Lonely Moon

Chapter Four

In an unknown corner on the dark side of Saturn a woman moves her hands over a glowing globe. She watches as Jedite is turned to dust. With a wave of her hand the globe takes its place at her side and she stands and walks to the small balcony. The only light in the room is by torches. In the dim light you can make out a skin tight blue dress and dark black hair that drags on the floor with her dress. As she passes by a torch her face is lit up. She looks to be in her forties but is indeed much older. Even in the darkness her blood red eyes could be seen and they held centuries of hatred for the children of the moon. She stands at the balcony and puts her hands on the rail. Heaving a deep breath she turns and walks back into the room and back to her thrown. As she sits she yells out "Zoisite!"

In a shower of yellow rose petals a blond who looks to be her twenties appears before her. She has mid back length blond hair in ponytail and wears a blue uniform with white gloves. She immediately bows as she speaks "Yes my queen"

The queen waved her hand for Zoisite to rise as she spoke "Jedite is dead. You are now my last general and you must lead the charge of energy gathering on earth."

"It will be an honor my queen. If I may ask, was it…"

"It was. Sailor Moon has tracked us to earth. Jedite is a heavy loss but with his energy I grow stronger. Now I can begin preparing for our assault on the moon. While you distract Sailor Moon on earth I will lead our final attack on the moon."

"Then we will get our revenge."

"Yes, now go Zoisite."

"As you wish Queen Tatiana"

Zoisite bowed and vanished as quickly as she had arrived. From the left side of the queen a new voice was heard. "You just sent her on a suicide mission."

Tatiana nodded "Zoisite's death will unlock the last of my powers. And with her daughter still on earth my dear sister will be distracted from other threats."

"What do you wish me to do my queen?"

"Lord Diamond gather your troops. In a month's time we will be ready to attack the moon. "

Lord Diamond came out of the shadows and took Tatiana's hand and kissed it. He was a tall slender man with shoulder length white hair and a blue and white uniform. He let go of her hand and bowed. In a flash of lightening he was gone. Queen Tatiana got up and went to her balcony again. She couldn't see the moon but she knew it was there. "Soon my sister, soon I will have my vengeance."

Darien slowly opened his eyes. He moved his hand to his head, it was pounding. He fully opened his eyes and realized he wasn't in his bed. He shot up and was in a small room. It was barely furnished save for a dresser with a few knickknacks and a small frame that looked like it had a screen in the middle. He assumed it was a digital picture frame. He started to get up when he realized that his right hand was shackled to the bed. "What the hell?"

The door to his left opened and in walked the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. It was the same woman he had seen in the park, Serena that was her name. He tried to get up again and remembered he couldn't. "Why am I here and being held prisoner?"

She looked him over with deep blue eyes and spoke in a cold tone. "Who are you?"

Darien cocked his head "Why so interested?"

Serena approached him her eyes growing colder and he backed up slightly "I am only interested if you are a threat to me."

Darien decided coy was not the way to deal with her. "My name is Darien Shields. I am no threat to you."

"We'll see."

Darien tried to get up again "I don't know who you are but this is not how we behave in the civilized world."

"It is in my world."

Darien sat up as full as he could and frowned "I feel sorry for your world."

Serena stopped in front of him "I am only going to ask one more time and then you can rot here. Why have you been following me?"

Darien looked at her confused "I ran into you once at the park."

Serena shook her head "You began following me at the arcade, then had my cat, then the park, then the…" She decided not to mention the attack. "I want to know why."

"Serena when I left the arcade that day I saw you walking and wondered who you were. I had never seen you before. So I decided to catch up to you and find out but you were gone when I turned the corner. I saw Luna was about to flattened like a pancake and I knew I could save her so I did. The park was only a coincidence; I go there almost every day. I don't know what I kind of life you have led where you feel this" He held up his hand with the shackle. "Is necessary but I swear I am no threat to you. I just want to get to know you."

Serena looked taken a back and sat down on the bed. She looked deeply into his eyes. Darien did not break eye contact and stared right back. Serena's eyes turned steel blue and looked directly into his soul, there was no Negaverse energy but there was something about him. She didn't know what it was but something told her he spoke the truth, he was no threat. She closed her eyes and looked away as she undid the shackle that held him. "I apologize."

Darien smiled "How did I get here?"

Serena seemed to stiffen slightly, should she tell him. She had healed him with the crystal and made sure he had no memory of the attack. For now she decided half the truth was best. "I found you unconscious in a hallway of the mall. I think you were attacked. I brought you back here to rest."

"Then I owe you my thanks."

Darien reached to touch her hand and Serena quickly backed up and stood in a defensive stance. He stood and approached her. "I don't bite. I just wanted to thank you. I don't really remember what happened. The last thing I remember is talking with Andrew at the arcade."

Darien tried to touch her hand again and she backed away. He sighed and sat back down. "Why are you afraid of me?"

Serena inched closer. It had been so long since she had been with anyone besides a cat she was unsure of how to act. Sure she was with people at school but kept to herself. She interacted with as few other people as possible. She began to think she should have taken him to the hospital. "I am not afraid."

"Then why back up when I come close?"

"I have been alone much of my life and people who tried to touch me usually tried to harm me. It's a reflex."

Darien stood and approached her, this time he didn't back down. He slowly took her hand and shook it. He smiled "I mean you no harm. I'll go if you like."

Serena nodded and led him out of the room and to her door. Before he left Darien turned around "I'd like to see you again. Meet me at the arcade tomorrow at 2, ok?"

Serena nodded. "See you then."

With that she closed the door. She walked over and sat on her couch. "What am I doing? I feel so different around him. I am supposed to be hunting the Negaverse. I don't have time for this."

"You do have time for this."

Serena whirled around ready to attack and was surprised to see Queen Serenity walk out of the shadows. She was wearing a white skin tight dress with a diamond encrusted crescent moon on the bodice. Her floor length white hair was in the same twin bun style as Serena and on her forehead glowed a golden crescent moon. Luna immediately stood and bowed and Serena did the same. The woman approached Serena and waved her to stand. She smiled at her and hugged her fiercely. "Oh Serenity I have missed you so."

Tears were in Serena's eyes "I have missed you too, Mother."

They hugged for several minutes and then parted. Queen Serenity looked around and frowned. "Luna you did not tell me of your living arrangements."

Serena looked to her mother "It's not Luna's fault I asked her not to tell you."

Serenity looked to her daughter "Serenity, I have not seen you on the moon since you left on your quest. You have done well my child. Why don't you come home? Let the people of the moon help in the fight on earth.

Serena looked away "Mother we have had this discussion many times. I do not need nor want anyone's help." She looked at her mother. "Not even yours."

Serenity frowned at this and bid her daughter to sit with her. "Serenity I know the pain you must be feeling."

Serena was about to speak when her mover put her hand up to silence her. "You are right. If they had come to the moon they would have been safe but they did not. Their sacrifice made it possible for us to survive. Do you think you are honoring them by continuing to live in this dark solitude?"

Serena sat for several moments before looking at her mother with tears in her eyes. "If I don't get close to anyone they won't get hurt."

"Serenity, I am sure Luna has said the same thing to you. Are you close to me?"

Serena nodded. Queen Serenity smiled "Well I have not gotten hurt."

"But mother…"

Serenity raised her hand again "Oh Serenity, I wish you would come home but I can see in your eyes you will not stop until your quest is over. I must return to the moon but I have a request. Please let this boy in. You may be surprised by the outcome."

With that Queen Serenity smiled and hugged her daughter. She rose and looked to her daughter "Please keep in touch Serenity and be safe. I love you."

Serena smiled. "I love you too mother."

Queen Serenity closed her eyes and put her hands together. In a flash of white light she was gone. Serena sat back down and looked deep in thought. Here mothers words emanating in her mind.