Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

A Past Imperfect

Chapter 1

Serena ran up the stairs that led to the Cherry Hill Temple. She opened the door to the temple, knowing that her raven haired friend would lecture her as soon as she arrived.

"You are always late!" Raye fumed at Serena as she sat down near Ami.

"I'm sorry, Raye, I couldn't…" Serena began, but was cut off by Mina.

"What is the excuse this time, Serena? Lost track of time playing video games at the arcade?" Mina teased the princess.

"Ah, come on, Mina, it is too early for her to be at the arcade. It is just now noon. She probably just forgot and woke up late." Lita chimed in; laughing along with Mina, but Serena could see the anger in her eyes.

"Come on, guys, Serena is here now, let's just start the meeting." Ami interrupted calmly, wanting to get back to her studies for her first semester of college that was starting in a week.

Trista and Michelle came into the room then, carrying trays of drinks and snacks that Raye had prepared earlier. Amara was close behind them, carrying a tray of cold cut sandwiches.

"Nice to finally see you, Serena." Michelle said sweetly, secretly wanting to yell at the girl for making them wait yet again.

"Hello, Michelle, Trista. Hello, Amara." Serena said without looking at any of them. Amara watched the princess as she brought her knees up and rested her chin on the top of her knees. Serena closed her eyes to try and hold back the tears that were threatening to fall. She didn't want to show how much her loyal guardians' comments hurt her.

"Princess, are you all right?" Amara asked as she sat the sandwich tray down on the coffee table. Serena didn't respond as she continued to stare at the floor. Amara knelt down in front of the blonde haired princess. "Serena?"

"Oh, don't mind her, Amara. She is just upset because Raye got on her case about being late again." Lita explained to the tomboy. Amara looked back at Serena, who flinched when Amara put a hand on her arm.

"Serena, are you all right?" Amara asked again. This time, Serena looked up at the scout long enough to respond.

"I'm fine, Amara, thank you." Serena replied quietly, smiling softly, trying to reassure her friend, but Amara could see the unshed tears in the princess' eyes. She sighed, rose to her feet, and went to sit next to Michelle across the room. She didn't take her eyes from Serena as the meeting started.

"There, you see, Amara, she is fine. Let's get this meeting started. I have to violin practice later this afternoon and Trista needs to pick up Hoturu from her friend's house at 2." Michelle complained. Amara glared at her lover for a moment before turning her attention back to the meeting and Serena.

"Trista, is there anything about our future that you can tell us that we don't already know?" Raye questioned the Guardian of Time. They had called the meeting because the Inner Scouts had recently graduated from high school and would be starting college soon and thought it was time to talk more about the future.

"No, Raye, I'm sorry, I can't. The future has to unfold on its own." Trista answered.

"Well, I am guessing since Galaxia has been defeated that it won't be too many years before Crystal Tokyo is formed." Lita observed.

"I suggest we all just live out our lives until whatever major event that triggers the future happens." Ami commented.

"I don't know, Ami." Raye countered, but was quiet for moment as she thought about how to say what she wanted to say next. "I agree with the living our lives part, but I don't agree with the future part."

"Raye, what are you talking about?" Trista asked. Raye rose to her feet.

"Just listen to me for a moment, please. Are we all sure that we want Serena to be the leader of the universe? I mean, she can't even manage to be on time for a scout meeting." Raye explained. The entire room was silence for a few moments as everyone thought about what Raye had said.

"Raye is right in some ways. From what we have all heard from Rini, Serena doesn't change very much from how she is now." Mina added.

"Sometimes, I wonder how Darien can continue to put up with all of her childish ways." Lita said.

"Ladies, I am sure Serena will grow out of her childish ways soon." Ami jumped in.

"Ami, why are you defending her now?" Michelle spoke up, surprising everyone. "I have heard you more than once complain about the way Serena is."

"This is getting us nowhere." Trista said quickly, hoping to intervene before the conversation got too out of hand.

"I agree. We can't change the future. Serena is destined to be Neo-Queen Serenity." Amara replied.

"But the future can be changed." Raye stated firmly. "Trista has stated many times that the future isn't set in stone."

"Yes, I have said that, but without Serena and Darien taking the throne, the peaceful era of Crystal Tokyo will cease to exist." Trista informed all of her fellow scouts.

"I am sure Darien can bring an era of peace without the power of the Silver Crystal if he had to." Raye said to Trista.

"Raye, Trista is right, we shouldn't be talking about changing the future. It is too dangerous for all of us. Besides, you are all acting like you don't want to protect Serena anymore." Amara announced. Serena, who some of them forgot was even in the room and who hadn't said a word during the entire conversation, quietly stood up.

"I think that is exactly what they are all saying, Amara." Serena said with no emotion in her voice or tears in her eyes.

"Serena, I don't think…" Amara began, surprised by the cold look in the princess' crystal blue eyes, but Serena held up her hand to stop her.

"It is all right. If you will all excuse me, I have to get home now or I will be in trouble." Serena walked out the door of the temple without once looking back. Darien was just coming up the long flight of stairs leading to the temple when Serena started down them.

"Hey, Sere, is the meeting over already? I had some errands to run this morning. That's why I am so late." He said cheerfully.

"No, it is still going on as far as I know. I have to get home. I will see you later, Darien." Serena tried to move past her boyfriend, but he laid a hand on her arm to stop her. She flinched and pulled her arm away.

"Oh, I am sorry, Serena. Are you injured?"

"No, I just bumped up against something this morning and bruised my arm a little. It's no big deal."

"Is there something wrong? You seem angry." Serena quickly flashed him a bright smile before moving past him.

"I am just fine, Darien, but I must get home. I will call you later." Serena hurried down the stairs before Darien could reply. Amara met the prince at the top of the stairs.

"Good afternoon, Darien. I am giving you a friendly warning. I wouldn't go in there if I were you. The conversation they are currently having will most likely just upset you." Amara informed Darien.

"Is that what upset Serena?" Darien questioned.

"She didn't say much at all. From what I observed, she seemed unhappy about something when she arrived."

"I think I will go see what is going on inside that temple." Darien declared.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Amara said again and stepped in front of him.

"Get out of my way, Amara." Darien said firmly, but the scout did not move. Darien stepped around her, expecting her to try and stop him, but she just stood there and just shook her head disappointedly at him.

"Does anyone have any ideas on what we should do about Serena?" Raye asked. Darien heard the question as he stepped inside.

"What about Serena?" He asked.

"We are trying to decide if we want Serena to continue to be our leader." Mina told the prince without hesitation. Darien was surprised by her answer.

"And why are you trying to decide a thing like that?" Darien asked.

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