Zoi was now leaving the ballroom, have already made sure that none of his friends had seen him, and headed towards the Gardens. He was walking slowly, deep in his thoughts. What do that Mercury Princess has that makes me feel so strange? I must admit I've felt a little lonely in the past months, but that's no excuse to feel so excited at the sight of a young girl. How old may she be? Fourteen, fifteen? And what would an old 22 year-old lone wolf like me be doing with a kid like her? Come on Zoi, wake up! The night was quiet, a little breeze moved his hair and cape, and the roses and flowers offered his distracted eyes a wonderful sight.

He was walking in between a rose bush and some strange blue flower that he hadn't seen before. Hmmm, blue flowers. Strange. What substance may they use for survival? Chlorophyll? Nahh, it would be green. Even though they are strange, they are beautiful; deep blue, just as her hair. This would be a perfect comparison for her. As marvelous as she is... Zoi, shut up. You are starting to get romantic in here. Forget about her. She is a Princess, and you are just Endymion's guardian. These were the thoughts that crossed through his mind, as he walked, heading North.

He was now entering a pretty little open space. In the middle of it, a fountain. Silvery water spread into the night's air, and a rhythmic sound filled his ears. The stars shone in the sky, making the water to shine with them. It was a very calm place, and he felt in peace in there. He walked towards the fountain, and sat in the edge. He looked at his reflection in the water, and saw his face, smiling sadly at him. Suddenly, the water seemed to tremble, and then, another face was looking at him.

It was a little face, with pink lips, and blue eyes. Blue hair was harmoniously moving with the water movement, until Zoisite splashed some water around, vanishing the image. Zoi, this is it. You have crossed the limit now. Imagining her face in the water, ha! You are getting worse than Jadeite with his horrible poetry when he falls in love. Now stop thinking about her. You are going home now! But before he could whisper the single word that would take him home, footsteps interrupted his concentration.

Curiosity made him back off, hiding in the fountain's shadow. Who may be here at this hour? Everyone should be at the party. Let's see who has come here to join me. He impatiently waited, until a figure entered the clearing. The shadows of the trees hid its face. It was wearing a light blue dress, and was rather small. A little flame of hope was turned on in his heart. And then, as quickly as it had appeared, it moved into the light. Surprise almost made Zoisite to fall into the fountain, but her face made him forget his thoughts.

It was Lady Mercury, but not the one he had seen in the welcome ceremony, with a beautiful face; this one seemed to be at the edge of fainting, and at the peak of human terror. Her pretty eyes were shining, looking everywhere for a possible way of escaping. Her breathing was hard and quick, evidence of a long run. Her dress was torn, all full of holes, an unmistakable proof that she had slashed it with the bushes, in her desperate escape.

She was on the verge of crying, by the way water sparkled in her eyes. She ran to the fountain, not noticing Zoi standing in the dark. She splashed her face in the crystalline water, and seemed to calm down a lot. She breathed deeply, and sat where Zoi was just seconds ago. She looked around, and for the first time, discovered she wasn't alone. Mercury only saw a male body, and jumped away, in a defense pose, saying: "You won't get me that easy, Ren."

Having been seen, Zoisite stepped into the light, and said to the nervous Princess in front of him: "Excuse me, milady, but I think you are mistaken me for someone else."

At the sound of his voice, she relaxed, and looking surprised, whispered: "You are not Ren. Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Zoisite tried to calm his one-thousand-times-per-minute beating heart, and answered: "Excuse me, Lady Mercury. I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Zoisite, Lord of Crystal, one of the four Generals of Prince Endymion of Earth." He bowed, as only earthlings knew how to do it, and smiled reassuringly at her.

For the first time, she smiled, and answered: "I am Princess Mercury, as you already seem to know. Also the Mercury Senshi, and one of the Inner Senshi, sworn to protect Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom." She bowed gracefully, and when she resumed her standing position, said, playfully: "But I think I don't make such an impression with this dress."

They laughed, until Zoi asked: "Excuse me, Lady Mercury, I know it's none of my business, but what happened to your dress?"

Immediately, Mercury stopped laughing, and resumed her scared attitude, and answered: "I just... slashed it when I fell back there. It's just that, nothing else."

The tone of her voice was frightened, and Zoi asked again: "Lady Mercury, I don't think that's what happened. Please tell me the truth, maybe I can help you." Even though his voice was formal, his whole body ached in desire to help her, comfort her, and to bring back that beautiful smile to her face. Who ever scared her like that, will die slowly by my hand. How dare anyone play with her like this?

She sighed, and whispered: "I don't think so. No one can help me. I'm alone. He will get me, sooner or later."

"Get you? Is someone chasing you?" he said, worried.

Mercury sat in the fountain again, and answered, while playing with her hand in the water: "Yes. He is after me. I think I lost him back there, but he will soon find me. There is no way of escaping."

Zoi added two with two, and got five. "You mean Ren, the Prince of Saturn is chasing you?"

At the mention of that name, Mercury closed her eyes, and her entire face stiffened in pain. "It's you isn't it? I didn't know you had the power to change your appearance. Anyway, I give up, just be quick." She stood up, and with her eyes closed stood still, waiting for something to happen.