Hi folks!

What's up? I'm really sorry for not updating but I've been buried under homework! I have 4 tests this week! Can you believe that! I feel like collapsing any minute!

Ah well, you'll have to excuse me if the chapter wasn't that good. I had originally written a lot more but my computer didn't seem to want to work when I sent the e-mail so I'll have to see if i can fit it in later on.

I have a one week holiday next week! Yeah! I'll try to update some of my stories but I'm not sure if I can update all of them. Send me a message telling me which one you would like to have updated the most and I'll do my best.

Enjoy and don't forget to leave a message!

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters.

"He didn't find her in time. He found her only after the battle, unconscious. He tried to help her but the wounds were too severe. He is beside her now as we speak."

"You mean to tell me that none of us were there to help her? That she is dying?" Mina asked shocked beyond words.

An ear-piercing scream sounded throughout the hallway causing every one to turn abruptly. They all paled as one thought entered their minds.

'Serenity!'

Whilst it was raining

Chapter 3

Endymion's heart was beating as though it was burst as he raced down the hallways. Nothing could be heard except for the running footsteps of all the Scouts and the King. Serenity's cry had long since died out and the eerie silence only served to heighten everyone's fear. The King burst into the room followed closely by the Scouts. He gasped at the sight that confronted him before hurrying forward. His beloved Serenity had somehow fallen off the bed and was writhing on the floor with something that looked terrifyingly like pain.

"Dear God! Serenity what happened to you? What's going on?" Endymion asked panic-struck.

The Queen seemed to hear her husband's voice through the pain that was torturing her.

"Endy…" was all she managed to say and even that was barely audible.

Her beloved quickly scooped her up in his arms and laid her down gently on the big bed. The Scouts looked on anxiously whilst Ami typed away furiously on her mini-computer.

Suddenly Pluto blanched even more than anyone had thought possible. She doubled over with pain as she felt ice spreading inside her very veins.

"No, no, no!" she cried.

"What's the matter?" Venus asked worriedly.

"The warning sign," Pluto answered weakly, her eyes suddenly filling with tears as she turned her pain filled gaze to her Queen. "The warning sign that was created to warn of a possible great change in the future, something that would change everything."

"Her life energy is disappearing quickly!" Ami burst out.

The whole room went silent except for Serenity's moans of pain. Endymion had what they had said but concentrated foremost on comforting his loved one.

"Sh…" he said soothingly, keeping calm for her sake. "Everything's going to be alright, you'll see."

"Endy it hurts so much," Serenity whimpered. "Make it stop! Please make it stop! I can't take it anymore! It feels like my very life is being torn out of my body!" she cries. Sweat beads rolled down caused by the pain.

Silent tears fell from Endymion's eyes as he gazed on helplessly.

"I'm so sorry beloved. Just hold on a bit longer. I promise that everything's going to be alright," he said repeating his words as if trying to convince himself as well. "What have you found?" he barked at the scouts. He was met by pure silence. "Well say something! What can we do?"

Sailor Pluto stepped forward. Her face still showed traces of the pain that the warning had dealt her. "The only way is to save her in the past. You'll have to come with me into the past. There is no other way."

Endymion gritted his teeth at the thought of leaving his Queen but stepped forward quickly knowing there was no time to loose. The Scout of Time concentrated as she prepared to go back to the Time Gate, bringing along the King as well. She waited for the familiar sensation before the journey but there was nothing. She opened her eyes briefly and the Scouts who were looking on didn't miss the panic that had swept through her eyes, if however briefly. She focused and tried again but still nothing.

"What's going on?" The King asked.

"It's not working. The Gate has been sealed," Pluto said feeling ready to collapse. Everything was over. All that they had fought for was for nothing.

"What do you mean it's not working? How can it not be working? Why isn't it working?" Raye babbled horrified.

"Setsuna this is really not a good time to joke. We have to save Serenity!" Makoto exclaimed nervously.

"You think I'm joking?" Setsuna asked tiredly. Every one knew she wasn't. Her life was bound to Serenity as well and they all knew that Pluto was extremely fond of the energetic girl she had watched mature into a wonderful queen.

"What can we do now then?" Venus asked, her mind already starting to evaluate all the choices left.

Serenity suddenly went silent. Her silence almost gave the King a heart attack.

"Darling? Open up your eyes please. Please? Serenity!" he yelled shaking her as he tried to rouse her. He received no response. Her pulse was there, but weak, much too weak. "Oh God, Serenity, please no. I beg of you, you can't leave me now, not after all we've been through. You can't abandon me now!"

He clutched her tightly to him as he sobbed into her hair. Her body was limp and insensitive. He could do nothing to save her, not one single thing. All he could do was watch on as the light of his life struggled to live. It was such a contrast from what she had been. Just this morning she had been dragging him laughingly out of bed telling him to hurry up so they wouldn't miss breakfast… such joy, such light. Why was she burdened with having to struggle continuously? Why couldn't she have that peaceful life that she strived for?

Memories of them laughing, arguing, comforting each other flitted through Endymion's mind. Her bright eyes, those eyes that he loved so much, had always been filled with smiles but now they had been dull, pain filled and it tore at him. The Scouts kept quiet although their eyes were too filled with worry and sorrow. There was nothing they could do except wait and pray.

Wait and pray; that was exactly what another person in another time was doing as well. The minutes seemed to drag by as Mamoru continued to sit by Usagi's side. She was still alive, but only just. She seemed to be wavering back and forth between life and death as if indecisive. The rain was till pounding mercilessly on the windows as all connections were cut. He was holding one of her hands as if wanting to hold on to her. Her hand was so small and delicate in fact entire Usagi was small and delicate. She lay there quietly as if sleeping, her total being was serene. It was hard to imagine that this was the same person that ran around like a hurricane and wailing loud enough so you could hear her several blocks away.

A small chuckle escaped from Mamoru's lips as images of her yelling or sticking out her tongue at him. How he had enjoyed those moments! Every time he saw her he just wanted to scoop her up and twirl her around just to make her laugh again. Her delightful laugh was always ringing in the arcade or when she was with her friends. How he loved it! Almost as much as he loved her beautiful eyes! Those eyes that always reminded him of the blue sky when it was at it's clearest.

His gaze softened and saddened at the same time as he stepped back into reality and watched her uncharacteristically silent form. His lips brushed tenderly over her hand and it was just as soft as it looked like. Why? What had she done to deserve lying like this and fighting for her life? This happy angelic creature was created for joy and love, not for fear and not for pain. She belonged solely to light and should never be tainted by darkness.

How he regretted never being nice to her and now he might never have the chance to tell her how beautiful he thought she was, or how she lighted up his dark life; the life that seemed unimaginable without her.

"Get a grip Chiba! She's not going anywhere!" he chastised himself. "Right Usako?" he continued gently, his grip on her hand hardened. "You would never leave all your friends and family, would you? You would never leave me, right?" The last sentence was barely audible.

Silent tears came unbidden to his eyes; those ocean blue eyes that, although he himself was unaware of, were loved by Usagi. That happy bunny that always fought him and yelled at him telling him that he was an obnoxious jerk, but who secretly enjoyed their sparring just as much as he did.

Mamoru's eyes widened slightly when he felt a slight squeeze from Usagi. He looked up at her quickly but she was still unconscious.

He smiled lovingly at her as he pressed another kiss to her hand.

"You would never leave me, right?"

And voilá! I hope you enjoyed it!

Once again! don't forget to tell me what you think and which story you would like updated!

Till next time then!

Cathy Daine