The banquet hall was filled with the elegant sound of classical music, and the chatter of the townspeople in their equally elegant garb. The public had on fancy masks, true to the theme of a masquerade ball. It was a promenade of beautiful evening gowns and distinguished tuxedos. There was laughter everywhere, and on the dance floor, couples swirled to the tune of a well-known waltz.

At the end of the banquet hall, the Queen Serenity observed her subjects with a content smile on her face. Her gentle face was filled with happiness and satisfaction as she examined each and every face in the room. All the faces were joyful, even under the fancy masks that covered their faces. Laughter and chatter confirmed what she had just seen. The Queen leaned back on her throne, at ease that everyone was having fun.

But she had missed seeing one face. There was a lone spiteful face in the cavorting crowd, and it stood in the shadow of one of the hall’s pillars. The face belonged to a tall, pretty red-haired woman. She wore an exquisite dress of purple velvet that showed off her well-formed figure. Her beautiful face, however, was twisted with extreme dislike for everything around her. Her narrowing eyes targeted the unknowing Queen, and bore holes right through her heart

She was known as Queen Beryl. Humble servant to the evil Queen Metallia. She had sworn to get ahold of the ginzuishou that would bring her mistress alive. And she knew that the Queen Serenity had the silver crystal. There in the shadows she stood, unnoticed by the Queen and everyone else in the room.

Or so she thought.

Out of the blue came a deep male voice, "Excuse me." In spite of herself, Beryl literally jumped in surprise. A tall, green-haired young man held his hand out to her. "Would you like to dance?" inquired the handsome young man with a slight bow.

Horrified and flustered at the question, Beryl paled suddenly. She could not come to terms with herself at what to answer, and she fell silent as she paused to think. What the hell should I answer, she thought, half-fuming and half-confused. If I kill this young man here and right now, I’ll blow my cover.

She turned cold at the thought. No, I wouldn’t want that to happen yet. The Serenity will surely throw me in the palace dungeons. She gratefully touched the mask that had concealed her identity. I’ll play it cool first, then I will punish this young man for disturbing me. Smiling the fakest smile she could muster, Queen Beryl placed her hand in the young man’s and he led her to the dance floor. Awkwardly, Beryl placed her hand on the youth’s shoulder, while he slipped a hand around her waist. She stiffened suddenly. I don’t know how to dance, she recollected with terror.

Her fears melted away as the youth started to whisk her away in a waltz, and she floated unconsciously across the room. Well, isn’t this convenient, she thought. Perhaps I will spare the youth after all…

As they glided to the music, Beryl kept her stony stare on the Queen Serenity’s neck and she plotted silently, gritting her teeth. Meanwhile the young man kept his admiring stare on Beryl’s neck, and plotted silently, too, smiling to himself.

Suddenly, the banquet hall’s doors flew open. A herald blew his trumpet, and the room fell silent. All dancing fell to a halt. Beryl and the young man stopped dancing as well. The Queen Serenity stood up from the other side of the room, ready to welcome the royal visitors. Beryl strained her eyes for a better view.

The herald announced, in a loud and audible voice, "Your Royal Highness, may I present the Princess Serenity!" All the townspeople cleared the aisle for the Queen’s daughter to walk through, and promptly fell on their knees in respect. The green-haired youth, like all the others, also kneeled on the banquet hall floor, while Beryl rebelliously stood her ground, an obvious refusal to pay her respects to the Moon Imperial Family.

The young man looked up in surprise to see Beryl still standing defiantly. "What are you doing?" he whispered with an amused smile on his face. "Get down here! Man, you are funny!" With that, he pulled Beryl’s skirt hard to bring her to her knees. Caught unaware, Queen Beryl’s legs collapsed underneath her, and she landed unceremoniously hard on her seat. Steaming with anger, Beryl tried to regain her composure as she threw a menacing stare at the youth beside her. The unassuming young man, in turn, smiled amiably at her, and helped her kneel down properly.

At last, the Princess Serenity emerged in the doorway. Beryl clenched her fists, trying hard to control the overwhelming urge to stab the princess. She gritted her teeth as she watched the beautiful blonde princess walk down the stairs. The townspeople bowed their heads reverently as the smiling princess in the white gown and the silver sequined mask took her throne beside her mother, Queen Serenity.

"Presenting, the Princess of Mercury!" The Princess Mercury started down the stairs. She was equally beautiful, wearing a sky-blue gown, an ice-blue mask and a headband of lilies-of-the-valley in her blue-black hair. As each of the princesses were presented, all wearing satin gowns and masks, all the people kept their head down and their hats off.

All except Queen Beryl once again. She stared at each princess menacingly.

"Presenting the Prince of the Earth!" Queen Beryl, whose hardened expressions softened to that of pure infatuation, suddenly held her breath as she watched Prince Endymion walk down the stairs in his suit of armor. His black hair shone in the light, and his blue eyes were concealed below the mask he wore. She was mesmerized at his sight, and she smiled slightly, if not a little wistfully.

Following him were his four generals. The first general, blond-haired, serious Jadeite, proceeded down the stairs alongside Nephrite, the auburn-haired second general. The third general was Zoicite, blond-haired, vain-looking Zoicite. He was walking down the stairs beside the platinum blonde Kunzite, the fourth general.

The four generals, Beryl thought with an evil smile as she was kneeling down. My ideal allies. So these are the fabled four generals honorable Mistress Queen Metallia told me about. I’m sure they will surely be useful in my mission. And I will get them on my side, just by buttering the right palms.

The green-haired youth’s voice shook her out of her reverie, "Excuse me, miss?" Beryl turned around irritably, then she realized in horror that she was the only one on her knees. Embarrassed and flushed in the face, she stood up, and tried desperately to regain composure. The young man looked at her worriedly. "Are you okay?" "I’m fine," Beryl said. The youth seemed genuinely relieved.

Suddenly, out of the blue, he asked her, "Excuse me again, miss, but I don’t think I caught your name yet." "It’s Beryl," she replied distractedly as she kept her stare on the Prince Endymion this time. "Oh, so um, Beryl," the youth said. "I’m Hayao. Would you grant me the pleasure of getting you a drink?"

She could not believe her ears. This guy Hayao was making a play for her. Just who did he think he was? Smiling a devious smile, and trying not to laugh out loud, she told Hayao, "Oh, sorry, but you’re not the man I’m looking for." With that, she walked off. The men I’m looking for are the four generals, not you. My mission is to find them for my Mistress, she thought. They’re the ones who can help me get the ginzuishou. She smiled a wicked smile. Soon you will be the most powerful being in the galaxy, Queen Metallia--

Meanwhile, Hayao watched her walk purposely off. He shrugged. Struck out again, he thought. Oh well…

He grabbed his second glass of champagne from a passing waiter and surveyed the crowd. A cute blonde in a green silk dress caught his eye somewhere east. Swiping yet another champagne from the same waiter, Hayao was soon on his way to the east side of the banquet hall, combing his hair hastily with his fingers.