"The Soulsower" by Sailor Heart and Eclipse --------------------------------------------------------------------- EPILOGUE (SH's point of view) ________________________________________________ It had been about a week since the Soulsower had been plugged back into the ground. We were all pretty unsure whether such a powerful entity could be contained, but Samantha made it clear that it would never be free again. She made a small show of burning the revival chant in Raye's firepit. Things were slowly returning to normal. Amy had been released from the hospital and into her mother's care. Molly was also making great progress in her battle to return to her active state. Mina had volunteered to be Amy's nurse while Dr. Mizuno was at work, but after about an hour, we all got called in to help Mina the wonder-clutz. The end of the week brought a sad occasion though. Haley was leaving. Lita, Serena, Raye, Darien and I were sitting out on the Mizuno veranda waiting while Haley said her goodbyes to Mina, Amy, Luna and Artemis. As Haley came out, Serena almost tackled her to the ground with a waist-lock-like hug. "Oh Haley," she sobbed, "Do you have to leave so soon?! It seems like you just got here!" "Yeah, Haley. You've got an eternity to waste; why not hang around here for a couple of decades?" Darien joked but fondly. "Call it the call of the road, or a gypsy's heart." Haley smiled as she kissed Serena's forehead. "Okay Serena, I may be immortal, but I do need to breathe you know?" "But I just hate the thought of you being out there all alone travelling to who-knows-where! And I'll miss you so very, very much!" Her waterworks were starting to flow. "I'll be back soon, Serena. Besides, I can't stay away from my little sister, too long, can I? Some strange man in a tuxedo might try to swoop you of your feet to who-knows-where!" Serena giggled at that, but it wasn't enough to make her forget her tears. Darien hugged them both firmly. "You should really come visit more often, Haley." "I'll try. I promise." they kissed and Darien managed to peel Serena off of her so she could say goodbye to the rest of us. We stood there, Lita and I, looking at her dubiously. Lita and I both had mixed feelings about Haley. Still, as far as I was concerned, she was a friend and thus deserved a pleasant send off. She walked over to us and stood in front of me, unsure what to say. "Haley, I..." I started, as she turned toward me. She put a finger to my lips to motion me to be quiet. "I know." she said. "You couldn't bear seeing a friend or a loved one hurt by someone you hardly knew. I understand." She knew the words weren't coming as easily to me as I would have liked. "No, I don't think you do; at least, not completely. I completely misjudged you and for that I truly appologize. You aren't what I saw you to be and I am so sorry that I didn't see the real you." I leaned forward and hugged her, a little to her surprise. But she knew it was warm and inviting. Yet, still, it was only the hug of a friend. "You are a valuable member of this team, and don't let me or anyone else tell you different." I offered my hands to her and she placed them in her own. We gave each other glances. I gave her apology and friendship, and she gave me forgiveness and cameraderie. "Wandering gypsy heart, huh?" I said, breaking the silence. "Try not to wait until the next Nega-disaster to show up, okay?" We all laughed and she started to shake my hand. Caught up in the moment, I pulled her toward me and we hugged again. We had been through a lot this past week. I guess it must have been the high emotional levels that brought me to hug her. It caught her by surprise again, and she was unsure as to what to do. I felt her answer when her hands cupped my shoulder blades. I was facing Lita and for once, I didn't see the almost too familiar daggers in her eyes. She must have understood. "Thanks a lot, Haley. Now, get out before you change your mind and want to stay some more!" I said, with a small laugh. She knew I didn't mean anything by it. "Lucky for you, Adrian, I'll be back. Until then, Lita is going to have to kick your ass in gear when the going gets tough!" She smirked at me and we both laughed. Then she faced Lita. "That's a promise!" laughed Lita. Lita was smiling as she took both of Haley's hands in hers. Then she became very serious and very quiet. "Thanks Haley." Haley squeezed Lita's hands and winked at her as she playfully pushed me aside to face the final Scout; Raye. They didn't say anything to each other as they embraced, but I could sense that they were holding long conversations with their eyes. I looked in Raye's eyes and it spoke books to me. She was quietly weeping on the inside. Outside, she wore an almost perfect mask of nobility. "I'll be back soon, I promise." Haley whispered into Raye's ear. The dark-haired beauty nodded and as she pulled away from Haley but not before kissing her on the lips. It was the first time the rest of us saw them kiss, but again, I sensed that they really didn't care what our reactions were. Serena hugged her again and she waved as she headed down the road. "Strange but wonderful creature, she is," said Lita. That caught me a little off gaurd. I didn't expect Lita to say something like that. But I figured that Haley must have had a profound effect on her as well as the rest of us. "She sure is." I couldn't help but agree. She was almost out of sight when she turned and we all waved. Then she disappeared over the horizon. She'd be back. Come hell or high water, she'd come back to us, and again, we could all stand to only benefit.