**Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters in it

**Disclaimer:  I do not own Sailor Moon or any of the characters in it.**

Setsuna's Goodbye

            The wind blew harshly, creating violent waves in the bay.  The dark clouds overhead were so dreary, that they were reminiscent of the very embodiment of despair.  Three mysterious figures slowly made their way up to the docks, and then stopped.  One of them was very beautiful, with aquamarine tresses, her hair and long lacey skirt were being blown violently about by the wind.   Another, much taller, was quite handsome and also somewhat androdynous.  Closer inspection, however, would reveal her to be a female, despite the short blonde hair and boyish clothes. 

"Are you sure?" asked the latter.

            "I'm positive.  I'm sorry." Answered their companion.  She looked to be slightly older than her two friends, perhaps three or four years.  Her olive green hair was down to her ankles, and she had a look in her eyes that seemed to carry many more years of wisdom, and years of loneliness than her age would permit.  Her name was Setsuna.

            "But why?" pleaded the girl with the aquamarine curls.

            "Michiru, you knew I couldn't stay here with you forever, no matter how much I wanted to.  I was sent here to help defeat the enemy, and Galaxia is gone.  Now it is my time to leave you."  Setsuna answered again.  She bit her lip to keep herself from crying.  "Please take good care of Hotaru."

            "You know we will, but we'll never be able to fill your shoes.  Isn't there some way you could stay with us?  What about our family?"  Michiru could no longer restrain herself.  She fell to her knees and burst into tears.  "Haruka…" she whimpered.  The taller girl knelt down beside her and held Michiru in a tight, consoling embrace.  Once she had regained her composure, the two stood up together and once again faced Setsuna.

            "You two have each other to take care of.  Hotaru will now be your responsibility.  I wish that this could have been prevented, but you know what my destiny is.  I must return to my post, and guard the gate forever.  Please don't make this any harder for me."

            "What about Usagi and the others?  Aren't you going to say good by to them?"  Haruka asked.

            "They will just try and persuade me to stay like the two of you have been doing, and I can't…" Setsuna paused.  There was a look great sadness in her eyes, as though she was lost somewhere and all alone, but she pulled herself together.  "The prince and princess are safe now.  Neither they, nor Small Lady are in anymore danger.  I am no longer needed here."

            "Pluto Planet Power, Make-up!" Setsuna yelled as she raised her henshin stick into the cold morning air high above head.  There was a flash of light, and before Michiru and Haruka stood not merely their friend Setsuna, but Pluto, the guardian of the lower world and one of the outer senshi.  "You will tell Hotaru goodbye for me."

            She raised her staff in the air, but then stopped.  She lowered it.  "Take care of each other, and our daughter.  Everything will be okay." She assured them, seeing the look in both their faces.  "I won't be as far away as you'd think."

            Setsuna again raised her staff in the air.  The gray clouds above her head began to swirl like a whirlpool.  Before they could speak another word, Haruka and Michiru were alone together.  All that was left where Setsuna had stood was a tiny jeweled key lying on the ground before them. 

            As the sun began to rise and the sky became lighter Michiru rushed over and picked it up.  Slowly turning away, they proceeded home to wake Hotaru, the key glistening in the light of the newly risen sun.