This is another, albeit short, piece in the Biography of 
Neo-Queen Serenity. For all of those who feel the Usagi, 
Mamoru and the Senshi should live forever; this is not a 
story for you. This is a tale of endings, but also of 
beginnings. The Native Americans have a saying, "Only the 
rocks live forever". The lesson is that death is part of 
the great circle of life. When we finish our lives here, 
we will join all those who have gone before in the circle
of eternity. Death isn't the end, but the beginning of
joy without end. 
If you'd like to write me, I'm at Meara@aol.com. I love
to get mail! Please be kind and remember that the good
you do comes back to you, but bad karma is forever. 

Standard Disclaim: I don’t own Sailor Moon. Sad isn’t it?

 

"The Last Rose"

A Sailor Moon story

By Meara

 

 

Serenity, Dowager Queen of Earth, woke slowly. The hushed
whispers around her stopped as she opened her eyes. She
was propped up in her bed, surrounded by her children,
and their children. 

The lamp on her nightstand cast a soft, golden circle of
light. Serenity saw Rei standing at the circle's edge.
Her lips moved as the Priestess silently prayed for her
dying friend. Rei stopped as she saw Serenity looking
at her. 

Their eyes met and Rei lost the composure that she's
been trying so hard to maintain. "Usagi-Chan" she began
to whisper over and over, forlornly. 

"Usagi-chan", The Queen thought. How long has it been
since anyone called me that? Serenity was shocked by her
dearest friend's appearance. She suddenly looked so old!
There was no spark in her eyes. Her cloud white hair was
lank and dull. Rei's face was drawn with overwhelming
grief as if Serenity's death was shattering her spirit.
With a flash of foresight, Serenity suddenly knew that
the last of the original Senshi would not have to mourn
for long. She would join her friends very soon.

Ami, the current Senshi Mars, put her hands on her
grandmother's shoulders in an attempt to comfort her.
Rei just kept shaking her head and calling "Usagi-chan"
softly. 

Serenity sensed more than saw the other Senshi in the
room. They were all there, both inner and outer. Pluto
was there, at the edge of her perceptions. As always
she filled her role as The Watcher, eternal and alone.
How many friends had she buried, Serenity wondered?
She let her gaze scan the room finally settling on her
eldest. "Small Lady…" why was her voice so distant? 

The Queen on Earth, the most powerful woman on the
planet, fell to her knees beside her mother and began
to weep like a child. "Please mother" Small Lady
began, her voice breaking with her heart, "Please
don't go." You promised you'd never leave me as long
as I still needed you. I still need you momma, I still
need you!" The Queen reached onto the small table by
the bed and fumbled the ancient star locket into her
mother hands. "See, I brought the locket Daddy gave
you. Listen to it, momma, please." Small Lady gently
opened it and the soft, tinkling music filled the
bedroom.

Serenity tried to raise her arms to comfort first born
but found that she hadn't the strength. Her son, Darien,
took her one of her cold hands in his. "We'll take care
of her mother. All of us will. I promise" he said. Tears
ran freely down his handsome face. 

"I know you will" Serenity thought. She was so tried, so
very tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. As she drifted
into her final slumber, the locket’s gentle melody
playing in her mind, a sound came to her that made her
heart jump. Though he had been gone almost fifteen years,
she knew his voice.

"Serenity, my only love." 

She turned her head to see her beloved at her bedside.
Not as she remembered him on his last day, but young,
strong and so handsome! 

"Endymion" she said her soul filling with joy at the
sight of him, "Is it truly you?" 

He smiled at her. All of her cares, all of her pain
melted away in the boundless warmth of his love for her.
He opened his arms. "Come, beloved, it is time, and the
others are waiting." 

With a cry of longing she went into his arms and held
him once more. Endymion kissed her once, then pulled
away slightly. He gave a courtly bow and extended one
hand to her. In it was a white rose, the symbol of
eternal love. "May I have this dance, Princess?" he
asked, his eyes full of joy. 

The sound of her star locket's music filled the world
around them. "Yes" she replied with all her heart,
"Yes, now and forever". 

He pulled her close and together they began to dance
into a light brighter than the sun and filled with
more love than she had ever thought possible. Figures
were silhouetted in the light ahead. Ami, Makoto, Mina,
Luna and all of her loved ones were there! They called
her by name, their welcome a chorus of never-ending joy. 

Serenity glanced back once at the old woman on the bed
and the people surrounding her. "Be happy" her heart
called, "Until we meet again." 

The star locket slowed and then stopped playing.
Prince Darien, son of the Dowager Queen of Earth,
closed the lid and placed his mother's now cold hands
around it. He brushed away his tears and moved to stand
when something caught his eye. 

There beside her pillow, was one perfect, white rose. 

He smiled through his tears and lovingly placed it
between her hands. "Thank you father" he said
"thank you".