Ice Princess - Chapter 3 by Athena nikita@sgi.net Sorry my intro speeches are so short this time, but I'm beat! Keep the e-mail coming though, it keeps me going! The usual disclaimers apply! Thanks Athena **************************************************************************** Later, at the temple, the Scouts, the Generals and Tuxedo Mask all sat around, though now in their human forms, discussing the new 'scout'. "Well, it's obvious that she's some sort of Sailor Scout." Lita was saying. "True. I also don't believe that she's our enemy." Marcus answered. "O.k. so maybe she's not our enemy, so why all the mystery with her? I mean, she actually said that this was some sort of game!" Raye said in frustration. "Calm down, Raye. Maybe that is how she views it, but it's not like she treated this as some sort of game. She was definately playing for keeps out there. That might just be how she is reacting to us. After all, it's not like this girl just found out that she was a Sailor Scout. Her skills and powers were too well used." Ami said. "Artemis, is it possible there is another Scout as well as the Princess?" Mina asked her guardian cat who also doubled as the group's advisor. "I don't know Mina. But I honestly don't remember there being a fifth Sailor Scout. What I think we need to do is somehow track this girl down and play along with her game so that we can get some answers from her." "O.k. little fur ball, and how do you propose that we do that, place an ad in the paper?" Jason asked sarcastically. "I don't know! Maybe we could stage a battle or something. She showed up this time." Artemis snapped back. Meanwhile Darien, who had been silent throughout the entire conversation, softly spoke up. "We don't have to do that. She'll come to me." The statement fell between the group like a sledge hammer, no one knew what to say to this, finally Marcus asked. "Why do you say that? Do you know who she is?" Darien had a far away look in his eye as he answered, "I might." "But why do you think that she'll come to you?" Ami asked. Darien remained silent as the mystery woman's laughter filled his mind and then an image of Serena took her place. It was her, he was sure of it. Silently he stood and collected his jacket, he was going to go and have a chat with his little ice nymph. "Darien? Where are you going? What do you know that we don't?" Artemis asked. But Darien just left the room. "That guy gets stranger by the minute." Jason mumbled. "Well I guess that we are just gonna have to leave this up to him." Lita said standing to leave herself. But her boyfriend, Nick, caught her attention when he said, "I'll go and consult the stars and see if I can get any leads." Raye nodded her head and added, "I'll consult the fire as well." "Fine then. Let's all meet back here later this evening and discuss what we found. Maybe then Darien will be a little bit more normal." Artemis said as the group dispersed. **************************** Darien had walked across town to the ice rink only to be told that she was gone for the day and would be back tomorrow morning at 6 am. Darien was surprised at how easily that he was able to obtain information about someone as famous as Serena. So he asked why the guard told him all of this and the guard had told him that Serena said to. he thought, This was too much of a coincidence for him. She knew something that he didn't. So inspired he had asked the guard if he happened to know where Serena lived. The guard smiled and handed him a piece of paper. The paper had little moons and rabbits on it and it was definately a girl's neat handwriting that had written down the address on the page. Darien felt a strange tingling sensation again, but just thought that it was a cold chill as he walked off in the direction of the address. ****************************** "You should've seen them all Luna! They were all there, just like you'd said they'd be!" Serena was saying to her guardian cat Luna. "Now give me every detail, Serena. What exactly happened?" Luna said stiffly, still a little annoyed that Serena hadn't summonded her to the battle as well. "Come on Luna, I already told you everything. I don't see why you are so upset." Serena said as she fixed herself a cup of tea. "Because Serena, this was our chance to rejoin the others. We came here for this reason. Don't you remember your dream?" "Yes." she said, now annoyed. "Then why did you have to play this game with them? Why couldn't you just tell them who you were?" Serena came over and flopped herself down on the couch next to Luna as she said, "Because Luna, it's more fun this way! Besides, I really didn't want to say, 'hey guys, I'm Sailor Moon as well as the Princess.'" "Well, why not?" "Because!! I...uh, just didn't feel like it. Besides, the Prince wasn't there and I want to reveal myself to him first, not to these other people." "What do you mean that the Prince wasn't there? I thought that you said they were all there." "Well all of the scouts were there and the scouts protectors and some guy in a tuxedo and top hat and mask. I thought that was a little strange." An exasperated sigh escaped Luna and was about to say something but was interrupted by a knock at the door. Serena frowned as she quickly got up and went to the door. "Who is it?" she called out. "It's me, Serena, Darien." Serena let out a little squeal and jumped up and down for a moment as Luna rolled her eyes and jumped off the couch and disappeared into the other room. Then Serena opened the door. "Hi, Darien! I see that you found my note." "Uh yeah. Speaking of...." he said as he walked in and stood in the middle of the living room taking a look around. "Can I get you something to drink?" she asked, taking his coat. "No, I'm fine. May I sit down? I wanted to talk to you about something." A chill ran down Serena's spine. she thought with a squeal of delight. "Sure!" "Look Serena, something happened today. You see there was this youma attack today in the park and...." he didn't he just trailed off and looked at her expectantly. Serena looked at him cluelessly and said, "And?" "Well, why didn't you tell me?" he asked. "Tell you what?" she asked with confusion. "Come on Serena, I know that was you there today. The new Sailor Scout. I was there too." Surprise flashed briefly across her face as she thought, but she quickly recovered and the clueless expression returned. But Darien had seen the look of surprise and knew he was right. "I don't know what you are talking about Darien. I was in the park earlier today...JOGGING. Not playing the part of some scout. By the way, what exactly is a Sailor Scout? I am from America, remember?" she said, praying that he wouldn't see through it, but he did. "Why are you lying to me Serena? It's o.k. I won't tell anyone if that's what you want...I just want to hear it from you." Serena managed to look him straight in the eye as she continued with her lie, "I'm really sorry Darien, but I don't know what you're talking about! I'm no Sailor Scout! I'm a figure skater, remember??" But Darien just looked at her sadly as he stood up and walked towards the door. "I KNOW that it was you there Serena. I guess I can understand why you wouldn't tell me, but I don't like being lied to, especially by people that I care about. I guess that I was wrong about what kind of person you are." Tears formed in Serena's eyes as she looked away from him and asked, "What's that suppose to mean?" But he didn't answer, he just walked out closing the door softly behind him. It tore him apart to do this to her, but he hadn't really expected her to come right out and admitt it. But when she couldn't stand it anymore, she'll come to him with the truth...just like he said she would. Back inside, the tears flowed down Serena's face as she sat there looking at the closed door. Luna had quietly come out of the room and came up to sit next to Serena. "Oh Serena! How did he know? Who was that anyway? What did he mean that he was there?" she asked softly. Serena sniffed as she wiped away some tears and said, "That was Darien, Luna. You know, the one I said that I thought might have been the Prince." Luna sat up straight and said, "Really? He was something of a dish now wasn't he?" Serena just frowned at her before continuing, "The funny thing is, Luna, that I knew exactly why he was here when he walked in the door. I was stunned. I couldn't believe that he knew." "But how, Serena?" "Oh I don't know, Luna!" Serena wailed, "He said that he was there, but I don't know where he was. No one saw me transform..NO ONE! Unless...could he have been one of the generals?" Luna looked at her expectantly as Serena sat and recalled the events that took place earlier in the day. "I..uh..remember, um, the four generals, one had short blonde hair, another had long white hair, another with long red hair and then blonde again. Nope no black haired guys." Then she whirled her head around to Luna as she suddenly remembered, "Oh wait a minute! The guy in the tux and top hat! Please don't tell me that was him!" "Yes, Serena.....it had to be." Luna said mater of factly. "Damn!" Serena spat, "No wonder he knew that I was lying to him! So what now?" Luna just looked at her a moment and then said, "Now, you are going to go and find Darien and his friends and tell them the truth. It's time for you to cease being a solo act. It's just too dangerous. Especially since that attack had Diamond's name written all over it." Serena just rolled her eyes as she said, "But I don't know where he went." Luna finally at the end of her patience with Serena, yelled, "Don't give me that, Serena!!! I know about the psychic bond between you and him! Now get MOVING!!!!" Disgusted, Serena stood up and went to change her clothes before going to find Darien. ********************************************* Forty-five minutes later, Serena pulled up to the steps that led up the Cherry Hill Temple. Confused, she looked at Luna and said, "He's here?" "Are you sure, Serena?" "Yep. Maybe he's praying that I'll forgive him for tricking me like this... although not likely. Well, let's go and see if anyone knows him." She and Luna got out of the car and Serena drew the collar of her coat up around her throat as the wind whipped through her. She was sure Darien was here somewhere, she could feel him close by. Slowly she made her way up the steps, looking around at the strange carvings. Finally, she and Luna reached the top of the steps and she looked around the deserted courtyard for some clue of which way to go. Again she started forward slowly walking up the steps to the building, and then noticing light coming from under a door. Hesitantly, she reached out and knocked on the door and called out, "Hello? Is anyone there?" Inside, the group came to a stop and listened. "Did someone just knock?" Raye asked. Then they all heard it again. "Hello?" The group just stared at each other and then Darien said, "It's Serena. I told you that she would come to me." But Raye just looked at him like 'yeah, right.' and got up to tell whoever it was that the temple was closed for the day. "I don't think that anyone is gonna answer, Luna." Serena said as her teeth began to chatter in the cold. "Try one more time, Serena." Serena gave Luna a disgruntled look and was about to knock again when the door suddenly opened a crack. "I'm sorry," the woman who was veiled in the shadows said, "but the temple is closed for the day. Please come back tomorrow." Snd began to shut the door, but Serena stuck her hand out to stop her. Now infuriated the woman said, "Excuse ME! But I said we are closed!" But Serena wouldn't budge. Instead she softly said, "I need to see Darien Chiba. And don't try to tell me that he's not here. I know that he is." The shadowed woman gasped and said, "Who are you?" "My name is Serena." The woman gasped again, but this time stepped away to allow Serena to enter. Serena entered the warm room with Luna perched on her shoulder. Quickly she scanned the room's occupants for Darien. She spotted him sitting on the floor across the room with his back propped against the wall. Their eyes met for what seemed like an eternity as they stared at each other. Finally, Serena broke the stare to look around the room and took notice of the other inhabitants. They were the people that were with him at the rink that first day. she thought, No one said anything for a while then finally, the white haired man spoke up. "Can we help you?" She focused her gaze on him and smiled at him. This caught him completely off guard because he was using his best intimidation face on her. "I need to speak with you Darien." she said instead. Darien didn't say anything for a moment, then he softly said with his eyes never leaving hers, "Whatever it is you have to say, you can say it to all of us. I'm sure that it concerns us all." But Serena gave him an exasperated look and said, "But I'd rather talk to you first." He merely shook his head. "You're going to make this hard on me, aren't you?" she asked and he nodded. In frustration, she threw her hands up and said, "Oh fine, you win! O.k. everyone, I'm the new Scout that appeared yesterday." Each one of them looked shocked, but Raye recovered first and said, "Yeah, right! Miss Figure Skating Champion is a Sailor Scout??? As if!" Serena looked furious as she practically growled out, "Are you saying that I'm lying?" Raye smirked as she challenged, "Yes." Serena stiffened and Luna groaned as she jumped off Serena's shoulder, finally drawing attention to herself. "Hey, that cat looks like Artemis, only black." Ami pointed out. Everyone including Raye looked at Luna who was sitting peacefully on the floor looking innocent. Then Raye turned her attention back to Serena and said, "So? That doesn't mean anything. She's no Scout." Serena crossed the space between herself and Raye and got in her face as she pushed Raye back and said, "You'll eat those words in a minute." Raye just continued to smirk as Serena took a step back and thrust her hand in the air as she called out, "MOON CRYSTAL POWER!!!!!" Everyone including Raye gasped and watched as Serena transformed in a flury of silver light and black ribbons. When the transformation was complete, Serena, now Sailor Moon, stood in front of Raye with her large Crescent Moon Glaive poised in front of her, ready to strike at Raye as she softly said, "Still think that I lie?" Raye's eyes were large and full of fear as she stared at the Sailor Scout in front of her. Jason made a move to defend his love from the new Scout, but a look from Darien stopped him. Finally Raye managed to sqeak out. "No...I..was wrong....I..I'm sorry..if I...offended you." Sailor Moon just glared at her. Luna seeing that Serena?s temper was about to explode decided to step in. "That?s enough Serena. You?ve made your point." Reluctantly, Sailor Moon dropped her defensive stance and looked at everyone. She thought that the shocked expressions on their faces was from hearing her cat talk, so she said, "This is my guardian, Luna. Doesn?t your white cat over there talk too? I mean, I thought with the moon and all on his head that he would." Luna, pretty sure that Serena wasn?t going to attack Raye when she turned her back, softly padded over to the disgruntled looking ?white cat?. "Sailor Moon, this is Artemis. I believe that he?s Mina?s guardian, right?"she said as she looked at Artemis. "That?s right. Welcome to the team, guys. So, Sailor Moon was it?" he said addressing her. "That?s right, I am Sailor Moon. I stand for love and justice and on behalf of the moon, I?ll punish you! Well, that?s what I usually say." she said when they all looked at her like she had lost her mind. Then she detransformed and stood there in the center of the group feeling extremely uncomfortable. Finally, Luna took control over the situation and said, "Well you know who we are, so why not tell us who you are?" "Good idea, Luna. O.k. then Serena, Luna, allow me to present the Sailor Scouts and their protectors, the Royal Guard. That?s Mina, also known as Sailor Venus, the leader of the Scouts. That?s Raye, aka Sailor Mars, Lita, aka Sailor Jupiter and Ami, aka Sailor Mercury." he said as he pointed a white paw at each girl. Then he turned to the Royal Guard and said, "That?s Marcus, aka, Malachite, the leader of the guard. That?s Nicholas, aka Nephlite, Jason, aka Jedite and Zachary, aka Zoicite. And Darien is Tuxedo Mask. "Doesn?t he have anyone to.....watch over?" Serena asked, trying not to seem to interested. "No not yet, I suppose that he could be yours." Artemis said. But Serena looked horrified by that thought and said, "No thanks! I work alone." Darien just raised an eyebrow, but Luna gave her a stern look and said, "Not anymore you don?t." But Serena ignored her and started towards the door and said, "Well folks, I hate to end this...most joyous reunion, but I?ve got to be at the rink early tomorrow. Let?s go Luna." But Luna remained where she was and said, "No, I?m staying. I think that Artemis and I have some strategizing to do. Artemis, what do you say we have a training session tomorrow, say around five thirty. "An excellent idea Luna, except we always make it at six, to accomadate everyone?s schedules." Luna nodded and Serena just shrugged and said, "Suit yourself. Bye!" and she walked out the door. Darien got up and quickly followed her. "Hey Serena, wait up!" Serena stopped, but when she turned to face him, there was anger on her beautiful face. He noticed and slowed his strides and then hesitantly asked, "What?s wrong?" that was it, her temper exploded. "Wrong? Wrong? You dare ask me what is wrong??? You knew who I was this entire time, but yet you made me look like a fool in front of everyone. And just who is the vodoo queen back there that thinks she knows everything??" Darien was stunned for a moment and then softly said, "Serena, I did give you a chance to tell me at your place, but you chose not too." "That right!" she screamed at him, "I chose not to tell you!" "So why did you come?" He asked softly, never taking his eyes from hers. "Because Luna wanted me too! She said that it was getting too dangerous for me being on my own, with Di..nevermind. She just thought that I could use some back up." "So you didn't want to tell me, you just came because Luna wanted you to." "Right." "So what about us?" She narrowed her eyes at him now and said, "What us? There is no us! As far as I'm concerned, you blew any chance with me when you tricked me into telling you who I was. You couldn't just trust me and let me reveal that to you in my own time." 'But Serena..." Furious beyond comprehension now she shook her head and waved her hands at him and said, "No Darien, no more! Unless it deals battling the Negaverse, stay away from me!" With that she turned on her heel and walked away. A moment later he heard a car door slam, the engine of a car being started and the squeal of tires as Serena pulled away and disappeared into the snowy night. ************************************