"Shut up…what have you done!?"
Lita - "Serena…Fitori healed you! Now we can fight this evil!"
"No! I told you to let me deal with it. Why didn't you!?"
"We can't let you fight it alone. We have to stick to together as scouts….as sisters."
"Have you no faith in me Raye? I could've handled it and then this world would be safe for sure!" Serena knew this was a lie, but she wouldn't let them know that. Especially Raye…she had always been stronger than Serena.
Amy - "We have plenty faith in you! But we're selfish and want you to live. We couldn't survive without you Serena!"
"Maybe you'd be better without me…" Serena mumbled under her breath.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Mina - "Fine. You're awake now so how do we defeat this evil?"
"I told you…let it die inside me…but we can't do that now."
"Would you have wanted like that? For you to die?" Darien spoke for the second time since Serena woke up. He was so shocked that she'd yelled at them like that. Didn't she know she was everything to them? Especially to him?
"Darien…it wouldn't be my first choice. I feared it was the only way. I'm sorry."
"Don't say that! Don't say you're sorry! You have nothing to be sorry for…I'm the one who's sorry…sorry for letting you get hurt!" Darien took Serena in his arms and held her tight. He would never let her go…ever. She was the world to him…how could she say sorry? He was the one who caused her this pain.
"Darien…" Serena started to cry. "There was no way for you to protect me more than you already did. So stop saying sorry. If it helps…I forgive you."
"Serena…" Darien was trying not to cry and gave up. He thought she was really going to die. "I will protect you next time…I promise."
"No need to promise. I love you."
"I love you too, Serena."
The scouts watched in awe as Darien held Serena. They were thankful that Darien was able to calm Serena down. She might have collapsed again.
"Alright you love birds," Raye said through tears of joy. "Time to get some rest. In the morning we'll figure this out."
"Aw Raye…bedtime already? It's only half past midnight!" Serena said as Darien let go of her.
"Exactly…you need all the rest you can get. You're not getting out of that bed until we know for sure that you're 100 better."
"Haha…now who's being mom, Raye?"
"Shut up Mina….let's go to bed."
"Mom?"
Mina - "Earlier we were joking about Luna acting as if she was our mom. We even made fun of Artemis."
"Haha…well she does kinda act like our mother. Besides she is already a mom."
Lita - "Ya…hmm…speaking of Luna, where did she and Artemis go? I haven't seen them since they told us to rest for awhile."
"It is weird for them not to be here, wonder where they went. Oh well…let's go to sleep, I'm tired."
"I suppose you're hungry too, Meatball Head?"
"Raye you're so mean! But yes…I am hungry. Anyone for a chocolate shake?"
"Darling it's almost one in the morning. How about we sleep first?"
Serena snuggled closer to Darien. "Ok…night everyone!"
"Night, Serena!" the girls said as they giggled. They shut the door and got in their sleeping bags for a much needed sleep.
"I'm glad you're awake. No matter what happens."
"Whatwill happen though? She's powerful…too powerful. What if we can't defeat her?"
"Her? Serena, you never mentioned exactly who this evil was."
"Yes, all I know is that's it's a woman. She had long black hair too. I never got a good glimpse at her though."
"Well, whoever it is we'll defeat it. But don't you going trying ANYTHING without our help. We don't want to lose you. I can't lose you."
Serena laid down on her side, facing Darien. "You won't lose me….promise."
"I'd better not. I don't know what I'd do." Darien laid down same as Serena, facing her.
Serena turned over as Darien wrapped his arms around her. "Hmm…I can't wait until we're married. I'll get to sleep in yours arms every night."
"And I'll get to hold you every night. But for now, let's go to sleep." Darien bent close to her ear and whispered, "I love you."
Serena shivered and giggled as she whispered, "I love you too" back.
Serena closed her eyes and fell deep into sleep as Darien watched her. "You're with me again, my love…and I'll never let you go again." He kissed her cheek and fell sleep along with Serena.
The next morning
"SUPRIZE!!!"
"WAKE UP SLEEPY HEADS!"
"Artemis…Luna?" Mina said tiredly.
"Yes, it's us Mina. Now up you go!" Luna chirped.
"It's 10 o'clock! I'm going back to bed." Raye mumbled.
"No you're not! We have some information on this new evil."
"You do!? Really? What is it?"
"Come with us Amy, but the girls have to come too."
"Ok, come on girls Get up!"
"Amy, go back to sleep. It's the first good night's sleep I've gotten in almost a month. Now leave me alone."
"Oh please, please Raye. You can sleep later!"
"Amy, Raye's right…let's go to sleep"
"No actually you can't Lita."
"Seriously scouts, come on. Surely defending the earth is more important than you getting more sleep!"
"Luna…there are times I wonder why Serena puts up with you. And this is one of them. Now this new evil can wait. Because if I'm not fully rested then how am I supposed to fight it without falling asleep!"
"Good point Raye!"
"Thank you Mina."
Back in Darien's Room
"SURPRIZE!!!"
"WAKE UP SLEEPY HEADS!"
"What's going on out there?" Darien mumbles.
"hmm? Darien what did you say?"
"Nothing, but did you just hear that?"
"No. Hear what?"
"Someone was yelling for us to get up. Do you think we should check the girls?"
"No, I'm sure they're just fine. Let's go back to sleep."
"How about not…" Darien slips his arms around Serena's waist, leaning in closer to kiss the back of her neck.
"Darien…" Serena leans closer to him, enjoying his kisses as he goes around to the front of her neck. "Stop..it tickles," she said weakly laughing.
Darien, ignoring her pleads of laughter, flips her over and kisses her. His arms wrapping around her small form tightly. Serena kisses him back and wraps her arms around his neck.
"You really scared me there. I thought I was really going to lose you."
"You won't ever lose me."
"But the sailor wars…"
"What about the sailor wars? We know that no matter what we will be together. Rini's proof of that."
"But time constantly changes…"
"Darien…"
"Let's not talk about this now, my love." Darien kisses her before she can answer. Before she can think she responds, deeping the kiss. He pulls her tighter as she slips her tongue in his mouth, yearning to explore it to the fullest. His hands go farther down, wrapping themselves around her bottom as her arms make way up his shirt, wishing to remove it. He pulls the covers up over their heads, still kissing her in the same.
"EWW….What are you two doing under there???"
Darien and Serena look up from under the covers. "RINI???" they chorused. There Rini stood at the end of the bed, looking rather disgusted.
"What are YOU doing here?"
"You're such a nice mom, Serena. Aren't you even happy to see your daughter?"
"You know Rini, I think I liked you better when you were like SIX! At least then your attitude wasn't as much of a problem!"
"OH REALLY? What about you??? You're always making fun of me, can't you at least ACT like you care!?"
"Haha…YA, when you start acting like you care, you self absorbed brat!"
"ME….SELF ABSORBED?? Please…look at you!"
"At least I'm not trying to steal my mom's boyfriend! Who happens to be my DAD!"
"Really now you two, can't we get along for once??"
"Shut up Darien!" Rini and Serena chorused.
"Okay…okay…shutting up now."
"THANK YOU!" they chorused again.
As girls continued to bicker, out in the living room Luna and Artemis continued trying to get the girls up.
"Girls, now seriously please come on!"
"Luna!"
"Don't 'Luna' me, Mina. Geesh, you'd think you girls were two!"
"We're--- What's going on in there!?"
"In Darien's bedroom? I dunno…it sounds like Rini and Serena are fighting again. Wait…Rini?"
The girls scramble out of their sleeping bags and run into Darien's bedroom. Sure enough, there was Serena and Rini bickering like usual. Although the girls took no interest that their friends had joined the room and kept on fighting.
"Rini, you are such a pig! Darien and I were having such a romantic morning and YOU had to come in and RUIN IT ALL!"
"OH EXCUSE ME! It's not like you put up a, "Sucking each other's faces. BEWARE!" sign on the door!"
"Wouldn't of really mattered huh, cause you didn't use the door! You just transported right in! And you came to see Darien first? And this is his bedroom! He could have been naked! You little perv!"
"ME, A PERV??? Please! You'd like it! And no I actually went to your room first but you weren't there. So I figured I'd come see Darien, he is my DAD!"
"So what if I would? He's MY boyfriend and future HUSBAND. It'd just be weird if his DAUGHTER liked that! And guess what? We just went through a BIG battle and I couldn't have DIED! So be thankful your MOM is even still here, you ungrateful little worm!"
"WELL I DON'T LI--- What?? Are you okay?"
"Thank the Lord! They stopped!"
"Shut up Lita, and yes I'm fine for the most part. Darien is too. Now would you care to tell us why Serenity sent you back?"
"Ok, Darien was hurt too? What about the scouts??"
"We're fine, Rini. Would you please answer Serena?"
"Yeah, but I don't really know why. She told me the scouts needed my help. What has been going on here since I left?"
"Darien left for college in America, but as you can see he's back now. And there was a new enemy like always. Her name was Galaxia. But that's all past now."
"Yep, Raye's right….it's all in the past." Serena sounded cheerful, but Darien could tell something wasn't right.
"Oh…that's good."
"Yep…" Serena (who was now on her knees in the middle of the bed) looked down. Darien leaned forward and grabbed her hand.
The scouts look sad for a moment and then Raye spoke up, "Serena…before Fitori woke you and Darien up, I had a dream where you were asking me for help. You told me that you were running out of time. Was that real? Cause it sure seemed real, I thought it was a vision."
"Raye I never talked to anyone except Darien. I don't think that was a vision. If it was, it certainly wasn't me talking to you."
"Oh…ok. I just thought it might."
"Nope it wasn't. So, have we missed anything while Darien and I were out?"
"No…we haven't gotten any closer to finding out this new enemy."
"That's not true Mina, like I was telling you before Serena and Rini started fighting, we have found out something."
"Well sorrrryyy Luna! What tiny piece of information did you two pick up?"
Luna, thoroughly disgusted with Mina, says, "It's not much, but I'm hoping it'll get us somewhere." Everyone was looking rather confused by now, but remained quiet none the less. "It's somehow leaked the name of our new enemy. But it doesn't add up with what Serena has told us. Its name is Himoni, which is a guy name. It's said he's from a far away galaxy called, "Septara". We're not sure what he/she's here for, but it's clear it wants to take over this galaxy…not just this solar system or planet."
And with that Serena's head fell. "Will these wars ever end?" "So what you're saying is we're in for another journey through hell and back! If we make it out in one piece this time!!" "I will not cry…I will not cry…"
"Serena…I'm so sorry." Mina didn't know how to comfort her princess. It's true…they were all tired of fighting. In their last life and this one. Every time they hoped for peace…a new enemy comes.
Serena, now crying says, "It's not your fault…it's no one's fault. It's this cursed destiny! It will never end will it Luna?"
"Oh Sere…I don't have an answer to that."
"Well, enough crying and feeling sorry for ourselves! Let's kick some youma ass and get on with our lives!"
"Raye…how can you be so cold?"
"I'm not cold, how can I be cold? I'm the Goddess of FIRE! And get up, get dressed, and let's go. You want the fighting to stop? Then stop it yourself, with us here to guide and help you Princess! We…I almost lost you. You and Darien, our rulers, those whom I serve and have sworn to protect, not only in this lifetime but in the previous as well. And I'll be damned if I let you give up now because you're tired of fighting!"
"And what if I am tired of fighting!? What then? What if I refused this crown and to be leader of you scouts! What if I refused to be queen, what if I refuse to follow this 'destiny'?"
"Then we and the entire universe shall fall with you into the chaos that you released from darkness not so long ago!"
"THAT'S ENOUGH! Look at you girls! You're supposed to be best friends. Reminding each other of the weight that you must bare does not solve our problem any! But it's true; to bring peace…you must first fight."
"Artemis…what happened? What chaos did Serena release? Will someone tell me what really happened while I was gone!?"
"Rini, please don't. I don't want to talk about it…please just don't ask."
"Serena I have a right to know why I was sent back here! And you're my mom, the one who sent me back! So tell me."
"And if I was Serenity right now you would not question nor argue with me the way you have ever since I met you! So if I'm your mom, act like my daughter!"
To stunned to speak, Rini simply nodded and left the room. Granted, she felt she had it coming.
"Sere….anyway back on task, any ideas on what to do?"
"None Lita. None at all. Amy, have you researched those findings yet?"
"I started on it as you were telling us, Artemis. It seems Himoni is no where to be found. Not in this database at all. There's no record of him/her anywhere."
Lita - "Great, more questions and no answers."
"Looks like we're completely on our own here girls."
"You can say that again. I wonder who it was inside Serena then…if it's a guy."
"Dunno Darien…we'll just have to play it by ear."
"I've had enough…I'm going for a walk. What have you told my parents?"
"Serena do you think that's wise? And we told them you were staying at Raye's temple. But it's been over a month. They weren't used to seeing you all that much anyways though."
"I don't care if it's wise or not Mina. I think my parents will want to see their daughter."
"Yes I guess so. But you just woke up, can you even stand?"
"I'm sure I can stand and walk just fine Raye."
"Serena I wouldn't push yourself. You have no idea what strain is still on your body."
"Amy yes I do. The same strain that's been on it since I was 14. It's called being Sailor Moon, leader of the legendary Sailor Scouts, and Princess of the Moon, not to mention future Queen of the Earth and it's Solar System. So tell me again what unknown "strain" is on my body! I'll take a walk if I want to!" And with that she got off the bed and walked out the door.
"Serena…wait!" But it was too late they heard a "slam" as Serena shut the apartment door.
"Scouts, maybe she's right. Just give her some time. A walk would do her some good."
"Luna…I'm just worried about her."
"We all are Raye. If it makes you feel better once I'm up and ready I'll go after her. That way it'll give her some time to blow off some steam."
"Ya, would you Darien?"
"Sure thing Raye."
With Serena
Serena walked down the long hallway, almost at a run. She could think of nothing but getting as far away from Darien's apartment as she could. Any other day she would be running the exact opposite way, but seeing as how she was furiously angry at the people there and at herself, running away seemed the only way out for the time being.
Up ahead Serena saw the elevator. Although, not wanting to stop running she passed it and ran down the stairs. Down down down she went until she got to the lobby and then out the front doors she went. Serena ran as fast and as far as her legs could carry her. Away from all her duties and destinies. Time seemed to stand still for Serena as she fought to escape the looming fear and dread inside her.
"Screw this..Himoni. It's my life and I refuse my destiny! My destiny is what I make it, not Luna, not Pluto, not even Queen Serenity!!" Serena screamed, tears now running down her face mercilessly. "AGH!!!" she screamed highger as she ran. Where she ran to, she could no longer see through her tears.
"You'll never escape your destiny princess. You know it will all end this time. You'll finally be all alone, no friends nor family to protect you."
"You're wrong!!! I am NEVER alone! Leave me alone!!" she screamed to the voice inside her head. "You're not real…this isn't real….it's a..it's…a…a…" Darkness invaded her mind and she fell. She fell into warm, comforting arms. Someone who didn't expect her destiny from her.
Serena's eyes fluttered up and down as she mumered her last thoughts and struggles against her enemy. Only parts of phrases could be understood, to those listening, they meant nothing. Nothing at all, for they did not share her secrets, her past, her future, her pain, nor her life. And as Serena fell into unconsiousness, she whispered one name…Yingara…
Ok...it took me FOREVER to write this and post it here and on fanlib! ugh...I'm having so much fun writing this story and I should have up my second story called "Destiny Calling" soon. It is another SM fanfic, but I'm sure you'll like it! Any guesses to who caught Serena? How about of who this "Yingara" is?
BunnyLilies