Key to the Stars
	by,
Sora Tsukino
Tsuki_Princess@yahoo.com
    ~*~

Author's Notes:
Sailormoon, et. all belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, et. all.  This story, and
everything I make up to go with it, is mine.  No parts of it may be used
without my express permission - the sole exception being posting this
'Fic in Sailormoon FanFiction Archives (Such as 'A Sailormoon Romace').
[Thanks Andrea, Luna and Artemis!!  Happy Holidays!]


ALSO - This is gonna be a mushy-gushy romance 'Fic with little-to-no
action/violence/fighting.

DISCLAIMERS:
This FanFic may or may not contain, at the author's discretion, the
following:  epithets (swearwords), violence, tasteless and/or private
jokes, spelling errors, mushy-gushy stuff, plot changes, version mixes
(Japanese Anime/DiC Dub/Manga/Mixx), and/or something YOU may consider
ojectionable.  As I have no way of knowing what you may find to be
unacceptable, I disclaim all responsibility of what may occur to you as
a result (direct or indirect) of reading this piece of writing.  If you
d not wish to assume responsibility for your own actions, please delete
this file and/or push BACK on your browser without reading further.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Time Line Info:
Doom-Tree Period of SMR - "My Dub"
(i.e. my prefered version of the English names/henshin/attacks/etc.)

For those who don't know them:

Terran Names:
Sailormoon..........Serena Moon [Called 'Bunny' by Darien, like Usako]
Tuxedo Mask.........Darien Shields ['Endy' instead of Mamo-chan]

Past Life/Royalty Names:
Moon................Serenity
Earth...............Endymion

Attacks and Henshin Phrases are those used in the manga. (i.e. 'Moon
Twilight Flash', not 'Moon Tiara Stardust' or 'Moon Tiara Magic')

Be warned.... this *IS* self-edited!!!
************************************************************************
Serena sat in her room, contemplating the glistening gold star-shaped
locket that sat open on her desk.  Its eternal melody was silenced; the
lovers it played for were not in love.  Oh, sure, Serena loved Darien,
but Darien didn't remember Serena, not loving her.  He remembered the
ditz, not the warrior; the clutz, not the princess; the crybaby, not the
mature woman who gave her life protecting the world.

Sighing angrily, she snapped the locket shut as someone knocked on her
door.  "What is it?"

Her mother walked in, smiling cheerfully.  'Cheer' seemed to blaspheme
Serena's mood at the moment.  "What a way to greet your mother!  Get up,
you lazy girl!  We're going on an outing!"

"I don't want to go," Serena sighed heavily, putting the locket in her
pocket.  She never wore it around her neck - when it didn't play, it was
too sad; when it did, it was too pretty.  She had found it in the
subspace pocket with her henshin brooch, thankfully.  After being
re-awakened, she had frantically wondered if her death had caused her to
lose the locket - only to find it in the pocket the next time she went
to pull out her Moon Wand, which *was* gone... somewhere.  Serena
supposed that it was still in the Arctic, being buried by drifts of snow
and ice.

Glaring, Serena's mother pursed her lips.  "Fine then, you ungrateful
girl, you can stay here.  Your father, Sammy, and I are going to go eat
at that new restaurant, 'Dark Twilight Kitchen'.  Go to your friend's if
you get hungry and can't make anything.  Or starve!"

She slammed the door behind her and Serena turned towards her window,
staring at the sunlight as it filtered through the dusty glass.  Food
sounded good, she supposed, but she'd prefer to be with Darien.  A
thought struck her, and she grinned.  Her mother *had* suggested going
to a friend's... Darien was surely her friend, as well as quite a bit
more.  And he had never minded when she stopped by before; why would he
now?

Her mind made up and her mood much better, she waited for the sounds of
the garage door closing to die completely and waited five more minutes
besides before getting ready to leave.  She shoved her keys in her purse
and began to search through her closet for a decent outfit.

Discarding all her schoolgirl uniforms, she finally decided on a light
blue halter-top and a jean miniskirt.  Putting some light blush on
her cheeks, she carefully applied some wine-colored lipstick to her lips
and pronounced herself fit to be seen in public.  She grabbed her purse
and practitally flew out the door, barely leaving herself time to lock
it behind her.

She skipped along, humming a cheery tune.  Her heart and feet light, she
was quickly at his apartment building.  She popped into the elevator,
pushing the apropriate button for his floor.  Waiting impatiently for
the box to rise, she looked at her watch.  {Five-thirty-two P.M.,} she
thought.  {Perfect!  He'll be home and in the midst of cooking! Yes!}

Finally, the chime sounded and the doors opened.  She ran down the hall,
eyes shining with joy.  She screeched to a halt at his door and rang the
bell.

"Coming!"  He called, his deep voice clearly audible through the door.

A moment later, he opened the off-white barrier into his apartment, a
disgruntled expression on his face that cleared when he caught sight of
her.  "Well, hello, Serena!  I'd've thought you were eating dinner! What
happened?  Did your mom kick you out again?"

Showing her inside with a relieved grin, he continued his chatter.
"Well, it doesn't matter.  Would you like to eat dinner here? With me?"
His eyes practically screamed, "Please!!"

Eyes glowing with happiness, she smiled and took off her shoes.  "I'd
love to, Darien!  What's for dinner?"

"Ahh," He blushed slightly.  "Take-out, actually.  Could you help me
with something?"

"Anything!" She exclaimed, her smile wide enough to crack her face.

A relieved sigh escaped his lips.  "Thank you so much, Serena!  I have
to watch my neighbor's kids, there's three of them, and they're
hellions!  I figure with two adults it won't be as bad... Please say you
won't leave?"

Her face had fallen slightly, then perked up as he refered to her as an
adult.  "No way, Dare!  I'm with ya all the way!"  She winked at him
and they both laughed.  "How old are these brats?"

"Two, five, and seven," was the exasperated response as a loud CRASH
came from the kitchen.

"Jason!  I told you not to climb on the counters!  Sean!  Stop licking
the milk off the floor!  Sara, dear, *please* don't do tha - too late...
I'll clean up the mess later," He growled under his breath.  "Kids! Line
up!  I want you to meet Serena Moon!  Serena," He went on in a calmer
voice, "These are, from oldest to youngest, Sean," He pointed to a boy
with dark brown hair, "Jason," He pointed to the other boy, with
lighter hair, "And little Sara.  Kids, this is Serena," Darien smiled
at her, firmly ignoring the spots on his floor and walls, not to
mention counters.

"Ooooh!" Sean sneered and Jason took up the mocking.  "What is she? Your
*GUURL*friend?"  The word 'girl' was enlongated and filled with scorn.

Serena blushed crimson, gratified to see Darien do the same.  The boys
sneered, "Oooh!  She *IS* your girlfriend!"

"SEAN! JASON!"  Serena snapped, face flaming.  "If you keep that up....
I'll.... I'll... I'll make you eat my cooking!  And I'll *try* to do
bad!"

"Badly..." Darien muttered, but he grinned evilly at the boys.  "I'll
let her, too, so you better watch out!"

Serena glared at him.  "Don't *you* start!"

"What?"  Darien did his best to look innocent, causing both of them to
crack up.

"Tell ya what, kiddos, why don't you watch a movie?"  Serena suggested.

"YEAH!" All three shouted, causing Serena's ears to ring.

"Okay... So, Dare, what videos do ya got?" Serena grinned.

"Uhh.."  His face blanked.  "I think I have a tape of Sleeping Beauty
from the last time you were here, Serena.  And maybe a copy of The
Jungle Book."

"Okay... That works.  Which one first?" Serena turned to the kids.

"Can we see what's on TV instead?" Jason asked, a twisted expression of
disgust on his little face.

"I wanna shee Shleepin' Byooty!" Sara stomped her foot and pouted.

Sean and Jason sighed in a long-suffering manner and nodded.  "Okay..."

"Off to the living room, kids!  Sean, you're in charge of making sure
the video goes properly," Darien shooed them off, sighing in relief when
they finally left.  "Thank you, Serena," he said with a heartfelt sigh
as he turned off the lights in the kitchen, prior to moving into the
other room.

"Oh, no problem, Darien.  Eeep!"  She had slipped in the milk and was
starting the descent to the floor, eyes wide with shock.

Suddenly, she wasn't falling anymore, and it took her a second to
realize that Darien was supporting her.  She wrapped an arm around him
and dragged herself to her feet.  "Thanks, Endy.  Never lost those
lightning-quick reflexes, huh?  Saved my life so many times..."

She stopped, suddenly realizing that she was talking aloud.  She blushed
furiously, the redness in her face complimenting her pale blue top
nicely.

Darien's eyes widened disbelievingly.  "How did you know?  I never told
you...  And what do you mean, 'lost'?  I didn't know I had them!  How
could I've saved your life?  I think I would've remembered something
like that - "

He broke off as her locket started playing, the golden light making her
pocket glow.  "What is that?  I've heard that melody... in my dreams..."

Serena smiled sadly and seated herself at the table, pulling the star-
shaped locket out of her pocket, the top open and the gold crescent Moon
orbiting the tiny ruby Earth inside. "It's so beautiful... Who gave that
to you?" He breathed as he slowly seatest himself across from her. "What
does it mean?"

"The light of my life, the star in my darkness, my one true love.  It is
a symbol of Eternal Love, the force that conquers all and heals all
wounds, even those that time cannot."  Her smile grew sadder, tears
welling in her eyes.  "I gave it to him, so long ago.  He gave it back
to me, not very long ago - not even a year."

Jealousy ran rampant through his expression.  "Why?"  He grated.

"He forgot what it meant.  He forgot who I was."  A solitary silver tear
dripped from her eyes, glowing in the gold light.  She did not look at
him, staring into the glowing heart of the locket.

He laughed harshly, jealousy thick in the mocking sound.  "A man would
have to be hurt pretty badly to forget you, Serena."

Another tear leaked out, following the path of the first.  "'Hurt pretty
badly'," she repeated softly, turning her eyes to his suddenly, their
intensity nearly causing him to back away.  "Does death count, Endymion?
Does death count under your definition of 'badly'?  It ought to, my
heart."

She drew a shaky breath and continued before he had a chance to
interrupt, his eyes wide with shock and a lack of understanding.
Ruthlessly, she pushed on.  "Endymion, my love, *you* were the man I
gifted my locket.  Since then, you - and I, don't get me wrong - have
*died* twice.  The first time, I suicided after you were killed before
my eyes.  The second, a demoness converted you to evil.  I died avenging
you."

Disbelief warred with fear on his face.  "That's not possible!  How come
*you* remember this, and not me?"

Pain raw in her eyes, she looked into his. "I have bared my soul to you,
Endymion, Darien, my love!  What more do you want?!  My heart's blood?
You shall have it, with a word!  I know you, to your soul!  If you do
not know me as well, then I shall tell you, Tuxedo Mask!  For Love and
Justice, I am the sailor-suited pretty girl soldier, Sailormoon!  For
the grace of the Moon, I am its princess, Serenity!  For my heart's
blood and honor, I am myself!"

Cold scorn attempted to place itself on his face, failing to fear and
concern.  "Sailormoon isn't real, Serena! There is no Princess Serenity,
and I am Darien, not Endymion!"

Tears flooded down her face, glistening under the light of the locket,
but she payed them no mind and lifted the locket.  It immediately glowed
brighter, the golden light bathing them both.  "My love, its *our*
locket!  All you have to do is touch it; it's worked before and can work
again!"

Doubtfully, he raised his hand to touch the smooth surface,
unconsciously changing his clothes from civilian to the ceremonial dress
armor of Prince Endymion of Earth.  Serena switched to the form of
Princess Serenity, the Golden Moon Sigil bright on her brow.  The tip of
his finger touched the locket, a sparkling golden glow traveling up his
hand and arm.  His face cleared of confusion as the melody swelled and
memories and emotions flowed from the gold locket to him.

The Prince opened his eyes to see his Princess looking at him with love
and concern writeen plainly on her face.  He reached out and pulled her
close, kissing her with a thousand years of missed opportunities.  "I
love you, my little Bunny."
************************************************************************
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