Chapter: Epilogue: The Pledge

4 months later.
It was a sunny April day when a large procession of people dressed in black walked along the avenue of cherry trees, the crowns of which, in the rapidly passing flowering period, resembled a canopy of finely woven lace. At the end of this avenue was the Aoyama cemetery. The scent of spring drifted over the quiet place. The brown oak coffin, covered with a wreath of white lilies and cherry blossoms, was carried by six pallbearers. Behind it was a family that gave each other support. A little further behind were ten collected girls and especially one felt great loss. It was the moon princess Serenity, in earthly form, who was supported in front of everyone else by her fiancé Mamoru. Her golden hair shone in the sun and her blue eyes were full of compassion. I wanted to touch her to comfort her, but the insurmountable barrier held me back. I watched from the tombstone as the coffin was lowered and earthed over.A marble slab was placed and each mourner placed flowers. I watched and couldn't contain myself as the people I loved suffered so much because of me. I couldn't do anything. I closed my eyes and reviewed the past four months.

Shortly after Reika's and Shinko's engagement on New Years Day, my health deteriorated. At first I thought that the stress of my thesis was to blame. But after the exam, I still didn't feel better and Shinko dragged me to the doctor. The test result was a hard blow to me. The doctor diagnosed the last stage of leukemia. When I asked how long I had this disease, he couldn't give me any exact information. I refused chemotherapy stubbornly and the doctor made no move when I only prescribe something to relieve the tiredness and sluggishness. From then on I experienced every day with special attention. I spent a lot of time with my 'siblings' and the Sailor Warriors.I had a lot of fun with Michiru and Haruka. Especially when Haruka gave birth to a healthy daughter in early February. I became a godmother, which Michiru allowed me with all my heart. None of you knew about my illness. The past few weeks have been beautiful, but on a cold and wet March morning I collapsed in my bathroom. Darkness surrounded me and it felt like a second, the silence was so pleasant. A wave of blazing light brought me back. When I opened my eyes I looked into Usagi's eyes, she had tears in her eyes. I was in the hospital, handcuffed to a bed with many tubes. My left hand itched and I almost ripped out the cannula. I tried to appear composed. “Usagi, I don't want this!” She howled, “How long have you known?” I looked to the side. “Since January!” The reproaches she made me, I went through myself, when she had finished, I said: “Bunny, I don't want it to end here with me.I want to be with my family! Do you promise me that "She looked deeply into my eyes and I opened my heart. She could see it. I was happy about my life, I would like to go on living, but my body wouldn't want anymore. I smiled at her.

Two weeks later at the Sakura festival.
I had just caught 7 goldfish and was given a necklace pendant. It was teardrop-shaped rose quartz on a leather strap. The others played for a while and I sat on a nearby park bench and watched the sunset. Reika came up to me laughing and hugged me. "Aiko, if I had a wish ...!" "... then I wish that you would make Shinko happy. The past will leave him alone, Reika. You don't waste any thoughts on the lunar kingdom! Bunny will be fine straighten! "She smiled and was taken away by Ray. Shinko soon sat down with me. "Well, sister, what are you thinking about?" I smiled at him. "I'm so happy!I've found my past again, it's calm in me and I'm happy for you! "He took me in his arms and I heard his heartbeat. He had something calming. I closed my eyes and felt the silence and the warmth. I heard a voice. First very quietly and then louder and louder. She called me and I followed her . After a while I saw the Queen of the Silver Millennium, my mother, again for unthinkable times. She hugged me and I surrendered to my feelings. I cried. It went quiet inside me and she kissed my forehead. As When I looked around I noticed that we were on the moon. From here the earth looked enchantingly beautiful. I felt more and more how I was becoming one with the moon. I looked at my mother questioningly. She nodded and I knew that I had just died.

Shinko felt my hand but my body showed no reaction. He knew what had happened. He squeezed my body and called emergency services on his cell phone.When the call was sent, tears welled up in his eyes, I would have loved to rub them off his face. I knew what he was doing even though I was far away from him. On the moon with my mother.

I came to and opened my eyes to see that Bunny was kneeling alone in front of my grave. I was completely the princess of the lunar kingdom. I held the rose quartz pendant in my hand. I wanted to leave her this one, but I wasn't allowed to show my spirit to her. It was hard.
I teleported to her room and placed the chain on her desk. For five minutes I could concentrate and take the pen and write a few important words. Then my strength collapsed and I became a ghost again. I stood at her window and watched the wind playing in the curtains. They smelled of Bunny's perfume, among other things. I felt a pain inside me, very deeply, although I knew that ghosts could not feel such a thing, I felt it.It was the love of my sister and me, it hurt, but I would keep it in my heart forever. Like you mine too. I left the room and returned to the place where all the Sailor Warriors stayed after their deaths.

A little later Usagi stomped into her room. There were veils of tears over her eyes. Only gradually did she become more and more aware of what we had experienced back then in the lunar kingdom. She let her being as Serenity influence the life of the Usagi more and more. She put her bag on the desk when she noticed the trailer. She wiped the tears from her eyes and saw the letter that Aiko had left her.

~~~~~

"Dearest sister,
unfortunately I cannot support you as queen in the future,
but always remember, whatever happens, I will always be with you!
Deep in your heart, I am waiting for your call.

Take the rose quartz, it's with the most important thing of a moon princess
equipped, maybe you need it!

The light of the silver crystal will illuminate your path brightly!Because you are the last moon princess of the silver millennium.

I am always with you!

Your sister Aiko vs. Justice! "

~~~~~

Bunny lowered the letter and looked out the window. The curtains blew in the light wind and her view became clearer, but it should forever be shaped by this experience. She kissed the rose quartz and ran into the sunset. On the cliffs by the harbor she stopped and swore by wind, water and earth that she would accept the inheritance of the silver millennium and bring peace back to the galaxy.

**** FIN ****