Title: Winter Snow
Author: Crystal Saturn
Rated: PG 13+
Chapter: 14- Serena's Last Chance
Last time on 'Winter Snow'...
"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.
"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.
It had been a long few months since Serena's first encounter with Prince Darien of the Negaverse. So many battles had been waged against him since, and every battle lost due to Serena's personal weakness towards him. She couldn't hurt him, even though he was no longer the man she knew and loved, she couldn't find it within her to defeat him. Beryl had created the ultimate opponent for Sailor Moon and she knew it. These battles, night after night, against Prince Darien were wearing Serena down. She was but a shell of the person she once was. She barely ate, hardly saw her friends, and was constantly haunting the places where she and Darien used to frequent.
Serena knew that she had to do something, anything, to try and get her old Darien back. With the support of her mother and her fellow Sailor Scouts, Serena's lethargy and sulky depression gave way to determination and newfound strength. She resolved to find a way to defeat Beryl once and for all, and she made an oath to not give up until Darien was in her arms once again. This was the final strike in her plan to win him back, and she was not willing to lose again this time.
Sailor Moon and the Scouts slowly approached the dark dome that had been mysteriously growing at the heart of Tokyo.
"Sere, are you sure about this?" Venus asked, eyeing the dome suspiciously.
"Yes, I have to go in there, and I have to go alone." She strongly emphasized her last word.
"Ok, but if you need us then we'll be right outside. Just yell." Mars said cautiously.
*There's something wrong... it's a trick!* Luna thought to herself "Sailor Moon, wait!" Luna yelled, but it was too late. Sailor Moon let out a shriek as a whirlwind of dark maroon roses transported her to inside the dark dome.
"Welcome..." Beryl cackled wickedly as Sailor Moon regained her balance. Sailor Moon's attention was drawn towards Prince Darien, standing next to where Beryl sat. He showed no emotion other than pure hatred in his eyes and a smirk across his lips.
"I have come to bring you home, Darien." Sailor Moon said, determined.
"How many times must I tell you, it's Prince Darien, and I am not going anywhere!" Darien's voice echoed through the dome.
"Darien please, you have to remember." Sailor Moon pleaded. It was then, that the dome trembled as it morphed and turned into Beryl's palace.
Outside of the dark dome, the Sailor Scouts, Luna and Artemis were waiting patiently for a sign. Any sign at all, when the dome suddenly de-materialized and disappeared.
"What?!" Crystal yelled. "Noooo!" She ran after the disappearing black silhouette, only to run straight through it. Mercury scanned for the dark energy, but found nothing.
"It's just as if they don't exist!" Mercury informed everyone and as soon as she had, a misty fog blanketed their surroundings, making it hard to see anything.
Back inside the palace, Sailor Moon was determined to try to make Darien remember something, anything, about their past.
"Darien listen to me, you have to remember! Remember your friends, remember Crystal... Remember me." A tear rolled down Sailor Moon's face. Darien didn't respond. He seemed to be in thought. It was as if he actually remembered something. Beryl saw the look on Prince Darien's face.
"Don't listen to her Darien! She's lying to you! Remember what I told you, she's your enemy!" Beryl's voice boomed.
"No! She's the one who's lying to you. Darien you have to believe me. She's just trying to trick you." Sailor Moon defended.
"I would never do such a thing. She's the enemy. You have to destroy her before she gets too powerful. Remember where your loyalties lie, my Prince." Beryl ordered. Prince Darien nodded and drew his sword. He gripped his sword as he slowly walked closer and closer to Sailor Moon.
"Darien! NO! You HAVE to remember! Remember the time when you saved me from that snotty green monster that almost killed me?" She asked but Darien made no effort to remember. "OK, remember our first date? The one that Mina and Crystal, your sister, set us up on?" Sailor Moon asked once again, almost pleadingly. Darien hesitated for a moment.
"I...I don't have a sister!" Darien continued "I am alone. I have always been alone."
*He faltered...* Serena thought "Yes you do! She loves and misses you very much. Crystal. Remember Crystal? Your little sister." Serena continued asking questions. Darien's memory was beginning to return, but he refused to pay attention to the visions playing in his minds' eye.
"No!" Darien voice boomed, echoing within the emptiness of Beryl's palace. He forced Sailor Moon against the wall. His hand was over her throat. Sailor Moon gasped for air as the pressure on her throat began to increase.
"Kill her... Prince Darien... Do it now!" Beryl demanded from her throne.
"No Darien, please don't. Can't you see... what she's doing to you?... She's ... controlling you!... Turning you... against us..." Sailor Moon desperately tried to draw in a breath. A tear trickled down her cheek. She couldn't believe that Darien was going to kill her.
"Don't listen to her, Darien, she's only trying to get you to release her so she can destroy us all! KILL HER!" Beryl ordered. Darien lifted his sword to Sailor Moon's chest. She squirmed and kicked as she attempted to draw in oxygen. Sailor Moon gave up all hope as another tear trickled down her face and she waited for Darien's sword to embed itself in her chest.
Just as Darien drew back the sword to thrust into Sailor Moon's chest, the golden star locket fell to the ground. At first, Darien didn't notice it, until it rolled along the ground, unclasping and opening, releasing its hauntingly beautiful melody into the air. Darien stopped. *Where have I heard that tune?* He thought to himself. *It's so familiar.* Darien dropped his sword to the ground as vivid memories rushed through his mind.
"Prince Darien, she's tricking you!" Beryl yelled.
"No Darien, don't listen to her. She brainwashed you against us, you have to believe me. I love you. Please remember. Please. Don't listen to her." Sailor Moon said softly.
"I...I remember." Darien whispered ever so softly.
"Kill her now before she betrays you once again. She's the enemy and is only out to get you! I've taken you in and given you a taste of the ultimate power of the Negaverse. She only wants to take it away from you." Beryl was beginning to lose her temper. Darien looked at Beryl and lifted the sword. "Kill her Darien, before she kills you!" Beryl pleaded. Pain surged through Darien's body and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his head. It was as if he was being sliced in two. Memories were painfully forcing their way back into his mind, where they belonged. The true Darien was fighting back the darkness within him.
"Darien?" Sailor Moon rushed to his side only to be forcefully shoved away.
"Don't touch me!" Darien yelled as he tried to pick himself up. He drew his sword and lunged at Sailor Moon, who only managed to slip away at the last second. "I'm going to enjoy killing you and every single one of your sailor scouts, slowly and painfully." Prince Darien smiled wickedly.
"Dare, no!" Sailor Moon exclaimed "What has she done to you?" Darien closed his eyes as memories flashed in his mind. "Darien Chiba, she may have your mind, but your heart belongs to me." Tears streamed down her face as Beryl's evil laughter resonated within the empty hallways of her palace
"Please don't cry, Sere." Darien whispered as he brushed away her tears.
"WHAT?!" Beryl stood up, quite alarmed. It seemed like Darien had a split personality.
"Darien, do you remember this?" Sailor Moon lifted the star locket and it began to play its melody again. Darien stared at the locket.
"It seems so familiar..." He whispered.
"That's right, because it's our locket. Yours and mine. It represents our love for one another." Sailor Moon reminded Darien, who simply remained silent.
"You... you're lying!" Darien became vengeful. "I can't trust you."
"No Darien! I would never lie to you, listen, just touch the locket." Sailor Moon pleaded. "Dare, please." She whispered softly. Darien collapsed to the ground again in agonizing cries of pain. The dark energy was just too much. Waves of pain surged though his body leaving him shaken. Sailor Moon held out the star locket in front of her. Darien smacked the locket away. It fell to the ground and skidded across the smooth surface of the floor. "No..." Sailor Moon cringed. She almost had him back, almost.
"You can't stop me! Not without your little 'girlfriends' around! You don't stand a chance! Darien straightened his posture and lifted his sword one more time.
"I don't want to hurt you Darien. I won't." Sailor Moon whispered. "But I love you and I won't let that witch win. I'm so sorry. Forgive me." She said as she kicked the back of Darien's knees, causing him to become unsteady and fall to the ground. "Moon Tiara... Magic!!!" Sailor Moon used her power to her advantage. She skidded towards the star locket and grabbed it. Darien collapsed in exhaustion. Sailor Moon ran over to where Darien was lying and cradled his head onto her lap. She prayed that the good Darien would wake up in her arms instead of the bad one.
"Sere..." Darien moaned, without opening his eyes. "Help me..." He gasped.
"Darien. I need you to touch the locket. Touch the locket Darien" Serena whispered gently.
"Prince Darien! I order you to kill Sailor Moon!" Beryl yelled sternly but Darien ignored her. He reached out for the locket. As soon as he touched it, he regained all of his memories.
"No!" Beryl yelled and hurled a bolt of dark energy towards the couple. Darien pushed Serena out of the way only to be hit by the bolt of Dark energy. He cried out in agony. Using the power of the Imperium Silver Crystal, Sailor Moon stood strong and banished Beryl to the ends of the universe. She felt weak but she still had one more thing to do.
"Darien" she whispered. He was lying on the ground, curled up in to a ball, clasping his chest
"I'm so sorry." He kept repeating himself over and over and over again.
"Darien?" Serena brushed the hair away from his eyes. He looked up at her. The pain he was going through, both physical and emotional, was quite obvious. She gathered all her strength together, and with the power of the crystal, she healed Darien before collapsing. Darien lifted Serena and carried her out of the crumbling remains of Beryl's desolate palace.
Outside, the fog began to thin. Out of the corner of her eyes, Crystal saw a shadow coming closer and closer to them.
"Umm...guys?" She pointed to the shadow. The fog made it impossible to see who it was. The Scouts became fearful as the figure came closer. It was then, that the figure stepped out of the fog. Everyone gasped. Prince Darien walked out of the fog with Serena in his arms. The scouts kept their distance. They still weren't certain if he was good or bad. Darien approached Crystal.
"Crystal, you have to help her, please." He lay Serena on the ground and looked up at Crystal pleadingly.
"Darien?" Crystal asked cautiously. He nodded.
"Yeah, It's me Crys." he affirmed. Crystal hugged her older brother briefly before kneeling beside Serena.
"I need your help Darien." She confessed.
"Anything, anything at all just name it." Darien said desperately.
"Ok, I'm going to need you guys to help me out as well." Crystal turned around to the scouts who nodded in approval. "Form a circle please." Crystal instructed and the scouts formed a circle around Crystal, Darien and Serena. "Great, now I need a planetary boost." Crystal said, the scouts nodded again
"Venus Power! Jupiter Power! Mars Power! Mercury Power!"
"Dare, I need you to produce a rose." Crystal requested from Darien. With the flick of his wrist, a vivid red rose materialized. Crystal interlaced the rose within Serena's fingers, as if she were holding it. "Now I need you to put your hands on hers and channel your energy into her." Crystal explained. Darien did exactly as he was told. "OK, Everyone, focus your energy when I say..." Crystal yelled as she placed her hands on Darien's and gave her signal.
"Crystal Healing!" Crystal hollered and everyone channeled their strength into Serena. After a few minutes, Serena gasped for air. Crystal smiled and slowly stood up. She motioned for the scouts to follow her and leave Darien and Serena alone to be together.
"Darien...?" Serena asked wearily.
"I'm right here." Darien held her hand. "I was so worried about you." He confessed.
"I love you Darien." Serena leaned her head against Darien's chest
"I know, I love you too." Darien kissed Serena's forehead and cradled her fragile body in his strong arms. "I won't ever leave your side ever again." Darien added, layering more kisses on Serena's forehead and cheeks.
"Promise?" Serena looked up as another tear rolled down her face.
"I promise." Darien confirmed as their lips met within the passion of their warm embrace.
Crystal Saturn
