Serena smiled as she watched them go. She felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Kaden standing there. "Hey, you said you wouldn't be back," she said.
"I was wrong. What are you three up to?" he asked.
"Updating Mom's nonexistent file system. Wanna help? I haven't even started on the main office yet," she said.
"If it gets you away from it faster, then yes," he said.
"I take it you're parents left things in better order than mine?" she asked him.
"Yes, actually. Everything was very organized, but then we're not the center of the universe either. Rei said she was going to fax you something later that she wants you to look over. Some contract or another. Who knew there were so many?" he asked.
"That's what Lil and I were saying. We finally got these ones in separate piles by subject. We're going through them by planet. Then I'm going to sit and review them," she said as they walked into a much neater office.
"Better than it was this morning," Kaden commented.
"I know. Hey, can you find a couple paper shredders?" Serena asked.
Kaden went to find Luna. He returned with two paper shredders and Luna carrying a pot of coffee.
"Luna, you're a saint," Lilly said as she poured a fresh cup.
"I figured it was time for a new one," Luna said.
"Hey, we nursed the last one," Lilly objected.
"I know. I was teasing," Luna said.
"Do you have the staff contracts?" Serena asked.
"Yes, why?" Luna asked.
"These are yours then. I have them in order of date. I don't suppose you know what she did with the sun contracts, do you?" Serena asked.
Luna took the pile of papers Serena handed her. "I have them. I have a few others, too. About five folders full, unsorted. We did the best we could, but we're not skilled in running a universe without leaders," Luna said.
"It's OK. Things will get back to normal soon enough. If you bring them to me, I'll start looking through them tonight," Serena said.
"Thank you," Luna said with a smile. She left and returned with the five folders. "Your mother had no idea how to be organized. She has filing cabinets in here somewhere. Luna said lifting a bolt of cloth to reveal shiny black cabinets.
"Anything in them? Serena asked.
"I doubt it. If there is, it's moon whiskey," Luna said as she unlocked them. She opened the drawer and pulled out an unopened bottle. "I'm sorry, Serena. Did you want this, or can I take it to the kitchens?" Luna asked.
"Leave it for now. What else is there?" she asked, walking over to it. She looked in. Something was wrapped carefully in newspapers. Serena lifted it out and unwrapped it. She recognized it immediately, and smiled. "My dagger. She took it away from me when I was nine because I got good with it. She was afraid I might use it on her. The thought never occurred to me though. I should give it to the girls. They'd get more use out of it than I will. Luna, will you have someone clean and polish it? In fact, can you send five maids in here to help clean? They have to be trusted. I have no idea, good Lord..." she said, trailing off as she pulled out a golden Crystal.
"What is it?" Luna asked.
"My Sun Stone," she said softly.
"Your's but I though Erin had it," Luna said
"Everyone does. He has a Crystal, too. This is the other half of it. When it was first handed to us, it split in half. Mom let him keep his and took mine and put it away. I never asked about it because I can use the Silver Crystal," Serena said.
She flipped open her cell phone and called Erin. "Hello?" he asked.
"Hey, we're cleaning out the downstairs office, and we opened the filing cabinets. Guess what I found," she said softly.
"Your sanity?" he asked.
"No. I lost that a long time ago. I found my half of the Sun Crystal," Serena said.
"You're joking, right?" he asked.
"No. I have it in my hand," Serena said.
"Can you use it?" he asked.
"I've never tried 'cause I can use the Silver Crystal," she said.
"I'm going to see if it'll come to me, OK?" he asked.
"Sure," Serena said. He concentrated. The Crystal glowed, but didn't move. "It glows, but doesn't do anything else," she said.
"You try calling for the other half then. I'll be amazed when it comes to you," He said.
She concentrated, and sure enough, the other half of the Crystal appeared. It fit itself to the half in Serena's hand, and merged with a bright flash of light. The light died down, and Serena stood where she was, wearing an updated version of her grandmother's gown. "Very disconcerting. How come it didn't work for you?" she asked.
"I don't know. Wanna trade?" he asked.
"If you can call it, it's yours," Serena said.
"It won't come to me, Serena. It never has," Erin said.
"Try," Serena insisted.
He did, and he was right, it didn't budge. "Put them together," he said suddenly. Serena called the Silver Crystal and took it out of the brooch. She held it in the palm of her right hand, then concentrated on trying to merge the two. A bright flash of light engulfed the room again as the two stones merged together. The light continued out of the room to engulf the whole palace and then spread further to farthest corners of the universe. It finally died down.
"Good Lord, what did you do, Sere?" Kaden asked.
"I merged the two Crystals. Why?" she asked.
"Take a good, long, hard look in the mirror, Sweetheart," he said.
She turned to the mirror on the wall. She gazed into the mirror. She was startled by what she saw. She was wearing the most beautiful silver gown with gold accents. Her hair was done up in a very elaborate hairstyle, and a silver crown sat in the middle of it all. "I don't understand," she said, and turned to the door where her father now stood. Confusion was written on her face.
"Well, young lady, you're more powerful than any of us thought," he said.
"If your mother could see you now, she would be amazed. You achieved what she never could. It was a prophecy that one day a young ruler would merge the two Stones, uniting the universe in peace. That young ruler is you, my dear," Luna said and curtsied low.
She looked at Kaden. "I think, my dear, that we may need to go back to your mother," he said softly.
"Erin, are you still there?" she asked into her phone.
"I'm still here. I felt that," he said.
"I didn't mean to. I just did what you suggested," Serena said.
"I know, Rena. Take care if you go back there. You have no idea how dangerous it could be for you to be back in time with both Crystals at the same time," Erin said.
"You're not coming?" she asked.
"No. You need to do this with Kaden," he said.
"I'm scared," she said.
"I know. I can feel it. You'll be OK, Serena. I promise. She can't hurt you. You're much too powerful for her. It's too bad we didn't know about this before we all died, or you could have saved us all," he said.
"But the Silver Crystal isn't as strong as the Lunar crystal," Serena said.
"You have the crystal?" Luna and Trenton asked in unison.
"Yeah, for over a year now," Serena said.
"Do you control it?" Luna asked.
"Of course. Just as easily as the Silver Crystal," she said.
"Can you call it?" Trenton asked. Serenity called it without any trouble. She set the Silver and Gold Crystals down while she took the crystal out of it's brooch. "How do you do that?" Trenton asked.
"The same way I put it in there. A little magic," she said.
Trenton looked amazed. "Luna, do you think she'll be the ultimate ruler?" he asked.
"Yes. If they have the Eternity Stones and can use them. They're more powerful than any of their predecessors," Luna said.
"So it would be a big deal if I told you the Life Crystals came to us before we left, too?" she asked.
"Yes. You don't have the Planet Crystals, do you?" Luna asked.
"No, but we know where they are," she answered.
"Good Lord," Luna whispered.
Serena looked at Kaden who shrugged, then at Ariana who shrugged, too. "Merge them," Gabe said from the doorway. Serena shrugged and did what Gabe suggested. She merged the crystal with the other two Crystals until it glowed a brilliant greenish white color. "Now call the other two," Gabe said.
"But we don't know what it will do to her," Luna objected.
"Sure we do. It will make her the most powerful women in the universe, with the power to bring peace and light to all corners of a very dimly lit universe," Gabe said.
Serena smiled. She took Gabe's suggestion and conjured the Crystals. She merged them all into one. Another brilliant flash soared out to the farthest corners of the universe. It died down, and her gown had turned a silvery blue. Her crown was a completely different design, and her hair was down, almost to the floor, and floated around her in thick, glossy, silver waves. She looked stunning, floating three inches off the ground, her wings on her back had goen from white to silver.
"Wow!" Ariana breathed.
"If there ever was an enemy, Serenity could kill them with one look," Kaden joked.
She smiled, and her feet touched the ground. The Crystal had turned a brilliant black. "Now we know," she said calmly. She picked up her phone off the desk where she'd set it in order to merge the Stones.
"Erin?" she asked.
"Still here, Rena. I'd love to see you like this. I bow to you, little sister, even though you can't see me'" he said.
"Stand up," she said.
"Will you be OK?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm not going back either. We'll figure things out from this time," Serena said.
"Good for you," Erin said. "If you can ever get the Sun Crystal back, send me my half, will you?" he asked.
"I'll do one better," she said she concentrated on the crystal in front of her, and it split into four pieces with a resounding crack. She let go of the power as it split. It swirled in a mist for a moment, before dividing into four, and going into the separate pieces. "I'm sending you a piece. I know you'll be able to use it," Serena said confidently.
"Thanks, Rena," he said. She sent it. "I got it. Letting you go now, OK?" he asked.
"Later," she said, and they hung up.
"What will you do with the other two pieces?" Ariana asked.
Serena looked at her. "One goes to Grace, and one to Kaden for safe keeping until Grace has children," Serena said. Ariana nodded, understanding that even alone, they were ultimately powerful. "Should there ever be a time when they're needed, they'll pull themselves back together. Otherwise, we remain in peace," Serena said.