Chapter Nine:
His conversation with Minako had long been over and now Mamoru waited as he looked over the small group he thought had gone mute since they looked at him mouths gaping like fish out of water. But it was only normal after all he had just finished revealing to them that Tuxedo Mask was no other than Mamoru Chiba. I can't believe this is how they're reacting to the fact that I'm Tuxedo Mask. I wonder how they're going to act when I ask them to help me seduce Usagi. But then if you had told me the same thing several months ago I might very well have done the exact same thing.
Minako looked around the room at her friends and laughed a little, after all it wasn't everyday that you managed to shock a group of Super Hero teenage girls into silence. She noticed that everyone was coming around and thankfully starting to close their mouths. She inched her way towards Ami, when thankfully Mamoru was distracted by Rei gaining control of her motor functions.
"Why didn't you tell me that you were Tuxedo Mask? We were dating after all?" Rei asked angrily. Why didn't he tell me? Is it that he never trusted me enough to tell me?
"Actually Rei," Mamoru started. This is hard enough to talk about, did she really have to bring that up, and it's not like I ever asked her out, Mamoru thought. "We weren't dating. I thought you knew that, I'm so sorry Rei, I didn't know you thought otherwise." Mamoru was truly apologetic if he had known that's what Rei thought then he wouldn't have kept accepting her invitations to go places. He had thought that she only wanted to be his friend and nothing more, God; I can be so thick sometimes.
"Oh." was all Rei managed to say shamefaced although she was slightly hurt at what he had to say but it wasn't going to kill her. Although the shame of it all might and that was only because she had told all her friends that he was her boyfriend. But she should have known when he had never asked her to go out with him, or to be his girlfriend. In fact, Mamoru had never so much as kissed her not even on the cheek at that. "Still why didn't you tell me you were Tuxedo Mask?"
"You weren't exactly so forthcoming that you were Sailor Mars either were you?" Mamoru asked her. There is nothing for her to criticize, I didn't tell her and she didn't tell me. Why can't she just leave it at that? There isn't much that I can really do about it after all its not like it was just me.
Meanwhile Minako had finally made it to Ami's side. "Welcome back to the real world, Ames." Minako said laughingly and then she turned serious. "Ami, I need you to take out your computer and you are going to run the Prince program against Mamoru's energy signature. It will be a lot easier if he doesn't know what you're doing, because like Usagi if he is the Prince it's something that he needs to discover on his own."
Ami nodded her head, as she took out the mini-data computer. She didn't think that it could truly be that easy to find the Prince, but then again Usagi was the Princess and she had been underneath their noses the entire time. So she did as their lieutenant told her to do, she ran Mamoru's signature energy against her computer and the energy signature that Luna had managed to extract from the Lunar Eternity Mainframe Computer. This is going to take a while, Ami thought to herself as her computer copied Mamoru's energy.
"So why inform us that you are Tuxedo Mask now?" Artemis asked it was a logical and reasonable question. Besides that Artemis had the same sneaking suspicion as Luna that this might in fact be the Prince. The only reason that they didn't know for sure was because Queen Serenity had locked some of their memories from them after all if it was true that they were meant to protect the Princess then what better way than to keep the very people who knew her best from remembering who she truly was.
"Because there is something I want and I need your help to get it." Mamoru stated. This is so hard; these are her friends, her fourteen year old friends and her guardians. What do I do if they tell me no and refuse to even help? Usagi will not be easy to win over especially if I don't have their help.
"Would that be the Silver Moon Crystal?" Makoto asked she didn't trust Tuxedo Mask not completely anyways. This man had always had a hidden agenda, after all hadn't he told them that he only fought along side them to keep the Dark Kingdom from winning. It wasn't normal after all for someone to go from being a possible enemy to being an ally just because he revealed his true identity. There's something else going on here. He has something up his sleeve, something he doesn't really want to reveal. But if he needs our help we'll need the whole truth, I'm not going to help someone who isn't as honest as we are.
"I can understand why you would doubt me. After all if I was you I would doubt me too." Mamoru said honestly, Makoto did make sense she was not letting any personal feelings cloud her judgment unlike a certain fire Scout. "The Silver Crystal is a completely different matter but I will tell you the complete truth." He sighed deeply as he once more looked up at them.
"In the beginning I didn't know what was going on. All I knew was that I was getting really bad migraines where I couldn't move and I couldn't talk. I would just collapse to the ground."
"That explains what happened that one time at the park." Rei said as she jumped into the story. She shyly quieted down as everyone in the room glared at her for interrupting. Obviously the rest of the group wanted Mamoru's story without interruptions.
"Yes, that's what happened at the park. All I knew was that I would feel like someone was calling me and whenever I tried to ignore the feeling the pain would intensify. When Nephlyte and Zoisite showed up on the scene, I started to have dreams about a young woman on a balcony. She was always calling to me asking me to find the Silver Moon Crystal; she said it was the key to freeing herself and me." Mamoru took a deep breath, it was true he had a story to tell but he didn't feel much like telling a really long one so he was trying to keep it as short as possible. "Then the rainbow crystals appeared and I found out that the Silver Moon Crystal had long ago been shattered into the Seven Rainbow Crystals. It was when I got my hands on one of the Rainbow Crystals that I discovered I was Tuxedo Mask. But this woman in my dreams keeps pleading for the Silver Crystal she tells me that it's the key to everything." Mamoru suddenly stopped because he didn't want to tell them the rest of the dream. Where she ran to him and he kissed her and held her so lovingly and when she looked up at him all he could see were her lovely blue eyes.
Everyone sat staring at Mamoru they didn't know what to say to him after all a woman in his dreams pleading for the Silver Moon Crystal. Luna and Artemis however looked at each other, it sounded a lot like the same dreams that Usagi was having. The only difference however was that Mamoru's dream seemed to ask him find the Silver Moon Crystal and Usagi's well they were just Endymion calling out to her.
"Even if what you say is true, how do we know that you are not working for the Dark Kingdom?" Makoto asked no amount of storytelling was going to convince her that his motives were pure.
"I am convinced of his honesty." Luna stated as she looked Makoto in the eyes trying to convey to the younger girl that she was in truth convinced that Mamoru spoke the honest truth. After all there can only be one woman who visits him in his dreams and truth be told that woman must be Serenity. Naturally the Silver Moon Crystal would be the only thing that could free them since it was what erased their memories. So then he must be Prince Endymion because I doubt Serenity would choose another to find the Silver Crystal.
"But Luna, how do we know if his intentions are truly what he says they are? And tell me why am I the only one questioning his motives?" Makoto said angrily, after all it wasn't normal for the Scouts to be reacting so calmly to the very man they thought was more enemy than ally.
"Silence." Minako called the Jupiter Scout to order. "If Luna thinks his intentions are not to be questioned then they are not. It is not our place to question her seeing as she knows more than we do."
Makoto went silent since Usagi wasn't at the meeting that meant that Minako was serving as leader in her stead. It wasn't that she truly didn't believe him, after all somewhere deep down inside her she did believe him. But she had to protect Usagi, that was her duty as a soldier of the Moon Kingdom and as a guardian to Princess Serenity and in truth she felt that same loyalty for Usagi. She had felt that urge to protect the young girl ever since that day not so long ago when she had run into Usagi who had been having trouble with some older creeps she had accidentally run into. That small sudden urge had suddenly grew when she had found out that she was a Sailor Scout and it only grew all the more after it was discovered that Usagi was in fact Moon Princess Serenity. In truth she could say that she loved Usagi the same way an older sister loved her baby sister. "I am questioning his loyalty the same way I would question any other person that I knew almost nothing of."
"I understand Jupiter. Yet, you must remember that there are some things that cannot be questioned and those are matters of the heart. Such as his destiny is tied to our leader are we also bound to him."
Mamoru stared at the two young girls completely perplexed. He had no real clue as to what they were truly discussing he only knew that it seemed to be a sort of code. "Umm…" Mamoru murmured breaking into the conversation, "May we discuss what I truly came here to discuss?" He was beginning to question actually having decided to let Usagi's friends in on his true intentions.
"Of course." Minako said as she looked around the room to make sure that every one was actually listening to what Mamoru had to say. She knew of course that Ami would have her eyes on the computer but her ears would be trained on the conversation as was her normal style. She actually already knew the truth but she wanted to see the shocked look on the girls' faces as he revealed the truth behind this special meeting. "Now Mamoru you can tell us what this meeting is all about."
Mamoru stared at Minako for a short while after all she knew exactly what this meeting was all about. Has to be because she didn't want the rest of the Scouts to know that she already knew. "Well… umm… actually this is quite personal but since you are all friends with Usagi I was hoping that all of you could help me."
Rei suddenly went pale, after all there could only be one reason that Mamoru would want to discuss anything about Usagi. She suddenly felt doubly stupid; she wondered how she couldn't have seen it. It was so obvious now how much Mamoru truly cared for Usagi. She had hoped that Mamoru only felt an almost brotherly love towards Usagi but now she could actually remember all the times his eyes would start to shine whenever he was near Usagi. It was all that she could do to keep her heart and her pride intact but maybe it was for the best that Mamoru had never truly found interest in her.
Ami's head shot up after all it didn't take a genius to figure out what Mamoru felt for Usagi. Suddenly she looked towards Rei, she knew that Rei felt some sort of emotion for Mamoru and she knew that Rei must be hurting from having suddenly put two and two together.
Rei felt eyes on her; she raised her head to catch Ami's ocean blue eyes staring back at her full of concern. Rei shook her head indicating to Ami that she wasn't hurt at least nothing more than her pride. With Rei's denial of pain Ami's head bent back down to work once more on her computer and the program it was running. It was not up to her to question Rei any further, although maybe this was for the best?
"Go on." Artemis said softly, after all they had to learn the truth, they had to know whether or not Mamoru was the Terran Prince. He had confusing emotions about this. On one hand he wanted to know so that his Princess could be happy once more but on the other hand he didn't. No matter his strength he doubted he could stop disliking the young prince so easily.
"Well I was kind of hoping that you all would help me woo Usagi." Mamoru said rather quickly and put his head down not wanting to see the reactions they would have plastered on their faces. Besides, he felt bad enough because Rei had to find out and he never truly wanted to hurt her.
"Usagi isn't going to fall for you that easily." Makoto said sharply. "Can you blame her though? You have been nothing but a jerk every time you see her."
"I know. Which is why I was hoping that you all could help me? I intend to become her secret admirer and try to win her that way."
"You know you have to be nice to her every time you see her though." Rei said suddenly speaking up. She knew that he wouldn't win Usagi over if he didn't change his attitude every time he saw her. That was no way for any man to act when he saw the woman that he claimed to lo… wait what was it that Mamoru actually felt for Usagi he hadn't said a thing about what he felt for her.
"What do you feel for Usagi?" Makoto asked taking the words right out of Rei's mouth. It was a standard question one that they needed to know. They were not going to just help any man court their Princess. If such a man wanted to court Usagi then he had to feel nothing less than love.
Mamoru blushed and looked down; he wasn't used to sharing his private emotions with any one. "Well, I actually." he paused trying to still the blush that only grew all the more, he took a deep breath. "I love her." he said quietly as he raised his head to look at everyone in the room only to see that they all had tears in their eyes.
What Mamoru hadn't noticed though was that during the time he had taken to take a breath, Ami had raised her head and nodded informing them that Mamoru was in fact the Terran Prince Endymion. That very slight shake of the head had caused them all to tear up, after all this was the long lost love of their Princess.
Mamoru looked down once more he couldn't truly deal with crying girls. He had just wanted them to help not to suddenly burst into tears. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make anyone cry." he said apologetically.
"It's just so sweet." Minako said trying to cover up the true reasons for their tears. After all they couldn't just out and tell him he was the Crown Prince of Earth, Endymion. If only it was that easy. But Luna said that this was something they had to find out themselves or we would risk the hand destiny dealt us.
"You do know you'll have to take it slow with Usagi. She's never had a boyfriend before." Luna said carefully, she didn't want to embarrass her ward only to ensure that Mamoru knew that this would be new for Usagi. After all, even though Usagi didn't know it her last relationship had ended up in a betrothal and in this life she had nothing to compare one relationship to another.
"But… does that mean that you'll help me?" Mamoru asked nervously. He was unsure if they would accept such a proposal, after all it did involve their leader.
"Of course it does silly." Minako blurted out. Sometimes he can be such a fool. What would ever make him think that we wouldn't help? "After all this is the most romantic thing I've heard and I am the Queen of romance and love." Minako cried out happily as the others cringed at the loudness of her voice.
Mamoru was grateful that for once in his life things were starting to look up, after all what more could he do but wish that the woman he loved could only learn to love him in return. He knew it would take time but surely with her friends helping it would be a lot easier.
Meanwhile somewhere deep in the artic bowels of the earth there laid the Dark Kingdom. Queen Beryl was once more holed up in her quarters remembering the past life that haunted her so much even in this present realm. She had wanted to forget her dreadful dreams the ones that recreated the world she had once existed within. Dreams of a beautiful palace by the sea, of a man that she yearned to possess and of a crown almost within her reach. She had been so close to being crowned High Queen of Earth, the title, the riches and the power almost within her grasp. Until Endymion had ruined everything for her, it would have been so easy and so simple if the High Queen had never insisted upon meeting with the Moon Queen.
High Queen Gaea had insisted upon peace talks with the Moon people even though the very idea was repulsive to most of her children as she called the people of Earth. For centuries untold, since those foreigners had first invaded our solar system we rejected them and their ways. Cold war ensued shortly after their arrival and the people of Earth declared a ban upon those interlopers. Yet for some reason Gaea wanted peace between the two factions, maybe she knew what Beryl had refused to see, the love that had begun to grow between the two heirs. Could that be it? Did she really she what I could not? Did she know somehow that there was love growing between the heirs of the two planets? No, she couldn't have known. I did not know until I caught them in that loving embrace.
Bastard! Beryl thought darkly as she looked upon the portrait hanging above her bed, Endymion had been a catch, indeed he had been the only man she had ever considered beautiful more so than herself. And she was not one to call men beautiful, but he had such an air of grace and masculine beauty about him that it was easy to see why women loved him so. She above all others had loved him; it was that intense urge that had caused her to squander any chance she could have ever had with him. However, she wasn't truly to blame at least that's not what she thought. She thought that he had wanted a woman with experience and the ability to please him in every aspect of married life so she sought that knowledge from some of the men who sought to woo her.
Beryl had been the closest relative to the throne but was still appropriately distanced to marry the young prince of Earth. However, it turned out that her plans of winning Endymion over backfired on her. He had wanted a woman whom was still pure and untouched and she had long ceased to be so. She had however managed to convince King Demetrius to announce a betrothal between the two with her wily woman ways but even that had not persuaded the young prince. It had been on that night of the celebrations surrounding their engagement that she had learned that Endymion had been in love with another. It had not even been a woman it had been a twit of a girl whom also happened to be the White Moon's Crown Princess. That brat stole any chance I had with Endymion. I could have forced to marry me, it would after all not be the first time that an arranged marriage was enforced and the couple eventually fell in love.
Beryl had suspected that Gaea had been behind the whole mess of that love affair but those suspicions had never been confirmed. Why else would she have wanted to discuss peace terms with those invaders? "Damn that infernal mother's devotion to her son!" Beryl cried out in a sudden fit of anger. Even then she couldn't do a damn thing to stop Gaea. She smiled sinisterly that romantic fool Gaea and the ever hindering Serenity were no longer around to protect the two lovebirds.
"Now is the time for my vengeance. Now I can have Endymion for me as soon as I get rid of that little moon brat." Beryl said darkly. He was the object of her obsession and her lust and she could not rest until he was with her. No, this time I will not suffer to lose Endymion. I will have him, he'll be mine as it was meant to be all those centuries ago. I will not suffer to lose to the moon once more, I will gain my hands on that crystal and I will shatter their world. I will destroy Metallia and take my rightful place as High Queen of Earth.
Beryl was infuriated for too long she had suffered in the shadows while those brats of the Silver Millennium were allowed to enjoy the gifts of true life. For far too long she had been denied what was rightfully hers and she would no longer stand for it. From now on she would send stronger monsters against the Senshi, she resolved to kill them. There was no reason they should live when I have to suffer. No reason for them to be happy while I have to live with anger consuming me. Beryl stood from her chair and as she stood she grabbed an empty vase and hurled it towards the portrait. "I refuse to lose you once more Endymion. I will have you and the Silver Moon Crystal and there's nothing anyone can do about it. I will destroy Serenity and there's nothing her mother can do to stop her death this time." Beryl's words hung threateningly in the air, as her servants passed by her door cowering in fear. It wasn't uncommon to hear her shouting threats their Queen was known for enforcing the harshest punishments for even the smallest of infractions. The young creature who had just knocked was suddenly apprehensive and with good cause because suddenly dark energy shot through obliterating the door and snuffing out the young life. Beryl smiled evilly at least in some small way she had gotten rid of some of the anger within her. But it was constantly building up, "Let's see what Zoisite has got to report." Beryl said smirking. She just needed one small excuse to rid herself of that failure, she thought as she walked towards the throne room.
