Author's Notes: What do you mean it's been over a year since I've updated this story? No, it hasn't. You're all lying. *reads last updated date* August 2012. Ooh, right. Um…well…I'm sorry? No, really, I am. As much as I wanted to write this chapter, I just totally forgot to and by the time I realized this story was in limbo, I had lost the plot twist that I talked about in the last chapter and I was blocked. I couldn't figure out how to even begin this chapter and what would happen in it. But the best cure for writer's block? Is to write through it and pray for the best. So big thanks to:

Christine Jay – Thanks for your review! I'm thinking you're going to have to reread this story to remember what was happening because it's been so long. Sorry, but please enjoy this chapter!

LoveInTheBattlefield

SerentiyMoonGodness

ladyusagi2012 – Thanks for your review! I'll definitely look into the song, if Serenity and Endymion end up going back to the Light. We'll see…

stephanielyn6722 – Thanks for your review! Your review made me laugh. Actually, I did sort of like high school English classes. Why do you ask? I tried to get my butt moving, but sometimes things just don't work out, you know? Hope you like this chapter!

Kari moon – Thanks for your review! *blushes from the compliment* I hope you really like this chapter!

Mzmiami – Thanks for your three reviews! I'm glad that you like this story. Hope you like this chapter too!

MiaSopapia – Thanks for your review! Yeah, the threats were starting to get on my nerves too, which is why I was like – okay time for her to either turn him back or turn to Darkness herself. Hope you like this chapter too!

GalaxyStorm85 – Thanks for your review! Your review made me smile. Thanks for being such a fan of my work. Hope you like this chapter!

lidsay

jg

GinnyPotter0183 – Thanks for your review! Actually, I don't know if I'm even going to turn Endymion back to Light. It could happen. It might not. Hope you like this chapter!

shields07 – Thanks for your review! Sneaky cliffhangers are always fun. Still playing with the original 10, we'll see what happens. Hope you like this chapter!

Cosmyk Angel – Thanks for your review! Now there's an interesting idea. Why didn't I think of throwing the Moonlight Knight into this? Hm…

Blood-Saturn666 – Thanks for your review! I'm going to try to put more chapters out. Hope you like this one!

For reviewing the last chapter. As always, they mean the world to me and got me through the writer's block and the times when I thought of just giving up on this story all together. Enjoy this chapter!

Disclaimer: One: I don't own Sailor Moon, which is so very sad. Two: I don't own the song "Nicotine" by Panic! At the Disco. Three: This is a spinoff idea of the story In Darkness by the wonderful AngelONight. Four: This story is rated M for a reason. For this chapter it's because of the dark themes, language and some much-awaited smut. Enjoy!

Shadows of the Night: Darkness Remains

By: afallenblackrose

Cross my heart and hope to die
Burn my lungs and curse my eyes
I've lost control and I don't want it back
I'm going numb, I've been hijacked
It's a fucking drag
I taste you on my lips and I can't get rid of you
So I say damn your kiss and the awful things you do
Yeah, you're worse than nicotine
Nicotine, yeah
It's better to burn than to fade away
It's better to leave than be replaced
I'm losing to you
Baby, I'm no match
I'm going numb, I've been hijacked
~ Nicotine ~ Panic! At the Disco

A silence fell over the crowd, and all eyes were on Usagi. She was trying her best to ignore the stares, but it was hard to do. There was one glance that was harder to ignore than the others. But while everyone was staring, she was staring too; at Demando. She wasn't able to tell from her previous location on the lamppost, but at this range, she could see the black upside down crescent moon on his forehead that hadn't been there when she had last seen him. Also, there was a dark glint in his violet eyes; she knew that glint all too well. Only it was different to see it in another's eyes. She was used to seeing them in… No, she thought to herself. She couldn't go there right now. Because if she even thought about his name she would turn around and catch his gaze…

She fought off a shiver and ended her thought. She needed to figure out what was going on here. What Demando had gotten into with the mysterious cloaked figure that was floating beside him? She could sense the Darkness emitting from him in waves. But who was this figure and what had he planned for Demando? Whatever it was it couldn't be good. There was no way that the figure turned him to Darkness without some sort of price… So the question was, what was the price? And why had Demando agreed to do it when he was so not evil?

"Did you not hear what I said, Princess?" Demando's voice snapped her out of her mental reverie. She started for a second before staring at his smirking face. "Apparently, not. Well, like I said, you shouldn't have done that because you're not the only one who has changed since the last time we met."

"So I've noticed," she finally replied. "The question is though, why? What exactly did this figure offer you to become what you are?" Usagi bristled as she continued to feel everyone's stare. Stop staring at me, she sent through her link with her Senshi and Endymion. She almost laughed when she heard all of them collectively gasp. They hadn't been expecting her to send them anything. Well, she had to talk to them somehow without Demando knowing.

Endymion, though, was the only one who bothered to reply. Sorry, Serenity, he sent through their link. It's just that I've been finally waiting for this day for years. And now that it's here…he sighed The Darkness suits you, just like I knew it would.

She couldn't see him, but she knew that his eyes were burning with longing, because she was trying hard to hide the burning in hers as well. She didn't know whether or not it was the Darkness that was fueling her actions, but what she wouldn't give right now than for Demando to not be there … Focus, she said to herself and to Endymion. Her words must have gone through because he stepped up beside her, his sword drawn.

"If I were you, Demando, I'd answer her questions," he said his voice rough.

"The answers are easy, my dear Princess. Obviously, my usual tactics weren't going to stand up against Endymion here, so I needed an advantage. Wiseman was nice enough to offer me the power to win you over, but that is my price for his assistance. I need to win you over. You need to be mine. Even if I have to kill Endymion."

The Darkness in her veins boiled with her anger. What was with the men in her life not listening to a damn word that she had to say? Energy crackled at the tips of the fingers of her left hand, the ones out of Endymion's view. It would be so easy to end all of this now, but no. She wasn't going to give in to this new power within her, not yet at least. She would try one last time to talk to Demando, to make him see that what he was doing was for nothing. If he still didn't see reason after that, well, at least she could say that she tried.

"You don't listen, do you, Demando?" She asked flexing her fingers as the energy dissipated. "I told you that nothing you do would make me join you. The history between Endymion and I runs too deep and over too many millennia."

"Haven't you ever heard the expression, Serenity, that too much of the same thing isn't good for you?" Was Demando's sarcastic reply, but she could tell that her response had gotten to him. What did he think was going to happen? That just because he had turned Dark she was going to fall into his arms? She didn't know what had happened between the two of them in the future, but whatever it was, she knew that he was delusional into thinking that he actually had a chance with her.

"Goddess, you're an idiot," she said finally losing her patience. She turned her back on him, much to everyone's amazement and looked like she was going to walk away from all of this, when she turned back quickly throwing a ball of energy at him. His eyes widened before he teleported away and out of the ball's path. He reappeared a few yards away and even though he was far away, Usagi could still feel his amazed and shocked stare on her. But he wasn't the only one staring, not that she was too surprised. Demando's expression though was odd. The way he was looking at her, made her wonder whether she had ever acted out like that in the future. She had to though, right? Because in the future she was evil, a being of the Dark – who obviously considering what just happened – had a short temper.

The Senshi were looking at her probably for that very reason. In all the years they had known her, they had never once seen her lose her temper on the field like this. The Shitennou and Endymion were also staring at her, but she knew it was probably for a different reason. They, unlike her Senshi, probably noticed the color of the energy ball that she had thrown at Demando. She was known for throwing balls of white light at her enemies, so of course, they were probably surprised that she had thrown a dark crackling ball of energy instead. But because they had been Dark – or in the Dark Prince's case still Dark – they would know what the color change meant. And Usagi was betting that because of this, Endymion was smirking in victory because he had won.

Usagi was Dark. Not sure of what to make of this revelation, she did the only thing she could think of.

She created a portal and she ran.

Endymion blinked and sighed before he created a portal of his own to go after her. Since he hadn't hesitated, he was able to catch her in the in between of the portal. He kept his sigh of relief at bay, as he approached her from behind. With ease, he wrapped an arm around her waist and opened another portal. This time though he opened it to his bedroom in the Dark Kingdom. Considering her escape attempt, he figured she needed time alone, somewhere where her Senshi wouldn't be able to talk to her and tell her that what she had become was wrong. Besides he was in desperate need to have some alone time with her.

She started to struggle in his grasp, and he hissed when he felt a shock go through his system. Was she seriously trying to attack him using her Dark power? Did she seriously think that was going to work against him? For some reason, the thought made him chuckle.

"Oh, Serenity," he whispered into her ear. "Do you have a lot to learn about your Dark powers…"

Serenity stopped struggling as her breathing hitched, "Endymion?" She asked.

"Who else were you expecting?" He countered before loosening his grip, allowing her to turn around and look him in the eye. Both of them froze though when they made eye contact with each other. It was the first time since she had turned that they were looking at each other head on. Before, her back had been turned to him and then he had only been able to get a side view from the corner of his eye.

Just like Usagi thought though, just looking at him made her forget everything else. All she could think about was him; about how that evil glint in his eyes – the one that had made her shiver in disgust before – made her shiver with desire now. Just like Endymion was looking at her and seeing the same glint in her eyes. He loved that glint because that meant that he had what he finally wanted. He had finally won. Trying to hold his breath and keep his expectations low, he opened his arms so that way she could rush into them if she chose to.

Usagi tried not to laugh at the expression on his face. He looked like a little boy waiting for Santa Claus to appear. He didn't look like the dark prince that she had known. But she couldn't blame him for the look. As many times as he tried to get her to turn to the Dark side, he didn't know what to do now that she actually had. She could make this easy on him, it would probably be the right thing to do, but she was evil now. What fun would it be to do the right thing? She continued to glace at him with his open arms, until she finally smirked.

At her smirk, he dropped his arms down to his sides and stared at her in wonder. Well, he hadn't really planned for this. What was she up to? He stepped forward and she took a step back. This brought him to a stand still. Why was she backing away from him? She couldn't be afraid of him, could she? He tried to read her expression, but her face was guarded. Throwing caution to the wind, he took another step forward.

And she took another step back. Endymion felt a frustrated growl came from his lips. That got a reaction from Serenity. She was smiling, a mischievous smile. He stared at her in amazement. She was smiling! She wanted him to chase after her! He tilted his head to the side as he tried to figure out why she wanted him to chase her. He had opened his arms to her; she could have just as easily come to him. So why….

Oh, realization hit him. She was Dark now and he was Dark. He raised his eyebrow. So she wanted to have some fun did she? Well then…he took another step towards her and predictably she took another step back. Her eyes were dancing with mischief and he finally smiled. He let lose another growl and darted forward. She let out a squeal and darted away from him. She stopped with the bed between them.

"You've got nowhere to run, love," he said a playful tone in his voice. She only smiled at him, almost daring him to come after her. His smile widened and he teleported to just a few feet behind her. She whirled around and glared at him, but it had no edge to it. She was smiling before she turned and tried to jump over the bed when he rushed and tackled her.

Directly on to the bed.

He turned her around so that her back was on the mattress and so that he could see her face. She was breathing heavily, but she was smiling. He had to take that as a good sign, right? He placed his hands on either side of her head and balanced his weight on to his palms. He looked down at her with a smirk.

"Was that really necessary?" He asked her.

"Probably not," she giggled before Endymion's lips descending on to hers cut it off. He had been waiting for this kiss for years and now that he was finally getting it, it did not disappoint. The feistiness he had witnessed before came alive underneath his lips. As soon as their lips met, his skin began to blaze from the heat, and he felt her small delicate fingers begin to unbutton his shirt. When his tongue beckoned entrance into her mouth, she complied and her nails raked over the muscles of his chest. He gasped into her mouth before he released her lips. He looked down at her, and felt himself harden as he saw the fire burning in Serenity's eyes.

"Serenity," he rasped. "Don't do this, unless you mean it." His forehead dropped to her shoulder as he chastised himself. Was he being serious right now? After everything he had done to get to this moment, was he seriously chickening out now?

"Endymion," she whispered. "After everything we've been through, do you really think that I don't mean this? After witnessing your death while I was in that chamber, I realized that even though we have our differences, I can't be without you."

He kissed her shoulder and lifted his head back up, "We're not that different anymore."

"You think so," she replied. "But how can you be so sure when I never really finished the transition?"

He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again when he realized that she was right. Were they really the same even though she hadn't completed her transition?

"See? You can't be sure."

"Maybe not," he said. "But I can be sure about this. If you didn't truly change while you were in that chamber, then how is it that you were being so playful with me earlier? Your Light self wouldn't have done that."

"You would stick on that fact," she laughed briefly kissing him. "But I'm not disputing the fact that I've changed."

"Good, because if you do, I'll just point to what you threw at that jerk while we were up there."

Serenity couldn't help the laugh that came out of her mouth. She knew he was looking at her like she had gone insane, but it was just too comical. Endymion's jealousy would always prevail, even if the world were ending. She sobered quickly though when she realized 'that jerk' was the reason for Endymion's death in the future. She had seen it with her own two eyes.

"As much as you hate that jerk, it still doesn't change the fact that he is the one who kills you in the future." She said with a serious tone.

"That was before you knew about it though," he pointed out his hands roaming along her curves causing her to shudder. "But let's not talk about that, right now. I have something else I want to do instead."

She opened her mouth to protest, but let out a moan instead as he nibbled gently on her collarbone. He was right this could wait until later. Meeting her eyes to see the desire pooling there, he smirked and shrugged out of his shirt. She wanted to touch him, but he took a hold of her wrists and pinned them above her head. She glared at him before he smirked and leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Watch what I can do with these Dark powers." His brow creased in concentration and she felt her body tingle with the familiar Dark energy. When the tingle disappeared, she felt a cold breeze on her skin. She looked down at herself and found bare skin. As she looked up at Endymion to comment about his 'trick' her breath caught in her throat. Her clothes weren't the only ones to disappear.

Holy shit, she thought, not realizing that it wasn't just her who heard it.

Indeed, he thought back through their connection. But clothes take too long to take off and I've been waiting far too long for this. To prove his point, he wasted no time in sinking deep within her folds. She gasped at the quick entry but it soon turned into a moan as he hit that one spot over and over again.

He slipped out of her before they both could find their release and she bit her lip as she looked at him. What did he think he was doing? Those lips were still turned up in that familiar smirk lowered themselves onto her bare skin of her stomach before they moved north. As he trailed upwards she could feel his erection touching her skin and she inhaled sharply, feeling her nipples tighten just as Endymion closed his mouth over the left one. Her head rolled back as she tried to keep her breathing even. It didn't work though when his tongue lapped gently and then his teeth came down. She moaned but the man was quick as he cut it off by kissing her.

Serenity was getting frustrated. What exactly was he trying to do to her? Make her go crazy? Make her beg? If he was then he should know better because she was stubborn. She would take matters into her own hands before she would ever beg. Speaking of…

Her fingers lightly traced over his chest before drifting down towards the apex of his thighs. When she touched his penis it throbbed into her palm and he gasped into her mouth. She didn't smile, but she tightened her grip and stroked his cock gently with her thumb. The gasp turned into a moan before he pulled away from her lips and looked down at her.

"Damn it, Serenity, are you trying to unman me?" He asked his voice low and husky. She tried to look innocent but she couldn't quite pull it off. Not anymore. She let out a laugh that was quickly cut off when he arched his hips and slid into her again. She moaned and arched her hips to meet his. Her legs, that were akimbo, now drew him in closer. He took the invitation as he went deeper and faster. Their moans synched together and she felt that familiar pressure build up in the base of her spine. She was about to come.

"Endymion," she rasped in warning as he went even faster.

"I know," he said his voice thick with emotion. "I know." His hand closed over her right breast and squeezed just as he bucked wildly into her. His release came, and the feeling of his load releasing into her caused her own release to follow. He rocked his hops one more time before he drew backward, drawing himself out of her.

She protested at the loss of contact, but he wasn't gone long. He slipped in beside her pulling her so that her naked back was plastered to his front. That's when she felt that he wasn't done with her quite yet. She tried not to groan – she was already exhausted – but Endymion's love knew no bounds. He was insatiable and as he reminded her, he'd been waiting for this for a long, long time.

His hand curled around her leg as he pulled it to the side. His grip tightened, his lips found her collarbone and he slid inside her. She was whimpering as he moved inside, the onslaught of emotions was just too much for her. She loved him so much, even when he was evil. And now that she was partly Dark, she wondered why she had fought so long. Especially if things could have been like this. Her release came faster than they both had anticipated for and she screamed as it unraveled. His teeth clamped down as he followed her into bliss.

She felt her eyes close from exhaustion and was barely conscious when she felt Endymion pull out, pull up the blankets around them and then encircle her in his arms. She sighed in contentment and felt herself drift into unconsciousness.

The Senshi, Shitennou and Helios stared at the spot where their princess and – grudgingly – their prince had disappeared. She had fled, like she usually did, but… That was the problem. But. All of them had seen some sort of change within Usagi. She was stronger. Her temper was shorter. And she could create portals.

"But she still seems like herself," Haruka was the first one to break the silence. "She's the same person, just…"

"Not," Kunzite finished for her. "This is very odd. When the others turned we could still sense the Darkness within them even though they were still themselves. But with Princess Serenity…"

"We couldn't sense the Darkness at all," Nephrite finished for him.

"Are you sure you still can?" Setsuna asked. "Maybe you could sense it because you were a part of Darkness. But now that you're in the Light…"

"No, they're right," Rei countered. "Even though we're not a part of Darkness anymore we can still sense it in Endymion. But with Serenity there's nothing there. Not even…" she trailed off afraid to admit what else was wrong.

"Rei?" Jadeite prodded her. "Not even what?"

"Not even her Light," she whispered. But everyone heard her. Even another dark prince that they had forgotten about. Demando had moved closer to the group without their notice, so he was able to hear everything. Serenity wasn't Dark, but she wasn't Light anymore either. Then what was she? The question was one that the group in front of him was trying to figure out the answer to.

"How can that be possible?" Michiru asked the group. "Serenity is Light and if she turned then she would be Dark. She can't be neither. It just isn't possible." The others looked at each other with helpless expressions. They had been preparing themselves for a Dark Serenity. They had even prepared for the unlike ability that she would come back as her old Light self. This? This they didn't even know how to handle.

"It is though," Ami, always the logical one, said. Everyone turned his or her head towards her waiting for her to explain. "Think about it, guys. Serenity was taken when she was severely injured. Like all of us, the injury was supposed to quicken the process of turning. But remember, Endymion came here because Serenity was missing. Someone had taken her from the chamber. What if because she was taken out of the chamber before she was supposed to, that didn't solidify the transformation?"

"In plain English there, Ames," Minako said in exasperation.

"Right. Sorry. Because Serenity was taken out of the chamber before the transformation was complete – she isn't completely Dark nor is she completely Light. Hence why we can't sense either of these things from her. She's - "

"Literally Switzerland. She's neutral," Zoicite said in awe. "Which means that she can either side with evil or with good."

"And that decision could change all out destinies," Helios and Setsuna said in unison.

Demando smiled. So there was still hope that Serenity would chose Light and him for good. But she was goddess knows where with that Dark Prince, who would give anything to make her Dark and keep her by his side for eternity. Demando couldn't let that happen. The only problem was what could he do to stop it? If Serenity were really with Endymion then there was no way that she would leave him anytime soon. So how could he get her to?

Hm…he continued to think as he disappeared. This was going to take some thinking and he wouldn't be able to do it alone.

She couldn't see in front of her face. She couldn't see because of all the fog. Where was she? The last time she was in cased in fog like this her mother had shown up to talk to her. Oh no…

"Mother?" She called out into the fog. It disappeared and her mother appeared a smile on her face.

"Serenity," she said opening her arms. "I am so proud of you."

Serenity rushed into her mother's arms but looked at her like she had lost her mind. "You're proud of me?" She asked. "Why? I thought you would be mad at me because I turned to the Dark."

Her mother actually laughed. "Why would I be mad? Serenity, I'm the one who told you that there was a third option and you are happy, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am," she replied a smile now on her face. "And I don't know, but I don't feel like I'm different."

"That's because you aren't, at least, not really."

"What?"

"Serenity, you know what I mean. You think that because you were taken out of the chamber early, your transformation wasn't completed. You're right, it wasn't."

"But I can feel the Darkness."

"Yes, because of how long you were in there, you did turn slightly. But you're not completely Dark. Nor are you completely Light."

"Is that even possible?" Serenity asked.

"Yes, it is, but you must know, my dear, your troubles aren't over. Because of your neutrally, both the Light and the Dark will try to claim you and your power for their side."

"Okay, now I'm really confused. How can my power be claimed for either the Light or the Dark when I chose Dark? When I chose Endymion?"

"I wish I knew, sweetheart, but whatever your choice was before, it doesn't matter now. You are neutral. Your next decision chooses the fate of the world."

Usagi opened her eyes and wanted to rewind to before she fell asleep. She was finally happy and what happens? Her decision doesn't count. She gets to choose again. Aren't you lucky? She buried her head into the pillow, but it wasn't a pillow.

It was Endymion's naked chest. Forget about going back to sleep. She was wide-awake now. And, as she took in everything, she realized she wasn't the only one either. The arm around her was stroking her back, and his lips were on the crown of her head. She smiled into his chest and felt his hand stop stroking her back. His other hand came into her line of view and lifted her chin so that she was directly looking at him.

"So that wasn't a dream," he murmured as his hand dropped and grazed her bare skin. It gripped her hip before he lifted her up so she was straddling him. She felt him right there and he was hard. She raised an eyebrow and he smiled in return. He lowered her down and she hissed as he delved deep inside her. Her head rolled back, but he froze their movements before they had really started. She lowered her head, her hair falling over her shoulder to look at him a question in her eyes. Why had he stopped so soon?

His hands reached up and pulled aside her hair before he ran his fingers lightly over a spot on her collarbone. Even though his touch was light, she winced. Why did that hurt so badly?

"I guess I got a little bit carried away," Endymion said and closed his palm over the mark. She felt the familiar tingle and the pain ceased. She still didn't remember how she had gotten hurt… When he finished his healing, he leaned up and kissed her where his palm had been. That caused the memory to resurface. His teeth biting into her skin… He pulled back and arched up into her causing her to moan.

Her palms splayed themselves on his chest as his guided her hips.

"Goddess, you're wonderful," he rasped their hips in synch with the others.

"I love you, Endymion," she whispered her eyes directly on his so she didn't miss the twinkle of satisfaction that fluttered in them. She didn't even want to know why they did that. Her hips were trembling beneath her and she knew that she was close to not only coming, but from collapsing on top of him as well.

He seemed to know – like he always did – and flipped them over. His pace quickened as he hiked one of her legs over his shoulder. She squeezed her eyes closed as she felt the intense sensations take her over.

"Open your eyes, Serenity," he growled. "Open your eyes. I want to see them when we come." With effort she did as he asked and heir eyes instantly locked on each other's. Passion and possession were brewing in his dark azure blue depths and she knew that she couldn't fight, either. He owned her mind, body, and soul. She screamed as she came undone and he followed not soon after, but collapsed on top of her.

Her eyes fluttered closed again, but it wasn't from exhaustion. Although she was tired, she was trying to clear her mind from the haze it was under. She knew what her mother had said – that she was neutral – but…

"Nothing," Endymion's voice rasped. Serenity opened her eyes and looked at him in confusion. "But nothing, my love. You may be neutral, but you chose the Dark and me. This is who you are now."

"You were there when I talked to my mother?" He nodded. "But how?'

"I don't know," he replied. "But I like you better when you're like this. You're more open. You let me in." She opened her mouth to protest, but he kissed her instead. "Shush, Sere. I know what you're thinking already. If you need to stay neutral, you can I won't force that. Not unless you don't chose me. Then I will force it."

She didn't say anything. Instead of being a sweet sentiment like it was supposed to be, she didn't take it that way. Instead, it made her angry. He was basically telling her that he would love her no matter what she chose. Why couldn't he have had that attitude back when it was Light against Dark? She didn't help matters either when it came to that. But c'mon! Why was he being so calm about this now?

"But will it be enough?" Was the question that finally came out.

"What?"

"Will it be enough?" She repeated. "If I choose to stay neutral and choose you, will it be enough for you? I'll never be as Dark as you wanted me to be."

He looked at her for a few moments before he answered her question. "Even though you won't be completely Dark, like me, it will be enough. I love you, Serenity." He kissed her on the forehead before he rolled himself off of her. He wrapped himself around her back.

Within moments he was asleep.

Although Endymion was peaceful in his slumber, Serenity couldn't find peace. Her brain was running on overdrive. He said that she would be enough if she were neutral. It would be enough for him…but would it be enough for her? She had so many questions and she needed to think without his presence wrapped around her like a blanket. With ease she slipped out of his grasp and thought up clothes for herself since she didn't know what happened to the ones she had on. Fully dressed in a black hi-lo skirt and a red top, she turned back and looked at her dark prince.

She hoped that she could figure this out soon that way she could be back and happy in his arms. With a silent sigh, she created a portal and disappeared.

When she reappeared, it was in front of the tree where she had engraved her and Mamoru's initials. She had done it as a promise to herself that she would get him back from the Darkness. She had broken that promise to herself. She traced the letters and sighed. This was the root of the problem.

Serenity had been Light and when she learned that Endymion, the love of her life, was part of the Darkness she had to turn him back. When he put up resistance and then kept trying to turn her to the Dark her resolve kept strengthening. She didn't know that there was a third option. Well, maybe hazily she did, but her moral compass wouldn't let her take it until all other options had been exhausted. When she did finally give in and freely chose the Darkness, fate screwed her again. Not that she knew it. No, she didn't figure it out until she had been so blissfully happy.

Now, because Prince Demando, that jerk, couldn't leave well enough alone, she was neither Darkness nor Light. She was both. She was gray. But both sides wanted her to choose…

And she didn't want to. Not if it meant that she could get the best of both worlds. Endymion wouldn't push her if she chose to stay neutral. Just as long as she chose him – the person not the side – and it would be enough for him.

"I don't want to choose!" She yelled out into the night. She was done making decisions. She wanted to lie about in bed with Endymion. She would stay neutral.

"Too bad for you, Serenity," a cold voice said from the shadows. "I'm going to make you choose." She whirled around and faced the asshole that had caused a lot of this to begin with.

"Demando," she seethed. "You can't make me choose."

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure," he replied with a smile. He walked out into the open with the hooded figure – Wiseman – floating at his side. There was a smile on his face. A smile that made Serenity shiver. Whatever it meant it couldn't be good. "Do these look familiar?" He held out something that looked like sticks, but upon closer inspection she gasped.

In his hands were eight sticks all right. But they weren't just sticks. They were her Senshi's transformation pens, the root of all their Senshi powers and their lives.

"How?" She asked a frog in her throat. "They wouldn't give those up without a fight."

"You're right, they wouldn't," he said and made a motion to Wiseman. His crystal ball glowed and a wave of shadows appeared. In a crystal container her worst dream was realized. All her Senshi, in their human forms, were battered and bruised and lying on top of the other. It looked like a mass grave. It was made even worse because the Shitennou were in there too.

But it still didn't make sense. They were stronger than this fool and his floating corpse. She had felt their power up right before she had gone under.

"What did you threaten them with?" She asked.

"So smart, my dear. I threatened you. I told them that I would kill you if they didn't lay down their pens. Quite an interesting thing these pens. Their life force is tied to them, right?" He didn't wait for her to answer the question. He picked one out of the lot, before storing the other ones away. He threw it into one hand before throwing it to the other. "So easy to destroy your dear friends. All I have to do is…" He trailed off and began to bend it backward. It didn't flex, but it caused its owner to awaken.

Makoto opened her eyes and let out a scream that chilled Serenity's bones and caused everyone else to awaken. She fell to her knees as their pain overwhelmed her. "Stop it!" She screamed. "Stop it now!"

He let go and smiled at her. "See? Now, if you want them to live, choose my side and me. Choose Light and forsake Endymion."

"You don't get it, Demando. You are not the Light side anymore. If anything you're Dark. Darker even than Endymion."

"Excuse me, Your Highness? I don't think I heard you right. Did you say I was worse than Endymion?"

"I did."

"How do you figure that?"

"You're threatening my friends' lives. At least Endymion only took them and turned them Dark. You. Are. Worse. Than. Endymion." She emphasized each word and watched Demando's expression preparing herself for the worst.

Wait. Was he smiling?

He was. He was smiling from ear to ear and his eyes were dancing with amusement. "Finally! That was what I was aiming for. I figured you went for the bad guys, like Endymion. So I'll just out bad him. So. Serenity, one last chance. Choose Dark and forsake Endymion or watch your friends die." He stared her down and her gaze switched from his to her friends. They were watching all of this with their mouths open and they were shouting at her.

"Don't do it, Serenity!"

But she couldn't. She wouldn't sacrifice their lives just so she wouldn't have to choose. She walked over to their crystal container and put her hand on the surface. "I'm sorry," she told them but dropped her voice low. If she was going to do this she had to tell them a way to stop it. To reverse what she was about to do. "Get to the moon and visit my mother's prayer room. The dust should help you."

She turned back around not seeing or hearing their complaints. I'm sorry Endymion. I love you, she thought before she said the worst words she could say.

"I choose Dark and I forsake Endymion." Demando smiled and threw the transformation pens on the ground just as the container the Senshi and the Shitennou were in disappeared. They didn't get a chance to run to Usagi and tell her how dumb she was.

Her body was lifted into the air by black and purple ropes that encircled her. They began to whirl as on and she opened her mouth in a silent scream. Her brain felt like it was being torn apart by knifes. Her skin like it had been dipped in fire. She eventually went numb to the pain as a voice whispered in her brain, it will all be over soon and then you'll have everything.

It seemed like hours, but it was only fifteen minutes before she was lowered back to the ground. When the bands of black and purple disappeared, Usagi was standing there in a black gown that almost looked like another skin. On her head was a black onyx crown and her lips were ruby red.

"Usagi?" The Senshi asked in unison. Nothing happened. Their princess didn't even flinch.

"Princess Serenity?" Demando asked stepping forward. Her eyes opened, revealing black eyes and a black upside down crescent moon appeared on her forehead. It was the smile though that sent chills through everyone's spines. Her usually sweet smile was gone.

Her smile was now wicked.

Author's Notes: Uh…right…so. Yeah, I really don't have anything to really say about this chapter. I mean, I guess I could say that I was really excited to write all the smut scenes with Endymion, but well…considering there are two more chapters yet, I had to throw in some curve balls. So now Serenity really is evil, what are the others going to do? Review and I'll try to update soon – promise no more yearlong hiatuses from me.