I am so tired of this chapter you have no idea. I've rewritten so many
times and revised it even more times that I'm sick of it. So please if
there's any mistakes forgive me but I just can't go over this chapter again
to check for mistakes, maybe in a week or two, but not now. And since I'm
guessing you guys don't want to wait another 2 weeks here it is. Enjoy
The Heart Remembers Chapter 34
Endymion lowered his own head in shame. He regretted his outburst and for causing Mars pain. He was angry with himself and he had no right to take it out on her.
"I think now would be a good time to rest Pluto announced breaking the tense atmosphere. One by one they all shuffled out until only Pluto and Endymion remained. "We have to talk my lord."
Endymion rubbed the back of his neck wearily. He was tired and he needed to conserve his energy. "I know I was harsh with her Pluto, I just lost my temper for a moment.
Pluto looked at him with blank eyes although her heart bled for him. And she too had lost her own temper so she would not be casting stones, besides which he had been right. The others didn't understand what they were going through because they have yet to remember how it use to be, only then could they know what we all have lost and what we could lose if the dark prince had his way. There was no doubt that he had to be stopped, her only concern was how Endymion planned to stop him and that was why she was here. "Are you really going to put off going after the dark prince and give this plan a chance to work?"
"It's hardly a plan Pluto; it's more like, hoping for the best.
"Then you don't think that Serena can be reached?"
Endymion lowered his hand and looked up at her. "I think that it's a possibility, but not a certainty"
"Then you still think that destroying the Dark Prince is the only sure way to save her?"
Endymion starred at her silently for a long moment before replying "You know my thoughts on the subject Pluto, so why the twenty questions?"
Pluto bit back a sigh. "I came here for the sole purpose of preventing you from confronting the Dark Prince."
Endymion let out a chuckle that sounded anything but amused "I'm not use to you being so forthright Pluto. Tell me, how exactly did you plan to stop me?"
"I don't know." She admitted honestly "But you've seen what the future holds for Serena and Rini if the Dark Prince is destroyed. Knowing this how can you even consider going through with it?"
"What would you have me do?" he bit out angrily "If this plan fails what other option will be left for us? The darkness residing inside Serena is changing her, its eating away at her soul bit by bit and if we wait too long there won't be any left of the Serena we know. She'll be lost to us forever."
"Even my powers are limited" Pluto remarked sadly "I see many possible futures and I wish I could tell you the correct path to take, but I can't, because I truly don't know. All I do know is that there is another way to save her beyond what we know now." she turned to look at Serenity and Rini sleeping forms. "The answer is right in front of me but for the moment beyond my reach."
Endymion turned to look at them as well, and he felt his anger draining away at the sight of them. They both lay their sleeping on there back, their arms and legs pointed in every direction. "I'll wait as long as I can Pluto; and that's all I can promise."
And I can only hope that the path is revealed to me, Pluto reflected silently before all hope is lost.
...................
Serena pulled back so that she could look into his eyes. "You have been mistreated Jedite. Beryl never appreciated you. She never understood your worth. I do. Join me Jedite
Join me. Join me. Her words echoed inside his head. And then he did something that he wasn't aware that he was capable of. He took a leap of faith. "Yes" he sighed. And her smile of delight warmed him. He had severed Beryl in a quest for power he would serve Serenity simply because he wanted too.
"Good" Serena smiled extremely pleased with herself "Now rise and expect my gift to you."
Jedite found he could once again move and rose cautiously to his feet. He had learned from Beryl to be wary of gifts, since hers had a way of bringing pain in one form or another.
"Now place your arms around me," she commanded softly
Jedite froze and looked over her shoulder at the Dark Prince. He stood there as still and as quiet as a statue shrouded in shadows he presented a menacing figure. Looking at him now he wondered how he ever thought he could go up against him and win?"
He turned his gaze back to Princess Serena. Had he made a mistake? Was all this after all just some game to her? She knew that the Dark Prince despised him. You could feel the animosity in air around them. It was like a living entity that grew in malice with each breath he took. And now she wanted him to embrace her and risk the possibility of that wrath being unleashed and tearing him to apart?
Serena sighed and shot Darien a look of reproach. He was making things far more difficult for her then they had to be. Deciding to take matters into her own hands she moved closer to Jedite and placed his arms around her waist herself. Jedite tensed but he didn't remove his arms, he had made his decision and he was sticking with it no matter what the outcome.
Serena could feel her loves displeasure and it brought a small smile to her face. He was showing remarkable restraint, if the situation were reversed she would not be quite so patient or indulgent. She raised her hands and brought his head down towards hers. Apart of her wanted to continue teasing Darien but another part of her warned that if she wanted to keep Jedite alive she'd better forgo the teasing and get on with it. And doing so she pressed her check against his and wasting no more time released her power.
Jedite gasped as he was enveloped by her power and blinded by a white light. He didn't know how to describe what was happening to him but he could feel her power flowing through his body. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
When the light faded Serena stepped back and smiled at him in satisfaction. "Now your as handsome as ever."
Jedite touched in healed face in awe.
"And that's not all I gave you" Serena stated smiling.
Jedite looked at her in confusion before he felt the awesome power coursing through his body. For a second he thought it was still her power that was inside him but then he realized that it felt different, not quite as strong and was then that he realized what it was, it was his power. He could only stand there in dumbfounded amazement at his newly founded power.
"With that new power you could destroy even Beryl if you so desired."
Jedite's eyes lit up at the notion causing Serena to chuckle before she dashed his hopes. "But I'm afraid that privilege is reserved for me. I have something else I want you to do."
Jedite looked at her expectantly. "I want you to go and observe the Sailor Scouts," she told him where to find them. "But I don't under any circumstances want you to engage them in battle. If you're discovered you are to return here immediately. Is that clear?"
"I shall do as you command my Queen."
Serena dismissed him with a wave of her hand and after one final bow he left.
"What were you thinking?" Darien demanded as he came up behind her. "You knew that I wanted him dead."
Serena turned to face him. "Yes I know, but I have something else in mind for our Jedite." She pressed a finger to his lips to allay his next question. "I will tell you what I have planned for him later" she looked past him to Beryl "But right now I wish to send Beryl on her way."
Darien removed her finger but didn't release her hand. "You didn't have to kiss him."
Serena smile up at him. "Jealous?" she taunted
Darien frowned down at her. You are not to go around kissing other men" he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed along her knuckles causing her heart to jump and her pulse to race "Your kisses are reserved for me only." Lowering her hand he drew her further into his arms so that she had to tilt her head back further to look at him. He lowered his head down to hers.
"Darien" she sighed breathlessly and raised herself on her toes bridging the gap between them. Their mouths met in a blaze of need, love and desire. Everything else faded into the background and for a while they could both forget the empty hours and the long lonely months they spent apart and simply rejoice in the fact that they were together again.
It was Serena who finally pulled away, breathless and lightheaded. "I could stay like this forever," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him and leaned her cheek against his chest.
Darien rested his head on top of hers. "I don't know how I ever managed to live without you."
Serena smiled, blinked back the tears; he always knew what to say. "It's a good thing you realized your mistake and came after me."
"I will always come for you Serena, always."
"I know." she whispered before lowering her arms and stepping back and away from him. She tilted her head back to smile at him lovingly.
He raised his hand and traced her lips with his thumb. "Remember where we left off," he whispered before lowering his hand and backing away from her.
Serena flushed, but her eyes gleamed with happiness. It was only when she turned to look at Beryl that, that gleam faded to be replaced with something not quite so nice. If had been up to Beryl Darien wouldn't be here with her now. "Its time we finished this, Beryl."
..........
Mars sat before the sacred fire and rubbed at her eyes furiously, trying to staunch the seemingly endless flow of tears. She had come here seeking answers, not to sit here blubbering like a baby. She pounded on the floor angrily with her fist. She had failed Serena once already she was not going to do so a second time. She just didn't understand how she could have been so oblivious to what was going on around her?
She couldn't blame it all on the fact that her memories had been altered. That didn't excuse her, the others yes, but not her. She had made the mistake of judging Serena without first judging herself first. Endymion had been right to reprimand her. She should have known or at least suspected that there was something more to the dark prince then what met the eye, but she hadn't, and she couldn't understand how she could have missed all the signs when it all now seemed so painfully obvious.
She had been blind to Serena's pain, blind to the danger she was in and blind to the fact that she desperately needed someone to confide in. "Oh Serena" she whispered harshly "I'm so sorry" she pressed a trembling hand to her mouth as the last word ended on a sob.
Curling up on the floor she pressed her other hand against her chest, which was tight with suppressed emotions as she battled to keep her grief bottled up inside. It was a losing battle and her body shook as it was ravaged with one harsh throat-wrenching sob after another.
Lost in her own world of sorrow and guilt she failed to hear the opening and closing of the door or the sound of approaching footsteps. She let out a startled cry as someone grabbed her roughly by the shoulders from behind. She swung her head around, expecting to see the concerned face of one of the Scouts she was completely dumbfounded when she saw whom it actually was.
Nephlite seeing that he had her attention let go of her shoulders and back away.
Caught off guard Mars could only stare up at him in stunned silence while the last remaining tears fell silently and unnoticed down her cheeks. It was only as the shock began to where off that she felt the first wave of embarrassment heat her skin. She knew she was look a sight and just barely resisted the urge to scrub fruitlessly at her checks as if by erasing the evidence of the tears it would be as if it never happened. Which was ridiculous, but nevertheless she had to fight back the urge to do so.
He had seen her cry before, Endymion's words had brought her to tears and she had shed them before him and everyone, but this was different, very few outside of her own circle of family and friends had ever seen her lose such control over her emotions. And here was a man she barely knew and didn't completely trust catching her with her guard down, which only made matters worse and was enough to send her tempering soaring. And she welcomed it, preferring the heat of anger to the mortifying stain of embarrassment, and with this anger she lashed out at him. "What the hell are you doing in here?" she barked wincing at the pain it caused her sore throat.
Nephlite looked at her with an unreadable expression. If she offended him by her greeting or tone you couldn't tell by looking at him. "I couldn't concentrate because of all that racket, so I came to see what the problem was." He looked down at her "Now that I know, do you think you can keep it down?"
Mars stood up all but trembling in the effort to hold her temper. Getting angry was one thing losing her temper was something else all together. She didn't want to alert the others and bring the whole household down around their heads. It was bad enough that Nephlite was seeing her like; she didn't want anyone else to. "This is my home" she bit out angrily "And my private sanctuary, how dare you come in here and tell me to shut up"
Nephlite arched an eyebrow at her. "I didn't tell you too shut up." He explained slowly as if talking to a child "I asked if you could keep it down."
Mars had to bite her lip to keep herself from screaming. "Oh I'm so sorry for disturbing you," she drawled out sarcastically, her eyes breathed fire but her tone was as cold as ice. "Excuse me if I happened to be a little upset that even as we speak my Princess might consider me to be her enemy."
"I would have assumed you were crying because she failed to protect her." He stated quietly
Mars gasped, wondering at his cruelty as his words hit her hard. But then what could she expect from someone that was still apart of the Negaverse. The Negaverse, which was at this moment turning Serena against her. "You unfeeling bastard." she cried and losing what was left of her control took a swing at him with one tightly clenched fist.
Nephlite dodged and went on the defensive. He didn't want to hurt her but he didn't want her to hurt him either. After all she was no ordinary human girl.
But Mars didn't follow through with her attack instead she stood their trembling before him like a leaf blowing in a harsh autumn breeze, as her anger left her as quickly as it had appeared. She looked at him with haunted eyes. "I'm suppose to know these things, but I knew nothing, I sensed nothing."
Nephlite relaxed his stance when it became apparent that she wasn't going to attack him again. She was obviously distressed about Serena and perhaps his comment had been a little too blunt, he was still new at this touchy feely thing and didn't always know the right thing to say. She obviously needed someone to comfort her and he was obviously not the right man for the job, but it looked like he was nominated by default since there was no one else here. He bit back a sigh maybe he could help since he understood some of what she was feeling, he was angry with himself as well for not interpreting the signs in time to stop this all from happening. And as one of the Princess's guards she must feel about ten times worse.
He started to approach but with caution although her anger had cooled he had no doubt it could be re-ignited just as quickly as it had receded. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can't blame yourself for what happened. To wallow in the past is a mistake since we cannot change it, the only thing we can hope to do is shape the future.
Mars felt a shudder run through body, she barely heard the words as her gaze remained transfixed on the hand resting upon her shoulder. She was so cold, colder then she could ever remember being in her life, and he was so warm. And that warmth was seeping into her body where his hand touched her shoulder. It didn't matter that she didn't fully trust him or that she had more questions then answers right now she needed that warmth.
Nephlite thought he was prepared for anything she could throw at him, he'd been wrong. One minute he was standing there and the next he found his arms filled with a sobbing sailor scout. This was something even he could not have foreseen.
........
Beryl could feel her ire rising as she watched the two of them embrace and her hatred for them grew to new bounds so that she was all but choking on it. It was only the certainty that when she died she would be taking them with her that allowed her to focus on the goal at hand. Her eyes fell on her staff that was clutched tightly in her right hand, useless for the moment, but her chance would come.
She watched and waited and when Serena finally turned back to her she saw those blue eyes of her turn cold and bitter. It seemed the girl had finally learned how to hate. It was too bad that she wasn't going to live long enough to enjoy the sensation.
"It time we ended this Beryl."
Beryl felt a moment of unease when she believed that they were going to just destroy her without first releasing her from her captivity, then she felt the sensation returning to her limbs and found that she could once again move, she rose to her feet laughing almost hysterically. Clutching her staff tightly in one hand she pointed at the Dark Prince with the other. "I gave you your power, I made you what you are, how dare you betray me."
Darien smiled at her coldly. "Don't fool yourself Beryl you had only a small hand in helping me become what I am. And with Serena by my side my powers will finally reach their full potential and the whole universe will tremble in our wake."
"I wont let you beat me again," she cried and her eyes once again moved to Serena. "They belong to me. The Negaverse and Darien both belong to me. I'll never let you have them." She raised her staff and swung and down towards the ground, only to have it jerk to a stop mere inches away.
Startled her gaze moved up the staff and stopped when it fell upon a hand that was not her own. She looked up at the owner of that hand and froze. Beryl stood there in shock as Serena starred out at her with eyes of a stranger. Her perfect blues eyes had bled black and the power she felt the girl giving off was enough to raise the hair on the back of her neck.
She had always counted on many things when fighting against the moon princess, her compassion, her sense of right and wrong, and her willingness to grant mercy to her enemies. They were all weakness to be exploited, but looking into those cold eyes she had an awful feeling that she was about to be in for a nasty surprise.
........
After spending what was left of his night thinking about his late night visitor malachite finally found himself drifting off back to sleep around dawn only to awaken abruptly by the sound of the door opening.
Thinking she had come back he jerked upright in bed, and his gaze sought and found those of his visitors. But to his surprise and strangely enough disappointment it wasn't her eyes that looked back at him but those of Nephlite's.
"Sorry." Nephlite said as he stepped further into the room. "I didn't mean to wake you." He slid the door closed behind him.
Caught off guard all Malachite could do was shrug his shoulder. It didn't matter to him but for that one instant when he realized it wasn't her and he felt a keen disappoint. He shook his head not wanting to dwell on his strange reaction he concentrated on his friend instead and realized that he looked haggard. It was obvious that he hadn't been to bed yet and the strain he was placing on himself was there for all to see. He wanted to swear at him; to demand that he sit down before he fell down, but he didn't, too much was at stake so instead he settled on. "You look like hell."
One side of Nephlite's mouth lifted into a half smile. "You don't look so good yourself."
Malachite didn't need to look down at himself to know that by now his body must represent every color of the rainbow and then some. But at least he didn't feel as bad as he looked. In fact thanks to Serenity he was hardly in any discomfort at all. A little sore from being chained to a wall for so long but other than that he felt pretty good. "Well he said I can't argue with you there." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. "Did you learn anything knew last night?"
"Not really" Nephlite sighed which was true the stars had told him nothing new, nothing that he hadn't already known. Approaching darkness, doom to all those of pure heart. The information he did gather last night strangely enough came from Sailor mars but now was not the time to tell Malachite about it not until he learned more. Besides there was something else going on with Malachite, there was something different about him this morning. It was a very subtle change most likely unnoticeable by most, but not by him. Whatever happened had to have occurred sometime after he left him last night. He wondered what it was. "Malachite why don't you tell me about what happened last night."
"What?' Malachite croaked while trying not to squirm under those penetrating eyes. Nephlite was indeed powerful but he was no mind reader. So there was no way he could know what went on here last night. I mean it's not like he asked the stars what Sailor Scout he'd end up kissing. But he obviously knows that something happened. Had he somehow given himself away? Was the guilt he felt written all over his face for all to see? Was he-
"Malachite!"
Malachite's head jerked up at the sound of his name being called and by the tone of it, it wasn't the first time. And to his utter dismay he realized that he had been starring aimlessly down at the floor while mumbling to his self.
"Are you alright?" Nephrite asked in concern "Is it your wounds, are they bothering you?" He started towards him
Malachite waved him off. Although he was tempted to use his injuries as an excuse for his odd behavior he knew that he would only come to regret it later. He knew that he so much as hinted that he was in the least amount of pain Nephlite would attach himself to his side for the remainder of the day and wouldn't allow him out of his sight for a second. And that was the last thing he wanted. He had every intention of getting a certain Sailor Scout off alone and without the others knowing and that would be impossible with Nephlite watching him like a hawk. "I'm fine." He assured him hastily "Whatever Serenity did to take away the pain seems to be permanent."
"Ah yes" Nephlite sighed leaning back against the wall, he'd forgotten about that little tidbit. He laced his arms across his chest and starred down at Malachite with inquisitive eyes. "When exactly did you meet her? And why didn't you tell me about her?"
"I didn't trust you." He replied bluntly not mincing words, and extremely grateful that they were no longer discussing what happened last night. "She came to me some time after I was capture and begged me not to tell Darien about his past. I didn't understand why at the time but I can guess the reason now." He thought about Serena and shook his head sadly. "They were trying to prevent this very thing from happening." He placed his hands on his chest. "As for this? I don't know what she did. She just placed her hands on my chest and then hands began to glow and soon her whole body was glowing. I don't know if I can describe it properly but it was as if some part of her was moving through me." He ran a hand through his hair, searching for the right words. "I don't know what to call it, her energy, her essence, I just know that it was warm and soothing and when she was done I was no longer in any pain." He tried to read Nephlite's expression but it was useless, the man was a master at hiding his thoughts and feelings from others. "And by the time I did trust you" he drawled out slowly "I had other things on my mind."
"That's true" Nephlite stated thoughtfully. "If Beryl hadn't panicked and ordered your death I doubt if I had made my move so soon. But then again considering what's happened with princess Serena it's perhaps for the best that we got out when we did."
"Do you think they've arrived at the palace yet?"
Nephlite didn't have to ask whom he was referring to. "Probably. Pluto and Endymion seemed certain that the Dark Prince wouldn't make his next move without Princess Serena. We should know something soon."
Malachite gave a frustrated sigh. "I can't stand the waiting. I feel as if we should be doing something. We don't even know what we're up against."
Where up against the power of the moon kingdom. The Earth and the Negaverse all rolled up into one.
"Beryl doesn't stand a chance does she?" although he made it sound like a question he already knew the answer.
Nephlite shook his head. "Her defeat is written in the stars and her fate was sealed the moment she corrupted Darien with not only the dark powers of the Negaverse but with own evil powers. It's our own fate, which remains unclear. Ours and the rest of the worlds."
"I believe your right." Malachite conceded. "I can see now that Beryl never stood a chance against him. She must have begun to sense it too, and that's why she was in such a panic. But what I want to know is that if Beryl had the sense enough to fear him when he was alone. How more dangerous will he be now that he has Serena? And how can we begin to compete with such power?"
"We can only hope that this plan of theirs works, especially since it's there only plan. Nephlite answered. "If it fails then we might have no other choice but to go through with Endymion's plan despite the fact that the Sailor Scouts disagree with it."
Malachite froze. He knew what Endymion's plan entailed and what the outcome of such a plan would mean and he found he too wanted no part of it. Everything inside him protested at the thought of Darien coming to any serious harm. His first thought being to protect. He didn't know why he felt this so strongly, it was just another enigma that plagued him and that needed he needed answered.
They both turned as someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Jupiter. Can I come in? I wanted to apologize again for last night."
"Yes" Nephlite answered before Malachite could open his mouth
Jupiter opened the door and fidgeted nervously when she spotted Nephlite "I'm sorry I didn't know you had company, I'll come back later."
"No don't leave" Nephlite said, "Malachite here was just about to tell me all about what happened last night. But since you're here why don't you tell me."
Malachite shot a look at Nephlite and found to his amazement that his eyes were filled with more emotion then he could ever remember him displaying. This did not bode well for them. Especially since this particular gleam seemed predatory. And if he had to guess, he would say that he and Jupiter were the intended prey.
The Heart Remembers Chapter 34
Endymion lowered his own head in shame. He regretted his outburst and for causing Mars pain. He was angry with himself and he had no right to take it out on her.
"I think now would be a good time to rest Pluto announced breaking the tense atmosphere. One by one they all shuffled out until only Pluto and Endymion remained. "We have to talk my lord."
Endymion rubbed the back of his neck wearily. He was tired and he needed to conserve his energy. "I know I was harsh with her Pluto, I just lost my temper for a moment.
Pluto looked at him with blank eyes although her heart bled for him. And she too had lost her own temper so she would not be casting stones, besides which he had been right. The others didn't understand what they were going through because they have yet to remember how it use to be, only then could they know what we all have lost and what we could lose if the dark prince had his way. There was no doubt that he had to be stopped, her only concern was how Endymion planned to stop him and that was why she was here. "Are you really going to put off going after the dark prince and give this plan a chance to work?"
"It's hardly a plan Pluto; it's more like, hoping for the best.
"Then you don't think that Serena can be reached?"
Endymion lowered his hand and looked up at her. "I think that it's a possibility, but not a certainty"
"Then you still think that destroying the Dark Prince is the only sure way to save her?"
Endymion starred at her silently for a long moment before replying "You know my thoughts on the subject Pluto, so why the twenty questions?"
Pluto bit back a sigh. "I came here for the sole purpose of preventing you from confronting the Dark Prince."
Endymion let out a chuckle that sounded anything but amused "I'm not use to you being so forthright Pluto. Tell me, how exactly did you plan to stop me?"
"I don't know." She admitted honestly "But you've seen what the future holds for Serena and Rini if the Dark Prince is destroyed. Knowing this how can you even consider going through with it?"
"What would you have me do?" he bit out angrily "If this plan fails what other option will be left for us? The darkness residing inside Serena is changing her, its eating away at her soul bit by bit and if we wait too long there won't be any left of the Serena we know. She'll be lost to us forever."
"Even my powers are limited" Pluto remarked sadly "I see many possible futures and I wish I could tell you the correct path to take, but I can't, because I truly don't know. All I do know is that there is another way to save her beyond what we know now." she turned to look at Serenity and Rini sleeping forms. "The answer is right in front of me but for the moment beyond my reach."
Endymion turned to look at them as well, and he felt his anger draining away at the sight of them. They both lay their sleeping on there back, their arms and legs pointed in every direction. "I'll wait as long as I can Pluto; and that's all I can promise."
And I can only hope that the path is revealed to me, Pluto reflected silently before all hope is lost.
...................
Serena pulled back so that she could look into his eyes. "You have been mistreated Jedite. Beryl never appreciated you. She never understood your worth. I do. Join me Jedite
Join me. Join me. Her words echoed inside his head. And then he did something that he wasn't aware that he was capable of. He took a leap of faith. "Yes" he sighed. And her smile of delight warmed him. He had severed Beryl in a quest for power he would serve Serenity simply because he wanted too.
"Good" Serena smiled extremely pleased with herself "Now rise and expect my gift to you."
Jedite found he could once again move and rose cautiously to his feet. He had learned from Beryl to be wary of gifts, since hers had a way of bringing pain in one form or another.
"Now place your arms around me," she commanded softly
Jedite froze and looked over her shoulder at the Dark Prince. He stood there as still and as quiet as a statue shrouded in shadows he presented a menacing figure. Looking at him now he wondered how he ever thought he could go up against him and win?"
He turned his gaze back to Princess Serena. Had he made a mistake? Was all this after all just some game to her? She knew that the Dark Prince despised him. You could feel the animosity in air around them. It was like a living entity that grew in malice with each breath he took. And now she wanted him to embrace her and risk the possibility of that wrath being unleashed and tearing him to apart?
Serena sighed and shot Darien a look of reproach. He was making things far more difficult for her then they had to be. Deciding to take matters into her own hands she moved closer to Jedite and placed his arms around her waist herself. Jedite tensed but he didn't remove his arms, he had made his decision and he was sticking with it no matter what the outcome.
Serena could feel her loves displeasure and it brought a small smile to her face. He was showing remarkable restraint, if the situation were reversed she would not be quite so patient or indulgent. She raised her hands and brought his head down towards hers. Apart of her wanted to continue teasing Darien but another part of her warned that if she wanted to keep Jedite alive she'd better forgo the teasing and get on with it. And doing so she pressed her check against his and wasting no more time released her power.
Jedite gasped as he was enveloped by her power and blinded by a white light. He didn't know how to describe what was happening to him but he could feel her power flowing through his body. It was both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
When the light faded Serena stepped back and smiled at him in satisfaction. "Now your as handsome as ever."
Jedite touched in healed face in awe.
"And that's not all I gave you" Serena stated smiling.
Jedite looked at her in confusion before he felt the awesome power coursing through his body. For a second he thought it was still her power that was inside him but then he realized that it felt different, not quite as strong and was then that he realized what it was, it was his power. He could only stand there in dumbfounded amazement at his newly founded power.
"With that new power you could destroy even Beryl if you so desired."
Jedite's eyes lit up at the notion causing Serena to chuckle before she dashed his hopes. "But I'm afraid that privilege is reserved for me. I have something else I want you to do."
Jedite looked at her expectantly. "I want you to go and observe the Sailor Scouts," she told him where to find them. "But I don't under any circumstances want you to engage them in battle. If you're discovered you are to return here immediately. Is that clear?"
"I shall do as you command my Queen."
Serena dismissed him with a wave of her hand and after one final bow he left.
"What were you thinking?" Darien demanded as he came up behind her. "You knew that I wanted him dead."
Serena turned to face him. "Yes I know, but I have something else in mind for our Jedite." She pressed a finger to his lips to allay his next question. "I will tell you what I have planned for him later" she looked past him to Beryl "But right now I wish to send Beryl on her way."
Darien removed her finger but didn't release her hand. "You didn't have to kiss him."
Serena smile up at him. "Jealous?" she taunted
Darien frowned down at her. You are not to go around kissing other men" he raised her hand to his mouth and kissed along her knuckles causing her heart to jump and her pulse to race "Your kisses are reserved for me only." Lowering her hand he drew her further into his arms so that she had to tilt her head back further to look at him. He lowered his head down to hers.
"Darien" she sighed breathlessly and raised herself on her toes bridging the gap between them. Their mouths met in a blaze of need, love and desire. Everything else faded into the background and for a while they could both forget the empty hours and the long lonely months they spent apart and simply rejoice in the fact that they were together again.
It was Serena who finally pulled away, breathless and lightheaded. "I could stay like this forever," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around him and leaned her cheek against his chest.
Darien rested his head on top of hers. "I don't know how I ever managed to live without you."
Serena smiled, blinked back the tears; he always knew what to say. "It's a good thing you realized your mistake and came after me."
"I will always come for you Serena, always."
"I know." she whispered before lowering her arms and stepping back and away from him. She tilted her head back to smile at him lovingly.
He raised his hand and traced her lips with his thumb. "Remember where we left off," he whispered before lowering his hand and backing away from her.
Serena flushed, but her eyes gleamed with happiness. It was only when she turned to look at Beryl that, that gleam faded to be replaced with something not quite so nice. If had been up to Beryl Darien wouldn't be here with her now. "Its time we finished this, Beryl."
..........
Mars sat before the sacred fire and rubbed at her eyes furiously, trying to staunch the seemingly endless flow of tears. She had come here seeking answers, not to sit here blubbering like a baby. She pounded on the floor angrily with her fist. She had failed Serena once already she was not going to do so a second time. She just didn't understand how she could have been so oblivious to what was going on around her?
She couldn't blame it all on the fact that her memories had been altered. That didn't excuse her, the others yes, but not her. She had made the mistake of judging Serena without first judging herself first. Endymion had been right to reprimand her. She should have known or at least suspected that there was something more to the dark prince then what met the eye, but she hadn't, and she couldn't understand how she could have missed all the signs when it all now seemed so painfully obvious.
She had been blind to Serena's pain, blind to the danger she was in and blind to the fact that she desperately needed someone to confide in. "Oh Serena" she whispered harshly "I'm so sorry" she pressed a trembling hand to her mouth as the last word ended on a sob.
Curling up on the floor she pressed her other hand against her chest, which was tight with suppressed emotions as she battled to keep her grief bottled up inside. It was a losing battle and her body shook as it was ravaged with one harsh throat-wrenching sob after another.
Lost in her own world of sorrow and guilt she failed to hear the opening and closing of the door or the sound of approaching footsteps. She let out a startled cry as someone grabbed her roughly by the shoulders from behind. She swung her head around, expecting to see the concerned face of one of the Scouts she was completely dumbfounded when she saw whom it actually was.
Nephlite seeing that he had her attention let go of her shoulders and back away.
Caught off guard Mars could only stare up at him in stunned silence while the last remaining tears fell silently and unnoticed down her cheeks. It was only as the shock began to where off that she felt the first wave of embarrassment heat her skin. She knew she was look a sight and just barely resisted the urge to scrub fruitlessly at her checks as if by erasing the evidence of the tears it would be as if it never happened. Which was ridiculous, but nevertheless she had to fight back the urge to do so.
He had seen her cry before, Endymion's words had brought her to tears and she had shed them before him and everyone, but this was different, very few outside of her own circle of family and friends had ever seen her lose such control over her emotions. And here was a man she barely knew and didn't completely trust catching her with her guard down, which only made matters worse and was enough to send her tempering soaring. And she welcomed it, preferring the heat of anger to the mortifying stain of embarrassment, and with this anger she lashed out at him. "What the hell are you doing in here?" she barked wincing at the pain it caused her sore throat.
Nephlite looked at her with an unreadable expression. If she offended him by her greeting or tone you couldn't tell by looking at him. "I couldn't concentrate because of all that racket, so I came to see what the problem was." He looked down at her "Now that I know, do you think you can keep it down?"
Mars stood up all but trembling in the effort to hold her temper. Getting angry was one thing losing her temper was something else all together. She didn't want to alert the others and bring the whole household down around their heads. It was bad enough that Nephlite was seeing her like; she didn't want anyone else to. "This is my home" she bit out angrily "And my private sanctuary, how dare you come in here and tell me to shut up"
Nephlite arched an eyebrow at her. "I didn't tell you too shut up." He explained slowly as if talking to a child "I asked if you could keep it down."
Mars had to bite her lip to keep herself from screaming. "Oh I'm so sorry for disturbing you," she drawled out sarcastically, her eyes breathed fire but her tone was as cold as ice. "Excuse me if I happened to be a little upset that even as we speak my Princess might consider me to be her enemy."
"I would have assumed you were crying because she failed to protect her." He stated quietly
Mars gasped, wondering at his cruelty as his words hit her hard. But then what could she expect from someone that was still apart of the Negaverse. The Negaverse, which was at this moment turning Serena against her. "You unfeeling bastard." she cried and losing what was left of her control took a swing at him with one tightly clenched fist.
Nephlite dodged and went on the defensive. He didn't want to hurt her but he didn't want her to hurt him either. After all she was no ordinary human girl.
But Mars didn't follow through with her attack instead she stood their trembling before him like a leaf blowing in a harsh autumn breeze, as her anger left her as quickly as it had appeared. She looked at him with haunted eyes. "I'm suppose to know these things, but I knew nothing, I sensed nothing."
Nephlite relaxed his stance when it became apparent that she wasn't going to attack him again. She was obviously distressed about Serena and perhaps his comment had been a little too blunt, he was still new at this touchy feely thing and didn't always know the right thing to say. She obviously needed someone to comfort her and he was obviously not the right man for the job, but it looked like he was nominated by default since there was no one else here. He bit back a sigh maybe he could help since he understood some of what she was feeling, he was angry with himself as well for not interpreting the signs in time to stop this all from happening. And as one of the Princess's guards she must feel about ten times worse.
He started to approach but with caution although her anger had cooled he had no doubt it could be re-ignited just as quickly as it had receded. He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You can't blame yourself for what happened. To wallow in the past is a mistake since we cannot change it, the only thing we can hope to do is shape the future.
Mars felt a shudder run through body, she barely heard the words as her gaze remained transfixed on the hand resting upon her shoulder. She was so cold, colder then she could ever remember being in her life, and he was so warm. And that warmth was seeping into her body where his hand touched her shoulder. It didn't matter that she didn't fully trust him or that she had more questions then answers right now she needed that warmth.
Nephlite thought he was prepared for anything she could throw at him, he'd been wrong. One minute he was standing there and the next he found his arms filled with a sobbing sailor scout. This was something even he could not have foreseen.
........
Beryl could feel her ire rising as she watched the two of them embrace and her hatred for them grew to new bounds so that she was all but choking on it. It was only the certainty that when she died she would be taking them with her that allowed her to focus on the goal at hand. Her eyes fell on her staff that was clutched tightly in her right hand, useless for the moment, but her chance would come.
She watched and waited and when Serena finally turned back to her she saw those blue eyes of her turn cold and bitter. It seemed the girl had finally learned how to hate. It was too bad that she wasn't going to live long enough to enjoy the sensation.
"It time we ended this Beryl."
Beryl felt a moment of unease when she believed that they were going to just destroy her without first releasing her from her captivity, then she felt the sensation returning to her limbs and found that she could once again move, she rose to her feet laughing almost hysterically. Clutching her staff tightly in one hand she pointed at the Dark Prince with the other. "I gave you your power, I made you what you are, how dare you betray me."
Darien smiled at her coldly. "Don't fool yourself Beryl you had only a small hand in helping me become what I am. And with Serena by my side my powers will finally reach their full potential and the whole universe will tremble in our wake."
"I wont let you beat me again," she cried and her eyes once again moved to Serena. "They belong to me. The Negaverse and Darien both belong to me. I'll never let you have them." She raised her staff and swung and down towards the ground, only to have it jerk to a stop mere inches away.
Startled her gaze moved up the staff and stopped when it fell upon a hand that was not her own. She looked up at the owner of that hand and froze. Beryl stood there in shock as Serena starred out at her with eyes of a stranger. Her perfect blues eyes had bled black and the power she felt the girl giving off was enough to raise the hair on the back of her neck.
She had always counted on many things when fighting against the moon princess, her compassion, her sense of right and wrong, and her willingness to grant mercy to her enemies. They were all weakness to be exploited, but looking into those cold eyes she had an awful feeling that she was about to be in for a nasty surprise.
........
After spending what was left of his night thinking about his late night visitor malachite finally found himself drifting off back to sleep around dawn only to awaken abruptly by the sound of the door opening.
Thinking she had come back he jerked upright in bed, and his gaze sought and found those of his visitors. But to his surprise and strangely enough disappointment it wasn't her eyes that looked back at him but those of Nephlite's.
"Sorry." Nephlite said as he stepped further into the room. "I didn't mean to wake you." He slid the door closed behind him.
Caught off guard all Malachite could do was shrug his shoulder. It didn't matter to him but for that one instant when he realized it wasn't her and he felt a keen disappoint. He shook his head not wanting to dwell on his strange reaction he concentrated on his friend instead and realized that he looked haggard. It was obvious that he hadn't been to bed yet and the strain he was placing on himself was there for all to see. He wanted to swear at him; to demand that he sit down before he fell down, but he didn't, too much was at stake so instead he settled on. "You look like hell."
One side of Nephlite's mouth lifted into a half smile. "You don't look so good yourself."
Malachite didn't need to look down at himself to know that by now his body must represent every color of the rainbow and then some. But at least he didn't feel as bad as he looked. In fact thanks to Serenity he was hardly in any discomfort at all. A little sore from being chained to a wall for so long but other than that he felt pretty good. "Well he said I can't argue with you there." He swung his legs over the side of the bed and sat up. "Did you learn anything knew last night?"
"Not really" Nephlite sighed which was true the stars had told him nothing new, nothing that he hadn't already known. Approaching darkness, doom to all those of pure heart. The information he did gather last night strangely enough came from Sailor mars but now was not the time to tell Malachite about it not until he learned more. Besides there was something else going on with Malachite, there was something different about him this morning. It was a very subtle change most likely unnoticeable by most, but not by him. Whatever happened had to have occurred sometime after he left him last night. He wondered what it was. "Malachite why don't you tell me about what happened last night."
"What?' Malachite croaked while trying not to squirm under those penetrating eyes. Nephlite was indeed powerful but he was no mind reader. So there was no way he could know what went on here last night. I mean it's not like he asked the stars what Sailor Scout he'd end up kissing. But he obviously knows that something happened. Had he somehow given himself away? Was the guilt he felt written all over his face for all to see? Was he-
"Malachite!"
Malachite's head jerked up at the sound of his name being called and by the tone of it, it wasn't the first time. And to his utter dismay he realized that he had been starring aimlessly down at the floor while mumbling to his self.
"Are you alright?" Nephrite asked in concern "Is it your wounds, are they bothering you?" He started towards him
Malachite waved him off. Although he was tempted to use his injuries as an excuse for his odd behavior he knew that he would only come to regret it later. He knew that he so much as hinted that he was in the least amount of pain Nephlite would attach himself to his side for the remainder of the day and wouldn't allow him out of his sight for a second. And that was the last thing he wanted. He had every intention of getting a certain Sailor Scout off alone and without the others knowing and that would be impossible with Nephlite watching him like a hawk. "I'm fine." He assured him hastily "Whatever Serenity did to take away the pain seems to be permanent."
"Ah yes" Nephlite sighed leaning back against the wall, he'd forgotten about that little tidbit. He laced his arms across his chest and starred down at Malachite with inquisitive eyes. "When exactly did you meet her? And why didn't you tell me about her?"
"I didn't trust you." He replied bluntly not mincing words, and extremely grateful that they were no longer discussing what happened last night. "She came to me some time after I was capture and begged me not to tell Darien about his past. I didn't understand why at the time but I can guess the reason now." He thought about Serena and shook his head sadly. "They were trying to prevent this very thing from happening." He placed his hands on his chest. "As for this? I don't know what she did. She just placed her hands on my chest and then hands began to glow and soon her whole body was glowing. I don't know if I can describe it properly but it was as if some part of her was moving through me." He ran a hand through his hair, searching for the right words. "I don't know what to call it, her energy, her essence, I just know that it was warm and soothing and when she was done I was no longer in any pain." He tried to read Nephlite's expression but it was useless, the man was a master at hiding his thoughts and feelings from others. "And by the time I did trust you" he drawled out slowly "I had other things on my mind."
"That's true" Nephlite stated thoughtfully. "If Beryl hadn't panicked and ordered your death I doubt if I had made my move so soon. But then again considering what's happened with princess Serena it's perhaps for the best that we got out when we did."
"Do you think they've arrived at the palace yet?"
Nephlite didn't have to ask whom he was referring to. "Probably. Pluto and Endymion seemed certain that the Dark Prince wouldn't make his next move without Princess Serena. We should know something soon."
Malachite gave a frustrated sigh. "I can't stand the waiting. I feel as if we should be doing something. We don't even know what we're up against."
Where up against the power of the moon kingdom. The Earth and the Negaverse all rolled up into one.
"Beryl doesn't stand a chance does she?" although he made it sound like a question he already knew the answer.
Nephlite shook his head. "Her defeat is written in the stars and her fate was sealed the moment she corrupted Darien with not only the dark powers of the Negaverse but with own evil powers. It's our own fate, which remains unclear. Ours and the rest of the worlds."
"I believe your right." Malachite conceded. "I can see now that Beryl never stood a chance against him. She must have begun to sense it too, and that's why she was in such a panic. But what I want to know is that if Beryl had the sense enough to fear him when he was alone. How more dangerous will he be now that he has Serena? And how can we begin to compete with such power?"
"We can only hope that this plan of theirs works, especially since it's there only plan. Nephlite answered. "If it fails then we might have no other choice but to go through with Endymion's plan despite the fact that the Sailor Scouts disagree with it."
Malachite froze. He knew what Endymion's plan entailed and what the outcome of such a plan would mean and he found he too wanted no part of it. Everything inside him protested at the thought of Darien coming to any serious harm. His first thought being to protect. He didn't know why he felt this so strongly, it was just another enigma that plagued him and that needed he needed answered.
They both turned as someone knocked on the door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Jupiter. Can I come in? I wanted to apologize again for last night."
"Yes" Nephlite answered before Malachite could open his mouth
Jupiter opened the door and fidgeted nervously when she spotted Nephlite "I'm sorry I didn't know you had company, I'll come back later."
"No don't leave" Nephlite said, "Malachite here was just about to tell me all about what happened last night. But since you're here why don't you tell me."
Malachite shot a look at Nephlite and found to his amazement that his eyes were filled with more emotion then he could ever remember him displaying. This did not bode well for them. Especially since this particular gleam seemed predatory. And if he had to guess, he would say that he and Jupiter were the intended prey.