Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon. Standard disclaimers apply. Author's Notes at the end! LAST CHAPTER!

Chapter Fifteen

Kunzite ducked under Sol's blade and cursed as it missed his head but buried itself deep into his shoulder. He flung himself away and circled the laughing Emperor, face stony, eyes giving away his tiredness. He had scored on Sol as well but while both men were covered in blood and sweat only Kunzite fought with all the dignified desperateness that he could muster. He only hoped he had given the Generals enough time... To save the princesses, or if they were too late for that to save themselves.

Beryl screamed as another contraction hit her but both men ignored the Sorceress. "You're going to die Kunzite!" Sol taunted, eyes dancing with anticipation. Kunzite shrugged hard and leapt aside, panting, as the Emperor rushed him.

"Perhaps," he acceded with a wince as he blocked a fierce thrust and parried with no little effort. Sol sighed theatrically and Kunzite chose that moment to dart in and send a blow towards his heart. Sol fell back but received a deep gash across his chest. The Emperor spat.

"And I had so hoped to hold you in chains while you watched the princesses burn!" Anger momentarily overcame Kunzite's analytical battle plans and he charged forward, sword high, hell in his eyes. As two thin swords screeched their battle cries and locked Kunzite stared his Emperor in the eyes for the last time through the crossed swords.

"You shall never speak of the princesses like that again," Kunzite hissed. Sol, amused, chuckled darkly.

"And how will you live to stop me?" Kunzite ignored the question but his icy gaze fixed on Mina who knelt by Beryl's side and retrieved a throwing knife from the gasping Sorceress before he spoke again.

"I think I shall have to agree on Mina with this my King."

His voice dripped with scorn. "Every man and woman deserves a last battle, but rabid dogs should be put to sleep." Sol, suddenly realizing his mistake, screamed and whirled as Kunzite stepped back, sword at his side. The Emperor and Ruler of the known Universe gasped and stared at the hilt quivering in his chest.

"How...?" he faltered as his hands hesitantly touched the wound and came away slick with blood. Mina stood before him, tall and proud, despite her wounds.

"I believe its your turn to burn in hell," the Princess of Venus replied casually, "I've already been there and they sent me back for you." Sol snarled in silent, inarticulate rage, and died helplessly where he stood.

Lita felt the planets crow with triumph as the Earthen Army fell another yard back, and then another. Rebels streamed past them and she laughed as the first Earth mercenary turned tail and ran. Dozens, then hundreds of men followed. Nephrite touched her shoulder and she turned to meet his serious eyes.

"Shouldn't you stop them?" he asked softly as he waved to the Rebels who raced after the fleeing Earthen Army, eager to cut the weakened men down as they fled.

"Is it my right Nephrite? After all that Sol has done to them what right have I to tell them that they can't have their revenge?" Cobalt flashed dangerously and his mouth tightened.

"There's been enough blood shed for one day Lita," he snapped, gesturing to a field slick more with blood than mud. She did not answer him but raised her chin high, defiant in her stubbornness. Flinty eyes narrowed further.

"Let me ask you this then princess, do you want to start your kingdom like Sol, built on a mound of helpless bodies?" That got the desired reaction as four planets stirred uneasily in her soul. Lita flinched and shuddered at the implication. Her hands clenched into balled fists at her side before, with a supreme effort, she relaxed them and turned away from Nephrite, back to towards the armies. She held out her arms one more time and let her last bit of power flow out to the Rebels, her people. They stopped as one as she caught them, restrained them in a cocoon of gold and emerald and violet and cerulean. And when they muttered angrily and fought her she spoke clearly, calmly, in a voice that could have carried to the four corners of Earth, and they listened. They listened because she spoke in the voice of reason and because, because as she stood on top of that mound of dirt in a war ravaged field on that forbidden planet she looked, framed against the rising sun, remarkably like Queen Serenity; proud and strong enough to guide this tortured universe out of the darkness and back into the light.

Weapons were slowly lowered as she lifted away the magic and survivors of the Earthen Army slunk quickly away, leaving the victors facing the woman whom had led them. She did not ask or expect what happened next, if she had then she would have been disposed of as quickly as Sol.

Lita stared, face slack, as, one by one, every man and woman in the fields before her, as far as the eye could see, a sea of living bodies, knelt on one knee and bowed their heads to her. Her mouth worked as she turned to Nephrite, a helpless expression on her face.

"Nephrite... what do I do?" He smiled at the question and replied with a full bow that made the princess flush.

"Accept the honor that they offer you Lita, and be forever grateful that you were the one to receive it..." Her gaze, momentarily flashing gold, flickered towards the silent, stone-faced Setsuna.

"I've been told that I am not fit to be a leader," she said softly, fear plain on her pinched face. Nephrite chuckled as Setsuna sighed, exasperated.

"Fine then princess," the Guardian of Time called out, "Don't be a leader, be an Empress." Nephrite rose and went to Lita's side as her face grew blanker. He put one arm slowly around her waist and turned her back to the people who awaited her.

"What if I don't want to be an Empress?" Lita asked plaintively as she looked fearfully down at the men and women who were pledging their loyalty to her. Nephrite leaned close and replied in a near whisper in her ear.

"I don't think they're giving you much choice. After all, leadership is not an easy burden and as far as I can tell no one else has willingly shouldered as much as you. I'd say that you are equal to the job." Greatly daring he leaned down and kissed her brow before stepping back again, leaving Lita alone once more. She swallowed nervously, swallowed and then smiled a bit. She bit one lip and her smile grew thoughtful as she reciprocated the crowd's respect by bowing deeply to those who proclaimed themselves her people. Her people.

Apparently it was the right thing to do because the men and women rose and cheered until their throats were raw. Sometimes dreams can come true, and how sweet they are when they are such pearls as freedom, justice, and hope. Pluto allowed herself a smile and whispered a small, silent blessing, before fading away. The future was forged and destiny's course was set. She was needed at the Gates of Time once more.

Mina stood, a squalling baby in her arms, and glared at Kunzite, who glared back, sword still drawn. Beryl lay dead from the delivery but her child lived, for now. The Princess of Venus clutched the child closer to her breast as her mouth hardened.

"You will not kill this child Kunzite." He advanced one dangerous step but she held her ground.

"Mina," he snapped, pain in his eyes, "You don't understand... This baby... Do you have any idea the kind of man Sol and Beryl planned him to be? Any idea how they wanted to twist and mold him into their insane view of perfection? How can we let that kind of threat live when we can stop it now, before it takes innocent lives?" Mina snorted, sapphire eyes flashing, and held the child up, face furious as she spat back an answer.

"We can let that 'threat' live because he's not an it Kunzite, he's a child, a beautiful, innocent child. A child who shouldn't be held accountable for his parents actions." As Kunzite stared at the baby, who was crying harder now that he was away from the warmth that Mina provided, his sword lowered on its own accord until the tip rested on the ground.

It wasn't Mina's words that had completely changed his mind though; it was the child himself. A child with bright blue eyes, not baby gray, and a shock of dark, black hair. He looked like Endymion, like the future. Tears filled Kunzite's eyes, warmed the ice of his gaze to silver, as he walked forward and caught Mina in a hug as she again held the babe close and rocked it to soothe its cries.Kunzite rested his chin on the top of her head and was once more awash with her smell, the fiercest winds and desert sands and the brightest rays of the sun... "You... I..." Kunzite laughed bitterly. "I've never been very good at words..." He finished ruefully. Mina snorted and put one warm hand over his heart, which quickened with her touch.

"Your actions speak well enough Kunzite, your actions speak well enough." His breath caught in his throat as he instinctively tightened his hold on her, though he was careful not to crush the child she still held.

"And what do they say?" Mina raised her head and brushed her lips along his jaw line. He inhaled deeply at the soft butterfly kiss and smiled.

"They say enough," she repeated again, voice gentle. Kunzite smiled and allowed one hand to trail through golden hair. Mina sighed.

"They most definitely say enough."

Ken, Rose, and Serena watched as Rei, Jadeite, Ami, Zoicite, Mina, Kunzite, and the baby stumbled out of the Earth Castle and were reunited with Lita and Nephrite. Serena turned to her two friends and kissed them both, on the cheek, her sapphire eyes glimmering. She did not speak but a smile of unbelievable joy crossed her face as she allowed the stars to claim her spirit and send her on through the Time Stream. She was going on to find Endymion, to find the missing half of her soul. Ken knew she would be successful because, because not even time could keep those two apart for long.

He linked one shadowy hand with Rose and squeezed her hand. She did not look at him but watched the happy scene unfold down before her, face grave, eyes sad. "I should be there..." she whispered. Ken reached over with his other hand and touched her chin, making her meet his intent gaze.

"I know love, trust me I know. But think of it this way... They've saved the present from the nightmare of the past, its up to us to build them a future." Rose smiled at his words and the shadows in her face eased some.

"They won't forget us love, they can't. And we won't forget them, I promise." Rose bowed her head and nodded slowly and when she looked up again she was crying but her face was serene.

"Ready?" he asked softly. She nodded again and squeezed his hand back.

"I am." Ken smiled and together, together they followed Serena forward, towards the unknown and the bright promise of the future.

Epilogue

I sigh and put down my quill pen, flexing my fingers after hours of writing. My left-hand trails down and absently fingers the charm I always wear, the one of Jupiter accompanied by the small umbrella charm. The memories that come with it for once are happy, not painful. Ever since the battle, when Sol and the Earthen Army had been defeated I've been able to think of Ken and Rose and Serena and Serenity and Horatu and Haruka and Mirchiru and remember them as they lived, not as they died. A gentle knock on my study door precedes Tess who bustles in, a mug of coffee in her hands.

"Here you go Lady..." I sigh again as I thank my old friend and take the coffee. I wish Tess would call me Lita, Lena even, but the best I could get out of her is Lady. I guess that's better than Empress.

"Where's my husband by the way?" I ask as I sip the scalding drink. Tess chuckles easily.

"Where else my Lady? Training in the barracks with Bernum and several of the other men." I snort. Where else indeed, though honestly I'd be out there myself, rain or shine, if not for one small development. All right, one not so small development. I reach down and pat my stomach, which is bulging to a size I swear isn't natural, even for an eight-month pregnancy. Ami keeps assuring me I'm imagining things but with all the time she spends with that husband of hers I'm never sure how much attention she pays to the rest of the world anymore...

I smile as Tess leaves. Its funny in a way, we all used to think, Ami included, that she'd be the last of us to marry, not the first. But then we used to think Mina, Goddess of Love, would be the first and she still showed no real inclination to marry Kunzite, despite the fact that they were, rather successfully I might add, raising the orphan of Sol and Beryl together. I think she's still afraid that something will come between them and she wants to be able to walk away when that day comes... But whatever it is that's keeping Mina from saying yes, though she's never yet said no to Kunzite's numerous proposals, I don't think she'll last must longer. That man was positively adamant that they make their union legal.

As for marriage, well Nephrite and I are happy, not that we don't still have the occasional squabble. Okay, so our last squabble was loud enough that Bernum claims that the men could hear us in the barracks as we argued but I know he's exaggerating, maybe. We're muddling through, together, and on nights when Nephrite and I star gaze on the balcony I know with utter certainty that us being together is right. I may not be able to read the stars but even I can tell that. Rei and Jadeite, by the way, not to be outdone, hastily made their own marriage plans after me and Nephrite announced our daughter's existence, and yes I said daughter. Nephrite's convinced that it's a son but a mother always knows. Please baby; don't make me eat those words. They were married a month ago and are still honeymooning on Mars. Though personally I doubt they're going to get much time alone. Rei is a much beloved princess and her people believe it's their fundamental right to meet and evaluate Jadeite to make sure he's right for their 'little ruler'.

And the princesses themselves, my friends... They live here with me, at the Earthen Castle, though they still rule their own respective planets and spend many of their days laboriously working to repair the ruin brought on them. We, me and Nephrite, chose to start doing good in the place that was once the heart of Sol's evil and so far its working. We have a lot to do, that damn man did so much to shatter the universe that it will take generations to rebuild, and probably as long to convince the people of Earth that I am not going to punish them for what their ruler did. The princesses are no longer senshi. I would feel guilty if not for the knowledge that even though I have their magic they can still feel the presence of their planet's spirits. Ami has been teaching them things I never even guessed our quiet princess knew, all while Zoicite stands by with a proud smile on his face. I don't know what will happen to the magic when I die... if it will revert back to the princesses or if it will be passed down my line. I think I have time enough to solve that problem though... No matter how old I feel sometimes, we all have decades left together.

There are new rulers, new princesses, who have been chosen for Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. Their planets, and Pluto, have no interest giving their magic to me and I am happy in the knowledge that I will have others in the galaxy with great power working for peace. There were no direct descendants of the throne so distant relatives were chosen to begin new royal lines. I do not know the three girls, I'm told they're all rather young, but, honestly, and I think it makes me less of a person, I don't want to know them. I wish them well and give them my blessing but I don't think I'm ready to accept new women in the place of three I cared for very much, not yet anyway.

I sigh a final time and stretch, grumbling slightly at the pain in my lower back, and dip my pen into the ink pot before continuing to write, determined to finish before supper.

'I did not write this account in first person because I wished those who came after me to read this as history and not the personal story of a woman who overthrew Sol and was crowned Empress. After writing all of this though I have decided, in later printings, to change the name of this account. It is true that in the Silver Millennium that we all found something or someone precious that was lost but, to be truthful, this is not just the story of something beautiful being lost and destroyed, but something equally wonderful rising from the ashes. To sound cliché this is more of a beginning than an ending... I would not go so far as to name it Serendipity Found but... Perhaps I shall simply call it what others are calling what I have done...

The Jade Millennium, or the Jaded Millennium if Setsuna if to be accredited. The Senshi of Pluto and I still do not get along well but things are better between us, though she still has a weird sense of humor. In part I agree with her though. Originally the people called my reign the Emerald Millennium but I asked it to be changed. We're all to old, to wise for something as simple as Emerald and my people, obligingly, came up with Jade.

It suits the future, which while bright is by no means sure, and honors the past, which I hope to one day live up to. And with that sentiment in mind I conclude by dedicating this tale of history to the memory of those who are no longer with us, and who we secured the future for. It's not the monuments that teach us history; it's the ruins. To following generations rule generously, rule well, and cherish whatever you love most dear, I know I will.'

Author's Notes: Under the threat of death I have finished Serendipity Lost! Wohoo!!!!! PLEASE email me and let me know what you thought of, well the whole thing. I'd be eternally grateful!

Oh and the history quote I used from a cool quotes web site, you'll notice other examples littered around my site. Its attributed to Carl Hammarén in case you wanted to know. =)

email: inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com
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