Hola! So here I am, back with Chapter 2. You shall never be rid of me!
Bwa ha ha ha.

Thanks to Mary Ann and Corie who are the bestest (is that a word? Well,
it is now!) friends in the whole wide world! Thanks also to melrae83
and moonstar for all your support!

Disclaimer: Sadly, Darien is NOT mine. He belongs to Princess Naoko,
Duke Bandai, Count Dic and Sir Pioneer. And to one Lilac Summers
(read her fics, people, they are fab!) None of the other characters
belong to me either, with the here noted Sailor Eclipse. On with
the show!

Rainbow Eclipse
by Lyra Matsuoka
Rated PG13 (language and violence)

Chapter 2
Challenge Issued

Darien stared at Sailor Eclipse, unable to form the words to answer her
astonishing declaration. Sailor Eclipse stared back, a small smile playing
on her lips, her indigo gaze chilling.

What did I do to deserve her hatred? She stares at me with eyes as
cold as the planet Saturn. How can I reach her? I don't know her, don't
know anything about her. What did I do?

"It is not what you did, but what you did not do," Sailor Eclipse
spat. "And you do know me. I have seen pictures of myself in your mind.
They are hazy, but unmistakable."

How did she answer my questions? I hadn't asked her yet!
Could she be...

"Reading your mind?" Sailor Eclipse finished. "Yes, I am. A
horrible habit, I know, but so useful at times. I am, among other
things, telepathic and telekinetic. I can both read other people's
thoughts and move inanimate objects with the strength of my will,"
Eclipse said, gesturing to the cushion.

"Do you have any other special talents?" Darien drawled, matching
her earlier sarcasm.

"Many," Eclipse replied "But, enough about me." Sailor Eclipse
glided toward the sofa where she lounged indolently on its arm,
leaning her head on her scepter. They sat silently for a few moments,
Eclipse allowing Darien time to collect his thoughts and form his
next question.

"You called me Endymion earlier."

"That is your name. Prince Endymion to be exact."

"How do you know that?"

"I know lots of things. For example, I know that the sickeningly
cute girl whom you were sharing a rather steamy kiss with in your car
earlier is your girlfriend Serena a.k.a. Sailor Moon a.k.a. Princess
Serenity a.k.a. Neo-Queen Serenity. I know that her friends are the
Sailor Senshi and I know that you would give your life to protect them."

"You have my attention," Darien spat "What do you want?"

"A duel. With you. One on one, winner takes all. A fight to the
death."

"Why?"

"That's for me to know. Here's the bargain. If you show up tomorrow
night at that park by your girlfriends house, and fight me and you win,
I will never bother you again."

"And if I refuse?"

"I will be forced to take drastic measures to ensure your compliance,"
Eclipse said, and calmly raised her scepter. "Here's a little preview."

Darien watched as the star shaped jewel on the scepter began to glow.
A round bubble floated out of the blinding light the scepter was creating.
Slowly the bubble approached him, stopping right in front of him. Darien
drew in a sharp breath. Inside the bubble, a battle raged. The Sailor
Scouts fought against an unknown assailant. Their bodies were bruised and
bleeding.

Sailor Uranus attacked, only to be thrown against a wall by emerald
icicles. Bleeding profusely, Sailor Uranus fell to the ground. She did
not rise. Sailor Mercury threw her ice bubbles at the attacker, but was
repelled when her own attack was thrown at her. Mercury, frozen in ice,
watched in horror as a bolt of crimson lightning came cracking down on
her. The ice shattered and Mercury collapsed, badly burned. Neptune and
Jupiter charged, their bodies moving as one. Leaping into the air, the
two braced themselves for impact. An orange blaze engulfed their bodies,
throwing them to the ground. With soft cries of pain, the two lay still.
One by one the scouts fell. Finally only Sailor Moon was left standing,
surrounded by the bodies of her friends and fellow warriors. Darien
watched in horror as Serena was vaporized by a sapphire tornado.


"NO!" Darien yelled, attacking the bubble.

"Calm down, Endymion. It wasn't real," Eclipse assured him. She
gestured with her scepter and the bubble popped. "But it will be if you
don't show tomorrow night."

"It was you, wasn't it? It was you attacking the Scouts in that
little movie, wasn't it? You sick, twisted..."

"Listen sweet cheeks," Eclipse said in a deadly quiet voice, "you
can't even imagine what I am capable of. I will destroy you, one way or
another. If I have to kill your soulmate to do that, I will. Make no
mistake." Indigo eyes flashed dangerously. "I want you dead and be it
physically or mentally, I will make certain that you are."

"If I meet you tomorrow night, I want your solemn vow that you will
not harm Sailor Moon or her friends in any way."

"Done. It isn't them I want."

"You're on. Tomorrow night in the park. Midnight?"

"Perfect. Oh, and one more thing. I wouldn't mention this to your
girl or her little Sailor Failure friends. They might come with you to
protect you. And I really couldn't guarantee my behavior at that point."

"Get out."

"With pleasure. Until tomorrow, Endymion."

With those parting words, Sailor Eclipse turned back toward the
balcony. Planting the bottom of her scepter in the doorjamb, Sailor
Eclipse vaulted onto the high wall surrounding the balcony. She paused
for a split second, and then jumped over the rim, free falling into the
night. Darien ran over and leaned over the edge of the balcony. He wasn't
surprised that Sailor Eclipse was not visible.

"Until tomorrow night," he whispered to the cold sky, walking back
inside, thinking of ways to temporarily repair his broken window. After
locating a sheet and securing it over the gaping hole, Darien stripped
and climbed into bed. As he lay there, gazing at a picture of Serena,
he felt his heart constrict. He loved her so much.

Enough to die for her, he thought. I will protect you Serena.
No matter what. But as Darien tossed and turned, he remembered the
images depicted in the bubble and shuddered.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

All done! Super short I know, but I was having a slightly off day.
The next one will be longer, I'm sure.

skiangel_sv@lycos.com