CHAPTER FOUR

Silence met his bold statement as Darien just announced he was going to trade himself over to the enemy in hopes of saving Serena.

"You can't be serious" NeoMars whispered harshly unable to believe her ears.

"What makes you think she wont kill you on the spot?" NeoUranus yelled

"That is a possibility" he stated calmly

"Prince Darien I don't know who this enemy is but even so turning yourself over to this Queen just might make the situation worse." Queen Serenity remarked

"She's right" NeoVenus cried "what if she turns you into one of her minions you know she can do it and than we'll have to fight you as well and with Serena sick we'll have no way of changing you back"

Darien looked at them for a moment before responding "Your not going to change me back."

Ignoring their looks of disbelief he continued " I'm to powerful theirs no way you'd defeat me if your too busy concentrating on ways to change me back. I'd destroy you for sure."

NeoMercury looked at him in despair finally starting to realize the real reason he had brought them here.

"Why don't we put it all down on the table" she said quietly "since its not going to matter anyway"

The others looked at NeoMercury in confusion not understanding her response to Darien's startling statement which had left them flabbergasted"

Darien gave a harsh laugh "figured it out have you well I guess you would."

"What's going on" NeoJupiter demanded not liking the look in his eye or the one in NeoMercurys.

"The wicked Queen goes by the name of Queen Beryl. Her knight the one that poisoned Serena the one who resurrected her… his name is Jedite."

"What are you doing?" the Neo Scouts cried all but NeoMercury who could only look at him with sad eyes.

Queen Serenity and Prince Darien paled at the sound of that name they had believed belonged to a phantom. They had heard rumors buts that's all they were rumors none of which could be confirmed. They were starting to believe that they were chasing a myth one drummed up to keep the Earth and the Moon kingdom at odds with each other. But to hear that name spoken now and too know that it had something to do with what was happening with Serena's future self was staggering.

"It doesn't matter." he stated quietly "As Sailor Mercury just realized I cant risk the Earth or the Universe falling into Beryl's hands or mine for the matter if she does convert me. That why where here. I didn't lie when I told you we were coming so that Queen Serenity could use the Imperial Crystal. "He paused for a moment to let that sink it. "what I failed to tell you is that I want her to use it on all of you."

They didn't understand what he was trying to say. Why would he want the Crystal to be used on them their was no reason for it. Serena was the only one who had been poisoned by the dark crystal. It made no sense.

It was NeoMercury who clarified things for them.

"He's going to erase our memories" she told them sadly tears swelling in her eyes at the thought of what was to come.

Darien looked at them with a heavy heart. He knew it must be so he knew Beryl would remove his and he couldn't have them plagued by memories of their friendship not if they were to defeat him and the now resurrected Beryl whose powers grow stronger every day.

"Not all of your memories will be erased I know how that feels and I would never wish it on all of you. Only the ones having to do with me. When you leave here you'll have no memory of me not as Darien not even as Tuxedo Mask. This goes for Serena as well her memories of me will also be erased and it will be as if we'd never met."

"But why?" Prince Serena cried looking at Darien's future self unable to understand why he would do such a thing.

Darien looked at her solemnly his Serena she was so beautiful. "You saved me once from Beryl and it nearly cost all of you your lives. I cant let that happen again. Since I'm going to Beryl of my own free will her hold over me will be much stronger this time."

He walked over and knelt down in front of her raising his hand he brushed it against her cheek wiping away a tear. "I know you Serena you wont care about the risk to yourself you wont stop trying to change me back. Leaving yourself vulnerable to me and open for an attack."

"You cant just decide this an expect us to agree and except it" NeoMars rasped her throat tight with emotions "You'll know what it will mean it we win you'll be....You'll..."

"I'll be dead" he finished for her

Princess Serena gave a cry of denial and got up and ran from the room.

"Serena" Prince Darien cried out before going after her.

"We wont let you do this." NeoUranus stated harshly "we cant let you do this."

"I've made up my mind" he stated abruptly before standing to face them "its the only way."

"What about Serena? What happens to her when she destroys you and she gets her memory back? What happens then?" NeoNeptune cried

"Sailor Pluto, Luna and Artemis will keep their memories if something goes wrong they'll know what to do" he answered

"Have you told them what your planning or were you planning on telling them after the fact?" NeoJuptier cried angry at Luna and Artemis for not being here. They needed them someone had to convince Darien that he couldn't go through with this and they didn't seem to be having much luck.

"They don't like it but they've excepted my decision as you must."

"Prince Darien I would like a word with you in private" Queen Serenity stated quietly

The Scouts looked at her with hope flaring in their eyes. Maybe she could change his mind after all for his plan to work she had to agree to it. She didn't have to use the Crystal.

Queen Serenity waited until they were alone before speaking." I know their are some things your failing to mention like for some reason I'm not apart of your future."

Darien looked at her with startled eyes he had not been expecting this

"It's alright I think I'm the only one who noticed. The fact that you had to come to the past for me to use the imperial crystal made me question things but when I heard that it was Serena and not me who defeated this Beryl it was then that I knew for sure" the Queen looked at him with sad but excepting eyes "I'm not going to ask what happens I just want you to know that I know something will happen."

Darien remained silent as he waited for to finish saying what was on her mind.

"I appreciate that your willing to sacrifice yourself for my daughter but I cant allow it their must be another way and we can find it together."

"Theirs no time Serena grows weaker everyday as do I. I have thought long and hard about this and I'm convinced its the only way." when his gaze meet the Queens she could see the desperation in his eyes as well as the determination. "I know I need your help but don't think for a moment that I'm changing my mind the only thing you'll be doing by refusing to help me is insuring that Serena dies and the Universe falls into darkness."

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Outside in the hall The Scouts were hanging all their hopes on Queen Serenity hoping that she could make Darien see reason.

"What are we going to do if she doesn't change his mind?" NeoVenus asked

"We'll have no choice but to go through with it" NeoNeptune replied

"What are you talking about" Mars raged she knew how her Princess felt about the Prince of Earth and she couldn't imagine how this was affectioning her "How can you go along with this insane idea of his your suppose to be looking out for the Princess and she loves him."

"We know that" NeoMercury said calmly "You don't understand"

"What's their to understand" Jupiter shouted "you cant allow him to go through with this"

NeoMercury looked to the others silently asking them a question to which they all responded yes by the nodding of their heads. With the ok from the others she turned her attention back to the other scouts. "You asked us before what made the day Serena was attacked so special." The past Scouts nodded their heads and waited for her to finish NeoMercury took a deep breath before stating "It was their wedding day."