Chapter 7: Is Peace Even Possible?

*Serenity*

The time had finally come, they were preparing to leave for Shinsei to find her father. Serenity's stomach was filled with butterflies. So much had changed since her father had passed. Would he approve of how she had ruled Earth? Would he be proud of her? What would he think of her Usa-chan? Of course, all of that was saying he remembered them at all. Her bags were packed and sitting at the end of her bed. She and the others had to limit what they were bringing with them. They would be taking a ship to the planet, but landing on one of its moons. They had decided that was best considering everyone that was going. Her mother planned on using her own energy to help speed the trip along. Serenity knew her sister had done that before, but it still worried her. She shook her head as she looked at the two suitcases, thinking about how she had gone a thousand years into the past with only a backpack and her Luna P then. Now this didn't even seem adequate. Again, she thought of how much had changed. She sighed, not entirely sure how she felt about that.

The cherry blossom haired queen forced herself to her feet and forced herself to put on that calm face of a ruler. The doors to her chambers opened and her beloved Helios entered. He smiled at Serenity, "Your mother, Lady Botan, Ceres, and our princess are all waiting and ready."

Serenity took a deep breath and nodded, "That is good. So Kiyoko, Seiya, and Ruka have not made it to the ship yet?" She tried so hard to hold onto the calm she wanted to portray.

Helios came to wrap his arms around her, kissing Serenity softly, "You don't have to pretend with me. You're scared and that is okay Serenity."

Hearing her beloved, his words pierced her and Serenity buried her head in his shoulder, "What if he doesn't remember? What if he doesn't want us anymore?" Small sobs began emanating from her at the thought of it.

Her tender husband stroked her pink strands and whispered, "No matter what happens, you will always have his love. That much I know. Even if he doesn't remember, or chooses this new life of his… He loved you and that will never change. Hold onto that Serenity."

His words brought her comfort and so Serenity just stood there, leaning into him and letting him caress her. She sobbed until she could not any longer. Eventually, she looked up at him with puffy eyes, "Some queen I am, crying like a little girl."

The Priestly King wiped the tears from his wife's cheeks, "You are a queen with a heart, a truly beautiful one. You are the maiden of my heart Serenity."

A smile spread across Serenity's face, "You know how much I love it when you call me that. Ever since we met it was all that I wanted to be." She reached up and kissed her beloved husband with pure joy. He always knew how to make her feel better.

As he broke the kiss, Helios' smile reflected the same joy that Serenity felt from him, "You will always be the maiden of my dreams. But now you must go. You must go with your mother and the others and follow the path that leads to your father. I will watch over our home and wait for you to return my maiden."

Serenity nodded, "I can go now. I can go knowing that no matter the outcome you will be here waiting for me, my precious Helios."

As the two left, Helios picked up Serenity's bags and they walked hand in hand to the ship that held so much hope and so much fear for the Queen of Earth. But now she could face the path ahead of her. Her love had reminded her of the strength within her and that love was all that mattered, love which is the one endless thing in this universe. Love knows no limits, not space or time.

*Ruka*

She was pacing, uncertain of the decision she had made. Ruka had come this far, but she wasn't sure that she was doing the right thing. She wanted to go along with her mama and everyone, but was where she was now right? The door in front of her opened and she supposed it was too late to turn back now.

As the door opened Ruka laid eyes on the aqua beauty that had always loved and accepted her mother, despite many reasons not to. Ruka bowed and said, "Good morning Aunt Michiru."

Michiru smiled kindly at Ruka, "Good morning young Ruka. I would have thought you would be with your parents."

Ruka looked up at those eyes, the same color as the ocean she commanded, "I will be soon. But I needed to see you before I left."

The Senshi of the deep sea's brow furrowed, "I am always happy to see you, but what is going on?" She knew that Michiru would see through her, never believe this was a simple goodbye.

The golden haired princess put her hand behind her head and laughed nervously, "Well, I just wanted to ask you for something."

Michiru gestured Ruka inside and watched as Ruka looked around. She chuckled, "Haruka is not here little one. Now what is it you need form me?" Michiru walked over to a small blue sofa and sat down, patting the empty space next to her.

A nervous smile still painted on her face, Ruka sat down next to Michiru and looked down at the floor. She knew what she wanted to say, but now that she was here she did not know how to say it. Ruka could not find the words.

Suddenly, a hand was on hers and she looked up to see Michiru smiling at her, "Whatever is on your mind Ruka, you can tell me."

Ruka took a deep breath, "I would like you to come and say goodbye to my mama. I know things haven't always been easy because of the connection between her and Aunt Haruka. Still, I think she needs you to see her off. I think it will help her and she needs all of the help she can get going to look for grandpa. She needs peace to make things right with papa too."

Understanding was written all over Michiru's face and Ruka looked at her as the Siren of the Sea seemed lost in thought, starring down at the ring given to her by her Sky King.

*Kiyoko*

She sat there, at the alter in the temple, thinking about what lay ahead of her. The full of emotion was overwhelming. Kiyoko knew she was not alone in most of what she was feeling. She was not the only who was afraid that Endymion, her father, would not remember them and even if he did that he would choose whatever this new life of his was over his old one. If he did, could she really blame him? Her mother… She was Serenity, but at the same time she was Usagi and the two were not entirely the same. The same was true for all of the Senshi and even for her father.

Kiyoko also worried about her marriage. Every time things seemed to be peaceful and happy between she and Seiya something would happen and Seiya would end up hurt. No matter how much she loved her, Kiyoko couldn't seem to keep from hurting her. She knew that Seiya knew about her goodbye with Haruka. When one was psychically bound secrets were difficult to keep. Seiya hadn't said anything, but Kiyoko could sense the hurt in her.

So, instead of making her way to the ship as she should, Kiyoko was sitting in the Temple of the Silver Millennium. She gazed up at the symbols of the moon and Earth in the stained glass window that hung above the alter. The Earth and the moon became one in her parents, bringing two worlds together. Again, that had happened when she and Seiya fell in love and she pledged her life to Estara. How she loved Seiya. Seiya was her lifeblood.

Before Seiya she was a shadow in her world. Kiyoko had faithfully served the Silver Millennium. But still, she was the strange little sister of the great Serenity or the unique and disconcerting daughter of Neo Queen Serenity and King Endymion. She watched life, sequestering herself to the life of a temple priestess. Even in loving Haruka, she was in such denial that it had no chance at reaching the light of day. However, Kiyoko was thankful for the last part. If she had acknowledged her love for Haruka not only would it have caused so much suffering but if something had happened and then Kiyoko met Seiya… That would have been… disastrous seemed inadequate even though it was the word that came to Kiyoko's mind. The battle that ensued would have ended up in one of their deaths because she could not see herself being any less drawn to Seiya and of course Haruka would have seen that as a clear and definite declaration of war.

She was so lost in her own thoughts that she hadn't heard Seiya enter. But when she laughed, Kiyoko turned and looked at her wife in utter confusion. Seiya came to sit beside her and placed a hand on hers, "You're right… I would have fought her to my last breath for you. I still would. No matter how much it hurts sometimes, I will fight for you until the end of time." She frowned seeing the thought in Kiyoko's mind. Seiya placed her other hand on Kiyoko's cheeks, "Yes, I was wounded and those wounds were deep. Regardless, when it came down to it I came back to you and I will keep coming back for eternity Kiyo-chan."

Tears were forming in Kiyoko's eyes and she leaned forward, bring her lips to Seiya's softly. When she pulled back her cheeks were wet, "I love you so much Seiya. I supposed it is time to face the unknown again."

Seiya nodded and they stood together, "And we will face it together as we always have and always will." She led Kiyoko from the temple and the two made their way through the palace to the ship. As they emerged onto the launch pad Kiyoko was overcome with shock and fear to see who was waiting for them.