Last Chapter! Hope you enjoyed! I know a couple of you have asked about a sequel, remembering comments I made so very long ago. At one point I had considered writing a sequel. Even after all this time, I still have a scene in my head of my guys meeting the Outers. However, I know it's something that will never be written. I've moved on too far from Sailor Moon. I'm glad you enjoyed this blast from the past.
Sailor Moon Universal B
Epilogue: Returns
"Diana, what's wrong?" Luna asked softly. She walked over to where the kitten was sitting, shaking her head.
"Nothing really," Diana mewed, "It's just my head seems all messed up, and sometimes I remember living with little Serena, and sometimes that's like a dream and I remember growing up in Crystal Tokyo." She looked up shyly, "I liked that one a lot better," she said in a soft purr. "I loved growing up with you and Papa."
"Don't worry," said Pluto, coming over to them and bending down in front of the little cat. "Your memories will sort themselves out very soon, and the time in the alternate future will seem like nothing more than a bad dream."
"Doesn't that create a paradox?" Sailor Mercury asked, coming over to the small gathering. "If the future hadn't been changed, than Reenie would never have come back to change it."
"Since she did change it," Luna continued, "she wouldn't have come back."
"Not so," Pluto answered. "She was needed in this time to help fight, so she would have come back. You should find your own memories changing soon, so that she just came back because she was needed to fight, and there would be no talk of the alternate future." She turned to Serena who had walked up to her. "You might want to buy a doll from Mika, that you can give to her in the future."
Sailor Moon nodded, not quite understanding, but knowing that she would when it became necessary. Her mind was taken up by another question. "Where were you?" she asked, trying hard not to be accusing.
"We need to get Crystal and Quartz taken care of," Pluto said, ignoring the question. "And it's about time for Reenie to go home." She started to walk off.
"Pluto!" and this time Sailor Moon's voice had a bite to it. "Where were you?"
"I'll tell you as we walk," Pluto promised. Sailor Moon nodded as she picked up Luna and turned to walk after her. The others gathered around as well.
"Well?" Sailor Moon asked after they had walked silently for several yards. "Where were you?" she asked for the third time.
Pluto looked ahead, not moving her eyes from the road in front of her. "In the future, there will be another enemy," she said almost grudgingly. "Without the Sailor Scouts, I must fight alone. I win, but only by a move which is forbidden, and costs my life. Not even 'I' am truly immortal," she finished hollowly.
Crescent Moon hugged her, causing her to jump as she was too caught up in the memories of a life that now wasn't to realize the little girl was there.
"I'm glad it's not going to happen that way Puu," Crescent Moon said, still hugging her. "I was so scared when I saw you weren't at the Gate of Time. I knew that something awful must have happened to you."
Sailor Pluto hugged the smallest Scout gently back. "I'm just glad you are all right," she said softly.
"I would guess that if we were to ask you about this new threat you wouldn't tell us anything, would you?" Tuxedo Mask asked.
"It is the future," Pluto reprimended, "And I can not tell you of the future, there is too much chance of it changing if I do, and you already know much that you should not."
"I think we've 'all' learned a lesson about the future being changeable," Tuxedo Mask said slowly, looking down at his future wife and daughter.
"Well then, how about telling us about the alternate future?" Sailor Sol asked to change the subject. He
was walking to the side with Crystal, trying to get a last few moments with her before she lost all memory of him. "Like, what happened with the Negaverse?"
Pluto speared him with a glance. "There is no need for you to know," she said severely. *No,* she thought, *there is no need for you to know that the brainwashing worked in that alternate future. That you became one of the Negaverse's leading generals. Though you never tried to hurt your sister, you were in charge of the takeover of Tokyo.* Looking at his open face, she thought again, *It's far better that you don't know.*
Tuxedo Mask seemed about to say something when Quartz's voice interrupted them. "Here it is!" she called back. "This is our street! Our house is just a couple of blocks away!"
"There, there's our house!" Crystal said quietly, almost as if she didn't believe what she was saying.
She grasped Sailor Sol's hand tighter. "That's where we live. That's where we 'lived'. What if they've moved? What if they've left? What if they've given up on us? What... what if they don't want us anymore?" Her voice broke. Sailor Sol squeezed her hand reassuringly.
"I don't think you need to worry about that," Jupiter said quietly. She pointed to a tree in the front yard. On the tree was a flyer, with a picture of the twins on it. They were too far away to read the writing, but it was obviously a flyer asking for information on the wherabouts of the girls.
Crescent Moon agreed. "You're family," she told the two girls. "And nothing's more important than family. They wouldn't forget about you, they love you."
"Look," Quartz whispered. "Look! It's Dad! It's our Dad!" Her voice rose as she stared at a man that had just stepped out of the front door. She started to run towards him.
"Hold on," Sailor Mars said gently, grasping her arm.
"But...!" Quartz started to protest, trying to pull free.
"It's all right," Sailor Moon tried to reassure her. "You can go to him in just a moment, but let's get you healed first, okay?" They gently pulled the two girls behind a nearby hedge. Crystal let out a little cry of disappointment as the bushes cut off her sight of the man she had not seen in over a year.
"Shh," Sailor Sol whispered. "It's just a couple more minutes, and then you can see him, okay?"
Crystal hugged Sailor Sol tightly and kissed him quickly. "I know I'm going to forget you," she said softly, "but don't forget me, okay?"
"Never," he smiled, moving her next to her sister and backing off. "And you'll see me again, I promise."
Quartz was bouncing up on her toes, trying to see over the hedge into her yard. "Let's do this," she said impatiently. "I want to see my parents!"
Sailor Moon smiled and pulled off her brooch. "MOON CRYSTAL HEALING ACTIVATION!" she cried, sending waves of healing light at the two girls.
When it faded, they looked around in confusion. "Wha? Where? Who are you? What's happened to us?" Their memories of the past year had vanished, leaving only vague impressions of being kidnapped and thinking someone else was their parents.
"It doesn't matter," Tuxedo Mask told them. "What does matter is that your parents have been looking for you for a long time. Don't you think you should go and reassure them that you're alive and okay?"
"Our parents?" Crystal looked around. "This... this is the Minamino house, isn't it? That means that our house is... right across the street."
Quartz started towards the street. She turned back. "I don't know who you are, but I have the feeling I should thank you," she said.
Crystal followed her. "Yes, thank you," she said. She sent one last inquiring glance at one of the two boys in the group before turning and running after her sister.
"DAD!" they screamed as they saw him out in the yard.
The Scouts watched from across the street as he looked up and saw the two girls running towards him. His face was a mixture of disbelief and hope as he saw them. He stood there in shock as they ran up to him, but got himself under control as they threw themselves at him. He gathered them into a hug before pulling back and staring into their eyes.
Sailor Moon hugged her brother as Tuxedo Mask swept Crescent Moon up into his arms. Most of the girls were sniffling as the man pulled the twins back into a hug and yelled out, "Rosalynn! Rosalynn! Come here! Quickly! They're home! Our little girls have come home!"
Sailor Moon reached up to brush away a tear as a woman a couple of years older then her own mother, and with hair just a few shades darker than the twins pale blond, came running out the door and into the embrace of her long lost daughters.
Sailor Pluto watched quietly as the Scouts turned away from the touching scene. "Small Lady needs to go home and be reunited with her parents too," she reminded them, almost gently.
"Not yet!" Crescent Moon cried. "Please, Puu, not yet! I want to see Grandma and Grandpa again."
Pluto nodded once. "The gate will open in three hours, in the park. I expect you to be there." Her words went to Reenie, but it was at Sailor Moon that she looked. Not for agreement, but more as in one expecting a response to an order she had given.
Sailor Moon nodded her agreement and turned to the others. "You heard her," she said quietly. "If you
want to see Reenie off, you need to be at the park in three hours. Right now," she took a deep breath, "Me and Travis need to go be reunited with 'our' parents."
"Are you going to tell them?" Mercury asked. "Or use the Crystal to erase their memories?"
"I don't know yet," Sailor Moon answered. She turned to look at Pluto but her face was a mask, giving nothing away. "I guess I'll decide when we get there," she finally continued.
The group broke up, Sailor Moon, Sailor Sol, Crescent Moon, Tuxedo Mask and the guardians headed towards the Tsukino house.
Tuxedo Mask put Crescent Moon down as they reached the house and they all detransformed. "Good luck," he whispered to Serena, drawing her into a hug. "If you need me, I'll be right here," he said, placing a hand on Travis' shoulder.
They smiled their thanks and then the three turned to go inside.
"Mom? Dad?" Serena called out as she stepped through the door.
"Uncle Jake?" Travis called at the same time.
There was an exclamation from the living room and a loud noise, like something falling over. Travis and Serena exchanged a quick glance before running in to find out what it was. They rushed into the room and ran straight into Jake and Ken's arms.
"What was that loud noise?" Travis asked as he gave his Uncle Ken a hug and then slipped out of his arms to go to his guardian. Serena eagerly took his place in her father's arms.
"Where's Mom?" she asked, looking around after a moment. She saw her mother across the room and ran to the motionless woman. "Mom?" she asked, as she threw her arms around her. "Is something wrong?"
Ellen gave a slight sob as she wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I was so worried," she whispered.
"I know," Serena said softly, "I'm so sorry."
"Are you okay?" her mother asked, looking her over for any signs of an injury. "That's the most important thing."
"I'm fine, but the most important thing is if you're all right," Serena disagreed. "Are you?"
"We're fine," Ellen answered. "A little bruised, but nothing major."
"I'm so glad," Serena said in relief.
As his wife was wrapped up with their daughter, Ken turned to the other person who had come into the house. She was staring around with an almost lost look in her eyes. Without knowing quite why he did, Ken swept her up in his arms. "Are you okay, Reenie?" he asked gently. "They didn't hurt you, did they?"
Reenie shook her head and sighed happily as she was wrapped in her grandfather's arms. "Uh uh," she muttered. "I'm fine."
Serena looked seriously up at her mother. "I can erase everyone's memories of what happened," she said quietly. "Change them so that we were just gone for a slumber party or something."
Jake chose that moment to speak up. "Do you know why they took you? I mean, why would monsters set up this elaborate trap to get 'you'? Was it... was it because of my story?"
"No!" Travis denied vehemently. "It had nothing to do with you!"
Serena continued to stare at her mother while sending a tendril of thought to her brother. ::I'd like to tell him,:: he told her while still trying to reassure his guardian. ::I'd already planned to, and I don't think he'd tell.::
At the same time, her mother smiled mistily down at her. "I think your father would be as proud of you as I am, but it's your decision. I promised myself I wouldn't interfere when it came to your Sailor activities."
Serena nodded slowly, answering both her mother and brother at the same time. She took a deep breath and turned around in her mother's arms to look at the rest of the room. "They kidnapped us because they wanted Sailor Moon and Sailor Sol," she said bluntly.
"So, they thought they would come to save you?" Jake asked, perplexed.
"Not quite," Travis laughed.
"They thought we 'were' them," Serena explained.
Ken looked shocked. "How could they possibly think that?" he asked. "I mean, I know your hairstyle is the same, but you're just Serena... I mean, you're not exactly a superhero. To be a little blunt, you're not exactly superhero material."
"Gee, thanks a lot, Dad!" Serena smiled, but couldn't help the little flash of hurt that went through her at her father's words.
Ken came over to her quickly. "I'm sorry sweetheart," he said softly, wrapping his family in his arms. "I didn't mean anything by that, I know you've grown up a lot in the last couple of months, but before that you really were extremely... um..." he tried to think of a word that would describe her without insulting her. Others decided to do it for him.
"Airheaded," Reenie put in helpfully.
"And clumsy," Travis added.
"And a cry baby," Reenie continued.
"And whiny," Travis was grinning as he and Reenie traded comments back and forth. Serena was glaring at them both.
"And," Reenie started.
"I think that's quite enough!" Serena muttered, still glaring. "We get the picture!"
"Well it's true," Travis shrugged with a grin.
"To be quite frank dear," Ken told his daughter gently, "It 'is' true. So why would they think that you were Sailor Moon?"
"Because I am," Serena answered simply, turning to look him directly in the eye.
Travis turned to his guardian. "And I am Sailor Sol," he said softly. "It was the secret I almost blurted out the other day."
Ken and Jake blinked. "Are you saying..." Ken started, then he shook his head. "That's ridiculous," he said with finality.
"Dad," Serena said firmly. "I 'am' Sailor Moon." He still looked disbelieving. "Well then I'll prove it to you!" she said, getting impatient with his disbelief.
Serena and Travis moved away from their families toward the middle of the room. They looked at each other and Travis grinned reassuringly as he pulled out his necklace. Serena took a deep breath and nodded. "MOON CRYSTAL POWER!" "SUN STONE POWER!" they cried at the same time. As Ken and Jake looked on in disbelief, and Ellen in wonder, they transformed.
Sailor Moon turned to look at her father. He was staring at her with a white faced look of shock. Sailor Moon's face fell as he didn't move or speak. "Dad?" she said in a small voice. He continued to stare.
Jake didn't seem to be having the same problem. He hugged Sailor Sol tightly then started shaking him while bombarding him with questions. "How did this happen? How long have you been a Sailor Scout? Have you been hurt? And for goodness sake, why didn't you tell me?"
Sailor Sol grinned, shook his head and tried to get a word in edgewise.
With a thought, Sailor Moon detransformed. "Dad?" she said again. When he didn't answer she stomped her foot. "Dad!" she cried. "Say something! Yell at me or something! Just don't stand there looking as if you don't know who I am anymore!" She burst into tears and ran out of the room.
That snapped Ken out of his immobility and he moved after her. Reenie had already started to follow her when he stopped her. "I need to speak to my daughter alone," he told her.
Reenie glared at him. "Just don't make her cry again," she ordered, turning back into the living room.
Ken reached Serena's room to find her lying face down on the bed crying. As he entered he heard her talking to herself. "I knew it was a bad idea," she muttered. "I knew I shouldn't have told him, now he doesn't want me anymore, and it's all my fault."
"Shh," Ken whispered as he settled down onto the bed next to her. He gently rubbed her back, trying to
sooth her. "Of course I want you," he told her quietly. "You're my daughter, and I love you, and nothing will ever change that."
"Then why did you look at me like that?" Serena asked, not turning to look at him. She had tensed up as soon as he sat down and didn't seem to be calming down any.
"Because I was shocked," he answered softly. "You had to expect that. I thought I knew everything important about you, and now I find that I don't know you at all."
"Oh Daddy, that's not true," Serena said, finally rolling over and looking up at him. "You do know me. You just don't know everything, and I couldn't tell you."
"Because you didn't trust me," he said looking away.
"No!" Serena sat up quickly and put her hand on his arm. "Because I didn't want you in danger! I didn't want you hurt because of me! And... and..." she laid back down and put her hand over her face, "and I was scared."
"Of what?"
"Of what I saw downstairs," she said turning her face away.
Ken turned her face towards him and looked down into her eyes. "What did you see?" he asked.
Serena closed her eyes, trying to keep him away, but she couldn't keep another tear from trickling down her cheek. She didn't answer.
"Serena," Ken said intently. He knew he had hurt her by his reaction and that they had to work this out now.
"I don't want you to stop loving me," she whispered harshly.
"That's never going to happen," he answered back immediately. "Never. I could find out that you were an evil alien who eats people's brains for breakfast and you would still be my daughter."
Serena giggled. Once she started she couldn't stop, but she sat up and threw her arms around her father as she laughed until tears came to her eyes and she sobbed.
He held her gently, rubbing her back until she was quiet again, then raised her face to his. "I will love you no matter what, no matter how angry I am with you, no matter how shocked I am, no matter what." Now it was his turn to look down. "I don't know how I missed it though," he said, shaking his head, "I must have been very blind to miss all the signs that something was going on. I just blamed them on that boy though."
"There was no way you could know," Serena shook her head, and laid it on his shoulder. "Without seeing me transform, you never would have believed it, it's part of the magic that helps keep us safe."
"Then why worry about someone finding out from me?" Ken asked.
"Um..." Serena thought that one over for a long moment. "Uh... good question," she finally answered. "I don't have a clue." She scratched her head. "There's got to be a good reason though, or our guardians wouldn't tell us to keep it a secret so much."
"Guardians?" Ken asked.
"I'll tell you all about it when we get back to the others, okay?" Serena jumped out of bed with her usual energy and started towards the door. She stopped and turned back. "Are you sure it's okay?" she asked softly, her eyes almost begging.
"I'm sure," Ken answered with a smile. Then the smile faded away. "However, we are going to have a long talk about keeping secrets," he continued.
"Yes, Dad," Serena said meekly, grinning at him before turning and going out the door.
Ken sighed in relief as she left, glad to see her back to normal. "Superhero or not, she's still a teenager," he muttered, thinking of her quick mood changes. He shook his head and smiled. "And I wouldn't want her any other way." He set off out the door after her.
As Serena came back in the room, the others looked at her worriedly, but her beaming smile reassured them that everything was all right. "About time you got here," Jake said. "Travis refused to say anything until you got back and my curiosity is killing me!"
"A little frustration's good for the soul," Travis grinned back. He had detransformed while they were gone.
Ken followed Serena into the room and maneuvered her onto the couch between him and Ellen. Reenie gave a sigh of relief as she saw this and moved into Serena's lap. "Is everything all right, Mommy?" she whispered quietly into her ear.
"I think so, sweetheart," Serena smiled hugging her tight and nestling down farther into the cushions.
"So?" she asked in a slightly louder voice, "What do you want to know?"
"Everything!" Jake said immediately.
"I want to know about these guardians," Ken said. He looked over at his wife, "I'd also like to know why you took this so calmly."
Travis got up to get Apollo from the front yard as Serena laughed. "Oh she didn't. She totally freaked."
"I didn't 'totally' freak'," Ellen disagreed. "I was just a little shocked. Now when I learned about Reenie, 'then' I totally freaked."
Ken was staring at them.
"You know that time when Mom got drained by the youma in the mall?" Serena asked. "Well, I thought she was totally unconscious, so I transformed right in front of her."
"If you could tell her, why couldn't you tell me?" Ken asked.
Ellen put her hand on her husband's arm. "There is a reason," she said quietly. "And I'm sure they'll get to it."
Serena nodded. "We will, though most of the explanation's going to have to wait until later," she said. "Reenie's leaving in a couple of hours, and we've still got things to do."
Travis came in with Apollo upon his shoulder. "In answer to your question Uncle Ken, this is my guardian, Apollo."
"But that's just my falcon," Jake said in surprise.
"Not quite," Serena laughed. "Luna, there is my guardian, and Artemis is Mina's." She pointed to where the cats were sitting.
"And I'm Reenie's!" Diana mewed, jumping up.
Once again, the men were reduced to wide eyed, white faced shock.
"Luna, Apollo, why don't you tell them the history of the Silver Millenium, and me and Reenie'll go pack, okay?" Serena asked as she got up.
"I'll go help you," Ellen said, standing up as well. "I've heard the story before."
Luna glared at the departing girls before setting herself down, curling her tail around her feet, and beginning. "A thousand years ago..."
Upstairs, Serena sank to the side of the bed. "He's taking it well," she said in a small voice.
"I thought he would," Ellen responded, sitting down next to her. "He does love you, you know, and in the end, that's going to be the only thing that matters."
"I hope you're right," Serena answered. "I was so afraid he wouldn't want me anymore once he knew. Of course, now he's learning about Princess Serenity. I should be down there," she suddenly got up. "I don't want Dad to think I'm some stuck up princess now or something."
"He won't think that," Ellen laughed. "He knows you too well."
"Makes it hard to believe she's a princess of any kind, right?" Reenie asked with a laugh.
"And they think you are?" Serena sassed back.
"Of course! I'm a perfect princess," Reenie stood up straight and haughty, trying to look down her nose at the two older women.
They laughed, and Serena reached out to pull her into a hug. "Oh I'm going to miss you," she said, squeezing hard.
"I'm going to miss you too," Reenie said, hugging back as hard as she could. "And you, Grandma. I've never had a grandmother before. I really like it."
"And I really like being your grandma," Ellen said, reaching for her own share of hugs. "Are you going back to your own time now?"
Reenie nodded with her head in Ellen's shoulder. "Pluto came back. She's going to take me back home to Crystal Tokyo."
"Then I suppose we'd better get you ready to go, hmm?" Ellen hugged her one more time, then set her down. "Now, what do you want to take back home with you? I'm sure you have lots of clothes in the palace, so you don't need those."
"But I want them," Reenie said instantly. "Cause you bought them for me. Besides, they'll remind me of here and all of you."
Serena and Ellen traded shrugs. "If you want them you can take them," Serena said. "They're your clothes after all."
Ellen went to get an old suitcase, and they started packing the clothes. Mi'a doll was carefully added to the top of the pile, as were several new pictures of Reenie with the Scouts and Serena, Travis and Darian.
"Doesn't seem like much," Reenie said quietly.
"You were only here for a couple of weeks, Reenie," Serena reminded her. "You didn't have time to get many things."
"I guess not," Reenie's voice was sad. Looking at the suitcase, she realized she really was going home. She couldn't wait to see her parents again, and make sure they were all right, but she didn't want to leave her family in this time either. She was just about to get a grandpa, and she already had a grandma, and she didn't have either of those in the palace. She found she was also going to miss her Uncle Sammy, even if he didn't seem to like her much. *I'm not going to cry,* she thought rebelliously. *I'm seven years old, that's way too old to cry.* She told her conscience to shut up as it reminded her that Serena, at fifteen, still tended to cry quite a bit.
"I suppose that's it," Ellen admitted finally. "And we really should go down and see how they're doing with the story."
The three went downstairs to be met with a surprise. Darien was sitting in one of the chairs, talking easily with the other three. He stood up as the girls came into the room.
"Darien!" Serena squealed. "What are you doing here?"
"I decided I wanted to 'really' meet the man that's been in love with my daughter for more than a thousand years," Ken said.
Serena grinned, delighted. "So you wanted to meet my baby's father, huh?" she asked.
"YOUR BABY! What do you mean your baby?" He turned wrathfully on Darien. "I thought you said you wouldn't be doing anything until she was older! How could she" he was interrupted.
"DADDY!" Serena yelled. When she had his attention, she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sorry, I thought Luna told you."
He was not calmed. "Told me? You expected her to tell me something like this?"
"What's the big deal?" she asked, uncomprehendingly. "I mean, I know it must be a surprise to find out you're going to be a grandfather, but she's not even going to be born for almost another thousand years."
"That's not the point!" he started, then stalled. "A thousand years?"
"That's right," Darien spoke up hesitantly. "Reenie is our daughter from the future. She's going to be born almost a thousand years from now."
Ken stood there for several minutes before looking down at his daughter. "Is that what you meant?"
"Of course, Daddy," Serena said confused. "What did you think I meant?"
"I am 'not' a baby!" Reenie put in, annoyed.
"I know you're not sweetheart," Serena said soothingly. "But you're my baby, regardless of how old you are. Right mom? Isn't that what you always say? That no matter how old I get, I'm always going to be your baby?"
"Yes, dear, but I don't think that was a good way to put it to your father. We really don't need him having a heart attack right now, and he's had quite a number of shocks."
Ken sank into a chair. "That's for sure," he muttered.
Jake was watching all of this with a glint of laughter in his eye. Travis also seemed to be having a hard time controlling himself as he watched the drama unfold before him.
"Congratulations," Jake said to Ken. "You're a grandfather, and at your age too."
Ken looked up. "A grandfather?" He looked over at the pink haired little girl who was staring at him. Only then did everything he had just heard sink in. He motioned Reenie to come over to him. "So you're my granddaughter?" he asked.
Reenie nodded hesitantly. "I will be," she said in a small voice.
Ken looked her over carefully, then smiled. "You look like your mother," he said softly.
"Thank you," Reenie smiled brightly. "My mother's the most beautiful woman in the world," she told him seriously.
"I know she is," Ken answered just as seriously. "Well," he took a quick glance at his wife, "after Ellen that is."
Reenie giggled.
"If you're my granddaughter, does that mean I get a hug?" he asked when she calmed down.
Reenie's smile grew broader as she threw herself into his arms. "Grandpa!" she cried.
Ellen's eyes were wet as she watched the scene.
Apollo broke it up uncomfortably. "It's time to go."
Artemis, Luna and Diana had been spending the last half hour just curled around the kitten, purring and reassuring her and themselves that everything was going to be okay. At Apollo's words, the gave their daughter a kiss on the top of her head and stood up.
Serena gave a low cry. "Already?" she asked. "It's not been three hours!"
"It's been two and a half," Apollo replied in his grating voice. "If we want to be there in time, we really need to leave now."
"It doesn't seem like it's been near that long," Serena complained.
Ken stood up reluctantly, putting Reenie down on the ground. She was pouting as well. "I don't want to go," she muttered.
"I don't want you to go either," Serena agreed.
"But she needs to get home," Travis reminded them both. "Besides, more than likely, she'll be back."
"Do you really think so Uncle Tranq?" Reenie asked hopefully.
He kneeled down in front of her. "Yes, I really think so," he answered. "After all, you've come three times in the last five months. I think you'll be back. And if you can't, then we'll see you in the future, right?"
"It's not the same," Reenie muttered, rebelliously. "Mommy and Serena aren't the same, Daddy and Darien aren't the same, and you and Uncle Tranq aren't the same, not really."
"But we all love you just the same," Darien reminded her, picking her up and holding her close.
"I know," Reenie threw her arms around Darien's neck. "I've never doubted 'that'."
Reenie needed another hug from everyone before she was ready to go. Darien picked up her suitcase as she looked around, looking at all of them searchingly. Making up her mind, she walked over and grabbed her grandfather's hand, and dragged him over to where she could hold her grandmother's hand as well. She looked quickly at her mother to see if she minded.
Serena couldn't help but feel a stab of envy that Reenie had chosen her parents instead of her and Darien to walk with, but it was covered with a wash of happiness as she watched her family. She smiled mistily at Darien as she took his free hand, and they left the house.
The walk to the park was mostly quiet, broken only by Ken's quiet questions to his new granddaughter. They reached the boat dock to find Lita, Amy and Raye already there. Several minutes later, Mina came running up.
For several moments an uneasy silence covered that section of the park. Raye broke it. "You be good and don't get to be too much like Serena, okay?" she asked gently. Reenie sniffled and nodded. "Good," Raye smiled, "One's more than enough." She handed Reenie a good luck charm, and backed away to let the others say their goodbyes.
"Keep up with your studies," Amy reminded her. "But don't forget to have a little fun," she whispered so low no one else could hear.
Reenie laughed, and made a note to remind her teacher in the future that she had said that. "I will," she said.
"You take care of yourself," Lita smiled, handing her a box of cookies.
Mina came forward. "Come back soon so you can hear all the new gossip."
"Maybe I'll have some of my own to tell," Reenie whispered back.
"You'd better be a lot older then," Serena said severely, obviously overhearing.
"You sound just like grandpa," Reenie giggled.
Serena laughed too, then sobered, and she and Darien took Reenie off to one side for a private goodbye.
Ellen, Ken and Jake watched in awe as a gate slowly opened on the end of the pier and Sailor Pluto stepped through. Serena, Darien and Reenie rejoined the group with tears drying on all of their faces. Reenie and Diana went around to everyone, gathering last hugs, pettings and advice. With a deep breath, Reenie and Diana followed Pluto into the time tunnel.
The Scouts and her family waved until the gate totally closed. Then Serena burst into tears and headed for her mothers arms.
As Reenie and Pluto reached the gate, Reenie stopped. "Is it really going to be there?" she asked worriedly.
"Yes, Small Lady," Pluto said comfortingly. "Crystal Tokyo is back where it belongs."
Reenie nodded and stepped through with her eyes closed. Diana's gasp, and a familiar voice calling her name made her open them. There was Crystal Tokyo in all it's glory, and running towards them was...
"MOTHER!" Reenie ran forward to be held tightly in Neo-Queen Serenity's arms. "Oh mother, I'm so glad to see you!"
"I'm glad to see you too, Small Lady," Serenity said, hugging tightly. "And how did you like your trip back this time?"
"Oh, I loved it," Reenie said as she held tight to her mother's hand and they walked into the palace. "By the way mommy, did Sammy and Mika ever get married?"
Serenity laughed. "Yes they did," she nodded. "They got married soon after they graduated and had five kids. In fact, their eldest daughter was named Serena."
"So they lived happily ever after?"
"Happily ever after, just like your father and I," Serenity agreed with a smile.
"And Uncle Tranq too?"
"Well, he and his wife certainly seem happy to me," Serenity answered. "Which reminds me, you're going to be a cousin soon." Reenie looked up at her wide-eyed and Serenity nodded. "They're having a baby." Serenity shook her head. "Tranq's so excited you won't believe it."
"He'll make a good daddy," Reenie said seriously. "But not as good as mine!" she almost yelled as she glimpsed her father across the hall and ran into his arms.
Travis walked slowly down the street, sunk in his own thoughts. His eye was suddenly caught by a glimpse of pale blond hair. Without his willing it to, hope jumped into his heart. He looked carefully into the shop and spied a girl about the same age as he with very pale blond hair in a braid down her back, sitting and eating an ice cream.
*Is it her?* he thought to himself. *Or is it Quartz?* From the back it was impossible to tell, but his heart was telling him it was Crystal. He took a deep breath and walked in. He headed toward her, then at the last minute turned toward the front of the shop. *Come on Travis, get a grip!* he thought as he ordered an ice cream. *It's not like you don't know her. Well, she doesn't know you do, but that doesn't count. You know what she likes, you can get a conversation started without any problems. Don't be such a wimp!* With that mental lecture, he turned back towards the girl.
"Hi," he said quietly, standing next to her table. "My name is Travis, can I sit down?"
Crystal looked up into the bluest eyes she had ever seen. *He's cute!* was her first thought. *And he wants to sit with me?* "Sure," she said softly. "My name is Crystal."
"Hello Crystal, it's nice to meet you."
FIN
And done! Thanks for reading!