her guardians for their first visit toEarth.
King Midas was celebrating thirty years of rule, and there
was going to be a big gala. Selene, Serenity, and the Sailor Soldiers
would be spending a week there for the festivities.
Selene finished up packing her things for her visit to Earth. It had been
entirely too long since she had seen her friend, King Midas and his son
Endymion. She had heard that Endymion had grown into quite the handsome
prince. When she finished packing, she went to wake up Serenity, which
was still her tradition despite the princess being a few months shy of
her sixteenth birthday.
Selene glided into Serenity's room, and walked over to her bed. Serenity's
long golden hair made it look like she slept in a pool of light. Her hair,
now, reached to her ankles even with the earlier, unplanned, cutting.
"Good morning, Bunny." Selene gently shook the princess awake. Serenity's
eyelids fluttered before opening wide to reveal her crystal blue eyes.
"Have you packed everything for out trip to Earth?"
"Yes mother," the princess smiled. "Is everyone else up already?"
Selene laughed at her daughter. She should know by now that she was always
the last to rise. "Yes, I believe they were up at dawn to train before
we left."
-----------------------------------
On Earth, Endymion sat in his study with his generals, Kunzite, Nephrite,
Zoicite, and Jadeite, talking about the up coming events. The platinum
haired Kunzite picked up a small metal globe off the desk and began to
absent-mindedly play with it.
"So," Kunzite began. "I hear that Queen Selene and Princess Serenity are
coming along with the princess' guardians to join in the celebration."
"Really?" The blonde haired General Jadeite perked up from the chair he
was lounging in. "I can't wait to meet the girls that bested Endy."
"I should have never told you guys that story. Ten years, and I am still
hearing about it." Endymion complained. "Besides, I got Serenity back
later."
The chestnut haired Nephrite barked with laughter. "Yeah, only to be
attacked by the guardians."
Endymion rolled his eyes. "I am seriously never telling you four anything
ever again."
The strawberry blonde Zoicite looked up from his book. "We can't help
but to bring it up. It is not everyday someone gets the best of the
great Earth Prince, especially girls."
The generals all laughed at this, and Endymion just shot each a very
menacing glare.
-----------------------------------
Ami, Minako, Rei, and Makoto all gathered in Serenity's room in Valor
Palace. The Sailor Soldiers want to check the room for safety, but more
importantly they had to discuss the impending ball. Once the room was
secure the girls seated themselves on varies chairs around the room.
"Do you think Endymion will remember me?" Serenity asked timidly.
"Of course he will remember you, Sere." Makoto reassured her.
"Besides, it is not often you forget the girl who pulled the best
prank on you." Rei added.
Minako leaned forward. "Freyja said that Endymion has become quite the looker,
and that his generals are so bad either."
"Honestly, Minako, do you think about anything else?" Ami rolled her eyes.
"Hey! Guardian of Love, I am supposed to think about that." Minako retorted.
The door flew open and Phobos and Deimos came bounding in. They had arrived
earlier in the week with their parents to help with preparations. The twins
seated themselves at Rei's feet. Phobos spoke up. "Mom said we would find
you here." Deimos nodded in agreement with her brother.
"What has the double trouble been up to this week?" Makoto teased them.
"Mostly watching Endymion and his generals train." Phobos answered. Minako
and Serenity's eyes lit up, and they demanded to know what they were like.
"They are excellent fighters." Phobos responded.
The girls' smiles damped, a little. Deimos punched her brother. "That
is not what they wanted to know." Deimos turned back to the girls. "They
are all very cute. I, especially, like Jadeite, his blonde hair and blue
eyes are dreamy and he is really funny. Endymion is very nice; he always
talks to us if he sees us. Zoicite is quiet and always reading something.
Nephrite seems a little strange, and they say he can tell the future like
Mom and Rei. Kunzite is always so serious."
"Deimos, don't you think you are a little young to be looking at boys?"
Rei eyed her cousin.
"Rei, I am twelve, now. I am allowed to look." She said proudly, but
quickly added. "Just don't tell Dad."
-----------------------------------
Endymion stood in the ballroom helping King Midas receive his guest.
Parties were never Endymion's cup of tea, but he knew this was important
to his father so he was doing his best. He was thankful that Kunzite was
there with him or he would have really been bored to tears. The other generals
had dispersed about the room to secure it, and he was sure to socialize
with the ladies, too. The heralded trumpets sounded.
"Announcing Duke Pazcina and his daughter Beryl."
The Duke was a husky man, who always wore his grey hair slicked back.
He was intelligent man, but untrustworthy, in Midas' eyes. His daughter,
Beryl, was beautiful with red hair, crimson eyes, and perfectly curved
body, but is was a cold beauty. She did not have inner warmth and kindness.
When she finished her decent into the ballroom, she went straight to where
Endymion was standing. Endymion, seeing her coming, leaned back to Kunzite.
"Oh God, here she comes again."
Kunzite chuckled at the prince. Everyone knew Beryl had eyes for him, whether
for looks or the title was anyone's guess.
"Play nice your Highness." Kunzite whispered back to him.
Beryl walked up to Endymion and smiled her cold smile. "The ball is lovely
tonight, your Highness."
"Yes, very nice." Endymion automatically replied. He was avoiding looking
her in the eye because it gave him the chills.
"Announcing the Queen of the Moon, Selene, and her daughter, Princess Serenity
and her court."
Endymion looked up to find the brightest blue eyes staring back at him. She
smiled, and it radiated with kindness.
"Excuse me." He told Beryl as he gently pushed pass her to greet the Moon
Princess. Beryl fumed at being slighted. 'How could he possibly like that
waif of a princess?'
Endymion glided to the stairs just in time to catch Serenity as she tripped
over her pink and silver dress. His fluid motion made it look as if the fall
was planned.
"Old habits die hard, Princess Serenity." He smiled at her.
She laughed, her laughter sounding like a bell. "I suppose, but this dress
does not allow much movement, which does not help the matter."
He nodded in agreement with her, but could not help thinking to himself
that the dress was perfect on her. Her beautiful voice broke his thoughts.
"And Endymion, old friends don't have to call me princess. Serenity is
just fine."
"Well then Serenity, may I have this dance?" He asked, liking the way her
name felt on his tongue.
"I would like nothing better."
They waltzed about the ballroom floor. Their bodies moving so expertly across
the floor, it was as if they had one mind. Many of the guests stopped to watch
the couple. Selene smiled at Serernity and Endymion. She was glad that ten
years of separation did not make them strangers.
"Ah, Selene, it seems your Serenity has become the belle of the ball."
"Midas," she smiled. "It does not hurt that her dance partner is the charming
Earth Prince."
-----------------------------------
Kunzite watched his prince's effortless grace on the dance floor with the
Moon princess. He was keenly observing the room when he felt someone brush
against him. He looked down to find a blonde beauty. Her flaxen hair pulled
partially back by a red ribbon that match her red strapless dress. He studied
her carefully. "The Princess of Venus, I presume?"
She flashed him her seductive smile. "Guilty as chance."
He raised an eyebrow. "Isn't that charged?"
Her blue eyes flickered and she shrugged. "Chance, charged it all works, and
you must be Kunzite."
He looked at her quizzically, but before he could ask she answered. "Freyja,
my cousin, told me about you, but she forgot to mention your amazing grey-blue
eyes. I don't think I have ever seen ones quite like them before."
Before he could think of a reply, she began to saunter off her hips swaying
flirtatiously. Looking back over her shoulder, she called to him. "By the way,
you can call me Minako." She winked at him and flashed him the V- sign.
Selene watched the exchange from across the room. To most it looked like
Minako was a shameless flirt, but Selene knew better. Minako was sizing
him up. She used her flirting to break down defenses. She was no fool when
it came to gauging her potential opponents. When Minako's eyes met Selene's,
Selene gave her a nodded of approval.
-----------------------------------
Ami did not like large crowds. Going to balls was one of her least favorite
things to do. She avoided them when she could. She was at home in a library
with books as company. She understood books; people were the great mystery
to her.
After checking to make sure Serenity was safe, Ami stole away to outside
the ballroom. She knew Minako and Rei would be watching the princess, anyway.
She sat on the side of a fountain on the terrace. The sound of the water
soothed her nerves. She stroked the water with her fingers. Growing bold, she
began to play with the water. She created a ship with the liquid and set it
assail across the pool.
"How did you do that?"
Ami whipped her head around to find a man with long strawberry blonde hair
watching her intensely. She observed him carefully. "It is not polite to sneak
up on people."
"Sorry Princess." He bowed in apology.
"You are one of Endymion's Generals." She stated matter-of-factly.
"Zoicite to be exact, but you still have not answered my question."
She gave him a sly smile. "That is for me to know and you to find out."
He studied her to see if she was serious. "Is that a challenge, Princess?"
She nodded. "And Zoicite, there is no need for formalities, Ami is fine."
-----------------------------------
Makoto rocked back and forth on her heels as she sipped her punch. She watched
with envy at the many couples gliding across the dance floor. She loved to
dance, but finding a partner was a problem. Her height and strength was
intimidating to most men, so they usually did not bother asking her to
dance.
"What is a beautiful woman doing standing all alone?" a smooth masculine voice
asked of her. She looked at the tall man with chestnut hair standing next
to her. "Waiting for the right guy to ask me to dance."
"Well, then miss, may I have this dance?" He offered his hand to her. She
laughed as she accepted his hand. "It is not everyday that I am asked to dance
by a handsome stranger."
"Stranger? I suppose now would be the time for introductions. I am Nephrite."
"Nice to meet you Nephrite. I am Makoto."
-----------------------------------
Rei was desperately trying to avoid dancing with all the boys who insisted
on asking her. She had more important things to do than dance, mainly
keeping an eye on Serenity. Finally she found a corner where she could
watch and remain undisturbed. The curtain behind her began to giggle and
move. Rei turned to examine the cause of this strange phenomenon. Four feet
were visible at the bottom of the drape. There was a pair of black boots,
and a pair of heels that looked familiar. She had once owned a pair just
like them, and then the light went off in her head.
"Phobos, Deimos, why are you hiding back there?" She hissed at the curtain.
"We just wanted to see the ball, but Mom said we were too young to attend."
Deimos voice came through the fabric.
"You better get out of here before Aunt Pele sense you." She warned.
"You know people will think you are crazy if you talk to the drapery,"
a mocking voice behind her teased.
She spun around and came face to face with a blonde man. Her mouth curved
down into a frown, and her temper flickered in her violet eyes.
"Who are you to judge what I do?" She fumed.
"Jadeite," he flashed her, his most charming smile.
She narrowed her eyes at him, and if looks could kill, he would be laying
dead on the floor. She turned and began to stomp off.
"Wait," he called after her. "I did not get your name."
She stopped briefly and yelled back. "I did not give!"
Jadeite stared after the raven-haired beauty. He could not believe the
utter rejection he just suffered.
"Psst." The curtain whispered to him. "Her name is Rei."