She stood on the stone balcony, somewhere her mother could have very well stood on a similar evening to watch the sun disappear. It was strange, this feeling. Is this what is like to have no worries for the moment? No longer did she have to worry about lighting lanterns, hiding in trees, running from the evil.

Now that Serena thought about it, her tale was quite extraordinary. It had been months since that final battle, since her life turned into the light it should have always had. She'd found about her heritage, she'd met the doctor who had delivered her. She learned from the four Queens how hard it had been for her mother to give her up. How her mother had cried many, many nights afterwards. She was told how the Queen had rejoiced after seeing her eight-year-old daughter. And how she had always known what would

happen and had silently waited for her murder.

It was a lot to take in, but she did not have to go through it alone. Her friends had discovered their royal blood as well. They and their families were in this very palace, waiting for Serena to come so the celebration could begin. Serena was alone on the balcony, overlooking her new kingdom. It was amazing to know all was at her hands. She would never abuse this power, never ask for more. She had learned of a crystal, the Imperium Silver Crystal, that was locked away awaiting her should she ever need it.

"It came," Setsuna had told her, "from one of your mother's very tears. Many years ago, the night after she had given you up. She lay crying, mourning. For not only had she lost your father, but she had given you up. And from her mourning came this crystal of great power."

After weeks of chaos as news spread and people were freed, Serena had been introduced. Many doubted who she was, but those who had laid eyes upon the Queen did not. It was as if their Queen had come back to life. She had been moved into this palace, and when she finally did take her throne, she had to say good-bye to the men from Earth who had helped her so.

Her heart beat quickened. Darien would be here tonight, celebrating. And rightfully so. She owed very much to him. The Moon owed very much to him.

Now the sun was gone and she left the balcony. She hurried from her bedroom, down the guarded halls, and finally to behind a curtain. She took a deep breath as she straightened her elegant dress. Then she was announced.

She stepped from the darkened room, into the well-lit ballroom. Royalty and nobility stood in everywhere dotted by people from the life Serena had led. Greg stood by Amy's side. He had been hiding in the cellar of one of the Moonrisen families. Ken held Lita's hand. He looked quite thin for he had spent two months in one of the camps. Chad, who could barely keep his eyes off Raye, had been in the same camp. Andrew, who had fled to the Earth, was now back and with Mina in the front of the crowd.

And finally, her parents and Sammy stood, looking very nervous, by the string quartette. They seemed fidgety, like they felt out of place. Serena felt the very same.

The music began and couples broke off. Ballgowns swirled all around, glittering in the light of the chandliers. Serena felt terribly alone sitting in her throne. She watched her friends and family smile and dance. She thought all she could do was watch.

She was wrong.

"May I have this dance, Serena?" Serena followed the hand in front of her up to a shoulder, then to a face. Darien's face.

"Yes, you certainly may," she said, slipping her delicate hand into his strong one. He helped her from her throne, guiding her down the steps in front of it. He then turned to her, placing his hand on her lower back. She bit her lip, trying to remember the dancing lessons that had been drilled into her for this very moment. She tried not to watch her feet, just to trust them. Darien was very good at leading, however, and she need not worry.

"Was it hard adapting to your new life?" he asked her.

"Very. I never knew there were so many rules to living this way. I'm sure you understand."

He smiled. "Yes. Many useless rules." He nodded towards her friends. "How have they taken it?"

"Oh very well. They slipped into it easier than I did." She frowned. "They're also very happy to meet their families. Fathers and mothers. Lita even has a little brother."

He looked down at her, sympathy in his eyes. "You're jealous of them. You have every right to be."

A tear rolled from the corner of her eye. "I have no one to help me through this. No mother to get advice from, no father to dance with. I'm the last of the royalty."

Darien stopped their dance and took her behind the curtain, away from the crowds so they could not see their Queen in a time of weakness. There he held her, her tears falling onto him. He kissed the top of her head.

"I will help you, Serena. I'll stay."

She looked up at him. "You'll stay?"

He nodded.

"Thank you." She pushed onto her tip toes to kiss him. It was not their first kiss, nor would it be their last. She let all her problems go then, and let Darien's essence surround her. His hands wove through her hair, holding her softly. She kept her arms wrapped tight around him, never would she let him go. Her tears finally stopped. His lips became her world.

She pulled away from their kiss as a thought sprung into her mind. "How long will you stay?"

He looked down at her. "As long as it takes."

"What if that isn't long enough?"

He smiled, wiped her last tears away with his thumb, and kissed the ring finger on her left hand.

"Then I'll stay forever."



Author's Note: It's finished. Which is part sad, part happy. That thing about the silver crystal you know isn't true, but since we don't really know where it came from, I figured I'd put my own theory in. No harm done right? Please review.

Until the next time,

Ai No Senshi