Ghost Whisper: In case anyone here hasn't noticed. I've changed my pen name. I'm no longer Silver Angel, due to the new rule on ff.net about original author pen names. I didn't want to be Silver Angel7. *gives computer dirty look*

Anyways, after a long period of silence, I have returned with the next chapter of this fic, due to popular demand. I was thinking about re- writing it, because I found myself dissatisfied with some things, but. I just couldn't leave you guys hanging any longer. Sorry about that!

Thanks to all my reviewers - I didn't list you here, but you know who you are, and you have my eternal gratitude for all of your support. ^_^

- - - Just a quick note here. The Voting Is OVER. Please, if you'd like to review me, I'm eternally grateful for it, and it gives me no end of happiness to know that you care enough about my story to review, but I'm not longer taking votes for couples. I've decided on a Yami/Serena, and pretty heavily implied it already, so I don't want to change my mind now. If you're not happy about that - sorry, but them's the cookies handed out. I may however, write other stories in the future with those couples.

Chapter 12: What Has Been Lost

A glow concealed the body of the girl with raven coloured wings, and when it receded, she was dressed in a simple black turtleneck sweater, and a dark navy jean skirt. She was no longer the Sovereign of Silence.

Hotaru ran forward as fast as she could. Her small form seemed to barely touch the concrete of the road, as she moved lightly forward to embrace Serena in the strongest hug that she could manage. Given their similarity in size, Serena barely even had to lean over to hear Hotaru's whisper in her ear.

"I'm so sorry Serena," she said quietly. "I'm sorry that none of us were able to protect you as we should have. I'm sorry that you had to be alone for so long." Tears sparkled in the corners of her violet eyes, which she had shut tightly, as if she feared the reaction of the girl in front of here.

Serena was facing away from the rest of the group, her face buried in Hotaru's dark hair, hiding her large smile and the tears that were streaming unashamedly down her face. "You're back," she whispered, voice catching in a sob. "You're really back - and that's all that matters." She cried quietly for a few minutes, and Yami just barely refrained from going up and trying to comfort her, not wanting to interrupt the reunion of friends.

When she had finished, Serena gave one last sniffle and stepped back, holding her friend at arms length. She gave a watery smile, which Hotaru returned, and then pulled a stern expression onto her features. "Hotaru Tomoe," she began, sounding like a parent about to lecture a misbehaving child. "Would you please explain to me what has happened? Why were you gone for all those years, and yet you can come back now?"

The dark haired girl lowered her eyes to the ground, downcast. "I - I'm sorry Serena. We all are. If there had been any other way, we - we would have taken it! None of us wanted to leave you. You're our princess! But when we fought Chaos . . . The only way it could have been defeated was to give you our powers. Our bodies were dying anyway, so the only way it could be done was to - to merge souls."

Her voice broke it the end, and she bit her lip, fearing the reaction of the golden haired girl who stood judgement in front of her. She could tell that Serena wasn't happy about what had happened in their last battle together. The scouts had promised that they would always stay together, and when they had left her like that - even if it *had* been the only way to save her - well, it felt like betrayal of the worst sort. There was pain on both sides; from the betrayer, and the betrayed.

Serena sighed, and an accepting smile came to her face, immediately draining some of the tension from the air. "It's okay 'Taru. I understand about. about doing what needs to be done. I can't blame you for what happened - no matter how much it hurts."

Joy lit up the Scout of Saturn's face, and she leapt forward once more to embrace the girl who was her leader - and moreover, was like an older sister to her. "Thank you," she murmured, before pulling away and beginning her story once more.

"How we came back . . . I'm not exactly sure the way it worked Serena. You'd have to ask Pluto to get the specifics I think, but it has to do with the way your powers grew, and the fact then we weren't dead when we voluntarily sacrificed our bodies to combine the power of our souls with you. Somehow, because you were Cosmos, your star crystal began taking on the powers that ours originally had to lend you. Now your soul can use these powers on its own, and I guess that meant we were no longer needed. The only thing we were waiting for was a way to separate - and you gave me that Serena, when you called me."

~ ~

Yami watched the exchange in silence, intrigued by the small girl that Serena seemed so happy to see. 'She looks very much like Saturn,' he mused. 'I wonder - was this perhaps what she and Pluto were talking about in that dream?'

He crossed his arms over his chest, feeling the heavy weight of his version of the Millennium Puzzle hanging there. The gold pyramid was cold, but seemed to pulse with energy - almost as if were reacting to the girls in front of him. 'But which one is it? Or is it reacting to both of them?'

As he watched, Serena smile grew wider and wider, until he could safely classify it as a grin. He couldn't hear what was being said, as they were speaking quietly, and still several metres away, but he imagined that it must have something to do with being able to bring her friends back. 'That's the only thing I can think of that would make her that happy,' he thought, feeling a small glow as he saw her eyes brighten in a way that lit up her whole face.

"Yami,"

The ancient spirit turned to look at his light half, who was gazing at the scene before them in confusion. "Hmmm?"

"Do you know who that girl is?" Yugi questioned. He was also fingering his Millennium Puzzle just as Yami had been a minute ago. "I mean, she came out of a card just like Serena did and all. That doesn't really surprise me I guess, but the Millennium Puzzle started reacting when she did. It feels . . . weird. Kind of tingly is the best way I can put it."

"She is a friend of Serena's." Yami said quietly. "And she holds magic of a sort that seems familiar - though I don't know precisely how." He failed to mention the dream he'd had, deciding that at this point, it wasn't important. "Perhaps the Puzzle recognizes the magic - or maybe it has something to do with Serena summoning the girl as a duel monster, as I summoned her, using the Millennium Puzzle."

Yugi nodded. There was a definite possibility in both of those theories.

"That was pretty weird," Joey commented. I didn't see ya Summon Serena in your duel with Pegasus Yugi, but the way she was just summoned like the holograms are - and then becomes real just as fast - " He shook his head back and forth. "It's just too crazy. And I can't believe all this magic stuff we got caught up in recently. I mean - I know you've had the puzzle for a while Yug, but still - I never even knew about Yami until a few days ago."

A chuckle could be heard from both Yugi and Yami at Joey's confession. Even Bakura smiled slightly, though it seemed not quite so amused as it was ironic. Kage looked confused at the other's humoured mood, and turned questioning eyes to Bakura. The white haired teen looked at his twin and shrugged. "It doesn't matter," he said quietly. "I'll explain later."

The conversation came to an end at that point, as the two girls were now walking back towards the group. "You look happy," Yami told Serena. His reply was a wide smile, and an impulsive hug from the blond girl.

"I am," she said. "I thought they were lost - that I'd never see them again - but my friends can come back!" Behind her, Yami saw a tightening of the new girls expression. There was something else, he realized. Something the girl hadn't told Serena yet.

"There is . . . on thing Serena." Hotaru began. She lifted a hand and placed it on Serena's shoulder, causing the blond girl to turn around and face her. "Darien - " At this she faltered, unsure of how to continue.

"What about Darien?" Serena's voice seemed . . .blank . . . as though she were expecting the worst . . . or perhaps she already knew the worst, and weren't sure what to make of it.

"Our soul crystals merged with yours in the final battle. It is why we can now be brought back. But Darien. . . Earth still held life Serena, so it must always have an avatar - a position that Darien filled. When he died, in order for Earth to have an avatar his crystal merged with the planet. I'm sorry . . ."

~ ~ ~

To Be Continued.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ghost Whisper: I am extremely extremely sorry for keeping you guys waiting for so long. I didn't want to! I even had most of this chapter planned out! However, I'm in Grade 12 now, so I have evil Midterms and Diploma exams that are very important, plus many other extra obligations. To compound that, I have more projects going on at once than I can shake a stick at - only about half my stuff is on this site.

Once again, I'm sorry for this taking so long. I am determined to finish this story, but I don't know for sure when the next chapter will be out. Hopefully, the period won't be quite so extended this time. ^_^