Our story begins on a beautiful, sunny Friday morning, as Serena tossed and turned in her bed.
As she violently sat up from her nightmare, sweat beaded her brow, her mother called from downstairs, yet she didn't even seem to notice. Staring past a picture of Darien and herself, off seemingly into space, she tried to make sense of the images that had troubled her so all night.
I have to call Rei, she'll know what to make of this... I hope. Serena thought, slowly getting up and dressed, almost in a state of shock.
"Serena, I've called you three times..." her mother paused, as she noticed the expression on her daughters face "Is something wrong dear?" she asked, placing a loving hand on her daughter's shoulder.
"No mom, nothing." she replied, staring as though a zombie. "I'm OK, I just... haven't woke up yet I guess." With that, she stood and slowly walked downstairs, not even stopping to grab her lunch, leaving her mom behind looking confused and a little worried.
As she walked, staring into nowhere, she pondered.
Why am I making such a big deal about a stupid dream? she asked herself, not expecting a reply. Then again, maybe it WASN'T a dream, maybe it was real somehow... No, That's impossible. but maybe, just maybe...
Just then, she felt a hand lightly touch her shoulder, which under normal circumstances would have probably made her jump and scream with a start, yet only now made her turn slowly and look behind her.
"Serena, you OK?" asked Amy "You look like you've just seen a ghost or something."
"Oh Amy" started Serena "I didn't hear you walk up."
"I've been yelling at you for almost five minutes, are you all right?" she asked, a look of concern crossing her face.
"Um... yeah" Serena babbled "Just a stupid dream I had last night, it's nothing."
The concerned Amy walked in silence with Serena the rest of the way to school, deciding being late wasn't as important as her friend's problems.
Serena on the other hand was seemingly still in her own world.
The day passed quickly for Serena, and almost the whole day, she never once said anything to anyone, except if asked a direct question. That afternoon, as the girls sat at the Cherry Hill Temple, like they did most every afternoon, they all seemed to notice Serena's strange behavior, and huddled in the tea room and talked as she sat silently outside under a tree, lost in thought.
"She's been like this all day" said Amy, concern fading slowly into fear. "I don't understand it."
"Didn't you say she mentioned a dream?" asked Lita, "Maybe that's what's bothering her."
Meena sat up, smiling. "I'm sure it's nothing, probably just a nightmare, we've all had one or two at one time or another, right?" Nods of agreement filled the room, but not everyone was so convinced.
Rei stood up, looking out the open door at Serena, now sitting with her head resting on her knees in a ball under the tree. "I think I'll go talk to her, it couldn't hurt."
The other girls wished her luck as she walked silently out the door and walking casually toward her friend, looking for the words to say to make her feel better.
"Serena..." She began, thinking quickly "I know you must be feeling bad..."
"No Rei, you don't know" Serena interrupted quickly, her voice shaky. "I don't even know, and it's tearing me up inside." a single tear slid slowly down her cheek as she sat up slowly.
"Tell me about it then." Rei sat down, looking at her friend with a look of friendship. "Tell me everything. I'm here for you, we all are." She motioned toward the other girls who all sat in the tea room, watching in silence. "You can tell us anything, you know that."
Serena sat silently for a few minutes, watching the leaves fall from the trees, then, slowly and shakily, tears streaming down her face, she began her tale.
She opened her eyes, slowly, the bright lights piercing her vision and making her eyes water. She squinted quickly, trying to focus, but it was too soon.
A voice near her ear spoke, a familiar voice. "Serena, Take it easy... you fell down, you bumped your head, lay back now, everything's OK."
"Darien?" she asked, trying to move, pain shooting through her head like a raging river.
"Easy now." he replied "Everything's OK, you fell and hurt your head, just relax."
Vision was returning to her, slowly. Shapes formed in the mist of her sight and she could make out colors, even forms. She heard other voices now too, some she knew, but could not place, some she didn't know, yet felt she could trust. She again tried to sit up, only to have the stabbing pain shoot through her head, making her relax again into Darien's arms.
"Serena, take it easy." said a voice from beside her.
She looked to her side, making out a female figure in pink, dress flowing and flowery.
"Who's getting married?" Serena asked, half smiling, trying to remember.
The girl smiled at her, understanding filled her face. It was Lita, and she lightly put a hand on Serena's forehead.
"You are, silly." she replied, matter-of-factly.
Serena sat up, more quickly this time, pain filling her head, making her dizzy, but she ignored it as best she could. Rubbing her eyes, she looked around again.
A church, she lay in the aisle, Darien sitting behind her, Lita to her side. She sat in a beautiful wedding dress of ivory white silk, a bit of lace and a veil of golden yellow to match her hair, red roses trimmed it on the shoulders, and the bouquet she carried matched, though it now sat beside her from her fall.
She looked around, all her friends were here, Molly, Amy, Meena, even Rei all wearing pink dresses and looks of concern. Melvin was even here, dressed in a tuxedo as was Andrew, apparently the best man. Serena's parents sat in the pew beside where she fell, looking relieved as she now looked around the room.
"What happened?" she asked, puzzled.
Darien just smiled. "Well, you were walking up the aisle and you tripped over your dress or something, and hit your head on the steps, you've been laying here almost twenty minutes, mumbling something about... about the future."
"I'm sorry Serena." said Molly softly "I dropped your train and you tripped over it, it's my fault you fell... I ruined your big day." She kneeled down next to Serena, tears welling up in her eyes. "Forgive me?"
Serena smiled, hugging her friend.
"Of course I forgive you Molly." she said, molly sobbing quietly on her shoulder. "You saved me the trouble of tripping myself, I might have forgotten otherwise."
The room roared into laughter, even Molly laughed a little through her tears.
Darien helped Serena up, and over to a chair, sitting her down softly, kissing her on the cheek.
"You need rest, we can do this tomorrow, or later, what matters now is that you feel better." Darien smiled as the room nodded agreement.
Serena shook her head. "No, If I can stand, I'm going through with this, no sense wasting everyone's time... besides, it's my dream to get married like this, and a little bump on the head won't stop me." with that, she stood, shakily, slowly. Lita stepped forward to straighten her dress and veil, helping her walk in front of the priest, Rei's Grandpa.
Everyone got in place, even Molly, still choked up, but from happiness now, not sorrow. and as the vows were read and rings exchanged, it happened.
Serena suddenly staggered sideways, Darien grabbing her, helping her to the floor like a piece of fine china, in fear of chipping or breaking her. as everyone crowded around them, Serena seemed to speak without trying and without knowing what she was saying.
"Darien" she whispered. "I love you..."
"No, don't say it!" he said, suddenly knowing, fear filling his face.
"...and I wish it could have been..." She smiled and went limp.
Darien's scream could be heard through the building, into the street and deep in everyone's heart in attendance. there was not a dry eye in the house, save one... a figure deep in the shadows near the doorway, the only one smiling, almost laughing as he strolled out the door.
"Serena..." Rei said softly, almost in tears herself. "I had no idea..."
"That's ok" she sobbed quietly. "I don't know what to make of it either... It wasn't like normal dreams, those are fuzzy and familiar, but after you think it through, you realize that is wasn't a normal dream. This..." she silently took a breath "This was different somehow."
"You know Serena" Rei said quickly, trying to sound cheerful as best she could. "I get visions like that sometimes when I sleep, or even when I meet someone for the first time, but it usually don't mean anything, it's almost like another future that COULD be, but not what will be. Not you or me or anyone knows what that will be like."
"Yeah Serena" Meena piped in musically "It's no big deal, I know it's probably scary, but It WAS just a dream, right? I mean you and Darien aren't getting married yet are you?"
"Unless there's a secret life that she has that we know nothing about." Amy said from nearby, sending the friends into fits of laughter, despite the grim, somber mood.
Serena almost giggled, but remained curled in a ball, deep in her own thoughts.
Someday though... she reflected Someday we WILL be married... and that's what scares me the most.
The first light of the next morning shone brightly through the window, and the songs of birds filled the air of the Cherry Hill Temple. In the spare bedroom, across from the main building, Serena sat up quickly looking confused, Rei sat beside her, smiling.
"Good Morning!" she said happily "Breakfast is almost ready."
"When did I get in here?" she asked, looking around.
"We carried you after you fell asleep under the tree last night." Rei stood up and looked solemnly at Serena. "How did you sleep?"
"Well, I didn't have that dream again..."
"Good!" Rei replied, walking slowly toward the door.
"But there's still something bothering me, Rei." Serena said seriously, staring out the window at a bird in a nearby tree.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. What did that dream mean? I mean, it HAD to mean something, right?"
As she stared out the window, the bird stretched it's colorful wings and flew into the air, another bird landing quickly on the ground nearby, looking directly at Serena, chirping loudly.
"I don't know Serena" Rei said, thinking for a minute. "But I do know this..."
Serena looked at her, eagerly awaiting her next words.
"If you don't get up and eat soon, we're going to leave you here to mope all day!"
Serena looked confused. "Leave me?"
"The picnic?" chimed in Lita from the doorway. "You know, us, Darien, you... all going to the woods to have a camp out? It WAS your idea."
A look of confusion mingled on Serena's face like a lake full of ripples after dropping a rock in the center. "What are you talking about?"
"You thought of it last week sometime, we could go on a camp out, have some fun, get away from school..." she leaned over toward Serena, "...and maybe work on our Scout training for the next Negaverse attack?"
Memories struck her head like a stick on a church bell.
"Oh!" she exclaimed, jumping up quickly, grabbing her shoes as she dashed toward the dining room in a frenzy.
"Well, what are you all waiting for," she yelled across the lawn, "We got a camping trip to go on!"
The sound of laughter filled the temple as Rei simply smiled.
"That's our Serena!"
"That's right Sailor Scouts, laugh it up while you can." interrupted from across the lawn, near a tree. "Laugh while you have the time."
He was a slender man, not very tall, but with a look of pure amusement in his eyes. He stood silently near the tree, smiling like schoolboy at recess. He wore a grey-white, almost smoke colored uniform consisting of a cape, mask and even a sword on his side. which he had a hand resting gently on.
"Who are you?" asked Rei, stepping forward with a look of fearlessness on her face. "Why are you in my Grandfather's temple?"
"I have no concern for your precious temple Rei, nor for your Grandfather, I came for her." He pointed at Serena, glaring at her coolly.
As the girls stared at the man, he laughed, shaking his head in disbelief.
"You really don't know me, do you?" He smiled, looking at Serena. "I am hers, she is mine, we are forever!"
He leaped at Serena, grabbing her before she could move and swinging around behind her.
As she looked at the man's face who held her, she gasped.
"Darien?" she asked, half whispering, half whining almost, a shrill edge behind her voice as her heart broke into a million pieces.
The man smiled anew, saying nothing as a single red rose appeared near his foot.
"Let her go, It's me you want, Neirad. Leave them out of this!" exclaimed Tuxedo Mask, perched atop the temple roof, cape billowing slightly in the wind.
Realization sunk in to all the girls as they looked to Tuxedo Mask, then back to the man holding Serena, who had now fainted from shock.
"I don't understand." said Amy, now transformed into her counterpart, Sailor Mercury, VR goggles blinking rapidly as she scanned the man. "By all accounts..."
"By all accounts," the man said, along with her, cutting her off mid-sentence. "I am Darien... oh, I'm sorry... 'Tuxedo Mask'" the last two words rolling off his tongue like ice off a frying pan. "Well, you're half right... but I'll save THAT for another time." he stepped back, dropping Serena unceremoniously on her behind. "Until next time, Sailor Scouts!" He stepped behind another tree and disappeared, a single silver rose almost appearing in that same tree from nowhere.
Tuxedo Mask leaped off the roof, landing next to Serena, the other Scouts forming a semicircle around them, waiting for trouble.
"Let's get her inside" he said, transforming back into Darien in a heartbeat. "He'll be back, but we have to be ready... and it seems I have explaining to do."
"And that's all there is to it?" Amy asked, handing Darien another steaming cup of Rei's tea.
"Basically he's me, except evil... almost an 'Evil Twin' I guess." He sipped the ginger tea slowly, steam billowing from the cup into the cool night air. "I don't know how else to explain it. He knows everything know, he IS me for all intents and purposes, only sinister and evil."
"Where did he come from?" Lita asked, mystified by Darien's recollection.
"I have no idea." he replied solemnly. "He appeared in my apartment the other day and the moment I saw him, I understood what and who he was. I only know what he is, because I know what he knows."
"Hmmmmm" Amy mumbled "Total mental convergence."
"In English please Amy?" asked Meena, looking at her strangely.
"Oh, sorry." She cleared her throat "I meant they are mentally linked, they know each others thoughts, and can read each others minds. And, if my hunch is correct, if one feels pain, the other will too, like they share the same brain."
"Well then..." Rei stood, face looking almost stone in the firelight. "We have to be ready for him to be back."
Amy sat down with her laptop PC, typing quickly, Rei and Lita went outside and Meena sat silently with Serena, who still hadn't awoke yet, regardless of laying there all day. Darien simply sipped tea, staring into the fireplace, saying nothing, never moving and trying not to think too hard.
It would be a long night as the Scouts prepared for one of their most important battles yet.
As the orange sphere known as the Sun rose on a still sleeping Japan, The Sailor Scouts, minus their leader Sailor Moon stood back to back in a circle, watching and waiting, ready for anything. They stood there, almost daring the world to throw it's worst at them.
"How utterly and dreadfully cute!" echoed the mysterious voice from the day before, shattering the stillness of the new day like a window. "Here are the infamous Sailor Scouts, all dressed up with no place to go!"
"Come on out and show yourself!" cried Sailor Jupiter, poised for battle "Stick your head out so I can knock it off!"
"Pathetic" he replied "Next?"
"What, are you chicken?" asked Sailor Mars, smiling.
"Chicken?" he remarked "I have to remember that one."
"Come on pal, show us what you got!" Sailor Venus stood ready, eyes scanning the temple eagerly.
"What I got is what you want... or is that the other way around?" he cackled madly.
"Come out and fight like a man!" Sailor Mercury said, scanning the rooftops with her VR goggles.
"Hmmm, That's an interesting one." he said appearing on the rooftop where Darien and Serena still were, looking lost in thought for a moment. "If I fight like a man, I couldn't hit you ladies, after all, gentleman don't do that kind of thing," he paused, considering "Then again, I never fancied myself as a gentlemen, so I guess I CAN slug one or even all of you!"
Coming to a seeming conclusion, he dropped gracefully off the rooftop, suddenly flipping around to see Darien, now sitting next to Serena, still sipping his tea silently, yet otherwise not moved since the night before.
"What's wrong with you, dear brother?" he asked, confused. "Have you no spunk? No desire to wipe me out of existence like all the rest of the monsters you have destroyed?"
Darien said nothing, the words seeming flowing over him like wind through the leaves of a tall tree.
The man turned once again toward the Scouts, who also looked concerned.
"I see by the looks on your faces that you don't understand what's wrong either." he said, almost sounding concerned himself, yet smiling nonetheless. "Well then, shall we get to it?"
"Who are you exactly anyway?" asked Sailor Mercury.
"Well, I guess I should explain it, after all, doesn't the 'bad guy' always tell his plans before the end?"
The Scouts looked at his strangely as he burst into laughter.
"Yes, I know I'm to lose here today, but I ALSO know that what happens to me happens to your good friend Darien over there, but I digress. You wanted to know who I was, well, I'll explain it all to you."
"I am Neirad." he began, floating about three inches off the ground, still seeming standing as he thought back. "I was accidentally created in the same fell swoop as your old friend the Moonlight Knight."
"But he was only another part of Darien, right?" asked Sailor Mars and Sailor Mercury nodded her head in agreement.
"Well, When Darien lost his memories, he created the Moonlight Knight to protect Sailor Moon... or should I say your precious Moon Princess. After he did that, he had doubts, strange thoughts that were not his own, nagging dreams of things that he never knew, and anger and resentment grew in his heart, yet like the 'nice guy' he is, he locked it all away.
"Soon, it all got mixed together, all his remorse, his hatred, his anger, it all mixed and broiled until I was created about a week ago.But you see, unlike Turban boy, I'm as real as they get, and I'm NOT on your side." His face grew red now, and his voice rose as he grew angry. "You see, just like he created that Scimitar wearing buffoon to protect you all, he created me to get EVEN with you for all the evil things you or anyone have ever done to him... and that's JUST what I'm gonna do, right after I figure out why Darien's acting funny, after all, I want him to see this." His evil grin showing he meant buisness, the Scouts backed off a few feet to think.
The Scouts huddled for a moment, then one of them broke the huddle suddenly.
"Neirad, wait, maybe we can help each other." Sailor Mercury said, stepping forward.
"You?" he asked, flabbergasted "Help me?" His laughter echoed across the lawn, scaring the birds from the trees.
"Just because you were created like you were doesn't mean you're evil, I mean, like you said, you ARE real, right?"
What's your point?" he asked, floating higher off the ground.
"Simply this, help us figure out what's wrong with Darien and Serena and then leave, go. If you are as real as you say, you can leave and live your own life. After Serena is OK, we can have Sailor Moon heal you, and..."
Again his laughter echoed across the grass.
"You Sailor Scouts really are something else, you know that?" he smiled, landing softly. "Tell you what, I'll help you with your little friend Serena if you help me get Darien back... we have unfinished buisness."
"OK, come on." Sailor Mercury said, walking past him, unconcerned as her friends looked on in confusion, yet trust prevailed as they all walked over toward the room as a group, Neirad close behind.
"First, figure out what's wrong with Darien, and I'll give you Serena back." Neirad said from the doorway as the Scouts walked inside. Sailor Jupiter was in his face in a heartbeat.
"What do you mean by that?" she fumed.
She is safe, just sleeping... and if you don't get out of my face, Jupiter, I will soon give her another taste of a possible future that she will never see." He smiled evilly.
"The dream!" Sailor Mars gasped. "You made that? Why?"
"He did it to get back at me, of course." Darien's voice sounded from behind them, as he stood and looked directly at Neirad. "I understand now... you NEED me, don't you?"
Neirad took a step back in disbelief. "No, you know NOTHING about me."
Darien smiled. "I know what you know, stupid, I KNOW you as well as I know myself... and I didn't create you, someone else did."
"Queen Beryl!" Said the Scouts in unison, the pieces coming together.
Neirad stood tall once again, the game nearing an end.
"Ok, so you know what's going on, you understand now who I am and what I'm here for, then let's get this over with." He floated outside under a tree, waiting.
Just then, Serena awoke with a start, looking around.
"I understand." She mumbled softly, staggering and trying to stand, Darien quickly by her side.
"Take it easy." he said, smiling. "Everything's under control."
She stood anyway, despite his soothing words, knowing what she must do.
She transformed into Sailor Moon in a flash of color, walking toward Neirad with authority.
"Hello Sailor Moon!" he said from where he stood, the other Scouts surrounding him. "Glad you could join the party!"
With that, he floated up, drawing his sword, smiling evilly.
He dove at Sailor Moon, slicing with the sword. She barely avoided the piercing tip og the blade, diving aside and landing on her side. Getting to her feet quickly drawing out not her scepter, but her brooch, containing the Millennium Silver Crystal.
"Moon Healing..." she began, aiming the crystal at Him as he turned and saw it.
"Oh please." he smiled. "Is that ALL you got?" He dashed back at Sailor Moon, sword at the ready.
"Mercury Ice Storm..."
"Mars Celestial Fire..."
"Jupiter Thunderclap..."
"Venus Love Chain..."
He smiled as he saw the Scouts and their powers manifest, knowing full well what came next, not slowing as he flew at Sailor Moon as fast as he could.
"...Blast!"
"...Ignite!"
"...Sound!"
"...Encircle!"
The lawn exploded with color.
As he stood, his cape smoking, he only smiled, again swinging his sword, only this time, knocking the Scouts down with an energy blade that flew from it. His gaze turning toward Sailor Moon slowly.
"...Activation!" she finished, letting loose a beam of pure, positive energy at Neirad, which he stood silently for, standing tall in defeat."
Serena awoke with a start, sweat beaded her brow, her Mother calling from downstairs sweetly.
As she pondered the images that had awoke her so violently from her slumber, she smiled. She realized the dream was nothing more than that, A dream, and there was nothing to worry about.
Slowly she got up, and as she stood, a lance of pain shot through her side. As she looked, she noticed a bruise on her side.
Was that a dream? she pondered quietly, her thoughts carrying her away as they often did.
Outside, on a nearby bench, a man in grey smiled, stood and slowly walked away.
Next time Sailor Moon he thought to himself, smiling. Next time, it will end, and you will know the truth.