This story does not fit into any episodes of the Anime series or any parts in the Manga, unlike my first one. This one is a story in itself. Again, Uranus and Neptune are only friends, not gay. It just makes my writing easier. And I use the Manga characteristic of Zoisite, not the Anime, so he is not gay, either. This story is rated PG for language and stuff (Nothing serious, so don't worry. The worse thing possible would be the word "damn" (^_^)) Oh yeah, PLEASE email me and tell me what you think of my story. Critiques, compliments, suggestions, questions, anything would be fine. Just FEED MY EMAIL INBOX! I think it will die of starvation soon! Usual disclaimers: Sailor Moon and all its characters and likeliness belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha/Toei. English translation is made possible by DiC. My email address: ml_eclipse@hotmail.com << >> = thoughts [ ] = author's note * A list of all the Generals are at the bottom for those who are confused. Well, enough of my babbling! I hope you'll like this fanfic! Enjoy! ============================ =================>>> Bloom of the Crystal Rose <<<================== by Cosmos ============================ The Fourth Petal: Against the Laws of Time The dinner bell rang, interrupting their kiss. Each reluctantly release the other's lips as they release each other from the strong embrace. He smiled gently down at her while she shyly gazed at the floor beneath them, her cheeks full bloom with crimson. He leaned toward her ear and whispered what she had hoped she saw in his eyes only moments before. "I love you." She looked up at him in surprise, "B-but you barely know me." "I have known you long enough to know that I love you. The first time I saw you lying on the marble floor in Elysion I knew you were meant for me. And your kindness, your sincerity strengthened that love I have for you. You triggered emotions in me that I have never felt before, my lovely Serena. <> She smiled shyly at him, her eyes dancing with that brilliant light he saw in them last night, only this time there was nothing to hide it. "I?I?love--" But a knock at the door interrupted her. They both turned in surprise as Malachite's voice floated to them through the door, "Endymion! Hey, Darien wake up?time for dinner!" Darien gave a slightly irritated sigh and turned to her extended his hand saying, "Shall we?" "We shall," she said giving a small giggle at his annoyed look. She stepped out of the room and waited for him while he dressed. He stepped out within minutes in his prince attire, took her hand and gently led her down the hall. Soon they were walking down another large hall toward the dining room, his hand placed lightly around her slim waist. She still couldn't believe what had happened back there. <> Looking up at him she sighed happily, <> All eyes turned toward them when they reached the majestic dining room. A large red wood dining table was placed at the center of a magnificent room with beautiful creamy silk curtains adorning the sides of large windows where the rays of sunset seeped through. The table was beautifully decorated with fancy table cloths and china dishes. Handcrafted utensils and wineglasses were placed before every red wood chair. The chairs were so soft with dark blue velvet coverings. Everything was so beautiful. For a moment she only stood there in awe at the spectacle before her, but the curious gazes laid on them quickly snapped her attention back to the eighteen well-dressed people already seated at the table. Each one of them sat with their lovers. The others were chatting quietly among themselves when the two entered. They were quickly silenced by the site before them. All their gazes caught his arm positioned protectively around her waist. Chrysolite smiled warmly while raising a curious eyebrow at her. She caught his look and quickly glanced away while a deep blush crept into her cheeks. The others simply stared at them in amazement with some jaws dragging on the floor. "What the world?" Azurite whispered. Darien saw their amazed expressions and laughed. "What? Do you think that I'm incapable of love?" he asked his General. "Yes?I mean no?I mean?well?," Azurite stammered, then turning his lush blue eyes toward his love next to him begged her to help him out . Uranus, sitting beside him rolled her eyes and gave a light laughter. "What Az means," she helped him, "is that we never knew that you two?that you?" and now she was at lost for words. Everyone else were to stunned to speak. "Since when did you two fell in love?" Mars cried. Well, almost everyone were anyway. "Since the first time we met," Darien replied looking down at his angel standing quietly by his side. He could tell by the look on her face that she was extremely nervous of the group. Suddenly he remembered his personal notes. "So what *did* you guys do to her last night, hmmm?" He asked his eyes gave a challenging blue spark. "Well?uhhh?," Mercury stammered. She looked at her friends to see if anyone was willing to say anything. She noticed that some were looking nervously at their laps while the others seemed to have found a sudden interest in the tall ceiling above them. She turned to her love beside her hoping that he would help her, but instead she found Zoisite totally engrossed at his attempt to make an origami swan with his satin napkin. "Since when have you been interested in origami," she whispered angrily at him. "Since now," he whispered back not daring to look into her blazing ice blue eyes. "If I were you," he continued, "I would begin to take interest in it too." She looked at him then at Darien's fiery blue eyes. Suddenly she grabbed her napkin and began to fold it, too. "It was nothing," Serena spoke up attempting to ease the situation. "They were only overly concerned that you were hurt that was all. They didn't say anything that I don't deserved to hear. Please, can we simply be friends here?" She walked up to them, smiled brightly and said, "Perhaps we have gotten off on a rocky start. Let us start over shall we? Hi, I'm Serena. I am terribly sorry for putting Darien in such dangers last night. If I had known I would never have tried to escape." They sat there in surprise for a moment. Then Venus stood up and went over to her and gave her a tight hug. She looked at her in surprise. They all began to laugh at her innocent expression. "All is forgiven and forgotten!" Uranus and Jupiter shouted simultaneously. "Almost all," Mars mumbled under her breath but a painful kick in the foot by Malachite beside her made her said, "Hey, come on why don't you two come and join us over here?" Darien took hold of her hand and led her to the two empty seats directly across Mars and Jadeite. Darien took his seat by a younger man with pale yellow hair named Pyrite and Serena took her seat beside Jupiter, whom turned and smiled warmly at her. "Hey, we're sorry for what we said yesterday," she whispered, her eyes showing nothing but sincerity. "Please, don't apologize. Let us just enjoy each other's companies okay?" "Good idea! Hey, Nephrite can you pass the mashed potatoes please?" The dinner went smoothly. Everyone were laughing and talking as if all that had happened yesterday did not even happen at all. Even Mars and Uranus have gradually grown to love this girl. Serena was quite surprised by the change in these soldiers. From the look of them now, she would never have guessed that these laughing and friendly people at this table were the same ones who were yelling and glaring at her with hatred yesterday. <> she thought <> . Serena could tell that they all cared for each other very much. They acted like sisters and brothers to one another, except for the ones they loved of course, that was different. She had never had such a wonderful, and filling, dinner like this one before. Compared to cold day-old porridge and stale bread, the dishes were extraordinary like ambrosia sent down by the Gods and Goddesses. She ate hungrily, downing one dish after another, but she suddenly caught herself and began to eat more slowly. The others didn't seem to mind at all. They only smiled warmly at her with their eyes sparkling with care and understanding. She looked around the table while she ate. She noticed that everyone was here, including two other people she did not meet last night. Darien noticed her gaze toward the far side of the table and looked up to see what or who has caught her attention. "Those two are Lord Andrew and Lady Rita," he whispered into her ears. "They own a large estate some distance away from the palace, but because of the war they are now taking refuge here, much like everyone else now." "Are they soldiers like the others?" she asked curiously. He shook his head. "No," he replied, "they do not hold any special powers like us. They are not guardian soldiers. They are simply dear friends of ours. Perhaps you would like to meet them after dinner?" "That would be great," she replied enthusiastically. Throughout the marvelous meal, Darien noticed how Pluto was looking at them with a hint of sorrow and regret in her eyes. A slight frown appeared on his face. <> Then he turned to look at Serena sitting and laughing beside him. Her face was like a light that brightened his nights and warmed his heart. He loved her so much. She was laughing at the horrendous jokes Jadeite was telling them. The others around them were groaning in annoyance, but she was laughing with him. <> Marcasite gazed down at Pluto and saw the sad look on her face. His emerald eyes darkened with concern. He bent slightly down and whispered in her ears, "What is wrong love?" Pluto turned to look up at him and he could see tears were beginning to flood into those beautiful crimson eyes of hers. "Would you like to talk about it?" he asked her. She nodded, stood up and walked silently out of the room. The others turned in surprise; their concerned looks questioned the General, but he only gave them a 'I don't know' shrug and stood up to follow her outside. Once out in the garden he searched around for her. He saw her standing, facing the cold marble wall. He walked up to her, wrapped his strong arms around her waist, and placed his pale blond head on her shoulder. "Tell me what is bothering you Pluto? It pains me to see you so sad." She turned around, wrapped her arms around his neck, and began to sob uncontrollably into his silver-gray uniform. He looked down at her in shock while his heart cried along with her. "Marc," she cried, "how can this happen? How could they fall in love?" His eyes widen in surprise. <> "Ssshhh," he soothed her, "just calm down and take a deep breath." Under his warm embrace and soothing caresses she began to calm. "Now, tell me Pluto," he asked now more concerned then ever, "what is wrong. Why is their love causing you so much pain?" "Because they cannot?must not love each other. For their sakes they should not have fallen in love!" "Why not? She doesn't look harmful?" "No, you don't understand. Once the purpose of her existence here is fulfilled she must return to her world. She cannot stay here in our world," Pluto barely whispered as grief for her friends began to choke her. "Why not?" Marcasite asked, "She's an orphan, you heard her say that last night. No one will miss her. Besides, she has no one back in her world. It would be better for her *and* for him that she stayed here with us." "Don't you think that maybe I would want her to stay here, too?" Pluto shouted in frustration. "She is such a kind girl. I really care for her, and I want them both to be happy. I mean, I have never seen Darien look happier with anyone else before. He loves her with his heart and soul. But I cannot?she cannot stay. We will be breaking the sacred Laws of Time if we allowed her to stay. Besides, we have no choice in this! The Laws will automatically return her to her world whether we want to or not." "Can't you stop it? Can't you change the Laws?" Pluto shook her head dejectedly. "I wish I could," she whispered sadly. Looking up at Marcasite she cried, "Why Marc? Why do I possess this power? Why am I bounded to uphold these *damn* laws? If I ever find out whoever makes them I will kill him! I swear I will make him change every damn law!" Tears began to choke her again. Marcasite pulled her closer and held her while she cried out her pain. "Then there is nothing we can do," he asked although it sounded more like a hopeless statement than a question. "Not unless she was born in our world?there?is?nothing." He held her tight as each were flooded with grief for their friends whom were so happy together. As the sun sank lower into the horizon, he whispered, "You must tell Darien. He must know of this, but he will not like it one bit." "I know. I hate this myself! W-will you be with me when I talk to him?" she pleaded into his eyes, "I don't want to be alone baring this awful news." "Of course, my love. I'll always be by your side." In solemn silence, he held her close as they walked back toward the palace to bare a solitary message that will break two hearts. ============================ [All right here is a list of all Generals and their relations with the Sailor Soldiers ==> Azurite >>> Sailor Uranus Chrysolite >>> Sailor Neptune Marcasite >>> Sailor Pluto Pyrite >>> Sailor Saturn Malachite >>> Sailor Venus Nephrite >>> Sailor Jupiter Zoisite >>> Sailor Mercury Jadeite >>> Sailor Mars All the Generals names are real names of actual gems. I did some research ^_^; Any knew characters that does not belong to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha/Toei, or DiC, belongs to me. So please don't take them. Next chapter coming soon!]