Past Loves

by Fushigi Kismet

The present and the past are bound together, and now the Sailor Senshi are forced to remember past lives and past loves . . .

6. Past Loves Part 5b - Destined Love

*Three months later*
*Earth Kingdom's western border*

Endymion fell back with a look of surprise on his face, which
quickly changed to one of agonizing pain. Damn! I should've seen
that one coming. A sword protruded from his middle, buried up to the
hilt in his flesh. "Arghhh," was the only noise he could make.
The soldier, staring at him, smiled in apparent satisfaction that
he was dead or dying and moved forward to retrieve his sword from the
fallen.
Wrong move! Endymion thought grimly, as he blasted him with the
bit of magic he was able to summon up. He watched as the man fell,
then Endymion relaxed and waited to die. I wish I'd been able to
see you again, Usako. I'm sorry I have to break our promise.

Princess Serenity jerked as though something had hit her in her
midsection. She staggered to her feet and fled from the room where
she had been attending a lesson. Luna stared after her, worried.
Serenity ran outside of the palace, to the gardens and commanded,
"PRINCESS TELEPORT!" In a swirl of petals and leaves, she was gone.

Endymion stared up through the haze of battle that raged around
him. I wish I could get up to help them fight, he thought, staring
at where those under his command were valiantly fighting off two or
three enemy soldiers at a time. He struggled uselessly to pull free
the sword and get to his feet, but his weak tugging made no impact on
the blade.
He closed his eyes to block out the sight of one of his men
falling to his death. When he opened his eyes again, he saw the
sweetest face imaginable. "Usako," he whispered.
"Mamo-chan!" she cried, her face full of distress. She was clad
in a concealing gray cloak and had he not seen her face and her blue,
blue eyes, he would not have known her.
He struggled to speak. "Why are you here?"
"I-I felt your pain," she said kneeling next to him, though the
battle kept raging about them.
"How did you get through the fighting?"
"I just teleported to where I felt your presence."
"Usako, get out of here! It's dangerous! This is war!"
"I don't care! I have to make sure you're safe." She stared at
the sword sticking out from his torso. "Who did this to you?"
"It's . . . it's all right, he's dead."
"What should I do?" she asked.
"Pull the sword out," Endymion told her. ". . . can't have it in
there."
The moon princess looked at the sword and awkwardly put her hands
around the grip. Then a determined expression came over her face and
she pulled it out in one swift move. Endymion let out a pain-filled
grunt, biting his lip to keep from screaming.
Serenity tossed the sword away, then doubled over in pain. "Ah,
it hurts."
"Are you all right?" Endymion asked worriedly, blood pooling
around him and soaking the ground.
She took one look at him and said, "I'm all right." Staring at
his bloody wound, she forced herself not to turn away. "You need a
healer. I have to get you out of here!"
"No, I'm okay now. You can just leave me here. Someone will find
me."
She shot him an incredulous look. "Someone will find you? Like
who? The enemy? I'm not letting them get anywhere near you so they
can finish the job they started!" She gingerly took the remains of
his already blood-soaked cape and wrapped it tightly around his body.
"Well, maybe that'll hold the bleeding for a while. Now to get you
home!"
"I . . . can't leave my troops."
She stared at the scenes of fighting around them, then at him
where he lay. She gently wrapped her arms around him as he tried to
sit up and held his head in her lap. "You can't do anything in this
state," she said gently. Then more fiercely, "Don't be an idiot!"
"Why haven't the soldiers attacked us yet?" he asked, noticing for
the first time that they were being ignored.
She looked at him smugly. "I've got a shield up around us if you
hadn't noticed. A little trick Mercury taught me. Anyway, it looks
like reinforcements for your side are coming, so the enemy's got
their hands full. Don't worry so much."
"Jadeite," he managed to breathe. Only Jadeite and his army were
near enough to have arrived in time to assist them. "Tell Mars she
should appreciate him."
"She already does, but not half as much as I appreciate you. I
would do anything for you." Her eyes began to fill with tears.
"I would die for you," Endymion whispered weakly, looking up into
her concerned blue eyes. He felt his hold on life slipping.
She cradled his head in her lap. "Don't die for me, you idiot.
Live! If you love me, then live for me. You promised we'd be
together!"
"Usa-"
Before he could finish, she bent and kissed him full on the mouth.
When she pulled away, he looked up at her and smiled. "I will live,
Usako," he said. "I promise you that."
And she believed him.
"PRINCESS TELEPORT!" she cried, and they vanished from the scenes
of battle.
Jadeite, who had just arrived with his army, saw them go. Then
with a newfound determination, he turned his attention to the battle
and gave the signal. "CHAAAAAARRRGGGE!!!"

*On the Moon*

Princess Serenity burst into Ami's room. "Ami, you have to help
me!"
"What's the matter, Sere?"
"It's Endymion, he's been hurt!"
"Princess, you know the consequences for bringing him here!"
"I know . . . but I don't care! Ami, he's going to die if we
don't do something!!!"
"Take me to him," Ami ordered.
"I left him in my room . . ." Serenity began as they both ran off.
Ami gasped as she saw the state that Endymion was in. "You did
right to bring him, Sere. I could *never* refuse anyone in *that*
condition."
"Will he be all right?" she asked, the worry showing on her face.
Ami rolled up her sleeves and winced in sympathy as she pulled
open his shirt and saw the wound. "He needs medical attention,
that's for sure." She turned to her princess. "Sere, I can't do it
alone. I need help."
"I'm willing," Serenity began, moving towards Ami.
The next words she heard stopped her dead in her tracks. "No.
Not you."
"But, Ami, I would do anything to help him! *Anything*! You know
that!"
"I know, but Sere, you don't have any training in the Healing
Arts. What we need is a healer. A Master Healer."
"But Ami, you *ARE* the only Master!"
"No, there's one more."
"Who-"
"I'll help," a voice spoke up from the shadows.
Sere and Ami turned to look. The princess gasped as the light
fell on the face of the speaker.
"Minako," she whispered.
Minako stared steadily back at her, her eyes calm and collected,
her face betraying not a single emotion. I'll do this for you,
Sere. And for myself.
"What do you want me to do?" she asked.

*On Earth*

"Where's the prince?!" Nephrite yelled over the melee of battle,
clashing his swords against an enemy captain. With a powerful slice,
he finished him off and waded further into the battle. Nephrite and
his army had arrived just in time to help Jadeite's faltering troops.
"Endymion's-" Jadeite ducked as his opponent swiped at his head
with a mace.
"Princess-" Jadeite ducked and rolled to one side, coming up
behind his opponent. He ran forward to thrust his sword into the
soldier, but the soldier turned at the last instant and twisted out
of the way.
"Got hurt-" Jadeite twisted back at the same instant, narrowly
missing a slice at his ribs, and swung his sword at his opponent.
The soldier brought his sword up to bear.
"Who, the princess?" Nephrite asked, confused, as he directed a
blast of energy at an enemy squadron that was getting too close.
They flew backwards with a cry of pain.
Jadeite pulled back his sword and avoiding a desperate lunge at
him, neatly thrust his sword into the man and dispatched him. "No,
you fool!" Jadeite yelled, pulling his sword free. "Endymion got
hurt, the princess got to him, and took him out of here! I don't
know where they went, but he was hurt pretty bad and if she hadn't
come, I don't think he'd have survived." He still might not.
"I heard that!" Nephrite yelled back at him, once more in the
thick of battle. "I want happy thoughts! No more of this
pessimistic junk!"
"Yeah, well, you didn't see 'im," Jadeite mumbled under his
breath, getting ready to fight with another soldier.
I heard that too, Jade. Keep it up and I'll have to beat *you*
up after this battle!
If we're still alive!
JADE!!!
All right, all right, happy thoughts. Sheesh.

*On the Moon*

Ami gazed at Minako for a moment. Are you sure?
Dammit, Ami, he's *dying*! If we can't save him, Sere'll . . .
Well, I don't want to think about what Sere'll do. They have the
right to be happy! I *owe* this to her. I *owe* this to him. I owe
this to myself.
Ami turned to look back at her patient. "All right, wash up and
we'll get to work."
"Right."
Serenity looked at Minako gratefully, her blue eyes shimmering
with tears. "Thank you, Mina-chan."
Minako started at the name, then flashed Serenity a rueful smile.
"I haven't failed you yet, Sere, and I'm not about to start now!"

As she turned away from her princess, the memories came back . . .

*Flash*

"Minako," the voice said laughingly, as eleven-year old Minako
looked up at him with brightly loving eyes. "You're so silly." He
bopped her on the nose, making her giggle.

*Flash*

"Minako," the voice said, deeper and more serious now. "I care
about you. I'm happy when we're together."
Thirteen-year old Minako looked up at him, understanding in her
eyes shining with love. He took her in his arms and she sighed,
happy.

*Flash*

"Minako!" two voices called, a man and a woman's.
"Onee-chan! Onii-chan!" Minako cried out happily, running through
the field toward the two of them, waving something wildly in the air.
"I got it! I got it!" She came to a breathless stop in front of
them. "I got it!"
"Congratulations!" they chorused, laughing.
The woman took the scroll from her and unrolled it reading, "This
scroll hereby documents the ascension of Princess Minako of Venus,
age fourteen, to the position of Healer, Master class!" She
neglected to read the part about keeping Minako as far away from sick
people as possible and only letting her attempt to heal the *dying*
as a last resort.
Minako smiled.
The woman handed the scroll back to her, her eyes bright and
happy. "You worked really hard for that! I'm so proud of you,
imouto."
"Thanks!" Minako said, but her attention was not on the woman.
She turned to the man whom she called her brother but was no more
related to her than the woman. "Are you proud of me, 'Nii-chan?" she
asked softly, her eyes shining with expectation.
"Very proud," he replied, bending down to kiss her.
Happy, Minako returned the kiss, but out of the corner of her eye,
she saw something like pain flash through her Onee-chan's eyes . . .

*Flash*

"Minako, the Royal family is too powerful! Someone has to do
something!" the man said heatedly.
"But they're good rulers! They're fair and just!"
"But for how long?"
"Forever!"
"You're such a child, Minako."
"I'm fifteen!"
"The world is a whole lot less perfect than you think! Someone
will have to stop the Queen before she turns into a tyrant!"
Minako stared at the man, her eyes wide with horror. "'Nii-chan .
. ."

*Flash*

"Are you all right?" the woman's voice asked.
"Yes, I'm fine," the man replied.
"How did she take it?"
"Oh, she's just a child! I don't think she understands at all."
"Well, *I* understand."
"I know you do, and that's why I love you . . ."
Minako slumped to the ground outside of the closed door, opening
her fist from the position in which it had been poised to knock.
'Nii-chan. Onee-chan. Tears gathered behind her eyelids,
spilling to the ground in a muffled sob. Why? She scrambled to
her feet, running off down the hall, unable to stop the tears.
WHY?!

*Flash*

*EMERGENCY*!
Sailor Venus ran down the hallways of the Moon Palace, until she
reached the courtyard, and was stopped short by the sight of a huge
slavering monster lurching towards her. "STOP! Who do you think you
are?!"
A voice boomed out throughout the Palace grounds. "WE ARE THE
DARK KINGDOM AND WE HAVE COME TO CONQUER YOUR UNIVERSSSSE!"
"Well, you won't succeed!"
She turned to the youma. "LOVE!!!!" she shouted, sending out a
golden beam and killing it.
She ran forward looking around for another of the beasts. She saw
*him* and stopped short. "'Nii-chan."
He looked up at her, "Mina-" he started to say, a look of
apprehension in his eyes. Then, before he or she could do anything,
a huge blurred shape dove for him. In a heartbeat it had dug its
fearsome jaws into him and ripped out his heart. He fell without a
sound as Venus looked on in horror.
"No!" she cried, what seemed like a lifetime later.
The youma looked up, its blood-red eyes glowing against its
shadowy hide, its jaws dripping with his blood.
"NO!!!!" she screamed again, rage and helplessness building in
her. "LOVE!!!!!!!!"
The brilliant beam of light sliced through it, killing it
instantly, but Minako didn't care as she stared at her 'Nii-chan's
unmoving form.
She barely heard as off in the distance her Queen shouted, "YOU
SHALL NOT SUCCEED, METALLIA!!! BY THE POWER OF THE SILVER CRYSTAL, I
BANISH YOU FROM THIS REALM!!!"
"I SSSSHALL RETUUUUUURRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNN!!!" the menacing voice
screamed as the huge shadow looming over the kingdom disappeared.
Mina cried.

*Flash*

"Onee, he's dead," Minako said, dully as she stood in the entrance
to the woman's room.
"No," the woman said, unbelieving, with a little laugh. "Whatever
do you mean, Minako?"
"He's dead."
"No, no you must be mistaken. He . . . can't be."
Minako screamed in anger, her voice hoarse with pain, "HE'S
DEAD!!!!"
She turned away. "And I couldn't save him," she whispered.
"NO!" the woman screamed defiantly, her voice breaking.
From the edge of her field of view, Minako saw the flash of metal.
What is she- "Onee, NO!!!" she screamed whirling around.
The woman simply smiled at her as she raised the dagger above her.
"I can't live without him." She plunged the steel into her chest,
and with a little gasp, she died.
Minako stared, her eyes wide filled with despair as she fell to
the ground, the strength leaving her body. "I couldn't save you
either, Onee. What kind of a Healer am I?"
Her eyes took on a self-loathing look as she averted her gaze from
the bloody scene. "WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?!!! I can't heal! My life
is worth nothing! I forgo the Healing Arts! I brand myself
forbidden to heal!" She pulled out her ceremonial dagger and stared
at the razor sharp blade as she slit her wrist and emotionlessly
watched her blood pool about her. "I swear, on my life's blood, that
if ever the evil returns, that my life's blood will bleed until I
die, or until someone who cares enough stops it." She placed a hand
over the wound, willing it shut with a burst of Power. But until
then, I will live for my princess. Always. *She* is my life.
She stood, and walked away. But she would always carry the scar of
what had occurred.

*Flash*

. . . Minako finished washing her hands and turned back to the
others, looking at Endymion. She drew in a deep breath. "All right,
let's start."

The hours dragged on as Serenity watched fearfully. Minako and
Ami had first begun by trying to heal some of the wound, then they
had begun the actual stitching needed. Endymion had woken up but had
mercifully passed out an instant later. The two women had resumed
their operating, Ami stitching and Minako using more and more power
in an attempt to heal Endymion since Ami had acidly informed Minako
that her stitching was like a five year-old's.
Makoto had wandered in on them, taken one look at the scene before
her, and had immediately volunteered to guard the door. Serenity had
let her, seeing as there was nothing she could do.
It hadn't taken Rei long to notice that everyone else seemed to be
missing and she had eventually found her way to Serenity's room.
After the others had explained the situation, she had readily agreed
that no one should be told and had gone on with her duties, trying to
keep others from wondering where all of the Senshi and the Princess
had gone too.
Still, all of them had forgotten one important fact. Guardian
cats are not so easily persuaded to let a topic drop.

Luna and Artemis crouched in the hallway.
"Artemis," Luna hissed.
"What?"
"What're we doing here?"
"We have to see what they're up to! It's something fishy, that's
for sure."
"Why don't we just ask them?"
"Duh, Luna, they're *hiding* something. It's not like we can just
saunter up to them and say, "Excuse me, Sailor Senshi, Luna and I
would like to know what you're hiding in Serenity's room."
"Well, I, for one am getting tired of hiding in this hallway! I'm
going to go *see* what they're hiding." With a flash of light she
morphed into her human state.
"No, Luna!" Artemis cried, but it was too late.
"Jupiter," Luna addressed the Senshi at the door, "stand aside."
Makoto shifted uncomfortably, "Uh . . . well, I can't."
"Don't make me order you as your superior, Jupiter!"
That could get messy. "But Luna, my orders come from Serenity
herself."
"Queen or Princess?"
"Princess."
"Jupiter, you know perfectly well that I outrank the Princess
until she is seventeen and is legally recognized as heir to the
throne."
"Yes, Luna."
"Then stand aside."
Sailor Jupiter could do nothing but obey. She let Luna in.
The others ignored her entrance at first, save for Ami who said,
"Oh, Rei, is that you?"
"No, it is not."
They all turned in apprehension. "Luna!"
She had a slightly irritated look on her face. "Yes, now what
*are* you hiding?"
She strode forward and caught sight of Endymion swathed in
bandages and the blood-smeared hands of Ami and Minako. Goddess!
She found that she had trouble speaking, "What-What happened?"
"Endymion was wounded," Serenity said, stepping forward, her chin
raised high in half defiance, half reluctant acknowledgment. "I
felt his pain. I brought him here."
"Serenity, that's not allowed!"
"I know. I could not let him die, Luna! The only people who
could've helped him were here. I could *not* let him die. I would
rather meet death in his place."
Luna sighed. "Sere . . . Serenity, I cannot fault your reasons
but there is more at stake here."
"Nothing is more important than life, Luna. Not rules, not laws,
not even what the Seventh proclaims. Nothing is more precious than
life."
"Princess," Luna began, then fell silent.
From behind her she heard the padding of soft feet. Artemis . . .
and another.
"Queen Serenity," Luna said, not turning.
"Luna," the queen said in acknowledgment. "Sere," she said,
turning to look at her daughter. The Senshi had frozen in place.
"Mother."
"You're right, Sere," the Queen said. "Life is the most important
thing. I cannot go against the Seventh, but neither can I allow the
needless suffering and death of others. I forbid this love you feel
for the prince, Sere, but I will not stand in his way of a recovery."
You cannot love him, Sere, I forbid it. I am truly sorry.
You let him live, Mother. For now, that is enough.
Queen Serenity looked at her daughter one last lingering instant
more, turned and began to walk out, then stopped as the Princess's
voice reached her ears.
"Mother."
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"For what, Sere? I have seen nothing here today." She strode out
and it was only then that Princess Serenity realized that her mother
had not once looked at the bed where Endymion lay.

*On Earth*

Kunzite rushed into battle with his forces, turning the tide at
last. Nephrite and Jadeite breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank goodness *that's* over." Jadeite wiped his sweaty brow.
"Yeah-" Nephrite started to say, then stopped.
"What?" Jadeite asked.
Nephrite simply pointed at where Kunzite was riding to them with a
none-too-pleased expression on his face. "Where's Endymion?"
"With Serenity," Jadeite replied bluntly.
"He was injured," Nephrite added.
"Well, no time to worry about that now. Zoisite's army needs some
reinforcements. He's being overrun on the northern border."
"Ah, c'mon. We just fought for three days straight!" Jadeite
complained. "My troops are weary. They're on their last legs. The
Cathals will slaughter us!"
"The Dark Kingdom," Kunzite corrected. "Still, Nephrite's troops
are fairly fresh and Endymion's seem all right. If we can find
someone to command them, then . . ."
"I will command them," a voice rang out and the Guardians turned
to see their prince striding over the battlefield towards them.
"Endymion!" the three Guardians cried.
"You're back!" Jadeite exclaimed.
Endymion allowed himself a tiny smile. "Thanks to a certain
princess who has captured my heart and two Senshi that I owe my life
to. They all send their best, by the way," Endymion informed the
weary men.
"Are you in one piece, Endy?" Nephrite queried.
"More or less."
"Can you fight?" Kunzite asked, his eyes on his prince.
Endymion winced, then turned to Kunzite, his eyes blazing and said
in a dangerous and determined tone of voice, "I can always fight."
"All RIGHT!" the Generals, for they all were generals now, shouted
as they clashed their swords together.
"We will be victorious," Jadeite proclaimed.
"Of course we will be," Endymion responded absently, his eyes on
the blue sky, where surprisingly he could see the moon. "Is there
any other way to be? Besides, I promised Usako that I'd make it out
of this thing alive, and I intend to keep my word." He turned back
to his men. "Now, all of you, mount up! Zoisite needs our help!"
He turned to Jadeite, "You and Nephrite will remain behind in case
the Dark Kingdom decides to renew the attack. Send a messenger, or
use your stones if you need help. Now, men, we have a war to win."

*On the Moon*

Serenity meandered slowly down the corridors of the moon palace.
Endymion had left nearly a week ago and she remembered only his eyes
as he had said, "Usako, I must go," and had kissed her. "I love
you."
"I love you, Mamo-chan," she whispered into the silence, an echo
of what she had said a week ago. "With all my heart."
She saw Queen Setsuna standing at a balcony overlooking the
Garden a little ways off and she walked over. One did not usually
see Setsuna at any time, especially standing on a balcony enjoying
the scent of roses in the evening.
"Queen Setsuna," Princess Serenity said, uncertainly.
Setsuna did not turn around. "Hai, Princess."
"What do you see?" she asked curiously, staring at Setsuna's still
form.
"See? I see nothing but stars and space and stillness."
"Not even the Earth?" she asked lightly.
"The Earth? I do not need to see that. It is inside of me. No
Princess, truly, I see nothing that you do not."
That is not what I meant, Serenity thought to herself, but
before she could voice her thought, Setsuna replied.
"Yes, I know that is not what you meant, Princess. I can tell you
many things, but never that . . . never that. You should not know
your own future. There is danger in knowing too much."
Serenity made a face. "Tell Ami-chan that."
"That would be a useless endeavor. She would not listen."
"If you cannot tell me . . . then, what is it like? To see? To
know? To understand everything?"
Setsuna snorted. "Everything? I cannot even begin to know, let
alone comprehend everything. Even immortal, I am still a mortal."
"You have contradicted yourself."
"No. It is truth, even as it is with you, with the others, with .
. . Endymion."
"So you do know," Serenity said softly.
"I know. It has occurred. I know it."
"Was I right?"
"Right? What are right and wrong, Princess? Is anything ever
completely right or wrong?"
"Yes."
"You have a simple mind."
"I'm sure I do. Some things, though, some things are right.
Endymion and I . . . are right."
"Perhaps."
"Do you love him?" Serenity asked suddenly.
Setsuna started. She had *not* foreseen this. "Princess, it is
best not to ask those kinds of questions."
But Serenity went blindly on. "Do you, Setsuna?"
Silence. Then, "Hai."
"I know you do."
"I do not love him as you do, Princess. No one can love him as
you do. Do not worry, little Princess, I will not take him from you.
I cannot."
"Why? Why can't you? You did not swear your allegiance to
anyone."
"No, I did not."
"You do not serve my mother."
"In that, Princess, you are wrong. I do serve her, as her friend.
I promised her that long ago. It is a promise that I have not
broken."
"And yet, in truth, when did you serve anyone but yourself?"
"I have never served myself. Time is my master, Destiny is my
mistress. Against them I can do nothing. I can not protect your
mother against them. I can not protect your kingdom."
"And yet, I remember that on the day that I awakened, you promised
to protect *me*."
Again Setsuna was startled, but this time, she did not allow her
surprise to show. "How can you remember such things, Princess? You
were but newly born and awakened."
"I remember because I must. What other reason is there?"
"Yes, I did promise, and that promise too, shall I keep."
"That is good. Is that why you will not allow yourself to love
Endymion?"
Setsuna smiled. "You are good, Princess, very good. No matter
where the conversation goes, you can bring it back to what you wish
to discuss. That is a rare talent."
"I have learned from the best teacher. My mother is very skilled,
is she not? I have heard that she learned from you."
Setsuna's smile faded. "Everyone learns something from me
eventually. Even you, my princess."
"I would learn of what you feel for Endymion."
"Yet again princess, you are good. I shall answer your questions
for I tire of this game. I do love Endymion, my princess, and I
allow myself to love him. But as I said, I do not love him as you
do, not in the same manner, nor in the same way."
"In what way do you love him, Pluto?"
"In the only way that I can. Ah, Princess Serenity, you are so
like, and yet so unlike your mother. You are both of you, very
giving with your love, and yet, you are both as possessive as you are
giving. How can any two be give so much, and take so much at the
same time? She gives less and takes less than you, though, my
princess."
"Am I selfish, Pluto?" the Princess cried. "Was my gift to him
nothing more than a gift to myself?"
"Who did you do it for? Him or you?"
"In honesty, I do not know, but I think . . . it was for me.
Because I cannot bear to live without him. Still, he said the same
and felt the same, but yes, I was more selfish than selfless."
"You are mortal, Serenity. It is a failing, but it is also a
blessing."
"You contradict yourself again. How many times do you say the
opposite of what you mean?"
"Why, never. I always mean what I say, and I do not contradict
myself. Now, as for what you did for yourself, for him - yes, it was
for both, you are so easy to forgive - it was both a wondrous and a
terrible gift. Both a blessing and a curse. He is bound to you now,
Serenity, more than he ever was before, and he was bound even then.
There is no stronger tie than that of blood, not love, not hate.
Blood. The taste of it, the feel of it, the sight and smell of it as
it spills . . . Or the flowing of it through your veins. There is
nothing stronger.
"It drives people to kill, to hurt, and to love above all else.
In this you have bound him to you for all eternity. He had no say in
the matter, and yet, he forgives you.
"It always surprises me how easy it is to forgive those of your
line. You are so easily forgiven. No matter what wrongs you commit,
those who love you are always willing to forget them. I wish it was
that simple for me. He will not forgive me so easily."
"What did you do, Pluto, that he must forgive?"
"I loved him. Isn't that enough? You understand now, though you
do not know it, and you will understand more fully in time. It will
be clear to you what wrongs I have committed, the harm that I have
done. So clear. And then, you must forgive me as well. But I do
not fear you as I fear him, Serenity, for you forgive as easily as
you are forgiven. It is him that I fear, for he cannot forgive as
you do. It is in his blood. But . . . your blood flows through him
now, so perhaps he can forgive."
"What do you say to me? I understand none of it. You confuse me
on purpose, Pluto, to hide the true meanings of what you say. It is
all there in plain sight, but I cannot see it. The truth is truth,
and yet it is not! I do not understand what you say."
"Oh Serenity, you understand more than you know. You know all,
and yet you understand nothing. How can this be? Do not trouble
yourself, it will all be clear in time."
"Can you not speak plainly? Must all your words be as riddles?"
"That is the nature of *my* blood, Serenity. Time reveals nothing
until it is too late."
"You, daughter of Cronos, are infuriating!"
Setsuna laughed. "More than Mars?"
"More than Mars."
"I am sure Princess Rei would appreciate that."
"Perhaps. Or perhaps not."
Setsuna sighed. "You are still wondering."
"Of course I am. You have answered nothing and everything all at
once."
"That is the nature of Time."
"No. That is the stubbornness of Setsuna."
"You wish to know what I think of your blessing . . . your curse."
"That was not a question. And you know the answer."
"I am glad."
"Glad?"
"He needs you, Serenity; you need him. An eternity of one without
the other is meaningless. Your love will sustain you both. I am
happy for you."
"And yet, you still love him."
"Of course I do. As I said, it could not be any other way."
"And you do not condemn me for condemning him to an eternity of
life?"
"Of course not. How can I condemn you? No one could. You are
forgiven, eternally."
"Condemned and forgiven for all eternity, is that my existence?"
"Only if you will it to be that way. It is up to you."
"Are you?"
"Condemned and forgiven?" She clicked her tongue on the roof of
her mouth. "You should know the answer to that, child."
"Since when have I been a child to you?"
"You have always been a child. Except at the beginning. Then,
you were not a child."
"Do not confuse me again."
"It is too easy to confuse you, Princess. You let yourself be
confused."
"You are condemned. I am condemned. And we are both forgiven,
but I . . . more readily than you."
"Very good. Now, you are making sense of this conversation."
"Not much. Your conversations never make much sense until much
later. But . . . I suppose that you will tell me that that is the
nature of Time?"
"Ah! I have misjudged you. If you are reading me so easily, you
are truly not as much of a child as I thought. You do your mother
proud. Now, before you can cleverly divert the conversation back to
the topic, I shall save you the trouble.
"Immortality is a hard, hard way of life. Eventually, it is *not*
life any longer, merely existence, and that is when death lends a
hand. You, and he, and I, we are lucky that we do not have *true*
immortality, merely the closest thing. Death can still snatch us at
anytime, though it will be much MUCH harder. So no, my princess, you
did not condemn your love to life forever.
"As for the other things you wonder, well, Princess, let me tell
you this. Endymion needs your love. He needs the love of women. He
desires nothing more than a woman's love. Your love is dearest to
him, never fear, little princess. Take him in your arms, love him
with all of the love in you, for he sorely needs it. His need is
devouring him inside, and only your love has saved him. You are his
savior, his guardian angel, his only love. You reclaim him from the
darkness of his soul. That is good, for no one other than you can do
it. Do not let him stray far, let your love keep him safe.
"The wolves would take him if they could have him, but as long as
your love keeps him safe, they cannot. Love him, love him, for as
long as you can. For you, I know that that is eternity.
"He will always need you, and you will always need him, for as
much as he takes from you, he returns as well. Your love is his
love, he loves you as much as you love him. The two of you, sustain
each other. That is right. That is good.
"I thought once that your love was wrong, that it would destroy
one of you, or both. But then I saw that without it, its loss would
destroy both of you. Its existence can do nothing but bring more
love, for that is the way of love. The more love there is, the more
it brings.
"I do not envy you. I am grateful for the love that you feel for
him. I love you both, Serenity. You are my princess, he is your
prince, and your love is what brightens up the universe. I cannot
deny you. I have no wish to. What is Destined is destined. What
must be, will be. Love is love, Serenity. Love is love."
"But *still* you love him!" Serenity cried. "And you never can!"
Setsuna sighed. "You are as I thought, a child. Have you
listened to nothing that I have said? I love Endymion, and I will
always love Endymion. Nothing will stop that. Do not feel sorrow
for me, it is misplaced. I would not have things any other way. We
are all content this way. Let things stand as they are, Serenity.
As I said, I do not love him as you do. I do not feel for him as a
lover, or even as a friend. I welcome your love for him. It is
needed. Do not weep for my unrequited love. It is not as you think
it. It never was."
Serenity stared at her with wide, confused eyes, but partial
understanding dawned. "You love him in another way . . . You are
drawn to him for other reasons."
"I had a claim on him long before you did, except for at the
beginning."
"Of Time?"
"There are some questions that I cannot answer, Serenity."
"But in refusing, you have."
Setsuna gazed back calmly at her. "Have I?"
Serenity gazed calmly back, sure of herself for once. "You have."
Setsuna looked away. "You loved him at the beginning, Serenity.
That is all I will say. But still, my claim on him is older. My
love for him is older. My love for him is as infinite as yours. I
am bound to him in all things, as are you, save I was bound in one
more way. And now, you are bound to him that way, and more. I could
give him all things, but one, and you gave him that, my princess.
The one thing that I could not. And so, the two of you are bound as
close now, as I am to him, though he knows it not."
"What *are* you to him, Pluto?"
"You should know by now, Princess. You should know by now." And
with that, she disappeared.
Serenity turned to gaze out over the balcony at Earth.
"Endymion," she whispered, letting a single tear trickle down her
face. "Mamo-chan . . ."

*On Earth*
*The northern border*

Kunzite raised his hand as he heard the faint rustle of the
door flap to his tent. "Yes, come in," he called out, gesturing.
The person at the door paused as if unsure how to proceed.
"Come in already," Kunzite called, rather irritated that he hadn't
been obeyed instantly.
The soldier walked in and stood before Kunzite where in sat on a
crate, scribbling notes to himself in his journal, and marking areas
on a map pinned to the wall.
"Yes, what is it?" Kunzite asked, not looking up.
"I wished to speak with you about something, Lord Kunzite."
Kunzite glanced up, putting aside his work for a moment. He
recognized that voice. It was his prot‚g‚, whom he had been training
personally. He had certainly proved himself in the last battle,
blocking a blow meant for Zoisite.
"You seem troubled," Kunzite commented, for lack of anything
better to say.
"Yes, milord."
"Well, tell me, what's troubling you?"
"That foreign woman of the prince's . . ."
"Yes?" Kunzite thought he had a glimmer of what was troubling the
boy. Ever since Endymion's return, rumors had been circulating that
he was involved with a woman from the Moon Kingdom. The rumors were,
of course, absolutely true to a certain extent, but many of the men
were rather xenophobic. He looked to the soldier to see what his
reply would be. He did *not* expect such a violent outburst.
"Don't trust her. Don't trust any of them!"
"Them?" Kunzite asked confused.
"The foreigners. They're not here for peace, all of the things
that they've been spouting are lies! The prince - all of us - are in
danger."
Kunzite thought of Minako's smiling face and shut his eyes in
quiet despair and denial. No, it cannot be.
"It is, my lord!" the boy insisted and Kunzite started, unaware
that he had spoken his thoughts out loud.
"I cannot believe it to be so. My duty lies to my lord Prince,
and he trusts them with his life."
"Don't let him!" the boy hissed vehemently. "It will only lead to
his downfall. Keep them as far from him as possible."
Unable to banish Minako from his mind and the sweet sincerity of
the love that had shone in her eyes, Kunzite firmed his resolve and
turned to the boy. "I'm sorry, but I must trust in my Prince's
judgment." He stood, gathering his things. He needed to discuss his
latest strategy with Endymion.
The boy looked up at him in defeat. "Will you at least think over
what I have said?" he asked quietly.
Indecision surfaced in the Guardian's eyes for a moment before he
turned away and said so softly that he was barely audible, "Yes, I
will . . . Clinden." Then with a sweep of his cape, he was out the
door of the tent.
Clinden stared after him, triumph and doubt warring in his eyes.
The need for vengeance won over the two and he whispered, "Thank you,
Lord Kunzite." I will have my REVENGE ON YOU!!! I WILL!!! His
eyes blazed red, and somewhere an evil voice laughed.

*Two weeks later*
*The southern border*

The battle being waged was fierce. Everywhere men were dying, run
through by youma swords or simply ripped to pieces. It was a scene
that Minako would have remembered well, still did remember in fact,
and she would have wept at the sight. Still there cannot be a war
without casualties and in this war, there were more than enough . . .

Clinden lay dying, Kunzite kneeling at his side, desperately
trying to staunch the flow of blood. Clinden coughed and red blood
trickled down the side of his mouth. With one begrimed hand he
pulled Kunzite's hand away from the wound and forced the General to
look at him. "Milord Kunzite, I will pass to the Other Realm soon.
My time grows short, but before I go, you must promise me . . .
something."
Kunzite stared at the bloody, battered soldier that had once been
his friend and prot‚g‚ and whispered, "What? What must I promise
you?"
"Promise," Clinden coughed out, "that you will avenge the death of
my family . . . That those who killed them shall pay."
"Yes, yes, anything!"
"Promise that you'll kill them . . . Don't let yourself be hurt
like I was. The strangers . . . can't be trusted, no matter how
sincere they seem. There is evil at work in the land of the living,
but soon, I will be beyond those cares. Promise me . . ." Clinden's
eyes took on a glazed look and whispering, "Promise . . ." he died.
Kunzite stared at the body for an instant, then he let out an
inarticulate cry of grief. He pulled off his cape and draped it over
the body, then knelt before the still form, head bowed, sword laid in
front of him "I promise," Kunzite swore solemnly, fighting his
tears, "that your family's murderers will pay. I don't know how or
where, but you and your family will be avenged. I, Kunzite, Guardian
Griffin of Prince Endymion of Earth, First General of Earth, and
Prince of the Realm of Power, swear it on my life and the lives of
everyone that I hold dear." He stood, sheathing his sword and,
turning to stare at the second advancing horde, he repeated to
himself, "I swear it."

*Four days later*
*Back at the Earth Palace*

"We cannot trust the Lunars. They are the enemy and must be dealt
with."
"WHAT?!!!" Jadeite shouted, slapping his hands down on the table
as he surged to his feet. "What do you mean, "*dealt with*"?!!!"
Zoisite murmured something to Jadeite which seemed to calm him
down some.
"What exactly are you saying?" Nephrite asked in a dangerous voice
as Jadeite flopped back in his seat and refused to look Kunzite in
the eye.
Zoisite looked up from where he stood next to Jadeite. "What *do*
you mean, Kunzite?" He eyed him oddly, seeming to say, 'How can you
think such things?'
Kunzite drew in a deep breath. Then let it out in a long, tired,
sigh. "Look, I'm simply saying that maybe we should make certain of
who is the true enemy."
All three of the other Generals shot him the same look at the same
time. The one that said, 'How the HELL can you even SUGGEST that!'
Again Jadeite was the first to speak. He sprang to his feet and
walked up to Kunzite, glaring at him. "I don't like want you're
insinuating, Kunz." The other two Generals drew in a quick breath at
the malice in his tone and the term of disrespect.
Kunzite's eyes narrowed as he glared back at Jadeite. "I'm not
"insinuating" anything. I'm stating a fact. The Lunars are
dangerous and their presence on Earth cannot be tolerated."
"I think you have more things to worry about on the *home* front
before you start blaming our troubles on others! You want a fight?
We've already got one. We have to stop the Cathals. *They're* the
enemy, not the Lunars!"
"The Lunars are a greater threat-especially the Sailor Senshi."
"Are you INSANE?!! The Senshi are our allies - our friends."
And more, his brain silently added as he recalled memories of Rei
and him. "They're on OUR side."
"You think I don't know that? But for how long? We both know
that Queen Serenity wasn't too thrilled with our presence. This was
*her* kingdom. How long do you think it'll be before she decides she
wants it back again?!"
"Serenity may not like us much, but she would never - I mean for
Earth's sake she's been away from it for nearly THREE HUNDRED
YEARS!!! What makes you think that she'll even want it back? She's
got the whole moon. Why would she even bother with this kingdom?"
"Because it's home and nobody can stay away from their true home
for long. Who says that she just wants *this* kingdom? She's got
the power to take over the whole world. And absolute power corrupts
absolutely, or haven't you learned that by now? Just because you
don't want to believe it doesn't make it any less true."
Jadeite's eyes sparked. "What is wrong with you? Does any of
this make any sense at all?! LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!!! Rei
and the others are incapable of doing any of what you said. They're
the same as us. They're people, Kunzite, not the monsters that
you're making them out to be! They're our *friends*!"
"Don't act more like a fool than you already are. You're not
thinking straight. That *girl* has addled your brains. You're
better off without her kind, Jadeite."
Jadeite's eyes burned a little brighter. "That *girl*, as you so
put it, is the love of my life, and I'll be damned if I'll let you
talk that way about her! I've followed you for the last fifteen
years of my life, served under you, taken your orders like a good
subordinate; I've even been your friend, but if you don't apologize
*NOW*, then we're through, and leader or not, I will not serve under
you."
Kunzite growled out through gritted teeth. "I don't need to
apologize. Dammit, Clinden is DEAD!!!" he found himself shouting and
tried to calm down but found that he couldn't. "His death is the
Lunars' doing, them and your "love" If you don't want to serve under
me, then don't. Get out."
"Fine," Jadeite breathed, vehemently, his bright blue eyes still
glaring into Kunzite's, "I will. And you . . ." he licked his lips,
savoring the words with a savage satisfaction as he pronounced each
syllable, "Can. Go. To. Hell." He whirled about on his heel, his
cape flapping behind him and stalked out. As he reached the doorway,
he stopped for just an instant, his back still to Kunzite and said in
a low voice, "Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell Venus what a traitor
you are." Then without another word, he went through the door and
was gone.
Kunzite, who had stiffened at the sound of "Venus", a sharp pain
stabbing through him, now simply glared at Jadeite's retreating back,
angry. He was angry at Jadeite, at the world, at himself. He turned
away only to be faced with the stony stares of his other two comrades
in arms.
"You bastard," Nephrite hissed. "You had no right!"
"I had every right!"
Zoisite spat defiantly at his feet, an unreadable look glittering
in his green eyes, as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Not anymore. Until you realize that what you did was unforgivable,
I'll have nothing to do with you. I hope you realize exactly what
you've done . . . and the consequences." He ducked his head away but
whipped it back to face Kunzite, his green eyes bright with barely
contained fury. "You know, I'm sorry that Clinden died, but that
doesn't give you the right to say what you said! Clinden was a good
man, but turning on your friends isn't right! It never is. At any
other time I'd feel sympathy for you, but right now, I can't."
Shutting his eyes, he breathed in, then said, "I step down from your
service, Lord Kunzite." Then he slowly walked out.
Now only Kunzite and Nephrite were left alone in the room
together. The brown-haired General spoke first, his eyes cold. "I
trust Mako with my life. Even more, I trust her with my heart. And
in doing so, I trust and respect her people, which is a helluvalot
more than I can say about you right now. They're good people, and I
used to think that you were, too."
Kunzite felt his resolve faltering, "I-" but then he straightened
and pulled himself together. "The Lunars deserve nothing but
contempt from us."
"And you," Nephrite uttered steadily, almost sorrowfully, his
resigned gaze never wavering, "deserve nothing but contempt from me."
Then he too turned his back on Kunzite and exited the room.
And Kunzite was alone. Again.
And it was not a pleasant feeling.

*On the Moon*

Rei felt the breeze and turned as she sensed a familiar presence.
It can't be.
"Rei."
"Jade."
They looked at one another, the battered warrior and the shining
beauty. Then Rei said:
"I don't know whether to kiss you or to kill you, you imbecile!"
Jadeite smiled, his first one in a long time. "If you kiss me
first then kill me, I'll die a happy man."
Rei's lips quirked in amusement, then she obligingly gave him his
reward for returning.
After the kiss, she looked up at him anxiously. "What's the
matter? Where're the others? Is everyone all right? You're not
here to bring ill tidings, are you?"
"Only that Kunzite is a damn fool." He strode to a bench and sat
down.
Rei followed him. "You had better not let Venus catch you saying
things like that. She's head over heels in love with him."
"I know," he muttered morosely, glaring at the ground.
Rei suddenly thought of something. "In fact, we can't let anyone
catch you *here*! You're *still* not allowed here, Jade!"
He looked up. "You're right. Damn, I forgot. All right, what'll
we do?"
"Well, you could go home, but I wouldn't like that very much."
"Neither would I."
"I'll simply hide you in my quarters until it's safe for you to go
home."
"Actually, it's safe now . . ."
"But you have to tell me all the news first! And, I don't want
you to leave so soon."
Jadeite smiled.

*Back on Earth*

"You did WHAT?!!!" Endymion paced about agitatedly. "What the
Hell were you thinking, Kunzite?"
"I guess I wasn't, my prince."
"I guess you weren't. There's only one thing to do. Go apologize
and retrieve Jadeite from wherever he went."
"I can't do that, my lord."
"What?"
"Not until I am sure."
"Well, *I'm* sure and you had better be! Your accusations are
nigh treasonous."
"I know."
Endymion arrested Kunzite's eyes. "Can you truly tell me that you
are absolutely certain of this, in your heart of hearts?"
Kunzite found that he could not answer.

*On the Moon*

Princess Serenity walked through the gardens, pausing in front of
the forget-me-nots, a newly cut rose in her hand. "Forget me not,"
she whispered, thinking of Endymion. She inhaled the wondrous scent
of the rose and sighed.
Her calm wonderings were interrupted when a whirlpool of darkness
swirled open behind her and snatched her up. She left out a cry,
dropping the rose which fell to the ground, its petals scattering in
the wind as the darkness engulfed her.
"MINNA!" she screamed. "MAMO-CHAN!"

Rei and Jadeite, who had been passing through the gardens since
they were a shortcut to Rei's quarters, paused.
"Something's wrong," Rei murmured, then a wave of fear washed over
her. Serenity's fear.
"Goddess, Sere!" she broke into a run, Jadeite right behind her.
As she reached the spot where Serenity had been, she stared aghast at
the rose with its petals seemingly ripped from it.
"Selene," Rei sobbed, "Selene, no . . ." Jadeite helplessly put
an arm around her as the other Senshi ran to the scene.
"What happened?" Ami demanded, pulling out her computer and
scanning the area.
"I don't know," Jadeite said in confusion.
"What're you-Never mind," Minako said, in her commander's voice.
"Ami, what does your "device" say?"
"Serenity *was* here. Judging by the readings, someone or
*something* took her. Rei you got here first, what did you sense?"
"Ami, it was awful. It felt like . . . I don't know, something
without a soul. The power was definitely feminine, though, that's
all I have to tell you."
"Feminine?" Jadeite ran the word over his tongue, then spat. "I
know what it was."
The others turned to him. "Tell us, Jade," Minako said in a rough
voice. "What took Serenity?"
"Beryl," he snarled. "I'd bet my life on it. It was Beryl."
"Where would she take her?" Makoto asked all of a sudden, her eyes
gleaming with determination.
"To her stronghold, but NO ONE knows where it is."
"Well, we'll just have to find out!" Makoto said, her voice
sounding like steel. "We'll get Sere back!"

"What do you want with me?" Princess Serenity asked the tall
evil-looking woman in front of her. Her wrists and ankles were
energy-cuffed to the cold stone wall.
"Your soul," she said with a hungry smile.
Serenity shuddered. "What kind of a person *are* you?"
"One who hates you very, *very* much."
"What have I ever done to you?"
"You took Endymion from me. He was mine, and you took him. For
that, you deserve to die!"
"You would kill me for daring to love another? You would kill me
for listening to my heart? What a twisted creature you are, Beryl. I
pity you. It must hurt not to be able to love."
"You pity *me*?! Oh no, little princess, pity yourself more."
"What will killing me accomplish?"
"Nothing, which is *exactly* why I am not going to kill you . . .
yet. You are my bait. My bait for Endymion."

Queen Serenity had to be informed of her daughter's abduction of
course, and she had been quite distraught with grief. Luna hadn't
taken it so well, either, looking rather ill. Artemis had (for a
change) been the only level-headed one of the lot. However, he had
insisted that he accompany the Senshi and only after a long screaming
match with Minako had he finally agreed to stay behind.
The Senshi had left immediately afterwards, Jadeite
inconspicuously joining them. It had been decided that it was much
better for all involved if he was not seen. That could bring up
unpleasant issues and further delay their rescue of the Princess.
They teleported to Earth and with Jadeite's reluctant agreement,
arrived at the Earth Palace to inform Endymion and the rest of the
Guardians.
Endymion did *not* take it well.

"Serenity's in *BERYL'S* clutches?! She won't last long. Let's
go. We have to find her before it's too late!"
It was only with the combined effort of the Guardians and the
Senshi that they were able to restrain him from dashing out that
instant and saving his beloved.
"Endymion, we can't go now! We have to find out where Beryl's
holding her!" Nephrite pleaded with his prince.
The prince of Earth calmed down a bit. "Of course, forgive me."
"Do you have *any* idea as to where Beryl might be?" Minako asked
desperately.
"No," was Endymion's flat reply. "All I've been able to find out
is that it's somewhere North."
"North?"
"North."
"Let's get started then. I don't care if we have to search the
entire northern regions of this planet. We're finding Sere!" Minako
declared, staring at the map of Earth spread beneath her hand on the
table.
"I think you may need more help than that," a quiet voice said
from the doorway.
Minako looked up, her eyes shining. "Kunzite!"
"Kunzite," Jadeite snarled out.
The other Guardians looked up to see their former leader paused in
the doorway, carrying a heavy pack over his shoulder.
"What do you want?" Jadeite demanded angrily.
"To come with you. To save the princess."
"After what you said?!"
"I was wrong. Minako can attest to this. I always seem to find
myself saying things that I don't mean. I want you to forgive me,
Jade, I want to earn back the respect I've lost in your eyes." He
turned to the others. "All of your eyes."
"Welcome back," Zoisite said softly, from where he had his arm
around Ami. He smiled.
"I'm glad that the old Kunzite is back," Nephrite murmured.
Kunzite turned his eyes to Jadeite. "Jade?"
Jadeite hesitated for a moment, then slowly his gaze softened and
he took Kunzite's hand pulling him into a good-natured embrace
between men. "You bull-headed fool. Thank God you know who your
friends are, Kunzite."
"I always did."
Endymion smiled. "All right now, we've got a princess to save!"
My princess, he added silently.

The Senshi and the Guardians arrived in the North in a bright
flash of light.
"Can you get a fix on her location, Ami?!" Minako shouted over the
howling winds.
"Not yet!" Ami shouted back. "Give it another couple of seconds!"
"I'm freezing to death, Ami. Hurry it up!"
"All right, here it is. She's six miles due north of here."
"Doesn't it get colder as you go further up north?" Makoto asked.
Ami nodded.
"Great, just great," Rei muttered under her breath.
"I suggest another teleport!" Endymion yelled.
"Good idea!" the rest of them chorused.

"You'll never win, Beryl!" Serenity declared.
Beryl whirled from her study of the large images playing across
the wall in front of her, images of battle. "Oh no? Look how well
your prince's armies are faring without him and his Generals. Earth
will soon be mine as will Endymion. Then I will have the pleasure of
seeing you die!"
"NO!" Serenity screamed, wrenching free of the energy that held
her in place. The brightly glowing yellow energy disappeared as she
stumbled to the ground. "I WON'T let you win, Beryl!"
"What *is* this?!" Beryl shouted in a mixture of outrage and
amazement. How did she get free so easily? Beryl grabbed the
princess's arm and twisted it behind her, painfully.
"Endymion," Serenity sobbed. "Mamo-chan, where are you?"
"Shut up!" Beryl snarled, backhanding Serenity across the face.
"Your pitiful whines are annoying me."
"Why are you doing this?" Serenity asked, holding a hand to her
face. "Why can't you just leave us alone?"
"Because I love him! And he should be mine, not yours, moonbrat.
You don't deserve him."
"Maybe I don't," Serenity whispered, "but we deserve each other."
"You don't seem to understand. He belongs to me."
"People who love each other don't belong *to* one another, they
belong *with* each other!" We belong together, Mamo-chan.
Beryl's face was suffused with red in anger. "Shut up! Just SHUT
UP!" An ugly expression crossed Beryl's face and she snickered as
she raised her arm and pointed her index finger at Serenity and shot
forth a blast of power.
Serenity was blown, screaming, across the room. Her momentum
ceased when she slammed into the wall. She slumped to the floor and
lay motionless on the floor.
Beryl stared at the motionless form in disgust. Maybe I should
just kill her now. No. Endymion will come for her and will fall
prey to my trap. If I kill her, he will feel her demise and all of
my plans will be ruined. I must wait and bide my time. Come to me,
Endymion. Come try and save your beloved.
She motioned to a pair of youma to take the Princess's unconscious
body away.

Endymion, the Senshi, and the Guardians arrived outside of the
entrance to the caverns that led to Beryl's stronghold. With one
last determined glance at each other, they entered the caverns and
began their plunge into darkness.

*Several hours later*

"Are you all right, Nephrite?" Rei asked as Makoto continued to
tear off strips of cloth with her teeth and bandage his arm.
"It's nothing . . . just a scratch."
Rei did not look convinced. "That was more than a scratch and you
know it!"
"No, look, I'm fine," he said trying to flex his muscles, then
abruptly stopped with a grunt of pain.
"You idiot, let it heal before you try to use it or you're never
going to get better!" Makoto yelled.
"Yes, Mother."
"I don't like seeing you get hurt," she said, her eyes misting
over. "Take better care of yourself."
Rei turned away with a sigh and looked at Ami who was still
looking at Zoisite's head wound, and Kunzite who was busily wrapping
up Minako's dislocated shoulder. It seemed that none of them were
going to get out of this mess without a few scratches at least.
Surprisingly, only she and Jadeite had managed to escape completely
unscathed thus far, and she had the distinct impression that it was
because they had both "powered-up."
Minako's voice interrupted her train of thought. "Well, it's been
five hours and we're still not any closer to finding, Sere. Any
ideas?"
"Yeah, we'd better hurry and find her before we run into *another*
one of those youma hordes!" Ami glared at Zoisite's glib remark.
"Haha, very funny. Seriously, any ideas, people?"
Endymion spoke up. "She's close, Venus."
"That's very nice Endymion, but it's not getting us anywhere."
"NO. I mean she's CLOSE. I can feel it."
"Ami, check your com-pu-ter," she ordered abruptly, but having
trouble with the odd word.
Ami ignored the last and pulled her computer from the sub-space
pocket she kept it in and tried scanning for the princess. "You do
realize that the negative energies are so great that the chances of
this actually accomplishing anything without the princess being
within a three foot radius is pretty much nil."
"Huh?"
"She means, the princess would have to be within three feet of us
for this to work," Zoisite translated.
The others nodded their thanks.
The computer began to beep. "Goddess Selene above!" Ami
exclaimed.
"What?!"
"She's here! She's here!"
"Well, of course, she is Ami, that's why we're *searching* here."
"No, I mean she's through that door." Ami pointed.
The rest of them looked at one another and began to smile. "We
found her!"
Endymion didn't wait for the others. He dashed through the
doorway, his eyes searching anxiously for Serenity. He saw her laid
out on a slab of stone and all of a sudden he felt rather choked up
with emotion. Usako.

He bent over her prone body and tenderly kissed her eyelids, the
tip of her nose, her lips. It was the instant that his lips touched
hers that she reached up and put her arms around his neck. Startled,
he pulled away and she rose to a sitting position, her arms still
about him. Her blue eyes fluttered open and soft sigh escaped her
lips.
"Mamo-chan," she breathed, looking at him with such utter
adoration in her eyes that he was forced to swallow the lump in his
throat, "I knew you'd come for me."
"Of course, Usako," he said, tracing the curve of her face with a
loving finger. "I will always come for you. I will always be there
for you as long as you need me."
"Eternity is a long time," she whispered, smiling up at him.
"Not for me, not for us," he replied, taking her still-weak form
in his arms. He bore her up and carried her to where the others were
waiting.
"Minna," Serenity said softly, her eyes resting on the concerned
faces of her Senshi, then on the Guardians. "Domo arigato, minna."
"For what?" Rei asked, suddenly too choked with emotion to respond
with her usual condescending flare. Jadeite put a comforting arm
around her and she made no move to remove it.
"For coming," Serenity smiled again, as if that was perfectly
obvious.
"How could we do anything else?" Rei asked.
"It's our duty," Makoto said with an arch look at Nephrite who
flushed a little.
"You're our princess," Ami added, "and our friend."
"We love you, Sere," Minako murmured, gazing at her princess
steadily.
"I love you too . . . minna," Serenity said, smiling at everyone,
the Guardians included.
"Come on, we have to get out of here," Endymion ordered, but his
voice was still tender with his love.
"Hai," eight voices chorused in reply.
"Usako?" he asked, but she did not respond. She was asleep. He
kissed her on the forehead, Sleep well, my princess, then looked
up and addressed the others. "Beryl isn't too far away. She'll be
here any moment. Can we manage a teleport?"
Ami glanced around at all of them. "We're all really tired, but
with all of us together-"
The loud sound of hundreds of footsteps pounding their way decided
for them.
"I guess there's really no choice," Ami responded with a shrug.
"I guess not." Endymion frowned. "All right, everyone in a
circle.
"You're in the middle, Endymion," Minako directed.
"Huh? Why?"
"You're carrying the Princess," Kunzite pointed out with a
strained voice.
The others looked at him and Endymion took a deep breath. "Oh
yeah, you're right."
He stepped into the center, still carrying the princess, and the
others formed the circle around them. Looking at their tired faces,
he had only time to ask, "Are you sure you can manage teleporting
both of us?"
Jadeite flashed him a wry smile, "No choice, Endymion, remember?"
The noise of the youma sounded closer.
They exchanged one meaningful look, then they all concentrated,
their auras rising about them. "SAILOR TELEPORT!!!" the Senshi
cried, just as the Guardians shouted, "GUARDIAN TELEPORT!!!"
The army of the Dark Kingdom burst into the room but could only
watch, aghast, as rainbow colors scintillated about the room and the
intruders vanished in an overwhelming flash of white light.

They arrived back at the Earth Palace and Endymion immediately
laid Serenity down in a soft bed and had Ami check her over.
"She'll be fine," Ami said, relieved. "She just needs to rest."
Everyone breathed out the breath that they had been holding. The
worried look on Endymion's face cleared. "Thank the goddess."
The others looked at him in astonishment. Endymion had never
before shown any indication that he believed in Selene.
He turned to look at them, gently brushing aside a stray lock of
hair. "If she can believe, I can, too. She knows what is truth and
what is not. She can see into people's hearts and find the goodness
there. Is that not an aspect of Selene the all-mother, Selene the
benevolent?"
Nephrite nodded. "Hai, sir."
Endymion smiled. "For her, I can believe. Selene brings
miracles? Serenity is a miracle. The old faiths are still valid.
People may practice whatever they will, as long as they do not
worship the dark goddesses."
His eyes lingered an instant on Serenity. "No, even then.
Everyone must choose his or her own path." His eyes were a lighter
blue as he looked up again.
"Isn't that right?"
The others nodded.
"I will wait here until she wakes," he declared, kneeling at her
bedside, her hand in his. "The rest of you, get out of here." He
smiled good-naturedly at the couples. "Go get your wounds tended to
and," his voice sobered a little, "check on the progress of the war,
will you? I fear for my people."
"Hai, sir," the Guardians said, bringing their fists to their
chests in a warriors salute. They left, the Senshi trailing behind
them.
"Endymion?"
He looked up to see Mars looking at him from the door. "Take care
of her."
He nodded, then resumed his vigil over his sleeping love.

When Serenity awoke the first thing that met her eyes were
Endymion's blue ones. "Mamo-chan." She opened her arms and they
embraced.

The Senshi returned to the Moon, but Serenity lingered. She was
loathe to go. Every so often one of the Senshi would pop up bearing
a message from the queen begging her daughter to return. Serenity
would smile at whatever Senshi it was and each time her answer would
be the same. "When I'm ready."
The Senshi and Serenity would exchange a smile, before the Senshi
would bow and say, "As you will, my princess," before disappearing.

One day Nephrite introduced Naru, his first love, and Umino, her
husband to Serenity. "I'm quite pleased to meet you, Lady," Naru
said politely.
"And I'm pleased to meet you too," Serenity said with a smile.
When they had gone, she turned to Nephrite and said in a quiet
voice, "Had things been different I think we might have been friends.
She's such a sweet girl. Perhaps we will be friends, in another
life."
Nephrite looked at her gravely, "I fear for her safety, and for
his. The war might very well intrude upon their pleasant lives.
They've had a sheltered existence and I couldn't bear it if anything
happened to them. They've both been my friends for a long time now."
"Send them to the moon," Serenity said immediately. "I doubt the
war will reach that far."
"And if it does?"
"Well, all we can to is hope that it doesn't. Nephrite, make
something to track her. Just in case," she said with a little smile
of assurance as she left him.
He stared up at the stars outside then summoned forth their power
and produced a shining black star crystal. "Find Naru, always," he
commanded the crystal. Then he turned to look where Naru had gone
and whispered, "I'm always looking after you, and I always will be."

Serenity knocked hesitantly on the door to the farmhouse, Endymion
behind her and ill at ease.
The door opened and a man's face peered out. Seeing her, he swung
it open. "Oh, it's you!"
Ikuko came running to the door crying, "Kenji, Kenji, what is it?"
Then she caught sight of Serenity and let out a cry of delight.
"Princess!"
She stopped abruptly, catching sight of Endymion. "Princess?"
Kenji growled. "Get in the house, Ikuko."
Serenity smiled soothingly. "It's all right, Ikuko, Kenji. You
know Prince Endymion, I assume."
"Your Highness," Ikuko said curtsying deeply and elbowing Kenji
who bowed reluctantly.
"It's all right," she said again. "Is Shingo in? I'd like to see
him."
Ikuko ducked into the house and reappeared an instant later, her
infant son in her arms.
Serenity tickled the baby, making him laugh, and Ikuko smiled with
strain.
"Are you all right?" Serenity asked, her blue eyes soft in their
concern.
"Oh Princess, I'm just so frightened for my baby, what with the
war and all!"
Serenity smiled her benevolent smile again, her eyes shining with
joy. "That's why I've come. If you wish it, I will send you to the
Moon to live. Mayhap, the war will not reach that far."
"Oh, great Goddess Selene, the heavens surely smile down on us!
Serenity, you must be a child of the Goddess."
"I?" Serenity looked amused. "Why would the Goddess have a child
as clumsy as me?"
The two women exchanged a wry smile, then burst into a flurry of
giggles.
Serenity placed a hand on Ikuko's arm. "Go now, Ikuko, Kenji,
Shingo. It is your place to be on the Moon. May you find safety
there."
The three of them knelt before her and looked up at their
princess, and Ikuko could only smile tearfully and say, "Thank you,
Serenity. Thank you."

Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion toured his Gardens one last
time together. "I must return tomorrow," she said, gazing up at the
Moon shining silver in the sky.
"I'll see you off," he said lightly.
They walked companionably for a moment, Endymion taking Serenity's
hand in his.
"The war is faring badly, isn't it?" she asked almost fearfully.
He nodded but did not speak.
"You have to return to the fighting, don't you?"
Again he nodded, his throat tightening.
"Be careful." The words were soft but they held so much emotion
that Endymion had to hold back his emotions or he feared his heart
would break.
"Usako?"
"Mmmm?"
Endymion brought out two golden bands. Serenity looked at him, as
if to discern his meaning. "They're wedding rings," he explained,
hesitantly. "I thought that we could exchange them before I have to
go off to fight, as a promise."
"A promise?" she asked softly.
"A promise that we'll each make, to save ourselves for each other.
They're enchanted so that we'll both know if anything's happened to
the other." He smiled weakly, "Not that we wouldn't already know.
They are for all intents and purposes real wedding rings and if we
exchange vows, then we will be legally married. Of course, it
wouldn't be official, but-"
He looked at her, then gulped. His next words came out in a rush.
"Serenity, I love you, more than anything in this world, but I
understand if you don't feel the same; if you can't share my
feelings. But I just thought that maybe-"
"Hush," she said, placing her finger to his lips. Her deep love
for him was evident in her voice. Endymion relaxed, relieved, but
still his eyes questioned her. "Hush," she said again. "I do love
you, Endymion. That is the one thing that you should never doubt."
"Usako-"
She smiled at the use of that name. "Mamo-chan."
He knelt down and took her hand in his. He looked up at her,
earnest and loving. "Would you consent to be my wife, my dearest
Usako?"
"With all my heart."
He rose up and enfolded her in a tender embrace, slipping a finger
onto her hand, as he kissed her with all of the love in her heart.
She stepped back, her eyes shining. She was the most beautiful
that Endymion had ever seen her. She looked at the ring on her hand
and regretfully took it off, handing it back to him. Before he could
protest, she said lightly, lovingly, "Now, shall we exchange vows?"
He looked at her smiling face and couldn't stop himself from
smiling back. "I, Endymion of Earth, do take thee, Serenity of the
Moon, to love and to hold, for better or worse till death-"
"No," she whispered, her eyes serious. "Even that shall not part
us."
"For better or worse for all of eternity as long as our love for
each other shines in our hearts. I will protect her with my life,
for she is dearer to my heart than anything else," he finished.
"I, Serenity of the Moon, do take thee, Endymion of Earth, to love
and to hold, for better or worse for all of eternity as long as our
love for each other shines in our hearts. I will give up my life for
him if I must, for he is dearer to my heart than anything else."
Endymion slipped one of the golden rings onto Serenity's ring
finger. "With this ring I thee wed, Usako."
Serenity took the other golden ring and placed it on Endymion's
ring finger. "With this ring I thee wed, Mamo-chan."
Their lips met in a kiss, and bound together forever, they were
adrift in their love.

Endymion did see her off the next day, but she had never expected
him to come to the Moon with her; he had insisted. "You're worth
a little risk, Usako, and this is a *little* risk. You know as well
as I do that I can outrun all of your Royal Guards and the Senshi
wouldn't dare arrest me."
"They had better not!" she had responded fiercely.
So they had gone to the Moon.

When they arrived it was evening and Serenity had Endymion wait
for her on a balcony outside her room as she ducked inside to
retrieve something.
Endymion looked out over the calm beauty of the Moon, wonderingly.
He had never expected to see it again. Usako, this is where you
belong, but someday, I hope that you'll belong on Earth, with me.
"I already do," Serenity said, stepping out of curtains of her
balcony.
"Can you discern my thoughts?" he asked without surprise.
"Silly, of course I can. I am you, and you are me. We have the
same blood flowing in our veins now."
"Serenity, is it true what they say? Are Lunars immortal?"
"We are mortal and immortal. We can die, we *will* die, but I
suppose our souls are eternal."
"So you will live, my beautiful Serenity, and I will not. I am
glad that you will endure."
"Have you listened to nothing that I have said? We share the same
blood, Endymion."
"Then-"
"Yes," she placed a finger on his lip and it was only then that he
noticed she was hiding something behind her back. "Forgive me?" she
asked.
"For what?"
"For the gift and the curse that I have laid upon you, for that is
what immortality is."
"If I can be with you, I don't care."
Serenity's eyes shone. She brought out the object that she had
hidden behind her back. It lay flat on the palm of her hand, the
chain dangling down. "My gift to you, beloved."
Endymion stared at the locket as it shimmered gold in the
starlight. He hesitantly touched it and it began to play a melody.
"Eternity," he managed to say.
"Eternity," she repeated. "It's an old, old tune. I've claimed
it for us, Mamo-chan, because it has endured and will endure as long
as our love."
He placed his hand over top of it, covering hers completely. "No,
our love will endure longer."
She smiled. "Of course, for forever and a day, if need be." She
looked down at their hands, trying to hold back the tears forming at
the corners of her eyes. Why am I crying? He won't be gone for
long.
Suddenly she found herself being pulled tightly into an embrace,
Endymion's arms wrapped securely around her. She rested her head on
his shoulder and cried through her tears, "You won't forget me?"
He murmured into her hair, his chest tight with emotion, "Could I
ever? My Usako, my princess, my wife."
"Mamo-chan, I don't want you to go!"
"I'll be here for you, whenever you need me to be. In spirit if
not in body. I'll always protect you. I'll always love you."
She sniffled as they separated a little, wiping at her tears with
the back of her hair. "I must seem childish. I'm your wife now-I'll
be brave!"
"That's good." He tipped her face up and once again her eyes
threatened to overflow with tears, but she held them in check. "You
know, I'd be worried if you didn't miss me."
"No kidding. I'd . . . be worried too."
They stared at each other for an instant, then pulled her to him
and they kissed with all of the passion and love they possessed. And
then they parted.
"Good-bye, my love."
"Farewell, beloved."
"My princess."
"My prince."
"My wife."
"My husband."
They looked at each other for one last lingering instant, then
Endymion wrenched his gaze away and strode quickly off into the
night, the locket clenched tightly in his hand.
Serenity watched him go, the evening breeze playing with her hair.
"Until Destiny sees fit for us to meet again, my love."

*Four months later*

Endymion pulled out his sword and brandished it at Beryl.
She floated above her army of youma, her eyes bright with an
insane light. All about Beryl and Endymion the battle raged. All
four of his Generals and their armies were in it and he could only
hope that Beryl had not planned another attack at the same time
elsewhere.
"Why can't you love me?!" Beryl screamed. "I always loved you,
ever since we were little. No one ever loved me. My parents didn't
love me at all. They beat me, Endy. When you and I met, I thought
*finally* here's someone I can love who will love me back! But you
don't! You love her, that snippety little princess. What did she
ever do to deserve you, Endymion? I loved you. You were my life,
but you were always too busy thinking of *her* to think of *me*!"
"B-Beryl, I'm sorry, I didn't know."
She softened. "I can give you another chance, Endymion. You can
forget all about her and love me and we'll be happy. I can make you
happy. She could never make you *really* happy, and after I kill
her, you won't ever have to think about her."
"You can't kill her, Beryl! I love her. I'm sorry, but I could
never love you in place of her. Love doesn't work that way."
"Well, fine! If you can't love me then I'll have to kill *both*
of you! I won't let her have you! I won't let you be happy while
I'm miserable!"
"Beryl, we can be your friends! We can help you!" Endymion said
desperately.
"Forget it! Now, how should I kill you? Maybe I should kill you
the same way I killed your parents!!!"
Endymion's eyes widened in horror. "You didn't?" he pleaded,
hoping she was just making that up. Maybe he could redeem
*something* in her.
She scowled. "Of course I did."
Endymion tried to restrain the anger boiling up in him, the grief,
but still his voice came out taught and shaky with anger. "How could
you? HOW COULD YOU?! THEY WERE MY PARENTS!!!"
Fed up, Beryl screamed, "BECAUSE THEY KILLED MY MOTHER!!!"
Endymion stopped short. In a voice drained of all emotion he
asked, "What do you mean?"
She began to speak, rapidly, distractedly, shying away from the
memory and Endymion suddenly saw things the way she must have seen
them fifteen years ago . . .

*Flash*

Eight-year old Beryl watched as the soldiers dragged her
struggling mother away. She started to run to her, but her father
yanked her back, holding her arm, with a grip that hurt. "It is up
to the King and Queen to decide her fate now," he intoned,
dispassionately. "And unless you want to join your mother in her
fate, little Beryl, you'd better mind me."
Beryl struggled some more against her father, "Momma! Momma!
MOMMA!!!"
Her father wrenched her arm and said, hatefully, "Look, I never
wanted you, brat, and I don't want you now, so if you want to go to
your death like your Momma, then go ahead and join her in Hell!"
Beryl sobbed, staring through the open door of their broken down
shack. She whispered, "Momma."

Later that day, Beryl ran into the town square just in time to
hear the town crier say, "For the heinous crimes she has committed,
King Gaian and Queen Terra of the Crystal Kingdom and the Golden
Millennium of Earth have decreed that Morganite, last sorceress of
Earth, should be put to the stake and burned."
Beryl's horrified gaze shifted to where her mother stood, bound to
a wooden pole over a pile of easily lit branches. "No," she
whispered in a tiny voice.
A man bent with a flaming torch in his hand and set fire to the
kindling.
Morganite gazed across the square into her daughter's eyes and
smiled smugly. You have the power, little Beryl. Use it. Save me
and one day we will rule this world together and take our revenge on
those who would seek to destroy us.
Beryl tried, she tried to feel the magic within her, but all she
felt was a cold emptiness. I-I can't!
The smile left Morganite's face, her eyes widening in panic and
fear. Beryl! she cried, the flames inching closer. BERYL!
She screamed, her hair rising straight into the air, fire-red, as the
rising flames engulfed her, devouring her body in their hunger.
"BERRRYYYLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"NOOOOOO!!!!!" Beryl screamed. "MOMMA!!!!!!"
"Look, it's the witch's daughter!" She dimly heard someone say as
she stood there, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her father
appeared behind her and yanked on her arm. "Come on, Beryl. Your
Momma got what she deserved. Now let's go!"
She roughly pulled her arm free and kept staring at the charred
and blackened corpse in the flames that was all that remained of her
mother. A mob of villagers started towards her. She didn't notice
them until they blocked out her view of the horrible, flickering
flames, and then the rage within her built, and peaked, and spilt
out, until she was overflowing with it and the sweet, sweet feeling
of power was rushing through her.
Then she raised her arm into the air, the earth sign blazing on
her forehead and pointed an index finger at her father. "Die," she
whispered, then blasted him with all of the surging emotions within
her, her hatred for him bubbling out. The bolt of power hit him and
trapped him in agonizing spasms as it ran across his body, until it
finally destroyed him with a flash of destructive light. He screamed
the most agonizing scream that Beryl had ever heard any living thing
make, and she relished every moment of it.
Then she turned her attention to the villagers who were fleeing
now in abject terror for their lives. Beryl smiled, her father's
screams still echoing in her ears and said, "I let him die easy, but
you let my mother die, and I am going to kill you *very* *very*
slowly." She called forth her power again and directed it at the
fleeing villagers until the whole village was awash with her
destructive power and everywhere there were the screams of those
dying in profound torment. Men, women, children, Beryl spared no
one, her auburn hair flowing about her like the flames that had
destroyed her mother. Her eyes flashed eerily red and her laughter
rang out. Hours later, the village in flames, there was no one left
but Beryl.

A soldier found her outside the remains of the village and took
her to the palace where she was tended to. When she awoke, Beryl
began making her plan for revenge against those who had ordered the
death of her mother. It would take a long, long time before her
plans came to fruition, long enough for them to trust her, and for
her to not be one of those suspected, but Beryl could wait. She
could indeed, for one day there would be a reckoning.

*Flash*

As Beryl finished her tale, Endymion stared at her with horror-
filled eyes. "I remember hearing of that village, that woman. Your
mother cast a spell and in doing so destroyed a city, KILLING OVER
THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE!!!"
Beryl snarled, her eyes filled with animal rage and loathing. "I
DON'T CARE!!!!"
Endymion swallowed. "Why - why did you spare me?"
"Because, like me, your parents didn't love you. And - and you're
different, Endy, like me. We have the power and others fear us, but
we're better than them, Endy! We can rule the world, the universe,
if we want! They think that we're not good enough for them, but
they're the pathetic ones, lacking power. I could teach you how to
use your power, Endy. We don't need anyone else. Together we could
be gods!"
Endymion stared at her in disbelief, at the red light in her eyes.
A sinking, despairing feeling formed in his gut. This changes too
much; we can never be the same again, Beryl. Isn't there any way to
save your soul?
His only answer was the sound of her maniacal laughter.
The battle raged on.

*One month later*

Endymion's confrontation with Beryl had shaken him to his core.
He simply could not believe that his former friend had turned so
evil. He was forced to believe it, however, when she launched an
attack on the capital and captured it, the Earth Palace, and him.

The Guardians, who had been elsewhere at the time, fled to the
Moon where the Senshi hid them as they planned how to bring about
Beryl's downfall and rescue Endymion. When they had finally finished
their planning, they prepared to leave.

The Senshi found them as they were preparing to teleport back to
Earth.

"Let us come with you," Rei said intently, putting her hand over
Jadeite's as she looked into his eyes. "You helped us save our
princess, now let us help you save your prince."
"No, Rei. The war is coming to *you* now. You must guard your
princess, Rei, and your kingdoms. If we cannot stop Beryl, then she
will go after your worlds next. She hungers for power, for death and
destruction. She will not hesitate to kill you."
Rei's eyes began to water as she looked at him. "It is suicide to
go alone. Let me come, Jade," she pleaded.
"No, my love, this, we must do alone. Take care, my heart." He
touched her face, then turning, he joined the others.
"Guardian Teleport!"
"JAAADE!!!" Rei cried, falling to her knees.
"Nephrite!"
"Zoisite!"
"Kunzite," Minako whispered.

*Earth*

Endymion was chained in the dungeon. The irony was that it was
*his* dungeon, of *his* palace. Beryl had taken up residence there.
His whole body hurt. Beryl had had her youma lash him several times
after he had refused her . . . offers. His willpower remained
strong, though. All he could think of was Serenity. He filled his
mind with images of her. Sweet Serenity, beautiful Serenity, clumsy
Serenity, his princess, his wife.

That is, that was all he could think of until his Guardians burst
into the dungeon, followed by Beryl's enormous army of youma.
"What the-?" Endymion began, before Zoisite slashed his wrists
free of the iron and Nephrite pushed a sword into his hands.
"How's it going, Endy?" Zoisite asked.
"How did you-?" He never got a chance to finish as more and more
youma poured into the dungeon.
"Hurry, get the Hell out of here, Endy!" Jadeite cried, slashing
through them, his Guardian armor blazing forth.
"Go ON, my prince!" Kunzite cried, his own Guardian armor flaring
forth.
"But, but-"
"Don't wait for us, Endy! We're just *dying* to dance with these
goons!" Zoisite's Guardian armor shone as it appeared.
"The Princess!" Nephrite shouted, his own armor brilliantly
appearing. "Get out of here for her!"
The four of them shoved him toward an exit.
"GO!!!!!!"
Endymion went. He ran through the familiar halls of his palace,
dank and filthy now from their occupation by the youma, his breath
catching in his throat. Good luck, my Guardians. From behind him,
he could hear their battle cries sounding out.
"PHOENIX!!!"
"GRIFFIN!!!"
"Ugh, do I *really* have to say this? Oh fine, UNICORN!!!"
"DRAGON!!!"
The Prince of Earth stumbled out of the palace and continued to
run until he was half a mile from the palace then turned to look
back. My Guardians . . .

"RRRREEEEEEEEEIIIII!!!!!!!!" Jadeite howled his last defiant
cry, his whole body and soul crying out in anguish. Rei . . .
Then he succumbed to the darkness, her smiling face before him.

Mako, our love will have to be enough, after all . . .

Be happy, Ami. Don't cry for me. All I ever wanted to do was
make you smile . . .

I love you, Mina-chan. I never admitted it, but it's true.

The structure burst into flame, then crumbled and collapsed in on
itself behind him. Endymion stared, his eyes wide with horror and
denial. "No," escaped from his lips. No no no no no no
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!" Then with an incomprehensible cry of loss,
he threw himself to the ground and wept. "Jadeite. Zoisite.
Nephrite. Kunzite. NO! NO, DAMMIT!!! DON'T LEAVE ME!!!!" Then
raising his tear-streaked face to the sky, he vowed, with all of the
strength left in his body, "I WILL DESTROY YOU FOR THIS, BERYL!!! I
WILL MAKE YOU *PAY* FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!!"

Beryl snatched the stones from the lifeless bodies, cackling in
triumph. Finally, I have them! Then with a vicious manipulation
of dark energy, she wrenched their souls free and trapped them in
their stones . . . forever. She implanted the stones in their
foreheads and smiled in dark pleasure as the eyes of the corpses
sprang open and glowed red in the darkness.
"Welcome to the Dark Kingdom, my Dark Kings . . ."

*The Moon*

Endymion stumbled wearily into the throne room and collapsed. Her
eyes widening in shock, Princess Serenity dashed forward and knelt at
his side, disregarding the stern looks that her mother and the rest
of the court were giving her.
"Endymion," she pleaded, cradling his head in her lap. "Wake up
now, dearest."
Endymion groaned and turned his head and Princess Serenity's hands
flew to her mouth as she saw the bloody gash on his temple. "Selene,
help him." She knew that it was not as bad as his sword wound had
been, but here, surrounded by her mother's court, he looked so
vulnerable and Serenity knew that he must have been desperate to come
here. She felt his pain as acutely as if it were her own, but she
bore it and set it aside. It was not his wounds that troubled him
most, it was his heart. It was broken, and Serenity feared what that
foretold.
"Mamo-chan," she asked him softly, staring at his unconscious face. "What has occurred?" She turned to her mother, tears, which
she did not seem to notice, trickling silently down her face.
"Mother," she said, in a sad, quiet, little lost voice, her eyes
sending her mother such an eloquent look of despair and pleading that
the Queen could deny her nothing. "Help him, please."
Queen Serenity flinched. How could she not when he was in such a
state? When her daughter had asked it of her in such a voice? Even
the sorrow could not hide the newfound maturity, the strength and
purpose in it. The princess *would* have her way. Briefly, Serenity
wondered what had happened to her little girl to change her so, but
she knew the answer. Sere had grown up.
She gestured regally, and her guards moved forward. "Take him,"
she said and swallowed a lump in her throat as Sere clung to him,
shielding his body as though they would do him harm, "Take him to the
Healers."
The guards advanced and carefully lifted him body between them.
The princess let him go reluctantly, and kissed him tenderly before
they carried him away. She watched as they left the room, then
turned to her mother, and before the Queen could say a word, she said
simply, her eyes filled with truth, "I love him, Mother."
And Serenity could not say a word in response, especially when her
daughter held up her left hand and the Queen saw the band of gold
that shone there.
"You cannot separate us, Mother. Endymion and I, are one.
Throughout eternity."
Queen Serenity smiled sadly, unable to stop looking into her
daughter's resolute eyes, "I know, Sere. I know."

"Endymion," came a clear, loving voice and Endymion propped
himself up to see Princess Serenity seated at the foot of his bed.
"Usako."
"Why did you come?" she asked, looking at him worriedly. "I mean,
I'm certainly glad that you're safe, but why did you come alone? Why
did the Guardians not accompany you, my love? You were badly injured
. . ."
Endymion looked away. "Serenity, something's happened."
She stood and walked to the head of his bed and knelt down before
him. She put her left hand on his and reached up to touch his face.
He flinched as though in pain. "What is the matter, love? Tell me
what it is that pains you so."
"Can you not guess?" he countered, his voice hard as he gazed off
into the distance, unseeing.
Her hand squeezed his a little tighter, and rising she said as she
turned to leave, "Yes, I can, my love. Your pain is mine. Mine is
my Senshi's even as your Guardians' is yours. I can guess, Endymion,
and the thought makes me weep inside and my heart breaks into a
million pieces over them. How shall I tell my Senshi, Endymion?"
Endymion winced at the bitterness in her voice. Serenity had
never before been bitter. It was not in her to be anything but happy
or sad. Bitterness was as alien to the sweetness of her nature as
the forces of the Dark Kingdom on Earth. "Serenity!" he called out
before she could leave. "I don't know what to do without them! They
were my friends . . . and more than that!" He tasted salt on his
lips and realized that he was crying. "They were like . . . brothers
to me."
"I know," she said, turning and he saw that she was fighting
tears. She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him. They both
wept quietly for a time and even after her tears had stopped, his
still would not slow. I love you, Usako.
I know that, too. She held him as the tears coursed down his
cheeks and he wept for the first time in her embrace. "Mamo-chan,"
she murmured, rocking him slightly, as a mother would rock a child,
"I love you, too. With all of my heart, I love you. 'Till the end
of time."
Then she raised his face to hers and kissed away his tears. My
love, my love, someday, we will all be together again. You and your
Guardians and I and my Senshi. I promise you that. Someday.
Usako, he thought, as she laid him down in his bed and pulled
the covers up around him, kissing his lips.
"Good night, my husband," she murmured sadly, "Good night, my
prince."
And he slept the sleep of a child who has found peace at last.

"Come, my Shadows," Beryl shrieked. "The time has come to destroy
this pitiful Moon Kingdom once and for all! Endymion will not
escape me again! The Moon Princess will be made to PAY for what she
has done! Queen Serenity will BOW before me and offer up her
daughter's life as a sacrifice!!! COME MOTHER, AID ME!!! I, BERYL,
YOUR DAUGHTER, SORCERESS OF EARTH DO SUMMON YOU!!! MOTHER, HEED
ME!!!!!!"
A dark shadowy figure seeped up from the ground, the outline of
long wavy hair barely visible. You *failed* me, Beryl. Did you
think that I would forgive you for that?! My death, it is on YOUR
shoulders!!!
Beryl laughed. "You cannot harm me now, Mother. Your power, it
is now MINE!!! You placed too much faith on a scared little girl.
You should have known that as long as you lived I could not have full
use of my powers! You were using me, Mother, and now I will use
YOU!!! SHADOWS!!!" she screamed.
The Seven came forth from the darkness, surrounding the dark
spirit.
"DEVOUR HER!!!" Beryl laughed, her eyes blazing red in enjoyment.
The Shadows massed forth and overtook the lone spirit, consuming
her. As she died for the second time, the spirit wailed,
BERRRRRRYYYYYLLLLLLLL!!! MY DAUGHTER!!!
"Yes, Mother, I am your daughter," Beryl said, her eyes burning
brighter.
CURSE YOU!!! CURSE YOU, BERYL!!! MAY YOUR EXISTENCE BE
*DAMNED*!!!
"It already is, Mother. It already is."
The spirit let out one more cry and then it was gone. The Seven
Shadows turned blazing hungry red eyes on Beryl. She smirked. "Now
that you have had your snack, it is time for the feast to begin. The
Moon Kingdom will be nothing more than dust when I am through with
it, and Endymion will be MINE!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"

Endymion paused beneath her balcony. "Princess Serenity," he
called.
"Prince Endymion," she responded, astonished to see him up and
about.
"Princess, I should not be here," he murmured, and she suddenly
knew why he was being so formal. Her mother may have accepted the
fact that they were in love, but she didn't have to like it. "I must
speak with you, though. That sorceress, Beryl, is even now leading
her armies against Earth. I fear she has already taken my kingdom
and brainwashed my subjects to her cause."
No! Serenity thought desperately.
"Serenity," he said, a pleading look suddenly in his eyes, "you
must be cautious. She is coming after the Moon next! Serenity,
promise me-" He turned and they both heard the clatter of armor.
"I must go," he said shortly. "Good-bye, my princess. We may
very well not meet again." He looked at her one last lingering
instant more, then took of down the path.
Serenity watched as the Royal Guard clattered after him, yelling
for him to "Halt, in the name of the moon!"
He'll get away, she thought confidently to herself. Then she
spoke aloud, her voice sounding suddenly frightened in the stillness
of the room. "Beryl, coming here? No, it cannot be! She will not
take over the Moon! I, Serenity, daughter of Serenity, do swear that
Beryl will never have the Moon for her own. By Selene, she shall not
if I and my Senshi have any say about it."
She determinedly swept from the room. I will tell the Senshi.
Then she stopped short. I cannot face them . . . not now. They
will want news of the Guardians and I have nothing to tell them.
How can I tell them? How can I crush their dreams - break their
hearts - in such a way? No, it is better to wait as Endymion and I
decided. Soon, we may all be dead anyway, and then it will not
matter who went first. But I do swear that if we all die trying,
Beryl will *not* get the Moon. "I will not allow that witch to take
my kingdom from me." She strode on.
Luna watched her from a shadowed corner in the corridor. She saw
what Serenity had seen earlier. You've grown up, my princess.

Princess Serenity swept down the stairs, her hand trailing along
the banister. She felt someone catch hold of her wrist and arrest
her motion. She turned, startled, and the sight that met her eyes
startled her even more. "Endymion," she breathed.
He gave a gallant bow and said, "May I be so bold as to request a
dance, my princess?" His eyes looked up at her through his mask and
their intense blue gazed on her lovingly. "It could be our last," he
said in a low voice.
Serenity wanted nothing more than to fling herself into his arms
and hold him until the world came to pieces around them, but instead,
she only nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
He drew her onto the dance floor and they danced together to the
music. As they danced, Serenity was aware that she and this
mysterious masked man were drawing stares, but she cared not in the
least.
"You came," she whispered, when he was holding her in his arms.
"How could I miss the last dance of the millennium?" he replied,
holding her closer. "As I said before, it could be our last and if
it is, the only way I want to end my life is holding you."
Serenity rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't want this to
ever end. This dance . . . this life."
"But dearest," he murmured, "all things must end. It is the
nature of life."
"But not so soon," she countered. "Not so soon. Our time has not
yet come, my prince. We have our whole lives ahead of us, why can't
we live them?"
"We've done more living in this past year than most people have
done in their whole lifetimes. Don't fret, love, we're not going to
give up without a fight."
"Will you fight, Endymion?"
"For you, for my people, for Earth, for the Moon, yes, I will
fight. Till the bitter end if I must. I won't let you go without a
fight. I've said that before and I meant it, and I mean it now."
"Endymion, do we really stand a chance against Beryl? Can we
truly defeat her?"
"We have weapons that she will never possess, angel of my heart.
We have our love. For that I am willing to fight her and her minions
alone."
"You are not alone," she whispered, resting her cheek against his.
"You are never alone, Endymion. Mamo-chan. Never forget that."
"I won't."
"But Endymion, she has love too. She loves you. Isn't that
enough for her to prevail?"
"There is a difference between love and lust. She may have loved
me once, but when the true Beryl was destroyed through her own evil
and Metallia took over, there is nothing left but hatred, jealousy,
rage, and the need for revenge. She can no longer feel love. She
has become a minion of the Dark Kingdom in more than name. They have
her soul."
"Can she not be saved?"
"You are so trusting, Serenity. So innocent, still. I want you
to stay that way, forever. I want you to always be my Usako."
"I always will."
"No, darling, you are already beyond that. You are not mine, I am
yours, my beautiful, beautiful, Serenity."
"No, Mamo-chan, we do not belong to each other. As I told Beryl
once and as she could not understand, we belong *with* each other.
For eternity."
"Eternity, my Usa."
They kissed and as their lips met and they both felt the
outpouring of love from each other, a huge resounding explosion was
heard from outside. It shook the ballroom and pieces of the ceiling
began falling. Endymion held Serenity tightly to him, and shielded
her with his body from the raining rubble.
"Serenity!" he yelled over the raucous din as people began
screaming and Luna and Artemis ran through, shouting for everyone to
get to battle stations and fend off the attack.
She looked up at him with frightened but strangely resolute eyes.
"She's come, hasn't she?"
"Yes, my princess. Now, you have to get to safety!" Towing her
along, he began pushing his way through the panicked crowd.
"I don't want to leave you!" she cried.
He pulled her to him again and murmured into her hair, "I love
you, Usa. I will always love you. Now, GO!" He pushed her through
the crowd towards an exit and started off in the other direction
towards the sounds of the attack.
"ENDYMION!" she cried as the crowd carried her away.
He turned, looking at her searchingly.
"I love you! Forever, my prince! Forever, my husband!"
He nodded, then turned about again and ran towards the fighting.
Serenity let the crowd carry her away now, but as they went, she
couldn't help but worry for his safety, for the safety of the others,
and she offered up a prayer to the Goddess Selene. Please Selene,
keep them safe, especially Endymion. I love them all.

Ikuko knelt, the silver robes flowing about her as she pressed her
hands together in prayer. Great Goddess Selene protect your
children this day. Help defend us against the encroaching evil . .
.
Kenji, holding Shingo in his arms, watched her silently. Good
luck, love. Pray, for all of us.
For the princess, daughter of Serenity, descended of Cynthia,
descended of Eurynome, child of the Moon and of Selene, may the Gods
have mercy upon us.
Kenji knelt next to her, gently placing Shingo on the ground
slightly in front of both of them. He took her hand in his and they
exchanged a shaky smile. Then together they bowed their heads and
murmured, "Selene the merciful, Goddess of the Moon, protect this,
your kingdom, against the forces of darkness . . ."

Princess Serenity wept into her hands, her slender frame shaking
and racked from sobs. She had found her way to her own quarters
where she was awaiting the end of her world in darkness. "If only .
. ." she sobbed, "if only I could protect him . . . like he always
protects me. I can't let him go . . . I would give up my life . . .
to protect the one I love!" She broke down completely, crying her
heart out.
Luna watched her from the shadows. 'I would give up my life . .
. to protect the one I love!' she thought to herself. Do you
really love him that much? Well, I can't help him, but I can help
you. You will have your wish. You *will* be able to protect him.
She turned and ran down the hallway. I hope I am doing the right
thing. The Sailor Senshi of the Moon will be born this day. I will
create a henshin wand for you, Princess - no, Sailor Moon.

Beryl laughed in amusement as she sent forth her Dark Kings.
"Find the Sailor Senshi and DESTROY them!!!"
"Yes, my Queen," they intoned.
And Beryl laughed . . .

Mars looked at Jadeite as he entered the room.
"Does our love burn brightly now?" he asked with a bitter laugh.
Sailor Mars's gaze was steady, as she said slowly and sadly, "Yes,
until there is nothing left but ashes."
He stared at her for an instant, unbelieving as she raised her
hands in the gesture he knew all too well. REI! the soul within
him cried in torment.
She heard him, he knew that she did, but she simply bit her lower
lip until it bled and lowered her tear-bright eyes for an instant in
pain. He struck.
He charged forward, knocking her off balance and pinning her to
the wall, his hand tight around her neck. She struggled, crying out
as he hurt her, desperately searching for the *real* him in his eyes.
All she could see was the darkness in his soul, the red power
flickering in his eyes and she knew that he had at that instant been
totally consumed. He was dead to her.
With a cry of pain, she knocked him away and wrenched free of his
grip. They stared at each other from across the room.
He laughed madly as she struggled for breath. She had hoped with
all of her heart that this moment would never come, when the two of
them would be forced to choose sides. But it had. As she raised her
hand to kill him, Rei knew that she was killing herself.
For the princess . . . and her prince. For you, Jade, this is
what I must do. I love you.
"FIREEEEEEEEE!!!!!" The rivers of flame shot forth, consuming him
as the evil had before. His form flickered in the blaze and the
stone, glinting green, fell from his forehead. His eyes flashed to
life for one last instant as he looked on his love.
He smiled as his head fell back and he fell, the flames burning
with a clear light along the length of his body. He stretched a hand
out to her as he lay on the ground, striving to reach her through the
flames. She reached for him but could not touch him. A tear trailed
down his cheek as he viewed his love for one last time before his
eyes closed forever. Rei, was his thought, quietly loving.
Rei.
Then the flames blazed higher and engulfed him. Rei buried her
face in her hands and wept, sinking to her knees. Selene help me!
What have I done? What have I done?! "JADE!" came the broken
scream. "JAAAAADEEEEEE!"

~Fly, Firebird, into the reddened sky.
Fly, Firebird, upon your wings up high.
Blaze with flames of our passionate love.
Take the world by storm from the fires above.

~Burn, Firebird, with the heat of my love.
Burn, Firebird, from the blazes above.
Flames engulf you like the fire in my heart.
I'm nothing without you. Why must we part?

~Blaze, Firebird, with the spark in your eye.
Blaze, Firebird, with the flame from you and I.
The heat of your flames is burning up my soul.
We're both burning up, out of control!

~Fly, Firebird, into the darkening sky,
Fly, Firebird, from our passion on high.
Flicker with the ember that sizzles in my soul.
Setting me aflame, burning out of control!

~Fly, Firebird, into the reddened sky.
Fly, Firebird, upon your wings up high.
Flames engulf you like the fire in my heart.
I'm nothing without you. Why must we part?

~Firebird, why can't we be-
The flame that burns throughout all eternity?
Firebird, why must we part?
I don't why, but you are breaking my heart.

~Why must we part?

~Firebird~

Sailor Jupiter let the tears fall as Nephrite glared at her. "The
stars know all, and today is the day of your death!"
"Nephrite!"
"Do not address me with such familiarity! I am a Dark King!"
He gathered forth a large mass of dark energy and blasted her
with it, chuckling as he did so.
She screamed as she fell, her vision nearly blacking out.
"Nephrite, listen! The stars . . . can you hear them? Their song is
*so* beautiful," she pleaded with him. "It is *our* song! The song
that we danced to! Do you remember?"
He paused for an instant, then, "No." He blasted her again.
Sobbing with the effort, she got to her feet. "I-I can't let you
go. You'd hurt Sere and Endymion. Duty, Nephrite! Do you
remember your duty? We're, both of us, people of duty before
anything else . . . even love. You were right again . . . and I know
that you'd want this, because you would NEVER betray your prince!
I'll do this for duty and for love! Love first, Nephrite." She
staggered over to him and kissed him full on the lips. Their eyes
met as she said, "Then duty."
Unable to look away from his eyes, she called forth her power.
"LIGHTNING!" and struck him down.
Then he whispered out, "Mako . . . chan."
"Nephrite?!" she shrieked, the tears coursing down her cheeks.
He reached up a hand and she took it and as she did so his eyes
closed. Duty or love? Those were my choices and now that it's too
late, I choose . . . love.
"NEPHRITE!"

~The stars only shine
in the darkest of night
I won't be beaten
without a fight!

~The crash of the thunder
The flash of the lightning
Why do you insist
that we keep on fighting?

~I would fight a thousand battles
I would die for you
I would wish upon a star
To make our dreams come true!

~The light of the stars
Shines in your eyes
The way that you love me
Is no surprise

~We can love as only those can
Who know the stars' wanderings
I open up my heart to you
And it flies on gilded wings

~This is my love for you.
Let it shine pure and true.
I want to be held by you
My only love.~

Sailor Mercury flinched as Zoisite struck her again and again, as
he laughed. "Zoisite," she moaned, "stop, please . . ."
"What, you don't like it?!"
"Zoisite . . ." She looked up at him and through her tears . . .
she smiled. "I love you. No riddles now, just the truth. I love
you more than I've ever loved anyone."
He stopped for an instant frozen by that smile. Ami . . . a
smile . . .
"If you kissed me, I would smile. You're the only one, Zoisite,
who's ever been able to make me do that. You told me to overcome my
limitations and I have. I can say it now, Zoisite. Do you want to
listen? I love you."
Zoisite found that he still could not move. It was as though a
willpower stronger than his own was holding him in place. Now,
Ami!
"ICE!!!!!"
And then he was frozen forever in that position, a bewildered look
on his face as he gazed out of a block of solid ice.
The smile melted off her face and she fell to her knees in front
of him, curling herself up into a little ball. "Zoisite," she
sobbed.

~The cold
Why does it hurt in such a way?
The cold
Why can't I make it go away?

~I will smile through my tears
Shaking off my bitterness
I will smile at my fears
Waiting for your kiss

~The warmth of your touch
Melts the ice of my heart
When I'm with you
I never want to part

~I just want to be
In your embrace
Why can't you just see
That I'll win this race?

~Nothing can stop me when I smile for you!
Nothing can stop my dreams from coming true!
I will always love only you!
And my smiles are forever . . . yours.~

Sailor Venus stared at Kunzite as he moved towards her, evil in
his eyes. "We will kill the Serenity and the Princess for our Queen,
and then this kingdom will be ours, and so too shall the universe!"
He laughed, a sickening sound.
Her strength evaporating in an instant, she fell to her knees in
despair. Torment engulfed her disbelieving eyes. No, she thought
desperately to herself. No, this can't be happening! Not again!
Don't make me have to kill the one I love again!!!
He advanced stealthily, wary of her even when he could not think
for himself, the darkness in his eyes terrible to behold. The light
of his soul is gone. He isn't himself. Metallia's controlling him!
But even so, there was only one course of action, and she couldn't
bring herself to implement it. I can't! I CAN'T!!!
"You will die, Sailor Venus," Kunzite whispered menacingly. He
had forgone his weapon as he knew that no weapon could harm her. He
raised his arms, blue energy glowing about his fingertips as he
massed his strength for one powerful blast. He was still watching
her warily, but the Senshi made no move against him. In fact, she
did not move at all.
Sailor Venus was still in the position that she had fallen to
before, her arms braced against the floor to hold her up, but she was
not facing Kunzite. She was staring, unseeing, at the ground, tears
falling unnoticed from her eyes, her hair hiding her face from view.
She was as still as a statue, trapped in her indecision between her
love and her duty. I'm sorry, my princess, I have failed you.
Then the princess's terrified scream could be heard and Minako shut
her eyes to block out all of the images of the princess in distress
that her mind conjured up. Kill me quickly, my love, I am not
worthy enough to live. I have failed her. I have failed everyone.
But the princess, she couldn't let the princess-she couldn't let
Serenity die. I swore an oath to protect her. A cause greater than
myself, greater than anything in my life, is my duty to protect her.
You're going to destroy her if I don't stop you, Kunzite. I know
that. You've betrayed her, me, your prince, everybody, but I also
know that it's not your fault, so I forgive you. I forgive you
because I CAN'T FORGIVE MYSELF!!!
Kunzite brought down his arms, ready to blast her apart where she
sat, kneeling on the floor beneath him. "DIE!" he screamed,
releasing the tremendous force of his energy, enhanced by Metallia's
control over him.
Sailor Venus brought her head up rapidly, turning to face him and
the huge blast of blue energy headed her way. I'm sorry, but . . .
I'm a soldier now. Her face was wet with tears and the agony in her
eyes was horrible to behold as she stuck out her right hand, fingers
splayed apart, and whispered, "Love . . ."
The beam of yellow-gold power that grew and shot forth from her
hand was so intense that it completely obliterated the wash of blue
energy and, not even slowing, continued racing toward its target. As
soon as it slammed into Kunzite, it burned a hole through him,
killing him instantly.
Minako could only see the look of surprise in his eyes as he died,
and the light of his soul returned. Then he was stretched out on the
ground, dead, with a strangely peaceful expression on his face. The
grey uniform that he had been wearing melted away to reveal his armor
underneath, and as his clothes reappeared, so too did his stone.
Minako did not see it fall from his forehead, into its accustomed
place around his neck.
The chain that held the green stone he wore around his neck
snapped, and the rock fell to the ground. Unnoticed, a watery blue
light engulfed it and in that instant it was as though something was
saying, "At last, peace."
Feeling that she had just destroyed any chance of redemption,
Minako buried her face in his body and wept, knowing that she would
never stop mourning his loss or the loss of her soul. But, it was
for a greater cause, a greater purpose. Serenity was the meaning to
her life. The only meaning left now . . .

~Golden light
Shining from my heart
You look into my eyes
And make me fall apart

~How do you do it?
How can you make me feel this way?
How do you manage
To just by smiling, brighten my day?

~I wanted nothing
I didn't want to be with you
But somehow things changed
And without you, I don't know what to do

~I never wanted to ever hurt you
I knew you never wanted to hurt me
But sometimes, you hurt the ones you love
And the hurt you cause, you just can't see!

~Why must we go on
Hurting one another?
Why must we go on
Without each other?

~I can't stand it!
Let's never part
A promise that's made
Straight from the heart

~I don't where to start
But I know that together
Anything that tries to stop us
We can weather

~Don't kiss me good-bye
I would never leave you
Keep faith in my love
I would never deceive you

~We're two of a kind
Loving each other
Never knowing what's in store
Troubles light as a feather

~Keep me in your heart
And we will never part
We'll make a brand-new start
Just remember me~

Mars stared down at the heap of ashes that was all that remained
of her love. "Jade," she whispered, her strength spent. Off to one
side, the light struck the edge of a green stone and in a trance-like
state, Mars picked it up. Then scrambling to her feet, she ran off
in search of the princess.

Makoto gently closed his eyes and averted her face, the tears
starting fresh. She couldn't bear to see him like *that*. As she
started to stand, her fingers brushed against something hard and
picking up the stone without knowing why, she let herself look at him
once last time, then fled the room, searching for the princess.

Ami stared at his frozen form, forcing back the tears. She
brushed a hand over the surface of the ice. It contorted into a fist
and she pounded on the ice, tears pricking at her eyes as she slid
helplessly to the ground. As she landed on her knees, still facing
the ice, her hand touched something warm and looking down she saw a
green stone. Picking it up, she stared at it, then tightened her
grip around it. Slowly, she rose, still struggling with her tears
and left to find the princess.

Venus lifted her tear-streaked face from his body as she felt
someone, no *something* call for her. She felt strangely drawn to
the stone and picked it up, clutching it tightly to her with her hand
as she ran off to find the princess.

Endymion doubled over in pain as the pain that he had felt before
at his Guardian's deaths overcame him again. "Oh gods, not again."
Images flashed before his mind. Red, burning, searing fire. One
last look . . . She is so beautiful . . . said a thought that
was not his own. Blazing, crashing, brilliant lightning. The feel
of her hand in his . . . We *do* belong together . . . came
another thought. Clear, cold, freezing ice . . . Tears don't suit
you, please just . . . smile . . . Golden, arching, pure energy.
The look in her eyes that told him how much she truly loved him. I
love you, forever . . .
And Endymion knew what had occurred. He screamed at the sky.
"WHY?!! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS TO THEM?!!! THEY WERE HAPPY!!!
They were happy." He crumpled to the ground, his loss overcoming
him.

The Senshi came upon him like that, as they each ran into six-way
intersection in the corridors and saw the others.
Endymion did not look up when they all, by silent mutual
agreement, walked to him.
"Endymion," Sailor Venus said softly, placing her hand on his
shoulder as she came up behind him. "Endymion, get up. It is too
late for this, they were loved, they will be mourned, but not now.
The time when we could afford to be that selfish has passed. The
princess needs us now. Endymion, get up."
The prince craned his neck to look at her, at them all, but mostly
at her, Venus. Tears ran down her cheeks, but for once there was no
despair in her eyes, only love, bright and shining. For an instant
she looked like his Usako. "He loved you, you know," he said,
tiredly.
She smiled back slowly, tears dripping from her eyes. She
answered in a quiet voice, "I know."
And Endymion knew why the despair had vanished, even if the pain
had not. Venus knew, they all knew, that they had loved and been
loved in return, and for them, it was enough. They had a duty now,
one that could not wait. The princess needed them.
"Give me a hand up," he said. Venus held out a hand to him and he
clasped it, getting to his feet. They stood there for an instant,
looking into each others eyes.
You gave him a lot.
He gave me more, Endymion. He gave me more. Love is a gift, my
princess's prince. Remember that.
I will, I do. We must all give our love freely.
That we must.
A scream rent the air. "Princess!" everyone cried. Endymion and
Venus let go of each others hands with a start.
"This way!" Endymion shouted, pointing down a corridor. He could
feel her. His Usako was close. Everyone nodded, then began to run.
"Here, Endymion," Venus shouted tossing something at him as they
ran. He felt a jolt as he caught it, then gazed down at it in
disbelief. "It's-"
"Kunzite, I know!" she cried, naming the stone.
Endymion glanced at her for an instant, then looked back down at
the stone. No, you don't, Venus. Not at all. This is *Kunzite*.
"Why are you giving me this?" he managed to choke out.
"I found it with Kunzite when he . . ."
"I know."
"I-I don't really know what drew me to it, but somehow, it just
felt right that I take it . . . and giving it to you is the right
thing to do."
"Venus, no, I can't take this. Kunzite-he would want you to have
it."
"But it is for you. It is meant *for* you. Take care of it for
me. It will give you strength."
I will give you strength, a familiar voice echoed in his head.
Venus flinched for an instant, then shook her head and kept
running.
"Thank you, Venus. You don't know what you're giving me."
Oh, but I do, Endymion, I do. His stone, his link to you, if I
had kept it it would have been my link to him. But I relinquish him,
Endymion. I let him go. It was his duty to serve *you*. It was his
right to love me. He loved me, and I loved him, and now I am letting
him go. Back to his duty.
"Endymion here!" the other three Senshi called.
He looked up to see three green stones hurtling at him from three
different directions. He let out a blast of white energy and the
stones slowed and gracefully full into his outstretched hand. He
whispered their names as he came in contact with each one. "Zoisite,
Nephrite . . . Jadeite." He looked around at all of the Senshi.
Their eyes were moist with tears. "Thank you, minna. Thank you."
"We loved them," Mars said, turning her gaze away from him.
"They knew that," Ami added, likewise turning away.
"We knew that," Makoto finished, glancing away.
"The stones are yours, Endymion. Their duty is not finished yet,"
Minako said calmly. Take care of their souls.

Then ran outside where they found Serenity being confronted by
Beryl who was blasting her again and again with dark energy.
"SERENITY!!!" Mamoru screamed, throwing a rose, that he had
suddenly discovered in his hand, between the two. He quickly took
advantage of the distraction it caused to move in front of the
Princess to take the blasts.
The Senshi launched their attacks but she shrugged them off and
shouted, "SHADOWS!!!"
The Seven Shadows appeared and surrounded the Senshi, eager to
devour them, souls and all. The Senshi threw attack after attack at
them, but nothing affected them and they kept coming closer and
closer and closer . . .
The Senshi soon found that they were too involved in trying to
survive to do anything else.

"Leave her," Beryl shouted, "and I will spare you!"
"Never! I love Serenity with all of my heart! She is my wife!!!"
He lifted his left hand and Beryl saw the band of gold glinting at
her.
She gave a howl of anguish and screamed, "Fine then, if you choose
to stay with the pitiful Moon Princess, then I shall just have to
*DESTROY* YOU BOTH!!! Starting with you, ENDYMION!" Beryl snickered
as she struck Endymion with her dark power, lifting him up with a
vortex of winds.
Princess Serenity ran after him, despair in her face. "Endymion,
NO!!! I want to be with you! *Nothing* will ever separate us! I
LOVE YOU!!!" She took a deep breath and leapt into the winds and
they carried her up . . . up.
"SERENITY, NO!!!!" But it was too late.
"MAMO-CHAN!" she cried, *her* name for *him*.
"USAKO!" he screamed back, stretching out his arm.
She reached for his hand, and they just touched before Beryl
blasted them apart. But it was enough, to have been touching when
they died. Not even Beryl heard them whisper "I love you" as the
blast hit them.
There was a flash of light as their wedding rings disappeared.
They floated upwards, toward Beryl. Tears fell from Princess
Serenity's closed eyes; her last, shed not for herself, but for her
love.

Dying, the Senshi stared in shock as the victorious Seven Shadows
loomed over them. It had been their duty to protect the queen and
the princess, the princess and the queen, with their lives if
necessary, but having given their lives, the truth that presented
itself to them was not a pleasant one. They had given their all . .
. and they had failed.
Failed. The word echoed in their consciousnesses as though they
were all one being, erasing any nobility that their deaths might have
had at another time. There was no nobility in an unforgivable
defeat. The solar system is doomed, most likely the galaxy, and
perhaps the universe itself. The princess is dead. We have failed
and the queen will soon follow her daughter to the grave. The
thought could have been voiced by any of them, but was voiced by all.
"I'm sorry, Sere," Rei said weakly. "I wasn't strong enough to
save you, my friend . . . my best friend . . ." And then the flame
that was Sailor Mars flickered out.
" . . . should've held out longer . . . I wasn't good enough!
Sere, forgive me . . ." Thus, Sailor Jupiter finally lost the
strength that had kept her alive and gave in to her terrible wounds.
"Sere, I should have known how to defeat them! I should have been
able to find their weaknesses. I'm sorry. That's all I can say, and
I know that it's not enough." And so Sailor Mercury slipped into a
cold oblivion.
"I know I'm unforgivable. I've forgone any kind of redemption. I
have sinned and no amount of cleansing can ever purify me. My soul
is lost to me, but I don't regret killing for you. I loved him, but
I loved you more, my sister-in-spirit, my princess-friend. You were
the only meaning in my life, and I only regret killing for myself and
failing you. Of my two faults, I regret failing you more. I am
ashamed, Sere. I-I am unworthy of serving you, protecting you, but
you gave me back a little of my humanity. Thank you for that. My
princess, I guess you found yourself. In the end, your life had more
meaning than mine. You lived my life the way *I* wanted to, but
couldn't. I'm glad you got the chance to be happy . . . I'm sorry
you couldn't stay that way. Sere, if ever I get the chance again,
I'll make sure that you're always happy! Always, Sere . . ." The
life that was Sailor Venus ended, but her love did not dim. It shone
and grew until her spirit could be felt, happy for once. Her love
did not die, would never die, imbuing the fallen with golden light.

Queen Serenity rushed up, too late, and fell to her knees at the
sight before her. "NOOOO!!!" she cried, grief-stricken with loss.
"Not my daughter! SERENITY!"
The two cats ran up behind her and stared at the scene. Tears ran
down Luna's face. "Not the princess! Beryl, you witch! There's no
heart in you." I was too late. I could have saved her, but I was
too late! Princess, if ever I get the chance again, I will *never*
fail you!
I have humbled her, Beryl thought wickedly. Even the great
Queen Serenity kneels in front of me, for I am far, far greater.
She missed the flash of defiance in Serenity's eyes; the anguish,
the same that had been in her daughter's. Serenity however, had a
weapon, and she knew how to use it. She got to her feet. Steel rang
in her voice as she spoke. "You have defiled Earth, destroyed my
kingdom, killed my foster daughters by turning their loves against
them, and killed the prince of Earth, BUT YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE ONLY
THING I HAVE LEFT!!!! YOU SHALL NOT TAKE MY DAUGHTER, YOU HEARTLESS
DEMON!!!" She raised the crescent moon wand aloft and shouted, "MOON
HEEAALLING ESCAAALAAATIIIOOOONNNN!!!!!"
And they were gone. They were all gone.

Serenity heard their screams as she removed them from existence,
saw them all melt away into the light of the silver crystal, the
seven shadows being captured first, but the only thing she cared
about at that moment was Serenity, Princess Serenity. Daughter, I
couldn't save you, but I can give you a chance to live again. Live,
and be happy. Live, and be free!
She felt a wave of weakness wash over her. Setsuna was right,
there was indeed a great tragedy . . . But perhaps it can be avoided
again and the future can be brighter because of it.

She sent the Silver Crystal forth, glittering with the light of
the stars. It hovered above her, above the ruin that had been the
Silver Millennium, and then it sent forth a brilliant white light.

Serenity stared up at it, the light blinding. Good-bye, my
Serenity. Good-bye, my daughter. Then she was overcome with
weariness and the crescent moon wand fell from her grasp.

As she slipped into oblivion, a figure appeared to her, shining
and outlined with light. Serenity, I have been waiting for you, my
love. He held out a hand to her and she took it, smiling.
Her eyes shone as she said, We are together again, are we not,
my husband?
Yes, and this time we shall not be parted.

Men can be weak, and so can women, but each can be as strong as
the power they hold within themselves, in their hearts.

Luna and Artemis watched as their Queen made her last, ultimate
sacrifice. They were awed, and they were humbled. Most of all, they
were proud. Proud that their Queen had been willing to make such a
sacrifice. Proud that the princess had found something worth living
for, worth dying for. Proud that the Senshi had done their duty, to
protect the princess, no matter what, even if it was in death. But
Luna had a different duty. Hers, was to live for her princess, to
advise her, to remain when all else had passed away. Her true duty,
though, the one entrusted to her and hers throughout the ages, was to
find the one, the Senshi who could never be defeated, even in death.
And Luna knew that she had found her.

The crescent moon wand, falling from their Queen's grasp, let out
a light and placed the two cats into two cat capsules. They began to
rise into space, and below them they could imagine the atmosphere of
the moon bleeding off into the vacuum of space, the plants and
animals already dead and dying from Metallia's attack. And they
wept. The Moon Kingdom was no more. It had returned to barrenness
from which it had begun.

Luna and Artemis drifted in their cat capsules, floating along the
path that the children of the moon had taken to Earth . . . and the
future. Luna looked over at Artemis fondly, he was already asleep.
Ah well, he deserved it for once. Luna struggled to raise her head a
little and look up, through the cat capsule to the starry heavens.
She caught a glimpse of a figure, dressed in white and she smiled as
best a cat could, before closing her eyes. Her thoughts drifted from
her to the princess as she herself drifted off into the oblivion of
sleep that was promised her until she needed to awaken again, so that
she in turn could awaken the Sailor Senshi and the power within them.
She let out a quiet purr as she thought of the princess.
An unbeatable star seed, an unbeatable heart . . . I have found
them, little princess, in you. There are Sailor Senshi all over the
universe, wherever there is life. The sorceresses of these planets
took it upon themselves to become the Sailor Senshi for these worlds.
But, Earth had no Sailor and neither did its moon. Until now. You,
little princess are the Sailor Senshi of the Moon, and someday, in
the future, you will wield the full power of the Ginzuishou. And as
there is no longer any life on the moon, so too shall you be the
Sailor Senshi of the Earth, the planet you so loved for your Prince.
We will help you and guide you, princess, and the legend of the
eternal utopia will be fulfilled by you. So sleep, little princess
with an unbeatable heart, and let your love guide all of us. We will
meet again, and whether we remember each other or not, it makes no
difference . . . I will know you. In the future, we will be
together and as I advised your mother, so shall I advise you. Now, I
must sleep, though the centuries they pass but slowly. Someday, this
life, this existence, will seem no more than a dream. We will all
live again, in the future. As long as your love shines eternal, we
will all live in its glow. Farewell, my princess, until . . . we
meet again . . .

They all drifted in the void of space toward Earth, their
destination. Tears gathered in the corners of the Inner Senshi's
shut eyes. We will be reborn, but you, our loves? How will you
fare? We loved you dearly despite all that you did.
Their voices drifted to them, as they too, floated towards Earth.
Our love cannot die, no matter how much we have betrayed you. You
forgave us. Forgive us again. Our fate will not be a kind one.
You are forgiven, our loves. Our only loves.
No matter if our souls belong to Metallia now, our hearts are
forever devoted to you.
I love you, Rei.
I love you, Jadeite.
I love you, Makoto.
I love you, Nephrite.
I love you, Ami.
I love you, Zoisite.
I love you, Minako.
I love you, Kunzite.
And I always will . . . all of the voices whispered, before
there was a flash of silver light, and they were . . . reborn.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

The Inner Senshi awoke from where they had fallen asleep in the
hospital.
Rei moaned from where she had collapsed next to Makoto in the
waiting room, when she had gone to give them an update. Makoto
roused herself from where she had fallen unconscious of the blue
couch. Ami stirred on the other couch, and Minako groaned from the
chair, a fashion magazine falling from her lap.
"What happened?" Minako asked, blinking.
"I don't know," Makoto said. "I just fell asleep."
"Me too." Rei rubbed her eyes.
Ami yawned. "I did too."
Minako's eyes suddenly snapped open. "Energy drain?" she asked
quietly.
The others stared at her then each other. "Nah," they all said.
"Still, Ami, maybe you'd better check with your computer," Makoto
suggested.
Ami complied but shook her head in a negative. "Nothing, sorry."
"Don't be," Rei said. "I don't want to have to worry about some
monster at a time like this."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Hey, you guys," Rei began slowly. "I had a really weird dream-"
"About the Moon Kingdom?" Mako asked quietly.
"And the Guardians?" Ami added.
"And love?" Minako murmured in a low voice.
Rei nodded, her eyes wide. "You guys didn't-"
"We did."
They all stared at each other for a long moment, then Minako
sobbed out, "I miss him! And we killed them!"
The four girls began to cry quietly, comforting and holding each
other as they sought relief through their tears for their grief.
When they all finally stopped crying, they whispered their thoughts
to one another.
Rei rubbed away her tears roughly and said, "It's not over. We'll
meet again someday."
Makoto agreed. "Yeah, things can't end this way."
"I have faith that things will be all right." Ami smiled. A weak
smile to be sure, but it helped.
"We *all* have faith," Minako said, more serious than anyone had
ever heard her, "but right now, we all have to be strong, for Usagi."
For our princess, was the unspoken thought of all of them.
Rei got to her feet. "It's been hours since I left. Mamoru must
be wondering where I've gotten to. I'll go get that pot of coffee I
promised him. I'll tell you how she is when I see her."
Minako let a ghost of a smile cross her lips. "We'll all talk-
later. Usagi too. I bet we're not the only ones with weird dreams."
"No takers on that bet." Makoto stretched. "C'mon Ami-chan,
let's get something to eat."
"All right, Mako-chan."
"You coming, Minako-chan?" Makoto paused to ask.
"Naw, I'm not that hungry."
Mako shot her a sympathetic look. "We'll bring you back
something."
The four of them parted ways. Rei to look for a pot of coffee,
Makoto and Ami to get something from the cafeteria, and Minako to
just sit and think. As they each left, all of them wondered, Can
life ever be the same, now that we know? Can we ever love like that
again? The answer that came to all of them was no.
Minako sat in the chair, her knees pulled up against her and her
arms wrapped around them as she rested her chin on her knees.
"Kunzite," she whispered. "My love . . ."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

A white light blazes and two rings fall into Sailor Pluto's
outstretched palm. They gleam gold in the light of the Place that is
Beyond all Places, the world apart from Time. Perhaps someday you
will wish the return of these. When you have need of them again, my
Prince, my Princess. My King and Queen. Sailor Pluto stares at the
rings for an instant, then closes her hand tightly and gripping her
staff she disappears.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

There is a flash of silver light. Two voices drift in the void.
Endymion, my love, we will meet again.
Whether in this life or in the next.
I love you, for all eternity.
And I you.
Then his presence is gone, but her essence smiles. We *will*
meet again . . . Then she too is gone.

The glitter of the stars was visible as the children off the moon
bridged the gap between the moon to the earth. Encased in their
spheres of frozen moonbeams, they shone like the very stars in the
heavens. As they reached the earth, each winked out of existence and
out of that time, into the future. Into their new lives . . . and
they were reborn.

The crystal sparkled in space for an instant, then with a bright
flare of white light, and trailing silver sparkles, it exploded into
seven gems, each containing one of the colors of the rainbow and the
essence of a shadow. They too flew towards Earth . . . to be reborn.

A thousand years after the destruction of the Silver Millennium,
two sparkling capsules came to rest in an alley in Tokyo, Japan and
two cats stepped out. Luna looked at Artemis, Artemis looked at
Luna, and though they remembered little of their past lives, they
knew their mission. Running off in different directions, they set
off, their mission firmly in mind. The Search begins anew.

Three year-old Usagi stirred and sat bolt upright, staring up at
the moon. It's pretty.
Six year-old Mamoru stirred and sat bolt upright, staring up at
the moon. It's pretty.
They stared at the moon. Something familiar. Something I knew,
long long ago. I will remember, someday . . .
They slept and voices echoed in their dreams. We will meet
again.

Mamoru sat on his cot in the hospital, crying. His parents were
dead and he was all alone. His best friend was leaving him. There
was no one who cared about him.
He felt a touch and heard a voice. Looking up, he saw a three-
year old girl looking at him. Their eyes met and both knew, they
were going to be friends. They talked for a little while. The girl
offered him a rose and then she left and he was alone again. But in
his heart, there was something new, and he knew that they would meet
again, and so did she.

*Eleven years later*

Usagi balled up the test and threw it behind her. It hit Chiba
Mamoru on the head. He let out a yelp of annoyance and she turned in
surprise. He was looking at her test, but once he felt her eyes upon
him, he looked straight at her and insulted her. Annoyed, she
snatched back the test, but as their hands touched, she hesitated for
just an instant and so did he. Then she had the test in her hand and
stormed off, muttering imprecations about him under her breath.
He stared after her. Something familiar . . . Nah.
Later, as their meeting crossed her mind, she would think,
Something familiar . . .

And so it began again. The timeless story of a timeless love.
Fated to repeat throughout eternity until at last, they could be
together, forever.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

Usagi's eyes fluttered open as her dream came to an end.
"Mamo-chan?" she asked weakly.
He looked up at her, relief in his eyes. "Usako. Usako, you're
all right!"
She smiled at him. What was he talking about, of course she was
all right. They had all been reborn, given a second chance at life.
At love. Then she remembered the monster and the fire. Leaping . .
. leaping to protect him. "Oh," she said as she remembered. "Yes,
I'm all right."
He leaned over to kiss her. "I'm so glad."
"I had the strangest dream . . ."
Mamoru looked at her. "What about?"
"It was all about us - our past selves that is. Except, it was so
clear, it wasn't like a dream at all."
Mamoru looked at her in hesitant understanding. "I don't suppose
it had me saving you - numerous times - and us meeting in a clearing
filled with roses a lot?"
"Yes, and Lady Beryl was in love with you, and I called myself
Tsukino Usagi and you called yourself Chiba Mamoru when we met for
the second time when we weren't little kids."
He looked at her, "And Pluto came after you passed out one time to
take you back to the moon but later you came back . . ."
" . . . And then I went back again and you and your Guardians went
to the moon!"
"And Luna attacked me!"
They looked at each other, and exhaled loudly. Usagi smiled. "I
don't suppose it was just a dream."
"No, I don't suppose it was."
Her locket, which had been carefully placed on the dresser, opened
and started to play.
"Eternity," she whispered, gazing at Mamoru.
"Eternity," he said back, taking the locket and placing in her
hand. It continued to play their melody as they lost themselves in
each other's eyes. Blue gazed into blue.
An instant later, they both smiled and the mutual gaze was broken.
Usagi looked around and started to sit up. Mamoru gently pushed her
back down. "Don't get up, you're still weak."
"But where's everyone else?" she asked, stubbornly propping
herself up a bit more.
Mamoru quirked a smile at her as he adjusted the bed so that she
could sit up easily. "You've been in critical for a week.
Everyone's in the waiting room, except for my dear sister Rei who
went to get me some coffee."
"Your "dear sister"?" she asked incredulously, settling herself
against the bed.
"I'll explain later. Oh and if anyone comes in and asks while I
go get them, I'm your husband, Chiba Mamoru."
At that she smiled again. She remembered what she had done that
time with the motorcycle accident as well. "Of course you are,
Mamo-chan."
He smiled back at her and took one of her hands in his. "I really
shouldn't make them wait any longer, but I don't want to leave you."
"I don't want you to leave, either. Maybe we should just wait
until "sister" Rei comes back with your coffee."
"I guess so." He smile faded and his eyes grew concerned again
and filled with anguish. "Usako, I have to know, why did you get
between that flaming rafter and me?"
"I would give my life to protect you," she answered simply and
truthfully.
"Then that wasn't just a part of the dream."
"No, it's the truth."
"Usako, I don't want you to die protecting me. I don't want you
to even try. I couldn't ever bear losing you. And I really couldn't
bear losing you if you died for me."
Usagi looked at him not looking at her. She said very softly,
"You'll always protect me won't you?"
"Of course."
"And I'll always try to protect you too. You don't know how much
it hurts, seeing you get hurt because of me. I can't bear it. I
won't lose you, because you're too busy watching out for me to watch
your own back. We're partners, and that means taking a fair share.
If I ever lost you again, then I would have nothing left."
"Usako," he said, his voice hard, "don't try to protect me. You
don't have to. I want to protect you, because you're the most
important thing in the world to me."
Usagi's eyes started to flash angrily. "I won't stop trying to
protect you, Mamo-chan. I know I don't have to protect you. Like
you, I *want* to. You can't expect any less of me." She smiled to
try and lessen the tension between them. "That's what Sailor Moon
was created for, after all. To protect the one I love from harm."
He looked down at her and took her in his arms, holding her close
to him. "I love you. You're my everything, Usako."
Tears streaming down her cheeks, she whispered back, "And you're
mine, Mamo-chan. I love you, too. For all eternity."

The door opened and Rei came in carrying a pot of coffee. She was
muttering to herself. "Stupid hospital staff! Who says I can't take
the whole pot? Anyway it's not like *I'm* going to drink the whole
thing and who are they calling a bad-tempered witch, anyway?! I
mean, the nerve! Mamoru-san, I'm back!" She looked up at where
Mamoru and Usagi were embracing. She nearly lost her grip on the
coffee pot and as she ran forward. "Hey Usagi, you're awake!"
Ami, Minako, and Makoto spilled into the doorway behind her. "She
is?!"
Rei looked over at them, annoyed. "What were you doing, following
me?"
Usagi pulled away from Mamoru and looked up. "Minna!"
"Usagi-chan!" they all cried and ran to embrace her.
Usagi looked up at Mamoru as he looked down at her. Their eyes
met and they smiled.

To be concluded . . .


"My heart says to me,"

Usagi smiles at Mamoru.

"I love someone so dearly,"

He lifts her out of the bed.

"That I know,"

The Senshi smile good-naturedly at the two of them.

"There's no one for me,"

They embrace.

"But you."

They kiss.


"I would like you to see,"

The Guardians gaze at the Senshi.

"What is wrong and what is true,"

There are suddenly two sets of Guardians, the Dark Kings and the
Generals.

"I am in love,"

Ami kisses Zoisite.

"(I am in love)"

Rei kisses Jadeite.

"I am in love-"

Makoto kisses Nephrite.

"With you."

Minako kisses Kunzite.


"Angel light,"

Six year-old Endymion smiles at three-year old Serenity.

"Please bathe me in your love tonight,"

She smiled back.

"I am longing for a glimpse-"

They whirl around in a field of flowers.

"Of your Angel light."

They hold each others hand and suddenly there is a bright expanding
white light . . .

"I will be forever yours tonight,"

Prince Endymion gazes out at the clearing where he sees the silvery
form of Princess Serenity.

"Just smile at me,"

She looks at him.

"With that Angel light."

He looks at her.


"Angel light,"

The bright white light expands and fades.

"You are like an angel in my sight,"

There is a picture of Princess Serenity with wings.

"I have never felt a love as bright,"

A silvery light emanates from her and envelops Endymion.

"As your Angel light."

The white light expands . . .


"Angel light,"

. . . and fades.

"You bring love to lift the darkness in my life,"

Endymion holds Serenity close to him.

"I am enveloped by your Angel light,"

A bright light surrounds both of them.

"Please say that it's all right,"

Prince Endymion kneels and proposes to Princess Serenity.

"That I let you in my life."

They exchange vows.


"Angel light,"

The bright white light expands and fades.

"As I hold you in my arms tonight,"

Serenity holds Endymion as he weeps for the Guardians.

"I won't let your dreams give you fright,"

She lays him down in the bed and gazes on him sadly.

"You don't have to fight,"

The Guardians fight the horde of youma, shouting at Endymion to
escape.

"It'll be all right,"

The Senshi and the Guardians rescue Serenity.

"My Angel light,"

A white light bathes a scene of everyone together.

"My Angel light."

It expands.


"Angel light,"

It fades.

"I am filled by love when I get you in my sight,"

The Guardians and Senshi look at each other.

"I just want to forever hold you tight,"

They embrace tearfully.

"'Cause together just it feels so right,"

Everyone smiles.

"So just bathe me in your-"

Endymion kisses Serenity.

"Angel light,"

The white light expands.

"I will be forever yours tonight,"

Everyone holds hands as they teleport Endymion and Serenity away.

"Shining in your-"

The white light expands and fades.


"Angel light."

Endymion, Serenity, Jadeite, Rei, Nephrite, Makoto, Zoisite, Ami,
Kunzite, Minako, Artemis, and Luna all stand together, being held by
their lovers and gaze out at the screen, smiling. Setsuna, Haruka,
Michiru, and Hotaru stand in the background. A breeze softly blows a
few stray red rose petals across the screen. Once the petals are
past, the picture freezes, fades to white and then to black.

A crescent moon shines in the darkness.



How did you like Part Five? Was it worth the wait? Part Six (the
epilogue) is up, you can read it now. Don't worry, it's *short*!
(In comparison at least.)
Now, *EVERYONE* must write me about this Part and tell me what you
think. Pretty please? And no, feedback is not why I write, it's
simply appreciated.
Thanks.
Ja! (For now)
Fushigi Kismet