She whispered just loud enough for Rei to her, "Don't hold back. You don't have to anymore. It is okay Rei, I'm sorry to have failed you." Serena gave a small smile. Tears from Rei's eyes dropped onto Serena's face.

Serena saw the shiny silver blade shine in the sun light above her before it descended.

Seiya

Everyone watched helplessly as Rei's blade plunged into Serena's chest. This can't be happening. Seiya fell to his knees. As much as he wanted to scream and shout, and cry while slamming his fist on the ground, sound would not escape his mouth and his limbs grew weak and lax.

Ami

"NO!" Ami's voice echoed through the air. She quickly transformed into Sailor Mercury. "Crystal Ice Cage!" The youkai holding her down become entrapped in an ice glacier and a sword of white crystal was placed in Ami's hand. She couldn't see properly, her eyes stung with salty tears. Her heart was beating faster than ever. She tightened the grip on her sword stabbing into the frozen youkai.

Everyone stared in silence at his or her usually calm friend. Taiki made a move as to go over to Ami but a youkai shoved him back to the ground. "Why are all of you doing just standing there? That is Serena who was stabbed, OUR PRINCESS! She is not going to die without knowing we love her. WE WILL NOT JUST IDLY STANDING HERE"

Haruka

Haruka was hunched over, tears flowing down her cheeks, looked back up. "Shaking Crystal Winds!" Piercing winds carrying shards of light blue crystals attacked Haruka's suppressor. "Ami is right. This isn't over. Serena would not have wanted this. She spent too long showing us selflessness, and hope. SHE TAUGHT US TO NEVER GIVE UP. Even if we know we will die, even if it seems as if the battle is over, WE SHOULD NEVER GIVE UP!

Slowly, each scout started to follow suit.

"Crystal Venus Chain!"

"Crystal Electric Strike!"

"Deadly Crystal Spear!"

"Submerging Crystal Jab!"

"Time Manipulation!"

Setsuna

Setsuna slowed down the youkai about to bite into her shoulder. She cut off his zombie like action with a strike of her staff. "She isn't dead yet. We need to get that sword out of her. I think she may try to sacrifice herself."

"How?" Seiya walked up to Setsuna. She could see in his eyes how desperate he was. It was like someone had sucked the entire life out of him. And for Setsuna to tell him that his love wasn't dead was like teasing. The truth was, Setsuna was terrified. Terrified because just like on her planet, she couldn't tell the future. She didn't know what exactly Serena planned or how it would be executed. She didn't know the chances of winning this battle. She just didn't know. There was nothing she could do but accept that the future was truly a mysterious entity. A single tear slid down her left cheek.

"I… I don't know. I'm sorry. I just don't know." Setsuna did not know what was worse, Seiya seeing Serena like this, or Natsume and Rini. Ami and Taiki stood by Rini's side. Mina and Yaten stood by Natsume. Rini cried silently. However, Natsume was just as stunned as his father, not a single tear was shed, just wide eyes.

Ataxia

She was drowning in happiness. She salivated, yearned, hoped, for another chance to corrupt someone mind. It was so long since she could taste was it was like to be content with life. The tingly joy spread throughout her body like cold water eliciting a laugh.

"Yes! Oh please all of you give me your memories, give me love. It's simply delicious." All the meanwhile her brain was chanting, don't think about what you're doing, just do it. "Bring out the man!"

"No! Keep him away! Stay away!" Suzuki came running out from the army of youkai.

"You imbecile! Where have you been?"

"That is none of your concern." He was in his more human form with red hair and green eyes. He turned to the scouts, "Listen, all of you. Whatever Serena is planning won't work properly. It would require all of her power and not everyone is linking. She needs Mars and Earth. Ataxia is controlling Rei and Darien. In the state Darien is right now… we can't tell what he'll do. We need to keep him as far away from Serena as…"

Darien had appeared. His eyes were bug like and two antennae stuck out of his head. He punched Suzuki to the ground. He was on a rampage, plowing through youkai, shoving everyone in his way to the ground. He stepped over the wheel and walked spastically toward Rei and Serena. The whole time Rei was crouched on the ground hugging herself trying to make herself smaller, as if she was fighting something within her.

Ataxia felt something was off. Something was wrong and it would reveal itself soon. She needed to win. There was no way she couldn't. When Lasairian died she gave up hope entirely. Before she could have easily predicted the same now but she felt unsure. And that uncertainty scared her.

Darien

It had taken some time but he was finally able to regain control. He fell to his knees by Serena's head. "AHHH!" There was piercing pain in his heart. He loved Rei. He did. But Serena was annoying, impatient, childish, dependent, and at same time, loving, motherly, faithful, strong, fierce, dependable and honest. His love for her was unconditional.

It was a suicide mission and he knew it. However, he had lost his ability to be a proper protector of Earth the minute he turned his lustful eyes to Rei. So now he had to fix things before he was truly gone forever. Another shock slammed into his chest. He could feel his animalistic side taking over. He turned to Rei and shook her, "Remember what I told you in Ataxia's throne room? I said not to give up. Ever. Don't you dare leave Serena like this! I know you hate yourself for what you have done to her. Your pride wont let you accept it. But if you want to be leader, if you want to show up Serena, prove to everyone hear that you are as strong, and caring, and badass and I think you are?"

Rei looked up at him blank eyed. He silently apologized. SLAP! Rei leaned to the ground, her violet eyes looked back at him accusing. "Help her."

Darien could hear Ataxia in the background shouting orders. What was left of the youkai started to move toward Darien. He planted a sloppy, passionate kiss on Rei's lips. Finally he leaned over Serena, "I'm sorry. I'll love you forever, meatball head." He placed a chaste kiss on Serena's forehead and stood.

Another shock came and he started to silently talk to himself. Saying everything he wished everyone else could hear, because he had driven himself into insanity because of his inability to accept himself or his mistakes. Not anymore. He was a youkai, a father, and a friend. And to the best of his ability, he will act as such. "Rei, please protect her."

"ARE WE GOING TO FIGHT ATAXIA OR WHAT?!" Darien yelled, his arms wide open; this was a call to fight. Uranus slammed her space sword into a youkai Saturn sliced through another. Everyone fought to reach Serena, Darien, and Rei. Everyone was lost in the fight, throwing punches and spewing out attacks.

Seiya

"Daddy!" Ataxia held Natsume by neck, his feet barely touching the ground. "Mommy…" Seiya rushed forward climbing over youkai. But he was too far away. He wouldn't be able to get there. Seiya started crying. For once in this entire war, Seiya started to cry. He couldn't lose both of them. And then her realized. This Natsume was alive. And if Serena died today, he would never live. A youkai slammed into Seiya scratching his chest. Red spots started to appear before Seiya eyes. Should I give up? He couldn't stop thinking. Should I give up?

Someone stabbed the youkai on top of Seiya. Darien. "Serena is still alive. I can save Natsume. Do not give up." The man shot Seiya a smile. "They are going to need you." Darian held out his hand. It had tiny hairs like that of a spider on it. Seiya grabbed it and Darien hefted him up. "Protect Serena. She really does love you, you know. It's in her eyes." Then Darien was gone. Seiya looked down and see what Darien had left in his hand.

Rei

It happened slowly. There were colorful sparks of the soldiers attacked soaring through the air. Limbs were throwing blows. Shouts and screams deafened the entire area. Yet like a magnet Rei could see Darien, her love, running into the clearing toward Ataxia. Please protect her. That is what Darien told her to do. She knew that was the last time she would see him. And yet Rei still could not move. Ataxia was distracted and didn't give Rei any orders and her body would not move. She just watched.

Darien threw himself at Ataxia. She dropped Natsume. Seiya grabbed his son dragging both of them to safety. Seiya was bleeding on his side and Natsume had red finger marks around his neck. Ataxia fell to the ground. Darien kicked her in the stomach. In the moment Rei could see some color return to Ataxia's eyes. It was a slight glint but there was something in her, fighting back.

Ataxia

It was unbearable. Darien kept pitched blows to Ataxia. Yet all she could grasp was how everyone continued to fight despite the injury to Serena. She was safe of course. She had managed to slow the damage to her body with Pluto's powers. Still they continued to fight. They didn't show self-pity and grieve or stop to seek revenge. How could they of all people show more fidelity and strength than she?

She didn't see it but she could feel her eyes turn blue. It was for a split second. Her eyes showed emotion like they did before Laisairan's death. Everything hurt. But she had come too far. Right? She couldn't stop. Not now. After everything she did? If she stopped to think about the despair she caused and the lives she ended for a split moment's worth of emotion at its purest, she would end herself, because she would realize she was worse than her father, worse than her mother, and worst than the very person they feared she would become.

She reached out a dirtied hand and grabbed Darien by the neck, "Didn't I tell you, if you disobeyed me I would kill you? You know something? I may be ruthless, emotionless, merciless and lethal but I always keep my promises."

Saturn

Everything stopped for her. There was a feeling no one could feel except herself. The feeling of someone dying, and their essence leaving the tangible world was – as much as she wished it wasn't – addictive.

Darien's body hit the ground with a THUD. His soul was surrounded by sadness, regret, and joy.

Serena

Much like Saturn, she could feel Darien leave. But she wouldn't cry. He was her first love, the man who would have fathered one of her children. There was a point where Serena would have done anything and everything for Darien. Now she respected his capabilities and strength. She knew now that he truly did love her. She knew now how happy she made him.

One tear fell down her cheek.

I have to admit I was a little sad to see Darien go; however, I didn't say I would kill either Rei or Darien. I hope everyone liked this chapter.

-Loverofanime1324