here is the last chapter to my first and most memorable story

thanks to all those who commented on the story and continued to be an inspiration for me to continue

ALSO: BIG thanks to my Beta Reader forlornromanticis

hit her page up and check out her stuff

SO on with the story:

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Chapter 13

I felt consumed in the light of the sun as it warmed my dying body. I could feel the tears slowly trickling down my cheek… "Darien…."

Darkness consumed my body; I felt cold, but I felt strangely alive. Then, I heard a voice.

"Princess Serenity, welcome."

I looked in the direction of the voice, but everything around me was fuzzy… "Was this heaven?"

"Am I dead?"… I asked unsure.

"Not exactly. You were dying, but I choose to stop time and retrieve you in your state right before death."

"Stop time?"

"You can stop time… then you must be the woman that Rachael told me about- the one who sent her to protect me."

"Yes, my name is Pluto. I'm the guardian of time, and I'm afraid that the events which happened today, were not supposed to have occurred. YOU were never meant to live in America, my dear princess. I should have tried earlier to change events, but it's taboo to interfere or Stop Time. But, the future depends on your survival, and so I've risked everything in order to make this decision. I pray that the Gods will have mercy on my intentions…"

I truly understood her sentiments, but her comment made me both offended, and sad… I loved my life in America, but this woman risked her life to save me from dying.

" I don't regret going to America. It was the happiest time of my life. "

I heard her sigh.

"I understand, but I only have one choice that I can give you, and it ends with you never living in America. But, the battle with Selene will occur. Aaron's death will occur, but you will still meet Rachel."

"I don't understand… if everything will end the same, what's the point?"

"During your stay in America, events that were suppose to occur never happened. One such thing was that Aaron and his wife were to reunite and consummate a male child, an heir for Aaron's lineage to continue. Aaron and Darien were to become allies in the Peace treaty and write one more treaty together, called JEAN. It would end the racism against Mutants and unite humanity. This was supposed to happen in the two years that you left. Yours and Aaron's friendship ultimately will flourish. Selene will use Aaron's wife against him and come after you using her telepathic abilities to corrupt Jean…."

"STOP!"…A deep remorse came over me, and I didn't want to hear anymore… "Why do so many lives have to be jeopardized in order for me to live?…It's not fair-"

The guardian of time understood her future queen's heart, but time was not responsible for destiny and fate.

"My dear princess, One day this world will live in a peaceful harmony, and never again will death reign, and people will no longer suffer. But before that can occur, we must triumph over evil, and the people who give their lives do it willingly."

In my heart I knew that she was right, but I didn't want anymore suffering and dying…. "Then, I must do the same. I will sacrifice my life in America in order for the greater Good to prevail."

"Then it is done. I will return you to the night of the Peace Signing."

"I loved the life I made for myself, but it would be a selfish choice if I would ultimately die and leave the world in shambles. Then, I can't die, but I still battle Selene- so ultimately I die?"

" Your second battle with Selene will be much different. You will not face her alone, and with the help of your scouts and King Endymion, you will triumph without flaw. "

"Will I remember everything?"

"I leave that decision with you. If you want, I can erase all your memories before sending you back, or you can choose to live with the memories that you have created."

Serena thought heavily before answering. She would never again live the life she had in America- the people she had met… The things she learned in that moment helped her make her decision.

"I want to remember so that in my heart that life is always with me. And, maybe I can still use my education to help Darien more this time.""

Pluto smiled, and picked up her staff to open a time portal.

She sent Serena into the portal…

I could feel myself floating through the portal, and when it closed I could see again. I was standing. I saw that I was still injured, but suddenly there was a blinding white light, a flash, and the world around me began to spin. I closed my eyes, and the spinning stopped. When I opened my eyes, I was seated staring at my reflection in the mirror.

" OH MY GOD" " NO WAY!"

I was eighteen again… WAY TO GO PLUTO! I still had my memories, but I was saddened. I looked at what I was wearing. It was the gown I was wearing the night of the event. I looked to the clock. It was 12:30 in the morning.

" THEY'RE IN THE LIBRARY! THEY'RE ALL STILL ALIVE!"

I jumped up, ran out of the door and down the corridor, and suddenly I froze. It was all the same. In my heart, I knew exactly what they were saying. I braced myself. I had four years of knowledge stuck in my head… I worked my butt off in America. I graduated top of my class with a Bachelors degree in Foreign Relations, and a minor in Business Administration. I knew that the paper headlines the next morning would be, 'Princess Heart of Gold.' I just had to approach the situation calmly, and act like I didn't know anything. This actually turned out to be very hard because I did... which was way weird! I walked into the library this time. I saw everyone freeze, and watched Darien as he stared into the fireplace.

" I know right now, you are very upset with me. I can try to understand why, but I will let you know that what I did tonight was the right thing to do. Please listen to my reasoning."

I secretly wanted to bust out in laughter because I was about to recite my thesis that I used for my final project at my American university. I looked at them all firmly in their eyes, as I did with my professors. I walked in sternly, head lifted, shoulders back, chest lifted, and making direct eye contact. This was going to be funnier than I thought.

"The earth is a generous mother; she will provide plenty in abundance, which includes her soil of justice and peace." I saw in their eyes that their minds were beginning to wonder where I was going with this. "I feel we can agree with that?"

Darien turned, and looked at me giving me a bewildered look, but I had caught his attention.

" Now, while still pursuing the method of realizing our overall strategic concept, I come to the crux of what I have come here to say. Neither the sure prevention of war, nor the continuous rise of world organization will be gained without what I have called, 'The Purity of Heart.' This means a special relationship between the conscious decisions of action for gain, and the actions that cause true results without personal gain. It is my duty to state the facts as I see them, and to place my people above self-righteousness and personal gain. If we adhere faithfully to the charter of the 'Purity of Heart,' and walk forward in dignified and sober strength seeking no one's land or treasure, seeking to lay no subjective control upon the thoughts of men; if all moral and material forces and convictions are joined with your own 'Pure Heart,' then the high-roads of the future will be clear- not only for us, but for all, not only for our time, but also for the millennium to come. If you agree that the principles I have expounded on are the fundamental criteria for peace, then true peace is reachable and achievable. What happened tonight will only expose untrue intentions, and bring to light fundamental flaws."

They had baffled, yet profound faces, and I loved Darien's look…. PURE SHOCK! I just ran to them, and embraced them in my arms. I looked into each of their eyes, and I kissed their foreheads, remembering their sacrifices, their gifts to me, and their deaths. After kissing them, I came to my fiancé.

"Darien, I'm sorry that this was not what you expected for tonight. I know that you worked really hard on preparing your speech. I wish that you would believe in me a little more, but I love you more tonight than ever."... I kissed him on the cheek; he was still upset. I knew that later he would come to me... I felt years older inside, and I blushed remembering our moment in the shower that he would never know about.

Then, I walked out of the room with a smile bigger than the full moon outside. I walked out onto the patio, and gazed out into the garden.

"Thank you, Pluto…"

oooOOOooo

Back in the Library, sat a group of bewildered adults all looking at one another, but no one daring to speak the first words… all except for Raye.

"Do you think she heard what we said?"

" I don't know RAYE…Maybe it will have you think twice about what comes out of your mouth!".. Lita shouted protectively at Raye.

The two bickered with one another, but Amy saw the face of their Prince.

"Darien, are you okay?"

Darien was still starring out the door that Serena had exited suddenly, and looked at the blunette.

"Amy, did you just see what happened? Did you hear what came out of her mouth?"…I looked at Amy who nodded yes to confirm I wasn't hearing things, and wasn't already drunk from my few shots of whiskey.

' I am actually thinking that I have tremendously underestimated what goes on inside Serena's head. Serena just sounded like a well-educated Political Science Major… I am still in shock."

Suddenly, Darien felt like he had done exactly what he wasn't suppose to have done… He had doubted her… and his feet ran out the door.

"How could I have doubted her choices after all the ones that she has made to get us all to this point?"

Darien ran out the door with Luna worried behind him. " Darien,… Where are you going?"… But she stopped at the door, and realized this was a situation they needed to work out on their own.

I was heading toward Serena's room when I saw her out the window. She was gazing at the roses that were lit up with light from the moon. She looked stunning. I felt all of the anger from the night melt away. She was beautiful... I walked up to her.

" Beautiful, aren't they?"

" Yes," Serena said and continued to stare at the roses in full bloom.

Darien looked upon Serena, and followed the fine line of her chin, to her full lips, to her sparkling blue eyes, and a serenity fell over him, she was just too beautiful to be mad at. How could he have even thought to be mad at her…

" Serena, I know that I blew up tonight on you, and I'm sorry, my love. I just wanted to come out here, and tell you…"

I looked to him, and he stopped speaking. I looked into his eyes, glistening with unshared tears. He took my face into his hands, and pressed his warm body firmly against mine, which caught my breath in my chest.

" Serena, you are the most breath-taking creature on this whole planet."

I stared into his eyes, placed my hands on his face, and recited a poem I had written for him when I was living in America.

Sweetness tells me
I can love the world.
Dignity tells me
I can rule the world.
With sweetness we conquer the world.
With dignity we embrace the world.

Sweetness is anxious to teach me
How to become a morning rose.

Your Rose

He starred into my eyes, tears falling.

He whispered into my ear, " I don't know who you are, but I am willing to spend every day of my life discovering everything about you because just when I thought I knew you, you still bring many surprises. I'm intrigued in your presence, baffled at your words; you leave me in a lingering want."

He kissed me passionately, and I let his kiss consume my soul. I took his hand, and lead him down the hall.

" Serena, where are we going?"

" I think I need a shower!"

THE END FOR REALS