AN: I'm posting again guys because I'm starting to get impatient... I really want you to get to the juicy bits (aka the last three chapters). Anyhoo, there are six more chapters after this, so 18 in total if you're too tired to count ;) And since a few people have asked, I feel I should clear this matter up once again: this story is set BEFORE Sailor Moon and the Sailor Scouts existed back in normal time. That is to say, Serena and Darien hadn't even met the girls before being thrown into the past.
Disclaimer: I've been listening to some really great music lately. But I don't own that. Ironically, I don't own Sailor Moon or any of the included characters. I own more characters than you realise though! Mwahahahaha!
Whilst everyone was glad that Serena was okay – after a few small arguments about Princess Serenity's use of the crystal – they remained on edge. Whoever had initiated this attack was still on the loose.
During their first breakfast as a whole group again, the nervous atmosphere was beginning to weigh down on Serenity, so she suggested they all take the morning off and spend it out of doors. No one really wanted to agree, but Serenity was a force to be reckoned with; especially her puppy eyes.
Queen Selene watched as her daughter and her friends tramped through the grounds of the palace, mindful of the new boundaries she and the guards had set since Serena's kidnapping. Turning from the window, she sighed to her advisor.
"Luna, I have a bad feeling about all this."
"About what, your Highness? The picnic?"
"No," Selene murmured, shifting the curtain back over the window and stepping away from it. "I can't explain this feeling, but I fear that things will soon be changing."
Luna regarded this for a moment. "Has anyone heard from Sailor Pluto lately? She's been awfully quiet these last few weeks. Maybe someone should ask her."
Selene shook her head. "No, you know we must not disturb her unless something is vitally important, and if something was that critical, she would know about it beforehand and come see us."
Luna nodded once. "Yes. But perhaps Sailor Neptune and Uranus could see her? Just to make sure that she is keeping up with the timeline and everything."
Queen Selene pursed her lips gently as she considered this. "You're right," she admitted. "I know those two have been outside looking for clues from Serena's kidnapping, but maybe they'd like something better to do. You know they get on well with Pluto."
"So shall I send for them, your Highness?"
The silver haired queen turned back to the window, gently lifting the curtain from its place to once again watch her child. "Yes, I think you should."
xXxXx
"You lot go ahead," Malachite said. "We're just going to have a little wander of our own."
"What?" Sailor Venus asked, hands on her hips.
"Excuse us?" Sailor Jupiter said.
"Go ahead?" Serenity repeated, brows furrowing. "It's not a group picnic if we're divided."
Endymion knew his guard all too well, and highly doubted they were just going for a little wander. He narrowed his eyes from behind Serenity. "What are you really up to?"
The four men shook their heads innocently, but the synchronised gesture gave it away.
Darien stepped out from beside Serena and placed himself in the middle of the circle. His steady eyes held Malachite's for several seconds before Malachite dropped his gaze with a sigh.
"We were just going to go out and have a bit of a look for clues. With what happened to Serena…"
He gestured to the blonde, who paled at the reminder. Serenity reached out and took Serena's hand comfortingly.
Jadeite grinned at Sailor Mars. "Think you can handle this lot while we're away?"
Sailor Mars clicked her fingers and a fireball appeared, hovering above her gloved palm. "We've put up with you guys, haven't we?"
The Generals gulped and shared glances. "Look, we'll just be an hour or so; maybe a bit longer. The Scouts can protect you four for now. We'll see you later, all right?"
The four men bowed and turned down the left pathway – the one that lead to the fork where they'd found Serenity's bracelet.
Darien raised his eyebrows and glanced at the Scouts. Sailor Jupiter was rolling her eyes at Nephrite's back; Sailor Mercury was digging around in her sub space pocket, no doubt for a book; Sailor Venus was silently communicating with her eyes to Endymion, asking what they should do, and Sailor Mars was throwing wary glances around the garden.
Endymion broke the silence first. "Well, uh…." He scratched the back of his head. "You know, they're probably right. We should just keep going."
"Can we go to our secret hideout?" Serenity asked him quietly from under long lashes. "I haven't had Endy-Time in ages!"
"You had him all of this morning!" Serena laughed. Serenity shot her a look and she stopped, taking the hint.
"Oh, right. Hey, Darien, do you think we could have some quiet time? We still have lots to talk about." She gave him a meaningful stare.
Darien looked up at the Scouts. "It's up to your friends, Meatball Head."
Serenity squeezed Serena's hand and they both spun to the unprepared Scouts with identical puppy dog eyes. The four girls stumbled back from the sheer force radiating from the twins.
"All right, all right." Sailor Venus snapped. "But only because we love you both so much." She pulled a golden chain out of thin air and cracked it like a whip. "But trust me on this, Princesses. If either of you two step a toe out of line, you will be severely punished."
Serena giggled and Serenity shook her head minutely beside her. Sailor Venus' eyes snapped to Serena.
"Got something to say there?" she barked.
Serena stiffened.
"No ma'am, no."
Sailor Venus turned to her three comrades. "Jupiter will go with Mars. You two will follow Serenity and Endymion. Mercury, you're with me. Moving out!"
Serenity's hand left Serena's and grabbed Endymion's. Giggling, she began skipping away, pulling Endymion with her. Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter rolled their eyes and stomped after them.
"Great, they'll end up kissing the whole time," Serena could hear the raven-haired Scout grumble as they disappeared around the bend in the path.
Serena avoided looking at the orange and blue clad Scouts and glanced up at Darien instead. "Want to just go for a walk?"
Darien shook his head. "Nah, I have a better idea."
He took her hand, which made both of their hearts beat faster, and began tugging her towards the huge rose garden.
"Where are we going?" Serena said, faintly aware of the set of steps she could hear crunching on the gravel behind them.
"You'll see," Darien said mysteriously, which made Serena's blood boil. He wasn't trying to be irritating again was he? Because she could start! And –
"Oh!" Serena breathed. "I love this place."
xXxXx
A body kneeled against the cold stone floor in the dark cave, her long crimson hair flickering in the light of the flames. A lone figure stood behind her, watching from the cave entrance, but hidden in the shadows.
"Oh great ruler of darkness, I humbly beseech you. Tell me how to get rid of that moon brat and take Endymion for my own! I beg you; tell me how to destroy the Moon Kingdom!"
xXxXx
"And then when you called me Meatball Head in front of Andrew, I could have killed you!"
Serena thumped her fist on Darien's hard chest to prove her point. Darien reached up and held her tiny hand in his own.
"You were making me jealous, what else could I do?"
"Be nice?" Serena volunteered through narrowed eyes.
The pair were sitting on the marble bench in the secluded garden that Endymion had taken her to several nights ago. Serena had realised rather smugly that the Scouts had kept out, patrolling the perimeter rather than intruding on their private moment. Even Aria, who had stuck her head in, had been asked to leave.
"Excuse me, you threw a test paper at me. It almost hit my head! Who was being nice there?"
"Well, next time I throw a test over my shoulder, I hope it does hit you on the head. I hope it hurts very, very much." Serena sniffed and pointed her nose in the opposite direction.
Darien smirked and snaked his hands around her shoulders, hugging her to his chest. "You look so cute when you do that."
Serena blushed and turned under to his arm to face him. Wrapping her own arms around his middle, she snuggled into his embrace.
"I'm always cute, you should have realised that by now. But I'm glad you're starting to notice."
"Believe me," Darien said. "I've had a real eye-opening experience."
Serena wriggled slightly to look up at his face. He almost laughed at how small she looked in his arms. It was utterly adorable.
"You mean my near-death experience?"
"Yeah. It made me realise how much you mean to me."
"Oh," Serena said. "Well, after you kissed me, I…" She suddenly broke out into giggles.
"What?" Darien asked curiously.
Serena shook her head and continued giggling. Darien raised his arms. "I can always tickle you until you tell me," he said. Serena's eyes widened and she tried to back away.
"No, I'm sorry!" she squeaked.
Darien retreated.
"Are you going to tell me?"
Serena looked down and began mumbling something unintelligible.
"What did you say?" he asked, leaning in to catch her words.
Serena cleared her throat and began again.
"I said after you kissed me, I realised how perfect you were. For me. I mean, aside from the teasing and being mean part. But you know me inside out, you know what I like and what I don't, you're tall and handsome, you're already friends with Andrew, who's my friend..." She peeked up at him, biting her lip nervously.
Darien burst out laughing and reached down, holding Serena's face steady as his lips sought hers. Serena felt her hands creeping up his chest and around his neck. Her fingers worked their way into his raven locks and she sighed happily. When Darien drew away, it was only momentarily, before he rested his forehead on hers and gave her a crooked smile.
"Well I think you're pretty perfect for me Meatball Head."
"Aww! Dare-bear!" Serena cooed, closing the distance between the two for another soft kiss.
xXxXx
Serena and Darien entered the dining hall hand in hand later that night, after a whole day together. Serenity looked positively ecstatic at seeing this, and Endymion looked surprised.
"I told you we were soulmates," Serenity whispered to her fiancé. "We'll be together through time and space."
Two very grumpy Sailors followed the oblivious pair. Sailor Mercury's eyes whizzed over the table, immediately noticing the absences.
"Where are the Generals?" she asked quietly, pausing halfway through the doorway. Sailor Mars looked up from the table.
"We assumed they were with you keeping those two under wraps." She nodded to Serena and Darien, who was pulling a chair out mockingly for the blonde. When Serena went to sit down, he pulled the chair out completely and she fell on her backside.
"You jerk!" she snapped, slapping his arm. Darien grinned back.
"You love it."
"Don't worry," Endymion soothed over the table as Sailor Mercury and Sailor Venus slowly took their seats. "If they haven't returned, that probably just means they might have found something. You know what they're like on a hunt." He glanced at Sailor Mars. "Besides, I'll bet you right now that Jadeite is riling the others up like mad."
Sailor Mars sighed impatiently and flipped her long, dark hair over her shoulder. "That idiot. I'll bet he is, too."
A light rapping alerted everyone to the messenger by the door. Aria shifted uncomfortably, her eyes stuck on the pitcher of water in the middle of the table.
"Prince Endymion, the Queen requests that you see her immediately. She says it's important."
I would love to say so many things here, but I don't want to ruin the surprises for you. But I will say something: this chapter is filled to the brim with ominous signs. Just look out for them from now on, okay? Actually, when this story is complete, go back to chapter one and read the whole thing again, and you will realise how clever I have been. Mwahahaha! - I really have to stop doing that...
Here's to a great week everyone. May you start your Monday tomorrow still grinning from this chapter. Hooray!
xoxo
Carmen