Chapter Three: Memories
28, Cherry Blossom Avenue
Artemis yawned as he stretched luxuriously in the sun.
Both him and Luna were sitting on the Tsukino's roof as they
watched Serena walk out of the house.
"I thought I'd never say this, but I miss seeing Serena
run out of the house, late." Luna muttered, watching as the
blond teen walked neatly down the drive and out onto the
path, "It's spooky how - efficient - she is." she added.
"I thought you'd enjoy seeing Serena getting some back
bone and growing up." Artemis commented, then grew softer
before he spoke again, "You know, I had a dream about the
Moon Kingdom last night." He said thoughtfully, Luna turned
quickly, "A dream about Serena like she is now. Maybe this
is just the way it's supposed to be, Luna. I mean, if back
on the Moon, Serena grew up and became the way she is now,
then maybe what is happening now was meant to be." He
winced as he spoke those words - *I HATE having to fall back
on destiny. It seems to trite, giving up everything else
and following a predestined fate.*
Luna nodded, but the worry hadn't gone from her face.
Silently, Luna stood up and went back down into the house.
Artemis watched her go, and kept his own worry to
himself. He couldn't even be sure if his dream was a real
memory. It had all the 'realness' of a memory from the Moon
Kingdom, but through out the dream, he had been struck at
how strange and weird everything was. In the middle of it,
he had seen two Serenas. One as she was now, and another
like the moon Princess.
Luna walked into Serena's room, curling up on the
teenager's bed. The guardian was worried, more so than
she'd ever been. *I always wanted Serena to take her
studies more seriously, to become more grown up.* She
thought slowly, *And when she does, I'm worried.* She
couldn't even explain why she was worried - it was just this
vague feeling of unrest, like something was slightly askew,
not totally wrong, but not totally right either. The
Guardian's thoughts slipped to Darien, *Rei says that Serena
refused to 'go out' with him ever again. Which also more or
less states she doesn't intend to marry him in the far
future. And THAT threatens Crystal Tokyo - and yet, Sensei
Pluto hasn't appeared to right the time line so perhaps THIS
is meant to have happened.* Luna frowned, a headache
starting its way in her forehead, *She even gave him back
the Star Locket.* Luna shook her head, *This isn't right.
Serena and Darien were meant for each other. They loved
each other since the first. And Serena said she still loved
him, she wouldn't have hurt him so obviously...* Luna couldn't
understand it, and that worried her as well.
***
The Moon Kingdom - the past
Queen Serenity's Palace
The Crescent Ball
Prince Darien Endymion looked into the ballroom from
the outside; he turned his attention away from Queen
Serenity and her two advisors, the only two Venusian-
Guardian Cats to remain at court, most of Guardians Artemis
and Luna's fellow cats were out fighting at the frontier
against the Negaverse.
He heard laughter, and turned. His brother, Prince
Caraein had returned from his walk with Princess Serena, and
was flirting with a court beauty. The young prince noticed
one of few ladies not clustered around his older brother,
Lady Arein was standing apart. Her eyes were wide with
longing, but she stayed away. Darien knew what she was
experiencing. A symphatic ache filled his heart. He knew
from just the way she stood how much she loved his brother,
*Like I love Serena. If she even thinks I'm worthy to think
of.* He thought to himself, she had all the princes and
kings in the Moon Kingdom and beyond asking for her hand,
what would she want with just the second prince of a small
planet?
"Prince Darien?" a voice said behind him.
Darien turned around and walked over to where Princess
Serena stood, her long blonde hair almost white in the soft
glow of the lamps, "Your Highness." He bowed low, and, on a
whim, pulled a red rose from the air - a talent that he'd
inherited from his mother, and that his brother didn't have,
much to Caraein's disgust.
Serena took it with another smile, enchanted, "Thank you,
Darien." she said, then grinned impishly, "A magical gift
like that deserves one in return." She pulled the star
locket hanging from around her neck off, and offered it to
him, "It plays my favorite song." She said, opening it.
Darien and Serena could only hear the haunting, gentle
strains of the old ballad.
"I will always remember you when I play it, milady." He
said softly, and he meant it; he kissed her hand gently.
Serena smiled back in return, "You are - different - from
your brother, Darien." she said slowly, "I'm sure you have
many of the ladies telling you this, but I think I'm falling
in love with you." she said. "And I know that it is
sudden, seeing as I've only met you this past Earth-Zenith,
but it is true."
Darien's heart soared, he shook his head, "Perhaps the bards
and troubadours have a right when they sung of first love
and predestination, my Princess." He said finally,
"I know that I've only met you this past month - Earth
Zenith - myself, but I - " he paused, not sure whether to
say something that would leave him so open to hurt as the
words that were crying out to be said in his heart, would.
*But then, what is 'love' but to allow someone else to see
all of you?* he asked himself finally, "I love you, my
princess, forever and all eternity and beyond. For as long
as I have one last breath, I would love you." He said,
words that he meant, "I would die for you." he promised
her.
***
Rose Apartments - Present
2B
Darien woke up, and wished he didn't need to. The
dream was still fresh in his mind - the first time he'd ever
managed to tell Serena he loved her. . .
*Oh god, Serena. I miss you so much.* He thought, sitting
up and rubbing his face. He hadn't even seen her this past
month, not since she'd told him to leave her alone forever.
He sighed, and got out of bed. For one reason or the other,
his dreams were always nightmares, the only times he'd ever
been able to fall asleep happy, it felt like, was when he
and Serena were together. For the brief time they were
together anyway, before he broke her heart again. . .
A glint of light from the moon outside caught the star
locket where he'd put it next to the photo Ami had taken of
him and Serena at the New Year Celebrations.
Darien took the locket and opened it, listening to the
song - *their* song - playing of eternal love that lasted
through time. "'This place and time will last forever more
- '" Darien murmured, wishing that such a place that the
song sang about did exist. A place where he and Serena
could be together and happy - if only for a while.
End Part One of Second Chances
