Welcome and thanks for choosing to read my latest story!   This is a tale about love and forgiveness.  It 
tries to teach that nothing in life is so devastating that it can't be helped by the love of caring friends.  In the 
end, we are faced with the same choice that Usagi ultimately is - a life based on anger and bitterness or one 
of love and understanding.  

I'd like to send a special thank-you to HRH,  Karyana, Princess of the Moon and all points south of 
Delaware, for her willingness to look at just about anything I send her way.  J-chan, you are a saint!  Many 
thanks to M-chan for asking me to write for this series and the other CoT authors for their collective 
patience in making sure I don't mess up their established timeline.  The "Circle of Time" series is being done 
a number of very talented authors and I am honored to be asked to write for it.  You can read all the works 
involved at http://www.geocities.com/tokyo/9897/ct.htm if you'd like to see the whole picture.


 Please write me with your comments at MearaRI@aol.com and remember to be kind.  The good you do 
comes back to you, but bad karma is forever.

STANDARD DISCLAIMER:   The following says it all:

				Sailor Moon and her friends I don't own
				So all Lawyers should leave me alone
				Please don't take me to court
				‘Cause of funds I am short	
				and you just can't get blood from a stone!
				

<<<<<>>>>>


A Circles of Time story
"The Quality of Mercy"

"The quality of mercy is not strained,
It droppeth down as gentle as the rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
‘Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown
	…. Merchant of Venice, Act IV

Endymion, King of Earth moved slowly down the corridor that led to the Royal Family's private suites.  He 
did not notice that, outside, the yearly miracle of spring's rebirth was in evidence.  The sun was shining on 
the lilacs that bloomed in profusion in the Queen's garden.  The rose bushes were in leaf, new buds waiting 
to open.  The King saw none of this.  He was oblivious to his surrounds as the same thought ran over and 
over in his mind.

"How am I going to tell her?"

As he reached his intended destination, he paused, taking a single shuddering breath before opening the 
door to his daughter's room.  It took more strength than he thought he had left not to weep at the sight that 
greeted him.  Serenity was sitting on the bed, holding her daughter's hand.  Diana was telling their child a 
much-loved story from Serenity's past.    

"She looked in the mirror and, much to Luna's surprise, Usagi was a cat!"  Princess Lady Serenity, Heir to 
Earth, the Silver Millennium and the Imperium Silver Crystal, laughed weakly as her lunar cat Diana 
continued.  "Well, rather than being honored by this wonderful transformation, Usagi wanted to be a human 
again!  All of your Aunts tried everything they could think of to change her back.  Your Aunt Rei had a 
number of fiery suggestions, but in the end…"

"…It was the power of daddy's love that saved the day!"  The laughing had drained the child of what little 
energy she had in her, and she became still.  Diana padded carefully up the bed.  She gently settled herself 
beside her beloved friend.  The kitten rested her head on Small Lady's hip.  She looked at her princess with 
sad eyes, purring in her most comforting manner.   The child began to breathe in a careful manner, trying to 
fight off yet another bout of nausea.  "Mummy, I don't fell good.  When is Aunt Ami going to come and 
give me some more medicine?"  There was fear and exhaustion in the little girl's voice.


Queen Serenity began to gently stroke her child's forehead as her heart broke once again.  She looked 
deeply into the hollow eyes that had once sparkled with mischief.  Her hand strayed to the little girl's head.  
Her once luxurious fuscia  hair was gone now, thanks to the chemotherapy.  She was so tiny in the large 
bed, so fragile and much too small for her twelve years .  It was as if she was fading away even as her mother 
watched.  "Soon Small Lady, very soon.  I know it's hard. my darling."

The little princess put on her best brave face.  "It's not too bad, Mummy.  But my stomach is sort of upset 
again."

Endymion gently slipped onto the other side of the bed.  He leaned over and tenderly kissed Small Lady on 
the cheek.  Her skin was dry under his lips.  "How's my little rabbit doing?"  He carefully began to stroke her 
arm, avoiding the tubes that kept her hydrated despite her almost constant vomiting.  "Is your stomach 
bothering you?  Well, Aunt Ami will be here in just a moment give you something to help that."

As if on cue, the door opened once again.  Ami, Senshi of Mercury and physician to the Royal Family of 
Crystal Tokyo stepped softly into the room.  The anxious parents got off their child's bed as she walked to  
them.  Endymion caught Serenity's eye and looked toward the door.  "Mommy and I will be right back, Small 
Lady.  We need a moment to discuss some matters that effect the Kingdom.  Aunt Ami and Diana will stay 
with you, okay?"

The child nodded and looked at Ami, who was filling a syringe.  "My stomach's upset again, Aunt Ami.  
Can you please make it stop?"

"This should help, you, Princess.  It might make you sleepy too, so just close your eyes."  Said Ami.

Serenity and Endymion moved into the corridor, closing the door behind them.  Silently, the King took his 
wife's arm and led her away from the sickroom to the nearby library.   "The test results are back." He said as 
he sat Serenity in one of the large chairs.  As he knelt down beside her, the look of anguish on his face 
betrayed him.  Serenity brought one hand up to her mouth to stifle a sob.  "The cancer is still there.  The 
chemotherapy didn't work."

There was desperation in Serenity's voice.   "It didn't work?  My God, she's so weak, how will she survive 
another round of Chemo?"

Endymion struggled to find the words to tell her that there would be no other round of therapy, that it was 
useless.  In the end, he did not need to speak aloud what Serenity all ready knew in her heart.   The iron 
control that the Queen had exerted over her emotions shattered.  Tears filled her blue eyes as she shook her 
head in disbelief.  "No, no, that can't right.   She has to be all right, she has to be!" Serenity grabbed her 
husband's hands and gripped them tightly.  "I can't loose my baby.  We have to save her."  

As Endymion pulled her into his strong arms, she began to sob deeply.  The sound of her grief was tearing 
at his soul as he held her.  "There's only one option left, and it's a long shot at best."  Endymion was crying 
now too.  "Ami says that her only hope is a bone marrow transplant, and soon."

The queen pulled away from her only love.  "Then do it!"

Endymion shook his head.  "It's not that simply, Beloved.  She needs someone with an exact match or it 
won't work.  Ami all ready screened you and I.  We're not compatible.  The next best hope would be a 
brother or sister, but…"

"We don't have any other children." She finished.  "There has to be someone, somewhere on this planet 
that's a match.  How do we find them?"

"Ami has started to screen all of the potential donors in the medical database." His heart broke as he said 
the words he would have sold his soul not to utter.  "You have to know, because of  Small 
Lady's…unique..body chemistry, the odds of finding a match in the general population aren't good. We 
have to be prepared for the worst."

"The worst?  You mean that's she's going to die." She heard herself whisper the words that had haunted 
her since her child was first diagnosed with Leukemia.  Serenity felt that her mind and body were two 
separate entities at this point – shock she supposed. "I have loved her since she was conceived.  I carried 
her within me and felt her heart beating beneath my own.  We helped her take her first steps, ride her first 
pony.  Prepare?  How do you "prepare" yourself to watch your little girl die?"

Endymion had no answer for her.

A flash of light interrupted the private moment.  The King and Queen recognized it, of course, and turned to 
face the arrival of the Senshi of Time.  Sailor Pluto moved with ageless grace from the entrance to the Gate of 
Time and into the here and now.  She fell to one knee before her liege Lady and Lord.

"There may yet be a way to save Small Lady, if you have the courage to try."  Her words were addressed to 
Neo-Queen Serenity.

"Anything" said the queen quickly, "Anything!  How do we save her?!"

"You must use the Silver Crystal to contact your younger self."  She held up her hand to forestall the 
question she knew was coming.  "Forgive me, but it is forbidden for me to take you threw the Gate of Time."

"Then how can I do it?" asked the Queen.

"You must go in your dreams, Majesty.  The power of the Crystal is such that even time itself is no barrier.  
It existed then as it does now – it is as simple as that.  You must follow the crystal back to before the plague 
broke out, to before the great freeze.  Find yourself when you were still, simply, Usagi.   There is great 
danger in this.  Other points in eternity will call you, but you mustn't stop or you will be lost forever.  The 
King has done something similar to this.  His knowledge will guide you to your past.  His love for you will 
be your anchor in the present and your beacon home.  When you find her, tell Usagi of Small Lady's illness, 
of  her need for a compatible donor for the bone marrow transplant."  She paused, lifting her head so that 
she made eye contact with Serenity.  "I am permitted to tell you this - Ami holds Small Lady's salvation.  
When she has gotten what is necessary, tell Usagi to summon me by use of the Silver Crystal.  I will be 
waiting."  Sailor Pluto rose to her feet and headed back to her post at the Gate of Time.  She looked back at 
the monarchs once.  "I'm sorry" she said with true regret in her voice, "I cannot tell you more.  Remember – 
Ami holds Small Lady's salvation!"

The familiar mists of the time corridor that was her home and prison swirled around Sailor Pluto.  She made 
her way back to her post at the time gate in a leisurely manner.  She did, after all, have all the time in the 
world.  As Setsuna settled herself another figure appeared in the mists, shrouded in shadows.  The Senshi 
of Pluto looked at her visitor.  "I did exactly as you instructed me to. You had best know what you're doing.   
This is Small Lady's life you're playing with."

"Would this face lie to you?" asked the figure.

Setsuna gave the newcomer a withering look.  "Very funny.  Just when did you acquire a sense of humor, 
anyway?"

The figure began to melt into the shadows from which it came.  "You'll find out.  All in due time, dear."

<<<<<>>>>>


"How am I going to tell her?"

The same thought ran endlessly through Mamoru Chiba's mind as he lay in his dark bedroom.  It had 
haunted him since the day that Ami had come home from her foreign studies with the baby in her arms.  She 
had denied that he was the baby's father, but Mamoru had taken one look at little Setsuna and his world had 
unraveled around him.  The set of the baby's eyes, the cool, dispassionate way she gazed at him, it was like 
looking in a mirror.  If he could see the obvious resemblance, so could everyone else.  Mamoru knew that it 
was only a matter of time before they figured it out.

He was the father of Ami's child.

Mamoru knew what would happen next.  Usagi would never forgive him and he would lose her love forever.  
True, they would have to marry in order for Chibi-Usa to be born, for Crystal Tokyo to rise, but Usagi would 
shut herself off from him.  It would be a marriage in name only.  A cold necessity that duty required of them 
for the greater good.  

This was his worst fear.  Something her only dared to admit to himself in the darkest hours of the night.   He 
would spend the rest of his life utterly alone.  Mamoru Chiba, who had always prided himself on his 
emotional control, curled into a ball and wept.

<<<<<>>>>>
Usagi was so tired.  In the three weeks since her revelation of Setsuna's parentage, her sleep had been 
haunted by the same nightmare.  It replayed over and over to the point where she dreaded going to bed.  
Luna had, of course, tried to pry the reason for her bad dreams out of her.  So far, she had managed to keep 
the secret to herself, but Usagi was beginning to wonder how long she could do that.

As sleep began to overtake her this night, she prayed that, for once, she would not dream.  When her 
nightly visit to her own private hell started, the usual pattern was interrupted by a burst of silver light.  
Usagi felt herself being pulled out of her body.  The dreamscape around her twisted and shifted.  A silver 
mist obscured her inner vision.  She felt lost and frightened by what was happening.   A slender hand 
materialized before her.

"Take my hand!" came a familiar voice from the mist.

Usagi reached out to the proffered limb, gripping it tightly.  As she did so, the silver mist faded into weak 
sunlight.  She looked up to find that she recognized the hand's owner.  "Neo-Queen Serenity!  What's 
going on?  Where the hell are we?  Oh, sorry…"

The tall, elegant woman gave a wan smile at the outburst.  She had forgotten how spontaneous she used to 
be.  "Thank you for coming, Usagi.  As to where we are, well lets just say we're outside the boundaries of 
normal time and space.  Why is another reason."  Deep sorrow filled her face.  "Take my hand again.  You 
need to see this."

Usagi paused only for a moment before doing as she was bid.  Reality blurred around them once more.  
When things quieted, they were in a hospital room of some sort.  She could see a child in the large bed. A 
nurse sat in a corner of the room, a silent witness to young suffering.   The child was thin and pale.  Her frail 
arms had various tubes in them that delivered the food and water that enabled her to hold a tenuous grip on 
life.  It was only when the child opened her eyes that Usagi realized who she was.  "Chibi-Usa?"

"She is dying" said the Queen softly.  "Soon after she returned to us from your time, Small Lady began to 
complain of pain in her arms and legs.  At first, it seemed to be normal – growing pains my…our mother used 
to call it.  The pain didn't go away however. When she began to experience unexplained fevers and night 
sweats, we became very concerned.  Ami diagnosed her with acute Leukemia shortly afterwards."

Usagi was stunned.  "Leukemia?  There are treatments for that, I've read about them."

Serenity shook her head.  "We tried everything, radiation, nutritional therapy, and finally, chemotherapy.  
Nothing helped, the cancer is still there."

"Why didn't you heal her with the Silver Crystal?" said Usagi.

The question struck the Queen of Crystal Tokyo like a blow.  With effort, she held onto her composure.  
"We tried that.  It didn't work. "

"Didn't work?!"  Usagi repeated, indignant.  "I've seen it restore people who were dead!  How can it not 
work?!"

"Ami theorizes that Small Lady's illness may have been caused by the metamorphosis the Black Moon 
family imposed on her.  By her sudden and massive exposure to the energy of the black crystal.  Or, it may 
have been caused by her use of the full power of the Silver Crystal before her body was mature enough to 
handle it.  Either way, it caused changes on a cellular level that eventually became cancer."  The tears flowed 
down her cheeks freely, now.  "When I tried to heal her with the Silver Crystal, it only sped up the course of 
the disease."  Guilt and pain contorted the regal woman face.   " Small Lady has one hope left, a bone 
marrow transplant."

"Then do it!"  shouted Usagi, echoing Serenity's earlier statement.

"Don't you understand?  We've all ready searched the entire planet for a compatible donor, but there isn't 
one.  Not in my time." She began to nod her head as Usagi followed her line of reasoning.  "Yes, not in my 
time, but maybe in yours!  Sailor Pluto came to me and told me that one could be found in the past.  She said 
that, and these are her exact words, Ami holds Small Lady's salvation."

Neo-Queen Serenity began to fade away.  "Remember!  Ami holds Small Lady's salvation!  It's up to you, 
Usagi.   When you are ready, use the Silver Crystal to call Sailor Pluto.  She promised me that she will be 
waiting."  The ethereal Queen of Crystal Tokyo seemed to be drawn toward a distant point of light.  "Please 
hurry, Usagi!  Our daughter's life depends on you!"  With a burst like a small star, Serenity was gone.

Usagi began to feel her dream self falling.  As she tumbled through time her mind screamed in frustration.  "I 
don't understand!  What does it mean?  Please tell me what it means?!"

Usagi Tsukino woke thrashing about in her own bed.  Luna tumbled to the floor with an indignant yowl.  
The Moon Princess gasped for air and trembled as she looked around.  The sun was coming up now.  A 
glance at her clock told her that it almost 6:30 in the morning.  She was confused for a moment before her 
dream came back to her in vivid detail.

"Usagi!" came Luna's outraged voice.  "Just when I think that you're finally maturing into a semblance of 
grace you love to disabuse me of that notion by dumping me on the floor.  Usagi?  Are you listening to 
me?!"

She wasn't.  Leaping out of bed, she simultaneously reached for the telephone and the clothes she'd laid 
out the night before.  Tucking the receiver under her chin, Usagi dialed a number with her free hand.  "Sorry 
Luna" she mumbled as she tried to pull on her shirt.  "Mamo-chan?  It's me.  Yes, as a matter of fact, I do 
know what time it is.  Listen, meet me at Ami's right away, it's an emergency.  That's what I said, Ami's right 
away.  See you there, bye!"

She whirled as she drew her shorts on, stumbling for her shoes.  Hopping on one foot, Usagi slipped them 
on while beginning to brush out her hair.  One glance in the mirror told her that it would take too long to re-
do her customary "odonga's".   She grabbed a scrunchi and pulled her long, fine hair through it.  It would 
have to do.

As Usagi turned toward the door, Luna jumped in front of her.  "Oh, no you don't.  You're not leaving here 
until you tell me what this is all about."  The midnight lunar cat sat down and gave her charge a look that 
dared Usagi to try and move her.  Luna expected her to cry, or shout or even run right over her, anything but 
what happened next.

Letting out a loud sigh of regret, Usagi went to her knees.   She looked her friend straight in the eyes. "Luna, 
I can't begin to say how much I wish I could tell you everything.  But, I can't.  Please don't make this any 
harder for me than it already is."

"I only want to help you." Whispered Luna, taken aback.

Usagi shook her head gently.  "I know you do, but it's just not possible."  She rose to her feet in a flowing, 
graceful motion.  "Please respect my wishes in this.  I have a better reason than you'll ever know."

Luna could only stare for a moment.  The girl in front of her was everything she'd ever hoped for in Usagi; 
regal, graceful, and strong.  For a fraction of a second the feline could have sworn she saw a faint crescent 
moon outlined on the girl's forehead.  Luna did the only thing she could under the circumstances.  Standing 
up, she made a courtly bow.  "As you wish…"  Usagi moved by her too fast to hear Luna's last words.  
"Your Majesty."


<<<<<>>>>>

The words Neo-Queen Serenity had spoken to her echoed endlessly in her mind as Usagi made her way to 
the Mizuno's apartment.  Serenity had seemed sure that she'd know what to do, but Usagi was more 
confused than ever.  <Ami holds Small Lady's Salvation>.  What was that supposed to mean?  Maybe Ami 
was doing research on Leukemia at school, or had read an article about it or maybe she knew a doctor that 
was about to release a new breakthrough in treatment.  Usagi just didn't know.  

The sad truth was that she had no idea what was going on in Ami's life since she'd had her revelation about 
Setsuna's parentage.  Usagi had done her best to avoid Ami.  Sure, she'd sat for the baby like the rest of the 
Senshi, but Usagi had gone out of her way to never inquire about Ami's feelings on the matter of Setsuna's 
father.  Or, she had to admit to herself, any other feelings.

Sailor Moon, who had faced down some of the most horrific villains the galaxy had ever bred was afraid.  
With all the power at her command, the future Queen of the world was so terrified of what Ami might say 
that she had begun to withdraw into herself.  It was so much easier never to ask questions that would only 
hurt her in the end.  It was better to let sleeping secrets lie, wasn't it?  Wasn't it?

Usagi found herself in front of Ami's door.  In her heart, she knew that her life would be changed forever by 
what would be said this morning.  But if that was the price for saving Chibi-Usa's life, she decided, then so 
be it.  Her hand trembled has she reached for the buzzer.

Mamoru answered the door and her heart sank.  Usagi managed to keep the fear out of her voice as she 
came into the living room.  "Where's Ami?  This involves her, too."

The sound of a baby's low crying preceded the Senshi of Mercury into the room.   Ami jiggled the fussy 
child on her shoulder.  She glanced at the Moon Princess with barely concealed irritation.  "Is this important 
Usagi?  Setsuna's been up most of the night with an ear infection and I just got her settled down when 
Mamoru called."

The whole of Tsukino's Usagi world narrowed it's focus.  Her mind zoomed in on Ami and the child as Neo-
Queen Serenity's words filled her mind.  ‘Ami holds Small Lady's salvation'.  Setsuna.  That was it.  She'd 
read that bone marrow transplants were most successful when the donor was a relative.  In this case, a 
sister.    With amazing calm, Usagi looked first at Ami, then Mamoru.  Some secrets, it seemed, just couldn't 
be kept.

"I had a visit from Neo-Queen Serenity last night."  This got their attention.  "Chibi-Usa has Leukemia.  She 
will die unless she gets a bone marrow transplant.  Both Endymion and Serenity aren't compatible donors. 
Her only hope is her sister…" Usagi paused and deliberately looked at the infant in Ami's arms.  
"…Setsuna."  The looks on Ami and Mamoru's faces said it all.  "I know about…you two, okay?  I know 
Mamoru is  Setsuna's father."

Ami sat down with a thud in the nearest chair as Mamoru moaned out loud.   The infant began to cry again.  
Usagi rose to her feet and went to Ami.  She held out her arms.  

"Let me put Setsuna in her bed.  She shouldn't be here for this."  Ami reflexively pulled the baby closer.  
"Please Ami, " said Usagi, stung by her friend's reaction,  "I'd never hurt her."

Ami gave the infant to Usagi.  As the moon princess disappeared for a moment, Mamoru looked at Ami with 
sadness.  "Why didn't you tell me?  That day, in the airport when you returned, I all but shouted out the 
question.  How could you tell Usagi and not tell me?"

Ami's was shocked by Mamoru's accusation.  "I didn't tell her!  Why on earth do would you think that I'd 
tell my best friend that I slept with her fiancée?!  I have no idea how she found out!"

Neither of them had heard Usagi reenter the room.  "I'm not a complete idiot, Mamoru." She said.  "Believe 
or not, I am capable of putting two an two together.  But that's not important right now."

Ami was exhausted.  She'd been up all night and the better part of the last two nights with Setsuna.  The 
rational part of her was no longer in control as months of feelings she'd ignored overtook her.  The 
resentment at the lack of privacy, lack of sleep, lack of the most basic control of her life filled her.  Added to 
that was the unspoken question of just who Setsuna's father was.  Although her friends had never pressed 
the matter, it seemed to perpetually hang over her like the sword of Damocles, just waiting to ruin what was 
left of her life.  She had been trying so hard to avoid this moment that it haunted her, allowing her no peace.  
All of the pain and anguish to she's worked to contain exploded out of her in a scream.  For perhaps the first 
time in her life, Ami let her emotions control her.

"Not important?  The defining moment in my life isn't important enough for you?  Well I'm so sorry 
Princess," She spat out the title with such bitterness that Ami shocked even herself.  "That the problems of 
we lesser beings intrudes on your perfect world.  I knew this day would come and I knew what everyone's 
reaction would be.  ‘Poor Usagi, Ami slept with her fiancée.'  It's always about you!  Well I've been hurt too 
and no one seems to ever care."  The petite Senshi of Mercury had come up to Usagi and was shouting in 
her face.  "When is it my turn?  When do I get to be the one everyone takes care of?"  She pounced on 
Mamoru who was coming to Usagi's defense.  "And you!  You used me and never looked back!  I was good 
enough for you only until the Princess here wanted you back. All the time I was away you never even tried 
to contact me, Mamoru.  No cards, or letters or e-mails, it was like I didn't exist.  When I came home with the 
baby do you remember what happened, do you?"  Ami began to punctuate her words by slapping Mamoru 
on the chest with her hands.  "You looked at me and your eyes said, "Oh God, please tell me that the baby 
isn't mine'.  How do you think that makes me feel?  I'll tell you how, like dirt!  Like I'm less than nothing!  
Like no one loves me!"  Ami's knees gave out and sobbing, she dropped to the floor.  Mamoru knelt and 
took her in his arms, rocking her back and forth like a child.

"I'm so sorry, Ami, so sorry.  I never meant to hurt you.  You have every right to hate me, I'm so sorry."  
Mamoru chanted his lament over and over.

Usagi watched all of this and her heart withered within her. But Chibi-Usa needed her and she had to be 
strong.  "I know we have to marry for Chibi-Usa to be born, Mamoru, and for Crystal Tokyo to happen." She 
said as the tears began to fall, "But I won't stand in the way of you two, if you wanted to be…together.   All 
I ask is that our daughter isn't made to suffer because you don't love me anymore."

Mamoru raised his eyes to her, but she was not looking at him.    "How can you think I don't love you?  You 
are my life, my soul, I'd rather die than try to go on without you!"

Ami looked up from the shelter of Mamoru's arms.   It penetrated her mind that Usagi thought Mamoru's 
words were not meant for her, but for Ami.  "You think he loves me?  Me?"

Usagi's hands rolled into tight fists as she struggled to keep control.  "Of course.  Ami, you're everything 
I've ever wanted to be.  You're beautiful, graceful and so smart.  The others can always count on you.  You 
never let anyone down.  Me, I'm the klutz, unreliable, selfish, not worthy of being Sailor Moon let alone the 
Moon Princess.  Ami, you're everything I'm not.  Sure, I was mad at first.  But the more I thought about it, 
the more sense it made.  Why wouldn't he choose you?"  She had turned her face from them so they 
wouldn't see her pain.  This was the dream, the horror that had invaded her sleep every night.  She feared 
that Mamoru didn't love her, Usagi  – he loved Serenity.  If he couldn't have Serenity, well than, Ami was 
much closer to the long ago princess than she would ever be.  "This is my own fault.  It happened because I 
was so selfish.  Because I only though of me and to keep from being hurt again.  I understand if you hate 
me, Ami, but please, I beg you.." She turned to face her friend.  "Please let Setsuna donate the bone marrow 
Chibi-Usa needs."

Usagi was begging Ami to have mercy on her child.  Usagi was begging for Ami's help.  Usagi-was-
begging!  The facts slowly began to penetrate to emotion storm that had claimed her mind.  She pushed 
away Mamoru's arms.  "Why are being so nice to me?  Why aren't you screaming at me?" she asked 
pathetically, "Don't you realize what I've done?"  Shame flooded her and she covered her face with her 
hands.  "Don't you realize what I am?"

When Usagi had first had her revelation about the liaison between Mamoru and Ami, she'd been angrier 
and more hurt than at any other time in her life.  The first few days she'd indulged herself in fantasies of 
revenge.  Anger had turned to despair about the third day as she blamed her own behavior for sending 
Mamoru into Ami's arms.  By day four, the guilt was well established.  Usagi also realized that no matter 
what her wishes on the matter might be, Crystal Tokyo was going to come.  She would need the others and 
they would need her.  Usagi could either wallow in anger or accept her role in this incident and learn to live 
with what had happened.  It was her choice - anger and pain or love and forgiveness. 

Usagi motioned for Mamoru to step aside.  She knelt down next to the crouching Ami and gently pried her 
hands apart.  "I know exactly who and what you are.  You are Ami Mizuno, my friend.  You are the one who 
always came to my defense, even when I didn't deserve it.  You are the bravest, kindest, most loving person 
I've ever met, and I know I'm not half worthy of your friendship."  Though she fought against it, her voice 
cracked with the emotions she held back.

Something clicked inside Ami's soul.  She understood that she had allowed her own fears and insecurities to 
rule her.  The monster she'd feared in the night, turned out nothing more than shadows in the clear light of 
day.  She was still angry and hurt, but it no longer seemed to consume her. She was so convinced that Usagi 
would hate her that she'd been prepared to push her away rather than face another rejection.

Perhaps, she mused, letting those feelings out had freed her from the worst of them.   Usagi offered her a 
hand up and Ami took it.  Mamoru's face was flushed with his own shame.  "You're right, I used you 
Ami…" he began

Ami shook her head.  "I think that we used each other that night."

Usagi held Ami's hand.  "Or perhaps you were just answering the call of what had to be.  In case you hadn't 
noticed, Sailor Pluto is now gone from this time.  Her name was Setsuna, too.  Maybe this was destiny.  
Something that you both had to do to make the future happen."

Ami snorted in a very un-Mizuno like fashion.  "Destiny sucks!"

This set Usagi to laughing.  Ami wanted to hug her but still did not dare, not quite yet.  A thought floated to 
the top of her mind.  "Perhaps it was meant to work out this way, Usagi.  When ‘my' Setsuna was born, I 
had the doctors save the blood from her umbilical cord.  It's the best for bone marrow donation. There are 
three vials worth.  You can have one.  Let me go make a phone call."

Usagi gave her a look filled with gratitude.  "I can't thank you enough, Ami.  What ever you want me to do, 
whenever you want me to do it, you have only to ask.  I owe you my daughter's life, and that's a debt I can 
never repay!"

Ami smiled softly and moved away.  As she left the room, Usagi turned her attention to Mamoru.  He stood 
alone, looking at her with despair written in every line of his body.  He ached to go to her, to hold her in 
arms, but was rooted to the spot by fear.  "What have I done to hurt so badly that you would believe the 
worst of me?  How could you doubt my love for you?  It's endured for more than a thousand years, and if 
we truly have seen the future, it will survive for another millennium.  Why would you ever think that I'd 
leave you?"

Usagi didn't answer him, but the explanation lay unspoken between them.  What had he done?  Maybe it 
was the time that he'd driven her away because a dream told him to.  Perhaps because he hadn't trusted her 
enough to tell her the truth about that or about his affair with Ami.  She thought of a thousand reasons, but 
spoke none of them aloud.  Instead she simply went to him and put her arms around him.  Mamoru groaned 
with relief and tenderly held his one and only love.

"You've changed Usako."  He whispered to her as they held to each other.

Usagi took a shuddering breath, the fighting the temptation to cry.  "I've grown up, Mamo-chan.  Is that so 
hard to accept?"" She longed to shriek and cry the way she used to.  It was hard to be an adult.

"They say that suffering makes you stronger.  You're living proof of that, my Princess."

The old Usagi returned as she gave a bark of cynical laughter.  "The moron who said that never had 
anything sufficiently bad happen to him.  What a jerk!"  She and Mamoru pulled apart as Ami came back.  
She stood shyly across the room from them.

"I talked to Setsuna's pediatrician.  She's sending a messenger over with the vial immediately."  An 
awkward silence came over her.

"It's time I stepped up and did my part, Ami." Said Mamoru.  "You've carried the responsibility of caring for 
Setsuna all by yourself for far too long.  I'd like to be a part of her life, if you'll allow me to.  It took two of us 
to make her, it should take the both of us to raise her."

Ami couldn't stop the blush that came to her cheeks.  "Oh!  I don't mean to imply that it's all a burden for 
me.  I love Setsuna more than I thought I could ever love anyone.  It's overwhelming at times, but truly, I 
wouldn't trade a moment of my life with her!".

Mamoru felt Usagi give him a small push.  He took the hint and went to Ami.  "Please allow me the privilege 
of getting to know her, Ami.  If you'll let me, I'll gather what she needs and take Setsuna with me for the day.   
You're exhausted, why don't you go to bed and I'll watched our daughter."

"Sleep would be wonderful, but we three have so much to talk about…" Ami began.  Now that everything 
was out in the open, Ami found, to her surprise, that sleep sounded very good.  Perhaps a clear conscience 
would make for a good rest.

Usagi went to her and cautiously took Ami's hand.  "You go ahead, Ami-chan" she said with a smile.  "We 
can talk later.  I have it on good authority that we have all the time in the world."

The Senshi of Mercury was touched by Usagi use of her old nickname.  She squeezed Usagi hand before 
releasing it and turned to seek out her bed.  Maybe, just maybe, they could work this out after all.

<<<<<>>>>>


Dr. Ami Mizuno, physician to the Royal family couldn't believe the results she held in her hand.   When 
Sailor Pluto had arrived with the bone marrow, Ami had quickly, and without question, tested it for 
compatibility.  The match was almost too perfect to be true.  At the time, she hadn't the luxury of questions.  
Small Lady had needed that transplant as soon as possible.  All her energies were tied up in that.

Now that things had quieted down a bit, Ami's curiosity was nagging her.  The Senshi of Mercury simply 
hated puzzles.  She was driven to find the answer and was very difficult to distract was she was in full 
discovery mode.  It had taken the better part of the last two weeks to get the answers she now held.  They 
shocked her.  She'd run the test three times to be sure of its accuracy.  Each time the same solution had been 
repeated.  There was no denying the truth.

Setsuna was Small Lady's sister.

How as that possible?  Ami once again damned the lack of memory from the time before the great freeze.  
She could recall some of the details of her life until about two years before the world had slept.  From then to 
her awakening, everything was simply a blank.  Science didn't lie to her though.  Setsuna was sister to the 
Princess.  What's more, a detailed DNA profile narrowed Setsuna's parents down to two prominent figures 
in Crystal Tokyo.  The expected - Mamoru Chiba and the amazing - Ami Mizuno.  Had she really slept with 
her best friend's husband?  If that was true she couldn't imagine that Usagi would have ever forgiven her; 
that she would have forgiven herself.  Each time she thought that she'd distilled the problem down to its 
basics more puzzles popped up.  It was simply maddening!

"Ami."  A familiar voice called her name.  The Senshi of Mercury looked up expecting to see Sailor Pluto.  
The woman with the Timestaff looked similar to Setsuna, but there were subtle differences.  Her fuku wasn't 
white, but pearl gray with a charcoal colored bow that had an opal in the center.  She seemed to be not quite 
here, fading in and out of reality.  Sailor Pluto had always seemed remote, but human.  The woman standing 
before Ami was most definitely not.  She radiated an aura of vast age, and power shone from her like an 
angel who played at being mortal.  The expression on her face resembled regret.

"You're not Setsuna.  Who are you?"  Ami managed to ask.

The figure didn't reply, but held up the staff.  Time stopped for everyone but Pluto.  She moved to touch the 
delicate woman's face.  Her fingers slowly traced Ami's jaw then moved to her brow.  Power beyond 
measure danced around Pluto.  She knew that Ami would never give up her quest for the truth unless she 
gave her something even more fascinating to think about.   This done, she turned to leave.  Pluto paused, 
uncharacteristically, and looked at Ami.  "I'm sorry, Mother." She said as she faded away.

Ami came back to herself with a start.  What had she been thinking of?  Oh yes!  Why hadn't she seen it 
before?  If she just changed the molecular sequence of the umbilical blood by a single protein…

"This could be the cure!"  she whispered.  The possibilities filled her clever mind and she settled down to 
start the necessary calculations.

<<<<<>>>>>

Setsuna, Senshi and Guardian of the Gates of Time, became aware that her visitor was back.  She never so 
much as turned her head as she addressed the newcomer.

"Are you happy now?  Have you managed to keep the Timeline intact?"  Setsuna couldn't keep a trace of 
contempt out of her voice.  "And will you please come over here when I'm talking to you?  You know how I 
hate to have to shout to be heard."

"Better than anyone else."  Replied the visitor as she moved from the shadows into the light that spilled 
from the Timegate.    She smoothed out an imaginary wrinkle on her pearl gray fuku.  "Yes, Everything is as 
it should be once more.  This was the turning point for Usagi, you know.  After all the trails she's faced, this 
is the crisis that finally made her ready for Crystal Tokyo."  Ethereal Pluto graciously came into Setsuna's 
line of sight. ."  A pity that I had to give Ami the cure for cancer when I did, but she would have discovered 
it on her own a few months later anyway."  She saw the disapproval in the younger woman's face.  "I've 
told you over and over, the temporal perceptions of an individual are less important than the integrity of the 
whole timeline.   I keep telling you that, why won't you believe me?"

The two women looked at each other for a long moment.  Sailor Pluto, who observed time, faced her future, 
timeless self who manipulated reality to her own ends.  "What do you mean you ‘keep telling me'?  I have 
no memory of your visiting me before."

The ghost of a smile played across the eternal beauty of Ethereal Pluto's face.  She said nothing, only raised 
one elegant eyebrow a fraction of a centimeter.  An indignant huff escaped Setsuna, as she understood that 
even she wasn't immune to Ethereal Pluto's machinations.  "And how many times have you "adjusted" my 
temporal perceptions" asked Setsuna.

Ethereal Pluto began to vanish into the ageless mists along with Sailor Pluto's recent memories.  The Senshi 
at the Gate of Time blinked once and chided herself for allowing her mind to wander like that.  As Setsuna 
settled once more, she could have sworn that she heard the faint echo of bitter laughter within the corridors 
of eternity.

<<<<<>>>>>

 "How am I going to tell her?"

Endymion, King of Earth moved at a leisurely pace through the Queen's garden on his way to their private 
suites within the vast palace.  The lilacs were in full bloom, he noticed, perfuming the air with their 
distinctive scent.  He paused a moment at the rose bush he and Serenity had planted together when Small 
Lady had been born.  It was sleeping still, but the buds were beginning to swell with the promise of new life.  
He paused a moment, concentrated his power and released it at the plant.  One, perfect rose bloomed in 
joyous reaction to his will.  The delicate flower was a soft pink with silver at the petal's tips.  He plucked it 
gently, and thanking the plant for it's gift, moved on.

Endymion hummed tunelessly to himself as he went to the door of his daughter's room.  He paused a 
moment to put on his best poker face before going in.  It took more strength than he thought he had not to 
weep with joy at the sight that greeted him.  Small Lady was running after a flash of gray fur as she chased 
Diana around the room.  The sound of laughter filled the air as the Princess Royal of Earth, the Heir to the 
Silver Imperium Crystal  dashed after her friend out the French doors to the private courtyard.  Her pink hair 
was growing back in now.  It was almost long enough for Small Lady to start wearing the traditional 
"odongas" again.

In the courtyard proper, Serenity, Queen of Earth sat on a bench shaded by a large cherry tree in full bloom.  
Several of the bright, pink blossom's had fallen onto the lap of her silver dress and made a striking contrast.    
Endymion went to her and taking her hand, kissed the palm in a sensuous gesture.  She was more beautiful 
each day, he thought as he carefully schooled his face into an impassive one.

"I've just gotten a report from Ami on Small Lady's latest test results."  He said.

Serenity couldn't keep the concern from her eyes.  "And…?"

Endymion  broke into a wide smile and sat down next to his wife.  He produced the rose and gave it to her.  
"Negative – all of them.  There's no sign of either cancer or that Small Lady is rejecting the bone marrow.  In 
fact, the match is so perfect, that Ami says it's hard to believe that it didn't come from you or me.  She can 
run a more detailed DNA profile if you'd like."

"That's not important right now." Said Serenity with a smile.  As she spoke the words, Serenity  had a 
momentary feeling of deju vu, but ignored it.  Her darling child was growing stronger daily.  She had her 
beloved by her side.  With a tender sigh, she leaned on his shoulder.  "She's recovering.  That's all that 
really matters."
***
She was pleased.   From her vantage point above the cherry tree, Ethereal Pluto let her intangible form flow 
back into the time stream. All was proceeding, as it should. At least, for now.