AN: Wow, sorry about the delay in updating! I really wanted to work on this sooner, but high school started, and then a lot of other things got in the way, and as a result, I didn't have much time for writing. But here is chapter 4, in all it's glory, and please enjoy! Thanks to Jennie Benny, midnightblue08, Ariadne Sailor of the Stars, Serentiy Moon Goddess, and boston for reviewing. You really don't know how much reviews mean to me, so please keep them coming! Also, please note that I may not be updating in a little while. It's not too bad, considering my general update habits, but another update probably won't happen until December, because November is National Novel Writing Month, with the goal being writing a 50,000 word novel, all in November. So I will be rather occupied! But I promise as soon as it's done, I'll update soon after. Anyway, enjoy!


Aphrodite gasped as she bumped into the mysterious man. He was tall, with the build of a warrior, and he was dressed in what looked like knight's clothes. Aphrodite couldn't help but notice that he was also quite handsome, with long silvery white hair, and piercing grey eyes that were narrowed at her in suspicion.

"Who are you?" the man asked, drawing his sword.

Aphrodite pulled herself up to her full height, and looked the man in the eye. "I am Princess Aphrodite of Venus, the Senshi of Love, leader of the Senshi, and protector of the Moon Princess. And who are you?"

"I am Shitennou Kunzite of the Earth Kingdom, leader of the Shitennou, and protector of the Earth Prince. What business do you have here? The Earth and the Moon are not on friendly terms. I would advise you to leave." He still held out his sword, but he lowered it slightly.

"My business here is nothing you need to know," Aphrodite said. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have important matters to attend to."

Kunzite didn't lower his sword. "I cannot let you pass. I do not know the Lunarians opinion of us Terrans, but as we are on the verge of war, you are not welcome here. I would not like to fight a lady, so I advise you to leave before I am forced to take action in the name of protecting my planet."

Aphrodite glowered. "I may be a lady, but I am also a highly trained warrior. I have no quarrel with you, your kingdom or your planet, but I have matters here that seek my urgent attention. However, if you will not let me pass, I will not stand idly by." Aphrodite drew out her Love-Me chain, and twirled it around her body, ready to strike if provoked.

Kunzite hesitated. He would hate to cause unnecessary conflict, especially when relations between their two kingdoms were stretched so tight, but he had no way of knowing if she was telling the truth. He was just about to try and convince her to leave once more, or fight if necessary, when a voice cried out.

"Wait! Stop!"

Both Aphrodite and Kunzite turned to the source of the voice. Princess Serenity was running towards them, Prince Endymion close behind.

"Please, don't fight," she said. "This must be a misunderstanding."

"Really, Kunzite, it's no big deal," Endymion said.

"But, my liege, with situations between the Earth and the Moon so tense, surely you don't think it's a good idea to let a Moon Kingdom warrior wander around the Earth, do you? And also, what in Kami's name is the Moon Princess doing here?" Kunzite asked.

"Oh. That," Endymion said. "Um, well, you see.." He nervously cleared his throat a few times, and absent-mindedly picked up Serenity's hand. "Serenity and I… err, that is, the Moon Princess and I, um, we…"

Kunzite groaned, seeing his Prince holding hands with the Moon Princess, and calling her Serenity. "Don't tell me. You've become romantically involved?"

In response, Endymion just gave a slightly chagrined smile.

Kunzite groaned again, and buried his face in his hands. "Endymion, my liege… with all due respect, what were you thinking?"

"I wasn't," Endymion started.

"I can see that," Kunzite muttered under his breath.

Endymion gave him a look, and then continued. "As I was saying, I wasn't thinking, or planning, it just sort of… happened. Please, Kunzite, don't be too angry."

Kunzite shook his head. "If only you could have chosen a better time, it could unite the two kingdoms… but war is about to break out, Endymion. Surely you realize that this relationship cannot last."

"I know," Endymion said, hanging his head.

"And that is why I am here," Aphrodite said. "Come, Serenity, we must be going back."

"But, it has hardly been any time at all!" Serenity said, her eyes getting teary.

"I know, I'm sorry," Aphrodite said, her heart breaking for her Princess. Oh, how she wished that her Princess and the Earth Prince could be together… for now that she was by both of them, she could see how strong their bond was. Such a bond was very hard to come by, and painful and difficult to break off. But for the good of her kingdom, for the life of her Princess, she had to separate them.

"Can't we have just a little more time?" Serenity pleaded, tears starting to fall from her eyes. "Just an hour or two more, less even! Just a moment. Please." Serenity whispered, her voice breaking at the end.

"Oh, Serenity," Aphrodite sighed, staring at the girl before her. "I am sorry. But your time is up. Perhaps someday, if things quiet down, you can find a way back. But for the time being, you cannot see each other anymore.

Serenity turned to Endymion, who wrapped his arms around her.

"Shh, Serenity, it's okay," Endymion soothed her, just as he had before. He kissed the top of her head, and then tilted her head up to kiss her on the lips. "We'll find a way, I promise."

Aphrodite turned her head away. The moment was so tender, she felt like she was intruding. She hated being the one tearing them apart, but she had no choice. After a minute, Aphrodite placed her hand on Serenity's shoulder.

"Come, Serenity," she said.

Serenity nodded meekly and followed.

Back at the Moon Kingdom Palace, Serenity sat in her room, brooding. She couldn't bear to be apart from Endymion, but what choice did she have? Aphrodite allowed her a brief visit, but she had now forbidden their relationship. Suddenly, a thought occurred to her. Sure, her guardians might be forbidding her to visit Earth or Endymion again, but why should that stop her? It might be their duty to protect her, but she was still a princess. And besides, she knew no harm would come to her when she was with Endymion. She had snuck out before, she could do it again. She knew it would be difficult, but she could do it. A knock sounded on Serenity's door, startling her.

"Can I come in?" Queen Serenity said, poking her head through the door.

"Of course, Mother," Serenity said.

"Well, I wanted to check some details about the upcoming ball with you," Queen Serenity said. "Although the ball is, of course, in honor of the King of Mars, who has recently decided to completely join the alliance of the Moon, and pledge his loyalty to us, there will be many other important political figures there. And since you will someday be Queen of the Silver Millenium, and take over my throne, it is important that you are well prepared. The Prince of Mars, Enyo's older brother, is a good candidate for marriage."

Serenity's eyes opened in shock. She knew that it was important to make diplomatic relations, and eventually marry someone who could benefit the kingdom, but she didn't expect things to be happening so soon. She had hoped she could have a little more time, and after this war with Earth was over—if it even began, Serenity was still stunned that the Terrans supposedly hated the Lunarians so much—she could marry Endymion. It would be perfect. After a war, the Moon would be looking to strengthen their ties to the Earth, and what better way then having the Crown Princess of the Moon marry the Crown Prince of the Earth?

Queen Serenity must have noticed her daughter's shocked expression. "Don't worry, you don't have to marry right away. But it is important to start searching for someone who could benefit your kingdom. And since Mars has just pledged their full loyalty to the Moon, it would be great to solidify it with something such as a marriage. I really hope you can marry for love… I know that loveless marriages are one of the worst things to be put through… but being royalty means certain obligations, and one of those obligations is making a marriage that will benefit your kingdom."

"What do you mean, you know about loveless marriages?" Serenity asked her mother. "I thought you and Father were in love."

"Oh, we were," the Queen said. "I loved him dearly, he was my perfect match in everything, and I was lucky to find a man I loved who could also profit my kingdom. But before I met him, I was very nearly married to the Prince of Neptune. Neptune and Uranus joined our alliance at the same time, so a marriage to either would have been greatly beneficial. The Prince of Neptune courted me, and my parents wanted me to marry him. The King and Queen of Neptune wanted it as well, and my parents had even drawn up a marriage contract with them. I wasn't given a choice in the matter, I was told I would marry him. Ichirou, he was called. I never liked him, he was too harsh, too cold. He was a war general, despite being only 20, and was wall thought of among his people. He was so unfriendly, in all the time I knew him, I don't think I ever saw him smile, not once. I don't thin he even loved me, to him I was just a pretty, young girl who he could show off, and get sons off of."

"What happened next?" Serenity asked, intrigued. Her mother was always so composed, so regal, Serenity had never imagined that maybe the Queen was a young girl not unlike herself, before she ascended the throne.

"Well, I ran away. I had already met your father, and although we'd only shared a few dances, I felt like I had to find him. He was visiting the Moon for a business trip, and we talked. He confessed that he was disappointed when my marriage to Ichirou was announced, for he had been planning to ask for my hand in marriage. I went back to my parents, and begged them to call off my marriage. They eventually conceded, although it nearly caused a war with Neptune, right after they had joined our alliance. But your father and I were married, and we were very much in love. We had several wonderful years together, until…" Queen Serenity's voice trailed away. Her eyes had glazed over, as if she were lost in the past, but then she shook her head slightly, and smiled sadly at her daughter. "Well. You know the rest of the story. Now, enough of this chitchat. I got so distracted with reminiscing that I completely forgot to tell you that there's a council meeting in a few hours, which I want you to sit in on. It's about time you started attending more, and not just as a bystander. I want the kingdom to love you as Queen just as much as they do now."

Serenity nodded her head, too distracted by her mother's story to even think about the council meeting. She hated the council meetings, they were boring and dull. It was full of various diplomats who discussed wars, peace treaties, and politics.

The council meeting was, as Serenity had predicted, mind-numbingly dull. The main topic of discussion had been the war with Earth. Although she was very interested in that subject, the way they discussed it held no interest for her. Later that night, after the council meeting had finished, and Serenity had managed to slip away from her guardians, she headed towards the teleport room. She stepped into the teleport to Earth, and felt the whirl of power. A second later, she was stepping out into the Terran Palace, but in her haste, she tripped and pushed a button on the teleport. She shrugged, figuring she would worry about it later. She headed towards the door, excited to see the lake again, and dip her toes in the water, before searching for Endymion. She pushed against the door, but it didn't budge. She tried again, but it was clearly locked. Serenity heard voices coming her way. She could hear much, but she picked out a few words.

"…War with the Moon… those stupid Lunarians, thinking they're better than us… hope this will put them in their place… don't know why everyone is so eager to join their alliance… hope they all die, right down to that meddling queen and her daughter…"

Serenity backed away, a hand over her mouth. These people were clearly not like Endymion. The voices were getting louder, and the footsteps coming closer, Serenity gave the door one last shove, but it wouldn't move. In a last desperate attempt, Serenity got into the teleport again, hoping to be safe back on Earth. But the teleport wouldn't budge. Serenity must have messed something up when she hit that button… but she didn't know how to change it back! Serenity looked around, tears filling her eyes in panic. She was stuck in the Terran Palace, with no way out, and hostile Terrans were coming her way.