Chapter 17: Day of Destiny
Her friends, all of her friends had sacrificed themselves for her. It pitted in the bottom of her stomach like a rock. Now she was alone, in thousands of miles of snow. Her friends were braver then she was; when she opted to leave and come back when they were stronger, they fought on. Queen Beryl would pay; she'd taken too much from her to not defend what she had left.
The gravity, the writhing pain, and loss of energy being transferred in that dark ball of energy made it feel like moving was a struggle. There she was taunted by Beryl as her Prince stood by her side.
She missed him. She didn't care if he called her Meatball head, she didn't care if he made fun of her grades, and she didn't even care if he teased her about anything anymore. She missed the way he sipped his coffee. The way he'd protect her from any danger. The way he pretended not to care when he made her angry, then ran back and apologized…or at least tried to made things right. She missed the blue eyes that lied behind the white mask of her hero. She missed him.
And yet here he was about to kill her, kissing Queen Beryl's hand oblivious to what he did to her.
He didn't dare move from Queen Beryl's side. She was his Queen. This moon girl killed all of her past servants. Beryl told him she was the reason that he'd past out for a day or two. She was the reason for all this. Her blue eyes hid a determination that would soon turn to fear, she would learn not to mess with the Prince of the Nega-Moon.
The silver crystal didn't work. And what was worse, it stood there out of her grasp. Why did it feel so hopeless, why did she barely see any glimmer of Darien left in his dark blue eyes? Darien used to like blue eyes, but he wouldn't remember that. He needed to remember. He stood like stone, ready to strike her with his sword. Beryl watched them with beady eyes, and she felt the glare beyond. She needed to stop him and all she had left was her tiara.
She was the traitor! The evil being! She almost killed him with her tiara! He wouldn't let this happen. And yet, those blue sapphire eyes glossed over and pleaded for him to remember? What? lies? What could she offer him that Beryl hadn't already fully given him? That's when a small sound from her hand, played a familiar tune. A crescent moon danced in the middle of a star, spinning around like a mobile. Why was it so comforting? So warm? Why were things becoming clearer? She begged for him to touch it…if there really was nothing to hide, what could it do? It was no weapon but a locket…
She watched him touch it. She prayed to the heavens that this would do it. That he'd remember all the times he'd been with Raye. The time they met and he'd made fun of her grades. The times at the arcade, the small gestures of kindness that seemed to amount to so little and yet so much. The times he'd save the Sailor Scouts, the times when he'd stood up for Sailor Moon, and the time when she'd almost lost him…when he found his moon princess.
It all came back in a rush, and suddenly from a looming fog, to a light haze, to a clear mind; he remembered who he really was. Darien Shields. Tuxedo Mask. Prince Endymion of the Earth. Defender of the Moon Princess, the girl in front of him who'd risked so much to make sure he'd be free again.
She smiled. In her arms this time, he lay promising to return to her, one way or another, and it held true. All she cared was that he wasn't fighting, that he remembered, and now they were both free at last.
He knew better then to think Beryl wouldn't be writhing in disappointment, and just in time he'd let out the last rose he had to her heart. She wouldn't harm him again, nor his princess. He'd make sure he'd never loose her again, they'd always find there way back to each other. Always.