ENDLESS LOVE part 1

Written by Jackie Punsal



"So perfect," Dark Cumulus said as she eyed the picture that was lying on her desk. She ran her long fingernails down the sides. "Look how perfect their life is and look how miserable ours is." Her eyes lingered on the picture then she slowly looked up at Cirrus, who was glancing out of the window. "How long do we have to stay in hiding? Huh? I can't stay in here any longer. We cannot hide all our lives, especially from someone who we can easily defeat. We must punish them for what they have done to us."

"We can't go out," Cirrus said in a stern voice. "Not now, especially not now. After the defeat of our Dark Moon brothers, they'll be expecting an attack."

"Cirrus," Cumulus tapped her long, long nails on the mahogany. "The death of the Dark Moon happened years ago. Their guard is down, now is the time for the rise of the Ominous Clouds. Our numbers have risen, we can easily defeat those insolent fools."

"No," He was still looking outside the window, eyeing the castle suspiciously. "I know the king, he's still on guard, watching and waiting. They're too strong for us, despite how large our army is. As long as they've got that damn Silver Crystal, they will still defeat us."

"Then what the hell are we going to do? We can't steal the crystal now. It's too heavily guarded. We can't go to the past and steal it because we'll just fail like the Dark Moon. I don't want to live like this anymore." Cumulus got up and walked towards Cirrus. "We're rotting away like meat. I'm so sick of pretending to be so damn cheery all the time."

There was a long pause. Cirrus was still looking out of the window. Cumulus attempted to touch him, but abandoned the idea. She walked back to the desk and held up the picture. "Look at them. So perfect aren't they? Neo-Queen Serenity with her beautiful family." Her fingernail grazed the surface of the picture.

Cirrus turned around to face her. "What did you say?"

"I said nothing. They're just the perfect little family."

"Exactly."

"Huh?" Cumulus dropped the picture and looked up at him.

"What is the only thing other than the crystal that has kept the royal family strong?"

"I don't know, a big ass army?"

"No, their unity."

Cumulus eyed Cirrus; "I don't get you."

He grabbed the picture away from her. "Look, the royal court is held like a chain. They are strong because they are together. So..."

She grabbed the picture back. "So if they aren't together..."

"They aren't strong. No resistance, easy defeat, no more hiding."

"No more perfect family." Cumulus said as a bolt of light escaped her eyes and singed the edges of the picture.
********

Serena opened the closet and began to search for something. She started to fling various objects out. She was creating an awful mess. Luna was walking down the hall and noticed the pile of junk.
"Serena!! What on earth are you doing?"

"I'm just looking for something. Oh now where is it? I could've sworn that I saw it here before." And continued to search.

Luna tried to avoid the flying objects headed her way. "What exactly....are...you...looking...for?"

"Oh, just...There it is!!!" She came out of the closet with something in her hand.

"I hope you're going to clean this mess, your mother is going to have a fit. What did you find?" Luna tried to climb over the pile of junk but fell over.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." She looked the object in her hand over. "I hope this still works."

"What still works? Serena..." Luna paused when she heard a familiar melody. She finally managed to go over the pile to see Serena kneeling on the floor holding a locket. Luna crept up towards her. "I didn't know you still had that." She seemed mesmerized by the song.

"I need it Luna. I need it to remind me that we are destined to be together." Serena said as she caressed the locket.

Luna came a little closer towards her. "What happened, did you and Darien have another fight?"

"No, it's not that. I'm afraid that he's too good for me. He's wonderful. He's so smart and mature. I don't think he deserves a ditz like me." Serena's eyes started to tear up. She sniffed and wiped them. "I miss him so much Luna. I know we call each other almost everyday, but it's not the same. I'm afraid that something might happen to him, like last time...I can't lose him..." Serena started to sob.

Luna didn't know what to do. It surprised her that Serena had matured so much. She put her paw on her knee and reassured her. "Now, now, don't cry. Serena, you and Darien love each other so much, nothing can change that. I'm sure he's going to be fine. He's coming back from the States in two days, isn't he?"

Serena nodded.

"See? Then the two of you will be together again. In the meantime, I'm sure that he'll be calling soon. Don't worry."

"Thank you Luna." Serena said as she petted her. She gently closed the locket. The phone rang. "Serena! Pick up the phone, it's for you, it's Darien." Serena's mom yelled from downstairs. In an instant Serena ran out of the room, leaving Luna in the aftershock.
*******

"It's such a beautiful day!" Lita said as she looked towards the sky. "Barely a cloud in the sky."

"I know," Mina replied, "It's been a while since we had a day like this."

Mina, Lita, Raye, and Amy were in the park. Mina and Lita were sitting on the bench, Raye was standing by them and Amy was sitting on the floor with her nose in a book. "What are you reading Amy?" Lita said as she tried to catch a glimpse of the cover.

"Huh?" Amy said, "Oh, um...just a textbook for next year."

"A textbook?" Mina said. "Damn girl!! It's summer, we don't need to read any more books. It's also a beautiful day, enjoy it."

Amy blushed a little and pushed the book in her backpack.

"Actually," Artemis said as he hopped down from the bench, "Mina, shouldn't you be the one reading the books? I mean, you don't want to fall behind again."

Mina frowned and kicked Artemis. "Shut up."

All the girls started to giggle. "Speaking about falling behind," Raye said, "Where is Serena?"

"I don't know," Lita said as she covered her eyes from the sun. "She said that she would meet us here at 5."

"Well, it's 5:30." Raye said as she started to pace around. "That meatball head. She's always late. Does anyone know where she is?"

"I don't know, maybe she went to the Crown." Mina chimed in, "I heard that there was a new Sailor V game."

"Nah, I just came from there," Lita said. The girls looked at her. "What? I just went there to try the game." They continued to look at her skeptically. "Seriously, do you guys honestly think that I would go after Andrew even if he's taken?"

They eyed her then turned to await Amy's response. Amy had snuck the textbook again. She looked up and realized that everybody was looking at her. She quickly hid the book. "I don't know where she is." She noticed that Luna was coming down the street. "But Luna would know."

Luna strolled to the bench. "Hello girls, Artemis."

"Luna," Raye said, "Where's Serena? She was supposed to meet us 30 minutes ago."

Luna took her place beside Amy. "Sorry, but she sent me to tell you to go to the movies without her."

"What? Why couldn't she tell us that before." Raye threw up her arms. "I can't believe her. She doesn't think of anyone but herself."

"Why did she stand us up?" Mina said.

"Well," Luna began. She couldn't believe she was actually standing up for Serena. "She didn't exactly stand you up. She's on the phone with Darien."

"Oh." Raye said and put her arms down. "Is everything okay with them?"

"Yes, I think so. But something is bothering me." Luna said as she lay down. "Serena hasn't been acting herself lately. She's been moping around and has been depressed all the time. Right before I left, I found her sobbing her eyes out."

"She's been really down lately." Mina said as looked down.

"I know." Amy said, "I think being away from Darien for so long really depressed her. Especially since he was attacked the last time he left."

"Those two have been through so much," Lita said sympathetically. "I don't even remember the last time they were actually left alone."

"But isn't Darien coming home soon?" Raye tried to perk the convo up. "As soon as he comes back we should leave those two by themselves. Besides, there hasn't been any demons or monsters or other evil beings attacking earth. They should be left alone."

All of them nodded. Mina however looked up and asked Raye with a smirk on her face. "Leave them alone to do what, huh Raye?"

"Haha very funny," Raye said as she blushed a little. "Shut up. You know what I mean."

"What do you mean?"

"I give up."

"Mina, sometimes you can be a real pervert." Lita said

"I was just kidding guys. It was an open shot, I had to take it."

"Sure you did."

"Shut up."

Both cats sighed as the girls bickered.
********

"Two days right?"

"Two days." Darien was on the phone. "I'll be home in two days."

"Good." Serena said on the other end. "Be careful. I miss you so much."

"I miss you too. It's been so long since I held you. But I'll be back soon." Darien sat back in his chair. The airplane experienced a little turbulence. "Uh. Serena I got to go pack. I'll call you before I leave tomorrow."

"Ok. I love you."

"I love you too. Get some sleep and say hi to everyone for me." He hung up. The plane continued to shake. He held a picture of him and Serena in his hand. He had left early and planned to surprise her. The time away from Serena was agony for him he couldn't wait to see her again.

The captain beeped in. Ding-dong. "Um, we're experiencing a bit of turbulence. There has been some unexpected storm over Tokyo. We'll be entering the airport within the hour."

"Strange," Darien thought to himself. "The meteorologist said that the skies were beautiful in Tokyo."
*********

Darien opened his umbrella and stepped outside. It wasn't raining as hard but it was drizzling. He paid the cabdriver and just stood there outside his apartment building. "It's nice to be back home." Suddenly he heard the sound of a cart coming towards him. He turned around and saw a woman with a flower cart. "Sir, would you like to buy a lovely bouquet of flowers for your love?"

Darien thought for a while, but he decided to buy them, they would be a nice supplement when he surprises Serena. "Sure." He walked towards the cart and picked out a nice bouquet of daisies. When the woman picked up the flowers to give it to him, Darien noticed that she had the longest nails he had ever seen. "Here you go your highness."

Darien laughed a little. "Huh? What do you mean by that?" He said as he paid her.

"Nothing," The woman said and smiled evilly. "King Endymion."

Darien looked up. "How the hell..." Suddenly there was a hot feeling in the back of his neck. He lost all feeling in his body and fell down. The woman looked at him, smiling wickedly as his eyesight went dark and he slipped into unconsciousness.
********

"Um...I'm not sure. I think I'll have just a soda." Serena said as she sat down in the restaurant booth. She put her head down and started to gaze outside the window.

"Only a soda?" Lita, Amy, Mina, Raye, and Luna gasped.

She nodded and continued to stare outside. It was raining ferociously. Serena didn't move.

"Serena, are you ok?" Lita tapped her on the shoulder.

Serena looked up and blinked a couple of times. "Yeah, I fine. Why wouldn't I be fine?" She said as she smiled.

"You're not acting right. You mope around and this is the first time in a long time that you came out and hung out. Darien is coming back soon so don't be such a bummer." Raye said as she sipped the soda she had just received.

"I don't know," Serena said as she put her head down again, only this time she was facing the group. "Sorry, guys if I've been such a downer, but I don't know. I know Darien is coming back, but I can't shake this feeling that something's not right. I'm so afraid that he changed." She faced the window again. "I'm so afraid that he won't want me anymore."

All of them just stared at her. They didn't know how to respond. Raye finally put her hand on Serena's shoulder. Serena turned to face her, tears were flooding down her cheeks. "Serena," Raye said softly, "I'm sure that he still feels the same about you. You two were meant to be together. You two have been through too much for him to give it up. I mean, how many times did he risk his butt for you?"

Serena smiled and wiped her eyes. "Thanks Raye." Then looked up to face the rest. "Thanks guys. I really appreciate that you're trying to cheer me up."

"Well then." Mina said as she scanned the menu. "Now that we got that mess straightened out, Serena eat something!! You're scaring the hell out of me!" All of them laughed.

Serena smiled. This was the first time she felt happy in a long time. Her friends were so great. She glanced up and saw a hint of green pass her eyesight. She focused her eyes and saw a familiar figure. The figure looked her straight in the eye and started his way out the door. "Darien?" She whispered. The table fell silent.

"Serena, what's the matter?" Amy said.

"Um...guys," She said and started her way out the booth. Raye got up to let her go. "I've got to go. I have to...clean my room." She got up, grabbed her umbrella, and left the restaurant. They just watched her quizzically.

Serena scanned the street and started to run. Her shoes splashed against the wet pavement and the raindrops created a rhythmic tone. "Darien!" She yelled as she approached the figure ahead of her. He stopped and faced her. She slowed down and caught her breath. She stared at his face. Something was different about it, she couldn't tell what.

"Serena." Darien said. A strange glint of light passed his eyes.

"Darien, I didn't know that you were here. I thought you were coming in the day after tomorrow." Serena looked at him skeptically. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I took an earlier flight," Darien said and looked away. "I guess I couldn't wait to get home."

"Oh, Darien!" Serena said as she ran to hug him. Her umbrella fell to her side as she went under his. "I've missed you so much!" When she embraced him, she didn't feel him hug her back. He stepped back, almost pushing her away into the rain. "Darien?"

"Serena..." He faced her. "I've got to tell you something."

Serena stood there under the rain. Her hair all wet and frizzy, even her odangos began to droop. The setting was all too familiar to her.

"I've spent so much time away from you." He began.
The pit in Serena's stomach began to grow and make her weak. She felt like she was going to faint. She knew what he was going to say.
"People change, I've changed Serena." He said. His eyes still piercing into hers. She couldn't believe that this was happening. "I don't think that we can go back to what were before."

"What do you mean, Darien?" She knew very well what he meant. She just wanted to know if he felt anything for her. Serena couldn't forget how intense his eyes had become. Even if she closed her eyes, they still burned through her mind. They were not the soft, gentle eyes she knew.

"I mean..." Darien said. His gaze never detoured. "I don't love you anymore."

Serena felt crushed. She blinked hard trying to make sure it wasn't a dream. Her eyes always opened to the same image. Her tears mixed with the raindrops that were running down her face. "You don't love me anymore? You mean you lied to me? You never missed me? All those times on the phone, you lied to me?"

He closed his eyes momentarily and then nodded slowly.

She began to shake her head. "No, no, I can't believe this. Darien, you can't just say that. We are destined to be together. What about our future? What about Crystal Tokyo? What about...Rini?" She shook her head continuously. "Why are you doing this?"

"Serena, I'm sorry, but the future isn't etched in stone. Things change." He said and started to turn away.

"Things change? Darien, no, no, don't go. Wait!" She took something from her pocket. He turned again. "Darien, look me in the eye and say that this doesn't mean anything to you. Tell me that this locket doesn't symbolize our love and the pain we had to endure to keep it." She held the locket in front of him. Her hand began to tremble as she opened the locket. "Tell me it's worthless."

Darien stood for a moment and slowly walked towards her. He held his hand out to take it. Serena's hopes rose. He picked it up from her hand and looked it over. He looked her in the eye and said, "This means nothing to me." He dropped it and Serena watched in horror as it fell to the ground and broke. He said nothing else and left her to pick up the scattered remains of their broken love.