Chapter 6- Old Friends

They had been walking for a while. Serena and Zoicite stood back from the guys to talk.

"So, how is life on Earth?" Zoicite asked.

"It's fine I guess. A lot has happened but you never really knew much about me in the beginning anyway did you?" Serena said not in a mean way but in a sorry kind of way.

"Yes well, I knew more than you thought. Nothing to personal but I knew enough. I knew you had a bother and mother and father. And I also knew you had a crush named Andrew that worked at the Arcade." Serena blushed and Zoicite laughed. "Yes I knew about him. I also knew about your grades. Hopefully they have improved. I also knew that you had many wonderful friends. Even friends that weren't scouts. One in particular that Nephlyte had a nice relationship with. Her name is Molly isn't it?"

"Wow that's a lot. Yes, Molly did love Nephlyte a lot didn't she." Serena said looking forward at him.

"Yes and I know that he loved her very much too. He talks about her all the time. Every little thing reminds him of her. It was kind of weird for a while because he once asked me to curl my hair and die it red. That just freaked me out and Malachite refused to let me do it. Not that I was even thinking of doing it." Zoicite said. Serena laughed.

"Yeah, that would be a bit weird. I wonder if he would make you talk like her too. She has that cute little southern kind of accent." Now Zoicite laughed.
"Yeah, she was a sweet girl. She was good for him." They walked in silence for a while and then Zoicite ran to catch up with Malachite. Nephlyte tagged behind to talk to Serena.

"Hello Princess." Nephlyte said very formally.

"Now Nephlyte, you don't have to address me with formality. Although, I do rather that other than Eternally Sexy Sailor Moon." She looked over at him and a blush crept over his face. "What would Molly think if I told her about that?" Nephlyte looked away and let out a sigh.

"How is she?" Nephlyte asked.

"She is doing well. She is graduating this year and is studding business. Soon she will go to college and get her degree." Serena said.

"What about her love life?" Nephlyte braced himself. Serena sighed.

"Well, remember the geeky kid with big glasses? The weird one? Well he and her have seemed to have hit it off. She is happy with him but not exactly head over heels for him. He on the other hand is crazy about her. He treats her well." She said taking his hand in her own and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I really wanted to keep you around for her sake but… you know how things went…" Nephlyte nodded and gave her a small smile.

"Yes, well as long as he treats her right and she is happy I am happy. Thank you Princess." Nephlyte said giving her a half bow.

"Please, call me Serena." Serena said pulling him up to stand straight up.

"Thanks and I didn't mean what I said before. You know the Eternal Sailor Moon joke."

"I'll let it slide for now." She gave him a wink and he moved up to the front of the others.

Soon, Malachite moved back slowly.

"What's with all the secrecy Mal?" Serena whispered in his ear startling him.

"Well, unless you don't remember correctly enough you were always quite fond of me and we don't need my Zoicite getting worked up over seeing us talking now do we?" He whispered back. Serena giggled.

"I think you have your story backwards. It was you who was fond of I until Miss Zoicite came into the picture. Then we became more brother-sister. If I remember correctly of course." She gave him a sly evil look that a younger sister would give an older brother after winning a small feud.

"Touché my princess, touché." Malachite give a slight bow and kissed her hand lightly.

"Ah now Mal. We don't want Zoicite to get worked up do we?" Serena said giving his hand a light slap.

"No, no we don't. So, how have you been?" Malachite asked in a more serious tone.

"Me? Well, I have been fine." She said. A hint of sarcasm could be heard in her voice.

"Ok. Well I know something is wrong since you are in a comma. Want to explain that to me?" He asked placing a protective arm around her.

"Remember my prince charming?"

"Ah, yes. Cape boy."

"Yeah, well after about 4 or 5 years of being together, on and off at some times because of memory loss and other reasons, and after we both risked our lives for each other, he decides he doesn't love me anymore. So he breaks up with me. He was pretty much my life considering being Sailor Moon took up much of my spare time and I spent much of that time with him it wasn't really like I could get away from him if I wanted to. I couldn't handle it and so I slit my neck and my wrists." She hung her head low. Malachite lifted her head and looked into her eyes.

"My dear Princess, no man is worth your life if he doesn't want to give you his life. Don't you have so many friends and family that love you?"

"Yes but they aren't really my family. They were the people I was reborn to. My real mother was or is dead. I would rather live my life with her than to have to see him every day."

"Things couldn't be that bad. I mean you two weren't to serious were you? I mean you didn't… you know?" Malachite's cheeks became a bit red. Serena giggled.

"No, we never did that. I had slept at his house and things and we had done a lot together but never that. Wanna hear something really weird though? We have a daughter." Malachite's eyes got wide.

"But you just said…"

Serena nodded her head. "I know what I said and I'm wasn't lying. This is a little girl from the future. Her name is Renee or Neo-Princess Serenity. We called her Small Lady in the future because her dream was to become a great lady. Her hair was done up like mine only it looked like little cat ears and it was this crazy pink color. She was such a spoiled brat but we always had this special little bond even before we found out. I would always get jealous because Darien would spend more time with her than he would me but I just wasn't used to sharing him. Soon I got used to it and everyone thought we looked like the perfect little family." Serena looked at her feet. "I guess everyone was wrong huh?"
"But why did he break things off? Why would any man in his right mind break something that good off?" Malachite asked a bit dumb found.

"Honestly, that's what I thought at first. But he said that we weren't meant to be. He had done this before. Before it was dreams that plagued him. They tested him to see how much he really cared about me and how much he really wanted to protect me. Back then I knew there was something else because he would still come to my rescue and he made an effort to stay away from me, like he was hiding something. This time it was plain and simple. Everything we had been told was a lie and that he really didn't love me and he told me that I really didn't love him…that I was never meant to love him." She looked up at Malachite. "How was he going to tell me how I feel? I love him with every inch of my body, every beat of my heart, and every sense of my soul. He didn't see that and I suppose, didn't feel the same. I had nothing to live for anymore and so I wanted to come to the one person that would never stop loving me which was my mother." Malachite gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head.

"You poor girl. Promise me when everything is back to normal and you bring the world to order again that you will try and still live your life if only for a little while and if you choose that it is still to over whelming then you can come back to us." Serena nodded and Malachite smiled. "Good. Now I should go back to Zoicite or she shall start to worry. Good bye for now my little princess." He kissed her once more on the forehead and moved ahead taking hold of Zoicite around the waist.

"Thanks Malachite." Serena said out loud knowing that he couldn't hear her but still understood.

"We will stop here for now. I know everyone must be tired." Jedeite said. Serena hadn't noticed her surroundings and when she looked around she was a bit startled. "Where are we exactly?" It was a dark place. Dark crystals stood tall everywhere and there were no trees except to the east of her. Far ahead was a very tall crystal place.

"Well you tell me Princess. You've been here once before." Jedeite said with an evil grin on his face.

"Beryl…" She whispered remembering the battle that had been fought.

"Bingo my Princess. Now we will all get some sleep now and we will finish what little trail we have left and we will meet with Beryl. Sweet dreams everyone!" Jedeite's tone was less than friendly and Serena didn't like it much but Zoicite dragged her down to sit down and share a little food that she had stored in her small pouch. After eating, no fire was started and a few blankets were laid out. She discovered that Malachite had been carrying a bag with a few thing for her. He gave her the bag to go through and she found a pillow, a blanket, a small loaf of bread, cheese, a small bottle of water, a brush, a mirror and a small stuffed bunny, a piece chocolate and a note from her mother.

Serenity,

I hope this is good for now. I would have done better but I didn't have much time. I hope the rabbit is cute. I made it myself! Yes, I have a LOT of spare time on my hands. Anyways, I love you honey and don't let the boys pick on you. If they mess with you tell Malachite and I'm sure he will take care of it.

Love always,

Mommy

P.S.- You better let that chocolate last you!

Serena laughed. She couldn't believe that her mother had been alive for so long and she sounded like a regular house mom. Not to mention she was a queen for goddess sake. Serena hugged her rabbit and placed it on her pillow. She ate a small piece of chocolate and savored the taste. She closed her eyes and thought about she secret stash at home in her room.

"Chocolate must be good." Jedeite whispered into her ear making her jump.

"Yeah, my mom has a great memory. So, what brings you near me? For a while I thought you were still bad." Serena said rapping up the chocolate and placing all of the items back into her bag.

"Actually, it was my idea for the chocolate and it's my business why I'm around you." Jedeite picked up the stuffed rabbit on her pillow and looked at it. "I think this is the first one she ever made." He set it back down and looked at Serena. Serena really didn't know what to say to him. He had brought so much pain to her and she had no reason to really forgive him. Zoicite and Malachite went through a lot because of Serena and they forgave her as much as she forgave them. Nephlyte had been a love to her best friend and she had seen the softer side of him. She really couldn't see much in Jedeite. Then she saw it. There was a spark in his eye. Something mixed with jealousy and rage. She saw sorrow mixed in too.

"Jedeite, why are you so mean to me? I can remember even before, way back before the fighting, back in the Silver Millennium, you were always a cruel to me. Why is that always so?"

Jedeite looked at her with serious eyes but hid his emotions. "Princess of the moon. Heir to the thrown of the moon and soon the Earth would be yours too. Finding true love at only 14 and then dieing in battle with that true love. Getting a second chance at life and then finding that love all over again. Having friends and a family and enjoying the simple things in life. Then you let him take it all from you. You had the world, the universe Serenity and you threw that away over a mere man? I always knew I could treat you better and I would never get the chance. I was lucky enough to be in your presence because I was a mere towns man. I was nothing but a skilled man chosen for a duty. I had no family, friends, necessities, or love." Jedeite cupped Serena's face with his hand. "I heard you talking to Malachite and Darien is the dumbest man that I know and trust me I know some stupid people. He had 2 kingdoms that would rule over the universe, a beautiful and powerful woman, and a child sworn to be born not to mention the woman actually loved him and he threw that away because of duty. Duty is duty and once it is fulfilled you do as you please whether others tell you its meant to be or not. If it had been me I would not have thrown it all away." Jedeite bent close to Serena's lips. "Maybe this isn't meant to be but my duty's were fulfilled long ago and I will chose to do as I please." He pressed his lips onto Serena's softly. This was no ordinary kiss. This was a real kiss of love but the only problem was Serena didn't love him so she pulled away.

"I'm…" Serena went to apologies but Jedeite silenced her with his finger to her lips.

"You did nothing wrong my sweet. All I ask is that I sleep next to you for tonight. For warmth my lady." Jedeite said a pleading look in his eyes. Serena nodded slowly and she laid down. Jedeite laid next to her and rapped his arm around her. "Sweet dreams princess. I promise no one will know. This was all my doing. Speak of this to no one." He brushed back a lock of her hair and then closed his eyes to sleep. Serena had much on the mind but soon she fell asleep also, memories and such running through her head.