Diamond in the Rough

Chapter Eight: A love rekindled

"The Evil Prince is in love with...me?" Usagi questioned in disbelief. "At least someone is" She muttered the last bit under her breath.

"Yes. He fell in love with you're future self. But you were already married to Endymione and you had Chibi-Usa. Diamond was banished from Crystal Tokyo after trying to take you from the king. He and the rest of his clan were sent to a planet called Nemesis. They are being controlled by Wiseman. He is our real enemy. Emerald is in love with Diamond and that is why she hates Usagi" Rika explained. When Usagi and Chibi-Usa got home that afternoon, they discussed the recent events.

"I'm sorry" Chibi-Usa said suddenly. "I'm sorry for being such a brat" Usagi smiled and ruffled her hair.

"It's okay" She said. "I promise to protect you from Diamond and Wiseman" She said. Chibi-Usa smiled.

The next day, Usagi was running through the school corridors, late as usual and collided head on with Umino.

"Well aren't you two a sight" Naru said from behind them smirking. The three students walked to class, to see thier sensei, Miss Haruna, was also late. They took thier seats and Umino handed something to Naru.

"It's a Promise Ring" He told her.

"What's that?" Usagi asked.

"It's handmade" Umino explained. "You weave a ring together and make a wish. It the ring unbinds, than the wish comes true" He explained.

"Hey Usagi, you should make one" Naru suggested. Usagi looked down at her desk, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"Why should I?" She asked glumly. "The one thing I wish for, I can't have" Naru and Umino were about to respond when Miss Haruna entered the classroom.

After school, Usagi walked home, alone and depressed. On the way, she ran into Mako and Ami.

"What's wrong Usagi-chan?" Ami asked. "You seem down" Usagi shrugged it off.

"I'm ok" She replied. Mako placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You know, we're here if you ever want to talk" She said quietly. Usagi nodded and turned to go, when she spotted Mamoru across the street.

"Ma..Mamoru!" She called, but he didn't even stop or look at her. She began to follow him, when she tripped and fell. Mamoru stopped and walked over to her. Tears began spilling from her cheeks. "Why do you hate me?" She asked. "What did I do to make you treat me like this?" Mamoru sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets.

"You didn't do anything" He said. "It's my fault, not yours" He turned and walked away. Usagi stood up and stared after him, tears staining her cheeks. Ami and Mako watched Usagi, pained to see her like this.

Meanwhile, Emerald was studying the city.

"These people appreciate nothing" She thought to herself. "It's so primitive" A smirk graced her lips. "But all of that we'll change with the dark power" She began to laugh as she located another negative energy point (on the roof of the school above the Promise Ring class) and she summoned a droid to watch over it. She left, dreaming of returning to the future and Prince Diamond.

"Usagi-chan" Ami said quietly. "Maybe if you make a promise ring, Mamoru will come back to you" Usagi nodded, wiping her tears and they obtained the necessary materials. Ami and Mako walked with her to the crafts class, where Umino and Naru were already seated. Unfortuantely, no matter how many times that the teacher explained the making of the ring, Usagi didn't get the hang of it. When the bell rang, Usagi left, feeling disapointed. She didn't notice the teacher turn into the droid created by Emerald. The rings were actually filled will Dark Power.

That night, Usagi fell asleep and whispered Mamoru's name. Chibi-Usa didn't understand why Mamoru was acting the way he was. Obviously they'd get back together, they had to, for the future to come into play.

In Usagi's dream she and Mamoru were getting married, but just as they kissed, everything exploded and they were pulled apart.

"Stay away from Usagi Chiba Mamoru" A stern voice from no where said. "Otherwise, she is doomed"

Usagi awoke with a start.

"Could it be?" She whispered. "Has this dream been haunting Mamoru as well?" She rolled over and picked up a photo of the two of them, but the glass cracked. Startled, Usagi got out of bed and slipped out on to her balcony. She climbed down the tree outside the balcony and made her way to Mamoru's apartment, even though it was two in the morning.

Mamoru awoke with a start, to a pounding at his door. He glanced at the clock and groaned. He pulled his robe on and walked to the door barefoot. When he opened the door, he was surprised to see Usagi.

"You shouldn't be here" He said, trying to get her to leave.

"Tell me the truth Mamoru" Usagi said firmly. "Did you have a strange dream in which some one tells you to stay away from me" Mamoru sighed and opened the door, allowing Usagi to come inside.

He started some tea and Usagi sat on the couch wringing her hands.

"I know that you're worried about me, but why didn't you tell me?" She asked. "We could have worked through it together. It's just a dream" Mamoru set the pot down harshly and put his head in his hands.

"I've had the dream so many times" He told her. "What if it isn't a dream but a prediction of the future.?" Usagi stood up and walked over to the counter.

"I don't care" She said. "There's always going to be danger, Mamoru. It comes with the occupation. I've nearly died several times and that never stopped you before" Mamoru sighed and pushed Usagi out the door.

"Chiba Mamoru, If you are going to let a dream run your life than you aren't the man I thought you were!" Usagi shouted. She whipped around and left. When she got back to her room, he noticed Luna looking extremely worried and Chibi-Usa was passed out on the bed.

"What happened?" Usagi asked.

"The promise rings" Luna said. "They're from the enemy" Usagi closed her eyes. She was glad that she hadn't made one.

The next day, at the crafts class, most of the students have been felled by the Promise Rings, including Umino and Naru. Usagi quickly called in the rest of the Sailor Senshi via wrist communicator.

The crystal figurine on the building was growing rapidly, and was spotted by Luna, Usagi, and Chibi-Usa. Usagi transformed, and Sailor Moon confronted the droid on the building's roof. The droid attacked with energy rings, but Sailor Moon managed to dodge the droid's attack and it was distracted by Tuxedo Mask.

"Promise rings are the pure heart of girls" Tuxedo Mask said. "You have no right to tamper with that" He deflected the droid's first attack, but the energy rings became amplified by the negative energy and circles around behind him! Sailor Mercury appeared and froze the rings. The droids next attack was deflected by Mars. Suddenly surrounded, Sailor Moon was able to finish the droid off. The crafts class recovered, and the figurine toppled. Emerald appeared and scoffed at them.

"No matter what you brats do, you won't be able to stop me from opening the Black Gate and releasing the power of the black crystal" She laughed evilly. "Crystal Tokyo will be destroyed" She vanished. Sailor Moon looked down at the ground. She felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to stare into the blue eyes of Tuxedo Mask.

"You were right" He said. "There will always be dangers ahead of us, no matter what" Sailor Moon smiled.

"But we will get through them together" Tuxedo Mask nodded and leaned down to kiss her.

"It's about time" Rika said from behind them, arms crossed. Everyone laughed.

"Let's go get some ice cream" Tuxedo Mask suggested.