Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Reconciliation ❯ Missing Peices ( Chapter 5 )

[ P - Pre-Teen ]

Reconciliation Part 5: Missing Pieces


A shriek only worthy of Serena filled Darien's ears and startled him out of his sleep. Unconsciously, he leapt off the bed and drew his sword. Only when he saw Serena cowering and screaming on the other side of the room, did his mind register what had happened. He slipped his sword back into its sheath and shook his head. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, he began to walk towards her. Serena only screamed louder at the sight of him coming closer, which agitated Darien further.
"Damn it, Serena! Can't you stop screaming for a second!" he bellowed at her.
"Who are you!?" she yelled back at him. "What are you doing in my chambers? And how dare you address me so informally!"
At this moment, Queen Serenity ran into the room, knowing full well what had made her daughter awaken the entire palace with her screaming. Serena ran to her.
"This man was on my bed, mother!" she shouted on the verge of tears. Serena stunned him when she didn't begin wailing, but only sobbed quietly into her mother's dress.
Queen Serenity looked at him disapprovingly. "I warned you it was not a good idea for you to be here when she awoke. That she would not remember you. Yet you stayed." Her tone was not accusing, more understanding then anything else.
Darien rubbed his face with the back of his hand. He knew she was right, but it still hurt that Serena didn't remember him. He said nothing as he walked out into the hall. Ignoring the looks of the servants in the hall, he slumped up against a wall and waited.
Karen ran past him a moment later, flashing him a look that he ignored, and ran into the room. Darien listened as the two women calmed Serena down and her mother told Serena she had to leave, but promised to come back later to answer her daughter's questions.
Darien shut his eyes and waited as he listened while Serenity left the room, her shoes clicking on the marble floor, and the door closing behind her.
"Endymion." She addressed him, "Let me show you to your room." He opened his eyes and followed the queen in silence as she spun away from him and began down the hall. They walked in complete silence until they finally reached a door, which he recognized as the guestrooms. They had been followed every step of the way by whispers and disapproving looks. Darien was grateful for the privacy of the guestrooms.
This time a servant opened the doors and let both the prince and queen into the rooms. Darien heaved a loud sigh and slumped onto a nearby couch.
"I know this is difficult for you Endymion, but it will be much more so if you are not patient." Serenity said in her motherly tone. "You must give her time, approach her slowly."
He opened his mouth to protest, but quickly shut it again. He knew better then to argue with her. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew she was right.
"I know, your majesty. But it's so difficult. I feel so guilty for driving her away." He slumped forward and hung his head between his knees.
Serenity shook her head. She hated seeing him like this. "Endymion, don't worry. She will remember you, and she will forgive you, but in time. And please, we have known each other for too long for you to address me so formally, just call me 'Serenity'."
Darien nodded slightly. He stared at the plush carpet beneath his feet, trying to decide if Pluto returning him to the present on the moon was a curse or a blessing. Yes, he was grateful that he was once again able to see Serena, but she remembered him only in her sleep, and even then the memories were painful.
After a long moment of silence, he finally whispered a pleading question to Serenity. "What do I do?" Then he looked up at her with pleading eyes.
The look in Endymion's eyes pained Serenity to the core. This truly was a man in love, and filled to the brim with remorse. At that moment, she glimpsed the depth of his feelings for her daughter, and his need to win her back. Her breath caught in her throat as she struggled to find an answer to her question. Then she smiled her beautiful and serene smile, which did almost as much to reassure Darien's heart as did her words. "Follow your heart, and it will lead you to hers."
Even though her reply made little sense, it spoke volumes to his heart. Feeling the burden of his pain lifted somewhat, if only temporarily, Darien immediately began to feel exhausted.
"You need to rest." Serenity spoke gently, 'And I must attend to my daughter." She walked, almost floated to the door. "Sleep now. We will worry about Serena's heart once you are fully rested." Then she silently slipped out the door.
Alone in his room, Darien stripped himself of his heavy armour and crawled between the warm blankets after shutting out the early morning sun. As exhausted as he felt, his mind and heart were racing with questions, and the full force of his winning Serena back hit him like a truck. It all depended on him, the present, and most of all, the future. Would Crystal Tokyo become only a memory? Would Rini ever come back? Rini. Serena. His future family. Would they still be?
Eventually, his body won out over his mind and he fell into a fitful sleep.



"Why won't you tell me who that man was?" Serena almost yelled at her mother. She had to know. As handsome as he had been, she had a feeling of pain that tugged at her heart when she looked at him.
"That is something you must remember on your own." Serenity replied.
That wasn't an answer. "Are you saying I already know him?" Serena continued to attempt to pry answers from her. She knew more than she was telling. Serenity just looked at her. "Well? Who is he?" Serenity closed her eyes and shook her head. "Then where are the princesses? Answer me that."
Serenity let out an exasperated sigh. "I have told you dear, they are all on Earth."
"I don't believe you. You refuse to tell me where my friends have gone, and now you refuse to tell me who that man was with me last night. Why are you hiding things from me?" Serena demanded.
"It's for the best. You must remember on your own."
"Remember what!!???" Serena yelled in frustration. "How am I supposed to remember if I have no idea what I trying to remember??!!" She stared daggers at her mother for several minutes before heaving a sigh and giving up. There was no winning. Serenity was centuries old, no one could get anything from her that she wasn't willing to tell. "Fine, then at least tell me if he's still in the palace."
Serenity nodded. "He'll be staying with us for a while."
"What!" Serena shrieked, horrified that her mother was letting him stay after what he had done.
"You will be civil to him, Serena." Serenity said firmly. She remembered telling her daughter the same thing the first time she had been told she was going to meet Prince Endymion of Earth.



Queen Serenity made her way down the hall towards her daughter's room, knowing that was where she would find her daughter. From the laughter floating out the slightly opened doors, she knew Serena wasn't alone.
"Serena, honey," Serenity said as she knocked on the door while pushing it open. She was right, along with her daughter, were her four best friends, and protectors, the princesses of the other worlds. They were giggling hysterically over something. "What ever could be so entertaining?" she broke into the laughter.
"Prince Endymion!" Mars was gasping for breath between giggles.
"He has insulted Princess Serena!" Venus added, also short of breath.
"Oh?" Serenity asked. Whatever he had done, Serena didn't appear to be too insulted. She was laughing just as hard as the rest of the girls.
"He made fun of her hair." Mercury explained, calming down somewhat.
"Then she got mad and tripped him into a mud-puddle!" Jupiter finished.
"Serena!" Serenity gasped in shock. 'So that was why the Prince had requested to cancel the ball.'
"You should have seen him mother!" Serena was still laughing uncontrollably. "He was covered from head to toe with mud!"
"Then show me." Serenity requested. Serena sent her mother a mental image of the proud Prince Darien covered, as Serena had accurately described him, from head to toe in mud. It was in his hair, it coated his face and previously shiny black and silver armour, and even streaked on his cloak and sheath. The image was too hilarious, and the queen soon found herself doubled over with laughter at the sight of it. This only fueled the laughter of the princesses.
Once she regained her composure, Queen Serenity managed a look of seriousness. "Girls, I have something important you must know."
"What is it mother?" Serena asked, suddenly attentive.
"There is to be a ball tonight, to formally welcome the Prince of Earth, and…"
"What? Why?" Serena interrupted. Serenity gave her a look and continued.
"And, to announce the engagement of Princess Serenity to Prince Endymion."
The princesses gasped, then Serena's face turned red with fury.
"WHAT!" Serena had shrieked. "I will NOT marry him mother!"
"You will be civil to him tonight." Serenity had told her daughter firmly.



Serenity sighed. If only Serena could remember. Even though she had objected to the engagement, she had eventually fallen in love with the Prince of Earth.
"That, mother, is something I will decide." Serena spun away and stormed into her bathroom, shutting the door with some force behind her.
Serenity sighed as she left her daughter's bedroom. Serena had developed this new side to her while living on Earth. She had a will of her own and was quite determined to use it. At least she had not completely reverted to she past self.
Serenity made her way to her study and walked out onto the balcony. There, looking at nothing but the crystalline blue water, she could really think. The future of both the Earth and the Moon, as well as the rest of the planets rested solely on Endymion's shoulders, such a burden for a young man to be carrying. She had to help him in any way she could, after all, her granddaughter's life was at stake as well. 'The annoying pink rabbit' as Serena had so elegantly described the girl, was someone Serenity was determined to see added to this world.
Serenity smiled. She could picture Serena in her crystal palace, with her prince, finally her husband. The pair now King and Queen, and a third member added as living proof of their love. Serena deserved that kind of happiness after everything she and Endymion had been through, and all that is sure to come.
Her mind wandered back to night of the ball when the engagement had been announced. TO anyone who knew them, Serena and Endymion were both positively furious. Yet as the night wore on, one had to be blind not to see the growing attraction between the two.
'Endymion, if you… apologize… for insulting my hair, then I shall, in return,… apologize for pushing you into the mud puddle.' Serena had said to him barely above a whisper, while the two had finally allowed the other to dance with them. Endymion had chuckled low.
'Princess,' he had said, placing a finger under her chin and forcing her to meet his eyes, 'If you forgive me for insulting your beautiful hair, then I shall forgive you.'
Serena had smiled then. They were oh so close to each other's lips at that moment, but no one seemed to notice.
'Oh, Prince Endymion. I'm so sorry.' Serena's apology had been sincere and pleading. She had him hooked from that moment on.
'As am I.'
'I forgive you.' Serena's reply had been barely above a whisper.
'And I forgive you.' Endymion's was even lower. With that statement, Princess Serenity had fallen for him as hard as he had fallen for her moments before, and now they were fully prepared to seal this new relationship with a kiss.
Serenity would not have known about the moment had she not been standing but a few feet away. As their lips moved ever closer to the other's, as much as she wanted the relationship to work, she decided to slow them down and had chosen this moment to step in.
Serenity stayed in her reverie for a few moments before realizing that she had found the answer she was looking for.
"That's it!" she exclaimed to the sea. "We shall bring Endymion and Serenity together the same way as we did then." She frowned. She would need to bring the princesses to the moon in order to do this. They had a large hand in getting the two together the first time, and she would need their help again.
A knock at the door startled her from her thoughts. She walked back into her study and gave permission for the knocker to enter.
"Mother," came a small voice from the doorway.
"What is it dear?" Serenity greeted her daughter smiling.
"I wanted to apologize for getting upset at you. I may not like this man, but I know you have you reasons for keeping him here." Serena said quietly. "And to return this to you." Serena held up the brightly glowing Silver Crystal.
"Oh, Serena." Serenity hugged her daughter. "It's alright dear. You are right, I do have my reasons for keeping Prince Endymion with us."
"Ah hah!" Serena suddenly exclaimed, startling Serenity. "Now I know who he is!" She wrinkled her nose. "What is he a Prince of? You're not trying to set us up are you? You know how I feel about involved with anyone. Especially a stuck-up, self-centered prince!"
"Oh, Serena. Don't worry dear. I will not force you to be with anyone you do not want to be with." Serenity replied knowingly. Serena missed the look and tone.
"Good. Oh, here." Serena continued, remembering the crystal. "This was in my room. I believe it belongs to you." She held it up for her mother to take.
Serenity shook her head. "Serena, the Silver Crystal belongs to you now. That is way it was in your room."
Serena was completely confused. "No, the crystal belongs to you. You are the Queen. It will not belong to me until I am queen, which I truly hope will not come for a very long time." She placed the crystal in her mother's hands. "There, now it's back where it belongs. I certainly wouldn't want to lose it."
Queen Serenity's face became clouded with an intensely sad and worried look. She sighed audibly.
"Mother?" Serena asked concerned. "What's wrong?"
Serenity shook her head and willed a smile onto her face. "Nothing dear, now go prepare for dinner. It will be a formal dinner to welcome Prince Endymion to our home."
"Yes, mother." Serena nodded obediently. Just as she was about to leave, she jumped up and wrapped her mother in a hug. "I love you mother."
Serenity wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I love you too dear." They released each other and Queen Serenity sent her daughter off.
"Oh Serena," Serenity whispered after the door closed behind her daughter. "As much as I do wish you could stay here with me, I will not sacrifice your future for myself. You must remember the truth."



Darien was just waking up when there was a knock on his own door. He grumbled and pulled himself out of the bed and onto his feet. He grabbed his shirt and headed for the door.
"Yea, yea, I'm coming." He grumbled loudly when the person knocked again.
He pulled his shirt over his head and ran a hand though his hair as he trudged towards the door. He firmly grabbed the handle and flung it open. The person standing outside his door was the last person he expected to see.
"Serena." He gasped. She wrinkled her nose at the name. Then she noticed his appearance, and turned a becoming shade of reddish-pink. He watched as he colour flooded her cheeks, making her more irresistible than the moment before. It took ever ounce his self-control to keep himself from taking her into his arms and kissing all his feelings to her.
He ran a hand though his hair instead, although it did little to help, and stepped away from the door, letting her in. She took a few tentative steps into his room, then spun back towards the door, spluttering apologies.
Darien grabbed her wrist. Oh, touching her was a huge mistake. It was almost like touching an open wire, but much, much better. She looked up at him and he dropped her wrist.
"I'm so sorry for disturbing you." She apologized quickly.
"It's alright Serena. I should be getting up anyway." When she didn't move, he closed the door and headed back towards the bed and sat down. "Why did you come to see me?"
"Um…" Serena hesitated, seemingly enthralled with his movements.
He raised an eyebrow at her. If she didn't stop looking at him like that, he just might not be able to stop himself.
"I…" Serena started again. She realized what she was doing and snapped her eyes closed, turning redder.
'Oh, god! Why does she have to do that?' Darien thought, on the edge of losing his control. He closed his own eyes to stop his thoughts, but found them only to become more vivid instead. He heard her take a deep breath and prepared himself for a torrent of words.
"I came to apologize for this morning and to see if you needed anything for dinner tonight." She said smoothly, thanking Selene that her voice didn't betray her very confusing feelings. She was attracted to this man, yes, but looking at him also hurt. It felt like there was something that was keeping them apart, though she had no idea what it was.
Darien opened his eyes and looked directly at her. She spoke much more calmly than he had expected. Usually, when she took a deep breath, she followed it with a flood of almost incoherent words. 'My God, Queen Serenity was right. She's reverting back to the Princess.' Then what she had said filtered into his mind, and he realized that he was staring at her, and she was looking at him with a very puzzled expression.
"Prince Endymion? Are you alright?" she asked him.
He shook his head. "Yea, I'm fine." he lied. Inside, his stomach was tying into a giant knot. Her addressing him as Endymion, his past name, made the knot heavier. Then he realized that she knew at least one of his names. He looked up at her. She still had that confused expression on her face. Before he could stop himself, he walked across the room and grabbed her shoulders.
"Do you remember me?" he almost demanded.
She scrunched her eyebrows together. "What kind of question is that? Of course I remember you. I met you this morning."
He looked at her intently. "I mean before that."
She shook her head.
"Come on Serena, think! Try to remember!"
"How am I supposed to remember anything when I never laid eyes on you before this morning. And let go! You're hurting!" she was getting upset now, and he was beyond frustrated, so he let her go, rougher than he intended, but she was out of his grasp none the less.
"You are so rude!" she told him, loudly. He just looked at her. "I come in here to apologize for my reaction this morning, which I still think was your fault, and offer to help you prepare for the dinner tonight for you, and instead of accepting the way a gentleman would, you manhandle me!" Serena was furious now.
He ran a hand though his hair. "I'm sorry Serena. I'm just frustrated."
"Stop calling me Serena! You are to address me as 'Princess Serenity'!"
"Alright Princess! Just stop yelling!"
She huffed, but stop yelling at him. At that moment, the door was thrown open and two very hurried guards ran in.
"Princess, are you unharmed?" One asked her.
"Yes, I am fine." She replied calmly. "You may go."
The guards bowed and threw Darien a suspicious look, then left.
Serena turned back to Darien. "Well," she said questioningly. "You never did answer me. Did you bring the proper attire with you for your dinner tonight?"
"What dinner?" He asked her, confused now.
"What dinner? Oh really, you are impossible. My mother has arranged a formal dinner to welcome you for tonight.
'Oh no. I'd forgotten how much Queen Serenity liked parties.' He thought, exasperated.
She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. "You didn't bring anything but your armour with you, did you?"
He shook his head.
"I didn't think so. I will have something sent up in your size." She spun towards the door and was about to open it when Darien stopped her.
"Serena," he began. She looked daggers at him and he sighed resignedly. "Alright, Princess Serenity,"
"That's better." She interrupted.
"I'm sorry." He said very sincerely. He was apologizing for everything he had done on Earth, but she didn't know.
She nodded and left. Darien heaved a sigh and headed for the shower.
Less than half an hour later, several very nice and expensive tuxedos were delivered to his room. He slipped one on, and it fit perfectly. He sighed. 'At least she remembers my size.' He passed it off as a coincidence or subconscious memory, finished getting ready, and headed out the door towards the banquet hall.
'This is not going to be fun.' He thought as he approached the doors, which were opened for him by servants standing on either side. Looking around through the crowd of people, he was amazed by the number of people filling the room. The sight of four girls already seated at the head table caught his eye. He stopped dead in his tracks when he realized who they were.
Along with Serena and her mother, were Amy, Rei, Mina and Lita. Lita looked up from their conversation and caught his eye. She elbowed Mina who was sitting next to her. Queen Serenity noticed this and looked up as well. She smiled when she saw Darien in his tuxedo and got up, walking towards him.
"Prince Endymion. Welcome." She greeted him. She gave him a friendly embrace and peck on the cheek.
"How did the scouts get here?" He asked her, more than a little confused.
"Serenity returned the Silver Crystal to me this afternoon. With it I was able to contact them and bring them here. We will need their help to return Serena's memory to her." Serenity whispered to him as they walked towards the table.
"She gave the crystal to you?" Darien whispered back, confused.
"Yes. She had no idea why she had it." Serenity replied sadly. It meant that Serena was reverting even further back into her old self. They stopped talking when they reached the table. Serena and the girls stopped talking and stood to greet him.
"Prince Endymion." Serena greeted him formally. "I see the clothing I sent up for you was appropriate."
"Yes, Princess. Thank-you." He replied, somewhat surprised by her attitude. She was more like the princess now than she had been even that afternoon.
"May I introduce you to my friends." She gestured towards the girls, who were all dressed formally as well.
'Introductions? She doesn't remember she really doesn't remember anything.' Darien thought solemnly.
"This is Amy, Princess of Mercury." Serena continued, not noticing the look on his face.
"Serena, we already know Darien." Rei interrupted, perplexed. Serena looked at her, her brow scrunched together.
"I am sorry, Rei, but I do not know anyone by the name of Darien. If you are referring to the Prince, his name is Endymion. Such my mother told me." Serena replied smoothly.
The expression on Rei's face had turned from one of confusion to one of shock.
"Mars, what ever is wrong? Do I have a spider in my hair?" Serena asked her reaching up to check her hair.
"She doesn't remember Rei." Amy told her, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"I know Queen Serenity told us that, but I didn't believe it. She remembered us." Rei said barely above a whisper.
"She remembers us, but nothing about Darien, or anything after she met him as Prince Endymion." Mina answered her.
Lita walked past them all and hugged Darien. She had really missed her friend, especially since they had no idea where he had gone after he disappeared. Serena watched all of this, becoming more confused with every word.
"What is going on? I wish you would not speak of me as though I were in another room. What do I not remember? And what is this?" she asked them, gesturing towards Lita and Darien.
"Lita and I are good friends." Darien told Serena.
"Alright. That I can understand, now tell me what it is I have forgotten. My mother will not tell me."
"Serena, dear." Serenity interrupted. "It is time to begin."
Serena sighed, but did as was asked of her. She and the rest of the girls took their seats. Darien, apparently, was seated next to Serena, with Lita on his other side, and Queen Serenity on Serena's other side. Next to Lita was Raye and on the other side of Queen Serenity were seated Mina and Amy.
When the head table was observed taking their seats, the rest of the room followed suit. Queen Serenity proceeded to introduce Darien to the room as 'Prince Endymion of Earth.' He made a short speech of greeting, amazed by how formally he was able to speak. The dinner proceeded without incident, ending with an announcement by Queen Serenity about a ball the following evening to welcome the princesses back to the moon.
Darien had just stepped out of the room when he was ambushed by Lita. She grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the main hallway.
"Lita? What is it?" He asked her.
"Serenity wants to meet with all of us tonight in her study after Serena goes to bed." She whispered to him.
"Alright." He replied, than raised an eyebrow at her. "That's not everything?"
"I want to talk to you." She said. "But not here. Let's go outside."
Darien nodded and followed Lita out into the gardens. It really was a beautiful night. There was a slight breeze, but it was warm. The sky was clear and the bluish-green light that reflected from Earth illuminated everything in a urethral glow.
When she was sure they were alone, Lita spoke. "That was awful." She groaned.
"What?" Darien looked at her confused.
"The dinner. Actually, it was a nice party, but trying to talk to Serena was awful." Lita explained.
"I know. She didn't remember anything. I don't know how I'm going to get her to remember me." Darien sighed and sat down on a nearby bench sitting under a tree.
Lita watched as he looked around and a look of realization crossed his face.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Serenity and I used to come here. God I miss her Lita." He put his head in his hands.
Lita sat next to him. It was obvious how much he really did miss her.
A figure in a flowing white gown was watching from a high balcony. Watching the Prince filled her with an emotional turmoil that she didn't understand. It was then she realized that a piece of her mind was missing. The piece that explained her feelings that were connected with the Prince. Feelings of both joy and contentment as well as pain and utter sorrow. Whenever she saw him she found herself battling the urge to run into his arms and dispel the look of emptiness that filled his eyes, or break down into a mass of silk and body racking tears. She found herself doing neither yet again.
Serena sighed as she watched the Prince and Princess Lita far below in the garden. Her emotions warred within her, telling her to remember. She slammed her fists on the railing with determination. It was time to find her mother and get some answers.



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