Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Serena peered over Darien's shoulder at the camp below them.
Darien climbed off the horse and led it down the hill.
Surprisingly, Barendieu was the first person to spot them. He ran
up to join them, a frown on his face. "You two had us worried
again. Where were you?" Serena shot a nervous look at Darien. He
shrugged and started to tell the story. "Well, after we ran from
the fort, we were captured by two cutthroats. We escaped, only to
be captured by Queen Beryl's army." Barendieu did not look happy.
"You got captured again? How did you escape?" Serena started
fiddling with her hair. "Um...one of Queen Beryl's men was a
traitor and he helped us get out." Barendieu raised a skeptical
eyebrow. "I would punish you, but you must have tons of valuable
information. I'll see you two in my tent later." Serena breathed
a sigh of relief but then remembered something. "Capitan
Barendieu?" He turned around. "Was anyone hurt during the fort
collapsing?" He nodded. "Yes I'm afraid your good friend Sean got
hit pretty badly. We aren't sure if he'll make it." With that he
turned around and left. "Oh my Lord." Darien turned to Serena and
helped her off of the horse. Dusk was falling and the sun made
Darien squint as his eyes followed Serena as she ran to the
infirmary. He led the horse to the stable and tethered him to a
pole. He then trudged to the infirmary. Serena was kneeling
beside Sean who was lying in a cot. "Sean. Sean, wake up. It's
Serena. Sean. Sean!" She was shaking him now, and was starting to
cry. Darien put his arms around Serena and led her away. Outside
the tent she collapsed and cried onto Darien's shoulder. He
remained still until the tears stopped, clearly uncomfortable.
Serena watched the last remaining bit of the sunset disappear
behind the horizon and pushed herself out of Darien's arms. She
wiped her eyes and turned away. Darien, dazed, walked slowly
towards his own cabin, leaving Serena there.
When Serena arrived at her cabin, she told the scouts
everything that had happened. Then they told her Barendieu's
plan. They were going to attack in three days. And this time it
would be a battle until only one side was left standing. Serena
cursed at Barendieu silently. What was he thinking? He saw how
powerful Beryl was! Raye nodded solemnly. "He's got to be crazy."
Ami agreed. "Yes. He has apparently completely lost his mind."
"No wait. Maybe not." They all turned to look at Lita. She shook
her head. "Think about it. Beryl has shown her power to
Barendieu. I think it's kind of a warning that says, "Don't mess
with me." But what if Beryl isn't ALL powerful? I mean if she
was, she would've already wiped us out, right? Why put up with
all this aggravation? Why not just come out and kick? I don't
think she CAN. That's why she's throwing us all of these
warnings. I know this might not make sense, but I think Barendieu
know, or thinks, he still has a chance." Ami looked thoughtful.
"Actually, in a weird way, it does make sense. Serena said that
Beryl asked for Darien's help." Mina shook her head. "But even if
she isn't that powerful, she's still a heck of a lot stronger
than Barendieu. How are we going to convince him?" Raye smiled
slightly. "We aren't. We go along with the plan, but when we get
the chance, we fight with all of our powers. And possibly Queen
Serenity's." They all seemed satisfied with the plan and started
climbing into their cots. Serena couldn't sleep. She kept
thinking about Sean. When she was sure everyone was asleep, she
crept out of bed and ran across the camp to the infirmary.
****************************************************************
Darien couldn't sleep either. He had the feeling something
was happening to Serena. He crept out of bed, Careful not to wake
anyone, especially Malechite. He crept over to Serena's cabin and
looked into the window. She wasn't there. Sean. He walked over to
the infirmary and carefully shut the door behind him. He peered
around the wall and saw Serena sitting beside Sean on his cot.
She was stroking his hand and singing softly. Then a strange glow
appeared on her forehead. Amazingly, her hair raised up behind
her as if an invisible wind was blowing her hair. Her hand began
to glow and the glow crept up Sean's arm, his chest, his waist,
his legs, his head. Sean stirred in his sleep and Serena got up
and began walking towards the door. Darien quickly walked out the
door and hid around a corner. He watched Serena come out, look
around, and went back to her cabin. Darien sank to the ground.
What had just happened? Serena apparently healed Sean with some
sort of special power. His mind kept whispering the word,
"witchcraft" but he pushed it aside. Serena was no witch. Not
even witchcraft could make a scene as magnificent as that. Serena
was a princess. But that kind of princess Darien wasn't sure if
he was ready for. Slowly, he walked back to his cabin and plopped
down on his cot. What was he going to do? He wasn't sure if he
could handle this.
*****************************************************************
The next morning, after training, Serena and Darien were
called to Barendieu's tent. "I have some good news, Serena."
Serena smiled. "Really? What?" Barendieu sat down. "Sean was out
of bed this morning, isn't that amazing?" Serena went wide-eyed
and laughed. "Oh that's wonderful. Can I go see him?" Darien
fought back the urge to laugh. She made a fabulous actress.
"Later. But right now I want to know everything that you know
about this Queen Beryl creature." Darien started to say something
but Serena cut him off. "Well, after we were captured, we were
brought before her. Sir, she is very powerful. We can't possibly
go up against him." Barendieu waved that off. "That is beside the
point. What happened?" Serena gulped her mind racing. "Well,
Beryl was just about to kill the both of us, when the traitor,
the one we were telling you about, shot a beam at Queen Beryl,
distracting her long enough for us to break free of the guards
and escape the castle." Serena smiled, satisfied with her lie.
"But did the traitor come with you? And why was he a traitor?"
Serena began to say something when Darien cut her off this time.
Serena shot a poisonous look at him. "We took him as far as the
woods and then left him there. I guess he was tired of his life
in Queen Beryl's City. His name was Andrew." "And then you came
back right after, correct?" Serena smiled. "Right." "Then how do
you explain that horse?" Serena stuttered and then said, "Well,
when we were escaping we went through a market square and we
would've had no hope of escaping, so we kind of stole a horse
from the stable." Barendieu got right up in Serena's face. "The
three of you got on one horse?" Serena tried to say something,
but no words would come out. Finally she blurted, "There was a
cart attached to the horse. Andrew rode in the cart." Barendieu
raised his voice. "I thought you said you got him from the
stable. You aren't telling me everything, I know it!" Darien
couldn't stand Barendieu yelling in Serena's so he took a chance
and said, "Sir. That is what happened. I was there and that is
what happened. I swear it." Baredieu frown and said, "Get out. I
need to think." Serena and Darien hurried out and didn't stop
walking until they reached the mess hall. "That was close."
Darien nodded. "Yeah I know." Serena looked over his shoulder and
spotted and angry Malechite coming towards them. "You'd better
go. Malechite looks mad." Darien smiled slightly and turned away
and ran over to Malechite. Serena didn't stick around to hear
Malechite screaming at him. She ran over to the infirmary and
burst through the door and ran over to Sean's cot "Serena! I'm so
glad you are okay!" Serena smiled right back at him. "Same here
buddy. You took quite a hit, eh? What exactly happened? How did
you get well so fast?" Sean shrugged and smiled. "I really have
no idea. Last night I felt something come over me and I just felt
better after that." Serena hid a smile. "That's strange, but I'm
glad for it." Sean said, "Have you heard about what Barendieu is
planning to do?" Serena nodded. "Yes I have. It's foolish." Sean
agreed. "Yeah. After seeing all of that you'd think he'd give
up." "He's a stubborn man. He seems to have grown more serious
since the fort incident." Sean winced at the memory. "Well, I'm
feeling well enough to fight as it is." Serena laughed. "I don't
think so, my friend. You are going to have to stay in bed a while
longer." Sean nodded and grinned. "If the same thing happens
tonight that happened last night I'll be in good shape." Serena
laughed and turned to leave. "Serena?" "Yes?" Sean smiled. "It's
great to have you back." Sean gave Serena a strange look as she
was leaving. Serena didn't notice.
*****************************************************************
"She knows, doesn't she?" Malechite was yelling in a loud
whisper. Darien nodded. "Are you insane?! If she knows then
sooner or later her friends will know and then it'll be all
around camp!" Darien shook his head. "I don't think she'll tell,
Malechite." Malechite scoffed. "And what's to stop her?" Darien
smiled. "Malechite, have you ever heard of the Moon Princess?"
Malechite frowned. "Of course I've heard of the Moon Princess.
But how did you come to know? Only I and a three others in charge
protecting Earth know." Darien smiled and nodded. Malechite went
wide-eyed and gasped. "You don't mean...." "Yes." Malechite sat
down. Hard. "She's here. Oh Lord, she's here. Then that
means...." Darien sat down next to him. "That means what?"
Malechite looked into his friends eyes.
"I am not supposed to tell anyone this, not even you. I
swore to the others." Darien frowned. "Tell me what?" Malechite
sighed and said, "I suppose I must tell you everything. It all
started long ago. There was a glorious kingdom on the moon ruled
by Queen Selene and her daughter, Diana. Theirs was the strongest
kingdom in the entire universe. But they were peaceful. They knew
nothing of war. Knew nothing of protecting themselves. One day a
terrible Queen-" "Beryl." Malechite nodded. "Yes. Queen Beryl.
She attacked the Moon Kingdom and they were helpless to defend
themselves. They didn't know how to use their own power. Queen
Selene was destroyed along with most of the population.
Her daughter, Diana, however, escaped with something called the
Imperium Silver Crystal. She brought the remainder of her
subjects to Earth. She was a young woman of nineteen. She was
determined to take back the Moon from Beryl and to destroy Beryl
to avenge her mother. She taught herself how to use the power of
the Silver Crystal and grew more powerful everyday. This is where
I come in. One day, the King of Earth-" "But there is no King of
Earth. There are many Kings. Like my father is the King of
France." Malechite shook his head. "This was many years ago,
Darien. There was a King of Earth back then. Anyway, the King of
Earth was out riding his horse when he stumbled upon Queen Diana
practicing her powers. They fell in love and she told him about
what had happened on the moon. The king was determined to help
his love, at all costs. The day came when Diana was to reclaim
the Moon Kingdom. The King appointed four men, our ancestors-"
"Our?" Malechite was patient. "Our. Mine and the other three
protectors. Jedite, Nephrite, and Zoicite." "Where are they?" "We
are stationed in different locations throughout the world.
Anyway, The king appointed four men who were to be the protectors
of the Earth in his absence. Queen Diana and King Cronus, the
King of Earth, along with many warriors, attacked Queen Beryl and
took back the Moon Kingdom. While the King was on the Moon
fighting the Negaverse, his kingdom was left unprotected and men
attacked and fought over certain parts of land and made
themselves Kings of their own countries." "But what about the
four protectors?" Malechite frowned. "They were overpowered by
the people and went into hiding. But they swore never to let any
harm come to Earth itself. When King Cronus learned what had
happened to his kingdom on earth, he stayed with Diana and
together they had Queen Serenity. One day Cronus was called away
to Mars for-" "Wait a minute. He was called to MARS?" Malechite
smiled. "Oops. I forgot to tell you. The other planets were
similar to the Moon Kingdom. They were each ruled by kings and
queens, but Diana sort of ruled THEM. Get it?" Darien nodded. "I
think so." Malechite went on, "He was called to Mars for
business, but while he was there, he was assassinated by a
citizen. The Queen aged quickly and died early from grief. People
on the moon and other planets like that lived for hundreds of
years at a time. They stopped looking old when they got to the
age of around thirty. But before Diana died, she taught Serenity
how to use the silver crystal. Serenity was different from all of
the other rulers. She was always calm and was always loving. When
her husband, also a King from Earth, died she was carrying their
child and remained strong for the child's sake. When Serena was
born, she was taught how to use the crystal and how to fight.
Legend has it that all of the countries will unite again under
one ruler and that ruler will join the Moon and the Earth again,
just as Diana and Cronus did." Darien let out a long breath. "How
come no one ever mentions what it was like before? With King
Cronus and everything united?" Malechite stretched and said, "You
know how I said People on other planets live for a long time?"
Darien nodded. "Well, all of that was a VERY long time ago and
people have forgotten it. This is all they have ever known."
"Malechite?" "Yeah?" "What about that legend. You know,
everything will untie under one ruler and the Moon Kingdom will
join the Earth Kingdom?" Malechite nodded. "Yeah." Darien looked
into Malechite's eyes. "Well, I-I think I'm in love with Serena."

**************The truth is out! And it's getting closer to the
end. Once this ends I hope you will spend some time reading some
of the other stuff I am working on. Thank you all for your e-mail, though I would still like a little more. If not, I can just
stretch this on for longer and make every chapter a cliffhanger!
Haha! Bye Ya'll! ~Jordan~