Epilogue - Bittersweet
The atmosphere of the crowd was an odd one, of subdued rejoicing, as they gathered into the Great Hall within the Palace. Already the Kingdom was alive again. Serenity's power had come back in full strength soon after the battle, and now almost no trace was left of the past moons. On the outside, at least.
In front of the Hall, at the top of a flight of wide stairs that led to a space where the Royal family and their guests sat, stood Serenity. As was the custom, she was clad in grey for mourning, her silver hair unbound and falling to the floor like a waterfall of silver. Next to her stood Helios and Demeter, both in black. The Generals and the Senshi stood on either side, in full uniform with a black (or grey) ribbon around their right arms, while Endymion and Rion stood behind their parents. Opal, also dressed in grey, stood parallel to the two Earth Princes, the baby Serenity in her arms.
Serenity stepped forward, and suddenly the crowd was hushed, noble and peasant alike. Her voice carried to the far ends of the Hall in clear, ringing tones.
"People of the Moon, and honored Warriors from Earth, I, Serenity, stand here today and give my greatest thanks to you for your courage in the face of our enemy. Because of your bravery we still are alive, and the Moon is still whole for our children to live in peace for many years to come."
A cheer arose from the crowd at those words, and some voices called out "Hail the Sailor Senshi!!" The Senshi exchanged glances that could have meant anything, but Serenity barely paused before she continued.
"The prisoners of the enemy have been sentenced to exile." A silence fell over the crowd. "They will be banished to the furthest moon outside of even Pluto's territory. Henceforth I proclaim that planet Black Moon, and from hereon all traitors and rebels will be sent there and be bound for all of eternity."
A mutter rippled through the crowd. "The surviving daughter of the enemy Clan has taken the oath of Sailor Senshi." The mutters swelled in surprise. "She was held as prisoner by her own family, forced to fight for what she did not believe in, and in the final battle she defended my daughter, the heir to the Moon Throne, and has sworn her loyalty to the Moon. Come forward, Opal."
Opal put the child in Venus' arms as she stepped forward and knelt before Serenity. Serenity lay her hands on the girl firmly. "Opal, Daughter of Aidoneus and Hecate, I hereby strip you of your name and title." Confusion ran through the crowd. Endymion glanced at Rion, who shrugged slightly. Opal seemed to tense, while the Senshi again exchanged glances among each other.
"I rename you Selene." Opal started in surprise, her face pale. Jupiter, startled by Opal's expression, hissed to Mercury. "What does that mean, she renamed her? Why is she so surprised?"
The nobles in front were talking excitedly among themselves, while the others were more confused than ever. Serenity spoke before Mercury had a chance to reply. "Selene, your blood is now bound to me and mine. I proclaim you Daughter of the Throne, Sister to the Heir and Child of the Queen."
Opal looked up swiftly, amid the loud talking of the crowd, and Serenity smiled gently, taking her hand and drawing her to her feet. "Rise Selene, my Daughter, and greet your family."
As Opal - no, Selene - dutifully curtsied in front of Helios and Demeter, everyone else was more or less stunned by this turn of events. "Is Serenity in her right mind?" Uranus demanded in a low whisper for the Senshi's ears only. "She is taking the enemy to her breast!"
"Did you not see Selene's eyes when she swore herself to the Queen?" Saturn said flatly. "She is also a Senshi, and you know that as well as we do. She will never betray Serenity."
"At least she made sure about naming the heir Serenity," Neptune said softly.
After exchanging kisses with Endymion and Rion, Selene went on to the Senshi. She gazed at them with her dark eyes, until even Uranus felt like squirming under that gaze. Then she sank to the floor in a deep curtsy. The crowd was past surprise now. They simply kept a dumbfounded silence as the Senshi hurriedly knelt on one knee before her, Venus awkward with Serenity in her arms.
Selene rose gracefully and bowed slightly before returning to Serenity's side. Serenity waited for the Senshi to rise before she continued.
"Saillor Saturn, come forth."
This time the Senshi were more startled than the crowd as the small girl made her way to the front. "Sailor Saturn, my faithful Senshi... from this day forth until the end of the Kingdom, I seal you."
The words fell from Serenity's lips like leaves falling slowly to the ground. Venus felt her knees almost give way, and she had to quickly stop herself from dropping the Princess. Mars looked sorrowful, but not all that surprised, while Mercury turned pale and Jupiter gaped. The Outer Senshi stood still; obviously they had know about this beforehand.
Saturn heard the words and bowed her head. "As you command, my Queen, so I hear and obey." Thank you, my Queen, for being so merciful to me... For a moment she wondered what would have happened if she had permitted herself to love Safire. Perhaps I would be sitting on the throne of Princess at his side... A mirthless smile twisted her lips. And no one would call me traitor. The victor is always right.
Selene met her eyes in a sort of understanding, neither gaze wavering until Saturn knelt on both knees before Serenity. "I seal you, Saturn, within your star, until the end of the Kingdom comes. The Glaive you wield will herald destruction, and where it falls, death will follow its path. May your sleep be long and undisturbed."
Serenity held up her hand, and a crystal appeared within it, shining with white light. Saturn felt a faint warmness around her, and then she knew nothing more except merciful darkness.
* * * * * * * *
"She really did love him."
Uranus and Neptune stood on the balcony, watching the elaborate ceremony below. Aerin's body was being burned into ashes, and the ashes were scattered by the wind into the sky above. Serenity was being held up by Demeter, and Helios stood behind them silently.
"Yes she did. But she knew she could not break her oath of Senshi." Neptune was thoughtful. "Such a small sacrifice for victory, and yet perhaps too large."
"Do you think we were right?"
"It doesn't matter whether we were right. We won. We broke an entire people, but we won."
"To keep the peace between the planets."
"Yes."
Uranus scowled at a star streaking through the sky. "Peace is a bloody thing to keep."
"Love is a painful thing to have."
Neptune smiled and rested her blue-green head on Uranus' broad shoulder. The stars encrusted the night sky and shone brightly as they ever did, without a concern for what went on under their faint light.