Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or her characters, and have no right to it except as a long time fan.

Title: The Unexpected
Darien, Endymion x Serenity
Rated: T
Romance/Drama
Summary: Endymion is having an unexpected problem and aid, just as unexpected, is given to him in order to keep the timeline secure.


Late evening found the Prince of the Earth pacing around his bedroom agonizing over not having the courage to approach the beautiful woman he had once again glimpsed watching him.

Endymion was confident in literally everything else he did, even speaking to women, but it had come as an unwelcome surprise to find himself shy at approaching the woman watching him.

And he knew she was watching him; had known for a few weeks now.

It wasn't her beauty that was stopping him. He had spoken to pretty and even beautiful women before, but he had never been attracted to any of them. It was more like looking at a visually appealing piece of art work.

It was beautiful but that was all the notice he gave it. He didn't get tongue tied after looking at it, and he didn't get tongue tied while speaking to pretty women.

There was simply something different about the woman. There had to be for him to be reacting this way. Or maybe it was simply that he was instantly attracted to her, and therein lay the problem.

His being attracted to a woman made him shy.

At least it gave him some slight assurance that she might feel the same, and that was why she had yet to approach him herself.

And he had given her plenty opportunity. He had been spending more time than usual walking in his rose garden. He hoped to get a glimpse of her without her knowing he had seen her, so she wouldn't get scared and leave. He also tried to work up the courage to approach her, but unfortunately he never could.

He needed help! He needed someone to get advice from or to aid him in approaching her, but he couldn't tell anyone.

It was clear from the little he had seen of her that she was not of the Earth, and he did not wish to bring her any trouble or make it so she could no longer come to see him.

Endymion sighed and sat on the edge of his bed as he ran his fingers through his hair.

What am I going to do? I want to meet her; I want to know her. He thought as he closed his eyes, picturing the little he had seen of her. The white gown, long matching hair, and delicate features.

He sighed again. He barely knew what she looked like, but there was something about her that was attracting him; something that was calling to him. He truly did need help if he wished to approach her and make her acquaintance.

But what could he do? He truly could not ask anyone he knew. His Generals would be the best of everyone, but even they were not an option. Those four were too keen on following the rules and making sure they were followed.

He too was like that, however, he had made an exception long ago. Back when he first began to understand what hormones were, life partners, and being married meant. He had promised himself that when it came to the woman he would marry, who would become his future Queen, he would discard all the rules if necessary.

It was something he had told no one. Not his nurses, his tutors, his Generals, or his parents. As heir to the throne one would think he could have what he wanted and do what he wanted, but that was not the case for the most part. He gave up a lot of what he wanted for the good of others, and felt he deserved to choose his future Queen; regardless of who she was.

And he was very serious about that. He did not care if she was royalty, not royal, titled, had no title, was wealthy, or was not wealthy. When he found a woman that attracted him, that stirred him, there would be no stopping him from giving her all his attention to see if she was the one.

And now I have found the woman that attracts me and stirs me, and I cannot even summon up the courage to approach her. He thought, frustrated and disgusted with himself.

Endymion sighed heavily as he stood up and began to prepare himself for bed. Once he was dressed appropriately and comfortably he turned off the lights and slipped into his bed.

I wish some inspirational aid would come to me in my sleep. He thought as he closed his eyes and began to relax, hoping the morning would gift him some answer.

As the Earth Prince drifted off to sleep he didn't notice how his body began to glow a rich golden color.

-=U=-

Morning light shined on his face and he frowned slightly as he reluctantly began to wake up. He reached off to his side across the bed but unfortunately found it empty. He sighed as he opened his eyes, and blinked in surprised at his surroundings.

The large dark wood four post bed he was lying in, the large balcony doors with curtains open at the sides, and the vases of roses.

It wasn't that he didn't know where he was, because he did; he immediately recognized his surroundings, but he knew he shouldn't be there.

I must be dreaming. He though as he sat up slowly, his eyes drifting around the room.

"What is happening?" He heard a groggy voice say, where there should have been no voice. It sounded familiar but he couldn't place it.

"Who are you?" He asked quickly.

"Who are you? How did you get into my head?" The voice instantly replied, no longer sounding groggy.

"Your head?! I'm not in anyone's head! I can move around perfectly fine. You're the one in my head!" He countered.

"I cannot be only a voice! This is my bedroom, and my home!" The voice insisted. "Now who are you?" It demanded.

He went very still at those words. He recognized his surroundings, the voice was familiar, and now it was saying this was its bedroom. He understood now. The voice was familiar because it was his. It was Endymion.

Darien sighed and ran a hand through his hair.

I have Endymion's voice in my head, but I'm here in what's clearly the past, so this is actually Endymion's body that I'm controlling. He thought as he looked around the room again; questions rapidly moving through his mind.

How had this happened? Why was he here? And how on earth could he leave without screwing up his present and future?

"Answer me! Who are you?!" Endymion demanded.

Darien closed his eyes as he realized he could already screw up things just by answering that question. What to do, what to do?

The truth. He decided after a few moments. I'll tell him the truth, but hold back on information concerning this time. After all, he doesn't need to know what will ultimately happen to him and Serenity.

"My name is Darien Shields, and I'm your reincarnation." He revealed.

"Excuse me?!" Endymion said incredulously.

"It sounds strange I know, but I have all your memories and really there's no other explanation for this." Darien said as he looked around the bedroom. "I went to sleep last night expecting to wake up this morning and live my life as usual; not to end up in my past controlling your body with you still in it no less."

"Being here is the last thing I would have wanted. My first thought after realizing this wasn't a dream was how I could leave without ruining my present. If anything happens differently than I remember then it has the potential of changing my present, my current life." He explained.

"If this is true then why are you here?" Endymion asked after a long few moments.

"I don't know. Only you can answer that. Only you have that power." Darien said. Although he knew there was another that had that same ability. This situation could only have been Endymion's doing.

"I do not have such power." Endymion said.

"Don't lie to me. I just told you I am your reincarnation. I have memories of your current life." Darien said seriously, forcing himself not to snap at his incarnation. "Not just vague memories either. I remember your life like no time has passed between your life and mine. I even answer to Endymion like it was my current name."

"Now we both know you have the power, and we both know why." He said, and they both knew he was referring to the golden crystal. "Now, the question is what were you doing last night to cause this?"

"I was not doing anything!" Endymion insisted. "I was in here relaxing; spending some time on my own before going to sleep."

"Was there anything on your mind? Were you thinking of anything in particular or important? Were you concerned or worried about anything?" Darien asked, and his incarnation hummed thoughtfully before gasping.

"A woman! I was thinking about a woman that I wish to get to know, but I...I have unpleasantly discovered that I am shy when it comes to her." Endymion revealed. "I recall that before falling asleep I wished for some aid to help me approach her."

"Ahh." Darien breathed as he began to suspect what this was about. Though he was surprised because he didn't remember being shy when he met her. "Can you tell me what she looks like?" He asked, and heard his incarnation hesitate, which was something he only heard because this conversation was internal.

"Remember all of this has happened for me already. There's no need to feel embarrassed or ashamed." He reassured him. "I think I might know who you're talking about, but I want to be sure."

"I have not seen much of her, but the glimpses I have caught let me know she is not of the Earth. She has delicate features, wears a white gown, and has extremely long matching hair." Endymion revealed.

"I see. I know exactly who you're talking about." Darien informed him. "Do you want to know her name and who she is or do you want to wait until you meet her to hear it from her own lips?"

"From her lips." Endymion answered instantly. "But I cannot bring myself to approach her! That is the problem. If I cannot do that how can I hear it from her?"

"I think that's why I'm here." Darien said. "To help you meet her. Since I certainly remember that meeting happening, and everything that followed."

"Well, I want to hear from her who she is, but is there anything you can tell me?" Endymion asked, desperately wanting to know more about the woman that attracted him so.

"How about the fact that her reincarnation and I are together?" Darien said, and listened to the sound of Endymion's gasp. "In fact, we live together. I went to sleep holding her last night."

"Truly?" Endymion breathed in excitement. This just confirmed that his attraction to her would definitely lead to a serious relationship; one that would last lifetimes.

"Yes." Darien confirmed with a smile. "We are engaged to be married."

"Oh." Endymion breathed quietly, happy even if it wasn't his current life. "Does she remember this life as you do?"

"She does." Darien answered. "Remembering this time has made our relationship stronger in many ways."

"That is excellent." Endymion sighed happily. Again it wasn't his current life, but it would be in another lifetime, which told him meeting her in the here and now was important. More than important; it was vital to his current and future happiness.

"Are you happy? The both of you?" He asked.

"Definitely." Darien answered instantly. "She's the love of my life; my family. Every day with her is a joy. And she feels the same way. She's always showing me affection with her actions and her words."

"I am so pleased to hear that." Endymion replied in a pleased tone. "Now, what is to happen?"

"Now we get the day started." Darien answered. "I think we can assume I'll be here until the meeting takes place, so until then we go on with the day as you would if I wasn't here. I'm definitely going to need your help with that. I remember your life and the general way you lived, but not what happened specifically from day to day."

Darien sighed. He was also going to have to control his reactions to nearly everything once he left the room. It would be easy to slip into his royal persona, but interacting with his Generals and his parents was another matter entirely.

"I have no issue with that. It is important that no one realize there is anything different about me." Endymion said seriously.

"Definitely." Darien agreed just as seriously. That was a problem they didn't need.

Darien climbed out of the covers and off the bed, and began to go about the ritual of preparing for the day as Endymion described what he had planned for that morning and afternoon.


Three days had passed since Darien had woken up in his past controlling the body of his past self, and he had been enjoying the experience so far despite the shocks he had received.

He found it strange and yet normal to be wearing his royal uniform, to have to actually put it on piece by piece instead of simply shifting into it as a sort of transformation as he was used to.

Then there was speaking to his Generals; to Malachite, Jedite, Neflite, and Zoycite, and seeing how different they were from the dark generals he had fought against. Talking to them brought memories to the front of his mind, memories of the past he was currently living, and reminded him of how much he missed them.

He wished they had been able to save them. What would the future have looked like if his Guardians were present at Crystal Tokyo?

Of course there was the surprise of speaking to his King father and Queen mother. The more he spoke to them the more he remembered them. Their personality, their facial expressions, their daily habits. He was grateful but was sad to realize he remembered them much better than he did his present time parents. He knew they had loved him, but aside from the vague remembrance of how they looked, that was all he remembered.

The joy of walking through fresh vibrant gardens, riding a horse, and using his power and abilities openly. He had no idea how much he would appreciate not having to conceal his power from every day people.

He was so used to only using them when there was an enemy to fight, in the privacy his home, or only around those who also had power that it was beyond refreshing to not have to worry about that.

Is this what it will be like in Crystal Tokyo? He asked himself thoughtfully.

Of course all of those shocks, surprises, and joys aside he had yet to see the one person he was truly there to see. The beautiful woman Endymion wanted to meet had yet to make an appearance.

Darien had made sure to walk in the garden every day he had been there, twice a day if he could, but so far she was a no show. Endymion was becoming discouraged, but he assured his incarnation that she would eventually show up. He had the memories to prove that she would, and for him to be patient. It was a quality he would need in his coming relationship.

A day after he reassured Endymion she finally appeared.

He was walking in the garden, enjoying the pass time and the fresh fragrance, in the midday sun when he turned to walk back in the direction he had come and blinked in surprise.

There, peeking out from behind a round vine covered pillar, was the beautiful woman. And if for some reason he had missed her then Endymion's accompanying gasp would have clued him in.

"Hello?" He said calmly as he began to calmly walk toward her, his heart beginning to pound as he initiated the meeting that would set his destiny in motion; his eyes flickering all over her for the benefit of his incarnation.

Endymion's eyes would have been wide if he had control of them for there she was. He was seeing more of her than he had ever been able to before. Even as his reincarnation stepped ever closer to her he felt nervousness fill his being.

But oh is she beautiful. He thought quietly.

Her hair was truly as white as her elegant gown, her hairstyle unique beyond anything he had ever seen before, and her eyes were as blue as a clear vibrant sky; standing out among her white attire and pale skin.

If he could hold his breath he would as his reincarnation stopped just before he reached the pillar she hid behind. He hoped she was not afraid of him; he did not yet know her name, but he did not think he could stand it if she were.

"If I may ask, who might you be my lady?" Darien asked quietly, and Endymion waited anxiously for her response.

"Where are my manners?" He said after a few silent moments, repeating the words that began their relationship. "I am Prince Endymion." He said as he bowed elegantly.

He straightened and watched as she hesitated before stepping away from her hiding place giving him and, more importantly, Endymion the chance to have a good look at her.

She moved into a shaft of sunlight and Endymion saw that her gown was actually more of a moonlight color than actual white, and the bodice of her gown was decorated with gold beads in an intricate pattern. There were small off the shoulder sleeve cuffs that lined up perfectly with the bodice of her gown, and a large bow on her back that was made of some type of material that looked almost see through.

She is lovely. He thought as his eyes trailed up to the golden crescent moon in the center of her forehead framed perfectly by her hair.

"I am Princess Serenity." She said softly as she dipped in a graceful curtsey. "I am pleased to meet you."

And so is her voice. He thought with a sigh. She is a Princess! He thought a moment later in surprise. The Princess of the Moon if the crescent moon gracing her forehead is any indication. It would certainly explain why she is so pale.

Endymion sighed. Now that he was seeing her clearly the initial attraction he had felt was growing. He needed to know her. He could not, would not, let this opportunity slip away.

"The pleasure is mine my lady." Darien said with a smile.

He couldn't help it. She was just as he remembered. His Serenity. She looked exactly like his Serena except for the hair color. He didn't realize until that moment that he missed the white color.

But it will be that color again. He reminded himself as he recalled their trip to their future.

He wondered how that would happen. Would her DNA change back to what it had been in the past or was her hair color a consequence of living on the Moon? And if that was the case did that mean she would once again live on the Moon?

He could actually see it happening since her palace had been restored and was perfectly livable, but he couldn't quite imagine what would cause her to live there again. Especially for long enough to cause her hair to change color.

Then again we were never told how Crystal Tokyo would happen. He considered thoughtfully.

Darien blinked and in that moment his visual perspective changed. He was still standing in front of Serenity, but he felt like he was now a passenger instead of the one actually standing there. He tried to move and realized he couldn't.

What? He wondered in confusion, but just that quick he understood what was happening. His part was done.

"Darien? Are you still here?" Endymion asked.

"Yes. I'm here." He answered.

"What is wrong? What is happening?" Endymion asked worriedly.

"Nothing's wrong." Darien assured him. "We've switched places. I made the introduction now you continue on; get to know her."

"Does her reincarnation look like her?" Endymion asked as he continued to gaze at the lovely woman in front of him.

"Yes, exactly. Right down to the same hairstyle." Darien answered. "The only difference is the color of her hair. It is a golden blonde color."

Endymion sighed internally. He could imagine that color and he thought it would look beautiful on the Princess before him.

I will see it in my next lifetime; when I am Darien. He told himself. However, right now my reincarnation is correct. It is time to get to know her.

"Would you care to walk with me my lady?" He asked as he looked into her beautiful eyes; perhaps he could learn exactly why she had come to look upon him.

"I would like that." She answered softly.

He smiled and extended his arm like the gentleman he was, and nearly sighed at the feel of her small hand resting on his arm.

From there the royals strolled around the garden, Darien their only witness, though silent and unknown by one, as they began to get to know each other.

The minutes passed as they spoke and before they knew it almost two hours had passed. It was then that Serenity reluctantly announced that she needed to return to the Moon before people began to search for her.

Endymion understood since he was sure his absence had been noticed as well, but he made sure to receive her assurance that she would come see him again.

Once she was gone, disappearing in a warm white light, he quickly returned to the palace to resume his day. Yet he was sure to express his excitement and happiness to his reincarnation.

When the day finally ended and Endymion retired to his private rooms for the evening he changed into his night clothes and plopped down on his bed with a sigh.

"Still feeling excited?" Darien asked.

"Oh yes!" Endymion answered instantly as a smile stretched his face. "I finally know her name. Serenity." He said with a sigh. "And I finally got to speak to her, to get to know her, and I cannot wait to know her further."

"I am happy for you." Darien said. He was also happy for himself since this meant his present wouldn't change.

"Thank you." Endymion said sincerely before he sighed lightly. "So, now what happens?" He asked curiously.

"I imagine that since the meeting with Serenity happened, and we've switched places, then when you wake up in the morning I should be gone; back to my time; and back to my Serenity." Darien answered.

"If I have been gone in my time for as long as I have been here then she must be terribly worried." He added with a sigh.

"Oh I am sorry for that." Endymion said with a frown. "Will you tell her what happened?"

"Definitely." Darien answered promptly. "We tell each other everything, and this will be something she can look back on and see if she noticed anything different about you. After all you are attracted to Serenity and getting to know her, whereas I am already in love with her. Will she have seen that? And if she did, did she know what it was she was seeing? Your Serenity might not have, but mine would."

"It is unfortunate I will have to wait until your lifetime to learn the answer." Endymion said.

"True, but you will forget all about it since you will be busy falling in love with Serenity." Darien said.

"I look forward to it." Endymion said. "And no one will stop me. She attracts me, stirs me. And you have confirmed exactly what I thought she might be, which gives me further confidence to proceed as I wish."

"Thought she might be?" Darien repeated curiously, his incarnation's words bringing more memories to the front of his mind.

"My future Queen." Endymion answered seriously.

"Ah. I see." Darien said, and he really did. Endymion had vowed to himself to put all rules aside when it came to the one who would be his partner in life, and he had. It was too bad she would not be Queen in Endymion's lifetime. Queen on the Earth and Moon. That would have been a sight to see.

Thankfully she will be Queen in my lifetime. He thought, pleased that they would fulfill that disrupted destiny.

"Thank you for this opportunity Endymion." Darien said, moving away from that thought before it could somehow broadcast to his incarnation. "I know I was brought here to help you, but being back here and interacting with everyone again was amazing. So thank you."

"You are very welcome." Endymion replied, forcing himself not to ask questions at the tone of his reincarnations voice. "Thank you for helping me, and for the gift of knowing that I will have another lifetime with Serenity."

"You're welcome. I was glad to help." Darien said honestly.

-=U=-

Serena paced along the end of the bed in her and her Prince's bedroom as she looked at his glowing figure with worry.

He had been that way for hours. At first she had seen nothing wrong with it, figuring it had to do with his crystal, but after a few hours passed with no change she began to worry. Why was this happening? Was he okay? Was there something she was supposed to do? Did Darien know this was even happening?

Suddenly he sighed and began to stretch, the glow fading from his body, and she hurried to her side of the bed and climbed on as she knelt next to him.

"Darien? Darien!" She called as she placed a hand on his chest.

Darien relaxed and opened his eyes to see his Princess looking down at him with worry shining brightly in her eyes. He sat up and hugged her, which she easily returned; squeezing him tightly.

"I was so worried! Are you okay?" Serena asked as she pulled back enough to see his face.

"Yes. I'm okay. I'm sorry for worrying you." He said sincerely.

"I woke up in the middle of the night and you were glowing gold." She said as she sat back on her legs. "I thought whatever the reason it had to do with your crystal, so it should be fine, but then hours passed and you didn't wake. You'd been like that for a day before you woke just now."

Darien blinked in surprise. He had been in the past for three, no four days, but only a day had passed here? He wondered why there was a difference, and if it had to do with his crystal or if it was just a consequence of how time worked.

"You're fine? Nothing's wrong?" Serena asked in concern.

"No nothing's wrong. I'm perfectly fine." Darien reassured her. "But you won't believe what happened; where I've been."