Serena slowly opened her eyes and waited for them to adjust to the darkness around her. She stared at the roof as the dream she had just had became more and more vague in her mind. If they ever knew I don't know what I'd do, she thought. Even I was disappointed when I found out. I'm not strong enough to be the princess.

Closing her eye's once again Serena took a long, slow breath. I just don't understand it. Why remember being the princess and nothing else? It's like I've forgotten everything but my name. She snorted softly and sat up with a wry smile, watching Luna sleep. If they ever saw how graceful I actually was or realized how much I thought things through they'd probably have heart attacks. She frowned, all humor suddenly displaced. They can never find out though. Not unless they remember on their own. A shrill beeping jarred her out of her thoughts. An image of Amy popped up on her communicator. Quickly Serena grabbed it and locked her bedroom door.

"Serena, are you there!?"

"Yeah Amy, what's wrong? Is it the Negaverse?"

"We need you at the park now! This thing is huge and we could use your help!"

"I'm on my way." Without hesitation Serena threw her broach in the air and shouted, "Moon Prism Power Make Up!"

"Mercury! Use your bubbles, now! We need cover!" Venus barely managed to dodge out of the way of a razor sharp tentacle, just to end up being thrown backwards by a blast to the chest of raw energy.

"Mercury Bubble, Blast!"

"Mars Fire, Ignite!"

"Jupiter Thunder, Crash!"

The monster howled in pain and whipped it's many tentacles about, trying to seek out the enemies he now couldn't see. One managed to knock Mercury into a tree, rendering her unconscious. Sailor Jupiter threw another blast of power at the monster, enraged that it dare to hurt her friends. "This isn't working! It's already cleared the fog!" Just as Sailor Mars was about to charge up her attack, Sailor Moon came from seemingly nowhere, causing the beast to hesitate.

"Hey you ugly Negaverse creep, how dare you hurt my friends! I am Sailor Moon, champion of justice, and on behalf of the moon I will punish you!" The beast roared and lunged at Sailor Moon. She hadn't expected it to be so quick considering it's size, and so hadn't prepared for the possibility of getting hurt. Just as it was closing in, a red blur struck it's chest. Not even waiting for the masked hero - whom she'd known would come - to speak his intro, she drew out her moon wand. "Moon Healing Activation!"

The beast disappeared and in its place lay a man whom they all recognized as one of the people that worked at the mall. After Mercury, who had recovered, made sure the man was all right, the scouts gathered around Sailor Moon.

"What took you so long!?" Sailor Mars shouted, only half meaning it.

Venus shook her head and smiled. "She saved our butts and you know it."

Sailor Jupiter made a silly love struck face and rather dramatically hugged Sailor Moon. "Oh, my hero!"

"Speaking of that," Sailor Moon turned to Tuxedo Mask who stood only a few yards away, about to leave, "I need to talk to Tux."

"Oh no you don't! Not without a guard," Sailor Venus stated.

"Or four," added Jupiter.

"Don't be ridiculous." Sailor Moon took off her tiara and concentrated her energy into it. Quickly, she threw it in the center of the four scouts. It seemed to disappear for a moment before reforming around the scouts, binding them together so they couldn't move. As the scouts shouted curses at her, Sailor Moon jogged up to Tuxedo Mask. "The things I have to do to keep those four off my back," she sighed, rolling her eyes.

Tuxedo Mask tried hard not to show his amusement. "What did you need to say Sailor Moon?" Her face grew serious so suddenly that Tuxedo Mask at once sobered up.

"Look, I know you have a mission to find the Silver Imperium Crystal and will do anything to get it..." She trailed off for a moment and took a deep breath. "But I wanted you to know, I also have a mission to obtain the Crystal. And regardless of whether you're on our side or not, when the time comes I won't give it up without a fight."

He smiled to himself. "Brave words."

"Don't dismiss them so easily. I'm more than I appear to be, and not at all as weak as you think. If things become desperate I may prove to be more than a match."

Tuxedo Mask gave her a cold look, as if she'd insulted him. "Everyone is more than they appear to be."

A sad look haunted her eyes and her stance went from confident to that of one with a burden much too big to bear. "True. Some more than others." She muttered something about hoping no one would ever remember who the princess was, but Tux couldn't catch it all. At the mention of the princess Tuxedo Mask grabbed Sailor Moon's shoulder's and looked at her searchingly.

"You know who the princess is? You must tell me!"

She looked down at her boots. "I could never disappoint you like that. Never them."

He shook her in anger. "Tell me!" he shouted.

She jerked herself out of his hold and quickly moved back over to the scouts to free them. "Just heed my warning, Tux," she called over her shoulder. "I'll do everything in my power to get my... to get the crystal." With that said, she left with the scouts cursing after her.

Tux shook his head in surprise. So she has a backbone after all. This could become a problem. Turning for home, he leapt off into the dark to get some rest.

Darien sat in the park trying hard not to smile. He had heard Serena and her friends sitting not too far behind him for the last half hour and was very interested in their recent discussion.

The group had gone to the park to relax and enjoy the bright day and had ended up playing Truth or Dare. They had done everything from ask who the best kiss was from, to daring someone to pretend they were insane and approach strangers with some obscene comment. It wasn't until Rei had been dared to pretend to be a dancer that they noticed Darien. It was Serena's turn to be dared and, unaware that he could hear them, they had told her she had to sneak up to him and kiss him.

Darien had never denied his feelings for Serena, but knowing she wasn't interested - yet - he hadn't pursued her. It was enough for now to make sure she would at least be thinking about him when he wasn't around by teasing her relentlessly. The rest of the time he was happy just to be near her. However, he couldn't help his excitement that their game had taken this particular turn. This should be interesting.

"Why him!?" Serena whispered heatedly.

Rei laughed and turned to Mina. "I think we have ourselves a chicken." The group started to flap their arms and make chicken noises.

"Fine!" Serena hissed. "But you never said I had to kiss him on the lips." Silently, she made her way towards Darien. If he hadn't known she was coming, he would have completely been taken by surprise. However, since he knew, he was able to turn to face her when she leaned over the side of the bench, eyes closed, to kiss him on the cheek. Her soft lips found his and no sooner had they touched then Serena's eyes flew open in shock. She was so shocked that she lost her balance, falling over the bench and mostly onto Darien. He smiled down at her as she scowled in his lap. "This is just great," she said angrily, getting up. "The things I have to do to keep those four off my back."

Darien had a sudden flashback of Sailor Moon saying the exact same thing. He studied Serena more closely as she got up. Same hair, same body, same personality, same face... He couldn't believe he hadn't seen it before. Serena was Sailor Moon. It all kind of made sense, actually. "So you're my champion of justice," he murmured without thinking.

Luckily, Serena hadn't heard him. "Well, get it over with." She folded her arms and tapped her foot. Darien looked up at her in confusion.

"Get what over with?"

"I know you have some rude comment just waiting to get out. Anything you have to say can't possibly embarrass me more then I already am." A faint blush stained her cheeks.

Darien smiled and stood. He absolutely towered over her; her head didn't even come to his shoulder. She looked up at him expectantly, the blush becoming more noticeable. Lets make this interesting. "I have nothing to say to you Meatball Head. Except that I owe you one."

A look of confusion crossed her face. "Owe me one what?"

He leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips, quickly yet firmly, then turned and headed for the arcade. "Never mind, looks like the debt's repaid. See ya," he called over his shoulder. Serena stood in complete shock, staring after him.

"What the heck was that all about?" Mina asked. Serena turned to her friends. She hadn't even noticed they had come up. Lita whistled and Amy, being the hopeless romantic type, smiled.

Rei studied her friend closely, noticing the blush and the dazed look. "So Serena, looks like you like Darien a lot more than you let on."

"I... I do not!"

"Why did you hesitate then? If you didn't like him you would have answered right away," Lita teased. Mina nodded in agreement.

Yeah Serena, looks like there's more to this whole Darien thing then you'd have us believe."

"Would you knock it off!" Serena yelled. "There's nothing between... it's none of your business anyway. I'm going to the arcade!" She stormed off, leaving the scouts to stare after her.

Amy looked to Mina. "Do you think we should remind her that's where Darien went?"

"No way!" Mina laughed. "But I definitely gotta see this!" She grabbed Amy's hand and pulled her towards the arcade, the others following after.

Serena stormed into the arcade and sat down at a vacant stool. Her head hit the counter with a thunk. "Gee Serena, what's wrong?"

Serena looked up and gave a weak smile to Andrew. "No, it's nothing."

"So, what have you been doing today?" he asked as he set down a coke in front of her, nodding to the four girls that had just come and sat at the far booth. Now why didn't they sit by Serena? Something's up.

"Kissing innocent people in the park." Serena froze and turned to come face to face with Darien. He smiled and chuckled.

Andrew looked at Serena in shock. "Is he serious?"

"We were playing Truth or Dare and they dared me to kiss him," she explained, blushing madly. "It was supposed to be on the cheek, but he turned."

"How was I supposed to know she would be attacking people with her lips?"

Serena glared at him. "I wasn't attacking people with my lips." Her eyes flashed angrily. "Besides, that doesn't explain why you kissed me again!"

Andrew's jaw dropped open in shock. "Wha...what?!"

Darien laughed at Andrew's expression. "What's wrong Andy, you look like you've seen a ghost!"

"Darien would never do something so unpredictable." Andrew shook his head clear, deciding this was some big joke on him. "I'll believe it when I see it."

"What!?" Serena turned to Darien. "Now everyone thinks I'm a liar! This is all your fault." She stood and stamped her foot. "Andrew I'm telling the truth!"

"Sorry Serena, but whatever joke this was, it's over now," Andrew said, wiping the counter. Darien stood and stepped up to Serena, placing one hand on her waist and using the other to tilt her chin up.

"What do you think your doing?" Serena whispered. Her heart was pounding so fast she thought it would burst from her chest.

"Helping." Darien smiled. Slowly, he leaned down and kissed Serena again, letting it last much longer than in the park. He stepped back and looked at Andrew, who had frozen in shock. "Andy, I'm surprised at you. You should get more proof before accusing someone of being a liar. Well, it's been fun, but I've got things to do." He turned and stepped out the door, heading for home.