A/N: Please read and review. We are taking a short pit stop back in the present day to visit a particular time mage, and her thoughts on the current events.

I know you all want your fluff, and you'll be getting fluff, I promise, but, not before a little more set up.

I do not own Sailor Moon

Chapter 20: Irony

Setsuna POV~~~

The level of humor and skill one must have when dealing with what I happen to dabble in is actually quite astounding. You have to have a poker face to rival that of even the best gambler, and, even more so, you need to be able to play the hand that you're dealt, without fail. You are given hints, and guidance that is fluid like the ocean, but also slippery like that of ice, the smallest of slopes enough to cripple you or worse.

You must be able to have mercy on those that you know will harm you. No one is perfect, and the level of forgiveness you must be willing to hand out in my line of work is one thing, although minor, that keeps you from insanity. I, being the mage that I am, can see the gates, the future, the past, the possibilities, and the failures. Without an unending level of forgiveness, and renewed sense of trust, you'd never be able to deal with daily life. I know when I will be harassed, belittled, betrayed, and when I will be praised, loved, and honored. These things are things that can affect a person's mentality, and, that is something I must never allow to happen.

Life goes on, just as it always has, just as it always will. Some form of living creature will always remain; there will be no final end. Yes, time stops and starts for creature such as human, or Senshi, but, life, in and of itself never really ends. It will always exist someplace. In the smallest of organisms, or the largest of beasts, life, even if it is only one solitary creature, will always remain. Without at least one, there cannot be the all encompassing world we know, and, without the large vast unknown that is life, the one would never have a reason to live in the first place.

This was one of my first lessons; the one who thought me that lesson was nothing more than a small child when I was shown such a truth. Outcast from most of the universe, she hadn't had a reason to trust anything, instead, she feared others. Everyone else except me to be precise. It's funny how life, and fate for that matter, work and in hand. For a prime example, that very same child is running in the grass, playing around with a girl I know to be a future Moon Princess. Paradox led them both here, but, both are happy, and the once forsaken child is now a part of a large and loving family. I now call her my daughter.

How it happened, under all pretense and logic, could be traced back into a time where I was still quite foolish. Then again, I'd like to think I still am. After all, if I wasn't the royal idiot I was back in such a past, I doubt that forsaken child would be alive. Yes, I am quite a fool, this girl shouldn't even be alive; however, I wouldn't have it any other way. In my time of living a lonely road I've come to decide one thing…

Fate can go screw itself in the rear end for all I could possibly care.

Now yes, if some people, namely a few gods I know better than to anger, ever heard me utter that, then I would be punished severely. In my defense I would also like to say that it hasn't stopped me before. I don't listen to fate, because according to fate I would have died in countless explosions, and other oddities that I really wouldn't want to tempt. Not if I was as by the book as I should be anyway.

Nope, I may look cool calm and collected most of the time, and yes, I do try to set an example, but really, I'd rather beat fate with my staff than listen to what it has to say. It's been wrong before, and, if it wants to cast us all into oblivion, it'll do it no matter what I try to do to stop it. If fate wants fish to start flying in the air and birds to start swimming, then, that is what we will need to put up with, now won't we?

That's why I'd rather not live paranoid.

What would be the point? I'm an old woman who should have died so many times I've lost count. I'm still here, I'm still breathing, and I'm still dealing with the same idiot friends who are still as odd as ever. One of them, a blond named Haruka, has an affinity with cars now. With her tracking oil all over the place constantly, her lover Michiru, forever scolding her to be more careful with supplies, I find life has changed only slightly.

They used to fight just as heatedly back in a past, I can remember that vividly.

I smell cooking in the kitchen. I'm not sure what it is, but Makoto never fails in making a five star dinner. Surely a salad will be in place for Haruka, and that reminds me that fate seemed to get a bit confused, last I remember it was Makoto who preferred greenery, but oh well, not a big deal I guess. Makoto is still Makoto, and Haruka is still Haruka, despite some minor differences.

Chibiusa just fell again, she really could use shoes that have elastic so that she doesn't trip over her laces, but, I can muse about that later. I go over and for what I think is the umpteenth time show to her what the term bunny ears mean. After her shoe lace is tied I go back to the porch, I know someone is watching over me and although I never see her, I know it's my mother. Forever the lone woman as always I guess.

I see a group turn the corner into our sub and I roll my eyes at the sight. Minako is skipping around again acting flirty and poor Rei is just gawking in a full on blush. Usagi is smiling, although I can't place the exact reason, and Ami seems to be in careful thought. Her eyes forlorn, and I know she's probably thinking of a woman from long ago. Now that memories are starting to surface, I know the poor girl is left wondering what will happen down the line, I may not know that, but I do know this…

Fate, as much as a pain in the butt as it is, will gift us many things as long as we can stand the trials.

I know it to be the truth. I look at Usagi and her eyes are starting to look happy again. She smiles her goofy smile and Rei rolls her eyes as Minako becomes the clingy girl she can be. I know that Rei is looking embarrassed, slightly aggravated, and overtly confused, but, those emotions aren't aimed at Minako, but Rei herself. You know, sometimes I wish I could just toss Rei head on into the past for only a moment and show her what she used to be, or rather who she used to be, and then I wonder, what's the point?

She'll come around one day and finally, after Minako gets some sense into that girl, Rei will start to talk. That talking over time, provided Minako is gentle and very slow in her actions, will win Rei over again. Once Rei awakens her true self, well rather, once everyone pulls forth their real identities, their real origin, I have a feeling Rei will also awaken a passionate side of herself that she had kept somewhat hidden away before. Part of her soft side that made her as strong as she was will be brought into light one day. When that day comes, Rei will likely be stronger than ever…

Still, even if I know that too be true, there was once a time when she was one of the weakest Senshi. She fall hard, dragging all of us with her, and back then we followed willingly. Back then, we fought a larger battle that anything they will ever remember. Fate intended it this way, and still, even if they won't ever remember, I still do. I remember so that these girls won't ever have too, the gates forever sealing that segment of memories.

It is a pity too, in its own way. As dark as those days were, they held some of the most passionate and wonderful experiences any of us had ever known. Times filled with trials gave us weakness, and within that weakness, we found, and chased, what we had thought to be the real meaning of love.

TBC~~~~

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I am so going to fail my upcoming test, well ok, not fail, but GAH! It's so hard to study when you've got a really good chapter in your head you want to work with.