Author's note: I am amazed it has almost been a year since my last update. I'm excited to bring you the next chapter and I do hope you enjoy it. Let me know in the reviews what you think! I hope to update again soon. I'm excited to see where the story goes next. I hope you enjoy the twists I have planned coming! I appreciate all the reviews and the support since I last updated (almost a year ago!) - just know I see you.

To those of you who joined me in my now complete story Kintsugi (Glue Me Back Together), thank you so much. Your support is incredible and appreciated. If you haven't given it a read, check it out on my profile. - R

Chapter 15

There was no mistaking her bubble-gum hair. There was no one with hair quite like it. He found himself smiling at the cheery, almost childish sight of it. The rabbit-like ears of her odango and long tresses of hair that fell down to the back of her knees that closely resembled her mothers, sharing the same comforting vibe that pulled you to her. The tapping of her shoes against the floor of the Crystal Palace corridors was unmistakable and that was what drew his attention as he wandered the halls on his way to find somewhere to sit with his book. She turned, her cardinal red eyes meeting his own and they widened in surprise.

"Koichi," she greeted him, walking over. "What are you doing here?"

"Hello, princess," he bowed. "Honestly, I have no idea where I am." He laughed gaily. "I was just on my way to find a quiet place to sit to read one of the many, many books from the Crystal library."

"What did you choose?" she asked.

"The Legend of the Soldier of Mystery," he replied, holding it up. "It's quite a weighty book."

"It'll be like reading a lifetime," Usagi mused. "Sailor Moon was invincible."

Koichi observed the small smile at the corners of her mouth, and he considered her quietly.

"You look like you're recalling a fond memory," he said.

"I feature," she explained, nodding at the book pointedly.

"You're in here?" he asked, amazed, tapping the spine of the book.

"I was a sailor senshi in training," she smiled, "back in the 20th century."

Koichi gaped at her, doing the maths in his head.

"Don't try to work it out," she smirked. "It'll hurt your head. The sailor senshi lead long lives."

Koichi raised his eyebrows, casting his eyes around the palace.

"You sure do," he said.

"Yeah," she shrugged. She eyed him thoughtfully. "Would you like help finding a place to read privately?"

"Do you have time?"

"Of course," she nodded. "Follow me."

He obliged, falling into step with her. He glanced at her, noting that her hands would every now and then rub at her arms as if she was cold. That in itself was strange due to the power of the silver crystal. It kept everyone warm.

"So, what are you doing wandering around, princess?" he asked, choosing to avoid drawing attention to her obvious discomfort.

"I just needed some air," she answered, her brows briefly pushing together.

"How is the Queen?" he enquired.

Usagi looked up at him, pursing her lips.

"Better," she said shortly. "The king insists that she keep to her bed chambers to rest for the time being."

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

She didn't respond, but instead led Koichi through into a small office space with shelves lining one wall, a cosy fireplace along another with a small desk for short term use sat in front of it and a window seat overlooking the royal gardens. She gestured for him to choose a space and he raised his eyebrows.

"This looks different from the rest of the palace," he observed in amazement.

She shrugged.

"Each room serves a different purpose," she explained. "The magic of the palace maintains the façade of the crystal. The crystal is a symbol for what the Moon Family stands for. It's hope."

"I like it," he smiled. He paused, seating himself. "Has anyone ever told you that you're just like your mother?"

Her eyes shot to his face in shock.

"You must be joking," she scoffed. "She's beautiful, kind, gentle, strong and a lot braver than me. Everyone adores her."

"And you don't think people think the same thing about you?"

Her eyes found that his dark gaze was boring intensely into her, and she had to look away. She was convinced that his gaze could bore holes through her. There was something about his company that was suffocating, like he couldn't believe he was in her presence and was lucky to have the privilege. It was ludicrous to her. It was odd, she thought, but the warmth came back to her in the priest's presence, but there was none with Koichi.

"No," she breathed.

"I wish to know you better," he confessed, standing and stepping toward her. "You really don't know how special you are to everyone. I wish that you knew that."

She frowned, feeling her pulse race. She shook her head, trying to erase the words from her mind. It felt like her head was in the fog.

"You don't know me so you can't know my worth," she objected.

"Well, I know that you are beautiful, kind and gentle," he reiterated. "You demonstrated your strength as Neo-Eternal Sailor Moon in front of everyone. Everyone has heard the myth of the trainee Moon senshi of the 20th century. You're extraordinary."

"It's my mother's legacy," she sighed.

He considered her for a moment, seeing and feeling the indifference in equal measure. He knew it was useless. He didn't believe in love at first sight, despite the legendary story of the Moon Princess and Prince of the Earth, but he couldn't deny the strong feelings he had towards the little rabbit.

"I'm flogging a dead horse, aren't I?" he mused.

She pressed her lips together apologetically.

"You're flattering," she replied, "but I can't force my heart to go where it won't."

He reached out to lightly brush his hand against hers and instantly felt the chill on her skin there. He frowned, pulling her gently toward him, his response to her forgotten.

"Princess, you're freezing," he stated, running the back of his hand along her arm.

"It's nothing," she retorted, pulling her arm away, feeling a sudden faintness overwhelm her.

"Princess?"

He watched as she stumbled on her feet, her delicate colour fading from her skin and her eyes dimming. She swayed where she stood and he caught her in his arms, holding her up on her feet as she struggled to find the strength to keep her eyes open.

"Hello, do you mind if I sit here?"

Hotaru looked up from her sketchpad, her eyebrows raising just a smidge and she nodded.

"Thank you," Aria smiled, sitting next to her.

"I didn't expect to see anyone," Hotaru said. "Is everything alright?"

"The palace is a little overwhelming," she admitted. "I decided to take a walk. Are you averse to company? You looked like you were in another world." She glanced pointedly at the dark drawing in Hotaru's hands.

"The current state of affairs isn't what we had planned for the celebrations," Hotaru replied wryly. She looked down at the drawing in her lap that Aria was now fixated on. "Charon," she explained. "The boatman who takes the souls of the dead across Acheron, the river of pain that flows from the River Styx. It's this one here," she said, pointing to the river the boat was drawn on. "It is said that the River Acheron carried the good souls from the underworld that were sent back to Earth after 1000 years to be born again into living beings. We've lived here for over 1000 years now and I'm pondering the implications that we haven't been recycled as other beings have yet."

"Have you not been reincarnated a number of times in the past as the guardian of ruin and rebirth?" Aria wondered.

"I am a harbinger of death," she claimed. "I carry the scythe of the Goddess of Death, which is symbolic of harvesting human souls at the end of their lifespan. I exist purely to reset evolution when a planet cannot be saved. I cannot be killed like any other sailor guardian." She considered her eery drawing of Charon carefully. "I will bring back the princess. I'm the only one who dares go where others will not."

"What is it like?"

Hotaru's deep purple eyes looked at Aria in confusion.

"Being a sailor guardian that many finds… intimidating," Aria went on.

"You're allowed to say 'wary'," Hotaru smiled. She sighed. "I've never had need to put a word to it before. I was created in the galaxy cauldron to be called on by the outer sailor guardians when there is no other resort. My powers make others fear me because I can destroy a planet and reduce them to complete oblivion. Death, destruction, silence and ruin is a common fear. I embrace it as the soldier of silence and that scares people." She chuckled darkly. "You're the first person to ask me how I feel about it. I guess it's a lonely feeling but the outer senshi all share that and in this, we are united in our mission as outer guardians."

"I find it fascinating," Aria admitted. "The Starlights are nothing like the planet guardians here. The Tankei kingdom Starlights – Fighter, Maker and Healer – are protectors and preservers of the kingdom. In Sukui, their counterparts – Defender, Creator and Restorer – are less powerful but they are our second line of defence. There's a hierarchy in Kinmoku. You're all one unit in Crystal Tokyo, even though you are all princesses of your own planet. My mother and father married to unite the kingdoms of Tankei and Sukui, but the Starlights are still divided."

Hotaru looked down at her drawing, adding a little more shading to the river. It looked so real that Aria felt a chill run down her spine.

"I've never been to Kinmoku," she confessed. "I admit that I'd like to visit one day. In the days of the sailor wars, I didn't interact much with the Tankei Starlights. But I rarely get a chance to get away from the solar system."

"I go where mother goes," Aria shrugged. "I suppose we're both restricted in our own ways."

Hotaru peered at her.

"I know that Princess Kakyuu can transform into a sailor guardian," she asked, "but are you able to do the same?"

"No," she replied with a light-hearted roll of her eyes. "I have a limited power over plant manipulation. It's not very developed though. I can augment, grow or bring plants back to life through nature enhancement. But it's very hard for me to do much more than this right now. I can't use plants offensively which I suppose is a little unhelpful. In Kinmoku, they call me the Kinmokian nymph."

"Wow, that's amazing," Hotaru exclaimed. "How long have you been able to do this?"

"Shortly after I was born apparently," Aria laughed. "We've no idea why I can do this. On Kinmoku, my gift is revered as nature is so important to us."

"That explains the fashion choice," Hotaru replied with a nod at Aria's gown. "Do Koichi and Usaku share in your abilities?"

"Strangely, not at all," she mused. "Mother wonders if only females are granted gifts over the elements. I don't think my brothers are bothered, really. It's not easy to have powers. In some ways, I wish I didn't have them because I can't protect my planet, let alone my people."

"It's pretty common for men to not have guardian abilities," Hotaru said kindly. "But you protect nature, which sounds like a very important ability on your planet."

Aria scoffed.

"I wish I was able to protect people, like you do for Princess Usagi Lady Serenity," she admitted.

"I really wish the same," Hotaru murmured sadly, gazing at her black and white drawing once again.

"Orthosia," Eirene called, striding into the Temple of Promise in time to see her sister holding her hand against her chest in annoyance. "I'm sorry. Did I startle you?"

"Don't you mean 'did I startle you again'?" Orthosia corrected grumpily. "What is it?"

Eirene unceremoniously plonked herself down next to Orthosia and sighed tiredly. Orthosia peered at her.

"I just need to ask you if you're feeling it too," she answered.

Orthosia looked at her blankly.

"You will need to explain," she prompted.

Eirene reached over and took Orthosia's wrist with her fingers. Immediately, Orthosia recoiled from her touch, leaping to her feet.

"Why on Earth do you feel like a fiery inferno?" she demanded.

"That's why I came to you," Eirene said, getting to her feet. "There's something wrong and I think it's starting to affect Elysion."

"What makes you think that?"

"Come with me."

Eirene grabbed Orthosia's arm and pulled her along so that she was forced to follow her out of the temple, through the gardens and into the oasis of crystal trees that was home to the vast amount of energy that supported the united kingdoms.

"What is it?" Orthosia uttered in exasperation, pulling her arm out of Eirene's grip.

Silently, Eirene pointed in two different directions. Orthosia's eyes followed one outstretched arm to find the citrine tree and then she sent her gaze in the second direction to see the moonstone tree. She glanced at the surrounding crystal trees and then it became abundantly clear what was wrong. The rest were still glowing bright as they were following the sailor soldier ceremony on the princess' birthday celebrations. However, the citrine and moonstone tree looked like they were fading, but still fighting. It was like watching a flickering light. It would go out but come back on a moment later as if it refused to go dim and die.

"Oh, God," Orthosia whispered, turning round and rushing back to the Temple of Promise.

Eirene watched her go and turned to gaze at the fading crystal trees. She got down to the ground to sit herself in a cross-legged seat and put her hands flat on the ground in front of her, closing her eyes. She sent out silent prayers in her mind, reaching out to the crystal trees of amethyst and green jade. She felt strength returning to her as she called out for spiritual protection and nurturing energy to bathe Elysion in the warmth that the guardian crystals lent to the sister kingdoms. She was unaware of the time passing until she felt a gentle touch on her shoulder. She looked up into the gentle eyes of her elder sister.

"I spoke to the king," she said. "He told me what has happened to the princess. She has been affected by the water from the River Lethe and… King Endymion tells me that Princess Usagi is unable to remember Helios. And only Helios." Eirene's eyebrows rose up her forehead. "It appears that there's a lot of commotion in Crystal Tokyo right now and that is why we weren't told. The king had no idea that we would be affected here but it seems that since the princess has been established as Neo-Eternal Sailor Moon, the connection the golden crystal has with the silver crystal has been changed. He has surmised that the pink moon crystal has formed a connection with the golden crystal. The golden crystal is the foundation of Elysion which provided health, purity and guidance to the kingdom. That foundation is breaking because Princess Usagi's heart is missing a piece and that is affecting her soul. He tells me that Helios will be in touch shortly as Sailor Saturn and Sailor Cosmos is preparing to send the princess to the underworld to retrieve her lost memories."

"How does that work?" Eirene wondered.

"I don't know," Orthosia sighed. "Everyone is worried. The Fields of Elysium is a place of rest for the good souls of the dead. As a part of her is there, if she's not reunited with this part of her soon, the princess will…"

Orthosia inhaled sharply, pressing her lips together.

"Die," Eirene finished for her, flatly.

Orthosia nodded.

"And the golden kingdom will die with her."

"Asteroids!" Saturn yelled at the four figures racing past her and Aria. The four Asteroid senshi came to an abrupt halt, the alertness not leaving their faces for even a moment. "What is going on? What's the urgency?"

"The princess," Sailor Ceres replied. "We got word on our communicators from the elder Kinmokian heir that she needs us."

"Why?" Aria asked, standing. "What happened? Is Koichi okay?"

"He's fine," Pallas reassured her.

"We need to help the princess now," Vesta stressed.

"I'm coming with you," Saturn announced, leaping to her feet.

The five of them rushed off and Aria watched them go, before deciding to follow in their wake. She grabbed a handful of her skirt and hurried forward down the corridors of the palace, watching as the five sailor senshi disappeared around a corner, through a door, leaving it ajar. She stopped, staring at the scene before her of the five of them crowded around Usagi, Koichi holding Usagi up on the floor, barely able to hold herself upright.

"She's like ice," Sailor Juno hissed. "Why is she so cold?"

"It must be the pink moon crystal," Ceres deduced.

"We need to move her," Pallas suggested.

"What happened?" Vesta demanded, glaring at Koichi.

"We were talking, and she suddenly seemed to fade," he replied. "I noticed how cold she was, and she shrugged it off as nothing."

"Of course, she would," Vesta grumbled. "Scouts, let's get her to the king and queen."

"What is going on?" Helios' voice cut through the mix of voices anxiously. He looked around the room until his eyes rested on Usagi, and he immediately dropped to his knees, bringing his hand up to her cheek, frowning at the chill on her skin. "What happened?"

"We need to get her to the king and queen," Ceres told him.

Helios looked at Koichi and the look he gave him made words meaningless. He leaned over and helped Usagi to her feet, putting her arm around him for support. He heard her sigh, and he looped his arm behind her knees, lifting her up bridal style. The senshi looked between Helios and Koichi, sensing some tension. They exchanged glances, raising their eyebrows. Helios wasn't one to express emotion, but Saturn had no time for it right now. She coughed, alerting Helios to their presence. He looked at her and nodded. Silently, he turned and swept out of the room with the senshi in tow. Aria walked over to her brother, putting her hand gently on his arm.

"How did you know to find us with Usagi in the small study?" Saturn asked Helios as they made their way to the king and queen.

"I felt it," he answered. "I was out in the gardens with the crystal trees, praying to Elysion when I felt the power of the pink moon crystal fading."

"How?" Ceres wondered softly. "I didn't know you had a connection with the pink moon crystal."

"I don't," he said. "It's her dreams." He looked down at Usagi in his arms. "The part of her that connects her to Elysion was taken away when she drank the water from the river Lethe. With that connection gone, the light of the pink crystal is fading. She needs it. Just like her mother needs the golden crystal to sustain her strength as the holder of the silver crystal, she needs her dreams to keep her heart beating. I don't feel her power anymore. I am the guardian of the Earth and Elysion and by extension, King Endymion, the holder of the golden crystal. Sailor Moon was able to break the seal on the golden crystal, but it is Princess Usagi Lady Serenity who is able to use the power of the golden crystal through the people's dreams that maintains the strength of Elysion."

"What will it mean for the Golden Kingdom?" Vesta asked.

"There will be no one to protect the dreams through the power of the golden crystal," he murmured, looking back at her forlornly, "and the golden kingdom will eventually go out like an exploding star."

The Asteroid senshi exchanged glances, pressing their lips together. They remembered the battle against the Dead Moon and Chibiusa's part in sealing away Queen Nehellenia well. They reached the royal chambers and Saturn stepped forward, knocking on the door urgently. The door swung open a moment later to reveal King Endymion and he looked at the five senshi, Helios and finally his daughter in his arms appearing to be asleep, but not quite in the land of the slumbering.

"What happened?" he demanded.

"Endymion?"

"Sere, don't come out here," he shouted back.

"We need to help her, sire," Saturn told him, "now."

He didn't need any further explanation. He reached into his robes, pulling out his staff that seemed to materialise in his hand in a flicker of golden light, the golden crystal atop his staff. He waved his hand over the crystal, and it glowed for a moment.

"We will prepare to send the princess to Elysium," he declared.

"Alone?" Ceres asked, alarmed.

"No," Saturn responded. "I will be taking her."

A flurry of footsteps could be heard in the distance, getting louder with every step. Everyone's eyes flickered to the end of the corridor to see the inner and outer senshi approaching them, with Sailor Cosmos, Princess Kakyuu and Sailor Galaxia at the rear.

"We called them to join us," Sailor Uranus told the king.

"Good," he nodded. "I hoped you would."

"You'll need me," Cosmos stated, stepping forward.

"Where is Serenity?" Galaxia asked. "We must do this out in the private royal gardens."

"Right here," Serenity announced, holding up her hand when Endymion made to open his mouth. "It's quite alright, Endy. I'm fine. My daughter however needs me." She looked around the room. "She needs us all." She brought her hand out to reveal the crescent moon rod. She waved it around in the air twice and a light shone over all of them. When the light died, they found themselves in the royal gardens. "It is time to send her spirit to where none has dared go before. Saturn, Cosmos, Helios," she said, looking at each of them in turn, "you will help her."

They nodded. Helios set Usagi down on her feet, supporting her to stand. She looked at him with a soft smile, no longer questioning his presence. She felt her strength returning to her while she was in his arms and for that, she was grateful. And safe.

"Usagi," Serenity approached her, "are you ready for this?"

Usagi looked at Saturn and Cosmos, then resting her eyes on Helios, his eyes like a warm honey. She nodded at Serenity.

"I am," she said softly, offering a smile to her senshi.

"Your majesty," Vesta interrupted, stepping forward. "Can we not assist the princess as her guard?"

"I need each of you here," Serenity told her. "You will be Usagi's guard while her body is resting. It is not her physical self that will be leaving for the underworld, but her spiritual self. It needs to be reunited with what is lost. Sailor Saturn, Sailor Cosmos and the High Priest of Elysion will be guiding the princess in their physical forms as the guardians of ruin and rebirth, hope and the foundations of the kingdom."

The Asteroid senshi bowed their heads in acceptance, each of them resting a hand on Usagi's arm or hand. They heard a rustle behind them and turned to find Sailor Mnemosyne looking at the group with a stoic expression on her face.

"I am requesting to join you," she said to the surprise of the majority.

Serenity was one of three who appeared unsurprised by this turn of events.

"You must be joking," Mars and Uranus exclaimed.

"She's not joking," Galaxia mused.

"Why?" Kakyuu demanded of the guardian of memory.

"Because you will need someone who understands the waters of the underworld," Mnemosyne stated, "and the soldier of silence, though granted with powers of death and destruction, does not have this knowledge. I have no wish to see peace harmed. But I have more to offer than you realise."

"Like what?" Pluto asked.

"That's a secret kept in the underworld," she replied.

"I accept your request," Serenity approved, cutting off the discussion.

Everyone's heads shot to look at her in shock and her face remained calm. King Endymion's hand rested on the small of her back and he trusted her, so everyone else did too.

"Everyone, form a circle," Serenity ordered, gesturing around the area. "Usagi, Helios, Saturn, Cosmos, Mnemosyne, please join me here and join hands."

Sailor Lethe watched from the shadows as Mnemosyne came together with the princess, sailor guardians and high priest, shaking her head slowly. She wasn't the only one watching from the shadows, but it was the eyes of the shadows that was more menacing than any lost memory.