Disclaimer: see previous chapter.

Minako punched the wall next to her in frustration. It was better than hitting the woman in front of her. "Haruka, Earth needs to join the Alliance-"

"No! That's a terrible idea!"

"Why do you keep saying that?!" Minako was barely controlling her rage; the next punch she threw would land in Haruka's face.

"Because it is!"

"That's not enough of a reason!"

"Earth's king doesn't want it; our people don't want it; the senshi don't want it. Yet you want to let Earth join because of two lovesick royals?"

"There's a lot more to it than that-"

"We'll have a revolt on our hands. Not to mention what Earth will do if it joins."

"Earth could be a great ally!"

"You don't believe that for a second. Why did you change your mind? You were as much against it as anyone before Mamoru showed up."

"Rei-"

"The deserter?"

Finally losing her resolve, Minako hit the older woman. "Rei is negotiating with Jadite-"

Haruka wiped the blood off of her lip and grimaced. "See what I mean?"

Minako ignored her and continued, "so Mars can ally with Earth. If that happens, Mars will be kicked out of the Alliance-"

"Good riddance."

"and they'll never be able to get back in. As much as you hate Mars, they are an impeccable ally."

Haruka rolled her eyes. "I don't know how, but that woman got into your head and altered your perception of reality."

"If Usagi heard you say that she'd skin you alive."

"She's been tricked, too."

"How can you say that? Rei worked harder for the Queen than any of us ever did. Including you."

"Bullshit. Besides, where is she now? And what is she doing?"

Minako put both of her hands over her face. "She's trying the keep Mars in the Alliance, Haruka."

"We're better off without them!"

"Haruka, I'm not sure if you pay attention or not, but Mars is a lot closer to the Moon and Earth than Uranus or Jupiter. Martians are stronger than Venusians and Mercurians. Even if allying with Earth is a bad idea, we need to keep Mars in the alliance in case something does go wrong with them. Mars can get to the Moon faster than Uranus or Jupiter."

Haruka frowned; she hated when Minako was right. "But they're currently trying to ally with Earth! Earth! In case you forgot, allying with an enemy of the Alliance-"

"means immediate removal from the Alliance. I know."

"The fact that they want to ally with Earth is a bad sign."

"If they actually do it things will be significantly worse."

Haruka sighed. She and Minako had been meeting almost daily and said the same things over and over. Niether would shift their position. "I'm tired. We can continue this tomorrow with the others to see how they feel about it. Even though you already know."

"Fine." Minako agreed. She was tired.

"Haruka and I have been meeting regularly to discuss what to do about Earth. I know most of you are against allowing them to join the Alliance, but I ask, again, that you reconsider your positions."

Makoto didn't hide her disdain. "Absolutely not. While we're at it, we should get those intruders out of our castle."

Michiru smiled. "I agree with Makoto."

Haruka loudly agreed as well.

Minako felt a headache coming. "I know why you feel that way, but seeing as the Moon is the Earth's satellite, does it make sense to be almost-at-war with them?"

Ami spoke up, then. "Did you forget how the people feel about Earth?"

"Ami, popular opinion can be change in a matter of a few years. We can deal with them once we get the Earth in the All-"

"But no one wants it!"

"I do. Usa, Rei and the Queen do. That's not no one; that's four of the most powerful people in the universe."

Makoto sighed. "And what about everyone else?"

"There are others that share our opinion."

"Well, you're still significantly outnumbered. You need a popular vote for a planet to join the Alliance; not just the Queen, princess, and two senshi's approval."

"Haruka, that's the point of this meeting."

"No one's mind is going to change, Minako. We've been meeting for over a year."

Minako slumped into her chair. Michiru was right. They'd been having meetings forever. "Then what's the point of these meetings?"

Ami perked up at the comment. "We need to figure out how to get rid of Endymion and his protectors. They won't leave until we've come to a concensus."

"Whateve we decide, we need to decide it soon. I don't think our poor leader can take much more of this." Makoto felt bad for Minako. She was doing the job of two people.

Minako smiled at her. "I'll be fine, Makoto. Thank you. We do need to decide quickly, though. We don't know what's going on with Mars-"

"Keep your personal life out of this."

"I was talking about diplomatically, Haruka. One of Endymion's protectors is on Mars trying to ally with them. We all know what that would mean."

Ami sighed. "Bye Rei."

Haruka slapped the table and stood up. "Good riddance! She left with almost no word and hasn't gotten in touch since! We're doing this without her!"

Minako bristled. "Sit down, Haruka! She's doing a lot more without us than we're doing without her. Your personal feelings about Rei and Mars need to be set aside. You need to think about the good of the Alliance."

Haruka sat down, but her voice was just as loud. "I'm thinking about the Alliance! Why does Mars want to ally with a planet that is clearly against the Alliance?! What will happen if they succeed? Will they go to war on the Moon Kingdom?"

"I don't know, Haruka. But if Earth joins the Alliance, Mars won't be kicked out and we can call on the Martian army if we need to. If they leave, then it doesn't matter if Earth joins the Alliance or not. Mars can go to war with the Moon Kingdom at any time. As a senshi, Rei can prevent that. If she loses that status-"

"We won't see it coming. Nor will we be able to counter it. It makes sense, Minako, but what about the people? If the people uprise, we won't be able to counter that either."

"The people won't disagree with us, Ami. Every kingdom loves its princess; if we're okay with this, then the people will be, too."

"Too bad I'm not okay with it," Makoto grumbled.

"Me either."

"Me either."

"Me either."

Minako growled. "Fine! Meeting adjourned!"

Usagi sighed, a content smile firmly on her face. "Mamoru, promise you'll be mine forever."

Endymion looked down at his short girlfriend. "I promise with all my heart."

Shyly, Usagi leaned up and kissed the prince. "I love you."

"I love you too, princess."

From in the castle, Minako, Haruka, and Michiru looked at the young rulers in the garden.

"You'd think they didn't have the world on their shoulders."

"They do look carefree."

Minako didn't say a word, but silently wished her Princess happiness.

Haruka and Michiru didn't ask her where she was going when she left all of a sudden. Everyone in the castle was in love, but Minako hadn't seen her lover in almost a year.

"Should we worry about her, Haruka?"

"We should, but she wouldn't want us to. All we can do is hope that snake comes back."

"Be nice, Ruka."

"I can't! Look what she's doing to Minako!"

Michiru sighed. She hated how harsh Haruka could be on the other senshi. "She's doing her duty as a senshi and as a princess. If you had to leave me for the sake of your planet, you'd do the same."

"I'd take you with me!"

"Minako would be killed on Mars."

"But-"

"Ruka, mind your business. Minako hasn't talked to you about Rei, has she?" Haruka shook her head as Michiru continued, "And she hasn't complained about Rei. She's just lonely right now. She'll be fine."

Minako smiled genuinely and ran through the courtyard as fast as she could. She was too weary to teleport, but too excited to walk.

Rei was back.

The raven was talking intensely to Usagi about something, but her lips stopped moving when she saw Minako.

The blond stopped running immediately when Rei disappeared.

Slowly, she walked toward Usagi. "Did I just see Rei?"

Her fellow blond mutely nodded.

"She just left? Why?"

"She was in a hurry. She said she didn't have time for pleasantries."

"But-"

"We need to talk, Minako."

"WHAT?!"

Usagi cringed. She always hated being yelled at, especially by her senshi. "That's what she told me."

"But why?! She's..." Minako caught herself before she let her secret slip. "She hates him!"

"I know. Her mother is crazy, Mina."

"I know that but-"

"She'll be back as soon as possible."

"Why would she go through with it? Why would she actually marry him?"

"I don't think she had a choice, Mina."

Minako deflated in her chair. "What about me?"

Usagi didn't know what to say to that so she pulled her best friend close to her and held her. Usagi had never seen Minako look so deserted.

A/N: I'm gonna go back and edit everything that came before this chapter and try to make it more smooth and less confusing. Anyway, as always, let me know what you think. ^_~