1. Disappearance





It was past midnight and the palace was silent, as all the dwellers had already turned in for the night. In the eastern wing of the palace however, a young girl woke up from her sleep with a start. Her violet eyes looked around the room that was dimly lit with starlight shining through the great windows filling an entire wall of the room. Her heart was thudding against her chest as she tried to catch sight of what it was that woke her up.

The room was large and grandly decorated with the most luxurious furniture and decorative money could buy. A great hearth was built against the wall facing her. Normally it would be lit by a fire but because of the humid weather the girl had left it cold. The sliding door leading to the balcony was open and the pale white silk curtains fluttered ghostly with the night breeze to her right. She could see the sleeping shadows of her two guardians perched against the branch of the large tree that grew just outside her room.

She was alone.

The girl frowned slightly, marring the beautiful flawless alabaster skin. Trained soldier that she was, she was not foolish enough to ignore the warnings that her senses detected and go back to sleep. Since her eyes couldn't find anything she would just have to rely on her other senses.

She sat up on the bed, cross-legged, palms together and fingers woven in an intricate pattern. Closing her eyes, she started to concentrate by focusing her mind. It was a difficult procedure for her and required a lot of effort but after a while she managed to achieve the balanced mental concentration required for her work. Her senses sharpened and she became aware of her surroundings in a wholly different way. She let her awareness expand to the world outside her room, searching for abnormality or danger.

The girl felt the presence of her friends sleeping peacefully in the rooms next to hers. The moment she reached the room to the end of the hall, however, her eyes snapped open with alarm and she drew a sharp breath of shock. Without a second thought, she quickly scrambled off from the bed. The moment her feet touched the cool tiles of marble floor she was running towards the door. She did not even realize the urgency within her until she heard the door slam hard against the wall behind her. Sounds and voices of surprise started to fill the silent hallway but she did not pay them any heed.

Reaching the end of the hallway, the girl took hold of the doorknob and threw it open. Just as she had expected the room was empty. The bed was made and does not look like it had been slept in at all. Just to be sure though, the girl walked further in to the room and touched the bed. She could feel the aura of the owner but it was faint, the kind of sensation that it gave off when the object had not been touched for a while.

''Rei. What's going on?'' A musical voice asked. A young girl the same age as Rei, but with long blonde hair instead of black, streaming loosely down her back like spun gold, entered the room. In the silvery light dressed in a white nightgown, she looked like a princess from a fairy tale story. There was however nothing soft about her face that would show that she needed to be rescued by a prince, especially when her eyes lit on the empty bed. The fierceness in them told more of her readiness to pick up a fight herself.

''She's gone.'' It was a statement not an question, but the next was however. ''How long?''

Before Rei could open her mouth to answer her two more figures darted in to the room. One was a tall dark-haired girl with green eyes and the other a slight ebony haired girl with blue eyes.

''All right, where are they. I'll teach them a lesson that'll make them weep to next year.'' The brown-haired demanded, her knuckles cracking dangerously. If the blonde girl had looked ready to fight, this girl looked ready to commit murder.

At the same time the ebony haired girl asked ''How long has she been gone?'' Her voice was much more softer almost dreamy compared to the others but there was a clear intelligence shining in her blue eyes that spoke of a sharp mind.

The dark haired girl, hissed. ''If they've taken her. They won't get far.'' She said ominously.

''Lita, calm down and let Rei speak.'' The blonde girl ordered with an authoritative voice.

Had it been any other time, Rei would have burst out laughing at the comical face Lita was making. It was not often that Mina put on her leadership mantle when addressing them so it often took them by surprise when she did. But this was not the time or place for jokes. ''The bed feels cold.'' They all knew she was not just talking about the temperature. ''She should have not been gone long though otherwise I wouldn't have been awaken.''

''Amy, you were the last one of us to see her. When did she leave your room? '' Mina asked.

Slight spots of colors bloomed in Amy's pale face. ''I don't exactly know. I…I fell asleep. She was still there when I fell asleep.'' She whispered the last words.

The other three girl could hear the guilt in her voice. Lita standing closest to her gave her a pat on the shoulder. ''Don't blame yourself Ames. It was not your fault. We were all tired from all the studying.'' Lita comforted her.

In truth, Amy should be the one most tired of them all. Aside from eating and practicing Amy had spent all her time with her nose buried in books preparing for their exam with hardly any time for sleep at all. Not that the rest of them had been playing around but they were wiser enough to not overdue it. Nor did they have Amy's need to prove herself.

That nightmare was however over and they needed to deal with the problem they had on hand at the moment.

''Rei do you think you can find her?'' Mina asked her raven haired friend by the bed.

They were all linked to their missing friend but Rei with her clairvoyant abilities will have the strongest chance of feeling her out.

The distant look in those violet eyes told them however that she was already working on that. The three girl waited silently and patiently for Rei as she worked.

It was not long when Rei started to move by leaving the room. They did not know what it was that she had found out but they followed her. Without a word they took up a defensive position their body tense and ready for just about anything. Mina and Lita took up their position on either side of Rei and Amy took up the rear ready to protect Rei in case it was necessary. None of them spoke as they walked though it was not easy.

It was not a straight path that she took them on. They crisscrossed around the palace sometimes going back the same place they've already passed a few minutes ago. Lita and Mina shared a questioning look with each other, unsure if Rei was having a hard time finding a trail. Since they lived here, Rei could have been following a trail that their friend had left earlier today or yesterday.

But when Rei finally stopped in front of a large sealed double door showing the half moon crest of the royal family of the Moon Kingdom the girls felt dread slide up their spine like a cold dagger.

''Rei, are you sure?'' Mina asked softly, her pretty face was creased with worry.

Rei cast her a glance. She did not say anything only nodded her head grimly.

Sighing, Mina closed her eyes and shook her head. Then nodding her head as a signal for the others she put her hand on the crest. Rei, Lita and Amy followed suit. Together they murmured, ''For the Kingdom of the Moon. For the Goddess. I pledge myself to their service.''

A white light sprang to life and then faded slowly. By the time the spots disappeared from Rei's eyes, the large double doors had already slid open revealing the room inside. Silver banners with the silver palace and the large moon at the background decorated the perfectly circular room. Black and white tiles covered the floor in an intricate pattern but it was the object at the center of the room that captured her attention.

There was a crystal ball resting on a silver cushioned pedestal. Normally the crystal ball would be shining with a dull light tonight though it was glowing with a bright white light that reminded of the moonlight.

Beside her, Lita groaned and put a hand over her eyes. ''Goddess help us all. She didn't.''

''At least we know she wasn't kidnapped.'' Amy pointed out with a vain attempt to lighten their mood. Her blue eyes however were worried when she looked at the crystal ball. ''We should have stopped her.'' She murmured.

The same worry was gnawing a hole in Rei's stomach and like always she dealt with her worries by hiding behind anger. ''Oh yeah and how were we suppose to have done that? Tie her up?'' She asked tartly. ''This is just so typical of the meatball head.''

''Come now, Rei. You know why she did it. She doesn't want to marry prince Diamond.'' Amy told her.

Rei snorted. ''And running away from home is going to solve her problems? Besides it's only a engagement. The wedding won't be until at least three more years. She could have used that time to have shown the queen that she was old and mature enough to make her own decisions. This,'' She pointed at the crystal ball with disgust. ''only proves to her mother just how immature she still is.''

Because they knew she was right about how the queen was going to think of her daughter's actions they couldn't say anything in reply.

''Whatever the consequences the damage has already been made.'' Mina sighed and rubbed at her throbbing temple. ''What we need to do at the moment is damage control. Amy?''

The smartest of the four of them, Amy was the one to ask when they needed to find a plan to get them out of the trouble they so often got themselves into. She did not do it often as she believed strongly in doing the right thing and not lying. But since their friend did have a tendency to always get herself in one hot spot after another Amy has had her share of bailing them out of troubles throughout their long friendship.

''First thing first. Do we tell the queen?'' Amy asked.

Mina looked around the room. Lita was the first and she shook her head vehemently. When it came to the princess she was very protective of her. Rei was silent for a long while as if undecided, in the end she sighed and shook her head also. It was however up to Mina, the leader to decide what to do. Turning back to Amy she said, ''We'll try to keep it from her as long as we can. Hopefully we might find her before the queen finds out.''

Amy nodded her head accepting their decision. She usually agreed with whatever the rest of them wanted because that was the kind of person Amy was. It did not mean however that she did not have an opinion of her own. When Amy did not agree she stood firm to her principles.

''Then what we need to find out first of all is where she had gone. Someone will have to take a tour around the place and find out if anybody else knows.'' The meaningful look she sent them told them she was referring to the cats. Luna and Artemis, their teachers as well as the queen's advisors were very good at finding out whenever they were in trouble. Most important of all they will definitely have to keep things from those two.

Mina nodded her head at the sound advice. ''Rei, try to find out where she went. Amy you assist her with your computer. Lita you take a look around the palace. Make sure you don't get caught.'' The last was an unnecessary advice. Of them all, Lita was the best when it came to stealth and the taller woman gave Mina a sour look. To her credit, Mina blushed. The fact that she let that slip just showed how upset she was over the whole situation.

Sighing, Mina started to work with her hair. ''I suppose I'll go back upstairs. You guys know where to find me.''

What she meant was that she was going to their friend's room and pretend to be her. Being cousin's they looked enough alike to pass off as each other. It was a fact that they had used to their advantage many times in the past while growing up and getting themselves into or out of trouble. After so many years Mina could pretend to be her cousin in her sleep if she wanted to, not that she liked doing it very much nowadays. It was fun when they were children but as they grew older their personality has started to change and Mina was finding it harder and harder to keep up the pretence.

Lita and Mina left the room and made sure to close the door behind them, while Rei and Amy went to work. Though their methods were very different from each other the two girls worked easily side by side.

It was nearly an hour later when they both looked up at the same time. Though their appearances and colors were very different at the moment the looks on their face could have been that of twins.

''She didn't!'' Amy breathed.

''Of all the places!'' Rei spoke up.

The two looked at each other and nodded their heads grimly as they knew that the other one had gotten the same answer. Without a word they left the room and sneaked back upstairs.

Mina was lying in their friend's bed. Her blonde hair was pulled up in two pigtails at the side like buns, the way their friend usually kept her hair. When Rei and Amy entered the room she looked up from the covers and her eyes were filled with question as well as dread when she read their grim faces.

''Where is she?'' She asked softly.

Amy shared a look with Rei. Not trusting herself to speak yet, Rei signaled with her head that Amy should tell Mina. Drawing a deep breath she said, ''She's on Earth.''

''What!''

Both girls jumped at the angry exclaim and quickly made shushing sounds at her. Mina clamped a hand over her mouth and she made and effort to control herself. Her voice sounded however strangled when she said, ''You are sure?''

''As sure as we can be without jumping in to the teleporting device ourselves.'' Rei said grimly.

Throwing a forearm over her closed eyes, Mina groaned and fell back down on the bed.

There was a soft knock on the door and Lita came in. She informed them that the coast was clear and then when Amy and Rei told her of their discovery she groaned, ''She really has gone and done it this time.''

The three girls agreed with her though none of them had the energy to speak.

''How are we suppose to get her out of this jam?'' Lita asked after a moment of silence.

Even as Lita asked that question, Mina could feel three pair of eyes turning to hers. Mina gnawed at her lower lips as she planned. She felt the burden of leadership heavily on her shoulders now more than ever. This was something completely new to her, not making decision she has done that plenty of times before. It had been fun when they were still kids and she had been able to pull rank on the other girls to get her will through. But this was no play anymore. This situation was very grave. If anything goes wrong it could cause a galaxy incident that can lead to war.

The centuries of war between the Golden and the Silver kingdoms had just recently been mended in peace. Still the peace was tentative and if anything happened to the heir of the Moon Kingdom on Earth, the war might just break out again. A war that can pull in all the planets in this solar system. Even if the Earthlings did nothing, there are people who would love to use this opportunity to start a war to gain advantages for themselves.

Oh Serenity what have you gotten yourself into now?