Woo! Thanks for the reviews. Italics are Serenity's personal thoughts. Well, here's chapter three.

Disclaimer: We've been through this. ::Goes off to steal the anime::

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            "Say it."

            Terra blinked and backed up a bit, trying to muster up an innocent face. "Say what?"

            "Just say it."

            "I have no id--"

            "Say it! I know you do." The usually reserved Queen was sitting at her bureau with her forehead against the table. Every once in a while she would bang her head against it and then think better of it … she needed all her brain cells to deal with Serenity. Nothing had been done during the meeting. Everyone seemed to be in a state of shock by the princess' entrance, so it was canceled. She could see the amusement on the Earthen Generals face and the pity on the Senshi's.

            "All right!" Taking a deep breath, she flipped her black hair over shoulder and slowly grinned. "I told you so. I told you that she would grow up to be exactly like you."

            "Feh. My disguises were never that bad. My poor mother … what I must have put her through."

            "Never that bad! Do you remember the time when you made yourself look like an old hag. Or when you placed fish scales on your arm saying that you were mutated somehow. Or --"

            "Finished?"

            "Not really, but you may speak." The Earthling Queen smiled and sat on the bed, crossing her legs.

            "Well, gee thanks your majesty. But! I never thought about dressing up like a man! I mean your poor son, he looked terrified!" Queen Selenity groaned and picked up her letter opener. Taking the sharp point, she placed it against her heart. "Oh, cruel universe I take my leave. Then, you can deal with a stubborn teenage princess!"

            Terra just sat, used to the dramatic acts of the woman. Selenity was sitting with her face turned upwards and eyes closed, holding the weapon. "Ehh … you gonna finish this anytime soon? Because if you're going to commit suicide, I really don't want to see all the blood. Got a weak stomach you know." She smirked and patted her stomach.

            Opening one eye, she looked over towards her grinning friend. "You think this is funny? That girl is about to drive me up the wall! She's never going to get married! She's going to have to learn to be Queen by herself! And! Oh, yes … there's an AND. And I'm never going to have grand-childreeeen!"

            The raven-haired woman winced at the wail, not having heard it for a while. "Calm down, Sel, you're reverting back to your teenage habits and wailing was one of them." Laughing, she stood up and took the weapon from the lunarian. "You know, they shouldn't trust you with sharp objects. You might hurt someone."

            "You wouldn't be laughing if it was your son disguising himself as a WOMAN!"

            This broke Terra up into a roaring laughter at imagining her masculine son dressed up as a woman. Bending over, she grabbed her stomach with tears streaming down her stomach. "Endy! Dressed up as a woman! I can just imagine Damien's face when his only son comes dressed in a lovely gown, jewelry, and make-up!" 

            "I can't imagine what it would look like." Queen Selenity muttered and stood up.

            "Actually, if someone took a picture of your face today when Serenity came in, it would be that face." She was on the floor laughing now.

            Selenity raised an eyebrow at seeing the Queen on the floor. It was good to have her friend here. Maybe she could save her from losing her mind. With a grin, the lunarian Queen tackled her friend.

**********

            Serenity sat down, glancing eye to eye from the six people in the room. Back in her original form, she lost the height advantage and had to take on five very peeved looking royals and an amused Earthling. She really missed being tall.

            "What do you have to say about yourself, Serenity?"

            She glanced at her mother and smiled weakly. "Umm … it was funny?"

            An eyebrow rose.

            Uh oh … she's raised an eyebrow. That's not good. At least it's not both eyebrows.

            The other rose.

            Damn.

            "Is that all, Serenity?" She could barely repress her temper. She knew that she was being unfair, but she somehow had to convince her daughter to drop this charade.

            "If you want my apology, then you're not going to get anything, mother. I do not regret disguising myself as I had done." The princess stood proudly, wishing that somehow she could explain to the woman why she was doing this, but that was impossible.

            Terra watched the girl and smiled at the stubborn streak that ran through her … so much like her mother. She knew that the girl had worn a disguise in that room for she had seen the girl when she was around five. At five, the girl was a beauty and frail, impossible to become a muscular woman. Now at seventeen, she seemed to hold a great beauty and power that even her mother had not reached.

            "Serena, please understand this. We're trying to discuss a peace treaty with the Earth. If you go on and scare the prince away, that won't help it much. This is a delicate situation." Ami sighed and stared at her friend, hoping she would understand. Serena had been a nickname the girl had since she was a child. Serenity was much too long to pronounce as a toddler.

            "What are you talking about, Mercury? Mother is already best friends with the Queen. Shouldn't that be enough? Why must I be dragged into this? There is only one way that I can help with the peace treaty and that is to become his bride and I know that Mother is not going to force me to marry."

            "Because you are the Supreme Princess! Damn it, Serenity! I have worked practically my entire life to bring about the Silver Alliance! Why don't you understand?!" Queen Selenity stood quiet, glaring at her daughter.

            The entire room was silent, everybody shocked at the woman's outburst. Terra was dazed most of all. The pain that had shot through her dear friend's eyes was not expected. "Selenity, perhaps you should calm down for a bit. Then, you can discuss this. I thi--"

            "You're right." Turning around, the silver-haired monarch stormed out of the room, covering the tears that managed to slip past. Terra smiled apologetically at the stunned girls and hurried out after her upset friend.

            "Sel … tell me what this is really about. You should understand what Serenity is going through." They had run out outside to the courtyard and the silver-haired Queen was leaning up against a column, staring at the Earth now high in the sky.

            "I know … it's just that … I don't want her to go through the same thing I did."

            "What do you mean?"

            "Did you know that I fell in love with a prince … but he left before I could show my true self. I saw that he cared for me as well but was discouraged by the fact that I ran away from him. I was afraid. Afraid that he might hurt me."

            "…I never knew. How come you never told me? Who was it?" Terra placed a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder. Worry shone in her eyes, as the powerful queen thought before responding.

            "It was a long time ago … I want to forget it." The truth was … she could not tell Terra. For the prince that she had fallen in love with was now the King of Earth and the husband of her best friend. Using the magic of her crystal, she had managed to erase the man's memories of her on the night of the wedding. It had left her heart broken, but she could see that the man was happy with Terra. "I just don't want the same thing to happen to my daughter."

            "Hey … she has one thing that you never did."

            "And that may be?"

            "You. You never had a person who could lead you through this phase. Don't think that your daughter would make the same mistake. She's way smarter than you my friend." Selenity laughed at her friend's words. She always managed to cheer up no matter what. She made a good wife for Damien.

            "I guess I should go apologize to Serenity."

            "Yep. But I'd give her a few minutes. I believe the scouts were ready to lecture her when you left."

            "Oi."

**********

            She steadied herself looking at her friends. "Eh … you got anything to add to what my mother left me with?"

            "Plenty. How in the world did you manage to get your disguise up so quickly?" Ami frowned at Lita's question but remained quiet.

            "Simple. You people should be more careful with where you hide your insignia's. I found a box of them this morning and had plenty of time to create the spell."

            "You can't keep up with the spell for that long. It'll wear you out." The Mercurian princess raised an eyebrow and sighed.

            "Yea … that's the problem. I thought he was going to leave after a few hours. How was I supposed to know that mother was best friend's with the Queen?"

            "So, now you're stuck and you need our help." Mina grinned getting into the game. "But one question."

            "Hmm?"

            "Why would you want to go on with spell? The Prince and his guardians are gorgeous!" With a letting an exaggerated sigh, the Venusian seem to melt into her seat.

            "Also he's the only one that tolerated you when you were in your disguise. I mean you guys were out there a hell of a lot longer than you usually are with the other princes." The martian grinned and winked. "Did you guys have fun out there?"

            "Ah, get your mind out of the gutters Rei. He looked absolutely miserable with me but he seemed to have a strange of pride and refused to be ignored … even by me! I swear this prince is quite … ehh … what's the word …"

            "Proud?"

            "No … that's it not it …"

            "Kind?"

            "Haven't seen that trait in him yet."

            "Intelligent."

            "Yea! That's it!"

            "Intelligent?"

            "Hell no! Stupid! He seemed quite stupid!" Serenity smiled widely and tilted her head. "He absolutely refused to let me go. How strange can one get?"

            "Well, I guess we'll help when you need it. Just ask. It's going to be difficult keeping up with the pretense." Mina winked at Serenity and laughed.

            "You guys, the Queens are coming back."

            Everybody turned to Rei about to ask how she knew, but decided not too. Her strange abilities to sense things always threw them a bit off kilter.

            "Pretend that you were lecturing me."

            "Uh …why?"

            "Just do it!"

            Shrugging, everybody pulled on an upset face. Mina frowned and said the first thing that came to mind. "I never want to see you do that again! I mean, what would you have done if they had thought you too ugly and attacked?"

            Got to remind myself to never let Mina lecture me.

            In middle of the question, the Queens came in and raised a questionable eyebrow at the strange point. "Serenity, may I speak with you please? Alone?"

            "Of course, Mother." Everybody but the two Lunarian royals left the room, leaving them to either agree or drive each other crazy.

            "I just wanted to apologize."

            Serenity's eyes shot open. Of all the things she was expecting, this certainly was not it. "I … I accept your apology. I wish I could make this easier but I believe what I'm doing is right. I have a question."

            "Yes?"

            "How exactly did Queen Terra know of my disguise?"

            "Oh, well you see … I had told her about you. She put two and two together." Queen Serenity smiled while a sweat drop appeared on the back of her head. She may have apologized, but she was still not willing to reveal to her daughter that she was doing the exact same thing her mother had done so long ago.

            "Ah, I see. What I wouldn't give to see what Endymion is saying about me right now."

**********

            "Shut up."

            "We didn't say anything, Darien." Jadeite grinned broadly, and stretched out across the grass. They were in the garden and had done nothing but laugh at the poor prince.

            "Yea, but I know what you were thinking."

            "I was thinking … who would be the one to purpose? You or Serenity? I mean … it's usually the guy … but it seems Serenity seems to be more of a man than you!" Zoisite smirked and leaned against a tree, trying not to enrage the prince too much.

            "I'm not purposing to anyone! Besides … Serenity is definitely more of a man than you." Darien sneered and crossed his arms.

            "Ah, but you don't understand my rare beauty, my dear prince. Women go crazy for this feminine air I hold. You on the other hand are the everyday pretty boy prince."

            "Every day pretty boy prince my a--"

            "Ah, ah … no profanity here. That is not right for a royal prince." Zoisite waved his finger as if admonishing a boy and smiled.

            "Go jump off a cliff." He muttered and stood up to go until he heard Kunzite's voice.

            "Will you marry me, oh fragile prince of Earth?" He was bent down on one knee in front of Zoisite, his long silver hair tied up in a sorry excuse for the royal lunarian hairstyle.

            "Why, of course I'll marry you, you big strong woman!"

            "I now pronounce you man and man." Jadeite stood in a stiff posture like a priest.

            "Not you too, Kunzite!" Darien stood, bowled over at the thought of the stoic man pretending to be a muscular woman.

            Kunzite turned and grinned. "Sorry, Dare but this is too funny. I mean that princess is probably bigger than me!" Releasing his hair from their constraints, he started laughing, leaning on Zoisite and Jadeite for support.

            "Nephrite, are you going to betray me too?"

            "No, Darien. I'm having enough amusement watching those three goons make fools of themselves." He was sitting on the ground, his long legs crossed. His brown hair flowed over his shoulders and he was a picture of innocence and seriousness.

            "Good."

            "But I must say it was rather hilarious when the you held out your arm for her … she seemed to have dragged out of there." With a bark of laughter the entire garden filled up with laughter from all of the prince's guardians.

            "Har har … I'm laughing. I'm the one who gets to spend time with that testosterone filled woman. Not you! You get to spend time with those gorgeous senshi!" Tears filled up his eyes at the thought of being near the woman again. Near her, he had felt like a small insect. His pride was at stake here!

            "Ah, yes. The senshi. They're quite the most beautiful women I have ever seen in my entire life." Jadeite sighed and his eyes had stars in them. "Especially Princess Rei of Mars. Talk about gorgeous!"

            "I call dibs on the Mercurian Princess!" Zoisite raised his hand, his eyes wide with eagerness.

            The other four men sweat dropped and patted the poor man on his back.

            "What?"

            "Nothing, Zoy … nothing." Jadeite smiled as if he was talking to a child.

            "Too bad, we're not allowed to consort with them." Zoisite sighed dejectedly and shook his head.

            "Why?!" Jadeite stiffened, confused.

            "Some strange lunarian rule … I don't remember the whole thing … but it pretty much says we have to stay away from them unless our prince marries the princess."

            "I'm not marrying anyone!" The prince waved his hands around to catch their attention.

            "My advice to you Darien … there's more to the princess then it seems." Nephrite smiled and returned back to his meditative state.

            "That's it. There's more to the princess then it seems?!" There was no answer. Once the stargazing man had gone into his meditative state … nothing could bring him. "Bah, I don't have to take this kind of abuse." With a twirl of his cape, he walked further into the gardens.

            Zoisite raised an eyebrow. "I never understood why he swishes his cape so much when he's angry."

            Jadeite sighed and shook his head. "It's one of life's many mysteries, my friend."

**********

            Serenity stood in her private gardens concealed by her disguise. Picking up a flower, she sniffed the wonderful aroma that drifted from the plant. Closing her eyes, she lifted her head, enjoying the cool breeze. Her mother was hiding something from her … she knew it, but what? Queen Terra seemed to bring out a side of her mother that she had never seen before. The woman was much more fun and relaxed.

            Darien watched as the large girl picked up the flower. For a fleeting moment, he thought he saw different a form of her … and she was beautiful, but he brushed it off as hallucinating. "Um … Princess Serenity?"

            "Who disturbs me in my private gardens?" Twisting around, she glared at the person who had invaded her private sanctuary.

            He held back a whelp of fear as the woman frowned at him. An image of him being crushed in those powerful arms of hers came into mind. "Ah, it's just me but if you want some private time I'll leave you alone. Bye!" As quick as lightening he ran away from the woman.

            The princess blinked, staring at the trail of dust that was left behind the prince. "What a strange man." Shrugging, she turned back to picking flowers for the ball tonight. Her thoughts turned back to what she had planned for that night. Picking up an orchid, she smiled. She had found out from a little birdie, mainly Queen Terra, that Enydmion was allergic to orchids. Placing the flower on her hair, she smirked and began to hum the funeral song.

**********

            "She's up to something, I just know she is." Mina looked around nervously to see if her princess was nearby.

            "Isn't she always up to something? God, we should be used to this!" Rei flipped her hair over her shoulder and frowned.

            "Yes, but I saw the gleam in her eyes. The last time we saw that gleam; a huge cat mauled a prince! He could have been killed, thank god he wasn't hurt that badly."

            "Yes, well we still have yet to find out where the rather large Martian cat came from." Mercury turned slightly and threw the Princess of Mars a wary look.

            The raven-haired girl shrugged and smiled innocently. "I have no idea, Ami."

            "Hey, Mina. Didn't we agree to help her?" Lita raised an eyebrow questioningly and placed her training weights down on the matted floor of the training room.

            "Umm … yea, but she never asked for our help." Winking at the Amazon-like girl, she smiled evilly. "First we're going to trick her into walking out without the disguise. He'll probably be attracted her to then and then they get married and then we can get to know the guardians! Then we all live happily ever after!" Mina's hands were clasped together, stars shining in her azure eyes. They were not allowed near the guardians because of some ancient law that prohibited protectors from marrying unless their monarch married. Then, the may marry the men from that planet.

            The other three in the room were silent. Backing away slowly, they tried to reach the door. The last time they had seen her this excited, the Queen had them clean away the cheese in the west wing. How the cheese had managed to cover the entire place, no one but Mina knew. Why it was there … no one but Mina knew.

            "Hey, guys … where are you going?" Her eyes were wide with curiosity, watching as her friends tried to tiptoe out of the room.

 They stiffened for just a moment before Lita yelled, "Every woman for herself!" Pushing out the door, they scrambled over each other to get away from their leader.

"Hmm … I guess that means they're not going to help me pick out a dress for tonight's ball." She shrugged her shoulders and headed towards her room, planning to catch up with her rather fast friends that night.

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Sorry, this is taking so long to write. Writer's block is slowly coming on so I'm struggling to continue with my two stories … pathetic eh? Anyway … please tell me what you think. Ja ne!