Author's Note: Sailor Moon and fellow characters are NOT mine. They are the creation of another brilliant mind, whom I just happen to be stealing ideas from.

The Unwanted Assignment

Makoto just sat on her bed, completely drained after the night's events. How could have everything have gone so wrong? The Moon Kingdom had been so peaceful for so long that it was almost devastating to learn that their world was under attack. And the worst part was, there was no real reason for it—everyone lived in peace. The whole galaxy had not made war against each other in centuries. Sure, there was always an army just in case; all of whom took their job seriously. But there was never really any danger…

So now you know why you're so special, Makoto thought to herself. She always had a gift. Actually, she discovered that she had this gift quite suddenly. A boy was picking on her and she lost her temper. Next thing she knew, the kid was lying on the floor with slight burns on his skin. Poor Tommy, she thought. He never really did learn to trust me again. How was I to know that I had that kind strength? Most 8 year olds can't create a lightening storm! Really freaked out Mom Dad too, she remembered. Got the scolding of my life that time. Something about needing to be responsible….typical parent babble.

Well, at least I know that all those years of training weren't just so that my instructor could torture me. Still, who'd have seriously thought that I would have to become a royal guard? Certainly not that Nephrite…. Argh, what a jackass! I bet he has no clue about any of us girls! That wouldn't surprise me. The conceited jerk probably had his head too far up his….

"Mako?" Her mother softly knocked on the door.

"Come on in mom." Her mother smiled as she walked into the room. Whenever Makoto was troubled she always laid on her stomach on her bed, twirling a piece of her long hair in her finger. She almost looked exactly the same as when she was 8. Course, then it was trying to help her understand that she should shoot lightening at innocent boys…….

"Mako, how are you feeling?"

"How am I feeling? Pissed!" Mako yelled as she jumped up to a sitting position. "They, whoever they are, wait until the royal ball, something I'd been looking forward to for months, to show up and crash the party. Then I'm told that we don't know who the threat is, or what the threat is, but we're to all be on high alert. I'm told to step up my training so that I can act as the royal guard to Usagi. And then, to top it all off, after being told that I'm to be a soldier, I'm sent home while the grownups deal with this! And if that weren't enough, they're sending soldiers from Earth to watch over us when we're supposed to be guarding the Royal Family!"

Knowing fully how well Makoto could get herself wound up when she was frustrated, the Queen tried to calm her down with reason. "Makoto, you were hardly ready to battle at a ball. Not to mention that no one, and I mean not one of us, really knows what or who we are fighting against. Whatever tonight was we can thank God that it was a warning because none of us were prepared. And I know that you think that you can take on the world, but we all agreed that the more people we have out there protecting the Royal Family, the better. And if that means that I have to have one thousand men from Earth to keep my family safe, then so be it! There is nothing more important to us than you. Nothing!"

Makoto looked guilty as she hung her head and gave it a slow shake. She understood, but standing around was frustrating. Everyone seemed to know what was going on before her, and she hated being left out in the dark. "I'm not some little kid that needs to be protected! I know that you want to keep us safe. And I agree—if the soldiers are necessary then they are necessary. However, I don't really appreciate having everyone giving us orders and then shutting us out when there is information. How am I supposed to be a guard if I don't even know what I'm guarding against!"

"A very good question," her father said as he strode into the room. "And I know that the answers you will have tonight will not satisfy you. I know because they do not satisfy me. We just don't know. So we are to prepare for the worst and just go from there. And like your mother said, we will do anything to keep this family safe. Especially in your mom's condition…."

Her mother glared at her husband for that remark.

"Condition? Mom, what condition?"

"Um, well, I hadn't exactly planned on telling you this at this exact moment in time…but I'm pregnant. You're going to be a sister."

Whooping, Makoto leapt off the bed, rushing over to give her father a big hug before almost tackling her mother in joy. "This is so great! Is it a boy or a girl?"

"It's too soon to tell yet," her father said smiling. "As long as the baby is healthy, I will be happy."

"Me too." Smiling, the Queen placed a hand on her stomach.

All the preparations had been made for him to leave for Castle Io. But for the first time in his life as a general, Nephrite felt like digging in his heels. He really didn't want to go there. He'd had enough of Makoto this evening, and the thought of enduring her for long periods of time everyday was less than appealing.

"You know, you could always go to Prince Endymion and beg off," Zoicite said as he placed a hand on his shoulder. "Or you could ask to go to one of the other kingdoms. Switch positions with one of us."

"Don't insult me. I can handle this assignment just as easily as any other."

"Ah yes, but the question is, can they? Because you don't exactly look like the most accommodating person at this moment in time….and the last time you were less than thrilled about an assignment you turned the place into your own personal boot camp."

"It worked. Everyone knew what to do and what to expect."

"Yes, but this time you're taking on a planet, not just a town. You're not going to be able to go in there and order the King and Queen around."

"I know that. Believe it or not I do have some tact. And I am rather attached to my head, so I wouldn't go to the King demanding his power."

Zoicite just chuckled. When Nephrite made up his mind, everyone followed his orders. They might not know it consciously, but they always did.

"Alright, well, at least try not to cause too much upheaval. And remember, diplomacy is always the first option."

"Right. And when that doesn't work, that's why I carry weapons."

Shaking his head, Zoicite left the room. The guy was just absolutely hopeless….

Taking a deep breath and throwing back his shoulders, Nephrite entered the throne room. Walking determinedly toward the King, he stopped and bowed.

"Your Highness, I am here to serve you."

"Come young man, we need to talk. There is much that is troubling me…."

Glaring at him from across the room, Makoto silently fumed. Of course! It was always her luck to have the one guy she didn't want to ever see again show up as the guard that was sent to protect her family. Why did it have to be this general? There were 3 others! How did she get the short straw?

Alright buddy, if you're afraid of dancing with me, let's see what you're afraid of by the time I get done with you. Probably have you screaming for your mommy…

With a mischievous gleam in her eye, she headed out to the training grounds.

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