Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: G-PG 13+
Chapter: 10-A Vivid Dream
Last time on 'Winter Snow'…
"That reminds me, where are we going and what are we doing?" Serena asked.
"Well that's a surprise…" Darien smiled proudly.
"Oh come on… please!" Serena pleaded with a pair of puppy dog eyes. Darien couldn't resist.
"Oh, well, Ok." Darien sighed. "We are going to…"
"Actually...no, I won't tell you. I'll keep it a surprise." Darien smirked
"No… you must tell me! Please?" Serena pleaded.
"Nope."
"Jerk!" Serena pouted and hit Darien's chest lightly, not that it helped.
"That's not going to help get you anything, you know," Darien said in a posh tone. Serena just pouted. "Hey, no! Don't start that now!" Darien said uneasily.
"Pleeeeeese?" Serena begged with her best pleading eyes. Darien grunted in frustration. He wanted to tell her, but he also wanted to keep it a secret and surprise her. After a few minutes debating with himself he came to a conclusion and shook his head, indicating that he would keep his secrets for now. "Fine!" She said snobbishly.
"It's for the best, you'll like it better as a surprise." Darien said, on the verge of telling her.
"Hmm…" Serena frowned. "Fine." Serena gave in just as they reached her house
"Well goodnight MY little Meatball Head," Darien smiled.
"Goodnight MY…" Serena was about to say her usual 'conceited jerk' line but when she looked at him, smiling at her, she thought that he looked so adorable that she let her mind wander off.
"Yes?" Darien asked
"Goodnight my… prince Serena whispered dreamily.
"Prince now hmm? Certainly an upgrade from 'jerk.'" Darien asked, grinning. Serena snapped out of her trance.
"Huh? What? Did I say that out aloud?" Serena asked, blushing. Darien nodded.
"Yes you did, princess."
"Oh." Serena giggled innocently. Darien rested his arms on Serena's shoulders and looked into her eyes. Serena placed her head on Darien's chest. She sighed.
"Well I better get going, your father's watching from the living room window" Darien whispered quietly. Serena blushed in embarrassment. "See you Sunday…" Darien gave his trademark salute.
"Bye Darien!" Serena waved, and headed back to the house.
"What were you doing out there?" Serena's father asked as Serena entered the house.
"I was just saying bye." Serena defended
"To a total stranger? What were you doing with him?" Ken asked protectively.
"No daddy, that was Darien, the guy I told you about, and he was just helping me find my diary." Serena said waving her diary in the air.
"Hmm... Oh yes, Darien." Ken said rolling his eyes. "It didn't quite look like you two were looking for a diary out there…" Ken said.
"That's because we found it down the street and Darien was walking me home to make sure I got back safely." Serena defended herself and Darien.
"He sounds like quite a nice boy, dear, why don't you invite him here for dinner some time?" Serena's mother said before her husband could say anything else.
"What? Of course not! Illene, what are you thinking? No! I don't know him and I will not have him, at OUR dinner table, for dinner, in MY house! Near our daughter!" Ken protested.
"Ken, you've never met him, so stop judging him, and besides, you will get to know him when he comes for dinner." Illene gave Ken a cold stare, before smiling warmly at Serena. "Just tell us when he can come over ok sweetheart?" Illene told Serena.
"Ok sure," Serena nodded. Ken frowned, accepting defeat, and continued reading a magazine that was on the table. Serena walked up the stairs and into her room. She dropped her shoulder bag against the door and crashed onto her bed. She stared at the intricate patterns on her ceiling for a few moments before rolling over onto her front side and hugging a pillow. She closed her eyes and began dreaming. Dreaming of Darien and Tuxedo Mask.
The glisten of the palace set a wonderful backdrop for her dream. She strolled down the marble staircase, onto the balcony.
"May I have this dance?" Darien held his hand out to Serena.
"Sure…" She smiled warmly. She was dressed in a beautiful white gown that reached the floor. It had gold lining and beautiful gold-laced patterns across her chest and down, on the hem. Darien wore a traditional tuxedo with a white mask and a white rose in his jacket pocket against his lapel.
"I've been waiting for this night for a long time Serenity. We can finally be together." Darien smiled.
*Serenity?* Serena thought to herself but before she could say anything a man walked up to them both.
"Eherm… please excuse me, Prince Darien," The man bowed, "Princess Serenity, but your parents' would like would like to speak with you both." The man bowed again and was soon out of sight.
"Well… we better get going." Prince Darien extended his arm out to Serenity, who smiled and took it.
*What's going on?* Serena asked herself. She opened her mouth to ask where she was but when she spoke, a predefined line came forth, as if she had no control of what she was saying or doing in her own dream.
"Darien?" She asked.
"Hmm?" Darien replied
"I love you…" She confessed.
"Yes, I know… you have told me at least 50 times today, and that's why we're getting married tomorrow, remember?" Darien grinned.
*What?!* Serena thought to herself. And she nodded. They soon entered a large room. It was enormous in space, furnished with large table in the centre and a number of empty chairs. Two ladies occupied the same amount of seats. Serena looked up to see that the ceiling was a colossal opaque glass dome. A large crystal chandelier hung from the center or the dome. The room itself was beautifully decorated with fine intricate details and patterns, bordering the walls.
"Ah… Darien, Serenity. I am glad to see you two could make it so soon." One of the ladies greeted them both. She had burgundy colored hair and her eyes were astonishing. They were the deepest, purest dark blue. In the light of the chandelier they shimmered a hint of purple.
"I understand you wanted to see us urgently, mother?" Darien asked, seriously.
"Yes, Darien, Serenity, we wanted to tell you something." The dark hair lady said turning her head to the other lady who then began to speak. She had mysterious, but wise sky blue eyes that held dignity and respect. Her hair was a light blonde, almost white, and was in the same hairstyle as Serenity had.
"Beryl has managed to escape and she is coming to destroy the Silver Millennium and she is planning to take over, as we speak. It is vital that we ensure your safety and of course your future." The Moon Queen explained.
"But mother, what about…" Serenity was then cut off by a horrid ear-piercing scream.
"What was that?" Darien asked. His curiosity was soon rewarded as the glass dome collapsed and the walls of the room crumbled to reveal the evil Beryl. The hatred and rage in her eyes was evident.
"Mother, Queen Serenity… RUN!!!" Darien yelled
"Go!" Serenity added. The two Queens nodded and did as instructed. Prince Darien stood protectively in front of Princess Serenity.
"Go Serenity…" Darien said sternly as his tuxedo transformed into his battle armor.
"No! I will not leave you! I love you!" Serena said, almost pleadingly.
"Well, look who it is. Princess Serenity and her precious Prince Darien." Beryl cackled wickedly
"Go now… you will surely die if you stay with me. You have to go!" Darien ordered.
"No, Darien, I will not go. I'm staying with you. I can't, no, I won't leave without you. If you die, I die." Serena stated firmly.
"How disgustingly sweet!" Beryl scowled as she raised her arms into the night sky, summoning strong gusts of wind that whirled the remains of the room up into the air. When the wind subsided, Beryl was gone. The room was reduced to rubble, revealing the bloodshed across the kingdom. The Silver Millennium soldiers versus Beryl's armies. There were millions of casualties on both sides. Their lifeless bodies lay strewn for all to see. The moons' pale white soil stained and tainted with the crimson smears of blood of innocent lives. The painful screams that pierced through the battlefields air was enough to render Princess Serenity to her knees.
"They need help. Stay here." Prince Darien told his princess as he ran out to help save the Silver Millennium and their future.
*Oh my gosh!* Serena thought to herself. *What am I doing here?* She asked herself, only barely managing to bring herself back to her feet. She walked among the slain soldiers. Her heart filled with anguish at the sight of the destruction. She wondered to herself how so much pain, loss and devastation could occur in such a short period of time. As the Sun began to rise over the horizon of the moon, a glisten of silver caught her eye. She spotted the remains of a broken silver sword under some of the rubble.
"Darien." She whispered to herself as she picked up her new battle sword and followed Darien's lead. She reached the courtyard only to be greeted by the body of one of Darien's generals.
*Oh... my…* She said as further along the path she saw one of her Guardian Scouts. The sounds of battle had died down throughout the night. Beryl's army was slaughtered and Beryl had mysteriously disappeared. There was an eerie silence as Serenity walked around.
"Lita" She cried as she saw her friends' blood stained, lifeless body lying on the ground. "No…" She whispered as she saw the sight of more of her friends, lying still, on the ground, side by side with Darien's generals. "I could've done something." Serenity wept. It was then that she caught sight if a face she dared not to recognize. "No!" Serenity yelled as she ran to her beloved. "Darien? Darien! Wake up! Darien! Please… wake up." She shook his cold, still body. His armor was mangled where the final blow had been directed. His vest was drenched. It became clear that he would never draw another breath again. "Darien!" Serenity cried onto Her princes' chest. Her pure white gown, now stained with his blood. "I could've helped. I came too late! I'm so sorry Darien! I'm so sorry!" She took his bloodstained sword and in one swift movement, embedded it into her chest.
"Serena? Dinner's ready! Serena?" Illene woke Serena up. She was in a cold sweat. "Are you alright, darling?" Illene sat next to her daughter and felt her forehead, just in case she was feeling sick.
"No, I mean… yeah" She said, looking around at her surroundings. She looked down at her clothes. They weren't sticky with blood, but with her sweat. She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Are you sure? You look a little pale." Serena's mother stated.
"Yes mother, I'm fine, just a…" Serena gulped. Her throat was dry. "A vivid dream." She attempted to smile.
"Well alright, dinner will be ready soon." Illene smiled, welcoming.
"Thanks" Serena said as she got up to take a shower.
*It felt so real… the dancing, the music, the fighting, the…the…* she paused and gulped again
"Darien!" She exclaimed to herself. She got dressed and went downstairs for dinner. Flashes of her dream repeating themselves over and over and over in her mind, the whole time.
"Honey, Darien called. He wanted to let you know that he was going to pick you up at 5:30 on Sunday, and he left his number by the phone, if there were any problems." Illene said, placing a plate in front of Serena.
"Ok sure, thanks mom." Serena smiled. She mentally gave a sigh of relief. She shoveled the food into her mouth and was the first to finish. She placed her plate in the sink and ran to the phone. Sure enough, there was a phone number with the name 'Darien' printed above it with an arrow coming down and pointing to the phone number. Serena took the palm size piece of paper and ran upstairs into her room. She took her phone and began dialing the phone number. She listened to the ringing. 1 ring, 2 ring, 3 ring, 4- the ringing stopped to the sound of someone crying
"Hello" A familiar female voice sniffed.
"Hi… Crystal?" Serena asked.
"Oh hi, Serena" Crystal sniffled again "Darien?" She motioned to Darien to pass her the box of tissues.
"What? What's wrong? Is Darien in trouble? What's going on?" Serena asked.
"Oh, no. I'm watching 'Ever After' and I'm at the really sad part. I just asked Dare to pass me the box of tissues." Crystal sniffed once again.
"Oh ok" Serena smiled at her own stupidity.
"Would you like to talk to him?" Crystal asked, wiping her tears.
"Yes please…" Serena said.
"Ok hold on" Crystal said. Serena could hear everything that was going on in the background "Darien! Phone! It's Serena!" Crystal yelled.
"What?!" Darien's voice was a bit more distant but Serena could still hear the surprise and excitement in his voice. A heavy thud caught her by surprise..
"Yes Darien, trip over!" Crystal said sarcastically. Serena couldn't help but laugh.
"Hello?" Darien asked, talking into the receiver.
"Yes Darien, trip over!" Serena repeated, giggling.
"Ah… you heard?" Darien blushed. *Stupid Darien! Stupid!* he thought to himself.
"Yes, I heard it all." Serena smiled.
"Yeah well, it's actually more painful than it sounds!" Darien said, rubbing his shoulder.
"Aww… did my big cushy teddy bear trip over now?" Serena asked.
"Yes I did" Darien replied, embarrassed.
"Well I can't imagine Mr. Tuxedo Mask tripping over." Serena smiled.
"But Tuxedo Mask didn't get a call from a beautiful blonde lady." Darien said, smartly.
"Is that your excuse?" Serena asked.
"It was the best thing that I could think of at the time." Darien defended. "So why'd you call?" He asked quickly changing the subject.
"No reason, I just felt like hearing your voice…" Serena smiled, sighing deeply when Darien spoke again. It was then, she noticed a dark figure on her balcony. It reminded her of the silhouette of Beryl, shadowing over the remains of the Silver Millennium Moon Kingdom. Her heartbeat increased rapidly and her breathing grew quicker and shallow.
"What's wrong?" Darien asked, causing Serena to jump in fright.
"Oh, nothing… why would you think that anything is wrong?" Serena asked, hiding her fear.
"Just that you went all silent on me." Darien said, becoming suspicious. "So you called just to hear my voice?" Darien asked.
"Um… y…yeah." Serena faltered. The dark figure began to move, closer and closer. Serena walked backwards, and attempted to hide behind her bed. She was terrified. The pink and white curtains moved as the figure stood just a step away from them. A pair of hands brushed the curtains away and the dark figure stepped into the room. Frozen in fear, Serena dropped the phone to the floor.
Crystal Saturn
