Epilogue
In a place hidden between time and space, a solitary guardian stood in the mists that surrounded Charon Castle, a small baby cradled in one arm and holding her Time Staff in the other. The dress of deep burgundy which she had worn to the wedding was replaced by a black and red sailor fuku. She sighed, looking down at what she had become.
No longer was she Meioh Setsuna.
She was Sailor Pluto, the guardian of time.
Despite the long absence from her post, everything was just as she remembered it. The gorgeous palace, the cold, yet comforting mist, the quiet… The entrance to the castle opened for her as she walked inside, the sound of her boots on the marble floors echoing in the silence with every step she made.
She climbed up the grand staircase and entered one of the many rooms, surprised to find that this one was already made into a beautiful nursery. Her garnet eyes widened as she took everything in.
The walls, which she vaguely remembered being white before, were painted a lovely shade of dusty rose, and dark maroon carpet covered the once tiled floors. A crib, trimmed with delicate pink lace, stood in the corner, and, beside it was a rocking chair, currently occupied with the largest black teddy bear in existence. The rest of the room was equally beautiful, filled with everything a baby could need, from a diaper changing station to a large playpen, filled to the brim with plush toys and other necessities.
"Who did this?" Pluto asked herself, setting her staff against the wall so she could better hold her child. "It's beautiful."
At the sound of Pluto's voice, Masago opened her wine-red eyes, identical to her mother's, and started to cry. The guardian of time gently rocked the child in her arms, smiling when she eventually calmed back down. Pluto then placed her daughter in the crib and turned toward the dresser, opening each of the drawers to find a complete wardrobe of baby clothes. "Wow, these are gorgeous."
Again, she wondered who was behind all this. Whoever it was either incredibly wealthy or incredibly powerful to have decorated the room so beautifully. But who else had a key to her kingdom?
Looking up, she spotted a bouquet of two dozen blood red roses sitting on the top of the dresser and a small envelope stamped with the royal seal. Curious, Pluto opened the envelope and pulled out a letter.
Dearest Setsuna-san,
Welcome home. I hope you like my housewarming present. It's the least I could do for you and Masako. All my love to the new princess of Pluto.
Sincerely,
"Uncle" Endymion
P.S. I didn't forget, Setsuna-san. I could never forget.
The guardian of time smiled despite the tear that rolled down her cheek and onto the stationary, smearing some of the ink. It was Mamoru. He was the one who had did this. "Thank you, Mamoru-san," she whispered, setting the letter back on the dresser.
Placing the large bear on the floor, Pluto took a seat in the rocker, looking down at her peacefully sleeping child, their daughter. With her eyes closed, Masago looked very much like her father. Setsuna had never realized it before. Most people thought she took after her mother, with the same red eyes and dark skin, although Masago's was slightly paler. However, it was her raven dark hair and perfect facial features which came from her father.
"He loves you, Masako," she said softly, lightly stroking the mass of black curls on the baby's head. "I only wish you could know how much."
After tucking the sleeping angel underneath the soft pink blanket and kissing her goodnight, Pluto reluctantly retrieved her staff and turned to leave, pausing only to check on her daughter once more before she went to guard the Gates.
A young father's words suddenly echoed in her mind, and Pluto smiled.
This was her destiny, and she accepted it with open arms.