Generation Lost, Part 2
The Fated Words
By Taerir
AN: It isn't much, but I added a piece. As was the case with the first part, I don't know if or when I'll add to it, since I prefer to focus on my original fiction rather than fanfiction. So, again, tell me what you think.
All Sailor Moon references are the property of their respective owners. I, Taerir, do claim the prose contained in this document, copyright 2003. No duplication is permitted without written permission from the author.
"A thousand years have passed. The threads of time show that there will soon occur a great change."
Pluto's words, relatively simple though they seemed, were followed by several long moments of silence. Saturn trailed her gaze slowly over her comrades quietly. Each senshi knew very well what Pluto's statement implied, and it filled them with a sense of consternation mixed with relief. Still, the question needed to be asked.
"So..." Serenity began quietly. "It's time for us to leave our posts, then?"
Pluto answered with a nod.
Mars frowned. "But how? We can't just walk off into the sunset or something. It wouldn't be right."
"I don't think it will be our choice," Pluto agreed. "If I am right, we'll all leave in our own way. We will not know beforehand, nor will the 'where' and 'how' be of our choosing."
"Then why are we bothering to meet about it?" Uranus questioned. "We all knew this day was going to come. It's not an enemy, and it's not as if we can fight it."
Neptune laid a gentle hand on Uranus' arm. "Still. We needed to hear it said out loud, and we all need to do our best to prepare. There are others that need to know this as well."
Yet another long silence ensued, as each warrior again processed the words. Finally, Mercury spoke.
"Are our... successors prepared for this, do you think?"
No one's willing to say their names right now, Saturn mused silently. But then, that was only to be expected. Although each senshi felt mixed feelings about leaving, each felt at least an obligation to, if not a bond with, their successors.
"They'll have to be," Jupiter volunteered. "And they've been protecting the princess for years now anyway. Ready or not, it's our time to go."
There was just one question left to ask.
Saturn looked Pluto in the eyes. "Then what do we have left to do before then?"
Venus spoke up instead. "We say our goodbyes, and we try to help them while we can."
"And we continue the protect the queen."
All occupants in the room looked up in surprise at the violent determination in Endymion's voice. The senshi all knew very well of the intense love that the king and queen shared, and yet they sometimes still found themselves surprised that its inherent life and ferocity had never died or even paled. Still, they all felt the deep, ingrained sense of loyalty to Serenity and agreed wholeheartedly.
In the end, they all realized as they met each other's eyes, they still knew their duty and would be willingly bound to it until the end. In Crystal Tokyo, princess would become queen and the heirs to the senshi would take first seat. The old generation would slip away, however fate deemed that it would happen, having gained the reward of rest for which they hard worked so long.
But walking away, Saturn found it ironic to note that none had acknowledged the relief they would feel to put away the burden of defending the world, tired as they all were. And somehow, though Saturn had the strongest ties to this world due to her friendship with the princess, the senshi of destruction felt the weariest of them all.
