Out of the Darkness and Into the Light --- Written by Selena (s2jemeko@atlas.vcu.edu). http://www.geocities.com/selena_moongoddess --- The characters, name, and places in Sailor Moon, both the manga and the anime, belong to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha Comics, DIC, and Mixx. Chapter 3 ************************* "Beryl!" The ground beneath the cave trembles and quakes with its scream. Yellowish-green haze circles round and round in mid air, slowly turning darker and darker until it melts into the black night of the surrounding air. Two blood-red pockets in a gaseous mass of pure evil glitter in the darkness. The demon quickly enters, her auburn hair flapping in the winds of anger. Fangs bared, her jaw chatters in fear. She bows low in obeisance. "M...m...master?!" "Fool!" An electrifying bolt of dark energy flies toward Beryl. "He's gone. *You* let him escape! The time was perfect. He is weak. And what's more, you had the Moon Princess in your grasp! This is *unforgivable*!!!" She hisses. Thunder crashes in the distance. "You will pay for your mistakes!" Struggling to break from the floor she begs, "Wait! There's still a chance...If...if he does heal on the moon, we may have another chance to claim his as ours. Let me follow through with my plan. I assure you, I *will not* fail!" "For your sake, you had better not." *************************** Selenity sits in her nightgown on the floor of her room, hugging one of her large, white, satin pillows. She is on the verge of tears as Mars angrily paces around her. Venus, a girl about 15 years old stands next to a large Islamic framed window. She has long yellow hair that reaches to her knees and warm yellow-orange eyes. The evening breeze, generated by the air system of the massive dome, blows through her thick strands. She looks at her in worry and concern. "What do you mean you just couldn't leave him there?!" Mars' red eyes flash with every word. Her temper flares and the crimson color from her hair seeps into her hot cheeks. Selena cringes under her friend's intense glare. "Mars, please! I did what I thought was right." She hugs her pillow tighter as Mar's eyes grow wide and she looks ready to explode. After taking a deep breath and silently praying to the Gods to not let her kill the princess, she continues, trying very hard to keep from shouting. "Let me get this straight..." She starts to pace around Selena. "While you were 'unofficially' visiting a place you cannot go without permission of The Royal Family, you ran into this guy who tried to kill you. Then after he collapses, probably struck as punishment from the Gods, you 'mercifully' bring him here, a place he should not and technically could never be. Does that about cover it?" She looks at her incredulously, waiting for an answer. Selenity gulps and starts in her sweetest, most gentle voice. "But Raye..." "Are you insane?!" Mars cuts her off waving her fist. "And don't try using my nickname. It won't work this time Selena. There's no way your getting off on this one!" 'It's madness! She nearly gets herself killed over some nobody! Goddess, what if something had happened to her?!' "Oh come on, Mars." Jupiter interjects, lazily lounging on Selena's large white bed, her wavy, brown hair flowing off the side. "Cut her some slack. She was probably scared to death. Besides, she didn't get hurt." Her green eyes shine with sympathy. Venus sighs and walks over to Selena, then hugs her tightly, and turns to face Jupiter, with a worried visage. "Lita, she could have been. I think that's why Mars is so upset." She looks back at the princess. "I know why you did what you did. I would have done the same thing, but you can't just run off without telling anyone. We were so worried. I'm just glad the Queen doesn't..." "Ami!" Selenity darts from her crouched position as Mercury enters the room. "Is he alright?! What was wrong with him? How is he now?" Mercury smiles and holds up her hands. "Yes. He's much better. She looks down, and starts sadly, "but he..." "Good." Mars breathes. "Then we can erase his memory and send him back before the Queen finds out about anything. No one has to know if we do this right. That way none of us will get in trouble." All four girls stare at Mars angrily. "Sorry." She mumbles through a guilty grin. "What is it, Mercury?" Selena asks the girl with short aqua hair and ocean blue eyes. "He was starving." She whispers. Gasps rebound off the tall ceiling. "He hadn't eaten for days. If Selena hadn't brought him here, he would have died in a few hours." A dead silence falls across the room. Selena can only stare at her friend in shock. This was unheard of. It was barbaric...it was sad...it was...unbelievable. Holding back tears and finally able to speak, she breathes, "But he's going to be alright now?" She asks hopefully. Ami stares at the marble floor. "I don't know. He is better, but it seems like a part of him...doesn't want to live. He's delirious and has a high fever. I have healed what I could, but if he doesn't start to fight..." Her voice trails off. "I want to see him." "But, princess..." Both Mars and Venus interrupt. "No buts." Her voice is firm and her stance powerful. They nod in defeat. There is no use arguing with her when she's like this. "Come with me. I'll take you there." ***************************** Selena approaches the lanky figure lying on the bed. A raging fire roars in the hearth and shadows dance across the walls and tall ceiling. The room glows with a hazy orange. She feels the sweat run down her neck from the heat. "Why is it so hot in here?!" Ami shakes her head in disbelief. "It was freezing a minute ago. That's why I ordered a fire to be started." The shock wearing off, she walks to right side of the room and opens the windows. "We need some fresh air in here." Looking outside she says, "The south expanse was just opened. They're letting in light for the garden. Still, that shouldn't...oh well!" Mercury sighs and turns back to Selena. "I'll go and get some cool water. See if you can find a clean cloth in that drawer." She points to a large bureau. Selena nods and retrieves a small rectangular, cotton cloth. Darien moans. She moves to stand by his bedside. Horrified, she rests her hand on his face and moves the sweat-soaked bangs away from his eyes. Darien's cheekbones are high and seem to protrude from his face. 'I didn't notice that he was so thin.' Slowly his eyes open. Hazily, he sees a blur of white with shadows flashing from behind. He tries to speak...call out...something...but he can't. It's just like in his dreams...the woman calling him. Gathering all his strength, he whispers, "Don't go..." "I won't." Selena whispers. He tries to move, but fails. "Shh...just rest. You're going to be alright now." His strength gone, Darien closes his eyes. Mercury walks in with a large basin of cool water and places it on the dresser. "Ami, let me." She takes the cloth, wets it, and places it on his forehead. "I want to stay here for a while." "Princess, you should rest. Besides, Raye is not going to be happy." "Oh forget Raye!" "Selena?" "Mmm?" Ami bows her head and says quietly, "The Queen knows..." Selenity whips her head up. "Well...w...what did she say?!" "She said that she'd talk about it with you in the morning at breakfast." She bites her bottom lip. "I'll worry about that tomorrow. I want to stay here." "Okay." Mercury consents reluctantly. "Just don't disappear again." She smiles. "I won't." Ami turns to leave the room when Selena stops her. "Ami? Thank you." A beautiful smile spreads across her pale face and she nods. "What are friends for? Good night, princess." She turns around and closes the door behind her. Selena takes Darien's hand in hers and sits in the chair next to his bed. "Fight! Don't give up!" She whispers. *************************** Two guards close the doors behind Queen Serenity as she wearily exits the Dining Hall. "Will there be anything else, Your Majesty?" A young girl with auburn hair asks. "No. Thank you, Molinda. That will be all." The girl curtsies and leaves the room carrying a tray of untouched food. In deep thought Serenity wanders to the grand balcony of the ballroom, and looks up at Earth. She takes a deep breath, lets out a sigh, and closes her eyes. 'Amazing...' She thinks. 'Everything is falling into place, but...what am I supposed to do now? And what am I going to do with Selenity? And this war...what will become of us? Will there never be peace again? Apollo, I wish you were here.' "Trust your heart." A voice answers. With the flash of shimmering light she opens her eyes. Before her stands a tall woman. She looks to be about 21 years old with long black hair flowing from a bun and magenta eyes. She wears a plain, long, black dress and smiles faintly. "Queen Serenity." She bows. "Pluto?!" She says in shock. "It's been ages since I last saw you." She hugs her friend warmly. "Yes, the princess had just been born." The Queen smiles and feels relief. "Setsuna, I'm so glad you're here. I need to speak to you. Will you stay a while? At least come to my sitting chambers where we can talk as we used to." Pluto shakes her head solemnly. "No. I'm afraid I cannot. The gates should not be left unguarded. I..." She pauses and looks down. "I've come to see him...I...I want to see my little prince..." She says with unshed tears hiding in her eyes. The Queen stares at her incredulously. "B...but...why?" She finally blurts out. Trying hard to control her tears she begs, "Please. Just let me see him. I want to make sure he's alright." Still confused, Serenity leads Setsuna down a long hall into the south wing. She opens the door to a dim fire-lit room. Pluto slowly enters. She sees the 13-year-old princess fast asleep in a chair next to Darien's bed. She tightly holds on to his hand. Pluto kneels and sits on the edge of his bed. She puts her long hand to his face. It's cool - his fever is gone. Darien sleeps peacefully in a dreamless sleep. Setsuna sighs in relief as tears fall unchecked from her magenta eyes. "Thank the Gods!" She whispers. She reaches down, places a soft kiss on his cheek, and wipes the hair from his face. "I'm so sorry. You don't have to worry, my prince. You're safe now." Pluto looks up at Selena. "So, you are the one." She whispers with a smile. "You saved him." Reluctantly she stands as Serenity places a hand on her shoulder. "My Queen?" "Yes?" Serenity answers. "There is something I need to tell you." ******************************* To be continued in Chapter 4... Send all comments to s2jemeko@atlas.vcu.edu. You can read my other stories at my homepage. Please visit it and sign my guestbook! My address is: http://www.geocities.com/selena_moongoddess. Thanks for reading!