Chapter 28
Interrogation
Serena watched the fire before her flicker numbly. Every inch of her was wet and damp. Her hair limply hung between her shoulder blades, so full of water that a steady drip was splashing onto the floor behind her, creating a pool that was growing larger by the minute. The rich white silk of her dress had been covered with mud, grass, and blood. The fabric held onto almost as much water as her hair, but Serena hardly noticed. All she could focus on was the fire before her, so casually crackling as if the world around them hadn't just changed.
"Here… I found some pants and another shirt." Darien's voice cut through the silence though Serena hardly noticed. "You might want to take a shower first though." He suggested.
Serena's hands gripped her elbows as he spoke. She felt a shiver run through her as she realized how cold she was. The fire was doing little to dry her sodden clothes.
"Serena?" Darien repeated as he cautiously drew closer. He tucked the clothes under his arm and laid his hand on her shoulder. "Come on…" He pulled her to the bathroom beside the fireroom.
She followed him without saying a word. She watched as he bent down and turned on the shower, waiting until the water grew warm enough before turning back to her.
"Are you okay?" He asked her as his dark blue eyes settled on hers.
Serena silently nodded and unzipped her dress. She stepped out of it without hesitating and slipped into the shower as Darien's eyes widened in surprise.
"I'll just be outside…" Darien said quickly as he turned toward the wall. His ears had turned a bright red as he shut his eyes, feeling guilty for even the small glimpse he had caught of her.
"Stay." Serena said softly as she closed the shower door. The warm water instantly took the chill from her skin and sent a flurry of fresh goosebumps down her arms. "I don't want to be alone right now."
Darien nodded, taking care to keep his back to her. He closed the lid of the toilet and sat down on top of it, trying his best to keep his gaze from wandering to the transparent shower door. He felt his mind begin to run. Should he say anything? What was there to say? Serena had just lost her mother for the second time. Should he comfort her or take her mind off what happened? No, perhaps the best thing would be to say nothing at all.
Finally, twenty minutes later the water turned off and the shower door opened. Darien once again averted his eyes as Serena grabbed a towel off the nearby rack and wrapped it around herself. She wrung the water out of her hair and faced Darien who felt himself growing more uncomfortable by the second. "Darien?" She whispered.
Darien bravely lifted his gaze from his own sodden and muddy shoes to see Serena watching him intently.
"The… um… clothes?" She asked as her cheeks turned a bright pink. She clutched at the towel that barely covered her torso.
Darien jumped up, feeling his own cheeks burn with embarrassment as he handed her the clothes that were still tucked under his arm. He attempted to keep his gaze on the floor. He was only able to see her wet toes and nothing else.
"Thanks." Serena whispered and quickly dressed, thankful that for the moment, he was being a gentleman. "You just being here with me… I know it feels weird but, it's making me feel a little better." She said.
Darien turned to her, surprised by her comment. He watched as her eyes slowly filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks and splashed onto her shoulders. Without hesitating he stood and took her into his arms as she sobbed freely onto his shoulder. He knew then that his silence was the best comfort he could give her as her body shook with sobs.
Serena clung to him as a child would. Her hands gripped the back of his shoulders as she buried her face against his chest, unable to control the sobs that came forth. She felt his strong arms circle around her, pulling her tighter, protectively, against him. "I can't … do… this… without… her." She whispered in-between sobs.
"Yes, you can." Darien reassured her as he brushed her hair back tenderly. "You're the strongest woman I know. If anyone can defeat Raven… it's you."
Serena's voice broke as she pulled from him, shaking her head solemnly. "I can't even transform Darien. I have no real power. Fabian took the dark energy out and still… I cannot. I can't even avenge my own mother. All I can do is watch everyone around me give their lives—"
"That's not true." Darien said as he took her chin in his hands, leveling his gaze with her own. "You are the leader of our team. We'll follow you and fight with you. Together we'll figure out how to harness the power of Sailor Moon and defeat our enemies just like we always have."
"How can you promise me that?" Serena whispered back as she one last tear roll down her cheek. "We can't win every fight. One day… one day we may lose."
Darien cupped her cheek and tenderly brushed aside the tear as he met her lips with his own. "That day may come… it may not… but I do know one thing. I will keep fighting for this planet… and for you until my last breath."
Serena leaned into his kiss, shocked at how such a simple move of affection could make her feel so calm. Warmth rushed through her limbs and down her torso as she felt her heart skip a beat. One thing she had definitely missed about this man were his kisses. No matter how many times she felt his lips against hers it was like it was the first time. She could feel the passion in his lips, in his tender touch and even in the way he held her. It was if they had picked up where they had left off.
A loud knock sounded on the door, causing both of them to jump.
"We're ready." Lita's voice said from the other side of the door.
Serena sighed as she relaxed back against Darien's chest, relishing their stolen moments together before she had to return to reality.
"Hey, it'll be okay." Darien reassured her as he held her and rested his cheek on the top of her head.
"It doesn't mean I'm gonna like it." Serena replied as she broke from his grasp and opened the door. She felt a fiery sense of power overcome her as she walked, barefoot, down the hall back to the fire room which was now packed with the remaining scouts and generals. Serena hardly acknowledged them as she approached Trista who was sitting in the middle of the room. Her hands were still bound, no one had bothered to remove the restraints. Serena's dark blue eyes caught hers but there was no familiar glimmer of kindness or friendship. No, that time was over.
"Serena…" Trista began but Serena held up a hand, shaking her head sternly.
"You may talk when I ask you to talk. First, you will listen." She spat as she came to a stop before Trista. She felt anger building up within her as she regarding the woman that she had once believed to be a friend and ally. How could she still look her in the eye now? "We know that you are the one that brought back Raven. We know that you are the one who led our team astray. We know that you are the one that led Saturn to her demise. You are the one who lied to Darien and created a wedge that tore our team apart. You have been working with our enemies while pretending to help us once we finally came together again. And you… you…" Serena's voice broke as she fought the tears that were building. "you are the reason Queen Serenity is dead. Now please tell me, has anything I said been wrong?"
Trista hesitated, she could feel everyone's eyes boring into her. Her own eyes were red and brimmed with tears that were threatening to fall. She wouldn't let them. No one wanted her tears now, not after all she had done. "No." Her voice quivered as she spoke.
"Why Trista?" Mina interrupted as she felt her breath catch in her chest. "We're your family! How could you?"
Trista turned away, unable to look Mina in the eye. "I made a mistake." She admitted. "I tried to fix it and only made things worse. I didn't trust anyone else to help me, instead I reached to the darkness..." Her voice cracked as her gaze fell to the floor. "I couldn't do it anymore. For centuries I've watched the time stream. I've watched terrible things happen to good people and could do nothing about it! When I saw what was going to happen to Saturn... I couldn't let it become one more injustice in the world. I had to act. Yes, I was selfish and yes, I was a fool for doing it but I can't change the past. I cannot undo what I've done. Now that witch has her and I can't see what lies before us anymore. The time stream has changed. The future has changed. I changed the course of all of our lives and I don't know what's coming next—"
"I do." Fabian stated as he stepped forward. His expression was somber and dark. The dim light in the fire room only accentuated his dark features which suddenly appeared more ominous. "You're right about one thing, Raven has Saturn. The only reason she wants her is for the Silence Glaive. Now that she has it she will use it against us, especially if she thinks she can claim the Silver Crystal."
"That weapon would kill us all, even her!" Amara protested with a scoff. "She's not that crazy."
Darien snorted as Fabian shot a glare at Amara. "You're a bigger fool than I thought. It's pretty obvious Raven is out of her mind. She'll take death as a victory knowing that with her rebirth she'd have what she wanted. She'd rather kill every person on this planet then accept defeat. Your first priority needs to be getting that weapon back before she decides to use it."
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"Amy? Amy!" Mina's voice cut through the second-floor hallway of the Moon Palace.
"We're already late! Training started at — "Mina hesitated mid-step as she heard a noise to her left. She pushed open the door to Amy's room to find her hunched over the side of her bed, retching into a bucket.
"Go away!" Amy stated as she waved a hand in Mina's direction, not bothering to look up as she spoke.
"Are you okay? Should I call for a doctor?" Mina asked as she took another step into the room.
"I'm fine." Amy replied before she retched again into her bucket.
Mina slipped into the room and shut the door quietly behind her. She went to Amy's sink and wet a towel before going to her friend who was paler than her crisp, white bedsheets. "You don't look fine… at all…"
"I think…. I think it's over…" Amy whispered as she sat back on the edge of her bed. She reclined against the pillows, shutting her eyes wearily as her tense muscles relaxed.
"What's going on with you?" Mina inquired as she placed the cool, wet towel on her friend's clammy forehead. "You haven't exactly been acting like yourself lately…"
"Do you ever get a really bad feeling? Like…. Like something is being is kept from you and that something could potentially be life threatening?" Amy asked as her gaze wandered to the open window.
Mina felt her forehead wrinkle as she watched her. "I don't think I like where your explanation is heading— "
"I haven't received a letter from Zoisite in almost three months." Amy whispered as she shut her eyes. "He would never shut me out. Something has happened to it. I can feel it. I just know…"
"Shhh." Mina soothed as she took Amy's hands into her own. "He's fighting a war right now, maybe the letter has gotten lost or he just hasn't had time. You can't just automatically think of the worst."
"No one else has received any letters in three months either." Amy continued as if Mina hadn't even spoken. "I just can't help but feel something terrible has happened and we aren't being told about it."
"Right now, my concern is to get you feeling better." Mina hushed as she lifted the sheets on Amy's bed and covered her with them. She tenderly tucked the edges around her small form as she gave her a comforting smile. "It'll all be okay. You'll see. Let me find that doctor, maybe he will have something that can settle your stomach— "She turned from Amy to the door which had just swung open.
Amy yelped as the color drained from Mina's face.
A dark, hooded figure stepped into the room, shutting the door quickly after they entered. Amy reached for her transformation pen but the figure quickly threw off his hood revealing a mass of dirty, shoulder-length black hair.
"Fabian?" Mina whispered as her eyes took him in. His appearance had drastically changed, his light green eyes were now dark and cloudy. His face appeared more weathered, as if he had aged years within the past few months since Mina had last seen him.
"We don't have much time." He said quickly as he glanced briefly at Amy and gave her a reassuring nod. "I'm not here to harm you."
"I thought you joined the Negaverse." Amy replied as her eyes narrowed. Her grip never left her transformation pen which was now clearly in view. "Why should we trust you?"
Fabian shot a quick glance at Mina whose lips were pursed together so tightly they had turned white.
"It's okay." Mina said softly as she looked at Amy. "Fabian… you should go."
"I promised that I would do what I must the last time I saw you." He replied as his dark eyes focused on hers. "I never said anything about becoming evil."
"There is only evil within the Negaverse." Mina said back as she felt tears stinging her eyes. She felt herself overcome with emotion. Here was the man she had desperately tried to save from the darkness just a few months ago. She could still remember the soft press of his lips against hers and his strong hands gripping her hips. They may not had fallen in love but their last moments together had served as a sign of what could have been. A future that wasn't to be played out… a future that Fabian had decided wasn't for him.
"I couldn't leave my brother Mina. I am not making excuses for my decisions nor am I apologizing for them. I may have chosen darkness, but that doesn't mean that I have forgotten my time here on the Moon or my time with you. You are not my enemy. Serenity is not my enemy. The sailor scouts are not my enemies. No matter what happens, that fact won't change." Fabian explained as he drew closer to Mina.
Mina took a cautious step back, her eyes still locked on his. "What are you doing here? If we aren't your enemy and you're still part of the Negaverse, why have you come?"
"To warn you." Fabian said curtly as he took Mina's hands in his. "Earth has fallen. Your generals have succumbed to the darkness. They serve under a mad woman named Queen Beryl. She has her sights on the moon next. She will come soon. You need to leave, go to Mars before it too falls. The only chance this universe has left against the Negaverse is if all of you come together to fight."
"It may be too late for that." Mina said as she shook her head. Behind her she heard Amy emit a wail as tears flowed freely down her cheeks. "You expect us to fight against those that protected us and trained us?"
"Please Mina." Fabian pleaded as he cast a look out the window. Dark clouds were closing in, blocking out the last rays of the morning sun that danced along the rim of the window before fading away. "Run… gather more warriors, trust no one from Earth."
"Endymion?" Mina asked as Fabian took a step back from her towards the door.
Fabian's expression, if possible, turned darker. "His mother chose darkness. Queen Raven's power will soon rival Queen Beryl's. If Endymion is still alive, he is not the same man that left the princess on the Moon. Do not trust him. The Negaverse is after the Silver Crystal. They will use any means to acquire it, including Endymion."
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Serena turned a slow circle as she took in her surroundings. Something didn't feel right. She was in a lush garden, full of exotic flowers and plants that she had never seen before. Behind her she could hear a fountain, bubbling softly in the background. Somewhere to her right she heard a bird chirp twice then grow silent. She turned another circle as her gaze lifted to the sky. She gasped as she could see the fading sun, slowly sinking beneath the horizon as what should have been the moon, rose steadily into the darkening sky. It wasn't the moon.
"It's quite different watching the Earth rise instead of the moon you've become so accustomed to." A voice said from behind her. "Different, but still beautiful, even if I can't stand the sight of it."
Serena jumped as she spun around, her eyes widening. A man in shining silver armor stepped onto the garden path from behind a hedge. His long, white blond hair hung loose and free just between his shoulders and his lavender eyes were set right on her. "Nikko! No... no, you're dead. I saw you die."
Nikko grinned as he ran a hand through his long hair. "I may be dead, but my soul will not be at peace until Raven too, perishes."
Serena felt her stomach drop as her hands suddenly roamed across her body feeling for any wounds or blood. "Am... am I dead?"
Nikko chuckled and shook his head as he drew closer to her. "No, princess. You live still. In fact, you are at this moment, sleeping in your bed, a little too close to Endymion, not that I should be concerned anymore."
Serena felt her cheeks flush as she watched him approach. "I'm dreaming then?"
"Yes." Nikko replied with a grin. "Our dreams are often so underrated. The mind is free while it dreams. Free to wander the universe. Free to recall precious moments. Free to innovate and discover. Your mind princess, can do so much more than a normal person's. That is why I've come to you. We don't have much time, but I owe you a much deserved apology."
Serena watched him sit on a nearby stone bench. He patted the spot next to him casually though he noted her hesitation.
"I can't harm you, not that I would anyway. Come, sit." He urged as he patted the spot again.
Serena felt her feet move forward, carrying her to the bench beside him despite her better judgment. What if this was another trick? Could it be? No, she had seen Nikko die. Any alternatives that could explain how he could be talking to her now seemed to be unfathomable. Perhaps it was a dream.
His lavender eyes regarded her for several moments before he spoke again. "I joined the Negaverse because I thought the power the darkness could give me would be enough to reclaim you. I loved you Serena, and the thought of never being with you again nearly drove me to madness. That madness only festered in the darkness. As my brother so eloquently stated, my love turned into an obsession. Lost in my dark desire I did things to you that no man who loves any woman should ever do. I filled you with dark energy hoping that the darkness would make you love me again, and perhaps for a time it did. You remembered our good moments, our happy moments, and then you remembered our last... Just as in the Silver Millennium, your sorrow faded and the man you truly loved came into your life and lifted you from that darkness. I should have known history is doomed to repeat itself. Endymion triumphed then just as he has now."
Serena felt herself drawing closer to him as he spoke. She didn't hate him for what he did. Instead she felt pity. Her hands slipped over his without thinking. Her thumbs ran over the back of his hand, tracing his hard knuckles to his large fingers. She didn't know what comfort she could bring him now. "I belong with Endymion. It is our destiny. That doesn't mean that I never loved you. I did. You were my first real love." Serena whispered as she felt a sad smile tugging at her lips.
"Just not your destiny." Nikko stated with a sigh. His eyes settled onto her small hands which he grasped in his own. He lifted her hands to his lips and tenderly kissed them. "For all I have done Serena, I am truly sorry. It is too late to correct the wrongs I have done. My time is spent, but it is not too late to save you."
"Nikko, what are you saying?" Serena asked as her eyes widened once more. She felt a shiver run along her spine as Nikko released her hands.
"I love you Serena, don't forget that. No evil queen or dark kingdom or any person can stop that. My body can't protect you anymore but there is one last thing I can do for you. I owe it to you. I only pray you won't forget me... again... and know that in the end, you did save me from the darkness." Nikko gave her a sad smile and without hesitating he pressed his lips against hers.
Serena's eyebrows lifted in surprise but found herself giving into his kiss. She felt the familiar warmth of his arms pulling her to his chest and the tenderness in his embrace. This was the goodbye he wanted, her mind didn't resort to feelings of guilt or shame. This was the farewell kiss of a lover that she would never see again.
Nikko reluctantly pulled from her and gave her a thankful nod. Then without speaking, his hands glowed a vibrant pink. He took one deep breath then with the force of what felt like a sledgehammer he thrust his hands into her chest.
Serena screamed as she flew backwards, slamming onto the ground as if she had just been violently thrown. She crashed to the floor, taking with her a heap of blankets that slipped off a sleeping Darien.
"SERENA!" Darien yelled as he jumped out of the bed and scrambled to the floor where Serena had fallen. He rummaged through the blankets desperately trying to find her as Serena numbly felt her body going into shock.
Serena gasped as her eyes took in the familiar sight of her bedroom at the Cherry Hill Temple as Darien pulled the blankets from her. Wait, hadn't she just been on the moon? Was she dreaming still or was she awake? She could feel sweat pouring down the sides of her face, soaking her hair. Her heart was pounding painfully against her chest, racing as if she had just narrowly escaped the clutches of death. Instantly she clutched at her chest, as if she could still feel Nikko's hands against her but he wasn't there. Instead, a worried Darien was looking her over, checking for any signs of trauma or injury.
"Serena! Serena! What's going on? What happened?" Darien said, desperately trying to see what was wrong with her.
She sat up as she felt her heart rate slowly return to normal. She glanced at her transformation broach which was seemingly burning against her flesh. She hadn't even realized she was wearing it. "Darien... oh my gosh Darien..." she pulled it off her shirt and felt the familiar power of the Silver Crystal rushing into her hands.
"What? Serena, what the heck is going on?" Darien repeated, frustrated. He sank back onto the floor, regarding her closely.
Serena's eyes widened as she lifted her broach which was now illuminating the room with a soft white light. "I ... I can feel the power again... Darien... I think... I think I can transform!"
"Serena, are you sure you just didn't hit your head?" Darien asked carefully as he examined the broach that was shining brighter and brighter. "Or maybe I hit mine..."
Serena lifted the broach into the air. She felt a rush of power trickle down her arms and spread across her torso to her legs. Her pajamas faded away to reveal a rich white silk dress that flowed onto the floor. A white tiara appeared on her head above a glowing golden crescent that had appeared on her forehead. The broach glowed one last time before its light shimmered down to the ground where Serenity's staff was resting. The white stone settled into the crook of the crescent and the staff illuminated, each stone sparkling blindingly bright within the room. Serena extended her arm towards the staff that lifted itself into the air and floated to her hand.
Darien's jaw dropped as the bedroom door was thrown open. The other scouts and generals were all in the hallway, each gaping at the sight of Serena as the Moon Princess holding her mother's crescent staff.
"The curse is broken." Fabian stated with a grin. "Your powers have returned."
"How? Serena how?" Raye asked as she stepped into the room. She looked Serena up and down carefully as if expecting someone else to appear.
"Nikko." Serena whispered as she turned to her friends. "He released me. He returned my power."
"Nikko's dead Serena." Lita whispered as she shook her head.
"His body maybe, his soul still lives." Serena replied as she felt a grin break out across her face. "Everyone get dressed. We have an evil queen to defeat."