Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Of Three Kingdoms ❯ The New Zodiac Senshi ( Chapter 1 )

Of Three Kingdoms

Chapter One

Setting:

Where: The Stars Palace on the Sun of the System Sol

What: The Coronation Ball

Who: The New Zodiac Senshi and Another New Senshi and others

When: The Silver Star Millennium

Everyone from the sub-kingdoms of the Star Kingdom was flocking to the capital of their peaceful kingdom. Though it may seem infeasible, this capital was on our very own sun and the sub-kingdoms were on other stars right beneath the photosphere, hence our incapability to see this awe-inspiring palace.

On the right hand side of the exterior of the palace, the walls seemed to be made of the very daytime sky of Terra, the third planet of the Sol System. In the middle, flawlessly blended, was Terra's night sky, the stars twinkling merrily on the deep blue background with only the slightest hinting of colors. Finally, on the far left side of the magnificent palace, the crisp, clear black of deep space with the stars shining steadily, giving definite ideas of the color of the stars.

As to why the citizens of this kingdom were packing up and heading for the capital of their 'land', it was today that they would see their new defenders, the new Zodiac Senshi, and their Prince and Princesses, Oryan, Dawn and Clair, at the Coronation Ball.

Nobles and commoners alike were invited, for all had a right to know what their defenders looked like and how they acted. Nobles were announced formally whilst the peasantry could be announced but only if they so wished.

Soon, the ballroom was full of people waiting to see the new Zodiacs. The benevolent king and queen and their children hadn't shown yet for they were always last to enter.

Trumpets bugled for the silence and attention of the crowd. The herald cleared his throat and unraveled a small scroll.

"Princess Silver de Dosei of Saturn of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by her brother, Prince Andrew de Dosei of Saturn of the Moon Kingdom." The herald announces loudly as a small, blackish-red-haired, orchid-eyed girl of about fifteen in a flowing purple and black gown with a blonde-haired, blue-eyed young man of around eighteen, also in purple and black, on her arm. They walked down the isle to the end and stood to one side, far to the left as seen from the grand entranceway.

"Lady Maeva de Meisei of Pluto of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by Lord Sean of the Britains of the Golden Kingdom, Earth." The herald announces again. This time, a young woman with palest-gray hair and mauve eyes, wearing a dark gray gown, enters with a red-haired, green-eyed and freckled young man in green. They walk down the isle to stand next to the right of the pair from Saturn but left enough space for another pair to stand between them.

"Princess Emily de Tensei of Uranus of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by Lord Antonio of the Mediterranean of the Golden Kingdom, Earth." The herald continues and a maple-brown-haired, lime-green-eyed teenage girl in a muted blue dress with yellow trimmings enters with an olive-skinned, dark-haired man. They too walk down the isle and stand directly on the Saturnian pair's left.

"Princess Niona de Kaisei of Neptune of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by her cousin, Lord Alexander de En'yousei of Neptune of the Moon Kingdom."

A young girl in a dress of pale blue, with blue-green eyes and slate blue hair, enters with a man with pale blonde hair and blue eyes, in a blue-trimmed, golden yellow outfit enters, walks down the isle and stands to the immediate left of the Princess of Uranus and Lord of the Mediterranean.

"Countess Lenny de Aisei of Venus of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by Duke Charles de Mizusei of Mercury of the Moon Kingdom."

A girl with gold eyes and copper red hair, in a bronze dress with blue-green trim, enters with a darkly tanned, dark-haired and dark-eyed man of his late teens in deep blue. They walk down the isle and stand to the right of the Plutonian Princess and the Terran Lord.

"Princess Janice de Mokusei of Jupiter of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by Prince Rift Moondrake of the Moon Kingdom."

A man, in silver-trimmed white, with platinum hair and blue- almost white- eyes enters with an auburn-haired, green-eyed girl in a soft pink dress. After walking down the isle, they take the spot in between the Saturnians and the Plutonian Lady and the Terran Lord.

"Princess Morrigan de Kasei of Mars of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by Count Carthoris de Reisei of Mars of the Moon Kingdom."

A girl in a violet dress, with night blue hair and red-violet eyes, enters with a boy of similar age with silver eyes and black hair wearing red. They walk slowly down the isle and walk to the far right, leaving little room to pass them on the wall side.

"Duchess Violet de Suisei of Mercury of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by her uncle, his majesty, King Hermes de Suisei of Mercury of the Moon Kingdom."

A girl with indigo eyes and burgundy hair dressed in pale yellow enters with a full-grown man with baby blue eyes and dressed regally in blue and with an informal, blue crystalline crown atop his blackish-blue-haired head. At the new couple's entrance, many bowed respectfully as the pair passed and took a place to the right of the Venusian Lady and Mercurian Lord. They left a large space between them and the Venusian and Mercurian, as if expecting someone would need to pass them.

"Lady Karen de Tsukisei of the Moon Kingdom, escorted by Captain Usar of the royal guard of the Moon Kingdom."

A girl with sapphire eyes and hair the color of Terra's deepest oceans done in a style similar to the royals of the Moon Kingdom and clad in a blue dress to match her eyes, enters with a dark-haired, red-eyed very young man dressed in gray and black, and takes a spot two spaces to the left of the Martian duet.

"Princess Terra de Chisei of the Golden Kingdom, Earth, escorted by her brother, Prince Endymion de Chisei of the Golden Kingdom, Earth."

A boy in black and silver and a girl in brown and gold, similar in their black hair and clear blue eyes, walk down the isle with confidence and take the spot directly to the left of the Martian couple, whom had a small sneer directed at the Terran royals.

"Lady Evelan de Hisei of Sol of the Star Kingdom, escorted by General Edward of the Golden Kingdom, Earth."

A pale man with dark hair and eyes in a navy-trimmed gray uniform enters with a girl, with orange eyes and dark brown hair, in a simple slip dress of red-orange. They walk down the isle and take a spot to the immediate right of the Mercurian king and lady.

"Her highness, Princess Clair Helios of the Star Kingdom, escorted by her brother, his highness, Prince Oryan Helios of the Star Kingdom."

The blue-eyed, red-haired princess enters with her green-eyed, also red-haired brother. Both were clad in the royal silver but Clair had gold trim on her dress and Oryan had copper trim on his outfit. This pair made their way down the isle and took their spot in between the Terran royals and the Lady and Captain from the Moon amid murmurs of surprise and ponderings.

"Announcing, their royal majesties, rulers of this fair kingdom," The herald announces with renewed purpose, "Queen Dawn Helios of the Star Kingdom, escorted by her husband, King Solaris Helios of the Star Kingdom, accompanied by their daughter, her royal highness, Princess Dawn Helios of the Star Kingdom, escorted by Lord Cardinalus de Hokkyokusei of Polaris."

At the new grouping's entrance, all bow deeply. The Queen herself wears a gold dress that almost matched her strawberry blonde hair. The King, on the Queen's right arm, wears an outfit of simple elegance in blue-trimmed white.

The Princess enters, slightly behind her parents, with a white-haired and blue-eyed boy in gold-trimmed ice blue, wearing the royal silver in an empire waisted slip dress and from the high waistline came a shimmering cloth of silver-tinted blue that billowed behind her. She and Cardinalus stride gracefully to the end of the isle where they parted and the Princess went to her small chair to the left of the Queen's throne, which was already occupied by the queen.

After all had risen from their bows or curtsies, Queen and Princess Dawn Helios stand and Queen Dawn speaks.

"Welcome all of the Star Kingdom and honored guests. Today we are here to recognize the new Zodiac senshi. As all should know, we have no control over who is to be the new senshi of which for the stars choose for themselves who will represent them. We only know that each of these twelve girls will represent one of the twelve major constellations in the night sky. If I could ask that the young men to please step back, we can continue."

All the escorts step backward various amounts. The Princes of Earth, Saturn, Star and Moon Kingdoms, the King of Mercury, and young Captain Usar step back only two steps while the others took more out of slight fear. The queen takes out a narrow scroll and starts to read from it.

"The Lady of Aries: a temper that is to be reckoned with, overly proud at times, fiercely protective of those she cares for, sometimes cold but has a heart of gold. ARIES OF THE FLAME, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

The queen finishes loudly, calling to the ceiling, and a magenta beam of light surrounds the Martian Princess. The light dissipates and Morrigan looks prouder than ever.

"Princess Morrigan de Kasei, please step forward." The Princess now takes over, picking up a small tiara, rubies in the shape of the symbol of Aries, from a table next to her chair as she stands.

The Princess of Mars strides forward to the Princess and curtsies respectfully. The Princess places the tiara on her head after the Martian had risen.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Morrigan de Kasei de Kaensei." The Princess picks up a small wand and hands it to the new Princess of Aries. Princess Dawn embraces the new Zodiac senshi in a hug and points her off to the left of the dais.

"The Lady of Taurus:" the queen takes up her part again, "stubbornly set in her ways like the bull she represents, but loving and caring of those dear to her. TAURUS OF THE EARTH, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

This time, a pale jade beam of light surrounds the Terran Princess. When the light subsided, Prince Endymion steps up to his sister and gives her a hug.

"Princess Terra of the Golden Kingdom, Earth, please step forward."

Princess Dawn now selects a tiara with the symbol of Taurus in smooth green jade. Princess Terra arrives in front of the Star Princess and curtsies as respectfully as the Martian Princess had.

Princess Dawn places the tiara on Princess Terra's head and says, "Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Terra de Chisei de Jishinsei." Princess Dawn gives Princess Terra a wand similar to the one she'd given Princess Morgan and a quick hug and points her off the dais the same way Morgan had left.

"The Lady of Gemini: often confused whether she is coming or going but always shines a light to guide others to their own path. GEMINI OF LIGHT, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

A pillar of golden light surrounds Princess Clair. Prince Oryan rushes forward as soon as the pillar had left and swings his sister around happily.

Princess Dawn smiles just as happily as she calls her sister forward to accept the tiara with a sunstone in the shape of the symbol of Gemini.

"Congratulations, Princess Clair Helios de Kousei." Princess Dawn says, handing Clair a wand and embracing her tightly in a hug. Dawn hardly had to welcome her own sister in to the Star Kingdom, though some sort of formality was needed.

"Go on, now." Dawn whispers quietly in Clair's ear and Clair leaves to the left, beaming at no one in particular.

"The Lady of Cancer: ruled by the moon and water, she is very temperamental indeed and very motherly to the point of being clingy, shy but when needed, she is a true friend and protector. CANCER OF THE WAVES, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

This time a wave of blue light seems to crash down and around the Lady from the Moon. Lady Karen smiles back at Captain Usar who salutes her encouragingly.

"Lady Karen de Tsukisei, please step forward." Princess Dawn now picked up a tiara with a sapphire in the shape of the symbol of Cancer.

After placing the tiara on Lady Karen's head, Princess Dawn hands Karen another wand and hugs her welcomingly.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Karen de Tsukisei de Shiosei." Dawn directs Karen, too, off to the left and allows her mother to start again.

"The Lady of Leo: brave and encouraging, pushing others to do their best but slighting herself in the process. LEO OF THE SPIRIT, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

An orange glow surrounds Lady Evelan and she shoots half a smile over her shoulder at the Terran General.

"Lady Evelan de Hisei, please step forward." Princess Dawn calls as the glow fades from Lady Evelan.

After she had bowed, Lady Evelan allowed her Princess to place a tiara of carillon with the symbol of Leo atop her head. Princess Dawn hands Evelan a wand and hugs her the same way she had Lady Karen.

"Congratulations, Princess Evelan de Hisei de Ikisei." Princess Dawn says and directs the new Princess of Leo off the dais.

"The Lady of Virgo: a perfectionist and critical, sharp and sensitive, a strategist at heart. VIRGO OF THE MIND, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

A yellow glow floats up and around the Mercurian Lady Violet. King Hermes smiles at her and she grins broadly back.

"Duchess Violet de Suisei, please step forward." Princess Dawn says, picking up a tiara with a yellow topaz, and Violet does so, curtsying at her arrival. Dawn places the tiara on Violet's head and hands her a wand.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Violet de Suisei de Omoisei." Princess Dawn says, giving the new princess a quick hug and a direction to go in (still left).

Queen Dawn rolls the top of the scroll down a few twists and rolls the bottom down about the same amount then continues.

"The Lady of Libra: mediator, neutrality her greatest ambition, often weighs the decision for hours, reflexes of physical action are sharp but not so mentally. LIBRA OF METAL, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

For a moment, nothing happened, as though something was sizing the candidates one last time before choosing. Then a bronze and blue swirled glow whirls itself around the Lady from Venus. Lady Lenny made a quick gesture to Duke Charles, who makes the same motion.

"Countess Lenny de Aisei, please step forward." Princess Dawn calls, now holding a tiara with blue-green tourmalines in the form of the symbol of Libra. Lenny curtsies and Princess Dawn places the tiara on her head then hands her a wand.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Lenny de Aisei de Kanesei." Princess Dawn says and gives Lenny a hug and now points her off to the right side of the dais.

Smiling, Queen Dawn resumes her role. "The Lady of Scorpio; secretive but powerful, meticulous in everything she does, often the first to fight for her cause and beliefs. SCORPIO OF TIME AND SPACE, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

Seemingly without hesitation, a white dabbled aura exudes itself from Lady Maeva. After thirty seconds, the aura fades and Lady Maeva looks back at Lord Sean, who smiles with tears in his eyes.

"Lady Maeva de Meisei, please step forward."

Princess Dawn had picked up a tiara with an opal representation of Scorpio. Maeva curtsies to the Star Princess and Dawn places the tiara on Maeva's head.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Maeva de Meisei de Naoshisei." Dawn says as she hands Maeva a grayish wand similar to the other wands. With a small, almost familial, hug, Dawn directs Maeva to the right of the dais.

"The Lady of Sagittarius; wandering restlessly seeking adventure and change, sharp senses and deadly aim. SAGITTARIUS OF THE STORM, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE." Queen Dawn shouts to the ceiling that looked like no ceiling at all.

A sugary pink glow flashes like lightning to mark the Jupitarian Princess as the next Sailorsagittarius.

"Princess Janice de Mokusei, please step forward." Princess Dawn calls and takes a tiara with a rose quartz symbol of Sagittarius from the table next to her. Janice walks forward to be in front of Dawn and curtsies without so much as a backward glance at the Prince of the Moon.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Janice de Mokusei de Arashisei." Dawn says and hands Janice the wand that had been next to the tiara now atop Janice's head. A hug, then Dawn points Janice off the dais to the right.

Both the Princess and Queen were starting to sound somewhat monotonous but were trying to sound as enthusiastic with each new zodiac.

"The Lady of Capricorn;" Queen Dawn resumes, "inclusive and fine going her own path, dark and mysterious but grateful to be a trusted friend. CAPRICORN OF THE NEBULAE AND NOVAE, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

A deep blue veil falls across the Saturnian Princess, Silver. Ten seconds later would find her in a hug with her elder brother.

"Princess Silver de Dosei, please step forward."

Princess Dawn now picks a tiara with an iolite in the form of the symbol for Capricorn as Silver steps forward to her and curtsies. Dawn then places the tiara on Silver's head.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Silver de Dosei de Shisei." Dawn says, handing the new Princess of Capricorn a wand of dark blue, not dissimilar from the others.

Queen Dawn sighs unnoticeably and rolls her small scroll to the very bottom. Privately, the queen nearly cursed the stars for making all the queens read this thing. It was so long.

"The Lady of Aquarius; admired and knows it, capricious at worst and slightly forgetful at best though always there when a friend is needed. AQUARIUS OF THE WINDS, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

A muted blue glow with sparkles of golden yellow winds itself around Princess Emily. With a shoulder cast smile at her escort, the glow fades and Emily turns back to the throne where Dawn was now selecting one of the two remaining tiaras; one with a diamond representation of Aquarius.

"Princess Emily de Tensei, please step forward."

Emily does so and curtsies to the Star Princess. Dawn places the tiara on Emily's head and hands her a wand.

"Welcome to the Star Kingdom, Princess Emily de Tensei de Kazesei." Dawn says with an almost tired smile and a hug. Emily then leaves the dais to the right like the previous princess.

"Though it may seem like a sure thing for Princess Niona to be the next Sailorpisces, we must leave nothing to chance and give the stars their choice." Queen Dawn says, stepping out of the formal text then stepping back in. "The Lady of Pisces; an ice queen, figuratively and literally, trusting only those she cares for deep in her heart and skeptical of all others. PISCES OF THE ICE, CHOOSE YOUR REPRESENTATIVE!"

Surely, though Queen Dawn had assured the gathered that it might not, a pale turquoise beam surrounds the Neptunian Princess.

A somewhat relieved looking Princess Dawn picks up the last tiara and wand and then calls for the Neptunian Princess, who shook hands with her cousin before doing so. Applause rang though out the great hall.

Following the same routine as before, Dawn placed the tiara on Niona's head, presented her with her wand, hugged her in welcome and directed her off to the right. It was a very grateful princess indeed that nearly fell into her chair by her mother's throne.

The applause died down and everyone expected that the music would start soon but Queen Dawn remained standing, waiting patiently for the muttering and whispering to die down.

"Now, while we have known that our daughter, Clair, would be a Zodiac in her twin sister's court, we did not know how our negotiations with the Moon Kingdom would go or indeed that they would go so well."

The topic of the Star Kingdom's relations with the Moon Kingdom perked many ears, not the least of which, Prince Rift Moondrake.

"Our two kingdoms will combine."

Various reactions resound in the hall, ranging widely from happiness to anger.

"The two kingdoms will combine!" Queen Dawn shouts to be heard over the pandemonium. Slowly, the ruckus dies down to mere angry mutters.

"Our kingdoms will combine but not before our children have children of their own. Be that as it may, we will have a representative in their court now. A senshi with the power of the stars behind her will doubtless be extremely powerful and the other senshi in Serenity's court will need to get used to that. This girl will be one of the Princess Serenity's guardians and we, Solaris and myself only, know who this girl is. It has not been easy, letting ourselves let this girl do this but we know that it for the good of our kingdom that we do.

"Dawn, dear, come forward." The queen finishes. Gasps of shock and murmurs of surprise mingle with the disgusted mutterings. Dawn, a look of shock now replacing the look of exhaustion that had been on her face, stands and turns to face her mother.

"My dear, for your entire life, I've been training you to take over for me when you reached the appropriate age. I'm trusting that you will be able to do that and guard the Moon Kingdom's Princess, who, as you know, is your cousin. I'm not going to make you do this but you're the only one that the stars will allow to be Sailorsun. I believe you'll do what you know is right and I leave the choice to you."

Princess Dawn stares at her mother for a long moment then nods in acceptance.

"My dear…" Queen Dawn starts and out of thin air, beads of golden yellow sunstone materialize in Princess Dawn's hair much like the pearls that Princess Serenity had in her hair, "You truly are the princess of this kingdom."

Princess Dawn, though still slightly shocked that she would be in the court of the Moon Kingdom, manages to curtsy and walks off the dais to the left.

When Dawn managed to get behind the dais, she found her sister and the others trying out their transformation powers and she found a chair to sit in. Clair, currently in the gold and silver senshi uniform of Sailorgemini, saw her sister nearly stumble into the back room. Quickly dropping her senshi identity, she dashes over to her sister.

"Dee! Are you all right? You look like you've seen a ghost." Clair says, kneeling on the floor in front of Dawn.

"Not a ghost." Dawn mumbles, sounding almost resentful but definitely tired.

"What's with the new beads in the… oh! Oh my!" Clair exclaims, having just gotten why her twin looked shocked through their innate link.

Oryan bursts through the door, almost yelling, "Excuse me ladies!" The five other zodiacs scream in surprise and Oryan covers his eyes until he reaches his sisters.

"You just heard?" Oryan asks Clair, seeing both Dawn and Clair in or near a state of shock after removing his hand from his face.

"Yes. I did." Clair answers, moving to sit on the arm of Dawn's chair.

"Do you know why?" Oryan asks, sitting on the other armrest.

"Yes. She's going to be in Serenity's court." Clair replies.

"I still don't see how we could be related to the dizzy Moon Princess." Oryan mutters.

"We're related to her, Oryan, because Uncle Yugare fell in love with Queen Selenity." Dawn mutters back wryly.

"We're also cousins to Princesses Venessa and Valerie and Princes Terrence and Troy of Venus. Uncle Twilyte married Queen Erillosi." Clair adds.

"At least they're good at some of the Golden Kingdom sports. I'm surprised if Serenity makes ten steps without tripping." Oryan says with indignation.

"True." Clair and Dawn chorus.

"Are you okay, Dawn?" Queen Dawn asks, entering the room off the dais and heading to where her children had gathered.

"Fine." the three chorus.

"Oryan, you shouldn't be back here." Queen Dawn now scolds her youngest. Oryan had the grace to blush.

"He didn't cause much fuss, only surprise when he came in yelling, 'excuse me, ladies'." Clair says and Oryan blushes even more to rival that of a rose.

"Well, Oryan, you need to get out now so these girls can change into their gowns. Dawn, you might want to find a dress that the boys won't step on." the queen says and both Dawn and Oryan nod.

"Come with me, Dawn. I know just the thing for you." Clair says and grabs her sister's arm and pulls her out of the chair and to a rack of dresses where the other zodiacs were currently gathered.

Queen Dawn turns with a sigh to look at her son.

"Scoot! There has to be some girl you'd like to see at the moment." she scolds with a teasing smile and Oryan blushes so red that his face matches his hair.

"I do not." Oryan mumbles indignantly and stalks out of the room.

With a small smile, Queen Dawn left the small room to return to her husband.

Meanwhile, Dawn and Clair were changing into different dresses.

"Karen, you have the blues and grays. Find something for Dawn." Clair says, sounding distinctly frustrated with Dawn's finicky taste in colors.

"Okay." Karen says and Dawn moves over one rack of dresses to stand next to the lady from the moon.

"Here, your highness, this would look good on you." Karen says after a long hunt and pulling a blue dress that shimmered from the silver threads that had been woven in.

"Don't call me 'your highness'. We're all princesses here." Dawn grumbles. "Thank you, Karen." Dawn adds with more sincerity.

"Not a problem, your… Sorry! Dawn." Karen corrects her minor slip of the tongue. Dawn smiles.

"You'll get used to it. It's okay." Dawn says, taking the dress and changing into it.

"You ladies ready in there? The dancing's about to begin!" King Solaris calls from the small entrance by the dais.

"Yes!" call Morrigan, Terra, Clair, Dawn, Karen, and Violet.

"No!" calls Evelan.

The other princesses nearly faceplanted.

"You have five minutes." King Solaris calls back.

"Help!" Evelan wails, frantically searching through her rack of dresses.

"Clair and I'll take care of this." Dawn says, grabbing Clair's arm and dragging her over to the panicking Princess of Leo.

"Take the rack, Clair. Find some dresses for her to choose from. Evelan, what's the matter?" Dawn asks, taking firm control of the situation.

"I don't know!" Evelan wails, wringing her hands. "I know there's someone out there I need to impress but it's not my escort. I don't even like him. He's one that my parents got for me."

"Here." Clair says, slightly muffled because of the hanger clenched in her teeth. Dawn quickly takes that dress out of her sister's mouth and another from her hand and moves behind Evelan.

"This one?" Dawn asks Clair, putting the dress in front of Evelan.

"No." Clair answers, and takes that dress then replaces it with another.

"I think I like this one." Clair says, stepping back to admire her selection. It was a simple dress of red with barely visible, red-orange lions patterned all over it.

"Hold this." Dawn orders Evelan and comes around to see what her sister was talking about.

"No. Something orange, bring out her eyes." Dawn says and takes her last dress and replaces Clair's choice with it.

"Oh!" Clair exclaims in surprise. The dress that Dawn had selected looked perfectly gorgeous on Evelan. It was a column dress of a burnt orange with small, red-orange Leo symbols trimming the bottom hem and the neckline.

"Yes." Dawn agrees. "That one, my dear. You'll look stunning." Dawn adds, pointing at Evelan and the dress, which Evelan had pulled away to get a better look at it.

"Thank you!" Evelan exclaims and changes quickly into the dress.

"Wonderful!" Dawn says, seeing the dress on Evelan. It was definitely one thing to see it against somebody and another entirely to see it on somebody.

"Time's up, girls!" Solaris calls again from the entrance.

"Ready!" the girls chorus back.

"Dawn, get out here now." Queen Dawn now calls from beside her husband.

"Coming!" Dawn calls back and runs for the entrance to the dais. "Good luck, Evelan!" Dawn calls over her shoulder at the Leo Princess.

"Who were you planning to dance with, dear?" Queen Dawn asks her daughter quietly as they resume their seats on the dais.

"I was thinking about that boy from Polaris. Cardinalus." Dawn answers just as quietly.

"That seems like a wonderful choice. Just hope that he'll come to claim you. The new zodiacs will be quite the rivals for attention." Queen Dawn replies smoothly.

Just then, Morrigan, Terra and the other new zodiacs started filing out into the room from Princess's side of the dais.

The Zodiacs slowly filtered into pairs. Some stayed the same; Maeva and Sean, Emily and Antonio, Lenny and Charles, and Janice and Rift namely; while Clair and Terra switch partners and other complex trades took place. Dawn looks slightly put out when Cardinalus, her aspired dance partner, made a great show of claiming Silver.

"If I may have the honor of claiming the Princess of the Stars for this dance?" asks an unfamiliar masculine voice to Dawn's left side.

Turning her gaze away from the ballroom, she sees the Prince from Saturn. Glancing quickly to her mother, who was now preoccupied by her father's eloquent pleas to claim her for the dancing, Dawn accepts Prince Andrew's proposal, takes his hand and follows him out into the midst of the waiting couples.

Four dances were always taught from childhood in the Star Kingdom and two would be needed at this particular occasion. One would be the Dance of Star Sol, the other being the Dance of the Stars. The children are also taught their provincial dance and homestar's dance but since the Stars' Palace belonged to no province in particular and the Palace was already on Sol, the provincial dance or another homestar's dance was not needed.

The music struck up and the couples, with varying abilities, flowed into the intricate steps of the Dance of Star Sol.

"Thank you. I believe the one I'd hoped to dance with claimed your partner." Dawn manages to say while dancing the steps she'd danced since she could remember.

"I believe he did. Silver hadn't planned on dancing at all." Andrew answers. Though he was not of the Star Kingdom, Dawn had to admit, Andrew was an able lead in the dance.

"Ah." Dawn replies and falls silent.

If a couple could match or supersede the King and Queen in the elegance of the dancing, it would have been Dawn and Andrew. Normally, Dawn would have partnered her brother out of sheer noninterest in boys, which made for a show but all knew that they were siblings so their dancing lacked the possible romance that held the King and Queen above them.

'Something's different about him compared to the other boys…' Dawn thinks as the music sweeps gently into the Dance of the Stars.

"You're quiet. What are you thinking about?" Andrew asks kindly.

"I'm just overwhelmed. This Sailorsun business and all." Dawn answers, shaking her head to dispel the feelings and thoughts that were racing through her mind.

"Think of it as an honor. After all, it is, to be in Princess Serenity's court." Andrew replies.

"I know it is but how can I so quickly accustom myself from being a princess to be protected to being a princess, guarded but also guarding?" Dawn responds.

"If I may suggest?" Andrew asks.

"I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want advice." Dawn retorts. This brings a smile from Andrew and a small chuckle from Dawn.

"Throw yourself into it. Nothing makes you adapt faster than confronting the problem headlong." Andrew advises.

"I'll have to wait until they recognize the planetary princesses." Dawn says thinking she had some time to get used to having the zodiacs around.

"That's next month." Andrew says, knowing that Dawn was trying to avoid her problem.

"What!?" Dawn exclaims, faltering on one of the steps and nearly tripping.

"Don't worry, Princess. That's what Silver's reaction was when she got that letter your mother sent last month." Andrew states placatingly, sweeping Dawn back up and making it seem like the Princess's dip was an embellishment on the usual dance step.

"Thank you. I would have looked quite the fool if I'd tripped up in a dance I know like the back of my hand." Dawn says.

"Indeed you would have." Andrew says with a small laugh.

"You didn't need to agree with me." Dawn says ruefully.

"Yes I did." Andrew retorts.

"All right. You did. Perhaps I'll ask your sister to teach me the Moon Kingdom's required dances. I'm sure I won't be as good at them as your are at the Star Kingdom's." Dawn admonishes.

"I wouldn't be so sure, Princess. And just who do you think will be your escort to your first Moon Kingdom function?" Andrew asks as the Dance of the Stars closes.

"Oryan, perhaps. Maybe Cardinalus." Dawn answers as Andrew escorts her back to her chair by the Queen's vacated throne.

"What about me?" Andrew asks, a sly grin almost crossing his face.

"What about you?" Dawn asks, a soft glare turned upon the Saturnian Prince.

"Well," Andrew begins, "if I were your escort, then you'd only need to follow my lead."

"Tis a kind offer you make, Prince Andrew, but will you not have to escort one of your other sisters to this function?" Dawn replies, the sly smile all hers now.

"True." Andrew responds ruefully. "Being the older brother certainly does get me roped into many escort jobs."

"Oryan it is, with lessons from your sister." Dawn says, the note of finality ringing in her voice, with an authoritative fist hitting the arm of her chair. Both Prince and Princess found this highly amusing and broke into gales of laughter.

For the next half hour, the conversation of Princess Dawn and Prince Andrew touched many subjects until…

"Clair has certainly taken to that Prince from Earth, hasn't she?" Dawn states with a slight smile. "And Oryan, I might lose him to Terra."

"You seem happy about this."

"I am. Earth is no small ally. It has its troubles, maybe more than its share, but they're very prosperous for what little room they have available." Dawn explains. Andrew seems taken aback at her information but recovers nicely.

"How do you know this, Princess?"

"My mother's Sailorlibra is Queen Oralia. She was also Oryan's, Clair's and my protocol instructor when we were young. I even visited once on a trip with my mother."

Dawn smiles broadly as her eyes follow her sister and brother dancing about the room.

"Most interesting I'm sure." Andrew comments in a not quite interested tone.

Dawn was too distracted with the free-floating thoughts coming from her siblings to notice the difference, and airily responds, "Hmm? Oh. Yes. Very much."

Andrew sighs and that finally snaps Dawn away from her siblings.

"I'm sorry if I seem slightly distracted. Clair, Oryan and I have a link between us that enables us to know the feelings and, most of the time, the thoughts of the others."

Dawn turns to look at Andrew as he stands, takes her hand in his and gently kisses it. Dawn looks inquiringly at him.

"I'm greatly enjoyed your company and dancing, my dear princess, but I'm afraid I need to take my leave." Andrew says formally but Dawn's look of serene inquiry changes to slitted anger as she rises from her chair. Clair and Oryan stop dancing with their respective partners to see what had upset Dawn.

"I am 'your princess' nothing." Dawn states in a deadly tone. Before Oryan or Clair could stop her or advise Dawn otherwise, Dawn had raised her left hand and slapped the Saturnian Prince. Dawn storms out of the room, leaving Andrew stunned and wondering what he'd done at the dais. Clair and Oryan excuse themselves quickly and follow Dawn equally fast.

Dawn was two floors away when she finally said something to siblings.

"Oryan, I suggest you stop girl-gazing and start learning the dances for the Moon Kingdom. You're going to escort me to the ball where they recognize the planetary princesses. Clair, tell Cardinalus that if he'll settle for one of the zodiacs, he can forget dancing with me. I won't be second choice to him."

Clair and Oryan stop as Dawn storms on.

"I wonder if she realizes that he didn't know that we consider 'my princess' to be a term of loving endearment?" Clair muses as she and Oryan turn to head back.

"I don't think she cares. I pity him though. No one wants to be in her bad graces." Oryan answers, amused.

Disclaimer and Authoress's Note: L'amour de… You have no idea how hard it was to squeeze Mitaiyoko for this. Then to get her to repeat it so I could type it? Lady defend me!

I don't own the planets in the Moon Kingdom, Queen Selenity, Princess Serenity, the Golden Kingdom Earth, or Prince Endymion. I created the Star Kingdom from scratch so please ask my permission before you use the idea. I own Queen Dawn Helios, King Solaris Helios, Princess Dawn Helios, Princess Clair Helios of Gemini, Prince Oryan Helios, King Hermes of Mercury, Queen Oralia of Earth, Prince Andrew of Saturn, Lord Sean of the Britains of Earth, Lord Antonio of the Mediterranean of Earth, Lord Alexander of Neptune, Duke Charles of Mercury, Count Carthoris of Mars, Princess Morrigan of Aires (Formerly of Mars), Princess Terra of Taurus (Formerly of Earth), Princess Karen of Cancer (Formerly Lady of the Moon), Princess Evelan of Leo (Formerly Lady of Sol), Princess Violet of Virgo (Formerly Duchess of Mercury), Princess Lenny of Libra (Formerly Countess of Venus), Princess Maeva of Scorpio (Formerly Lady of Pluto), Princess Janice of Sagittarius (Formerly of Jupiter), Princess Silver of Capricorn (Formerly of Saturn), Princess Emily of Aquarius (Formerly of Uranus), Princess Niona of Pisces (Formerly of Neptune). I owe the usage of Captain Gary Usar and Prince Rift Moondrake to GryffindorArcher and his brother. *pants for breath*

I know that the selection for the Zodiacs was slightly cheesy, (Ani-kami [in the background]: WITH ALL THIS CHEESE, WE'LL NEED EIGHT HUNDRED THOUSAND BOXES OF CRACKERS AND TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND PIZZAS TO CLEAR IT OUT!) *Tes-sama [in the control room]: Shut up, Ani-kami. * but I couldn't think of anything better, HTBT (honest truth be told). Anyways, if you have any better ideas, or you'd like to be my beta reader for this story, do e-mail me @ Animorfic1@aol.com, but don't flame me just for all the crackers you'll have to buy now.

Ai no wa… How do I do this??? Managing to keep all these characters straight is a feat in and of itself! I hope you liked though. I've already started on Chapter Two but it's likely to be quite a while before I post it, what with all my other stories. Please Review. It creates the possibility of me reviewing one of your stories, more if I like what I read. *raises her eyebrows multitudinous times in hint* Love, Light and Blessed Be all.

~Tes-sama