In the dim silver light cast by the glow of the moon a princess and her court lounge carelessly in a stone garden. Not far away a young mind is planning a devious task, one that will change the world and awaken the ancient solider protectors.

The term betrothed hadn't sounded that scary when Serenity heard it first, she liked the idea of one day being the bride to a handsome prince. The word today, however, seemed to have a silver knife edge to it. Serenity sulked through the halls of the castle she'd called home since her birth nearly sixteen years ago. With her birthday quickly approaching it was expected that the princess of the moon and the prince of the earth planet would marry. Serenity frowned stopping at the balcony that faced the small blue planet, she sighed. 'Marry a boy I've never met.' she said aloud to herself. 'It doesn't seem fair.' Lifting her skirt she broke into a run from the balcony and down to the stone garden she and her friends would spend hours relaxing in. She missed those easy days; her sister like companions would arrive from their planets for training and lessons. The girls would sneak around the castle playing games and telling secrets. Serenity had no greater friends than the princesses from Mars, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter. Crawling into a hidden cave deep in the stone garden Serenity silently breathed staring at the dark grey stone listening intently for the sound of her mothers song like voice calling her back inside; calling her away from the memories she loved and back to the reality she so feared.

...

Crackers and party favours rung through the hallow castle walls as the birthday celebrations continued. Princess Mars, a raven haired girl with wide brown eyes and a sharp tongue known to her friends as Rei, held a small box wrapped in fire red paper. 'Usagi.' she smiled handing the gift to the Princess Serenity. Usagi was a pet name the princesses had given their dear friend, it meant little rabbit, and when they were children the term defined Serenity. The title also mirrored the rabbit like ears Serenity's hair gave her. 'Thank you Rei.' Serenity smiled ripping the paper from the box and beaming at the small glass figure encased. 'It's so pretty.'

'It's glass my father taught me to make.'

'Thank you.' Serenity's eyes filled with tears as she hugged her friend.

'My turn.' Princess Venus elbowed Rei and pushed her way in front of Serenity. Venus, or Mina as her friends called her, had beautiful long blond hair and clear blue eyes, her charm was contagious and her want of everything beautifully and lovely made her easy to like. Her gift was hidden in a small bag and when Serenity pulled the item out it cried.

'A kitten!'

'Her name is Luna, like the moon. She has a crescent mark on her forehead. I couldn't resist.' Mina giggled as she hugged her friend and moved for the next princess to offer her gift to the birthday girl. Princess Mercury, Ami, nearly didn't fit with the other princesses, her blue hair wasn't long and her face wasn't perfect. Her blue eyes were tired and small but her kindness and intelligence made up for anything she lacked otherwise. Her gift was a book, wrapped with a blue ribbon and weighing more than the young girl herself. 'I didn't know what to get you; you'll be going to Earth soon.' Ami said in her high squeaky voice.

'I'll treasure it.' Serenity said.

'I also made my gift.' Princess Jupiter, Mako, the tallest of the five girls said. Mako, like Ami, wasn't delicate. She was brawny with large amber eyes and soft brown hair tied always behind her head and away from her face. Mako held a small box in front of her and Serenity blushed taking it, knowing that her friend had cooked her something. Serenity pulled the scarf away from a small box and reviled a small feast.

'Thank you.' Serenity said softly.' You are all truly the best friends anyone could ask for.'

'And you, Usagi.' Ami smiled pulling her friend into a hug. 'I can't believe you're about to be married.'

'Soon to be Queen Serenity.' Rei added.

'Don't remind me.' Serenity frowned.

'Are you not excited to marry Prince Endymion?' Mina asked as the group began to walk out of the hall and into the stone garden they'd spent so much time in as children.

'I was.' Serenity said slowly coming to a stop. Mina slowed next to her wrapping her arm around her friend. 'It frightens me to be a wife now. I am so young. His father is so very ill, and soon it will be expected that I w ill be queen. I'm to produce and heir. I'm still very much a child myself, how am I to.' she trailed off.

'You have us.' Mako said firmly. 'As your court we're expected to accompany you.'

'You will have to get married on your own.' Serenity said.

'Yes, but not until we are eighteen. We are to be with you until that time.' Ami reaffirmed.

'By then you'll be begging us to leave you alone with your handsome king.' Rei laughed. Serenity gave Rei an unknowing look before Mina tugged her waist to continue walking.

'You'll be fine Usagi.' Rei said seriously. 'It's what you were born for.' Quietly the girls each took their usual seats around the large stone pond, crystal water dripped from a statue of Serenity's great grandmother, the first Moon kingdom queen. She stood tall and firm with a large water basin that dumped cool water into the pond creating a water fall. Serenity let her fingers whirl around the water as she stared at the blue planet gleaming at her. 'I may have been born for this, but it's not what I want.' she said quietly. 'Not in the least.'

...

Far away from the moon festivities King Earo lay in a large down bed, his wife and maid tending to his every need. Endymion, prince of earth and Earo's only living son, sat eagerly in the board room. 'He still lives?' he asked aloud.

'Yes.' replied Endymion's head general, Kunzite. Endymion slammed his fist on the large meeting table. 'Although I hear he is very near the end.' Kunzite added.

'Very near.' Endymion challenged. 'He has been so very near the end for two weeks.' Endymion stood from the table and made his way quickly to where his general stood on guard. 'My father is the reason I am not king. His continued disobedience in my request for him to die is no longer merely an annoyance.' Kunzite glanced at his master. 'I wish him to be dead by night fall, do I make myself clear?' Kunzite said nothing; he turned on his heel and walked briskly from the boardroom and into the large halls of Crystal Castle.

...

'Serenity.' the soft song like voice of the moon queen floated through Serenity's dream and brought her gently back to reality. 'Come child, things are changing and we must work quickly.' Serenity groaned at her mothers words but slowly sat up. Her maids were quickly at her side, helping her dress and getting her ready for the day. She met her mother, along with her counsel in the meeting hall. Serenity had a feeling; this wasn't going to be a good meeting. 'Yes Mother, what is it?'

'We have it on good authority that Prince Endymion is planning a war.' Said the moon kingdom's head of security and the heir to the thrown of Uranus, Prince Unruko.

'The information we've been given by his insiders is that Endymion plans to have his father murdered by the end of this night. When he is officially named the king of earth he plans to wage war on the prosperous kingdoms of both the moon and the ruler of the outer kingdom, Neptune. 'Serenity gasped softly. 'We are unsure at present what extent he plans to attack but we are adding resources to each planet.'

'What about the fabled soldiers?' Serenity asked softly. Unruko laughed.

'Child, you speak of a children's story. Sailor Senshi awaken to the plague of war with special powers to defeat the enemy.' he laughed again. 'Really.'

'That is enough.' Queen Serenity said. 'Usagi, that story is a legend. We've never seen any truth in it.'

'We've never had a war.'

'And when this one starts the armies of Mars and Jupiter will handle the moon kingdom's protection while Saturn and Uranus protect Neptune.' Unruko nodded to the queen before smiling a half smile to Princess Serenity and taking his leave.

'Am I not to wed the prince Endymion than.' Serenity said hopeful.

'He has expressed interest in keeping you as a wife. These threats Prince Unruko speaks of are of course third hand.' Queen Serenity said gently. 'Right now darling we only know that King Earo is very ill, and that his son isn't all that sad to be losing a father.'

...

'My lord.' Kunzite said stiffly as he entered the large dining room where Prince Endymion was taking his dinner. 'Your father has died.'

'Excellent.' Endymion said happily stabbing his fork into a large piece of beef. 'Let my rein begin.'

..

.

High pitched sirens rang through the Moon Kingdom as balls of fire fell from the sky. Men in suites of armour terrorized the small township below Serenity Castle, hidden in a small cave in the stone garden of the castle grounds Princess Serenity silently prayed for help. The day had started as usual; her maids woke her, dressed her and helped her with her breakfast before she took an audience with her mother. It was then the Earth kingdom attacked, King Endymion kicked down the doors to the small bedroom Queen and Princess Serenity had been seated in, the queen was taken by three men as she screamed to her daughter to run, and hide. Serenity did as she was told lifting her skirt high she ran from the room and into the garden, crawling into her cave and quietly she waited. Fear held Serenity by the throat as she lay in her cave, the stone around her just enough for her body to remain unseen by passer-by's. Any noise she heard caused Serenity to hold her breath and for new tears to trail down her face in place of the old dried ones.

'Find the Princess.' she heard as two men above her spoke. 'Endymion wishes to use her.'

'Use her? Can I have the first go.' the other voice said. Serenity held her breath as her stomach did summer salts. 'Wait.' the first voice said getting quieter. 'Here kitty kitty.' it started again. Serenity nearly cried out as she thought of her poor kitten. 'Look, that cat's right near a crack in the stone.'

'A crack eh.' Serenity held her breath as her eyes became wide, large strong hands grabbed her legs and pulled her out of her cave. 'Got ya.'

Serenity screamed.

A/N

Sorry guys I know it's a bit all over, but it's the opening chapter so... R&R cuz my ego likes it. Trixx~