Here's the next chapter and I hope you all enjoy.

Thanks, daisyboo xx

Disclaimer: I do not own sailor moon or any of the characters, only the ones created by my own imagination.

Chapter Thirty

Princess Serenity ran as fast as her legs could carry her as tears fell from her eyes. Her kingdom was going to be attacked, her subjects would be hurt or possibly die and it was all her fault. Her doing that the Neptunians were planning a large assault against her nation, even though the Moon Kingdom was powerful and had the power and protection of the goddess Selene. The tears fell harder and then suddenly she came to her chambers. She knew the girls were inside and she knew that they would have their own lives taken before they would allow anyone to harm their princess, but Serena did not want that. She wanted peace and harmony and for her people to live a life full of happiness and love. She did not want war and fighting. Serena looked at the door that led to her chambers as she just stood there, still wearing her sodden gown that was now a little drier and her hair loose and damp. She walked slowly then and reached her door. She reached for the doorknob with her hand and rested it there. She stayed there just looking at the brass doorknob for a few moments and then turned it. She entered her chambers and as expected, the girls were there, Mina, Raye, Aimee and Lita. There were all dressed in simple cotton garments and all were wearing long brown cloaks. Aimee was tapping furiously into her computer as Raye and Mina gathered items and equipment they would need. While, Lita watched the other girls being busy and then her green eyes glanced onto Serena as she entered.

"Serena, oh thank goodness," Lita exclaimed as she sighed in relief.

"Lita, are you okay?" Serena asked looking a little worried for her friend.

"Not really," Lita answered as she rushed over to her princess and looked at her straight into those beautiful blue eyes that Serena owned, "our world is about to fall and we were searching for you Serena but we could not find you. We feared the worst but we received a message from your mother, informing us that you would be with us shortly."

"And here I am Lita," Serena stated simply, "so there is no need to worry."

"There is every need to worry," Raye interrupted loudly as Serena turned her gaze to look at the senshi of fire, "the Moon Kingdom has already lost its King, its Crown Prince and potential King. We don't need to lose its only heir too."

Raye was sobbing a little now as Mina dropped the garments she was carrying and embraced her friend. Raye allowed Mina to console her for a little while but then Serena appeared before Raye and Mina. Raye released her hold on Mina and threw herself upon the Lunar Princess, her best friend. Serena embraced Raye tightly and tears fell from the usually composed Martian Princess.

"I've already lost James. I couldn't bare it if I lost you too," Raye whispered so only Serena could hear.

"Oh Raye, you will never lose me," Serena whispered back so only Raye could hear.

The girls embraced harder then but their embrace was broken up by Mina, who insisted that they needed to get going as soon as possible. So, Serena stepped into her bath chamber and stripped herself of her sodden robe and replaced it with a simple cotton grey gown that held simple embroidery around the edges of the dress, the sleeves, waistline and neckline. She brushed her hair and then styled it into a simple bun. Serena emerged from the room then with the girls all ready and waiting for their princess. She looked as beautiful as always and then with a nod from Mina, Serena grabbed her thick grey woollen cloak and placed it around her shoulders. They left Serena's chambers then and rushing as quickly and silently as they could, they left the safety of the palace as all the girls followed their leader, the Princess Venus, Mina. There was Mina leading with Aimee behind and Serena in the centre. While, Lita and Raye followed behind all the other girls. They were heading for a small cottage just outside the walls of the city that belonged to one of the nobles of the Moon and they were going to hide out there for a little while, until the attack had subsided. The Sailor Scouts had been against the idea of the palace with the princess and wanted to stay and help with the fighting but the queen had insisted that they protected her daughter. She wanted her to be okay and if anything happened to the queen during the attack, then she knew that her daughter would be able to succeed her. However, the girls had insisted that they wanted to help their queen and the best way to do that was to fight in the palace but hide the princess in a secure place, where the enemy could not find her and have someone with her to protect her. But the queen wanted to take no chances and ordered the girls that they take her daughter to the cottage and if anyone attacked them, then they must protect the princess with every inch of their being.

So, the girls had reluctantly agreed and here they were now leading their princess to the safety and confinement of the cottage. The queen also had placed a protection spell upon the cottage, so that once the girls had arrived there, they would be protected to some extent. So, the girls were now rushing hurriedly to the cottage with Mina still leading them and then suddenly there was a loud blast in the distance and then a loud horn was heard, that all the girls knew was the signal of the Moon Kingdom was under attack. Mina and Aimee continued on with their mission whist Serena turned with her sparkling blue eyes shining with emotion. The attack had begun and who knows how many of her people would die. The thoughts of her people and her mother fighting in order just to protect her, who had been nothing but a coward and cry baby for most of her life. The most heroic thing she had ever done was save the girls and that was based upon her subconscious self more than her normal self. The tears fell again as Serena saw another blast of grey smoke rise into the atmosphere and then sparks of bright orange flutter everywhere. The scene played before her and then suddenly she could not stand it anymore. She had to get home, had to get to her mother, help them all fight and ward off the evil that threatened their civilisation. The tears fell a little more and then she started off at a run. The Scouts looked as they watched their princess rush away from them and Mars and Jupiter ran after her.

"Serena, Serena, stop," yelled Raye as she quickly rushed after her princess.

Serena ignored the calling of her best friend and carried on running. She loved Raye and the girls more than anything and she knew that they would risk everything for her safety. She did not want anyone to get hurt or die. She wanted the peace that she had always known and for everyone to get along.

"Mama," the lunar princess yelled as she saw another blast collide with her palace and thoughts of her mother inside there, invaded her mind.

"Venus Love-Me Chain."

Serena heard the sound of Mina calling one of her attacks and then felt something suddenly surround her tightly. She fell to the ground due to the power and suddenness of the attack and then looked down at her restrains. She was surrounded by a thick golden chain that consisted of interlocking hearts and they bound Serena's arms tightly. Serena did not bother to get up, she felt useless at this moment and instead she stayed on the ground and cried a bit. She cried for a while, until Raye sat down next to the princess and scooped her up into her trembling arms. Mina approached Raye and the princess and she gentle touched the bonds that tied Serena tightly. They dissolved instantly the moment their bearer touched them and then Serena's body suddenly became looser. Raye composed herself once she had caught Serena fully and Mina approached the sobbing girl and her dark-haired friend. Mina first looked at Raye, who gently shrugged her shoulders but then went back to comforting her weeping golden-haired princess. Mina turned her attention then to her princess and as soon as she touched Serena's hand, Serena turned her head to look at the person who had touched her. Serena looked and caught Mina's gaze as Mina watched her princess who was full of tears. This girl was meant for greatness, Mina could feel it, but Serena would never get there, if she continued to weep constantly.

"Sere," Mina addressed as Serena met Mina's gaze once more, "this is not a time for weeping, and we must be brave."

"Brave, you want me to be brave, Venus?"

"It would be for the good of the kingdom."

"The good of the kingdom," Serena repeated a little heatedly as she left Raye's comforting embrace in order to watch the blonde-haired girl before her, "how would you know, what is for the good of my kingdom? I should be with them right now, all of them. My people, who care deeply for me and I them. I should be standing with them, fighting alongside them, protecting them all."

"Serena, you cannot protect everyone."

"I know, but it's better than cowering away."

"We must cower," Aimee interrupted as everyone turned their attention to the blue-haired princess of Mercury, "our mission princess, is to protect you and we must carry out that duty. Your kingdom would cease to exist if all members of the Lunar Family died. We must keep you safe and away from danger and that is what we must do."

Everyone listened to Aimee's speech carefully but no-one more carefully than Princess Serenity. She took in every word that slipped skilfully from her intelligent friend's mouth and finally rose. She was followed quickly by Raye who take her hand caringly and an exchange occurred between the two friends.

"We must continue," Mina stated importantly as everyone nodded in agreement.

Mina walked ahead then and Aimee followed her with her computer, which she was still tapping furiously into. Lita quickly glanced at Raye and Serena and then followed her two comrades, who had walked on ahead as Serena and Raye followed the others.

"Are you okay?" Raye asked cautiously as Serena turned to look at her friend.

"Of course," Serena answered suddenly with a false bright smile, which faded as suddenly as it appeared.

"You are not okay," Raye observed as the two girls linked arms in friendship.

"Not really, Raye," the princess said as she turned her blue-eyed gaze away from her friend.

"Then talk to me," Raye pleaded.

There was a long pause in which the two girls just walked along in silence, until Serena broke it suddenly.

"It's been hard, Raye."

"What's been hard?"

"Everything," Serena stated in slight frustration, "it's hard being the sole heir to the biggest and greatest throne in the Solar System. The pressure to be beautiful and graceful and mature and regal is immense, Raye and I hate it. I want to be all those things and be a good princess for my people, but I cannot help the way that I feel. Everything I do is wrong."

"Everything you do is not wrong, Serena," Raye replied as she looked at her princess' glowing presence, "you are beautiful and regal and you saved me and the other girls from the Neptunians, that was a good action."

"Yes and look what happed," Serena said as she turned to look at Raye with her eyes shining, "the Neptunians are retaliating to the assault by attacking the kingdom, with force now, therefore everything I do is wrong, even if it has good intentions. I wish James was still alive, he'd be a must better heir than me."

Raye watched her princess as she poured out some deep and personal feelings about herself. She too wished that her beloved James was still alive but nevertheless he was not and that was why, Raye swore that she would protect her princess with every inch of her being. She loved Serena dearly and vowed that as long as she was alive, no harm would come to her princess.

"Oh Raye," Serena cried as Raye embraced her.

"I know, Serena. I know."

The girls stayed like that for a while and then suddenly they heard a whistle, which came from Lita. Raye and Serena and fallen a little behind and both started running as soon as they heard Lita's whistle. They caught up quickly with Mina, Aimee and Lita and as soon as they rounded the corner, they reached their destination. The little cottage in which the girls were supposed to stay in until the attack was over was small but practical. It looked a little run down but Serena knew that looks could always be deceiving. She knew that her mother had placed a spell upon the cottage in order to protect them all and once they had all gazed their new residence over, the other girls quickly ushered the princess inside, so she was out of sight.