Two years later, after hours and hours of physical therapy, Serena could walk steadily without the help of any person or anything. She kept her progress to herself, still untrusting of most people since the night of the most painful betrayal she'd ever experienced.
The world had continued without her, but just barely. The scouts only survived with the help of Sailors Neptune and Uranus, who had come earlier than expected. The two older scouts had become Serena's closest friends for their loyalty to the crown was obvious. They would kill for her, she knew. They were with her throughout her recovery, and helped her in numerous ways.
Serena had not spoken to any of her former friends, even the ones she as sure had no part in her injuries. She found it hard to forgive any of them, or look at their faces. The first time Darien had come to visit her, she screamed until a nurse came to remove him. She could not move to fight him, but she was not weaponless. He never returned. When Raye came, she was never alone, but Serena refused to see her or speak to her. She immediately would press the nurse call button ask for her visitors to be removed. Soon no one from her previous life came to see her except for her family.
The day Serena was fully released, Amara and Michelle came to pick her up. They went to the couple's flat.
"When will you return to the Scouts?" Michelle asked in her quiet way.
"I don't know," Serena said. "I don't want to see them again."
"You have a responsibility, you know," Amara said. "They need you."
"I know," Serena said. "I know."
"Have you tried to transform?" Michelle questioned.
"No," Serena said. She looked down at her brooch.
"Don't use that," Amara said. "You don't need it." She took the brooch away. "You know what your power feels like. Pull it over yourself like a cloak, like a shield."
Serena closed her eyes, felt the silvery glow, and commanded it forward. Amara had been right. For the first time in two years, Serena felt powerful and strong. Her uniform had changed because she had. Her tiara twisted gracefully across her forehead in swirls of gold and silver, then spread upwards as a crown. Her skirt was no longer pleated, and it hung loosely about her knees. Her sleeves slid tightly down her arms and looped around her middle finger. A golden belt encircled her hips, and her boots had also turned golden. The rest of her uniform was silver. When she looked in the mirror, she saw an elegant, mature woman, but at the same time she was a fearful sight. Her power was undeniable.
"This is who you are now," Michelle said, standing as Sailor Neptune at Serena's side. Sailor Uranus nodded from her other side.
"We will follow you wherever you go, and help you in any circumstance."
Serena nodded. "It's time that I face my past."
The three found the Scouts fighting a monster, as usual. Serena noticed how worn all of her past friends appeared. The monster was obviously winning this battle.
Serena drew power into her hand, for she now found a wand as equally useless as a brooch, then cleared the monster from existence in a single silver flash. For moments, no one moved, especially Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Mask. Sailor Moon walked into sight from the shadows, her new friends behind her. Silence accompanied her presence.
"Isn't anyone going to say anything?" she asked. "I'm walking. I've got a new look. I've got a new life. Doesn't anyone know how to speak?"
"Serenity," Amy said, for the name "Serena" did not seem right, "I am happy to see you return."
"I've missed you so much," Mina said. Serenity knew that each of them spoke truly, and that, though Lita was speechless, the scout from Jupiter was also relieved to have her leader back.
Raye and Darien, however, were green in the face.
"What about you, Darien?" Serenity asked. "Aren't you happy to see me?"
Darien couldn't even summon the hint of a smile.
"I've only seen you once or twice since the night you dropped me."
The still loyal scouts gasped, and knew their leader spoke truly when Darien made no attempt to deny her accusation.
"What about you, Raye? You were a part of my paralysis, weren't you?"
"Raye!" Mina gasped. "It's treason."
"It's evil," Lita said angrily.
"It's punishable by death," Amy said. The laws of the Moon Kingdom still applied to all of them.
"I'm not going to kill anyone since I was never meant to die," Serena said. "Nor will I put you through the excruciating physical pain."
"Please, Serenity," Darien said. "Forgive us for our acts, our mistakes. We thought it was the only way."
"Oh, Darien, I will forgive you. In fact, I've decided to give you both gifts. Raye, so that you may feel the powerlessness I felt when I could not control my own body, I am removing from you the burden of being a Sailor Scout."
Serenity placed her hand out with her palm open. Raye's body began to shake and glow. Her eyes grew wide in disbelief as a ball of flames flew into Serenity's hand, and was quickly crushed in Serenity's fist. Raye stood in normal clothing with the inability to summon fire or turn into a scout. She felt empty and cold without the familiar Martian magic in her, but the Queen's judgment ruled.
"And, Darien, so that you may never feel the pain I experienced, I am removing from you the ability to feel most physical sensations." A ball of silver light surrounded Darien, glowed brightly, then disappeared. Darien clenched his fists, then looked up at Raye, frightened.
"I can't feel it," he said, though his fingernails had cut his palms and soft trails of blood slid over his hands.
"Goodbye, dear friends, I will return when needed."
The Queen departed with a smile upon her face, and peace in her heart. The world seemed right to her once more.
Author's Note: Well here you go. You get what you deserve and I think Darien and Raye did. It's not the best thing I've written, but it is the most evil. Review if ya want.
revised
