hi! I'm MarshAngel and this is my favorite of the fan fics I've written. I hope you
enjoy it. 
I hope you enjoy it e-mail me 
at watsonma@hotmail.com with your questions or comments.
I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters belonging to the anime and manga created by Naoko Takeuchi.
 All standard disclaimers apply.
	
				
				Perspectives
					I
				  Changes

I have, after much serious thought and prolonged pain, come to the 
conclusion that those who claim to know and love me have little or no 
understanding of who I am or my goals in life. For the most part I have a 
tendency to inspire negative thoughts about myself in other people. Too many 
people that don't know me very well think I'm a dumb shallow blonde with 
nothing to worry about except my appearance. I don't even have to worry about 
my performance in school because I get horrible grades with no sign of 
improvement anytime soon. To those that do 'know' me, I'm sweet, innocent, and 
equally, dumb, shallow and petty.  I can however, tolerate, all that because I 
know they love me despite my numerous faults; even if I'm always late, eat like a 
pig, and can't complete simple math equations.
My friends are great people, but they have no faith in me and as a result I 
have no faith in myself. They expect nothing more of me than what they see so I 
don't make any real effort to change. Sometimes I think if I had the time and the 
motivation to study I could probably be very smart. Yeah right! I always had a 
wonderful imagination.
I wish I could be more like Amy, she's so intelligent and sure of what she 
wants in life. She tries to encourage me and help me out sometimes, but I know 
she doesn't really expect me to improve. She seems to have patience for 
everything else, but when I'm figured into the equation she gives up on me 
within moments of trying to help.  Mina tries to hide it, and she does a pretty 
good job, but I can tell she's disappointed that I'm such a klutz and I'm not as 
graceful as I should be. We may look alike and behave alike sometimes but that's 
where the similarities end. She's significantly more responsible than me and so 
graceful and she at least has the ability to pass a simple math test.
 I know that deep down Lita wishes I were a better fighter. She must get 
exasperated every time I klutz out in the middle of a battle. As for Raye, I know 
she loves me, but she often seems as though she wishes I were someone else; 
someone smarter, more graceful, and more motivated and she never misses a 
chance to point it out to me.
I don't deserve to be the Moon Princess. I'm not smart or graceful or 
beautiful. I'm just a dumb klutz who is constantly being forced to save the world 
while trying not to fall flat on my face. Darien was right so long ago. There isn't 
much between these two meatballs I wear on my head. I don't know why he 
even likes me. He's so smart and gorgeous he could have any one of the dozens 
of beautiful, sophisticated college girls. He's probably only sticking around for the 
sake of destiny or maybe he just feels bad for me. I wouldn't be surprised if he 
walked up to me today and told me he didn't love me. And as expected I'd break 
down and cry and be depressed for days. That's me all right, ditzy, predictable 
Serena.
This is the life of the super-heroine Sailor Moon. Some life it is. I am such 
a loser I don't even know why anyone bothers with me. All I really have is 
destiny and right now I doubt even that. How can someone like me become a 
graceful, intelligent queen? I can't even walk down the sidewalk without tripping. 
I am so hopeless.


That was what I wrote in my diary sometime after I found out I was the 
moon princess. Since then I've grown up a lot. I owed all this to the almighty 
Darien of course. He dumped me not long after that little spore Rini appeared. I 
guess he finally got the wake up call and realized that he could probably have 
someone better than me.
 Whether Rini was the trigger for our breakup or not is irrelevant. After 
Darien dumped me I grew up just a little, enough to realize that I love Rini, even 
if the kid is a real brat. It took me a long time to realize that though, and more 
pain than I would wish on anyone else. Even more importantly, I now realize that 
pining over Darien was getting me no closer to having him back in my arms.
Of course, by the time I had come to terms with the fact that my 'destined' 
relationship with Darien was over, things had really gone far downhill. My 
performance as a Sailor scout, bad as it was to begin with, had become horrible. 
Tension between the Scouts and myself were high. It was coming close to shape 
up or get out.
I was tired of being yelled at for being late, especially when so many times 
it really wasn't my fault. How was I supposed to get up on time every morning 
when battling youmas kept me up half the night? They didn't understand, and I'd 
never bothered to tell them (they'd of course see it as an excuse) just how much 
the moon scepter attacks using the silver crystal took out of me, and having to do 
it more than once in one night was almost as bad as being drained by a youma. 
My schoolwork had gone from poor to just downright pitiful and as a 
result I started arguing with my parents trying to defend myself. Eventually I just 
shut myself off from everyone else, Rini being my only comfort as well as my 
only contact with the Scouts after I stopped attending meetings and fights. I 
guess that's the irony. We never got along before, but we grew closer in the end 
even if it stemmed from pity on her part. Luna and I had, long before, had our 
final argument after one of the battles, and she had moved in with Amy. 
After a time I came to realize there was nothing left for me In Tokyo. 
There was no point to my sticking around, watching things get from bad to 
worse. The Scouts didn't need me anymore, nor did they want me around. The 
Nega-moon family had been severely weakened, so much that there was barely 
anything left of them except a few droids and a barely breathing wise man. We 
had finally gotten up the guts to go on the offensive rather than sit around and 
wait for them to attack. The Negamoon had never expected us to try attacking 
them and they were completely unprepared for us. Prince Diamond, Saffir, 
Rubius, and Emerald were all destroyed in the Sailor planet attack backed by the 
silver crystal that nearly killed the wise man.
The Scouts could handle what was left of the Negamoon. I needed some 
time apart from my life. I knew just where to go and how to get there. I was 
going to take my life in my hands and make some major changes. 

Ikuko Tsukino glanced over her dresser. Her favorite perfume was almost 
empty, she'd have to get a new one. It being empty of course meant that Serena 
had been using it again. She sighed as she looked at the picture on her dresser 
of a smiling Serena. The picture had been taken over two years ago. She picked 
up the picture and looking at it made her aware of just how much her daughter 
had grown up.
Things had been so much simpler when she was younger she told herself 
knowing it wasn't quite true. Things had seemed simpler when there were no 
boys for her to impress and no school dances and failing grades and no fighting 
over grades and dates, when she never had to ground her. She knew better 
though. Things had never been simple. Not when every time she looked into her 
daughter's eyes and at her long blonde hair she saw Richard's face smiling back 
at her. 
She sighed and put the picture back to where it had been. For sixteen 
years her secret had remained safe and she supposed it would stay that way for 
the rest of her life. There was a time though when she had felt her secret had 
been in grave danger.
Richard had come to Japan on business and had looked up Ikuko. He had 
loved her once. He wondered what had become of her after she had married and 
moved to Tokyo. He never quite understood why she couldn't have broken things 
off with Kenjii and stayed with him. he could have given her so much.
She had seemed to love him. The last time they had been together was 
less than two weeks before her wedding and she had come to say goodbye but a 
goodbye kiss had led to much more. But even then she had left him and went on 
to marry Kenjii ten days later. A few weeks after the wedding the new couple had 
moved to Tokyo where Kenjii had a great job at a large corporation. Richard 
never saw her again until six years later.
Six years later he found Ikuko Sato or Koko as he used to call her in 
Tokyo. She had two children and was happily married. He saw her in the park 
with her two children, a tiny brown-haired boy no more than two or three and an 
adorable six year bright eyed blonde child that reminded him of his little sister at 
her age. Looking at her then he knew that that little girl was his. There was no 
mistaking it.
He was angry at Koko for not telling about his daughter but on some level 
he understood and accepted her choice. He had no intention of giving up on his 
daughter however, and he convinced Koko to let him spend time with her. After 
just one afternoon with the little girl, Richard wondered how he'd ever leave her 
and return to California. He made up his mind that whatever it took he would try 
to be close to her. He kept his promise and he had a beautiful sixteen-year old 
daughter who he always wrote to and saw occasionally whenever he could, 
without the knowledge of her current father of course.  

I went downstairs to speak with my parents, taking each step slowly, 
staring down at the carpet as if expecting it to help me with what I had to say to 
them. I knew if they agreed to my plan, it would change my life forever. I 
glanced over the family pictures that lined the walls along the stairs. I couldn't 
yet imagine life without them, but if things continued like this... well I couldn't 
see things coming out well. 
I was nervous about what I was going to ask of them. What if they didn't 
agree? What would I do then? I prayed to an unnamed god that they'd agree. 
We hadn't said much to each other after that last fight we had about my 
grades. They'd yelled. I'd yelled back. Doors were slammed; tears were shed and 
all because of Sailor Moon. I was growing to hate Sailor Moon and I have never 
hated anyone. I was beginning to hate me. 
I was barely passing most of my classes. I just didn't feel like trying 
anymore. I remembered those days when I would sit in class staring out the 
windows and out at the buildings across the street or the bright blue sky, too 
tired to concentrate on what the teacher was saying. I would drift off into my 
own little word riddled with my every fantasy, and dreams of love and happiness, 
and a time of peace when I wouldn't have to fight anymore. 
I used to be constantly tired from the energy I expended in each fight as 
Sailor Moon. Now, since I'd begun to avoid the scouts and the fights, I was just 
restless and empty. I didn't feel like doing much of anything. I was tired of 
watching my life pass by. I needed a change. 
I mustered up some more courage and headed towards the living room 
where I knew my father was finishing the paper before dinner. My mother was 
preparing to put dinner on the table and thank goodness Sammy wasn't home to 
bother me. I don't know how that pain in the ass was in the same family as me.
I managed to put a determined expression on my face and approached my 
father...
 "Mom, Dad, can I talk to you for a minute?"
"Sure sweetheart," my mom said wiping her hands on a kitchen towel as 
she walked out of the kitchen and into the living room where my father sat 
reading the newspaper. "What is it?"
"I was thinking. You know how things have been going badly in school 
and everything, I think I need a change. I was wondering if I could maybe live 
with Aunt Yuki in San Francisco for a while and go to school there. I think it 
would help a lot." I prepared myself for the negative answer I expected and 
added; "It would be just for a year or two until I graduated."
I squirmed in my chair waiting for a reply. I was preparing a good loud 
wail to convince them that this was absolutely necessary. There wasn't much 
choice left any way. I was on the verge of failing just about everything, but I was 
not prepared to flunk out of high school just yet. This was my last resort and I 
prayed in my mind for them to say yes.
I was quite surprised when my father agreed. "Actually honey I was 
thinking the same thing. You don't seem to be doing well here and we thought 
you could use a break from everything. I was thinking that a change of 
environment might be a good motivator for you. I haven't had a chance to 
discuss it with your mother yet," he said looking over at my mother sitting next 
to him, staring at him wide-eyed. Why don't you let your mother and I discuss 
this for a little while before we make any decisions. Mom gave me a 
conspiratorial glance when Dad wasn't looking, that told me that we would have 
to talk later alone. 
***
When Serena had left the room and Kenjii was alone with his wife, they 
began their discussion. Ikuko was angry. "Why didn't you tell me you were 
considering sending her away?"
"I just came up with the idea today. I'm tired of watching her do badly in 
school so I thought the change might be good for her. I had no intention of 
bringing it up until we had confirmed with your sister that she could stay with 
her. Serena brought it up first so I told her what I was thinking. I wasn't trying 
to make any decisions without you. I'm sorry if it seemed that way but I meant 
nothing by it." 
His eyes plead with her to forgive him and it wasn't hard. She sighed and 
released her anger. She had no real reason to be angry. She was anxious 
however. She was quite sure she would have to tell him her secret now and she 
wasn't sure what effect that would have. It could mean the end of her family. All 
because men could be so dense sometimes.
"Honey, I'm not angry with you but there are things you didn't take into 
consideration and others that you just don't know. I don't know if you've noticed 
but my sister and I don't get along. We haven't spoken to each other since 
Serena was a little girl. It's not a good idea for her to stay with her."
Kenjii was surprised at this information. Ikuko not getting along with 
somebody was highly improbable especially a relative. "I had no idea. Why not? 
What happened?"
So many questions to answer. She turned her face away from him and got 
up from the couch. "It's a long story and one I wish I could have kept the secret 
but I all secrets must surface some time and I'm sorry that I have to do this to 
you but It's time you know."
"Honey what in the world are you talking about?"
She wrung her hands and when she turned to face him, he saw for the 
first time that she was crying. "I'm sorry she whispered. Serena is not your 
daughter."
"What!? What are you talking about? What do you mean she's not my 
daughter?" kenjii stared at his wife in shock and disbelief. His heart was 
breaking.
My sister was in love with a guy by the name of Richard Chandler but she 
wasn't sure if he returned her feelings or not. He had flirted with her a few times 
but nothing major. Around the same time I met you I began working for 
Chandler Corporation as a secretary for Richard. We got involved but I knew I 
loved you but I was never sure about my feelings for Richard and ten days 
before our wedding I went to tell him goodbye and ...that's when Serena was 
conceived."
She wrung her hands and turned away from he husband feeling the 
weight of her own betrayal. "I'm sorry, I never meant to hurt you. My sister and I 
haven't spoken since I told her the Serena was Richard's daughter."
All was quiet in the room for a few minutes. The silence was deafening 
and the tension so thick it was palpable. Kenjii eventually broke the silence and 
his tone was so cold it made Ikuko shiver.
"Does Serena know?"
"Yes," Ikuko replied. Richard found out about her when she was six when 
he came here for business. I told Serena when she was ten that he was her 
father. By then he saw her every year and he has always written to her. I told her 
not to tell you anything."
"I suppose you want her to stay with him in San Francisco?" He didn't wait 
for an answer. He picked up his car keys from coffee table and walked out 
slamming the front door behind him. Ikuko was barely aware of the sound of the 
squealing tires leaving the driveway as she buried her face in her hands and 
cried.

"Serena?"
I heard my mother's voice outside her door and quickly got out of bed to 
answer it. I had been waiting impatiently for an answer and was dying to hear 
what my mother had to say. I opened the door to see my mother looking slightly 
nervous and her eyes red and watery.
"What's wrong mom? Is everything ok?"
"Yes honey. I'm fine," Mom said tiredly.
"So will I be able to go?" I was getting worried. 
"I think it's a good idea but you won't be staying with your Aunt?"
"Then who?" I asked, overcome with curiosity.
"Your father."
"What! Richard? What about Dad? What's he going to say? 
"I don't think your Dad's going to be involved in this decision anymore."
"What do you mean?" I asked nervously.
"I told your father about Richard. "
I stared at her incredulously. Eventually I got a hold of myself and closed 
my mouth. "Wha... What did he say?" I muttered.
"Don't worry about it sweetheart," she said with a pained smile on her 
face. 
"But Mom..." She simply put up a hand and told me not to worry about it. 
"It's not your problem Serena. This is between me and your father."
"But Mom...."
"No, Serena. This is my problem. I'll deal with it. Besides it may be good 
to spend them with your real father."
I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Another disaster that was a ll my 
fault. I could tell by the look on her face that things hadn't gone well with my 
father. If only I had kept my mouth shut. I buried my face in my pillows and 
cried over the disaster I had caused.

A few days later as I packed my clothes and prepared myself to leave, it 
finally dawned on me that I was going to America for the first time. I stared into 
the mirror at the girl staring back at me. She looked so lost and empty. She had 
lost weight over the last few weeks. She was not the happy flighty girl she had 
once been. I made a decision that tomorrow was the last time that girl would 
stare back at me. 
I went to bed to wake up and face tomorrow. It would be my last day in 
Japan for a long time. In my head I went over what I had done today. One 
thought came to me and I wondered what the Scouts would have to say when 
they got my note. What would Darien say? Would he even care? I hadn't 
bothered to write him a separate personal note. Why bother when I'd just seem 
like a silly teenager.

I had written:

I know you guys have no reason to care what I do or say anymore. I 
haven't exactly been a great leader or a great anything, for that matter. For once 
however, I have decided to be responsible and let you know that I'm leaving 
Tokyo. I won't tell you where I'm going; it doesn't matter anyway. Don't bother 
to ask my parents I've asked them not to divulge that information. I just need 
some time away from all that's happened in my life. I would leave the silver 
crystal with you but no one else can use it so I'll keep it safe with me. I haven't 
given up on our friendship or the Scouts. I'll be back someday. I know you guys 
can handle whatever trials should come your way. Just believe in yourselves the 
way I never could and the way you never did in me.
Please take care of Rini. The scout of time, Sailor Pluto, informed me that 
Rini's mother is safe in the future. She still has to stay here for a little while 
longer though, while they make it completely safe for her to go home. She 
should be ready to leave in a few weeks though. I'm sorry I won't be there to see 
her go, and I suppose I should have told you this a while ago, but things were 
not at their best. 
I suppose I'll always love you Darien, unfortunately. You have moved on 
with your life however, and I suppose it's my turn to do the same. 
I love each and every one of you. I'm sorry I was such a disappointment 
to you all, especially you Luna. I wish you all the best. This is not goodbye. 
Hopefully when I return I'll be a better person and we'll be on better terms.

Until we meet again
Love, Serena.


They would receive my letter some time after I had left for the airport. I 
was mildly disgusted with myself for not having the guts to face them in person, 
but that part of my life was over for now. I turned over and pushed all thoughts 
out of my head and tried to go to sleep unsuccessfully. It was going to be a long 
night. I was way too excited and nervous to sleep.
Earlier this week I had to explain everything to Rini. We cried a little, but 
altogether, she took it rather well. Tomorrow will be the last time I'll see her, my 
daughter. That information had been hard to swallow when Pluto told me. I'm 
surprised she told me at all. From what I could gather, considering she doesn't 
say much about anything, she'd prefer that I knew nothing of my future. 
In the end, knowing that Rini was my future daughter was in a sense 
comforting and it had bonded us in a way nothing else ever could. It also made 
saying goodbye much harder. I would miss the little spore. She was so cute. I 
could say that easily, knowing she looks so much like me.

I turned to the window and stared out over the city as it fell away beneath 
the airplane. I said goodbye to it all. I would miss Tokyo but I was looking 
forward to my new life. It had been a while since I had seen my father and I was 
happy to be able to see him again. As the plane leveled of at thirty five hundred 
feet, I opened my English phrase book and hoped I wouldn't butcher the 
language too much when I got to San Francisco. I could read it very well, having 
read my father's letters over the years but I still had some trouble speaking it. 
After about twenty minutes of studying, My eyes got heavy and I fell asleep, 
finally able to truly rest. 

After an extremely long ride. The plane finally set down in San Francisco 
and it was the beginning of my new life.

II
Realizations

"Raye, Raye," Rini yelled, her short legs running up the steps of the shrine 
tripping over a few as she went.
"Yes. What is it Rini?" Raye asked.
"Umm... where are the other girls? She asked wondering jus where they 
all could be. She knew they had a meeting planned for today.
"They're not here yet. Ami had Cram School today and Lita dragged Mina 
to her martial arts class, so we delayed the meeting until later. Speaking of which 
is Serena even going to even show up for this." She wasn't even sure why she 
asked that lazy girl didn't bother to come to meetings anymore.
"Is Darien coming too?" Rini asked knowing she needed him present when 
she delivered her news.
"He might. Sometimes he shows up when he's not too busy. He said he 
might come today. Why are you asking all these questions any way?"
"I just needed to tell everyone something."
"What Serena couldn't tell us herself she's using you as her gopher now?"
"How did you know it was from Serena?"
"Good guess," Raye said bitterly.
Not too long after, the other girls showed up.
"Hi Rini," Mina said patting the little girl on the head. "What's up?"
"Rini has a message from Serena, Raye said in a harsh tone." 
"Can we wait for Darien?" Rini Asked. Just then Darien's head came into 
view as he walked up the steps of the shrine. On is face was that same brooding 
expression he had been wearing on his face these past few weeks. Rini rushed up 
to him and he scooped her up into his arms.
"Hi Munchkin."
"Hi Darien, Rini said watching his expression lighten as he picked her up. 
"Rini did you have something to tell us? Lita asked growing impatient with 
the delay. She was never one for sitting still for long periods of time.
Darien put Rini down and she pulled out the note Serena had left for them 
and handed it to Darien. 
"Could you please read this out loud so that everyone can hear?"  She 
asked.  Darien looked at her sad eyes, and did as she requested.

"I know you guys have no reason to care what I do or say anymore. I 
haven't exactly been a great leader or a great anything, for that matter. For once 
however, I have decided to be responsible and let you know that I'm leaving 
Tokyo. I won't tell you where I'm going; it doesn't matter anyway. Don't bother 
to ask my parents I've asked them not to divulge that information. I just need 
some time away from all that's happened in my life. I would leave the silver 
crystal with you but no one else can use it so I'll keep it safe with me. I haven't 
given up on our friendship or the Scouts. I'll be back someday. Just believe in 
yourselves the way I never could and the way you never did in me.
Please take care of Rini. The scout of time, Sailor Pluto, informed me that 
Rini's mother is safe in the future. She still has to stay here for a little while 
longer though, while they make it completely safe for her to go home. She 
should be ready to leave in a few weeks though. I'm sorry I won't be there to see 
her go, and I suppose I should have told you this a while ago, but things were 
not at their best. 
I suppose I'll always love you Darien, unfortunately. You have moved on 
with your life however, and I suppose it's my turn to do the same. 
I love each and every one of you. I'm sorry I was such a disappointment 
to you all, especially you Luna. I wish you all the best. This is not goodbye. 
Hopefully when I return I'll be a better person and we'll be on better terms."

At first they all just stood there staring at the paper, Darien held in his 
hands. Darien stared at the paper unbelieving the words she just read. He 
unconsciously read twice more hoping the words would magically change before 
his eyes. He let the paper fall from his fingers and turned around and walked out 
of the shrine. An unnoticed tear fell from his eyes.
Raye looked up and watched as Darien walked out. "This is all my fault," 
she whispered. Her knees collapsed beneath her and she held her face in her 
hands and cried. "I'm so sorry," she whispered as if she were talking to Serena. 
The other girls were shocked to see Raye fall apart like this. Of all of them 
they had expected her to be the least affected. Feelings of guilt and their own 
betrayal washed over them leaving the group of girls and a small black cat who 
had wandered in unnoticed, in tears of regret.
Serena had left because of them. They had actually driven her away. This 
time they had gone too far.

III
Moving On

My father lives in a beautiful house just outside San Francisco. It's all a 
beautiful dark natural wood, two-story house, with large windows and French 
doors. The house is surrounded by large oak trees, and inside it are many big 
beautiful plants, the kind that would have made Lita very jealous. I love waking 
up here in the mornings to the sound of the chirping birds in the branches. 
Sometimes I sit and write poetry in my bedroom window. The view always 
inspires me.
My dad is the successful owner of the private corporation he had inherited 
from his father and quite wealthy, more so than I had imagined. He is engaged 
to a beautiful interior designer named Celine and she lives with him. She reminds 
me of my mom even though she is a bit younger. They are so much alike 
sometimes it's unnerving. They both have that same inexhaustible vigor. The 
main difference is Celine applies her exuberance to business, while my mom 
applies it to her home and family. Although I'm no longer sure if there's much of 
a family left. Shingo is staying with a close friend of my  mothers while she and 
my dad work things out.
My dad, Richard that is, also has another daughter from a short 
unsuccessful marriage to a fashion designer not long after my mother left. My 
half sister Irene lives with her Mother Anika in New York, Paris, London, 
wherever they happen to be at the moment. I haven't met her yet but I'm hoping 
to, although I'm kind of nervous about the whole idea of having another sister a 
few months younger than me.  
Celine is really nice though. It's amazing to watch her work. She sits at her 
drawing table sometimes with her sleeves rolled up and her dark blue-green hair 
pulled back into a ponytail concentrating hard on what she's doing. When she 
isn't working she's shopping, always looking around for this and that for the 
houses of her many clients, her teal-colored eyes catching each little item of 
interest in the various antique stores we visit. By the time I leave here I should 
have an excellent knowledge of antiquities. 
The first day after I arrived we went sightseeing and shopping. We went 
into the city and visited all the usual tourist sights. We took pictures at the 
famous San Francisco Zoological gardens, the Golden Gate Bridge, as well as 
Golden Gate Park, the Transamerica Pyramid, and we even visited China and 
Japan Town. She bought me so much clothing when we went to Embarcadero, 
San Francisco's largest shopping center that I was beginning to feel guilty. That 
was when she pointed out her favorite phrase, One can never have too much 
clothes." I quickly learned that it was always reasonably cool in San Francisco so 
I bought many sweaters. She claims I have a great eye for fashion and suggested 
that maybe I should take up designing after I graduate.
We were walking by the many boutiques and salons and I found myself 
looking at my reflection in the glass. I remembered my promise to myself about 
the girl in the mirror. Celine put her hand on my shoulder and asked. "Thinking 
of changing your hair aren't you?"
"Yes," I answered, somewhat solemnly. "How did you know?"
"I've seen that same look on some of my clients faces when they want to 
make a change but aren't sure what to do. You have beautiful hair. I don't think I 
have ever seen hair that long."
"Yes. It almost touches the floor when it's all down. I guess there was just 
something special about this hairstyle. My friends used to call me meatball head 
sometimes. I think it's time for a change though," I said.
An hour later I walked out of the salon with a lighter head and a new 
look. CeCe, as she asked me to call her, smiled at me and took both my hands in 
her own. "You look beautiful," she said.
"I blushed at her compliment. "I love it."
"As well you should," she replied. My trademark meatballs were gone and 
my hair was layered in gently curling waves that fell all the way down my back to 
just below my hips. It was still very long, but it now seemed even softer and 
thicker and it felt lighter than before. If only my friends could see me now. I was 
beginning to see the old Serena Tsukino slowly disappearing and I was saying 
goodbye with a large smile on my face

I watched enraptured as French ice dancers Marina Anissina and Gwendal 
Piezarat flowed across the ice together. They moved in synchronization to the 
music from the movie "The Man in the Iron Mask." Their program was truly 
beautiful and it captured so much emotion and love. It brought so much emotion 
out of me. 
I couldn't help the tears that came to my eyes when I thought of times 
long gone when Darien used to hold me that close. Times in this life as well as 
on the moon when we used to hang on to our love as if our lives depended on it, 
and maybe it had. But that was then. This of course, I reminded myself was my 
new life and I should never forget it. I would never depend on love the way I 
had before. It hurt way too much. I turned off the TV and went to bed.

 It was the night before my first day at school and I wasn't sure just how 
I'd get to sleep. I was so nervous. What if everyone thought I was weird or 
something? I wouldn't understand a word they were saying. They'd probably just 
think I was dumb like people always did. My doubts brought tears to my eyes. 
This was not the time for self-doubt. 
I pulled out my notebook that I decided to keep when I got here. I wanted 
to record every moment of this period in my life. One day I wanted to look back 
and see the changes that had occurred in me while I was here. It was a strange 
thing to do, having never really examined my life or the daily events that made it 
up. Eventually I would add poetry and pictures about myself, and the people I 
would meet. This was my way of looking into the future. Some people wrote 
about the past but my aim would be to forget the past and create new memories 
for myself. I wrote the title of the book on the first page. I entitled it: Moving On, 
by Serena Tsukino.
I recorded everything I had done today and the day before. I wrote about 
my nervousness about going to a new school and my promise to make my 
parents proud. When I was finished, I closed me eyes and tried to sleep knowing 
how impossible it would be, but I tried anyway.
I missed Japan but I really didn't miss my life there. This was my chance 
for a new start. I sat up in bed and stared at the darkened bedroom. I turned the 
covers over and walked over to the dresser and pulled out my brush. I wasn't 
going to be sleeping much so I sat on my bed and proceeded to brush my hair. It 
had always been a comforting activity for me. I closed my eyes and began to 
hum an old tune. I don't really remember ever hearing this song before. Scenes 
of a long forgotten past began to flash before by eyes. 
I remembered my mother, Queen Serenity Brushing my hair, and 
humming that song. She stops and she begins to talk to me. "There's a prophecy 
that says that a great kingdom shall fall. The chosen ones shall fight an old 
enemy. When destiny takes a new turn, the messiah will rise and rule a world at 
peace with the power of the universe." She continued speaking to me and said. 
"No one's really sure exactly who the prophecy refers to. There's also a great 
chance that things may not happen exactly as declared in it. Prophecy and 
Destiny do not make life they prepare us for it. I'm not sure why she tells me this 
but as the image fades I hear her whisper, "always remember who you are...."
 I open my eyes to see the room all aglow. Before me stands the figure of 
my mother, Queen Serenity. "Hello Sweetheart." she says. 
"Mother! Why are you here?"
"I'm here to inform you of your destiny. You have already fulfilled half of 
the prophecy. The second half will now come to pass."
"Why? I thought my destiny was to become Neo-Queen Serenity of Crystal 
Tokyo.
"Things have changed. The moment you left Tokyo the timeline took an 
unexpected shift. Well I suppose it's not quite unexpected after all it was 
prophesied. Crystal Tokyo was an acceptable future and had you not made the 
choice to come here it would have remained. The present future is however far 
more preferable. You will not just be the savior of earth and the ruler of Crystal 
Tokyo, but the savior and the bringer of peace to the universe. You will 
reestablish the unity between the planets as it was in the Silver Millenium. I'm 
here to give you your birthright. It is time for you to grow up, my child, and 
accept the full power that is yours alone." 
"I'm not sure I understand. I thought I had already received my birthright, 
the silver crystal?" I questioned. 
"The silver crystal is merely a family heirloom. It has been passed down to 
each queen of the moon and is a source of great power. The power inside you is 
far greater than anything the silver crystal could accomplish. You are the 
strongest moon queen ever born. You are the Messiah. It's time for that power to 
awaken within you." 
She stared into my eyes and the crescent moon sigil on her forehead 
glowed brightly as a white beam of light reached out and touched my own 
crescent moon, now glowing brightly in my forehead. I closed my eyes I felt the 
power wash over me. Hundreds of memories flashed on the surface of my closed 
lids. Knowledge, once buried deep inside my mind, as well as knowledge of time, 
space and the universe, that I never knew, came rushing to me. 
I fell to my knees as it all became too much for me. I looked over my body 
as every vein in me glowed with the power rushing through them. I got the 
sensation that I was becoming more than human. I fell forward as I felt a tingling 
in my back that quickly became unbearably painful. I cried out as I felt something 
pushing out my back and in a flurry of feathers, wings exploded around me. I felt 
my body rising and soon I was floating just above the floor arms out to my side 
and my feet pointing downwards. 
The pain had long receded and I now felt the pure power wrapping itself 
around me. I felt completely calm and at peace. I had never felt so completely 
relaxed before. My nightgown faded and was replaced with a long iridescent 
pearl white body-hugging gown. A tall silver staff, approximately the same height 
as myself appeared in my hand. It had huge crescent on the end with the silver 
crystal in the center. It was obviously some kind of weapon. It's silver edge held 
a deadly gleam and yet a serene beauty.
When I looked up I could see my mother staring at me with tears in her 
eyes. "I am so proud of you my daughter.  In time you'll meet the addition to 
your court and your temporary guards. You will not see me again until you take 
the throne. Goodbye my child. She touched my cheek and then faded away. With 
that, I collapsed unto my bed exhausted. My transformation disappeared and my 
nightgown reappeared on my body. I fell asleep immediately. 

IV
First Day

I woke up the next morning on time, for the first time in years. I got 
dressed in my Uniform. It consisted of a short dark blue plaid pleated skirt with a 
White shirt and black shoes with white socks. It was slightly chilly out, so I put 
on a dark blue sweater over my shirt, brushed my hair and went down stairs. 
This uniform was very different than the one I had worn before. Those sailor 
outfits were severely overrated. 
I wasn't as nervous as I was before but I was still slightly worried about 
my English and the people I'd meet and whether or not they'd accept me. I had 
time to eat breakfast before I went to catch my bus. My dad complimented me on 
the way I looked and I was naturally grateful but I hoped my fellow classmates 
would be similarly impressed.
Richard drove me to my new school. Sometimes I wasn't sure what to call 
him. All my life I'd lived with Kenjii and I'd called him Dad. It felt a like I was 
betraying the man who had raised me as his own, (and he had thought I was) by 
addressing another man by the same title. 
Speaking of names what was I going to call myself. Would I be Serena 
Tsukino or Serena Chandler? All this thought only served to make me nervous. I 
looked up to see my dad looking over at me.
He gave me a reassuring smile. "I'm sure you'll like it there. It's a good 
school. CeCe went here." We arrived at the school building that seemed to be 
older than it really was. Despite the fact that it was built in the twenties, the 
building appeared to have been styled in the manner of older catholic schools 
over a century old. It even had ivy on some of the walls and gave the impression 
of a prestigious Ivy League school and I suppose in its own way it was.
"Where did you go to school dad?" I asked.
"I went to a private boarding school for boys on the East Coast. I only saw 
my parents on holidays."
"That doesn't sound too cool." I said frowning. "Didn't you miss them?"
"Well I didn't like it at first, but I got used to it. It was what all the families 
of my parents social standing did at the time. Besides I hardly saw them when I 
was home so it didn't take too long to make the transition."
"I don't think I could ever do that to my own kids."
"I couldn't either," he said smiling at me.
I sighed as the car came to a stop. 
"Have a nice day Serena, he said as I got out of the car."
"Are you sure I'll fit in here?" I asked. Did you take a look at my high 
school transcript?"
"You'll be fine," he said. "Just try your best." With that he drove off leaving 
me staring longingly at the taillights of his disappearing BMW.
"That man has not looked at my transcript," I muttered.
I turned to face the intimidating school building. Milling around on the 
lawns in front of the school were dozens of girls dressed like myself, and guys in 
dark blue pants, white shirts and dark blue blazers. I walked towards one of the 
buildings where many of the students entered.
  
I stood in the hallway, completely lost with the sounds of the many 
students hanging around talking in the hallways. It all sounded like a big blur. 
They were all talking so fast and animatedly. I was wandering around, in search 
of the principal's office, looking very lost, when a girl with mid-length blonde hair 
walked up to me and said hi.
"Hi! You're new here right?" 
"Hai." I replied in Japanese, nodding. "I'm looking for Principal?" I said 
with a heavy accent. Somewhere in my mind it told me that wasn't correct and 
before I could think, I opened my mouth and repeated. "I mean, I'm looking for 
the principal's office." Whoa where and when did I learn that?
She looked at me oddly as if to say 'what was that about?' "Ok." She said. 
She gave me directions and I thanked her. I got to the principal's office and they 
looked over my transcript from my old high school. I knew it wasn't very 
impressive but they were very nice and I was complimented on my English, 
which shocked even me. I think it had everything to do with what happened to 
me last night.  
Then I was directed to my guidance counselor's office.  I walked up to a 
wooden door with a glass window pane on which was printed in big bold black 
lettering: Mr. J Lukach, Guidance Counselor.  I knocked on the door and a cheery 
male voice answered  "come in."  I walked in nervously and found a tall slightly 
plump, balding blond-haired guy with very kind light brown eyes, smiling at me.  
Instantly all my worries faded away with his infectious smile and I returned his 
smile, instantly feeling more relaxed.  He introduced himself to me and gestured 
for me to sit down. We exchanged niceties and he welcomed me to the school 
and told me that he'd be arranging my schedule. 
"Normally we'd put foreign students in an English as a second language 
class but from what I've heard you seem to have an excellent understanding of 
the language for someone who's been here for such a short time. It's actually 
quite amazing. Have you been to the U.S. before?"
"No but my parents used to live here so I knew a bit and I learned a lot 
from my English classes in Japan." I wasn't really lying now was I? Except for 
that last bit about learning a lot of English in school. Had he been looking at my 
transcript at the moment he would probably ask how did I learn English and 
manage to get a D+ in the subject, mostly from not being able to pay attention 
and not doing homework.
"That's quite impressive. Well, I am sure you will do fine in our regular 
English class.  If you have any difficulty with any of your classes or just want to 
talk, you know where my office is. Stop by anytime.  I have a feeling you will do 
just fine, and I will make sure to check up on you, but if you need anything 
please don't hesitate to come to me."
I smiled at him, grateful for his acceptance and concern. It was rare to 
meet such a kind-hearted man, or anyone, who seemed so sure of my abilities.  I 
couldn't understand why, I have over the years, grown used to the lack of 
confidence people have in me, but I was grateful for his confidence.  It still took 
some time getting used to though.  It helped me get some confidence in myself.  
I still felt a small stab of pain, when I momentarily thought about the lack of faith 
my friends at home had in me. I quickly reminded myself of the promise I had 
made to my parents. I would do my best here.
	I thanked him for his help and started to leave.  He stopped me 
when he saw another girl walking into the office.  The girl was a blonde like me 
with beautiful sea green eyes.  She came up to me and introduced herself to me 
as Faith.  I recognized her as the girl who gave me the directions to the 
principal's office.  She flashed me a radiant smile before giving her attention to 
Mr. Lukach, who was waiting patiently for Faith to give him her attention.
	"I guess there is no need for my introductions."  He said in a good-
hearted way.  "No there isn't Mr. Lukach."  Faith said still smiling.  Mr. Lukach 
then turned to me "Faith is going to be your guide for the week.  Both of you 
have the same schedule except for your History class fifth period.  After that both 
of you have lunch and then gym.  Hope your first day here is enjoyable." He said 
smiling.  I stood up and thanked him. 

Faith and I left Mr. Lukach's office and walked down the hallway to my 
first class. I looked around me in curiosity and amazement. Even with the 
uniforms the students manage to look so unique. I got a few glances and a 
couple of stares and some smiles from guys and girls in the hallway but nothing 
offensive. At first glance everyone around seemed pretty nice.
It all seemed somewhat chaotic and served only to make me nervous. "I 
can tell you're nervous," Faith said to me, smiling gently. "You don't have to be at 
all. The teachers are all pretty nice around here, except for Mrs. Sachs. She's the 
history teacher, I had her last year, and she can be really mean sometimes. But 
don't worry about her too much. She's nice enough as long as you do what she 
asks."
Her speech did little to allay my fears. If anything I was more worried than 
ever and definitely not looking forward to history. "I didn't help much did I?" She 
asked.  "I'm really sorry. You'll get used to everything soon enough. I've heard 
school is a lot harder in Japan so this should be pretty easy for you." I smiled at 
her, appreciative of her attempts to comfort me.
"If half the people here are as nice as you, then school here will probably 
be fun," I said to her. Saying it actually made me feel a lot better. This might just 
turn out well after all.
I glanced around the light blue colored hallways that vaguely reminded me 
of a hospital waiting room.  Listening closely I confirmed my suspicions that 
there was classical music being played in the halls. The first time I had heard it I 
thought I was hearing things but...
"Is that classical music I hear playing? I asked.
"Yeah, it is. They play it a little louder in the mornings when everyone's in 
the hallway. They turn it to a lower level throughout the day but it's always 
playing."
"Why?"
"It's a kind of social experiment that a few liberal educators are trying in 
some private schools in this county. You see, they've been doing studies that 
show that classical music is very calming and it also increases one's receptiveness 
or ability to process and understand information. They hope the results will be a 
less stressful and less violent atmosphere as well as better test scores and overall 
academic ability."
"Wow. I never knew that. It sounds like a good idea."
Yeah, I suppose so, after a while you hardly notice it anymore. My friend 
Lexie thinks it's kind of funny."
"Why?" I asked.
"Well you see, they also play this kind of music in mental hospitals, 
psychiatric wards and nursing homes to keep the patients calm. It confirms her 
theory that we are all going crazy."
I laughed at that. "I can't really disagree with her there."
"Oh a word of warning," Faith said. "The teacher's probably going to ask 
you to introduce yourself and tell a little about where you're from. In fact they'll 
all ask. This school's pretty small and they're really into these new education 
methods. At one of my friend's high school they didn't even notice or just didn't 
pay much attention to new students."
"Just great. I hate speaking in public," I said.
"Don't worry, the classes here are small and people are friendly, you'll be 
just fine."
We got to class and sat down. The teacher hadn't come in yet so the 
students were all talking to each other. I took my seat next to Lexie near the 
middle. There seemed to be only about fifteen students or so. Faith introduced 
me to her friend Lexie who sat directly behind her. 
Lexie was a pretty black girl slightly taller than Faith and me at 5' '7', with 
shoulder length straight black hair, flipped up at the ends. She smiled at me and 
said: "welcome to Rose Park High." She had large sad eyes and she seemed very 
different than anyone I'd ever met. She was so reserved, but not shy, and her 
speech had a careless tone to it as though nothing was of any true importance. I 
liked her.
The teacher came in and everyone took their seats. This was also a change 
for me, seeing as how I was used to standing when the teacher came in. The 
teacher turned out to be a short olive skinned man with a shiny baldhead and 
dark hair on each side. He uttered a lively good morning, to which everyone 
replied in a similar fashion. I see we have a new student today he said smiling at 
me. Amazingly I didn't feel very nervous. His smile was so warm and he was so 
lively. He gave me the sense I had nothing to fear.
"Why don't you introduce yourself to us young lady?" he asked.
I stood up and watched nervously as everyone's eyes turned towards me. 
Somehow I found my voice and I began to speak. "Hello. My name is Serena 
Tsukino and I just moved here a few days ago from Tokyo."
"Tokyo? That's a long way from here, he said. Now that you've introduced 
yourself to us, I think it's our duty to do the same. I'm your English teacher Mr. 
Masiello. He then pointed to the student in the first row who introduced himself 
as Jordan. Faith whispered in my ear that she thought he was cute. He was cute 
but not half as good-looking as Darien. The next student then introduced himself 
and soon I knew the names of everyone in the class.
From then on the day went relatively easy. I had fun talking to Faith and 
Lexie. They introduced me to all their friends, who all turned out to be really 
nice. I really liked this school. Rose Park High was the site of my new beginning.

When I got back home, CeCe was home, amazingly enough. Usually she 
was busy at her office. She had a friend with her whom she introduced to me as 
a Mrs. Scott. She was a very regal looking lady with pale blonde hair pulled back 
into a chignon, wearing a Navy blue business suit and dark blue pumps. She was 
very nice and she invited me to the country club to meet her husband and son. 
I can't believe it. I get to go to a real country club! I ran upstairs to do my 
homework. Surprised? I plan to work hard, although so far, American high 
school doesn't seem like it's going to be torture the way it was in Japan. I met 
some really cool people and my teachers seem pretty nice. Everyone is so relaxed 
here and not nearly half as strict as back home.
I am so excited. Saturday I would go to the country club with CeCe. I had 
no idea what to wear and just what do people do at country clubs except play 
golf like I see them do on TV. I asked CeCe and she suggested comfortable pants 
and a nice shirt. I picked out my clothes and reserved them for Saturday.
The rest of the week was great. I learned a great deal of American slang 
from Faith and Lexie. They are both so great. School's going very well and I feel 
less and less homesick with each passing day. I really love it here. 

V
New Friends

It was finally Saturday. I got dressed in my casual Khaki's, a white baby 
tee and a dark blue sweater-jacket. We met Mrs. Scott at the club. Which turned 
out to be a large estate overlooking the bay. It was a beautiful day to be outside. 
It was cool and the wind seemed to hold a touch of warm sea air. It was quite 
beautiful, with large golf course and tennis courts and an indoor swimming pool. 
Mrs. Scott was dressed in the classic tennis outfit of a white shirt and skirt. 
She looked great. I knew she said she had a son in college and a daughter in 
high school but I would never guess, looking at her, that she was old enough to 
have kids that age. She looked so young. 
CeCe, who had disappeared a little while after we arrived reappeared, 
dressed in her own tennis outfit and she was bringing a tall blonde man with her 
as she walked towards us. Mrs. Scott's eyes brightened and she got up and 
gestured to the gorgeous, smiling young man who stood beside my aunt. 
"Serena this is my son Jason; Jason this beautiful young lady here is Mr. 
Chandler's daughter from Japan. My husband, Eric, is busy at the office today so 
you won't get a chance to meet him." 
We both said hello and Mrs. Scott continued. "Jay's a junior in college, but 
he acts like a high school freshman."
Serena laughed at that and laughed even harder when Jay stuck his 
tongue out at his mom, proving her point. He then said: "Look who's talking. 
This from the woman who still thinks she's in college."
It was fun to watch them tease each other like two teenagers. They almost 
reminded me of the way I used to bicker with Raye. Almost. "Why don't you 
show Serena around and introduce her to everyone, while I beat CeCe at Tennis 
" Mrs. Scott suggested. CeCe raised and eyebrow and said: "I think you mean 
you'll try to beat me at Tennis."
"I'd love to," Jason said grinning. "Come on Serena, I'll introduce you to 
the other three members of the musketeers."

"I wasn't aware Chandler had any children," Jay said to me.
"Neither did he until eleven years ago."
"So, Why did you move here?" He asked me as we walked.
"I just needed to get away from my life in Japan for a while. My friends 
and I weren't getting along and I needed to get away from my ex-boyfriend, not 
to mention, things in school were definitely not going well. This whole situation 
with my Dad and my other dad... well that's another story." I couldn't believe I 
just told him all that. I just felt comfortable talking to him.
"Well you're here now, so I guess it's time for a new life. My sister goes to 
your school; have you met her? Her name's Faith."
"Faith is your sister? She's one of my friends. What a coincidence!"
"Yeah the little brat's a member of my family. How long have you lived in 
Japan; you speak such good English."
"My mother was born here, but my family moved back to Japan before I 
was born. I learned English from them and I also learned English in school."
"Cool. Maybe you can teach me Japanese."
"Sure, Why not."
"O.k. here's the thing. You see my friends and I are very competitive 
sometimes and Nick got us all into this primitive bow and arrow stuff and now 
they are all competing over there by those trees. I think we should scare them a 
little, maybe sneak up on them and surprise them.
"I can't believe you're getting me into mischief already."
"We all have to start sometime," he said with a sly grin, winking at me.
We crept up into the woods and hid behind a few trees watching a 
clearing where three tall guys, one with long white blonde hair and very broad 
shoulders, another tall broad-shouldered man with dark auburn-brown shoulder 
length hair and another thin man with dark blonde long curly hair. They were all 
standing around with bows and arrows in hand staring at a tree, on which was a 
bulls eye with an arrow in the middle and they all seemed to be having a minor 
argument over whether it was centered or not. They finally resolved their 
argument and the blonde man stepped back and prepared to shoot his own 
arrow. 
Jason looked at me and whispered: "NOW!" We jumped up and yelled, 
"BOO!" Causing the white-haired guy to jump, turn, and release the arrow, which 
made the other two to drop to the ground to get out of the way. In an attempt to 
redirect the arrow, the white-haired guy swung his arms up into the air and the 
arrow flew up into the air and into the trees.
There was a screech and bird fell down to the ground and into the arms of 
the guy with the auburn hair. I rushed over to him and looked at the bird in his 
hands whose wing was pierced all the way through. I was so sorry; this whole 
thing was all my fault. I took the bird in my hands and I wished the whole thing 
never happened. I felt power coursing through my arms and I touched the bird's 
wounds and watched as the wound closed and the bird flew up and away.
I turned around and the guys were staring at me with their mouths open.
"What the hell just happened?" The white-haired guy asked when they got 
their voices back.
"Umm, I ahh," I mumbled trying to explain just what happened. They 
were all staring at me oddly, but the auburn-haired guy seemed as though he 
was staring right through me. I heard him gasp again and he fell to his knees. 
"My queen," he muttered, staring at me as if he'd seen a ghost. The other's 
turned to stare at him. 
"What are you talking about?" the white-haired guy asked. The other guy 
with long blonde hair also gasped and falling to his knees he said: "It's the 
princess." It was my turn to be shocked. Jadeite and the other guy with white 
hair also fell to their knees and said. "Princess Serenity." Now this was getting 
too weird.
"Who are you guys and how do you know who I am?" I asked nervously.
"You don't recognize us?" The white-haired guy asked.
"I'm sorry. I have no idea who you are or how you know who I am."
We are the Reincarnated guardians of Prince Endymion of earth. I am his 
first guard now known as Michael, formerly Lord Malachite," said the white-
haired guy.
"As you know me as Jason, formerly known as Lord Jadeite," Jason said.
The guy with the auburn hair introduced himself as Nicholas formerly Lord 
Nephrite and the other blonde I found out to be Zach, formerly known as Lord 
Zoisite. I was shocked, but having all my memories of the moon kingdom now 
intact prevented me from going hysterical over the fact that in front of me stood 
the four generals of the Negaverse which I had destroyed so long ago. I 
wondered if they even remembered that?
"I remember you all from the moon kingdom," I said, suddenly 
recognizing them also as the Dark kingdom generals. They didn't seem to be evil 
and Jay seemed like a pretty nice guy. I decided to test their memories and 
added: "and Beryl's army."
"Who?" they all asked at once. I guess that answers my question. "It's a 
long story." I said. "One which I can't tell you if you're all going to stay down 
there on your knees. Really, you don't have to bow to me. I'm just a normal girl." 
Jason raised his eyebrows at that. "Ok maybe not so normal. Why don't we go 
somewhere more comfortable where we can talk," I suggested.
We decided to take a walk along the nature trails just outside the club. 
This place was beginning to seem more like a park than a posh country club. 
Jason attributed it to the health-conscious California lifestyle. The five of us spent 
the rest of the day catching up on our past lives and eventually our present ones.

My new friends and I continued walking through the woods until we came 
to a clearing. So far I had learned a lot about the guys so far. I soon came to 
realize that they had absolutely no recollection of ever being generals of the 
Negaverse. To the best of their knowledge they had grown up with their parents 
in the United States or in Zach and Nick's case traveling between Europe and the 
States. Mike had also spent time in Hong Kong and Tokyo. They gradually 
became aware of their previous lives during the Silver Millenium through dreams 
and vague memories. It seemed fate had brought them together.
 Jason or Jay as everyone calls him, is a mischievous troublemaker. He still 
lives with his parents, who adore him, or so he likes to claim, and he's in his 
third year of college. He's a business and finance major, when he's not at a frat 
party. He will do anything for a laugh and so far he's made me laugh a lot 
especially the way he and Nick were always arguing. 
Nicholas, a.k.a. Nick or Nikki when being teased by Jay, had graduated 
less than a year ago but he was already in business with Michael. He used to 
travel with his Dad and lived in Paris and London for a while. Together He and 
Michael run a web Graphics Company called Golden Millennia or GM. They are 
doing really well and Jay gets plenty of practice checking their financial situation. 
He's planning on joining them in business after he graduates as well as being a 
free-lance financial advisor.
Mike graduated a little over a year before and worked with a graphics 
company before starting his own company with Nick a few months later. He is 
very serious and business-like not unlike Nick, except Nick has this air of Mystery 
around him and I heard plenty from Jay about his consultations with the stars. 
Mike is the obvious leader of the group.
Zach is rather quiet and reserved. He immediately reminded me of Amy. 
He is the brain of the group. He is in his final year of college, with a major in 
biology. He's going to graduate in a few months and go on to medical school to 
concentrate on genetics. Amazingly enough he and Jay get along well. He 
sometimes protects Jay from getting pounded on by the older and more serious 
Mike and Nick, and sometimes he allows Jay to sucker him into using his intellect 
to play tricks on the other two. I guess even the really smart have a mischievous 
side and can have fun. I wish someone would tell Amy that.
I really liked them, but I was slightly worried that the only reason these 
guys who were so much older than me would even want to talk to me was 
because I was some ancient princess. I frowned at that thought. I don't want 
things to be the way they were in the past. Not long before I had left Tokyo I 
had began to wonder if the only reason the Sailor Scouts had been my friends 
was because of their duty to me as their princess. 
I don't want anyone to feel obligated to be my friend just because of who 
I am or used to be. Mike had been looking over at me and didn't miss the 
disturbed look on my face. "Is something wrong he asked?" 
"No. Nothing's wrong," I answered a little too soon.
"Something's bothering you. You can tell us you know, Jay said. "Because 
Mike and Nick look really scary doesn't mean you can't talk to us. They only look 
like they're going to bite."
"Why thank you," Nick said sarcastically. "Remind me to hurt him later."
"Don't worry, I'll most certainly remember," Mike said.
I smiled at that. I was prodded on by Zach to talk about what was 
bothering me and I finally gave in.
"I was just worried that you guys are only being nice to me because I'm 
princess Serenity. The only reason anyone your age would want to talk to some 
teenager is out of obligation. I was kind of hoping to avoid that especially after 
what happened in Tokyo."
"Well I wouldn't worry too much about that," Nick said. Even if his mother 
hadn't introduced you to Jay, he'd probably find a way to talk to you anyway. He 
can't resist beautiful women." 
Jay pouted and turned his head up like a spoilt child and grumbled. "Like 
you guys are any better."
"And anyway, Nick continued in an annoyed tone at the interruption. Jay 
is a big child and that has probably rubbed off on the rest of us. So technically 
we're all barely any better than teenagers."
"Speak for yourself, Mike said. I do not want to be in the same age group 
as Jay. I am guaranteed to be older than ten."
"Hey, I resent that!" Jay said.
"Besides," Nick continued, "with the amount of power I can feel you 
emitting, if at any time we aren't nice to you, you could always just zap us into 
outer space."
I had to laugh. I felt so relaxed around them. It was so natural to be 
talking to them like this. They reminded me a lot of the Scouts except no one 
here pointed out my faults, not that I even had many of those any more. In fact I 
hadn't had a klutz attack since I got here. 
After that spectacular event with Queen Serenity there have been some 
amazing changes in my life. The guys had a lot of trouble believing I used to be 
an air-headed ditz who would trip over everything in sight. Now I was graceful 
and I knew things about the universe that even my teachers, or anyone else on 
the planet didn't for that matter. I found myself understanding languages I never 
even knew I could speak not to mention the ability to read long forgotten ancient 
languages like Sumerian and Egyptian Hieroglyphics. 
I remembered etiquette and various lessons in being graceful that had 
been pounded into my head well over ten thousand years ago. I even began to 
remember small lessons in self-defense that I had learned from the scouts. Back 
then I hadn't been a scout so intense training in defending myself had never been 
a priority. I was always dependent on the scouts to protect me. I was determined 
to learn how to protect myself though. Something told me that I would have to 
know how for the future. That was another thing. I had recovered the ability to 
sense the nature of things, whether good or evil as well as feelings and glimpses 
of the future and things happening in various parts of the Universe.
It was easier to carry the weight of being the one on whom the safety of 
the universe depended, now that I truly remembered who I had been and all the 
knowledge I once had. I felt so much older. I had come such a long way in a 
short time. "The guys noticed my silence and Nick asked me if everything was ok. 
I smiled at him and for the first time in years I could easily tell a friend just how I 
was feeling. "I was just thinking, how different things are and how much I've 
changed. I used to hate being the one who had to save the world all the time. I 
just wanted to be a normal teenager. 
"And now?" Mike asked.
"Now, I don't mind that much anymore. I've finally accepted my life. I 
wouldn't wish this on anyone else but I don't really mind. I feels so much older 
and wiser then I did just a week ago, it's somewhat unnerving. I couldn't even 
speak English last week and now...
"Even my body has changed."
"What do you mean?"
"I guess I just feel stronger than I ever have. You know, in my mind I 
used to separate myself from the princess. Now for the first time I realize I am 
her. It's like discovering a whole new part of myself."
The guys just nodded in understanding.
"I'd like to ask you guys another favor."
"Sure Rena. Shoot," Mike said. I smiled at my newly acquired nickname 
and thought: 'It sure beats being called meatball head.'
"I was wondering if you guys could show me how to defend myself in 
hand to hand combat. I know how to perform magical attacks but I never learned 
how to defend myself physically."
"I'd be happy to" Mike said.
"Great! I can't wait!" 

VI
Life is Good

Oomph! "I win again."
"Yeah," Nick groaned, sitting up on the floor and rubbing his back. I'd 
thrown him over my shoulder for the second time today. I had defeated him at 
archery too but he managed to save his pride by always defeating me at fencing. 
The other guys had had enough and were resting and taking sips from 
their water bottles. I still had a lot of energy left but even Nick finally insisted 
that we call it a day. I'd had enough lessons in hand to hand combat to defend 
myself quite proficiently as Jay had soon learned and he was now sitting with the 
other guys massaging a sore shoulder that his pride would not allow me to heal 
for him. Sometimes he likes to pretend he is so macho. Men!

After we had taken a shower and we were sitting around the pool behind 
Jay's house. We were all completely wiped out. When I woke up tomorrow I was 
going to be in some serious pain. 
"Serena, remember what you were saying about not feeling human 
anymore?"
I turned to see Zach looking at me.
"I did that DNA testing you wanted me to." He sounded somewhat 
hesitant to say what he had to say. 
"Oh yes. What were the results? I was so excited. I wanted to know, but I 
wasn't quite sure if hearing this would be a good thing. The expression I saw on 
Zach's face told me that this might not be such good news. I immediately became 
more subdued and slightly worried.
"Zach were the tests OK? Is there something wrong? My questions and our 
conversation got the attention of the other guys. 
"Zach would you please stop stalling," Nick said. The rest of us would like 
to know too you know."
"I never thought I would have to give this type of news to anyone but...
"Get on with it will you," a normally patient Mike snapped.
"Ok, Ok already. What I'm trying to say," he said and stopped to glare at 
mike and Nick, "is that you are not human Serena. In fact neither am I and I 
doubt that any of us are."
"WHAT!" four startled voices yelled in his ear. How can we not be human? 
"Guys please! I might not be human but I still need my hearing. A Chimp's DNA 
is about 98.4% similar to Human DNA. That means there's a 0.6% differential. 
When I completed the tests and ran the results through the computer, Serena's 
differential came up to be about 1.0% and mine was almost 0.7%. That is a huge 
difference, especially on Serena's part. 
"I think that whenever we began using our powers we gradually became 
more than human. We still look human. In fact, I think that we are just like any 
other human being except the magical aspects of our lives affects us on and even 
deeper level than we first thought. 
I haven't examined all the data yet, I wanted to wait until I told you guys 
this and see if you wanted to look at it with me. I figure I could take a look at the 
information I've gotten from the Human Genome Project database. If I look at 
each gene individually, I might be able to tell what differences there are."
"The other guys just looked at Zach and Jay said, "Can that wait till 
tomorrow? I'm really tired."
"Yeah. I know what you mean," Nick added, agreeing with Jay for a 
change.
"I can't believe you guys! You just found out that you're possibly not 
human and you want to sleep! Zach said. But Mike had long ago fallen asleep, his 
white hair blown over his face. Nick and Jay were well on their way. Zach sighed 
and I smiled at him. "Give it up. There'll be tomorrow."


It's been a few months since I moved here. Summer's almost here but I 
won't be spending it in Tokyo. In fact I might go to Canada or someplace on 
vacation with Jay, Zach, and Faith. Zach's graduating next week. We're all going 
to cheer him on and embarrass him. We plan to leave for Canada the day after 
graduation. Why Canada? It's far but cheap. It's going to be a long drive, but 
we'll all be taking turns. 
Mike taught me how to drive earlier this spring and I got my license just a 
few weeks ago. I'm surprised Jay's going to let me drive his Wrangler. He swears 
I drive too fast. He's wrong though. Seventy on the freeway is perfectly 
acceptable. I promised to slow down for him though. Who'd think he's such a 
wuss?

I drove across the wide expanse of land. The jeep sped over the road and 
my hair was flying in the wind. My sunglasses rested on my forehead as I 
watched the sunset ahead of me. Jay, Faith, and Zach had fallen asleep, or so I'd 
thought.
Jay turned to me and with a curious look on his face he asked me a 
question I would remember for the rest of my life. 
"What does it mean to be in love?"
"I was so shocked. I turned my eyes away from the road and stared at him 
for a few seconds. His blue eyes stared up at me and his blonde hair was being 
blown into his eyes, making him look like a small child asking why the sky is 
blue. "Why do you ask? I never expected you of all people to ask that." 
"Serena, you have so much love in you. You radiate love and goodness. I 
know you love Endymion, no matter how much you try to forget him. I know 
there is love out there somewhere for me, but I know I've never felt it, the way 
that you have. I just want to know. How does it feel?"
"I've never tried to describe it before. I think I ... No It's more like when 
you're with someone you truly love, you don't ever want to let go. Once you've 
felt them, if they leave it's as though a part of you is gone and you can't live the 
way you used to any more. 
"When you're with someone you love, you feel them even when they don't 
touch you. And no matter how much pain it will cause you, you'll want to be with 
them... even when they don't want to be with you."
I couldn't stop the tears that came down my cheek just then. "I think a 
way to know you're in love is when you can sit together for hours and never say 
a word or just spend all day together talking about everything and yet nothing."
More tears fell down my cheek as I remembered days I spent with Darien, 
times I would just stare into his deep blue eyes and remember things he said to 
me. "I would rather have just one breath of your hair, one touch of your hand, 
just one look from you, than spend an eternity without you." Sometimes Darien 
was unbelievably romantic.
I felt a warm hand form gently over my own. "I'm sorry Serena, I didn't 
mean to upset you. I'm sure it will all be ok. I promise." 
"It's ok Jay. I can't run away from my feelings forever. I'll never stop 
loving him but I hope that one day it won't hurt so bad."

VII
Where is Sailor Moon?

"Where is Sailor Moon?" the newspapers asked. Darien stared down at the 
newspaper and allowed his fist to close around it crumpling it. He angrily threw 
the newspaper across the table knocking a glass over causing it to fall to the 
ground with a loud crash. He stormed out of the kitchen.
"Damn these dreams" he cursed angrily. 'Damn me, and my stupidity. Why 
do I always screw my life up? Serena why did you have to go? Where are you?'
He sighed and released his anger. Who was he kidding? The further away 
she was from him the better off she was. Or was she? Wherever she was he 
hoped she was happy.
"Why do things have to be this way?" Ever since Serena left, his dreams 
had stopped coming. It seemed she was no longer in danger. It didn't make him 
feel much better however. She was still gone and his heart was slowly being torn 
from him. He could barely feel her presence anymore. She must have left the city 
and when she had, Tokyo became a colder place. He grabbed his jacket and 
walked out of his apartment slamming the door behind him. An appreciative 
neighbor muttered some curses as the door shook the walls.
Sometime later after a long walk through the city, Darien arrived at the 
park. Even though the temperature was mild Darien felt chilled as he walked 
through the park. He was vaguely aware of the sounds of laughing children and 
scolding mothers. The beautiful sights of the park and the sounds of chirping 
birds were lost on him as he wallowed in his misery.
He wasn't sure just how he felt right now. He wasn't sure if he'd done the 
right thing by pushing her away and yet the voice in his dream had sounded so 
right, he had to protect her even if it meant hurting her.  The pain he was feeling 
right now however, was far more than he'd bargained for. 
But he supposed he deserved it. He had been so harsh when he'd pushed 
Serena away. He had hurt her so badly and now it was his turn to be in pain. 
Later that day...
Darien walked into the café with Andrew close behind him. Andrew had 
the day off from the arcade and when he'd met Darien angrily storming down the 
street he'd insisted that he have a cup of coffee and discuss just what's bothering 
him. 
Andrew wasn't quite sure just why he bothered to suggest that Darien tell 
him his problems. Even though he was Darien's best friend, Darien didn't really 
talk to him about his problems, but that didn't upset him too much because the 
only person Darien had ever confided in about his feelings or anything else was 
Serena, before they broke up that is. He could only hope to calm Darien down. 
Just looking at Darien he could tell whatever he was angry about probably had to 
do with Serena. Ever since she'd left he'd been in a constant foul mood. Andrew 
thought that was very weird since Darien broke up with Serena, so why was he 
so upset about her leaving? 
He supposed he should be used to Darien's weird behavior by now. The 
guy ran off in the middle of conversations and then showed up an hour later 
looking exhausted. He always seemed to have a rose somewhere, and he always 
seemed to smell like roses and something else he couldn't quite identify as 
anything else but Spring. 
It was odd enough that he had started to date Serena who was so much 
younger than him it was practically illegal. In fact he remembered overhearing 
Serena saying that she had told her parents that he was two years younger than 
his actual age. After seeing them together and the change that had come over 
Darien however, he had easily understood that they were perfect for each other. 
Serena seemed to make him come alive. Whenever she was around he was 
suddenly funny and charming and quite the conversationalist. It was a huge 
change from his usual cold indifferent attitude.
Then one moment he was happier than he had ever been in his life and 
the next he broke up with the girl he had seemed to love more than anyone or 
anything else in the world and back to his old self except he was significantly 
colder and more easily angered than ever before. He had seemed even angrier 
whenever he was around Serena and yet when she wasn't watching he gave her 
these pained looks as though he wished she were still his girlfriend.
Darien and Andrew walked in and sat down at one of the tables. Andrew 
thought he should probably try to get Darien's mind off whatever was bothering 
him so as they sat down and began talking he said: "So Darien, did you see the 
newspaper? Apparently Sailor Moon disappeared. What do you think happened 
to her?"
"Darien simply answered, "Yes I heard," in a tone that suggested the end 
of that conversation. Just then the waitress came over.
"Hi guys! What's up Darien?"
"Hello Liz, Darien answered."
"So you say Hi to Darien but not to your own brother?" Andrew asked 
jokingly.
"I've already seen you once today. I said hi to you this morning 
remember? Anyway are you to going to order something or what?"
"Darien you look like you need a shot of double espresso," Andrew said. 
"I'll have a cappuccino."
As they drank their coffee in silence, Andrew stared at his best friend who 
was, as had become normal for him recently, staring out the window aimlessly. 
His eyes seemed fixed on nothing and were completely devoid of any sign of life. 
Andrew was amazed. How could Darien live like this, but then this was not 
exactly what he would have defined as living anyway.
He decided to go out on a limb and make a suggestion that he hoped 
would be beneficial to him. "You're upset, so why did you let her go?"
When Darien answered, his voice was cold and had undertones of anger. 
"I don't think you'd understand and even if you did it's still none of your 
business." Andrew was shocked that Darien could be so cold.
"Sometimes Darien, you are such an asshole. You push anyone away who 
even tries to help you. I'm beginning to think maybe it was a good thing you 
broke up with her because she deserves better than you."
With that Andrew walked out angrily, leaving Darien sitting by himself 
staring at his friends disappearing back. Darien was shocked to say the least. 
What Andrew had said hit him hard. Maybe Serena was better off without him. 
He should probably move on with his life as best he could because she probably 
did deserve far better than he could ever give her.
 He got up and leaving the money for the bill, walked out and made a vow 
to forget about any hope of ever holding Serena in his arms again. She was gone 
and eventually she would be happy without him ever crossing her path again. 

VIII
Successes

After living in San Francisco for a while, Serena soon came to realize that 
despite all the friends she now had, despite how happy she often felt with them, 
there would always be that place inside that they could never fill; that place 
inside her left empty by lost love. It cut deep and brought tears to her eyes when 
she thought about him. 
By day she often tried to forget but then night fell and the moon rose, 
bringing back memories of moonlit walks in the park and laughter as she left the 
theatre hand in hand with the man of her dreams. Now all she had were still-
frame shots of beautiful memories in her mind. Of course the good times always 
brought to mind and made darker the memories of those times that pain 
overshadowed any happiness she had felt. Then she would cry and hope for 
peace and love.
To alleviate the pain and loneliness that ever so often haunted her nights, 
she discovered the beauty of opening herself up to the fantasies within her mind. 
Whenever she felt sad or lonely she'd create a fantasy that would help to alleviate 
her pain. Eventually this form of escape grew into writing and she'd create long 
stories in her mind and then put them down on paper, continually reading, 
correcting, and adding to them as she went.
Eventually she supposed she'd one day have a whole novel. She often 
wrote of love and romance, things that were missing from her life, but there were 
times when she expressed even her pain on paper, mixing her pain with her 
fantasy and creating beautiful stories of pain and lost love. Unlike her life though, 
the stories she finished all had happy endings. Should her life ever come to a 
happy ending, it would never be as satisfying as she wished. There would always 
be him, missing from her life, and no matter how hard she would try to get over 
him, he held a part of her soul that she could never have back.

Serena should be very happy at this point in her life. She had great 
friends, more power in her pinkie than anyone on the planet and a full 
scholarship to UCLA. How many other twenty-year-old college students already 
had a best selling novel in print? She was about to finish college a year early with 
a degree in Business Communication and yet she was still dissatisfied.
She knew the reason but she just couldn't bypass it. She'd had many dates 
over the past three and a half years but no one ever made her feel the way 
Darien had. Over four years and she still couldn't get over him and she couldn't 
hate him.
Sometimes she wondered what he'd think of her now. Would he be proud 
of her. Her romance novel Silver Moments had done a lot better than she had 
ever expected. She had been published just six months ago and now she was 
working on her second novel, which she would base on her life as a superhero. 
She had already tentatively titled it: Broken Wings.  

Jackson Phillips sat in his leather chair behind his large desk looking out 
of the large glass windows that separated him from a thirty-story drop to the 
ground. It was a beautiful day in San Francisco, In his opinion anyway. Many 
people didn't like the fog that rolled in from the bay, or the gentle chill in the 
moist air that was just enough to make one shiver and the air feel crisp and 
fresh. 
He glanced down at his left hand at the wedding band on his manicured 
hand. It was hard to believe he was married already. At the young age of twenty-
eight he was easily surprised. Not too long ago surprise barely described his 
feelings when his father had decided to marry Jackson's former Nanny and retire 
in Palm Springs, turning the publishing company over to him. As if to top things 
off, his girlfriend of close to two years, Alexandra Watson had decided to marry 
him.
 With a fantastic job and a beautiful new wife Jackson felt as though he 
was on top of the world. Adding to his delight they had added a talented young 
new writer to their rolls and her first book was already a best seller. Better yet 
she was a friend of his wife and twice as likely to stick with the company, and if 
her first book was any indicator she would be a great success in years to come.
Returning to his desk in long strides, he glanced over the cover of the 
Romance Novel that had been resting on his desk. He picked it up and ran his 
hand over the textured cover. The picture on the cover had been done by his 
wife as a gift to her friend. It was a beautiful castle surrounded by mists and in 
the background hung a large but faded earth.
When he had first looked over the manuscript, he had thought the story of 
a princess of the moon sounded too much like a child's fairytale. But when he'd 
finally read the whole thing at the insistence of his wife Lexie, he had to agree 
that the story was very touching and mature. A  bit too romantic for his tastes 
but if he liked it that meant millions of romance readers would love it, making its 
author Serena T. Chandler an instant success.

Darien frowned at the chart before him. Something here just did not make 
any sense to him. Not that he could read Dr. Moore's handwriting anyway. His 
handwriting made Serena's chicken scratches look good. At least her writing was 
legible. 
Serena. It was hard to believe that it had been almost four years since she 
left and he'd tried unsuccessfully to move on without her. It was even more 
difficult to understand why he was still not over her. Every now and then 
something would remind him of her and his whole day would be ruined by 
thoughts of what if and why. Fortunately he was still capable of doing his job no 
matter how much harder he had to work just to keep his thoughts off her. 
Unfortunately there were always many things to remind him of every little aspect 
of her that he still loved.
Every spring since she'd left he would remember the way she used to stick 
her nose into the flowers and then giggle when they tickled her nose. He 
remembered the time a bee had popped out and surprised her sending her hiding 
behind him for protection. When fall came around and the sunsets became more 
golden he remembered kisses in the boat on the lake, before he'd teased her and 
she stood up and sent them both toppling over into the cold water. And he'd 
never forget winters when they'd go ice-skating and she'd hang on to him for 
balance only to pull them both down. But at the mention of hot chocolate she 
had forgotten her fears and shocked everyone by skating at high speed like any 
professional he'd seen straight across the ice and towards the exit.
He put down the patient chart and left the room, heading for the hospital 
cafeteria. He gave the usual automated response to the smiles and greetings of 
the nurses as he walked mechanically in the direction of the cafeteria. He'd 
disappointed many nurses and a few interns who thought he was the best 
looking doctor in the hospital even when he was cold and brooding as he was 
now. Just another day in the depressing and lonely existence of Dr. Darien Chiba 
Md. 
Before he even made it to the cafeteria, a well-dressed man stopped him. 
"Are you Dr. Chiba?" the man asked, furrowing his brown eye brows in a 
questioning manner.
"Yes I am," Darien answered, somewhat annoyed at being interrupted 
while in deep thought. "Can I help you?"
"Yes I believe you can." The man reached into the upper pocket of his 
obviously expensive slate gray suit and pulled out a business card and handed it 
to Darien. "My name is Adrian Reeves and I work for Meditech. " He stuck out his 
hand for Darien to shake, which Darien absently took and a moment later 
regretted it, as the man had a combination of oily and sweaty palms. Darien 
wiped his hand on his lab coat before the man could take note.
"What's that?" Darien asked, not really caring, but it seemed like the polite 
thing to do. The man seemed very interested in him and his appraising way of 
looking at him was making him very nervous.
"It's a medical facility in San Francisco. It's rather new and we're looking to 
hire the best doctors we can."
"How does that connect to me?" Darien asked
"Ahh, a modest one I see. Well we've checked your records and we're 
convinced that you have what it takes to become one of the best doctors in your 
field. At Meditech we have state of the art facilities and we provide the best in 
research facilities as well as patient care."
"Sounds intriguing," Darien commented not really sounding interested. 
"Just what exactly is it that you do at Meditech?"
"We do a lot of medical research but we also provide the best medical 
treatment we can to our patients."
"Patients who can pay no doubt."
"Actually we provide care according to need. We are one of the few 
facilities allowed to use experimental medication and procedures on patients who 
seem to have no other hope. We are one of the leading facilities in the medical 
field. Our doctors are able to create and improve drugs because they get to work 
hands on with their patients as well as in our lab facilities."
"So I take it you want me to come work for you."
"Yes." Adrian said with a nod. He grinned at Darien, his white teeth 
reflecting the hospital lights making him seem too much like a door to door 
salesman. He straightened his suit and prepared to make his final pitch. "You 
don't have to accept right away. In fact we will pay all expenses for you to come 
visit our facility as soon as you're ready. But please at least consider it."
"Ok. I'll do it."
"You'll come visit us?" Adrian questioned, surprised at Darien's easy 
acceptance.
"No. I'll take the job."
Adrian's mouth fell open, shocked that Darien had made the choice so 
easily. "Are you sure. You haven't had much time to think about it?"
"Just a few moments ago I got the impression that you really wanted me 
to come work for you. I thought you'd be happy at my acceptance," Darien 
replied smugly.
"I am. Believe me I am. I'm just surprised that you accepted right away. 
Believe me you won't regret this."
"So," Darien smirked, "When do you want me to start?"

"Serena, did you think about what I said?"
"Yes Dad..." Serena replied wearily. He had been badgering her for days 
on the same subject.
"Well...."
"I'm not sure yet. I'm not even out of college yet. Besides I have my 
writing."
"Oh come on honey. It would be a great opportunity, besides you can still 
write in your spare time. Robin Cook did it."
Serena smiled. "I'm flattered that you compare me to Robin Cook, but this 
is a major decision so can I have a little more time?"
"What if I told you that I got Irene to agree to be your partner in this 
project?"
"Serena's eyebrows shot up?"
"Irene agreed to this?"
"She said she would if you would."
"Hmmm." She furrowed her brows in concentration. Working with her 
sister would be great. They were quite a bit alike. Irene looked almost exactly like 
Serena with the exception of her dark, almost black, wavy hair that fell to her 
waist. She had the same bright blue eyes and creamy skin and they had grown to 
be the same height and weight. They also seemed to have the same obsession 
with shopping and ice cream.
 Irene however, was more analytical minded. She and Serena had gotten 
along really well when they had finally met almost a year after Serena's move to 
San Francisco. They had gone to the same college, had the same major but 
different minors, Serena in writing and Irene in graphic art. They had even 
roomed together on campus with Serena's friend faith as their third roommate.
It was a great, if completely different experience for Serena, having a 
sister. Irene was also very happy, finally being able to settle down somewhere 
and get to know her father. Her mother's hectic jet-hopping life-style had been 
fun while it lasted but she missed having a real home. 
Now this opportunity for both of them to work together was not one 
either of them could pass up without great consideration. Serena found herself 
leaning towards a yes and she knew her father was watching her intensely to see 
if she'd agree. It would make him very happy to have both his daughters working 
in his Corporation. He had a dream of them running the company by the time he 
was gone.
"Ok. I'll do it." Serena replied and couldn't help smiling at the overjoyed 
look on her father's face. He was so happy it seemed he'd burst and that thought 
just made her laugh. He was however much too pleased to say anything about 
her making fun of him. 
Celine's daughter, Serena's four year old younger sister came running 
through the patio doors and threw her blonde head into Serena's chest. They 
both giggled in delight and Richard picked up his young daughter and tossed her 
in the air. "Guess what honey?" he asked her.
"What daddy?" the little girl chirped.
"Your sister just made your daddy a very happy man."
 Darien understood why he had agreed to a new job, but he wasn't quite 
sure if he was making the right choice. He had no intention however, of second-
guessing himself. He had made the decision to leave based on the fact that 
without Serena in his life, it was getting to be completely boring and meant very 
little to him. Without her his life had no meaning. She was his stability and 
without her he was completely lost.
Not long after Serena had left he got fed up with life and left Tokyo to 
finish Medical School at Boston University. Not long after he had finished school, 
he moved yet again to a great hospital from which he had a great offer in 
Arizona, and now here he was yet again packing up for a move to San Francisco.
He had had little time to make any lasting friends at any of the places he 
had been, but his lack of friends had never bothered him before. He was quite 
used to living on his own and handling his problems by himself. Andrew had 
been right. He was a loner, he pushed people away, and he was quite probably a 
selfish bastard, but the one person who could change all that was gone and there 
was no need to make an effort to be a better person. After all who was around to 
care. He had been born alone, he'd lived alone, and he'd probably die alone.
He packed the last of his things into the box and took them out to his car. 
He didn't have much stuff. He'd learned quickly that if he was going to spend his 
life hopping from place to place, he should probably avoid collecting any 
permanent objects. He didn't have anything sentimental either, if you discounted 
that one picture he had of Serena and Rini that he had always kept hidden in a 
drawer, and the tiny box that held the ring he had never had the chance to use. 
He didn't want to forget them, they meant too much to him, but at the same time 
he didn't want them in full view where they'd be a constant reminder of his 
stupidity. 
He took one last look at the Spanish style stucco buildings that made up 
his apartment complex. It was nice while it lasted but he wouldn't really miss it 
much. It was a great dream to one day have a real home, but that's all it was, a 
dream. He got into his red mustang convertible, put on his sunglasses, and drove 
off with a screech of his car wheels.

IX
Where are they now?

Amy glanced out the window of the café, hoping to find a familiar 
approaching figure but seeing no one, she returned her attention to her coffee. 
She stared into the dark steaming liquid. She didn't even like coffee but lately it 
had gotten her through some long nights of sitting in front of the computer or 
leafing through thick medical volumes. She felt old and tired, having left behind 
her teenage years and becoming a woman much earlier than she had planned.
Not long after she and the other girls had gotten the note they had 
defeated the wise man and the group had slowly fallen apart. Amy, finding no 
reason to stay, applied to Harvard University in the States, and they accepted her 
with a full scholarship into a program for gifted students which allowed her to 
skip her senior year and head right to college. She had against her better 
judgement enrolled in the five-year medical program, cramming the normal eight 
years of University and Med. School into five years, leaving her little time for 
anything else besides her average four hours of sleep. Now as she was doing her 
internship at an excellent hospital in San Francisco she still had a little time. She 
wasn't looking forward to her residency, as she knew she'd be working long 
hours with no rest.
She had rediscovered the loneliness and unhealthy work ethic she had had 
before meeting Serena and becoming a Sailor Scout. Today was a rare day when 
she had for some reason decided to take a break and meet Mina, who had come 
up from Los Angeles to bother some director to give her a part in a movie. Mina 
was late and Ami was getting impatient, she could be studying instead.
Mina had finished up high school in Tokyo but after graduation she had 
returned to London with her mother before moving to LA to pursue an acting 
career. So far she had only gotten a few small walk on roles, but it was helping 
to pay the bills along with her waitressing job. Mina genuinely believed she 
would hit it big and Amy didn't doubt her. She had the looks, the motivation, and 
the skills. Unfortunately she had lost some of her bubbly personality after Serena 
had left, it had been what had made her really stand out from so many other 
people.
Looking back now Amy could realize just how much Serena had affected 
their lives. She seemed to carry a light around with her that touched everyone 
she met and made their lives brighter and happier. When they had pushed her 
away and she had left them, their lives had completely changed. 
Rei seemed to have lost some of her fire and had become more 
introverted. She hadn't even put up much of a protest when her father had come 
after graduation and insisted she move with him to Washington D.C. where he 
spent most of his time as a Japanese diplomat. She went to school there now. 
Amy heard from her occasionally, not much, just a few lines to say where she 
was and let everyone know she hadn't dropped off the face of the Earth.
Lita still had her cooking. She had gotten a scholarship to some culinary 
school in France and that's where she was now even though her letters indicated 
a desire to move to New York or LA after she felt she had had gained enough 
knowledge from her annoying boss and head chef, Jacques Depardieu. Mina had 
offered to have her room with her at her apartment in LA and Lita was 
considering the offer. This meeting with Mina would be the first time she'd seen 
her or any of her friends in almost four years. Rei, surprising them all, had 
suggested they get together about two years ago but they were all too busy and 
it was too hard to decide on a central location.
Amy looked up again and this time a recognizable figure entered her view. 
At least she hoped it was Mina. The figure walked in the same way she 
remembered Mina, but the Hair was fashionably cut at shoulder length, She was 
wearing sunglasses and an orange suit with a short skirt and matching heels. She 
looked great. She looked the part of a movie star.
As She walked into the Café people glanced at her, probably wondering if 
they would recognize her as an actress. When they didn't they simply returned 
their thoughts to their coffee and conversation. Amy stood up an enveloped Mina 
into a hug, the only show of affection she ever allowed herself. Mina slid her 
glasses off her face to reveal those bright blue orbs Amy remembered, 
unfortunately they brought back memories of another set of bright baby blues 
and stirred feelings of guilt in Amy. She wondered if there would ever come a 
time when she would forgive herself and forget what she had done to her best 
friend.
Irene was happy for herself and her sister. Together they had come up 
with the perfect plan for promoting the company. The Chandler sisters had done 
it again. Their peers were quite used to the idea of the unstoppable Chandler 
geniuses. 
Within the short time they had begun working for the company in 
marketing and promotion, they had increased product sales with their strategies 
for reaching many different types of consumers in all age groups. Serena seemed 
to know just how to reach people and Irene knew just what people were looking 
for in a product and how to package it to appeal to people. Their father was 
proud and the stockholders ecstatic. Hiring these two had been one of the 
company's best ideas and now they were looking into further expansion into the 
foreign markets as well.
To top things off they had both graduated college with honors, Serena 
had completed her last novel and even though Jackson wanted her to go on a 
book tour to promote it, she was loving her job at the company too much. She 
was also working on a joint book project with Irene, and their family was getting 
plenty of attention from the media for all their success. 
Irene gave a happy sigh as she plopped her exhausted body unto the 
large cream leather couch. Her apartment was decorated in pastel blues and 
creams that gave the two-bedroom flat a cool yet homely appearance. She liked 
this place. She had so many more pictures of her family now than she did when 
she was growing up. 
All around were pictures of her father, Richard, and her stepmother Celine 
at their wedding, Her mother Anika St. Andre-Chandler receiving the award for 
fashion designer of the year and Serena and herself at her birthday party last 
year. There was even one in which they were all together. Her parents had finally 
gotten over their eighteen-year rift and became friends. Anika had even become 
friends with Celine in time to attend her wedding. Now they were all one big 
happy family. 
Irene was happy to finally have a stable family life now. Where she had 
once spent her time with her mother taking trips all over Europe, she now 
attended family barbecues and company picnics. She went shopping with her 
sister without analyzing the clothes from the discriminating view of a fashion 
designer. She even had a fiancée.
When she had roomed with Serena in college, she had begun to have 
strange dreams of ancient kingdoms, beautiful princesses, handsome princes and 
palaces and the whole always ended in darkness and destruction. Eventually she 
had remembered an entire past life and her duty to protect her sister, the future 
queen. Ironically it had always seemed Serena was the one protecting her. 
She remembered the scouts and Endymion and was shocked to hear what 
had happened before Serena had left. She had finally understood why someone 
as beautiful and sweet as Serena, who caught so many guys' attention, was still 
single. She could see it when Serena talked about the past. She might have tried 
to move on with her life but she still loved Darien. Irene only hoped that one day 
Serena would find the happiness she had found with Michael.
Michael had been her love in the Silver Millenium and she was happy to 
have found him again. Serena had introduced them and the moment they had 
looked into each other's eyes no one else existed. Serena had seemed happy for 
them but Irene knew that seeing them together was painful for her, knowing that 
the one she loved no longer loved her.
Irene sighed again and decided to get her lazy butt off the couch and drag 
herself to her room to see if she had a nice dress to wear to the company ball. 
Not only would her fellow co-workers be there but some of her fathers friends 
and other high society. This would probably require another shopping trip. She 
called Serena to see if she was up to it.
 
Serena flipped through various outfits in her closet. She wasn't really 
feeling up to going to the ball but Lexie and Faith had insisted as she had 
expected they would. They of course had dates. Lexie had her husband Jackson 
and Faith had her fiancé Scott. Irene had Michael and Zach and Nick were too 
busy to attend. This left her with her default, Jay. 
They usually fell back on each other when stuck without a date, as neither 
was romantically involved. Jay however, actually liked hob-nobbing with San 
Francisco's elite. Serena disliked all the niceties and false smiles that were always 
on display and she usually ended up dancing with Jay half the time as she could 
never find a decent dance partner who wasn't obnoxious, arrogant or just a bad 
dancer. 
There was always that one guy who would try to get her into bed or drank 
too much champagne. She had developed signals to Jay or any of her friends 
who happened to be around, to come and rescue her when she got stuck with 
some creep or the other and unfortunately she had to use the signal at least once 
for every ball. It was in times like those when surrounded by people that she 
often felt the most alone.
She sat down on the floor in front of her closet. She needed a new outfit. 
Just then the phone rang and she got up and flung herself across her bed, 
succeeding in bumping her head into the pastel pink wall on the other side of the 
room. She rubbed her head, mussing her hair. That would leave a bump. She 
picked up the phone and answered with her usual hello.
"Bonjour Serry," the voice on the other side answered.
"Hi Ren," Serena mumbled into the phone.
"Nice to hear from you too Irene teased sarcastically."
"Sorry," Serena replied. I bumped my head in the wall."
"I'm not even going to ask. Anyway I just called to ask if you wanted to 
go dress hunting for the ball. I was looking through my closet and I realized I 
had nothing to wear."
"Me too. Sure I'll go. I desperately need a new dress."
"This time you are not buying another black dress. I', glad you're going. I 
thought you were going to back out of this one the way you did the last."
"I just can't see the point of going."
"Well this time, we are being honored so it would be nice to show up."
"I suppose. Anyway are you driving or am I?" 
"Oh you couldn't tell? Irene asked. "I'm on my cell phone. I 'm already in 
front of your building. I'll be up in a few minutes so get dressed." 
With that she hung up, leaving Serena to pull on a sundress, sandals and 
sunglasses and find something to do with her long hair. All those years of being 
late for school had taught her how to dress in a hurry. By the time Irene arrived 
at the door, Serena was fully dressed, hair half way up and ready to go.
"How do you do that?" Irene asked, amazed at how fast Serena could get 
dressed.
"I've had plenty of practice," Serena replied, grinning. "Let's go." With that 
they were out the door and ready to take the shopping centers by storm.

X
Meetings

Darien brushed imaginary pieces of lint from his tuxedo and inspected himself in the mirror. 
He looked great. His intense blue eyes stared out from beneath black bangs that brushed his think 
lashes. His strong chin stood out against the black of the bow tie and the suit hung off his broad 
shoulders better than it had on any male model that could have worn it. There was something 
missing. There should be a beautiful woman with two meatballs atop her head on his arm. 
He stopped himself before he could start torturing himself about the past. For some reason 
he picked up a small black box and slipped it into his jacket. He picked up his car keys and walked 
out the door of his apartment to pick up the two people he had not expected to meet in San 
Francisco. He checked his watch. He would be on time, Amy and Mina wouldn't have to wait on him. 

Mina twirled in Amy's apartment. "So how do I look?" She asked.
"You look great Mina," Amy replied, meaning every word. Mina was wearing a pastel 
orange, spaghetti strap knee-length dress. It sparkled under the bright lights of Amy's apartments. 
She wore matching orange heels and a sheer white shawl over her shoulders hanging down her 
back.
Amy looked great too. She wore an ankle length midnight blue gown that hugged her flared 
hips and fell to the floor in layers of blue silk. It had taken way too much or her savings to purchase, 
but when she looked in the mirror she decided it was worth it. As they examined themselves 
approvingly, the doorbell rang and Amy answered it. Darien stood at the door looking as gorgeous 
as he ever had, if not more so. 
She invited him in for a little while before they left. Ami remembered the day she 
discovered Darien Was living in San Francisco. She had been touring the facilities with one of the 
doctors as she was considering foregoing her residency at the hospital and working here as soon as 
her internship was completed. She had met him in the hallway. It was an amazing coincidence to 
say the least. Had she had the time she would have figured out the mathematical probability of such 
an event occurring. Now the three of them were going to a ball together. 
They had both gotten their invitations Darien's boss who was unable to attend and seeing as 
they knew each other he gave them three tickets that he'd had for his wife his daughter and himself. 
Amy had given one her tickets to Mina, as she was too shy to invite that gorgeous doctor with the 
long blonde hair who had been her tour guide. His name was Zach but she couldn't remember his 
last name. He'd insisted she call him by his first name.
Amy had had no intention of going but Darien and Mina had convinced her that she needed 
a break. Her Neurology textbooks could wait. According to Mina "she was going to have fun tonight 
whether she liked it or not." 

Serena surveyed the floor without interest. "You know it could be more fun if you even 
pretended to enjoy this," Jay whispered into her ear.
"I know, but I don't want to. Let me enjoy my misery. Look there's your mother. Let's go say 
hi."
"Oh come on. I see her all the time."
"Well I don't, so we're going." Just then Michael and Irene approached them, saving Jay 
from another pointless conversation with her mother and her friends, asking him when he was 
getting married. They all seemed to think that he and Serena were an item, despite numerous 
attempts to convince them otherwise. He wouldn't have minded being married to someone like 
Serena, he could love her, but it was best for them both if they let things remain as they were.
He knew that there was someone out there for him. In fact he knew exactly who it was. The 
princess of Mars was still unavailable to him at the moment however. He and Serena talked to 
Michael and Irene for a while before both couples moved unto the dance floor.

Not long after arriving, Amy and Mina had been swept on to the dance floor by two 
handsome gentlemen leaving Darien to fend off his female fan club that had seemed to swarm him 
on entrance. He had managed to get away at least for the moment and was taking a breath of fresh 
air on one of the balconies. 
He leaned his back against the railing taking in the view of the dance floor from outside. His 
eyes glanced over the many dancers stopping to rest on the second most beautiful woman in the 
world. She was a little taller than average with waist-length silver-blonde hair. She wore a pale 
peach, floor length, halter-neck gown that shimmered slightly. It hugged her body all the way to her 
knees before gently loosening and falling to the floor. She had the most perfect body and he could 
see her partner laughing. He didn't doubt that her face was probably as beautiful if not more so than 
the rest of her. 
He sighed and turned his back on the dance floor and leaning out over the balcony. The 
moon was a little larger than a half and hung oddly in the sky as though it were going to fall at any 
moment. There weren't many stars tonight. The blue-gray clouds misted over the sky making the 
usually bright stars invisible. 
He didn't look around as he heard voices heading towards him. "Not enjoying the party I 
see?" a warm female voice asked.
"No I just needed to get a breath of fresh air. These events aren't exactly my cup of tea. I'm 
not even sure why I'm here." He turned to face a woman about the same height as the silver-haired 
beauty he had seen before. She had dark hair and bright blue eyes that reminded him of Serena's, 
looking at her he realized just how much she looked like Serena. It was like seeing her with different 
hair. He almost gasped.
"Is something wrong?" she asked him, seeing the distant look on his face.
"No I'm fine. You just reminded me of someone I used to know.
"You remind me of my sister," she said. She doesn't like these events either. She gets 
bored. Why don't you ask her to dance? I think you might enjoy each other's company. She's sitting 
right over there," she said pointing directly to a very bored looking silver-haired lady sitting at a table 
champagne glass in hand. It was the same woman he'd seen before.
"You don't even know me. What makes you think your sister would like to dance with me?"
"Have you seen the other men around here? I wouldn't think of pawning off a man that my 
sister would have no interest in, on her. She'd kill me."
She gave him a reassuring smile and he decided to take her up on her offer."
"Thanks," he said. "I'm Darien and you are?"
"Oh, I'm Irene chandler. My sister's Serena."
Darien's eyes misted over at the mention of her name but he said nothing. Just his luck that 
one of the most beautiful women he'd seen all night just had to have her name. 
"Oh you must think me so callous. It's your company that hosts this event. You are Richard 
Chandler's daughter?" Darien said apologetically.
"Yes. But there is no need to apologize. I understand."
"Your sister writes very well." Mina had shown him the cover of the Romance novel she'd 
been reading. Mysteriously it seemed to be about the moon kingdom. He had read it in just one day. 
Whoever Serena Chandler was, not only was she a good author but she seemed to have captured 
the atmosphere of the silver millenium. Although there were large differences she had come pretty 
close to the truth of what the past had been like.
"I wouldn't have pegged you for someone who read romances." Irene said teasingly.
"I don't usually, but a friend of mine, showed it to me. She said the prince reminded her of 
me."
Irene's eyes narrowed. It couldn't be him could it? No. What would Endymion be doing here 
anyway? She let that thought go. It wasn't possible. She smiled. "How about that dance?"
"Yes of course. It was lovely meeting you Ms. Chandler."
"Please, call me Irene. It was nice meeting you too Darien."

Serena sat at her table twirling the champagne glass in her hand. She 
could be mingling but she didn't feel like doing much talking right now. There 
was something very different about this ball than any other she'd been to. One of 
the sailor scouts were here.
She frowned at the thought. She could feel the presence of power in the 
room. She could easily separate it from Jay's, Michael's, or her sister's. One or 
more of the scouts were here. She didn't know which one, she couldn't tell the 
difference between them just yet.
She surveyed the dance floor but saw no one she recognized. There were 
too many people. She could possibly open herself to her mind to the power and 
let it guide her there, but she didn't feel it necessary. She wasn't even sure if she 
wanted to see any of them just yet. She had forgiven them but she thought she 
needed time to prepare herself to speak to them. Unfortunately she had just run 
out of time.

Darien walked over to the lady who sat with her back turned at a slight 
angle towards him. She faced the dance floor so he was unable to see her face. 
He wasn't quite sure why he was even bothering. Most women found him cold 
and unreceptive and he was never as interested in them as they were in him. 
Irene seemed nice enough though and assuming that her sister shared some of 
those same traits this could turn out ok. 
Even at this distance he could sense something about this woman. She 
seemed different from anyone else in the room. Something about her, besides 
her silver hair and beauty made her stand out. He got a mild sense of pure power 
from her but he was no mystic, he couldn't get any true sense of how powerful 
she might be. She might not have any power at all. He walked up behind her and 
tapped her on the shoulder.

Serena was pulled out of her reverie by a light tap on the shoulder. It was 
probably another annoying co-worker asking her for a dance. All these men 
interested in her and she didn't even feel the slightest bit of attraction towards 
the most handsome of them all. She was very tempted to tell whomever it was to 
find another dance partner. She instead decided to be polite and turn around and 
accept the dance. She had nothing better doing anyway. Being on the dance floor 
would give her an opportunity to see which sailor scout was here.

Darien watched as the silver haired, beauty turned to face him. He looked 
down into the brightest, most lively blue eyes he had seen since...  His mouth 
dropped open as he stared into the familiar yet even more beautiful face of...
It wasn't possible Serena said to herself. Those same midnight blue eyes 
and smoky lashes that haunted her dreams. "Darien?" she questioned as he 
whispered her name. 
"Serena?"
"What, how...?" Serena asked.
"I can't believe I've found you."
Serena recovered and recoiled. "Have you found me? I wasn't aware you 
had a reason to look?"
"I didn't mean... It's nice to see you again," he tried. 
Darien was about to begin again but never finished as he saw the cold 
look in her eyes. She wasn't about to let what he had done to her slide. She may 
still love him and she certainly would love to have him back in her life but her 
pride was not about to let her run back into his arms like a careless teenager 
begging to be hurt again.
"What are you doing here Darien?" 
He didn't miss the chill in her voice. She sounded so different from the girl 
he remembered the girl he loved. She had changed a lot apparently. Her voice 
was deeper, almost seductive and she had grown at least two or three inches. 
There was also of course the hair. Her hair was completely silver, a shocking 
change from her formerly golden blonde tresses. It was quite exotic and just 
added to her already amazing beauty. There was no doubt in his mind now; he 
wanted her now more than ever.
God, he was handsome. Serena thought. Was it her imagination or did his 
shoulders seem broader and more muscled and his skin tanned? His eyes were 
no less beautiful than they had been and he looked like a lost puppy. She almost 
took pity on him but why should she? She was alone and unhappy while he had 
probably dated every girl between Tokyo and New York. He should be satisfied, 
he had ruined her life to make his better. 
She had proved herself though. She had become a success without him. 
She had proved not only to him, but also to the scouts and herself that she 
wasn't a dumb blonde ditz. She could manage on her own.
Darien opened his mouth again to make his worst mistake of the day. "I 
missed you."
Serena was shocked, annoyed, and angry all at once. "I don't suppose you 
could have missed me four years ago when it mattered."
"I'm sorry. I never meant to..."
"Mr. Chiba, I think you'll have to excuse me. I have better things to do 
than sit here and listen to you." Darien winced at the cold harshness to her tone. 
She got up and began to move away from the table. 
Darien reached forward and grabbed her arm. He wasn't going to miss out 
on the chance to get her back. "Please don't go."
"I have no reason to stay Darien," she whispered huskily, her back still 
turned to him. "You dumped me, or have you forgotten?"
"Serena, please, just listen to me. I didn't mean to hurt you. I..."
"You did hurt me Darien. You moved on with your life and so did I. Just 
let it be."
"Serena what is going on here? Is this man bothering you?" Jay walked up 
to her as Darien loosened his grip and let her go.
"No. I'm ok Jay," she said giving a fake smile that Jay easily recognized. 
"Are you sure?"
"Yes I'm fine. I think I just might go home now."
"Serena what's going on?" he asked again. "What did you do to her?" he 
glared at Darien who was jealously regarding Jay.
Darien ignored Jay. "Serena please just give me a chance to explain."
"She doesn't want to talk to you so why don't you back down," Jay 
sneered at Darien.
"Serena please?"
"Darien what's going on?" Mina asked as she and Amy came up behind 
him.
"They looked beyond him at Serena and Jay."
"Darien...." Serena whispered, wishing he would leave her alone so she 
could sort out her feelings.
"Oh my god Serena is that you?" Mina asked. It wasn't possible. Serena 
looked gorgeous graceful and regal.
Serena gave a small pained smile. " Yes Mina it's me." She looked at Mina, 
noticing her fashionably cut hair. With that exception she looked basically the 
same. She was just as beautiful as she was. 
"Oh god, Serena I'm so sorry," Amy immediately began sobbing. Serena 
walked over to Amy and held her in her arms. "It's ok Amy. Really." 
Mina hung her head in shame. "There's no excuse for what we did to you 
Serena. Can you ever forgive us?"
"You're right Mina. There is no excuse. But I think we're past that now. 
We're not kids anymore." Serena reached out and hugged Mina too.
Darien watched jealously. She forgave them so easily. Why couldn't she 
forgive him? He already knew the answer to that though. They hadn't broken her 
heart.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Jay asked.
"I'm sorry Jay," Serena said, releasing the girls from the hug and taking a 
step back. "I'd like you to meet, Amy Mizuno and Mina Aino, my friends from 
Japan and fellow scouts" she whispered in a softer voice, "and my ex-boyfriend 
Darien Chiba, I suppose that's Dr. Chiba now," she said questioningly and he 
nodded not missing the emphasis she had placed on ex.  "Everyone, this is my 
friend Jason Scott."
Jay nodded his head in greeting, as it seemed out of place to shake hands. 
"So you're the infamous heartbreaker," Jay said non-too friendly to Darien who 
scowled in return. Ami, Mina, stood open-mouthed, shocked that she had 
revealed their secret identities to someone they knew nothing of. Darien was 
equally surprised but was able to keep his shock in check.
"It's quite alright. Jay is fully aware of who you are and who I am. In fact 
he is from the Silver Millenium himself. I don't think you'd remember Lord 
Jadeite. You haven't fully remembered your past lives. There is no cause for 
concern, this is not the Jadeite we fought against so long ago." All this she said 
so nonchalantly and in an effortlessly regal tone. They just stared at her as if 
she'd grown an extra head. She sounded like royalty, the way she talked, the way 
she moved, whatever happened to the klutzy ditz? and Jadeite?
"She made way for the real Serena. I'm glad you took note," Serena spoke 
to the two girls further shocking them into the realization that she could read 
their minds.
"How did you...?" Amy started but never finished.
"When you're this shocked and emotional, it's quite easy," Serena smiled 
gently. 
"Yes it gets quite annoying when she does that," Jay said grinning.
Darien just stared at her as if he was seeing her for the first time. As 
Serena turned around to see if she could see any of her friends or her sister, 
Mina elbowed Darien, shocked that he was doing everything but drooling. Jay 
smirked. "Life never ceases to amaze me he whispered." No one bothered to ask 
what he meant.
Serena returned to face them. "I think it best we find somewhere else to 
continue this reunion if you feel up to it tonight. Personally I'm a bit tired so if 
you want to meet me for lunch on some other day, we can arrange something." 
Are you all staying in town?"
Her presence was commanding. She seemed completely in control if 
somewhat distant. Everyone around her felt compelled to yield to her. The 
princess and queen inside her shone through in her every mannerism.
"Well actually Darien and I live in town," Amy said. "We both work at 
Meditech. Mina is visiting and she has to return to LA to begin her first big acting 
job."
"What a coincidence! I'm surprised we never ran into each other before. 
But then I stopped running into people a while back," she finished smoothly. 
"Congratulations Mina!" Serena said, ignoring the slight pained look on Darien's 
face at her last comment. "Tomorrow's Sunday are all of you busy? If not maybe 
we can meet for lunch and catch up?"
"None of them were about to say no to her proposition and all nodded 
agreement. Somehow declining her offer seemed somehow an act of treason or 
something. For the first time they truly saw her as the commanding princess she 
was and no one was going to turn the Princess down."
She turned to Jay and asked if he'd be able to make it. He agreed and 
offered to call the other guys and invite them as well. "Oh damn!" She said. "I 
completely forgot I have to be at Dad's tomorrow but I don't think Anna will 
mind more people."
"Well if it's too much, I could ask June to help out," Jay offered. She and 
Anna get along well."
"Would you? That'd be great. I'm sure Dad won't mind extra guests. He 
likes these parties."
"Party?" Darien asked.
Serena ignored his question without seeming too rude. "Well," she said, 
directing her speech at Darien and the girls, "why don't you guys meet me at my 
Dad's place around noon. She gave them the address. Dress casually, I suspect 
we'll be having lunch outside. Is that ok with you guys?" The girls nodded in 
agreement and Darien also agreed. Serena stared specifically at Darien and said, 
"I'm sure you all have many questions and I'd love to find out what you've been 
up to. We can talk tomorrow. Right now I fell a bit tired so I'm going to head 
home. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
As she was bout to leave Jay pulled his keys from his pocket and handed 
them to her. "I'll get home with Mike. Why don't you pick me up tomorrow on 
your way to your Dad's?" She nodded and kissed him on the cheek before 
leaving. Darien clenched his jaw in jealousy. She had barely acknowledged his 
presence. He would get a moment alone with her. He had to.
 
Serena wasn't really tired. What she had needed was to escape his 
presence. She needed time to think. Should she return the pain he'd caused her? 
Should she believe he was really sorry? Did she really want to risk her heart 
again even if he had gotten even more gorgeous?
So many questions and she only had until tomorrow, then she would see 
him and she would have to come up with an answer. There was no explanation 
he could come up with that could have been a good enough reason to hurt her. 
He had said he didn't love her anymore, that he didn't want destiny to rule his 
life. He'd even tried to convince her that his choice had nothing to do with her, 
but he had to have been lying. She knew him too well to miss the pained look in 
his eyes when he'd dumped her. Whatever she had done to hurt him couldn't 
have been so bad that he would deny her a reasonable explanation.
She was almost looking forward to what excuse he'd try to come up with, 
and yet she feared that somehow it would all turn out to be her fault. Worse yet, 
she feared that he had a good reason, then she'd be forced to take him back, 
maybe before either of them were ready.  Sometimes life was just too 
complicated.
She dragged herself up to her apartment and unceremoniously dumped 
her clothes on the floor. She had gotten neater over the years but neatness took 
time and energy neither of which she wanted to waste on something so mundane 
at the moment. Times like these called for long showers and hot chocolate. 
Not long after she'd gotten into the shower she heard the doorbell ring. 
She just about screamed in aggravation. Who in the world would knock on her 
door at this ungodly hour? She got out of the shower and pulled on her 
bathrobe. This had better be important she thought. She trudged across her 
bedroom and into the living room to open the door, her feet leaving little puddles 
of peach-scented water behind her.
"She pulled open the door and as the door opened her mouth fell open. 
"What the hell are you doing here Darien?" 
"I couldn't wait until tomorrow to tell you what I have to say," he said, his 
tone anguished, and his expression like that of a young boy with too much news 
to tell.
Serena sighed.  "Is it my imagination or have you become more selfish 
since the days you used to tease me? What makes you think that I want to stay 
up late hours just to hear what you have to say? Are you always this 
inconsiderate?"
"I'm really sorry Serena, I just had to tell you now."
"Fine. Come in and sit down. I'll go put some clothes on."
As she left to go to her room to change, Darien found himself looking 
around her apartment. It was warm and cheery just like her. It was remarkably 
neat and sophisticated. The ivory couch was soft and the matching carpet plush. 
Her glass and wood coffee tables had carved legs and it was obviously expensive. 
In fact the whole room had an air of casual wealth and sophistication. She was 
obviously successful at what she did.
In the middle of the coffee table was a large bowl that was filled with tiny 
gold and silver stars and moons. To his left in a corner was a bookstand that 
contained a collection of romance novels, communication books and various 
other books and novels that she had collected throughout the years. 
He noticed pictures of a handsome middle-aged blonde man with silver 
streaked hair and a slightly younger aqua-haired  woman, as well as pictures of 
the woman he'd met who claimed to be Serena's sister. There were other pictures 
of four men and Serena, one of whom he recognized as the man he'd met earlier 
as well as graduation pictures with two other girls one black and the other a pale 
blonde there were a few others containing even more people he didn't know. In 
all the pictures Serena seemed so happy. Somehow that didn't help to appease 
his guilt as she was obviously still angry with him over the whole situation.
Something else bothered him. Something so obvious he was surprised he 
hadn't asked her about it earlier. Since when did Serena have a sister? And it 
seemed she had gained an entire family. Also she seemed so much more 
powerful, it was one of the reasons he had been so drawn to her earlier. If he 
could feel it and he had no real psychic strengths, he could only imagine the 
strength at which her power would have alerted Raye. 
She had changed a lot. Her presence was commanding maybe even more 
so than what he remembered of her mother. She was so completely different 
from the Serena he had known. He had loved the old Serena but something 
about her now, maybe the intense power and maturity he felt from her made her 
infinitely more attractive and made him a little hot under the collar. When she has 
around now, he was suddenly very nervous. 
Just then she came in dressed in a simple white cotton dress, her wet hair 
hanging loose behind her? "I see you have appraised my worldly possessions," 
she remarked, noticing him glancing around and looking at her pictures with 
curiosity in his eyes.
"It's a beautiful apartment."
"Thank you. May I offer you anything? A drink, something to eat?"
"No. that's fine. Can I ask you something?"
"Sure go ahead."
"Since when do you have a sister?"
She smiled. She'd never told him about her father, when they had been 
going out. For some reason it had never occurred to her to say anything. It had 
never mattered then.
"That's a long story, but I suppose I can simplify it. Kenjii is not my real 
father. My mother had an affair with her boss Richard Chandler when she used to 
live here before she married Kenjii, and I was conceived. After my mother 
married Kenjii and moved to Japan, my father, Richard, married Anika St. Andre, 
a French fashion designer. My sister Irene was born a few months later and they 
got divorced. The aqua-haired woman you see in the picture is his new wife, my 
stepmother Celine. She and my dad got married a little while after I moved here. 
They also have a younger daughter, my little sister Catherine. That's her in the 
other picture," she said pointing to one where Celine held a tiny baby in her 
arms. "she's three now."
"Wow," was all Darien had to say. "Did Kenjii know you weren't his 
daughter?"
"Not until right before I left. He and my mother separated for a while back 
then but they worked things out and they're back together now. They came to 
visit for my High School graduation."
"Can we work things out Serena?" He asked solemnly, replacing the 
picture he'd picked up.
"I suppose that all depends on you Darien. Just why did you come here 
tonight?"
"I couldn't wait any longer. I tortured myself for four years thinking I 
could live without you, but you were always on my mind. Every time I tried to 
move on, you'd be there."
"Is that the only reason you're here? To ease your own pain? You couldn't 
move on with anyone else so you're here to settle for what you can? Don't you 
think I hurt too Darien?"
"That's not what I mean Serena. "I never meant to hurt you. In fact I 
never wanted to break up with you. I loved you so much."
"Then why did you do it. You never even gave me a good reason. You 
knew how I would take it and you hurt me any way. Didn't it mean anything that 
our love was greater than death, that I died for you?"
"You meant everything to me. You still do. I thought I was protecting 
you."
"Darien, spare me the crap!" Serena snapped angrily. "That's even lamer 
than your excuse that you didn't want destiny to rule your life. If you're going to 
make up excuses, please have the decency to make them good."
He flinched. He'd best get to the point before he really pissed her off. Her 
crescent moon was glowing slightly on her brow.
He took a deep breath and began his story. "Sometime after Rini appeared 
I started having these dreams. I dreamt we were getting married and you were 
walking down the aisle and you looked so happy and so beautiful and then just 
as we were about to kiss, something pulled you away from me and everything 
went dark and I could hear you scream but I couldn't find you, then I was alone. 
I kept calling your name but you weren't there anymore. Then a voice came and 
told me to stay away from you or you'd die." Hot tears flowed down his cheeks 
as he hung his head and sank into the couch.
Serena sighed. There it was, a perfectly good explanation and she was not 
happy in the least. She wasn't sure she was ready for him, at least that was what 
her mind told her. Her heart and her body told her something completely 
different. She'd been ready for this day for four years.
She sighed and smiled one of her perfectly serene smiles at him. "I don't 
remember ever seeing you cry."
"I cried when I realized what I had to do. I cried when I did it. I cried 
when you left."
"I'm still mad at you," she said calmly. I forgive you, but I'm upset that 
you didn't think you could trust me. I may have been immature then, but given 
the chance I could take care of myself. You should have allowed me to make that 
decision for myself."
"What you did has changed me. It has changed our destiny. I'm not the 
same girl you used to know and I'll never be the queen my mother was. I've seen 
what the future would have been and I will let you know, I'll never be a delicate 
angel like my mother was or the Neo-Queen Serenity I would have become. I'm a 
warrior now, and more power runs in my veins than ever before. If you join me, 
you'll be taking on my burden as well. My duty is to this world and the universe 
beyond it. Are you sure you're willing to take up my burden as well as the risk 
that you'll never love me as you did before? I'm not about to get my heart broken 
again Darien. With that she closed her eyes and her wings opened behind her 
and she became the queen she was. "I am Queen Serenity, warrior of the Moon. 
Are you sure you want to be with me?" She sounded confident and commanding 
but inside a little girl prayed and hoped that he'd say yes.
Darien was awed at the sight before him. She was right she was not his 
little meatball-head anymore. She was a powerful, beautiful, sexy woman and 
what man in his right mind would say no to the opportunity to have her in his 
arms?
He knelt down took her hand in his own and became Prince Endymion. He 
touched his forehead to the back of her hand. "I'd do anything if it meant I could 
be with you," he whispered and kissed her hand.
"Darien?" Serena asked.
"Hmm?"
"We look ridiculous."
"He blushed and stood up, turning back into his normal self. He caught 
himself drowning in her bright blue eyes. She surprised him by grabbing his shirt 
and pulling him in for a deep kiss. He felt the purity of her power and kissed her 
back with enough passion to start a fire. When she released him he stared at her 
with such a look of surprise and utter confusion. She laughed at his expression 
and the tinkling silver sound of her laughter only served to make him more 
confused and light-headed.
"You look like a lost puppy," she said smiling. I missed you."
"I don't know you, but I think I'm in love with you," he said.
"Do you really? She said in a teasing tone raising an eyebrow. "I think I'll 
have to assure you of your love. You shouldn't have to think about it." This time 
he was prepared for her kisses but not the passion in them. Whoever she had 
become, he was never going to let her go, of that he was sure. 

XI epilogue
It's About Time

The phone rang three times before Darien decided to pick up. "Hello?" He 
grumbled into the phone?
"Who is this? The voice asked. Is Serena there?"
"Serena?" he groaned confusedly before realizing just where he was.
Serena, then sat up in bed and Darien handed the phone to her. "Hello?"... 
"Oh hi Jay"... "What?!" She screeched as she jumped out of bed mobile phone in 
hand.
Darien stared in amusement as she rushed around the room, completely 
unaware of her nudity as she hurried to get dressed. "What are you staring at?!" 
She yelled at Darien. "Get dressed! We're going to be late."
By the time Darien rolled out of bed and put on the shirt and pants from 
his tuxedo, Serena was already dressed and in the process of brushing her hair. 
She tossed her hair to him to hold as she put on her necklace. He was amazed at 
how fast she had gotten dressed. It didn't take much for her to look stunning.
When she was done. He kissed her on the cheek and told her he'd meet 
her at her Dad's. He had to go back to his place and change his clothes. She 
stopped him before he could leave so they walked out to the parking lot 
together. He got into his mustang and watched her drive off, the wheels of jay's 
black BMW screeching. Apparently she drove as fast as she put on her clothes. 
He smiled. He had a girlfriend and she was the love of his life. It was about time.

Celine and Jay were showing Mina and Amy around the mansion while 
Serena was in the kitchen talking to June and Anna, and trying to calm an 
extremely hyperactive Catherine. Her father had given her candy again.
 Serena came from the kitchen and met the others on the back lawn, 
where they would be having lunch. Catherine had worn herself out and was 
taking a nap upstairs. Earlier she had introduced the girls to her Father and 
stepmother. They were shocked to say the least, to find out about her parents 
and her sisters. Darien, Michael, Zach, Nick, and Irene had yet to show up but 
they weren't too late yet so Serena wasn't worried.
Ami and Mina went off to a corner of the table that had been set out on 
the lawn to have a minor discussion.
"She's changed so much," Ami said. 
"I know. Darien noticed too. Did you see the way he was mooning over 
her last night?"
"Yes I know. You'd think he wasn't the one who broke up with her. She 
was purposely ignoring him when we walked over to her."
"Yeah. I thought Darien was going to strangle Jay for a second last night. 
He was barley keeping his hands from throttling him."
"I'm not the only one Darien couldn't keep his hands off last night," Jay 
whispered popping in on their conversation, causing Amy and Mina to blush with 
embarrassment. Serena was standing right beside him and her mouth flew open 
and her face flushed bright red. The girls stared at Serena in shock.
"Jason William Scott, I am going to kill you!"
 Serena growled.
"That is my cue to disappear," Jay said taking flight. Just then Darien 
walked up to them and Serena just turned around and stared at him for a 
second. 
"So Darien. How was last night?" Mina asked.
"Darien and Serena both joined in glaring at her, Darien's face flushed a 
hot pink." 
They stopped glaring long enough to notice Jay, Zach, Michael and Irene 
approaching. After Introductions Zach whispered in Serena's ear, "So how was 
last night?" referring to the ball.
Serena sighed and exasperatedly asked everyone loudly, "Is there anyone, 
who doesn't know I spent the night with Darien?!"
"Darien's face was bright red and everyone stared at her in silence."
"Her father walked up behind her and said to her, "Actually honey, I didn't 
know that."
Serena buried her face in her hands even more embarrassed. 
"Actually Serena, I didn't know either," Zach said, smiling.
"Neither did we," said Michael speaking for Irene and himself. Irene raised 
and eyebrow at a significantly more embarrassed Serena. Darien walked over and 
took her hand. He leaned in closer and whispered in her ear, "if it makes you feel 
better, I knew." Her laughter tinkled in the air. 
"Promise me you'll always be this corny," she said to him. 
"I promise he whispered."
"And one more thing, Promise me that in the future you'll never ever put 
on a Lavender Tuxedo."
He was a little confused but he agreed, I promise. I'll do anything to make 
you happy. I'll love you forever. He kissed her and everyone around them sighed 
and clapped.
"It's about time, Mina said."
"Yeah," said Ami not really paying attention to anyone but Zach, who had 
come to stand beside her. "It's about time."


Marshmellow
Watsonma@netscape.com
http://members.xoom.com/MarshAngel/Mysailormoonhomepage.htm