Chapter 4. White Princess.

At the palace, the Moon Kingdom visitors, the Kou brothers, and Prince Endymion were all trying to figure out away to prove that Princess Serena is still alive. Setsuna had suggested to contact the four guardians, who had set out to look for her, through her mind, which Endymion didn't understand how she was going to do it.

"Um, Setsuna you can stand on your own, right?" asked Haruka.

Setsuna realized that Endymion still had his hold on her when she almost fainted. She blushed immediately and Endymion let go looking away so no one see his blushing face. Haruka and Michiru laughed. They knew their Setsuna and knew that she didn't mind being in Endymion's arms.

Back in the woods, the four guardians felt a presence nearby as they were attempting to take Serena to a safe place. They hadn't realized that the presence had been coming from their minds. Setsuna tried to talk slowly and calmly to the girls as it was their first time communicating through their minds. Raye, the strongest of them all with mind power listened carefully to Setsuna's words.

"It's Setsuna," said Raye.

"Setsuna?" said Serena. "How could you communicate with her? She's on the Moon."

"No, she's on Earth. She's saying that she knows about your attack and wants to know if your okay." Raye stayed quiet to respond to Setsuna.

"What else?"

"She wants us to follow protocol to keep you safe."

"Does that mean we return back to the Moon?" asked Mina.

"No," said Serena. "I can't do that. What about my dad? Seiya…and his brothers and… Endymion. There are all innocent people. I can't abandon them."

"Serena we have to follow our duty."

"Raye's right," said Lita. "We can't go back. We'll be risking your safety."

"I think it would be best for us to stay out of sight for while," said Amy. "Then attempt to make our way to the Moon."

"We'll be much safer there and stronger too," said Mina.

"I'll tell Setsuna," said Raye.

"Where will we go?" asked Serena. "There is nothing out here."

"I'm not sure, but we'll find something. As long as Beryl never finds out that your still alive, we'll be safe. Lets go."

They continued their journey through the woods and already night had fallen. Only the stars and the moon guided them and lead them to a small cottage. It looked abandoned. Amy checked it with her mini computer that she always had handy.

"It's empty," said Amy with a reassured nod.

"Lets go inside," said Raye as she and Lita helped Serena inside. The cottage looked like it hadn't been used in years and they hoped that it was true. They sat Serena on some bed and they started to repair the place with their powers.

Raye looked at the fire place and gathered some wood that was laying outside. She laid it in the fire place and with her power of fire created fire and warmth in the cottage.

Lita found the light switch and followed the wires that lead to the roof. She exited the cottage and found the source of power for the cottage. With her power of lightning, she powered it up and electricity surged throughout the cottage.

Amy saw a large pot on the ground and decided to make some soup. She gather some ingredients she found in the kitchen and with her power of water filled the pot with water. Raye and Lita carried the pot over to the fire place after Amy put in the spices and herbs she had found.

Mina started to open the windows drapes, which were filled with dust. As soon as she had them opened the moon shone through and Serena felt better about being in the cottage. She then started creating flower bouquets, being the goddess of love, only pretty things came from her power to decorate the cottage and to make it more homey.

At Endymion's palace, Setsuna was receiving the messages from Raye. She stayed quiet as Raye responded to her.

"It's Raye," said Setsuna. "They are alright. They've found Serena. She's okay." Setsuna looked at Endymion who sighed in relief when Setsuna said that.

"Are they coming back?" asked Endymion.

"No, they want to keep her away for while. They don't want Beryl to find out the truth that Serena is alive."

"What are they planning on doing?" asked Seiya. "Don't you think she'd be safer here. We'll all protect her."

"It's too risky. They will stick to the protocol," said Setsuna. "Deep in the woods they will be concealed from everyone. The guardians know what to do. They've been training for this since they were born. They just wished that they wouldn't of needed to put it into action."

From the palace, in her quarters, Beryl headed to her window that allowed herself to see her kingdom and most of the gardens of her palace. Down in the gardens she saw a group gathered and the only words that stung violently into her were 'Serena is alive.' Rage formed in her eyes as she turned around and walked out her door.

"Jedite!" she yelled and the sound could be heard everywhere in the palace.

Jedite was in the opposite side of the palace and heard her scream. He quickly headed for the gates but was somehow too late. Beryl appeared before him. Jedite stopped and started to back away from his Queen. He knew she knew he had betrayed her with the fake heart of the princess.

"You betrayed me Jedite," said Beryl. "And all I've done for you."

"I…my…Queen," said Jedite stuttering with his words.

"You were my one and only Jedite. One simple task that I ask of you and you couldn't even plunge the blasted dagger into the pretty princess' heart. Is that it. You loved her more them me?"

"No…my…Queen. I loved you more." Beryl pressed herself closer to Jedite until he was against a wall. Her long finger nails touched him lightly on the face as Beryl traced his features with them.

"It's too late." Beryl sliced his throat with her finger nail. Blood poured out like fountain and Jedite stumbled against the wall. He tried to stop the blood but it was useless. "You are no use to me now. If you want something done right you need to do it yourself." Beryl marched back into the palace.

Seconds later, Kunzite, another of Beryls guards found Jedite just breathing his last breaths on the floor filled with blood.

"No," said Kunzite as he took Jedite's hand. "Jedite what…"

"Beryl…" were Jedites last words.

"She will pay." Kunzite slammed his hand on the ground in fury. "She will pay."

In the woods, the guardians had eaten the soup Amy had made and they had started to create beds for each of them from the material around. There were many old cushions but only two small beds that barely fit one. The guardians insisted on Serena taking one of the beds but she refused. Serena and Raye spent an hour fighting about the bed until Mina came with the idea of using both bed mattresses for all them and spreading them with the other cushions to make a big king size bed.

As soon as they were asleep, the night air cooled the cottage and a light fire still roared in the fire place. The guardians could not feel a cold presence nearby that extinguished the fire and a small voice calling Serena's name. Serena awoke.

"Serena," called the voice, which felt like an echoe. "Help me." Serena did not hesitate and headed for the door. She grabbed a blanket to wrap it around her to keep her warm and followed the voice outside. Serena was limping because of her hurt ankle but she didn't care. Someone was in trouble and she had to help them.

"Where are you?" asked Serena scared that she had gone out alone and feeling the harsh pain of her injured ankle. "I can't see anything." Suddenly on Serena's forehead a crescent moon appeared and it lighted up the woods with an immense amount of light. About a couple feet away from her was a woman whom Serena recognized. She gasped when she saw her.

From the cottage, Raye was the first to notice Serena missing and the crescent moon shining in the dark woods outside. She quickly alerted the other guardians and they went off searching for their princess.

"Serena!" they called out as they followed the crescent moon shinning in the woods.

When they found her, she wasn't alone. The guardians saw the other figure and were as surprised as Serena who stood still with wide eyes as she continued to stare at the figure..

"Mother," said Serena.

"Serenity," said Raye. "But it can't be."

Amy analyze the person dressed as Serenity and found her true identity.

"No Serena!" called Amy. "It's a trap. She's not your mother."

"What?" said Serena.

"Come my child," said Serenity with a serene look. "I've missed you so much. Give me your hand."

"Serena!" yelled Raye. "Stop!"

The woman dressed as Serenity waved her hand a little and pushed the guardians away. Each of them hitting a tree or something hard and knocking them unconscious. Serena felt their pain and was not happy of what her mother had done.

"Why hurt them?" said Serena. "They're my friends."

"Serena. You don't need them anymore. I can protect you my sweet. Come. Come home with me."

Serena looked into Serenity's eyes and couldn't help but become empowered by her words and her eyes. Serena continued to walk toward the Queen and took her hand. In the instant that she took it, the two disappeared.

AN: Yes, Serena is going to get it. Sorry but no dwarves in this story. If you look at it the guardians are the seven.