Disclaimers- Sailor Moon belongs to Takeuchi Naoko-san, and not me at all! Also, to Toei animation, and though I hate to admit, the English version to Clover Wave and Dic. However, the original characters featured belong entirely to me, and the plot line is mine as well! If I catch any "thieves", you�ll have to face my wrath!

(Note: You may want to know your Japanese before reading this, it�ll make more sense, trust me.)

In this chapter:
Bino Kodomo
Heiwano Kokoro
Meiou Setsuna
Serenity-kisaki
Yamabikono Shizuka

"Pluto-sensei! Pluto-sensei!" Kokoro shouted as the girls rushed down a corridor.

"Hush! Kokoro!" Setsuna appeared from an office room with a look of surprise on her face. "Please do not speak so loudly out there, you know you�re not the only students here."

"Gomen nasai," Kodomo uttered hurriedly with a bow. "Pluto-sama, I received this letter�" She held out the hand holding the letter to Setsuna. As she was about to take it, Shizuka carefully plucked it from the hand of her friend.

"Sumimasen." She whispered to Kodomo, "Let me handle this. If you are too straight-forward, she won�t tell us anything at all."

"Hai�"

Shizuka bowed to Setsuna. "Sensei, we have received an invitation to the Millennium Ball. Surely you will let us go now�?"

Setsuna chuckled lightly. "Who is it from, girls? Why shan�t I see it?"

Shizuka felt as though her ideas had been given away, and handed over the envelope. Setsuna barely even skimmed the writing on the letter before she put it away and smiled elegantly.

"Ara, yes. The Queen is a bit slow with her invitations, ne?"

The trio was stunned. Kodomo began to speak. "Y-you did know it was coming then?"

"Yes," their Sensei replied simply. "Now calm those faces of shock and go about your activities for the day. Save the excitement for the Ball."

***********

The day before the Millennium Ball, Kodomo, Shizuka, and Kokoro trudged down the exquisite halls of Pluto Palace dragging their bags with them. They wore special fukus Setsuna had made just for them so they could represent their school. The suits consisted of a knee-length dark green dress and business-type lighter-shaded shirt. They had been told that they only needed to wear those garments the first day on the Moon; they had packed more elegant clothes for the rest of the stay.

The princesses looked very odd dressed so formally, yet pulling larger leather suitcases behind them. When Pluto was in sight at the grand entrance to the palace, the girls picked up their paces and hurried to meet her.

"Shall we be off then?" she inquired, leading them outside.

"Yes, Pluto-sensei! We can�t wait!" Kokoro commented.

Just around to the side of the palace were many large, circular travel pods. Setsuna began her explanation. "These pods are made to hold one person in each. They travel in light-years, so we will reach the Moon very quickly. You may store your luggage inside and rest until we arrive."

Kodomo was slightly confused and questioned Pluto with a worried expression. "But Sensei, if we�re the only ones in them, won�t we get lost?"

Pluto smiled warmly to relax the girl�s fear. "Nonsense, of course you won�t. They are pre-set to take us there on their own. All you must worry about is what you look like when you arrive. Today, many very important royal families shall gather at the Moon Palace to ready for the Ball. All of them will stay there, in the palace, overnight. The Ball lasts one week. Anyway, you must keep your head high to show you are just as dignified as they."

The three immediately rushed to a different pod and began loading up. Pluto slowly walked to hers. Following Setsuna�s lead, each girl pressed the ignition button and was off.

*********

The arrival was nothing like they had expected. They landed in a large lot near the front of the Moon Palace where other pods from distant places joined them. When they emerged, servants of the Moon�s royal family took their names and their bags, and gave them room keys with a scroll of directions of how to reach their rooms.

The sight was amazing. The huge Moon Palace, made of shining white marble, glistened with glory at the end of a pillar-marked path. The large structure was reflected dreamily in the ponds near the entrance path. Speaking of which, the path had been covered by a long stretch of pale gray velvet carpet to welcome the guests. Behind the lot stood immense steal gates where common-folk crowded to see the rulers of the universe. Four generals stood unwavering just inside the gates, making sure the crowd stayed at a reasonable size.

Then there was the Queen. Just a speck in the distance, she waited on the stoop of the palace, graced with a flowing white gown and jewelry shaped as golden crescent moons. A black cat stood to her left and a white one on her right. She greeted each guest with a handshake and a graceful smile.

Pluto led the awe-struck trio of princesses down the velvet carpet. They couldn�t refrain from examining every inch of everything around them, not even the collected Shizuka. When they reached the stoop, Pluto bowed to the Queen. "Highness." She stood, and shook hands.

"Welcome!" Her voice was excited but very calm and delicate. "I�m very glad the four of you could make it. I also hope no other students at your school took offense, Setsuna."

"No, they are fine. I shall be off to my room. Here are the three you should much rather want to greet. Farewell." Then she quickly told the girls, "Be to your rooms right away, and I will send you a message through a servant."

First, Kokoro walked to the Queen, as she wasn�t the type of princess to act out of elegance. She shook hands. "Hello," she said in a cheerful voice.

"Heiwano Kokoro, am I correct? Very nice to see you here. We must be brief; I have hundreds to speak with!" Serenity�s voice was almost comical on the last sentence. Kokoro waited on the stairs for her friends. Kodomo approached next.

Serenity took her hand very warmly and looked into her eyes with a sense of great care. "Bino Kodomo. My Ball would not be perfect without such an honored guest. Please, make yourself much at home here." Kodomo smiled gratefully, and passed the Queen to stand with Kokoro.

Shizuka approached with a slight bow of the head, and shook the Queen�s hand. "Yamabikono Shizuka. What a brave leader of Nimiss you will be upon your return. Your future will be very promising."

"Thank you, my Queen."

The girls entered the Palace, and hurried to their rooms, which were even more luxurious than what they�d had on Pluto. They all shared a room, but it was so large it hardly mattered. Their message from Pluto came through a servant. He handed Kokoro, the first to reach the door, a scroll, and went on his way. Kokoro read it aloud:

"Seito, I hope you reached your room without trouble. I think you shall find it very impressive; the Queen gave you three one of the best in the Palace. Third story, am I correct? Make yourselves comfortable, it�s only 6:30, so you have plenty of time to unpack and relax. Dinner will be served to your room in half an hour. The Queen expects to not have guests wandering about all her chambers, so please respect her and stay in your room.

"The Ball we be tomorrow beginning at 3 p.m. You can meet me in the main ballroom (there are several ballrooms, so be on watch) when it starts. Don�t wear your best that day, it is only the first day and you should save your more elegant gowns for the end of the week.

"Breakfast is always served at 9 a.m., so be up by then! You can get your own lunch between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. in the hall called �Bright Comet�. Dinner is served to rooms at 7 p.m., and if you are not there, you won�t eat. The Ball lasts all day every day afterwards. A schedule of main events can be found in your room, there is one for each of you.

"Well then, we shall see each other tomorrow. If you need to speak with me, have a message delivered to my room and I will reply as soon as I am able. Keep in good health. Pluto."