Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A Trusting Heart ❯ Angels ( Chapter 14 )

[ A - All Readers ]

I'm not sure it's true but I heard the queen cannot use the Crystal while
pregnant (in one the later manga) so let's just pretend she can just a little. Artistic license and all.
The adventure continues and the final battle against the Nega-Moon is fast approaching. With the Moon princess and Neo-Queen Serenity's Imperium Silver Crystals, victory is almost guaranteed- However, with Serenity recovering from her imprisonment and with a second life to consider in her demonstrations of power, she may not be able to fight- _at all_. And with Sailor Moon beyond her limits of energy depletion and injured mind, heart, and soul by her experiences in the past few days, can she truly end this war without the ultimate sacrifice?
I promise, if not an adventurous chapter, then an interesting one. Angels will fall, devils will fly, and death will steal the lives of eternal beings. Tears fall like diamonds and sapphires in the midnight sky of fiery rubies and emerald energies- The battle is about to begin in Chapter Fourteen, "Angels."

Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Sci-fi / Suspense | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.12.2006 | Pages: 9 | Words: 12.7K | Visits: 283 | Status: Completed

Chapter 14

Angels

The faint sound of muffled sobbing drew Sailor Moon's attention away from the group as they rushed down crystal hallways. She noticed Serenity look up with a desperately sorrowed expression on her face- Then it was gone, replaced with stone as the queen prepared for war.

'Forgive me, baby.'

Sailor Moon paused again as the crying continued, slowly gaining volume, but no one else seemed to hear it but Serenity and herself, and she didn't seem willing to do anything about it. Sailor Moon shook her head, the sound seemed to be in her mind, like a whisper beside her ear. It tickled, almost like Darien's voice in her mind. Moon quickly glanced around, searching for the hidden source. There were side halls everywhere and rooms opened every few yards on this floor. The- child? Yes, it sounded like a little girl crying. She could be anywhere and Moon had a feeling Serenity could tell exactly where she was.

The louder the child became in her mind, the more Sailor Moon could vaguely feel the direction the little girl was in and the more she wished she could help her. Beside her, Rini suddenly frowned, tears glistening in her eyes in response to the other girl's emotions. She whimpered and looked at her mother who was now ignoring the sound; she received no reply from that direction. Rini turned to Sailor Moon standing still beside her, listening to the same thing she heard.

"Sailor Moon, please . . . We can't leave her!" The flamingo haired princess demanded. She snatched her hand and started to drag the superheroine off before she could react.

"Rini, who-" Sailor Moon began then shut up as she realized the others were all ready too far ahead to stop them. "Come on." She picked the kid up and they ducked into a convenient hallway.

Silently, the two stealthily crept down the hall, passing the doors and rooms that didn't 'tug' at their minds. Moon discovered her sense of direction was leading them straight to where the lost child was. Not for a second did she think that was weird. She closed her eyes and followed her heart, letting her daughter lead when she knew the way, but always knowing they were getting closer to the poor girl. Sailor Moon could only imagine how scared the kid felt, all alone and lost and crying for her parents.

Finally the dark halls ended with a huge room filled with a large crystalline table and many small decorative desks. Lights blinked and died all around, making the dim room seem like a cathedral of stars. Here, the sobbing was the loudest, so scratched and grief-stricken that Moon's heart tore at the sound.

"Oh dear-" Sailor Moon stumbled forward, instinctively knowing precisely where the child was hiding- as if she there herself or could see the child in her mind's eye. She was so close to her by now, there was no way in heaven and earth she could miss her!

A shivering little girl was huddled underneath one of the tables, lying on her side, pressed as close to the earth as she could get. Her eyes and cheeks were covered by her tiny hands, silver streaks of tears illuminated jagged lines where she'd bravely tried to wipe them away. She was so small, Rini's height, maybe a little more, and her hair fell in soft darkened locks about her shoulders.

The kid started when she heard the intruders, her mind so bewildered and scared all ready, her first reaction was to run at the sight of them. Sailor Moon knelt before her, ready to catch the girl before she could get herself lost again. "Hey, it's okay, little one. We're gonna help you, come on, let's get you someplace safe, waddaya say?" Moon whispered, crawling underneath the table and laying her head down beside the kneeling girl. 'She's all alone and during this attack she must frightened out of her mind! Oh, if I didn't have Darien I'd be doing the same thing!'

Sailor Moon let her eyes drift closed and relaxed. She could stay here to protect Rini and this girl too- she wasn't needed up stairs. Besides, it was safer and less scary- Moon opened her eyes, realizing the kid was staring at her. She could finally get a good look at her face . . . And what an adorable face it was. Her wide, teary eyes were cinnamon brown, her tiny nose and pudgy cheeks identical to Rini's and Serina's when she was that age. Her soft hair was pulled back in two bunny-buns and the color of light lavender.

"Irene?"

__________________________

Rini watched as Sailor Moon crept under the table to retrieve her sister. Irene was always the stronger of the two twins, taking a lot after their father- but now she was hiding? 'I don't even want to know what happened while I was in the past with Mommy! Where's Diana? Where's Luna and Artemis? They're supposed to take care of us!'

She frowned when she heard Sailor Moon's surprised gasp and her sister's whispered name. 'How'd she know Irene's name?!' The two of them squirmed out from under the protective table and into some faint light. "Sailor Moon, this is my sister. You weren't supposed to know about her. I'm sorry! I wasn't supposed to tell- Don't tell Daddy!" Rini suddenly cried, realizing her mistake. King Endymion had explicitly forbidden mention of her twin sister!

"It's okay, Rini, I all ready knew. Your mother doesn't have to follow your father's orders. She told me- And look at you two, how could I ever not know who she was? You girls looks so much your dad, dontcha think?" Sailor Moon stared at the two girls standing before her. Irene had silently crawled out from under cover at the sound of her sister's voice, staring in awe at the warrior sitting next to her. Yep, the girls were identical, and they both looked just like her. Incredible.

Irene's voice was soft with amazement when she spoke. "You really did it, Serina, you really got Sailor Moon from the past! Took you long enough!" Irene suddenly hopped to her feet, clapping excitedly. "Mommy's awake and Daddy's okay! But what's going on now, Rena?" The older twin's delight disappeared with the remembrance of the battle outside.

"Mommy, Daddy, and the Scouts are all going to fight the bad guys. I'm gonna help-"

"Oh no you don't, little bit, this game's for the big kids." Sailor Moon broke out of her fascination of watching her bickering twin daughters and interrupted her youngest. Rini immediately started pouting and opened her mouth to protest but again Sailor Moon cut her off. "Irene, who's supposed to be watching you? Why are you here all by yourself?" She studied the girl's reaction as she inexplicably became very nervous, twisting her toes in the ground, hands hidden behind her, and refusing to meet Sailor Moon's gaze.

"Yeah, where's Diana? And Luna and Artemis?" Rini asked her twin curiously. Moon had choke back a laugh. 'Ha! Luna and Artemis are their babysitters? If Luna thought I was bad, two me's will drive her crazy!'

"Uh . . ."

"Irene?" Sailor Moon surprised herself by using the same tone of voice her mother used when she knew she was in trouble. 'Eww, weird!' But she did know Irene was trying to get away with something- She could see right through her hesitant innocence, Serina Tsukino had invented that defense!

"Ikindaranaway- I'msosorry,SailorMoon!" Irene abruptly blurted, cringing away as if it were the worst display of irresponsibility her idol had ever possibly seen.

'She WHAT?! She ran away?! She could get hurt! When I see Luna I'm gonna give her a piece of my mind for letting my daughter get- Ohmigod.' Moon gasped. She suddenly realized something that scared her even more. She actually understood her daughter's super-speed confession.

Rini burst out laughing at her sister while Irene glared stonily back, nose tilted to the sky. Sailor Moon was struck by Irene's likeness to Darien on his bad days, before he had a heart. Her daughter certainly learned from the best; she had his pride and- arrogance? Moon giggled at the thought.

Abruptly she closed her eyes and concentrated on what Irene had admitted. Sailor Moon tried to calm herself down before she either blew up at her daughter's thoughtlessness or broke down in a fit of giggles at the similarity to her own past situations. She bit her lip, coolly staring the two girls down till they both fell silent. "Irene, I want you to go back to Luna and Artemis, and stay with them this time. Be good and listen to them. Your parents will call you when it's safe, sweetie." Moon's voice was gentle but she was dead serious as she instructed her children. They had to stay safe, no matter what.

"Okay, Sailor Moon-"

"But, Mom-" Moon instantly clapped a hand over Rini's mouth as she began to protest. She didn't want Irene to know her mother was Sailor Moon; there had to be a reason Serenity and Endymion had kept it from the twins. And it might be too much after everything this little girl had been through so far. Her daddy paralyzed, her mother bespelled and encased in crystal, her twin sister lost in the past, and an impossible war being fought all around her . . .

"Rini, you heard me. Now come on, Tuxedo Mask is gonna go ballistic when we show up late as it is." Sailor Moon grimaced at the thought; she'd noticed a little pestering feeling at the back of her head. Her love must have realized she was gone and was trying to find her. But she wasn't too worried, he could read her emotions and a little of her thoughts, he should be able to tell there was nothing wrong, a little surprise and sympathy but that was it. 'But then they'd all be worried about the spore too so guess we should get back- There is a war to be won.'

"How come SHE gets to go?!" Irene cried out in indignation, pulling on Sailor Moon's skirt.

"Iren-" Sailor Moon turned to her but before she could say anything more, Rini ran around and pulled handful of her blue pleats.

"I want to fight too, Sailor Moon!" Rini shouted, making herself as annoying as possible. She could help! So could Irene! They were PRINCESSES! It was their job to defend their kingdom! Just like their mommy had!

"Rini!" Moon whirled on her youngest, and glaring in exasperation. "Do you want your father to handle this?"

The girls actually paused to consider this before they both fell back and shook their heads in sync.

"Fine, then listen to me. Rini, you're coming with me so we don't get in big trouble. Irene, you're going back to Luna and staying there so you don't get in big trouble. Now go on, little one, and in the name of moon and all that's holy, PLEASE be careful!" 'Your mother would never forgive herself if anything happened to you. Either of you.' She thought as she gazed on the two girls for a heart-stopping second.

Irene softly slid up to Sailor Moon and gently took her hand in her tiny one. "Thank you, Sailor Moon. Please take care of our parents and be careful too." Stunned for a moment by her daughter's sweetness and astonishing momentary solemnity, all Sailor Moon could do was squeeze her hand in response. She nodded a little, tears stinging her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. Irene didn't need to see the legendary Sailor Moon breaking down for no reason at all.

"Thanks, princess, I will." She dropped to her knees and enveloped her future daughter in a quick hug before she whirled quickly away and swooped up Rini in her arms. "Now let's go. Good luck, Lady." Sailor Moon paused a mere moment to watch Irene scamper off into the darkness, then turned away, carrying her tiny, pink-haired burden back the way they'd come.

__________________________

Sailor Moon and Rini returned to the group practically unnoticed a few minutes later. They were waiting in a hall, the roof entrance just beyond them.

"Sailor Moon! Where in the name of Mars have you been!? If you ever run off like that again, you Meatball head, I'M gonna come after and drag you back!" Sailor Mars instantly laid into her as she sneaked up in back of the assembly.

"Sailor Moon, where'd you go?" Venus asked quietly, as if they were still trying to keep their leader's disappearance a secret. "What if Diamond tried to get you again? You've gotta be a little more careful, Sailor Moon."

"Can't you keep you're mind on the battle at hand? Wandering off like this was a tour of your future and not a war! Ditz!" Mars continued muttering but Sailor Moon shrugged her shoulders. Sailor Mars had no idea what was going on and sounded more ignorant in her ranting than Lita, Mina, and Serina normally did talking about dreamy guys.

"Tuxedo Mask would have known if there was something wrong, don't worry! I just needed to help a little someone, Serenity couldn't so I figured I was close enough." Moon vaguely replied, her mind and eyes searching out her beloved Tuxedo Mask. Her azure eyes lit up when she caught sight of his gorgeous raven-haired head. He was discussing something with Endymion and the older Sailor Venus.

'Darien . . .' Sailor Moon thought excitedly. She grinned delightedly when his head lifted in surprise, his eyebrows raised so adorably.

'Serina! Where have you been? I've been searching everywhere when you just disappeared- AGAIN-'

'I love you.'

Tux blinked. Then he tried hard to suppress the pursed smile on his perfect lips. He glanced up to high heaven looking for patience and endurance- and thanking God for such an angel as his fiancée. 'Serina, I love you, but I wish you would tell someone when you're going to take off. You could have told me. I was ready to go after you if my future self hadn't stopped me. What were you do-'

"Sailor Moon, what on earth are you thinking about so hard?"

The two lovebird's conversation was rudely cut off by the question. Moon quickly focused on her Scouts. "Nothing, Jupiter. Just thinking to someone I love." Moon giggled, and scrunched her nose at the weird looks her entourage gave her.

Sailor Venus shook her head. She had the vaguest idea of what was going on when her friend drifted off like that and it had nothing to do with day dreaming or spacing out. It had a little something to do with an eternal love that had as yet survived over a thousand years.

Neo-Queen Serenity turned from her husband to face the warriors of past and future. "Now is the time to take back your future and our home, Scouts. I'm sorry you were drawn into this, and I- wish us all the best of luck, my dearest friends." Serenity took a deep breath to keep her composure. This was the first battle she'd fought in many years, since the Nega-Moon had first been banished. And she might lose her friends and family trying to save what was left of her beautiful city, her home . . . It couldn't end like it had before, history would NOT repeat itself! Not here, not on her daughters' world like it had on hers. The Moon Kingdom's downfall, the end of the perfect Silver Millennium . . .

Endymion's strong, warm hand found hers and he lifted her delicate fingers to his lips in a sweet, loving kiss. She smiled softly as her hand fell against his chest and his arm draped supportively around her waist.

It was time to begin.

__________________________

"Sailor Moon!!"

The Scouts and royal family were very suddenly joined by a little girl being chased by two familiar figures and a second, younger child.

"Mommy! Daddy, you're all right!" The first little girl looked nearly identical to Rini in her little blue school uniform; same eyes, same bunny hair style except her pink hair was a shade darker, more into lavender. Her proud and confident expression was so much like her father's. She raced up to the king and queen, giving them both huge hugs. Her father picked her up as Serenity's arms were by now full with the younger twin.

"Irene!" Rini cried and reached to embrace her sister. They looked happy to have their family reunited again. Behind them, Sailor Moon was holding Tux's hand, smiling with delight as he realized his first daughter had a twin sister. A twin sister. Two Rinis. Three children. His incredulous look was met with a very happy, deep kiss.

"Serina, you air-headed moon bunny! I can't believe you thought you could leave me alone with LUNA and ARTEMIS! You know how boring they are? I get to go next time!" The elder girl called. She seemed to be back in full spirits now that she had the protection and love of her parents again. Acting like the scene earlier never happened. But Sailor Moon caught the apologetic side-glance her child cast in her direction and rolled her eyes. They never listened to her, did they?

Rini cringed back from her sister's stretched hands, as far back as her mother's arms would allow. She clutched her time key close to her and stuck her tongue out.

"No way! Puu gave me this key, just for me for my birthday. You got the life seed-thingy!" She argued. Serenity's hand fell over the child's mouth, as did Endymion's to halt the bickering before the twins could continue and reveal even more information.

"Girls, stop. Behave like the princesses you are." The king reprimanded, as he and his wife set the girls down beside them and holding their hands to keep them from further trouble. He turned to the two adults that Irene had gotten away from. Again. A midnight-black haired woman and pure moonlight-white haired man stood by attentively, if a little out of breath and exasperated, with a little mouse-gray haired child between them. All three bore the same golden crescent insignia as the royal family. As the king spoke, Rini wriggled free from her mother's protective grasp and the barrier created by the king and queen's legs and rushed to the little gray-haired girl.

"Diana!" He smiled as Small Lady met her best friend.

"Luna, Artemis, are you aware of the situation?" In the background, the king heard gasps of surprise, the younger Sailor Venus nearly fainted in shock.

"Yes, your majesty. It's good to see you on your feet again, Endymion." The pale man spared a second to flash a smug smile at his former mistress before he bowed quickly to the king. The large group began their quick pace back to the roof of the palace. "Would you like us to take Lady and Small Lady to a protected area? The princesses need to be guarded but in a final confrontation against this Dark Moon, even the untrained powers of the earth and moon would be assets, Endymion."

"I know, but I don't want to risk them. It's bad enough Serenity must use the Silver Crystal in her condition. We are taking too many risks as it is. Take the girls and Luna down to a sheltered area, keep them safe, if we fail, get them out of here. If need be, take them back to the past, live in Tokyo with our younger selves. See that Sailor Pluto arranges that. I won't lose them in this battle, by accident or because they are untrained." The king stopped abruptly and caught both his girls in a quick hug. Serenity understood as well, and did the same for both her daughters.

Artemis pulled the king aside and asked if he should call upon Princess Rose and King Tranquility from their separate kingdoms to help.

"No, there's not enough time for my sister or Travis to get here. Serenity's brother has troubles of his own holding up against the Nega-Moon and protecting his kingdom."

"Very well, Endymion, we'll send word of warning but if you think you can handle it . . ."

"Thank you, Artemis, that will be all. Take care of our children and your selves. Use Small Lady's time key if you must." The king returned to his wife's side as Artemis did the same.

"Lady, Small Lady, behave yourselves and listen to Luna and Artemis. We'll be back for you as soon as this is over." Serenity kissed them both on the forehead and watched as their godparents and guardians carried her precious little girls away. "We love you."

'Do they really think we're gonna stay with these guys?' Irene asked her twin in her mind.

'Does it matter? I've seen what Sailor Moon and the Scouts can do and they're gonna need our help even if they are invincible. Even Mommy and Daddy can't do this by themselves.'

'Good, then we escape as soon as the cats let us go!' Irene smiled mischievously, a sneaky smile that was mirrored on an identical face.

__________________________

"With the shield gone, the Nega-Moon will waste no time in attacking the palace. Scouts, combine your powers with each other for a Sailor Planet Attack. Sailor Moon and Serenity will use the Silver Crystals to combine the power and destroy the Nega-Moon. Those left standing will take care of the left over droids and creatures." The Scouts nodded in understanding to the king's commands as they emerged on the crystalline platform of the palace roof. "And Sere, please be careful . . ." He whispered to his wife and she smiled weakly.

Using the Silver Crystal was potentially dangerous when the queen was with child. The possible effects of so much power were unknown; no record thus far had ever been retrieved. However, Sailor Mercury was still very against the casual use of the crystal in the young queen's condition even after Rini and Irene had been born healthy. But in times like these, they had no choice either way.

As predicted, the Dark Moon Prince's fleet had begun their final assault. Ships dropped from the sky like black ice hailstones, monsters of every shape and form swooped down to attack; dragons, insects, coarse-haired bat-like beasts hovered as they scanned the area for targets.

They found the royal couples of past and present.

As the swarms of enemies flew down, the Scouts spread out to defend, Sailor Moon revealed her scepter and Silver Crystal, Tuxedo Mask drew forth fistfuls of deadly roses. Serenity calmly raised her own crystal in silent defiance as King Endymion drew his silver sword and three roses, one of crystal, one of molten gold, and the last of the purest red, misty petals.

Discs and arrows of flame, ropes and showers of gold, shocks of lightning and thunderous winds, storms of water and ice attacked the droids that came too close. The inevitable retaliating blasts of black energy were countered with scepter magic, swords, and roses.

"Cosmic Moon Power!" Entire sections of Dark Moon ships disintegrated with the release of glittering white energy from Serenity's crystal. Beside her, her husband fought off charges with fancy, skilled sword work, protecting his wife from the evil fires and weapons that got through the Scouts' defenses. The skies were soon opaque with the gray dust of dead droids, one of the Mercurys' bubble mists managed to clear the air only a little but the warriors were soon left blind.

A flash of silver-blue light nearby caught the attention of everyone as a familiar white figure materialized in the air above them. His hard, insane expression drew shudders from both Sailor Moon and Serenity as he stared directly at them, studying, memorizing their faces, lancing their identical blue eyes with his piercing gaze and invading their minds.

"You thought you could defeat me? I am disappointed in you. After the reports of my officers, I expected better, Sailor Scouts. And foolish Endymion, you should never have allowed your precious empress to fight your battles for you." With a swipe of his hand, everyone was knocked from their feet by an invisible blow. As they flew through the dusty air, his hand clenched and two figures froze in mid-air. Neo-Queen Serenity and Sailor Moon hung motionless in the gray mist. "Two Serenitys for me and none for you." Both women struggled to fight off the terrible grasp, frightened for their lives and reaching for their friends who were now quickly rising to help them.

"Darien! Help!" Sailor Moon's eyes pleaded with his, desperate to be free of the unseen hands that held her in the air away from her protector's safe arms. She screamed again as her struggles were rewarded with a tightened grip that squeezed the breath from her.

"Serina! NO!" Both King Endymion and Tuxedo Mask yelled and raised their roses to take aim. Several arrows of flame beat them to their mark, but the evil prince safely teleported a few feet away. With a sneer of contempt he chuckled at the wasted attempt and dragged his catch closer to him.

"Be careful, Sailor Mars, Endymion; you forget, if I hurt this one, the other feels it as well. You can't be too careful with these exquisite angels, they're so delicate . . ." With that threat he released a blast of lightless energy at Sailor Moon. Caught in the air, her cry dying on her lips, she arched in agony but was unable to hide from the pain. Feeling the immediate memory of pain, even as it was created, Serenity held her hand over her mouth to keep from echoing the scream. Only a small whimper escaped from both women.

Serenity's own mind was barely functioning at this point; it was all she could do to mentally shield her husband and the younger Darien from the pain they would feel as well through their soul bond. Serenity clutched her crystal close, her only defense now. She was prepared to use it but kept it from his view. The others couldn't help them now, they wouldn't risk hurting them again. The queen glanced over at her counterpart and saw the child-like warrior hanging limply in the air. She wasn't dead, only unconscious. A flicker of movement from the girl negated that thought as she spied the girl pulling her own crystal closer to her chest, out Prince Diamond's sight. Abruptly, Sailor Moon sighed and dropped her free hand in a seeming dead faint, letting it swing naturally into a circular, lifeless motion. It was a signal!

Even as Serenity realized this, the prince smiled coldly and drew them ever closer, reeling them in and preparing to vanish with his prizes. "I have what I want, you may die now." He swept a hand over the warriors and they fell, collapsing under the incredible telekinetic pressure.

'Endy, we're ready, do it now! Before he leaves with us, love!' The king heard his wife's silent cry and managed to raise himself upright. He motioned to the others, even as he hurled a dozen carefully aimed roses at the man that dared try to kidnap his true love.

"Now!" He shouted to the Scouts. They needed no further prompting. Each group of Scouts rose and broke off, the elder with the elder, the younger with the younger. They linked their hands and tapped into their powers. Bravely, they ignored the mounting pressure from Prince Diamond's magic and concentrated on welling their power into a pool for Sailor Moon and Neo-Queen Serenity to use.

Then suddenly the pressure was relieved, like a board had levered in between them and Diamond's power. It wasn't completely gone but somehow they were granted a brief respite. Unnoticed, a young, sapphire-haired man floated nearby, gazing on his only brother with grief and disappointment.

"Mars Power!"

"Jupiter Power!"

"Venus Power!"

"Mercury Power!" Reds, golds, blues, and greens of all hues and shades rose around the eight women in glorious, elemental auras.

Prince Diamond noticed his victims' sudden reanimation and redoubled his own efforts but to no avail, the girls were stronger than they looked. He began to realize he alone might not be a match against the ten of them. He reached for his queens and physically took hold of Sailor Moon. At that same moment she whirled on him, his slight touch sending disgusted shudders through her body. As close to him as a handbreadth, she threw her tiara with all her might into the prince's chest.

"NO! Diamond!" A stunned voice cried, and the young man teleported beside his brother. Sapphire nearly fell from the heavens to see his brother in such pain. He understood it was his own fault but no one deserved to die, not even Diamond! He was just misguided! He'd never meant for any of this to happen, he just wanted to lead his people to peace and happiness! And he went a little girl crazy. It was Wise Man's fault! 'I'll avenge him for you, dear brother. He will not survive this world's wrath.'

Shocked by the sudden attack, Diamond let go of Sailor Moon, his invisible grasp on the Neo-queen released and she caught herself in a gentle hover with her commanding power. Sapphire held his brother, reaching to catch the moon warrior as she began to fall. The girl's eyes widened is shock; she hadn't expected to see such emotion in the Nega-Moon family, nor the valiant effort to save her.

A memory flashed through Sailor Moon's mind as she stared up at the floating young man hanging onto her arm. He was quite handsome and looked younger than Rubeus but little older than Garnyt. He was crying because of what she'd done to his brother but he still saved her from falling- He looked so sad and yet, so understanding and- repentant? He had dark blue hair and dark blue eyes, the color of lightless sapphire . . .

@~~}~~~~ "What's up with Prisma, you guys? She's seems so down when she sees me and Darien together- I can't understand why!" Serina stood in Garry and Robert's kitchen, cleaning up dishes with Birdie.

Birdie winced and smiled sadly, sympathetic for her oldest sister. "Oh, well, you see, Prisma kinda had a 'guyfriend' back home, on the Nega-Moon. She never told anyone, maybe him, but she was in love with Prince Diamond's brother Sapphire. They couldn't be together on the moon though. Sapphire was so busy with his brother and trying to keep the family together-"

"Oh, that's awful! What happened?"

"We were sent here with Rubeus. She hasn't seen him since- except maybe in her dreams . . ." Birdie sighed.

"I'm so sorry for her. If only I could help her- he must have been good, right? Like you guys?" She handed over a plate for her pale-haired friend to dry.

"I always thought he was cold, distant- He worked too much and too hard but then again, he did care a lot for his brother; it was all for his family."

"Poor Prisma . . . @~~}~~~~

"Sapphire . . ?" Sailor Moon whispered. The younger Nega-Moon prince froze, shocked that she might know him or even remember him from her brief 'visit' to the dark moon. His eyes glittered with respect and tears as he barely nodded-

"Serina!" Tuxedo Mask called from below, interrupting their interlude. Moon glanced down, feeling relatively safe in Sapphire's presence, his brother seemingly in shock and posing little threat.

Her eyes returned to his, glowing with love and sympathy. "Prisma misses you, Sapphire . . ." She murmured, her secret released and his reaction was surprise. He was so surprised, his grip on her loosed and she began to fall. She wasn't at all frightened, she didn't make a sound as the wind blew past her and the two brothers fell further away.

"SERINA!" Instantly Sapphire seemed to awaken from his reverie and he teleported beside Sailor Moon. Neo-Queen Serenity was right behind him, catching her younger self before the man could touch her.

"Save our worlds, Sailor Moon- Serenity . . ." He requested softly as Serenity pulled away, sensing danger was imminent.

With his hostages gone, King Endymion and Tuxedo Mask unleashed their storms of roses, oblivious to the dark angel trying to protect his brother. Razor edges sliced through Diamond's silver-blue cape, full, red roses exploded on contact. With the rage of revenge behind them, the two men never let up in their attacks, seeking to distract if they couldn't land a fatal blow. Behind them, the queen and newly transformed moon princess gathered the flowing planetary powers into their crystals like a rainbow to a prism.

Sapphire took hold of his brother, his voice gone though he still begged forgiveness with his heart and soul. Diamond collapsed in his arms and Sapphire choked back a sob as his only family seemed to leave him completely isolated in a cruel world. "No! Diamond, please don't leave me alone, you promised to show me the world, the flowers, Diamond! Brother, you should have listened to me about Wise Man! I'll kill him- this whole war is his doing! He will pay, for you." With that promise, the pair disappeared in a flash of brilliant light.

Oblivious, Neo-Queen Serenity and former Princess Serenity clasped hands, now caught up in the liberation of Crystal Tokyo. The two crystals spinning, glowing, slowly blooming between the two women as they shouted their commands.

"COSMIC MOON POWER, UNITE!" With that, the combined energies stored within the two Silver Crystals exploded outward, encompassing all of Crystal Tokyo and the heavens above her. The hot white light erupted like a supernova, destroying all evil within its path, healing all harm done, awakening and repairing the city.

Serenity had experienced this kind of overwhelming power before, after healing the world from its ice age sleep. It had drained her heart and soul, and she'd slept nearly a month after exerting such control over the Silver Crystal with so powerful a wish. Healing her city and wiping out the Nega-Moon forces wasn't on so large a scale as that but she had another life to protect within her.

That was why Serina was with her, sharing in the effort. Serenity used the young girl to lean on, letting her take on most of the fight. Unfortunately, the closest she had ever come to using the Cosmic power of the crystal was in Beryl and Metallia's defeat and that had killed the moon princess. Serina, Sailor Moon, or even Princess Serenity wasn't ready for this; she hadn't mastered enough control yet to accomplish this incredible attack, nearly by herself, and possibly survive!

__________________________

"I'll find a way back to you."

"But that's why you have me, child." Serina's eyes were closed, she knew they were, she could feel them but she couldn't deny that she saw Neo-Queen Serenity standing before her either. And beside her, her mother, Queen Serenity of the White Moon.

"Hey, what's going on? Am I dead? Did you die too, Serenity? Did we win? Oh no! What'll happen to Rini and Irene if we die!" Serina, still transformed as her long lost moon princess self, raced to her mother's open arms, scared to death that she'd just lost her daughter and the twin daughter she'd barely gotten to know. And poor Neo-Queen Serenity, she had her child as well, and he'd never be born! Darien would die without her, everyone would hate her for not being good enough to defeat the enemy! She'd failed! Even if the Dark Moon had been destroyed, she'd failed anyway if everyone she loved died! Everything was falling apart! Princess Serenity cried and cried, wailing for the loss she'd helped cause with her own death.

Her mother stroked her hair and rubbed her shuddering back comfortingly. "Do not worry, darling, everything will be all right, everyone is fine." She lifted her daughter's chin and kissed the princess's golden crescent. "You don't have to join me yet, princess, you've still too much to do on earth."

"Darien and the others are waiting for us, Serenity. We won and the world is saved again. Please, come back with me. Your friends are worried." The princess smiled cautiously and pulled away from her mother. She could go home- she wasn't dead! Darien was probably worried sick about her- Serenity suddenly realized how weak she felt, even in this colorful limbo. Like she was exhausted to the point of collapse in her own mind. Neo-Queen Serenity reached a hand for her as Queen Serenity let her go and faded away with a good-bye. "Serina, reach, take my hand and I'll guide us back to the real world."

Serenity closed her eyes a moment to the tears that spilled over as she watched her mother disappear again into the depths of her memory. When she opened them again she suddenly realized that Neo-Queen Serenity had drifted much further away, and she, herself, now stood on the edge of a cliff, her older mirror image hanging in the air, being pulled from her reach! The moon princess cried out in fright, not wanting to lose her chance to come back from where ever she was. This terrible place suddenly reminded her of the nightmare she and Darien had shared. This couldn't be real- where WAS she? She wanted to go home, she wanted Darien to hold her, and Rini and Rei to tease her! "Where am I!" She whispered in growing horror as realization began to dawn on her.

The answer came not from her future self, not from a human person at all, but a bodiless voice that floated around her like her own thoughts within her mind. "Serenity's soul is caught within the Silver Crystal. Her wish was for all to live . . ."

The older Serenity suddenly called out again as the powerful, familiar voice faded to nothingness. "Your friends are giving everything they can so you will come back, Serenity. Rini and Irene need you, Darien needs you, even pyro Rei needs you. Reach, Serenity! Jump!" Behind the Neo-queen, Serenity could hear her friends calling for her to wake up, to fight. She heard Darien, begging her to come back to him, as if she'd already gone.

"I love you, Serina, you've got to come back to me, fight it, for ME! You can't leave me alone now, I just got you back! You can't leave me . . ." She heard him, tears racing down her cheeks as she realized she was dead or dying, her mind trapped inside the Silver Crystal. It was the only thing keeping her alive, just as she asked of the crystal but hadn't had the strength or energy to complete the wish. Now the others were trying to help her, sending their energy and Neo-Queen Serenity, the one person who could navigate the depths of the Silver Crystal but she was too far! There was no way she could come back! But she heard her prince's voice pleading with her again, to fight; reminding her of the ring on her finger, of her promise to return and marry him.

"Oh, I want to, Darien! But there's nothing to fight here. Serenity, come back! Come closer so I can reach you! Please!" She could see the dreamlike view of the world outside, the one she was somehow cut off from now. She stretched a finger to trace the image of Darien's handsome features, her wonderful eternal love, her fiancé, and the most important person in her life. But the dream only faded further as her strength ebbed.

"Serina, jump! A leap of faith for your friends and family, Sere, the power of love can do anything if you believe in it! Don't give up!" Serenity herself fought to come closer but to no avail, she was drifting away. She was afraid this would happen! Serina saw the almost desperate look on her face and knew her time was running out. If she didn't jump and make it, Serenity would cease to exist, her children, Crystal Tokyo, the world would die. She'd never see Sammy or Luna or her parents again. Or Molly and Andrew. She strained to hear Darien or her friends but their voices were drowning in silence.

Taking one last glance behind her, Serenity studied what she was leaving behind for her perilous life. The cliff she stood on led to firm ground; the image of her home, the moon palace, grandly flooded behind her, her lovely mother watching her carefully from a distance, a tall figure standing supportively beside her. 'We will always love you, my daughter. And we will always be waiting for you.' Serenity nodded, knowing she was turning her back on her mother, her father, and the peaceful life she'd been meant to lead in the Silver Millennium. The endless tranquility and love and . . . rest. She was so tired of the fighting, the danger, the worry for her friends and family. Every day wore her out and no one could ever understand why except her Scouts who faced the same thing. But they handled it better, they always worked better without her there to screw things up with her klutz attacks . . .

'Serina! You can do it! I love you- please, Serina, you must come back to me . . . Dear God, no. Please don't leave me . . .' She heard faintly. Serina sighed, her last breath releasing the hope of remaining in the heaven she'd found here. Darien needed her, she needed him. Her friends were depending on her, just as she would always depend on them. Her daughters needed her more than anything- She knew what she had to do.

"Anything for you, my love . . ." She whispered then leapt from the cliff just as it began to break apart beneath her. She never had a chance of reaching Serenity. She was falling, unstoppable and screaming. Her moon silk princess gown billowed around her like wings, her golden hair streamed upward. She saw Serenity smile even as she disappeared forever from this crystal cage. 'Oh my God! What's happening! What kind of trick is this!' Princess Serenity dropped, plummeting into empty blackness, her cries for help echoing off the unseen walls of the chasm until she hit ground.

And returned to life.

__________________________

"We'll be together again, I promise."

Her breath was knocked from her body and she was unable to move anything. She moaned carefully, sucking in her breath through weak lungs and slowly blinked, wincing and squinting.

"Serina! Thank God, you're back!" Tuxedo Mask's watery blue eyes delved into hers, searching for a reassuring glimmer of life. His strong arms around her were warm, shaking with fear and worry, and the sweet kisses he covered her with trembled through their softness. He'd obviously been scared to death.

"Sailor Moon! You're awake! You're ALIVE!" The Scouts gathered around, Mars most of all crying the hardest and squeezing her hand, painfully.

'Serenity said Serina was dying, she couldn't reach her and she would be lost in the depths of the Silver Crystal forever! And then, when she stopped breathing and we couldn't find a pulse-' Mars thought, her heart felt like it would never stop beating so fast, Serina would surely be the death of her one of these days! "Don't ever try something so stupid again, Meatball head! Serenity said you nearly gave up on us! You can't EVER lose hope in us!"

"Don't- worry . . . Never, again . . . promise . . ." She wheezed. It still felt like she'd dropped a hundred stories into solid cement. Her body ached to the point she couldn't move a finger without cringing, even shifting her eyes made her head ache. And what was with that terrible dream? How much of it was real? Sailor Moon squeezed her eyes shut and breathed haltingly in an attempt to clear her head and regain control of her body. Above her, Tuxedo Mask, now minus the mask, busied himself with kissing her forehead, temple, cheeks, everything but her mouth which was still desperately trying to recover precious lost air. 'How long was I- dead?' She wondered hesitantly as her prince continued hugging her cautiously as if to make sure she really was alive. She cherished every instant of his touch.

"You scared me, Sere, don't ever do that again. I thought I'd lost you-"

"I know, love, I thought I'd lost you, all of you, and I couldn't do anything but jump cause Serenity kept fading away, and I could barely hear you anymore. I almost stayed with Mother, I was so tempted and now I feel awful but then I heard you and I realized- I just couldn't- Then I jumped and was falling-" She rushed to tell her dream, her words tripping over her tongue before Darien halted her with a breath-taking, heart-stopping kiss. Her mind jumped into high gear deciding this was the reason she'd come back from the brink of death.

"As long as you always come back to me, Serina. I love you, don't ever doubt that for a second, even if you can't hear me saying it."

"But I did hear you. I love you too, Endy. And I would do anything for you." Serina held her breath, captivated, as she lost herself in his deep eyes, forgetting everything else around her and the pain within her. She just knew her prince looked even more irresistible in the moonlight that now outlined his face, his fringes of black hair gleaming a soft bluish tint and his eyes glowing a dark sapphire blue. 'God, he looks good, and he's mine! And he loves me more than anything.'

'Princess, you are so perfect, beautiful, and caring, my own angel. I can't believe I almost lost you. I'll never leave you alone, I'll always be by your side to protect you.' He kissed her again and grinned at the dreamy smile on her lips, lost in her wide blue eyes that glistened with honesty and tears.

"ALL RIGHT all ready! Give it up! Let the poor girl breathe, will ya!" Sailor Jupiter clapped Tuxedo Mask on the shoulder, smiling a little with embarrassment. Venus and Mercury were a little red in the cheeks but Mars was positively disgusted.

"If you don't let her get up, Tuxedo Mask, she'll never recover and then we'll have to listen to her WHINING for the next thousand years!" Both Serenity and Sailor Moon pouted and cried out in indignation.

"HEY!" 'When did I get involved in this?' Serenity asked her husband in a hurt voice. He just smiled and shook his head in consolation. He never did master handling Mars's smart mouth and just agreed with her or disagreed depending on how his wife felt. Now he could just laugh at them.

The elder Sailor Mars snickered at the group and shot her younger self a thumbs up. "Ain't that the truth!" She agreed, laughing.

Tuxedo Mask carefully lifted Sailor Moon in his arms to keep her even closer to him and reassure himself she was alive. He held her delicately as though she was fragile glass to break at the slightest brush. She had died in his arms during the battle, her energy gone, her very life force expended to save her future. He had felt like he had died with her. Neo-Queen Serenity was his only hope that she would somehow return to him, but then Serenity began to disappear- She had come up with the idea to save Serina, with the very last of their strength to help her free Serina from the Silver Crystal. He was once again amazed by the miracle his fiancée was. Serina hadn't been up to the task after all the trials she'd all ready been through and still his extraordinary princess had survived it all.

His miraculous, amazing, gorgeous princess. She was so lovely. The sky above was twinkling with revealed stars as they gradually returned, the moon hung like a tear drop, full, pure, and as luminant as the beauty in his grasp.

Around the two lovers, the Scouts fanned out again, the king and his queen held each other, ready to return to their children and friends in the palace. The city of Crystal Tokyo had been restored, the peaceful people were waking and milling around in concern for neighbors and the royal family. King Endymion and Neo-Queen Serenity would soon be needed to calm the populace and explain the long overdue defeat of the Nega-Moon invaders.

King Endymion sighed at the undesirable prospect of making speeches when he should be catching up with his lost daughter and making up for all Irene's hugs he'd missed while injured. He gazed over his wife, studying her grace, her serenity, her lovely, heart-stopping eyes- and smiled. There were other things to catch up on as well.

Serenity glanced up at him, sensing his dread and hearing him sigh. She gazed upon him with mischievous eyes and a lilting smile as she reached up and kissed him. 'All will be well. We have forever together remember?'

__________________________

"I'm afraid she's leaving us!"

"Together forever, hmm, Darien? Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion-" Sailor Moon whispered as she contentedly snuggled into his velvety tuxedo. She listened to his breathing, his heartbeat, in perfect time with her own.

"Serina Tsukino and Darien Shields; that's all I care about, Meatball head." Tux kissed the top of her head as she giggled.

"Me too. Someday it'll be Mrs. Serina Shields, though, Endy. Someday soon, I hope." She sighed remembering she was still only fifteen though events made her forget that sometimes. Her spirit was over a thousand years old, she'd died three times all ready. Her 'soon' would likely not be for another two or three years, assuming she didn't wait for college or her parents agreed so they didn't have to elope.

"Someday, my princess. You've always been my only love and nothing can stop us from being together. This wedding's waited a millennium, it can wait another year or so." He reassured her. This girl was meant to be his wife, from even before the moon. She wore his ring, again, but this time neither evil nor death could keep them apart. She was his and he would defend her to his last breath, vows or not.

"Uh, guys, we've got a problem!" Jupiter's warning grabbed the attention of the group, the confusion and fear in her voice stopped all conversation as she pointed at the two Sailor Mercurys.

They were fading . . ?

"Mercury!" Sailor Moon leapt from Tuxedo Mask's arms and ran for her blue-haired friend, stumbling to her side. Poor Ami seemed frightened out her mind as her vanishing fingers typed madly into her palmtop. "What's happening!"

Moon looked up to see Serenity and the elder Scouts hovering around the other Sailor Mercury even as she dwindled away. She whipped her head back to her friend as Mercury spoke, her voice echoing as if from a great distance.

"In the past, I'm dying- I died, it must be-"

"Emerald! She's defeating the Scouts one by one!" The older Mercury interrupted, continuing her younger self's thoughts as if they were her own. "Sere, tell Greg that I love him . . ."

Venus cried out in shock as her fingers began to dissolve into gold dust just as the Mercurys both evaporated into blue bubbles.

"Guys, I'm next . . ." Her voice wavered with fear but she tried to remain calm, accept it as her friend had. She wouldn't allow her last moments to be panicked ones; her friends would find a way to fix everything. And if not . . . She loved them.

"No, not you too, Venus! NO!" Sailor Moon raced to her golden friend, the Scout of love and beauty, the original Sailor Scout. "No, Mina, you can't- I won't lose you too!" Yellow dust floated and settled around the two as Moon embraced her idol a last time.

Behind her, Sailor Moon heard the older Sailor Venus whisper to her. "You were right about Andrew. Sere- tell my husband- my family-"

There was nothing she could do to stop her from disappearing! And once she was gone who'd be next? They were losing the Scouts! They were DYING- in the past!

"How can this be possible? If we're here, how can our past selves be dying?" Jupiter shouted, angrily. Tears stung the tall warrior's green eyes as she watched Sailor Venus fade with a last smile and the Sailor V sign.

"We can't just let us fade away like this! We've got to do something!" Mars cried. Tuxedo Mask placed a hand on Moon's shoulder as she cried where she had collapsed to her knees in between where Mercury and Venus had vanished before her eyes. What if she was next? What if HE was!? Sailor Moon jumped up and threw herself into his chest and he held her as best he could.

"Sailor Moon! Pull yourself together! We need to do something before-

"Before I go." Jupiter lifted a hand for them to see, even as the elder Jupiter did the same. Her fingers were disappearing in tiny flashes of white lightning.

"NO! No, no, this isn't happening! We can't be defeated without even fighting! Jupiter, don't go!" Moon reached for her but only an arc of blue electricity touched her and she pulled back from the startling shock.

"You've got to fight for us, Sailor Moon. Mars and Tuxedo Mask will protect you- I'm sorry I can't help . . . Hang on to Darien this time, 'kay?" Jupiter whispered as she burst into a brilliant cascade of green, white, and blue sparks.