A fan fic by Caleyndar.
<simone@coastal.net.au>
Rating: PG.

Notes: This installment of the fan fic takes place directly
after the end of Part One: Innocent Life. The setting
is changed. The planet Earth no longer comes into the
story.
        Once again, thanks to those who have e-mailed me.
Please, if you have any questions or comments, please send
them to me; I vow to reply to all e-mails.

Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me; only the
few I make up. The story, however, is mine.

The Name Endymion...

Part Two: A Deeper Truth...

Chapter One...

        Coldness surrounded me. It was as if my body was
immersed in icy waters in the darkest depths. And not only
that. I felt as if I was drowning, unable to breath, unable
to awaken to take a breath. Was I dying? Where was the
light? Where were the angels? Was that the music of Heaven
I heard so softly being played? It sounds like nothing I had
ever heard. Sweet, soft, and very calming and peaceful.
Perhaps it was the song of the angels. I must be dead.
        My eyes opened slowly. A great warm light spilled
into them, blinding me momentarily. As the brightness faded,
my eyes focused on a magnificently painted ceiling. Crystal
chandeliers hung from it, lighting the huge room with warm
light. Feeling was beginning to come back to me. The ice was
melting, and life seemed to come back to me. The music I had
heard came from this room, though I could not see the
source. I realised I was lying on my back, staring up at the
painted ceiling. The floor underneath my prone body was
marble, and there were white columns that stretched up to
the ceiling from the floor, supporting them. The columns,
did they look like dragons?
        Time passed as I laid there and stared up at the
ceiling. Energy began to return to me, and I found that I
could once again move. Slowly, I raised myself off the
marble floor. It seemed that the huge room I found myself
in, with it's high ceiling and columns, was a throne room.
There was no one there now. The golden throne with it's
dragon guards was empty, bare.
        I looked down at myself. I was still wearing the
tuxedo I had hired out for the dance party. It must have
been quite awhile since I was knocked out, for I was
starving. I glanced to my wrist to see the time, but the
watch was no longer there. Strange. Running a hand through
I hair, I proceeded to take a better look around.
        The throne room was lavished with wealth. Gems
studded the walls and the dragon columns. The throne was
made of solid gold as far as I could tell. The eyes of the
dragons were rubies, and the scales emeralds. Who ever was
the king here must be extremely rich.
        Where was I? By the decorations within this room,
had I been asked to guess, I would have said somewhere in
the Dark Dragon Kingdom. And had I been the only one taken
from the dance hall? Was Serena and all my other friends
alright? At least Nick and I had been able to say goodbye.
        Strangely, I felt no anger. At least, not yet. I
knew this was to happen; there was nothing I could do.
Wasting my hatred on destiny was foolish. Better to keep my
energy and face the foe.
        My senses suddenly told me to be alert. I tensed,
and tried to face every direction at the same time. Turning
my back to the throne, I watched the huge double doors that
seemed to be the only entrance to the room.
        "It is wonderful to see you again, Endymion," a
familiar voice rang out through the room.
        I turned to face the throne, surprised slightly
now to see a youthful figure sitting casually in it, legs
drawn up off the ground, one hooked over the arm rest.
Walking closer, I realised it was Armand, dressed in black,
a fur lined cloak thrown over his shoulder carelessly.
        "I am sorry for interrupting your little dance
party like that, but I can't have threats on your life like
that. I had planned to wait until after your camp, but the
Shadow Kingdom had decided to show it's ugly face," Armand
said as a crystal goblet appeared in his hand filled with
a dark red liquid.
        "Are all my friends alright?" I asked, concerned.
        Armand looked at me with a raised eyebrow and a
smirk on his face. "To whom do you refer, Prince of the
Earth Kingdom? The Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom,
or the Prince of the Black Moon Kingdom and his brother?"
        Confusion crossed my face, and I narrowed my eyes
at him. "What do you mean 'Princess Serenity of the Moon
Kingdom'?" I demanded. "She told me she was the Princess
of the Crystal Star Kingdom. And I referred to my friends
Nicolas, Dawn, David and Luke."
        "Oh, Nicolas and Dawn are here somewhere. David and
Luke are fine, back on Earth," Armand replied. "And my dear
mortal friend, as for Serenity telling you she belonged to
the Crystal Star Kingdom, well, that was a little white
lie. The Crystal Star Kingdom has been cut off from the
rest of this galaxy for centuries."
        I looked away, hurt, unwilling to believe what he
said was true. "But why would she lie to me? She and I
loved each other," I whispered. A deep hurt clutched my
heart.
        "Love?" Armand asked, laughing. "You may have loved
her, but she only used you. Don't you see? Her little
Kingdom is too weak, even with the Black Moon Kingdom. If
you were to work with her, and bring the Earth Kingdom on
her side, then she could win this little war. I told you
all this before, my dear young mortal friend. Her kingdom,
if you remember, destroyed yours. It then seeked to control
your power. Why else do you think she appeared when she
did? To find you, to try to force you into an alliance
with them so they would be powerful enough to win this
war."
        "I don't believe what you're saying," I said,
glaring at him.
        "Believe it or not, it's the truth. Besides, what
have I told you that is not true?" Armand asked, smiling
at me. He jumped off the throne, throwing the crystal glass
away. It landed on the marble floor, breaking, spilling the
dark red liquid. He saw me looking at it, almost entranced.
"Don't worry, it's only human blood. Some one will clean
it up."
        "Tell how it is I am here," I said coldly.
        "Easy. When everyone was knocked out by the gas,
some of my people merely went in and picked out the people
wearing the watches," Armand materialised a watch which
looked exactly like the one I had been given for doing well
in the IQ competition. "We then teleported you here."
        "So Nick and Dawn are here," I muttered.
        "I said they were, didn't I?" he asked with a
smile.
        "But why did you take them?" I asked, not
understanding his motives.
        "Because I need more recruits. What better way than
to gather the most intelligent humans from a back water
world? No one will care. Besides, I had to bring you here,
didn't I?" Armand asked, laughing again. He walked passed
me and opened the huge double door with a gesture of his
hands. "Come. I'll show you to your new quarters. You can
rest there, and feed yourself, for surely you must be
hungry. After that, we'll have a longer talk. About your
future."
        I followed him. The heavy door closed behind me,
and I found myself in a long, wide hall, lined with status
and other various sculptures. There were monsters,
unicorns, dragons, all manners of creatures. A mural
covered the far wall, and it seemed to be an artistic
representation of the joining of Heaven and Hell; Goodness
and Evil merging and becoming one.
        Down grand corridors we went, also filled with art
and beauty. Guards were stationed at each intersection, but
they paid Armand and me no mind. The corridor we walked
along now had double doors every now and then, all painted
white, with golden handles and a gold number plate on them.
        Armand stopped at one, and handed me a small key
which looked like a dragon. "This is your quarters, number
three seven six. I'll return tomorrow, and we can 'chit-
chat'. Just a piece of advice, 'Darien'. Don't let on to
anyone else who you really are. I know that your friend
Nicolas knows. Just make sure he doesn't tell anyone else."
        I opened the door and stepped inside. Armand shut
the door behind me, leaving me to explore the extravagant
suite of rooms which was to be my new home for the
foreseeable future.
        The suit of rooms were large and well furnished,
like everything else I had witnessed here. There was a
kitchen filled with all the necessary appliances to cook
up a feast. It was spotless and clean, the surfaces
gleaming in the light. The bathroom was tiled, with a
marble spar bath which could fit up to five. I glanced at
all this luxury wide eyed; I had never been to a place such
as this. The bedroom was huge, sporting a king sized bed
with a satin canopy. The huge walk in wardrobe housed many
sets of clothing; from uniforms in various colours to
formal outfits. A study adjoined the bedroom, which had a
very complete computer station, and a large oak desk and
high backed chair. Books lined one wall completely;
stretching towards to heavens endless volumes of text and
pictures. The lounge room had a huge entertainment system,
with a wide screen television, with surround sound
speakers. The lounge was covered with soft white leather,
and the floor covered with thick cream carpet.
        The first stop I made after surveying my quarters
was the kitchen. There I whipped up something to eat and
drink, marvelling at the high tech appliances and how they
seemed to be able to produce a decent meal out of anything
that was edible, and make it taste good too.
        I was quite full and content when I walked into
the bathroom to clean myself up. My hair was messed, and
my eyes were blood shot. Though I had no doubt been
sleeping for hours, I felt as though I had been awake for
days. There was nothing I wanted to do more after leaving
the bathroom than to get out of this tuxedo and into that
soft king sized bed lined with silk sheets.
        Taking off my shoes and unclasping the cape from
my shoulders, I let it drop to the floor. The plush carpet
felt so soft under my tired feet; it was like walking on
clouds. I changed into what appeared to be cloths fit for
sleep, and dumped my rumpled tuxedo in the laundry chute.
I then slipped under the covers and abandoned myself to
sleep.
        Dreams plagued me. Armand's words kept on coming
back to me. Of Serenity's betrayal. Of everything she had
ever been to me was nothing more than a lie. And the pain
of leaving my innocent life behind. My loving family; my
sweet little sister Michelle. I did not even say goodbye.
Wild Spirit, my beloved horse, who had made life bearable
after I had found out the truth about myself and my legacy.
David and Luke, who had been my friends for so long.
        But it always came back to Serenity. She had said
she loved me. And I had believed her with my entire soul.
I had loved her too. Would have given her the world was it
mine to give. To find out her true motive for being on
Earth. To find out she did not love me. It hurt. Deeply.
She used me. She lied to me. She played with my heart and
crushed it between her delicate fingers.
        I was crying when I awoke. Silently. The tears
streamed down my face; two endless rivers of pain and
anger, confusion and hatred. The darkness I had know so
long ago was coming back to me. And how I loathed it. I
didn't want the darkness, but I could not bare feeling all
these emotions either.
        "Love hurts, doesn't it?" Armand's soft voice said
in my ear.
        My eyes flew wide open, surprised. The tears ceased
to flow.
        He was leaning over me as I laid on the bed.
Dressed immaculately in fine silk and satin of dark red
and black, his full auburn hair brushed back from his
angelic face, he appeared like an upper class young man.
A soft smiled played over his full deep red lips,
contrasting with his white skin. "I take it you're pleased
with the accommodation I have provided for you?"
        I sat up, running a hand through my messed up black
hair. "Yes, very," I replied, my voice sticking in my dry
throat.
        Armand pulled me out of bed with a single arm. He
was very strong. While I delt with waking up further, he
had walked into my wardrobe and pulled out a black uniform
with the insignia of a dragon in gold on the breast pocket.
He gave it to me and pushed my sleep ridden body towards
the bathroom so that I could change.
        The uniform fitted perfectly, and when I exited
the bathroom, I found Armand already seated at the bar next
to the kitchen, with a steam plate of food set on the table
for me. I sat down across from him and started to eat. He
watched me do so with interest, which I found rather
disturbing.
        "You know, Endymion, I have not tasted food of such
sorts in over eight hundred years," Armand murmured
absently. "Ah, but the taste of human blood. There is
nothing in comparison to it. It's not just the blood
though. It's the life that accompanies it. The surrender
of it to me."
        I glanced at him, uneasy.
        He looked at my expression and laughed. "Oh, don't
worry, my dear Prince. I have no mind to kill you. Finish
your breakfast."
        I complied.
        After setting the plate in the dishwasher, I
returned to the table Armand was sitting at. He seemed to
be staring off into space, eyes glazed over, thinking.
        "This must be so confusing for you," he said at
last, still not meeting my gaze. "The war, your whole
kingdom. My part in it. But then, life itself is confusing.
Perhaps I should begin by telling you how everything
relates to everything else."
        "I would like that," I replied, settling in for
the long conversation.
        "As you already know, there are seven known
kingdoms in this galaxy, but not all of them are at war.
The Earth Kingdom is now merely two fragments in this
puzzle; the Earth Kingdom, and the Dark Earth Kingdom. The
Earth Kingdom is neutral. The Dark Earth Kingdom has an
alliance with my kingdom, the Dark Dragon Kingdom. We fight
against the Moon Kingdom who is allianced with the Black
Moon Kingdom," Armand began, staring off into space still.
        "But why is there a war in the first place? Why
the conflict?" I inquired.
        "I will get to that, if you can just be patient,"
Armand replied, smiling at me as if I was a little boy,
one who asked too many questions all the time.
        "Alright. But please. Explain to me why Serenity
lied to me about what kingdom she belonged to," I said,
feeling the hurt and pain sharply.
        "Simple. She understood that you knew that her
Moon Kingdom destroyed your kingdom, and if she had told
you she belonged to it, you would never have even
considered striking an alliance with her to help her win
this war," Armand replied patiently. "To continue, there
are still another three kingdoms; the Shadow, the Crystal
Star, and the Sun Kingdom. The Shadow Kingdom is a very
powerful kingdom who seeks to destroy all others in any
means possible in order to obtain complete control over
this galaxy. The Crystal Star Kingdom is independent; it
has lived in isolation for centuries with no outside
contact. I doubt they even know there is a war raging
outside their Space Divider Field. And the Sun Kingdom,
like the Earth Kingdom, is neutral."
        "So basically, three are three active sides in
this war," I muttered, staring down at my plate of food.
"This side, with the Dark Earth and Dark Dragon, Serenity's
side, with the Moon and Black Moon, and the third side, the
Shadow."
        "Correct," Armand said, smiling softly. "Now, as
for why the war even exist. I told you briefly back on
Earth when we met. The reason can be described in one word;
greed. The war began when you were born. The Moon wanted
the power of the Earth Kingdom, thus it attacked and killed
your parents, and tried to take you. That's the reason you
were taken to Earth; for protection. Your Earth Kingdom was
greatly wounded. Half of what remains is not allianced with
my kingdom. The Black Moon, seeing the power of the Moon,
joined it. My side fights against it as even now it tries
to gain more power, more planets, more slaves. And the

Shadow. Well, it joined the war simply because it saw it
was a good time to attack already weakened kingdoms and
take over them. They joined because of greed also." Armand
paused. "I do not understand. Why do humans want so much
power?"
        I smiled at him. He looked intently at me, waiting
for an answer. "Not all humans are like that. I hate the
power I possess. But some crave it because they love to
have control over everyone and everything. Just as you
crave the surrender of life to you from your victims."
        He stared at me with his large brown eyes. He
didn't look a day over seventeen. "I don't remember how it
is to crave anything else. Only love, companionship, life,
blood."
        I looked back at him. "Is that what being a vampire
is? All else becomes trivial, so that nothing else aside
from those few things are important?"
        "In a way, yes. I still have my values, my beliefs;
everything that makes me who I am. And I know I can not
live without those. It's true, though, what you say. All
else looses it's meaning. After eight hundred years, not
much else matters. One could say, after such a long time,
one gets tired of living. I am. But I am also afraid to
die, to move into a relm where nothing exists but eternal
darkness. It is what I fear to most; that nothing exists
after death," Armand replied.
        "I'm not afraid to die. I look forward to it," I
said softly. "Sometimes, I think it would be better, that
eternal darkness, rather than suffer what life forces apon
me."
        Armand studied me for a moment. I could feel his
mental fingers touching my mind, trying to find out if I
truely believed what I had said to him. I let him see,
opening my mind completely to him. He soon withdrew, and
gazed at me with his eyes, filled with something not unlike
amusement, but also tinged with sadness, pity. "I can
understand why you say that. I believe that everyone feels
that way some time in their life. But Darien, dying is not
the answer. You have a destiny. You owe your people to
complete it, to rebuild your kingdom, to make it powerful
once more."
        "Is that why you brought me here? Why you took me
away from Earth, and all those I have known and loved?" I
asked him. My tone had no hardness in it, no accusations.
        "Partly. And because you did not belong there,"
Armand answered.
        I finished my breakfast and placed the plate in the
dish washer. "And how will I go about rebuilding my
kingdom? It's true, is it not, that everyone thinks I'm
dead? And my father and mother are dead. I doubt my people
will just accept I am their Prince."
        "Very true. And your people will most likely not.
When the time comes, the symbol apon your forehead will
convince them; only the Prince ever had that symbol. But
that time is a while yet. You're still too young, and you
know almost nothing of this galaxy. You must learn that
first. That is why I have decided that you will go into
training with all the other recruits from Earth. It will
teach you what you need to know," Armand answered.
"Training will begin tomorrow; there'll be a meeting. Use
today to go and see your friends, and to explore the space
station. But remember; tell no one of who you really are,
Darien." He rose from his seat and walked towards the door.
        I followed him, glancing over his striking figure.
It was hard to imagine this boy as a killer. He looked too
innocent, too young and boyish.
        "I shall see you tomorrow," Armand said as he
pulled open the door. "And here. This is an access card
which will allow you to go into various places in the
station, and into my room should you ever want to see me
privately." With that, he was gone.
        I looked down at the small card I held in my hand,
and then slipped it into a pocket in my outfit. Turning, I
walked to an information computer situated in the wall next
to the door. From it, I found the room where Nick was
lodged, and I hurried out of mine.
        It was not far, only a few doors down from my own
quarters. The doors were exactly the same, with the
exception of the number, which read three eight six. It was
on the same side of the corridor as my own. I paused in
front of the white double doors, wondering what I would say
to him when I laid eyes on him. How would he take the news
that we were no longer on Earth? And what of Dawn? I shook
my head and knocked on the wooden door.
        Moments passed, and then the muffled reply coming
from with in that told me to wait. Nick finally pulled open
the door, with the only thing adorning his lean body being
a towel. His blond hair was dripping with water, and it
glistened over his entire body as well. At first, he seemed
a little shocked to see me standing there, and I him,
dressed like so. He pulled himself together and gestured
for me to come in, shutting the door once I had walked
through.
        His suite of rooms were almost identical to mine,
except for a few variations on the decorations here and
there. Nick walked quickly passed me and into his bed room,
saying for me to sit down while he dried off. A few minutes
passed, and Nick came out, hair briefly dried, and himself
clothed in a similar outfit to my own.
        "I seems to me you're enjoying your stay here," I
commented when Nick finally sat down across from me in the
white leather lounge set.
        "You must admit, it would be an awful waste to
pass up an opportunity to enjoy a life of luxury," Nick
replied, a lopsided grin on his handsome face. "But tell
me, do you know what is going on? I mean, I woke up some
time yesterday and found myself lying on this very couch,
still dressed in the outfit I wore to the dance party. The
door, I found," he waved his hand to the entrance, "was
unlocked. But I dared not venture outside of it; I was so
confused. And then, I find you here."
        "So I take it no one has yet talked to you. The
person running this entire operation has come to me.
Apparently, he needed more recruits for a little war he
has going on, and he thought Earth was the perfect source
for such people," I replied. "Training starts tomorrow."
        Nick stared at me wide eyed, almost as if he did
not believe me.
        I continued. "Dawn is here also, as well as the
two others who scored highest from our school in that IQ
competition. So I guess it wasn't pointless."
        "Dawn is here?" Nick whispered. "I have to see her,
Darien! Can you take me to her?"
        "Yes. Let me just find out where she is," I said,
and got up and walked over to the computer. Nick was right
behind me, looking over my shoulder as I asked the computer
where Dawn's rooms were. It told me with only the slightest
delay.
        We walked slowly down the well lit and slightly
over decorated corridors, passing a few guards here and
there. They paid us no mind; they merely stood there as if
they were nothing more than stone status. No one else
haunted these hall ways; we passed no one on our way.
        "Nick, why do you seem so calm, so accepting of
all this?" I asked suddenly.
        He paused and looked at me. "You mean, rather than
being in hysterics and panicking that we are no longer on
Earth; that we are on a space station hanging in the
emptiness of space?"
        "Yes. And also that you seem to feel indifferent
about leaving everything you have ever known behind," I
replied carefully.
        "You mean my parents, our friends," Nick stated.
"Darien, of course I miss them, and I wish this never
happened. But look at it another way. On Earth, we had
nothing going for us. We would probably have lived a
pointless life and then died. At least here, we can see
what the galaxy has to offer, and we have the chance to
make a difference."
        I reflected on this. It seemed to me that Nick had
grown up alot over the past few days. "I understand why you
see and believe that. In a way, I believe the same thing.
But I can't help but think about our families. I mean,
won't they be worried sick over us? Won't they be in
hysterics over our disappearance? And what about our
horses?"
        "I'm surprised you haven't said anything about
Serena," Nick replied, ignoring my questions. It was as if
he knew how they felt, and didn't want to dwell over the
issue.
        "What is there to say?" I asked him darkly. "I
don't know what to believe, but it seems she used me. And
for that alone, I don't even want to think about her, nor
see her."
        "Surely you don't mean that! You were meant for
her!" Nick exclaimed.
        "Life has strange ways of working, Nick," I
answered, not looking at him. "In any case, I think I have
other things to dwell on right now than to let her tear me
apart inside. And besides, we can never be. Her kingdom
destroyed mine, and I have vowed to seek revenge on them.
It's my reason for living."
        Nick stared at me and did not reply. His silence
was enough to express what he felt though.
        We arrived in front of Dawn's quarters then, and I
was glad for it. Nick knocked on the door almost eagerly,
and Dawn soon answered the door. The two love birds hugged,
Dawn glad to see a familiar face, and Nick just glad to
see her.
        Seeing them together made me feel so alone. It
almost made me feel jealous of them. I could not stand it.
I left, walking swiftly away from them, not really caring
where I went. My head was down, staring at my black boots.
Tears welled in my dark blue eyes, and I just wanted to be
in a quiet place where I could be alone and reflect apon
everything that had happened, all that I had learned.
        Without realising, I had arrived at the entrance
of a grand library. The huge dark wooden doors were heavy
and very solid, but opened with ease when I pushed against
them. The room they led to was almost as big as Armand's
throne room, and there was a great fireplace opposite the
entrance in which a bright blaze burned. Books lined all
four gigantic walls, extending to the ceiling. The volumes
of leather bound books seemed to pulse with information,
and I could not help but feel insignificant in the large
room. Large oak tables filled the space in the middle, with
very comfortable chairs made of the same wood. It looked
like something out of the past, this room. Not a place that
existed in the midst of a space station in the middle of a
war.
        I walked slowly past the large heavy tables,
coloured darkly, richly. They were all bare; no vase filled
with flowers, or even a half read book. And the entire room
was empty too. Did no one like to read? To explore the
world within the pages? My hand brushed the smooth surfaces
of the tables, the back of the chairs. All were
immaculately clean. No dust covered the seemingly seldom
used tables or chair. Not even the endless book shelves.
        Randomly, I pulled a book off the shelf. They were
all hard covers, with only golden writing on the spine.
Gold or silver lined the edges of all the books, and the
pages were the purest of whites, as if no one had ever laid
their hands on them before.
        Carefully, I carried this heavy book to one of the
tables and seated myself in one of the high backed chairs.
The pages were crisp when I turned them, all filled with
text and occasional pictures. The book I had picked up was
of modern history. It was a much more detailed version of
the past fifteen years than Armand had cared to explain to
me. I was surprised to find an entire chapter concerning
my disappearance. It seemed that no one in the galaxy knew
what happened to me; I had just disappeared one night, and
had never been heard of again. In the short time before my
kingdom had been split, and my parents killed, it was said
that strangely, the queen did not seem overly upset over my
supposed kidnapping. And then, not long after the kingdom
was spilt, and my parents dead, I was also assumed dead.
And so that assumption had remained until recently, when
various spies had said otherwise.
        I closed the book, my mind deep in thought. So it
was my mother who sent me to Earth. She had planned the
whole thing. That was why she did not seem upset. But my
father? The book said nothing of his reaction. Only that
he had been titled Ares, God of War, as he had been famous
for leading many battles before I was even born. No wonder
he had wanted me to have that weapon. He had used one
similar, and they were hand made, and called crystal
sabres.
        Briefly, I concentrated and materialised the
silver weapon in my hand with a flash of silver blue light.
It was still as beautiful in it's streamline design, and
all it's golden and silver patterns. Once again, it felt
as if it was an extension of my hand. How I wanted to turn
it on and to weld it's power. I did not. I held it tightly,
and then closed my eyes. When I opened them, the weapon was
gone.
        I sat there, staring off into space, wondering
what exactly had happened to my parents; how they had died,
and where they were now. My mind wandered, touching on this
subject and that. How was Wild Spirit now? Perhaps Michelle
would take up horse riding and keep him. And my adopted
parents? Did they miss me? Did they wonder were I was,
what had happened to me, to Nick, to Dawn? And Serenity.
Was it all true? Did you say that you loved me just so you
could use my power? Why did you come to Earth? And Diamond
and Sapphire. You knew it all along, didn't you? This world
was filled with betrayal and heartbreak, nothing more.
        Time passed. My stomach complained, and a quick
look at the clock hanging above the large oak doors told
me it was past lunch time. I stood and teleported back to
my rooms, not wanting to run into anyone in my present
mood.
        Once I had made myself lunch, I sat down on the
lounge and switched on the entertainment unit. It was much
like television back on Earth, only this showed numerous
shows from across the galaxy. There were documentaries,
news, movies. I switched onto the news, wanting to learn
more about the current situation I would soon find myself
drowning in.
        The news reported stood outside somewhere, and in
the background was a great silver castle, or palace, with
a silver crescent moon flag flying from it's highest tower.
        "The Moon Princess Serenity returned today from her
travels with her escorts Prince Diamond and his brother,
Sapphire, of the Black Moon Kingdom. Queen Selenity has
announced that there is to be a ball tonight in order to
welcome the Princess home. The invitation is opened to
royalty only," the news reporter droned on in a nasal
voice.
        I watched with interest, and the mention of the
ball gave me an idea.
        For once and for all, I would confront her and ask
her the truth. Only then would I believe what I have been
told, both by Armand and the books. And this was the
perfect opportunity to see her without revealing who I was.
Not to mention I would be able to see another world.
        Turning the entertainment unit off, I hurried into
the bathroom to shower and get ready for this ball. After
all, I had to look like royalty, didn't I?
        And what would I wear? The outfit I had worn to
Luke's party so long ago, or the tuxedo I had worn to the
dance party at the camp? Decisions, decisions. And time
was so little and so short.

End of Part Two, Chapter One.


