A/N: Hello, thanks for all the reviews! They've been wonderful. Just so you know, this story is a bit on the gloomy side, and focuses on Darien/Serena. I didn't mention that before, so…it's really what happens when Serena loses her friendship with the Scouts because they think that she's betrayed them by moving away.
So enjoy the story! And please keep reviewing!
magicharm
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"Serena, are you positively sure about this?" Luna asked worriedly.
The 21-year old cast melancholy eyes to her cat, and only friend left. Luna could see the dim spark of determination in the Moon Princess' wide blue orbs, pleased that after so many years, the life in her owner and Princess had returned.
'Still', Luna thought anxiously, 'this could break Serena terribly. If the Scouts reject her, she'll be on her own to fight this Negaverse evil. Not to mention how heartbroken she would be if Darien wouldn't support her…'
"I'm positive, Luna," Serena murmured, "I've waited too long to do this."
Giving a sharp nod, the cat focused her energy, picturing the beautiful Scouts in her mind, and Serena watched nervously as the crescent moon lit up brightly, a stark contrast to Luna's black fur. Thin streams of light began to filter out from the crescent, Luna trying to muster up all her energy to complete the link; it had been quite a few years since she had done such strong magic.
The rays of light created an eerie glow on the downy mattress that Serena and Luna were sitting on. The Moon Princess gasped as the light became stronger by the second, finally revealing the first face that Luna had managed to contact: Amy.
Small tears managed to stubbornly leak out of Serena's eyes as she saw Amy bolt up in her bed, looking around curiously at whatever Luna was saying in her mind. The first Sailor Scout had been recovered, and Serena's heart leapt in joy and reminiscence at her dear friend with her still, short crop of hair, mussed about from sleep.
'Amy, this is Luna, wake up.'
'Luna? What on Earth…where are you?'
'My dear Amy, how we have missed you so. But I am afraid that Serena has particularly bad timing. Negaverse evils are coming back to Earth. We need the Sailor Scouts again.'
'Serena? Is she there? How is she?'
'She's here. She misses all of the girls terribly. If all goes well with my mind links, we shall be returning to Tokyo as soon as possible. We are in dire danger.'
'Yes, of course. Tell Serena I miss her too. Luna, she should know that Darien moved away immediately after she left. He was heartbroken. I don't know where he is.'
'Oh dear, Serena will not take this well. Thank you anyway Amy, we'll see you soon.'
'And Luna? Why did she leave?'
The cat paused, unsure of whether to reveal the answer yet or not.
'It is not my place to say, dear Amy. Serena may tell you when we get back.'
Serena watched with anxious eyes as the light fizzed away into the darkness.
"What did she say?" she asked.
"Amy said she misses you terribly, dear Serena. But also that Darien has left Tokyo," the cat replied, adding the last bit carefully.
Luna watched as hope crumbled in Serena's eyes and felt an immense sadness for her young Princess. Serena shut her eyes briefly, pushing the pain that had suddenly struck her heart down and murmured to Luna, who was still watching with her sharp eyes.
"Keep contacting the others," she whispered, avoiding the subject of her love altogether.
All through the night, Luna spent, tiredly mind-linking all the other Scouts. They were all still in Tokyo, occasionally transforming to fight demons that had strayed down to their planet. Unfortunately, there was increasing hostility towards Serena as Luna contacted the other three Scouts. The link that burned the most though, not surprisingly, was Raye's, the last that Luna tried to mind-link.
'Fine, Luna. Just tell Serena that she hurt too many people to come back to Tokyo unscathed. She is not my friend.'
The words were spoken with a harshness that Luna had only seen Raye project towards Negaverse evils before. She cautiously told Serena what Raye's severe words, wanting to give a warning to Serena: things were not going to be the same when they returned.
Serena didn't reply. She just cast a glance at Luna before crawling into her bed, snuggling against her cat.
"Serena, don't you want to try contact Darien?" Luna asked, although she was exhausted by the effort.
The Moon Princess shook her head.
"He's left Tokyo, Luna. If he was still fighting evil, he would've stayed to help the Scouts. Darien's gone, and I'll just have to face that," she whispered, tears streaming out of her eyes.
Luna felt an awful sympathy rise out of her at the sight of Serena so broken. But there was nothing she could do to mend a torn heart. Sighing, she curled up against her mistress and tried to soothe her to sleep.
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"Ladies and gentleman, please fasten your seatbelts as the captain prepares for touchdown. We shall be landing in approximately five minutes."
Serena sat in her seat, watching the clouds dissipate outside the window as the plane started to descend. She had managed to rummage enough money to get a one-way ticket to Tokyo. She gladly quit her café job, and sold her apartment, using the money to buy her ticket and a few clothes to survive.
She missed Luna. Serena had to pack her away in a pet-cage that was horribly restricting to her cat, but she wasn't allowed to be on the plane with her.
'Five minutes,' Serena thought, 'just five more minutes…'
The plane jerked as it hit the runway, and Serena yawned as the stewardess' voice came back on, "On behalf of British Airways, the cabin crew would like to thank you for flying with us today. Have a good day in Tokyo!"
The Princess scrambled out of her seat the second the seatbelt sign was flicked off. Swiftly, she managed to lug her carry-bag out of the compartment above her, but shrieked as she fell backwards…into someone's lap.
"Oh God," she moaned, shutting her eyes. She really didn't need her klutziness now.
"Serena?" the person asked, in shocked tone.
That voice. Oh God, it sounded familiar.
"Darien?!" she whispered, opening her eyes.
Hazel orbs met hers, and Serena couldn't move. It was him, he was here, and oh, he felt good.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, still in shock. Never in a million…he had given up hope a long time ago.
Serena didn't answer. Instead, she jumped out of his seat and ran. This could not be happening…not now. She had wanted to see him, but not like this. Definitely, not this way.
'I can't deal with this, not yet, not yet, not yet…' Serena thought, panicked.
She sprinted out of the plane and hurriedly went to pick up Luna. Once she found her, she gave her a big hug, found her suitcase and caught the nearest taxi in record time. She didn't speak throughout the whole taxi ride, and Luna had the sense not to talk in front of the cabbie.
"Serena, what on Earth is the matter with you?" Luna asked, once they had reached their motel, "You didn't drink any wine on the plane, did you?"
The Moon Princess let out a sharp laugh.
"Oh, if only I did, Luna. Then maybe I wouldn't have fallen into Darien's lap," she bit out.
Luna fell silent once again as Serena dragged her suitcase into the motel, and finding her room, collapsed on the bed.
"I wasn't ready, Luna," she sighed, "I couldn't see him like that, I just couldn't."
Luna wondered where the Serena who was bright and bubbly had gone, the girl who would have jumped at the chance to just meet Darien in the street. The Serena who didn't have the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Night fell, and Serena had slept her jetlag away. She hadn't eaten anything, but waved Luna off when her cat had suggested they stop by a fast food joint. Luna had spent the day arranging a time to meet with the other Scouts: 8 p.m. at the Cherry Hill temple, their usual meeting place.
Luna glanced at a small clock on the bedside table; 7:30.
"Serena, wake up, you've got half an hour," Luna called, jumping on the Princess.
Groggily, Serena woke up, washed her face and smoothed down her clothes. She was out the door with Luna in five minutes, a change for the girl who was always late in high school. As they walked through the city, Serena glanced fondly at places that she remembered from her childhood: the arcade, the theme park, the McDonalds…
Serena wondered if Andrew was still working in the arcade, but decided not to stop, in case she was late. Once they reached the corner of Cherry Hill, Serena stopped, seeing the hazy lights that filtered down from the temple at the top.
"Are you okay, Serena?" Luna asked.
'It's been so long…they'll hate me…I can only hope for their help in this…'
"I'm fine, Luna," she said, walking up the hill.
'It's now or never…I need them…'