A/N: Here we go! This is (probably) the last chapter to this fic, unless I have strong objections or calls for more. I think this is a good place to end it, though I could probably go on. More than anything, I wanted to talk about Serenity's ascension and Pluto taking her post. I would like to thank for the manga translation I needed. I would also like to think what few readers I have, and encourage anyone to read my other fics. Please review, tell me what you liked and didn't like. Thanks a lot!

Disclaimer: yadda yadda yadda don't own it yadda yadda

Chapter 7: Stretching into Eternity

Serenity stood on her balcony. It was one of her favorite places to be. It had a beautiful view of the stars, and of the shining white moon that hung overhead. She smiled to think that she once lived there with her mother and all of her dear friends. Now she had started a new kingdom here on Earth, and started a new royal family. Her heart warmed with thoughts of the future.

It seemed like such a short time since she had given birth to her beautiful child. She reflected on the past five years, on watching her baby grow into the spirited child she now was. Serenity smiled to think that, unlike most mothers, she would have her baby girl for hundreds of years. It was unfortunate that she couldn't watch her grow up for at least the next century, but she felt happy all the same that she would have her child for a long time.

Usagi's birth had been quick, and almost painless. Serenity had recovered quickly, and the baby came to be adored by the people of Crystal Tokyo. The senshi had nicknamed her Chibi-Usa, since Serenity's name had once been Usagi. The child had grown to be healthy and happy, full of energy and a bright light that melted the hearts of the people around her. The Queen had watched her grow with pride, knowing that some day her daughter would grow up to help the senshi save the world.

Now Serenity awaited a different task which had been laid out for her long ago. She knew that it was vitally important, and had every intention of carrying it out as well as she could. This morning, a mysterious package had arrived on the palace steps without any label at all. Just the same, Serenity knew what lay inside the long, flat, skinny box. It stood propped against the side of the entryway back into her rooms as she waited in the moonlight.

After a patient few minutes, a light began to shine around her. It was a soft, golden glow that reminded her of the time she first ascended to her throne. She turned and smiled, raising a hand in welcome as the light began to coalesce to her left. It formed the outline of a small person made from the golden light. After a moment, the light burst, leaving behind a very young girl.

The girl immediately spread the short skit of her uniform to the sides, bowing deeply over it. Serenity, still smiling, reached over to tilt the girl's head upward and help her back to a standing position.

"There will be no bowing here or at any time, sweet one." The girl stared wide-eyed at Serenity a moment before nodding. Her large reddish-purple eyes stared in wonder, as if looking at a goddess. Serenity cupped her chin with a tender hand, and then took her hand as she led her into her room. She stopped to grab the box before entering.

Serenity sat the child on her bed with the long box. She was surprised to note that the girl was probably about eight or so, though she had an eerie ageless quality about her. Serenity walked over to a table and picked up another, smaller box, and brought it over to the girl, untying the silvery-white ribbon holding it closed as she did.

Opening the box in her hand, Serenity glanced over at the girl, who was still very quiet. She dipped her hand inside and pulled out a long chain with three small keys dangling off of it. She laid it in the upturned hands of the girl, whose eyes widened even farther, if possible. The girl slid off of the bed with no small amount of grace and fastened the chain around her waist. Serenity nodded.

"These are special keys, as I am sure you know. You must guard them very carefully, even with your life if you have to." The girl nodded gravely. She watched as Serenity walked over and picked up the other box, pulling off the black ribbon holding it closed. She opened it with an almost holy reverence, lifting out its contents with the gentleness of the mother that she was. The girl fell to one knee before the Queen, eyes filled with awe. She raised her hands up as Serenity placed in them an object that seemed to emanate power. It was a staff shaped like a key.

The staff was long, made form some unknown white-purple substance. It had prongs that stuck out to make it look like a key, and at the top was something shaped rather like a heart with a large garnet placed in the middle. The child held her hands up, palms flat. Serenity set it delicately on them, and the small hands closed around it as if it were a natural reflex. She looked up at Serenity, who now placed her hand on the child's forehead, and began speaking in a regal tone. It was all she could do not to smile.

"Rise, child. Rise, oh one in whose veins the blood of Chronos himself flows. Rise, child of the farthest planet, child of the gate. Rise, child, and become your destiny." The child stood without a word, and Serenity moved her hand from her forehead to her shoulder. "A child no longer. Senshi of the farthest reaches of this solar system, Sailor Pluto, guardian of the gate of Time and Space. Do you accept this responsibility?"

"My Queen, I fully accept my responsibilities as a Sailor Senshi, and as guardian of the gate of Time and Space." Without hesitation. Serenity smiled at the cute, tiny voice that emerged from the girl. She knelt, pulling the girl close and hugging her.

"I've been waiting for you, Pluto." She stood up again, offering her hand to the girl.

"I know. Just as I have been waiting to come here." Serenity laughed. The girl seemed so serious. Knowing she had to become serious herself, Serenity straightened up and led the girl out of her room and into the hallway, where they could walk and discuss important matters.

"As you know Pluto," Serenity said as they walked down an empty hallway, "you now have a great responsibility on your shoulders." Pluto nodded as she spoke, her long green hair swaying slightly. "You alone have the duty of protecting the gate, though other senshi will be along from time to time. You must never have any other visitors. You may not see my guardians. Aside from the two senshi who may come to see you, you may see no one. I know this will be hard to accept, and that you may only view the lives of others from a distance, but it is your responsibility.

"You have many things that you will have to remember, Pluto. You have to guard those keys with everything; they are the keys to the gate. You must guard that staff with your life; it is the Garnet Orb, the third talisman. And above all, there are three things you must never do." Pluto nodded again, clutching her staff in a tight grip.

"First, you may not cross time. Second, you must never leave the gate, for you must always protect it. And third…" Serenity stopped. She let go of Pluto's hand, and turned to look at her, a very serious look on her face.

"Pluto."

"Yes, Queen Serenity?"

"The third thing that you must never do: you must never stop time. You and the garnet rod you are carrying have the power to move time. But no matter what happens, you must never stop time. If you ever violate that law…" Serenity trailed off for a moment, tears trying to form in her eyes. She looked deeply into the young girl's eyes. "If you ever violate that law, you will give up your life."

Pluto stared up at Serenity for a time. The two seemed to share a moment. Serenity knew that one day, Pluto would violate the final law – indeed she would violate them all. She knew that one day, Pluto would make the ultimate sacrifice. It made a little rip inside of her heart, to stand here before this child, knowing that someday she would sacrifice herself for the sake of the people she had come to love. And for that single moment, she was sure that Pluto knew it too.

The moment ended, and Pluto nodded. She walked with Serenity for a time, and they discussed small matters. Pluto got to see the little Usagi playing with her toys form a distance. Both of them felt it was best to hold off a meeting between the two girls. After a while, it was time for Pluto to go, to assume her duties. Pluto raised her Garnet Rod, and the two were instantly standing next to an immense door within a vast emptiness.

"Pluto, I want you to know that I am always here for you. Should you need to talk to me, you can call at any time." Pluto nodded. "In a very short amount of time, you will amass a very large amount of knowledge. You will grow into maturity very quickly, and have memories and wisdom spanning ages. As the guardian of the gate of Space and Time, you will step outside of time. You will remember the past, and have some knowledge of the future. However, you will not be omnipotent. Though the blood of Chronos is in your veins, you are not a god." Pluto nodded again.

"Be well Pluto, I'm entrusting you with the lives of everyone who has ever lived, and ever will. I know you will do well." Serenity walked away, leaving Pluto standing by the gate, her rod clutched in her tiny hands.

"Mama!" A familiar voice rang down the hallway. A fast moving blur of pink and white came darting down the hallway, making a flying leap into the arms of the Queen. Serenity caught the blur with an expert motion, brushing back the pink hair from her daughter's face. "Mama, where were you?"

"Don't you worry, little Usagi. I was off on important business." Usagi pouted, as she always did when her mother went off without her. "How about some ice cream?" Usagi brightened, clapping her hands with joy and nodding vigorously. Serenity set her down, taking her hand, and walking off with her. Time stretched out before them. The future awaited them. Time was endless.