"Serena!" Darien cried out one last time before he dropped to the
ground, shaking.
Then, dark energy ran through his body, and then drifted slowly but
forcefully into his mind.
"Serena..." he whispered, "I'm... sorry..."
His eyes flashed red.
"I'm so sorry..."
Insecurity
by Phantasy Star
--------------------
Chapter Three
Amy, Lita, and Mina rushed to Serena's side. They gasped in surprise
when they saw the silver-haired prince lying on the floor with his
head on her lap.
"Serena, what happened?" Amy asked.
Serena wiped away her tears, "I... I convinced Prince Diamond that
the people of Nememis and Earth can co-exist, and he was ready to
stop the fighting... when Wiseman showed up and tried to kill me."
The scouts gasped.
"Prince Diamond..." Serena said with a sniffle, "He saved my life
by sacrificing his own... And now he's gone..."
Her voice broke, and Lita quickly leaned forward to hug their leader.
"What about Wiseman?" Mina asked, "Where did he go?"
"He left, saying he had something to take care of, at the Dark Gate."
"The Dark Gate..." Mina said quietly, "Where on Earth is that?"
"Prince Diamond told me before he died." Serena said softly.
"Then we'd better hurry."
* * *
Raye groaned as she sat up on the bed. She found Luna and Artemis
resting on the mat beside her, both sound asleep.
Quietly, she got up and walked out of the temple.
"Serena?" she said as she wandered around, "Amy? Guys?"
"They've left already."
Raye turned around to find Luna standing at the doorway.
"No," she said as her eyes grew wide, "No... they can't go!"
"Why not?" Luna asked.
"I just had a premonition... Terrible things are going to happen to
them if they go!"
Before Luna could reply, she had turned around and ran off, "I've got
to go stop them!"
* * *
Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus walked
silently down the narrow path, towards the huge hole that had appeared
in the middle of the city.
"I wonder where Darien is..." Serena said quietly.
"He's probably fine," Lita said, "Don't worry about it..."
Serena nodded, "You're right. He's strong, right? He can take on
any enemies that may attack him..."
"Yeah," Mina agreed.
"Well, here we are," Amy announced.
The four of them stopped walking and held their breaths as their eyes
scanned the area before them. It was a wasteland, and strong wind of
darkness was blowing from every direction. The ground resonated
negative energy, the air felt sickening.
"Welcome..."
Serena gasped and looked up at the figure in the sky.
"Rini!?"
The scouts all looked up to see the pink haired woman, sneering at
them. Then Serena let out a soft whimper when she saw the man in
dark armour floating in the sky behind Wicked Lady.
Darien.
No, Prince Darien, with a Dark Moon sign on his forehead.
"No..." Serena whispered, "Not again..."
Darien narrowed his eyes as he looked down at them.
"Serena..." he said monotonously, "... the princess who pretended to
love me out of pity... You lied to me... You told me you loved me,
but you never did..."
"Darien," Serena said as she walked towards him, "Please, stop
listening to Wiseman's lies..."
"No," Darien said, shaking his head, "Master Chaos is right... How
can you love me? Nobody can love me... Nobody!"
As his body shook with rage, dark bolts of energy flew out.
Serena winced as she got struck by one of them, but she kept
trudging towards Darien insistently, "Darien, *I* love you! Please
believe me..."
Darien growled in anger, "No, stop talking! Stop it!"
"Darien, I need you!" Serena cried, "Please, just come back to me!
I need you to help me bring Rini back!"
Darien put both hands over his head, and he shuddered in pain before
falling to the ground.
"Enough games!"
Serena gasped and turned to Wicked Lady, who had floated down beside
her.
"Time to say bye-bye now, Princess."
"Rini, wake up please!"
The pink-haired woman laughed, "Like you'd actually care about me!"
"You don't understand, Rini!" Serena cried, "If your energy is used
to open the Dark Gate, you're not going to survive!"
"Shut up!" Wicked Lady screamed, then turned around to face the sky,
which had turned a dark, blood red colour, "Master Chaos... Give...
me... strength!"
Immediately, her body glowed black and purple, and a huge mass of
energy appeared between her hands.
Slowly, she turned around to face Serena once again, smiling evilly
at her, and then at the black globe of energy in her hand.
"Goodbye, Princess Serenity."
With that, she threw the attack at Serena.
* * *
Raye coughed and struggled to walk down the street, towards the
huge plateau that had appeared in the middle of the town.
"That must be the Dark Gate..." she said to herself, "Gotta get there
and help out the girls..."
She coughed again, feeling light-headed.
"She needs me... The Princess needs me..."
* * *
Serena squeezed her eyes shut and prepared for the blast.
'Rini...' she whispered in her head as the tears came, 'I'm sorry I
can't help you get better... And you too, Darien...'
She waited for the energy to hit.
'I can't believe it's going to end this way...'
A huge explosion sounded, but she didn't feel any pain. She wondered
briefly if she was dead. Then she felt something fall against her.
"What...?" she said, and opened her eyes, "Da... Darien?"
He was kneeling before her, having taken the shot from the back.
With a grunt, he leaned into her.
"Da... Darien!" she whispered, holding his limp body, "No, Darien!"
He groaned and coughed a couple of times. Serena knelt down and set
him on the ground, letting his head rest on her lap.
"Serena..." he said softly, "I'm so sorry..."
"Darien," she cried, tears streaming down her eyes, "Why? I... I
thought they had you brainwashed..."
"My mind may belong to them..." Darien said with a weak smile,
"But my heart belongs to you... You told me that, remember?"
"Darien..." Serena said with a sad smile, then she shook her head as
tears continued to fall, "Let me get Amy over here..."
"No," Darien said, "Just stay here with me... I... don't think I can
last much longer... I wish I could stay and protect you, like I
promised to. But... I'm just too weak..."
"Darien, don't... please..."
"Serena..." he said, raising his trembling hand to touch her face, "I
was such a fool to doubt your love... I... I know now."
His face broke into a smile more sincere than any smile he'd given
her, "I know you love me. And I love you too, Serena... It's so
simple... and so obvious..."
He closed her eyes, but struggled to open them again.
"Since we've broken up," Darien said as he looked up at her, "I...
I've always dreamt about kissing you... Every time I saw you, I wish I
could hold you again. I've missed you so much, Serena... Let me kiss
you one more time, Serena..."
He looked up at her blue orbs, crying and crying, for him, "Please..."
Serena nodded, and he lifted his head up slightly to meet her lips.
With all of his remaining strength, he raised one hand to her face and
deepened the kiss. He closed his eyes and held her tightly against
him, not letting go for a long time. Once more... Just once more...
Finally, sensing that she had become uncomfortable, he pulled away and
looked at her flushed face. He could feel his breath slipping away
from him. His hand fell to the ground, and a rose slipped out of his
shirt pocket.
"Thank you..." Darien said with a small smile as he closed his eyes.
"Darien..." Serena whispered, "No..."
"I'll find a way back to you..." he said with his final breath.
The petals fell off of the rose, and Serena watched as the wind
carried them away, one by one, flying away into the distance...
"I love you, Darien!" Serena cried as she held his head against her,
"Don't leave me, please!"
But he couldn't hear her.
"I love you, Darien..."
---@ To be continued...
ground, shaking.
Then, dark energy ran through his body, and then drifted slowly but
forcefully into his mind.
"Serena..." he whispered, "I'm... sorry..."
His eyes flashed red.
"I'm so sorry..."
Insecurity
by Phantasy Star
--------------------
Chapter Three
Amy, Lita, and Mina rushed to Serena's side. They gasped in surprise
when they saw the silver-haired prince lying on the floor with his
head on her lap.
"Serena, what happened?" Amy asked.
Serena wiped away her tears, "I... I convinced Prince Diamond that
the people of Nememis and Earth can co-exist, and he was ready to
stop the fighting... when Wiseman showed up and tried to kill me."
The scouts gasped.
"Prince Diamond..." Serena said with a sniffle, "He saved my life
by sacrificing his own... And now he's gone..."
Her voice broke, and Lita quickly leaned forward to hug their leader.
"What about Wiseman?" Mina asked, "Where did he go?"
"He left, saying he had something to take care of, at the Dark Gate."
"The Dark Gate..." Mina said quietly, "Where on Earth is that?"
"Prince Diamond told me before he died." Serena said softly.
"Then we'd better hurry."
* * *
Raye groaned as she sat up on the bed. She found Luna and Artemis
resting on the mat beside her, both sound asleep.
Quietly, she got up and walked out of the temple.
"Serena?" she said as she wandered around, "Amy? Guys?"
"They've left already."
Raye turned around to find Luna standing at the doorway.
"No," she said as her eyes grew wide, "No... they can't go!"
"Why not?" Luna asked.
"I just had a premonition... Terrible things are going to happen to
them if they go!"
Before Luna could reply, she had turned around and ran off, "I've got
to go stop them!"
* * *
Sailor Moon, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus walked
silently down the narrow path, towards the huge hole that had appeared
in the middle of the city.
"I wonder where Darien is..." Serena said quietly.
"He's probably fine," Lita said, "Don't worry about it..."
Serena nodded, "You're right. He's strong, right? He can take on
any enemies that may attack him..."
"Yeah," Mina agreed.
"Well, here we are," Amy announced.
The four of them stopped walking and held their breaths as their eyes
scanned the area before them. It was a wasteland, and strong wind of
darkness was blowing from every direction. The ground resonated
negative energy, the air felt sickening.
"Welcome..."
Serena gasped and looked up at the figure in the sky.
"Rini!?"
The scouts all looked up to see the pink haired woman, sneering at
them. Then Serena let out a soft whimper when she saw the man in
dark armour floating in the sky behind Wicked Lady.
Darien.
No, Prince Darien, with a Dark Moon sign on his forehead.
"No..." Serena whispered, "Not again..."
Darien narrowed his eyes as he looked down at them.
"Serena..." he said monotonously, "... the princess who pretended to
love me out of pity... You lied to me... You told me you loved me,
but you never did..."
"Darien," Serena said as she walked towards him, "Please, stop
listening to Wiseman's lies..."
"No," Darien said, shaking his head, "Master Chaos is right... How
can you love me? Nobody can love me... Nobody!"
As his body shook with rage, dark bolts of energy flew out.
Serena winced as she got struck by one of them, but she kept
trudging towards Darien insistently, "Darien, *I* love you! Please
believe me..."
Darien growled in anger, "No, stop talking! Stop it!"
"Darien, I need you!" Serena cried, "Please, just come back to me!
I need you to help me bring Rini back!"
Darien put both hands over his head, and he shuddered in pain before
falling to the ground.
"Enough games!"
Serena gasped and turned to Wicked Lady, who had floated down beside
her.
"Time to say bye-bye now, Princess."
"Rini, wake up please!"
The pink-haired woman laughed, "Like you'd actually care about me!"
"You don't understand, Rini!" Serena cried, "If your energy is used
to open the Dark Gate, you're not going to survive!"
"Shut up!" Wicked Lady screamed, then turned around to face the sky,
which had turned a dark, blood red colour, "Master Chaos... Give...
me... strength!"
Immediately, her body glowed black and purple, and a huge mass of
energy appeared between her hands.
Slowly, she turned around to face Serena once again, smiling evilly
at her, and then at the black globe of energy in her hand.
"Goodbye, Princess Serenity."
With that, she threw the attack at Serena.
* * *
Raye coughed and struggled to walk down the street, towards the
huge plateau that had appeared in the middle of the town.
"That must be the Dark Gate..." she said to herself, "Gotta get there
and help out the girls..."
She coughed again, feeling light-headed.
"She needs me... The Princess needs me..."
* * *
Serena squeezed her eyes shut and prepared for the blast.
'Rini...' she whispered in her head as the tears came, 'I'm sorry I
can't help you get better... And you too, Darien...'
She waited for the energy to hit.
'I can't believe it's going to end this way...'
A huge explosion sounded, but she didn't feel any pain. She wondered
briefly if she was dead. Then she felt something fall against her.
"What...?" she said, and opened her eyes, "Da... Darien?"
He was kneeling before her, having taken the shot from the back.
With a grunt, he leaned into her.
"Da... Darien!" she whispered, holding his limp body, "No, Darien!"
He groaned and coughed a couple of times. Serena knelt down and set
him on the ground, letting his head rest on her lap.
"Serena..." he said softly, "I'm so sorry..."
"Darien," she cried, tears streaming down her eyes, "Why? I... I
thought they had you brainwashed..."
"My mind may belong to them..." Darien said with a weak smile,
"But my heart belongs to you... You told me that, remember?"
"Darien..." Serena said with a sad smile, then she shook her head as
tears continued to fall, "Let me get Amy over here..."
"No," Darien said, "Just stay here with me... I... don't think I can
last much longer... I wish I could stay and protect you, like I
promised to. But... I'm just too weak..."
"Darien, don't... please..."
"Serena..." he said, raising his trembling hand to touch her face, "I
was such a fool to doubt your love... I... I know now."
His face broke into a smile more sincere than any smile he'd given
her, "I know you love me. And I love you too, Serena... It's so
simple... and so obvious..."
He closed her eyes, but struggled to open them again.
"Since we've broken up," Darien said as he looked up at her, "I...
I've always dreamt about kissing you... Every time I saw you, I wish I
could hold you again. I've missed you so much, Serena... Let me kiss
you one more time, Serena..."
He looked up at her blue orbs, crying and crying, for him, "Please..."
Serena nodded, and he lifted his head up slightly to meet her lips.
With all of his remaining strength, he raised one hand to her face and
deepened the kiss. He closed his eyes and held her tightly against
him, not letting go for a long time. Once more... Just once more...
Finally, sensing that she had become uncomfortable, he pulled away and
looked at her flushed face. He could feel his breath slipping away
from him. His hand fell to the ground, and a rose slipped out of his
shirt pocket.
"Thank you..." Darien said with a small smile as he closed his eyes.
"Darien..." Serena whispered, "No..."
"I'll find a way back to you..." he said with his final breath.
The petals fell off of the rose, and Serena watched as the wind
carried them away, one by one, flying away into the distance...
"I love you, Darien!" Serena cried as she held his head against her,
"Don't leave me, please!"
But he couldn't hear her.
"I love you, Darien..."
---@ To be continued...
