Author's Note: Below are chapters 5,6 and 7 of Memories On Earth. I hope you enjoy, please review -- or email me at arysta@bigfoot.com with your comments. I love to hear from my readers! ACJ Leveille
Memories On Earth
CHAPTER FIVE
Serena held herself still, and felt herself starting to hyperventilate. Oh, no. We're going to die! She thought, clutching Darien Chiba's rose-scented clothing.
Tears started flowing down her cheeks, and she lost her grip on Endymion, falling to the ground and resting there. She tried, as the golden glow increased, to think of something fitting in her last few seconds of life - but nothing came to mind.
Footsteps. Serena squinched her eyes shut, fear making her heart pound. She was gasping for breath. The feet were there, right beside them. Darien held himself still, she could feel the muscles in his body tightening, readying themselves to attack.
She braved a look at the attacker, Darien's bravery encouraging her. I can survive this. She thought of the scouts, who were stuck in Juban Park, waiting for her, not knowing what had happened. For them, I can fight. She reached to her forehead, feeling for her tiara, and realized that she wasn't transformed.
Darien growled lowly, more a vibration than a sound. Serena knew he was getting ready to spring.
Then she saw the shoes. High heels, boots. Familiar ones. "Wait!" She screamed, pushing her way out of Darien's arms.
A whispered invocation sent a ball of fire whirling toward her. Serena ducked and cringed, hiding beneath Darien in desperation. The fireball kept going, flying and crashing into the wall, creating a deep, smoking dent. Serena wailed.
"Mars, you almost killed me!" She screeched, popping up again.
"Sailor Moon?" Mercury asked. The light was dim, and the fireball had blinded everyone. Darien stood, rubbing his chest where Serena's shoulder had thrust into him - twice - and flicked on the overhead lights.
"Serena!" Mars exclaimed, then she noticed the other person in the room. "Darien Chiba?" The scouts looked at each other.
"Umm," Jupiter stuttered, panicking. "Don't worry, the Scouts will save you!" She cried in a superhero tone.
Mars caught on quickly, asking in a similar manner, "Where's Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask?"
"Don't bother guys," Serena interrupted. "He knows."
Silence, then, "What do you mean, he knows?" Mercury asked carefully.
Serena sighed, "What do you think?" She glared at Darien.
The girls gasped loudly. "You told him!" Mars demanded, taking two angry steps toward Serena.
"No!" Serena waved her hands frantically, stepping back. "You don't understand." She looked at Darien, hoping he would step in and explain. He smiled at her, but made no effort to help her.
Mars leaned against a wall, looking incredibly haughty - and dangerous. "Why don't you tell us about it."
Jupiter was looking at Serena with sorrow in her eyes.
Anger welled up inside Serena. "Don't you trust me at all!?" She yelled at the scouts, fuming. "You think I'd tell him anything like that!?"
"You didn't?" Mercury asked, obviously confused. "Then how did Darien find out about you?"
"He's Tuxedo Mask." She blurted out.
Darien rolled his eyes.
The girls all looked at him. "Is this true?" Jupiter demanded.
"Yes," he said simply.
"How did this happen?" Mars wondered. Jupiter looked at Darien with starry eyes, shocked that the ultra-cool Darien Chiba was their masked friend, Tuxedo Mask. "Cool!" She muttered.
Serena snorted. "I'm glad you're impressed." She waited for her friends to calm down.
Mars looked at her with laughter dancing in her eyes, "Oh... Serena, how did you feel, finding out that Darien, your enemy, is actually the same guy as Tuxedo Mask, who you have a major ...." Serena slapped her hand over Mars mouth with a shriek, earning looks from everyone.
"You both look all right. From your demeanor I'm assuming that there is not an army lurking outside, right?" Mercury asked.
Darien and Serena nodded.
"Okay, then. We can talk about what happened later. Let me call Luna and tell her everything is okay." Mercury pulled her communicator from the air. "Luna," she called, pushing the correct button. "We're safe. We found Serena."
"Do you need my help?" Luna asked, the voice echoing in the room.
"You're welcome to come. We're alone here, I think." She looked at Darien, who nodded affirmatively.
"Right." Luna said. "I'll be right down."
"Luna." Darien breathed, the intonation full of meaning. He remembers her.
"Darien," Serena jumped in. "Maybe you should change into Tuxedo Mask."
"Why Serena?" Jupiter asked. "Let's all relax some." She reached into the ether and twisted her planet pen. She turned into Lita. Amy and Raye appeared as well. Serena growled, throwing her hands in the air.
Darien smiled. "Ashamed of me, Meatball Head?"
Serena's fingers curled into claws. "Just change. Quick!" She bit out as the golden shimmer started again. Luna was on her way.
"I can't." Darien explained.
"What!?" She shrieked, pulling at her hair.
"I can't change by myself." He explained. "The Tuxedo Mask transformation is directly connected to your own transformation, Sailor Moon."
"What does that mean!" She screeched, keeping a fretful eye on the intense gold.
"It means that I only transform when you do."
Serena stared at him. Transforms when I do?
"Do what?" A female voice asked.
The girls and Darien all looked down as Luna's form became clear.
"I was just..." Serena's hand clamped over Darien's mouth. She smiled brilliantly, trying not to notice the softness of his lips beneath her palm, or the warmth of his breath.
"Just what?" Luna finally looked at them. "Darien Chiba!" The cat blushed, then seemed to relax. "I guess the secret's out now." She glared at the girls. "You girls should have told me that a civilian had been dragged into this mess!"
"I'm not a civilian, Luna." Darien said, dragging Serena's hand from his mouth. She flew to stand with the girls, holding her hand, glaring at him.
"Oh no?" Luna asked.
"No, I'm..." Darien looked at Serena, pausing. Utter silence. "Tuxedo Mask." He finished.
Serena exhaled loudly, eyes sliding closed.
"What's wrong, Serena?" Lita had snuck up when she wasn't looking.
"Nothing!" Serena stammered. Only with Luna knowing he's some re-incarnated Prince. She remembered what Zoisite said about the moon princess, and knew that she was going to have to tell Luna. The thought of it made her stomach churn. What would the purpose of the scouts be if there wasn't a moon princess to look out for. Unless.... Does Luna know that the moon princess is dead and was re-incarnated?
Luna was busy looking Tuxedo Mask over. The cat sat smartly and bristled her whiskers. "So, are you our friend or aren't you?" She demanded.
Darien seemed to have to think about the answer, and Serena couldn't mask a groan. Great way to make Luna suspicious, Darien!
"I am a friend of the princess." Darien said. Luna sat up.
"What do you know of the princess?"
"I know that you are looking for her, same as I." He said carefully.
"Wow, look at this place!" Raye said. "Lita, look above us." The priestess pointed at the sea-view.
"Wow!" Lita stared upward. "It's one thing to know it's an undersea palace, it's another to see it!"
"Which reminds me," Serena started. "How did you guys get here?"
Amy looked up. "We traced your energy signals. Luna remembered this palace, somehow, and remembered that there were Access Points to get in. We found one, and here we are."
Serena looked at her friend, well aware of the blue-haired girl's sheer brilliance. "For some reason, I think it was a bit harder than that."
"Yeah. It was. We were worried about you!" Lita said.
Serena looked at Darien and bit her lip. He seemed unconcerned with the question. Does he want them to know all about him? She wondered.
She launched into an abbreviated explanation, listing Zoisite, how she and Darien realized who they were, and their escape. She skimmed over how they broke out of the cage, and didn't really mention Prince Endymion's takeover of Darien Chiba's body.
"You two were coming here to reach the surface?" Luna questioned. "How did you know what these portals did?"
"Zoisite told us!" Serena blurted out as Darien opened his mouth.
"Zoisite? How did she know?" Luna asked.
"She said that she used to live here." Serena explained.
Luna looked confused. "I can't remember," she finally admitted. "Oh, if only the princess were here, I'm sure she'd be able to take care of this!"
Serena growled. She'd heard enough about the princess for one night! Not only did the princess get a cute prince who waited eons to be with her, and Tuxedo Mask's protection, but she also got Luna's loyalty and trust. What's wrong with me? She wondered. I'm the leader of the Sailor Scouts. Can't*I* do anything here?
"Well, I think that we should get out of here." Lita said, looking around. "If Zoisite knows where this Palace is, it may not be safe!"
"Right." Luna said.
Darien looked around, and seemed upset. Serena wasn't surprised. It was his palace after all. She was sure that he wanted to stay.
"Darien, we can discuss this later. Lets make sure everyone gets home safely, all right?" She spoke out of the corner of her mouth, smiling and jabbing him when Lita looked over to see what she was doing.
"Serena, I think it's wonderful you care for your friends, but if I want to stay here, I will." His voice was steel. Darien! Her heart thrilled as she recognized him.
"Fine, jerk. I was just trying to help!" She barked, folding her arms and stomping away from him.
"I can handle my own life, Meatball Head!" He declared.
The girls had been watching, Serena saw, and she flushed with angry humiliation.
Amy looked away. "I'll just check the coordinates," she said, moving to the computer in the corner.
Luna looked at Serena and Darien. "Is something going on here?" She asked.
"No." They said simultaneously, and turned away from each other.
Lita and Raye looked at each other, and shrugged.
Amy finished her task, and came over. Okay. I programmed it so the second portal on the left will take us back to the park.
"All right, through the Access Point, girls!" Luna said, shooing them through. Lita went, then Raye, then Amy. "Come on, Serena, Darien. Hurry!"
Serena looked at Darien, who urged her on. She went through, blinking, and the next thing she knew, she was in the park. "Wow, I forgot it was night time!" She said. "I have school in the morning, too!" She groaned. I'm not going to get any sleep at all!
Luna leapt out onto the grass. Serena went to the girls. "Thanks for coming to get me guys. I really appreciate it." She was watching for Darien. Is he going to stay down there?
Darien stepped through the access point, looking around, checking to make sure everyone was there and all right. "Any monsters around?"
"None that we've seen." Lita assured him.
The girls all said goodnight, yawning. "Emergency meeting tomorrow," Luna told them all. "We have to discuss this - after everyone has had some rest."
Darien was the last to leave. Serena and Luna were walking toward home, when he caught up to them. "Serena," he grabbed her arm. He was amazingly gentle. "I have to talk with you."
She looked at Luna, who she knew still didn't trust Darien. She lifted him hand slowly. "Why don't you come to our scout meeting tomorrow, Darien?" She invited. "I mean, you are Tuxedo Mask, after all."
Darien looked impatient. "I must speak with you, Serena." He said, his voice commanding. There were gold bubbles surfacing in his eyes. The prince was reasserting his hold on Darien.
"I can't tonight." She said. "I have to get up in the morning. I have classes."
The thought seemed to bring him back to reality. "So do I," he murmured. He had forgotten, she realized.
"We're back in the real world, Darien Chiba!" She said pointedly, walking away. Just before she turned the corner, she twisted around. "The meeting is at Raye's temple, after school!"
I wonder if he's going to show? She asked herself as she pelted down the block, trying to get home in time to get some sleep.
SAILOR MOON ********************************* SAILOR MOON
"How did you know it was the Palace of the Earth, Luna?" Serena asked. She was in bed, trying to sleep. It was too late to even attempt to study for the math test she knew she was going to have the next day, but she had saved the world, hadn't she? Okay, maybe not the world - but she had saved a Prince! That has to count for something!
"I recognized it, somehow." Luna said. She seemed unsure. It was one of the few times Serena had ever seen her doubtful.
"Do you remember the moon princess, Luna?" Do I sound wistful? She wondered, wincing at the thought.
Luna looked at her, twisting quickly. I guess I've never really asked her about the princess or the moon kingdom, Serena realized.
"I have some vague memories," Luna said. "Nothing concrete. Serenity and I were friends. I was her advisor." The cat's eyes dilated. She was trying to remember. "Try as I might, though, I cannot remember what Serenity looked like, or anything specific that isn't in the computer at Central Command."
"Zoisite said that the moon princess was killed." Serena ventured.
Luna was silent for a moment. "Ah, that's what this is. I knew something had happened while you were trapped in that palace." She snuffled, sitting upright. "Yes, I think the princess did die, but she's been re-incarnated."
"Zoisite also mentioned a Prince."
"You two were busy. I suppose Darien was listening to all of this as well." She said, her mouth frowning as much as a cat's mouth can.
"I think so." Serena agreed. More than I was, probably.
"Yes, there was a Prince of Earth. He was dashing and strong. The Earth and the Moon were fighting, though, you see. The battles were fierce. I remember a demon. A woman. There was betrayal, I think. And in the end, everyone was dead. Now the scouts are together again, though," she said. "Soon enough, the princess will be found, and then we can rebuild the moon kingdom."
Serena was silent, trying to picture it. "Would it be possible that the people we are fighting, Nephrite, Jadeite, Zoisite, that they were servants, guards, to the Prince of Earth?"
Luna shook her head. "I wouldn't know," she said. "I wasn't of Earth, I stayed, I think, in the moon kingdom with my princess."
"Oh. Goodnight, Luna." She said.
"Good night, Serena."
SAILOR MOON *********************** SAILOR MOON
School the next day was long. Serena was tired, and kept falling asleep in class. She even fell asleep during the math test, but it didn't make a difference in her grade - she didn't know the answers any better awake!
She bumbled through classes, lunch and gym, finally making it out of the school.
"To the temple!" She told herself. "I have to be on time this once!"
But the Arcade called, and she couldn't resist. She found herself pushing open the doors and sliding into a spot at the counter before she knew it. "Um. A chocolate shake, Andrew?"
"Sure, Serena." Andrew said, then disappeared.
"I thought you had a meeting today, Meatball Head." An arrogant voice intruded, and Serena's spine snapped stiff.
"I'm just having a shake on the way," she bit out. "Not that it's any of your business!"
"Hey," he said, "I thought you had invited me to go with you!"
"Maybe I should take it back!" Serena turned around to scream at him.
"You can't take it back, it was an invitation!" He responded, smiling smugly.
The old Darien is back! Serena rejoiced, finding herself enjoying their shouting match. "I can if I want to!" She said, sticking out her tongue with a laugh.
He smiled at her, a deep, intense look in his eyes. It made her own laugh fade to nothingness. The Prince, she thought. Uh uh. I want Darien! This Prince guy freaks me out! "Jerk!" She spit.
He laughed. And laughed. She turned, grumbling, ecstatic. Andrew came out carrying her shake. She took it, drinking swiftly. Darien was right, she did have to get to the temple for the meeting.
"Argh!" She cried and clutched her head. I drank too fast!
"Are you all right?" He had come up behind her. Darien. The Prince, she corrected herself.
"I'm fine." She got out in a more-or-less normal tone. She rubbed her head and her eyes, breathing deeply. "I just drank too fast."
"Oh." She looked at him. His blue eyes, the gold flecks receding even as she watched, the concern changing to mocking laughter. "Pig."
"I am not!" She screamed, slapping at him with her school bag.
He ducked and laughed, strolling toward the doors. "Bye, Andrew," he called. "I've got a meeting to attend!" The doors swished shut behind him and Serena growled loudly.
Then realized what he had said. "Oh my gosh!" She dug in her bag for some money, and tossed it to Andrew. "I have to go!" She ran out of the Arcade, barreling down the street.
Memories On Earth
CHAPTER SIX
When she finished running up the stairs at the temple, she paused to catch her breath, then breezed sedately into Raye's room. Memories On Earth
"Hello, all," she said brightly, looking around.
Lita, Raye, Amy and Luna were all scrunched together on one side of the table. One the other side was Darien, lounging and looking supremely comfortable. He looked up when she spoke, lazy triumph in his gaze. "Finally. You sure took your time, Meatball Head!"
"Oooh!" She wanted to smack him, but she managed to restrain herself, flopping down on the floor. "What did I miss?" She asked.
"Nothing." Lita said. "We were waiting for you."
Serena looked around. They never waited for her! "Well, I'm here now," she said, leaning on the table, choosing a spot at the end, between the girls and the invader.
The girls got the message, slowly fanning out around the table. Lita produced snacks, and Raye got drinks, and everyone dug in.
Then they couldn't avoid it any longer.
"Okay, Serena, why did you ask Darien to come to the meeting," Raye asked bluntly. "Not that I mind!" She said quickly, smiling at him. "But it's kind of weird to have a guy at a scout meeting."
"He's not a guy," Serena protested. "He's Tuxedo Mask."
"Not to be mean, Serena, but since when does that make him a good guy?" Raye pestered. "He hasn't told us his allegiance or anything."
"Well..." Serena stuttered.
Darien stepped forward. "My allegiance is to Earth, and to the moon princess." He spoke firmly, his voice radiating with power. "My goal is to wipe Queen Beryl from the face of the planet."
The girls seemed a bit stunned by his fierceness.
"What about the Imperium Silver Crystal?" Luna asked. "It is, after all, our princesses'."
"I know. The Silver Crystal has little importance for me." Serena's eyes widened. What he said was directly opposite to his claims on multiple other occasions. "Once the Princess appears, then the Silver Crystal will be found." He assured them.
"How do you know that?" Luna asked, eyes wide.
He just looked at her, dared her to probe him. His eyes bubbled with gold, and Serena coughed quickly to draw attention to herself.
"We too are looking for the princess," she said quietly. "We are her sworn protectors." She looked around at the scouts, looked at Luna. "Can't you see, in this, at least, we are allies.
"They were lovers," she continued, looking at Darien, her eyes misty with the knowledge of how romantic their lives must have been. "He wouldn't hurt the princess. He would love her, cherish her. Protect her with his life."
Darien turned to Serena, and she knew, without even looking, that the Prince was watching her from those eyes. She looked at him boldly, daring him to deny it.
"That is impossible, Serena." Luna thundered. "Serenity had no lovers, no boyfriends. She was cloistered on the moon, alone! Forbidden to venture anywhere her virtue might be compromised!"
Endymion's eyes met Serena's, deep, painful, intense. She inhaled strongly. There was love in those eyes. Love, desire and need. "He loved her." She repeated.
The girls were looking at Darien strangely. Even Serena had to admit that it was hard to imagine him in such a role. Cold, cutting, cynical Darien loving someone so much? He would love will all his heart, she saw. She would be cherished.
Pain slashed through her. Tears formed. She didn't know why. The thought rose unbidden from deep in her heart, a raging, jealous declaration. He's MINE!
Serena shook it off, scared.
"Serena, how do you know that?" Lita asked. "It's so beautiful, but...it could be a lie."
"Zoisite told me... told us." Serena said.
The girls groaned, rolling their eyes. "And you believed them! Serena!" Raye said. "You really had us going!"
"You believed Zoisite?" Luna asked, incredulous. Serena winced.
"I know, I know... but if you guys had been there..." She trailed off. "Well, she was different!" Serena muttered, snagging the last cookie and stuffing it into her mouth.
They turned their eyes on Darien. "How do we know you're telling the truth?" Luna asked.
Darien turned cold golden eyes on the girls. He looked at Serena. "She'll vouch for me." He said abruptly, and turned and left, walking out with a regal stride.
"You'll vouch for him?" Amy parroted. "What do you know, Serena?"
"Yeah?" Amy and Lita asked her.
"Guys, believe me, he's on our side." She thought of the chill in his eyes when he spoke of Queen Beryl, and actually felt a stab of pity for the woman. I'm glad he's on our side.
SAILOR MOON ******************************** SAILOR MOON
The next few nights were boring. Sleep came for each scout, and left with the morning and the sounding of an alarm clock. There were no battles. By the time Friday afternoon rolled around, everyone was relaxed and enjoying life.
The girls had planned a sleep-over at Lita's place. They were going to watch old romantic movies and paint their toenails. Before that, though, they decided to stop and get a shake at the Arcade - and maybe bug Darien a bit. He hadn't come to the next scout meeting, or been hanging around them. His relationship with Serena seemed have returned to normal. In other words, they were back to bickering whenever they saw each other.
It wasn't a surprise, therefore, to hear Serena growl as she went into the arcade. She had seen Darien. The girls rolled their eyes, pushing her in silently.
"What'cha doing, Meatball Head?" He called gaily. Serena grumbled under her breath and threw herself into a booth. The rest of the girls slid in beside her.
"Serena, you shouldn't get so upset. Just ignore him." Amy counseled.
"Sure." Serena bit out through her teeth. She slumped lower in the booth. "Whatever."
Raye and Lita looked at each other and sighed.
Andrew came over. "What would you like, ladies?" He smiled, showing snow white teeth. Rita is so lucky! Serena thought.
Raye listed their order and Serena delved into her own morose thoughts. Every guy she had ever liked was taken. It was getting ridiculous! "I need to find myself a guy." She announced, starting the girls. Andrew looked at her oddly, then shook his head and moved away.
"You Serena? I thought you had like... at least four guys you were crushing on!" Raye said smartly.
"Yeah, well, I think I need to find a guy I can actually have." She fiddled with the placemat. "Andrew's taken, well... put it this way, every guy I seem to like is taken! "This princess is starting to get on my nerves, how come she gets all the neat guys?!"
"You know Serena, you've talked a lot about this whole Princess thing a little too much in the last week." Lita said. "You sound like you know something that we don't." She accused, although not unkindly.
"What are you saying?" Serena asked, blushing.
"You're obsessing, meatball head!" Raye said.
Serena burst into tears.
Darien chose that moment to wander past their table. Serena looked at him and cried harder.
"Serena!" Amy moaned. "You're embarrassing us!"
"What's wrong with Meatball Head?" Darien asked, leaning elegantly against the side of the table.
"Who knows?" Lita groaned, putting her head on the table. Serena wailed louder.
"Cut the crying, Serena!" Darien ordered harshly.
Serena looked up, and, somehow, the tears dried as quickly as they had come.
"Now, what's the problem?" He asked her.
Serena's blue eyes got big and wet again, the tears wanted to keep falling. I'm jealous of a princess. The whole situation was so unreal!
Darien sighed in disgust. "I can't believe you're crying again!"
"Leave me alone!" Serena shouted. "I don't want to talk to you! I don't want to look at you! I want Darien!" She clapped her hands over her mouth, horrified at what she had said, and burst into another round of tears.
Darien looked at her, stunned. His eyes were warm, and he started to laugh. And laugh. Fear blossomed deep inside of Serena as she saw the gold in his eyes, not flecks, waves. She looked around, her tears stopping. The girls were watching the two of them.
"My dear Serena, I am Darien!" He said once he had calmed as well.
This time, even the scouts didn't believe him.
Amy heard that and her eyes widened. "I think we need to go somewhere and talk." She said slowly. Lita and Raye nodded.
"Come on, Darien," they said, grabbing his arms.
Shaking his head, laughter escaping again, Darien allowed them to pull him out of the booth. Serena hung back to pay Andrew. She hesitated even as she walked out of the arcade, not really wanting to confront the Prince again.
They had taken Darien to the temple, of course. When Serena arrived, plodding slowly up the stairs, Lita jumped out and grabbed her, dragging her into the temple itself. Raye was standing over Darien - she had tied him to a chair and surrounded him with a barrier of prayer stones.
"Raye! What are you doing!" Serena gasped, running forward.
The priestess turned to her, eyes dark and serious. "I'm going to exorcise him."
"What?" Serena was horrified. She looked at Darien, who sat, somehow seeming unbothered by the goings-on. He wasn't gagged, only tied carefully.
"He's possessed, Serena!" Amy said. "Now I see what's been bothering you. He's been acting weird since that incident, hasn't he!"
"I know," Serena whispered, looking at the ground.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Raye demanded, eyes spitting fire. "He's attended our meetings! Learned our identities!"
Amy looked horrified at the prospect. "Serena, he may have betrayed us to the Negaverse!"
Serena just exhaled loudly, rolling her eyes. "You guys are over-reacting." She stepped over the prayer stones and went to untie the Prince. The man's eyes were solid gold, power radiated from him.
"Are you all right, Serena?" He demanded, holding her close.
Serena laughed, weary. "I'm fine, you're the one who was tied up."
Luna skidded into the room just in time to see Serena helping him to his feet. He held her hand, his eyes burning into hers with a silent, golden promise. Serena looked away and stepped from the ring of stones.
"Why did you do that!" Raye demanded.
"What's all this about, Amy?" Luna asked. "Serena, are you all right?"
"Lita, grab Darien." Raye commanded, moving forward herself to take hold of Serena. Her arms were cold and tight, and Serena felt fear balloon inside of her.
"Raye, what are you doing!?" Luna screeched.
"Luna, we think Darien and Serena have been possessed." Amy explained, going into a list of all the minor changes that they had noticed that, when added up, may have very significant meaning.
Yet Luna protested. "Not Serena!"
"Let go of her." Darien thundered, face tight. His arms were clenched, and it was evident that Lita was having a hard time holding him.
"I'm fine." Serena whispered, looking at the Prince. A wave of sadness hit her. Was it even possible to get her Darien back? She wiped her tears away with a sniff. "I don't understand it, Raye. Why am I so sad?" She asked.
SAILOR MOON ***************************** SAILOR MOON
Raye let her go, and Serena collapsed. "It's you, isn't it, Serena?" She asked quietly. She backed away. "Let him go, Lita." She said, and stared at the two of them. Darien looked back, gaze bold and defiant. Serena's head hung, she was still sitting on the floor, sobbing.
Darien looked at her and his gaze... softened. He walked to Serena's side and lifted her gently to her feet.
"I see what you mean." Luna said, watching the two of them.
The girls nodded.
Serena looked up, and they all held their breath. Darien lowered his head, looking as if he wanted to kiss her. She stared at him, at first looking lost, but then her face transformed, a mask of rage falling over it. She glared up at him, then pushed him back forcefully. Darien caught himself, a sadness clouding his own eyes. "Get away from me," Serena said. "Just leave me alone! Don't touch me! Don't look at me!"
"Ser... Serena. Please." He held out his hands, strong hands. Familiar to all of them, but yet, the Darien that they knew would never had said please to Serena.
"It's eerie," Lita said. "He really is someone else, isn't he?"
"His body is the same," Amy said, reading the analysis of the Mercury computer, "But he's radiating a strange power."
"What are we going to do? How are we going to get Darien Chiba back?" Raye asked.
"You can't." Serena sobbed. "He's never going to come back. Oh, Darien!" She folded over on herself, crying.
The look on Darien's face was speaking. He held out his arms, then pulled them back, realizing that his touch would be unwelcome. Raye felt pity for whoever - or whatever, was inhabiting Darien's body. "Why would it want Serena, though?" She asked aloud.
"I am not an 'it'." Darien said distinctly, looking at the scouts. "I am Darien, whether any of your believe it or not is not my problem. You cannot rid my body of my soul."
"So what happened in that palace, big boy?" Lita asked, arms crossed over her chest.
Raye went to Serena and pulled her into her arms. She shook her head when Serena turned into her arms and blew her nose loudly on her shirt. Raye tried to pat her friend's back gently. "Geez, Serena, you didn't even like Darien. Don't even like Darien. Whatever!"
"I know!" Serena sobbed. "I don't know what's wrong with me! I felt like I've lost my best friend, though!"
"I'm not dead, Serena!" Darien said forcefully. He stared at her, and a whirlwind of gold power stretched from him, settling on her. She turned to look at him, but she wasn't seeing anything. The power had her wrapped up inside of it's spell. "It's me. I'm here. I'm not leaving you again." His voice was deep, relaxing. Raye watched, confused. She looked at Amy, Lita and Luna. They didn't seem to understand any more than she did.
Serena's eyes blanked, going dead. Slowly, silver flowed into them - a hazy, thin gauze of color. "You're here," she whispered, her voice sounding strange. "You've come back to me, my love!" There were tears of joy in here eyes, and she rushed forward, throwing herself in Darien's arms, hugging him tightly.
"I will always be with you, my darling." He assured her, patting her back gently, rubbing her hair. His mouth lingered on her brow.
Raye looked at the scene with raised eyebrows.
"Sleep now," Darien commanded her. "Forget your loneliness. I am here." Serena crumpled in his arms, and the golden tint in the air faded away. Darien lifted the girl, and stalked to the cot in the corner, setting Serena on it gently, kissing her brow.
"Okay." Raye demanded as he stepped away, "What's going on here?"
CHAPTER SEVEN
"I didn't want to have to do that," Darien explained. He was tired. His memories showed him quite clearly how to use the powers that he had been born with, but they didn't make it easy. He was un-used to expending his energy in such a way. But Serenity was consoled, that was all that mattered. He looked at her one more time, sleeping deeply. She wouldn't remember what happened when she awoke, he had only spoken with her subconscious. With her true-soul. She wouldn't grieve for the loss of who he had been, either.
"What are you?" Luna demanded. He looked down at the cat, a smile on his lips. He remembered when he and Serenity had run through the grounds of the Moon Palace, trying to evade Luna's watchful eyes. "What are you laughing at?" She demanded.
"Nothing," he said. He was too tired to dredge up false surprise at being grilled by a cat.
"Who are you?" Lita demanded. He had conflicting memories of her - as he did of most of the scouts. He saw her as the fun-loving Princess of Jupiter, and had memories of her visits on Earth. Now she was a furious lioness guarding her cub.
"I am Darien! I was born Darien Chiba same as you were born Lita! Same as Serena was born Serena!" He yelled, trying to make them understand. "I am Darien. While in the Palace I became aware of my true-soul! I have always been Darien, and I will always be Darien - I just have my memories back."
"Memories back?" Luna asked.
"Yes." His eyes flashed. "I had so much hidden inside - so many questions, so many dreams. The princess would call me. All I knew was that I had to find her... to find the Imperium Silver Crystal." He smiled, looking down at Luna. "For a long time, I didn't even understand that I was Tuxedo Mask."
The girls gasped. "How can that be?"
"I would blank out," he explained. "There would be pain, and then, I would wake up and be in a park, or on a street. Somewhere. I didn't understand."
"But you do now." Luna said.
"Yes," he allowed. "I have learned who I am, deep inside."
"Who are you?" Lita asked, fascinated.
Darien looked at Luna, who returned his gaze with suspicion. "I am sorry, Mistress Luna." He swept an old, newly-remembered courtly bow to the princess' advisor.
Luna inhaled deeply. "You." Her eyes bugged.
He nodded, the gold flaring up deep inside his eyes. "I didn't know, or I would have paid proper respect to you," he said.
"That's quite all right, Prince Darien," Luna said once she got her breath back. "I quite understand."
"Prince?" The girls chorused.
The Prince and Luna ignored them. "I assume you found this out when you were in the Palace."
"Yes, the Palace, and Zoisite, everything. It just... crystallized. I remembered."
Luna nodded understandingly. "So you are searching for the princess."
"I think that if we take the princess to her kingdom, and if you could possibly change to your more... natural... form, that she will remember her true-soul as well."
Luna looked at him sharply. "After we find the princess." She said.
Darien didn't respond.
"Prince Darien," Luna pressed. "Have you found the princess?"
He looked over at the girls. They were hanging off of each other, trying to listen to their discussion.
"Prince Darien!"
Luna hopped in front of him.
I will not be intimidated by a cat! He told himself.
"What's going on?" Serena asked, sitting up and stretching.
Darien whipped around. "Serena." He said.
"Yes?" She asked, then realized who was asking. "You." She stared at him, then looked around. "How did I get here? Oh, my head hurts."
He wanted to go to her, to hold her and cuddle her. He could use the power within him to take away her pain, he knew.
Amy was already sitting beside Serena, helping her up. Serena weaved on her feet.
"Serena! You knew he was a Prince! And you didn't tell us!" Lita accused. "No wonder he's so cute!" She said in Serena's ear.
Serena looked directly at him. "He took over Darien's body, Lita." She felt a heavy ache in her heart, looking at him. "He's looking for the moon princess, he loves her." She whispered. "He took away Darien because he had to find her." Instead of the sadness she had last felt when she thought of Darien, there was a deep emptiness, a knowledge that he was still... somewhere. Was he a ghost, she thought, riding in the back of this Prince's mind, peeping out when he could?
Luna bounded over to Serena, sniffing at the girl's feet. "Are you all right, Serena?"
"See, he's not an enemy. He wants the same thing we want." She told the cat, walking gracefully to the doorway of the room. One hand reached up to support her head as she leaned into the fresh air.
"I think I'm going to take Serena home, all." Lita volunteered, sticking her shoulder up to support the girl. Everyone nodded mutely, and they hobbled off down the temple stairs.
Raye set about cleaning up the fire. Amy nodded shyly to Darien, picked up her schoolbag, and left.
Luna waited until Darien was left, and followed him. "What did you do to Serena?" She asked. "Did you hurt her?"
"No. She'll be fine. I... took away her sorrow." He made himself explain this to the cat, the princess' advisor, who didn't realize that the princess was right beneath her nose.
"What did you do with Darien Chiba?" She asked. "Is he trapped in that body, or has his soul been dissipated?"
Darien halted in the middle of the street. "Don't you understand yet? I am Darien."
"How is that possible?" Luna asked.
"How do you expect to find our princess? Reborn, knowing exactly what she was when she died?"
"Well, no.. she has to be told..." Luna stammered, backing up.
"Exactly. Yet, how old is she... almost fifteen now. Do you think you're going to find her a clean slate?" He pressured her.
"No, of course not. I'm sure she's had her own life..."
"Yes. She'll have grown up. She'll have new memories, a new self." He said.
"She'll be the moon princess! She'll be Serenity deep inside!" Luna snarled at him. "Even you know that, Prince!"
"Yes, Luna, I know better than anyone else!" He bit out. "She'll have the same characteristics as Serenity, the same soul - but she will be someone else! The same as I am Prince Darien, as Darien Chiba, I had the same soul - but I was Darien Chiba. I am still Darien Chiba - but now I know who I was before. I have regained my power, my soul-self." He shoved a hand through his hair, glaring at the cat. "Can't you see, Luna? I am Darien. I know... more, that's all!"
Luna looked dazed. "Great Serenity... I never realized. That means... how will I ever find Serenity?" She wailed. "She could be anyone!"
"Her soul is the same as it was, Luna. That will not change." He looked off into the sky, looking at the moon that was beginning to show itself as night crawled over the city. "She will still be beautiful, kind, compassionate, loving and braver than anyone. That cannot change!" He thumped a clenched fist.
"You remember your love for her." Luna said.
"I love her, yes." He was silent a moment. "I loved her before I realized who I was, though."
"You have found her! You've met her!" Luna jumped on him. "Tell me who she is!" She demanded.
"Luna," he said, carefully prying her claws from his clothing and setting her gently on her feet. "I'm not going to interfere with your memory."
"My memory... what do you.." Here eyes opened, her mouth dropping. "How did you know I can't remember?" She said thinly.
Darien smiled, a bitter, hopeless smile. He walked on, calling over his shoulder. "Because, my dear mistress Luna, if you remembered your life on the moon, then you would realize who Serenity has become."
She digested his comment, then ran after him. "Wait! Is the princess safe? Please, just tell me! I have to know!"
"Don't worry, I protect my heart, mistress." He said finally, in a tone that threw her back on her haunches.
"His heart..." she thought. "He must really love my princess. I wish I could remember."
SAILOR MOON ********************************* SAILOR MOON
"What a wild story!" Lita told Amy on the phone, later that night.
"Darien Chiba, a prince!" Amy laughed, taking a short break from her studies. "Prince of what, I wonder?"
"And was Serena ever upset!" Lita laughed, then calmed herself. "I think she liked Darien."
"We knew that," Amy said. "It must be hard to realize that the two men you like, Tuxedo Mask and Darien, are the same people, and that he is really as Prince - searching for a Princess he loves with all his heart."
Lita was silent, the phone line crackled between them. "I didn't think of that." She said quietly. "Serena must really be heartbroken! She had a huge crush on Tuxedo Mask."
"Yes, but I think it's the loss of Darien that's really getting to her," Amy said, chewing on a pen. "Think about it. She knew Tuxedo Mask was unattainable, but Darien... well, Darien may very well have at least dated her. One day. When she was older."
"You're right, Amy. No wonder she feels all alone."
"It was nice of the Prince to help her." Amy pointed out.
"Is that what he did?" Lita groused. "It was only fair - he's the one who took Darien's body!"
Amy thought about that. "He said he didn't."
"And you believed that?"
"I don't know what I believe." Amy said. "I really don't have enough information to really make any sort of a judgment whatsoever."
They talked about classes for a short time, but soon enough Amy had to go - she had to study. Lita hung up, and both girls kept wondering if Serena was okay.
SAILOR MOON ******************************** SAILOR MOON
"Luna to Central Command." Luna said into the microphone on the new Sailor V game at the arcade.
"Central command here, please identify yourself." The voice was male.
Luna spit out the password, then started to babble her problem. "I think we have a problem, Central. I have found the Prince of Earth."
"Alive?" The shadowed figure on the screen said.
"Yes, and he knows who - and presumably where - the princess is."
"What?!" The figure came closer to the screen, a huge shadow pressed up against the screen. "I'll meet you soon, I'll bring the girl I've found." The picture blinked out.
Luna scrabbled at the remains of her memory. Central Command's voice had always sounded a little familiar, but she couldn't remember. It was becoming obvious that there was lots she couldn't remember. The Prince spoke of a natural form, as well. That idea really bugged her. If she wasn't a cat, what was she?
She thought about what Central Command had said. Another girl? Had he had more luck - had he found the princess? Was their long search soon going to be at an end? Luna laid her head on her paws, staring at the starting screen for the Sailor V game and wondering if she would ever be able to put all the pieces together.
TO BE CONTINUED...