Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A Trusting Heart ❯ Love and Sincerity ( Chapter 7 )

[ A - All Readers ]

I love the English language, so many meanings for a single word. ;D
Sorry it was so short, dear friends! And I hope no one was offended by the prayer.
The truth has been revealed to all, Serina�s fate is known and all lay in the hands of Destiny, a wise princess�s trusting heart, and little girl�s hopes. Will Rini�s future come to pass? Has all Darien�s efforts and
anguish been for nothing? Now that Garnyt�s identity has been revealed to
the Scouts, will their identity be revealed to him and the rest of the Dark Moon? What will Garnyt do when finds his victim?
Serina has died for her friends before, for those she loved, her heart allows her to do nothing less. Now she faces a danger much like those before; _alone_. But as history tells us, her love and faith prevailed- Let's hope her trusting heart can overcome this last adventure in Chapter Seven, �Love and Sincerity.�

Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Sci-fi / Suspense | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.12.2006 | Pages: 4 | Words: 5.8K | Visits: 316 | Status: Completed

Chapter 7

Love and Sincerity

Serina awoke to a deep chill that pervaded her soul, freezing her blood; she was surprised her hair hadn't turned to icicles. She slowly glanced around; she couldn't move her arms immediately so her eyes searched the room lit only by fading stars and the rising sun.

Beside her, Rini sweetly cradled in his arms, Darien dozed. She remembered from the night before how he'd drained himself to give her the strength to fend off the poison. It was still there, the ice inside her was proof of it. She was grateful for his sacrifice and his eternal love. He would always be there for her. She smiled, the only warmth left in her, and managed to slip her hand from his, her frozen fingers barely responding to her mental commands.

As agile as an ice cube, Serina quietly rose from her bed. She had something to do, something that would either kill her or save her life. She had to go see Garry. She knew, she didn't know how, but she knew he was Garnyt. She was sure he didn't know she was Sailor Moon, otherwise he never would have hurt her. He loved her. It was as likely as her hurting Darien that he would take back his vow to protect her. It was her gift to be able to read people's hearts, to see their souls, or maybe it was just her too trusting heart that caught her in these traps. Either way, if she could get to him, Garry was the only one who could help her now.

Serina leaned over and gently kissed Darien on the forehead and ruffled Rini's hair without waking either of them. The deadened feeling of her all ready uncoordinated body added to her clumsiness as she attempted to make her way away from them and several times she barely managed to catch herself from tripping.

Before her, asleep in a chair, Rei had cried herself to exhaustion some time in the middle of the night. She'd been so worried. Serina watched her best friend a moment, guilt invading her groggy mind knowing that she would be throwing them into a greater panic when they discovered her gone. Almost instantly, her muddled meatball brains came up with a simple solution. She quickly scribbled out a note assuring that she was fine and that she believed in Garry to do the right thing. And if he didn't, she loved them and she would come back to them.

She left the note in Rei's crossed arms and sneaked out of the temple, racing as fast as she could force her numb legs to go. There was no one out in the early summer Friday. The birds were hushed and the world seemed to be holding it's breath. The cool morning air was hardly felt as the mist caressed her skin. Though outside her nerves were insensate, inside she felt like she was on fire. Her mind kept unfocusing, her vision swimming and swirling though she kept running in the direction of Garry's house. Soon, however, the energy she'd stored from Darien and her own reserves began to flag then fail. Less than a block from her destination, the lovely, golden-haired angel collapsed, unseen, to the sidewalk. For the first time in her life, this infamous klutz remained silent and didn't get up.

__________________________

"Don't worry, Serina, I won't let anything happen to you."

In the early morning, the day before his precious Serina's birthday, Garnyt felt the tickling sense in his mind that alerted him to his victim's collapse into the second and final stage of the poisoning. He had feared this moment. He'd hoped Sailor Moon would be strong enough to somehow miraculously fight off the drug. Now he would have to find Serina's friend, the civilian form of Sailor Moon, and report his capture to his prince.

Comatose she wouldn't put up resistance and as a normal human girl, she would likely not survive the prince's harsh punishment for the trouble she'd caused him. He hoped he could protect her from the worst of it, spare her from mortal wounds and return her safely to Serina. It might be disobeying a direct order, but he all ready set his mind on defecting so it couldn't get any worse. If he could just pull off this last job so Rubeus and Prince Diamond would not suspect Sailor Moon of still living . . . His drug would give her the likeness of death then he could rescue her from the fate he had helped cause. If this girl was strong, she'd survive the brush with death- if not . . .

"I'm sorry, little princess." He whispered before teleporting from his empty house to where ever Serina's friend had fallen unconscious. He was shocked to find her so close, less than a block from his residence.

As Garnyt studied the familiar figure lying on the cold concrete, his heart shuddered with horror. A golden silk blanket of hair covered her lithe form, her slender hands tucked close to where her head had fallen, her brilliant blue eyes hidden from the world. She still wore the same clothes she had yesterday when he'd last seen her. She seemed so small; how could she be Sailor Moon? The great warrior- She was so weak, so slight and fragile . . .

Instantly, he dropped to his knees beside her and scooped up the child that meant more to him than his own life. The reason he fell in love, the girl for whom he would give up his allegiance to the Dark Moon, the girl he'd sworn to protect, now cradled limply in his arms.

She was never meant to be so still, so silent. Her small form was so cold from the poison he'd infected her with. Her smile was gone, her laughter frozen, her energetic, emotional spirit quieted. 'I can't believe what I've done! I should have known it was her! I've hurt her, I did this to her, I- I can never forgive myself!'

Garnyt impulsively teleported back to his abandoned house. With a snap of his fingers, a bed appeared and he laid her gently down on it. He reverted his form to Garrett Rose, the man she would recognize and not fear she should revive.

"I can't believe it was you, little princess, I should have known, I would never have hurt you! I had no idea!" Garry didn't waste a moment to snap his fingers again, a vial of the poison's antidote materializing in his hand. He administered it to her, he would have anyway were she anyone else but she was Serina, and that fact made her recovery all the more urgent.

"I swear they'll never know about you, princess. I won't let them take you. You'll be safe, I promise." He whispered. As if his voice and reassurance could drag her out of the coma he'd put her in, Serina moaned, her azure eyes fluttering open. Upon seeing his worried crimson eyes hovering over her, she smiled, a smile that overflowed his heart with warmth and he remembered again why he wanted to be human.

"I trust you with my life, Garry; don't worry, everything will work out. I knew you weren't evil." She sighed, thinking silently to Rei, 'I told you so,' before passing out again, a tiny grin on her ash white lips.

She would recover, slowly, but his little princess would live. He was happy for a moment, knowing she had forgiven him without his asking. She had such a giving heart, to trust her life to a traitor. He felt privileged to watch this angel in silent, content sleep. He would give his life for hers in an instant, he didn't doubt it, and now he needed only to have her recover and he would be complete. If only he had been able to find the four Sisters, he would even be human. But that could wait until Serina awoke.

Garry left her side a moment, pacing restlessly. It would be hours yet before she fully healed and he wasn't sure of what to do. Should he contact her friends, her family, her boyfriend? Should he report to his liege, Prince Diamond, that his mission was accomplished and the leader of the Sailor Scouts lay dead by his hand? That would throw suspicion and danger away from his young princess.

As Garry turned back to face the girl lying helplessly on the bed, the air beside her shimmered and flashed and Rubeus's shocked face met his surprised eyes.

"You actually did it! You've captured Sailor Moon?!" Rubeus spat out, stammering in disbelief and hateful jealousy.

"Leave, brother. She's mine." Garnyt's form shimmered back into the Dark Moon officer to confront his brother.

"I don't think so, brother. I've spent weeks battling this girl and now her capture will be my victory, and her death will be my revenge!" Rubeus bent over the unconscious girl, gathering her in his careless arms.

At that moment the door burst open, and two voices shouted in unison. "NO!" Garnyt lunged after his brother, launching silver-red spears at his back just as a dozen flashes of red whizzed by joining his efforts. Tuxedo Mask threw his roses, not caring if he hit Garnyt or Rubeus; they were both his enemy. He didn't even notice that Garnyt was fighting his own brother with him.

"Stop where you are, Rubeus. I am Tuxedo Mask and that innocent girl isn't going anywhere with you!" He shouted in a voice shaking with dark anger. He hurled a quintet of roses only to be blocked again by Rubeus's counterstrikes. He held the lifeless form of Serina in his arms as a shield. Both Garnyt and Tuxedo Mask skidded to a halt, frozen in place by the threat to Serina's life.

"Garnyt, your betrayal to the Nega-Moon will be reported, and I hope to have the pleasure of executing you as a traitor!" At that, Rubeus raised a hand and to release his attack, black glowing marbles of evil at his two enemies, one his only brother.

With little time to react, Tuxedo Mask fell to his knees, covering himself in his black cape. Garnyt threw his personal shield over the young man, one he knew could be none other than his princess's love, Darien. It explained much but left still some unanswered. Garnyt had to protect him as well, for Serina, but it left himself nearly defenseless. He created a shield of silvery rose crystal that blocked many of the explosive energy spheres but several managed to hit him anyway. The explosions blew him away, his concentration broke on holding the magic shield he'd given Tuxedo Mask. He hoped he was over the worst of the attack.

"No! Serina!" Garnyt heard Tux cry and he glanced up to see Rubeus escaping to the future still carrying Serina. His furious shout joined his counterpart's and he leapt to his feet, ready to follow him into his new enemy's territory.

"I'll get her back, Darien." He stated in a carefully controlled tone as he began to disappear, fury and honesty both evident on his face.

"Wait!" Tuxedo Mask grabbed his arm to keep him from leaving immediately. Garnyt hoped he wouldn't try to stop him from going to rescue Serina. He didn't want to hurt him but he would if he fought him. But the man's words were unexpected, almost forgiving but still in a rage. "Serina must have been right, you are not evil. And I know now for certain that you care for Serina. Thank you for helping me." Tux shook Garnyt's hand in a warrior's grip of honor and respect. "But do remember, she's my girlfriend." The masked man chuckled slightly at the shocked look on Garnyt's face.

Garnyt realized he might never get use to the possessiveness and mistrust of humans in love. He nodded firmly, still bewildered but that rapidly dissipated with their common understanding and their need to save the girl they both loved, though now in different ways but each just as strong. "Now, let's go get Serina!"

In that instant, still clasping arms, Garnyt and Tuxedo Mask shivered from existence and disappeared to the future, to the black palace of the Dark Moon.

__________________________

"Milord, Prince Diamond, I have captured our enemy Sailor Moon!" Rubeus appeared before the blue-silver haired prince, the body of a young girl materializing beside him.

Her length of sunshine gold hair was incredibly long and flowing to cover her entire body like a cloak. Diamond mused critically, 'Of course it would, when taken down from that ridiculous pair of buns, Sailor Moon's hair would reach beyond her feet, much like my Neo-Queen's beautiful tresses.' The thought of comparing an awkward human child to his graceful, breath-taking queen of Crystal Tokyo struck him as ridiculous but soon he realized why he made the connection.

He waved away his brother, Sapphire, who stood impatiently beside him, and used his mental power to lift the sleeping, dangerous warrior from the ground. Her slight, young form pivoted in the air, her face becoming visible through delicate strands of gold hair that flowed from her face like water. Even through her death-like pallor and dressed in such menial ancient clothing, he recognized her- the younger Neo-Queen Serenity!

"She's near death, Rubeus! Do you have any idea who this is? If she dies, I will kill you. Unfortunately, I don't know if any of us will remember your error when the timeline clashes and disappears!" The prince's ravings were met by stunned silence, his brother's face expressed concern for his brother's sanity.

"What are you talking about, Diamond? She is a mere helpless child-"

"She is the future queen of Crystal Tokyo! Look at her, she is Serenity herself! Should she die, Crystal Tokyo will never exist and we would not be caught up in this war now. Neither would her daughter, the rabbit princess, be born so there wouldn't be a need for Rubeus to follow her back to the past and end up bringing back the Neo-Queen!" A paradox in itself, a confusing paradox. Should she die, they would have never gone to the past, and she would never have been killed by Rubeus which would leave her alive and the same would still happen again.

The rest of his court gasped at the implications, but none knew what to do about it. Now that they had the Neo-Queen, dead or alive, Crystal Tokyo would not exist. Their war would never have been fought, in fact, they never would have been banished to the Dark Moon in the first place!

'Perhaps if I could make this girl love me, we could create a new Crystal Tokyo for ourselves; a perfect utopia for both earth and my people.' Diamond gave an imperceptible nod to his decision and returned his thoughts to the girl and Rubeus. Rubeus waited, trembling at his liege's next command.

"Rubeus, take her majesty to the chamber beside mine. As for yourself, for returning the queen to me I will spare your life, however, for bringing mortal harm to Serenity, you are hereby banished from the Dark Moon kingdom." Rubeus gave a strangled cry, cut off by a horrendous hysterical laughter emanating from behind him. The outcast officer whirled to face the beautiful, vain Emerald.

"Ha! Finally, Rubeus gets what he deserves!" She cackled again and Rubeus growled, flicking his wrist and disappearing with the child empress.

'Finally, the queen is within my grasp. We can be together, in love, forever. We will change this world to suit us and her heart will be mine.'

__________________________

"Traitor."

Not a half-hour ago, Rubeus had attacked his brother, with little regard for his safety; in fact, wishing him dead for having once again proven himself better than his older brother. Now he barely escaped his 'liege' with his life because of this stupid Sailor brat that he'd stolen from Garnyt. He knew his younger brother had gone soft on the humans, had betrayed the Dark Moon just as the four evil Sisters had. He wondered what was so captivating with the prehistoric world that they would all defect. Even his brother, the most loyal of all the officers in the prince's army, had turned coat for this pathetic human child.

Rubeus dropped the lunar Scout on the bed of Prince Diamond's guestroom, and stared at her, as if he could skim the answers from her mind.

He was tempted to kill her. His last act of vengeance for the trials and disgrace she'd put him through and for stealing his foolish brother's soft heart. But that would lead the obsessed prince to come after him and kill him when he could escape with his life now. But what good was his life if he had no where to go? He vaguely wondered if it was too late to follow his brother's example-

'No! You let him beat you once, you can't concede to him again! You're the eldest, you should be in the lead, you're the one who's always right!' He stared again at the Neo-Queen who had ruined his life, time after time. Now she was paying for it. She may survive the poison his brother gave her but her pure heart surely would never endure the darkness of the Dark Moon. She would crack and break under the force of the insane prince's obsession. She would pay for everything; he just wished he could have a part of her destruction.

"Neo-Queen Serenity, I curse you. I swear to you- you'll pay! I curse you to lose everything you have ever loved. To be alone forever. After all that you have done to me, taken away my brother, taken away my life, my pride. I will do the same to you."

"No, Rubeus, I have all ready gone through that. Your curse can't work on someone who's all ready overcome that very same challenge." Rubeus's lowered eyes flashed upward, glinting with hate and surprise. Before him, the true Neo-Queen- no, the younger queen, the eminent and legendary Moon Princess Serenity, rose from the bed. Her feet fell over the side, never touching the floor, instantly hidden by the undulating silky ripple of her changed clothing. Pure white satin covered her now, a bodice of golden crescent moons and yellow and silver pearls fell from the ancient empire waist. Her hair fell free, flowing from the customary royal bunned style, her golden crescent moon insignia mocking his reversed black moon. Her sapphire eyes revealed none of the weakness her body had endured throughout her fight against the sleeping death. Instead, her pale face seemed to offer forgiveness and understanding. Compassion had warmed her frozen soul.

"You don't understand, you've never experienced loneliness or embarrassment. You're Sailor Moon, 'Champion of love and justice', or so you say. How could YOU ever know what life on this Nega Moon is like! You're the cause of all my misfortune! YOU banished us here!"

"I'm sorry, I know some of what you say is true, but you're wrong as well. I have known loneliness and my life is an embarrassment to myself and everyone who knows me. I have lost my friends and my love many times, and have died myself because of it, physically and mentally. But every time, we have come back stronger than ever. Your curse would never work. Especially if you don't believe it yourself, Rubeus." His gaze snapped with fire at her words. Of course he believed in his curse! He wanted nothing more than to see Sailor Moon on her knees and crying, begging for mercy!

"You're as crazy as Prince Diamond." He spat, turning his back on the vision, but even as he said it he began to doubt himself again. He was a coward that sought the easy way out every time, wanting only revenge over his instinct to survive. But this may be a good way to do both . . .

"No, Rubeus. I can see your doubt. You want your brother back, you want to live, to escape this place. You still need a purpose in life whether you realize it yourself or not. I can help you. If you would take it, I offer you my world. Live in peace with my friends and I, like the four Sisters, like your brother. Join us, my royal guard, and my circle of friends. Please." The goddess hovered slight feet above the air nearly level with the banished officer's eyes, pleading in a soft voice, bright eyes full of hope and promise.

Rubeus found himself tempted. How could he be tempted by this child's lies? How could he ever expect her or his brother to accept him as a 'good' guy? He was evil, black-hearted, born to take revenge on the humans of earth, but now to live among them, as one of them? But this princess's calm appeal ate away his defenses, his hate. "I-"

"I can see your heart turning, Rubeus, you will do the right thing, I know you will. I trust you. Just like I knew you're brother could not kill me, I believe in you! You'll love being human, being happy, having a reason to live!" She smiled brilliantly, convinced she'd persuaded him all ready. Were his feelings and doubts showing through so obviously? Could she really pull it off? Turning someone as evil as he was good? She'd done it for the sisters, and his brother. Miracles. She could perform miracles and she was willing to do it again for him. 'She trusts me . . .'

"Princess, I would- I think-" His tone was reserved, not in surrender, but in newfound pride and respect. He glanced up at her eyes, those eyes that promised the world- literally. He had found a reason to live.

"Thank you, Rubeus-"

"Rubeus! Get away from her!" Two figures burst into the room, the two men that had been searching for her for nearly an hour in this dark palace. Tuxedo Mask and Garnyt threw themselves towards the form of Serina, not noticing yet that she was no longer the helpless Serina but the powerful Moon Princess.

Without hesitation they attacked together, their crystal spears and red roses showering their enemy.

"No! Stop! Don't hurt him!" The powerful vision of Serenity wavered and disappeared as Serina fell to the floor, lunging to instinctively defend her new friend. She stood before him, his shock freezing him in place before his mind registered that she was putting herself in danger for him. He grabbed her arm to toss her out of the way of the deadly swords and rose darts. Before the he could remove her from the threat, however, the surprised Tuxedo Mask and his brother had recalled their attacks, the spears fading from existence and the deadly roses falling harmlessly to the floor.

"Serina, what- what are you DOING!" Tux blurted out when he had recovered control of his lungs. He'd come close to impaling her with his own roses!

"Please, trust me. Rubeus is good now, he wants to join us. Don't you, Rubeus?" Still hanging onto his arm for support, she turned her glowing sky blue eyes up to his, praying he hadn't changed his mind. This man had troubled her often enough; trying to capture Rini and demeaning the sisters and the Scouts. If he returned to his old ways, she was still in danger; but he had just tried to save her and he even let her lean on him now. She caught Garnyt's flash of hope in his red eyes, Tuxedo Mask looked disbelieving as he cautiously stepped forward.

"Yes. Diamond banished me and she offered to take me into her royal guard. I- I accepted." Rubeus's ever-present sarcasm had melted into a steady, strong voice of faithful devotion. He was as sincere as a Dark Moon officer could be. However, that was just as much as his brother Garnyt was.

"I'm glad to hear it, elder brother." Garnyt smiled and clasped his arm, happy to have his brother back in a world where they could experience emotions, and perhaps develop a real kin-bond like Diamond and Sapphire or the four Sisters had. Beside him, Tuxedo Mask made the same offer before whirling to catch his girlfriend as she weakly collapsed again, her hand slipping from Rubeus's supporting grip.

"Serina, we've got to get you back home." He turned to Garnyt and Rubeus. "I think now is the time for our mysterious disappearance." He suggested, lifting his sweet love in his arms. She sighed and held close to his velvet tux with her slender fingers, finally feeling safe.

"Oh, Darien . . ." She whispered as she quietly slipped from consciousness, protected by her prince and new faithful friends. She'd be home soon, with her Scouts and Rini and Luna and her family . . . All she wanted were their hugs and several weeks of sleep- and food would be nice, and anything to do with her perfect, gorgeous, dashing, charming, courageous . . .

Tux smiled tenderly down at his girlfriend, her eyes closed in sleep, a soft smile playing on her lips. Garnyt and Rubeus each placed a hand on Tuxedo Mask's caped shoulders and they were instantly teleported to the past and a small, near-empty house in the middle of Tokyo.

Behind them, as they were disappearing, a bolt of black energy was fired at their backs. Sapphire attacked with a rabid ferocity. The two idiot brothers had once again lost the Neo-Queen and Sailor Moon brat; her escape would surely kill his brother!

He had the pleasure of hearing four surprised screams as they faded from existence, hopefully to arrive lifeless at their destination.