Act Fifteen - Setsuna's Visit

Hotaru left the laboratory to give King Endymion a few minutes to himself. He was taking the news pretty hard, and she didn't blame him one bit. His world was falling to pieces. He was already worried about Chibi-Usa's safety, and to learn that not only could he lose his daughter, but his beloved wife as well, must be devastating.

She entered the queen's room and found that Neo-Queen Serenity was still resting peacefully. Makoto had brought up a bowl of soup, which now sat empty on the nightstand. Hotaru smiled at the sight. At least the queen still had her appetite.

"So, how did he take the news?" Ami asked as she fluffed a couple of pillows.

"Not very well. I'm really starting to worry about him, Ami-san. If you could have seen his face when I told him, it would have broken your heart. He actually broke down and cried in front of me. I've never seen King Endymion so vulnerable in all the years I've known him, so much like a little boy."

Hotaru sat down on the bed and pushed the hair off of the queen's face. She still had a slight fever, but it wasn't as bad as it had been earlier that evening.

Awakened by Hotaru's gentle touch, Neo-Queen Serenity moaned and looked up at her, expecting to see her husband beside her.

"Mamo-chan? Where did he go, Hotaru-chan?"

"He went for a short walk," she lied, not wanting to alarm her. "I'm sure he'll be back in a few minutes, but the important thing is how you are feeling. Are you experiencing any pain?"

The queen shook her head "no", not wanting to admit the truth. It felt as if her whole body was on fire, the flames causing her blood to boil, but she was determined that this would be her private pain. Her friends had more important things to worry about. The last thing she wanted was to be a burden to anyone, especially Endymion.

"You two must be tired," she said. "I want the both of you to get some sleep. I'll be just fine. I'm really feeling much better now."

"But, Your Majesty…"

"I'm giving you an order, Ami-chan. If you are not in your bed in ten minutes, I will have no choice but to have you arrested, and don't think I won't."

Ami and Hotaru reluctantly left the room, but not before the queen assured them that she would call for them if something were to happen. When she was finally alone, Serenity reached over to the nightstand beside the bed and picked up a picture of her, Mamoru, and little Chibi-Usa, her precious Small Lady, though not so small anymore. She was now truly a lady, as beautiful and brave as her mother. The queen smiled through her tears.

She knew she was dying. Hotaru and Ami still were insisting that it was just a bad case of the flu, but she knew the truth. It was unlikely that she would live to see her daughter's return, if indeed she was to come back to Crystal Tokyo alive.

"Oh, Serenity," she whispered, holding the heavy silver frame against her chest, "Please come home safely. The time has come for you to become queen of Silver Millennium. I know you'll be a wonderful ruler, my Small Lady…"

As she placed the picture back on the table, Neo-Queen Serenity could feel the fire spreading throughout her body. She moaned loudly. It would not be much longer before she would become a pile of ashes.

She carefully got out of bed, leaning against the headboard for support. She had to find Endymion. She had to tell him goodbye.

Gathering the rest of her strength, the queen took a few tentative steps toward the door, resembling a toddler just learning how to walk. About halfway there, Serenity could feel her strength diminishing. She collapsed, unable to continue on.

"Mamo-chan… Chibi-Usa-chan…"

And the world went black.

Haruka and Michiru were walking down the hall to their room, anxious to finally get some sleep. It had been a long day for everyone at the palace.

"Are you feeling okay, Michiru?" Haruka asked, wrapping her right arm around Michiru's tiny waist. "You've been awfully quiet today."

"I'm fine," she assured her lover. "I'm just worried about Nagisa and Goku. What if something happens to them in Andromeda?"

"Everything will be fine. They have trained long and hard to become Sailor Neo-Soldiers and the time has come for us to let go and to trust that Goku and Nagisa will make the right decisions."

Michiru rested her head on Haruka's shoulder. "I know you're right, Haruka, but it's hard to let go. I'm their mother, and in my eyes, I still see them as my babies fighting over who gets the last cookie in the cookie jar. I would feel a lot better if we had gone to Queen Jade's lair ourselves, instead of the kids."

"I know…"

As they passed the royal bedroom, a loud groan reached their ears. It was the most horrible sound in the world, the very personification of pain and sorrow. Michiru walked over to the door and knocked lightly.

"Neo-Queen Serenity-sama?" she said loudly. "Is something wrong? King Endymion-sama!"

When there was no answer, she tried to turn the knob but it wouldn't budge. The door was locked. "Serenity-sama! Endymion-sama!"

Haruka came over and gently pushed Michiru aside to try her luck, but the knob would not turn. "Damn, we can't get in! Get out of the way, Michiru. I'm going to have to break the door down. Hiya!"

The door fell easily under Haruka's amazing strength. The two of them rushed inside to find Neo-Queen Serenity laying on the floor, completely motionless. Michiru gasped at the sight as Haruka ran over to check on her.

"Serenity-sama, can you hear me?" she asked, lightly shaking her. "It's me, Haruka. Please say something, Your Majesty!"

"Is she still alive, Haruka?" Michiru asked.

"I think so. I can feel a very weak pulse, but her skin feels like it's on fire. Go get Hotaru-chan and Ami-chan and have the other guardians find the king. He needs to be here."

Michiru quickly bolted out of the room as Haruka gently carried the queen back to the bed. She felt light as a feather in her strong arms.

"Hang in there, Serenity-sama. You have to hold on!"

King Endymion left the laboratory, intending to go back upstairs to check on Serenity, but instead he turned down a seldom traveled hall. He didn't know why, but something was pulling the king in the direction of the Hall of the Dead, the resting place of important people of Silver Millennium.

He stopped near the end of the hallway in front of a silver door, representing the fact that the person inside had been a Sailor Soldier. The soldier's name was engraved on a small black plaque. Endymion traced the ornate letters with his fingers: Queen Setsuna of Pluto, Sailor Pluto.

Why did he come here? What was this strange force pulling him toward Setsuna's tomb?

Much to his surprise, the door opened by itself, revealing a darkened room. Curious, he walked inside and turned on the lights.

It had been a long time since the last time he had visited this room. It held too many bad memories. Setsuna -- the only other woman he had truly loved.

He went over to the glass coffin that contained Setsuna's body. Death had not lessened her beauty, even after all these years. She was still as beautiful as the moonlit night.

Glancing around the room, one of the pictures on the wall caught his eye. It was taken at the hospital on the day of Masago's birth. Setsuna looked so happy, radiating with the glow of motherhood. He should have been there for her, for the both of them.

"I'm sorry, Setsuna-san…"

"It wasn't your fault, Mamoru-san," a familiar voice replied. "I never regretted a moment."

It couldn't be her. It was impossible, but that husky voice he knew so well… Slowly he turned around and come face to face with the beautiful guardian of time.

"Setsuna-san?" he asked, not believing his eyes. It had to be some cruel joke. She was supposed to be dead. "Is it really you?"

"Yes, it's me."

She walked over to him and gently wiped away the tear that had managed to roll down his cheek. Her touch was cold, yet so comforting.

"Mamoru-san, you must believe that everything will turn out for the best," Setsuna whispered. "Without hope, all will be lost."

"You know?"

Setsuna nodded her head, then wrapped her slender arms around his neck. "I'm so sorry. This shouldn't happen to someone like you. I know you love her very much."

"She's dying, Setsuna-san," he said, his voice quivering as he struggled to keep his composure. "I don't know what to think anymore. It's like my whole world is falling apart, and I'm just standing around like an idiot."

"You could never be an idiot," she replied. "And you are helping, by just being there for her, by loving her. You must remain strong for Serenity's sake, for Small Lady's sake, and for Masako's sake."

King Endymion kissed the top of her head, taking in the sweet smell of her perfume. "You always seem to know exactly what to say. You were always such a good friend, to both me and Usako."

She snorted lightly. "Some friend I was, trying to steal you away from her right before the wedding. If I were her, I would have had me arrested for high treason."

"But Usako knew that we were both under Jade's spell. It wasn't out fault, Setsuna-san," he insisted.

He pulled her closer, not wanting to let her go. "I'm so glad you're here," he said softly. "I've missed you so much, and so has Masago."

Setsuna smiled at the mention of her daughter's name. "Tell me about her, Mamoru. What does she look like?"

"She has grown into a beautiful young woman, so much like you. Sometimes, when I see her face, I could almost swear that she was you, with the same cocoa skin and eyes that would put the rarest rubies to shame."

He pulled out his wallet and showed her a picture of Masago at a school dance. Setsuna could feel a large knot form in the back of her throat as she stared at the photo. "She's absolutely gorgeous."

"That's her boyfriend, Kado-kun," the king said, pointing to the handsome boy she was dancing with. "They've been dating for about two years now and seem to be very much in love. You would have liked him. Kado-kun's a great guy."

"I'm so happy that Masako's found true love," Setsuna said, smiling as she wiped away her tears. "She deserves to find happiness after all that has happened in her life. It was always my greatest wish for her to share her life with the man she loves. To live life alone is a fate worse than death."

The clock chimed on the other side of the room, signaling the midnight hour. Setsuna sighed, knowing her time was up. It was time to return to her eternal sleep.

"I must go, Mamoru-san."

"So soon? But you just arrived. There's so much I want to tell you about…"

She raised her finger to his lips. "Goodbye, Mamoru, and remember that without hope, all will be lost."

With a final kiss on his cheek, Setsuna vanished from his arms.

"Setsuna! Don't go, please don't leave me!"

It was too late. She was gone.

Minako knocked on the door of Setsuna's tomb, thinking she had heard voices inside, but no one answered. "King Endymion-sama?"

She opened the door and popped her head inside, surprised to see the king standing beside the coffin. He turned around at the sound of his name.

"Minako-chan, what are you doing here?"

"We've been looking everywhere for you," she said, walking inside. "Something has happened."

King Endymion's face turned a ghostly white. "Is she…?"

Minako simply turned around, motioning him to follow her. He complied, his heart heavy with dread.

Remember, without hope, all will be lost.