Part II: Chapter 15

Two Kings

"Will he live?" Darien asked as he entered Fabain's room. He was still as white as the sheets of his bed, breathing shallowly in a deep sleep.

Kunzite, who had taken his turn to guard Fabian's bedroom door, shrugged as he watched Fabian's chest rise and fall. "He hasn't woken up. The doctors can't seem to agree on what to do. Some say he lost too much blood, he won't ever wake up. Others are saying to give him time to heal."

"And Mina?" Darien inquired as he crossed his arms.

"She's doing okay, considering she was a captive. The King of Venus arrived this morning. They'll head back to Venus most likely." Kunzite muttered as he closed the door behind Darien. "She hasn't left her room since she got here."

"She needs time." Darien whispered as he turned from Fabian to look at his friend. "I worry her father will try to keep her on the planet. She needs to train with the other girls. Catch her before she leaves Kunzite, make sure she knows we still need her."

"And what about you Endymion?" Kunzite asked as he watched his king solemn expression remain unchanged. "What about the moon princess?"

Darien's jaw tightened at the mention of Serena. He turned from his friend as he inhaled sharply. "I don't know what's come over her. I can't believe she just… left." He reached into his pocket as he spoke. His fingers clasped around the ring she had left with Kunzite. He kept it still near him, hoping that he would see her running back to him. Part of him knew she wouldn't return while the other still held hope.

"Go to her." Kunzite urged as he watched his prince. "What are you waiting for?"

"It's not that easy." Darien said with a grimace. "I'm a king now, I can't just leave."

"You are a king, and because of it you can. You can do as you wish." Kunzite replied with a gruff.

"What would I even say to her?" Darien asked after several moments. He ran his hands through his hair, pulling at the ends of the rich, ebony strands in frustration.

"May I be honest?" Kunzite asked as he leaned back against the wall.

"Always." Darien said with a nod.

"Tell her everything." Kunzite said simply as his gaze flickered over to Fabian's battered body. "Because one day you can wake up and realize the woman you love … is with someone else."

"Kunzite—" Darien said as his eyebrows lifted. "You… you…"

"Yeah." Kunzite remarked as he pushed himself to a standing position and crossed his arms. "It all came back to me last night when I saw Mina again. It felt like something within me just… came alive. I realized that she was the part of me that was missing, why I always felt so incomplete. Before my memories came back, my body was starting to remember. I could feel myself wanting her and I couldn't stop thinking about her… now… well… it's hard to compete with a prince who has all but given up his life for her."

"Kunzite, you need to talk to her." Darien said as he approached his friend, his brow bent in concern.

"And I will, when I'm ready… and when I think she is. But this isn't about me Darien, it's about you and Serena right now. Don't lose her again. You'll never forgive yourself." Kunzite muttered as he finally met Darien's gaze. "Go."

Darien cast one last look at Fabian then back at his friend. He put a hand on his shoulder and gave him a long look. "Okay, but promise me you'll follow your own advice too."

Kunzite gave him a grim nod, his jaw set firm. "Very well. Now go."

Darien exhaled deeply once then opened the door and bolted down the hallway, running as fast as his legs could carry him to the teleportation room.

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Nikko paced restlessly, his shiny black boots thudded loudly against the clean, gray marble floors. He wasn't in his usual Shadow Warrior uniform but a richer attire: clean black pants, a rich blue button-down shirt, just slightly unbuttoned at the top. His hands were clasped behind his back as he walked back and forth across the span of a massive window that displayed the illuminated landscape as darkness settled over Charon. He couldn't relish the sight of his home, once again restored to it's former glory. The Charon he had lived on during the twenty-first century was a desolate hunk of ice covered in ruins. It was satisfying to be back home, the way it should be. Only things were still not right. His father had been murdered. His brother was stuck on Earth, on the brink of death. His team had been scattered, never to reunite again. The Shadow Warriors were finished.

The Silver Millennium had changed. Nikko was king now, same as Endymion. Both had been crowned this week… two more events that had not occurred during the previous Silver Millennium. Each deviation from the previous timeline made Nikko increasingly nervous. Too many changes. Too many ripples in time. What else would change? Would the darkness seep back within the galaxy as it had before and destroy almost every life form or would they be spared?

"King Nikko." A guard said, interrupting Nikko's thoughts. "You have a visitor. Several actually."

"Who is it?" Nikko asked curtly as he continued to pace, undeterred.

"Three women, they say they are… sailor scouts." The guard replied unsurely.

"Send them in." Nikko said quickly as his pacing finally stopped.

The guard bowed to him and disappeared back through the doors he had entered. A few seconds passed before three women strolled into the room, clad in rich navy, aqua and deep green sailor uniforms.

"You three." Nikko said dismissively as he crossed his arms. "What do you want?"

"You are just as worried as we are about the events that are occurring." Sailor Pluto said as her dark eyes caught his.

"Maybe." Nikko admitted as his expression hardened. "But it matters little to me. I'm responsible for Charon now, things have changed."

"Things have changed." Sailor Uranus replied as she stepped forward. "Unnaturally changing. We must be cautious."

"We need to come together." Sailor Neptune added. "The Sailor Scouts could use your support."

"The Shadow Warriors have disbanded." Nikko said, annoyed. "Fabian is stuck on Earth and Femi…" His voice broke as his eyes grew cloudy. "I buried one of my most trusted friends yesterday. She didn't deserve to die like that, ripped apart like…." He trailed off as he turned from them, focusing his gaze on the glowing landscape outside of the window instead of the memory of her arrow filled body. "I brought her back to the palace just in time to see her bleed out as the doctors reached us. She didn't have to die. She didn't need to go fight someone else's fight."

"She did it for Fabian." Pluto whispered. "No one forced her to go. It was her choice."

"I can't risk anyone else." Nikko said as he turned back to face the three scouts. His jaw was set firm as a vein bulged on the side of his forehead beneath his white blond hair. I'm just a king now, trying to protect my people until the end comes. I can't help you, not anymore."

"What about Rhea?" Neptune asked as her eyes scanned the room, as if she was lurking behind the heavy curtains.

"Even if I knew where she was, she wouldn't help you." Nikko said with a shrug. "She didn't come back to Charon after battling her sister on Jupiter. She hasn't contacted me and no one has seen her."

"I know you don't want to see us and I know you don't want to help us but we need each other." Pluto explained. "Nikko, the Negaverse will return, the only difference now is the dynamic within our galaxy and Barrick's sinister presence. We need information and somehow, you managed to find Barrick once. What did you learn on Jupiter?" Pluto inquired as her eyes bore into Nikko's.

Nikko sighed as his hands went to his hips. He took several moments before he spoke as he studied the tip of his boots. "I can't tell you much that will help you but I will say this. He's tough. Tougher than I remember. I barely escaped my duel with him. He's got the steward of Jupiter possessed. He's controlling him which means the planet is most likely compromised. I don't know what he wants but I can guess…"

"You killed Barrick's family, at least those that survived." Uranus said as her expression grew dark. "Why did he not kill you?"

"Because I'm not stupid nor am I completely heartless." Nikko commented as his eyes narrowed. "I did my job in killing his cousins, but I spared one. He was a boy. The Shadow Warriors may be assassins but we don't kill children. I let him live. That was enough information to stop Barrick's assault long enough for me to get a good hit in and escape."

"Where is the boy?" Neptune questioned as she shot a look at a puzzled Pluto.

Nikko shrugged as he shifted his weight from one foot to another. "Probably not a boy anymore. He should be a teenager now. We left him on Jupiter though I doubt he stayed, especially knowing the steward was after him."

"Your hiding something else." Pluto remarked as she studied Nikko's unsteady movements.

Nikko's eyes flashed as she spoke, the lavender irises grew darker with distrust. "And what do you think I'm hiding Pluto? Be grateful I helped you this much. Your fight with Barrick nearly cost me my brother, and it still could. It already cost me a friend… a sister." Nikko said as his voice dropped low. "I'm not obligated to tell you anything. I gave you information, now leave." He commanded as he pointed back at the door they've entered through.

"Nikko, please." Neptune pleaded as she shot a sharp look at Pluto. She stepped forward and cautiously approached him. "If you won't help us fight, at least help us win. What else did you find out?"

Silence fell as Nikko studied her, carefully contemplating his next words. His eyes flickered from Neptune, to Pluto and to Uranus, all of whom were studying him just as intensely as he was them. "Serenity." He finally spoke. "She's on Saturn."

"We know that." Uranus said with a roll of her eyes.

"She's trapped." Nikko replied, his voice laced with disdain. "Raven has … swayed King Albert's opinion against her. She's his captive. He won't let her go, not while Raven is whispering in his ear."

"Why won't this woman just go away?" Uranus asked as she exhaled deeply, her hands going to her hips. "Hasn't she caused enough chaos?!"

"Raven went to Saturn to stop Serenity from forging her weapon." Neptune said as she looked at Pluto. "She still thinks she can win this."

"She's an idiot." Uranus said as she shook her head. "She still fights against us when there is a bigger threat out there… two actually."

"No." Pluto interrupted as she kept her focus on Nikko. Her dark red eyes widened as she met his eyes. "She's going to kill her."

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" How is she?" Artemis asked Luna as they walked down the long hallway of the Moon Palace.

"Not well at all. She hasn't left the study since she got back. She won't eat and she won't see anyone." Luna replied as she sighed heavily.

"What about Endymion?" Artemis inquired as he cast a glance out the window at the Earth that was slowly rising.

"Silence." Luna said with another sigh. "I'm sure he's struggling just as much as she."

"We must do what we can, Luna." Artemis said as he took Luna's hand into his own. "This kingdom needs us. Serena and the other girls need us to get everyone back on track. Serenity still hasn't returned from Saturn, we need to be a team before she gets back."

"I agree." Luna admitted as they reached the end of the hallway, right at Serenity's study. Serena had taken to spending much of her time there, reading through her mother's notes and books. She even slept on the small couch inside. What had been a welcoming hideaway within the palace was now a cave their princess refused to emerge from.

"Convince her." Artemis said to Luna as he turned to her. "We need our princess back before we can get Sailor Moon."

Luna grimly nodded as Artemis turned and ventured back down the hallway. She knocked on the study door and entered before Serena could yell at her to leave.

"I'm not in the mood Luna." Serena grumbled as she entered.

Luna felt a pang in her chest as she caught sight of Serena. Her long blond hair was a matted mess. Her eyes were dull and surrounded by dark circles. Her skin was as pale as the white couch she was laying on. She looked sickly and frail, not the strong, vibrant young woman that she had seen only the day before. "Princess…"

"Don't call me that." Serena whispered as she shut her eyes and leaned back against the arm of the couch. "I'm not a princess. I don't want to be a princess. I'm Serena Tsukino. That's all I want to be. I don't want to be anyone else… not anymore."

"You're not just Serena Tsukino. You are the princess of the Moon. You are also Sailor Moon." Luna explained as she sat across from her. "You have now lived three lives and that fact has not changed. We need you."

Serena sat deeper into the couch, her head slumping forward as she brought up the heavy blanket that covered her legs. "Please leave Luna, I want to be alone."

"The Moon needs you." Luna pressed as she took hold of the blanket and yanked it down, exposing Serena's face. "You need to get off this couch, brush your hair, put on a presentable dress and run your kingdom. Stop feeling sorry for yourself!"

"Feel sorry for myself?" Serena questioned as she rose into a sitting position. "I just lost my true love! It's been only hours! You want me to stop feeling sorry for myself? Luna, how many more times can someone lose the person they love before they break? I lost Endymion in the Silver Millennium. I lost him several times on Earth and now I've lost him again! I… can't… I can't take anymore!" Serena screamed as angry tears filled her eyes.

"Serena, did you even try to talk to him?" Luna asked as her eyes caught Serena's. "You just left the poor man all alone without an explanation."

"I know what he would've said. He would've told me to stay… he would've given up everything for me and I can't let him do it." Serena whispered as she looked down at her hands.

"You'll never know." Luna replied as she sat next to her. "You need to talk to him. Neither of you are happy apart. You belong together."

A knock sounded on the study door just as Serena opened her mouth to reply.

A guard's voice quickly followed. "Lady Luna, the representative from Jupiter has arrived—"

"You'd better go." Serena said with a sigh and wiped her cheeks.

"Promise me you'll go outside and get some sun. Your cheeks are too pale." Luna said as she reached over and squeezed Serena's hands.

"Okay." Serena said as Luna rose. "Go."

Luna nodded once to her and followed opened the door, following the guard who led her back down the hallway.

Serena glanced out the window. The drapes were drawn, shutting out most of the sunlight of the day. Night was creeping now only casting the room into a deeper shadow now that the sun was quickly sinking. She gathered herself, smoothed her hair as best she could and walked to the balcony of the study. The air was still warm, radiating the last of the sun's heat into her chilled skin. She ran her fingers along the stone railing, walking down the length of the balcony to a small staircase that led down to the gardens. She could see the residents of the palace, all shuffling down the long stone walkways that cut through the gardens back to the palace for dinner. The gardens would soon be empty.

Serena's hand skipped along the rail as she descended to the gardens. She gathered her skirts in her hands as she walked, following the stone pathway to a stone gazebo, surrounded by bubbling fountains. She walked around the length of the gazebo, her fingers tenderly following each carved detail of the pillars as she felt the warm night breeze envelop her. She closed her eyes as the breeze picked up, lifting her long hair up around her face.

She could faintly hear someone behind her, moving quickly down the path to the gazebo.

"Luna, I've talked enough." Serena said as she whipped around, expecting to see her friend. She nearly lost her balance as she came face to face with a panting Darien. His dark hair was disheveled and partially sticking to the sides of his sweaty face. His shirt was wrinkled and haphazardly buttoned, leaving the top of his chest exposed. His dark blue eyes were set on hers as he approached.

"Darien." Serena whispered as she took a cautious step back. "What are you—"

He grabbed her around the waist and drew her to his chest, cutting her off as his lips found hers, silencing her.

Serena gave into the kiss as she felt her knees grow weak. She could feel the passion behind Darien's kiss, catching her breath in her chest. She gripped his biceps as she felt the kiss deepen. His hands, so gentle yet strong, pulled her closer still to him. The heat from his body further warmed her chilled her skin as one hand left her waist, trailing up her back to cup her trembling cheek.

"Stop." Serena breathed as her hands left his arms and pressed against his chest, breaking their kiss. "We can't… Darien… please."

"Come back with me." Darien said in between deep breaths. "I'm not losing you Serena, not again."

"I can't marry you." Serena whispered as she felt tears stinging her eyes. "You know we can't—"

"After everything we've been through, you think a stupid unwritten rule is going to keep us apart?" Darien asked as he took her hands in his. "No. Serena… no! I don't care what tradition says or what has been done in the past. This is our life. We decide how we want to live it." His tone was strong and firm. His eyes bore into hers as he spoke, never once breaking contact.

Serena shook her head as she felt him squeeze her hands. "Darien, what if this unwritten rule costs you your kingdom? Or mine? We never married in the last Silver Millennium, what if this changes things even more—"

Darien put his finger over her lips, silencing her as he shook his head. "When are you going to stop looking for reasons for us not to be together? When are you going to start fighting?"

"Darien, you know I'm not." Serena replied as she put a hand against his chest. She could feel his heart beating beneath her fingers, pulsating into her palm. "I just don't want us to make a mistake. There's so much more at risk in this life. We aren't just two people anymore, living our lives in a bustling city with only our careers to worry about. We are responsible for millions of people."

"I've made many mistakes in my life… lives." He corrected himself. "But being with you has never been one. Stop making excuses Serena. Marry me." Darien said as he sank to one knee. He held up the ring she had returned to him. The sun had completely disappeared leaving only the beautiful, glowing Earth in the sky amidst the shimmering stars. The light from Earth caught the glint of the large solitaire diamond that shimmered hauntingly in the night. "You're the only person that matters to me." He said as he looked directly into her eyes. "You're the only one that I want and need. I don't want to live a life without you by my side. I love you."

Serena felt her hands tremble as he spoke. She could feel the passion in his voice as he kneeled before her. She didn't see a king in that moment or Tuxedo Mask. The look in his eye was the same, shining gaze that he gave her the first day he saw her. She had seen the same look in his eye across three lifetimes. "I love you." She whispered as she looked down at the ring in his hand. She could feel her resolve weakening with each passing second. All of the what if's that had mounted in her mind dissipated before her. She slipped her hand into his and watched as he slipped the ring back onto her finger.

She felt a grin tear across her face as he stood and gathered her in his arms, meeting her lips with his own.

"If you promised to stay by my side, I promise to spend the rest of my life making you happy." Darien whispered to her as he held her.

"Being with you is all I need to be happy." Serena replied as she looked into his blue eyes.

"Sweet." A voice said from behind them.

Serena jumped as Darien released her, swinging to face the sound of the voice.

Leaning against one of the pillars of the gazebo was Raven, a sly grin plastered on her face. She was dressed in a long flowing dress of black silk, cut thightly to her body. Her long hair was loose and blew loosely behind her head as the night breeze picked up.

Darien immediately stepped in front of Serena, shielding her from Raven's view. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Congratulations." She spoke as her cruel grin only grew. "Though, your words are so touching, the grand council of the galaxy will have a big problem with this engagement, especially since Queen Serenity ... is dead."