Time For Reflection
by:
Sailor Seraphim

Alone.

For now.

And Time goes on, and I wait here, watching. As I have done before. As I am doing now. As I will do in the future.

Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, eons... it means nothing to me.

My eyes have seen the birth, rise, life and fall of a glorious Kingdom. My eyes have seen the birth, rise and life of an even greater Kingdom. The history of humankind is etched in my mind. I have seen all and I know most everything. But even with this knowledge, I am still alone. I must admit, being alone for decades at a time does get boring, but it does have its high points. I cast my gaze through one of my portals. Oh, you don't know about them? I'm not surprised. Very little is known about the mysterious Senshi of Time and her habitat. The portals allow me to see what is happening in the real world. I don't look through them often. Looking at the real world where the people live happy, short, normal lives... saddens me. I can never have a life like that. However, I do remember the sixties very well. Everyday was like a new trip. No... now is not the time for sadness. The scene outside the portal grabs my attention.

There, walking down the street, is a man. A very handsome man to be sure, with ebony black hair and the deepest blue eyes. An aura of power seems to radiate from him and it dazzles my eyes.

Chiba Mamoru. The past Prince Endymion. The future King Endymion.

So this is what he looked like when he was younger. All I can remember is the dignified King in a lavender tuxedo with light purple hair. Still, he seems the same to me. The power, the strength, the care, all concentrated in this one man wearing a green jacket.

Oh. It is only now that I notice the girl holding hands with him. A bright dazzling white aura shines around her, brighter than the golden one around her companion. Her azure eyes sparkle happily as she chats with the man with her. Her long golden hair, bound in two odangos on her head, swings with each of her carefree steps. Ah, I remember her as well.

Tsukino Usagi. The past Princess Serenity. The future Neo Queen Serenity.

"Oh, Mamo-chan. Remember we have to meet everyone at the cafe at two o'clock." Her voice is sweet, full of innocence and joy.

"I remember, Usako. But we have enough time to visit the jewelry store before that." His voice is filled with emotion; mostly love, directed at this eighteen-year old who has so wholly captured his heart. It brings tears to my eyes.

Usagi blushes in an attempt to be shy, but only succeeds in looking cuter. "Yes. I know."

The couple stops and pulls to the side of the sidewalk, away from the bustling crowd. They look into each others eyes and volumes are said without either of them saying a word. I have seen them share looks like this before both in the Silver Millennium and in Crystal Tokyo. The young couple defies propriety by kissing in public.

So, the marriage date has been set. I must remember this for the appropriate time.

Still, as I see them enter the jewelry store together, I cannot help but dream. If only... if only I had someone like that. Perhaps then my life would not be so lonely. No... contrary to what some people have said of me, I do not want *him*, but Endymion is my standard. If only there were a man out there like him... but not him. He is bound to her, and there is no way that I would ever destroy Time and the Future just for my own selfish wishes. I can only give silent congratulations to the young woman who will someday be the Queen I greatly admire, and to the young man who will someday become the King I highly respect. No... now is not the time for sadness. But, maybe if there were someone out there for me... however, I have lived countless millennia and not found anyone. I am alone.

Alone.

For now.

I tap the portal with my Time Staff, shifting the scene, but keeping in the same area. As I watch the crowd pass by through my portal I take particular notice of a certain young lady window shopping. Her long dark hair shines green under the bright light of the sun, and her dark skin and exotic features are highlighted by the red sweater and white pants she wears.

Hmm... she looks good in red. I'll have to remember that as well.

The young woman continues her shopping when a cry comes up.

"Setsuna-mama!!!"

The green-haired woman swings around, opening her arms in time to catch the black-haired girl who jumps into her arms. The precious child hugs her tightly for a moment then holds out a toy car. My heart begins to ache as I watch the scene unfolding before me.

"Look, look, Setsuna-mama! Haruka-papa bought it for me! See, it's a pretty blue color." The girl continues to chatter on about her new possession as the woman levels a glance at the couple coming towards them.

"Another toy, Haruka?" she asks archly. "You spoil Hotaru too much."

The blonde woman laughs as she takes the girl from Setsuna's arms. "Well, it is a pretty good model of the car that I drove in America... Broke the record that year." The blonde is immediately whacked on the head by her aqua- haired companion.

"Haruka!" Michiru scolds. "You shouldn't push your own products like that. I didn't even know that was the reason you wanted to give Hotaru that."

"What's wrong? Minako pushes Sailor V merchandise wherever she goes." Everyone laughs at that. Hotaru wriggles out of Haruka's grasp and plasters her face against another store window. Michiru bends down to speak with the girl who is pointing at something in the display. Haruka winks as a group of schoolgirls obviously mistake her for a man... again. Setsuna scans the shopping crowd and then checks her watch.

"Speaking of Minako, we should meet the others at the cafe now."

The small family of four turns and heads in the direction of the cafe. I watch them in a mixture of envy, regret, and hope. I miss the cozy little family that I once had. I miss my friends. I miss my life. I miss the chance to live as I would, not bound by the constricts of my position. No... now is not the time for sadness. But, perhaps if I had not taken up this mantle of duty, my life would be different. However, I remember those times and I will experience these times again. But now... now I must be alone.

Alone.

For now.

I continue to watch the whole group of friends in the cafe, laughing and talking up a storm. They are happy and content in each others company. It reminds me of the times that I had once had, lighthearted and with no worry in the world.

And now is the time for sadness.