Ice Princess - Chapter 6 by Athena nikita@sgi.net O.k. campers...here ya go! Only one more chapter to go! I am so thankful for all of the supporting e-mail that I have received on all of my stories, but especially this one. Next I will finish Secrets Revealled and I am also working on a hentai one too. Sorry! For all of you that don't enjoy or are not old enough for hentai yet, but this was just an idea I had to put down "on paper". So keep an eye out for those in the upcoming weeks. Ally, as ever you are fantastic and I'm sorry for being so slack on the e-mails lately, but hopefully you understand why I have been now. The usual disclaimers apply.....Sailor Moon isn't mine. Peace and Love Athena *************************************************************************** The next evening, the Scouts, Guards, and Darien were all gathered at the Temple. They had purposely told Serena to meet them an hour later than they all had agreed to meet. They wanted a chance to discuss everything that she had told them the previous day without her being there. The group now looked to Darien for direction since their princess was not present. The hour went by quickly and Darien immediately called a halt to the discussion as he felt Serena near. A few moments later, there was a soft knock on the door and Raye stood to let Serena in. At seeing everyone already there, Serena looked at her watch and then asked with concern, "Oh no, am I late?? I'm sorry, I just had to get some extra time on my new routine and...." Darien softly interrupted her and said, "No, you're on time. We just got here a little early, that's all." she looked surprised for a moment and then shrugged. Then she came into the room and took the empty seat next to him and smiled at him and said, "It's nice to see you looking so well again." He smiled back and said, "Thanks to you." and place a kiss on the tip of her nose. She immediately began to blush and leave it to Jason to spoil the moment by saying, "O.k. enough already, I'm gonna be sick." Darien just laughed and Serena rolled her eyes thinking what a perfect match he was for Raye. "O.k. then folks, have we got a plan of action yet?" Serena asked the group at large. A few ideas were tossed out and discussed. But it was to be Serena's final decision now that there was no disputing her role as leader, not to mention the fact that she knew the most about their enemy. Serena sighed now, all of the ideas had merit, but she knew that the true solution to the problem was to draw Diamond out of his time and into their time and have the battle take place here. Taking the battle to Diamond as the others wanted would be too dangerous. None of them had any clue as to how powerful Diamond would be in his own time on his own turf. So it was with that in mind that she said, "Guys, that's all well and good, but I don't think that we can take the battle to Diamond. We have no idea how powerful he is in his own environment. I think what we need to do is draw him here." Discussion burst forth now, but Ami motioned for silence and then asked, "That's really true, Serena. I for one never thought of that. But the real question is, how do we get him to come here?" Serena smiled and said, "Live bait." there were a bunch of 'Huhs?' going around, but Darien immediately knew what she meant and said, "Absolutely not. I forbid it!" the others looked at him in shock. Never had he been so adament about something. But Serena looked up at him and said, "It's the only way." "No!" "Uh, excuse me?" Lita interrupted them, "but would you two mind letting us in on this conversation?" "Serena wants to use herself as bait." Darien answered and everyone but Raye quickly agreed with him, but Raye said, "I think that she's right guys." Everyone now looked at Raye as if she lost her mind and Mina said, "I know that you aren't wild about her Raye, but I never realized that it ran deep enough that you'd like to see her killed." Raye turned deep red and said in a soft but firm voice, "I never said that I didn't like her....in fact I'd give my own life for hers. She's my Princess afterall. But I have to agree with her and not because she's my Princess either. She's right. Think about it, how can anyone but her lure Diamond out when it's her that he wants??" Everyone was silent, they knew that she was right, but that didn't make them accept it any easier either. So it was Marcus that now said, "So what's the plan?" "I go to Nemesis and I issue Diamond a challenge that he can't refuse." Serena said. "NO!" Darien yelled. But now, Marcus took up the battle for her and said, "It's a good plan, Darien, you know that it has to be done." Darien was silent for a moment and then growled out, "Fine, then I go with her." The others all agreed and before Serena could say anything, Lita cut her off by saying, "Hey wait! He's in the future, right? So how are you gonna get there?" The others, including Darien, looked at Serena in question and so she said, "First, Darien you can't come." Darien began to protest, but she cut him off and continued, "You can't. The type of challenge I'm gonna issue won't go over well with you there. But don't worry I won't go alone. I'm going to take the person that's going to get me there." Darien pouted, but said nothing. Nicholas asked the next question, "So once you do get there, what's going to stop him from keeping you there?" Another round of agreement went through the group. Serena just smiled and simply said, "Sailor Pluto." Again, the group was puzzled. Who was Sailor Pluto they all wanted to know, but Luna spoke now, "Ah yes, good thinking Serena. She'll make sure that you get in and out of there with no harm....But she's not going to like interferring like this. You know how she can get." Serena just nodded at Luna and then said, "O.k. so when do we want to do this?" But Mina stood up now and waved her hands and said, "Wait a minute! I am so confused! WHO is this Sailor Pluto and why can only she help you???" "Good question!!!" Jason shouted. Serena just rolled her eyes, Of course they wouldn't know about Sailor Pluto, she thought. She waited for Mina to sit back down before she answered, "Sailor Pluto is the Guardian of Time. She's the one Sailor Scout who must always remain alone because her post is to guard the Gates of Time and to make sure that the time line never gets altered. She can open the gates of time at her wish. That is why I will take her. She can open a gate for me to get there and then make sure that it remains open while I am there. I believe that she can basically let me off in his bedroom if that's where I wish it. Plus she can protect me back with her own powers....if she desires it, she does have the power to stop time." "Then why do you think that she will give you a hard time about helping you?" Darien asked. "Because Pluto feels that no one should know too much about their future. Also because she really isn't suppose to interfere in anyway. But I'll convince her. So when and where do we want Diamond to meet us?" she asked again. The room was quiet and then Darien said, "I think that it should take place as soon as possible. Before he has a chance to get himself together and come after US when we aren't ready for it." Serena looked around the room for confirmation and when she got it she said, "O.K. I'll go to Diamond now and tell him to meet us in the Park, tomorrow at midnight. The park will be deserted and no innocents will get hurt." Everyone again nodded. Then Serena took a deep breath and stood up, but Darien stopped her from going any further when he reached out and grabbed her hand. She looked back at him and she could see the fear in his eyes. She smiled at him and said, "Don't worry, I'll be back. In the end, Pluto will do my bidding." But he just shook his head at her. Then he too stood up, wrapped his arms around her and crushed her to him. Then he kissed her as if it might be the last time he ever would. When they parted, she looked up into his eyes and smiled. Then she turned and surprised everyone by calling out her transformation, "Moon Crystal Power!!" In a flash of silver light and black ribbons, Sailor Moon appeared. She stood for a moment, with her long staff in hand, and stared at everyone. She wanted one last look at them especially Darien, because she too doubted that she would return. Then a small key suddenly appeared in her free hand. Everyone gasped as she called out, "Sailor Pluto, Guardian of Time, open the gates of time for me! Crystal Key Power!" A strong wave of power surged through the room, knocking all of the occupants other than Sailor Moon off of their feet. It was almost as if they were trapped in a wind tunnel. Darien screamed Serena's name, he didn't like this. Something felt wrong, but then in a flash of light, Sailor Moon was gone. *************************************************************************** Serena walked through the swirling mist of Pluto's home. Up ahead was a large dark object that she knew was the gate of time. Quickly she called out to Sailor Pluto announcing her presence. The last time that she had come to see Pluto, she didn't announce herself and the fog had hidden her idenity and Pluto had almost killed her, for tresspassers were not permitted at the Gates of Time. She called out to Pluto agan and this time, Pluto appeared before her. "My Queen, I have been expecting you." Serena smiled at her friend and said, "Good, then I don't have to talk you into anything then do I?" Pluto gave her a hard look and said, "I am only helping because if I didn't the timeline would be forever altered and I cannot allow that." Serena simply nodded her head and said, "Shall we?" Pluto nodded and then used her Time Key Staff to activate the gate. She and Pluto stepped through the gate together and walked down a long corridor. At the end of this corridor was a door. Serena stopped just at the door and took a deep breath. Pluto looked at her and asked, "Are you ready?" Serena nodded and said, "Yes. Where are we coming out at?" Pluto smiled and said, "I thought that the throne room would be more appropriate than his bedroom. My Queen, you will only have a few short minutes. That is all the longer that I can keep a gate open without any risk." Serena nodded again and said, "Let's go." Pluto nodded and again used her staff to open the gate. A blinding light appeared with the opening of the door and then she could see into Diamond's throne room. He was there, sitting on his throne, holding a glass of wine. He had just noticed the portal. With her head held high, Serena walked through. Diamond had been sitting on his throne, trying to plan an attack that would ensure him Serena when all of a sudden a portal opened up in his throne room and then through the portal came Sailor Moon. He could hardly believe his eyes as she stood there before him looking like the proud beauty that he knew so well from this time. He finally found his voice and said, "Well, well. It looks like I don't have to come for you afterall." Serena kept her head held high and with as much authority as she could muster in her voice she said, "Diamond, I have come to issue you a challenge." Diamond raised an eyebrow and said, "Oh really? And what would that be?" "That you meet me and my guard at midnight tomorrow night in the park in my time. It's the battle that will end all battles. If I win, you will be destroyed." His voice was like silk as he said, "And if I win?" Serena swallowed hard and thought, Forgive me, Darien, and said, "You get me." Again Diamond raised his eyebrow. In Serena's mind, Pluto was urging her to hurry. Serena acknowledged it by saying, "So what's it gonna be, Diamond?" He responded by asking, "What's to stop me from keeping you now?" Pluto, now! Serena's mind screamed Then out of nowhere, both Serena and Diamond heard, "Dead Scream!" a ball of green energy came streaking out of the portal and hit Diamond before he had a chance to react. He screamed and then said through clenched teeth, "Very well. I'll meet you, but I warn you, I shall win." Serena gave him a mocking bow and said as she stepped back into the portal, "We shall see." Just as she was through, the portal slammed shut and Pluto was glaring at her. Serena ignored her though and started to walk back in the direction from which they came. When the door to her time opened, instead of being back in Pluto's realm, Serena appeared back at the Temple. Everyone was already gone and the Temple was dark. Quickly she detransformed and quietly left the Temple. Immediately, she could sense Darien's fear and anguish, which she assumed was over her being gone. She decided that she would go to him now and be with him this one night before the battle was to take place, because either they would win tomorrow or she would die trying. But one thing was certain, Diamond would not have her. She pulled into the parking garage at Darien's building and parked. Quickly she got out and went up the elevator to Darien floor. Once she reached his door, she stopped to listen before knocking. She could hear the t.v. on inside. Then it was with a shaking hand that she reached up and knocked on the door. Darien jumped at the knock at his door. Immediately he felt Serena's presence on the other side. He practically flew across the room to open the door. The moment he did, he didn't even hesitate as he pulled Serena into the apartment and then into his arms. He was practically crushing her, but she didn't mind, it just felt so good to be held by him. She was even comforted when he growled into her hair, "If you ever leave me behind again, I swear, I'll kill you myself!" Her only response was to pull away enough to stand on her tip toes to kiss him. Darien groaned as his lips met hers. It was a kiss that seared each of them to their souls. They clunge to each other now as if they had been separated for years instead of hours. Then, without even breaking the kiss, Darien reached down and swung Serena up and into his arms and carried her back to his bedroom.