standard disclaimers apply: I don't own sailor moon or any of the characters related to it, so please don't sue me!

now on with the story . . . enjoy! . . .

. . . he pushed it slowly open. Even though the anticipation of finding her was killing him, he knew that he had to be careful. He didn't know who or what was on the other side with her and didn't want to risk them being warned of his arrival. Tux always counted on the element of surprise. He did not want to lose this advantage, especially when it came to her.

Tux peered through the door and saw a large white and purple room. On one side there was a fire place and the fire was still burning. There were several crystals on the silver mantlepiece above. There was also a royal blue vase with red roses. The vase was placed in the middle of the mantlepiece. On the wall, directly above the it, there was a painting. Tux immediately recognized it as one of Peggy's works. It was not of his Serenity, but of Neo-Queen Serenity. She was in a garden surrounded by pretty, pretty red roses (AN: patch wrote the pretty, pretty part of this sentance, thanks a lot :), and she was standing under the moonlight. The dark blue skies contrasted with her creamy, white skin and royal garb. Her pale blue eyes were filled with love. It was as if he was there and she was looking at him as she always did . . . with those eyes filled with love only for him. Tux looked at it and was filled with even more rage and jealousy.

'How dare HE think that she would look at HIM like that! Those love-filled eyes were only meant for me . . . she would only look at me like that! NO ONE ELSE! Especially not HIM!'
Tux clutched the door knob tighter and tighter as these thoughts filled his head.
After a few moments of "collecting" himself, he went in and closed the door gently behind him. He began to scan the other side of the room. His eyes fell upon a four poster bed with the same white and purple pattern as the rest of the room. Tux walked closer and closer to the bed. As he did, he realized that someone was in it.
It was her . . . his Usako.
She was wearing a dark blue night gown and her golden hair was not in its usual "meatballs," rather it was hanging loosely, cascading over her body and the sheets like another blanket. Her face was a little pale and her features revealed that she was deep in thought or in some sort of trance that she was trying to get out of.
'That must be the pain I felt earlier. Whatever Diamond did to her, he will pay . . . he will pay dearly,' he thought in anger as he clenched and unclenched his fists and then proceeded to walk to her, feeling the need to touch her, kiss her, hold her.
He sat next to her on the bed. His fingers touching her soft, angelic face and brushing a few strands of her silky hair from her face. He then leaned into her, placing butterfly kisses all over her face, her neck, down her shouldars to her hand and lastly, each one of her delicate fingers.
He heard her moan softly as a smile tugged at his lips. Then he heard her mumble something so softly, it was hardly above a whisper, "Mamo-chan . . . I knew you'd come for me . . . I was so scared . . . the pain, Mamo-chan . . . it too much to bear . . . please .. . . please stop the pain . . . "
He was upset that she was in so much pain, and thought it was pain from resisting the dark crystal, but little did he know that there was more to it than that.
Realizing that he had to find the others, especially Mercury, he picked her up. She fell softly against his chest. He felt a feeling of deja vu wash over him. He welcomed this feeling. He hadn't held her like this in a very, very long time. He kissed her on the forehead and then covered her with his cape so she wouldn't get cold and also to protect her beautiful body from the eyes of others, especially Diamond.
He carried her Princess-style to the large door and shifted her weight to one arm as the other opened the door.
In the hallway, Tux took her down the path he came from, hoping it was still desolate and lead him back to the others.
The lone figure that was helping them smiled. He knew that this was the right thing to do, even if it meant betraying his own brother. He followed them in the shadows, making sure they got out safely.
In another part of the Fortress . . .
Everyone was following Mercury as the beeping becomes louder and louder. They are running through long, narrow corridors that twisted and turned in every direction. It was as if they were in some sort of maze.
Mercury stopped all of a sudden, causing the others to fall on top of each other. Jedite was the first to fall, Uranus on top of him, and Malachite on top of her (AN: it was a general-senshi sandwich, LOL :).
Uranus: "GET THE HELL OFF OF ME!!!"
Jedite: "YOU?! I'm under BOTH of you! Get off of me!"
Malachite: "Calm down!"
Malachite got up first, followed by Uranus. Jedite remained on the floor.
Uranus: "Get up, you lazy idiot!'
"I've fallen and I can't get up!"
Malachite was about to laugh, but Uranus sent a death- like glare in his direction, so he went over to Mercury and asked, "Mercury, why did you stop?"
"Yeah. You could've warned us," said a struggling Jedite.
"Sorry, its just that Tuxedo Mask is very close. The computer indicated that he's heading towards us at a fast rate."
Before anyone had a chance to answer her, they saw a shadow of a man with a top hat holding something in his arms.
Malachite: "Tuxedo Mask?"
Tux stopped dead in his tracks and looked around. Right in front of him, he saw Malachite, Jedite, Mercury, and Uranus. He sighed in relief and began walking towards them. As he stepped into the light. They saw the bundle become clear in his arms. It was Serena. They all ran to her.
Uranus: "Is she alright?!"
Jedite: "What happened to her?!"
Malachite: "Everyone relax and let Mercury scan her."
Tux put Serena down but refused to let her go as Mercury turned on her visor and punched buttons on her data computer.
Everyone fell silent. The only sound heard was that of Mercury's computer analyzing Serena.
Mercury: "She's been filled with a lot of dark energy. She's in a lot of discomfort and pain. We need to get her out of here now!"
That was all Tux needed to hear. He picked her up and asked,"Mercury, do you know a way out of here?"
"I suppose we could go back the way we came."
"Dark gate . . . must stop opening . . . " Serena whispered. None of them understood what she meant.
Uranus: "What is she talking about?"
Malachite: "I don't know, but it sounds serious."
"It is," said a mysterious voice.
Mercury: "Pluto?"
"Yes. I knew there was more to this invasion by the dark moon."
Tux: "What do you mean?"
"Neo-Queen Serenity never liked Wiseman. She had a bad feeling about him since day one, as did the rest of us. I don't think that my-, I mean Prince Diamond realizes that Wiseman has his own agenda."
Jedite: "What is this dark gate?"
"It is a very powerful thing that will bring out the Doom Phantom. The Doom Phantom in turn will bring silence to the world. The world will become empty and dark-"
"Like Nemesis."
Tux: "Who said that?"
The lone figure who was lurking in the shadows came out of hiding. He had dark hair and eyes, and wore a uniform similar to the Generals, except his was royal blue.
Mercury: "Saffir?"
"Yes."
Pluto: "The result of the Doom Phantom will be far worse than Nemesis."
Saffir: "We can't let that happen!"
Tux: "I don't know whether or not to trust you, but right now we don't seem to have much of a choice. So, do you know where this gate is opening from?"
"The only place I can think of is the Crystal Chamber. Its also where the dark crystal is located."
Mercury: "Sounds logical."
Uranus: "Lets go and put an end to this!"
Malachite: "Hold it! What about the princess? We can't take her into battle like this!"
In the throne room . . .
Diamond and Wiseman are watching the whole scene unfold before them. They can't hear anything, they can only see. Wiseman takes full advantage of this.
"You see. Your own brother betrays you! He helped the Prince find Serenity and now he's helping them destroy us! . . . destroy everything we've worked so hard to achieve. We must stop them. ALL of them!"
'How can he do this to me?! My own brother! How can he betray me so?! It makes no sense! He's helping the enemy take my dream and my Serenity away! Maybe Wiseman was right all along, Saffir is weak . . . but he's still my brother . . . I can't kill him . . . I love him,' thought Diamond as he called forth a youma. He told it to kill everyone and warned it to only injure Saffir and to do nothing to Serenity.
The youma left as Diamond and Wiseman watched.
Back to the other part of the Fortress . . .
Jedite: "He's right. She's in no condition to go there with us and we don't know what will happen if she goes that close to the dark crystal."
Saffir: "Its a risk, but we need her to use the silver crystal."
Uranus: "Have you looked at her!! How can you expect her to use the crystal when she's like this?!!"
"I know, but she may be all the hope we have left if we want to get rid of this evil."
Tux: "Saffir's right. First we have to figure out how to heal her so that she can fight. I don't want to put her through this any more than you do, but we have no other options."
Pluto: "Majesty, do you have the crystal?"
"Yes, why?"
"Take it out and place it in Serenity's hand. Then, cover it with your own, concentrating your energy into it. This should remove enough dark energy from her to allow her to fight."
Tux did as Pluto said. A silver light eminated from their hands as it began to heal her. The others watched "patiently" for the process to be completed. They were broken out of their thoughts by the menacing voice of a youma,
"PREPARE TO DIE!!!!!"
Uranus: "Who the hell are you?"
The youma came into the light. It was a hideous creature with long arms and legs. It had claws for hands and had a red-orange color for its skin.
"I am droid Andromida (AN: couldn't think of anything better) and I'm here to annihilate you!"
Jedite: "Oh, we're so scared now!"
Everyone gave him a look and then sweatdropped.
"What?!"
(AN: a little comic relief).
Uranus: "Enough with the games! World . . . SHAKING!"
Uranus sent a blast at the youma, who expected it, thus was able to dogde it easily.
"Is that the best you can do!"
Uranus got even madder and the rest of the group took stances around Tux and Serena in order to protect them (AN: they're in the middle of an energy transfer!).
Mercury: "We have to protect them! I don't know what will happen if we interrupt the process."
Malachite: "We have to control our tempers. She's only distracting us so that we will let our guard down and leave them unprotected."
Pluto: "He's right! We have to focus on protecting them."
Uranus: "Alright, so what do you propose we do?"
"I'll scan the youma for any weaknesses," said Mercury as she turned on her visor and began the scan.
The others waited "patiently" for the analysis and for the youma's next move.
Mercury: "Got it!"
Uranus: "WELL?!!"
Mercury: "The youma's ankle! Aim for her right ankle!"
Jedite: "Easier said than done!"
Uranus: "SHUT UP and FIGHT!"
The youma sent another blast their way. It was countered by Malachite and Jedite's combined attacks.
Malachite: "Its very strong!"
Pluto: "We need to distract it, so we can get close enough to its ankle!"
"Leave it to me! Mercury Bubbles . . . BLAST!" and a thick fog covered the area.
Youma: "Where is everyone?!"
"Right here," yelled Jedite as he came out of the shadows of the fog and kicked the youma in the stomach. The youma growled in pain, surprise, and anger as it fell to its knees.
Youma: "You'll pay for that!"
The youma was about to send a blast at Jedite when,
"Dead . . . SCREAM!"
Pluto's attack hit it in the back, paralyzing it for a moment. Uranus took this opportunity and used her sword to strike the youma's ankle. It disintegrated almost instantly.
The fog cleared and everyone gasped in surprise. Pluto was the first to recover,
"Serenity!"
Pluto and Serena hugged and the others ran to her for a group hug (AN: can you feel the love tonight . . . :). Tux stood a little away and smiled while Saffir looked on with awe.
Jedite: "Rena, you alright?"
"Fine, I just feel a little dizzy and tired. Other than that, I'm fine."
Malachite: "Good to hear!"
Uranus: "We were so worried!"
Mercury: "We were really scared about you!"
"I'm alright. Thanks for worrying."
Saffir came a little closer to the group. Serena looked at him and smiled. She managed to get out of the hug and ran to him, giving him a tight hug. Saffir was shocked at first. He didn't expect this, nor did he expect the feelings that stirred within him. After the shock, he responded by hugging her back. After a few more moments, Serena pulled back a little.
"Thank you so much, Saffir."
No one expected Serena to hug him, nor did they expect her to thank him. They didn't understand why she was doing any of this.
Uranus: "Why are you thanking him?"
"He helped Darien find me.
Tux: "How?"
"The side of the fortress that was left unguarded. Saffir made sure you got in from there. Also, the portal Tuxedo Mask fell through. That was Saffir's doing as well."

Saffir looked at her with shock clearly written on his features.
'How did she know it was me?,' he thought.
"Just because I wasn't awake, didn't mean I didn't know what was going on around me."
Tux: "You were the one who opened the portal?" "Yes. Although I love my brother very much, I know that what he's doing is wrong. All we ever wanted was a better life.
I never thought it would end up like this. Wiseman, he corrupted Diamond. This is all Wiseman's fauslt! If it wasn't for Wiseman's influence, Diamond wouldn't be who he is now. Diamond is a good person, YOU have to believe me!"
Serena: "I believe you. But, we have to stop the dark gate from opening first."
Saffir: "Thank you. You're right. The chamber, its this way!"
Saffir began running towards the Crystal Chamber. The others followed him, with the exception of Serena and Tux. Serena was about to run after them, but she felt warm, strong arms wrap around her waist and hold her back. She gasped in surprise before turning her head to face her "captor."
"Mamo-chan . . . "
Instead of responding, Tux left a trail of butterfly kisses on her neck, and asked, "Do you know how long its been?"
"Yes, but we have to stop the dark gate from opening first."
Tux growled in response and Serena started to walk away.
"You're not walking in your condition."
"I'm perfectly capable of-" before she could finish her sentance, Tux lifted her up and ran to where the others has gone, only to be yelled at by them.
All, except Tux and Serena: "MOVE IT LOVEBIRDS! THERE'S TIME FOR THAT LATER!"
Serena and Tux turned red and the others sweatdropped. They all began running again.
Throne Room, again . . .
'The youma failed. Why can't anyone do anything ri- Who is that senshi? Could she be Pluto? . . . '

i hope you like it. anyway, please send me feedback, i love to hear from all of you. by the way, a lot of you have written to me telling me how much you hate diamond and that i should kill him. i just wanted to know why you guys hate him so much? anyway, thanks for reading and don't be mad if i don't get the next and final chapter to you next week. i have finals! sorry. ja ne!