The queen was not happy. Not happy at all actually. Her new warrior had yet to retrieve the Imperial Crystal yet and it was starting to annoy her. Sitting on her thrown, the queen stared off into space, deep in thought.
"Prince Darien," queen Beryl said to the empty space in front of her.
"Yes, my queen," a very hansom young man answered as he appeared in front of her.
"Prince Darien, you have yet to bring me back the crystal from Sailor Moon. My patients are warring thin."
"Excuse me your majesty, but the only reason why I haven't brought back the crystal is because every time I go to retrieve it Malachite is already executing his own plan. I don't agree with the way he works."
"So are you saying you won't work together as I ordered?" Beryl asked angrily.
"No my queen," Darien answered confidently. He was not intimidated by his queen. "I just believe if I was given time to create my own plan, on my own without Malachite, I believe I'll be successful."
"Perhaps that might be a good idea," Beryl said considering Darien's idea. "Alright then, if you believe you can retrieve the crystal without Malachite's help, go ahead."
"Thank you my queen," Darien said and bowed just before fading from his queen's sight.
Later that day Darien decided to go to Earth, more specifically Tokyo, to think. He didn't like hanging around the in the negaverse. Something about that place just didn't settle well with him. It didn't matter now. He liked to come to a specific park in Tokyo. It had an unusually large rose garden which somehow sitting and smelling the roses helped his head to clear and he was able to think clearly on whatever topic he needed.
As he sat there he slowly began to realize that there was music playing somewhere and that somehow it sounded familiar, like he had heard it before. Darien casually sat up out of his seat and started looking for the source of the music. The music pulled him to the center of the rose garden and that where he found the source. For a second Darien thought he blonde angel standing next to a white rose bush, but after a blinked the angel wings disappeared to leave behind just a short blonde girl.
Darien couldn't stop himself now. That music was driving him insane and he had to know just where the music was coming from. As he walked closer to the girl he stepped on a twig cracking it under his weight alerting the girl to his presents. The young girl turned around and gave him a warm smile.
"Hello," the rather beautiful blonde greeted. Darien just stared at her for a moment, not realizing that she had just spoken to him.
"Where is that music coming from?" he asked almost rudely.
"Oh," the girl gasped blushing. "I'm sorry, was it bothering you?"
"No, it wasn't," Darien answered with the same almost rude tone. "I just want to know where it's coming from."
"The music is from my locket," she answered as she pulled it out of her pocket for Darien to see. The locket was shaped like a beautiful star that was made out of gold. Darien's breathing stopped upon looking at the little trinket. A sudden memory flowed through his mind of a young girl in a castle giving him that very same locket, but just as it came the memory vanished. Darien was stunned for a second trying to figure out where that memory came from. "Is something wrong?"
"Nothing," Darien flatly said still staring at the locket. "Where did you get that?"
"Originally it was mine," she answered sadly as she got up to give Darien a better look at the locket. "A long time ago I gave it to someone I loved so he would always remember me after a long time we were reunited and he gave it back to me."
"So why do you sound so sad?" The girl looked at him with tears in her eyes. Darien suddenly felt the urge to comfort her, but resisted.
"He was taken from me."
"I see," Darien said and was about to turn to leave when the young girl lightly took his hand.
"Would you like to admire the roses with me?" The blonde paused to see what his answer would be, but when Darien didn't she decided to keep talking. "Do you like roses? I just love roses myself. They are so beautiful to see and I would greatly love company." Darien looked at the girl and sighed.
"I like roses too. They help me to clear my head when I have a lot on my mind." The girl smiled sweetly to herself.
"Well, what's on your mind? Maybe I can help you?" Darien looked at her confused for a moment, but then suddenly started laughing.
"I doubt someone like you could help me."
"Someone like me?" she asked a little confused. "How do you know I wouldn't be able to help? You don't even know my name, much less who I am." Upon hearing this Darien stopped laughing. "My name is Serena for your information and I bet I can help you."
"How do you figure?"
"Easy, I made you laugh didn't I? I bet from laughing you feel a little better." After saying this she looked at him very matter-of-factly which caused Darien to chuckle slightly.
"I will not argue with you on that one," Darien admitted. He couldn't believe how good he felt. He couldn't remember the last time he smiled or laughed for that matter. "Serena I'm glad I met you. My name is Darien," Darien said extending his hand out.
"I'm glad too Darien," Serena agreed smiling as she took his hand and shook it. Darien suddenly felt a jolt go through his spine and his heart beat sped up. He felt like he knew her and had met her before. Why was he responding like this? None of the women in the Negaverse did this to him and none of them ever caught his attention for very long. This girl was important in some way and Darien was going to make damn sure he was going to find out how important and in what way.
"Can I see you again Serena?" he asked giving her his award winning smile which caused Serena to blush.
"Are you sure you want to see me again?" Serena asking blushing even more.
"Yes, of course I do," Darien stated strongly to help convince her.
"Well okay then," Serena agreed smiling. "How about we meet here again tomorrow at four? That will give me time tomorrow to get here just encase I get detention."
"Sounds like a plan to me."
"Okay then I'll see you later!" Serena shouted happily as she ran off waving.
It took Serena a good twenty minutes to get to the Cherry Hill Temple. The girls were all patiently waiting for her to see if their plan was going to work. Well, three of the four girls were waiting patiently actually.
"You finally get here meatball head," Reis patted rudely. "You were taking forever."
"Rei I can't just walk up to Darien and demand him to trust me and develop a bond!" Serena shouted before sitting herself at the table. "I have to start from scratch since he has no memory of me at all."
"Serena's right Rei," Lita said taking Serena's side of the argument. "She's going to have to be careful around Darien so she doesn't push him away or tip him off to what she's doing."
"Yeah, cut her some slack Rei," Mina chimed in. "What Serena is doing is a far cry from easy."
"Okay, okay I'm sorry," Rei apologized rolling her eyes.
"So how did it go?" Ami asked going straight to the point.
"Well he enjoyed my company and wants to see me again. We're meeting up tomorrow at the park again at four."
"Spend a good amount of time with him Serena," Mina said before taking a sip of her tea. "We won't expect to see you tomorrow so we'll just meet up the next day after tomorrow."
"Okay," Serena agreed nodding her head. The five girls continued their meeting for another hour then decided it was time to head back to their homes. Mina ended up walking Serena home since she noticed her lack of interest in the meeting.
"Serena, are you really okay with this plan?"
"If this is what will get Darien back, yes."
"Are you sure?"
"I have to be Mina," Serena answered as she stopped to look at Mina. Her eyes were suddenly filled with such strength that Mina never saw in her before. "Darien and I were once going to be married. The love that we once shared a thousand years ago is still here today. I still love him and I know he still loves me. All I need to do if remind him."
"You are very strong Serena," Mina admitted as the two continued their walk. "You are lucky that you are given another chance to be with the one you love."
"So you do remember the generals from our past."
"We all do," Mina admitted. "Ami and Rei don't like to talk about it, but Lita and I sometimes like to confide in each other about it. Lita missed her Nephrite very much."
"I remember them having an instant attraction to each other when she came to visit me on Earth," Serena said as she recalled when her past self was sent to Earth to stay for a while.
"Lita is lucky to not have been around when you, Ami, and Rei were fighting Nephrite," Mina said with tears in her eyes. "I have to deal with seeing Kunzite every time we fight."
"He is called Malachite in this time," Serena corrected. "Ami and Rei had to fight the men they loved too."
"Yes, but those fights were without their memories," Mina contested. "I on the other hand am fighting now Malachite with the memories of what we had together. Remember Kunzite and I were together before you and Darien."
"All you girls had your loves before Darien and I. It took a while before Darien and I could see past our bickering that we loved each other."
"Yes you two sure had it out for each other for a while," Mina said as she remembered the way Serena and Darien use to fight. It was actually very similar to the way they fought in this time before they realized they loved each other. The past sure had a way in repeating itself. Hopefully the past won't repeat itself too much.
"I have noticed something about the generals that you may find interesting," Serena said with a sudden serious tone
"What is it?"
"Well Nephrite and Jadeite both really were not changed too much. They both displayed moments of kindness and good during the time we fought them, especially Nephrite." Serena paused to check if Mina understood what she had said. "Zoicite and Kunzite were changed the most. Kunzite became Malachite and Zoicite was turned into a woman. Something tells me that they were changed so dramatically for a reason."
"Wow Serena you're princess self sure is coming out," Mina said in amazement. Serena only giggled at her.
"Oh I thought this instantly when enough of my memories returned. I think I'm trying to remember something that my past self seek to forget."
"Hopefully with time our memories will be completely restored." After another ten to fifteen minutes later the two finally reached Serena's house. "Well Serena I'll see you later. Good luck tomorrow." Mina waved Serena goodbye then left in the direction of her house. Serena waved back to her friend then went inside.
Her family didn't really notice Serena's lack of cheerfulness, but truth be told she didn't let them. As soon as she walked in she went straight to her room and even had dinner in her room. For the rest of the day till she went to sleep Serena laid on her bed in deep though about what took place today and what she might do tomorrow. For being known as a ditz and a cry baby Serena was actually very strong and smart when she applied herself. When night finally fell Serena got ready for bed and retired for the night. Sadly though, the night was not destined to go as smoothly as the day had gone. Around one in the morning Serena's communicator went off. It took a good minute for Serena to wake up and answer it.
"Let me take a wild guess," Serena stated, sarcasm flowing out with every word. "We're under attack again."
"Well aren't we little Miss Sun Shine," Mina shot back with equal sarcasm. "Come to the park where the lake is!"
"I'll be there," Serena replied before turning off her communicator and slowly made her way out of the bed. "Why is it always the park?" she questioned as she grabbed her locket from her dresser. "Moon Prism Power!" Within moments Serena turned into Sailor Moon and was running to the park. Soon she arrived to see the youma barely missing Jupiter with its blades.
"You're late!" Mars shouted right after shooting her fireball and missing.
"You can yell at me later Mars! Right now I just want to kill this thing and go home to bed!"
"We can't kill it Sailor Moon!" Jupiter shouted. "That thing is really a human!"
"Venus Crescent Beam Smash!" Finally Venus's attack hit the youma weakening it, but also making it more mad then it was before. In a fit of raging fury it lashed out to the closest Scout which happened to be Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon froze in place as the youma came bearing down upon her. Just as when Sailor Moon was sure she was going to die two strong arms picked her up and carried her to safety.
"Tuxedo Mask you rescued me!" Sailor Moon shouted happily as he leapt to safety.
"It's not like how you think it is," Tuxedo Mask said as he set her down to her feet before him. "I'm only saving you because someone from the royal family needs to be alive for the crystal to work."
"I don't understand," Sailor Moon said as she backed away.
"Sailor Moon we are enemies and I will do whatever it takes to get that crystal. Even if it means saving my enemy to do it." Sailor Moon just stared at him in shock. His voice was so cold and harsh.
"Sailor Moon!" Jupiter shouted, breaking her attention away from Tuxedo Mask. Apparently Mercury found the youma's weakness and now all there was left was for Sailor Moon to use her crystal to heal it. Sailor Moon quickly realized it was time for her to step in and ran over to her scouts.
"Moon Healing Activation!" Within moments the youma was human again lying unconscious on the ground. Sailor Moon smiled at her accomplishment then turned to discover Tuxedo Mask was gone which wasn't much of a surprise to her.
"Sailor Moon he saved you again," Venus said happily.
"He only saved me because he thinks I need to be alive to use the crystal," Sailor Moon informed sadly.
"Why would he think that?" Jupiter questioned.
"Is he right Luna?" Mars asked. "Artemis?"
"Well in s sense he is," Artemis admitted. "Someone from the Moon's royal family needs to live for the crystal to work."
"But it's technically not just Sailor Moon that has to remain alive," Luna added. "Either one of you scouts can activate the crystal."
"What?" Venus said shocked.
"It's true Venus," Artemis confirmed. "You all are related to the royal Moon family in some way or another. Venus you are the first cousin to Princess Serena from Queen Serenity's side. Her twin brother was your father. Jupiter and Mars you two are first cousins to each other through your mothers who were first cousins the king of the Moon. Mercury your mother was Queen Serenity's first cousin through her mother."
"Wow, so we are all related to each other," Mercury said more to herself as she typed away on her mini computer.
"So as you can see that as long as at least one of you is still breathing the crystal can be activated by anyone, but only a direct descendent of the Moon family can use the crystal to it's full extent," Luna added.
"Well that explains why Mina and Serena look so much alike," Mars stated. "They're really first cousins."
"As enlightening as this all has been I'm beat," Lita said as she stretched her arms. "Lets all head home to bed." All the girls nodded their heads in agreement and left towards their respective homes. Serena reached her home in no time and within moments was fast asleep in bed.