As instructed, I changed the summary, think it helped? hmmmm… As stated before, I am summary challenged. So, Readers commence, Reviewers, thank you I appreciate it.
A Moonlight Legend
by Atchika
Chapter Six
Yesterday is just a Dream
He always felt trapped whenever he was forced to attend one of these banquets. He was tired of smiling and shaking hands with all the various dignitaries here for the affair. Queen Serenity really didn't leave the Moon often and her visit was a bigger event than he had first thought. He needed some air. As he headed out into the gardens his mother caught his eye and smiled, he grinned back then ducked out an open door. Stepping onto the dimly lit patio he breathed in the fresh evening air.
"Good Evening." A voice says off to the side.
Endymion turned to face the speaker. He hesitated; she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. Seated on one of the nearby benches in a flowing gown the color of moonlight a black cat curled in her lap.
"Good Evening." he replied stepping closer, the cat lifted it's head looked at him and said, "Good Evening Prince Endymion, I hope you parents are well."
"Yes they are, thank you for asking Luna."
Luna seemed to smile as she jumped from her perch onto the bench and the woman rose. "Prince Endymion I would like to introduce to you Her Highness Princess Serenity." He was mesmerized. Sitting back on the bench they talked for quite a while until Luna seemed to signal her. Reluctantly she excused herself and she rose, saying she really should return to the ball. He walked with her to the door and asked if they could meet sometime to talk again. She smiled and said that would be nice. She turned then and left him there alone in the garden.
Endymion turned back look at the stars before returning to the ball himself. He was surprised to find and older gentlemen, his face hidden in the shadows sitting on the bench where the Princess had been.
"Darien, it's time to go home," the man said quietly as he leaned forward one eye gleaming white in the moonlight.
Endymion raised and eyebrow "I know you don't I?" he said slowly
"Yes, we've met a few times, but it's time to leave," his confusion lasted only a moment longer when EndymionDarien seemed to remember who he was.
"Where am I?" He asked but before Noimydne could answer Darien faded from view. Noimydne pursed his lips and cursed. This was taking too much time he thought. Then he also faded from view.
As Rini came closer she overheard Serena talking to her cat while pulling everything from the refrigerator. "I don't care. I just don't care Luna...if I get to sleep or get fat or about anything. Now that my guy's found himself a new girl..." she sobbed while she continued to put food in her mouth. "I'm just going to eat away my sorrows...." No! Rini thought. That can't be right, she felt a chill that frightened her to the core. It felt as if her whole existence was in danger. The wrongness was back; she just had to talk to Darien and tears welled up as she ran from the house.
Everyone at the table knew why they had come. Something had to be done about Beryl. The discussion had turned to possible assassination scenarios. Endymion had listened quietly while watching the moonrise through an open window. Many of the generals had been very close-minded about asking for help. The battles already fought showed Beryl's men were incredibly strong, and she was twice as dangerous. It was like fighting evil incarnate. He had argued for Earth's forces to join forces with the Moon Kingdom. Queen Serenity's men were better equipped and trained to deal with this kind of threat. Others had agreed but the debate had lasted hours. In the end they decided to stand it alone. Endymion felt this was a mistake. He hoped it wouldn't prove a fatal one. He left the table. He had someone to see before the battle for Earth was to begin.
He closed the door and headed up the hall. He turned the first corner and a voice from behind said, "Darien, I'm too old to be chasing you all over the past. You need to wake up." Endymion turned and again recognized Noimydne. "Go to the garden Darien. I need you there."
Darien paused and looked down at himself. He recognized the clothing from a part of his life that had ended so long ago. "How?" he asked.
"The next time you start to fade out think of the garden as you left it last." As Noimydne spoke Darien began to fade from view. "Remember, as you left it...."
Rini made her way as quickly as she could toward Darien's apartment. So many thoughts rushed through her head. Serena was so sad. Darien couldn't have found a new girlfriend. It just couldn't be true. Why did that feel so wrong! Any security she felt lately had been shattered. She was sure the two of them together would be able to help Sailor Moon and the Scouts find her mother. When she found her mother she knew she would find the Crystal. It was the Crystal she needed to go home.
Darien's return to the garden seemed uneventful. His pack lay where he had set it. He look around for his mother ghost but she or whatever it was, wasn't anywhere in sight. He went to the rose bush and kneeling in front of it he stared at it for a while. It looked wilted in some spots. That can't be good he thought. Out of curiosity he tried to touch them. His hand stopped. An energy barrier glowed when his hand came near.
"Now that's weird..."
"Darien, Please don't mess with those flowers anymore. I haven't got the energy to relive the past twice in one day." Noimydne said with a sigh.
Darien was starting to get used to the abrupt arrival and departures. He didn't turn. "Hey Neirad?" he asked, "Why do you think they're wilting?"
"Because to maintain your physical presence here they are expending an enormous amount of energy. That's why I need to get you out of here."
Darien pushed at the energy field again. It glowed brighter. "Sort of a if I cease to exist, so will you' kind of thing?"
"Something like that."
"Well you don't have to worry there's an energy field around them. I couldn't touch them if I wanted to."
"An energy field?" Noimydne asked sounding surprised
"Yes, come see for yourself." Darien said as he moved back a little.
Noimydne came closer and reached out to the flowers and the energy field glowed in response. His breath caught and he pulled his hand away.
"What's wrong?" Darien asked concerned "Are you all right? It didn't hurt you did it"
"I'm fine. Just a little surprised" he looked at hands "Darien was there anyone else here before you got 'lost'?"
"Just me and well..." he paused and said looking a little sheepish "ummm...my late mother."
"Mother." Noimydne whispered looking back at the bush.
"Yeah, she showed up the first time I was here." Darien explained slowly.
Noimydne reached his hand out again and touched the barrier lightly. It glowed more brightly. "That's the presence I felt? Hmmmf I never would have guessed..." Reluctantly he pulled his hand back and turned back to Darien. He picked up the pack and pulled out the book hefting it in one hand. "This is what you came to ask me about?" Darien nodded. "You arrived too soon. That rift was meant for me. I felt it's presence, but knew I would be too late to stop it triggering."
"Why did---"
"Darien," Noimydne interrupted "you can grill me later. Right now I am supposed to be someplace else," he shoved the book back into the bag and pulled out the carved rose box. He hurriedly handed it to Darien and said, "Open that please, but don't" he emphasized this by covering the lid with his hand, "don't remove the contents until after I've left."
"You're leaving?"
"You'll be fine. Just follow the instructions on the inside lid and you'll be back in your own bed before you know it. I can't be here when you do or it won't work."
"What won't work?!" Darien asked a little alarmed.
Noimydne was already fading from view, "Just follow the instructions on the lid..." he said and was gone. Darien looked at the box. He pressed the three triggering flowers and it popped open. In his haste to close the box last time he had overlooked the neatly printed label stuck to the inside. He read through the instructions quickly.
Prince Endymion
If you've opened this box and are reading this you have already spoken to Noimydne.
1. Go to your body.
"Go to my body?" Darien turned to see himself setting blank faced on a bench. It was odd looking at himself like that. He reached out to touch his face and his hand passed right through. He read a little more.
2. Sit on it while holding the rose.
3. Close your eyes
4. Think of yourself somewhere familiar the rift is not.
5. Count to ten.
6. Open your eyes.
7. Say good-bye to your mother and kiss her on the cheek.
good luck.
He unwrapped the rose carefully. He dropped the box back into the bag with the book. Holding the flower just below the bud he felt warmth and that strange tingle of power. Turned and sat into himself. He closed his eyes and when he felt the bench he started counting to ten aloud. "1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10" he opened his eyes. He was back in his apartment sitting on his living room sofa. Right where he had started from earlier in the evening. "I think I should have stayed in bed this morning." he relaxed for a moment before standing up. He picked up the bag and pulled out the box again. Popped it open quickly and read the instructions again.. "Say good-bye to my Mother?"
"Well it would be nice if you said hello first Darien," a familiar voice behind him said quietly. Darien turned so quickly he lost his grip on the box that his mother deftly caught and closed. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle you again," Darien must have had his mouth hanging open because she said, "Don't gawk dear."
"You're solid." he said when he was finally able to speak.
"For the time being" she moved closer and offered the box to him. He took it and set it gently on the couch. Straitening up he looked at her, she wore a dress of green linen with sensible shoes. Rose-colored hair flowing down to her waist, he watched her as moved to the window. He kept expecting her to disappear but all she did was look out over the city. Breaking the silence she said, "So this is the Earth of the future." she brought her hand up and touched the glass. "Are you happy here Endymion?" He hesitated before saying yes. "But not always?" she finished for him as she turned to look at him.
"I guess if you had asked me that question a few years ago, I would have said no," he walked over next to her and looked outside also. "But when I found Serena in this world things started to come back. Even though my memories of the Silver Millennium are fractured at best...it did help to fill in some of the blanks in my life." he turned face her then and said "I do remember you now."
She smiled said as she gave him a gentle hug, "I'm glad of that."
Darien smiled foolishly then ran a hand through his hair. "How long will you be here?"
"I'm afraid not very long at all." she said stepping back. "In fact I can feel myself losing cohesion now."
"You're going?" he said quickly, "But you just got here..."
"I've never been more than a memory away Darien, and if you ever need me," she was starting to fade, "just call and I will come to you in your dreams."
"Wait!" he said stepping closer, "there's something I have to give you," seemingly out of nowhere he produced a perfectly formed red rose. He handed it to her quickly. Her body solidified again. "It won't last long but..." he smiled leaned in and kissed her lightly on both cheeks. She smiled back held up the rose and smelled it as she slowly faded away. Darien looked at the space where his mother had been and sighed. Picking up the box he placed it on the mantle and got ready for bed feeling better than he had in months.