Disclaimer: Neither Bree (co-writer) nor I (Dragon) own Sailor Moon or its wonderful characters. That right belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha, and affiliates. However, the Star Senshi and Titan Sphere belong to Bree; please do not use them without her permission.

Author Note: This is a Joint Fanfiction written by Bree Noelle and myself (Dragon) and will be taking place right at the beginning of Crystal Tokyo. Just about all of our loved, Sailor Moon characters will have a part in this story, which will be filled with romance and adventure. The story is rated M for future chapters which may/will contain violence, sexual content, language, and nudity. We accept all reviews, and gladly, but will report abuse in a heartbeat if it is given. Constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated. If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail me and I will relay them to Bree. Also, I have added some information at the bottom to help explain terms that may be seen throughout this story; as well as a Dictionary/Translation section to help with any words that may be hard to understand (or Japanese terms that may need English translation).

A New Kingdom and New Responsibilities

At last the time had come for her to set side her Senshi persona and take on a new role in the world. Serenity surveyed the land before her, taking in the new growth and beautiful landscape that had suddenly appeared when they had released the people from their frozen state a month ago. Helios had explained that Elysion, long dormant beneath the earth's
crust, had been set free to thrust itself into the new world. With it had come the remnants of the Earth Palace, rising up right behind Tokyo Tower and somehow melding with the tower to create a new and wondrous palace of crystal. Having been using the Ginzinshou for so many years, Serenity had recognized the power that made such a transformation possible and rejoiced in its use. There was still some work to be finished on their new home, but that could be done by hired workers and the Senshi.

"It's so amazing..." the new Queen turned at the sound of a familiar voice and gave her dear friend a bright smile.

"Yes it is, Mina-chan..." she offered, turning her gaze back to the expansive, crystal window. It ran the entire length of her bower, letting in the brilliant sunlight and giving them the perfect view of the city below and the ocean beyond. That ocean, according to many tests, was cleaner than it had ever been before...scientists were left dumbfounded at its clarity, claiming that the last time it had been so clean and unpolluted would have been before the dawn of man. It was just one of the many miracles Serenity and Endymion had given to their people when they rose to the thrown. Clean air and lush vegetation had been another...dying forests had been repopulated with trees and wildlife all over the world, and all the rivers and lakes had been made clear and clean. It was as if the slate of the world had been wiped clean to start anew.

"I'm still wondering how all this was possible...I mean, I know it was the combined power of the Ginzinshou and Golden Crystal, but it still seems as if there was more at work in the cleansing of the land and the people." Serenity sighed softly, turning from the window to walk deeper into her bower, hands held almost protectively over her belly. The room was filled with soft, comfortable places to sit and recline, with little tables set at nearly every chair, and was decorated with swaths of white, yellow, and pink; her favorite colors. They draped against the walls, allowing a homey, comfortable feel to the room. It was her personal place, meant entirely for entertaining close friends and family.

She moved to her favorite chair, a divan of pale pink fabric decorated with white bunnies with cushions that simply embraced her in comfort; the decoration reminded her of the simpler times of her youth. "Where are the others?" she asked, leaning against the soft, silken cushions with a sigh. Absently she played with her long skirt, fanning the fabric out around her legs with one hand, while the other rubbed at her slim tummy. She was only a month pregnant, so wasn't showing, but she could still feel the spark of life within her.

"Mostly exploring the palace...though I know Rei went to the Shrine..."

"How is Onjii-san doing?" the Queen's blue eyes shot up, concern etched in her face.

"As well as can be expected...Rei and Ami both say he doesn't have much more time...but Onjii-san insists he's lived a long and full life, and he's seen one of his greatest dreams come true; that's all he needs..."

"He means the peace, doesn't he? I've heard that from a lot of the older generation..."

"Mmmhmm..." the blond smiled softly from her own chair and absently played with the top skirt of her fuku. "It's a dream come true, really...I mean, I know we always knew this day would come; but to actually see it!" the woman shook her head, the smile on her face somewhat bewildered.

"I know what you mean, Mina-chan...but there's still so much that needs to be done. The people have taken the changes in stride, but I know there are still questions."

"Like 'what happened to all the convicts of the world? What happened to my neighbor from down the street? Why has the population been cut in half?'" Venus gave a heavy sigh.

"Those...and so many others. I know the people we have here are all inherently good, but they still wonder...they still don't fully understand what's happened. Perhaps someday the questions will stop, but for now we have to deal with them..."

"I know...it's why we're still here!" the Senshi leaned forward, patting her monarch on the knee as if she were a child. Serenity smiled in return, clasping her own, slender hand over that of the blonde's.

"Thanks, Mina-chan...I don't know what I would have done without you all. The presence of the Senshi has been, by far, the most relaxing to the populace. Seeing you by my side gives them hope...they've always known the Senshi would protect them, and seeing you actively involved in the kingdom helps them to realize what's happening is good."

"I've noticed that...we all have. The only time it get's annoying is when they bombard us with questions..or attempt to corner us. I know Uranus has had that problem several times."

"It wouldn't be a problem if she could handle people a little better." The queen grinned, her blue eyes sparkling.

"It's just the stupid people she has a problem with. And I can understand that thought process! Mars is the same way..."

"I think, over time, they'll stop asking stupid questions and move onto living their lives. Things are just so brand new...it's hard to adjust."

"I suppose you're right...anyway, I was supposed to be fetching you for a meeting. There's a delegation here from America..."

"Ah! I've been waiting for them...is Mamo-chan already meeting with them?" She used the kings old pet-name, as she used all her Senshi's, civilian nick-names when they were alone. It was her way of holding onto something of their recent past.

"Hai, he sent me to get you. We should hurry..." the blond rose to her feet, holding out her gloved hand to help the Queen to hers, then turned to lead the woman out of the bower. Her heels clicked on the crystal floor as they made their way down the hall and to the meeting room. It didn't take them long to get there, and Venus was quick to open the door for her monarch. The moment Serenity entered the room Endymion was on his feet, and the others followed suit to bow to the new Queen.

"My Queen, these are the men from America. They wish to discuss the Alliance." Endymion offered, giving his love a bright smile.

"That's wonderful." Serenity turned to the men in the room and gave them a radiant smile. "Please, sit...it's going to be a long discussion. Venus, will you please have one of the workers bring us some refreshment?"

"Of course, Heika. Did you need me to stay for the meeting?"

"No, I don't think so...we should be fine."

"Very well. Good day, Heika, gentleman." the woman gave the room a respectful bow, then shut the door behind her as she left. She gave the order of refreshment to the first servant she saw, then made her way out of the main hall and toward the Gardens.

"I hate that they don't keep us near them..." the voice was masculine and came up on her right; she didn't bother glancing at him.

"Why is that, Kunzite-san?"

"It seems dangerous, to leave them alone like that..."

"They are not alone. There are Guards in that room to protect them, not to mention the presence of Luna-chan and Artemis-chan. Besides, Serenity-Hieka and Endymion-Hieka can handle themselves in any situation..."

"But they shouldn't. A Monarch shouldn't have to lift his or her hand in battle..."

"I doubt there will be battle with the delegates from America. You seem to forget that those with evil intentions were wiped out when Serenity-Hieka and Endymion-Hieka woke the planet..." she wasn't surprised when he didn't respond, often his silence was a sign of concession, or a sign that he was thinking carefully about what he had just heard. She wasn't sure which it was this time, but she had a feeling he was thinking over her words.

"So, where are you headed?" the man was good at changing the subject and Venus had to force back the smile that wanted to come to her lips.

"I was going to the gardens to meet with Jupiter-chan...that's the last place I saw her." she glanced his way, noting the calm and unreadable expression on his face and wishing she could look into his eyes; he could never hide his emotion from her when she looked into his eyes. 'That was a long time ago...you shouldn't think about it...' she scolded herself, turning her attention back to the hall before them. The walls were filled with huge windows that looked out on the expansive gardens which had appeared right in the center courtyard of the palace. It allowed for a place of tranquility and peace in their rather hectic lives.

"Might I join you?" Kunzite glanced her way, uncertain if he was really welcome. In reality, he knew that they were meant to be there. Endymion and Serenity had welcomed them into their lives with open arms. The fact that they were here proved that they were no longer influenced by any negative energy or thought, but the Senshi...they all seemed to hold grudges.

"It's a free world..." Venus offered with a shrug, stopping only long enough to open the double doors that lead into the main section of the gardens. She didn't get a chance to do that, however, for Kunzite had moved forward quickly to open the door for her. She gave him a nod of thanks, holding back another smile, and stepped onto the cobbled walkway. It wasn't long before he stepped into place beside her once more, his white boots clicking in time with hers.

"So...how have you adjusted to life at the palace?" Venus felt it was her place to ask. While she still wasn't sure what to do about Kunzite or the other Shitennou, she did try to be civil to them.

"As well as can be expected, I suppose. It's strange to be back in these halls after everything that happened..."

"I can only imagine..." they passed beneath a canopy of cherry trees, pink blossoms littered the path beneath them and softened their steps. The whole atmosphere was calm, cheerful...almost romantic. 'Stop that, Minako!' she thought to herself, shoving any thoughts of romance aside.

"And what of you, Venus-san? Have you adjusted well to this new life?"

"I suppose...it's different, but welcome." there was more she might have said, if she'd been more comfortable with the taller man; but she wasn't. Not yet...none of them were. Silence ascended around them once again, filled only with the sound of birdsong and the rustling of the plants in the gentle breeze.

"So...where are we going?"

"The hot house...Jupiter-chan said she'd be going there. It's just around this corner..." she nodded toward a bend in the path up ahead, then quickened her pace. Perhaps when she was in Makoto's presence, she'd feel more at ease.

The moment they walked into the glass structure, they were hit with overwhelming warmth and humidity. The whole purpose of this particular green house was to allow a thriving population of tropical plants and animals...it was something Makoto had shown an interest in as of late. There was a section of the large, glass structure that was cooler, and
it was meant mostly for growing herbs, fruits, and vegetables that didn't thrive well in heat and moisture. Walking down the main path of the gardens, Venus lead Kunzite beneath a vast canopy of ferns and trees; it was something you'd see in a rain forest, especially these days. There was even a small area that had pineapple and coconut trees closer to the glass on their right. Exotic birds called from the canopy, and Venus once more wondered how this whole thing had been managed.

They came to another door, this one leading into the cooler air. Once more Kunzite opened the door for her, and she didn't argue against it. Let him play the gentleman, he was good at it and it made him feel better about himself.

"Jupiter-chan? Are you in here?" Venus called into the greenery, hoping she wouldn't have to go searching too far for the brunette.

"Here! I'm tending the strawberries..." came the quick reply. With a destination in mind, Venus made her way down one of the many columns of plants to the back section where the fruits were being grown. Sure enough, there was the woman she'd been looking for kneeling on the ground, her hands covered in dirt. Unlike the blonde, she was not in the eye of the public and so was not transformed.

"I'm glad to see you're wearing gloves..." Venus offered, grinning down at her long-time friend. The brunette smiled and wiped sweat from her brow with her arm (the only thing not covered in dirt) before sitting up and turning her green eyes on her visitors. Seeing Kunzite, the smile faded only slightly.

"I didn't want to ruin my nails..." she offered the blonde with a genuine smile. "Help me up." Makoto offered her hand and Venus was quick to comply, lifting the taller woman to her feet.

"Good afternoon, Kunzite-san." Makoto gave him a quick nod, unsure why he was there. She could only assume he was still trying to win Minako's favor. Nephrite had been doing the same with her for the last month...ever since they're arrival, really. While part of her enjoyed the little banter he offered, their was still a deeply rooted part of her heart that couldn't forget the betrayal of old. 'Then again, were we so different?' It was these thoughts that kept her up at night and brought guilt to her heart.

"Good afternoon, Makoto-san..." Kunzite could only be grateful they even let them use their first names when in their civilian forms. It was hard, often he wanted to simply use their Senshi Titles, but he felt that getting on a first-name basis would help ease the tension. "You're gardens are lovely, as ever..."

"Thanks, the aphids think so, too...I've already invested in a huge batch of ladybugs to get rid of them."

"Does that work?" Venus asked, feeling somewhat out of her depth. She was not the floral or fauna expert that Makoto was.

"Mmmhmm...They eat the aphids, along with other bugs, which means the aphids wont be eating my plants." the woman had moved into the shop-area which housed all her gardening tools. This was a much smaller room than the larger shed the regular garden workers used; that shed was located outside of the hot house, near the palace. With a sigh the brunette removed her gloves, beating them on the wall to remove access dirt. She then put them away along with the rest of her tools, and turned back to her visitors. "I was really just finishing up...was there something you needed, V-chan?"

"Not really. Serenity-heika and Endymion-heika are meeting with the American delegates and I was sent out of the room. Thought I'd see if you needed a hand...guess I'm a little bored."

"Ah...where is Rei-chan?"

"At the Shrine..." there was a moment of silence after this statement and Makoto gave a simple nod, her expression somewhat sad. Then she took a breath and let it out.

"And Ami-chan is at the university...I swear that girl is going to run herself ragged." Makoto grinned, her green eyes shining.

"Probably, but she'll enjoy herself doing so."

"That leaves you and me...what about Haruka-chan and Michiru-chan?" the brunette asked, the grin lingering on her face.

"Not sure where they went...probably steeling some alone time. Hotaru-chan's at school, too...she and Ami-chan are almost one of a kind in that regard."

"At least Hotaru-chan maintains a semi-normal, teenage life..." Makoto chuckled, then motioned for them to head out of the shop.

"True! In any case, we're pretty much off duty, at this point..." Venus gave a bright smile, shaking her head. "I was thinking about doing some shopping."

"OH! I haven't been shopping in ages! If you don't mind the company, I'll join you!"

"Mind? How can I mind! I need the company!" Venus giggled softly, following Makoto out of the room and back the way they came. They seemed to have forgotten about Kunzite, entirely. The silver-haired man followed diligently after them, maintaining his silence. He could understand their reluctance to include him in the conversation. They were good friends, almost like siblings, while he was more of an intruder...especially after all they'd been through in the past. It was a wonder they'd been accepted at all. When they made their way back into the main garden, Kunzite slipped down an opposite path to give them their privacy. Perhaps it was better this way; if he maintained professional distance he might win Minako's favor, again...

Once she was certain Kunzite was gone, Venus gave a soft sigh and glanced over her shoulder, feeling guilty yet again. "I hate it too, V-chan..." Makoto offered, her voice suddenly soft. "Every time Nephrite-san tries to talk to me I feel torn between ignoring him and spending time with him. Then again, I can only imagine what it might be like for you...you and Kunzite-san actually have a past! I only met Nephrite-san once before he killed me on the Moon..."

"I just wish I could get over this...pain. Every time I look at Kunzite-san all I see is the image of him thrusting that sword into my gut, that twisted smile upon his face. And the words...the words he whispered to me in that moment...they still haunt my dreams." The blond had stopped walking and now stood, her hands clenched into tight fists at her sides. Makoto gave her an understanding glance and quickly embraced her.

"I know...believe me, I know...I feel the same. But...I suppose we need to find some way of getting over it. I mean, they weren't themselves and...and if they were evil now, they wouldn't even be here. They were given a second chance, just like we were after Galaxia-san..."

"Yeah...I know..." the blond buried her face in the brunette's shoulder, breathing in the scent of her shampoo. She smelled of roses and lilacs, and somehow that was soothing. For a moment they simply embraced, then the blonde pulled back to wipe the tears from her eyes.

"Look at me, crying over this! I really need a break...let's get out of here and go shopping. I really did want to do that."

"Me too...but you'll have to drop that outfit." Makoto gave her a shaky smile, tears shining in her own eyes, and waited while Minako dispersed her transformation. She averted her eyes as the transformation left her, briefly leaving the blond nude before her usual, civilian attire came to her body. Once Minako had fully dropped her transformation, Makoto took her arm and lead her out of the gardens and back toward the palace.

Explanation of Honorifics in Japanese Speech

In Japanese speech honorifics are always used when addressing friends, family, co-workers, and even strangers. The following terms are most-commonly used.

-san is a title of respect and is the most often used honorific. It is used for the surnames or given names of both males and females. Although in translation san is usually rendered as a common courtesy title like "Mr." or "Ms.", unlike these it is never used in self-reference. Using san to refer to oneself makes one appear childish or incredibly vain.

-kun is an informal honorific primarily used towards males (it is still used towards females, but rarely). It is used by persons of senior status in addressing those of junior status, by males of roughly the same age and status when addressing each other, and by anyone in addressing male children.

-chan is an informal version of san used to address children and female family members. It may also be used towards animals, lovers, intimate friends, and people whom one has known since childhood. Chan continues to be used as a term of endearment, especially for girls, into adulthood. Parents will probably always call their daughters chan and their sons kun, though chan can be used towards boys just as easily. Adults may use chan as a term of endearment to women with whom they are on close terms.

-hieka is affixed to the end of a royal title, with a meaning similar to "Majesty" reserved for reigning sovereigns. It can also be used by itself as a direct term of address, similar to "Your Majesty"

Dropping the honorific on a name, even with close friends, is usually considered an insult or extremely derogatory as it suggests you have no respect for that person.

Dictionary/Translations

Bower: A chamber in a medieval castle meant specifically for the 'Lady of the House' to entertain guests and her own ladies in waiting. It is supposed to be a place of sanctuary for the women of the household since the men of the household would rarely choose to go there.

Fuku: means outfit, though is often used to describe the Sailor Outfits used as school uniforms in Japenese schools. The Senshi outfits were tailored after these school uniforms.