Moon Memories. This is my first fanfic, so please be nice. It's set in an alternate Universe, which I guess, is pretty obvious. It is made to pretty much replace the end of Sailor Moon R and is set in all different times. In between chapters it also jumps viewpoints, so be careful. It mostly centres around Serena and Darien, though and is partially a romance between them, so if you are looking for something else, go somewhere else. Chapter One. _Splash_ a tear falls off the girl's cheek and into the flowing water. _Splash_ and another, soon followed by more and more teardrops falling from enormous blue eyes. They break my heart. I've always hated to see her cry. My beloved. The only person that I have ever loved and trusted wholeheartedly no matter what. I miss her so. I sigh and turn around. I can't risk her or any of her friends seeing me, especially not the Earth Prince, Darien, I believe he calls himself now, who often graces these paths with his presence. I truly wish that I could talk to him though, give him a piece of my mind. No one hurts my Serena and gets away with it. Endymion will pay, I swear to her that. She can't hear me, but I swear it. And Serena is mine, although I know her better as Serenity or Sere. I gave her up because I wanted her to be happy, which I thought he could make her. 'How wrong a person can be' I think, glancing back once more at my sweet Sere. I knew her from before she was born. You could say that I knew her Mother quite well. You see, I am her Mother. I know, I know, I'm supposed to be dead, but things don't always work out the way you think they will. I remember the first time I felt her in my arms. Its been a millennium, an entire millennium since I was able to hear her call me "Mother." I was so young then. Ah, how time had passed. How I wish that I could hold her in my arms again, dry her tears and see her laugh. The first smile from Sere after tears is the most beautiful sight that I could see. Many times since she was reborn I have wanted to reveal myself to her, but something has always stopped me. Even when she began to show up as Sailor Moon I have not been able to approach her. Maybe it is fear. Fear that she will not know me. Fear that she will not want to know me. Sometimes I wonder what it would like to be Sere. All heart, with no fear of what thew consequences of loving the wrong people could bring. She just loves everyone. The tears have stopped now, I am sure of it. I know my daughter's heart better than I know my own. But then again, I'm not sure that I know my own at all. I know that they all think I'm dead. I made sure of that. This way I can watch over her more effectively. Every thing that had happened in her life I know about. From her first crush to her burst appendix. Of course I have been there. How could I stay away? She has never realised how often that I have actually been near her. I was her first nanny. Her baby-sitter for six years straight. Even her substitute teacher although she did not like that one very much. I would have stayed as her baby-sitter except for the fact that her younger brother Sammy complained than Serena got all of my attention. Well of course she did. She's my daughter. I could not tell that to them, obviously. Ken and Elaine believe that Sere is their daughter. I guess that is the way I wanted things. That is a story this very old woman has to tell. It started about fifteen years ago. I could feel the increase of dark kingdom energy. I knew it was time for Sere to be reborn. I started to search around for her father, my dear Phoebus, my husband and the King of the Sun. The eldest of our sons was named after him. When I found him, I started searching for two people to raise her. I knew there was no way I could. It would be too dangerous for her. Beryl was on my tail and closing in. It broke my heart to realise that I would lose her again, but it was necessary. I started an affair with Phoebus, but when I found out I was pregnant, I left him. It broke his heart, I know. It almost shattered mine. My only comfort was the fact that I knew Sere was on her way. It was all I had left and I lost that soon enough too. To try and make him happy again I made sure that he ran in to a lovely red-headed woman that I had met in the grocery store. Elizabeth, I think her name was. Anyway, he ended up marrying her and is making a wonderful father to her son Andrew and their daughter Lizzie. When I was four months pregnant I went to the Hot Springs as I needed a break from Tokyo. City life was really starting to get to me, and my morning sickness was horrendous. When I was there I met a young couple named Elaine and Ken. They had apparently been married for two years, but had no children as yet. They were at the Hot Springs for the second wedding anniversary. Tragically, a few years before, they had found out that Elaine was unable to have children. I could imagine how hard that would have been for her. I knew instantly I wanted them to raise Sere. I befriended them in hopes of convincing them to adopt my beautiful little girl. It worked and I agreed to meet them a month after Sere was due to be born. To this day I know they still remember that conversation and I know that I will never forget it. I only pray that when she finds out, Sere can forgive me for it. I remember Sere's birth this time more clearly than the first one and not because it was more recent. I had decided against a hospital believing that I would have the power of the moon to heal me. I know now that the only thing that could have stopped that pain was the Crystal itself. I was so proud when Sere managed to find it. By the time 36 hours had passed I was screaming, and covered in blood. But it was over. I was finally holding my little girl again. For a month I never let her out of my sight and rarely let her out of my arms. I knew it was only a short matter of time before I had to hand her over to someone else and lose her forever. On the day I was supposed to meet Elaine and Ken I was incredibly nervous. I had no idea how I was actually supposed to give her up. Driving back to the hot springs, Sere was crying in the passenger seat beside me. I think she knew what was about to happen. She always was very sensitive to my moods. I arrived an hour or so before the set time, so I sat down where we had agreed to meet, by the statue of the Guardians of the Lake. I started playing with Sere for what I thought could have been the last time. Ken and Elaine arrived exactly on time and approached me timidly. I heard their footsteps, but still I didn't look up. When they were directly in front of me I finally glanced at them. Looking into Elaine's fearful eyes, I suddenly felt a spot of calm. I knew this was what was best for Sere. I stood up and handed my baby to Ken. He took her and looked me searchingly in the eyes. For the first time since they arrived, he spoke. "Are you sure Serenity?" He asked in a soft voice. Sure, no I wasn't sure. How could I be? But the words I answered him with told a different story. "No. . .yes. Can I ask you to do a few things for me?" "Anything." Elaine spoke up, hugging me. My best friend. I looked away. This was so hard to tell them. "About fourteen years from now, a female warrior by the name of Sailor Moon will emerge out of Tokyo. She will be the most powerful being in the universe." I stopped to gather my thoughts. Ken and Elaine looked confused. There was no way I could blame them. "This child, and yes, she will be a child, will be in incredible danger. There is no great guarantee she will survive. But even if she dies, the number of people she takes down with her will be considerable." "So she's evil, then." Ken said, trying to make sense of the tangled story I was telling them. I almost laughed at the thought of my sweet Sere ever being evil. But the time was too serious for laughter. "No. She'll be an angel." "But you said-" Elaine started. I cut her off. "The people she kills will all be evil. It is the job of this young girl to lead the world back in its true direction. As I said, it is possible she will die, but not likely." "And she has to do this all by herself?" Elaine asked with fear in her eyes. I wondered if she knew, but quickly dismissed the notion and answered. "No. By her side will be her protector and love, Tuxedo Mask, and her court, the Sailor Scouts." By this time Ken and Elaine were completely bewildered. "Do you think. . .you could tell us. . .why we need to know this?" Ken inquired politely. "Serena, the baby you are holding now, will be that child." Ken jerked, almost dropping the baby. I had made up Serena on the spot. It was the only thing I could think of that was close to Serenity. "Although it will be a lot harder to do if you drop her on her head and give her permanent brain damage." He looked at me in amazement. "H-How?" "That's not important." I allow myself a small smile as I drop this bombshell. "But it will have something with a talking black cat with a crescent moon on her head by the name on Luna." Elaine sat down quickly, but managed a few words. "Her name's. . .Serena?" "Yes. I hope you don't mind." "Actually," Ken replied, looking at his wife "we were going to name her Serenity. I suppose Serena is close enough to that." I smiled grimly. If I had named her Serenity, the dark kingdom lackeys would have been on her tail before they finished saying the word. I stood to go, then turned again. "Just a few more things." "Anything." Ken answered. He had no idea at the time what he was agreeing to. "Thank you. 1. You will never tell her of her destiny. She will discover that be herself. 2. You must never tell her what you know until 3. You tell her everything on her 15th birthday. 4. Never question anything. You know, late nights, unexplained bruises, cut classes, cover for her, etc. 5. Never let her date anyone other than Tuxedo Mask. He will most likely go by the name of Darien. Tall, dark-haired, blue-eyed and a few years older than Serena. Do anything you can to encourage them. Is this acceptable?" "Of course." I knew that Elaine would do it too. "Oh, and one other thing." "Yes?" "As she gets older, she may be drawn to a particularly unusual hairstyle. Don't say anything about it, OK?" "What hairstyle would that be?" I gestured to my own hair, which I had put up in its traditional odangos. "This one." Without another word, I waved goodbye, hugged Elaine and Ken, kissed beautiful Sere one last time, got in my car and drove away, my heart breaking more every second. I was wishing desperately that I had died that day. If only the crystal had drained all my energy, and just sent Serena here, instead of requiring my presence so she could be reborn. . . TO BE CONTINUED Anyway, that's it for now? What do you think? Tell me on mwood95@sghs.nsw.edu.au. And check out my site at http://members.tripod.com/~Aurora_Moon/index.html. Anything new will automatically posted there first. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! OK, I know this has taken a long time to come out, but at the moment, school is the important thing and I really have to concentrate on that right now, but since I did get SOME feedback on this story (Thank you Chibi-isa, Tiana, Roo, Ho, Jenn and Rosie.) I decided to keep going with it, rather than simply give up. OK, I don't know when Chapter Three will be out, but if you want it quicker, you simply have to e-mail me and tell me so, and I'll try to hurry up. It's pretty easy, my address is at the end. I am using the Japanese name for Pluto as I am not quite sure what it is supposed to be in the dub, which is my guide for this story. I know this is probably not the way that Pluto would act, but I have changed her behaviour for this story, to fit in better with the relationship that I want her to have with the Moon royal family. This part is rated PG-13 for mild language. Insert whatever Standard Disclaimer you wish here, we all know Sailor Moon isn't mine, or are any of the characters contained in this story. The story however IS copyrighted to Melanie Wood, September 1998. If you want to repost it anywhere, ask me, I very much doubt that I will say no. See ya soon, Mel. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! Moon Memories. Chapter 2. You see, something went wrong when I used the crystal. I am still not sure what it was. Maybe the fact that is was 'not my time' as the new-age followers claim, or maybe Setsuna had something to do with it. I am still not sure, and I very much doubt that I ever will be. I have no idea what, but something prevented me from using the full power of the fragile rock that I held in my hands. Collapsing unconscious against a fallen pillar from our former palace, I prayed for death. It was not to be. When I woke up, I found Pluto sitting in front of me with a wry smile on her face. "So sleeping beauty awakens. Good morning Serenity." I groaned, exhausted. It suddenly hit me, what had happened the night before. "Oh my GODS! Pluto, what HAPPENED?" Her smile widened, just slightly, although it had yet to reach her eyes. "You hesitated." She had yet to lose the impassive look that she always seemed to hold. I exploded, wanting her to hurt as much as I did. "Damn you! How can you sit there looking as if nothing has happened? An entire civilisation was destroyed and YOU DON"T EVEN CARE!!! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" I saw her face crumple in pain. I was already screaming like a child, but I needed more. I decided to use my ultimate trump card, knowing how much it would hurther, yet oblivious to anyone's feelings but my own. "And what about Sere, Pluto. She's dead! DEAD, and she's NEVER coming back! How does that feel? The girl that you've always called your little sister dead, and you sitting here looking like a damned rock for all you seem to care! She'll never come back, Pluto. You'llnever see her again-" At this point in time I don't think that Setsuna could take any more, and finally she snapped. "Do you think I don't KNOW that?" By this time she was crying almost as hard as I was. "You think that I don't know she's dead? But she will be reborn, the timeline says so! That tiny young girl is one of the only people I have ever cared about, and I am not going to let you take the hope away from me that I will see her again!" At that moment, I saw Pluto for what she truly was - a frightened seventeen year old girl who was just as confused as her thirty-year-old companion. Feeling guilty, I pulled the child into my arms. Together we cried, our tears falling well into the break of the new day. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! My eyes snap open as I realise I am home. Most people would classify my house as a mansion, but after living in the Moon Palace...I collected a lot of jewels and gold pieces from the ruins of the kingdom, living off them until I could learn a trade. A thousand years gives you plenty of time to earn money, and I had great skills as a diplomat. The Earth was in great need of those, the last planet in what was once the greatest kingdom that had ever existed, a kingdom that would easily rival anything that humans could build today. I now own a multi-million dollar company that is known by everyone, named Silver Millennium. Strangely enough, no one has made the connection to the ancient civilisation the name came from. And yet, with all this wealth and power, I still cannot have the one thing I want the most. Maybe some day I can fulfil that last promise I made on the moon- "Some day we shall meet again." I pray that is true. It is so hardto live without her. I notice a flash of light from my bedroom and smile. Pluto must be visiting again. She has a thing for tidiness, and I have been so busy lately... "Hello Serenity" Comes a voice from the top of the stairs. "Pluto, please, you know I go by the name of Sarah Moon now." She gestures to the large, empty house. "There's no one here. Besides, you still call me Pluto when you know my name is Setsuna now." "I suppose so." She abruptly changes the subject. "You've been to see Serena?" I looked at her sharply, wondering if she had been spying on me from the gateway of time. "You have that look on your face." "Look?" I ask, curious. "After you visit Serena you always have a sad look in your eyes." She smiles. "Don't worry, you'll get her back some day." I feel a flash of relief flow through me. When Pluto says something in THAT tone of voice, it is easier to just believe her. She's always right anyway. Besides, some hope is better than no hope at all. "Good evening, My Queen." I jump as I hear the voice. "Thomas, I have asked you many times not to refer to me by the title of Queen. The kingdom I once ruled is dead, therefore, so is my title. I'd appreciate it if you would no longer address me as such. Is that clear?" "Yes, My Qu- Sarah." "Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go take a bath." *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! I smile wryly as I lower myself into my bath. The people Setsuna and I rescued from the remains of the kingdom have yet to get over the fact that they, commoners, were saved from certain death be the almighty Queen of the Silver Millennium. It is a tragedy that even now, a thousand years later, that the people still believe me to be so far above them. I truly had no idea of the awe, respect and adoration I inspired in so many people during my reign. If I had, I would most definitely have done something about it. I asked Setsuna during one of our quiet moments, why she had not told me of the way the people viewed the monarchy. She smiled the enigmatic smile she always seemed to have and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Serenity, the people never loved you, or Sere, just because you were royalty. The monarchy was not structured that way. No, they loved the princess, and you, because of the people you were, and are. If they had have worshipped you, only because of the title, would the look in their eyes been of fear, not of happiness?" I nodded at that, and she gestured to the rooms where the aforementioned people were staying. "Well, have you seen a single trace of fear in any of these peoples eyes?" As usual, Setsuna had a point. So I trusted her as I always did and continue to do so. I snap out of my thoughts, realising that I have been in the bath close to an hour now. If I want to be at the function I was invited to for DSC and sons Constructions, I have to start getting ready now. 45 minutes later, I am entering the long driveway of a Mr. David Sparrow, the president of DSC constructions. I smile, bracing myself for the looks of surprise. People are always astonished when they find out that S. Moon is actually a woman. So much for feminism in the 90's. But most of all, why on earth do these shoes hurt my feet so much? *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! I reach for another glass of punch, but another hand closes over mine before I have a chance to pick up the liquid. I glance up, expecting to see the face of a total stranger, but instead find myself gazing into the familiar magenta eyes of Setsuna. I jump, startled. "Setsuna, you surprised me." She does not smile as she usually does when she sneaks up on me. I feel scared, somehow sure that something is going on. I ask her what's wrong, and she looks away from me. "Serenity, I need you to take a deep breath and be calm for me, alright?" That is probably the worst thing she could have said to me to try to calm me down. I thought everyone knew that. By now, I am close to becoming hysterical, and she has yet to tell me what is happening. "What's wrong? What's happened? Is it Sere? Is she hurt? What'swrong? TELL ME!!!" There is no force in the universe more terrifying that a petrified mother. "There is a fight at the park. The Sailor Scouts are losing badly. Serenity. . .Sailor Moon was thrown against a tree. She's unconscious. They're going to need hel..." She does not finish the sentence as I have already made my apologies to David Sparrow, claiming a family emergency, and exited the room. When I arrive at the park, I see Sailors Mercury, Venus and Jupiter trying to fight the monster, while Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Mask were trying their best to protect their fallen leader. I feel a stab of anger at Tuxedo Mask for daring to come near her, but then I tell myself that it is better to fight the droid than my daughter's ex. Suddenly a thought occurs to me, and I smile, unable to believe I am about to do this. "Hey, ugly! Why don't you fight someone that can actually fight back, rather than picking on innocent children! In the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" I see the heads of five very confused Scouts snap to attention. If it hadn't been at such a serious moment, I would truly be laughing at the expression on Tuxedo Mask's face. 'Yes, I muse to myself, capeboy is the perfect name for him. The Negaverse has that right, if nothing else.' But this thought is cut off when I see Sere stir, and her eyes slowly open. As she sees me, she smiles. "Hello Mother. I knew you'd come. Ever since I found out. . ." Her voice falters and she seems reluctant to go on. But she doesn't need to. I already know. Drawing my inspiration from the highly publicised fights my daughter has been in, I reach forward and take her sceptre from her weak hand. "Moon...Sceptre...Elimination!" After a flash of colours and light,the monster is gone. Without further fanfare, I reach out and pull Sere into my arms. I smile down at her lovingly, gently stroking her long golden hair, the only physical feature of her father's that she inherited. "Hello, darling, how are you?" I say softly. One tiny hand reaches up to stroke my cheek. "Mother...you came..." "Would I ever leave you my sweet? I love you." A faint smile touches my daughter's lips. "I love you too, Mama." She gathers her strength for a moment, before standing up. I rise with her. "Come on, Sere darling, lets get you home." She has a bewildered look on her face, as she looks at me with a confused look in her big blue eyes. I lean closer to her, whispering. "Elaine and Ken know, my sweet. They always have." She looks at mein shock, and my heart freezes. "So it's true." she whispers, in awe. "What's true, love?" As well as I know my daughter, I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about. "You're my mother in this life as well as the last." Her voice is filled with wonder. And suddenly my arms are filled with a tiny golden bundle of energy. She has thrown herself at me in one of her trademark hugs. Nothing in the world feels this good, except if her father were here too. Sere looks up at me with a mischievous look in her eyes. "Lizzie isn't his, you know." I jump in utter astonishment. How could she know what I'm thinking? Has our psychic bond really been restored so quickly? My daughter has always had the power to surprise me, but this...She grins. "Of course I can tell what you're thinking, Mother, you are so transparent. Besides, Andrew told me a month ago that Lizzie was the result of an affair her mother had been having since before she and Daddy were married. In fact, the only reason they married was because Andrew's mother needed a husband for legal reasons, and Daddy knew you wanted him to. Sere's words finally seem to seep into my brain and the wheels in my head jerk into motion. I look down at Sere again, with a decidedly evil look on my face. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, my love." She nods, a wicked smile lighting up her features. We are about to start planning the recapturing of her father when a voice pipes up in the background. "This is truly amazing! According to this data, Serenity never died. Yet she has not seemed to age a day in a thousand years. "Truly remarkable." Another voice joins the first. I sigh. Any and Luna. They will never change. I have to smile at this. Letting go of Sere, I turn to the bewildered Sailor Scouts. All stare at me, but it is Mars that finally gathers the courage to speak. "Serenity?" She asks hesitantly. I smile. "Hello Mars. Long time, no see." After I say this, I am attacked by four happy Sailor Scouts, two ecstatic cats, and a LOT of complicated questions that I am unwilling to answer at the moment, most of all about the sceptre, and how I managed to take them back to the Moon Kingdom, just before they fought Beryl. It was hard, but Setsuna helped. I suppose that much is pretty obvious. I see Endymion, trying to hide behind a tree, and I know I have to talk to him. I tell Serene to meet me at the gate to the park, and the Scouts to head on home, that I'll see them tomorrow. After a bit of persuasion, they agree. I think they're afraid I won't come back. As I see the last Scout exit the park, I turn to Endymion. I know he sees the fury and hatred in my eyes because he turns away in pain. When he finally speaks, his voice is filled with pain and defeat. "I do love her my Queen, I truly do. But I have to do this. Its for her own good, which is the only reason I have the strength to go through with it." He pauses, but before I am able to reply, he goes on. As he starts to speak again, I notice that Sere has crept silently up behind him and is listening intently to what he is about to say. I do not acknowledge her. I believe she needs to hear this. "About a month ago, just before I broke up with...with..." His voice breaks and it is a minute before he is able to continue. When he starts again, his voice is sure and strong - controlled from years of practice. "Abo8t a month ago, just before I ended my relationship with the only woman I could ever hope to love, I started having these dreams..." I see Sere's eyes, and smile, widen with every word he says. It is times like this that I see how much Sere truly is like me. As I would do in the same situation, she grins wickedly, a truly scary smile lighting up her beautiful features. I see the wheels turning in her head, and I know that Endymion is NOT in for a very easy time, especially now that she knows how much he truly does love her. She winks at me, then decides to make her move. "You know, you would have saved yourself a LOT of trouble if you had have just tole me." She turns to leave, then tosses a parting phrase over her shoulder in an almost indifferent voice. "Oh, and incidentally, I've known about those dreams since the time you started having them. I'm your soulmate, Darien, I always know what you dream." Endymion jumps as if he were shot, staring after her with a startled look on his face. I watch proudly as Sere walks out of the park, her head held high. I place a hand on Endymion's arm. "I have to go. I think we'll BOTH see you tomorrow." I stress the word both, before disappearing after my daughter. She is waiting at the gate, just out of view of anyone inside the park. She has detransformed, and she seems to be watching the scouts go home. It seems that they waited around, as well, most likely to talk to Sere. I have to wonder what they said, but I will not ask. Whatever happens between Sere and her court is their business. We walk back to the Tsukino's in silence, holding hands. I keep glancing at Sere. She has grown up to be an incredibly beautiful young woman, and I know that beauty will continue to grow for the rest of her days, however long they may be. The moon royalty is immortal after all. When we arrive at the house, she turns to me smiling, but I know she is nervous about whatever it is she is about to say. "Mother...would we be able to meet...tomorrow after school?" I pullher to me, tears in my eyes, happy that she wishes to see me as much as I wish to see her. "Darling, I have to work. Come by my office as soon as school ends." I place a business card in her hand, and point to a line of writing on it. "This is the address. I'll see you tomorrow, darling." You must be asking what I'm thinking, with Sere finally in my arms,and I tell her I have to work. Well, to put it simply, I can not wait to see the faces of my employees when they see Sere enter the building. A silly reason I know, but... To Be Concluded. Write me about this part on mwood95@sghs.nsw.edu.au. Any comments are appreciated.