Destiny Series
by -Angel-
ActinAngel@aol.com

Episode Eleven
 "All People Will be Rewarded"

      Scott held Raye's hand gently. He had noticed she was getting
extremely
 weak and was concerned for her. But she smiled and insisted nothing was
wrong.
 Although he didn't believe her, he didn't question. Obviously she had a
reason not
 to tell him.
      Raye coughed again. She knew the end was coming, but for some reason,
 she wasn't afraid anymore. She had known Scott a few hours and already she
felt
 closer to him than to anyone. She wanted this moment to last forever.
      "This place is beautiful, Scott. How did you find it?" Raye asked
softly
as
 they hit a clearing in the forest.The sun shone down upon it and there were
wild
 flowers everywhere. It looked like heaven.
      "Oh, I was hiking over here and found this place. I've always wanted
to
 show it to someone, but never have." Scott answered as he squeezed Raye's
 hand. He had never felt this way about anyone. He was glad he had brought
Raye
 here. Only she would understand the beauty of this place.
      Raye was breathless ever sight she drank in with her eyes held more
 mysteries for her to uncover. It would take someone a lifetime to
understand
them
 all. Unfortunately, she didn't have a lifetime. She ran ahead into the
clearing.
      The sun warmed her shoulders. She laughed as she saw a rabbit scamper
 away, frightened by her immediate appearance. The sun bounced over her long
 hair and she sat down next to a bunch of wild flowers. She sighed as she
smelled
 them.
      Scott came up behind her and couldn't resist putting his arms around
her.
 He expected her to pull away, but she leaned into him instead. She must
feel
the
 connection too, he thought.
      The moment was ended by Raye coughing violently. She crouched over and
 for a moment, Scott that she was going to vomit. Instead she took a deep
breath
 and slowed down. When she looked up, her face was red from coughing so
hard.
 "Sorry," she said weakly, trying to smile.
      Scott took her hand. "Raye, tell me, what's happening? Why are you so
 sick?" he asked. Raye looked away.
      "I can't tell you, Scott. All I can say is that I have a serious
disease, and I'm
 not going to get better." she said quietly.
      Scott looked at her. Even when she was weak from coughing, she looked
 like an angel. She was so beautiful and loving. She was more than he
deserved,
 and yet he wanted to be with her more than anything else in the world. He
had
 only known her a few hours, but he knew that it was his destiny to be with
Raye.
 And she was going to leave him.
      "I...can't believe it." he stuttered and gazed at her. "You're so
beautiful and
 gentle. You're an angel to me. I think...I think I love you." Scott looked
down for a
 moment, listening to his heart. It told him to keep going. "No, I know it.
Raye, I
 love you."
      Raye was shocked. He had felt the chemistry too. But she had thought
it
 was merely one last fling, just one more chance at romance before she died.
She
 didn't think he would feel the same. She closed her eyes, feeling her heart
beat
 steadily. Silently she asked herself, Do I love Scott?
      "Yes, you do." a voice answered. Her eyes popped open as she heard the
 reply. "You love him, Raye." It was Lita's voice.
      "How do you know?" she asked her, looking deeply into Scott's eyes.
      "We all can tell, Raye." Mina said. "You'll understand...later." she
 whispered.
      Scott felt like an idiot. He had just told a practical stranger the
three most
 important words he would ever utter. He wished he could slap himself on the
 forehead. There was no way she could feel the same.
      "I love you too." Raye finally said. She smiled at the thought of the
words
 and said them again. "I love you. My god, Scott, I love you!" she said,
laughing
 with pure joy.
      Scott's eyes widened. He didn't question Raye at all. He wanted to
leap
 three hundred feet in the air and shout at the top of his lungs, "Raye
loves
me!"
 But he didn't.
      He took Raye in his arms and slowly kissed her. The kiss was filled
with
 more emotion than Darien or Chad's kisses combined. The kiss seemed to last
a
 lifetime and end a second later. Raye's heart was pounding harder, but she
didn't
 care. All she wanted was to kiss Scott over and over.
      She kissed him back. The kiss was equally powerful, almost enough to
make
 them both burst. Their lungs longed for oxygen, but the kiss felt so
complete
that
 neither of them broke it. The kiss was so beautiful that Scott felt a tear
trickle
 down his cheek. Raye felt it too, and broke the kiss.
      "Why do you cry, my love?" she asked simply.
      "Because you're so beautiful and loving. And you're leaving me." Scott
said
 bluntly, holding Raye.
      Raye shuddered. She had finally met the one, and she was going to die
any
 time. She longed to have one more day with Scott, but she knew it was
 impossible. Yet, she wanted to be held by him forever. So did he.

      Luna sat on the bed. She felt terrible. Artemis sat next to her,
feeling
equally
 depressed. These past few days had been murder on the two cats, and now it
was
 taking their toll.
      "Where are they?" Luna asked over and over. Serena had left Raye's
house
 early in the morning, and Luna hadn't seen hide nor hair of her since.
Artemis
 sighed.
      "I don't know, but we've looked everywhere." he said. He sensed Luna's
 frustration. "I wish we could find them, too. Lord knows what's happening
with
 Raye right now."
      Luna was silent for a moment, then spoke. "Artemis," she began, "Do
you
 think we did our best to train the scouts?"
      Artemis thought about the question. He finally nodded. "I don't think
there
 was anything more we could have done to avoid this."
      Luna nodded. "I just can't help wondering if there were something more
I
 could've said..." she said. Artemis put his paw over hers.
      "There wasn't. Raye did what the probe told her to do. Serena did what
she
 felt she had to. It was out of our paws." he reassured her.
      "I feel awful. I haven't been around the scouts when they've needed me
 most. I've been either looking for you or feeling sorry for myself. But I
can't bear
 face them, knowing that Amy, Mina and Lita are.." Luna's voice cracked.
      "I know, Luna. I know. It's hard for me without Mina. But we've got to
be
 strong. Raye's dying, Serena and Darien are treading into dangerous
territory..."
 Artemis said.
      "But we don't even know where they are!" Luna retorted.
      "I have confidence that Raye will be back to say goodbye. And that's
where
 we can help." Artemis said. Luna sniffed.
      "I hope so." she answered.

      Serena and Darien were laughing in the arcade with Andrew. Serena felt
 good about her relationship with Darien. It seemed he was able to fight the
urge to
 kiss Serena every time she opened her mouth. And there hadn't been any more
 incidents...
      "Yup, my girl has learned a lot of things about bathrooms in Africa."
Andrew
 said, finishing up his tale. Darien chuckled.
      Serena smiled, her thoughts drifting to Raye. She had been gone a long
 time. But Serena knew the scouts would alert her if Raye was in trouble.
      Darien glanced over to Serena. He put his arm around her and pulled
her
 close to him. She was HIS girl, and he wasn't going to let her go. Not for
the
 world.
      Serena leaned into Darien. She felt so close to him, like nothing else
in the
 world mattered at all. But there were others things besides Darien. There
was
Raye
 to think about, and Tanya to worry about. And Luna and Artemis. She hadn't
seen
 them all day. She couldn't sit at the arcade and forget her troubles
anymore.
      She turned to Darien and whispered in his ear, "I think we better go.
We've
 got other things."
      Darien understood and nodded. He glanced at his watch. "Well, Andrew,
 meatball-head and I need to take off. We've got other...plans." he said as
he
stood
 up.
      Andrew chuckled and winked at Darien. "I get you. I better get back to
work
 anyway. Nice seeing you, Serena. Come around more often, I think Sailor-V
is
 beginning to feel neglected." he teased her.
      Serena smiled and waved to Andrew. He was Darien's best friend and had
 been a major crush at one time. But he was nothing compared to Darien. No
one
 was.
      "So where to, my love?" Darien said, hanging arm around Serena.
      "Let's go see Luna and Artemis. I think we need to explain what's
going
 on." Serena said.
      Darien stopped in his tracks. There was a hospital attendant right in
front of
 them! They were looking for Serena to take her back to the hospital! He
quickly
 thought and grabbed Serena.
      He kissed her full force, pushing her back against the wall. He was
able
to
 hide Serena's face, but the attendant didn't seem to be moving fast enough.
      Meanwhile, Serena was getting nervous. Why is he kissing me so hard?
she
 thought. Maybe the probe's acting up again. Oh no, we can't make a scene in
 front of all these people!
      Darien eyes opened. Serena's eyes were full of alarm. Oh no, she
thinks
it's
 the probe, he thought. His eyes pleaded with her to keep kissing him a
little
longer.
 But the message wasn't getting through.
      Serena continue kissing Darien's lips, but she was growing more and
more
 frightened. He wouldn't stop kissing her! How could she tell him no without
 causing a scene?
      Darien's eyes glanced around. The hospital attendant wasn't looking in
their
 direction, so he broke the kiss. Serena tried to push him away, but he
leaned
into
 her with all his body weight. This was not the time to be worried about
 appearances. "Just keep kissing me. Trust me." he hissed and began pressing
his
 lips to hers again.
      Serena was confused, but trusted him. His hands weren't running up and
 down her body, so she decided he had good motive to be sucking her face in
the
 middle of a public area.
      Darien kept his eye on the guard. She looked at him strangely, but
moved
 on. When she turned the corner, he broke the kiss.
      Serena was breathless. "What...was that all about?" she gasped, trying
to
 catch her breath.
      "Sorry, meatball-head. One of those hospital attendants was gazing
around
 and I couldn't risk them finding you." he said as he took her hand and
continued
 along the way.
      Serena giggled. "Oh, I forgot I was a wanted criminal. Sorry, didn't
mean to
 push you away." she said.
      "That's okay, I understand." Darien said.
      Serena walked beside him silently. Finally she asked him, "Is it
becoming
 easier for you to resist the probe?"
      Darien thought about it and nodded. "I think now that Raye's dying,
the
 probe is weakening in my system, too. That's why it's easier."
      "Oh." Serena answered. She was a little disappointed. She had kinda
liked it
 when Darien had kissed her that way. But she hadn't liked it when he
couldn't
 stop. I guess I should be thankful, she thought.
      They arrived at Serena's house. Since her parents were home, Serena
 couldn't risk being seen by them. She missed them, but she knew that if
they
saw
 her, they would return her to the hospital. So she went to the back and
leaped
 onto the balcony. Darien followed her. There were advantages to being a
 superhero.
      "Luna? Artemis?" Serena called quietly. The two cats were on the bed,
 taking a cat nap. "You guys, wake up. It's Serena."
      Luna slowly woke up. "Oh, Serena, I've been so worried. Are you okay?
 Where's Raye?"
      Artemis glanced at Darien. "And Darien? Um...Serena should he be here.
I
 mean, with his probe..." he tried to say tactfully.
      Serena smiled and locked her door. Her parents couldn't come in now.
 "Darien's been suppressing the probe. It's growing weaker now that Raye is
dying.
 Oh, she's fine." Serena added at their alarm. "She's off with this new guy
she
 met. I haven't seen her, but Amy will tell me if something's wrong. "
      Luna looked at her skeptically. "Serena, who is this new guy? Raye's
not
 one to talk to strangers. I thought she was going to see Chad."
      Serena shrugged. "Something happened between her and Chad. No, she met
 this way cute guy and they just hit it off. I think Raye figured she should
try one
 last fling before she...well you know." Serena paused for a second. She had
 known Raye was going to die for awhile but it still hurt to talk about it.
      "Things will work out, Serena. Raye will be fine." Amy reassured her.
 Serena nodded and took a big breath. Darien noticed her struggling and took
her in
 his arms. He lightly kissed her head.
      Luna looked at Artemis. The couple seemed to be acting normal and in
love.
 Raye was after some "hunk" she had met, but at least she wasn't dying in
some
 ditch. Things could be worse.

      Tanya concentrated. With her energy built up, she was twice as
powerful
as
 before. Of course, she'd be worn out after the battle, but what did that
matter?
 She'd be done with the scouts forever!
      "Now, what to wear?" she asked herself. The Imperium of Darkness dress
 code required her to wear a revealing dress, but other than that, she could
pick
 which one.
      It came down to a long, tight, strapless, laced, black dress or a
short,
red,
 lower-cut, backless gown. She decided on the black dress and slipped it on.
After
 an hour of hair and makeup, she was ready. She took one last glance at her
 reflection and was haunted by a flashback.
      "You look great sweetheart. Stop obsessing or we're gonna be late." a
voice
 called from the hall.
      Tanya adjusted her black dress and went out to the hall to meet Scott.
His
 jaw dropped. "Do you like it?" she asked shyly. She turned around.
      "Oh Tanya, you look beautiful. I'm tempted to keep you at home so the
 other guys don't try to steal you." Scott said as he took her into his
arms.
      Tanya giggled. "As if the other guys had anything over you. Nope, I'm
yours
 forever."
      "And I'm yours." Scott said and kissed her softly and slowly.
      Tanya felt a tear in her eye as she remembered the last time she wore
the
 dress. No time for tears, she thought and quickly went to the living room.
It
was
 time to do what she had wanted to do for a long time. It was time for her
destiny
 to become reality.

      Scott kissed Raye's face, her chin, her forehead, her neck. Raye ran
her
 fingers through his hair, loving every moment of it. He looked up and
kissed
her
 lips again.
      Raye wanted this moment to last forever. But she knew it wouldn't. And
 she had to go back, to say her final goodbye. "Scott..." she reluctantly
said.
      Scott looked up into her eyes. He nodded. "I know, we need to go
back."
 He took her hand and they made their way through the forest and back to the
 park.
      "I love you." she whispered and kissed him again.
      "I love you, too. More than you'll ever know." Scott replied. He held
her
 hand, not wanting to let her go for a second.
      Suddenly  a blast of wind caught them off-guard. Raye almost lost her
 balance, but Scott steadied her. "Are you okay?" he shouted.
      "I'm fine." Raye was able to answer.
      "What was..." Scott began, and a figure appeared in the darkness.
      "Tanya!" Raye said. She stared at her in complete shock. Tanya had
come
 back, and this time Raye knew she wouldn't leave until the job was done.
      Without thinking, Raye opened her communicator. "Calling Sailor Moon!
 Come in Sailor Moon!"
      Serena's face responded. "Raye? Is something wrong?"
      "I'm in the park. Tanya's come back. I need assistance right away."
Raye
 replied. Serena nodded. Raye closed her communicator and grabbed Scott's
hand.
 "Come on, Scott. This person's nothing but trouble."
      But Scott stared at the woman. She looked so familiar to him, as if he
had
 known her from somewhere before. He saw the tight black dress and a phrase
 came to him. "I'm your forever..." he said aloud, repeating the phrase in
his
head.
      Tanya smiled at him. He did remember! The brain fade hadn't totally
 overcome him! He still must love her! "Scott, come back to me." she
whispered
to
 him.
      Scott blinked and noticed Raye was pulling on his arm. "We have to get
out
 of here!" she shouted. He nodded and they made there way back towards the
 forest.
      "No!" Tanya shouted, and blasted a pulse of energy towards them. It
 knocked them both off their feet. "No, not this time, Sailor Mars!" She
trapped
 them in a cage of iron bars.
      Scott was confused. "Sailor Mars? Huh?" he looked at Raye. She took
out
a
 power stick and raised it.
      "Mars power!" Raye shouted. Scott watched in complete confusion as she
 transformed into Sailor Mars. "Scott, I'm Sailor Mars. I have special
powers.
I'm
 Princess of Mars, and a dedicated Sailor Scout."
      Scott's mind triggered at the mention of Sailor Scout. He suddenly
 remember everything; the Imperium, fighting against Sailor Moon, Tanya.
"Raye,
 you're Sailor Mars?!" he said. Oh no, that was why she was dying! She was
going
 to die any minute. He was going to lose her.
      "Yes, Scott. She's Sailor Mars! You remember, now. Come back to me."
 Tanya said.
      Mars's eyes widened. "Oh my god, Scott! You're..." she said
incredulously.
      Scott silently nodded. "Yes, I used to be with Tanya. But I love you,
Raye!"
 he said loud enough for Tanya to hear. He turned to her.
      "Tanya, what we had was beautiful, loving, and wonderful. But it's
over
 now. I've decided to move on, and I've met the woman I want to be with. If
she's
 Sailor Mars, so be it. I love her, not you!"
      Tanya looked back, absolutely stunned. He was in love with an
earthling!
A
 Sailor Scout, at that! It couldn't be true!
      Raye looked at Scott. She lightly kissed him. "I love you, Scott."
Then
she
 collapsed.