A/N: Thank you everyone who has stuck with this until now. This chapter in particular gave me the most trouble. The rest of the story is practically written, and will be posted at regular intervals. *Bows* Thank you for your patience.

Murmurs of conversation overtook the room as the door clicked shut. Under normal circumstances I would have followed Serenity, but it was important to gather what information I could from the assembled parties. I glanced around the room, gauging reactions as delegates paired or grouped up to talk. Snippets of conversation floated up to the dais, confirming worries and doubts about our plans, the survival of the planets, and our ability to win this war. Doubts that were hardly unfounded, I thought grimly.

I spared one more look around the room before I focused my attention on my charge, turning to the Princess as she gave in to her yawn, covering her face with a dainty hand.

"Did you rest well last night, little one?"

She blinked in surprise for a moment before nodding to me. "As well as I could. I was worried you would still be upset with me."

I smiled slightly at her as I tilted my head. "I have no reason to hold on to animosity, little one. You worried us, but no harm was done."

She returned my smile and sighed in relief.

"However," I replied, noting her sudden apprehension. "I have not forgotten about your punishment. Perhaps Princess Minako can accompany you for the remainder of the day."

She pouted at my words. "Very well," she grumbled.

I hid a chuckle at her childish antics and studied her a moment.

"You seem bored with the proceedings," I began.

She quickly straightened in her seat and met my gaze fiercely. "Not at all! She exclaimed. I just..." She trailed off uncertainly, her hands fidgeting in her lap like small birds.

"Yes?" I prompted when she remained silent.

"All this talk of war and destruction. It's difficult to imagine people are dying when all I can see is peace."

I nodded in understanding as she looked at me earnestly. "I have never seen or even heard of destruction on this scale. I can't imagine it."

"Such is the way of the world," I replied. "There are those who live their lives contained almost entirely within their own bubble. Everything they know exists within those boundaries, and all else outside it is beyond imagining or worth knowing. This bubble can be one of peace," I nodded to her. "Or one of destruction and chaos."

Her eyes widened as she listened. "How can someone live without knowing peace?"

"The same way someone can live without knowing chaos." I replied solemnly, silently approving of her thoughtful expression. The Princess was naive and held onto ideals for peace, but she was willing to listen and learn about things beyond her own little world. She would be a great queen one day, I thought, watching her brow furrow as she thought on our conversation.

"Is it like this everywhere?" She asked suddenly.

"What do you mean, Little One?" I replied patiently.

"Are there people on the Moon who live in 'bubbles', who don't know peace or chaos?"

"Yes," I answered. "Even here. You have proven that yourself, saying that you cannot imagine war or destruction."

"Is that so bad?" She questioned, her eyes large and cautious, as if living in her so-called 'bubble' made her a bad person.

"I suppose the most ideal situation would be for chaos to become something unthinkable, and I do not think it is a bad thing to wish such peace upon others. However, those who have lived their entire lives in peace can come to take it for granted."

She frowned, her furrow returning to her forehead. "For granted? You mean assuming it will always be there?"

I nodded in approval. "There are those who believe that because they have been at peace their whole lives, it will always remain as such. But you must remember," I said seriously, holding her full attention. "There will always be those who wish to destroy it, if only to see it destroyed."

"Like Beryl is doing now."

I crossed my arms over my chest as I straightened, considering her words. "We do not know what Beryl's intentions or motives are. You may be right, or she could be searching for something or someone, tearing worlds apart as she goes. But it is times like these that make our time of peace hold that much more meaning."

She closed her eyes as she thought, a habit she no doubt picked up from her mother. "Those who have lived in peace their entire lives cannot fully appreciate the cost of gaining it in the first place."

She opened her eyes as she finished, pinning me in place with her serious gaze.

I smiled fondly at her, nodding my approval. "You are correct, little one. You have shown wisdom in drawing that conclusion."

She blushed, losing the intensity of her stare in her embarrassment.

"You will make a great queen." I stated honestly, watching as her blush intensified.

"Thank you for saying so," she mumbled, her eyes averted. She glanced at the Prince and his party before returning her gaze to the floor, frowning slightly. I watched silently as she glanced to him again, her frowning deepening with each pass.

"It's obvious something is troubling you," I said, startling her to look at me. "There's no need to be so evasive about it."

"Well," she began. "I'm not sure if it's even worth discussing. It's more an...oddity I suppose."

Intrigued, I motioned for her to continue.

"About Endymion," she trailed off, biting her lip as she gathered her thoughts.

I tapped my own lips, slipping back into tutor mode to correct her pesky habits. She quickly released her own and frowned instead.

"Endymion brought two Generals with him." She suddenly stated, looking earnestly at me. I quirked an eyebrow at her, but answered anyway.

"Yes, General Sanada and General Doji. Is there something odd about it?"

"Well," she stammered. "What about the others? Kunzite and the others?"

"What about the others?" I echoed, forcing her to clarify her halting statements. As expected, she huffed in annoyance when I refused to take the bait.

"Why didn't Endymion bring his four personal bodyguards with him? Why would he bring his two behind-the-scenes Generals instead?"

I took a moment to consider her questions. "Perhaps it is because of the circumstances of the visit," I began. "This is a meeting of war, and to my understanding, Generals Sanada and Doji are responsible for the standing army as well as the commanders who control it. Any discussions regarding military tactics would benefit from their expertise."

She nodded in understanding as she frowned at the floor, her gaze unfocused. "True enough," she replied. "But at the same time, with the Earth and Moon being on less than cordial terms, one would expect him to bring his personal guard, if only as a precaution."

I smiled at her almost automatic reply, relishing the chance to have a serious discussion with her. "A valid point, but if he had done so, consider how many people he would have accompanying him. Six generals and seven commanders? That is quite a large party, and when you factor in just who these warriors are, they hold the same sway as an army. Having that much power on display at once could be seen as a hostile act."

She crossed her arms as she thought, her brow now furrowed to add to her serious expression.

"Why does this trouble you so?" I ventured, now curious and slightly apprehensive.

"Endymion never travels off planet without Kunzite and the others. Ryo and Shuten are responsible for the safety of Earth in his absence." She answered in exasperation. "I do not understand why he would deviate from this arrangement for such an important meeting." She was obviously frustrated at both his actions and her inability to understand them.

I blinked in surprise at her harsh words as well as her knowledge of the Earth Court's inner workings. I had been vaguely aware of the roles each General played, but not to this extent.

"Is it wise to be speaking of such things to me?" I asked frankly, gauging her reaction.

She met my eyes swiftly and answered without hesitation. "I trust you. I know you will not use this information against them."

I gaped in surprise, touched by her faith in my integrity before I schooled my features, smiling at her gratefully. "Thank you for saying so, Little One. But that does not answer my question," I pressed.

She bit her lip as she glanced at the Earth delegation. "I am worried about the others." She answered quietly, her words almost lost in the din of discussion around us.

"You mean the Kings?"

She nodded, her expression worried. "I am afraid something has happened to them, something serious enough that Endymion would have to bring the other two in their place. And yet at the same time not serious enough for his attention, since he came here anyway."

I frowned, my apprehension blossoming into worry as her words rang true. What would cause four generals to miss an important meeting, and yet not require the attention of the Prince?

Any further conversation was cut short as Queen Serenity emerged from the back room. I bowed my head to the Princess, dismissing myself from her presence, and turned to the assembly. I clapped my hands together once, drawing the attention of the room.

"All rise in the presence of Queen Serenity." I intoned, turning from the room to curtsy to her as she stepped around her chair and sat gracefully to the echoes of the assembly rising.

She nodded to me, and I turned back to the room.

"You may now be seated." I waited until the echoes died out before speaking again.

"This meeting will now return to session." I caught sight of movement behind me, and stepped back from the edge of the dais to give Serenity the stand.

"Honored members," she spoke solemnly. "It seems we have even less time than we expected. I have received word of a possible attack on Saturn. There have been sightings of a possible scouting party and Titan Castle has asked for our immediate assistance."

She focused her gaze on Endymion and his delegation. "Are your warriors prepared to leave?"

Endymion bowed in response. "Yes, my Queen. As stated before, General Sanada will lead his commanders in the evacuation of Saturn. General Doji will remain here to assist in any way possible."

She nodded and swept her gaze over the remaining members. "My Lords and Ladies, it seems our time to prepare is growing short. I ask that each of you contribute what you can in our time of need."

Murmurs of agreement rang across the hall.

"General Sanada." The man in question rose and bowed to her.

"I do not have to ask that you carry out your mission to the best of your ability."

He nodded solemnly to her. "Of course, my Queen."

"However, I do ask that you please be careful." She smiled softly to the young general. "May you all return safely."

He laid a hand across his chest, bowing his head slightly to her. "Thank you, my Queen. I will see that those under my command return safely."

Serenity studied him a moment longer then turned to me. "Escort them to the Court of Portals. After that, see to the preparations."

"At once, m'lady." I curtsied to her and stepped off the dais, indicating to the selected warriors to follow. They fell into step behind me, and we left the hall quickly.

I led them swiftly through the halls, the mood distinctly more tense than the last time I had walked these pillars. My thoughts continued to wander back to the conversation with the Princess. The situation about the Generals was nagging at me, and I couldn't help but feel as though it was an important point we had all overlooked.

"Look," I heard one of them say. "All we need to do is take out the Generals, knock out the queen, and we're golden." I focused my attention on the conversation, curious that the very topic of my discontent was now open to discussion.

"Are you even hearing yourself? Take out the generals?" Another answered incredulously. "Did you forget who they are? These are our comrades you're talking about!"

"Do you think we can face them so easily?" The question was asked softly, his remorse highlighted by his accent.

I turned my head slightly, catching the gaze of the one with blue hair. "What do you mean, take out the generals?"

He blinked in surprise and cast a worried glance at their silent leader before answering.

"Um, well, the Kings are fighting for Beryl now."

I halted then, turning sharply to face them directly. They scattered around me in an effort to avoid my sudden stop. I leveled my glare at the one who had spoken, Touma, I believe.

"You mean to tell me that the Generals have defected," I waved a hand in the current general's direction, my voice rising in anger. "And now Queen Beryl commands their forces and expertise?"

To his credit, he didn't shrink back entirely, but Touma glanced anxiously at General Sanada for support.

"She attacked when we were vulnerable." The General spoke so quietly I almost didn't hear him, but I focused on his tense stance and listened closely.

"Four would always be sent to the winds, one would stand by his side, and another would travel between. Our roles would rotate, so no single person could rise in status over another, whether in reality or imagined."

He recited the words automatically, as though remembering instructions from long ago. He stared into space as he spoke, his eyes unfocused.

"I was with Endymion when they struck," I noted the familiar use of the prince's name, but remained silent as he continued.

"Shuten was returning from his rotation, and I was to travel out to Kunzite's station to replace him. But…" He trailed off, his face reflecting his anguish of losing his comrades.

"I am sorry," I caught his gaze, suppressing the anger that had blossomed at Touma's admission. "We were not aware of the generals' capture. No word reached us."

He blinked and sighed, holding my gaze as he spoke. "Shuu is right. As long as she has control over the others, she commands much more strength than we're prepared for. We...we have to deal with them first."

I searched his face, taking in the pain that swirled in his eyes as he spoke.

"We will deal with them in due time." I said at last, breaking the heavy atmosphere. "Right now, our duty is the evacuation of Saturn." I turned once more and set off again, taking note of the footsteps that fell in behind me.

I frowned to myself as we walked, upset that no one had noticed the oddity of the missing Generals, and yet proud that it had been the Princess to point it out. Too little, too late, I thought grimly. Even equipped with this new knowledge, would we be able to turn the tides? Beryl now had the momentum of sweeping multiple planets aside with ease. It would be difficult to stem the tide, almost impossible...

I grimaced at my thoughts and pushed them aside. I couldn't afford to be pessimistic now.

We walked in silence for a short time, before it was once again broken by one of the warriors. He spoke as we rounded the last corner, his voice sounding slightly flat as we stepped out of the echoey confines of the halls.

"You said there was a possibility Queen Beryl is not working alone."

I glanced over my shoulder, not surprised to see Touma looking questioningly at me.

I brought them to a halt in the center of the courtyard and indicated they should wait. As we stopped, a watcher approached, and I nodded in greeting as the older man drew near.

"My Lady, how can we be of service?" He said gravely with a bow.

"I require a portal to Saturn." I answered firmly. "These five will pass through, but they will not require it remain open for their return. However, remain on alert for any portals from Saturn, and immediately send word for me if any open."

"Of course, my Lady." He bowed again, then turned to carry out his task, taking his place with the remaining three watchers. I turned my back to them as they began, facing the curious warriors.

"She was a simple queen. Now she can move her armies at will, and is able to take down the seasoned fighters of the Outer Rim with ease?" I shook my head, emphasizing my point.

"Something else is at work, giving her strength. Do you believe she would be able to raise an army and cause so much destruction on her power alone?" I directed the question to Touma, but glanced between the others as I fell silent.

"While I will say she is charismatic, I doubt she could have raised an army like this in such a short time." The blond one, Seiji, replied with a frown.

"She managed to gain watchers too." The one with the accent, Shin, spoke up. "All watchers are trained to be completely loyal to their respective kingdoms. It's enough of a feat that she is able to control them, but for them to be able to disappear entirely, location unknown…" He shook his head as he trailed off. "And I know for a fact, none of our watchers have ever traveled beyond the Inner Ring. It's practically impossible that she would be able to move her army to the Outer Ring at all."

That last bit was new to me, but not entirely unexpected. The people of Earth would have no reason to travel any further than he said. While it requires no additional power to travel further, the amount of time and effort required to train watchers for portals to the Outer Ring becomes a waste when compared to how often such knowledge would be used.

I frowned as I took in the information they were tossing around. "While the Beryl may have goals of her own, we know nothing of what this other entity wants."

"Well, it could be really simple." I glanced in surprise to the one who had spoken, noting it was the one who had started the discussion in the first place, Shuu. He met my gaze with his own surprise.

"What do you mean?" I prompted.

He fidgeted slightly under my gaze. "What do almost all evil entities want? Power."

"Well, yes, but that's a rather general statement." Shin replied.

Shuu huffed in exasperation, any nerves gone in favor of retorting to his comrade. "Think about it. What is the most powerful object in our system?" He glanced at Sanada briefly as he spoke, and I wondered at the significance.

The General, in turn, frowned, his mind already making the connection. "The Crystal."

I felt my stomach sink at his words. Of course, it was almost blindingly obvious. Whoever this being was, it was coming for the crystal, and using Beryl as a cover.

"My Lady, the portal is ready."

The watcher's calm words broke our musing, and I turned to the portal. I could just see the outline of the castle through the swirling dust of the surface.

"It looks like we may still have some time." I said almost to myself.

I turned back to the warriors. "Your focus is the evacuation of Saturn. Your main priorities are the citizens as well as Queen Cronus and Princess Hotaru, regardless of complaints or arguments." They nodded in understanding, their expressions grim.

"When you are ready, have their watchers open portals here for the return. The destination is the Court of Portals, and they may open at most five separate portals, if they have the manpower to do so."

"Okay, sounds like a plan." General Sanada nodded and glanced between his commanders, waiting for their nods of approval before moving to the next. "We're set. Will there be teams ready to assist on this side?"

"An evacuation plan has already been put in place that will allow for the quick funneling of refugees as they pass through the portals." I replied. "We will also have medical teams ready and waiting, as well as a regiment of additional troops on standby."

He nodded again. "Alright, let's go." They quickly jogged to the portal and passed through one by one. As I watched them swiftly disperse, my fear from earlier began to claw at my chest, making it difficult to breath. At the last moment, Ryo paused before entering the portal and turned to me. I held his gaze, committing the moment to memory, then he turned and disappeared, leaving silence in his wake.

I released the breath I hadn't realized I was holding, and motioned to the messengers waiting along the far wall. As they approached, I organized my thoughts, refocusing at the task at hand.

"Send word to the medical teams." I nodded to the first messenger who approached, a young boy with bright green eyes. "I need one team here on standby for immediate support, and all others ready to take in a large number of injured. Clear any beds they can. Go." He bowed and took off running. A girl immediately took his place, waiting for orders.

"You and one other will send word to the missionaries. Have them prepare room for refugees in any available space. Once complete, each of you will take a wing of the residents quarters and request they make space to house additional refugees. We will need everyone's cooperation in order to hold the people of Saturn. Understood?" The girl nodded and ran down the hall, tapping the shoulder of another messenger to join her.

I turned to the last boy who waited quietly. "You will go to the barracks. Inform the commander I will require one regiment of soldiers to be placed on standby at the Court of Portals in order to assist in the funneling and evacuation of refugees in addition to protective duties. Understood?" The boy nodded and ran.

With orders set in motion, a took a moment to refocus myself, closing my eyes as I thought. My thoughts were swirling with uncertainties. Would the warriors return unscathed? How many wounded could we evacuate before Beryl's forces descended? What roles did the defected Generals play in this war? I snapped my eyes open as I focused on a single thought. Endymion knew about his Generals. He would have to answer for his silence.

With that thought in mind, I set a path for the Prince's chambers, having little doubt he would be there waiting for word from his warriors.

I walked quickly through the castle, my thoughts focused on the conversations that fueled my anger. I ignored the servants as they jumped out of my way, no doubt to avoid turning my obvious anger on them.

I stopped outside his door and knocked swiftly, deciding that I should at least appear courteous. It was a surprisingly difficult task, given the circumstances, and I took a deep breath to compose myself.

The door opened, revealing a cautious Prince. He stared in surprise for a moment before he stepped to the side, silently inviting me inside.

As I stepped through the threshold, the Princess stepped through into the room from the balcony.

"Who is it-" She stopped in midstep, her gaze betraying her guilt. I narrowed my eyes at her, indicating I was aware of her dodging her punishment. She shrank back slightly from my gaze and nodded.

"What do I owe the pleasure, my Lady?" Endymion asked politely, walking around me to take a seat in one of the chairs. He waved to the opposite chair, and I took a seat as well, the Princess opting to sit next to him.

"I'm here to discuss your Generals, princeling. It seems there are a few things you've been hiding from us."

To his credit, he held my gaze, but soon cast his eyes to the floor, confirming my suspicions.

"Hiding something? About the Generals?" Serenity looked between us, but I kept my gaze fixed on the Prince, determined to get answers.

"Endymion? What does she mean?"

"Where are your Generals, Prince Endymion?" I asked firmly.

He sighed and spoke. "They are with Beryl."

Stunned silence met his answer. It was one thing to hear it from the commanders, but for the Prince himself to admit it...My mind whirled, trying to process this new factor into our plans against Beryl. Every outcome increased my rage.

"And you decided it was not important enough to let us know about their defection?" I began, my voice harsh against the heavy silence. "Your generals are strong and capable fighters. How do you think their presence will affect the battlefield? How do you think our soldiers will react when they see the famous Kings of Earth fighting against them? We have not accounted for their influence!"

"I know," he said miserably. "I had hoped I would be able to take care of this myself."

"And how would you do that?" I asked roughly. "It would be one thing if they had simply left to another army on Earth. It is another thing entirely for them to join an already vengeful queen hellbent on destroying this system. And what could you do alone that the System as a whole could not?"

"My remaining Generals are more than capable of neutralizing the others. My plan was for Shuten and Ryo to subdue and capture them, then return to Earth, keeping them under lock and surveillance until this war is won." Endymion straightened in his chair as he spoke, his gaze defiant, daring me to refute his plan.

I sat back in my own chair, struck by his unseen callous. "And what of their feelings? Are you not asking them to strike down their comrades? I would expect they are feeling the sting of betrayal as well, perhaps even more so than you."

He blinked, clearly not expecting me to back down from his challenge. "They have agreed to this plan."

I shook my head, unsure how to voice the discontent I felt. I closed my eyes, remembering the swirl of pain in Ryo's eyes as he spoke just a short time ago.

"Endymion," Serenity spoke softly from his side, laying her hand on his arm. "I can see how you wish to spare us from correcting what you see as your own mistake. However," she looked into his eyes, her gaze insistent. He watched her closely, his entire focus on her words. "You cannot focus so intently on fixing your errors that you forget those around you. The Generals, Jadeite, Nephrite, Zoisite, and Kunzite, I'm sure they are in pain from their betrayal. They all love you like a brother, and I know they are hurting even as they fight against you."

She laid her hand on his chest over his heart, emphasizing her argument. "I know it would hurt them even more to have them fight against their brothers in arms. Just as they are in pain, Shuten and Ryo are hurting just as much, if not more. Yes, they will obey your orders to fight against the Kings, but surely it would break their hearts to raise arms against them."

Endymion grasped her hand, pressing it against his chest as he bowed his head in shame, abashed by her words.

I watched with a mix of admiration and sadness. She was becoming more and more like a Queen with each trial, but part of me wished her to remain the innocent Princess a little longer. The Prince was not far behind her, acting and speaking more as a King than the last I had seen him. He was more realistic than she was, able to analyze situations and events for their possible outcomes and create plans to execute accordingly. She was the opposite, her focus more on the people involved and how their feelings and actions affected the whole picture. They would make a powerful pair, but that future was quickly slipping through our fingers, and growing dimmer every day.

"Endymion," I said softly, drawing their attention back. "Why did you remain silent this whole time? What held your tongue? Shame? Grief? Or was it guilt?"

"Put yourself in my shoes," He said dejectedly. "This entire war started on Earth. Everything that has gone wrong, whether it be Beryl, the Generals, or the portals, has started with someone or something that I had a hand in. Can you see how that reflects on me? There are those who think I started this war as some vendetta from the past, to reclaim the glory of Earth from before the Unification."

My stomach did a strange flip as he spoke. It was odd to hear someone so young speak of my beginnings.

"If that is the case, then you're going about it in entirely the wrong way." I quipped dryly.

He glared at me. "This isn't funny."

"And you forget who you are speaking with, child." I challenged his glare, and watched as realization dawned across his face.

"I'm sorry," He stammered. "I didn't mean-"

I waved a hand in dismissal. "There is no need to bring up the past. What's done is done. However, I can assure you, this war has nothing to do with our history."

I stood, unable to contain my restless energy, and stepped behind my chair to pace. "Regardless of your feelings," I looked apologetically to him. "We must inform our forces of the Generals' involvement." I shook my head slowly in disbelief. "It's little wonder now why so many planets have fallen so quickly."

Endymion nodded in agreement. "You're right. I am sure that Kunzite at the very least has had a hand in planning the attacks. I'm afraid he's quite brilliant when it comes to battle tactics."

"I can see where your pride lies, but this is hardly the time to be praising their abilities." I chastised.

He winced slightly and sighed. "I'm not helping much, am I?"

"Don't say that, Endymion," Serenity soothed. "You know more about them than anyone. Surely we can use your knowledge to end this war more quickly."

I glanced at the couple, noting Serenity's soothing gestures as Endymion held his head in his hands. There had been something odd about what he said earlier, but it continued to slip through my fingers.

"How long before the warriors return?" Serenity asked me suddenly.

"There are many factors that could affect how long they remain on Saturn," I replied with a frown. "Beryl could choose to attack, there could be more wounded than we initially believed, or there are fewer watchers available to open portals-" I froze in place, finally catching the oddity in his words. Serenity watched me, concern written across her face.

"You mentioned portals," I whispered, dreading the possibilities as they raced through my head.

Endymion looked at me in confusion, unsure of my train of thought. "Yes, what about them?"

"You said everything that has gone wrong would be blamed on you. Why did you mention portals?" I demanded, my fear fueling my harsh words.

"The Generals are able to create portals by themselves." Serenity supplied, looking questionably between us. I felt the blood drain from my face, and I quickly grasped the back of the chair I had sat in earlier. Endymion's face matched my own, and I felt a small satisfaction that I would not have to explain the implications of her statement to him.

"What's wrong? Endymion?" Serenity grabbed his arm and shook him slightly, her eyes widening in fear. "What's wrong?"

"Princeling, it seems your silence may cost us more than a few planets." I managed to speak, my voice surprisingly steady. Endymion merely shook his head, still in shock over his obvious blunder.

"What's going on!" Serenity demanded.

"Queen Beryl now has the benefit of moving an entire army through at least four separate portals at any one time." Endymion whispered to her, his eyes wide and unseeing. "How could I not have seen it?"

I shook myself out of my shock, his confirmation demanding immediate action. "We must act at once. I must send word to our own generals to move to standby. The remaining planets must be warned of possible attacks as well. Our chances to react are growing slimmer by the moment." I straightened and moved to the door.

"Endymion, inform your remaining general and commanders to go into immediate standby. Any troops you have available will also be needed." He nodded and blinked. I watched as he drew himself together, his thoughts and actions focused on a purpose. Serenity looked between us, obviously frightened by the sudden flurry of events, but trying her best to hold herself together.

"Little One, return to your rooms. I will send the Princesses to attend you." She nodded and rose, keeping one hand on Endymion's shoulder.

"I will return in a moment." She held my gaze, her stance daring me to send her away now, her eyes asking to remain by his side a little longer.

The Queen and the Princess, I thought sadly. The moment when the girl battles with the woman she is becoming. "Very well, Princess." I bowed and left, closing the door gently behind me.

I took a moment to lean against the doors, taking the precious seconds to sort through the myriad of emotions that swirled within me. I recognized the anger, linking it back to the Prince and his deception. Worry swirled as well, worry for those who placed themselves in harms way to protect this kingdom. Fear tried to rear its head as well, and I pushed it aside as best I could. Fear would have to wait. All that remained was sadness. It pained me to see this beautiful world I had grown to love be tainted by war, just as it hurt to watch the innocent child grow into a woman in a short and violent time. The Princess would be forever scarred by these events, whether we lived to remember them or not.

I sighed at the grim thought, then pushed the swirl of emotions to the back of my mind. Now was the time for action, and I strode down the hall with purpose. I would not give up this world without a fight.