The Sun is the Moon - Epilogue
This is the end of it at last
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Epilogue
The warmth at her side vanished and she rolled over into the space vacated with a mumbled protest. Through layers of sleep, she heard an amused chuckle and she muttered into the extra pillow. There was a brief touch of pressure on her shoulder and she smiled as she slipped deeper into sleep.
It seemed like only moments later that the rocking bed drew her towards consciousness. Irritably she grumbled and curled tighter into a ball, her wings curling around her closely. The shaking stopped and she sighed in satisfaction but too soon. Someone grabbed her shoulder and she could no longer ignore her visitor. Resentfully she lifted her head to see a white-gold blur. She blinked to clear her eyes of sleep and the manically cheerful face of her brother resolved in front of her. His hair was sticking out every which way, much akin to a haystack, revealing that he hadn’t been long out of bed himself but his grin was wide enough to split his face.
“C’mon Twis! Uncle Jimmy said to get up!” he burst out and she groaned at the energy in his voice. It was too early.
“G’way,” she grunted and tried to curl up again but he refused to let her go. His grinning face moved so that it was only millimetres from hers and he crossed his eyes. Reluctantly she smiled and said more understandably, “What do you want Travis?”
“Today’s the wedding,” was all he replied but it was enough.
Instantly she was awake and scrambling out of her comfortable bed. Politely her twin turned away while she pulled a shirt on over her nakedness. It was a bit of a struggle to manage her wings and with a sigh she drew them back into her body. It was a pain but it was easier than trying to work around the clothing problem. Once covered, she didn’t give her brother a chance to turn back. Instead she grabbed his arm as she past him and dragged him after her as she dashed out of the room. There was a lot they had to do. Today was the wedding!
*****
Amy groaned with effort. Mina and Michiru argued endlessly in front of her, neither of them remembering their two packhorses. The blue haired girl thought enviously of Lita who had escaped into the kitchen and Raye who pleaded a prior commitment with her grandfather as he prepared to perform the ceremony. While they were doing things they enjoyed, she and Haruka were left with two mad decorators that could not agree on anything.
Amy sighed and examined the room in which the wedding would take place. It was a spacious chamber made of granite, the grey walls inspiring a vast sense of age within its occupants. There was a raised area at the front where Grandpa Hino would stand to perform the ceremony while the bride and groom stood before him. She sighed again, this time dreamily. It was the perfect setting for the union of lovers that had waited so long for each other. In fact… an idea came to her and she smiled in delight. She turned back to her so-called bosses and shook her head. They were both so involved in their argument that there was no chance that they would listen to her.
She shuffled sideways until she bumped into the long-suffering Haruka. “Oh, sorry Haruka.”
“No probs Blue. It’s gotten so bad that it’ll take something a lot more serious than that to get us out of this mess,” the taller girl groaned.
“About that,” Amy started and juggled her burden until she could see her friend’s face. “I was thinking about a four-dimensional matrix-” Haruka’s blank face registered and Amy began again. “I think I know the best way to decorate the hall. It might be difficult for the two of us alone but it could be done.”
The blonde’s eyes lit up. “Let’s do it!” she whispered fiercely.
Amy smiled happily and the pair quietly slipped away from the debaters. An hour later the decorations were nearly complete and Mina and Michiru hadn’t even noticed that events had left their control. Amy and Haruka inspected the remains of the unused decorations and then looked up at the high ceiling.
“We need a ladder,” Amy concluded with a sigh. Her design was sound and looked good but strategically placed bunting, balloons and bouquets needed to put up well beyond their reach. Still it did look good.
“We’re gonna need a fire truck to reach…” Haruka trailed off mid-thought and grinned in satisfaction.
Amy frowned and turned to see where the blonde was staring and started to smile herself when she saw the two newcomers. “Ah, Travis! Do you have a minute?”
Five minutes later Hotaru’s boyfriend was floating midair and pinning up decorations amidst much complaining. Amy, Haruka and Hotaru watched him with differing expressions on each of their faces. Hotaru looked like what Amy could only describe as love-struck. Haruka’s eyes were fixed to him with an intensity that was born of envy. Amy identified her own primary emotion as the same intellectual hunger that had always driven her. It was a strange thing to feel towards a friend yet she could not help but remember the last battle with Beryl. There had been a strangeness and power about him that had complemented the even greater mystery that had been Serenity and Endymion. Amy didn’t understand it, then or now, but she knew that there was a story about the three of them that went even beyond the Silver Millennium. The aura of age had faded from them after the battle and aside from the wings that were now a part of Serena, transformed or not, they weren’t that much different from the scouts.
Of course that was if she ignored the fact that they had brought James Tsukino back from the dead. Or the fact that they had changed the survivors of the Negaverse into normal humans. Or the fact that Beryl was now… well she could go on and on. It was just that there seemed to be depths within all three, but Serena and Darien especially, that were kept from the rest of them. Not even James, Luna or Terran fully understood the difference in them and they just attributed it to the maturation of the soulbonds between the three. It was more than that though, Amy knew it and she also knew that it would never be explained to her. No matter how much it galled her scientist’s mind.
Suddenly the background argument ended and there was a shocking silence. Amy turned and winced. Mina and Michiru had finally paid attention to what was happening without them. Their faces were both shocked and outraged and Amy had to force herself not to hide behind Haruka or Hotaru. In that silence the footsteps outside the closed oaks doors were frighteningly loud and Amy’s heart almost stopped. Above them all Travis froze and then quickly attempted to untangle himself from streamers before just concealing himself amongst the profusion of flowers. Even Mina and Michiru joined in the exchange of panicked looks and then the doors opened.
A head of dark green hair atop a tall and lithe body entered and everyone, not the least Travis, breathed a sigh of relief.
“Setsuna,” an eminently calm and reasonable voice came from the ceiling. The erstwhile Sailor Pluto looked up and blinked in an amazing display of surprise for the senshi of time.
Travis sighed, unwound a streamer from his ankle and at the same time shook a few stray petals from his hair. “Next time knock.”
Setsuna’s lips twitched and Amy couldn’t see how she managed to keep a straight face as she replied soberly, “I apologise your highness.”
Travis opened his mouth as if he were about to protest about the way she addressed him and then just gave the idea up. Setsuna nodded with the hidden amusement that all of the senshi had come to know as characterising her and then took a long glance around the hall. Amy smiled with justified pride as the oldest scout nodded.
“I must say I am pleasantly surprised,” she started in a pleased voice, “When the princess informed me that Neptune and Venus would be responsible for decorating the hall I have to admit that I felt some concern. I am glad to see that it was unfounded.”
Michiru grimaced and Mina blushed while Haruka laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about it,” she said with a sly look at the pair in question. “Mina and Michiru can do anything when they put their minds to it, right Amy?” Amy nodded silently, endlessly amused by the chagrin on two of her friends’ faces.
“Hmmm,” was all Setsuna replied and the repressed laughter was back in her eyes. She looked back up to Travis. “Your highness, your mother requests that you return home as soon as possible. You need to prepare for your part in the wedding procession.”
Travis nodded, preoccupied with the last of the streamers. “Just let me finish this Sets and then I’ll be off.” He paused to look down at the senshi who seemed faintly disbelieving. He grinned reassuringly. “Don’t worry Sets, I’ll be there!”
“You had better be,” Setsuna retorted with a warning glance.
“Don’t worry Mei,” Hotaru soothed, falling back into old modes of address. “I’ll make sure he’s there with plenty of time.”
“Thank you,” the older woman replied gratefully.
“Of course it’s your own fault that you have to worry!” Travis said in a conversational voice from above them. Amy looked up to see the blonde man shoot a short smirk at Setsuna. “After all, ‘Auntie Puu,’ you were the one who taught me’n’Twis about being irresponsible.”
“If I had not then most likely you would be dead,” she responded coolly. “Besides, Quill has done an admirable job in retraining you.”
Travis placed the last streamer and laughed wickedly as he descended back to the floor. “Do y’know that your voice gets all soft and fluttery when you speak about Uncle Jimmy?”
“It does not!” Setsuna argued defensively, the dark skin of her cheeks reddening and Travis grinned.
“Why Setsuna, is that flush the blush of a new bride? You’d think that you were getting married today!” Setsuna’s face flamed brighter and Travis snickered. “Gotcha! Ready to go Hota-love?”
The dark haired girl nodded and he escorted her out of the chamber with an absent wave to the rest of them. Setsuna followed, muttering dire threats that if Travis heard, he ignored. Amy watched as three left. Out of all the scouts and knights, only Serena and Travis dared tease the formidable guardian of time with such impunity. Silence descended after they left and abruptly Amy pulled herself together.
“All right everyone!” Her voice rose slightly to gather their attention. Once she had it she began giving orders. “Haruka we need to get the carpet rolled out along the aisle. Michiru, go to Lita to see if she needs help. If she doesn’t then check on the reception room to make sure everything’s ready. Mina, are there plenty of petals for people to throw over the newly married couple?”
Mina and Michiru stared at her dumbly and Haruka rolled her eyes. “Well?” she snapped. “Get moving!” Mina and Michiru snapped to attention and darted away leaving Haruka to salute Amy. “OK Ma’am, anything other than the carpet?”
Amy thought for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, I’ll help you with it and then we can do something about decorating the wedding car…” This being in charge business was less difficult than Amy had thought. If she’d known that four years before then she probably would have agreed to let Luna make her the leader of the scouts. The blue haired woman paused and considered what that would have entailed and decided that it was probably a good thing that she hadn’t known. Then she turned her mind back to the logistics of wedding decorations rather than the logistics of battle.
*****
Travis groaned as he leaned against the door in weariness. For the last two hours he had been directing various guests to those senshi serving as ushers for the wedding. The last group had been even more clueless than the rest but that was to be expected since it was the first wedding of any type the aliens had come to. Areyn, An and Ail, who were calling themselves Aaron, Anne and Allen when among humans, were still adapting to human culture. It was tiring to keep them out of trouble but his mother would kill him if anything went wrong today. Anyway they were Amy’s problem now, all he had to do was worry about the fact that Darien had snuck into the changing room his sister was in and sidetracked them both.
“Sere?” Silence was his only answer. *Twis? Bro?* he called mentally and received only the faintest of replies. “Ack!” he grunted and started to slump to the floor.
Before he had gone down more than a centimetre though footsteps sounded around the corner and a familiar presence made itself known. Travis jerked upright in fear. *Twis?!! Twis!!* he shouted and although he sensed one or two of the telepaths in the vicinity hear him, his sister and soulbrother remained blissfully deaf to his frantic calls.
“Hey Son, where’s your sister?”
“Ah… Dad.” Travis searched for a reply that wouldn’t send his father into a killing rage but all that went through his mind was, ‘oh Twis is currently trying to see how quickly she can get Darien out of and then back into his tux. If you want to wait ten minutes I’m sure they’ll have found out by then.’ Sure he and Serena were both officially eighteen as of three weeks ago but this was not a good way for Darien to win their father’s approval.
A muffled noise came from within the room and as Ken Tsukino’s face lightened, Travis felt the food in his stomach congeal. Before he realised what his father was up to, Ken reached past Travis and opened the door. Too late, Travis attempted to block the doorway but by then his father had already seen the room’s occupants in their compromising position.
Travis sighed and followed his silent father into the room, quietly shutting the door behind them before he faced the mortified couple. Serena’s face was horrified and she hurriedly attempted to fix her appearance but despite her best attempts she could not hide the fact that she had been practically mauled by the man standing behind her. As for Darien, the dark haired man looked as if he were about to have a heart attack. His face was white and his hands trembled plainly as they ran through his tousled hair. He had good reason to be nervous, his grey tuxedo jacket hung over the back of a chair and his vest and shirt was almost completely unbuttoned. Not something any man would have liked their girlfriend’s father to walk in on.
Travis felt his friend’s almost overwhelming terror and if the situation weren’t so serious he would have laughed. Not even Metallia had inspired as much fear in Darien as Ken Tsukino was currently doing.
“You couldn’t even wait until after the wedding!” Ken bellowed and Travis winced but then his eyes widened in realisation. Despite what he sounded like, Travis could sense no more than a mild irritation with Darien in his father’s thoughts. He looked closer and still all he could find was annoyance coupled with a vast amusement. Serena sensed his interest and followed his line of investigation. When their eyes met it was with amazement plain on their faces.
“FIFTEEN MINUTES!! Just fifteen minutes until the wedding starts and you… you…”
“Um Twis, why don’t you go and get Hota-love to fix you up? I think this is something that us men have to sort out.”
Her eyebrows rose a bit at the word ‘men’ but she did as he suggested and slipped out quickly despite Darien’s panicked glance. Travis hid a laugh. His normally perceptive friend was so blinded by fear that he hadn’t noticed the amusement that prevailed in the Tsukino family. Poor Darien but since it was his own wandering hands that had gotten him into the mess, Travis felt no more than a mild urge to save him from the coming scene. All that was missing was a camera but that couldn’t be helped. Travis would just have to commit everything to memory and get his sister to draw some of the more amusing scenes from his recollections.
As soon as the door closed on Serena, Ken turned back to Darien and snarled, “How long have you been sleeping with my daughter and don’t lie to me... I can smell it.” Darien’s mouth opened and closed as he searched for an acceptable answer. Travis almost applauded his father’s performance as the older man’s nostrils flared and he ground out, “Let me repeat my question. How long have you been debauching my baby girl?”
Darien looked faint and Travis couldn’t hold back any longer. The situation was simply priceless and he began to snicker, at first quietly and increasing in volume. Darien stared at him in shock while Ken looked at him in annoyance.
“D… D… Dar…” Travis tried to convey the hilarity of the situation to his friend but gave up when he couldn’t get the words out.
His father’s voice cut through his amusement like a sword through butter. “Don’t tell me that you didn’t know about this.” The ominous words belied the faint exasperation behind them and Travis relaxed slowly.
He shrugged in answer and his father shook his head wearily. “So he’s the one eh?” Ken asked in a low voice and Travis nodded slightly. Ken made his expression stern and turned back to Darien but not before giving his son a wink. Travis understood, even if Darien looked completely baffled by everything. His father had accepted Darien but he wasn’t going to let the man get off too lightly after this incident, especially not when he had the chance to get answers he never would have otherwise.
“Well… are you going to answer the question?”
Darien cast about for a way to dodge the question, even going so far as to beg Travis with his eyes. It was plain that he in no way wanted to endanger his relationship with Serena and Travis guessed that if he had lived several lifetimes where events kept separating him from his soulmate he might have been just as worried. Travis gave a minuscule shrug and Darien slumped.
“Four months sir.”
Travis’ eyes widened at the quiet answer. He hadn’t actually expected Darien to answer and honestly but he had. Well, you live and learn.
“Four months?” Ken repeated blankly and then added unconsciously, “Gods boy, you work fast! She’s only been back for about five!”
Maybe it was time for Travis to interfere. It was one thing for a protective father to accept that his daughter had taken a lover after months of courting and at least a little thought but completely another to accept that the man before him had charmed his way into her bed after just meeting her.
“They met years ago Dad,” Travis interrupted and forestalled the coming explosion.
“What?”
Travis shrugged again. “She met him a few weeks before she came to Australia. He’s the reason you’ve had it so easy with her in the dating department.”
“Easy?!”
Travis smiled and patted his father’s shoulder in sympathy. “Yeah easy. How many other teenage girls that look like Serena would have only had about three serious dates by the time they turned eighteen? Because of Darien she’s never thought about boys seriously even though they weren’t dating themselves.”
“That was because of Terran… wasn’t it?” Ken looked unsure and Darien was starting to regain his confidence.
Travis shook his head and thought of another argument. “Besides, Terran worships him.”
“I noticed,” Ken responded and looked at Darien sourly. “After four years of him scaring anything even remotely male away from her, his attitude to this particular one was noticeable. Trust me.”
Darien smiled weakly.
Ken sighed and cocked his head at the young man before him. Travis had no doubt that his father’s eyes showed him that Darien was an intelligent, hardworking, and respectable young man. He should be glad that Serena didn’t decide on a biker or something and Ken apparently knew it. Travis could almost hear Darien’s heart stop with relief when he realised that he wasn’t about to be shot. Of course the fact that he wasn’t quite as respectable as he could have been at the moment was not something that should be brought up.
“So this is why you’ve been trying to get into my wife’s good graces eh?”
Or perhaps it was. Darien shuffled guiltily and Travis bit his lip. Darien hadn’t been the only one to believe that Ilene Tsukino would be the most receptive to her daughter’s decisions.
Ken nodded knowingly. “Thought so. Well let me tell you something kiddo. I don’t like the idea of sharing my little girl with anyone. Yet I understand that my daughter can be very irresistible and I suppose that I can make a little room for you. My wife however, is not quite as liberal as she would like to believe. Should she ever learn what I just have, you’ll wish for death by my shotgun.” He paused in thought and then added, “Or at least wait until the baby’s born. Hopefully by then she’ll be less prone to emotional outbursts and violence… hopefully.” He nodded pleasantly and started towards the door. “Better see that he gets cleaned up fast Travis. Only three minutes until the wedding starts.” Travis nodded and his father disappeared out the door.
Travis turned back to Darien and started on the unruly hair while Darien contended with the buttons on his shirt. “You know he’s probably right,” Travis mused and Darien grunted for him to continue as he finished with the buttons and struggled with the bowtie. “Well,” Travis drawled, “It might be a good idea to make sure Mum doesn’t find out you and Serena have been ‘intimate’ for so long until after my new baby sister is born.”
Darien met his eyes with a wry grimace. “Somehow I don’t think your mother will be any more receptive to the fact I started sleeping with your sister before she was eighteen, with Beryl for a baby than she is now. Especially not if Beryl’s as much trouble as a child as she was as an adult!”
Travis thought about it for a moment. “Point,” he conceded, “But you have to admit that it’s your own fault that the problem’s come up. If you’d just let things be but no! You decided to let her be reborn-”
“Not me!” Darien denied hotly and yanked his jacket off the chair. “Blame your sister, not me! I like my enemies good and dead not reborn as my future sister-in-law!”
“You could have said no,” Travis reminded him mildly.
Darien scowled at him. “Have you ever been able to say no to Serena when she really wanted something?”
Travis opened his mouth to say yes but shut it with a snap as he searched his memory more thoroughly. Darien nodded in vindication and Travis sighed. He watched in silence as Darien slipped the tuxedo jacket on and distracted himself with the thought that Darien was very lucky that he was so familiar with tuxedos. At that moment the door opened and Ken stuck his head in.
“It’s show time boys.”
“Thanks Dad,” Travis answered.
Ken nodded and started to draw his head back but at another thought stopped and looked straight at Darien. Face perfectly serious and perfectly deadly he warned, “If you get hurt my daughter or get her pregnant before she’s twenty-one I will kill you. Do you understand Son?”
Darien nodded, mutely and Ken disappeared with a satisfied expression. After a moment in which he just stood staring at nothing, Darien turned to Travis and blinked strangely. “He called me ‘son’!” Darien’s grin almost split his face and Travis laughed.
“He also threatened to kill you,” he reminded his friend and before Darien could get any weirder he dragged him out the door.
*****
James sighed and briefly inspected his appearance once more. Like all the men involved in the wedding he was dressed in a grey tuxedo. His hair and beard, which had started to lighten as his niece had predicted, were both freshly trimmed. There was a white rose set in his lapel and his boots were perfectly polished which meant that he had nothing to keep himself occupied. Absently, as more of the wedding party appeared, he wandered to the open door which he and the others gathered behind him would soon march through.
He looked at the gathered guests and shook his head. So many people, many more than he had expected to come. Areyn and several other yowies were seated with Malachite, Zoisite and Nephrite. Mark Shields, Wayne Morris and their families had also come all the way from Australia to attend the wedding. A great deal of Ken’s family had turned up and James was still touched at the way they continued to think of him as family.
There were people he didn’t know present of course but not many. There was a little pink haired girl with ruby coloured eyes who resembled his niece greatly, not least in the way she seemed to shine with an echo of the moon’s power. James made note to have Setsuna introduce him to the child later on. It would be interesting to discover whether or not the girl was whom he suspected. Next to her he noticed a boy of about the same age and James knew his suspicions were confirmed when he saw the boy’s face. Black hair and sapphire eyes were set in a childish face that James remembered from several thousand years before. He would definitely have to talk to Setsuna about that. Bringing guests from the future was probably not allowed. He thought about it a moment and then shrugged. If Serena’s children were anything like she was then Pluto wouldn’t have been able to stop them coming.
A bark drew his attention and after a moment’s search, James found Terran and Rhea sitting with Sammy in the front row. Scattered around the room he could see the other Guardians. There was a small crowd of Moon Cats gathered with the Gaean Wolves, Khonsu and Chronos, freed from the time gate for the day, both looking harassed as the others jostled for prime position. Amon and Artemis were perched in the rafters almost directly above where the priest would stand while three ravens had secreted themselves above where the ushers would soon sit and Atlantia and the last raven located themselves near the closest window. In fact about the only person that James could possibly think of as missing was his sister. A shadow of sorrow went through him at the thought but he consoled himself with the knowledge that in a way she would see everything through her children and her brother.
He turned away from the crowd took his place in the procession with the best man and groomsmen, or rather groomsmen and woman. Tuxedo clad Haruka standing with the males in the march, rather than the females. Near her, Darien and Travis stood, the taller man shooting bewildered glances at Ken and James wondered what his foster brother had done. Maybe he had found out that the reason Serena had spent so many nights at James’ was because Darien had moved in with him several weeks before. Oh well, since both twins would be moving in there themselves after James returned to Australia in a week, Ken had better get used to the idea.
At the sound of a bell, Ken offered his arm to his daughter and began to escort her down the aisle. James hardly noticed as the rest of the procession organised themselves and followed the pair at a stately pace. A pair of garnet eyes had caught his attention and held it. His bewitching partner chuckled and tugged after the last pair to bring up the end of the train.
James forced himself to watch the couple in front of him rather than the woman on his arm. He would most definitely not survive the day should he make a mistake right now. If the lady beside him didn’t kill him then his sister-in-law would.
In front of him Travis and Hotaru walked together, both of them striking in their grey tuxedo and ivory bridesmaid’s dress respectively. Their love for each other was growing steadily and James had no doubt that it would survive the test of time. They weren’t soulmates as Darien and Serena were but then neither were they as desperately dependent on each other as the Earth’s prince and his princess, or rather queen. That dependency was something James had not yet explained to his own satisfaction and he couldn’t quite convince himself that it was because they shared a soul. They loved each other, he had no doubt of that, yet when he had awoken after the battle with Beryl, brought back to life with their magic, their love had possessed a fierce quality that had not been there before.
Sometimes James had the impression that both regretted the fact that they had never had the chance to be sweethearts before they had become lovers yet neither would ever settle for less than everything. They possessed each other body, heart, mind and soul and not even for a chance at the sweetness of Travis and Hotaru’s relationship would they give that up and turn back time.
“Hey Mama look! There’s an angel!” A child’s voice rose over the music and several people laughed, including the Serena and her father. He heard Ken joke about the children saying the truth and James himself felt a touch of amusement. Illusions were not foolproof and out of the mouths of babes…
The wedding march started to wind up and within his mind James began to hear the ancient words of marriage as they had been said in his childhood. At the front of the chamber Serena and her father reached where Raye and her grandfather stood to perform the ceremony. The old man stood proudly beside his granddaughter, honoured beyond words that he would wed two senshi. After the final battle he had been told everything and it had only made sense for him to perform this ceremony.
Serena’s silver hair shone and her eyes were glorious. James felt a twinge of regret that his foster brother would most likely never learn of how truly remarkable his child was. They stepped apart and moved to their places on either side of the priest, a step below him.
*Body to body. Heart to heart. Soul to soul. For ever shall their love endure and their strength be joined.*
Serena’s words echoed in the minds of all who had the will to hear her as she performed the duty that was hers by birthright. In front of the priest Michiru and Haruka separated, Michiru moving to stand a step to the side of Serena while Haruka joined Ken.
*Through time they have been tested and through time they have endured.*
Next the slightly rounded form of Ilene separated from her escort and joined Michiru and Serena while Darien stepped to stand beside Haruka.
*The blessings of the Moon be upon them both may every world be in accord by my command.*
In front of him James saw Travis and Hotaru part, leaving the path clear before him.
*I am Serenity. Past, present and future, I am eternal. As is my right and my privilege I sanction this joining.*
The words were slightly different from what James remembered but that did not matter, so long as his future queen said them. James stepped forward to face the priest, his partner at his side, and behind him his niece finished the ancient ritual.
*Through my authority and my power I wed prince Tranquillity, brother to my mother, Knight of my realm, ward of the Guardian Khonsu and senshi of the Moon to the lady Mei of Pluto, guardian of time, ward of the Guardian Chronos and senshi of Pluto. Let all know of this union and rejoice for today they are wed!*
James smiled as the last word echoed in his mind and felt the benediction of one who was his queen, princess, niece, student and fellow senshi of the Moon all in one as his maid of honour laid her blessing upon him and his bride. From across the room more blessings came. Nearest to him, his groomsmen, groomswoman and bridesmaids each blessed him without words and their power of their worlds echoed in their well wishings, as did those of the senshi who did not stand before the crowd. A strange blessing came from the Areyn and his companions and less powerful but just as heartfelt were the support of the living generals.
Across from him James saw his best man smile with pride and silently he thanked his brother. Without Ken, the twins would not have been, or at least not in the form they were now, and James would never have known this moment.
He turned to his bride and pulled her veil over her head before he clasped her hands. Her beautiful eyes shone at him and wisps of green hair framed her face. Their wedding would no doubt be eclipsed in a few years when Serena and Darien finally formalised their arrangement but for James this was enough. For centuries she had waited for him and now they were together.
In front of them Jonothan Hino began to speak. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union between James Tranquillity Tsukino and Setsuna Meiou…”
previous
Epilogue
The warmth at her side vanished and she rolled over into the space vacated with a mumbled protest. Through layers of sleep, she heard an amused chuckle and she muttered into the extra pillow. There was a brief touch of pressure on her shoulder and she smiled as she slipped deeper into sleep.
It seemed like only moments later that the rocking bed drew her towards consciousness. Irritably she grumbled and curled tighter into a ball, her wings curling around her closely. The shaking stopped and she sighed in satisfaction but too soon. Someone grabbed her shoulder and she could no longer ignore her visitor. Resentfully she lifted her head to see a white-gold blur. She blinked to clear her eyes of sleep and the manically cheerful face of her brother resolved in front of her. His hair was sticking out every which way, much akin to a haystack, revealing that he hadn’t been long out of bed himself but his grin was wide enough to split his face.
“C’mon Twis! Uncle Jimmy said to get up!” he burst out and she groaned at the energy in his voice. It was too early.
“G’way,” she grunted and tried to curl up again but he refused to let her go. His grinning face moved so that it was only millimetres from hers and he crossed his eyes. Reluctantly she smiled and said more understandably, “What do you want Travis?”
“Today’s the wedding,” was all he replied but it was enough.
Instantly she was awake and scrambling out of her comfortable bed. Politely her twin turned away while she pulled a shirt on over her nakedness. It was a bit of a struggle to manage her wings and with a sigh she drew them back into her body. It was a pain but it was easier than trying to work around the clothing problem. Once covered, she didn’t give her brother a chance to turn back. Instead she grabbed his arm as she past him and dragged him after her as she dashed out of the room. There was a lot they had to do. Today was the wedding!
*****
Amy groaned with effort. Mina and Michiru argued endlessly in front of her, neither of them remembering their two packhorses. The blue haired girl thought enviously of Lita who had escaped into the kitchen and Raye who pleaded a prior commitment with her grandfather as he prepared to perform the ceremony. While they were doing things they enjoyed, she and Haruka were left with two mad decorators that could not agree on anything.
Amy sighed and examined the room in which the wedding would take place. It was a spacious chamber made of granite, the grey walls inspiring a vast sense of age within its occupants. There was a raised area at the front where Grandpa Hino would stand to perform the ceremony while the bride and groom stood before him. She sighed again, this time dreamily. It was the perfect setting for the union of lovers that had waited so long for each other. In fact… an idea came to her and she smiled in delight. She turned back to her so-called bosses and shook her head. They were both so involved in their argument that there was no chance that they would listen to her.
She shuffled sideways until she bumped into the long-suffering Haruka. “Oh, sorry Haruka.”
“No probs Blue. It’s gotten so bad that it’ll take something a lot more serious than that to get us out of this mess,” the taller girl groaned.
“About that,” Amy started and juggled her burden until she could see her friend’s face. “I was thinking about a four-dimensional matrix-” Haruka’s blank face registered and Amy began again. “I think I know the best way to decorate the hall. It might be difficult for the two of us alone but it could be done.”
The blonde’s eyes lit up. “Let’s do it!” she whispered fiercely.
Amy smiled happily and the pair quietly slipped away from the debaters. An hour later the decorations were nearly complete and Mina and Michiru hadn’t even noticed that events had left their control. Amy and Haruka inspected the remains of the unused decorations and then looked up at the high ceiling.
“We need a ladder,” Amy concluded with a sigh. Her design was sound and looked good but strategically placed bunting, balloons and bouquets needed to put up well beyond their reach. Still it did look good.
“We’re gonna need a fire truck to reach…” Haruka trailed off mid-thought and grinned in satisfaction.
Amy frowned and turned to see where the blonde was staring and started to smile herself when she saw the two newcomers. “Ah, Travis! Do you have a minute?”
Five minutes later Hotaru’s boyfriend was floating midair and pinning up decorations amidst much complaining. Amy, Haruka and Hotaru watched him with differing expressions on each of their faces. Hotaru looked like what Amy could only describe as love-struck. Haruka’s eyes were fixed to him with an intensity that was born of envy. Amy identified her own primary emotion as the same intellectual hunger that had always driven her. It was a strange thing to feel towards a friend yet she could not help but remember the last battle with Beryl. There had been a strangeness and power about him that had complemented the even greater mystery that had been Serenity and Endymion. Amy didn’t understand it, then or now, but she knew that there was a story about the three of them that went even beyond the Silver Millennium. The aura of age had faded from them after the battle and aside from the wings that were now a part of Serena, transformed or not, they weren’t that much different from the scouts.
Of course that was if she ignored the fact that they had brought James Tsukino back from the dead. Or the fact that they had changed the survivors of the Negaverse into normal humans. Or the fact that Beryl was now… well she could go on and on. It was just that there seemed to be depths within all three, but Serena and Darien especially, that were kept from the rest of them. Not even James, Luna or Terran fully understood the difference in them and they just attributed it to the maturation of the soulbonds between the three. It was more than that though, Amy knew it and she also knew that it would never be explained to her. No matter how much it galled her scientist’s mind.
Suddenly the background argument ended and there was a shocking silence. Amy turned and winced. Mina and Michiru had finally paid attention to what was happening without them. Their faces were both shocked and outraged and Amy had to force herself not to hide behind Haruka or Hotaru. In that silence the footsteps outside the closed oaks doors were frighteningly loud and Amy’s heart almost stopped. Above them all Travis froze and then quickly attempted to untangle himself from streamers before just concealing himself amongst the profusion of flowers. Even Mina and Michiru joined in the exchange of panicked looks and then the doors opened.
A head of dark green hair atop a tall and lithe body entered and everyone, not the least Travis, breathed a sigh of relief.
“Setsuna,” an eminently calm and reasonable voice came from the ceiling. The erstwhile Sailor Pluto looked up and blinked in an amazing display of surprise for the senshi of time.
Travis sighed, unwound a streamer from his ankle and at the same time shook a few stray petals from his hair. “Next time knock.”
Setsuna’s lips twitched and Amy couldn’t see how she managed to keep a straight face as she replied soberly, “I apologise your highness.”
Travis opened his mouth as if he were about to protest about the way she addressed him and then just gave the idea up. Setsuna nodded with the hidden amusement that all of the senshi had come to know as characterising her and then took a long glance around the hall. Amy smiled with justified pride as the oldest scout nodded.
“I must say I am pleasantly surprised,” she started in a pleased voice, “When the princess informed me that Neptune and Venus would be responsible for decorating the hall I have to admit that I felt some concern. I am glad to see that it was unfounded.”
Michiru grimaced and Mina blushed while Haruka laughed. “I wouldn’t worry about it,” she said with a sly look at the pair in question. “Mina and Michiru can do anything when they put their minds to it, right Amy?” Amy nodded silently, endlessly amused by the chagrin on two of her friends’ faces.
“Hmmm,” was all Setsuna replied and the repressed laughter was back in her eyes. She looked back up to Travis. “Your highness, your mother requests that you return home as soon as possible. You need to prepare for your part in the wedding procession.”
Travis nodded, preoccupied with the last of the streamers. “Just let me finish this Sets and then I’ll be off.” He paused to look down at the senshi who seemed faintly disbelieving. He grinned reassuringly. “Don’t worry Sets, I’ll be there!”
“You had better be,” Setsuna retorted with a warning glance.
“Don’t worry Mei,” Hotaru soothed, falling back into old modes of address. “I’ll make sure he’s there with plenty of time.”
“Thank you,” the older woman replied gratefully.
“Of course it’s your own fault that you have to worry!” Travis said in a conversational voice from above them. Amy looked up to see the blonde man shoot a short smirk at Setsuna. “After all, ‘Auntie Puu,’ you were the one who taught me’n’Twis about being irresponsible.”
“If I had not then most likely you would be dead,” she responded coolly. “Besides, Quill has done an admirable job in retraining you.”
Travis placed the last streamer and laughed wickedly as he descended back to the floor. “Do y’know that your voice gets all soft and fluttery when you speak about Uncle Jimmy?”
“It does not!” Setsuna argued defensively, the dark skin of her cheeks reddening and Travis grinned.
“Why Setsuna, is that flush the blush of a new bride? You’d think that you were getting married today!” Setsuna’s face flamed brighter and Travis snickered. “Gotcha! Ready to go Hota-love?”
The dark haired girl nodded and he escorted her out of the chamber with an absent wave to the rest of them. Setsuna followed, muttering dire threats that if Travis heard, he ignored. Amy watched as three left. Out of all the scouts and knights, only Serena and Travis dared tease the formidable guardian of time with such impunity. Silence descended after they left and abruptly Amy pulled herself together.
“All right everyone!” Her voice rose slightly to gather their attention. Once she had it she began giving orders. “Haruka we need to get the carpet rolled out along the aisle. Michiru, go to Lita to see if she needs help. If she doesn’t then check on the reception room to make sure everything’s ready. Mina, are there plenty of petals for people to throw over the newly married couple?”
Mina and Michiru stared at her dumbly and Haruka rolled her eyes. “Well?” she snapped. “Get moving!” Mina and Michiru snapped to attention and darted away leaving Haruka to salute Amy. “OK Ma’am, anything other than the carpet?”
Amy thought for a moment and then nodded. “Yes, I’ll help you with it and then we can do something about decorating the wedding car…” This being in charge business was less difficult than Amy had thought. If she’d known that four years before then she probably would have agreed to let Luna make her the leader of the scouts. The blue haired woman paused and considered what that would have entailed and decided that it was probably a good thing that she hadn’t known. Then she turned her mind back to the logistics of wedding decorations rather than the logistics of battle.
*****
Travis groaned as he leaned against the door in weariness. For the last two hours he had been directing various guests to those senshi serving as ushers for the wedding. The last group had been even more clueless than the rest but that was to be expected since it was the first wedding of any type the aliens had come to. Areyn, An and Ail, who were calling themselves Aaron, Anne and Allen when among humans, were still adapting to human culture. It was tiring to keep them out of trouble but his mother would kill him if anything went wrong today. Anyway they were Amy’s problem now, all he had to do was worry about the fact that Darien had snuck into the changing room his sister was in and sidetracked them both.
“Sere?” Silence was his only answer. *Twis? Bro?* he called mentally and received only the faintest of replies. “Ack!” he grunted and started to slump to the floor.
Before he had gone down more than a centimetre though footsteps sounded around the corner and a familiar presence made itself known. Travis jerked upright in fear. *Twis?!! Twis!!* he shouted and although he sensed one or two of the telepaths in the vicinity hear him, his sister and soulbrother remained blissfully deaf to his frantic calls.
“Hey Son, where’s your sister?”
“Ah… Dad.” Travis searched for a reply that wouldn’t send his father into a killing rage but all that went through his mind was, ‘oh Twis is currently trying to see how quickly she can get Darien out of and then back into his tux. If you want to wait ten minutes I’m sure they’ll have found out by then.’ Sure he and Serena were both officially eighteen as of three weeks ago but this was not a good way for Darien to win their father’s approval.
A muffled noise came from within the room and as Ken Tsukino’s face lightened, Travis felt the food in his stomach congeal. Before he realised what his father was up to, Ken reached past Travis and opened the door. Too late, Travis attempted to block the doorway but by then his father had already seen the room’s occupants in their compromising position.
Travis sighed and followed his silent father into the room, quietly shutting the door behind them before he faced the mortified couple. Serena’s face was horrified and she hurriedly attempted to fix her appearance but despite her best attempts she could not hide the fact that she had been practically mauled by the man standing behind her. As for Darien, the dark haired man looked as if he were about to have a heart attack. His face was white and his hands trembled plainly as they ran through his tousled hair. He had good reason to be nervous, his grey tuxedo jacket hung over the back of a chair and his vest and shirt was almost completely unbuttoned. Not something any man would have liked their girlfriend’s father to walk in on.
Travis felt his friend’s almost overwhelming terror and if the situation weren’t so serious he would have laughed. Not even Metallia had inspired as much fear in Darien as Ken Tsukino was currently doing.
“You couldn’t even wait until after the wedding!” Ken bellowed and Travis winced but then his eyes widened in realisation. Despite what he sounded like, Travis could sense no more than a mild irritation with Darien in his father’s thoughts. He looked closer and still all he could find was annoyance coupled with a vast amusement. Serena sensed his interest and followed his line of investigation. When their eyes met it was with amazement plain on their faces.
“FIFTEEN MINUTES!! Just fifteen minutes until the wedding starts and you… you…”
“Um Twis, why don’t you go and get Hota-love to fix you up? I think this is something that us men have to sort out.”
Her eyebrows rose a bit at the word ‘men’ but she did as he suggested and slipped out quickly despite Darien’s panicked glance. Travis hid a laugh. His normally perceptive friend was so blinded by fear that he hadn’t noticed the amusement that prevailed in the Tsukino family. Poor Darien but since it was his own wandering hands that had gotten him into the mess, Travis felt no more than a mild urge to save him from the coming scene. All that was missing was a camera but that couldn’t be helped. Travis would just have to commit everything to memory and get his sister to draw some of the more amusing scenes from his recollections.
As soon as the door closed on Serena, Ken turned back to Darien and snarled, “How long have you been sleeping with my daughter and don’t lie to me... I can smell it.” Darien’s mouth opened and closed as he searched for an acceptable answer. Travis almost applauded his father’s performance as the older man’s nostrils flared and he ground out, “Let me repeat my question. How long have you been debauching my baby girl?”
Darien looked faint and Travis couldn’t hold back any longer. The situation was simply priceless and he began to snicker, at first quietly and increasing in volume. Darien stared at him in shock while Ken looked at him in annoyance.
“D… D… Dar…” Travis tried to convey the hilarity of the situation to his friend but gave up when he couldn’t get the words out.
His father’s voice cut through his amusement like a sword through butter. “Don’t tell me that you didn’t know about this.” The ominous words belied the faint exasperation behind them and Travis relaxed slowly.
He shrugged in answer and his father shook his head wearily. “So he’s the one eh?” Ken asked in a low voice and Travis nodded slightly. Ken made his expression stern and turned back to Darien but not before giving his son a wink. Travis understood, even if Darien looked completely baffled by everything. His father had accepted Darien but he wasn’t going to let the man get off too lightly after this incident, especially not when he had the chance to get answers he never would have otherwise.
“Well… are you going to answer the question?”
Darien cast about for a way to dodge the question, even going so far as to beg Travis with his eyes. It was plain that he in no way wanted to endanger his relationship with Serena and Travis guessed that if he had lived several lifetimes where events kept separating him from his soulmate he might have been just as worried. Travis gave a minuscule shrug and Darien slumped.
“Four months sir.”
Travis’ eyes widened at the quiet answer. He hadn’t actually expected Darien to answer and honestly but he had. Well, you live and learn.
“Four months?” Ken repeated blankly and then added unconsciously, “Gods boy, you work fast! She’s only been back for about five!”
Maybe it was time for Travis to interfere. It was one thing for a protective father to accept that his daughter had taken a lover after months of courting and at least a little thought but completely another to accept that the man before him had charmed his way into her bed after just meeting her.
“They met years ago Dad,” Travis interrupted and forestalled the coming explosion.
“What?”
Travis shrugged again. “She met him a few weeks before she came to Australia. He’s the reason you’ve had it so easy with her in the dating department.”
“Easy?!”
Travis smiled and patted his father’s shoulder in sympathy. “Yeah easy. How many other teenage girls that look like Serena would have only had about three serious dates by the time they turned eighteen? Because of Darien she’s never thought about boys seriously even though they weren’t dating themselves.”
“That was because of Terran… wasn’t it?” Ken looked unsure and Darien was starting to regain his confidence.
Travis shook his head and thought of another argument. “Besides, Terran worships him.”
“I noticed,” Ken responded and looked at Darien sourly. “After four years of him scaring anything even remotely male away from her, his attitude to this particular one was noticeable. Trust me.”
Darien smiled weakly.
Ken sighed and cocked his head at the young man before him. Travis had no doubt that his father’s eyes showed him that Darien was an intelligent, hardworking, and respectable young man. He should be glad that Serena didn’t decide on a biker or something and Ken apparently knew it. Travis could almost hear Darien’s heart stop with relief when he realised that he wasn’t about to be shot. Of course the fact that he wasn’t quite as respectable as he could have been at the moment was not something that should be brought up.
“So this is why you’ve been trying to get into my wife’s good graces eh?”
Or perhaps it was. Darien shuffled guiltily and Travis bit his lip. Darien hadn’t been the only one to believe that Ilene Tsukino would be the most receptive to her daughter’s decisions.
Ken nodded knowingly. “Thought so. Well let me tell you something kiddo. I don’t like the idea of sharing my little girl with anyone. Yet I understand that my daughter can be very irresistible and I suppose that I can make a little room for you. My wife however, is not quite as liberal as she would like to believe. Should she ever learn what I just have, you’ll wish for death by my shotgun.” He paused in thought and then added, “Or at least wait until the baby’s born. Hopefully by then she’ll be less prone to emotional outbursts and violence… hopefully.” He nodded pleasantly and started towards the door. “Better see that he gets cleaned up fast Travis. Only three minutes until the wedding starts.” Travis nodded and his father disappeared out the door.
Travis turned back to Darien and started on the unruly hair while Darien contended with the buttons on his shirt. “You know he’s probably right,” Travis mused and Darien grunted for him to continue as he finished with the buttons and struggled with the bowtie. “Well,” Travis drawled, “It might be a good idea to make sure Mum doesn’t find out you and Serena have been ‘intimate’ for so long until after my new baby sister is born.”
Darien met his eyes with a wry grimace. “Somehow I don’t think your mother will be any more receptive to the fact I started sleeping with your sister before she was eighteen, with Beryl for a baby than she is now. Especially not if Beryl’s as much trouble as a child as she was as an adult!”
Travis thought about it for a moment. “Point,” he conceded, “But you have to admit that it’s your own fault that the problem’s come up. If you’d just let things be but no! You decided to let her be reborn-”
“Not me!” Darien denied hotly and yanked his jacket off the chair. “Blame your sister, not me! I like my enemies good and dead not reborn as my future sister-in-law!”
“You could have said no,” Travis reminded him mildly.
Darien scowled at him. “Have you ever been able to say no to Serena when she really wanted something?”
Travis opened his mouth to say yes but shut it with a snap as he searched his memory more thoroughly. Darien nodded in vindication and Travis sighed. He watched in silence as Darien slipped the tuxedo jacket on and distracted himself with the thought that Darien was very lucky that he was so familiar with tuxedos. At that moment the door opened and Ken stuck his head in.
“It’s show time boys.”
“Thanks Dad,” Travis answered.
Ken nodded and started to draw his head back but at another thought stopped and looked straight at Darien. Face perfectly serious and perfectly deadly he warned, “If you get hurt my daughter or get her pregnant before she’s twenty-one I will kill you. Do you understand Son?”
Darien nodded, mutely and Ken disappeared with a satisfied expression. After a moment in which he just stood staring at nothing, Darien turned to Travis and blinked strangely. “He called me ‘son’!” Darien’s grin almost split his face and Travis laughed.
“He also threatened to kill you,” he reminded his friend and before Darien could get any weirder he dragged him out the door.
*****
James sighed and briefly inspected his appearance once more. Like all the men involved in the wedding he was dressed in a grey tuxedo. His hair and beard, which had started to lighten as his niece had predicted, were both freshly trimmed. There was a white rose set in his lapel and his boots were perfectly polished which meant that he had nothing to keep himself occupied. Absently, as more of the wedding party appeared, he wandered to the open door which he and the others gathered behind him would soon march through.
He looked at the gathered guests and shook his head. So many people, many more than he had expected to come. Areyn and several other yowies were seated with Malachite, Zoisite and Nephrite. Mark Shields, Wayne Morris and their families had also come all the way from Australia to attend the wedding. A great deal of Ken’s family had turned up and James was still touched at the way they continued to think of him as family.
There were people he didn’t know present of course but not many. There was a little pink haired girl with ruby coloured eyes who resembled his niece greatly, not least in the way she seemed to shine with an echo of the moon’s power. James made note to have Setsuna introduce him to the child later on. It would be interesting to discover whether or not the girl was whom he suspected. Next to her he noticed a boy of about the same age and James knew his suspicions were confirmed when he saw the boy’s face. Black hair and sapphire eyes were set in a childish face that James remembered from several thousand years before. He would definitely have to talk to Setsuna about that. Bringing guests from the future was probably not allowed. He thought about it a moment and then shrugged. If Serena’s children were anything like she was then Pluto wouldn’t have been able to stop them coming.
A bark drew his attention and after a moment’s search, James found Terran and Rhea sitting with Sammy in the front row. Scattered around the room he could see the other Guardians. There was a small crowd of Moon Cats gathered with the Gaean Wolves, Khonsu and Chronos, freed from the time gate for the day, both looking harassed as the others jostled for prime position. Amon and Artemis were perched in the rafters almost directly above where the priest would stand while three ravens had secreted themselves above where the ushers would soon sit and Atlantia and the last raven located themselves near the closest window. In fact about the only person that James could possibly think of as missing was his sister. A shadow of sorrow went through him at the thought but he consoled himself with the knowledge that in a way she would see everything through her children and her brother.
He turned away from the crowd took his place in the procession with the best man and groomsmen, or rather groomsmen and woman. Tuxedo clad Haruka standing with the males in the march, rather than the females. Near her, Darien and Travis stood, the taller man shooting bewildered glances at Ken and James wondered what his foster brother had done. Maybe he had found out that the reason Serena had spent so many nights at James’ was because Darien had moved in with him several weeks before. Oh well, since both twins would be moving in there themselves after James returned to Australia in a week, Ken had better get used to the idea.
At the sound of a bell, Ken offered his arm to his daughter and began to escort her down the aisle. James hardly noticed as the rest of the procession organised themselves and followed the pair at a stately pace. A pair of garnet eyes had caught his attention and held it. His bewitching partner chuckled and tugged after the last pair to bring up the end of the train.
James forced himself to watch the couple in front of him rather than the woman on his arm. He would most definitely not survive the day should he make a mistake right now. If the lady beside him didn’t kill him then his sister-in-law would.
In front of him Travis and Hotaru walked together, both of them striking in their grey tuxedo and ivory bridesmaid’s dress respectively. Their love for each other was growing steadily and James had no doubt that it would survive the test of time. They weren’t soulmates as Darien and Serena were but then neither were they as desperately dependent on each other as the Earth’s prince and his princess, or rather queen. That dependency was something James had not yet explained to his own satisfaction and he couldn’t quite convince himself that it was because they shared a soul. They loved each other, he had no doubt of that, yet when he had awoken after the battle with Beryl, brought back to life with their magic, their love had possessed a fierce quality that had not been there before.
Sometimes James had the impression that both regretted the fact that they had never had the chance to be sweethearts before they had become lovers yet neither would ever settle for less than everything. They possessed each other body, heart, mind and soul and not even for a chance at the sweetness of Travis and Hotaru’s relationship would they give that up and turn back time.
“Hey Mama look! There’s an angel!” A child’s voice rose over the music and several people laughed, including the Serena and her father. He heard Ken joke about the children saying the truth and James himself felt a touch of amusement. Illusions were not foolproof and out of the mouths of babes…
The wedding march started to wind up and within his mind James began to hear the ancient words of marriage as they had been said in his childhood. At the front of the chamber Serena and her father reached where Raye and her grandfather stood to perform the ceremony. The old man stood proudly beside his granddaughter, honoured beyond words that he would wed two senshi. After the final battle he had been told everything and it had only made sense for him to perform this ceremony.
Serena’s silver hair shone and her eyes were glorious. James felt a twinge of regret that his foster brother would most likely never learn of how truly remarkable his child was. They stepped apart and moved to their places on either side of the priest, a step below him.
*Body to body. Heart to heart. Soul to soul. For ever shall their love endure and their strength be joined.*
Serena’s words echoed in the minds of all who had the will to hear her as she performed the duty that was hers by birthright. In front of the priest Michiru and Haruka separated, Michiru moving to stand a step to the side of Serena while Haruka joined Ken.
*Through time they have been tested and through time they have endured.*
Next the slightly rounded form of Ilene separated from her escort and joined Michiru and Serena while Darien stepped to stand beside Haruka.
*The blessings of the Moon be upon them both may every world be in accord by my command.*
In front of him James saw Travis and Hotaru part, leaving the path clear before him.
*I am Serenity. Past, present and future, I am eternal. As is my right and my privilege I sanction this joining.*
The words were slightly different from what James remembered but that did not matter, so long as his future queen said them. James stepped forward to face the priest, his partner at his side, and behind him his niece finished the ancient ritual.
*Through my authority and my power I wed prince Tranquillity, brother to my mother, Knight of my realm, ward of the Guardian Khonsu and senshi of the Moon to the lady Mei of Pluto, guardian of time, ward of the Guardian Chronos and senshi of Pluto. Let all know of this union and rejoice for today they are wed!*
James smiled as the last word echoed in his mind and felt the benediction of one who was his queen, princess, niece, student and fellow senshi of the Moon all in one as his maid of honour laid her blessing upon him and his bride. From across the room more blessings came. Nearest to him, his groomsmen, groomswoman and bridesmaids each blessed him without words and their power of their worlds echoed in their well wishings, as did those of the senshi who did not stand before the crowd. A strange blessing came from the Areyn and his companions and less powerful but just as heartfelt were the support of the living generals.
Across from him James saw his best man smile with pride and silently he thanked his brother. Without Ken, the twins would not have been, or at least not in the form they were now, and James would never have known this moment.
He turned to his bride and pulled her veil over her head before he clasped her hands. Her beautiful eyes shone at him and wisps of green hair framed her face. Their wedding would no doubt be eclipsed in a few years when Serena and Darien finally formalised their arrangement but for James this was enough. For centuries she had waited for him and now they were together.
In front of them Jonothan Hino began to speak. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to witness the union between James Tranquillity Tsukino and Setsuna Meiou…”