Chapter 25
Raye was
walking towards the hallway that led to her future daughter's room,
when she saw that Lita, Amy, and Mina were already there waiting for
her. "So," Raye asked, as she neared her friends, "Did
they believe you?"
"She did," Lita replied.
"How about you two?" Raye asked, looking at Mina and
Amy. Mina nodded in reply.
"I know that I convinced my
future self," Amy told her friends. "But my future self
didn't need any real convincing. She appeared to know that it wasn't
her fault that Serena was killed in the battle, but she still felt a
little guilty."
"How about you, Raye?" Lita asked,
"Did you manage to convince your future self?"
Raye shrugged.
"Honestly," she began, "I don't know. When I left her,
she was getting ready to meditate in front of the fire in the temple.
I think that she wasn't sure about what I was telling her and was
hoping for an answer to come to her in a vision."
"So,
you're not sure if she's convinced or not?" Mina asked.
Raye nodded.
"That's right," she sighed. "I mean, I think I did a
good job, but I know myself and I know that it's going to take a
little time for what I told her to sink in."
"So,"
Lita said, "Do you think our job here is done, then?"
"Pluto told me that our only job was to convince our future
selves that they weren't guilty for Serena's death. I guess we just
have to wait for Pluto to come and tell us that it's time for us to
head back home."
"Don't you have a concert in a few
days?" Amy asked Raye.
Raye nodded. "Yeah.
I have a concert in Nagoya, then I have to head off to Canada for a
six week tour. I hope we're home in time. I don't know how I'm going
to be able to explain it to my agent if I'm not."
"You
don't have to worry about that, Raye," a familiar voice said
suddenly. "You won't be late for your concert dates."
"Does that mean that we were successful, Pluto?" Lita
asked, seeing the Scout appear a few feet behind Amy and Mina.
Pluto smiled and
nodded. "I know for sure that the four of you've succeeded. It's
just that her future self will take a bit longer to come to the
truth. Therefore, that means that you four can go back to the past if
you want."
"Can we hang around and say good-bye before
we go?" Lita asked.
Pluto smiled and nodded. "Sure," she said, "But if you guys don't say good-bye by tonight, then I'll have to take you back to the past, anyways. There's a certain time limit that you guys are allowed in the future."
Lita nodded.
Pluto smiled. "I must be going. Reenie's coronation is tonight and I must help in the preparations." With those final words, Pluto drew a circle in the air, then there was a flash of light. When the light disappeared, there was no sign that Pluto had ever been standing there.
Kirstein
was half-asleep when she heard a knock on her door. Surprised, she
rubbed her eyes and looked at the door, wondering who was behind
it.
"Kirstein?" a voice that Kirstein hadn't heard in
years asked.
"Hotaru?" Kirstein asked.
The door opened and
in walked Hotaru along with one of the Healers who Kirstein had seen
earlier. "Hey," Hotaru said, walking towards Kirstein's
bedside. The Healer followed her.
"Who's he?" Kirstein
asked, motioning to Josiah was standing beside Hotaru.
Hotaru looked to
Josiah and smiled. It was then that Kirstein noticed that the two of
them were holding hands. She looked at Hotaru, a questioning look in
her eye.
"I am Josiah Coglua," he introduced himself.
"I was a Healer who helped her majesty, Queen Serena."
Kirstein frowned.
"What do you mean 'was'?" she asked.
"Josiah
still has the power of a Healer," Hotaru said. "But he gave
up the title of a member of the Healers so that he could stay on
Earth."
"You're not okay, are you, Kirstein?"
Josiah asked, wincing.
Kirstein looked at
him, not quite sure what he meant. "Excuse me?" she asked,
not liking that anyone could see through the exterior she'd
created.
"In helping the Healers, you lost a lot of energy,"
Josiah said. "More than any of the others. So much in fact, that
it actually injured you physically, didn't in?"
Kirstein looked at
him, surprise showing in her eyes. How did he know all this?
"The
Healers can sense when someone is hurting," Hotaru explained.
"As I said before, Josiah while he may no longer be an actual
member of the Healers still has the power of a Healer."
"I
can lessen the pain so that it's almost nothing," Josiah
informed Kirstein.
Kirstein looked to Hotaru, not sure if he was telling her the truth.
Hotaru smiled and nodded.
"You don't
have to do that," Kirstein told him, feeling a little
embarrassed at the extra attention she was being given.
"You
helped us when we needed it," Josiah told her, sensing the pain
the Scout was in. "Let me help you now."
"But that
was my job," Kirstein informed Josiah. "As a Sailor Scout,
it's my duty to do everything to protect Queen Serena."
""Then
you'll understand that because I have the power to heal, then my job
is to do everything I can to heal those who are in pain."
Kirstein nodded not really having the strength to argue anymore.
Josiah stepped up to Kirstein's bedside and let go of Hotaru's hand. He took Kirstein's hand in his and placing his other hand over hers, he closed his eyes.
Hotaru, wanting to let Josiah know that she was there and that she supported him, placed both of her hands on his shoulders.
Kirstein watched in surprise as a glow began to surround Josiah, and slowly, the glow began to surround the hand that Josiah held. Her eyes widened in surprise as the glow began to go up her arm and completely surround her body. She lifted her eyes to look at Hotaru, and Hotaru, seeing the look in Kirstein's eyes, only smiled calmly and nodded, trying to comfort Kirstein. It was obvious that the glow that had begun to surround the Scout had begun to worry her but feeling comforted by Hotaru's answer to the question in her eyes, Kirstein sighed and relaxed a little. She was surprised to feel that she had already begun to feel less pain then when Josiah had first started. In fact, she felt almost no pain at all. Kirstein was about to open her mouth to say something to Josiah, when Josiah suddenly let go of her hand and opened his eyes.
Immediately, the glow that had surrounded Kirstein and Josiah disappeared. "How do you feel?" Josiah asked, smiling down at the Sailor Scout.
Kirstein grinned back at him and Hotaru. "Actually," she said, the surprise she felt in her voice. "I feel a lot better. I didn't know that a Healer could work by themself."
Josiah shrugged. "I don't think many people do, but contrary to that of popular belief, we Healers can heal on our own. If we weren't able to then others from different planets who have the gift to heal couldn't come to Iounda and learn from our techniques. It would just be too complex for them to learn from the Healers, if we only knew how to heal as a group."
Kirstein nodded to
show Josiah that she understood what he was saying. "Well, we
should let you get some rest," Hotaru said to Kirstein,
understanding that she was probably tired. She also knew that healing
people left Josiah feeling tired and that he probably wanted to rest
some.
"Thanks," Kirstein said, now sitting up straight
in her bed. She couldn't believe how much better she was feeling
after Josiah had used his powers to help her. By then, Hotaru and
Josiah had reached the door.
Hotaru was about to open the door for them to leave when Kirstein asked, "I'll see you guys later?"
Hotaru smiled and nodded. Turning to face her friend, she said, "Yeah. We'll see you later." With those final words, Hotaru opened the door and she and Josiah Coglua left Kirstein's room, leaving her alone in silence.
Reenie was in her room, lying on her bed and staring at the ceiling. She had been trying to get in contact with Sailor Pluto but every time that she tried to contact the Guardian of Space and Time with her communicator, she got no response.
Reenie sighed and rolled her eyes, wondering Where are you, Pluto? Why can't I reach you?
She was still
wondering this, when there was a knock on her door ten minutes later.
Surprised by this unexpected knock, Reenie sat up and turned to look
at the door, a confused expression on her face. "Yes?"
Reenie asked.
"Queen Serena," the voice that she had
been trying to get in contact with for the last ten minuets began,
"Is it okay if I come in?"
"Of course, Pluto,"
Reenie said, wondering why she hadn't been able to contact her in the
last ten minutes.
Sailor Pluto opened the door and entered the new queen's room. She made sure to close the door behind her.
"Where have you been?" were the first words out of Reenie's mouth when Pluto had closed the door behind herself. "I've been trying to contact you for the past ten minutes!"
Pluto smiled; she could tell that Reenie was nervous about something. She could also tell that whatever was causing this nervousness in her was making her extremely giddy and happy. "What's the matter?"
Reenie sighed happily and looking at her friend, replied, "Nothing's the matter. Why do you ask?"
Pluto shrugged and didn't bother to respond. Changing the subject, she asked, "Reenie, you do remember that you're going to have to have a coronation ceremony before you can officially become queen, right?"
Reenie nodded in reply.
"Well," Pluto began, not wanting to ruin Reenie's happiness, "Serena and the others must head back to the past tonight, and knowing that you would want them to be at your coronation I have already begun arrangements to have the official coronation tonight."
the look of happiness left Reenie's face and was replaced by a look that was a mixture of questioning and fear. "You're joking right?" Reenie asked, hoping that Pluto would nod but also knowing the Sailor Scout well enough to know that she never joked about things as serious as these.
Sailor Pluto shook her head, no.
Reenie sighed, and Pluto felt pity for the young queen; the look on her face made her almost look like she was going to cry. "What's the matter?" the Guardian of Space and Time asked, rushing to her friend's side.
"I asked
Rodney if he would rule by my side."
"And. . . ?"
"He
said yes."
"But that's a good thing." Then after a
minute or so of silence had passed between them, with a raised
eyebrow, Pluto asked, "Isn't it?"
Reenie nodded.
"Yeah, it is."
"But you still seem sad about
something," Pluto said, concerned for her friend.
"I'm
not sure if he'll still want to," Reenie said, confessing her
feelings. "I mean, if it was in a few weeks, sure. He'd probably
be okay with it. But I just asked him a few minutes ago. That means
that he only has a few hours to deal with the fact that he's going to
be king."
"But why does he have to be in the coronation
ceremony with you?" Pluto asked, not quite seeing the problem
that was so obvious to Reenie.
"This might all be happening
too fast for him. I mean, I know Rodney. He'll want to be get this
over with when I do. But with only a few hours to prepare . . . "
Reenie left her sentence unfinished, not sure if she could get out
what she was trying to say.
Pluto sighed and
placed her hand over Reenie's. "Rodney won't change his mind
about becoming king and ruling by your side, Reenie," Sailor
Pluto said, confidently.
"But how do you know?" Reenie
asked, the unsureness she felt showing in her voice.
Pluto
smiled and jokingly replied, "I'm the Guardian of Space and
Time, remember? I know everything."
Reenie smiled a little, but seeing that her humor hadn't really answered Reenie's question, Pluto replied truthfully, "I know because I believe. I believe in your love for him and his for you. I saw the love that you felt for him, Reenie. I saw it in your eyes when you were trying to save him, and I can still see it, even when you're worried that he might reject you because everything's happening so fast. But let me tell you something: if Rodney Kirsta loves you even just a tiny bit the way you love him, trust me when I say that nothing will matter. He won't care if he's crowned king tonight, next year, in ten years, or ever. All he wants is to be by your side. That's what you want too, isn't it? To be by his side?"
Reenie smiled and nodded. In truth, that was all she had ever wanted since the day she'd fallen in love with Rodney Ricardo Kirsta: to just be by his side, through everything and anything, no matter what happened.
A few minutes of
silence passed between the two of them before Pluto spoke. "So,"
the Guardian of Sapce and Time began, "What do you want to do
about Rodney?"
"I want to give him the choice,"
Reenie said, after a minute or so of thinking. "I want him to
decide what his future will be."
Pluto looked at her new queen. For the first time in many years, she was confused.
Reenie smiled, knowing by Pluto's silence that her old friend had no idea what she was saying. "I want Rodney to choose whether or not he wants to be crowned king by my side tonight. I know that every time there's a coronation, it's usually with both the queen and king, but I also know that our circumstances aren't very usual. I think this time we'll allow an exception. Besides, Rodney wasn't born into royalty like I was. It'll take him some time to adjust. His deciding whether or not he wants to be crowned king when I'm crowned queen will let him choose just how much time he needs to adjust to his new role."
Pluto smiled and nodded. "That's a good idea," she agreed. Then, "When exactly are you going to tell Rodney?"
Reenie smiled and
looking at her old friend, replied, "That's the only part I
still have to figure out."
"Well, if you want my
opinion," Pluto began, standing up from the bed, "I think
you should tell him soon."
"Really?" Reenie
asked, lifting her head so that she was looking at the face of Pluto.
Sailor Pluto smiled and nodded. "Yes," she replied, smiling, "After all, you only have five hours to get ready."
Hearing this, Reenie's eyes widened in surprise. "Five hours!" she exclaimed, obviously not liking the time limit that she had been given.
Pluto smiled and nodded. "In case you didn't realize it, Reenie," Pluto began, "In five hours, it's ten o'clock. The day is more then half over."
Reenie sighed and shook her head. "I didn't realize that, Pluto," she admitted. Then, she stood up from the bed and said, "Let's go. I should go and tell Rodney, then I'll have to go talk to Irene about a dress, huh?"
Pluto smiled, then together the two of them headed towards the hospital section of the palace.
Raye sat in the temple, just in front of the fire. She had been sitting there ever since her past self had left her alone in the temple, waiting for a vision to come to her to prove that what her past self had told her was the truth. She was still sitting there ten minutes later, when her back suddenly stiffened and she sat up straighter.
With
her eyes closed, Raye felt her friend, Neo-Queen Serenity's presence
suddenly appear in the room. Knowing that Serenity's ghost wasn't
really appearing in the room, but that Serenity's spirit was
appearing to her, Raye kept her eyes closed.
"Raye!"
Neo-Queen Serenity's spirit said to get her friend's attention.
"Raye! Please listen to me. Your past self was right. I know
that you may be feeling guilty about my death, but I ask you not to.
Please. It wasn't your fault. Nor was it any of the others. Believe
me when I say that it was mine and I knew what I was getting into. I
knew what my destiny was, just like my mother knew what hers had
been. I knew that I wouldn't be seeing Reenie again; at least not
when I was alive. But listen; while your job of protecting me now may
be over, I have one thing left to ask of you and the others. Please
protect Reenie, Kara, and Kenneth, along with your daughters. They
will need your help and guidance, along with your protection, in
battles to come. I must go now for my time here is up. Please, Raye,
remember: it was not Lita's fault. It was not Amy's, nor was it
Mina's. But most of all, it was not your fault.
I knew what I was doing, so please do not feel guilty about it.
Good-bye, my friend. I will see you some other day."
With that, the image of Serenity's spirit faded away and Raye sighed and opened her eyes. Looking around the temple, she smiled and stood. She had been given a job to do by her friend, and she was going to do it. Silently and filled with the peace of knowing that her friend was at peace, Raye left the temple and headed towards the hallway that led to the princesses' private bedrooms.
Reenie stood in front of Rodney's door, trying to figure out how she was going to tell Rodney that her coronation was tonight. Pluto had left her before she had even reached the hospital wing, saying that she still had things to do before Reenie's coronation party. Taking one last breath, Reenie placed her hand on the doorknob and opened the door that led to Rodney's room.
Hearing
the click of the door opening, Rodney, Melissa, and Kristy turned to
see who was entering the room. They were surprised to see
Reenie.
"Hey," Rodney said, smiling broadly when he saw
the girl he loved.
Reenie smiled back at him. "Hey, Rod," she said. Then, looking at the floor, she asked, "Um, do you remember how I said that I was going to be crowned queen?"
Rodney nodded, and
looked at her, a puzzled expression on his face. "Yeah," he
replied. "Why? What's the matter?"
"It's
tonight," Reenie sighed, lifting her face up so that she was
looking at him. Rodney's, Kristy's and Melissa's eyes widened in
surprise as Reenie told them this.
"What?" Kristy
asked, obviously surprised by this unexpected announcement.
Reenie smiled at her friend's reaction and nodded. "The coronation," she explained. "In less than five hours from now, at ten o'clock, Pluto wants the celebration to start. Normally, the king would be crowned by my side." Then, walking towards Rodney's bedside and sitting down, she continued, "But I talked with her earlier and we both agreed that our circumstances aren't normal. So, I've decided to give you the choice whether or not you want to be crowned tonight by my side. Either way, I have to be crowned."
Taking her hand in his, Rodney spoke to her in his softest voice. "Reenie, I told you that I was going to be crowned by your side. That means that when you're crowned, I'll be crowned. Remember, if you'll let me, I want to be my your side: no matter what."
Reenie grinned and
kissed him on the cheek. "Great!" she exclaimed. "Then,
I'll send Jacoby in right away."
"Who?" Rodney
asked, his tone of voice and the expression on his face showing that
he had no clue who Jacoby was.
Reenie smiled. "I forgot that you don't know that much about things that go on here in the palace," she said, feeling sheepish. "Jacoby: your personal dresser and fashion consultant. He'll get to choose what tuxedo you want to wear tonight, or we do have some other fashions, but he'll show you that."
Rodney sighed and looked at her. "I guess that's one thing that I'll have to get used to," he said, surprised that he was going to have his own fashion consultant.
Reenie smiled and
turned to look at Kristy and Melissa. "Come on, guys," she
said. "Let's leave Rodney alone. Besides, you guys have to come
with me to get your dresses."
"What?" Melissa and
Kristy asked in surprise, not expecting that.
Reenie smiled and looked at her friends, a little sparkle in her eye. "Did you two really think that I would let two of my friends not come to my coronation?" she asked, "Come on, let's go. We'll see you in a few hours, Rod."
With that, the three of them left Rodney in his private hospital room.
