I DO NOT OWN SAILOR MOON OR ANY OF THE CHARACTERS FROM THE MANGA SERIES OR ANIME...But I do own this storyline, any other characters outside of the original works of Sailor Moon and any other fictional environment outside of the Original Sailor Moon.

Title: Crescentia's Story
Category: Sailor Moon
Genre(s): Romance/Adventure
Rating: Rated: T (M for later chapters)
Summary: From one betrayal to another, Serena is fed up with the girls and Darien. She's fed up living the life others wants her to live. When a stranger offers her a way out, she is determined to accept the aide regardless of the consequences.

Crescentia's Story

Chapter One – Saying goodbye

One eerie night, the wind thrust and churned, moving a ghost like figure through the dreams of one frightened young woman. Sprawled on her bed covered in sweats and wrinkled sheets, silent tears trailed down the reborn moon princess's face. For months she had been assaulted again and gain by dreams that left her bereft of her sanity, frightened beyond her measure and thirsty for true sleep, the kind that was peaceful and fulfilling.

She fisted a piece of her wrinkled blanket, her knuckles colorless and her lips bloodless. Her lids quivered with the magnitude of her tears, her heart a fertilized soil planted again and again with fear and desperation. When the darkness in her dream threatened to consume her heart, her broken voice cried out for help and somewhere in the infinite space, a kindred spirit heard her plea and answered.

"Find me." A voice the sound of many seas resonated through her heart and mind, awakening a feeling of awareness as old as time. The dreaming woman, even lost in her nightmares as she was, heard the voice both consciously and unconsciously. All electric currents in her veins responded with a frenzy to the familiar yet foreign voice, initiating a reaction of intense alertness and a desire to respond to the voice.

This was not the first she had heard the voice, in fact, this was perhaps the thousandth time she had heard that voice in the course of the month. It first appeared that night a little over a month ago when her already wounded world shattered beyond repair. Had it not been for the voice that always called her out of her nightmare, she would have succumbed to the lull of insanity weeks ago.

"I don't know what to do; I don't know how to find you. It hurts, please leave me alone." Serena begged silently and pathetically, her tears descending faster and heavier. Like a gentle sigh let out of a tired mouth, the consciousness behind the voice traveled through space and time to lay a gentle touch of reassurance on the frightened girl's shoulder.

Gentler and softer than a lovers caress, a kiss was laid upon her brow, her nightmare receding with the action.

"Sleep Crescentia. Find me in your heart. Sleep."

The morning sun filtered through the white curtained glass sliding doors that separated Serena's room from the veranda. One side of the sliding door was pushed onto the other, leaving only the netted frame to guard Serena against the outside world. Gentle spring breeze danced through the tightly netted post to touch the sleeping princess.

Ruffling through her clothes and over her serene face as if trying to massage all her discomfort away, the wind, as if consciously controlled, lingered around the blond angel, cushioning her in an embrace more loving than any she had received from her boyfriend in many days.

Tickled by the winds playful nature, Serena opened her bright blue eyes to the world of sunlight and baby blue walls. Smiling as if woken from a preciously delicious dream, she pulled herself up into a sitting position, a task she was unaware was aided by the wind.

Taking in a deep breath, she let the beauty of the morning sun, the lullaby of the morning birds and the warmth of the breeze to sift out any remaining traces of the nightmare she had endured before his voice had intruded and saved her from the darkness.

"Thank you." She whispered as if speaking to someone near. As she sat bathing in the sunlight, a piercing shrill brought her out of her peaceful meditation.

"Stupid Serena get up!" the shrill voice cried again as fists pounded on the door. For a split second she contemplated escaping out of the house through her veranda.

"Like I am some criminal." She muttered bitterly to herself. She sighed, the peace she had acquired those few precious moments were gone. The pounding on the door grew more insistent, the voice more demanding. Serena paid no mind to it.

She went through a door that led to a bathroom with a decent size Jacuzzi. She locked the door behind her and turned on the faucet to drown out the beating on her door and the annoying voice of Rini that accompanied it. Stripping off her clothes, she went and stood under the shower and let the water beat down on her. She closed her eyes, the warmth of the water lulling her into a state of only half awareness. In her near dream like state, she allowed the memories to unfold. Those memories that contained the roots of her nightmares and bitterness that fested like an infected wound.

Flashback

It had been little over a month ago, a Sunday afternoon like any other and the girls were once again gathered in Lita's living space. The aroma of fresh baked sweets infused the air, making the small apartment smell like a bakery.

Sitting in various positions on the couches and sofas that catered around a glass tea table in the middle of the living room, eight females busily and light-heartedly conversed on their lives, retelling tales of dates ruined and boyfriends lost.

The tea table was loaded baked goods.

Coming in from the kitchen with a tray of freshly brewed tea, Lita gingerly sat a cup in front of all the girls, each reaching for it eagerly. The flow of the conversations paused briefly as each girl tasted the aromatic tea given to them.

"Mmm…Lita this tea smells heavenly." The aqua haired beauty known famously for her musical talent commented as she took a deep whiff of the jasmine, vanilla and rose blended tea.

"Thank you Michelle. I order all my teas straight from France and India."

"You're gold Lita." Rei praised, her strangely purple eyes sparkling with delight. She had black hair with purple streak that was as natural as Michelle's aqua hair color.

"Back home, you would always make these teas for me every time I was down." The only child among the group said. She had strange pink hair that was also a natural color of hers uniquely arranged in a bun the shape of a mini football, and strawberry colored eyes. Her comment drew believing hearts from everyone except from Serena, who could sense the lie in her tone, and Trista, the silent female who knew the secrets of time.

"Really Rini?" Lita asked with shining eyes and the pink haired child nodded. To confirm the lie that the child had told, Serena looked up at Trista, but the woman, sensing the inquisitive eyes on her, looked everywhere except at Serena.

"Yup! Now I'm hungry, let's eat!" Rini cheered.

"Yay!" was the enthusiastic respond from the majority.

Right then, a knock was heard from the door, pausing all actions for a brief second. The response after that was rambunctious as the three high school girls and the pink haired girl ran to the door. Serena followed at a slower pace, her heart beating anxiously. She was very well aware of the person who was on the other side of the door. Her bond to him, though faint as of late was still active enough to inform her when he was within her vicinity. She was anxious because for several months their relationship had been strained to the point of breaking. The feeling of walking on egg shells had persisted like a bad headache, receding for brief moments and then returning with a vengeance. This is why even though she was happy that he was there, she felt anxious at his reception.

Having little time to prepare mentally, she looked up with wide eyes as the door opened to the handsome face of her midnight blue eyed boyfriend. His jet black hair glistened in the sunlight, showing dark shades of blue that is not noticeable under any other lighting. He smiled as he was bombarded with hugs from his female friends. Serena stood back, not knowing what she was supposed to door. If this had been a year ago, she would have been the first to hug the daylight out of him. The difference in her reaction to him and his to her now compared to before was so startling clear that her heart ached painfully. How had they allowed their relationship to deteriorate to this sham of a love life they still clung to?

When he'd managed to control the storms of affections from the girls, they re-entered the apartment, the door closing resoundly behind him. They girls by passed her as if she didn't exist and when it was his turn to pass her, he merely raised a brow before following the girls further into the cove of the apartment. Serena leaned against the door as tears threatened to flood her face. She took a moment to conceal her heart and to dry her face before plasting on the fake smile that had become her one and only expression as of late.

"So who made what for me?" Darien asked teasingly after sitting down in front of the tea table heaped with baked goods.

"Well I made chocolate chip cookies and it look and taste good. Serena made sugar cookies but don't be fooled by the look!" Rini automatically responded, stealing a triumphant looking in Serena's direction.

"Excuse me but my turned out great thank you!" Serena retorted indignantly, vexed by the child's impertinence.

"I am not even going to touch her cookies! Last time I was in the hospital for a week." Darien responded with consternation. Serena's heart broke with is admonishing, tears resurfacing in her eyes.

"But it's really good this time." She tried again meekly

"That's what you said last time." Rini replied snidely. The truth of the matter was that Serena had never said that. Their last cooking venture which had been two weeks ago in the same location had not been Serena's best. When she had tried her own cookies then, her face had displayed just how awful they were. Lying that it was good was out of the question. She had never really been good at hiding strong, immediate facial responses.

Darien took one of Rini's cookies and popped it in his mouth. Like a light bulb coming on when an idea is formed, his face lit up.

"Mmm. Rini this is fantastic! You get better every time!" he praised, delighting the little girl and inflating her ego into critical proportions. As they ate, complementing each other on what they had made, Serena whose cookies no one wanted to try, reclaimed her hard worked for cookies and placed them in a Ziploc bag.

'I will take it home, maybe mom will like some.' She thought hurtfully as she used all her might to restrain her tears. Her heart felt empty and in its place an abyss of wounds opened. Yet through it all, she kept her fake smile. Besides if she cried, she knew no one would wipe her tears. She was alone. Even surrounded by those girls, she was always alone; she knew that more than anyone.

After their meal was consumed, they spent hours on pillow fights and video games. Even though she wanted to go home, to get away from them, to be somewhere she could cry, she stayed with them. What would have been a great day for her was the day Serena realized that she had no one who believed in her and no one who wanted to.

When it was time to depart, Serena felt a burning question in her heart. A question she suddenly and desperately needed an answer to. There was an insistent voice in her mind, a voice that thirst for an answer. She didn't know what came over her but she felt possessed in that moment. She felt drained, exhausted beyond reason. She felt tired of always running away, afraid to face him. She was exhausted from always camouflaging her emotions, always pretending that everything was alright with her.

'If he can't accept and love me for whom I am, then what is the point of us being together? Is this what being soul mate means? To enjoy the idea of being together with someone only because the person could not leave you even if he or she wants wanted to? I'm so tired.' She thought disheartenly.

Deciding that it was now or never, she took Darien aside and onto Lita's veranda to ask the question she could not ignore. It was ten at night, the breeze cool but not cold. The full moon in the darkened sky blazed a silver light but for the span of a breath taken too deeply, it dimmed ominously. Had she for a moment considered what that meant, she might have chosen not to question him that night. As it was, it was only when her whole world came crushing down around that she realized that the dimming of the moonlight had been a warning to her. A warning of pain and suffering to come if she asked the question. But without knowing the warning or its meaning, and just desperately wanting assurance of her importance in his heart, she ventured forward bravely.

"Hey Darien, I've got something to ask you." She began, her heart quivering.

"Yeah? What is it?" he responded looking anywhere but at her.

'Look at me!' she screamed inwardly.

"Do you love me?" she closed her eyes, her bluntness startling even her. But the question was out and there was no taking it back. Besides, she was too tired to beat around the bush. There was a pregnant pause, one that was silent but yet so loud in her ears.

"That's a silly question to ask." He answered. Her eyes narrowed dangerously, slits of silver gleaming in her cerulean orbs.

"Is it? If it so, why are you avoiding answering?"

"Because it's stupid."

"Very well, do you love Rini?" he turned to look at her then and raised a brow. She couldn't read that eyes that regarded her. That pair of mystic eyes were guarded, dark and unreadable.

"I don't understand this sudden interrogation but yes, I love her. Happy?" She nearly laughed. A bitter smile curved on her strawberry lips.

'So he can answer in regards to Rini but not about me? Tears please don't fall, please don't! Save me a little dignity!' She begged pathetically in her head.

"Between Rini and me, which of us is most important to you?" She pressed on, not looking at him. If she did, the tears would fall.

"Now what kind of stupid question is that?" he sort of snapped.

"A question someone in my position will want an answer to."

"Then I'm sorry to disappoint you but I have no obligation to answer your silly questions." He said and walked away, leaving her alone on the veranda. Somehow her tears had dried. She found it funny when she found herself exhaling deeply. A small smile crept onto her lips as a sudden weight lifted of her heart. She felt almost relieved, light hearted even. A few minutes later she reentered the room composed. Because she had no desire to ride back home with Darien nor to face the girls questions if she asked one of them for a ride, she decided to leave since no one was even aware of her presence. As she tried to cross the kitchen to get to where the door was, she slid dangerously, the momentum of her fall smashing her against the refrigerator.

A minute or two later, her sense returned to her and the first thing she noticed was Rini standing there holding a try of ice and laughing hysterically at her. Her head throbbed painfully from the impact. She realized then that she had slipped on ice that the child had purposefully thrown on the floor.

"Rini, why?" She found herself asking. She held the fridge as she tried to stand up.

"Cause it is funny?" the child responded, giggling again. Fury like she had never felt before suddenly enveloped her, her normally angelic heart momentarily darkened by the darkness of hate and bitterness that threatened her sanity.

"What the hell is your problem?! Ever since you came into my life everything has gone wrong! You're a curse to me, go back to your time you selfish little bitch!" she snapped, her eyes showing glints of violently dancing red light. Of course, it was at that moment that Darien and the girls decided to appear on the scene.

"Serena that is going to far!" Darien yelled, his eyes displaying flames of blue in his anger.

"Yeah, what is your problem anyway!?" Lita, the brunette green eyed Amazon whose apartment they were in also chided.

"Serena seriously, you're supposed to be her role model for God's sake!" the hot tempered priestess fired at her.

"Serena really, you are really crossing the line lately." Mina, the girl whose blond hair and blue eyes made her a resemblance of Serena, also said.

"Your jealousy of her is getting in your way of being the adult of the two of you." Amy, the quiet studious one of the group imputed as only Amy could. Every person in the room insulted her, destroyed her self esteem, and her faith in people. No one bothered to ask what had happened. When they had finished saying their piece, she picked up her discarded bag and walked home alone in the dark of the night. A journey that usually takes less than thirty minutes took her about two hours to reach the safety of her house.

End of Flashback

She turned off the faucet, the waterfall from above ceasing in response. She sighed and wiped the water off her face, along with the tears.

"Don't cry Serena. You have done enough." She encouraged herself. She stepped out of the shower to towel and cloth herself.

In the past month since the incident she kept mostly to herself. She had lost her school friends long before the incident a month ago and with the girls shutting her out of their group activity; she had had no one to call a friend. But in the month that she had been alone, she had become more open minded than she had expected to become. She had also enjoyed her solitude and the pleasure of being able to cry and laugh when she pleased. She had felt freer than she ever had been, answering to no one but her own conscience. But the greatest gift she gained from her solitude was the realization that she had lost all her self-worth because she had allowed others to measure up her worth for her. Now it was time to regain the confidence, the esteem and the worth of her birthright and to do that, she had to let go. She had to let go of all her negative emotions, to find her weakness and accept them in order to get stronger. In searching her heart, she finally admitted to herself that she was involved in a debilitating relationship, one that crippled her considerably. To start again, she needed to let go of that relationship, to let go of Darien. It would be the hardest decision she'd ever made in her life but if she could do it and recover from it, she knew she would never be weak again. She would be alone for a while but that was ok because she has always been alone. But when she was strong again, she will make new friends, true friends this time.

After coming to that decision three weeks ago, she began to work hard at making herself stronger. She got up at five every morning, exercised for an hour and went to school early. She did her homework, studied and raised her failing grades into C's and B's. She had managed to also avoid getting detention. Within a month, she had done more than she had ever done in her life academically. That was the challenge she had set for herself. If she could beat people's expectation of her, then she would be ready to face Darien one more time and end it all. Of course everyone noticed the changes in her and began to call her the new Serena. They thought she did everything to get Darien's attention. Rini was especially furious because it was working. Her family on the other was happy to know that their daughter was not a complete failure.

When she was all dressed and ready to face the day, she walked out of her room, the person who had been pounding on her door long gone. She walked downstairs, her family gathered around the dining table taking their breakfast.

"Oh dear you look beautiful! Are you going somewhere?" Her mother asked, a woman in her late thirties with incredibly natural blue hair.

"Just out." Serena responded. She had dressed up a little because today was D-day for her. The makeup on her face was her battle armor. It would prevent her from crying in front of him when she broke up with him, the high and low dress she had chosen to wear, short in the front but long in the back that left her shoulders bare but covered her bosom would remind her to square her shoulders and look strong in front of him. Though the lower end of the dress was coral, the upper part, from her breasts to her midriff was as white as snow. That was her last challenge. The previous day, when she had called Darien and requested an audience with him the following day, she had nearly chickened out. So she had given herself one last challenge. For the whole of the Sunday, before her meeting with Darien, she had to make sure that the white part of her dress would not attain a single stain. She would go to an amusement park, go on rides, eat whatever food she can fit into her small frame but no matter what, she could not get a stain in the upper part of her dress. If she succeeded, she would be ready to face him and fight for her future.

"Well come eat." Her father invited. He was a man in his early forties, with average looks. He was a salary man, a family man.

"Yeah, mom made your favorite foods today!" Sammy, her little brother five years younger added. Rini who sat silently glared daggers at Serena but Serena ignored her.

"No thank you. I have somewhere to be." She said and left the house. Rini smiled triumphantly, thinking she had scared Serena off but her family could not help but feel a sudden emptiness.

"I feel like we haven't had a meal with her in a long time." Sammy said into the silence, his words echoing the thoughts in his parents' hearts.

And just as she planned, she had fun the whole day. From museums to the aquarium to the amusement park, Serena allowed herself only good thoughts. She shied away from anything that would expose her inner turmoil. She ate dripping ice cream, cotton candies, spaghetti and drank variety of colored drinks. She played with little kids, played hide and seek, cops and robbers. It was almost as if she was deliberately trying to get her dress dirty. But whenever something threatened the cleanness of her dress, she would react with amazing speed and alertness and prevent it from happening.

With each passing hour, it became harder to repress her anxiety, her fear and her pain. She was scheduled to meet him at seven. At six, she began a journey, visiting as many of the places they had been together as she could, a memory of each place playing in her head like a film. She smiled, she cried but each place strangely affirmed her decision to break up with him.

Finally, she arrived at the building where she was meeting him. As she entered the elevator, she couldn't help but remember that it was in that same elevator ride that had brought her and Darien together. That day, he had been hurt by Zoisite, the monster general of the Negaverse. They had traveled together on the elevator into a trap set by the evil general. But in the end, their long forgotten memories awakened, a history of a millennia reawaked and the love buried beneath ignorance resurfaced with a vengeance.

As the elevator dinged, she squared her shoulders and smiled.

"This is it Serena. There's no going back." The elevator door opened, she walked out.

The starlight tower was the pride of Jubban county, it housed some of the most fancies franchise in the area. Restaurants specializing in a variety of foods from different countries were contained in that building. There was a Chinese restaurant, an Italian restaurant, a restaurant with Greece cuisines, bakeries and expensive shopping stores. Only the rich frequented the starlight tower, the average citizens only went there on special occasions and when there were sales.

Arriving at the Italian restaurant where they had planned to meet, Serena was not disappointed when she arrived at their regular location in a secluded part of the restaurant and found Darien sitting there with a half drained cup of coffee. He looked up at her approached, appreciated her looks privately but mockingly commented, "For someone who invited me out, it is bad manners to keep your guest waiting. What happened to the new Serena I heard so much about?"

She smiled falsely at him.

"Forgive me. I was lost in thought for a while and did not notice the hour pass by."

He blinked, taken aback by her formality and gracefulness.

"Well take a sit then." He said, looking puzzled. She sighed.

"I guess I can't expect you to be a gentleman and pull out my seat for me." she shook her head in great disappointment, causing a nasty feeling of inadequacy to rise up in Darien. Something he did not like at all.

"I thought I told you that until you apologize to Rini I would have nothing to do with you."

"And you also said you would never speak to me either and yet here you are, speaking to me and having something to do with me." she retorted. Sparks flew between the two, taking them back down memory lane to when they first met. During the earlier times of their acquaintance, they had hated each other's gut. It was funny to Serena that they were back to the beginning. Darien on the other hand enjoyed the banter, excited by the fire he saw in her now, the fire that had died down when they became an official couple.

One of the table hands came by and pulled out her chair for her. She sat and gratefully thanked the man who handed her a menu in response. She looked through the menu, not really hungry but looking to avoid too much conversation with him. She was afraid of becoming too comfortable, that would make what she had to do tonight that much harder if not completely impossible.

After a few minutes of silence in which Darien stole glances at her, the waiter came to take their orders.

"Good evening Sir, Ma'am, what can I get you?"

"I will take the house special." Darien responded. Serena merely raised a brow.

"You never change do you?" she said to him. It was his turn to raise a brow and smirk at her.

"No, but the house special is always something different." He replied.

"Right, different girls for different nights. It was I who didn't see right from the start." The waiter coughed to hide his laughter at her remark and Darien only raised a brow in amusement. She closed her menu and handed it to the waiter.

"If you don't mind, I will like to switch seats. I want a balcony seat." She said, surprising both Darien and the waiter.

"Er…of course. Let me make sure there is a seat available Ma'am."

"Thank you." She said with a smile at him, stealing his heart quite easily. When he left, she returned her gaze to find Darien staring intently at her.

"Why do you want to move suddenly?" he asked, taking a sip at his now cold black coffee.

"Change of pace, change of scenery." She replied simply. Another waiter came to their table with two cups of water.

"Thank you. We are moving to a balcony seat though so please bring the basket of breadsticks out there."

"Yes ma'am."

When he left, the first waiter came back.

"Your seats are ready." He said. He helped Serena out of her seat, an action Darien did not like. He hid his displeasure well. The balcony was a circular shape construction with seating arrangements going in a circular formation near the wall. Most of the seats were occupied. In the center of the balcony sat a lone table with two chairs, the lovers nest, it was called. It was to that seat that Serena and Darien were given. Serena found it rather ironic. That seat was known to make lovers closer, but it would be through that chair that she would break up with her lover.

"Can we have a different seat than this one?" she asked, she hated to be the one to bring an end to the restaurant's made up legend.

"Ah enough! Sit down or let's go home!" Darien said in frustration, taking a seat and leaving Serena no choice but to sit as well.

"Ma'am? Your order please." the waiter said.

"Ah…just plain salad and a glass of lemonade." Darien and the waiter stared baffled.

"Serena…" Darien began warily, embarrass at her.

"Ma'am, all our meals comes with free breadsticks and salad."

"I am well aware of that. It is not my first time here. But all I want is a salad, so charge me for that."

Once again both males looked at her like she had lost an eye. But she only smiled in response.

The rest of their dinner progressed peacefully. When they finished, Serena decided then that she didn't want to break up with Darien in that restaurant. There were people there eating and enjoying their meal, she didn't want to spoil their night.

'Keep making excuses you twit and you will walk home still joined to the hip to this fool.' Her inner voiced chided.

Rising from their seat after having paid for their meal with a generous tip left behind, the two soon to be ex-lovers exited the restaurant. The elevator ride was silent and when they left the building, Serena stopped and turned to look at the building that contained equal parts of happy and painful memories. She wondered if she would ever return there and if she did, would she be able to face the memories of Darien once she broke up with him.

Darien just stood, staring at her as she stared at the tower. He felt something akin to worry. He knew something was off, he felt it. She was different, there was a distance. Not like the distance that had come between them physically but a distant that came from the soul. He felt bereft for a reason he could not point a finger at.

"Darien."

"Mmmm…"

"Do you remember when we first entered this building together?" he raised a brow at her.

"When Zoisite tried to steal the rainbow crystals from me and when I discovered that you are actually sailor moon."

"That's right. It's been many years yet if feels like yesterday.

"Four years is not that long." He replied. For a minute they stood silent.

"Let's go to the park Darien. There is something I have to tell you."

Silently, they took his car and drove to the park that contained majority of their memories together. They walked silently, walking from one familiar spot to another. Darien wasn't stupid. He knew something was coming. The longer she remained silent, the more worried he became. It was not like her to be silent for so long but she had been practically all night. If he was willing to be honest with himself, he would admit to fear. But being the egocentric maniac he had become, he was above fear so he told himself.

When they arrived under a particular favorite tree of theirs with a bench underneath, she stopped, staring up at the tree whose leaves were browning for the autumn season. He took a seat at the bench and waited for her to say what she wanted to say.

"You know…" she began, causing him to look up at her. "Before eighth grade, I was full of life, vibrant and happy. I had no self-esteem problems. I was confident in who I was, true to my heart. I expressed myself and hid nothing. I was afraid of nothing. It wasn't because I was smart or anything. In fact I was worse academically then than I am now. I am a lot more graceful now than I was then. I have more things now that I didn't have then but when I think about the me now and the me then, do you know which me I am most proud of? The me then who had very little charms and a great list of flaws." She sighed, silent tears trailing down her cheeks.

"In eighth grade, I made more friends than I could possibly need, heck I even met my soul mate. The happiest times of my young life were supposed to be after middle school, not before. Do you know why I like the me before high school? Because the me then knew my worth. I would not have tolerated any disrespect or insult. I had a spark in me; life was the air I breathed. My worth was not measure by others. My happiness was not dependant on smiles received from others; my confidence was not like water so easily disturbed. I loved me. I had flaws but those flaws made me happy."

His heart ached watching her cry silently. He wanted to embrace her but he found himself at a distance. Even though she stood crying, there was an aura of sophistication and confidence around her that kept him from her. The distance he felt earlier resurfaced and he found himself powerless against it.

"If I can change anything about my life, It would be the people I met in eighth grade. Including you." She said, staring at him. He couldn't believe what she had just said to him. He watched her, waiting for her to take it back, to erase the serious look in her eyes.

"If I can undo anything about my past, I would prevent you from meeting me. I would prevent the girls from meeting me. You guys are my greatest regrets, my biggest mistakes. I learned hate, bitterness and hopelessness when I met you. My self esteem and self worth plummeted the moment I fell in love with you. My confidence disappeared in a flash. When I decided to be with you, I lost myself. My life since meeting you having been one sacrifice after another."

"Serena…"

"I'm tired."

"Serena!"

"Exhausted beyond belief.

"Stop it!"

"I don't want to cry anymore. I don't want to hurt anymore. I want it all to end."

"Stop it Serena."

"But above all, I want to stop hating myself. I know I am not the horrible person you guys claim me to be. But who I am I am not sure anymore. I need to rediscover myself. I need a new beginning, one without you guys in it."

The shock of her words left him rooted to the spot.

"I've thought seriously but in the end this was the only thing I can do. I'm sorry but I am breaking up with you."

He stared at her, his picture of a happy family fragmenting with every moment she looked seriously at him. He wanted her to laugh, to yell that she was joking….anything but that face that told him that she was resolute in her decision. In his mind's eye he could not help but see Rini disappear, crystal Tokyo gone, and the beautiful neo-queen that would belong solely to him vanish.

"What about Rini? What about the future? Crystal Tokyo is…"

"I have never cared for Crystal Tokyo. I have never desired to be queen. On the contrary all I want is a normal life, a life not consumed with the powers we possess. And as for Rini, to be honest I hate that child. I would sooner sell my soul to the Negaverse than give birth to her."

Darien gasped at her words, her eyes reflecting the truth of her words. Until that moment, he had never truly understood just how deep Serena's abhorrence for the little brat ran, had he paid attention before, he might had taken better care with his treatment of the two. Now on the brink of losing the family he had desired for so long, he felt powerless. His invincible shield started to crack, memories flooding his brain but in all those pictures that passed before him, he could not find a single image of Serena truly smiling. He blinked, realizing that he had forgotten Serena's smile.

"Forgive me. Let the memories of Endymion and Serenity go to rest. From now on we live as Serena and Darien. I wish you the best of luck in your life; I hope you achieve all that you hope to accomplish. I hope you live a happy and fulfilling life." She said, turned and walked away.

As the distance between them grew, she finally allowed her shoulders to relax and as the sob built up in her throat she began to run.

"Goodbye Darien, I am sorry."

Please Review! Like I mentioned sometime ago, I am rewriting this story. Sorry to anyone who liked the previous version better. I found it to be too complicated so I wanted to rewrite it and make it easier to follow.

PLEASE READ AND REVIEW!