Author's Notes: ^_^ There's nothing much to say here, really. Trust me, you're going to start hating me around the middle of this part... But keep going until the end! ^_^ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chibiusa no PYUA na kokoro (Chibiusa's Pure Heart) Part 3 By Andrea Doolan "Sailormoon no ichiban daifan" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~*~*~*~*~ The large, ornately decorated doors to the main Sailor Senshi conference room shut with a bang. This particular room of the palace was situated on one of the top levels of the grand structure. It boasted a marble conference table, which seated 20 comfortably, and all the architectural and design earmarks that made the Crystal Palace so famous. It was an eclectic atmosphere combining ancient Greek and traditional Japanese designs. Sailormars, the person who shut the doors, was the last of the Senior Sailor Senshi to be gathered in the room. With their hectic schedules, it was unusual to see all of them together, but this was a special occasion. As Mars took her seat, Neo Queen Serenity spoke. "Minna, thank you for coming here on such short notice. I apologise for the formal atmosphere, because what will be said here today isn't meant for a formal occasion. We're all friends here; friends sharing some great news. I'll now pass things over to my daughter and Sailorsaturn." As the Queen sat back down, she passed Small Lady, and gave her a small squeeze on her shoulder. It was enough for a smile to creep across the younger woman's face. It was getting easier, she thought. This would be the third time telling people, and it definitely felt easier. Of course, maybe it was just because they were telling the parents before, and now it was just friends. Small Lady and Saturn stood up at the head of the table. All eyes were focused on them. Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter looked at them inquisitively. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto looked at them with love and support. They were really only there for comfort and encouragement. The Queen and King looked at them with smiles on their faces. Serenity nodded her head for them to start. "Arigatou, minna. Some of you know what we're about to say, and some of you don't. Before we start, we just want to say what good friends you've all been to us. We cherish you all dearly." Small Lady stopped and smiled at them. Saturn took Small Lady's hand, and continued. "Something special has happened in our lives, and we think it's only fair to share it with all of you. Small Lady and I have fallen in love. We care for each other deeply. We...we want to spend the rest of our lives together. We want to be together forever." Small Lady jumped in. "We know this may come as a shock to some of you. I know it certainly did for us." She laughed a little at this. "But we both hope you'll give us your blessing. It really means a lot to us. We've already discussed this with our parents, and they've been very supportive. But no pressure, of course." She gave them a little wink. There was silence for several moments, but then Sailorjupiter was the first to speak. "So, you left us until last, did you? Seems kind of unfair to me." She stuck her tongue out a little to show she was kidding. "Small Lady, Saturn, personally I think this is great. I wish you all the best in the future." She had a very sincere smile on her face. "I knew it!" cried Venus. "My predictions of love are never wrong!" The rest of the group facefaulted. "Hehe, the goddess of love and beauty, the reincarnation of Aphrodite herself gives you her full blessing! You two make a cute couple." She flashed them a "V" sign. "I always said we didn't need boys to have fun." "Mars, are you feeling playful?" "We'll have to save it until later, Venus." "Ohhh..." "Anyway, the point I was trying to make was you two go really well together. I can feel it from your spirits, it's coming through very strongly. I think you two were made for each other." Small Lady and Saturn blushed a little at this. Sailormercury was sitting quietly at the end of the table. She was just waiting patiently for her turn to speak. "I still find it hard to believe in a red string of destiny, but after seeing so many real life examples, I think I'll have to rewrite the laws of physics. You two are a shinning example of proof that it does exist. Omedetou ne." She gave a caring smile to them. "Minna..." said Small Lady, tears forming in her eyes. "Arigatou," said Saturn while she gave her lover a quick hug. Everyone got up from their seats and proceeded to give Small Lady and Saturn hugs and words of congratulation. Indeed, it was a joyous occasion. Saturn and Small Lady were so glad everyone had been very accepting of their relationship; it really meant a lot to them. They weren't really worried, though. They had both known everyone for so long, and they were such close friends. But now, deep in their hearts, there still laid a seed of worry. It was because of the upcoming announcement to the kingdom which would follow in a few days. In some respects, it was terrifying to them, but in others they wanted to share the good news with all the people of the kingdom. They knew they might not get the same reception that the Senshi had given them. They accepted that fact, but any way they could, they were going to get through it. Together. ~*~*~*~*~ "Mina-san, please be aware that an official announcement from Crystal Palace will take place at 13:00 today, Japan Standard Time. Please try to avoid crowding the streets around the palace, as public safety in always a concern. The official Crystal Tokyo network, Terebi Takeuchi, will be covering events, as will most of the other major networks and satellite feeds to the planets. Arigatou gozaimasu." That was the official press release the palace had given at 9 o'clock that Wednesday morning. It had thrown every single news agency in the solar system into mass confusion. If it was an announcement from the palace, it was big news. Everyone was rushing trying to get an early scoop, but none of their sources seemed to know anything, and the palace was being very tight-lipped. Really, the only thing they could do was wait and see. That didn't stop the rumours, though. "I heard the king and queen were getting a divorce!" "What? Are you crazy? After being together for so long? It's much more serious. I heard Nemesis was making a comeback." "Another war? That would be awful..." "But if it was a war, wouldn't a state of emergency be declared or something?" "Only if the fighting had already broken out. They could just be in negotiations." "No, no, you're all wrong! I hear Diana-sama is getting married!" "To that prince from Mau? I thought she hated him." "Maybe Luna-sama is pregnant again." "Could be... Hey, what if one of the Senshi were pregnant!" "Um, that would be kind of hard, wouldn't it? Considering who their partners are... And those that don't have partners don't seem to be attached to anyone." "Oh, right." It went on like this for the four hours between the press release and the announcement. It seemed anybody and everybody had a theory as to what the palace was about to announce. Though no one could have guessed what was actually happening. 12:56 JST "How are you doing?" "Okay. How about you?" "I'm a nervous wreck." "To tell you the truth, I am, too." Two lovers embraced and shared a long kiss. "Better?" "Hai." They walked hand in hand to the doors which led out to the balcony. It was from there that they would make their announcement, and the world would know the truth. "Small Lady?" The pink haired woman stopped and looked to her side. She saw Diana and the Sailor Quartet standing there. After she had told the Inner Senshi, her and Saturn talked to Luna, Artemis, Diana, and the Quartet privately. After all, Diana was her closest friend next to Saturn, and the Quartet were her personal protectors. They had all taken the news with similar reactions to the Senior Senshi. Sailorpallas said she knew all along, but Sailorjuno reminded her she thought Saturn was falling for the king of Mermaid. Everyone laughed at that, including Pallas herself. "Diana-tachi!" "We're coming out with you." "You don't have to..." "We're your friends! You're going to get all the support you can!" "Princess, we are your protectors. It's our duty and wish to help you," said Sailorceres with a smile. "Arigatou," said Saturn. "It means a lot to us." "Jikan da," said the King. "The crowds are even larger than I expected." The doors to the balcony opened, and the crowd roared. Out stepped Princess Serenity, looking regal as ever, holding hands with the Princess of Saturn, who looked equally gorgeous in her purple gown. They walked to the front of the balcony and waved at the spectators. Directly behind them stood the princess' personal guard and Diana. Off to the side the Senior Sailor Senshi stood, all of whom were wearing their royal gowns. The king and queen stood in the doorway, watching how everything progressed. Saturn held Small Lady's hand a little tighter, and whispered something to her which was incomprehensible to everyone else. A few minutes later, after the announcement had been made, the crowd cheered even louder, if that was possible. ~*~*~*~*~ The next few days were spent sorting through the public's reaction to the announcement. Generally, it had been very positive, with the palace receiving millions of cards, flowers, and gifts all meant to congratulate the happy couple. Small Lady and Saturn had been fairly surprised at the outpouring of support they had received. Headlines like, "A Match Made in Heaven," "A Happy Day for the Kingdom of Serenity," and "Light and Dark United by the Bonds of Love" boosted their confidence even more. Though, while looking at the last one, Saturn wondered why people always forgot she was the Senshi of death *and* rebirth. Oh well, it made for a good headline at any rate. While most reactions had been positive, there had been some negative ones as well. The religious right, even though their hold on society had greatly decreased over the centuries, could still be very vocal. They posted their opinions over the information network linking the entire solar system, and wrote to news organisations. But their reaction was expected; they had been saying the same things for years about other prominent same-sex couples. No one paid much attention to them anymore, including the level-headed religious organisations. The main cause for concern in the palace's eyes were several editorials written for the news agencies' publications. While accepting of the relationship, and pointing out how happy everyone was for them, there was one common thread through them all. How would the line of the moon kingdom continue? Through all of science's advances, it was still impossible for two women to conceive. That left several options: adoption - which wouldn't work, because they obviously needed someone with royal blood; artificial insemination - which lead to the question, who would donate the sperm?; and cloning - which meant their baby would have the same genes as the princess, which really wouldn't be a bad thing, except that in order for humanity as a whole and the royal family specifically to advance, there had to be a mixing of the gene pool. It was certainly a valid point to bring up, one Small Lady and Saturn hadn't thought through completely. Some, more opinionated people, jumped on the chance, and called it the end of the Moon Kingdom. Others were less extreme in their views, but voiced concern about the inability to have a child. Gay couples around the kingdom fought back, and pointed to their own families to prove the princess and Saturn could bear children, even if Saturn's genes weren't included. It wouldn't mean she would love the child any less. It was good that same sex couples composed about 50% of the population. Small Lady and Saturn needed all the support they could get on this issue. The child-bearing issue, and the news of the partnership was hot news over the next month. The press knew its boundaries, but still was able to get pictures of the couple together at every opportunity. Saturn and Small Lady played along very well. They didn't feel as if the press was hounding them, plus they knew what good public relations could mean for them. However, like all hot news, the fervour eventually died down, and the couple was bumped down to monthly updates on the news. Small Lady felt overjoyed with the amount of love and support her subjects had given her. Their opinions and happiness really did mean a great deal to her. She was a bit saddened with some of the objections they had received, but it was expected, and with Saturn at her side they were able to deal with it. Saturn...she had been such a pillar of love for the pink haired woman. Even when things looked a bit rocky, she was right there by her side. Small Lady brought her hands to her heart, and sighed. She was the luckiest person alive. ~*~*~*~*~ The next five years seemed to pass quickly for everyone. They were glorious years. The Moon Kingdom was at it's strongest, and flourished under new treaties made with other kingdoms in other parts of the galaxy. The physical destruction from the Black Moon attack had been gone for decades. The emotional toll for the population who had lost so many lives, was recovering, and moving on. They were certain that nothing similar would ever happen again. For Small Lady's part, she grew into a lovely woman of 915 years, who still had the appearance of a 22-year-old. Since her 910th birthday she had been given ever increasing responsibilities by her mother. Rumour had it Serenity was going to pass the throne down to her daughter soon. When that was going to happen, no one was sure, but the people knew it would be soon. At her side through all this stood Sailorsaturn. It was a very happy time for the couple. Even when they had to be apart because of official responsibilities, they were still together in spirit. The time that they did have together was precious, and they used every second of it to the fullest. They gave each other strength, and received lots of love. They were truly two halves to one whole. ~*~*~*~*~ It was another beautiful day in Crystal Tokyo. The sun cascaded off the crystal buildings, forming tiny rainbows all around town. The sky was as blue as Sailormercury's fuku and the moon's outline could faintly be seen in the skies above. Everyone seemed just a little happier today. Unfortunately, things weren't like this for Small Lady. She was in her worst mood in months, and was feeling very depressed. All morning she moped around the palace trying to keep herself occupied. The truth was, she only had one thing on her mind. Saturn. The Senshi of Death and Rebirth was on another diplomatic mission. This time it was to Kinmokusei to work out trade relations. Saturn would be gone for six months, which was the longest they had ever spent apart after becoming a couple. But it just couldn't be avoided; they both knew that. So, Small Lady continued to mope around the palace looking for anything interesting to do. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Sailorpluto walking towards Serenity's chambers. "Puu!" "Ah, Small Lady," said Pluto has she turned around to see the pink haired woman bound up behind her. "Are you going to talk to mama?" "Hai. We still have some things to discuss about today's royal guest." "Royal guest?" Small Lady looked at her in a questioning way. "Did you forget already? We have a very prestigious guest coming today all the was from Elysion." "Gomen, I guess I forgot." Small Lady smiled. Pluto coughed. "I think you've had other things on your mind." She gave her friend a wink. Small Lady blushed. "Have you noticed, too? My mind hasn't been where it should be lately. It's just...hard. I know I'll see Saturn again, but waiting seems like an eternity." Pluto put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Don't forget that we're all here for you, Small Lady. You know you can come talk to me whenever you want. It will be just like old times." "Arigatou, Puu." The princess hugged the taller woman. Pluto was almost like a second mother to her. "Just don't forget about our guest. We will be meeting him at 15:00 in the throne room." "I won't forget. Mata ne, Puu!" Small Lady smiled and ran off. It was really great to have such good friends. Her spirits were definitely lifted now. Elysion, she thought. Where have I heard that name before? It seems so familiar... I'll have to remember to look it up before I meet our guest. It's always good manners to know something of a guest's country. ~*~*~*~*~ 14:54 I'm late. I'm late. I'm late. It was the only thing Small Lady could think of as she ran down the hallway to the throne room. Oh kami, how did I let this happen? How is it that I have all the time in the world, and then suddenly it's gone! This is no way for the future queen to act. Oh, what will mama say! It is incredibly rude to show up late to greet a guest. Maybe I can still make it... 14:58 Small Lady rounded a corner, but slowed down just before she got to the doors of the throne room. She walked in calmly, almost as if she hadn't been running at all. She got several stern looks from the Quartet and one from her mother as she took her place beside her, but other than that, no one seemed to notice. It looked like she got there just in time. A loud voice rang out. "Now presenting our highly esteemed guest of honour...." Ah! I completely forgot to look up Elysion, thought Small Lady. "...We are most glad he was able to take time from his busy schedule to meet with us..." But it sounds so familiar... Elysion, Elysion, where have I heard that before? "...His absence on Earth has been centuries, but his protection of everyone's dreams has never been overlooked..." Dreams? Elysion? It's right on the tip of my tongue. Oh my god, it's... "...The High Priest of Elysion, Elios-sama." Elios... Clapping could be heard all around the throne room as a man dressed almost entirely in white stepped into the room. He had soft, wavy white hair which flowed over the red jewel on his forehead. He walked forward and kneeled in front of Neo Queen Serenity. "My Queen, it is so good to see you again. And the King also. I trust you have both been well?" "Yes, thank you, Elios." Serenity bowed politely to him. "We are so glad you could make it. It's really been too long." She gave him a warm smile. Elios smiled back, and then looked over to the Queen's right where a woman with pink hair stood. Her eyes seemed to be displaying shock and happiness at the same time. "Chiisana otome yo." He looked at her again. "Iya, you're not chiisana anymore. Just a beautiful otome." The image of the girl he saw now overlapped the image he saw in his dreams so many years ago. "Elios..." Small Lady was a little more than shocked. She never dreamed she'd be meeting him here today. "Otome, I sense your dream has changed, but you still carry the most beautiful dream." The princess blushed. "Arigatou." She bowed to him in greeting. He then turned and proceeded to greet everyone there. The Senshi who were present were excited to meet him again after all the time that had passed. Those times seemed like a lifetime away. And indeed they were. Small Lady continued to watch the events like she was in a dream state. She didn't know what to make of this situation. Here was someone who she had once had feelings for, even if she was in the body of an eleven-year-old at the time. It had been less than 15 years since she had last seen him, but for Elios it must have been centuries. Though she wasn't exactly sure how time passed in Elysion. She thought it amazing that he remembered her after all these years as if they had parted yesterday. At that moment, she wished Saturn was with her more than ever. She felt like holding her hand for support. ~*~*~*~*~ After the festivities that followed the official welcoming were over, the excitement had died down somewhat. Now just some of the Senshi were left to talk to Elios privately about old times. Small Lady had been very proper during the festivities, and filled her role as princess to a T. But now she just felt exhausted, and wanted some quiet time to herself. She had barely talked to Elios at all. Was she trying to avoid him on purpose? She didn't really know. It was such a strange feeling for her to see him like this now. All she knew was a walk through the palace gardens would do her good. She began by passing by some pink rose bushes. She stopped to admire their beauty and scent. She held one gently in her hand and lifted it to her nose. The fragrant aroma filled her senses and alleviated a lot of the stress she was feeling, both from Saturn being away and Elios' arrival. She was away in a world all her own now, so much so that she didn't notice a form approaching her. She was so startled when she heard a sound from behind that she forgot what she was doing and accidentally pricked herself on one of the rose's thorns. "Gomen," said the figure as it stepped into the light. "I didn't mean to startle you." "Oh, Elios. I didn't hear you come up." Small Lady said with a smile. "You're injured," he said while pointing to her hand. "This? It's nothing. Just a little scratch." Then he did something very unexpected. He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed what little blood there was away. The princess was shocked, and pulled her hand away. "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?" asked Elios. Small Lady looked ashamed. "No, I'm the one who should apologise. I've done nothing but avoid you since you got here. I guess I thought if I didn't see you, then I wouldn't have to deal with the past. The truth is, I have something important to tell you." "Well, why don't we sit down over there on that bench? I have a feeling we'll be here for awhile." Small Lady nodded her head in agreement, and followed him to the bench. She began with a sigh. "All those years ago, I'm not sure what it was we shared. Was it just a childhood infatuation, or something more? I remember thinking about you for a very long time after you left. I promised myself that I would see you again someday, though I had no idea it would be like this." Elios just sat patiently listening. She continued, "After a while, my memory of you started to fade, and my feelings, however childish, were pushed to the back of my mind. In time, I developed feelings for another person. In fact, I fell deeply in love with them. So deeply in love that I have a great pain on my heart every time we're apart even for a little while. Elios, I fell in love with Sailorsaturn." She looked at him waiting for his reaction. She felt like this was harder than telling the entire kingdom. Somehow she still hadn't gotten over that part of her life. He waited several moments, and then spoke with a smile. "Did you think I didn't know?" Small Lady practically facefaulted. "Nani?" "Otome, I am the protector of everyone's dreams. Your one dream for the past few years has been to spend the rest of your life with Sailorsaturn. I realise that. I have special memories of the times we spent together many years ago, but I am happy just to see you live out your beautiful dream. I wish you all the luck in the world." The princess was shocked. "You knew all along? Then I was worrying for nothing? I feel a little silly now." She looked at him. "Thank you, Elios. Thank you for understanding." He smiled at her, and the two proceeded to talk long into the night. ~*~*~*~*~ Somewhere, deep in the blackness of space, far away from Earth's solar system, a scream of terror rang out. And then Silence. ~*~*~*~*~ Chinmoku. Small Lady woke up with a start. Sweat was pouring down her face. "Yume...ka?" Chinmoku. She was breathing hard. Gasping for air. Chinmoku. She grasped at a pain in her chest. Her eyes flung open in realisation. "Sa..Sa..turn. SATURN!!!!!!!!!!" Chinmoku. ~*~*~*~*~ This rainy morning in Crystal Tokyo was greeted with a group of solemn, tear streaked faces. They had all woken up very early in the morning hours. "Ja...then it's true?" asked Sailormars. "The report from Kinmokusei doesn't look good," responded Mercury. "Apparently there was a very sudden violent storm. The lightening caused severe damage to a large part of Kakyuu-hime's palace, then an explosion, and then..." She pressed a few more buttons on the pad she was holding. "Saturn was in that part of the palace. Her Silence Wall held up for a long time, and saved hundreds of lives. She could have saved herself as well, but a few people were helplessly trapped, and I guess she just wasn't going to leave them there. The storm got more violent, and it became impossible for her to continue. The casualty report lists five dead, including Sailorsaturn." Mercury couldn't continue reading after that. She was sobbing too hard. After a period of silence, someone spoke. "Uso da. Uso da yo!! Saturn can't be dead! She can't be! I can't believe we're not doing anything. We have to help her! She's not dead! She's not!" Small Lady was red with anger. Her night-gown was wet with tears. "Small Lady," Neo Queen Serenity put her hand on her child's shoulder. "There's nothing more we can do. Her Sailor Crystal is gone. I can no longer feel her at all. I'm so sorry, Small Lady. I'm sorry." She went to hug her grown-up daughter, but was pushed away. "I don't believe you! Use the maboroshi no ginzuishou! Bring her back to life! Mama...mama...you can do it! You can save her! Save her like you've saved all of us before! SAVE HER!!!" This time Uranus spoke with anger. "Don't you understand?! She can't!! Saturn ga... Saturn ga... Saturn is dead! Stop acting like you're still that small child, and grow up! Stop being so selfish! Don't you think we'd be doing something if we could? Don't you think *I'd* go to Kinmokusei right now if it would mean anything? SHE'S GONE!! She's...gone." Uranus' emotions got the better of her, and she surrendered to the tears. Neptune softly stroked her lover's hair as her own tears fell into it. Small Lady was on the floor shaking slightly. Her legs were too weak to hold her weight. Through her river of tears, a small voice could be heard. "Iya da. Iya da yo. Minna ga...kirai da. Daikirai." [translation of last line: "No. No. Everyone...I hate you. I really hate you."] ~*~*~*~*~ There wasn't much happiness in Crystal Tokyo after the news was released. It was known that Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto went to their beach house to live for an undisclosed amount of time. The Inner Senshi were generally unavailable to do anything outside their normal duties, and even then a lot had been delegated to other staff members. Neo Queen Serenity tried to put on a brave face for her people, but it was well known the pain she felt. She could never hide it completely. She was a strong woman, though, and never failed to please her public. The princess was another story. She had taken the news hard. Everyone knew that. She hadn't been seen for months, and it was generally thought that she spent her days locked in her room. Though it's to be expected when one loses half their soul. It was indeed a bleak time. Not only the Senshi suffered, but the public as well. They had lost one of their most admired protectors, and the mourning was well shown throughout the solar system. Purple flowers and ribbons adorned the streets for quite some time, and there was also a shrine around the large statue of Sailorsaturn that was erected for the memorial. It wasn't clear how long it would take to mend these deep wounds. Or if they ever would be. ~*~*~*~*~ <> <> <> "Small Lady. Small Lady! Me wo samashite. Small Lady!" "Uhh? Dare?" Small Lady slowly opened her eyes and looked beside her on her bed. "Ara, Diana. What are you doing here?" "Small Lady, it's been seven weeks. You're going to have to come out of your room at some point." "Why? What's the point of anything anymore? Do I have a reason to live? Should I even go on at all? Do I exist for a purpose? Or should I just...end it?" "Small Lady! Don't talk like that!" The poor grey cat was starting to tear up. "Don't you realise we all love you? Please, don't shut yourself off from us. We want to help you. We..." "Mou ii yo." She rolled over and faced the wall. "You don't have to feel sorry for me. Just leave me alone and I'll be happy." By this time the tears were coming down Diana's face at a constant rate. "Chikushou! Why won't you let us help you? We're all your friends, right? I thought we were close friends. Perhaps I was wrong..." The cat got up and started to leave. "Wait. Diana, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please, don't go. I'm tired. I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of having this pain in my heart. I'm tired of living. I don't think that feeling will ever go away. I don't know if you can help." "Small Lady, I won't pretend to know how you're feeling. I've never lost someone close to me like you have. I can only imagine what it might feel like. Demo, we've been friends since the day you were born. I'd like to think that I know you quite well. I do think I can help. I'm not saying that I'll make the pain go away, but maybe I can help you focus on some of the good things in your life. Please, let me help you." "Diana," Small Lady brought her friend into a hug. "Arigatou. I don't know if I can face going outside yet, but I won't shut you out anymore. You're my very dear friend, and it's been good of you to put up with me for these past weeks. I'm sorry, it wasn't fair of me." "That's okay. I hope you don't mind, but I brought some more friends along." Her bedroom door opened revealing four women in sailor suits. Sailorvesta, Juno, Ceres, and Pallas walked in slowly. "Minna!" "Princess," said Ceres, "I hope you know that we're here for you, too. We really want to help." "Sailorpallas doesn't like to see you cry," said Pallas, in typical third person speech. "Our whole existence revolves around protecting you. Lately I don't think we've been doing a very good job," said Juno with her head down. Sailorvesta was the last to speak. "Turn us away if you want to, but I just wanted to be sure that you knew we were here for you. Seeing you suffer alone isn't fair. It's not just our "job" to help you, it's our beautiful dream." "Minna..." Small Lady felt the tears glide down her face again. "You're all my dear friends. I didn't mean to hurt anyone else. It was the farthest thing from my mind. But it appears I did anyway. Oh, I wish you wouldn't worry about me. You all care for me too much." Then she smiled. A smile? How long had it been since she used those muscles? It felt...nice. With everyone in tears, there was a big group hug. ~*~*~*~*~ A woman brought her hand in front of her eyes to shield them from the midday sun. Her pupils were adjusting slowly, as she hadn't seen natural light in over two months. Sounds started to become apparent to her. Birds chirping. People talking. Transports gilding by. It was almost like experiencing everything for the first time. She sighed. Maybe life wasn't so bad after all. She began to walk away from the palace and into one of the many parks in Crystal Tokyo. She looked around at all the children, friends, and couples eating and playing. Everyone looked so happy. She flashbacked to a time she used to come to this very park with her parents to have lunch. Those were fun times. She continued walking until she came to an open clearing. There weren't very many people in this part of the park, but it seemed like a lot of people must have visited everyday for there were large amounts of flower bouquets everywhere. Then the woman realised where she was. She opened her eyes wide to the warm sunlight and looked up at a tall stone statue. The figure had shoulder length hair and was carrying a long staff with a sharp blade on the end. This was the first time Small Lady had been to the park since the memorial service. It was a little bit of a shock. She went to the base of the statue and read the inscription on the plaque. "From the star of silence, being protected by the planet Saturn, the Senshi of death and rebirth, Sailorsaturn. She was loved and will be remembered by all." She studied the face of the frozen statue. It was serious and determined, but there was also a kind and gentle quality. It was as if the eyes of the statue were looking straight into Small Lady's heart. It wasn't a scary experience; it made Small Lady feel warm inside. Was this Saturn giving her strength? Strength to move on with her life? Or had she simply been cooped up in her room too long and was beginning to imagine things? It didn't matter to Small Lady. This was the first time she had felt this good since Saturn had left for Kinmokusei. "Saturn.... Watashi no taisetsu na hito. You've left me all alone. You promised we'd be together forever and now I have quite a number of years ahead of me. Years I thought I'd be spending by your side. Oh, I wish I could hold you right now. I wish I could feel the softness of your touch, the gentleness of your kiss, the sweetness of your voice. I've longed for that feeling. I miss you so much. So very much. Please, I don't want you to think that I blame you. There were times I did in the blackness of my room, but I've done quite a bit of thinking and growing in the last little while. What you did was incredible. To tell you the truth, I would have done the exact same thing, which would have left you all alone. It was the right choice. It's just..." A drop of wetness splashed on the plaque. "Tears? I thought I was done crying. I didn't think I had any tears left. I'm sorry, I told myself I wasn't going to cry anymore, but I can't help it. It's just there's a giant hole in my heart and I don't know what to do. I love you. I will always love you." More tears splashed on the plaque. There was a gentle breeze, and someone laid a hand on her shoulder. "Otome..." Small Lady turned around quickly in surprise. "Elios?" A look of confusion crossed her face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just wanted to make sure you were all right. I'll leave you now." He bowed and started to walk away. "Matte! It's okay. You weren't disturbing me. What are you still doing here, anyway? I would have thought you had long since left." He shook his head. "It seems my visit coincided at a very inopportune time. I thought I could be of some help counselling the population, and Her Majesty granted me a longer stay." He laughed. "Actually, she said I didn't need to ask and was welcome anytime. Plus I wanted to make sure you were okay. You gave us all quite a scare, and I was worried." "Arigatou, but I'm okay now. I'm sorry to have troubled you." "Try not to shut us out, Otome. We just want to help you. None of us want to rush you or force you to do anything, but we're still concerned." "I know, with the help of Diana-tachi I was able to finally get out of bed. If it weren't for such caring friends, I don't think I'd be standing here right now." She smiled at him. "Then let me ask you something. You can turn me down if you want to, but I think you need to experience some happiness, if only for a day. The last time you were in Elysion it wasn't exactly the best of times. It's so beautiful there now, and I'd like to show you everything. I can get my dear friend Pegasus to give us a tour. Please, let me try to cheer you up." She thought for a while. She thought about her blackened room and how lonely it had been without the brightness of the lamps. She thought about how nice the sun had felt when she went out today. She thought about not letting the hole in her heart consume her. Then she made up her mind. "Okay. What time shall we meet at?" ~*~*~*~*~ The wind blew around Small Lady's casual floral print sun dress as she waited near a fountain just outside the Crystal Palace. She could hear the strong wind rustle through the trees as she watched a flock of birds in formation high above her. The wind had picked up quite a bit this day, but it was still sunny and warm. The thing that had probably changed the most about Small Lady over that last two months would probably be her face. No longer were there dark circles around her eyes, evidence of sleepless nights and constant crying. She had also regained the pinkish colour in her cheeks. For a while she almost looked like someone had sucked all the energy from her body. She was slowly regaining her strength, and just looking at her face proved that. Suddenly there was a bright flash in the sky, and a magnificent winged horse came flying down, a man with white hair on his back. Small Lady could only gasp at the beauty of the scene as leaves and flower petals swirled around the horse and rider. The man held his hand out to help her climb on. Once she was safely on the back of the steed, the horse rose with a great flapping of his wings, and disappeared just as quickly as he came. Small Lady had closed her eyes in fright, but slowly began to open them. She looked in shock as the scenery around her had completely changed, revealing a mystical world full of great forests, lakes, and many animals. She could just make out a palace of sorts coming into view over the horizon. As she got closer, she marveled at its Greek style architecture, which consisted of a good many arches, stairways, and pillars that formed a perfectly cylindrical structure. She also noticed that it was in the middle of a lake, with no apparent ways of getting to it, short of flying or teleporting. Two figures with long flowing white hair done up in odango style smiled and waved at her. She waved back and smiled brightly at them. Her memories were really starting to come back to her now. She remembered this place. It was once the Kingdom of which her Father was the Prince. He still was, really, but he trusted Elios to take care of things while he helped rule the Kingdom of the Moon. "Mind if we go down for a bit?" her companion asked. Small Lady suddenly realised she hadn't talked this whole time. She was just taken in by the beauty of it all. "No, not all." Pegasus circled the palatial structure once before coming in for a landing. As Small Lady got off, she was greeted by the two miko. They bowed to her and Elios, and she politely bowed in return. She looked around her and became aware of many blossoming pink roses. Their scent was very sweet, yet subtle at the same time. "It's so nice to see you again," she said to the miko. "Everything is bright and beautiful, and everyone seems so happy here." "Well," said one of the miko, "this is the place where beautiful dreams come true. It's only natural that the beauty of the place reflects the beauty of the dreams." "And we have you to thank for that," said Elios. "Me? But it was Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion who sealed off the power of Neherenia." She looked at her shoes. "I don't think I did much." "On the contrary! It was your beautiful dream that lead me to you in the first place. Without that, everything would still be as it was after the Dead Moon Circus destroyed everything." Small Lady shuddered as she remembered how dark and full of destruction this place had once been. "It's so good to know that nothing like that will ever happen again. I swear it, as future Queen." Elios smiled at her, and began to show her around the palace. All through the day Small Lady was laughing and smiling, and actually enjoying her time there. She made good friends with the two miko, and promised to come back and see them again. After a long and tiring day, Small Lady returned to the palace happy and content. She had good dreams that night. The first good dreams she had had in two months. ~*~*~*~*~ The next year passed quickly for everyone. Small Lady was dragged slowly but surely out of her protective shell by her friends and family. They were all healing, too, so it was hard, but no one had taken the news of Saturn's death worse than Small Lady. Everyone was such a great help to her, but she had one person in particular to thank for going above and beyond the call of duty. Especially considering he hadn't even known her for very long. Elios was such a great friend to her. He really let her enjoy life again, and made a point of always trying to get her to laugh or smile. He wanted her to feel happy, and like a whole person again. Small Lady had responded well to his encouragement, and after a few months, resumed her regular duties as Princess of the Moon. She owed a great debt to Elios, and really considered him a true friend. The hole in her heart was still there. She knew it would always be there no matter what, but the severe pain and constant loneliness she had felt before were greatly reduced. She enjoyed his company and spent a lot of time with him, including having him go with her to official royal functions. She had also spent her vacation in Elysion this year, and came back from that feeling better than ever. Yes, Small Lady was building her life back up, and although she would never completely be healed, it was Elios who she had to thank for a large part of it. ~*~*~*~*~ A pink haired women stared out a window, and looked at the many evening lights shinning down on Crystal Tokyo harbour. Everything was so calm and peaceful and beautiful. The scene held her gaze until a voice brought her out of her reverie. "Otome... Otome..." "Huh?" Suddenly she snapped back into reality, and realised where she was. They had gone to one of the fancier restaurants in Crystal Tokyo that evening. The room was decorated in a 17th century France design, with gold chandeliers hanging from high ceilings, ornate carvings in the walls, many hanging tapestries, and blazing fireplaces around the room. The restaurant was pretty full tonight, and many couples were dancing to one of Mozart's symphonies being played by the orchestra. "Are you all right? You looked a little dazed there for a few moments." "Hai," she said smiling. "I was just admiring the beauty of this city. I really love it here." "Well, we haven't gone anywhere really nice in a while, so I thought it would be good to come here tonight." "Shitsurei shimasu," said the waiter as he cleared their dinner plates. "Will you be having desert this evening?" A joyous gleam came into Small Lady's eyes as she ordered for both her and Elios. "Would you like to dance for a while? I think this is one of your favourites." "Sure," replied Small Lady as she got up and took his offered hand. The two friends danced gracefully for the rest of the song. Some of the other couples stared in awe as their Princess glided past them. For most of them, this was the first time seeing her in person. Small Lady realised her mother's genius in sending her to the past for her formidable years. At least now she didn't have an inflated ego from all this extra attention. After the song ended, the pair sat back down at their table. Their deserts had arrived while they were dancing, and Small Lady didn't want to waste any time. She began quickly, but daintily, eating her tiramisu. Elios just sat and smiled as he watched her eat. Small Lady smiled happily as she finished off the last bite of her desert and took a sip of wine. She looked across the table, and realised she was being watched. A blush formed across her cheeks. "Nani?" she asked hesitantly. Elios shook his head. "Nandemonai." Several moments of silence passed between the two. "Jitsuwa... There was something I wanted to talk to you about." "Okay, you know I'm always here to listen." "Otome," said Elios looking her sincerely in the eyes, "you have the most beautiful spirit of anyone I've ever met. Truly, you fill me with happiness every time I meet you. Our time together over this past year has been truly wonderful. I hope I've always been there when you needed me to be. You have a right to know that....I've fallen in love with you." Visible signs of shock could be seen in Small Lady's eyes. "I don't want this to ever end, so I would be honoured if you would take my hand in marriage." At that he produced a box from his pocket, and handed it to Small Lady. Small Lady stared at the box for several seconds before opening it. Slowly she lifted the lid up, and revealed a single, brilliantly cut diamond in a setting on top of a gold ring. "Oh, Elios, I..." "Please, you don't have to give me your answer now. I can just imagine the million emotions that must be going through you right now. I just want to let you know that I didn't plan this all along. But it just came to the point several months ago where I couldn't ignore my feelings any longer. I love you and want to make you my wife. I don't want you to feel pressured at all. I want you to make a decision true to your heart, and I'm prepared to wait however long that takes. Please, just think about it." Elios smiled at her one last time, and then left Small Lady alone at the table. A single tear slowly fell down her face and onto the tablecloth. ~*~*~*~*~ Small Lady paced nervously as she waited for them to arrive. She was waiting in one of her private chambers off from her room. She especially liked this one to read in. Most of the decor was pure white, with a few arrangements of flowers from the royal garden. It was a cozy room, but big enough to fit a dozen people conformably. The door opened, and in stepped her closest friends. The Sailor Quartet, followed by Diana in human form, Sailorpluto, and her parents. It was the day after the proposal, and she needed advice. "Small Lady?" asked Diana. "What's wrong? You look as if something terrible has just happened." "Well, I didn't get much sleep last night," she explained. "Something *did* happen yesterday. That's why I've called all of you here. Please, sit down. I've made tea." "Small Lady," said her mother sensing something different about her daughter, "what's the matter? You know we'll all help you with any problem you have." Small Lady began to cry. "Elios...yesterday at dinner...he...he asked me to marry him." Looks of shock were displayed around the room. Sailorceres looked crestfallen. "And how did you respond?" asked Diana carefully. "I haven't yet. He told me to think about it. Minna, doushiyou?" She ran up to Sailorpluto. "What should I tell him? You have to tell me, please?" She buried herself into Pluto's lap. "Small Lady," said Pluto as she stroked her hair, "we can't tell you what the right answer is. Only you know that." "Demo, demo, I don't know what to say," she said between sniffles. "Do you love him?" asked her father. "Love? I never even thought about it before with Elios. I've always enjoyed his company, and I'm very grateful to him for helping me get my life back together. But do I love him? Not in the same way that I love Saturn." "Do you feel like you would betray Saturn if you said yes?" asked Diana. That stopped Small Lady almost cold. That was the key to everything, she realised. That was why she was so upset in the first place. She didn't want to betray Saturn's trust. She didn't want to just throw away the love they shared. "How can I betray Saturn like this?" she asked with her tear-streaked face. "I can't! I just can't!" "Gomen, Small Lady," said Sailorvesta, "but wouldn't Sailorsaturn want you to be happy? I know she loved you so much that she cared about your happiness above all else. A life with Elios, depending on how you truly feel about him, could bring you much happiness. Living the rest of your life alone simply because of guilt could lead you into depression again." "We're not going to push you either way," said the Queen. "We want you to make the decision that's right for you. If you feel strongly that Saturn wouldn't approve of the relationship, then you have every right to say no. But if you come to the conclusion that you do love Elios, and think you would be happy sharing your life with him, then we would equally support you if you said yes. I've been told that you never feel the same type of love twice, so it's probably natural that you feel differently about Elios than you did about Saturn." Small Lady stood up and nodded. "Arigatou, minna. You've all given me a lot to think about. Now I know that no one can make this decision for me. I have to do that for myself. It may take some soul searching, but I'm sure I can make the right decision." ~*~*~*~*~ "Yoshi!" said Small Lady as she finished packing a picnic lunch for herself. She loved how cute the bentou boxes looked tied up in handkerchiefs. As she left the palace, she said, "itte kimasu" to no one in particular, and made her way to a near-by park. It was a bit overcastted in Crystal Tokyo this day, but there were still plenty of people out and about having fun. Small Lady followed the now familiar path to a certain part of the park. When she got there, she was relieved to find that no one else was around. She went over to the base of the statue, and polished up the plaque. She breathed in a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy. "So, you probably already know why I'm here." She appeared to be talking to herself, but she was really talking to the statue. Or rather, the spirit she believed resided in the statue. "I've come here to think out some confusing emotions. I love you. I always will love you. Nothing will *ever* change that. You're my taisetsu na hito. I don't want to betray you. That's my biggest fear. If I thought you would be against this, I would say no to Elios right this second. But I'm not sure you would be. I do remember that conversation we had several years ago. I think it ended in me getting very upset, and saying that neither of us would ever die, and that we'd be together forever. Shows how wrong I was, eh? I remember you telling me to be happy no matter what. And I've done a lot of thinking, and I think I can be happy with Elios. He was such a great friend to me after you died, and we became very close. Though I must admit that romantic thoughts about him never even popped into my mind until he proposed. I guess it was at that point where I realised that I really did care for him. Kami, that thought scared me out of my skin. After all, how could I care about anyone but you? In my long hours of thinking, I've come to the conclusion that I do love him, but in a very different way than I love you. He will never overshadow you in my heart. So, I guess I've made my decision. It was a very difficult one, but I think I've looked at all the issues and done what my heart has told me. Above all else, I hope I've done what you would have wanted me to do. Aishiteru eien ni." At those last words, Small Lady picked up her finished bentou boxes, and headed back to the palace. ~*~*~*~*~ Elios stared out his window at the rain pelting down this dreary night. He ran a hand through his while hair and sighed. It had been a week since he had proposed to Small Lady. What her answer would be, he really wasn't quite sure. He knew they had grown close over the past year, but he could never quite tell what she was thinking. He hoped he hadn't ruined their friendship by proposing. But as the days dragged on, it seemed to him like he did just that, because he hadn't seen Small Lady at all since that night. He knew he must be patient, but this waiting was killing him. A soft knock at the door sounded. "Hai!" he said, getting up in the process. He walked over to the door, and said a silent prayer that it would be who he hoped. He opened the door. It was. "Yes." ~*~*~*~*~ The wedding was one of the most extravagant events the Kingdom had seen in a few hundred years. People from all over the kingdom came to the event as well as some citizens of allied kingdoms. Billions of people lined up along the streets of Crystal Tokyo hoping to catch a glimpse of the happy couple, while billions more watched at home. The day was declared a kingdom wide holiday. After all, getting to work was quite impossible, and no one was going to do any business that day anyway. Flowers were absolutely everywhere. Pictures of the couple adorned billboards, video screens, newspapers, and countless other places. It got so bad that one couldn't turn around without seeing at least one picture of the couple. Of course, it was like this at every royal wedding. The ceremony was grand, and was performed by Neo Queen Serenity herself. It was held inside, but in one of the palace's large gardens. Aspects of a traditional Shintou wedding were still there, but wedding ceremonies had evolved from religion over the century, and were quite secular in nature. The bride wore a stunning white dress trimmed in lace and lilacs. It was off the shoulder and had a long veil and train. Her hair was out of its usual odango, and was allowed to hang long. It was done in flowing waves with lilacs interlaced in certain places to match her dress. The groom had on a dark blue tuxedo with tails. His vest and bow tie were both black. In his lapel there was a single pink rose. The maid of honour and the bride's maids had on matching light blue dresses. They were strapless flowing gowns that were also accentuated with lilacs. Diana, in her human form, looked stunning as the maid of honour, and the Quartet looked equally good as her bride's maids. The other Senshi wore their formal gowns to the occasion, and stood just off to the side. Behind them in rows of chairs sat one hundred invited guests. So, in a way, this was a very private ceremony, while at the same time being a very public one. Small Lady and Elios wrote their own vows, which also gave the ceremony a very personal touch. It was rumoured that the honeymoon was going to be on the continent of Europe, but some people said it might be Australia, India, or even the moon. The palace wanted to keep the location a secret to let the couple have a little time to themselves. The wedding presents the couple had received had been plentiful. >From cards and drawings sent in by the kingdom's populace to very personalised gifts given to them by the Senshi. The biggest surprise, though, had to be the gift the Queen and King gave their daughter and new husband. Before the ceremony was completed, the Queen proclaimed that she had one more announcement to make the wedding complete. She passed down the title of Queen of the Moon Kingdom to her daughter, and officially crowned her Queen Usagi Small Lady Serenity, Neo Queen Serenity II. Neo Queen Serenity, looking regal as ever, said to her daughter, "You have demonstrated unconditionally that you are ready to receive such a burden. You are full of love, life, compassion, understanding, and trust. You will make a wonderful queen. I'm so proud of you, my daughter." "Arigatou, mama," said the younger woman as tears of joy shed from her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her mother. Her youth was now officially over. Not only was she married, but she was the leader of her people, ruler of her kingdom, and the most powerful person in the galaxy. ~*~*~*~*~ (Small Lady will now be referred to as Serenity.) The next year was a very interesting one. Not only did Serenity have to adapt to married life, but she also had to adapt to ruling a kingdom. She had watched her mother do it for centuries, of course, and she had been skilfully schooled on the subject, but she had also hit her share of rough spots. She often sought reassurance from the Quartet, Pluto, or her husband. She didn't want to bother her mother and father, now in retirement, with such things. Although, to her amazement, everything seemed to be going just fine. Trade was up with neighbouring kingdoms, and she had even negotiated an agreement of allegiance with the Torag people, a kingdom notorious for rejecting any sort of ties with the Moon Kingdom. Yes, things seemed to be going quite well for her. Except for that day in early September when she got unbelievably ill and had to stay in for most of the day. The royal team of doctors, headed by Sailormercury, examined her and told her the good news. She was pregnant. Joy absolutely filled the kingdom at this news. After all, it had been nearly 918 years since the last successor to the Moon Kingdom was born. Serenity was excited, but very apprehensive at the same time. What did she know about raising children? The thought crossed her mind to send her daughter (she knew it was going to be a daughter; it had to be a daughter) back to the past to be raised by her formal self or even farther into the past to have it raised by Tsukino Usagi, but that thought was brief, and she knew it would be impossible. Well, she thought, all new mothers must think the same thing. I'm just lucky to have such a supportive group of people around me to help out. Nine months later on June 30, 2919 a scream rang out in the halls of Crystal Palace. Another miracle had occurred. A chubby miracle weighing 3.2 kg, with pinkish skin, and silver hair. Princess Usagi Hotaru Serenity was born. No one minded that Hotaru, and ancient and almost forgotten name, was used as one of the Princess' middle names. It was seen as a dedication to one of the kingdom's most powerful and valiant warriors. Serenity was content. Now the memory wouldn't die away. ~*~*~*~*~ "Mezame yo! Your time is now. Hametsu to tanjou no Senshi!" ~*~*~*~*~ A figure slowly started to open her eyes. She realised she was lying down in a patch of grass and that it was night-time around her. The stars twinkled around her and the moon shone ever so brightly in the sky. She blinked a few times, stood up, and started walking in the general direction she thought would lead her where she wanted to go. ~*~*~*~*~ It had only been a week since Serenity gave birth to Princess Usagi. She was *not* used to these midnight feedings yet. The amount of sleep she had lost had been astounding. Elios was great, but he couldn't get up all the time. "There there, Usagi-chan," she said soothingly. She began to sing softly. "GOMEN ne sunao ja nakute, yume no naka nara ieru, shikou kairu wa SHOOTO sunzen, ima sugu aitai yo..." The baby stopped her soft crying and went back to her restful slumber. "Yokkata na. Yoshi yoshi." She laid her daughter back into her crib. She turned around to go back to the near-by bed when she sensed something wasn't right. The overwhelming feeling brought her down the corridor adjoining her room, through the palace's many hallways, and out of the palace completely and into the cool night air. She sensed someone was close. Someone familiar. "Dare yo!" she almost demanded. A figure stepped out from behind some bushes with a very weary look on her face. She was faintly glowing purple. "Small Lady..." Serenity brought a hand to her mouth and went white as a ghost. "Uso. Saturn..." ~*~*~*~*~ How's that for an evil cliff-hanger, eh? ^_- Part 4 ni tsuzuku! Wow, so, um, this was a long time coming. Sorry about that. I started writing it in August (of '98) and continued to write bits and pieces throughout the year. Today, though, I gathered up my resolve and attacked the rest of it. I wrote about 1/3 today in about seven hours. Some of you are going to wonder, so I might as well say it right now. Yes, in Mars & Venus and Jupiter & Mercury are lovers. Takeuchi- sensei actually gives a lot more evidence for these pairings than she does for Chibiusa and Hotaru, and I like them, so I included them. ^_^ Some more of you might be thinking, "why did she go to all that trouble to put Hotaru and Chibiusa together and then have Chibiusa marry Elios anyway?!?" Well, you'd have a point, but this was the way I had pictured the story, so this is the way I wrote it. And I may not like this fact anymore than you do, but a story has to have conflict, right? ^_^;; Oh, just a note about Neo Queen Serenity handing down the throne to Princess Serenity. She didn't do this just because the princess was getting married. I, as a feminist, find that prospect abhorrent. She did it at the wedding because it was convenient, and also because she thought it would make a good wedding gift. She would have handed down the throne regardless of whether the princess got married. Well, I hope you liked this chapter of the fanfic. You may have started to hate me as soon as I killed off Saturn (gya, that sounds really bad...), but I hope the story remained interesting. All I have to say is that you'll probably like the next and final chapter a whole lot better. Yakusoku yo! Special thanks to the Amazoness Duo (er, Quartet?) for keeping me motivated while writing this. I know you disagree with certain plot points, but I hope you liked the story anyway. ^^;; For good Hotaru and Chibiusa fanfiction, check them out at A Sailor Moon Romance (sure, they're lemons, but they're happy lemons ^^). ^_^ Contact information: andrea.doolan@utoronto.ca Music I was listening to while writing this: a whole bunch of stuff. For the last seven hours, though, I've been listening to Shoujo Kakumei Utena OST 2. Completed: June 25, 1999.