Chapter One: Meeting Serenity's Guardians: A Tense Talk

Author: StarlightMichi

Word traveled around the palace quickly, and it wasn't an hour before all four of Serenity's guardians knew of the three mysterious senshi. Venus was the first to hear of them, and had quickly gathered Mars, Jupiter and Mercury to tell them what she knew.

"I heard they're meeting in Serenity-sama's pearl chamber," Venus hissed to Mars. The raven-haired senshi rolled her eyes. "And I suppose you want to go eavesdrop on them, hmm?" she asked knowingly as Venus tried her best to look innocent.

"If Serenity-sama wanted us to know what was going on, she would have told us to attend the meeting," Mercury pointed out, matter-of-factly. Jupiter was a bit silent, though the gleam in her eye made Venus hopeful.

"It's our duty! As Princess Serenity's guardians, we should know all that takes place in the palace," Venus declared, looking feisty. Mars couldn't help but grin. "Now she takes an interest in our duty!"

The four hurried down the hall way, slipping easily through the lunch-bound crowd to arrive in front of the door to the fabled Pear Chamber. The door was sealed tight, as was to be expected, but that didn't stop Venus from pressing her ear against it's smooth panel.

"Try to be a more obvious, Venus," Mars said sarcastically, "I don't think that maid know's your listening." Venus ignored her, eyes unfocused as she concentrated on listening.

"We shouldn't be doing this…" Mercury said, worry in her tone. The blue-haired guardian shifted her weight from foot to foot, clearly nervouse.

"Shhh! I can't hear a thing!" Venus' tongue was sticking out of the corner of her mouth as she tried to listen. Mars, rolling her eyes again, couldn't help but look a little interested. She leaned towards the door, trying not to look obvious but failing. Jupiter snickered a bit as Mercury chewed her lip in worry.

"It isn't right!" Mercury hissed. Jupiter gave her friend a sly smile. "Then why are you hear, Mercury-san?" Mercury blushed bright red and quickly shut her mouth. The four were silent, Venus pressed against the door, Mars trying to look normal as she strained to hear, Jupiter and Mercury hanging back, though both intent on the door.

"I think I hear something…" Venus said, excitement in her voice.

"Me too," said Mars. "It sounds almost like.. yelling." The pair didn't have long to think this over, for a half second later they found themselves falling into the room as the door gave way.

"Oof!" Venus cried, landing heavily on the tiled floor as Mars crashed ontop of her. Mercury froze, looking petrified while Jupiter just looked sheepish.

Queen Serenity gazed down at them, disapproval in her eyes. Behind her stood the three strange senshi. The aqua-haired woman looked at them with a mixture of guilt while the tall short-haired woman looked a bit smug, though mostly annoyed. Pluto stood solid, unmoving, though the corner of her mouth twitched and her eyes twinkled.

"See! I told you. Giggling girls with nothing better to do than play games." Uranus crossed her arms over her chest, clearly looking smug as she turned towards Neptune. For her part, the sea-senshi said nothing. She simply walked past Venus and Mars and down the hall, not glancing back.

"Hey!" shouted Uranus. Her skin prickled as Neptune ignored her and she, too, left in a huff, pointedly taking the opposite direction. Venus and Mars stood, dusting themselves off as they looked at the floor. Both blushed furiously as Serenity stared at them.

"I would expect better of my daughter's guardians," she said, her voice soft as normal. Venus and Mars blushed harder. "You four," Serenity started again. "You will meet with Pluto and I tonight for some important news." With that, the queen left as well, heading serenely down the hall towards the Dining Room.

Pluto was the last to leave. She gave the four guardians a swift glance with a hint of a smile, and followed Serenity.

"Well," started Mars, breaking the silence. "That was fun."

End Chapter Two

A.N: Yea, I know the chapters are short. But I'm not good with long chapters! Forgive me ::bows::