Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A Trusting Heart ❯ No More Secrets ( Chapter 16 )

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The moon princess's is in mortal danger. With her death will come the destruction of an entire city, a whole planet- and two little girls. Emerald has been destroyed, the last Nega-Moon officer dispatched but was their ultimate goal finally accomplished with the act of her Release?
Will Serenity survive? After the battles she's fought, dying once and losing her friends within minutes of each other, it would take a miracle for the world to be set to rights. Or maybe *this* was her last miracle.
Secrets are revealed, true feelings poured out, loyalties proven in every word spoken in the defense of a single young girl. Everything worked for, everything hidden and shielded will be bared to the eyes of those it was meant protect. A final ending with a twisting surprise. The future ends, the past flies forward into the present to melt away in dawn's light, history and destiny meet in roses and memories in the next chapter of
A Trusting Heart, Chapter Sixteen, "No More Secrets."

Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Action / Adventure / Drama / Romance / Sci-fi / Suspense | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 06.12.2006 | Pages: 8 | Words: 10.4K | Visits: 533 | Status: Completed

Chapter 16

No More Secrets

One of the Sailor Moons, the one that had just come from the future with Darien, Rei, and the twins, had shifted into Princess Serenity and disappeared; easily captured by Emerald. Both Tuxedo Masks could feel her fading away in their minds even as they desperately searched for her. Her spirit was fighting but she was losing and they knew it but couldn't do anything!

"Serina!" Sailor Mars called but there was no answer from the princess far

above them.

"Serina! No! Don't give up!" Tux screamed. He couldn't reach her, his roses hadn't stop Emerald- There was nothing he could do! They had failed to protect her, again . . . After defeating the Dark Moon, escaping Diamond's palace, rescuing Garnyt and Rubeus, and surviving her poisoning- he COULDN'T lose her now!

"What- What do we do now? What can we do, Tuxedo Mask?" The last Sailor Moon begged. She hung onto her own Tuxedo Mask even as he stood confused between having her there by his side and feeling her dying somewhere beyond the treetops. This Sailor Moon was defenseless, her scepter had been lost in the attack against Sailor Venus, her tiara had failed to work since Jupiter died.

All she had was the other Sailor Moon's scepter and the Silver Crystal.

The future Tuxedo Mask, the one that belonged to the moon princess now

fighting for her life, suddenly whirled on the two Scouts and Tux of this timeline. He seemed to search them for some clue, some answer to saving his princess- but he found nothing and Darien's gaze was torn back to the stars in the cold black sky. There was nothing they could do, she was too far for any kind of attack- She was on her own . . . 'Be brave, Serina, don't give up on me! I won't lose you!' He called silently, praying with all his heart some divine intervention would rescue his fiancée. They were destined! The gods couldn't take her now!

Deep in his mind he heard her reply, her soft, breezy voice tingling his thoughts. She promised to return to him. Her calm reassurance sent shivers of dread up his spine. Something wasn't right-

At that moment, Sailor Moon took out her own Silver Crystal and held it gently between her white-gloved hands. "Cosmic Moon Power." She whispered without hesitation just as Tuxedo Mask whirled on her, horror shining in his hidden blue eyes. Suddenly, there was flash of light from above, so brilliant it turned night into day for the smallest second. Sailor Moon's discharge of pure white energy raced to join the expanding explosion of cleansing magic power.

"Oh no!" Rei gasped, her eyes stinging as she searched the black sky through the afterimages of red painted on her violet eyes. Serina used the crystal- AGAIN! She was going to kill herself!

Faintly, in the back her mind, in the deepest part of her heart, she heard Serina's last words . . .

'I love you, my friends, my family . . .'

__________________________

"Mommy! NO!" Rini broke away from her fleeing sister as she saw Princess Serenity suddenly go limp in Emerald's grasp. Uncontrollable emotions surged through her mind and tears coursed down her warm face as she tried to fight the reality of what her eyes were seeing. Unnoticed by her, a powerful beam of colorful moonlight exploded from the crescent moon symbol that flashed violently on her forehead. The unruly magic streamed upward in a geyser of moon power to combine with the two dazzling glares of the Silver Crystals.

There was an abrupt backlash and Sailor Earth felt her sister drop to her knees beside her, exhausted from the release of energy. She instantly touched her little sister's shoulder and fed her the strength of the earth through her fingers. Sailor Earth looked up just in time to see the lightning-like burst fade. Emerald was gone and a ghostly white figure was plummeting to the ground.

"Earth Cyclonic Winds!" Sailor Earth shouted, raising her staff to the falling form. A tornado of pale red and gold glittering gales rushed from the little girl's wooden staff to engulf her mother. Princess Serenity slowed her descent, her slight form gently caught up by the soft, whirling winds. Sailor Earth grabbed her sister's hand and dragged her back to where the others were waiting for Serenity to reach the ground.

Black capes and blue and red skirts whipped in the gales Sailor Earth had created. Darien rushed forward to catch his fiancée as she came closer and Earth's winds dispersed.

The others came forward, apprehensive of what they might find. The future Sailor Earth, Mars, and Tuxedo Mask detransformed, the others staying powered up so it wouldn't be as confusing. Rini sneaked up with her sister to peek at their fallen mother in their father's arms.

"Serina . . . Serina, can you hear me? SERINA!" Darien whispered desperately, her last thoughts still vivid in his mind. 'Serina, please, wake up . . .'

"Wake up, Meatball head! You're so lazy and frail, you've passed out, like, THREE times all ready today! Come on, Serina, you gotta get up-" Rei bent by her princess, her responsibility and dearest friend, her hand passed over her wrist to check for pulse. As she touched her, Serina's princess dress slowly disintegrated in twinkling moon dust to reveal Serina Tsukino.

Rei winced at the bruises she saw forming on her best friend's throat. The way Emerald had shaken her up so badly- she hoped she didn't break anything- like her neck. Rei bit her bottom lip anxiously, pulling her hand away to brush back her raven hair. Serina was waking, tears slipped from her closed eyes and her grip on Darien's hand tightened slightly. 'I wonder what she's thinking, why would she cry?' "She's fine, Darien. She will be fine, I promise."

Just then, Rini's black Luna Ball sprang to life, hovering over the past Sailor Moon's shoulder. One of the screens faded and filled with the image of Sailor Pluto.

"Do not worry, Scouts. You have done well, you succeeded and all time is returning to its proper course. I will take care of the damage from here, you are needed elsewhere. Thank you, Serenity." As she spoke, Sailor Moon's body began to dissolve, silver pink particles flowing like wind-swept dust to meld with a similarly disintegrating Serina. Neither one seemed to notice nor care. And the ever-aloof Sailor Pluto just watched as the confusion and panic spread throughout the remaining Scouts.

"Wha- What's going on!?" Sailor Mars cried in shock as the same reddish black dust fell from herself and began to swirl with Rei's glaring body. A protesting Tuxedo Mask and Darien soon followed, with Rini and Irene smiling at Puu as the timelines began to merge again. The disembodied voices of the fallen Scouts drifted along the colorful flux of running water to rejoin the living in the proper present time.

__________________________

"The universe is safe again, thanks to you . . . my friends."

Serina took a deep breath and shifted deeper into the warmth that surrounded her. She sensed her young twin daughters sleeping beside her, one arm wrapped protectively around them. Vaguely she wondered why Puu hadn't sent them back to their parents. Behind her, Darien's strong arms held her loosely but never letting go. That gave her reason to stop thinking altogether and just enjoy . . .

"SERINA USAGI TSUKINO! Explain yourself THIS INSTANT!" The enraged shout cut through the comfortable fog of Serina's half-conscious mind. She blinked, raising her head but careful not to awaken her children.

"Hmm? What?" Her sleepy eyes struggling to focus through the pre-dawn haze of morning mist that hung throughout the park. "Dad? Ack! MOM- DAD! What are YOU doing here?!" Serina's screech and ensuing leap to her feet woke the other bodies around her. Darien's arms fell from her shoulders, the little girls stirring but completely willing and able to sleep through anything.

"Serina, we've been looking everywhere for you! We searched all night-" Serina's mother, Ilene Tsukino, rushed up to her daughter, giving her a tight hug as if she'd been afraid she'd never see her again. Mr. Tsukino angrily interrupted, stalking towards Darien murderously.

"You've got some explaining to do, mister, how DARE you have your arms around my innocent daughter! And kidnapping her in the middle of the night!" He bellowed. Serina raced in between them, Darien falling defenselessly behind his fiancée, suddenly fearing for his life. Mina, Lita, Ami, and Rei all rose behind them but kept a safe distance from the rampaging parent.

"Daddy! Stop it! Please, calm down. I'm sorry we worried you, I- I had no idea and it's not Darien's fault at all-"

"Of course, it's these people you hang out with, Serina! These TEENAGERS

are a bad-"

"Ken . . ." Mrs. Tsukino warned, grabbing a hold of her husband even as her daughter stood defiantly against him. She knew Serina could explain herself, she trusted her daughter with her life.

"I will not have you refer to my friends like that, Dad, and you will respect Darien as my boyfriend. You wouldn't understand- but PLEASE, Daddy, don't blow up!" Serina begged, her blue eyes wide and panicked. She certainly hadn't expected this kind of awakening- Sailor Pluto could have at least warned them or arranged for a little better entrance!

"Serina, don't speak to your father that way. Of course we respect Darien and your friends, your father was just worried-" Ken opened his mouth to negate that thought but Ilene stopped him with a hand. "When you disappeared yesterday with Rini and never came back or called and then all your friends weren't home- Molly's mother said she'd seen you and Sammy said the young man at the arcade had talked with you but then you just disappeared without a trace-"

"I'm sorry, Mom. Really, really sorry." Serina gave her mother another hug after assuring herself with a glance that her fiancé was safe from her father for the moment. She spied Sammy behind her mother snickering at her but this time she just smiled. She was glad to have her family back- with all those close calls lately she was relieved Sammy and her parents were still there for her.

"Now why don't you explain where you've been all night, Serina-"

"That's what I want to hear, young lady." Her dad growled. Serina fell back to Darien's arms, the Scouts coming up behind her, Rini and Irene beginning to awaken. Serina whirled from her parents and huddled with her friends.

"Okay, someone think- QUICK! How do we get outta this one!?" She whispered urgently. The others cringed. They had no clue. Serina hung her head, falling on Plan B. She forced a fake smile as she glanced back at her parents. "Oh, um, I must have forgot- Didn't I tell you we were staying at Lita's place last night? Geez, I'm such a ditz, I thought I mentioned it when I left- uh, yesterday. Yeah. We stayed there and then came out to watch the stars and we musta fell asleep out here! Sheesh, we are so dumb! Right, guys?" Behind her, her friends marveled at her quick thinking, shamelessly blaming herself for the stupid mistake. They nodded nervously, wondering how many other times she'd done the same. Even Rei kept her mouth shut from the snide comment on her lips.

"Sorry, Mrs. Tsukino, we had it all planned out-"

"We should have made sure all the parents knew first."

"Yeah, it's our fault, we must have all been so excited about our big sleep-over and then our walk this morning for the stars and sunrise-"

"Nuh uh, ain't working this time, girls. Sorry, but we're not going to believe another one of your tall tales. Now tell us what's really going on." Serina freaked. 'WHAT!? How can they tell, what are they talking about- How- Wha- Eeeck! Do they KNOW?!'

'Should we tell, Sere? It might make life easier . . .' Darien's loving gaze cascaded over her, the question in his eyes. She pivoted to face him, fear and shock evident in her blanched face and wide blue eyes.

'No! My dad'll have a heart attack- And how would we explain-' Serina twisted her ring finger nervously and glanced between her Scouts, her fiancé, and her daughters.

'They'll find out eventually, your dad will get use to it, he doesn't really hate me, I can tell- We don't have to tell them about our engagement either if you don't want to yet. But don't worry, everything will work out. It's destiny, remember, sweet princess? Why else do you think Sailor Pluto arranged this?' He smiled reassuringly but he couldn't

hide his nervousness from his true love.

'That's a good question . . .' Serina sighed and braced herself. Her imperial gaze swept over her friends and she nodded, hesitating only a millisecond. 'Easy way or hard way, my love?'

The Tsukinos had noticed the seemingly silent communication between their daughter and the young, dark-haired man beside her. Even Sammy saw their expressions changing as they just stared at each other, as if they were really talking. Suddenly, from behind the group came a plaintive cry.

Rini's pointed pink bunned head rose from where she slept on the ground, her eyes wide with confusion and searching the commotion that had wakened her. "Mommy?"

Serina spun instinctively and fell gracefully to her knees beside her daughter. She gathered her up in a reassuring hug and lifted her up. "I'm right here, sweetie." She soothed without thinking. She realized what she was saying even as the words left her lips. Her breath caught, eyes more full of horror and fear than if she'd just signed her own death sentence. She slowly turned back to her parents. Irene tugged at Serina's dress, sensing her mother's worry and lifted her cinnamon eyes to her father.

"Daddy, what's wrong?" Darien reacted the same as Serina to his child's call; he bent down and easily lifted her up, holding her in the crook of one arm. He kissed her temple and whispered something to her and she turned her frowning gaze to her grandparents. Darien's other hand fell around his fiancée's waist as they silently faced her shocked family.

Sammy looked more than a little confused; TWO Rinis, Rini being nice to Serina, Rini calling her 'Mommy'! 'This is just like Serina, getting herself into really stupid messes.'

"Serina?" Ilene's white face spoke more than she presently could. She couldn't have heard her niece right, she hadn't just called her fifteen-year-old daughter her mother, and there most certainly weren't two identical little girls being held by her daughter and her boyfriend. And Serina DEFINITELY did not respond the way she just did to the little girl. Only a mother had that kind of reaction. She knew her daughter had some special secrets but this wasn't anything like what she knew!

Ken just blinked. His worst nightmares were coming true. 'Ah! That's it, this is just a dream; Serina's in her bed at home and I'm having a nightmare. Then why are they still standing there?!'

Serina glanced around. This early in the morning the park was completely deserted, even the birds were still asleep. No one else in the world would ever hear this confession. "Mom, Dad, Sammy. I've got something to tell you. Actually, I got a couple things to tell you that you might not believe . . . I'm sorry I kept this a secret so long, it's just it's been so dangerous and we didn't want our families to get hurt. We couldn't tell

anyone-"

"Tell anyone what? What are you talking about, what's so dangerous, Serina?" Ken asked very worried and beyond angry now. What had his daughter gotten herself into with these people?

"Mom, Dad, please don't overreact-"

"A little late for that, Meatball head!" Sammy piped up sarcastically.

"Sammy, please do not interrupt. Mom, Dad, there's a lot of things you might not understand but if you want, we can explain them as best we can. We can prove all of it. Um, well, you see- I'm kind of- well, Sailor Moon."

"WHAT!?"

"You're kidding!" Sammy gawked.

"You mean that female warrior that always fights those creatures in the middle of the night?" Ilene asked all ready knowing the answer. She'd heard of the girl, at first she'd thought she was some figment of the newspaper's imagination or some kind of actress or alien. But then she noticed her little girl's mysterious disappearances and her extreme fatigue- even small injuries she tried to hide from mother. Like the healing yellow bruises now encircling her neck. Her daughter could very likely be this Sailor Moon- and she wouldn't be the least bit surprised.

Serina set her daughter down and calmly lifted her brooch. "Moon Crystal

Power!" Light glittered, ribbons and feathers wrapped around her as she transformed. When the display faded, Sailor Moon stood before her personal audience. "Do you believe me now? Please don't be frightened- or mad, I'm sorry I . . ."

Seeing Sailor Moon's difficulty, Rei and the other Scouts stepped forward, taking their places beside the royal family. "Sailor Moon is the fighter for love and justice. She's a brave and incredible warrior and we loyally follow her." Rei pledged. As she said so, she lifted her red pen to the air and transformed to emphasize the point. Sailor Mars, the Scout of Fire and Passion, stood before them.

"Yeah, everyday she not only lights the lives of her friends and even strangers, she battles evil to protect the world from darkness." Mina proudly stated as she shifted into Sailor Venus, the Scout of Love and Beauty.

"Sailor Moon is the sweetest person on earth and would give her life at any time to protect her friends and family. We're always grateful and we'll always be behind her no matter what!" Lita winked at Sailor Moon's thankful smile as she, as well, transformed into Sailor Jupiter, Scout of Lightning and Life.

"Serina is the epitome of kindness and sacrifice. As Sailor Moon she is the defender of the people of earth from all evil and our eternal hope of a better future. She is our princess, our friend, and our treasure to protect." Sailor Mercury softly smiled and joined the Sailor Team, the last Scout of Genius and Speed.

Darien set Irene down beside Rini before transforming into Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Moon's constant guardian. "Serina is my one and only love, the only person I want to spend the rest of my life with. She is the reason I wake every morning and I would give my life for her at any moment without a second thought. The world is a better place with her in it whether she is Sailor Moon or not-" Sailor Moon's lips broke into a huge smile and she threw her arms around Tuxedo Mask's. He didn't need to say anymore- she knew it all and felt the same for him.

'You're too much, Endy!'

'Anything for you, love.' He kissed her passionately, ignoring the sighs, calls, and cringes from Irene and Rini and the Scouts. As they kissed, Rini and Irene clasped hands and focused their thoughts on their parents. The younger versions of their mom and dad changed from Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, the mysterious couple of the night, to Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion of their royal past in response to their powerful love. Serenity never noticed the velvet tux shift into silvery armor nor did he her short, blue-bowed skirt into her flowing white moon gown. The sisters just smiled as they completed their own twin transformation as stood at their parents' sides.

"Oh, no you don't-" Ken began but Ilene lifted a hand to stop him and sighed contently. This was too good be real. Her daughter, her friends, her love for this young man, it was all so- perfect. That shouldn't be right, her daughter fought for her life and the world every day and night; it was so dangerous! But she had her friends with her. Before her very eyes, her daughter had gone from being a superheroine to a long forgotten, fairy tale moon princess. And her boyfriend, he was her prince, and the man

who was always saving her from danger. Just as she had always dreamed.

She'd never seen Serina as the princess though she'd always known she was her. She'd never been prouder of her daughter than this moment; she was truly royalty if she would fight for the peace of her people. She'd wondered and worried these fifteen years if she'd raised her little moon princess right and now she knew she had. But Ken was a different story, she'd never told him of their daughter's secret past.

"Way cool! My sister's Sailor Moon!" Sammy's expression soared with the radical revelation- then dropped as something occurred to him. "This is top secret stuff, ain't it?" The Scouts nodded. "That mean I can't tell anyone?" He whined, stomping his foot.

"Um, Serina, were you going to explain Rini and Irene?" Princess Serenity abruptly released her prince, shifting back down to her normal self as she smiled at her daughters who were still rolling their eyes at their parents' mushy stuff. They had instantly involuntarily down-shifted once Serina had.

"Dad, Mom, don't freak out, but Rini and her twin sister, Irene, are from the future, about a thousand years. They're time travelers. They used some way weird technology to hypnotize us into thinking Rini was our cousin. They're really princesses in the beautiful city of Crystal Tokyo ruled by their mother Neo-Queen Serenity and her handsome husband, King Endymion. That's me and Darien. They're our daughters. Can't you tell?" Serina babbled on, smiling blithely, gazing proudly at her perfect twins. "They have my nose, and Darien's eyes and hair for sure- Dad? Are you all right? Daddy?" Ken faintly raised a hand to his head, swaying slightly with shock.

"This isn't happening . . ." She heard him mutter.

"Dad, it's okay- I said it's another thousand years in the future. Don't ask me how we lived that long but, hey, I look good at a thousand and twenty." Her father grunted in almost amused disbelief. Darien leaned forward to kiss her forehead.

'You look good no matter what.'

"Darien, you don't stop, do you?" Serina threw her arms around his neck and leapt into his arms, giggling happily. Her parents and Sammy gave her a weird look, recognizing the silent speech again. Serina shrugged it off with a carefree smile. "We can hear each other's thoughts. It's stronger now, it used to be just he could feel where I was, or if I were in trouble and I could feel if he were hurt. But anyway, look at this, Mom! I'm kind of hoping the wedding won't have to wait so long. I guess maybe after high school though, huh? Isn't it beautiful?" Serina revealed her left hand on which her stunning diamond engagement ring rested on her fourth finger, sparkling enchantingly.

"Oh how wonderful, darling! But don't you think-"

"Don't worry, Mom, we'll wait. I'm just glad to know he's finally mine . . ." Serina blushed as she smiled up at her fiancé. "And now, we have no more secrets. I'm sorry to have kept all this from you, you know everything we do now, if it helps. Please don't be mad! I'm really sorry- it just couldn't be helped." Serina's somber gaze fell from her parents back Darien. She had to take responsibility and she did. That was what she had to do and now everything would be okay!

Ilene was still a little surprised by her daughter's sudden motherhood to children- TWINS- from a thousand years in the future- the telepathy with her boyfriend was overwhelming. But her engagement, this however, she did leap at the chance to be happy for her daughter. This, at least, was something almost normal she could handle; something she didn't think she'd have to deal with so soon but knew it was coming. The engagement of the princess of the moon and the prince of earth was legendary . . .

Beside her, Ilene's husband seemed to go through many emotions, from furious to wistful. He wasn't a completely irrational man, he just overreacted sometimes, especially about his little princess.

"Serina, I- I'm not sure whether I should kill this boy or thank him. I don't know if I should scold you or be proud of you. I want to order you straight home and to never see any of these people again-"

"No, you can't do that!" Came the instantaneous cry but he calmly raised his hand to show he was not finished.

"But I see you have a life, a very good, and important life, that we know nothing about. You are so important to us, your friends, and the world; that much is obvious so I will not keep you from it. It's your destiny-" Serina let go of her boyfriend and tackled her father with a bear hug.

"Oh, thank you, Daddy! You're so cool!" She said as she planted a kiss on his cheek. He weakly tried to fight her off, smiling.

"I am proud of you, princess." He gave his daughter a kiss on the forehead before releasing her back to her fiancé. He faced the young man who firmly returned his measuring gaze. 'This is the man my daughter wants to marry. A prince. She's too young to think about that! But they've been together longer than I can understand, and they'll stay together longer than I can imagine. I can't stop them-' He studied the looks they shared, the way Darien's arm fell protectively over her waist, the way she nestled into him as if she belonged there. She loved him and he her, it was almost painfully obvious. 'I don't want to stop them.' "I trust you will take care of my daughter?" He asked quietly.

Darien's face remained serious though his relieved and shining eyes revealed the emotions he kept to himself. "In every way I can, sir. She will always be happy and safe, I swear it." 'As prince of the earth and before the goddess of the moon, I swear Serina will never be anything but happy.'

'As long as we're together, how could I be anything but?' Serina smiled up at her love as she watched the exchange between the two men. Her father took a deep breath and offered his hand to Darien who accepted it without hesitation.

"Then you have my permission to marry her- when you're old enough!" Ken shook Darien's hand and pulled him away from the group, his arm clapping him over the shoulder as they walked off. "She's only fifteen and you must have just started college, right? There is no way you could be able to provide for her while you're both in college, and she will be going to college. What is it you're studying, by the way, son?"

Darien smiled dazedly; had he just called him son? Darien shook his head, suddenly filled with a warm sense of belonging. He'd never had a family, besides Serina and Rini. He'd never had parents- at least not that he could remember. 'I think I'm going to like this . . .' "Neurology and pediatrics."

"A doctor? Good, that's good . . ." The two men walked off, talking about the future- the immediate future.

__________________________

"You are the reason for this smile on my face."

Serina smiled after the two men in her life. She gathered her daughters' hands and escorted them over to their grandmother. Irene tugged on her mother's arm and whispered. "Is everything okay now, Mommy?"

"Yes, everything's fine now, dearest. Never forget that everything will work out if it's given patience and a kind touch." She smiled gently. On her other hand, Rini pulled her sleeve.

"Then are we ungrounded yet, Mommy?" She asked with feigned innocence. Serina caught her mother's surprised questioning look as she scowled.

"No, you certainly are not-" Rini's face fell. "However, given the circumstances, your punishment won't start until tonight."

"Yeah! Knew you couldn't resist us, Meatball head!" Rini grabbed her sister's hand and the twins sped off to play with Sammy and the Scouts in the park. "Bye, Grandma!" They chorused, giggling hysterically.

"Grandma?" Ilene shook her head slightly and placed an arm around her daughter, smiling a little amazedly. The mother and daughter walked slowly along. "Grounded?"

"It's a long story."

"I'm sure it will be told in it's own time, Princess Serenity." Ilene smiled at her daughter's surprise and alarm.

"Mom, you-" She began worriedly, her grip tightening on her hand.

"Serina, I knew who you were the day you were born, my darling. You were the princess of the moon, a child meant to live in peace, find your friends, and marry your prince as you could not in your last life. You have always been my little princess."

"How . . ?" Ilene's daughter's eyes were teary with joy and revelation as she stared up at her. She didn't know what to think of her mother at that moment- how could she possibly know what Serina herself had only figured out in the past year?

"The day you were born I had a dream, a vision of a fairy-tale moon queen. She told me who you were, who you would someday become. I named you Serina after that legendary Moon Queen, Serenity. When you very little, when you cried, a symbol like a crescent moon lying on it's side would appear on your forehead and it would blaze whenever you were distressed in any way. You had the natural grace and patience of a princess, you used to insist that you were Princess Serenity of the Moon Kingdom, heir to the Silver Millennium. And you had somehow learned to put your hair up in those buns

that all the pictures of the moon royalty had." Here Ilene paused to touch Serina's hair and grin at her awed expression. "You used to play with a stone too. I guess you must have lost it but it was magic crystal that could float and fly. It often protected you from various little falls and accidents." Serina's eyes widened then she turned her gaze away in a guilty wince.

"We spent months looking for the moon princess and the Silver Crystal." She confessed. "And I had them both all the time. I didn't even know it. What happened to me?" Serina whispered. How could her mother know all this time and she not recall herself? She used to know she was the moon princess and she used to PLAY with the Silver Crystal!

"When you three or four, your best friend left you. She was an older woman with long dark green hair. You called her Puu, though I think her real name was Susan. I think she was the one you said taught you about being a princess and how to do your hair. I hardly ever saw her but your father was convinced we'd both imagined her. Then one day she left. And you had changed. But your heart was still the pure, loving heart of my little girl, my precious princess." Ilene caught her daughter in a tight hug, as if to displace any worries she might still have. "I love you, Serina, so much."

The moon princess held her mother tighter, sensing the spirit of her queen-mother somewhere around her. Tears were threatening to spill from her eyes again, and she used the back of her hand to swipe them away as she kissed her mother's cheek. "Thank you, I had no idea you knew. I wouldn't have kept anything from you. I love you too, Mama." She whispered.

"Kind of a long story then, wasn't it?" Ilene asked with a smile as she pushed her daughter away to look at her. She studied her a moment then pulled her close to her side as they began walking again. She was everything she could ever possibly want her to be.

"I guess we both have long stories to tell."

'Everything has it's own long story.' Serina heard in her mind. She looked up and searched for Darien but he was no where to be seen. On the ground before her, mysteriously placed in the tender green grass as if by a careful hand, were seven perfect roses. Each was a different color. The two white roses were nearly in full bloom, one with slightly golden highlights, a cherry crimson red one just like Tuxedo Mask's, paired with another that was a slightly darker, more amethyst color. Two young, barely opened pink roses, one pale and the other more violet, and finally a last bright yellow rosebud, not even begun to bloom yet.

In her heart, Serina knew what they meant, who each one represented, even if she didn't consciously know who several of the people were. She didn't know where they'd come from but she picked them up and held them close. The sense of bliss and family mingled with their fresh scent. Brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, a husband and wife who's love never diminished. Family, eternally perfect and wonderful.

Serina's last thought before her mother began to draw her back to reality, was that all was finally right in the world.

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"I exist only to protect you . . ."

A little girl with gold pigtails sat in a nursery, pooled in a circle of moonlight, shooing away the glittering teardrop crystal that drifted beside her heart. At a gentle whispered sniffling she impatiently stood and toddled over to the wooden crib in the center of the room where her baby brother rested. He'd come home just today and it was her new responsibility to watch out for him.

Before he had the chance to begin crying and wake up Mama, Serina leaned into the bars and began to sing a little lullaby, her play-crystal twinkling and dancing above the baby as her tiny three-year-old voice hummed and sighed. Sammy instantly quieted, giggling and cooing a little before falling back asleep. Serina retreated and returned to her position on the floor in the middle of the full moon's glance.

A soft red light tinged the moonlight pink for a few moments as a figure appeared, bowed low before the young girl. "Puu? Aunt Susan, why do you visit so late?" She asked in surprise, her manner and serene countenance making her seem many years older than she appeared. She was glad to see her favorite Aunt, she had some very interesting questions to ask about a young boy she'd met at the hospital, but the woman's aura made her distress clear to the little girl and she forwent asking.

"Dear little princess, I've come to warn you of something of great import." The woman confessed with a hushed voice and heavy heart. She rose from her bow to reveal herself to be a tall, ageless woman with knee-length green hair and garnet eyes.

"Then do not hesitate to reveal your message, Aunt, do not worry for me." The little princess bravely commanded.

"Your mission must wait for an indefinite time, Serenity."

The child faltered, fear suddenly bringing her to full wakefulness. "Pardon me, Puu? How can the daughter of Chronos and my Sailor Scout of Time say that? An indefinite time? Why should I not seek out my court and my prince? My Scouts should be reunited, my mother's sacrifice honored, and my kingdom rebuilt- Aunt Susan, please, I must!" Tears tickled the child's eyes as all she hoped and lived for fell around her. Her best friends she would never find nor her loving prince, and she missed them so much. It was the hardest part of this short life to grow up without them around her, protecting and playing with her.

"Serenity, please do not cry, my little princess. All will be well in the end. Events must occur, good and evil, and for your time to be, you must remain hidden." Sailor Pluto fell gracefully to her knees in the pond of moonbeams, the silver child it's lily. The tiny princess finally lost her composure and threw herself into the waiting arms of her 'aunt'. Instantly the Scout held her close and stroked the child's shuddering back, giving her strength and warmth with a patience only the Scout of Time could have.

"Oh, Auntie, what am I to do? How will Endy and my court find me? What if it takes years and years and I never see them? What if something happens to them?" Her voice was weak and muffled with fatigue and youth as she spoke around Pluto's shoulder. The older guardian sensed her princess's fear in her trembling and did her best to comfort her but the truth remained- this thousand-year-old princess must disappear for a while; there was no other course of action.

"I promise on my Scout's honor and in the name of Pluto, child, nothing so evil shall befall your court." Wide blue eyes, big enough to hold the universe of stars, gazed up to her with painful innocence.

"You promise, Aunt? And I will see them again?" Pluto nodded. "When?"

"When the time is right again, impatient princess! Someday, in her own way, Destiny will take you back to your prince and court. You must swear to me you will delay your mission." The child nodded with reluctant hesitation.

"On the moon, I swear it, Aunt." She sighed sadly, letting her butterfly hopes fly away like dandelion seeds. She was so close to finding Endy- mayhap that was not him at the hospital, her thoughts were so fuzzy now. "Why must I wait?"

"Dearest princess, you know everything has it's own purpose and time. Yours is not this one." The princess collapsed again in tears as her guardian continued. "Know that if you do not keep your true identity a secret, you will be destroyed when evil stirs, your Scouts shall never awaken, your mother's gift will be for naught. And you will never fall in love with your prince. That is the will of Destiny."

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"Silver Crystal, return to thy safest refuge. Never be seen by mine eyes again until dreadful need for thee arises. Allow me to forget what is my past, to childish fantasies and daydreams render thyself. Hide my spirit, my memories, my grace, and knowledge. Good night, mother. Good bye, Serenity."

'I'll hate pretending to be someone else. All my life I've been a princess, now to hide behind the façade of a child nearly completely opposite my true self and no one will know. Not my family, not my friends, my Scouts or love. But- to be free of cares and responsibility? No, I already feel disloyal to forget my mission and my mother's promise but if Aunt Susan claims it is the only way . . . I shall remain until the secret can no longer be held. Till death releases me from my vow of silence . . .

A three-year-old child, kneeling on her window seat before the full moon, suddenly fainted as the crystal tear she prayed to faded from sight, the crescent moon on her forehead burst one last time in sorrowed defiance then died. The last heir to Silver Millennium of the ancient moon kingdom, a princess reborn after a thousand years, now slept again. Waning from the memory of the girl she now was and would be for another tenth fraction of a century.

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Sere awoke.

Pre-dawn darkness flooded her room, masking familiar objects in shadow. A

small warmth nestled in beside her reminded the princess of Irene's presence, a sigh and purr below revealed Rini had predictably sneaked in and was camped out on the floor with Luna.

They'd created such a stir early last evening, as indecisive as their mother when it came down to who was sleeping where that night. Irene wanted to sleep with her mother, Rini wanted to stay at Darien's but neither would dare be separated. The simplest solution, the one Serina had come up with and instantly volunteered for, was for the little family to stay at Darien's apartment- And of course, Mr. Tsukino nipped that ingenious inspiration right at the bud. Darien didn't get much of a kick out of it either but she had thought it was perfect!

Finally, Rini agreed to let Irene stay in their mother's room, seeing as there wasn't enough room for the two to them together in her bed. Serina glanced down at the floor to gaze on her youngest curled up with her guardian and a white bear, the edges of a blanket clumsily strewn over her by a cat's careful jaws. 'Guess she couldn't stand to be apart for even one night more.' Her eyes flicked back to Irene's pretty little head, sweetly tucked close to her shoulder. 'At least this one doesn't kick.' She thought dryly as she silently slipped from her daughter's grasp and slid out of bed.

Serina tiptoed around Luna and Rini as she made her way to the window where she knelt in prayer before the waning moon. Moonlight bathed her in silver beams as pure as snow, softening a face locked in concentration. Remembered images of her dreams that night flashed through her mind as she silently called the Imperium Silver Crystal to her.

'I've made this wish before, Silver Crystal, and once again I beg of you to watch over my family, the one I have now and the one I will someday make. Keep my love by my side, my children safe and protected, and my court well. I pray to you, and dearest Mother, help us win the battle we'll soon face. I fear it will be far worse than Metallia, or Diamond, or anything else we have confronted before with even more to lose. Please help us, grant me the strength to protect this planet we have so long cherished and defended.'

Serina fell back on her feet, poised serenely in the middle of a pool of moonlight just as she had ten years before, but now she watched her daughters sleep. 'As long as everyone will be okay I don't care what happens to me. They are all that matters. We must do all we can to keep this world safe-' Even as she thought this, the moon princess remembered the last time she and her Scouts had fought to death for earth. They were

younger then and less trained, they had grown in their strength and powers exponentially since then- But still. They were barely a match for Metallia then and had died in the fight- Her Scouts were killed by lowly droids and monsters, not even in the final confrontation! And she had nearly died again when fighting Diamond's army in the future and that was with her future self's help to aid her! How could she fight this battle by herself? Against an evil that had taken over a lost planet and nearly killed the future. Endymion had the strength of the planet behind him, the girls had their lives to give, and she . . . She had the ultimate power of the Imperium Silver Crystal. And she now knew how to use it.

Serina knew what was going to happen in this battle and she was prepared for it. She would not sacrifice a single life to protect this world, not her Scouts, not her children, not Darien, not any person of her royal guard. She didn't believe it would ever be necessary. 'There is always another way. And I'll find it if it kills me!'

That was the other thing she knew.