Chapter Twenty-Seven

Sammy paced back in forth in his room trying to wrap his brain around everything that Luna had told him. Serena was gone and Darien was with them. And she and Artemis were about to reveal the truth to him and the scouts. He couldn't believe it. And she also said that Rini was here. But how was that possible. Since that future no longer existed neither should Rini. He didn't understand what was going on and before he could ask Luna to explain she cut him off. She said that she had to go and that she'd inform him when she knew more and that right now they were all heading back to the temple.

Knowing that Darien was with them renewed his faith that every thing will work out in the end. Rini's existence was reason enough to have hope. It was just that he couldn't stand the waiting. In away he'd been waiting since the moment Luna had returned his memory. Waiting for a sign that everything will turn out the way it was suppose to. Waiting for the day that Darien would return to them as the man he used to be. And now just when everything suggested that his wait might be over his sister was captured by the Negaverse. And once again their future was uncertain.

Well he was tired of waiting. Tired of watching from the side lines. It was time he had answers. And he knew just where to go to get them..

………………

"Malachite?" Nephlite barked concern for him making his voice sharp. He was just starring off into space not saying a word and completely ignoring him. Nephlite came to his feet and hurried over to him. "Malachite?" he enquired more gently. He had the feeling of such despair about him that it caught him off guard and awoke a feeling of protectiveness.

When Malachite finally looked at him the pain he saw in his eyes was severe. Nephlite didn't quite was to make of it. But he could sense that the source of his pain wasn't one of the body but that of the spirit. Looking into those ravaged eyes a strange feeling to settled over him. It was totally alien to him and yet achingly familiar. He felt a bond with Malachite in that moment. A bond of companionship of brotherhood. 'Tell me what troubles you my friend?" he asked searching for the answer with his mind and strangely enough with his heart.

Malachite gave a weary sigh. He felt the presence of Nephlite's spirit inside of him giving him strength. What should have felt like an invasion was actually comforting and he did something that he swore he wouldn't do when Nephlite first walked in. He brought him into his confidence.

"I've been having dreams." he shut his eyes. Strange dreams" he murmured "Always the same. Theirs a woman there. I know her…and yet I don't."

Nephlite was glad that Malachite eyes were closed so he couldn't see his expression. A woman? He was dreaming of a woman? And by the sound of it, it wasn't Zosite. How truly bizarre and totally unexpected since it was his feelings for Zosite that landed him in this dungeon in the first place.

Malachite opened his eyes and starred at Nephlite with confused eyes. "I don't know why I'm having these dreams or what they mean. But I do know that their becoming more vivid and real each time I have them. And now…" he paused for a minute unsure if he should reveal everything. But Nephlite's Presence was still strong inside him and still so familiar. He prayed that his instincts weren't steering him wrong and that he could really trust him.

"Now I'm seeing her when I'm awake" he confessed and felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off him. He turned his head to stare at the very spot where he had seen her. "I just saw her a second ago" his mouth twisted with ill humor "And of course you didn't see her." He looked back at Nephlite "Be truthful with me my friend. Do you believe that I'm losing my mind in this place?"

"Hmmm?" Nephlite murmured lost in thought. It didn't occur to him to discount Malachite's dreams or his claim that he had saw her a minute ago. Tell me malachite when did you start having these visions? Was it before or after Sailormoon used the Imperial Crystal on you?"

"It was after. Why?" he asked apprehensively

Nephlite gave him a smug smile. "Because my dear Malachite I believe I might have the answer for your dreams. I asked you before if you remembered anything before Beryl and the Negaverse and you said no. It seems to me Malachite that you are remembering something" he gave him a sly look. "Or shall I say someone. These dreams, these visions could be an echo of a past that you don't remember."

Malachite was silent as he thought about what Nephlite just said. If it was true then that would mean that the woman in his dreams was real. Malachite felt torn between guilt, joy and despair. If the woman from his dreams was real what then?

…………

"I said explain yourself Luna" Prince Endymion barked when she didn't immediately answer him. He knew that he had caught her by surprise and she was still coming to terms with his presence here but right now he didn't care. He was so furious with her. He couldn't remember ever being this angry at her. She had no idea what she'd done by revealing the truth to the Dark Prince. Now because of her mistake Serena was in great peril. Not her life but her soul.

"Now wait a minute." Uranus cried not liking his tone one bit "You cant talk to her like that."

Endymion eyes narrowed on her. Luna sensing the danger quickly found her voice.

"Please your Majesty forgive her impotence she has yet to understand."

"And do you understand Luna?"

Luna shook her head "I must confess that I do not. I know who you are and who you aren't. But how you came to be here…?"she drifted of leaving the rest unsaid.

Endymion sighed trying to reign in his temper. He had watched helpless as Luna and Artemis divulged things to the Dark Prince that never should have been revealed. But he knew that now wasn't the time to vent. Their was little time left and he was afraid that it might already be too late.

"My Lord?" Artemis enquired anxiously. He wanted some answers. He felt they deserved him. He was curious about how he came to be here. Was he from the past? Dressed in full armor he definitely had the commanding presence of Prince Endymion. This wasn't Darien shields they were dealing with or even the Dark Prince this was Prince Endymion of Earth.

Endymion glared at him "Don't think I've forgotten your role in all of this Artemis. You too were giving orders not to reveal the truth to anyone. I over looked Sammy because I thought it would be an isolated incident and that you might need him to keep an eye of Serena. But now you've gone to far. By revealing the truth to the Dark Prince you've endangered us all especially Serena."

Artemis bowed his head in shame. Although for the moment he was uncertain why he deserved such ire but the fact that his Prince was displeased was obvious. He suddenly had an awful feeling in his gut that he and Luna had unknowingly put Serena in danger. Even greater than the one is was in at this very moment.

"Why do you keep calling him the Dark Prince?" Jupiter asked suspiciously. She didn't see any difference between the two except for this one was wearing armor if it wasn't for the presence of Serena she would have expected him of playing some sort of game with them. "You appear to be the same person."

Endymion raked a hand through his hair. "We are and we aren't."

"Are you from the past?" Artemis asked curiously although that idea was starting to wane if he was from the past how did he come to be here. And how could he have kept such a close eye without them knowing it. That part about overlooking Sammy had unnerved him. Just how long had he been spying on them and why did hadn't he revealed himself to them before now?

"No. Don't be deceived by my presence here. Their is still only one Darien in this time. Me and the Dark Prince are one in the same." he ignored Luna and Artemis shocked gasps and the Scouts incredulous stares. "It's hard to explain. Lets just say that I'm the part of the dark prince that has yet to be corrupted by the darkness residing in his soul."

"How is that possible?" Mercury enquired

Endymion gave an impatient wave of his hand "That isn't important right now. What's important is that you fully understand what you did when you revealed the truth to the Dark Prince."

"What choice did we have?" Luna exclaimed "You saw her. Rini is here. Now in the present. And Serena has been captured by Jedite and even now is being held in Beryl's palace. We need him to get her back and he wouldn't have listened to us unless we had revealed the truth.

"Yes theirs no doubt that he'll get her back" Endymion remarked quietly That wasn't what worried him. "The danger lies in what he's going to do to her once he has her."

…………..

Serena stood up on not so steady legs. She would have felt a lot steadier if she had been facing Beryl as Sailormoon.

Beryl gave her a cold smile. "Well it seems your end has come at last. Your friends can't save you now." she held out her hand. "Now hand over the imperial crystal and I promise your death will be quick and only slightly painful."

"I don't have it." she replied hastily

If possible Beryl's expression became even colder. "Do you take me for a fool. I know it's on you I can feel it.

Serena's eyes widened at that little tidbit. Panic seized her she could sense it even though it was in her sub pocket. Could she be able to find it as well?

"Perhaps" Beryl murmured softly giving her a nasty smile "you need time to think about your situation some more."

Before Serena could respond she was thrown back off her feet by some sort of energy burst. She hit the wall with a hard thump and had to bite her lip to stop from crying out. Then she gasped as she started to levitate off the ground. Her heart jumped as she was lifted several feet off the ground. When she came to a stop iron chains burst from the wall shackling her hands and feet.

Beryl smiled "What do you think Jedite? I think she blends in with the décor perfectly. I just might keep her there. At least while she lives." She remarked with an evil chuckle "I can't have her rotten corpse stinking up my palace now can I?"

Jedite laughed "No my Queen."

"Where's Prince Darien? I want to celebrate our triumph together. I might even have him torture her himself." It would be the finally blow against that wretched brat one that she was sure to still be laughing about in the centuries to come.

Jedite felt himself stiffen at her reference to the Dark Prince. Even now she wanted to share this victory with him. It was he who had captured her. It was he who brought her here and yet it was the Dark Prince who she would reward. It wasn't fair. But of course now it ceased to matter. He would finally rid himself of that nuisance and finally take his rightfully place as the new Prince of the Negaverse.

"My Queen theirs something I have to tell you regarding Prince Darien"

Beryl stood their not saying a word while she absorbed what Jedite had just revealed to her. Prince Darien had betrayed her yet again. It was unconceivable. Her hard gaze locked on the one who was responsible for his defection. The little blond looked so small pinned to the wall so insignificant but somehow she still managed to come between her and what she wanted. Play time was over. It was time that the little brat paid for getting in her way.

Serena struggled against her binds. But it was hopeless. She couldn't get her hands free. She was a sitting duck. If only she could have reached her locket before being imprisoned on this wall like some trophy. But no it was safely tucked away in her sub pocket. Out of reach of Beryl and herself. Although she knew it was useless she began tugging on her restraints again so she was more than a little surprise when her hands were suddenly free. She looked down at her feet and sure enough they were free too. It only took a second for reality to set in before gravity took over and she started to plummet to the ground.

She cried out and frantically reached for her locket, her relief was enormous when her hand touched apon it. But she wasn't out of the woods yet. She finished her transformation just in time. Not in enough time to stop herself from hitting the ground but in just enough time to make sure that the fall wasn't fatal. As just plain Serena she could never have survived that drop.

"Witch" she spit out as she got to her feet.

Beryl starred at her in dissatisfaction. Damn the girl and her luck.

Jedite stepped away from them. He wished he could stay and watch but Beryl was known to take her anger out on the unexpected. And he was going to make sure that the saying kill the messenger didn't apply to him. With a cheery farewell wave to Sailormoon he left to tell Zosite the good news.

"I despise you." Beryl hissed "You more than anyone before you. You're weak. Insignificant. And yet you still manage to thwart me at ever turn. Prince Darien is mine. I own him. He's apart of me now and not even the Imperial Silver crystal can change that."

Darien? She was talking about Darien. She wanted to denounce her claim on him but did she have the right? After all he didn't follow her. Didn't try to save her. He just allowed Jedite to take her and bring her before Beryl. Any hope she had of him returning her feeling were dwindling fast. It was hard to have hope when the hard reality was starring you right in the face.

"If he hadn't tricked me you'd be dead right now." she gave her a queer smile "But then again if he hadn't he wouldn't belong to me and the Negaverse. His love for you put him under my power and despite his treachery I plan to keep him." She made it sound like her decision but the truth was she had no other choice. She was reluctant to challenge him. His full powers were still unknown to her. Her attack on him before proofed that. And despite his wandering he was still apart of the Negaverse that she knew for a fact. She wasn't lying when she said the Imperial crystal couldn't help him. Nothing could he belong to the Negaverse now and forever.

Something of what she said clicked in Sailormoon's mind and she was reminded of what Jedite had said. "It's true." she croaked "Where married." she whispered in disbelief.

Beryl heard her and gave a cold laugh. "Not for long. But don't tell me that you didn't know."

"Jedite told me before he brought me here. But I don't understand" she cried "I don't remember him." she grasped her head "I don't remember."

"You can thank your beloved husband for that. His need to protect you is really disgusting. He had your memories of him erased." She gave her a false smile of sympathy "It's really too bad that you don't remember him. Now you wont even know what you've lost. What I've taken from you" She raised her staff. "But don't worry where your going you'll have no need for memories of the past."

Sailormoon barely heard her. It was true. She was his wife. She hugged that knowledge to her. Even though her memories of him were gone a part of her had recognized him instantly. She understood now why she responded to him so strongly. It explained how even now she could love him. So be it she sighed mentally. Why should she fight? Yes now she knew the truth. But it didn't matter. If he loved her he would have come for her. Nothing would have been able to stop him.

"What?" Beryl cried "No pretty speeches? No threats? No cries of denial? Perhaps your finally ready to admit that I'm the superior one? Is that it?"

Sailormoon starred at her with blank eyes. "Just get it over with." she stated quietly catching Beryl by surprise.

Beryl's eyes gleamed. This was it. Once she was dead their would be no more obstacles in her way. She's have the Universe and Prince Darien in one blow. Her staff gleamed. "Farewell Sailormoon." she cried and released the power of her staff.

Sailormoon watched the ball of energy closing in and made no move to dodge it. She was tired of fighting. Tired of feeling this way. She just wanted it to end. One way or another.

……………….