Note on Planet Names: Ten'ousei=Uranus; Kaiousei=Neptune; Meiousei=Pluto; Dosei=Saturn; Kasei=Mars; Suisei=Mercury; Mokusei=Jupiter; Kinsei=Venus ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Shousha, alone in the communications room, dialed the code that she had not even thought about in years. Serenity appeared on her screen. "Shou-chan?" "Hello, Serenity," Shousha whispered. "I missed you." "I'm glad you called, old friend. How was your daughter's party?" Shousha smiled, glad that her queen would still talk to her. "I don't hate you," she whispered. Serenity nodded. "I know." "Kazeko wouldn't let you save her. I realize that now. She was a soldier up until the very last. She knew that she had no right to ask for your sacrifice." "Why the sudden change of tune? Not to be indelicate, but your resentment of my choice is well known." Strangely, Shousha felt no anger at the queen's words. "She came to me in a dream earlier, or a part of her did. I don't think she actually entered my dreams, but she calmed me and comforted me. I knew that it was her. She took away all of my anger and resentment. Or maybe it was the words that Haruka said to me." "Haruka?" Serenity felt a twinge of foreboding, her mind inexplicably flashing to the memory of Ten'ou Haruka holding Michiru close as the two disappeared from her palace. "Yes. Haruka told me that I had been selfish to bury myself in grief after Kazeko's death and that the current generation of Senshi will have to pay for what I didn't do. The Aqua Mirror, you see, gave Michiru a vision while she was on Kasei, and it involved the awakening of Saturn." "Masaka! Shou-chan, that has not happened in so many generations . . ." "I know, but Haruka swears that it was true. I learned this after Michiru fainted upon seeing the young Princess of Dosei. Haruka said that if I had been properly linked to my Mirror as Sailor Neptune should be, I would have seen this premonition of the end of the world before Hotaru was fully linked to her planet. We cannot eliminate her now, because it's too late to save Saturn from its guardian's death. Haruka told me that it's because of me that the kingdom is in danger. It's true and I don't know why I never realized this before." "It's not your fault," Serenity soothed. "These things happen. My daughter had been visiting a prince of Earth, and that is no more my fault than not being able to see visions is yours." Shousha smiled. "Serenity was going to Earth? Rebellion is strong in the younger Senshi." "Serenity is no Senshi and never will be if I can help it. I can protect this kingdom fine on my own. We don't need a young Sailor Moon." "I wish I could safeguard my daughter so easily. She's gone and gotten herself married and will soon be in my seat and I don't know how to keep danger away from my kingdom." "Married? I hadn't heard anything about this." Shousha shrugged. "It's very recent. A Duke's son from Uranus. He's very nice; you'd like him." "Maybe I'll meet him someday." Shousha nodded, sapphire eyes filled with more warmth than anyone had seen in them since Haruka's birth. "You are always welcome to my world, Serenity. We were friends once, and I have no intention of losing that friendship. Kazeko wouldn't want it that way." "I'm glad." Serenity looked over her shoulder angrily as one of her servants interrupted her. "I said to leave me be." The servant mumbled something, and Serenity's hand flew to her mouth. "Oh no. Shou-chan, I have to go. I will see you soon." The screen died. *~*~*~*~*~*~* Serenity glared at her mother, holding Endymion's arm possessively. Her mother crossed her arms, eyes sparking fiercely in the light. "What is he doing here?" "His name is Endymion," Serenity countered defiantly. "And he was escorting me home." "Where were you that you needed an escort?" "Kaiousei. Michiru-san invited me to her party and I went. Endymion went along to protect me while I was away from home." "I have guards for that. Humans are not allowed to wander the Silver Millennium, as you well know." "I don't care," Serenity hissed. "You can't keep us apart forever. Haruka-kun ran away from home and I can, too." "You'll do no such thing. Prince Endymion, you are forbidden to set foot on the Moon ever again, and you, Serenity, will never again be alone." She waved her hand, and the prince vanished, returned to his planet. "No," Serenity whispered. "Don't you understand? I love him." "Which is why you must stay away from him. I don't want you to be heart-broken when he dies; they don't live as long as we do. I'm only looking out for your best interests." "I hate you," Serenity whispered, dashing off, tears streaming down her cheeks. The queen sighed as she sunk into her chair. The image of Haruka and Michiru returned to her mind, and the silver-haired woman clasped her hands tightly. "I hope Shou-chan is having better luck with her daughter." She wondered for the first time since her daughter was born if Setsuna would have been a better mother. She suddenly wished the green-haired senshi had been given the chance. *~*~*~*~*~*~* Shousha sipped her drink, enjoying the companionship of her former partners. Their number was diminished by two, but the remaining queens were glad to be together. Free of their husbands, they spoke freely. Rikuriko was not shy about wrapping her arm around Asakaze's waist, and the graying blonde leaned her head against Rikuriko's shoulder. Meika and Shousha stared at the empty seats, not noticing that Setsuna, too, was alone. "So few of us left," Shousha whispered. "Some that should be here aren't anymore." Meika nodded. "Yeah. But I think Amami would be proud of her daughters." Shousha clenched her hands into fists. "Why don't you blame them, Meika? Why aren't you angry that those twins caused her death? Doesn't it bother you?" "No, Shou-chan, because her death is more my fault than theirs. Hakuchou and Kaichou can't help being twins, just as you and I cannot help being Senshi. Amami would never have died if she hadn't lost hope. If I hadn't taken hope away from her." "Does she ever come to you? In your dreams?" Meika nodded, smiling. "Yes. But more than that, the last thing she said to me was that she didn't blame me. The last thing she said was 'I love you.' Sometimes, when I'm feeling especially bad, I'll dream about her and the world won't feel so lonely. And her children are wonderful." "All of your children are wonderful. You all had so many." Rikuriko grinned, turning away from Asakaze to join in the conversation. "Kazan is a handful, as fiery as a Prince of Mars should be. Rei is rebellious and strong, like I was when I was younger." "Was?" Rikuriko glared at Asakaze. "Watch your mouth," she whispered lovingly, "before I have to do something drastic. Anyway, Momoiro is so quiet in comparison. She can be powerful when she wants to be, but mostly she lets the other two run things. She enjoys sitting at home and waiting for suitors to come to her, and she's only interested in boys." "Unlike all of our daughters," Meika groaned. "I wish Makoto wasn't so tomboyish. It doesn't help any of our kingdoms that she's fallen in love with Ami." "They'll calm down in time," Kinsei's queen assured her partners. "We all have given up soul love, true love, for duty love and families. Our daughters will, too." "Speaking of daughters, Shousha, why did Michiru never date women? We all go through that stage." "I don't know, Meika. She's never been exposed to any of that and I certainly never told her of my early days with Kazeko. It wouldn't do any good; a man is best for her now." "And this Urakaze boy seems like a fine match," Rikuriko praised. "Too bad he didn't visit my planet early enough to attract Rei." Shousha nodded. "I'm glad he came before Michiru decided that she'd like to visit the rest of the Silver Millennium. With a husband at home, she'll be less likely to stray." "I agree. Besides, she's so much like you that she'd probably fall for Kazeko's daughter. I hear that Koshu's heir is almost a carbon copy of Kazeko." Shousha caught her breath at the reminder. "I promised myself that I'd always hate that child. She killed her mother, though maybe Kazeko blames me for leaving. If it wasn't for Haruka . . ." Shousha looked up at her partners, eyes wide. "Haruka," she whispered. "Blonde hair, eyes too green to belong to a commoner . . . he spoke to me as to an equal, saying words Kazeko would have said . . . the sword he carries . . . and the marriage! Ten'ou no Utsukushii Uta Temple is near the palace, is where Kazeko prayed, is where we sometimes met. That's where I knew Yoruno's name from! The wedding was not registered in any of the Kingdoms, and a priest of the Order of the Winds of Ten'ousei would never conduct an illegal wedding." "What are you talking about?" "Earth! Serenity said it herself; her daughter had been going to Earth. And I know Haruka was there . . . she was surprised. Why was she surprised? It can't be!" Shousha spun to face Setsuna, who had so far been quiet. "It couldn't have happened without you knowing!" Setsuna shook her head. "Some things Destiny will not let us prevent." "No! It can't be!" Shousha dashed off, leaving Setsuna and three very confused former Senshi behind. She reached Michiru's door, desperate to be proven wrong but knowing that she must be right. As the light fell across the bed, Haruka opened her deep green eyes, and Shousha stared at what the blanket did not cover. "No," she whispered.
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