Rated PG-13

Disclaimers: Sailor Moon and everything affiliated with her are the property
of Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, Kodansha, and DiC.  They are not mine, I
am only borrowing them for a little while.  Any other characters are mine.
If anyone wishes to use them, please notify me first.


Just a bit of clarification:
	the * * signify a person's thoughts
	the ***** before a section signify either a memory or a shift into
the mindscape or dreamscape (don't worry, this will make sense eventually, I 
hope).


Comments?  Questions?  You want to praise me or curse me out?  I'm at 
engjng@worldnet.att.net


Daughters of Destiny
Part 16
by: Johnny Ng


	Amid the wreckage of _Wraith_, Bane's orb floated.  Despite the 
cataclysmic energies released in the explosion, its surface remained smooth 
and unblemished, but it gave no hint that it was still alive.  A green glow 
gradually appeared within the orb.
	*So, I live still,* Bane thought to himself weakly.  He cast his 
senses as far as he could to try and feel for survivors.  There were none.
	*I should have known.  Those who survived my rebirth would have 
surely perished with the destruction of the ship.*
	The sorcerer's heightened senses picked up magical emanations coming 
from the Moon.  He focused on the satellite and was surprised to find Aiden 
and the rest of his party there.  There was a sudden flash and they were 
gone.
	*Back to Earth, no doubt.  Back home.*  Bane felt a sudden twinge of 
sadness.
	<<Do not be disheartened, sorcerer.>>
	*Who...Serenity?  What...How...?*
	<<Do not concern yourself with those questions.  Just know that I 
sense your loss, and I would offer what I help I can.>>
	Bane chuckled.  *No offense, Your Majesty, but what can you, a dead 
queen, do for me?*
	Serenity's voice grew cold.  <<I may be dead, but you are the one who 
is powerless.  Even with all your magic, in the end you are just a weak 
coward.>>
	The orb flared bright green.  *How dare you!  What do you know--*
	<<But I do know.  Your heroic gesture in staying on your dying ship 
was anything but.  You had lost your purpose, your goal in life.  By staying 
on your ship you intended to die with it.  You tried to commit suicide, the 
coward's way out.>>
	*Who are you to judge--*
	<<You are right.>>  The queen sighed.  <<It is not my place to judge 
you.  But heed my words and consider my offer to help.>>
	Bane was silent as he contemplated Serenity's words.  *Perhaps...
perhaps you are right,* he thought finally.  *But what can you do?*
	<<My life ended when I used the Imperium Silver Crystal to defeat 
Queen Beryl and seal Queen Metallia away, and to send my daughter and the 
others to Earth.>>  Serenity's voice sad and quiet.  <<I knew the price of 
using the Crystal in such a manner, but I had no choice.
	<<When the deed was done, the Crystal spoke to me.  It showed me 
images of a possible future.  It showed my daughter and her friends dying in 
their fight against Beryl.
	<<In my mind I cried out.  Had I saved my daughter and sent her to 
the future just so she could die again?  Pushing past my mental anguish, the 
Crystal offered me a choice.  I could die, which I already was doing, and 
leave my daughter's destiny in the hands of the gods, or I could choose to 
help my daughter avoid her fate.  It warned me, though, that if I chose to 
help my daughter, I would be forced to spend countless years alone until the 
time was right to act, if that time ever came.  That future was only a 
possibility after all.
	<<Again, I had no choice.  I chose to help.  The Crystal accepted my 
decision and before I sent it away, it took my remaining life force and split 
it in two.  One portion was to reside in the Crystal itself.  The other was 
to stay here in the ruins of the Moon Kingdom to wait.
	Serenity's voice grew even more subdued.  <<And I waited.  For ten 
thousand years I waited before I was able to speak with my daughter.  Four 
years later I am able speak with her again.  Now I have to wait over five 
hundred years more before I am able to see her again...and I am tired, tired 
of being alone.>>
	Bane suddenly realized where this was going.  *I see.  While I would 
be more than happy to stay with you, I am afraid that I don't see how that 
would help me.*
	<<It is very simple, sorcerer.  You would gain a home, at least for a 
little while.>>
	Bane was about to scoff at the idea when looked around him at the 
scattered remnants of his ship floating slowly around him.  Serenity's offer 
was starting to sound good.  *What have I got to lose?* he thought to 
himself.  He looked around again and sighed.  *Nothing.*
	Casting his senses back to the Moon, Bane located where Serenity was 
communicating to him.  He gathered his energy and teleported there.
	Serenity was waiting.  Her holographic image still stood on the 
marble slab and she smiled when the orb materialized a foot in front of her.
	<<Welcome home, Bane.>>
	The orb glowed dimly as Bane thought about that.  "Home..."  He 
looked at the blasted landscape and ruined buildings.  "Home...perhaps...in 
time."
	The tiny queen smiled and stepped off her slab.  <<Follow me, I shall 
show you around.>>
	She and Bane were heading to one of the more intact ruins when the 
sorcerer asked a question.  "Shouldn't you be a bit taller?"
	Queen Serenity's laughter echoed around the fallen lunar city.

	The Sailor Scouts, Tuxedo Mask, and Aiden's family all materialized 
in an empty field.
	"Ar--are we home?" Sailor Moon asked.
	Rhea grinned.  "We're back on Earth if that's what you mean."
	Mercury had her computer out and fixed their position a few miles 
outside Tokyo.  "In fact, Neflyte's church is just a mile or so north of 
here."
	Tuxedo Mask eyed the setting sun and asked, "How long were we gone 
anyway?"
	"It is evening of the same day you left," Pluto answered.
	Venus's eyes bugged out.  "What?!  It feels like we've been fighting 
for days."
	Sailor Moon sat down heavily on the ground.  "I don't know about the 
rest of you, but I'm too tired to hike back to Tokyo."
	"No need to hurry, Princess," Pluto said, "I shall use my portals to 
teleport you all home."
	Trent walked over to the time scout.  "That reminds me, Pluto, I 
would like my body back, please."
	She nodded and opened a portal with her staff.  She walked in and 
emerged a little while later with Trent's body and placed it on the ground.
	"Thanks."  Trent walked around himself and sighed.  "This is getting 
to be a habit."
	Jupiter's eyebrows shot up.  "Wait a minute, wasn't Trent's body at 
my place?"
	Sailor Uranus coughed.  "Um, there was a slight change in plans.  
Neptune will fill you in later."
	"Alright," the aqua scout said, "only if you explain about Luna and 
Artemis, though."
	Venus walked over to Trent.  "Do you need the pendant again?"
	"No, I can do this by myself this time.  Besides, the pendant could 
only work as a soul catcher once."  Trent placed his hand over his body's 
chest and traced a symbol in the air.  He chanted a spell and the symbol 
began to glow.  "Well, here goes."  
	Trent closed his eyes as his spirit began to dissolve into a cloud of 
mist.  It drifted over his body for a moment then dived into the glowing 
symbol.
	Venus looked on nervously as the symbol on her boyfriend's chest 
faded.  For a long while nothing happened, then a finger twitched and she 
heard him gasping for air.
	Trent's eyes snapped open and he sat up slowly.  "Ugh...I don't want 
to do that again...ever."  He suddenly felt a pair of arms wrap him in a 
fierce hug.  "Oof!  Nice to see you too, Mina."
	Jupiter laughed.  "That's enough, Mina, let him catch his breath 
first."
	Sailor Moon grinned and turned to Daniel.  "Well, what about you?  Do 
you want to return to your body?"
	The ghost shook his head.  "No, Princess.  I've been dead for too 
long."  Daniel glanced at his daughter and smiled slightly.  "Besides, I made 
a promise to someone that I would take care of my wife."
	Sailor Pluto spoke up.  "Speaking of which, it is time for you to 
return to the afterlife, Daniel."
	Daniel heard his daughter gasp but he still nodded.  "I would ask you 
to grant me two boons, Pluto.  I would like to say good-bye to my family...
and I would like to see Mariko."
	The time scout seemed reluctant to do so, but she eventually nodded.
	Tuxedo Mask walked over to Pluto.  "Queen Serenity said that you 
would know when it would be time for us to act."  He saw the tall woman nod.
	"Ok, now I know you can't tell us until it is time...but can't you 
tell us something?"
	Pluto smiled.  "I will tell you this.  Enjoy this time my Prince, for 
it will end all too soon."
	A sigh.  "I knew you would say something like that."

	Mariko Hanada was just about to go to bed.  It had been a long day 
for her, but the last thing she remembered clearly was waking in a room in 
Juban General Hospital.  She had learned later that she had been caught in 
what the news was calling a terrorist attempt on the Takazawa Industries 
building and had fainted.
	She didn't believe a word of it, at least not totally.  Yes, there 
had been explosions and she did faint, but it was from something else.
	Mariko frowned and tried again to relive those frantic moments.  
*I...saw someone, no...two people I knew...*  But try as she might, she just 
couldn't remember.
	The sound of her doorbell ringing snapped her out of her reverie.  
She looked at her clock and wondered who could be calling at such a late 
hour.  She pressed the intercom button next to her nightstand.  "Who is it?"
	A young woman's voice answered her.  "Um...my name is Rhea Shidou.  I 
would like to speak with Mariko Hanada if I may?"
	Mariko yawned and decided that she was too tired to deal with this 
now.  "Young lady, if you want to speak with me, you can make an appoint--"
	"It's about Daniel Takazawa."
	That brought Mariko up short.  There was something in the girl's 
voice that intrigued her.  She got up and put on her robe.  "Alright, I'll 
buzz you in."

	The gate buzzed open and Rhea glanced at her uncle and smiled.  "I 
guess this was the right place after all."
	Trent shook his head.  "I just can't believe that the richest woman 
in Tokyo would be living in this little one-story house."
	"Mariko was always practical," Daniel said steeping out of the 
shadows, his ghostly body making no sound.
	Trent frowned at his brother.  "Maybe you should stay back for a bit, 
Daniel.  From what I heard, she fainted the first time she saw you.  We 
wouldn't want to do that to her again."
	"You're one to talk!" Daniel retorted.  "You were trying to kill her 
the last time she saw _you_."
	"It wasn't me!  My body was being controlled by Bane!"
	Rhea signaled for quiet.  "I think you should both stay here for now.  
I'll speak with her first."  With that, she walked up to the front door and 
waited.  She heard her father and uncle grumbling behind her but she ignored 
them.
	The sound of locks being turned could be heard and a little while 
later the door opened.  A woman stood in the doorway.  "How may I help you, 
miss?"
	Rhea was suddenly at a loss for words.  Standing in front of her was 
one of the wealthiest and most influential women in Japan.  He mouth opened 
and closed a few times with out saying anything.
	Mariko smiled patiently.  "I believe you wanted to speak to me about 
Daniel Takazawa?"
	That got Rhea going.  She nodded.  "Uh, yeah right."
	"Well, then, why don't we step inside?"  Mariko stood aside and let 
the girl enter.
	The inside of the house was remarkably plain.  Rhea made her way to 
the living room and sat down on the couch.  Ms. Hanada walked in a little 
while later with a tea tray and sat in the chair in front of her.
	"What did you want to talk to me about, young lady?"
	Rhea didn't have time to put this tactfully, so she decided to just 
brazen it out.  "I am Daniel Takazawa's daughter."
	Mariko was about to laugh out loud.  In the years since her boss's 
mysterious disappearance, hundreds of people had come out of the 
woodwork claiming to be related to the dead billionaire.  She was about to 
say so when she looked at the girl's face and stopped.  The hair was indeed 
similar to Daniel's as well as the eyes, but...  *No, it can't be...*
	Rhea held her breath.  She had expected the woman to laugh in her 
face and order her to get out of her house after she had said what she said.  
The fact that she was still here must be a good sign.  She saw Ms. Hanada 
take a sip of her tea.
	"Can you give me proof?"
	The color drained from Rhea's face.  *Proof?!  How can I...*  She 
gulped.  "Uh, well...the thing is..."  There was nothing else to do, so she 
cast a frantic message to her father.

	"What's taking so long?"
	Trent was pacing back and forth while his brother stood there and 
watched him.
	"Would you relax, Trent?" Daniel told his nervous brother.  "Rhea 
knows what she's do--"  He cocked his head to one side.  "Uh oh, she needs my 
help.  Stay here, Trent."  He teleported inside.
	"What the...wait!" Trent sputtered, but Daniel was gone.

	Mariko was losing confidence in the girl.  She hadn't said a word 
since she had asked for proof.  *Looks like she isn't Daniel's daughter after 
all.  Pity, she does look like him.*  She stood up.  "I'm sorry...Rhea wasn't 
it?  Well, I'm sorry, Rhea, but I don't have time for thi--"
	There was a flash of light in the room as Daniel teleported in.
	"Is everything alright, Rhea?" the ghost asked.  He caught sight of 
movement out of the corner of his eye.  "Oh...um, hello again, Mariko."
	Mariko's mouth hung open.  The sight of Daniel's ghost standing in 
front of her triggered her memories and she remembered everything that 
happened before.  She gave a low cry and fainted again, but before she hit 
the floor, she heard Rhea groan and Daniel say, "Not again."
	Rhea shook her head.  "Nice going, dad."
	"It's not my fault.  You were the one who wanted my help."
	"Yeah, well, I didn't mean for you to teleport here."  The girl knelt 
beside Mariko and felt her forehead.  "There's no sign of injury."  She 
probed into her mind.  "Good, she'll be waking up soon."
	The room was lit again by a flash of light, and this time Trent 
appeared.
	"What happened?"
	Rhea screamed.  "That's it.  Get out!  Everyone get--"
	"Daniel...?"
	Everyone looked down at the supposedly unconscious woman.  Mariko was 
shaking her head.  She looked up.  "Daniel?  Is that--"  Her eyes finally 
focused...on Trent.  "Aaahhh!  It's you!"  She backed up quickly and smacked 
up against the couch.
	Rhea threw her hands up.  "This was exactly what I didn't want 
happening."
	Daniel went over to the distraught and spoke gently to her.  "It's 
alright, Mariko.  No one is going to hurt you."
	The words eventually got through to Mariko and she turned her head 
toward Daniel.  She flinched slightly when she saw her boss's ghost, though.  
"D...Daniel...?"
	"Yes, it's me."
	"B...but how?"
	The ghost smiled and told her about everything; his and his brother's 
past lives, the magic, the Philosopher's Stone, the Sailor Scouts (though he 
didn't reveal their identities), Trent's brainwashing, his summons to protect 
her, and the fact that Rhea was his daughter.
	It was almost too much for Mariko to handle, but she did, and once 
everything was straightened out she insisted on having everyone stay for a 
late supper.  Trent and Rhea suddenly realized that they were both famished 
and readily agreed, but Daniel declined the meal for obvious reasons.
	The supper was delicious, though it came as a shock to the guests 
that Mariko did all the cooking.  When they were finished, they all retired 
to the study where Mariko suddenly remembered something.  She went over to 
her computer and called up a file.
	"Trent, would you come here and take a look at this," the 
billionairess said.
	The mage went and looked at the figures on the screen.  He whistled.  
"That's sure a lot of money."
	Mariko was smiling.  "It sure is...and it's yours.  Daniel authorized 
it in his final orders."
	"What?!"
	Daniel chuckled.  "She's right, brother; I had almost forgotten.  
This is sort of my last gift to you."
	Rhea went over to look at the computer herself.  "Hey, Uncle Trent, 
would you mind lending some of that money to your favorite niece?"
	"Don't worry about that, Rhea," Daniel said, chuckling.  He turned to 
Mariko.  "I know I don't hold any power in the company anymore, but would you 
set up a trust fund for my daughter as well?"
	"I can do better than that, Daniel."  Mariko looked Rhea straight in 
the eyes.  "How would you like to be my partner in running Takazawa 
Industries?  Since you're the daughter of Daniel Takazawa, you should handle 
the business just fine."
	Rhea was speechless, and her father just grinned.  "Whatever you 
think is best, Mariko, though if she's anything like me, you might have 
bitten off more than you could chew," Daniel said.  "Of course, this won't 
happen until you become of age.  It just wouldn't do to have a 
fourteen-year-old running around giving orders."
	Everyone laughed at that.  Just then a portal opened up in the room 
and out of it stepped Sailor Pluto and Aiden.
	"Please excuse the intrusion, Ms. Hanada," the scout said to the 
startled woman.  She turned to Daniel.  "It is time."
	Daniel was about to protest, but he knew that she was right; she had 
kept her part of the bargain.  "I see.  Just a few minutes more, please?"  He 
saw Pluto nod.
	The ghost smiled gratefully.  He glided over to Mariko.  "You're 
doing a wonderful job, Mariko, but you should live a little.  I left you a 
big company and lots of money, use some of it!  Treat yourself once in a 
while."
	Mariko nodded, tears in her eyes.
	He went to his brother next.  "Looks like it's good-bye again, 
brother.  I leave it up to you to protect the world.  Look after Rhea, Trent, 
and yourself as well."
	"I will," Trent said, his voice thick.  "Take care, brother."
	Daniel spoke to his daughter last.  "I'm sorry I couldn't stay and 
get to know you better, but from what I see, you're going to grow up just 
great.  Listen to your uncle, Rhea, and know that I love you."
	"I love you to, father."
	Daniel nodded and turned to Aiden who held up his hands.  "No need to 
say farewell to me, my child.  I am going with you."
	"What do you mean?" Rhea said.
	"The prophecy has been fulfilled, granddaughter, and my time here has 
ended.  I must return to my sleep."  The spirit looked at both Trent and 
Rhea.  "I leave it up to the two of you to keep alive the spirit of Inverna.  
Farewell, my children."
	The two specters entered the portal together and the swirling 
darkness swallowed them up.  Pluto followed them, but looked back before she 
closed the portal.  "Keep in mind what you have been told today."  She raised 
her staff and the portal closed.
	"Good-bye grandfather, dad," Rhea said softly.  She felt her uncle 
place a comforting hand on her shoulder.
	"What say we go home, Rhea.  It's been a real trying night."
	"I could call a cab for you if you want," Mariko offered.
	Trent smiled.  "No thanks, Ms. Hanada.  We can get home just fine."  
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a computer disk.  He handed it to 
Mariko.  "This disk contains all the information about the _Wrath_ and its 
technology that we downloaded from its databanks.  According to Sailor Pluto 
we're to give this to you.  You're supposed to know what to do with it."  He 
then whispered a phrase and the two of them disappeared.
	Mariko held the disk in her hand and stared at the spot where the two 
mages used to be for a while before collapsing into a chair.  "I guess I'll 
have to get used to that."

	Rhea sighed as the folds of reality distorted and closed around her 
when the teleportation spell was cast.  She looked up at her uncle and asked, 
"Do you think we'll ever see them again?"
	Trent finished weaving the spell and answered, "Maybe, who knows what 
will happen in the future.  All _I_ know is that we're going to have some 
very interesting times coming."


End Part 16