Chapter 36: A Heart Bound In Chains

When Sailor Moon finally woke up the girls and tuxedo mask had already gotten to their feet trying to discuss how they will handle these next upcoming battles with the Masked-Mistresses.

"Hey guys Serena's awake!" Jupiter said.

"Hey guys what's going on?" Sailor Moon groggily said as she crept up to a sitting position, as if she had awakened from a deep sleep.

"We got more nega-sleez to fight that's what! Those masked girls are coming back." Mars answered.

"And the problem of fighting the dark princess after that…" Venus added.

"…and the oath." Artemis finished with concern.

"But first, girls I must commend you for your bravery! Fighting for Sailor Moon, and well the stating the Senshi-Oath unintentionally, just because you cared! It really was quite impressive." Luna said. "Not to mention, Serena, amazing job handling that new power!

"Thanks Luna! I just couldn't have anything bad happen to you scouts!" Sailor Moon admitted.

"Yea, and talk about lovin' your new look!" Venus said. "Your uniform really looks great now Serena!"

"Yes, it really makes you look more like a princess." Mercury added.

"Really?" Sailor Moon squeaked in excitement. The frill lace under her skirt and sleeves did make her feel fancy. She thought about what had just happened. She may have put her life on the line for the scouts, but they had defended her right back, and even saved her and her heart crystal. She really appreciated her friends. Even Tuxedo Mask took a chance in trying to save her… Darien! How could she have forgotten? Her eyes started to tear up.

"Serena what's wrong?" Neptune ask caringly.

"Nothing, I'm just so happy." She admitted. She looked over and her gaze caught Tuxedo Mask's.

"Serena, I'm so happy your okay." He said.

"I'm sorry I got mad at you before I should have known. But there's…"

"Don't worry about it. It'll be okay." He said as if he already knew what she was going to say. Did he? Had he really known about Diamond kissing…whatever…she didn't care. His reassuring words meant so much to her right now.

"Oh Darien." She said as she went to reach for his hand, when suddenly a black electricity static formed between their palms and they both retracted holding their wrists.

"Shoot." Tuxedo Mask said looking at the palm of his hand angry. He looked up at Sailor Moon, who although was still holding her hand, looked more sympathetic towards him.

"Wow, you guys really have a spark eh?" Venus said.

"Venus!" They all said.

"Sorry..couldnt resist."

"But this is why we need to focus here." Uranus said.

"She's right. That's why I need to go back to that Dark Princess Melaena." Tuxedo Mask said looking down at his hand. "I need to figure out if there is a way this oath can be broken…or something I can do to…to…"

"But Darien, do you have to leave again?" Sailor Moon said looking into his eyes which now caught hers again.

"Serena, I have to." He said with regret in his voice. "You girls fight these negaverse Mistresses, be strong. I'll figure out something I promise." With one whish of his cape he turned around catching Pluto's eye, as she nodded in approval.

He knew it didn't take much. As soon as he started to wonder from the group he knew he'd end up at Malaena's throne room if he merely thought about it. Was it because she wanted him there? Or because he too, needed to be there? Or was it that he could navigate through the maze because he too was part Dark Moon…

"So you've returned. How thoughtful of you?" Her belle voice said breaking his train of thought.

"Thoughtful isn't the word I'd use." He replied.

"Whatever you say. Really it's probably best you left, I mean one more instance too soon and Sailor Moon may have been sparked through the wall…Ahahaha." She giggled to herself.

His mind cringed but he knew he couldn't show it. She was playing games, teasing him, pointing out the negative all the time; he couldn't let her know for any longer that it was getting to him.

"But in all seriousness," She said regaining her composure. "Sailor Moon and her Sailor Scouts are fighting my girls now, I cant let you interfere."

"I don't plan to." He said.

This caught her off-guard, but let her face settle to a smirk again before he could get to much satisfaction. "Well that's good, because technically you are of the same kind. Brenna is your cousin you know ."

It was his turn to have a face of shock. The Mistress with the short dark hair was his cousin? It must be from his father's side. Of course it was, otherwise she wouldn't be a Masquerader like he was. Shoot, now his only family member…if you could even call her that, was against him and was about to be defeated by the Sailor Scouts. His head started to hurt.

"Even so, it seems it probably is best that you came." Suddenly a small compact mirror and red lipstick appeared in her hand, "We do need to even the odds you know."

"This isn't a game." He said. He was starting to get angry. He needed to find a way to get around that oath or destroy it or something.

"Oh, I know, I know. But this somehow still seems so … lopsided. I mean you apologized but did she?"

"For what?" He was surprised that she even knew that he had apologized. I guess she notices a lot.

"Kissing her dear Prince Diamond about oh three times? Jeez, maybe he should be borrow my lipstick…" She teased him, as her red lips blew a kiss in his direction.

"It was his fault not Serena's."

"And it was my fault not yours. And, may I add, you must admit she plays her game well."

"What do you mean?"

"Well think about it; she'd have no where to run if the Dark Moon prevailed. The Moon-kingdomers would be out-casted. What better than have a Diamond in the rough to take care of her…" She hinted.

"Serena would never kiss that man on purpose. She saved him because…"

"…she has such a pure heart. Yea got it; she made that clear through that fancy new moon-staff of hers. But realize that I'm right. She wont have Rini. The other Seven scouts will have to surrender…"

"Seven?"

"Oh right you never saw that … well lets say our future Dark Moon Princess Leila is a little reminiscent of the little Rini girl; and so forth when the choice comes to choose sides, Sailor Saturn chooses to protect her old friend."

"But she's not Rini!"

" But you see the Sailor Saturn of this era does not exist. She came from the future to Hotaru. She is Hotaru's future self. The new Hotaru is young and will have few memories of Rini. So when she is old enough she will lean to protect the new princess; plus her inner Mistress is released…she is stronger with a dark power. Something even you should know, and even so when she is older she will look a lot like a certain Mistress…"

Suddenly an apparition appeared within the crystal ball that was beside her throne; two teenage girls. One with long black hair, the other with cone shaped pigtails. Mistress 9? Wicked Lady? Suddenly they turned around. The black haired girl was none other than a future-dark- Sailor Saturn, who did look a lot like Mistress 9 had, and beside a girl that could have been the twin of Wicked Lady but had a pale purple hair and a lipstick colour he could only attribute to the Dark Princess Malaena.

"The girls learned about this a while ago. I told you before that we have a child in the … "Dark" future. Here is your proof."

He backed away from it. She thought of this as discouragement; he thought of this as motivational. He wouldn't let that happen. He couldn't even imagine himself … No. This is just another reason why he needed to find out more about this damn oath.

"So, the rose…"

"You're worried? The rose has flashed red on occasion, but Sailor Moon will stay safe; safe if away from you."

"And it cannot be broken?"

"You're looking for loop holes now in the oath? No, it can't. My death cannot even promise you that. It's binding. The only way for it to be rid of is for it to be fulfilled."

"To marry you?"

" More or less. All it truly asks ; is for you to love me."