Thanks to those who reviewed:
-/ serena79 /-
-/ daisy 31 /-
-/ raven /- : yes, the idea came somewhat from when Darien turned evil.
-/ Pinklebabe /-
-/ MERE! /-
Black Tide
Chapter 6
An Unforgiving Lie
They screamed as they were thrown every which way. He stalked towards Darien. Darien stood with Serena in his arms. Malachite attacked them sending Darien and Serena sliding across the roof. Darien's head slammed back on edge of the roof knocking him out.
Malachite could finish them off so easy. But he remembered why he was here in the first place. I'll avenge you death my love I promise you. He pledged to Zoicite. He picked up Serena and then he disappeared back to the Negaverse.
Darien groaned. He felt like a truck had run him over. He grabbed his head that was throbbing. Then he remembered Malachite. He looked around. He couldn't see her anywhere in sight. "Serena!" He screamed getting up on wobbly feet. "Serena where are you!"
The girls slowly came to as they heard Darien's cries for their scout leader, except he was calling her Serena, not Sailor Moon.
He rushed over to them, Rei was the only one standing up, he grabbed her by they shoulders, "Have you seen Serena?"
Rei stared at him with fear. "We were all knocked out, and by the time I came through she was gone!" Rei and Darien immediately thought the worst.
"If Malachite does anything to Serena, he will pay." Darien growled as he moved to leave.
"Wait!" Ami called after him. "We may need your help Tuxedo Mask." Darien smirked. "You can help us find her."
"Ami, that is your name isn't it? I believe I have nothing I can offer which may help."
"Darien wait, we can help each other get her back", Rei yelled at him. "We understand what you're feeling".
He glared at her, "Understand what I'm feeling. You understand what I'm feeling!" He yelled in her face. "How can you possibly understand! I have been searching my whole life for her and now she's gone and it all my fault." He turned away from them. He didn't want them to see his face.
"Darien", Ami said trying to comfort him.
He shrugged her hand off, "Don't touch me". He was going to get her back. Even if it was the last thing her ever did. He didn't look at the girls before he jumped off the rooftop to the next one. I'll find you Serena, I promise you. We'll be together again.
Serena awoke in a dark room with strange tubes and wires surrounding her. She felt different. No longer was she carefree and happy. Now she felt she had a purpose. She felt disturbed and angry. Her scouts and her prince had turned against her. The only thought in her head was the memory of them all attempting to kill her. I'll get them back! Her mind screamed.
Beryl laughed from the shadows.
She was going to have fun with this one. "Donkey, may I have a word?" Beryl tensed.
"I told you to never to use that name ever again!" She threw Malachite a death glare.
"Yes Queen Donkey... I mean Beryl", Malachite replied, knowing full well that he would get a rise out of her.
"Malachite! You know that we never say that name." She remember why she hated that name. Her father, Lord Kaemon had called her that after she was born. He thought her so ugly because she reminded him of her mother, so he called her after a jack astor or other wise known as Donkey.
"Yes your majesty, I wish to speak to you." He paused and looked over at Serena who was watching them intently, "Alone".
She realized what he was implying, "Yes come with me to my private chambers". She led him away from her newest project. She let him in and mentioned for him to take a seat. "I know you wish to talk to me about Zoicite".
"Yes, then you must know that I demand I be the one to avenge her death." He thought about his dead lover.
"I will let you kill the one who gave the death blow, but Serena will kill the others".
He knew who the real killer was, which one of those brats who had killed his beloved. "If your wondering who did it, it was the one called Sailor Venus". She answered his question before he could even ask it.
"Yes Queen Don... Beryl." Malachite loved to see his Queen stare at him in distaste. It was the only humour he could get in his life with the Negaverse.
Serena sat up. Pulling wires and tubes from their places on her arms and legs. She was anxious. She wanted to kill them all now. This isn't like me. She thought. Wait, what am I talking about? I was never any different. She smirked slightly.
Beryl couldn't control her laughter anymore. "Hello my worthless servant. I need your help." Serena turned to face the demented queen.
"What makes you think I'll help you? I work for myself alone. If need be, I shall destroy you after I've killed the scouts."
"You will listen to me!" Beryl demanded.
Serena smirked evilly, "Oh that's where you're wrong, you work for me now". She looked at Malachite. "Come, I have a plan".
He liked her, when he looked at her he knew that she would kill anyone who would get in her way. He liked that, he would do the same. "Tell me about this plan", he smiled as she explained it to him.
The scouts sat around the temple, they had no clue how they would find Serena. Each of them hoped for the best. All of them in their minds thought of the worst.
The silence between the girls was deafening. Some one needed to speak up. " Do you think she is alive?" That some one was Lita.
Luna looked at her sharply, "Of course she is alive, she can't be dead". Luna would not let herself go there, she wouldn't think of the worst. She wasn't going to give up hope.
"Leave it to Serena to get captured", Rei said angrily.
All the girls and two cats looked at her confused. "Rei how can you say that?" Ami asked, "Serena is gone and we don't know if she is alive or not".
"Don't you find it funny?" Rei asked, "That the second we find the princess we lose her again", she started to laugh hysterically. But soon the hysteria passed and she began to cry.
Mina sat down next to her and began to rub her back in a soothing motion. "We lost her, and I keep on wishing that she'll come walking up the steps. But she won't. She might never show up late again". Rei had gone through the stages of denial, anger, and laughter and then when realization hit, depression.
Everyone knew how close Serena and Rei were, even though they fought a lot. Their attention was diverted from calming Rei done to the beeping of Ami's computer. "I think we got a lead." They all rushed beside her to look at the screen. "I just have to find out what these symbols mean..."
Darien stood outside the temple. He had followed the scouts here, though he wasn't sure why. Maybe I should stop fighting by myself for once and admit when I need help. He sighed. He wasn't sure he was ready to trust anyone else yet.
"Ami how long to you think it will take you to decode the symbols?" Mina asked, she like everybody else wanted to find out where Serena was and they wanted to find out quick.
Ami thought about it, "If I have complete quiet, two maybe three hours".
"You can go work in my room if you want" Rei offered.
"Thanks Rei".
"Rei couldn't you maybe try to read the fire?" Lita suggested.
"That's a good idea". Rei got up and the two other girls followed her.
Two-hours. Darien had over heard. I'll come back then, there's no point in me sticking around.
"Darien", A voice said. He jumped back and turned around to look at who talked to him. All he saw was Serena's cat. He looked at her puzzled. "Yes I was the one who was talking to you".
Darien remembered seeing her briefly at the last two fights. "You... can talk." He was still shocked.
"Yes, but that's besides the point." She turned her back to him. "You could help, you know. If you're the Prince Endymion, which was what our Princess called you, you'll be able to read the Lunarian symbols. I myself was not taught their meaning. Only royalty were to be told, but I am sure Serena' s past self would have told you."
He was hesitant at first but he followed her into the temple. He knocked lightly on Rei's door, which led to the room that Ami was currently occupying. A "Come in" could be heard from the door. He slowly opened it.
Ami turned around, she was shocked to see him. He was the last person she expected to walk through the door. "Darien? What are you doing here?"
"Luna thought that I might be able to read those symbols. She told me to come here", He replied. He was willing to do anything it save Serena. Even if he doubts that he could read the symbols.
"Here." Ami handed him the computer to take a look.
He stared at the symbols, they started to form letters, then the letters formed words. He understood what they meant.
His eyes widened and he began to shake. It couldn't possibly say what he thinks it says... No! His mind screamed. It can't be true. Ami noticed the shaking and gently grabbed his shoulder. His eyes closed, but the shaking continued.
"Mina! Lita! Rei!" Ami screamed. She didn't know what was happening. She removed her hand from his shoulder and stepped back. She could hear him mumbling now.
"What is..." Mina gasped at what she saw. Darien looked like he was going through extreme torture. The girls couldn't do anything but watch. Darien dropped to his knees and panted for breath as the shaking continued.
"Ahhhh!" He screamed in agony. His insides felt like they were ripping apart. Tears formed in all the scouts' eyes. They couldn't stand to watch him anymore. Darien vomited on the carpet and then fell into unconsciousness.
Darien rolled over in his wakening, groaning from the pain his head was admitting. It felt like a bunch of little men with hammers were hammering at his head. "He's awake", he heard some one say, the sound of their voice hurting his sensitive ears.
"What? What's going on?" Darien asked groggily, he attempted to sit up but some one's hand was stopping him.
"Darien just lay back down", A new voice said to him.
How many people are here? He thought to himself, "Where am I?"
"You're at Rei's temple. Don't you remember?" His blurry vision soon cleared, he recognized the girl to be Mina.
"No I don't remember", he looked at the other girls confused, "How did I get here?"
Luna stared guiltily at the floor. "I... I asked you to join us." Darien stared at the cat, even more confused then before.
"Ummm, first off, who's Darien? And why would I be at a temple?" Darien looked around the room. He recognized the faces as the guardian's from the Moon. "My generals won't be happy if I'm gone for too long." The scouts stared at him confused. He got up ad looked at his clothes with even more confusion.
"Darien, your sick. You should rest." Ami said. Darien shook her by the shoulders.
"Princess, are you all right? My name is Endymion, not Darien. You must have me confused." He sighed. "It hasn't been that long since we've seen each other. Why didn't you tell me you were visiting Earth?" Now it was the scouts' turn to be confused. "Is Serenity with you?" He asked hopeful. Luna watched in shock. The man standing before her was no longer Darien. It was Prince Endymion from the past. Luna decided it best to play along.
"Your highness..." All the scouts looked at Luna for an answer, "The princess has been kidnapped. We wish for your assistance." Darien, well Endymion, opened his eyes wide in shock.
"I will put all my men out to search for her. How is the Queen doing?" Luna frowned.
"Not too well."
"Luna, can we talk to you for a second?" Rei asked interrupting the conversation between 'Endymion' and Luna.
"Excuse us your highness", Luna said walking out behind the scouts.
"Want to explain what is going on?" Lita asked once they were a safe distance away from the room.
"It seems that Darien had diverted back to his past life persona Endymion", Luna explained what she had been thinking.
"Do you think it had to do with the symbols and his attack he had before he pasted out?" Ami inquired.
"Yes that's my theory, I don't know any other reason why his past life would come forth beside what the symbol read". Luna explained.
Rei looked back at the door, "How are we going to explain to him that we aren't in the silver millennium any more?" Rei found this all too weird.
"I think we should avoid it until he has completely recovered", Artemis piped in.
Luna pondered this thought, "Yes that would be the most wise decision".
~~~Serena at the Negaverse~~~
"Well Malachite, I do believe we should find a base. We can't stay here, Donkey..." Serena smiled at this new found information, "Will have us killed in our sleep. You can get your revenge, but only if you help me get mine." Malachite nodded. He really is enjoying the company of this young woman. Maybe he'd get over Zoicite faster than he first thought
Something was off though. It didn't seem right for her to be seeking revenge. For some reason he wished she'd just find peace. Serena stared Malachite in the eyes. "You forget, don't you?" Malachite looked confused. "Your past, you have no recollection of it. Beryl has tortured both our souls, as did she many others. I can no longer tell what is right or what is to be believed. But you... you found something here that I thought was impossible. Love. How can one find love in the depths of darkness? When shadows are cast over the heart and you live to destroy?" Serena turned away from Malachite so he could no longer see her face. "You stayed the same even after your thoughts were distorted. I wish I had that strength."
Malachite studied this the young woman whom he had grown found of. "What Zoicite and I had it was love... the feeling that we shared were... are always with me". He didn't really know how do describe it.
"Yes I think I felt that once, before my prince turned against me", She looked at him sadly. "I think that it isn't possible for me to love again."
He didn't want to see her like this, he a strange sense of responsibility towards her. A sense that he needed to comfort her.
She wiped away the stray tears from her eyes, she tried to laugh it off, "Enough of this mush, we should leave. Find a place for us to set up base", She turned back towards him.
"I agree, the sooner we get out of here the better". He followed her as she exited the Negaverse.
Malachite couldn't keep the words that the young woman said out of his head. As they travelled around looking for a good site, he simply watched the beauty. He felt a need to protect her. That it was his duty. Where did that come from? My duty? He sighed. Maybe he was getting soft after so many years.
"This is perfect." Serena said in an almost monotone voice. It sent shivers down Malachite's spine.
Malachite moved to raise his hands when Serena stopped him. "Don't worry, I'll do it." She raised her hands and transferred all her energy into making a base. "Now..." She stepped inside and sighed. She would have to live here now.
"Your highness, what shall I do for you." Malachite kneeled down.
"Nothing, yet..."
She slowly walked in, the way she was such an image. She was like a witch in the truest form. She swiped her hand along the wall, black soot remained on her fingers.
Malachite noticed this, "Do you wish for me to clean it?" Not that he wanted to clean it but he had said that he would do anything for her.
"No..." She looked at the black covered ash walls, "I like it, it gives it a bit of character."
Malachite watched as she walked around the room, she looked back at him starring at her, "You can go find yourself some sleeping quarters." She turned back to the door in front of her, "If I need you I will call you", she said over her shoulder.
Malachite watched as she disappeared. He still didn't understand this vibe she was admitting. Evil, yet she wanted to love and to be loved. He knew he was similar; he sought comfort in his Zoicite. Maybe everybody wanted that in life...
Rei walked out of her bed room slowly closing the door so it didn't make a sound. "Is he asleep?" Ami asked. A couple of hours had passed and 'Endymion' had finally agreed to get some rest. Much against his own will, he was anxious to look for Serena.
"Yes I gave him some herbal tea. That should keep him asleep for awhile." She replied picking up the blue cat and cradling Luna in her arms.
"Yes I think that it is for the best. He needs to get some rest especially after what happened to him today". Luna purred as Rei petted her. The other girls had gone home awhile ago, Luna had stayed. She didn't want to go home. It reminded her to much of Serena.
"Yes, I think that I should consult the fire. See if it can help me figure out why Darien became Endymion". She placed Luna back down on the ground.
Luna quietly made her way back to where 'Endymion' was resting. She jumped on his bed and lay by his feet. She purred lightly before falling into a deep sleep.
Endymion rolled over in his sleep, his dreams bringing him further from reality.
~Dream~
"I may not survive this..." Darien whispered into Serena's ear.
"Then I will fight with you! I don't know what I would do if you were to..." She trailed off, not wanted to say what she was thinking.
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that. I am here to protect you, not bring you closer to danger." He caught her lips in a gentle and reassuring kiss.
The kiss broke apart; Endymion rested his forehead against hers. He looked down into her eyes. He cupped her cheek. "Don't worry I promise that I will return to you".
She was now crying, "Please Endy don't go". He wiped away her tears, and gave her a reassuring smile.
"You and I both know that you can't come with me, you need to stay here in the moon kingdom. That way I know that you are safe".
She tried to keep herself together for his sake. "Promise me you will be safe?" She asked, looking at his eyes that pierced into her soul.
"I promise". He gave her one last kiss, a kiss saying good bye. He turned and walked away from her.
"Endymion!" She called to him.
He turned to look at his princess, "Yes Serenity?"
"I love you", she finally reached him. She kissed him with all the passion and feelings that she could.
Serenity walked along the halls of the moon kingdom, it had been two days since Endymion had left to go back to earth. She hadn't heard word from him. She was beginning to worry. "Endy why haven't you contacted me" she said to herself.
Serenity stopped when she reached Rei's room. She heard two what sounded like to people coming from inside the room. She softly knocked. When no one answered she carefully turned the knob. "Hello Rei?" She asked inside the room. She stopped dead in her tracks. Dropping the plate of food she had in her hand for Rei. Her eyes fixated on something that she refused to acknowledge. It was Rei and Endymion in a passionate in brace.
They two broke apart when they heard the sound of the plate smashing on the tile floor. "Serenity this isn't what it seems" Endymion tried to explain.
She wouldn't hear any of it, she turned around and stormed out of the room, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Serenity please wait", Endymion grabbed her wrist.
She resisted him, "NO don't touch me!" She ripped her hand out of his grasp. "Don't you ever touch me again!" She ran down the hall in the opposite direction.
"SERENITY!" Serena jolted awake at the same time as 'Endymion'. Both were gasping for air. What is the meaning of this? 'Endymion' demanded silently. That never happened! He would never do that to his love, he would rather die a thousand times than let her feel one ounce of pain.
Serena groaned angrily. Damn them! She yelled in her mind. That filthy Rei damn her and that blasted Endymion. She kicked the sheets off her bed as she got up. Frustrated with the continuous dreams plaguing her sleep.
Endymion got out of the bed, but Luna still slept. He smiled fondly at her. Serenity always said she was great to talk to... He gently shook the cat, and the Luna opened her eyes slowly.
"Yes..." Luna yawned and rubbed her eyes with her paws. "What is it Prince?" Endymion sighed.
"Call me Endy." Luna giggled slightly. He was always saying that. "I was wondering if we could talk. You know, like you and Serenity used to." Luna smiled.
"Of course. What is it that you wish to talk about." Endymion began to explain his dream and how he felt Serenity's pain flow through him just before he awoke.
"This worries me my prince, these things you speak of they weren't true were they?" Luna asked after she had listened to his explanation.
"No, I would never do that. When I saw those images I felt her pain, I felt like we were drifting apart", He tried to explain it to the best of his ability. He felt like his heart was ripping in two, he needed to find her.
She studied the young prince, she had feared this, feared that the bond between Serena and Darien was breaking. Some thing was terribly wrong, she feared what could be happening to Serena at this very moment. Serena where are you? She asked her princess where ever she was.
Serena seemed to have heard Luna's message. She growled. She must be with him... Serena decided to go find Malachite. She wanted to plan their first attack. He frightened her when he appeared out of thin air only minutes later.
"You were looking for me, your highness?" He bowed down and waited for orders.
"I've decided I want to attack. Our first victim shall be that damn priestess." Serena smirked evilly.
"You mean Rei Hino?" Serena hissed at her name. Malachite thought they were the closest out of the scouts. What had Beryl done exactly?
"Her name is like a poison. I suggest you not speak of it again." She took away my Endy... Serena forced herself not to cry. She would not let these pitiful emotions control her. Revenge is my only option. Malachite watched as Serena's facial expressions changed from hate, to love, to disgust, and then finally to excitement.
To tell the truth, she scared him. He didn't know what Beryl had placed in her head. "Yes your highness, I am ready when you are".
"Yes" She smiled at Malachite, "We shall go now".
The girls arrived back at the temple later that evening. "How is Darien?" Lita asked, they were all sitting in the dining room of the temple.
"He is very anxious to find Serena, he says he wants to leave tonight", Luna told the girls she too felt it was time they really cracked down and find the princess they were destined to protect.
"I agree." Lita said, "I don't want to be sitting around here feeling like we're sitting ducks".
"I agree there must be some way to track her down," Ami perhaps thought that there was some way to find Serena using her computer.
"Can you do that?" Everyone turned around to see 'Endymion' leaning against the door frame.
"I think that I can try", Ami replied, she got out her computer and began to type.
Endymion closed his eyes and waited for his armour to appear. When he opened them he was surprised to see all the scouts staring at him. He didn't think much of it and took out his sword. He began swinging it around slowly. He sighed. He would need to get stronger if he was going to save his Princess.
"I believe you'll want this back." Luna passed him the star locket. Darien grabbed for it quickly and examined it.
"Serenity..." He mumbled, remembering when she first gave this to him. I told you I'd always protect you. I've failed. Ami squealed in joy when something popped up on her computer screen. Then she realized the symbols. She couldn't ask Darien to read them for her, not after last time. Or could she?
"Da... Endymion?" She asked shyly.
"Yes?" He replied shortly. She blushed. She was embarrassed or having to ask this question, though she didn't know why.
"Could you maybe read this for me?" Luna looked uncertain and tried to warn Darien, but he agreed. He'd do anything to get Serena back.
"Ami! Since when have you forgotten how to read Lunarian!" Ami blushed again. Darien decided not to push it and just read the inscriptions. No one understood a word he said and he blushed when he realized he had been speaking in very old Lunarian speech. Serena had taught him it, and the scouts didn't know of it. He was pretty sure even Luna did not know of it.
Then he saw a flash. "Serenity? Where are you?" He called out eagerly. He knew she was here, he could sense it. Though his usually very strong connection with her seemed to be very weak. The scouts looked at him as though he were crazy. Why hadn't he grasped the fact that she was gone yet?
"Dar... Endymion what are you talking about?" Rei asked, his weird behaviour was getting even weirder.
"She's here" He replied looking for his love, he knew she was here she had to be.
"My computer isn't picking up any traces of her", Ami rapidly typed on her small computer.
"I know its her".
"Endymion that's impossible, my computer doesn't lie, she isn't here", Ami protested.
"Ami I know she is here".
A ball of energy came crashing towards them, making them scattered in different directions. They soon saw Malachite charging up another energy ball to throw at them.
The girls need to transform, but 'Endymion' had already lunged at Malachite with his sword. Malachite avoided the attack by jumping over to the right. 'Endymion' swung again nicking Malachite's shoulder.
"Moon Tiara Magic!" Serena appeared out of nowhere sending her attack at 'Endymion'. It missed him by only mire inches. She didn't want him dead yet, he wanted him to watch her kill that slut Rei.
"Serenity?" 'Endymion' asked confused. She glared at him darkly.
"Hello lover." She smiled evilly preparing to attack him again, "Do you remember me?"
He missed her next attack, "Serenity why are you doing this?" He demanded.
"Now I'll let you watch your new love die!" Serena screamed. Her tears flew in the air as she ran towards Rei. Endymion just starred dumbfounded.
"That isn't Serena!" Rei yelled, on the verge of tears herself. She moved to attack.
"No!" Endymion called out as he stood in front of Serena to block Rei's attack. He was hit dead on and fell to the ground in complete agony.
"Why? Why are you protecting her? Can't you see that it's some kind of monster pretending to be her?" Rei murmured. She wouldn't believe that her best friend was evil. Serena stared at Darien completely confused. She was torn. She didn't know what to believe anymore. If he loved Rei so much, why hadn't he come to her rescue and come to her instead?
"Serenity... Forgive the scouts for not recognizing you. You are too good, too pure for them to even accept what has happened." Endymion sat up, but fell to the ground again. His wounds were serious. "Who did this to you? You must fight them and come back to me!"
"Come back to you!" Serena yelled. "After you cheated on me with HER!" She pointed at Rei. "I will NEVER come back to YOU!" She screamed, how could she think that she would forgive him?
"Serenity what are you talking about?" Endymion asked weakly looking up into her eyes, "I would never cheat on you", tears were forming in his eyes, "I love you".
"LIES! All LIES!" She screamed moving away from him. "How can I believe anything that you say! All you've ever done is lie to me!" Tears were flowing freely down her face. She looked at him sadly and asked him quietly, "How could you betray me Endymion, I thought me loved each other".
Endymion tried to crawl towards her, "Serenity you have to believe me, some body is making you act this way".
Her face hardened, "Yes you did when you cheated on me with her. Doesn't matter any more, you'll all be dead soon". She looked over to Malachite, "Now is time to seek your revenge Malachite".
He nodded at glared at Mina. She was going to die a long painful death.
Mina knew what that meant. She hated to admit it, but she felt bad for killing Zoicite. It just didn't seem right to have to take away her life when she was in love. If she fell in love, she couldn't be that evil. And neither is he. Mina stood in front of Malachite and bowed down. "Forgive me." A tear slipped out of her eye. Everyone looked at her shocked. Malachite couldn't believe it. She felt bad? It must be some kind of a joke.
"Why do you apologize?" He asked harshly, getting a hand ready to smack her.
"You loved each other." She choked out. For some reason she felt jealous. "No one deserves to feel the pain of losing their loved one. Not even someone who has done the things you have done." Malachite forgot about Zoicite for a moment, and thought about how familiar Sailor Venus looked. Of course she looks familiar, you've seen her in battle. But that wasn't what was familiar about her. It was something else...
"I am truly, truly sorry for killing Zoicite" Mina meant it, she really did. In some weird way she envied the relationship between them, even though they were evil.
A single tear rolled down Malachite's cheek. "It doesn't matter, you still killed her, that is something that is unforgivable.
She stepped towards him, "I know this but the things that both of you have done are unforgivable".
"Don't you talk about her! Don't you ever talk about her again!" He screamed.
Serena looked over at her general, he was in no shape for battle. "Malachite this is your change for revenge, don't waste it".
Malachite looked over at his dark princess, she was right this was his chance. He still couldn't shake the felling that he met her before. Where it was a battle... and not the last one where is love died it was from some where before. He tried to remember.
~*~Flashback~*~
Malachite was standing in a long hallway, Zoicite to his left. In front of them stood prince Darien from earth. "I assure you Queen Serenity we will find out all we can about the Negaverse", Endymion promised to the Queen of the Moon Kingdom.
"Your help and the help of your general is much appreciated", the Queen said.
The three of them bowed and exited the throne room. Zoicite and Endymion continued to make their way down the hall, but Malachite stopped following them when he saw what he thought was a goddess run past him.
"Come back here!" The blond haired, blue eyed woman yelled as she chased a white cat.
"Are you in need of some assistance, Miss..." Malachite began to question.
"Princess Minako, or Mina for short." She finished his sentence. He smiled. "And no, I think I might just give up this chase. Who might you be?" She asked curiously. She had never seen him around the palace before and wanted to be extra cautious, especially during these times...
"General Malachite of Earth. I came here with Prince Endymion." Mina nodded. She motioned him to follow her and she led him outside to the palace grounds.
"The gardens here are quite lovely," Malachite mentioned.
"Yes they are aren't they, what brings you here General Malachite", Mina asked.
He smiled, "Just call me Malachite".
"All right Malachite," she smiled, "Why have you come to the moon?"
"I'm sorry princess but I'm not at liberty to say", he sat down at one of the fountains and Mina joined him.
"That's all right, I'm sure I'll find out about it sooner or later. Prince Darien is dating my cousin, I'm sure word will get back to me".
He smiled, "So your cousin is Princess Serenity", he said as a statement.
"Yes I'm here to visit her, but I seem to have lost my cat so I had to look for him", she swung her legs back and forth.
Malachite noticed Zoicite standing at the other end of the gardens, she looked radiant in the sunlight, his smile widened when he saw her.
Mina noticed this and looked over at who he was looking at. It was a blond woman in a general's outfit much similar to his. "Who is that? She is very pretty."
"That's Zoicite", he replied never taking his eyes off of his love.
She smiled, they were in love. After all she was the goddess of love.
"You should go talk to her." Mina smiled. She wished her love would return soon...
"Thank you. I guess I'll see you around." Malachite said as he walked across the grass.
*End Flashback!*
Malachite remembered his past. It was all too much. I was never with Beryl, I protected the Prince!
This new realization hit him with a ton like a ton of bricks. "Beryl." He hissed, she had done the same thing to him as she had done to Serena.
Serena looked at him confused. He had been standing there not moving for a long time.
"Beryl, she did the same thing she did to you to me", when he got his hands around her he would choke her.
"Malachite what are you talking about, my memories are real". Serena tried to make sure she was understanding him, she knew that her memories were real, they had to be.
"I've met you before," Malachite turned to Mina, "In the past, at the Moon Kingdom."
"The... Moon Kingdom?" Mina asked as she moved closer to him. "You mean..." She was cut off by Serena's scream.
"No! I won't believe this! My memories are real!" She grabbed her head and shook violently. Darien finally got enough strength to stand up properly. He moved to Serena's side and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Stop! Leave me be!" She pushed away, but her shaking would not stop.
Not once did her hands leave their place on her head. She was receiving such conflicted memories, she no longer knew which were real.
Malachite moved to her side. "My Princess, you must believe what your friends say. Beryl has tricked us into doing her dirty work." Serena looked in his eyes. He was loyal, that she knew for sure. He had to be telling the truth!
"Serenity I..." Darien fell once again to the ground in pain. The scouts stayed still, unsure of what to do.
"Endy... Is it true?" He nodded and finally Serena's shaking stopped. She slowly knelt down beside him.
*Flash*
Serena's eyes grew red and she stood up again. Malachite could sense Beryl near by. He would kill her even if it were the last thing he'd do!
"Your pure heart will now be mine." Serena yelled as she raised her hands in the air. The heart crystals of all the scouts flew towards her and they dropped like flies. Beryl smirked and appeared to grab them.
"I don't think so." Malachite and Darien both said as they drew their swords and charged towards her. Beryl quickly let go and was about to disappear when Darien grabbed her arm. I must destroy her, to save my Serenity.
"You fool!" Beryl screamed as a light grew around him. Her eyes flashed red and Serena's heart crystal shot out of her chest. It's light brighter than all the rest. The crystal flew towards Beryl, but before she could snatch it, Darien's power was released. The blue light surrounded everyone and shattered Serena's heart crystal. All the other crystals returned to their owners.
A loud thud could be heard and they all turned to see Serena's limp body, her eyes empty. "Serena!" Darien called, finally remember that he was in the present time. "No, I didn't mean to... You shouldn't have..." He broke down in tears, gently stroking her hair and cheek. Malachite walked over to his Prince.
"Forgive me Prince. I shall give up my life to save your Princess as my thank you. Zoicite is waiting for me anyway." Darien smiled weakly.
"Thank you." Malachite nodded and used all his powers to bring Serena's heart crystal back together. "Never doubt each other..." Was the last thing he said before he faded away.
Serena's eyes opened, but shut again quickly in pain. Darien did the same. They held each other's hands for support, as their link grew stronger once again.
~That's all for now. Don't worry, the story isn't over yet!~