Before any of you point out the timeline differences, this is an alternate timeline.
Chapter 22: Phoenix Rising
Guardian fell to his knees exhausted, after using the remaining power
he had to launch the Energy wave. Guardian knew that nothing, not even
the most powerful of evil would survive. He sat there watching as the
whole realm was devoured by his energy wave, until all that was left
in the realm was the area around where he was sitting. As the wave
closed in, one last thought went through his mind Goodbye Serena,
Goodbye everyone. IMPACT...
Crystal Tokyo early 30th century
Its hard to believe that its been over a millennium already,
but still every year at this time Her Highness locks herself
in her room. Refusing to leave, to eat, to have visitors.
Coming out only if there was a catastrophe disaster of epic
proportions, like a war for instance. This kingdom has been
at peace for decades, so that's not going to happen anytime
soon. We each dealt with the loss of Guardian in our own way.
Mina who was such a free spirit, now is only a shade of her
former self. Lita who once acted like she hated him, now spends most
of her time staring up at the sky lost in thought. Ami, still is
herself, but everyone knows its just a facade because she acts so
empty of life now. Her Highness Serenity, like the rest of us tried
to get on with the rest of her life. But its all most like she
isn't really here anymore. I guess of anyone she was hurt the most
by Guardian's sacrifice. For days and weeks after that all she did
was cry and say "It should have been me." Nobody could console her,
no matter how hard we tried. Not even her close friend Darien could
help.
One of the many reason's why I think Guardian did this was he saw that his little Serena, was in fact her Highness The Neo Queen of Crystal Tokyo Serenity. He knew that her future had to exist the way it was foretold no matter what. They held a very touching memorial service at school, when it was learned that William gave his life to close the portal. With the exception of those who knew the truth about Guardian, everyone thought that William was just a teacher from Ireland. We held a private service for Guardian at the shrine. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to do. IT was like before that there was a very slim chance that he would return, but then reality set in and we knew that he was never returning. After the battle we found out that each of us had been given a special gift. The gift's that we received were, Ami received the ability to heal people and a few years later she developed a cure for cancer. Her cure was found that it could be altered to treat other diseases.
By the year 2687 there wasn't a single disease or illness left on this planet. Lita was given the ability to analyze anything she consumed, tell what the ingredients were and the measurements of each one. Like Guardian had forewarned, Lita received an invitation to a cooking competition in Rome. Even though she was so tempted to go, she remembered what Guardian had said and didn't. We later found out on the news that, the hotel where she would have been staying was destroyed by what the police where calling a fascist group bombing. Two thousand people lost their lives that day. Mina was giving the power to control the elements, the winds, the rain, and the clouds. During our Senior year, she was asked to the Senior prom by a guy she knew from one of her classes. For that one night the old Mina had returned, she forgot about Guardian just for a little while and enjoyed herself. Myself, I really was shocked when I found out the Serena was her highness Serenity.
As for the other part I have not been given any surprising news.
My ability was to control elements also, The power over
lighting and the power to control fire. I always knew the
Big brothe- sorry I had to stop, it was starting to hurt for
me to write about my brother again. As I was saying I always
knew he had a sense of humor, he even gave Luna and Artimus a
gift. The ability to turn human when ever they wanted.. Oh, its
getting close to dinner I better finish this. I don't know
why I still write in here, maybe its because I just need to
write down my feelings. Who knows this maybe considered History
in the far future, yeah right like that would happen.
Entry by Lady Rei Hino, Princess of the Planet Mars, Attendant
to Her Royal Highness Neo Queen Serenity in the year 1045 A.C.
(After Creation of Crystal Tokyo)or 3045 on the old Earth calendar.
Rei put down her pin, closed her journal and placed it in the desk
drawer. She then walked over to the door adjoining her room to
Serenity's room. After knocking on it Rei asked, "Your Majesty may
I come in?" She entered after not receiving an answer like she
excepted, "Your Highness, It's almost time for dinner. Are you
Hungry?" Rei softly spoke. "I' am not hungry, but thank you for
asking Rei" came a sad sighing voice from within the darkened room.
"Please Serenity, you have to eat something this is not healthy"
Rei basically begged her worried. A defeated sigh and movement was
heard as a lamp was turned on. Serenity faintly heard Rei begging
her to eat and knew that she would not be left alone until she had
eaten something. Sighing she stood up, walked over and turned on the
lamp that was next to the lit display case that she had been staring
at for the past hour. "Ok Ok I will eat something, I know that if I
don't you will keep nagging me until I do" Serenity said with a touch
of amusement in her voice. Rei just stood there with a slight grin
on her face, knowing full well that Serenity's love of eating would
win out. Armed with the knowledge of what Her Highness wanted, she
opened the door to the hall totally startling the page who stood
there.
Rei closed the door after telling the page Serenity's dinner order.
As she walked back into the room, she found her friend once again
sitting in front of the lit display case. "Rei, do you ever think
about him?" Serenity asked watching the silver crescent moon pendant
slightly spin in its airtight lit case. Rei's mind flashed back to
the portal where Guardian gave her a soft tender kiss. A single
tear flowed down her face as she thought of what might have been.
When she didn't answer Serenity looked up at her friend. She saw that
Rei had a distant look in her eyes and a single tear running down
her face. Realizing what she had just done, Serenity mentally
smacked herself thinking You Baka, bringing up Guardian like that.
Standing up Serenity walked over to where Rei was and hugged her.
"I am so sorry for bringing him up, I know how much you miss your
brother" she softly said. Serenity bit her bottom lip thinking
I cant ask her that, but what if? "Rei, can I ask you a question"
she asked shyly.
Rei looked at her wondering what she wanted to know and replied
"What is it Serenity?". Looking down ashamed part from asking the
question, and part from thinking it. "You may hate me for asking
you this, but did you care for Guardian as more then just a big
brother?" Serenity asked. Rei mouth flew open in shock, as she
stared at her friend "W-What do you mean Your grace?" she replied
visibly frightened. She was afraid that her secret would be exposed,
if truth be know she had been in love with Guardian. But settled as
loving him as a sister for the sake of her friendship with Serena.
Serenity smiled slightly and said "Its Ok Rei, you can tell the
truth." Rei looked at her long time friend and burst into tears,
"Yes its true I loved Guardian more then just as a sister. Its just
since you were his charge and my friend I didn't have the heart to
admit it. Since he could only care for us as a friend, a companion
and as a sister. We all knew that there could be only ONE companion,
so that why I chose as a sister. It was the closest I could get to
loving him, with out getting in your way.
Serenity starting comforting her fiery friend, "Its ok Rei we ALL
loved him more then we wanted to admit even Lita did" she softly
spoke. A frantic knock has heard on the door, Serenity walked over
to answer it. The young girl at the door let out a surprised gasp
and nervously replied "Y-Your Highness, I know you won't believe me
but you have to go to the safe room. The Palace is about to be
attacked, we have to get you to safety." It was just as Serenity
was about to reply when the palace shook hard, and Sirens that had
not been heard in decades started to wail. "Please your Majesty,
we have to get you to the safe room" the young girl pleaded. Rei
turned to the young girl and said "who told that the palace was
going to be attacked?" "I-I don't know his name" the girl
whimpered, "You won't get in trouble just tell us where he is" Rei
told the now trembling girl. "T-T-he safe room, he told me to hurry
up here and warn Her highness and to get her, her husband, and the
Sailor Guards to the safe room as soon as possible. "Did he say why
everyone had to be there?" Serenity asked the now crying young girl.
"No, all he did was keep mumbling something about having to save
the princess" the young girl sobbed.
The palace shook hard again and the sound of fighting was heard
outside. Rei looked at the girl and then at Serenity, "Its a chance
we have to take before they invade the palace" Rei stated. "Thank
you Miss, you may have saved the life of your queen" Rei replied
turning into Sailor Mars, pulling Serenity out of the room and down
the hallway. "Your highness your going the wrong way, the safe room
is this way" The young girl yelled. Rei was about to say something,
when Serenity spoke "Rei trust her, I don't know why or how But
trust her." They followed the young girl through hallway after
hallway, floor after floor, until they reached a level that was
restricted to everyone for a reason that was not know. "Is this
where this safe room is?" A skeptical Rei asked on full guard,
"Its just up ahead" the girl answered. "May I ask what you
were doing down here Miss?" Serenity asked.
The young girl turned red in embarrassment and started to explain
"Well you see I am the youngest in the servant wing, so they
thought that they would have fun at my expense. They told me
that if I found the door marked with the infinity symbol, that
I would be granted my hearts desire. I was gullible enough to
believe them, so I started looking, Everyday they asked me
"have you found the door yet?" After which some of them were
straining not to laugh, day after day I went looking. Day after
day I found nothing, I was starting to think that I was a
victim of a mean prank." Rei and Serenity both smiled at this,
remembering the pranks they had pulled on each other when they
were younger. "I am sorry to tell you this Miss, but there is
no door marked with the infinity symbol in the palace. I should
know I helped build it piece by piece, block by block" Serenity
replied feeling sorry for the young girl. "That's what I was
beginning to think BUT then a few minutes ago I found it" the
young girl said smiling ear to ear. "WHAT!" Both Rei and
Serenity yelled, "that's impossible! Will you please show us!"
They soon stood in front of a door marked with the symbol,
the door itself seemed to have been there forever. "Did you go
in Miss?" Rei asked the young girl. "Yes, but I didn't get my
hearts desire. All that was in there was someone who asked me
'where was he, and when I told him he gave me the message I gave
you" the girl said disappointed about her not getting her wish.
As they opened the door, Rei went in first fully armed to deal
with any trouble they found. "Uh..Your Highness, you better come
in here" Rei said in a shaky voice. Serenity entered and said
"Yes Rei what is it?" Rei was frozen in shock, when Serenity
realized what Rei wanted to show her. She let out a gasp of
shock, she know exactly who the person was that warned them
about the palace attack.
Guardian laid on the cold stone floor, wondering is this heaven?
If it is where are all the angels? He then opened up his eyes
and tried to sit up, Ow my aching head, last thing I remember was
the Energy wave hitting and then I found myself here. Is what
went through his head as the room spun, it was then that a door
opened and a young girl came in. As the young girl came into
focus, Guardian thought yep, I' am dead because there is an angel
in front of me. "I' am dead and your a beautiful angel right?"
Guardian asked still holding his head. The young girl deeply
blushed and replied "No your not dead, but thank you for the
nice compliment." "Then where am I?" Guardian softly spoke very
worried, "your in the palace of King Endymion and Neo Queen
Serenity" the young girl replied.
Now this caught Guardian's attention, "Does her Highness have
silver hair and does she keep it in place with these ball like
hair clips? Is she also guarded by the Sailor Scouts?" he asked
getting an idea of where he was. "Yes, her Royal Highness does
look like that and is guarded by the Sailor Guards" the young
girl replied starting to get worried herself. "Then please give
her this message, Tell her that she needs to get down here to
safety. Because the Palace is about to be attacked, bring her,
her husband and the scouts down here. Now please Miss hurry and
tell her!" Guardian said collapsing onto the floor unconscious.
Guardian regained conscious a little while later, alone in the
same stone floored room. "It must have been all a dream, now
that alone tells me where I am. Heaven wouldn't do something
that cruel to anybody.
The door opened once again, and in crept a women, a very
attractive women, but older then the young girl. If this keeps
up I probably be also tortured by an old women Guardian thought
as the young women snuck slowly, closer and closer to were he lay.
It was then that he saw the gleam of metal like from the blade
of a sword. Ah...So that's it, THIS one is going to try to kill
me again with that sword. Let her try, but I am not going to go
willingly Guardian thought as he slowly, quietly moved so that
his captor wouldn't see or hear him. Rei slowly, cautiously
crept toward the person on the floor. She had her sword drawn
that was used only in self-defense and in close quarters. Just
as Rei had reached the person, they seemed to have disappeared.
Guardian grabbed the sword in one hand and forced the woman's arm
behind her back, "You have to get up pretty early, if you want to
kill me you Harpy" Guardian hissed in her ear. Rei was in shock,
one second the person was on the floor, the next they not only
had her weapon. But they also held her arm behind her back, when
the person spoke Rei realized that it was a man who held her.
Rei remember the power that Guardian had given her, those many
years ago. She willed enough lighting to shock her free, Guardian
hissed in his prisoner's ear "Nice try, you can't bewitch the dead
with element magic like lighting." Rei was now scared there were
only a few people that knew about her gifts. One of them now being
dead, "Brother I wish you were still here to help me, I miss
you so much Guardian" Rei quietly whimpered fearing for her life.
Guardian drew a shocked breath, thinking This has to be a trick,
I' am dead. Only two people ever called me brother Rei and Mina,
this can't be her she's not dead. Rei felt her assailant loosen his
grip, that was all she needed to break free. Rei flipped around
freeing her arm and knocking her attackers legs from out under him.
The next thing Guardian knew, he was laying with his back against
the floor AGAIN. But this time his crazed captor had him pinned down,
with blood lust in her eyes and her sword to his throat. "Go ahead
and kill me, if that's what you plan do you. But for Serenity's sake,
please don't use the form of my beautiful sister to do your fiendish
deed" Guardian snarled.
When her attacker snarled this at her, Rei gasped then shook
her head trying to clear it. Who ever this is was trying to
play with her mind, HOW DARE HE USE HER DEAD BROTHER'S
MEMORY LIKE THIS! "WHO ARE YOU!" Rei spoke through
clinched teeth, "AND HOW DARE YOU DISGRACE MY BROTHER'S
MEMORY BY DOING THIS!" "YOUR asking ME, who I am, I
thought all of your kind had a list of those you
eternally tortured" Guardian spat knowing that there
was no point in fighting anymore. "Eternally tortured?
What are you taking about?" A confused Rei asked,
"Don't play stupid with me, I know what all of this is. Its
some sort of an illusion to make me, lose my mind and will.
Why don't you just go back and tell your master, that this
soul is never going to crack" Guardian stated. Rei did the
only she knew how to do, she tried to enter this fraud's
mind to learn the truth. But as soon as she had access
she was forced out, "How DARE you do that, if you were my
REAL sister she knew better then to do that" Guardian
shouted furious.
From the just the little glimpse Rei had seen, she was positive
about something. She didn't know how or why, but she didn't care
for her brother had returned to her. Guardian was reborn,
"Guardian, I can understand that your confused right now. But
your not dead, Welcome back to the land of the living my brother"
Rei softly spoke releasing him as tears flowed down her face.
Guardian glanced at his aggressor's face, after hearing what
she had said. He bolted over to a corner, curled up into ball
and starting sobbing. "This isn't fair, what horrible action
did I ever do to be sent here?" Guardian sobbed rocking
himself. Serenity looked at Rei who was still crying and asked
"Rei, is he alright?" Rei looked up at Serenity and shook her
head no and sadly said "Only if you call having both a nervous
and a mental breakdown, ok. For some reason he thinks that he
is dead and this is all some sort of cruel punishment. For
some reason he thinks this is the underworld of Hades."
Serenity thought for a moment, then said "Let me try something
ok Rei?" She walked over to were Guardian was huddled and softly
spoke "Guardian, do you know where you are?" "I' am in the depths
of Hades" Guardian responded, Serenity asked "Do you know who I
am and why you would be down there Guardian?" Guardian turned over
so that he could see who was talking and gasped in shock. He then
went back to sobbing and rocking himself, then spoke "Your the
reason I' am here. I hurt you beyond forgiveness, and now this is
my punishment." Serenity was startled by his answer, but she had
to know why he said that. "Guardian, what did you do to hurt me"
she softly asked. Guardian laid there rocking himself, as the
women spoke, he knew that sooner or later he was going to have
to face her down here. "I left you after you begged me not to
go, I knocked you unconscious so that you couldn't stop me.
You cried for weeks and months after that THAT is what I did to
hurt you I broke your heart." Serenity's hand flew to her mouth
in shock, somehow he knew, he knew how she had cried over him
after the battle. "Guardian, if there was some way of returning
to make things right, would you do it?" Serenity asked.
Rei let out a gasp of shock, when she realized what Serenity was
doing. She was trying to get him to believe that he had a second
chance, and that he would be alive again. All of a sudden the
room started to glow white, it was then that Rei realized what
Serenity was going to use. Serenity pulled the Ginzuishou into
view, as it started to repair Guardian's mental state and
his nervous system. "Guardian, since you gave your live to save
others, you have been blessed with a second chance at life"
Serenity whispered. Guardian turned around and saw what he
thought looked like an angel standing there. He then realized
what was going on somehow when he died from the energy wave,
he was reborn and moved to this time. His Princess still needed
him to protect her, "Serena, or is it Serenity now? You can stop
try to make me believe that your an angel. I already know that"
Guardian stated sitting himself against the wall.
Tears of joy rolled down Serenity's face when she heard Guardian
speak to her. Turning his head in the direction of the young girl,
Guardian spoke "Miss will you please come here?" After the scared
young girl walked up to him, he asked "What is your name Miss?"
The now trembling young girl shyly answered "Cloe", Guardian
smiled and then kissed the back of her hand. "Thank you very much
Cloe for helping, if you don't mind can you go get the others now"
he asked. Turning a deep crimson, Cloe bashfully nodded her head
yes as she turned to leave. "Cloe?" Guardian called out, she
turned to see what he wanted. "Please be careful" Guardian said,
Cloe blushing a even deeper red smiled and softly said, "I will
thank you" as she walked out the door. Serenity smiled and spoke
"Still have your charm with the ladies I see Guardian." Guardian
looked up at his "now" grown mature princess and asked "Angel,
this is all real right?" Serenity sat down next to her young
Guardian and replied "Yes Guardian this is all real, welcome
back." It was then that Guardian starting sobbing, not out
of fear, but out of happiness.
"Princess, I just did the most awful thing" Guardian sobbed into
Serenity's shoulder. "I just treated my little sister Rei awful,
I called her all kinds of horrible names. I know that I cant
change it, by trying to apologize. I-I-I just wish I could tell
her how sorry I am, I know its not an excuse that I wasn't in my
right mind at the time. It's just I never wanted to ever hurt any
of my family or friends in any way." "Its ok Guardian I' am sure
that Rei will understand that you were disoriented" Serenity
whispered in Guardian's ear. Serenity glanced over in Rei's
direction, as a look of understanding crossed Rei face. "Don't
worry brother, I understand more then you think" Rei replied
resting a hand on his shoulder. Guardian looked up at her and
asked "Rei, is that really you?" Rei smiled "Yes Its me brother,
I missed you so much" she replied and starting crying again.
Guardian stood up, wrapped both his arms and wings around his
lil sis like he used to do. "I' am so deeply sorry that I said
and did all of those things to you. I will understand if you
hate me now for that. But please don't cry, you know how much
it hurts me to see you cry" Guardian spoke comforting Rei.
Serenity smiled as she watched Guardian and Rei, another family
reunited she thought with tears rolling down her face. An angry
voice was heard from the hall "What do you mean Her Highness,
told you to bring us down here? There is nothing down here, but
abandoned rooms." Serenity wiped the tears from her face and eyes,
silently laughing at the surprise in store for her friends.
The angry voice stopped outside the door as it slowly opened.
"I am sorry your Majesty that I lied and said you sent me.
But that was the only way that I could get her Highness,
Princess Lita to come here" Cloe spoke looking down, expecting
punishment as she entered the room. Lita walked into the room
followed by Mina, Ami, and Endymion. Luna and Artemus were in
cat form being carried by Mina and Ami. "Would someone PLEASE
tell me what's going on!" Lita demanded. Serenity smiled and
spoke "Ladies, there is someone I would like for you to meet."
Everyone was in shock that Serenity was smiling about anything.
Especially on today of all days, "S-S-Serenity are you alright"
A worried Ami voiced for everyone, it was then that Guardian
spoke "Hello Girls." The room went silent at hearing their guest
speak, It can't be... brother died saving all of us is what
went through Mina's mind. "Yes Mina, its me" Guardian stated
tears rolling down his face. "B-B-But how? you DIED Guardian"
Ami uttered shocked and confused. Guardian's eyes clouded over
for a brief second and then he spoke "Yes Ami, I died, But I' am
better now." Ami had all kinds of questions for Guardian, but
stopped. There was something in his voice that told her, that
Guardian didn't understand what happened or didn't want to talk
about it.
All of the women including Luna, who now was in human form, went over and started hugging Guardian. Cloe was standing off to the side looking uncomfortable, she felt like she was intruding on a very private moment. "Cloe, approach and stand before me" Serenity spoke looking at the young girl. Cloe trembling walked over to her queen, and stood with her head down. "Cloe, you said that you didn't get your wish, your hearts desire when you found the door. Can you please tell me what it was?" Serenity softly asked, "It's not important, its just embarrassing and stupid" Cloe replied tears running down her face. "If there is some way I can help you receive it, I will. If it wasn't for you who knows how long Guardian would have been here" Serenity said tilting Cloe's face so that she was looking at her. Cloe, debated telling her at first, then leaned over and whispered it into Serenity's ear.
A look of shock and sadness crossed Serenity's face, then she
whispered "Yes, I will arrange it for you." Cloe's eyes grew wide
as tears flowed down her cheeks, as she silently asked "Really?
Is this real? Am I a dreaming?" Serenity reached over and hugged
Cloe, "Yes my young one, this is real and no you're not dreaming"
she stated. As Cloe started sobbing, Serenity said, "Go join them
Cloe, your one of them now." Cloe walked nervously over to where
Guardian and his sobbing friends were. Guardian saw Cloe approach
and softly spoke "Ladies let Cloe in, if it wasn't for her nobody
would have know I was here." Blushing deeply Cloe, looking down,
walked up to Guardian, "Come here Cloe" Guardian spoke holding
his arms out for her. The sound of sobbing soon filled the room,
as Endymion walked over and put his arms around his queen.
"Usako, are you alright," he asked worried looking in her eyes.
Looking over at her friends who were hugging Guardian and crying,
Serenity smiled. For the first time since Guardian died,
Serenity's eyes sparkled as she snuggled into her husband's chest
and replied "Yes my love, everything is perfect now."
Next chapter: Reflections
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