Title: Sailor Diamonds: Painful Knowledge (Part I)
Author: Raya
Theme: Setsuna (Optional: "Only Time" by Enya)
Genre: General / Drama
Version: PGSM (Moon Kingdom)
Rating: G

Disclaimer: Sailor Saturn, Sailor Pluto, Princess/Queen Serenity, and Princess Serenity were created by Takeuchi Naoko. I have merely created hasty fanart paperdolls to play with for a while.

Canon, spelling, grammar, and punctuation corrections are appreciated. So is constructive criticism and general comments. Please let me know if you see something that you like or that should be corrected. Thanks! - Raya

Sailor Diamonds: Painful Knowledge

"She is coming." Sailor Saturn's disembodied voice echoed through the crystalline chamber. Curious, Pluto listened for the Queen's footsteps. When she heard nothing, she turned to look inquiringly at the ghost.

Sailor Saturn gave her a faint smile, and then reached out to brush the highest Sailor Diamond, the one which represented Sailor Moon and the Bearer of the Blessed Stone. Frowning, Pluto glided across the chamber and looked at it more closely. The dark, pink colored flicker deep in its heart made her squeeze her eyes, look again more closely, and gasp.

A swirling whirl of emotions slowly spun their way out of her heart and gut. Joy. The light of her world was returning. Sorrow. Her mistress' life was rarely happy even though she deserved all the happiness she could bear. Eager anticipation. It had been so long since the true ruler of the system had walked her realms; so long since she had graced her Guardians with her power. Fear. That power was a two edged sword, cutting as readily as it healed. Excitement, dread, longing, and a whole host of lesser emotions that she could not put a name to.

Looking into Sailor Saturn's transparent grey eyes, she saw the same confusing swirl of emotions. "She is coming," the smaller woman said again as she caressed the Diamond.

Pluto looked at the Diamond again, something about the flicker teasing at her memory. "But not soon," she said slowly. She turned to look at the other Diamonds, and nodded as she found them still dormant. "Not soon."


"Guardian?"

Pluto turned at the soft sound, and smiled at the small woman standing in the doorway of the shrine. "Queen Selene! Welcome. And who have we here?"

The small, fine boned queen entered the chamber slowly and carefully. Pluto frowned and flicked a glance at Sailor Saturn. The other senshi nodded, looking just as worried. "Please, Majesty, sit down," Pluto said, gesturing to the small crystalline ledge her partner had summoned out of the far wall. Queen Selene looked at it in surprise, and then sank gratefully onto the ledge.

"I am fine, really," the queen insisted, sounding a bit exasperated and stubborn. "I'm still recovering from the birthing, that's all." She smiled down at the small bundle in her arms. "Yes," she cooed to the tiny baby, "it's all your fault that I'm so sore and tired. But I forgive you, my darling Serenity."

She looked up at the hooded woman in front of her, still smiling. "Guardians, this is my daughter and heir, Princess Serenity."

"Greetings, Princess," Pluto replied. She reached out and gently brushed the crown of the child's head. "A long and prosperous life to you," she murmured, invoking the traditional blessing for the Guardians of the Stars.

"A long and prosperous life, Princess," Sailor Saturn echoed as she, too, brushed the baby's head. When the child did not react to her touch, she looked a little disappointed and retreated slightly. Pluto gave her a sympathetic look, and then began to question the queen about the tiny princess.

Sailor Saturn drifted across the room and looked at the Sailor Diamonds. They had not changed, the flicker deep in the heart of Moon's Diamond still as faint and distant as when she had first noticed it nine months before. It looked like Pluto was right, as usual. Their mistress would not be coming soon.