The next morning dawned bright and happy, though everyone in Darien's apartment was far from cheerful.
"How about some breakfast?" Lita said, faking a smile.
Mumbles of agreement filled the room and Lita went to work, soon the place was alive with great smells and the sounds of Lita singing as she cooked.
"I'm gonna hit the shower." Rei said, stumbling off.
It had been a long night of questions and more questions, and they were all exhausted.
"Hey Amy, whatcha reading?" Meena asked innocently.
"Trigonomic functionality..." she blinked, then blushed. "Um... advanced Math."
"You're studying?"
"Yes, if I don't keep up my studies..."
Taking the book from her friend, Meena put a bookmark in it and placed it on a table.
"After breakfast, you're gonna take it easy, if I have to tie you down myself.
Darien chuckled then,and both girls blushed.
"I didn't mean it like that." Meena said
"I know." Darien said, shaking his head. "I'm just tired, less thinking and more reaction."
"Come and get it!" Lita said, and they did just that.
Serena watched them from her seat on the counter, snuggled in the blanket, but still cold.
I wonder if I can make them see me.
She pondered for a while on just how to do that, and finally she smiled weakly.
Well, I know one way...
Wrapping the blanket around her so she could hold it up with one hand, she walked over to where Meena had placed the book and touched it.
"It's solid." she said.
Reaching with trembling fingers, she tried to pick it up, but to no avail.
"That's weird, it's not moving."
She tried again, and after putting all her strength into it, she managed to push it off onto the floor.
"What the heck was that?" Rei asked from the table.
"I dunno." Lita replied.
Darien stood up, walking into the living room, and right through Serena, stopping him cold and sending shuddering waves of dizziness through her.
"Wow." he said.
"What's up?" Rei asked.
"I just got a HUGE cold chill." he replied, his eyes wide.
"Probably just a wind gust." Amy said quietly.
Darien shrugged and turned around to walk back to the table, Serena avoiding him this time by falling over the arm of the couch.
"What was the noise?"
"No clue." he said, looking at Meena's worried expression "Probably just us hearing things from not sleeping in a while."
They sat down again, and once Serena felt strong enough to stand, she did so, walking over and sitting on the counter again.
"Come on guys, turn around and look at me." she scolded half-heartedly.
Rei nearly jumped from her seat, and everyone else jumped as well.
"Rei?" Amy asked quietly "What is it?"
"Nothing... I... thought I heard something..."
"We all need some sleep." Darien said. "I'll take the couch, you girls split up and take the two bedrooms.
They all nodded, and left the dishes, too tired to deal with them right now, all stumbling off to bed.
"Guys, I know you're tired." Serena said again, almost in a whine of despair "But come on, just say you can see me, please?"
"What was that?" Rei said, stopping dead and Amy thumping into her shoulder.
"What was what?" she said, rubbing her nose.
"That... sound."
Serena hopped off the counter.
"Rei?" she said, testing.
Rei looked around the room in a panic.
"Rei, it's me, Serena."
Backing against a wall, Rei looked around the room for signs of the voice she heard.
"Rei, please, don't run from me, it's really me, Serena."
"Serena?" she said softly, her back against the wall now.
"Yes Rei, it's me."
"Oh come on Rei, that's not funny." Lita snarled.
"Yeah Rei, knock it off."
Darien said nothing, watching Rei as she spoke again.
"Serena?"
"Yeah, I don't wanna scare you."
"Is that really you?" Rei said, her eyes filling with tears.
"Rei?" Amy said, stepping forward.
"Rei, tell them I'm here, and I can see them." Serena said quietly.
"Guys, Serena's... here..." Rei said, still looking for her lost friend.
"This is sick Rei..." Lita started again.
"Lita, I think she's serious." Amy said, looking around herself now.
"I'm next to the couch Rei." Serena said again quietly.
Rei stared at the spot Serena mentioned, but she saw nothing.
"I... can't see you.." she said, feeling the air as Serena backed away.
"I know Rei... just... tell them I'll prove I'm here..."
"How?"
Meena walked forward to put a hand on Rei's shaking shoulder, still confused herself, but backing her friend all the way.
"Have everyone watch the kitchen table."
"Guys, Serena says to watch the kitchen table... she's gonna prove she's here."
The group stumbled toward the kitchen, except Darien, who stood where he was, not sure what to believe.
Serena walked to the kitchen table, and set all of her strength against the plate Amy had used... after a few moments, she sent it to the floor in pieces.
Gasps filled the air as the girls jumped in surprise.
"Serena?" Amy said, her eyes full of tears now too, and looking around to see her friend.
Serena was crying now too, and she could only sob quietly.
Rei smiled through her own tears.
"Serena's here." she said with certainly. "She's with us for real."
Death watched from a shadow, smiling at the power she showed, even in this limbo between worlds.
If she knew she wasn't dead, she'd have long since been back with her friends. he thought.
Yes, but she needs to be here, for the sake of the future. a second voice in his head said quietly.
Of course, my queen, but I hate to see her like this.
As do I, but it must be.
The voice was quiet, and Death faded and disappeared, hoping Serena would learn all she needed in time.
"Serena?"
"She's here Darien." Rei smiled, wiping tears on a wet washcloth "I can't see her, but I can hear her."
Darien stood silently, his heart wanting to believe, but his mind stubbornly denying what was happening.
"Rei, tell Darien I'm sorry about his plate." Serena said, sitting on the counter again.
Rei's sudden laughter was strange, and Amy thought her friend may have been though too much.
"Geez Serena, you think Darien's worried about a stupid plate?" Rei said, staring at the ceiling.
"Well, I... don't know what else to say really." she mumbled.
"What's going on Rei, what's she saying?" Lita said, stepping forward and putting an arm on her friend's shoulder.
"Nothing Lita." Rei said. "She's just happy to see us all."
"Thanks Rei." Serena said.
"OK, Serena is here." Amy said, stepping forward and taking charge. "Now what do we do, we can't see her, and only Rei can hear her."
"Serena?" Meena said quietly "What's it like... on... the other side?"
Serena blinked.
"It's like being in a swimming pool to long, you're always cold... and it's lonely."
Rei repeated Serena's comments and Meena smiled.
"You're not alone Serena, you have us... it may not be much..."
"She says it's all she could have ever wanted." Rei interrupted.
"OK guys." Darien said finally "We have to figure out why she's still here."
"I don't follow." Lita said, matching Darien's sudden fierceness with a look of bravery of her own.
"She's still between worlds." Amy put in "Or she wouldn't still be here and see us."
"What? She's a ghost?" Meena asked.
Rei cocked her head sideways a moment, listening, then her eyes widened.
"Serena says... she's talked to.. Death." her tone was soft, and fear edged her voice.
"Serena, Death... was he a young guy?" Darien said eagerly "Red hair, really laid back?"
Rei nodded.
Darien's smile cut through the silence in the air, and the girls started to throw questions at him from all sides.
"Girls, you don't get it do you?"
They all shook their heads except Amy, who smiled now as well.
"Serena's not dead." She and Darien said in unison.
Amy giggled and grabbed Darien, and he spun her, as if dancing.
"You two wanna fill us in?" Lita said, slumping on the couch.
"Yeah, We're lost here." Meena put in.
Rei looked toward the counter, and gasped, gathering everyone's attention instantly.
"Look!" she pointed.
As they followed her outstretched arm, they saw a shimmering golden glow, emanating from just in front of the counter.
"Serena?" Darien said, reaching out.
"NO!" she said, taking a step back and bumping into the counter. "Please... I get all dizzy when someone touches me."
"I can hear her!" Lita said, jumping up.
"So can I!" Meena exclaimed, and the two clasped hands and giggled like five year olds.
"This isn't easy.. to concentrate like this." Serena said, smiling. "But I had to tell you all... how I felt."
"Take it easy." Rei said, pushing Darien's hand down and stepping between him and her. "We all know you're here now, so don't wear yourself out."
"OK... I'll take a nap then." she replied "If you need me, just think of me... for some reason I hear that like you were right here with me."
Before anyone could say anything more, she faded and was gone.
Serena staggered, falling to her knees in a heap, exhausted.
"Come on guys, Serena's OK... let's get some sleep, or we'll never be any use to anyone later on."
"Yeah, you're right Lita." Meena said, trudging off toward the guest room.
"I'll bunk with Meena." Lita said, turning and heading that direction herself now.
"I see Rei and myself have the Master bedroom." Amy said quietly.
"You go on ahead Amy." Rei said. "I know how shy you are... and besides... I couldn't sleep now if I tried."
"Just promise me you'll get some sleep soon." Amy replied.
"I will... I promise."
Amy smiled, and hugged Rei suddenly.
"You're a great friend Rei. I just hope you know that."
Rei smiled, blushing slightly as Amy turned and walked off to Darien's bedroom to get some rest.
She turned a moment later to say something to Darien, and found him asleep in a chair.
Grabbing a blanket, she covered him and went to sit on the balcony, wondering where Serena was now.
Serena awoke later to find herself strangely warm, and dressed in a beautiful black silk dress, her hair unbound flowing over her shoulders.
Standing up, she looked around to see no one in the house, and wondered where they went.
"Serena?" Rei's voice startled her.
She turned to see Rei, sitting up from the kitchen table.
"My god Rei, you look terrible." Serena said, walking over and standing next to her friend.
"I haven't slept since the other day when you told us you were here.
"I just woke up though." Serena explained.
"Really?" Rei wondered aloud "Time must be different where you are, it's been three days here, today's your funeral."
"That explains the dress..."
"Dress?"
Serena explained her dress and the new hairstyle, and Rei nodded.
"Yeah, that sounds like what Darien said they put you in."
"If they dressed me for the funeral, that means they're gonna bury me later... and then what?"
Rei sunk her head down to her arms and smiled faintly.
"Darien's got a plan... he's... always... got a plan..."
Then she was asleep, leaving Serena alone once more.
Darien stood next to the open casket, deep in thought.
He had been extremely quiet all night, only saying 'Serena's fine now' when her mother had broken down in tears.
Since then, he'd stood in the corner, watching people come and go while they paid their respects.
"It's a sham." he said quietly to Amy, as she walked over to hand him a soft drink.
"Come on Darien, just take it easy..."
"No Amy, I'm tired of 'Taking it easy'." he snapped, heads turning in surprise "I'm done with this."
He stalked off, mindless of anything but Serena, and bringing her back.
Serena paced the kitchen.
"Serena?" Rei's feeble voice sounded from beside her.
"I'm here Rei."
"Stop pacing, you're starting to irritate me."
"Sorry." Serena, said, leaning against the wall.
A few moments passed, and Rei turned to look at Serena.
"Wait a second..."
"What's up Rei?" Serena asked quietly.
"Nothing's 'up' Serena, I can SEE you... I can hear you too."
"You can?"
"Serena, that make up have on looks horrible."
Walking to a mirror Darien kept in the hall, Serena gasped.
"Told you." Rei mocked, walking over as well.
When she got there, she saw the expression on her friend's face, and was genuinely concerned.
"What? What do you see?"
Serena's parlor paled, and she finally stood tall, blinking once.
"I understand now Rei."
"Understand what?"
"Everything." she said, turning and looking at her friend, placing a hand on her shoulder.
"You're hand... it's like ice." Rei said, flinching.
"Rei, here's what I need you to do..."
Darien pulled up outside his apartment complex on his motorcycle, hanging his helmet on the handlebar and walking inside.
"Serena?" he called from the front door. "I'm home."
Nothing.
"I can't hear you, but I know you can hear me, and I have to tell you, I will get you out of this... somehow."
Silence ruled again.
"If you're here... just... I dunno... move something."
"Darien."
"Serena?"
Darien spun to see Serena, her hair still unbound, now wearing a beautiful gold dress of silk.
"Darien, listen to me."
The voice was Serena's, but not hers at the same time.
"I'm listening."
"I am speaking though Rei to tell you what must be."
Instantly, Darien knew it wasn't Serena, but more Princess Serena.
"As you command." he said, bowing.
"You must bring me to the funeral, and anyone who knows of my death must be kept or returned there."
Darien looked up.
"I know it will be tedious, but it must be done."
"Of course."
A flash, and Rei staggered forward, and Darien caught her before she fell to the floor.
"You OK?" he asked.
"Fine... just... cold..."
Darien reached behind him and grabbed the blanket he had slept under the other night and wrapped her in it, laying her on the couch to rest.
"Serena... where?" Rei asked feebly.
"I think she's still in you... that's my guess anyway." he replied, walking to the phone and calling Amy at the Funeral Home.
"What a fool I've been." he muttered. "What was I thinking?"
"Don't be so hard on yourself, muffin." Serena's voice replied quietly from the couch. "You've been through a lot, everyone has."
Darien wanted so bad to turn and hug Serena, but deep down, he knew it wasn't really her laying there.
Instead, he picked up the phone and dialed, hearing nothing but his heart breaking as he stood there.
"Excuse me, Amy?" Serena's mother said, sitting next to her on a couch in a small, quiet waiting room.
Amy looked up, her eyes red and dry from crying. "Yes?"
"I overheard your conversation with Darien, if you could call it that." she began, sighing. "Anyway, I just want to tell you, you'll get through it... somehow."
"I dunno anymore." Amy replied "It's... just so strange without Serena around."
"Yeah." her mother agreed "I went to wake her up for school the other day and nearly lost it."
The two sat for a while, saying nothing, just thinking of Serena, when a scream echoed from the viewing room.
"Stay here!" Amy said, running for the other room.
Her run slowed to a walk, then to a backward stagger as she saw the impossible.
Serena's body, sitting up and looking around, the eyes completely black, an evil smile on her face.
"Everyone, into the waiting room!" Amy managed to yell before Serena hopped out of the coffin, tearing at the ankle length dress.
"How can people WALK in this... this... THING!" she screamed, the voice Serena's, but with a cold edge to it.
She ripped the once beautiful dress into a two piece set of rags that mimicked a mini skirt at best, and smiled at her handiwork.
"Much better, I can move now." she stretched provocatively, smiling. "Now Amy, we can end this."
"I don't know who you are, or why you're in Serena's body, but I'm begging you to leave."
"You beg?" the woman mocked. "You, the great Sailor Mercury, beg me?"
"Yes, if it helps." Amy said quietly, not letting her fear show.
"Well I commend you." the woman replied, walking VERY un-Serena like toward Amy, who was now backed against the wall. "But it's pointless, I'm only taking what's rightfully mine, and you won't stop me, nor any of the other Scouts."
"What is it you want?" Amy said as the woman drew closer still.
"The end of the Sailor Scouts, and a beginning of a new Era in your world."
"I... don't understand."
The false Serena pinned Amy to the wall by her wrists, and Amy was powerless to do anything but watch.
"You will, soon." she smiled, kissing Amy on her lips passionately.
Amy dropped to the floor, drained of most of her energy as the fake Serena simply knelt in front of her fallen foe.
"Don't worry, you're not next on my list." she said "Every Serena needs a Darien."
She stood and walked off as Amy collapsed in exhaustion.
Darien hung up the phone.
"No answer." he said, grabbing his suit jacket and walking for the door.
Serena's and Rei's combined scream. stopped him in his tracks, and as he spun, he saw Serena, floating five feet in the air, surrounded in a blue flickering light.
He dove to the couch, and pulled Rei away just as a severe flash and crack of thunder shook the room.
"You OK Rei?" he asked, and only received Rei's sobs as a response.
"Darien."
"Serena?" he looked up, to see her as he had once expected.
"No..."
Serena was transparent, dressed in a plain, white dress, her hair back in it's former dual ponytails.
"I'm... dead." she sobbed.