Chapter 15

I look up at the sky then down to the crystal earrings in my hand. Endymion is resting in the shrine that I cannot enter with the other senshi at his side. It seems that even in this time, my error is recognized. The burn on my hand slowly heals beneath the stars.

Nephrite stands at the doorway watching me. He knows that I'm caught at a crossroad. What I want to do and what I should do are two completely different things. I have two teleportation crystals, but there are three of us that need to return to the future. Endymion wants to fight, but he would be a liability. Both Nephrite and I know this for a fact.

I want to ask Pluto if she would take Endymion back, but there's rage in her eyes that I don't think I've ever seen before. I'm not afraid of it, but I'm not sure if I can trust it either. Something tells me that asking her to leave the fight to me would result in an unnecessary argument.

The door to the shrine slides open and Nephrite shifts to the side. Then there are footsteps, but whoever is walking is dragging their feet against the ground. I turn only to see Serena walking towards me with her eyes conveniently avoiding mine. "Is there something you need?"

She hesitates. "Umm... yes... I mean, no. I was just wondering if I could talk to you."

I nod and turn back to the stars. "If you want to." Nephrite has gone back inside, leaving the two of us alone.

She pushes her hands into her pockets. "Are you really who Lita will become?"

I smile. "Why do you ask?"

"Because the two of you are so different."

"People change over a few centuries."

She finally looks up. "That's not what I mean."

I sigh. "This war has taken a toll on everyone in the future. To be honest I feel like I'm fighting it alone sometimes."

"We'll help you. It doesn't matter that you're from the future. We're still your friends."

I turn away. "Why are you out here with me when your future husband needs you?"

She closes her eyes. "I just... he was apologizing to you. Did I... Did we-"

I can see the tears threatening to fall. "Stop it. Don't start crying over something so insignificant as a future that you haven't lived through yet."

She looks as if I had just slapped her. "Lita..."

"I'm serious. What happened to me is unimportant right now. There's an enemy that is threatening this world and we need to stop them before people die. If you want to help then you need to stay focused and fight for once."

For the first time since she walked out here, the moon princess looks me in the eye. "Are you saying I don't fight?"

I nod. "I'm saying that you are incapable of making the hard decisions unless someone forces your hand."

She clenches her fists. "You're wrong."

I shake my head. "No. You just don't want to admit it."

That's when she pushes me back. I can't help but laugh. Seeing Serena like this is so strange. "What do you know about being responsible for so many other people?"

"You talk as if I don't understand."

The tears are streaming down her cheeks now. "Because you don't!"

The door to the shrine slides open and both my younger self and Raye rush outside. I turn my back to the princess. "You're not the only one who was a Queen."

Raye puts herself between us while my younger self pushes me back. "What the hell is going on?"

I pause. "We're just talking."

Raye shakes her head. "That did not sound like talking."

"How can you two be the same person?"

My younger self turns to the weeping blond. "Serena?"

She raises her head. "Lita... Have I really hurt you so much?" Her words aren't directed at me but at the brunette that stands confused between us.

"Wait a second, I don't..."

But Serena turns back and starts heading towards the shrine. Raye grabs her arm. "They're two different people. That wasn't fair at all. You should apologize."

She looks at the two of us. "If this is the future without all my friends beside me and without Darien fighting with me then why would I want it?"

Her words were pissing me off so I turn away in an attempt to maintain my composure. My younger self walks past me with tears breeching the corners of her eyes. She continues forward towards the trees in the back. Raye calls out to her, but she doesn't stop. I would have done the same thing.

For this moment I am merely an observer watching as both the princess of Mars and the princess of the Moon retreat back into the shrine. Mina comes out to find my younger counterpart, but their conversation is brief and Venus ends up returning by herself.

I look back to the shrine and see Nephrite sliding the door closed behind him. His steps are slow but meaningful, and I don't move as he wraps his arms around me. "I promise, I'll take you home when this is over."

I nod. "First we have to kill Wiseman."

He looks into my eyes. "We'll do it together."

I can hear the trees whispering in the winds. They tell me that I'm needed. My steps are silent under the night's sky. The smell of trees and damp grass quickly fill my lungs as I continue forward into the heart of the vegetation. The moon is full tonight.

Bark snaps to the left, but I don't sense any threat. I know who's there, hitting the trees with bare and bloody fists. Her movement is flawless and her concentration is absolute. Even as I turn and look at her she never stops. I can see the light streaks of red crusting on her hands. Her wounds aren't healing and for once I envy her.

Several minutes pass and it's just the two of us out here. I watch as she shows little sign of fatigue. Then, with one last strike her momentum pulls her past the tree and onto the grass. Her knees hit the ground hard, but she doesn't care.

In that moment she looks up at me then wipes a tear from her left cheek, leaving a smear of blood in its place. "Did you see the way she looked at me? She was afraid just like all those kids were back in middle school."

I nod. "We've always been out of place."

She shakes her head. "No."

I kneel down. "Yes, but that's our nature, and the nature of our planet. We're unpredictable."

"But she's my friend and she's never looked so scared before."

I touch the ground. "She isn't scared of you; she's scared of me. It's not your fault."

She looks up into my eyes. "It is my fault. It is our fault. I don't want to be... but we're the same. I can feel it."

The two of us seem to wait in silence for so long before the wind brushes past us. I sit right down and she does the same. "I didn't mean to earn your resentment."

She nods. "There's just so much that I feel I don't understand."

I smile. "You will, and it will make you stronger."

For the first time since he had met, there's a mutual calmness between the two of us. I stand and look up at the moon. So many centuries have passed since I walked on its surface and obeyed its Queen. I think of the others that Nephrite and I had left in the future. What were they doing? I could only hope that they were still alive and fighting.

I look down to my younger self. "It's getting late."

She stands. "Why are you always out here when the shrine is so much warmer?"

I sigh. "It's because of something that I have done. I offended the guardians of Mars."

She turns. "Was it worth it?"

I smile. "It saved Mina's life."

She nods. "Then I'm sure they'll forgive us someday."

"She's right. I know my brothers well." The voice whispers in my head. It had been so long since it had spoken to me.

My younger self pauses then scans the area before turning back. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?"

She looks to the ground. "I could of sworn that I had heard someone."

I shrug it off as the wind, but I know that she's not satisfied with my answer. The two of us continue through the mini forest until we're back in the courtyard leading to the shrine. Nephrite is leaning against the archway with his arms crossed and a slight grin on his face.

My younger self continues on into the shrine while Nephrite walks to my side. "You haven't changed much."

I turn. "What do you mean?"

He smiles. "You're still so stubborn."

I hit him in the arm then take a seat on the bench beside the archway. Phobos and Deimos look at the two of us with careful eyes. If they are going to forgive me then it won't be anytime soon.

It's cool out here. The sky is streaked with faded strips of orange. It will be morning soon. I hear the door slide and look towards the shrine. Nephrite is asleep with his head on my lap. I don't want to move, but it's early and it feels like something is wrong. I shift to the side and gently set his head down on the bench. Phobos and Deimos seem to follow as I walk across the courtyard.

There's someone walking towards the stream behind the shrine. My steps are silent but whoever is in front of me is sobbing. It isn't until we pass one of the stone statues that I realize it's Serena.

I pause. "What are you doing?" She stops, clenching something in front of her, but I can't see what it is. "Serena?"

That's when she turns and I see the tears streaming down her cheeks, but that isn't what I'm looking at. Her hands are shaking, and resting between her palms is a knife.

"What the hell are you doing?"

She looks up to the moon. Her eyes are empty, and for the first time since she had slid that door open I see the dark aura surrounding her body. "It's my fault."

"Serena, put that down."

She looks to me with empty eyes. "But why? The world would be better without me. You wouldn't be so angry and the others could live normal lives."

I clench my fists. "Do you want to betray their trust?"

She puts her hand to her head. "Lita..."

"This is running from your responsibilities."

The knife is shaking in her hand. "I'm so sorry. I... can't..."

She looks like she's fighting with herself. The black aura grows stronger and the presence behind me is all too familiar. "It won't be a surprise, Jupiter. But she will die in your arms a second time."

I turn. "Wiseman."

He steps forward. "The barriers of this world are falling apart. This temple is no longer as sacred as it used to be. Your princess was already filled with so much doubt. It was easy to manipulate her in this way."

"How dare you-"

He shakes his head. "No, as much as you want to blame this on me, this is your doing. This wouldn't have been possible if you hadn't planted the fear of what is to come in her pretty little head. Now, watch. There's no stopping this show."

I hear the knife digging into her flesh just a moment before she screams. Wiseman disappears and I find myself moving faster than I ever have before. She falls into my arms and I pull the blade free. The dark aura disappears and soon all she does is look into my eyes.

"I..." She puts one hand on mine. Nephrite comes running followed by the temple door sliding open.

"No." I'm louder than I had expected. "I won't watch you die again."

She nods. "I'm... so... sorry."

"Fight, damn it." I don't even realize I'm crying until one of my tears falls onto her face.

"She will die here." The voice fills my ears.

"Help me. I don't care what I have to do. Jove, I pray to you."

The voice pauses. "You have seen many die before. Why is this life worth saving? She is the one who cast you out and betrayed our victory to the enemy. She is no soldier and she certainly is no Queen."

I bow my head. "She is the duty that I was given so many years ago. I can't fail it a second time."

"But you have no faith in her."

I nod. "But I made a promise, and as much as I hate it... I will not break my honour. Jove... please, I pray to you."

A green aura surrounds my body. "You have wielded my powers for many centuries, Makoto. I have watched you grow into a mighty warrior, but what you ask of your god will not come without consequences."

"I understand." I close my eyes.

"Then the wound you seek to heal is your own. My powers have forever been yours. Use them wisely, daughter of Jupiter. I grant you my fullest blessing."

I put my hand over her wound and concentrate like I have never concentrated before. Amy is beside me now, and I feel one hand on my shoulder, but I don't know who else is there. After several moments those around watch as the wound heals. I fall back onto the ground leaving the others to crowd around the princess.

There are no words as Nephrite helps her stand. My younger self is the one kneeling next to me. "Are you alright?"

I go to speak, but stop as I feel a sharp pain digging in my stomach. I try my best to stand, but my younger self helps me. "I need..."

She understands what I want even though I fail to articulate it. All attention is on the princess. I'm not sure that anyone has noticed my disappearance. She practically carries me into the woods.

"Stop."

She nods and sets me down in a small clearing. "Why did we-" She stops the moment she sees the blood.

"I just... didn't want... them to see."

She turns. "But you need-"

"No. I'll be fine." I remove my hand revealing the wound that I had taken from the princess. "Jove warned me, and I understood."

"But this-"

"It will heal."

"How can you be so sure?"

I smile. "I'm not."

She holds my hand. "You're crazy."

I nod. "So are you."

My blood, our blood, continues to drip onto the ground. I look up at the stars and she does the same. You can't see Jupiter from this planet, but I know that it's there. My hand relaxes in hers and though she looks alarmed, she sees exactly what I do; the wound is healing. I let out a slight cry as my flesh literally pulls itself back together. When it is done I close my eyes and rest my head against the tree. Jove, I will forever be grateful.