Wow! Are you still reading? That's amazing.

Here goes the next installment of this terrible story. Miraculously, I won't talk for an hour like last time. :O!

And as usual, Sailor Moon doesn't belong to me. :(

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"'I know you'll do the right thing,' yeah, thanks, Kayle," Haruka muttered to herself as she strolled down a corridor to the flight deck. Kayle and Tachi were waiting for her, as well as a number of her closest Jou.

"Our bags are already on the transport," Tachi was saying as she greeted them.

Haruka looked surprised. "You're coming, too, Tachi?"

"Of course. I am your representative, remember?"

Haruka nodded. "Kayle, this isn't final- I have no intention of joining the Silver Alliance."

Kayle moved his head slowly. "I understand. You'll make that decision when the time is right- for now, just check this deal out- it could work to our advantage." He straightened up for a moment, then grabbed Haruka's left arm.

Haruka returned the gesture, grabbing Kayle's left arm. "Keep things topside while I'm gone, Kayle. I'm counting on you."

"Aye, M'lord." Kayle smiled. 'Although leadership suits you, I don't want to see you stuck in this role,' he thought. 'I know you're the destined one, and I pray you're not too stubborn to accept it.'

Their right hands met between them and Haruka squeezed Kayle's gently, feeling hers squeezed in response. She looked at the captain of her army. "Keep an eye on him," she winked.

"Yes, M'lord."

They stood up straight again, their arms dropping to their sides, and nodded at each other.

"Safe passage, Haruka…"

"Safe passage…"

The flight to the moon was, in a word, boring. Haruka spent the majority of her waking moments during the 20 hour flight pacing up and down the small corridor leading to her quarters and pondering how she might have escaped the horrible ordeal. Finally defeated, and with no solutions that Kayle would have approved, she slumped down onto her small, cramped bed and rested, falling asleep only after she wracked her brain for answers one last time.

She woke up about 10 hours later after a particularly jarring blow to her head. Tachi had poked his head in and informed her that they were traveling through the Milky Way, and were hitting some rocky space. She gazed out of the cylindrical window in her tiny holding room and saw one of Jupiter's moons, she couldn't remember which- there were so many, and they hadn't held any unique interest for her in school. She recalled the last time she'd seen Jupiter- it was a trip with her parents when they were touring the galaxy. Her mother had decided it would be a good experience for her to have seen the places her planet was sharing the solar system with, and took her traveling. She smiled wistfully at the memory so imprinted in her mind and slumped back down to try and get some sleep.

She awoke one other time for a bathroom break, and it seemed like only minutes later Tachi was rousing her out of bed, telling her to be prepared as the transport settled itself roughly on the ground.

She rose quickly, already dressed, and gazed at her reflection in the tiny mirror. 'Cool… calm,' she told herself. Determined teal eyes stared back at her, and she felt better.

A crowd was gathered at her landing sight, and as she stepped from the transport, she noticed a peculiar group of girls, about two or three years younger than her, watching her intently. She received a strange vibe from them, and realized that they must be the other senshi.

Her heart sank. Secretly she had hoped that the senshi were a force to be reckoned with- fierce female warriors with unlimited powers. But 15 year-old girls getting starry-eyed about Tachi?

She frowned as she saw him. He was nearly swaggering down the steps leading from the transport, giving a jaunty wave and grinning like mad.

She grabbed his arm. "Don't you think they're a little young for you?" She looked pointedly at him, raising an eyebrow.

"They're just admiring, Haruka. What's wrong with being an idol?"

She sighed and continued behind him, finally reaching the ground. She felt an absence of the powers she freely used, being away from her home planet. This alarmed her somewhat, for she was used to being able to call on them in an emergency. Her connection with the wind seemed far away, hard to grasp. She closed her eyes and concentrated for a quick moment, and found them- weak, but there nonetheless.

"They are present even here," came a smooth female voice from her left.

Haruka turned and saw a shadowy figure stepping out from beneath a tree. She eyed her skeptically. "Have we met?"

"I am Meioh Setsuna," she said, placing a hand on her chest to indicate herself. And at Haruka's suspicious look she added, "Pluto."

Haruka smiled without dropping her guard. "I thought the name sounded familiar. Tenoh Haruka, Uranus."

"Ah, the famed Tenoh," Setsuna nodded. "Have you come to join the Silver Alliance?"

"Hardly," Haruka scoffed. "I've come to decline."

"Oh? I beg you reconsider."

"What's it matter? The Queen has her protectors," Haruka moved to indicate the group of girls from before in the distance.

"Very true," Setsuna closed her eyes and nodded. "But in the coming days, it may not be enough…"

Haruka turned to answer, but Setsuna was gone, vanishing as quickly and as mysteriously as she appeared.

"That was strange…"

"Haruka! There you are," Tachi said as he reached her, placing a friendly hand on her shoulder. "Come on, the Queen is approaching."

"Of course."

In the distance, Haruka noticed the crowd starting to thin as a figure made it's way through the mass of people. Finally, she was there before her, dressed in a shimmering, ankle-length gown, her silver hair shining and her very presence insinuating remarkable power and commanding respect.

"Ruler Tenoh," The Queen greeted.

"Queen Serenity,"Haruka nodded formally.

"It's so lovely to see you again. Why, the last time you were here you must have been--"

"Eight, your highness."

"Why, yes, I believe you were," the Queen said carefully. "I do hope you will reconsider your decision after tomorrow evening's banquet."

"Your pardon, your majesty, but--"

"I will have two of my attendants escort you to your chambers. Please, enjoy your stay here." The Queen gestured to her two attendants and smiled politely at Haruka and Tachi, then, looking past them, she gave a small wave to the group of younger senshi.

Haruka clenched her teeth and Tachi touched her arm. "It's just a few days, Haruka, you can handle it."

"She dismissed me, Tachi."

"Well, you were rather rude to her…"

Haruka gave him a stare and sighed. "I don't know about you, but I feel drained. Let's get this over with, ne?" She winked.

"If you say so."

Queen Serenity watched Haruka's back as she and Tachi made their way to the Palace. 'I hope you reconsider for all our sakes…'

"Your highness."

The queen turned at the sound of Setsuna's voice addressing her, smiling at the guardian of time. Setsuna moved to stand next to the queen, her eyes following the queen's gaze. "Do not worry. I believe Haruka will join the Alliance."

The Queen chuckled. "You believe, or you know?"

Setsuna grinned. "I believe things will work out favorably in that regard."

The queen nodded. "I believe I would have to agree with you. Still, I can't help worrying..."

Tachi whistled in awe as the attendants carried the luggage into the room and set it down carefully. "Wow, Haruka, have you ever seen such a room?"

Haruka walked briskly inside and glanced around. "Tachi, we live in a palace, too, remember?"

"I know, I know, but the architecture is exquisite, and it even has traces of Mercurian design."

Haruka shook her head. "Tachi, only you would notice that."

He laughed. "I suppose you're right. Well, if we're through, I'm gonna have a look at my room- it's down the hall… somewhere."

"I'll come with you, then. I have to know where to send my anger to," she joked, listening to his returning grumble.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

After leaving Haruka's room and heading down a few halls and around a few corners, they found Tachi's room, which was tucked away behind a large open room of sorts, similar to a lobby. Guards were posted at all entrances, and Haruka halted her somewhat teasing dialogue with Tachi when she caught a sharp flash of something. Haruka could feel a tingling up the base of her spine that tickled the hairs on the back of her neck and made her shiver slightly. She glanced across the room inconspicuously and was nearly struck dumb with awe.

It was almost as if she had seen her before, the vision of perfection she was beholding. It was picturesque- this person, this girl, was the embodiment of beauty and all it stood for. Silky aqua hair spilled down the girl's slightly bare shoulders and framed her porcelain face, her slender body curving in at the waist and then out into wide hips and long, shapely legs. Haruka could barely contain a gasp at her sight and she had to remind herself not to stare as the girl's eyes shyly glanced at her, a bemused smile playing her shiny, pinkish lips. Even at their distance, Haruka could see the deepness of the girl's ocean blue eyes; was she looking--

Turn away! Haruka did so quickly, and instead focused all her attention on Tachi, who noticed her strange behavior.

"Haruka, you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost."

"That girl…" Haruka swallowed, her gaze never leaving Tachi's. "Who is she?"

Tachi glanced indifferently at the girl in question, shrugging. "Oh, her. She's the Princess Kaioh, of Neptune." Suddenly noticing Haruka's amazed condition, he grinned deviously. "Why? Does someone have a crush?"

Haruka narrowed her eyes. "Someone is going to BE crushed if they don't shut up."

Tachi chuckled lightly. "Fine, be that way." He glanced over at the princess again. "But she is rather pretty…"

Haruka once again gazed over at the stunning girl, who was smiling and laughing with the guard she had been talking to. She could catch little bits and pieces of their conversation, and occasionally hear the girl's voice clearly. She was asking directions to her quarters, and the guard was pointing in the direction Haruka had just come.

Haruka felt her heartbeat quicken at the thought of being near this girl, but of course, all the senshi quarters would be in the same wing…

"Kaioh…" she said slowly, savoring the way it sounded to her ears.

Tachi rolled his eyes and shoved Haruka's shoulder. "If you're done drooling, Haruka, would you mind finishing what we came over here to do?"

Haruka glared at Tachi before shoving him back, and, reluctantly, following him inside.

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And that's it for this chapter. Thank God, right? ;)

Just to clarify, Haruka is called "ruler" because she is, obviously, ruling her planet since her 'rents are dead. Michiru and company get the princess title cuz they are princesses still. Just in case there was some confusion, although I'm sure everyone got it. Right? RIGHT??! ;D See ya next time! (or not, if you decided to jump off the bandwagon...)