AN: If you haven't read the Author's Notes, I strongly
suggest that you do before you read further.
Standard disclaimers apply.
Romancing the Planets - Venus
Rated PG
by Angel Eternal
e-mail: angel_eternal_01@yahoo.com
'Princess of My Heart...please be mine forever...'
'Yes...forever yours my prince...'
Violently she shook her head. No...all lies. Men were worthless!
Princess Mina of Venus, tied her long blonde hair up in her usual
red bow. Her blue eyes, gleaming with determination. She would
forget about him. He was nothing.
Princess Mina's heart has been broken. The man she thought she
loved, was only a scheming fortune hunter. He had 'fallen in love'
with her because he thought that she was her cousin.
Her cousin...Princess Serena of the Moon.
He was scum...scum!!!
She glanced over at her comm. crystal.
'Moon.'
"Please connect me with Princess Serena."
"One moment."
"Yes?"
"I'm calling a training session."
"A training session? Mina, tonight is the Silver Ball! Many diplomats
are coming today, and you want to call a training session?"
"Serena, you may be my cousin and the heir to the Moon Kingdom
throne and I am sworn to protect you...but I am the leader of the
Sailor Scouts. You said you wanted to be a Scout despite being the
Lunar Princess. I don't have to explain." with that Mina de-activated
the crystal.
She proceeded and contacted all the other Scouts.
Mina sighed, was it really fair to use the Scouts like that? Training
them just because she needed to exhaust herself physically? Well
it was better than eating a whole tub of Venus' finest ice-cream!
* * *
"I confess, I don't know why you'd call this meeting Venus."
Sailor Venus turned around to see Sailor Neptune and Sailor
Uranus.
They had a rule on Dartenion - you step on it ready to train.
"Call it a spur of the moment thing Uranus."
Soon after Sailor Pluto and Sailor Saturn arrived. They made
no comment. Sailor Mercury arrived...with a young man.
Sailor Venus cocked her head to one side, looking at him
inquiringly. Aside from the Scouts, no-one else has to come
to Dartenion.
Mercury sighed. "Scouts, may I introduce Prince Gregory of
Ten'kai."
They inclined their heads to him, still wondering why Mercury
had brought him.
Mercury sighed again. "Prince Gregory is a visitor from
another system. My mother ordered that he be with me the
whole of today...so..."
Sailor Venus smiled. "That's fine," she flashed him a smile.
"As long as you aren't a galaxial spy Prince Gregory."
He smiled at her. "I assure you lady, I am not."
Mercury then proceeded to introduce him to the other
Scouts.
"So what's happening" Sailor Mars had arrived.
Venus turned to her. "Sailor Moon called in and said..."
"That she can't come, I know she told me."
Venus grinned at her, Mars was definitely one of Venus' best
friends. Then she glanced over Mars' shoulder.
"Umm...Raye...who is that?"
Sailor Mars flipped her long black hair over her shoulder.
"THAT...is my body-guard."
Silence fell...the thought of Sailor Mars having a body-guard...
was utterly ludicrous!
They all started to laugh...almost hysterically.
"My my, today is the day for visitors." Venus commented dryly.
* * *
Venus lost herself in the training. She pushed herself, further then
she had before. The reason why Dartenion was chosen as training
ground was it's lack of inhabitants. There wasn't anything on the
little planet...no animals, no creature of any sort.
The other amazing thing about Dartenion was that any damage done
to it, is quickly repaired. At first Mercury was doubtful, thinking
that maybe Dartenion itself lived. But that was not true...
"Okay everyone! Great training! I'll see you all tonight at the Ball."
Everyone started to disperse, but Sailor Neptune stayed back.
"Mina I'm worried about Lita...she hadn't come. It's not like her
to just not show up if she said she was coming."
Venus nodded, "I know...you can try and see if you can find her.
She may never have left Jupiter, check 'Lightening' something
could have happened to the ship. You know where to reach me."
* * *
Mina had barely gotten changed when her comm. crystal was
activated.
"Must be Michiru." absently she reached for it. "Mina here"
"Mina?"
"Serena? Getting ready for the Ball?"
"Yeah, can you do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"Come with me to Earth."
Mina stopped. "Earth? As in planet Earth?"
"No, it's a new shopping mall..."
A shopping mall? She could use a bit of cheering up. "Really?"
"No! Just...just come here." with that she broke off the
connection.
Mina stared at the crystal. Was that her dear cousin? Something
must be up. Oh well...she could always use a trip somewhere...
but why all of a sudden did Serena want to go to Earth?
* * *
"Princess Mina! We weren't expecting you!"
She flashed the attendant a smile. "That's okay, I didn't send a
notification...just dropping in to see my cousin."
With that she made her way down the long corridors. How often
had she and Serena wreaked havoc in this very corridor? She
had spent half of her life here, the other on Venus, always with
Serena.
""Knock, knock!"
"Mina!"
Mina was shocked, she had never seen Serena like this. She was
usually so calm and in control. Her hair was disheveled, and she
was very agitated.
Roughly, Mina was hauled through the door.
"Se..."
"You and I have to go to Earth."
"Earth? Serena...why?"
"Because I have to see Darien!"
"Who's Darien?""
"The Prince of Earth!"
"Prince of Earth?"
Serena glared at her, Mina shrank back from the blue fire in her eyes.
"For heaven's sake Mina! Quit repeating every bloody word I'm saying!"
Mina's mouth fell open. Never in her life had she ever heard Serena
talk to her like that. Mina was suddenly besought with images of
Serena as Queen...
Serena sighed and laid her head in her hands. "I'm sorry...I'm not making
any sense...You see...today I met the most wonderful prince. He's tall, dark,
handsome with eyes you could just drown in..."
Mina grinned, unbelievable. Had Serena fallen in love? All of her life, Mina
had never thought to see Serena fall. From age one, men had been falling
all over Serena's feet, she could have it all with the a flick of her wrist.
Serena went on, pretending not to see her, "I thought everything was going
perfectly. For once I didn't regret missing a training session. I was just
happy. Then apparently my mother and King Endymion, Darien's father,
had an argument. What about, I have no idea. Thus, Earth has been
ex-communicated! I'm never going to see him again!"
Serena started to cry uncontrollably.
Mina stared at her, horrified. What happened to her cousin? Is this what
love does? Ruins a person? If so Mina never wanted to fall in love.
"There, there Sere... I'm sure this would all blow away in no time at all..."
Serena shook her head, her blue eyes were dark pools of worry. "Mina,
I've never seen Mother so furious before. Never." she sat up and wiped
away her tears. A strange light came into her eyes. "We're going to Earth
Mina...first we go to Venus then from there, we go to Earth, using a
Venusian ship."
Mina shook her head, "What possible excuse will we have to go to Earth
for?" Serena, Mina thought, had lost her mind.
Serena started to pace. "I know! A message, from...your mother to King
Endymion!"
"What!" Mina couldn't believe what she was hearing...more madness.
Serena smiled, Mina got even more worried. "Knowing Aunt Aphrodite,
when she hears of this she would want to mend the breach. She would want
to send a note of apology...and who better to deliver it but her daughter?"
Mina stared. "It's brilliant...but insane! Mother wouldn't just write a note
of apology! She'd talk directly to King Endymion via the comm. crystals."
Serena winked at her. "Not if all your comm. crystals are broken."
Mina stared at her, horror dawning, she recognized the light in Serena's
eyes as determination.
* * *
"Serena do you know what you're doing?"
"Hush!
Mina watched anxiously as Serena bent over the main control crystal.
This was madness. Mina knew that it was dangerous to tamper with
Venus' communication. Very dangerous. But Serena would not be
swayed. There was nothing that Mina could say or do.
"Success!" Serena turned to her. Mina dreaded what she would say.
Whatever it was, Mina knew she wouldn't like it.
"Okay, as I said before, we've got to work fast. Raye is coming to
the Moon, I've got to be back by then. No-one must know that I
was here. Got it?"
Mina feeling utterly helpless, nodded.
Serena smiled at her. "Okay, you go talk to your mother."
Mina sighed. "Okay, but this is crazy."
Mina walked off. Why was she doing this? It was insanity! She had
never met the Terran Prince, but many has been said about him He
was supposed to be one of the most handsome men in the Galaxy.
He was supposed to also be very kind...brave...all of the good things.
In every way, he sounded like the perfect match for Serena. Mina
prayed that this would turn out well for Serena...
"Princess..."
Mina went straight to her mother. "Mama, have you heard?"
"Mina...I thought you went to the Moon..."
Mina waved that aside. "Yes...well...I'm back...Mama have you heard?"
Queen Aphrodite sighed, she flipped her long blonde hair over her
shoulder. "Heard what Mina?"
Mina took in a deep breath. "Aunt Serenity had ex-communicated Earth!"
Queen Aphrodite stared at her. "What? Sere wouldn't do that!"
Mina shrugged and sat down. "But she did...she and King Endymion had
an argument...it's the talk of the whole palace."
Queen Aphrodite frowned, "Mina you know better than to listen to gossip."
Mina smiled. "Mama it isn't gossip...it's fact."
The Queen sighed. "Get me a comm. crystal Mina."
Mina drew in her breath, the whole plan hinged on this. She casually
handed her a crystal. "Who you calling Mama?"
"King Endymion...we can't let this thing escalate."
Mina hid her smile, Serena really knew what she's doing...
"Mina...this comm. crystal isn't working..." Mina stood up and motioned
to a servant.
"Bring the Queen another crystal."
Another servant stepped forward. "Queen Aphrodite all our comm. crystals
aren't working."
"What! What about our satellites."
One of the Queen's advisors stepped forward. "Your Majesty, all of our
communication is down."
"What!" Queen Aphrodite sat down, sighed then motioned to the servant.
"Bring me my stationary and seal."
The servant came back. Mina watched as her mother wrote out a note
and sealed it. She looked at Mina, "I want you to take this to Earth."
"Me? Deliver a message?" Mina hid her grin, this was just going perfectly.
"Yes, King Endymion would be flattered. Besides, you have never been to
Earth...it's a beautiful place." her blue eyes went misty. "I met your father
there...a treaty was being signed..."
Mina knew that her mother desperately missed her father. He died when
Mina was very young, she didn't know him. Except that she was reputed
to have inherited his disposition. She wondered if that was a good
thing.
Queen Aphrodite sighed. "Here Mina, I want you to take this to Earth."
Mina curtsied and left, her heart in her throat. Everything went perfectly!
She saw a young woman standing where Serena was. She was reasonably
pretty, with blonde hair and green eyes...where was...
"Serena?"
The girl looked up. "Yes. Well?"
Mina stared at her, this couldn't be Serena.
The girl sighed and came up to her and tweaked her ear. "Ow! Serena!"
Serena giggled. "Hey I just remembered, don't call me that."
Mina sighed. "Okay...I got the note. Mother was confused, she had no
idea why the comm. crystals weren't working. Hey, what if they detect
your magic."
Serena shook her head. "I covered up the aura. Let's go."
Mina stared after her, if only she put the same energy in being a Scout.
* * *
"Princess Mina, this is a great honor. To what do we own this visit?
King Endymion of Earth had invited them into a comfortable room. It
had a very casual feel to it. It aimed to comfort rather than intimidate.
Mina smiled at the King. "Thank-you your Majesty. I come as a messenger."
"A messenger? What message pray tell would warrant delivery by the
Princess of Venus?"
"An important one." Mina noted out the corner of her eye, how Serena
was fidgeting oh so slightly.
"Well then Princess, let's have this important message."
Mina handed him the note. King Endymion read it then smiled warmly
at her. "It is good to know that the Moon Queen's stupidity has not been
inherited by her sister."
Mina smiled, she wondered what King Endymion and Queen Serenity
argued about.
"Now, this is your first visit on Earth, yes?"
Mina nodded. "Yes your Majesty. I so love looking on Earth from a
distance, I knew it would be breathtakingly lovely."
The King smiled, and beckoned to a waiting servant. "Call my son."
Ah...finally Mina would meet the man that Serena fell head over
heels in love with. "I believe I will ask my son to show you around."
"That would be very nice your Majesty."
Mina liked the King, he reminded her...of the father she never had.
"You called for me Father?"
She wondered if her mouth was falling open. What a hunk! The
kind of guy that women chased...the rumors were so true!
"Ah Darien, please meet Princess Mina of Venus."
Mina was tempted to draw his attention.
"A pleasure Princess." in that instant Mina knew that it was hopeless,
he was gone, hook, line and sinker.
"The pleasure is mine Prince Darien."
"Darien, would you be so good to show the Princess around? This
is her first visits to Earth."
Darien bowed to his father, then turned to Mina. "Princess?"
Mina stood up and curtsied to the King. "Your Majesty."
"Princess Mina, you really must visit Earth more often."
"I will try your Majesty."
She followed Darien, she knew that if she met him before Serena
she would pounce on him. But...Serena had met him...
"Princess Mina?"
"Yes?"
"I hope I'm not being too forward..."
Mina stiffened." But you look so much like your cousin."
"Oh...yes...I suppose." Mina was almost disappointed
He turned to face her. "Do you know if she...likes anybody?"
Mina smiled, "As a matter of fact..."
"I should have expected it...a beautiful, wonderful girl like that..."
Mina grinned, he looked really depressed. All of a sudden all of
her doubts were washed away. He really was in love with her.
Why not? They were perfect for each other. "Aren't you even
going to ask who she likes?"
He sighed, as if it was pointless. "Alright...who?"
Mina was about to blurt it out when she felt Serena holding her
back. "You."
His head snapped up and he stared at her. "I'm sorry but for a
second there you sounded exactly like her."
Serena stared to giggle. Darien finally focused on her.
"Darien...it's me."
"Serena? Serena!" Mina thought that he would just rush to her, but
Serena motioned him away.
"Not yet Darien."
"I know...wait for me at the gate."
Mina and Serena watched him. "Serena...he's really something."
"I know."
Mina in a way had always envied her cousin. Serena was more
beautiful and the cosmos adored her. But it was at that very moment
that Mina truly envied Serena...
* * *
"Oh my god...look at that hunk!"
"Isn't he?"
Mina frantically shook her head. "Not Darien, darling cousin...the hunk
that he's with!"
Mina was practically salivating. A more gorgeous man she'd never
seen...maybe Darien...no...
He was tall and athletically built, with masses of blonde hair. Mina
frantically wondered if he's got a girlfriend...and he's eyes...what
color was his eyes?
Blue-gray...the most wonderful eyes...they looked like an overcast
sky...
"Ah Ha! I knew it! Darien you liar!"
His voice! Deep and husky, it ran down her spine...
"You idiot, she's in disguise remember...ex-communication?"
Mina listened silently to the conversation, focusing on his voice
and his eyes...
"...Prince Andrew of Leumeah."
A prince...and what a prince! Oh..oh! Look at that smile.
Mina felt as if she was going on a meltdown...
"...this is my cousin, Princess Mina of Venus."
Those blue-gray eyes focused on her, he gallantly bowed and
kissed her hand. She vaguely thought of never washing her hand.
"Princess."
"Andrew, why don't you take Mina somewhere..."
Somewhere? Anywhere!
"No, it would look very odd, if you head out with a servant."
Stupid Serena.
"Smart, kind and beautiful...what a catch hey Drew?"
"Ya better believe it Dare." he turned to her. "So...I hear you're
part of some special force?"
Mina was about to answer when Darien interrupted. "Later Drew."
he took Mina's arm. "Princess Mina, let us show you Earth."
"Delighted."
* * *
Mina watched Darien and Serena walk away. They seem so
secure with each other. She longed for the same thing...
"So...Mina of Venus...do you know how to party?"
She turned to him. He was so cute! He was probably one
of those guys...
Mina already had her heart broken, she wasn't about to
let it happen again.
"Sure...but do you?"
* * *
He took her to what Earthlings called 'nightclubs'. They
danced the night away...
"Mina, man you are so sexy!" Andrew pulled her off the
dance floor. "Let's talk."
She flipped her long blonde hair over her shoulder and
shrugged, "Talks fine."
"So, what is this special force?"
She grinned mysteriously at him. "That's secret..."
He laughed. "No it's not...tell me about it please?"
"How do I know you're not some glaxial spy?"
He grinned. "Yes, I'm out to destroy this part of the universe."
She laughed. "Okay, fine...I am Sailor Venus...protector of
Venus and leader of the Sailor Scouts. I am also the protector
of the Moon Princess." she grinned, "Impressive enough?"
He leaned towards her, genuinely interested. "So...do you
have special powers?"
Mina nodded. "Yes, we call our power from our planet."
"That is so awesome." he grinned at her. "So...can I have
a demonstration?"
Mina smiled gently. "I only use my power during training
and when it's absolutely necessary...no offence but
impressing a guy isn't exactly a life and death situation."
He grinned at her, then looked around. "Hey, if you don't
mind can we lose this place?"
She nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
* * *
Mina had never connected with someone like this, not
even Serena can touch her like this.
But she was scared, scared to give herself fully. She was
afraid to reach out to him...
It wasn't fair on him.
"Mina what's wrong?"
"What? Nothing's wrong...why would you think that?"
He looked at her...and all of it spilled out. The jerk who
only liked her because she was a princess...all of the jerks
who only liked her because she was a princess. The disillusion...
all of it, the heartbreak...everything she never could tell Serena
...the jealousy...all of it.
Andrew just listened.
At the end of it when, she finally felt cleansed, he merely
took her hand, and looked in her eyes.
No words passed between them, none needed to.
* * *
"Mina? Where are you? Mina?"
Mina flipped open her communicator. "Raye?"
"Mina! Finally! I couldn't contact you, I couldn't contact
Venus! What's up with that?"
"It's a long story...ummm Raye is there a point to this
call?"
"As a matter of fact...I'm headed to the Moon, wanna come?
Me and Serena are going to indulge in a badly needed
pampering session."
Mina smiled, "Umm...yeah, I'll be there." she flipped it off
then turned to Andrew. "We've got to find Serena and
Darien."
~ ~ ~
"Serena!" Mina ran towards them, "Serena, we've got to get
you back to the Moon! Raye is on her way there...if they
find you gone from the Palace..."
Serena stood, Darien grabbed her hand. "Wait! When can I
see you again?"
Mina stared at Serena, watching the tears form. "Never."
Serena made her way back to the ship.
Darien looked devastated. On impulse Mina took his hand.
"Come tonight...go with Drew...saying anything...just
try and come..." she ducked her head, then she looked
back at him. "Just don't ever let me hear about you hurting
her. Or else you'll have to answer to me."
* * *
"Mina! Nice seeing you again."
Mina grinned at Princess Raye of Mars. She then glanced over
her shoulder at the young man behind her. He was tall, lanky,
long brown hair, falling into his eyes, Mina couldn't even see
his eyes. Dismissively she wondered if he could see.
"Umm...Raye...who is that?"
Raye looked over her shoulder, sighing. "THAT...is my body
guard."
Serena's jaw hit the ground. Hard.
"Shut your traps." Mina grinned, same old Raye.
Beep, beep.
Mina flicked open her communicator, probably Amy or
Michiru checking in. "Venus here."
"Mina...Lita has been kidnapped!"
"What!
Serena took Mina's communicator. Princess Amy of Mercury
appeared.
"Go on Amy."
"We just found out that Lita has been kidnapped. We need
all the Scouts here at Dartenion pronto."
"I can't come." Serena said.
"Understandable Serena...Raye, Mina. Dartenion. Now."
Serena tapped on the crystal. "Have our fastest ship ready
to fly to Dartenion. Now."
Serena turned to them. "Tell Amy I would be working on
finding out who our kidnapper is and they want. Maybe try
and negotiate." she hesitated. "It would be nice if one of
you stayed with me to help."
Mina's mind was already racing ahead, she paid scant
attention to Raye's and Serena's conversation.
Who would be foolish enough to kidnap Princess Lita
of Jupiter? Jupiter's arsenal is formidable, who would dare?
Princess Lita herself is no pushover, and as a Sailor Scout...
"Let's move!" Mina nodded and followed Raye, her mind
in turmoil.
* * *
They were the last to arrive. Sailor Venus immediately taking
the helm. "Okay, what do we know so far?"
Princess Amy was already at her computer, furiously typing.
"Not much, we are almost certain that Princess Lita was
abducted on her way here. On 'Lightening'. Now we have
to determine the exact time, hopefully from there we can
determine who abducted her."
Mina nodded. She noted that Prince Gregory was still with
Princess Amy. "Keep working on that." she turned to the
others. "Okay, any suspects? Who do we think would do
this?"
Sailor Uranus shrugged, "We were talking, and really anyone
could have done it. Anyone who is anyone is here for the
Silver Ball...that's a lot of possibilities. There is no one in
direct and open war fare with Jupiter...but Jupiter is very
powerful and wealthy. Perhaps someone wants Jupiter itself ]
and Jupiter's princess is only the means to an end."
Venus nodded, that was possible. "What happened to
'Lightening.'?"
Sailor Neptune answered. "It went on for a bit and returned
to Jupiter, when questioned the personnel said they remembered
nothing. In fact they weren't even sure why they were out on
'Lightening'."
Venus sighed. "So...we have nothing. We better sit tight until
Serena calls...she has access to the ship's tapes. Something
has to come up."
* * *
"Mina? We have information."
"We could use all the information we can get!"
"Lita has been abducted by Prince Kenneth of Dracoria."
Mercury looked up and stepped up the crystal. "Prince
Kenneth of Dracoria? This is going to get sticky."
"Wait...there's more."
Venus' eyebrows rose. "More?"
"Princess Lita was not their target."
Mars stepped forward. "Who was it then?"
Her body-guard stepped into view. "You."
"Me? Why would Prince Kenneth of Dracoria want with me?"
She was clearly confused.
"He was just one of your numerous...admirers Princess."
Mina sensed that there was something between these two...
"Raye you have to listen...you must not go to save your friend,
let the others deal with it. We have no idea what this Prince
Kenneth is capable of! Please!'
"You of all people can not order me around." Venus saw the
flash of temper in her eyes.
Venus stepped forward, sighing. "Don't worry Serena, we'll
do what we can. Do you know anything else?"
Serena shook her head. Venus broke the connection. She
turned to the others.
"Alright then, this is a personal matter, nothing to do with
Galaxial domination. As Mercury said, this situation is sticky.
We have to do this delicately...no bursting in and kicking ass."
she looked pointedly at Mars, who ignored her. "All we have
to do now is find where Prince Kenneth is."
"Done." Mercury looked up. "There is a Dracorian ship just
beyond Pluto."
* * *
BANG!!!
Sailor Venus, Mars and Mercury had landed on the ship.
They waited for the dust to clear...
Princess Lita of Jupiter stood over a handsome young man
who was trussed up like a turkey.
"Lita?"
Princess Lita looked up, her emerald green eyes twinkling
with merriment. She looked down at the young man.
"See? Didn't I tell you my entourage would come?"
"They didn't have to break the door." he said dryly.
Sailor Venus glanced at him." Prince Kenneth I presume?"
He nodded. "Umm...if you would be so kind to let me up?"
Sailor Mars stepped forward. "Just wait a minute...why did
you abduct Princess Lita."
He looked up at her. "Princess Raye?"
She sighed and nodded.
"Well actually they were supposed to take...I guess...you."
"Why?"
He smiled sheepishly. "They were supposed to extend an
invitation...to...you...because...I wanted to meet you so bad."
Sailor Mars smiled, "And now?"
He shrugged and looked up at Lita. "Now it doesn't seem to
matter as much."
Sailor Venus giggled. "Oh...poor Raye, I think you just lost
an admirer."
Sailor Mars glared at her. "Shut up Venus." she turned to
Princess Lita. "Shake it or lose it Lita."
With that she stalked off. Lita shrugged and walked towards
them.
"Hey!" they turned back to Prince Kenneth. "Lita...you just
can't leave me like this!"
She smiled at him. "Oh don't worry, one of your attendants
would be along in a second."
* * *
Princess Mina slipped on a soft yellow dress. It caressed her
figure and complimented her blonde hair. She slipped on the
matching mask. She loved masks...concealing her from the
world...she felt she could do anything behind a mask...
"Mina?"
She turned and saw her mother. She curtsied.
"Yes Mama?"
Queen Aphrodite approached her. She held a velvet box.
Tenderly she tucked a strand behind Mina's ear.
"Darling, you have grown so...I think it's time you wore
this."
She opened the box and revealed a glittering diamond
necklace, with matching earrings and bracelets.
"Oh Mama..."
"You are the Princess of Venus...my only daughter...wear
them with pride my Mina..."
* * *
Mina wandered down the staircase, feeling like the most
beautiful woman in the room. She scanned the room, hoping
to see...him...
She couldn't stop thinking about him the whole day...
"Princess of my heart...how lovely you look."
Mina stiffened. Dreading it, she turned...
"Andrew!"
He smiled at her. "Who else?"
She smiled at him, "Of course...who else?"
Yes, who else? He was long gone from her life...
Andrew took her in his arms and looked down into her eyes.
"You have the most amazing eyes...have I told you that yet?"
She smiled at him. "No...but you have now."
He grinned. "They remind me of...Earth's fairest skies."
"Are you at Earth often?"
"Unfortunately no...Leumeah is very far from here...too
bad I can't visit often."
"Yes...too bad."
"But then again...ships are very fast. Especially Leumean
ships."
She grinned at him. "Surely not as fast as Venusian ships."
He regarded her. "Tell me Princess of my heart...do you
fly?"
"Of course..."
He leaned close, his lips almost touching her ear. "Then
fly with me..."
She closed her eyes. "Too the end of the Galaxy."
* * *
"I'm hating this already."
Mina turned around and smiled at Princess Raye. "Lighten up Raye,
just enjoy!"
Raye rolled her eyes. "Please Mina, look at them...don't you feel like
a walking throne"
Mina glanced at them, "I know what you mean, I'm a plate of roast
and they haven't eaten for years."
Raye laughed. "Well...I suppose I must mingle." she spotted Andrew.
"Besides, I have a feeling you are going to be accosted."
A dreamy smile touched Mina's lips. "Let him accost away."
Raye was silent, staring at her friend. "I promise to explain later."
Raye sighed, "You had better."
* * *
A blast shook the Palace, blindly Mina reached for Andrew.
He grasped her hand. "I'm here Mina, I'm here."
She looked up, then she looked around. "Serena...where's
Serena?"
Andrew looked around. "She must be with Darien."
"Darien? Where are they?"
Princess Raye ran up to her. "Mina! Where's Serena?
Mina frantically shook her head.
Andrew leaned close to her again. "Don't worry Mina,
Serena's a big girl, and besides, she has Darien with her."
Mina shook her head, "No Andrew, you don't understand...
Protecting Serena is my life...we are her personal body-guard."
She wrenched herself from his grasp, and went in search for
Serena.
Possibilities whirled in her head, then she spotted the Moon
Princess, with Prince Darien. She was handing him something.
Mina felt like an intruder for the first time around Serena.
She watched, as he disappeared over the balcony.
Mina approached. "Princess...we are being attacked, it's not
safe for you to be here." she said gently.
Serena shook off her touch, Mina felt as if she was being
shunned, that Serena had found something that Mina may
never find. "He came Mina."
"Please Serena..."
* * *
Feeling numb and somehow betrayed she waited patiently
for the Earth troops to arrive.
She had done the best she could, she and the other Scouts
have been ordered to stay away from the fighting. The Queen
distractedly said something about wanting to save their strength
for later. It was killing her, this waiting...
Someone gently laid a hand on her shoulder, "Serena I..." she
looked up and immersed herself into Prince Andrew's eyes.
"Andrew."
He smiled at her. "Don't worry...my uncle will be here soon."
"How could you be so sure?"
He grinned. "Darien...Darien would beg and rant at him to
come."
Mina smiled, he sobered. "Mina...I...I just wanted you to
know..."
Immediately she knew what he wanted to say. Smiling, she
gently laid a hand on his cheek. "Drew...there would be
plenty of time for that later."
* * *
True to his words, King Endymion and Prince Darien arrived.
Mina noted, Serena. She kept an eye on her. She was probably
the only person to note Serena's discreet retreat to the balcony.
She wondered if she should follow...
She heard screams...she started to run, but Prince Darien came
in, in his arms was Princess Serena.
Mina followed him...she should have gone after her!
"What happened?"
Darien bowed to Queen Serenity. "Your Majesty...we were
attacked by Princess Beryl of the Negaverse."
He turned, to leave. Queen Serenity looked up. "Prince Darien..."
He bowed to her. "Don't worry Queen Serenity."
Chaos raged through the room, Mina searched for Darien's
retreating figure. She saw Raye stop him. Then he strode out.
"Darien?"
Queen Serenity ran to her daughter's side. "I'm here Serena."
She looked up at her mother dazedly. "Where's Darien?"
Feeling the pain only a mother would, the Queen realized that
her baby girl, was no longer a baby.
"He...he went Serena."
"Went? Where?"
No one cared to answer her. Serena groaned, and struggled
to rise. "No...please don't tell me he went to..."
Silently, the Queen nodded.
Serena got up, determined to follow him, Mina took her arm.
"Serena, you're too weak, you can't go!"
"Mina, don't tell me what to do. I promise you Mina, we will
find each other again." she looked at everyone. "We will all
find each other."
She ran...Mina was powerless to stop her, but she held her
dear cousin's promise to her heart.
She turned to face the Queen, "Aunt Serenity, the time is
nigh..."
* * *
"Venus Crescent Beam...SMASH!!!"
A swirl of orange and yellow light headed straight for a
Negaverse ship...moments later it exploded.
Sailor Venus looked around her, the Moon was being
destroyed. She could see countless of others following.
Without the Moon, the Galaxy was lost.
"Darien!"
Hearing her cousin's voice, Sailor Venus looked up in
time to see her fling herself into his embrace.
"Serena!"
Horrified, time slowed. Sailor Venus watched as a dark
blast slowly made it's straight for them. Desperate, Sailor
Venus hurled herself into the sky...too late...
"No!!! Serena!"
She watched as Princess Serena's limp body crashed to
the ground, her hand still tightly clasped by the now dead
Prince Darien.
Heedless of her own safety Sailor Venus ran to Serena's
side; Serena who was the sister Mina never had...
"Serena!"
Sailor Venus barely looked up as Sailor Mars ran to her
side.
"Since both of you are so desperate to die for your Princess,
I might indulge you."
Both looked up. A red-haired woman stood over them, her
green eyes glittering with madness.
"I am Princess Beryl of the Negaverse, heed my face well...
for it is the last you will see."
She hurled dark power at both of them, Sailor Venus and
Sailor Mars was flung far from each other.
Blindly, Sailor Venus reached upwards...
'Mina...'
Was it her imagination or did she hear...
"Andrew?"
Prince Andrew held her head in her lap. "I'm here Mina."
"How touching, but as you saw Sailor Venus, sentimental
mush doesn't save you."
That horrible voice...with the last ounce of her strength
Sailor Venus flung Andrew away from her...and met the
powerful blast...
* * *
"Mina!!!!"
"Isn't this wonderful...the Moon Princess and the Princess
of Venus, dying within moments of each other." those glittering
green orbs, focused on him. "I think it's touching how she
thrust you away...what a woman. Too bad she's dead!"
With an enraged snarl, Andrew flung himself at her. "You
witch! Beryl, till the day I die I will never forgive you for
killing my love and my cousin!"
Those eyes hardened. "Dear Prince Andrew...that day has
come..."
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