***Well, here it is, finally! I have worked on this chapter for the better part of a month. Aurora finally meets a member of the original cast and loads of info is given. Please, review. I've put a lot of hard work into this one and would love to know what people think. Thanks to those that have reviewed and continued to review since I started posting WCD!***
Evening Star
With the Coming of the Dawn
Chapter 13
~ ~ ~
"Oh Darien, look!"
Darien looked out over the lake in front of them, following Serena's line of sight to a small family of ducks. The ducklings didn't look to be a week old. He smiled at her wonder and rapture.
"They're so cute! Oh, I wish I could take one home with me!" Serena exclaimed. Then she giggled, "Well, maybe not. I doubt Mom would want to share her bathtub with a duckling."
Darien could only stare at her, a warm light in his eyes and a smile on his lips. She was beautiful – so very beautiful and pure. When she turned her radiant blue eyes on him, he couldn't help but blush at the love he saw shinning in them. It still left him in wonder that this small blonde angel loved him.
How could I ever forget you Serena? Darien asked himself for the millionth time since he regained his memories during the fight with Ann and Allen. He hoped that those two were taking the best advantage of their second chance and had found a love with each other like he had found with Serena.
"Darien," he heard a soft teasing voice say, "You're blushing!"
Darien snapped out of his reverie to smile down at a softly giggling Serena.
"What's so funny?" Darien asked with a chuckle of his own.
"They're only ducklings Darien, not much there worth blushing over," Serena's giggling intensified.
"Well, I wasn't blushing over the ducklings, Meatball Head," Darien informed her with a know it all smile. Before she could retort to his use of her old nickname, he continued softly, "I was blushing because I'm here with you."
Serena's face fell at that. Slowly, she looked around with sad eyes. She was looking to see how many people were around that may have heard her exclamation over the ducks.
"I'm sorry," Serena whispered, her eyes diverted, "I didn't realize I was talking so loudly. I didn't mean to embarrass you Darien."
Alarm crossed Darien's dark handsome features. Quickly but gently he put his fingers under her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes.
"Serena, you're not embarrassing me. Where did you get such an idea?"
Serena's eyes wavered slightly, unshed tears glistening in the sunlight. Softly she sniffed, "You said you were blushing because you were here with me. I just figured you meant…"
Darien interrupted her, "You figured wrong." Shaking his head, Darien struggled to find the words.
"Serena, I was blushing because I could see in your eyes how much you love me," Darien explained, his voice lowering out of shyness and self-consciousness, "After all the fighting there has been between us, it takes some getting used to – some wonderful getting used to. You're not an embarrassment to me, not ever."
Darien stared intently into her eyes, making sure this time that there were no misunderstandings. His heart melted at the shy blush that came across her beautiful young face.
"Well, I've made a pretty good fool of myself," Serena laughed shyly.
"But a beautiful fool," Darien smiled mischievously.
Serena gave him a playful slap on the arm, "You're not supposed to agree with me."
"I didn't!" Darien defended himself, "You said you were a pretty good fool. I most clearly said that you were a beautiful fool."
Serena opened her mouth to respond to his blatantly smart remark when Darien snaked his arms around her waist and kissed her.
Serena went rigid with initial shock before relaxing and molding her body against his. Darien felt her soft warmth lean in closer to him, pressing against him as her tentative hands traveled slowly from around his waist to slightly graze his back, coming to rest in his ebony hair. His whole body went warm and tingled as her small hands ran themselves through his hair as he continued to kiss her. She gave a soft moan as Darien pulled her tightly against him, pausing only momentarily in his kissing of her to run his tongue against her bottom lip. She gasped at the sudden sensation only to moan once more as she felt Darien's tongue brush against hers ever so slightly. Serena responded in full, tightening her hold around his neck and running her tongue against his. Darien felt the shivers that ran the length of her body at the contact. Putting his hand to the back of her head to hold her to him, Darien prolonged the kiss a few moments longer. Breathless, they pulled apart.
His eyes warm with love, Darien asked in a hushed whisper, "What did I ever do to deserve you?"
Equally breathless, her eyes alight with a mischievousness of their own, Serena replied, "I'm not sure yet, but I'll let you know once I find out."
Darien raised an eyebrow, "Oh really?"
Serena laughed, but before she could reply Darien kissed her again.
She didn't make to object.
~ ~ ~
Darien walked home alone from the park where he'd spent most of the morning and early afternoon with Serena. It was warm out; the sun was shinning and a soft wind was weaving its way through the city. As he walked, Darien's mind wondered as his eyes closed briefly against the sunlight.
It had just been yesterday that he'd regained his memories, but it felt like a lifetime ago. Looking back now, he didn't understand how he could have missed the deep longing in his heart to be near Serena; how he could have missed the love in her eyes, love only for him, and the pain he caused by not returning that love. She brought a part of him to life that had withered and died years ago. He felt more at peace with himself when he was with her than he'd felt in all his life; she completed him. How could he have missed that?
Darien shook his head, Men must truly be blind…
Darien continued to walk and continued to think. Serena had talked for hours, giving him all but a day-by-day account of the happenings in her life since the defeat of Beryl. Some of what she said about her fights with Rei and the lectures from Luna had been rather humorous seeing as how Serena had pouted quite adorably as she recounted her stories. His laughter was rewarded with several slaps from the pouting bunny, but in Darien's opinion it was worth it just to see her pout more.
What she had told him about the new Sailor, however, unsettled him. Serena had been in tears when she'd told him how Sailor Star had fought to protect them both from the attacking aliens. With his arms wrapped around her small heaving shoulders as she cried, Darien listened as she recounted how the young woman had been brutally attacked by Ann and Allen and seriously wounded by Mercury's account. After a few softly posed questions on his part, Darien was able to get Serena to calm down and tell him how all the dealings with Sailor Star began. It took some time but she finally got the story out about first meeting the Imperial Soldier; her story eventually moved on to Rei's mistrust of Sailor Star and then finally to Serena coming to him to help find the elusive soldier.
After everything I put her through, when she needed help she still came to me…
Darien felt his heart warm at the thought. The fact that a new sailor existed, however, had him perplexed. He wouldn't have thought it possible that there were more Scouts than the Sailors of the Moon, but now that it seemed there was, he didn't quite know what to make of it.
Rei's reasons for not trusting this woman make for a good argument, but Sailor Star's actions speak loudly in her defense. Why would she protect Serena now only to turn against her in the near future?
Darien continued to mull the facts over in his mind, becoming lost in his own world; he never noticed the young woman walking toward him on the street. He never took notice to the school uniform of the girl; if he had, he might have noted that it was foreign: it consisted of a simple white blouse, a black plaid pleated skirt, white knee high socks and simple black shoes. If his eyes had been focusing on what he saw, he would have noticed the very pale blonde hair done up in a bun and ponytail; he would have noticed the silver eyes. He didn't. As this unseen young woman passed him by on his right, however, a sudden rush of power flooded his senses. His chest tightened with the uncontrollable desire to follow her. Stopping short, clutching at his chest, Darien turned around to look behind him – searching for the one that sent his instincts on fire.
He laid eyes on her: sharp, blazing, intelligent silver eyes locked on to his own, telling him that she had felt from him the same as he felt from her. He took one step toward her and she was gone, lost in a sea of people. He took off in her direction, desperate to follow her and find her. Just as he neared the park from which he'd just came, he caught a glimpse of her disappearing in amongst some trees. He followed at a dead run, brushing past low bushes and ducking under low hanging branches. When he cleared the foliage, Darien found himself in a small, secluded clearing, the sounds of the city behind him dulling to a quiet roar.
Breathing hard, Darien slowed his pace to a crawl; his sharp ocean blue eyes took in every detail, searching for signs of disturbance along the opposite side of the clearing in amongst more trees and bushes: he saw none. Therefore, she still had to be in the clearing. One scan of the small grassy field suggested otherwise, however. Puzzled, but not letting his guard down, Darien was about to move further into the clearing when a body fell on top of him from a tree above. He fell hard to the ground, a solid weight on his back. It pressed him almost painfully into the ground before he felt the weight flip him over onto his back, a hand coming to his throat in a heartbeat; he could barely breath.
Darien's eyes widened when he took in the appearance of his attacker. A beautiful young woman, obviously younger than him, held him pinned to the ground by the hand at his throat and her thighs pinning his arms to his sides. She was all but straddling his chest, but her intent could not be mistaken. Her intent was lethal. Blazing silver eyes stared into his, barely suppressed fury evident in the tenseness of her body and shallowness of her breathing. Her pale blonde hair fell haphazardly over her shoulders and into her face – she didn't take notice.
Tightening her hold on his neck, she demanded, "Who are you? Who sent you?"
Darien opened his mouth to talk, but couldn't get enough air to breath. He pleaded to her with his eyes to understand, but her face remained masked and her hand did not waver.
Aurora watched without sympathy as the dark haired man opened and closed his mouth in an attempt to answer her. She knew he wasn't getting enough air to breath, but she didn't care. The surge of power she'd felt from him as he'd passed her in the streets could only mean he had been sent by the Sorceress. She would show him no quarter. Aurora found it rather unsettling that the Sorceress now had human followers, and male at that, but she would not allow the Sorceress's new tactics catch her off guard. Her eyes darkening in anger she repeated her question with a snarl, releasing the minion's throat from her grip only slightly; she wanted answers.
"Who are you? Who sent you?"
"I … wasn't set… by anyone," Darien was able to gasp out. Looking up into the eyes of the woman who held him captive, Darien knew struggling against her would get him nowhere. Her thighs held his arms at his sides in an iron grip. His only hope would be to use his legs to throw her off him and Darien knew she'd strangle him before he had the chance. Continuing to look at her, his mind started working to place recently learned information to his present situation. Darien's eyes widened in shock as recognition flickered in his deep blue gaze.
"You!" He gasped against her strangle hold, "You're… Sailor Star!"
He watched as the young woman's eyes widened in alarm then narrowed in intense rage, her eyes dark with fury. All at once, Darien understood Rei's mistrust: anyone capable of that depth of anger and rage had to be dealt with extreme caution and wariness. Yet, at the same time, something inside himself couldn't bring him to hate her.
Her blood burning a path through her veins from the adrenaline in her system, Aurora felt her rage course through her. With deadly intent, she closed off Darien's windpipe. She gave a small sadistic smile when she felt him start to struggle underneath her. She knew he could not escape her. Her eyes shinning with a dark light that struck fear in Darien's heart as he struggled to breathe - struggled to live - he watched her lower her face down to his, her lips mere centimeters away from his own. He felt more than heard the words she whispered.
"When you're burning in Hell, tell the Sorceress she failed."
The dark light left her eyes then; nothing but a vast emptiness was left in its wake as Aurora killed off the humanity inside her, preparing herself for what had to be done just as she had done so many times before when fighting the Sorceress. Her face void of all emotion, she pressed down on the throat beneath her palm and waited for death to come to the man beneath her. As she felt his struggling wan and watched as his eyes closed, Aurora's soul fought against her. Somewhere, deep inside of her, a long dormant instinct was now alive and screaming at her that killing this man was wrong –terribly, terribly wrong. Aurora tried to steel herself against the moral onslaught and kept her hand at his throat: until a shining light made her draw that hand back in horror.
There shinning brightly on the dark haired man's forehead was the mark of a five point, ruby red star.
She watched as if outside her own body as the man turned his head to the side and coughed hoarsely, trying to get oxygenated air into his lungs. She felt him go limp beneath her has he took many deep breaths. When his eyes finally opened to look at her, a nerve in Aurora snapped. Taking his face roughly into her left hand and replacing her right hand at his throat, Aurora looked the man in the eye. She applied no pressure to his throat however; she was determined to get the answers she wanted.
"Who the hell are you?" Aurora spoke slowly, her tone menacing, "If this is some sort of sick joke on the Sorceress's part…"
"I don't know any Sorceresses," Darien spoke just as slowly, his voice hoarse from the abuse his throat suffered, "My name is Darien."
Darien's eyes flashed with an anger of his own; he had not just won his life back to lose it here, in a small field, at the hands of a Sailor Soldier who should be fighting with him not against him. He was about to continue when he saw her eyes cloud in confusion.
"Darien…?"
Aurora's mind worked quickly to place the name that seemed so familiar to her. The man beneath her watched as her eyes widened at him in absolute horror. Frantically, she pushed herself off him to kneel on the grass at his side.
"Dear gods, what have I done?" came a stricken voice.
Darien watched her intently as he propped himself on his elbows. Her right hand was on her stomach as she kneeled on the grass to his left, her silver eyes a swirling mixture of abject horror, grief, self-loathing, pain and utter hopelessness. He watched as her left hand shakily came up to cover her mouth and her eyes closed tight as if she was fighting extreme bouts of nausea. In truth, she was.
Aurora was overcome with the horror of what she had almost done. She was sick. Wave after wave of nausea crashed into her and her whole body trembled.
I almost killed him…I almost killed him… I was going to kill him…
The mantra in her mind continued. Because of her presumptuous, rash and irresponsible approach to the situation, she had almost ended the life of the Prince of Earth. A picture of Serena in all her innocence floated in Aurora's mind's eye as tears pooled behind her closed lids. Aurora felt her heart ache at how much pain she'd almost caused the Universe's salvation, the pain in her chest intensifying to the point were she was gasping for breath. With great strength of will, Aurora beat down the pain inside of her and locked it away within the deep recesses of her heart. Her breathing regulated itself and her body stopped trembling. Lowering her left hand, her dry silver eyes, void of the swirling emotions from only moments ago, looked into Darien's concerned blue eyes. She could tell he was about to say something and cut him off.
"I'm sorry. I'm so very sorry for what I've done," Aurora spoke, her voice steady and her tone sincere, "There is no excuse for what I've done. I did not know it was you. If I'd only recognized you…"
Darien listened as her voice trailed off, feeling that that last sentence had been directed more towards her then him. He was amazed that this young woman before him, so totally sincere in her apologies and so completely repentant for her actions, could possibly have been the same dark woman threatening to kill him only a few moments ago. With a new light, he looked at Sailor Star and saw what it was Serena saw in her and understood why Serena trusted her so. Darien shook his head at the complexity of the young woman's character and wondered almost in fear what could have happened to make her like she was.
"There is no need to apologize," Darien spoke softly and calmly as he sat up, "Any woman being chased into a secluded clearing by a man she doesn't know would have reacted violently."
"Yes, but few women have the capacity to kill the man that chases them into a secluded clearing," Aurora spoke evenly, her tone betraying no emotion.
Darien looked at her for a moment, "It's true then. You are Sailor Star."
Aurora knew it wasn't a question. She looked at Darien for a few seconds before replying, "Yes."
"May I ask your name?" Darien prompted softly. For a reason he could not quite place, he felt the need to approach the subject of this woman's identity slowly as if to reassure her and stop her from running from him. He desperately wanted to know her and that unsettled him.
Aurora looked up sharply, "No."
Darien raised an eyebrow, "No? Then what am I supposed to call you? I can't go around referring to you as Sailor Star."
Aurora stood up at that, brushing her skirt to rid herself of the grass that clung to it. Startled, Darien forced himself up on his none too steady legs as he watched her turn to walk out of the clearing. Desperate to keep her there for reasons unbeknownst to him, and angry that she would just up and leave after everything that had just happened, Darien grabbed hold of her wrist before she could get too much farther.
Aurora turned her head back to look at Darien out of the corner of her eye, "Let go of me."
Her tone brooked no argument, but Darien was too stubborn to acknowledge the underlying threat.
"No," Darien deadpanned, "You just nearly killed me thinking I was someone sent by a Sorceress, where yesterday you put yourself in the line of fire to protect me and Serena. I have Rei telling me you can't be trusted and Serena telling me you can. Now I want answers. And since you no longer have me pinned on the ground with your hand at my throat, you'll either answer my questions or fight me to get free."
Darien's tone was hard as he continued to keep what little eye contact he could with the blonde woman in front of him, "So what will it be?"
Aurora turned full around to look Darien in the eye.
"What makes you think I know anyone by the names of Serena and Rei?" Her tone was almost mocking and yet challenging at the same time. Darien grit his teeth.
"You know them for who they really are: Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars. You told Serena that you knew much about her past as the Moon Princess and the Silver Millennium. There's no way you can know her past and not know her real name or the real names of her Guardians."
Darien watched as her squarely held shoulders dropped only slightly.
"She's told you then."
"How else would I know you?" Darien questioned her. This time, however, his tone was soft.
Aurora stopped for a moment, her silver eyes looking down at Darien's hand wrapped firmly around her wrist. She could get free, she knew. She'd almost killed him once and just because she didn't have her hand round his throat now didn't mean she couldn't almost kill him again. She wouldn't though and she knew that. Darien was the one person that Serena drew strength from and without him she'd be lost. Aurora wasn't prepared to have the Light of Hope for the Universe be lost in shadow as she herself had been. Studying the hand that held her, Aurora thought back to what she'd seen shinning on his forehead only moments before.
She concluded that lack of sleep was making her venerable to illusions.
Her silvery gaze followed the hand up the arm and over the shoulder to look upon his face; as she did so, Aurora felt a small part of herself, deep within the dark core of her soul, come to life and bask in the warm gaze of the man in front of her. Suddenly she didn't want to leave – but she knew she had too.
Darien watched silver eyes soften for the first time as Aurora looked at him, really looked at him, and began to speak.
"Darien, you've just gotten your life back. You've just gotten Serena back. Do you really want to be involving yourself in something that could cost you everything?"
"If there is a threat to Serena," Darien countered, "I want to know about it."
"There won't be a threat to Serena if you keep her and the others from getting involved," Aurora came back sharply.
"Getting involved with what?" Darien demanded impatiently. The young woman's evasiveness was irritating.
"Involved with me," Aurora gestured sharply to herself with her free hand.
"And why would involving themselves with you be a threat?"
He watched as Aurora leveled her dark silvery gaze on him, her eyes narrowing in anger. She stood tall, her back straight and rigid. Darien got the distinct feeling this young woman was a force to be reckoned with.
Well, let her be angry, Darien thought to himself.
"Glare at me all you want, Sailor Star," Darien snapped at her, "But I'm not letting you go until you answer my questions."
Aurora raised a pale blonde brow, her tone deadpan "Don't think just because you're not on your back with my hand at your throat that I can't kill you. I almost killed you once, I can do it again – easily."
It was Darien's turn to raise an eyebrow.
"You wont kill me and we both know it. It's obvious you care about Serena's well being. I doubt you would do anything to hurt her."
"What makes you think my killing you would hurt her?" Aurora shot back. Aurora knew by the hurt and fleeting moment of insecurity that flashed in his turbulent blue eyes that she had struck a nerve in Darien. His grip on her wrist tightened to the point of pain but Aurora gave no outward sign of it.
"Who the hell are you and who the hell is the Sorceress?" Darien demanded in a low voice deep with menace, "You can tell me or you can kill me – you have those two choices."
Aurora looked Darien in the eye as he gave his ultimatum. There was a deep pain burning in his eyes, a pain wrought by years of loneliness and insecurity. Aurora felt her chest tighten with remorse. She hadn't meant to hurt him. She was only trying to protect herself from his questions. It felt so terribly wrong to be fighting him like she was. One small part of her wanted to reach out to him and tell him everything while the preservationist in her was telling her to turn away and never look back. For the first time in her life, Aurora squelched her innate talent for self-preservation and followed her heart.
Aurora looked up at Darien with sad, flashing eyes. When she spoke, her voice was soft, sounding with defeat.
"Darien…I realized my powers as Sailor Star when I was 14. I'm 16 now; it's been two years. Shortly before I first became Sailor Star, a young girl, younger than me by about a year, transferred to the academy I attend," Aurora paused, gathering strength and organizing her thoughts. Looking off to the side to escape the harsh reality of Darien's eyes, she continued with a defeated sigh.
"For reasons I'll never understand, this young girl wanted to befriend me. And being as naïve as I was, I accepted her offer of friendship," Aurora looked back at Darien then, her silver eyes soft with the emotion of memories.
"Several months into our friendship, my enemy the Sorceress sent an assassin to kill her," Aurora stopped and looked at Darien for a moment before continuing, "I almost didn't make it to her in time; I almost didn't hear her scream."
"Darien, she spent a week in intensive care before I was able to get to her to heal her."
Aurora shook her head in exasperation when Darien just continued to stare at her with mistrust in his eyes. Why didn't anyone understand?!
"Don't you get it, Darien?" Aurora snarled, "Beth was of no threat to the Sorceress. The only wrong she'd committed was befriending me! And she almost paid for that mistake with her life. Serena is the Moon Princess!" Aurora hissed, "A true threat to the Sorceress! If I was to involve her in my life, do you know what the Sorceress would do to her?" Darien shook his head slightly in recognition of her question.
"The Sorceress would kill her Darien, swiftly and efficiently. The Scouts' greatest strength is each other. The Sorceress would use that to her advantage and would attack the Scouts when they were separate from each other and not transformed. They'd each be dead before they had the chance to defend themselves."
"Now," Aurora looked right at Darien, her eyes dark with serious intent, "However irritating my evasiveness may be to you, as I told Sailor Mars it serves its purpose. My enemy knows me Darien; she knows me as I am now; she knows everything about me. By keeping silent, I am trying to protect your Princess. Take that as you will, but I will not disclose any information that will place another life in danger because of that life's association with me."
Darien looked at her for a long moment, both of them shrouded in silence.
He took her words into serious consideration; he could see the validity of what she said, but he could also see the flaws. He decided, however, that he'd greatly underestimated the integrity of the young woman whose wrist he still held firmly within his grasp. She'd been hurt in life, of that he was certain, and it seemed the enemy she now faced had her trapped between an empty void and a dark place. He could see it in her eyes: a terrible pain, a great fear, an unshakeable exhaustion for life, and an unbreakable spirit that refused to be beaten. Despite the hurt that her words had invoked, his heart went out to her and the desire to truly know the young woman before him flared into life again. Carefully, he broached the next subject.
"You realize," He spoke softly, "It may already be too late." When Aurora did not respond, he continued.
"If your enemy is as omnipresent as you suggest, its possible she already associates Serena and the others with you. It's possible she already considers them a threat. Despite your efforts, Serena may already be in danger," Darien finished quietly, his grip on her wrist relaxing, "If they are to protect themselves, they must know what they are facing."
"If the Scouts were to face the Sorceress, Darien, knowing her would not save them," Aurora spoke, her voice quiet. Given the fact that she did not fight him on what he'd just proposed, Darien concluded that it was something she had already taken into consideration.
"It might; you underestimate them," Darien spoke in reference to the Scouts.
"And you underestimate the Sorceress," Aurora countered, lifting tired eyes to Darien's.
For the first time since they met, Darien smiled softly.
"You're prepared to fight me to the last, aren't you?" he asked, shaking his head. He watched as the corner of Aurora's mouth turned up in a small smile before disappearing all together.
"I only want them to be safe."
Darien looked at her intently, "Then you must know the best way to keep them safe is to keep them informed. If there is a threat, the Scouts need to take the proper precautions to keep themselves and Serena safe. They can't do that if they don't know what's threatening them. Sailor Mercury is little short of a genius. If a solution can be found to a problem, she'll find it. Give her time, and I know she'd develop a plan to keep her and the rest of the girls safe."
When Aurora made to object, Darien continued, "You can't be everywhere at once, Sailor Star. If your enemy does attack, the girls need to know what to expect – even if you think they'd be facing odds they couldn't possible survive against. At least if they knew some of your enemies tactics, they might be able to keep themselves alive long enough to either get help or get you," Darien spoke gently but with a sound logic that could not be questioned. He watched Aurora intently to see what her reaction would be.
Looking down at her hand in his, Aurora spoke with a small sense of humor, "Logic is usually my defense in matters like these."
Smiling at her when she looked up at him, Darien responded in kind, "As it is mine."
Aurora looked away from him then, her eyes distant, thinking. She found herself suddenly drained of energy. She was tired: tired of fighting, tired of hiding. Aurora raised defeated eyes to look at Darien.
His eyes…look so much like Kiaya's: soft, warm and kind. I see a strength in him like I've seen in her – a strength born of witnessing too much pain in one lifetime. Or in Darien's case, two…
Aurora cast her eyes down and closed them briefly. She was at war with herself. Darien's argument was a sound one. He was right; she had already considered that her involvement with the Scouts had put them in danger and that if they were to have any chance of survival, they would need to know something about what threatened them. What she was having trouble coming to terms with was the fact that she wasn't entirely opposed to telling Darien everything he wanted to know. She had no reason to trust the man, but she did. She felt drawn to him; she felt safe with him.
When she opened her eyes again, there was strength shinning in their depths. Quietly, she addressed Darien in her mind.
I don't know what it is about you that makes me trust you like I do, but if you want answers, I'll give them to you.
"Ask me the questions you want," Aurora spoke seriously, her voice firm but soft, "I'll answer those that are necessary to protect Serena and the Scouts."
"Thank you, Sailor Star," Darien said with a soft smile. He knew that agreeing to talk to him had not been an easy decision for her to make. He was just glad that the Guardian in her won out over her pride and self-protective nature.
Darien's mind was preoccupied with how to word his first question so as not to put Aurora on the defensive once again, when he heard a quiet whisper come from the young woman in front of him.
"I'm sorry…what?" Darien inquired, genuinely interested in what she had said.
"Aurora. My name is Aurora."
Her admission took Darien off guard and before he could respond, she asked, almost sounding annoyed, "Can we at least sit down?"
She sat down on the green grass beneath her feet, not waiting for his response. Looking at her with his head tilted to the side and one brow raised, Darien shrugged to himself slightly. He folded his long legs beneath him and sat down gracefully on the grass beside her.
"That's a beautiful name, Aurora. If memory serves, Aurora was an ancient Goddess of the Dawn. Rather ironic, considering your title as Sailor Star. Did you ever ask your parents why they chose to name you as the did?" Darien asked, his tone conversational. He wanted her to relax and feel comfortable around him. He wasn't quite sure how to do that, but thought asking a personal yet general question might be a means to an end.
"My parents were dead before I turned the age of five. I never had the chance to ask them much of anything," Aurora stated in an emotionless tone. She was looking down at the grass at her feet, picking a few strands with her fingers. Suddenly her body tensed as her mind became aware of what she'd just told him. Aurora's heart rate increased. She was panicked.
Why did I tell him that?
Darien looked at her with sad, understanding eyes. He'd noticed her stiffen imperceptibly and knew that she had not meant to tell him that. He sought to put her at ease, knowing full well what it was to be orphaned.
"It's alright, Aurora," He said softly, bending down at the waist to catch her eye. She was refusing to look at him, "I understand. I lost my parents when I was young."
She looked at him then, out of the corner of her eye.
"I know," was all she said.
Darien drew back sharply, his eyes flashing with something akin to betrayal.
"How do you know?" he demanded.
Aurora turned regret filled eyes at him, then sighed, "That, Darien, is a very long story. Just believe me when I say my Queen decided that it would be beneficial for me to know about the lives of Princess Serenity, her Prince and her Guardians here in the present."
Darien's brows furrowed in anger at having his personal life flaunted to strangers.
"What right do you have to know so much about our personal lives when you deny us any information about yourself?" he growled.
"I did not ask to know everything about your life, Darien. Not your past life, not your present life. I never had much choice in the matter. And I certainly don't discuss what I know with anyone," Aurora growled back, once again on the defensive.
"Who the hell would I tell? Who the hell would believe me!?" Aurora finished with a hiss, her eyes flashing.
Darien fumed silently for a moment, amazed with how the young woman beside him could provoke such strong emotions in him when no one else but Serena could. His eyes narrowed in agitation as he made a demand.
"Then tell me about your past. Its only fair to even the score."
"Fuck being fair," Aurora whirled around to face him completely, "If I've learned anything it's that life is not fair. Life destroys you. It strips you of everything and leaves you with nothing but loneliness and misery to fend for yourself. Life is merciless and if you're not the same, you fade away into an existence of nothingness."
Aurora breathed deep, her eyes molten metal, "Don't lecture me, Darien on what is or is not fair. I'm sorry your parents are dead. I'm sorry that my knowing your parents are dead upsets you. But rest easy, Prince," Aurora sneered, "My parents died just as yours did, in a car and late at night. And just like you, I was the only one to survive. But," Aurora snarled, "Unlike you, I remember the screams. I remember the smell of burning fuel and flesh. I remember the sound of metal breaking and glass shattering. I remember the doctors telling me on the road side that Mommy and Daddy were gone and never coming back!"
"Don't bitch at me about fair, Darien," Aurora's eyes flashed in anger, "My parents were survived by other family members. To them, I was nothing more than a financial and social burden. I was a disturbance in their lives and when they found out they were never getting their hands on my inheritance, I was sent away and told not to come back."
Aurora snorted derisively, shaking her head, "You lived your life always wondering who you were - I lived my life knowing exactly who I was and that who I was, was somebody nobody wanted and nobody loved!"
Darien sat, silenced by the pain he could sense radiating off Aurora. He looked at her with new eyes as she struggled to stop her trembling. Had it been anyone else, he probably would have fought her further on the issue of 'fair', but something about the terribly distraught woman in front of him stopped him.
Integrity indeed, Darien admitted to himself, If I were in her place, I would have left - but here she stays. She told me she'd answer my questions and by the gods, she's staying to do so.
Aurora sat looking off into oblivion, her eyes focusing on nothing and everything all at once. She felt like a dam had been broken inside her and she could do nothing to control the flood.
How can one man have such an effect on me? Aurora demanded in frustration, desperate to get herself under control. 11 years and she'd never told anyone what she'd just told a man she hardly knew. Aurora wanted nothing more than to leave but she'd committed herself to answering Darien's questions and that was as good as giving her word. She would not run though she wanted to.
Her voice now steady, Aurora turned blazing silver eyes on the Earth Prince.
"Has the score been settled yet, Prince?" Aurora all but spat, her back straight and shoulders squared.
"No," Darien returned with a level tone and serious expression, "I can't believe no one in your family loved you."
"Why?" Aurora shot back, "You find my personality to be a loveable one?"
"I believe it was at the age of 5."
Aurora held Darien's steady gaze for a moment longer before turning angry, frustrated silver eyes away from him to look out over the grassy field that lay before them. Shaking her head, shrugged her shoulders in defeat.
"Why the hell not," Aurora whispered sardonically, more so to herself than to Darien.
"I have an Aunt, a Great Aunt on my Mother's side," Aurora told Darien, her tone emotionless yet defeated, "She is in her Eighties now, she was just into her Seventies when my parents died. Where everyone else in my extended family was ruined with greed and selfishness, she – she was different. She remained kind and loving."
Darien watched with guarded eyes as Aurora sighed, her own eyes still looking around the small clearing. Darien realized with a start that she was surveying the clearing to ensure that none came upon them unexpectedly.
"My Aunt, Aunt Rose, all but raised my Mother when my Grandparents parents died rather suddenly of illness when Mom was a young teen. My Mother became the incredible person she was because of my Aunt…" Aurora grew silent with remembrance for a moment before continuing with a soft voice, "Aunt Rose wanted to adopt me after my parents' death. Other family members, aunts, uncles, cousins, were not partial to the idea. They knew Aunt Rose would keep them from my inheritance - that she would take it upon herself to hold it in trust until I was of age."
Aurora laughed humorlessly, "So they fought her in court, and won. The Judge ruled Aunt Rose to be too advanced in age and therefore not competent enough to handle the needs of a young developing child. Several months later, after many heated court battles, my beloved," Aurora all but choked on the word, "extended family came to face the reality that my inheritance was mine and mine alone – they would never see a cent of it."
Darien watched as Aurora clenched her jaw, the bone and muscle tensing. She said nothing, her eyes dark and glaring. He sat in wait, giving her the time she needed to finish.
"Two weeks after the courts ruled in 'my favor', I was enrolled in Umbrae Academy," Aurora paused, "and by the time I turned 8, I was told that the family had decided it would be in my best interest to remain at the Academy during holidays. I haven't been home since."
Darien continued to watch the Imperial Soldier as she slipped once more into silence, her silver eyes following the path of late afternoon sun rays that dappled the leaves and grass around them. This young woman had entered his life like a whirlwind and he had the distinct feeling that this was only the beginning. Darien began to question if keeping Serena away from her might actually be the right course of action.
No. There is evil here in Tokyo that we are ignorant of and that she is well aware of. If The Scouts are to protect Sailor Moon, if I am to protect Serena, then we have to know what threatens her…
Bringing himself back to the task at hand, Darien decided to move on in his questioning.
"Where is home for you?"
Aurora didn't even look at him as she answered this time, "Canada."
Darien's brows raised in surprise at that, "Really? I've heard Canada is a beautiful country. I would love to travel there someday. What part of Canada do you come from?"
"Nova Scotia."
He waited for her to elaborate - she didn't.
"Ask pertinent questions Darien," was all she said, never once turning her eyes to look at him.
"Alright then," Darien spoke evenly, "Who is your enemy?"
"The Sorceress."
"What does she want?"
"To destroy me, to destroy the Sun Stone, and then continue on her quest."
"Which is?"
"What is every enemy's quest, Darien?" Aurora asked pointedly, turning finally to look Darien in the eye.
"I'm not taking anything for granted when it comes to you, Sailor Star," Darien
responded just as pointedly, his eyes narrowing in slight annoyance.
"To the Sorceress," Aurora began in a monotone voice, "the Universe is hers to do with as she pleases. She feels no need to conquer the Universe as other might, for she considers the Universe to be her own. She quests to shape the Universe in her image, bereft of all light, love and purity."
"And she more than has to power to do so," Aurora answered Darien's silent challenge.
Darien nodded his head in thought, "Where does she come from?"
"When the Universe was born, there was Light. From that Light was born the Planets, the Stars… but where there is Light, there is Darkness. The Sorceress was born from that Darkness," Aurora spoke evenly.
"How long has she been on this 'quest'?" Darien questioned, his tone hard.
"Since the moment of her birth," Aurora stated, looking Darien in the eye, "The Universe is hers, Darien. Countless Galaxies have fallen at her hand. She extinguishes all light, casting everything into darkness. She corrupts the mind, the heart, the soul. Her power is like poison to life: where once was peace, only war and bloodshed remains. Her minions are fatally loyal to their Mistress and are highly trained. I've fought her minions. I have fought them on eight separate occasions. I have only succeeded in destroying two."
"And the others?" Darien asked with a sense of foreboding.
"They lived. During battle, I was able to inflict enough harm upon them that they retreated back to their Mistress. What happened then I can only guess, but after some time the Sorceress's once defeated minions were returned to the battlefield. When I faced them a second time, they were much more highly trained and fucking near impossible to defeat."
Darien breathed deep. Aurora had had him on his back with her hand at his throat, more than able and more than willing to end his life. Coupled with what Serena had told him of her powers, Darien knew he'd be lying to himself if he said he wasn't terrified. If Aurora found the minions of this enemy to be nearly impossible to defeat, what chance did Serena and the others have? Darien's whirling emotions came to a stand still when a delicate hand came to rest on his arm. Surprise swirling in the depths of his ocean blue eyes, Darien looked up at Aurora.
Softly, she spoke.
"Darien, when I fight against the minions of the Sorceress, it's never a simple matter of destroying the one that challenges me and moving on to the next. It's a matter of surviving: surviving the pain, surviving the fight, and surviving the terror until I can either get the crystal to safety or wound the minion enough to send her crawling back to her Mistress."
Silver eyes that pleaded with him to understand held his gaze for a time, giving him a chance to draw his own conclusions.
"Serena would never survive against such a force," he stated finally.
"No," Aurora breathed out softly, "She wouldn't; and neither would her Guardians."
"Then you have to tell me what can be done to protect her," Darien spoke firmly, his eyes hard and demanding.
Aurora looked down and away from his gaze, thinking. Watching her closely, Darien decided to push her a little further.
"What crystals?"
Aurora looked back at him questioningly.
"Just now, you spoke of crystals. What crystals? What is a Sun Stone? And what does that have to do with the Sorceress?"
Darien watched with a slight heavy feeling as Aurora's eyes became cold and guarded. Perhaps he's pushed too far, but with Serena's life on the line he didn't have it in him to care – entirely.
"That information is not pertinent."
"Oh no?" Darien shot back, "I'd be willing to wager that those crystals are the reason you fight against the Sorceress. Now, if her minions are willing to kill you over them, what happens if Serena or any of the others were come across one of them?"
Aurora's eyes turned dark with menace, "They wouldn't simply come across one of the crystals. The crystals call to one person and one person only when they have decided it is time for them to be found – neither Serena nor her Guardians are that one person."
"And who is?" Darien prompted with a growl.
Aurora shot him a bland look, "Who do you think?"
"And how do these crystals 'call' to you?" Darien asked in a mocking, disbelieving tone.
"I told you, this information is irrelevant to protecting Serena. I've humored you enough. Get on with it," Aurora threatened darkly.
Darien ran a frustrated hand through his hair. Fuck, but wasn't he tired of this game of cat and mouse. He looked at Aurora, only to find her looking at him with a strange emotion in her eyes. It made Darien pause. It almost seemed as if she were on the verge of trusting him, of telling him want he really wanted know. In a moment, the emotion was gone.
Who are you Aurora? Darien asked himself with an inner defeated sigh, Who are you really? Why do I trust you when I know I shouldn't?
"Fine Aurora," Darien conceded with a sigh, "Tell me what I can do to keep Serena safe and I'll leave you be."
"There's nothing I can tell you of The Sorceress's power that would keep Serena safe. Serena and the others have no defense against her evil: it is too potent and too all consuming. But then, Mercury already knows that from the readings she took the first time I met the Scouts," Aurora spoke in a flat matter of fact tone.
"Her minions are highly trained killers. The Scouts have, as of yet, not come up against any enemy of the like and it would be impossible for me to train them to be adequate enough in battle to defend themselves – I don't have the time or the resources," Aurora continued, "If the Sorceress decides to destroy the Scouts, either to draw me out or because she perceives them as being too great an interference, there's very little that I can do to deter her. Unless I was with the Scouts when the Sorceress sent her minions to attack…"
"So you're telling me nothing can be done," Darien snapped, his nerves stretched past the breaking point. This day had started out so amazingly, and now…
"Make sure they are never alone. Increase communications between the Scouts. Make it clear that they are not to travel anywhere alone and in groups less then three. Have them start with regular hourly check-ins, with you and with each other. Tell them that they are not to go anywhere without everyone in the group knowing where and for how long. That way, if something happens, reaction time will be swift."
Darien nodded, "Alright, that sounds reasonable. But they should have some means of contacting you. If your enemy decides to strike, they are going to need your protection."
Aurora looked at Darien and shook her head, "No. I know when the Sorceress's power is near. There is no means of communication that is faster or more effective than my instincts. If the Sorceress were to attack, I would know it and I would follow her power to the sight of battle."
"And if you don't or can't react quick enough? What then? What can I do to keep Serena safe?" Darien demanded.
Softened silver eyes regarded Darien a moment. She had hoped to spare him and the others this pain of worry. She always kept her senses keen and focused, and had concentrated most of her efforts on keeping Sailor Moon safe from the Sorceress since her arrival in Tokyo. The battle with the Sorceress never concerned Sailor Moon, but Aurora knew the malicious and vindictive nature of the Sorceress far too well to put it past the Sorceress to maim or kill the Moon Princess and her Court just for the pleasure of it. Aurora had desperately tried to keep her distance to prevent the Sorceress from making a connection between Sailor Moon and Sailor Star so as to keep the Sorceress's wrath concentrated on herself and not the Moon Princess. Aurora had not wanted innocents caught up in the battle raging between herself and the Mistress of All Evil.
Attacking Darien, however, had lain waste to all her efforts. The Earth Prince had stirred within her emotions long thought lost. She'd felt drawn to the Prince and that had confused her. She'd felt trust for the Prince and that weakened her defenses. Before her rational mind could stop it, Aurora found herself giving her word to answer Darien's questions. Now, after fighting Kiaya and Firewalker, she'd done exactly what she'd set out not to do: involve herself with the Sailors of the Moon. From now on, it would never just be a matter of fighting the Sorceress for Aurora; now it would involve not getting the Light of Hope destroyed in the making.
For the briefest moment, Aurora's eyes closed. When she opened them, she regarded Darien with a serious look.
"Run, and keep running. Put as much distance and as many obstacles between you and the minion as possible until I arrive. Don't engage the minion in battle, for she will be an expert marksmen and fighter. Keep injury down to a minimum; be prepared to dodge multiple attacks. When I do arrive, take Serena and the others and get away."
Aurora leveled Darien with a dark look, "Do not let Serena's protective nature take control of the situation. You can not allow her to entertain the idea of helping me. All that will result from that is her drawing fire upon herself and possibly getting herself killed. I can not fight against the Sorceress and have to defend five overly independent and protective Soldiers that will not listen to reason."
"I am not one of their own," Aurora spoke softly as she turned her gaze away from Darien to look out over the clearing again.
"You're so ready to make that distinction," Darien commented after a moment of considering Aurora's words. Darien conceded that Aurora's instructions were satisfactory to protect the others, though he knew he was drawing that conclusion on only half the truth.
Aurora shrugged, "It's the truth. I am not a Soldier of the Moon. My loyalties lie elsewhere."
"And where do your loyalties lie Aurora?"
"That's none of your concern Darien. Just rest assured - I'm not your enemy."
"And how can I be sure of that?"
"Because if I was your enemy, Darien," Aurora spoke evenly as she turned to look the Reborn Prince in the eye, "You'd be dead."
Not for a moment did Darien doubt that truth, and found himself laughing quietly as he shook his head at her.
"What?" her tone belied her annoyance at being laughed at.
"You. I'm amazed at you," Darien laughed sardonically, "I've sat here with you for the past what? Two, three hours? We've done nothing but talk, about you no less, and I still haven't the faintest idea about you, your intentions or your purpose here. You tried to kill me no less and here I am talking to you, sitting in a grassy field in the middle of a Tokyo Park."
Darien continued to shake his head, a bemused smile on his face, "You amaze me."
"Well, I'm glad I amuse you," Aurora returned, her tone not entirely unfriendly.
For a moment, silence fell between the Imperial Princess and the Earth Prince as both looked to the highly slanted rays of the late evening sun, lost in thought and speculation.
"I should be returning," Aurora spoke quietly, not wanting to disturb the tranquil peace that had settled over her soul. She would never admit it to herself, but talking to Darien had help to lessen the encroaching darkness within her. She felt light and almost at peace, though her expressions did not betray it.
Darien regarded her for a moment as she stood, pale blonde hair shimmering in the sun. She brushed her black plaid skirt and straightened her blouse. When she finished, Darien watched as she lowered her silver eyes, alight with sunlight, to look at him, her sheer blond bangs and blonde curls framing her face in shimmering gold and silver. She really was beautiful.
"Darien," Aurora said softly, "I do not wanting you living in fear of the off chance that an enemy, who is not your own to fight, might attack Serena. The Sorceress is terribly powerful but is proud to a fault. We, as human beings, are completely without significance in her eyes. She considers us to be beneath her, which is why she has not come to fight me. Instead, she sends her minions, from whichever realm she holds dominion over, to fight and kill me. Despite her efforts to destroy me and the Sun Stone, however, I have had the audacity to live."
Aurora smiled humorlessly, "The Sorceress's pride has been affronted, by the Queens of my past and through my actions; as such, she wishes to make me suffer for my insolence. She wants revenge. For her, it is no longer a matter of killing me. She's very much determined to break me, to tear me down, to toy with me until her pride has been satisfied. And so long as I can keep her sights set on me, she will have no reason to look elsewhere for revenge. Serena and the others are of no concern to the Sorceress, only I am. And unless I give her cause to think that Serena is a means to the end she seeks, the Sorceress will not waste her time and resources on a small group of children she considers to be insignificant."
Aurora watched Darien's face as he got to his feet. She could tell by the troubled look there that what she'd said had not put him at ease. Aurora could feel the first shreds of annoyance worm its way back into her heart. Just what did he want her to say?
"And what of you, Aurora?" Darien asked darkly, " It seems you are the only one that stands against this evil; if you fail, if you fall to the Sorceress's might, this world will be destroyed. That is a burden too great for one person to bear alone. You can not possibly destroy the Sorceress by yourself. Do you expect me to just walk away from here and leave the fate of the world to be yours to carry alone?"
Aurora tilted her chin up to look Darien right in the eye, her stance becoming defensive, "Do you expect me to just let you lead the Light of Hope for this Universe to her death?"
Aurora cut Darien off before he could continue to argue with her, "I never said my mission was to destroy the Sorceress. That responsibility does not fall on my shoulders, but upon the shoulders of another woman who has yet to be chosen. My mission is to bring forth the Sun Stone and to defend the woman who can wield it– nothing more nothing less. I am very close to completing my mission."
"And what then? Will the world be safe? When your mission is complete, will Serena be safe?" Darien demanded, his tone not all together harsh.
"Once the Sun Stone has been brought forth, the world will be safe, and so will be Serena." Aurora returned, her tone strong and sincere.
The two Guardians regarded each other a moment longer. Aurora smiled softly, and bowing her head slightly in recognition of Darien, turned to leave. A warm hand around her own stopped her. Turning around, her eyes brimming with surprise, Aurora looked down at Darien's hand wrapped firmly around her own. Darien watched as a puzzled Imperial Soldier lifted her gaze to him, looking for an explanation.
Darien didn't really know what to tell her. As he'd watched Aurora turn to leave, a terrible tightening had seized his chest. Darien found himself overwhelmed by the same sudden desperation he'd experienced the first time she'd tried to leave. For reasons he didn't understand, Darien just couldn't bear the idea that he'd never see her again.
Deciding to voice his fears, Darien admitted, "I'll never see you again will I?"
Aurora widened her eyes in shock. Her voice thick with incredulity, she asked, "Why would you want to?"
Looking down at her hand in his, Darien shrugged. With a shake of his head, he spoke in hushed tones, "I don't know. But I do know the idea of just leaving you to this fate seems terribly cruel and unjust. I don't suppose there's any argument I could make that would convince you to come back with me and let all of us help you in this struggle, is there?"
Aurora's eyes darkened in anger and disbelief, "Has nothing I've said gotten through to you? You want Serena to be safe, yet you make a suggestion like that?!"
Darien held his other hand up in surrender, "I know - it doesn't make much sense, but I still believe Serena would be safest if you were with her or at least if she could communicate with you. The girls have so many wonders and worries and doubts when it comes to you, it would put them at such ease to have those questions answered by you. What would you have me tell them when I return? How far am I supposed to go in my explanations?"
Aurora looked startled. He was afraid of betraying her confidence?
"I would not have you lie to Serena – I do not want that guilt on my conscience," Aurora looked away for a moment, "I trust your judgement. Do not lie and do not withhold information if you're asked out right, but if the explanation does not call for certain more personal details, I would ask that you wait until that information is pertinent before speaking of it."
Out of the corner of her eye, Aurora saw Darien nod in understanding. Looking back at Darien with fire in her eyes, Aurora continued her tone hard.
"And I've already told you that there is no method of communication more efficient than my instincts. Serena is just as safe having never talked to me, as she would be having talked to me – even more so. As I've been trying to get through to you, I do not want the Sorceress making any sort of connections between Serena and myself. Such a meeting as you've suggested would do just that. My personal presence in Serena's life would be equivalent to signing Serena's death warrant. I suggest you get such notions out of your head Darien."
Darien lowered his eyes in shame. Where the hell was his head? He'd all but badgered Aurora for their entire time together, desperate to find some means to protect Serena from an unknown enemy and here he was proposing to throw all he'd learned to the wind and invite Aurora right into Serena's life. Yet, on the same token, Darien couldn't ignore his instincts anymore than Aurora could. He could not shake that just leaving Aurora to fight alone was wrong – terribly wrong.
"Besides," Aurora continued more softly, "This wont be the last time we meet. I owe it to you to keep you informed on any progress I make. I know it would be greatly beneficial for you to know when Serena is no longer threatened by my enemies and when this world is no longer endangered by the Sorceress. When my situation changes, for better or worse, I will contact you and make you aware of the changes. I promise you that much."
"You know where I live?" Darien gave a small laugh.
"I know the general area," Aurora gave a small humor filled smile.
Nodding his head, Darien released Aurora's hand, allowing it to slip from his grasp gently. With a small smile and nod of her head, Aurora bid Darien a silent goodbye and walked out of the clearing.
Darien stood and watched her leave, his mind alive with thoughts and wonders and worries and foreign feelings. He really didn't know where to start trying to make sense of the past few hours. He didn't know what to do first: go home and think things through or go right to Serena and tell her everything. Through his musings, Darien noted a slight rustling of the bushes behind him. Turning around, Darien watched as Luna walked out of the bush to look at him intently. In a moment of sudden panic, Darien feared that Luna had been there all along – that she had heard everything spoken between Aurora and himself. When a look of confusion crossed her face, however, Darien knew that hadn't been the case.
"Darien?" The Lunar Counselor asked, "Are you alright? Serena has been trying to find you for the past few hours."
Darien stared down at the feline for a moment. Coming to a decision, Darien ignored Luna's initial questions.
"Luna, I need to talk to you."
