Chapter 5: After-math of the battle
There was a blast of energy when Luna and Artemis walked towards the pond. "It must be Beryl's staff. Let's go check it out." Luna stated before leaving Artemis' side to run towards the dark and murky waters. The staff floated to the surface before disintegrating and disappearing in a flourish of bubbles. They both understood what this meant and rushed to scene of the battle. When they got there, they saw the four scouts kneeling on the ground weeping. Across the way lay the dead Zoicite, her hand laid gently on Malachite's chest. The two cats looked sadly, and when they looked back up, the two were gone. Locked in the negaverse and this time forever. They looked back at the four tired, weeping girls who stood around Darien, holding the frail weak Serena. "Serena, my princess, wake up. We need you… I need you. I don't want to be alone." He choked on the last words as the bare truth came from his heart to his lips. Then out of the sky shone an illuminating light that shone on the couple. Darien gently touched Serena's cheek before laying a tiny kiss and looking up towards the light to see a woman with a long, flowing, white dress. Her face was tender and serene and the light surrounding her made her blue eyes shine brightly. She had long hair up in the same style as Serena making the scouts wonder who the woman might be and if Serena knew. But unfortunately, they thought in unison, that they might not be able to ask her. Slowly the woman floated in front of Darien and the partially naked Serena. When Serena fell, the ribbons disappeared leaving her bareness for all to see. She moved her hands in front of her and brought Serena's crystal forward. Darien began to panic and held Serena closer to him. The scouts braced themselves for the fight, but nothing happened. She noticed this and said, "Don't worry, I'm here to help." She closed her eyes and brushed the dull crystal against her lips, making glow with an intense light, before placing it back in Serena's brooch. The ribbons formed back around her body transforming back into her scouts uniform. Darien closed his eyes and held back the tears of joy that came to his eyes. His love, his princess, coming to life by this mysterious angel from heaven. Gently the woman kissed Serena's forehead and floated up above their heads. "Wake up my daughter, your friends are waiting for you." Serena slowly opened her eyes and said, "Mother, Thank you." Slowly she got up and hugged her, saying, "You were in my dream. I saw you. Oh mother you were dead, all because of me. I'm sorry mother please forgive me. I'm so ashamed of what I did. Please, forgive me. You've done so much for me, and I brought along your death." She looked down and Serenity floated down in front of her daughter. "Look at me Serena. You're a courageous girl. You don't know it now, but you are. You risked your life for your life for your friends, the world and especially for your prince. You killed yourself for them, and I'm proud of you for your courage. I'll always forgive you Serena and there's no reason to be ashamed. Now I must be going now, take care." She turned to Darien and said, " Take good care of my Daughter for me. I'm trusting you with her life." Then she slowly floated up to the heavens and disappeared. Serena turned and walked into Darien's embrace. Looking up with tears brimming her eyes from the visit with her mother she said, "Oh Darien. We did it! We saved the moon kingdom, and the whole galaxy." Luna walked over and hopped up on Darien's shoulder and said, "Are you ok Serena?" Serena smiled at all her friends, the people who fought for her, in her honor, then nestles her head on Darien chest before saying, "I am now. Thanks to my loyal friends, my guardians, and my prince too." Darien put his finger under Serena's chin and looked deep into her eyes, searching deep through her soul, locking every feature of her face in his memory; eyes blue and deeper than any ocean, complexion so perfect, so soft. Lips, redder than a single rose bud, waiting to be kissed. 'Oh Serena, how I love you. More than any word could describe.' "Serena, my princess, I love you so much. Every day since the day you threw that test paper at me, I wondered if you loved me as much as I did you. If you loved me with every once of strength within you, your whole being, soul, and heart, as I did and still do. Serena, tell me, do you love me as much as I say?" Serena looked up into Darien's eyes reflecting the love that he felt for her. She gently touched his cheek before saying, "Yes, of course I love you. I've loved you for so long. You occupied my thoughts every day, every minute. Oh Darien, I love you so, so very much." "Awe, that's so sweet I think I'm going to cry!" Darien and Serena looked up to see four girls hugging eachother and wiping away fake tears. Serena laughed nervously. "I guess we forgot about them eh?" Darien gently kissed Serena on the forehead before getting up. Looking down at his watch he said, "Wow, it's already midnight, maybe you all should stay my apartment, just so you don't disturb your families." The girls agreed before Raye snickered behind her hand and said, "Well, I doubt you two will ever go to sleep tonight. Let alone the rest of us, of course if you can keep the noise level down, I might catch a few Z's." The rest of them began to laugh and walk down the road. Darien nodded his head, yet he smiled secretly thinking the joke was rather funny also, no matter how true it was. He turned to Serena and said, " Do you think you could walk?" Serena shook her head saying, "No, I'm pretty tired." Darien took Serena's hand and gently pulled her to her feet. "Get on my back, I'll give you piggy-back." When she resisted he went on. "Come on, I don't mind carrying you." Serena jumped up onto his back and laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you Darien." He smiled, knowing she was telling him something, but didn't show it. "I love you too my meatball head." Serena smiled at the nickname she always hated. Now, every name he called her meant a lot to her. She closed her eyes and fell into a deep sleep.