The Heart Remembers Chapter 36

Hidden and unobserved, Zosite starred wide-eyed as the battle between Princess Serena and Queen Beryl intensified. This was no ordinary battle. And that was no ordinary Moon Princess, who taunted and maneuvered Beryl. She was definitely different and the power she was emitting held a faint trace of the Negaverse and something else, something far more sinister.

Crackling with life the ominous energy surrounding Serena suddenly lashed out, striking Beryl over and over again, driving her to her knees.

Zosite flinched not from the sight before her but from the sudden increase of power filling the room and the dark emotions fueling it. Serena's emotions, dark and cold they were. They shimmered in the air, causing the hairs on the back of her neck to stand up on end.

She wrapped her arms around herself as her whole body began to tremble. She could almost taste Serena's emotions. She was filled with rage and such hatred, hatred for Beryl.

Zosite knew that everyone in this room was experiencing what Serena was feeling and that it reached far beyond this room as well. Her emotions were to strong to volatile to contain in this one room; no doubt the whole palace was experiencing it. Only they would be left to wonder about it because unlike her they had chosen to remain hidden until the battle was over, but she need to see it with her own eyes.

You can just imagine her surprise when she saw that it was Princess Serena fighting Beryl and not the Dark Prince as everyone had assumed, there powers were so similar that she didn't even notice the difference, at first.

But then she hardly had the time to differentiate between the two; as there had been no warning of their arrival. No one had sensed there presence in the palace, but all had felt the flare of dark power and heard there Queens silent call, a call that went unheeded as the Dark Princes warning came just as clear. Interfere in this battle and share Beryl's fate.

There had been no question as to whose orders they would follow, because where as Beryl instilled fear in her followers the Dark Prince inspired terror. All were now aware of the feats he had accomplished already, all knew of how he had escaped Beryl's attack unscathed; an attack that would have destroyed anyone of them. After that no one was surprised when he betrayed Beryl in fact everyone but Beryl seemed to know that it was destined, it was the law of the jungle; the stronger of the two does not meekly follow the weaker one. But all had been surprised when Beryl had allowed him to walk right in and steal her prized prisoner Sailormoon and all without raising a single hand to stop him, that if nothing else showed them where there loyalties should lie if they wanted to live. And they all wanted to live.

She too had made her choice thanks to Beryl she had chosen not to become involved, instead preferring to take her chances with the Dark Prince. Only she hadn't counted on having to deal with the moon princess as well. She still held some resentment towards her and knew that for now she would have to bury it to survive. But none of that will matter if Beryl wasn't destroyed. And Serena seemed to be enjoying Beryl's pain too much to end it. Only after a few cautionary words from the Dark Prince did Serena seem to become serious. Finally, it seemed she was done playing.

Was she doing the right thing? Zosite thought despairingly as sudden doubt crept into her mind as the end finally drew near. Could she trust the dark Prince and this new Moon princess anymore then she could trust Beryl? She didn't know. She had no one to confide in, no one to turn to for advice, the one person she trusted had been taken from her by that traitorous Nephlite. Nephlite with his strange beguiling eyes that gazed upon her with a strange light, as if he saw something, and knew something that she didn't. It had always unnerved her and only served to strengthen her hatred of him and her envy of his position at Beryl's side.

But had she really ever respected beryl, she could honestly say no. She had respected her power, and what she could do with it. But that too faded as she gazed upon her now groveling on the floor begging for her life, fate it seemed had a sense of humor as well as irony.

How many times had she'd been the one pleading for her life, when she did something to displease her Queen. It could have been a small thing, something as simple as not answering her summons quickly enough, but she had bore it, keeping her eye on the prize, the power she would one day have, yes she had bore it all the pain, the humiliation, the threat of death that hung over all there heads depending on her mood, she had bore it all; until now. Beryl's mistake had been ordering the death of her beloved Malachite. She could put up with a lot of things and did but she would not lose malachite again. That was the final straw and it made her decision to abandon Beryl and side with the Dark Prince all that more easier.

How could she even have considered killing Malachite? After everything he had done for her. If only she had been more forgiving and not encased her in stone forcing malachite to seek Sailormoon's help then perhaps it wouldn't have had to end this way. She shook her head; all that ceased to matter; it was no use to thinking about what might have been what mattered now was surviving. And once she survived this mess she'd find Malachite and they'd be together once again.

Oh Malachite how I miss you. Do you know what's happening? Do you know how much I need you right now? Soon she promised as she watched Serena prepared her final attack soon we'll be together again.

She gave a nasty smile when she saw that it was one of favorite attacks, in fact it was the same attack that beryl had ended her life with, how fitting that it now served to end hers. She listened to Beryl's pleas and was unmoved by them, as she knew Serena would be. What did Beryl hoped to gain by this, surely she could see as she did that this was not the normal Moon Princess and that her pleas would fall on death ears. Serena relished in her pain, savored the thought of her demise and was determined to bring it forth. Pleading would change nothing. And just when she believed that Beryl had only seconds to live Serena hesitated. It was brief, but she did in fact hesitate.

Zosite held her breath. She couldn't believe it although Serena quickly recovered, for a second there she could have sworn that she was starring at the old Serena, the so-called champion of love and justice. Serena resumed her attacked and Beryl once again began to plead for her life.

Zosite listened to the words carefully but her eyes never left Serena's face. She saw the instant that Beryl's words had their desired affect and wondered about it and what it could mean. It didn't make sense but how could she discount what she was seeing with her own eyes.

She could only look on in disbelief at the turn of events. She watched as Serena sought comfort in her beloved arms and the ache in her heart grew as the absence of Malachite was reinforced. Did the former fighter for love and justice really have what it took to finish Beryl off, to show no mercy in the face of her enemy pleas?

She saw Beryl moving stealthily towards her staff and wondered what the former Queen could be thinking, she couldn't really believe that any thing she could do would change her fate, even if Serena lacked the nerve to finish what she started she knew that the Dark Prince would have no such qualms.

The end when it arrived came as almost as much of a surprise to her as it did for Beryl. One minute Serena was leaning back in the Dark Prince's arms with her eyes closed, looking small and vulnerable and the next she was standing up, black eyes flashing and releasing the energy ball that would end Beryl's life.

Zosite felt a momentary flash of pain as beryl drew last breath and released it in one agonizing scream. Afterwards she felt stunned and not quite steady on her feet. It was over it was finally over.

..............

She looked up at him with laughing blue eyes, a stark contrast to the nearly black they were moments before. He wondered briefly if when he called up his own dark powers if his eyes also changed he would have to remember to ask her about it later. But right now he had more important things on his mind. He wanted to believe that her small hesitation before had been because she was still unused to her new role and just needed more time to adjust, but he had to know for sure, before they confronted the Sailor Scouts.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Serena questioned

"I'm worried." He confessed. "I think we might be moving to fast, you still need time to adjust."

She cupped his face in her hands. "You need to stop being such a worrywart. Beryl's gone, she can't hurt us anyone, and I'm fine."

"You hesitated. You became confused. You began to question yourself and" He brought his hands up and removed hers from his face holding both of their hands against his chest "You felt sorry for her."

Serena kissed their joined hands and then pressed her check against them. "I have a pretty good idea what's going on with me. I might have lost the Imperial Crystal but I gained something equally precious as well."

The Dark Prince frowned; he didn't like not knowing where the Imperial Crystal was. It troubled him that it had simply disappeared. He didn't like loose ends, not when it had to do with something as important as the Imperial Crystal. What could its disappearance mean? Was it good or bad for his and Serena's future together? He shook his head now was not the time to divulge in negative thinking, Beryl was out of the way, but they still had the Sailor Scouts to attend too. Thinking about Serena's difficultly he was considering putting that confrontation off for a while; at least for a couple of days.

Forcing himself to relax, and not trouble himself with things he could not change at least for the moment he asked her. "Are you going to tell me what that something is?"

She leaned back to smile up at him. "Nope. It's my secret, one I wish to share with all you, together, you and the Scouts."

"About that" he began "I think we should put off confronting them for a few days, that should be enough time to get things straightened out here."

Serena thought about that for a moment before nodding her head. "Yes there are a few things we need to see to before we go see them." She looked around Beryl's former throne room in disgust. "I believe a new palace is in order, it's to dark for my taste and much too cold." She gave a tiny shiver to emphasize her point

Darien leaned down to kiss her "I'll take care of it." He assured her, already having the perfect place in mind.

Serena untangled their hands and stepped away from him. "Good. There are still a few things that I have to take care of."

He raised a questioning eyebrow, although he had a pretty good idea what that something was she was referring to.

Her expression darkened and in her eyes he could see a hint of black. "I don't appreciate being spied on." She turned around. You can come out now Zosite. It's time you and I had a little chat."

...................

Nephlite fought to control his breathing he couldn't afford to lose control now. For months but what had felt more like years he had spent shrouded in complete darkness and now he was back, back in the hell he swore he'd never return to; the endless night.

He barely survived it the last time, lost in an endless night he wandered, searching for anything but finding nothing, in all that time his body touched no solid surface other then the floor on which he slept, when he could sleep, for what should have been his escape was instead another torment as he dreamed of blood, violence and betrayal. Whose blood or what betrayal he didn't know but it left him feeling empty inside. He would only trade one hell for another. Soon it became unbearable and he feared for his sanity.

The only thing that had kept him from falling off that slippery edge and into the abyss was the sound of his own voice and the sound of another's, which came to him when he was at his lowest. He didn't know if he was real or if he was someone he made up, but if he was it certainly took talking to yourself to a whole new level.

It would always be the same the voice that reached out to him in the darkness. "Have strength Nephlite, hold on just a little longer."

"Who are you?" he would ask

"You know who I am."

"No I don't. Tell me, am I going crazy? Has Beryl finally won?" he snorted in disgust "What am I saying if I'm asking you then I must be crazy"

"Just hold on a little longer." the voice would repeat "just a little longer." It would only be later that things would change.

He took a deep breath, calmer now. He had to think. How did he get here? The last thing he remembered was talking to Malachite and then the pain hit him from out of know where, strong enough to steal his breath away, and then nothing. It was a total blank had he past out? Yes, yes he did. But then what? Was this Beryl's doing or the Dark Prince's? Suddenly he was filled with a dark knowledge that he could not know, not know and be considered normal. Beryl; was dead. He was certain of it. The Queen of the Negaverse was gone, had a new one taken her place?

He thought he heard a sound, which sounded suspiciously like a sob. He cocked his head to the side. It sounded like a woman and she was crying, he could almost taste her tears.

"I don't understand." he said and shook his head, why was he talking to an empty room? He felt something cool and wet on his lips. He licked them and came away tasting tears. This was getting bizarre.

"Nephlite don't go, fight it."

What? It was a woman's voice. Was she the one crying? But who would be crying over him? He could think of no one who would cry over him. Molly was the only one who had ever shed a tear over his rotten soul. He couldn't imagine anyone else bothering.

"Is it really so surprising to know that someone cares for you?"

Nephlite didn't bother searching for the owner of that voice, knowing it would be pointless. "Who are you? He asked out of habit knowing he wouldn't get an answer as he had asked this question a hundred times before during his captivity. He wondered what he would do if the voice finally answered him, he had himself half convinced that he was someone he made up to fight the loneliness and to keep himself from going insane. But the other half wasn't so sure.

He responded to his question with laughter something he rarely did. "Even if I were to answer all your questions I doubt if you'd believe me."

I'd like to be the judge of that. Nephlite thought bitterly "Where am I? How did I get here? Can you at least answer me that?"

"You're back in the darkness from where you once swore never to return to. And as for how you got here, well you have only yourself to blame."

Nephlite gave a bitter laugh. "I'm to blame, was I too blame the first time I was banished to this God forsaken place. Condemned to darkness for daring to tread in the light."

"You are to blame." the voice continued quietly unaffected by Nephlite's bitter tones. "Because this time you brought yourself here."

"That's ridiculous." Nephlite snarled "Why would I bring myself to the one place that I swore I'd die before returning to? Can you tell me that?"

"I don't want to sound conceited but perhaps you came to see me?"

"For what reason?" Nephlite sneered "Your just someone I made up to past the time in this place."

"Now don't be that way. Besides deep in your heart you know it's not true. And we've had many conversations."

"About nothing." Nephlite yelled feeling more angry then he could ever remember being. He had enough. He was tired of other people playing with his life.

"You want to know who I am?" The voice stated suddenly quite serious "But you should already know you should sense it, feel it in every part of your soul. Do you?" The voice paused "No? Then perhaps you're not ready to know."

"I will find you." Nephlite swore "And when I do you had better be ready to answer my questions, because if you don't then I might have to resort to violence. And I promise you." He threatened softly "No one excels at it better then me. I can venture into your sub conscious, although it's not terribly pleasant when forced upon someone. I will know what terrifies you the most. And when I'm done with you, you'll tell me everything I want to know.

"Well then I guess you'd better wake up."

.....................

Venus entered the kitchen and came to a halt inside the doorway. She looked around in stunned amazement; everyone knew that Jupiter was cooking, for one could smell the tantalizing aromas throughout the shrine but what caused her to stand in the door way and gape in disbelief is the amount of food that she was cooking, it appeared enough to feed an army, and it was all sweets. As far as she knew that weren't going to be entertaining guest. So who was all the food for?

"Jupiter, what are you doing?"

Startled Jupiter swung around and Venus noticed that she held a mixing bowl in the crock of her left arm and had been stirring the contents with her right.

Jupiter shifted nervously before she caught herself. Why should she be nervous? She was doing anything wrong. "I decided early this morning, well last night really" she correct after all it had been eleven O'clock when she had started. "To fix Nephlite his favorite sweet. Only" she admitted flushing a little "I have no idea what his favorite is and since Malachite didn't know either I decided to make a couple of different dishes hoping that one of them will be it."

"I...see." Venus muttered and looked around there had to be a least fifty dishes prepared already ranging from cookies to cakes to pastries. "But...um don't you think you went a little overboard, he's not even awake yet."

"I know that" Jupiter said a bit sharply surprising Venus. Jupiter turned around and placed the bowl on the counter. Wiping her hands off on her apron she moved to take her peanut butter cookies out of the oven. She hadn't meant to snap at Venus it was just all so confusing and overwhelming, with everything that had happened she felt on edge. She couldn't help Serena because she had no idea where she was or what was happening to her but she could at least attempt to help Nephlite. The waiting was driving her crazy.

Venus could only look at her friend in concern. What was going on with her? Did it have to do with Serena or was something else also bothering her friend.

Jupiter moved back over to the counter after setting her cookies out to cool, she picked up the mixing bowl and began to stir the batter although it was ready to be poured into the pan. She turned to back Venus. "I'm sorry" she sighed "It's just when I was little my mom sometimes when she was restless or needed something to do to keep her mind off things she use to cook, and not just anything, but our favorite sweet and no matter what time of the night it was or how long I'd been asleep the smell would always be enough to wake me even from the deepest of sleeps. And when I'd go down stairs she'd have a batch of goodies and a glass of milk waiting for me." She lowered her head over the bowl and shrugged her shoulders. "I just thought that if I made his favorite then it might help him find his way back, from where ever he is."

Venus blinked back the tears Jupiter words had wrought and found she had to clear her throat twice before she could speak. This wasn't the first time Jupiter had mentioned what cooking had meant to her and her mother. They both loved to cook and both of them had shared that love with one another and now Jupiter was choosing to share it with Nephlite. "Both Mercury and Endymion believe that he's out of immediate danger." She assured her trying to give comfort.

Jupiter nodded. That was true; but neither of them could tell her why he refused to wake up. She turned away from Venus to hide her sudden onslaught of tears. Really these last few days she'd been turning into a watering pot. "Why don't you go talk to Malachite." Jupiter suggested

"Huh?" Venus gasped wondering at the abrupt change in topic. How did they go from talking about Nephlite to Malachite?

He hasn't slept since Nephlite collapsed and it's been three days. It's not healthy. The rest of us have tried to talk to him about it but he's very stubborn." She frowned the wasn't exactly true everyone had tried except for Prince Endymion even Sammy had made a small attempt but malachite had just patted him on the head and told him to go be with his sister who as well as Rina still remained unconscious but according to Endymion that was normal as they both had spent a lot of energy and the longer they slept the better off they'd be.

"But what can I do" Venus protested. She felt as if she'd just been sucker punched. She had successfully avoided that man since the night she had snuck into his room and he had...she raised a hand to her lips. Would she ever forget the feel of his lips against hers, will another man ever be able to erase the taste of him from her mind. She closed her eyes and shuddered. And thanked the lord that Jupiter wasn't looking at her for surely she would see, would know.

"I don't know" Jupiter sighed "but you can at least try, with everything that's going on the last thing we need is for Malachite to make himself sick."

When Venus opened her eyes they were filled with resignation. "Alright" she sighed, knowing that the time had arrived to face him, without the support of her friends; which up until now they had unknowingly given her. She turned and walked out of the kitchen and straight into the arms of the man she dreaded seeing and at the same time longed to see.

Malachite placed his hands on her hips to steady her. For the past three days he had fought with himself. Wanting to see her and knowing that he shouldn't. He knew she was avoiding him and he didn't like it but with Nephlite sick he couldn't do anything about it. He wanted answers but truthfully what would they provide? Nothing could change what happened between them

"Sorry" she mumbled and then flushed when she realized where his hands were and that hers were resting on his chest. She snatched her hands away as if burned. She took a step back away from him.

Malachite let his hands fall to his sides. "It's my fault as well I wasn't looking where I was going. I came here to get something to eat, the others threatened to feed me themselves if I didn't." he broke off aware that he was starting to ramble. He felt awkward and unsure how to proceed. He looked at the door leading to the kitchen; from the smell he would say Jupiter was still in there cooking. They needed some privacy. He offered her his arm "Will you take a walk with me outside? There's something I want to ask you."

Venus bit back a sigh, this was it the moment she had been dreading. He would finally ask the question he'd been dying to ask since the night she had left his room. What was she doing there in the first place? And the problem was that the only answer she had to give him was the truth. Without saying a word she placed her hand in the crock of his arm and allowed him to lead her down the hall and out of the shrine.

...........................

Nephlite came awake quickly and quietly one minute he was dead to the world and the next he was wide-awake. Being in Beryl's service had taught him if nothing else to be cautious and to tread carefully in uncertain waters. Until he knew the situation he would pretend that he was still asleep in order to observe his surroundings without anyone else being the wiser.

His eyes were closed but he reached out with his other senses. He noticed that the room he was in was filled with all kinds of enticing aromas. And he found that he was starving as his mouth literally began to water. He would love to sink his teeth into some of those goodies and drink it down with a nice big glass of water. He nearly groaned at the thought and squelched that kind of thinking least he give himself away by having his stomach growl. Instead he concentrated on the sounds in the room. He heard the unmistakable sound of someone moving about in the room and knew that he wasn't alone. But who was it. Was it Malachite or one of the Sailor Scouts, or was he a prisoner of the Dark Prince's. He couldn't be sure and the urge to open his eyes was strong but he resisted. He had to know where he was. He couldn't afford to give away his advantage.

He felt the bed dip as some one sat beside him. Then he smelt chocolate chip cookies? "Come on Nephlite you big jerk." A voice sniffled. How many more of these dishes do you expect me to make?"

Nephlite felt himself beginning to frown but caught himself. He had no idea what was going on but the voice sounded familiar. It was definitely a woman and she sounded like she'd been crying.

She sighed and got up he could hear her moving across the room but she was back almost immediately and this time he smelled; cheese cake? And hungry moan slipped past his lips. Cheese cake his favorite.

"Nephilte?" She exclaimed excitingly "Come on wake up. You can do it."

Nephlite new that there was no use pretending anymore but before he could respond the door opened.

"What's going on?" A mans voice asked. As he stepped further into the room.

"He just moaned I think he's waking up."

Nephlite was stunned that voice it was suddenly so familiar. How could he have missed it? His eyes snapped open anger blazing in him and he was up and off the bed in a flash causing Jupiter to cry out in surprise and alarm, but before anyone knew what he was about he had Endymion by the throat was slamming him back against the wall.

"Your going to tell me what's go on. Right now" he snarled, he raised a fist and shook it threateningly in Endymion's face. "I've had enough of you games. I want you to tell me what's going on right now."

Endymion starred at him coldly seemingly to be completely unfazed by his attack. "Or you'll do what exactly?" he raised a questioning eyebrow

Nephlite growled and swung his fist.

........................

Once out side Malachite lead Venus down a path away from the temple. "Listen before I ask you what I want to ask you; I want to tell you again how sorry...."

Without thinking about it Venus stopped moving and raised a hand to cover his mouth. He could ask all the questions he wanted but she didn't think she could bear hearing him apologize to her again for kissing her. How could he be sorry for something that she would never be able to forget? What she had experienced in his arms; surpassed anything she had felt before. And she didn't want to hear how it had meant nothing to him. It was bad enough he had admitted that he thought he was kissing some else she couldn't stand to hear him repeat it.

Malachite starred down into those wide blue eyes that seemed to be pleading with him for something. Unwittingly he raised his hand and caught the tear before it could fall. The sight of that lone tear and the pain in those beautiful eyes tore at something inside him.

Slowly Venus lowered her hand allowing it to rest on his chest. And she stood there with one hand resting on his arm and the other on his chest unsure of what was going on but realizing that something was changing.

Malachite raised his other hand and placed in on her lower back before drawing her closer to him

Venus sighed as her head came to rest on his chest. She slid her other hand off his arm and placed her arm around his waist. She didn't think she'd ever be this close to him again.

Malachite closed his eyes. What was he doing? Was he losing his mind? He shouldn't be here holding her like this yet he couldn't bring himself to let her go. She was in pain and needed comfort and he...he wanted to be the one to comfort her. He shook his head this was madness. He loved Zosite. He truly did.

"Malachite?" Venus whispered noticing how tense he was she turned her head up to look at him

Malachite opened his eyes to look down at her. What was it about this girl? Why was his heart racing so? He raised a hand to cup her face. "What are you doing to me?" he growled and watched her eyes widen as he began to lower his head.

Venus whimpered. He was going to kiss her? This time there would be no mistake; he knew exactly whom he held in his arms. And the realization filled her with joy.

But before there lips could touch an enraged scream rent the air. She saw Malachite's eyes widen before she was pushed to the side. She fell to the ground and gasped as Malachite fell on top of her.

"What...?" she started and twisted her around to look at him that was when she noticed that he wasn't paying any attention to her but at something on the ground behind him.

Venus strained her neck to see over his shoulder and what she saw caused her to gulp. There sticking out of the ground right where she had been standing was a frozen icicle. She looked back at Malachite in dawning horror knowing that could only mean one thing. Zosite.