Welcome back! Yes, yes, I know I made you wait a day, and I'm sorry for that. It was my fault, really. Thanks again to Galea, for the review. You are too kind! Here it is, the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 3: Choices

I watched Darien's death over and over. If only I had known! If only I could have stopped it, Serena wouldn't be asking me to do something I was trained not to do. I wouldn't be feeling things I hadn't felt in millennia.

My sense of duty was conflicting with my sense of loyalty.

It was so frustrating. I'd never known the Time Stream to block off a certain part of itself. I could almost taste my ignorance. There was so much I didn't know about the stream, but it was the worst possible time to learn something new.

All I could think of were the repercussions of saying yes to Serena. So many things could go wrong with changing the past. It could not only change our future, but it could affect the futures of other dimensions. A rip could be made in time, causing a leak between worlds. A creature from a place extremely different from ours could wreak havoc in Tokyo, all because I altered destiny. I could not be responsible for the destruction of an innumerable amount beings and locations. I would not be able to live with the guilt. I only touched the stream when there was something obstructing the flow, or when it sanctioned me to change something. I never, ever changed something because I wanted to. Those reasons alone would have made me instantly say no to Serena, and that would have been the end of it. Except my heart, my cold, broken heart, refused to let me turn my back on Serena, when I was the only one she could turn to. My illogical heart battled my rational mind, all because of Serena.

I kept picturing her sad, blue eyes as she pleaded for the life of her love. I could almost feel her tears on my clothes again, as if she was there, at the gate, crying in my arms like before. The situation was becoming more than I could handle. The stream, the death, the princess. Everything became a jumble in my head as I searched my brain for an answer. I always thought I could handle anything that was thrown at me. All I found was confusion attached to unanswerable questions. Why was the stream blocked? How was it blocked without my knowledge? Why did the prince die? How could he die and still be in the future? Why was the princess asking this of me?

I suddenly found an answer to one of my questions. Maybe the prince was in the future because I chose to bring him back. That still didn't explain why I hadn't anticipated his present death. However, even if I did choose to bring him back, I would still have to deal with the consequences of deciding to do it now. The Time Stream was strong, but a slight gust of wind could annihilate it all.

However, my bringing him back might not have been the reason why he was in the future. Some unknown force could have brought about his rebirth. I moaned. That was logical, as well. Just when I thought I had an answer, another one came along and added more confusion to my already fatigued brain.

The risks were too great for me to say yes, but the risks were just as great for me to refuse. I worked my hardest to maintain the stream. I'd also worked my hardest to be friends with Serena. She'd give her life to save Darien. I'd give my life to save hers.

I stared at the emptiness that used to be so imminent. It scared me incredibly not being able to see what was in store for the ones I cared about. I hated surprises.

I sighed. I made my decision.

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Almost done, folks. Two more chapters. All right, then, review, review! I'll be back. I promise not to make you wait too long. Maybe.heh heh heh.

S.Setsuna

HeliosGirl@sailormoon.com