Chapter 6: Ch-Ch-Changes
Sailor Pluto, Guardian of the Gates of Time, stood in her traditional place. She was waiting for someone. Someone she had been expecting to come to her for the last couple of days.
“Pluto!” came the long-awaited command as a regal figure appeared. His eyes burned with fire at her and through her. “Explain to me, what is going on!”
“Why Endymion, whatever do you mean?” she asked incredulously.
Endymion glared. “Everything’s just changed. Serenity isn’t my queen anymore, Small Lady isn’t my daughter, and that’s not my kingdom. There’s someone there in her life and they’ve taken everything from me.”
Sailor Pluto looked piteously upon him. “Oh Endymion, don’t you remember. You broke up with Serenity in the Twentieth Century. None of us ever knew why really. It was just a bolt out of the blue. You didn’t really expect her to wait forever did you?”
Endymion shook his head. “No, no. That can’t be. It was only supposed to be a test, this wasn’t supposed to be. No!”
“What test, Endymion?” Pluto cocked an eyebrow. “What did you do?”
“I needed to test my past self’s love for Serena. It was necessary, I had to make them know what they were up against.” he explained. “I sent him dreams telling him to stay away from her, or else she would be killed and the world destroyed.” he fell to the ground. “What have I done!”
“You’ve destroyed your own future, is what you did!” Pluto admonished him. “You know very well that you should not have had any contact with any incarnation in the past. You’re the same man now as you were then! Stupid and foolish! The fact of the matter is, Endymion, whether it be a thousand years ago, a hundred years ago, or a thousand in the future, you don’t trust anyone, least of all yourself. You screwed this all up on your own. And now because what you have done, things have changed. You’ve lost your kingdom and your princess and your future. I don’t know what will happen to you now.”
“But…what about Reenie? If I don’t marry Serenity, Reenie will not be born.” Endymion asked.
Pluto nodded. “Don’t you worry about her. Queen Serenity and I are not about to let Small Lady be punished for your foolishness. She will not be born to you but to the man Serenity will marry in the twentieth century. And quite frankly, Endymion, you brought this upon yourself. You should have known better.”
Endymion slammed his fist into the cloudy floor. “NO! No! I can’t let this happen! Tell me Pluto. Please, help me change it back.”
“I can’t, Endymion. It’s too late.”
“But I love her…” Endymion moaned, tears pouring from his eyes. “I need her…”
“You should have thought about that before you went and meddled.” Pluto told him. “I don’t feel sorry for you Endymion. I wish I could. But…you did something very stupid, and now you have to face the consequences. If you want to try and change things back, you can do it on your own. I can’t help you. From what I’ve seen, Serenity would be much happier with someone else anyway.”
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Twentieth Century
Serena woke up the next morning breathing a deeper breath than she could remember taking for a long time. She could never have imagined the effect that finally giving up on Darien would have on her. She had been so afraid that if she did, then everything would just end for her. Except now she knew that with him lifted from her shoulders, everything seemed so much brighter and positive for her. Knowing she wasn’t going to have to continue putting up with his heartlessness anymore made looking forward to the new day so much easier. She couldn’t help thinking about the night before.
“Hooray Serena! You did it! You really told him off!” Lita praised her, patting her on the back.
Mina nodded, “Yeah we were afraid you’d do something dumb and take him back.”
“We need to celebrate this guys.” Raye added. “Tomorrow, noon, the temple. We’ll have a big party.”
“And I’ll make all of your favorite things, Serena.” Lita told her.
“And we won’t even make you do any studying.” Ami finished, joining in the group hug.
They had even told her to bring her new neighbors. Really they just wanted a chance to ogle Erik, especially since she’d told them how hot he was. And inviting Erik, well it would be rude to not include his grandfather. She wasn’t entirely sure what she thought of them yet, but they seemed nice enough. She wondered when would be a good time to walk over and ask.
She went to her dresser to get her clothes when she noticed something out of the corner of her eyes. Outside the window. She suppressed a sigh of disappointment. Darien. What was he doing here?
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Reenie was playing outside with Luna-P when she heard his familiar footsteps. She’d knew those footfalls anywhere. “Good morning Darien.” she greeted politely.
Darien frowned. Normally Reenie would be all over him, climbing onto his back with delight. “Hey there munchkin. I was wondering if Serena could talk?”
Reenie shook her head. “Nope, Serena was still asleep when I last saw her. But I know she doesn’t want to talk to you. She’s mad at you.”
“I know munchkin. I made a terrible mistake, and I’m paying for it. But I’m not ready to just give her up yet.”
“Then you shouldn’t have hurt her. And don’t call me munchkin anymore. I don’t like it.” Reenie snorted.
Darien sighed. “Then how about you and I go do something? Wanna go for ice cream in the park? Or maybe we can to Funland.”
Reenie shook her head. “No thank you. I’m gonna wait for Serena to get up. The girls are having a party, they called to invite me too.” she looked past Darien and her face lit up. “Erik!” she squealed dropping her ball and running over to the new arrival.
Erik smiled and picked her up. “Good morning, Teeny Reenie. Is the fair Lady Serena awake?”
“Actually, she is.” Serena greeted as she came outside. “Good morning Erik. Good morning, Reenie.” she looked at Darien. “You too, I guess.”
Darien frowned. “Serena, I think we should talk. Alone.”
“I think I said all I had to say last night.” she snapped back. “Go home Darien! Before I get my father!”
That was a dire threat, and Darien knew it. And he knew he wanted nothing to do with Ken Tsukino. He was scary. Sighing defeated, he turned and left without a word of goodbye. Everyone seemed to be angry with him now.
Satisfied that Darien was out of sight and ear shot, Serena smiled at Erik. “I’m glad you came over. My friends want to meet you. And your grandfather too. They’re insisting on having this big party.”
“Oh I don’t want to impose.” Erik told her politely. Inwardly, Diamond applauded his performance. Everything was working magnificently in his favor.
“Come on, they really just want to get a chance to swoon over how hunky you are and welcome you to the neighborhood. And I think your grandfather would get along really well with Mr. Hino, Raye’s grandpa.” Serena pleaded. “I promised I’d bring you. If I don’t I’ll never hear the end of it.”
Erik smiled, “In that case, how can I turn you down. I’ll go tell Grandfather we’re going to a party.” He put Reenie down and ruffled her hair. “What time shall we be ready?”
“Raye said to be there at noon.” Serena answered.
He took her hand and kissed it in a gentlemanly fashion. “Then we shall leave at eleven-thirty. We shall pick you up, fair princess.”
Serena shook her head at his blatant flirting as he left. She looked at Erik. “You seem to like Erik more than Darien now. Why Reenie? I would think you of all people would be mad that I got rid of him.”
Reenie shrugged. “I don’t know Serena. It just doesn’t seem right to be around him anymore. He’s not the same.” she looked down. “Is it my fault? I know you started fighting after I came. Did I do something to make you fight?”
Serena remembered all the times she HAD blamed Reenie for the problems she was having with Darien. She knew that it had all been very unfair and all of it had only been said out of jealously and her own feelings of inadequacy. She knelt down to Reenie. “No, Reenie. I’m sorry I kept putting the blame on you. That wasn’t right, you didn’t deserve that. You’re just a little girl. Darien’s problems are his own business.” Serena wanted to hug the little girl before her, but restrained herself.
Reenie’s lip trembled and she threw herself into Serena’s chest. “Serena…I’m sorry too. I kept making fun of you and being mean to you and making your mommy and daddy mad at you. I’m sorry.” she cried.
Serena did the only thing she could think to do, and embraced the little girl, rubbing her back soothingly and letting her cry.
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Diamond went into the dining room of their “home” laughing. “We should have done this ages ago! I’ll have Serenity for my very own before the end of the week at this rate.”
Wise Man looked at Diamond. “And why do you say that, Prince Diamond?”
“Her friends are throwing a party and they want her to bring us. Mainly me I think. But you too.” Diamond replied. “I accepted the invitation for both of us. They’re completely believing anything that comes out of our mouths this way. This is so easy.”
AN: I am ending the chapter here, only because it is time for bed. I am exhausted. Chapter 7 will include the Inners meeting the Sages and the party.
