Epilogue: A Promise to Keep

The soil and debris crunched under her boots as she picked her way through the rubble of the ruined kingdom. She tried to keep her focus on her objective, to remain emotionless as she walked through the now silent city. However, the tears were threatening to overflow as she surveyed her surroundings.

This had been her home, or the place that she truly cared to call by that name. It was here that she had been happy. The people she cared about had encircled her here.

To make matters worse, she had known that this would happen. She had left, knowing that the attack would occur and the extent of the resulting slaughter. Cursing herself, she let the frustrated, grieving tears fall down her face unheeded.

‘I should have done more to help,’ she thought bitterly, her mind recording every detail of the destruction around.

She had tried to help. She knew that she would be punished for her part in the desperate mission that Sol and Charon had undertaken. It was the severity of her punishment remained uncertain.

She stopped suddenly as she noticed the area before her was barren. There was no rubble, no debris. The area was just a circle of ash as far as she could see.

“Oh, no,” she gasped. “Please.”

She ran, stumbling over the uneven terrain. Nothing seemed to register in her mind. She was vaguely aware that she had twisted her ankle during one of her falls and that she had lost her staff at some point. She had an even more vague sense of where she was in the city.

Suddenly, she stopped, her momentum throwing her to her knees. She stared motionlessly at the figures before her. Once more, tears fell unchecked down her cheeks.

She stared at the three bodies in front of her. Her brother. Her best friend. Her queen. Everyone she loved was gone. She hadn’t done anything to prevent it.

A breeze blew softly, tossing her dark green hair over her shoulders. A faint white light drew her attention. Despite herself, she gasped.

“Your Majesty,” she whispered.

“Sailor Pluto,” the ghost of Queen Serenity greeted gently.

“I’ve come too late,” the Time Guardian stated, her eyes focused once more on the bodies before her.

The queen sighed. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Sailor Pluto.”

She turned, her garnet eyes wide in disbelief. “I’m responsible for this.”

“You made the right decision,” the queen stated, “but it doesn’t make the consequences easier to bare.”

She continued her study of the bodies. Gently, she brushed the dark bangs off her brother’s face. “They didn’t have a chance to be happy. They loved each other so much.”

“Sol will be reborn, just as the other Senshi.”

“But what about Charon?”

She turned her eyes back to the ghost of the queen, but the monarch was studying the couple. For several moments, they both just stared on the figures before them, various memories filling each woman’s mind.

“I will send Charon to be reborn,” the queen said. “They deserve a chance at happiness as much as Serenity and Endymion.”

Pluto bowed her head. “Thank you,” she whispered, tears of gratitude filling her eyes.

The bodies of Charon and Sailor Sol glowed with white light. Protective bubbles encased them as they drifted higher into the air. Pluto watched as they disappeared into the vastness of space.

“Keep a watchful eye over them, over all of them, for me,” the queen said. With that she disappeared.

“I promise.”

Pluto gently picked up the body of Queen Serenity and headed to the center of the palace. The two crystal coffins had survived the attack. With reverence, she placed the body in the empty space. As she closed the heavy lid, she prayed that the queen would rest in peace beside the body of her beloved husband.

She quickly retraced her steps and founded her Time Staff. With a sigh, she studied Earth. They would all be reborn with another chance at happiness.

She prayed that Sol and Charon, as well as Serenity and Endymion, would find each other then. She hoped that they would find the happiness that they had been denied in this lifetime. They deserved that much.

With a final goodbye, she prepared to return to the Gates of Time. She had a promise to keep.


A Promise to Keep The soil and debris crunched under her boots as she picked her way through the rubble of the ruined kingdom. She tried to keep her focus on her objective, to remain emotionless as she walked through the now silent city. However, the tears were threatening to overflow as she surveyed her surroundings. This had been her home, or the place that she truly cared to call by that name. It was here that she had been happy. The people she cared about had encircled her here. To make matters worse, she had known that this would happen. She had left, knowing that the attack would occur and the extent of the resulting slaughter. Cursing herself, she let the frustrated, grieving tears fall down her face unheeded. ‘I should have done more to help,’ she thought bitterly, her mind recording every detail of the destruction around. She had tried to help. She knew that she would be punished for her part in the desperate mission that Sol and Charon had undertaken. It was the severity of her punishment remained uncertain. She stopped suddenly as she noticed the area before her was barren. There was no rubble, no debris. The area was just a circle of ash as far as she could see. “Oh, no,” she gasped. “Please.” She ran, stumbling over the uneven terrain. Nothing seemed to register in her mind. She was vaguely aware that she had twisted her ankle during one of her falls and that she had lost her staff at some point. She had an even more vague sense of where she was in the city. Suddenly, she stopped, her momentum throwing her to her knees. She stared motionlessly at the figures before her. Once more, tears fell unchecked down her cheeks. She stared at the three bodies in front of her. Her brother. Her best friend. Her queen. Everyone she loved was gone. She hadn’t done anything to prevent it. A breeze blew softly, tossing her dark green hair over her shoulders. A faint white light drew her attention. Despite herself, she gasped. “Your Majesty,” she whispered. “Sailor Pluto,” the ghost of Queen Serenity greeted gently. “I’ve come too late,” the Time Guardian stated, her eyes focused once more on the bodies before her. The queen sighed. “Don’t be so hard on yourself, Sailor Pluto.” She turned, her garnet eyes wide in disbelief. “I’m responsible for this.” “You made the right decision,” the queen stated, “but it doesn’t make the consequences easier to bare.” She continued her study of the bodies. Gently, she brushed the dark bangs off her brother’s face. “They didn’t have a chance to be happy. They loved each other so much.” “Sol will be reborn, just as the other Senshi.” “But what about Charon?” She turned her eyes back to the ghost of the queen, but the monarch was studying the couple. For several moments, they both just stared on the figures before them, various memories filling each woman’s mind. “I will send Charon to be reborn,” the queen said. “They deserve a chance at happiness as much as Serenity and Endymion.” Pluto bowed her head. “Thank you,” she whispered, tears of gratitude filling her eyes. The bodies of Charon and Sailor Sol glowed with white light. Protective bubbles encased them as they drifted higher into the air. Pluto watched as they disappeared into the vastness of space. “Keep a watchful eye over them, over all of them, for me,” the queen said. With that she disappeared. “I promise.” Pluto gently picked up the body of Queen Serenity and headed to the center of the palace. The two crystal coffins had survived the attack. With reverence, she placed the body in the empty space. As she closed the heavy lid, she prayed that the queen would rest in peace beside the body of her beloved husband. She quickly retraced her steps and founded her Time Staff. With a sigh, she studied Earth. They would all be reborn with another chance at happiness. She prayed that Sol and Charon, as well as Serenity and Endymion, would find each other then. She hoped that they would find the happiness that they had been denied in this lifetime. They deserved that much. With a final goodbye, she prepared to return to the Gates of Time. She had a promise to keep.


Resurrection: Sailor Sol Sarah's Sanctuary