A/N: Just a little note. Italics mean a memory. So if you see a chunk of text in italics, its something from the past. If its just one italicized word in a sentence it's meant to be emphasized.
And, I'm glad you're enjoying this story! :-). I am too. Hehe.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
Chapter 2: The Moon Princess
The imperium silver crystal slowly started to form above Sailor Moon's form on the bed. As it did, her eyes opened again and Tuxedo Mask looked up to meet her eyes. Her perfect blue eyes that were so blank with no emotion.
Slowly her head turned, looking up at the silver crystal as it hovered above her form. Slowly, both of her hands reached up to cup the crystal on either sides, holding it there as something inside of her changed, and everyone felt it.
Raising up from the bed, slowly her feet rested on the mattress underneath her and brought her into a standing position, the blank look still on her face as she cupped the silver crystal within her gloved hands. Her pools of blue stared down into the crystal, almost as if she were analyzing it.
Tuxedo Mask looked up at Sailor Moon, staying knelt down, one hand resting on his stomach as he watched her. "S-Serena..?" he asked in a light voice.
At his voice, her head tilted up and looked at him. Something changed in that moment. Her golden tiara slowly disappeared from her forehead, replaced by a shimmering golden crescent moon as she transformed. Her Sailor Moon attire slowly faded, the red specs on her pigtails disappeared and white enveloped her form. Falling from her now was a flowing white dress that fell to the floor as her form lifted slowly up off the mattress, her feet no longer touching the ground as she transformed.
And...she was beautiful. The most beautiful thing he'd ever laid his eyes on. His princess.
The long dress fell downwards with a pink bow at her back, golden round circles around the top of the dress, beading along her waist, a white pearl bracelet around her wrist and matching pearls shining in her hair.
As her eyes opened, they seemed to be returned back to normal. Her pupils were there, and a soft smile graced her lips as she looked at Darien.
He looked up at her, smiling in return. "Y-You're free, Princess.." he whispered slowly. It was so surreal, Serena was his princess, the woman he dreamed about every night, and Sailor Moon. She was everything he'd ever wanted, right in front of his eyes the entire time. And to think, he'd teased the girl about her hair and her bad grades. He just hoped his princess would forgive him for that now.
She nodded curtly to him, the smile staying on her lips. "I am. Thank you, Endymion, my sweet prince..." she whispered slowly. "You have freed me my love."
Slowly she extended the crystal, looking at Darien still as she closed her eyes halfway. "Remember, Endymion. Remember your life, our life together. It is time for you to wake up with me my love." she said. The power of the crystal shone, almost blinding all that were in the room.
Memories flooded back to Darien with such force, if he had not already been kneeling down, it surely would have brought him to his knees. He remembered things, saw things, saw everything.
His eyes widened as he saw their moments together, the soft kiss they shared, and the most painful of all; seeing his dear Serenity run into battle that he'd been pulled off to, surely pulled straight to his death. He could remember that the clearest of all, the pain that wretched his heart at the sight of the woman he loved more than anything in the world.
He could remember their words clear as day:
"Run, Serenity!" he yelled as he was being pulled off by the powers of the Negaverse.
But she looked up at him with those determined ocean blue eyes that he loved so, so much. Shaking her head, she quickly ran towards the balcony's edge and jumped after him.
"No Endymion! I want to be with you!" she yelled as she jumped after him, the wind carrying her straight to him, her dress and hair ruffling and blowing in the wind.
Their hands touched and fear ran through his heart, tears in both of their eyes, realizing this was the end, their end as they looked into each others eyes for the last time in what they thought would be ever.
He'd never get to hold her close to him, dance with her, see a smile spread over her lips at just the sight of him. And most importantly, he would never get to make her his Queen.
Their eyes stayed locked for what seemed like forever as they drank each other in for their last moments alive. Undying love could be felt in their gaze, he could see it in her eyes, and she could see it in his. But, his eyes held regret, longing. He did not want his princess to die like this, to die with him. He wanted to make her happy, not destroy her.
Tears slowly slid down Serenity's cheeks as she stared at her Prince Charming. He really was her knight in shining armor, the man she loved with every fiber of her being that she would willingly jump to certain death just to be with him.
Just like that, a bolt of energy hit them, breaking their hands apart, making them both scream.
"Endymion!"
"Serenity!"
"AHH!" Darien exclaimed as he felt the worst pain he'd ever felt, the pain of losing the woman he loved more than anything in the world.
"You've saved me, my Prince. I love you Endymion. Now and for all eternity." she told him.
Serenity's voice rang in his head as he looked up at her, opening his eyes halfway. Unshed tears rimmed them as he looked at his princess, slowly starting to push himself up a little.
Fear struck his heart as he heard Serenity's scream. Looking up at her, the darkness took over from the light and a strong power engulfed his princess.
"PRINCESS!" he screamed, moving to stand but he ran straight into the barrier as he had before. Gasping and falling back down, he looked up, helpless as he watched his princess in pain.
She screamed an agonizing scream as the dark energy ran through her body. Her fingers gripped at the energy of the silver crystal, tears rimmed her eyes and started to slide down her cheeks as she felt Beryl's energy circulate through her, ripping her apart from the inside out.
"Your wretched mother would not let me take away your future. Little did she know, you would become my future, Serenity!" Beryl said, grinning as she looked at the young girl.
The bright light surrounding the crystal slowly became tainted, a black light starting to surround it through Serenity's own fingertips.
Serenity slowly opened her eyes halfway, looking at Darien kneeling on the floor, seeing as he looked at her helplessly.
"Endymion...run...please...go." she muttered.
But he shook his head. "No, Serenity, I want to be with you." he told her, recalling her words he'd just heard in his head through his memory of their last moments together.
The words made a small smile appear over her lips as she collapsed to her knees on the hard floor. No longer was the mattress there to support her as she fell. "Endymion..."
"Serenity.." he said, sitting up on one knee slowly, placing one foot on the floor to push him into a kneeling position, trying to regain himself.
Another scream ripped through her throat as she closed her blue eyes tightly, evil power coursing through her veins, trying to overtake her. But, the Princess was no weakling. She resisted with everything she had within her, trying to use her light to shine out the darkness. But, it pulled at every fiber of her being.
Her fingers continued to grip the energy around the jewel as she held it, opening her eyes just slightly and looking towards Beryl, shaking her head. "Y-You'll...you'll never get my crystal...I...I will protect it to my last breath..then...then what will you do? Only one of my line can control the crystals power. W-With...with me gone...it...it will just...just be a...a stone.." Serenity muttered out in a weak voice.
Looking at the crystal, small tears rimming her eyes as she gripped it. "P-please...please crystal..h-help me..." she said slowly.
Then again, Darien moved to stand up, only to be shocked back down. Gritting his teeth through the pain as he fell onto both knees. The hat on his head slowly fell off, along with the mask he wore to hide his eyes. "S-Serenity..." he said. Looking up at Beryl slowly. "You...you let her go! Take me instead." he offered. He would do anything for his princess, anything.
Looking up at his words, Serenity shook her head. "No! Endymion.."
"S-Serenity stop..." he told her, looking back to her. "I...I would do anything to stop your suffering, your pain."
"Touching, but I don't think so. The princess here is the only one that can control the imperium silver crystal. Besides, her pain will end once she gives into the dark energy coursing through her veins, there will be no more pain." Beryl promised, looking at Serenity. "Come, Serenity. Give in to the darkness. It'll feel better."
Serenity shook her head, looking at Beryl as she grit her teeth a little. "I'll never give into you." she said.
Beryl narrowed her eyes, glaring at the blonde kneeling by her. Slowly, a grin formed over her lips as she raised one hand. A black spike started to raise from the ground right by Darien. The sharp end of the spike started to press against Darien's neck, pieces of energy like rope springing up to grab ahold of his wrists, pulling his hands to hold against the ground, and then more wrapping around his ankles. The spike started to press upwards, slightly nicking the skin of his neck.
"Really, Princess?" Beryl started with a grin, looking at her. "Even at the cost of Prince Endymion's life?"
Blue eyes widened as her head snapped to look at Darien, gasping a little. "Endymion..." she said. Shifting on her knees a little to try and move closer, but she couldn't.
Darien felt the spike nick his skin, a small line of blood trickling down his neck and staining the white of his tuxedo, wincing a bit. "D-Don't...don't do it, Princess." he said, turning his eyes towards Serenity. "Don't. You mustn't. You're too pure and sweet for this. For Beryl."
Her eyes closed halfway, tears rimming them at the sight of Darien in danger. She'd ran into the line of fire for him the last time, she'd thrust herself into certain death for him, and she would do it again in a second. Her eyes overflowed with tears, feeling them start to sting down her cheeks in soft lines before she looked to Beryl. "Let him go."
"Oh I will. But, you must make a decision. Sacrifice yourself, or him, and I'll still get you, I'll win in the end."
"No! Don't listen to her! Don't give up, Serenity!" Darien called out, wincing a bit as the binds on his wrists and ankles got tighter, starting to bring him down a bit more. The movement made the spike press more into his skin, dangerously close to doing way too much damage, making him gasp and wince.
Listening to both of them, Serenity took in a breath and closed her eyes. "Let him go...no harm is to come to him..."
"Of course."
"Serenity! Stop!"
"Do it." Serenity said. Gasping as she opened her eyes wide, feeling the power surge through her veins as she stopped fighting. It was like a dam had burst and power flooded over her. Sitting up on her knees from the sheer power of it flooding and melding with her own.
Her eyes widened as the crystals energy turned black instead of white, taking in a breath. The golden crescent moon on her forehead slowly bled from gold to black. It was still there all the same, except for the color of it.
"Serenity!" Darien yelled, trying to pull from his bonds. The spike quickly moved away from his chin and the bonds released. A sharp burst of energy hit him and made him fly across the room, coming to a skidding stop on his stomach, coughing a little.
"Leave, Tuxedo Mask." Beryl said, looking towards him. "Serenity belongs to the negaverse now." she said.
Looking up at her, he watched as Serenity's body slowly fell forward, the now blackened imperium silver crystal being absorbed into her body as she fell, her eyes closing as the power overwhelms her.
Beryl looks over at Serenity, seeing her fall and having a bed of energy catch her, making her lift up and slowly disappear into a portal. Looking back at Darien, grinning. "Good luck saving your princess, Tuxedo Mask. The brightest light in the universe has knelt to the negaverse." she said as she followed Serenity.
"NO!" Darien yelled. Pushing himself to stand up and start to run after where Serenity had disappeared. But, he was too late, she was gone.
Falling down to his knees, tears rimming his eyes. "S-Serena..." he whispered.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
And thats where the Sailor Scouts found him, kneeling on the floor, staring off into space. They were all quite confused, having just walked in. But once Beryl left, the vines keeping them from the building left as well. All of them were already transformed into their Sailor Scout selves.
Looking at the mysterious man, they blinked a little, but it was Ami who said it. "Darien...is Tuxedo Mask?" she asked. Darien still didn't have his mask or hat on to hide his appearance.
Rei watched him, nodding. "I guess so..." she said. Walking up to him and moving to kneel next to him. "Hey...hey Darien, its me, Rei. Are you okay? Is Sailor Moon around?" she asked.
Slowly Darien's eyes looked up to Rei, the tears showing rimming his eyes but not quite falling. Shaking his head slowly as he leaned back to rest on his heels, looking back to where he'd been looking. "N-No...no...Beryl took her, she...she took Serena...Serenity." he said. He seemed in utter shock.
The girl beside him watched him, her head tilting to one side. "You know Sailor Moon is Serena?"
"She's also Princess Serenity, of the moon kingdom. And I...I'm Prince Endymion, of Earth. I...I remember now...a little bit, not all of it..."
"Run, Serenity!" he yelled as he was being pulled off by the powers of the Negaverse.
But she looked up at him with those determined ocean blue eyes that he loved so, so much. Shaking her head, she quickly ran towards the balcony's edge and jumped after him.
"No Endymion! I want to be with you!" she yelled as she jumped after him, the wind carrying her straight to him, her dress and hair ruffling and blowing in the wind.
He shuddered as the memory returned to him again, remembering the pain. One hand moved up and grabbed his heart over his chest. The pain flooded through him at her words from the past. Shaking his head. "I...I have to save her." he said, pushing himself up to his feet.
"Woah woah woah, hold on." Lita's voice came, walking up to them. "Serena is the moon princess?" she asked.
Nodding, Darien looked at her. "Yes. She is the moon princess...was the moon princess. Before she ran to her death because of me."
Gripping her hands into fists, Lita glared at him. "WHAT? You killed our princess?!" she answered, already beginning to be in a rage.
"No no, the negaverse did that, Beryl. I died trying to protect her, the only woman I'll ever love, my fiancé. We were to marry, but a bit before that the negaverse came up...threatening the peace of the Silver Millennium, threatening the universe, especially the moon. I...I don't remember everything, not yet. But I remember the attack..." he explained, looking off to one side, closing his eyes halfway. "I came to protect her with my life. I...I begged for her to run. But...but she ran towards me, not away from me. I held her hand before we died. Together. Thats all I know...but I do know it's her."
They all stared at him, but Rei felt her heart drop. She'd loved Darien, or thought she did. She had a crush on him at least. But...Serena and Darien seemed to be meant to be long before her and Darien. Sighing and shaking her head. "Where did she go?"
"Beryl took her..." Darien said, looking down and gripping his hands into tight fists. "She threw her life away again, for me. Damnit I can't just let her do that!" he said, starting to walk towards the elevator. He wasn't sure how he'd find her, but he had to.
Lita grabbed Darien's shoulder, stopping him. "Stop. You can't save her going off half cocked. Serena is strong. Yeah she's klutzy and ditzy, but she's strong, and she can take care of herself." she said, looking at Darien. "You need to rest, and we need to figure out where they are, and come up with a plan. Running in there will only get people killed."
Darien pulled his shoulder back, shaking his head and looking away. He had to admit, that was true. He didn't want Serenity to get any more hurt than she already was. "I've failed her, again..."
"You didn't fail her..." Mina started, looking up at him. "You're not in this alone. We have to save our princess, all of us."
"Yeah, and we'll do it together." Lita confirmed.
Darien just shook his head and started to head towards the elevator. "It is my job to protect my own fiancé."
"You don't have to do it by yourself." Mina said, looking at him. "She is our princess too, and we are duty bound to protect her."
Sighing, he just nodded. "I suppose so.." he said, glancing towards them. "I'm sorry, this is such a change and...and I don't know what to quite do."
"Well, lets concentrate on getting out of here. We'll meet tomorrow to discuss a plan at my temple." Rei said, looking at him and telling him where her temple was. He barely nodded in agreement before starting to walk off to disappear as he usually did.
:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:
A/N: Hope you all enjoyed it! :-). Read and review!