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Date: Sunday, February 06, 2000 6:32 AM

A Change of Destiny Ch.10
By: Ria
TiMia637@aol.com
Rated PG
**********************************************************
    “So who is going to be on first watch?” Amy looked
around the circle of eager faces.  Darien had wanted no one
but himself to follow her but Amy and the others convinced
him that he needed a job afterwards to fund all the sundaes
Serena would be eating.
    “Marina and I will take the first shift since Darien
has classes in the morning along with all of you,” Helen
said in a calm voice.  The smack she got from Marina was
enough motivation to be amiable.
    “Okay since Lita and I have school with her we have
second watch.  Now since the afternoon is when everyone is
free I suggest we bombard her with constant drop ins.  The
inners and I will gladly take the afternoon if you three
can’t make it.”  Darien and the two outer scouts gave Amy an
incredulous glare for even suggesting that they would put
something before their princess.
    “Okay maybe not,” Amy backed away slightly from their
gazes.  “Darien has complete watch over Serena during the
sunset to sunrise.  Since we all know what to do our meeting
is adjourned and the next one will be tomorrow to refine our
strategy for Serena’s birthday.  We only have a week to
perfect it so we must get it right.  If I know Serena she
will not be pleased to know that we abandoned her on her
birthday.” 
    They all smiled at each other for their cleverness and
left with their good mood since they were sure that they had
Serena cornered.

    “Hey Sere!” Selene turned around to see a very
breathless Heather running towards her.  Selene had woken up
a tad earlier just so she could see the sunrise.  Since she
only had a week left then it was high time she saw a
sunrise.
    “What’s up!  Why are you up so early?” 
    Heather plopped herself right next to Selene.  Selene
had sat underneath her usual tree so she would have a
perfect view of the sun and the lake.  She knew it would be
just as breath taking as the sunset.  
    “I snuck out to your apartment so I could maybe catch
you before you go to school,” Heather blushed at being so
forward.  “’m sorry if I’m being pushy.  If you want me to
leave I won’t take it personally.”
    Selene smiled kindly at the lonely girl.  Heather had
been alone most of her life and during the circumstances
that she was let out of her sleep people feared her too much
to make friends with her.  Selene took her hand and squeezed
reassuringly, “Of course I would love to have your company. 
And if you don’t mind could you walk to school with me?  I
hate walking to school alone.”
    Heather gave her a brilliant smile and hugged her. 
Selene had said that it was her destiny to die for all of
them.  She said she understood that they wanted to protect
their princess but she wasn’t their princess anymore. 
Heather might have been awakened to protect her princess but
in the end she would protect her friend.  Something so
precious as friendship was as important to her as Princess
Serenity was.  So no one was going to take her first friend
and her princess away from her.

    Darien had been alarmed when Selene had awakened so
early to go to the park.  His finger was on the emergency
button on the communicator the whole time he followed
Selene.  He had relaxed his guard when he saw her sit
underneath her usual tree and watch the lake.  Darien never
took his eyes away from the beauty that was revealed to him
as the darkness was pushed away by the light.  His trance
was so deep that he would have walked right up to Serena and
kissed her with all the pent up emotions he had harbored
inside since she left him a second time.  He would have done
it too if Sailor Saturn had not come bounding out of the
foliage.  He didn’t know whether he was relieved or not.
    Darien watched and listened to the two girls
conversation.  He heard the other girl’s loneliness when she
asked Serena if she could spend time with her.  Darien saw
Serena do the same thing she did for him and the other
girls, engulf her in the warmth she offered with her
friendship and love.  He felt jealousy soon afterwards when
he saw them share the closeness he was cheated of.
    ‘Damnit Serena!  Why won’t you just let us help you?’
    “I don’t mean to pry Sere but what are you going to do
about Darien and the others?” that perked up Darien’s ears.
    ‘Yes Serena what are you going to do about the rest of
us.’  Darien silently urged her on.  They were holes that
needed to be filled in before they could save Serena.
    “I don’t really know.  Even if what you and the others
think is true it doesn’t make a difference.  My days are
numbered and Darien and the others will not be able to
figure it out in time.”  Even though Selene had persuaded
herself that she didn’t want the others to know Heather knew
that deep down she still hoped that they would be there.
    Panic went through Darien’s body when he heard Serena
speak.  She sounded sure that she wasn’t going to survive.
    “Are you even going to let them know?” Heather felt bad
for the others.  She felt joy herself when she was with her
princess and for the others not to have the same luxury was
depressing.  It was even worse for Marina and Helen since
they won’t have a chance to know her this lifetime.
    “I’m thinking about it.  It really doesn’t matter
anyways.”  
    “How could you say that!? Of course it matters!  They
love you more than life itself and it hurt them a lot when
they thought you were dead.” 
    Selene knew that Heather was getting frustrated with
her.  ‘I guess I could tell her.  There is no harm in
letting her know.’
    “I don’t mean to sound insensitive Heather but what I
say is true.  It hurts just to think about it but maybe then
you will understand why I say I am selfish.  You see when
the battle is over, regardless of whether or not I win you
will all forget me,” Selene held out her hand to stop the
denial that was about to come out of Heather’s mouth, “I
don’t mean you guys will forget me in your own free-will. 
All of your memories of the me will be erased again. 
Starting from your recovered memories of the Silver
Millennium to present day Tokyo.  I’m not sure if you will
remember each other but I hope you do.”
    Heather looked at her in horror.  She thought she would
always have the memory of her princess to comfort her when
she was alone again.  “But that is not fair.  How come Susan
can keep her memories of you and and...”
    “No Heather.  Not even the all knowing Sailor Pluto
will have her memory of me.  You see, the only reason why
she was allowed to keep her memories of the Silver
Millennium was so she could save me from that fateful day I
was dying in the snow.  Her mission was to retrieve me and
bring me to get the proper training from the elders.  She
doesn’t know of this and I think it will be best if I keep
this one to myself.  Rhea is very scary when angry.”
    Both had decided to stop talking.  They both came her
to relax and enjoy the sunrise but they couldn’t do both if
they continued with their line of talk.

    Darien had been joined by Sailor Neptune and Sailor
Uranus moments after Saturn arrived.  They had woken up to a
missing Heather so they came to find Darien.  All three
listened intently to the two girls conversation.  What they
heard wasn’t very optimistic.  They had to do something fast
before it was too late.

    The first day of ‘Save Serena’ was a big success.  They
had smothered Selene so much that it was a miracle that they
weren’t blown to another dimension.  Lita and Amy had kept
peeking at her classes every five minutes and during lunch
they even went with her to throw her garbage.  After school
was worse.  Selene had to deal with six scouts and a
soul-mate.  She didn’t understand how they managed it but
Selene found herself never alone.  It was weird but she got
the feeling that they were taking turns on who would spend
time with her next.  Without a doubt she knew the others had
caught on to her identity.  Actually she didn’t mind that
they knew anymore.  It gave her the chance to spend time
with her old friends and make some new ones.  She liked
Sailor Neptune and Sailor Uranus instantly.  Marina with her
poise and sophistication and Helen with her daring and
spunk. 
    She took advantage of her time with her friends but
like always the nega-verse shook her out of the dream she
was being led to.  The attacks came every night and during
the day.  But instead of the usual one ring arena method the
attacks were separated and far apart from each other. 
Sailor Cosmos being the only one to finish off the job had
found herself teleporting to each individual fight.  She was
losing energy fast and tiring very quickly.  Selene knew
that she couldn’t hold it together for very long.

The Nega-Verse
    “You have to admit my Queen she has stamina.  It would
be of great advantage to us if we were able to bring her to
our side,” Prince Diamond hoped that his voice didn’t reveal
his true intentions.  If he could bring Sailor Cosmos to
their side he was sure he could over throw Metallia, with
the help of his new queen of course.
    Metallia narrowed her eyes on the eager man that
kneeled before her.  She knew of his sudden infatuation with
the girl and she disapproved of it greatly.  She showed
great promise and Metallia feared that her power was greater
than her own.
    “If you are able to accomplish that within the three
days we have left then I will not feel compelled to kill
her.  I warn you now Diamond, I know everything and if I
hear one word of treachery attached with your name I will
not have second thoughts of sending you to the same oblivion
Beryl is in.”
    Without a word Diamond walked out of the throne room. 
    ‘So you are scared,’ Diamond laughed triumphantly with
his new knowledge.

    “Damn!  Selene there is another one in the park,”
Sailor Pluto sighed in frustration.  They had just finished
off the last one Diamond had sent them, or so they thought. 
She didn’t like the way this nega-verse creep was so intent
on Selene.  
    “Oh man, I thought I could rest now.  Who is taking
care of it right now?” her voice showing her lack of sleep.
    “Probably all of them since we are the only ones here.”
    “Come on then.  They can’t last very long without both
of us,” Selene was about to teleport when Rhea stopped her.
    “You are too tired to teleport by yourself.  If you had
asked nicely I would have let you hitch a ride in my dull
portal.”  Sailor Cosmos smiled tiredly at her and stepped in
after her.

    “Where is she?” Diamond let out one energy ball after
another.  So far the scouts had been able to dodge them and
get a couple of hits themselves but it wasn’t doing any
good.  He was just to strong for them.
    “Why in hell would we tell you?” Raye spat out.
    “Yeah creep!  Are you so desperate that you need to
force someone into having a relationship with you,” Mina was
disgustedf at the way this creep talked about their Serena. 
People called her desperate but she was never as pathetic as
this fool.
    “She is mine!  So it is no use to delay the
inevitable.”
    Darien snapped.  He had enough of these pushy guys
trying to lay a hand at his princess.  But before he could
focus all of his frustration on Diamond a tired voice
interrupted him.
    “You again!  How about you be nice for a change and go
away so I could get some sleep.”  Everyone had turned around
the moment they heard Sailor Cosmos’s voice.  What they saw
made them wince.  She wasn’t hurt as badly as some of the
others but she looked ten times drained.  Her face had a
sickly pallor and underneath her eyes were black smudges.
    “Yield to me and I’ll let you sleep all you want. 
Granted I am with you,” his gaze traveling lustfully up and
down her body.
    “Okay I have had enough of all you sickos pushing up on
my girl.”  Darien, or rather Tuxedo Mask, jumped in the air
and let a barrage of roses at Diamond.
    The scouts took advantage of his weakness and let their
own attacks fly.  Behind them they heard the old attack of
Sailormoon.
    “Moon Crystal Halation.”
    Diamond was badly hurt but without Serena’s full power
was not put out of commission.
    “I’ll be back,” then he disappeared.
    Everyone looked back at their leader to see the
almighty Sailormoon drop gracefully in Sailor Pluto’s arms.

    “You all have a lot of explaining to do,” Helen didn’t
care anymore if she sounded unreasonable.  Her princess was
on the brink of death by exhaustion and she didn’t like the
feeling of despair she was feeling again.
    “Hush Helen!  You might wake up Sere,” Heather glared
at Helen for being so inconsiderate.  
    “And you,” pointing at Heather, “why didn’t you tell us
the moment you found out?”
    “Because I wanted to show her I could be a good 
friend,” Heather responded quietly while sponging the face
of her princess.
    They all looked at lonely girl with sympathy and
understanding.  She had found the same magic in Serena and
no one could blame her for wanting to hold on to it.
    “We are sorry for keeping it from you directly but we
tried our hardest to make it obvious that Serena and Selene
were the same person,” Luna had said it to everyone but she
stared at Artemis to see if he was angry with her.
    Mina gave Artemis a little push to give Luna a
response, “I’m not angry with you Luna but you could have
made the clues a little easier.”
    “Easier!  What is easier than placing ourselves in the
same building as Darien, being seen in front of Darien’s
window together, letting Amy fix the computer, and sending
the outers to join all of you?  If you ask me you are all
blind,” Susan was angry at being blamed for everything. 
Didn’t they know it was as hard for her as it was for them.
    “But,” Raye started out.
    “No buts.  Do you think it was any easier for us?  Yeah
we knew Serena was alive but for how long.  We knew we were
helpless to help her and it ate me up inside,” Susan broke
down into tears after that.  The pressure cooker finally
exploded.
    Heather left her post beside Serena’s bed and came to
comfort the crying woman.  From all of them Susan had
witnessed helplessly most of Serena’s death.  Everyone but
the Scout of Time had the privilege to fight beside her,
protect her and that was worse than living while she died.
    “I’ve seen her fallen so many times and not once have I
been able to give her a hand.  But now when I finally do I
get condemned for something that you all would have done and
have done throughout the millenias.”
    Everyone squirmed in quilt.  They had decided before
that they wouldn’t blame anybody but seeing Serena in such a
state just brought out the protective side out of all of
them, not to mention the green eyed monster.
    “We are sorry Susan.  We are all being unreasonable to
you and we really don’t mean to be.  It is just that we are
a tad jealous that she didn’t come to us for help to.” 
Susan raised her head from Heather’s comforting arms and
smiled, accepting the peace offering.
    “Okay enough of this sentimental crap.  What we need to
focus on is what to do about the upcoming battle.”  Helen
ducked this time from Marina’s flailing arms.
    “Helen’s right.  We have to find a way to protect
Serena.  I don’t buy all this crap about her being alone,”
Lita put in angrily.  No one was going to keep her from
helping her bestfriend.
    Darien had moved away from the window and had taken
Sailor Saturn’s spot next to Serena.  Her power level being
almost depleted she had morphed back to being Serena rather
than Selene.  Darien’s hands shakily reached out to touch
her face.  He was afraid that she would disappear all over
again.  As soon as his hands touched the familiar contours
of his love’s face he was gone.  Tears flowed freely down
his face and the scouts slowly left to leave the prince
alone with his princess.
    “Serena,” he stroked the wisps of hair gently from her
face.  Not able to resist further he bent down and left
random kisses on her face, finally ending on her lips.

    Serena had felt herself falling into oblivion after
sending her attack towards Diamond.  The darkness seemed to
be everywhere until she saw a light from up ahead.  The
light pulled her towards it and Serena felt the cold leave
her body.  Everything was forgotten as she entered the
light.  Suddenly a voice filled the emptiness.
    “So you have arrived my daughter,” a sweet familiar
voice urged her to open her eyes.
    “Queen Selenity,” Serena gasped out.  
    “You have found your way here so we could talk about
what happened during our kingdom.  You see my dear in order
to succeed you cannot harbor all that quilt and pain inside
of you.  I’m here to finally bring peace to your mind.”
    “I can never forgive myself.  It was my duty to protect
everyone.  Not the other way around,” Serena, or rather
Princess Serenity, refused to be comforted.
    “Stop being so stubborn Sere.  You get that from your
father you know.  Even though he was wrong and he knew it he
would still argue his point.  You get much from him my
daughter but you also get your big heart from me.  You are
protective with the ones you love so you will understand now
why I did what I did.  You where my only daughter Serenity. 
After you father died I felt a part of me die with him but
when Selene gave me you I felt that part of my heart beat
again.  I was slowly wasting away.  I would not do anything,
only sit in solitude wondering how I could have failed my
love.  He died trying to protect me.  The nega-verse was
much smaller back then so we thought they were not such a
big threat.  Then one day out of nowhere Beryl appears and
throws a energy beam towards me.  I was with you by then,
Helios jumped in the way.  I couldn’t think of anything but
my own pain when your father and an old woman named Trivia
came to me in my dreams.  They both warned me of the
upcoming battle and that the daughter that I carried had
been chosen to protect all of us.  You can’t imagine the joy
I felt knowing that I had something left of Helios I could
love.  Trivia told me of the prophecies and what must be
done.  I was to train you as a warrior, to be the best so
when the time came you would be ready.  I couldn’t do it
though.  Your father saw it in my eyes.  I had the defiant
look in my eyes and he knew that I wouldn’t let my baby die. 
Before he left he told me to follow my heart and everything
would turn out all right and if I needed him he was in my
heart.  You see love the day I found out about you I
promised myself I would do everything in my power to protect
you.  I knew what would happen and I took that road.  You
might have been stronger than me Sere but nothing is
stronger than love and believe me a determined mother is
hard to beat.”
    Serena smiled thoughtfully at her mother.  She
understood of course, especially since she left the scouts
in the same predicament as her mother left her in.  
    “You have finally understood.  Now back to business. 
Tomorrow is your birthday so when the first moonbeam of the
blue moon touches earth you will receive your full power. 
Your powers must merge before the battle.  You must be with
one with everything you have been to focus all that energy
through the staff of light.”
    “I don’t understand.”  Serena was beyond confused.  ‘Be
one with everything I have been.  Damn mother, now I know
where Rhea learned to talk confusing.  Riddles after
riddles.  Can’t somebody just tell me straight out.’
    “Don’t worry sweetheart.  It’ll come to you in time. 
But now you should go back.  Prince Endymoin is very worried
and you don’t have much time with him as it is,” Queen
Selenity let go of her daughters hand and prepared to send
her back.
    “Wait!  Before I go will you tell Daddy for me that I
love him.  I know he is with you since you look so happy.”
    Tears formed in the former queen’s eyes as she saw her
daughter disappear slowly.
    “Of course.  He loves you too my daughter and is very
proud.”
    The light grew dimmer and dimmer until a different
sensation filled her body.  She felt warm and a slight
pressure on her mouth.  A moment passed until she recognized
Darien.  The response to his kiss was immediate.  Serena
opened up instantly and let him plunge his tongue in her
welcoming mouth.  They were both so caught up in the kiss
that they didn’t hear the scouts re-enter the room.
    “I guess Serena is feeling better,” Mina announced
happily.   

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