Act Eighteen - Power of a Dream
When Chibi-Usa regained consciousness a few minutes later, the first thing she saw was Helios' loving golden eyes looking down at her with concern. He was holding her hand, now bare of her wedding band. Damian was dead, and she was finally free.
"Are you okay, maiden?"
"I think so," she replied, sitting up. Diana, whose wounds had been healed by the shield, jumped from Chibi-Usa's arms and went to investigate. "I still feel weak, but I'll be fine."
She looked around the room at the other Neo-Soldiers, who had collapsed on the ground after depleting all their power making the shield. Their transformations had disappeared, changing them back into their civilian identities.
"Shizu-chan?"
Chibi-Usa went over to her cousin's lifeless body, tears clouding her eyes. This couldn't be happening, not to her friends. However, the look in Diana's eyes confirmed her worst fears. Shizu was dead. They all were.
"Shizu-chan!" she exclaimed, roughly shaking her body. "You can't leave me. You promised we would fight Queen Jade together. I can't do anything without you guys. Don't go! Don't go!"
The priest walked up behind her and rested his gentle hands on her trembling shoulders. "I'm sorry, Serenity."
"No…Shizu…Masago…Tomoko…Katsuna…Goku…Nagisa…Anzura…Amaya… They can't be gone!"
Her friends had given their lives to protect her, leaving her to face their most powerful enemy alone. But without their help, there was no hope of ever defeating Queen Jade. She didn't have enough power. What was she going to do?
"Well, well, well…It looks like Silver Millennium's princess is all alone, completely powerless to stop me."
The queen of the Dark Kingdom stepped forward, holding a round black stone in the palm of her hand, which began to glow brightly. "Say goodbye to the world you used to know and say hello to the birth of the Black Millennium! This is for you, Damian!"
As Chibi-Usa, Helios and Diana watched in horror, a dark cloud formed above their heads, growing larger and larger as Jade fed it more power from the stone. The ground began to shake violently, and the ceiling cracked under the strain of the cloud's massive size.
Helios grabbed Chibi-Usa's arm and yanked her away just as a giant boulder fell right where she had been standing. He pulled her close, feeling her heart pound against his chest.
"It's too late," she whispered. "All hope is gone and everything is lost."
"You can't believe that, Small Lady," Diana said.
"The Sailor Neo-Soldiers are dead, and I'm all alone. I can't do anything by myself!"
The priest lifted up her chin and stared into her sad red eyes. "You are not alone, my maiden," he said softly. "I'm here with you, and I always will be. I know I am only a priest with limited powers, but what powers I do have, I'll give to you."
Her transformation compact opened, revealing the pale pink stone inside. Helios touched the crystal, causing it to shine brightly. She could feel his power spreading throughout her body, the power of dreams.
"Remember your beautiful dream, Serenity!"
My beautiful dream?
She closed her eyes and looked deep inside her heart. The light of her dreams was brightening, growing stronger with Helios' power.
"You must fight, Serenity! Fight for the memories of your friends, fight for the lives of your family, fight for the chance to protect everybody."
Whose voice was that inside her head, encouraging her to continue? It was unfamiliar, but at the same time, it was comforting. She instinctly knew she could trust the voice.
"But what can I do?" Chibi-Usa asked the voice. "I don't have enough power to defeat Jade by myself."
"You are much stronger than you believe, Serenity," the voice replied. "Look deep inside your heart and draw from the strength of your friends' memory. They will always be with you in spirit…"
The voice faded away, but Chibi-Usa now understood what she must do. She took her crystal in her hands and raised it above her head as Helios' dream power grew. Her somber black wedding dress lost its dark hue, transforming into a beautiful multi-colored gown, as colorful as a rainbow after a storm.
"What's this?" Jade exclaimed, noticing the change in Chibi-Usa's appearance. "You still want to fight me even though you have no chance of winning?"
"You're wrong, Jade!" Chibi-Usa shouted as Helios came up behind her to lend the princess his strength. Please, everybody, give me the power of your planets.
Chibi-Usa closed her eyes, focusing on all the wonderful memories she had of the other Neo-Soldiers, her friends.
She remembered the first time she attended a real tea ceremony with Katsuna. They had both been around four years old at the time. Accidentally, Chibi-Usa had broken one of Rei's favorite tea bowls during the ceremony. She thought Katsuna would go and tattle on her, as she usually did, but instead, Katsuna took the blame for her, saying that she dropped the bowl. It was the first time she realized that Katsuna was actually her friend and not her tormenter.
RED MARS CRYSTAL POWER!
She remembered learning about the facts of life from her mother. Utterly embarrassed about talking about sex with her daughter, Neo-Queen Serenity didn't really tell her that much, so the next day after school, Chibi-Usa went to find Anzura, the resident expert on love, to answer her questions. That night, the two girls revealed their deepest secrets to each other, including Chibi-Usa's ever growing crush on the handsome priest of Elysion. Out of all the Neo-Soldiers, Chibi-Usa always believed Anzura understood her feelings about Helios best. Even when everyone was telling her that it would never happen, Anzura was always the one who believed it would.
ORANGE VENUS CRYSTAL POWER!
She remembered the one time she actually beat Goku at the Indy 500 arcade game. Chibi-Usa had been really depressed about failing yet another math test, so Goku suggested that they race to take her mind off the grade. Even though she always knew Goku had purposely let her win the game, she had been ecstatic.
YELLOW URANUS CRYSTAL POWER!
She remembered the time she almost drowned, swimming in the Sea of Japan. The whole group had decided to take a beach holiday after the stress of final exams. While Chibi-Usa and Nagisa were surfing -- well, actually, Nagisa was the one who was surfing and Chibi-Usa was just holding onto her board for dear life -- she was pulled in by an undertow. Nagisa swam after her and pulled Chibi-Usa back to shore, saving her life.
GREEN NEPTUNE CRYSTAL POWER!
She remembered studying for the high school entrance exams with Tomoko. Even though Tomoko had her own studying to do, she willingly agreed to tutor Chibi-Usa so that she would pass the Academy's notoriously difficult entrance exam. The day before the test, they practically stayed up the entire night, cramming algebra and biology into her head. She ended up passing with flying colors.
BLUE MERCURY CRYSTAL POWER!
She remembered her thirteenth birthday. Amaya took it upon herself to throw Chibi-Usa the biggest surprise party in the history of surprise parties. She transformed the ballroom into a beautiful summer garden and invited all of Chibi-Usa's closest friends. The party had been a huge success, but the highlight was the thirteen layer dark chocolate birthday cake. Chibi-Usa never ate so much in her entire life.
INDIGO JUPITER CRYSTAL POWER!
She remembered the Halloween when she and Shizu were about ten years old. Instead of going trick-or-treating with the rest of the scouts, Shizu decided it would be fun to spend the night in the old Specter house, which was said to be haunted by the ghost of two young lovers killed by the woman's jealous ex-boyfriend. Even though they never did see any ghosts, they had the best time scaring each other half to death telling scary stories around the fireplace.
VIOLET SATURN CRYSTAL POWER!
And she remembered attending Setsuna's funeral. It was the first funeral she had ever been to, and most definitely the saddest. Setsuna had been like her second mother to her, and Chibi-Usa was feeling guilty. It was because of Black Lady (Chibi-Usa's adult evil form) that Setsuna had broken the biggest taboo, stopping time, causing her death. Though Masago must have been stricken with grief, she comforted Chibi-Usa instead and assured her that she was not to blame for Setsuna's death.
BLACK PLUTO CRYSTAL POWER!
The crystals lifted from their owners' bodies and combined with Chibi-Usa's Pink Moon Crystal, forming one single stone. Once again, her friends were there to help her through this, just as they always had. She could feel the power of the planets growing inside her.
"It can't be!" Diana exclaimed, rubbing here eyes. "Is that the Rainbow Friendship Crystal?"
Chibi-Usa concentrated all her energy on the crystal, which began to shine brightly. The legendary Rainbow Friendship Crystal had been resurrected from the love of her friends. Now that she had the power, she would not allow Queen Jade to win. She wouldn't allow any of their dreams to die!
"This can't be!" Jade exclaimed as a burst of energy came toward her. "The Dark Kingdom is invincible!"
Chibi-Usa could feel Helios' grip tighten, reassuring her that she was not alone. She looked behind him and gave him a small smile.
"Remember your dream," he whispered.
She nodded, then turned back toward Jade. It was time to fight, but she was no longer alone. Helios and her friends were there with her, giving her the strength to go on. With their power, she knew she would win. She would protect the ones she loved.
RAINBOW FRIENDSHIP POWER!
Crystal Tokyo was saved! Queen Jade was finally gone, a pile of moon dust her only remains, and the black crystal was purified of its negative energy, revealing the true beauty inside. As Chibi-Usa, Helios, and Diana watched, the stone disappeared, returning to its rightful owner, Neo-Queen Serenity.
"Maiden, are you alright?" Helios asked as Chibi-Usa collapsed in his arms, drained of practically all her energy. He gently laid her on the ground as Diana looked on with concern in her eyes.
"We did it, Helios," she replied weakly. "Thank you…"
He signaled her to be quiet. She needed to save her strength until they could return to Crystal Tokyo. It had taken an enormous amount of energy to control the power of the Rainbow Friendship Crystal.
But Chibi-Usa refused to obey his orders. She held out her palm, revealing the crystal. It had dimmed somewhat, but it still contained some power. Just enough power to truly make her dream come true.
"Promise me, Helios, that you won't forget me…" she whispered.
"Maiden, what are you saying?"
Chibi-Usa reached up and caressed his injured cheek. She wanted to remember him just like this. "Goodbye, Diana… Helios…"
Tears watered in her guardian cat's eyes as Diana realized what her mistress was about to do. "Don't do it, Small Lady. Please!"
Before they could change her mind, she raised up her hand, releasing the crystal's remaining power. Please give my friends their lives back, she prayed.
"Serenity!"
The crystal separated back into the power stones and returned to the bodies of their rightful owners. With their powers restored, her friends were transformed back into the Sailor Neo-Soldiers. They were resurrected by the power of Chibi-Usa's dream.
"Serenity, my love…"
Helios held her lifeless body in his arms. Her crystal had shattered, killing her instantly. Now she was gone, and she would never know how much he truly loved her.
The Sailor Neo-Soldiers gathered around, their faces covered with tears, even Uranus, who prided himself on never crying. Nobody said a word until Sailor Pluto kneeled beside Chibi-Usa's body.
"This wasn't supposed to happen," she said quietly. "The course of the future has been changed."
"No, it hasn't, Princess Masago."
She turned around, wondering who had said those words. Standing behind the Neo-Soldiers was a beautiful woman dressed in a colorful dress similar to the one Chibi-Usa was wearing. Her long green hair was styled into two meatballs, and the sign of the moon was visible on her forehead.
"Please do not cry for Princess Lady Serenity," the woman said as she walked over to Chibi-Usa's body.
"Who are you?" Neptune asked.
"I am Iris, the guardian of the Rainbow Friendship Crystal."
The Neo-Soldiers gasped. It was Chibi-Usa's great-grandmother, the former queen of Silver Millennium who had defeated Queen Jewel with the power of the Rainbow Friendship Crystal.
Iris smiled at their obvious surprise. "You all were wonderful today," she told them. "It was very brave, giving up your lives to protect Priest Helios and Serenity. My great-granddaughter was blessed to find such caring friends."
"Chibi-Usa-chan was very special to all of us," Sailor Saturn said, wiping away a tear. "I can't believe she's gone."
Iris opened her fist, revealing yet another crystal, brighter than even the Silver Crystal. The Neo-Soldiers, Diana, and Helios stared in awe of its incredible beauty.
"Helios, guardian of dreams, it was your power that gave Serenity the strength to believe in her dreams," Iris said. "With your help, she was finally able to realize her deepest wish, to protect those she loved. In gratitude, I will now fulfill your greatest dream."
Helios looked at Iris, unsure of what she was saying. "I don't understand," he said.
"This called the Dream Crystal, born out of the love that you and Serenity had for each other," she explained. "It is several times more powerful than even the Silver Crystal."
She handed the stone to Helios and told him to place the stone into Chibi-Usa's transformation brooch. The power flowed throughout her body, bringing it back to life. Chibi-Usa slowly opened her eyes and looked around at her friends, confused about what had just happened.
"Helios…"
He gently kissed her on the lips as the Neo-Soldiers wiped away tears of joy. No longer needed there, Iris faded away, but not before presenting the Sailor Neo-Soldiers with their new dream powers. "Remember that the greatest power you have is your friendship," she told them before finally disappearing.
Chibi-Usa reached up and touched her lips, still burning from Helios' kiss. She now knew she was alive, for her heart was jumping for joy. Helios helped her up and pulled her against his body.
"I love you, Serenity," he said tenderly. "I always have and I always will."
She smiled, then shyly reached up and kissed him again, this time more passionately than the first. Venus looked up at Uranus and winked.
"It looks like the princess of Silver Millennium has finally found her Prince Charming."