This is another piece in the Biography of Neo-Queen Serenity.  For all of
those who feel the Usagi, Mamoru and the Senshi should live forever; this is
not a story for you.  This is a tale of endings, but also of beginnings.
The
Native Americans have a saying, "Only the rocks live forever".    The lesson
is that death is part of the great circle of life.  When we finish our lives
here, we will join all those who have gone before in the circle of eternity.
Death isn't the end, but the beginning of joy without end.

If you'd like to write me, I'm at Meara@aol.com.  Please be kind and
remember
that the good you do comes back to you.

*********************************The Last Rose*********************************

By Meara

Serenity woke slowly.  The hushed whispers around her stopped as she opened
her eyes.  She was propped up in her bed, surrounded by her children, and
their children.  The lamp on her nightstand cast a soft, golden circle of
light.  Serenity saw Rei standing at the circle's edge.  Her lips moved as
the
Priestess silently prayed for her dying friend.  Rei stopped as she saw
Serenity looking at her.  Their eyes met and Rei lost the composure that
she's
been trying so hard to maintain.  "Usagi-Chan" she began to whisper
forlornly.

Serenity was shocked by her dearest friend's appearance.  She suddenly
looked
so old!  There was no spark in her eyes.  Her cloud white hair was lank and
dull.  Rei's face was drawn with overwhelming grief as if Serenity's death
was
shattering her spirit.  With a flash of foresight, Serenity suddenly knew
that
the last of the original Senshi would not have to mourn for long.  She would
soon join her friends in the place where night never fell.  Ami, the current
Senshi Mars, put her hands on her grandmother's shoulders in an attempt to
comfort her.  Rei just kept shaking her head and calling "Usagi-chan"
softly.

Serenity sensed more than saw the other  Senshi in the room.  They were all
there, both inner and outer.  Setsuna was there at the edge of her
perceptions.  As always, she filled her role as The Watcher, eternal and
alone.  How many friends had she buried, Serenity wondered?  She let her
gaze
scan the room finally settling on her eldest.

"Small Lady…" why was her voice so distant?

The Queen on Earth, the most powerful woman on the planet, fell to her knees
beside her mother and began to weep like a child.

"Please mother" Rini began, her voice breaking with her heart, "Please don't
go."  You promised you'd never leave me as long as I still needed you.  I
still need you mumma, I still need you!"

Serenity tried to raise her arms to comfort first born but found that she
hadn't the strength.  Her son, Darien, took her cold hands in his.  "We'll
take care of her mother.  All of us will.  I promise" he said.  Tears ran
freely down his handsome face.

"I know you will" Serenity thought.  She was so tried.  All she wanted to do
was sleep.  As she drifted into her final slumber, a sound came to her that
made her heart jump.

"Serenity, my only love."

She turned her head to see her beloved at her bedside.  Not as she
remembered
him on his last day, but young, strong and so handsome!  "Endymion" she said
her soul filling with joy at the sight of him, "Is it truly you?"

He smiled at her.  All of her cares all of her pain melted away in the
boundless warmth of his love for her.   He opened his arms.  "Come, beloved,
it is time, and the others are waiting."

With a cry of longing she went into his arms and held him once more.
Endymion
kissed her once, then pulled away slightly.  He gave a courtly bow and
extended one hand to her.  In it was a white rose, the symbol of eternal
love.
"May I have this dance, Princess?" he asked.  The sound of her star locket's
music filled the world around them.

"Yes" she replied with all her heart, "Yes, now and forever".  He pulled
close
and together they began to dance into a light brighter than the sun and
filled
with more love than she had ever thought possible.  Figures were shiloetted
in
the light ahead.  Ami, Makoto, Mina, Luna and all of her loved ones were
there!  They called her by name, their welcome a chorus of never-ending joy.
Serenity glanced back once at the old woman on the bed and the people
surrounding her.  "Be happy" her heart called, "Until we meet again."

Prince Darien, son of the Dowager Queen of Earth, placed his mother's hands
on
her now still form.  He brushed away his tears and moved to stand when
something caught his eye.

There beside her pillow, was one perfect, white rose.

He smiled through his tears and lovingly placed it between her hands.
"Thank
you father" he said "thank you".