In the darkness there was nothing. No time, no feeling, nothing. I was aware that I had not always been here and yet that I always had. There was nothing to me; in the darkness I had no use for arms, legs or even a nose. My heart was gone; I was a part of nothing. I was surrounded by nothing; I was part of the nothing. The eternal void.

'Serenity' the words whispered through the void, tickling my senses. It was a voice familiar and at the same time strange. My mind stirred as if awakening from a deep slumber.

'Serenity my child, wake up.' This was a different voice, more predominant than the other. It had a sweet tang that soothed me instantly. My heart fluttered for I knew that voice very well.

As I had no lips I thought I was unable to speak. But I was part of the darkness; I needed no lips or tongue to speak in order to communicate. I simply thought and the words filled the void.

'Mother.'

'Yes Serenity.' Now her comforting presence surrounding me. Her scent and warmth held me it seemed, even though we were a part of nothing, 'Serenity dear, tell me what you are doing here?'

All I could remember was the darkness at first. It seemed like a strange question. Had I not always existed here? Doubt tingled at the edge of thought. Other voices filled the void. No, it was my memory. Numerous images slowly drifted through my thoughts, scattered pieces of my mind. Some images were lengthy whereas others were abrupt flashes. I started to notice a deep throb where my heart should have been. It ached so much. When I had remembered enough my heart was ready to break with the agony.

'Am I really dead?' I gasped, overwhelmed with emotion.

'This is the place in-between the living and the dead.'

'So I am not dead?'

She laughed softly, 'It is complicated dear. You do not need to worry about that right now. We need to get you away from here. You do not belong here, drifting endlessly between worlds.'

'Then where do I belong, if I am no longer alive? Wait, what are you doing here mother? Have you been here all this time?'

'No. I have come here to guide to your rightful place. You have suffered the ultimate sacrifice in order to defeat a great evil. It is not just that after all you have suffered for you to remain here.'

'I do not understand? Why am I here?'

'Because in using the silver crystal it totally absorbed your life-force, so much so it even sapped the little energy required for you to move on. Your spirit was left to drift here in this place between the living and the dead because your mind did not know it was dead or alive. Here you exist and do not exist. But you are my daughter and so have ended up here because of the great deed you have done. I am here to help.'

'I understand now mother. Thank you. Now we can be together; I have greatly missed you.'

'And you must still miss me, my dear Serenity. Your time is yet to come.'

'My time...I thought I am...the crystal sapped my life-force...I am dead?' I stammered with my confusion.

'Let me explain. The silver crystal's power feds off the life-force of its guardian. You have used it in the past for is primary purpose, to protect and heal others, either consciously or unconsciously. IT feeds off the emotional desires of its guardian. However in order to use its ultimate power you had to be willingly to sacrifice everything. Your love for Endymion, your desire to protect him and others from Diamond is what enabled you to tap into this power. It is this that killed you.' At Endymion's name my heart pulsed and twisted with pain, 'All forces in this world are balanced, what can easily give life can also take it away. In this universe there is another powerful force that for many generations has remained separate from the silver crystal for fear of what the combination of power would bring. The royal family of the Earth Kingdom are its guardian, passed onto the prince at the coming-of-age, as I passed the crystal to you. Endymion was never fully aware of its abilities; the earthlings have long forgotten the knowledge of these ancient forces. Unfortunately it was this that unconsciously caused the distance between you two. The two crystals repel each other for some reason; I have never understood the full details. The knowledge is so ancient. Nevertheless when his emotions desired him to protect you, the power was awakened. His love for you overcame the instincts of the crystal, breaking some ancient spell that repelled the silver crystal. So much so that a new bond was formed between the two crystals. That is the second reason why you are here; because although you should be dead, the bond with Endymion's golden crystal keeps your life-force with the living.'

It took a moment for all the information to sink in. True I had always known that I was the guardian of the silver crystal and my mother had taught me how it should be used. But I had thought she died before she was able to tell me the last secret, that in which I realised at the last moment in my fight with Diamond. That I could use the power, fuelled by love, to purify another. For Diamond it had fatal effects. But now I was being told that this was the reason Endymion had always been distant and resentful of me; the golden and silver crystals repelled each other.

'Tell me, if Endymion's and mine crystals repelled one another, how can they now form a bond?'

'I am not sure of the particulars, but I now that it takes a great love to break anything, be it an ancient spell or love potion.'

'What does that mean now? The power I mean of both crystals?'

'It can be used to either good or bad. I have faith in you Serenity and I know that you will only use the crystals power for nothing but peace and harmony throughout the galaxy. You and Endymion are good people. I could think of no other better to be guardians of the ancient crystals. I can see a great future ahead for you both.'

'Why did you never tell me this before?'

'With that knowledge would you still have persisted to love him so? Would you have ever entered into marriage with him? Or even saved his life? Would you have been willing to give everything to a man that fate supposedly foretold that you should not? Serenity no matter what I believe that we make our own fate and that we should not fear it. I knew you would only bring courage and love to those you encountered. I knew if anyone could merge the crystals together, it would be you.'

'Why do I get the feeling that you knew this would happen all along?'

She laughed softly again, a knowing laugh, 'Now it is time for you to return to your love's side my dear. There will come a time when we will be together again, but not now my dear. Farewell for now.'

For a brief instant I felt her soft breath brush my forehead. My eyes fluttered open unexpectantly. At first my vision was blurred and my thoughts confused. The thickness of the darkness eased its grip on me. I knew after a couple of minutes that I was lying on my old bed. How long had it been since I last slept in this bed? I moaned with the surrounding comfort of the pillows and quilt. Endymion's head snapped up. He had been resting on the bed, his hand holding mine. It looked like he had been there a while, his eyes red with soreness. Had he been crying?

'Serenity! Thank the stars you are awake! I was so worried' with my reassuring smile; he threw himself at me, taking me in a strong embrace. Even though my body yelped with discomfort I laughed. I was happy to be alive. I was even happier to be in his arms.

'I would not let you go Serenity. I just could not. I love you!' I could hear the tears in his voice. They joined mine that were flowing freely down my cheeks. One day I would tell him about the crystals and the power we had to guard together. But for now I was content to simply be held by him.

Suddenly he broke the embrace, still holding my hands within his. 'I am so sorry Serenity, for everything. I have put you through so much and I am sorry. From this moment onwards I promise to always listen to you, to be by you side and treat you right. I love you Serenity, I think I always have. I am never going to leave your side again or hurt you again. I never want to see pain in your beautiful eyes ever again.' By the bedside he swiftly leant on one knee. He looked eagerly up at me. Is he doing what I think he is doing?'

'I was going to wait until you were feeling stronger, but I do not think I can wait any longer. I need to know Serenity. Will you marry me?'

A laugh abruptly escaped my lips. Confusion settled over his eyes. I quickly tried to rectify my mistake, 'Endy we are already married! Do not be so silly.'

His words escaped swift, tumbling over his tongue. 'We are married, but I want to re-marry, or re-new or vows if you will. I want us to do it this time because we want to and not because of duty. I love you Serenity. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and no other. And if you would agree to be my wife you would make me the happiest man alive.'

Laughing tearfully and without hesitation, 'I love you too Endymion, more than words can ever express. I will re-marry you.'

And with that his lips seized mine. He pulled me into his arms once more, his lips tenderly searching mine. I responded by deepening the kiss, loosing myself to his touch. I rested my arms around his neck as he cupped my cheek. The kiss told me of his love, his deep devotion for me. And mine his. For an eternity it seemed we remained so, kissing and talking into the depths of the night. The moon, full and gleaming beamed down at us. My heart raced. For the first time I truly felt alive.

As I flick through these pages I cannot believe that nearly a year has passed since Diamond's death! Me and Endy have been married nearly two years as well. I can remember the elegant re-newel ceremony we had back in Seiya's village amongst the trees underneath the moonlight. The numerous stars joined our celebrations until the early hours of the morning. That will always be a night dear to my heart. I was pleased to see Seiya once more. I love him like the brother I never had and know that he will find love soon. It has already been too long since our last visit.

I must confess though I am glad for this evenings rest. Although I am glad that we have untied the galaxy under the peace of the Silver Millennium alliance and defeated most of the demons, it means there is little time for us to enjoy together, alone. Endy is already asleep beside me sleeping peacefully. It always makes me laugh how his left leg always twitched just before he slips into sweet dreams. We have come so far since the day we met and even further since my 'death'.

In the morning, I have decided, I will tell him the greatest news. Oh to see the expression on his face, the happiness sparkling in his eyes. I can see it clearly even now. It is a good job that we have recently finalised the alliance for we will not be getting much rest at all. I am with child! Soon I will be a mother and Endy a father! My dreams are complete. I cannot believe there was ever a time when I was happier or felt more alive as I do now! Thank the stars for my husband who loves me dearly, for the friends I have reunited with and the child I will receive too. Thanks the stars for the power you have graced us and the wisdom to use this to create peace and harmony for all. I never want to lose this feeling.

This is not the beginning and it is certainly not the end.

Now & Forevermore, Blessed be x