Child of the Moon 4/4 By Meredith Bronwen Mallory Well, Minna-chan, I know it's been a while on this one. I hope you remember it ;-) This is the last part... enjoy! Luv, Mere ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ³Whatıs SHE doing here?² Darien wondered aloud. The flurry of purple skirts and red hair disappeared around the corner, beckoning the young man to follow. The stench of death was strong in the air, perfume for a funeral. Rising from his kneeling position, Darien glanced behind him, to the dark doorway Luna had disappeared through. Something was terribly wrong here. All the shadows seemed to move with life, as if their mistress has just left their abode... Without another thought, Darien spun on his heel and followed the sound of the evil womanıs laughter. He could not remember her name, nor her face, and he couldnıt fathom what she was doing here, but he knew she was trouble. ³Darien!?² a small black feline re-entered the now empty hallway, searching for her human companion. He was nowhere to be seen. She called out for him yet again, but her cries were swallowed by the shadows. ``````````````` Down darkened, dismal hallways the smell, the trail of pure evil, led Darien. He felt like a man possessed, not knowing where he was going, nor why, only that it was a tramp. But better he than his Princess. He passed the ruins of the library, and saw the pale blue form of Mercury crushed beneath a fallen bookcase. The evil entity laughed. In the shadow of the crumbling walls of the grand ballroom, Venus lay, her once glorious golden locks a dull copper with age. What was this person trying to do to him, Darien thought, showing him the corpses of all Serenity had held dear. And lastly, he entered the garden, hurrying down the steps and forcing himself not to look at where Jupiter was sprawled at an odd position on the cool marble. He came to the garden swing, the very one by which he remembered spending so many happy afternoons with his darling Serenity. He was about to move on, the evil had yet to stop, but a gentle, transparent hand stopped him. Serenity sat on the swing, still not fully materialized, looking at him with sad, lonely eyes. ³Do not go my prince...² she fairly begged him, looking too thin and too transparent for Darienıs comfort, ³She will destroy you! My power is almost gone anyway!² Shaken, Darien knelt before the woman he loved and took her frail hand in his. ³Serenity, how can you say such a thing!? I... I canıt, I WONıT loose you. Donıt you understand, I will die of loneliness if I donıt have you by my side. All those years at the orphanage... you were with me, even when I couldnıt see you. I will fight this evil and find the silver crystal! I have to... I love you.² The way he said it, she knew he meant it like never before. This was Darien Chiba, the little boy who never loved ANYONE, even his dream princess. This was Darien, who didnıt have time for a social life because he had to get to the moon. Yes, this was Darien, and he truly did love her with all of his heart. ³Darien,² Serenity said softly. It was the first time she had addressed him as such, Darien realized. His princess lifted one pale, translucent hand to his cheek, standing on her tip toes to press her lips to his own. A thousand warm feelings crashed over both of them as they sent their love to each other through the kiss. ³Be strong,² Serenity whispered, pulling away, ³Remember that I shall always love you... My love is your shield..² she seemed about to say something more, but suddenly her form was whisked away, dashed to a million tiny pieces and blown away by an evil wind. ³Serenity!² he cried. A thick black mist arouse around him, swallowing his cries. ³Come, come now, Prince,² a horridly familiar voice boomed. He saw her silhouette against the darkness and shuddered.... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Young Prince Endymion shuddered, slipping his hand into that of his motherıs and holding on for dear life. The little seven year old had thus far been very unnerved by his visit to the Mineral Kingdom, and things were going down hill. His mother, the Queen, with her kind blue eyes and ebony/gray hair smiled down at him reassuringly. They stood at the entrance to the thrown room, where Queen Obsidian and her daughter, Beryl, waited to receive them. From the walls poured a thick black smoke, showering the room in a type of perpetual darkness. ³Donıt worry,² a small voice said, and Endymion looked away from is mother to see a small princess, all dressed in white, with blond hair pulled up in twin buns and angelıs wings, laying her small hand on his shoulder. ³My Mommy says itıs a trick they use, theyıre trying to scare you with all the fog. Makes them think theyıre powerful.... I think.² Endymion nodded at the girl, thankful for her support. Then he looked up to see her towering mother, who seemed to be made of silver, staring down at him. She smiled kindly. Then their names were announced and Endymion, along with his mother and father, descended the stairs to appear before the Queen of the Mineral Kingdom. Even though he knew it was not polite, Endy couldn't help but look back at the little angel and wink. Much to his surprise, she winked right back. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The thick mist surrounding Darien parted, and from itıs depths stepped his advisory Beryl, a sadistic smile on her face, adorned with teeth that put a vampire to shame, her brown eyes filled with hatred. ³A thousand years, Endymion, a *thousand* years I have waited to have my revenge on you and that insipid moon princess... thatıs a long time to wait, but itıll be worth it,² Beryl sneered, coming closer. ³Beryl,² Darien spat, angered by her mere presence. ³So you remember, *prince*, well, Iım flattered,² Beryl said, looking him up and down, ³I give you one last chance, my dear, join me or die!² Darien recoiled with revulsion at the horrid creature before him, her hand out stretched, offering him eternal damnation in the service of a soul sucking monster. ³Better to serve in heaven then to reign in hell!² he informed her crisply. For a moment, something approaching hurt flashed through the possessed womanıs eyes, but it vanished quickly, swallowed by Queen Metalia. ³So be it!² Beryl shouted, preparing a ball of energy to hurl at the unfortunate prince, ³I will kill you and then the princess will wither... DIE!!² Darien watched in horror as the woman thrust her weapon towards him. He had no special powers to protect himself with, nothing to combat the evil that was Beryl.... Serenity had said, As time moved like molasses through clockwork, Darien watched the ball of Nega energy move towards him, and felt the reassuring warmth of Serenityıs love flow into him, felt the comforting weight of the star locket wear it lay in his pocket. The energy was closer now, he could feel itıs cold, and it made his skin crawl... Just as he expected it to make impact, a loud noise was heard and he opened his eyes. No longer did he wear the dull gray uniform heıd worn under his space suit, but now he wore the armor of a Prince, his sword seethed at his side. In his hands he held what had shielded him from the blast. A silver shield.. ³How?!² Beryl cried, enraged. Darien didnıt wait, he pulled out his sword and ran towards her, wielding it with all the strength in his body. He saw everything clearly now... every moment with Serenity, every mock battle with the senshi, every ball, and every insult the evil Beryl had ever hurled at his glorious princess. He remembered the last battle, the pain in his loveıs eyes as she watched her friends die... as she watched him die... The blade pierced Berylıs side, rending flesh from bone as she cried in agony. But she didnıt give up, no. The evil entity of Queen Metalia. was still strong with in her, willing her twisted soul on even when her wretched body refused to support it. Darien twisted the sword, willing the creature to die, but he could feel Metalia. sapping his energy. He wouldnıt be able to keep his hold much longer, he knew. He held on though, knowing that if he failed, his princess would die. Just when it seemed he could hold on no longer, he felt the warmth of a nonexistent hand caress his own. He looked aside to see Serenity standing beside him, lending her what little power she had left. Their eyes locked, and Darien could see the love she held for him in her aqua gaze. In the end, that was what gave him the most strength. Together, prince and princess closed their eyes and drove the darkness back with one final blast of pure white energy. When the light cleared and the dust settled, a beautiful silver crystal rested in their hands. When Darien came to, only moments after Beryl and Metalia. dissolved into nothing, he and Serenity were huddled in each others arms, shaking with the energy they had channeled But more then that, they shook as they gazed on the beautiful silver crystal they held in their cupped hands. ³I donııt believe it...² Darien managed. ³All this time we were searching..² Serenity breathed. ³But it was inside us all this time,² they finished together, their soul bound together more tightly than ever by their love. Darien gazed down into the depths of his loveıs eyes, a sob rising in his throat when he saw her essence flicker. They were running out of time. ³Serenity... thereıs not much time,² he took her hand rushing towards the ruins of the palace. They hurried down the overgrown pathways, each step echoing in their minds. ³Wait, Princess,² a voice came from behind. The couple stopped in their tracks and turned, to see a very healthy, very lively looking Jupiter rising from her sprawled position on the palace steps. ³Jupiter!² Serenity cried, embracing her friend. Luna stood at the top of the steps, along side Mars, Mercury and Venus. The light of the crystal had touched them all, and now the reanimated senshi were preparing to join their Princess on the journey to the afterlife. The black feline looked at Darien, shaking her little kitty head. This would be hardest on the prince. Serenity, Darien and Jupiter hurried up the steps to join the others. The princess promptly hugged her other three guardians, tears in her nonexistent eyes. Her visage flickered threateningly, and the others hurried her into the computer room, where Artemis waited. ³Hurry,² the white cat prompted, ³We have so little time...² ³We have the crystal,² Darien informed him, opening his closed hands to reveal the resplendent beauty of the Moon Kingdomıs greatest treasure. Nodding, Luna and Artemis showed him where to place the crystal, just as the computers began to count down to zero power. Serenity stood in the middle of the room, framed by Earthıs light, that filtered in through the fallen roof. Her face did not have itıs usual calm expression, but rather it seemed she was in great pain. Darien, who was running on empty, had no time to think on the ramifications of freeing his love from the physical world. He knew only that he had five seconds to free her from the computers, or her soul would be forever imprisoned by wires and steel. ³Focus your power everyone! Hurry!² Luna prompted. It was all they needed, the four senshi and the prince of Earth knelt before the princess, linking hands as they leant their energy to the silver crystal. There was a blinding flash of light, and then, suddenly, Serenity stood before them, whole and physical once more. Astonished once more by her courage and beauty, Darien forced himself to stand, reaching out to touch her. ³Thank you, my Prince,² Serenity whispered, bringing her lips to his, ³You have made me whole again,² she murmured. Barely had they touched five seconds before her warmth suddenly vanished, and Darienıs eyes flew open. She was gone! ³Darling,² her voice rang in the empty palace, ³I shall re...² There was low moan as all the computers died and the soul of Serenity condensed into a white ball of light, and, accompanied by the lights of her four guardians, vanished into the sky. For a moment Darien just stood there, unable to wrap his mind around the fact that she was gone. He stood alone in the ruins of a dead culture, Luna, Artemis, the senshi, his princess, all gone. Then, shaking with the force of his sorrow, he fell to his knees and cried out: ³SERENITY, DONıT LEAVE ME!!² Darkness came. -------- ³Darien? Dar! Come on, wake up!² a female voice reached the young manıs ears. He groaned, forcing his mind into wakefulness ³Serenity?² he moaned, trying to sit up. He opened his eyes, and was met not with the blue gaze of Serenity, but the hazel eyes of Cray Anderson. God, it seemed like ages ago... ³Whoa, there,² Cray said, ³Little too much space for you, Chiba. Itıs Cray, and I think nap times over.² Darien sat up. They were back in the spaceship, the antiseptic white surrounding them, shielding them from the outrage of space. But theyıd crashed... ³What happened? Didnıt we..?² Darien began. Cray shrugged and looked rather tired, ³Search me. I donıt have so much as a clue. All I know is one minute I pass out Œcause weıre goın down, the next, I wake up and weıre back in space like we should be. Donıt know how the hell weıre gonna explain this to central.² Again, she shrugged. ³Neither do I..² Darien said softly, forcing back tears. All he knew was that, after only a few brief hours with his princess, he was alone again. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ THE END... just kidding. Actually, itıs the end of the story, but there is a sequel, that is, if anyone is interested. Well, sorry this one took so long, but I was home with the flu so I figured Iıd do some catch up on the writing... this oneıs old. Please tell me what you think, and thanks for taking the time to read this.