Title: Propositions, part three
Author:Razzz
E-mail: Razzzberi@aol.com




Û¥-THANKS SO MUCH to SAILOR DOLPHIN - who BTW is writing the most
incredible story!! Please, please read it, it rocks, LIANNE who just is so
cool, and even if I didn't' know her, I would have to love and worship her
cause she is the GOD of writing - Surfacings:Desperation is simply amazing,
as well as the Usagi and Mamoru's Love series! The peerless LAUREL ANNE
just came out with a new part to her story and let me tell you, it is soo
amazing!! If you don't' love this story, I think you just might be abnormal
(Or not, that's just my way of saying how cool something is) And  SUE MEI-
who keeps on writing such touching stories that I want to cry! Very few
people can get into the characters heads as well as she can. OH, and all
the cool people I know ROCK!!! Sean, Jill, Jenn, And sooo many others -
sorry if I left your name off, It's late, you know I love ya! Wow this is
getting long - For some reason I feel like I'm writing some acceptance
speech for the Oscars. don't' ask me where that one came from, it just
popped into my mind from way left field! 
NEways, the most thanks goes to every and any archive administrators, in
particular, Luna and Artemis/Andrea, Tux Will who runs one of the greatest
sites on the net. And my absolute personal favorite, Sailor November's
fanfic site!! Go here and I guarantee you won't be disappointed. Oh yeah,
this is on a side note!! PROUD MEMBER OF UCLA Japanese animation club here,
and let me tell you that if you are ever in Westwood on a Wednesday night,
stop by because they show the COOLEST stuff, and they let me rent tapes
from them for free (member perk - YEAH!) and they might not know it, but I
am truly grateful to them for this wonderful service, so thanks!!!!!! Well,
that was long!! Wow, so enough of me babbling - besides, no one wants to
hear that anyways. ON WITH THE SHOW!!!! (but first I must spell check, OH
BOY!! Spell checking something I write is the epitome of hell - I SUCK AT
TYPING!! ah, the torture I go through - kidding, felt like being overly
dramatic) ENJOY! - PS - comments are necessary!!! I NEED THEM!! SO please,
dont' hesitate to write.


        Darien clasped Serena's hand tightly in his own, protecting her
from the sudden lurches and various falling debris that shook loose from
the ceiling. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. He would make sure she
got out of this death trap. No matter what.
        "So where's the exit on this thing?" Andrew asked, following behind
Darien and Serena, Rita running at his side. Darien paused, looking around
at the metal doors set in the sides of the walls. 
        "I think . . .over here!" Darien said, pushing the door open
hesitantly, checking the room for the mercenaries in black, and pulling
Serena in the room quickly. Darien smiled as he saw the two canvas back
packs and the red sign proclaiming, 'Emergency Exit.' 
        "Darien! You found a way out!" Serena said happily.
        "Yeah. Now get this on Serena." Darien ordered, grabbing one of the
back packs from the rack. 
        "You too Rita." Andrew said, helping her get her arms through the
straps. 
        "You cant' mean we're going to jump!" Rita exclaimed. 
        "These guys wouldn't have stocked their ship with cheap parachutes.
You'll be fine. Just pull the cord once you can make out the trees." Darien
said. "Serena hold out your arm." He said, holding up the pack.
        "What about you." Rita asked, looking back at Andrew. He held her
hand tightly. 
        "Rita, just get you and Serena as far away as possible. We'll find
another set of packs and be fine." he said, his voice trying to sound as
confident as he could. 
        "I'm not going." Serena said resolutely, hugging her arms around
herself. 
        "WHAT! Serena, you're going to jump. This is no time to be scared!"
Darien said, both worried and frustrated. 
        "It's not that. I have to stay Darien."
        "Serena, those guards could show any second. I don't know how long
the explosions will keep them away from here. You have to jump now." 
        Serena shook her head again, stepping close to him and whispered in
his ear.
        "I cant' let him get the crystal Darien. I'm going to stop him, and
stop him from doing whatever it is he plans on doing to us." She said.
'Besides, I could never let you stay here without me. Even if you don't
want me anymore.' She stepped back away from him, trying to appear as brave
as she could. Her eyes wavered though, betraying the fear in her heart. He
smiled at her in adoration, and admiration. 
        "All right. Andrew, take the pack, and jump."
        "But -"
        "Just go and jump. Now." Darien commanded. Andrew took a look at
the two, both their faces set in hard lines of determination. 
        "All right." Andrew finally conceded, slipping the parachute on. He
grabbed Rita's hand, and placed his other on the handle to the door. 
        "When this is over, we're going to go out for a shake." Andrew
said.
        "Count on it." Darien replied, throwing his friend the thumbs up
sign. Andrew swallowed, smiled at them, then opened the door. He looked at
Rita as he let his muscles relax, falling out of the ship and into the open
skies below, Rita still in his grasp. 
        'You had better make it for that shake Darien. I'll never forgive
you if you don't.'

        Serena turned towards the door, a few steps ahead of Darien. She
stopped abruptly, turning back at him. He was still watching Andrew and
Rita fall to earth.
        "Darien, find a way out of here as fast as you can." she said, her
voice cracking. 'I won't let you die here. You have to make it. You have
to.'
        "Are you kidding?" he asked, incredulous.
        "I'm going to get the crystal. Karros has it. If he has it, I don't
know what's going to happen, but it's probably a lot safer if you weren't
here."
        "You can't get it alone."
        "Sure I can." she said. He looked at her skeptically. She sighed,
then began again.
        "It's going to be dangerous Darien. You might get hurt, or worse.
IF you want to leave, go. Go as far away as you can." She insisted, her
voice growing with each word, her emotions intensifying. She was just so
scared again. No one had ever managed to get the crystal before. And now
she had to face him, without her powers. She knew what would probably
happen. But that didn't mean she had to like it. 
        Darien could sense her inner turmoil. Her fear was so strong he
could almost feel it crash into him. He stepped closer to her, drawing her
into an embrace, praying she wouldn't pull away from him. She didn't, and
again she was as vulnerable as she had been the night before, needing
something, someone, to help her be strong. 
        "I won't leave you Serena. I'll never leave you." he said. She
trembled slightly in his embrace. She had missed the feeling of being
engulfed by him, missed that feeling she felt when he seemed to drown out
the whole world and all that was left was a profound sense of just her, and
him. With him, the world seemed so right. She wasn't sure if life seemed
that way because of external forces, or because of him. She knew though,
that he was needed, to bring such magic to the earth. He couldn't lose his
life trying to help her. What would the world be without him?
        "Go." she hissed, biting her lips. She wanted him to stay. In some
strange way, she wanted him to stay with her, to help her, to never leave
her alone. But, it was wrong. She was wrong. She couldn't' be selfish, not
about this, not now. Besides, why would he want to stay?
        He looked at her, his eyes dim; he was crushed by her simple
request.
        "Serena? Is that . . is that what you want?" he asked, not really
wanting the answer. She almost cried out, her frustration and resolve
crumbling. Much longer, and she wasn't' sure she would be able to let him
go. 'No, I want you to stay here with me - I know I'm sickeningly selfish,
but please, don't go.'
        "I . . . I can't let you stay here." she said, defeated. Darien
swallowed hard. 
        "Don't ask me to do that - I won't Serena. You might hate me, but
you're going to have to put up with me for now because I'm not going
anywhere. I won't. I can't leave you. Not here, especially not here.
Please, trust me. I know I don't deserve that, but just trust me." he said,
his voice low with emotion. He held onto her arm tightly, as though afraid
she would somehow escape him.  
        "Trust you? Oh Darien, of course I trust you!" she exclaimed. "Why
wouldn't I?" 
        How could you! After everything I've done." he lowered his eyes in
shame, unable to meet her gaze, a look he was sure was filled with
contempt, disapproval, disappointment and hate. She studied him, the
defeated slump in his shoulders, the infinite sadness in his face. She
reached out, her hand finding its way under his chin and gently tilted it
towards her, brushing an errant strand of hair out of his shining eyes. 
        "You haven't done anything." she said. He shook his head adamantly,
trying to make her understand.
        "I hurt you. That crystal, that fight, I created it. I almost, I
was supposed to . . ."
        "O yeah, well, yeah, that might explain this trust issue. But I'm
sure you had a good reason. It wasn't something you wanted to do. Or else
you wouldn't be feeling this way. You didn't' have a choice in it, did
you?" she asked. He shook his head slowly. She beamed.
        "Then I don't see a reason not to trust you. I'm sure you're
reasons were very good for helping this Karros guy." 
        "Then why? Why are you asking me to go! Because I can't leave you
here,. I can't! I . . I love you too much to go." he paused, as his face
darkened. "Is it, is it because you don't, don't love me?" he asked. Serena
stared at him, her mouth agape, in shock. Darien's face fell as he
interpreted her silence as the answer. 
        "I. . I should have known. Why you didn't want to marry me. It was
because you didn't-"
        "No!" she exclaimed. 'No." she repeated again. "Darien" her voice
began to crack, as words failed her. She crashed into him, her arms
wrapping around him as tightly as she could and tears coursed down her
cheeks. 
        "I could never love anyone else other than you. Never ever ever."
she said, her voice muffled by his shirt. She felt a small drop of water
splash against her skin, and she looked up at Darien, two alligator tears
escaping his eyes.
        "Serena . . "
        "I was so scared. I want to be with you so much, but my dreams were
coming true and I was so scared What am I supposed to dream about? And I'd
have to grow up! I'm not a grown up - I'm not even sure I want to be a
grown up. And, and what if - Darien, you deserve the very very bestest of
the best, and what if that's not me - what if you see that I'm not right
for you. We're so different and you're so brilliant and I'm so-"
        "You're so perfect. All I ever wanted, all I'll ever want, is you.
I love you." he said. Serena sniffed, as her tears began to subside. 
        "Me too. I love you so much that sometimes I think I'm going to
explode. That's why you have to go Darien. If you stay, if you don't make
it . . . I love you too much to allow you to stay here. I wont' let you die
here. You have to escape, you have to! If you, you-"
        "I won't. It's that simple. I won't."
        "But Darien-"
        "I will never leave you. For the same reasons you want me to leave,
make it impossible for me to do that. I want to be where you are Serena. I
daunt' care where it takes us. If we die here, I want to die with you. If
you live, I want to share your life. I want to be with you forever, and I
don't care about anything else. So you see, I can't go." he said. "I love
you." 
        "You won't die?" she asked. 
        "YOU won't die?" he replied. 
        "I love you. Darien, I, I love-" She was interrupted as Darien
swiftly tilted his head down towards her, capturing her lips in a tender
exchange, holding her so close one could not tell where one body began and
the other ended. Finally, the two parted reluctantly although, they still
remained in contact with each other, their hands interlocked, unable to
lose that contact. The floor suddenly lurched again and Darien
instinctively clutched Serena's hand tightly, protectively as both looked
at each other in silent understanding. It was time to go, to find the
crystal, to stop Karros, and face their fate.

        Darien peered around the corner, checking to see if anyone was
around.
        "All clear." he whispered. Serena smiled faintly, then followed him
as he darted down the hallway. 
        "Which way to Karros?" she asked. 
        "This way I think . . ." a soft steady tapping sounded from down
the hallway. "Or not! C'mon, let's go." he hissed, pulling her back the way
they had come. 
        "Hey you two, Freeze!" someone yelled from behind them. Darien and
Serena whipped their heads around to face the threat, two other guards with
guns drawn. Serena turned towards the hallway they had just left, but the
sounds of approaching footsteps had grown louder, accompanied with two more
menacing men in black. 
        "Darien?" she said, her voice quivering. He held her hand tightly,
forgetting to be gentle as he tried to think of a way out of this, of a way
to saver her.
        Suddenly, the ship lurched, a hollow metallic ping banging behind
them as another explosion rocked the ship. Darien glanced at the wall, and
pulled Serena towards it as the guards regained their balance and leveled
their guns at them. He threw open a  small,. barely noticeable door, picked
Serena up in one quick sweep and pushed her through. Darien briefly noted
the crack of the guns as the guards pulled the trigger, the bullets burying
into the metal where he had once stood as he launched himself down the
chute, Serena still screaming as she slid down the slide ahead of him. 
        It was suddenly very very cold, yet he still remained rushing
forward at a very very high speed, the wind roaring in his ears. He reached
out a hand, grabbing out at anything that might stop him from sliding even
more, unable too see due to the unfathomable darkness that was only broken
by the stars. 'Stars!' he thought, finally registering the open night sky.
'We're outside! On the surface of the ship!'  He rammed into something
hard, grunting as it crashed his stomach, and held tight. 
        "Darien, where are you?!?!: Serena screamed fearfully. "Dari-
AHHHHHHH!!!! Help!! I'm slipping. Darien help me! Please. Darien!"
        The terror in her voice almost froze him. "Serena?" he whispered.
The ground was still at a 45 degree tilt, making it impossible to walk. IF
he hadn't fallen against the pole he was holding onto, he would have
slipped over the edge at 30,000 feet and . . . Serena!
        "Serena, hold on!" he screamed, barely recognizing his own angst
filled voice. "just hold on, I'm coming!"
        "Darien, I can't! My fingers are slipping. Darien! Hurry!! Please!"
she half cried, half whimpered. She could feel her slick fingertips slip
further down the pole she had managed to catch hold of, tearing her
fingernails in the process, as her legs dangled limply over the side of the
ship. 'Don't look down Serena. Whatever you do, don't look down.'  she told
her self, squinching her eyes shut. She opened her eyes for a second, and
looked down, unable to even see the ground below. Like a bottomless pit,
doomed to fall forever and ever and ever . . 'Stupid Serena! Why can't you
ever listen!' she yelled at herself internally. She looked up, seeing a
shadow clinging perilously to a pole. Darien. She could feel her heart fill
with hope. He would save her. Unless . . . how would he be able to get to
her without falling over the edge? It was hopeless! If he tried he
wouldn't' make it - he would DIE!
        "Darien! Stop! Don't!" she called urgently.
        "Stop what? Hold on Serena. I'm gonna be right there! You just hang
tight!"
        Darien, you can't. If you try . . . save yourself."
        "I think we've been over this Serena! I'm not letting you go! Now
just keep on holding that pole, OK?" he said stubbornly. He made her want
to cry. He was so sweet, and so stubborn and so annoying sometimes. Why
couldn't he just listen to her, for once. He would die if he let go of his
pole to get to her. She would rather die than let him sacrifice his own
life. What kind of life would she have without him? None, absolutely none.
She had to get him to leave. 'Can you do it Serena. Do you have the
courage?' she shook her head no. she couldn't do it. She heard him yelling
for her, his voice floating on the wind. Tears sprung to her eyes. She
would do it, for him. She would do what she had to.
        "I'm letting go Darien. Find a way off. Do you hear me, don't you
die."
        "Are you psychotic!" he exclaimed. He had to get to her, and soon,
before she went through with her crazy, stupid idea. Of all the lame
brained, idiotic, moronic things to say . . .didn't' she know that if she
died, he would rather die as well. That if she died, his life would die
along with her.
        "I'm coming Serena. Don't you dare let go of that pole. Don't even
think about it!" he said. He sucked in a deep breath, knowing that if he
made a mistake he would be sky-diving without a parachute, and let go,
sliding down the slippery surface of the airship. Serena screamed loudly as
she realized what he was doing. Her pole was coming up fast. He shot out an
arm, trying to grab onto it, feeling it at his fingertips, whiz by his
fingertips as his legs fell over the edge, and then there was nothing to
hold onto.
        A small hand clamped down over his wrist, and Serena groaned as she
tried to pull Darien up. He reached up, grabbing onto the pole with his
other hand and pulling himself up, as well as helping Serena get a tighter
grip on it.
        "You, you, you! I hate you!! How could you do something like that!"
she cried. Her eyes were glimmering with tears. He shifted his grip on the
pole so that he had his arm around Serena, making sure to help support her,
knowing that her quivering arms were getting tired. "You scared me!" she
added shyly. 
        "ME! I scared YOU! You're the one who said she was going to let
go!" he exclaimed.
        "But only so you wouldn't do something horridly heroic - not that I
mind, but what if you had . . .what if I hadn't caught you Darien. Why did
you even try something like that?" 
        "But you did - and it was a nice catch too."
        "But what if-" she protested. he hushed her.
        "There are too many if's in life to worry about all the time. If
you do, it'll drive you nuts. Why don't we focus on what did happen, not
what might have. Life is too short, especially ours if we don't think up a
way off this death trap." he said reassuringly.
        "I just can't imagine a world without you." she said sadly. "I just
wanted to make sure you'd make it back. And I'm getting so tired of all
this." he almost let go, his arms shaking violently.
        "Don't you ever ever give up." he said harshly, his voice forceful,
passionate. "Serena,, you have to promise me, you will never give up on
life. You have to survive, no matter what happens to me, you have to
promise to fight your hardest, to live. " 
        "Darien-"
        "Promise me!" he said. She could feel his breath against her skin,
his body protecting her from the cold wing rushing around her, his arms
supporting her, making sure she wouldn't fall. 
        "I promise. I wont' ever give up. Not ever ever."
        "Even if I don't-"
        "Darien! Please, you can't, you won't leave me. I don't want to
live if you-" She was aware of his eyes boring into her, even though she
couldn't' see them.  
        "Promise me Serena Even if I die, promise you won't give in."
        She was aware that she was crying now, just the thought of Darien
dying, of life without him, forcing them from the dams she had built to
contain them.
        "I promise. I'll never give up. Never." she whispered, her voice
barely heard over the howling wind. 
        "Good. This world needs you, meatball head." he said, adding
softly,  "I need you too." 
        The pole began to quiver slightly and Darien tightened his grip on
the pole and Serena. Another explosion, one that thundered in the distance
for miles, shook the ship violently, the sound of twisting metal permeating
the night. 
        "Darien, that's a bad thing, right?" Serena asked meekly. he
couldn't see her face, but he was pretty sure she her eyes were probably
closed, trying to drown out the fearful sounds which resembled some great
beast crying out as it died. 
        "It's almost over. I'll get us out of this. Don't worry. I'll make
everything better." he murmured, trying to comfort her.
        The ship suddenly lurched, as it seemed to fall in a fast descent
in the sky. Serena screamed, and Darien could feel himself instinctively
press closer to her to protect her. The ship wasn't' going to remain
airborne for much longer. Then, they were moving, their position rising as
their end of the ship flew high into the sky, while the other end dipped
low. Another explosion and the ship began to even out some more, rocking
back and forth trying to find an equilibrium. 
        "When it goes flat again, pull yourself up and run for the nearest
door back inside." Darien said. "I'll be right behind you." Serena nodded
the affirmative, waiting for just the right moment.
        "GO. Hurry Serena!: Darien exclaimed, pushing Serena up onto the
momentarily parallel deck, scrambling up after her. She quickly found a
door, and pulled on it hard, trying to make it open. She began to panic as
the ship began to tilt again, but the door remained stuck. Darien came up
and yanked at the door, pulling back with all his weight, desperation
rising into his actions as the door remained stuck. Serena grabbed the
handle with him, and the two pulled at it, forcing the door loose. Both
fell inside the cabins of the ship, slamming the door shut as the ship
began to tilt sharply again.
        Serena stood up shakily, her afraid her knees would buckle beneath
her. Suddenly, without warning, she began to giggle. Darien jumped to his
feet, alert, the looked over at her quizzically.
        "Serena? What's so funny?" he asked. She smiled, then began to
laugh again.
        "Nothing. It's just . . .we're alive!" she exclaimed, beaming. She
impulsively wrapped her arms around him tightly, standing up on her toes to
kiss his cheek.
        "I'm really, really  . . .I don't' know, I just feel all happy and
stuff. We're going to make it. I have a feeling." she said cheerfully.
Darien smiled down at her, enthralled by such youthful, joyous optimism.
        "We'll be fine Serena." he agreed, holding her close. He had to be
the luckiest person alive to have her. She was starting to lift the
overwhelming sense of doom he had been feeling since he was taken to the
ship. Everything would turn out all right, because Serena had a way of
doing that to things. 
        "C'mon, Karros is . . . " Darien looked around to get his bearings
before taking Serena's hand and pulling her to the left. "This way. I
think."
        "Oh yeah . . .him." she said glumly. Barely out of the fire, and
right into another. "Darien, what if . . .." her words trailed off as she
stared in front of her, her eyes frozen wide in shock. Darien whirled
around apprehensively, her sudden stillness scaring him.
        "Serena, what's wrong?!?!" 
        "Um, octopuses don't live on airships, right?" she asked. Darien
raised an eyebrow in confusion, then followed her petrified gaze, until it
rested on the writhing tentacle that slithered from beneath the door to
Karros's office.
        "I guess not." Darien whispered. he stepped in front of her, never
taking his eye from the long, black, slimy arm. 
        it suddenly darted out, without warning, towards Serena, whose
mouth had fallen open, yet no sound came forth. Darien leapt at it, his
hands beating down at it mercilessly, yet unable to land a single punch.
Serena jumped back away from it, yet it shot out again, further than
before, encircling her ankle with a moist, black tentacle.
        "DARIEN!!! Eww, its' all slimy and gross and ICKY!!! GET IT OFF!!!"
Serena screamed as it dragged her towards the door, which had suspiciously
swung open.  Darien tightly grabbed her hand with his, pulling with all his
might to free her from the monster. Instead, both were pulled into the
room. the tentacle thrashing wildly, throwing Darien back out the door and
crashing into the hard metal wall. Serena screamed as he slumped to the
floor unconscious, the door slamming behind him. She quickly whirled around
to face whatever it was that had brought her here, gasping in horror at the
hideous sight.
        "DARIEN!!!!: she screamed, unable to control the urge to let fear
take over. It was a huge mass of fearfulness that seemed intent upon her.
It wore a simple, though expensive gray suit that was looking the worse for
wear, as a dark black thing burst from it. It seemed to have human features
beneath the ugly exterior though. Yet, it reminded her of something - of .
. .shadow warriors. It looked like on of the shadow warriors from the
rainbow crystals. She instinctively took a step back.
        "K, Karros?" she stuttered. It smiled.
        "Yes, that was me. But who are you - princess, sailor Moon, girl? 
        "I, I don't' know what you're talking about. I'm just a kid. That's
all." she insisted, trying to still the shaking in her voice. She wished
Darien were here, to help her. She didn't' have her brooch still. That
meant that he had it! And he still had the crystal!
        "I want the crystal. But you don't' have it." it said. Serena
sighed in relief. he hadn't' found it - maybe she was wrong, maybe he had
left it at her house. No, it was there, on that ship, somewhere; she could
feel it. She just had to find it.
        "Why do you need this crystal so bad. Maybe I can help you if it's
for a good cause." she said quietly, amazed at he own acting abilities. She
had to stall for time, as her eyes searched the piles in front of her that
seemed composed of only things from her room.
        "You can't help, you are just a girl. I was wrong about you." 
        "Hey, you never know. Try me." she said. it looked at her, its eyes
seeming menacing.
        "The crystal is important. I want to free my kind, but only the
crystal can free them." 
        "Your kind?" she asked. It nodded. Serena continued to scan the
piles of her stuff - had they really taken EVERYTHING from her room.
        "yes, my kind, shadow warriors." Serena almost gasped
involuntarily. Fortunately , it didn't' notice, and continued. "I want to
free them, but without the Silver Imperium Crystal, I cannot. So I must
find it - to free them, and reclaim the earth as ours." it said. "but you
are of no use to us. So, we must kill you." it said, it's tentacle
tightening around her ankle once again. in one quick movement, Serena was
hanging upside down, screaming loudly, dangling right in front of it's
open, drooling mouth. Was it going to . . .eat her! 
        "DARIEN!!! Please, Help me!" she screamed. She knew being eaten
alive didn't' fit in with her plans for the future. She looked down at his
jaws, row upon row of sharp, gleaming teeth, magnified by the pink towel in
the pile of things in front of him, her small brooch resting just on top of
it. Wait, her brooch! With the crystal! She began to kick and squirm in
it's arm, trying to get free, reaching her hands down to try and reach it,
and missing by nearly a foot.
        The door crashed loudly behind her, as Tuxedo Mask bounded in,
throwing roses left and right at the creature. It dropped her brutally on
the ground, just missing it's jaws, landing next to the pile. Serena smiled
triumphantly reaching out to grab her brooch and transform to help Tuxedo
Mask. 
        The creature's tentacle fell back, knocking into the pile and
sending it's contents flying everywhere. Serena's brooch crashed against a
wall, causing it to open a crack. The creature stopped attacking Darien,
noticing the crystal beneath, it's eyes closed in pleasure as it felt the
crystal.
        Darien! My brooch!" Serena cried, getting up and starting towards
it. A long tentacle  whipped back at her, sending her flying against a
wall.
        Tuxedo mask threw a rose at it, enraged. How dare it hurt her! he
would not let it get away with harming one hair on Serena's head. Another
rose flew through the air towards the creature, his aim perfectly on
target, almost assuredly hitting its intended.
        Until the ship shook as the last and final explosion ripped through
the giant air ship, ripping it apart at the seams. A great groaning sounded
from the ship, as metal ripped from hinges cracked into the night. The
floor quivered, and Darien stepped back in fear as he saw the cracks
forming in the metal, as the ground began to rip away, as the entire back
end of the cabin fell off the ship to the ground, the wind whipping
furiously through the room, pulling everything in it out the opening. 
        Darien looked up at Serena, who was standing at the other side of
the room. Was this how it was going to end for them? No! he wouldn't' let
it. If he couldn't save them both, he would at least save her - somehow. He
somehow made his way to her, fighting against he wind, not caring that he
could at any moment be ripped out the opening with all the other things in
the room. Karros, he noted, was hanging on with a single tentacle, the
crystal still in a hand. Serena was also slowly pulling her way towards
Karros, her body freezing in fear each time she heard the ship make a
sound. Darien finally reached her, somehow, clasping her hand in his own.
        "I have to get the crystal Darien. I know what he wants! He wants
to let all the shadow warriors free! I can't let him." she said tearfully.
"I don't' want to die, but I can't let him succeed."
        "You won't die. YOu promised." Darien said, smiling. Serena looked
up at him, tearfully.
        "I love you so much." she whispered, her voice trembling
involuntarily. she looked at Karros again in determination. She would stop
him. He wasn't' going to get the earth without a fight. 
        Darien stared at her in complete adoration. Her determination, her
love, everything, everything about her was so precious, so special. 'Oh
Serena . . ' he thought. He pulled her into a tight embrace, knowing that
it was probably going to be their last. He wished it wasn't, but what else
could he do? 
        "You promised to fight, no matter what. No matter what happens to
me, you have to fight you hardest." he whispered into her ear, fiercely as
his emotions began to overwhelm him. Serena took a step back, careful not
to get sucked into the gale behind them, confused.
        "Darien-" she asked. he threw a small ball at her, witch exploded
on impact into a crystal container, much like the one he had trapped her in
before, only minus the electricity. Serena pounded on the wall of it, but
to no avail; it was stronger than diamonds. 
        "I will love you for always." he said, then pushed her out of the
room with all his strength, letting her fall to earth and away from the
ship. He turned back towards Karros with a menacing, almost suicidal glint
in his eye. 
        "Give me the crystal." Darien said slowly. Karros looked at him,
almost confused, then began to laugh, the low guttural sound lost in the
wind.

        Serene wasn't sure how long she had been unconscious, how long ago
it had been since she had fallen to earth from that airship, or even where
she was at that moment. All she remembered was Darien, making her promise
to fight, and then throwing that ball at her, encasing her with crystal.
She had been scared, confused. Her faith in him had almost been broken as
he had pushed her out of the ship, afraid that perhaps he was under
Karros's control. But that wasn't' so. She knew it. She had heard him 
        'I'll love you for always.' It had sounded so final. As thought he
wasn't' going to be joining her. Serena tried to sit up, but the crystal
contraption was well built. It had even protected her, minus of course the
minor bumps and bruises that accompany falling from any high place, as she
fell from the sky. She was pretty much fine. Had Darien known that this was
a means of escape? Probably. He had saved her, gotten her off that ship!
She had to find him, to make sure he was all right. but, first, to get out.
        Serena tried kicking out with her legs, pounding at the sides of
the cocoon. No luck. She stomped her foot straight down in frustration, and
suddenly, the walls shattered. She slowly crawled away, standing up shakily
and immediately putting a hand to her forehead. She had bumped it when she
crashed into the ground and now things seemed a bit topsy turvey. She
looked around - she was in a desolate clearing, a field, with no sign of
life for miles around at least.  And no sign of Darien.
        "Please be all right. Please!" she said aloud, desperately, as she
looked around with no signs of him. "You had to have made it out of there
Darien. YOU HAD TO!" she cried, staring up at the sky. A huge black shadow
passed over head, a trail of smoke following it. it was racing towards
earth. Serena knew what it was. The airship. 
        She ran to the area where the ship was headed for, halting as she
heard the loud crashing of the ship contacting the earth. She ran out to
it, trying to see if maybe, Darien was somewhere on board still, maybe if
he was somewhere nearby. 
        The ship burst into flames. Serena jumped back, her eyes tearful,
praying Darien wasn't' on board. She watched the ship burn, the shadows
seeming to move. until one actually did.
        It oozed out from between the spires of fire, it's suit gone, it's
pretense of being human utterly forgotten. 
        "Karros!" Serena hissed. It still held the crystal in its black
tentacle. Where was Darien!? If Karros had the crystal still, was still
alive, then wheat did that mean for Darien. Serena didn't' really want to
know the answer. She could feel her heart almost stop as the dreadful
thoughts wouldn't' leave her head. 
        "Where is Darien?" she asked quietly, her voice barely above a
whisper. She could feel her heart constrict tightly, fear gripping it
irrationally. 'Please, please please . . .'
        Karros smiled blackly, laughing evilly. Serena screamed.

to be continued.
Remember, all comments, good, bad or whatever. are all welcome. So please,
remember to give feedback, what you thought of this last part, if you think
I ramble too much, what i need to improve on, whatever you want!! Just
WRITE!! Oh yeah, and I am sure that after this, there will only be one more
part and if it's not up next week, I'll post another story about Serena and
Darien before they knew each other's identities to attone! (I think it just
mgiht be decent, but that's only my pitiful opinion) So, remember, FEEDBACK
FEEDBACK FEEDBACK!!! Later, enjoy the day, and your life, or the night or
whatever it is you want to enjoy!!! BYE!!!!

 hurt her! he would not let it get away with harming one hair on Serena's
head. Another rose flew through the air towards the creature, his aim
perfectly on target, almost assuredly hitting its intended.
        Until the ship sh€
À!
^ÿÿ