CHAPTER ONE
STORM

"All the way he never saw a soul."

 The day that began the coronation month of Prince Topaz dawned
blurry and in fog, a state which disgusted the Prince.  There was
hunting to be done, hunting which was vital.  The next few days
were equally as dark, yet the day that the Princess and her court
arrived from the Moon was birthed in gorgeous sunlight.
 Prince Topaz immediately ordered a hunt to set out, and asked that
the situation be explained to the Princess and her court.  He was
sure the lovely Serenity would understand, for the two of them had
a bit of a friendship.  It wasn't as if the two of them had met;
they would be doing so, or would've been doing so, that day.  They
had, though, spoken a lot over the comm post for the months, for he
was anxious to talk with someone else in training about his rule. 
Why he had not called earlier (the comm posts had been opened for
the last ten or so years, since the Treaty of Augusta) was
something he often wondered, for he found the conversations with
the fair Princess enlightening.  Serenity also found these
conversations nice, yet they planted questioning seeds about the
Prince in her mind.  She sensed that there was vacuousness under
the honest, honorable questions, as if he was...resigned to being
good.  She sensed...a twistedness.  It was in the back of her mind,
yet the fact that it was there bothered her.
 She was not surprised in the least that he'd left for the hunt. 
It was, after all, one of his passions; also, the food that came
from it would feed the series of banquets that preceded the
Coronation.  However, she was surprised that he seemed to expect
her to stay back at the castle.
 "Well, this will not do," she playfully replied, looking to her
guard.
 "But what to do, your Highness?" Mars quickly asked, filling in
with mock meekness.
 She fixed the steward who had met her, a yellow skinned man by the
name of Yen, with an icy stare.  "We require horses," she said.
 A half-hour later, Venus was still giggling as she took to the
saddle atop an exquisite Palomino.  Mercury cast her a low glance
from her blue roan; Jupiter grinned along with her from her rust
colored bay (excellent points).  Mars managed a rare smile, albeit
a small one, from the saddle of the gorgeous black monster she
rode.
 As for the Princess, she was put on the finest white mare,
slightly high strung, and she radiated beauty as usual.  Yen stood
nearby, watching with growing ease as they all handled the horses
beautifully.  They were, after all, his best animals, and while
Princesses' deserved such, he had the right to be worried.
 He needn't have been.  They all rode with fine form, and as he
watched them ride through the gates he felt most of his doubts
dispel.  He sighed as the gates clicked shut, letting his eyes
wander.  They settled on the purplish darkness gathering on the
horizon, and his brow furrowed.  He hoped it wasn't the return of
the storm.
 Some time later, Jupiter reined to a halt, the others falling in
beside her.  She dismounted and checked the ground, shaking her
head.  "No trace," she muttered.  "Damn!"
 "Mako, do not worry," Serenity smiled.
 "How can we not?" Mercury wondered, looking about worriedly.  "The
air is heavy."
 "Aye, I do sense storms," Jupiter said.  "I don't think they'll
break anytime soon, but..."
 "They can't be far," Venus countered.  "The was the path they
too...we're just strayed a little ways."
 "Hopeless optimist," Mars snapped.
 "Always," she replied lightly.  Mars and Venus, whose natures
conflicted, were always cracking on each other; despite this, they
were best of friends.  It didn't stop Serenity from shooting each a
look.  <One day,> she thought to herself.  
 Jupiter remounted, and under direction they again began to ride.
 Fifteen minutes later, the heavens broke open.
 Too far out to turn back, their only hope was to find shelter.
Fast. When Mercury slowed a bit in order to help her horse, Jupiter
scowled at her.  "Ride!" she yelled, a burst of lightning crackling
in the sky.  "Ride!"
 Galloping over increasingly wet and soggy trails is not a good
idea, and it wasn't long before disaster struck.  As the rain
pelted down, Venus' horse slipped and knocked into Mercury's.  Both
women were accomplished riders, but the elements turned against
them, and both went sprawling.
 The cries behind brought Jupiter to a halt, and almost caused
another accident.  Quickly she slipped from the saddle, followed by
Mars and Serenity.  Seemingly unaware of the mud and grime
splashing over them, they rushed back to the two of them.
 "Are you all right?" Serenity cried upon coming in sight of them.
 Venus had already gotten to her feet and was flicking
distastefully at the mud on her habit.  "Dreadful," she pronounced. 
"But, at least I'm alive."
 Mercury was slower to haul herself from the morass, and she stood
trembling.  The driving rain whipped at her shirt unmercifully, and
she shivered from head to toe.  "Cold," she called out, "but okay."
 "Back in the saddle!" Jupiter crowed, thunder sounding with her
voice.  Mercury was able to comply, but the moment Venus attempted
to mount, her horse nearly bit her.  Kneeling down, she quickly saw
the problem, and cursed mildly under her breath.  As the others
mounted up, she gave a wordless cry, and slipped her mounts reins
over her head.
 "What now?" Jupiter grumbled as she watched the blond confer with
Mercury.  She reined her animal over to them just as they finished,
and questioned them with her jade cold eyes.
 "Her horse is injured, and cannot be mounted," she explained
quickly.  "And the storm...I feel no let up."
 "We need to find shelter, fast," Venus said quietly.  
 The women looked down, and for a moment desperation flickered
across their faces.  It was then that Mars reined up, and saw the
flash pass from face to face.  She read the fear and desperation
that lay there, as well as that within herself...and made a
decision.  
 Quickly she reined away, and urged her horse forward.  The
shuffling hoof beats broke all from their worries, and Jupiter
cursed.  Serenity's face turned paler than it had been, and she
called out "Mars!"
 But the Lady Mars wasn't listening anymore.  A purple-black glow
came over her form, and the horse snorted harshly as her power
expanded over them.  For moments, she could see the path ground
beneath the animal, the driving rain and the trees, feel the wind
rip at her...and then it was gone.
 By now, the others were mounted, Venus riding double with Jupiter,
her horse tied behind Mercury.  The pace was a good, swift trot
that Serenity desperately wished was faster, yet Venus' horse held
them back.  Jupiter no longer led; Serenity's mud white steed took
the front as she anxiously looked out for her friend.  The ride
seemed to stretch for ages as the wind and rain beat down, as the
thunder and lightning roared and crackled above them.  Although
they were in no danger of being struck--Jupiter's presence assured
that--the ferocity of the storm coming against them wore at them. 
Things weren't like this on the Moon, for there were only the
gentlest of rains fell there.  The other planets, their homes, had
these kinds of storms, yet it had been years since the Senshi had
been home, having their training to complete and their Princess to
guard.
 Finally, they caught sight of Mars.  She was sitting on her horse,
head down, rain slashing at her.  As soon as they closed within
fifty yards of her, she nudged her horse, and it flew off the path.
 "What the..." Jupiter began, but there was no way they could turn
back now.  The four of them raced into the brush and away from the
path...and found themselves on a trail.  It was faint, but there
was signs of it being well worn in the past.  Lady Mars rode just
ahead of them, urging her black brute to speeds it was normally
incapable of. 
 They broke from the denser foliage to a more well defined path,
and at that, Serenity urged her mount to a ground eating canter. 
"Mars, Lady Rei!" she called after her.
 The figure on the stallion reined down slightly, and Serenity
gasped.  She could see the figure's eyes now, and they were...the
eye seemed to be gone.  There was only a purple (or golden, in the
stallion's case) light within the sockets.
 "Shelter's not far," whispered the figure, the voice a perverted
approximation of Rei's voice.  It then looked away, and the horse
strove ahead.
 "She's at it again," Venus whispered to Jupiter.
 "We need it," the woman replied brusquely, but her eyes had
softened.
 "I know," she replied.  "But the pain..."
 Jupiter nodded in silent agreement, cutting her off. 
 The path began to slope downward, and Jupiter switched to a
collected trot to ease the strain.  Yet Mars kept up her gallop
down the hill, even though the path here was not in good condition
and extremely rocky.
 "She's going to kill herself," Mercury gasped.  "We've got to slow
her..."  Her voice fell away as the trees parted, and Rush Castle
filled their sights.
 It was then that Mars reined down, horse shuddering and skidding
on the pebbles.  She dismounted and faced the others, hand on the
horse's white flecked neck.  As the others pulled up, she spoke one
word: "Shelter."  As she did, there was a brief purple glow...and
then she collapsed to the ground.  The horse stumbled sideways as
Serenity screamed, "Rei!" and leapt from her mount.  Mercury
followed, both tripping to the side of the fallen women.  Quickly
they lifted her from the mud, and held up her head, searching for
life.
 "Rei!" Mercury called out.  "Come on, Rei, come on..."
 There was a moment, and then she took a shuddering breath. 
"Shelter," she breathed.
 "Rei...you shouldn't do that..." Serenity whispered.
 "Had to," she said.  "Shelter."
 "Princess, we're in sight.  Let's go!" Jupiter called out.
 "Mako!" Venus hissed in her ear.
 "Pardon me, Mina, but I'm cold, wet, and dirty.  I'd like not to
be for another half-hour while they have their moment!" she replied
fiercely.
 "Oh Mako," she whispered.
 "Save it, Venus.  You know I'm concerned...but I hate getting
sick.  And if we're out here any longer, we'll all have double lung
pneumonia," she retorted. "It's so weak."
 "Bilateral pneumonia," Mercury corrected as she remounted her
horse.  Ahead, Serenity had taken up the reins of the stallion,
letting Mars mount the gentler mare.  Slowly they rode onward,
clustered together now, the others horses beginning to show signs
of wear.
 When they arrived at the castle gates, Mars did a double take. 
"Mercury," she called feebly, "what is that symbol?"
 Moving to the front, she peered at the gates.  The rain had
finally slacked off a bit, settling into a steady fall, and she
could see it clearly.  It was a perfectly round circle, gilded and
raised slightly from the bars.
 "Why, it's the Terra symbol!" she exclaimed.
 "That hasn't been seen in years," Serenity remarked, dismounted. 
She looped the reins, and moved closer.  "Their family fell from
power...when was it?"
 "Actually, not long ago.  There was some kind of large fiasco
involving their Heir...lost or something," Mars filled in
uncertainly.  "It didn't have a big impact on the Moon, but it's
why your boyfriend is going to be crowned King."
 "He's not my boyfriend," she murmured, looking closer. 
Hesitantly, she reached up, and touched it.
 There was a sudden shock of electricity up her arm, and her eyes
widened.  The gilded plate seemed to glow for a moment, and a click
sounded.  Now, the gate swung open.
 "Creepy," Venus muttered.  
 "No kidding," Jupiter echoed.  She dismounted now, and Venus
followed.  Jupiter took the reins of her horse, and Venus moved
back to untie hers.  Automatically they surrounded the Princess as
they moved up the castle walkway, she still leading the black, his
hard ride having wearied him to gentleness.
 The door was heavy, solid oak, again with the embossed symbol of
the Terra family.  Serenity touched it hesitantly, but no
accompanying spark flashed up her; her fingers met nothing but
plain wood.  The door slid silently open on its large hinges, and
she looked back out at them.
 "What of the horses?" she whispered.
 Jupiter's face bore a resigned look, but Mars quietly said, "If we
turn them loose, they should be able to find their way to shelter."
 "Then lets get this tack off!" Venus exclaimed.
 "No, no," Jupiter said, slightly resigned.  "Princess, take Mars
and Mercury in with you.  We shall look for a stable."
 "Hey! I fell off a horse too!" Venus protested.
 "You're still fresh enough to make smart remarks," Jupiter
replied.  Looking to Serenity, she whispered, "Go, Princess."
 She nodded, knowing she'd never be able to talk sense to her
friend.  The others entered, and carefully the door was shut behind
her.

*	*	*	*
 "Well, this is a fine hi-de-do."
 "What'd ya say, Neph?" Jade asked, looking up from his crossword
puzzle.  It was a Zoisite killer, all about the "magic" elements,
and he was having a time with it.  All the clues were in Diarth,
all the answers in Doorh.  Unfortunately, he was a bit rusty in the
later.
 "Never mind."  The two were perched on the upper rafters, their
normal relaxing spot.  "What was that last clue?" His eyes were on
the floor, staring at the three little dots that just entered. 
From his vantage point, they were dirty and soaked.
 "Light, five letters," he replied.
 "Akari," he replied, swinging to a lower vantage point.  In the
beginning, this had been scary and tricky, but after so many years
he was used to it.  Now he could see that the dots were female,
although still soaked.
 "And two letters for love, ai," Jade murmured to himself.  "Never
knew that was an element."
 "It's part of the mystery of the Fifth," he replied, still peering
down.
 "Mystery of the Fifth?" he queried, looking up.  "Neph?"
 "Well, about everyone considers the four elements to be Air,
Water, Earth, and Fire," he said, snaking down a rafter.  "Also,
almost everyone agrees that there is a fifth as well.  It's that
they disagree on, for there are so many other choices."
 "Really?  Hmmm..." He looked down at his sheet, and slowly filled
in a few more blanks, connecting the "i" in "ai" to "kiri," which
he knew meant fog.  He then checked out the next couple of clues
before asking, "Shadow, four letters."
 "Hmm...give me a moment," he replied, hanging upside down at his
knees, checking out the women.  Despite his keen eyesight, he could
only make out hair and height, those being blue and short, purple-
black and tall, and silvery-blond and shorter than all three.  "I
believe it's "kage," but don't quote that."
 "Gotcha," he replied.  "It fits."
 "Think you'll actually get this one?"
 "Hah! That'll be the day," he replied, grinning.  "So, where are
our amigos?"
 "Is Zoisite teaching you that bastard tongue again?"
 His grin widened.  "Can languages sleep together?"
 Nephrite shook his head, and then said, "Considering the storm,
I'd place Kunzite outside, and Zoisite...well, your guess is as
good as mine on that one.  Probably in the library."
 "Should've guessed," he sighed.  He filled in the next words
easily, until he came to "lightning."  "Crud," he sighed.  "You
know what lightning is?"
 "Really, you seriously need to polish your Nihongo," he tossed
back.  He had abandoned the hanging position, and was instead
creeping towards the corners of the room.  One of them had picked
up a light, and was swinging it around, allowing him to see
better...slightly.
 "My what."
 "Doorh."
 "Ah yes.  I knew that."
 "Bet you couldn't even greet someone."
 "About now...konnichiwa."
 "Introductions?"
 His forehead wrinkled in thought, and he said, "Hajimemashite,
watashi wa Jadeite desu?"
 "Good."
 "Told you." 
 He looked up at him wryly.  "I'll test you later."
 Jade swallowed, and jumped down a rafter.  "So, tell me more about
this Fifth mystery.  What else could it be 'sides light and love?"
 "Void.  Electricity.  Mind.  Spirit.  A tacky redhead."
 "What?"
 "Just a joke."  He paused.  "Actually, some say there are seven
elements, five major and two minor.  The four you know and Spirit
as the majors, and then light and electricity.  Some swap the last
three with others, or just put them in different orders."
 "This could get confusing."
 "Just be glad you aren't a scholar of it.  I hear they get
headaches this big," he replied with a wry grin, holding his arms
about two feet apart.
 Jade laughed.  Unlike the two soft conversations that had
proceeded in ignorance of each other, this bounced off the rafters
and right to the ground. 
 "What was that?" demanded a slowly rejuvenating Mars, swinging
about the gorgeous candelabra she held.  Her voice was raised quite
a bit above the low whisper they'd been using, and it bounced right
to the ceiling.
 Jade froze.  "Neph..."
 "Yes?"
 "Was that you?"
 "No."
 His eyes widened, and he set down his paper and pen.  In a quick
motion, he tumbled over the rafter.
 "Neph?"
 "Yes?"
 "Is it just me, or is that candelabra moving by itself?"
 "No, there is someone holding it."
 He peered at them, hanging off by his feet.  He studied the trio
for a few moments, and then almost tumbled right off.
 "Neph."  His voice was soft and low.
 "Uh-huh?"
 "It's not the Master."
 "No, it's not."
 "They're women."
 "Yes, they are."
 He looked up, face slightly pale.  "They're women!"
 "I believe I noticed that," he replied, barely restraining a grin.
 He arched up, grabbed the rafter, and swung his legs down.  He
moved back and forth with the accompanying swing until he was able
to work up enough momentum to swing over to him.  "You know what
this could mean."
 "I try not to get my hopes up on sight, Jade."
 "Sorry, reflex," he replied, sitting down hard.  "I can't believe
this...women."  He looked down, and easily picked out their
features, eyes, and such.  "Pretty, too," he murmured.
 For a few seconds, both pondered, as Mars and Mercury and Serenity
looked about for the voices, exploring the giant room.
 "What do we do, Neph?" he asked quietly.

 The moment they stepped into the stable, Venus felt that they were
being watched.
 She didn't want to mention it to Jupiter; the woman was irate
enough.  In fact, Sailor Jupiter, Princess of Jupiter, always had a
bit of a chip on her shoulder.  Venus suspected it was because of
her tomboyish ways.  Tolerated and accepted in the planets beyond
the Belt, they were seen as extraordinarily odd on the Moon.  There
was still controversy over the Female Guard, despite the fact that
it had been in place since the beginning.  Worse yet, it was
whispered frequently that no man would bestow affection upon the
Lady Jupiter, attention she needed, deserved, and craved.  Her
times here had hardened her slowly, painfully; only she and the
Princess (or at least she suspected the girl knew--she was good at
it) knew how often her pillow was tear stained.
 The two quickly found a stable, but seeing to the horses was
another matter.  The beasts were tired and fussy; she nearly was
kicked a few times.  Finally, though, they managed to get them
inside and get the tack off, working quickly and quietly.  As
Jupiter took the wet leather to the tack room, she went searching
for something to feed the animals with.  <After all,> she mused,
<with these nice stalls, there's got to be some top quality horse
feed here.>  It took a bit of doing, but she soon came upon a shed
with several bins of quality horse feed in it.  Slightly puzzled,
but willingly accepting the blessing, she proceeded to scoop out
and carry back the food.  As she finished with the last horse,
Mars' black, she blinked.  Running along the aisle, she checked
each stall again.
 There was water in each.  Fresh water.
 Eyes widening, she ran back to the tack room.  Jupiter was wiping
down each but, and didn't look up from her work as she came in.
 "Jup," and now the girl's eyes raised.  Yet Venus did not want to
say the Lady's name, for she still felt those unseen eyes.  "Did
you put fresh water in the stalls?"
 "No, of course not.  I've been doing this," she replied, holding
up her work.
 A cold hand settled on the back of Venus' neck, and chills raced
up and down her spine.  "Jupiter, we've got to get out of here,"
she whispered.
 "Wha...why?"
 "Because if you didn't put the water there, and I didn't put the
water there..."
 "Someone else must have," she finished, standing.  Quickly she
hung up the piece of tack, and then moved down the corridor.
 "What are you doing?" she hissed out, rushing after her.  However,
she didn't have far to go, for Jupiter stopped.
 "Ahhh...ahhh..." stuttered from the girl's mouth.
 Venus followed her eyes, and her mouth dropped.  For a curry comb
was being worked on the bay, along with several other picks.  
 All without any visible means of support.
 "Let's go!" she called out, yanking her friend towards the door. 
Jupiter didn't resist, allowing herself to be dragged away, until
the both of them were outside.  She then caught ahold of herself
and the two of them raced back to the castle.
 Far above, a figure, visible only due to the rivulets of rain
falling down in a person shape, watched them go.  Then, with a
brisk twist of the heel, he spun about and walked inside.
 "Master," he said upon coming to the proper door.
 "Enter," came the deep reply.
 He moved in, and gave a swift bow to the figure.  "We have
visitors, my lord."
 "Of what sort?"
 "A party of females, sire.  I believe a noblewoman of high rank,
and four lesser noblewomen, perhaps a guard of some sort."
 "Five?" The blue eyes widened.  "Refugees from the storm?"
 "Yes, sire.  They have already made use of the stalls, though I
fear the grooms scared them."  
 The levity was lost, as always.  "Greet them," came the curt
reply.  "I will be down soon.

 "I sense presences," Mars said.  "Not evil..."
 "That's a relief," Mercury cut in, her voice a whisper.
 The three of them were sitting on the nearest things they could
find, rather plush pieces of furniture with no backs.
 "...yet, not entirely non-hostile.  There is violence here,
but..." her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head.  "I'm sorry,
Princess, but this whole place reeks of magic.  Unless I switch
sense, I'll never be able to get through all this interference.
 "That will be unnecessary, Mars," she replied.  "I am sure we will
get some explanation for this."
 "If that's not a cue, then I don't know what is," Jade muttered to
Neph.  The two of them had swung low enough now to catch their
words, though not soon enough to hear the whole conversation.  
 "Well, then...wait, it's Kunz," Neph replied as their commander
came towards them.
 "Have you greeted them yet?"
 "No."
 "Good.  We'll wait for Zoi, and then talk with them," he said. 
Lowering his voice, he added, "The Master himself is coming down."
 Their eyes widened in unison, almost comical if it wasn't for the
emotion within.  "You aren't serious," Jade replied.
 One eyebrow cocked upward, something he still considered magic
since he was looking at the only person he'd ever known to be able
to do it.  "I am.  He told me in person."
 Just then, Zoi shimmered into existence.  At the same time, the
two women came in through the door, water sloshing in with them.
 "Hmmm...there goes the carpet," he muttered quietly.  He studied
them all for a moment.  "They're all very...aesthetically pleasing,
no?"
 "What?"  Serenity whirled around and saw the girls.  She started
to stand, saying, "J..."
 "Don't talk.  Sit down.  You'll need to," Jupiter ordered roughly.
 "They...oh..how to explain this?" Venus sighed.
 "Ere, cue?" Jade murmured.
 "Might I?" Nephrite said, his voice suddenly echoing throughout
the great room.
 All five of the women snapped up.  "What...?"
 "Where?"
 "Who...did you?"
 "No."
 "Oh my..."
 "Did any..."
 The five stopped when Mars stood, hands staying them.  Quietly,
she walked over to where the men were.  "There," she said.
 "Quite astute," Kunzite said.
 For a moment, they all were silent.  Then Venus walked up to Mars,
movements as soundless as they could be with water squelching from
her shoes.  "Was it me, or did the air in front of you just talk to
you?"
 "Not the air, lady," said Jade with a grin.  "Us."
 "Who are you?" Jupiter demanded.  "Were you the ones in the
stable?"
 "No, Lady," said Nephrite.  "We're the Guardians of this castle. 
Those in the stable are the grooms."
 "But we can't see you," Mercury said.  "Are you not to be seen due
to...conflicts, or do you just wish to remain invisible?"
 Zoi chuckled.  "Lady, I admire the way your mind works, but the
answer is neither.  Our invisibility is somewhat forced."
 "An enchantment!"
 The cry came from Serenity, who followed it by running over to
them.  "It's an enchantment."
 "Congratulations."
 The voice, a deep and quite sinister growl, came from the top of
the room.  The room, if one has not guessed, was just this side of
magnificent, even in darkness.  It was designed to overwhelm those
who had come to off petitions; it made them think of their
business, and gauge it's worthiness.  It worked, often too well. 
The ceiling was high, and painted with dark frescos of a king,
holding a golden scepter of justice over a supplicating peasant. 
The walls were as dark as the ceiling, lit by flames within stone
receptacles, and decorated with tapestries of judgments made by the
Terra kings.  The floor was carpeted in rich blues and blacks,
splashed with royal crimson and gold.  A high balcony hung over the
far wall, with doors above and doors below.  And this is where the
Prince stood, cloaked in darkness as well as a hooded cape.
 The entrance of the man had an effect on those below, especially
Mars and Serenity.  Mars' eyes popped wide, and she stumbled
slightly.  His energy, the magic that crept about him, hit her
hard; his presence was mind boggling.  She finally found a chair,
and sat down hard.
 For Serenity, it was different.  She looked up at the balcony,
squinting to see what had made her heart begin to thump so hard. 
And gasped, as a flicker of the natural magic she had broke
through.  She saw gold, a golden figure, chest discolored with
black; dark blue beads sat in his eyes.  A feeling of loneliness,
and longing, such longing, swept over her, and she covered her
mouth.  Her eyes water profusely and she scrunched them, trying to
push away her tears.  When they opened again, the vision was gone.
 "My liege," Kunzite said, and the other Generals repeated it.  "We
were attempting to explain our...predicament."
 "Have they explained theirs?" he asked.
 He seemed taken aback.  "Why, no, my liege.  They were busy with
why we couldn't be seen."
 "Well then.  Ladies, have you accepted why you cannot see them?"
 They exchanged looks, and then nodded.  
 "I cannot hear you."
 "Yes!" came the overall chorus.  
 "Well, then, explain yourself.  Why have you come to my castle? 
The voice was faintly dangerous, and probing.
 Jupiter's eyes flashed, and her fists clenched.  "What..." she
began, but Venus caught her arm, and gave her a quiet look. 
Brushing back her wet hair, she walked forward.
 "My Lord, please forgive my appearance and hear my words," she
called out.  "We were attempting to catch up with the Prince
Topaz's hunt..."
 The man made a sound, a low, beastly growl.
 <Okay, no Topaz,> she thought.  "A storm came on, and while
looking for shelter, two of our horses were injured."  <Though I
doubt if exhaustion really counts,> came the swift thought.  "After
a struggle, we managed to find our way here."
 "But how did you get in?  The ways were sealed," he probed.
 "I touched them, m'lord," Serenity said weakly.
 "You what?  Woman, do not insult my intelligence!"
 "Don't use that tone with our Lady!" Jupiter shouted back.
 "Peace, peace," Serenity said, voice straining.  She raised her
head.  "Please, m'lord," she pleaded, "you must believe me.  I
touched the gate and the door, and they opened beneath me."  She
took a breath.  "Please."
 There was a stirring upon the balcony, and the dark voice said,
"Since you plead so, I will believe."
 "And that is how we took shelter here," Venus finished.
 There was a pause, and then came the question, "Does it storm?"
 "Yes, m'liege," Kunzite said with a soft grin.  "As I have been
standing in it for some time, and as you can see, these ladies are
hardly dry."
 "Yes, I see," came the voice, somewhat begrudgingly.
 <What a jerk!> Mars thought.
 "So, you come seeking shelter, use my stable, dripping all over my
carpet, and all without asking?" he said next.
 "No, no," Kunzite whispered.
 "Endy, have you not been released from your arrogance YET?" Jade
muttered.
 "Doubtful," Zoisite murmured back.
 "I told you your hopes would be broken," Nephrite said quietly,
voice sad.
 Yet though Mars and Jupiter and even Venus looked inflamed,
Serenity did not get mad.  Meekness flashed over her face.
 "My lord, I apologize, for it is my fault.  I opened the gate and
the doors, and I rushed my ladies inside.  So, please, do not turn
you wrath to them, but to me."
 "What are you..." Jupiter asked, but she stayed her with a hand.
 "I ask, my lord, that you allow me to make this up to you.  To
compensate for whatever stress we have caused you.  I grant you one
favor from me, of whatever you choose."  She fidgeted a little,
then added, "Please.  I do not fear your temper, but I do not want
to experience it either."
 All four generals went pale in that instant.  "Oh, no," Zoisite
whispered.
 "She didn't just say that.  She didn't," Jade murmured over and
over to himself.
 "You've got to stop her," Kunzite hissed to Venus.  He had already
identified her as a leader type, mostly from her honeyed speech. 
 "I can't," came the hopeless whisper.
 Above, on the balcony, the Prince was stunned.  She had just
played into his hands so beautifully, so effortlessly, that he
wanted to laugh.  And it wasn't a trite offer, either; her voice
was filled with an angel's sincerity.
 "I accept, Lady.  Being that I do not know when I would see you
again, I will claim now."
 She cast a puzzled look at the others.  "All right," she said,
voice a little hesitant.
 "I claim YOU, Lady."