The next few years went by in a blur.  There was the fall of Tokyo, and the rise of Crystal Tokyo, and the royal wedding between Mamoru and Usagi.  Haruka stayed with Michiru...but didn't love her the way that she had before.  Michiru's suspicion almost ruined their "relationship", or what was left of it.

            Then came the war.

            Diablere had found his way back to their time, and was intent on ruling Crystal Tokyo; just as many other enemies had been in past time.  The difference was that Diablere was succeeding.

            After the royal guard fell, young men and women were asked to enlist.  Two years after that, there was a massive draft.  The Senshi tried to help out, but Diablere had rendered their Senshi-powers useless, forcing them into what he called a "fair fight".

            Neo Queen Serenity was pregnant with Chibi Usa, and Haruka was twenty-nine, nearing the big three-o. Haruka and Mamoru had only spoken briefly since that night ten years ago, but both thought of each other all the time.

            Now Haruka had received a summons, telling her that she was to come and bid farewell to her King, who would be joining in the battle, and was leaving today.

            The drive to the Crystal Palace was a silent one, despite the ohhing and ahhing of the civilians.  Although Crystal Tokyo was suppose to be more advanced, they had gone back to using horse and carriage, and seeing as Haruka loved her cars, she was the only one that still used them, and the common folk would scurry about her Ferrari, enthralled by her "horseless carriage".

            But today their awe did nothing to please Haruka, and she honked her horn irritably.  Michiru was too upset by the thought of losing a dear friend to comment on her mate's manners, and for that Haruka was eternally grateful.

            Hotaru sat in the back seat quietly, her eyes flicking from one event to another, having done and seen more in her twenty one years than anyone she knew, and, therefore, becoming a loner.

            Reaching the Crystal Palace, Haruka was informed that the King would be saying his good-byes on a hill some miles away.  Already in bad spirits, Haruka suggested that they just teleport.  Her suggestion was met and welcomed, and three minutes later the three Outer Senshi were standing on a grassy hill.

            If you stood atop the hill and turned one way, you could look upon Crystal Tokyo in its entirety; and should you wish to look in the other direction, you would see the sky lit by the bombs and magicks being thrown on the battlefield.  But directly in front was the sunset, and Haruka recognized this hill as the one that she and Mamoru had shared their first kiss on.

            Was it a sign?

            Shaking the thought from her mind, Haruka gazed directly forward, into the sunset.  Endymion was making a speech, and behind him loomed some strange aircraft slightly resembling a spaceship.  His ship, Haruka presumed, and sat Indian-style on the grass, in the "section" where the other Senshi were sitting.  Several captains, generals, sergeants, and colonels were also at hand, all standing or sitting at attention.

            As the sun set further, the ceremony continued with much pomp.  Haruka took this time to survey the hilltop.  She saw Neo Queen Serenity, nine months pregnant, and sticking out to here--

            The image brought back unbidden memories of her own, short-lived pregnancy, although by now the pain had scarcely dulled the way that Haruka had expected.

            Sitting next to Serenity was Rei, and on the other side, Ami.  Luna was cradled in Ami's arms, licking the tears off of Serenity's face.  The scene made Haruka wince in sympathy, and she averted her gaze.

            Sailor Pluto was standing at attention with the rest of the military and Makoto was huddled with Minako to Serenity's direct left.  Haruka was seated next to Michiru, who was next to Hotaru.  Hotaru in turn was sitting next to Ami.

            "Greetings,"

            Haruka's head snapped to her right, only to see Artemis sitting next to her.  Diana had not yet been born, but Luna and Artemis had finally become a couple.  "At last!"  Serenity had cried; laughing gleefully as the two furry advisors blushed.

            No such glee colored Artemis' face today.

            Realizing that she had paused far longer than was polite, Haruka hastily replied, "Greetings, friend.  Quite a somber event, no?"

            "Quite."  Artemis replied, climbing into Haruka's lap and onto her shoulder.  Haruka stiffened; Artemis had never acted this way with her before, and there had to be some reason for it.

            Artemis must have sensed her discomfort, but he made himself comfortable around her shoulders.

            "Artemis...?"  Haruka asked.  Despite his small- build, his constant weight on her shoulders was starting to ache, and Haruka was getting nervous about what he may have to say.

            "I'm getting a feeling around you," Artemis finally got to his point.  "I can't tell what it is...but be careful, Tenou.  If you make the wrong decision, worlds could fall."  His piece said, Artemis sprang from her shoulders, and scampered over to where Luna was still trying to comfort her hysterical Queen.

            Finally, just as the first stars began to show in the skies, the time came for everyone to bid farewell to their beloved King.  First the military leaders all stood and bowed, saluting.  Then they all boarded the ship, so that the King might have a private moment with his wife and the Senshi.

            Forming a straight line, as was procedure, the Senshi, one by one, hugged their King.  First came Rei.  She hugged King Endymion, and gave him a charm from her shrine, which was still on Cherry Hill.

            Ami was next.  She was crying, but hugged Endymion, and gave him a book "to read on long nights" she whispered in his ear, and Haruka wondered if maybe she wasn't the only Senshi that felt more than friendship toward their King.

            Minako followed; she hugged him and gave him a bottle of perfume that Serenity usually wore, so that he would never forget the scent of home.

            Makoto hugged her King, and gave him banana nut bread, saying that if he was going to fight, then he had better eat well.  Her laugh sounded strained, though, and she hurried back to her seat.

            Next came Sailor Pluto.  She gave him a hug, and some sort of device, obviously for time travel, or fighting of some sort.  Smiling sadly, she strode back over to the rest of the Senshi, sitting next to Haruka.

            Hotaru walked up slowly, nervously, it seemed.  She was warring with the memories of Mamoru that she had, and the presence of King Endymion standing before her.  Finally she just hugged him and handed him a small night-light.

            Michiru was next, and she walked up gracefully.  She pulled a painting out of her bag, and handed it to him.  "I spent years tracking this down."  She said softly, and walked away.  Looking down, Mamoru saw that it was the picture of him and Usagi dancing that Peggy had drawn over twelve years ago.  He thanked her profusely as she walked sinuously away.

            Haruka was to go next, but she moved aside to let Serenity go up.

            Throwing shaking arms around her husband, Serenity sobbed into his uniform, while the King stroked her hair.  Finally regaining composure, Serenity stumbled back to her friends.  Luna and Artemis waved with their tails since they couldn't very well leave their Queen suffering to say good-bye.

            Now it was Haruka's turn.

            Walking up slowly, Haruka pondered what she would do.  She had no gift to give, and somewhere deep inside she knew that this would be the last time that she saw her love.

            *I wonder if he still feels the same about me?* Haruka wondered, but dismissed the possibility.  *He's got a wife and a kingdom...and very soon, he'll have a family.  Something I couldn't give him.*  Her mind added bitterly.

            By now she had reached him, and before she could think, Endymion was holding her, as he would never hold her again.  She wrapped her arms around him, and now tears sprang into her eyes at the thought of never holding him again.  For over a year after they had said their good-byes, it was all Haruka could do to stop herself from bursting into tears every time that she saw him...and little did she know, but he cried at night too.

            But now they were holding each other, and none of that mattered.  Everything else was the past, and all she could feel was his breath on her neck, and his arms around her slender body.

            Haruka glanced up into his face, and was met by the same hauntingly intense blue gaze as always.  Looking deeper, she saw the same pain and suffering as before... as well as guilty desire.

            That was all she needed.  Haruka leaned in, and as the rest of the Senshi gasped, the protector of Earth and the distant sky ruler kissed, one final kiss, their last.

            "...After that, much changed.  Haruka was ordered exiled from Crystal Tokyo, and lived out by the ocean, in the beach house that the Outer Senshi had lived in back when Crystal Tokyo was still just 'Tokyo.'

            "Neo Queen Serenity went slowly insane, and the pregnancy nearly killed her.  Michiru was found dead, in her bathtub, soon after Endymion's farewell ceremony. She had given Haruka the best years of her life, as well as her love, and both had been taken and not given back.

            "As for the rest of the Senshi and Chibi Usa... well, Setsuna disappeared.  Some say that she went back to the Time Post, and she must have, because seasons come and go as they should, and no meetings were called to replace her.  Chibi Usa now uses her full name of Serenity; and although she is only eleven, has taken over the job of High Queen.

            "Sometime after that fateful day the Senshi all received letters telling them of King Endymion's fate: taken hostage, and killed in one of those torture camps.  All the Senshi were to appear for his funeral, but Haruka never showed.  When they went to her beach house, they found the letter in the trash, but no Haruka.  She was never heard from again, although there have been some 'Haruka Sightings' over the last eleven years.

            "And that's it."

            The children sat back on their haunches, contented, although one had to speak up, "So that's it, Lady Diana?" he asked the gray cat, thinking nothing about speaking to an animal.

            Diana nodded her head, whiskers dipping.  "That's it.  There is no more."

            The child scoffed.  "Talk of angels..."

        Hey! So...whatcha think? I worked on this fic for a long time. Today (the finish date) is Tuesday, October 09, 2001 1:05:32 PM.
        If anyone knows the Japanese name for Peggy, do tell me. It was so weird having her name there next to all those Japanese ones! ::sweat -_-' drop::
        Anywhoo, if you liked this fic, please email me at Goodnight_Spoon@hotmail.com; if I do not email you back within a week or two, then I've switched back to armendariz@wwnet.net. If you want to IM me, check me out on Bolt.com, or see me on the ASMR discussion board, my screen name for all four is LadieAJ.
        If you liked this fic, then you'll love my fic, I have also written "Roses and Forget-me-nots," "For the Love of Mercury," "Parody," "Sailor Moon vs. the Teletubbies" and "Great Fanfics: a List."
        Anyway, if you loved it, hated it, think that the beginning was too slow, or just want to talk about Sailor Moon...email me! I love email, and love having fellow moonies IMing me. Well, that's all. Thanks, and read "Sailor Moon and Me"!
Ja--
AJ~

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