Serena had ceased crying by now, but was still clutching onto Darien's shirt, shaking.
Darien had his arms around her, thinking. 'Why does this have to happen to us?' He thinks to all the things that kept them apart (i.e.: Queen Beryl's brainwash, forgetting, etc…). Things got all hazy all of a sudden.
Serena noticed his arms loosen around her. She looks up to see Darien's pale face. She opens her mouth to talk, but Darien passes out on her lap.
"Darien!" she exclaims, praying to God that it isn't the time. Andrew bends down to check his pulse. He lets out a sigh. "He's fine. He's just tired."
Everyone lets out a sigh, & Serena, Mina & Andrew carry the unconscious Darien to a park bench. Serena pulls his head onto her lap & strokes his hair. "Darien, it'll be OK. I'm here. I'm always here."
Mina & Andrew, sensing that they needed time together, decided to leave. They walk into a patch of trees.
Mina, realizing that they were alone together, turns her attention to the trees. Andrew notices this & walks over to her. "Mina, we need to talk."
Mina turns & tries to smile. "What about? Your fiancé? Darien dying? Anything else you didn't tell me?"
"I understand your anger at this," he cups her chin & brings her face up eye level. "But you have to understand…"
Mina looked into his eyes, trying not to cry. "OK."
Andrew starts. "Me & Hina have been best friends since we were really young. Her mom & mine were best friends. They always imagined we'd grow up to get married." Andrew paused, taking in Mina's sad face. He forced himself to go on. "About a year ago, her mother died. She was very close to her & became very depressed. I became worried about her, so I…"
"Ask her to become your wife. I see, it's a pity engage." Mina said.
"It's not like that. It's more complicated. I love you, Mina, with all my heart, but…"
"You can't be with me because you're engaged? I see." Mina face became streaked with tears & she ran off, Andrew calling after her.
She ran & ran until she fell to her knees, crying. She heard rustling & looked up. She gasped.
"Malachite?" she gasped.
Indeed, it was the evil Malachite standing in front of her. He smirked. "Yep, Sailor Venus."
Mina jumped up to transform, when Malachite raised his hand. "I'm not here to fight."
Mina, still on her guard, looked at him. "Why should I believe you?"
"You have no choice. Either listen or I'll destroy this park & everything & everyone in it."
Mina flashed to Serena, Darien & Andrew & took a deep breath. "Fine. What do you want?"
"I'm here to offer you something." he grinned.
Mina, still wary, asked, "What?"
"You want to be more powerful, don't you?" he asked.
"Not really."
"Come on, I know you want to. You can get out of the shadow of Sailor Moon. You can't tell me you don't sometimes wish she'd disappear."
"Never!" But as she shouted that, images of Sailor Moon getting all the credit & the other four standing in the background popped up.
Malachite saw the look on her face. "You thought about it didn't you?"
Mina ignored him, telling herself not to get jealous. But it was hard. "She always gets everything she wants." she says to herself, but Malachite hears. "She gets her man, glory, everything else. We have to risk our lives to save hers."
Malachite nods & produces an orb. "I can help you with that. Just touch this."
Mina stares at it, her last shred of will power fading. She slowly reaches out to touch it, when something is heard in the bushes.
"Mina!" It's Andrew, calling after her.
Malachite takes the orb & frowns. "We'll finish this later." He disappears.
Mina stares at where he was. Andrew comes over to her. "What's wrong?" seeing her pale face.
Mina looks at Andrew & all the guilt of her about to betray everything & everyone she loves catches up to her. She passes out into Andrew's arms!
"Mina, Mina!" he exclaims, trying to wake her up. He sinks to the ground & holds her, stroking her hair. "Mina, I love you. I wish we could be together, like old times." He starts to tear up, but holds it in barely.He continues stroking her hair, soothing her & a little himself.
Wow, that's emotional. What do the enemies want with Mina? How did Malachite come back? You'll have to wait to find out. Pleaz RR!