Act Nineteen - Homecoming
The palace was abuzz with excitement. The Silver Crystal was back were it belonged and the Sailor Neo-Soldiers were finally coming home, safe and sound. Makoto was already busy in the ballroom, decorating for their welcome home party.
"Minako-chan, hand me those pink steamers please," she ordered as Rei helped her hang up the banner.
"Don't you think you're going just a tad bit overboard with the decorations, Mako-chan?" Minako commented, handing her the roll of streamers.
"King Endymion told me to make sure this was the best party ever, and. I, for one, do not intend to disappoint him. Besides, they deserve the best for saving Crystal Tokyo from Queen Jade's forces."
"That's true," Minako admitted. "I can't wait to see my precious Anzura again. I'm so proud to her and of all the other Neo-Soldiers. They really did a good job."
Minako's guardian cat Artemis entered the ballroom, checking on the girls. He looked around at the preparations, satisfied with the way things were going. "Looking good, girls," he complimented them. "Ami-chan just received a call from Tomoko-chan. The Sailor Neo-Soldiers should be arriving in about thirty minutes."
"Thirty minutes!" Makoto exclaimed, almost falling off the ladder she was standing on. "I haven't even started on the cake yet."
"Don't worry about it, Mako-chan. I'm sure they will understand."
Makoto climbed down the ladder and handed the box of balloons to Minako. "You take over in here. I've got to begin making that cake. Amaya will never forgive me if I don't."
"Mako-chan!"
But it was too late. Makoto ran to the kitchen, leaving Minako in charge of the decorations. Artemis rolled his eyes, doubtful of his mistress's abilities.
"Well, this should be interesting," he mused.
"Shut up, Artemis!"
The Neo-Soldiers, Helios, and Diana arrived back in Crystal Tokyo, right on schedule, all happy to finally be home again. They landed in the garden where just a short time before the Sailor Neo-Soldiers began their journey.
"Where is everyone?" Amaya wondered, noticing that nobody was around to welcome them home. "They knew we were coming, right?"
"I guess they're waiting for us inside," Katsuna said, heading toward the entrance to the palace. "Come on, guys!"
Everybody but Helios and Chibi-Usa followed Katsuna inside. Standing outside, they could hear the shouts of "Surprise!" as the Neo-Soldiers entered the ballroom.
Chibi-Usa smiled and started to go in too, but Helios held her back."Let's wait a few minutes before we join the party," he suggested. "There will be plenty of time to celebrate later."
Chibi-Usa didn't argue with him. To her, just to be here with him was celebration enough. She sighed as she rested her head on his shoulder, staring at the incredible sunrise.
"It's beautiful, isn't it, Helios?" she asked. "I think this is probably my favorite time of day, when the sun comes up, chasing away the night. With the dawn, there's always the beginning of a new future, full of surprises just waiting to be discovered. Anything is possible."
Helios smiled at her obvious happiness, thinking she had never looked more beautiful. The sunrise paled in comparison to the light in her eyes. At that moment, he knew that he wanted to wake up beside her every morning for the rest of his life, watching the sunrise together.
"Serenity, there's something I want to give to you," he said, pulling a small object from his pocket. "I meant to send this back to you, but something inside my heart told me to keep it."
He opened his hand, revealing Chibi-Usa's missing necklace. She gasped, surprised that Helios had found the star locket she lost that day in Elysion. She thought it was gone forever, buried under the blanket of flowers.
"I would like you to have it back as a symbol of my love for you," he continued, "and as a promise that you will agree to be my wife."
Chibi-Usa was completely speechless. Helios wanted to marry her? It was so soon, yet it felt so right. She nodded her head "yes," not trusting her voice, and he placed the locket around her neck as it began to play its secret melody.
"This song…" she whispered. It was the same tune she heard the night before, when she was acting as lookout. "It's beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you are, my maiden," he replied, lifting up her chin. "I love you, Serenity."
"I love you, too, Helios."
He bent down and kissed her softly on the mouth, sealing the promise they had made to each other.
"Thank you, Helios," she said when they finally parted.
"For what?" he asked.
"For making my dream come true."
The two lovers entered the ballroom, looking very much in love. Chibi-Usa wore a faint pink blush on her cheeks as she thought of what had just happened. They were engaged! She could barely believe it. She had dreamed of this for so long, and for it to actually happen was unreal.
The princess looked around the room, taking in everything around her. It felt so good to be home, surrounded by all the people she loved. Everyone was in high spirits, especially the Neo-Soldiers, who were giving everybody the play-by-play account of their battles. Makoto was in the center of the room, cutting the delicious five-layer chocolate cake she managed to throw together.
Spotting their niece, Hotaru and Shingo made their way over to Chibi-Usa and Helios. "Welcome home, sweetheart," Shingo said, giving Chibi-Usa a quick peck on the cheek. "Your aunt and I are really proud of you."
"Thank you, Uncle Shingo."
Hotaru gave Chibi-Usa a hug, then turned to welcome Helios. "I'm so glad you are well, Priest Helios-sama. The king and queen were extremely concerned about your disappearance. I hope you will accept my deepest condolences for Aurora's death. She will be sorely missed."
"I appreciate your sympathy, Queen Hotaru-sama," Helios replied, somewhat sorrowfully.
Chibi-Usa squeezed his hand, feeling his pain. Helios had told her how Aurora shielded him from Damian's attack, sacrificing her life to save his. She would be forever grateful to the loyal Maenad who protected her master until the end.
"Speaking of my parents," she said, trying to change the subject, "where are they? I don't see them anywhere. Helios and I have something to ask them."
Hotaru looked up at the staircase and smiled, causing Chibi-Usa to turn around. Her father was walking down the steps, carrying her mother in his arms. Neo-Queen Serenity had yet to fully recover from her illness, but she was insistent on attending the party.
"Mother! Father!"
Chibi-Usa dashed across the room to her parents, glad to see that her mother was recovering. King Endymion set his wife down when they reached the bottom of the staircase, and the two of them showered their only daughter with hugs and kisses.
"Let me look at you, my darling," Serenity said, holding her at arm's length. "There's something different about you, I can sense it. You're in love, aren't you?"
Chibi-Usa smiled as Helios walked over to the spot where they were standing and kneeled before the king and queen. King Endymion nodded, giving the priest permission to stand in their presence.
"Your Majesty, your daughter is a very special young lady," he said, reaching for her hand. "I have asked her to become my wife and she has accepted my proposal. We have come to ask your blessing."
King Endymion glanced at his daughter, who was gazing adoringly at her lover. She must really love him, he thought. Though he was reluctant to let her go, he knew in his heart it was time to let her grow up. Neo-Queen Serenity smiled her approval. They both knew that Chibi-Usa and Helios were destined for each other.
"Of course we give our blessing," he finally replied, shaking Helios' hand. "Take care of my daughter, Helios. She's one in a million."
Chibi-Usa gave her father another hug, tears of happiness running down her face. "Thank you, Daddy. I love you."
"I love you too, baby."
News of Chibi-Usa's and Helios' engagement traveled quickly throughout the ballroom, filling everyone's heart with joy. The king and queen toasted the happy couple, wishing them peace and happiness. It was the birth of a new future, one bright with hopes and dreams.
Masago looked on sadly as Neo-Queen Serenity gave her daughter another hug. Of course, she was happy for Chibi-Usa, but she couldn't help but feel somewhat jealous. It just wasn't fair. Why was Chibi-Usa blessed with two parents who loved her very much, while she was forced to go through life alone? Who would walk her down the aisle at her wedding? Who would give her away?
She could feel a tear run down her face, which she wiped away quickly. This was no time to cry. It was a party, a time to celebrate not only their victory, but Chibi-Usa's engagement as well. There would be plenty of time later to wallow in her misery. Kado gave her a hug.
Determined to have a good time, Masago forced a smile on her face and went to congratulate the couple. Over the years, she had become quite a pro at hiding her true feelings. This would just be another grand performance.
As King Endymion watched Masago hug Chibi-Usa, he once again felt the urge to reveal his secret, the secret that had burdened his soul since the day of her birth.
Her mother had asked him not to tell Masago, and he had faithfully kept his promise, even after Setsuna's death. Neo-Queen Serenity was the only other person on Earth that knew the truth. It was absolutely killing him inside, not being able to show how he really felt.
"They certainly do look happy, don't they?" his wife said, reaching for his hand. "It's hard to believe that she is the same little girl who used to sneak into our bed in the middle of the night during the storm. Our Small Lady has blossomed into a beautiful young woman right before our eyes."
Endymion nodded his head, not really paying attention to what him wife was saying. His eyes were focused on Masago, who looked so much like Setsuna, it made him want to cry.
"You're thinking about her again," she observed. "Why don't you go talk to her, Mamo-chan? There's no law against polite conversation."
"I shouldn't," he replied, taking a sip of champagne. "I have no right. Besides, I doubt she would want to talk to me if she knew the truth."
"But she doesn't. So, just go over there and ask her to dance with you. What could be the harm in one little innocent waltz?
She smiled, then shoved him in Masago's direction. Endymion supposed he ought to be grateful to have such an understanding wife, but even she could not comprehend the pain of living with such a dark secret. Just even looking at the Plutonian princess made his heart ache. Nevertheless, he continued toward the corner of the room where Masago was sitting alone.
"Princess Masago, may I have this dance?"
Masago looked up, thinking the voice belonged to Kado, who had gone to get her a glass of champagne. Instead, she was surprised to discover that it was King Endymion who had asked her to dance. She took the hand he offered and followed him to the center of the room.
Haruka and Michiru, who were providing the music, began performing an exquisite piece, ironically titled Secrets of the Heart. The king pulled her close, enjoying one of the rare moments alone with Masago.
Masago rested her chin on his shoulder, wondering why the king wanted to dance with her. She thought King Endymion looked as if he wanted to tell her something, but was holding back. It wasn't the first time she had sensed it. At her mother's funeral, the king had taken her aside and started to say something to her, but their discussion was cut short by the appearance of Chibi-Usa and Neo-Queen Serenity. After that, he never made another attempt to talk to her about what he wanted to tell her that day.
The song eventually ended, much to King Endymion's sorrow. Masago kindly thanked him for the dance and turned to leave.
"Tell her, Mamoru," a voice whispered in his ear as he watched Masago walk away.
He knew that voice. It was Setsuna's, releasing him from the promise he made so long ago. The king gently touched Masago's arm.
"Masako, wait…"
She turned around, wondering how he knew her secret nickname. Her mother was the only person who ever called her Masako. Not even Kado called her that.
"King Endymion-sama?"
For a moment, he was speechless. There was so much to tell her, so much he wanted to share. He had missed so much. He reached out and caressed her cheek. Then he started to speak, his voice trembling with emotion.
"Masako, I want you to know just how proud I am of you, how proud I've always been, and I know if your mother was alive, she would feel the same way. You have grown into a beautiful young woman, one any man would be honored to call his daughter."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," she replied softly, wondering why he was telling her all this.
He pulled her toward him and gave her a hug. "I'm proud to call you my daughter," he whispered into her ear.
"What?" she asked, looking into his deep blue eyes which were filled with tears. "King Endymion-sama, you're my father?"
He nodded his head, causing her eyes to tear up as well. It was unbelievable. King Endymion was the father she always prayed for. Masago threw her arms around his neck, crying tears of happiness. She was part of a family again.
"I always loved you, Masako," her father declared, holding her close. "And I always will."
From an empty corner, away from prying eyes, Setsuna witnessed the tender scene between Masago and her father with a serene smile on her face. The secret had finally been revealed, and she couldn't be happier.
"Be happy, Masako," Setsuna whispered before disappearing into the air.