Hello All! I know, it has been FOREVER since I last updated this story. I'm afraid to even look at the day of the last update. Truth be known, I lost inspiration in writing this story, and I just stopped writing for it. I got wrapped up in writing other stories, and I simply put this one on a backburner; hoping to return to it one day. I bet most of you thought I had abandoned the story, but I always strive to complete what I start. Maybe one day I'll move back to War of the Titans, but that story needs to be completely re-written. Anyway, I definitely have a new plan for this story, and I believe you will like where it is going. Hopefully there are still some out there that are interested in this story. I apologize for the long wait, and thanks so much for being patient with me!
As the story turns……….
Chapter 11: A New Personality
Mina rushed through the common room of Hufflepuff. She was suppose to meet Serena outside the portrait of the Fat Lady. She was running late. When she walked through the pathway leading out of her house, she was shocked to see Serena there waiting for her.
Serena gave a smirk at Mina's face. "Aren't you always suppose to be late?" Mina asked. Serena chuckled. "I guess I don't feel quite like myself." Mina's eyes softened.
They walked silently to Setsuna's office. It was very early in the morning, and there was hardly a soul in sight. Eventually they arrived outside the professor's office. They looked around to make sure no one was watching before they entered.
Their eyes found Setsuna sitting at her desk. "Venus, hime-sama, I didn't expect to see you so early." Setsuna said without even looking up at the two girls.
"Pluto, how many times do I need to tell you to stop calling me that?" Serena asked with frustration.
"Always at least once more, hime-sama." Serena let out a loud sigh while Mina giggled. She knew how much Serena hated to be called Princess.
Setsuna laughed for a moment before her face became quite serious. "I know why you're here." She stood up from her desk and began to walk towards them. "This is about the attack last night."
Serena nodded. "There was another youma, and…" Serena paused. She didn't know exactly how much Setsuna knew. Did she know about Kunzite? Did she know about the past repeating itself?
Setsuna waited for Serena to finish her sentence, but when she appeared to be lost in thought, Setsuna decided to continue the conversation. "The two students, they were both muggle-born. They suffered a significant loss of energy, but they are recovering."
"So what does that mean?" Mina questioned.
"It means that, whoever we are up against, they could potentially be singling out students of a muggle heritage. It also means that, since the attack, there will be a close eye kept on the student body and anyone who exhibits…" Setsuna paused; making eye contact with both students before saying "…unusual behavior."
"So we have to be on our guard." Serena said in a solemn voice.
Setsuna nodded her head gravely. "Not only in your attempts to save whoever is a target, but avoiding in being the target yourself. I am correct in believing that both of you are muggle-born." The time warrior received no verification, but she knew that what she said was true.
She turned away from them and made her way back towards her desk. It was getting close to breakfast, and these girls didn't need to be caught in her office at this time in the morning. "We need to find out more about our enemy, and until then, you two need to be careful."
"We already know a little bit about the enemy." Serena said in hesitation.
Setsuna raised an eyebrow, but remained silent. "Last night, when we were fighting," Serena explained "Kunzite, he came." Serena could see the slight change in Setsuna's eyes even though she tried to hide it. "It's Beryl. She's back." Serena stated in a shaky voice.
Setsuna nodded. "Kunzite needs to be dealt with immediately." Mina flinched slightly at the way she stated that, but only Serena noticed to change in her demeanor. "He was one of the toughest to get through in that battle, wasn't he?" Setsuna questioned. She knew about the bits and pieces of that particular fight. She would need to do more research if this was what they were facing.
Mina's eyes got a vacant look in them, and Serena knew it was time to go before Setsuna caught on to her odd behavior. "Pluto, we better go. It is getting close to breakfast time, and we don't want to be seen all the way down here. It will cause people to question."
"You have become so wise hime-sama." She gave the Princess a sad smile, knowing the cost of that wisdom. "We'll speak more on this later, for now act as if nothing is out of the ordinary."
The two made their way out of the office, walking towards the Great Hall. "Thanks." Mina murmured as they walked along the corridors. "You know, for getting me out of there before…"
Serena smiled at her old friend. "No problem. What are friends for?"
"I'm surprised you still want to be my friend." Mina said in a defeated voice, looking away from her Princess.
"Why would you ever think that, Minako-chan?" Serena asked with concern.
"Because I failed you; as a guardian. I let my guard down. I shouldn't have fallen in love with him. I should have stuck to my duty as a Senshi. As your protector. Instead, I went off and gave my heart to…" Serena laid her hands on the girl's shoulders. Mina began to cry uncontrollably as Serena embraced her.
They were outside the Great Hall at this point, and thank God no one was around to witness the spectacle. As of now, at least to Serena's friends, Mina was a stranger. It didn't matter if anyone saw though, Serena thought. This was her friend, and she needed to comfort her.
"Minako-chan, you have nothing to apologize for. I knew."
Mina jerked away from her and glanced into her deep blue eyes. Did she just hear correctly?
Serena giggled at her friends reaction. She cupped Mina's face in her hands. "I knew, even back on the Moon. I know that sometimes I can be a little less than observant, but there is one thing that I don't miss and that is love. I see it, and I feel it. It was clear in your eyes. I remember that night at the ball." Mina stiffened at the memory; the one she had just dreamt last night.
"I remember dancing with Endymion and abandoning you." Serena laughed. "I knew you were going to be so angry with me. We always moped together at balls, but then I saw your yellow hair fly by, and to my surprise I saw you in the arms of a silver haired man. I knew he must have been the one that your mind wandered to so often. The way you two danced together…" Serena paused before looking directly into Mina's eyes. "He loved you. I know it."
This caused fresh tears to fall from her eyes. Serena brought her into a close hug once more. "I promise you. This time, we will not lose him. I will not fail you again."
Mina's arms tightened. She couldn't ask for a better friend. Sometimes, she just couldn't stand how Serena's heart stayed so pure; so full of love. After everything, how did she still hang on to that? "You are so strong, Usagi-chan."
Serena only shook her head. "I'm not the one who's strong. It is love that is the strong one." They heard voices approaching, and the pair reluctantly pulled apart as Serena saw her friends from Gryffindor round the corner. She gave them a small smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. She turned back to Mina. "I guess this is where we part, for now."
Mina nodded. She leaned into Serena and whispered. "You might want to hide that wisdom of yours, you are no longer acting your age." Mina giggled, and Serena couldn't help but smile in return. Her group of friends slowly approached her.
"Hey meatball head!" Sirius all but shouted as he placed his arm around Serena's shoulder, causing her to roll her eyes in return. "Who's your new friend?" He questioned, looking Mina up and down.
Serena let out a sigh. "This is Mina. We have History of Magic together." Just then a group of Hufflepuffs appeared. Mina smiled. "I'll see you around Usa…Serena." She quickly made her way over to the group, waving one last time at the girl.
"I have to say Serena, I'm surprised to see you up this early." Lily said with a smirk on her face. "Usually I have to drag you out of bed."
Serena did a mental sweat drop. "I woke up real early this morning for some reason and couldn't go back to sleep, so I decided to just wander on my own." Her friends looked at each other in confusion. Serena knew why. She knew she wasn't acting herself, but she knew it was unavoidable, she wasn't herself anymore. Not the person they knew.
As they made their way into the Great Hall, Serena couldn't help but reflect on her conversation with Mina. Of course she understood exactly what she was going through. After all, she was the one that fell in love with Endymion.
She sat down at the Gryffindor table and began to slowly fill her plate with food. Again, her friends faces showed concern. This was the second morning in a row in which she didn't dive right into the food. Instead, she took her time, and her eyes had such an empty look to them. The sparkle; it was no longer there.
Serena didn't notice their stares; she just continued her thought process. She thought back to the enemy. She closed her eyes for a second. She couldn't believe that time was repeating itself once again. How was she suppose to deal with this? She just hoped that she could allow the others to stay in peace for awhile longer. She knew they were here; she could feel them.
It was then that she had a thought. If they were here then so was…
"Mamo-chan." Serena whispered as her eyes shot open.
"What was that Serena?" Sirius questioned. Serena didn't miss the fact that he didn't use her nickname. They were seeing the changes. She smiled innocently. "Nothing. I was just trying to remember the name of an old friend from back home."
She broke eye contact and stared off into the distance once again. Mamoru. He had to be here too. Her heart fluttered at the idea. Would he come to her rescue again? She thought of it. The thought of being reunited with him again. She would be lying if she didn't confess that the thought made her extremely happy, but then, another question interrupted her mind.
Should he come for her? While she cared for Mamoru, all their lives they have always been told that they should be together because it was destiny. Because of their past life. She loved him, but she just wanted to know, to make sure, that their love was real.
Perhaps he can stay hidden for awhile. She was a different warrior this time around. She could protect herself. Maybe, if she could keep her wits about her, he would not need to come. He would not need to reawaken, and maybe, just maybe, they can find each other without destiny's interference.
If we were meant to be, we will find each other once again.
Serena looked down at her plate. She had barely eaten a thing. She just didn't feel like eating. Not now. She still needed more time to readjust before she could begin her act. It saddened her that it would be an act. She loved her carefree self. The one with no knowledge of the heartache, the pain, the blood, that was in the future.
Serena shook her head as she pushed away from the table. She needed fresh air.
"Where are you going?" Lily asked. She just couldn't understand why Serena was acting so strange.
"I just need to take a walk before I go to class." Serena said in an even tone.
"Would you like for me to come with you?" Lily offered, genuinely worried about her friend.
Serena shook her head. "I'm fine, I promise. I just need some time." With that, she walked out of the Great Hall. What she didn't notice was the pair of footsteps that followed her outside.
And there's another chapter! I hope everyone enjoyed it. Just so you know, be on the lookout for a new story of mine that will probably be published in the near future. It will be a crossover with Sailor Moon and Heroes. Don't forget to PLEASE REVIEW!!!
-Lizzy