Author Notes: I repost this chapter after my new beta reader Kris check over it, thank you.
I have to give a special thanks to my beta reader Final Fantasy Princess. I hope you enjoy it and would love to hear what you think, so review!
Stolen: Part One Charity
Serena's sapphire eyes flickered open slowly, staring up at a full moon climbing a crystal clear sky. The night-time sounds of the city could be heard at a distance along with the splashing of the huge fountain located in the center of the park. For a moment, she stared at the sky feeling dazed and confused. Lying on her back on the cool grass, Serena's mind fought to recall how she had ended up there. How had the battle had ended? What had happened? How had she ended up unconscious?
"Serena, you ok?" Raye's face blocked her view of the sky; her grey-purple eye's washed with concern for her friend. Raye helped Serena rise into a sitting position as Serena, the leader of Sailor Scouts, looked around. Through the dark she saw that her friends were rising to look around with equal confusion, along with Darien who was off to the side.
Darien was the first to rise to his feet in a wobbly manner and, for a moment, Serena feared he would fall down; however, he seemed to regain his balance and slowly walked over to stand near her.
"Man, I feel like I was run over by a bus." Mina's voice was a moan of pain. Her face was hidden from view by her golden locks cascading around her shoulders as she looked down at the ground.
Clearly, Mina was feeling a pain similar to that of Serena. Serena's own body was aching in every joint and muscle as if Serena had battled for hours, though the attack couldn't have lasted more than a few minutes.
"I'll second that." Darien grumbled leaning down next to Serena checking her over with a cobalt gaze of worry.
"What the hell happened?" Lita was rubbing her temples as if trying to soothe her mind from where she sat on the cold sidewalk.
"The monster exploded." Amy stated in a matter of fact way as she glance at her compture. The brain of the Sailor Scouts had managed to get to her feet and was helping Mina up. Both were standing near a large crater that had once been the monster. "We must have been knocked out by its shock wave."
"Almost took us with it; never seen that trick before," the distant voice of Amara filled Serena's ears, shocking her. Looking across the crater, she barely made out the Outer Sailor Scout in the dark. She hadn't realized they had joined the fight.
"Are you all okay?" Trista questioned from where she stood, brushing leaves off her purple business outfit before using her delicate fingers to comb them out of her long, moss green hair.
"I've been better, but we're still breathing," Raye added with a grimace as she rose along with Serena.
"Why aren't we transformed?" Michelle's sea-green eyes sparkled in the moonlight from where she stood next to her cousin. All of the Sailor Scouts were in their street clothes, even Serena was back in her pink dress and white sandals.
"We must have de-transformed after the blast," Amy sounded as if she was deep in thought as her sea blue eyes scanned over the scene, "or due to the blast."
"That's odd." Hotaru stood near the edge of the other side of the crater, the smallest Sailor Scout wore her normal simple black dress. "That's never happened before."
"How long were we out?" Lita questioned.
"About an hour," Raye's purple eyes were squinting at her watch, "and unless we haul butt were all going to be in big trouble; it's nearly ten-thirty!"
"I told Mom I'd be home by eight!" Mina cried as she fled from the park in direction of the train. "I am so grounded!"
"What about figuring out what happened?" Amara yelled at the disappearing blonde who yelled back:
"We can talk about it tomorrow at the temple. God, I'm so dead! This is the fourth time this week." With that she was gone, leaving the others standing around and a rather hot-tempered Amara who just gave a sigh.
"We will check out the scene for any clues. See you at the temple tomorrow." Amara waved off the Inner Scouts as the four Outers move into a semi-circle to talk about the situation. Serena's group collected their items, including Mina's forgotten purse before leaving the scene.
"Bye!" Hotaru called as the Inners headed in the same direction Mina had gone.
"See you tomorrow!" Serena exclaimed, waving back until the four were out of sight. Serena groaned. "Mom is going to kill me…"
"Serena, I'll give you a ride home." Darien gave her a smile.
"Oh Darien, I don't want to be any trouble."
"It's okay," He led them towards his bike locate in a deserted parking lot and as the two lovers climbed on he asked the three remaining Inner Scouts, "Will you girls be alright?"
"We'll be fine, see you at school, Serena," Raye waved playfully at the two as they put their helmets on. "Besides, I can sneak in without either grandpa or Chad knowing. I have done it a dozen times."
"Bye!" Serena called as Darien started the bike. Before she knew it they were on the road towards her house.
'Why do the attacks happen so late all the time?' Serena wondered as they sped down the street.
Cuddling up to Darien against the cold wind that nipped at her skin, Serena thought about what to tell her mom. Enjoying being with Darien, they passed a few blocks and entered the tunnel heading to her home but they only managed to get half way through before traffic grounded to a halt.
"Man!" Serena cried. "Just my luck." Darien looked behind them and to their side to find already a row of cars blocking any escape routes.
"Sorry Meatball Head, looks like you would have been better taking the train with the others."
"It not your fault, but Mom is so going to freak out. I won't see the light of day for a month."
"I'll tell your mom I blew a flat, she should believe that."
"Way better than what I was going to say." Slowly, they inched their way up the tunnel and passed the accident that had created the jammed traffic on both sides.
"What were you going to say?" questioned Darien over the rumble of his engine after a few moments had slipped by.
"I fell asleep on Lita's couch"
"That might have work." Darien's voice didn't sound like he believed it.
"Not really, she would have called Lita's place looking for me. So, she'd know I wasn't there and neither was Lita - but it was all I could come up with."
It wasn't soon enough before they were moving down a street lined with houses. It was quiet and peaceful and Serena fought the sleep tugging at her eyes. Yawning as the bike came to a stop in front of her house she whispered, "Thanks" before handing him the helmet.
"Better come and help you explain why you're late."
The two slowly made their way up the drive way to the Tsukino's house on foot. Serena noticed her mother had gotten a lot of gardening done, since most flower bins were full now.
"Hey guys, I am home." Serena called softly entering the house. Sam got up from where he was playing his video games and came to look at her.
"You're up late." Serena gave her younger brother a smile.
"Mom, there is a strange girl and man in the house!" Sam shouted looking at them with a bewildered look.
"Ha, ha real funny," Serena waved a finger at him. "Besides shouldn't you be in bed already?"
Her mother slid out of the kitchen along with her father, and to her shock their faces weren't covered in anger rather they looked concerned.
"I am so sorry. We have a really good reason why I am so late."
"I blew a flat." Darien spoke up with the best smile he could muster.
"See, so don't ground me." Serena cried looking at her parents.
"Who are you?" Serena's mother locked eyes with her own blue ones filled with confusion.
"Nice one, Mom."
"Dear, I am not your mother." Serena's smile faded; something was wrong. She looked at her two parents - her mother's face was filled with concern and a slight amount of fear while her father's was one of outright suspicion.
"This is not funny; you're starting to freak me out!" Serena couldn't hide the fear from her voice, watching her parents look at her as if she were a stranger. If they were trying to punish her in some new and strange way, she wasn't laughing. Darien's keen eyes scanned the group whose faces remained utterly confused.
"Mom, who is it?" a female voice cried from upstairs.
"A nut job!" Sam called back running over to stand next to his parents.
"I mean it, this is not funny anymore. I get you're mad, but you're scaring me." Serena's eyes grew wide as a pretty girl with middle length blond hair descended from the stairs. Her green eyes locked on to Serena's, dancing with an unspoken joy.
"Who are you?" Serena pointed her finger at the intruder. Everything was wrong.
"Charity Tsukino. Who are you?" the lovely young girl gave her a wickedest smile placing her hand on her hip. "And what are you doing in my house?"