I'll Be There For You
Part 8 - Another Day of Destiny

There were panting, hard, but they refused to stop. They were so
close now. So close, he could feel it. He was still in pain from using the
Golden Crystal, but the pain of his body could not compare to the pain in his
heart.

'We're coming, Serena,' he told her silently. 'Just hold on! We're
coming!'

*********

"Darien?" She opened her eyes but was greeted by only the hanging
bodies. She cried out as she recognized new bodies. "No, no, no." She
sank into sobs again. "My friends--"

The blue, green, and red fukus fluttered in an unfelt breeze.

*********

"Your way ends here, trespasser!" a voice from unseen origins said.

They stopped, freezing, ready for an attack, waiting for something to
happen. They did have to wait long.

The very walls seemed to move, to liquefy on either side of them. Someone
screamed.

"Go on!" Meliphane yelled to him.

"We'll take care of this," Uranus said, unsheathing her space sword, a
wicked grin on her face.

"Be careful!" he shouted to them before turning... and running smack dab
into another-- thing. It pulled away from the walls and liquefied into a
human shape.

"I'm afraid I cannot let you pass," it said in a female voice.

"We'll handle it," Pluto said in her timeless voice.

"Find the princess," Euclase said, turning from him to face the...thing.

He nodded and then turned and ran, Saturn and Venus on either side.

*********

She heard the chains but was afraid to open her eyes, afraid to see
who else had fallen because of her.

Because of me, she thought. They are dying because of me... because of
me... because of me...

"Noooooo!"

*********

They came to a door. He didn't know what it was made of, he didn't
care. All he knew was that on the other side was the reason he was here.

"It could be a trap," Venus said, staring at the door.

"We were lead here," Saturn agreed.

And then the doors opened.

"Be careful," he said, stepping in first.

*********

"What's our status?" Julia barked, tension coursing through her
every nerve.

"Neutral," Rubius answered.

"Equal losses," Emerald added.

Julia frowned. "I don't like it."

"The Prince has entered the throne room with two others," Rubius stated.

"Who?"

"Sailors Venus and Saturn, ma'am," Emerald answered.

Julia looked up at the view screen. "Well, my Princess, I hope you know
what you are doing."

*********

"Hello," a husky voice melted from the darkness. The doors swung
shut behind them, and they turned, startled. A throaty chuckle drifted
towards them.

"Who's there?" Sailor Venus cried out.

"Show yourself!" Sailor Saturn demanded.

A light from an unseen source lit the room in rich red hues offset by blue
shadows. Something about the room seemed strangely familiar. But he didn't
think on it much further, for a figure could be seen in the large throne.
His eyes narrowed as the figure came into focus.

"*You*!"

She smiled. "Hello Darien," she said, "Or should I say, Endymion?" The
girls standing on either side of him gasped.

***************************************************************************

"Who are you!" Saturn demanded.

"What have you done with Serena?" Venus asked.

Endymion continued to look at her with hatred. "How do you know?" he
asked finally.

Alicia laughed hysterically. "The question is, my dear sweet prince,
'How is it, you *don't* know?'" She smiled at him, a sad look stealing
into her eyes. "Do you really not remember me?" she asked after a moment
of silence.

"Why should I, Alicia?" he asked.

Her eyes narrowed. "Why should you, indeed," she sneered. "Were you so
blinded by her that you never noticed me?" she asked. "Well, that will all
change now, won't it?"

"What have you done, Alicia?" he shouted, taking a step towards her.

She smiled. "What should have been done a long time ago," she said.
"What would have been done if my mother hadn't of messed things up!"

"Your mother?" he asked, clearly confused.

And then a laugh filled the great room. A laugh that turned their
stomachs. And beside the thrown an image materialized.

"Beryl," Venus hissed. Saturn readjusted her grip on her glaive.

"So pleased you remember me, Sailor Venues," the image said, raising a
hand to rest it on the thrown. "Tell me, how are things on Earth? I do so
miss it."

Venus took a step towards her, but a raised arm from Endymion stilled her.

"Where is Serena?" he asked again, his voice hard.

Alicia's smile melted into a sneer. "Your precious little Serenity is
here," she snarled.

They heard the rattle of chains and looked up-- and gasped in horror.
Something snapped, and bodies went falling, bodies of everyone they had
left behind: Tellurium, Neptune, Zoicite, Nephrite, Kunzite, Jedite,
Sardonyx, Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus, Meliphane, Euclase, and Pluto.

The girls cried out, rushing towards the falling bodies, but something
stopped them before they could get near them. And then something amazing
happened, shocking Endymion and both girls.

They bodies fell, and hit the ground, but only the senshi's bodies
remained there. The moon and earth generals dematerialized!

But before they could say anything about it more chains rattled from
overhead.

"Serena!" Endymion cried trying to get to her, but what every force had
restrained Venus and Saturn, also restricted him. "Alicia! Don't do this!"

"Don't you see," the woman said. "Once Serenity is gone we can be
together!" Alicia stood up. "Darien, Endymion, I know you must love me!
Once Serenity is dead you will remember that love!" She smiled and took a
step closer to him.

"Hold it right there!" Venus cried. "I'm the pretty warrior of Love, I
fight for Love, Sailor Venus! And I will NOT allow you to ruin Serena and
Darien's Love. On behalf of Venus, I will stop you! VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY
SHOCK!"

"Oh, go away!" Alicia snarled. "No one invited *you*!"

Chains whipped out from nowhere and wound around Venus, swiftly
immobilizing her.

"Not so fast!" a small voice cried out. "I--"

"Save it for someone who cares!" Alicia quipped. Chains went zipping
towards Saturn, but met an early end with her Glaive, which acted as an
extension of her arm.

"Your parlor tricks will not work with me," the small girl said.

Alicia's eyes narrowed. "Indeed, I see not." She smiled. "You want to
play with the big kids, little girl? Okay, bring it on."

****************************************************************************

She felt the energy course through her viens. The sheer power of
it sending her heart into a mad dash. 'She thinks she can stop me?' She
laughed out loud. "Bring it on little girl."

The girl before her did some fancy hand trick with the big stick in her
hands. None of it impressed her. She waved her hands and more chains went
whizzing towards the... well, she was really nothing but a child. One chain
fell dead to the ground, but the other-- ah! Now the other wrapped tightly
around the child's wrist, and squeezed.

"You are nothing to me, child," she said, pushing up from the thrown.
"You are on my world now. My home, My fortress, My rules."

"Alicia! Stopped this!" he called out.

She smiled at him. "You just what," she said patiently. She felt the
power building within her. She knew her body was glowing, she radiated with
the power... and it felt wonderful. "Once Serenity is dead everything will
be fine."

"Alicia! NO!"

The energy was soaring from her, a pure bean of light, pulsating energy,
aimed directly at Serenity. She was too late to stop it.

"NO!" she screamed in horror as she watched her love get hit directly in
the back by the energy beam. His fingers gripped the chains until his
knuckles were white... and then he fell back to the ground, striking the
floor with a resounding thud.

"NO! No, no, no, no," she rushed to his side, falling to her knees,
pulling his head up into her lap. "You stupid fool! Why did you do that?
Oh, Darien, please, please, please don't die. Please, Darien, do you hear
me? Don't die!"

"Ser-- Serena," he forced past his blue lips.

"NO! Stop it!" she shouted, sobbs racking her body. "It's me! It's me!
I'm the one who loves you! I'm the one you want! Please, Darien, please!"

"You're wrong," Sailor Venus gasped weakly, handing limp in the chains that
were slowly squeezing the life from her. "Serena and Darien are destined
to be together. It does not matter what you do, their love for one another
will never die."

"Shut up! You and your talk of love!" she sneered, looking up at the
blond senshi hanging in the air. She looked back down at the unconcious
body of her love. "I'll kill her," she mumbled to herself. "I'll kill her
and then nothing will stand in our way. I'll kill her-"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot let her do that," a soft voice said. She looked
up and remembered the child was still free.

"Darien," the voice fell from above.

Venus looked up with hope. "Serena! Serena you have to wake up! Serena,
please!"

"NO!"

"I'm so weak..."

'Then use my Strength,' a voice whispered. 'Jupiter Planet Power!' Green
light began to swell above the body of Sailor Jupiter.

'Then use my Power,' another voice whispered. 'Mars Planet Power! Red
light began to swell above the body of Sailor Mars.

'Then use my Knowledge. Mercury Planet Power!

'My Skill. Uranus Planet Power!'

'My Harmony. Neptune Planet Power!'

'My Control. Pluto Planet Power!'

"My Love," Venus whispered, tears falling down her cheeks as she looked up
at Serena. "Venus Planet Power!"

Saturn stood up straight, staring dead into Alicia's eyes. "My Life.
Saturn Planet Power!"

The rainbow colors raced towards Serena, striking her body and radiating
from within. She convulsed on the chains, gasping as the energies merged
with her. The Silver Crystal illuminated, filling with the light of the
eight planets.

"Moon Crystal Power!"

"NO! You Can't! You Can't! NO!"

Alicia rushed towards her, intent on doing... something, but the power of
the Silver Crystal and the transformation blew her back.

The light faded away-- revealing Serenity-- and not the Princess Serenity.
Crystal blue eyes blinked open as the celestial figure hung weightless in
the air. The Silver Imperium Crystal hovered before her, waiting.

"NO! You will die! You have to die!"

Again, Alicia tried to rush for her. Again she fell away, this time being
hurtled across the room, her body smacking into a wall and crumbling to the
floor.

Serenity's eyes took in the room, staring at the bodies literally covering
the floor. A tear slipped down her cheeks.

"My friends," she whispered. And then one body stood out against the rest.
"Endymion!"

The figure hovered lower until it was kneeling on the ground beside the
body of the only male in the room. A gentle hand rested against his chest
and the dark armor that encased his body melted away into a black tuxedo,
and then the tuxedo paled until it was a lavender shade.

Blue eyes blinked opened, and smiled into blue eyes. A hand raised and
cupped her cheek.

"I was so worried about you," he whispered hoarsely.

She smiled back down at him. "I am sorry, my love. I shall try not to
let it happen again." She leaned forward and brushed her lips against his.

There was a hiss from behind them, and again Alicia rushed them.

"No! You can't! I won't let you! You can't!"

Serenity stood. Again, Alicia hadn't gotten closer than five feet until
she was thrown away. Serenity frowned at her.

"You hold so much love in yourself," she said, gliding over the ground as
she approached the fallen princess. "And yet you feed this love only hate.
Why do you persist in this harmful action?"

Alicia looked up at her with hatred. "Why can't you just die?" she spat
in reply. Sad eyes answered her. "Whaddaya going to do?" she sneered.
"You're too weak to try and stop me alone! Even if you're stronger now,
how long do you think it will last? How long until you crumple up in a
weakened pathetic little pile of bones? You can not win!" she hissed.

"She's not alone."

***************************************************************************

"She's not alone," he ground out, gritting his teeth against the
screaming pain of his body as he pushed himself to his feet.

"Darien! No!" Alicia cried, taking a step towards him. He flung his cape
back behind him, holding himself away from her, a cold look in his eye. Her
eyes grew large and began to water. "Darien?" she choked.

He stood next to Serenity.

"No, no, this isn't happening," she cried weakly. She was on her hand and
knees, her hair had pulled free of its clip and hung in clumps around her
face. She looked up at them dazed, but still filled with hatred. "So what
now? You kill me?"

Serenity shook her head. "You go away," she said softly. "You go far,
far away. And you don't come back." Alicia looked up at her startled.
"From this moment onward you are never to set foot on Earth again."

"Y- you can't mean that," Alicia gasped, struggling to stand.

The glow from the Silver Crystal began to grow. Beside her, Endymion's
Golden Crystal also began to glow. The two crystals rose above their owners
and merged into one with a glorious flash of light. Endymion reached for
her hand.

"I banish you," Serenity said softly.

"No! There has to be--"

The light grew, the energy of the two crystals merging burst out,
swallowing everything and everyone.

*********

Limbo. Floating in a sea of... nothingness.

Where are we? She asked, the light too bright to open her eyes.

What do you want?

To be home... For everyone to be alright...

Easily done-

*********

Falling... falling... fall-- THUD!-- landing.

Groans. Moans. A curse.

"Oh! I feel so--"

"Do you mind getting OFF ME!?!"

"What the--"

"YOU'RE BACK!" Luna cried, rushing into the room. "Oh, thank the Gods!
I was so worried!"

Heads popped up. "Serena!"

They found the odango-haired blond was curled up, fast asleep, within the
arms of her one true love. They sighed with relief.

"What about-- what about the Generals?" Artemis asked, joining the group.
Silence greeted him.

"We should retire," Setsuna said in her timeless voice. "There will be
time for questions tomorrow."

"I guess you'd be the one to know!" Mina said, pointing and winking.

"What about Serena and Darien?" Lita asked.

"They can stay here," Rei said softly.

"No," Haruka interjected. "The car's out front. We'll drop them off."

They nodded, but no one moved to leave. They stood there, in silence.
Not knowing what to say; not knowing what to think.

"They're gone, aren't they?" Amy said softly after a moment. "They're not
coming back, are they?" Sad blue eyes look up into garnet eyes, begging for
denial.

"I'm sorry," the tall, green-haired woman replied.

Rei hugged herself tightly. Mina slipped to the ground. Haruka turned
away. Michiru reached out for Haruka. Hotaru stood motionless. Lita
sighed heavily.

"I just don't have luck with boyfriends," she said, sighing again. Sweat-
drops filled the room.

"Go home," Setsuna said. "Get some sleep."

"Yea," Mina said. "After all, tomorrow is--" groans "another day."

Shocked silence. They stared at her.

"I think you actually got one right," Amy said softly. Mina blushed,
holding a hand behind her head and giggling.

They were quiet as they filed out of the temple.

***************************************************************************

I'll Be There For You
Part 8 - Another Day of Destiny
Chapter 74

She stared out at the Tokyo skyline, a huge lump in her throat.
Unshed tears burned her crystalline eyes. Behind her there was movement.
In the windows' reflection she saw Darien. His body was a silhouette by
light pouring in through the kitchen. In the glass their eyes met and held.

Slowly, he left the light and joined her in the dark. His arms wrapped
around her, pulling her back against him, his chin resting on her shoulder.
Together they stared out over the city they would one day rule.

"I'm sorry," she said in a tiny choked voice. "I'm *so* sorry." It's my
fault. It's my fault."

Her shoulders shook; her body trembled. He hushed in her ear, pulling her
closer, holding her tight.

"I'm sorry, Usa-ko. I'm so sorry. I should have been there for you. I
should have-- it's my fault, my Usa-ko. I should have known better. I
should have-- I'm sorry you had to go through any of this. I'm--"

She turned in his arms, her hands reaching to cup his face. "I love you
so much," she said forcefully through her tears. "So much. Please don't
ever leave me." Her eyes searched his. "Please don't leave me."

"Never. For all eternity." He leaned closer. "You are my lie, Usa-ko."

"And you are mine, my only love," she whispered before his lips sealed
over hers in a kiss that spoke of a true eternal love.

*************

The doorbell jangled and she looked up from the seam she was sewing.

"Serena!"

The younger woman turned back to the door and flipped the tiny sign from
"Open" to "Close". She turned and looked at the older woman, a hard,
painful look in her eyes. Setsuna started.

Serena walked calmly through the store until she reached the back room;
Setsuna followed silently.

"Serena?"

The girl whirled, her hair flying behind her.

"I want it to go away, Puu. All of it. I don't want to remember one
single detail of the past nine months. I don't want anyone to remember."

There was a harshness to her voice, something that said that this was not
a request. Setsuna looked at her, slowly shaking her head.

"I know you can do this," Serena said before the older woman could protest.
"I know this is within your power." They looked into one another's eyes.

"Serena, I--"

"Please?" Serena breathed heavily for a moment, calming the tears that
were just inches from falling. "I *know* you can." She paused, swallowing
hard. "Puu, I-- I don't think I can live like this. Knowing... I-- I can't
do it."

She looked up at the older woman, her composure crumbling.

"I-- I can not forget," Setsuna said softly. "But-- but I can make
everyone else-- and," she took a deep breath, "And I can make it so I never
knew."

Tears slipped down Serena's cheeks and she nodded. "Thank you," she said
after a moment. She got up to leave, but a cold hand on hers stilled her.

"Serena, are you sure this is what you want?" the Senshi of Time asked.

Their eyes met and held. And then Serena nodded. "Yes."

Setsuna frowned, but let her leave. "So be it then," she said to herself.
The jangle of the bells sounded as Serena opened the door and left, and still
Setsuna sat there, feeling sick to her stomach.

"You will need my help?" a small voice asked. Setsuna nodded, not turning
around to look at the voice, or the person who owned it. "Then you shall
have it, of course."

"Do you mind?" she asked after a moment of silence.

"Mind?"

"Losing your memories," she explained. There was silence, and then the
girl answered.

"It is better to not remember Tellurium, then to remember him and miss
him," Hotaru said, coming around to face her "aunt". She smiled sadly.
"And perhaps, one day, when the time is right, we shall meet again, as was
meant to be."

Setsuna looked up at her. "Perhaps," she said sadly. "Perhaps, indeed."

"And the Earth Generals?" the girl questioned.

"They have returned to Illusion, as was meant to be, until their time is
right," Setsuna said softly.

Hotaru was quiet for a moment, thoughts running through her mind a
thousand a minute.

"We will meet them again, won't we?" she asked, looking up to Setsuna
hopefully.

The Senshi of Time smiled and stood up. "Come, it is time for us to
leave."

A portal opened towards the back of the room. Both senshi turned to
enter it.

***************************************************************************