L O V E H E X A G O N S
by Moonlight Eternal
Disclaimer: Well...DESDEMONA IS MINE!! But besides her...common un-original disclaimer applies here.
Oh, AND Sailor Masquerade, she belongs to ME TOO!! I am so possesive...deal with it.
"Awwww...hate to brake up the mushy stuff here, but I've got a job to do."
Chapter 2 In Which New People Show Up and Mina Goes Mental Momentarily
Serena and Darien looked up in amazement to find a woman floating in a sitting position a few feet above them. She wore a tunic of dark, rich red, with a covering dress of black embroidered in the same red around the edges. A red belt encrusted with one dark ruby stone in the center was ties around her waist. Long, ebony hair fell behind her, and dark bangs hid parts of her olive-skin face. "Ah, yes...here's the moon princess.
and the earth's prince...hmmm, I didn't expect to get the two of you in the same spot, same time, but obviously my luck's with me today."
"Go get the scouts. I'll deal with her."
Both Serena and Darien knew the scouts had been following them for the past day and were somewhere in the park. It was inevitable that some ways back they were resting after a good spying. Darien hesitated in leaving Serena alone. She cried out, "Go!" and as he ran off then, she yelled, "Moon Eternal Power!"
She transformed.
"Ah, my suspicions were correct." The woman cried triumphantly. She grinned evilly. Her amber eyes were dark and evil, the long raven hair falling down to her waist blowing around her face in small wisps and curling at the tips as if they had been barely touched by a flame.
"Who are you?"
"I am Desdemona, ruler and guardian of the shadow world. And you, my moon princess, are about to be pulverized! Dark Shadows Enclose!" Black lines of energy shot at Serena. She was nearly hit, but quickly jumped.
"Silver Moon Crystal Power Kiss!!" she said, directing an attack at Desdemona. She looked unworried, but when Eternal Sailor Moon's attack hit her, she was obviously surprised.
"You're much more powerful then I thought. No matter...Dark Shadows ENCLOSE!" she directed another attack, but this time she did not miss.
Serena stumbled from the power that had been directed towards her.
"Sugar Moon Kiss!" Sailor Mini Moon's attack came unexpectedly from behind Sailor Moon. Desdemona barely diverged it. Serena looked towards the scouts. Sailor Mars ran up to help her.
"You all right?"
"Yeah, just a little rusty I guess." By this time Desdemona had recovered what little grace she'd lost from the youngest scout's attack. Tuxedo Mask arrived shortly behind the others.
Desdemona cried out, "I've had enough of this! I came here to fight Eternal Sailor Moon and Eternal Sailor Moon alone, not the entire solar system. How boring... Sailor Picnic, arise! Finish off these creeps, but leave the Moon brat for me!"
A youma of blue skin, long blonde hair, and sundress with a picnic basket tutu, appeared as suddenly as Desdemona had behind the scouts, and automatically began to attack the inners by throwing ham and tuna sandwiches.
Desdemona lunged towards Sailor Moon, and using all the power she could muster, Eternal Sailor Moon cried out, "Silver Moon Crystal Power KISS!!" Desdemona hadn't suspected this, and was thrown backwards, and hit against a tree.
"Ouch! All right, that's it, now you've done it Pigtails! No matter what you do, I WILL fulfill my goal!" Desdemona flew back up into the sky, and cried out, "Powers from the Dark of Night! Shadow World, grant your Queen with the powers of villainy and fear! Release It within the Moon Princess!!" D ark clouds gathered around in the sky from no where, and lightning struck to add a dramatic effect to the scene. Sailor Moon, caught off guard, was then enveloped in a black electrical bubble. She was being shocked, and her screams rang out over the once silent day. The scouts screamed out their attacks, aiming them at both the black bubble and Desdemona, but to no avail. The attacks aimed at the bubble only bounced back, and Desdemona's invisible barrier absorbed the energy of the attacks.
All she did was yawn. As the scouts began to try again, she laughed a low, evil laugh, and said, "MUAHAHAHA!! NO MATTER HOW HARD YOU SCREAM, MOON PRINCESS, AND YOUR GUARDIANS FIGHT THERE IS NOT WAY TO SAVE YOU NOW! YOU ARE DOOMED TO FOR GO TRAGEDY!!" The power unleashed from her hands grew larger and darker. Serena's screams shattered the happy silence of the park.
"White Rose Tiara Action!" a bright, unexpected flash of light cut the hands of Desdemona, and the bubble quickly vanished. Sailor Moon (who had been lifted up into the about 8 feet in the air)fell to the ground, unconscious, but still letting her chest rise and fall.
"WHO THREW THAT!?" Desdemona cried, looking towards the unprotected side of the scouts. The scouts, who had been busily fighting Sailor Picnic (trying to kill it in time to save Sailor Moon), looked behind them.
"I did!" the girl said, holding up her hand, and letting the tiara glide gracefully to a halt in it. She placed it back on her forehead, and then began her beginning speech. "I am the masked protector and ally of the Future Sailor Moon! I am Sailor Masquerade!" The girl was about 14 years old, with a forest green colored skirt, a distinctive white, yet silver tinted bow, forest green rings at the ends of her gloves, forest green boots with white at the very top, and small white roses in the center. Her dark black hair, with a few random blonde streaks, was in a loose French braid, a white rose accenting the end of the waist long braid. She had a green choker on, with a miniature white rose in its center. And she wore a white mask, similar to that of Sailor V. The scouts looked at her in surprise. Ally of the future Sailor Moon? That meant that Sailor Masquerade (and whoever it truly was) was from the future. Could she be Rini's ally? Or maybe even Rini's daughter's ally? No one had much time to dwell on this, for Desdemona and Sailor Picnic stared for about two seconds before they lost interest.
Desdemona yelled, "What are you staring at Sailor Picnic! The scouts are unprotected! Get them! I shall finish off the moon brat over here!"
"Oh no you won't!" Sailor Masquerade cried, and then she withdrew a scepter of gold, with a large white rose on it, a heart on top with a forest green gem,and about 8 white streamers coming off it. "Masquerade's Striking Rose KISS!" She cried, twirling the wand around a few times then directing it at Sailor Picnic. Sailor Picnic, unsuspecting, stared in horror as a green light, and a storm of white rose petals, enveloped her body, and then she disappeared. The scouts had no time to be shocked. They immediately began to direct their attacks towards Desdemona.
Desdemona put a barrier around her once more and said, "You haven't seen the last of me, Sailor Guardians! I'll find you once more, and next time I'll finish you off!" and she disappeared. Everyone rushed towards Serena, who after falling to the ground, had detransformed. Her eyes were becoming unclouded, however, and she was beginning to regain consciousness. As Darien raised her head, supporting her back, she came around, and stared into his eyes.
"I'll be all right," she said instinctively. Darien helped her stand, and as she did, she stumbled, weak from the draining attack launched by Desdemona. Darien picked her up, and offered to carry her all the way home. Serena gratefully accepted, then turned her head weakly towards the scouts. "One more question before I pass out again. Whose tiara was it that hit Desdemona?"
"A new scout appeared." Venus said, although she wished she hadn't, because the split second after, she saw Serena's eyes widen, then she fainted.
"Smooth, Venus. Real smooth." Mars said.
"Is she all right?" asked Jupiter.
"She's just overwhelmed from the attack." Mercury said, feeling Serena's forehead and taking her pulse (which was a little awkward to do in Darien's arms).
"Hey, guys, where'd Sailor Masquerade go?" Everyone called and looked around, but did not find the masked Sailor Scout that had saved them and Serena.
"Let's all de-transform and go to Serena's. It's closest, and I'm sure she needs a rest after all this...although I guess she's already resting. We can discuss Sailor Masquerade once she wakes up again." Darien nodded, questioning to himself how he was going to de-transform with Serena already in his arms...
Once arriving back at the apartment, Serena was placed on the couch, and everyone else gathered around. "Right, well, I believe it's time to recall the outer scouts into this. Even if it was just a rogue evil doer, they at least have the right to know. They should speak with us on the matter a bit. Luna, have any devices for us to use that might be useful?"
"As a matter of fact..."
Moments later, the outer scouts were assembled in their hotel room and speaking with the inner senshi via the T.V. (how Luna was able to do this miracle was amazing).
"Serenity, you all right?" asked Raye, staring at her beautiful, yet pale friend. Her behavior as of late had been distressing. "What do you mean, Raye?" The queen inquired innocently, although she sounded a little out of breath. "I've just got the stomach flu... I'll be all right." Serenity walked off towards her room.
"Something's up with her..." Raye said to the rest of the scouts in the palace gardens. The midmorning sun's rays played games in the fountain water, and the fountaingleamed, as though it was delighted the sun had chosen it to let its little ones play in. Mina sat on the fountain edge, staring into the water at her smiling reflection. Mina was due with her first child in two months. Amy sat on the ground with her 2 year-old daughter, Lina. Lita sat next to Amy, bottle-feeding her 5 month-old daughter Terra, while her 4 year-old daughter Indira played in the bushes with Raye's 7 year-old daughter Leila and her 3 year-old son Allen.
"You mean Serenity?" Mina asked, turning away from her reflection.
Raye nodded, thinking.
"I noticed too." Amy said, letting Lina run off to join the other kids.
"Come on you guys... she's just got the stomach flu, right Raye?" Lita asked, turning towards every one else.
"Isn't that the fourth time in two months?" asked a skeptical Mina. Raye looked a little worried.
"Yeah, and I don't think it's just the stomach flu. I think she's hiding something. But what?"
The scouts turned to look at each other. Amy, being the medic of the group, received the most glances. She was about to open her mouth to put out a few suggestion, when the girls heard a cry from the children. Allen had fallen down and skinned his knee. Raye scooped him up, trying to comfort his cries.
"I'm going to go get him a band aid," she mouthed over the wails of her son, "I'll be back in a minute."
Raye, with Allen in one arm, fumbled around Serenity's bathroom for a band-aid, as her own supply was all out (when you've got a kid who's three, band-aids come in handy, and are suddenly in short supply). In one cupboard, she found nothing of use. Some makeup in one drawer, jewelry in another.
where would Serenity, the most unorganized woman and queen of history, keep bandages?
Raye eyed the shower and got a thought...but to no avail. All she found in the shower was a deck of cards, a ping-pong racket and some book called Becoming a Mom: What to Do to Prepare for a Child. With her son still wailing, she pushed passed these things in despair. Was there never anything around when you needed it? Moments later, she located a band-aid which happened to have been lying in the cupboard among some towels and a loaf of bread. She placed the Sailor Moon decorated bandage on Allen's knee and left.
Outside, as she set Allen down again, Raye suddenly realized some of the random things she'd seen...pickles in the medicine cabinet, chocolate amongst the bath oil beads, a loaf of bread in the shower, and a book about becoming a mother...some of it she could see as random acts of Serenity. Their queen had maturned, but only to an outward degree. She still pertained many of the same lifestyles, one of which was midnight snacking. But seeing how they all seemed to fit together, especially with that last one, everything became crystal clear. Now everything fit together: Serenity was going to have another baby!
The Present
"What could the goal of this new enemy be?" Mina pondered to herself.
"Well, we have a few choices. One: they could be in love with Darien, and want revenge against Serena. Two: they could be in love with Serena, and want revenge against Darien. Three: they hate both of them and are jealous. And the one solid fact is they want universal power. That pretty much sums it up." Raye said, countingon her fingers in an annoyed fashion. From his spot from in the chair pulled up next to Serena on the couch, Darien sighed, exasperated. He glanced at Serena, who was white as a sheet. Not everyone was in love with him or Serena...were they? He attempted a mental count of how many times that had happened and decided to stop as the numbers got larger than he wanted to know or accept.
"Well, I'd go with one and universal. If they were in love with Serena, they wouldn't try to hurt her."
"UNLESS it was a REALLY jealous minion in love with the ruler who's in love with Serena. BUT, they don't realize that Serena love's Darien, who love's Serena. We could be dealing with a very serious love hexagon here!"
"Mina, stop analyzing the love life of the enemy. Honestly, a little seriousness on your part would be greatly appreciated!" Lita sighed.
"And technically, the term is love triangle, Mina, referring to when one person receives love from two different people and doesn't know which to choose. That is not the case here. Additionally, the shape you just diagrammed from the information did not form a polygon at all, least of all a hexagon. By definition, a hexagon is an equiangular equilateral six-sided polygon. You only presented 4 people, and two of them loved each other, therefore creating a-"
"AMY! WHAT did we just finish telling MINA??" Amy's mouth clamped shut as the fire priestess residing next to her began to spark.
"Fine, so we won't talk about the POSSIBILITES of why this happened. We'll just talk about facts, which amount to 2." Lita said sulkily.
"Oh NO, we can discuss possibilities, just not possibilities having to do with love heptagons-"
"Triangles." Amy said, not even glancing up from the book she had acquired from Serena's study titled The Anatomy of a Sponge. Mina strongly felt it was a mishap that it was even a published work, let alone located in Serena's house.
"-whatever." Mina rolled her eyes. Who cared, they got the jist of what she meant?
"Exactly." Raye ignored Mina's entire addition to the conversation and answered Lita. "Just the facts."
"Right. The facts are that there is someone evil after Serena and that there is another new identity crisis we have to deal with of a new sailor scout-" Lita was interrupted by Mina, who had slipped Amy's glasses on, and had somehow acquired the karaoke machine microphone.
"Is she friend or foe? Will we ever know? Is she in fact a SHE, or a HE? What is the nature of the enemy's attack? Why were dark clouds suddenly drawn to Desdemona? Who IS Desdemona, and why was she so infatuated with the color black? While we're on the subject of color, what color underwear am I wearing?? AM I EVEN WEARING UNDERWEAR??"
"MINA, get a hold of yourself!" Rini shook her elder friend vigorously, choking her as an added bonus.
In a slightly dreamy manner, Mina muttered, "...find out in tomorrow's episode..."
"Um...Darien, would you mind maybe making some coffee? We might need it." Darien, who seriously felt he would need some therapy to forget what Mina had just uttered, stumbled into the familiar small but surprisingly tidy kitchen of Serena.
The coffeepot sat atop her white tile counters, which seemed to sparkle brilliantly. Had Serena gotten a maid, or was she growing up? That was another scary thought, and yet sad as well. As Darien began the preparations for some VERY strong coffee, he settled into memories of when he'd first met the love of his life. She was so imperfect it was amazing she survived to the young age of 17. Yet, the fact was he missed his klutzy, messy little girl of a lover. Although, he guessed she hadn't change much over the years now that he really thought about it. Still, such an immaculate kitchen was unsettling. Had he been too preoccupied the last few months with school and work and...this last month the dream? And figuring out how to protect her? How could he have missed something changing with her? Suddenly, it struck him like a bolt of lightning on the spot:how would he watch her small changes to adulthood if he were gone? The sliver of doubt remaining disappeared. He knew what he had to do.
Outside, Rini was deep in thought as well as the others attempted to dredge Mina out of her mind. She was still muttering strange things, and she was also singing a strange song about a guy with an afro running through a ghetto from members of the Ku Klux Klan, who had pointy hats, then gummy bears were chasing someone else...the girl had serious mental issues. Yet somehow, Rini was able block out Mina and the others and focus on the problem at hand.
Serena was in danger of being seriously hurt. Earth was also in danger. This wasn't just some simple training her mother had once again sent her to the past to acquire. There was, as it seemed for everything else that Neo-Queen Serenity did, a reason. And obviously the queen had already known about it. 'Small Lady, you are growing up. I told you long ago, when you first became a Sailor that I would need your help from time to time. Darling, please help me once more. Go back, to when I was still Serena Tsukino, and help me once more.' Rini had taken the time key willingly, for she missed her younger parents as dearly as she missed her elder ones when she was away. Suddenly, the last words her mother had said to her when she had left through the time door leapt into her memory.
"Come back to tell me when she appears."
Silence reigned in the room as Darien returned from the kitchen to hear Rini suddenly speak. All eyes, even those of the outers on the large screen TV were on the small pink haired girl. "That's what my mother said..."
"Neo-Queen Serenity, you mean?" Darien questioned fromthe doorway. Rini answered with a nod.
"Obviously, our Queen knew this was going to happen. What good it does to tell her in the future, I don't know..." Amara murmured from the couch she sat on in America. Trista, who sat beside her, said nothing for a moment.
Then she uttered, in her mysterious way, "The Queen must know. I'll go back and tell her what's going on."
Rini rose quietly, as if she'd suddenly grown a few years in age.
"No. She wants me to. I know Mama has another reason for this...something I'm not supposed to know yet. I'll go first thing in the morning." Rini glanced at her sleeping mother on the couch with love in her eyes that was forever present shining through. It was always somewhere within their cinnamon depths, but was easily replaced by a cool wall of other emotions at her will. She was definitely her father's daughter. The others let their gazes follow the young scout of the moon's. After another moment of silence, Mina broke in.
"Umm...sorry if I was freaking out you guys, I just thought that things were finally getting back to being normal. Well, as normal as possible for us. And then this happens. However, as the leader here, I second Rini traveling to the past. I also suggest we go home and get well rested. Amara, Michelle, Trista, and Hotaru...do you all think that you can get a brief vacation and come back?" The outers nodded. Mina taking authority was a sight to see after her little bout of...mental illness. But she was serious now, and the others followed her lead.
"Mina, are you sure we should leave Serena here alone?"
"I'll be here." Rini added indignantly.
"I'll stay as well."
"Darien, I'm not sure that's the best plan. Shouldn't we all-"
"Raye," Mina lay a cool hand on her fire controlling friend's, "I think that we can trust Darien. And they have things to talk about as well. We'll leave Rini and Darien here." Raye dropped the subject, for Mina was right. Turning her attention to the only male figure in the group of girls, Mina said, "Now, Darien, we're trusting you with Serena."
"What am I, a rapist?" Darien bit out sarcastically.
Mina chose to ignore the question. "We also are trusting you to make the right choice. You know what me mean." Mina eyed Darien in an all-knowing fashion. She might usually seem a little shallow, but with matters of the heart.
the woman knew what she was dealing with. Darien nodded accordingly.
"Yes, Darien, because there is always the chance that I might stay here a while and WELCOME you to the U.S.A. if you decide to come over for a VISIT," said Amara smugly, cracking her knuckles menacingly.
"Um..." Darien, though not usually a timid type, did not like the i dea of Amara pummeling him horribly upon his arrival. "I'll keep that in mind..." he muttered.Even from across the world, Amara was scary enough as she was.
The next morning, Rini left at dawn. Darien offered to go with her to the park, but she firmly put her foot down and said he had to stay with Serena, in case she woke up. As she walked outside into the hallway, Darien followed.
"Have a good trip. Don't get lost in time."
"Of course I won't. And besides, I'm sure I'll be able to find either you or Serena or Pluto somewhere in there...Serena will be the one causing the rip by tripping or something... "
Darien couldn't help but chuckle a little at Rini's comment.
"Say hello to your parents."
"That sounds really strange coming from one of them."
"You know what I mean." Rini smiled and nodded.
"I should be back soon. Well, later! Oh, and Darien-" Midway through closing the door, Darien stopped. "If you aren't here when I get back in about a day or two, I'm coming after you." Rini winked, then skipped towards the elevators. Darien smiled and shook his head.
Darien went back to the chair he'd pulled up beside Serena, who was moved into her bed. She lay stock still, and her face was quite pale. If he hadn't already checked 20 times each hour, he would have thought she was dead. However, a few moans and movements told him that she should wake up soon.
Darien put his aching head into his hands. No sleep what so ever had ever boded well with him, and now was no exception. Sure, for maybe something school oriented and relatively stress free, but this? This was pure torture. He was alone with the woman he loved and his thoughts. One was preferable company over the other. And unfortunately, that was not responding yet. Before his mind could really take hold of him, however, he drifted off into sleep. What else could he do?
Serena awoke slowly, as if she was swimming through water very weakly. The resistance was a horrible nuisance, she wanted to open her eyes from the ever darkness and see the light again. To breathe easily, to move freely.
Her eyelids fluttered, then opened to have bright light shine directly into them. She must be at home, in her own bed...there was no other place on Earth that could blind anyone so. After a moment of adapting, Serena glanced around her familiar room. Yet, how did she get here...one moment she was in the park, and the next...she could remember it clearly, yes (like it were yesterday...wait, it was!). All of it, until she guessed she'd fainted away. That was yesterday, she both hoped and supposed. She couldn't have been out of it THAT long...
She had slept longer than usual, even for her. Glancing at her clock told her it was 11:30, but she'd drifted to nothingness around 4:30 the previous evening. Then, Serena's eyes found Darien, asleep in a chair beside her. She rolled over quietly onto one elbow just to look at his perfect features. For a moment, all she did was stare in happy bliss knowing he'd always be hers to look at. A nagging fear still bit the back of her mind, a fear that she wouldn't see him for a while, if he did go off to major in medicine abroad. If only they could get m arried fast, then she could go too...but no, those thoughts were now dashed. A new enemy meant she had to stay in Tokyo, with everyone else again.
Serena was startled from her thoughts by the dazzling blue eyes of Darien, who had obviously felt her own on him. "Serena..." he sighed in relief, stirring slowly. He clasped her hands gently, the movement knocking the blanket warming him off to the floor. "How are you now?"
Serena smiled warmly at him. "I'm just fine. No problems here." She sat up swiftly, and scooted closer towards him. "Darien, about what I was saying yesterday-"
"Serena-"
"No, please. I-" Serena suddenly looked shocked, and she made a noise as if she was choking for air. Then, she bent over forwards and gripped her chest, agony appearing all over the face that had grown much more color within the last few minutes only to be thrown back to pallid and clammy.
"Serena?!" Darien jumped up.
"No, it's nothing. I'm okay..." she said, taking deep breaths, although they were somewhat uneven. "I'm fine." She repeated, straightening, though the smile on her face faltered slightly.
"But-"
"Darien, please just let me finish. I didn't really get to tell you. I know that being a doctor is very important to you, and I want you to know that I support you going to the U.S., even though it isn't...my first choice. You don't have to stay..." Darien clutched Serena's hands tightly.
"Yes I do. You aren't 'fine'. I know you, and I know how I am too. I'm the master of saying 'I'm fine' and I'm always saying it. Something IS wrong with you, and it has to do with Desdemona."
"Dar-"
"Don't try to tell me there isn't. I won't hear you. I won't leave you either. Not with a new enemy and a strange senshi. Certainly not when you're sick."
"Darien, I'm fine. Really, I am. Just an aftershock, I guess. Except..."
"Except what?"
"Darien, if I tell you I'm well, will you leave?" Darien closed his eyes almost in exasperation, and saw a glimpse of that dream that he'd forgotten in the last few minutes.
"Like I said, I'm not leaving."
Serena sighed happily, and threw her arms around Darien, happy to be in her embrace.
Later that evening, after Darien had gone back to his own apartment (to shower and get a little more sleep) he returned around 6:00 PM to check up on Serena. The protective side of him was on the alert. After he came in through the door, he saw that the lights were all on in the house, and could hear Serena singing in the kitchen. Surprisingly, the sound of her voice was quite beautiful. Serena, as a rule, was not musically inclined. Or, hadn't been...he sneaked up behind her, watching her cooking her little heart out over SOMETHING in a bowl. A few paces behind her, Serena whipped around and smiled when she saw Darien.
"I think you're paranoid." She guessed why he was there.
"I have no idea what you mean..." Darien said absently "I just thought you'd like some flowers, but I guess not." Serena snatched the dozen roses out of his hands in a snap, laughing. She was much more cheerful than she had been just a day before. Darien found it difficult to see how her happiness was so greatly affected by him, but then again, if she left him all alone, he certainly would be in a deep depression of self-pity.
"I'll go put these in some water...wanna stay for dinner?" She asked, entering a messy room Darien hadn't known existed. He eyed the boiling pot of something and gulped his fear down.
"Sure..." he answered, following Serena into what must have been meant for a guest or dining room. Darien looked around at the mess and sighed. So much for being clean...Unlike his fianc?, Darien wasn't as able to navigate Serena's box land as freely as she. Serena didn't notice, however, and was muttering to herself.
"Great...now where'd I put that vase...I think I put it under fragile..."
To Darien it was obvious that Serena had no idea where she had put it, considering every box in the room had the word FRAGILE written on the front. After 10 minutes of searching through three boxes, Serena finally unsheathed a glass vase. "See! Just where I said it was!" She led the way through the boxes and back to the clean kitchen, where she put the vase and roses next to the sink. The room was quite cozy, Darien speculated-the fruit wallpaper matched the white linoleum tile and counters. Of course, with Serena in it made it perfect. Serena turned the sink on, filled the crystal vase carefully with water, then delicately set each rose in one at a time. She had to move a few around so that, Darien guessed, it was perfect. Then she set it on the table in her kitchen lovingly.
"It adds such elegance..." she sighed pleasantly. Then, as Darien was once again sneaking a quick look of despair towards the pot of doom, he heard a large thud on the table.
"Serena?" Serena was relying heavily upon the table for support, one hand clutching her chest savagely as she tried to breathe. Darien rushed over to her, panicked.
"It's o.k., Darien. Don't worry." She said quickly, yet the pain was evident in her voice.
"Serena, you ought to go to the hospital or something."
"Why? It's nothing, just exhaustion or something."
Darien eyed her skeptically. Had he not used that excuse before at least once? A certain time when a certain cursed rose had invaded his lungs he had used such an excuse to not be a burden to Serena. In the end, of course, she'd found out anyway and stayed by him. Why was she covering up something so obvious? But she put on another happy smile, and continued on as if nothing had happened. "Oh, dinner's ready!" she said when something dinged.
"Um...Serena...what exactly IS that?" Darien asked, his mind off her health momentarily as he wondered if his own was at stake.
Serena glared at him. "It's minestrone soup."
"Oh." Darien thought it was best not to mention it looked nothing like that, because the daggers in Serena's eyes looked very sharp and painful.
"See, it wasn't so bad." Darien had to admit Serena had a point. It had not yet killed him, nor choked him, or sent him running wildly for something to drink. And it wasn't the most horrible cooking he'd ever had. Mina's was by far tops on that list at that point. Previously, she'd been in a close second to Serena. But obviously Serena had acquired SOME cooking skills living alone. "You know, Darien. If you aren't going to the U.S.A...or even if you decide to someday, we could, you know, get married...um...soon..." Darien smiled affectionately at Serena, whose blushing face only made it seem more beautiful. How much he'd love to have her as his own, and kiss her beautiful face, neck...For a moment, all thoughts of Serena's health issues, the new sailor, and new enemy slipped Darien's mind, as well as Serena's.
"Of course we can get married soon. When?"
Serena was devoured by his eyes, so filled with what she knew to be love, sometimes so well hidden everywhere but his eyes... Unconsciously, she was out of her chair and on his lap, kissing him. "Soon..."
DDDDDDDIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNGGGGGDDDDDOOOOOOOOOOONNNGGGGG!!
Serena and Darien both groaned. Their romantic moments always seemed to get interrupted. Serena looked at Darien sheepishly as if to say, "Let's finish THIS later..." Darien nodded. With that she went to get the door. It happened to be Mina interrupting this time.
"Hey girlfriend! I just stopped by to give you this cake. And no, I didn't bake it myself," Mina added as she saw Serena stare in pure terror at the cake she held. "Lita did. But, she was on a date with Ken after she left here, so she got a little sidetracked. We were all so worried about you, but after you called and said you were fine, and since the others knew Darien would be coming here so no biggie, right? Can I come in?"
"Oh, yeah...sure." 'Darn,' Serena thought. 'I wanted to get rid of her!' She stared longingly at Darien. It's not that Mina's intentions weren't good or sweet or friendly, but Darien seemed to be a little more momentous than girl-talk with Mina.
"Oh, I'm not interrupting anything, right?" Before the two could answer, Mina said, "Oh good. Wow, Serena! That food looks great..."
"Oh, help yourself. Darien, seconds?" she asked longingly.
"Oh, sorry Meatball Head, can't. Got to go to a class tomorrow, and I lost sleep over you last night so later!"
"Bye." Serena said sadly. Darien caught the sad tone, but Mina didn't. She was already talking about the new guy on her street that was totally into her, which was doubtful. Mina was gorgeous, no questions there, but she hadn't seen the girl that Serena had with this new guy. Serena'd noticed her as she'd arrived at Mina's house earlier that week. Well, if she was going to gossip, might as well do it with Mina.
Meanwhile, in Crystal Tokyo
Rini ran into Neo-Queen Serenity's arms. "Small Lady!" her mother sighed, hugging her little baby (not exactly still a baby, but hey, you know mothers!). Next, the King swooshed his little girl into a warm hug as well. Rini looked around the room. There were Luna, Artemis, Diana, and all the scouts awaiting a hug from her as well. "I'm so happy you're back, my daughter." The Queen smiled down, a smile only a mother can give. Rini nodded her head. She was happy to be back. However, the severity of what was going on in the past struck her.
"Mother, I need to speak with you about the past." Her mother nodded knowingly.
"Soon we will speak. I want to hear how everything is going. But, I have a few other duties to attend to first, Small Lady. Please wait until I call you."
"When will that be?" Rini took on her courtly manner, for her mother seemed to be in a serious mood.
"Sometime this afternoon. I know you are anxious to return to your training, but you will need to stay the day here at least." Rini nodded solemnly.
Rini returned to her room to change into the soft pink day gown she regularly wore around the palace, although she dreamed of just staying in her regular attire from the past.
Upon changing, she found she was bored of waiting. She had a few hours to kill, so Rini decided to go exploring around the palace for some familiar faces. On her way to Hotaru's room, Rini saw the door to the Queen of Mars' ajar slightly and the face of the queen's first daughter, Leila, smiled at her.
"Hello Leila!" Rini said sweetly.
"Hey Serenity. Sorry I didn't come meet you earlier. Practice." she replied.
"No problem, I know you're busy. What are you looking at?" Rini asked as she noticed Leila reading something on the wine-colored bed she lay across in her graceful manner.
"Oh, my new book! It's about the Moon Kingdom, you know, the legendary kingdom those thousands of years ago? My mom gave it to me... It's all about it, like how it formed, what happened to it, everything! It even has minor sketches of what the princesses were to have looked like!" Rini was now staring intently at the book also.
"Hey, they all look like our parents!" Rini gasped in surprise. Leila laughed.
"Silly, of course they do! They were, like, related!"
"Really..." Rini didn't know the tale of how the Queens and Kings had been reborn, nor did anyone else except they themselves. It made for quite a mystery of their origins.
Rini looked at where Leila's finger was pointed again. A picture of a lovely girl, about 14, stood out on the page. She was beautiful, and she DID look very similar to Rini's younger-mother version, Serena...Serena had been a princess ('Although probably not a very good one,' Rini thought, an image of her klutzy teenage mother popping into view) but not of the Moon Kingdom, anyways. That was just a myth, right? And that would make Serena...over 3,000 years old! Even for someone touched by the Silver Imperium crystal, that was old! And her mother looked nothing over 22. "Leila, did your mother say anything about the book?"
"No...she just gave it to me and said that I might like it. Why?"
"No reason. Hey, by any chance, do you know where Hotaru is?"
"Yes, she's out in the gardens with the other Queens. The senshi are having some meeting."
"Shouldn't you be there too?"
"Oh, it's only the elders, not the neos. So I'm free." She smiled again.
"Thanks, Leila. I'll see you sometime before I leave, I hope. Oh, and could I read that when you're through and I've gotten back?"
"No problem, feel free to read it any time, Rini."
Rini left Queen Mars' room. Leila was Rini's second closest friend, since they were closer in age than any of the others. After Rini had first visited the 21st century, she had told Leila about Serena and Darien's pet name for her, Rini. Leila and she hated calling each other 'Princess BlahBlahBlah' so they usually just called each other Rini and Leila. But only between the two of them. In front of their parents it was "Princess Leila of Mars" and "Neo-Princess Serenity". Very boring, but necessary within court.
Rini rushed towards the gardens, quieting her steps as she heard Queen Venus murmur her mother's name. Venus was very close to having her first child.
Rini couldn't wait. She loved Indira, Allen, Lina, and Terra dearly, but she and the Queen of Venus were closest to her. Occasionally, when no one else was around (not very often), Mina didn't bother with the proper names. They called one another the same thing they did when Rini visited the past. Actually, all the queens, when left alone with Rini, reverted back in this fashion. But Rini and Mina were still the closest, as Mina was almost a goddess in Rini's eyes, as beautiful as her mother and as gossipy as anyone else on Earth.
"You mean Serenity's going to have a baby too?" Mina had asked.
"Yes. And she's not told Endymion yet either." Raye replied.
"How do you know?" asked Amy, who was for once paying attention to the conversation and not reading something as well.
"I know she's pregnant because of lots of small things that fit together. And she hasn't told the King yet because remember when she was pregnant with Small Lady? He was all over her! He'd barely even let her get out of bed! He's not so worried right now, and he certainly would be even a little bit if Serenity had spilled the beans." Raye said.
"But why do you think Serenity hasn't told us? We are, after all, her best friends!" Lita muttered, a little miffed about the whole thing.
"Well, weren't exactly innocent either. We HELPED Endymion keep her in bed. I only realized how annoying it was when she did the same to me when I was having Leila." Raye cringed.
"I'm SO glad you guys gave it up before I had to deal with it!" Mina exclaimed happily.
"You'd think since we gave it up that she'd have told us."
"Maybe she didn't want us to revert back to old ways...or worse, to tell Endymion and let him go on protective mode," Michelle said thoughtfully.
"Still, I wish she'd have told us..." Amara muttered.
"Does she know you know, Raye?" Michelle queried thoughtfully.
"Well, no...I didn't trap her and make her spill it out to me. However, I am positive that's why she's been acting so weird the past few months."
"Maybe she was planning on surprising us." Mina said thoughtfully.
"So, even Rini doesn't know?" Hotaru asked in her quiet manner.
"No, and she probably won't until Serenity sees fit to tell her. After all-"
Suddenly, the news hit Rini. 'Mommy's going to have a baby!!' Rini let out a small gasp. Unfortunately, the garden dwelling senshi heard it. Quickly, Rini left the scene, and hid in the broom closet nearby. The scouts weren't too far behind her, however. And she saw a little too late that her gown was stuck in the door. Before she could pull it free, she fell out as the door quickly opened.
"Neo-Princess Serenity..." Raye said skeptically.
"Uh...hi..." was Rini's reply.
Queen of Mars cleared her throat, "What did you hear back there Small Lady?" Raye gave her a death glare.
'I should report her to security,' Rini thought grimly. "Uh...well.
nothing...just some gossip about my mom and how she's pregnant, and something about how Daddy doesn't know...but besides that..." Rini looked up sort of guiltily at the Scouts. "Is she going to have a baby?" She couldn't refrain from asking.
"Well..." Lita began...
Amy said thoughtfully, "We're not sure. It's just a hunch..."
Rini couldn't bare it. She ran up to her room before even Hotaru could stop her.
"Why wouldn't she, or they, have told me? Would they have waited until my brother or sister was born?"
Rini whispered to herself. She stayed in her room the rest of the day, brooding over it. Not even a visit from Hotaru lightened the blow from which she'd been dealt to much extent. She found that Hotaru would definitely havevtold her sooner rather than later about her mother's pregnancy, but still, the fact that neither her mothernor the others could rely such information on her was hurtful.
The only thing that helped Rini sleep her first night was a plan that she and Hotaru had devised spur of the momentfor what to do when Serenity DID decide to tell everyone andnamely Rini's father. Since that was assured to be a historic and hilarious event, a codename and operation were all ready to be put into action. If the time ever arose to use them...
Yet Rini was still left that night with the pain of not having the rank to be given information nor the age to be trusted with it. And her mother...For the first time in years, Rini was furious with the Queen.
- -
AGH!! Finished! Thank GOD! Don't worry, this story DOES pick up later (I think...--;). Remember, this was my original first story which I went through and revised. But to actually fix it so it was just the way I wanted, it would have forced me to TOTALLY redo it and therefore I would've ended up changing the story and in the end, this one would not have been recognizable from the other (which strangely enough was what occurred with my very first IDEA and this story...)
ANYWHO, enough incoherent blabbing and now for the thanks:
I give thanks to my mother for having me to my brother for standing by me (so I could whack him over the head when I'm frustrated with the story)
to my father for fixing my laptop AND to my best friend dragonborncrystal for helping me and rooting for me while I attempted to originally write this and for continuing to read it after I revised it. Plus for editing it. Most of my thanks goes to her. Well, LATER FOR NOW
Moonlight Eternal