Chapter 12 - Crescent Moon



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AN: Here is the next instalment of this story. Hope you are enjoying the story. Thank you all who have reviewed. You don't know how much that means to me knowing people are reading it. Thank you.

Sailor Moon is not owned by me, I am just borrowing the characters to create this story.

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"Princess Serenity?" Luna whispered where she sat on the table in front of her.

The crescent moon glowed faintly and Serena's eyes took on a more silvery glow as she looked upon her guardians.

"Yes Luna. It is I." The voice was Serena's but in a more mature tone.

"What happened?" Darien asked turning her face to look at him.

Serena's face frowned slightly as if trying to remember. "I do not know nor understand. I remember yet I do not. Oh by Moon, what is happening to me, Endy?"

Serena's eyes suddenly brimmed with unshed tears as Darien held her tighter against him. Then as suddenly the crescent moon on her forehead glowed brightly for an instant then died. Serena's eyes opened wide as if in pain then closed as she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Oh Serena what is happening to you?" Luna whispered in sorrow.

"Whatever it is Luna, she is going to have to be watched, especially now. Is it possible that you guys can inform the girls to come up with some explanation why she isn't home? Since the others do not know of her.condition it would be wise that she stay with me."

Luna and Artemis nodded in unison as Luna replied, "Of course Darien. The only trouble is what can we say about her not showing up to school."

"I don't care!" Darien exploded. "You two are the guardians. SO GUARD ALREADY!"

With that he carried Serena in his arms and laid her on the bed, leaving the cats to ponder on their own.



"So it has begun." The dark figure murmured into the mirror as the glow softly faded.

The figure moved from his throne chair as he felt a familiar presence fill the room. "What is it do you want Witch?" he said into the open air but he knew he had been heard.

A dark figure dressed in a long green robe stepped from the shadows and faced the black armoured figure.

"Its nice to see you haven't lost your touch dear brother, though I cannot say the same for other things." A female voice spoke in a sad tone.

The black figure approached her viciously but she held raised a hand, which stopped him, cold in his tracks. "How dare you dear sister stand there and tell me what I have lost. I lost her to THAT! She was MINE, until HE stole her."

"So all this is about revenge?" she asked in a higher pitched voice.

The black figure shook his head and growled. "This is about claiming what is MINE!"

"At what price? Many have already suffered due to your dealings and now you have come from the past, disrupting the delicate balance." She tried to reason with him.

"I will do whatever I can to make her mine again." He yelled at her bringing up his hand in a tight fist. The power of dark fire sparked from his hand as his anger mounted.

The figure in the green robe shook her head sadly. "Then you know I have no choice but to try to stop you."

"I would say come and try dear sister. You have no power in this realm and if you come against me." he didn't finish his sentence as he let the other figure finish the thought for him.

The cloaked figure in dark green backed away slightly and was about to leave when she looked back and spoke, "So be it. I have tried to reason with you. Until we meet again."

At once a surrounding green aura surrounded the cloaked figure as she disappeared into the shadows.

Very well my sister. Until we meet again.



Darien looked at his moon angel as she lay sleeping on his bed. The moon crescent had disappeared but something had changed this blond beauty. Her hair was still blond but it had now had silvery highlights that emphasized her already pale skin.

My love. What is happening? I know Princess Serenity is trying t come up to the surface but as much as Endymion loved his Serenity, I love you my Serena. I want you, not Serenity.

"Please, my love, come back to me." He whispered in her hair.

"How is she?" a voice whispered through the silent room.

At once Darien automatically went to touch his rose as his eyes rose to see where it was coming from. He finally saw the figure of a tall woman carrying a staff key, dressed in a sailor clothing. "Sailor Pluto." He greeted as his hand drew away from his rose.

"I didn't mean to startle you but I was worried about our Princess. I felt a strange energy emanating from her."

Darien sighed and stood up from the chair beside the bed. "When the others came over before, Serenity's crescent moon shone from her forehead. All of a sudden it seemed that Serenity came from the depths of Serena's mind and took over. The other Scouts didn't notice but Luna and Artemis knew it was Serenity speaking, not Serena."

"So it has begun. I didn't think it would but the time draws swiftly." Pluto stated almost to herself.

"What do you mean? What is coming?" Darien caught what she saying.

Pluto gave him a look of horror as she realized she had said something she wasn't supposed to.

"Nothing. I meant that the battle within her has escalated." She said covering up.

Darien frowned and replied, "No that isn't what you mean. Something is happening more than just this new enemy isn't?"

The Sailor of Time stepped away from the bed and looked out of the window to see the moon shining bright above.

"You know I cannot say anything. The future depends upon it."

"I get the feeling you know this enemy. So do Michelle and Amara. Though I think you know everything. What will happen when you are faced with the decision between making sure the timeline stays as it is or in your duty as a Sailor Scout and Protector of the Royal Family of the Moon?" Darien stated as a matter of fact.

Pluto looked at him and said nothing, knowing her silence would tell him. "The only thing I can say is stay close to her. And to answer your question, I have already chosen. I can only hope that the consequences will be minimal." She said as she disappeared as swiftly as she appeared.

As suddenly as she disappeared the beeper from Serena's communicator went off. As not to wake her, he immediately snatched it from the bedside and went into the kitchen.

"What is it Scouts?" he said as he flipped the communicator on and Amy's face appeared.

"Darien, thank God! As soon as we left Rae picked up a bad vibe that emanated from downtown. There are too many to handle. These demons are too powerful for us and Neptune and Uranus are only able to handle so many. We could use your help."

Darien looked to where he thought Serena was and sighed heavily. He needed to go; yet he didn't want to leave Serena by herself.

"I'll be there as soon as possible. Hang on Guys!" he said as he shut the communicator.

"Luna! Artemis!" He said as the cats strolled into the Kitchen. "Stay here with Serena, the Scouts need me."

Luna and Artemis nodded as Darien took out his rose and transformed into Tuxedo Mask.

"Do not fear Darien we will protect her to the best of our ability. Hurry go help the others!" Luna replied.

Tuxedo Mask left the room only stopping by the bed briefly to kiss Serena softly on her lips. "I shall return my love. Take care."

As if knowing what was happening a single tear dropped from her eyelids and Tuxedo Mask quickly lifted his finger to brush it away.

He then went to the sliding door and jumped into the cool night air, little did he realize that someone was watching.



"At last the opportunity has a risen. I guess I will have to amend my plans a bit. Too bad I was all in for a little revenge and fun. Perhaps maybe later." The dark figure in black said to himself as he lay the mirror down and in a black flame vanished from his chamber to take the prize that awaited him.



To be continued.