So here's my new fic. It's kinda on the more dark side, but it's still got a lot of light to shed. Unfortunately, the school year isn't over yet and I still have work to get done, but in about 3 weeks or less it'll all be over! Yeah! Juunior year is almost done! So yeah, with the extra added weight of exams and reviews you'll have to give me a little leway with chapters. Yes, school does suck. But at least I'm gettin a toga party outta it! Luv ya!

I don't own Sailor Moon. I own squat. lol

Collides With Beauty

By: Rini

Chapter 4: Don't Stop

Blurs raced across rooftops. Feet barely touched the aluminum and concrete of buildings. It was a race.

I have to find out. I need to talk to her. I have to hear the truth from her mouth.

A race to fix mistakes.

I turned my back once before. I can't do it to her again. She needs me. I need her.

A race to discover.

How could I have been so foolish? How could I not have seen this coming?

To discover the truth.

I should never have left her side. I need to feel her again. I need to touch her again. I need to tell her how I feel. I need you. Serena.

A flash of silver leaped to the top of a building before turning around. Imperial Moon, with her silver locks whirling around her in the wind, placed Luna on the rooftop at her feet and faced Tuxedo Mask. Tuxedo Mask stopped a barely a foot away from her. He could make out every contour and outline of her face, a face he had memorized long ago. He could smell the soft aroma of lavender and lilac, a scent that was all her own.

Imperial Moon gave him a soft smile. Her cerulean eyes lit up for a moment. The bright moon behind her made her glow as the princess she was. She took a step back, her heels hanging off the edge.

" Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask gasped as he tried to take a step closer to grab her.

Imperial Moon's eyes lit up playfully and she raised her arms up. She took another step back and fell from the top of the tall building. Tuxedo Mask raced forward in time to see her fall. Imperial Moon spun around in the air before landing to the rooftop below in a thunderous crash. The concrete beneath her cracked as she landed in a low crouch. Tuxedo Mask swore he was going to have a heart attack.

Imperial Moon stood up and blew him a kiss, the sparkle in her eyes never faded once. She winked at him before back flipping twice and leaping off the edge again. Tuxedo Mask was in awe.

" Since when did she get so good at this?" Mask wondered aloud as he took off once more after the silver haired sailor.

Imperial Moon laughed to herself at her little display. She had never seen a look of surprise on Darien's face quite like that before. It was intriguing and alluring, but at the same time it brought her a smug satisfaction that she had managed to put him in his place.

Sorry Mad Hater. No one is going to catch this White Rabbit.

A flash of red streaked by Moon's path as it narrowly missed her face. She skidded to stop and looked to find a perfectly red rose imbedded in the rooftop inches in front of her. It was obvious to her that the only one who could ever make such perfect roses was the very one she thought she left behind.

" Sailor Moon. You may be good, but I'm better."

" Only one person can be that conceited," Moon frowned as she crossed her arms.

Tuxedo Mask jumped off from the chimney of the quaint house he was standing on top of. He strode over to Moon with a cocky smile plastered on his face.

" You're just jealous."

" Jealous? Of what?"

" That you're just not as good as I am. You may be skilled, but I've been more talented longer than you have so naturally I'd still be better than you."

Tuxedo Mask looked up from his tirade to discover Imperial Moon was bounding away at least five houses in front of him. Tuxedo Mask grunted and chased after her again.

This is going to be one long night.

Imperial Moon smiled as she came within sight of her house.

" We aren't done yet."

" Really? Do you want to go on more about yourself? Will this take very long?"

Tuxedo Mask frowned and crossed his arms," We need to talk."

Imperial Moon feigned a yawn," What do you want to say?"

" I want to know what's up with this new transformation. Why couldn't I feel it? Why did you say those things to the Scouts back there?"

Moon sighed and sat down on the edge of the flower shop that was across from her house," Well what do you want answered first?"

" How about what this new transformation is."

" Well this is a form called Imperial Sailor Celestial Moon. It's a lot stronger than my other Sailor Moon form. I'm a lot stronger and faster, in case you haven't noticed."

" That doesn't explain what and how you got this new form."

" Maybe it's none of your business," Moon snapped.

" Well you are my business and I need to know these things," Tuxedo Mask shouted.

Moon growled and stood up, pushing Tuxedo Mask," I'm your business? If I recall correctly I think the words you used a few weeks ago are I don't love you and I don't want anything to do with you anymore!"

" What I said still stands, but if I have to protect you I need to know these things!"

" Have to? I'm sorry I'm such a burden!"

" Why can't you just grow up for a change?"

" Grow up? Excuse me," Moon snapped.

Tuxedo Mask grabbed her arm as she made a move to jump down again. It brought her crashing into his strong arms and he enveloped her in a tight hug, born of both the desire to hold her and the desperate attempt to make her understand. He snaked his arms around her waist and dug his fingers into the soft folds of her skirts. She felt warmer against him and he swore that she even felt different against him. It was as though a part inside of him was being demanded to surface the more he held her. He realized with shocking clarity what she had said about being both Serena and Serenity and realized it was the part of him that was Prince Endymion struggling to come out at the insistence of his princess.

To say that Serena was pleased was a far cry. Her plan had been to avoid him and the Scouts as much as possible until she deemed them ready enough to accept her as truth. She knew in her heart no matter how hard she tried to pry away the Scouts from her life, ripping away the pieces that belonged to Darien was impossible. She felt him as intimately attached to her as he did her. However, that didn't stop Serena from doing what she deemed necessary. She still had much to do, including making a certain Prince see the error of his ways, either by pain or by love.

Imperial Moon's head was tucked safely into the crook of Tuxedo Mask's neck. He wrapped the silk of his long black cloak around both their forms and drew into his core the warmth of her body. He knew that what he needed and wanted were two completely different things. He needed to eradicate all thoughts of Serena for her safety, but he wanted to lose himself in the silver of her eyes and the gold of her smile.

Moon frowned against his shoulder. Her arms had stayed to her side the whole time, lifting only enough to allow Mask to hold her. She couldn't quite wrap her mind around what was happening. Had the past few days never happened? Had Darien denied her before or was she merely dreaming? Was this some joke? But an even darker question plagued her mind.

Does his apparent change have anything to do with my own?

Is he doing this because of the way I look?

Or is he truly sorry for his cutting remarks?

The thought that Darien had said anything he didn't mean and with such ferocity was beyond her. She knew he meant what he said before. Her pleading eyes and words were unheard by deaf ears and blind eyes. She knew that what he did wasn't some dark nightmare that threatened to haunt her nights. He had told her he didn't love her. Whatever the reason was, that didn't excuse his actions. This new sense of regret from him only fueled on her belief he was doing it for shallow reasons.

If Serena thought she was pissed before, then this new feeling was nothing.

Imperial Moon growled low to herself deep in her throat. Tuxedo Mask was still holding her tightly and ignoring the fact that she had yet to respond to him. Moon gazed at her house and saw a small child resting her bed on a soft pink pillow resting in the safety of her dreams. Moon knew with such force that this would not happen. Things needed to be done.

Moon raised her arms and forcefully shoved Tuxedo Mask back. With the jolt of such sudden force, Tuxedo Mask's mask fell to reveal the turbulent sapphire eyes of Darien. Moon glared at him with blazing cerulean eyes that hardened with a resolve that would have scared anyone had they gazed upon it. Darien found himself feeling like a wounded deer trapped in headlights.

" You truly are an enigma Darien."

Darien found any form of thought dissolve in his throat as he struggled to find words.

" Are you seriously so blind? Does time mean nothing to you?"

Darien winced. He forgot how good Serena could be.

" Many a nights I would stare up at the moon and pray that my darling prince would return to me. I dreamed he would beg for the forgiveness he didn't need and whisk me into his arms. To know and wait for something that will never happen, Darien, is something I wish upon no one."

" What do you want me to say?" Darien managed to speak.

" I want you to listen. Darien, I don't love you nor do I need you. I have been pushed along by Fate long enough and it is with my mother's last great wish that I sever all ties that bind me. I was weak before, but weakness is something I find in you and the Scouts. Strength was beyond my grasp before, but I refuse to be weak once again."

Darien was feeling each word like a knife striking his heart. He never knew a pain to be this great before.

" I was feeble enough to depend on you to catch me and for the Scouts to back me up. I see now my faults. I don't need anyone to reassure me that I am strong enough to face whatever comes in my path. I have all the power I need to make my dreams come true. I have been pushed and pulled along by Fate's design for over a thousand years. Destiny is what I make of it. I choose to create a world of my own. Whether or not you or the others are in it are for my choosing now."

Darien's eyes widened and his mouth hung partially open. Was this really his Serenity in front of him? The one who saved and loved without a second thought? Was this hardened warrior in front of him the real princess he would sacrifice himself for?

" Darien, I warn you and the others. This time I carve a path for myself. Fate knows no glory like the one I shall bring. Time will know the wrath of the Princess. The Moon will mourn before I allow myself to be controlled by you or the others again. You have all brought this amongst yourselves."

Imperial Moon jumped up high into the air before disappearing in the light of the moon. Darien allowed himself to fall to his knees; tears slowly streaking down his face. He should have known better. He should have foreseen this. He knew better than anyone did. No one pushes the Princess without expecting her vengeance. Her fury would be felt by all. He just prayed he lived to make it up to her. He just prayed they would live to see the end of it.

Do you think he got the picture?

I think he learned his lesson, for now at least.

He'll keep trying. If I know Darien, he'll try and try again.

If I know Endymion, he won't give up without one hell of a fight.

Everything is moving along now. Soon things will fall into place and we can finally be free.

Freedom is being taken at a heavy cost. I want you to remember why you are doing this.

I'm doing this for me. I'm doing this because this is what I truly want. I want to be able to make my own decisions for once in my life.

Is that the only reason?

No. I want to do it for her. I want to make her proud of me and I want her to choose her own life. I don't want someone to push Destiny on her like they did me.

Then you must do whatever you deem necessary. Do what you feel is right; not what others want you to do.

I will.

" Serena?"

Imperial Moon stood up from her crouching position on top of the lit tower overlooking the city. Luna padded up from the stairs from the level directly below. Luna had left the rooftop after sensing the imminent fight between Serena and Darien. She had walked around and caught sight of Serena on top of the tower. She had sneaked on board the elevator with the fellow tourists longing to see the city from the height of the tower, and then she made a dash for the stairs leading to the highest balcony.

" Yes Luna?"

Luna sat down next to Imperial Moon's leg," Aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

" I'm just doing my patrol Luna."

" You promised your mother you would only stay out for a few hours. You remember the deal you made? You could skip school for two weeks to improve your training as long as you went back and cut down on your patrol hours."

" I know. I know. I just wanted to make sure everything was alright."

" You know, the world won't fall apart if you aren't watching it for a few hours."

" This is kinda ironic," Imperial Moon laughed.

Luna looked up at her confused.

" You used to beg me to go out and patrol and fight. Now, you're convincing me to stop."

Luna shook her head and smiled," Why am I cursed to have you as a charge?"

" Because you're the only one who can tolerate me," Moon replied jokingly.

Luna laughed and took one last look back at her ward. Her hair fluttered in the breeze and the look of pure determination made Luna proud. How the ditzy blonde ever became the silver warrior standing before her was beyond reason. The change was almost completely opposite, but it didn't feel like it. Luna always believed in Serena and her abilities. Of course they had some rough times, but you can't expect a teen to master the Silver Crystal in a few days. Deep in her heart, this was the Serena she had always seen and was proud of.

Now her outside matches her inside.

Luna was about to walk down the steps when she heard the distinct whisper of words on the wind.

" Collides with Beauty," the voice whispered.

Luna turned back around for one stray glance and saw Moon crouched down again, serving as the ever-watchful guardian of the city and her people. Luna beamed and walked down the stairs to leave the girl alone.

" This is what I want. A world of my own."

Just remember. Straying away from Fate's design comes with consequences.

" Then I will face them. All of them."

You don't need to face them alone. You will always have me.

" I was never alone. I shall never be alone."

Just believe in yourself Serena, and believe in me. Believe in those around you. We will never fail you.

" I have always believed in everyone. I will always believe in you, Serenity."

Serena, with your will and my power, we will succeed in all our dreams.

" Together. "

Imperial Moon pulled off her locket from the front of her bow. It was a silver crescent moon studded with sapphires and with white diamond wings on each side. She willed the locket to open and called on the powers of the Silver Crystal that rested inside. The crystal, sensing the wishes of its mistress, complied and engulfed Imperial Moon in bright white light.

When Imperial Moon opened her eyes, she was Imperial Moon no more. She was now everyday Serena standing in the middle of her room. She looked down at the locket in her hand and clutched it closed. She placed it on her dresser next to her unused communicator and disguise pen. For now, Serena was free to rest and be the normal teenage girl she was born to be instead of the heroine she was.

Crawling into to her bed, she reached up to unlatch her window to let Luna in once she returned home. Serena cuddled under her blankets and sheets and moved a pillow under her head. In her bed, Rini was already snuggling against a pillow with the blanket wrapped around her small form. Serena noted how innocent Rini looked. It was then that she truly realized how it must be for her.

Going back in time to a place that's so unfamiliar must be so hard. Not to mention she's all alone too. She doesn't have the mother and father in this time as she does at home. I may be her mother, but I'm not ready to truly become one.

Serena brushed the stray strands of hair away from the child's face and nestled her own head in the soft fluffy pillow. She slowly closed her eyes, exhaustion finally taking its claim.

" Together. We'll make a world of our own for everyone, together."

Serena whispered her vow to the wind and fell deep into the dream abyss.

Of course we will. Nothing can stop us now.