Hello, I'm back!  I always thought that Darien would talk to Serena
about his problems, and the dreams he had definitly qualified.
Their relationship was always shown as being strong.  It seemed so
out of character for Darien to totally ignore Serena.  So, I
decided to write a story around those lines.  Enjoy!

Sailor Moon does not belong to me, etc. etc.
Rated PG

The Truth Revealed 
by The Watcher

     Alone in the control room, a single masked figure sat patiently.
Events had been set into motion.  Now all that was left was to observe
the results...

     Darien could feel the warning.  The constant tingle in his
neck and the pain in his mind.  Serena had transformed. Serena was
in trouble.  Still he resisted.  That dream...the warning.  Finally
he could wait no longer.  In a flash, Tuxedo Mask appeared on the
balcony.  'Hold on, Sailor Moon!  I'm coming!'

     When Tuxedo Mask appeared at the battle scene, he noticed two
things.  The first was that the scouts were pushing their abilities
harder than usual, as if to prove that they didn't need his help. 
And after the monster was defeated, he also noticed the glares he
got from the other scouts.  All except Serena.  She looked miserable,
and wouldn't meet his eyes.  Darien accepted that they were all
fiercely loyal to Sailor Moon, and would do anything to keep her
from getting hurt.  Apparently that included protecting her from
him.

     After defeating the monster and noting Tuxedo Mask's presence,
Mars slipped away.  She knew when Tuxedo Mask would leave, and this
time she wanted to have a little talk with him.  Right on cue,
Tuxedo Mask made his exit, and Raye was right behind him.  The
masked man moved fast, however, so Raye stopped him.  Hard.  With 
her firebird.  Darien turned even before he heard her voice.

"Stop, Darien!"
"What do you want, Sailor Mars?"
"Oh, so we're being formal?  Very well, *Tuxedo Mask*.  Why are you
torturing Sailor Moon?"
"Mars, I don't have time for..."
"If I have to use my powers to fight you, I will.  Now you will tell
me.  Why are you torturing her?"
"I'm not..."
"Like hell!  Do you know how often she's cried herself to sleep?
Or the number of times she's woken up screaming your name?  She's
come to me in the middle of the night, shaking and sobbing.  And
you say you're not torturing her?  Darien, she's not eating.
She may die.  You're killing her, slowly.  Why are you doing this?"
"I can't explain it, Mars.  Please don't ask me."
     After sying that, he slipped away.  Mars sighed.  There was 
nothing more she could do.

     Darien slipped inside his apartment.  Raye's statements had
been frightening.  He pictured Serena again.  She had lost weight.
Raye was right.  Meanwhile, Serena had gone home sobbing, but her
emotion was transmitted to Darien.  Without thinking he transformed,
then left for her house.  Once there, he looked in her window, and 
recoiled in shock.  Serena had fallen asleep, but tears were leaking
from her eyes, and she was moaning.  As he watched, she bolted
upright, screaming Darien's name.  Just as Raye had said.  He felt
as if his soul was being torn apart.  He left, not suprised to
find that he was crying, too.  'Maybe I'm making a mistake.  This
is killing me, too.'

     He continued to keep an eye on Serena, and he became even
more alarmed by her behavior.  He even tried to talk to her, but
she would barely acknowledge him.  Darien grew desperate.  He could
not lose her!  But by now Serena was beginning to lose hope.  She
had become listless and withdrawn, and no one could get through to
her.  The only time she responded to anything was when Sailor Moon
was needed.

     One day, everything snapped.  A monster was attacking.  Tuxedo
Mask was near.  And Serena had had enough.  "That's it!" she
screamed.  "I can't take this anymore!"  She readied herself to
use the full power of the crystal.  Darien reached the scene just
in time to realize what she was doing.  "Serena, stop!"  She
didn't move.  Darien turned frantic.  Desperate, he tackled Serena,
while at the same time he unleashed a barrage of roses at the
creature.  The monster was staggered enough that the other scouts
had time to arrive.  As soon as they got there, they took charge,
while Tuxedo Mask carried Sailor Moon away.  She did not go quietly.

"Stop it!  What are you doing?  Let me go!"
"No!  I'm not letting you go until you talk to me.  What were you
trying to do?  You could have been killed!"  He was horrified to
hear her response.
"I know that!  That's what I wanted.  I'll never have to worry
about bothering you again.  Now let me go!"

     She still had her hand over her locket.  Darien realized
that drastic measures had to be taken.  In a flash, he reached
behind her head, and squeezed the presure point on the back of
her neck.  After a few moments, Serena slumped, unconcious.
Just then, a bright flash of light was seen, as the monster was
defeated.  Quickly Darien ran to the scouts.  "Someone say Serena
is sleeping at your house, I don't care who.  I have to talk to her."
Before they could stop him, he was gone.

"Should we go after them?" asked Mars.
"I don't think so." answered Mina.
"But that slime has Serena!" burst out Lita.
"Guys, you know Serena still loves him, and I think he still
loves her, too.  I saw his face.  He was terrified for her.  All
we can do is let them be." said Mina quietly.

     When Serena woke up the next morning, she was suprised to
find that she didn't know where she was.  She was also suprised
to find that she was wearing a loose T-shirt and a pair of shorts.
She was just getting ready to get up when Darien walked in, carrying 
breakfast, which he set on the nightstand.  She was in his room, of
course.  Then he came and sat next to her on the bed.  She started
to speak, but he gently placed his fingers over her mouth.

"No.  Let me speak."  She nodded slowly.  "Serena, why would
you try to harm yourself?  The world needs you.  Can't you
see that?"  Her eyes filled with tears.
"I don't care, Darien.  You were all I cared about, and now
you don't want me.  I have nothing left.  Why should I care
about life?"

     Every word cut Darien like a knife, but he made no effort
to stop her.  When she had stopped crying he gave her breakfast.
He knew that she had given up.  How could he win her back?
'Forget the dreams!' he told himself.  All he wanted was her.
He sat and thought about it after Serena left.  He was startled
when Raye walked into his apartment.

"What do you want?" he whispered harshly.
"I've come to talk to you." she replied.  "I just talked to Serena,
She is very confused.  Please tell me why you're doing this.  I
sense that you have a reason, and it causes you great pain."
  
   By now Darien was tired of fighting.  He proceeded to tell
her about the dreams.

"So, you think that by staying away from her, you're protecting
her.  Darien, why will you not simply tell her this?  Give her
the chance to choose.  Or are you just afraid to?"

     Darien started to protest, but he realized Raye was right.
He wasn't being fair to Serena.  He decided to tell her everything.
By now, however, Serena wasn't even leaving her house.  Getting
her attention was going to be a challange.  First he sent flowers,
which he smuggled into her room with the help of his alter-ego.
They provoked her curiosity, but didn't get her out of the house.
Next he wrote a long love letter, without writting his name on it.
That definitly got her interest.  Finally, he wrote an unsigned note,
asking her to meet her "mystery man" at a certain time and place.
When she arrived, who should meet her but Darien?

"What are you doing here?" she asked him.
"Waiting." he replied.  "I was afraid you wouldn't come."
"*You're* the one who did all that?  I don't believe it."
"I am.  I have something very important to tell you.  I want to
explain why I've been avoiding you."

     For the next hour, Darien poured out his heart to Serena.
He told her about the dreams, and the fears he had harbored.  He
revealed how helpless he had felt, and related the horror that
had consumed him when he realized that he had driven Serena away.

     By the time he had finished, Serena had tears in her eyes.

"So that's why you avoided me.  You were trying to protect me."

"That's right.  But then I realized that I wasn't being fair to
you.  I should have talked to you about it.  I should have let
you choose. I don't know what will happen if we stay together,
but now I know I can't live without you.  I love you, and because
of that, I'll respect whatever decision you make."

Serena stared up at him.  "Darien, I don't care what happens to
my life.  Without you, I *have* no life.  Please, let us be together.
I just want to be with you."

Darien embraced her tightly.  "Oh, my love.  No matter what
happens, we will be together.  I promise you.  We'll always be
together." 

     Meanwhile, in the 30th century...

     The masked figure smiled.  They had overcome their doubts and
fears, and had come out stronger.  Without a doubt, King Endymion
knew that they would prevail over the challenges that were approaching.





Well, I know it wasn't very good, but it made me mad to see Darien
constantly pushing Serena away.  I don't believe for a moment
that he would act like that; his feelings for Serena are too strong.

Questions, comments, and suggestions are all welcome.  As always, I
can be reached at gambit56@hotmail.com.  I love receiving mail, so
please write!  Until next time!
The Watcher