~Epilogue~
Morning's soft light slowly draped itself over Lita and her daughter. She didn't want to open her eyes, not ever. Because she knew Serena was dead.
Words from years ago fluttered in her mind. Words that agreed to having their babies. Of friends being there for each other, no matter what the struggle.
"I was wrong, Raye." Lita whispered. "I said you'd never be the same if you lost your baby…but by having them, all our lives changed."
At this, she opened her eyes and laid her gaze on the sleeping child in front of her. Lita swallowed, then smiled. She had her daughter. A beautiful, healthy little girl whom she loved and who loved her, even if she couldn't show it.
Lita took a deep breath and let it out quickly. "Laura, sweetie, we have to get up."
Laura stirred and carefully rolled over, facing her mother.
"Aunt Serena's dead."
"Yes." Lita couldn't stop the sudden, hot rush of tears. "Yes, she's dead."
The two got to their feet hesitantly, dreading the sight of whatever remained of the Tokyo Tower. They had no way to prepare themselves for what they were about to see.
Lita and Laura gasped as their eyes beheld the damage. Rubble, twisted metal, and ash were everywhere. Parts of the land were still smoking. If she hadn't lived in Tokyo all her life, Lita would have sworn the Tower never existed.
Sometime during the night, the flames had to have spread. Rooftops of the surrounding area were blackened, and where once there was grass, there was now scorched earth.
"Mother, I am so sorry." Laura surveyed the scene with a tightness in her throat. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
"Baby, no!" Lita knelt down in front of her daughter. "This is not your fault!" She pulled Laura to her and held her. "It's not your fault…"
* * * * *
There was nothing left for them now. Lita wanted to get as far away from Tokyo as possible. For lack of money and transportation, however, she and Laura were left with no choice but to wander the city.
Crossroads Plaza came into view. Lita grinned bitterly. "We used to go there after school……we'd play video games there……"
"You're very upset, Mother. You're thinking of how Aunt Serena the others were unsure about having us, and you wish they'd have killed Crysta and the other Children."
"That's what I've been thinking since Darien died." Lita sighed.
Laura stopped walking; her mother turned to look at her. Closing her eyes and concentrating, Laura stood in silence for what seemed only a moment. Just as she opened her eyes again, she gave her mother a reassuring nod.
And then, faster than she could blink, Lita saw her daughter vanish. Realization set in and panic welled up inside of her. "Laura?" Her called echoed in the empty streets. "LAURA?"
But before hysteria took over, Lita was gone as well.
* * * * *
It was familiar. Red, vast, and oh, so familiar. Was Laura here, wherever 'here' was?
"Lita, it's been so many years." A voice protruded from the nothingness. "I've missed you all."
Lita looked and found Sailor Pluto standing behind her. Immediately, the two embraced, but Lita's mind wasn't on their reunion.
"Where's Laura? My daughter; where is she?"
"She's safe." Sailor Pluto put a hand on Lita's shoulder. Lita breathed a sigh of relief, then finally realized where she was.
"The Gate of Time." Her voice was dull and hollow.
"Laura called to me. She used her power to let me know you were the only two that survived." A look of sadness overcame her smile.
"And you did nothing to help us!" Lita snapped.
"What could I have done?" Queried Pluto.
"You can see the future!" Lita nearly screamed, on the verge of tears. "And don't give me that bullshit about something blocking your vision, because the Gate of Time lets you see it all. You could have helped us somehow! Serena, Amy, Raye, and Mina could have lived!"
Lita broke down, convulsive sobs racking her body. Sailor Pluto, too, had tears in her eyes.
"I had to make sure Neo-Queen Serenity and Donovan would be alright with one another…"
"Damn you, Setsuna." Lita said quietly. "You never cared about your son."
"What difference would it have made if I had?!" Sailor Pluto inquired angrily.
"It might have made all the difference in the world."
For a moment, neither spoke. Then, Pluto swallowed, preparing herself.
"There's something I need to tell you, Lita…" The brunette looked up at her. "I know all of you were happy when you discovered that none of our old enemies were behind your pregnancies…but something even more evil was."
"Raye figured that out a long time ago, Setsuna."
"There's something you don't know, Lita."
"What's that?"
"Serena and the others…can't be brought back…" Sailor Pluto winced.
In that instant, Lita felt as though the world were crashing down on her. Her body went numb; she could feel a scream welling up in her throat. "Believe me, Lita, I'd gladly sacrifice myself again by turning back time, but my power wouldn't be enough to save them."
Lita's voice was far away when she asked,
"What do I do now?"
"Crystal Tokyo needs a queen."
"No." Lita shook her head, breathing hard. "I-I could never take Serenity's place."
"You have to." Pluto closed her eyes and sighed softly. "Balance must be restored. Without a queen, Crystal Tokyo will soon be no more and life as everyone knows it will be forever changed."
Lita knew she was right. And Serena wouldn't want anything to affect her future kingdom.
"I'll……I'll do it." Lita agreed, hanging her head.
"Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Saturn will be your protectors. For you, Laura, and Crystal Tokyo."
The Time Key glowed momentarily; a door appeared out of the air. Lita wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
"What about Donovan?" She asked. Sailor Pluto turned her face away.
"He's yours, now."
Lita narrowed her eyes and brushed past her friend. She went through the door without a second though; without looking back.
And Setsuna knew what a coward she was.
* * * * *
The castle, the one she'd seen years ago when Reenie needed the Silver Crystal to save her mother, loomed above her. Granted, it was more beautiful and brighter. It sparkled white, the sun creating prism colors over the kingdom.
Lita drew in a deep breath and proceeded along the marble walkway.
Talking could be heard inside. Lita opened the door to the Throne Room, peaking in.
Laura and a white-haired boy, whom Lita guessed to be Donovan, sat on the steps just below the King and Queen's thrones. Lita could now make out their conversation.
"You must have been so lonely." Laura assumed.
"Yes." Donovan answered quietly. "But I sensed that I had someone to call my friend, somewhere."
"You seemed happy…" Laura murmured. "Crysta, our Leader, showed me what things were like for you. Neo-Queen Serenity raised you, didn't she?"
Donovan nodded. "And I know my real mother didn't want me. She hated me." The boy paused. "What is it like to be……"
"Loved?" Laura finished. "It took me a long time to realize what emotions were. And I concluded that love is the best of them all. To be loved means being taken care of and not feared. To get hugs and kisses."
"I see." Donovan looked down. "The queen hardly ever showed me love. I guess no one loves me."
"I do." Lita said as she entered the Throne Room. Both children gasped.
Lita wore a long, thin, white dress; shoulderless and sleeveless. Wings spread regally from her back. And the queen's crown, with all its power and beauty, gleamed on her head.
"Mother…you are the new Queen of Crystal Tokyo." Laura breathed, astonished. Lita nodded, opening her arms. Laura ran to her and wrapped her small arms around her mother.
The two then looked to Donovan. He stood, almost as white as his hair, shaking.
"You…love me?" He asked.
"I know we've never met before this day, Donovan, but I'd like to be your new mother. You deserved better than what Setsuna never gave you."
"My kind murdered your best friends." Donovan blinked in what appeared to be shock. "Neo-Queen Serenity died because they made your friend, Serena, sacrifice herself. How could you love me?"
"Because my mother forgives." Laura explained. "She is aware we have done nothing wrong, and loves us because we are different."
Donovan stayed were he was, unconvinced that what his partner told him was true. But the warm smile the new queen gave him changed his mind. The boy went over to Lita and took her hand.
"Thank you, Mother."
Lita, Laura, and Donovan went to the window that overlooked the kingdom. Finally, they could put the past behind them.
Morning's soft light slowly draped itself over Lita and her daughter. She didn't want to open her eyes, not ever. Because she knew Serena was dead.
Words from years ago fluttered in her mind. Words that agreed to having their babies. Of friends being there for each other, no matter what the struggle.
"I was wrong, Raye." Lita whispered. "I said you'd never be the same if you lost your baby…but by having them, all our lives changed."
At this, she opened her eyes and laid her gaze on the sleeping child in front of her. Lita swallowed, then smiled. She had her daughter. A beautiful, healthy little girl whom she loved and who loved her, even if she couldn't show it.
Lita took a deep breath and let it out quickly. "Laura, sweetie, we have to get up."
Laura stirred and carefully rolled over, facing her mother.
"Aunt Serena's dead."
"Yes." Lita couldn't stop the sudden, hot rush of tears. "Yes, she's dead."
The two got to their feet hesitantly, dreading the sight of whatever remained of the Tokyo Tower. They had no way to prepare themselves for what they were about to see.
Lita and Laura gasped as their eyes beheld the damage. Rubble, twisted metal, and ash were everywhere. Parts of the land were still smoking. If she hadn't lived in Tokyo all her life, Lita would have sworn the Tower never existed.
Sometime during the night, the flames had to have spread. Rooftops of the surrounding area were blackened, and where once there was grass, there was now scorched earth.
"Mother, I am so sorry." Laura surveyed the scene with a tightness in her throat. "I didn't mean for this to happen."
"Baby, no!" Lita knelt down in front of her daughter. "This is not your fault!" She pulled Laura to her and held her. "It's not your fault…"
* * * * *
There was nothing left for them now. Lita wanted to get as far away from Tokyo as possible. For lack of money and transportation, however, she and Laura were left with no choice but to wander the city.
Crossroads Plaza came into view. Lita grinned bitterly. "We used to go there after school……we'd play video games there……"
"You're very upset, Mother. You're thinking of how Aunt Serena the others were unsure about having us, and you wish they'd have killed Crysta and the other Children."
"That's what I've been thinking since Darien died." Lita sighed.
Laura stopped walking; her mother turned to look at her. Closing her eyes and concentrating, Laura stood in silence for what seemed only a moment. Just as she opened her eyes again, she gave her mother a reassuring nod.
And then, faster than she could blink, Lita saw her daughter vanish. Realization set in and panic welled up inside of her. "Laura?" Her called echoed in the empty streets. "LAURA?"
But before hysteria took over, Lita was gone as well.
* * * * *
It was familiar. Red, vast, and oh, so familiar. Was Laura here, wherever 'here' was?
"Lita, it's been so many years." A voice protruded from the nothingness. "I've missed you all."
Lita looked and found Sailor Pluto standing behind her. Immediately, the two embraced, but Lita's mind wasn't on their reunion.
"Where's Laura? My daughter; where is she?"
"She's safe." Sailor Pluto put a hand on Lita's shoulder. Lita breathed a sigh of relief, then finally realized where she was.
"The Gate of Time." Her voice was dull and hollow.
"Laura called to me. She used her power to let me know you were the only two that survived." A look of sadness overcame her smile.
"And you did nothing to help us!" Lita snapped.
"What could I have done?" Queried Pluto.
"You can see the future!" Lita nearly screamed, on the verge of tears. "And don't give me that bullshit about something blocking your vision, because the Gate of Time lets you see it all. You could have helped us somehow! Serena, Amy, Raye, and Mina could have lived!"
Lita broke down, convulsive sobs racking her body. Sailor Pluto, too, had tears in her eyes.
"I had to make sure Neo-Queen Serenity and Donovan would be alright with one another…"
"Damn you, Setsuna." Lita said quietly. "You never cared about your son."
"What difference would it have made if I had?!" Sailor Pluto inquired angrily.
"It might have made all the difference in the world."
For a moment, neither spoke. Then, Pluto swallowed, preparing herself.
"There's something I need to tell you, Lita…" The brunette looked up at her. "I know all of you were happy when you discovered that none of our old enemies were behind your pregnancies…but something even more evil was."
"Raye figured that out a long time ago, Setsuna."
"There's something you don't know, Lita."
"What's that?"
"Serena and the others…can't be brought back…" Sailor Pluto winced.
In that instant, Lita felt as though the world were crashing down on her. Her body went numb; she could feel a scream welling up in her throat. "Believe me, Lita, I'd gladly sacrifice myself again by turning back time, but my power wouldn't be enough to save them."
Lita's voice was far away when she asked,
"What do I do now?"
"Crystal Tokyo needs a queen."
"No." Lita shook her head, breathing hard. "I-I could never take Serenity's place."
"You have to." Pluto closed her eyes and sighed softly. "Balance must be restored. Without a queen, Crystal Tokyo will soon be no more and life as everyone knows it will be forever changed."
Lita knew she was right. And Serena wouldn't want anything to affect her future kingdom.
"I'll……I'll do it." Lita agreed, hanging her head.
"Sailor Uranus, Sailor Neptune, and Sailor Saturn will be your protectors. For you, Laura, and Crystal Tokyo."
The Time Key glowed momentarily; a door appeared out of the air. Lita wiped her eyes with her sleeve.
"What about Donovan?" She asked. Sailor Pluto turned her face away.
"He's yours, now."
Lita narrowed her eyes and brushed past her friend. She went through the door without a second though; without looking back.
And Setsuna knew what a coward she was.
* * * * *
The castle, the one she'd seen years ago when Reenie needed the Silver Crystal to save her mother, loomed above her. Granted, it was more beautiful and brighter. It sparkled white, the sun creating prism colors over the kingdom.
Lita drew in a deep breath and proceeded along the marble walkway.
Talking could be heard inside. Lita opened the door to the Throne Room, peaking in.
Laura and a white-haired boy, whom Lita guessed to be Donovan, sat on the steps just below the King and Queen's thrones. Lita could now make out their conversation.
"You must have been so lonely." Laura assumed.
"Yes." Donovan answered quietly. "But I sensed that I had someone to call my friend, somewhere."
"You seemed happy…" Laura murmured. "Crysta, our Leader, showed me what things were like for you. Neo-Queen Serenity raised you, didn't she?"
Donovan nodded. "And I know my real mother didn't want me. She hated me." The boy paused. "What is it like to be……"
"Loved?" Laura finished. "It took me a long time to realize what emotions were. And I concluded that love is the best of them all. To be loved means being taken care of and not feared. To get hugs and kisses."
"I see." Donovan looked down. "The queen hardly ever showed me love. I guess no one loves me."
"I do." Lita said as she entered the Throne Room. Both children gasped.
Lita wore a long, thin, white dress; shoulderless and sleeveless. Wings spread regally from her back. And the queen's crown, with all its power and beauty, gleamed on her head.
"Mother…you are the new Queen of Crystal Tokyo." Laura breathed, astonished. Lita nodded, opening her arms. Laura ran to her and wrapped her small arms around her mother.
The two then looked to Donovan. He stood, almost as white as his hair, shaking.
"You…love me?" He asked.
"I know we've never met before this day, Donovan, but I'd like to be your new mother. You deserved better than what Setsuna never gave you."
"My kind murdered your best friends." Donovan blinked in what appeared to be shock. "Neo-Queen Serenity died because they made your friend, Serena, sacrifice herself. How could you love me?"
"Because my mother forgives." Laura explained. "She is aware we have done nothing wrong, and loves us because we are different."
Donovan stayed were he was, unconvinced that what his partner told him was true. But the warm smile the new queen gave him changed his mind. The boy went over to Lita and took her hand.
"Thank you, Mother."
Lita, Laura, and Donovan went to the window that overlooked the kingdom. Finally, they could put the past behind them.