As the sailor powers pour into her, Bunny feels something wonderful and strange dwell up from within. She leans over Darien and smiles through her tears as she urges him to want to live.

"Oh Darien! Please, stay with me! I love you! Come back to me!"

She leans closer and presses a kiss to his jawline, not caring that he's still partially transformed. This man is part of the reason she'd been trying to sue for peace all those years ago. She had seen a glimpse of him through her telescope one day, when she'd been studying astronomy. She had asked her guardians, Uranus and Neptune who he was and they had told her about the lonely king who was living on the beautiful planet below. Upon hearing that he was one of the main ambassadors for Earth, she had asked Uranus and Neptune to approach him and ask if he would be willing to start peace negotiations.

Their audience fades from view as she strokes his face and the tears roll down her cheeks. She lays her head on his chest. The moon symbol starts to glow as she whispers his name one more time.

Kaleb, Ned, Zander and Jason head over to their wives and the ladies lay their heads against their husbands chests as tears roll down their cheeks. None of them had actually thought that King Darien would be able to survive as long as he did, but for him to actually expire in front of them is not something any of them had anticipated

Zander and Raye look at their former spouses. Neither of them had expected to be gone for such a long time, but it was a relief of sorts to see that Jason and Amy were getting along so well. The deep cover assignment had nearly killed them, that much was true, but someone had interfered and saved the two of them at just the right time. Raye had told him during their recovery period that she almost knew who had saved them, but that she thought that person was the stuff of myths and legends.

Uranus and Neptune lean against each other as they watch their princess grieve. They had fought long and hard for the two young people to get together, only to have this happen? Uranus shakes her head at the injustice of it all.

Saturn looks up at Pluto a question in her eyes. What will happen to everyone if this doesn't work out? Pluto smiles at her in understanding, and motions for her to watch.

Serenity and Selune restrain themselves from running to their loved one. Despite the five year absence, this is definitely their Serena, the moon symbol on her forehead is definitive proof of that, but what is amazing is the strength they feel from her. Neither of them know what to expect next.

Bunny sighs as she rests her hand on Darien's chest. She wants to be selfish and demand that he stay with her, but that wouldn't be fair to him. She wipes her tears away and gives him one last kiss.

Warmth floods through him and he sighs as he feels free for the first time in five years. The weight surrounding his heart is gone and he knows that he can leave now. His people are safe and he can finally get some rest. A soft voice calls his name and he frowns as he looks around him. The body that had restrained him is collapsed and motionless on the floor. The young woman, Bunny, is crying over him.

He tilts his head to the side as he listens to her silently speaking to him. He knew her, or he should have known her at one point in time.

"Do you want to stay with her, Darien?"

The voice is soothing, not demanding an immediate answer.

"Who is she? What is she to me?"

Silence for a few seconds then, "She is the one person who touched your heart, who saw past the beast to the man inside. Do you want to stay with her?"

"Will I still be human?"

"You were always human, Darien. Yes, you had a setback, but that wasn't your fault. Do you want to stay the way you are? It can be arranged."

"Only if there isn't any pain involved anymore."

"You wouldn't mind staying as a beast?"

"It's not that, I just...she loves me as I am now."

"She loved you as you were then as well."

Darien blinks as he looks at the shadowy visage. "What?"

"Don't you remember? Those moon-filled nights when you gazed up into the sky and asked for someone to share your life with? She wanted that as well, it's part of the reason she was suing for peace between your two nations."

"Is she really their princess?"

He stares at the pretty maiden. She's wiping her tears away, and placing her hands on his chest. He can tell that she's trying to save him, or maybe make it easier for him to leave.

"I don't want to go!" If his declaration is a surprise, his audience doesn't show it.

"Are you sure about that?"

"She was able to love a beast. I can't leave her alone now. Can I go back to her?"

"Of course, the question is, do you still want to be a beast?"

"I don't care about that. She loves me no matter what form I was in. All I ask is that if I do remain a beast, that the pain of transforming be lessened."

"As you wish."

A golden glow envelops him and he can sense the presence of those who have meant the most to him. He carefully exhales and smiles at the lack of pain. He raises his hand, and it is a hand not a paw that meets his eyes. The soft weight on his chest slowly raises away and he blinks as he meets the blue gaze of his princess.

"Darien?"

He runs a hand over her golden locks.

"Hello Miss Bunny."

He grabs her hand and pulls her closer as their friends come over and start to hug them.

…...

Far away in castle of pure white, silver and gold, a figure in white, with twin silver pigtails smiles at the hologram in her hand. Silver tears run down her cheeks as the couple in the hologram becomes solid. She sighs as she sinks to her knees. A muscular hand caresses her shoulder and she glances and smiles through her tears up at the man who has been her lover/consort for the past millennia.

"Come Selas, it's time to rest. Your descendants are safe again. Let us go inside."

The end.