A/N: I know it's been awhile and I'm sorry I just somehow lost track of time and got writers block on a few of my stories. But I'm back even though I am busier than ever. Go figure.
Serenity leaned her back against the rabbit statue she had created for Usagi. She had needed to escape, though she was glad for Malachite's return, he brought her little comfort. He was haunted by images of Minako's death and Usagi's torture. He constantly suffered from nightmares and Mamoru would offer him no comfort. Mamoru would often force him to tell him what they had done to her and both men would end up pale and queasy, until finally Mamoru just ignored Malachite all together.
"You should be at the Tsukino's, they will worry if you miss dinner." Malachite's voice was weary but stronger than it had been the past few days.
"I told them I was with Minako. I do not know how long I can pretend to be her without even knowing her. None of them will speak of her, it's as if they're all ashamed of wishing she was here instead of I. I cannot blame them, I wish it as well, it seems they were all so much happier and I do not belong in this world."
Malachite groaned and took a stiff seat beside the forlorn princess. He as well felt as if this world was not for the likes of them. Their memories and personalities existed solely for another time and another place.
"I know dear princess, but you are here, and Usagi believed with all her heart that you were the only one with the power to save the world she loved so dearly. I believe that is worth continuing on because even though it may not be the home we both long for, this place is one worth saving." He paused before he spoke again. "Even if we do not belong here, it is the home of those we love and it is therefore our duty to save it."
"You always were the rational one, my dear Malachite. But I think today you step upon the toes of Nephrite for you see into my heart better than most." She turned to look at the statue behind her.
"I cannot help but love him and want him still. But I would never cause him to betray his love for her. I wish I could give her my power so that they could be together and I could be dead, like I am supposed to be."
"You are much too melancholy to be the princess I remember. Usagi must have been the one destined to protect the world until you were set free. That is why she had the same ties to the crystal, it was her duty to protect the world in your stead."
Serenity closed her eyes and sighed. She still could not make sense of it. There was no way for Usagi to have that kind of power, the silver crystal was a part of her, it fed off of her own life force.
"Malachite I need to ask something of you, and even though I hate to I must. For I must know what it is you speak of that Beryl saw. I must see your memories of that night."
Malachite stood and looked toward the setting sun. He knew why Serenity was hesitant in her request. She wanted him to relive that night, to stand aside and watch it all again, just as he had then. To see himself stand by and watch, and even help Beryl torture Usagi…but if it meant bringing happiness to his princess, then he would deny her nothing.
"As you wish, my princess." Malachite returned to her side and knelt before her. He closed his eyes and waited for her soft touch upon his temples.
"Tell me Moon brat, tell me where the princess is! We have felt her aura she is nearby!"
Serenity looked around and saw Malachite pale beside her. They were inside his memories and standing beside him as Beryl cut through Usagi's flesh with a sparkling knife.
"She's cutting her with pieces of the dark crystal trying to force it into her body. It only brings her pain but does not make her mind succumb…"
Malachite's monotone commentary petrified Serenity. She kept her eyes forward on Usagi, her body was badly bruised and bleeding from numerous cuts. Most of her uniform was burned away to show seared skin beneath, no doubt from dark energy blasts. Serenity could not help but fell admiration for the girl that would withstand so much just to protect her.
"I will make you talk, you will beg for death."
Serenity gasped as she saw Beryl emerge with a large spear that seemed to be made entirely of dark crystal. She could not help but close her eyes as the spear come into forceful contact with Usagi's body. But she could not protect herself from the screams that echoed through the cavern.
Suddenly a bright light filled the room. Serenity knew it instantly, the power of the silver crystal was surrounding her. It was healing and protecting Usagi. When the light faded, Serenity looked toward Usagi. The crystal spear was gone and on her forehead a golden crescent moon shimmered.
"Usagi…is me! We are one. I can feel her inside me now. The crystal has been trying to heal her all along but keeping her spirit dormant within me, just like I was dormant within her until my power was needed."
Serenity forced the memory to fade around her, and she smiled upon a very weary Malachite.
"I can bring her back Malachite. I know how, all I have to do is take her wounds upon myself and the crystal will be forced to make us switch places once again."
"Princess, I would not do such a thing. You have no idea what will happen."
"If I fail nothing will have changed, the world will still be without Usagi, but if I succeed everyone will have the person they love back!"
"Without you this planet will fall to Beryl! Don't you see Serenity! Usagi knew that you were more important than her, it was you that was needed because you have the knowledge of the silver crystal. A knowledge she lacks!"
"The crystal will respond to her, just like it did in the cave. She has so much more courage and strength than I do anyway, she will be able to defeat Beryl."
"No, Serenity. I cannot allow you to do this, not even for Usako."
Serenity and Malachite turned to see a very pale Mamoru before them. He looked like his legs would give out any minute but his eyes remained stern and forceful.
"Usagi gave her life so that you could be her. I will not have you risking her sacrifice. I cannot lose you both."
Serenity stood and walked to Mamoru. Slowly and awkwardly she wrapped her arms around him, nearly sighing at the familiar comfort. She could feel his reluctance though, his inability to let go of Usagi and she was beginning to understand why. But the truth would involve a conversation with her parents.
"Mamoru you are Usagi's and you belong to her. This world was never mine, it was always hers."
"No Serenity, now it is yours as well and you must protect it for her. I will not have you risking your life when she gave hers to save it."
"There is something I must do Mamoru and you cannot prevent it."
At her words Serenity disappeared from sight, leaving Mamoru feeling furious at the girl for being so ready to make Usagi's sacrifice be in vain.
Serenity opened her eyes to see the ruined moon kingdom before her. She knew her mother's spirit wandered here, waiting for the day with the Moon Kingdom would rise again.
"Mother! Mother please! I am so confused tell me what is going on!"
A shimmering light appeared before Serenity, and it gradually formed into the smiling shape of Selenity.
"Serenity my darling, why are you so troubled?"
"I just want to know who I really am, and who Usagi is? Why are we the same and yet not?"
"Come Serenity and I will explain to you why the crystal has separated your soul into two parts."
Selenity led her daughter to the ruins of the once great castle, to the gardens where Serenity would always sit staring toward Earth.
"When I sent you and the others to Earth to be reborn, the crystal knew that as the princess you would be in danger. So it separated the parts of you that would give away your presence as a princess from the parts of you that made you…well not so much a princess. Thus Usagi was created, a clumsy, cheerful, bubble-headed girl that may not have always been the most mature or the most intelligent person but she was still a part of you. Usagi is the side of you that makes you, you. The part that has always kept you from being the "perfect" princess, but she is also the part of you that made your people love you, and your friends love you. It is her heart and her courage that make you able to triumph over any evil and willing to do anything for those you love."
"So I was right, Usagi is the better one of us, she is the one that deserves to live while I should disappear."
"No! Do not think that Serenity, you are Usagi and she is you. Look into your memories surely you remember times when you played practical jokes on the guards with the senshi, or when you would disobey me and sneak away to Earth to see Endymion. Those are things you probably would not think of doing right now, but yet you have because then you are and Usagi were one. Without you, she cannot be the powerful queen she was meant to be and without her you cannot be the person that will keep her spirits up no matter the trial."
"So what must I do? How do I become myself again?"
"Well that my daughter is quite simple. The crystal responds to the wishes of your heart, and so will do whatever you ask of it. But I can sense that Usagi is still very weak, your mother and I will be able to send you home. But you must be prepared to take on Usagi's pain yourself, for when you become one you will take on the wounds that she sustained. The crystal has been unable to heal her with the two of you being apart."
"I understand father, I will not have her suffer another moment. We are one, her trials and her suffering are my own, it is time I took them on."
"Then go on Serenity tell the crystal your wish."
Serenity nodded and closed her eyes focusing on the power of the silver crystal within her.
"I call upon the power of the Imperium Silver Crystal. I am Usagi, and she is me. Make us whole like we were always meant to be!"
Serenity was thrown backward as memories came flooding toward her, memories of Usagi's life. Memories of her own life spun around as well, and finally Serenity could see how they were one, two halves of a perfect whole. The memories led all the way up to Sailor Moon's capture, but this time Serenity lived through it with Usagi, she was no longer alone. They went through all of the pain together and when Serenity opened her eyes she was herself again.
"Serenity my daughter you have done it. But we must hurry and get you back to Earth the crystal will work to heal your wounds now that you and Usagi are one, but it will not be overnight. The others will need to look after you for awhile."
"Well I feel as if I have been run over by a truck fifty times over, so the crystal better hurry up if it knows what is good for it."
"Goodbye Serenity, we will always be here whenever you need us."
"Goodbye mother, father. Thank you."
Mamoru and Malachite paced back and forth in front of the statue, awaiting the return of Serenity.
"How could she be so stupid? After everything Usagi did for her, just to throw it away!"
"What choice did she have? The one she loves more than anything in the world hates her because she is here instead of Usagi!"
"That's not true! I do not hate her, but I cannot betray the love I have for Usagi."
"Well that's good to know but if you two could stop bickering I need some help over here."
Mamoru and Malachite turned to see Sailor Moon leaning on the bunny statue looking little better than she had the night they brought her to Mamoru's apartment.
Mamoru could not believe his eyes as he approached her.
"Usako?"
Sailor Moon nodded slowly and then looked to Malachite who was eying her carefully.
"So you finally got your wish Princess Serenity. It suits you."
Again Sailor Moon nodded happily.
"What is going on, are you Usako or are you Serenity?"
She nearly laughed at Mamoru's confusion, but instead she held out her arms to him.
"As you are Mamoru I am Usagi, as you are Endymion I am Serenity. Two parts of a whole that were always meant to be together, with you."
Mamoru could not contain his happiness as he lifted Usagi into his arms and kissed her on the lips, spinning her around in his tight embrace.
"Mamoru? Mamoru? PRINCE ENDYMION!"
Mamoru turned toward Malachite who merely pointed at Usagi. Mamoru looked and saw that though she was smiling she was also clutching her sides in pain.
"Usako! I'm so sorry Usako, come let's get you home. You are staying on my bed until you are well again, no ifs ands or buts from you or the senshi."
"You will hear no complaint from me Mamo-Chan, but from my father I cannot be so sure."
