Epilogue

Ami placed the locket on a small table by her bed, propping it up so that it would stand open for her to look at whenever she wanted, or to use if need be. Sitting down at her desk, she looked again at her reflection in the mirror. This time, she tried to see herself the way David must see her, and she smiled. Great beauty or not, he loved her, and that was all that mattered.

Once again she pulled her long hair over her shoulder. She ran her fingers through it thoughtfully, then looked down at the desk top and picked up the silver shears once more. She held them in front of her face, looking at them and thinking. Then, with a nod of conviction, she began to cut away the long hair David had loved so much. It fell in shining streams to the floor, and before long the mirror reflected a new face to match her new confidence in herself. She smiled at the image, satisfied. Bending over, she picked up a small bundle of her soft hair and ran her fingertips over it gently. Opening a drawer, she pulled out a white hair ribbon and tied it around the strands of hair. Standing, she walked over to the table where David's locket was displayed and laid the hair in front of it in a modest offering to the one she loved.

"David, I know you loved my long hair but, well, I think I was time for a change," she said, looking at his picture. "I'd heard of women giving their lovers bits of their hair as a sort of keepsake……but since I can't really do that I suppose this will have to do." She turned away and walked towards the large window and drew back the curtains to look out upon her beautiful kingdom. The evening was clear, and by the light of the moon she could see the shore of Mercury's vast ocean on the outskirts of the city, icebergs floating just offshore and sharp outcroppings of ice jutting out from the shoreline. She smiled. This was her home, her kingdom, and she would keep it safe however she had to. Her henshin pen sat on the windowsill. She picked it up and looked at it, turning it over and over in her hands. Just touching it, she could feel Mercury's energy coursing through her. Holding it high, she shouted "Mercury Princess Power!" and henshined into what she now knew to be her true form, Sailor Mercury. Looking down at her senshi fuku, she smiled. She returned her gaze to the city beyond the window, pressing her palm against the glass. She could feel David's presence even now, could feel his hand, a warm comfort, resting on her shoulder, and could feel her parents looking down on her with pride. She smiled and lifted her chin slightly, in that instant taking on both the nobility of her mother and the determination of her father. She bore the look of a warrior, a true soldier, her heart finally free of fears and inhibitions.

'I am the fifth of the legendary sailor senshi, champion of love, justice, and intelligence, protector of Mercury and guardian of the universe. I will right wrongs and triumph over evil, in the name of all that is good. I am Sailor Mercury, and I will make it on my own!'