It took me a while to even start this chapter. It's very difficult to write. I hope you like it because I think this was the hardest yet. With the next chapter, this story will be half-finished. It's hard for me to believe that I've got that much of it finished already. It seems like I just started writing. And my babbling ends now.

P.S. Have you seen my horrible cover for this? When I get around to it, I'll make a hand-drawn one. I do much better on paper, and MS Paint isn't a very good program to use anyway.

As the castle came into view, growing larger and large until she could make out each individual brick, Serenity slinked farther and farther away from the exit. She was not in a pleasant mood, and she knew of two people there that she did not wish to be reunited with even when she was in a good mood. The seats shook as the ship landed and the engine shut off. When the whir ceased, Luna expected Serenity to leap up. She did not.

Luna nudged Serenity toward the door.

"I don't want to go!" she whined. "Can't we just go back to the Moon and stay there?"

"My queen, this is a very important meaning. You were just complaining about King Endymion not believing you were a good queen. How can you prove him wrong if you go back?" the advisor said. It didn't affect Serenity. "You don't have a choice. Go in. Now."

"Venus is in there. And Endymion," Serenity whispered.

"All the better to prove yourself then. We won't leave until you go in," Luna declared.

Jupiter appeared at the door. "Aren't you going to come in, Serenity? The meeting is starting soon, and you don't want to be late again. At least you're dressed correctly this time."

Serenity flushed. Realizing there was no way she could leave now, she hopped out and followed Jupiter inside.


"Good day!" greeted Jupiter cheerfully as she walked in with Serenity.

"Hello, Jupiter. Hello, Serenity," called Venus. The moon queen looked at her coldly and took the seat farthest away from her. Uranus looked at her slowly. An exaggerated smile made its way to her face as Serenity began to chatter about—well, honestly, she didn't even know what she was talking about. She just didn't want to look at that woman.

She successfully babbled on until the meeting began, therefore avoiding all questions about Serenity's ball and giving her an excuse to not look at Endymion. In fact, Serenity was in a way pleased with herself. She didn't think she could maintain comity with either of the two today.

"Will we begin the meeting, then?" Pluto asked once everyone seemed to run out of greetings.

"Yes," answered Venus decisively.

"I think we've all agreed that we're ready to join together, except for Mars."

The nine looked at the Martian. She didn't flinch at their glares; her glower in return made Mercury look away. The rhythmic tap of fingers—pointer, middle, ring, pinky—was the only sound to fill the room for a minute. No one was in an hurry to say anything. Finally, Mars relented and gained undivided attention.

"I have told you what it will take to get me to join the Alliance," Mars said slowly. "If you do not give me that, I will not join the Alliance."

Saturn averted her gaze from the rest of the table.

Endymion straightened his torso. "I see no reason why we should exclude one because another does not want thing, especially if the first has no qualms about them being there." His eyes flickered to Serenity. She felt like she was on fire with embarrassment, but did not retort. She couldn't agree with Mars without ruining Saturn.

"It depends on if the reason is valid." The young queen was hardly aware of the movement of her lips. "This one, however, I think we all deem as silly."

Saturn stood up. She started to make her way to the door as she whispered, "I think that I should just leave. We obviously are not welcomed. My people don't want to be merely tolerated."

"No!" Serenity and Endymion both exclaimed. She eyed him harshly.

"Saturn, you can prove yourself. You don't need to bow to what others want you to do, and you don't need help," Serenity said stubbornly. Venus shrunk low into her chair.

Mercury rose. "I've had enough of this. You two have been acting exceedingly rude to each other, even more so than when you were children, and I'm convinced it's because of whatever happened at your ball, Serenity. I don't want to hear anymore arguing. I motion that you either stop or explain exactly what happened."

"Seconded," Uranus spoke suddenly.

"Thirded."

"Fourthed."

"Fifthed."

"Sixthed."

"Seventhed."

Mercury's dark blue eyebrows bunched together. "Those aren't words . . . ."

Serenity plopped ungracefully back into her seat, head turned away from everyone else. She said, "I won't tell. If I tell what really happened, I'll offend someone. Besides, I'm too young to do anything by myself." She grimaced at everyone who looked at her. Serenity wasn't known to act like this.

Endymion refused to say anything either.

"I think I should tell. I know some of what happened," Venus offered. "Well, before Serenity left the room.

"I'm sure you all remember what I said the first meeting Serenity was—queen. I said that because I knew that everyone in the room thought she was too young to be ruler. Please don't argue; we all know it's true. We actually had that discussion while Selene was ill." She glanced apologetically at Serenity. The Lunarian wasn't sure exactly what for—the meeting or the mention of her mother. "While we were dancing, I said to Serenity essentially what I said to you. She didn't react well. She was very angry and left. As for the nature of Serenity and Endymion's argument, I would presume it has something to do with this."

The sovereigns contemplated this quietly for a moment.

"Serenity, you need to get over it," Uranus said. Neptune nodded.

Saturn looked nervous to say anything. "It's trivial."

Mercury pondered on her own before answering, "Venus, I honestly don't like that you would lie to us about that. You had no business in Serenity's affairs, and I agree—she can take care of herself. I don't think I can trust someone like you in this alliance, and she has no reason to after your 'plan'."

"I don't. I won't stay in any Alliance with Venus ever," Serenity admitted. She then left the room to wait for her ship to return.

The room quieted by her departure, Jupiter took the chance to speak. "I believe Serenity's reason is valid."

"I second." Mars had moved from her seat next to Venus to stand behind Jupiter. She gripped the edge of the table.

To the others' surprise, Pluto said, "We outnumber you," referring to herself, Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn.

"Only if Endymion sides with you. What is your choice, Endymion?" Mercury said.

"Endymion?" Neptune countered.

"I . . . Venus was only trying to help."

"It's settled," Pluto spoke once again. "Venus will remain in the Alliance."

Jupiter and Mercury also stood up. The trio stood close to emphasize their point. "Then we will not."


Something Serenity would have gained from the Alliance would have been Mercury's faster ships. She would have really liked that. Serenity had a feeling that when the meeting was adjourned, she'd still be out here waiting. Her intuition was confirmed when the click of shoes on concrete grew closer and closer to her. Serenity glanced backwards to see who was there.

"We agree with you," Jupiter offered. "We left too."

"You realize they will be aligned against us?" Serenity didn't think highly of her whilom allies.

Mercury smiled. "Are we not aligned against them? Together, we all have Venus and Earth cornered?"

Serenity couldn't contain a giggle. "I suppose we will have to have a meeting to see." She stood up and brushed the dust from her dress. Mars boarded her ship and left the planet. Jupiter waved goodbye as she too hurried off. Serenity didn't blame them. She didn't want to stick around here any longer.

"We will. Your ships must be very slow," Mercury said.

Serenity felt a blush for her people appear.

"Good day."

"Good day."

A few moments later, more footsteps could be heard. Serenity wanted to groan. She really didn't want to speak to any of them.

"You should have let it go, Serenity!" She couldn't decide he was actually angry or just scolding her. She didn't think it mattered.

Serenity turned around and faced him. She wasn't going to back down. "I have no reason to."

"You know, you are too young! Because you couldn't act like an adult and be civil to Venus, you've torn apart an alliance we all worked hard on for months. Your mother would be very disappointed. She wanted this alliance to work more than anyone, and you ruined it by being petty. And you wonder why we treat you like a child?"

"My mother wouldn't want me to suffer this abuse," Serenity said.

Endymion replied, "Your mother would be very disappointed to have you as a daughter."

Tears pricked her eyes. "You're just mean!"

She rushed around a corner and waited for her ship to arrive.

The first scene is how I always acted when my mom dropped me off for school. We'd have whole conversations about skipping, but in the end, I always had to go. School sucks.

I want to know who you all side with. I've always sided with Serenity, but partially understood why Venus did it. The more that I've written, the less sympathetic I am. Just let me know what you think.

Normally, I hate when authors leave notes about one of their other stories, but I'm actually getting really annoyed. For those of you that reviewed "Whisper" asking for a second chapter, I have no intention of ever writing another one. If you're confused and you want to know something, message me, but do not beg for me to continue. When I wrote it, I meant for it to be very vague and difficult to understand. That is the style of the writing. I explained somewhat at the end. It does not take place in the first season; it's manga-based and after the end of the manga. If I get another message saying "What happened to Usagi?" I will delete the story. I specifically mention it. I don't want to delete it because I love the story, but I can't take being hounded by questions anymore. Author's notes are there for a reason. Read them. (I will also advise you to take this seriously because it takes a lot for me to lose my patience.)