Monofate
Chapter 1: Finding a Glimmer of Hope.
Somewhere in another galaxy, is a planet that was destructed by the evil that is no more, Galaxia. The once breathing, almost tropical planet now looks dead and lifeless. Ruins of what used to be a palace lay on a marbled floor. Bits and pieces of gold cylinders that used to support the entrance of the palace are seemingly suspended in the musty air. Beautiful flowers and tropical plants that used to flourish are all mostly withered away. Despite the sadness of the ruins and the countless amounts of lives that were lost, the planet somehow managed to keep its beautiful lilac scent. Three glittering stars seem to appear in the midnight sky. A blue light engulfs the three stars and comes shooting down, carrying the three figures that appeared and the figure of their Princess, Princess Kakyu. The Sailor Star `s boots click as their feet touch the marbled floor. They await their Princess` s arrival shortly behind them with the ruins of the palace entrance surrounding them. Sailor Star Maker holds out her hand as the red headed princess comes floating down in the ray of light. The Princess accepts her loyal senshi` s offer and takes her hand, resting another hand on Sailor Star Maker`s shoulder. She gently drops onto the marbled floor where her loyal senshi-mo are waiting. The light shoots back through the night sky sparkling as it disappears, leaving the starry night for the gazing.
Sailor Star Maker holds out her arm and Princess Kakyu again, accepts her offer. "We`re finally home." says Sailor Star Maker as Princess Kakyu links her arm with hers and they descend together down the small flight of gold stairs leading to the marbled floor to greet the other two senshi. The Princess` s eyes begin to swell up with tears as she recalls the painful memory of her planet` s destruction and the death of her prince.
"The place seems dead as though it were forgotten and neglected. as though it no longer has its own place in time, leaving it without life or a name!"she cried.
The Princess felt like she just wanted to fall on her knees and begin to weep. But she tried her best to hold everything in because she knew it would hurt her senshi-mo to see her in pain. Sailor Star Healer steps forward and holds the Princess in attempts to comfort her and wipes the tears from her eyes.
"Everything will turn out all right. I promise." ,said Sailor Star Healer in attempts to uplift the mood a little. " The planet will be born again and life will begin again."
Sailor Star Healer lets go of the princess and backs away in tears. "It is almost like beginning with nothing."said the princess.
Sailor Star Maker looked over to the other senshi standing next to her who stood in tears also.
"Where do we begin?" asked Sailor Star Healer as another tear streamed down her cheek.
The princess glanced past Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer, "Fighter." she whispered to herself.
The two senshi-mo that stood in tears in front of the princess separate to reveal Sailor Star Fighter standing just a few feet behind them. Sailor Star Fighter stood there with an almost expressionless look on her face, staring at her reflection in the marbled floor with the stars glittering in the night sky, and being so quiet that she couldn `t even hear herself breathe. "Fighter?" questioned Princess Kakyu out loud.
Sailor Star Fighter looked up. "Maybe we should take you to see what is left of your chambers, Princess. Then, separate and go see what is left remaining of the palace before we make any further plans." ,Sailor Star Fighter did not want her princess to worry over her because she already had too much to handle as is.
Sailor Star Healer looked up with a small look of determination on her face, "I will stay near the princess to protect her. You never know, a new enemy could be well on its way."
Sailor Star Maker decides to join in, "And I will check the north and west wings since they are the smaller of the three wings of the palace, if Fighter will take the East wing since it is the biggest of the three."
The East wing has always been Sailor Star Fighter` s favorite part of the palace because it had a fountain in the center where she would go to think and be alone, before Galaxia`s ambush that is. Sailor Star Fighter wondered if the fountain was left standing.
"I agree." replied Sailor Star Fighter.
"All right, then. If everybody agrees, we shall do so."replied the princess.
Sailor Star Fighter turned away from the group and a tear streamed down her cheek. The heels of her boots clicked and echoed through the empty spaces ahead as she walked. She headed towards the east wing, sadly and slowly. Sailor Star Healer lead the princess down the long corridor leading to what remains of her chambers and, Sailor Star Maker headed towards the north wing.
Meantime, on Earth, at the arcade.
"Minako! How could you be so insensitive saying something like that!?" ,shouted Rei..
"Well, it is true. If he, she, I mean Yaten, err. I mean Healer.whatever, did stay, I would have been an idol by now!"
"Yeah, famous for what? Getting Usagi to do some of her crappy flash photography making it look like you are being embraced by Yaten-kun!?" ,joked Makato, making kissing noises to follow the comment.
"You guys are so mean, they did leave just a few days ago. " ,stated Ami and Mamoru with a look of confusion on their faces.
"Minako, you shouldn't be so selfish and save some room for me."butted in Rei all googly-eyed with visions of singing on stage in front of thousands of loyal fans.
"Stop daydreaming!" ,snapped Minako.
"Now you both are being a tad insensitive." ,stated Makato.
Minako really does miss them, it is just that she sometimes uses her strange behavior to cover what she really feels.
"You guys." ,said Rei, pointing a finger at a dazed Usagi at the end of the table.
Makato scoots out of the booth and walks over to Usagi.
"Usagi-chan?"questions Makato as she leans over to talk to her.
Usagi sighs heavily and continues to stare at her reflection on the surface of her drink as though she was expecting her reflection to talk to her.
Makato tries again, "Usagi-chan, what`s wrong?". A tear rolls down Usagi`s face and onto the table top. Everyone huddles around her.
"Usagi-chan?"questions Rei.
Usagi looks up at them, surprised to see everyone crowded around her. Mamoru walks up to Usagi. Mamoru scoots closer to Usagi and puts a hand on her shoulder,
"Usako, why are you crying? Everyone is back together again."
"N-Nothing is wrong." interrupted Usagi.
"Are you getting sick?"asked Ami and Minako.
Usagi thought for a long moment and stood up from her seat. Everyone jumped back when she did so.
"Perhaps I am."she replied.
"Usako?"questioned Mamoru who was halted when Makato held him back.
"She probably just needs some rest."Makato said to the concerned Mamoru.
They all know that Usagi isn`t sick, but they do know that she is depressed. They believe that it will pass with time because it may have to do with her missing the Starlights.
"I think I will go home and get some sleep."Usagi said, not wanting to tell them anything about how she felt, especially Mamoru. "Tomorrow is Sunday so I think I will sleep the day away." Usagi gathered her things.
"Usako?" Mamoru asked again waiting for a reply, a smile, anything would do.
Usagi turned at the door giving a weak smile, "I just need some rest, that is all. Don`t worry, I will be all right.", Usagi replied.
Mamoru stared in confusion as he watched his destined bride walk out the door.
"Oh, hi sweetie! You` re home! Would you like some sweets?" shouted Mrs.Tsukino from the kitchen, more cheery than ever.
"Here, fresh from the oven!",she said as she handed a cookie to Usagi.
"No thanks Mommy. I`m not hungry right now.", replied Usagi, handing the cookie back to her mother.
"Not hungry? Are you all right? Are you feeling well?".
"Don`t worry mommy. I am just tired. I`m going to bed now."
"TIRED? At this time of day? It is only five thirty!"
"Well, a lot did happen in the past few days."
"Like what?"
"Mamoru and the others and I went to see off Yaten,Taiki, and Seiya."
"Where did they go off to? Seiya. he was nice, coming over here to visit you and bringing his friends along to keep you company on Sundays. It sure was nice having some laughter around this house for a while. It just seems a little more quiet now that he is gone."said Usagi` s mother, not remembering having Chibi Chibi or Chibi-Usa around.
"Well, something tells me that its going to be like that for a long time now. A very long time.", replied Usagi as she turned around to walk upstairs.
"But. where did they go?" asked Usagi`s mother one last time.
"Umm, far away."
Her earth mother noticed how depressed she actually was, "Overseas?"
"Yes, to.America." replied Usagi.
"Well, that shouldn`t be too bad. I mean, when Mamoru left for college in America, he wrote you. And now he is back to visit. Right?".
"mm, right." Usagi nodded.
Mrs.Tsukino tried one last time to cheer her daughter up. "Then they will write you soon! Cheer up! And if they are anything like Mamoru, they won't be able to stand being so far away from Japan for too long! They are bound to come back after so long!"
"Alright, goodnight mommy." Usagi replied, not even looking up from her feet to show her face to her mother.
She then continued up the stairs. Luna was sitting on the stairs listening to the whole thing and noticed several tears roll down Usagi`s face as she slowly walked toward her room.
"Cheer-up Usagi." her earth mother whispered from underneath her breath with a concerned look on her face.
Usagi set her books down, pulled a pair of blue, flannel pajamas with yellow stars on them from her dresser, and headed for the bathroom.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi looked over to the door, which she left partially open, to see a familiar, black cat with a crescent moon on her forehead sitting on her haunches with a concerned look on her face.
"Luna."
"Usagi, what` s wrong?"
"I am just a little unsure about some emotions I am having right now, I am fine." she replied, trying to cover everything up with a smile.
Luna sat there with a worried face for a moment, before getting up to give Usagi her privacy. "Usagi-chan. I want you to know that if you ever have anything you need to get off your chest or. if you just want to talk, do not hesitate to come to me." Usagi nodded and the cat left.
A couple of hours later, Usagi returned to her room. Clean, refreshed, vanilla scented, and with her hair partially dry hanging slightly below her knees stringy and wet at the ends. She walked over to her dresser mirror and picked up her wide-toothed comb.
Luna walked in and hopped onto her bed, and sat on her haunches staring at Usagi with a look of concern on her face. "Usagi-chan?"
Usagi ignored her and began combing her long hair.
"Usagi?"
Usagi looked up from the ground and turned to face Luna.
"Do you remember what I told you before?"
"Yes, I remember, Luna."
"I`m here.is there something bothering you?" Luna was sure that there was something wrong and determined to make her spill her emotions and tell her everything about it.
"There really isn't much to talk about.", said Usagi as she continued to comb her hair.
Luna looked up at her, "Then it shouldn't take very long for you to tell me."
Usagi smiled and looked at her moon guardian in the form of a tiny cat. "I'm just fine."
"Then why do you look so upset."
"I'm just tired I guess. The final battle with Galaxia has me beat, that`s all."
Luna looked skeptical, she knew that Usagi would not be crying a moment ago if she were just tired. Something just had to be bothering her, and it wasn't sleepiness. Luna decided to give her some room, she would get to the bottom of this later. Usagi turned around and put some leave in conditioner in her hair (from an economy size bottle of course ^-^), and continued to comb through it.
Luna woke up, not even noticing that she had gone to sleep and saw Usagi braiding two low pigtails in her hair. She looked at the alarm clock and noticed that her nap only lasted about twenty-five minutes. Luna looked back at Usagi. She continued to be staring off into space.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi snapped out of it and put a small band around the end of her left pigtail, which she had just finished off. She wiped a tear, which was about to slip from her eye, and turned around. "Luna, I`m sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT!? You didn't wake me up at all! One thing, because you are being too silent that it is scary, and another thing being that you are not in bed to accidentally kick me awake." Luna replied sarcastically, hoping for a smile from her.
Usagi looked dazed. "Oh, right."
She walked over to the edge of the bed and pulled back the covers. Luna moved away from the foot of the bed remembering the other night when Usagi kicked her off the edge in her sleep.
"Goodnight, Luna." Usagi said as she scooted under the warm comforter and soft sheets.
"Goodnight.", Luna replied as she pawed the light switch off and returned to her place on the bed, which was not at the foot, but at the head of the bed now, still remembering the last time she got kicked out of the bed, not wanting to become airbourn again.
Luna laid in the dark for a short moment and decided to give Usagi some time to think to herself and not be bothered by her questions for a while longer. Luna fell fast asleep as Usagi layed still with her head turned away from the cat, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
On Princess Kakyu`s planet.
Sailor Star Healer and the Princess enter the chambers. One of the walls remained standing, but the rest lay in ruins and dust on the ground. Princess Kakyu`s eyes searched the room as tears flooded through her eyes, blurring the image. In the center of her room laid her large bed with the pastel, orangy-red, silk sheets with a layer of gold lace overlaying the sheets, and pillow casings to match. It now has layers of dust and dirt on top of it, and one of the gold bed posts is lying on the chunks of her marbled floor.
The princess slowly took a step forward, through the door framing to see bits and pieces of broken glass jutting out of the wall that remained standing to her left side. She looked at the other side of her chambers to see her dresser standing with an empty frame that used to hold a mirror in the center. As the princess stepped forward she heard the small cracking of a piece of glass. She stepped back and picked up a picture in a small, broken frame of gold ivy. Tears came flooding back as she realized who it was in the picture. She was in love long before Galaxia` s ambush. The picture shows him hugging her from behind, surprising her with a small bouquet of red flowers. She remembers how he died in battle trying to protect her. (It is written in the Stars manga series that she lost her love when he died from Galaxia` s attack.)
"Healer?"
Sailor Star Healer turned around giving her princess full attention.
"Tell me why the plan is to look at what has been destructed before we actually do something about it!?" the princess demanded in tears.
Sailor Star Healer tried to keep from crying herself. "To see what may have been left standing Princess."
Princess Kakyu turned towards Sailor Star Healer. "Princess, sometimes. even if the search is hard, sometimes a tiny glimmer of hope can be found when there is nothing but darkness. That glimmer is all that we need to begin again."
The princess stopped crying and said nothing.
Sailor Star Healer continued, "Just how Sailor Moon was the glimmer when Galaxia almost killed us all. It exists, and it WILL be found, Princess." Sailor Star Healer bowed with that and Princess Kakyu put her hand on Sailor Star Healer`s shoulder.
"Healer."
Sailor Star Healer looked up relieved to see the princess smiling.
"You are right, Healer. The planet WILL be reborn, and about that glimmer.I believe we have already found it." Sailor Star Healer gave her a confused look.
"It is, in your heart."
"Princess?"
"I believe that. that glimmer shines in everybody`s hearts. Especially yours. All you have to do is keep hoping. Thankyou. Thankyou, for reminding me.", said the princess, "I am not sure how we are going to rebuild our planet, but I am sure that we will find a way."
Sailor Star Healer smiled and rose to her feet. "Let us continue to what is left of your chambers."
Luna woke up in the middle of the night to hear a quiet sobbing coming from Usagi`s direction.
"Usagi-chan."
Luna got up and pawed Usagi`s shoulder. "Usagi-chan? Please talk to me Usagi."
Usagi sat up as the cat cautiously climbed onto her lap. She clenched the sheets tightly in her fists and tears fell onto them.
"Usagi. talk to me." demanded Luna, surprised.
Usagi fell to her side and curled up clenching the sides of the top of her pajamas across her belly. "Why? Why does it hurt so much? Just the thought of him not being around anymore? Why.", Usagi managed to let out between sobs.
Luna was scared because Usagi wasn`t really sobbing like a crybaby. she appeared to be in more of what seemed to be excruciating pain. Luna moved closer to her and noticed that her body was trembling and she was cold to the touch. It scared Luna because Usagi was actually trying to keep from crying but she just couldn't control what her body was doing. Luna thought to herself, scared,"Her skin is ice-cold! She better cover up, I don't want her to get sick! She looks like she is having a small seizure."
"Usagi."
"Oh, Luna. I`m sorry. Why does it have to be this way? I thought I was happy. No. I am happy. Right? I have Mamoru and we have each other. He is so kind hearted. I am destined to be with him and that is all that matters, right?!"
"Usagi-chan. why are you being this way?"
"I don't know, Luna! I don't know."
She let out a few more sobs. "Why am I having mixed emotions!? I should be happy because I have Mamo-chan! I am so stupid! I have everything I ever wanted and even more, right!? I SHOULD BE HAPPY!"
Luna sat there trying to just interpret half of the thoughts that were going through her head.
"Is it possible to change your fate?", Usagi questioned.
Luna had no answer for this, nor did she know why she was asking this. She wasn`t really sure what the problem was. Usagi wasn`t even sure herself. Usagi continued to ignore the whole world around her and cried for several hours until finally, she cried herself to sleep. Luna sat there watching her in pain and cried also because she felt helpless that she thought there was nothing she could do for her, she wished she had the answers.
"Oh, Usagi. what is wrong? Don`t tell me that it`s that boy. I wonder the same thing. Can you change your own fate? Or is it all predetermined? If only I could answer this for you.", Luna thought to herself.
Back on Princess Kakyu` s planet. Sailor Star Fighter slowly walked through the ruins of what used to be the east wing of the palace. Tears streamed down her face as she stepped over the cracked marble floor and broken pieces of crystal that used to line the walls to the entrance of the east wing in thin layers. Then she slowly looked up.
"After all this destruction, it is still standing!" Sailor Star Fighter ran over to the fountain and wiped the tears from her eyes.
The clear water spurted from the center and gushed over crystals that grew in shards from the bottom of the pool. Around the living, slow-growing crystals in the pool there was a silver base with fancy designs stenciled in gold that went all the way around the base. The designs were of small three and four petaled flowers that were the planet`s most common flowers before its destruction and are the Princess Kakyu`s favorite flowers.
"Amazing how everything around the fountain lays dead and lifeless, but it is the only thing left standing. It was spared and left untouched by all the destruction. It continues to live, even after neglect.", Sailor Star Fighter thought to herself.
She walked to the edge of the fountain that managed to pull her out of her depression and away from the thoughts that crowded her mind only for a few moments. She stood listening to the water splash and gush over the living crystal and the memories, visions, and thoughts all came flooding back, as well as tears. She fell to her knees and rested her arms on the silver edge of the fountain. She sighed and stared down at her reflection on the silver base.
"I feel so empty now.", she said to herself from underneath her breath.
She then let out a quiet sob as she put her head down on her arms. "I live to serve and protect my princess. Princess Kakyu. She is the only hope left for my planet`s new beginning, with that beautiful Lilac and Olive scent. She is our only hope. Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer also live for this purpose and, this purpose only.",she thought to herself. "But is this what it is supposed to be like? My eternity is just this? Why does it have to be this way!? I am a Sailor Senshi. I do not need love, because I have Princess Kakyu. I was created for just this purpose: To protect and serve the Princess and not let love or any other emotion get in the way of that.", Sailor Star Fighter thought to herself and the tears multiplied.
"What kind of fate is this!? I am sick of that kind of fate!", she mumbled out loud.
"What would I give just to see her once more, even if it is from a distance? To smell her beautiful vanilla scent that lingers so in my memory. To see her standing a few feet away, even if I cannot touch her or speak to her. just to see her one last time. I miss her so much.Usagi." Sailor Star Fighter`s thoughts were just too much for her to handle. "She treated me the same way when I was in both forms, both Seiya and Sailor Star Fighter."
She looked up and stared at the water gushing over the crystal shards in the fountain. She whispered from underneath her breath as another tear fell down her cheek, "Odango."
In the remains of Princess Kakyu`s chambers. "Are you going to be all right Princess?", asked Sailor Star Healer. Tears streamed down the princess`s cheeks staining her almost perfect skin. "Of course I am.", she reassured as she managed to smile. Sailor Star Maker walked in on them. "The gardens have been destroyed, not a single thing left standing." The princess dried her tears and walked over to the senshi who just walked into the remains of her chambers. "Maker, Have you been to the west wing yet?" "No, Princess. I just came to check on you." Sailor Star Healer interrupted, "Things will turn out all right, I just know they will.". The princess managed to keep a smile,"I promise they will."
A figure stood still in the door framing that was left standing as the entrance to the chambers where Sailor Star Maker, Sailor Star Healer, and the Princess Kakyu were standing.
"Then what you need is a small miracle!"
Chapter 1: Finding a Glimmer of Hope.
Somewhere in another galaxy, is a planet that was destructed by the evil that is no more, Galaxia. The once breathing, almost tropical planet now looks dead and lifeless. Ruins of what used to be a palace lay on a marbled floor. Bits and pieces of gold cylinders that used to support the entrance of the palace are seemingly suspended in the musty air. Beautiful flowers and tropical plants that used to flourish are all mostly withered away. Despite the sadness of the ruins and the countless amounts of lives that were lost, the planet somehow managed to keep its beautiful lilac scent. Three glittering stars seem to appear in the midnight sky. A blue light engulfs the three stars and comes shooting down, carrying the three figures that appeared and the figure of their Princess, Princess Kakyu. The Sailor Star `s boots click as their feet touch the marbled floor. They await their Princess` s arrival shortly behind them with the ruins of the palace entrance surrounding them. Sailor Star Maker holds out her hand as the red headed princess comes floating down in the ray of light. The Princess accepts her loyal senshi` s offer and takes her hand, resting another hand on Sailor Star Maker`s shoulder. She gently drops onto the marbled floor where her loyal senshi-mo are waiting. The light shoots back through the night sky sparkling as it disappears, leaving the starry night for the gazing.
Sailor Star Maker holds out her arm and Princess Kakyu again, accepts her offer. "We`re finally home." says Sailor Star Maker as Princess Kakyu links her arm with hers and they descend together down the small flight of gold stairs leading to the marbled floor to greet the other two senshi. The Princess` s eyes begin to swell up with tears as she recalls the painful memory of her planet` s destruction and the death of her prince.
"The place seems dead as though it were forgotten and neglected. as though it no longer has its own place in time, leaving it without life or a name!"she cried.
The Princess felt like she just wanted to fall on her knees and begin to weep. But she tried her best to hold everything in because she knew it would hurt her senshi-mo to see her in pain. Sailor Star Healer steps forward and holds the Princess in attempts to comfort her and wipes the tears from her eyes.
"Everything will turn out all right. I promise." ,said Sailor Star Healer in attempts to uplift the mood a little. " The planet will be born again and life will begin again."
Sailor Star Healer lets go of the princess and backs away in tears. "It is almost like beginning with nothing."said the princess.
Sailor Star Maker looked over to the other senshi standing next to her who stood in tears also.
"Where do we begin?" asked Sailor Star Healer as another tear streamed down her cheek.
The princess glanced past Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer, "Fighter." she whispered to herself.
The two senshi-mo that stood in tears in front of the princess separate to reveal Sailor Star Fighter standing just a few feet behind them. Sailor Star Fighter stood there with an almost expressionless look on her face, staring at her reflection in the marbled floor with the stars glittering in the night sky, and being so quiet that she couldn `t even hear herself breathe. "Fighter?" questioned Princess Kakyu out loud.
Sailor Star Fighter looked up. "Maybe we should take you to see what is left of your chambers, Princess. Then, separate and go see what is left remaining of the palace before we make any further plans." ,Sailor Star Fighter did not want her princess to worry over her because she already had too much to handle as is.
Sailor Star Healer looked up with a small look of determination on her face, "I will stay near the princess to protect her. You never know, a new enemy could be well on its way."
Sailor Star Maker decides to join in, "And I will check the north and west wings since they are the smaller of the three wings of the palace, if Fighter will take the East wing since it is the biggest of the three."
The East wing has always been Sailor Star Fighter` s favorite part of the palace because it had a fountain in the center where she would go to think and be alone, before Galaxia`s ambush that is. Sailor Star Fighter wondered if the fountain was left standing.
"I agree." replied Sailor Star Fighter.
"All right, then. If everybody agrees, we shall do so."replied the princess.
Sailor Star Fighter turned away from the group and a tear streamed down her cheek. The heels of her boots clicked and echoed through the empty spaces ahead as she walked. She headed towards the east wing, sadly and slowly. Sailor Star Healer lead the princess down the long corridor leading to what remains of her chambers and, Sailor Star Maker headed towards the north wing.
Meantime, on Earth, at the arcade.
"Minako! How could you be so insensitive saying something like that!?" ,shouted Rei..
"Well, it is true. If he, she, I mean Yaten, err. I mean Healer.whatever, did stay, I would have been an idol by now!"
"Yeah, famous for what? Getting Usagi to do some of her crappy flash photography making it look like you are being embraced by Yaten-kun!?" ,joked Makato, making kissing noises to follow the comment.
"You guys are so mean, they did leave just a few days ago. " ,stated Ami and Mamoru with a look of confusion on their faces.
"Minako, you shouldn't be so selfish and save some room for me."butted in Rei all googly-eyed with visions of singing on stage in front of thousands of loyal fans.
"Stop daydreaming!" ,snapped Minako.
"Now you both are being a tad insensitive." ,stated Makato.
Minako really does miss them, it is just that she sometimes uses her strange behavior to cover what she really feels.
"You guys." ,said Rei, pointing a finger at a dazed Usagi at the end of the table.
Makato scoots out of the booth and walks over to Usagi.
"Usagi-chan?"questions Makato as she leans over to talk to her.
Usagi sighs heavily and continues to stare at her reflection on the surface of her drink as though she was expecting her reflection to talk to her.
Makato tries again, "Usagi-chan, what`s wrong?". A tear rolls down Usagi`s face and onto the table top. Everyone huddles around her.
"Usagi-chan?"questions Rei.
Usagi looks up at them, surprised to see everyone crowded around her. Mamoru walks up to Usagi. Mamoru scoots closer to Usagi and puts a hand on her shoulder,
"Usako, why are you crying? Everyone is back together again."
"N-Nothing is wrong." interrupted Usagi.
"Are you getting sick?"asked Ami and Minako.
Usagi thought for a long moment and stood up from her seat. Everyone jumped back when she did so.
"Perhaps I am."she replied.
"Usako?"questioned Mamoru who was halted when Makato held him back.
"She probably just needs some rest."Makato said to the concerned Mamoru.
They all know that Usagi isn`t sick, but they do know that she is depressed. They believe that it will pass with time because it may have to do with her missing the Starlights.
"I think I will go home and get some sleep."Usagi said, not wanting to tell them anything about how she felt, especially Mamoru. "Tomorrow is Sunday so I think I will sleep the day away." Usagi gathered her things.
"Usako?" Mamoru asked again waiting for a reply, a smile, anything would do.
Usagi turned at the door giving a weak smile, "I just need some rest, that is all. Don`t worry, I will be all right.", Usagi replied.
Mamoru stared in confusion as he watched his destined bride walk out the door.
"Oh, hi sweetie! You` re home! Would you like some sweets?" shouted Mrs.Tsukino from the kitchen, more cheery than ever.
"Here, fresh from the oven!",she said as she handed a cookie to Usagi.
"No thanks Mommy. I`m not hungry right now.", replied Usagi, handing the cookie back to her mother.
"Not hungry? Are you all right? Are you feeling well?".
"Don`t worry mommy. I am just tired. I`m going to bed now."
"TIRED? At this time of day? It is only five thirty!"
"Well, a lot did happen in the past few days."
"Like what?"
"Mamoru and the others and I went to see off Yaten,Taiki, and Seiya."
"Where did they go off to? Seiya. he was nice, coming over here to visit you and bringing his friends along to keep you company on Sundays. It sure was nice having some laughter around this house for a while. It just seems a little more quiet now that he is gone."said Usagi` s mother, not remembering having Chibi Chibi or Chibi-Usa around.
"Well, something tells me that its going to be like that for a long time now. A very long time.", replied Usagi as she turned around to walk upstairs.
"But. where did they go?" asked Usagi`s mother one last time.
"Umm, far away."
Her earth mother noticed how depressed she actually was, "Overseas?"
"Yes, to.America." replied Usagi.
"Well, that shouldn`t be too bad. I mean, when Mamoru left for college in America, he wrote you. And now he is back to visit. Right?".
"mm, right." Usagi nodded.
Mrs.Tsukino tried one last time to cheer her daughter up. "Then they will write you soon! Cheer up! And if they are anything like Mamoru, they won't be able to stand being so far away from Japan for too long! They are bound to come back after so long!"
"Alright, goodnight mommy." Usagi replied, not even looking up from her feet to show her face to her mother.
She then continued up the stairs. Luna was sitting on the stairs listening to the whole thing and noticed several tears roll down Usagi`s face as she slowly walked toward her room.
"Cheer-up Usagi." her earth mother whispered from underneath her breath with a concerned look on her face.
Usagi set her books down, pulled a pair of blue, flannel pajamas with yellow stars on them from her dresser, and headed for the bathroom.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi looked over to the door, which she left partially open, to see a familiar, black cat with a crescent moon on her forehead sitting on her haunches with a concerned look on her face.
"Luna."
"Usagi, what` s wrong?"
"I am just a little unsure about some emotions I am having right now, I am fine." she replied, trying to cover everything up with a smile.
Luna sat there with a worried face for a moment, before getting up to give Usagi her privacy. "Usagi-chan. I want you to know that if you ever have anything you need to get off your chest or. if you just want to talk, do not hesitate to come to me." Usagi nodded and the cat left.
A couple of hours later, Usagi returned to her room. Clean, refreshed, vanilla scented, and with her hair partially dry hanging slightly below her knees stringy and wet at the ends. She walked over to her dresser mirror and picked up her wide-toothed comb.
Luna walked in and hopped onto her bed, and sat on her haunches staring at Usagi with a look of concern on her face. "Usagi-chan?"
Usagi ignored her and began combing her long hair.
"Usagi?"
Usagi looked up from the ground and turned to face Luna.
"Do you remember what I told you before?"
"Yes, I remember, Luna."
"I`m here.is there something bothering you?" Luna was sure that there was something wrong and determined to make her spill her emotions and tell her everything about it.
"There really isn't much to talk about.", said Usagi as she continued to comb her hair.
Luna looked up at her, "Then it shouldn't take very long for you to tell me."
Usagi smiled and looked at her moon guardian in the form of a tiny cat. "I'm just fine."
"Then why do you look so upset."
"I'm just tired I guess. The final battle with Galaxia has me beat, that`s all."
Luna looked skeptical, she knew that Usagi would not be crying a moment ago if she were just tired. Something just had to be bothering her, and it wasn't sleepiness. Luna decided to give her some room, she would get to the bottom of this later. Usagi turned around and put some leave in conditioner in her hair (from an economy size bottle of course ^-^), and continued to comb through it.
Luna woke up, not even noticing that she had gone to sleep and saw Usagi braiding two low pigtails in her hair. She looked at the alarm clock and noticed that her nap only lasted about twenty-five minutes. Luna looked back at Usagi. She continued to be staring off into space.
"Usagi-chan?"
Usagi snapped out of it and put a small band around the end of her left pigtail, which she had just finished off. She wiped a tear, which was about to slip from her eye, and turned around. "Luna, I`m sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT!? You didn't wake me up at all! One thing, because you are being too silent that it is scary, and another thing being that you are not in bed to accidentally kick me awake." Luna replied sarcastically, hoping for a smile from her.
Usagi looked dazed. "Oh, right."
She walked over to the edge of the bed and pulled back the covers. Luna moved away from the foot of the bed remembering the other night when Usagi kicked her off the edge in her sleep.
"Goodnight, Luna." Usagi said as she scooted under the warm comforter and soft sheets.
"Goodnight.", Luna replied as she pawed the light switch off and returned to her place on the bed, which was not at the foot, but at the head of the bed now, still remembering the last time she got kicked out of the bed, not wanting to become airbourn again.
Luna laid in the dark for a short moment and decided to give Usagi some time to think to herself and not be bothered by her questions for a while longer. Luna fell fast asleep as Usagi layed still with her head turned away from the cat, and a tear slipped down her cheek.
On Princess Kakyu`s planet.
Sailor Star Healer and the Princess enter the chambers. One of the walls remained standing, but the rest lay in ruins and dust on the ground. Princess Kakyu`s eyes searched the room as tears flooded through her eyes, blurring the image. In the center of her room laid her large bed with the pastel, orangy-red, silk sheets with a layer of gold lace overlaying the sheets, and pillow casings to match. It now has layers of dust and dirt on top of it, and one of the gold bed posts is lying on the chunks of her marbled floor.
The princess slowly took a step forward, through the door framing to see bits and pieces of broken glass jutting out of the wall that remained standing to her left side. She looked at the other side of her chambers to see her dresser standing with an empty frame that used to hold a mirror in the center. As the princess stepped forward she heard the small cracking of a piece of glass. She stepped back and picked up a picture in a small, broken frame of gold ivy. Tears came flooding back as she realized who it was in the picture. She was in love long before Galaxia` s ambush. The picture shows him hugging her from behind, surprising her with a small bouquet of red flowers. She remembers how he died in battle trying to protect her. (It is written in the Stars manga series that she lost her love when he died from Galaxia` s attack.)
"Healer?"
Sailor Star Healer turned around giving her princess full attention.
"Tell me why the plan is to look at what has been destructed before we actually do something about it!?" the princess demanded in tears.
Sailor Star Healer tried to keep from crying herself. "To see what may have been left standing Princess."
Princess Kakyu turned towards Sailor Star Healer. "Princess, sometimes. even if the search is hard, sometimes a tiny glimmer of hope can be found when there is nothing but darkness. That glimmer is all that we need to begin again."
The princess stopped crying and said nothing.
Sailor Star Healer continued, "Just how Sailor Moon was the glimmer when Galaxia almost killed us all. It exists, and it WILL be found, Princess." Sailor Star Healer bowed with that and Princess Kakyu put her hand on Sailor Star Healer`s shoulder.
"Healer."
Sailor Star Healer looked up relieved to see the princess smiling.
"You are right, Healer. The planet WILL be reborn, and about that glimmer.I believe we have already found it." Sailor Star Healer gave her a confused look.
"It is, in your heart."
"Princess?"
"I believe that. that glimmer shines in everybody`s hearts. Especially yours. All you have to do is keep hoping. Thankyou. Thankyou, for reminding me.", said the princess, "I am not sure how we are going to rebuild our planet, but I am sure that we will find a way."
Sailor Star Healer smiled and rose to her feet. "Let us continue to what is left of your chambers."
Luna woke up in the middle of the night to hear a quiet sobbing coming from Usagi`s direction.
"Usagi-chan."
Luna got up and pawed Usagi`s shoulder. "Usagi-chan? Please talk to me Usagi."
Usagi sat up as the cat cautiously climbed onto her lap. She clenched the sheets tightly in her fists and tears fell onto them.
"Usagi. talk to me." demanded Luna, surprised.
Usagi fell to her side and curled up clenching the sides of the top of her pajamas across her belly. "Why? Why does it hurt so much? Just the thought of him not being around anymore? Why.", Usagi managed to let out between sobs.
Luna was scared because Usagi wasn`t really sobbing like a crybaby. she appeared to be in more of what seemed to be excruciating pain. Luna moved closer to her and noticed that her body was trembling and she was cold to the touch. It scared Luna because Usagi was actually trying to keep from crying but she just couldn't control what her body was doing. Luna thought to herself, scared,"Her skin is ice-cold! She better cover up, I don't want her to get sick! She looks like she is having a small seizure."
"Usagi."
"Oh, Luna. I`m sorry. Why does it have to be this way? I thought I was happy. No. I am happy. Right? I have Mamoru and we have each other. He is so kind hearted. I am destined to be with him and that is all that matters, right?!"
"Usagi-chan. why are you being this way?"
"I don't know, Luna! I don't know."
She let out a few more sobs. "Why am I having mixed emotions!? I should be happy because I have Mamo-chan! I am so stupid! I have everything I ever wanted and even more, right!? I SHOULD BE HAPPY!"
Luna sat there trying to just interpret half of the thoughts that were going through her head.
"Is it possible to change your fate?", Usagi questioned.
Luna had no answer for this, nor did she know why she was asking this. She wasn`t really sure what the problem was. Usagi wasn`t even sure herself. Usagi continued to ignore the whole world around her and cried for several hours until finally, she cried herself to sleep. Luna sat there watching her in pain and cried also because she felt helpless that she thought there was nothing she could do for her, she wished she had the answers.
"Oh, Usagi. what is wrong? Don`t tell me that it`s that boy. I wonder the same thing. Can you change your own fate? Or is it all predetermined? If only I could answer this for you.", Luna thought to herself.
Back on Princess Kakyu` s planet. Sailor Star Fighter slowly walked through the ruins of what used to be the east wing of the palace. Tears streamed down her face as she stepped over the cracked marble floor and broken pieces of crystal that used to line the walls to the entrance of the east wing in thin layers. Then she slowly looked up.
"After all this destruction, it is still standing!" Sailor Star Fighter ran over to the fountain and wiped the tears from her eyes.
The clear water spurted from the center and gushed over crystals that grew in shards from the bottom of the pool. Around the living, slow-growing crystals in the pool there was a silver base with fancy designs stenciled in gold that went all the way around the base. The designs were of small three and four petaled flowers that were the planet`s most common flowers before its destruction and are the Princess Kakyu`s favorite flowers.
"Amazing how everything around the fountain lays dead and lifeless, but it is the only thing left standing. It was spared and left untouched by all the destruction. It continues to live, even after neglect.", Sailor Star Fighter thought to herself.
She walked to the edge of the fountain that managed to pull her out of her depression and away from the thoughts that crowded her mind only for a few moments. She stood listening to the water splash and gush over the living crystal and the memories, visions, and thoughts all came flooding back, as well as tears. She fell to her knees and rested her arms on the silver edge of the fountain. She sighed and stared down at her reflection on the silver base.
"I feel so empty now.", she said to herself from underneath her breath.
She then let out a quiet sob as she put her head down on her arms. "I live to serve and protect my princess. Princess Kakyu. She is the only hope left for my planet`s new beginning, with that beautiful Lilac and Olive scent. She is our only hope. Sailor Star Maker and Sailor Star Healer also live for this purpose and, this purpose only.",she thought to herself. "But is this what it is supposed to be like? My eternity is just this? Why does it have to be this way!? I am a Sailor Senshi. I do not need love, because I have Princess Kakyu. I was created for just this purpose: To protect and serve the Princess and not let love or any other emotion get in the way of that.", Sailor Star Fighter thought to herself and the tears multiplied.
"What kind of fate is this!? I am sick of that kind of fate!", she mumbled out loud.
"What would I give just to see her once more, even if it is from a distance? To smell her beautiful vanilla scent that lingers so in my memory. To see her standing a few feet away, even if I cannot touch her or speak to her. just to see her one last time. I miss her so much.Usagi." Sailor Star Fighter`s thoughts were just too much for her to handle. "She treated me the same way when I was in both forms, both Seiya and Sailor Star Fighter."
She looked up and stared at the water gushing over the crystal shards in the fountain. She whispered from underneath her breath as another tear fell down her cheek, "Odango."
In the remains of Princess Kakyu`s chambers. "Are you going to be all right Princess?", asked Sailor Star Healer. Tears streamed down the princess`s cheeks staining her almost perfect skin. "Of course I am.", she reassured as she managed to smile. Sailor Star Maker walked in on them. "The gardens have been destroyed, not a single thing left standing." The princess dried her tears and walked over to the senshi who just walked into the remains of her chambers. "Maker, Have you been to the west wing yet?" "No, Princess. I just came to check on you." Sailor Star Healer interrupted, "Things will turn out all right, I just know they will.". The princess managed to keep a smile,"I promise they will."
A figure stood still in the door framing that was left standing as the entrance to the chambers where Sailor Star Maker, Sailor Star Healer, and the Princess Kakyu were standing.
"Then what you need is a small miracle!"