The Scouts couldn't believe what they had just heard, NeoMercury had just told them that the day Serena had been attacked had been her wedding day.
"The ceremony was beautiful" NeoMercury whispered "Serena was beautiful."
"How did it happen?" Venus asked
"It was after the wedding at the reception hall we were helping Serena change so that she and Darien could leave for their honeymoon when Serena noticed a rose made out of a strange crystal laying on the dresser we all thought it was from Darien but when she picked it up she…it… NeoMercury broke off unable to continue. NeoMars took up where she left off.
"It gave off a bright light that blinded us and when it finally faded the rose was gone and Serena was unconscious on the floor. Mercury discovered the dark energy flowing through her body we were about to send for Darien when he burst in the room Serena's name on his lips. He seemed to know what happened as if he had sensed she was leaving him. Just as he entered the room she… flat lined" Mars stated with growing difficulty she looked to Jupiter for help. Sailor Jupiter nodded
"Serena was gone" Jupiter stated harshly wiping at the tears that fell so readily from her eyes "and Darien he picked her up in his arms yelling no you can't leave me you cant than another light filled the room only this one was warm and golden.
"It was Darien's energy" NeoVenus explained interrupting Jupiter who was grateful "when the light faded Serena was back but still unconscious. Neomercury determined that his energy some how overcame the dark energy but.....…"
"But the dark energy was still in her body" NeoUranus broke in angrily she still blamed herself for not being their when Serena needed her for while all this was happening she was in another room changing out of her brides maid dress and into something more comfortable feeling she had worn that dress and those shoes long enough.
"Darien's energy didn't drive it out the energy was still in her body only dormant and when it becomes active again more of his energy is needed (his energy not mine she couldn't even do that for her princess and friend) NeoNeptune laid a comforting had on Uranus's arm and finished the story.
"Darien was demanding to know what happened when we told him he confirmed that he had left no crystal rose for Serena" she looked at the others neo scouts as they all relived that day and what happened next.
Darien looked at the others despair and anger flaring in his eyes.
"What happened?" he demanded
"We came in here to help Serena change" Mina answered tearfully "She saw a crystal rose on the table and we all thought it was from you so she picked it up."
"I didn't leave her any crystal rose"
"We know that now" Lita sobbed "because when she picked it up it...it
"It gave off this bright light" Amy cried "and when it faded Serena was past out on the floor"
"Is she going to be alright?" Raye asked as she tried to fight back all the emotions battling inside her despair, anger but most of all guilt. She should have known something was wrong with the rose she should have felt something before it was too late.
"This cant be happening." Darien cried his anguish adding to their own they had failed him as well Serena they were all her protectors and yet not one of them had protected her.
Just then Amara barged in the room barely dressed her shirt lay half open her pants were undone and she didn't have anything on her feet. She had rushed out of her dressing room the minute she had felt something was wrong not caring about her state of undress. When she entered the room and saw her Princess laying in Darien's arms she started towards them only to be stop dead in her tracks when a chilling voice filled the room.
"Finally your all together."
"What? Who?"
"I know that voice" Darien said his voice bitter but also filled with disbelief
A cold taunting laugh filled the room "Its good to be remembered even after all time
"Wait" Raye cried "that laugh its...." suddenly the person appeared before them and the inner scouts cried "Jedite"
Jedite took a bow and with an evil smile he looked at Serena "well I see the bride got my gift."
"You bastard" Darien cried and rushed him but all he felt was air as he sailed through him crashing into the wall
Jedite laughed again "Do you really think I'm actually foolish enough to come here in person."
Darien righted himself and moved back over to be near Serena "What have you done to her Jedite?"
Jedite held up a small dark crystal I'm sure you recognize this beauty the dark crystal of the Negamoon." he looked at them bitterly "you see when you destroyed my Queen I was released from my icy prison and found my self back on Earth with dwindling powers so as much as I wanted my revenge against tuxedo mask and the sailor scouts I had to wait."
He gave them a smirk "In all your battles you didn't sense me because you were to focused on your new energy positive that the rest of Beryl's minions were destroyed along with her"
"What did you do to her" Darien demanded "tell me" he roared when Jedite remained silent
"Patience" he taunted "I'm getting their so as time went by I watched you. I saw your numbers growing your powers becoming stronger I thought my chance would never come not with me growing weaker while you grew stronger but then the NegaMoon family arrived and even Princess Serenity's Imperial Crystal couldn't defeat it so while you were fighting that Prince Diamond and his wise man I stole a piece of it thinking it would give me all the power I needed to destroy you." he glared at them angrily "and it would have if you hadn't combined the two crystals and destroyed the rest of the crystal. After that my Crystal lost most of its power but I knew what could revitalize it. Energy, pure energy and thanks to those heart snatchers I knew where to find it. When it was revealed that Princess Serena had the purest heart and energy of any one on Earth I knew it had to be her energy to restore the crystals power.
"Your a monster" Mina cried she had heard stories of the one they called Jedite he had been the strongest of Beryl's men and the scouts never truly defeated him it was his own Queen who had banished him.
"Why thank you its nice to be appreciated so you see I took her energy and replaced it with my dark energy that's why she's dying her body cant take all that negative energy at once unlike Prince Diamond who tried giving it to her a little at a time I don't want to bring her over to the dark side." He looked down at Serena with a nasty smile "I just wanted to destroy her my greatest enemy. And when I use the restored power of this Crystal to resurrect my Queen she'll be so thrilled when I tell her that I destroyed Princess Serena all my past mistakes will be forgiven."
"Resurrect Beryl" the girls cried out in horror while Darien just looked at him silently his eyes burning bright with hatred and the thirst for revenge.
Soon Jedite his eyes promised soon I'll make you pay.
Jedite laughed at this knowing their was nothing he could do because once he brought Beryl back Prince Darien would be one of the first to perish.
"Well I must be off oh by the way you can keep her alive for awhile as you just noticed a transfer of positive energy makes the negative energy I supplied her with go dormant but" he chided shaking his finger at them. "It wont stay dormant for long and don't try to give her all your energy at once because you don't have enough energy among you to defeat the energy of the dark crystal" and with another chilling laugh he disappeared.
"Of course he didn't tell us that Serena's body will only except Darien's energy we almost lost her before we figured that out" NeoNeputune finished quietly. "so now you know why we have to go along with his plan he's our Prince and we have obey his command."
Everyone was quite for awhile each of them lost in their own thoughts. They were all startled when the door to the conference room swung open and Queen Serenity exited followed by Darien. Nobody had to ask how it went they could see it clearly written on their faces. He was leaving.
"Mars I need you on the alert when I get back" he stated quietly "just in case she converts me right away I don't want to walk in here with everyone thinking I'm the same if I'm under Beryl's control." Nobody stated the obvious that he might not come back at all.
Mars nodded to choked up to speak
He turned to Mercury "that goes for you too make sure you give me a through scan before you let me anywhere near Queen Serenity or Serena."
Mercury nodded before letting out a wail that would have done Serena proud and throwing herself in Darien's arms. The other scouts also broke down and threw themselves at him. He had been their protector and friend for so long and now they were going to lose him not just him but their memories of him.
Queen Serenity left the hall followed by her Scouts letting them all have a moment alone.
When it came time Darien stood at the time gate with eyes bright with unshed tears than he turned his back to them without a word and stepped through it.
Sailor Pluto Artemis and Luna were waiting for him when he existed the past.
"Are you sure?" Luna asked solemnly
Darien nodded before knelling down to whisper in her ear.
"Watch over her Luna and never let her know who I' am"
He then turned to Sailor Pluto who like the other scouts had a hard time excepting his decision. She wondered for a minute if she should bring small lady here after all the future that they all had looking forward to still existed and still would until Darien changed it. But as soon as that thought occurred to her she dashed it. He knew what he was giving up and bringing small lady here would be cruel and undeserving behavior for a sailor scout but of how she wished she could change his mind.
"I'm ready Pluto send me back to the future and set me down right in Beryl's lap."
"As you wish my lord"
The light on Pluto's staff flashed Darien closed his eyes and he pictured Serena as she was now so close to death it gave him the strength to go on and when he opened his eyes he was in Beryl's icy palace and soon surrounded by her guards.
"Take me to Queen Beryl now." Their was no turning back now.
……………………………….....................................
I know I know it was too short I promise the next chapter will be longer.