Chapter 9: The Final Face-off
I quickly parted from Ada's kiss and a picture of Serena's sweet face passed across my mind. On instinct, I turn to see her running down the stairs, her face in her hands. Quickly I say goodbye to Ada and run after Serena.
* * * * Serena had cried herself to sleep, completely oblivious to the person outside her door. Darien slowly opened the door to find Serena lying across their bed, obviously sleeping. Darien walked over to her and sat down on the bed. She stirred in her sleep at the sudden movement and opened her eyes to see Darien looking down at her, an unidentifiable look in his eyes. She turned away from him as tears began to sting her eyes. 'I promised myself I wouldn't cry, and I won't.' She said to herself as she wiped her eyes. Darien shifted his position so he was facing Serena and said slowly to her, a hidden passion coming out through his voice. "Serena, I know what you saw, and I know it hurt you. But it meant nothing. I expected that she accepted us, but she obviously didn't, for when the day was over and it was time to say goodbye, she turned to me and suddenly her lips were on mine. When we parted, to my delight, I turned and saw you, and that's when I left. I swear with everything in me, that I didn't want to kiss her. My lips are for yours and only yours. My love, my kisses, are all for you and no one else. I've never loved anyone else before like I do you. Of course, we have a past, but I still love you, whether that past existed or not. I'm glad it does, otherwise destiny wouldn't have brought us together. Please Serena, please don't cry. Please forgive me." Serena held onto him with all her might, tears of mixed emotions running down her cheek. She looked up at him; her eyes shining back at him the love and joy that made him fall in love with her. She nodded her head and said, "Oh Darien, of course I forgive you. I'll always know that you love me. I just kept getting weird chills up and down my spine whenever I'd see her. But, I'm not going to ponder over that right now." She stood up and wiped around her eyes. "I'm going to check on Rini then we can go for a nice walk." She walked over to Rini's room and opened the door. "The crystal, where is it? Mommy?" Rini was tossing and turning in her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Serena went over and picked her up. "Rini, it's alright now. Rini you're having a bad dream, open your eyes." Rini slowly looked up and burrowed her head into Serena's neck. "Oh, Serena, it as the worst dream ever. My mother, she was in trouble and I could find her or her friends anywhere. It was terrible." Serena kissed her before sitting down in a nearby chair and rocking her to sleep. Darien stood in the doorway as a memory came to him.
I stand in the doorway of our daughter's room. There by the window in the rocking chair sits my wife, rocking to sleep our new baby. She looks out the window at the stars, pointing out each constellation. The moonlight shines through the window, illuminating beams bouncing off the love in Serena's eyes. I smile as her soft voice sings her favorite lullaby to our daughter. She looks up at me and smiles before getting up and putting the sleeping bundle in the cradle. She leaned down and kissed her gently before walking towards me and taking my hand. "I love Endymion." I leaned down and kissed her before walking towards the cradle to say goodnight to our daughter.
Darien looked over towards Serena and smiled at her. 'That was so familiar yet, so distance from recognition.' Darien shook aside his thoughts as Serena walked towards him. She took his hand and said, "She's such a sweet little girl. Her parents are such lucky people. How does that walk on the deck sound?" Darien walked her to their room door and as Serena was walking out he looked back towards Rini's closed door. He walked out and followed Serena up the stairs. They walked quietly along the deck, soaking in the sweet quietness, arranging their thoughts. They heard soft footsteps far behind them but didn't pay any attention to them. Once the got to the railing overlooking the shimmering water below, they sat down, letting their feet dangle below. Darien looked over at Serena who was looking up at the moon. She looked down towards Darien and said, "Did you ever wonder if my mother was up there right now watching over up?" Darien looked up at the moon, searching its every edge, locking in its beams of light before looking back at Serena and saying, "I bet she's watching over all the planets and the galaxy all day and night. Worrying about every person's safety all the time. Her heart will always be searching for a way to help someone. I guess you can say it's mother like daughter." Serena smiled up at Darien and said, "I've never heard you mention your family. I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but do you have any?" Darien looked down at the sea and was quiet for so long that Serena thought he wasn't going to answer, but finally he looked up, "I'm glad you asked that. I've kept this inside me for so long and I need to get it out. I've never had a family, ever since I was about 4 or 5. My parents were killed in a car accident, I was with them, but survive, yet I had amnesia, losing any memories I had of my family and friends. After that, I stayed in an orphanage until I was nineteen. That's when I moved into my apartment. I've been so alone since then. Especially when I was a child. I'd watch all the other kids leave with their adopted families, and always would wonder when I'd get a family of my own. But, I have found one; you, and the scouts. You're all my family, besides friends. Especially you, you're my future wife, and I'll never forget that." Serena went to hug him when a sound behind them startled them. Slowly they turned around to meet their worst nightmare. The mysterious woman threw herself at Serena, forcing her to fall off the edge. "Darien! Help! I'm falling!" Darien lunged himself at the woman throwing her across the deck. When he got up he said, "Ada! How could you!" Ada brushed herself off before laughing icily saying, "Well, it was all so easy. Why would be the question. See, you don't need that little floozy girl when you've got an experienced girl like me. Come on Darien, we can rule the universe together. You don't need a weak girl like Serena. Look at her trying to hold herself up." Darien ran towards the edge and helped Serena up and turned back towards Ada. "She is the strongest woman I've ever know; we both make each other happy, we hold each other up. You can't change destiny nor can you ruin such an everlasting love such as ours. Serena is my wife and you have no part in my life. The only floozy here is you!" "Darien!" He turned to see a bright light surrounded Serena. "Serena, what's happening?" She looked up at him and said, "I don't know. I feel a new surge of energy going through my whole body." Slowly the light rose towards the sky, lift9ng Serena with it. She floated there for awhile before closing her eyes as flashbacks came to her; the moon kingdom, the balls, her mother, all floating before her mind's eyes, so much clearer than before. Slowly she brought her hands to her locket and opened it, playing its soft lullaby. Its beams brought Darien up towards Serena who took his hands into her own. A soft voice rang in her ears and she cleared her mind to listen closely: 'Serena, your love is the strongest anyone could ever have. Love can climb mountains, cross rivers till it has found its home. Serena, you and Darien's love is stronger than anything our enemies could think of. Serena you can do it. I know you can.' "Mother." Serena nodded her head and looked up at Darien. "Darien, we can do it. I know we can." They closed their eyes and thought long and hard, memories of the love they shared came to them. A light came from their hearts and destroyed Ada, making Serena and Darien weak. They slowly descended just as the other girls came up the stairs with Luna and Artemis right behind them. Darien helped Serena up as strength started to come back to him. Luna walked over to them and said, " I take it you have taken care of those strange vibes I've been feeling." Serena nodded, holding onto Darien as some of her strength came back. "Luna, I've remembered it all, the big surprise, the missing link; Rini. She was sent here from the moon with the help of the future scouts in search of the imperial silver crystal to her sleeping, incased mother. It was me in that dream. It was my present self watching over my future self. Rini is mine and Darien's daughter from the future. My mother helped me remember the important parts, but I have Darien to thank for helping me remember." Everyone stared at Serena, a little startled as a matter of fact. Ami stepped forward and nodded her head as in answer herself. "Yes. It seems to be right as far as I know. Think of it this way. That past had repeated itself only with different people in a different situation." Her explanation, however, were interrupted by a cackle behind them. "Wow. Serena a mother. Darien I can see as a father figure but never would I imagine Serena as a mother!" Serena put her hands on her hips and looked angrily as Raye. "You'd better get used to it. You can't change destiny." She smiled up at Darien who was smiling at her. "You've been around me too much my meatball head." "Yes, but that is always a good thing Darien." They all looked towards the horizon where the sun was beginning to peek up. They went back down to their rooms to pack their bags in anticipation of a well-deserved vacation.
I quickly parted from Ada's kiss and a picture of Serena's sweet face passed across my mind. On instinct, I turn to see her running down the stairs, her face in her hands. Quickly I say goodbye to Ada and run after Serena.
* * * * Serena had cried herself to sleep, completely oblivious to the person outside her door. Darien slowly opened the door to find Serena lying across their bed, obviously sleeping. Darien walked over to her and sat down on the bed. She stirred in her sleep at the sudden movement and opened her eyes to see Darien looking down at her, an unidentifiable look in his eyes. She turned away from him as tears began to sting her eyes. 'I promised myself I wouldn't cry, and I won't.' She said to herself as she wiped her eyes. Darien shifted his position so he was facing Serena and said slowly to her, a hidden passion coming out through his voice. "Serena, I know what you saw, and I know it hurt you. But it meant nothing. I expected that she accepted us, but she obviously didn't, for when the day was over and it was time to say goodbye, she turned to me and suddenly her lips were on mine. When we parted, to my delight, I turned and saw you, and that's when I left. I swear with everything in me, that I didn't want to kiss her. My lips are for yours and only yours. My love, my kisses, are all for you and no one else. I've never loved anyone else before like I do you. Of course, we have a past, but I still love you, whether that past existed or not. I'm glad it does, otherwise destiny wouldn't have brought us together. Please Serena, please don't cry. Please forgive me." Serena held onto him with all her might, tears of mixed emotions running down her cheek. She looked up at him; her eyes shining back at him the love and joy that made him fall in love with her. She nodded her head and said, "Oh Darien, of course I forgive you. I'll always know that you love me. I just kept getting weird chills up and down my spine whenever I'd see her. But, I'm not going to ponder over that right now." She stood up and wiped around her eyes. "I'm going to check on Rini then we can go for a nice walk." She walked over to Rini's room and opened the door. "The crystal, where is it? Mommy?" Rini was tossing and turning in her bed, tears streaming down her cheeks. Serena went over and picked her up. "Rini, it's alright now. Rini you're having a bad dream, open your eyes." Rini slowly looked up and burrowed her head into Serena's neck. "Oh, Serena, it as the worst dream ever. My mother, she was in trouble and I could find her or her friends anywhere. It was terrible." Serena kissed her before sitting down in a nearby chair and rocking her to sleep. Darien stood in the doorway as a memory came to him.
I stand in the doorway of our daughter's room. There by the window in the rocking chair sits my wife, rocking to sleep our new baby. She looks out the window at the stars, pointing out each constellation. The moonlight shines through the window, illuminating beams bouncing off the love in Serena's eyes. I smile as her soft voice sings her favorite lullaby to our daughter. She looks up at me and smiles before getting up and putting the sleeping bundle in the cradle. She leaned down and kissed her gently before walking towards me and taking my hand. "I love Endymion." I leaned down and kissed her before walking towards the cradle to say goodnight to our daughter.
Darien looked over towards Serena and smiled at her. 'That was so familiar yet, so distance from recognition.' Darien shook aside his thoughts as Serena walked towards him. She took his hand and said, "She's such a sweet little girl. Her parents are such lucky people. How does that walk on the deck sound?" Darien walked her to their room door and as Serena was walking out he looked back towards Rini's closed door. He walked out and followed Serena up the stairs. They walked quietly along the deck, soaking in the sweet quietness, arranging their thoughts. They heard soft footsteps far behind them but didn't pay any attention to them. Once the got to the railing overlooking the shimmering water below, they sat down, letting their feet dangle below. Darien looked over at Serena who was looking up at the moon. She looked down towards Darien and said, "Did you ever wonder if my mother was up there right now watching over up?" Darien looked up at the moon, searching its every edge, locking in its beams of light before looking back at Serena and saying, "I bet she's watching over all the planets and the galaxy all day and night. Worrying about every person's safety all the time. Her heart will always be searching for a way to help someone. I guess you can say it's mother like daughter." Serena smiled up at Darien and said, "I've never heard you mention your family. I don't mean to be nosy or anything, but do you have any?" Darien looked down at the sea and was quiet for so long that Serena thought he wasn't going to answer, but finally he looked up, "I'm glad you asked that. I've kept this inside me for so long and I need to get it out. I've never had a family, ever since I was about 4 or 5. My parents were killed in a car accident, I was with them, but survive, yet I had amnesia, losing any memories I had of my family and friends. After that, I stayed in an orphanage until I was nineteen. That's when I moved into my apartment. I've been so alone since then. Especially when I was a child. I'd watch all the other kids leave with their adopted families, and always would wonder when I'd get a family of my own. But, I have found one; you, and the scouts. You're all my family, besides friends. Especially you, you're my future wife, and I'll never forget that." Serena went to hug him when a sound behind them startled them. Slowly they turned around to meet their worst nightmare. The mysterious woman threw herself at Serena, forcing her to fall off the edge. "Darien! Help! I'm falling!" Darien lunged himself at the woman throwing her across the deck. When he got up he said, "Ada! How could you!" Ada brushed herself off before laughing icily saying, "Well, it was all so easy. Why would be the question. See, you don't need that little floozy girl when you've got an experienced girl like me. Come on Darien, we can rule the universe together. You don't need a weak girl like Serena. Look at her trying to hold herself up." Darien ran towards the edge and helped Serena up and turned back towards Ada. "She is the strongest woman I've ever know; we both make each other happy, we hold each other up. You can't change destiny nor can you ruin such an everlasting love such as ours. Serena is my wife and you have no part in my life. The only floozy here is you!" "Darien!" He turned to see a bright light surrounded Serena. "Serena, what's happening?" She looked up at him and said, "I don't know. I feel a new surge of energy going through my whole body." Slowly the light rose towards the sky, lift9ng Serena with it. She floated there for awhile before closing her eyes as flashbacks came to her; the moon kingdom, the balls, her mother, all floating before her mind's eyes, so much clearer than before. Slowly she brought her hands to her locket and opened it, playing its soft lullaby. Its beams brought Darien up towards Serena who took his hands into her own. A soft voice rang in her ears and she cleared her mind to listen closely: 'Serena, your love is the strongest anyone could ever have. Love can climb mountains, cross rivers till it has found its home. Serena, you and Darien's love is stronger than anything our enemies could think of. Serena you can do it. I know you can.' "Mother." Serena nodded her head and looked up at Darien. "Darien, we can do it. I know we can." They closed their eyes and thought long and hard, memories of the love they shared came to them. A light came from their hearts and destroyed Ada, making Serena and Darien weak. They slowly descended just as the other girls came up the stairs with Luna and Artemis right behind them. Darien helped Serena up as strength started to come back to him. Luna walked over to them and said, " I take it you have taken care of those strange vibes I've been feeling." Serena nodded, holding onto Darien as some of her strength came back. "Luna, I've remembered it all, the big surprise, the missing link; Rini. She was sent here from the moon with the help of the future scouts in search of the imperial silver crystal to her sleeping, incased mother. It was me in that dream. It was my present self watching over my future self. Rini is mine and Darien's daughter from the future. My mother helped me remember the important parts, but I have Darien to thank for helping me remember." Everyone stared at Serena, a little startled as a matter of fact. Ami stepped forward and nodded her head as in answer herself. "Yes. It seems to be right as far as I know. Think of it this way. That past had repeated itself only with different people in a different situation." Her explanation, however, were interrupted by a cackle behind them. "Wow. Serena a mother. Darien I can see as a father figure but never would I imagine Serena as a mother!" Serena put her hands on her hips and looked angrily as Raye. "You'd better get used to it. You can't change destiny." She smiled up at Darien who was smiling at her. "You've been around me too much my meatball head." "Yes, but that is always a good thing Darien." They all looked towards the horizon where the sun was beginning to peek up. They went back down to their rooms to pack their bags in anticipation of a well-deserved vacation.