Twist of Fate

By Silver MoonAngel/ Carley Nine

Rated: PG

Summary: Just one year can make a difference. With Galaxia defeated, Serena has a new problem, and she must make a decision that will forever alter her fate. Maybe even her ties to Darien.

AN: This is the actual first story to my HDWFIL series. It's not important to read this one first, but snatches of it will pop up in future stories.

AN #2: Thanks soooo much to my loverly editor SailorAngel... Bats eyes at SA Every body who loves this should thank her too!

Chapter One Not Telling, But Keeping

Tokyo, Japan - March 16th

"Mom, it's time to get up!"

Serena opened her eyes and smiled at the sight of her twelve-year-old daughter leaning over her. Chandra was a beauty with Serena's sky blue eyes. Other than that, she looked just like her father. She frowned at the thought of Darien, but that didn't take away Chandra's happy mood.

"Mom, you get to substitute for Haruna again," Chandra said with obvious glee.

Serena sat up and looked around her room. It was still dark, but that was understandable. The light bulb had burnt out last night and she'd been too tired to care. Poking Chandra in the stomach, she asked, "What time is it kiddo?"

Chandra blinked and told her, "It's almost 5:30."

Serena pulled her daughter out of bed and said, "Get dressed girlie, you've got school today." Hearing Chandra groan and grumble about the evils of school, Serena chuckled to herself. Grabbing a pair of dress slacks and a shirt, she headed into the kitchen and made some toast. "Grape or apple?"

Chandra walked into the miniscule kitchen carrying her blue backpack. "Grape jelly and apple juice."

Making a face at her daughter's decision, Serena took a cup from the cupboard. She then grabbed the jelly and the juice, handing it to Chandra. Over her shoulder, she asked, "Are you excited about today?"

Chandra smiled happily. "Yeah. I get to meet everybody today."

Serena snatched a napkin up and sat at the table. "You're going to meet all of my old friends from high school today." Serena winced at the memory of the phone call. Raye had screamed the entire time and she could hear the others in the background, shouting questions over Raye. Serena took it all in stride and when Raye stopped to catch her breath, Serena had quietly slipped in a "I'll come at four on Friday."

"Mom," Chandra's voice intruded on her thoughts, "we have to be there early."

Serena rose from the table and grabbed her tote. "Ready?" Seeing Chandra nod, Serena scooted her out the door, locking it behind them. Juuban Junior High was two blocks away from their apartment, something she had been grateful for when Trista had told her about the place.

She clasped Chandra hand tightly in hers. "Remember to meet me here, okay?" Serena had always been afraid of someone snatching her daughter, but thankfully no one ever had.

Sensing her mother's nervousness, Chandra said, "I'll just come to your classroom. That way I don't have to wait outside."

Serena smiled and played with a stray lock of Chandra's black hair as light blue eyes met with hers. "I love you, Moonie."

Chandra giggled at the nickname her mother had given her when she was four. She had wanted to be her favorite super-heroine, Sailor Moon, for Halloween. Serena had broken out a ancient sewing machine and made a beautiful costume, complete with the tiara. She'd thought her mom had made it with magic. Her mom had gone dressed too. Serena had dug out a white dress, painted a yellow moon on her forehead, and went as Princess Serenity.

"Hurry up, or you're going to be late."

Chandra shook her head and went into the school. Serena, however, took her time going into the building. Stepping into the office, she said, "Tsukino subbing for Haruna."

The secretary lifted her head and smiled. Grabbing a stack of papers off the desk, she handed them to Serena, saying, "Helen did this on purpose. The fifth-graders are coming to look around today. Some will be in your fourth-period class."

Serena rolled her eyes. "I remember. She was super-harsh on her students, but we heard that she treated them to a free period the next day."

"Good thing you're the substitute today. That way, she won't feel too bad giving them homework."

Serena laughed and left the office. Strolling down the hall, she entered her classroom and heard her first--and probably not the last--catcall of the day.

"Hi Legs!"

Serena looked at her class roster. Sure enough, Ty Damson was on her list. "Mr. Damson, you have earned yourself a detention," she let different whistles filter through the air before she finished, "with Mr. Owens."

Letting the laughter resonate throughout the room, Serena said, "Alright, settle down. Today the fifth-graders from Juuban Elementary will be visiting. Make sure you don't scare them; they'll have enough nightmares once they actually get here."

After homeroom, the day went by pretty quickly. That is until fourth period came around...

Chandra walked into the classroom and hugged her mom. "What are we doing today?"

"Not too much, the fifth-graders are coming this period."

"Man! I bet anything that those goofy kids from the last class will be here," Chandra pouted.

"Well, behave and we'll get a cone on our way to the temple."

Chandra licked her lips in anticipation. "Okay, I'll behave."

A hard knock echoed off the door, and Serena hustled students to their seats. Smoothing her slacks, Serena opened the door and almost fainted. Standing in front of her was the last person she thought she would ever see...Darien Chiba.

Blue eyes looked into blue. Serena felt the years of longing build up and try to take over. She felt a slight tug on her sleeve and broke Darien's gaze, "Yes?"

"Mom, shouldn't you let them in?"

Serena felt the floor drop from underneath her feet. Darien grabbed her arm and pulled her into the hallway. Poking his head into the room, he informed the class, "Miss Tsukino and I have something to discuss. Get yourselves settled and we will be with you in a moment."

Looking at the floor, Serena absently rubbed her arm from where he had grabbed her. Clearing her throat, she said, "You haven't changed much in thirteen years."

Tears welled up in Darien's eyes. How could she be so calm? "Why didn't you tell me?"

Letting out a shaky sigh, Serena said, "I tried. You didn't want to listen. So I left."

Darien slammed his fist into the wall near her head. "I can't believe this!" Taking a few breaths, he asked, "What is her name?"

"Chandra Lena Tsukino-Chiba." The fact that she was talking without crying was amazing Serena. She had barely even flinched when he'd hit the wall. "I was bringing her to the temple today."

"Does she know about me?" Darien questioned in a growl.

Serena held her head high. Letting tears brim in her eyes, she looked up at him and said, "Yes. She knows all about you; she has from the beginning. I can't hide anything from her."

Darien blinked. He hadn't expected Serena to be so...honest with him. Thirteen years would change anyone though. She had gotten a little taller and she didn't wear her hairstyle anymore. She just simply wore it down.

Swiping at her eyes, Serena said, "You can join us at the temple, but right now we have to control the kids." She spun on her heel and began teaching the class. Serena knew Darien would keep quiet for now, but she would hear it when they met later.

"Chandra, please keep up." Serena was walking at a brisk pace. She wanted to stay ahead of Darien and arrive at the temple as soon as possible.

"I'm trying to, Mom." Her mom had been upset ever since fourth period. She knew her mom was bursting to tell her something, but she guessed it would wait.

She nearly ran into her mom and looked where her mom was looking. Gulping, she asked, "Do we have to go all the way up there?" Seeing her mom nod, Chandra took a deep breath and started up the stairs. When she was about five stairs up, she heard, "Chandra?"

Serena watched her daughter turn around and look at her. Serena cleared her throat, and said, "That teacher in class today was your father."

Chandra just nodded and began walking up the stairs again. Maybe the walk up would let her digest what her mother had just said.

At the top of the stairs was a little girl with brown hair. She bowed to both of them, and said, "We've been expecting you." Taking Chandra's hand, she said, "Come with me, Spirit. I'll show you the others."

Serena watched the girl take her daughter away. Looking toward the temple, she saw Raye standing there. Raye hadn't changed much in the thirteen years that had passed. She still had all of her raven hair and her green eyes sparked with fire.

"Serenity."

Serena nodded her head in acknowledgement. "I've done nothing to earn my title, yet."

Raye ran to Serena and gathered her in a hug. Choking back tears, she said, "We would have helped you." She pulled away and led Serena into the temple. Sitting in a nearly empty room were all of her soldiers. Mercury down through to Pluto stared at her. She could also feel that Darien was nearby.

Serena cleared her throat and stood in the doorway. "She is my and Darien's daughter." Holding up her hand in case someone wanted to talk, she continued, "I've struggled for the last thirteen years, but I thought it was worth it. Chandra is mine. I never had any intentions of hiding her this long, but she's never shown any signs of being a scout. I felt that she could have a somewhat normal life."

"And not have her know her father?"

Serena looked at Mina and said, "If it spared her any pain, yes. I didn't want her world turned upside down because I was destined to be the Queen of the World. I wanted her to make her own destiny."

The Outers said in a group, "We understand your actions."

Raye went to the door. "Well, let's satisfy our curiosity." Poking her head out the door, she hollered, "Alex, bring her here!"

The girl came back and Raye said to Serena, "The girl is my daughter."

Serena smiled. The girl looked almost exactly like her mother.

Chandra came in. Turning to her mother, she said, "Alex says that I'm a scout. I'm Spirit."

Serena looked to Trista for information, but Trista kept silent. Turning to her daughter, Serena said, "Come sit by me. They want to ask you questions."

As soon as they sat down, the first question out of Mina's mouth was, "Where's the pink hair?"

Trista cleared her throat and said, "Chandra is the spirit of the child that was to be born to Serenity and Endymion in the Silver Millenium. She died when Serenity killed herself."

Serena stated softly, "Rini may never be born."

Lita asked, "Then who will be Sailor Moon?"

"Maybe one of Chandra's daughters," Serena answered.

A low growl came from the corner, "Not if I can help it."

Serena ignored the voice and asked, "Who else has children?"

"All of us," Amy answered. "All of them are girls."

"Even you, Amara and Michelle?"

"Yes."

Lita whistled and soon a flurry of activity could be heard outside. Four heads poked inside the door and asked, "You rang?"

"Come in here," Lita said.

Soon the room was filled. There were children of every color, shape, and size.

'So these are the next generation of soldiers,' Serena thought to herself.

"You still have explaining to do," came from the voice from the corner.

Serena held her head high and said, "The only explaining I have to do is toward my daughter. If you don't like it, tough." She stood and exited the room. She walked to where the sacred fire was and beckoned to her daughter. "Chandra come here."

The little girl came and watched the firelight play on her mother's face. "What to you want, Mom?"

Turning toward Chandra, she smiled and said, "I'm going to activate your powers. It's time you took your place as the Moon Princess." Shifting into her royal form, Serena beamed at her daughter. "Concentrate on the power flowing inside you. Follow it down to the deepest place in your heart, and set it free."

Serena watched as a little crescent moon appeared on Chandra's forehead. As the moon got bigger and brighter, Serena knew she was doing the right thing by letting her daughter release her power.

Chandra gasped as the feelings of power poured through her. She could feel it pouring out of her soul...

"What are you doing!?"

Chandra jumped at the voice. She looked up to see her mother scowling at a man--correction, her father.

"I felt it was time to let her take control of her own destiny," Serena snapped at Darien.

"By giving her powers? That's ridiculous! She's an open target!"

"For whom? We haven't had an enemy in ages! Besides, they are her powers. She can choose to use or not to use them as she sees fit!"

"Stop fighting!" Chandra could see two sets of blue eyes on her. "I don't plan on being anyone's pawn!" Slowing her breathing down, Chandra defiantly finished calling her powers to the surface. When she opened her eyes, she was wearing a long black dress with peach colored crescent moons along the top. Looking at her mother, she exclaimed, "I did it!"

Serena smiled at Chandra, "So you did."

Darien leaned down to his daughter and asked, "Would you like to see my armor?"

Chandra smiled and nodded her head. It would take a while, but she could possibly like her father.

Darien willed his armor into place and laughed at Chandra's reaction. He smiled and introduced himself in his present form, "I'm Prince Endymion of the Earth. Nice to meet you Princess Chandra of the Moon."

Looking at her mother, she asked, "My father is Endymion? Then you are…?"

"I'm Queen Serenity of the Moon, sweetheart. I was to become the Neo Queen of both the Earth and the Moon." Looking at Darien, she continued, "Things just changed."

Sitting on the floor and putting her elbows on her knees, she inquired, "Was there supposed to be a Rini? It said so on the cartoon."

Ruffling Chandra's hair, Serena told her, "Yes, there was, but you came along first."

"Is she still going to come?"

"That depends."

"On what?"

"On your father." Serena smiled up at Darien and saw a million possibilities in his eyes.

"Is Rini ever born in that outcome?"

Trista smiled at Serena. That was what she was most worried about when she had heard the baby wasn't Rini. "Yes, eventually. However, it's when Chandra is close to having children herself."

"Darien and I must have a rocky road ahead of us," Serena thought aloud.

Trista smiled at Serena's musing's. The only thing Serena hadn't paid attention to is that sometime during the scene, she had transformed into the Moon Queen.

AN: Sorry this took soo long to get out. School just finished and there's been all sorts of crazy things going on at home. But it's done and I hope y'all liked it!

As always, send Q's or C's to: