Mars the red planet, 4th from the sun and closest to the moon has always been known for the ferocity of its people and its harsh climate. This was a planet devoted to the fiery passion of battle.

Life on the red planet was difficult and often marred by large dust storms that could last for days. It was no wonder that the people were known throughout the galaxy for their tough exterior and resilience. But the red planet of Mars had its own unique beauty that often only its people could truly appreciate. And currently that beauty was getting smaller and smaller from the window of the transporter shuttle which one of Mar's own princess's looked out of.

A soft sigh echoed in the lonely transporter, violet eyes closed briefly, burning the red planet into memory. For all the lonely princess knew this would be the last she ever saw of her home world.

Today was the start of a new chapter in the young princess's life, her new life as a Sailor Senshi in Queen Serenity's court. According to the herald the time for training of the new senshi had come and each planet was to send a princess which possessed that planet's gift.

For the fiery planet's princess, Princess Rei, her gift was unmistakable. At the age of five Rei had been unable to fully control her then manifesting power and would randomly start fires around the palace much to her parent's dismay. At first her parents thought she was simply clumsy with the many lanterns. However when at dinner one day five year old Rei had happily exclaimed that the fire spirits wanted to play . In confusion her father asked his youngest daughter what she meant only to watch in horror as his five year old's hands spontaneously burst into flame. Franticly the King of Mars had tried to put out the fire on his giggling daughter's hands before realizing the young girl was not being hurt by the flames. He then promptly sent off his youngest daughter into the care of one of the few hidden villages of Mars to properly hone her gift.

The hidden villages of Mars were one of the planet's greatest kept secrets where the arts of fighting were honed, practiced, and nurtured to near inhuman levels. The galaxy's most uniquely gifted fighters lived in these villages hidden deep below the surface of Mars where they trained relentlessly. It was here that the youngest Princess of Mars learned to control her affinity to fire and where her blossoming gift of clairvoyance was discovered.

' If only I didn't have to go to the moon, I could have finished my training' The young princess thought darkly.

The young princess had been a quick study surprising her teachers over and over again. By the age of 14 Rei's talent with the fire element had grown substantially and with a mere look could light giant braziers. The elder's had never been so proud that one of the royal family would exhibit the amount of control that this young girl had. Even those with blood talents, talents found only in certain families, rarely had the control that their youngest princess had. It was refreshing, it commanded the pride and awe of many of the villagers, and it was something whose roots the princess would have to keep secret.

The official story had been that once Rei manifested her senshi power's she had been sent to a remote temple to learn to control her budding talents. Her father, the King of Mars had been careful to have Rei well versed in the ways of the priestess of her home planet to keep up the facade. The hidden villages he warned was a secret only select Martians and her Highness Queen Serenity knew of, it was then imperative that the secret be kept at all cost.

That was why on her trip to the Moon Kingdom Rei found herself in the traditional robes the priestess of Mars instead of her usual attire. The young princess sorely missed the comfort of her soft cotton shirts and pants. However she refused to give up her black leather bracers and kept her two daggers on her person. Priestess clothes or not she would not give up the comfort and security of her twin blades. She was after all a princess of the planet of war, it was expected.

Another sigh escaped Rei's lips as the words from the letter of Queen Serenity once again ran through her mind. She would be expected to work with the princess from other planets while also receiving special instruction, due to Rei's ability with clairvoyance, from the mysterious Sailor Pluto herself.

'I hope it's not true that she can read minds, otherwise I'm screwed', Rei thought darkly, 'I don't want to become a senshi; I want to go home to the village and sit and listen to the elder's talk. I don't want to go.The young princess sighed one last time before stealing herself. Her trip was nearing its end and soon she would be in the Moon Kingdom itself.

With a calming breath the dark haired seven-teen year old closed her eyes and focused on centering herself. With her mask of calm in place the dark haired princess began to arrange her garments. She checked the long flowing sleeves of her dark colored robe making sure that the markings of her station were clearly visible before taking her long hair and tying it into a braid. When her hair was properly tied and hanging down her back in a long rope she carefully donned a simple travel hat and tied it under her chin, arranging it so that the wide flat hat would obscure most of her face. With her attire in place and properly arranged the princess silently waited, her only sign of nervousness was the whiteness of her knuckles.

' Bow low to the Queen, wait to be spoken to before addressing yourself, never look her in the eyes unless given the proper indication to, always keep your head inclined… there are too many rules' Rei thought darkly a hint of anxiety creeping up her spine , 'I can do this, I am Mars Rei, Princess of the Planet of War. I am the avatar of Mars, I am no coward.'

"Your highness?" Interrupted from her musings Rei looked up into eyes that barely hid the servant's excitement. Rei knew she had reached their destination. With a squaring of her shoulders the Princess of Mars stood from her seat and made one last adjustment to her robes.

"I'm ready"

End Prologue