Authors note: Sorry it has taken so long for me to update this. Hit a major writers block and had to start the chapter over from scratch to get it just right. Everything about Darien and Akusai will be revealed in the coming chapters. Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I only own the story, not Sailor Moon.

Chapter 18

Serena opened up another book and closed it once more. She was getting more frustrated as the day wore on. She kept hoping to find information on her coronation ceremony in the books Katri gave her but so far she had come up with nothing. She stood up from her desk and headed out of her room. Maybe she could find some information in the library. She headed down to the library but stopped short of going in when she heard voices on the other side of the double doors of the library.

"I can't believe Katri did that and didn't tell Serena about it!" Rei's voice came through the door loud and clear.

"Well she did." Lita started. "She told me it had to be done that way and that Serena will understand why when the time is right."

Serena stood there in shock as she realized something very important was being discussed and she had been kept in the dark.

"What was she thinking?" Mina questioned. "This is Serena's life not hers!"

"There must be something we can do. If Serena finds out this was done behind her back she may leave again and I don't think any of us in this room want that to happen." Amy pointed out.

'What are they talking about? What is going on that they are debating telling me?' Serena wondered as she stood there listening through the door.

"I think we just need to tell her the truth and not keep anything else from her." Rei stated bluntly.

"Rei you can't be serious!" Lita objected loudly. "You really want to just go up to Serena and tell her that Katri invited Darien to the coronation just so that she can publicly humiliate him and strip him of his power and title? That is a little bit crazy Rei!"

Serena stood there in shock. No one told her that Katri had done this! Sure she knew that he would have to make a choice, but she had always hoped that she would be the one to talk to him about it and let him be the one to truly make such a decision. But now that choice had been taken from him and he was left with little option in what he could do.

Serena turned from the library doors and walked towards the main doors of the house. Just as she opened one of the doors she heard the library doors open and the girls coming out.

"Sere, where are you going, do you need one of us to come with you?" Lita asked in concern.

She turned and smiled at her friends. "There is just something that I need to do before next week. I'll be fine on my own." She walked out the door and headed down the walk way to the gate.

"Serena, wait up!" Rei called to her.

Serena turned and looked at her friend. "Rei, I am really in a hurry, can't this wait."

Rei caught up to her and looked at her with an expression that told her this was serious. "You heard everything didn't you?"

Serena looked at her in surprise. "How did you know?"

"Serena, I could tell just by how you looked at us as you started to head out the door." Rei smiled warmly at her. "Katri wants to keep you in this bubble until your coronation, but I don't agree with that. I know you are going to go see Darien." Rei watched as Serena started to panic. "Don't worry, I'll keep it quiet. I think you need to do this for you. Good luck."

Serena looked at her friend and smiled warmly. "Thanks Rei. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Darien looked at the invitation for Serena's coronation again. He had looked at it several times over the past few days and each time he just felt more confused. Akusai refused to talk to him stating that she was too busy with wedding preparations to be bothered with even spending time with him. He wasn't even sure what to do about Serena's coronation that was almost a week and a half away.

He looked up as he heard a knock at his door. He opened up the door to see the one person he least expected to see. "Serena, what are you doing here?"

Serena looked up at him calmly, even though inside she felt nervous. "Can I talk with you or is this a bad time?"

"No, this is a good time. Come on in." Darien moved from the entry way so that she could come into his apartment. "Have a seat on the couch. Can I get you any thing?"

Serena looked around his apartment and smiled at him. "No, I'm fine thanks." She noticed that some of the same photos of the two of them were in the same places they were in before the break up. "You haven't changed much around here."

"Thanks. So, Serena what brings you here? You said you wanted to talk." Darien sat on the couch across from her.

Serena sat down and looked at him. "I heard what Katri did to you. About my coronation and what you are supposed to do."

"And you thought to come and gloat or something?" Darien sneered at the mere thought of her coronation.

"No Darien, I actually came to talk to you about that and about what happened between us." Serena looked at him sadly.

Darien nodded to her to continue as he thought about how callous he had just been.

"Katri had no right to drop that bomb on you. I had hopped to come by and tell you in person what is going on and let you make the choice on your own without any pressure. But then Katri found out about your upcoming marriage and took matters into her own hands. For that I am sorry."

"So what exactly does your coronation entail?" Darien asked calmly.

"It is in a little over a week and it will be the day I become Neo Queen Serenity. From what I understand of how the laws during the Moon Kingdom were written I can become queen one of two ways. One is you and I getting married and the other is you renouncing your title and power. By doing the second choice you would be free to marry Akusai the week after my coronation." Serena waited for him to digest all that she just told him. "I don't want you to think that there is a lot of pressure for you to stay by my side, but in some ways there is."

"If I understand you correctly, my options are to renounce everything that tells me who I am or break up with Akusai?" Darien looked at her in frustration.

"Unfortunately that is exactly what I am saying. I wish there were other options but there just isn't. Every detail of my coronation is based upon the laws that were written back during the days when my mother ruled."

"Can I get some time to think about this before making my final decision?" Darien finally asked after thinking for a moment.

"Sure that would be fine." Serena smiled at him kindly. "Darien, do you remember anything from our Moon Kingdom, I mean beyond what we have learned as a group, anything at all?"

Darien looked at her in surprise. "What do you mean Sere?"

"Do you remember anything beyond the final days before Beryl destroyed everything?"

"Of course not. Why do you ask such things Serena?"

"Because I do." Serena stood up and started to pace in front of Darien. "I haven't told anyone just how much I have started to remember, especially Katri, and the truth is I wish I didn't remember as much as I do now."

Darien looked at his former girlfriend, his eyes full of worry and concern. "Why? What do you remember?"

"Darien, I remember what life was really like on the moon. Sure we had our parties and wonderful events, but there was a lot more to it than that. Katri was once a guard for my family. She was the leader of the Senshi at one point, not Venus. There is so much more that I remember about those days that I can't tell you at this time." Serena looked at him as she headed towards the door. "Darien, you need to discover those memories for your self. Give me a call if that happens before my coronation then maybe we can truly talk. Let me know your decision as to what your choice will be as soon as you can."

Darien watched as Serena walked out of his apartment, stronger than he had ever seen her before. When had she become such a pillar of strength? He could tell that she was not the same person he dumped all those months ago. She grew up and became a strong woman ready to face the challenges that were hers alone to face. She was ready to face her destiny, even if that meant without him by her side; she was ready. Darien felt more confused than ever before.

Serena said some things that caused him to truly think about every aspect of his life. Akusai was a great person, but was he willing to give up his identity, the only identity he had ever known to be with her? And then there was the new Serena, hair cut short and more refined than ever before. Did he really want to stop being her protector? And what did she mean by there was more to remember about the days on the moon then he actually knew. Darien suddenly felt like he truly didn't know which path was the right one to take. Choose Serena and future set before him or Akusai and an unknown future? Did he really want to change his future?