From: To: Subject: (no subject) Date: Sunday, February 06, 2000 6:32 AM A Change of Destiny Ch.10 By: Ria TiMia637@aol.com Rated PG ********************************************************** “So who is going to be on first watch?” Amy looked around the circle of eager faces. Darien had wanted no one but himself to follow her but Amy and the others convinced him that he needed a job afterwards to fund all the sundaes Serena would be eating. “Marina and I will take the first shift since Darien has classes in the morning along with all of you,” Helen said in a calm voice. The smack she got from Marina was enough motivation to be amiable. “Okay since Lita and I have school with her we have second watch. Now since the afternoon is when everyone is free I suggest we bombard her with constant drop ins. The inners and I will gladly take the afternoon if you three can’t make it.” Darien and the two outer scouts gave Amy an incredulous glare for even suggesting that they would put something before their princess. “Okay maybe not,” Amy backed away slightly from their gazes. “Darien has complete watch over Serena during the sunset to sunrise. Since we all know what to do our meeting is adjourned and the next one will be tomorrow to refine our strategy for Serena’s birthday. We only have a week to perfect it so we must get it right. If I know Serena she will not be pleased to know that we abandoned her on her birthday.” They all smiled at each other for their cleverness and left with their good mood since they were sure that they had Serena cornered. “Hey Sere!” Selene turned around to see a very breathless Heather running towards her. Selene had woken up a tad earlier just so she could see the sunrise. Since she only had a week left then it was high time she saw a sunrise. “What’s up! Why are you up so early?” Heather plopped herself right next to Selene. Selene had sat underneath her usual tree so she would have a perfect view of the sun and the lake. She knew it would be just as breath taking as the sunset. “I snuck out to your apartment so I could maybe catch you before you go to school,” Heather blushed at being so forward. “’m sorry if I’m being pushy. If you want me to leave I won’t take it personally.” Selene smiled kindly at the lonely girl. Heather had been alone most of her life and during the circumstances that she was let out of her sleep people feared her too much to make friends with her. Selene took her hand and squeezed reassuringly, “Of course I would love to have your company. And if you don’t mind could you walk to school with me? I hate walking to school alone.” Heather gave her a brilliant smile and hugged her. Selene had said that it was her destiny to die for all of them. She said she understood that they wanted to protect their princess but she wasn’t their princess anymore. Heather might have been awakened to protect her princess but in the end she would protect her friend. Something so precious as friendship was as important to her as Princess Serenity was. So no one was going to take her first friend and her princess away from her. Darien had been alarmed when Selene had awakened so early to go to the park. His finger was on the emergency button on the communicator the whole time he followed Selene. He had relaxed his guard when he saw her sit underneath her usual tree and watch the lake. Darien never took his eyes away from the beauty that was revealed to him as the darkness was pushed away by the light. His trance was so deep that he would have walked right up to Serena and kissed her with all the pent up emotions he had harbored inside since she left him a second time. He would have done it too if Sailor Saturn had not come bounding out of the foliage. He didn’t know whether he was relieved or not. Darien watched and listened to the two girls conversation. He heard the other girl’s loneliness when she asked Serena if she could spend time with her. Darien saw Serena do the same thing she did for him and the other girls, engulf her in the warmth she offered with her friendship and love. He felt jealousy soon afterwards when he saw them share the closeness he was cheated of. ‘Damnit Serena! Why won’t you just let us help you?’ “I don’t mean to pry Sere but what are you going to do about Darien and the others?” that perked up Darien’s ears. ‘Yes Serena what are you going to do about the rest of us.’ Darien silently urged her on. They were holes that needed to be filled in before they could save Serena. “I don’t really know. Even if what you and the others think is true it doesn’t make a difference. My days are numbered and Darien and the others will not be able to figure it out in time.” Even though Selene had persuaded herself that she didn’t want the others to know Heather knew that deep down she still hoped that they would be there. Panic went through Darien’s body when he heard Serena speak. She sounded sure that she wasn’t going to survive. “Are you even going to let them know?” Heather felt bad for the others. She felt joy herself when she was with her princess and for the others not to have the same luxury was depressing. It was even worse for Marina and Helen since they won’t have a chance to know her this lifetime. “I’m thinking about it. It really doesn’t matter anyways.” “How could you say that!? Of course it matters! They love you more than life itself and it hurt them a lot when they thought you were dead.” Selene knew that Heather was getting frustrated with her. ‘I guess I could tell her. There is no harm in letting her know.’ “I don’t mean to sound insensitive Heather but what I say is true. It hurts just to think about it but maybe then you will understand why I say I am selfish. You see when the battle is over, regardless of whether or not I win you will all forget me,” Selene held out her hand to stop the denial that was about to come out of Heather’s mouth, “I don’t mean you guys will forget me in your own free-will. All of your memories of the me will be erased again. Starting from your recovered memories of the Silver Millennium to present day Tokyo. I’m not sure if you will remember each other but I hope you do.” Heather looked at her in horror. She thought she would always have the memory of her princess to comfort her when she was alone again. “But that is not fair. How come Susan can keep her memories of you and and...” “No Heather. Not even the all knowing Sailor Pluto will have her memory of me. You see, the only reason why she was allowed to keep her memories of the Silver Millennium was so she could save me from that fateful day I was dying in the snow. Her mission was to retrieve me and bring me to get the proper training from the elders. She doesn’t know of this and I think it will be best if I keep this one to myself. Rhea is very scary when angry.” Both had decided to stop talking. They both came her to relax and enjoy the sunrise but they couldn’t do both if they continued with their line of talk. Darien had been joined by Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus moments after Saturn arrived. They had woken up to a missing Heather so they came to find Darien. All three listened intently to the two girls conversation. What they heard wasn’t very optimistic. They had to do something fast before it was too late. The first day of ‘Save Serena’ was a big success. They had smothered Selene so much that it was a miracle that they weren’t blown to another dimension. Lita and Amy had kept peeking at her classes every five minutes and during lunch they even went with her to throw her garbage. After school was worse. Selene had to deal with six scouts and a soul-mate. She didn’t understand how they managed it but Selene found herself never alone. It was weird but she got the feeling that they were taking turns on who would spend time with her next. Without a doubt she knew the others had caught on to her identity. Actually she didn’t mind that they knew anymore. It gave her the chance to spend time with her old friends and make some new ones. She liked Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus instantly. Marina with her poise and sophistication and Helen with her daring and spunk. She took advantage of her time with her friends but like always the nega-verse shook her out of the dream she was being led to. The attacks came every night and during the day. But instead of the usual one ring arena method the attacks were separated and far apart from each other. Sailor Cosmos being the only one to finish off the job had found herself teleporting to each individual fight. She was losing energy fast and tiring very quickly. Selene knew that she couldn’t hold it together for very long. The Nega-Verse “You have to admit my Queen she has stamina. It would be of great advantage to us if we were able to bring her to our side,” Prince Diamond hoped that his voice didn’t reveal his true intentions. If he could bring Sailor Cosmos to their side he was sure he could over throw Metallia, with the help of his new queen of course. Metallia narrowed her eyes on the eager man that kneeled before her. She knew of his sudden infatuation with the girl and she disapproved of it greatly. She showed great promise and Metallia feared that her power was greater than her own. “If you are able to accomplish that within the three days we have left then I will not feel compelled to kill her. I warn you now Diamond, I know everything and if I hear one word of treachery attached with your name I will not have second thoughts of sending you to the same oblivion Beryl is in.” Without a word Diamond walked out of the throne room. ‘So you are scared,’ Diamond laughed triumphantly with his new knowledge. “Damn! Selene there is another one in the park,” Sailor Pluto sighed in frustration. They had just finished off the last one Diamond had sent them, or so they thought. She didn’t like the way this nega-verse creep was so intent on Selene. “Oh man, I thought I could rest now. Who is taking care of it right now?” her voice showing her lack of sleep. “Probably all of them since we are the only ones here.” “Come on then. They can’t last very long without both of us,” Selene was about to teleport when Rhea stopped her. “You are too tired to teleport by yourself. If you had asked nicely I would have let you hitch a ride in my dull portal.” Sailor Cosmos smiled tiredly at her and stepped in after her. “Where is she?” Diamond let out one energy ball after another. So far the scouts had been able to dodge them and get a couple of hits themselves but it wasn’t doing any good. He was just to strong for them. “Why in hell would we tell you?” Raye spat out. “Yeah creep! Are you so desperate that you need to force someone into having a relationship with you,” Mina was disgustedf at the way this creep talked about their Serena. People called her desperate but she was never as pathetic as this fool. “She is mine! So it is no use to delay the inevitable.” Darien snapped. He had enough of these pushy guys trying to lay a hand at his princess. But before he could focus all of his frustration on Diamond a tired voice interrupted him. “You again! How about you be nice for a change and go away so I could get some sleep.” Everyone had turned around the moment they heard Sailor Cosmos’s voice. What they saw made them wince. She wasn’t hurt as badly as some of the others but she looked ten times drained. Her face had a sickly pallor and underneath her eyes were black smudges. “Yield to me and I’ll let you sleep all you want. Granted I am with you,” his gaze traveling lustfully up and down her body. “Okay I have had enough of all you sickos pushing up on my girl.” Darien, or rather Tuxedo Mask, jumped in the air and let a barrage of roses at Diamond. The scouts took advantage of his weakness and let their own attacks fly. Behind them they heard the old attack of Sailormoon. “Moon Crystal Halation.” Diamond was badly hurt but without Serena’s full power was not put out of commission. “I’ll be back,” then he disappeared. Everyone looked back at their leader to see the almighty Sailormoon drop gracefully in Sailor Pluto’s arms. “You all have a lot of explaining to do,” Helen didn’t care anymore if she sounded unreasonable. Her princess was on the brink of death by exhaustion and she didn’t like the feeling of despair she was feeling again. “Hush Helen! You might wake up Sere,” Heather glared at Helen for being so inconsiderate. “And you,” pointing at Heather, “why didn’t you tell us the moment you found out?” “Because I wanted to show her I could be a good friend,” Heather responded quietly while sponging the face of her princess. They all looked at lonely girl with sympathy and understanding. She had found the same magic in Serena and no one could blame her for wanting to hold on to it. “We are sorry for keeping it from you directly but we tried our hardest to make it obvious that Serena and Selene were the same person,” Luna had said it to everyone but she stared at Artemis to see if he was angry with her. Mina gave Artemis a little push to give Luna a response, “I’m not angry with you Luna but you could have made the clues a little easier.” “Easier! What is easier than placing ourselves in the same building as Darien, being seen in front of Darien’s window together, letting Amy fix the computer, and sending the outers to join all of you? If you ask me you are all blind,” Susan was angry at being blamed for everything. Didn’t they know it was as hard for her as it was for them. “But,” Raye started out. “No buts. Do you think it was any easier for us? Yeah we knew Serena was alive but for how long. We knew we were helpless to help her and it ate me up inside,” Susan broke down into tears after that. The pressure cooker finally exploded. Heather left her post beside Serena’s bed and came to comfort the crying woman. From all of them Susan had witnessed helplessly most of Serena’s death. Everyone but the Scout of Time had the privilege to fight beside her, protect her and that was worse than living while she died. “I’ve seen her fallen so many times and not once have I been able to give her a hand. But now when I finally do I get condemned for something that you all would have done and have done throughout the millenias.” Everyone squirmed in quilt. They had decided before that they wouldn’t blame anybody but seeing Serena in such a state just brought out the protective side out of all of them, not to mention the green eyed monster. “We are sorry Susan. We are all being unreasonable to you and we really don’t mean to be. It is just that we are a tad jealous that she didn’t come to us for help to.” Susan raised her head from Heather’s comforting arms and smiled, accepting the peace offering. “Okay enough of this sentimental crap. What we need to focus on is what to do about the upcoming battle.” Helen ducked this time from Marina’s flailing arms. “Helen’s right. We have to find a way to protect Serena. I don’t buy all this crap about her being alone,” Lita put in angrily. No one was going to keep her from helping her bestfriend. Darien had moved away from the window and had taken Sailor Saturn’s spot next to Serena. Her power level being almost depleted she had morphed back to being Serena rather than Selene. Darien’s hands shakily reached out to touch her face. He was afraid that she would disappear all over again. As soon as his hands touched the familiar contours of his love’s face he was gone. Tears flowed freely down his face and the scouts slowly left to leave the prince alone with his princess. “Serena,” he stroked the wisps of hair gently from her face. Not able to resist further he bent down and left random kisses on her face, finally ending on her lips. Serena had felt herself falling into oblivion after sending her attack towards Diamond. The darkness seemed to be everywhere until she saw a light from up ahead. The light pulled her towards it and Serena felt the cold leave her body. Everything was forgotten as she entered the light. Suddenly a voice filled the emptiness. “So you have arrived my daughter,” a sweet familiar voice urged her to open her eyes. “Queen Selenity,” Serena gasped out. “You have found your way here so we could talk about what happened during our kingdom. You see my dear in order to succeed you cannot harbor all that quilt and pain inside of you. I’m here to finally bring peace to your mind.” “I can never forgive myself. It was my duty to protect everyone. Not the other way around,” Serena, or rather Princess Serenity, refused to be comforted. “Stop being so stubborn Sere. You get that from your father you know. Even though he was wrong and he knew it he would still argue his point. You get much from him my daughter but you also get your big heart from me. You are protective with the ones you love so you will understand now why I did what I did. You where my only daughter Serenity. After you father died I felt a part of me die with him but when Selene gave me you I felt that part of my heart beat again. I was slowly wasting away. I would not do anything, only sit in solitude wondering how I could have failed my love. He died trying to protect me. The nega-verse was much smaller back then so we thought they were not such a big threat. Then one day out of nowhere Beryl appears and throws a energy beam towards me. I was with you by then, Helios jumped in the way. I couldn’t think of anything but my own pain when your father and an old woman named Trivia came to me in my dreams. They both warned me of the upcoming battle and that the daughter that I carried had been chosen to protect all of us. You can’t imagine the joy I felt knowing that I had something left of Helios I could love. Trivia told me of the prophecies and what must be done. I was to train you as a warrior, to be the best so when the time came you would be ready. I couldn’t do it though. Your father saw it in my eyes. I had the defiant look in my eyes and he knew that I wouldn’t let my baby die. Before he left he told me to follow my heart and everything would turn out all right and if I needed him he was in my heart. You see love the day I found out about you I promised myself I would do everything in my power to protect you. I knew what would happen and I took that road. You might have been stronger than me Sere but nothing is stronger than love and believe me a determined mother is hard to beat.” Serena smiled thoughtfully at her mother. She understood of course, especially since she left the scouts in the same predicament as her mother left her in. “You have finally understood. Now back to business. Tomorrow is your birthday so when the first moonbeam of the blue moon touches earth you will receive your full power. Your powers must merge before the battle. You must be with one with everything you have been to focus all that energy through the staff of light.” “I don’t understand.” Serena was beyond confused. ‘Be one with everything I have been. Damn mother, now I know where Rhea learned to talk confusing. Riddles after riddles. Can’t somebody just tell me straight out.’ “Don’t worry sweetheart. It’ll come to you in time. But now you should go back. Prince Endymoin is very worried and you don’t have much time with him as it is,” Queen Selenity let go of her daughters hand and prepared to send her back. “Wait! Before I go will you tell Daddy for me that I love him. I know he is with you since you look so happy.” Tears formed in the former queen’s eyes as she saw her daughter disappear slowly. “Of course. He loves you too my daughter and is very proud.” The light grew dimmer and dimmer until a different sensation filled her body. She felt warm and a slight pressure on her mouth. A moment passed until she recognized Darien. The response to his kiss was immediate. Serena opened up instantly and let him plunge his tongue in her welcoming mouth. They were both so caught up in the kiss that they didn’t hear the scouts re-enter the room. “I guess Serena is feeling better,” Mina announced happily.