On Earth

-Come on! We're terribly late!-

-Michi-chan, have you seen my tie?-

-Agnes, please, put that knick-knack down. You're going to break it!-

Haruka picked her daughter up, put her on her knees and started combing her hair.

-My love, could you please do up my tie?-

-Sometimes I think I've got three children to look after. Come here!-

-Michiru-mama, I can't button my dress. Can you help me?-

-Of course I can, Hotaru-chan.-

-Seiya, please, pick Cecilia up, she's crying desperately.-

-I think she's hungry.-

-It can't be, she ate an hour ago and she should suck every six hours now.-

-I'm not sure she knows it.-

The door bell sudenly rang.

-The girls are here. Hurry up!-

Usagi, Mamoru, Rei, Minako, Makoto and Ami entered the room wearing gorgeous robes. That day was the King and the Queen's marriage anniversary and a big party had been scheduled for them; everybody had been invited to the event, the whole Moon Kingdom was ready to honour the Royal Couple and so were the Senshi.

On the Future Moon

The Grand Ballroom was sparkling. Flowers and plants were everywhere, lightened by tiny twinkling lamps, and a soft background of music gave the guests the impression of being in the middle of an enchanted forest.

The girls were having a terrific time; hard times seemed to be finished and everyone's heart was light and quiet. At nine o'clock a gong struck- the dinner was ready and delicious, and everybody was hungry.

The senshi were sitting at the same table as the Royal Couple. At the end of the meal they were talking about their last battle, when Michiru suddenly realized that Setsuna wasn't there.

-Where is Setsuna, my Queen?-

-She's at the Time Gate. It is currently open 24/7, we are trying to estabilish diplomatic relations with foreign Future Reigns to avoid the outbreak of new wars, so visitors are always welcomed and it's crucial she's present to check people entering the kingdom.-

Michiru felt sad. Poor girl! She would surely have appreciated the opportunity of breaking her loneliness for a while joining the party; moreover, they haven't visited her for ages.

-It must be almost three years- she tought- and we are the only ones going there, no one else usually visited her.-

-My god, we've been terrible friends! Three years! We even forgot her birthdays!- she said.

-What are you talking about?- Haruka answered.

-We haven't visited Setsuna for ages. We've been so selfish.-

-Michi-chan, calm down. We've been busy, I'm sure she understood, she's always observing us.-

-We are the only friends she can count on. Don't you think you would feel abandoned?-

-I think I would, but she is wiser than I am, and she looks so proud of her duties. I think she likes it. She surely knows we didn't forget her, and, definitely, she can't care of her birthdays very much. She's had about two thousands birthdays in her life!-

-I feel terribly guilty. We shouldn't let her stay lonely for so long.-

-We can go now, I think it's a good idea.-

-Let's go.-

They came back in the middle of the crowd to tell their friends they were going away for a while; they really intended to go, but the arrival of the Queen ready to open the dances with the King made them change their plans. The Royal Couple was so fascinating and celestial that they stared at them completely forgetting their intention to reach the Gate.

At the Time Gate

Setsuna heard music coming from the Royal Palace. She was really happy of not have being invited to the party, she would not have had energy enough to go there; in the first few days her conditon had become worst, but she decided not to talk to the Queen again. She was afraid of angering her with her stupid sorrows; Neo-Queen Serenity didn't look really comprehensive when she talked to her for the first time.

-Michiru and Haruka are at the party, just a few metres far from here; I'm sure they will come and visit me this evening. I can ask them for advice.-

She was sitting beside the Gate, still sick and weak, when she noticed two dark figures coming towards her.

-They are here!- she thought enthusiatically, and her heart started beating so quickly that she felt ashamed of her reaction.

-Loneliness made me self-respectless. I'm excited like a dog hearing its owner coming home.-

Suddenly, she realized the figures weren't the friends she was looking forward to seeing but time travellers probably coming out from the Gate.

-Welcome- she said, hardly swallowing tears –where do you come from?-

-We are visitors from Alpha Centauri. We're here to learn something about the Moon Kingdom, its culture and its habits.-

-Can I check your documents, please?-

-Here you are.-

Everything was right, but, before allowing them entering the country she closed her eyes and put her hands on the men's shoulders to explore their minds, souls and hidden intentions. This sort of investigation cost her a large amount of energy; once she could do it three or four times an hour, but now she felt her legs doddering and another vertigo arriving.

She opened her mouth trying to tell them they were allowed to visit Crystal City but the loss of strenght had been too backbreaking, and she fainted.

The two men were panicking, they didn't know what to do; they saw a camp bed next to the gate and laid her on it, then they fanned her until she came to, half an hour later.

-Miss, are you fine? Did we do something wrong? Do you need something?-

-No, oh no, I'm so sorry. I'm fine, I must have got a bad flu or something like that. Don't worry, you've already been too kind.-

-We can call someone to stay with you miss, can't we? You shouldn't stay alone this night. Just tell us where can we find your husband or a friend of yours.-

-I am fine, I can ensure you I'll be right. You can go, I've already made you lose too much time with me.-

-Are you sure?-

-Of course I am. Thank you very much.-

-What an humiliation. I am supposed to protect the kingdom, not to be aid form strangers coming from the future.- she thought bitterly.

She was freezing and she realized she was feverish too. Laying in her bed, she was praying God to send there her friends because she was sure she couldn't go on like that anymore, but no one came, and she fell asleep crying silently, alone again.

AN. Please review! Let me know your opinion, this is important for me.