Loose Ends are Retied. The Light Fades Away.
The dam having been burst, the remaining girls poured out onto the lawn. Those from the sun dropped down to one knee and bowed their heads, showing respect for their queen. One of the last to exit was Aiji. A tentative smile spread across her face as she met eyes with her mother.
"I have long considered you lost to me Aiji," Queen Astra said, returning the smile, "To see you again at last..."
The first grin since she left her home long ago spread across the small girl's face. She bounded over to her mother to be swallowed in a hug. "Mother!" she cooed softly.
When she finally released her daughter, the queen turned back to Usagi, "Yes, we shall need a more comfortable place to chat. Just you and I, if you do not mind."
Usagi smiled, "Maybe we could take a walk through the woods behind the temple?"
"Of course," Astra nodded.
When her old friends had finished fawning over her, Sailor Teal Sun ridded herself of her Sailor fuku in favor of a plain teal dress. She glanced over her shoulder towards the pensive pair of silver senshi. "Kaiou Michiru," she said flatly.
Michiru jumped, and Haruka cast a concerned glance at her, not hearing the young senshi.
Kashoku pivoted, "That is your name right?"
"Yes, it is," Michiru nodded.
"I am Kinshou Kashoku, I knew much of you," she continued, approaching.
Michiru could hardly believe such mature speech came from such a small child. "Kinshou," Michiru pondered, "That name seems familiar."
"It should," Kashoku smiled, stopping directly in front of her counterpart, "I used to be older. As you probably heard, I died at the same time all of Princess Aiji's soldiers were captured. To everyone's surprise, I was born again about seven years ago, shortly after the Reawakening."
Michiru nodded slowly. What could she say?
"It is only fair that you know who I am," she continued, "As I know all about you. Your mother was a wonderful person. It is too bad that she died long ago."
"Mother?" Michiru asked, "Oh, you mean Queen Kaiousei?"
Kashoku nodded, "She and I were close, as close as you could be with a citizen of the Silver Millennium. I visited Neptune on occasion and found it quite beautiful. I hope the kingdom will be resurrected one day."
Michiru smiled at Kashoku then Haruka. "I think we all hope that," she said, "But we know the Earth Kingdom has the brightest future. Sailor Moon and the inner senshi have been there and have seen Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san as King and Queen. There is hope for the planet kingdom's to return as well."
"When that time comes, I will visit you," the small girl finally broke a smile.
"I sense a warming relationship between the Sun and the Moon," Haruka commented warmly, putting and arm around Michiru's waist.
"I sense it too," Kashoku agreed.
Usagi and Queen Astra walked in silence for several moments, putting distance between them and the others. Astra admired the weather and the woods while Usagi bit her lip with apprehension.
At last, the sun queen spoke, "Usagi-san, I must apologize for my coldness to your kingdom in the past. It was my own misunderstanding; I should not have held that against you all. I am sorry."
"Thank you," Usagi said, perplexed, "But why did you hold a grudge like that? What was the misunderstanding?"
Astra sighed and closed her eyes, stopping to lean up against a tree. She slowly began her narrative, "When I was slightly older than you are now, an evil force attacked the Sun Kingdom. My parents as well as several members of court were killed before I managed to vanquish them with the Sun Prism. I called for help from your mother, but none came. In my grief, I thought your mother to be selfish, and I became angry with her.
"Suddenly finding myself as the new queen of the Golden Millennium, I quickly cut off relations with the Silver Millennium and began to build up and army of my own Sailor Senshi to prevent such an event from happening again."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Usagi said softly, "I didn't know."
Astra sighed and shrugged, continuing her walk, "It's alright. How could you have known? It's likely your mother never received my pleas."
"You've had such a sad life," Usagi observed, "First your parents die. Then one of your daughters and half of your soldiers disappear as if dead."
"And my husband died in the raids," she continued, "Yes, yes, but I want to turn things around. Usagi-san, I want us to be friends. I want to end what I started long ago."
"Of course!" Usagi giggled.
Astra as if a great burden had been lifted from her shoulders, "Thank you Princess Serenity!"
"I'm Usagi—"
"I can return to the Sun at peace now," Astra sighed.
Usagi halted mid-step, "You don't mean you're going back so soon!"
"My soldiers have trampled on your welcome for too long already," the queen explained calmly.
"No they haven't!" Usagi protested, "We have just become friends."
"Yes, but we can keep in touch," Astra said, holding onto her calm, "Besides, we must return to the Sun quickly. Few people knew that we have left.
Usagi sighed," I guess if you have to..."
Kumori and Mikomi found themselves to be the only two calm people present. While the reappearance of Kashoku surprised them, it did not stun them.
"I'm so glad Kashoku is back," Mikomi said and smiled as she watched the young girl being swallowed up by another knot of girls excited to see her. "Shouldn't we go and talk to her some more now?"
"Ah," Kumori shook her head, "She's got enough to worry about at the moment. We'll have plenty of time to catch up with her back on the Sun."
Mikomi nodded, "I think it will be hard for the Spectrums to leave not, but we really must. And soon."
Kumori nodded silently.
"Oh!" Itazura exclaimed from where she stood in the yard, "Your Highness! Usagi-san! You're back!"
All the attention turned to where the two leaders emerged from the woods.
"So what now?" Jika asked.
"We must return to our home," Queen Astra answered plainly, stopping before them.
"No!" Chou protested.
"Not yet!" Korai cried.
"You can't mean that," Rei blurted.
"But we—"Kanmi stammered.
"Hush!" Aiji piped up, "Mother is right. Think. Our people, currently abandoned by our leadership and protection, surely mean more to us than new friends."
The girls fell silent.
"You will see each other again," Apollo said firmly.
"Maybe not soon," Artimis agreed, "but think to the future. I'm sure at least when Crystal Tokyo rises, you will see each other again."
"You're right, but that is a very long time," Makoto commented softly, "Isn't there some other way we could stay in contact?"
"We might think of something," Apollo said encouragingly, padding towards where Makoto sat on the grass.
"But we can't promise anything," Helia interjected darkly.
Suddenly, a shiver ran up and down the Queen's spine. A handful of the others felt it as well.
"Something is drawing nearer," Furea observed.
"Something dark," Rei added in a low voice, "Powerfully dark."
Astra stiffened, "We cannot delay any longer. If we remain, whatever it is might block our departure."
"But—" Minako protested.
"What is the best place to depart from?" Queen Astra asked.
"The highest!" Boshi added quickly.
"The Tokyo Tower is the highest place we have," Ami said slowly, her mind working.
"But the dais in the Juuban park assisted us when going to the moon," Luna pointed out thoughtfully.
"Right!" Minako nodded.
"I like that better!" Akari voiced her opinion.
"But we needed a full moon for that," Ami said regretfully.
"Sot it would make sense," Bengosha continued, "For us to need a sunny day."
"There isn't much daylight left," Hanryo said softly.
"Then we must hurry to the park," Enogu said urgently.
Aiji cast her attention towards the confused Usagi, "Could you lead us there?"
She nodded solemnly.
All of the sun senshi had transformed and lined up in three circles facing the center of the dais with the royalty at the center, the Spectrums near the outside, and the Colors just outside of them.
As the sun sank lower in the sky, threatening to dip below the horizon, Pink Sun turned out of the circle, meeting Usagi's eyes, "I'm sorry we had to leave so soon. I'm sure we would have gotten along."
"Rei," Red Sun said, "I can feel it: we will meet again."
Rei smiled and giggled, "So can I Furea-chan."
"Keep yourself sharp Mizuno Ami!" Blue Sun added.
"You can count on it!" Ami retorted with a grin.
"I'm sorry Hotaru-chan," Violet Sun said softly, "I'll make it up to you one day."
"You were a tough opponent," Hotaru said sweetly, unaffected by the remorseful comment.
"I wish we could have played volleyball together Minako-chan," Orange Sun said with a twinkle in her eye.
"Next time we meet," Minako started brightly, "It's a rematch!"
The orange senshi just laughed.
"Jyupitaru, it was good to get to know you," Sailor Green Sun smiled sweetly.
"You're wonderful Chou!" Makoto exclaimed, tears building up in her eyes.
"I wish I was as awesome as you Setsuna," Indigo Sun called.
"But you are, Itazura-chan!" Setsuna protested.
"Haruka-san!" The small yellow solder cried and burst free of the circle. Haruka greeted her with open arms and scooped her into a hug, "Thank you for everything."
Haruka put her down, "I'll miss you Suenari Kigai." Pausing for a moment, she added thoughtfully, "Keep on smiling."
Yellow Sun grinned and giggled, "I will!"
"Kigai!" Sailor Blue Sun reminded her sharply.
The girl smiled again and bounded back to the circle. As she did, Michiru said hopefully, "It was good to know you Kashoku. I would have liked to hear more."
"I would have liked to as well," the tiny teal solder agreed.
"Thank you all for being so kind," Sailor Sunlight said at last, "And understanding."
"I knew we could trust in the Ginzuishou," Sailor Brown Sun said triumphantly.
"And Sailor Moon," Bronze Sun added.
Usagi blushed.
Sailor Gold Sun glanced nervously up at the sun, "We do not have much time..."
"But enough to say thank you again,"Sailor Sun added, "Sailor Moon, we are forever in your debt. Thank you."
Sever of the other soldiers echoed her thanks.
"I just—"Usagi stammered.
"But we cannot wait any longer," the queen said regretfully, "Ready minna?" Not waiting for a response, she joined hands with her daughters, "Sun Power!"
"Sunlight Solar Power!"
"Spectrum Solar Power!"
"Red Sun Spectrum Power!"
"Orange Sun Spectrum Power!"
"Yellow Sun Spectrum Power!"
"Green Sun Spectrum Power!"
"Blue Sun Spectrum Power!"
"Indigo Sun Spectrum Power!"
"Violet Sun Spectrum Power!"
"Pink Sun Color Power!"
"I'm sorry Sailor Moon," The queen called for the last time.
"Teal Sun Color Power!"
"Brown Sun Color Power!"
"Gray Sun Color Power!"
"Goodbye minna!" Sunlight's voice sounded from somewhere in the light.
"Black Sun Color Power!"
"White Sun Color Power!"
"Silver Sun Color Power!"
"Gold Sun Color Power!"
"Bronze Sun Color Power!"
"Thank you!" Sailor Spectrum said at last as the colors combined into bright white light. As it intensified, the earthly girls painfully averted their eyes.
"Blast off!" they all chorused together. The light grew brighter.
"Arigatou..." an unidentifiable voice echoed as the lights faded away, leaving empty ground where the nineteen sailor senshi once stood.
The girls gradually turned their gazes towards the west and the setting sun. They remained in pensive silence for a long while.
Hotaru glanced wide-eyed at her foster-mother Setsuna who smiled back encouragingly. Haruka moved closer to Michiru, gently taking her hand. Rei, Minako, and Makoto exchanged perplexed looks while Ami stared unblinkingly at the sky. Luna and Artimis sat where they were, still as feline statues. Usagi stared at the circular dais in disbelief. After glancing again at the setting sun, she walked slowly, numbly, to the center of the dais where her newest friends had just disappeared from.
Staring up at the sky, she said hopefully, "So."
A moment later Makoto echoed distantly, "So..."
"So," Setsuna pondered, "So, we all should be heading home. All of you have school tomorrow."
"And homework to do," Ami added half-heartedly, finally looking at the others and abandoning her fruitless search of the sky.
After a long pause while everyone lingered around the dais, Rei turned from the circle and walked slowly away. Over her shoulder she said, "Back to normal again, I guess. Whatever that is."
Usagi sighed and echoed, "Whatever that is..."
The Golden Sun Senshi returned back to the Sun without event and the previously lost soldiers were greeted with enthusiasm.
Having seen the systems on Earth, the Golden Millennium quickly began to reform from an archaic court system to one of high technology and formal education. The long-lost girls returned to their families and resumed their normal lives of court, schooling, and paying respects to the royal family. All except Bengosha, who's father died in her absence, were able to lead ordinary lives as girls. As for Bengosha, she quickly took power over the Aoi Prefecture and became a powerful leader.
As Princess Aiji aged, she married a man from the Midori Prefecture, a second cousin of Chou, and became Queen Astra in her own time, bearing one daughter named Princess Taiyouko, heir to the Golden Throne and the Sun Prism. Her sister Princess Enogu remained her closest advisor in their time of tranquility. From far away, they watched Crystal Tokyo grow and blossom down on Earth, and later the planet kingdoms as well.
For the most part, the Sun Senshi were not needed as few evil forces, none of them strong, ever made it to the Sun, past the pull of the Ginzuishou on Earth. While all of the Golden Senshi except Kumori and Mikomi married and had children, new senshi were not awakened to replace their mothers. There was never any danger, so there was no need. They lived peacefully and prosperously, never forgetting their friends back on Earth.
Meanwhile, the Silver Moon Senshi did not find peace as they had hoped. Just days after the departure of their visitors from the Sun, they first encountered Sailor Iron Mouse and the senshi from Kinmokusei. They were in for a long, hard battle against Shadow Galactica.
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