Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: G/PG 13+
Chapter: 13- Mother & Daughter
Last time on "Winter Snow"…
Serena 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
Serena woke up early the next morning. It was Saturday and the sun wasn't even up yet. She turned over to look at the clock next to her bed. It read '5:17 AM' Serena attempted to lie down and get more sleep, but she found that she just couldn't get any rest. She got up and changed her clothes. Luna stirred, but didn't awaken. Serena crept downstairs and sneaked out of the house. She walked down the street.
*Where am I going?* She asked herself, but her legs seemed to be moving on their own accord. The sun was just beginning to peak over the horizon. Serena squinted every time she looked up due to the suns' early morning glare, so she just looked down. She continued to walk on, as if on a predetermined route. Her head was bowed as if to avoid the accusing stare of the sun. It was then that she bumped into something hard. "No…" She whispered. *It can't be!* She looked up at what she bumped into. "Oh my…!" She whispered, a little louder. Darien stared straight down at her. She looked into his eyes and noticed nothing. Not a hint of recognition, no glimmer of warmth. There was a deep pain behind the veil of malice that lingered, but she knew that it was not the Darien she knew and loved. The look on his face confirmed her suspicions. He had no idea who she was. "Darien?" Serena questioned, cautiously. Darien looked up briefly.
"It's Prince Darien to you, inferior mortal." He emphasized, looking straight down at Serena again. Darien narrowed his eyes as he eyed Serena all over. Serena felt quite uncomfortable. She felt as if she didn't know him, as if he were a stranger. Darien briefly glanced up again and walked off. Serena watched him. He walked a few paces before a mysterious darkness overcame his being, engulfing his form and causing him to disappear in a whirlwind of dark maroon, almost black, roses. Once again, the sun was in Serena's eyes and she was forced to look down to the ground. There she found a bright crimson rose. As she picked it up, it swiftly began to age. Its leaves withered and dried and its once red petals soon turned dark maroon. Serena sighed and turned back home. By then, it was 6 o'clock and Serena knew that her parents would be awake now, but she entered the house via the front door anyway. Illene and Ken were astounded to see Serena up this early.
"What are you doing up at this time in the morning?" Ken asked.
"I…I just went out for a morning walk." Serena said quietly. Illene sensed that something was wrong and made a mental note to ask her daughter about it later on.
"Well, since you're up, would you like some breakfast, honey?" Illene asked Serena.
"Yes please." Serena replied quietly and politely as she took a seat across from her father. Ken finished drinking his cup of coffee, looked at his watch and put down his newspaper.
"Well, I better get off to work." He announced. Taking his coat and briefcase, he left for work. Illene served Serena her breakfast and Serena began to eat it slowly.
"Serena dear, is everything alright?" Illene asked, concerned. Serena sighed out loud and began to play with her scrambled eggs, attempting to keep her emotions in check.
"Yeah mom, I'm fine" Serena looked down at her plate. She never was very good at telling lies.
"Serena, if there's anything wrong, you know that you can always talk to…" Illene began sympathetically.
"No mom, I'm alright mom." Serena interrupted.
"Well, where's Darien's number? Why don't you give him a call? I'm sure, that if you talk to him, you'll feel much better." Illene suggested. At that, a tear rolled down Serena's face. "Serena?" Illene became worried. "It's about Darien, isn't it? What happened?" She moved her chair closer to Serena to comfort her.
"I…I…" Serena hiccuped.
"Deep breaths, darling. It's alright sweetie. Whatever it is, I'm sure it'll work out fine." Illene patted her daughter on the back.
"I'll tell you everything, but you have to promise not to tell anyone, mom!" Serena insisted. Her mother nodded. Serena drew a breath and began to tell her story.
"A few years ago, I met a little black cat on my way home from school…" Serena explained every little detail of her battles as Sailor Moon and all the hard times she went through. She also told of her relationship with Darien, before they ended up together. She revealed every last secret that she kept inside her, to her mother, who listened to her daughter and absorbed as much information as she could. Serena ended her explanation by retelling what had happened the night before and what she witnessed this morning. Illene was speechless.
"Serena?" Luna yawned wearily, rubbing her eyes.
"Good morning Luna" both Illene and Serena greeted the black cat. Luna panicked. She didn't know that Illene was there as well.
"Meow?" Luna purred, trying to hide the fact that she just spoke.
"It's alright Luna, Mom knows everything…" Serena informed the black cat.
"Oh," Luna said simply as Illene refilled her kitty bowl with milk.
"Luna, I went for a walk early this morning and I saw Darien." Serena informed
"Are you sure it was him?" Luna lapped up the milk that was placed in front of her.
"Yes I'm positive. I actually literally bumped into him." Serena then lowered her tone. "He's different. He didn't recognize me. Now, he just seems so…cold…" Her voice drifted away. "He's one of them now." Another tear ran down Serena's cheek. "I'm going to have to fight against him." Serena rested her head on the kitchen table as she began to cry.
"Serena, you have to be strong. You're a Princess now. You have to set an example for the scouts." Luna said sternly, yet understandingly.
"I can't fight him! I just can't!" Serena sobbed.
Crystal Saturn
