"Sir?" "Yes?" "You have an urgent phone call from the palace. A young girl on the phone says you must take the line." Helios' eyes turned to fear. The sense of dread that he felt that morning overtook him like a tornado. He got up from his seat and nodded. "Thank you Lucas. I'll take it from here." He took the phone in his hand and lifted causiously to his ear. "This is Helios." "Father..." Helios blinked. "I'm sorry little one, but I am not your--" "Mama needs you. I need you. Please come home!" *click* Helios stared at the phone in shock as it continued on with a dial tone... "This couldn't be real..." *************************************** "Father..." The words echoed louder and louder in Helios mind until he could barely remember in which direction he was headed. Was he even using his legs? Everything seemed to go so fast, as if he was flying. The next time he snapped out of it, they were already on the shuttle to Crystal Tokyo. "Is this real?" Helios whispered to himself. "Sir?" Interrupted a familiar voice from beside Helios. Helios snapped his head up, not realizing that somebody else was on his private shuttle, let alone Lucas, an old friend and advisor, as well as Helios faithful butler. Lucas carried a sense of dignity and pride in his eyes, and he held carried himself with an old mans true strength that lies in his wisdom. His white beard and moustache moved in sync with his barely visable mouth, and concern was seen from beneath his bushy snow white eyebrows. "Lucas? You should be back in Elysion, running the house..." Helios trailed off in his words as he continued to stare down into space. "I thought you needed the help of a friend sir." Lucas said with a genuine gruff and good laughter. The larger man reached out and patted Helios slightly smaller back, causing the dream guardians eyes to bulge out and cough as the wind blew right out of his chest. "Yes... Yes. Lucas?" Helios brought up quietly, looking his friend in the eye. "Yes sir?" "Im going to be a father Today, Im going to be a father!" He emphasized the word 'father' with excitement and pride in his voice. "Congratulations Sir!" Lucas laughed out loud. "But." And now there was sorrow in the guardians voice, something that spoke of dread. Yes sir? "I lost sight of a dream today, something so pure, that for a moment, I thought it was Usa." Helios choked. "And then, a new light was brought out, it shined so bright, that I just knew a new life has been created from the old. The beginning of a new age is upon us Lucas. Something will happen, horrible things. But out of those horrible things, the new age will bring forth strength, and we will persevere. And then that phone call I recieved. I couldn't quite put my fingers on that voice... It was so familiar..." Lucas was silent for a moment, taken aback by his friends sudden change in demeanor, the strangeness of his voice as he told of a prophecy, which was rarely to be seen from the priest. The old man coughed into his hand as he spoke up. "You are a very wise man sir. I find courage in your words. But as you see, we're near landing, and you must keep your mind on your wife and your new child." Helios face turned to 'perma-grin' as he stood, supported by Lucas' shoulder as the shuttle landed roughly on the ground. He then jumped up and laughed. "Were here Lucas! Hurry!" "Yes sir, dont forget, Im only an old man..." He grumbled as he struggled to catch up to his faithful liege. ************************************************* "Tsukino Usagi? Yes, she's up on the top floor, in the private maternity ward. Being husband and father, I will allow you to see her, though your friend will have to wait down here." The nurse eyed the very tall, strong man that stood behind Helios. "No matter, I will wait for you my Lord... As I always do..." The old man gruffed grumpily as he searched for a chair to sooth his painful knees from chasing Helios to the hospital. Helios blinked for a moment. He had nearly forgotten his wifes full name, haven taken her mother's maiden name in her honor. And Usagi, well that was a name she was given at birth, but since her and her mother had the same name, the princess Usagi, or Serenity, developed a number of nicknames from her various loved ones. To Helios, his wife will always be Usa to him. And now they have a baby to name. The nurse named off the various dangers of the delivery, it being only six to seven months in pregnancy, and it also being stressed induced. Helios nodded, though he never understood the full extent of her stress. The nurse then brought up Usa's medical condition, having lost a lot of blood, and she may be quite frail during the next weeks. She mentioned that they would recommend keeping both mother and child in the hospital for a couple of weeks, possibly months, for observation. Helios nodded, understanding it all, being there even at his King's early entrance into the world. He remembered Endymion being delivered at seven months as well. After all was explained, the nurse then stopped and pointed towards a large wooden door. "Shes right through there." "Thank you miss." Helios began to turn the knob to the door, when the nurse placed a hand on the priest's shoulder. "Im truly sorry for the loss my Lord." She said softly. Fear rushed up Helios spine once again. "Wh-What?" He stuttered. "The Queen. Whoever called you to come should have informed you of Neo Queen Serenitys sudden death. So tragic of such a young and pure life..." The nurse shook her head and walked away. Could anyone have said that sentence meaner in this entire existence? A sob escaped the priest's throat as he took his hand off the handle, and slowly sank his shaken body to the ground, his arms covering the tear streaked face so no one else would witness. Not like anyone would. This floor was strictly private. But Helios didn't care. Boys dont cry. But men do. Then something pulled Helios from his crouch. A cry. A baby's cry. The tiny voice grew louder and louder until Helios' hand was on the doorknob, the door already being thrust open. Then the cries ended in a baby's laughter, as Helios made eye contact with his wife. The look in her eyes was grim. Helios shivered at the blank look in her darkened eyes as she spoke. "Her name is Mika. New Moon." The edge in her voice broke into a helpless sob as Helios rushed to Usa's side and held her to the best of his ability, his eyes on the shining crescent moon glowing brilliantly from the baby's forehead.