a/A/N: I'm so close to finishing this! I'm glad ppl were happy with who I chose to kill, though Rei will always be my favorite Senshi, anyways, Enjoy!
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Title: Moon's Force
Chapter Sixteen
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The morning sun was coming up, spreading beams of dancing light over the Moon's surface. Hours after the battle had finally been over, it was declared: The Moon Force's had finally taken down the Earth: in short, they won. It was a victory many cheered about, and many later on would. But death had been the price, and the population of the great kingdom had lost up to a thousand. A great deal of people had spilled out of the cities once the dome shields had been deactivated. Cries of mourning were heard all over as even more worked to clean up the bloody battlefield. The scouts were helping a great deal, and even helped to preserve the bodies of the last royal family the Earth will ever meet. Namely, the bodies of Darien and Rei Shields, who were placed in caskets that would keep them from decaying on their trip back to the large blue planet in the sky.
Neptune, Mercury, Mars, and Shadow Knight were in intensive care from horrific injuries that couldn't be healed by Lady Hotaru, who was weak from her own cuts. King Artemis Keys was with the four protectors of the white Moon, his beatings putting him into a comatose state. Then there was the Duo Stars, who'd been lost in the battle. Prisma and Birdie had escaped with minor flesh wounds thanks to their wonderful fighting abilities and agile states. No one was quite sure about their leader, the ones who were awake and helping that is.
Serenity worked harder than the rest of them. She'd been talking with General Swartz and Mina since leaving her husband to the expert hands of the Palace's best doctors, seeing as Mercury was asleep for a good two more days. The trio was drawing up plans to help the Earth move into an advanced state of their old ways, before the meteor. General Swartz would head it all, until the new alliance of the Earth could stand on it's own, and then he could govern an area himself. With the vague idea of the new Earth Alliance, it was also made clear that their would be no bond between the two planets. Someday in the far future, but not during Serenity's reign, and she was planning to rule a very long time.
Mina had loved the idea of not being Queen, she said it was a major waste of her time. It was never the blonde who acted as wife to the King anyways, that had always been Rei. No, Mina wanted just to take Eros and Aires to a nice spot in a America possibly and start a business. She wasn't sure which type yet, maybe auto repair. No one had known, but Mina loved cars, and she was good with a wrench.
***
Serenity sighed and stood from the table. All the plans were ready and the Terra ships were ready to be gone from her Kingdom. Her legs felt shaky from all of the new happenings, and her husbands state.
" Serenity?"
" Yes?" Serenity looked over to the blonde, who walked over to her hesitantly.
" I'm sorry Serenity, for not being the Senshi I should have been. Life turns out weird I guess. I hope that Artemis and the others heal soon, and I hope your daughter lives a great life." Mina felt so incredibly guilty, having hurt the wise woman's Senshi and killed some of her soldiers.
" Thanks for the apology, I hope the same for you. And Swartz, good luck with the new alliance. I think the Earth was always meant for democracy, not under the rule of a monarchy." Despite her recent hate, the silver blonde haired woman hugged her old enemy and the General goodbye.
Swartz and Mina climbed aboard the main ship hand in hand, then within a minute were flying off into the sky.
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Serenity sighed sadly, pulling her favorite medieval white and silver dress on. Reaching up, her arms twisted her long hair into the buns that were her heritage. Life had been so dull and depressing with most of her friends asleep in the infirmary, and her Artemis still in his comatose state. That was what worried her most, the king hadn't waken up yet and she missed his quirky grin and laughing eyes.
" Queen Serenity?" A young woman stood in her doorway, wearing a maids dress of dark blue and light green that stuck to her flatteringly.
" Yes? Something wrong?" Serenity felt panic start to flood her mind, when the maid shook her head no.
" No, my lady. Princess Isibo won't stop crying though and I can't get her to sleep for her afternoon nap." The young woman smiled softly at her.
" Oh, yes, I'll be along quickly then." The mother of the princess slipped into some low healed shoes and followed along the maid to the nursery, which was just down the same corridor.
Inside the brightly colored nursery many of the nurse maids fussed over Isibo to get her to calm down, but the baby insisted on crying. Serenity rushed forward and scooped up the white haired babe and cooed her softly till her sobs became soft whimpers, then finally she was asleep.
" I think I'll take Isibo with me to see her father later on, so she can just stay with me for the day. I'm sorry if your ear rings, Isibo has a very healthy set of lungs. The day is yours to do as you please." Her maids nodded, whispering about what they were planning on doing with their day off. Serenity merely chuckled to herself softly, placing her little girl into a carriage that she could either push around, or have float next to her if her arms got tired.
" At least I have you, my little one. Let's go see how your uncle is."
Off the pair went, with the princess slumbering in her carriage, and her mother pushing her along contently.
***
" Lita, I'm all right to stand! Silly, stop your fussing already!" Sammy laughed heartedly as Lita plopped down, not happy that he was up walking around and not still in bed.
" Well you shouldn't be walking just yet! Your wound hasn't healed properly!" She huffed and looked away while he walked over to the window, obviously not listening to her.
" My, my! You two sound like an old married couple, and I should know! Oh, that reminds me. What exactly was Luna talking about before she died, something about a "powerful Senshi and her love"? Care to explain?"
" Uh..well..ummmm…" Sammy stayed looking at the what ever it was he was looking at.
" Lady Lita, your blushing." Serenity giggled, loving the way she could sound so Queen like and yet tease her brother and the love of his life. Of course Serenity knew what was going on, what has been going on. She always knew what went on with her protectors and about her brother as well.
" You know don't you?" Lita went two more shades of red when her friend nodded slowly, grinning madly.
" Sere are you mad? We didn't want to say anything now, with the war and Artemis being in the coma-I'm sorry." Sammy went over to his sister seeing her smile fade and a sad frown mare her pretty face.
" No, I wish you had said something. I was just going to see him in a minute anyways. I've been so bored since everything's been shut down to let the families mourn there lost ones. Why did they have to be so full of hate?"
Her tears started to fall, but her brother quickly wiped them away and hugged her to him in her sadness.
" I'm sorry Sere, please stop crying. I hate seeing you in the dark the way you are. We all know Artemis is getting better, his vital signs are getting stronger by the hour! He could wake any second." Lady Lita felt her straighten in their group hug.
" Your right of course. Well, it's only getting later and I haven't been to see anyone all day, except you two. Make yourselves known soon, the palace could you something happy about it." She smiled at the new pair and wheeled Isibo out of the room and down the hall, lit by the setting sun.
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Artemis lay still on his bed in the infirmary, all sorts of tubes and wires plugged into his paling skin. A monitor sits on a stand next to his bedside, beeping every other second with new readings. Bandages were wrapped snuggly around his arms and head. It was a sight Serenity had never wanted to see until her old age. Isibo had a confused look on her little face, as if she was wondering if this truly was her usually happy father.
" He should be out of it in just a few more days my Queen." Lady Ami came over, her white coat open to reveal pastel green scrubs.
" Thank you Mercury." Serenity didn't bother to lift her head, all she wanted to do was look at her husband's face and wish his dark blue eyes were looking back.
Serenity stayed only awhile longer, before leaving to the dinning room for dinner with the others, who were now all well and active again in their duties.
***
Later that night, Artemis came out of his sleeping state to a pitch black room. He breathed in a panicked breathe, his thoughts running with frightened questions as to where he was and how he'd gotten there. But soon enough he felt his breathing calm when a soft gentle hand went to his forehead and he laid back with a confused look.
" Your Majesty, please calm down. Don't scare yourself, your very safe King Artemis. It's just me, Lady Hotaru. Stay still while I turn on the lights." Hotaru let go of him and clapped her hands, which turned on the lights of the medical room he was in.
" Lady Hotaru? How, how long have I been in a bed? When did the battle end? Who won? How's Serenity and Isibo?!" Artemis shot up panicking again, sweat beading his forehead from the anxiety he felt.
" Please Artemis! Lay down and breath! Let me call Mercury and Serenity, then your questions will be answered." Seeing him nod and lay back down, Hotaru flipped open her communicator watch and pressed the blue and white buttons.
" Come to the infirmary! Artemis has woken up!" She cut them off before they could get a word in and reached for a thermometer.
" Hmmm…Well, no fever that's good. The Queen and Mercury are on their way and should be in a second or so. Just stay there while I get some instruments."
" Alright." The King sat up and listened to the rustling noises made by the Saturn Senshi, then looking to the door when he heard the sound of footsteps.
" Artemis!!" Serenity ran over to him and buried her head in his shirt, amazed he was awake so soon.
" Sere? What happened?" His bewildered look made her laugh and she sat by his side.
" You've been comatose for a week now. Don't worry though, Isibo is fine, and so is everyone else now! Oh you worried me!" Serenity kissed him and finally felt all her depression slip away.
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* A Year Later…*
" Good girl Isibo! Come on, walk to daddy!" Artemis held his arms out to his little daughter, who waddled on her toddler legs to come over to him.
" Umff!" Isibo squeaked as she fell, but only giggled at her soft landing and struggled to get up again. Trying to get to her father's strong arms.
The sun shone brightly today, a summer day in July. The royal family had declared this a new holiday, one for relaxation and fun, for no reason at all. So the Senshi had set out for a picnic in the sand, on a private beach owned by them all. Sammy and Lita had married a month ago, and were expecting a child in nine months. Ami had pursued a relationship with Senator Christopher Eon. They made an excellent couple and seemed unable to part with each other for long. Out of all the Senshi, Lita and Ami were the only ones in relationships, all the others preferred to test the waters.
Thankfully, life had been peaceful, and just a while ago, they'd received word from the Earth. General Swartz, or Senator Cole Swartz of New York as he was called now, had sent a message. It seemed he hadn't had a very difficult time getting the nations back to the way they were before and getting a treaty signed for the "Sphere Alliance". He mentioned that instead of watching over a country, he settled for a state in America. Even that he was going to give up soon to start a business with Mina. The blonde was said to be doing well with Eros and Aires, though she feared Aires may grow to be like his father or mother. But with Swartz around to model for them, her fears were quieted and she liked her simple life.
Serenity was happy with herself and all she'd accomplished with her family and life. It was a truly lovely life, the best part, she never knew what was next.
*~ The End ~*