Author's Note:so ya this fanfic is getting pretty good, nearing its end, but not quite yet. I wanna thank all those who E-mailed me, you've been lots of help. This story may seem dark and dreary, but trust me it will have a happy ending, I never want to disappoint my readers! Anyway, read on and enjoy!


Chapter 5......
     Everything seemed to normal to her, like he really was going to change and all of it would fall back into place. The way it was in her own world. Of course she had known Darien couldn't really be evil, he was her love, her future husband. He had only been misguided and had after all done everything because she hadn't been there with him.
     But she was here now and she would make sure he was ok. She wouldn't be able to stay long, she knew that. She had her own world and future to return too. But for the time being she would set things right again. It must have been why she was sent to this world.
     She decided since Darien and the Senshi were all training that day she would go see Trista and tell her what she had accomplished. There was no need for her and Dimando to fight Darien. He was changing, she thought with a smile, for the better.
     As she neared the Gates of Time, Trista came out to greet her, smiling, but also looking worried."How did it go?"she asked, her voice a bit shaky.
     Serena smiled warmly."Darien's going to change. He realizes his mistake. He said he's sorry for ever doing things the way he did and he's willing to set things right."
     Trista eyed her intensely, so intensly Serena could feel goosebumps rising on her flesh."Thats what he said?"
     "Yes."
     She stared a moment longer, shook her head."No, he's lying. Oh shit, did you tell him about me and Dimando?! You didn't, did you?"she gripped Serena's arms tightly, her eyes desperate now.
     The frantic tone of Trista's voice had Serena feeling uneasy."No, of course not-"
     "Good. Oh God, good."she sighed heavily, then looked back to Serena."If he knew he'd be coming for me now and Dimando too. He'd kill us both."
     Some frustration finally broke through to Serena."Don't you hear what I'm telling you? He said he'd changed! He said he'd be better now. He's not going to come after you or Dimando. He's-"
     "No, YOU haven't seemed to hear a single word Dimando and I told you. He's lying to you! Can't you see that? He's lying, just to shut you up and keep his bed warm."she snapped right back.
     Serena paled visibly and Trista immediately regretted her words."Serena-"
     "No. Stop right there. I've had enough of this. Its been hard enough coping with this world and how different you all are from my own friends and I can't take anymore. I just want to go home. I just want to be in my world where everything is ok and where Darien isn't a threat to anyone."she held up a hand when Trista opened her mouth to speak."No, I'm sick to death of this. Darien is good and you and Dimando need to see that. Leave me alone. I won't to have any part in your wanting to hurt him. I won't help you."she turned and began walking away, back to the palace.
     Trista caught up with her."No, please. We need you. Your the key figure in all this."
     "I'm sorry. Your on your own."she walked away quickly, leaving Trista staring after her.
     What Trista and Dimando might have been true at one point, but it wasn't anymore. Darien was good, he had to be. If he was anything like the Darien of her world, then she knew he wasn't evil at heart.
     Thoughts of Darien and the Senshi from her own world brought tears to her eyes. She missed them at these times more then ever. This world was foreign from hers, full of so much turmoil. It was one thing to fight others who were evil, but it was something completely different to fight those who you knew as your own friends.
     As she walked she didn't know why, but she felt something was wrong. As Sailor Moon she had learned to develope a sort of inner warning, something that would tell her if there was evil lurking nearby. It had helped her countless times to dodge an enemy just in time.
     Now, as darkness settled over Crystal Tokyo, she glanced around, the feeling of unease growing. She couldn't pinpoint where it was coming from, where it could possibly be, or even what it could be.
     When she saw the palace, she sighed with relief, walking faster and trying to push from her mind that somewhere, something was wrong. In this world there were several things that were wrong, she reminded herself. This was a feeling she would come across constantly.
     As she walked up the palace steps she stopped, frowning. It was quiet, too quiet. When she had left Darien and the Senshi had said they would be training in the courtyard, where they had been making enough noise fighting each other to wake the dead. She had left with a smile on her face, the sounds familiar to her from her own world.
     She had only been gone for not even an hour and there were no sounds coming from the back of the palace. They couldn't have finished so soon, she thought, walking around to the back to look for them. Darien had said they would training the entire afternoon. When she saw no one in the courtyard her blood froze and she had to calm herself. Of course they had just taken a break. They were somwhere in the palace, they had to be.
     She ran all over the palace and didn't find them anywhere. By the time she walked outside to the front, she was shaking, her eyes wide with fear. No, they couldn't have, Darien wouldn't. He had said he would change. He had said he would!!
     A ripple in the air, a charge alerted her that they were near. She quickly ran and hid in the brush surrounding the palace, making sure to mask her powers so they wouldn't detect her.
     Darien came, followed by the Senshi. They had Dimando between them, tied and gagged, forced to walk forward, and Trista along side him. Serena covered her mouth with horror when she saw the blood that covered the Senshi, splattered all over there clothes. Darien had nothing on him though, no blood anywhere.
     But what trully frightened her was the looks on there faces, so remote, so uncaring and cold. They followed him like robots, not speaking, not even moving to brush the blood away. And when they halted she watched closely, watched Darien move to stand before them, his hands folded behind his back, his eyes dark and hard.
     She noticed then that the city of people seemed to be following them close behind, that they were all thin and weary, wearing dirty rags, the adults making sure to keep the children safely behind them.
     Darien spoke, his voice loud and rigid, full of surpressed anger."These two will be examples of what will happen to traders who dare go behind my back. I will not tolerate anyone filling my future Queen's head with lies about me and the way I handle my city. Anyone who does will meet there end by my hand, as these two will today."he walked to stand before Dimando and Trista, looking down his nose at them, his lip curling in disgust."You two thought you were so clever in what you did, in what you planned. Its a shame things had to turn out this way."
     A scream pierced the air and Serena was amazed to see Esmaurade rush forward, her face horrified, pleading, dropping to her knees before Darien."No, please don't do this! Spare them! We'll leave, we'll go somwhere far away where you won't ever see us again!"
     He sneered at her."Begging won't help them-or you-now. This is my decision, this is how it will end."
     Trista managed to spit out her gag."Do what you want with us, but Serena will know eventually what you've done! She's not stupid and she'll figure out your evil on her own! And when she does it will be time for your reign to end!"
     He shook his head at her, smiled."No, she won't remember any of this. I'll make sure to erase her little memory. In fact, I'll erase it so much that she'll think this is her world and she'll remain with me and stop thinking about leaving. Then everything will be perfect."
     Serena gasped in horror, her hand flying to cover her mouth. And as she watched Darien lifted his hand into the air, a long, sharp blade appearing in his hand. He walked toward Trista and raised it, just before Serena realized what he meant to do to her.
     "NO!"her scream pierced the air, bringing the Senshi's heads up to stare as she raced out of the bush's and toward Darien.
      But she was too late.
      Trista stood clutching her midsection, blood flowing freely, her eyes staring with horrified shock up into those of her King. Darien turned his head and watched Serena run across to them, just before he jerked the blade out of Trista. She collapsed to the ground, holding her stomache, her eyes wide with fright and pain.
     Dimando struggled in his bonds to go to her, but he was tied too securely. Mutely, he watched Serena fall to her knees next to Trista, looking down at the wound, her hands beginning to shake.
     "Ok. Ok. Ok."she repeated to herself, tearing part of her blouse off and pressing it to the wound. "Your going to be ok. Yes, your going to be ok. We just have to get you to a doctor."
     Trista swallowed, struggled past the pain to reach Serena and see her clearly in her last moments."No, I'm not going to be ok. This is it for me."
     Serena smoothed her hair back from her face, shook her head and made sure to press down on the wound."No, you'll be ok. This is small, its nothing."her voice broke and she choked, tears beginning to fall freely.
     "Even if it were a mere scratch I wouldn't live. Serena, what he puts in his weapons kill severely. They seep into your blood, they turn you black inside and out. He uses it on his enemies. I've seen what it does."she halted and removed the hands that covered her stomache, showing Serena what she meant.
     Serena stared in horror at where the wound was, where there should have been red blood there was black. She watched black blood begin to trickle out of the side of Trista's mouth, watched a small trail come out of her nose also, and watched as it seeped into her eyes.
     "Oh my God...."she whispered.
     "Just set things right here. Please. Don't let him get to you too. Set things right and make sure Dimando lives."she whispered just before she jerked, then went still, her eyes drifting shut.
     It seemed she watched her for hours, sat there holding her hand and staring sightlessly through her. But when she felt Darien lift her up, she began to fight against him.
     "You monster!"she screamed."All of you! All of you are monsters! How could you? How could you kill her?"she pushed him away and glared at all of them, never realizing that she would one day look at the people she thought closest to her with such hatred."She warned me and I ignored her. Oh God, I ignored her..."she lifted her hands and stared at the black blood that was on them.
     "Here Serena, lets get you cleaned up. We can't afford for any of that blood to get into your system or else it would be fatal."Darien gripped her arm, suddenly frightened that perhaps she had a cut somwhere and Trista's blood could get into her. If he had to watch her die again he'd go insane.
     "Let me go!"she yanked her arm free, then pushed through the Senshi to Dimando and untied him. Amara moved forward to stop her and Serena's anger suddenly came to the surface. With a cry of outrage, Amara was sent blasting back hundreds of feet, crashing through buildings and landing in a heap. The Senshi could only stare in shock.
     Darien made sure to keep his voice calm."Serena, please come here. I don't want-"
     She made sure to put Dimando behind her, then pointed at Trista's bloody, lifeless body."Look at what you've done! Look at where your insanity has gotten you!"
     He was losing his patience."Serena-"
     "I'm going back to my own time. I'm not staying here another moment. And Dimando's coming with me."she took Dimando by the hand, beginning to back away from them, having no idea how she was going to get back to her own world.
     Darien's eyes darkened."Thats enough."holding the blade in his hand, he walked toward them, heading straight for Dimando.
     She held up a hand and stopped him in his tracks, freezing him into place. When his eyes widened in shock she realized he hadn't thought she was powerful enough to actually stop him or fight him. Well, she thought, lets see who is more powerful now.
     He struggled to move his arms, his hands, his legs, and was unable too. His temper was really beginning to rise."Stop it Serena. Your starting to piss me off."
     "I'm pissing you off? Good! I want to see this 'power' I've heard so much about. Lets see which one of us can defeat the other."she made sure to concentrate her power on holding him captive, made sure to circle him and keep an eye on the Senshi.
     "Scouts."his voice held authority now and she knew what he was doing.
     When they surrounded her, she narrowed her eyes at them."Slaves, thats what all of you are. Look at Trista, look at how she kept my memory alive. Look at the good heart and mind she kept while the rest of you fell to his demands. I wouldn't have wanted this!"she screamed at them."I wanted a good world where there was peace! Crystal Tokyo is supposed to be the light of hope in the universe in my world, not a place where a tyrant lives!"
     She stopped yelling, her shoulders slumping."You were my friends. All of you. You were the one's I depended on to help keep this world good with me and also, just in case I wasn't there. You guys gave me hope when there was none. You guys helped me defeat, helped me heal others. I had to watch all of you die twice in my life, twice I had to watch what my weakness had done. But I still went on after your deaths and kept faith because that was what all of you would have wanted."her sadness turned to disgust and she gestured toward the city, toward the frightened people watching everything, toward the body of the Guardian of Time."And look at how much faith all of had. Enough to let him turn evil, enough to let him do this to the city."
     "He would have killed us."Raye suddenly spoke up, her voice quiet. Darien turned on her in anger, but she went on."After you died, we didn't know what to do. You had been everything, and suddenly you weren't there. You had loved him, we thought he was the best choice for a leader."
     "We thought it was what you would have wanted."Amy joined in, moving to stand beside Raye, Mina and Lita following suit."We were just so lost."
     Darien was beyond rage now, he was fuming. When Serena lost her hold on him for a moment, staring at her friends, her eyes softening, he broke free and grabbed her in that moment, pulling her to him, placing the blade to her throat.
     The Inner and Outer Senshi all gasped, taking steps forward, then halting when he pressed the blade closer."Not another move. I'll kill all of you as soon as I'm done with her."
     Serena remained calm."Go ahead and kill me then."
     He bent his head, pressed his lips into her neck. He spoke so only she would hear him."No I'm not going to kill you. I'm using you as bait for now. Those idiots will follow and then I can kill them. Any obstacles have to be taken care of."
     In that moment several scenes flashed before her eyes. Growing up, finding out she was Sailor Moon, discovering she was the Princess, all of the battles she had been through, her friends, but most importantly, Darien. Always there smiling, always there to hold her and protect her. And she also remembered how he had been before she met him, before he had found her. So lonely, so sad, so angry at life. And she finally understood why he had turned evil without her. He had found her only to lose her the next moment. It had been too much for his battered heart.
     She put a hand to his, held gently."Darien, don't. Please. I can help you."
     "Yes, you can help me by staying with me."he watched the Senshi with narrowed eyes, made sure none of them made any sudden moves.
     She wondered then how he could have gotten so powerful. She had always been more powerful then him, but then, maybe the power had been lying dormant inside of him, waiting to come out. And she knew no matter what she did, he would never change. There was only one thing left to do. There was only one way to make this world right.
     She only prayed it worked.
     As he inched her backward, making sure not to put the blade close to her throat, she took that as her moment. Slipping her foot behind his, she managed to make him stumble enough so that the blade nicked her just barely across the throat. He caught himself, but with horror realized what had just happened.
     Serena had never felt anything like it before in her life. That simple cut felt like a thousand small cuts all over her body. She couldn't seem to breath, couldn't seem to focus her eyes clearly. She was dimly aware of falling backward and being caught by Darien, being layed down slowly, the Senshi all gathering around her to look down at her with horror. She brought her hand up to her throat and touched the cut, then drew back to look at her hand. She wasn't surprised to see black blood there.
     "Oh God.....oh God.....not again."Darien stared at her throat, where black blood trickled from the small wound."No you can't die, please. Don't leave me again."
     She swallowed through the pain, focused on speaking to him clearly before it consumed her. Was there enough light in her body to fight darkness? She prayed there was."Darien, you have to promise me something before I go."
     "No, you can't go!"he cried.
     "Promise me you'll change, that you'll become better. I died the first time and left you alone, I left you to become the monster you are. But now I'm going to set things right. I'm leaving this world, these people in your care. You have to take care of them. You HAVE to take care of them."she gripped his hand tightly in hers, made sure her voice was strong.
     His eyes were filled with tears as he looked down on her, but he nodded through his obvious heartache."I promise."
     "Don't go back on your promise. Please Darien. I love you....."the darkness was consuming her and she couldn't seem to get her eyes open enough."And I trust you......"
     It was strange how it happened. One minute she was alive and listening to his sobs and those of her friends, the next she couldn't hear a thing. She had never died before. Through all the battled she had fought, not once had it happened to her. The closest she had come was with Beryl and then she had saved herself, and her friends. It was different this time.
     She was drifting, she knew that. She could feel how light her body was, how she was floating in an endless space. It was odd, this feeling, yet it was....right.
     And when she saw a blinding light, a light everyone always spoke of when they died, she welcomed it. It soothed her, it took away all of the bad and made everything good. She felt like she had been lost and finally found home.
     Drawing nearer, she was unprepared when she felt something calling her back, something that was pulling hard and not letting her go. She caught a single glimpse of her mother, standing so beautiful and serene as she remembered her, watching her from the end of the light. Her mother, the Queen Serenity, she smiled at her, a smile full of pride, full of sorrow, then the image was gone when Serena felt herself being dragged back.



Yea I know its confusing, this was a wierd chapter to write, anyway, next chapters coming soon and I think that will be the last! So stay tuned for Chapter 6!!!~SailorPerfect