TItle - Propositions part four
Author Razzz
Email ' razzzberi@aol.com
IT"S DONE!! FINALLY!!!!! Now I can get soem SLEEP!!!!! NIGHT ALL!!!!




        WELL, IT IS 1:30 in the morning on Thursday,(Friday now) and I
decided today that I would  finish this story for this week - AND I DID!!
I'm exhausted but it's DONE!!!! And I learned a valuable lsson about making
sure you have time for the things you start, and making sure you alway
shave cahpters ont eh back burner befor ebeginning to post so you DON't Get
into the terribel habit I got into with this story!!! (SO SO SO SO SO SO SO
SO Sorry that I was such a horible person with getting out these parts
regularly)
Well, this is it!! The end!! El FIN!!!
Just a little story on wher eI got this name - See, propsotions fit soo
perfectly, btu I  woudl never have thought it up if my friend hadnt'
decided to write a love letter to this girl he really really liked - and
let me tell you, my friend is no Shakespeare. IN his lettter, the line that
stuck out the most in my  mind was, "I'm going to propose a propsotions." -
all he was doing was asking the girl out to lunch. Well, he didnt' get teh
girl, but I got a title, so thanks!!!! Kary

        OK, mor ebig thanks mus tgo out to LAUREL ANNE!!!! You rock, I'm
sorry  abouttthe times I've been evil (Or, if you dont' think I've been
evil yet, jsut stick around a while, an dI'm sure I can do something I'll
need an advance apology for) - Laurel is for sure the COOLEST PERSON ever,
and she writes SERIOUSLY COOL fanfiic!!! ONe of my absoltue personal
favorites!!!! GODDESS!!! over here!!
SMDolphin!! WOW YOU ROCK!! You are another one of my FAVORITIST people I
know!! Can we say funny, brilliant, cool and talented all rolled ino tone -
antoher great fanfic writeer as well!! Checkout night and day!! it rocks!!!
LOVE YA!!!!
        Lianne is the true GURU of the fanfic world. I dont' even need to
say anythign else about how amazing she is cause every one and thier mother
knows her name and think she's the best - it's like undisputed!!!! And she
is a MAJORLY COOL PERSON!!!
Jenova has just got a new fanfic up (Not under this name I odnt' think, but
I'm a lfake and forgot the pen name) called LOve will still live on, and
let me tell you!! IT IS WAY COOL!!! Not to mentionthat she's a cool
person!!!!
JEnn!! My NY bud!!!! WOW!!!! You are JUST AMAZING!!!! I LVEO YA!!! This is
shrot, btu I really dont' have much to say othr than gushign whcih will
probaby turn you putrid, so I'll keep you healthy and just say you rock and
leave it at that.
Buddywolf!! HI!!! You girl, are keeping the spirit of thigns alive!!!!
YEAH!!!!!! 
Archieve administrators all rock, especially the incomprable Tux Will and
my fave Sailro November, bto to mention ANDREA ARTEMIS AND LUNA!!! Go
you!!!
Sui Mei!!! WOW!! Such talent, such envy from my side of the room!!!! Thank
you for always being so considerate about me and letting me check stuff
out!!! I ALWYAS look forward to your mail.
Jen WAND!! Check out the Tux site!! WOW!!! And she writes way cool storeis
too!!!
Everyone involved with Project Star (I think that's the name of it now)!!
YEAH US!!!! LONG LIVE THE SAPSTERS!!!!  
And last but nto least, MY IDOL!!! YES!! Fushigi Kismet, who never fails to
move me with her past loves(I'm gonna be telling my GRADNKIDS ABOUT YOUR
STORY!!!) and this INCREDIBLE new one that I'm dying to find out what
happens next in!! AHH!! you are AMAZING - SIMNPLY AMAZING!!!!! Can I please
be you or something!! YOU ROCK!!! WOW!!! Top honors righ there all go to
you!!!
These Author's ntoes are jsut way too long - Isnt' it werid hwo when it's
late at night, you cant' seem to want to go to sleep past a certian hour.
That' sme righ tnow. But I'll be quiet. OH YEAH!!!! Dont' forgert (this is
very very improtant) to send COMMENTS!!! FEEDBACK!! CRITICISMS!! I carve
them!!! I gotta see what you guys think of my stories!!! So please, please
please, write back!!!!
Well,taht's it, causemy computer is making these funny noises now - It's
really old, I hope it doenst' break. Later, and enjoy - I WAS DRUGGED -
LONG LIVE THE SPATULA!!!!

 
        'Darien!' Serena thought. Why was that monster laughing. 'Oh God,
no, please, please, I can't do this without him? Please, where is he?'
        "W, where is he? Karros, where is he. Tell me, Karros, what have
you done with him." she screamed, becoming hysterical, her mind quickly
becoming covered in the thick fog of confusion. She could feel another cry
want to fly from her lips. And that thing seemed to enjoy this, was
laughing at her, was almost smiling at her. He knew. That thing, that
monster, he KNEW!
        "TELL ME WHAT HAPPENED TO DARIEN!" she cried, running forward, her
arms beating out in front of her, her small hands trying to pummel him
although she was blinded by her tears. A single tentacle swung out,
knocking her on her behind before she had the chance to touch him. She
stared up at him, ignoring the pain her crash had caused. She tried to stop
the flow of tears, to appear strong in front of him, to appear unafraid of
it, but she couldn't. Because she couldn't' feel Darien. She couldn't' feel
that warm, familiar pull, that silky sunlight that made her heart soar,
that made every moment of her life important and beautiful. Karros took a
step towards her, slithering closer, until she could see the black gleam of
his darkened fangs, each point razor sharp as he smiled.
        "Darien is no more." it said simply. 
        Maybe it was lying. It was a creature of evil! It couldn't tell the
truth. Darien wasn't' dead. He couldn't' be.
        I don't' believe you!" she said. It continued to grin at her, and
in it s hand, she saw . . . 
        'Oh God no. NO!' her mind screamed, although her mouth could not
open. It had the Crystal. Which meant that Darien . . . Darien  had . . .
'NO! It's not true!' Serena closed her eyes. Because, she knew it was true.
It wasn't lying. Darien was . . . was . . . 
        Her eyes blinked open, astonishingly dry. Why did everything feel
so far away, so disjointed from her. She could hardly feel her own arm, was
barely aware that she was breathing shallowly. 
        'Darien. DARIEN-DARIEN-DARIEN-DARIEN-DARIAN.'  She couldn't say
anything else, couldn't think any other thought, just his name, over and
over and over again in her head. She shuddered, as the name did not bring
the feelings she was used to. The name brought emptiness, coldness. So, so
cold. She shivered.
        She heard a whoosh through the air and forced her eyes to open,
despite the protests from her body. She didn't' want to open her eyes, she
didn't' want to see this world again, not if it wasn't' with him. her eyes
struggled to focus on the blackness that seemed zooming for her. A large
tentacle, it's point razor sharp, aimed right for her chest. She couldn't
even bring her self to move. her body was frozen to the spot. Perhaps, it
was because, she vaguely realized, that she didn't' want to move. She
didn't' want to get out of it's way.
        'Was this the last thing you saw Darien?' she wondered, closing her
eyes, resigned. Maybe, he would be waiting for her. 
        "Mars Flame Sniper!" 
        The tentacle retreated, scorched by the intense blast as Sailor
Mars narrowed her eyes at the creature, soon joined by four other scouts.
        "Always have to save your butt, don't' I Serena!" Mars said. Serena
turned to look at them, her eyes barely seeing them, not even standing. 
        "GET UP! What are you waiting for?' Mars cried, seeing Serena not
moving. Her lack of mobility scared her, and she could feel her heart
contracting in fear. 
        'Serena, get up. Please, please, don't' just sit there, you
meatball brained idiot.' Mars thought. 
        "Um, what is that thing, and what is it doing!" Sailor Venus asked.
        "Guys, it's got the crystal!" mercury cried as she caught sight of
the glowing crystal in its hand. 
        "I don't' know what it is, or what it's trying to do, but it
doesn't' look like it's doing anything that can be good. LET'S GET HIM!"
Sailor Jupiter gave a loud battle cry, as she flew forward to attack.
        "Jupiter Oak Evolution!" the lightning raced with deadly force at
the thick body of Karros. It looked at her in amusement, smiling, almost
laughing as the power of the crystal flared around it, a shield immediately
appearing around Karros'. It reflected the bolt of electricity, sending it
careening back, towards Jupiter. who could only stare at her blast in
shock, her mouth hanging open, before it rammed into her, flooding her body
with the power. She shrieked as the pain of being electrocuted overwhelmed
her, and she was flung back against a tree.
        "LITA!" Venus screamed, as she saw her comrade slump tot he ground,
not moving.
        "You're gonna pay for that one!" mars said in a deadly calm voice. 
        "Mars Flame - "
        A tentacle descended upon her fast, tightly curling around her,
squeezing tightly. Sailor Mars struggled silently with it, not giving it
the satisfaction of knowing it was hurting her, her legs and arms flailing
wildly as she struggled with it. 
        "Let her GO!" Mercury yelled, raising her arms,. Karros, with mars
still entangled and fighting in his tentacle, lifted his hand, to reveal
the Silver Imperium Crystal. It grinned, and Mercury unconsciously took a
step back, terrified of that look. She had seen it before, right before she
had died in the North Pole, the smile of success on the face of the doom
and gloom girls. She could feel her heart speed up, more scared than she
could remember, and suddenly, she was surrounded in bright white light that
didn't' feel as comforting as it should have. The crystal's power swept
across the area, taking Sailor Mercury down in one blast. Venus stared in
horror, as the beam of power cut across the clearing,  cutting through the
trunks of trees that crashed around her. The beam raced towards her, and
she fell to her knees, her eyes brimming with tears as she saw her two
fallen comrades, and Rei, still struggling fiercely with the tentacle,
never giving up. She could feel the beam sweep over her back, the heat
making her skin tingle. She stood up.
        "VENUS LOVE AN-" the whooshing sound made her turn on her heels,
and her eyes grew wide as she stared at the enormous branch that was
falling on her - no not just one branch, hundreds of branches, the entire
tree, toppling down upon her. She only had time to raise her hands
defensively over her head before the entire tree crashed to
 the ground, hiding her from view.
        "MINA!" Mars tried to yell, though her words came out as a whisper.
        'Serena, Get up! Stop being a coward. Fight Serena." mars gasped.
Serena stared at her, her eyes wide in shock, watery, glassy. She looked at
the fallen bodies of her comrades, her friends. just like Darien. They were
all just like Darien - they were going to leave her! 
        "Serena!": mars  cried in pain. Serena blinked, the world seeming
to stop, then crash around her.
        "Rei!"  Serena cried, pushing herself off the ground. She ran
forward, stumbling , then picking herself up off the ground. "Don't leave
me too Rei!" 
        The tentacles loosened, and Sailor Mars fell to the ground,
unmoving. Serena fell at her side, brushing her long black hair from her
face. 
        "Rei, Rei, please, be OK. Rei, wake up. Can't you hear me? Rei,
open your eyes!" Rei!" Serena screamed. Rei remained still. Serena's
shoulders slumped as her small, tired body was racked with shaking sobs,
her hands tangled in Rei's hair.
        "Don't' leave me all alone Rei. Please, I don't want to be all
alone. Not again." 
        Serena slowly brought her eyes to face Karros, whose own hands were
held out to her, still holding the crystal. Suddenly it started to glow,
surrounded by the white light that signified use of the crystal's full
power. She could hear the earth rumble, begin to shake, as a thick beam of
light shot into the air, Karros concentrating on using the power of his
prize. With tears running down her face, Serena grabbed a giant stick from
the ground. running blindly towards Karros, her arms swinging the stick
wildly in front of her. She screamed in rage, her voice filled with bleak
pain. her friends, her love . . .he had taken EVERYTHING!
        "I HATE YOU!" she cried, throwing the stick at it's head with all
the strength she had. The crystal flared, and the stick was disintegrated
in the pure white light before it even neared karros's head. Serena watched
Karros, watched the stick fade from existence, and fell to the ground, her
face in her hands, sobbing. Karros lifted his tentacle, pointing it at her.
She made no attempt to move, even though she was aware of what he was
doing. She just cried into her hands, her palms wet with tears. 
        "Kill me. I don't' care anymore. I don't' want to fight anymore."
Serena sobbed. "I'm so alone." 
        She could hear Darien's voice, remembering his words, forcing her
to never ever give up. And his smile, so warm and bright, melting her
heart. The memory only made her cry harder. She could feel her legs slowly
stretching out as her body was lifted into the air, dangling limply from
the tentacle. She ignored the pain as it tightened around her, trying to
choke the life from her. She didn't' bother to fight it.
        'I'm sorry Darien. I cant' do it without you.' she thought
brokenly.
        Suddenly, she felt herself almost slip from karros's grasp, the
tentacles loosening, then quickly tightening before he had a chance to lose
her, providing the momentary relief for her to gasp for a quick breath.
Karros was making horrible sounds, the sounds of death, screaming in pain.
Serena looked down. Something had hurt it, had hurt it badly, it's stomach
ripped open, steaming blackness spilling onto the ground in viscous
streams. Something pulled at Serena, something blessedly familiar, and she
stared, her eyes wide open, losing the dull glassy look they had held
moments before, her head whipping around.
        'Darien?!?!'  
        The long cane slashed at Karros, connecting with his stomach,
taking full advantage of the shock that had overwhelmed Karros as Darien
had burst forth from his stomach, The crystal shards ripping it wide open
and freeing Darien. 
        He had felt Serena weakening from his position, trapped within that
crystal cocoon, similar to the one that had saved Serena from the burning
ship. he too, had been saved by it, trapping himself in the device right
before Karros had swallowed him, attempting to kill him. The cocoon  had
kept him safe. And, as he could feel Serena starting to give in, starting
to weaken, he had kicked hard at the weak spot, desperately trying to get
free, before she was lost. he could feel her GIVING UP! He had kicked
desperately, turning into Tuxedo mask to make each blow more powerful,
until, thankfully, it had shattered, the crystal shards, spraying forward,
and ripping the hole that had allowed Darien to escape from Karros' bowels.
He had fallen to the ground, as Karros's blood had spilled, gasping as he
saw the fallen sailors around him. he glanced up, at Serena, who had a
river of tears slipping from her closed eyes. That thing was still trying
to kill her. And she wasn't even fighting it! Darien's eyes had flashed in
anger. This monster would not take her! His cane materialized before he was
aware of what he was doing, and he slashed forth mercilessly, while Karros
was distracted by his wounds. 
        Darien pulled back his arm, letting it fly with another stinging
slash. And another, and another, Karros stunned for the moment. Darien
looked up at Serena, who had finally opened her eyes, wide shimmering
blueness. She was looking at him, her tears falling unchecked, staring
deeply into his own with so much love. Darien could feel his heart quicken,
unable, and unwilling to tear his eyes from hers. Suddenly, she closed them
violently, gasping in pain.
        "Serena!" Darien cried, leaping forward with the cane. Karros was
still glowing, trying to finish whatever it was he had started with the
crystal, not caring about Darien, or Serena, although he was still holding
her tightly, crushing her delicate body with his powerful arm.
        "AHHHH!!"  At her strangled cry, Darien growled low in his throat,
and charged the tentacle. Karros, too absorbed in what he was doing, did
not notice as Darien leapt up, swinging his cane viciously, severing the
tentacle that held Serena, barely giving it a glance as it crashed to the
ground.
        "Serena!" Darien cried, dropping his cane as he ran to her side,
pulling at the limp tentacle that was still wrapped loosely around her. She
coughed violently, kicking at the tentacle to get it's slimy skin away from
her. 
        "Serena, are you all right?' Darien asked. Serena looked up at him,
her eyes instantly watering as she crashed into him, wrapping him up into a
giant hug. He returned her embrace, his lips brushing against the top of
her head as she buried her face into his shoulder, weeping, her body
shuddering beneath his hands. She felt so cold. 
        "I, I though you had, had, I thought you, you-" she stuttered,
unable to speak any more. Darien kissed her forehead tenderly.
        "Shh, It's all right. I'm OK. Everything is going to be all right.
I'm not going to go anywhere.' he said comfortingly. he tried to still the
shaking of her body, tried to warm the clammy feeling of her moist skin.
her fear was so strong he could feel it enter his own heart. the depth of
her feelings was astounding.
        'My poor, poor princess. I'm so, so sorry. I should have been there
for you.' he thought. 'never again. I will never let his happen again!' he
vowed, resting his chin on the top of her head. he looked at Karros, making
sure that no tentacles or magics would annihilate them. He had no need to
worry. Karros had fallen to the ground, on his side, barely moving. Darien
narrowed his eyes at the monster. It had gotten what it deserved. 
        A loud cracking  pulled Serena's head from the hollow in Darien's
shoulder, and she looked around fearfully.
        "What was that?" she asked timidly. Darien held her tightly.
        "I don't' know." he said, scanning the area for any danger,
readying himself to go into defensive mode on a moment's notice. 
        "Is Karros . . . ?"
        "I don't know." Darien said. Serena slowly stood, Darien standing
with her, not letting go of her.
        :"I have to get my crystal." Serena said, stepping toward Karros,
her hand still lingering in Darien's. She looked at the still form of
Karros. The air was ripped in two by the strange thunderous sound again,
and Serena made a startled whimper, turning back to Darien.
        "Darien, what's going . . . " she saw Darien doubled over in pain,
his hand clutching his stomach, her face twisted into a grimace.
        "DARIEN!" she screamed. "What's wrong. Darien, what's happening?"
she asked, all thoughts of the crystal forgotten as she stood before him,
all her thoughts focused on him. 
        "I don't know." he hissed through his teeth. Serena was starting to
cry again, even though she didn't want to be crying anymore, even thoughts
she had though all her tears had dried up already. Darien sank to one knee,
and she shrieked, afraid for him. 
        "don't' die Darien, please, don't die. Don't' leave me Darien!" she
cried. 
        "Never leave you." he gasped. "i can feel . . . the earth, it's-"
        "it's what?" Serena asked desperately. "What can I do to make it
better? Darien what's happening!" The sound of thunder ripped around her,
coming from below her. She stared at the ground in horror, as the ground
began to crack, a million tiny lines running across the ground. Slowly
pieces of the ground began to crumble. Serena backed away from the hole
that was forming as the ground fell in on itself, pulling Darien with her.
Unable to support the two of them, Serena fell to the ground, Darien
landing on top of her, both staring at the hole. 
        :"How . . . " she asked. A dark shriek, the sound of a million
dying souls,  came form deep within the crack in the earth. Darien grabbed
Serena, shielding her with his body, yelling in pain as the earth broke
apart, letting a giant creature free from it's depths. 
        "Holy  Sh-"
        "-SHADOW WARRIOR!" Serena finished for Darien, recognizing the
monster. Karros had let the Shadow warrior free. 
        "Karros must have used the crystal to free the shadow warrior that
was sealed in the Earth!" Serena exclaimed. Darien groaned in pain, staring
t the new monster that was sure to prove a serious threat. Where was all
this pain coming from. Darien knew he hadn't' been hurt, and yet it felt as
though he was dying. 
        Serena pulled Darien back behind one of the fallen trees, her eyes
never wavering from the hole in the earth tat seemed to simply just grow
and grow. 
        "Darien, you stay here. I'll be right back." Serena said, turning
back to face the horrifying scene before her.
        "No you're not. What are you thinking!?!?! you can't. I won't let
you!" Darien said, wanting her to stay safe, with him. The shadow warrior
seemed to be floating inches from the ground, as the ground fell away from
him, hovering over the giant hole in the ground. 
        "I need my crystal. I need to stop him!" Serena said stubbornly.
Darien shook his head in frustration, grabbing on to her arm so she
couldn't' do something foolish. She looked at him, her blue eyes bright and
wide.
        "I'll be fine. Remember, I promised not to give up." Serena said.
        "But-" she put her free hand over his lips to silence him.
        "I'm not going to give up on this world Darien. I have to do
something. Don't' worry! It'll work out - it always does." she said. 
        "Serena . . . I-" Darien suddenly doubled over as a wave of pain
swept over him, and he clenched his teeth tightly to try and stop himself
from crying out. It felt as though he was being torn in two. Through his
squinted eyes he could see Serena's face darken, to contort in panic,
afraid for him.
        "What's wrong? Darien? Are you all right? Please, be all right!"
        "Fine Serena. I'm fine." he hissed. She blinked back tears.
        "Liar." she said. "I-"  the loud crackling of thunder cut her off,
as she jumped at the sound.  She turned to stare at the sky, which had
become stormy and gray, ominous black clouds hiding the sun and covering
the heavens in a thick shroud of darkness. Lightening crashed down to the
earth, illuminating the sky in muted tones of black. the lightening
continued, pounding into the ground all around them, searching for an
intended target. The bright white bolt flashed, racing toward the Shadow
warrior. The monster did not make any attempt to move, as the lightening
struck it, creating an aura of electricity around the form of the warrior. 
        "maybe we don't' have to do any work to kill it after all! See, I
told you everything would work out!" Serena said happily, pointing at the
shadow warrior. Darien looked at it skeptically. Something wasn't' right
about it. Suddenly, Serena's face fell.
        "Its not supposed to do that, is it?" she asked. The shadow warrior
seemed to grow, slowly at first, but still a change quite visible, growing
and growing until it began to block out the sky, covering the area with the
immense blackness of its shadowy aura. The earth continued to crumble
endlessly, the abyss slowly heading closer and closer to the fallen scouts.
Serena jumped to her feet as she saw the giant hole threatening to swallow
up Mars. She had to save her!
        "Mars! Wake up! Get away!" Serena cried, willing her friend to hear
her and run to safety. Mars remained unconscious. Darien closed his eyes,
the desperation in Serena's voice the only thing that held his thoughts to
this world. He was listening to another plea, a plea heard only by him. 
        Darien placed his hand on the ground, letting go of Serena. She
turned to look at him, confused and scared. What was he doing? 
        "Darien?" she asked. "We have to help Rei. She's going to-"
        "I know what to do Serena. Just stay right here and let me do
this." he said, his eyes fluttering open for a moment to see her face,
before he closed his eyes again. Serena held back a scream.
        "DARIEN!" she cried in fear as she saw his eyes close. "Don't' die!
Please!" she sobbed, clutching him tightly around the waist and resting her
head against his chest. Darien smiled, brushing his hand through her hair.
        "I'm not dying meat ball head. The earth is."
        "The earth?" she asked. Darien nodded,  motioning for her to look
out at the foliage by the monster. The lush green of the plants in the area
had all turned to the brown of decay, the plants all rotting, dead.
        "I can feel it being pulled apart, being destroyed from the inside.
the shadow warrior is destroying this Earth by breaking free, by doing
whatever it is that it's doing right now. But I can stop it. If I can give
it some of my life force, I can try and heal the earth, help it hold itself
together. I wont' let it win. I won't let anything happen to you." Darien
said. Serena stared at him, her mouth open in shock as he began to glow
faintly, the light emanating from him transferring to the ground. The great
crashing sounds that had signaled the continued destruction of the world
had suddenly stopped, the giant hole halting its growth just feet away from
Sailor Mars. The Shadow Warrior had stopped growing, stopped its strange
ritual, noticing the sudden change of pace, enraged that someone had dared
to stop it from attaining its ultimate goal: the end of the human world. It
looked at Darien with dark eyes, narrowing them in hate, then continued
waiting for lightening to crash, to continue gaining power to grow. 
        Darien knew that he had to stop the shadow warrior from doing more
damage to the earth than he had already done. He had to, if for no other
reason than Serena. He would not let that thing end this world, taking
Serena with it. 
        'You cannot match my power prince of Earth.' Darien faltered, the
glowing around him stopping momentarily at the strange voice in his head.
But he knew whose voice it was.
        'You wont' win Shadow Warrior. I wont' let you.' Darien thought,
knowing the shadow warrior could hear his words although he had not spoken
them aloud.
        'We shall see who destroys who. You have not yet had a glimpse of
my full power, prince of Earth. And when you do, you shall die as your
earth dies, so closely connected are you two. And then, who shall save
you?' 
        Darien concentrated harder on holding the earth together, yet with
each passing moment, the strain became greater and greater, threatening to
rip him apart from the inside out. He could feel himself losing, could feel
his efforts becoming more and more ineffective. The quiet roar began anew,
slowly gaining in force, as he felt the earth crying out in pain again. And
the earth's pain was now his pain. He pushed down on the ground harder with
his hands, willing more magic to come from him.
        Serena could see the strain on his face, the struggle, and finally
the grimace of pain. She could feel Darien's inner tumult. He was losing.
The earth was beginning to cave in on itself again, beginning to die again.
It was slowly destroying the world, despite Darien's efforts. Suddenly,
Darien screamed out, his voice ragged with pain. Her eyes filled with
tears. He was dying! NO!
        "I'm sorry. I have to do something." she whispered sadly, her hand
brushing his momentarily, hoping to draw strength from his touch. She was
ready to stop the Shadow Warrior, no matter what, no matter the cost. She
would stop him. 
        She scanned the area, searching for her crystal. If she could just
manage to grab hold of her crystal, she could transform into Princess
Serenity, and let the Princess right all that was going wrong. She spotted
the small flash of the silver light right below the floating shadow
warrior, close to Sailor Mars, closer still to the . . . .
        "NO!" Serena cried, jumping out from behind her sanctuary, as
though that would stop the crystal from falling into the bottomless abyss.
There was no way she could reach the crystal in time. Serena pushed
forward, skidding to a halt at the edge of the hole which separated her
from her friends, and from the crystal. She could feel the wet trickle of
tears fall across her face, tears of utter hopelessness as she could merely
stare, completely helpless, as the crystal fell into down, down, down,
captured by the innermost depths of the earth. She sunk to her knees,
watching in disbelief. The crystal was gone . . . she could not transform .
. . she had lost . . . .let everyone down . . . it was over.
        "What can I do now?" she whispered dejectedly. She looked up at the
victor, still performing its strange ritual. She had failed the earth,
failed Darien. She would die with the knowledge that everything was her
fault, for not being strong enough to stop the shadow warrior, for not
being smart enough to keep the crystal in her possession. Her first
clenched tightly, her nails digging into her palms as she thought of her
family, of Darien, of her friends, the scouts. She looked at their fallen
bodies, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter,  Mars . . . MARS! 
        "No, Sailor Mars, get up!," Serena cried, seeing Sailor Mar's arm
hanging out into the abyss. The hole continued to grow. "NO, REI! Please!
WAKE UP!!!!" Mars did not hear. 
        "STOP!!!!!!" 
        The crashing stopped suddenly. The shadow warrior turned to
curiously face the girl who had stopped the earth's destruction, halting
the growth of the giant sink-hole in its tracks. Serena took a fearful step
back under its gaze, feeling an intense wave of pure . . . evil, hatred
wash over her.  She shivered, chilled to the very marrow in her bones by
that cold look. 
        "Now what?" Serena said aloud, unsure of what exactly she did, or
how she did it. 'Maybe if I pretend I'm tough, it'll go away.' she thought,
smiling at her plan. 
        "HEY YOU!! Mr. UGLY!!! Yeah, I'm talking to you!" she taunted,
amazed that she could sound so confident when she was so terrified. "You
had better leave, or else I'm gonna make you go back to where you came
from!" she ordered. It lifted a hand, the fiercely swung it down, a loud
whoosh cutting through the air.  Black lightening raced at Serena's head.
She screamed, backpedaling backwards as fast she could. 
        "OK, onto plan B - wish I had one." she muttered. 'Scouts, please,
please, I need your help. I know I haven't' done that good a job lately but
I don't know what to do.' 
        The shadow warrior raised its hand again, and again she dodged the
lightening, scraping her legs as she skid across the ground. She stared
fearfully as the hand swung around for a third time. 
        "MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
        "JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"
        "VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
        "MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!"
        The combined powers,. a rainbow of blue, green, red and orange,
crashed into the Shadow warrior with deadly force, sending it careening
back to the ground. 
        "GUYS! You're all right!" Serena shirked happily, dumbfounded to
see her friends, battered and bruised, but still standing and still
fighting. 
        "Of course, we're all right, no thanks to you, meatball head." mars
said, smiling. Jupiter rubbed her ears.
        "That wakeup call would have revived the dead." Jupiter added. 
        "Wake-up call, I didn't- watch out!" Serena cried, dropping to the
ground, the others following suit a moment later. The shadow warrior slowly
floated up, turning around in tight circles to cast an angry gaze upon each
scout.
        "What do we do now?" Venus asked, her voice shaking. 
        "Sailor Planet attack? Come on Serena, transform.." mars said. The
others nodded their heads in agreement. 
        "Um, that might be kinda problematic. " Serena began, looking at
the ground in embarrassment.
        "What do you mean, 'Problematic!' "Mars cried. 
        "Mars, watch out!" Mercury screamed, launching herself at the dark
haired girl and knocking her to the ground as the shadow warrior's attack
devastated the spot where Mars had previously been standing. Serena stared
at the smoke rising from the deep ditch created by the powerful blast.
        "The crystal, it kinda, sorta, fell down . . . there." she said,
pointing at the giant ditch in  the ground. 
        "WHAT!" mars cried angrily.
        "We don't' have time for this. Let's try it, but without Serena,
OK." Jupiter said forcefully,. The others all agreed, nodding their heads
and closing their eyes as they called out their battle yells in
determination.
        "MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
        "VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
        "JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!:
        MERCURY AQUA RHAPSODY!" 
        Their combined powers hit the creature, covering it in the colorful
light of their magic. The shadow warrior cried out in pain.
        "We're beating it! We're beating it!!" Serena cried happily,
jumping up and down. She watched, hope filling her eyes, as the colors
engulfed the shadow warrior. 
        "We need more power!" Venus cried, her voice cracking with strain.
Serena could see the black energy of the shadow warrior slowly battling
back, pushing away the light of the scouts, fighting back with it's own
evil power. Serena's heart nearly stopped.
        "Come on guys, we gotta try harder or else it's gonna win!" Jupiter
said, her tiara flashing as she upped the power on her attack. The others
soon followed Jupiter's lead. The shadow warrior continued to fight, it's
power seeming to be stronger than that of the scouts. Together, with all
five of them, they could fight anything and win . . . but with just the
four of them, the scouts were painfully vulnerable to attack. 
        "ARGH!" 
        The scouts flew back with a scream as the power of the Shadow
warrior overcame them, sending them flying backwards. Sserean resisted the
urge to go out there and fight beside them. They couldnt' do this alone.
She hated having to watch, knowing that she couldn't help. Slowly, the
scouts picked themselves up.
        "AGAIN!" Sailor Mars said, her eyes flashing dangerously. 
        "MARS FLAME SNIPER!"
        "No Mars! Don't!" Serena cried. "You'll just get your selves hurt!"
        "You know we cant' not try and stop him, silly meatball head."
Sailor Mars said, meeting Serena's own tearful eyes with her determined
ones, the fire of mars burning beneath the pupils.
        "REI!" Serena cried, as the scouts again faced the shadow warrior,
knowing that they were tired, knowing that they would not be successful
without her help, without the power of the crystal.
        'I'm sorry. If I hadn't' lost the crystal, I would be able to
fight, and you wouldn't' get hurt. I should be there for you, just like
you're always here for me!' she thought to herself through her sadness,
knowing that the outcome of this battle would not be the victory the scouts
would usually celebrate. 
        "I wish I could do . . . SOMETHING!": she cried out in frustration.
The scouts screamed, tearing her from her thoughts. 
        "NO!" Serena cried, running to her friends who were barely hanging
on to consciousness, fighting to the last. Serena fell to her knees besides
her friends.
        "Get out of here Serena. We'll stop it." Jupiter mumbled. Serena
shook her head stubbornly, refusing to leave her friends. 
        'It's my fault they're in this position. I won't let them down!'
Serena turned her head up towards the shadow warrior, staring him straight
in the face, seeking out its eyes. It would be surprised to see the
determination in her  bright, tear-filled ones. 
        "I'll stop you. You won't hurt anyone! I WON'T ALLOW YOU TO DESTROY
MY WORLD!" she screamed defiantly.
        Serena closed her eyes, letting go of consciousness, stopping all
thoughts save for the burning desire to protect her world and the ones she
loved. She didn't' know what it was she could do against this thing, but
she knew that she couldn't' just sit idly by and watch it. Her soul seemed
to be screaming out against the injustice, forcing her to do something. For
a brief moment, she felt the sudden warmth that overcame her when she had
used the crystal before, when she had defeated Beryl, ont the Asteroid, To
save Reeni from the Dark Moon Family and countless other times. Her mind
seemed to stop turning, her thoughts becoming simple and pure, and she
could feel that power wash over her body, could almost feel the light
radiating off her. 
        ''I'll save them all!' she thoughts, throwing her hands out n front
of her. She didn't' see that the beam of magical energy would be there, but
she knew. Even without the crystal, she knew that her magic would be
powerful, because it was a magic borne from the depths of her soul, born
from pure love and desire. Her one wish, to make everyone happy, to keep
everyone safe. It was a power so strong that it did not need a crystal to
realize the dream. The sheer power of her soul, of Serena's will, let loose
the magic of the crystal, the magic that wasn't really inside the crystal
at all, but inside her heart.
        "For love." Serena said quietly, barely feeling the rustling of the
skirts of her princess dress beneath her as they danced in the powerful
wind that backed her. She opened her hands, her fingers outstretched,
magical silver energy flowing from them, crashing with deadly power into
the shadow warrior. The monster stumbled back, the sudden attack
unexpected, the combined powers of the scouts and the girl overcoming it.
Slowly, Sailor Mars raised her head to face Serena, unable to believe the
sight. 
        'Without the crystal . . . how did she . . . ?' she could feel the
Shadow Warrior weakening.
        "Come on, we can finish him off! Just a little more guys!" sailor
Mars cried, battling back against the shadow warrior. The scouts, began to
pick themselves up, standing despite the weariness from their prolonged
attack. The strength of their leader was their pillar. Her determination,
her love, her devotion buoyed their confidence. She would never give up,
would use the last of her energy, to save them. 
        "Let's show him what the scouts are really made of!" Jupiter said
enthusiastically, her power sparkling and crackling as she added more
magical energy to it. 
        Serena heard her scouts, her friends, their cries bringing tears to
her eyes. She would never let them down. She reached further down into her
soul to add more power to defeat the Shadow Warrior. 
        The sky darkened over head, the earth seeming to groan in protest
against the abuse. The shadow warrior raised its hands, conjuring
lightening. if it hit the blonde girl, the leader, it could stop them. The
sky obeyed its command, sending the dark bolt towards the girl. She didn't'
blink an eye as the energy bounced off a shield that sparkled with glittery
light. She opened her eyes, wide and luminous, to stare at him with a
bright defiant look that said what words could not. In that moment, the
shadow warrior knew defeat. And it knew that it would not go quietly.
        The power ransacked its body, leaving it screaming and writhing in
pain. The scouts could feel it's attack on them weakening, and continued
their assault, knowing that much longer and they would be exhausted. They
HAD to finish it, and soon. 
        'I just want to sleep.' Venus thought, feeling herself sway on her
legs, almost sinking to the ground. She shook her head, narrowing her eyes
as she tried to focus even more on the task. 
        The thunder and lightening roared above them, making horrible
sounds of pain and death. 
        'That's  . . . the shadow warrior!' Mercury thought thankfully. She
opened her eyes, which had been squinted shut as she had focused her power
more and more. The monster was crying out in anguish, but was not
disintegrating yet. She racked her brain, knowing that the scouts couldn't'
handle much more of this. 'How did we kill it last time?' she wondered.
Then she remembered. Queen Serenity. She had sealed it away with  . . . the
silver crystal. The crystal that was now resting at the center of the
earth. It all made sense now. Karros had needed the crystal not only to
release the shadow warrior, but to unsure that the shadow warrior had no
way of being resealed. They were fighting a hopeless battle. NO! Mercury
couldn't' accept it. There had to be some way, some thing they could do to
stop it. 
        "MORE POWER!" she screamed, her voice raw and hoarse. 
        Serena could feel herself weakening. SHe refused to fail, but what
more could she do? She knew she needed the power of the crystal. 
        "Please, let me do this and I wont' ask for anything else - at
least not for a while." she whispered silently. Suddenly, her shoulders
were encased in warmth, familiar and safe. 
        "Darien?" she asked, her focus never wavering from the fight. He
smiled down at her.
        "We can stop it. together." he said, holding her close to him. And,
by just being near him, she could feel the fatigue suddenly seem to lift.
She felt rejuvenated. 
        "thank you." she said, understanding. Their love could overcome it
- alone she was weak, but together, all of them combined, could fight it.
        Serena screamed, letting loose all of the power that she possessed,
feeling Darien release something similar to hers, drawing his strength from
her, and she from him, each holding onto the other. She didn't' dare open
her eyes; They remained shut even after the tortured cried of the shadow
warrior had subsided.
        "Can I open my eyes yet?" she asked softly, peeking out through one
half opened lid. It was over. She was suddenly wide eyes, staring at the
spot where now only a pile of dark dust remained. She sank to her knees,
exhaustion taking over. Darien had beat her to the ground moments before,
and now she knelt beside him. 
        "Is it over?" she asked. He looked into her  weary eyes, his own
clouded. 
        "I don't' know." he said, waving his hand at the damage. The sky
was still gray, stormy, with no signs of clearing, the floor of the forest
destroyed. Lightening stuck again, followed by the resonant booming of
thunder.  Suddenly, Darien gasped, sucking in a harsh breath through his
teeth. 
        "Darien!" Serena cried, drawing the attention of the scouts.
        "It's too late. The earth is-"
        A deep rumbling shook them, the earth rolling and rocking and
shaking up and down and back and forth. Serena grabbed onto Darien, burying
her head in his arms. It wasn't' earthquake season - although, did
earthquakes even have seasons, she wondered. 
        It sounded, to Serena, like a million screams, as the earth began
to tear and crack, the giant hole that had stolen the crystal beginning to
grow, again. She looked at it, afraid. 
        "What are we going to do?" Serena cried, "It's not fair! We killed
it fair and square! it cant' do this to us after we won! Aren't' there
rules about this sort of thing?" Darien laughed at her indignant response. 
        "Don't' ever change." he said, laughing before realizing that
laughing brought pain as he felt the agony of the earth. A flash, a
premonition darted before Darien's eyes. He pushed himself up of f the
ground with one hand.
        "Move Serena!" he ordered, grabbing her hand and pulling her with
him, despite her confusion.
        "But Darien-" she turned back to see a giant crack split the ground
where they had been sitting open, the shrubs and trees falling into the
eternal abyss. Serena squeezed Darien's hand tighter. This was definitely
not good. She looked out over at the scouts, all of whom seemed to be
staring at the crack i shock. They were yelling something. But Serena
couldn't' hear them. What was so important? they looked so serious. And
then, Serena knew.
        Serena had thought that she had tripped. But when they ground
failed to catch her she knew otherwise, the dirt tumbling down over her.
She raised her arms up, clutching at anything, trying to stop the rapid
descent into the center of the earth - hadn't' she read that lava was in
the middle of the world, and wasn't' lava supposed to burn, and wasn't her
skin too nice to be burnt by lava. 
        "DARIEN!"  she screamed. Her hand caught hold of something, or
rather, something caught hold of her hand. She looked up to see those
familiar fingers clutching her bracelet. perilously perched over the
crumbling side of the ditch was Darien, his face contorted in pain and
exertion as he tried to hang onto her. 
        "Serena, give me your other hand!" he called. Serena blinked,
almost slipping out of his grasp as she turned her head away from the
falling dirt.
        "Don't let me go?" 
        "have I ever let you fall before?" he asked. Serena smiled
brilliantly. 
        "never my prince." She said, beaming. She pulled her hand up, and
Darien reached over to meet it, when . . . 
        The sharp snapping sound of twine echoed in Darien's ears, her
smiled turning quickly into a scream seared upon his eyes as she fell into
the darkness, crying out his name until he could hear her no more, until
her golden hair no longer glinted in he light. He stared into the abyss,
stricken, slowly bringing up his hand to stare at the snapped bracelet, the
beads falling to the ground. 
        "SERENA!!!"
         If He were to jump in after her, maybe she would be all right,
maybe he could save her He would follow her, bring her back, never be
separated from her! He could feel the side of the ditch give way, begin to
crumble under his feet, and he made no move to leave, barely aware of the
strong arms of Sailor Jupiter pulling him back from the slowly growing
hole.
        "Let me go! I have t save her . . . SERENA!" Darien cried, trying
to break free of Jupiter's arms, which had become amazingly strong, or
perhaps it was he who had become weak. 
        "Darien, no. No! We cant' lose you too." she said, her voice
trembling. Darien continued to thrash. So what? It didn't' matter who else
needed him. he knew who needed him the most. Serena. 
        "NO!" Darien cried. "Serena needs me! Cant' you see. I have to-"
        "Darien!" Sailor Mars interrupted harshly, coming up to him and
looking him in the eyes. "There's nothing more for us . . . Serena . . .
please, don't, we need you. Serena needs you to be strong. Do you hear me!
Don't' you do anything stupid . . . she wouldn't have wanted that." 
        Darien seemed to calm down in his thrashing about to get to her. 
        "Why are you talking like that? Like she's, she's . . . because she
isn't'! I can feel it, she's all right!" 
        Sailor Mars blinked, lowering her head to stare at her shoes.  When
again she could face Darien, her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
        "Of course, she's all right . . . . she wouldn't leave us." she
lied, unable to take away the frantic hope that was plastered on Darien's
face by having him face reality - no one could have survived such a fall.
Serena was . . . Sailor Mars quickly spun away, hiding her tears from
Darien's' wild eyes.
        "Let em go to her! Let me help her! SERENA!!!" Darien called out,
again trying to make his way to the hole where Serena had disappeared. 
        "SERENA!!!"
        The earth began to shake, and suddenly, it began to collapse again,
dirt falling in never-ending waterfalls into giant holes that continued to
grow at breakneck speeds, rapidly destroying, intent on leaving no land
untouched, on destroying the earth. It was the end of the world. It ripped
at Darien's' soul, and he collapsed to the ground, free at last from Sailor
Jupiter's arms. He pulled himself towards the edge, the small chunks of mud
breaking off and sliding down into the abyss, his body screaming as the
earth screamed, and his mouth crying one thing.
        "SERENA!!"

        Her nose twitched. She sniffed, contorting it like a rabbit, but it
still itched. She swatted at her nose with her hand.
        "OWiE!!!" Serena cried, jumping upright and rubbing her nose
painfully. 
        She sneezed, dust flying out in a mushroom formation. 
        "Where am I?" she wondered aloud, looking around at the ruined
cavern. She looked up, tilting her head directly above her, yet she could
see no sun, just a heavy blanket of black. Around her, the walls of the
cave were crumbling,  occasionally larger pieces of rock and dirt falling
to the ground.  Serena stood,. still looking around her in awe - the place
looked as though it would collapse at any second.
        "What happened?"  she whispered.
        "The world is dying princess." 
        Serena whirled around at the sound of the familiar voice behind
her, the skirts of her princess dress spinning around her and letting loose
a flurry of dirt. She coughed while staring at him in awe and amazement.
        "HELIOS!" Serena screamed happily, launching herself at him and
enveloping him in an enormous bear hug. Helios tried to catch his breath as
the moon princess knocked the wind out of him, smiling at the expected
outburst. He was pleased to know that she hadn't' changed.
        "I'm glad to see you as well, Princess. But come, it isn't' safe
here." he said, taking her hand and leading her away from the decrepit
chamber.
        "But, but . the scouts! I have to get back up there and help them!
Helios-"
        "I'm sorry i can't answer all your questions. But please princess,
before we are destroyed along with this part of the earth, come with me."
he said seriously. Serena nodded her head reluctantly, following him. He
looked older than when she had last seen him almost four years ago. But, he
was still the same, the same eyes, same face. Kinda cute, Serena noted -
although not as cute as Darien, for sure. 
        "Helios, where are we going?" she asked. he turned back to smile
wanly at her.
        "Home - to Elysian."
        "Elysian?' she echoed in awe. She had never seen Helios's home, the
place that was Darien's' kingdom. She had heard of it though, from Darien,
tales of gorgeous old buildings and beautiful gardens and so many mystical
and wondrous things. 
        "Look Princess." he said, his voice a touch full of pride. Serena
jerked her head up and gasped. 
        it should have been beautiful, should have been thriving, and yet,
it was dead. She could see the ruin, the devastation, plainly marked on
every inch of this once lush land.
        "Helios, is this . . .Elysian?" she asked. he nodded slowly. 
        "WHAT HAPPENED!" she blurted out, her hands quickly flying to her
mouth to cover it in embarrassment.
        "I didnt' mean, I mean, well, It's just that - ah man!" she
stammered.  "Why do I have such a big mouth!"
        "It's all right princess." he said, smiling again, missing that
feel on his face after the last few hours of pure torture. "It was the
shadow warrior."
        "It did all this?" 
        ":Yes."
        "OH HELIOS!" Serena cried sadly, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm
so sorry! We should have been able to stop it! And now you're home is
ruined. I'm so so sorry. If I hadn't-"
        "it's not your fault Princess." Helios interrupted. "Please, let me
tell you what has happened." Serena nodded. 
        "The shadow warrior had been banished to here, the most powerful
place on Earth, the place where the magic of your crystal was the most
intense. Only here could we truly contain this evil. But, when the power of
the crystal was misused to free the shadow warrior, it broke all the seals
that had been placed upon it to keep it confined. The shadow warrior,
coupled with the breaking of these magical bonds, resulted in he
destruction of Elysian, releasing this deadly force upon the earth. The
shadow warrior is, right now, destroying the earth, killing it, form the
inside out. The only way to heal this earth, to save your prince who is,
even as we speak, dying as the earth is as a result of his duties as
guardian of this planet, is to use the crystal to fix everything that the
shadow warrior has destroyed, to restore the balance between good and evil
that it has disrupted. Princess, you must use the crystal to save us all." 
        Serena swallowed hard. 
        "I can't." she said timidly. 
        "Excuse me?" Helios asked, leaning in closer to make sure he heard
her right.
        "I can't!" she cried again, louder this time, her voice raw with
sadness,
        "what is the matter Princess. Why can't you?"
        "I cant' because I don't' have the crystal. And stop calling me
Princess. I'm Serena, not princess Serenity, not neo Queen Serenity, just
plain old Serena Tsukino! I can't help you because that's all that I am! If
I was the princess, then maybe I could, but I'm just a normal girl! I'm
sorry, Maybe, if I had the crystal, if I could become the princess . . .
but I don't'. I'm sorry Helios, but I can't." she cried, her voice raising
two octaves as her distress grew. "I'm sorry I let everyone down." 
        "IS that what you really think?" Helios asked, confused. Serena
looked up at him, wiping at the tears that had trickled from the corners of
her eyes. 
        "What do you mean? I don't' get it."
        "You defeated the shadow warrior from a power not drawn from the
crystal, correct?" Helios asked. Serena nodded slowly and unsure.
        Don't you know that the power comes from you Princess, Serena."
        "From me?" she asked. Helios nodded his head, taking his her hand
in is.
        "Serena, you are the princess of the Moon. You do not transform
into her and become a different person - that's not the way it works at
all. You, Serena Tsukino, are the PRincess Serenity of the Moon, and the
Princess Serenity of the Moon is you, Serena Tsukino. Do you understand?"
he asked. Serena looked down at her shoes.
        "I think so. You're saying that my past incarnation, and my future
self aren't' really like other people. I am the princess, and I will be the
queen and there isn't any difference between any of us because I am all of
these different people." 
        "Precisely." Helios said, smiling widely. Serena laughed.
        "So, like, when I become the princess, I'm not really a princess at
all, I'm still just Serena Tsukino in a cool dress, right?"
        "I prefer to think of it as when you're Serena Tuskino, you are a
true princess dressed as a commoner." Helios said. 
        "Yeah, me too! Now, if only that was a good excuse to not do my
math homework . . ."
        "Princess." Helios warned. "You haven't' changed much at all." 
        "That better be a good thing Helios - I'm a princess 24-76,
remember, you said so yourself. . . . MY CRYSTAL!" Serena cried, changing
topics so rapidly that Helios was left dazed for a moment before realizing
what she was talking about.
        "Even if I am the princess or whatever, I cant' help you if I
don't' find my crystal! I have to find it so I can stop the earth from-"
        "You still don't' understand princess." 
        "Understand what? Wow, I'm seriously confused right now." 
        "YOu are the princess during every moment of your life - and the
princess has power that surpasses even my own, a power that does not rely
on the crystal. If you wish for something deeply enough, it will come true.
If you combine the power of your love and the love of Prince Endymion, then
you will be able to equal the power you alone can produce with the crytal.
It is this lvoe that is the root of your power Princess, not the crystal.
The crystal merely helps ease the effects of your wishes and dreams on your
body. But, everything you need is right in there." Helios said, pointing at
her heart. Serena looked down at her chest, trying to see the power for
herself. Nothing out of the ordinary there. But Helios wouldn't lie to her.
Even so, Serena wanted the crystal.
        "Helios, I'll try and fix things without it, but I'd feel a whole
lot better if I could use the crystal." Serena confessed. Helios nodded.
        "I knew you would Princess." he said. He stuck a hand in his
pocket, digging around and finally pulling out something, opening his hand
to reveal a black cloth.
        "Perhaps you lost this Princess." Helios said. Serena grabbed the
object from him, pulling off the small piece of cloth.
        "THE Crystal!" she exclaimed happily, looking from he crystal to
Helios to the crystal again.
        "Thank you Helios!" she cried, holding out her hands, the crystal
floating inches from her fingertips.
        "I'll make everything better! I promise! I wont' let you down! I'm
not going to let this world die without a fight!" she vowed, closing her
eyes as she felt the familiar wave of power wash over her. She could feel
her feet slowly lift off from the gourd, as she began to float higher and
higher up in the sky. Helios watched her, his face set in admiration and
hope.
        "I know you will save this world Princess, Sailor Moon. I believe
in you."

        "This isnt' lookign good guys." Venus said, her face betraying her
worry. She turned her attention back to Darien, who was lying on the
ground, trying desperately to somehow hold the earth they were standing on
together, trying to heal the world, to keep it from flying into a million
little pieces. He was successful in his efforts, but he couldn't keep it up
forever. The scouts had to think up a way to stop the Earth from exploding.
And they had no idea how.
        "I wish Serena were here." Jupiter said, hating the helpless
feelings that were overcoming her. She couldn't' do anything and she
didn't' like it at all. She was useless in trying to save the planet, and
she didn't' even want to think about Serena . . . her friend . . . late
friend. Just like that and she was gone and she had been helpless to stop
it - just like she had been helpless when her parents had died. Jupiter
kicked at the ground in frustration.
        "HEY! You might mess it up even more! Careful!" Mars snapped. 
        "Well excuse me! Who died and . . . " Jupiter's voice trailed off,
realizing what she had said without thinking. The two girls stared at each
other, their eyes watering, mutual understanding shining in each.  The
ground shook violently, and both Jupiter and Mars broke free from their
intense stares, screaming as the earth rolled turbulently. 
        "I can't . . . keep it together for  . . . much longer!" Darien
gasped through gritted teeth. He shoved his hands harder against the
ground, trying to dig deeper and deeper into the heart of the earth, but
what lie at the center of the earth was decay, a disease that Darien could
not cut through. But he couldn't' give up! He tried harder to heal it,
knowing that the effort was futile - he just wasn't' strong enough.
        "Something weird is going on." Mercury stated, staring at the
numbers on her computer. Something bright caught Venus's eye, and she
peered over the edge of one of the holes that had been multiplying since
the defeat of the shadow warrior. 
        "In case you wanted to know, there's a glowy thing heading for us
right about . . . NOW!" Venus cried, jumping back away from the hole as the
beam of light raced past her, shooting into the sky. Her eyes followed the
white light that followed the it, pure and beautiful. She squinted to get a
better look. Were those . .. 
        "Meatballs!" Venus cried, hopping up and down happily. 
        "Huh?" Jupiter asked.
        "She's finally lost it - I knew this day was coming." Mars said
sarcastically. What could she be thinking about right now when the world
was . . . 
        A wave passed over her, a feeling of deja vu, a familiar feeling of
someone she had been close to . .. 
        "SERENA!" mars whipped her head around to face the light that had
startled Venus. She could make out the figure, which was heading back
closer to the earth. The source of the light was from a girl in a white
dress, her twin ponytails protruding from two buns resembling perched on
her head. It was Serena! 
        Serena smiled down on them, her face that of an angel, her wings
waving gracefully in the air, the light only adding to that incredible
image.
        "I'll protect everyone! I won't let anyone be hurt!" Serena
proclaimed, her voice steady and serious. She thrust out her hands, pushing
aside the fatigue that was threatening to overcome her. She knew that she
had probably used too much energy just by fighting the shadow warrior, but
it didn't' matter - her life was inconsequential. She would do anything to
allow the people she loved just one more day on earth. It was worth any
sacrifice. The crystal floated in front of her. She closed her eyes,
concentrating on the crystal, on her heart. 
        'Let me fix this world. Let me make it safe for everyone.' she
chanted. She could feel the fingers of the crystal reach inside her soul,
taking her energy from it in order to create even bigger and brighter
dreams. 
        "Take more! Fix everything!" Serena cried, ordering the crystal
forcefully, her hair flapping behind her. She was becoming tired, her sight
blurring, turning dark. 'Let me hold on for just a little longer. Just a
little bit longer and everything will be all right.'
        Mars stared at the ground beneath Serena. Slowly, the holes were
filling themselves in, and what was not filled in by natural means was
covered with s strange substance, a crystallic substance that mars was sure
she had seen someplace else, someplace long ago. She looked up in the sky
at Serena. She seemed to be hanging there precariously, as though she would
fall at any moment, swaying uncertainly, her eyes shut tight in
concentration, that determined line dancing across her jaw. It was working,
but how well? 
        He could feel HER energy flowing into him, flowing into the ground.
Around him, the grass began to grow again, the trees and flowers return to
full bloom.  Darien smiled. She was always there to save them. Always. Even
when he would have preferred her bring out of harm's way, when he wanted
her to not always give so freely of herself, not to always give so much of
herself, he admired, he loved that selfless way about Serena. She was doing
it right now - only it was beginning to worry him now. She was getting so
weak! 
        'Serena! STOP!' 
        'I have to save them Darien. I wont' let you die! My promise,
remember! I will never give up. Well, I won't.'
        'I can feel you Serena! I don't' want to-'
        'What ever it takes Darien. I'm not afraid.'
        'I AM! Serena, please, no more! Please, no more!'
        "what is the good of living another day, when the day after that
will bring the end of the world. I wont' let it happen! I can fix
everything!'
        'Serena!'
        "I love you Darien.'
        "SERENA!" Darien screamed, his eyes snapping open, whirling around
to see Serena's limp form floating in the air. She cried out, expending all
the energy in her heart, the crystal flickering brightly before dimming,
her body falling to the ground, her wings gone. 
        Darien ran, jumped, utilizing his Tuxedo mask skills, and caught
her in his arms, cradling her body gently, her head resting against his
heart.
        "Serena." he said quietly, rubbing her cheek. She didn't' stir.
"Wake up Serena! its' over, the earth is  fine now! YOU did it!" A strand
of her hair fell over her eyes. Darien brushed it away. 
        "Serena?" he asked, holding his breath as he waited for her answer,
ignoring the dread that bit at the back of his soul. Why wasn't she waking
up?
        "Darien? What's wrong?" Mars asked. He shook his head, still gently
nudging Serena. Her hand fell free from her lap, her small hands uncurling.
Something flashed as it fell from Serena's palm. Mars bent down to pick it
up. 
        "No." Mars whispered, her eyes wide and unbelieving as she stared
at the object. She could feel it, the lack of . . .. 
        "O Serena . . .. why?" she asked, turning her gaze back at the
painful sight of the silver Imperium crystal, it's surface faded and dull
and dark, exuding an aura of stillness, of lifelessness. It would never
shine as it had before again. It was a dead crystal. 
        Darien turned around, still hugging Serena close to him, his eyes
questioning as he sought out Mars'. His courage failed him as his eyes
quickly skipped past hers, not wanting to see the look in them, not wanting
to believe what she spoke in them. His eyes finally rested on it, the
blackened crystal. He sunk to his knees, his arms tightening around
Serena's thin waist, her hair surrounding his face. 
        "You promised . . . you promised not to give up. You Promised
Serena." he whispered, his lips brushing against her too cool skin. He had
expected her eyes to flutter open, yet they remained closed - eternally. 
        "You promised." he repeated brokenly, hiding his eyes against her.
She couldn't' be dead. She had just saved them all. It wasn't' right for
the heroine to die! It wasn't' fair. Not to her, not to the world, not to
him.
        'I don't' want to hold on if I cant' hold on to you..'  He closed
his eyes tightly, trying to stop the tears that had spring to them after
the shock had left his eyes. they just came upon him suddenly, completely
out of his control. He couldn't' make them stop. 
        'I wont' let you go. I'll never let you go Serena. NEVER!' 
        mars gasped, dropping the crystal. It had flickered! She watched
it, her eyes never wavering from it, as the dull blackness slowly began to
slowly fade into the throbbing white brilliant light that signaled use of
the crystal. Each moment and the power emanating from it became more and
more intense.  A single word suddenly echoed around her, an angst filled
voice raw with emotion.
        "NEVER!"
        The crystal exploded in white light, blinding Mars and the other
scouts, who were all tearfully watching the scene. mars rubbed her eyes,
trying to see, as the light subsided. 
        "what the hell was that?" she asked,. She looked past them to see
if Darien and  . . . to see if Darien was all right. He was still there, on
his knees, his head buried against Serena, not even noticing the strange
actions of the crystal. His arms clutched at her tightly, madly,. as though
they would never release her. And then . . . 
        Mars blinked, unaware that she shed tears as she did so. 
        . . . . Her arms . . . 
        'I want her back. I don't' care about anything else, I just want
her back.' Darien thought, unable to face the emptiness in his soul.
        . . . Slowly reached up and . . . 
        "thank you ." mars whispered happily.
        . . . . Serena returned Darien's embrace.
        He looked up, startled, his eyes changed, now dark, unstable,
misery-filled. 
        'Let me stay dreaming forever.' he thought, as he gazed upon her
peaceful, resting face. He had imagined that he felt her arms tighten
around him, wishing that such a dream was one he would be able to have all
the time. 
        "I'll love you for always - even if it is only in my dreams." he
whispered, running his hand over her face, feeling it, feeling the
contours, the texture, the sudden warmth. He pulled his hand away, peering
down at her, his heart stopping as he thought . . . had he imagined that
she had actually . . . that her eyelash had moved?!?! 
        "Serena?" he asked, his voice hesitant and hopeful. "Come back to
me." 
        Her eyelids fluttered. His heart skipped a beat. She had, had . . .
and now she was looking at him, her eyes so, so blue, the color of the
summer sky over the sea, so . . . alive! 
        "Darien." she whispered, her voice a tendril of melodic sound.
Darien opened his mouth, surprised that no sound seemed capable of coming
out of it. She giggled, her eyes twinkling. Darien hid the tears that
wanted to rush to the surface. He had been so, so afraid that he would
never see that look again, and now, now . . .
        He bent over her, taking her head in his hands and bringing it
closer to him, capturing her lips with his, never wanting to ever let her
go, saying what he was unable to tell her with his actions many times over.
        Serena smiled, resting her head against his chest, listening to his
heart thumping, after her silent lecture, fascinated by the sound of life,
the sound of love. His heart sounded so melodious. Perhaps, it was his love
that made it sound like that.  He ran his hand through her hair, determined
to stay as close as possible to her for as long as possible, the scouts
staying back for now, understanding perfectly what they needed, allowing
them to sit alone with each other for the moment. Serena looked up faced by
his eyes, bright and blue, looming overhead. staring at her. 
        "Darien?" 
        "Don't go." he said, his voice anguished and forceful.
        "I'm not going anywhere." Serena said, confused.
        "You almost, almost . . . . I don't' want to be alone either
Serena. Don't make me. Please, don't ever leave me." he asked, almost
pleading with her, unexplainably afraid, his hands holding her just a
little tighter. 
        "I won't.  I couldn't' leave you."
        "But you almost-"
        "But you brought me back." she said, smiling at him happily. 
        "I . . . brought you back?" he asked, confused. She nodded her head
slowly.
        "I learned something today. The true power of the crystal. it's not
the crystal itself. It's us Darien. Our love. Our love fuels the crystal.
And the power of your love made the crystal bring me back. It was you that
saved my life Darien. Your love." she said, her eyes misting. He brushed a
hand gently across her cheek.
        "I, I love you so much Serena. I-" she smiled at him, silencing
him.
        "I know. I . . . " her eyes suddenly danced in amusement. 
        "Darien, you'd do anything I ask, right?" 
        "OF course."
        "I only really want one thing Darien. " 
        "What is it? I'd do anything." he said, his voice becoming serious.
She looked at him, her eyes absolutely luminous. 
        "Would you marry me?" Serena asked, giggling at the surprised look
that flashed across his features. He quickly gained his composure, looking
down at the girl, his girl, his Serena, with so much love. A future with
her. A family with her. He drew her closer.
        "Does this answer the question?" he asked huskily, kissing her
gently on her eyes, then her nose, finally making his way down to her lips,
kissing her deeply, melting into her, warmed by her arms which were now
warpped tightly around his neck.
        "I so can't wait for the honey moon!" Serena giggled. Darien Chiba
kissed his fiancee again, dreaming of that one special kiss in the not so
distant future that would make her his for ever.




