Divinity: Fates and the Afterlife

Chapter Eighty-One

"Goodbye... Mother."

With one last breath, the senshi of fire let go of the arrow that flew like a phoenix feasting on the ash and dark magic from the goddess and went through her chest, aiming straight for her heart. Ares moved fast enough to be out of the range of attack and watch the fire charged on the arrow claim Eris' life as its own, quickly eating her alive in its flames until there was no point of salvation for her.

The God of War widened his eyes and looked up at his daughter with pure admiration and also shock, while Mars remained in her position still with her majestic bow held up high with pride, taking hasty breaths. She had never felt more secure, more in control of herself and prouder of her roots. She had never felt more certain of her identity and what she needed to do to honor her father's legacy, like a true successor. She no longer felt like a woman with strange powers, she was no longer alone. She was a child that was born from war and it was up to her to help secure a better future for this planet, where she belonged—she had allies, she had friends. She was part of a family and she had to fight for a new brighter era... an era where she can be with who she holds dear to her heart and be able to dance, once again.

Jadeite jumped on his axis and slashed the last of the shadows holding him down and widened his eyes the second Mars let go of that arrow that would put a final period to the torment that tied her to her past with her mother's daunting shadow. Once freed, he ran toward her who had already released the command on her crow companions and had returned to their original feathery form and flew around her, purifying her aura.

"Mars..." He whispered. A little unsure of what will come next; he didn't know to what extent the emotional and psychological torture her mother put on her while she lived in the divine realm, but he was certain no child would ever see the day when they would have to take the life of a parent for the sake of the other. For her own sake.

"I'm okay," Mars released the tension in her chest as she watched the remains of tar where her mother once stood and threatened her father's life, "That chapter is over now. It had to be done; she needed to be stopped." Her intense amethyst eyes looked up to meet with Ares' gray ones and immediately gleamed with tears, "I know who I am. I am not afraid anymore."

"My child," Ares mirrored his daughter's emotional expression and slowly walked to her. Mars followed and cupped his face in her hands, "You came here to stop her and yet you could not do it; that proved to me that deep down all this raw and unforgivable nature of yours, you have a heart, and you still wished things would turn out differently. You wished for her to change. You wished for her to see what you saw in me." She looked into his eyes, "But as a senshi of war, I had to fight to save what remains of goodness; I need to keep fighting. This isn't over, I have to keep going... I have to move forward."

Her final statement put an end seal to the moment, pulling them to think about the recent events. With a heavy breath, Ares put his claymore sword back in its sheath across his back and frowned, "Eris opened the portals, she was an ally, but she is just a fraction of the real problem, the root—"

"Is Chaos." Both, father and daughter turned to Jadeite, standing at a respectable distance from them and put his sword back in its scabbard on his belt, putting a pause to his battle, "Now that the Goddess of Discord is gone, I can sense my brothers' aura more clearly—they are close. We need to re-group so we can delegate positions and our course of action."

"Endymion, can you trace his whereabouts?" Ares arched his brow, Jadeite narrowed his eyes and turned over his shoulder to look east, "His aura is somewhere pulsing around that area," he frowned and turned to face the god of war with no hint of intimidation, "You are here to recruit him,"

"Even if I wanted to, he will not go." Ares noticed the security in the shitennou's voice, "He made himself clear on his return and I respect his stance on the matter. I know what is coming: along with Chaos, comes an army of vile creatures that are ancient as life itself. Earth will become a battlefield and he must prepare." He turned to his daughter, "I am where war manifests but I would never go against my own daughter."

Mars nodded and turned to Jadeite, "I need to find Usagi,"

"Then, we must move. We cannot spend more time in just one place." Jadeite pointed the direction where he felt the strongest aura, "Nephrite is the closest, we must go to them. The sooner we activate the Cardinal Points, the stronger the barrier will be."

"The Cardinal Points..." Mars felt a tug in her chest and frowned slightly when she remembered the prince giving the command to them earlier on, "Jadeite... what are the Cardinal Points?"

"The Pillars of Earth—those that keep the planet's guardian safe-" Jadeite gave his beloved a weak smile, "There is a reason as to why we are Shitennou, Mars. We are the Cardinal Points, the ones who protect the force that pulses life into this planet. We are a safety seal, if you may,"

"Safety seal?" Mars widened her eyes, "Wait... Jadeite, what does that mean?"

"The amulets Helios once gifted Gaia for her protection..." Ares muttered with reasoning and nodded with pride; his eyes wide with amaze "That means... You are—"

A loud explosion thundered in the skies caused another hail storm to fall interrupting their conversation; Ares looked up and frowned, "They are breaking the barriers of realms—" his eyes narrowed "He is close. Let us move."

O—o—o—o—O

Jupiter threw a high kick and straight couple of punches at the enemies' faces and brought her hands together to cast her famous lighting attack. She closed her eyes and let her tiara release the thin but menacing antenna as she took advantage of the harboring dense clouds hovering above them like a curse, "My guardian, Jupiter, brew a storm! Call the clouds! Bring down the lightning!" Ribbons of light broke the darkness above and surrounded the amazon senshi in a sphere of moving light, "Supreme Thunder!"

Zoisite turned and slashed a quadrille of shadow demons and pointed his crystal sword ahead, "We need to go to the East!" He turned to Nephrite who was running toward him with his hands up high and ready to charge his stellar attack followed by Neptune and Pluto, "Grant me a stage of power to cross! I will clear the path for you!" The general stretched his arm and aimed his hand at the mass of tar and shadow ahead, "Stellae quae nescis—Ego audire ad vocationem optime sonantium, et respondendi. Alpha stella in Orionis sidere—Bellatrix—reprobari a sua nativitate ego voco super virtutem tuam!" His moss-colored eyes narrowed as he gathered the astral power in his hands, "Supernova! Starlight Attack!"

(The stars know everything—I hear you resonating and answering to my call. Alpha star in the constellation of Orion—Bellatrix—rejected star from its birthplace, I call upon thy power!)

The strong energy bursting from the shitennou's hands was enough to break the barrier, suctioning the life force from the demonic creatures acting as combustion and feeding on the darkness around. Much like Jupiter's attack, Nephrite's matched hers in both speed and range since it was borrowed from the energy from the stars. Jupiter turned completely surprised at his amazing technique in battle and blushed, "H-How..."

"I am not proud of it, Jupiter," Nephrite smirked with shyness, "Asking help to abandoned or corrupted stars is not entirely ethical, but we are on a mission and extreme measures must be taken under extreme circumstances." He took a deep breath to recover from the shot of energy he just threw and turned to look at her, "I feel them—Jadeite is close—Kunzite too..."

Pluto turned to the general with worry, "What about the Prince and Princess?"

"I can't sense their aura..." Neptune took out her mirror and tried to locate them; she took a deep breath, "But also, I cannot find Uranus." She could not deny her worry for her lover. She could not pretend—not when she was not around. Just like Uranus did, Neptune found her strength and confidence in her partner, and it was her who gave her the edge she needed to perform and excel in her attacks. Ever since she awoke to the divine call her first mission was to search for her, her forbidden love, and finally, live the life they always wanted in a new era.

"They must be close." Nephrite took out his sword and quickly turned to slash a shadow that managed to survive his attack and watched it fall into pools of tar and turned to Pluto, "They must be together... that would be a great relief,"

"I agree," Pluto sighed lightly and walked up to Neptune and put a hand on her shoulder for support, "I know she is alright." Neptune blinked and looked up to meet Pluto's eyes, "The same way I am sure Saturn is alright—they are unbreakable. I am sure they will find us first... isn't always like that?"

Neptune smiled, "True,"

"We must go—" Nephrite looked up and saw the hail storm coming their way and turned to Jadeite running toward them along with Mars, "Jadeite!"

"Nephrite!" The blonde looked around, "Are there any signs from them?"

"No," The northern shitennou sighed and shook his head, his eyes widened when he saw Ares was coming along with them, "Lord Ares,"

"He is coming close—the Underworld is under his command." Ares jumped right into the topic, "I confronted him at the rim along with..." he briefly caught sight of Jupiter and pursed his lips, knowing the awkwardness of the mention of his name "...Zeus and Hades, but he is strong, and he has a full army on his side." His gray eyes narrowed, "Endymion is not with you?"

Jupiter put the mention of his divine and unapologetic father aside since that was a topic she never really put much into consideration. Back then, during the Silver Millennium and even way before, when she was still a child, she was told she was one of Zeus' daughters, one he didn't bother to recognize. Much to his surprise, of all the demigods he conceived with women before he settled down with Hera, were either spared by taking their divine nature from them or killed. He was truly amazed to learn the one that he never truly put attention to was the one that had inherited his power and not that, but that she had been chosen to be a sailor senshi. The child with the blessing of Jupiter—hence, her given name.

"There was a big explosion, we were all together and prepared by we are under divine invasion." The senshi of courage looked at the god of war with determination, "We are trying to locate them but it's hard to track their whereabouts with so many demons spawning out of nowhere."

Ares looked up and shook his head, "This is far from being divine, but I do not deny it comes from our realm." His throat turned dry when he saw the sky opening in a huge vortex, "Damn you,"

"What is that?" Neptune widened her aquamarine eyes when she saw a different kind of deities crossing over; Pluto pursed her lips and watched with a frown "Our realm is merging with theirs—the fourth dimension has been breached." Her garnet colored eyes widened when she saw her talisman started to pulse an intense light, "No... it cannot be... it cannot be!"

"Pluto?" Zoisite turned to the time senshi, "What is it?"

"They are feeding on other strings of time—other parallels,"

"What does that mean?" Neptune turned to her with worry and panic, Pluto took a deep breath and shook her head, "It means time and space have been manipulated to an extent of destroying other timelines... whatever force is helping them cross to this realm, has stolen the lifeforce on other parallels in the universe,"

All eyes widened with fear, Jupiter immediately caught the reference "So that means... that future..."

"At this point..." Pluto looked at her garnet stone and then at the senshi of thunder, "That might just be a remembrance in time..."

Ares turned just in time when another hail of fire starting to break earth's atmosphere, "You have to get away from here! Keep moving forward!" Mars turned to him with worry, noticing he was not being the usual strong man he was. Ares look afflicted, sick even, as if there was something inside him making him weak; his skin was pale and his eyes lack that familiar gleam, "Father..."

"I will be all right, Mars." Ares took a deep breath and coughed lightly, "It's the poison... Chaos entered my mind and I am still suffering the ravages of his intrusion." He took another breath, "I have given an alert to the Celestial Army, I need to stay back to take the lead and guide them where I want them to attack; Earth has become a battlefield... Chaos' playground."

"Papa—"

"Find Serenity, Mars," Ares shook his head, "Endymion will sense my call as the polemarch he is and while he will not follow my command due the task he has at hand, Serenity cannot stay close to him or other polemarchos because they are not soldiers of peace. She is a sailor senshi, and as such, she must take her rightful stand and follow her jurisdiction. Polemarchos and Sailor Senshi do not work in parallel. As soon as the Polemarchos make contact, war will break."

Mars' amethyst eyes widened with worry, "B-But—"

"Mars!"

Mars turned over her shoulder at Jadeite waving his arm, "We need to go, Nephrite is sensing Kunzite close! Venus is with him!"

"Go with the General, my child,"

"Papa," Mars turned to Ares with tears in her eyes, "I'm scared to think this could be the last time we see each other,"

"This is my jurisdiction, Mars, why I came to exist." Ares shook his head, "I have survived many horrors in the past to know how to persevere through the darkness. I have seen it with my own eyes, there is a light at the end of every tunnel. Even if that was the case, even if I fall... I know someone greater will take my place."

"Don't talk like that!" Mars tried to hold him but the god of war shook his head, "Do not be afraid, my daughter." His eyes peered at the sky and pulled his sword out of its golden scabbard on his back, "This is your window, Sailor Mars, I need to set perimeters and give coordinates; the army is close."

Mars gave her father a nod and ran toward Jupiter, who needed help blasting a group of shadows. Ares watched his daughter in silence and took a deep breath, "Celestial guardian," his gray eyes locked with Jadeite's, "Address your title,"

"Knight of Patience and Harmony, Commander of the East and Far lands; Jadeite."

The blonde general stood still with pride of his words, a trait Ares truly admired, "Take good care of her. Do not ever attempt to extinguish her inner fire."

"I vow solemnly with my life, God of War." Jadeite bowed with respect, "It is her, who will light up my path," he looked up, "But it will be best if you are there to witness it with your own eyes; I do not believe in vacant threats or pointless promises."

Ares loosened up some of the tension and overprotective nature of his at the general's lighter tone and turned on his heel to walk away, "When you find the Sol Polemarchos tell him I will send reinforcements. Armory will also be at his disposal. I am putting my hopes and stakes up high and I want results... as I would expect from Helios' successor."

Jadeite blinked with surprise, "S-Successor?"

"Ah, speaking of weaponry... before I forget," Ares stopped in his tracks and raised his arm as if he was calling for something from the heavens. In a flash of light, a majestic war bow made of pristine gold and titanium appeared and threw it at the blonde general to catch, "I suppose you can master a bow and arrow—as the goddess of war's partner, you need your skills to be keen and polished."

Jadeite widened his eyes and saw the god of war walking away and disappear in the curtain of smoke and dust from the collapsed buildings and crushed pavement. With shock still hazing his eyes, he looked down at the impressive weapon and felt a tug in his chest, "I swear to fight all battles by her side with no fear, I swear to keep her safe," He looked up with a smile full of pride, "Thank you, God of War."

O—o—o—o—O

"Thank you," A woman let out a choked sob when Serenity finished cleaning the small cut on her arm and wrapped a gauze on it. After the explosion happened, the prince and princess had taken the fastest route to escape the impact and used it as a decoy to move around without the dark entities that had crossed over found them. They could fight, they had the means to do it, but if they did, many lives have been put in danger and neither of them was going to commit such risk. In a rush attempt to get them out of the war zone, they helped and rescued at least a hundred civilians on the streets and guided them to safety inside a store's warehouse where Endymion quickly made good use of his medical skills to check on them and treat the wounds of those who got hurt with the explosion and following attacks.

Sailor Moon didn't need to be asked for help; she took the role of a nurse and helped him clean wounds with nerves of steel as he worked on the bandages and make temporary tourniquets with whatever materials he could find; thank goodness for his years of experience working as practitioner and later as intern in the E.R.

His specialty may not be focused on treating children but he knew more than the necessary to treat basic and non-life-threatening wounds. Once she was done helping, she watched in silence at her husband talking to a little boy while he worked on the cuts in his arm and felt her heart flip inside her chest. He was so good with children she always wondered why he didn't choose his specialty to be focused on pediatrics. She never denied his impeccable skills; he was very good at his profession and not for nothing he had scored the job he had at the prestigious hospital he worked at, but the way he was with kids always made her feel butterflies in her stomach. Something in the back of her mind sparked the memory of the moment she found out she was pregnant. The exact moment her heart skipped several beats when she saw the two little pink lines confirming that she, in fact, had a little speck of life growing inside of her; a part of her and a part of him blooming in the purest and most beautiful proof of their love.

Usagi's gloved hand absently slid down and rested on her lower belly as she watched Mamoru bandaging the little boy's leg and talking to him about his hobbies and interest in becoming a firefighter and how he was so good at P.E.; how he liked to ride his blue bike around his block with his friends and how his favorite food was strawberry ice-cream. Things a child would only say to people they felt comfortable being around with. It amazed her how not even she, with her quirky traits and bubbly personality, could have these types of conversations with children she just met. It truly was amazing, but also deep down it made her feel broken-hearted. Even with all the support and understanding, she had from him, she couldn't help feeling like she had failed her husband by losing their baby. It didn't matter how many medical and logical explanations she got, it didn't matter how many times she was told it wasn't her fault, that it was something that just happened—it all still boiled down to the fact that she was pregnant with his baby and that she had lost it and knowing Mamoru's past and difficult upbringing, it was more than a given that he would be an amazing father and that only made things even sadder.

Endymion finished working on the bandages and smiled, "There you go, you're all set."

The boy blinked his teary eyes and looked down at his bandaged leg with surprise, "R-Really?"

"Yes, see? It was easy," Endymion tilted his head to look into the child's eyes and smiled "Did it hurt?"

The child blushed and shook his head, still surprised for having not felt a single thing, "N-No..."

"Well, I did tell you I wasn't going to hurt you, now, didn't I?" Endymion arched his brow. The boy blushed a deeper shade of red, now ashamed of his previous tantrum and nodded, "A-Are you really a doctor?"

"I am, why do you ask so surprised?"

"Doctors are not cool like you are,"

Endymion chuckled lightly, "Ah... wow you think I'm a cool doctor? I'm honored."

"Y-Yeah..." The kid looked at him with a shy smile, "Thank you,"

"You're very welcome,"

"Thank you so much—" The mother's dark brown eyes widened when she looked up at Endymion and finally took notice of his handsome features but also the beautiful ever-changing blue color of his eyes. Her eyes slowly took everything in accountant as they moved to stare at the weapon secured in his waist and then it finally made sense when she saw at none other but Sailor Moon standing close to him and everything clicked in place. She gaped with shock and shook her head, still with traces of disbelief, "A-Are you... that person everyone is talking about?"

One simple question with one big and valuable answer. An answer that could change everything. An answer that would state his place in the world or bring him down with the worst judgment. Endymion looked at the young woman in silence, then at the boy who had the same face of surprise and gave them a very faint but reassuring smile, "It will be best if you stay here until this pass."

"It is you, then..." Another man, looked at him with amaze, "The stories are true. You are behind all of what Casanova Akira is talking about,"

A younger woman blushed and took a sharp gasp as she came closer, "You are that myth she talks about!"

"Clearly he's not a myth!" Another woman joined her as she looked at him with wide eyes. A man pointed his finger at him, "It's him!"

"He's the mysterious face! The night thief the police had been looking for years!"

"Wait..."

"Whoa!"

"The masked hero that fights with Sailor Moon and the Sailor Senshi!"

"No way! Tuxedo Kamen?!"

"He is! He is!"

"You've been here all along?!"

"You're the famous cosmic monarch!?"

"All this time it's been you?!"

Panic began to grow at the sudden revelation. Serenity widened her eyes and glanced at her husband for a second, thinking about what he must be feeling at this very moment and what he would do at such declarations. She felt vulnerable, not because she felt threatened by them but by how things were happening and how people had to witness the truth of their existence.

Right now, all eyes were on Endymion more than they were on Sailor Moon. He was the one under scrutiny not her. She was admired and already famous in her own right and she had earned a spotless reputation over the many years she fought as a soldier of love and justice but in his case, things were different.

He may have made the news and became a thief shrouded in mystery as Tuxedo Kamen, and he may have been popular for some time but while Endymion was indeed the Prince of Earth and its rightful guardian, this was the first time he showed his face to the people without a mask and his attire kind of gave his previous identity away, plus, the fact that he was with the much more famous and popular heroine, Sailor Moon.

This was the first time he proved his existence as who he truly is and not just an ally to Sailor Moon. He was still new before people's eyes and those whoever still didn't believe or wanted to admit his ancient existence. Endymion sighed slowly, thinking his words very carefully, finally ending the stretched mystery of the real identity of the masked thief and later dashing hero.

"Mysterious Face 2098 is a name code the police used to track my whereabouts before I exposed myself later as Tuxedo Kamen to maintain my anonymity as I joined forces with the Sailor Senshi. I was a thief that lurked in the shadows looking for the pieces of the past that have brought us to this point."

"Are you that cosmic monarch, then?" A young woman asked in complete shock, "Are you really royalty from people with actual divine powers?!"

"I..." Endymion pressed his lips for a second, "I was born in a dynasty of ancestral heritage that lies between mortality and mythology as Endymion De Terra and up until this day, I hold the royal title of Prince of Earth."

A wave of gasps and whispers filled the empty space of their hideout. This Endymion expected and he knew it would eventually come; it was nothing new to him to be in this uncomfortable position and in the eye of everyone. He could feel the stares, their intensity and undying curiosity to know more about him and his reasons for having done everything that made him so popular years back. Here he was again, in the eye of the storm.

"Why is this happening to us?"

Far from the gasps of shock and sense of starstruck, a man, probably in his early fifties asked with thick fear in his raspy voice. His unruly hair stuck to one side of his face as he looked up at the prince, "If you are in fact, that monarch from the heavens everyone is talking about... why did you allow this to happen in the first place?" He turned to Endymion, confused, almost angry.

"If you exist as this divine being with a power no regular human being has, then aren't you supposed to protect us?! Why are you allowing this to happen to us?! Why are you cursing us this way?!"

Sailor Moon widened her eyes at the man's blunt and unforgiving remark; she took a step forward to stand in her husband's defense but Endymion quickly took the lead, this was after all his duty as a prince. It was time to take off the mask of mystery and finally give a much more proper explanation.

Endymion looked at the man with impressive calmness in his indigo blue eyes, "I may have been granted skills and celestial power, but I am not a god." He stood and looked at every single one in that warehouse without any fickle emotion. His voice showed the authority of a true leader, the security of someone who had done this before. Not a single moment he showed arrogance or insecurity; not once he showed himself as vulnerable. With all the odds against him, Endymion stood his ground and this time, he made sure to make himself heard.

"I am not going to argue your beliefs," He addressed the man, ignoring completely the looks of dread and desperation from the rest, "I am not going to even try. You're free to decide whatever you want, I am not here to change your mind."

"Then why—"

"—I do am, however, here fulfill the duty my ancestors had passed on to me and continue their legacy in this time. As a simple man, a guardian, a thief, as a prince—ancient or not, whatever that is, I am here to fight whatever threatens this planet because that is my place in this world. Cosmic Monarch is a title you chose to give us but my duty does not entail to make up orders while I take a comfortable seat on a gilded throne and wear a crown; my duty is to represent and protect Earth on a different scale."

Everyone fell completely silent by Endymion's solid speech. Intimidating yet admiring, the man in black stood in the middle of a confused, frightened and angry crowd; owning the moment like a true leader.

"I am not here to asking for acceptance. I do not seek recognition or acknowledgment. You do not need to remember my ancestry or my family's existence and that is fine. I am not a monarch that needs to be in the spotlight to get a job done; I do not seek stardom, I seek peace. I want to keep working to give this Earth the glory it deserves—what was promised thousands of years ago. All I ask of you is to believe that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel; that Earth can prosper and that it can be a better place for all of us to live in." He turned to acknowledge every person with their eyes glued on him, standing his ground at the very center of the large warehouse.

Serenity couldn't feel prouder, much more secure in knowing they could fight this battle together and live free in a world they felt their own. She walked over to him in silence and took his hand in hers with that same confidence and looked at the crowd as she let her own divine power manifest in the crescent moon gleaming in her forehead. Endymion soon after reacted to her touch and gently squeezed her hand to let her know he was grateful for her support and continued, "Circumstances beyond my control have forced me to perform my duties in total secrecy, but you have never been alone. We have never stopped believing in you, and the good and beauty of this world. The fact that we exist should not distract you from what's truly important; if a reign comes to be once again as it once was in ancient times, it will be with the sole purpose of making this a better place to live—a better world for all of us. As Prince of Earth, the safety of this planet is my responsibility. Your lives and its evolution, top priority. It is my solemn duty to free this world away from the darkness." He frowned, "But aside from that, I am also a human being; I was born here, I have a family, I have a name and a life. I do not seek reverence or worship. I am here to fight for peace and to achieve that, I rely on Sailor Moon. My beloved spouse; Serenity. The Sovereign and Goddess of the Moon."

All eyes widened in shock at the prince's words and turned to Sailor Moon, standing next to her husband holding his hand, "Divinity is our jurisdiction, but this planet our home. This is happening not because your guardian has failed you but because there are forces that want to steal our peace and the beauty that makes this planet what it is. That is why we are here. They think we are weak but this is the time when we rise against those misconceptions and prove we are one strong planet. This is the time where we fight for a world where we belong and prove we can win whatever battle threatens to break us." Serenity tilted her head "We need your support to win this battle, but most importantly, we need you to have faith. You are not alone."

Endymion let go of Serenity's hand and bowed his head to the crowd, showing humbleness and respect, taking everyone by surprise, Sailor Moon included.

"Do not pray for me—pray with me. Do not fight me—fight alongside me. Join me in this battle by helping each other and by not surrendering, by not letting go of your dreams. Let's prove we can overcome the darkness together. I need allies; I need you. Earth is ours to look after. Its fate is in our hands. Have faith that this world can evolve into something greater—" He looked up at them, "Allow me to fight for it. Allow me to fight for you."

Everyone stood with a perplexed look on their faces; if this was the cosmic monarch they heard about on the media. The one they so much speculated, criticized, shred to pieces and even doubt of its existence. Now it was more than proven it was nothing as they thought it would be. Everyone stood in complete silence, having the hardest time to believe this was actually true even though their eyes were witnessing it.

Endymion started to feel unsure of his decision to address the situation this way, but then the boy he just treated started to walk slowly towards him and offered his hand out to him in solidarity. The innocence in his brown eyes was that same hope he was talking about—the one that would give him the strength to bring Earth's peace back. The prince stretched his arm out and held the boy's hand when he heard Serenity gasp with emotion. He looked up and saw everyone coming close to them and bow their head in the same humble and respectful fashion he did just a moment ago; finally accepting him as their leader and prince.

A loud growl interrupted their moment in solidarity and turned to the back of the warehouse, where it came from. Serenity narrowed her eyes in thought and looked around "They're lurking, but I don't think they know we're here," she whispered. Endymion nodded and guided the boy back to his mother and frowned. A young man moved forward with worry, "What do—" his eyes widened when he saw Endymion bringing his finger up to his lips to stay quiet for a moment until he was certain whoever was roaming close was gone.

"We want to help," A woman said in whispers. The same man that challenged the prince at the beginning nodded with much more certainty, "In any way that we can, let us help."

"It would be too risky to let you go out all in one group." Endymion turned and touched a pillar to make a quick scan of his surroundings and closed his eyes, "Line of longitude at 3 degrees, 15 minutes, 30.2 seconds to the East—latitude 36 degrees, 22.16 minutes up North—Kunzite, Zoisite."

"What can we do?"

"Look out for each other and for whoever is still out there. Help is on its way," Serenity said softly, joining her husband in the cause, "Many are hurt not just by the explosions, and many have not found a safe place."

"We will divide into sections and find shelter in the buildings around."

Serenity turned to Endymion, "Do you think the communicator Ami-chan gave Motoki-oniiisan is working?"

-O-

"We are limited in terms of options. I am relying on how much Ares can contain the mass of destruction in Olympus. He has put his plan with other polemarchos into action."

"And you?" Kunzite asked the prince still hesitant and concerned. While the girls finished preparing dinner, it gave the shitennou valuable time to catch on events with the prince, who had slowly put his aura in a much dormant state, "Does this mean you will be leaving again, soon?"

Usagi, who had followed her husband's tactic to conceal her divinity, tensed up at Kunzite's words and looked up at the general first, then at her husband who in response, tightened his grip on her hand. "No," Mamoru folded his cloth napkin with his free hand, his blue eyes following the move as he slid it to the side, "I am staying put." He looked up at Kunzite, "I have nothing to do there. This is where I have to be and I do not need to explain Ares why."

"And?" Jadeite crossed his arms, equally anxious. "What?" The prince looked at the blonde. Jadeite frowned, still hesitant and deadly curious, "What did he say?"

"He agrees."

"Just like that?"

"Yes,"

Nephrite squinted his eyes, still a little surprised and confused, "Why?" It was his turn, Mamoru looked at him with the same security as before, "I have other much more important tasks at hand, Nephrite. I have been given specific orders to follow."

"By whom?" Jadeite narrowed his eyes, "Zeus? After what they have done to you and Princess Serenity, you're still going to—"

"Helios,"

Everyone blinked the shock off their eyes, "H-Helios?"

"The Holy Priest?" Jadeite frowned confused when he saw Mamoru shaking his head slowly, "The Titan,"

"Your ancient great grandfather."

"Yes,"

Mamoru took a deep breath and slowly let it go "And also... it's a plead from my mother and grandparents, Geb and Nut... they want this to be over as much as we do."

"You've seen them?" Usagi asked softly, Mamoru tilted his head to the side enough to glance down at her and shook his head "I heard their plea. They are praying."

"T-They..." Jadeite blinked, shocked. Mamoru slowly nodded, "I don't need to look at them to feel their pain and their desperation. Next to Chaos, I am the last one remaining... it is either him or me."

Zoisite caught the melancholic tone in the prince's voice at the mention of his divine family and turned to Kunzite when he saw him crossing his arms and close his eyes like he always did when he was deep in thought about something. The blonde knew his older brother well enough to tell the second in command was well aware of what Mamoru meant with his words.

"I will not ignore their unforgiving tactics to hurt Serenity, or me for that matter, but Ares has been on our side this whole time and acknowledged my right to step in and take both, Chaos' and my mother's place in the celestial army." Mamoru's blue eyes darkened, "But as charming as all this sounds, I am not taking such position in an act of solidarity with the God of War. This is a pact we both agreed on to get benefits of our own and he knows it well. Whatever comes attached to it, does not concerns me—his tight friendship with Mater, to put an example."

"So, you will be throwing yourself at the arms of pure evil."

Everyone turned to Motoki who had his well-earned place in this group discussion. Much to the outer's and even the shitennou's surprise, the blonde doctor didn't act like if he was stranger to all this. While it did shock him to know there was a much more macabre reality behind their duty as soldiers, the way he spoke and even joined the conversation was proof that he had seen enough to believe in the power all his friends' can wield.

Kunzite has seen with admiration how he has crafted a special bond with the prince, daring to even think it was as tight or even tighter than the one he had with him. It has been proven more than once how much the prince trusted Motoki, not just by being good old Chiba Mamoru but even when he decided to go full prince mode there was a comradery and a closeness only a person that understood and have lived life-changing experiences would create with a friend. Beyond feeling any sort of jealousy over the fact that he might have been substituted, Kunzite was greatly relieved to see his long-time friend and who he learned to care of as a little brother had not been entirely alone while he was dealing with a life sentenced to Purgatorio.

It was more than clear for the shitennou that Furuhata Motoki had no secret powers. He knew nothing about strategy or weaponry. He had not a single trace of military training or self-defense training other than the natural instinct a man harbors when feeling threatened. He was a simple man, born of simple human parents, but it was the lightness of his character, the ability to see the good in every situation, the gift of knowing when to stand aside and humility to accept his deficiencies not to mention his undying loyalty to look after Usagi like a little sister and Mamoru as his brother, that made him one of them. He was more than qualified to stand by their side in battle in the way he could: by healing the wounded.

Motoki gave a stern glance at Mamoru, so rare it even made the prince feel slightly shook by his uncharacteristic cold tone, "Is that what you are trying to say, eh, Mamoru? That you are going to throw yourself at that demon's throat?"

Usagi blinked utterly shocked at Motoki then turned to Mamoru who had his deep blue gaze fixed on Motoki's emerald eyes, "Yes. That is exactly what I am saying."

"And who the hell is going to save your ass if it gets kicked again, eh?" Motoki frowned, "Have you given yourself one second of your titan time to think about that?"

"Ah..." Mamoru arched his brow, "Motoki,"

"No, Mamoru, I'm serious." Motoki pointed a finger at him, "What do you think is going to happen? Look at you now, you will need someone to stitch you up if you get hurt again." He shook his head, "I will stay to help. I may not be in the same range you guys are but I want to do something. I want to be of help in any way that I can. You are wounded, Mamoru; a freaking alien guy stabbed you with a sacred weapon and while you are working your magic to make it heal faster than a normal human being, you are still weak due to the considerable amount of blood you lost, not to mention your wonderous astral traveling... you said so yourself, with all that ancestry on your back, you're still human."

"Motoki—"

"When will you understand, Mamoru, that you are not alone anymore?" Motoki's frown deepened, desperate for his friend to come to sense.

This was a pivotal moment for all the girls and even shitennou who up until now had called their prince and leader by his royal name. Despite all the self-discovery, awakening, impeccable fighting, and strategic skills and his undeniable ancient nature, Endymion De Terra was still, and would always be, good old Chiba Mamoru.

To everyone's eyes, now it was more than clear the name was not an obstacle to be who he is and not an alibi to distract everyone from his identity anymore but in fact, a vital part that pulsed within him. It didn't matter how much they tried to switch things, the reality of things was that they were fighting for the sake of this planet so they could build a new world but no one said they would get lost in that journey. They have learned, they have remembered and woken up from their stubborn attempts to be like everyone else when in fact they were fated warriors, soldiers of divine ancestry—all of them. That simple fact idled everything else, blinding their sight and further possibilities. This whole purpose was to embrace their nature, make peace with their past and allow a better future come from it and Motoki was the missing piece; the glue to put sense back together. He was the living reminder that they were still them no matter the odds or the circumstances and the more they heard him talk to his friend as a best friend worried for his best friend—his bro—the more it clicked. The more they wanted to lift this cloud of supernatural malice.

"The hospital will need—"

"No, nah—nu-uh, don't-don't do that to me," Motoki interrupted Ami, who tried to intervene in Mamoru's defense, "No, I want to be in the eye of the storm—exactly where all of you will be at. Where I will be really needed. I know I am breaking a lot of ethical codes by denying my services and knowledge to hundreds of civilians in a hospital, but this time I can't stand back and just pray and hope for the best knowing my best friends are out there risking their lives for the sake of ours. The hospital has medical staff capable of helping as many people as needed—no. I can deal with hardcore madness. I want to help you. I want to help people trapped in the middle of this battle."

"He has guts," Jadeite smiled and turned to Rei, "I like this guy very much."

"He has a valuable point, Endymion." Kunzite caught the prince's attention, finally addressing the doctor by his name and not just as his doctor friend. Proving his reliance and full trust in the man, "Motoki isn't lying and even your strategist thinks so." He pointed his thumb at Jadeite who was nodding effusively, "I do."

Mamoru sighed, "Motoki—"

"Look, Mamoru..." Motoki raised his hand to stop his friend, "You're my bro, okay? Deal with it. But also, Usa-chan is my little sister... I am doing this for her too." He shook his head, "I am not giving you all the credit, no matter how much you deserve it. I am doing this for Mako, Rei, Minako, and Ami. For Megumi-san, Haruka-san, Michiru-san, Setsuna-san, and Hotaru-chan because I know they are all important to you—your celestial bros too. I am a proud member of this family of weirdos."

Mamoru took a moment to think about his friend's words and turned to the man in white standing close behind him, "Artemis, what are your thoughts? Can we figure something out?"

Artemis blinked completely startled, but quickly followed, "A communication device would be the most appropriate course of action. Clearly, Motoki-san won't be able to be in the same perimeter because we want to help civilians that might get trapped in the line of fire, but any sort of electrical appliance or satellite seems to not be working properly."

"We may have one from previous years, it grabs on to different signals, that might work." Luna chimed in, "But the control center is far away from the shrine."

Motoki looked at Luna, still a little shocked they were the two little cats that followed Usagi and Minako everywhere, "The control center... you mean the one you used below the arcade years ago?"

"Yes," Ami turned to him with a smile, then back at the mauian advisors, "The idea is not as crazy as it sounds. I might be able to activate it and link it to my supercomputer and be aware of his whereabouts."

"But going out would be too risky," Usagi said with concern and turned to Motoki, "Motoki-oniisan, what about Reika-san?"

"Reika is staying with her parents. She's safe and she's fighting her own battle alongside the archaeologist—yes, Casanova Akira is also doing her part to support you." He saw the surprise in Usagi's eyes and smiled, "—That's a whole other story for some other time. Bottom line, she knows I'm here because I am fighting mine by helping those affected and wounded. That's the awesome woman I married... she's a risk-taker. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her."

"I think..." Rei scrunched her nose in thought, "I think I may still have my first communicator. Ami-chan, do you think you could make it work somehow?"

Ami smiled, "I think it's worth the shot." She turned to Mamoru with concern, "But—"

Mamoru never breaking eye contact with Motoki, he pointed his finger at him, his eyes dark with seriousness "I swear to god, Motoki, if you get hurt—"

Motoki grinned to break the tension between them and slapped his hand aside, "Oh, come on Mamoru, where is your sense of adventure? I thought you had become this cool and badass soldier. Don't ruin it with your old boring attitude."

"Where did you get that idea? Nothing has changed, Motoki," Mamoru narrowed his eyes, "I'm still the same boring and worrisome guy you know,"

"Yeah, that's true... he hasn't changed one bit," Usagi sighed, Mamoru arched his brow and pointed his head at her, "See?"

"He is still somewhat troublesome,"

"Hmm..."

"And ridiculously feisty..."

"Uh..."

"Not to mention, stubborn..."

"Usa..."

"It's so funny because he once said he has the personality of a square,"

"Oi,"

"Oh!" Usagi raised her finger with a grin on her beautiful face, "And don't let me get started on how scrappy he—"

"Yeah, all right, Usa..." Mamoru waved his hand with a deep blush on his cheeks, "You've proved your point,"

Jadeite scoffed and wiped a tear gleaming in the corner of his eye, "Ah... this never gets old," he turned to Motoki with a boyish grin, "She's the only one that can put him on the spot like that, it sure is wonderful."

"Right?" Motoki grinned, "Totally. The face he makes is priceless,"

"My god..." Mamoru sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, "You two put together will be the end of me,"

"Nah," Motoki chuckled and shook Mamoru's shoulder, "You need us."

Usagi looked up at her husband with a smile, "They're not lying," Mamoru leaned down and planted a loving kiss on her forehead, "No, but I need you more,"

Usagi giggled, "Of course,"

"Duh,"

"Duh!"

O—o—O

After dinner, Rei and Ami worked on the communicator for the blonde doctor, and as expected, there was a way to make it work if linked to Mercury's supercomputer leaving the device all set and ready to go. Rei handed the starry red watch to Motoki and blushed, "I mean... it might be a little too sparkly for you, but it works."

"Well, if we give ourselves a moment to remember his outstanding outfit for the new years' eve party from last year..." Makoto grinned and turned to a laughing Mamoru "Thanks Mako,"

"Of course," Makoto winked an eye at him and patted his arm, "He seems to forget he also has his traits. Don't worry, Mamoru, I got your back,"

"Ah, I see what you're doing... joining forces against me, eh?" Motoki arched his brow, "That's cool..."

"You just joined forces with Jadeite to mock me," Mamoru crossed his arms, "I joined forces with Mako. By the way, since she just highlighted that interesting detail one more sparkly item won't hurt you."

Motoki laughed, "That was your wife mocking you," he raised his hand, "And I thought we made it clear that it was Reika who chose that outfit for me,"

"Sure..." Mamoru raised his brows and turned to Makoto again, completely ignoring the blonde's rant, "Let us not forget about the sparkly bow-tie," Makoto burst in laughter, "Oh, the bow-tie! That's right, you wore a bow tie! It had glitter right?"

"Was that glitter?" Mamoru frowned, "I thought they were sequins."

Makoto pursed her lips, "No, I'm pretty sure it was glitter..."

Motoki sighed, "It's cool, it's cool... laugh all you want. The joke's on you because as a matter of fact, red is my color, so that is not a problem," the blonde grinned, "Thanks, Rei-chan." He looked down at it, "Okay... so, how does this work?"

"You press the center and make a call; it may not reach everyone, but you will speak directly to me. That will be more than enough for now." Ami nodded, "As long as we keep a line of communication, we will know how things are going from your position."

"Sounds perfect," Motoki grinned and turned to his friend, "And how do I get in touch with you?"

"It's better if you don't. I will track your whereabouts and find a way to contact you." Mamoru nodded and turned to Setsuna and then at Hotaru, "Anything on the gates—the Underworld?"

"I still cannot make any contact with Father," Hotaru said in a powdery yet somber tone. Setsuna looked at her talisman resting on the table without its rod and narrowed her garnet-colored eyes, "The winds of the space-time continuum are becoming stronger,"

"There isn't much time, then..." Mamoru frowned in thought, Kunzite stepped in right away, "I will go with him—wherever he needs to go."

The prince looked up at his right hand with relief then at Motoki, who was more than ready to leave, "My apartment," both friends stayed in silence for a couple of seconds in agreement of their solemn promise to each other. Motoki walked over to his friend to give him a fist-bump, "Don't worry, I'll be fine. You and I made a deal, Sunrise—"

"—Sunset,"

"Potato, potata..."

"Please take care, Motoki."

"You too, Mamoru; and for the love of god—no pun intended—come back in one piece."

-O-

The loud sound of thunder cracking and rumbling the ground made it hard to distinguish the roaring of a motor vehicle moving close. It didn't take long for it to stop at a certain distance, showing a well-prepared Furuhata Motoki getting out of a van from the hospital with a duffle bag and medical gear, "Wow, that bracelet really works."

Sailor Moon sighed in relief then blinked, startled, "Wait... H-how?"

"Mercury gave me your location—Zoisite is with her, your husband gave him your coordinates." Motoki walked inside careful enough not to cause much noise and distraction to the noises happening at the other side of the bodega. Careful enough not to give away their civilian names, remembering his conversation with Mamoru. Endymion turned to his friend with relief and quickly switched gears to address the somber situation in all seriousness, "I attended their wounds with what I could find, but there might be more out there, and some need extra care,"

"Got it. I will take it from here," Motoki nodded, "I found another building where I can set up a safe point with the help of other people that I found on my way," he frowned when he heard another loud growling "It's safe enough to say they will be taken care of while I go out scavenging for more victims,"

"But..." Sailor Moon looked back over her shoulder at the crowd getting ready and then back at Motoki and Endymion, "They're too many... how—"

"We will have to do some miracles here, *Imōto-chan," Motoki turned on his flashlight to make a quick count of how many people he will be taking with him. "Gravely injured?"

"No. Thankfully, most wounds are non-life-threatening," Endymion secured the belt around his waist and squinted his eyes, still feeling the pain from his injury "Severe injuries and broken bones are at the very bottom of our worries. Traumatic stress is at the top."

Motoki took a deep breath when he heard another growl echoing in the distance, Endymion clenched his jaw when he heard another deafening thunder rumbling the ground, "We are getting surrounded—head South." He turned to Motoki with the most sincere and serious glare in his sapphire eyes and put his hand on his friend's shoulder to get his full attention, "Motoki... something will enter the atmosphere and it will try to break your mind. This is where I ask you to be strong. Do not let it control you."

Motoki felt a chill all over his bones. The uncharacteristic low tone in his friend's voice made him sense the gravity and seriousness of the mission he chose to be part of. The reason why they were back and ready to fight with everything they got.

"Do not. Let it. Control you. Do you hear me? Don't." Endymion pressured his grip tighter proving his great concern, "Now is the time to put that snarky sense of humor you have to good use." His eyes darkened, "You will see things, you will hear things—things that aren't normal. Things that you aren't supposed to see but you know aren't benign. Don't give it your mind—do not surrender to it."

"W-What—"

"He will manifest, Motoki. And he will play with any speck of the doubt and fear you may have in your mind if you let him," Endymion looked at his best friend in the eye, "He will come to stand right in front of you and will try to trick you. He will try to take control of you to do his will—but you have to be strong. You have to stay grounded Motoki—for Reika, for Unazuki, and for everyone you have close to your heart, even him."

Things were darker than he imagined, Motoki thought. The mention of this entity startled him in a very strange way but the certainty of Mamoru's words kept him with his feet on the ground. He had to do this, he had to fight and come victorious in the way his friends were expecting him to; the way he promised he would. From this point onward and until things were settled, Motoki knew Mamoru was going to make drastic decisions and that he was going to make use of that weapon Usagi warned him about. The minute he walked out of that warehouse; his friend would peel all the layers that make him a living mystery and he would finally see who Chiba Mamoru really is; the ancient prince with the name after the sun.

Motoki nodded and turned his flashlight off when he heard another loud rumble and went to the crowd to let them know the plan they had to follow once out. Sailor Moon felt moved to see her dear friend risking his life to join the battle with them, and she felt the support and she couldn't be any more grateful. Through thick and thin, he has had their backs.

Endymion flinched slightly at the sudden sharp pain from his wound shooting down to his lower back and peered at Sailor Moon who had her crystal blue eyes fixed on him, "I'm all right. We need to move," he turned, "Remember what we talked about?" Sailor Moon nodded, "Pancake."

"Sprinkles,"

-O-

After their meditation was interrupted, Mamoru held Usagi's hand and brought it up to his chest to let her feel the force which his heart was beating. The princess widened her eyes with slight panic, "Mamo-chan, are you okay?"

"You used to ask me a lot how is that I knew," Mamoru looked at her and smiled, "This is what I felt whenever you came down to meet with me in secret—this is how I knew. This is how I always could tell you had transformed into Sailor Moon or were close to danger."

Usagi blushed and looked at her hand feeling the strong pound in his chest, "Does it hurt you?"

"No, it's just... it's an alert," Mamoru kissed her hand, and exhaled, "My beloved Usa, we won't be able to hold hands like this for an uncertain amount of time. We won't be able to share a kiss or a caress, but I want you to know you are in my mind every passing minute and that I love you with every fiber of my being. Do not let go of that thought, okay?"

"I promise," Usagi looked at her husband with glossy eyes, "This means they're here..."

"Close, very close." Mamoru nodded and took a deep breath, "Before we go out, there are a few things I need to ask of you," At his wife's nod, he continued, "Once we get into the battlefield, we need to be invisible to them as much as we can. Chaos is using the shadows to work as his eyes and ears, and if they track us down, it will make it difficult to get to him... but also, if things get too serious, we need a safe word to know we are all right."

Usagi nodded, "Alright," she sighed, "How should I call you, then?"

"Whatever you like, something that will let us know that no matter what, we're there for each other."

"Okay," Usagi jumped to sit up straight, if she had been wearing her hair in her trademark style, she would totally make the vision of a hopping bunny, "Pancake."

Mamoru blinked, rather amused, "Pancake?"

"Yes," Usagi smiled, "You're sweet, like a pancake. But, it's also a solid reminder that we will go back to enjoy those wonderful mornings in the kitchen; you flipping and stacking little towers of perfect little round pancakes while I sit in the counter and sing you the most annoying song on the radio."

"Perfect," Mamoru smiled, "That sounds perfect,"

She leaned closer with a playful grin and noticed the sheer pink tint on his cheeks, "And you? What will be your safe word for me?"

Mamoru pursed his lips in thought and tapped her nose gently, "If I'm Pancake... then that makes you... Sprinkles,"

Usagi grin widened; her eyes sparkled with mirth. How much she loved the man, she thought. Just how much she adored him. Endymion's cheeks flushed a deeper shade, "They're colorful and sweet, like you."

"Also, remember my motto," Usagi pointed up, "Whenever in doubt..."

"...Always add sprinkles, that's right." Mamoru grabbed her hand and kissed it, "But with you, my dear, I don't have any doubts. With you, nothing is uncertain. Nothing is dark, nothing is sour, nothing is dull."

"I love you," Usagi leaned closer and brushed her lips with his, "I love you madly..." Mamoru closed his eyes and caught her lips in a gentle sweet kiss, "To the Moon and back," he whispered in her ear, once parted. Usagi slowly opened her eyes and combed his hair back, "To our world, where we belong,"

"Usa..."

"Yeah?"

"I know what you said, but..." Mamoru tucked a piece of hair behind Usagi's ear and nodded, "I may also have to say some things to you in Latin from time to time."

"Ah... You mean, like code words?"

"Yes. Remember what I taught you?"

"I do, just..." Usagi sighed, "Just bear with me okay? I might butcher the language, again."

Mamoru chuckled, "It's fine. I just need you to understand them not to speak them to me,"

"All right,"

"Okay, can you remember the numbers?"

"Yes,"

"Can you tell me what Altum, means?"

"High,"

"Dimissus,"

"Low,"

"Ictos,"

"Dodge,"

"Boreas,"

"North,"

"Austellus,"

"South,"

"Orientis,"

"East,"

"Occidens,"

"West,"

"Ambusti terrae,"

"That we must aim to sabotage or destroy anything that might be useful to the enemy while it is advancing through or withdrawing from a location,"

"Fuga,"

"Rout. To get away from the battlefield if the danger is out of our control and cannot be contained."

"A fronte impetum,"

"To attack up-front,"

"Insidiis,"

"Carrying out a surprise attack on an enemy that passes a concealed position."

"Excellent," Mamoru grinned with pride and raised his fist to bump it with hers, "You are a badass, Usako!"

"Really?" Usagi blinked with awe when Mamoru frowned, "Why are you doubting? Of course, you are!" He arched his brow and gave her a quizzical glance, "And you say you couldn't learn Latin..."

"Well, apparently I can, but if you are the one teaching me." Usagi blushed, then smiled, "Say, Mamo-chan... does this mean I closer to you?"

"No." He cupped her face with his hands, "You are exactly where I am."

"Really?"

"Of course."

"I can be a Polemarchos like Queen Gaia?"

"No question about it." His eyes turned darker as he looked into hers, showing the drop of playfulness, "Usa... do you remember what debellatio means?"

Usagi felt a chill down her spine. She fought the tears in her eyes and nodded. She knew. Damn it, she knew and she knew it well. The princess took a deep breath and held tight from his yukata, "Please don't lose sight of me, Mamo-chan..." she shook her head, "If it's said... please..."

Mamoru caressed her swollen lips with his thumb and pulled her into his arms, "I won't. I won't lose sight of you, Usako." He closed his eyes and kissed her head, "I won't let go,"

The memory his mother slowly turning her head to look at him, with her hand reaching out to his after the accident, the moment right before she passed away came vivid in his mind; pleading him to stay; he had to stay. How much it made sense now. It's almost as if the historian part of her knew who he was and what he was meant to do. Why was he reborn. Why he had to stay.

Do not let go.

Do not let go.

Do not let go.

Mamoru took a deep breath and slowly opened his eyes. Felling reassured and ready—he was ready. His arms tightened around Usagi and pulled her closer, "I will never let go."

-O-

"Ad comitem trium," (At the count of three,) Endymion turned fully and put his other hand on her other cheek, "I won't lose sight of you."

Sailor Moon licked her lips, knowing what this meant and answered with a nod. He turned to give Motoki a silent signal after he worked a miracle by letting all the people inside of the ambulance. "Unus," he signaled the blonde behind the wheel to move with them and later go his way away from the battle zone. "Duo,"

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword and narrowed his deep blue eyes as he looked at the blood-red sky above, "Tres."

The Divinity Series is rated M. Violence, gore, cursing, and intimacy may occur.

I do not own Sailor Moon, just this plot and some of the characters.

**Imōto: Little sister in Japanese.