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Chapter 4 – The Others

Darien got exactly what he had asked for from Serena. She always did anything to please him, apparently even when it secretly crushed him. Everyone noticed the change in his life. Some knew exactly what changed, and others were left guessing. But, everyone knew someone was wrong. Most were kinder to him, but a few, like the door man to his building, were not.

The first week, the door man was quiet, and then Darien brought a girl home to study with after getting a bite to eat at the Arcade. He had taken her there first to make sure Serena knew they were over for good. He never even saw her that day. Then, as they passed the doorman, he made a frustrated noise. Ever since then, he noticed the angry look in his eye.

One month after the breakup, he spoke up, "What happened to Serena?"

"We broke up… I broke up with her."

"For such a smart guy, you sure are an idiot. I won't ever get to tell her how much my wife liked the recipe she sent her now, will I? And, you! You think you could do better than her?"

"Wait, she gave you a recipe?"

"Yea, we were chatting, and I mentioned my wife was looking for the perfect dessert to impress my hard-to-impress mother. She visits and looks down her nose at everything no matter what I say to support my wife. I said she just shouldn't come, and Serena said her mom had the perfect recipe for her. The next day, she came and gave it to me. It was the first time my mother has ever said anything in approval of my wife."

"She is always looking out for others all the time. "

"So, why did you break up with her? I saw her leave that day. She looked crushed."

"I just know that, if she stays with me, she can't be happy. I let her go."

"You ran away. That isn't the same thing. Things got hard, and you took off."

"You just don't understand what is really going on."

"I am glad I can't. I don't want to be in a place that can rationalize you breaking that girl's heart. It seems like a selfish place to me."

"If I was selfish, I would have kept her."

"If you were a man, you would have fought for her."

That conversation was still ringing in Darien's ears as he went to bed that night. He didn't go out with another woman again after that.

The day of Serena's graduation, Darien stayed in his apartment. He didn't want to run into her and upset her on her big day. He managed to avoid her by mainly avoiding the Arcade. He was glad that the youma attacks stopped, and he didn't even have to see her in battle.

—

The day the Sailor Team realized she left was a blow to them all. The note was to all of them and incredibly honest.

Girls, Luna and Artemis,

This is goodbye for a while. I have decided that since the youma attacks have stopped, I am going to get away while I still can. I'm sorry I have disappointed you all and have not been the princess any of you had wanted. Raye, I'm sorry I'm not fast or good enough at fighting. Amy, I promise to look into and work on strategies in fighting. Lita, I will continue to work on strength training. Mina, I will work on being a better leader. Luna, I'm sorry I'm so lazy and never keep up with my duties. I will be working on that also. This time away, I will be trying to train and improve myself.

I'm barely holding myself together. I'm managing though, day by day. Darien was supposed to be the love of my lives, and yet, it turns out he was only the love of my past. The love of a past me that apparently no longer exists. As Princess Serenity, I have failed yet again. I'm going away to move on and pull myself together. I'm broken, but not destroyed. I will find a way to keep going and be happy again. I need time away to grow and not constantly face those who I have disappointed.

I promise to be better when I get back. I love you, and I'm sorry to have let you all down.

Serena

They all wept the moment the last word was read. All felt they were pushing her to get better, not pushing her away. Yet here they were, faced with a princess that they helped break. And now, it was up to them to make sure things were good for her in town when she came back to them. Whenever that may be.

The Sailor Team met the very next day to discuss what each had said to Serena about her abilities. They were all shocked to find out that they all had gotten after her, each believing they were the only one doing it. They discovered the magnitude of what it would have appeared like to her.

Raye quietly thought that, really, this was all for the best. The youma were gone for now, and Serena was gone and would hopefully come back with a better attitude. The only thing that bothered Raye about her leaving was the way in which she left. She didn't think any of them should feel guilty, and she resented that Serena, leaving with nothing more than a letter delivered though Luna, made them feel that way. She would have loved to point out the fact to Serena's face that they were right. She knew there would be time for pointing that out later though.

Luna was secretly very glad that Darien's influence in her life wouldn't result in her death this time.

—

Serena's father was thrilled she had moved away and was looking for a job. He was afraid she would never use her talents and would not live up to her potential. He knew his brother would help her and push her to do better. It was to the point she needed to hear it from someone else. Maybe she would listen.

Her mother missed her terribly, but she was excited for her future. Her brother was just glad to get all the attention for once. That was until he got it and felt smothered by his parents. It turned out his sister was good at deflecting his parents overprotectiveness. He quickly learned to miss her.

—

Prince Diamond was furious and almost killed Emerald in anger. Sapphire was able to redirect his furry on a youma passing by. It never stood a chance. Sapphire walked over the dust left behind and addressed Diamond.

"What is the matter, brother?"

"It's Sire! Our progress has stalled! I have found out the delay you were both trying to hide. It will take months extra to get to Earth. I must have Princess Serenity!"

"Of course, you will have her," Sapphire replied. "She is yours for the taking. Darien will have been having those horrible dreams of her death, and he will end things with her. It will take time to get through to him though. We have plenty of time, and the delay will not thwart you. You must expect it will take months for him to give up on her. Then she will need time to get over him. All is still going according to your plan."

"If I find out either you or Emerald are behind this delay, my personal loyalty will not keep me from killing you."

"Sire, we want what you want. We would never go against you. If we even dreamt of hiding anything from you, it would be foolish anyway. You would figure us out immediately, and our deaths would be justified at your hands."

"Of course, you are right. Neither of you could fool me. I would see right through it. Very well. Tell the staff I expect my dinner now." Diamond exited the room, and Emerald followed hoping to gain his favor.

Sapphire let the staff know Diamond was hungry, and Emerald would eat with him. He requested dinner in his own room that night.

As he sat down to his quiet dinner, he ran through his plans in his head. The delay he caused was working. He had made sure the nightmares Diamond had him implant in Endymion would be traceable. Diamond was so sure he couldn't be manipulated that it was laughable how easy he made it. He was counting on the fact that Endymion would have someone look to discover the dreams were false. He hoped he was able to give him and Serenity enough time to discover the truth and reconcile."

He knew there was still more work to be done on his end.