Author's Note: Well, originally I planned to have the last chapter finish it off, but people have asked for me to continue it and supply some form of greater closure. (As if defeating the bad man wasn't good enough for you!) So here you go! (I won't be adding another chapter until I have at least twenty reviews because of limits on my spare time. Sry!)

            Ayeka looked around and sighed. Jurai hadn't changed much since she left, but she'd changed. With a secret smile she rubbed her extending stomach and led little Antu through the halls. His red eyes were wide and curious about everything. Next to him was Wufei, who was doing a much better job at hiding his awe. Mariemaia felt free to gape with her jaw dragging on the floor. "The trees are huge!" she said.

            Her adoptive mother smiled and nodded. "Yes, that's because they are very powerful. That one is Gou, there's Sci-ni, and this one is Lunnik," Ayeka said. For a while she contented herself with acting as a tour guide, then they reached the hall to the throne room. "Behind that door, lies the Emperor."

            There were two men standing outside the door. Azaka and Kamidake, knights sworn to protect the members of the Jurai royal family. They gaped at the group strolling casually up to the door. Ayeka kept her face relatively serious and stopped only just far enough away that the doors could be opened without hitting her. "I've come to visit, not take over. Could you let us?" The knights gulped and the doors opened.

            As Ayeka and her family passed, Kamidake looked at Azaka and said, "Tell me that wasn't who I thought it was?"

            Azaka looked grim. "Princess Ayeka is not only alive, but well, and has produced an heir on top of that. What could she be planning by showing herself after all these years?"

            Inside the throne room, the council paused to see who would dare interrupt one of their meetings with the Emperor and his wife. They didn't recognize the seemingly civilian family who came in, and the chairman stood. "You'll have to leave, this is a restricted meeting. Only council members and—"

            "Members of the Jurai royal family are allowed, too," Ayeka said. The chairman froze. He squinted at the woman holding the little boy's hand and then went pale.

            "P-princess!" he stuttered, falling into his seat. Tenchi looked up and jumped to his feet, excitement on his face.

            "Ayeka! You came!" he said. Before he was around the table, Ryoko had materialized directly in front of Ayeka and enveloped her old rival in a hug. Ayeka noticed the former space pirate wore formal Juraian garb.

            "Oh! Ayeka, how I've missed you!" she said. Ayeka let go of Antu's hand and embraced her friend.

            "It's good to see you again, Ryoko," she said. She blinked back tears and took a step back. Ryoko looked a little odd at first in her new clothes, but they hadn't been chosen hastily and suited her. Tenchi came up and gave Ayeka a hug as well. "Sasami?" Ayeka asked.

            Tsunami materialized directly in front of them and smiled. "Ayeka, glad you could come. Council, you are dismissed for now, there is more pressing business to take care of." The council didn't hesitate to listen to the bidding of the goddess and left.

            Tenchi put an arm around Ryoko and said, "Sasami and Tsunami merged last year, since then it's been a little different around here."

            Ayeka looked at her little sister and smiled. Tsunami came forward calmly and gave her a hug. Then Ayeka knelt next to Antu and said, "Antu, this is your aunt, Tsunami."

            Tsunami smiled at the boy and he grinned. "You're pretty!" he said. Tsunami blushed. Then Antu looked at his mother and said, "Mommy, I need—" He was cut off by the sound of a siren. Ayeka went pale, but Tenchi and Ryoko just sighed.

            "Don't worry about it, the alarm goes off at least twice a week. The people from Etoh are rather notorious pirates and have been trying to get in for years. Lately the attacks have become more regular, but every time I get Riko out, they scamper off."

            "Riko?" Ayeka asked.

            Tenchi nodded. "My tree. Grandfather gave me the seed when you…left." There was a quiet pause, then Tenchi asked, "How did you guys get here? Washu?"

            Ayeka and Wufei traded looks. "Well, we sort of took Rio-o and Washu made the portal for us…" Wufei said.

            Tsunami blinked in surprise. "Rio-o? But I haven't felt Rio-o since…" she trailed off. "Wait, it's back! How did you revive it?"

            Ayeka shrugged. "Washu gave me the seed right before the incident with Dekim. I planted it and it grew. When we needed a ship to come visit, Rio-o transferred itself from the ground to the sky. It caused a bit of a problem with the colony, but things settled down when everyone learned it was Wufei's." She gazed up at him. "Gundam pilots are expected to have weird stuff."

            Tenchi sat down on a step and rubbed his eyes. Ryoko settled down beside him with concern written on her face. Ayeka stepped up beside Tsunami and asked quietly, "What's the problem?"

            Tsunami whispered, "The people want Tenchi to step down in my favor because he doesn't seem capable of protecting them from the attacks. They come in quickly and run off when he tries to capture them. We've searched their planet many times and can't find any reason to accuse the people there of piracy when we know they are the culprits." She looked at Wufei who was right behind Ayeka and asked them, "Will you help us?"

            "But Mom!" Mariemaia whined. Ayeka shook her head. "Why not?"

            Ayeka picked up a picture from her dresser and tossed it on the bed in front of her daughter. "That's why. I need you to stay here and protect Antu. The rest of us will be gone, leaving this place practically defenseless against a head-on attack. Until now it's been lazy damage, random. If they decide to outright attack the villa, you need to keep Antu safe." She turned and Mariemaia sighed. Her mother never backed down when she wore that face. "Understood?"

            "Yes," Mariemaia said quietly. She sat on the edge of the bed and watched her mother pick up the headdress and put it on. Now Ayeka looked like a fierce warrior, not the loving mother Mariemaia knew was Ayeka's real self. This was the face of Ayeka the martial arts master, who had been alive for longer than Mariemaia could possibly hope to see. That is, unless she got a tree. She knew how it worked, how the royal family's trees were what gave them their power. Mother and Aunt had talked about it when they didn't think Mariemaia was listening, and discussed getting a tree for Antu. Antu, Ayeka and Wufei's real child. While Mariemaia had been loved and cherished by them as their own, she couldn't help but feel like there was still that invisible barrier that separated her from the rest of them, keeping her out.

            Ayeka smiled. "Don't worry, this is just a little prodding. If we end up needing more help, we'll come back and reorganize. Love you," she gave Mariemaia a kiss on the head and left. Mariemaia waited a few minutes, then headed for the center of the massive building.

            Ayeka and Wufei looked at the remains of the pirate fleet and felt depressed. They hadn't wanted to ever fight like this again. For so long they hadn't needed to fight, but their skills were as strong as ever. "Mariemaia wanted to come with us," Ayeka said.

            Wufei nodded, not surprised. "She's a fighter, and not because of the mind bending Dekim put her through. It comes naturally to her, along with her intense will to protect." He sat back in the chair beside Ayeka's on the bridge and said, "Perhaps she deserves a tree, then she can use your powers and won't feel so inadequate."

            Ayeka frowned. "Why would she feel inadequate?"

            Wufei sighed. "I don't know, it's just that she's been a little withdrawn since we announced we were going to another planet for vacation. Could it be she doesn't feel comfortable because she's adopted?"

            "Maybe, girls her age are given to feelings of insecurity. We'll sit down and talk to her about a tree when we return." Ayeka stood and went to the long command board in front. She typed in a few things and said, "Let's go home."

            Tsunami looked up and saw a red head walking down the path. She shuddered at the memories of what happened to Sasami when she fell off that path during an attack. While the enemy wasn't anywhere near, Tsunami still felt uncomfortable. Then she saw the frustration and sorrow on Mariemaia's mind and decided the girl needed some alone time. Tsunami faded away to another part of the room.

            Mariemaia looked at the trees and felt awed. They seemed to be glowing, and the beauty and grace of each one made her want to cry. It wasn't fair that Antu should get to have a tree and not her. She was the oldest, she was supposed to get everything first. With this thought on her mind, she descended to one of the lower platforms until she found a relatively small tree. It had less foliage than the rest, and looked a little odd. Curious, she went up to it and touched its bark.

            She jumped back. "Your name is Marrin, you're…three hundred years old." Mariemaia looked at her palm. It had felt like a mild shock, nothing painful, but it had been unexpected. Now she reached out again and only felt a pleasant hum. She got closer and rested a cheek against it. It felt comforting and emotionally warm, like when her mother helped her settle down after a nightmare.

            It likes you, Mariemaia, said a voice in her head. Mariemaia jumped away form the tree and looked around.

            "Who's there?"

            Don't worry, it's Tsunami, I'm connected to all the trees and this one seems to like you. Would you like to be its partner?

            Mariemaia wasn't sure where to talk to, so she just said loudly, "Yes!" A glow from Marrin bleached out everything and was bright enough to make Mariemaia see spots after the glow died. She sat on the spot where Marrin used to be. "Where are you?" she asked quietly.

            Marrin is in a special ship designed by its strength. It's in the hanger next to the spot where your parents will be coming in.

            Mariemaia dug her fingers into the damp soil left where her beloved tree had been. "Why did you do this for me? Antu is the one my parents want to have a tree."

            She got the impression of mental laughter. Ayeka and I discussed it extensively, and since Rio-o no longer has its roots in a planet, Ayeka and Wufei will be living much longer. She asked about trees for the rest of her family so she wouldn't have to worry about outliving you.

            Mariemaia felt tears in her eyes and wiped them away. "She did care after all," she whispered.

            Of course she cares! What kind of question is that? Tsunami appeared in front of Mariemaia where Marrin had been. The goddess looked rather indignant and the picture made the teen girl want to laugh. "Ayeka loves you as much as our mother loved us! Then again, maybe not as much, but consider that a good thing." Mariemaia was somewhat confused by this.

            Then Mariemaia remembered something. "Oh no! Antu! I have to find him!" she said, jumping to her feet.

            As she ran off, Tsunami smiled. Ayeka and Wufei would have a surprise waiting for them when they got home. Should Tsunami warn Mariemaia now or later that her feet were a few inches off the ground?