1 Chapter 8: An Attack on Earth

"This isn't fun anymore," Serena wailed while they were flying through limbo to get back to the moon. Serena was holding her stomach and was beginning to feel sick again.

Finally they were back in the teleporting room on the moon and they went to their modes of transport. Darien whistled when he saw the motorcycle Jed had.

"Nice," Darien said taking a closer look at it. Although Jed had picked Rei up on Mars and they used the teleporting room there, Jed had sent the bike to the moon so it would be waiting when they had finished lunch.

"Isn't she a beauty?" Jed asked and Darien nodded in awe still staring at the bike.

"Yeah, how fast does she go?" Darien asked running his fingers along the flames.

"Real fast," Jed replied nodding and Darien gave him a high five. Serena and Rei were getting pretty peeved at being ignored for a stupid hunk of metal.

"Ahem," Serena cleared her throat and the men tore their eyes from the bike to stare at their angry girlfriends.

"Now what did we do?" Darien whined taking on a girlish pose imitating Serena causing him and Jed to burst out laughing as they moved away to look at the Ferrari. Serena folded her arms under her chest and fumed until Rei caught Serena's eyes and gestured to the bike. With mischievous smiles they sallied up to the bike, put on the helmets and sat on the bike with Rei driving and Serena holding on. The boys still didn't notice the girls and turned when they heard the bike start.

"You acted like jerks, that's what you two did," Serena yelled as they took off towards the palace.

"We are in big trouble," Jed stated before they both jumped into the Ferrari and raced after their angry girlfriends.

When Jed and Darien finally caught up Rei and Serena were sitting down on the steps of the palace waiting for them.

"You were right Jed, it goes real fast," Rei giggled standing up to look at Jed who broke into a smile and took her into his arms.

"Anything to please you," Jed replied bending his head to kiss Rei's lips softly.

Serena stood up with anger written all over her face and stalked to where Darien stood shaking in his boots at the expression on her face.

"Sorry meatball head," Darien apologised but to his surprise Serena's angry expression evaporated and she started laughing.

"Sometimes you make me mad," Serena said flinging herself into Darien's waiting arms," but more often you make me smile."

They kissed softly before breaking up Rei and Jed who were still at it and Serena pulled Rei inside the palace leaving the two men staring at them.

"Goodbye," Rei said waving to Jed blowing him a kiss, which he pretended to catch making her and Serena laugh.

"See you Darien," Serena said and Darien gave her a lopsided grin before turning to his sister and taking on the look of a wounded animal.

"Don't I get a goodbye hug and kiss," Darien demanded pretending to be hurt and Rei smiled like a little girl and hugged her brother tightly.

"Of course you do Dari," Rei used Darien's name that she hadn't used in two years and they both laughed. Rei walked back inside the palace and the big doors shut after her.

"Sure was a great lunch," Darien said nodding his head to emphasize the point.

"Sure was," Jed agreed absently looking up at Serena's balcony. Darien saw where his gave was and pulled Jed away.

"Don't even think about it," Darien advised and the two sped off back to earth.

Serena and Rei were rushing up to Serena's room when Serenity stopped them.

"Hello girls how were your dates?" Serenity asked hiding a smile because she already knew what happened thanks to the Princess of Gossip.

"They went all right," Serena said then gave a groan as she remembered all the food.

"I just wanted you two to be the first to know that next week I will be holding a masked ball," Serenity announced and Serena and Rei broke out into a chorus of excited yelps.

"Really mother, that is so great," Serena cried out hugging Rei happily. Rei's mood suddenly became dark and she went into deep thought. To her this masked ball didn't sound like a good idea, now that she thought about it more, it felt wrong.

"What is wrong Rei, don't you want to come?" Serenity asked seeing Rei's frowning expression. Rei looked up startled then she smiled warmly at Serenity.

"I wouldn't miss it for the whole world," Rei declared before Serena dragged her up to her room. The two girls spent the rest of the afternoon groaning about their stomachs.

"Goodnight," they both said in unison before going to sleep and dreaming of the afternoon they just had.

The next few days nobody heard anything from the Earth, which worried everyone immensely, especially the girls. No ships travelled to or from Earth and the teleporting room had been disabled from Earth. Serena and Rei thought for sure Darien and Jed would ring but they didn't and when they checked with the other girls their boyfriends hadn't called them either. Reiya knew something bad was about to happen she could feel it but she knew better than to try and tell Serenity so she kept it to herself and told only Phoebe and Rei. The next week there came news that Serenity was giving a masked ball on Friday so Thursday night Rei went to the Moon Palace to stay over at Serena's house. Rei and Serena changed into their nightgowns before they crawled into Serena's bed that was plenty big enough for both of them. They avoided conversation about their boyfriends neither wanting to ask about them for fear of the answer.

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Serena asked and Rei frowned at her confusion written all over her face.

"What do you mean? You know we have to become Queens of our Planets," Rei replied shortly her mind on Jed but Serena shook her head and tapped Rei on hers.

"No what do you dream of being?" Serena asked again and Rei sunk into the soft pillow closing her eyes before replying.

"I want to be a Shinto Priestess then I want to be a famous singer and actress," Rei said dreamily and Serena sighed from beside her.

"What about you Reena?" Rei asked using Serena's pet name from their childhood that only her friends called her and Serena smacked her arm because Serena didn't like to be thought of as a child anymore being sixteen and all.

"I want to test food," Serena said simply almost drooling at the thought.

"That's it?" Rei asked surprised staring at Serena who laughed.

"Well, I do want to get married to Darien and live happily ever after too," Serena said and Rei giggled before giving Serena a lopsided grin that reminded Serena of Darien.

"I want to marry Jed and have two children, a boy and a girl so they could be just like me and Darien," Rei said liking her dreams greatly. At the thought of their boys they suddenly became sullen so they decided to go to sleep.

"Someday our dreams will come true," Serena promised reaching up to turn off the lamp.

"Someday," Rei agreed before falling asleep.

Rei opened her eyes as she heard a sound on the balcony.

"What is that?" Rei thought getting up from the bed carefully so she didn't wake Serena who probably wouldn't have woken cause she slept like a log and walked to the door of the balcony half-heartedly pushing it open not really caring about what was outside but knowing it would bother her if she didn't check it out. The wind blew in almost knocking her off her feet. It is so cold, Rei thought rubbing her arms. Rei walked onto the balcony and looked around but saw nothing so she moved to go back inside when an icy hand on her shoulder stopped her.

"Rei," the figure grasping her shoulder said huskily and Rei spun around with a cry of alarm.

In the light Rei could see only the dirty uniform and the blood on the figures hands. When the sight of blood registered in Rei's mind Rei screamed before turning to run inside but the figure grabbed her roughly.

"Shut up Rei," the figure said throatily and Rei obeyed then the figure shoved Rei into the bedroom and walked in after her. The figure flung Rei unceremoniously onto a chair and Rei didn't look up. She shifted her gaze to Serena and her hope fell when Serena was still sleeping comfortably. I swear that girl could sleep through an invasion, Rei thought before her heart lifted at the sound of running outside the door. Rei looked up to gloat to her capture when she saw whom it was.

"Darien?" she asked the dirty figure who grinned tiredly.

"Who did you think it was? The bogey man," Darien replied wryly then stiffened when he heard shouts from outside the door.

"Princesses are you all right?" The guards outside the door asked and Rei hurriedly stood to reassure the guards by opening the door and telling them she was fine. When Rei shut the door she turned slowly back to her brother who was pacing the room. His black hair was messy and his blue eyes were hard and cold. His clothes were stained with blood and dirt. Rei's heart leaped as she thought that her brother might have some information about Jed and the others

"Darien what happened?" Rei asked sitting down staring at her brother who looked up startled from his thought.

"Earth was attacked by an evil Queen, just like the one you described," Darien explained and Rei gasped pulling her legs up to her chest tightly.

"She took control of the whole planet, brainwashing them into a faithful army only to her," Darien explained and Rei's eyes widened as she thought of something.

"Jed," she whispered and Darien turned sad eyes to her.

"Jed and the others were caught on a mission to rescue some civilians, I do not know what happened to them," Darien said and Rei started to cry softly.

"And father?" she asked and Darien for a moment he looked somewhat relieved.

"Father made it to Mars so he should be with mother," Darien said and suddenly tears began to run down his cheeks.

"I couldn't help my people, my friends, me; the Prince of the Earth who was meant to protect them," Darien sobbed falling to his knees and Rei reached towards Darien bringing her brothers head onto her lap and let him cry.

"This enemy is too strong if not even all four of your guardians could defeat it, you are not to blame," Rei said soothingly and waited in silence for Darien's sobs to die down.

"What am I to do?" Darien asked after he had stopped his tears. Rei thought for a moment before her strength came through and she stood up helping Darien to stand beside her.

"We must tell the Queen first," Rei stated rushing out of the room followed by Darien. Rei ran to the Queen's room but Serenity wasn't there so Rei ran to the living room and saw Serenity asleep in a big armchair.

"Queen Serenity," Rei said softly trying to wake her and slowly Serenity opened her eyes wearily.

"Rei? What's wrong?" Serenity asked and Rei didn't say a word and pulled Darien forward and told him to tell Serenity what he told her and he did. Serenity didn't speak for a few moments before nodding a plan forming in her mind.

"We shall continue with the ball tomorrow secretly getting our army together and pretend we know nothing about the attack and if she dares attack we will be ready," Serenity said and Rei and Darien agreed then the three sat till dawn working out any other arrangements that needed to be made.

The next morning Serena woke and was alarmed to find that Rei was gone.

"Rei?" Serena asked wondering where Rei was. Serena crept out of her bed and went down the stairs into the living room. Serena smiled when she saw her mother asleep beside hundreds of pieces of paper. She looked so peaceful just lying in her chair asleep. Serena belatedly realised there other people in the room and her heart leapt as she saw her love asleep in Rei's arms. Serena walked quietly up to Darien and kissed his cheek softly.

Darien awoke to see his love staring at him a small smile playing her lips. Darien slowly eased himself out of his sister's arms and walked to where Serena stood.

"Hello Serena," Darien said and Serena smiled

"Oh Darien, I missed you," Serena said taking Darien into her arms and hugging him tightly. Darien stared at his princess for the longest time before pressing his lips to hers then he pulled away and started walking to the shuttle room.

"Where are you going?" Serena asked confused and Darien turned.

"To defend my planet," Darien replied before leaving knowing if he didn't leave right now Serena would be able to coax him into staying.

"What?" Serena asked but Darien was long gone.

"Goodbye my Princess, I hope I will see you again," Darien whispered getting into an aircraft and heading straight towards the Earth.

Rei woke startled to discover her brother wasn't in her arms where he had fallen asleep.

"Darien?" Rei asked looking around but all she could see was Serenity sleeping in a chair and Serena who was staring at the door.

"Serena, where is my brother?" Rei asked Serena but Serena shook her head.

"He said he was going to defend his planet, what is going on?" Serena asked dying for someone to tell her what was going on

"Oh no, the foolish idiot," Rei cried out and Serena hugged her still confused but sorry for her friend.