Chapter 11
"Serena." Serenity nodded again, as though she knew this was what Serena would choose, and that it was the right thing to do. Aneresa said goodbye and quietly passed away from all memory. Serena was struck by how little difference there was between this death and the physical one that awaits all people. Aneresa only existed as long as someone acknowledged her presence and remembered who she was.
"You must go back to earth now. Aneresa will be as though she never existed. I am truly sorry that it had to come to this," Serenity said, regret evident in her tone, "Still, the fight is not over yet, you must defeat Amherst. Be warned, she may not be the strongest of your enemies thus far, but she will be difficult all the same. Go safely, and be well. Remember I am always here for you." With that, Serenity, and the nothingness that surrounded them, departed.
"Goodbye, Mother." Serena stood once more on the beach, shivering against the wind. For a fleeting moment she felt immense remorse, as though some part of her had just died or been sacrificed. She pushed the feeling away. There was also relief and freedom that she hadn't felt for a while. Her thoughts were clear again and she knew that Amherst had been the cause of her recent despondency. Knowing this, she was able to fight it. What Serena did not, and could not, realize was that Amherst had been using Aneresa to spark such feelings and the dreams only drew out her bliss energy. Bliss energy gave one the capacity to feel happiness and hope. Aneresa had been awake long enough that her bliss energy level was back to normal, it had been her physical energy that had been waning; and a very real depression that had driven her to run away. Much of the details of the last few weeks were still somewhat indistinct and Serena knew they would always remain so. Unlike when she first became Sailor Moon, she had the capacity to just accept such setbacks. Some things, she found, simply were as they were.
Serena walked up the beach. She knew she was in Chicago and that Darien worked at a hospital here. It shouldn't be too formidable a task to find him, not compared to everything else she faced in her life. She was still physically exhausted and very hungry and Lake Shore Drive was as busy as ever. Undaunted by the dreary weather, tourist and commuters made their way slowly through rush hour traffic. A single motorcycle wove its way expertly through the cars as though this was just some obstacle course. Serena stood on the sidewalk debating the best way to cross without being flattened. The motorcycle drove up alongside her and stopped. For a second, Serena worried that this might be trouble, but then the figure took off its helmet.
"Amara" (yes, I'm using the Dub names, so sue me) Serena said in surprise, "What are you doing here?" Amara grinned slightly in amusement.
"I thought you might need a ride." She reached behind her to pull out another helmet and threw it to Serena, who just managed to catch it. "Climb on, I think that semi-truck behind me is getting impatient." Serena got on without another word said. They took off, weaving through traffic again. A few guys driving expensive foreign jobs watched the passing pair in envy and vowed to get a Harley next time.
AN: I guess that chapter was short. Originally, I was going to end this with Aneresa going, but I think I'll have them fight Amherst. Next Chapter: Old Friends