Good news, I'm back from the dead. Thanks to the reviews and follows I've gotten while dormant... you were the motivation I needed to pick this up again.

Enjoy!


Seiya sat quietly at the table; elbows propped up and chin in her hands, staring blankly into the space at the bottom of her breakfast bowl. It was strange to her to have time off and even stranger to be in civilian form, yet here she was. As a guardian to the Princess, "off-duty" was practically a myth. Danger could come at any moment, and the Starlights needed to be on guard and prepared at all times.

Of course, if guarding a princess was how she would describe her job, perhaps Seiya wasn't off duty after all.

She looked up from her dish to watch Serenity, sitting across from her at the dining table. The moon princess ate slowly, inspecting every bite before taking it, and savoring each flavor before taking another. She had obviously lost the ferocious appetite of Usagi, but something about the way she ate still bothered Seiya. It was almost out of politeness, as though the princess had no appetite at all but felt bad not eating what was put in front of her.

Kakyuu's chef did the best he could to match a traditional Earth breakfast, putting together fluffy pastries similar to pancakes topped with fresh fruits from Kinmoku. Serenity must have noticed the anxiousness of the chef and wanted to appreciate his efforts.

On one hand, Seiya didn't want her to feel obligated to eat just to be polite. On the other hand Serenity's body needed to slowly become accustomed to food again, as Korina had explained.

Seiya reached across the table and brushed the back of Serenity's pale hand. "Please don't over eat, you'll feel sick later."

Wide eyes shot up to meet Seiya's, surprised at the sudden sound in the quiet room. She offered a small smile and nodded, set her spoon down with a soft clink, and picked up her cup of tea to sip on.

Just the day before, Seiya had seen that same expression when Serenity woke up in the medical wing. She was sluggish and confused, but as she looked around at all the people by her bedside her eyes clearly held recognition. It wasn't much, but it was enough for Seiya to become hopeful.

Korina, ever the nurse, had skirted to her side to check Serenity's vitals and prop her up with a pillow. Serenity tried to decline the water she offered, but her scout was insistent and eventually had her way. The Kinmokian nurse assigned to Serenity's room stood to the side, as Korina was unwilling to let her help.

Helios stepped forward and asked her a couple gentle questions; how she was feeling, if she was hungry… Between answers, Serenity kept glancing between the three Starlights.

"Do you remember them?" Korina finally asked.

The room went silent, waiting on the moon princess's response. She pressed her lips together, looking at her scout as if this were a strange question to be asking. "Of course, why wouldn't I? We are old friends."

Serenity set her tea cup down, just loud enough to pull Seiya back to attention. Her blue eyes were downcast, confused, as she absentmindedly twirled a few stray hairs between her fingers.

"Would you like to go for a walk?" the question jumped from Seiya's throat before she knew it was there.

Now nervous blue eyes flashed up to his, flickering to the door and back. "I… yes, but… do I not need a scout to accompany me?"

Seiya chucked and rose from her seat, standing next to Serenity with a hand offered to her. "I am a scout, remember?"

"Right…" Serenity nodded slowly and accepted the outstretched hand. She felt her hand settle in the crook of Seiya's elbow and let the taller girl lead her through the halls. "Where are we going?" She asked after several minutes of silence.

"I haven't decided yet."

And so they continued in silence; Serenity quietly observing her surroundings and Seiya quietly observing her. It was odd seeing her in a Kinmoku-style kimono. The lightweight piece that Kakyuu lent her was a pale pink with navy details, and the colors contrasted with Serenity's pallor skin without making her appear ghostly.

Each time their travels crossed paths with someone else Serenity offered a polite curtsey in greeting but nothing else. She did not speak unless someone asked her a direct question, and even then her responses were short yet courteous.

The regality of her movements were unlike anything Usagi ever actively showed. Once or twice, Sailor Moon might have hinted at her own upbringing, but Usagi was too carefree, too young at heart to be restrained by the stiff posture of royalty. The sharp contrast between the Usagi of Seiya's memories and the princess in front of her now was painful.

Seiya was no stranger to conditioning. While her own experiences stemmed from senshi training, she could see the similarities in Serenity's newfound persona. Mechanical motions done properly, at the appropriate times, not because Serenity wanted to be polite for herself but because she knew she should be. It sent a mix of emotions straight to Seiya's core… most of which were too strong to discern from each other.

Confusion was most prominent. Seiya was more than aware of her own lack of understanding of what had happened. She knew the main points: Prince Diamond, the other scouts' fates, Serenity's false memories… but she couldn't get the details out of anyone. For obvious reasons Serenity couldn't help in this area, but the other two didn't seem entirely keep on sharing either. While the boy Helios didn't seem to mind filling everyone else in, he hesitated to go against the girl's orders.

Korina. Part of Seiya felt bad for the girl, thrown into the forefront of a losing war at entirely too young an age. Her eyes betrayed too much experience for the youthfulness still showing on her face. No matter how this all ended, she already lost her own battle.

The other part of Seiya, however, was frustrated. Why so secretive? Why not explain the situation? What was she hiding? What was the benefit to keeping everyone else in the dark? There were times when Seiya didn't even believe Helios knew the whole story.

Yet it was hard for Seiya to feel any ill will towards a sol senshi so dedicated to her princess. During the night, as Seiya slept on the ground outside Serenity's door in case she needed anything, Korina stopped by several times to check on the princess. The first time Korina came by, she accidentally woke Seiya up but gave her little more than a silent stare and apologetic nod. The second time she came around, however, she brought a pillow and blanket and wordlessly tucked them around the sleeping senshi so she would be more comfortable.

Seiya pulled open an ornate, transparent door and held it for Serenity to exit first. The side entrance opened to a path set entirely by small pebbles of various colors leading down a small hill and into an expanse of lush plants.

"The royal family used to keep this area as their private garden," Seiya explained, "But after the war, we opened it up as a public park. It became a sort of memorial space for all the loved ones we lost in Galaxia's attacks."

"Galaxia…?" Serenity murmured, perplexed.

After a moment's hesitation, Seiya decided to press on. "Do you remember fighting her? We came to Earth looking for our princess and you helped us to defeat Galaxia."

Serenity motioned towards a marble bench, and the two sat down. She thought for a long time before answering. "I don't remember helping you find Princess Kakyuu… but I do remember you fighting Galaxia for the last time. I remember protecting a child."

"Chibi Chibi?"

A frown settled among Serenity's features. "Was that her name? It was so long ago; I don't quite remember."

Seiya nodded, letting the two of them slip into a comfortable silence. Since she woke, conversations with Serenity about her memories were confusing at best. Sometimes she remembered people and events, other times she recalled nothing at all.

"Scrambled is the best word for it." Korina explained to the group after they left Serenity to rest for the evening. "I was able to get a glimpse back in Crystal Tokyo. Diamond was trying to alter her existing memories to create a continuity with the future he had created, but he wasn't able to finish before we pulled her out of the coma."

"She seems to remember us pretty well?" Yaten pressed.

"Would Diamond have any reason to know about the time she spent with the three of you?"

Yaten shook her head. "I don't think so."

"Then I don't think he knew those memories even existed, or needed to be changed. Some of the memories she kept of you three might not make sense or fit with her new memories."

"Do you think bringing up the times we had would help? Or jog the rest of her memory in some way?" Seiya stepped in, hopeful with this new idea.

"I'm not sure…" Korina's shoulders drooped slightly. "I don't really know the extent of Diamond's power, to say whether or not the changes he made are… permanent."

Helios spoke up suddenly. "I think it could work. When I visited her in the dreams, talking about the scouts almost had that effect sometimes."

Seiya noticed the odd glance Korina sent Helios as he spoke, as though she was reminded again of the boy's skills. Seiya also couldn't help but note the slightest of smiles on the scout, happy that Helios had spoken up.

A few children ran the length of the path in front of them, and Serenity smiled watching them. When it came to her memory, a few important trends were starting to make themselves known. There were no memories of her as Sailor Moon, and there was no mention of Mamoru. Seiya was scared to bring up her betrothed, worried that the princess would react badly to it if she didn't remember, but she was also immensely curious as to whether or not the memory of him existed at all.

Still, she settled on not bringing him up.

"What were those kids eating?" Serenity turned to ask, a glimmer of youthfulness sparking deep in her blue eyes.

A smile slowly spread across Seiya's face. "Come with me." She pulled the princess to her feet and, hand in hand, led her along a couple pebble trails to a string of booths at the edge of the park.

When the kids ran by, Seiya hadn't really registered the blue pastry-looking confection they had been holding until Serenity mentioned it. Never one to pass up sweets herself, Seiya was elated at the idea.

The two girls filed in line behind a young family standing by one of the booths. "This is the only place in the city that sells that particular sweet…" Seiya explained.

Serenity got up on her toes trying to peer around the shoulder of the lady in front of her, an intrigued look playing her features.

"…It's almost a cross between cotton candy and ice cream. Well, no not quite…" Seiya paused, stumbling over how to describe the candy to the young princess in a way she could relate to. "It's flaky, sort of like a croissant, but sweet and cold and melts like ice cream?"

Blue eyes turned to Seiya with more question than answers.

"Do you remember those foods?"

"What is it called?" Serenity asked instead, either ignoring Seiya's question completely or too consumed by curiosity to answer.

"Fairy Rolls."

The family ahead of them cleared to the side, giving Serenity a full view of the stand and the machine responsible for the colorful sugared concoctions. She slowly, methodically, stepped towards the stand and the display of rolls hiding behind a clear screen. With her forehead and hands pressed up against the glass, a smile making its way across her face, Serenity was completely enamored.

And Seiya finally, finally, believed that Usagi was still with her.

"Would you like one?" Seiya asked.

Serenity nodded wordlessly, never taking her eyes off the rolls.

Seiya ordered three rolls in different flavors, unsure which ones the princess would like since the options weren't anything she would be familiar with. After paying and gathering the treats, she led Serenity to a nearby stone bench.

"Here." Seiya handed her the blue one – the specific one that Serenity saw the kids running with – to try.

She took it graciously and nodded a thanks but didn't bite into it immediately, instead watching Seiya hold the other two rolls. "Aren't you going to eat one?"

The taller girl chuckled. "Of course, but I want to make sure you like it first."

Content with her answer, Serenity cautiously bit into the food, which flaked off into her mouth and started dissolving on her tongue. Her eyes widened as the floral, almost minty flavor burst and danced around her taste buds before mellowing into a sweet liquid. Blinking twice at the odd change, she bit into the roll again.

As Seiya watched the various emotions pass Serenity's face, she could hardly keep herself from giggling. Fairy rolls were unusual by Kinmokian standards, let alone by the standards Serenity was used to. "Good?"

"Yes…" She nodded slowly, "But, strange."

Seiya offered her a different flavor and she excitedly switched the rolls she was holding, curious at the new one. As she savored the different roll, Seiya helped herself to a few bites.

Alternating between feeling brave and concerned, Seiya considered asking Serenity more direct questions. She was desperate to find something concrete to work with, and so far any specific memories were fleeting and crumbled under close inspection. Korina mentioned that the false memories Serenity had wouldn't match up seamlessly and likely contradicted anything real, so Seiya wondered if Serenity would notice that.

"Did… did you have sweets like this back on Earth?" Seiya asked delicately.

Serenity shook her head, popping the last bit of one of the rolls into her mouth. "My king doesn't have a taste for sweets. My maid Amana sometimes was able to find me a pastry from the city, but we never formally have them in the castle."

She spoke in current terms, as though this were a situation still relevant to her. It wasn't clear if she still thought she was in this castle, or if she thought she was going back soon.

"Your king?"

"King Diamond." Serenity answered as though Seiya should already know this information. When she saw the blank expression on Seiya's face, she continued. "You don't know him?"

Seiya shook her head stiffly. "I can't say I've met him. How long have you known him?"

"For quite a while." She said. Seiya didn't answer back, instead waiting to see if Serenity elaborated. "I don't know exactly how long; I couldn't say the precise number of years…" She added, sensing that Seiya wasn't satisfied with the first answer.

Seiya thought carefully through several questions she could ask next. There was no telling how Serenity would react to anything, and while Seiya wanted answers she wasn't sure if they were worth Serenity getting upset.

"Do you miss him?" She finally settled for playing along with the charade, assuming there was one at all.

A small smile placed itself on Serenity's lips. "Yes, of course I do." Her tone took on the curt regality it had earlier, when answering people in the castle. Not necessarily a forced answer, but the correct one. "But this is a lovely visit. I've missed you and the other starlights so much!" She added on quickly.

"Visit?"

Serenity blinked at her. "Yes… is it not a visit?"

"Ahh…" Seiya hesitated, unable to meet Serenity's gaze. "It is, but… it's more, well, permanent than just a visit. You're here so we can protect you."

"Protect… me?" Serenity repeated the words slowly, quietly. Seiya could tell that she was trying to put pieces together in her mind but something wasn't adding up. Her brow furrowed together in concentration, grasping at memories and frayed ends that became fuzzier the longer she tried to find them. "Was it dangerous there?" She finally asked.

Seiya stayed silent, unsure whether or not Serenity really wanted the answer, or the other questions it would create. It seemed like a placeholder question, something to fill the silence.

"Where are my scouts?" Serenity asked suddenly, her peaceful demeanor becoming more serious.

"…Your scouts?" A chill of horror shot down Seiya's spine. No one had talked to Serenity about her scouts yet, and no one really wanted to be the one to do it. There was a general consensus that Korina would do it eventually, but she hadn't gone about it yet.

And now here she was, asking about them. Expecting a truthful answer. Seiya swallowed hard, bracing herself for this conversation she was not prepared to have. She realized that Serenity had been putting things together in her head, but hadn't expected her to get to that question.

"Yes. In the case of danger, my scouts should be with me at all times."

Oh. Now Seiya understood the gravity of her previous question. "They aren't here, Princess."

Serenity's voice was small. "Then where are they?"

"Odango…" Seiya whispered, barely enough to reach Serenity's ears. She reached for her pale hands, trying to offer comfort in some way. Trying to lessen the blow. "They're gone, Odango. They've been gone. Korina… she's all you have left."

Silence.

Serenity's face went blank, betraying no emotion, and she stared endlessly at Seiya though she wasn't looking at her at all. Seiya wasn't even sure if she was still breathing.

Finally, the marble façade broke. "I'm confused…" She breathed out, followed by a shaky, shuddering breath in. Her eyes widened as she looked around, the foreignness of her surroundings hitting her all at once.

It was either a moment of great lucidity of her situation or great confusion, Seiya couldn't be sure.

"I'm confused…" She repeated, tears now forming in her eyes.

Before Seiya could respond, Serenity pulled her hands from her grasp and stood from the bench. She was bordering on hysterics as her breathing became rapid, almost labored.

"Serenity, you need to sit down again," Seiya stood with her, arms out to support her in case she fell.

Instead, adrenaline and panic seeping into her mind, she turned towards the stone path they had come from.

And ran.