by Cosmos

[For those of you who are not familiar with the Sailor Moon Manga, Sailor 
ChibiChibi is only an alternate form of Sailor Cosmos, not Galaxia's 
starseed.  So please keep that in mind and the fact that this story is manga 
related.  So this is the third part of my series, which may consist to 7 or 
8 parts long, I think.  I hope that is not too long.  This * is * my first 
fanfic so please bare with me. I've decided to use English translation names 
for the Inner Senshi and Japanese names for the Outer, since I have no clue 
as to what their English translated names are.  And Haruka and Michiru are 
only close friends not gay.
It only makes it easier for me to write.

Please email me and tell me what you think of my story so far.  
This story is rated PG, well some slight violence and maybe language later 
on, if you call the word damn a bad thing.  Well, enough of my babbling! On 
with the show!
Usual, disclaimers:  Sailor Moon and all its characters and likeliness 
belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha/Toei.  English translation is made 
possible by DiC. 

My email address:  ml_eclipse@hotmail.com]

<< >> = thoughts
[ ] = author's note

==================================

No, no, go not to Lethe, neither twist
Wolf's-bane, tighted-rooted, for its poisonous wine;
Nor suffer thy pale forhead to be kissed
By nightshade, ruby grape of Proserpine;
Make not your rosary of yew-berries,
Nor let the beetle, nor the death-moth be
Your mournful Psyche, nor the downy owl
A partner in your sorrow's mysteries;
For shade to shade will come too drowsily,
And drown the wakeful anguish of the soul.


---------------------------------------
Serenity's Legend

Part III:	Old Acquaintance

A week later:

<> Darien finds himself in a large building whose
 walls are made entirely of crystal.  <> Darien quickly turns around as a large 
white door appears before him.  The door slowly opens to reveal a large
 room.  Darien takes a hesitant step into the room.  He gasps in horror. 
Floating before his wavering gaze are six crystal coffins aligned in two 
rows.  Through the opaque crystal, Darien can barely make out the colors 
of the outfit worn by its subjects.  Nonetheless, he just cannot make out 
the faces of those beings inside the crystal.  As Darien looks across the 
room, he spots a seventh crystal coffin, but the crystal of this coffin 
glows with a golden color.  Darien takes a step closer, but then he runs 
into an unseen barrier.  There is no opening or doorway for him to go 
through.  He is blocked.  Someone, or something, does not want him to see 
the occupant of that golden crystal.

After a futile search for an entryway, Darien left the room.  For some 
unknown reason, he feels drawn toward another large white door at the top 
of a tall gray marble staircase.  The staircase winds up the crystal
building like a snake curling around the trunk of a tree.  It appears 
that the door leads to the only room at the very top of the staircase.  
Darien lets out a long exasperated sigh, <>  Darien decides that all that exercise is probably 
not worth it.  He tries to turn around and walk toward another door, but an 
unseen barrier again bars his path.  It appears that he has no where else to 
go except climb the steps.

After some time, Darien leans against the railing of the topmost step, simply
 exhausted from the climb.  <> Darien takes a long observant look at the door that looms over him.  
The many phases of the moon adorns it white face.  In addition, a pair of 
large white wings is etched into the uppermost part of this magnificent door. 
<>, thinks Darien.  He reaches his hand out
slowly to trace one of the phases of the moon.  He lets his finger run along 
the edge of the smooth design of a full moon.  Upon tracing the entire image,
the moon immediately radiates a bright ray of hot white light; this triggers 
the other phases of the moon to also radiate the same light, one after the 
other.  Darien covers his eyes with his hand as the whole area is bathed in 
light.  For such an immense object, the door slides open silently and 
smoothly as if the hinges were sliding through slick oil.  Darien squints 
through the bright light, barely glimpsing the silhouette of the slim form 
of a young woman, adorned in a short skirt with two large wings protruding 
from her back; in one hand she holds a long rod.  Help me, whispers the 
figure, Help me be free.

"Who are you?" Darien shouts.  But the figure did not answer him.  She only 
repeated what she said but in an increasingly desperate tone, Please! Free 
me!  Darien takes a cautious step closer to the figure, attempting to catch
 a glimpse of her face when suddenly a large gust of dark energy blasts him
full in the face.

Darien wakes up in a torrent of sweat.  <>, Darien gasps.  
Standing on the balcony, Darien looks vacantly out into space.  An array of 
brilliant colored lights spreads out beneath him among the buildings.  The
 moon is exceptionally bright tonight.  Its brilliant light rains down on 
Darien's balcony like a silk curtain.  <>, thinks Darien.  
<> Darien looks
 up at the moon, <>  Darien irritatingly turns around to face his apartment, then he 
remembers, <>  
With a tired sigh, Darien goes into his room and climbs into bed.

The next morning, Serena finds Darien walking around absent mindedly in the 
park.  "Hi Darien," Serena cries cheerfully.

Darien suddenly looks up from his walk awaken by Serena's voice, "Huh? Oh, hi
 Serena!"

<>, Serena thinks.  <>  Serena looks into Darien's eyes 
questioningly and she saw that he is a bit disturbed about something.  
"Darien, what's wrong? You seem a bit worried about something.  Anything you 
want to talk about?"

Darien smiles kindly and replied, "No Serena.  There's nothing wrong.  I was
 just thinking about a…a…school assignment.  That's all."  <>, thinks Darien,. <>

[Okay, no one really knows what happened to the Sailor Starlights and Galaxia
 after the battle so this is a part I made up.]

"Hey Meatball Head," Darien calls cheerfully, "I'm getting some ice cream, 
want to join me?"
"YEAH!" Serena shouts enthusiatically.

Meanwhile, Cosmos is also sitting at the ice cream store as Serenity in a 
soft flowing blue dress.

[sorry for the interruption, but Serenity is Cosmos and Serena is…well…Serena. 
I used the difference in the names to distinguish between them in their 
civilian identities so you all won't be confused.  Alright, Cosmos [that's 
me, not related to the story] shut up and let the poor reader continue…]

<>  Unaware that 
Darien and Serena is sitting nearby, facing her, Serenity calls to the 
waiter for another banana split.  Darien instantly looks up at the 
familiarity of her voice.  He is aghast by the similarity between Serenity 
and Serena.  "Hey Meatball Head," Darien said, "Doesn't she look exactly 
like you? I mean same hairdo and everything."  Upon his comment, Serena and 
Serenity look up at the same time, incidentally meeting each other's eyes. 
<>, thinks Serenity, <>

"You're right Darien.  She does have my hair style."  Serena stands up and 
walks over to Serenity, followed by Darien in an attempt to prevent her from
 doing anything embarrassing.

"Excuse me," Serena begins, "But that's my hairdo."

[imagine a large sweat drop down Darien's face]

"So it seems," Serenity says calmly, her eyes unintentionally fell upon 
Darien's.  His soft blue gaze entranced her.  For a moment her mind goes 
numb and a strong emotion stirs deep within her heart.  Quickly, Serenity 
blinks and turns her gaze back to Serena   "But do you have a copyright on 
it?"  Serena stares at her blankly.

"Copyright? N-no." Serena stutters, blinking in great confusion.
"Well then, it is not * you're * hairdo, now is it," Serenity says cockily.
"I'm terribly sorry for bothering you like this, Miss," Darien intervenes,
while trying to maneuver Serena away.  "Come on Serena, how about a walk 
through the park."  Soon the two began to walk down the block toward a large 
park nearby.  Darien gives a glance back toward Serenity who sat staring at 
them.  <> Darien ponders thinking about how
Reeny showed up one day and the surprise they all got when they found out 
that she is actually Neo-Queen Serenity's and King Endymion's daughter, the 
daughter of their future selves.

Serenity looks at them, strolling hand in hand.  Deep within her startling 
sky blue eyes, tears are beginning to force its way through.  She closes her 
eyes and struggles to hold them back.  
<< What is this strange emotion?…Jealousy? Am I jealous at Serena?…a-at my…
past self? Oh, but she has everything…her friends…her love…What do I have? 
Nothing.  I am alone.  Nothing…nothing.>> A few moments pass before she is
able to regain her composure.  Slowly, she rises and leaves in the opposite 
direction.

That night, Cosmos once again roams silently through the city, searching 
desperately for a clue that will help her.  Every time she decides to go to 
Darien's apartment, her emotions made her run away.  Suddenly, a silent 
shadow steps out from behind a wall, and blocks her path.  

"Who is there!" Cosmos questions wearily, the star-like birthmark on her 
forehead begins to glow.  The shadow bows and the streetlights catch her 
face.  Cosmos gasps in disbelief, <>  Cosmos stares 
back into those crimson colored eyes, full of wisdom and kindness.  <>   
"Sailor Pluto," Cosmos whispers kindly.  "Sailor Pluto how did you know…"

The mysterious soldier clad in a black sailor suite smiles and answer, "When 
you opened the Time Gate, I immediately knew that someone in the Royal family
 has used the holy Gate.  With the vision and Darien's account of seeing a 
Serena look alike at the ice cream shop, I instantly deduced that it had to
 be you, since Neo-Queen Serenity said that she did not summoned the Gate." 
 Then in a softer and less formal tone, Pluto said, " It has been a long time
 since we last met.  So how are you now, Sailor Cosmos?"  By simply gazing 
into those saddened forlorn blues eyes, eyes that have seen so much pain and
destruction, Pluto knew the answer to her question.

Cosmos tries to hold back a flood of tears, but in vain.  "Oh, Pluto," Cosmos
 cries.  "How I have missed you.  I miss you all so very much.  I don't want 
to be alone any longer Pluto.  Please," Cosmos cries in a broken voice, "you
 are the only one I have left.  Please don't leave."  Those crimson eyes 
quickly change from that of warmth to that of understanding and sympathy. 
 <>  Pluto
 opens her arms and Cosmos went into them.  Holding her tight like an elder 
sister while Cosmos pours out all those years of grief held deep inside, 
Pluto whispers, "It is all right.  You are no longer alone, Cosmos.  I am 
here.  I will help you protect the future."

<>, Cosmos thinks as images of darkness and destruction invades 
her mind.  That is all she seems to remember of her time, her kingdom.  
Cosmos pushes Pluto gently away, "There is no future," she whispers, turning 
her back on Pluto who stood gazing at her in amazement; her voice echoes the
 hopelessness she feels deep inside.  "There is nothing but death and 
destruction.  There is no longer a need to protect that which does not 
exist."

"But…"

"No!" Cosmos yells.  She feels hot tears falling down her face.  "What is 
there left to fight for, Pluto? Tell me! What is there left to believe in?! 
Everyone is dead.  DEAD! I have lost to Sailor Chaos.  I could not protect 
everyone."  Cosmos turns and looks at the older Sailor Soldier.  Her dark 
emerald-colored hair adds to a mysterious aura that seems to always surround 
this quiet warrior.  Deep within those ruby eyes, past the kindness and the 
understanding shines a light as vast as time itself.  No matter what she 
says, that light does not even flicker.  <>

As if Pluto is able to read her mind, she said, "You have seen so much pain,
 Sailor Cosmos.  Perhaps it is time you experience again what love and 
kindness is like.  Maybe then you can come to understand and accept what 
destiny has set for you."

"Why must it be me, Sailor Pluto? Why can't it be someone else, someone 
who is stronger than me.  Perhaps I should have let Sailor Mars be the 
leader long ago.  She is strong and she is not a failure like me."  With 
the mention of Mars's name, Cosmos can feel her throat tighten and her eyes
 on the verge of being flooded with tears once more.  Cosmos quickly turns 
away attempting to hide the tears that she fears will escape any moment.

"But you are not a failure."

"No, you are wrong Pluto.  I AM a failure.  I had let everyone die.  When
 everyone needed me most, I had run away.  I lost this time Sailor Pluto. 
 And my defeat has cost everyone their lives.  I can't handle this anymore!"
 Cosmos grabs her head as if she is fighting something deep within her mind,
 as if she is fighting against her very soul.  "All my life, I have been
 fighting.  I have been fighting since the Silver Millenium on the Moon, 
and I have continued to fight on to the future.  We all have suffered again 
and again.  The only thing that made me go on was the hope I once had that
 we will somehow create a bright and peaceful future for everyone."  Then 
in bitterness with tears in her eyes she turns to Pluto and said, "But look 
before you!  Look at Crystal Tokyo in the 50th century, more like look at 
what is left of Crystal Tokyo."  In a softer tone she said, "When Neo-Queen
 Serenity created Crystal Tokyo I thought that finally we have reached our
 destiny.  Peace is here at last.  Then the Dark Moon Kingdom came and 
flattened everything, then Galaxia…and now Chaos.  You were wrong Sailor
 Pluto, Eternal Sailor Moon was a fool not to have destroyed the Cauldron
 of the Stars."

"But if she had, the galaxy would have ceased to exist."

"Yes, but only then can we all have peace," Cosmos said softly as a tear 
runs down her cheek.  <> No matter what 
she says or wants to believe, deep within her heart she knows that she cannot
 turn her back on those who needed her most, the people she has sworn to 
protect.

Pluto looks at her in great concern.  She understands perfectly what Cosmos
 is feeling, but what she is actually saying right now is something Pluto 
just cannot comprehend.  <>  Pluto looks directly into Cosmos's
 eyes, which are mirrors to all that she had surveyed throughout the terrible
 years of warfare.  She can no longer see the light, the brilliance that 
had always danced in those pairs of eminent sky blue eyes.

"Do you remember what you have told us all at the Cauldron of the Stars?" 
Pluto asks softly.

"I did not tell you anything."

"You said that you wanted to live, that you…we will create our own destiny 
and future together."

"I did not say that, Sailor Moon said that."

"No," said Pluto gently, calmly.  "A young girl with great hope said that.  
A hope that we all believe in."  Pluto pauses for a moment as she observes 
the soldier standing beside her.  She can see that Cosmos is struggling with 
her emotions.  <>  "Come you can stay with me
 in my apartment.  You will pull through this, I promise." Pluto added 
placing an encouraging hand on Cosmos's shoulder, "And I will help you."  
Cosmos looks up at Sailor Pluto thoughtfully and nodded.

Suddenly they heard a piercing scream coming from the far side of the city.  
Instinctively they ran to investigate.

-----------------------------------
[Nice cliffhanger isn't it? No?! Oh, well tough luck! Just kiddin' 
The story will finally have some more actions in it.]

    Source: geocities.com/tokyo/shrine/3281/fics