Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ A Trusting Heart ❯ A Trusting Heart ( Chapter 20 )

Chapter 20

A Trusting Heart

 

"Serenity . . ." The girl looked up from where she had fallen to her knees, numb and aching in the thick dust on the moon. Tears flooded her eyes, spilling over in hopeless streams.

 

Her parents stood only a few feet from her, her mother's hand raised over her mouth to smother a gasp of sorrow at the absolute despair on her daughter's face. "Serenity . . ."

 

Serenity's voice was thick with agony and weak as a whisper. "Mama?" She could barely keep her eyes open, she was beginning to tire and her eyes felt so dry though her tears still overflowed.

 

Her father answered. "My dear, look around you. What do you see?" His voice was warm and rich, strong and steady. Just the sound of his voice filled her with a light warmth, like the afternoon sun on her skin. She wasn't used to hearing his voice so kind and soft; he was such an intense, passionate person, always direct but calm and unchanging.

 

Without a thought, she obeyed him.

 

Her brow creased gently as she studied the land surrounding her. Her own little pocket of grayed, dead dust ended where her parents stood, side by side. From there, the world blossomed. Her marble palace stood in emerald grasses. Gardens of thousands of different flowers from all over the galaxy, forever in bloom, the Sea of Serenity glittered with ethereal iridescence. She had picnicked beside that sea with her mother so long ago. Had sung beside the fountain, hid and ran away to earth by way of the gardens. The ballroom overlooked it all and everything that had happened in that room still shivered in her mind.

 

All around, not a sound caught her ears, not a bird, no music, no laughter. The revelation made her tense, frowning with uncertainty. But when she replied, her voice was just as calm and tired as she felt. "Peace, quiet, so much silence. Gentleness and memories. And you."

 

"That peace and gentle quiet will always be here. You know that in your heart and mind. You have always found your strength and serenity here. Your memories, Serenity, will be a part of you forever, good and bad. That will never change. And we- we will always be here. Waiting for you. But as much as we love you, dear child, we never want to see you here. Not for a long time. A thousand years is still not long enough." Serenity listened carefully, almost smiling.

 

'No,' she thought, 'Mama and Papa should never wish me dead, even if it would reunite us after all this time. And I should never want it either, to forfeit Mother's sacrifice, what she did to make sure I lived.' Visions of her Scouts fighting beside her filled her head. Protecting her, falling in her defense, dying for her. Tuxedo Mask had done the same on many more occasions, giving his life in every sense of the word to her, to save her, even when it was beyond hopeless. He never gave up on her . . .

 

"Serenity, look now on your prince and kin. What do you see in them?" The king needn't have asked, her eyes were all ready focused on the loves of her life, her reasons for smiling, laughing, weeping . . . dying. It didn't take her long to state exactly what she saw as she saw it.

 

"I see weakness and anger, Father. Fighting, battling. Determination, strength, devotion. Mortal fear and worry, grief . . . Desperation. Tears, magic, innocence."

 

"Is that all?" Her mother urged. Serenity's eyes never wavered from her family as she replied with a sigh and a cynical smile.

 

"I see rebellion." Her grin softened. "And love. The strongest kind of love that not even death can stop." Her voice fell to a whisper directed to her prince. "Only delay it for a while, my dear Endy."

 

"Is it worth living for?"

 

She smiled at her parents, inhaling deeply as she slowly stood. "Yes. And it's worth fighting for too." She made her decision.

 

Serenity ran into her mother's arms and hugged her as tight as she could, her father laid an arm around her shoulders and gently embraced them both. "Mama, Papa, I'll love you forever . . ." The queen smiled and kissed her child's forehead.

 

"And we love you, my bunny. Always." Serenity suddenly felt herself lifted into the air and she squealed and laughed as her father spun her in the air as if she were a child. She squeezed her eyes shut and laughed at her father and the sensation of flying.

 

"Papa!" She cried, unable to stop giggling as he set her down again, hugging her close just for a moment longer.

 

"I've missed you, my bunny, but I have always watched over you, and now, with your mother- we're even closer to you. We will never be far apart, my Rini, my little Serenity . . ."

 

"No, Papa, we never will." He let go of her and she stepped away. Serenity turned to her would-be rescuers and let her parents fade away without seeing her regretful tears.

__________________________

"Then I'm history."

 

Teal mists rose from Darien's body, golden pink magic drifted around the twins, flowing over the still figure of Princess Serenity. Her skin was only a few shades lighter than the gray of the dust she lay in. Her gown seemed more translucent with the darkness it lay spread against. Rini's fingers curled tightly around her cold, outstretched hand, ignoring the sharp chips and tiny shards of the shattered Silver Crystal that pricked her skin. Maybe her blood would help Serina where her tears failed.

 

A silhouette, or a mirroring shadow, of the blonde formed in the mystic mists and hung over Serenity. The shimmering figure coalesced, still transparent, taking with it the dress, crescent, and aura of Princess Serenity. On the ground, left behind by the magic, was the body of Serina, pale, silent, and frozen.

 

The glittering spirit of Serenity, barely more than an outline of stardust, shifted to kneel opposite the trio that fed her the desperately-needed strength and power. She smiled and placed her hands over Serina's heart where the Silver Crystal's necklace setting lay empty. The clear shards of the magic diamond liquefied and ran like silver mercury to pool under her palms. The Imperium Silver Crystal solidified around a sprinkling of the sandy, glinting particles that drifted from her languidly swirling, hazy body.

 

The ghost moved with an ethereal slowness as she turned from Serina to face each of the girls and Darien, giving the illusion that she was miles underwater. They could only make out the light shadow of her features and the rest of her hollow body as she raised a hand to her lips and soundlessly blew them a kiss, her entire coruscating being rushed away on that intangible breeze, twinkling over the tiny family as she disappeared.

__________________________

"United we're invincible!"

 

Serina winced as she slowly opened one eye. The sun was shining- she could feel it on her hand but all she could see was a blurry mass of green and dark tan- a couple spots of color too; magenta, white, black, shadowed pink.

 

Serina blinked open her other eye, realizing she was squinting up at a face hovering above hers.

 

"Good morning, Serenity. How are you feeling, my impatient little princess?"

 

"You haven't called me that in so many years, Aunt Susan." Serina whispered and let her eyes slip shut and tried to raise a hand to remove an errant strand of hair over her eyes. She sighed when her hand wouldn't move more than an inch in the right direction. Soft, tingling fingertips caressed her face, brushing the golden threads away. "I'm tired, Aunt . . ."

 

"Which is why you're so impatient!" Sailor Pluto sat back in her chair beside Serina's bed, giggling. "You should have slept another four or five hours but you were never one for long recoveries. I knew you would be waking up soon so I brought some tea for you." Serina opened her eyes and allowed her oldest guardian to help her up.

 

"How ever did you know . . ?" Serina weakly grinned as her 'aunt' set a pillow on lap and handed her a cup. Susan settled back into her chair again and sipped her own tea.

 

Susan smiled primly. "I'm the daughter of Chronos, God of time. I have that privilege." Serina rolled her eyes, blowing gently into her tea, swirling the little bit of froth before taking a drink. She sighed gratefully as she indulged in the taste. Aunt Susan made the best tea, just sweet enough and perfect temperature.

 

Sere looked down at herself. She felt heavy and not just tired but- old. "I'm normal again, aren't I?" Susan nodded. "What's been happening, Aunt Susan? Why are you here?"

 

Susan crossed her legs, easing her hair over her shoulder with one hand. "Actually, I'm here to pick up the girls. Their parents would like to see them some time."

 

Serina nearly spit out her tea in shock, she swallowed quickly, her eyes widening and mouth agape with Susan's abruptness. She wanted to steal her children all ready?! She'd just woken up from battle and hadn't even seen them yet! "What?! Bu- but they just got here- I didn't get to say good-bye, or take them out or apologize for all the horrible, stupid things I've made them go through-"

 

Susan softly smiled and shook her head. "Don't worry, Serenity. I won't take them home till you're ready-"

 

"I don't think I'm ever going to be ready. I don't want to let them go, Rini's become one of my best friends in all the time she's been here and I've only just gotten to know Irene."

 

"There was a time when you couldn't wait to get rid of the 'spore.' If you thought she was a terrible child wait until she's a teenager." Susan slowly shook her head as if she pitied the blonde all ready.

 

"Are you trying to warn me?" Serina tried to swallow her giggle.

 

"There's two of them. Plus an annoying little brother." She reminded her.

 

Serina groaned and let her head fall back to the piles of pillows. "You're right. Make Serenity deal with them. She's their mother." Serina's grin faltered as she lifted her head again and stared glumly into her tea.

 

So much had happened so far. So much that Rini had made happen, that she started with just her appearance one day, falling from the sky, landing smack in the middle of her life. From that moment on, time had been altered, the future revealed, changed and returned. People had died and come back, enemies were destroyed and turned and made to be best friends. Her world, her entire life as she knew it had been changed. Forever. Sailor Moon she could live with. She'd even come to terms with being a reborn moon princess with a prince and a dead kingdom and four eternal protectors.

 

But Rini showed up, bringing the future with her. Nothing could ever be the same.

 

She would continue fighting in the name of Sailor Moon, she would save the world, reawaken it, marry her prince, become queen and- a mother.

 

Where did school and college go? What career had she decided on and studied for if she were only to marry and rule the world? Did Ami ever go to Germany and become a doctor? Did Mina ever do anything with her talents? Would Lita ever open a restaurant or did Rei inherit the shrine or give it to another? Were these hopeful futures never even possible for them? Were their lives set paths and they just followed roads already paved for them? Everything they did was for naught if destiny had set their lives in cement. They had lived before Luna woke the scouts' spirits. What happened the dreams they had before then?

 

It wasn't that Serina ever wanted to change it, this was everything and more than she'd ever dreamed, just, it didn't seem fair to the others. Destiny didn't give choices . . . But this was the one she wanted. She wanted Rini and Irene more than anything. She wanted Darien to be hers forever. She couldn't wait for her wedding, for her family, for a time of peace and a world that was all hers to explore with her husband and children for the rest of eternity.

 

It was silent a moment while she thought and Susan patiently let her be. She knew Serina had a lot to think on, she'd gone through too much these last weeks. And she had just gotten through the worst of it. Serina looked up, her eyes solemn but she smiled. "Just give me a day to say good-bye properly. It'll only be for a while, right, Aunt Susan?"

 

"I promise on my Scout's honor and in the name of Pluto, you'll see them again. In a little while." Serina's eyes fell, remembering the last time she'd heard that promise. It had taken a while but her guardian hadn't lied. "As a matter of fact," Serina glanced up to see her Scout smiling. "I seem to remember you had two flower girls at your wedding. And you knew your ring bearer very well."

 

Serina met Susan's garnet gaze, her smile returned and eyes content. She laughed. "Hmmm, how wonderful. Susan? Where is . . ."

 

Susan set aside her cup and stood, all ready knowing what her question was. "They're waiting for you. Mars is in a royal huff and the others are just worried about you. Your clan friends have been checking in too but you've only been out for a few hours. Darien brought you back with the twins sometime before dawn this morning."

 

"How are they? The twins and Darien? They must have given a lot to get me back. I was so far gone by the time they-"

 

"They're fine, Serenity. The little princesses are sleeping in, Ami and Mina are with them. Your prince has been fighting sleep for hours but time always wins. He's in the guest room, hopefully sleeping."

 

Serina smiled at the thought then her face fell. "Oh. Are ALL the girls still here?" She really didn't want to see too many people all at once and Rei's temper was definitely too much to handle any time soon- like in the next century or so. Lita would probably have a few choice words too. And what would her parents say?! And now that the battles were over, how would the clan feel? They had no purpose in this time, this wrong world. What would they do? What would she do with them?

 

Serina winced again as she thought of Rei's fury on top of her parent's protectiveness and Darien's hurt feelings that she left him behind. There were quite a few reasons she'd rather go right back to sleep.

 

"Seems to me, the last time I saw you, little one, you were begging me to see your court again." Susan laughed.

 

"I was a young, impressionable girl then! I know better now- Rei is NOT someone I want to deal with right now." Serina's lips pursed tightly, her glance skittering away with a guilty cast. She refused to look up as she confessed to her friend. "I- I told her I wasn't coming back, that it was too late and I was dead and I didn't want to go back."

 

Susan stopped, her smile fading as she tilted her head and studied at the bedridden blonde. "You have grown up, little princess. You know when to make tough decisions and take responsibility for their consequences. Even if you felt like you betrayed your friends, you must have known somewhere in your heart that it could never last. You've too much to live for and you knew that or Serenity could have never healed you. You're to be married to your prince, you've saved this world your mother loved so much, you'll have three wonderful children in a future as perfect as the Silver Millennium. Your mother would be so proud."

 

Serina settled in a bit, yawning, and smiled softly in response, remembering her mother's eyes only a few hours ago. "I know she is."

__________________________

 

"'Responsibilities of the Moon'

I guard a sleeping world

Contemplate the mysteries of the universe alone

Reflecting my sister, the sun,

To illuminate the night

I summon the tides to my side with my waxing and waning

And imbue in the young that of true love.'"

 

'Hmm . . . Red for love, pink for friendship . . . Yellow's- remembrance and . . . hope. Purple for creativity, blue is serenity! Light blue's for loyalty. White is-' "Purity!"

 

"Huh? What're you muttering about, Meatball head? I'm not listening to you so who could you possibly be talking to?" Rei mumbled, looking away with a smug tilt to her lips. "The moon has NOTHING to do with purity."

 

Ami frowned at Rei's stinging comment but when she glanced at her blonde companion, her eyes were gleaming but dazed, staring with a wide, dreamy smile at the wisps of clouds chasing the sun down over the bay. They'd all been silent, watching the sun set as she read from her book of poems.

 

Lita leaned over, Rei's nose still in the air, her eyes closed and waiting for Serina's outburst. "I don't think she heard you . . ." She whispered. Rei's violet eyes blinked open, her face falling to glare at the petite girl lying in the grass beside her.

 

"Re-na . . . Whatcha thinkin' about?" Mina lilted, softly calling to her horizontal companion. She didn't want to wake her princess from her daydreams completely, just enough to hear her thoughts.

 

"I'm silly . . ."

 

"Duh- Ouch! Lita!" Rei rubbed her head, growling.

 

"I was just thinking about the colors . . . that I want to use for my wedding . . ."

 

Mina giggled and Lita and Ami smiled. "That's years away. You don't know who's going to be here, where you'll be, WHO you'll be-"

 

"Yeah, but don't you ever wonder anyway?" Serina continued in her singsong, dreamy voice.

 

Ami gently fell back to the soft, thick grass, her book lay across her stomach and legs crossed daintily at the ankles. She folded her hands behind her head and stared at the clouds like Mina and Serina did. "My mom used to want me to wear her wedding dress, back when she and Father were together. Now she thinks it'll bring me bad luck and wants me to choose my own or use my cousin's which used to be her mother's. They both have happy marriages but theirs is not a white dress like I wanted. I've always wanted a simple white gown with blue lace or pearls or embroidery . . . Something light and flowing, like water."

 

"That's beautiful, Ames." Mina sighed. A bird and it's two companions flew over the group, winging into a tree overhead and began to sing as the evening dimmed.

 

"Nah, I was gonna go all traditional. Gramps has my grandmother's wedding kimono. Mom and Dad had an American style wedding. I'm respecting my religion and honoring my ancestral country. But you guys should see it. Fiery gold accents and gorgeous reds with deep violet and pale lilac blossoms. Even the same gold headpiece Obaa-chan wore. Assuming of course, I even have time to get married."

 

"Wow! That'd be great if you did though!" Mina's nose scrunched. "Do we have to wear bright kimonos too? Do you even have bridesmaids in the ceremony?"

 

"For you guys, yeah, definitely. And yes, you WILL wear what I tell you to." Rei laughed, toppling back onto the grass with her companions.

 

"It's wonderful that you're going to follow your grandfather's traditions, Rei. That's brave, and it's sure to be a unique experience for all of us. But didn't shrine priestesses stay-"

 

Mina rolled onto her side, pointedly ignoring Ami, and half-smiled at her tall friend. They both had identical, melancholy frowns. "Look's like we're in the same boat, Lita. Neither of us has family traditions to follow. Not that I haven't thought of it. I'm gonna have the perfect princess wedding- No offense, Sere! I mean more like Princess Diana. Back when I was in England, she and my sis- er, SHE was my idol. I want to marry my own prince and have a huge wedding that half the country will be invited to and the whole world will be watching! I'm still waiting for Prince William to ask me-"

 

"WHAT?!"

 

"No, really, me and him were destined- he just doesn't know it."

 

"Mina, you're as bad as Spaghetti brains over there. What about poor Andrew then, hmm?" Mina's starry eyes snapped open and her glazed smile dropped.

 

"Eek! Er, uhh, well- Shucks, I forgot about him. Guess I can't have both!" Mina's embarrassed face flushed and her hand flew to the back of her head.

 

"Lita? What about you?" Ami hoped the conversation wasn't upsetting their orphaned friend. She had no family to fall back on, no traditions, no mother or sisters to guide her. She glanced over at the brunette now lying with the rest of them, staring indifferently at the sky.

 

"Are you kidding?! I know everything from the church to the food I'll be making for my wedding! I've been dreaming of getting married ever since- actually . . . since I realized I didn't have a family. I wanted to make one of my own, get married and have kids and . . . never leave them, ever. And I'm gonna make all kinds of hors d'oeuvres! Little mini wedding cakes and fruits and recipes from all over the world!" Lita grinned abashedly. "Problem is, every time I try a new recipe I wanna use it in my wedding! I've got hundreds all ready!" The girls laughed, Rei shaking head as Mina and Serina started drooling at the thought.

 

"What were you thinking about, Serina?"

 

"I actually haven't thought about my wedding day much."

 

Someone whispers, "Yeah, the DAY!"

 

Serina blushed, smiling but trying not to. "Stop it! I just knew it was gonna happen so I didn't worry about it. But now that I do have to worry, I don't know what to start with!" She lifted her face to the sky again, comparing the sky's color of deepening twilight indigo to the golden lining of orange-gray clouds.

 

"I think I want you guys to wear the palest pink we can find with bouquets of forget-me-nots and yellow daffodils or roses- in memory of our time on the moon. With silver bows for the Silver Millennium and the dresses will have- well, something with light blue on it- I haven't decided yet. But I do want my Royal Guard, the sisters and Emmi and the others, to wear light blue. It represents loyalty. I want Rini and Irene to be the flower girls, of course, wearing white with pretty, deep blue bows and they'll drop petals from every flower in every color we can collect. And, if he can, I want my son to be ring bearer . . . The only other thing I've decided is that my bouquet will be white roses and irises and lilacs."

 

"Mmmm, I love lilacs . . ."

 

"Yeah, those, gardenias and orange blossoms are my favorite scents in the whole world!"

 

"Oranges and gardenias are too small for the bouquet but I'll definitely have some lying around. And, I want bubbles, you know, instead of rice? Bubbles and white rose petals . . ."

 

"Mmmm, you're gonna have the prettiest wedding, Sere." Mina softly declared.

 

"I don't care if it's big or small, pretty or not. As long as you guys are there and Rini and Irene. Sailor Pluto promised they would be."

 

"I kinda got the impression we'll be seeing them sooner. Irene just had that wicked gleam in her eyes."

 

"What? Are you suggesting my kids would do something they know they aren't allowed to do?" She sat up, challenging Lita.

 

Rei scoffed. "If they're really yours they will."

 

Serina gaped at her best friend. She couldn't even get her lips to move she was too- shocked. "Wh- why YOU!" And she launched herself at Rei. The priestess quickly rolled out of the way, crawling over Ami and jumping to her feet.

 

"Come on, Meatball head! We've had this discussion on your terrorizing twins before." Serina didn't bother getting to her feet. She just glared at her from the ground then sniffed, her nose in the air and laid back down.

 

"Whatever, Rei. They're little angels, or did you all ready forget that present they gave you before they left? You're supposed to be their Godmother so be nice." Justified, she stuck out her tongue, blissfully ignoring Rei's reaction.

 

Then she suddenly sat up again, staring at the dark sky. "Oh no! What time is it?" She glanced at her watch but couldn't read the numbers. Ami twisted her wrist to see her own watch.

 

"It's nearly seven. Why?"

 

"Oh great! I'm gonna be late!" Serina stood, gathering her coat. "Darien and I are going out to the movies at seven thirty but I promised Garry and Robert that I'd visit for a little before they left tomorrow! I gotta go! See ya tomorrow!" Like the last traces of sunlight, she quickly slipped away into the darkness.

 

"That's too bad they gotta leave- Garry kinda reminded me of my old boyfriend . . ."

__________________________

"You don't ever have to be lonely again, I promise."

 

Serina ran as fast as she could towards the brothers' home. They were moving out tomorrow, heading to the future where Kind Endymion and Neo Queen Serenity had offered them a place in the world. They hadn't fit in here though all their friends were here. They were allowed to visit often but their new jobs in world security was expected to be demanding.

 

They had left the house to the four sisters- but soon there would only be two staying there. Prisma and Catsy were moving in with there guys, Catsy was going away with Robert but Serina wasn't worried about not seeing her- she was too close to her sisters to not visit every day.

 

Emmi, too, was staying with Diamond and Sapphire. Nothing was planned yet but it looked like that relationship was moving faster than hers was.

 

Serina turned the corner to her street, the same the brothers lived on. Or used to.

 

She bit her lip and fought a frown. She shouldn't cry, not when all her friends were so happy. They loved their new lives- Serina's eyes blurred anyway. Rubeus had saved her life, but it had taken everything in her to turn him away from evil. And Garry, too. She'd laid her life in his hands, trusted him, believed in him, and he had never let her down. He was so sweet and caring and Rubeus was so loyal and considerate. She was going to miss them . . .

 

Serina started to sniff and her lips trembled with hidden whining. She slowed down, trying to control her breath, not wanting to arrive with tear-stained cheeks-

 

"Serina? Serina, what's wrong?" The voice floated toward her, directly ahead of her. She stopped and wiped her eyes, searching the darkness punctuated with streetlights. She had to smile when she realized Garry was standing in front of her.

 

"Oh Garry!" She threw herself into his arms and hugged him tight. "I'm gonna miss you!" Surprised again, the young man reacted on growing instinct and held her carefully.

 

He softly chuckled as he gently squeezed her and let go. "We're not leaving till tomorrow, princess."

 

Serina stood back and wiped her eyes again. "I know. But you're taking Rubeus with you and Catsy too. She's been such a great friend helping me out and all. And Rubeus has been great too, and you're my friend- I don't like my friends leaving me."

 

Garry turned, placing an arm around the small blonde's shoulders and walking her to her home where Darien would soon be waiting. "I hope Darien doesn't get jealous over this." He smiled down at her. "We're not that far away, princess, and we'll be visiting. For you, I'll come as often as possible."

 

"Promise?" She asked sternly. He wasn't much older than her and all ready had the responsibility of a full-time job. He was like an adult and in Serina's eyes he wasn't supposed to be, not yet.

 

"Yes. You are my princess. And my friend. I'll be here if you need me."

 

Serina looked up at him again, her eyes light but expression still demanding. "Well, I will need you. For no reason at all, just like all my other friends, I just need to talk to you, see you, hang out. I'm only happy with my friends, you know that. You and Rubeus and Catsy leaving me is a thrice blow on top of Rini and Irene leaving."

 

"We'll just be around the corner, with the rest of your family, in your future." They stopped in front of her house, the lights inside glowing a warm yellow.

 

"I know. I'll see you tomorrow and the day after and the day after . . ." Garry smiled and as Serina turned to look up at him. "Everything started with you." She whispered. "Thanks. For everything, Garry." She hopped on tiptoe and impetuously kissed his cheek then turned and rushed to her house, waving from the door.

 

Belatedly, Garry waved, one hand carefully touching the spot she'd touched. "You never cease to amaze me, princess." He whispered and turned away, glancing around nervously. "The king's definitely going to kill me for that."

 

 

"Always, for you . . . ."