Chapter 141

After dealing with Shadow, Serena and her friends sat down at the round table. Metallia summoned a grand feast of finger foods and drinks.

"Okay, so we did it. Operation New Millennium is finally complete. What's next, Serena?" Mina asked.

The Moon Queen considered. "First, introductions. Light Scouts, meet the Shadow Scouts. The newest members of our team." Serena smiled. "Reiko, Makoto, Akumi, and Ayaka. Girls, this is Raye, Lita, Ami and Mina."

The Shadows faced their Light counterparts. Reiko frowned. "I don't understand! You were working with Wise Man! Why are you betraying him now?"

"I was never on his side but I wanted to help you four and protect my family," Serena took her hand and reached over to take Raye's. "I wanted to get you away from his influence. He's not the man you think he is."

Ayaka stood up. "Wise Man took us in! He raised us! He is the only one who understands us!" She shouted.

Serena smiled at her. "That's not true. I understand. Because like you, I was rejected too." She noticed her friends look away with shame. "I forgive you guys, I know… but it doesn't change that I was rejected and I know how they feel. But Wise Man isn't just dark or evil. He's something else entirely and he's using you. Just like he was using Raye. Just like he was trying to use me. Like he used my mother…"

"Your mother, my Diamond, pretty much everyone on Nemesis," Mina began counting out the people Wise Man had manipulated. "He's pretty much at the root of every single conflict we've dealt with. Including when Serenity convinced us to… separate from our dark sides." She looked at Shadow Venus. "I'm sorry. I never should have agreed to that. Even to be a scout."

Ami rose. "No, nor should I. We wronged you all. And I am so sorry. I know it's not enough but…" She got up and went to Akumi. "I'm sorry…" She pulled the other girl into a hug.

Her twin froze in shock but after a few moments, she wrapped her arms around her and wept. "I'm sorry too…"

Serena watched the eight girls beginning to bond. "Well, now, you girls stay here for tonight, eat, get to know each other. Zordon has four rooms for you to sleep in. Tomorrow, we can plan the next phase." She stood up and picked up Rini's carrier.

Lita looked up at her. "You're not staying?" She asked.

"No, actually, Zordon and Aunt Metallia offered to babysit. I have a date," she explained as she hurried off.

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In a fine pizza restaurant in Downtown Angel Grove, Malachite sat with confusion written on his face. "Zoycite, why are we here? Last time we did this, you reunited me with my mother…"

His wife took his hand. "Malachite, we're here to celebrate something but I promised I wouldn't say what until she got here."

Malachite's brow went crooked. "When who gets here?" He asked. She didn't respond. She just stood up.

"She's here. I'll be right back," she kissed his cheek and hurried outside while the waiter approached.

"Can I get you started with a bottle of wine?" He asked the man.

Malachite ordered a bottle of white wine before trying to watch Zoycite through the window but it was hard to see. He just barely made out her hand pointing and waving at someone before she led the person in, arm in arm. His mouth fell open when he saw the familiar blonde dumpling hair. "Serena?"

He didn't know he felt about the two women he loved clutching each other by the arm and giggling madly.

Serena wore a pink evening dress that went to her ankles. Sequins and silver crystals sparkled along the skirt in the artificial candlelight of the establishment. They made swirling patterns of Celtic moon knots at strategic points.

"So it really worked?" Zoycite asked. "Oh that's rich."

Serena laughed like hyena. "I know! I should feel bad because I really feel like I hit below the belt but at the same time…. He deserved it!" She insisted. "After what he did! He got off light!"

The blonde general laughed with her as they made their way to the stunned man. "Don't feel bad. He did. It was just masterful. A wonder to behold."

Malachite stood up. "What happened? What's so funny? What did you do? What's going on?" He asked in rapid fire before Serena calmed him with an unexpected kiss.

"Let's all sit back down and get some food ordered, and I'll tell you everything," she promised. "But I am starving."

The waiter came back and took their order for appetizers and the sommelier brought the wine. Serena even had a glass to Malachite's shock.

"Zedd and Rita serve a lot of wine. On the moon it's either water or wine, and I still need to purify the water," she explained as she sipped. "Besides if you really think about it, with my past life included, I'm old enough to drink."

Zoycite giggled. "Technicalities, technicalities. On Asgard, there are no such rules. The parents decide when to introduce their children to alcohol and teach them to drink responsibly." She clinked glasses with Serena. "So it's done then?"

Serena nodded. "Yes… the White Moon Kingdom and the others have been rebuilt. All under Wise Man's nose." She looked at Malachite's mouth, flopping open and closed like a fish. "I'm sorry, I wish I could have told you but… I just got sick of Wise Man meddling in our lives. My kingdom needed me and this was the best way of dealing with both problems at once."

With a deep drink of his wine, Malachite composed himself. "And where is he now? What did you do?"

"I tricked him into leaving the galaxy to find something to control my dark half when we wake her," she explained. "When I regained my power and became queen, I put a field around our solar system. It's not a permanent fix but it'll buy us time to plan the next step." She touched his hand. "I know this hasn't been easy for you."

He blushed. "I'm sorry Serena. Zoycite… I wish I could choose between you but I love you both. I don't know what to do."

Zoycite looked at Serena who rolled her eyes. "We know… we talked about it. A lot." She touched his other hand. "Malachite, I'm the one who's been selfish. I'm the one who pressured you and I shouldn't have." She squeezed his hand. "You didn't have an affair or anything. You did what you were supposed to do and found love with another when I couldn't be here. You were happy and that makes me happy."

"And I understand you'll always love your first wife," Serena continued. "You should. I would never want to take you from Zoycite. We both love you."

Malachite shook his head. "I don't understand… what are you saying?" He didn't dare to hope. He couldn't ask it of them. "The last time the custom was done… our kingdoms ended up at war. And here… humans wouldn't understand."

Serena smiled. "Malachite, I'm not my mother. Either of them. And I'm not about to starve an entire world out of jealousy. I'm also not the lazy, selfish teenager I was a year and a half ago. I'm more mature now. I'm a mother and now a queen." She rationalized. "I love you. She loves you. We both love you so much, all that matters is you are happy."

The general blushed and looked down. "How did I get lucky enough to find two such perfect women to love?"

Zoycite shrugged. "You're just a good judge of character. Ooo, our cheese rings are here." She grabbed one of the deep fried rings of mozzarella cheese and dipped it into a one of the three cups of marinara sauce that accompanied the plate.

Serena giggled and dug into her caesar salad while the waiter left to get their pizza. "So we'll go home together tonight. Zordon and Metallia are watching Rini so we'll be able to become reacquainted tonight."

Malachite sighed. "I love you, Serena, Zoycite. And I promise, I'll do all I can to be worthy of you." He took sprinkled a little Parmesan on his salad and ate. "So… will we all share a bed or will I bounce between rooms?" He asking, making them laugh. "Either way we're going to need a bigger house."

Zoycite laughed. "That's what magic is for."

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An: after a horrible hiatus, I'm back with this story. So sorry. Please review.