Tension of the Past
Part 14
*~*~*~*
"YOU NEVER TOLD ME!" the scream echoed through the halls, and all those in the palace still asleep now awoke. Ah, the alarm clock of Crystal Tokyo. No doubt the day would be better than most since there wasn't a crash afterward.
All the senshi and royals blinked at the princess of Jupiter, and she flushed, apologized, and ran to the end of the room. Makoto quickly closed the door to the throne room, and turned around, staring at her friend and trying to stay angry. Damn, with a night like the one before, though... Makoto looked at Taka from the corner of her eye, and both of them smiled wryly. Minako held up her hands, and shook her head.
"Believe me," she said. "I wanted to. Really I did. But things kept coming up one after another."
"Sure, sure."
"I think we should give her some credit," said Rei, as Makoto took her place next to Ami. "She's been through a lot lately. We all have."
"I still can't believe Chaos is coming back," shuddered Makoto. "Once is bad enough."
"I think it's a time to take a look at our personal issues," said Ami. "I didn't have it as intense as Minako... but I did hear the voice... and my star was taken away... I'm so glad Ichigo was there to give me enough strength to take my star back."
"You never told us." Serenity directed to Ami. "We could have helped you."
"I didn't know what it was to begin with," answered Ami. "I was so afraid I was going insane... I was. I didn't want to leave all of you. And the voice... the voice was incredibly seductive. Now that I know it wasn't only me but also Chaos, it puts some things into perspective. But I do think, and I know this might sound odd, but I needed to realize my fears and fix everything on my own. It was just me and my heart."
"And someone to keep you in line," answered Ichigo, and Hotaru squeezed his hand. By now the shock had worn off enough to be able to listen to him and actually believe he was real. The person most shocked, though, was Chibi-Usa. Inwardly, he cringed at the girl's sorrowful eyes, and made a promise to himself to talk to her later.
"Not touching the star was the best thing Ichigo could have done," answered Yaten who stood next to Minako. "If a person other than the owner comes into contact with it, they are completely under the mercy of the owner. It's up to them."
"So please," said Minako. "All of you will be tested. You have to know. There's one other person the star will go to, but don't let it touch you. The heart was rejected, you need to help the person take it back, and help the star to be taken."
"What happens if two people are tested at the same time?" asked Haruka.
Minako nodded. "I had been thinking about that... and truthfully, I have no idea. I think it's possible Chaos doesn't have enough strength to test two people at once... but stars have enormous value in power. If she gets one..."
Michiru nodded. Serenity stood.
"This is clearly a problem," said Serenity. "If we are going to overcome the enemy again, we need to be careful, and not be alone. I don't want everybody to become paranoid, live our lives to the utmost joy... but know that issues will be brought up. We need to take care of them when they do. For now, let's not worry about it until the time comes. From the pattern so far, it'll be another month."
She stepped down from the throne, and walked to Minako, taking her hand. "Let's congratulate our leader on her first victory in 900 years, and congratulate Ami for being the first to fight and pull through."
"Good job," murmured Michiru, and the praise rose from the other senshi. Minako blushed, and Ami grinned.
"Let's eat, I'm starving!" cried Seiya, and with laughter and agreement, they all walked down the halls together to the kitchen.
Minako felt a hand slip into hers, and leaned her head against Makoto's shoulder. "I really am sorry I didn't tell you first."
"Don't worry about it," she said. "I understand. I didn't put pressure on you like Yaten did."
"Mm. You know... I never really did tell you, did I?"
"Nope. Just that your past and all your pain came back to haunt you."
Rei fell back in line from her place beside Haruka and draped an arm around Minako's shoulders. "Don't even think about keeping me out of this one."
They told the others they would catch up in a minute, and turned a corner. Minako pressed her back against the wall as the other two girls waited for her to speak.
"Remember the time when I was Sailor V?" she asked. The two girls nodded. "Well... there was this guy, Kaitou Ace who helped me out. He was an idol, he was hot, and he kissed me."
"You never told us this!"
"Hang on, okay? The only problem was he was working for the Dark Kingdom. He was a soldier of Venus called Adonis in the Silver Millennium, and I never noticed him. He was reborn in this lifetime and became Danburite when the Dark Kingdom came to him..." she sighed. "I defeated Kaitou Ace."
"Before... before he died, he gave me a fortune telling... the ace of hearts was torn to pieces."
"Mina..." whispered Rei.
"I've had problems with love ever since... and the thing is, I kept hearing, Rei, what you said about readings. That there's a possibility it will happen and also that it won't. A possible future. But all of your readings had come true that were disastrous... my life hadn't changed off the course of the one Ace had given me. I was cursed.
"And I realize now, that I though I was cursed... I stayed that way because I believed I would be forever." She looked at her two friends and smiled sweetly, taking their hands in her own. "And last night I got it all taken care of after I talked to Kunzite."
"YOU WHAT?!" Rei and Makoto started pounding her with questions, and through it all Minako could only sigh in bliss.
*~*~*~*
"You're leaving," murmured Ami as she stood in front of Sailor Star Maker. The soldier nodded.
"Only for a little while. The queen needs to go back to her planet and get the people situated. It was a risk to come down to Earth and leave her people behind. We need to go back with her and give her support."
"I understand," she said, but a tear slipped down her face. "We won't be together again until the end of the month. I'm glad Serenity and Queen Kakyuu made the agreement for all of us to be together when the next battle comes."
Taiki nodded. "I wish you could come with me."
"I do to... but I need to stay with Serenity and the others. Plus I need to stay down here to begin my work on the skyways."
"Hey," Taiki murmured and moved closer to her. "Don't forget I'm the head of the technology department. We need to work together to build this thing."
"Of course," she laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm just used to working alone when it comes to science. I need to learn how to work with a partner."
"It's something we both need to learn," she said. "Do you still have those communication screens?"
"Yes," she said, and pulled out the small control she had used the night before. She handed it to Taiki. "Think about where and who you want to see, and the screen will appear on both sides. I have another one in the lab to use."
"Good," she said, and gently took the control from Ami's hand. "I'm going to miss you."
They held each other, leather against satin, and Ami sighed. "Can I walk with you?"
"Always. Forever. There's somebody I need to see first, though."
*~*~*~*
"You know, Haruka. I want to thank you."
"...For what?"
"For a being a bitch to me the other day."
Michiru tried to stop laughing as she hid her face with a layer of her skirt. Kakyuu had to turn away to keep from smiling, and Seiya just smiled as Haruka blinked.
"Don't mention it. Anytime," she said finally, and smiled. "Call us if you need anything. As the first gate, we protect New Kinmoku as well."
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other soon," said Kakyuu.
"Why is that?" asked Michiru. "Did you sense something?"
"No. But I would be grateful if you two would visit us. There's still a lot about Earth I want to learn about, and the others will be busy down here with internal affairs. From what I've seen, you represent Earth in a way I haven't known before."
"Oh sure," said Seiya. "Haruka, a model human for the 'other' category."
"Look whose talking?"
Michiru stood next to the queen of Kinmoku as they watched the other women .
"This would be considered 'male bonding' on Earth if they were men," said Michiru. "I don't think we can classify this situation, though. A masculine cat fight?"
"How odd," murmured Kakyuu.
*~*~*~*
Artemis found Star Healer in the gardens taking one last look at the roses before she would leave. The cat had been watching her for a while, and walked up after the woman had smiled quietly.
"Have you told her yet?" he asked. Star Healer jumped slightly and peered down at the white feline.
"Oi, Artemis-san," she said. "Yes, she already knows..."
"That you're leaving?"
"Oh. No. I haven't told her that. She probably knows that too though." She sighed. "Minako's been with everybody else all day. I haven't gotten near her since this morning."
"I love her, Yaten," Artemis said simply, and jumped up onto a small pillar in front of the woman.
"I know you do," she answered, and scratched his ear. He didn't like the fact he was enjoying it. "You don't need to worry. I'm not going to hurt her."
"It impossible to say such a thing," he said. "We can try not to, but there's no guarantee."
"Mm. That's true. I'm going to try to not hurt her, how about that?"
"That's better. But if you do, know that I have claws. And they're sharp."
Yaten winced. "What a loving father figure."
Artemis leaned into the rubs. "That's what guardian cats are for."
"You're not so bad, Artemis."
"Neither are you," he answered. "Let's go join the others."
The white cat leaped onto Star Healer's shoulder, and they walked into the palace.
*~*~*~*
"I have to say, you're a fine looking man."
"A woman could not surpass your beauty." Taka and Taiki grinned at each other.
"I wanted to say good-bye," said Taiki. Her male version rose his eyebrows in surprise. "And to tell you good luck on your new position with King Endymion. He's a good man."
Taka nodded. "I know. It will be good to do something for once."
There was a silence, and Taka cleared his throat. "I'll admit I'm still a bit disorientated with everything. I've been alive three weeks and awake for two, and Ichigo is nine hundred years older than me."
"Don't worry about it," Taiki said, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Time doesn't matter. Just leave some room in his heart for me."
Taka laughed. "With a heart that big I imagine he's left you much more."
Taiki smiled. "I'll see you in a month."
"Take care."
"You too." Their eyes met, and Taka held up his hands.
"Mercury-sama loves you," he said. "A clone can't get in the way of that."
*~*~*~*
"Ne... Ichigo-kun."
"Hai?"
"I've been thinking... about Chibi-Usa-chan."
"Me too..."
"I think it's time we gave her a present."
"She WAS very lady like when she saw me."
" I know just the thing."
*~*~*~*
Yaten and Minako stood away from the others as they all gathered into the gardens, and stared at the blood red sky.
"You left on a sunset like this," said Minako.
"I came back, though. I'll come back again, too."
"I have to say, I'm a little scared about being away from you. You've helped me to change so much, Yaten. What if I go back?"
"Remember why you stayed." They looked back at the sky.
"This is for you," Minako said after a while, and handed Yaten a small package. "Did you like the first book?"
"Very much," she said.
"After you left, a sequel came out. It stayed a duology. I thought you might like it. I put in another copy of the first one."
Yaten opened the package and stared at two thin and perfectly flat screens, each with four buttons on it. New binding of the ages.
"They're indestructible," Minako explained. Yaten laughed and kissed her, and turned on the first screen to stare at a digital cover.
TENSION OF THE PAST
"Thank you," she whispered, and they walked down the path together slowly, reaching the circle.
*~*~*~*
The aliens stood in the middle of the gardens, their friends and family surrounding them.
"We'll see you in a month," said Endymion.
"We'll be counting the days," Kakyuu replied.
"Take care," said Serenity.
"You too," said Seiya.
"If you need us, don't hesitate to call."
They nodded. Uranus and Neptune joined Kakyuu and her guardians, and with a farewell from the rest of the senshi they shot up into the sky, back to their planet.
*~*~*~*
"Puu!!"
"...Small Lady!"
The child ran to the guardian of time, and Pluto knelt so they could see eye to eye. Pluto gazed at Chibi-Usa's face worriedly, and then gently brushed the princess' bangs away from her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Ichigo grew up last night!"
"Oh?"
"He was little when I went to bed, and then he was taller than Hotaru in the morning."
Pluto smiled, and then said, "Don't worry, Small Lady, you'll grow up soon."
Chibi-Usa stared up at her quietly. "Will I really?" Pluto nodded her head, and Small Lady's eyes shown with delight. The pain in Pluto's heart was hard to mask. "How soon?"
"It's up to you to decide. It could be tomorrow, or the day after that. Or in another hundred years." Chibi-Usa's delight quickly turned to dismay. "Try not to act so much like a young lady. BE one. And don't go around being two people. Around the queen you're incredibly polite and docile... but you need to be that way around others too."
"But I am!"
"Don't think I don't remember how you treated Usagi-chan in the past. Or how about Ichigo-kun?" The young princess flushed, and nodded.
"I can never be a true adult without being true to myself and to others. From now on, I'll be a queen throughout myself, even if I'm still a child. And yet..." The princess pulled out a small bottle and passed it over to Pluto. "Ichigo gave me this... for when I found the reason to grow up, and when I found the person to grow up in front of... I think now's the time."
And Pluto watched, tears in her eyes, as Chibi-Usa un-corked the bottle, and drank the smooth liquid, her limbs starting to glow. Her odangos loosened as her pink hair grew longer, falling into the mist, her legs and arms lengthening, her face growing mature with the passing seconds.
The growing princess embraced Pluto, the soldier feeling the maturity of her princess beneath her touch, and oddly enough, the dress grew as well, trailing down to join her hair beneath the mist.
"I love my mom more than anything in the world," the princess whispered into Pluto's ear. "She's the model of my universe. But you have always been here for me. And I know you always will. You're my other mother, and you have shown me such love and care, I cannot begin to thank you enough."
Pluto buried her face in the princess' neck, and finally they parted, and Pluto saw that Small Lady no longer fit her name. She helped Chibi-Usa pin her hair into her odangos again, only this time her hair was a little shorter than her mother's. Pluto could no longer contain the tears, and a sob escaped her, and the future queen held the old guardian of time in a sweet embrace.
"Princess..." A voice, a soft whisper called out to her, and she perked her ears and looked around.
"Did you hear that?" she asked. Pluto shook her head.
"Princess... come to me..."
"A voice?"
"I know of the voices Venus-san and Mercury-san heard... this is different though... this is... this is..."
She and Pluto stood, the woman gently nudging the girl forward. The figure appeared to them, reaching out to his sovereign's daughter.
"Elios!" she cried, and ran to him, reaching him, and he folded himself around her, locking his arms, and they disappeared to Elysion.
Serenity joined Pluto and watched their daughter fade away.
"Time flies," the queen murmured.
"It does," Pluto answered. The looked to each other, and Pluto dropped to one knee. She was surprised when Serenity dropped to hers as well.
"We have not given you the recognition you deserve. Or the comfort. You have been here for ages, protecting time... I think it's time for you to be a part of it, too."
"I don't understand."
"The crystal springs are from Elysion." Serenity helped her friend up. "The world of dreams is rising to meet reality. Everything is joining together. I don't understand it, but the time of separation is ending. You have been alone far too long. Be with us."
"I must guard the Gate."
The queen nodded. "And you shall. But have you noticed how easily it is for others to enter this place? This plane holds so much knowledge and life... already it is slipping into reality."
"And what of Chaos...?"
"The Gate will always be with you, but you will always be with us now. You ask questions you already know."
"It is true that I know them, but hearing them from another's lips is heaven compared to my own voice."
"Which is why you must be with us. We all miss you. You joined us before in the Twentieth century. Why can't you do it now?"
"The continuum chooses it's own destiny," Pluto agreed. "If it chooses to join reality, there is no point in being alone."
"Thank you," the queen mouthed, and led the guardian to the palace... the Gate trailing behind them.
*~*~*~*
On Kinmoku, Seiya and Kakyuu reunited for the second time. Taiki contacted Ami. Yaten let go, thought of Minako, and thought of the dress she would have to wear in a month.
On Earth, Serenity and Endymion watched the sunset. Makoto and Taka walked through the gardens. Rei and Setsuna talked of time. Michiru and Haruka waited for the stars. Hotaru and Ichigo made plans for the future. Minako, Luna, Artemis and Diana made a trip into town and visited Venus Dreams, making plans for Yaten's return and her comeback song.
A thousand years later, Sailor Cosmos fought Chaos with the power of love and called her dearest friends and family back to her.
And then... All was quiet. All was still. All was right.
*~*~*~*
THE BEGINNING
*~*~*~*
It is DONE! Wow. It was going to be 8 parts, and then it was going to be 12 parts... and now it's ended at 14. I like even numbers. Actually, I had started to write this story a couple years ago. I like this version a lot better.
The thing about Elysion and the space-time continuum merging. I don't expect people to agree with it, or even think it was Naoko Takeuchi's ultimate finish for everything. I truly think Pluto will stay there and kill all those who enter without permission... no wait. I think time had been altered when Setsuna traveled to the past... or maybe it was part of the past. Well, anyways, I don't think she would kill the senshi, I mean, come on. They trust each other. But if a stranger just happens to enter in her proximity near the door without heading her warning... look out! But she would probably NEVER leave unless there was danger or another mission. But I like her a lot. She'd go insane being alone. And it fits for everything to merge together. So there it is.
So. I don't have much to say anymore... just that I really enjoyed writing it, and I'm sorry for all the redundancies and repetitions everything like that. Minako must be manic depressive, huh?
Anyways, if you've read this, I want to thank you for getting through it all... although I'm one of those people who are daunted by REALLY long novels and always skip to the end to make sure it has a worthy finish. So, if you're one of those people... I understand where you're coming from. But let's work on the terrible habit together, yes?
Thank you those who wrote me e-mails praising it. It really kept me driven to finish it. And special thanks to Kotetsu, for inspiring me to write Tension of the Past again.
LET'S PARTY!!! Come, my dahlinks. Dance wid me into da night!
Part 14
*~*~*~*
"YOU NEVER TOLD ME!" the scream echoed through the halls, and all those in the palace still asleep now awoke. Ah, the alarm clock of Crystal Tokyo. No doubt the day would be better than most since there wasn't a crash afterward.
All the senshi and royals blinked at the princess of Jupiter, and she flushed, apologized, and ran to the end of the room. Makoto quickly closed the door to the throne room, and turned around, staring at her friend and trying to stay angry. Damn, with a night like the one before, though... Makoto looked at Taka from the corner of her eye, and both of them smiled wryly. Minako held up her hands, and shook her head.
"Believe me," she said. "I wanted to. Really I did. But things kept coming up one after another."
"Sure, sure."
"I think we should give her some credit," said Rei, as Makoto took her place next to Ami. "She's been through a lot lately. We all have."
"I still can't believe Chaos is coming back," shuddered Makoto. "Once is bad enough."
"I think it's a time to take a look at our personal issues," said Ami. "I didn't have it as intense as Minako... but I did hear the voice... and my star was taken away... I'm so glad Ichigo was there to give me enough strength to take my star back."
"You never told us." Serenity directed to Ami. "We could have helped you."
"I didn't know what it was to begin with," answered Ami. "I was so afraid I was going insane... I was. I didn't want to leave all of you. And the voice... the voice was incredibly seductive. Now that I know it wasn't only me but also Chaos, it puts some things into perspective. But I do think, and I know this might sound odd, but I needed to realize my fears and fix everything on my own. It was just me and my heart."
"And someone to keep you in line," answered Ichigo, and Hotaru squeezed his hand. By now the shock had worn off enough to be able to listen to him and actually believe he was real. The person most shocked, though, was Chibi-Usa. Inwardly, he cringed at the girl's sorrowful eyes, and made a promise to himself to talk to her later.
"Not touching the star was the best thing Ichigo could have done," answered Yaten who stood next to Minako. "If a person other than the owner comes into contact with it, they are completely under the mercy of the owner. It's up to them."
"So please," said Minako. "All of you will be tested. You have to know. There's one other person the star will go to, but don't let it touch you. The heart was rejected, you need to help the person take it back, and help the star to be taken."
"What happens if two people are tested at the same time?" asked Haruka.
Minako nodded. "I had been thinking about that... and truthfully, I have no idea. I think it's possible Chaos doesn't have enough strength to test two people at once... but stars have enormous value in power. If she gets one..."
Michiru nodded. Serenity stood.
"This is clearly a problem," said Serenity. "If we are going to overcome the enemy again, we need to be careful, and not be alone. I don't want everybody to become paranoid, live our lives to the utmost joy... but know that issues will be brought up. We need to take care of them when they do. For now, let's not worry about it until the time comes. From the pattern so far, it'll be another month."
She stepped down from the throne, and walked to Minako, taking her hand. "Let's congratulate our leader on her first victory in 900 years, and congratulate Ami for being the first to fight and pull through."
"Good job," murmured Michiru, and the praise rose from the other senshi. Minako blushed, and Ami grinned.
"Let's eat, I'm starving!" cried Seiya, and with laughter and agreement, they all walked down the halls together to the kitchen.
Minako felt a hand slip into hers, and leaned her head against Makoto's shoulder. "I really am sorry I didn't tell you first."
"Don't worry about it," she said. "I understand. I didn't put pressure on you like Yaten did."
"Mm. You know... I never really did tell you, did I?"
"Nope. Just that your past and all your pain came back to haunt you."
Rei fell back in line from her place beside Haruka and draped an arm around Minako's shoulders. "Don't even think about keeping me out of this one."
They told the others they would catch up in a minute, and turned a corner. Minako pressed her back against the wall as the other two girls waited for her to speak.
"Remember the time when I was Sailor V?" she asked. The two girls nodded. "Well... there was this guy, Kaitou Ace who helped me out. He was an idol, he was hot, and he kissed me."
"You never told us this!"
"Hang on, okay? The only problem was he was working for the Dark Kingdom. He was a soldier of Venus called Adonis in the Silver Millennium, and I never noticed him. He was reborn in this lifetime and became Danburite when the Dark Kingdom came to him..." she sighed. "I defeated Kaitou Ace."
"Before... before he died, he gave me a fortune telling... the ace of hearts was torn to pieces."
"Mina..." whispered Rei.
"I've had problems with love ever since... and the thing is, I kept hearing, Rei, what you said about readings. That there's a possibility it will happen and also that it won't. A possible future. But all of your readings had come true that were disastrous... my life hadn't changed off the course of the one Ace had given me. I was cursed.
"And I realize now, that I though I was cursed... I stayed that way because I believed I would be forever." She looked at her two friends and smiled sweetly, taking their hands in her own. "And last night I got it all taken care of after I talked to Kunzite."
"YOU WHAT?!" Rei and Makoto started pounding her with questions, and through it all Minako could only sigh in bliss.
*~*~*~*
"You're leaving," murmured Ami as she stood in front of Sailor Star Maker. The soldier nodded.
"Only for a little while. The queen needs to go back to her planet and get the people situated. It was a risk to come down to Earth and leave her people behind. We need to go back with her and give her support."
"I understand," she said, but a tear slipped down her face. "We won't be together again until the end of the month. I'm glad Serenity and Queen Kakyuu made the agreement for all of us to be together when the next battle comes."
Taiki nodded. "I wish you could come with me."
"I do to... but I need to stay with Serenity and the others. Plus I need to stay down here to begin my work on the skyways."
"Hey," Taiki murmured and moved closer to her. "Don't forget I'm the head of the technology department. We need to work together to build this thing."
"Of course," she laughed. "I'm sorry, I'm just used to working alone when it comes to science. I need to learn how to work with a partner."
"It's something we both need to learn," she said. "Do you still have those communication screens?"
"Yes," she said, and pulled out the small control she had used the night before. She handed it to Taiki. "Think about where and who you want to see, and the screen will appear on both sides. I have another one in the lab to use."
"Good," she said, and gently took the control from Ami's hand. "I'm going to miss you."
They held each other, leather against satin, and Ami sighed. "Can I walk with you?"
"Always. Forever. There's somebody I need to see first, though."
*~*~*~*
"You know, Haruka. I want to thank you."
"...For what?"
"For a being a bitch to me the other day."
Michiru tried to stop laughing as she hid her face with a layer of her skirt. Kakyuu had to turn away to keep from smiling, and Seiya just smiled as Haruka blinked.
"Don't mention it. Anytime," she said finally, and smiled. "Call us if you need anything. As the first gate, we protect New Kinmoku as well."
"I have a feeling we'll be seeing each other soon," said Kakyuu.
"Why is that?" asked Michiru. "Did you sense something?"
"No. But I would be grateful if you two would visit us. There's still a lot about Earth I want to learn about, and the others will be busy down here with internal affairs. From what I've seen, you represent Earth in a way I haven't known before."
"Oh sure," said Seiya. "Haruka, a model human for the 'other' category."
"Look whose talking?"
Michiru stood next to the queen of Kinmoku as they watched the other women .
"This would be considered 'male bonding' on Earth if they were men," said Michiru. "I don't think we can classify this situation, though. A masculine cat fight?"
"How odd," murmured Kakyuu.
*~*~*~*
Artemis found Star Healer in the gardens taking one last look at the roses before she would leave. The cat had been watching her for a while, and walked up after the woman had smiled quietly.
"Have you told her yet?" he asked. Star Healer jumped slightly and peered down at the white feline.
"Oi, Artemis-san," she said. "Yes, she already knows..."
"That you're leaving?"
"Oh. No. I haven't told her that. She probably knows that too though." She sighed. "Minako's been with everybody else all day. I haven't gotten near her since this morning."
"I love her, Yaten," Artemis said simply, and jumped up onto a small pillar in front of the woman.
"I know you do," she answered, and scratched his ear. He didn't like the fact he was enjoying it. "You don't need to worry. I'm not going to hurt her."
"It impossible to say such a thing," he said. "We can try not to, but there's no guarantee."
"Mm. That's true. I'm going to try to not hurt her, how about that?"
"That's better. But if you do, know that I have claws. And they're sharp."
Yaten winced. "What a loving father figure."
Artemis leaned into the rubs. "That's what guardian cats are for."
"You're not so bad, Artemis."
"Neither are you," he answered. "Let's go join the others."
The white cat leaped onto Star Healer's shoulder, and they walked into the palace.
*~*~*~*
"I have to say, you're a fine looking man."
"A woman could not surpass your beauty." Taka and Taiki grinned at each other.
"I wanted to say good-bye," said Taiki. Her male version rose his eyebrows in surprise. "And to tell you good luck on your new position with King Endymion. He's a good man."
Taka nodded. "I know. It will be good to do something for once."
There was a silence, and Taka cleared his throat. "I'll admit I'm still a bit disorientated with everything. I've been alive three weeks and awake for two, and Ichigo is nine hundred years older than me."
"Don't worry about it," Taiki said, and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Time doesn't matter. Just leave some room in his heart for me."
Taka laughed. "With a heart that big I imagine he's left you much more."
Taiki smiled. "I'll see you in a month."
"Take care."
"You too." Their eyes met, and Taka held up his hands.
"Mercury-sama loves you," he said. "A clone can't get in the way of that."
*~*~*~*
"Ne... Ichigo-kun."
"Hai?"
"I've been thinking... about Chibi-Usa-chan."
"Me too..."
"I think it's time we gave her a present."
"She WAS very lady like when she saw me."
" I know just the thing."
*~*~*~*
Yaten and Minako stood away from the others as they all gathered into the gardens, and stared at the blood red sky.
"You left on a sunset like this," said Minako.
"I came back, though. I'll come back again, too."
"I have to say, I'm a little scared about being away from you. You've helped me to change so much, Yaten. What if I go back?"
"Remember why you stayed." They looked back at the sky.
"This is for you," Minako said after a while, and handed Yaten a small package. "Did you like the first book?"
"Very much," she said.
"After you left, a sequel came out. It stayed a duology. I thought you might like it. I put in another copy of the first one."
Yaten opened the package and stared at two thin and perfectly flat screens, each with four buttons on it. New binding of the ages.
"They're indestructible," Minako explained. Yaten laughed and kissed her, and turned on the first screen to stare at a digital cover.
TENSION OF THE PAST
"Thank you," she whispered, and they walked down the path together slowly, reaching the circle.
*~*~*~*
The aliens stood in the middle of the gardens, their friends and family surrounding them.
"We'll see you in a month," said Endymion.
"We'll be counting the days," Kakyuu replied.
"Take care," said Serenity.
"You too," said Seiya.
"If you need us, don't hesitate to call."
They nodded. Uranus and Neptune joined Kakyuu and her guardians, and with a farewell from the rest of the senshi they shot up into the sky, back to their planet.
*~*~*~*
"Puu!!"
"...Small Lady!"
The child ran to the guardian of time, and Pluto knelt so they could see eye to eye. Pluto gazed at Chibi-Usa's face worriedly, and then gently brushed the princess' bangs away from her eyes.
"What's wrong?"
"Ichigo grew up last night!"
"Oh?"
"He was little when I went to bed, and then he was taller than Hotaru in the morning."
Pluto smiled, and then said, "Don't worry, Small Lady, you'll grow up soon."
Chibi-Usa stared up at her quietly. "Will I really?" Pluto nodded her head, and Small Lady's eyes shown with delight. The pain in Pluto's heart was hard to mask. "How soon?"
"It's up to you to decide. It could be tomorrow, or the day after that. Or in another hundred years." Chibi-Usa's delight quickly turned to dismay. "Try not to act so much like a young lady. BE one. And don't go around being two people. Around the queen you're incredibly polite and docile... but you need to be that way around others too."
"But I am!"
"Don't think I don't remember how you treated Usagi-chan in the past. Or how about Ichigo-kun?" The young princess flushed, and nodded.
"I can never be a true adult without being true to myself and to others. From now on, I'll be a queen throughout myself, even if I'm still a child. And yet..." The princess pulled out a small bottle and passed it over to Pluto. "Ichigo gave me this... for when I found the reason to grow up, and when I found the person to grow up in front of... I think now's the time."
And Pluto watched, tears in her eyes, as Chibi-Usa un-corked the bottle, and drank the smooth liquid, her limbs starting to glow. Her odangos loosened as her pink hair grew longer, falling into the mist, her legs and arms lengthening, her face growing mature with the passing seconds.
The growing princess embraced Pluto, the soldier feeling the maturity of her princess beneath her touch, and oddly enough, the dress grew as well, trailing down to join her hair beneath the mist.
"I love my mom more than anything in the world," the princess whispered into Pluto's ear. "She's the model of my universe. But you have always been here for me. And I know you always will. You're my other mother, and you have shown me such love and care, I cannot begin to thank you enough."
Pluto buried her face in the princess' neck, and finally they parted, and Pluto saw that Small Lady no longer fit her name. She helped Chibi-Usa pin her hair into her odangos again, only this time her hair was a little shorter than her mother's. Pluto could no longer contain the tears, and a sob escaped her, and the future queen held the old guardian of time in a sweet embrace.
"Princess..." A voice, a soft whisper called out to her, and she perked her ears and looked around.
"Did you hear that?" she asked. Pluto shook her head.
"Princess... come to me..."
"A voice?"
"I know of the voices Venus-san and Mercury-san heard... this is different though... this is... this is..."
She and Pluto stood, the woman gently nudging the girl forward. The figure appeared to them, reaching out to his sovereign's daughter.
"Elios!" she cried, and ran to him, reaching him, and he folded himself around her, locking his arms, and they disappeared to Elysion.
Serenity joined Pluto and watched their daughter fade away.
"Time flies," the queen murmured.
"It does," Pluto answered. The looked to each other, and Pluto dropped to one knee. She was surprised when Serenity dropped to hers as well.
"We have not given you the recognition you deserve. Or the comfort. You have been here for ages, protecting time... I think it's time for you to be a part of it, too."
"I don't understand."
"The crystal springs are from Elysion." Serenity helped her friend up. "The world of dreams is rising to meet reality. Everything is joining together. I don't understand it, but the time of separation is ending. You have been alone far too long. Be with us."
"I must guard the Gate."
The queen nodded. "And you shall. But have you noticed how easily it is for others to enter this place? This plane holds so much knowledge and life... already it is slipping into reality."
"And what of Chaos...?"
"The Gate will always be with you, but you will always be with us now. You ask questions you already know."
"It is true that I know them, but hearing them from another's lips is heaven compared to my own voice."
"Which is why you must be with us. We all miss you. You joined us before in the Twentieth century. Why can't you do it now?"
"The continuum chooses it's own destiny," Pluto agreed. "If it chooses to join reality, there is no point in being alone."
"Thank you," the queen mouthed, and led the guardian to the palace... the Gate trailing behind them.
*~*~*~*
On Kinmoku, Seiya and Kakyuu reunited for the second time. Taiki contacted Ami. Yaten let go, thought of Minako, and thought of the dress she would have to wear in a month.
On Earth, Serenity and Endymion watched the sunset. Makoto and Taka walked through the gardens. Rei and Setsuna talked of time. Michiru and Haruka waited for the stars. Hotaru and Ichigo made plans for the future. Minako, Luna, Artemis and Diana made a trip into town and visited Venus Dreams, making plans for Yaten's return and her comeback song.
A thousand years later, Sailor Cosmos fought Chaos with the power of love and called her dearest friends and family back to her.
And then... All was quiet. All was still. All was right.
*~*~*~*
THE BEGINNING
*~*~*~*
It is DONE! Wow. It was going to be 8 parts, and then it was going to be 12 parts... and now it's ended at 14. I like even numbers. Actually, I had started to write this story a couple years ago. I like this version a lot better.
The thing about Elysion and the space-time continuum merging. I don't expect people to agree with it, or even think it was Naoko Takeuchi's ultimate finish for everything. I truly think Pluto will stay there and kill all those who enter without permission... no wait. I think time had been altered when Setsuna traveled to the past... or maybe it was part of the past. Well, anyways, I don't think she would kill the senshi, I mean, come on. They trust each other. But if a stranger just happens to enter in her proximity near the door without heading her warning... look out! But she would probably NEVER leave unless there was danger or another mission. But I like her a lot. She'd go insane being alone. And it fits for everything to merge together. So there it is.
So. I don't have much to say anymore... just that I really enjoyed writing it, and I'm sorry for all the redundancies and repetitions everything like that. Minako must be manic depressive, huh?
Anyways, if you've read this, I want to thank you for getting through it all... although I'm one of those people who are daunted by REALLY long novels and always skip to the end to make sure it has a worthy finish. So, if you're one of those people... I understand where you're coming from. But let's work on the terrible habit together, yes?
Thank you those who wrote me e-mails praising it. It really kept me driven to finish it. And special thanks to Kotetsu, for inspiring me to write Tension of the Past again.
LET'S PARTY!!! Come, my dahlinks. Dance wid me into da night!
