Umm ... I seriously do apologize for these sporadic posts, but finals are coming up and I'm swamped. Well, here is the next chapter. u.u; Please enjoy. Oh and if you want to be informed on when I update ... please e-mail me at AzianMu@yahoo.com. If not, you're going to have to check. ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon

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            Darien glanced outside, feeling the familiar sensations of dark energy nearby. He hurried to the balcony to get Serenity back inside. Panic rushed through him, as he saw no one on the small area. Gulping in horror, his eyes swept across the area and a sinking feeling rushed through. "Serenity!!"

            Jed, Zachary, and Nephlite hurried towards the balcony hearing the alarmed tone of the Darien. "Where is she?!" Jed felt fear grip his heart, as he saw no trace of the chubby child. Brushing his gold bangs away from his eyes, he growled and grabbed Darien by the collar. "Where the hell is she?!"

            The raven-haired man shook his head, still concentrating on finding Serena's daughter. "She was supposed to wait out here. I told her. Let go of me damn it! We don't have time for this! We have to find Serenity!"

            "He's right, Jed. She couldn't have gotten far. I mean ... she might have sneaked out of the front door. She could have been frightened by my brother's cries..." Zachary frowned and fought the rise of panic in his heart. All of them knew that Serenity would not have wandered away like that. No matter how frightened she had been.

            Darien sighed as he was placed down on the floor and he looked down at the people downstairs. Somewhere deep in his heart, he knew that a General had taken Serenity. But why?

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            Serenity gathered closely to "Mally". Her wide eyes glanced around with fear at the dark place. "Mally? Where we are? It scary!"

            He growled in annoyance and just walked faster. This child had been asking questions ever since he had collected her. Humans found this child-like innocence charming, but he did not see any of that charm. He could tell the child had lunarian blood inside of her. The silver-hair proved it. He knew that he was partly lunarian due to his silver hair, and he hated it. Could this small child really be the reborn soul of the princess?

            She shifted and pouted at being ignored. She was also quite uncomfortable. He had her tucked under his arm like a bag, and her arms and legs were just dangling. She could see everything from a sideways point of view. Crossing her arms, she whimpered at the way her head bobbed up and down. "Mally! Me dizzy!"

            "Will you be quiet?!"

            Her eyes widened at the harsh tone of the man and she sniffled feeling tears welling up. As all children tended to do when screamed at she cried. Hurt at the harsh tone of the man, she started to kick and struggle. "I want Uncle Jed! You not Mally!"

            "Damn it, kid!" He gripped tighter onto the kid. Why was he the one who was sent after the child? He raised his hand, ready to knock the wailing child unconscious when he heard laughter behind him. Swiftly turning around, he narrowed his eyes as his gaze landed on Jadeite.

            "Now this is a sight I thought I'd never see. The great Kunzite fighting with a kid. Here give her to me." The blonde-haired man held out his arms for the child raising an eyebrow at the slight bruise forming on the silver-haired man's face. "She's got spunk, you have to admit that much."

            "Stop moving around!" He held tighter onto the child and grimaced as her fist smashed into his cheek. "I've got everything under control, Jadeite."

            "Uncle Jed! Fake Mally be mean to me!"

            "...Mally?" Jadeite blinked and ran his hand through his hair. "Uh, did I miss something? Since when am I Uncle Jed and you ... Mally?"

            Kunzite growled and shifted the child, trying to stand still with the flaying limbs. "This child seems to think we're her uncles or somehow related to her." 

            "Well, I just came out here to say that the Queen looks like she's about to blow apart this entire kingdom if you don't the child to her.... Mally." With a slight smirk the blonde general walked closer to the two struggling people and patted the girl's silver hair before walking away. "Good luck."

            "Come on." Gripping the child as steadily as he could he burst through the doors leading to the throne room and released the child.

            Beryl frowned at the disheveled appearance of her most stoic warrior. He had two small bruises forming on his face, one on his right cheek and one on the left eye. "Did you get into an encounter with the senshi?"

            Kunzite blushed slightly and held the child by gripping onto her shoulder. "No, my queen."

            "Then how do explain your appearance?"

            "Well, your majesty ... the child seems to have quite a large amount of ... energy."

            "She attacked you with her power?" Confusion echoed in the slithering tone of the queen as she gazed at her blushing warrior. She looked over the silver hair of the child and frowned as she noted the exact color in Kunzite's. She knew he was a half-breed, earthling and lunarian, but it still unnerved her.

            "Ah, she punched me, Queen Beryl." He lowered his eyes, glaring at the back of the child's head. If he had the ability he would have burned two holes into the small head. The child had been curiously silent and still as soon as she had entered the throne room.

            With a bark of laughter, the redheaded woman's frame shook with vibrations as she cackled her humor at the thought of a child bruising the rather solid soldier. Shaking her head in mirth, her lips were still curved in amusement as she beckoned the child forward. "Come me, little princess."

            Serenity shook her head, and moved closer to Fake Mally. What was going on? Her childish mind spun with fear and curiosity as she gazed at the snake-like woman sitting in front of her. "Me no princess. Me Serenity."

            "Yes, Princess Serenity, come here to me." Blood red eyes narrowed in annoyance and a pale hand stretched out, summoning the child closer. 

            "No!"

            With a cry of anger, Beryl raised her staff and sent out a blast towards the child. She watched with glee as the child flew across the room crying out in fear and pain. The blast was not enough to kill the child, but it was powerful enough to hurt the little girl. Beryl and Kunzite watched the silent figure lying on the floor, a small palm clutching her chest as if to protect something.

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            "No!" Serena jumped off of the couch, fighting against the pain running through her body. She knew it was Serenity's pain and she cried out. Grabbing her coat, she ran towards the door only to be stopped by Lita.

            "What's going on? What's wrong?"

            "Serenity! Something's wrong! She's hurt! My baby ..." Pushing past her friend she ran out and headed towards the hotel where her daughter was supposed to be. She could hear the others running behind her but she didn't care. Something was wrong. "I ... I should have gone! I shouldn't have been such a coward!" Tears ran down her face as she ran with an inhumane speed.

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            The reactions from Michael and Darien were simultaneous. Michael woke up screaming out Serenity's name as Darien fell to his knees, clutching his heart. The three other men watched, confused and terrified by the strange scene in front of them.

            "Serenity! She's hurt!" The two struggling men cried out at the same time, moving in sync. Their movements mirrored each other as they reached for their coats. They moved as one.

            "Malachite! What the hell's going?!" Zachary grabbed his brother by the shoulder, trying to hold the larger man from rushing out the door. Jed was holding onto Darien, pinning the man's arms to the sides and up against the wall.

            "Zachary, Sere's hurt! She needs us!"

            "God, we can feel her pain! We need to get to her!" Darien cried out against the blonde man's hold and struggled. Nephlite watched with knowing eyes and looked towards the door. As if on cue, Serena barged through the door followed by three other girls. Nephlite's eyes softened a bit as his gaze landed on Lita but that was all.

            "Where is she?!" Serena swallowed, breathing hard from her long run from here. "Where is she?! What did you do to her?!" She ran up to Nephlite beating against his chest, crying out with anger. All he did was grab her tiny fists and pull her into an embrace.

            "It is time to accept your destiny, Serena. Are you ready for it?" His voice soft among the chaos that ensued in the room. All he concentrated was on the tiny girl in front of him. Unlike the other, Nephlite had been able to keep some of this gift. He knew that Serena was the Sailor Scout of the Moon and the reincarnated version of the moon Princess. He knew that during upcoming battle, there would be a sacrifice that would have to be made ... a sacrifice that would affect all of them in a way that no one would know. "Accept it, Princess. Accept Usagi."

            Serena backed away from Nephlite and shook her head. "Where ... where can I find Serenity?"

            "She is with the woman you have been fighting ever since you have become Sailor Moon. She is with the dark queen herself."

            "...Beryl."

            "Yes, Beryl."

            Serena turned watching as Darien and Michael struggled against their captives wanting to get to Serenity. What was their connection with her daughter? She could feel the burning pain of Serenity and Serena opened up the link to her daughter, further allowing as much as pain to pass over her daughter and to her. By opening the link, she could tell where her daughter was. "I'm coming Serenity. Mommy's coming. I won't abandon you again."

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            Usagi sighed, feeling the barrier of Serena starting to break. They would become one soon, but will it be soon enough? It had been so long since she had felt welcome. Taking a step forward, she was ready to join with the other half of her soul until she felt the barrier go up again. "NO! Damn it! Serena I'm a part of you!" Her fists smashed into the barrier as she slid down her knees crying. If Serena did not allow her to join them together, they would never be able to save Serenity.

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I'm so sorry I'm posting like this but finals are coming up and I'm under a lot of stress right now. The posts will start to be uploaded on a regular basis after December ... after finals are over. u.u; .. Until then please bear with these posts.