Chapter 14

Past Mistakes

"Small Lady?"

"Mom!"

Rini tightly closed her eyes but her tears ran from the corner of her eyes and she felt her mind defenses begin to shatter. He was in her mind, that scary dark feeling she felt that night when her mom was taken from her was relived once more…

"Dad! No!"

She shouldn't have left the palace, she should have stayed with Serena and Darien and the scouts and guards…she shouldn't have let the bad man talk to her but…

"I see." His voce hurt her ears. She hated his voice so much! Where was Caleb? Why wasn't he here" Why did he have to leave too? "So the Silver Crystal vanished and fearful of the crime you committed, you erased the incident from your memories.

Rini's heart sank and she covered her ears. "No! It wasn't my fault!"

The bad man chuckled. "Let's see what they have to say about it then."

Rini felt frozen in place. Her eyes dropped to the floor where a set of red boots began to appear in front of her.

"It's all your fault Small Lady!" She heard Sailor Moon's familiar voice scold her and Rini flinched back in fear.

"It's because you lost the Silver Crystal!" Sailor Jupiter appeared beside her with her arms folded.

"The Queen went outside the Crystal Palace in search of you!" Venus was there and hand a hand on her hip. Rini's breathing became shallow. Her friends…her mommy…

"That's why she was attacked." Mars bit out at her in an accusing tone.

"It's your fault!" Mercury punctuated the scolding in a steel voice that Rini never heard before. Why were they saying such things?!

"No! No!" She protested in a teary voice, refusing to listen to them. "I only touched the crystal for a second!" She desperately reasoned, pushing her hands harder against her ears to stop them from accusing her so meanly. "It's not my fault!"

But their voices grew louder in her hair and a choked sob broke from her throat. It was her fault! All her fault! She could hear her mom's panicked screams as she called out her name, remembered her lying so still, not moving.

"No, it's not your fault little Rabbit." Beyond the hurtful chanting of the scouts screaming that it was her fault, she heard a low voice that comforted her, reached her chaotic little mind. "You have to prove your innocence."

The bad man was the only one who believed her…right? "I can do that? I can make everyone understand?" Her voice trembled in hope as she stared at the cloaked man swirling his hands faster and faster around the colorful ball in front of him.

"You will make them understand that you are innocent. All you have to do is take my hand." He sounded softer for some reason and not so scary. He was helping her; he was going to help her show the Scouts that she was innocent, that none of this was her fault…

XOXO

"So Esmeralde has fallen." Caleb heard Wiseman's voice echo in the small secluded room. Why was he here? This base was just being populated. "Ah well, that's alright. My true objected is not the victory of the Black Moon Clan. Both Sapphire and Diamond will eventually end up sacrificing their lives for a much greater purpose."

Caleb's heat sped up and a cold sweat dotted his nose and forehead. He remained still; it was the only thing he could do as he continued to listen. And who was Wiseman talking to? He would just have to wait to see. If he even moved a little, he was sure the cloaked man would kill him.

"You're the power that I truly desired and now you're finally in my hands." Some soft dark giggles filled the room. Caleb felt a draft of black power swish from Wiseman's crystal ball—swirl around the room and come together.

"Small Lady, recall your mean spirited mother and your cruel father, recall your spoiled brother…" Caleb bit his lip to keep his moan of pain from escaping. His head felt like it was being spit in two. The room grew colder, smaller and darker. He silently slid to the floor to try and brace himself from the growing, excruciating ache throbbing behind his eyes. Darkness overtook his mind, gradually brightening to a dull grey.

It was raining, a nice summer drizzle and his parents were walking hand in hand under an umbrella as Rini skipped merrily in front of them, splashing in the warm puddles. A little frog caught her attention and she ran after it with a little laugh as their parents looked on.

"Small Lady, you're going to trip." His mother warned and sure enough, one of Rini's red rain boots caught on a stone and she fell hard on her belly. Her umbrella rolled away. For a second, Rini just lay there in stunned silence. His parents looked at one another and then went around her. His mother kneeled elegantly in front of her with a soft concerned look on her face. Rini's lower lips began trembling, her eyes instantly watered and she began crying.

"Now this is what happens when you don't listen to your mom." Queen Serenity chided gently. Rini cried even louder and harder. "Don't cry." Queen Serenity's voice hardened a bit and Rini sniffed.

"I hate you mom!" She yelled angrily and then turned her tearful eyes to their father.

"Dad, help me up." She held out a hand. His father shook his head softly.

"Get up on your own." He instructed. Rini looked astounded at the both of them.

"Your parents didn't reach out to help you." Wiseman's voice pierced through the memory. "That is proof that they don't love you." The image grew cold and angry.

"It's your fault you fell." His mother's voice was harsh and her eyes were narrowed.

"Now get up." His father's voice mimicked his mothers.

"Recall the numerous hateful encounters." The memory faded into another one. Rini was standing in the courtyard looking at something down below. He saw from her perspective that she was watching he and Rin down below on a grassy meadow riding horses. He remembered that day, it was the first time that he ever rode a horse and Rin was teaching him.

"Oh, Small Lady. You look so sad. What's wrong?" Sailor Mercury asked as she and the other Scouts approached.

"Well, today is my birthday." Rini said a bit sadly.

"Birthday?" She asked in surprise.

"Oh, that's right." Sailor Venus sounded a little bored.

Rini's frown grew and she was getting a little misty eyed. "But mom and dad have gone far away because of work!"

Mars leaned in. "It can't be helped. They left on very important Kingdom business."

"They probably won't make it back today." Jupiter inserted and Rini's face fell again and she began to cry. The Scouts all exchanged worried looks with one another.

"Then why don't we do the birthday…" Mars began.

"Mars." Jupiter put a hand over Mars's mouth. "We can't."

Rini looked hurt and confused as the two talked quietly. "I'm sorry. I forgot." Mars said with a little smile.

"Well we better be off." Venus said brightly. "See you later Small Lady."

They all…they all just ignored me…and no one celebrated my birthday…

"But Caleb?" Wiseman spoke up.

They got him that horse…they had a huge party for him when it was his birthday…

"It seems like you remember now. No one loves you." Wiseman's sounded pleased and the room got colder, ice cold Caleb felt like his teeth were going to start to chatter.

I…am not…loved…by anyone…

"Turn your hatred upon this world. Destroy the entire world which is filled with hatred and seal it away into my darkness. With hatred in your heart, when you receive the power of the Black Crystal the world will fall…" It was the last thing Caleb heard before his consciousness faded into nothing. It seemed like he wandered in darkness for a long time, but when he opened his eyes he saw that Wiseman was just leaving the room with a tall slender woman trailing behind him.

"Rini…" He breathed in an attempt to make his little sister turn to him. The dull light from the hallway glinted on her long pink hair and pale skin. But she didn't hear and left him in the room. His lungs burned from the coldness of the room and it felt like someone was kicking his brain around in his head. Caleb forced himself up, fighting the dizziness and pain. His bloodless hands took a slender sliver device from his pockets. He pressed a button and a communication wave flickered like a cone of light.

"Dad." His whisper was strained, but loud enough to make the wave buzz. The faded face of King Endymion wafted in the light. "Dad, Wiseman…has…Rini."

Kind Endymion's eyes widened in panic. "Is she alright?"

Caleb shook his head helplessly, not to sure how he could explain. It would take to long and he had to keep their communications short. "I don't know. I'll contact you later." He stumbled from the room and caught a transportation beam to get back to the main ship where Diamond was waiting. It was where Wiseman and Rini were heading.

The throne room was not far from the transportation room. He saw Wiseman and Rini turn the corner and he straightened his clothes and took a deep breath before moving.

"…the servant of our Black Crystal, the Rabbit, has obtained a rare power and has become the Queen of Darkness." He heard Wiseman. He quietly and stealthily dashed behind a pillar.

Diamond's beginning disinterest was overcome as he looked up and saw Rini standing proudly beside Diamond in a tightly clinging black dress. She titled her chin as his eyes widened.

"What? You are the Rabbit?" Diamond's head snapped back. "The mark of our clan!"

Rini let out a throaty laugh. "I am Black Lady." Caleb instantly disliked the flirty tone in her voice as she introduced herself. Diamond was a little speechless as his eyes greedily took in her face, one that looked a lot like his mother's.

"Prince Diamond, immediately go to the Earth of the past. Once Black Lady's power has manifested itself, you are certain to be able to take control of Earth." Wiseman instructed and he and Rini vanished, leaving another dark giggle from his little sister.

Caleb remained where he was and forced himself to think logically about this new situation he was in. Rini would be alright for now because Wiseman had need of her. The only thing that was bothering him was the way Diamond and Rini got along. There were only on each others presence for ten seconds and already she was flirting with him and Diamond was going along with it. Now he not only had to worry about his mom, but about Rini as well!

"The time for revenge has com so soon." He heard Diamond softly say to himself. He couldn't stay put any longer and appeared in front of the throne.

"Diamond. You should be wary of Wiseman." He warned again, more softly because he was getting tired of being the only logical one in this. "He used Esmeralde and that is why she died."

"Used her?" Diamond leaned out of his chair a little as he addressed him. "Ridiculous. Because of the people of Earth, we were forced to live in this desolate place. If I can wreak my revenge on them, I will not begrudge the loss of life, no matter who's it is!"

So Esmeralde's death served the cause huh? Caleb thought a little sadly. He didn't particularly care much more the loud mouth woman, but she had feelings and they were used against her to further Wiseman's own personal plans. He couldn't tell Diamond what he overheard when Rini went through her transformation because he wouldn't listen. Gahh! So frustrating! All he could do was try to reason with his friend.

"There are many aspects of Wiseman that cannot be trusted."

"Wiseman had provided very useful information that you yourself failed to share. If I cannot trust you, then who can I trust?"

Caleb didn't know how to react to that without feeling guilty.

"Look at this Sapphire." Caleb turned and saw an image of the sacred chamber where the Sailor Scouts and Guards surrounded the Crystal Palace's absolute defense. He thought about his little cousins and how they were coping being away from their parents so long. He thought about Rin and wondered how she was doing without him there. About her blue eyes and perfect hair. His heart ached…was she thinking about him?

"Those guardians are doggedly interfering with our attack. We will never get anywhere at this rate. In order to take over Crystal Tokyo we are better off trying to do it in the past." He stood and turned slightly, a knowing light entering his eyes. "Your little sister has become Black Lady, a servant of the Black Crystal. Maybe you should start taking her lead Sapphire."

Caleb clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes. "Don't look at her like you look at my mother." He warned in a dead serious voice. "Stay away from her."

Diamond smirked a little. "Of course. Maybe you should tell her the same thing."

"Diamond."

Diamond turned a way. "My only mission is to help her establish the Dark Gate. She could never take the place of Queen Serenity, you should know."

"Stay away from both of them. I told you that she and my father can never be separated. They were destined to be together." His voice iced.

"I heard you a million times." His smirk faded into a smile and he brushed Caleb's hair from his forehead to reveal the upside down black moon on his forehead.

"Stay here and protect the reactor. Increase the Black Crystal's power until the Dark Gate has been opened. Really Sapphire…I do trust you so you should trust me."

XOXO

"There is a message for Sailor Pluto. Uncle wants you to come right away!" Noel ran from the kitchen with Jude and Torin falling behind him. The Scouts and Guards all left their plates of food behind and ran to see.

Serena was pulled from her chair where she was just staring blankly at the wall. The tears that had been falling were dried streaks on her cheeks now. "It might be Rini or Caleb." Darien's gentle voice coached her to wake from her trance.

Once in the Control Room, Serena became instantly alert when she saw Sailor Pluto's concerned face on the screen bolted to the wall.

"What? Rini just traveled through space-time?" Venus's voice rang out in shock. Serena pushed her way through the group to get to the front.

Pluto nodded. "It also appears that soon afterwards, Prince Diamond traveled through to the past as well. "Small Lady did not appear to be herself."

Serena sucked in her breath. "What?" She managed to wheeze out.

"Something bad must have happened to her. You must return to the past quickly." Pluto seemed to be getting upset which was rather strange because she was usually very composed and logical. She raised her rod and the Control Room began to fade into grey mist. The door of space-time opened for them. Silence fell onto the room. Jude and Torin tightened their hold on Mars's waist, one on each side of her as they stared at the open door.

"Mom, do you really have to go?" Noel had a hold of Jupiter's hand. Nephrite gave him a pat on the shoulder.

"We'll be back before you know it. For now, you have to let us do our job."

Jupiter gave Noel a long hug. "Take care of your brothers for us. Promise?"

Noel was getting a little teary, but he wiped them from his eyes before giving a nod. "Promise."

"You two behave as well." Mars squeezed the twins around their shoulders and Jadeite ruffled their hair. They looked at one another and gave half a smile before nodding as well. King Endymion pressed a button.

"Rin, come to the Control Room and bring the key with you."

The space-time door opened wider and Serena blankly watched the colors beyond the door twist and spiral in randomly. What in the world could have happened to her?

"Caleb." King Endymion's voice broke her immediately from her thoughts and she looked up. "Caleb contacted me a while ago and told me that Wiseman had Rini."

"What?" She screeched and took a step forward. Darien held out his arm to stop her.

"When where you going to tell us?" He demanded of his older self with anger ringing in his voice.

"I wanted to gather more information before I told you. I didn't know how to deal with it…my failure…" He almost whispered. Serena heard the despair in his answer and immediately felt guilty for her outburst. King Endymion was the only adult dealing with the situation and he looked like he was weary of it all. She put her hands on Darien's arm and pushed it gently down, taking a step forward.

"We'll bring her back." She said softly and reached out her hand, getting it close to his image. "Endymion, be strong my love. I'll be back."

There was dead silence in the room as they stared at one another, her future husband and father of her children. His eyes watered and he held his hand up to hers.

"I know you will. I'll wait forever if I have to." Some tension seemed to seep from his shoulders and Serena gave him a comforting smile before dropping her hand.

"I'm here Uncle." Rin's soft voice came to them from the doorway. In her hands was the Time Key Rini always had with her.

"Princess Rin, you're one of the few that I trust with the key. Rini is gone and so is Caleb so you're the only one who has enough power to wield it. Once the problem with Rini is settled, you are the only one who can bring her back. Can you do it Princess?"

Rin beamed. "Of course!" She smiled at Venus and Kunzite and slipped the chain around her neck.

"Hurry, you don't have much time." Sailor Pluto looked as solemn as she sounded. Mars hugged the twins one last time and Jupiter kissed Noel on his cheek before everyone went through the doors and began the travel through space and time.

XOXO

Two Days Later

Caleb was the only thing that kept Serena from crying. If her little baby son saw her upset, he would become upset as well and Serena didn't want that at all. She lovingly watched him play with building blocks on the clean floor of the apartment, happily banging the wooden cubes together and then tossing them on his nearby bean bag.

Her blue eyes darkened a little as they moved to the open bedroom door that Rini once lived in. Just the slightest glimpse of the pink and white blankets made her think about what had happened the day they had returned.

I've been given a new life by Wiseman…I am Black Lady…I was never loved…

Rini's cold voice made her wince unwillingly and moved her eyes back to Caleb.

"Mommy?" Caleb toddled to her and put a little hand to her cheek. Serena smothered more tears and enveloped him in a huge hug. She kissed the top of his head and stroked the nape of his neck.

"Do you want some grape juice?" She asked brightly and she felt Caleb nod. She went into the kitchen and filled his panda bear sippy-cup.

"Serena!" Darien pushed open the door and Serena went to see. Someone was draped over his shoulder and she rushed to help him. They managed to get him to the couch. When she saw his face she instantly knew who it was and she gasped.

"Caleb? What happened?" Worriedly, she fell to her knees beside the couch. His clothes looked burned and he had several nasty wounds on his face and hand. "Call the others right away!" She ordered and Darien left in seconds. Gently she began unbuttoning his blue shirt and impatiently waited for the others to come…

XOXO

Caleb bolted from his nightmare and then fell back onto the bed when a shock of pain paralyzed him. He cautiously opened his eyes.

"Where am I?" He wondered out loud looking at a pink little bunny taped to the ceiling.

Oh, you're awake." His ears perked to the soft voice and he turned to it in surprise.

"Rin? What are you doing here? Where am I?" The sliver-haired goddess had a little tray in her hands. She had on a pale blue tank top and a flowing white peasant looking skirt on. Of course she was barefooted, Rin never liked wearing shoes. Her long hair was pulled in an orange clip with little wisps falling around her heart shaped face.

"You're in Small Lady's room in the past. Your father found you in the park and brought you back here. Princess Serenity and Lady Ami dressed your wounds."

Caleb raised a brow as he relaxed in the soft bed. "Princess Serenity?" He mused. She flushed and little and set the tray on the nightstand.

"She is about our age so it's awkward to call her Queen Serenity or Auntie. I'm still finding it hard to call my parents in this time mom and dad." She pulled a little pink wooden chair from a desk and sat next to the bed.

"Why are you here?"

Rin sighed and she touched the small key around her neck. "To bring Rini back when the Scouts and Guards have stopped Wiseman and Diamond. Sailor Pluto asked me to do this for her since you weren't around."

"Where is Rini? Is she alright?" He tried to sit up, but Rin pushed him back down with a stern look.

"You have some broken ribs and second degree burns so stay still." He relented. "As for Rini, she has become a whole other person. Calling herself—"

"Black Lady. I know." Caleb fiddled with the edge of his blanket.

"Sailor Moon and the others tried to reason with her. They even used the Silver Crystal and it looked like it was working but Wiseman used the Black Crystal and it overwhelmed the Silver Crystal. Black Lady and Diamond have already established a dark wedge and it won't be long until another one is established." She bit her lip and turned to the tray and picked up a bowel of soup.

"Did you make it?" He asked warily, eying the steaming bowel in her hands. Rin pouted.

"My cooking isn't horrible." She defended.

Caleb snorted. "Yeah, whatever. You and my mom are the worst kind of cooks."

Rin huffed and slapped him on the shoulder and he sucked in his breath. "Serves you right you jerk. Eat it. Lady Lita prepared it for you so you don't have to worry." She shoved the bowel to him and he held a grin in check as he looked at the bowel.

"Can't you feed me? I can hardly move." His pleading look made her hesitate but she conceded and dipped the spoon in the soup. He happily ate the tasty chicken soup never taking his eyes off of her face.

"Stop it." She muttered and she scraped the last of the soup from the bowel and fed it to him.

"Stop what?" He innocently asked.

"Stop looking at me like that."

"Like what?"

Rin narrowed her eyes and dropped the spoon noisily in the bowel. "Anything else you need?"

He smothered a frown but then another ideal entered his mind. "Can you fluff my pillow before you go?"

"Fine. Lift your head." He did and she leaned over him to give the pillow a little punch. He raised his arms and pulled her on top of him. He ignored the pain, only concentrated on keeping her firmly against him. She smelled like soap and honey and she felt wonderful. Just the way he remembered her.

"Let go of me now!" She had both hands on either side of his head and their faces were inches apart.

"Why is it like this between us now?"

Rin gave a dry laugh, her bright blue eyes icing over. "You ask me that? Like you don't know!"

"I don't."

"Let go!"

"Tell me!" He boomed back. Rin stiffened in surprise, her eyes widened a little.

"I saw her go in and out of your room. I saw you leave with her on your birthday."

Caleb stiffened as well. "We didn't do anything."

Rin's eyes watered angrily. "You think I'm stupid? She stayed the whole night and you tell me nothing happened? I may be young, but not too young to not know what happens behind closed doors."

"I'm telling you that Prizma and I never slept together. We may have messed around a little, but nothing more." His voice rose a little.

"I don't care what happened between you two." She shot snootily and struggled again.

"It's only been you Rin." He said and that knocked her speechless for a little bit. "You avoided me after that night. Every time I tried to talk to you or contact you…you never….its like you wanted to pretend that it didn't happen." He said softly, a familiar dull ache burning his heart.

"I didn't know what to do. I was so confused and scared that our parents might find out what we did. We moved past our friendship so fast that I was afraid that we could never be like we were." She softly said, avoiding direct eye contact with him.

"You should have told me instead of avoiding me. I didn't know what you were thinking and it hurt to know you didn't even want to talk to me! If I had known then—"

"You wouldn't have run to Prizma's waiting arms?" She forcefully jerked herself out of his arms and he gritted his teeth against the pain. "Maybe what I did was wrong but it shouldn't have caused you to seek comfort with someone else so quickly! Not that kind of comfort!" She shot at him and shook back her hair as she regained her personal space.

"I'm sorry—" He began.

"Sorry won't fix it. Not something like this."

"What will?"

Rin hesitated. "I don't know." She finally said and picked up the tray.

"Rin—"

"Caleb! Don't go in there! Caleb!" He was interrupted by a familiar voice. The door was pushed open and it banged hard against the wall. A little blur of black and yellow came running in followed closely by a young blonde. She paused at the door when their eyes collided.

"Jump!" Little Caleb screamed and ran full force to the bed. Quickly Rin sat the tray down and caught the two year old mid air before he jumped on the bed. The toddler giggled and let Rin place him on her hip.

"We'll leave you. I'll get the others." Rin flushed and left without looking back.

Caleb and Serena stared at one another before she smiled and came to sit next to him.

"Caleb…we finally get to talk." She took his hand into hers and rested her forehead on their joined hands, sniffing back some tears. "I'm glad you're alright."

Emotion caught painfully in his throat. He had been gone from home for so long he almost forgot his mother's warmth. He missed her so much. He missed his family and missed the way things used to be before the war. "Mom…it's so hard. I messed up and Rini…" Hot tears burned his eyes. "I'm sorry." He began to blubber. His mother scooted her chair closer and stroked the hair from his forehead, kissing the tears from his cheeks.

"It's not your fault Caleb. Shhhh, it's not your fault." She hummed. He wished he could believe her, he wished none of this had happened. He wished for many things and only one wish had come true for him. He finally got to be held by his mom once more…finally…

XOXO

AN: Alright it's been sometime since I updated any of my Sailor Moon stories because I've been putting more of my attention in my Naruto story…but it doesn't mean I've forgotten them! Uhhh…Moondusted will also be updated, probably by next month (I hope) and Fire Thistle will be updated soon as well. I've got that chapter written out but it needs some work still because I'm not completely happy with it….Anyways…REVIEW! Much love and appreciation for your unlimited patience! KISSES :muh: