Michiru walked quickly yet elegantly down the hall towards her parents bedchamber. Despite her obvious rush, she still took the decency to admire the decoration adorning the walls. Even with paintings of her own on the highly fashioned walls, she still liked to take leisurely walks around the palace when she had the time; though now was not the time.

Shetried to walk a little faster on her selected choice of many paths to her parents bedchamber. She had the largest sense of curiosity as to what her parents wanted to discuss with her. She had a small notion as to what they may want. After all, wasn't she almost twelve?

With that thought, she quickened her pace almost to that of jogging, for once forgetting her deliberate elegance.

As she approached her destination, she slowed back down to a calming gait. Once there, she paused for a short while to catch her breath. She reached her hand out and lightly touched the handle; the silver bar-fashioned knob being cold to the touch.

She opened the giant aqua-marine door as she stared at Neptune's symbol just above the door knob.

"Michiru? Is that you?" asked her mother questioningly.

"Yes," Michiru responded.

"Michiru," her father joined in, "I'm glad you made it. We, your mother and I, have something very important to discuss with you. . ."

Michiru walked inside at her father's words and sat down on the plush, blue couch across from her parents and looked around.

Even though they were her parents, she was rarely granted permission to be actually inside their bed room. The last time had been about five years ago, making her about seven years old. The whole reason was because she had been betrothed to someone. That someone being Damasu, her body guard. She hadn't known what that meant back then. She knew now though, and she didn't like it. They hadn't even asked for her decent, even if she was only seven years old. And not only that, it had been the at the same time when they explained the situation about Sailor Neptune. What had

Startled from her own little world of thoughts, Michiru looked up in surprise when her mother began speaking to her.

"You remember, along time ago, when we told you that you would be taking your first trip to the Moon Kingdom?" her mother began in a rather hesitant manor.

Recovering from the unexpected startle quickly, Michiru just looked at them questioningly, trying to pretend that this exact moment wasn't the only most important thing she had hoped for since they told her so many years ago.

"Well," her father continued, believing her feigned confusion, "that time has finally come. I know you must be upset that we haven't better prepared you for this, but it is your destiny to go there and become the legendary Sailor Neptune, and to help protect this solar system from outside forces along with Sailor Uranus."

"You must be horribly mad at us," her mother began, "but it's only for a couple of years. After that you'll be able to come back home and everything will be back to normal. Nothing has ever attacked this far out in the galaxy for over hundreds of years, but the Queen thinks it necessary though for us to be prepared."

Michiru pretended to be shocked and contemplative of the sudden announcement while her parents anxiously awaited her response.

"I. . .don't. . .think that will be a problem." Michiru stated. "If it's what you think is best, then who am I to judge?"

Her parents sighed with relief upon hearing this. They were ecstatically happy that she took this so well.

"Well then, I guess that'll be all," her father started. "You might want to pack, hime-chan. You'll be leaving the day after tomorrow. Pack light, they're supposed to take care of the clothes and other things you'll need"

Michiru was a little surprised at the short notice but was a little too excited to care much. 'I'm finally going,' she thought happily. 'Finally. . .'

Haruka was a little apprehensive about going to her parents living quarters. She really didn't want to face what was to come when her mother saw what she had done. She really didn't think her father would care much and if he did he wouldn't sat anything, just give her stern looks.

She took her time on her way there, taking a leisurely walk through the garden right outside the entrance the their room. She wanted some time to think over what she should say to them, she wanted to be prepared for anything they might bombard her with. She sat down on a near-by stone bench.

'I have no idea how my mother is going to react,' she thought becoming depressed. She began to trace her index finger over the carved lions on the bench's seat.

Once she thought she had spent enough time in the garden, she walked up to their reasonablely-sized, gold door and knocked, the gold loop from the lion's mouth swaying slightly after she let go.

A servant opened the door shortly after the loop stopped swaying. She ignored his stare as she walked inside.

Haruka flinched when she heard her mother shriek with surprise and disbelief.

"Haruka! What in the name of Uranus have you done to your hair!" she shouted. "And where did you get such disgusting clothes!"

Haruka just stared at the floor, her face flushed, while her mother continued with her rant. Apparently they had been waiting on her. She hadn't expected them to see her as soon as she walked in the door.

She continued to stare at the floor until her father interrupted and spoke with a calm voice.

"Haruka."

She looked up upon hearing her name.

"We have summoned you here for a reason," he began. "You'll be taking a trip soon."

"A trip?" Haruka asked. 'What is this?' she thought.

"To the Moon Kingdom," he stated ignoring his wife's annoyed glares. "You'll be going there for two years."

"Two years?" Haruka practically yelled. "And you didn't bother to tell me this until now? When am I going?"

"The day after tomorrow," he replied, unaffected by Haruka's outburst. "You are being summoned there for training."

"Training for what?" she asked cutting him off.

He continued becoming slightly annoyed by her interruptions. "It is your destiny to become one of the legendary Sailor Senshi, Sailor Uranus. It will be your duty to help protect this solar system from invaders along with Sailor Neptune, our twin planet's princess, Michiru." He paused for a short while before continuing, giving her a while for all of it to sink in. "When the two years are over, you will return here and life will go on as normal."

Haruka couldn't process this. She just stared at him dumbfounded.

"Are you happy now?" her mother hissed. "You'll finally be able to run amuck, gallivanting around in men's clothing and fighting."

The statement snapped Haruka out of her trance. She was going to reply with a smart-mouthed comment but her father beat her to it.

"You can go now Haruka." He gave her a stern look and gestured towards the door. "You'll need to pack your things. I have been informed that Serenity-sama will be providing your clothes and such so pack light."

Haruka just nodded and left the highly decorated room. Despite her preparations, she had not been expecting anything like this. "A partner?" she thought out loud. She didn't like the thought of that much. 'I don't need anyone to help me. I can take care of myself. . .'

Phew! I've got the second chapter done. Please review and tell me what you think. And thanks to all of you who have reviewed. I'll try to update regularly and hope people like my story. smiles In the next chapter I think Haruka and Michiru will finally meet. I'm still trying to think how they'll react when they first meet so suggestions are welcome.