Us
by Phantasy Star
--------------------

Chapter Nine


"Wake up, Serena," Darien whispered over and over again, "Please wake up..."

His eyes watered when he didn't any reaction from her.

Slowly, he bent his head down over hers.

"Prince Darien."

He looked up quickly to find Sailor Pluto watching him a few feet away.

"I don't think you should kiss the princess without her permission."

Darien simply glared at her.

"Prince Darien, the princess's death was inevitable," Pluto said, though she
looked devastated as well, "Please understand that."

"You..." Darien whispered with growing anger, "You knew she was going to die!
Why didn't you do something!?"

Pluto looked at him sympathetically.

"Give her back," Darien roared, as he got up and stepped towards her.

Abruptly, he dropped before the Sailor Scout of time and knelt down before her,
"Please, help me... Bring my Serena back..."

"My Prince," Pluto said, somewhat startled, "Please get up."

Her expression softened, "There is nothing you or I can do..."

Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter stepped on to the balcony and looked at the
fallen princess before them, "Looks like we're too late..."

* * *

Serena slowly opened her eyes.

'Where am I?'

She looked around her and found that she was wearing the dress she always wore
as a princess. She was surrounded by crystal ponds and pillars. The sky seemed
to glow a light pink colour.

Looking around some more, she found faded circles of light everywhere, moving
slowly. They seemed to be dancing around her.

"Princess Serena!" a voice called.

Serena spotted a tall figure a distance from her.

"Queen... Queen Serenity?" she gasped.

Quickly getting up and walking over, she closed her eyes and did a curtsey before
the former queen of the moon.

"Get up, my darling," Queen Serenity said.

"Oh, mother!" Serena cried, "I haven't seen you for so long!"

Queen Serenity smiled, "My daughter..."

The queen walked over to Serena and enveloped her in a tight embrace.

When the two pulled away from each other, Serena suddenly remembered everything
that had happened, "Mother... I... I used the Imperium Silver Crystal..."

"I know, my dear..."

"Did it work?" Serena whispered.

"It did exactly what you told it to," the queen said, "Your friends have been
revived, and the evil has been banished."

"I'm so glad..." Serena said with a sigh of relief, "I guess that means that...
I'm..."

"No, darling," Queen Serenity said, "Your time hasn't come yet. You still have
a wonderful future ahead of you. With your friends... and Darien."

"But I thought that when I used the crystal..."

"I'm not sure what happened myself," Queen Serenity said, "All I know is, you're
still alive."

"Oh..."

"Serena, I've been watching over you all this time. Please, you have to go back
to Darien. It's your destiny."

Serena bit her lip, "I know, mother. But I'll need some time... It's just too
much right now."

The queen was silent.

"My mind keeps replaying these images of things that have happened between us...
Like at Queen Beryl's palace, when he tried to kill me... Or the time he broke
up with me..."

"Oh, Serena," Queen Serenity said sadly, "I know it's been hard... for the both of
you. I hope you'll work things out..."

"Me too," Serena said softly.

Suddenly, a light shone on the princess.

"I think it's time for you to leave," Queen Serenity said.

Serena looked at the queen and her eyes watered.

"Thank you, mother," Serena said, wiping away a tear, "I will carry on your great
name."

"Goodbye, princess," Queen Serenity said with a sad smile, "I _will_ see you
again, my darling."

* * *

Serena saw nothing but darkness.

She used all her strength to open her eyes, and finally, she saw light.

"Serena?"

She recognized the voice, "Ryan...?"

"Serena!" he cried, "Stay with me, I'm going to get the doctors!"

She heard his footsteps as he ran out of the room.

Suddenly feeling tired again, she let sleep take over her.

* * *

Darien was woken up by loud voices.

He sat up from the hospital chair in which he was sleeping in, and looked around.

Amy, Raye, and Lita were standing near him, chattering excitedly.

"What's going on, Amy?" he asked.

Amy turned to him with a huge smile, "Serena's woken up!"

"What?" he said as he jumped up, "It's a miracle!"

"Wait, Darien!" Amy called, "The doctors said we mustn't go into her room right
now."

Darien ignored her and found Serena's room. There were a couple or nurses
outside.

"Sorry," one of them said, "No visitors at this time."

Darien pushed past them and opened the door.

"Hey!" the other nurse cried, but Darien had shut the door after him.

"Serena!" he cried, rushing to her side and taking hold of her hand.

Serena heard a voice calling to her, as if from a distance.

Ryan again? she thought.

Where were the rest of her friends...? And Darien...?

"Ryan," she whispered, wanting to ask him to let the others in.

Darien drew his hand back.

"No," he said, trying to disguise his hurt, "It's... only me, Darien."

"Oh," Serena said, wanting to reach for his hand again.

But Darien got up.

"I'll go get Ryan if you want," Darien said quietly.

He felt like his heart had been blown into a million pieces.

He couldn't believe that after all that had happened, all Serena could think
about was that guy...

He took one last look at his princess and walked out the door.

After the door closed, Serena sighed.

"Darien..." she whispered.