Finding Yourself In Life By: Rebecca ?Dreamlume? Roberts Chapter 1 Queen Serentiy sat dejectedly on her throne on the moon staring at the earth. Luna was rambling on and on about some foreign trade agreement with a neighbouring solar system. She knew she should be paying attention, but she was thinking about something that was much more important to her. Her missing daughter. She her mind wandered to the Dark Kingdom, and the attack that caused the loss of her daughter. *****************Flashback, 17 years ago ************************************************* ?Your Majesty!!, bring your daughter quickly, we have to send you to Earth. The Moon is under attack by the Dark Kingdom!? Luna said frantically. She flicked her feline tail back and forth in agitation. She led the way, and Serenity followed with fear and apprehension in her veins. She clutched her newborn Serena to her chest instinctively. They ran silently through the corridors, using any secret passage they could to avoid detection. They reached the transporters and Luna transformed and took her human form as it was protocol when travelling to another planet. They stepped in to position, and, in a flash of silver light they were gone. They landed in the centre of the castle of the Capital in a bustling market square. They tied to make their way to the royal palace. As Serenity walked, she bundled Serena in a green knit blanket that she had gotten at a stall. Many people stopped to stare at the ethereal beauty the walked through the streets. She could only be royalty. Serentiy cursed herself for not changing. She had now made a perfect spectacle of herself. She tucked the crescent locket that her husband had given to her just before he died into the blanket with Serena. It was the only thing she had brought with her, and it was the only thing that she had left of her husband that she really cared about. She hoped it would keep Serena safe. She knew it was a childish fantasy, but she wanted Serena to have a part the father she never knew with her always. As they rushed through the streets they acquired clothes and food for the journey, and horses for them to ride to the palace. ?Luna, I need to buy some blankets to keep us warm; can you watch Serena for me?? said Serenity. ?Of course your majesty.? replied Luna. She felt a strong sense of duty towards Serena. Princess Serenity II was now the only heir to the throne of the Silver Millenium. Serenity rushed off. ???????.Scene Change???????????.. ????????????????????????? ?You ready?? ?yeah? ?Let?s go? Two men walked out with strong strides from behind a nearby cart. They walked to where a woman with long, wavy, ebony hair sat rocking a child in a green blanket. They had seen the ?Royal Lady?, as the market goers were calling her, tuck a solid gold ornament into the child?s blanket. ?This is going to be too easy.? Said one with an evil grin. The two men surrounded Luna, one on either side of her. They waited for a moment???.. Then one of them grabbed the bundle of green and the two ran around the nearest corner. The woman took off after them. They hid behind another cart, and she ran right past them. As she started to call out a name they could only assume was the child?s, they slipped away???? ?Com-mon!!!! Get the goods!!!? ?I?m coming!!!!??????..This thing is wrapped so tightly?.? ?Here????he grabbed the bundle, and began to rip the blanket off the now crying baby. He grabbed the locket and dropped the baby. It let out a wail as it fell to the ground, and the locket glowed brightly. ?Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!? He screamed loudly, and dropped the locket. It landed in the child?s blanket. ?Let?s get out of here!? He yelled fearfully, and the two took off. Serenity returned to find a crying Luna. When she heard that her precious daughter had been kidnapped, she started to sob uncontrollably. ???..End Flashback????????????????. ?Serenity????.. Serenity!? said Luna with annoyance. ?Pay attention!? Serenity sighed. She shifted positions in her seat to try and conceal her sadness. Few people knew what had happened to the Princess or why the Queen always seemed to have sadness in her eyes. But Luna understood completely. She still felt terribly guilty for what had happened. All attempts to find Serena had failed. The fact that they all had to be done in secret did not make things any easier. The Queen knew that if there was a public search, then their chances of finding the Princess were much higher. But Luna always reminded Serenity that Serena would be put into even more danger than she was already in, being unprotected and alone. Questions would also be raised as to why the Queen had waited so long to search for her daughter. ?Your Majesty,? Luna said with more patience this time. ?We have to finish this.? ?Alright Luna, start again? Serenity replied, tying to look attentive. As Luna began to read again, she said suddenly ?When is our trip to Earth scheduled for?? ?In about three months Serenity? It was a diplomatic mission, and Serenity was good friends with Queen Gaia of the Earth; But Luna knew that Serenity was really going because it gave her a chance to be ?closer? to her lost daughter. Luna knew that the sad truth was that Serena could be anywhere, but she kept quiet because it gave her friend hope. ?May I resume now My Queen?? ?Yes go ahead Luna? Serenity seemed slightly happier. Luna smiled knowingly as a cat can, and returned to her reading. She took note of the slight smile on the lips of her queen. -Three Days Later- Serena walked stealthily through the thick trees of the forest that she and the others were travelling through. She stopped behind one and looked around once more before stooping to tie her bootlace. When she finished, she stood up and straitened her pants and the bandana holding up her long silver tresses. She looked around for movements and continued to move slowly forward. She decided she wanted a better view of her surroundings. She located a good climbing tree and swung herself up gracefully onto the lowest branch. She failed to notice the fresh footprints surrounding the base of the tree. She climbed the tree carefully until she reached the midpoint of the tree and adjusted her eyes to her surroundings. There were large vines hanging in between the trees. It reminded her of a picture of a rain forest that she had seen as a child. She sat still and tried again to discern any movements. This was hard as the sheltering canopy provided little light. She failed to see anything. Jedite?s View?????? Jedite sat right above Serena in the tree trying his utmost to suppress his laughter. He looked around at his fellow guardians who were suspended from neighbouring trees, but out of Serena?s vision. They were faring no better with their mirth. Serena?s silver head would turn from side to side like an automation, and Jedite knew she could neither see nor hear what was going on around her. The sight was hilarious to watch. In the past three days they had all found a little sister in Serena. She was witty, intelligent, and an incredible warrior?*When fighting in the light* he amended to himself. Kunzite waved to him, and together they began to formulate a plan using hand signals. Kunzite would swing down on a vine and distract her attention. At that moment, Jedite would push her from her perch. She would fall, but Nephrite or Zoisite ?witchever one got there first ? would catch her just before she hit the ground. It was Jedite?s best attack plan yet for the journey, and he smiled smugly as Kunzite prepared to jump. ?????????Serena?s View???????????? ?? Serena had been aware of their presence in the trees above her from before she had climbed the tree. But she prided herself on being a master at disguising her real intentions. She had climbed the tree to try to listen to their conversation, and had pretended that she was still looking for them to hide her real purpose in the tree. She smiled cunningly at the fact that she was well aware of their little plan??. ?????????Nephrite?s View??????????.. Nephrite and Zoisite sat in silent readiness for Serena?s fall. Kunzite tugged on his vine one last time to be sure of it?s strength, and swung out confidently and quickly. But as he passed Serena, she grabbed onto a nearby branch in a seemingly carefully planned movement and swing up to a branch above Jedite, and pushed him out of the tree before he realized what had happened. His body hit the ground with a dull thud, because both Nephrite and Zoisite were too dumfounded to move. Nephrite watched in awe as Serena stepped off her branch; and in a bright silver flash had reappeared on the ground. She laughed and started jubilant victory dance. Kunzite walked into the clearing with a smile. Nephrite and Zoisite jumped down from their limbs and entered the clearing where Serena was still performing her Indian looking dance. This was the tenth time straight that she had defeated them in their spy training. She had initially started training with them because she had nothing else to do. They would go deep into the forest and she would follow. At first she just watched them, but she was soon laughing at how "inadequate? they were as warriors. They had exchanged sarcastic glances, but allowed her to come and ?teach? them the ?right? way to fight. She had turned out to be by far the best with the sword and the bow; and she had just proven herself to be the best spy. She also had magical powers that she was only just beginning to reveal to them. On a whole, it was a humbling experience; but none of them could stay mad at her for long. ?????????Serena?s View??????????????.. . Serena stopped her dancing and went silent when she saw that Jedite was slowly and painfully getting up. As he raised his mussed head and straightened himself, brushing leaves and dirt off his attire, everyone noticed the scowl on his face. Serena walked timidly up to Jedite, expecting the worst. He saw her and his scowl deepened. She watched him and noticed a twitch at the side of his mouth that told her that he wasn?t as angry as he seemed?.. She smiled innocently at him to see if she could get him to forgive her. ?I?m so sorry Jed,???.. Are you hurt?? she asked sweetly. Jedite sighed good-naturedly, knowing that he had no hope of winning this silent argument. He continued to watch the look on his face. It was impossible not to forgive her. He smiled for the first time and looked at the others. They all had doubtful looks on their faces. He laughed and looked back at Serena. She was smiling broadly now, as she new she had been forgiven. ?Let?s go back, I?m tired? Jedite said with sigh. Serena hugged him around the waist like a little sister. They headed back to their camp for the night, laughing and exchanging jokes. ?Sere, you?re crazy!! How did you know where we were??!? said Zoisite laughingly. ?Yeah Sere, you scared me half to death!? Added Jedite reproachfully ?Magic? she replied mysteriously. The all looked at her knowingly, having no doubt that what she said was true.