Emma63@juno.com For all those who have been faithfully keeping up with my fanfic, it probably came as a shock to see that I had continued ITM, WISY? Thank you so much for your feedback, it lightened my heart greatly to know that my efforts were being appreciated. My computer database was updated to the point where I lost a great number of my files due to their "outdated" formats, but I finally managed to wrap this love triangle up (for those of you who wanted to know how it ends). Thus, I apologize for not e-mailing this to certain people, as I lost many e-mail addresses...as for you all who did not receive a response from me the first time you commented on my stories, one TITANIC "Thank You" from me to you. (BTW, anyone see the movie? Love it, love it, love it! Before this picture, I didn't even realize _who_ Leo was-!) I've revised the other parts of ITM, WISY? They're just little changes I made after a few details seemed to clash. Hope you enjoy these last installments! In The Morning, Will I See You? PART 6 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ The body that loves Is fragile and uncertain, A floating boat. The fires in the fishing smacks at night burn red, My heart burns red. Wooden stakes hold up the nets Against the tide of Uji. The tide is against me. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ "Dear Diary, How can I express the dull aching in my chest? The sharp pain I first felt when I found Darien and Raye together is gone, but now I'm confused to the point where I don't know _how_ I feel any longer. It hurts inside, but I can't tell anymore why I'm as angry as I am- I know I've changed. The other night, I had a strange dream. I dreamt of the Moon Kingdom, of Mother. Through her eyes, I saw Darien as Prince of Earth, and myself as Princess Serenity. Oh, it was just like old times! How sweet it was then. I felt oddly disconnected, as if I really were Queen Serenity, and not myself at all. They, I mean, we, looked so happy out in the gardens. Princess Serenity, me, I mean, was laughing and obviously happy. Then I, as Mother, looked out into the courtyard. Mars was gaily reminiscing with a man, I don't know who he was, but he must have been important to her- they shared a lingering kiss. Mars looked happier than I ever remember seeing her...the man she was with, he looked so incredibly familiar. I'm sure Queen Serenity knew exactly what was going on with everyone, but when I woke up, the part of me she had occupied was no longer alive. It's been two weeks since I blew Darien and Raye off, but I can only attest to the fact that I love Darien more than ever with each passing day. As for Raye, well, I hate myself for acting so mean, but there's something in me that won't forgive and forget." Serena closed her diary, and sighed with longing. Darien was in her thoughts, no matter how hard she tried to push him away. She wished things were back to the way they were, simple and innnocent! As it was, Serena had become a young woman through her trials, and the trusting girl she had once been was nowhere to be found. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Darien continued to carry out his daily routine, but his heart was heavy with the knowledge that Serena would not even see him, much less talk to him. He had never seen her so determined to shut out the people who cared most about her! Raye was suffering greatly, and Darien was doubly pained by the extreme control she held over herself. Every day she would try and reach Serena, and every day Serena ignored Raye without so much as a glance in her direction. Darien was beginning to think that it was hopeless, that Serena would never be the same again, and that he would lose his princess to a force more powerful than evil- Serena's conflicting heart. Suddenly, in the midst of persuading himself to accept the current situation, Darien realized he couldn't give up yet. In fact, he wouldn't give up on their love for anything. So Serena had hardened her heart against him, he still loved her, and she admitted she loved him, despite her other feelings which kept them apart. He could be patient. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Something was wrong. There was a definite disturbance near the Cherry Hill Temple. Ami checked it out numerous times with her visor, but found none of the negative vibes of Queen Beryl, the Cardians, or Rubius' evil plots. She was surprised that Raye hadn't informed them yet, but Ami supposed that with all the hurtful exchanges these past few weeks, Raye could have missed the strange aura surrounding her temple. Just as Ami reached the temple steps, Chad came sprinting past her, followed by Raye's furious tones. *Nice to see _some_ things haven't changed around here,* Ami thought with relief. *If Raye's recovered enough to start caring about Chad again, I suppose she's getting over the Serena business.* "Oh Raye!" Ami called out to her friend in a sing-song voice. "I hate to ruin your fun, but I needed your help-" "CHAD YOU GOOD-FOR-NOTHING EXCUSE FOR A HUMAN BEING, GET YOUR BUTT BACK HERE AND FINISH- Oh hello, Ami," Raye sheepishly grinned. Off at the other side of the temple, Chad slumped down from the wall he was leaning heavily against in utter relief.. "So Ami, what was so important that you halted your studies and came to see me?" Ami hadn't realized how much she had missed the sparkle of mischief in Raye's eyes. "I was wondering if you noticed anything strange about your temple. I mean, I got some- not exactly bad, but- foreign vibes...I was wondering if you could tell me what they were." Raye hadn't realized the aftermath of her visions would leave such a strong presence to be picked up. "It's nothing, Ami, I was just trying to get some answers, and I guess the spirits are still lingering about." "It's been rough, hasn't it?" she gently touched Raye's shoulder, sympathizing, especially since Serena shut out _everyone_ these days, not just Raye. Serena did occasionally study with her lately, normally an act Ami would be amused at, but knew better now than to tease her friend in need. And Serena was in need of a friend. It didn't seem as if the "queen of ice" felt anything at all, but Ami recognized that Serena was in more anguish than Raye, or even Darien. The only problem was, Serena would not allow anyone to get too close. Her smiles grew dimmer, and at the same time, her eyes lost their brilliance. Yes, Serena needed a friend now more than ever, if she could just let someone in. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Lita stood slaving over her small stove, bringing chocolates to a boil as she prepared a savory dessert for Serena. Beads of sweat gathered at her temples and neck as she worked for perfection. Yesterday she had dropped by Serena's, bringing her what Lita called "Peach Islands." She hoped to pull her friend out of the trance she had been in for so long, too long by Lita's calculations. Lita was determined to do whatever she could to help her friend. She fawned over Serena like a mother hen, and if her cooking could reach that girl, she swore she was do her utmost to fulfill what was needed of her. Just then, a knock sounded on her apartment door. "Just a minute, I- Serena!?" Shocked to find Serena out, particularly at her door, but pleased to no end, Lita excitedly invited her in. "Hi Lita," Serena gave a weak smile. "I thought maybe we could talk or something." "Sure, anything! Have a seat. You're right on time, I was making chocolate truffles." "Mmm, can I have some?" Lita laughed, and a weight lifted from her chest as she threw caution to the wind. "You can have all the truffles you want, and some of my apple-spice cake if you'd like..." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Great Fire Spirit, I need your help more than ever!* Raye summoned the guardian with fervor, willing that she could fit the final piece of her puzzle to complete the picture. "There is another?" Chiru masked his emotions well, Mars could not catch a glimpse of his innermost thoughts. "Chiru, don't look so chagrined, I hoped you would be pleased with my choice in a lover," Mars started to say, her eyes dancing with merriment. "Mars, how can you even _think_ that I could stand by while you throw yourself at- who is he?!" Up until this last question, Chiru had been incredibly composed, but he could not bear seeing his love running into another's arms. "And why would I be pleased? No, Mars, if you've ever trusted me in your life, I'm asking you now to give me a chance. I forbid you to see this other man!" "Are you quite through?" Mars quietly asked. Chiru winced. He had overstepped his boundaries this time. No one ever _told_ Mars to do anything, the decisions were always hers, and hers alone, to make. "Yes." "Chiru, look at me." He did, and she held his gaze for an eternity before continuing. "For as long as I can remember, you've been my strength, there to pick me up when I fell, to comfort me when I wept, to support me when I was foolish-" she laughed, in the process startling Chiru, but did not let him speak. "You have always been there for me, and I have been blind to your loyalty. No, wait. Don't speak. You've been loyal because, you say, you love me. You are the best friend I could ever ask for, and up until recently, I thought that was all. But now I know we were meant for one another. I love _you_, and no one else." He blankly stared at her, and didn't register her words at first. Raye, impatient, circled her arms about his neck and kissed him for all she was worth. "I love you, Chiru." He responded the only way he could. Chiru kissed Mars back with all the fire he had kept buried inside since he had first realized his love for her. From a balcony above, Queen Serenity turned towards her chambers to give the couple their privacy. She was content. Mars had filled the void in her heart at last. "Chiru" was the name which escaped from Raye's parted lips as she returned to the reality of her temple. It was hard to believe, but now it all made perfect sense. Knowledge of Chiru freed her from all inhibition, and Raye gratefully sent up a prayer of thanks to Queen Serenity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The dress was silver, with a blue sheen to it Serena found breathtaking. Slightly off-the-shoulder, the long sleeves billowed out as if to embrace the world, then tapered off at her wrists. Her waist was cinched with a gauzy bit of material that allowed the full skirt to fall loosely around her. "It's like a wedding dress," Mina breathed in awe. "Oh, Serena!" At once, Mina realized her mistake. "It's okay, Mina. In fact,it's better than okay. I feel wonderful!" "You _look_ wonderful!" It was true. Not only was the dress gorgeous, but Serena really did look as if she were getting married. Her hair was out of those "meatball" shapes, and cascaded down her back in waves. A crown of cream-colored roses rested on her head, right above the silver crescent moon, and in the graceful hollow of her neck was nestled a gem similar to an opal, attached to a thin chain. "I can't believe how this is all happening...I found the gown on my bed when I got back from Lita's. And you say you found yours at home, also?" "Yeah, it is kind of strange, but hey, I'm not complaining! This is a great dress!" "You look stunning, Mina, but right now I think we'd better head out. I have the weirdest feeling that we're supposed to be meeting at Raye's temple." A half hour later, that was where Raye, Ami, Lita, Serena, Mina, Darien, Luna, and Artemis found themselves. Before any awkward silences or such could take place, all eight were transported to the realm of Queen Serenity. The girls were wearing the dresses they had worn in a different time and place, as princesses of their respective planets. Serena caught herself staring at Darien, who wore his suit of armor. What was going on? "Serena." "Yes, Mother?" "I have gathered you all before me today to perform a ceremony in which Serena becomes more than Princess. You have just turned sixteen, have you felt no changes?" Serena looked up. "Mother, I have changed in more ways than I would have preferred." "There was a reason for all your anguish and confusion. Darien, Raye...you have been tested bitterly, have you not? Ami, Lita, Mina...your friends this time needed to be saved not from evil, but from themselves." "Do you mean that I was supposed to suffer?!" Serena cried out. "Rare is it that one does not, especially during the period before the Naie Ceremony. The Naie Ceremony is your coming- of-age, so to speak. I had one, my mother had one, my grandmother had one, and so on. In the Moon Kingdom, it is your passage from childhood to adulthood." "It has changed me forever," Serena faintly remarked. Queen Serenity smiled at her daughter's obvious dismay. "Yes, this ceremony will change you forever, but perhaps not the changes you think of now. Serena, why did I wait so long to inform you of your birthright? The Naie Ceremony is the final marking of your childhood, and even adolescence. You leave behind your innocence, but that is only to aid you in your rule. You endured much for the sake of becoming a good queen, and it was only today that you had the stability to face your legacy." "You mean that I wouldn't have been able to become suitable makings of a queen if I hadn't gone through all that pain?" "I would have given you anything to ease that pain, but this was one journey which you had to venture on your own. Yes, Raye, that is what I meant. If, after all the frustration, anger, hurt, and confusion Serena went through, she could still be true to herself, she would be ready to face whatever obstacle came her way." "But what about our friendship? Serena may have what it takes to be queen, but in achieving that, how are we supposed stay friends?" Raye's voice trembled with uncertainty, and Serena understood what she meant. "Serena, I have a gift for you." Queen Serenity held out what looked like the Imperial Crystal, and it floated above Serena's head, bursting to shower her with sparkling confetti. All at once, Serena saw what had happened with Darien and Raye. She felt Raye's determination not to break up what Serena and Darien had, her anxiety in telling Darien, and Darien's sympathetic response. For a few moments, Serena felt the emotions of each party involved, including some of her own. However, she was now able to observe and asses the situation. They had each played a part in distancing themselves from one another, but none of them deserved to lose as much as they did these past few weeks. "Raye- Darien- I'm so sorry! I should have realized- I didn't know..." Tears of sorrow, forgiveness, and repentance flowed freely down her face. Raye cried with her princess, and they clutched each other fiercely, vowing never to let anything come between them like that again. "Darien, can you ever forgive me?" He couldn't resist her. She was more beautiful to him than ever, with her tear-stained face, but more importantly, she was his once more. "I love you, Serena, nothing could ever change that." Her heart soared as she heard the words of her beloved, and he wrapped her in warm embrace, thinking it was the sweetest reconciliation they had. "Hey, think we should fight more often?" He teased. "What?! Are you crazy?" Serena returned, and although she meant it, her tone was soft, and for the time being she did not have a care in the world. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It's not over yet! (no groans, please) While the main conflict of my story is resolved, there's still a romantic epilogue to come! --------- End forwarded message ----------