Shottsy: *spins twister spinner* All right Tramie, right foot green.
Tramie: *moves foot, then spins the spinner* Okay, left hand red.
Shottsy: Umm Tramie... I think there is somebody here watching us...
Tramie: *looks at all of the people* Woah! Where did they come from?
Shottsy: I donno. All I know is that we were playing twister and then they just showed up... I mean, what up with that?
Tramie: *nudges shottsy* I think they are here to read our story...
Shottsy: OHHH! *sweat drops* I totally forgot about that, I was caught up in playing twister. So I guess u guys want to read the chapter? I mean, why else would you be here, unless you wanted to join? * holds out spinner* Anyone interested?
Tramie: *smacks Shottsy* They're not here to play twister, dummy. *gets out big brick and knocks Shottsy out* Ahh, that's better. Now I have the chapter all to myself, mwahahaha!
Shottsy: I don't think so. *grabs Tramie's ankle and pulls her down to the ground* This is mine too, I won't let you take it!
(Both Shottsy and Tramie get up at the same time. Shottsy pulls out a knife.)
Tramie: I'll fight you to the death for it!
Shottsy: Ohh, it's on!
(They start fighting.)
Tramie: Anyways, *closely dodges knife* go ahead and read the chapter. Oh, and please forgive us for the long update. That was my fault, stupid writer's block... *swings back at shottsy*
Shottsy: You'll never win! mwahahah! *swings at Tramie*
Mr. Announcer: Who will win the battle of the chapter, Tramie or Shottsy? Stay tuned.
(Fighting stops.)
Both Tramie and Shottsy: Umm, where did u come from?
Mr. Announcer: Umm... *plays with tie nerviously* I have to be going now. * runs away*
(Crickets chirp.)
Tramie: Now would be a good time to read the chapter.
Shottsy: Yeah, now would be a really good time....
Thanks to our lovely reviewers:
-/ Silver Moonlight-81 /- : Yes, Andrew's response was quite funny...
-/ Skyraven /- : You will have to read to find out. ^_^
-/ Serenity's Angel In Heaven /- : Last chapter was kind of sad, but it had to come sooner or later.
-/ Tuxedo Babe 28 /- : Thank you for all, umm... *counts* six review. Whether or not you meant to review so many times... We are glad you think it's beautiful and we are sorry we made you waste your breath asking for an update.
-/ Mere Bear /- : We're glad you love it. ^_~
-/ Moon's Rose /- : Thanks for the two reviews, and once again we are sorry for taking so long to update. We can only hope you didn't go too crazy.
Black Tide
Chapter 9
Sacrifice for Love
The play ground was silent. The normal sound of cheerful children could not be heard. The dead air blew through the dark park. The silence as deafening as the black skies. Rei looked out her window, she didn't know this would happen. The fire never showed her this possible future that was now bestowed upon the city of Tokyo. She closed the bind; a gust of wind came around her. It chilled her to the bones. Some thing was terribly wrong.
She ran over to her communicator and quickly got a hold of Ami, "Ami do you know what is going on?"
Ami sounded panicked, "I no Rei, I tried to get a hold of Serena but she's not answering. I'm so worried about her, I have this really bad feeling that something is wrong with her."
"I know Ami," she needed to check on Serena, "Get a hold of the others I heading over to Darien's apartment to see if they are all right." Rei was about to leave.
"Rei be careful, we don't know what is going on. Please be safe."
Then something happened that would give them nightmares. A chilling scream pierced their ears, they knew who it was, Serena.
Rei snapped the lid of the communicator off and dashed out of temple. /Please be all right!/ She willed of her princess. /Please be okay/ she knew she couldn't run fast enough, in her Sailor form she knew that she could be faster. She quickly transformed because she had no time to waste.
The other scouts had heard the scream too. They all rushed to aid their princess. When they arrived, what they saw almost killed them. There Serena was, barely breathing, holding on to Darien with all her might. He was surrounded by darkness that enveloped Serena as well. Chibi sat there unmoving. The scouts were afraid to move, afraid to disrupt the almost deadly silence. Rei was the first to speak.
"Serena?" Serena only cried in response, sending chills down all their spines. Rei choked back tears and stepped forward, but was stopped.
"Don't." The goddess Rei had met previously stood in front of her, as did the other goddesses. "You must let them be. The princess knows what to do." Rei let the tears fall now. She ran into the goddess' embrace. It seemed familiar, as if...
The other scouts copied her actions and cried their hearts out. Chibi got up and stood just centimetres away from her parents. "Why would they send me here?" She whispered.
"What do you mean let them be?!" Rei was angered that Keahi (fire goddess) was blocking her path. "We need to help them!"
Keahi put a reassuring hand of Rei's shoulder, "Your princess knows what to do. She is very wise and she can help her love if she looks inside herself."
Rei looked back to the darkness that surrounded her princess, her heart ached to help out her best friend and lead. She stood back and let Serena do what she must.
Her insides felt like they were torn in two, she couldn't not see, nor feel. It was like she seized to exist except for the pain in her soul. Serena looked down to her feet, they were bear. The surrounding floor was a silvery copper colour. She had donned her white dress. She didn't know where she was. "Hello?" She asked in a quiet voice.
She received no response. The world she walked in was quiet. She heard the sounds of footsteps approaching from behind her. "Mother?" She was awe struck to see the beautiful woman before her.
Her mother smiled and held back her tears.
"It's been so long, I've missed you Serenity." Serena ran to her and hugged her tightly, sobbing uncontrollably.
The scouts felt as if countless needles were piercing their skin as they listened to the agonizing sobs erupting from their princess' mouth.
"Mother, why am I here? What is going on?" Serena asked. Her mother kissed her hair gently and a single tear fell down her cheek.
"It's time for you to show your true self; your true power. You must help him. I cannot stand to watch you lose the man you love again. I lost mine, and I have never forgiven myself. Serena looked up into her mother's sad face.
"Are you with him now?" She asked silently. Her mother nodded, smiling again. Then she began to fade, and Serena could no longer feel her "Why does this keep happening to me!" Serena screamed. The scouts couldn't stand it anymore. They moved to run, but were once again stopped by the goddesses. Chibi stood there and held her small hands to her face. Her young mind being tainted by this awful scene. She couldn't cry, for she didn't understand. She was only two. She found herself planted to the floor, unable to comfort her mother, tell her everything would be okay.
"Darien! Don't you leave me, not again! I can't stand to have my heart broken again..." Her lips stuck together, and she tasted her salty tears on her tongue. Darien's eyes opened and closed multiple times.
Chibi looked down at her feet. She was too confused to be scared or sad. She stared into the darkness with unseeing eyes. She was too young to see this, and the scouts knew that.
The goddess allowed Mina to pass through and grab the child. Mina's tears stained the child's hair and face. Chibi hugged her tightly.
"Serenity, I want you to close your eyes." Chibi knew not to say anything. Aunt Minako only called her Serenity when it was something important. And so she closed her eyes, still holding tightly on to Mina.
Serena felt it; it was coursing through her body with tremendous force. She felt the power that was within herself. Her pure white energy blocking the dark energy that had wrapped itself around Darien's body. The two lights collided in one and with a tremendous flash they both disappeared. The room was silent.
"Serena?" Darien opened his eyes; the darkness no longer had a hold on his body.
"Darien, " She collapsed in his arms. It had drained her energy because she wasn't used to this new found power.
"Mommy!" Chibi ran out of Mina's arms and over to her parents. She knew that she shouldn't have said that but she couldn't help it.
Darien cradled Serena to his chest with one arm, and hugged Chibi with the other.
"Is mommy going to be okay?" Chibi asked in a small terrified voice. First she was worried about losing Darien and she hoped that Serena would wake up.
Serena eyes flickered opened, "I'm okay Chibi, I'm just really tired." She rubbed the red headed girl's cheek with the back of her hand.
Darien picked Serena up bridal style, much to Serena's and the other scouts protest. He carefully laid her on the bed. Chibi crawled up onto the bed and cuddled into her mother's side. Darien tried to stay awake put he couldn't help it, he was exhausted. He lay down on the bed next to Serena.
The scouts groaned and watched as their last resource for answers fell asleep. The goddesses had disappeared with the darkness. "Now how are we going to find out what Chibi meant by calling Serena 'Mommy'?" Rei practically screamed, hoping to wake up the sleeping threesome.
"Really Rei, let them sleep. I mean, look at what just happened. And I'm sure there is a reasonable explanation to why Chibi called Serena 'Mommy'." Ami stated matter-of-factly.
As the scouts piled out of the room, Mina stayed behind and sighed at the scene. /How cute!/ She smiled knowingly towards them; she could sense that they were all related. She squealed quietly and ran out of the apartment to catch up with the others. /Serena will make a great mom.../
Andrew was cleaning the counter at the arcade when four girls entered. He watched as they walked over to their usual booth. He couldn't help but stare at a certain blonde. He quickly regained his composure and walked over to take their orders.
"Hello girls! What can I get you?" He asked, a huge smile plastered on his face.
"I'll have a coke." They all answered at once. Andrew smiled again and walked off to get the girls orders.
Lita and Ami yawned, slightly sliding down in their seats. Rei slouched a bit and began playing with her key chain. Mina was daydreaming and was too excited to even realize her own fatigue.
"I wonder how long they will sleep for." Rei said, it was early in the morning and she hardly got any sleep. She knew that the three of them would also be tired.
"We should let them sleep, they have been though so much lately." Ami sighed, /all of us have been though so much lately but not as much as Serena and Darien/ she added quietly to herself.
"I know I could use some more rest. "Lita said she took another sip of her drink. "I think I'm going to go home and sleep for a couple more hours. I'll see you guys later." She left some money on the counter and got up to leave.
One by one after that they piled out of the arcade until only Mina was left Andrew came over when he noticed she was alone, he also noticed that she was sleeping, "Mina," he gently nudged her with his arm. "Mina."
Mina's eyes snapped open, "What? What's going on?" She asked in a panicked voice. Her eyes searching around for trouble.
"Mina, nothings wrong, you fell asleep."
"Oh," she blushed with embarrassment, she hadn't realized that she was still in the diner. "I better go."
"Are you sure that you're okay to walk home? I mean you're practically falling asleep as I'm talking to you."
She didn't hear him because she had drifted off again. "Mina? That's it, I'll drive you home." He laughed as she looked at him confused.
"But I'm fine, there's no need..." Andrew hushed her and brought her to his car. He told the other guy who was working with him he'd be back soon and drove off.
"Okay, so what's your street address?" Andrew asked Mina. She quickly told him, trying to hide the fact she had fallen asleep again.
He got to her house, but Mina didn't move. "What's going on?" He asked. Mina opened her eyes again and laughed nervously.
"It's been a busy day, with everything that happened to Serena, Darien and their daughter." Mina said, still half asleep. Both hers and Andrew's eyes opened wide. "I mean, Darien's cousin. I really do need some sleep..." Andrew just stared at her, mouth wide open.
"I was right! How come no one ever told me Serena was pregnant?" He asked her, a little hurt that no one had said anything for so long.
"No, you got it all wrong. Serena was never pregnant. Chibi Chibi is Darien's cousin." Mina tried to explain. She was in big trouble now.
"Darien has no living relatives! He was an orphan for crying out loud." Mina gasped in shock. /How come Serena never told us this? Does she even know?/
"Well, then it's Serena's cousin. What do I know, she hasn't been here long." She muttered, hoping it would end this conversation. Andrew wasn't going to let her get away so easily though. That is until...
"Mina! What are you doing in this man's car?" It was her mother.
"Um mom?" She wasn't quite sure how to explain it. She wasn't really sure, "I needed a ride home and Andrew was nice enough to drive me."
She frowned at her daughter, "When we get inside young lady I want to have a talk with you." She looked at Andrew and talked to him in a polite voice, "Thank you for dropping her off Adrian."
"Andrew," Mina corrected. "Bye," she waved as Andrew drove off.
"Mina, inside now," her mother commanded her.
"Yes mom," Mina was not looking forward to this talk.
Serena shifted slightly as she woke up, she felt Darien's arms around her waist tighten and pull her closer. She noticed Chibi holding on to her shirt.
She frowned when she saw her daughters confused and hurt look. Darien kissed the back of her neck as she began to rub Chibi's back gently. "She okay?" Darien asked. Serena whispered back an 'I think so'. He sighed. "She shouldn't have seen that." He hid his face in Serena's hair. Chibi's grip on her shirt tightened and the little girl sighed with content. Serena held back her tears.
"You could have died." She closed her eyes tightly and tried to take in even breaths.
"You could have too." Darien whispered back, not even attempting to hide his tears. They both shuddered at the thought of losing the other, accidentally awakening Chibi.
"Mommy?" She called out, taking her time to adjust to the light. Serena sat up, Darien's arms still around her waist, and placed Chibi on her lap.
"Yes sweetheart?" Chibi finally opened her eyes and looked straight into her mother's.
"I was so scared mommy," She hugged her tightly. "I didn't want to lose you or daddy."
"Shush everything will be okay," Darien rubbed her back as he spoke to her. Everything would be okay some day, he just hoped that day would come soon.
"Did the otder girls leave?" Chibi asked resting her chin on her hand.
Both Serena and Darien had forgotten about them, "I think that they left." Serena stroked her cheek.
Darien loosed her grip around Serena's waist. He sat up, "Chibi do you have to go to the bathroom?"
She nodded, "I need diaper change."
He picked up Chibi and kissed Serena on the forehead, "I'll be back soon."
Serena watched as Darien left the room with Chibi in his arms. She had almost lost him again today. She didn't understand why this kept on happening to her.
"Srenena!" Chibi giggled as she ran back in the room and jumped on the bed next.
Chibi launched herself into Serena arms, "Daddy said he was going to make beakfrast for us!" Chibi had a big smile on her face, she was hungry.
"I think after breakfast I going to give you a bath," Serena replied. Chibi once happy face was frowning.
"Me no want bath," Chibi pouted.
"Chibi," Serena looked at the little girl who was on the verge of tears. "That may work with your dad but it doesn't work with me."
"Mommy," Chibi pleaded. Giving her a pouty face.
"I invented that look."
"Okay, I have bath." Chibi still pouted and folded her arms across her chest.
"Come on lets have breakfast," Serena offered her hand to Chibi.
They ate in silence. Serena was afraid to speak. She couldn't even look at Darien, she was so afraid. Darien couldn't stand the quiet though.
"So, where do you want to go today Chibi?" The little girl looked thoughtful. She was looking up at the ceiling, as if it held all the answers.
"The Temple!" She answered after a few minutes. Serena hesitantly shifted in her seat.
"May I be excused?" She asked quietly. Darien nodded his head with confusion and worry written on his face. Serena walked into the washroom and knelt down in front of the toilet. She held the sides with both hands and painfully vomited into it. She couldn't shake this feeling... It was making her sick. She leaned over the toilet bowl once again. /What's wrong with me? I know. I'm scared, but why? Why do I feel so sick?/
She began to cry silently. She felt cold and realized it was still dark out.
"My powers didn't even reverse the darkness. Maybe that's why I feel like this... Could this be Beryl's doing?" Serena sighed, but then latched on to the toilet once again. She felt a deep sadness, and not only because of what happened to Darien. She felt sorry for the person hiding in the darkness. Sure she didn't know who that was, but she knew that the person needed consoling.
Darien was starting to get worried, Serena still hadn't come back. "Chibi stay here," he instructed the little girl. He walked to the bathroom and quietly knocked on the door, "Serena are you okay in there?"
"I..." she was about to say something until she threw up again.
"I'm coming in," he told her. He opened the door to see her leaning over the bowl.
She was about to object but he was already inside. She didn't really want him to see her like this.
"Are you all right?" He noticed that her hair was getting in the way and he got one of her hair ties and tied her pony tails together. "Are you going to be all right?"
She leaned back onto the rug, "I don't know, I'm just feeling so awful."
"Is it from what happened today?"
"I think so, and..." tears formed in the corners of her eyes, "and the thought of losing you, I don't know what I would do without you." Darien moved to her side, she hugged him tightly and buried her head in his chest. "Why does this keep on happening to us?" She looked up into his face, "Why can't we just be happy?"
Darien let a few tears escape down his cheek. "Aren't we happy? I mean, let's just forget everything else. Leave the country. Leave the planet! I don't care anymore. I'll do anything for you." Serena looked up at him and her lips quivered. She cried into his shirt.
"I love you so much. Thank you... for everything." He stroked her hair. He lifted her face up so he could look into her eyes.
"You okay now?" She nodded. He helped her up and waited for her to wash her face. They went back to the kitchen and realized Chibi was no longer sitting at the table. "Chibi?" Darien called out. No answer.
"Chibi? CHIBI! This isn't funny!" Serena began to shake again. She fell to her knees. Darien rubbed her back quickly before checking the apartment for Chibi. Darien came back to Serena a few minutes later with no Chibi. "No! She has to be here. She's here, I know it!" Serena looked all over the apartment 5 times over, Darien following her. She was currently going through the kitchen cabinets when Darien could take it no longer. He wouldn't just stand by and watch her break down.
"Stop Serena. She's... she's not here." His voice cracked. Serena didn't listen and was throwing pots and pans everywhere. She wasn't giving up. Serena panted heavily, trying to continue her search. Darien turned his head, not able to take his love acting like this. His body became weak and he was tempted to simply fall on the ground like Serena had done just moments before.
"Serena, she's fine so don't..." Serena stopped him from continuing.
"She's fine? FINE? She's missing. Our daughter is missing. Who knows who could have her? Beryl might have taken her! She could be dead!" Serena looked like a complete mess; hair sticking out everywhere, eyes puffy and red, hands shaking and her mouth trembling.
"Don't say that!" Darien was thinking along the same lines, but couldn't bare to actually hear that.
"I know that you are thinking that too Darien, don't tell me that you aren't." Serena plopped down on a chair. "I can't believe we lost her." She buried her head in her hands.
"Serena I refuse to give up." He lifted up her chin, "we will find her."
"Look at us Darien, what kind of parents are we? We lost our daughter." She let all her emotions out.
"Hello?" Rei called into the house. They looked to see both her and Chibi standing in the door way.
"Oh my god, Chibi!" Serena and Darien ran over to her but Serena got to her first and pulled her up into her arms. "Chibi you scared us half to death." They were both happy to see her back. "Don't you ever do that again." She scolded.
"Actually that's my fault," Rei pointed out. "I came over and saw that you two were talking so I decided to take Chibi for a little walk. She didn't really need to hear what you guys were saying."
Serena handed Chibi over to Darien. "And you couldn't tell us!" Serena barely had her temper in check. "Both Darien and I were going out of our minds looking for her. We thought that Beryl could have taken her! That she could be dead! But you couldn't tell us."
Rei was a little intimidated by this; she had never actually seen Serena so angry before. "I'm sorry Serena, I wasn't thinking."
Serena really badly wanted to yell more but she decided not to. "I is okay." Chibi said.
"We know Chibi we were just really worried that you were hurt." Darien said softly.
Serena held on to a near by table for support, as her legs collapsed underneath her. She could hear a voice shouting in her mind.
/"Where is she!"/ Serena held a hand to her head and sighed. /I'm going crazy now for sure. Why am I hearing things?/ Rei went to her side and helped her to the couch.
"You okay Serena?" Rei asked. Darien put an arm around Serena's shoulders and Chibi sat in her lap.
"I... I think so." She answered quietly. Then she heard the voice again.
/"Why now? Why after so long?"/
Chibi was the first to notice Serena stop breathing. "Mommy, why you holding your bret?" Darien looked down at Chibi and then up at the still face of Serena.
"Serena?" He called. She didn't respond. Rei could feel a pulse, but Serena still wasn't breathing. "What's going on?" Darien asked her, not really expecting an answer. He began to shake her, leading Chibi to jump off her lap and into Rei's arms. Rei didn't speak. She was shocked by Chibi's previous words. /Why does she call her mommy?/
"Serena," Darien tried to pull her out of her daze. She stopped breathing. "Serena," he shook her trying to snap her out of it. Her face was turning blue.
"Mommy," Chibi whimpered.
Darien realized that their attempts were failing. She was not here. He needed her to stay with him. "Rei call an ambulance!" He lay her down on a couch, Chibi moved off of her. He checked her pulse, it was shallow.
Chibi stood back and watched, not yesterday her parents were in the same situation.
Rei was on the phone with 911, "Yes she stopped breathing." She paused and listened to the operator, "yes her boyfriend started CPR. I don't know what happened, she just stopped. Yes I stay on the line and answer your questions."
"Come on breathe," Darien begged./ 1,2,3,4,5/ he blew into her mouth again. /1,2,3,4,5/.
The paramedics rushed in, they took over for Darien. They put the aspirator on her mouth and proceeded to pump oxygen into her lungs.
"I'm not getting a pulse," the female paramedic told the male. He handed her the toggles, "Ready Clear!" They looked at her heart monitor. "Again, Clear!"
Rei picked up Chibi and held her close to her chest, she blocked Chibi from the sight.
~*~Serena's Mind~*~
Serena looked at her surroundings, it seemed so familiar, but she couldn't put her finger on it. "Hello?"
No one answered, instead she saw a woman with red hair and man in royal attire. She saw a little girl with blond hair running around in circles behind the two. That little girl was herself.
"I thought we would never meet again." The man said, looking sadly at the woman. "I've missed you Beryl." The woman was Beryl? But how could that be? She was sure this was the Moon Kingdom and Beryl would have surely not been allowed to set foot there.
"Father died only a few months ago. Only then was I able to retreat here." Beryl stopped to look at the little Serena who had just hugged her brother's leg. "And who is that?" She asked confused. Her brother laughed slightly.
"Well Beryl, this is your niece Serenity." Beryl stood shocked. Her brother picked up Serena and smiled at her.
"And she looks exactly like her mother."
Serena watched the scene utterly confused. Her father? She couldn't remember a thing about him. But what confused her most was that she was related to Beryl. Of all the people in the world...
"Kaori!" A voice the angels would be jealous of rang through the air. A beautiful woman with silver hair and a long white gown hugged Beryl's brother from behind.
"Who is this lovely lady you are speaking to? Do I have reason to be jealous?" The woman giggled. Serena knew that was Queen Serenity, her mother.
"Not at all my love! This is my older sister Beryl." He smiled proudly at Beryl and the two women shook hands.
"Kaori has spoken very highly of you to me. I am glad you could finally join us."
Beryl smiled the best smile she could, "I wish I could say the same about you but it has been a long time since I have talked to my brother."
Queen Serenity sighed, "That is a shame, and I wish that it wasn't so. Please come."
Beryl joined them as they walked towards the palace. "Kaori, it seems like you have done well for yourself." Beryl commented. "I mean you are the king of the moon kingdom."
Kaori put Serena down, "Sweetie why don't find your cousin and play."
"Okay daddy," the young girl smiled and skipped off down the hall. Serena watched in wonder. /Why don't I have any memory of this?/
Queen Serenity noticed that her husband wanted to talk to his sister alone. "I think that I am going to go check on Serenity." She exited the hall.
He watched as his wife left, "Sister why don't you a seat," he motioned to the chair near her. He himself sat down as well. "I am sorry that I have not contacted you, I meant to. Right after I left I tried contacting you but mother didn't want to take the chance that he would find us.
"I understand." Was all Beryl could say in return. She felt slightly jealous that her brother had lived a full, rich life. Getting to stay in a palace when she had to stay in a shack and suffer beatings around the clock.
"Did he... I mean after we... He didn't..." Kaori couldn't find the words, and Serena felt herself afraid of what was happening. She didn't want to hear any more of it.
"Yes, he beat me." She answered calmly. Kaori let his head fall in shame. "It wasn't your fault, I swear. I usually provoked him." He didn't seem to believe her. Serena was shocked to say the least.
"I promise to take care of you." Kaori whispered. Beryl smiled. Serena could tell Beryl cared a lot about her father. Her father. How strange it was for her to think of him as that. As if she had known him all her life. But that couldn't be possible or else she would have remembered. She remembered nothing of him, though. Most of her memories were of the Moon Kingdom's destruction. She hadn't thought much about her life before that.
He didn't want to but Kaori need to ask her, "How did he die?"
Beryl didn't think that he would ask that question, "He was going to beat me, and I stopped him and then I beat him to death." The whole time Beryl's face was straight it held no emotion.
"I am sorry that I couldn't stop him," he didn't really know what to say, "I should have... CLEAR!"
Serena's chest jumped off the couch, "Clear!"
Both paramedics looked at the monitor, "I've got a pulse."
"All right let's get her on the stretcher," they picked her up.
"Rei can you take Chibi with you to the hospital, you can use my car." Darien wanted to go with her in the ambulance.
"I'll call her parents," Rei picked Chibi up.
Darien followed the medics out to the ambulance he stepped in after they lifted her up.
Serena awoke and grumbled. "Where do you think you're taking me? I don't need to go anywhere." Darien held her hand and cried silently.
"Thank God you're all right! You had me worried to death." Serena looked confused.
"Why?" Her throat was constricted, making it hard to speak.
"You stopped breathing!" Serena took a minute to let that sink in. She sat up, much to the paramedic's surprise.
"Miss, I believe it would be better to lie down." Serena stood up at that.
"Just stop this ambulance and let me out!" She was frustrated and wanted to get home.
"I'm sorry miss but you need to go to the hospital your heart stopped beating and you need to get checked out by a doctor." The paramedic pushed her back down onto the stretcher. He brought out a needle.
"What are you doing?" Darien inquired.
Serena was struggling, she didn't want to go back to the hospital. She just wanted to go to sleep. "I'm giving her a sedative." He injected her with the needle and she calmed down and stopped struggling.
Darien was worried he didn't like the fact that they were sedating her. He knew that she didn't want to go back but she needed to be checked out by a doctor. They had no idea why she had stopped breathing. He was worried so much about her.
They finally arrived at the hospital and brought her in. She didn't need to go to the ER so the doctors brought her to a room to get checked out.
Darien was waiting patiently, drinking a coffee, when the doctors came back with some news. The fumbled nervously with their reports and tried for quite a few minutes to tell them exactly what they had just experienced.
"You... you see, we were observing Miss. Tsukino and... she... how can I put this?" The doctor was sweating now. "See, she was, well fading." Darien took this the wrong way.
"You mean she's dying!" He screamed, making many heads turn their way in pity.
"N... no sir! I she's becoming transparent for short periods of time." The doctor sighed, finally revealing all the information. Darien stood there dumbfounded as the doctors left quietly to have some rest and make sure they weren't losing it.
The nurse had told him that he could go in and see her. He walked in at sat down next to her. She was hooked up to all these different machines; it scared Darien to see her like this. He gently stroked her forehead. "Where did you go?"
She found his hand, the IV was hocked up to her arm and she was also hocked up to oxygen. "I think I was in the past," she seemed that she was deep in thought, "I don't really understand it. It felt like I was standing there watching my past. I saw my father and I saw myself as a child."
He leaned his forehead against hers. Why did everything bad keep on happening to them? "I am so worried about you."
She looked over at him; his face had traces of tears on his cheek. She weakly stroked his cheek. "I'm sorry Darien, I am so sorry."
"Its not your fault Serena, the things that keep on happening to us are completely out of our control."
"I know that, I just can't help but feeling that in some way that this is my fault."
"Just don't think about it." Darien sighed and then thought about something. "Serena, you know summer break s only a week away, right?"
Serena groaned, "I know, exams. I'll have to start studying." Darien shook his head.
"Yes, but that also means we can go on vacation." Darien said cheerfully.
"We can't go on vacation. Not with Beryl around." Serena held her face in her hands.
"We don't even know where Beryl is. Also, it's too late for you to say no now. I rented a place by the beach so that me, you and Chibi could get some rest." Serena laughed and smacked his head playfully.
"Why didn't you say that before?" He grinned, but didn't answer. She fell back into her pillows.
"Serena thank heavens you're okay," her mother rushed into the hospital room. She started looking over Serena to see if she was physically okay.
"Mom it's all right I'm..." Serena's body fazed out. There was nothing but air on her hospital bed.
"Serena?" Her mother panicked.
Her body reappeared, "That was really weird."
"What's going on?" Her mother was utterly confused; she was scared to death when Serena disappeared.
"Mom, I'm not really sure why that keeps on happening." It really scared her when she did that. Each time she would get a glimpse of the moon kingdom. Flashes of her past when she was a child would fill her mind.
"Are you okay?" Darien asked. This was the first time he was witnessing this and he didn't like it one bit.
"I'm fine," the look on Darien's face told her that he thought other wise. "Darien I told you I'm fine, there is nothing to worry about," she squeezes his hand reassuringly. /There isn't anything to worry about, yet./
Darien then felt something strange; something was tugging at his heart. He felt his mind drift away.
*Flashback*
/"Endymion! Stop right there, don't you dare take one more step towards that ship!" A 16 year-old Endymion stood at the edge of a boarding deck. He was dressed formally in his armour.
"I'm sorry father, but I must go." Endymion stated as he turned to face the man who had shouted at him. The man growled and grabbed his arm.
"I will not have my son leave his planet at such a time." Endymion's eyes softened. "You must find a suitable wife immediately. You're already 16. You should be married!" His father looked down sadly.
"That is exactly why I'm going. I know who I wish to marry." Endymion walked aboard the ship. His father looked confused.
"I knew this day would come. I knew that the Moon and Earth would one day be bound together." The King looked at his son and smiled. "Your life will be difficult. But if anyone can survive such a fate, you can."
*End Flashback*
"Darien, are you okay?" Serena asked him quietly.
He snapped out of his daze and noticed that Serena's mother had left the room. "I'm okay I was just thinking about something. Where did your mother go?"
"She went to call my dad, he was at work so she is going to get him to pick up Sammy." She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder.
"Momma!" Chibi rushed into the room and threw herself on Serena. "You okay." Serena tightly hugged Chibi back. She knew that Chibi would be scared. Everything that she had been through in the past few days was really traumatizing.
"Hey Serena," Rei walked up to the side of the hospital bed and gave her a hug. "I'm clad that you're okay now."
Serena frowned, was she really okay? She kept on disappearing from time to time.
"Daddy?" Chibi's little voice caught her attention. She could tell that something was wrong, Darien was gone. He was just there a second ago and then he disappeared.
"What happened?" She asked Rei in a panicked voice.
"He just fazed out, disappeared like that," Rei had never seen anything like it in her life.
Then Serena felt it, a pang at her heart. For a second it felt as if Darien would be leaving her, that he would not return to her. Slowly the outline of his form came back in the chair that he was occupying previously. Soon the rest of him filled out.
"Darien," Serena wrapped her arms around his neck in a panic. Was this like what Darien had felt when she vanished, was this the pain and worry that anguished his soul? "I was so worried," she felt hot tears roll down her cheeks.
Darien was still a little disorientated, one minute he was sitting in Serena's hospital room and the next thing he knew that he was somewhere else. What was that place, it had an eerie feeling that he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Had Serena gone to the same place as him, or had he gone to an entirely different one? He wasn't sure, he was sure that he needed to find out the answers and he needed to do it quickly.
Darien got a fuzzy feeling in his stomach, as did Serena. This time they both disappeared at the same time.
"Serena, Darien!" Rei called. Chibi looked around the room for them. "Serenity, come here. You won't find them. They'll be back soon." /I hope.../ Rei thought to herself. Chibi knew something was terribly wrong, for Rei had used her formal title.
-Alternate Universe-
"Darien?" Serena called out into the dark oblivion.
"I'm right here." Darien appeared out of the shadows, wearing his royal armour. He looked at Serena and noticed she was wearing royal attire as well. They looked around and what they saw shocked them. It was the Moon Kingdom. They saw the ruins of the once beautiful palace. Skeletons of warriors surrounded them.
"It's like we're standing in the middle of a very large tomb." Serena whispered. "I want to go back..." She took a few steps backwards, away from Darien. She allowed a few tears to make there way down her cheeks. "I don't want to have to see it again..." Memories of the Moon Kingdom's downfall entered both their minds.
"Serenity!" Darien cried as he reached to grab her hand. Dark shadowed figures grabbed at her, but Darien would not lose her.
They were reliving past events and it was torturing them both, for they knew the exact outcome.
"Endymion, don't come any closer!" Serena was shaking as she fought with the cold hands that encircled her waist.
"I won't leave you. I love you too much." Darien wanted things to go differently. He now knew what to do, but his body was acting on it's own accord.
He knew that if he could only reach a little farther he could reach her hand. "Serenity grab my hand!"
She reached stretching as much as she could; the cold hands of her death gripped her waist to prevent her from reaching her love. "I'm trying!" He finger tips almost touched his. They were oh so close.
Endymion could feel his body being pulled downwards and Serenity was going upwards. He looked at the faceless being that had its hold on him. It had him only by the leg, so he used that to push himself forward. Their hands connected and the momentum of Endymion's body gravity pulled her out of the entity's hold.
He wrapped his arms around her to protect her from the fall. She buried her face into his chest knowing that he was going to get hurt on impact because he was saving her.
She heard the thud as they hit the cement, she quickly rolled off him. "Endymion," she whimpered. She could see the pain evident in his face.
"Serenity," he voice weakly called out to her, his hand wrapped itself with her smaller one. "I... love you..."
"Endy..." She was ripped away from him, her body flew as she watched Beryl aim Darien's discarded sword at his heart. "No!!!!" Serenity tried to reach him on time but she was too late.
The cold metal blade sliced into his pure heart killing him instantly. At the same time she felt her heart die with him. "Endymion," her voice came out as only a mere whisper. She looked at his body, so cold oh so cold. His body which once held so much warmth was now nothing but a mere lifeless corpse.
She no longer cared what happened to her, her life ended with his final breath. When she saw Beryl approach her she didn't care. Not about the evil smirk that played on her enemy's lips or the glint in her eyes, or the blooded blade hanging from Beryl's side. She didn't care as Beryl sliced the sword through her. With out him there she didn't care.
With that her final breath escaped from her lips, "Endymion."
They laid there. It was as if they were only sleeping and couldn't move. Both their souls wept at having to relive such a horrible moment. That's when they reappeared in the hospital. It was as if nothing had happened. But something had, and it made both of them realize just how much they had gone through in the past. They felt older and held a great burden. Thousands of years, which was their existence, returned to them.
Rei almost fainted when she saw them appear once again. "Where did you guys go? You were gone for a whole three hours!" Tears filled her eyes immediately. "I was beginning to think that you guys wouldn't be coming back." Serena laid a hand on her friends shoulder. /Were we really gone that long?/ She thought to herself.
"Rei called all the scouts and we decided Mina and Lita should take Chibi shopping." Ami informed. She could tell that whatever had happened to Darien and Serena, they weren't having an easy time getting over it. "We'll leave you alone to talk." Ami grabbed Rei's arm and led her out of the room. Darien and Serena silently thanked her and sighed.
"Sometimes Ami scares me. I really do believe she knows almost everything." Serena smiled, but her heart wasn't really in it.
She knew that neither of them wanted to say anything. Reliving their memories dug up a past both of them desperately wanted to forget. They sat in silence.
"Serena," Darien could take it anymore, he needed to be in her arms. He felt like he hadn't seen her in so long that he hadn't been in her warm embrace.
As if she knew what he was thinking she moved so he could join her on the hospital bed. He wrapped his arms around her careful not to hurt her. He buried his head in the crook of her neck and he took in her scent. "I can't take this anymore, I can't stand this everything just keeps on happening to us and I thought that I could keep it together but I can't. I can't do it Serena, my hearts not strong enough to handle the pain."
His word cut through her soul, he was trying to keep everything together for her, trying to be the strong one. And because of that it was taking a toll on him. "Darien..." She pulled his tearstained face up to look at hers. "I know it's hard, and it's hard for me too, and I hate the fact that everything bad is happening to us but that doesn't mean that we need to give up. We have each other and that's all we need, all these obstacles we can get over if we just stick together."
Darien was surprised by her strength, but he fed off it. "I promise I will always take care of you." He smiled and then remembered something from a few weeks ago.
*Flashback*
Darien was walking in the mall with Serena. They had to buy more diapers for Chibi. When Serena and Chibi walked into a clothing store, Darien decided to hang out outside. He passed by a jewellery store and saw a beautiful gold ring with a crescent moon of diamonds. /Serena would love that./ Without thinking he went inside and bought it.
*End Flashback*
/Good thing I kept it in my jacket. (Serena bought him a new one. No more old ugly green jacket!)/ He sighed and got up off the bed. Serena pouted as he moved. He slowly kneeled down beside the bed, confusing Serena.
"Serena, I know you're only 16 and that your father probably won't be happy when he finds out your 19 year old boyfriend has asked you this, but I've waited so long for this moment..." Darien's blush made him look redder than a tomato and he continued hesitantly. He took out the small box from his jacket pocket and gave a lopsided smile. "Serena Tsukino, will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?" Sure, it sounded cheesy, but Serena loved it all the same. She said yes before she could even think about what this would mean. Darien placed the ring on her finger and she stared at it in awe. Tears fell down her face and she hugged him tightly.
"Only you could make such a horrible day become a million times better! And thank you, the ring is beautiful."
She kissed him she too had waited for this moment for so long.
Ami and Rei had heard the excitement and decided to see what it was all about. "What's going on?" Rei asked.
Ami had a sharp eye, she spotted the box, and the ring so she put two and two together. "Are you two engaged?"
"Yes," Serena said happily
"Really, that's wonderful!" Rei rushed over and hugged her, "I'm so happy for you two."
Ami came over and hugged her and congratulated Darien. "I wonder when the others will get back."
"What time did they leave?" Darien asked he wanted to see Chibi and make sure she was all right.
"About an hour ago, they should be back soon. They said that they wouldn't take that long."
* * * * *
The thick webbing of the black metallic material covered the walls; it was dark almost as dark as beryl's black heart. Since her transformation she had been feeling a little... off. She new that her new power would effect her, but she didn't think that if would be like this.
'Why are you here?' Voices asked her. They prodded around in her mind and her memory. They were searching for something. Maybe it was to inquire about the newly inhibited body. She wasn't sure. They wouldn't leave her alone, always asking question never waiting for her to verbally give them an answer.
'What do you wish to accomplish Donkey?' She emitted a growl at the mention of her real name.
"As if you didn't already know. You've been in my head long enough, haven't you?" The voices quieted, obviously not expecting her to answer. Beryl was becoming annoyed.
'Are you still think about your brother...' that was it. Beryl lost it. She closed her eyes and mentally willed the voices away, but it didn't help much. 'Your heart is still very much human. You still hold goodness. That wasn't part of our deal.' Beryl eyes opened in confusion. 'You must let it go.' She could hear the voice's eerie laugh. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes filled with an indistinguishable liquid. Her beauty, now totally gone covered with and ugly mask. She moved a hand to remove the unwanted substance trailing down her cheek.
'Tears?' The voice had returned much to the dislike of Beryl. 'Are you so weak? Why, the last time you cried was when...' It mocked, but did not finish it's sentence. That just made Beryl's anger grow.
"Shut up!" She screamed and clutched her head in pain. This was not supposed to be apart of the plain. "SHUT UP JUST SHUT THE HELL UP!"
The voices hushed, excellent they thought silently, perhaps Beryl would work nicely.
* * * * *
"Serena I so glad that you're all right," Sammy hugged her tightly, he loosed up when he thought he might be hurting her. "Sorry," he said softly.
"Its okay Sammy you didn't hurt me," she rubbed his head making his hair messy.
"Do they know what's wrong with you? Is it because of the phenomena? Are you going to be okay?" He asked the question rapidly one after another and she didn't catch all of them.
"Sammy I think you should slow down, your sister has had a very long trying day." Her mother said softly, there were only four people in the room, Darien, her mother, Sammy and herself. Ami and Rei had gone downstairs to get something to eat and to try to get a hold of Mina and Lita.
"Well, I think I stopped breathing because of a flashback I had. Also, after what happened to Darien and then having Chibi run off, I was pretty shook up." It was only after I had said it that I recognized my slip. Darien could have smacked his head, for he knew that now they were going to face a hoard of new questions.
"Who's Chibi?" Serena's mother asked confused. Serena blushed and knew she couldn't lie to her mother. Not anymore.
"Chibi is... Well, you see..." Darien noticed Serena's uneasiness and realized she was going to tell the truth. He squeezed her hand in support and she continued. "Chibi is me and Darien's daughter from the future." Serena waited patiently for her mother's outburst, but it never came.
"How wonderful! I'm going to be a grandmother!" Serena's mom's eyes had stars in them. "When can I meet her?"
Serena was surprised to say the least at her mother's excitement.
"She is shopping with Lita and Mina right now we're not sure when she'll get back." Serena watched as her mother's eyes lit up.
"Oh I hope they come back soon, I can't wait to meet the little sweet heart."
Speaking of, Mina and Lita walked into the room. Chibi didn't really walk she was more along the lines off running in.
"Mommy! Daddy! You're back!" She smiled and latched onto Serena's middle. Serena returned the hug and held Chibi close. "Yes we're back Chibi."
"I was waried, Aunt Mina and Lita didn't know where you went."
"So this is Chibi," Serena's mother questioned. "Chibi it's very nice to meet you."
Chibi smiled at the stranger, "hello. Who are you?"
"I'm Serena's mom," her mother found Chibi absolutely adorable.
"Grandma? Grandma!" Chibi jumped into her arms. "Mommy says you fuss over me too much, is that true?" Ilene (Serena's mother) laughed and hugged the child.
"I would hope so!" Serena laughed at her mother's antics.
"Mom, there is one more thing to tell you..." Serena smiled and looked to Darien. "We're engaged." Her mother stopped twirling Chibi around.
"Well, I would hope so." Ilene winked at her daughter. "Congratulations you two." She put Chibi down for a few seconds to hug her daughter and soon to be son-in-law. "Can I ask you one thing though?" Serena looked at her mother confused. "Did you really call the child Chibi?" Serena sweat-dropped.
"Her real name is Serenity, after my name. We call her Chibi Chibi or Chibi as a nickname."
She noticed that some one was missing, "Where's dad?"
Her mother frowned, "he went out of town yesterday for business, I called him awhile ago he said that he'll be flying in tomorrow."
"Oh," she didn't know that he had left town. Had she missed out on anything else in the past few days?
There was a soft knock at the door, "I'm sorry folks but visiting hours are over." The nurse informed them.
Darien hoped that he would be allowed to stay with her. He would have to ask one of the doctors. He looked at Serena's mom, some one would need to watch Chibi for them.
As if she knew what her future son in law was thinking she spoke, "I can watch Chibi for tonight."
Chibi's eyes lit up at the thought, "Really? Can I go over to gandma's house huh can I mommy?"
Serena smiled at her excitement, "Of course you can sweetie," some how she thought that her mother would benefit more than her daughter from this little sleeping arrangement.
"Yay! Tanks mommy! Now I can play with all the toys in your room." She hugged Serena.
"Don't I get a hug?" Darien pretended to pout.
Chibi giggled, "Of course you do daddy." She wrapped her arms around him.
Serena watched as her family left and the doctor came in. He smiled when he noticed Darien still there.
"Don't worry Mr. Chiba, I'll allow you to stay with your fiancée. I have something to tell you anyway." Serena and Darien looked confusedly at the doctor. "First things first, you can go home in an hour. Now for the big news..." The doctor looked over his charts again. "It seems you two are going to be parents."
* * * * *
END CHAPTER!! We realize how evil cliffhangers are but we need to keep you on your toes. Please don't hate us too much, and don't forget to review!
You want to know how long it took to think of a title for this chapter?!?!?!? A very long time... Oh, oh, oh!!! Before we forget.... HAPPY EASTER! ^_^ (I know, we're kinda late...)