"Family Ties"
by
Kawaii Tenshi
Author's Notes

Rating: PG

        I revamped this after the Sailor Moon series ended.  Since
Darien is okay, and all (YAY!) I figured `it won't hurt the continuity
any.'
        Here's how I figure it:
        In "Family Reunion" I worked on the premise that Darien actually
HAD gone to college.  I figured, he HAD to take a plane BACK.
Therefore: Galaxia could have taken him on THAT trip.

        I figure the first flashback is about a week or so AFTER the
final battle with Galaxia.
        In case you're wondering... I added elements of X1999 to this
fic.  The cute boy Lita spots is Kamui, and Serena gets caught in the
middle of one of those psionic-type fights.  Raye's friend from another
temple is Kotori.  I just never have them saying anything and no names
are mentioned.  I figured SOMETHING had to be the cause of the
destruction.
        The wedding chapter was written BEFORE I heard how the manga
ended.  = > shows how on the mark I can be sometimes.  OH!  Here are
some symbols, so you know what I'm talking about:
{{{{{ = flashback
}}}}}= flashforward
It makes more sense that way.

                                                        Tenshi
                                                brigadoon@msn.com
Love from the Angel!
PS - Email me what you think!  I really like the comments, questions,
and criticisms I get.  It makes me a better writer!
********************************************************

Part-1
"On Tour"

        The beat was fast, and the tune made everyone's heart feel
light.  It was an old song written over two thousand years before.  The
singer, a slender girl with long honey-blonde hair, allowed herself to
be filled with the magic that was in the music of the song.  The joy she
felt was spread throughout the audience.

         "There are days when those gray skies make you blue.
         Each forward step I take, you fall back by two.
         You've been hit by some hard knocks... just can't stand!
         Feeling like Alice felt... in Wonderland!
         Let me be the one to lend a hand...

         Call my name and I'll be there!
         There's nothing like the laughter that we share!
         Whenever you need someone, or a shoulder to lean on,
         call my name, and I'll be there!"

        One person beamed with pride.  She was standing at the exit of
the old and battered auditorium.  The crimson cloak she wore barely
covered her long raven hair.
        Sailor Mars was pleased beyond words that her song had endured
for so long.  She had worked so hard... and had almost lost it when a
Cardian decided to attack the auditorium of her old high school.  It was
poetic justice that Crescent, the singer on the stage, chose the
self-same auditorium to sing the song.  `Oh, Serena... she's so good!
Much better than I was.  It's too bad you have to miss this
performance.' She shook herself out of her thoughts as the descendant of
her best friend sang the rest of the song.

        "And when life's going your way, just like a breeze,
        it's a kite flying kinda day... above the trees.
        Together we'll be makin' memories!
        Call my name, and I'll be there!
        There's nothing like the laughter that we share!
        whenever you need someone..."

        "Mars!  Come in!"
        Sailor Mars blinked in surprise.  "Huh?  What's wrong, Venus?"
        "She's back!"  Sailor Venus seemed excited.
        "Who's back?"  Mars wasn't aware of any departures...
        "Oh, geeze!  Do I HAVE to spell it out for you?  Come on! Darien
just got the message two minutes ago!"
        Mars briefly wondered why the King would get a message, then she
remembered.  "I'm on my way!"  She turned, and disappeared.

        "... I'll be there!"

        Crescent tried to keep the tears of pride hidden.  She had spied
the cloaked figure, and was pleased at the individual's attendance.  She
smiled as she bowed to the sound of thunderous applause.  Pearl, her
backup singer, keyboard player, and distant cousin, had also spotted the
figure.
        "Looks like Raye couldn't stay away!"  Pearl smiled.
        Crescent returned the smile.  "I am glad she came.  She DID
write that song, you know.  I wonder why she left so suddenly?"
        Pearl's shrug was her only reply.
        Crescent raised the microphone again.  "Thank you!  Thank you
all... so very much!"  She shimmered a little and groaned inwardly when
she saw she was in her princess gown.  `Oh NO!  They are not ready to
see me like this yet!'  She had prepared a speech... to get them
accustomed to her.  She wanted them to know that she was one of them.
She wished that she had a little more control over when she changed into
the Moon Princess.
        There was a chorus of gasps in the crowd, then came the sparing
remarks.  It continued like that until there was a roar of outrage from
the crowd.  All the while, Crescent tried to calm them.
        Crescent turned to Francis for help.
        He was at her side, and in Godscout mode, in an instant.  He
made no move to threaten the crowd, but he whispered in her ear.  "Looks
like we've just blown another gig."
        Crescent nodded.  "We must leave.  I know that they will think
me a coward by running away, but I see no other option that will not end
in bloodshed."
        Crystal ran to her sister's side.  "She's right, you know!
Everyone..."
        The group all sighed in resignation as they teleported.
        They had failed, yet again, to win the trust of the people.  Now
they were going to have to wait another year to try again.
        The first time, she had tried to stay and show the crowd that
she meant them no harm.  She had nearly been killed in that fiasco, and
one of the Godscouts, God Jupiter, had nearly killed the crowd in blind
fear.  It was just one attack that went berserk, but it had been more
than enough.  That one fiasco was the main cause behind the rage the
people felt whenever she appeared.
*****
        Sailor Mars walked calmly, if swiftly, to where a large ship was
landing.  She took her place between Mercury and Jupiter.  They all
usually stood in the order that their queen had met them.  King Darien,
of course, was to Queen Serena's immediate right.  Mars did a double
take.  `I don't believe it!  You'd think that a woman her age would have
learned patience!'
        Jupiter vaguely heard a snort coming from Mars, and looked over
to see what Serena was doing to annoy her.  She bit her lip to keep
herself from giggling.  Their queen, a woman who was over two millennia
old, was bouncing.  She went up on her toes, then back down, then up,
then down again.  The simple movement only belied the fact that no
matter HOW old she got, Serena was STILL Serena.

        Darien had also noticed the uncontained excitement in his wife.
It pleased him to no end that she remained ever the energetic person
that he had fallen in love with during the Silver Millennium.  Although
her face was that of a woman, her spirit was still the fourteen-year-old
that had decided to throw away a math test that she had gotten a thirty
on.  He had been surprised, some years after that incident, to find the
paper in a little box that Serena kept treasured momentous in.  On
questioning her, she had replied that she might never had met him if not
for the fact that the test had hit him on the head.  He still shuddered
to think that she was right.  It was funny how something that seemed so
unimportant turned out to be one of the turning points in his life.
        He turned his attention to the ship as it made its final decent.
He put one arm around his wife, which calmed her a great deal.  That's
how it was with them.  In a lot of ways, they were complete opposites.
Darien was the patient one.  He was calm and often soft-spoken.  He had
a hard time, however, dealing with emotional problems despite that he
was always there for Serena.
        Serena was excitable and talkative.  She was still unable to
stay in one place for a given length of time.  But when someone wanted
to cry, she always lent them a shoulder.  If someone had a complaint,
she heard the person out.  It was those differences that made her and
Darien mesh so well together.
        The hatch of the ship opened, and a ramp lowered itself.  The
warm voice that came from the ship, though quieter than they remembered,
was a very welcome one.
        "Hello, Lunkhead.  Long time no see!"
        King Darien walked forward and embraced his sister.  "As always,
Rose, you are a sight for sore eyes!"
        Rose turned from Darien to Serena.  "Hello, Moppet!"
        Queen Serena, as always, forgot herself and ran to her
sister-in-law.  "Rose!  Welcome back!"  The two women held each other a
moment.
        "Hey, girls!"  Rose smiled at the Scouts.  "Good news... my
traveling days are over!"  Not one of them noticed the intense sadness
in her eyes.
        Serena could barely contain her joy.  "You mean you are staying?
That you will never leave again?"  When Rose nodded, Serena embraced her
again.  "That is such good news!"
        "Oh... great... I suppose we can find a place for her." Darien's
eyes twinkled with the joy he was feeling.
        "Greetings, Uncle Darien... Aunt Serena."  A pink haired woman
exited the ship.  Her hair was back in the same French braid that Rose
wore.  Her gray-green eyes were shining with tears.  "I am so pleased to
be here."  Sailor Mars briefly wondered why Dipi was in a dark dress.
The girl had always worn pastels... except when she transformed into the
Gemscout Ruby.
        Serena smiled at her niece.  "Hello, Serendipity.  It has been
too long since I have last seen you."  She studied the woman a moment.
"You look more like Rose every time I see you."
        Darien, still smiling, looked around a moment.  **Where's...?**
        For the first time in her life, Rose turned away from her
brother and answered him with silence.
        That silence spoke a thousand words.  "Oh, Rose... I'm so
sorry!" He pulled Serena close and held her a little tighter than usual.
        Serendipity noted her mother's expression and sniffed once.
"Father died in an accident a month ago.  The others decided to go their
own ways."  She changed the subject.  "Do you know how Pearl is
nowadays? Is she still with Crescent?"  Everyone had been surprised when
Serendipity's daughter, Pearl, had turned out to be the same girl they
had met when Crescent had visited them in the past.
        Serena sighed.  "I wish I knew.  They have not been in touch
with us for a long time."  She clung to Darien even as he held her
tighter than he had in a long time.
        Sailor Mars stepped forward.  "She's still with Crescent.  I
just left their latest concert."  She gasped once as she sensed
something, then bit back a sob.
        Sailor Uranus shot an alarmed look at Mars.  "Not AGAIN!"
        Rose turned back to everyone.  "What?  What's happened?"
        "She's failed... She had to invoke an emergency teleport." Venus
shared the disappointment of everyone else in the room.
        Serena shook her head.  "The poor child.  I wish she would just
ask for my advice!"
        Darien stroked Serena's back.  "She'll come... when she's ready
to ask for help."  He sighed.  "She should have asked for our help the
first time she tried..."  He grinned.  "Looks like she's inherited my
stubborn pride."
        "Poor girl..."  Serena turned her attention back to Rose.
"Anyway... I will show you to your chambers."
*****
        "DAMN!"  Josh punched the wall, which caused Crescent to flinch.
        "I am so sorry, everyone. I should have not allowed my guard
down.  It seems every time that happens, I end up shifting."
        Francis wrapped his arms around her protectively.  "No one
blames you, Crescent.  You didn't know that it was going to happen."
        Crescent separated herself from him.
        "He's right, Princess."  Pearl's long pinkish iridescent hair
hung loosely about her.  "You couldn't have known."
        Josh was not to be swayed.  "Well she SHOULD have known, damn
it!" He noted Francis' glare.
        "You're more to blame than she is!"  Francis began initiating
his own verbal attack.  "It was, after all, YOUR attack that went
haywire and almost killed the audience!"
        "BECAUSE OF HER!!!"  Josh gestured to Crescent.  "She could've
left before anything happened!  BESIDES... the only reason why no one in
the crowd DIED is because..."
        Crystal placed her right arm between the two of them.  "That's
ENOUGH!  BOTH of you!  We're ALL to blame!  Any one of us could've
initiated the teleport at any given second... The point is what
happened... HAPPENED.  We can all stand here and argue about it for the
next twenty years, or we can actually come up with a feasible plan to
keep it from happening again!"
        Princess Crescent sighed.  "I guess I had better swallow my
pride and ask Great-Grandmother Serena for help.  She once said that she
would always be there for me."
        "Why'd you never do that before?  I mean, if anyone can help
you... Serena can."  Molly smiled in remembrance of all the times her
best friend had helped her out.
        "She's got her Great-Grandfather's stubbornness... THAT'S why!"
Nephrite wrapped his arms around his wife. The couple traveled with the
group partly for moral support, but mostly because they had promised
Serena they would look after Crescent.
        Peace nodded in agreement with her parents.  She had been born
and raised in the Moon Palace.  She remembered Queen Serena as being a
loving woman, with not one ounce of spite.
        Peace had the same almond-shaped eyes as her father did, and
they were such an intense shade of blue that it was startling sometimes.
Her hair was the same color as her Molly's, but as wavy as Nephrite's.
Her name described her personality - peaceful.  She was definitely the
youngest member of the group.  She was only eleven years old.
        "Queen Serena'd listen, Princess... she always listened to me!"
        Crescent smiled at the girl before turning to her cat advisor.
        "Cynthia... open up a link to the Moon Palace in my bedchamber,
please.  I will speak to my Great-Grandmother there... in PRIVATE!" The
last word was said because Francis made a move to accompany her and she
had no wish to have anyone listening to the conversation.
        "Of course, Princess."  Cynthia watched as Crescent left the
room.
*****
        "Crescent!  Why, this IS a pleasant surprise.  To what to I owe
the intense pleasure of talking with you to?"
        Crescent couldn't help but smile at Serena's enthusiasm.  "I
need to see you, Great-Grandmother Serena... face to face and in person.
May I come up please?"
*****
        Serena blinked in surprise.  "Well... of course you may,
Crescent.  You know that you are free to visit any time you wish.  I
will be expecting you."
        Crescent's image nodded.  "I'll be up within the hour.  Thank
you, Great-Grandmother Serena."  Her face blinked out.
        Sailor Venus walked in.  "What was all that about, Serena?"
        "It seems as if Crescent has finally decided to ask for help.
Poor child should have come sooner..."  She shook her head.  "Oh,
well...  I could not shield her from mistakes.  She had to make those on
her own, just like I made mine... Right, Mina?"
        "Gee, I wish Raye were here to hear you.  She'd be WAY
surprised."
        The two women laughed like they did when they were girls.



Part-2
"History Lesson"

        Crescent put her hair up in the traditional style of the Royal
Moon Family... one small bun on each side of her head, and the rest of
her hair in two long ponytails.
        "Are you SURE you don't want any of us accompanying you?"
        "No, Francis... this is something I must do alone."  She
adjusted her gown and prepared to teleport.  "I will be back as soon as
possible."
        Josh grumbled.  "Don't rush... PRINCESS!"  He practically spat
out the last word.
        Crescent sighed and vanished.
        Francis took that instant to punch Josh square in the jaw.
        The rest of the team hung back.  They had known that this fight
was brewing for a long time.  They had only stopped it every other time
for Crescent's sake.  She could never stand seeing two of her teammates
and protectors fighting.  They also knew the real reason behind the
anger.
        The fight was going to get very ugly.  Everyone hoped that the
two combatants wouldn't kill one another.
*****
        Crescent took a deep breath as she approached the Moon Palace.
Even though she had been told that she was welcome at any time, it still
overwhelmed her.  She took another breath and sighed... She had no other
choice but to enter.
        She walked to the throne room as if she were in a trance.  She
didn't want to dwell on the awe-inspiring palace that was home to her
ancestor, Serena.  She waited outside the throne room a moment when she
heard a light footfall behind her.  She spun around in alarm.
        Sailor Mercury smiled at Crescent.  "You won't get anything done
by standing out here, little Princess.  The door is open, and Serena IS
expecting you."
        Crescent nodded.  "Yes, Lady Mercury, I know.  I told her I was
going to visit."
        Sailor Mercury blinked in surprise.  Usually Crescent just
called her Amy.  The fact that the child was so formal spoke volumes.
She opened the door, and entered first.  "Princess Crescent is here,
Your Majesty."
        Crescent entered a little shyly.  "Hello, Great-Grandmother
Serena."
        Queen Serena saw the uncertain expression on the girl's face.
"Amy, would you leave Crescent and I to talk alone for a while?"  She
smiled as her oldest friend left the throne room.  "Now, little one,
what is troubling you so much that you come here looking as though you
were expecting punishment?"
        "I... I..." Crescent groped for words a moment, then hung her
head in misery.  "I've failed!  I'm no good at this princess stuff." She
looked up, and noticed that Serena looked as if she were about to burst
out laughing.  "What's so funny?"
        Serena shook her head.  "I am not laughing at you, if that is
what you think.  I am simply remembering a time when I had similar
doubts..."
        "But you have no idea what it's like!  One of my own team
members has all but turned against me!"  Crescent started sobbing.  "Oh,
Great-Grandmother... what am I to do?  Help me, Serena, please!"
        "Calm down... I have always promised you that I would help you
whenever you chose to ask for it.  Come here..."  She gently pulled
Crescent into an embrace.  "Let me tell you a story... maybe you will
learn from it." {{{{{
        "Hey, Mina, would you lend me a pencil?"  Seventeen-year-old
Serena had been working on a particularly difficult problem when her
pencil had broken.  She was lying on her stomach with her feet
alternatively flexing and pointing.
        "OH!  Of course... here you go."  Mina couldn't help but giggle.
"I bet the others would sure be surprised if they ever discovered you
actually doing your homework for a change."
        Serena cast her a sly look.  "Well, YOU'RE one to talk!"  Both
girls burst out in a fit of giggles.  "Where is everyone, anyway?"
        "Out doing their thing, I guess.  I know Raye went to visit an
old friend at a nearby temple."  Mina furrowed her eyebrows in
concentration.  "Now... what was the girl's name?"  After a minute, she
gave up and went back to her history.
*****
        The next day, the group was walking to school together.  Serena
was hanging on to Darien's arm, still a little afraid to let him out of
her sight.  Raye had already turned off at the point where their paths
split.
        Suddenly Lita surprised everyone by gasping.  "Omigod!  He looks
JUST like my old boyfriend!"
        Amy, Mina, Serena, and Darien all looked over to the boy that
Lita was talking about.  He had a slight build.  His dark hair was
tousled and slightly unruly.  The girls all admitted to themselves, if
not to each other, that Lita had picked a majorly cute guy to get a
crush on.
        "I guess your boyfriend was younger than you.  Give it up,
Lita... He doesn't even go to the same school as us.  Besides... he
looks kinda anti-social.  Come on... we'll be late if we don't hurry."
Serena let go of Darien and almost dragged Lita away.
        Had they stuck around for three more minutes, they would have
witnessed some major destruction.  }}}}}
        Crescent shook her head.  "But what does all this have to do
with my problem?"
        Serena fixed a slightly stern gaze on the girl.  "You do not
want me to simply begin in the MIDDLE of the story, now do you?"  She
sighed once.  "You have inherited my impatience, I am afraid.  Now...
listen."
        Crescent settled down once again as Serena continued.  {{{{{
        Serena awoke that night with a strange sense of foreboding.  It
seemed odd to her because it was usually Raye who got those feelings.
        She stood up and walked to the window and looked up at the night
sky. All seemed too peaceful... TOO quiet.  Even the wind was silent.
`It feels like the world is waiting for something.'  She shuddered and
hugged herself. "Darien... Do you feel this too?  I wonder..."  She
would have given anything at that moment to be in Darien's reassuring
embrace.  She looked over at the photograph of the two of them together
with Rini, and the image of him seemed to smile at her.  As if Darien
was telling her that he was thinking of her.
        The phone rang, causing Serena to jump in alarm.  She ran to get
it before her parents woke up.  She picked up the receiver, and spoke
cautiously.  "Uh... hello?"
        "Serena?  Are you okay?"
        Serena smiled.  She kept her voice low as she spoke to the
person on the other end.  "I'm fine, Darien... just a little jittery
tonight."
        "Oh?  Why's that?"
        Serena desperately tried to put into words what it was she was
feeling.  "It's too peaceful.  I don't know why that should make me on
edge.  I don't understand myself why I feel nervous."  Suddenly it hit
her.  "This kind of quiet reminds me of the day Beryl attacked the Moon
Kingdom.  It was really peaceful THAT day, too."  She waited a moment.
"Darien?"
        "Do you want me to come over?"  He sounded genuinely concerned.
        "Darien... don't be silly.  This feeling is probably the result
of something I ate.  All of this will blow over come morning... You
worry too much.  I've really gotta get to sleep. There's a test tomorrow
and, for once, I studied for it.  I love you, Darien."
        "I love you too, Princess.  I'll see you tomorrow.  Bye!"
        "Bye."  She heard a click, then hung up the phone.  She hoped
she was right, but she doubted it.  She went back into her room and
quickly got dressed.  She knew Raye was going to be angry, but decided
it was worth it.
*****
        Serena reached the Cherry Hill Temple, and was not at all
surprised to find Raye in the middle of a fire reading.  "You felt it
too?"
        Raye spun around in surprise.  "Don't tell me you actually
SENSED something!"
        Serena bit her lip.  "No... not exactly... I just got the
feeling that it was too quiet."
        Raye regarded Serena a minute.  "Sit down... Do you know WHY
I've always been on your case?"
        Serena nodded as she sat.  "You're pushing me to try harder.
I've known that for the longest time.  If you hadn't done all that
teasing or insulting, I might not have accomplished anything."
        "You know, for an almost complete ditz, you possess some
remarkable insight."
        "Thanks... I think.  So... do the flames tell you anything?"
        "Well... it ISN'T the Negaverse... THAT much is certain.  I
am, however, reading a remarkable amount of energy.  I really can't tell
if it's positive or negative."
        Serena stood up.  "Well... I must be going.  See you tomorrow
Raye."
        "Yeah... Serena?"  She turned and smiled up at her friend.  "Be
careful.  There's a lot of wild energy out there tonight.  I honestly
don't want anything to happen to you."
        Serena smiled back.  "Okay... I'll be careful. Bye!"  She walked
down the steps.  She needed to think, so she turned in the opposite
direction of her house.
*****
        Raye shuddered as soon as Serena left.  She suddenly had an
awful feeling.  `Oh... PLEASE protect her!'  She had only felt this once
before... the day of the attack on the Moon Kingdom.  Suddenly she
leapt up and followed in the direction of Serena's house.  If nothing
else, she was going to guard her friend and future queen.  After a
minute of running she felt very uneasy.  `I should have caught up to her
WAY before now... unless...'    She spun around.  "Unless she went in
ANOTHER direction!  Oh NO!"  She ran back to the temple and looked in
every direction.  Another terrible thought struck her as she suddenly
remembered... `Serena wasn't wearing her brooch!'  Raye groaned as she
realized that if trouble DID occur, Serena would be totally defenseless.
`She didn't even have her communicator... she can't call for help!' She
activated her own communicator.  "Amy...  come in." *****
        Serena walked slowly through the streets.  Without thinking, she
reached up to touch her brooch... only to find that it wasn't there.  `I
forgot it?  That almost NEVER happens!'  She spun around to head back to
her house when an explosion occurred right in front of her...  causing
everything to go up in flames.  `Can't get home THAT way!'  She spun
around to run away from the inferno, but had to stop when another
explosion happened.  `What is going ON?'
*****
        Darien had fallen into a light sleep, but snapped back awake.
`Serena...?  Serena's in danger!'  He transformed into Tuxedo Mask and
followed the feeling.
*****
        Mina, Lita, Amy, and Raye all headed in the direction of the
explosions.  They all knew that Serena, with her dumb luck, was probably
right smack in the middle of it all.
*****
        Serena raised her arms defensively as shards of glass flew at
her.  She cried out as they made deep slashes in her arms.  She suddenly
wished she had stayed home.  She screamed once as another explosion
threw her across the street and into a brick wall.  The impact broke
several ribs and one arm. Amazingly enough, she was still conscious.
She shook her head to clear it, and desperately searched for a way out.
She cried out again as shards of glass and rock hit her from behind.  By
that point, she was running on pure adrenaline.
        She felt the ground beneath her begin to rumble and she knew
another explosion was about to happen.  This time, she knew she wasn't
going to be able to get out of the way.  The last sensations she felt
before passing out were extreme heat, flying, falling briefly, and being
caught by something.
*****
        "Mercury bubbles... BLAST!"  Sailor Mercury watched as the cool
mist put the fire out.
        Sailor Mars was in like a flash.  "Serena!?  Serena!!"  She
gasped as Tuxedo Mask walked out of the smoke carrying Serena's battered
form.  "Oh, my GOD!  Is she...?"
        "She's alive, Mars, but hurt very badly.  We have to get her to
a hospital."
        "Should we call an ambulance?"
        "No, Mercury..."  Tuxedo Mask shifted to Darien.  "... I'll take
her.  You all go get her parents."  He lowered his voice and spoke to
the unconscious girl hanging limply in his arms.  "Hang in there,
Serena...  PLEASE hang in there."
*****
        Later, at the hospital, Darien and Serena's parents listened to
the doctor who had operated on Serena.  "... Was really touch-and-go for
a while.  At first, I didn't think she was going to pull through.  Then
it was like she got this sudden burst of strength."
        The girls smiled as they approached.
        Raye tapped the doctor on the shoulder.  "Does this mean she's
going to be all right?"
        "Well... the most difficult part is behind her.  I have
absolutely every reason to believe that she'll be up and about within
three months."
        Raye laughed.  "Those three months are going to be difficult...
for you as well as for her."
        The other girls joined in the laughter.  They all knew Serena
too well to think that she'd lie still for that long.
*****
        At about 5:00 in the morning, Darien woke up with a start.
"Wha'?" He blinked his eyes a few times to clear his vision.  "Who?
Who's there?" Someone had, gently but firmly, shaken him awake.
        The nurse smiled at the young man.  "If you want to go in and
see her, you can.  She's surprised us all by waking up much sooner than
expected.  I think that seeing you will probably give her a big boost."
        "Have you told her parents?"  Darien sat up and stretched.
        "Her parents are with her now... They arrived about twenty
minutes ago.  Her mother insisted that they let you sleep a little."
        Darien got to his feet.  "Thank you."  With that, he headed
towards the ICU.
*****
        "I'm really sorry, Mom..."  Serena was really weak and sore.
She knew she was lucky just to be alive.  Her torso was in a cast that
extended to her right arm.  She wanted to sleep so badly, but felt as if
she couldn't.
        "Oh, honey... don't be sorry.  You had no idea of what was
going to happen.  I'm just glad that you're all right."
        Serena smiled. "So am I, Mom."
        "Excuse me..."  A nurse came in.  She smiled at Serena, then
turned to Serena's mother.  "There's someone who wishes to see your
daughter.  He said he has your permission."  She turned back to Serena.
"He also said to give this to you."  She held out a red rose.
        Serena's eyes went wide at the sight of the flower.  "Darien's
here?  Mother...!?"
        There was such joy in Serena's eyes, that Irene Moonfield had to
smile.  "Darien is as good as family... He's Serena's fiancee."  She
stood up as Darien entered.  "I'll leave the two of you alone."  She
stopped in front of Darien.  "The doctors told me you found her and
brought her in.  I can't tell you how grateful I am that you happened to
be there."  She gave Darien a motherly hug.  "I don't care about the age
difference.  In my eyes, you are now my son."
        Darien felt something warm in his heart.  "You have no idea what
that means to someone raised as an orphan, Mrs. Moonfield... Thank you."
He turned to Serena as Mrs. Moonfield left the room.
        Serena held her left arm out to Darien, and he gently pulled her
into a loving embrace. "Oh, Serena.  I'm so glad you're okay."
        "I'm so sorry, Darien... I should have stayed at home or gone to
your place.  If I had..."
        Serena was abruptly cut off by Darien's mouth covering her own.
In that kiss, she sensed worry, relief, love, and a million other
emotions that were running rampant in Darien.  What she didn't feel was
anger or regret.  "Don't worry yourself, Serena.  Just rest and
concentrate on getting better."  He gently helped her lay back on the
mountain of pillows.  When she winced in pain, he felt it.  "Just try to
go to sleep.  I'll be here with you when you wake up."
*****
        Kenneth Moonfield was about to check in on his daughter when his
wife stopped him.
        "Leave them alone, honey."  She smiled in the way only a mother
could.  Darien was truly a knight in shining armor, and she felt
fortunate that Serena had chosen him.  She also felt the instinctive
need to mother him.  He had looked so miserable and lonely when they had
arrived at the hospital.
        "... THEM?!?  Who's in there with her?"  Cautiously, he opened
the door a little.  He smiled as he looked in on Darien and Serena.  He
had finally gotten the chance to really get to know the young man
earlier while Irene had taken Sammy home.  Kenneth had always seen an
air of sadness around Darien.  The young man had been raised as an
orphan, and had only met his real family shortly before Serena had
started taking her high school entrance exams.  Even then, he lived
alone.  When he looked in, he saw two people truly in love.  He felt a
twang of sadness.  "Our first fledgling is preparing to fly the coop,
I'm afraid."
        Irene closed the door and eyed her husband sadly.  "You're only
JUST noticing that?  She's been edging out of the nest for some time
now." She shook her head.  "That she met Darien was only a step.  I bet
you haven't even noticed that she isn't as clumsy as she once was.
She's also a little quieter."  She sighed.  "I know it's hard seeing her
as anything but a child, but she IS seventeen.  If she truly wanted to,
she could marry that young man next year.  We can't protect her from
life...  as this incident has proven.  She was so badly hurt, but it
could have been worse... MUCH worse.  If he hadn't found her..."
        In Serena's room, completely oblivious to the discussion
happening on the other side of the door, Darien started to talk
seriously about getting married.  They had come too close to losing one
another once too often... He didn't want to risk it ever again.
        Darien's life without Serena would have been meaningless to
him...



Part-3
"Wedding Bliss"

}}}}}
        Serena walked with her mother through the mall.  Almost two
years had passed, and the horrors that she had gone through were
forgotten as she looked for the perfect wedding gown.
        "Oh, WOW!  Those shoes are GORGEOUS!"  Serena paused to admire a
pair of pink shoes.
        "Yes... they ARE, Serena, but I didn't bring you shopping to
look at shoes." Irene gently led her daughter to another store. "Tell
me, Serena, what do you think?"
        Serena froze when she spotted a particular gown.  She touched
the fabric.  `Just like the gown I would have worn on my wedding day
during the Silver Millennium.'  She turned to the sales clerk.  "Excuse
me... may I try this one on?"
        "I do believe that is two sizes too large for you, Miss. Wait
here a moment, and I'll get a measuring tape."
        Irene looked at the gown.  "Oh, Serena... it's beautiful!"  She
held the skirt up a little.  "In this, you will look just like a
princess."
        The clerk came back and started taking measurements.  "My...
you ARE petite, aren't you?"
        "She always was."  Irene said with a smile.
        "Uh-huh! Got 'em.  When's the happy day?"
        Serena blushed.  "A week from tomorrow."
        The clerk smiled.  "You'll make a very lovely bride."
        The woman jotted down all of the information.  "I'll start work
right away.  This is the last one of that particular model. What about
the Bridesmaids?"
        "We're right here!"  Lita smiled as she and the other girls
entered.
        Serena proudly showed them the gown.  "What d'ya think?"
        "Why, Serena... that's..." Amy couldn't believe Serena's luck.
        Irene checked her watch.  "Oh, my... Serena... I've gotta go!
The caterer's going to be at the hall in half an hour.  I'll see you
later!"
        Alex, Michelle, and Susan put their heads together.  Seeing the
gown Serena had chosen gave them a wonderful idea.
        Michelle giggled once as she walked over to the bridesmaid
dresses.  "Oh, my! These are just so expensive!  I think I had better
buy material and make my dress."
        The girls were surprised until Susan whispered the plan into
everyone's ears.
        Amy cleared her throat.  "Not to insult you, or anything, but
Michelle is a pretty good seamstress."  With that, the girls each gave
an excuse and left.  All except for Raye who had spotted Darien entering
the mall.
        "Boy... is HE gonna be surprised!"  She started to smile as an
inspiration hit her.  She walked swiftly in the direction where she had
last seen him heading.  The wonderful part of it was that her idea
blended perfectly with Susan's.
*****
        "THERE you are!"  Raye ran to catch up with Darien.  "I've been
looking EVERYWHERE for you."
        "Oh," Darien was intrigued.  "Why were you looking for me?"
        "Well... two reasons.  The most important one was to keep you
from accidentally passing the bridal shop.  Serena's found her gown."
        Darien smiled at the old superstition, but thought Raye had one
valid point.  "And the second?"
        "To save you some money.  I had the WAY COOL idea... What if..."
She whispered her plan into Darien's ear.
        Darien contemplated the idea a moment.  "You know... that's the
best idea you've ever had!"  He smiled as he thought of the look on
Serena's face.  "I can't believe that I didn't think of it.  It's
perfect!"
        "Well... let me lead you AWAY from the bridal shop... We must
keep this a secret, or Serena won't be surprised.  Besides... it's bad
luck if you see her in her wedding gown before the ceremony."
        "Hello Raye! Hello Darien!" Molly walked up arm in arm with
Nephrite.  "How's the groom to be?"
        Nephrite bowed a little to Darien.  It was mostly habit by that
point, but no one tried to stop him.
        "I'm doing okay.  Consider the fact that we've been waiting to
get married for over a thousand years..."
        Nephrite smiled.  "It's not so bad, really.  The hardest part is
waiting for her to finish walking down the aisle.  After that..."  He
shrugged.  "All doubts and nerves are gone.  You just get this euphoric
feeling that you're finally whole."
        Molly smiled.  She and Nephrite had gotten married about two
months earlier.  "Was that what you felt, too?"
        "I have to say that hearing you describe it makes me feel a
WHOLE lot better."  Darien grinned as he suddenly realized he HAD been
nervous.  "Oh, well... I have to go.  See you!"
        "Bye, Darien!"  Molly turned to Raye, who was motioning wildly.
*****
        Meanwhile, back in the boutique, Serena stood on a small
pedestal.  She decided to have the work done when the gown was on HER,
not some doll.  If the seamstress had been paying attention to Serena's
forehead, she would have been surprised to see a faint yellow Crescent
Moon there.  Serena, however, sensed it and clamped it down a little.
`In this dress... it seems I begin to feel a little TOO much like my old
self.'
        The seamstress continued work for a little while.  "I can't seem
to get the measurements right!"
        "Maybe I can help!"
        Serena almost forgot the gown she was wearing.  "Rose!"
        "Hello, Moppet."
        Serena beamed.  "I'm so glad you could get here in time!"
        Rose smiled.  "I'll buy the dress as-is.  There's far less
chance of Darien walking in on us at my place.  Besides... it'll make it
a lot easier if all you are wearing is the dress."  Serena let the
seamstress take the dress off.
        "OMIGOSH!  I hadn't thought of that!"  Serena watched as Rose
paid for the gown.
        "Here's the dress."  The woman looked relieved.
        "Here... I'm sorry to be taking this work away from you."  Rose
handed the woman some more money. "This should be a happy time for you
as well as for us." The woman took the money and beamed. She had never
seen such a generous customer... one who paid for work NOT done.
*****
        Rose smiled at her sister-to-be.  "Good thing that woman wasn't
paying attention... your moon was beginning to show."
        Serena nodded.  "It seems to be slipping a little.  Was that one
of the reasons you decided to work on the gown yourself?"
        Rose nodded. "Yes... also to save you a lot of time.  I meant
what I said in there,  You had something on underneath the gown.  At
least at my place, you don't HAVE to wear shorts under it.  I don't
suppose you thought of that."
        Serena sighed.  "No... I HAVE had a lot of other things on my
mind."  That caused her to blush and smile.
        "I don't doubt that... I was the same way.  I couldn't get Kris
out of my head."
        "How is Dipi?"
        Rose laughed at the sudden subject change. "She's very active...
and into EVERYTHING!  I swear she's MORE curious than you were at her
age."
        Serena laughed as well.  "I didn't think that was possible.
Hey! Does Darien know you're here?"
        "He does now!"  Rose brushed a stray hair back.
        "You know... I've never seen you with your hair loose before.
It looks good!"
        "Well... I didn't have time to braid it."  Rose looked around as
they left the mall.  "I don't remember where I parked... Oh, there's my
car.  Come along, Moppet... we have a lot of work to do."  Rose put an
arm around Serena and gave her a squeeze of encouragement, then let go
so she could unlock the door.
*****
        Rose rummaged through her things while looking for a veil.
"Where is it?  No... this isn't it.  Hmmm... Ah!  AHA!  GOT IT!"  She
held up the long veil.  "It was the perfect length for me, but I'm a tad
bit taller than you are, so it may be a little long on you.  Here..."
She delicately unfolded the gauzy material and placed it on Serena's
head.  "Yeah... WAY too long.  You might trip over it on your way to the
alter ..."  She picked up the bottom of the front and folded it in half.
"Here's what we'll do..." She talked while she worked.  Since the gown
was basically taken care of, the only thing that needed to be done was
the veil.  }}}}}
        At this point of Queen Serena's story, Crescent was TOTALLY
lost.  She STILL didn't understand what the whole thing had to do with
her.  She didn't say anything, though, because she thought she was going
to like the bit about the wedding... regardless of link to her, or lack
thereof.  {{{{{
        The day of the wedding had FINALLY arrived.  The people who had
gathered to see it wondered why the groom was dressed not in a tuxedo,
but in a suit of armor.
        In the back, all the girls were chatting and laughing as Rose
fixed Serena's hair.
        "But I thought Michelle was going to do your gowns... Where ARE
they?"  Serena was puzzled beyond words.
        Raye laughed as she pulled out her power wand.  "They're right
here, Princess."
        Rose laughed as well.  "That's right... there's no more need to
hide yourselves anymore."
        "You're quite right, Aunt Rose."
        Everyone gaped at the figure in the doorway.  She was almost the
same as everyone remembered her, except she looked fourteen.
        Serena stepped forward to embrace her future daughter.  "Rini! I
am so glad you could be here."
        "So am I, Mother.  I hate to say it, but Aunt Rose is right.
The time of destruction is less than a week away.  After that, you will
all be needed."
        Serena closed her eyes in silent grief for all the people she
knew would suffer.  "I knew it was going to happen someday... but not so
soon."
        The others took a moment of silence.  Then Rose broke it.
"Well... let's get this show on the road, then.  We can't keep that
lunkhead waiting too long, or he just might barge in here and demand to
know what was going on."
        Each of the Scouts transformed, and no one was even slightly
surprised to see that Rini was still Sailor Moon.  Despite the
coloration differences in the skirt and all.  For this occasion, Rose
transformed into Sailor Earth.  Molly ran out and nodded that they were
ready.
        Before anyone went out, they all partook in a group hug.  This
was something they had been waiting to do for a long time.
*****
        Darien was suddenly on edge.  Only too well did her remember the
nightmare he once had.  He tried to calm down, but failed... until he
saw the girl that was leading the procession.  He immediately relaxed at
the sight of her pink hair.  Rini was living proof that all would be
well.  He smiled briefly as the Scouts walked out, fully transformed.
He wondered whose idea it was.
        The parish were shocked and surprised to see the Sailor Scouts.
This was the first time anyone had seen them clearly enough to recognize
them.  Sammy turned to his mother.  "Mom... those are Serena's
friends... if they're the Sailor Scouts... I know that the girl in front
is DRESSED like Sailor Moon, but the coloration is all wrong!  Sailor
Moon's hair is supposed to be blonde.  Come to think of it... They each
showed up when Serena started hanging out with them.  Wouldn't that
mean...?"
        Irene paled a little as she added two and two together.  "My own
daughter... I never knew her."
        The music slowed a little as Serena walked out.  Luna and
Artemis walked proudly behind their princess.
        Serena was beaming.  As she approached the altar, Darien held
his hand out to her.  Without hesitation, Serena took it.
        Darien smiled back at Serena as the feeling Nephrite described
washed over him.  `Yes... now I am whole.'
        The priest started speaking.  "Dearly beloved, we are gathered
here, in the house of God, to..."
        "Hold!" a voice commanded.
        Everyone looked for the source of the voice.  They gasped as a
figure started to shimmer into being.  When the she was fully formed,
Serena, Darien, and all of the Scouts recognized her.  Queen Serenity
smiled with the joy she felt.  "All is as it should be."  Her eyes
widened.  "Rose?"
        Rose nodded.  "It is I, My Queen.  Long story."  Rose walked up
to Serenity and embraced her.
        Serenity let out a little sob.  "When you disappeared, we all
thought you dead!  You have no idea how happy I am to see you, and that
you and Darien have made peace."
        Rose pulled away.  "I'm glad that you were all wrong, too."  She
turned and walked back to her place.
        Serenity turned to the priest.  "Forgive me, but this is
something I have been waiting to do for over one thousand years."  She
turned to everyone else in the church and told the story of the Silver
Millennium.
        On learning that her daughter was the reincarnation of the Moon
Princess, Irene Moonfield almost fainted.  `Poor Serena... going through
all that without being able to tell me about it.'  Instead of fainting,
she stood up shakily and approached Serenity.  She reached out a hand.
"Hello... I'm Irene Moonfield... Serena's mother this time around."
        Queen Serenity took the offered hand.  "Yes... I know.  You've
done such a fine job, and I'm proud my daughter's spirit chose you to be
her mother."
        "Serena... CHOSE me?"
        Serenity laughed a little.  "Yes... she did.  Why else do you
think she looks so different from you, your husband, and your son?" When
Mrs. Moonfield nodded, Serenity cleared her throat.  "Now... let us
begin.  Serena... Darien... join hands, please... and you will be wed as
you should have been a thousand years ago."  Darien held out his left
hand, and Serena laid her left hand on top of it.  Queen Serenity smiled
as she held out a white silk ribbon which had been traditional to use
for wedding ceremonies for generations of the Moon Family.  Suddenly the
church around them transformed.
        It took Serena a moment to recognize where they were after the
change.  They were in the Moon Palace audience chamber.  She briefly saw
unease in Darien, but she gave his hand a squeeze and smiled at him.  He
relaxed and nodded as he smiled back.
        Serenity raised the ribbon.  "Let it be known to all those
gathered here that Prince Darien of Earth has my blessing and permission
to wed my daughter, Princess Serena of the Moon.  All that she has will
be shared with him, and all that he has will be shared with her."  The
ribbon began glowing in Serenity's hands.  "This joining has the
blessing of the Goddess Selene herself... for as she loved Endymion, so
does my daughter love Darien.  Is what I have just said true, Serena?"
        "It is true.  I have loved Darien almost as long as I have known
him.  He is everything to me."  She addressed Darien.  "I love you,
Darien, with all my heart."
        Serenity nodded and turned to Darien.  "Prince Darien, do you
return my daughter's love?"
        "Yes.  Without her, my life means nothing to me.  I would rather
die than see her harmed.  For her, I would throw my life away."  He
smiled at Serena.  "I love you too... Meatball Head.  More than I can
ever say."  He heard Sailor Venus giggle.
        **Meatball Head?** Rose's mental laugh rang through his head.
        **Well... I didn't remember her when I first saw her, so I
picked on the first feature I noticed.**
        Serenity lowered the ribbon.  "Is there anyone here who wishes
this ceremony to end? If so... state the reason now.  For once this
ribbon binds them together, nothing will ever break them apart."
        Sailor Mars stepped forward.  "I believe I speak for everyone
when I say this, My Queen..."
        "Get it over with!" the Scouts all said at once.
        Serenity smiled.  "Then let it be done."  She began to wrap the
ribbon around Serena's and Darien's wrists.  "As Serena is my daughter,
so Darien becomes my son... What has taken a thousand years to
blossom... may it never fade."  Queen Serenity's eyes sparkled with
tears of joy as Darien kissed Serena.  The two of them glowed briefly
and transformed into the King and Queen of Crystal Tokyo.  "All those
gathered must remain here... for the effects that the Negaverse has had
on the Earth are finally showing."  She started to fade.
        Serena started.  "Mother?  Where are you going?"
        Serenity smiled as she faded.  "I'm sorry, Serena, but I must
leave you now.  Darien... I trust Serena's safety to you.  Farewell, my
darlings.  Live in happiness."  Then she was gone.
        The ribbon binding Serena and Darien glowed as it split in two
and became wedding bands.  Serena threw her arms around her new husband
and started weeping, Darien wrapped his arms around Serena in a
comforting embrace.
        There was silence for a moment, then Luna broke it.  "Queen
Serenity... is dead."
        Artemis nodded.  "Long live Queen Serena."
        Each of the Scouts then knelt before the newlyweds and raised
their arms in the traditional position of offering fealty.
        Queen Serena took each of the Scouts hands, and embraced each of
them.  When the Scouts were all standing once again, the shocked crowd
spoke with one voice.  They were more than people who had just been
drawn to the ceremony.  They were the people of the Moon Kingdom who had
been sent to the future, and they were all getting their memories of the
Silver Millennium back.
        "Long live Queen Serena."



Part-4
"Destruction"

        "Everything's just the way I remembered it!  Queen Serenity
truly restored the palace to its former grandeur."  Rose walked three
steps ahead and suddenly spun in place.  "I can't believe how good it
feels to be home!"
        "I second that emotion, Rose!  I never felt so... whole as I do
just now.  You are here, and so is Darien."  They neared the balcony
that was once Rose's favorite, and Serena froze.
        Rose sensed the change and understood it.  "It's all right,
Moppet... you DON'T have to come."  Rose looked up as she saw her
brother approach.  She couldn't help but smile as Serena's fear seemed
to disappear.
        "No more power."  Darien smiled reassuringly and Serena nodded.
        Rose was prepared for her cry, but she wasn't prepared for the
reason.
        "It has begun... so soon?"  Serena gazed at where she had seen
an explosion just an instant before.  "Not everyone is here!  Rose...
get the Scouts... PLEASE!"
        "The destruction?"  Serena nodded and Rose saw flashes from
Darien's mind.  Every person that had not been at the wedding, but could
not be lost.  "I'm on it, Your Majesty!"  She began running.  "Mina...
Amy... Lita... Raye... we have to get as many people as possible! It's
starting!"
        Serena turned a distressed face to Darien.  "The others have to
go back for a time!"  Darien stopped her words with two fingers placed
on her lips.
        "I know, Serena.  I know.  Let's send them off with a good
luck!"
*****
        The four Inner Scouts stood before the royal couple.  Mars took
great care to stand up straight.  These would be Serena's first orders
as queen.  `If SHE can take this seriously, then so can I!'  She noticed
that the others were also treating this with all seriousness.
        Serena thought a moment, then began speaking.  "As Rose has
informed you, the destruction has begun.  Not everyone that should be
here IS here.  You are all responsible for finding the individuals
closest to you, family or otherwise, and bringing them back here."  She
bit her lip before she could continue.  "I am so sorry if this sounds
cruel, you know that it is not my intention, but do not waste time
grieving should you find anyone dead.  Once you are all back on the
Moon, then you may deal with it however you see fit.  There will be
enough death on the planet as it is... We do not to lose more lives
because you are busy crying over a lost loved one.  I shall waste no
more time on words.  Go... and please come back safely."
        Sailor Mars surprised everyone else by walking up to the throne,
and embracing Serena.  "Well said... My Queen."  Everyone nodded in
agreement.
        Serena blushed, then snapped out of it.  "Hurry... I have no
wish for any of you to lose someone you care about."  They all nodded
and vanished.  "Please... be careful!"  She clasped her hands and
prayed that none of her beloved friends would suffer the pain of losing
someone dear to them.
*****
        Venus whistled as she saw the arcade.
        "Quite a mess, huh?"
        Mina smiled at the dirt-smudged face that was standing beside
her.  "Yeah!  At least you weren't inside... The King would be upset if
his best friend died."
        Andrew did a double-take.  "Mina?  You're Sailor Venus?"
        "Yep!  C'mon... let's go!"  She had gotten her mission completed
100% successfully.  She grabbed Andrew's hand.  "Venus TELEPORT!"
*****
        Sailor Jupiter ran through the streets.  There was only one
person she would risk anything for.  "Ken?  Ken, where are you?"  She
froze when she got to the pile of rubble that used to be Ken's home.
"Ken?  PLEASE answer me!  It's me, Lita!"  She panicked when an
explosion threw her to the ground. "KEN!"  She sat there panting.  `No
use... it's just no use.' She looked up again.  "Ken... where are you?"
The words were said barely above a whisper, and she didn't really expect
an answer by that point, but the fates surprised her.
        "L... Lita?  Is that YOU?"
        Jupiter ran to the source.  "Ken!  Are you okay?"  She pulled
some rubble off of him.  His arm seemed broken, but otherwise unhurt.
"Where's your mom?"  She helped him up and propped him against the
nearest tree as she went to check for a pulse on Ken's mother.  There
wasn't one, and, judging by the pain the woman WOULD have been in, Lita
was GLAD that there wasn't one.  "Ken... I hate to tell you this..."
        "I... I know, L-Lita.  Mom... Mom's d-dead."  He looked pale and
sick.
        Jupiter ran to help him.  "Ken... you're in shock.  I'm getting
you to safety.  Do you understand me?"  She smiled as Ken nodded once.
"Okay... now brace yourself..."  She wrapped one arm around him to
steady him.  "Jupiter TELEPORT!"
*****
        Sailor Mercury headed purposefully towards the library.  She had
already gotten her parents to safety, but had to get one other person.
She wasn't really worried, because she somehow knew that he'd be there
waiting for her to show up.  `I guess that's one of the advantages of
being able to tell the future.'  She looked sympathetically as people
ran every which way, and she paused once when she came across a
frightened child.
        "Mommy!  Mommy!  I'm scared!  Please wake up!  Mommy!"  She
shook her mommy, but her mommy just wasn't opening her eyes.  She looked
up as she saw the pale blue boots.  She found herself looking at a
somewhat-calm face.  "Please, will you help me wake my mommy up?"
        The plea pierced Mercury's heart.  She touched the pulse point
on the woman's throat, and almost wept at the fact that there was none.
"I'm sorry little one.  I can't wake her up."  She suddenly saw that the
child understood what that meant.
        "First Daddy goes away, now Mommy!"
        Mercury held her arms out to the child.  "Would you like to come
with me, little one?"
        The child smiled. "Go with a Sailor Scout?  Do I get to be one?"
        Mercury smiled back.  "Okay... how about being an honorary
Sailor Scout.  You're the first one!"  She picked the child up.  "But
what is your real name?"
        "Kaitlin.  Mommy always called me Catling."
        Mercury nearly slapped her head.  She would have to get the Four
Sisters.  "I'm Amy.  We're going to meet some friends of mine.  Would
you like that?"
        "Are those your friends?"
        Mercury spun around and came face-to-face with Greg with the
Four Sisters close behind him.
        He smiled at her.  "Well... I knew that you would have your
hands full."
        Mercury smiled back, then frowned.  "I want to see if there are
any..."
        "Other children you can save?  There are... c'mon!"  Greg led
her to every last one they could get.  The last one surprised her.
        "Jordan!"  She tousled the little boy's hair.
        "Hi, Mercury!"  He smiled despite the nightmare that was
happening.  The ground began rumbling, and Mercury knew that there was
no way she could save any more children.
        Everyone joined hands to form a ring.
        "Mercury... TELEPORT!"  It was hard, but she managed it.
*****
        Mars ran up the steps of the temple.  She took a small bit of
hope when Demios and Phobos flew to her.  That small ember of hope was
extinguished when she saw the ruins that USED to be her home.  She saw
her grandfather almost immediately.  "GRAMPA!!  Oh, no..."  She searched
desperately for a pulse, and just sat there for a moment and cried when
she didn't find it.  Then Serena's words came back to her.

        `...Do not waste time grieving should you find anyone dead.
        Once you are all back on the Moon, then you may deal with it
        however you see fit...'

        `Chad!  I have to find Chad!'  She pushed herself to her feet,
and began another search.  She searched every inch of the temple with no
luck.  She was about to give up when she heard movement. "Chad?  Is that
you?"
        "WOAH!  What an earthquake!  Must've caused some bodacious
waves! Hey... you okay, Raye?"  His head seemed to pop out of nowhere.
He did a double-take when he saw her.  "Wo-ho-hoah, Raye!  You look
awesome in that Sailor Scout getup!  Is that the authentic item, or is
it bogus?"
        Mars laughed in spite of herself. "It's for real, Chad.  I'm
Sailor Mars."  She helped him out of the little fort that had formed
around him.  "Let's get out of here!"
        "Wha'?  But what about..."  Raye shook her head sadly.  "Bummer!
Geez, Raye, I'm so totally sorry.  Woah, and it's, like, kinda MY fault,
too.  If I hadn't taken so long in the little apprentice's room..."
        "It would've been YOU dead.  Do you think that would make me
feel better?  I'm just glad SOMEONE got out of it okay.  Besides...
Grampa was an old man.  He would've died of grief had anything happened
to you."  Mars blushed as she turned her head away.  "I would have, too.
I... I'm not good at..."
        Chad gently tugged her chin so she could look at him.  "Raye...
you know I fell in love with you the moment I first saw you!  You are
one bodacious woman..."
        The last of her many defenses fell.  "I love you too, Chad!" For
the first time, she let him kiss her.  "Mars... TELEPORT!"
*****
        "WOAH!  What a turnout!"  Demios and Phobos seemed to caw in
agreement.
        Sailor Mars had to admit that there were more people than she
expected. She did a mental count.  There was Melvin... STILL a computer
geek, Catsy, Birdie, Avery, Prisma, Andrew, an injured Ken, Greg, Amy's
parents, several small children whom Mars didn't recognize at all, some
animals, and Miss Haruna, Serena's old Junior High teacher.  'Probably
Saturn's idea.'  She kissed Chad on the cheek.  "I have to report to the
Queen... she worries."
        "Can't wait to meet this queen of yours."
        Mars laughed.  "You HAVE met her... it's Serena."  She laughed
again at the look Chad gave her.  She approached the small room behind
the audience chamber.
        She knocked, and got permission to enter.  "I have returned."
She gasped at the embrace she got from Serena.  "What?"  She briefly
wondered where Uranus and Neptune were.
        "I was worried about you, and you only had one other person with
you, and your crows.  Oh, Mars, I am so sorry!"
        Mars was touched.  If Serena said she was sorry, she was SORRY.
"My grampa was old... He would not have been able to rest if something
had happened to Chad because of him.  Where did all the kids come from?"
        Sailor Mercury cleared her throat.  "I HAD to!  I didn't see any
reason for the children to suffer... I only wish I could've saved them
all, but time just ran out."
        The rest of the Scouts smiled.  Mercury always did have a soft
spot when it came to kids.
        Queen Serena smiled also.  "Well... it seems to me that, with
one or two exceptions, we have everyone we should have.  I should go
talk to them now, I suppose."
*****
        Everyone in the room turned their attention to where the Sailor
Scouts were emerging.  There was one surprised gasp from Andrew as
Darien emerged, but the vast majority of the group was surprised most by
the appearance of Serena in her royal attire.  Complete with Miss
Haruna's jaw hitting the floor.
        Serena smiled as she took Darien's hand.  The two walked to the
dais and turned to face the crowd.  Serena beamed at the awe-struck
children, and it pleased her that one or two whispered `Sailor Moon!'
This was going to be one of the hardest things she had to do.  She had
to talk to people who had never before heard of the Silver Millennium.
        `I might as well get this over with!'  She cleared her throat.
"Please... do not look at me like that.  Nothing really has changed!  I
am STILL Serena, no matter WHAT I look like."  Almost to prove her
point, she almost tripped over her own two feet when she took a step
forward.  Luckily, Darien was there to catch her.  Miss Haruna and
Melvin nodded.  It was Serena, all right.
        "I told you to wear flat shoes, Meatball Head!"
        With that, the few people who had heard the old pet-name
relaxed.
        Serena regained her composure in record time.  "I am sorry about
that.  Welcome to the Moon Palace.  It is going to be your home while
things on Earth settle down a little... I wish that we could save
everyone on Earth, but that is just not possible.  The Sailor Scouts
from the inner solar system were sent basically to get those that meant
a great deal to them.  I am sad to say that the were losses in even that
small area."  She nodded towards Sailor Mars.  "It seems to me, however,
that Sailor Mercury decided to save quite a few others... endangering
her life so many others might live... then, again, she had help.
Darien?"
        "Don't think you need permission to go anywhere in the palace.
As my wife said, it is your home too.  We only ask that you all try to
be as comfortable as possible.  We know it's going to be awkward at
first... that's understandable.  If any of you have a special request...
don't hesitate to bring it before us.  If we can help you, we will." He
looked down as he felt a tugging on his cape.
        It was Kaitlin.  She smiled up at him.  "May I stay with Momma
Mercury?"
        Sailor Mercury beamed at the girl.  "It's all right with me, My
King."  She had to admit that she had formed an attachment to the little
orphan.
        When Darien nodded, Kaitlin giggled and ran to Sailor Mercury,
who picked the child up.
        Uranus and Neptune walked in followed by about two dozen people.
        Serena recognized one immediately.  "Peggy!"  Forgetting who she
was, she jumped off the dais and ran to embrace the artist.
        "Hey!  It's been a long time... Hey, do you know what happened
to that guy you posed with for that painting?"
        "Yes... I married him.  Darien, you remember Peggy Jones,
right?"
        Darien laughed as he approached. "How could I forget.  We both
thought we were being tortured by sitting next to one another."  The
three got into such an animated conversation, that everyone had to
smile.
        Not one doubted that they'd grow to love their queen.  Quite a
few already did.



Part 5
"New Era"

}}}}}
(300 YEARS LATER)

        Serena sighed as she looked up at Earth.  It had slowly become
more and more blue through the years, and it wasn't going to be much
longer before they could begin the healing.  She smiled and looked down
at her enlarged stomach.  "Try not to be so impatient, Rini.  You still
have a month left."  The unborn baby settled down, almost as if she had
understood the request.
        "Is she giving you trouble again?"
        Serena turned and smiled again as Darien stirred.  "Did I wake
you?"  She walked over and sat down next to him.  "No... no trouble.
Just a little anxious to get out."  She looked out the window.  "In a
short while, you will have to go talk to whatever people there are left.
I would do it, but..."
        "... You're in no condition to do that, I know.  Are you feeling
all right?  We could put it off until after Rini is born." Darien
reached out and gently touched Serena's stomach.
        "You worry too much."
        Darien's eyes were suddenly filled with pain.  "I remember the
last time you said something like that."
        Serena stood up.  "Why did you have to remind me about that? The
last thing I need right now is unpleasant memories."  She started to
leave the room.
        "Don't be like that, Serena.  Can I help it if I want you and
our daughter safe?"  He got to his feet and held his arms out in a
placating gesture.  "Come on... let's not quarrel over what's in the
past.  Please, Serena?"
        Serena's shoulders slumped a little.  "Forgive me, Darien.  I...
I seem to be a little more sensitive lately."
        Darien smiled lovingly at her.  "You've been kind of... busy
these days.  Chad told me some horror stories about what he went
through.  I have yet to witness one firsthand."  He wrapped his arms
around her.  "You're afraid, aren't you?  You've never been too keen on
feeling pain."
        "I must admit that my thoughts HAVE tended towards what giving
birth will feel like.  From what Raye has told me, it does NOT sound
like an experience that I will enjoy."  She leaned against him.
        "Ah... but you have something she didn't.  You've got the
crystal's healing energies.  That should make it quite a bit easier for
you.  Plus I'll be there to take on some of the burden.  I think that,
this time, it's YOU that's worrying too much."  He felt a flutter of
movement beneath his hand.  "It seems as if Rini agrees with me."
        Serena laughed.  "She WOULD!  I must say my memories make me a
bit uneasy.  She always favored you over me... My poor baby.  She has
NO idea as to what fate has in store for her.  I just wish..."
        Darien didn't like the way Serena's thoughts were turning.  "Is
THAT troubling you too?  Serena, there's no way to tell what's going to
happen.  I KNOW what we saw when we were younger, but even Pluto can't
say if that's going to happen.  So many things can be different.  Let's
just cross that bridge when we come to it."
        "I still say we should all prepare for it.  Especially you.
Your job is going to be the hardest one..."  She turned to face him.
"My poor Darien!  You always did worry about me so very much.  Why am I
so lucky to have you?"
        "I could ask the same of you.  You were always there for me,
even when I wasn't there for you.  You gave me your friendship and your
love... even on that first day."  A mischievous grin grew on his face.
"I've never told you this, but I heard you saying that I was cute."  His
voice became quiet.  "Then there were all those times when you reached
out for the real me, trapped within my own mind, while I was under the
influence of the Negaverse."
        Serena put her hand over Darien's mouth.  "Darien!  Stop doing
this to yourself!  I have NEVER blamed you for that.  It has passed, and
you are here with me.  That is all that matters... truth?"  She moved
her hand from his mouth to caress his cheek.
        Darien smiled.  "Truth.  Come on... it's getting really late.
You must be exhausted."
*****
        The next day, Serena walked in the gardens with the four Inner
Scouts close by.  Ever since her third trimester, they had stayed within
earshot... in case of an emergency.  Serena paused when she felt a kick.
There seemed to be an insistence that wasn't there before.  "Now now,
Rini, settle down."  Almost in answer, the baby kicked harder.
        Mercury noticed the expression on Serena's face.  "Majesty?  Is
something wrong?"
        Serena was about to answer when she felt a surge of pain.  She
gasped and wrapped her arms around her stomach.  "Not yet, Rini...
PLEASE not yet!"  At the second contraction, she doubled over.
        Mars saw it by then.  "Don't just stand there!  She's in labor!
Serena?  What's wrong?"  There was a terrified expression on Serena's
face.
        She had felt it with the first contraction.  "Something is...
WRONG... with the baby!"  She looked around wildly for a moment and
reached for the person rapidly approaching.  "Darien!?!"
        "It's okay, Serena... I'm here.  Amy, what's wrong?"  Darien
picked Serena up and followed Sailor Mercury.
        "I wish I knew!  The pregnancy was going so well... She
shouldn't be in this much pain.  There's an infinite amount of things
that could be wrong!"  They reached the infirmary and Mercury began
examining Serena.  "Rini is too big for Serena to give birth to!"  She
looked up.  "I'll have to do a cesarean, or we'll lose them both."
        "Do it!  We've always known that Rini was going to be an only
child.  We just never knew why... until now."  Darien took Serena's hand
as Serena nodded in agreement.
        "Kaitlin... bring the anesthetic!"  Mercury shifted to Amy and
began washing her hands.  "Darien... My King... I'm sorry, but you'll
have to wait outside.  I don't need any distractions.  The same goes for
the rest of you."
        "I understand."  Darien kissed Serena's forehead.  "I'll be here
when you awaken.  I love you, Meatball Head."
        "I love you too, Muffin."  Serena then closed her eyes as
Kaitlin put the mask over her nose and mouth.
        Kaitlin smiled at Darien.  "She'll be all right, My King.
Mother Mercury is the best.  You know that!"
        Darien returned the smile.  "Yes... I know that."  He paused
once to nod at Amy, then left the room.
*****
        **... She'll be all right, Lunkhead.  She's tougher than any of
us realize.**
        Darien had opened a mental communication with Rose to get his
mind off his worry for Serena.  **I KNOW that, Rose.  I can't help but
to worry about her.  She IS my wife, after all.**
        Rose's smile was evident in her reply.  **Still feels wonderful
to refer to her as your wife, doesn't it?  I know the feeling.  Anyway,
we've both MET Rini, so we know Serena gets through this.**
        "Majesty?"
        Amy's voice cut his concentration.  "Amy!  How's Serena?  How's
the baby?  Are they all right?"
        "Rini's fine, and Serena will be all right after some rest.  You
can go in and see her now.  She isn't awake yet, but you DID promise to
be there when she wakes up."  She smiled.  "How's Rose and her group?  I
assume that you were talking to her.  Darien?"
        "Rose is fine.  I was just telling her that Serena's going to be
okay."
        "What was her reply?"
        Darien smiled.  "She basically said... `I told you so'."  He
stood up and walked into the infirmary.  He stopped by the crib that had
been brought in a week earlier and looked in.  He smiled down at his
sleeping daughter.
        "Darien?"
        "I'm here."  He walked swiftly to Serena's side.  "I'm right
here."  He took her hand and squeezed it.
        Serena weakly squeezed back.  "How is Rini?"  She wanted to see
her daughter before going back to sleep.  "Let me see her please."
        "Of course!"  Darien gently took the bundle out of the crib and
brought it to Serena.
        Serena smiled sleepily.  "So we meet again, Rini... I promise to
be as good a mother as I can be.  I shall not lie to you and say that I
will be perfect, but remember, always, that I love you."
        Rini giggled in reply, and surprised Serena and Darien both by
speaking.  "Muh!  Bah!"
        "Clever little gerbil, isn't she?"
        Serena smiled at the figure in the doorway.  "She certainly is,
Pluto.  It would not surprise me if she knew you as well."
        Pluto approached and picked Rini up.  "It's a pleasure to
finally meet you again, Small Lady.  You don't know it yet, but you have
quite a life ahead of you.  I'll help you when I can."  She brought Rini
back to the crib and put the baby in.  "I just wanted to check... you
know where I am if you need me."
        "Thanks, Pluto."  Darien watched her leave.  "I feel badly for
her.  She has to stay by the time gate all alone.  We... Serena?"  He
turned and smiled at her sleeping face.  "Pleasant dreams, beloved."
}}}}} (20 YEARS LATER)
        "But WHY do you have to go, Mommy?"
        Serena knelt down to be at eye level with her daughter.  "Rini,
your father needs my help on Earth.  I know you want to come too,  and I
am truly sorry if you feel left out, but I need to know that you are
safe here.  Now... Pluto will watch over you..."
        "Puu's gonna watch me?  Yeay!"
        Serena smiled at Rini's enthusiasm.  "Staying here sounds like
more fun now, am I right?  Besides... if you behave, I have a surprise
for you when I return.  Mercury has been working on it for some time.
Sweetheart... I want you to promise me that you will be a good girl for
Pluto.  Do you promise?"
        "I promise, Mommy.  I love you!  Give Daddy a hug for me!"
        "I love you too, Rini... so does your father.  We both love you
so very much!"  She hugged her only child and kissed her on the cheek.
"I promise to hug your father for you.  I know how much you miss him.  I
have missed him too these past three weeks.  We should both be home in a
day or two."
        Pluto approached the pair.  "Majesty... it's time that you
should leave.  I'll watch over Rini for you."
        Serena got to her feet and picked Rini up.  "I will miss you
very much, Rini."
        "I'll miss you too, Mommy!  But you'll be home in two days
though.  Right, Mommy?"
        "I will certainly try to be."  She handed her daughter to Pluto.
"Thank you for promising to look after her."
        "Any time... Good luck!"
        "Thank you..."  She caressed Rini's cheek once more before
teleporting to Earth's surface.
*****
        "What makes you people think that we WANT to be ruled?"  The
burly man had a club, and didn't look as if her were afraid to use it.
"For all you care, we could be perfectly happy the way we are."
        Darien was trying to remain calm, despite the fact that he was
greatly outnumbered should they have decided to attack.  "I can't
believe that you and your people are happy living in a barren wasteland.
You are apparently willing to listen to me, or you wouldn't have set up
this meeting."
        "Darien!"
        He smiled and stood up just in time to catch what many thought
to be a streak of white and yellow.
        Weapons were immediately lowered as the crowd got a good look at
what the stranger had caught.  They watched as the strange woman began
kissing him.  They recognized her as the woman that the stranger had
described as his wife.
        Darien held Serena close.  "Oh... I've missed you!"  He kissed
her, gently, on the lips.  "How've you been?  How's Rini?"
        "She has missed you so much.  So have I!  Are you almost
finished here?  Is there anything I can help you with?  I told her we
would be home in one or two days."
        "That's a tall order, Serena.  It all depends on whether or not
these people are willing to listen."  Darien shoved Serena behind him as
one of the men approached.  "No one harms her!"  He grabbed the hilt of
his sword.
        "We don't plan to hurt the lady.  We wanna confirm something."
        "She can't do it alone... It takes so much out of her.  If you
want her to prove my claims, she could die in the effort."  Darien
tensed and spun to face Serena.  "What are you doing?"
        "I am helping..."  She raised the Crystal above her head and
concentrated.
        Darien pulled the communicator off of her wrist.  "Everyone...
get down here!  Serena's taking it upon herself to heal the planet!"  He
paused a moment as several exclamations of disbelief answered him.
"Just get down here!"
        One by one, the Scouts materialized around Serena.  The last one
to arrive was Pluto... with Rini in tow.
        The little girl spotted Darien.  "DADDY!!!"  She ran to him on
instinct.  "What's Mommy doing?"
        "She's helping these people, and she's gonna need our help.  Can
you concentrate on that glow for me?  You can close your eyes if you
want to."  Darien smiled at Rini's awe-struck face.  "You heard me
right...  Your mommy needs your help.  But if you begin to feel tired...
stop, okay?"
        "...Okay!"
        All eleven of them concentrated on the Crystal.  Soon the tiny
glow expanded.  It started slow, but grew speed as if aided by every
person it touched.  In a half-hour, the glow had encompassed the whole
planet.
        As a finishing touch, the Crystal Palace seemed to grow from the
ground.  Serena finished with one final burst of energy.
        Darien put Rini down and ran forward to catch Serena as she
passed out.  Rini was right behind him.
        "Mommy!?  Daddy... what's wrong with Mommy?"
        "It's okay, sweetie.  Mommy's just tired.  She'll be fine after
sleeping for a while.  I must admit to feeling a little sleepy myself.
How about you?"
        Rini yawned.  "Uh-huh."  She wrapped her arms around Darien's
neck.  "Can we go home now?"
        "Sure thing, Princess."  With one arm around Serena, the other
around Rini, Darien teleported to the royal bedchamber in the Crystal
Palace.
        "Hey... this isn't home!"  Rini rubbed her eyes.
        Darien smiled.  "It is now.  Here... you can sleep between your
mommy and me.  What do you think about that?"  He put Serena into bed,
and let Rini crawl in next to her, before settling in himself.
        "G'night, Daddy."
        Darien mussed Rini's hair a little.  "Good night, Rini."



Part 6
"Revelation"

        Rini rubbed her eyes as she woke up to the sound of her parents
talking.  "Mommy!  You're okay!"  She leapt out of bed and ran to
Serena.
        "Good morning, baby!"  Serena caught the little pink-haired
child.  "Your father told me about how you helped... Thank you."
        "I WANTED to help... I'm sorry for not staying behind."
        Serena smiled.  "Pluto said that she took you along because she
did not wish to leave you alone... I knew that the actual case was
otherwise.  Have no fear... I am not angry with you.  To prove it...  I
have the surprise I mentioned yesterday.  Would you like to see it?"
Rini nodded and Serena gave her a large box.  "Open this box.  Your
surprise is inside."
        Rini opened the box with excitement.  The box was almost as big
as she was.  She squealed as the item in the box floated up.  "Ooooooh!
What is it, Mommy?"  She walked away from it, then started giggling as
the object followed her.  She ran around the room, delighted that it
intercepted her more than once.  Then she ran back to Serena.  "Can I
really have it?"
        "Yes... it is yours.  Mercury has been working on it for some
time now.  It is the Luna Ball.  You can talk to Pluto directly with it.
Try it... press the ball's nose."
        Rini did as she was told.  A very distorted image appeared.
"Puu? Is that you?"
        "Hey, Rini... I see your mom gave you the ball.  I hope you like
it.  I'm sorry if you can't see me very well, munchkin.  We were
focusing on its audio properties."
        "It's okay, Puu!  Now I can talk to you whenever I want to!  And
maybe you won't be so lonely anymore."
        "Thank you, sweetie.  I can't talk long... I'll see you soon.
Now... eat your breakfast like the good girl you are."
        "I heartily agree with you, Pluto.  Come here and eat something.
You can sit here between your father and myself."  Serena picked Rini up
and put her in the chair.  "Would you like some pancakes?"
        Rini nodded and tore into her breakfast.
        Serena smiled at her daughter.  "Slow down, Rini... no one will
steal your breakfast from you."
        "Hypocrite!"  Darien grinned.  "I seem to remember a certain
someone who could put a black hole to shame when it came to eating."
        Serena blushed furiously.  "Honestly... I was NOT that bad!"
        Darien couldn't stop himself.  "No... you're right... you were
WORSE!"  He looked over in alarm as Rini spit out the milk she had been
drinking.  "Are you all right, sweetie?"
        "Yes Daddy!"  She giggled as she wiped at the front of her
dress.
        "All right..."  Serena folded her arms and looked at Darien with
a stern expression.  "No more jokes at the table.  We want Rini to EAT
her breakfast... NOT spit it across the room."  Then she lost it.  "It
WAS funny, though... now that I think of it."  The three of them laughed
for a few minutes before Serena held her hand up.  "ENOUGH! Rini... eat
your breakfast."  She stood up shakily.  Darien was at her side in an
instant and picked her up.
        Rini noticed this with some concern.  "Are you okay, Mommy?"
        "I will be... I am still very tired."
        "Oh... are you gonna take a nap?"  This was a first for Rini.
        "Mmmmmm-hmmmm!"  She kissed Darien's cheek as he put her on the
bed.  "Thank you, beloved."
        "Anytime.  Get the rest you need.  I'll see you later."  He
walked over and kissed Rini's cheek.  "Finish your breakfast and keep
her company.  Mercury wants her to stay in bed and rest today."
        "I can do that!"  Rini smiled.  "YEAY!  I get to spend the WHOLE
DAY with Mommy!"  She quickly finished the pancakes and leapt into bed
next to Serena, who fell asleep holding Rini like a treasured doll.
        `And Serena was worried about Rini not liking her...'  A great
warmth filled him as he gazed at the two most important people in his
life... his wife and his daughter.  Then he turned and left the room.
He still had to convince the people that their intentions were good.
*****
        Serena came awake with a start.  "Darien?"  A sense of wrongness
filled her, and she quickly got out of bed.  She was on her feet two
seconds before collapsing again.
        The movement woke Rini.  "Mommy?"  She noticed the
panic-stricken look on Serena's face.  "Mommy... what's wrong?"
        Serena pulled Rini close.  "I felt something terribly wrong.  I
fear something may have happened to your father... and I am HELPLESS to
discover what it is!"
        "I'm not!  I'll go find out for you!  C'mon, Luna Ball!"  Rini
hopped out of bed before Serena could stop her.
        "Rini... COME BACK HERE!  Stop... Rini!"  She was on her feet
again and running after her only child.  She stumbled quite a few times,
but kept moving.
*****
        "Daddy?"  Rini ran through the corridors, finally finding a way
out.  "Daddy?  Are you out here?"  She ran straight towards an angry
mob.  "Excuse me!"  She smiled, unaware of the anger in the crowd's
gaze.  "Is my daddy in there?"  She backed away a little as one man
approached her.  "Ummmmmm..."  She shrank back as the man raised his
club.
        Something made the crowd stir, and someone tackled the large
man.  "Rini... get out of here!"
        Rini's eyes widened in fear as she recognized her father.
"DADDY!"
        Serena was nearly out of breath.  "RINI!!!"  She was brought up
short at the sight of the two men grappling.  Her eyes widened in
horror.  `DARIEN!?!  Oh GOD!  What have they done to him?'  She took two
steps towards him, and ran the rest of the way.  "STOP!!!  Leave my
husband ALONE!"  She wrapped her arms around him, the Crystal started
glowing with Serena's instinct to heal him.  "Rini... come here... we
are going home!"  The Scouts arrived on scene.  Mars saw the condition
Darien was in and almost attacked the crowd.  "Mars... NO!  I will not
answer violence with violence!"  She cradled Darien.  "PLEASE... can we
just go home?  Darien needs help NOW, or he will bleed to death!  And I
do not have the strength to heal him!"
        Mercury felt Darien's pulse, and found it dangerously weak.
"She's right, Mars... If we want to save him, we've got to leave NOW!
It's okay, Serena... He'll be all right."
        "Just get me out of here... before I lose it completely."
Serena's voice was raw with anger and fear.  The only thing holding her
back was her hatred of violence.
        Jupiter saw the look in Serena's eyes.  `Hoo-boy!  She is REALLY
angry.'  She gathered up her strength and wrapped her arms around her
queen, king, and princess.  "Jupiter TELEPORT!"
*****
        Kaitlin ran into the room.  "Aunt Jupiter?  What happened?"  She
began examining Darien.  After a few minutes, she emitted a low whistle.
"This... is REALLY bad!"  She turned to Jupiter.  "Where is Aunt Saturn?
I need her here!"
        "Here I am, Kitty!"  Saturn's eyes widened in shock as she ran
to Darien's bedside to begin the healing.  `I don't know how this
happened, but the Outer Scouts will make them pay!'
        Serena saw the anger in Saturn's eyes, and placed a hand on the
woman's shoulder.  "Hilary... No violence.  That will only cause them to
hate us... rather than distrust us.  They saw something that they did
not understand, and it terrified them.  I can understand how they feel.
I felt much the same once, long ago."
        Saturn's eyes softened.  `Poor Serena.  All you wanted was a
normal life.  I guess having the role of Sailor Moon forced onto you WAS
a bit of a terrifying experience.  But don't worry, My Queen... Your
beloved husband WILL live.'
        After a while, Saturn removed her hands.  She was too tired to
speak, so she just smiled at Serena and nodded.  Before she knew what
hit her, she found herself in a very enthusiastic embrace.
        "Oh, Saturn, thank you ever so much!"  Serena started crying on
Saturn's shoulder.  "How will I ever be able to thank you enough?"
        Rini, meanwhile, shook Darien's shoulder.  "Daddy?  Are you
okay?"  She smiled as Darien stirred, and wrapped her little arms around
his neck.  "DADDY!"  She started sobbing as Darien gently returned the
embrace.
        "Hey, Princess... ease up a little.  Or do you WANT to strangle
me?"
        Rini immediately let go.  "I'm sorry, Daddy."
        Darien smiled weakly at his daughter.  "Don't be sorry for
hugging me.  Just TRY not to be so enthusiastic that you cut off my
oxygen." No sooner was that said when he was caught up in a similar
embrace.  With Serena, he merely moved her so she could be enthusiastic
without strangling him.  Serena's embrace had an urgency that Rini's
lacked.  He grunted a little when Rini resumed her stranglehold on him.
He sighed.  "Okay... ummmm... girls... I can't breathe... Oh heck! If
you can't beat them, join them!"  He encompassed them both in a bear
hug.  }}}}}
        Crescent clenched her fists.  "But that's where we messed up!
The crowd was nearly killed when an attack went haywire!"
        "That is not your fault.  Perhaps you never got the whole story.
Is it possible that something is being kept from you?  Perhaps you
should ask for the detailed story."
        Crescent nodded, then spun around as Serendipity entered.
        "I'm sorry, Aunt Serena, am I interrupting?  Oh!  Hello,
Crescent.  How's Pearl doing these days?"
        "She misses you, but otherwise she's fine.  I'll send her up for
a visit."
        "Thank you... I'd like that very much."  She turned her
attention to Serena.  "Uncle Darien sent me to tell you that dinner's
ready.  He really didn't want to intrude, but figured you wouldn't want
to eat cold food."
        Serena smiled.  "I had no idea that I was talking for so long!
Crescent, would you like to stay for dinner?"
        Crescent shook her head.  "No... the others will start to worry.
Except, of course, Josh.  Ever since the mess-up he's been treating me
like crap!"
        Serena looked surprised.  "You should not let him do that!"
        "You used to let Mars..."
        "Mars teased me to become better.  I always knew that she was
trying to make me stand up for myself.  I doubt if Josh has the same
reasons."
        "Oh, well... I think I'll ask.  Maybe he'll give me a reason as
to why he hates me so much."  She stood up and kissed Serena's cheek.
"I promise to visit again soon.  Bye... Serena."  With that, she
teleported.
        Serena smiled a little as she looked up.  "Darien... I know you
are standing right outside those doors.  I also know that dinner is NOT
ready!"
        Darien entered sheepishly.  "Sorry, Serena.  I know how you
get... you always hated remembering unpleasant things."  He smiled at
Serendipity.  "Dipi, would you leave us alone now please?"
        She nodded and left the room.
        As soon as the doors closed, Serena drew a shuddering breath and
started crying.  Remembering Darien so badly hurt frightened Serena
anew.  She felt his arms go around her, and she responded in kind.
        "Shhhhhh... it's okay, Serena!  I'm here... I'll always be here
for you."  He sat in his throne, which had been built bigger for times
when all the pressure got to Serena.  He gently rocked back and forth
while holding her.  "Life was never easy on you after you met Luna, was
it?  You went almost directly from being Sailor Moon, to being a queen."
        Serena sniffed.  "Well... it would have been worse had you and
the Scouts not been there.  I doubt it if I would have been able to bear
the responsibility alone."  She giggled.
        Darien had to smile.  To him, the first giggle from Serena after
crying was the most beautiful sound he could hear.  "What's so funny?"
        "Hmmmm?  I was just thinking how different it could have been
had you and I started off on the right foot."
        Darien thought about it for a minute.  "It probably would've
been VERY different.  So many of the scenarios we went through would've
been altered.  You wouldn't have thought I was mutilating Luna..."  He
stopped short at Serena's gasp.
        Serena's eyes were widened with hurt.  "Oh... Darien... how...
how COULD you?"  Tears started forming.  `I would have NEVER said
something like that to him.'
        Darien silently cursed himself as Serena pushed away.  `Why am I
so very good at hurting her?'  He got up as soon as she began to walk
away.  He reached out and gently grabbed her wrist.  "Serena...?"  He
released her when she glared at him.  `HOO-boy.  I went too far this
time.  I'd better let her calm down.'  He watched her go.
*****
        Later on, Darien entered the royal bedchamber to find Serena,
face down, on the bed.  He steeled his nerves.  "... Serena?"  He slowly
walked over to her prone form.  "Serena... are you okay?  Do you want me
to leave you alone a while longer?"  Silence.  He touched her shoulder.
        She spun around and threw herself at him.  "Oh... DARIEN!"  She
started sobbing.  "I love you!  I love you so much!  But sometimes you
infuriate me!"
        "I'm sorry, Serena, but you know I sometimes speak without
thinking.  My only hope was to cheer you up, no upset you.  Surely you
know that!"
        "I know that..."  Her mouth quirked.  "And do NOT call me
Shirley!"  She giggled at the old joke.
        Darien laughed as well.  "I think we needed that!  I know what
else you need."  He took her hand.  "C'mon... I'll make you a
triple-hot-fudge sundae.  You haven't had one of those in years!"
        Serena perked up.  "Lead the way, Muffin!"
*****
        Crescent was livid when she saw the two combatants.  "What in
Serenity's name did you think you were DOING?  You are GODSCOUTS, for
pity's sake!  You should BOTH be above such a childish way of settling
things.  Now... I want someone to tell me EXACTLY what happened...
NOW!"  Her crescent moon was glowing.
        Peace timidly separated herself from her parents.  "Ummmm...
They had a fight... Francis hit Josh, and Josh fought back.  I don't
know WHY, though."
        "I do..."  Pearl ignored Francis' glare.  "It was because of the
one-card draw."
        Crescent blinked in confusion.  "WHAT?!?"
        "This is STUPID!  I don't have to stand here and listen to this!
I'm outta here."  Josh turned and left the room.
        Crescent ran after him.  "Josh... WAIT!"
*****
        Somehow, she managed to catch up with him.  She grabbed his
shoulder and spun him around.  "I want you to answer something for me."
        He set his jaw.  "Well?"
        "Why do you hate me so much?  What is the problem?"
        Josh looked away.  "I DON'T hate you... THAT'S the problem."
        Crescent was taken aback.  "Then why are you always so angry
with me?  What did I do to upset you?"
        Josh looked as if she had struck him.  "I was never angry with
YOU, Princess.  I was angry with myself for being unable to protect you.
I thought you knew that."
        "I am NOT a mind-reader... up until now, I thought you hated me.
You gave me every indication that..."  She was cut off abruptly when
Josh did something she didn't expect.
        He kissed her with a passion that she never knew existed.  She
nearly fainted with all the emotions that were running rampant in her
heart.  Then, to her surprise, she responded with every fiber of her
soul.  Then everything became clear.  He didn't hate her... he loved
her.  And she was surprised again when she realized that she loved him
too.  With that realization, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled
him closer.
        She was gasping for air when he broke the kiss.  "You... should
have... told me!"  She managed to get her breathing under control.  "It
would have saved us both a LOT of heartache."  She swallowed once.  "Now
tell me about the stupid game that Pearl mentioned."
        "Well... Frank and I have always been rivals in one way or
another.  We each tried to start a band, but failed miserably.  When
Pearl showed up with her keyboard, she suggested that we combine our
talents to form one band.  All we needed was a lead singer."
        "Which turned out to be me."
        Josh smiled.  "Which turned out to be you."  He went into his
own world.  "I was floored.  Despite the dirt-smudged face, you were the
most beautiful girl I had ever seen.  Then you got cleaned up... You
never knew what really seeing you did to me."
        Crescent blushed.  "Enough with the flattery... even though I
really like it.  Get back to the explanation."
        "Well, as I said, Frank and I have always been rivals.  He saw I
was attracted to you, and decided that maybe he could finally get the
best of me.  I didn't discover his plan until AFTER the draw.  He came
up to me and suggested that we each write what we wanted on a piece of
paper.  It had to be something the other already had.  I wanted a jacket
that Frank had won in a lottery."
        "Anyway... he suggested a one-card draw.  The one with the
highest card got what he wanted.  I drew a queen.  I don't know how he
lucked into getting it, but he got an ace.  You can imagine my shock
when I read what he had chosen.  That's why he had a bloody nose for the
first rehearsal.  I couldn't believe he'd treat you like a prize to be
won in a carnival."  Josh sighed.  "But... a deal is a deal, and I
couldn't go back on my word."
        Crescent smiled.  "You... punched him to defend my honor?  Oh,
that is so sweet!"  She frowned again.  "There is something else that is
troubling me... I do believe you can shed a little light on the
subject..."
        "You want to know what happened after you got knocked out?"  He
smiled at her surprised look.  "I couldn't think of anything else that
you would be in the dark about."  He closed his eyes, and started to
tell her.



Part 7
"First Concert"

{{{{{
        Crescent allowed the music to fill her and take over.  The fact
that the Silver Crystal reacted to the music made the joy she felt
increase ten-thousandfold.  Her heart was flying and all was going well.
She threw herself into the chorus, reaching out to the audience that had
gathered.
        `Follow your dream!
        You've got to follow it!
        Follow your dream!
        No, don't you ever forget
        your dream!
        And you will never regret it,
        the world's waiting in front of you!

        Follow your dream!
        You've got to follow it!
        Follow your dream!
        No, don't you ever forget
        your dream!
        And you will never regret it,
        you'll find all of your dreams come true!'

        The song made everyone dance in place.  It made them all feel
happier than they felt in a long time.

        `Follow your dream!
        You've got to follow it!
        Follow your dream!
        No, don't you ever forget
        your dream!
        And you will never regret it,
        the world's waiting in front of you!

        Follow your dream!
        You've got to follow it!
        Follow your dream!
        No, don't you ever forget
        your dream!
        And you will never regret it,
        you'll find all of your dreams come true!'

        Crescent smiled at the small break that was different from the
rest of the song.  It was her favorite part, and the band's favorite as
well.

        `When you look into a mirror,
        tell me what you see!
        It's the light that's always shining
        shining in your heart!
        When you wake up in the morning,
        tell me how you feel!
        Is it just a dream,
        or is it really real?
        (really real)
        Tell me: is it really real?'

        Crescent finished the song, and smiled at the applause.  "Thank
you!  Let's hear it for the band!"  She smiled as her friends all stood
and bowed.  The crystal seemed bound and determined to release its
power, so Crescent shifted to her princess mode, surprised at the sudden
silence.  `They are... AFRAID of me.'  She watched as the fear in them
grew.
        She held her hands out in a gesture that begged for
understanding.  "Please... do not fear me!  I am Princess Crescent,
direct descendant of Queen Serena, who was queen during the Crystal Era!
She was daughter of Queen Serenity who ruled during the Silver
Millennium."
        One woman stood shaking.  "THAT is what Nox claimed!  We made
the mistake of trusting her when she physically appeared.  Look at what
she did to our world!  We'll not make the same mistake twice!"
        "Please!  I mean you no harm!  I am here to..."  The woman had
thrown a rock at her, and it hit her in the head.  Her vision blurred as
she collapsed to her knees.  She cried out once as a hail of rocks hit
her.
*****
        It had happened too fast for anyone to realize what was going
on.  Josh was the first one in action.  "PRINCESS!"  He dropped his
guitar and ran to pick Crescent up.  He turned and shielded her as
another hail of rocks headed their way.  He searched, frantically, for
her pulse, but had no idea where to look.  He resorted to listening for
her breathing.  Anger and despair grew within him when he didn't hear
anything.  `She'll never know... she'll never know that I love her!'
With that thought, he started glowing.
        Francis saw that Josh was losing control over his powers, and
ran to intercept the attack.
        `Oh NO!  I can't stop it!'  Josh turned to the frightened crowd.
He knew he had to warn them, despite what they had done out of fear.
"Everyone... GET DOWN NOW!  TAKE COVER!"  With that said, he screamed as
the bottled up power was unleashed.  He shuddered as wave after wave of
lightning exploded from his ever-tiring frame.  When it was over, he
collapsed onto his hands and knees, and fought to prevent himself from
throwing up.  His exhausted mind was vaguely aware of Pearl at his side
telling him that the crowd was unharmed, but very frightened.
        Pearl was concerned for her friend.  "Josh... don't fight it!
It'll only make you feel worse!"  She looked over to the rest of the
group, who were gathered around Crescent, as Josh stopped fighting and
vomited.  She gathered her strength and hauled him up when he collapsed.
"You're gonna be okay, buddy."
        "Mebbe..."  Josh was close to passing out.  "What about Cres?"
        A much older, much WISER, Kaitlin was beside the fallen
Princess.  "Her pulse is weak... but there.  She'll live."
        Josh smiled.  "Thank GOD!"
        Then he passed out.
*****
        "... 'mon, buddy, snap out of it!"
        Josh winced as he opened his eyes.  "Ohhhhnnnn, my head!"
        Pearl half-smiled.  "Well... after releasing so much power, it's
a wonder you aren't pushing up the daisies right now!  What happened?
Why the sudden berzerker rage?"
        "I thought... Crescent was dead.  I thought I'd never get the
chance to tell her how I feel about her."
        Pearl's eyes widened with the realization.  "You... you LOVE
her, don't you?"  She smiled as Josh weakly nodded his head.  "Why
didn't you tell her?"  Her smile faded as Josh explained.  "How DARE he!
You're right, though, a deal is a deal... you never agreed to keep
quiet, though."
        Francis walked in.  "No... but he will now!"  The glares he got
from the two of them had no effect.  "Look... Crystal already told
Crescent how you lost it!  Do you honestly think the Princess will be
able to love someone who nearly killed two hundred and three people?  I
seriously doubt it!  Oh don't look at me like that!  I KNOW you warned
them, but it doesn't matter.  You endangered a lot of people yesterday,
and I don't think telling Crescent that you love her is going to make
things better!  Am I clear on this matter?"
        Josh's voice was raw with the hurt he felt.  "Perfectly!" }}}}}
        "And that was that..."  Josh sighed.  "I'm really sorry... I
thought you wanted me to stay away.  That I was forbidden to tell you
that I love you hurt me more than anything else ever had."
        `He's... CRYING!'  Crescent brushed the tears away.  "No... I
am sorry.  Had I known the truth..."  She shook her head.  "No use
wasting time on thinking of what might have been.  We have to work on
what IS!"  She pulled him close again.  "I love you!  Why did I never
see it before?"
        Josh was in shock.  `She LOVES me?  I don't believe this!'  He
started laughing out of pure joy.  He picked Crescent up and spun around
with her in his arms.
*****
        Everyone looked up, and Pearl smiled, as the two of them
returned, hand-in-hand.  She almost felt sorry for Francis as Crescent's
smile turned into an instant glare when she regarded him.  Pearl had to
smile again as Josh stood behind, and wrapped his arms around Crescent.
        Crescent kept it simple.  "How COULD you?"  She didn't wait for
an explanation.  She held her hand out, and the whole group gasped as
the meaning became clear.
        Crescent was stripping Francis of his Godscout status.
        When she had the power wand, and the communicator, she held them
up.  They floated in the air a moment.  "This person is no longer your
keeper.  Find someone who is... MORE worthy of you!"
        Instead of vanishing, the items flew straight to another person
in the room.
        Peace gasped as the communicator attached to her wrist.  She
held her hand out and the power wand landed right in it.  "Me?"  A blue
glow surrounded her, and Goddess Mercury stood before the group.  Her
long red hair was braided back with a blue ribbon entwined in one of the
strands.  She spun in place, laughing at the feeling.
        Crystal stepped forward.  "Ummmm... what about the band?"
        Crescent smiled at her sister.  "You play the drums superbly.
You can fill his position."
        Francis was shocked.  "I'm out of the band, too?"
        Crescent spun to face him.  "I cannot have someone that I do not
trust on my team.  You lied to me, you used me like a prize, you
attacked a fellow Godscout, and you kept the truth from me.  All in all,
I think that you have some nerve by asking to stay in the band!"  The
crescent moon on her forehead flared once to emphasize her remark.
Francis looked away and Crescent faced the group.  "I have a plan, but
it will take a great deal of courage on all of our parts."
        "What's the plan, Cres?"
        "We go back... and perform.  No more hiding... no more running.
We do this now, or we all die in the effort.  In this form, I can call
upon the crystal's healing energy and touch the people.  Are you all
with me?"
        Francis surprised everyone by speaking first.  "If it's all
right with you, Princess, I'd... like to accompany you."
        Crescent faced him and saw the sincerity in his eyes.  She
nodded once and turned back.  "Is anyone else willing to come?"
        Josh spoke with Pearl and Crystal a moment.  "You're gonna need
music to sing to, Princess.  We're all in!"
        Nephrite, Molly, and Peace nodded.
        "Prepare yourselves then... we perform tomorrow.  Pearl...
would you teleport to the Moon Palace and tell everyone there that we
MIGHT need some backup?  I ask you because you should go anyway.  Your
mother is back."
        "WHAT?  She's back, and you didn't TELL me?"  Pearl vanished.
        Crescent smiled and turned to the group.  "Well... should we
plan our performance now?"
*****
        "What about this selection?"
        Josh took one look at the song title.  "Uhhhh... not to knock
you, or anything... `Electric Youth' by Debbi Gibson is a great song and
all, but do you honestly think an audience is going to appreciate any
song that has the word `electric' in it?"
        Queen Serena walked in.  "I have always liked `Eternal Flame' by
the Bangles..."  She smiled and looked around.  "Well... not exactly the
Crystal Palace, but I have seen worse in my time.  Very nice!"
        Crescent smiled.  "I like that one, Serena!  HEY! Since we're on
the Bangles... we could do a few more of their songs!  I'd like to do
`I'll Set You Free' myself."
        Josh grinned.  "I'd like you to sing `Everything I do' by Bryan
Adams.  It's very pretty!"
        "How about `We Belong' by Pat Benetar?"
*****
       It went like that for an hour.  Suggestions were made, taken,
tossed out the window, and jumbled around.
        "NO!  We CAN'T just have slow, pretty songs... I want people's
hearts to dance!  I want them to tap their toes and forget, for one
instant, who it is on stage!"  Crescent deleted another program and
tossed it onto the ever-growing list of files in the recycle bin.  She
looked at the list of songs they had.  "Okay... here's what we'll do!"
She started typing again.  "We keep these two songs, but throw these
out!" She highlighted `Eternal Flame' and `Hazy Shade of Winter' by the
Bangles.  "We keep `Like a Prayer' and `Take on Me,' but we toss the
other Madonna selections."
        For the first time, Francis suggested a song.  "Wait!  What
about `Over and Over' by Madonna.  It's upbeat, and to... the...
point."  He bit his lip and looked away.  "Sorry..."
        Crescent smiled at him.  "Don't be... I like it!  You may not be
in the band, but you're still part of the group.  I'm not heartless, you
know."  She turned back to the group.  "Okay, Josh, we're keeping the
Bryan Adams selection, but you aren't singing it."
        Crystal sat back thoughtful.  "How about `Set you Free' by the
Bangles?  We could do that as a last song, to tell them that we WON'T
push unacceptable laws on them."
        They debated another ten minutes.  When they finished talking,
Crescent smiled at the song selection.

(Y)  "Like a Prayer" - - - - Madonna
(E)  "Mercenary" - - - - - - Go-Go's
(S)  "Fallen Angel"- - - - - Debbie Gibson
(D)  "Lullabye"- - - - - - - Billy Joel
(J)  "Take on Me"- - - - - - A-ha!
(P)  "We Belong" - - - - - - Pat Benatar
(A)  "Over and Over" - - - - Madonna
(L)  "Electric Youth"- - - - Debbie Gibson
(D)  "Everything I Do" - - - Bryan Adams
(S)  "Eternal Flame" - - - - Bangles
(J)  "All About Soul"- - - - Billy Joel
(R)  "Oh Starry Night" - - - Raye Hino
(M)  "Hazy Shade of Winter"- Bangles
(ALL)"We Got the Beat" - - - Go-Go's
(E)  "Set you Free"- - - - - Bangles

        Josh scowled.  "I CAN'T believe you kept `Electric Youth' in!"
He shook his head.
        "Crescent... you know my singing voice could put nails on a
chalkboard to shame!"
        "Aw, c'mon Serena!  You can do it for Darien, can't you?"
Crescent smiled as Serena's resolve crumpled.  "I thought so.
Besides... I'm giving you a quick singing lesson.  Come on!"  Crescent
grabbed Serena's hand and pulled her ancestor into another room.
        Mars walked in and looked at the selections.  "What does `R'
stand for?"
        Josh looked at her with surprise.  "Why... Raye, of course! You
are gonna be up there singing your song!  I know it meant a lot to you!"
        Raye nodded.  "What about the other letters?"
        "Okay... P is Pearl, Y is Crystal, J is me, E is Cres, D is
Darien, S is Serena, A is Amy, L is Lita, and M is Mina.  Crescent
really wanted to do the last one, personally.  The rest she decided that
each of us deserved some time in the spotlight."  He looked up at the
chronometer.  "Wow... it's getting late!  We've got a LONG day ahead of
us, what with rehearsing."  He got up.  "See you tomorrow, Raye!"



Part 8
"Ending and Beginning"

        Crystal was walking to the kitchen when she spotted Darien
looking up at the Moon.  "What's wrong, great-grandfather?  You look the
way I do whenever something's bothering me."
        Darien glanced at Crystal before looking back out the window.
"Oh... nothing, really.  Just thinking about stuff that happened a LONG
time ago.  Sometimes I see things in hindsight..."  He muttered
something under his breath, but Crystal caught it.
        "Don't feel so bad!  You might have had it lucky!  You may not
have KNOWN whether or not your parents loved you, but there are worse
things."  Crystal held her hand up.  "Such as..."
        "Such as growing up thinking that your own mother couldn't care
less about you."  Crescent smiled as she walked up.  "Good night,
Crys... I'll see you tomorrow."
        "What do you mean?"  Darien suddenly found a new sympathy for
his descendant.  They had been unable to watch over anyone on Earth
until Crescent and her group had shown up.
        "I mean, that my mother thrust me into the care of another as
soon as Crystal was born.  At the age of five, the woman died, and I had
to fend for myself.  The ONLY thing I knew about myself was my name...
and even THAT was dubious.  Starting to sound a little familiar?"  She
smiled sadly as Darien nodded.  "Then, one day, right out of the blue,
my mother shows up and introduces me to my younger sister.  Can you
understand how I must have felt?  To me, it felt as if my mother didn't
love me enough to keep me.  I resented Crystal for the longest time."
        "Until you saw her die?"  He smiled in understanding.  "I can
imagine the pain you must've felt..."
        "BULL!  You have NO idea what I felt!  In one lifetime, you were
raised by your parents.  In another, your parents died.  NEVER did you
have parents that simply abandoned you!"  Tears were beginning to fall
down her cheeks.  "I HATED my mother, Darien.  I hated her for not
loving me.  I hated her for loving Crystal enough to keep her."  She
choked on a sob.  "And I hated Crystal for being the recipient of her
love.  My mother never told me she was doing it to protect me!  I MIGHT
not have felt so much anger had she told me."
        Darien's insides twisted at the girl's next words.
        "WHY, Darien?  WHY didn't she tell me?"  She turned to him.  A
sad smile was on her face.  "The last time I saw my mother, she had
spent the day with me.  I saw how much she DID love me, and I finally
understood.  The last words we exchanged... were words of love.  My
mother told me she loved me, and was sorry for hurting me.  I was able
to honestly tell her that I understood, and that I loved her too.  I
never saw her again."  Her smile turned into an honestly happy smile.
"Thank you for listening to me.  I get upset sometimes that I couldn't
spend more time with her.  She was a wonderful woman.  Well... I'd
better get some sleep... you too!  We all have a busy day ahead of us!
Good night!"  She started walking away, but paused.  "Don't feel sorry
for me.  I have my younger sister, and my friends, and you and your
crew.  I have all the family I need, and it's a wonderful one!  I love
you, Great-Grandfather."
        "I love you, too, Great-Granddaughter.  Pleasant dreams!"  He
smiled at the girl that had the best qualities of both him and Serena.
`AND some of the worst...'
        Crescent nodded and walked away.
*****
        Raye couldn't keep her eyes from watering as Pearl practiced the
music to "Oh, Starry Night."  She closed them and listened to the tones
that Pearl's synthesizer produced.  She opened them again when the music
suddenly stopped.
        "Ummmmmm... am I doing something wrong?"
        Raye smiled.  "No... you're doing something VERY right!  I never
realized just how beautiful this song could sound.  I only hope I don't
choke up..."  She cocked her head and listened.  "I CAN'T believe that
THAT'S Serena singing!  I never knew she could sound so good!"
        Pearl smiled.  "Cres told her to sing only for Darien.  I think
that helped a great deal.  Won't he be surprised?"  By unspoken
agreement, no titles were used.  For just once, they would be an
ordinary group of people.
*****
        "No!  I mean, the gowns are beautiful, and everything, but I
doubt that they're appropriate to be worn on-stage!"  Crescent dug
through her wardrobe.  "AH!  Here we go!"  She held out a sort of
abbreviated version of Serena's gown.  She dug some more and pulled out
her old stage outfit.  She smiled as the memories flooded through her
head.  "I was wearing this the first time I met Cynthia.  Fitting, isn't
it?  Tonight... Lunar Rebirth returns."
*****
        Crystal stepped onto the stage with a face full of fear.  She
had never sung before.  She took a deep breath, and prayed that the
automatic beat would kick in.
        "Life is a mystery
        everyone must stand alone.
        I hear you call my name,
        and it feels like...
        Home!"
        She almost laughed with relief as the beat started.  When it was
her cue to sing again, she spun around, and was filled with
stage-fright.  There were at least five dozen people watching her.  She
took a breath, and continued singing.  When the song ended, she took her
place at the drums.  She smiled encouragingly at Josh as she began the
intro.
        Josh weakly returned the smile.  When he started playing,
Crescent walked on-stage and started singing.
*****
        It went like that, song after song.  The variety of voices
piqued people's curiosity.  By the time Josh finished singing "Take On
Me," there were at least 300 people in the crowd.  By the end of
"Eternal Flame," the audience size had doubled.  By the time the last
song was sung, the concert was being broadcast.
        Crescent set her spirit free and transformed into her princess
mode and turned to the audience.  She cleared her throat.  "I come to
you today as I came to you four years ago.  I came in peace then, and I
come in peace now."
        The same woman was in the audience.  "You DARE say that?  After
what happened?"
        Crescent turned to her.  "Unless I am mistaken, I was not the
one to strike the first blow, nor the second, nor the third!  Had I not
been injured, there would have been no emotional outburst.  Plus... if
our intention was to harm you, Jupiter would NOT have warned you.
Truth?"
        The woman opened her mouth, then closed it in thought.  After a
moment, she spoke one word.  "Truth!  Forgive me."
        Crescent shook her head and walked towards the woman.  "There is
nothing to forgive.  You acted out of fear, and thought only to protect
what was precious to you.  Truth?"
        The woman nodded.  "Again... truth.  But Jupiter!"
        Crescent smiled.  "Can you slight Jupiter for doing the same as
you?  He saw me fall and thought I had died.  Do you understand my
thinking?  He had no control over his power at that moment because fear
and love prevented him from holding back.  He did, however, warn
everyone so that no one was injured."
        "Truth..."  She looked at Crescent for the first time, and drew
back in horror.  "You... you're little more than CHILDREN!"
        "True... I was fifteen at that concert.  I am nineteen now."
Crescent's eyes widened as the woman dropped to her knees.
        "How could I have attacked a child?"  She started weeping.
        "Because you did not SEE a child.  You saw a possible threat to
your still weak economy.  This is the reason I have run between then and
now.  You all feared me, and I did not want fear.  I never asked to be
born a princess, but that is what life has handed me.  It is my burden
and my birthright.  You are as much of the nobility as I."
*****
        On stage, Serena and Darien smiled with pride at their
descendant.  They, and the Sailor Scouts, watched as Crescent won the
hearts of the crowd... and the hearts of everyone watching the
broadcast.
        "I think they are going to be all right!"  Serena smiled and
turned to Darien.  "Shall we go now?  I think that she no longer needs
us to lean on."
        "Your wish is my command, Meatball Head."
        The Sailor Scouts joined hands and teleported to the Moon
Palace.  }}}}}
        "Crescent!"  Serena ran and embraced the woman before her.
"Look at you!  You look wonderful!  What brings you here?"  She smiled
and took note that the years, all four of them, had been good to the
girl.  She'd had the pleasure of joining Crescent with Josh the previous
year.
        Crescent, known to her people as Goddess Queen Serenity, turned
as Josh appeared carrying a bundle.  She gently took the bundle from him
and knelt before Serena.  "Serena, Neo-Queen Serenity, allow me to
present to you your great, to the nineteenth power, granddaughter,
Princess Serena of Euphoric Tokyo."
        Serena took the baby.  "Greetings, Princess Serena.  May the
goddess, Selene, smile on you and bless you with a happy and healthy
life."
        In reply, the baby giggled, and the little crescent moon on her
head flashed.
        And so, the circle of life continues...

END OF "FAMILY TIES"