It's me agian with my lastest chapter. Sorry this took so long. I just got back to school. Been very busy trying to get the money so I can keep going. Hopefully my next chapter won't take as long.
and now on with the show...
Phoebe knocked on the door and waited for Serena to answer. Serena quietly opened the door still wearing her glamour. The scouts didn't recognize Serena and she could see the confused look on their faces as they filed in. Luna spoke first.
"Maybe you should take off your glamour before you get started." Luna said sitting down on her favorite stop on the couch. Artemis hoped up beside of her.
Serena snapped her fingers and returned looking like she always has. All the scouts' eyes light up and each thought about rushing forward, but found their place and took seats around the living room. "Piper, Paige and Phoebe know about us, so you may speak openly about the things going on. The demons are smarted than the ones we used to face. It has been easier to fight them the way my new friends have showed me than they way we would as scouts. I still don't know what they are after. Has anything happened since I left?"
"Nothing has happened since you left. We have just been looking for you." Rei told her not making eye contact.
Serena noticed the scouts were looking around her home, taking in everything including the pictures of them and a few of her newest friends. She could feel the shame coming from the inner scouts and knew they needed to talk things over before it went any further. Serena turned to Paige, Piper, and Phoebe. "Can I get a some private time with the scouts; you know we got some things to talk about? I'll call you guys in the morning."
"Alright Serna call us sooner if you need to." Piper said ushering the other two out the front door.
"I am going to check up on Darien. Luna take them to the attic so we can have the most privacy." Serena went up the stairs.
"Come on girls. Serena uses the attic for her study and practices her powers up there." Luna led them up the stairs giving them the full tour along the way.
Serena opened the door to find Darien starting to wake up. "Serena, what happened?"
"You got knocked out after the demon attacked." Serena said walking closer with a small limp. Darien jumped up and took her in his arms.
"What happened to your leg?" Darien set her on the bed.
"I got burnt when I pushed you out of the way. It is almost healed." Serena said lifting up her skirt a little bit showing him where she had patched it up. He positioned himself so he could get a good look at it.
"I'm so sorry Serena. I should be the one protecting you. How can I make what happened a month ago up to you? Say the word and I will do it." His hands glowed softly over her skin. When he removed the bandage, there was no sign the skin had ever been touched.
"How did you do that?" Serena whispered.
"My powers are advancing." Darien looked deep into her eyes and she could see all he felt.
"Well we could start with this?" Serena cupped his face with her hands and pulled him in for a kiss. The earth seemed to vanish around them, the moment their lips met. Darien poured everything he held inside for her into the kiss and Serena gladly duplicated all his feelings. When they pulled apart for air Serena looked at him and said, "It's not your fault. What happened were the after effects of a demon. I can explain things better with all the other scouts up stairs. Then later me and you can talk some more." Serena stood up and held out her hand. Darien took it with a small smile on his lips. He followed her up the stairs where the scouts were looking around at her degrees and bookshelves that lined the walls.
"Serena are these really yours?" Ami said reading the nice lettering.
"Yes, I will explain this all in a moment. I am a witch and always have been. I cast spells, brew potions, and make things move with my mind. Luna do you want to go back to begin a cat?" Serena asked waving her hand making a nice looking book full of hand written pages and wonderful done pictures come from the shelf to her hand. Everyone, but Luna, was shocked at what she said and the floating book.
"I guess so. I forgot how exhausting holding this form for so long can be." Luna stood in front of Serena's desk watching her look for the spell in Serena's book of shadows. (AN: many witches call their hand written book of spells a book of shadows, not just the ones on charmed.)
Luna, my friend, you make a great lady,
But now I need you to be a cat and small like a baby.
They watched Luna turn back into a cat. "Serena, why did you not tell us?" Lita asked looking hurt.
"I am not sure. I never understood it. I guess I will tell you everything. My real name is Serenity Moon. I'm adopted so the Tsukinos are not my real parents. My real parents are only god knows where. Only my mothers name is listed on my birth certificate. When I was younger I noticed when I was mad things would move. Lucky for me no one else did. Around seven I got full control on using my mind and developed how to channel it through my hands. About age ten I was bored in school. At home I was reading bunch of high school level text books I found lying around; I think mom got them at a yard sale or something. I found I understood everything I read. Somehow I convinced the school to let me test to a higher grade. They gave me different tests until I failed and would place me in that grade. Within a few weeks I had my high school diploma. I think it was a little natural silver crystal magic in me, since I also got them not to tell my parents and the government was willing to put me through school. So after school I took college level classes and during the day I went to class and pretended to be just smart enough to pass. My real grades are under my real name. Later after we started being scouts I was so used to living the lie, I could not stop. I used my knowledge of our battles to write all those articles that used to appear in the news paper. Hence all the money I made to pull this off. My records have been changed so it shows I am 18, so I can live alone legally. I am really sorry that I never told you all. I wasn't sure if people other than Luna could accept me for more than a meatball head." Serena finished up lowering her head in shame.
"Serena its okay. We have not been any better to you." Mina said trying to work through her emotions.
"No, you have been. That last time we were together was the after effects of a demon. It was not your fault. I just now want to go back to being friends and let us go back to normal, but it can't." Serena sat down in her chair and put her head in her hands.
"Why not?" Rei asked who was now standing next to Serena putting a hand on her shoulder.
"I have a really good life living here. I have this great house, two good jobs, starting college like an actually student in a few months, and four really great friends. All I need is you guys and it would be perfect, well and no more demon attacks would be great too." Serena looked at them. "We need to get down to business. Since the inner scouts have found me after being removed from my service, you have 24 hours to decide whether you wish to return to being my protectors and retake your oaths or choose to be a normal person. Prince Endymion and I are going to talk about his fate later." Serena looked very sad and tried above all things to remain serious. "In the chance all or most of the scouts wish to become normal people, and then the outer scouts are to step into the positions of my guard and council. If I do not have an answer at the end of the time period you will be strip of your powers and memories."
Amara and Michelle were very proud of how mature Serena was acting. They stood in the corner of the room and watched as a scene that stuck a great sense of pride in them toward the inner scouts. Mina jumped to her feet. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I don't need 24 hours to make up my mind. Serena there is nothing I want more than to protect you from all the evil in the world. I want to be your scout again."
Lita stood beside Mina. "I do too. You all are the only real friends I have ever had and I am not going to throw that away."
Ami stood next to Lita. "I agree. No matter what happens I want us to stick together. Serena, I have spent so much time fighting by your side, I am not going to stop now."
Rei to move to where the other three stood. "Serena you're like my sister and you're my best friend. You could not make me stop being there for you. I spent hours on end this past month trying to use the fire to find you, praying for some sign you were okay. I….We are not going to give up the one person who means more to us than anything else in this world."
"Then you al need to transform and retake your oath." Serena summoned the silver crystal and transformed into Princess Serenity.
MARS STAR POWER
VENUS STAR POWER
MERCRUY STAR POWER
JUPITER STAR POWER
The outer scouts also transformed feeling that it would be more proper for the event taking place. Darien also change form becoming Prince Endymion.
UNRANUS STAR POWER
NEPTUNE STAR POWER
SATURN STAR POWER
"Inner scouts kneel before me and repeat after me starting with Sailor Venus. I, Sailor Venus, swear to always be loyal, a guardian, and protector of Princess Serenity, all her descendants and their husbands as long as I live and will past down my duties to all future scouts of my planet." Serenity watched as Sailor Venus repeated word for word as the symbol of Venus glowed on her forehead. The other three inner scouts followed in suite.
"I, Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, accept your oaths to me and my kingdom. Arise and let us begin anew." Serenity let the silver crystal shine brightly and turned back into Serena. She fell backwards a little, thankfully her desk caught her. The scouts and Endymion turned back to their civilian forms. "I think it is almost time to go to bed. You guys can either crash here or you can call a ride to the hotel." Serena said yawning and looking at the clock. It was almost midnight.
"Well, I think we should stay here if there is room. Luna said you have four fully furnished bedrooms. In the morning we can go back to the hotel." Amara said notice everyone was sleepy.
"Yeah, you guys can double up. I only have queen size beds for every room. There are also the couches down stairs that are comfy. You girls can borrow something to wear to sleep in." They all piled into Serena's bedroom looking for something to wear to bed. Serena silently thanked the goddess that she had so many pairs of comfortable pants. Finally only Darien and her were left up. Mina and Lita grabbed one room, Ami and Rei roomed together in another. Serena offered for Hotaru to stay with her, but Amara and Michelle let Hotaru sleep with them.
"Darien, we got a few things of our own to work out." Serena said sitting beside him on her bed. Darien wrapped his arm around her waist and she laid her head on his shoulder.
"I know. I meant what I said earlier. Say whatever you want me to do and I will do it." Darien was not sure where this was going to go.
"I don't know how a relationship is going to hold out across the ocean. Tokyo really doesn't have anything left for me, but you and the girls. I could never really be myself there. Also I feel like there are things here I have to do before the future comes about. Live close to normal and all that. Piper is beyond understanding about having to miss work to save an innocent and I am not going to find that in Japan without working mainly from home, which I did and still do by working for the paper." Serena said yawning again. She really needed to go to bed.
"I could always find an apartment around here." Darien said picking up Serena and tucking her into her own bed.
"Nonsense you could live with me if you wanted to move over here." Serena said trying to stay awake.
"If that is your wish my princess, then I will gladly make it so." Darien kissed her forehead and turned to leave. Serena grabbed his hand.
"Where are you going?" Serena asked in mumbled speech.
"To sleep on the couch." Darien started to pull away.
"No, come sleep in my bed. I want you to hold me, please." Serena gently pulled him toward her.
"As you wish." Darien turned off the light, took of his shirt and shoes, and crawled into bed beside her. Wrapping his arms around her waist, Serena rolled over and laid her head on his chest. "Goodnight my love." Darien whispered into her hair. He was at his happiest in a month. After about thirty minutes of just lying there Darien finally allowed himself to go to sleep.
The next morning…
Serena was the first to wake up. She quietly slipped out of bed and put on her robe. Stepping out of her bed room, Serena listened for the sounds of the others. Nothing. It was peaceful and she enjoyed knowing most of the people she really cared about were in her home and next door. Upon entering her kitchen, Serena noticed it was 7:30 am. She figured they would sleep a little later since they were more than likely not used to the time change. Moving around the kitchen, Serena made a breakfast of pancakes, sausage, and fresh fruit for when everyone else woke up.
While waiting for the scouts to wake up, Serena called Piper's cell phone. A sleepy voice answered.
"Hello." Piper sounded like she just woke up.
"Hey, it's Serena. Did I wake you?" Serena asked flipping another pancake as she heard foot steps coming down the stairs.
"No, I just got up when my phone rang. How did last night go?" Piper said taking a drink of her morning coffee.
"Pretty good. We are all friends again and they are back to being my protectors. Darien and I talked and before falling asleep I do believe he agreed to move in. I need to find out when they are leaving or whatever they plan on doing." Serena said remembering to make coffee for Darien. She only had the stuff around for when she made breakfast for the charmed ones.
"I am glad. We were worried about how things were going to go for you. How did they get back to their hotel?" Piper asked heading up stairs to change clothes for the day.
"They didn't. I think I hear them waking up. I made them breakfast. Did Leo find out anything about the demon from last night?" Serena turned to see Rei, Mina, Ami, and Lita walking into the kitchen dressed in the clothes from last night.
"The elders still know nothing, but believe things should start coming clearer since the scouts are here. I am going to go. I need to get ready for work. Are you coming today?" Piper asked picking out her clothes.
"I don't know yet. I will have to call you later when they are gone or whatever. Bye." Serena heard Piper say bye before she hung up.
"Good Morning." Lita said walking over to the table where Serena had set the food. "Did you cook this?"
"Yes, plates are in the cabinet and silverware is in the drawer." Serena pointed and went to the fridge to get the juice.
"Serena this looks awesome. Where did you learn to cook?" Mina asked handing plates to all the girls.
"Piper taught me while I was working on learning the basics of brewing potions." Serena said hearing Luna and Artemis's soft padded feet coming toward the kitchen. She set down food for the both of them were they could get to it.
Serena watched as Amara, Michelle, Hotaru and Darien join them in the kitchen. She made a mental note that her kitchen indeed was the smallest room in the house and it was never meant to hold this many people. All seemed very pleases with her cooking. After everyone was done Serena had a pile of dirty dishes and a living room full of happy people.
"Alright gang; you guys can call who ever you all want to take you back to the hotel to do what you need for the day. How long will you all be here?" Serena asked trying to figure out what is going to happen between them next.
"Two more days. Michelle and I have to get back to the studio to prepare for the next tour. I already called the limo to come get us. What are you doing today?" Amara said looking out the window for the limo.
"I need to go to work today. I have meeting with my editor and then my shift to clean the club. When you get done with what you guys have to do you can come back here." Serena said handing Darien her spare key. "You're going to need this. You guys can study what I have on the demons we have faced recently. My kitchen is fully stocked and you're welcome to use whatever you want."
Darien took the key from her and placed it on his key ring. The others in the room looked at the two of them confused. Serena caught this and decided to clear things up. "Darien is going to move in with me, so I figured he needed a key to get in."
Several shocked faces appeared around the room. "Well I am going to work. I will see you all later." Serena got up on the tip of her toes to kiss Darien goodbye and left without letting them ask her a single question. The scouts looked to Darien for answers, but he really didn't see a point in going any further. Everyone pitched in and cleaned up Serena's kitchen before going back to the hotel. Not knowing more shocking things were coming from their new enemy on the horizon.
Hope you all are enjoying this. Please leave me some love and any ideas you might like to see added in.
Love and Hugs,
--keeper of the Balance.