Chapter 3: Awakening
879 years after the Freeze.
The Ice has stopped building ,But no new heat seems forthcoming as of yet.
The Gizinshou shines with Eons of accumulated power... power that is waiting that is yearning...
Power that is needing,..
To come forth.
It began shining as it had earlier when it sensed that Ichiros presence would be required. Enveloped Usagi, and her friends
who emerged not as old women on the brink of death but scarely past the beginnings of their maturity.
The light then moments latter encompassed the two Cats, and Ichiro-sama
The 5 Senshi, and though they were not transformed, they now thought of themselves once more as senshi, feeling youth and vitality flow through themselves once again.
Minako was THRILLED beyond measure all these years using prescription products all she needed was an ancient crystal.
Ami was curious but deiced to say nothing at this historic occasion.
Makoto and Rei, were both ready to serve the Princess in whatever capaicty they could.
The Princess herself... had been changed, in ways beyond physical after centuries, in the Ice.
Her mind her very soul, had become as ethereal, as Beautiful, as precise, as cold...
As Crystal.
Yet she could summon some feeling at being reuinited with old friends.
"Minna!" Usagi Exclaimed, still capable of some genuine Elation, everyone exchanged hugs.
"Usagi-chan!" they all chanted in unison as if they were 14 again.
Usagi's face twitched, the part of her that could be called "chan" was almost dead, she sighed, and acknowledged it quietly to herself, but knew in her heart that it would look best for the others to ask her to take the Throne first...
she shook her head I shouldnt even be thinking of this yet.
Usagi smiled
"The Gizinshou it has revived us. She looked them over smiling"
"My friends" she addressed them looking at each With regal regard.
Ichiro was bewlidered of course... to be fair Ayumi-chan wasnt much better.
"What the blazes is going on here!?" He called out"
Usagi glanced to him and said "I am your mother Ichiro!"
Ichiro Snickered "Lady if your going to make up lies, make them believable at least, my Mother is at least 80 years old at this point...
Usagi looked him over.. meeting his eyes.
"Ichiro-chan when you were little, I rocked you to sleep, and told you many times of the Moon Kingdom, of the Imperium Silver Crystal. I phrased it as if it was a fairy tale at the time, even I thought it was for a while" She admitted.
He blinked his mind reeling... he was pretty sure his mother didnt advertise this little invention of hers to everyone... and he had to admit... it did seem to fit.
"Who led the attack on the moon Kingdom" he asked, slyly.
A specific detail, not one someoen whod casually overheard her storys would likely know
"Queen Beryl, being influenced by Metallia ordered it, but the formost general was Kunzite, and the princes 3 other Bodyguards"
He felt his heart freaze
Before him was his mother as he couldnt remember seeing her.
Radiant,
Young
Beautiful
Eternal
Unchanging
"In the light of the crystal no one shall ever need fear a natural death again" Usagi told him sagely
Luna knew Usagi was no longer the little girl she once had to lecture almost every time anything needed to be done... but still force of habit.
"Remember 140 years may seem like a lot of time but it neeeds to be prioritized Usagi."
Usagi nodded "I know that Luna I think the others do to"
Suddenly she was all business.
"We are going to have to prioritize our operations very Carefully" she began.
Rei, clearly having reclaimed some of her firebrand tendencys, snorted "So? We bring peace and happiness to the world and install you as queen, whats so difficult about that, most of the world should be grateful for you, for lifting them out of the Ice age."
Usagi blinked "I expect domestic unrest relatively quickly. Everything from Terrorism, to Peaceful demosntrations."
"Peaceful demonstrations I'll allow, Its only natural people would be nervous about Being ruled by a Monarch after 2 or 3 centuries, of Pro democracy propaganda Prior to the Freeze"
Makoto blinked the words sounded odd "Propaganda Usagi?" she blinked
Usagi took a minute or so to understand the problem when she did she cursed herself siltently"
"Perhaps I should have said "Pro democracy messages, in every form of historical fiction had at times CRUSHING pro democracy Aesops."
Minako blinked and nodded, Reclaiming her role as The leader of the Sailor Senshi without a word.
All there sensed it. Sailor Moon was no more, She Might be reborn thruogh Chibi-Usa but was Dead at least for the moment.
"The Princess is right" She said "People will naturally object to anyone Claiming the status of Monarch especialy in this day and age" She rose a hand to preemptively quiet the protest she could see coming from Mercury and Jupiter. "Nonethelesss, the world needs the stability only a single Queen can grant it."
Makoto paused "Even with a Monarchy there is room for Compromise we could try some kind of parliament, or coucil or such"
Minako rolled her eyes "And have it Degenerate into the mass of Bribery and corruption That consumed the world before, Members of a Senate, or Council, or Parliament, or what have you being too busy backstabbing, to get things done?"
Mars, was Flabbergasted and Venuses once Happy go lucky personality becoming so Cynical.
"I dont believe what im hearing!" she whined "You've grown cynical and-"
"Shes right" Mercury said, quietly, yet with a calm, gentle authority.
They blinked then looked
"Shes right, Democracy was still a social experiment, and I as a scientist must give my conclusions on the experiment in question." she sighed and gave a history of the last half millenia before the Freeze"
Jupiter, and Mars were blinking, Venus on the other hand was Standing besides her Princess as the captain of her bodyguard
Mercury gave an almost unrboken history of Uprisings, unrest, of the most popular action happening, instead of the right action
"In conclusion, while we all have concerns about an absolute Monarch, Democracy, only carrys its own set of Social Ill's any notion to the contray is wishful thinking at its worse"
Ami said fimrly then when their friends couldnt rebuke her she smiled and added "now on to the next issue, Usagi I believe was going to try helping us discuss how to smooth over this transition for the populace"
Rei blinkd "How just come out and say "Were in charge; do what we say, or else!?"
Usagi blinked "Were going to have to do tht to some degree or another, of course. But if we have local governers apointed, have the sight of the Crystal tokyo Monarchy being as Visible as possible, then I dont think they'd risk
She sighed then added "We still have a bit over a century before the freeze ends We'll spend that time planning things out."
Makoto then intervened
"Where do we do this planning out here in the cold?"
Usagi shook her head.
"No we will return home, to the remains of the Moon kingdom, we should be able to rebuild the castle within a decade or two."
she paused then added "We might bring 2 or 3 key figures there"
Makoto blinked "Key figures?"
Usagi nodded
"Presidents of important nations, senators etc, point is make sure their on our side, by any means necessary, even if it does seem slightly coerced, it will help to prevent an initial outwelling of resistence and defiance against the Monarchy"
Ami nodded "Sounds like a sound plan your majesty."
Usagi blushed slightly, she was sounding more and more like a queen, and thinking more like one too.
"Your highness, 'my lady' or Serenity, would be preferable, Until my Coronation, I am not a Queen." she said pointedly.
Rei was concerned "What about Usagi?" she asked
Usagi shook her head sadly.
"theirs Little of her left I fear, and will be less and less as days go on."
Ami paused "We can use magic and such to help faciliate the building process on Lunar, Anything else we need?"
Usagi blinked and said "We'll need your husband of course, I wouldnt think of asking you to abandon him."
Ami blushed at that... glad Urawa-san wouldnt have to sleep much longer"
Usagi then realized their was an important detail she'd almost forgotten
then Paused and Said "Ichiro- would you stand with me I'll need your strengh through this"
He nodded delightedly "Of course mother I'd be delighted to help you!" she smiled in appreciation, and Then began a chant, holding the Crystal before her.
Gathering around her late Husbands Grave... guessing that he had not yet been reincarnated.
Ichiro however, was quite dumbfounded.
Usagi stood there and let the Crescent Moon Flare onto her forehead, holidng up the crystal, chanting continuously... and was greeted by "Mercury star power, Mars start power, Jupiter star power, Venus star power..." As they chanted and then
"Moon Crystal power!" finished Usagi. And the Crystals Seethed with the power she was giving it .
Glowing mysteriously
She stood over Mamoru's Grave, and Chanted slowly in ancient lunar, her crescent moon sigil glowing sharply...
After 20 minutes wondering what the point was...
A human hand reached out of the ground!
Usagis heart leapt, and she helped him out... He was still old, 80 or so, but was recovering his health by the minute.
"U... Usako"
he said.
Usagis face blushed and nodded "Mamo-chan!" and hugged him crying
Mercury looked for a broken tree limp she could give him as a makeshift cane, which he accepted gladly.
The others felt good, the Circle was now almost complete.
"What about the outers?" Jupiter said curiously"
Luna paused
"Sestuna is still guarding the time gate, Haruka and Michiru Took Refuge in some extra dimensional space. Hotaru is dead I fear, but will return during the new Kingdom."
Usagi smiled gently at that, the thought of Chibi Usa and Hotraru meeting each other again here in the future was happy.
Then hugged Mamoru, who was recovering some strength, even if his head was still full of Grey hairs and said "I have one last thing to do... before we go"
Venus nodded "I'll come with you"
Usagi scowled in a no nonsense tone "Id prefer to go on my own. This is a private matter"
Venus rather then crumbling returned the glare and said, "With all due respect, your my liege lady it would be unbecoming for me to allow you to travel unchaperoned in a situation like this."
Usagi sighed and relented, she couldnt blame Minako for doing her job.
"Fine but just you."
She nodded and accompanied Usagi.. wondering just where they were going.
This is the last hour of the last day of my Life as Chiba Usagi
She thought sadly yet at peace with the notion.
"were going into a graveyard?" Minako asked a bit nervously
Usagi nodded and opened the gate.
"You can watch from a distance... but please, done come close enough to hear this is private"
Minako would have liked to hear but nodded not wanting to intrude..
Usagi Knelt before a set of 3 tomb stones.
"In loving memory Tsukino Kenji, and Tsukino Kenji 1953- 2014 1959-2019"
Usagi Wept, letting the last trace of emotion , the last trace of connection flwo from her mind and soul with her tears
"Mama, Papa, Gomen Nasai... I never could share my secret with you... I couldnt tell you about what I had to go through , what I suffered, what ive accomplished... you suffered thinking your daughter, was a self centered do nothing" She wet the ground with her tears.
"And yet you never gave up on me, you were always there Papa, mama, you always tried to resolve things peacefully"
She continued crying... "I remember at least 3 times I gave you excuses that sounded ridiculous... to cover up my crusade as Sailor moon You must have been scared I was up to who knows what"
she bowed "dont worry Okaa-san, Oto-san I'll make you proud"
She moved on to the next grave
Tsukino Shingo
1984-2020
"Oh Shingo, I remember, I was often times not a source of wisdom, and calm gentle authority, I should have been, I was all too often a bully Shingo-kun" she wept.
Remembering how her brother had gone into law enforcement... And sought continually to make Japan a safer place, only to die foiling a kidnapping"
"Dear brother, you believed in Sailor Moon, even when I didnt! I thought of you as a jerk but you are truly 'tsukino' "of the moon" My brother." she wept again... feeling the tears flow from her eyes, carrying out the last trace of emotion."
She waved a hand and a new fresh Tomp stone rose from the ground and she began to engrave it with her own hands.
When she was finished it read
Tsukino Usagi 1978- 2875
She bowed one last time to this stone
"Usagi-chan" she said gently "Rest in peace with your family, I hope you all find a peaceful and happy Reincarnation"
Serenity responded "no, Everything is right now"
Im finding it suprisingly easy to keep up with this fic not sure why Thoughts and insights would be most welcome!
