DISCLAIMER: I don't own Sailor Moon.

Serena bent over he rushing stream and cupped her hands in
the icy water. Her lips were cracked and dry. Once she had
quenched her thirst, she eased her arms into the stream and
scrubbed them. It felt good to at least keep her arms clean. It
was so tempting. Finally, she couldn't resist. She removed her
tunic, leaving only her loose undershirt on. She slipped off her
boots and gloves. In her shirt and hosen, she slithered into the
stream, gasping at the cold, but it wasn't so bad anymore. Her
hair was still in a tangled mass around her waist. The stream
was only about four feet deep and about eight feet across, but
had a swift current. She bent her knees and faced the current to
stabilize herself. She finally got her hair untangled from about
her waist, but it still looked terrible. Taking a breath, she
ducked her head under and scrubbed her face, wincing as her
fingers hit a bruise or cut. She felt the current sweeping away
her hair behind her, pulling out of the tangles. She scrubbed
her scalp in the clear water and ran her fingers through her hair
under the water. She came up, for a breath, and repeated the
whole process. When she was done, she looked at her tunic on the
shore. It was filthy. She waded over to it, pulled it in with
her, and scrubbed it best she could with her hands. Deciding she
was done, she found a flat rock in the sun, sat down on it
spreading her hair about her letting it dry in the sun. She laid
her tunic beside her. She sat there for the longest time,
looking at Darien. He was incredibly handsome. A ragged beard
had begun to grow on his face. She almost laughed at the site of
that. Reluctantly, she turned her thoughts to the Negaverse.
Darien's camp still thought her held prisoner. Undoubtedly Queen
Beryl knew of her disappearance, but surely she would waste her
efforts on pathetic little Isabel d'Condiuer? Serena grinned.
Or maybe she would. She had insulted her and from what she had
learned on the moon, she wasn't one to let people who disgraced
her go unpunished. Then her eyes narrowed. Queen Beryl had
slapped her. Her! The Moon Princess! Unconsciously, she raised
her nose just a bit. The cad. She was so busy thinking up
choice words for Queen Beryl, she didn't notice that Darien had
stirred from his sleep.
*****************************************************************
Oh man. What a headache! Darien groaned. He didn't want
to wake up. He knew that if he did, the pain from his arrow
wound would rush back at him. Too late. He felt a dull pain in
his shoulder. Wasn't it supposed to hurt worse than this? He
opened his eyes. He was staring up into a dense tree canopy.
Sunlight filtered through at some places, giving the forest an
ethereal look about it. Grasping his shoulder, he struggled to
sit up. At first all he could see was green. Ferns surrounded
him. Then a brilliant flash of gold caught his eyes. Long,
long, gold hair flowing freely over a small back. The first
thing he thought of was Serena. But wait. Serena was being held
prisoner. This couldn't be Serena. Warily, he stumbled to his
feet. Apparently, the person with blonde hair had heard him.
When the figure turned its head, he was looking into a pair of
beautiful blue eyes. It WAS Serena. "Serena? How did you get
here?" Her eyes didn't brighten. "You should be saying, Serena,
thank you so much for saving my life. How could I ever repay
you?" Darien was taken back. She had never snapped at him
before. He quickly became irritated at her attitude. His wound
didn't help in taking away any of that irritation either.
"Excuse me? I didn't need your rescue. I was playing dead."
Serena rolled her eyes. "Sure you were." Darien didn't feel like
arguing with her right at the moment. Instead he gave Serena a
quick look over. She was only in her hosen and shirt! (Not that
he really minded. Still, it was ENTIRELY improper.) Her shapely
little form showed through the hosen even though the were more
than a little oversized. She must have noticed he was staring,
because she quickly pulled on her tunic, after checking it to see
if it was dry, blushing all the while. She stood up and walked
away from him, her back turned. She strapped on her belt,
scabbard and purse. She picked up her sword and slid it into her
scabbard. She gave him a look that said, Really, you are the
most tiresome person I have ever met.' Right now Darien felt the
same way, though he had risked his life for her only hours
before. Then he noticed her face. It had a great many small
scratches and bruises all over it. Not that it masked very plain
beauty. Darien felt a wave of rage that anyone would dare
to touch Serena, let alone hurt her. The thought quickly
diminished as his attention was drawn to other things when Serena
said. "Let's go. We need to get to the camp and report. I
don't want anyone to think I'm still at the mercy of that
wretched Queen Beryl." She started to turn away, but Darien
caught her arm. "Queen Beryl? Is that who we are fighting? How
do you know? Have you seen her? Have you SPOKEN to her?" Darien
watched Serena's face go white before she quickly turned her
head. "Yes I talked to her. I insulted her. That is why she
treated me the way she did. Now let go of my arm. Now." Darien
ignored her last icy remark. "Serena do you realize what this
means?" Serena narrowed her eyes at Darien. "What?" Shocked by
her coldness, Darien let go of her arm and scowled at her. "What
is your problem? Why do you insist on being such a pain? Wait
never mind I don't care. I can be just as much of a pain."
Serena only raised her chin in a sign of contempt. "It means,
Serena, that we know who we are fighting. We have a person who
has been inside the enemy's castle!" Darien stated it plainly
like her was talking to an ignorant five-year-old. Serena turned
her back from him. "I know that, Darien. I'm not a complete
idiot you know." Darien scowled. "You really had me going." She
started walking down a path that presumably led to the edge of
the forest and their camp by the shore. "Shut up." Darien felt
like strangling her. "Serena." She stopped. "What?" Darien
hesitated. "What's the name of our enemy?" It took a minute for
Serena to answer. She didn't turn around. Just lifted her head.
"The Negaverse."
*****************************************************************
Why did I tell him that? Thought Serena as they made their
way through the thick woods. They had been traveling for close
to three hours. They were still bickering. At first she had
been mean to him because he had made she worry that he wouldn't
wake up. But then he had asked about Beryl. If he knew that she
had known the entire time who they were fighting against, he
would be wondering why. He would suspect she wasn't who he
thought she was. So she had to keep up the act of being mean to
throw any suspicion away from her. But some of the fighting was
for real. Boy DID he know how to be a pain! By the time they
came close to camp, she had thoroughly resolved to stay away from
him completely. The first sign of camp was the scent of salt in
the air. Serena felt her spirits lift at the thought of seeing
her friends. They would have been so worried. Especially Sean.
When Sean came into her mind, a troubled expression flickered
across her face. He had been in the middle of the battle. Was
he alright? Darien had noticed the look, but didn't say
anything. Just like him.
When they came trudging down the path, they were spotted by
Mina and crew. All four of them crowded around Serena, hugging
and crying in happiness. Then came the questions. How are you?
How did you escape? Are you okay? Did you see the leader? Did
they hurt you? And then came the shocker. It was whispered into
her ear by Amy. "How come you and Darien aren't talking?" Serena
looked at Amy, startled, but she couldn't say anything right now.
She told them she would talk to them later. She began to push
through them to make her way to the Barendieu's tent. She left
Darien to do as he pleased. To her surprise,(and annoyance)he
accompanied her. She told him to leave her, but he ignored her.
That was when she spotted Sean.
*****************************************************************
"Sean!" Darien looked around and then saw him too. He was
running towards her with a huge grin on his face. He ran up to
Serena and scooped her up into a huge embrace. Darien felt
jealousy creeping its way into his blood. What HE wouldn't have
given to embrace her like that after returning form battle. Of
course circumstances prevented that. With effort, Sean pried
Serena off of him. "Let's have a look at you, Kit. Lord
almighty! What did those monsters do to you?" Concern was
dripping from his face. "Oh it's nothing. I was going to
Barendieu to tell him all about it." Sean smiled playfully.
"What? Without coming to me first?" Serena hugged him again,
much to Darien's disgust. Sean must have finally noticed him.
"Darien! I was worried when you couldn't be found anywhere on
the battlefield." Dead or alive, Darien though grimly. "It's a
long story. Why don't you join us for it? I'm curious about
just what happened myself." Mina, Lita, Amy, and Raye had caught
up with them by now. All seven of them went in to the tent.
*****************************************************************
Cain nearly had a heart attack when he spotted Serena and
her pretty-boy friend arrive into camp. He knew Serena would
waste no time in telling the General everything. He ducked
behind a tree and let go a few choice words. Wasting no time, he
went to the stable, saddled his horse, and set off right away for
Queen Beryl's castle.

***********Are you confused yet? Keep guessing. This story
isn't over yet! I STILL WANT MAIL!!!! Please! E-mail me what
you think! Peace out.
~Jordan~