A.N: I strongly suggest the reading of the Author's Notes before you begin this series. A. E. Standards disclaimers apply Romancing the Planets - Mars Rated PG by Angel Eternal e-mail: angel_eternal_01@yahoo.com A servant cautiously approached the Princess of Mars. "Your Highness?" "What is it?" "Your Highness, someone is seeking communication with you." The Princess looked over her shoulder. "It better not be some idiot...'suitor'..." "Oh no your Highness...it's from the Moon." Princess Raye of Mars turned around. "From the Moon? Is it the Princess Serena?" The servant bowed again. "My apologies your Highness, but I don't know..." The Princess' eyes narrowed. "You imbecile...give it to me." The servant bowed again, and handed her a communication crystal. "Raye? Did you hear about the Silver Ball?" Princess Raye sighed. "Yes...no offence Serena, but these things are getting kinda boring...Do you think your Mother would mind terribly if I skipped this one?" "I don't know Raye...hey what's happening with your suitors?" "Oh stop it Serena...just because fan mail...doesn't reach you at the Silver Palace doesn't mean a thing." Laugh. "Oh no? It means I don't have admirers like you!" "You must be kidding! There are songs sung about you...I am nothing compared to you!" "Ever think that I'm the Moon princess and you are only the Princess of Mars? I mean after all I am going to inherit the Moon Kingdom, you won't." "True...I'm going to training, you?" "I promised Mother I wouldn't" "Okay then, I might come over there after training." "I'll notify them." Princess Raye touched the communication crystal. BANG!! She looked up, the servant that had brought the crystal, had knocked over several statues. "You klutz! I can't believe how incredibly stupid you are!" The servant flushed. "I beg your pardon Princess..." Princess Raye, drew her robes around her and stood up. "What's your name?" He pushed his dark hair away from his eyes. "I'm sorry Princess..." She sniffed, "I don't care if you're sorry! I want to know your name!" He bowed his head. "My name is Chad, Princess." She stared at him, her large black eyes narrowing. "Chad is it? I'll make sure that my father hears about this!" * * * "Raye? Ah there you are!" Princess Raye, floated up to the dais, then she gracefully curtsied. "You called for me Father?" Her father, looked up absent-mindedly. "Yes...I hear you're going to the Moon." She nodded. "Yes, after training." "I want you to take a body-guard with you." "WHAT?!" "You heard me Raye, I want you to take a body-guard." "But..." "Ah here he is, Raye this Chad." She turned around. "The clod? Father, this idiot can't even take are of himself let alone someone else! Besides, I don't need a body-guard. I am the Senshi of Fire! I can more than take care of myself." Her father looked at her steadily. "Raye...I don't think you can burn your admirers." She groaned. "Further more, more than half of those suitors are princes, I forbid you to incinerate any of them!" "But Father..." "No buts young lady. Chad here will accompany you to the Silver Palace..." "Father!" "Now Raye, for once follow your old coot of a pa, hey?" ~ at Dartenion ~ "So what's happening?" Sailor Venus, turned around. "Sailor Moon called in and said..." "That she can't come, I know she told me." Sailor Venus grinned at her. She looked over Sailor Mar's shoulder. "Umm...Raye...who is that?" Sailor Mars, tossed her long black hair over her shoulder. "THAT...is my body-guard." The other senshi were silent, then all collapsed laughing. "My, my, today is the day for visitors." Venus commented dryly. Sailor Mars sighed. "Quit it!" Chad stepped forward. "I am honored to be in Your Highnesses presence." Sailor Mercury stepped forward. "We are the Sailor Scouts, we are not Princesses anymore. Not on Dartenion" Sailor Venus stepped forward. "Nevertheless, I think we should introduce ourselves," she smiled at him. "I'm Venus, Princess Mina." Chad studied her, she was slim and petite, Blonde and blue-eyed, she didn't look like the powerful warrior she was. Sailor Mercury shook her blue hair back. "I'm Mercury, Princess Amy." She looked like a delicate water-lily. He knew that though her powers weren't as great as the others, she was nevertheless a formidable warrior. Sailor Mercury indicated the young man next to her. "This is Prince Gregory of Ten'kai." Chad turned to the Prince, glad that he wasn't the only man in this bevy of women. "I am Neptune, Princess Michiru." The green-hared goddess stated. Chad felt his heart leap into his throat. She was beautiful, tall, slim and graceful. But strength hinted in her high cheek-bones A young woman with cropped blonde hair stepped forward. "I am Uranus, Haruka." she offered her hand to him to shake. This Sailor Scout, he instantly liked, sort of a camaraderie... "I am Setsuna, Sailor Pluto." He studied her carefully. The Guardian of Time, she was destined to be. She was tall and...stately. Refined, and beautiful. "I am Sailor Saturn, Princess Hotaru." a young girl whispered. He turned to smile at her, but the smile faded. This girl had a very intense look about her large liquid eyes. She was very pale, she looked weak and...sick. The Senshi of Death... he shouldn't judge her by her appearance. She was extremely powerful, perhaps the most powerful of the Scouts. "As I said I am honored to be around..." Sailor Mercury wagged her finger warningly. He grinned at her. "Such beauteous women." he finished. Most of them blushed. Sailor Venus laughed. "Oh I like him Mars...where'd ya find him?" Sailor Mars glared at her, "Shut up Venus, I didn't find him, my father assigned him to me!" She turned around, and stalked to the middle of the plane. "Can we please get on with this...where's Jupiter?" Venus winked at Chad, then turned to Mars. "I don't know, she's probably coming late. Okay, let's get on it!" * * * "Umm...Chad is it?" He awkwardly bowed to her. "Yes Princess." "Can you please hurry up?" "I'll try Princess, but begging your pardon, it is kind of awkward with all these packages." She looked at him slyly over her shoulder. "Well then, you can just leave those here, and we'll get someone else to deal with them." Instantly he perked up. "Really?" She smiled at him. "Yes of course, then you won't be needed and you can go back to Mars." He stiffened. "I'm afraid I can't do that your Highness. I have been ordered by your father, the King, to take you to the Moon and act as your personal body-guard." She turned around and stared at him. "Chad, you saw me at Dartenion today, correct?" He nodded. "Would you say that I need a body-guard?" He paused. "No your Highness, you are a formidable warrior." "Well then..." "But I have been ordered by the King." She sighed, then resumed walking. "I don't think you'll like the Moon at all." He tilted his head to one side. "Why is that Princess?" "It's not as warm as Mars...in fact it's quite chilly..." "I hear it is one of the most beautiful places in the galaxy." he smiled at her back. "I'm sure I'll like it Princess." Raye sighed, and reached for a communication crystal. "Yes, Princess Raye here, connect me with Venus." "I'm sorry your Highness...I can't connect you with Venus, they're having communication problems. If you wish Princess I can send them a note." Raye frowned. "No, that's okay." she broke the connection. Puzzled she flipped open her communicator, she oriented it on Venus...nothing but static. Even more confused, she changed the orientation to Mina herself. "Mina? Where are you? Mina?" "Raye?" "Mina! Finally! I couldn't contact you! I couldn't contact Venus! What's up with that?" "It's a long story...ummm Raye is there a point to this call?" "As a matter of fact...I'm headed to the Moon, wanna come? Me and Serena are going to indulge in a badly needed pampering session." "Umm...yeah I'll be there." with that Mina broke the connection. Raye stared at the communicator. "Hmm...she must be really busy or something." * * * "Princess Raye!" Raye stepped lightly down on the platform. "Can you please get my luggage, and deliver it to my room?" "Yes, your Highness." Chad jumped down after her. "Your room? You have a room in the Silver Palace." She looked over her shoulder at him, "Obviously, just as Princess Serena has a room in the Fire Palace!" Chad followed her down the long hallway. The Palace was stunning. It was all silver and white...it really was like nothing like the Fire Palace. They came to a large elaborate door. The Princess stopped and turned around to face him. "Now Chad, we are going into the Throne Room, to pay respects to Queen Serenity. Remember you are about to face the Galaxy's Queen. Don't do anything stupid!" He smiled at her. She drew in a deep breath. She nodded to the servant, who promptly opened the door. "Princess Raye of Mars!" She sailed forward to the dais and bowed to the Queen. "Queen Serenity." The Queen smiled at her. "Raye my dear, so nice of you to visit us...I see you brought someone with you." Raye straightened and blushed. "Please my Queen, you must pardon me, but my father..." She waved that aside. "Perfectly alright my dear, your father explained the situation." Raye curtsied once again. Queen Serenity smiled at her. "I'm sure you know the way to my daughter's quarters." "Yes my Queen." she bowed again, and turned to leave. Raye swept out of the room and walked confidently down the hall. "So that was Queen Serenity." "Yes...that was Queen Serenity." "She's...not what I thought she would be." Raye smiled. "Why? What did you imagine she would be?" "I don't know...not like that. She's very beautiful." Raye laughed. "The Queen have known me all my life. Princess Serena is only a few months younger than me. We have been friends since birth." They reached a door and pushed open the door. "Serena? Meatball Head?" * * * "Ugh! Raye, would you quit calling me that?" Raye smiled. "Not a chance Meatball Head." The Princess stuck out her tongue at Raye, "I'm the Princess of the Moon...show a little respect!" Raye laughed. "Like I said Meatball Head...not a chance!" Raye smiled at Mina. "Mina! Nice seeing you again." Mina grinned. Serena stared over Raye's shoulder. Raye sighed. She'd almost forgotten about him. "Umm...Raye...who is that?" Raye looked over her shoulder and sighed. "That is my body-guard." Serena's jaw hit the ground. Hard. "Shut your trap!" Beep, beep Princess Mina flicked open her communicator. "Venus here." "Mina...Lita has been kidnapped." "What!" Serena tool Mina's communicator and hooked it up to the main communication crystal in her room. Princess Amy of Mercury appeared. "Go on Amy." "We just found out that Lita has been kidnapped. We need all the Scouts here at Dartenion pronto." Serena shook her head. "I can't come." Amy bowed to her. "Understandable Serena..." "I will do what I can from here. I will contact you as soon as any information come to hand." Amy nodded. "Raye, Mina. Dartenion. Now." Raye and Mina turned to Serena. Serena tapped on her crystal. "Your Highness?" "Have our fastest ship ready to fly to Dartenion now." She turned back to them. "It would be nice if one of you stayed with me to help." Raye firmly shook her head, "Serena, I really think its better if there are lots of people looking for Lita." Serena nodded. Chad stepped forward. "Please let me help Princess Serena. I can help you discover who the kidnapper is." Raye's black eyes narrowed, what was Chad up to? "What's your name?" "Chad your Highness." "Well Raye? Can I borrow your body-guard?" Will she ever get him back again? Raye tried to be indifferent, she shrugged. "I'm not going to complain." she turned to Mina, eager to get away, to think. "Let's move!" * * * "He's cute Raye." "What?" her black eyes widened. "What are you talking about?" "You know..." Mina winked at her. "Mina!" Raye blushed, "Please, he's just a servant! I've got Royal Princes chasing after me, what would I do with servant?" "Would you be happy with those Royal Princes?" Raye fell silent, she concentrated on the window. She didn't want to think about it. It was impossible. Just impossible. No matter how attracted she was to him...attracted? What was she thinking? She was... "Dartenion." Raye glanced at Mina, she was always surprised at the change that came over Mina, all of a sudden she wasn't the flighty blonde Princess of Venus. All of a sudden she was the competent leader of the Sailor Scouts. "We've got to save Lita, hopefully by now Serena had gotten some information." They were the last to land. Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars stepped out of the ship. "Okay what do we know so far?" Sailor Mercury inclined her head. "Not much, we are almost certain that Princess Lita was abducted on her way here. On 'Lightening'. Now we have to determine the exact time, hopefully from there we can determine who abducted her." Sailor Venus nodded. "Keep working on that." she turned to the others "Okay any suspects? Who do we think would do this?" Sailor Uranus shrugged, "We were talking, and really anyone could have done it. Anyone who is anyone is here for the Silver Ball...that's a lot of possibilities. There is no one in direct and open war fare with Jupiter ...but Jupiter is very powerful and wealthy. Perhaps someone wants Jupiter itself and the princess of Jupiter is only the means to an end." "What happened to 'Lightening'?" Sailor Neptune answered. "It went on for a bit and returned to Jupiter, when questioned the personnel said they remembered nothing. In fact they weren't even sure why they were out on 'Lightening'." Venus sighed. "So...we have nothing. We better sit tight until Serena calls...she has access to the ship's tapes. Something's got to turn up." * * * "Raye, I think he's right." Sailor Mars whirled around, her black eyes flashing, "He is a mere servant. I refuse to be ordered around by my servant!" Sailor Pluto looked up, her deep eyes boring into Raye's. "Raye...he cares. He wants you to look out for yourself...can't you look past the barriers and trappings of status? You may not be a Princess forever." Pluto's calm words settled Raye down. But she lifted her chin haughtily. "Maybe Pluto...but that doesn't mean that I have to listen to him now. Sailor Mars flipped her long black hair over her shoulder. "So...what's the plan?" Sailor Mercury sighed. "I guess this means we head out to that ship." Sailor Venus nodded. "Alright, Mercury, Pluto and I will board the ship..." Sailor Mars shook her head. "Oh no you don't. I will board that ship with you." "Mars..." "No Venus...I can handle this..." Prince Gregory, who has been silent all this time finally spoke. "Begging your pardon Princess...but you have to consider your...body-guard." Mars turned and glared at him. "What?" "You have to consider that should any harm come to you...he will be held responsible, as your body-guard." Mars glared at him, he was just as damned logical as...Mercury! Mars placed her hands on her hips and lifted her chin. "He's just a servant Gregory...why should I or for that matter you, care about a measly servant?!" Venus shook her head, her blue eyes welling with unshed tears. "You're better than this Raye...you know better." Mars sighed and hung her head. "I'm sorry...it's just that lately my father has been treating me like a child! Do you remember a couple of years back...my father engaged me to some prince?" Cautiously, Venus and Mercury nodded. They remembered all too well...that was when Raye in a fit of rage, burnt down one of the wings of the Fire Palace. "That was only the beginning. He assigned more servants to me, as if I couldn't take care of myself! And the worst...a body-guard! I am not a child!" Uranus spoke quietly. "Then perhaps you would stop acting like one." Mars hung her head, "Fine...but please, let me go and rescue Lita... she is one of my closest friends...please let me do this." * * * BANG!!! They burst the door down. Impatiently, Sailor Mars waited for the dust to clear... Princess Lita of Jupiter stood over a handsome young man. Mars raised an eyebrow in surprise... "Lita?" Princess Lita looked up, her green eyes twinkling merrily. "See? Didn't I tell you my entourage would come?" "They didn't have to break down the door." Mars giggled, whoever this young man turned out to be, she had a feeling that she would like him. "Prince Kenneth I presume?" Sailor Venus asked. He nodded. "Umm...if you would be so kind to let me up?" Mars shook her head. "Just wait a minute...why did you abduct Princess Lita?" she wanted to know if Chad's wild presumptions were true. He focused on her. "Princess Raye?" She sighed and nodded....she hoped that Chad wasn't right. "Well actually they were supposed to take...I guess...you." Mars sighed, he just had to be right. "Why?" He smiled at her, she realized that he could be very charming. "They were supposed to extend an invitation...to...you...because I wanted to meet you so bad." She smiled, charming as the devil, but she sensed something. "And now?" "Now it doesn't seem to matter much." Ah Ha! She knew it...time spent with Lita had shown him that Raye herself was probably not right for him. "Oh...poor Raye, I think you just lost an admirer." Mars glared at Venus. "Shut up Venus." she turned to Lita. "Shake it or lose it Lita." She walked back to the ship. "See? I'm fine." she said to the others. They all remained silent. Prince Gregory spoke up. "This time." Mars glared at him. "You know something? I don't like you. I hope Mercury would just throw you out the window and be done with it." He smiled wolfishly at her. "But you know she won't do that." Mars stomped her feet. "Oh! You just won't let me have the last word would you?" He smiled at her again. "Never." She threw up her hands and stalked away. * * * Princess Raye of Mars floated down the long staircase. She examined the room. She almost felt like bolting back up the stairs. All of her...'admirers' were here! This was going to be a hellish night. ~ ~ ~ "Remember...don't seek her out...she's used to having dozens of men following her around the room...you've got to be suave, cool. Make her run after you." ~ ~ ~ Princess Raye, reached the bottom of the stairs. A young lord came up to her. "Dearest Princess..." She brushed past him. Walking straight towards her friend, Princess Mina of Venus. "I'm hating this already." Princess Mina glanced at her. "Lighten up Raye, just enjoy!" She rolled her eyes. "Please Mina, look at them...don't you feel like a walking throne?" Mina glanced at them, "I know what you mean, I'm a plate of roast and they haven't eaten for years." Raye laughed. "Well...I suppose I must mingle." she spotted a handsome man approaching them. "Besides I have the feeling you are going to be accosted." A dreamy smile graced Mina's lips. "Let him accost away." Raye stared incredulously at her. Mina turned to her and notice the look. "I promise to explain later." Raye sighed. "You had better." She walked away, she looked over her shoulder at Mina and the young man. There was this glow about them. Raye suddenly felt envious. No matter what she wanted...that. That magical something... She bumped into someone. Laughingly she looked up, the laugh and the apology died in her throat. She looked up into the deepest, darkest eyes she had ever seen. They seemed to bore into her...seeming to delve into the deepest recess of her soul. He bowed to her, and just as suddenly was gone. Frantic, she searched the crowd for any sign of him...but nothing. He hadn't spoken...not one word...it was almost eerie... Casually she noted that Serena was dancing with a mysterious man. She was staring deep into the man's eyes. They had that magical something too... Where was he? Who was he? Distressed and not knowing the reason for it, Raye wandered out to a balcony... There he was. He was standing there. Raye had a moment to observe him without him knowing. He stood tall and proud, his long brown hair was sleeked off his forehead. He wore a black mask, adding the mystery. She knew she had never seen him before. He turned and extended his hand to her. Curious and irresistibly drawn, she glided into his embrace. She wasn't conscious of the music...he didn't speak. Just stared into her eyes. Why did she feel as if she knew him? Why did she feel as if those eyes had seen her every move? That those eyes knew her almost intimately? Why? Who was he? "Chad?" Her head came up violently. "Chad?" The man sighed and removed his mask..."Chad!" An older man stepped from the ball room. He was tall and stately, a man who held himself like... "Father." Raye stepped back and stared at the older man...was he... "King Romen?" the old man bowed to her. "Greetings Princess Raye, I am delighted that you and my son found each other." Raye stared at her body-guard. "Son?" The King raised his eyebrows. "I see you don't know him...may I introduce my son Prince Chad of Illium." "Illium?" Chad sighed and stepped in front of Raye, and faced his father. "What do you want from me Father?" The old King smiled faintly. "At least you still acknowledge me as your father." "What do you want?" "What do I want? What would any father want? Chad...I want you home, your mother wants you home...so does Elise." Raye stared at the back of his head, Chad...a prince... Illium...why did...Illium! She stepped back, Chad was the prince of Illium...the prince that her father once sought to betrothed her to...this was too much. Her head was reeling. "Elise? How is she?" "Fine...but she pines for you my son. I promise to let you choose your own wife..." "Father...not now." The old King bowed his head, "I will be within...but please Chad...we need to talk." Raye stared after him, she looked back at Chad. "You have to follow him." He looked at her. "You took that very well Princess. I thought you would have fainted at the discovery of my true identity." Raye smiled gently. "There was just something about you...so you're a Prince, not any Prince but the Prince of Illium. Do you want to explain?" He shrugged. "Explain? I was head-strong and too stubborn. I guess I'm ready to go back." Raye nodded. "Back...to Elisa?" Chad grinned, "Elise." Raye sniffed disdainfully. "Yes Elise." she didn't know why she felt a burning in her chest, she tried to ignore it. Chad smiled at her, he knew what she was thinking...she was so transparent sometimes. He bowed to her, "Let us begin afresh Princess...I am Prince Chad of Illium." She giggled, she curtsied to him. "I am Princess Raye of Mars." He frowned down at her bent head, gently he took her chin and lifted it so his eyes could meet hers. "Please Raye...don't do that." Her eyes widened in surprise. "Why?" "I am too used to seeing you glaring down at me...never looking up." She laughed. "Chad that's ridiculous...I always have to look up at you...you're so tall!" He shook his head, "Not in that way Raye...you always looked at me...as if I was lower than you." Raye frowned, her own words floated back to her... 'He's just a servant Gregory...' She sighed. "I'm so sorry...I'm not...usually like that. It's just that...my father..." He laid a hand on her cheek. "Sssshhhh...you don't have to apologize or to explain...I understand." She looked up at him...and she believed. * * * A blast shook the palace...confused Raye looked around. She quickly realized that the palace was being attacked from the outside. Grim, she searched the crowd for one man... "Who are you looking for?" She looked up at Chad, whom she had been dancing with. "Prince Kenneth of Dracoria." Chad's eyebrows raised in surprise. "I don't know what you're thinking Raye; but Ken would never attack the Silver Palace." She threw him a furious glance. "How would you know?" "Because Ken and I used to be really close." Surprised she turned her full attention on him. "You and Ken?" He nodded, "We grew up together, Illium and Dracoria are as close as Mars and the Moon." "What are you saying? That you and Ken are best friends?" He nodded. "Yes...and I know him and his father well enough to know that they wouldn't attack the Silver Palace." Raye knew that she had to believe him, she had a feeling that she knew Ken the way Raye knew Serena. "Chad!" They both turned and saw Prince Kenneth and Princess Lita. "Ken!" the two hugged, like two brothers who haven't seen each other in a very long time. "I thought you were dead!" "You and the rest of the Galaxy." Lita stepped up to them. "I hate to interrupt this little reunion, but Ken we have to find my father." He nodded, he turned to Chad. "We'll catch up later." Lita went past Raye and hugged her, she whispered in her ear. "Take care Firebrand." Raye hugged her back, "You too Thunderbolt." Raye turned to Chad, "Speaking of fathers..." * * * "Serena! We were so worried when we couldn't find you!" "As you can see, I'm fine Mother." Raye studied her, there was something wrong...something that she couldn't put her finger on. The Queen was talking to them, Raye focused. "...King Endymion would agree to help and that their troops would arrive in time." Raye pondered this, then stepped forward. "Your Majesty, are the attackers known?" "We are not certain, but we believe it's the people from the Negaverse." The Negaverse? What argument could the people of the Negaverse have with the Moon? Amy touched her elbow. "Raye, can I talk to you?" Raye nodded, they moved away from the crowd. "What is it Ames?" Amy shook her head, "I don't think that the attackers are just after the Moon...I think they're after the dominion of the whole Galaxy." Raye thought about it. "I see your point. They attack now...the Silver Ball, diplomats and aristocrats from all over the Galaxy are here. It's perfect." Amy nodded. "I have a bad feeling." Raye glanced sharply at her. "About what?" Amy shook her head, her blue eyes pools of worry. "I don't know...it's just a feeling." She looked up at Raye. "We have to watch out for Serena." Raye nodded. * * * Raye glanced around the ballroom. King Endymion and his son have arrived. She couldn't see Serena anywhere... A movement by the balcony caught her attention... "Serena!" The Princess of the Moon was being carried by a very grim Prince Darien. Queen Serenity moved towards them. Prince Darien laid her down on a nearby chaise. "What happened?" Prince Darien bowed to the Queen. "Your Majesty...we were attacked by Princess Beryl of the Negaverse." She didn't know why, but she felt as if this handsome young man cared deeply for Serena. Pandemonium had broken, quietly Raye moved to his side. "Prince Darien?" He turned to her, his eyes were hooded with pain. He bowed to her. "Princess Raye." Raye drew in her breath. "Something is happening...more than what meets the eye. I think somehow you and Serena are responsible." His dark eyes narrowed. "Please Princess Raye, you presume too much." He turned to leave, but Raye caught his sleeve. "Please Prince Darien, forgive me if I have offended. But Serena is my best friend. I think I deserve to know." He bowed his head, "Today I met Princess Serena...she is the most dazzling person I have ever met. It was love at first sight." He smiled. "I think I fell for her even before I knew who she was." He shook his head. "She came to see me on Earth... you must know of the ex-communication...anyway, the love became deeper, progressed beyond mere infatuation into true love. As a result, I broke off my engagement with Princess Beryl of the Negaverse. I think this attack had been planned for a long time...the broken engagement just more incentive." Raye stared at him, she saw the pain in his gaze every time he looked at Serena...he felt guilty! He felt responsible! She noted that he glanced at Serena's prone body often... She touched his arm. "Go if you wish...but remember, Serena would be waiting for you." He looked down at her startled, his gaze softened. He took her hand, and gently kissed it. "You are a true friend to her..." * * * "Serena, you're too weak, you can't go!" Raye turned and saw that Serena was struggling to get up. She went and joined Mina in restraining her. "Mina, don't tell me what to do. I promise you Mina, we will find each other again. We will all find each other." Helpless, Mina and Raye let go of her. Raye watched her as she ran, why did she feel as if that was the last time she would Princess Serena? * * * "Mars...Celestial Fire...SURROUND!!!" Sailor Mars incinerated another Negaverse soldier. She was getting weary...all this carnage, the death and destruction. She looked at the Silver Palace...tears welled in her eyes, as she thought of all the corridors that she, Serena and Mina had torn through... "Darien!" Raye whirled towards the sound of Serena's voice. Horrified, she watched as her best friend threw herself into Death's arms... "Serena!!! No!!!!" She ran to Serena's side, "Serena!" barely noticing Mina, she knelt beside Serena. "Since both of you are so desperate to die for your Princess, I might indulge you." Raye and Mina looked up, a slim, red-haired witch stood over them, in her green eyes, Raye glimpsed Hell. "I am Princess Beryl of the Negaverse, heed my face well... for it is the last you will see." The witch flung dark power at both of them, flinging them far. Raye's head was hit on a jagged rock, blood oozed from the cut. Chad saw her, he ran to her side. "Raye! Oh god, Raye!" tenderly he cradled her head. He looked up in time to see Princess Mina's horrible death at Princess Beryl's hands. Tears flowed down Chad's face. He was grateful for one thing...Raye had not seen the death of one of her closest friends. Laughing...he heard, a high-pitched laugh...it couldn't be anyone but... "Beryl." he glared at her slim form. She grinned down at him. "Well, well, if it isn't the Warrior Prince back from the dead...well I will endeavor to keep you dead!" He stood up to her, his eyes gleaming with hatred. "May you die a horrible death Beryl for the work you've done." She looked around. "Yes, it is wonderful isn't it?" she looked past him. "Ah! I found her...step aside Warrior Prince, it's the Fire Princess I'm after." His dark eyes hardened. "Over my dead body." Those glittering green orbs also hardened, "As you wish." * * * "AAAAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!" Groggily, Raye opened her eyes, she saw Chad...crucified in his pain. "Chad! No, no, no! Chad!" She watched as his broken body, fell to the ground before her. Crying, she crawled towards him, "Chad! No!" Dazed he looked up at her. "Raye...my beautiful Raye of Light... I should have agreed to the engagement...I fell in love with you, you know...you with the terrible temper, with those gorgeous eyes flashing...enfante terrible...my little love..." "No...Chad..." tears welled up in her eyes, as she watched him slip from her. Desperate she gripped his shoulder and started to shake him. "Damn you Chad!! Don't leave me! Damn you!!!" It was hopeless...he was gone from her. Rage filled her, she got up and turned to Beryl. "Damn you Beryl! Damn you to eternal hell!!" She flung all of her power straight for Beryl. Laughing, Beryl threw out her own dark power. The two immense energies slammed into each other. Raye held on, pouring all of her desperate rage into this attack. Beryl laughed maniacally. She assaulted Raye with images of Serena's death...Serena flying into her beloved's embrace, but to be eternally denied...Mina, proud, beautiful Mina, sacrificing herself so another may live...Chad...her beloved Chad... Groaning, Raye just wanted to submit, to give up... 'We will all find each other...' Serena's words whispered in her ear. Drawing from the last of her strength she increased the power. "Aaaaaagggghhhh!" Beryl was flung back. Weary, Raye fell to one knee, she searched for Chad's cold hand. She gripped it hard, she collapsed next to him... She heard a weak cough...she looked up, she saw Beryl struggling to her feet. "No!" Raye moaned. "Oh...yes...in a little while, I would have regained my strength...too bad I can't say the same about you..." Too weary, Raye closed her eyes, willing Death to take her... * enfante terrible = it's supposed to be French - but I can't get the apostrophes and all of those in the right spots. It simply means 'terrible infant', but that's pretty easy to guess.