Title:  Melting the Ice - Chapter 2

Written By:  Aquamarine Angel

E-mail Address:  aquamarineangel@sailormoon.com

Rated:  G

(Sailor Moon and all the rest don't belong to me so don't sue me, okay?)

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	As Nephfrite and Zoicite walked into the stable they were 
immediately spotted by the three other people in the stable who had 
all been waiting for them impatiently.  Two of the people charged at 
them at first sight while the third person followed with much 
indifferance.  Nephfrite and Zoicite inwardly cringed as they 
prepared themselves for a whole lot of yelling.

	The first person to reach them with a fierce glance, and 
anger in his eyes was Prince Endymion.  Endymion had deep, dark blue 
eyes that all the young ladies of the kingdom had a tendicy to drownd 
in.  The prince's hair was a color that no one could describe as 
anything, but midnight black.  Endymion was, at the moment, wearing a 
black tunic that had blue and silver designs all over it.  His 
trousers were solid black.  Shiny black boots were on his feet.  A 
thin band of silver was on his head and showed only on his forehead.  
His loose hair covered the rest of the silver band.

	The next person to reach Nephfrite and Zoicite, soon after 
the prince, was Lord Kunzite.  Kunzite was the leader of the royal 
guard, also known as the four generals of earth.  Kunzite had 
shoulder length white-blond hair.  His eyes were a dusty brown.  At 
the moment they appeared to be a grayish-brown color out of his 
rage.  Kunzite had always lectured his fellow generals on being on 
being on time, and here they were.  Very, very late.  The head 
general's uniform was slightly different from the rest of the 
generals.  For instance he had a black cape to match his black 
uniform.  The trimmings on his uniform were not blue like Zoicite's 
or green like Nephfrite's.  Rather they were a yellowish color.  The 
boots on his feet were also black, and his hands were gloved in white 
like all of his fellow generals and friends.  At the moment 
unfortunatly it seemed that Kunzite was ready to forget that 
Nephfrite and Zoicite were his friends and allies, and kill them both.

	The last person to arrive was the joker of the group, Lord 
Jadite.  He had a slight grin on his face.  He knew that Zoey (as he 
referred to Zoicite) and Neph (same for Nephfrite) were going to be 
chewed up and spit out.  Jade (as referred to by the rest of the 
group) had golden blond hair, and mischievous light blue eyes.  
Almost anytime you looked at Jade he had a silly smile on his face.  
Often enough his friends had found presents in there beds placed 
there by their prankster friend.  It had gotten to the point that 
they always checked their bed before crawling into them.  At the 
moment he was his usual carefree self despite the fact that two of 
his close friends were in hot water.  He actually looking forward to 
the argument that was sure to break out.

	"Where have you two been!?!  Queen Gaia's carriage left 
twenty minutes ago-" Kunzite exploded.

	"Mother was not pleased to have to leave us behind, because 
of the absence of two of my generals.  You can expect to get an ear 
full later on from both me and mother later on.  For now we must make 
haste, or else we'll all be late for the arrival of their majesties.  
Now hurry and get your horses ready," Endymion commanded.  The two 
disgraced generals nodded and complied to their lord leige's order.  
To think of all the trouble they had caused just for being a little 
late.

	When the five young men had finally gotten on the road, and 
were going at a canter towards the landing zone a few miles away from 
the palace, Endymion remembered something of importance that he had 
failed to mention to his royal guard.  He had heard the news just 
that morning from his mother, and no one else had bothered to inform 
the generals.  They had assumed that the prince would tell them.  
Unfortunatly, Endymion had completly forgotten to tell them.

	"Guys?  I'm sorry, but I failed to inform you that the 
princess of Jupiter is coming to earth with the princess of Mercury 
today.  Apparently the moon princess didn't want her little friend to
come for a visit alone.  Princess Makoto apparently has been meaning 
to visit earth, so of course the moon princess insisted that she go 
with the mercretion princess.  Protective little moon child isn't 
she?  To bad the moon kingdom doesn't trust us more.  We would make 
great allies," Endymion informed.  He was paying to much attention to 
the road to notice the fact that his friends were staring at him in 
surprise.

	"The princess of Jupiter is coming, too?" asked Kunzite.  The 
head general was thinking of all the security problems that could 
come about, because of the unexpected visitor.

	"Is Princess Makoto pretty?" Jadite asked.  He was always 
setting new records in the dating department.  He had never dated a 
princess before though.

	"Allies with the moon kingdom?  You've got to be kidding!" 
Zoicite exclaimed incredulously.  Such an idea was crazy.  The earth 
and moon hadn't been allies for centuries.  Why start now?  The moon 
people couldn't be trusted.

	As the questions came pouring out, Endymion became aware of 
his guardians stares.  He looked at each of his friend's faces and 
burst out laughing.  The generals then became very confused.

	"What is so funny?" Kunzite asked on behalf of them all.

	Endymion tried to choke back his laughter, but failed 
miserably.  He instead started to laugh even harder.

	"Okay, his majesty has finally lost it," Jadeite commented.

	"I agree," Nephfrite added.

	"Endymion.....Don't forget to breathe.  Okay?" Zoicite 
reminded the gasping prince.

	"I think perhapes the stress, and excitement of the past few 
days has finally gotten to him.  I hope he stops soon.  We're almost 
to the landing zone," Kunzite commented.

	"I'm sorry. (gasp)  I just couldn't (gasp) help myself," 
Endymion explained in between fits of laughter.  After a few more 
minutes of his laughing he finally got control of his self.  Good 
thing to, because a short while later they reached the landing zone.

	Once there, their very tired horses were taken away to be 
tended to.  They then headed towards the large crowd that was around 
the landing zone.  Apparently the ship hadn't arrived yet.

	They smoothly made their way towards the front of the crowd 
where they met up with Queen Gaia and her guardians.

	Queen Gaia was a beautiful woman, who was in her early 
forties.  She appeared to be about a decade younger though.  Her hair 
was the darkest shade of raven black that the people of earth had yet 
seen.  Her eyes were a strange, but beautiful mixture of blue, green, 
and brown.  Her skin was creamy-white, and her features were soft and 
kind.  She was the greatest ruler yet that the people of earth had 
been ruled by.  She was fair and just.  It was surprising that Queen 
Serenity of the moon hadn't yet tried to open up friendly relations 
with the earth kingdom, but then again there was such a history 
between them.....

	"Oh, I'm so glade that you've made it.  On time too.  Your 
horses a probably worn to the bone.  The poor things," Gaia said with 
welcome.  Luckily for Nephfrite and Zoicite, a long lecture didn't 
appear to be in the near future.

	"The horses are pretty tired, no thanks to Zoey and Neph," 
Endymion said, scowelling.

	"There weren't any clocks in the part of the castle we were 
in," Zoicite explained lightly.

	"That's no excuse-" Kunzite started.

	"When it the ship suppose to arrive?" Jadite asked Queen 
Gaia.  The tension in the air was beginning to get on his nerves.  He 
figured a change of subject might help.

	"It should be here in a few min- Ahhh.  There's the ship 
now," replied Gaia as the ship came into view.  Everyone was silent 
as the ship prepared to land.

	After the ship had settled safely onto the ground, the ramp 
began to lower.  The first people who descended from the ship was a 
small group of armed body-guards.  Then came King Mathew and Queen 
Amilia of Mercury.

	The king was an average looking man with black chin length 
hair and a short beard.  His eyes were a brackish shade of blue.  His 
hair was pure black.  A thin band of gold was set upon his brow.  The 
king seemed to be about 5'6 ft. tall.  He, in fact, looked more like 
a scholar than a king.

	Queen Amilia, on the other hand, look like a very authoritive 
figure in society.  She was very beautiful.  Her skin was pale, and 
her eyes were a soft hazel.  She was about an inch shorter than her 
husband.  She was wearing a flowing light blue dress, made of pure 
silk.  Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a perfect bun.  A 
gold crown was set upon her head, that was set with sapphires.  
Matching gold and sapphire earrings were on her ears.

	A few feet behind King Mathew and Queen Amilia walked two 
very beautiful young ladies.  The two girls walked side by side and 
seemed to be having a serious conversation, which was given away by 
the fact that they both had very serious expressions on their faces.  
Of course seeing as they were obviously the princesses of Mercury and 
Jupiter a serious expression seemed to be very fitting.  Each of the 
girls were the only heirs to their kingdom, which put a lot of weight 
on their shoulders, and seeing as they were only women it could be 
expected that they may just calapse from all that pressure.

	The Princess of Jupiter was wearing a long, green velvet gown 
that had off the shoulder sleeves.  A dark forest-green sash was tide 
loosely around her waist.  Her brown hair was tied up into a pony 
tail with a green ribbon.  A small crown of Lilies circled her head.  
Around her neck was a white gold necklace that was set with small 
emeralds.  Her eyes were deep green, and her features were delicate 
and yet radiated streangth.  With one glance at her Nephfrite knew 
that his heart was done for.  Love at first sight really existed.

	The Princess of Mercury looked like a slight and delicate 
figure while standing next to the strong and tall Princess Makoto.  
Her skin was pale white, like she didn't get enough sun.  She was 
wearing a dark blue silk gown that stopped just above the ankle to 
reveal matching blue slippers on her tiny feet.  The gown was held up 
by a thin strap that extended around the neck.  Around Princess Ami's 
neck was a silver necklace that was set with sapphires.  A small 
silver tiara was upon her head that had a single sapphire in the 
center of it.  Her bluish-black hair was worn short and loose.  Her 
soft features really set off her ocean blue eyes.  Zoicite was 
completely set off balance by her beauty.  How could that lovely 
young lady in fact be the ice princess that everyone referred to her 
as?  Well he would soon find out.  After all he had a bet to win.

			END OF CHAPTER 2

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Comments?  Flames?  E-mail me at aquamarineangel@sailormoon.com