AN- I really appreciate the reviews I got for the last chapter! Also, the Sailor Scouts talk the way they do (for example Sailor Venus will refer to her normal form as Princess Lumina) because they are simply taking the extra precautions that they aren't found out.

Disclaimer- I do not own any of the Sailor Moon characters

Chapter 7- A Trip to Earth

Serena had been sleeping for two months now. The Sailor Scouts had used their magic to dress her up in a strapless dress of blue-green silk with silver jeweled embroidery. So, for two months now the princesses struggled with finding out who the true love of one of their best friends was.

Late one night, Mina, Lita, and Amy were sitting in the library going over every detail they could. Sailor Mars was on Serena watch duty. "We are not getting anywhere!" cried Mina. "It's starting to get hopeless."

Lita threw her pencil against the wall in frustration. Amy got up and retrieved it. "We can't give up hope. This is one of our best friends we are talking about," Amy said.

"I know, but this is getting frustrating!" Lita said. "We don't know anything about this true love of Serena!"

"And hiding her is getting hard. People are wondering why she isn't back from her 'holiday' yet," said Mina.

"I just can't help but think that we are missing something important, something that's right under our noses," said Amy.

"What do you mean, Ames?" asked Lita.

"I'm not sure, but I keep thinking that somewhere, somehow we are just missing an obvious detail." said Amy. "Hey Mina, can you repeat the last things she said to you?"

"I'll try. Well, first Raye said something about heartaches, and Serena said she was suffering from one. Then, we asked her who she was in love with. She then said we wouldn't believe who it was, then that evil being showed up. And that was it," Mina said.

Amy thought for a while. "I still can't figure out who it is. The fact that she said that we wouldn't believe who it was, should open up some doors for us, but I'm reaching a blank," she said.

"Me too," said Lita. "I think we need some Martian brains. I think Raye would be helpful. Besides she's been on watch duty for twelve hours now. She needs a break. JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER!" Then, Sailor Jupiter walked out of the room.

Mina rubbed her eyes. She had been up for forty-eight hours straight. She wasn't going to let Serena down. She then started to massage her temples. "Amy is right. There is something that is so obvious, but we aren't able to put our fingers on it. Let's see. Serena obviously started to feel her heartache when we returned from Mercury. I was experiencing heartache because I was missing Malachite. She also said we'd never believe who she was in love with. Something is adding up between all that, so why can't I figure it out? Wait a minute, let me break apart all of this. First of all, Serena isn't the type to fall in love with a guy who loves someone else. So, Hayden, Isaac, and the generals are out. She wouldn't fall in love with a guy she looks up to like a brother, so Rainier is out. Any of her ex-suitors are out. She knows her duty, so it would have to be a royal of some kind. That leaves…Prince Diamond and Darien. Prince Diamond is 100 out. That leaves…Darien. That's not even a possibility…is it? Wait a sec, she was gloomy after Mercury. Darien was on Mercury. And Darien is the last guy I would suspect her to fall in love with! So her true love is…Darien! Why didn't I see that earlier?" Mina thought. "I've got it you guys!!!" she exclaimed.

Raye had walked in without Mina noticing. They both looked at her. "What are you talking about, Mina?" asked Raye.

"Amy was right, he was right under our noses! I can't believe we didn't even consider him; well, actually I can. I mean, come on, he is the last guy we would suspect Serena to be in love with!" Mina cried.

"What?" Amy said.

"I mean that's what Serena was trying to tell us. I did always sort of think they were meant to be!" said Mina.

Raye took a deep breath. "Mina, first of all, calm down. Second, slow down, and third, please tell us who the guy is, rather than go on and on about how we didn't suspect him!" said Raye loudly.

Mina took a few deep breaths. "I'm calm. It's Darien, you guys. Serena is in love with Darien!" she cried out.

"Mina, are you ok? Serena hates Darien!" said Amy. She then shook her head.

"Thank you for that, Mina." said Raye, who then sighed. "I guess we're back to square one."

Mina stood up. "Will you please listen to me?" she asked angrily. "Look, Serena said she was suffering from a heartache, just like the rest of us! When did we start suffering from heartaches?"

"When we came back from Mercury," answered Amy.

"Exactly!" said Mina.

"So what? That doesn't prove that Serena loves Darien. Our love lives don't have anything to do with Serena," said Raye.

"You know what, Raye?" asked Mina angrily.

"What?" asked Raye, looking at her nails.

"Shut the hell up and listen to me," said Mina.

Raye rolled her eyes and said, "Fine, Mina. Prove your theory."

Mina smiled. "Thank you." she said. "Ok, here goes. Serena came back to the Moon as gloomy as the rest of us. But before we go into that, let's take apart Serena's character. First of all, Serena knows her duty. She would only fall in love with a prince or a high positioned guy. Second, Serena has the kind of self-restraint that would keep her from falling in love with a guy who loves someone else. That kicks out Hayden, Isaac, and the generals from the running. Third, she would never fall in love with a guy she looks up to as a brother. So as a result, Rainier is kicked out. Also, we can without a doubt say that her former suitors are kicked out. So that leaves two princes."

"Prince Endymion and who else?" asked Amy.

"Prince Diamond," said Mina. "and we know he is obviously out of the running."

"I'm still not convinced," said Raye.

"I knew you'd say that." said Mina. "Moving on, as I said before, she came back from Mercury just as gloomy as the rest of us. She is always excited to get back to work, so normally she's never upset when we come home from vacation. That makes me think that she was gloomy from heartache. The guy must have been on Mercury, in that case. That leaves Hayden, Darien, and the generals, and we've already ruled Hayden and the generals out. That leaves Darien. And furthermore, she said we'd be surprised by the guy she fell in love with. I'm shocked she's in love with Darien. That's the last guy in the galaxy I'd suspect! Do you need more proof, Raye?"

Rays smiled and said, "You've proved your case, Lumina. I think you've hit the jackpot. Now what?"

"One of us should go to Earth to tell Darien," said Amy. "but may I say something without you getting offended, Mina?"

Mina smiled. "Sure, Ames, go ahead."

Amy smiled back and said, "I believe you are right about Darien, Mina, but even if Darien isn't the one, we can trust him with the secret. So, I think we can get him to at least try, even if we aren't 100 sure."

Raye said, "That's sounds great. Which of us should go to Earth?"

"Let's go to Serena's room and consult Jupiter," answered Amy. Mina and Raye nodded. They transformed into the Sailor Scouts, and they headed to Serena's sleeping room.

When they reached Serena's room, they walked in. Sailor Jupiter was surprised to see them. "Is everything all right?" she asked.

"Yeah, the princesses figured out who Princess Serenity is in love with," answered Sailor Venus.

"Well, who is it?" asked Sailor Jupiter.

Sailor Mars smiled and replied, "Prince Endymion of Earth."

Sailor Jupiter's jaw dropped. "Are you sure, Mars? Mercury," she said turning to Sailor Mercury. "is she telling the truth?"

Sailor Mercury smiled and said, "Yes, she's telling the truth."

Sailor Jupiter nodded uncertainly. "Whatever, the princesses know better than me," she said.

"Now all we have to decide who is to go to Earth and inform the prince," said Sailor Mars.

"Well any of the princesses are worthy of going," said Sailor Jupiter.

"I'm sure they would all love to go," said Sailor Mercury. "but we have to be fair."

"Well, I think I know who should go," said Sailor Mars.

Sailor Jupiter rolled her eyes. "Yes, Mars, we know Princess Rachael is an excellent candidate, but we must consider the others as well," she said.

"I know Princess Rachael is an excellent choice, but I was thinking that Princess Lumina should go," said Sailor Mars, who turned and smiled at Sailor Venus. Sailor Mercury smiled and nodded.

Sailor Jupiter looked confused. "Why should Mina get to go?" she whined. Then, her hand flew over her mouth. "I mean, why is Princess Lumina more worthy than the others to go?"

"Well, Princess Lumina was the one who figured out the secret. Besides, she worked hard to convince the other princesses that it was in fact Prince Endymion who Princess Serenity was in love with. So, I agree with Mars that Princess Lumina should go," said Sailor Mercury.

Sailor Jupiter turned to Sailor Venus. "After hearing all of this, I agree that Princess Lumina should go." she said. "In the meantime, we must triple the security for the princess. If that evil being finds out that the princesses have figured out the secret, she will certainly attack again. Princess Lumina must act swiftly. She must leave immediately. The other princesses can inform the king and queen. Sailor Venus, go inform her quickly,"

Sailor Venus smiled and said, "I shall inform right now. I thank you on her behalf." She then quickly left the room and de-transformed without anyone seeing her. She then headed to the Transporter Room and punched the code for Earth on the keypad. She closed her eyes and jumped into the machine. After a minute of spinning, she opened her eyes. She hadn't been to Earth for ten years. It had changed so much. It looked so beautiful. She looked around excitedly, but she stopped when she noticed all the servants looking at her strangely. She then remembered that they would not remember her at all. They just saw her as a well-dressed pretty blonde who had randomly appeared in the garden of the palace. She curtsied and walked up to a gardener, whose face she could vaguely remember. "My apologies for intruding and disrupting you work, sir." she said politely. "I was wondering if you could direct me to the palace entrance."

The gardener smiled. "I remember your face. You look exactly like your mother, Queen Aphrodite. It's a pleasure to see you again."

Mina smiled and gave a quiet sigh of relief. Most of the servants did not know much of what happened outside Earth. The gardener had not given away her identity, which she was thankful for. "Thank you for your kind compliments," she said.

"You need to walk up the path here. Turn right on the path in front of the tulip garden. That will lead you straight to the palace entrance," the gardener said.

Mina thanked him and walked up the path. She saw the tulip garden and stopped to imagine herself walking through it with Malachite. She shook her head, and she turned right. She reached the palace entrance and gasped. The palace had changed quite a bit. It had been redone and added to under Queen Daphne's watchful eye. It looked elegant now, not garish like Mina had remembered. She walked in. The servants were so in awe of her beauty that they didn't even ask her for her name, which she was very thankful. People would be gossip and be very suspicious of why the Venusian Princess had suddenly arrived. She got directions to the throne room. She started to walk down the Golden Hallway, which was a huge hallway in the palace that was painted gold. She walked through it uncertainly because she was sure she was lost. No one mentioned the Golden Hallway in their directions at all. She stopped suddenly and contemplated what to do. Suddenly someone called out, "Mina?" She turned around to see…Malachite.

"Malachite," she said, sighing with relief. "What a relief it is to see a familiar face."

He walked up to her. "What are you doing here?" he whispered.

"I desperately need to see Darien right now, the sooner the better. Also, if it could be done secretly, that would be great," she whispered back.

"Why?" he asked.

"I'd love to tell you, but there are too many people around here. I can tell you, Darien, and all the generals at once," she said.

His facial expression revealed that he wanted to press further questions but he said quietly, "Follow me but be discreet." Mina nodded. He led her throughout the palace until they reached a hallway that was painted navy blue. He led her inside a large room that she realized was a gym. They found Darien lifting weights shirtless, (AN- I just had to add that. Hey, for an anime character, he's pretty hot!) while Nephlyte and Jadeite were fencing. Zoicite was reading in a corner. They stopped to look at her.

"Hey Mina," said Jadeite. "what are you doing here?"

"I am here on behalf of King Apollo and Queen Serenity," answered Mina.

Darien had quickly put on a shirt, and he walked up to her. "What's going on, Mina?" he asked solemnly.

"Darien, we need your help badly. Serena is in trouble, and only you can save her," she replied.

"Mina, before you continue, please sit down," Nephlyte said as he pulled her up a chair.

Mina sat down. "Thank you, Nephlyte," she said.

Nephlyte smiled. Darien asked, "What kind of trouble is Serena in?"

Mina took a deep breath and said, "Well about two months ago, Raye, Serena, and I were walking by the Crystal Lake. All of a sudden, this evil being came out of the water. Raye and I tried to protect Serena, but the evil being put a sleeping spell on Serena, and she hasn't woken up since."

Zoicite said, "I'm so sorry, Mina. There must be some way to wake her up."

Mina looked at Darien. "There is," she said. "That's where Darien comes in. Serena will wake up when her true love kisses her."

Darien looked confused. "Yeah, um, Mina, I love Serena, but she sort of rejected me. So I, um, can't really help you," he said.

Mina smiled. "Oh yes you can." she said. "Look, Serena fell in love with you when you came to Mercury. So, you can wake her up."

Malachite frowned. "If she fell in love with Darien almost three months ago, why did it take you so long to inform him of Serena's condition?" he asked.

Mina blushed. "Well, the evil being wouldn't want to make it so easy on us to wake her up, now would she?" Mina asked. "Serena never told us that she had fallen in love with Darien. That's why the evil being made the spell the way it was so that Darien's kiss would wake her up. Amy, Raye, Lita, and I have been spending the last two months trying to figure out who her true love is."

Darien asked, "How can you be so sure it is me?"

"Let's not go into that because that takes a lot of time. Trust me; she loves you. Now could you please come back to the Moon with me?" Mina begged.

"Well, I guess so. Anything for Serena," Darien replied. "Guys, take care of my duties while I'm gone. Mina, give me a minute to get ready."

"Hey dude, did you actually believe we wouldn't go with you?" asked Jadeite.

"Come on, man, you need the protection!" insisted Nephlyte.

"Yeah, we're coming with you!" said Zoicite.

Malachite smirked and shrugged his shoulders. Darien smiled. "I'm guessing that you guys want to go to the Moon for a reason other than my protection," he said.

"Dare, how could you think that?" asked Jadeite in mock shock.

"Yeah," said Darien sarcastically. "how could I have thought of that?"

"So are we going now?" asked Mina.

"Lead on, Princess Lumina of Venus," said Darien.

AN- Sorry that wasn't that long. I just wanted to end on a high point!