Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: G-PG 13+
Chapter: 12- The Princess Found

Last time on "Winter Snow"…

"I love you, Serena, Serenity, Sailor Moon. I love you." Darien confessed. Serena leant down, kissing his lips and savoring the feeling as he closed his eyes for the final time.

"I love you too…" Serena whispered as another tear rolled down her cheek. Her heart tore from within her chest and sank to the lowest of depths within her soul. She wanted so desperately to weep for her fallen friends and love, but she knew that now was not the time. This time, she would act. She would avenge them. Serenity rose to her feet, waving her hand in the air with power and authority.

"As for you…" The Crystal levitated with her, fusing with the Moon wand, becoming ready for battle. "You need to be taught a lesson!" Serenity exclaimed. The powers of the crystal worked their magic, weaving a spectrum of light and energy around Serenity. With a flick of her hand, It radiated and released a bright light destroying Zoisite without any effort or struggle. Serenity collapsed onto the ground in exhaustion.


Serena woke up to find herself as Sailor Moon again. *Oh! It was all a bad dream.* She thought to herself. She looked around and found the scouts, also beginning to wake up. Luna and Artemis ran towards Serena.

"Princess Serenity, are you alright?" They both said at the same time. They had seen the whole battle. The scouts all looked at the two cats and Serena. Serena also looked around but didn't find anyone beside her.

"Silly Luna, I'm not Princess Serenity." Serena stated in a rather blasé tone as she de-transformed but she didn't really believe her own words. Or did she? She wasn't sure anymore. Luna frowned.

"Actually, your highness, Luna and Artemis are correct." Crystal used her abilities to foresee what had happened just a few hours ago. Serena's jaw dropped in disbelief. Everyone's jaw dropped.

"I… I… I don't believe you…" Serena stuttered

"Well ok then, kneel down and I'll show you." Crystal said. Serena sat on her knees and Crystal sat facing her. She ordered the scouts to form a circle around them, standing up and to join hands. She then asked Serena to concentrate and everyone to slowly channel a bit of their energy into Serena. Soon a silver light shot up in between Crystal and Serena and a bubble shape formed in the middle. The bubble acted like a screen and showed the events that took place during the battle. Everyone watched in amazement as the crystals emerged and formed the Imperium Silver Crystal. They were even more surprised when Serena and Darien transformed into Princess Serenity and Prince Darien.

"Earth, Fire, Air, Water and…" Amy paused, thinking what the 5th crystal represented.

"And Love." Luna informed.

"Eternal Love." Artemis corrected. Serena gasped

"Darien!" She yelled and ran to his side. She began crying and wailing. "Come back! No! You can't leave me! Please! I can't live without you! I won't attempt to try! Darien… please!" She lightly shook Darien's body. Crystal stood up and slowly walked towards Serena and the body of her older brother. She fought to hold back tears that had already begun to fall. She remained silent and stopped right behind Serena. "Crystal?" Serena pleaded, turning around, but her plea came out as a squeaky cry. Crystal hugged Serena and tears flowed as they both cried in emotional waves of pain, sorrow and tears.

"I could've done something" Crystal said looking at Darien.

"No," Serena whispered. A long silence fell upon everyone. An idea then popped into Serena's head. "Crystal, do you think you could heal him?" Serena asked. Crystal thought a little.

"I… I don't know." She stammered

"You have to try." Lita said from behind.

"I've never done it before and I don't know if it will work, it could have some side effects." Crystal admitted.

"Crystal's right, it's too risky." Luna agreed. Crystal closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

"It may be risky… but I will at least try, it's the least I can do." Crystal shrugged.

"But wait, you said there could be some side effects and Luna said it was risky. I don't want to lose you too." Serena frowned.

"No, I HAVE to do this. I have to!" Crystal kneeled down beside Darien. She was about to begin her attempt when Serena spoke…

"I'm sorry Luna, but I'm feeling quite exhausted." Serena mumbled as she collapsed in a heap on the ground.

"She's still quite drained of energy right now, but she'll be fine…" Artemis nodded, signaling Crystal to continue. Crystal placed her right hand on top of Darien's wound. His body was cold. It made a tear run down Crystal's cheek. *Focus Crystal! Focus!* Crystal told herself. She focused all her attention into channeling her energy through her hands and back into Darien's body. Slowly, the wound began to heal. The blood on Darien's shirt slowly faded. Darien was healing rapidly. Crystal continued to transfer her energy into her brothers' body even though she felt drained and weak. The wound was almost healed and Crystal was almost totally drained of her energy. "Please, please, please…" Crystal whispered to herself.

"We need to help her! She won't make it! She'll faint soon!" Mina exclaimed, noticing that Crystal was beginning to become unbalanced and tired. Amy placed a hand on Crystal's right shoulder while Raye placed a hand on her left. Mina placed a hand on Amy's shoulder and Lita placed a hand on Raye's shoulder. They concentrated their energy into Crystal who got a boost of energy and continued to heal Darien. His wound completely healed, but as soon as it did, a black mist rose from the ground. It surrounded Darien's body and he began to dematerialize. A voice spoke, it was Beryl.

"Thank you for healing my Prince for me, I'll take it from here." She cackled wickedly.

"No!" Crystal desperately tried to grasp at Darien's body only to find her hand passed straight through it. He then disappeared and so did the black mist. "No! No! Nooo!" Crystal cried out one last time in desperation, before burying her head in her hands and beginning to sob uncontrollably.

"What have I done?!" She yelled out, looking at where Darien's body lay, just a few moments ago. "I was just trying to help!" The scouts began to comfort her.

"We have to get out of here. I'm sensing very strong evil vibes coming from this place." Amy scanned the area. "We have to get out of here, as fast as we can!" Amy said urgently. Lita lifted Serena's unconscious body and they all headed out as fast as they could. They attempted to escape from the entangled twines and mist that engulfed the park. As soon as they found a clearing, the twisted remains of the battle ground disappeared in a blast of black smoke. The park returned to the state it was before the battle. Serena gained consciousness again.

"Where am I?" She looked around and groaned as the sharp pain of her headache caught up to her. "Darien?" She looked around, but found that her surroundings had changed and that she couldn't find Darien. She didn't give anyone the chance to reply as she jumped to her feet "Where is he?!" she panicked *It cannot be true! He can't b… gone.* She couldn't bring herself to say the word, let alone believe it. "You healed him right Crystal? He's fine, right? He just went home to have a rest, am I right? Please tell me I'm right." Serena asked Crystal anxiously. Her first response was just a single tear that ran down Crystal's cheek as she clenched her eyes shut in pain.

"I'm sorry! I really am! I tried my hardest. I just couldn't save him from her! I'm sorry!" Crystal collapsed to her knees and began to cry.

"Protect him from who Crystal? Who?" Serena asked, kneeling down next to Crystal. The girl was too shaken to speak.

"Beryl." Mina whispered softly. "From Beryl. We all tried, but we couldn't save him. I'm so sorry." She concluded "He's now with Beryl and is probably being transferred to the dark side as we speak."

"We have to get him back!" Serena said painfully yet determined. "I'm not about to lose him to that evil, wicked, ugly, snotty old witch of a hag!" Serena yelled out to no one in particular. Losing her strength again, she leaned against a nearby tree.

"We can't fight tonight, we're all weak from battle. It would be preferable if we all took the rest of the night off to rest and recharge." Luna said wisely.

"No Luna, I can't. Thank you for caring for all of us, but I must to get him back! And I have to, tonight." Serena swayed once more, almost falling.

"Serena, Luna's right. You need to rest. If you battle tonight then you'll surely lose. You're not strong enough." Lita helped Serena to her feet.

"Come on, get some rest and we'll help you find Darien tomorrow, alright?" Raye promised. Serena sighed deeply and nodded.

"Crystal, you can't stay by yourself at the apartment, why don't you stay with me?" Amy suggested.

"Are you sure?" Crystal sniffled.

"Of course! You can stay in my room. I'll keep you company." Amy smiled warmly. Crystal agreed. She didn't want to go back to the apartment. She was afraid that the memories of Darien would haunt her. She missed him terribly so. He was her idol. The person she looked up to most. The only person she had left in this world. Not only was he her bigger brother, he was also her best friend and she couldn't bear the thought of losing him, not again, not ever.

"Serena, are you alright to go home by yourself?" Artemis asked.

"Yeah, sure, and it's not as if I'm totally alone, I've got Luna." Serena said quietly. Truth was, she was scared. She was scared that the memories of Darien would haunt her. All the times they ran into each other, and how he walked her home a few times. She was scared that all the teasing and the name-calling would play in her head. His voice... she missed his voice. She couldn't imagine her life without Darien she wouldn't even try. He had been her support, her tutor, her helper, her hero and her one true love, in their past life and again now. She would not lose him again. She couldn't. Not again, not ever.

She and Luna walked silently side by side, back home. Everything she saw brought back memories and it was driving Serena mad. She forced herself to look at the ground, but even then she remembered his caring voice and his sweet smile. She arrived home to find all the lights off. Everyone was already asleep, and assumed that she was too. She climbed up onto her balcony. There, she found a fresh rose, blood red in color on the handle of the door leading to the bedroom. She carefully took the rose and opened the glass sliding door. Luna remained silent as she found a spot to lie down, beside Serena's bed.

"Oh, Darien." Serena fell onto her bed, sighed deeply and closed her eyes as she stroked the soft petals of the rose. "I miss you." She looked up at the ceiling. "No matter where you are, I'll find you and bring you home. I promise. I promise..." Serena repeated as she drifted off to sleep.


Crystal Saturn