Thanks again everyone for your reviews!
Oh, and by the way, I'll be posting at 1-2 week intervals as I always do just in case you're wondering.
Well, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

It had been a few hours ago when Sierra and Mars had that strange and awkward exchange. The darkness of the evening had already bled into the sky and now the entire city of Crystal Tokyo is under a cloak of murkiness until dawn breaks in. Slowly, the city is stirring to life, the warm glowing lights of the buildings flickering on one by one and people are beginning to spill onto the streets, while the sizzling stars are sailing through the onyx canvas above.

Now, Sierra was wandering the streets all by her lonesome with a mere backpack slung over her shoulder. Anyone like Sierra who was new to Crystal Tokyo would have been scarred out of their minds to leave the comfort and safety of the palace but Sierra on the other hand was nothing but relieved. She was relieved because not only could she now visit her friend, she could also escape the drama at the palace and Endymion's recklessness. Why had both Mars and Serenity fallen for Endymion was something Sierra would never know.

However, the exchange between her and Mars had been haunting her ever since she left the palace. Why had Mars address her as Serenity? Although, Sierra never really knew how Serenity looked like. Or, perhaps she heard wrong. Maybe Mars was stunned because Sierra had appeared so different out of her maid uniform. Maybe, Mars was shocked because of how appalling Sierra looked. Many people Sierra knew back on Neptune had commented her to be beautiful but Sierra had always thought they were simply being nice.

But Sierra never really thought of herself as pretty...

BAM!

Being lost in thought had resulted in Sierra colliding with another pedestrian, which in turn left her dumfounded smack butt-first on the ground.

She craned her neck so her head tilted up to face the person who she ignorantly crashed into.

The man she collided with was towering over her, wearing an amused smirk.
There was something about Sierra's clumsiness that pricked his interest.

But the smirk was wiped clean the second the man laid eyes on Sierra's face.

Sierra was just as stunned.

I know this guy. She thought.

But I've never met him in my life.

The young man, perhaps in his late teens or early twenties offered a hand to help her up along with a warm, winning smile. He seemed to have recognized her as well, it seems.

Sierra has this feeling that they've met before and have known each other for a long time. As if they've met in another lifetime because strangely, she feels that she can trust him.

It was then her mind suddenly opened up and it hit her.

She remembered who he was and she returned his bright smile with one of her own.

Meanwhile at the palace...

Mars agitatedly paced her chamber back and forth in front her and Endymion's bed.

What was she going to do about...Sierra?

It soured her mind just thinking about the problematic girl.

Mars had to devise a plan to drive Sierra out of the palace because it would be the end of Mars if anyone were to discover Sierra's similarity with the former monarch. And if Endymion found out, the consequences would be disastrous. Or so at least in Mars' opinion.

Mars could always accuse the girl of theft and fire her. A very unoriginal plan Mars thought but fool proof.

It was then Endymion viciously burst into the room, leaving the double doors swinging behind him.

"I've had enough of this foolishness!"

He tore off his cape and slapped it onto a nearby chaise and headed toward the balcony to indulge in a dose of soothing fresh air.

Mars daintily trailed behind him, as he always does.

She didn't have to say a word and Endymion could already sense his wife's anxiety and curiosity for the current situation.

"I have to get away from the palace," he began. "The matter with Giopiana and the Silver Crystal is driving me crazy."

"Where do you plan to go?" Mars understood perfectly well that Endymion's "get away" didn't include her.

"I was thinking somewhere in Crystal Tokyo. Maybe downtown. That way, I can observe how their lives are like and see if I can do anything to help them. It has to be much better than dealing with Giopiana day and night."

"No! You can't!"

Endymion raised an eyebrow at Mars' blunt objection.

Knowing that she had slipped and made a huge mistake, Mars immediate tried to fix the damaged that she's done. But anyhow, she can't let Endymion do into the city. Not while Sierra is still out there, away from Mars' radius of supervision.

"I mean, you can't just go into the city as the King of Crystal Tokyo. If Giopiana were to find out, you'll be an open target and you'll be in grave danger and-"

He cut her off. "I'm not going as Endymion. I'm going as Darien. Just an ordinary guy."

Mars knew she was defeated but her downfall she knew was just temporary. She's just going to have to think of a way to separate the two while they're in the city and if not, just hope that they never encounter. So for now, Mars decided it would be safest to just play along.

"How long will you be gone? Is Rini coming with you?"

"Maybe a week or less. I won't be long with so many issues to tend to back here. And there is no way I'm bringing Rini. Not after what happened...never mind. The main idea is that she's safe at the palace."

"But-"

"That's enough. You're being ridiculous and it's getting late. You should get to bed now goodnight."

Without a backward glance, Endymion departed the chamber.

The following day was when Endymion commenced his expedition into the city. It's been quite a while since his last spent quality time in the city. It could have been seventeen years, ever since the case of Giopiana began to resurface.

It's good to be back in casual clothing he thought. He felt like he was Darien once again. When he was just plain old Darien with Tuxedo Mask as an alter ego and when Neo-Queen Serenity was just Serena and basically, when life was much simpler.

And less lonely.

No one seemed to have recognized him which was good. However what Endymion didn't notice was how many young teenage girls stood at the side of the side walk giggle and whispering to each other and trying to attract Endymion's attention by bashing their eyelashes.

Endymion was completely ignorant of the young ladies and walked right past them. The girls felt offended and aghast.

Hands stuffed casually in his pockets, Endymion continued down the sidewalk beneath the beating midday sun of Crystal Tokyo. He was glad to see what content lives his subjects were leading and he also felt that he owed some gratitude to Mars.

However, his pleasant thoughts were rudely interrupted by several deep bellowing laughters that Endymion realized were emerging from a nearby alley way.

He followed the sound closely as a dog yanked by a leash and as he rounded the corner, Endymion was met with the disturbing and haunting image of several men – perhaps five or six – standing in a circle. From Endymion's perspective, it appeared that they were hovering around a young girl.

They were harassing her alright.

"Let me through," the girl squeaked. Her voice was high and shaky but one could tell she was trying hard to put on a brave face.

"Well, you've wandered through our territory so if you want to get through, you're going to have to do as we say," one of the bulky guys said before letting out a satisfying chuckle.

"First of all," the tallest of the gang began, "Why would a pretty thing such as yourself be doing all alone in an alley?" He reached out toward and stroked her cheek but she snapped her neck in the opposite direction, not hiding any of her signs of remorse.

"Hey!" Endymion shouted. He couldn't take these low lives any more. They were absolutely despicable. "Stay away from her!"

"And who are you to her, pretty boy? Her boyfriend?" The tallest was the one to speak again. Endymion guessed he was the leader of the pack.

"I don't have to be her boyfriend to tell some disgusting low lives to back off."

"You don't know who you're dealing with, pretty boy."

"You're telling me."

Then, the tall male lunged toward Endymion, attempting a blow in the face. But Endymion raised a hand in front of his face and the guy's fist landed into Endymion's palm. Endymion then pulled the guy's arm behind his back and pinned him against the wall of the alley.

"Ow! Let go, man, that hurts!"

Endymion allowed a smirk to spread across his face as he shoved the guy onto the ground. The tall male laid there moaning in pain while Endymion raised his hands and gestured toward the remainder of the gang, challenging them to approach him.

They all scurried off, tumbling over each other out of the alley and left their leader to crawl out behind them.

Endymion then turned toward the girl that's been witnessing from the sidelines throughout the whole debacle.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

The girl slowly nods in assurance and hesitantly tilts her head up to face him. Endymion is taken aback by the uncanny similarity she poses with his first wife. The two long blonde pigtails and those large glittering eyes.

The girl, who is Sierra, on the other hand, immediately recognizes that she is brought face to face with the monarch of Crystal Tokyo. However, she also notices that he's wearing ordinary civilian clothing. This observation is the reason why she was hesitant to fall into a curtsy. Besides, the other men didn't seem to recognize him as well. Or else why would they have dared to challenge the king? Also, judging by his stunned reaction, Sierra concluded that he didn't recognize her as well.

So, Sierra decided to have a little fun with this.

She decided to pretend she's ignorant to him as well.

Thus, Sierra gave him her gratitude by saying a polite "Thank you" and she begins to depart the narrow alley they're crammed in to by attempting to swerve around him but unexpectedly, he holds up an arm to halt her.

"I know they probably won't be coming back but just to be on the safe side, would you mind if I escorted you home?"

Why was Endymion being so nice to her? For a second, Sierra had suspicions that this was a trick until she realized from the way Endymion was gazing at her that she then knew he was being serious.

Sierra knew how appallingly stubborn Endymion was so there was no way she could shake him off.

So much for her "Endymion-free" vacation.

"Fine," she sighed. With that, she ducked under his levelled arm and began to lead the way.

It didn't take much for Endymion to mimic her pace.

"So," he began, "What were you doing in that alley in the first place?"

"I heard it was a short cut to downtown," she responded flatly.

An awkward pause trailed behind before Endymion broke the silence, as usual.

Not wanting the girl to feel uncomfortable, Endymion decided to change the subject. "What's your name?"

Oh no.

She couldn't just come clean and admit she was Sierra, the palace maid. She didn't want to have to deal with Endymion's change in personality. To be honest, she enjoyed this new Endymion. She felt more comfortable.

So she just settled with the first name that came to mind. "Um, Serena."

"Serena? You, know, I once knew a girl named Serena as well."

Sierra felt like slapping her forehead right then and there. She should have known Neo-Queen Serenity's casual name was Serena. She even remembered Rini telling her that.

"Oh, really?" she feigned. It was then when Sierra remembered that the polite thing to do was to inquire for his name in return. "And yours?"

"Darien."

Sierra scoffed in her mind. He's such a fake.

Then, she noticed a figure in the distance hurrying toward them. That was when Sierra remembered she was supposed to be picked up.

"Um, Darien, really, you don't need to escort me home. I have someone picking me up." She nodded at the approaching figure. "Actually," she continued, "I bumped into him yesterday. That's how we met. But it's strange how I feel like I can trust him. Don't you think?" Sierra knew she was rambling but it was better than letting Darien or Endymion or whoever he was make comments and criticisms.

But even if Sierra hadn't rambled, Endymion wouldn't have said a word anyway because he was once again stunned silent.

I know this guy too he thought.

Once the figure reaches Endymion and Sierra, Endymion is still too dumbfounded to say anything while the figure, who really was a young man, offered a slight nod in acknowledgement in Endymion's direction.

But before Sierra had the chance to even introduce the two men, the man who recently arrived decided to introduce himself.

He extended a hand and announced, "Hi, I'm Seiya."

So, what do you guys think of Seiya reappearing in the future?
Like it? Hate it?
Your opinion is always important!