Chapter 20

Ruins

Serena leaned back against the trunk of her favorite willow tree. A gentle breeze whistled by her, ruffling the long tree branches as easily as if they were long strands of hair. She sighed as the cool air hit her face and neck.

Summers on the moon were generally mild but this summer was brutal. The heat from the midday sun had been nearly unbearable and the moon princess could hardly tolerate it. She had decided to skip out on sailor scout lessons for a few stolen moments to herself. She had changed out of her uniform and opted for a strapless emerald green silk gown in its place. Her shoes had been discarded leaving her barefoot and free to enjoy the afternoon in comfort.

She sighed again as she shut her eyes, finally allowing her sore muscles to relax. If she was being totally honest with herself, her much needed break from training wasn't just because of the heat. Serena hadn't seen Prince Nikko in several weeks. Each passing day brought forth a strong wave of emotions through her, the first of which was a burning rage.

She was angry. Angry that her mother had banished the man she had fallen in love with. Angry that he hadn't defied the queen's orders and come to see her. Angry that she hadn't had any contact at all with him, not even a single letter.

At night her anger would subside and the tears would come rushing down her cheeks and soaking her pillows. She would lay in agony, her mind running back through each moment she had with Nikko, hating herself for not spending more time with him. The pain was nearly unbearable. How could loving someone hurt so much?

When the invitation to the annual summer ball on Venus had arrived Serena finally felt hopeful. Nikko's banishment didn't extend to the other kingdoms in the galaxy. He was still a prince. He could attend the ball. She could see him, finally. She had spent days turning away fabric after fabric, looking for the perfect material for her gown. The white silk had caught her eye just a few days before the ball. The dressmaker had worked through the night to have her dress ready in time. Everything had to be perfect.

Serena had arrived on Venus giddy, ready to finally see the love of her life again...

Then every feeling she had for Nikko suddenly faltered when she had met him: Endymion. His touch alone had been electric, seemingly setting every nerve in her body into overdrive. They had only spent moments together but she could still feel his strong grip on her hip and the feel of his lips on her flesh. She dreamt of his striking blue eyes, so rich in color that it seemed surreal. Somehow, this strange prince from a hostile kingdom chose to protect her.

Why?

Why had Endymion put himself in danger to keep her from harm? The Earth and the Moon were not friends. They were engaged in an undeclared war. Earth's Queen, Raven, had made it clear she would end the royal family on the Moon and take their kingdom as her own. If Serena's death was what his kingdom had desired, then why had he bothered to interfere? It had been very obvious that someone was trying to do Queen Raven's bidding on Venus during that ball, but Endymion had protected her. Why would he do that?

The endless string of questions had left the moon princess feeling overwhelmed. So many things were unknown to her. Maybe not everyone on the Earth supported the Queen's mission. Maybe the moon did still have a few allies left.

Serena's eyes flickered upwards as she heard someone cough nearby. Her security detail had been increased since the incident on Venus though the princess hardly noticed. She was never alone. Even now Princess Mina was around, sitting alongside the small pond a few hundred feet away. Her feet dipped into the water which she splashed toward Princess Amy whose face was in a new book. She screeched as the cold water drenched the crisp pages.

"Psst." A voice said from behind her.

Serena turned quickly, her eyes scanning the area behind her willow tree. She noticed something moving against the back garden wall. She felt a pang as her eyes settled on the familiar area. That had been her and Nikko's spot. The spot where they had hidden during the first attempt on her life. It was also the spot where they had shared their last kiss and he had been ripped apart from her.

Serena cast another look at her friends. Mina had jumped into the pond, one hand holding up her skirts while the other grabbed handfuls of water and sent it flying towards Amy. Amy had abandoned her book and was dipping both hands into the water, giggling as the water doused her, however she was just as quick to send it back to Mina.

Serena quietly stood and tip-toed to the back wall of the garden. One hand emerged from the vine, beckoning her to come closer. Serena brushed back her long hair from her face and without hesitating, slipped into the hanging vines.

It wasn't Nikko.

A man was standing before her. She had never seen him before. His jet black hair was full and perfectly styled back. He wore a dark soldier's uniform but it wasn't a uniform of the moon. The insignia of the Earth was clearly etched onto the buttons of his jacket. Serena opened her mouth to scream but he pulled her close and covered her mouth with his hands.

"Shh!" He hushed her as he drew her further back behind the vine so they were against the garden wall.

Serena felt her heart skip a beat. Though she didn't know his face she could never forget those piercing blue eyes.

"You don't have to be afraid of me." He told her as his hand gently fell from covering her mouth.

Serena felt her cheeks flush. Though Nikko had held her on occasion, Endymion's grasp was entirely different. Nikko had been possessive, holding her as if she was a toy he didn't want to share. Endymion's grip was firm but gentle. He held her as if he was shielding her, protecting her from harm. His chest was pressed against hers and she could feel how hard his heart was beating even through the layers of his clothing.

"Why are you here?" She asked him. "Why did you save me on Venus?"

"Despite what you may think princess, I don't want you dead." He stated as he released her. His hand lingered on the small of her back for a moment before falling to his side.

"Why not? Your mother does. Your people do. They hate the Moon. They want to see our kingdom fall and burn…" Serena stated as she took a step back from him.

"My mother… is ill." Endymion stated as his expression grew dark. "She's changed. She is not the same woman that raised me to be the man I am today. That woman in gone. My mother had raised me to be a leader, a man who protects his people and those that he loves. A man that fights for those who cannot defend themselves. The Moon has done nothing to us but she has lied to our people. She has even convinced herself that the Moon is the reason we are not the most powerful kingdom in the galaxy…" He trailed off as he leaned back against the hard stone wall. His gaze fell to his shiny leather boots.

"You knew she was going to try to kill me at the ball didn't you?" She stated as she took a cautious step towards him.

"I suspected she wouldn't have passed up a chance to take your life." He admitted as he raised his head back up to look at her. Their eyes locked. "Turns out I was right."

"Thank you…" She said to him, her gaze never wavering from his. "I'm here today because of you."

He nodded and stood straight, moving away from the wall. "I'm thinking we are going to need to form an alliance, you and I." He stated as he approached her. "Something is happening in the galaxy… I can't pinpoint what it is… but it's something bad. There will be a moment, soon I think, that we will need each other."

"What do you mean?" She asked, cautious. "What is happening?"

"To put it simply: evil." He stated. "It's not just the Earth, I've heard reports from other kingdoms in our galaxy that their people are … changing." He cast a glance through the vine. For the moment Mina and Amy were still occupied with each other but it wouldn't be long before they noticed Serena was missing. "The Earth may already be lost but there may be time still for the Moon. My generals and I will be close should you need anything."

"Wait." Serena said as he turned to leave. She caught his hand in hers.

He looked over his shoulder at her, his dark blue eyes wide. His hand grasped hers for a moment. Serena felt another jolt of electricity surge though her.

"What have you heard about Charon?" She asked, fearful of his answer.

He turned to face her as his expression, if possible, grew even darker. "Charon was the first to fall. It's where it all started. Don't trust them. Don't let them get close. If you see any people from Charon… run."

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The air was stale. Old. There were no birds tweeting, no bugs buzzing, not even a gust of wind. The Moon kingdom was dead, stripped of all forms of life. The Moon Palace, once a marvel of the galaxy, known for its grandeur and splendor, was reduced to a pile of rubble. Only a few scattered pillars in various states of decay remained. The vibrant gardens had been obliterated. The beautiful waterways and fountains that had once surrounded the palace were dried up. The Negaverse had all but destroyed the Moon.

Queen Serenity laid her hand delicately against one of the few pillars that remained as she looked around. Her home was gone. Destroyed. She closed her eyes, trying to recall how beautiful the Moon had once been. It had been lush, covered in greenery and full of life. Her people had adored her and her daughter. The kingdom had been prosperous and wealthy. The Moon had been the envy of the entire galaxy. Now it was just an empty shell, a harsh reminder of a past that no longer existed, gone from memory.

"My Queen—" Luna's voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Forgive me Luna, I didn't realize how difficult it would to be back." Queen Serenity stated as she brushed away a tear. She took a moment, inhaling deeply before turning around. Ten pairs of eyes were all watching her, waiting.

"I brought you all here so that we could draw what energy the Moon still has out. Your memories will be returned, one by one and your powers should enhance once those are received." Queen Serenity stated. "I know the palace has been destroyed but the lower levels may still be intact. There were four entrances in the palace to the bottom floor. If we spread out, then we may be able to find at least one that is still accessible. Queen Raven won't be able to reach us here, at least not yet, but the Shadow Warriors can. Stay in groups."

Everyone split up, walking in various directions to search the ruins while Luna and Artemis went to comfort their queen who could no longer stop the tears from spilling.

"This place gives me the creeps." Mina stated to Kunzite as they walked to the north side of the palace ruins. "You don't think there's like… ghosts here do you?"

Kunzite chuckled as he moved a little closer to Mina. "Come on now, you, the sailor scout with all your power, is scared of a little ghost?"

Mina punched his shoulder, pushing him away from her. "I never said I was scared!"

Raye rolled her eyes as she and Jadeite moved away from them, heading to the northwest wing of the palace. They passed piles upon piles of rock and marble scattered with glass. Everything had a thick layer of gray dust over it. "I have so few memories of life here." Raye stated, cutting through the silence that had fallen between her and Jadeite. "And none of my home on Mars."

Jadeite laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "They'll come back eventually."

Raye stopped to glance around them as she could feel the restlessness around her. She shut her eyes for a moment. She could feel the air thick with fear, the last screams of the moon people before they died rang through her ears but were unheard by Jadeite. Her senses were heightened here on the moon. Queen Serenity had been right. There was still much energy here. She turned to Jadeite as if nothing had happened. ""I'm not sure I want to remember." Raye stated. "Those memories will only bring back more sadness and death. That's how they all end isn't it? Everyone I knew and loved, died." Raye whispered.

Jadeite stopped as he noticed her tone change. "Hey…" He sat her down on a large piece of rock and squatted down before her. His blue eyes focused on her small form. Her head was bent downwards, her long ebony hair covered her face as her shoulders shook. He fought the burning urge to push back her hair and take her into his arms.

"Will it ever stop?" She asked him softly as her voice trembled. "Will the evil in this universe ever stop trying to destroy the one planet that has survived?"

Jadeite hesitated, unsure of how to respond. He could be honest and tell her the truth or simply tell her what she wanted to hear. He was surprised even at his dilemma. Why did it matter to him? "You can't worry about that. Take it one day at a time." He told her as he bravely laid a hand over hers.

She didn't shrink back from his touch as she normally would have. In fact, she lifted her head, her dark eyes shining with tears, to look at him. His light blond hair was falling onto his face, obscuring his perfectly blue eyes. She reached forward and brushed his hair away tenderly. "I never thanked you for earlier… at the temple, for getting me to safety. Thank you."

"Sure, anytime." Jadeite stated, surprised by her show of affection.

"I know we never talked about it, but I am guessing I knew you back during the Silver Millennium didn't I?" She asked as her hand dropped back down to her side.

"Yeah." Jadeite admitted. "We knew each other then."

"Well?" Raye pressed as her voice grew small.

He nodded slowly, never breaking eye contact with her. "Yes…"

She sighed, as if his answer had confirmed one of her fears. It made sense that they knew each other. After all, the other generals seemed to have a thing for the scouts, why wouldn't she have been close to one of them as well? It had been a topic she had been avoiding since their arrival and especially since they started to pair off. Unlike the others she had never been romantically involved with anyone. Her life as a shrine maiden coupled with her overbearing grandfather kept any previous prospects far away.

"I won't pressure you into anything." Jadeite stated as he squeezed her hand. "When you're ready to talk about it, we will. When you get your memories back I'll still be here, waiting." He assured her as he stood and held out his hand to her. "What do you say we go find one of those entrances?" He gave her a cocky smile.

Raye met his smile with her own and brushed away her tears. She slipped her hand into his and he lifted her up with ease. Together they continued to walk through the ruins.

Lita watched Raye and Jadeite walk off as she and Nephrite picked through the west wing of the palace. He picked up large pieces of rubble easily and tossed them out of their way, growing more agitated as their search was turning up nothing. She found her gaze wandering to him as he worked. The muscles in his arms and back flexed each time he lifted a piece of debris. She watched sweat trickle down the sides of his face. His deep auburn hair was tied back but several strands had broken free and were sticking to the side of his face, not that he noticed. She felt a shiver run up her spine. Her attraction to Nephrite only seemed to be growing daily. It was hard to believe that he was now her husband.

"Look." He finally said to her as he tossed aside a large piece of rock. He pointed to a hole in the ground. She could barely see a faint outline of stairs, winding downwards but to what she didn't know.

"I'll tell the others." She stated and turned to leave but he caught her wrist and pulled her to him.

"Wait a second." He stated as his arms wrapped around her.

Lita felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She cast a look around them. They were alone. They hadn't spent much time together alone since their wedding. "What?" She asked him.

"You okay?" He asked as he pulled back just enough to look at her. Though Lita was fairly tall he still towered over her.

"I'm okay." She assured him as she gripped his forearms with her hands. She squeezed him gently and met his lips with her own. "I'm great actually."

His left eyebrow rose curiously. "Really? Here? On this barren rock?"

"I'm with you." She replied, though inwardly she scolded herself at the cheesy line. "Everything is perfect."

His perplexed expression quickly transformed to a blithe smile. "It is pretty great calling you my wife." He said to her as his hands slid up her back and went to cup her cheeks. "And it's even better that I can kiss you whenever I want…"

Their lips met in a gentle kiss.

Lita felt her knees go weak. Nephrite was a heck of a kisser. His touch alone sent tiny fireworks up her spine and down her legs. His kisses were so intense that she needed to lean on him for support. Never could she have imagined that their bond would be so strong so quickly. Their connection was only intensifying with each passing day. She couldn't even fathom how a lifetime with him would be.

"Knock it off you two." Artemis stated as he sauntered past them to the exposed staircase.

Lita jumped as she and Nephrite parted.

"It looks mostly intact." Artemis stated as he examined the stairs. "Go get everyone else. We need to get below before dark."

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Serena paced back and forth in her and Nikko's room. Her heels clicked softly on the hard stone floor as her vibrant violet dress swung around her ankles with every turn. The skirts were full and trailed on the floor behind her, lightly dusting the floor. The sleeves fell off her shoulders, wrapping around her arms but keeping her slender shoulders exposed. Her long golden blonde hair was down and loose, curled just slightly at the ends so that it seemed to bounce as she moved.

Life on Charon had been an adjustment. It was if she had been transferred back to the Silver Millennium. Her wardrobe was full of floor length gowns and dresses, perfectly preserved despite their age. Time on Charon had literally stood still after the fall of the Silver Millennium which kept the already partially destroyed royal palace from falling further to decay. To make matters worse the sunlight that hit the surface was almost non-existent. It was always dark. Dark and cold.

Serena was growing restless and not just from the weather. She was worried. Worried that the man she thought she had loved was playing her. Worried that her friends were in danger. Worried that the Shadow Warriors that had once pledged to protect her were now going to obliterate everyone she cared and loved. Tears filled her eyes as she continued to pace. How was she going to get home? No one knew where she was much less how to get to her. Was she doomed to live out the remainder of her days on this rock, knowing she was the one who sent everyone to their doom?

"Princess." A familiar voice stated.

Serena spun on her heel.

Sitting on the window sill ledge was Sailor Pluto. She jumped to her feet and slowly approached Serena.

"Trista!" Serena remarked as a sense of relief washed over her. She could go home. Pluto could transport her back to the Earth and to her friends… and Darien.

"Where is Nikko?" Sailor Pluto asked as her dark eyes flickered over to the closed door which for the moment, remained shut.

"With Fabian." Serena replied quickly. "Pluto, take me home. I need to get back. I shouldn't have come here. I shouldn't have been fooled by those memories… Nikko isn't my destiny. I belong with Darien. I always have—"

"No." She replied cruelly as her eyes narrowed. "I cannot interfere. Not anymore. I cannot take you home. You will stay with Nikko."

"Pluto please!" Serena pleaded as she felt panic wash over her. "You can't do that! As your princess I demand you take me home!"

"For what?" Pluto asked coldly. "So that you can watch Darien die?"

Serena took a step back as her heart seemed to stop. "…what?"

"That's what will happen if you go home." Pluto replied. "In fact, if you return to him, you will seal his fate."

"That can't be true…" Serena trailed off as she shook her head back and forth repeatedly. "We belong together. You've seen it. Crystal Tokyo! Rini!"

"Gone." Pluto stated simply. "That future disappeared a long time ago. I told you there was a ripple in time. The future has been altered. Serena, your future isn't with Darien."

"NO!" She screamed as tears of frustration filled her eyes. "That's not true! It can't be true! Darien is my destiny. He is the man that I love!"

"He is your past." Pluto corrected as she remained immobile, unperturbed by the display of emotion from Serena. "Your future is here. I have seen glimpses of what is to come. You marry Nikko… you give him a son—"

"NO!" Serena screamed again as she crumbled to her knees, overcome with grief. Her shoulders shook as she sobbed uncontrollably, aching for her prince. How could that be true? Darien was her true love, her destiny.

"I suggest you make the best of this situation." Pluto remarked as she walked past Serena, hardly batting an eyelash. She took her Garnet Rod and opened a portal that danced just before the window. She cast another look at Serena who hadn't moved from the floor. She regarded her apologetically for a moment before disappearing, leaving without another word.

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"Is it done?" Nikko asked. He was seated on his throne, his eyes on a stack of papers in his hands.

The sound of heels clicking on the stone floor grew in volume as someone approached him. "I did all that I could."

His left eye twitched in agitation as his gaze lifted from the papers.

Sailor Pluto stood before him, her dark eyes set on his form. Her expression was vacant, as if she had distanced herself emotionally from the conversation.

Nikko rose from his throne, tossing his papers aside. "That's not good enough!"

The throne room was empty. The Shadow Warriors had gone to Earth to begin their work. Nikko and Pluto were alone.

"I have met my part of the bargain." Pluto stated as her eyes narrowed. "I have kept them apart. Serena will remain with you."

"Endymion won't give up so easily." Nikko said as he approached her. "He's a fool."

"He can't reach you here." Pluto replied. "I suggest you keep Serena from leaving Charon."

"You've got it all figured out don't you?" Nikko asked with a cocky smile as he circled her slowly like a lion stalking its prey. "You've been feeding your friends lies… telling him about futures that you can no longer see. They don't know that the keeper of the Gates of Time has been locked out. Punished, for trying to change the future." He laughed cruelly as he circled around her again. "They don't know that you are the one that in your foolish efforts, brought us all back to life."

Sailor Pluto glared at him, her gaze hard. "Where is she? You promised!"

"Very well." Nikko waved his hand, opening a portal near him. He waved his hand again and a dark figure appeared, flying through the portal and into the room. As the figure approached, the darkness began to recede like waves retreating from the shore. The figure settled on the floor, just feet from Sailor Pluto.

It was a girl. Her short, dark hair was loose, sprawled around her face, stopping just below her sharp chin. She wore a sailor scout uniform, similar to Sailor Pluto's only instead of a black skirt, hers was a rich purple.

Sailor Pluto rushed to the girl that was slowly starting to come to. "Saturn." She whispered as she took her into her arms. "You're safe now…"