Disclaimer: As usual I dont own Sailor Moon

Chapter 2 - 19; Now of Age

11 years later

A young woman sat at her vanity table combing her long blond hair in long unhurried strokes. She had come along way from the playful 8-year-old she had been. She was now 19 and her figure had filled out, her hair- when out of its Royal style of two buns on the top of her head- trailed on the floor, her facial beauty rivaled only her mothers, Queen Lunaterian, the Moon Goddess. Only her eyes had remained the same, clear cerulean that held complete veracity and purity. She was not ignorant of the galaxy or the way it worked. She had attended her Princess lessons attentively, as she had been urged, and had learnt much of the diplomacy involved in running the planets and the stress of preventing war from breaking out. Her training as the first Sailor Senshi; Sailor Moon was strenuous and needed constant practice, she had not been kept out of battles and knew what it was like to kill for survival. Selene was untouched by evil, untainted and whole; the perfect Princess. She sighed as she looked at her reflection, her brush stilling for a moment. The sigh echoed dismally in the silent room and the room grew dark as clouds responding to their Princess's mood gathered to storm over her part of the huge Moon Palace. Standing silently, a bolt of lightning silhouetted her perfect figure against the walls. The Princess was unhappy. Lightning flashed and thunder rolled. Crossing to the huge marble balcony she stood under the overhang of heavily scented Moon Roses and watched the storm, marveling at its beauty. There was a soft knock on her chamber door, but Selene ignored it and continued watching the storm.

"Selene?" her mother inquired as she glided into the room, still the Princess didn't turn around. "Oh my Darling," the Queen sighed and seemed to float across the marble floor to her daughter, who still faced the storm. She embraced her daughter from behind burying her face in Selene's silky hair that cascaded down her back.

"My Darling, you are 19 today why are you so depressed?"

Selene didn't move, but it had started raining softly like tears. The Queen began to ask again when suddenly- as softly as the rain was falling- she heard Selene's voice.

"I don't know Mother, I just have this sense of foreboding and my heart is heavy with possibilities."

Lunaterian smiled into her daughter's hair. "Well Selene," she laughed quietly, "your father still has to give you his present, and knowing him, you should be wary."

Selene laughed and with her laughed the storm melted away and was replaced with clear blue skies and the sun reflected brightly off the Earth. Turning in her arms Selene hugged her mother.

Suddenly there was another knock at the chamber door, which startled the two royal women, and a cheery voice calling made them smile.

"Selene!"

Laughing the Queen winked playfully at her daughter. "Come in Lunas, we're on the balcony."

"I know." A deep voice behind her spoke and she swung around to find her husband leaning casually against the engraved marble banister.

"Lunas!" the Queen said reproachfully, "You know its rude to just appear where you want to, one of us might have been changing!" the King smiled charmingly and sidled up to his Queen,

"Well, I wouldn't mind if it was you." He wiggled an eyebrow suggestively and Lunaterian laughed.

"Ahem!" Selene politely coughed, her parents turned a look of surprise on their faces- they had forgotten she was there- which quickly creased into loving smiles.

"Hello my Darling Girl!" the King sang as he bounced towards her. A look of apprehension crossed her face as her mischievous father came closer.

"My, my don't look so frightened!" he laughed cheerfully, "I have your present Selene. Happy Birthday." With a snap of his fingers a brightly wrapped box appeared with a beautiful satin ribbon tied very ill; he had tied it himself. Tears sprang to her eyes, that meant more to her then the present itself.

"Well, are you going to open it?" Lunas's asked breaking the silence with his happy voice. Selene looked up at her parents smiling faces and felt love well up inside her, "thank you Father." She whispered her throat tight with emotion. Placing the package on her vanity she slid the ribbon off determined not to ruin it and opened the gift. As soon as the flap was open a tiny 'meow' rang through the room, then a small fluffy black face complete with whiskers pooped out of the box and purred.

"A Kitten! Oh Thank you Father I love it!" Selene gushed as she picked the inky black kitten up.

"That is not just a kitten Selene, that is a Mau. The Egyptians on the planet Earth used to worship them as gods."

"I'll take great care of him. Does he have a name?"

"Ramesis." The King replied, a secret twinkled in his eyes and Selene caught it.

"What?" she asked suspiciously walking towards him the kitten hugged gently to her chest.

"Oh nothing my Darling. Come Lunaterian we have a meeting with the King and Queen of Venus." Taking his wife's hand the King winked at Selene and the Queen smiled and then they dissolved, leaving her alone with the kitten. She sighed with happiness and looked at the kitten that was purring with contentment.

"Hmm, Ramesis hey? That's a regal name for someone so small."

The kitten stopped purring abruptly and looked reproachfully up at her, she laughed "Then again maybe not." The kitten struggled in her arms and she placed it gently on the ground and walked slowly back to her vanity table to finish dressing. It was going to be a big day, her 19th, she was now of age. She could now stop wearing her Princess dress and partake in the privilege of wearing a woman's dress. That had been her mother's gift, it was white and clingy with a slight train, sheer sleeves fell off the shoulders and down to the floor. A delicate detail of white silk, imported from Neptune, gently shimmered along the bottom of the dress and the tight bodice. There was a slight plunging V-line at the neck, but it was conservative enough to just show a hint of her perfect breasts. Her thoughts were pulled from her dress as a slight tug pulled at her hair. Turning her head she saw the kitten playing in her long hair, giggling she pulled lightly, with an indignant meow the kitten held on. Selene sighed in amused annoyance.

"I need my hair kitty, here I'll get some toys for you." She clicked her fingers and a small ball smelling of catnip appeared in her hand. Bending down she waved it slowly around the kitten's twitching nose and it battered it away, out of her hands, she watched it roll a few feet away. With a playful yowl the kitten launched itself at the ball, Selene's hair forgotten. She gathered her hair and put it up into its royal hairstyle. Moving to the bed she fingered the material of her beautiful dress. She slipped out of her silk dressing gown and slid the dress on. It flowed smoothly, hugging her curves perfectly, instantly creating an aura of elegance ad beauty. Lastly her silver tiara fitted snuggly on her head between her two buns of hair. A small silver drop hung in the middle of her forehead in the center of her gold crescent, suspended from a chain so thin it looked like a spider's web. The black kitten scampered across her path after the ball and she picked him up.

"So Ramesis, what do you think?" the kitten tilted his head and looked at her critically. Then with a soft purr it rubbed its head against her cheek. Laughing Selene cradled it to her scratching behind its ears. "Lets go find some fun." She whispered and they dissolved.

The entire castle was preparing for the Princess's birthday ball that night. Flowers were being rushed here and there, silk sashes were being arranged in waterfalls on the roof, the crystal chandeliers hung beautifully dusted and shining with silver light. There were plants everywhere and people seemed to be infinite, everywhere you looked there were masked people arranging, organizing, some were even floating as they tried to get the castle ready. Selene and Ramesis arrived right in the middle of the most busy places; the ballroom.

"Happy Birthday Princess!" cried several busy workers stopping to bow low.

"Thank you!" the Princess called and let them get on with their preparations. Holding Ramesis she wondered in and out of the rushing people and decorations. A person floated above her holding a string of fairy-lights that trailed down tot he floor as the person (a Female evidently, she was masked as they all were) wrapped it around pillars. Ramesis reached out a paw and tried desperately to grab hold of the trailing lights and they passed, his momentum carrying him over Selene's safe arms. He yowled in surprise as the smooth wooden floor rushed up to greet him, then he was floating again and looking straight into a beautiful silken mask. Two gold eyes glittered behind the mask and Ramesis shrunk back slightly.

"Here Princess," she said, her voice was soft, a melody.

"Thank you very much for catching him!" Selene replied happily.

"It was a pleasure Highness. Many happy returns." The woman floated again to finish the fairy lights.

The eyes stayed with Ramesis as the Princess happily wondered among the masked people. Curiosity filled him and as he was a cat. As though sensing it, Selene started explaining.

"These masked people are party planners from a little planet called Galenver. They make the best parties and specalise in organising coronations and weddings ect. They cover their faces because their faces shine like the sun and it blinds people so they wear a heavy silk made on their planet to protect others."

The kitten however, had long since stopped listening and was now yawning adorably, "Hmm time to take you back to my room to sleep I think," Selene said as she dissolved. Taking the kitten to her room she placed it gently on her bed and kissed its furry head, "I'll be back much later Ramesis, I'm going to go see the roses."

She dissolved again and the kitten yawned again and fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: Well I'm updating instead of studying soI better get lots of reviews... pretty please? Studying is depressing andI really need reviews to cheer me up... I love you? lol

Thank you to all you wonderful people who have Reviewed my fics, I love you all so much.

XCasseeX