blueeyeddevil06, thank you for going through and editing this.

Chapter 16 – Monday Part One

Monday came for Darien, and it turned out to be a wonderful day. Serena had promised not to go anywhere without at least two of the generals with her, and they would make sure she kept that promise. He was relieved she had them and himself to protect her. He wished she trusted the girls more, but he noticed her unease with them.

The moment he stepped into Professor Hart's class, he noticed him waving him over.

"Yes, Professor?"

"It was a pleasure meeting Serena Saturday night. My wife was completely charmed by her."

"She will be glad to hear that. She really liked meeting you both."

"You're serious about her?"

"I'm going to be looking for an engagement ring soon."

"Good. I was hoping to hear something like that. I have a few internships I want to recommend you for." Darien was handed a folder. "Please look through them, and tell me if you aren't interested in any of them."

"Wow! Thanks. May I ask what the questions about Serena had to do with this? I'm not following."

"You'll have a partner that will help you advance in your career. You're incredibly smart, but so many opportunities will come from the relationships you have developed, especially at the level of success you will achieve. Always remember that the Chief of Staff has strong connections within the hospital and with the Board of Directors. Serena is perfect for helping you achieve that; she has an amazing ability to connect with people. Once I met her, I knew it would be worth my effort to get you the best internship."

"I will absolutely keep that in mind. Thank you for the help and the advice."

After class, Darien looked through the folder. He was excited reading through them all, and one of them would be incredible. He couldn't wait to tell Serena. He called her, and they made plans to meet up that night at her place.

Darien stopped by the gallery after all his classes, and the painting was wrapped and ready for him to take to Serena. The artist had included a note to her, and he placed both in his car.

As he pulled away, Andrew called him, asking him to stop by the Arcade. Someone was there hoping to talk to him.

Darien arrived and was pointed to a table in the back. He looked over, and the person was facing away from him, wearing a baseball cap. He cautiously went over and paled as he sat down.

Darien ground out, "I never caught your name. I was too busy making sure you didn't kidnap Serena."

"So, that is Serenity's name now. Huh."

"It seems you have us at a disadvantage. What. Is. Your. Name?"

"Sapphire. Apparently, you don't remember me, Endymion."

"Darien."

"You don't remember me, but I remember you."

"Obviously. Tell me something that is interesting, and I may stay a bit longer." He was not pleased to be at a disadvantage when it came to Serena's safety.

"I'm on your side."

"Bullshit. You tried to capture Serena, and you sent youma to attack us all."

"This has to be quick, so suspend your disbelief for now and listen. My brother, Diamond, believes Serenity and her Silver Crystal belong to him."

Darien was pissed and was about to speak when Sapphire held up his hand and stopped him.

"Yes, she's yours. I know that, and I'm trying to make sure Diamond doesn't get his hands on her."

"You sure seem like you're helping him."

"And yet, you won, and I didn't actually get a hold of her. I was aware the generals were back and never informed Diamond. I planned on you winning that battle and the ones before it. Haven't you noticed that no one on your side has gotten hurt?"

That caused him to stop and think about the battles. "Yes, now that you mention it. I was really just focused on Serena."

"As you should be. You don't remember the past. Diamond wanted her back then too. He was defeated but not before he almost forced himself on Serenity."

Darien looked up sharply. "I won't let that happen!"

"Actually, I won't let that happen. I was there, and I remember everything. She was tortured first. She wept for you to come save her. She begged for you to save her for days. He chained her up and made her crawl like a dog. He loved seeing Princess Serenity, Crowned Princess of the Silver Millennium, brought low and begging. He is sick. I saw everything, and I couldn't stop it."

Darien was distraught to hear she suffered and begged for him for so long. "Why should I believe you can help me now?"

"Because now, I have time on my side and a plan. I have had to follow Diamonds orders, but I have been subverting them any way I could. I plan to draw Diamond out into the battle soon. We need to coordinate an attack; he cannot make it out alive."

"How do I know you aren't tricking me?"

"Have Amy go through the scan on your brain activity again. I'm the one who implanted the nightmares on Diamond's orders. I also made sure the tampering was detectable. There would have been no trace if I wanted to truly hide it. The scan should show an anomaly that I implanted as a backup. It is safer to use that to fill you in. I can't stay much longer and not be found out."

"She didn't mention an anomaly."

"No, the computer would have ignored it as an unimportant variable in the readout. Have her isolate it and decode it. She's smart enough."

"You're telling me I broke up with Serena over a nightmare implanted on the order of a man who tortured her and tried to rape her?"

"That's what happened." Sapphire showed all his disdain at that fact to Darien in that one little sentence.

Darien grew sick to his stomach.

Sapphire spoke again, "Meet me tomorrow at the bench in the park on the north side of the lake at noon. Diamond will be eating then, and he won't be looking for me. I'll tell you your next move."

"If I believe you, I'll be there. I'll contact Amy."

"I'll see you tomorrow then," he said with complete certainty. He knew Endymon had to show up or risk Serenity's safety.

Both exited the Arcade. Darien had first told Andrew he would talk to him later. If what he said was true, and he suspected it was, then they had an ally on the inside that they didn't even have to search out. That meant one more person was protecting Serena. He was glad to have all the help he could get.

He called Amy to go back through the scan and told her briefly about what Sapphire had said to look for. He told her to call when she had it decoded.

Serena's day had begun with a call to Mina asking her to meet her for lunch at Serena's place. She asked the guys to stay out of hearing distance. She wanted a private talk with the leader of her scouts.

Mina arrived right on time, and Serena served up their lunch in her uncle's office. It had a small table to meet at, so she used that. It lent an air of formality to the meeting.

Serena started, "My year away has given me time to reflect on my role and the role of my scouts. As the leader of my scouts, I have called this meeting with you."

Mina looked startled. She was not expecting Serena to sound so in charge and serious.

Serena continued, "Are you aware that my uncle is not only my father's brother in this time, but was also my father's brother during the Silver Millennium and sent here by my mother, Queen Serenity?"

Again, Mina looked startled, "No, I don't remember him. I didn't know he was from our past."

"He has been a huge help in my training on my Silver Crystal and my duties as princess."

"That's wonderful."

"I have come to realize that you girls are not my friends."

Here, Mina froze. She was shocked and hurt, and all those emotions showed on her face, including her posture. "Oh… Um…."

"You're all more important than that. You're my guardians and my confidants. When that breaks down, I'm just a girl with superpowers. I can't be marginalized to that by the four of you."

"I don't think that we are doing that." She looked puzzled.

"Sorry, but I'm not asking your opinion on this one. I'm coming to you as the highest-ranking member of my sailor scouts and letting you know what needs to be done."

"Yes, Princess." She realized she was about to be given orders. Mina also realized this was what she was trained for and what had been lacking in Serena before.

"Please, don't mistake me on this. I come out of respect to you and your abilities. I trust you to handle my scouts, not because that was your role in the past. I trust you because of who you are now."

"Thank you," Mina smiled and was encouraged.

"I have several issues to address. First, how is your lunch?"

Mina laughed, "Delicious." It was so like Serena to ensure someone else was taken care of first.

"I'm really glad. Now, moving on. I'm home today because the generals are guarding me after the kidnapping attempt last night. I agreed that we need to take extra precautions until we know what we are dealing with."

"That was a really great idea."

"Yes, it was. Why wasn't it yours? Why aren't my guards protecting me? Why are Darien's generals here, keeping me safe? Why didn't one of you bring up the idea of my protection? And why, when the kidnapping was attempted last night, did the generals step in and stop it?"

"We weren't close enough to you to protect you. They were right there!"

"Exactly my point."

Mina's eyes widened, and she remained silent. Then she spoke up, "Shouldn't Luna be here also?"

"No. She may not have realized it yet, but she's no longer my advisor. My uncle has filled that role now and much better."

"Oh…. I don't have an answer for you to your questions."

"Don't worry. I will give you time to formulate one and get back to me with the answers. I will be expecting them."

"Yes, Princess."

"Next."

"There's more?"

"Yes. Next, and it is not directed at Amy, but I will use her as an example. She gave me an order last night when she contacted us all. She ordered me to bring the generals. I said nothing then, it was not the time, but I am not to be given orders anymore."

"I will make sure the girls know."

"There's more."

Mina looked dejected. "More?"

"Raye. I will not tolerate being put down and criticized by her anymore."

"That's just the way Raye is. She doesn't mean any harm."

"That's the way Raye is with me, her princess, and I call bull on that. She does mean harm. She hates not being the center of attention. If she cannot get in line, I will have to deal with her, and it will not be pleasant. She criticized me four times during our girl's night, and I realized then that I instinctually flinch when she addresses me. She did not criticize anyone else the entire night. I paid attention."

"I didn't realize." Mina knew she would need to reflect on that.

"This next part stays between you and me."

"Of course."

"Jadeite is going to be having a talk with her soon."

"Oh, fabulous! I'm so glad that they are going to work things out. I hope I can talk to Kunzite soon too."

"You misunderstand me. Jadeite has no intention of 'working things out' with her."

"What!? Is that even possible?" She grew pale. What did that mean for the rest of the girls?

"If things hadn't progressed the way they did one thousand years ago, he would have broken up with her then."

"No!" She was shocked.

"He was unimpressed with her devotion as a scout then, and now that hasn't changed. He wants to make it clear there isn't any chance for reconciliation before he starts dating someone else. He wants Raye to be aware of that in order to minimize any reaction she would have if she saw him on a date."

"I thought that we all would just automatically end up with the generals again. I thought it was like you and Darien."

"You were mistaken. And, even if you weren't, Darien and I took a lot of work and heartache. I just wanted you to be aware that Raye will be volatile soon."

"How are you so sure she will act out?"

"She isn't happy when things aren't exactly to her liking. Her grandfather spoils her and has always given her everything she wanted. It came from him trying to make up for the lack of love she received from her father. It made her expect that she will always get what she wants, and it wasn't a loving thing for him to do for her. She will take it badly, and you will need to keep her in hand. She will come after me even more. I'm her favorite outlet."

"I'll be careful, and I'll talk to her about her treatment of you."

"No, you will fix her treatment of me. If I step in, it means you couldn't handle it, and it will mean bigger consequences for her."

"Yes, Princess."

Serena smiled at her and said, "Last scout related thing I wanted to say was great job last night coordinating the scouts' attacks!"

Mina was extremely happy with the praise. She had seen how well Serena and the generals worked together and knew Serena recognized a well-coordinated attack from lots of training.

"Now, let's move away from the official topics, have some ice cream, and catch up. I know Zoisite has some in the freezer." She got up and went into the kitchen to serve some up and Mina followed.

"Shouldn't we check with him before we eat it?"

"No need. I can buy some more, and if he notices it is gone before I do, then he will just blame Jadeite." She laughed and they returned to the office with the ice cream.

They chatted and laughed, and Serena noticed more of the distance she felt around Mina was disappearing. She was happy with how things had gone, and she knew Mina didn't even realize that she was paving the way for Kunzite to see her act more according to her role and gain his respect.

Shortly after Mina left, she received a call from Darien, and they planned to meet there for dinner that evening. She went to plan her outfit since she was excited to see him.

An hour later, Mina contacted Amy, Lita, Luna, Artemis, and Raye and asked them all to meet her at the temple at seven. She planned on staying and talking to Raye privately afterwards.