Rei's eyes fluttered open with a groan and she felt cold earth beneath her. Looking down at herself, she found that she was in her street clothes, lying on her back at the park where the portal had opened. "What...? How did...?"

She sat up slowly, shaking out her throbbing head, and immediately two hands were extended to her. Serena and Darien were standing in front of her, reaching out to help her to her feet. She took their hands and looked at their somber expressions. Serena had tears in her eyes, and no doubt so did all the others if she looked around.

It didn't take her long to realize that she was weeping herself, harder than any of the others. Quickly, she wiped her eyes and tried to put on a brave face. They had just defeated Queen Mica, Feldspar, and Pyroxene, but nonetheless, it did not feel like a victory to anyone, least of all Rei. She couldn't bear to turn and face her friends. She had fallen for Feldspar's trick and fallen hard. Perhaps if she hadn't, Antares and Chrysolite wouldn't have been killed.

Slowly, the group gathered closer until they embraced each other, trying to offer what comfort they could at the loss they had suffered. They really hadn't even known her for very long, and in that short time, they had done almost nothing but make her life difficult, and now she had died trying to save someone who then died trying to save her. It all just seemed like such a waste...

The group hug finally pulled apart at the sound of loud sniffling behind them. They turned to see Apollo. His rage and adrenaline having faded, his eyes were filled with grief and spewed a stream of tears.

Luna approached him cautiously. "A…Apollo, I…"

"Don't!" he said, shortly, and she froze where she stood. "I don't need your sympathy! I screwed up and now I have to deal with my failure…"

"Apollo, you haven't failed! You-"

"Haven't failed, Artemis! I was supposed to be their guardian, and all freakin' eight of them were MURDERED!"

"But that was…meant to happen," Luna pointed out hesitantly. "According to the legend…"

"'Once the last of the eight is gone, we needn't-"

"Mourn!" Apollo cut her off sharply. "They were just kids, Artemis! They didn't ask for any of that and they didn't deserve it! They barely had a chance to live! They…They…"

"Apollo, it was their destiny. They had to die in order to fulfill it."

"Oh yeah, well who decided that? Because I've got a bone to pick with them! It's not fair to ask them to risk their lives or make the kinds of sacrifices they have to make! The kind the Sailor Scouts have to make too! What good is it saving the universe again and again if this is the cost!"

His words were met with silence. Luna and Artemis cast worried glances at one another, and for once, Luna did not know what to say. Slowly they backed away from him, and time slipped away for what seemed an eternity before Rei stepped forward and stroked Apollo's fur softly.

"Apollo, listen to me," she said slowly. "I know this hurts you. It hurts all of us, but if I learned anything about Andi since I met her, it was that she was okay with the risks involved. Her battle wasn't about her, just like our battle isn't about us. She put everyone else before herself, even Chrysolite, who had been trying to kill her when they first met. She wouldn't have jumped in front of that crystal because destiny forced her to. She made that choice. It was her decision to give up her life, and because of that, Mica and the others were destroyed. They can't hurt anyone anymore, and Andi wouldn't want you to be like this because of it. Besides, what was the last line of the legend, Luna?"

"'Once united by their death…'"

"The Eight will be reborn," he finished for her.

"It's not over for them, Apollo," said Artemis, "And it's not over for you. You're getting another chance. A fresh start."

"Great," he said sarcastically. "I'd better get going then. I've got eight kids to find this time…" he grumbled under his breath as the Sailor Scouts bid him goodbye and waved. He went off muttering, "A fresh start...Easy for him to say...He doesn't have to track them all down again..."

THE END

((A/N: Sorry for the long wait between updates, guys, but it's finally done! Hope you enjoyed! Please R&R!))