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Sailor Moon is a product of Bandai, Toei, and Naoko Takeuchi
...
"Why?!" Mamoru shouted. Smashing his fist against the wall. He leaned against his now throbbing hand, his head hanging low. "Answer me, Setsuna. I know you're there." He huffed in frustration.
"Fate, your highness." Setsuna appeared before him. "I have no control over the Fates. They alone make the path on which you must walk. You know this. The Fates, the Parcae, the Norns, the Moirai. All the same entities, all known throughout history under different names but they are unchanging. Even we are subject to Their power."
"Do they enjoy being cruel? Have Makoto and I not suffered enough thru these two lifetimes?" He grimaced.
"They would not do this unless there was a reason. Understand Majesty, if I could intervene I would." He glanced up, noticing the mist filling the Guardian of Time's eyes.
"So many instances I wish I could've intervened. So many times just the smallest change would've made such a world of difference. I wouldn't have allowed you and your parents to take a trip that lovely summer day. Mako's parents would've rescheduled a vacation. Rei's mother would've never gotten sick. Ami's parents would've learned to reconcile their differences. Hotaru's father would have never been a Scientist. I could of course go on. The point being your Highness, I have no control over the fate of the Senshi. I can provide guidance and wisdom, but ultimately it is Fate that decides their destiny. Understand that if I had a say, there would be far fewer orphaned or nearly orphaned guardians." The weary eyed King simply nodded.
"I apologize for the outburst Setsuna. It's just..." He trailed off.
"No apology necessary your Highness. Everyone is on edge as of late. It would behoove you, to try to reconcile with Serenity over this situation. I can feel the darkness surrounding her aura, it is resoundingly stronger than with the others.
Mamoru nodded.
...
Mako was perched outside the throne room door. Trying to make it not so obvious that she was trying to casually eavesdrop. She had hoped the little tizzy that had started a moment ago between Serenity and Rei had been like in the old days. A few tongue lashings from Rei, then some whining from Usagi followed by a reconciliatory hug. This however, did not sound like a casual disagreement. Makoto glanced down at the floor noticing an eerie glow emanating from the room under the door. She cracked the door open, just enough to see inside. As she did, she saw her raven-haired comrade sail across the room. Rei looked up in horror at her long time friend. Serenity prepared to strike her again.
"No!" Mako demanded. Catching the Queen's wrist. The white light clenched in Serenity's hand was nearly blinding.
"Out of my way Mako! I am tired of your insolence and now it has apparently become contagious." Serenity snarled. Her normally crystal blue orbs now resembled dark storm clouds. Mako's grip on the smaller woman's wrist tightened.
"Get ahold of yourself! This is not the Usagi that we swore to protect! Not the one that we have given up our lives for. Look at what you're doing! Look at what you've become!" Makoto spat at her.
And as if some sort of switch had been flipped, Serenity twisted away, pulling her arm back. Looking at both her Senshi in abject horror. Her eyes returned to their normal shade and she slumped to the floor on her knees.
"What-What is happening to me?" Serenity asked, her hands trembling. In a voice and tone that neither of the other two women had heard in a very long time.
"Rei, I am so sorry. I-I could've killed you. I could've killed you both." She stammered. Tears now dripping from her face.
Rei and Mako exchanged glances. Makoto relaxing slightly. The Senshi of Mars walked over to the young Queen, kneeling down and embracing her.
"We will get thru this, Serenity. We will find a way. But you must fight this evil. Fight it with everything you have." Rei said, Serenity's face buried into her shoulder. Mako turned, leaving the two to talk alone. As she reached for the door, a hand grasped hers. Makoto did not turn around.
"Mako. I have been awful to you. There is no forgiving what I have done." Serenity said, tears freely spilling from her eyes, as she stared at the healing large and bruised bite mark on her Senshi of Jupiter's neck.
"I am fine, my Queen. I do not deserve nor need any forgiveness from your Highness. Just please promise me, that when the time comes you will do what's best for all of us." Mako stated and exited. Never turning around to face her friend.
...
Mako escaped to her chambers. Her mind reeling, she felt suffocated in this palace. She locked the door behind her as she entered her sanctuary. A frown growing across her lips as she looked at the disheveled man sitting on her bed. He glanced up at her with the most weary of eyes, they looked rather puffy as if he'd been crying. Mako gently walked up to Mamoru, collapsing to her knees in front of him. She grasped his face in her shaking palms.
"You deserve to be happy. I cannot give you that, Mamoru. Usa...Serenity is coming around. She can defeat this darkness with your help. You must go to her. Console her. She is your soulmate, and I am just in the way. She is your wife." Makoto stammered. There was a long pause, and while absolutely quiet was nearly deafening.
"I knew something was off, the day we wed." He stated flatly. "Something, something down deep. It was nagging at me. I brushed it off as butterflies. You, Mako, you understand me. You always have..." He trailed off. "I...I will not stand and just watch as you are sacrificed. You are not going to die. " Mamoru's hand began to tremble. Makoto wiped a tear from his cheek, she laid her head in his lap.
"It is the only way Mamo. We've been over this. This was decided Millennia ago. I can't neglect my duty. We've known this could never be, from the start." She murmured, her voice so soft he could barely hear her.
"No. I'm tired of our duty. We have sacrificed enough for this world. All I want is you. I don't need a kingdom. I don't need this title. All I need is your heart, you already have mine." He stated as he sunk down to the floor with his lover. They lay there, propped against the bed for what seemed like ages. It brought Mako some much needed peace to just sit in the silence, listening to him breathe.
"Promise me, promise me you'll find me. If I do die. If Serenity would see it fit for my soul to be reincarnated. Promise, you will find me. " Makoto stammered, her body shivered at the thought.
"I don't want to be alone..." At that Mamoru embraced her in a tight squeeze. He knew the Senshi of Jupiter was only afraid of two things in this life; airplanes and being alone. The latter was unknown to the rest of them. For he also had the same phobia. It seemed, after all, that it didn't simply stem from the loss of their parents but also from the loss of each other, so long ago.
"It's going to happen soon. I fear we are out of time. I can feel Fenrir. He circles. Waiting. The time is nigh." Mako mumbled.
"Then we will face it head on. For now I am going to spend my last moments with the woman that my heart most loves. " He managed a small smile, as he started to trail blazing kisses down her neck.
A small barely audible moan escaped her lips. And that was all the permission that he needed.
...
Setsuna paced the floor of the throne room. Again, going over with her Queen what had to be done. Rei stood next to Serenity, reassuringly squeezing her hand.
"No, Setsuna. There must be another way. I am incapable of doing such a dreadful thing to one of the people I hold most dear to my heart." Tears began to well in her cerulean eyes.
"There is a chance, your highness, that she will survive. In fact, the Ginzuishou and her will share a brief connection. A connection strong enough, I believe to defeat the Wolf, without endangering you, King Endymion or the Ginzuishou." Setsuna spoke, her tone firm. Serenity laid her head in her hands.
Suddenly, they heard the blare of a mighty horn as the palace began to rumble.
"We are out of time, Serenity. It has begun." The Senshi of Pluto stammered.
"What as begun?" Rei questioned.
"Ragnarok."
...
This chapter was difficult to write, I lost my muse. Really looking forward to the next few chapters though! I really appreciate all of the reviews and PM's I have received about this story! I will update soon! :)
-Lady D