Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.

Royalty In Hiding

Chapter Two: One Enemy or Two

Serena opened her eyes slowly and found herself standing on a grassy hill with a beautiful view of the city. The sky was blue, the sun was shining brightly, barely a cloud in sight, and birds were chirping.

She looked down and found herself bare foot, wearing a simple white dress that ended just below her calf's, with her hair up in her usual style. She felt happy and at peace as she looked around, and thought all she needed to complete the scene was her Prince standing at her side.

Suddenly she could see a strange wave that brought darkness flowing over the city. It quickly passed over and through her without a sound, and when she blinked her eyes open everything in her view had changed.

The sky was dark as if night had fallen, the city was left in ruins, smoke streaming up into the sky here and there. She even found that she had changed as well. No longer did she wear her simple dress. She was now dressed as Sailor Moon. She couldn't see it but she could feel it, and she somehow knew that it was different than what she was used to.

Suddenly she heard a noise behind her and she turned and saw three mysterious figures standing at a slight distance from her down the hill in the grass. She couldn't see any details, couldn't tell what they looked like or what they were wearing, but each was holding an unidentifiable treasure.

"Danger! Peril!" The words boomed through the air. "The world is in peril. Doom is approaching. The end of the world is coming." A feminine voice echoed all around her.


Serena blinked her eyes open as she woke, heart pounding in her chest, the words of the voice still ringing in her ears.

She immediately thought it had something to do with the new enemy, and the vision Raye had recently had. And although she remembered very clearly feeling dread as she looked at the ruins, as soon as her eyes landed on the three figures she felt assured and safe.

She shook her head slightly and remembered Raye's vision, which caused her to think of their encounters with their new enemy so far. She recalled the strange creatures, that they now knew were called Daimon's, and how they were after Pure Heart Crystals. Those crystals lived inside people, and they couldn't live without them. They were ripped from a person's being, leaving them empty of what made them them.

She closed her eyes briefly as she remembered Raye's slumped form after her heart crystal had been stolen by the Daimon. She pictured the purple skinned female with pointy elf-like ears and light blue lipstick that wore a barely there sleeveless kimono. The creature had been triumphant in her success.

Serena sighed, unable to help remembering how her attack hadn't been strong enough to defeat or even injure the Daimon, and how her compact had shattered, preventing her from being able to transform. She had gotten her crystal star compact when her original one wasn't strong enough to fight the monsters that Anne and Alan produced with their cards. The first time it happened left her feeling helpless and devastated, and this time was no different.

She blinked away that painful memory and recalled the two mysterious new scouts that had helped, yet not helped when her attack had failed and her transformation had unraveled. She suspected from the little she had seen of them that it was Sailor's Uranus and Neptune. She wasn't sure it was them since she hadn't had a good look, but just the suspicion caused her to think of her own scouts.

Serena had distanced herself as much as she could from the Scouts and cat advisers since she was unsure if she could trust them, especially with the way most of them had been acting toward her. Especially recently.

~~Flashback~~

Serena ran up the last few stairs and toward Raye's shrine. She was late for a meeting with the girls, but it wasn't her fault. Ms. Haruna had wanted to meet with her about her grades after school. She had told Amy and Lita to go ahead without her and she would catch up. She had hoped they would tell Luna and Raye so they wouldn't worry.

She opened the door, entered, and closed it before she slipped out of her shoes and hurried down the hallways toward the meeting room. She slid to a stop outside the door and was about to open it when she heard her name.

"...late. Serena's always late, and this time all because she had to stay behind and talk to her teacher." She heard Raye complain. "She's probably in trouble, which means she's in detention as we speak, making her even later than she already is!"

"Considering her performance in class and her study ethic with us I'm not surprised she has to speak to our teacher. It's irresponsible of her, and she needs to do better as our leader. She's supposed to be setting a good example with the elevated position." Amy said, sounding slightly stern and a little frustrated.

"Yes." Lita agreed with a nod. "She's also underperforming as a fighter. She seems to be relying on Tuxedo Mask to save her, and that's not good considering we still don't know his intentions. She's not putting in the effort to get better, and that's irresponsible as well."

Serena closed her eyes and shook her head slightly. How was she supposed to get better when they didn't train? If she tried to tell them they needed to train they would laugh and not take her seriously. She definitely couldn't train on her own. She'd have no idea where to start.

She was about to go in, but stopped when she heard Luna's voice.

"I agree. Serena needs to better her skills. If she can't protect herself then how is she supposed to protect our princess?" Luna said gravely. "I also agree with Amy. I think Serena needs to start doing better in school and in her all around studies. I don't want her to be an embarrassment to our princess. It would be shameful to present her as she is now to our princess as the leader of her Guardians."

"Why was she named as leader anyway?" Raye said, a frown clear in her voice.

"Because the leader was to be the scout who could wield the Crescent Moon Wand, and as Sailor Moon that's Serena." Luna replied. "Only the princess can change who the leader is considering you're her Guardian Scouts."

A tear slipped from Serena's eye at Luna's words. It hurt to learn that she had only been named leader because the wand would only work for her, and not because Luna saw something special in her.


Serena huffed as she ran toward the stairs leading up to Raye's family shrine. She wasn't late for their meeting, but it was close and she didn't want to chance it.

She had been running errands with her mother, and was lucky to get away when she did. Her mother knew she was meeting her friends, but she said they could wait and would understand if she was late. Serena wasn't so sure of that so she had tried hard to get things done quickly and get away.

She ran up the stairs and spotted Raye's grandfather sweeping the grounds.

"Hi Grandpa Hino!" Serena greeted with a wave as she passed him then hurried inside and to the usual meeting room.

She panted slightly as she stopped outside the door, but frowned as she heard Raye's voice.

"Ugh! Why is she always late?!" Raye complained.

"She's not late. We're just early." Mina countered.

"We're all here except her, so as far as I'm concerned she's late." Raye said.

Serena shook her head in aggravation. Now she was late not because of the time but just because she was the last to arrive. She took a fortifying breath and opened the door.

"Hi everyone!" She said cheerfully like she hadn't heard Raye's unreasonable complaint.

She sat next to Mina since she felt more comfortable with her than anyone else in the room. She knew that just as the others had Mina had betrayed her in the past, but in this life she had not voiced one complaint.

Of course it hadn't been long since she joined the group, so Mina had not had the chance to get to know her very well. She was well aware that Mina's silence could change, especially if she started taking to heart what the others were nearly always saying about her and complaining about.

"We might as well start the meeting now that I'm here instead of waiting for the designated time." Serena said, not at all bothering to explain why she hadn't shown up earlier. Despite Raye's complaint she wasn't late, and felt no need to explain where she was before then.

"The Dark Kingdom has been stepping up their attacks. It's only a matter of time before their leader gets involved directly, and we still have yet to find our princess." Luna said first.

"We still have no idea why the Dark Kingdom is going after former holders of rainbow crystals." Amy said.

"We still don't know if Tuxedo Mask is our enemy or not, and we need to find out soon. Preferably before we find the princess." Lita stated.

"What do you mean if?" Raye said with a raised eyebrow. "He's clearly our enemy since he was collecting the rainbow crystals."

"So what?" Serena said. "We were collecting the rainbow crystals as well, and he had no idea what our intentions were in regards to them. Besides, he doesn't have them anymore. They were taken by Zoycite."

"That other general, Malachite, seemed to think he stole them back." Raye replied.

"That's nonsense! Tuxedo Mask couldn't have stolen them since he was with me the entire time helping to deal with Zoycite." Serena said with a frown. "If you want to believe that dark general then you would have to think I was a part of stealing the crystals since he had addressed us both with that accusation. Do you suddenly think I'm hiding rainbow crystals too?!"

Mina put a hand on Serena's shoulder, and frowned at Raye.

"Raye's not saying that." She said quickly. "She's just concerned because Tuxedo Mask is an unknown."

Serena turned her head to Mina and gave her a look that clearly said she knew exactly what Raye meant, and they both knew it wasn't concern about Tuxedo Mask's intentions.

"Why can't you trust my judgement on this?" She said as she looked back to Raye then to the others. "I've known he wasn't an enemy since before the three of you even came into the picture."

"You wouldn't think anyone was an enemy unless they did something bad or evil right in front of your face, and maybe not even then." Raye said as she rolled her eyes.

Serena tensed and felt Mina tighten her hand on her shoulder, as if to keep her where she was. She closed her eyes and thought of Darien, pictured his calm understanding face, and calmed down. She wished he was there with her, but he was there in her heart and that was what mattered.

She glanced down as she felt softness against her leg, and saw Artemis nuzzle her leg before leaning against her.

"That was uncalled for, and obviously not true." Mina said to Raye. "If it was Serena wouldn't have been around to help awaken you or Lita and Amy for that matter."

Serena appreciated her words but it wasn't lost on her that Luna, Amy, and Lita had remained silent.

"That still doesn't mean Serena isn't too close to Tuxedo Mask for comfort." Amy said. "He's an unknown at best but most likely another enemy, and she seems to have gotten closer and is continuing to get closer to him as time passes."

"I agree." Luna said. "Serena's becoming far too friendly with him. That needs to stop. We know nothing about him so we have no idea if he's a potential threat to our princess."


As Serena walked up the long stairs to Raye's family shrine she looked at her watch. This time she wasn't late, she was early. She had left school without waiting for Amy and Lita so she could meet Darien and let him know about the meeting and that she would come to his place afterward.

The meeting was something that had been decided on while they were all at school by Luna, and she couldn't go tell him with Lita and Amy with her or they would wonder about the nature of their friendship. But she also hadn't wanted Darien to be left waiting for her without a word.

She walked inside and headed to the usual room and paused at the sound of voices. She was unfortunately becoming used to overhearing her supposed friends talking about her. At this point she wouldn't be surprised if they were having meetings behind her back. They didn't think she was a good enough leader, so they wouldn't respect her enough to come to her if they felt the team needed to discuss important issues.

Especially if she was one of those issues.

"We've faced our new enemy twice now, and Serena's obviously unable to fight with her compact still shattered, which means she can't be a scout." Raye's voice reached her, firm and upset.

"Maybe she shouldn't be. Maybe it's a sign she isn't supposed to be one anyway if her ability to transform can be so easily taken away." She added.

Serena's eyes widened at her words and she waited to hear how the others would react. It didn't take long.

"Maybe it's a sign." Lita said after a few moments of silence. "She's been doing better in her fighting, but it obviously isn't enough if her compact could be broken."

"If Serena has no way to fight then she can't help us. She can't fight against the Daimon's, and she can't help us find the princess. If by some miracle Serena came across her she wouldn't be able to convince her of who she is since she can't transform." Amy said.

"Beyond that I'm still not satisfied with her performance in class and with her studies. She doesn't participate in class at all, and even though she's turning in her homework I can't see a difference in her grades. I don't think she's doing well, especially since she stopped showing me her homework and classwork." She added.

Serena's eyes flashed in anger. She had stopped showing her because she didn't want Amy to question her sudden change in intelligence, and it was the same reason she didn't participate in class. Ms. Haruna knew she was doing better and respected her wish not to participate in being called on in class as long as she continued to do well in all the work she handed in.

"Say you got what you wanted and Serena wasn't a scout anymore. What would you do?" Mina said to the group. "She's our leader and the only one who can use the Crescent Moon Wand, which means she's the only one who can lead us to the rainbow crystals. Crystals that are our only clue toward finding our princess."

"Beyond that, say we find our princess without Serena's help, and she remembers who she is and her past. What are we going to say when she asks why her Guardian Scouts are missing a member? When she asks where Sailor Moon is?" She continued into the silence.

"What if she wants Sailor Moon to come back? We aren't in the past where our lives revolved around our duty to our princess. We're in the present where we've once again accepted to take up that duty, but we still have our own lives to live. If Serena were pushed out of the team and our princess wanted her back she could rightfully choose not to come back, no matter what our princess wanted."

"What would we do then? Try and force Serena back when we had forced her out in the first place?" She finished.

It was silent and Serena wondered what they were thinking. She couldn't tell by her voice what Mina thought. She had sounded incredulous, indifferent, and accepting. She just couldn't tell if Mina wanted her on the team or if she was just thinking ahead to if she was no longer on the team.

"Look, you've only faced this new enemy twice, and you need to give Serena time." Artemis spoke up. "Her compact has failed before and she gained a new one that provided her with new powers."

"We have more important matters to worry about; such as finding our princess. The rainbow crystals are our only clue toward finding her, but it shouldn't be the only clue. We need to come up with other ways of finding her." He continued.

"We obviously have a new enemy to deal with. One that's more powerful and dangerous than the last one. We need to figure out what their motive is for taking Heart Crystals, and why they're here in the first place."

"Then there's those two strangers that keep appearing. Who are they? Why are they here? Why are they looking for Heart Crystals as well? Could they be another enemy?" He questioned them firmly.

Serena leaned against the wall next to the door and held in a sigh. Artemis was right. She had gotten a new compact before but it had been during the same incident where her original one had been broken. She didn't know how long it would take to get a new one or if she even would.

Still, regardless if she did or not, she knew who she was, and this latest overheard conversation was very worrisome.

~~End Flashback~~

Serena just didn't understand why the girls were being the way they were. She was cautious of them because she knew who she was and remembered their behavior in the past, but they didn't have that excuse when it came to her. She was mostly the same as she was before she remembered her past, so she couldn't understand why their behavior toward her was deteriorating.

She hadn't done anything wrong. In fact, things were getting better for her. She was doing better in school and was a better fighter because of her training with Darien. She wasn't late to meetings if she could help it, and she even trained with the girls to continue to better her skills. With the emergence of her past memories she had even become more observant, calm, and thoughtful. All good things as far as she was concerned.

Now Luna and the girls were talking about her not being Sailor Moon anymore. She was still reeling slightly from that prospect. She supposed the discovery was justification for why she kept her royal identity a secret. What if they knew she was the princess? If she wasn't good enough to be their leader, or even on the team, than would they think she was good enough to be their princess? Would she be able to meet their standards, and what they thought the Moon Princess should be?

It doesn't matter. She decided instantly. I don't need to meet their standards or their expectations. I am who I am, and I shouldn't have to change to please them.

Darien hadn't asked or demanded that she change, that she be better. The changes that she had made were for her, because remembering her past had made it nearly impossible for her to behave as she had before.

Serena sighed and sat up, turning her alarm off before she forgot, and climbed out of bed. She had a date with her Prince, and couldn't wait to see him. It was just a shame it had to wait until they got out of school.

She moved to her closet and grabbed her uniform and other necessities before heading to the bathroom to ready herself for school.

~~RIH~~

Serena walked down the sidewalk calmly, occasionally weaving around people, as she headed for the place her prince had spoken of. She had left school without Lita and Amy, blending in with all the other girls wearing royal blue knee length pleated skirts with a bow on the back, white long sleeve sailor shirts with a red bow, and royal blue collar and sleeve cuffs.

There was no meeting to worry about and she wasn't keen on spending more time than necessary with them or trying to come up with an excuse for why she needed to ditch them. She just wanted to hurry to her Prince, so she could enjoy her date and the time they would spend together.

She arrived nearly half an hour later at a cozy cafe that was in the opposite direction from the arcade, and in an area where older university aged students frequented. She opened the glass door and walked in and found her date sitting at a small table reading what looked like one of his text books. He was wearing light gray pants, a white button up shirt, red tie, and navy blue blazer. She smiled to see him in his school uniform since it wasn't something she saw him in frequently. He had a habit of changing before they met up.

"Hi love." She greeted him softly as she stepped up to the table, and watched him look up with a soft smile.

"Hello my Serenity." Darien greeted in return as he took his glasses off.

He put his book away and rose to his feet. Within moments they were out the door to start their date, hands clasped and fingers locked together as they walked. They talked about how the school day went, which brought them to talking about Amy and Lita's behavior with her at school.

"They're cool and slightly standoffish but they still spoke to me." Serena related with a sigh. "We still sat together during lunch, but it made me uncomfortable knowing what they've said about me to the others and what they think of you, tuxedo you anyway."

"I understand, and I think you're handling this situation very well." Darien said as he lightly squeezed her hand. "I know you just want to stop talking to them but they're your friends and Guardians, and you won't give up until the very end, if there is an end, just like before." He continued before he sighed gustily.

"What's happening now reminds me uncomfortably of our past, and I find myself once again wishing the outer Scouts were your primary guardians." He added.

Serena sighed and held his hand tighter. The thought had been there in the back of her mind ever since she first realized what was happening between her and her Scouts. She definitely didn't want a repeat of the past and wondered if it was possible to find them.

I'd definitely feel safer and more comfortable with them. She thought, which reminded her of the dream she woke from that morning.

"Ah. I had a strange dream last night. It started off peaceful enough, but ended grimly." Serena said and began to describe it to him in as much detail as she could remember.

"It must have something to do with the enemy we're facing," Darien said with a frown. "but I wonder about the three people you saw. If you felt safe and reassured when you saw them you might very well know them."

Serena considered that and thought it was possible. At present the only one who gave her that feeling was Darien. Still, she didn't get the feeling that he was one of those figures, and neither were the girls.

"They might be the Outer Scouts." She said thoughtfully.

"I remember the three that guarded you when you were with me. Are there any more?" He asked thoughtfully. "It seems strange that there are only three when you have four primary scouts."

"There is one more." Serena answered quietly, not wanting passerby's to hear. "You met Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn but there is also Pluto, who guards the gates of time."

"I suppose the figures from the dream could be Neptune, Uranus, and Saturn, but I don't know for sure. Why would they be here now instead of being awakened before with the rest of us?" She added.

"The voice in your dream spoke of the world being in peril, so it's possible that the situation will be dire enough to warrant the other Guardians being awakened now." Darien said, and Serena sighed and nodded.

"Well, I woke up early from a dream as well. It was very vivid, seemingly showing the whole world in complete devastation and destruction. There was also a shadowy form of a female holding a long sickle-like weapon, but for some reason I get the sense that the weapon is false. Like it's not supposed to be a weapon she's holding." He explained.

"If it helps none of the figures in my dream were holding something like that." Serena said.

"It does, but until we can be sure of who exactly you dreamed of we can't rule them out." Darien replied, and she nodded and sighed.

"If our dreams are about our current enemy then we're in for some hard times, and my Scouts current fickleness is going to make it all the worse." She said solemnly.

"We'll get through this. We have each other, and that's what matters." He said, and Serena smiled and kissed his cheek as they walked.

They stopped at a bus stop and Serena peppered Darien with questions on where they were going, but he refused to answer. They got on the bus and sat together with Serena taking the window seat, and relaxed as they silently watched the scenery go by.

After over half an hour they got off the bus and Darien guided Serena through the people going their own direction. Serena still had no idea where they were going. The area had too many attractions for her to guess so she simply followed along without a word, her eyes bright and curious as she took in the sights.

In the distance she saw a large dome building that she instantly recognized as the Tokyo Dome.

"Where are we going?" She asked again as she looked at her boyfriend, but he just smiled and shook his head.

Darien eventually lead her to a large building but one that was much smaller than the dome, and when they got closer she could see the sign. It read Space Museum TeNQ, and she smiled as she realized he was taking her to an astronomy museum.

"We're going to have so much fun, and hopefully it'll bring up memories we haven't remembered yet." She said happily.

"I hope so as well." Darien said with a smile.

They headed inside, paid the admission, and looked at the map. They saw that there were nine areas to explore, so they looked toward the only pathway besides the entrance and headed toward the dark tunnel.

The tunnel led them to a room that was referred to as the "starting room", and they sat together on one of the larger square blocks to wait and see what would happen. When all the seats were full the lights went out and the wall in front of them lit up, and the images of TV screens began to show different things giving the impression that they were watching multiple TV's at once.

They were entertained and educated by what they saw until the lights came back on, and then they continued on through the museum. They had fun tinkering with the interactive sections, reading fun and educational facts, and looking at the projections of planets and stars.

Serena got a bit teary eyed when they came upon an area that showed a projection of the Moon on the floor and up on the black ceiling an image of the Earth. It was the view she had lived with all her past life, the view that had gotten her interested in the Earth, and in turn its prince.

Darien kissed her and guided her away until they ended up in the theater.

It was a large circular room with a railing that enclosed a large circular screen in the center of the room floor. After more people gathered in the room the screen lit up to show various points of view of beautiful visuals on the Earth before it switched to outer space, and showed the planets, stars, and other space wonders.

When it finished they left the room and continued through the museum until they came to the end. They went to the museum store and after browsing for a bit they decided to get small replicas of the Earth and Moon as visual reminders of each other and their past.

Once they had their purchases the couple left and made their way to the bus stop, and talked about the museum until the bus arrived. They got on and found seats, and as they gazed out at the scenery they decided they didn't want to part yet, so they decided to go to the mall and window shop.

When the bus reached the closest stop to the mall they got off and began to walk.

"I'm hungry." Serena said as she felt her stomach grumble slightly.

"Well, what do you have a taste for?" Darien asked. "Fast food, healthy, or something to just snack on for now?" He added.

"Since we're going to the mall there'll be more fast food than anything. Beyond that I think I'll just go with whatever smells the best unless you have a suggestion." She said with a slight shrug.

Before Darien could reply they heard screaming in the distance. It was shrill and piercing and soon accompanied by others, which signaled to both of them an attack by their enemy. The screams were in the distance but still close enough to draw attention, and they knew it was only a matter of time before they saw people running.

"Go on." Serena encouraged her man. "I don't want the girls to be disadvantaged just because I can't fight."

"Do you really want me to go?" Darien asked skeptically. He couldn't help questioning with how they were treating her, not to mention their distrust of him. He thought it was highly likely that they would refuse his help, or worse, turn on him.

"I'm sure." She said, understanding his thoughts even though he hadn't voiced them. "They haven't betrayed me yet, and until then I'd like you to continue to help while I can't."

"Okay." He said as he nodded, and handed her his school bag and the bag from the museum.

"I'll be in the food court at the mall." She said before she kissed him. "Be careful, and good luck." She added and he nodded.

"I'll see you soon." Darien said before he turned and ran toward the screams.

Serena watched him for a few moments then sighed before she began to head toward the mall. It frustrated her that she couldn't go with him and help, but she knew she would only be in the way since she couldn't transform.

She knew she could fight without being transformed but that would defeat one of the purposes of being transformed: hiding her identity from the enemy and the public.

So she would go to the mall and wait for her prince, and get all the details of the fight when he arrived.

~~RIH~~

Serena sighed as she sat on a swing in a park Saturday afternoon. She and Darien had agreed to meet there and spend the day together.

She was always up for anything that would allow them to spend time together, but as she waited she couldn't help thinking about her inability to transform into Sailor Moon and the troubling behavior of her friends.

She hated that she couldn't be out there helping to fight their enemy, helping her friends, her prince. The girls were apparently having problems with her, but for the time being they were still her friends, and though they didn't know it, her Guardians.

She knew that they were having a hard time, and that it was a good thing they had Darien's help, and even the help of the two strangers. All this was coming from Darien since the girls weren't telling her when they had meetings. They told her about the attack happening, what the Daimon looked like and where it came from if they knew, but there was never anything about the strength of the Daimon or their struggles against it.

Serena frowned and pushed back on her seat and began to swing as she looked at the situation from a different point of view.

Maybe I should stop worrying about not being able to help them and worry that they need help. She thought as she lightly kicked her legs to keep the swing going.

Those four girls were supposed to be her Guardian Scouts. They were supposed to be her protectors, and able to handle situations without her. What would they do if she wasn't Sailor Moon, and just a princess? What if Darien was not Tuxedo Mask, and just a prince?

She needed them to be able to fight without her. She was strong and able to fight and protect herself now, but what if she was injured and couldn't fight? She wasn't sure they could fight an enemy and protect her at the same time, especially if they were having trouble with the enemy.

Serena wondered how things would be when they learned she was the princess they were looking for, and then she remembered their words from the past. The complaints, derision, the condescension.

With the way they were acting now it was obvious that things wouldn't suddenly be fine once she was revealed as the Moon Princess since being their princess hadn't helped in the past. They would still have issues with her, which was the main reason why she hadn't revealed her royal identity to them.

Serena would not let them know the truth about her only to watch them betray her. If they were going to betray her they would do it with her as Serena and Sailor Moon. And they would certainly not be attacking her prince just because they refused to believe her when she said he wasn't an enemy.

"Princess!" She heard and turned her head to look behind her and saw Darien walking toward her.

"Hey!" She called back as she slowed to a stop.

Darien came around the swing and stood in front of her before he leaned down and claimed his greeting kiss.

"How are you fairing?" He asked as he pulled back.

"I am well, but my thoughts are troubled." Serena replied.

"Tell me." He said as he grasped the chains of the swing she sat on. He listened as she spilled her thoughts, and then hummed thoughtfully.

"You're right. They should be able to handle the enemy without your help or mine for that matter." Darien finally said. "I'm Tuxedo Mask only because you're Sailor Moon. I'm there ultimately to keep you safe. The tuxedo and mask are so no one will know it's me while I do it."

"The Sailor Scouts are your Guardians. You as Sailor Moon are helping them, but you have the option to not help. You can step back if you want to and simply be their princess, but with them behaving the way they are it would be dangerous if you did."

"Beyond that fact, you're a fighter this time around, and you're already unsatisfied with not being able to do so. Though it doesn't help that your Guardians keep saying hurtful things every time you turn around." He continued with a sigh.

"And I agree with you that revealing your identity as the Moon Princess wouldn't change anything. They have their opinions about you and they're obviously not positive. We both know in the past they had a problem with you even though you were their princess."

"Being influenced by an evil entity doesn't mean they didn't have those thoughts all along. It just meant they were emboldened to speak, and it makes me wonder if they would've done anything to you if the end hadn't come first." He finished gravely.

Serena sighed as she let her eyes trail down to her feet. It was something she had wondered as well, and it was a thought in the back of her mind with the girls speaking and behaving as they had in the past.

"Do you think they would resort to something like that now?" She asked as she looked back up.

"I don't know, but I've been keeping an eye on them whenever I've been around them." Darien answered. "I don't trust them. It's starting the same way it did last time. Petty complaints and dissatisfaction with the way you are. They may not know they're your Guardians, but they're supposed to be your friends. What kind of friends can't accept you for who you are?" He asked and she nodded sadly.

"I still can't figure out if Mina and Artemis feel the same as the others. That might mean they won't go down that path." Serena said optimistically.

"What are they saying?" Darien asked as he shifted in his stance.

"They're not saying anything negative. It's like they're trying to make the others see where their words and actions will lead them, what the consequences will be." She answered and he nodded.

"That's good but it doesn't say one way or the other where their opinion lies. You should keep observing them, but stay cautious. I don't want you hurt because you let your guard down." Darien said firmly.

"I will." She promised and then sighed. "So, what do you want to do for the rest of the day?"

Darien looked at his Princess, taking in her slumped shoulders and the slightly defeated air about her, and decided she needed cheering up. He had heard of a place from some of his classmates that he thought might cheer her up.

"Come on." He said as he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. "I want to show you something."

"What is it?" Serena asked curiously as she followed him.

"It's a surprise." He said lightly.

They walked from the park and nearly thirty minutes later they reached what looked like a rundown abandoned building. They walked up to a break in the brick fence and he stepped through before grabbing Serena's hand and pulling her after him.

Serena looked up at the building, wondering why he had brought her there, and turned around only to be surprised by Darien holding a kitten up to her face.

"How cute!" She exclaimed as she gently took the ginger kitten.

The kitten seemed to enjoy their attention for a while but then jumped from her arms and ran off. They followed it inside the building and found a little girl feeding what was clearly stray cats.

They greeted the girl and she explained that she had found the cats there and had been feeding them for a while, but that the building was going to be demolished soon, which would leave the cats with nowhere to go.

Serena frowned sadly as she knelt down and pet the closest cat and looked up to Darien.

"Do you think there's anything that can be done?" She asked.

Darien opened his mouth but before he could say anything they heard a feminine voice above them.

"Looks like I finally found my target." The voice said.

They looked up and saw a purple humanoid cat standing in the open window frame. She had red eyes, short black hair framing her face with her matching cat ears visible on top of her head, and a long black tipped tail. She wore a white poka-dotted dress with matching tights, and bells around her ankles, wrists and neck.

"Oh!" Serena breathed in shock.

For a moment all three of them wondered who the target was, but then the female jumped and Serena began to herd the little girl toward the open door at the end of the room. They all piled in and Darien closed the door and leaned back against it. He watched Serena comfort the girl before she came over to him.

"You have to go transform." She told him.

"You have to go too." He urged and she shook her head.

"I can't leave that little girl." She stated quietly. "And I doubt I'll be able to get away if I try to take her with me." She added just as he opened his mouth. "Please. Go. Before that monster makes it inside." She begged.

Darien sighed in frustration before he kissed her.

"Be careful." He told her and she nodded, and watched as he ran off, disappearing around the corner.

"Where's he going?" The little girl asked.

"He's going to get help." Serena answered as she leaned back against the door. She doubted it would do any good but it was better than doing nothing.

Her thought was confirmed as the door all but exploded moments later, sending her flying forward with a shocked and pained cry. She hit the ground heavily and winced as pieces of wood rained down on her.

She groaned and heard the little girl scream in fright. She rolled over to see the monster shoot a dark beam of light from the black star on its thigh, just like what happened to Raye.

Serena struggled to her feet and ran to the little girl and snatched her up, breaking the connection, and ran. She supposed her Prince was right. She was a fighter now. If she wasn't she probably would have been too frightened to do anything but sit there and watch.

She ran down a hallway and into another room, slamming the door behind her, and continued toward the end of the room where a large open doorway stood.

"Are you alright?" She asked the girl and watched her nod.

Serena nodded in return and continued to run, knowing the girl was the monsters target and that they both would be in danger because of it.

She ran through the doorway and was smacked in the face by something that had her knocked on her back and seeing stars.

"Get up! Get up!" She heard the little girl scream and felt her roll off her, then just outright screaming before something wrapped around her neck and lifted her high into the air.

Serena gasped for air as it tightened, and she clawed at it to try and get it to loosen. All the while she could hear the little girl screaming.

"No!" She suddenly heard someone call out then she saw a flash of red, and suddenly the thing around her neck began to crumble and she was falling. She barely had time to cry out before she was snatched out of the air by Tuxedo Mask.

"I told you to be careful." He said quietly as he moved away from the Daimon monster.

"I was. I took the girl and ran, but I didn't see whatever hit me in the face before I was suddenly dangling in the air." Serena said as he stopped moving and sat her on the floor.

"It was probably the monsters tail." He said as he knelt next to her and stroked her neck. He could see the bruises forming on her face and neck and it made him angry. She shouldn't be hurt.

Tuxedo Mask turned to look back at the monster and she followed his gaze to see that her friends had arrived as well. Sailor Mercury had the little girl at her side and Sailor Venus was attacking the monster with her crescent beam.

"Go on. Help them." Serena urged him. "I can go now that the girls are here to look after the little girl." She added and watched him nod and head toward the fight.

Serena stood and looked around for an exit. She found they were in a large room, but there were no other doors, just windows that were halfway up the walls. She could jump but that would give away the fact that she was more than what she seemed and draw attention.

She was trapped by the fighting. Her only choice was to get to the doorway she had originally run through, but that meant trying to get by the fighting.

She sighed as she turned back to the fight, her face and neck throbbing with pain, as she tried to figure out how to get pass the flying attacks and whipping tail. She looked around for anything that could help, and thought she spotted something behind a tattered curtain. She rushed over and pulled it aside to find a door. She opened it and was severely disappointed to find it to only be a closet.

Serena turned away with a frustrated sound. She needed to get out and away. She knew she was nothing but a distraction since she couldn't help.

I'll just make a run for it and hope for the best. She decided, especially since the fighting was moving her way.

She took a steadying breath, seeing where everyone was, and started running. She dodged the cat lady's flicking tail and jumped over some debris, but was tackled by a heavy body before she got past where Mercury was standing, still protecting the girl. She heard a masculine grunt as the weight moved off her and she rolled over to see Tuxedo Mask clutching his side.

"Why?" She asked, wondering why he had stopped her.

"There was an attack coming your way." He answered with a grimace as he shifted.

Before she could reply to that there was suddenly a bright explosion that rocked the building, and Venus, Mars, and Jupiter went flying, slamming into walls and sliding and falling down to the floor.

Mercury picked up the girl and was about to run, something Serena thought she should have done when she first arrived, but was snatched by the Daimon's tail and tossed aside. The little girl went flying with her but was protected from the impact by Mercury turning, allowing her back to hit the wall.

Serena and Tuxedo Mask watched helplessly as the monster once again lifted the edge of her dress, revealing the large black star on her thigh, and shot an energy beam at the girl. It hit her in the chest and she screamed for a few long moments before she stopped, and what was clearly her heart crystal floated in front of her body.

Serena stood and shifted to take a step forward to do who knew what. She just wanted to help the girl.

"No!" Tuxedo's sharp voice stayed her, and she watched in frustration as the monster took the girls heart crystal and held it up as if admiring it.

Before the monster could do anything else she was suddenly hit with a bright dark yellow attack in the back that left her literally in pieces all over the floor.

They looked at the tiny puzzle pieces in confusion before looking up to where the attack had come from. Two women who were dressed like sailor scouts stood in one of the window openings, and one was holding the heart crystal. They hadn't even seen when it was grabbed after the monster was blasted.

The crystal must not have been what they were looking for since they sent it floating back to the girl where it disappeared back inside her.

"Wait! Help us." Sailor Jupiter suddenly called after them as they turned to leave.

"We aren't here to help you." The shorter one with the longer hair said. "You need to fight on your own." She said before they jumped away and disappeared from their sight.

True. Serena agreed with the mysterious warriors. It echoed her earlier thoughts on the four Scouts needing to handle the situation on their own.

She looked around and saw the others slowly getting up, and Mercury once again seeing to the little girl. But she also saw the puzzle pieces moving and knew the monster was not done.

"The monster will go after the girl again once it reforms." She said as she turned to Tuxedo. "I'll go after I help you up." She added.

Tuxedo nodded as she grabbed his hand and suddenly they were engulfed in a bright blinding white light. When it cleared they were standing on the Moon, surrounded by the familiar walls and furniture of the Moon Palace, and facing the Queen.

"Mother?!" Serena said with a gasp, completely surprised. Her eyes flickered around and then at herself and Tuxedo only to find that they were dressed in their royal clothes.

"Why are we here?" She asked. She was glad to see her mother, but there had to be a reason for this.

"Because I needed to tell you some important information." Queen Serenity answered calmly. "First, I very much miss you, and I am so happy to see you growing into such a fine young lady."

"Now then, I am aware of what is happening with the Guardian Scouts, and the two of you are right to be cautious. I also wished to make sure you do not take their hurtful words and complaints to heart." She said as she looked to her daughter. "They are your Guardians and it is your business how you deal with them, but I do not want you to think they are right in saying you were not supposed to be a scout. You were." She stressed seriously.

"You are supposed to be Sailor Moon. Not only so you could learn to protect yourself, but so you would not have to rely on the Scouts so completely. It is something I set in motion when I sent you all to be reincarnated on Earth, especially after learning of their betrayal." The Queen informed them.

Serena looked to her Prince who smiled at her then back to her mother.

"I was supposed to be Sailor Moon." She repeated, the statement sounding like a question.

"Yes." Queen Serenity confirmed with a smile.

"I can't transform anymore." She said with a disappointed sigh.

"There is a simple solution." Her mother said before gesturing to Endymion. "All you need to do is focus on your love and he on you."

The couple blinked at each other before they turned to face one another, and held their hands up between them.

"I love you so very much." Serena said before she kissed his hands. "You are so good to me, and you make me strong. I do not know what I would do without you."

"And I love you." Darien said with a soft smile. "You are my only family. I will always be here for you in whatever way you need." He declared before he kissed her with all the passion he felt for her.

They both felt a warmth fill them before it traveled to their hands and seemed to explode outward. They broke the kiss and there floating between their hands was what appeared to be a new scepter.

It glowed a bright pink before it cleared to reveal a red heart lined in gold, topped with a tiny golden crown. Beneath the heart was a gold design leading into a golden bow attached to a long pink rod.

Serena grasped it and knew instantly that it was called the 'Spiral Heart Moon Rod'. After she grabbed it her broken compact suddenly appeared, floating where the rod had, and glowed a bright pink as it transformed into a new one right before their eyes.

The round compact changed into a heart shape and the light cleared to show it was a red heart lined with gold with a flat like crown on top mimicking the top of her new scepter rod. Laid over the red heart was a gold almost cross like shape with a circle in the center with a gold crescent moon inside it.

She grabbed it in her free hand and once again knew instantly that it was called the 'Cosmic Heart Compact'.

"Now you have all you need to continue on as Sailor Moon." Her mother said with a pleased smile.

"Go on love. Transform." Darien said with a grin, completely happy for his Princess.

Serena nodded and looked at the compact for a moment before holding it up.

"Moon Cosmic Power!" She called and was surrounded in a warm light as she transformed.

When she finished she was in her sailor suit and the only noticeable differences from her previous transformation was that the charm on her choker was now a gold heart and her tiara gem was replaced with a light golden crescent moon.

"Good luck Serenity, Endymion." The Queen said softly, and once again they were engulfed in a blinding white light. When it cleared Tuxedo was back on the ground and she was standing, still holding his hand, but was now Sailor Moon.

Sailor Moon smiled at him and finished pulling him to his feet then summoned her new rod just as the monster reformed into her humanoid cat form.

Tuxedo held in a groan as he straightened, his side killing him. He looked at his love and saw the bruises on her face and neck weren't visible, but he knew they had to still be there beneath her transformation and paining her. He'd have to take care of those when they had some privacy. He couldn't let her go home to her family with those bruises.

For now he was going to distract the monster while she prepared her attack. He pulled out some roses and began to launch them rapidly at the cat lady.

Sailor Moon took a deep breath and gripped her rod, the words falling into her mind as she held it up. She began to spin in place, pinkish red energy hearts spiraling out of the top of the rod.

"Moon Spiral Heart Attack!" She called as she stopped spinning, and watched as hearts shot out of the heart of the rod in swirls toward the Daimon.

The attack connected and the humanoid cat screamed before it changed into a complete puzzle. They watched as an egg shaped object came out of it and cracked, releasing a black smoky substance.