Venus yawned, stretching her arms up over her head and arching her back. She had slept awfully well, the bed was as soft and comfortable as a cloud. The leader looked around the room slowly, admiring the walls and once more wondering just how hard it'd be to watch after a princess, especially one who was so nice. She got up, slowly, and eyed her discarded clothes and laces that made up her ceremonial robes. She smiled, but stopped when she saw a white cat sitting on the backless couch and staring at her with a gaze that seemed a little too close to loathing to be anything else.

"You're… Artemis, right?"

"And you're Sailor Venus, heir to the Venus throne. How… appropriate." He frowned, ears lowering a bit in his annoyance.

"I'm sorry?"

"The Venus women. Vain, self-centered, lazy, so focused on their love lives and the love lives of those around them that they rarely recognize the dangers they put everyone in with their foolish antics. I am Artemis, your partner, trainer, coach, what have you. And I do not like you."

Venus swallowed, her happy mood gone as she looked at the tiny terror that was probably only three pounds heavy, yet more intimidating than her mother.

"Well… I don't like you either! I'm not a cat person." Venus stuck out her tongue and stood, smoothing her pale golden pajamas down and adjusting them before she grabbed her uniform and went into the bathroom.

Artemis sighed, continuing to look annoyed as he sat on the couch and waited for the teenager to get ready. He stared out at the garden while he waited. And from his experiences with Princess Serenity getting ready, it could be a while.

Venus stood in the bathroom, looking at her uniform. Specifically crafted for her, it had the standard colors that represented her planet, with the modern touches that the Council decided all the girls would enjoy. Short skirts, arm length gloves, large bows, specialized shoes, and other gadgets for each female. She slid the uniform on, and then the gloves, followed by the shoes and finally, the cute tiara that she slid under her hair. The orange gem glinted in the bathroom light as she adjusted the red ribbon in her hair. Staring at the mirror, she examined her facial features and began to mutter to herself.

"Stupid cat… not my partner… Wish I could have make up… Policies… Oooh, earrings." Venus perked up at the sight of the yellow studs and slipped them into her pierced lobes, humming and tactfully applying gloss and hints of mascara so that it was difficult to tell whether she was actually wearing make up or not. She finished getting ready, fluffed her hair up, and then opened the door and stepped back into her room. Hanging up under her sword was a gold chain with links made up of hearts and little gems, the suddenness of its arrival making her look around. Artemis was still sitting where she had left him, but he wasn't looking at his new ward. He was staring out the window, looking wistful.

"Took you long enough," he muttered. Venus stared at him for a long moment, but he didn't return the gaze. "The Queen will want to see you all after your first training session. The rest of the girls are in the common room."

Venus shifted, looking uncomfortable, but then left the cat where he was and walked out to see the Princess sitting quietly with Luna on her lap, watching as Mercury read, with Mars meditating and look annoyed while doing so, and Jupiter gazing out one of the windows.

"Good evening everyone," Venus said cheerfully. Everyone jumped and looked at her, expressions of surprise, warmth, nervousness, and outright anger greeting her.

"Venus! How did you sleep?" Princess Serenity toyed with a strand of hair nervously, looking around to see that none of the other girls were talking to the newest arrival.

"Really well, your beds are so comfortable." Venus sat down on the chair next to Serenity's, stretching her legs out and leaning her head back. "So… have you all been waiting for me?"

"Yes, because how could we do anything without our leader?" Mars scowled, standing up and walking down the hall that led away from their rooms.

"She wanted to be the leader of the scouts but can't because it's been your family's job for generations," Mercury said, sighing and turning the page. "She just thinks you're a bad role model and unfit for the position."

Venus flushed a dark shade of pink, looking surprised. The way Mercury spoke was like a robot, all facts and no emotions. Jupiter tried to stifle a snort of laughter, but Mercury raised a brow at her and waited for her to speak. The two looked at each other until Jupiter finally cracked and said what she was thinking.

"You talk like a dictionary. All facts and no opinions. Or tact."

Mercury looked a bit annoyed and closed her book. "A dictionary defines words, an encyclopedia is a book of facts." This time it was Jupiter's turn to blush.

"Hey now, let's not fight," Venus shifted and smiled nervously, trying to figure out how to ease the tension. "Let's talk about… uh… boys. Princess, do you know where we could meet some boys?"

"A leader has no time to worry about boys. None of you do." Artemis had appeared on the coffee table and looked annoyed again, glaring at Venus, his fur seeming a tad bristled along his spine. "There will be training after dinner, so I recommend you all eat before it starts." He looked at Luna and Serenity, sitting so peacefully together, so in sync, bristled a bit more, and then stalked off.

"He'll be fine," Luna said, hopping off of Serenity's lap. "Let's go eat."

Serenity jumped up and looked excited, bouncing slightly. Venus stood next, followed by Jupiter, and finally Mercury got up, set her book down, and joined the others as they left the common area. They all walked to the dining room, Venus walking next to Serenity, Mercury and Jupiter behind them. Luna led them all, keeping as silent as the rest of them.

The room was large and lavishly set with many dishes, one raven haired, red clad teenager sitting and sipping at tea. Serenity grabbed some buns and milk, sitting down at one of the empty chairs. Mercury sat near Mars and ate bread, Venus grabbed a bunch of stuff and sat to Serenity's right, and Jupiter took at least one of everything and sat down near the blondes, the three of them soon talking about food and their favorites, specialties, and hopes for future meals. Mars and Mercury sat in companionable silence, each eating like a lady and choosing to not participate in the conversation or make one of their own. Artemis and Luna were at the far end of the table, seeming to talk among themselves and arguing over something.

"So, while they're busy," Jupiter started, smiling, "are there any ways to meet guys here?"

Serenity blushed, toying with a long strand of hair. "Well, I mean, there are…" She swallowed. "Actually, the Prince from Earth is here with his Generals. They're on a routine visit."

"Routine? How long will they stay?" Venus seemed quite perky all of a sudden, the warm bun that was about to be devoured hovering before her mouth.

"Ummm… I think a week? We'll be having a ball the night before they leave." Serenity twisted her stand of hair around her finger, thinking about it. "Would you like to meet them?"

"Of course!" Jupiter smirked, stabbing a pastry and eating it. "Where are they?"

Mars glared at the three girls but kept sipping her tea. Serenity stood and walked with her head held high, Venus and Jupiter following suit. Luna and Artemis didn't even notice because they were so absorbed in their quiet yet heated discussion. Mercury looked up, sighed, and then went back to her food.

Serenity walked quickly, Venus on her right and Jupiter the left, all three trying to keep straight faces. The only one who was doing a good job was Serenity, while Venus grinned excitedly and Jupiter scowled a bit, nervous. The Princess brought them to the very still lake on the palace grounds, a small clearing revealing five men in various stages of sitting and standing.

"Endymion!" Serenity ran into the arms of the raven haired man who was garbed in a black tunic and sitting down. He reached up and grasped Serenity's upper arms, holding her gently before he stood and kissed her cheek.

"Hello Princess," he said gently, hugging her. "You've brought friends today."

"These are my guards, Venus and Jupiter. Well, two of them anyway. Mars and Mercury are busy with other things." Serenity smiled before she took a seat with him. Venus looked at the men that were there. One with light auburn hair tied at the nape of his neck, delicate and feminine features seeming a bit out of place for what seemed to be guards of the black haired man. Dark chestnut hair on another, very tall man who looked like he never smiled. He glared at the feminine male, who returned the look. A male with short blonde hair was having a conversation with the obvious leader of the group, a cape wearing pillar of strength that had long silver hair and steel blue eyes. While he was talking he looked at Venus and she flushed a dark shade, eyes widening.

"So… your names are…" Venus fidgeted, swallowing. She was looking at the man with the silver hair and he smiled slyly, as if he knew she was attracted to him. It was written all over her face, after all. He shifted, clearing his throat.

"My name is Kunzite. This is Jadeite," He gestured to the blonde haired male, "Zoicite," A wave of the hand to the feminine youth, "And Nephrite." He nodded to the man with brown tresses. "We are the generals for Endymion. And you two are…"

"I'm Venus," the blonde warrior said, grinning foolishly. "And this is Jupiter." The brown haired girl stared at Nephrite, who was kind of glaring at her and then looking away. "We just arrived at the Moon Kingdom. You're on a routine visit?"

"Yes… And you already know about this little hideaway. The princess must be trusting of her new guards to bring you here already." Kunzite smiled at Serenity, who blushed, holding Endymion's hand. "Well, leader to leader, we will probably be working together. It's a pleasure." The silver haired man offered a hand and Venus took it, surprised by the sudden movement as he lifted her hand and pressed his lips firmly to the base of her palm. "Welcome to the Moon Kingdom." The only thing Venus could think of was how did he know she was the leader for Serenity's guard?

A/N: Hooray, an update! Sorry it took a while, life is kind of hectic here. Still. Also, it's been a long time since I read/watched Sailor Moon closely, and I guess I was calling Nephrite Malachite. …Too many names! Hopefully I got it right this time.

2017 A/N: Fixed a couple of wording errors..