Back earlier than I expected, a fourth story in my 'Change' series. Definitely never saw it coming this far. Anyway, you have my crashing computer to thank for this, because it would have likely been summer otherwise. I was about halfway through another fic and lost everything. So I decided to work on this one instead while waiting for the geek squad to retrieve my lost files. I'm not sure if I will update every week, or every other week, it will depend on the response to this and how much more I can get done.

Also, I watched an episode last night and realized how off I am with characters... I've read other sailor moon fics where character personalities are changed, but I did want to stick to the show a bit more than I have. But it cannot be fixed without revising all, so it shall continue on with everyone slightly off.

Previously: After the death of her family, Serena finds her memories and takes up her role as Sailor Moon earlier than expected. Meanwhile, one by one the Sailor Scouts awaken and search for their princess. Defeating Beryl, the scouts are then faced with another enemy and the future/past daughter of their prince and princess. After rescuing Serena from Prince Diamond, Darien proposes to Serena knowing that seeing her fall in love with someone else would kill him.

Sailor Mars stood helpless as the dark shadow loomed steadily closer. The world was haunted by an eerie silence. The other scouts were one by one slowly swallowed up, along with the rest of the world they defended. Incomparable pain shot through her body as the darkness consumed her.

Raye sat up gasping for air.

That dream, she thought. Why won't it leave me alone? Could it be a premonition?

"I can't believe you're going through with this," Mina said.

Serena glanced up, putting the last of her few belongings in the single cardboard box.

"You knew it would happen eventually, goddess of love," Serena teased.

"But…you're too young to be living with a man…how you convinced my parents to allow you to do this I'll never know."

Serena shrugged as she thought back to the conversation she'd had the week before with her aunt and uncle. Even she was unsure how she had convinced them, maybe because she wasn't exactly willing to take no for an answer.

"You'll be so far away now," Mina said sadly.

"It's a fifteen minute walk," Serena disagreed. "We'll still see each other at school."

"But I'm so used to being able to just…come see you."

"I'm moving across town, not across the universe."

"That's probably next," Mina muttered.

"Mina."

The blonde slowly looked up to her cousin.

"This is the first step to the future," Mina said. "Where you and Darien rule crystal Tokyo, and the rest of us…"

"Just because Darien and I will be ruling Crystal Tokyo doesn't mean anything, that's a long way off, Mina. We can't be together forever. We have to go our separate ways."

"When we're older. It's not time yet. And you're too young to be living with Darien."

"That's exactly what Amara said," Serena muttered.

"She's right! It's…it's…"

"I thought of all people you'd be the one who was happiest about this."

Mina suddenly stopped her pacing. "Oh, Serena, I'm happy for you…I just…are you sure this is right?"

"Absolutely."

"I'm sure Amara's already cornered Darien and gave him her warnings."

"Of course," Serena replied.

"I'll have to talk to him."

"Mina, that's not necessary."

"I just…don't want him…rushing…things…" Mina said.

A bit late for that, Serena thought, remembering the day she had decided to move in with Darien for good.

"I've been thinking about this, since realizing I didn't like it at all when I realized you might love another. Yesterday I found out that I've taken enough credits to graduate in just a few months which means I'll begin my residency by the end of the year. I know I shouldn't ask you to be my wife under those circumstances, it will be hard to find time to be together and I'll rarely be able to see you…but I really can't stand the thought of you finding someone else in that time. There is no one else in this world -in this life- that I would rather be with than you."

As he spoke, Serena slowly opened the box, revealing a small golden ring with a pink diamond in the shape of a heart and small diamonds surrounding it. She let out another small gasp, as she realized he was, in fact, serious about this ordeal. But was she? Was the carefree teen and untamed princess ready for this commitment?

Darien took her hands and looked up into her eyes. "Serena Tsukino, will you marry me?"

Serena smiled as she reached up to play with the ring that hung on a golden chain around her neck. The others didn't know of course, she and Darien agreed to keep it a secret to avoid any scandal. Though they were around the same ages as Serenity and Endymion were when they married, the times had changed. Only one person knew, and that was only because she had seen the outcome while guarding the time gate, where Trista stood guard as Sailor Pluto fulfilling her sacred duty.

"You two aren't sharing a bedroom are you?" Mina suddenly asked.

"I don't get why everyone has such a problem with this. Even the guys are on Darien's case about this."

"You just turned fifteen, Serena. He's nineteen, in college."

"He graduates in a couple months."

"Which makes it worse."

Serena rolled her eyes as she walked over to open the door, which someone had just knocked upon. Standing on the other side was a slightly annoyed Darien, with a small black cat on one shoulder and white cat on the other.

"Luna! Artemis!" Serena scolded.

"It's fine, Serena," Darien told her as the cats jumped onto the kitchen counter.

"We were only setting some rules," Artemis explained.

"Luna, you're coming with me, it's not like you won't know what's going on."

"So something will be going on?" Mina asked with an amused but accusing grin.

"What? No!"

"I won't take advantage of your princess, Mina," Darien promised.

"Hmph. That doesn't mean much coming from an earth prince," Mina said, crossing her arms.

"Are you ready?" Darien asked.

Serena nodded, going into the other room and bringing her box in to set it on the table.

"That's all you have?"

"Pretty much everything I had was destroyed when the Tsukino household was destroyed. All my clothes are in your closet already. All I really have is a few manga and old pictures."

Luna cleared her throat.

"And Luna of course," Serena added, adding the cat's bowl to the box.

Serena then turned to Mina. "I'll see you at school?"

Mina flung her arms around Serena. "Don't do anything I would do," she whispered.

"That doesn't limit me much now, does it?"

Mina pulled back in smiled. "Take care of her, Darien."

"I will," he promised.

"And Serena?" Mina called, as the couple was leaving.

"Yes?"

"If you wouldn't mind, could you stop and see Raye?" Mina asked. "It's just that…"

"She was acting strangely yesterday?" Serena guessed. "I'm sure Chad's keeping an eye on her, but I'll stop by this evening."

Mina smiled. "You're probably the only one who could get her to say anything. Thank you."

"Raye is my friend," Serena said. "I've been worried myself about her the past few weeks. I won't leave the shrine tonight until she tells me what's bugging her. Knowing Raye it could be anything, from Chad to an apocalypse."

That's what I'm afraid of, Mina thought.

Trista looked at the three other outer scouts, meeting their shocked expressions.

"It hasn't been that long since we defeated the last threat," Amara said. "Can there really be something else this soon?"

"Someone is looking for pure heart crystals," Trista explained. "Three purest hearts contain special talismans that when gathered together will form the holy grail."

"What's the holy grail?" Hotaru asked.

"An object that can cause great benevolence…or even greater destruction."

"What do we have to do? We must stop whoever wishes to possess this," Michelle said.

"This threat has not yet made a move, and I'm unable to know what path they will choose. The other girls will not understand yet, but you must make sure the talismans stay as far from enemy hands as possible, am I clear?"

The three nodded.

"I must return to the Time Gate. If you need me-"

"We know," Hotaru said. "We'll take care of it."

Trista smiled before disappearing in a swirl of fog.

Amara was the first to stand, moving to the window. "We should have known this peace wouldn't last."

"It was wishful thinking," Michelle admitted, walking over to place a hand on Amara's shoulder. "But peace isn't exactly in our near future."

Amara reached up to grasp Michelle's hand.

"This is our duty," Michelle said.

"Hotaru, you will be the closest to the princess for now," Amara said. "She could be a target, and we have to keep a close eye on her."

"Don't worry," Hotaru said. "Even if I wasn't there, she'll almost always be with one of the scouts or Darien."

Amara growled at the mention of the man's name. Hotaru snickered and Michelle tried her best to hide a smile.

They'd better know I am not as ignorant as they think, she thought angrily.

"Amara and Michelle took Hotaru this morning," Darien said, setting Serena's box down. "I probably should have asked how late they would be."

"Even if Amara has her moments, Michelle's responsible," Serena said. "I'm sure you have nothing to worry about."

Darien smiled, wrapping his arms around Serena. "Welcome home."

"That sounds nice."

Serena tilted her head up and Darien leaned down to meet her the rest of the way. The kiss was not deepened, as a certain black cat took that moment to jump onto the couch beside them and clear her throat.

"Yes, Luna?" the two asked in unison.

"Just because you live together does not mean you will be able to behave in a manner unfitting a prince and a princess."

The two exchanged a slightly embarrassed glance.

"There's no need to worry, Luna," Darien said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Anyway, Endy and Terra aren't born for several years," Serena reminded the feline. "You are all being absolutely ridiculous. Did you ever think that maybe this is a good thing? My grades have already improved since I started spending so much time here."

"When your grades rival Amy's then we will talk," Luna said, prancing off in a huff.

"Why doesn't anyone trust us?" Serena wondered.

"They're just concerned, Serena. It'll die down soon enough."

"I know."

"Something else is bothering you."

"No."

"Serena, tell me."

"It's just…I feel like springing everything on them is wrong."

"You're the one who wanted to wait," Darien pointed out.

"I know but…"

Darien squeezed her hand. "We'll tell them when the day is closer."

"But Luna…"

"She and Artemis will be the first to know. It's getting late. If you want to see Raye and be back in time to study you should get going."

"Right," Serena nodded. "Are you sure you're not coming with me?"

"I shouldn't distract Chad. I'm sure he's in enough trouble as it is between Raye and her grandfather."

Serena giggled. "Poor Chad didn't know what he was getting himself into when he decided to stay there. Well, I'll see you later."

"If you run into trouble-"

"You'll be my second call," Serena assured him. "Right after the girls. But you worry too much. I'll be back soon."

Darien shook his head as she walked into the other room where her guardian sat in the window.

"Luna? You coming?"

Luna hopped down before jumping onto Serena's shoulder.

"Of course I'm going," she said. "Someone has to keep you out of trouble."

Dark laughter echoed in the small barely-lit lab room. A man with large reflective glasses was dressed in a white lab coat. He added a final vial to his mixture and glass exploded. A seductive woman stood back watching with a wicked smile. The scientist raised his arms as a white orb floated over the bright pink liquid. It suddenly glided towards the window, escaping the confines of the lab.

"Kaorinite, follow

The large seed-like object flew across the city, finally setting itself into a large tree in a small Shinto shrine. Kaorinite hovered in the air, unseen by the humans around her.

"Now to just wait until a pure heart approaches, it won't be long."

Raye sat in front of the great flame, praying for answers to the questions she had been asking for weeks now. As usual, no answers were revealed. Frustrated she rose to her feet and decided to wander the grounds. She paused for a moment, watching as her grandfather berated Chad for taking too much time on his chores. Normally Raye would be amused by these scenes, and with Chad having moved back into his small room at the shrine they were quite frequent. However, with the thoughts of the recurrent vision, she found very little amusing any more. With a sigh Raye moved on.

This is starting to give me a real headache, she thought.

She suddenly stumbled and fell against a tree.

"What's wrong with me?" she snapped at herself.

As if in answer, the tree behind her moved, making to grab a hold of her. Raye moved just in time, and with a flash of light the transformed into a daimon. Raye gasped, reaching for her transformation wand. Before she had a chance to call out, the daimon knocked it from her grasp.

Raye was thrown back against a wall, and the creatures hands held her wrists. When the daimon moved back, its hands remained in place, and new ones reformed.

Another enemy, Raye realized.

"Raye!"

Jadeite suddenly appeared, a flaming sword in his hands. The daimon wasted no time in defeating him, simply throwing him back as if he were a rag doll. Jadeite hit against a tree with a sickening crack and fell to the ground.

"Jadeite!" Raye shouted, struggling against her bonds.

The man didn't move.

"Don't kill the girl," Kaorinite said. "She could have a pure heart crystal. Unfortunately these things take time so get to work."

Kaorinite disappeared, leaving Raye only minor clues as to her identity.

Pure heart crystals? she wondered.

The words tugged at her memory, leading the priestess to assume it was something she had known about in her past life. If that were so, it meant a new enemy had appeared.

Raye suddenly screamed out as a pain ripped through her chest. A black beam connected her to the monster as it searched for her heart crystal. She struggled against the hands holding her in place, trying to break the connection in hopes that would end the searing pain.

Somebody help me…