*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! OK, I know this has taken a long time to come out, but at the moment, school is the important thing and I really have to concentrate on that right now, but since I did get SOME feedback on this story (Thank you Chibi-isa, Tiana, Roo, Ho, Jenn and Rosie.) I decided to keep going with it, rather than simply give up. OK, I don't know when Chapter Three will be out, but if you want it quicker, you simply have to e-mail me and tell me so, and I'll try to hurry up. It's pretty easy, my address is at the end. I am using the Japanese name for Pluto as I am not quite sure what it is supposed to be in the dub, which is my guide for this story. I know this is probably not the way that Pluto would act, but I have changed her behaviour for this story, to fit in better with the relationship that I want her to have with the Moon royal family. This part is rated PG-13 for mild language. Insert whatever Standard Disclaimer you wish here, we all know Sailor Moon isn't mine, or are any of the characters contained in this story. The story however IS copyrighted to Melanie Wood, September 1998. If you want to repost it anywhere, ask me, I very much doubt that I will say no. See ya soon, Mel. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! Moon Memories. Chapter 2. You see, something went wrong when I used the crystal. I am still not sure what it was. Maybe the fact that is was 'not my time' as the new-age followers claim, or maybe Setsuna had something to do with it. I am still not sure, and I very much doubt that I ever will be. I have no idea what, but something prevented me from using the full power of the fragile rock that I held in my hands. Collapsing unconscious against a fallen pillar from our former palace, I prayed for death. It was not to be. When I woke up, I found Pluto sitting in front of me with a wry smile on her face. "So sleeping beauty awakens. Good morning Serenity." I groaned, exhausted. It suddenly hit me, what had happened the night before. "Oh my GODS! Pluto, what HAPPENED?" Her smile widened, just slightly, although it had yet to reach her eyes. "You hesitated." She had yet to lose the impassive look that she always seemed to hold. I exploded, wanting her to hurt as much as I did. "Damn you! How can you sit there looking as if nothing has happened? An entire civilisation was destroyed and YOU DON"T EVEN CARE!!! I hate you, I hate you, I hate you!" I saw her face crumple in pain. I was already screaming like a child, but I needed more. I decided to use my ultimate trump card, knowing how much it would hurt her, yet oblivious to anyone's feelings but my own. "And what about Sere, Pluto. She's dead! DEAD, and she's NEVER coming back! How does that feel? The girl that you've always called your little sister dead, and you sitting here looking like a damned rock for all you seem to care! She'll never come back, Pluto. You'll never see her again-" At this point in time I don't think that Setsuna could take any more, and finally she snapped. "Do you think I don't KNOW that?" By this time she was crying almost as hard as I was. "You think that I don't know she's dead? But she will be reborn, the timeline says so! That tiny young girl is one of the only people I have ever cared about, and I am not going to let you take the hope away from me that I will see her again!" At that moment, I saw Pluto for what she truly was - a frightened seventeen year old girl who was just as confused as her thirty-year-old companion. Feeling guilty, I pulled the child into my arms. Together we cried, our tears falling well into the break of the new day. *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! My eyes snap open as I realise I am home. Most people would classify my house as a mansion, but after living in the Moon Palace...I collected a lot of jewels and gold pieces from the ruins of the kingdom, living off them until I could learn a trade. A thousand years gives you plenty of time to earn money, and I had great skills as a diplomat. The Earth was in great need of those, the last planet in what was once the greatest kingdom that had ever existed, a kingdom that would easily rival anything that humans could build today. I now own a multi-million dollar company that is known by everyone, named Silver Millennium. Strangely enough, no one has made the connection to the ancient civilisation the name came from. And yet, with all this wealth and power, I still cannot have the one thing I want the most. Maybe some day I can fulfil that last promise I made on the moon- "Some day we shall meet again." I pray that is true. It is so hard to live without her. I notice a flash of light from my bedroom and smile. Pluto must be visiting again. She has a thing for tidiness, and I have been so busy lately... "Hello Serenity" Comes a voice from the top of the stairs. "Pluto, please, you know I go by the name of Sarah Moon now." She gestures to the large, empty house. "There's no one here. Besides, you still call me Pluto when you know my name is Setsuna now." "I suppose so." She abruptly changes the subject. "You've been to see Serena?" I looked at her sharply, wondering if she had been spying on me from the gateway of time. "You have that look on your face." "Look?" I ask, curious. "After you visit Serena you always have a sad look in your eyes." She smiles. "Don't worry, you'll get her back some day." I feel a flash of relief flow through me. When Pluto says something in THAT tone of voice, it is easier to just believe her. She's always right anyway. Besides, some hope is better than no hope at all. "Good evening, My Queen." I jump as I hear the voice. "Thomas, I have asked you many times not to refer to me by the title of Queen. The kingdom I once ruled is dead, therefore, so is my title. I'd appreciate it if you would no longer address me as such. Is that clear?" "Yes, My Qu- Sarah." "Thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go take a bath." *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! I smile wryly as I lower myself into my bath. The people Setsuna and I rescued from the remains of the kingdom have yet to get over the fact that they, commoners, were saved from certain death be the almighty Queen of the Silver Millennium. It is a tragedy that even now, a thousand years later, that the people still believe me to be so far above them. I truly had no idea of the awe, respect and adoration I inspired in so many people during my reign. If I had, I would most definitely have done something about it. I asked Setsuna during one of our quiet moments, why she had not told me of the way the people viewed the monarchy. She smiled the enigmatic smile she always seemed to have and placed a hand on my shoulder. "Serenity, the people never loved you, or Sere, just because you were royalty. The monarchy was not structured that way. No, they loved the princess, and you, because of the people you were, and are. If they had have worshipped you, only because of the title, would the look in their eyes been of fear, not of happiness?" I nodded at that, and she gestured to the rooms where the aforementioned people were staying. "Well, have you seen a single trace of fear in any of these peoples eyes?" As usual, Setsuna had a point. So I trusted her as I always did and continue to do so. I snap out of my thoughts, realising that I have been in the bath close to an hour now. If I want to be at the function I was invited to for DSC and sons Constructions, I have to start getting ready now. 45 minutes later, I am entering the long driveway of a Mr. David Sparrow, the president of DSC constructions. I smile, bracing myself for the looks of surprise. People are always astonished when they find out that S. Moon is actually a woman. So much for feminism in the 90's. But most of all, why on earth do these shoes hurt my feet so much? *!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*! I reach for another glass of punch, but another hand closes over mine before I have a chance to pick up the liquid. I glance up, expecting to see the face of a total stranger, but instead find myself gazing into the familiar magenta eyes of Setsuna. I jump, startled. "Setsuna, you surprised me." She does not smile as she usually does when she sneaks up on me. I feel scared, somehow sure that something is going on. I ask her what's wrong, and she looks away from me. "Serenity, I need you to take a deep breath and be calm for me, alright?" That is probably the worst thing she could have said to me to try to calm me down. I thought everyone knew that. By now, I am close to becoming hysterical, and she has yet to tell me what is happening. "What's wrong? What's happened? Is it Sere? Is she hurt? What's wrong? TELL ME!!!" There is no force in the universe more terrifying that a petrified mother. "There is a fight at the park. The Sailor Scouts are losing badly. Serenity. . .Sailor Moon was thrown against a tree. She's unconscious. They're going to need hel..." She does not finish the sentence as I have already made my apologies to David Sparrow, claiming a family emergency, and exited the room. When I arrive at the park, I see Sailors Mercury, Venus and Jupiter trying to fight the monster, while Sailor Mars and Tuxedo Mask were trying their best to protect their fallen leader. I feel a stab of anger at Tuxedo Mask for daring to come near her, but then I tell myself that it is better to fight the droid than my daughter's ex. Suddenly a thought occurs to me, and I smile, unable to believe I am about to do this. "Hey, ugly! Why don't you fight someone that can actually fight back, rather than picking on innocent children! In the name of the Moon, I will punish you!" I see the heads of five very confused Scouts snap to attention. If it hadn't been at such a serious moment, I would truly be laughing at the expression on Tuxedo Mask's face. 'Yes, I muse to myself, capeboy is the perfect name for him. The Negaverse has that right, if nothing else.' But this thought is cut off when I see Sere stir, and her eyes slowly open. As she sees me, she smiles. "Hello Mother. I knew you'd come. Ever since I found out. . ." Her voice falters and she seems reluctant to go on. But she doesn't need to. I already know. Drawing my inspiration from the highly publicised fights my daughter has been in, I reach forward and take her sceptre from her weak hand. "Moon...Sceptre...Elimination!" After a flash of colours and light, the monster is gone. Without further fanfare, I reach out and pull Sere into my arms. I smile down at her lovingly, gently stroking her long golden hair, the only physical feature of her father's that she inherited. "Hello, darling, how are you?" I say softly. One tiny hand reaches up to stroke my cheek. "Mother...you came..." "Would I ever leave you my sweet? I love you." A faint smile touches my daughter's lips. "I love you too, Mama." She gathers her strength for a moment, before standing up. I rise with her. "Come on, Sere darling, lets get you home." She has a bewildered look on her face, as she looks at me with a confused look in her big blue eyes. I lean closer to her, whispering. "Elaine and Ken know, my sweet. They always have." She looks at me in shock, and my heart freezes. "So it's true." she whispers, in awe. "What's true, love?" As well as I know my daughter, I have absolutely no idea what she is talking about. "You're my mother in this life as well as the last." Her voice is filled with wonder. And suddenly my arms are filled with a tiny golden bundle of energy. She has thrown herself at me in one of her trademark hugs. Nothing in the world feels this good, except if her father were here too. Sere looks up at me with a mischievous look in her eyes. "Lizzie isn't his, you know." I jump in utter astonishment. How could she know what I'm thinking? Has our psychic bond really been restored so quickly? My daughter has always had the power to surprise me, but this...She grins. "Of course I can tell what you're thinking, Mother, you are so transparent. Besides, Andrew told me a month ago that Lizzie was the result of an affair her mother had been having since before she and Daddy were married. In fact, the only reason they married was because Andrew's mother needed a husband for legal reasons, and Daddy knew you wanted him to. Sere's words finally seem to seep into my brain and the wheels in my head jerk into motion. I look down at Sere again, with a decidedly evil look on my face. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking, my love." She nods, a wicked smile lighting up her features. We are about to start planning the recapturing of her father when a voice pipes up in the background. "This is truly amazing! According to this data, Serenity never died. Yet she has not seemed to age a day in a thousand years. "Truly remarkable." Another voice joins the first. I sigh. Any and Luna. They will never change. I have to smile at this. Letting go of Sere, I turn to the bewildered Sailor Scouts. All stare at me, but it is Mars that finally gathers the courage to speak. "Serenity?" She asks hesitantly. I smile. "Hello Mars. Long time, no see." After I say this, I am attacked by four happy Sailor Scouts, two ecstatic cats, and a LOT of complicated questions that I am unwilling to answer at the moment, most of all about the sceptre, and how I managed to take them back to the Moon Kingdom, just before they fought Beryl. It was hard, but Setsuna helped. I suppose that much is pretty obvious. I see Endymion, trying to hide behind a tree, and I know I have to talk to him. I tell Serena to meet me at the gate to the park, and the Scouts to head on home, that I'll see them tomorrow. After a bit of persuasion, they agree. I think they're afraid I won't come back. As I see the last Scout exit the park, I turn to Endymion. I know he sees the fury and hatred in my eyes because he turns away in pain. When he finally speaks, his voice is filled with pain and defeat. "I do love her my Queen, I truly do. But I have to do this. Its for her own good, which is the only reason I have the strength to go through with it." He pauses, but before I am able to reply, he goes on. As he starts to speak again, I notice that Sere has crept silently up behind him and is listening intently to what he is about to say. I do not acknowledge her. I believe she needs to hear this. "About a month ago, just before I broke up with...with..." His voice breaks and it is a minute before he is able to continue. When he starts again, his voice is sure and strong - controlled from years of practice. "About a month ago, just before I ended my relationship with the only woman I could ever hope to love, I started having these dreams..." I see Sere's eyes, and smile, widen with every word he says. It is times like this that I see how much Sere truly is like me. As I would do in the same situation, she grins wickedly, a truly scary smile lighting up her beautiful features. I see the wheels turning in her head, and I know that Endymion is NOT in for a very easy time, especially now that she knows how much he truly does love her. She winks at me, then decides to make her move. "You know, you would have saved yourself a LOT of trouble if you had have just tole me." She turns to leave, then tosses a parting phrase over her shoulder in an almost indifferent voice. "Oh, and incidentally, I've known about those dreams since the time you started having them. I'm your soulmate, Darien, I always know what you dream." Endymion jumps as if he were shot, staring after her with a startled look on his face. I watch proudly as Sere walks out of the park, her head held high. I place a hand on Endymion's arm. "I have to go. I think we'll BOTH see you tomorrow." I stress the word both, before disappearing after my daughter. She is waiting at the gate, just out of view of anyone inside the park. She has detransformed, and she seems to be watching the scouts go home. It seems that they waited around, as well, most likely to talk to Sere. I have to wonder what they said, but I will not ask. Whatever happens between Sere and her court is their business. We walk back to the Tsukino's in silence, holding hands. I keep glancing at Sere. She has grown up to be an incredibly beautiful young woman, and I know that beauty will continue to grow for the rest of her days, however long they may be. The moon royalty is immortal after all. When we arrive at the house, she turns to me smiling, but I know she is nervous about whatever it is she is about to say. "Mother...would we be able to meet...tomorrow after school?" I pull her to me, tears in my eyes, happy that she wishes to see me as much as I wish to see her. "Darling, I have to work. Come by my office as soon as school ends." I place a business card in her hand, and point to a line of writing on it. "This is the address. I'll see you tomorrow, darling." You must be asking what I'm thinking, with Sere finally in my arms, and I tell her I have to work. Well, to put it simply, I can not wait to see the faces of my employees when they see Sere enter the building. A silly reason I know, but... To Be Concluded. Write me about this part on mwood95@sghs.nsw.edu.au. Any comments are appreciated.