Part Two ~My Angel~
	~(PG) Chapter 3 By Callisto~

		 The Royal Court


	The huge wooden doors opened and the
 eight Princesses walked through them, 
standing tall and proud, their gowns flowing 
behind them. They walked into the center of 
the huge marble room and bowed to the Queen 
and the Princess, who were seated in thrones 
across from the door. They then sat down in 
smaller thrones on either side of the Queen; 
Inner Senshi to the left of the Princess and 
outer Senshi to the right of the Queen.

	Despite the formality, the girls were 
quite comfortable around each other and the 
Queen, and Princess Serenity was one of their 
best friends. As they sat, the queen smiled 
at them lovingly and gently.

	?Queen Serenity, is it really as bad as 
I?ve heard?? Saturn asked with fear in her 
eyes.

	?I?m sorry to say it is girls.? The 
Queen replied solemnly.

	The large wooden doors opened once more 
and eight more figures entered the room. As 
they walked sternly across the floor, you 
could hear the sound of their metal swords 
hitting their armor. They entered in single 
file, and then spaced out in perfect unison, 
ending up facing the court. They stopped and 
bowed in silent allegiance to the kingdom, 
the princesses and the Queen.

	With their arrival, the queen began the 
purpose of the emergency meeting of the royal 
court. ?As you all know, there is talk of war 
from earth, and humans from earth have been 
banished from the moon until the conflict is 
resolved, which is the reason Prince Endymion 
is not present. You are here now for me to 
tell you that we must be ready for war, for 
it is inevitable.?

	?Your highness, it is our honor,? 
Princess Venus stood up and declared.

	?Our Privilege, ? Princess Jupiter 
continued.

	"And our duty,? Mercury added.

	?To protect you and the Princess.? Mars 
said.

	?As we fight together for our Kingdom.? 
Princess serenity added with a smile.

	?Thank you girls.? The Queen said.

	?We will stop at nothing to protect you 
from intruders." Said Pluto; Saturn, Neptune 
and Uranus offering silent agreement.

	?We will protect the Senshi.? Prince 
Pluto stated.

	?I would gladly lay down my life to 
protect them.? Prince Io said as he smiled at 
Makoto.

	?We will never give up.? The Prince of 
Mars said.

	?It is our duty.? Prince Venus said.

	?Our lives.? Prince Mercury and Saturn 
added.

		*	*	*	*	*	*

	?Happy birthday Princess.? Jupiter told 
Serenity as she spotted her at the ball held 
in her honor. ?I only wish that Endymion 
could be here.?

	?Princess, I just want to assure you 
that he is not a traitor to our Kingdom. I 
know him well, and he is no traitor.? Io told 
Serenity as he walked up beside Jupiter, who 
gave him a friendly smile.

	?Thank you. I know he is not.? Serenity 
said sadly.

	?Would you care to dance Princess?? Io 
asked Jupiter.

	?I?d love to.? Jupiter said. Before she 
left, she gave Serenity a hug and whispered, 
?Don?t worry.? then walked off with Io, and 
the two began to dance across the floor.

	Serenity could not take any more, and 
Jupiter watched as she walked out onto the 
balcony, alone.

	?Io, I?m worried.? Jupiter said as they 
danced.

	?You, worried? I?ve known you for 15 
years, since you were born, and I?ve never 
seen you be worried.? Io said with a smile.

	?I?m being serious here. Our Kingdom has 
never had the threat of attack before. I may 
be a Senshi, but I have never fought before.?

	?You?ve sure beat me up good a few 
times!? Io laughed, but his jokes were not 
making Jupiter feel any better. ?I?m sorry, 
I?m sorry. If we do go into battle, I won?t 
let anything happen to you.? Io and Jupiter 
exchanged a friendly smile as they twirled 
across the shining floor. Suddenly the crowd 
began to part, and form a circle around the 
Moon Princess and her partner. The two danced 
majestically across the floor, leaving the 
spectators in awe.

	A princess in a white gown and a masked 
man in a Tuxedo. The Senshi and Heishi 
gathered around, watching. All knowing that 
their princess and her prince were possibly 
having their last dance, before certain 
destruction.