Disclaimer: I continue to fail to own Sailor moon. But I refuse to all this to hinder my profitless borrowing and tampering with the affiliated universe and characters.

Note: wow. Over 400 reviews. Oy. I feel loved. And I assure I really am trying to finish this but well, time is short. And my muse has returned to her holiday in Atlantis and cannot be reached. So yes, this is short. Even for my chapters it's short. But you have a choice: Deal w/ shortness or wait weeks/months for updates. I'll await your decision. *Evil grin*

That said, I am plotting some serious Darien angst, some Courtly romance, Pluto's cameo, the revelation of the nature/purpose of the Court, mass chaos, world domination, and an essay for American Historical Survey. So I may be a while getting it all sorted out in my head. Otherwise you'll end up reading something akin to a chapter of Darien weeping, Serena making out with Thierry, Puck planting a virus in ami's computer, and Quinn launching into a monologue on the nature of Faeries and their role in the subjugation of Native Americans by European colonists…

Now that you are thoroughly disturbed: On with the chapter!

Chapter 19

The others had left for their respective residences, leaving Serena, Illianna, and Thea in Serena's fairytale room.

The three of them were curled up in the seas of cushions, chatting idly, when Illianna rolled over to look at the other two curiously. "I have something very serious I need to ask you both," she said solemnly, sitting up.

Thea laughed. "Lia, the drama!"

"What is it? Not sex I hope- I haven't gotten that far!" Serena looked worried.

Illianna giggled at her. "No. Definitely not sex." Her aqua eyes darkened, and she looked very serious. "I mean… I was going to ask about us. I- well, you know: The Court. I just wondered how much of it all you remember? Cause for me there are parts that are really hazy."

Thea nodded. "I know. Sometimes I have troubles remembering it all."

"I barely remember any of it," Serena said quietly. "What I do remember is perfectly clear, and more keeps coming back, but it's slow."

"I just wondered, because we all know what happened, and how it happened, but we never talk much about it," Illianna said softly. Thea sighed, her violet eyes darkening as she thought back to other times, and memories nearly forgotten.

"It still hurts a little too much. Even after all this time," she said finally. "In the beginning we were all so young and it hurts to remember just how innocent we could be. And then later we were just so stupid."

Serena looked out the window toward the moon. "It was my fault."

"NO!" Illianna and Thea spoke at once.

"Sea! Don't be silly," Thea said gently. "You followed your heart!"

"I followed what I thought was my heart! I was stupid and I cost us all too much!" Serena's gaze finally left the moon as she looked toward her friends, but she wasn't seeing them. Instead she saw the walls of mist rising around her, felt the swaying of the boat. "I dream about that last day. The day we lost it…"

And then she was anything but alone as Illianna and Thea nearly strangled her with hugs. "Still? Oh, why haven't you said anything!" Illianna demanded. "Gods, how awful! That was the worst time…"

"Serena it is over! We're all here, together again!" Thea said forcefully.

"So Hakuna Matata!" Illianna grinned.

Serena couldn't help it. She laughed, letting herself feel the heady power, the knowledge that the Court was once again whole and she was once again free.

* * *

Ami grinned triumphantly at the other scouts and Darien. "I found them! I found out what they are!"

"So tell us already!" whined Rei. "I'm sick of waiting!"

They had all been on the edge of their seats as they waited for Ami to finish typing and muttering.

"Yeah, Ames, what is it?" Lita prodded.

Ami cleared her throat. "After the last battle, Queen Serenity sent all of the children of the moon to earth to be reborn, and we have all lived several lives here on earth…"

"Yeah, yeah, we know all about us," Mina waved a dismissive hand. "What about Them?"

"Just a moment, Mina, I'm getting to it. You see, we weren't reborn together- we all led separate lives. Well, Princess Serenity was reborn into a… different family." Ami's eyes darkened as she frowned into her computer screen. "A family that wasn't entirely human."

"WHAT?" Rei nearly fell out of her chair. "Serena's a monster?"

"No," Ami assured her hurriedly. "No, not a monster. But not entirely human…" Ami sighed. "It doesn't matter. But that lifetime she was bonded to Earth, and to a destiny here. That is where the Court come in: she was tied to them from that first life onward. She was tied to a destiny of Earth." She paused, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear.

"So?" Mina asked after a few beats.

"Yeah, what does this have to do with us?" Lita added, "I mean, so she made new friends. So what? She still has a duty as Sailor Moon…"

Darien shook his head slowly, as Ami's meaning began to sink in. Against his will, he spoke. "She can't have two destinies."

Ami looked at him sadly. Poor Darien. He was staring at her, begging her to tell him he was wrong, to tell him it would be all right. And she couldn't. Not now. Not ever. So she simply nodded.

"WHAT?" Rei demanded. "What's the problem? So she can't have two-" her brown eyes widened suddenly as she too realized the conclusion. "Oh…" she sank slowly back into the chair. "Oh."

Mina's eyes filled with tears. She wasn't sure why exactly, but she had a good idea. "A choice, then?" she whispered, her voice thick from the tears.

Lita groaned. "We have to do something!" She looked around desperately. "We can't just sit here and mope and fret and… and… we've got to do something." She was silent for a split second before she had an idea. "PLUTO! We can call Pluto! She'll sort this out. She'll help us make Serena see…"

Rei brightened. Of course: Pluto was the time guardian, and surely with their future so at risk she would help…

* * *

Michelle looked up at the moon. She was standing on the balcony of her room, enjoying the night breeze. Amara opened the French doors quietly and moved to stand beside her best friend, her partner.

"Well," the tall blond said softly and with more than a touch of sarcasm, "That went well."

Michelle smiled faintly. "We knew it would."

"I know," Amara sighed. "But I just kept hoping maybe…" she trailed off, her gaze following Michelle's up through the starry sky to the moon.

"Me too," the brunette admitted, her voice quiet and full of regret. "If only they would stop to think…"

Amara snorted. "Some things will never change." Her partner laughed.

"We ought to say hello to them."

Amara didn't have to ask to know Michelle was speaking of a different 'them.' "Yeah. I think Serena would appreciate it."

"They all will. Especially in the times to come."