Author's Note: And here we are at the last chapter of the story :( I feel so sad now but happy at the same time that I'm basically done my first story ever! I never knew it would be so successful too! I may make a sequel but I'm really not sure yet. What do you guys think? Anyways, enjoy the last chapter of ACAG!
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon or any Sailor Moon related characters.
Summary: The group was defeated by the Dark Master but then Rini and Tammy pulled through and with the help of their friends, they managed to defeat Dark Master the second time around. What happens next? Read on to find out! (The very last time you will read that line!)
Chapter 24: Carry On (R):
Princess Mars was the first one to wake up as the light shone over their heads. "Wait, what happened?" she asked, rubbing her head as she got up. The other princes and princesses woke up as well, all confused as to what exactly happened after that big blast from before.
Arcturus groaned as he looked at his friends. Then he noticed someone was missing. "Wait! Where's Rini?" Arcturus asked when he was standing.
"Tammy's missing too!" Takemara added after he had searched the dimension briefly. 'Where could those two be?' he thought. He didn't have long to think about it because the silver and golden light grew brighter each minute. They didn't know where the source of all this light was. All they knew is that they had helped in some way because they actually felt energy pouring out of their chests when they were all sleeping.
Sparkles began falling upon them all as white wings came out of all their backs (except for Prince Venus). "We have wings!" Yume exclaimed. The not-so-shadowy dimension began ripping and tearing apart as they revealed the blue skies with feathery white clouds in them. The princes and princesses grew even more confused by the second.
"What exactly is going on?" Ariel wondered. She examined their surroundings then looked down and gasped. The others followed her gaze and found themselves staring down at the Crystal Palace that looked even shiner and sparkling than ever.
"We're...home?" Uratoh said. Each of them looked at each other and broke out into huge grins and started celebrating over their first major victory against a villain.
"We did it! Dark Master is gone!" Kenzo hollered, pumping his fist into the air.
"The solar system is no longer under darkness!" Maximillian exclaimed.
"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go down to the palace! I bet our moms and dads are waiting for us," Tsunami said. They all agreed as they began soaring down to the Palace using their wings.
Down below, the guardians noticed the princes and princesses first and ran to go get the kings and queens. They all rushed out just in time to see their sons and daughters floating down and landing on the grass. As soon as their feet were on the ground, their wings faded and vanished in a bunch of silver sparkles. "You all did it! After losing connection with you guys, we all thought that we lost you. But we're glad you're all safe and sound," Neo Queen Serenity smiled.
The princes and princesses gave their parents hugs and told them all about their battle. King Endymion frowned slightly when he didn't see his own daughter running towards him and Serenity. "Where is Rini?" he asked.
"And Tammy?" Queen Minako added in afterwards. The group looked at each other, not really knowing the answers to the questions.
"Actually we don't know. You see, we were knocked out after we got defeated the first time and we really don't know what happened to them. When we woke up, they were nowhere to be found," Maxine explained.
"Oh dear, my poor little baby! I just hope she's still alive," Queen Minako said with her hand over her mouth slightly. Royal consort Connor Aino squeezed Queen Minako's arm encouragingly as he hoped his daughter was safe as well.
"Wait! I think I see something!" Risa pointed to something in the sky. They all followed where her finger was and saw two figures. As the two figures floated down closer towards them, they squinted to get a better look.
It was Rini and Tammy, still in their new princess forms, with their eyes closed still. They were holding hands as they had their backs arched and floated down slowly. Takemara and Arcturus ran forward to catch them, Takemara catching Tammy and Arcturus catching Rini.
Neo Queen Serenity and Queen Minako rushed forward, the others following their trail. "Are they still alive?" Serenity asked with hope.
Both Takemara and Arcturus checked Rini's and Tammy's pulses and were glad to still feel the beating of their hearts. "They're fine, I think they're just resting," Arcturus replied. All of them breathed a sigh of relief.
Takemara caressed Tammy's cheek lightly as he gazed at her closed lids. Her eyes flickered as they squinted to adjust to the sudden exposure of light. She glanced over to the side and saw Takemara's face and smiled. "Takemara..." Tammy started. "Is it over?"
Takemara nodded as he brought Tammy closer to him. "Yes Tammy, you two defeated Dark Master. The solar system and its inhabitants are all safe," Takemara murmured softly. Tammy's smile grew bigger and she leaned her head on his chest.
Arcturus lowered Rini onto her feet when she was awake. Serenity and Endymion enveloped her into a tight and affectionate hug. "Oh Rini, there are no words to describe how proud your father and I are right now. You've unlocked a whole new level of your princess form. Though I don't think you would have gotten it without you and Tammy's friendship," Serenity told her.
Rini looked over at Tammy who was now explaining to Queen Minako and royal consort Connor Aino everything that happened. She smiled then looked back at her mom and dad. "I know. It was our friendship that unlocked Tammy's light princess form and my new princess form. I'm just happy that all of us came out safe and fine," Rini said.
"You mean we came out safe but with a couple of scratches, cuts and such," Arcturus pointed out.
Rini gave him a look before she wrapped her arms around him. "Just focus on the good side of things only Arcturus," Rini told him. Arcturus laughed and nodded. Rini then titled her head up a little and saw something glowing in the bushes. "Does anyone see that glowing rose bed too or is it just me?" Rini asked as she pulled away from Arcturus.
He followed her gaze to the bushes while the others did the same. "Nope I see it too," Kenzo said as he began creeping forward to the glowing bush. The other princes and princesses were right behind him. Kenzo went to one side of the bushes while Maximillian was at the other. They both nodded at each other before pulling away the trimmed leaves to expose whatever was behind it.
Their eyes all widened when they discovered what was glowing. There on the ground, rubbing his head, was Sebastian. He still had his jet black hair pulled into a low ponytail but instead of his usual jeans and t-shirt, he was wearing a black uniform with white lining. When he looked up at the group, they found themselves staring into the deepest and clearest blue eyes they have ever seen. Although nobody was staring at Sebastian as much as Tammy was; she just couldn't seem to break her gaze away from him. "Sebastian?" Tammy finally asked.
Sebastian blinked his eyes a couple of times and looked down at himself. Then his expression changed and focused on the body that was lying down beside him. He reached over and shoved the boy's arm. "Hydrus, get up!" Sebastian said.
If the group was any more surprised than they already were, they certainly showed it. "Hydrus? Wait so that-," Kimiko paused to point at the young man who was now waking up beside Sebastian. "Is Hydrus?"
The young man sat up as he massaged his shoulder a little and followed Sebastian's stare to the princes and princesses. Hydrus, who had black hair and crimson eyes while he was a Dark Knight, now had a head full of silvery white hair. His bangs fell slightly over his light violet eyes. His uniform was the opposite of Sebastian's; it was white with black lining. "Seta, what is going on here?" Hydrus asked Sebastian.
Tammy let out a gasp and covered her mouth as she looked from Hydrus to Sebastian until her eyes finally stopped on Sebastian. "Seta, you've been Sebastian all this time?"
Seta's eyes soften when Tammy knelt down in front of him so that they were on the same level. He sighed. "Yes, Sebastian was the human form I took on," he admitted.
"But you don't look like your Dark Knight self now. Is it because Dark Master was defeated?" Tammy questioned.
"I guess so. You see, Hydrus and I are actually princes of a planet outside of the solar system. Our planet suffered under the wrath of Dark Master and in order to save our people, we agreed to become his servants and turn into Dark Knights. Although we both became corrupt, I was less corrupt than Hydrus and able to see the pain I've caused you. But I guess now that Dark Master's gone, we can go back to our normal prince selves and return to our planet," Seta said. Tammy nodded and stared at the ground, thinking.
Meanwhile, a lot of the princesses were now gushing over Hydrus who was trying his best to be nice yet get them away from him. Apparently, he was much more handsome in this form rather than in his Dark Knight form. Kimiko and Tsunami kept sending Hydrus some flirty looks while Maxine and Yume drowned Hydrus with questions, more around the base of "Do you have a girlfriend back home?" Even Ariel couldn't help but feel slightly hot all of the sudden just looking at Hydrus.
Aeneas and Maximillian pulled away their girlfriends before they could get any further with their flirting. "Just remember Kimiko that you belong to me," Aeneas said to her before giving her one quick kiss and shooting Hydrus one fierce glare.
"And that you are my little mermaid," Maximillian added as he kept Ariel in his arms.
Tammy finally looked up and smiled softly at Seta. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Well for obvious reasons of course. I just didn't want to hurt you after I saw how nice you really were and how nice you treated me. Although I was going to tell you before I brought you to Dark Master but you passed out before I could say anything," Seta explained. Unexpectedly, the glow surrounding Seta and Hydrus increased as they sparkled even more. "Our planet's calling us back. We have to go," Seta said with a hint of sadness in his voice. He looked at Tammy with a determined look on his face. "Look Tammy, I just want you to know that I lo-." Seta was cut off when Tammy leaned him and kissed him on the cheek.
She pulled away. "You don't have to say anything. I already know. But you know that I cannot return your feelings," Tammy paused as she glanced at Takemara over her shoulder. "Although I do want to say thank you, for everything. I hope we get to see each other again," she finished. Seta smiled and nodded.
Hydrus walked up to Seta and put a hand on his shoulder. "It's time brother. Let's go," Hydrus told him. The glow surrounding Hydrus and Seta shined even brighter as they clasped hands. The princes and princesses all gave their best wishes and Seta and Hydrus returned them before they vanished in a spark of light.
Once Hydrus and Seta were gone, their parents went back inside the palace. It was only them and their guardians outside in the courtyard. Kenzo suddenly thought of something. "Wait, now that Dark Master is gone and there is no more school or training, does that mean we have to return to our home planets until the school semester starts again?" Kenzo asked.
Athena shrugged. "I'm guessing that you would have to. But then again, you never know," she replied.
"Well I know for sure that I'm going to go back to Venus to prove that I am alive and that I will be the heir to the Venusian throne. Plus I want to talk to the Council of Matriarchs on my own. This time around, they will not drown me with unnecessary princess tasks. I get to choose what I want to do in my life," Tammy said. Takemara smiled and nodded approvingly.
"That's right; everyone should have control of their own life," Corvus said.
"I still can't believe that it's really over. It just seems like yesterday when we were all getting our powers and fighting our first demon," Maxine sighed. "It may sound strange but I'm going to miss not protecting Crystal Tokyo and the rest of the solar system on a daily basis."
"You know, your mothers felt the same way after they defeated several villains. They always thought they would go back to the normal life and not protect Tokyo. But since villains kept on appearing until Galaxia and Chaos was defeated, that was not the case. Nobody can predict what will happen in the future. Not Kimiko, not Tammy, not even Queen Rei or Queen Setsuna. You'll just have to learn to keep your barriers up while going on with your lives," Columba stated.
"Just remember that you can always count on us guardians to be there with you," Phoebe said with a grin.
"Now we should probably leave to join your parents' discussion over what will happen next. We'll see you all later," Thor told them. The princes and princesses nodded as their guardians also entered the palace.
Takemara wrapped his arms around Tammy. "So I'm guessing that this means we're together now right?" he asked.
Tammy raised an eyebrow at him. "Who said anything about that? I don't recall you ever asking me to be your girlfriend yet so therefore we are not together," Tammy smirked.
Takemara rolled his eyes as he titled Tammy's chin upwards. "Alright Tammy, would you please be my girlfriend?"
Tammy made a face at him and broke out of his arms. "You sound desperate," Tammy snickered. Takemara narrowed his eyes at her then began chasing Tammy around the courtyard while she laughed her head off.
Rini was watching this in amusement and called out to Tammy, "Could you two please just get together already?" Tammy stopped and looked at her friend with a light expression. She then sighed as Takemara finally caught up to her.
"Oh fine, if I must," Tammy said with dramatic emphasis. Takemara pouted as his eyes watered. Tammy giggled and brought Takemara's face closer to hers and kissed him. "That's your answer right there," she whispered softly. Takemara grinned and kissed her again as he brought her even closer.
"See now look what you did, Rini. They'll never stop until we force them apart," Arcturus said. Rini glared at Arcturus before punching him playfully on the arm. Arcturus held his arm protectively and acted like it was the most painful thing he ever experienced.
"Stop faking already; you're pretty bad at it," Rini muttered. Arcturus smiled and gave Rini a quick kiss and she couldn't help but smile as well. She didn't just smile because of Arcturus' kiss. She smiled because of all the friends that surrounded her. The way Takemara stroked Tammy's hair gently and looked at her lovingly made Rini smile. Having Arcturus squeezing her shoulder and whispering soft, loving words made her smile. The fact that all her friends were now safe and could return to their regular lives made her smile. Even the constant arguing and fighting between Kenzo and Aeneas made Rini smile with pure joy.
Her friends were all here and that was more than Rini needed. The friends who fought by her side ever since their very first demon fight. The friends who comforted her while Arcturus was in his coma. The friends that returned her memories to her when she had lost them. The friends that saved her every single time she was held captive by the grasps of evil.
Rini smiled once more as she leaned on Arcturus' arm as he rubbed hers while they watched all their friends smiling and having fun. In Rini's mind, the scene morphed into one that was of the future. Neo-Queen Serenity II and King Arcturus watching the other kings and queens of the planets catching up as they laughed and enjoyed each other's company. Queen Tameka and King Takemara having their arms intertwined as they watched and supported Queen Kimiko as she tried to get King Kenzo and King Aeneas to stop arguing again. Queen Yume using her levitation powers to lift the two bickering kings up into the air and back onto the ground again. Queen Maxine and King Maximillian picking the two fallen kings up with ease as Queen Ariel lectured them on how immature they were acting. King Uratoh making fun of them as he and King Hiroshi hollered and chuckled. Queen Tsunami shaking her head at her half-brother's rudeness.
Rini's mind wandered back to the scene that was present in front of her. It didn't seem like the future she imagine would be any different than the way everything was now, other than the fact that they were all older. Rini laughed at this as Arcturus stared at her as if she was crazy.
"Rini, are you OK?" he asked. Rini laughed once more as she nodded.
"I'm perfectly fine," Rini answered. Arcturus held her hand tightly as they kissed once more.
"Hey! You guys, I think I have enough power in order to give everybody wings! Anyone up for a flight over Crystal Tokyo?" Tammy asked. Everybody immediately agreed as they lined up with Tammy and Rini in the middle. They joined hands as Tammy closed her eyes and glowed in concentration. White wings popped out of their backs as she opened her eyes.
They started running towards the gate of the Crystal Palace. "Ready? On three! One...two...three!" Rini yelled as they all jumped into the air. Their wings flapped as they soared over the air. Walking pedestrians looked up and watched the princes and princesses flying in the sky. A lot of them started cheering and praising them for saving them from darkness.
They all smiled at each other as they flew higher into the sky. Rini looked over at Tammy. "Were you expecting all this to happen when you were waiting to come out of solitude?" Rini asked her.
Tammy shook her head. "No of course not! Something like this is too unreal to even imagine. We're all friends and we're all together. And even if we might have to return to our planets, we're still be friends no matter the distance," Tammy responded.
It was a little quiet before Rini spoke up again. "You know, I still remember the promise you said to me when you came back on my birthday," Rini said.
Tammy nodded. "I do too. The one about us never being apart. I told you that I would keep it no matter what. And now I can say that I have finally fulfilled my promise," Tammy grinned. Rini grinned back and held her best friend's hand tighter as they continued to soar through the feathery clouds in the crystal blue sky.
A/N: The END! You don't have any idea how sad I am right now. Although I have been stressing over this story a lot and trying to get it down, I am very sad that it's over. I have so much to say but I will save it for my author's note chapter that comes after the epilogue. But still, this is basically the end of ACAG! Soon I'll be able to correct my mistakes! To all who ever read, reviewed, favourited, etc..., this story, I want to send out my complete gratitude and thanks. Without the encouragement of some of my faithful readers and reviewers, I bet it would have taken me two years to finish this. Thank you all! XD Love you guys!