The Serena from the other world was dressed and groomed
to shining perfection and everyone took turns telling of her life in this
world. Only Setsuna and Darien
maintained their distance. Setsuna only
because she was too busy trying to find to where the Kamui had vanished. Darien maintained his distance because he
was afraid.
Afraid of being alone, of being with her and not being able to touch her, of looking at her, of loving her. He was afraid of it all. But he was most afraid of the hope. He wasn't sure he could bare the surge of hope that filled him be squashed in only an instant.
But when he saw her emerge from the rooms, the knowledge of the way her life had been here, the way she had touched the lives of so many, and looking exactly the way the Queen did, Darien almost could not contain himself. He still held back. But the last snapping point was when he looked beside her and saw his daughter clutching her hand. Serena-chan said something to her and she burst out laughing into Serena's delightful laugh and quickly hugged her daughter close.
It was at that point that Darien snapped.
He began to stride toward the two of them, his eyes full of the intent to take her in his arms, kiss her until she gasped for air and was clinging to him in desire like she had so many times.
But a cough stopped in his tracks.
Diamond stood there, understanding in his eyes and motioned to Darien. The King gave a sigh and followed the summons. There was a meeting and he was needed. He had delayed the inevitable once more. But how was he going to survive this?
Serena-chan couldn't wait till her mother got back her memories! It was her mother in every way down to the graceful klutziness. Everything was back as it was supposed to be. Her mother was back, Elios was with her, Peruru was with Skylar and they seemed so happy. The animation of the castle was back to normal. Even Luna, Artemis and Diana who had been moping about the castle as well since Serenity died were rejuvenated.
Serenity had told everyone about the horrors she had seen and the life she had lived in full detail and everyone was horrified and felt terrible. But nothing could be done. But Rei had the brilliant idea that after Serenity had gotten her memory back they could get Peruru and Kamui to open the gates again so they could whip some Nega Verse butt. Everyone enjoyed that thought. Beryl didn't have a chance against them.
But while all this was going on, Setsuna was still trying to find the Kamui. She would have her answers. And when a messenger was sent to her to tell her of Rei's plan, she was only more determined to find the Kamui. He had awakened something deep inside her and she wanted him to fix it.
* * *
Serena knelt before the glowing Silver Moon Crystal and she stared up at the shining light that shimmered on her dress and hair. She wished she could know this life. She had seen the desperation on Darien's face, his need and his love. She could feel everyone's love for her. She just wished she could remember herself all the life she had shared with these people. But all she knew was the horrors of the Nega Verse controlled world. Her friends were so kind and so caring. She wished…she wished she really was their Serena but she had the most horrible premonition she wasn't.
She gazed at the Crystal that had saved the life of so many and in the end had taken the life of the one who had been its guardian. Serena smiled. If the Crystal had feelings she wondered how it would feel about that. She sighed and shook her head. She wasn't qualified to use the Crystal, she wasn't the Serenity with all the power. She wasn't the Queen of the Earth and Moon. Another woman by the same name was. She was just nobody with no life left to her, only failure.
Tears slid silently down her cheeks. She wondered if there was a Silver Moon Crystal in her world too.
"Of course there is."
Serena's head shot up in surprise. Hovering above the Silver Moon Crystal was the spirit…of Serenity. The one who had died in this world. Serena blinked in astonishment, gave a little cry and stood up taking a step back. The spirit brought up a hand.
"Don't be frightened! I am you! You were right when you wondered what the Crystal thought of having to
destroy the one who was its guardian and had always used it for good. It was the power of the Crystal that brought
me back to this realm and it will be the same power that allows me to be
reborn."
Serena blinked. "How?" It was strange. It was almost as if she was talking to a reflection in a mirror.
The spirit gave
a light giggle. "Yes, it does seem that way, doesn't it?"
Serena gasped. "You can read my mind?"
The spirit
laughed. "Of course. I am you, we
are of same body and soul. With the
power of the Crystal my soul will enter your body and our souls will
merge. We will become one and then you
will have the joys of my life and I'll have the pain of yours."
She blinked. "But then wouldn't I cease to exist?"
The spirit shook
her head. "Basically all that will happen is you will gain all of my memories and
understanding. You will retain your
own, you will just add mine to the package. Isn't that what you were wishing for anyway?"
Serena blinked. "Yes, it was."
Serenity smiled.
"Then lets do it. We have
a world to save and so many that love us wanting to be with us. We will become one again."
Serena smiled and
stood still as the spirit was absorbed into the Silver Moon Crystal. The Crystal began to glow brightly, shining
its light onto the woman before her. The woman who had used the Crystal so wisely and was the Guardian of the
Crystal smiled as the light began to glow with a brilliance that seemed beyond
reality and life. The room was filled
with unending light as the spirit of the Guardian reentered her body and merged
with her body and soul. The memories
flooded one by one into Serenity's mind as she became whole and alive again.
She opened her eyes for an instant and the crystallized room shimmered. But in the midst of it was a beautiful young woman with long silver hair that hung down to her feet wavy and loose and eyes of crystal light, reflecting all colors, iridescent crystals. She smiled at Serenity and a silver crescent moon glowed on her forehead before she vanished into the crystal light and it shone for an instant of extreme unbearable brilliance.
Serenity closed her eyes against the brilliant light, but she heard a tinkling whisper in her ear, almost like a chime in the wind.
For you Serenity. Thank you.
Serenity opened her eyes and the room was normal again, the Silver Moon Crystal glowing in its place on the stand in the center of the room. Serenity approached it and gave a small bow to the Crystal. She heard a tinkling from the crystal and she smiled. She nodded her head and left the room with life flowing through her veins and a grin of pure joy and laughter on her face.
She would never forget what the Crystal had whispered to her in that last moment when she had bowed to it in her gratitude.
We must remember to thank Kamui-chan too.
Serenity could not stop smiling.
* * *
Serenity emerged from the room and walked the halls of the Palace with pure joy flowing through her. She felt as light as a feather from her pure happiness. She was home! With her friends, with her family, with her love. She couldn't wait!
And she didn't have to wait long. She looked up and saw her daughter with Elios, Peruru and Skylar at her side. She smiled at them in pure joy and opened her arms.
Serena-chan squealed in joy. Her mother was back! Her mother was back! She threw herself into her mother's arms while the other three teenagers rushed in for a hug as well. Serenity clutched them eagerly to her, tears slipping from her eyes from the overwhelming delight of holding her daughter and her friends again and knowing them for who they were. She laughed in sheer exultation and held them close.
The sound of the laughter in the hall brought the Sailor Guardians to them. The women's eyes slowly widened as Serenity straightened and smiled brilliantly at her friends. Ami took a step forward and drew Serenity's eyes. She smiled at her old friend. "No more homework left Ami?" Tears streamed down Ami's cheeks and she began to hiccup.
Serenity gazed at all of them and laughed in delight. She made a face at Rei, asked Lita for some good home cooking because she was starved, asked Mina if they should have a Sailor V marathon, asked Haruka when her next race was, asked Michiru to play the violin for her, and asked Hotaru if Serena-chan had been behaving. The entire group was in tears by the time she was through and then crushing her with joy in their arms. Serenity burst out laughing and hugged them all with pure gladness. She was so happy to be with them all again!
Darien and his Generals walked into the room to see the huge crowd about Serenity, hugging the breath out of her, lecturing her and laughing with her. Darien's heart clenched within his chest as hope flew through him. He squashed it. He didn't want to be crushed and devastated after his hope was dashed again. He refused to allow any emotion to come across his face, any hope to fill him.
Serenity saw him as still as death across the distance. He held all his emotions back as his generals blinked in disbelief or ran towards her in joy to be with her. She met his eyes and saw the flash of hope he quickly squashed. Her heart felt like it was going to burst with love. She had missed him so much, hated being away from him.
She turned to the group hugging and kissing her and crying and gave them a wink as she walked through them and directly toward Darien. Her eyes met his and didn't leave his beautiful dark eyes.
Darien shifted as he gazed into the brilliant blue eyes. It was almost as if he could see the soul of the woman he loved so much within her. No! It was not she, it could not be she. It just wasn't possible.
Serenity stood directly before him, her eyes staring deeply into his. His gaze was frightened…and so alone. Her heart clenched and tears filled her eyes.
"Oh, Darien…"
He blinked and struggled to hold back his hope. "Serena…?"
He could not hide the anguish and the hope in his voice from her. She smiled brilliantly at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him with all the love inside of her heart. Darien's eyes snapped open in realization and his love and relief overwhelmed him. He clutched her to him desperately as he kissed her with the ferocity of a man dying of hunger being faced with a feast. He opened her mouth and kissed her wildly and carnally with his tongue. He pressed her furiously against him, the groan he made coming from the depths of his soul.
"Hey! Get a room or something!" was the shout they heard someone say. Probably Rei. But they were too wrapped up in the moment and the joy of being together again to care who watched or what anyone else said.
In the end, Darien unconsciously carried her back to their bedroom, right in front of an entire audience.