"May I join you?"
It was a simple enough request, but it was not one that the boys were used to hearing very often. At this point in the training, the cliques and alliances were well established. The four boys knew already that they were outcasts, despised by many of the older boys who envied their abilities and relished the opportunity to torment them, especially the beautiful blonde one. He was quick and agile, but words so often moved faster. It would have been worse for him without the other three. Everyone feared the silver-haired one. Despite the fact that the four of them were a year younger than the rest, everyone knew to avoid his ire. The brown-haired one was also known for his temper, and many an older boy bore the scars of an ill encounter with him. The other blonde boy was an enigma. He knew things he shouldn't have. And his keen blue eyes often flashed with a fire that was frightening.
The boys trained hard, and were forced to become much harder than young boys should. It was not often that they were permitted the freedom to be boys, carefree and spirited. This brief respite was one of them. They very nearly retreated into their usual guarded personas when the new boy approached. They didn't recognize him. But there was something in his deep blue eyes that captivated each of them. His question was gentle, but there was a note of firm authority in his voice that they responded to.
He joined them around the fire for the meal. No words were exchanged. Simply a meal shared. But there was no fear, no mistrust, no facades. The boys silently agreed that they trusted this sable-haired stranger. He was a friend.
They boys started to observe this stranger during training. The Teacher seemed to work him harder than anyone else. He was quick to criticize many boys, but he said surprisingly little to him. He merely worked him harder. The boy was very gifted. He was never intimidated by the Teacher. Even in defeat, he held his head high. The Teacher approved.
Being younger, the same age as the four boys, should have made him an easy target for the older, crueler boys. But somehow, his bearing and demeanor kept them at bay.
The boys were shocked when they no longer saw him anymore. Surely he did not wash out. They were disappointed. They very much wanted to know him better. So it took them by surprise when he joined them again for a meal many months later.
"May I join you?"
Once again, they were too stunned to refuse. The brown-haired boy was the first to speak. He asked the obvious question.
"Where have you been? Why aren't you training anymore?"
"I'm still training. I'm just not permitted to train with all of you anymore."
"Why not?" asked the silver-haired boy simply.
The new boy looked as though he was struggling with his answer. "I have a name," he replied. "And I'm not allowed to give it up."
The boys knew he was telling the truth. The weight of his name seemed to rest heavily on his shoulders. Without knowing why, they were struck with awe at his burden and dignity.
Silence stretched between them for a moment as the four considered their companion.
"Well, we don't have names anymore," said the beautiful blonde-haired boy, "but I hope we will someday."
The sable-haired boy looked at them with those piercing blue eyes, as if assessing each boy in turn. When he was done, a mysterious smile graced his lips.
"Yes, I think you will."
It was, perhaps, the first validation the boys had received since beginning the training. It moved something in their spirits that they had not felt before. Despite all of their shared struggles and mutual dependence, they had never felt more like a family than this moment.
The sable-haired boy rose.
"I'm afraid I must go."
Almost instinctively, the four boys rose with him, although they didn't know why. The keen-eyed blonde boy spoke their collective question aloud.
"Will we see you again?"
The sable-haired boy eyed them again before smiling. His smile was infectious.
"Not for a while, but yes. I think we will see each other again."
"May we have your name to remember you by?" asked the silver-haired boy.
"Not now. But don't worry, you will know it in time. Farewell friends."
"Thank you for joining me everyone."
The four men nodded awkwardly. They were still not sure how they felt about this gathering. They were also not sure how they felt about the Queen. They had been meant to serve a Prince, and they had been bound to the service of a queen once before. Neo-Queen Serenity was certainly not her mother. She was certainly not King Endymion. And she was most certainly not Queen Beryl. The men were very unsure what to make of her.
This was a woman who had saved the world many times over because her heart was so big. They were traitors who had left their hearts behind because the greatest evil the world had ever know had corrupted them. They were healing, albeit very slowly.
Tsukino Usagi was a girl who lived from her heart. Perhaps if fate had been kinder, Kemal Baig, Nathan King, Jeffery Ryan and Zacharie Roy would have done so as well. But Kunzite, Nephrite, Jadeite and Zoisite were not those boys anymore. But Neo-Queen Serenity was still very much Tsukino Usagi. The very delicious looking chocolate cake she was slicing at the moment was testament to that.
"Mako-chan made such a wonderful cake, and I needed someone to share it with."
The four men knew that there were no noble titles or royal favors greater than this gesture. Each man very gratefully received his slice. Out of respect, they waited for the queen to begin before they took a bite.
"Mmm, delicious!" said the Queen through a mouthful of cake. The men each stifled their laughter, something that came much easier these days, as opposed to the hollow, dark days that first followed their revival. Time, and forgiveness, had done wonders.
As if recognizing her breach of decorum, Serenity blushed before swallowing and wiping her mouth.
"Well, I wanted to thank all of you for all you've done."
Kunzite spoke for the men. "It is we who are grateful for the opportunity to serve Your Majesty."
"Oh but you've done so much more than we could ask of you," insisted the Queen.
"We've done nothing more than our duty Highness," responded Jadeite.
"Sillies, you've done far more than your duty!"
The men were very confused by this statement. They had felt as though they had been burdens on the Queen and her Senshi ever since their arrival. It was their kindness that had pulled them through their darkest hours. The men could not see how they had done anything to help.
The Queen saw their confusion and took pity on them.
"Don't you see what you've done for everyone here? I wished for this city so that everyone could be safe and happy. I couldn't save everyone." There was sadness in her voice, and the gathering tears moved the men as very few things had since their revival.
"I wanted the people I loved to be happy, but all I could give them was a palace. I couldn't give them the things that would truly make them happy." Her bright blue eyes sought out each of the men.
"But you see, you came back! My Mamo-chan has always been so alone. I love him, and I know he loves me. But whenever I was with my friends, I could see the longing in his eyes. He never got to have friends like that in this life."
The men thought back to a lifetime ago and a pair of piercing blue eyes measuring each of them around a campfire.
"And the girls are the same. I could see them whenever I was with Mamo-chan. I'm very lucky you know. And I wanted them to be that lucky too. But I couldn't give them that. But you can! And that makes me very happy."
The men considered her words for a moment before they were joined.
"What's all this Usako?"
She smiled sweetly at her beloved before enveloping him in a hug.
"Nothing. Just making friends."
Endymion smiled as Serenity sat him down and fed him cake, stealing kisses and licking frosting between bites.
The men smiled. Serenity was right. They were all very lucky.