view old/stories/cunpnk3.txt @ 4:69f0191c9016 moonlitnights tip

added error.log and access.log
author Robert McIntyre <rlm@mit.edu>
date Tue, 22 Jun 2010 13:42:35 -0400
parents fc00894c1d4a
children
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1 Author's Notes: ^_^
3 There's nothing much to say here, really. Trust me, you're going
4 to start hating me around the middle of this part... But keep going
5 until the end! ^_^
7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
8 Chibiusa no PYUA na kokoro
9 (Chibiusa's Pure Heart)
10 Part 3
11 By Andrea Doolan <andrea.doolan@utoronto.ca>
12 "Sailormoon no ichiban daifan"
13 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
15 ~*~*~*~*~
17 The large, ornately decorated doors to the main Sailor Senshi
18 conference room shut with a bang. This particular room of the palace
19 was situated on one of the top levels of the grand structure. It
20 boasted a marble conference table, which seated 20 comfortably, and all
21 the architectural and design earmarks that made the Crystal Palace so
22 famous. It was an eclectic atmosphere combining ancient Greek and
23 traditional Japanese designs.
25 Sailormars, the person who shut the doors, was the last of the
26 Senior Sailor Senshi to be gathered in the room. With their hectic
27 schedules, it was unusual to see all of them together, but this was a
28 special occasion.
30 As Mars took her seat, Neo Queen Serenity spoke. "Minna, thank
31 you for coming here on such short notice. I apologise for the formal
32 atmosphere, because what will be said here today isn't meant for a
33 formal occasion. We're all friends here; friends sharing some great
34 news. I'll now pass things over to my daughter and Sailorsaturn."
36 As the Queen sat back down, she passed Small Lady, and gave her a
37 small squeeze on her shoulder. It was enough for a smile to creep
38 across the younger woman's face. It was getting easier, she thought.
39 This would be the third time telling people, and it definitely felt
40 easier. Of course, maybe it was just because they were telling the
41 parents before, and now it was just friends.
43 Small Lady and Saturn stood up at the head of the table. All eyes
44 were focused on them. Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter looked at them
45 inquisitively. Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto looked at them with love and
46 support. They were really only there for comfort and encouragement.
47 The Queen and King looked at them with smiles on their faces. Serenity
48 nodded her head for them to start.
50 "Arigatou, minna. Some of you know what we're about to say, and
51 some of you don't. Before we start, we just want to say what good
52 friends you've all been to us. We cherish you all dearly." Small Lady
53 stopped and smiled at them.
55 Saturn took Small Lady's hand, and continued. "Something special
56 has happened in our lives, and we think it's only fair to share it with
57 all of you. Small Lady and I have fallen in love. We care for each
58 other deeply. We...we want to spend the rest of our lives together. We
59 want to be together forever."
61 Small Lady jumped in. "We know this may come as a shock to some
62 of you. I know it certainly did for us." She laughed a little at this.
63 "But we both hope you'll give us your blessing. It really means a lot
64 to us. We've already discussed this with our parents, and they've been
65 very supportive. But no pressure, of course." She gave them a little
66 wink.
68 There was silence for several moments, but then Sailorjupiter was
69 the first to speak. "So, you left us until last, did you? Seems kind
70 of unfair to me." She stuck her tongue out a little to show she was
71 kidding. "Small Lady, Saturn, personally I think this is great. I wish
72 you all the best in the future." She had a very sincere smile on her
73 face.
75 "I knew it!" cried Venus. "My predictions of love are never
76 wrong!" The rest of the group facefaulted. "Hehe, the goddess of love
77 and beauty, the reincarnation of Aphrodite herself gives you her full
78 blessing! You two make a cute couple." She flashed them a "V" sign.
80 "I always said we didn't need boys to have fun."
82 "Mars, are you feeling playful?"
84 "We'll have to save it until later, Venus."
86 "Ohhh..."
88 "Anyway, the point I was trying to make was you two go really well
89 together. I can feel it from your spirits, it's coming through very
90 strongly. I think you two were made for each other."
92 Small Lady and Saturn blushed a little at this.
94 Sailormercury was sitting quietly at the end of the table. She
95 was just waiting patiently for her turn to speak. "I still find it hard
96 to believe in a red string of destiny, but after seeing so many real
97 life examples, I think I'll have to rewrite the laws of physics. You
98 two are a shinning example of proof that it does exist. Omedetou ne."
99 She gave a caring smile to them.
101 "Minna..." said Small Lady, tears forming in her eyes.
103 "Arigatou," said Saturn while she gave her lover a quick hug.
105 Everyone got up from their seats and proceeded to give Small Lady
106 and Saturn hugs and words of congratulation. Indeed, it was a joyous
107 occasion. Saturn and Small Lady were so glad everyone had been very
108 accepting of their relationship; it really meant a lot to them. They
109 weren't really worried, though. They had both known everyone for so
110 long, and they were such close friends. But now, deep in their hearts,
111 there still laid a seed of worry. It was because of the upcoming
112 announcement to the kingdom which would follow in a few days. In some
113 respects, it was terrifying to them, but in others they wanted to share
114 the good news with all the people of the kingdom. They knew they might
115 not get the same reception that the Senshi had given them. They
116 accepted that fact, but any way they could, they were going to get
117 through it. Together.
119 ~*~*~*~*~
121 "Mina-san, please be aware that an official announcement from
122 Crystal Palace will take place at 13:00 today, Japan Standard Time.
123 Please try to avoid crowding the streets around the palace, as public
124 safety in always a concern. The official Crystal Tokyo network, Terebi
125 Takeuchi, will be covering events, as will most of the other major
126 networks and satellite feeds to the planets. Arigatou gozaimasu."
128 That was the official press release the palace had given at 9
129 o'clock that Wednesday morning. It had thrown every single news agency
130 in the solar system into mass confusion. If it was an announcement from
131 the palace, it was big news. Everyone was rushing trying to get an
132 early scoop, but none of their sources seemed to know anything, and the
133 palace was being very tight-lipped. Really, the only thing they could do
134 was wait and see. That didn't stop the rumours, though.
136 "I heard the king and queen were getting a divorce!"
138 "What? Are you crazy? After being together for so long? It's
139 much more serious. I heard Nemesis was making a comeback."
141 "Another war? That would be awful..."
143 "But if it was a war, wouldn't a state of emergency be declared or
144 something?"
146 "Only if the fighting had already broken out. They could just be
147 in negotiations."
149 "No, no, you're all wrong! I hear Diana-sama is getting married!"
151 "To that prince from Mau? I thought she hated him."
153 "Maybe Luna-sama is pregnant again."
155 "Could be... Hey, what if one of the Senshi were pregnant!"
157 "Um, that would be kind of hard, wouldn't it? Considering who
158 their partners are... And those that don't have partners don't seem to be
159 attached to anyone."
161 "Oh, right."
163 It went on like this for the four hours between the press release
164 and the announcement. It seemed anybody and everybody had a theory as
165 to what the palace was about to announce. Though no one could have
166 guessed what was actually happening.
168 12:56 JST
170 "How are you doing?"
172 "Okay. How about you?"
174 "I'm a nervous wreck."
176 "To tell you the truth, I am, too."
178 Two lovers embraced and shared a long kiss.
180 "Better?"
182 "Hai."
184 They walked hand in hand to the doors which led out to the
185 balcony. It was from there that they would make their announcement, and
186 the world would know the truth.
188 "Small Lady?"
190 The pink haired woman stopped and looked to her side. She saw
191 Diana and the Sailor Quartet standing there. After she had told the
192 Inner Senshi, her and Saturn talked to Luna, Artemis, Diana, and the
193 Quartet privately. After all, Diana was her closest friend next to
194 Saturn, and the Quartet were her personal protectors. They had all
195 taken the news with similar reactions to the Senior Senshi.
196 Sailorpallas said she knew all along, but Sailorjuno reminded her she
197 thought Saturn was falling for the king of Mermaid. Everyone laughed at
198 that, including Pallas herself.
200 "Diana-tachi!"
202 "We're coming out with you."
204 "You don't have to..."
206 "We're your friends! You're going to get all the support you
207 can!"
209 "Princess, we are your protectors. It's our duty and wish to help
210 you," said Sailorceres with a smile.
212 "Arigatou," said Saturn. "It means a lot to us."
214 "Jikan da," said the King. "The crowds are even larger than I
215 expected."
217 The doors to the balcony opened, and the crowd roared. Out
218 stepped Princess Serenity, looking regal as ever, holding hands with the
219 Princess of Saturn, who looked equally gorgeous in her purple gown.
220 They walked to the front of the balcony and waved at the spectators.
221 Directly behind them stood the princess' personal guard and Diana. Off
222 to the side the Senior Sailor Senshi stood, all of whom were wearing
223 their royal gowns. The king and queen stood in the doorway, watching
224 how everything progressed.
226 Saturn held Small Lady's hand a little tighter, and whispered
227 something to her which was incomprehensible to everyone else.
229 A few minutes later, after the announcement had been made, the crowd
230 cheered even louder, if that was possible.
232 ~*~*~*~*~
234 The next few days were spent sorting through the public's reaction
235 to the announcement. Generally, it had been very positive, with the
236 palace receiving millions of cards, flowers, and gifts all meant to
237 congratulate the happy couple. Small Lady and Saturn had been fairly
238 surprised at the outpouring of support they had received. Headlines
239 like, "A Match Made in Heaven," "A Happy Day for the Kingdom of
240 Serenity," and "Light and Dark United by the Bonds of Love" boosted
241 their confidence even more. Though, while looking at the last one,
242 Saturn wondered why people always forgot she was the Senshi of death
243 *and* rebirth. Oh well, it made for a good headline at any rate.
245 While most reactions had been positive, there had been some
246 negative ones as well. The religious right, even though their hold on
247 society had greatly decreased over the centuries, could still be very
248 vocal. They posted their opinions over the information network linking
249 the entire solar system, and wrote to news organisations. But their
250 reaction was expected; they had been saying the same things for years about
251 other prominent same-sex couples. No one paid much attention to them
252 anymore, including the level-headed religious organisations.
254 The main cause for concern in the palace's eyes were several
255 editorials written for the news agencies' publications. While accepting
256 of the relationship, and pointing out how happy everyone was for them,
257 there was one common thread through them all. How would the line of the
258 moon kingdom continue? Through all of science's advances, it was still
259 impossible for two women to conceive. That left several options:
260 adoption - which wouldn't work, because they obviously needed someone
261 with royal blood; artificial insemination - which lead to the question,
262 who would donate the sperm?; and cloning - which meant their baby would
263 have the same genes as the princess, which really wouldn't be a bad
264 thing, except that in order for humanity as a whole and the royal
265 family specifically to advance, there had to be a mixing of the gene
266 pool. It was certainly a valid point to bring up, one Small Lady and
267 Saturn hadn't thought through completely.
269 Some, more opinionated people, jumped on the chance, and called it
270 the end of the Moon Kingdom. Others were less extreme in their views,
271 but voiced concern about the inability to have a child. Gay couples
272 around the kingdom fought back, and pointed to their own families to
273 prove the princess and Saturn could bear children, even if Saturn's
274 genes weren't included. It wouldn't mean she would love the child any
275 less. It was good that same sex couples composed about 50% of the
276 population. Small Lady and Saturn needed all the support they could get
277 on this issue.
279 The child-bearing issue, and the news of the partnership was hot
280 news over the next month. The press knew its boundaries, but still was
281 able to get pictures of the couple together at every opportunity.
282 Saturn and Small Lady played along very well. They didn't feel as if
283 the press was hounding them, plus they knew what good public relations
284 could mean for them. However, like all hot news, the fervour eventually
285 died down, and the couple was bumped down to monthly updates on the
286 news.
288 Small Lady felt overjoyed with the amount of love and support her
289 subjects had given her. Their opinions and happiness really did mean a
290 great deal to her. She was a bit saddened with some of the objections
291 they had received, but it was expected, and with Saturn at her side they
292 were able to deal with it. Saturn...she had been such a pillar of love
293 for the pink haired woman. Even when things looked a bit rocky, she was
294 right there by her side. Small Lady brought her hands to her heart, and
295 sighed. She was the luckiest person alive.
297 ~*~*~*~*~
299 The next five years seemed to pass quickly for everyone. They
300 were glorious years. The Moon Kingdom was at it's strongest, and
301 flourished under new treaties made with other kingdoms in other parts of
302 the galaxy. The physical destruction from the Black Moon attack had
303 been gone for decades. The emotional toll for the population who had
304 lost so many lives, was recovering, and moving on. They were certain
305 that nothing similar would ever happen again.
307 For Small Lady's part, she grew into a lovely woman of 915 years,
308 who still had the appearance of a 22-year-old. Since her 910th birthday
309 she had been given ever increasing responsibilities by her mother.
310 Rumour had it Serenity was going to pass the throne down to her daughter
311 soon. When that was going to happen, no one was sure, but the people
312 knew it would be soon.
314 At her side through all this stood Sailorsaturn. It was a very
315 happy time for the couple. Even when they had to be apart because of
316 official responsibilities, they were still together in spirit. The time
317 that they did have together was precious, and they used every second of
318 it to the fullest. They gave each other strength, and received lots of
319 love. They were truly two halves to one whole.
321 ~*~*~*~*~
323 It was another beautiful day in Crystal Tokyo. The sun cascaded
324 off the crystal buildings, forming tiny rainbows all around town. The
325 sky was as blue as Sailormercury's fuku and the moon's outline could
326 faintly be seen in the skies above. Everyone seemed just a little
327 happier today.
329 Unfortunately, things weren't like this for Small Lady. She was
330 in her worst mood in months, and was feeling very depressed. All
331 morning she moped around the palace trying to keep herself occupied.
332 The truth was, she only had one thing on her mind. Saturn. The Senshi
333 of Death and Rebirth was on another diplomatic mission. This time it
334 was to Kinmokusei to work out trade relations. Saturn would be gone for
335 six months, which was the longest they had ever spent apart after
336 becoming a couple. But it just couldn't be avoided; they both knew
337 that.
339 So, Small Lady continued to mope around the palace looking for
340 anything interesting to do. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw
341 Sailorpluto walking towards Serenity's chambers.
343 "Puu!"
345 "Ah, Small Lady," said Pluto has she turned around to see the pink
346 haired woman bound up behind her.
348 "Are you going to talk to mama?"
350 "Hai. We still have some things to discuss about today's royal
351 guest."
353 "Royal guest?" Small Lady looked at her in a questioning way.
355 "Did you forget already? We have a very prestigious guest coming
356 today all the was from Elysion."
358 "Gomen, I guess I forgot." Small Lady smiled.
360 Pluto coughed. "I think you've had other things on your mind."
361 She gave her friend a wink.
363 Small Lady blushed. "Have you noticed, too? My mind hasn't been
364 where it should be lately. It's just...hard. I know I'll see Saturn
365 again, but waiting seems like an eternity."
367 Pluto put her hand on the younger woman's shoulder. "Don't forget
368 that we're all here for you, Small Lady. You know you can come talk to
369 me whenever you want. It will be just like old times."
371 "Arigatou, Puu." The princess hugged the taller woman. Pluto was
372 almost like a second mother to her.
374 "Just don't forget about our guest. We will be meeting him at
375 15:00 in the throne room."
377 "I won't forget. Mata ne, Puu!" Small Lady smiled and ran off.
378 It was really great to have such good friends. Her spirits were
379 definitely lifted now.
381 Elysion, she thought. Where have I heard that name before? It
382 seems so familiar... I'll have to remember to look it up before I meet
383 our guest. It's always good manners to know something of a guest's
384 country.
386 ~*~*~*~*~
388 14:54
390 I'm late. I'm late. I'm late. It was the only thing Small Lady
391 could think of as she ran down the hallway to the throne room. Oh kami,
392 how did I let this happen? How is it that I have all the time in the
393 world, and then suddenly it's gone! This is no way for the future queen
394 to act. Oh, what will mama say! It is incredibly rude to show up late
395 to greet a guest. Maybe I can still make it...
397 14:58
399 Small Lady rounded a corner, but slowed down just before she got
400 to the doors of the throne room. She walked in calmly, almost as if she
401 hadn't been running at all. She got several stern looks from the
402 Quartet and one from her mother as she took her place beside her, but
403 other than that, no one seemed to notice. It looked like she got there
404 just in time.
406 A loud voice rang out. "Now presenting our highly esteemed guest
407 of honour...."
409 Ah! I completely forgot to look up Elysion, thought Small Lady.
411 "...We are most glad he was able to take time from his busy
412 schedule to meet with us..."
414 But it sounds so familiar... Elysion, Elysion, where have I heard
415 that before?
417 "...His absence on Earth has been centuries, but his protection of
418 everyone's dreams has never been overlooked..."
420 Dreams? Elysion? It's right on the tip of my tongue. Oh my god,
421 it's...
423 "...The High Priest of Elysion, Elios-sama."
425 Elios...
427 Clapping could be heard all around the throne room as a man
428 dressed almost entirely in white stepped into the room. He had soft,
429 wavy white hair which flowed over the red jewel on his forehead. He
430 walked forward and kneeled in front of Neo Queen Serenity.
432 "My Queen, it is so good to see you again. And the King also. I
433 trust you have both been well?"
435 "Yes, thank you, Elios." Serenity bowed politely to him. "We are
436 so glad you could make it. It's really been too long." She gave him a
437 warm smile.
439 Elios smiled back, and then looked over to the Queen's right where
440 a woman with pink hair stood. Her eyes seemed to be displaying shock
441 and happiness at the same time.
443 "Chiisana otome yo." He looked at her again. "Iya, you're not
444 chiisana anymore. Just a beautiful otome." The image of the girl he
445 saw now overlapped the image he saw in his dreams so many years ago.
447 "Elios..." Small Lady was a little more than shocked. She never
448 dreamed she'd be meeting him here today.
450 "Otome, I sense your dream has changed, but you still carry the
451 most beautiful dream."
453 The princess blushed. "Arigatou." She bowed to him in greeting.
455 He then turned and proceeded to greet everyone there. The Senshi
456 who were present were excited to meet him again after all the time that
457 had passed. Those times seemed like a lifetime away. And indeed they
458 were.
460 Small Lady continued to watch the events like she was in a dream
461 state. She didn't know what to make of this situation. Here was
462 someone who she had once had feelings for, even if she was in the body
463 of an eleven-year-old at the time. It had been less than 15 years since
464 she had last seen him, but for Elios it must have been centuries.
465 Though she wasn't exactly sure how time passed in Elysion. She thought
466 it amazing that he remembered her after all these years as if they had
467 parted yesterday. At that moment, she wished Saturn was with her more
468 than ever. She felt like holding her hand for support.
470 ~*~*~*~*~
472 After the festivities that followed the official welcoming were
473 over, the excitement had died down somewhat. Now just some of the Senshi
474 were left to talk to Elios privately about old times. Small Lady had
475 been very proper during the festivities, and filled her role as princess
476 to a T. But now she just felt exhausted, and wanted some quiet time to
477 herself. She had barely talked to Elios at all. Was she trying to
478 avoid him on purpose? She didn't really know. It was such a strange
479 feeling for her to see him like this now. All she knew was a walk
480 through the palace gardens would do her good.
482 She began by passing by some pink rose bushes. She stopped to
483 admire their beauty and scent. She held one gently in her hand and
484 lifted it to her nose. The fragrant aroma filled her senses and
485 alleviated a lot of the stress she was feeling, both from Saturn being
486 away and Elios' arrival. She was away in a world all her own now, so
487 much so that she didn't notice a form approaching her. She was so
488 startled when she heard a sound from behind that she forgot what she was
489 doing and accidentally pricked herself on one of the rose's thorns.
491 "Gomen," said the figure as it stepped into the light. "I didn't
492 mean to startle you."
494 "Oh, Elios. I didn't hear you come up." Small Lady said with a
495 smile.
497 "You're injured," he said while pointing to her hand.
499 "This? It's nothing. Just a little scratch."
501 Then he did something very unexpected. He brought her hand up to
502 his mouth and kissed what little blood there was away. The princess was
503 shocked, and pulled her hand away.
505 "I'm sorry, did I do something wrong?" asked Elios.
507 Small Lady looked ashamed. "No, I'm the one who should apologise.
508 I've done nothing but avoid you since you got here. I guess I thought
509 if I didn't see you, then I wouldn't have to deal with the past. The
510 truth is, I have something important to tell you."
512 "Well, why don't we sit down over there on that bench? I have a
513 feeling we'll be here for awhile."
515 Small Lady nodded her head in agreement, and followed him to the
516 bench.
518 She began with a sigh. "All those years ago, I'm not sure what it
519 was we shared. Was it just a childhood infatuation, or something more?
520 I remember thinking about you for a very long time after you left. I
521 promised myself that I would see you again someday, though I had no idea
522 it would be like this." Elios just sat patiently listening. She
523 continued, "After a while, my memory of you started to fade, and my
524 feelings, however childish, were pushed to the back of my mind. In
525 time, I developed feelings for another person. In fact, I fell deeply
526 in love with them. So deeply in love that I have a great pain on my
527 heart every time we're apart even for a little while. Elios, I fell in
528 love with Sailorsaturn."
530 She looked at him waiting for his reaction. She felt like this
531 was harder than telling the entire kingdom. Somehow she still hadn't
532 gotten over that part of her life.
534 He waited several moments, and then spoke with a smile. "Did you
535 think I didn't know?"
537 Small Lady practically facefaulted. "Nani?"
539 "Otome, I am the protector of everyone's dreams. Your one dream
540 for the past few years has been to spend the rest of your life with
541 Sailorsaturn. I realise that. I have special memories of the times we
542 spent together many years ago, but I am happy just to see you live out
543 your beautiful dream. I wish you all the luck in the world."
545 The princess was shocked. "You knew all along? Then I was
546 worrying for nothing? I feel a little silly now." She looked at him.
547 "Thank you, Elios. Thank you for understanding."
549 He smiled at her, and the two proceeded to talk long into the
550 night.
552 ~*~*~*~*~
554 Somewhere, deep in the blackness of space, far away from Earth's
555 solar system, a scream of terror rang out. And then Silence.
557 ~*~*~*~*~
559 Chinmoku.
561 Small Lady woke up with a start. Sweat was pouring down her face.
562 "Yume...ka?" Chinmoku. She was breathing hard. Gasping for air.
563 Chinmoku. She grasped at a pain in her chest. Her eyes flung open in
564 realisation. "Sa..Sa..turn. SATURN!!!!!!!!!!"
566 Chinmoku.
568 ~*~*~*~*~
570 This rainy morning in Crystal Tokyo was greeted with a group of
571 solemn, tear streaked faces. They had all woken up very early in the
572 morning hours.
574 "Ja...then it's true?" asked Sailormars.
576 "The report from Kinmokusei doesn't look good," responded Mercury.
577 "Apparently there was a very sudden violent storm. The lightening
578 caused severe damage to a large part of Kakyuu-hime's palace, then an
579 explosion, and then..." She pressed a few more buttons on the pad she
580 was holding. "Saturn was in that part of the palace. Her Silence Wall
581 held up for a long time, and saved hundreds of lives. She could have
582 saved herself as well, but a few people were helplessly trapped, and I
583 guess she just wasn't going to leave them there. The storm got more
584 violent, and it became impossible for her to continue. The casualty
585 report lists five dead, including Sailorsaturn." Mercury couldn't
586 continue reading after that. She was sobbing too hard.
588 After a period of silence, someone spoke. "Uso da. Uso da yo!!
589 Saturn can't be dead! She can't be! I can't believe we're not doing
590 anything. We have to help her! She's not dead! She's not!" Small
591 Lady was red with anger. Her night-gown was wet with tears.
593 "Small Lady," Neo Queen Serenity put her hand on her child's
594 shoulder. "There's nothing more we can do. Her Sailor Crystal is gone.
595 I can no longer feel her at all. I'm so sorry, Small Lady. I'm sorry."
596 She went to hug her grown-up daughter, but was pushed away.
598 "I don't believe you! Use the maboroshi no ginzuishou! Bring her
599 back to life! Mama...mama...you can do it! You can save her! Save her
600 like you've saved all of us before! SAVE HER!!!"
602 This time Uranus spoke with anger. "Don't you understand?! She
603 can't!! Saturn ga... Saturn ga... Saturn is dead! Stop acting like
604 you're still that small child, and grow up! Stop being so selfish!
605 Don't you think we'd be doing something if we could? Don't you think
606 *I'd* go to Kinmokusei right now if it would mean anything? SHE'S
607 GONE!! She's...gone." Uranus' emotions got the better of her, and she
608 surrendered to the tears. Neptune softly stroked her lover's hair as
609 her own tears fell into it.
611 Small Lady was on the floor shaking slightly. Her legs were too
612 weak to hold her weight. Through her river of tears, a small voice
613 could be heard. "Iya da. Iya da yo. Minna ga...kirai da. Daikirai."
615 [translation of last line: "No. No. Everyone...I hate you. I really
616 hate you."]
618 ~*~*~*~*~
620 There wasn't much happiness in Crystal Tokyo after the news was
621 released. It was known that Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto went to their
622 beach house to live for an undisclosed amount of time. The Inner Senshi
623 were generally unavailable to do anything outside their normal duties,
624 and even then a lot had been delegated to other staff members. Neo
625 Queen Serenity tried to put on a brave face for her people, but it was
626 well known the pain she felt. She could never hide it completely. She
627 was a strong woman, though, and never failed to please her public. The
628 princess was another story. She had taken the news hard. Everyone knew
629 that. She hadn't been seen for months, and it was generally thought
630 that she spent her days locked in her room. Though it's to be expected
631 when one loses half their soul.
633 It was indeed a bleak time. Not only the Senshi suffered, but
634 the public as well. They had lost one of their most admired protectors,
635 and the mourning was well shown throughout the solar system. Purple
636 flowers and ribbons adorned the streets for quite some time, and there
637 was also a shrine around the large statue of Sailorsaturn that was
638 erected for the memorial. It wasn't clear how long it would take to
639 mend these deep wounds. Or if they ever would be.
641 ~*~*~*~*~
643 <<jingle jingle>> <<hop>> <<jingle jingle>>
645 "Small Lady. Small Lady! Me wo samashite. Small Lady!"
647 "Uhh? Dare?" Small Lady slowly opened her eyes and looked beside
648 her on her bed. "Ara, Diana. What are you doing here?"
650 "Small Lady, it's been seven weeks. You're going to have to come
651 out of your room at some point."
653 "Why? What's the point of anything anymore? Do I have a reason
654 to live? Should I even go on at all? Do I exist for a purpose? Or
655 should I just...end it?"
657 "Small Lady! Don't talk like that!" The poor grey cat was
658 starting to tear up. "Don't you realise we all love you? Please, don't
659 shut yourself off from us. We want to help you. We..."
661 "Mou ii yo." She rolled over and faced the wall. "You don't have
662 to feel sorry for me. Just leave me alone and I'll be happy."
664 By this time the tears were coming down Diana's face at a constant
665 rate. "Chikushou! Why won't you let us help you? We're all your
666 friends, right? I thought we were close friends. Perhaps I was
667 wrong..." The cat got up and started to leave.
669 "Wait. Diana, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you. Please,
670 don't go. I'm tired. I'm tired of crying. I'm tired of having this
671 pain in my heart. I'm tired of living. I don't think that feeling will
672 ever go away. I don't know if you can help."
674 "Small Lady, I won't pretend to know how you're feeling. I've
675 never lost someone close to me like you have. I can only imagine what
676 it might feel like. Demo, we've been friends since the day you were
677 born. I'd like to think that I know you quite well. I do think I can
678 help. I'm not saying that I'll make the pain go away, but maybe I can
679 help you focus on some of the good things in your life. Please, let me
680 help you."
682 "Diana," Small Lady brought her friend into a hug. "Arigatou. I
683 don't know if I can face going outside yet, but I won't shut you out
684 anymore. You're my very dear friend, and it's been good of you to put
685 up with me for these past weeks. I'm sorry, it wasn't fair of me."
687 "That's okay. I hope you don't mind, but I brought some more
688 friends along."
690 Her bedroom door opened revealing four women in sailor suits.
691 Sailorvesta, Juno, Ceres, and Pallas walked in slowly.
693 "Minna!"
695 "Princess," said Ceres, "I hope you know that we're here for you,
696 too. We really want to help."
698 "Sailorpallas doesn't like to see you cry," said Pallas, in
699 typical third person speech.
701 "Our whole existence revolves around protecting you. Lately I
702 don't think we've been doing a very good job," said Juno with her head
703 down.
705 Sailorvesta was the last to speak. "Turn us away if you want to,
706 but I just wanted to be sure that you knew we were here for you. Seeing
707 you suffer alone isn't fair. It's not just our "job" to help you, it's
708 our beautiful dream."
710 "Minna..." Small Lady felt the tears glide down her face again.
711 "You're all my dear friends. I didn't mean to hurt anyone else. It was
712 the farthest thing from my mind. But it appears I did anyway. Oh, I
713 wish you wouldn't worry about me. You all care for me too much." Then
714 she smiled. A smile? How long had it been since she used those
715 muscles? It felt...nice.
717 With everyone in tears, there was a big group hug.
719 ~*~*~*~*~
721 A woman brought her hand in front of her eyes to shield them from
722 the midday sun. Her pupils were adjusting slowly, as she hadn't seen
723 natural light in over two months. Sounds started to become apparent to
724 her. Birds chirping. People talking. Transports gilding by. It was
725 almost like experiencing everything for the first time. She sighed.
726 Maybe life wasn't so bad after all.
728 She began to walk away from the palace and into one of the many
729 parks in Crystal Tokyo. She looked around at all the children, friends,
730 and couples eating and playing. Everyone looked so happy. She
731 flashbacked to a time she used to come to this very park with her
732 parents to have lunch. Those were fun times.
734 She continued walking until she came to an open clearing. There
735 weren't very many people in this part of the park, but it seemed like a
736 lot of people must have visited everyday for there were large amounts of
737 flower bouquets everywhere. Then the woman realised where she was. She
738 opened her eyes wide to the warm sunlight and looked up at a tall stone
739 statue. The figure had shoulder length hair and was carrying a long
740 staff with a sharp blade on the end. This was the first time Small
741 Lady had been to the park since the memorial service. It was a little
742 bit of a shock.
744 She went to the base of the statue and read the inscription on the
745 plaque. "From the star of silence, being protected by the planet
746 Saturn, the Senshi of death and rebirth, Sailorsaturn. She was loved
747 and will be remembered by all."
749 She studied the face of the frozen statue. It was serious and
750 determined, but there was also a kind and gentle quality. It was as if
751 the eyes of the statue were looking straight into Small Lady's heart.
752 It wasn't a scary experience; it made Small Lady feel warm inside. Was
753 this Saturn giving her strength? Strength to move on with her life? Or
754 had she simply been cooped up in her room too long and was beginning to
755 imagine things? It didn't matter to Small Lady. This was the first
756 time she had felt this good since Saturn had left for Kinmokusei.
758 "Saturn.... Watashi no taisetsu na hito. You've left me all
759 alone. You promised we'd be together forever and now I have quite a
760 number of years ahead of me. Years I thought I'd be spending by your
761 side. Oh, I wish I could hold you right now. I wish I could feel the
762 softness of your touch, the gentleness of your kiss, the sweetness of
763 your voice. I've longed for that feeling. I miss you so much. So very
764 much. Please, I don't want you to think that I blame you. There were
765 times I did in the blackness of my room, but I've done quite a bit of
766 thinking and growing in the last little while. What you did was
767 incredible. To tell you the truth, I would have done the exact same
768 thing, which would have left you all alone. It was the right choice.
769 It's just..." A drop of wetness splashed on the plaque. "Tears? I
770 thought I was done crying. I didn't think I had any tears left. I'm
771 sorry, I told myself I wasn't going to cry anymore, but I can't help it.
772 It's just there's a giant hole in my heart and I don't know what to do.
773 I love you. I will always love you." More tears splashed on the
774 plaque.
776 There was a gentle breeze, and someone laid a hand on her
777 shoulder. "Otome..."
779 Small Lady turned around quickly in surprise. "Elios?" A look of
780 confusion crossed her face.
782 "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you. I just wanted to make
783 sure you were all right. I'll leave you now." He bowed and started to
784 walk away.
786 "Matte! It's okay. You weren't disturbing me. What are you
787 still doing here, anyway? I would have thought you had long since
788 left."
790 He shook his head. "It seems my visit coincided at a very
791 inopportune time. I thought I could be of some help counselling the
792 population, and Her Majesty granted me a longer stay." He laughed.
793 "Actually, she said I didn't need to ask and was welcome anytime. Plus
794 I wanted to make sure you were okay. You gave us all quite a scare, and
795 I was worried."
797 "Arigatou, but I'm okay now. I'm sorry to have troubled you."
799 "Try not to shut us out, Otome. We just want to help you. None
800 of us want to rush you or force you to do anything, but we're still
801 concerned."
803 "I know, with the help of Diana-tachi I was able to finally get
804 out of bed. If it weren't for such caring friends, I don't think I'd be
805 standing here right now." She smiled at him.
807 "Then let me ask you something. You can turn me down if you want
808 to, but I think you need to experience some happiness, if only for a
809 day. The last time you were in Elysion it wasn't exactly the best of
810 times. It's so beautiful there now, and I'd like to show you
811 everything. I can get my dear friend Pegasus to give us a tour.
812 Please, let me try to cheer you up."
814 She thought for a while. She thought about her blackened room and
815 how lonely it had been without the brightness of the lamps. She thought
816 about how nice the sun had felt when she went out today. She thought
817 about not letting the hole in her heart consume her. Then she made up
818 her mind. "Okay. What time shall we meet at?"
820 ~*~*~*~*~
822 The wind blew around Small Lady's casual floral print sun dress as
823 she waited near a fountain just outside the Crystal Palace. She could
824 hear the strong wind rustle through the trees as she watched a flock of
825 birds in formation high above her. The wind had picked up quite a bit
826 this day, but it was still sunny and warm.
828 The thing that had probably changed the most about Small Lady over
829 that last two months would probably be her face. No longer were there
830 dark circles around her eyes, evidence of sleepless nights and constant
831 crying. She had also regained the pinkish colour in her cheeks. For a
832 while she almost looked like someone had sucked all the energy from her
833 body. She was slowly regaining her strength, and just looking at her
834 face proved that.
836 Suddenly there was a bright flash in the sky, and a magnificent
837 winged horse came flying down, a man with white hair on his back. Small
838 Lady could only gasp at the beauty of the scene as leaves and flower
839 petals swirled around the horse and rider. The man held his hand out to
840 help her climb on. Once she was safely on the back of the steed, the
841 horse rose with a great flapping of his wings, and disappeared just as
842 quickly as he came.
844 Small Lady had closed her eyes in fright, but slowly began to open
845 them. She looked in shock as the scenery around her had completely
846 changed, revealing a mystical world full of great forests, lakes, and
847 many animals. She could just make out a palace of sorts coming into
848 view over the horizon. As she got closer, she marveled at its Greek
849 style architecture, which consisted of a good many arches, stairways,
850 and pillars that formed a perfectly cylindrical structure. She also
851 noticed that it was in the middle of a lake, with no apparent ways of
852 getting to it, short of flying or teleporting.
854 Two figures with long flowing white hair done up in odango style
855 smiled and waved at her. She waved back and smiled brightly at them.
856 Her memories were really starting to come back to her now. She
857 remembered this place. It was once the Kingdom of which her Father was
858 the Prince. He still was, really, but he trusted Elios to take care of
859 things while he helped rule the Kingdom of the Moon.
861 "Mind if we go down for a bit?" her companion asked.
863 Small Lady suddenly realised she hadn't talked this whole time.
864 She was just taken in by the beauty of it all. "No, not all."
866 Pegasus circled the palatial structure once before coming in for a
867 landing. As Small Lady got off, she was greeted by the two miko. They
868 bowed to her and Elios, and she politely bowed in return. She looked
869 around her and became aware of many blossoming pink roses. Their scent
870 was very sweet, yet subtle at the same time.
872 "It's so nice to see you again," she said to the miko.
873 "Everything is bright and beautiful, and everyone seems so happy here."
875 "Well," said one of the miko, "this is the place where beautiful
876 dreams come true. It's only natural that the beauty of the place
877 reflects the beauty of the dreams."
879 "And we have you to thank for that," said Elios.
881 "Me? But it was Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion who sealed
882 off the power of Neherenia." She looked at her shoes. "I don't think I
883 did much."
885 "On the contrary! It was your beautiful dream that lead me to you
886 in the first place. Without that, everything would still be as it was
887 after the Dead Moon Circus destroyed everything."
889 Small Lady shuddered as she remembered how dark and full of
890 destruction this place had once been. "It's so good to know that
891 nothing like that will ever happen again. I swear it, as future Queen."
893 Elios smiled at her, and began to show her around the palace. All
894 through the day Small Lady was laughing and smiling, and actually
895 enjoying her time there. She made good friends with the two miko, and
896 promised to come back and see them again. After a long and tiring day,
897 Small Lady returned to the palace happy and content. She had good
898 dreams that night. The first good dreams she had had in two months.
900 ~*~*~*~*~
902 The next year passed quickly for everyone. Small Lady was dragged
903 slowly but surely out of her protective shell by her friends and family.
904 They were all healing, too, so it was hard, but no one had taken the
905 news of Saturn's death worse than Small Lady. Everyone was such a great
906 help to her, but she had one person in particular to thank for going
907 above and beyond the call of duty. Especially considering he hadn't
908 even known her for very long. Elios was such a great friend to her. He
909 really let her enjoy life again, and made a point of always trying to
910 get her to laugh or smile. He wanted her to feel happy, and like a
911 whole person again. Small Lady had responded well to his encouragement,
912 and after a few months, resumed her regular duties as Princess of the
913 Moon.
915 She owed a great debt to Elios, and really considered him a true
916 friend. The hole in her heart was still there. She knew it would
917 always be there no matter what, but the severe pain and constant
918 loneliness she had felt before were greatly reduced. She enjoyed his
919 company and spent a lot of time with him, including having him go with
920 her to official royal functions. She had also spent her vacation in
921 Elysion this year, and came back from that feeling better than ever.
922 Yes, Small Lady was building her life back up, and although she would
923 never completely be healed, it was Elios who she had to thank for a
924 large part of it.
926 ~*~*~*~*~
928 A pink haired women stared out a window, and looked at the many
929 evening lights shinning down on Crystal Tokyo harbour. Everything was
930 so calm and peaceful and beautiful. The scene held her gaze until a
931 voice brought her out of her reverie.
933 "Otome... Otome..."
935 "Huh?" Suddenly she snapped back into reality, and realised where
936 she was. They had gone to one of the fancier restaurants in Crystal
937 Tokyo that evening. The room was decorated in a 17th century France
938 design, with gold chandeliers hanging from high ceilings, ornate
939 carvings in the walls, many hanging tapestries, and blazing fireplaces
940 around the room. The restaurant was pretty full tonight, and many
941 couples were dancing to one of Mozart's symphonies being played by the
942 orchestra.
944 "Are you all right? You looked a little dazed there for a few
945 moments."
947 "Hai," she said smiling. "I was just admiring the beauty of this
948 city. I really love it here."
950 "Well, we haven't gone anywhere really nice in a while, so I
951 thought it would be good to come here tonight."
953 "Shitsurei shimasu," said the waiter as he cleared their dinner
954 plates. "Will you be having desert this evening?"
956 A joyous gleam came into Small Lady's eyes as she ordered for both
957 her and Elios.
959 "Would you like to dance for a while? I think this is one of your
960 favourites."
962 "Sure," replied Small Lady as she got up and took his offered
963 hand.
965 The two friends danced gracefully for the rest of the song. Some
966 of the other couples stared in awe as their Princess glided past them.
967 For most of them, this was the first time seeing her in person. Small
968 Lady realised her mother's genius in sending her to the past for her
969 formidable years. At least now she didn't have an inflated ego from all
970 this extra attention.
972 After the song ended, the pair sat back down at their table.
973 Their deserts had arrived while they were dancing, and Small Lady didn't
974 want to waste any time. She began quickly, but daintily, eating her
975 tiramisu. Elios just sat and smiled as he watched her eat.
977 Small Lady smiled happily as she finished off the last bite of her
978 desert and took a sip of wine. She looked across the table, and
979 realised she was being watched. A blush formed across her cheeks.
980 "Nani?" she asked hesitantly.
982 Elios shook his head. "Nandemonai." Several moments of silence
983 passed between the two. "Jitsuwa... There was something I wanted to
984 talk to you about."
986 "Okay, you know I'm always here to listen."
988 "Otome," said Elios looking her sincerely in the eyes, "you have
989 the most beautiful spirit of anyone I've ever met. Truly, you fill me
990 with happiness every time I meet you. Our time together over this past
991 year has been truly wonderful. I hope I've always been there when you
992 needed me to be. You have a right to know that....I've fallen in love
993 with you." Visible signs of shock could be seen in Small Lady's eyes.
994 "I don't want this to ever end, so I would be honoured if you would take
995 my hand in marriage." At that he produced a box from his pocket, and
996 handed it to Small Lady.
998 Small Lady stared at the box for several seconds before opening
999 it. Slowly she lifted the lid up, and revealed a single, brilliantly
1000 cut diamond in a setting on top of a gold ring. "Oh, Elios, I..."
1003 "Please, you don't have to give me your answer now. I can just
1004 imagine the million emotions that must be going through you right now.
1005 I just want to let you know that I didn't plan this all along. But it
1006 just came to the point several months ago where I couldn't ignore my
1007 feelings any longer. I love you and want to make you my wife. I don't
1008 want you to feel pressured at all. I want you to make a decision true
1009 to your heart, and I'm prepared to wait however long that takes.
1010 Please, just think about it." Elios smiled at her one last time, and
1011 then left Small Lady alone at the table. A single tear slowly fell down
1012 her face and onto the tablecloth.
1014 ~*~*~*~*~
1016 Small Lady paced nervously as she waited for them to arrive. She
1017 was waiting in one of her private chambers off from her room. She
1018 especially liked this one to read in. Most of the decor was pure white,
1019 with a few arrangements of flowers from the royal garden. It was a cozy
1020 room, but big enough to fit a dozen people conformably.
1022 The door opened, and in stepped her closest friends. The Sailor
1023 Quartet, followed by Diana in human form, Sailorpluto, and her parents.
1024 It was the day after the proposal, and she needed advice.
1026 "Small Lady?" asked Diana. "What's wrong? You look as if
1027 something terrible has just happened."
1029 "Well, I didn't get much sleep last night," she explained.
1030 "Something *did* happen yesterday. That's why I've called all of you
1031 here. Please, sit down. I've made tea."
1033 "Small Lady," said her mother sensing something different about
1034 her daughter, "what's the matter? You know we'll all help you with any
1035 problem you have."
1037 Small Lady began to cry. "Elios...yesterday at dinner...he...he
1038 asked me to marry him."
1040 Looks of shock were displayed around the room. Sailorceres looked
1041 crestfallen.
1043 "And how did you respond?" asked Diana carefully.
1045 "I haven't yet. He told me to think about it. Minna, doushiyou?"
1046 She ran up to Sailorpluto. "What should I tell him? You have to tell
1047 me, please?" She buried herself into Pluto's lap.
1049 "Small Lady," said Pluto as she stroked her hair, "we can't tell
1050 you what the right answer is. Only you know that."
1052 "Demo, demo, I don't know what to say," she said between sniffles.
1054 "Do you love him?" asked her father.
1056 "Love? I never even thought about it before with Elios. I've
1057 always enjoyed his company, and I'm very grateful to him for helping me
1058 get my life back together. But do I love him? Not in the same way that
1059 I love Saturn."
1061 "Do you feel like you would betray Saturn if you said yes?" asked
1062 Diana.
1064 That stopped Small Lady almost cold. That was the key to
1065 everything, she realised. That was why she was so upset in the first
1066 place. She didn't want to betray Saturn's trust. She didn't want to
1067 just throw away the love they shared. "How can I betray Saturn like
1068 this?" she asked with her tear-streaked face. "I can't! I just can't!"
1070 "Gomen, Small Lady," said Sailorvesta, "but wouldn't Sailorsaturn
1071 want you to be happy? I know she loved you so much that she cared about
1072 your happiness above all else. A life with Elios, depending on how you
1073 truly feel about him, could bring you much happiness. Living the rest
1074 of your life alone simply because of guilt could lead you into
1075 depression again."
1077 "We're not going to push you either way," said the Queen. "We
1078 want you to make the decision that's right for you. If you feel
1079 strongly that Saturn wouldn't approve of the relationship, then you have
1080 every right to say no. But if you come to the conclusion that you do
1081 love Elios, and think you would be happy sharing your life with him,
1082 then we would equally support you if you said yes. I've been told that
1083 you never feel the same type of love twice, so it's probably natural
1084 that you feel differently about Elios than you did about Saturn."
1086 Small Lady stood up and nodded. "Arigatou, minna. You've all
1087 given me a lot to think about. Now I know that no one can make this
1088 decision for me. I have to do that for myself. It may take some soul
1089 searching, but I'm sure I can make the right decision."
1091 ~*~*~*~*~
1093 "Yoshi!" said Small Lady as she finished packing a picnic lunch
1094 for herself. She loved how cute the bentou boxes looked tied up in
1095 handkerchiefs. As she left the palace, she said, "itte kimasu" to no
1096 one in particular, and made her way to a near-by park.
1098 It was a bit overcastted in Crystal Tokyo this day, but there were
1099 still plenty of people out and about having fun. Small Lady followed
1100 the now familiar path to a certain part of the park. When she got
1101 there, she was relieved to find that no one else was around. She went
1102 over to the base of the statue, and polished up the plaque. She
1103 breathed in a deep breath. This wasn't going to be easy.
1105 "So, you probably already know why I'm here." She appeared to be
1106 talking to herself, but she was really talking to the statue. Or
1107 rather, the spirit she believed resided in the statue. "I've come here
1108 to think out some confusing emotions. I love you. I always will love
1109 you. Nothing will *ever* change that. You're my taisetsu na hito. I
1110 don't want to betray you. That's my biggest fear. If I thought you
1111 would be against this, I would say no to Elios right this second. But
1112 I'm not sure you would be. I do remember that conversation we had
1113 several years ago. I think it ended in me getting very upset, and
1114 saying that neither of us would ever die, and that we'd be together
1115 forever. Shows how wrong I was, eh? I remember you telling me to be
1116 happy no matter what. And I've done a lot of thinking, and I think I
1117 can be happy with Elios. He was such a great friend to me after you
1118 died, and we became very close. Though I must admit that romantic
1119 thoughts about him never even popped into my mind until he proposed. I
1120 guess it was at that point where I realised that I really did care for
1121 him. Kami, that thought scared me out of my skin. After all, how could
1122 I care about anyone but you? In my long hours of thinking, I've come to
1123 the conclusion that I do love him, but in a very different way than I
1124 love you. He will never overshadow you in my heart. So, I guess I've
1125 made my decision. It was a very difficult one, but I think I've looked
1126 at all the issues and done what my heart has told me. Above all else, I
1127 hope I've done what you would have wanted me to do. Aishiteru eien ni."
1129 At those last words, Small Lady picked up her finished bentou
1130 boxes, and headed back to the palace.
1132 ~*~*~*~*~
1134 Elios stared out his window at the rain pelting down this dreary
1135 night. He ran a hand through his while hair and sighed. It had been a
1136 week since he had proposed to Small Lady. What her answer would be, he
1137 really wasn't quite sure. He knew they had grown close over the past
1138 year, but he could never quite tell what she was thinking. He hoped he
1139 hadn't ruined their friendship by proposing. But as the days dragged
1140 on, it seemed to him like he did just that, because he hadn't seen Small
1141 Lady at all since that night. He knew he must be patient, but this
1142 waiting was killing him.
1144 A soft knock at the door sounded.
1146 "Hai!" he said, getting up in the process. He walked over to the
1147 door, and said a silent prayer that it would be who he hoped. He opened
1148 the door.
1150 It was.
1152 "Yes."
1154 ~*~*~*~*~
1156 The wedding was one of the most extravagant events the Kingdom had
1157 seen in a few hundred years. People from all over the kingdom came to
1158 the event as well as some citizens of allied kingdoms. Billions of
1159 people lined up along the streets of Crystal Tokyo hoping to catch a
1160 glimpse of the happy couple, while billions more watched at home. The
1161 day was declared a kingdom wide holiday. After all, getting to work was
1162 quite impossible, and no one was going to do any business that day
1163 anyway.
1165 Flowers were absolutely everywhere. Pictures of the couple
1166 adorned billboards, video screens, newspapers, and countless other
1167 places. It got so bad that one couldn't turn around without seeing at
1168 least one picture of the couple. Of course, it was like this at every
1169 royal wedding.
1171 The ceremony was grand, and was performed by Neo Queen Serenity
1172 herself. It was held inside, but in one of the palace's large gardens.
1173 Aspects of a traditional Shintou wedding were still there, but wedding
1174 ceremonies had evolved from religion over the century, and were quite
1175 secular in nature.
1177 The bride wore a stunning white dress trimmed in lace and lilacs.
1178 It was off the shoulder and had a long veil and train. Her hair was out
1179 of its usual odango, and was allowed to hang long. It was done in
1180 flowing waves with lilacs interlaced in certain places to match her
1181 dress.
1183 The groom had on a dark blue tuxedo with tails. His vest and bow
1184 tie were both black. In his lapel there was a single pink rose.
1186 The maid of honour and the bride's maids had on matching light
1187 blue dresses. They were strapless flowing gowns that were also
1188 accentuated with lilacs. Diana, in her human form, looked stunning as
1189 the maid of honour, and the Quartet looked equally good as her bride's
1190 maids.
1192 The other Senshi wore their formal gowns to the occasion, and
1193 stood just off to the side. Behind them in rows of chairs sat one
1194 hundred invited guests. So, in a way, this was a very private ceremony,
1195 while at the same time being a very public one. Small Lady and Elios
1196 wrote their own vows, which also gave the ceremony a very personal
1197 touch.
1199 It was rumoured that the honeymoon was going to be on the
1200 continent of Europe, but some people said it might be Australia, India,
1201 or even the moon. The palace wanted to keep the location a secret to
1202 let the couple have a little time to themselves.
1204 The wedding presents the couple had received had been plentiful.
1205 >From cards and drawings sent in by the kingdom's populace to very
1206 personalised gifts given to them by the Senshi. The biggest surprise,
1207 though, had to be the gift the Queen and King gave their daughter and
1208 new husband. Before the ceremony was completed, the Queen proclaimed
1209 that she had one more announcement to make the wedding complete. She
1210 passed down the title of Queen of the Moon Kingdom to her daughter, and
1211 officially crowned her Queen Usagi Small Lady Serenity, Neo Queen
1212 Serenity II.
1214 Neo Queen Serenity, looking regal as ever, said to her daughter,
1215 "You have demonstrated unconditionally that you are ready to receive
1216 such a burden. You are full of love, life, compassion, understanding,
1217 and trust. You will make a wonderful queen. I'm so proud of you, my
1218 daughter."
1220 "Arigatou, mama," said the younger woman as tears of joy shed from
1221 her eyes as she wrapped her arms around her mother. Her youth was now
1222 officially over. Not only was she married, but she was the leader of
1223 her people, ruler of her kingdom, and the most powerful person in the
1224 galaxy.
1226 ~*~*~*~*~
1228 (Small Lady will now be referred to as Serenity.)
1230 The next year was a very interesting one. Not only did Serenity
1231 have to adapt to married life, but she also had to adapt to ruling a
1232 kingdom. She had watched her mother do it for centuries, of course, and
1233 she had been skilfully schooled on the subject, but she had also hit her
1234 share of rough spots. She often sought reassurance from the Quartet,
1235 Pluto, or her husband. She didn't want to bother her mother and father,
1236 now in retirement, with such things. Although, to her amazement,
1237 everything seemed to be going just fine. Trade was up with neighbouring
1238 kingdoms, and she had even negotiated an agreement of allegiance with
1239 the Torag people, a kingdom notorious for rejecting any sort of ties
1240 with the Moon Kingdom.
1242 Yes, things seemed to be going quite well for her. Except for
1243 that day in early September when she got unbelievably ill and had to
1244 stay in for most of the day. The royal team of doctors, headed by
1245 Sailormercury, examined her and told her the good news. She was
1246 pregnant.
1248 Joy absolutely filled the kingdom at this news. After all, it had
1249 been nearly 918 years since the last successor to the Moon Kingdom was
1250 born. Serenity was excited, but very apprehensive at the same time.
1251 What did she know about raising children? The thought crossed her mind
1252 to send her daughter (she knew it was going to be a daughter; it had to
1253 be a daughter) back to the past to be raised by her formal self or even
1254 farther into the past to have it raised by Tsukino Usagi, but that
1255 thought was brief, and she knew it would be impossible. Well, she
1256 thought, all new mothers must think the same thing. I'm just lucky to
1257 have such a supportive group of people around me to help out.
1259 Nine months later on June 30, 2919 a scream rang out in the halls
1260 of Crystal Palace. Another miracle had occurred. A chubby miracle
1261 weighing 3.2 kg, with pinkish skin, and silver hair.
1263 Princess Usagi Hotaru Serenity was born. No one minded that
1264 Hotaru, and ancient and almost forgotten name, was used as one of the
1265 Princess' middle names. It was seen as a dedication to one of the
1266 kingdom's most powerful and valiant warriors. Serenity was content.
1267 Now the memory wouldn't die away.
1269 ~*~*~*~*~
1271 "Mezame yo! Your time is now. Hametsu to tanjou no Senshi!"
1273 ~*~*~*~*~
1275 A figure slowly started to open her eyes. She realised she was
1276 lying down in a patch of grass and that it was night-time around her.
1277 The stars twinkled around her and the moon shone ever so brightly in the
1278 sky. She blinked a few times, stood up, and started walking in the
1279 general direction she thought would lead her where she wanted to go.
1281 ~*~*~*~*~
1283 It had only been a week since Serenity gave birth to Princess
1284 Usagi. She was *not* used to these midnight feedings yet. The amount
1285 of sleep she had lost had been astounding. Elios was great, but he
1286 couldn't get up all the time.
1288 "There there, Usagi-chan," she said soothingly. She began to sing
1289 softly. "GOMEN ne sunao ja nakute, yume no naka nara ieru, shikou kairu
1290 wa SHOOTO sunzen, ima sugu aitai yo..." The baby stopped her soft
1291 crying and went back to her restful slumber. "Yokkata na. Yoshi
1292 yoshi." She laid her daughter back into her crib. She turned around to
1293 go back to the near-by bed when she sensed something wasn't right.
1295 The overwhelming feeling brought her down the corridor adjoining
1296 her room, through the palace's many hallways, and out of the palace
1297 completely and into the cool night air. She sensed someone was close.
1298 Someone familiar.
1300 "Dare yo!" she almost demanded.
1302 A figure stepped out from behind some bushes with a very weary
1303 look on her face. She was faintly glowing purple.
1305 "Small Lady..."
1307 Serenity brought a hand to her mouth and went white as a ghost.
1308 "Uso. Saturn..."
1310 ~*~*~*~*~
1312 How's that for an evil cliff-hanger, eh? ^_- Part 4 ni tsuzuku!
1314 Wow, so, um, this was a long time coming. Sorry about that. I
1315 started writing it in August (of '98) and continued to write bits and
1316 pieces throughout the year. Today, though, I gathered up my resolve and
1317 attacked the rest of it. I wrote about 1/3 today in about seven hours.
1319 Some of you are going to wonder, so I might as well say it right
1320 now. Yes, in Mars & Venus and Jupiter & Mercury are lovers. Takeuchi-
1321 sensei actually gives a lot more evidence for these pairings than she
1322 does for Chibiusa and Hotaru, and I like them, so I included them. ^_^
1324 Some more of you might be thinking, "why did she go to all that
1325 trouble to put Hotaru and Chibiusa together and then have Chibiusa marry
1326 Elios anyway?!?" Well, you'd have a point, but this was the way I had
1327 pictured the story, so this is the way I wrote it. And I may not like
1328 this fact anymore than you do, but a story has to have conflict, right?
1329 ^_^;;
1331 Oh, just a note about Neo Queen Serenity handing down the throne
1332 to Princess Serenity. She didn't do this just because the princess was
1333 getting married. I, as a feminist, find that prospect abhorrent. She
1334 did it at the wedding because it was convenient, and also because she
1335 thought it would make a good wedding gift. She would have handed down
1336 the throne regardless of whether the princess got married.
1338 Well, I hope you liked this chapter of the fanfic. You may have
1339 started to hate me as soon as I killed off Saturn (gya, that sounds
1340 really bad...), but I hope the story remained interesting. All I have
1341 to say is that you'll probably like the next and final chapter a whole
1342 lot better. Yakusoku yo!
1344 Special thanks to the Amazoness Duo (er, Quartet?) for keeping me
1345 motivated while writing this. I know you disagree with certain plot
1346 points, but I hope you liked the story anyway. ^^;; For good Hotaru and
1347 Chibiusa fanfiction, check them out at A Sailor Moon Romance (sure,
1348 they're lemons, but they're happy lemons ^^). ^_^
1350 Contact information: andrea.doolan@utoronto.ca
1352 Music I was listening to while writing this: a whole bunch of
1353 stuff. For the last seven hours, though, I've been listening to Shoujo
1354 Kakumei Utena OST 2.
1356 Completed: June 25, 1999.