"Guess who!"

The Princess Mars smiled knowingly to herself as she looked fondly at the Princess Jupiter. "Ahh, Mako-chan, you'll never guess who it is," she laughingly said as she delicately took a sip of the icy fruit juice upon the table. "It's someone you've been wanting to see very, very much." As the surprised Princess Jupiter quickly put her smooth hands over the seemingly more muscular ones that covered her eyes, she laughed.

"This is all too easy, Rei-chan. I think I'll have some of those bonbons now, then I'll guess later," the pretty brown-haired princess joked, blindly feeling for the plate of sweet cakes that sat on the table. At this, the auburn-haired man behind her retorted affably, "Wait, that's not fair! What am I supposed to do while you eat? I can't keep my hands clamped on your head forever!"

Below what he covered with his hands, Mars saw Jupiter's lips curling into a catty grin. "Hmm," she murmured, putting her hands over his once again and running her fingers over them. They felt warm and strong on her face. "You know, that's not such a bad idea!" said she, as Princess Mars chuckled over her glass of juice.

"Well, a good idea it would have been—but I would not think of staying behind this maiden when I can be beside her, instead!"

The hands on Princess Jupiter's emerald eyes were lifted, and on her cheek, the auburn-haired man bestowed a light kiss. At this affectionate exchange, Mars grinned and gestured to the seat on her left, beside the beaming Jupiter.

"Another lovely day, isn't it, General Nephrite?" the raven-haired princess politely inquired of their tall visitor. The stately general nodded as he took a look at his wonderful surroundings. The sun was shining brightly in the azure sky, and from the white marble balcony where they sat to take their tea, it could be seen that the plants in the palace grounds were in full bloom.

"Yes, and I wish that it would be like this for the rest of our stay here in the Silver Millenium, Princess," he replied with an admiring smile as he surveyed the beauty around him, particularly of a certain chestnut-haired princess dressed in her simple forest green frock. Their eyes met and they exchanged special wordless greetings as the Princess Mars looked far away absently.

"Which reminds me, Your Highness," Nephrite added, touching the Princess Mars lightly on the arm as he held the other princess's hand tightly in his own. "It's such a wonderful day, and I've come to steal this lovely damsel from you for today, if you will so kindly permit me," he, with both eyebrows cocked in expectation, asked of Mars as she turned to look at him and the smiling Jupiter.

The lovely princess nodded, and replied, "But of course, my good general. But if I will permit you, it will not be stealing anymore, but borrowing!"

Nephrite stood up, wrinkled his brow and, playing along with the charade, turned to the beautiful maiden by his side and told her, "She's right, o fair goddess of mine! How then shall I take you away?"

With twinkling velvety green eyes, the Princess Jupiter shrugged. "I'd rather you steal me, my dear," she laughingly told her debonair escort as he dramatically scooped her up in his strong arms. "It seems to be more romantic that way…"

With that, the happy twosome sauntered away, leaving Princess Mars to admire her beautiful surroundings alone.

She ran her fingers slowly across the black jade of the Dark Rebirth. It was a sleek, lustrous black, smooth and glassy to the touch, cold and unwelcoming upon the flesh of her fingers. Her long nails explored the ridges and corners of the ebony-colored apparatus, her violetish eyes full of evil fascination.

The Queen Beryl smiled. She slowly moved a few steps back, her hand absently twitching to magically conjure up a crystal goblet half-filled with a luscious scarlet wine. As she moved farther back to witness the Dark Rebirth in all its nefarious glory, she took a quick swig of wine from the crystal glass she now held in her hand. The wine was strong, and the little she took momentarily seized her with a spell of dizziness.

She smiled triumphantly in spite of her fleeting stupor. The Dark Rebirth, Beryl exulted silently as she admiringly looked up and down the huge device made of shiny black jade. How long have I waited to use you... Such dark and forbidding wonders you hold!

With slow, careful steps she made her way around the dimly lit room to her cold ebony-black throne. Queen Beryl sat down on her throne and rested her elbow on the right armrest, her head cocking up and down on the back of her hand. But alas, I must wait, my sweet… I simply can't use you—not until love has worked its potent brew on my generals.

Satisfied with this, she stood up and resolutely drank the remaining liquor the crystal held. The strength of the spirit was staggering. Struggling with her drunkenness, the malevolent queen cackled as she stumbled toward the dragon claw-shaped edifice in the middle of the room. Soon, dark one, soon…

With a sudden shot of energy coursing through her veins, she hurled the empty crystal against the wall of deep scarlet corundum. As the shards of crystal scattered across the room, she chuckled softly to herself until she fell asleep against the coldness of the Dark Rebirth…

The Princess Mars was leaning over the balcony railing, surveying the lush greenery that extended to as far as she could see. The flowers that were scattered among the green were all in full bloom and seemed to radiate happiness. The clouds sparsely distributed in the light blue sky were floating freely, periodically dotted by flocks of birds in flight. In the distance, she could see the rolling hills of the countryside, right beside the regal slopes of Tranquility.

It was a comforting sight, to be sure, yet violet eyes still quivered underneath violet brows. The pensive princess crossed her hands and set both her elbows down on the cool marble railing. She instinctively rubbed her hands up and down her arms to keep herself from shivering at a most unpleasant memory.

A woman. It was merely a silhouette, but I know it was a woman. A woman with long flowing hair. The raven-haired princess stood in her pensive trance as she tried to recollect details of a dream. Merely a silhouette. A silhouette with four shadows.

She gasped softly as a realization hit her.

"Guess who!"

The Princess Mars wrinkled her nose as two strong hands blocked the palace grounds from view. "Tell me, Jadeite, did you talk with Nephrite about this?" she inquired of the blonde general, as she tried to lift his hands off of her face. With a hesitant shake of the head, the man behind her slowly removed his clutch on the fair princess's eyes and proceeded to stand beside her as she leaned on the marble balcony railing.

"Good morning, Princess," the foiled General meekly said as he came up beside her.

"Good morning, Jadeite-san." She did not look at him.

"How are you today, my dear?"

An elegant eyebrow cocked high at the term of endearment used. "Fine. And you?"

"Uh, impeccable, as well."

Why is he so nervous? wondered the mildly amused Princess Mars. To disguise the smile that was forming on her lips she quickly turned eastward to look at the busy bustle of the town. However, as an afterthought, she turned once again to glance at the General Jadeite, who, since his foiled surprise arrival, didn't speak in complete sentences anymore. Her amusement and curiosity was met with a nervous, far-off expression on the General's part, as he knitted his brows and thought to himself, oblivious to the Princess' glance…

She's so cold. What's wrong? Why won't she even look at me? he wondered glumly as lovely violet eyes searched the profile of his unmoving, serious face.

   

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