by Sailor Earth
*Author's Notes*
Sorry about the delay in getting this chapter published! I've been busy with school, but now this chapter is finally done! There's just a couple of things to mention about this chapter. Firstly, I chose the name Sol purely for the purposes of my story - he is not an 'official' Sailor Moon character, he is my own creation. Secondly, this chapte was deeply inspired by one of my all-time favourite movies. For anyone who has seen the movie, it's pretty obvious, so instead of naming the movie, I'm gonna let you all guess when you review! So, see y'all next time, minna, and lets hope it's sooner rather than later! Ja ne!
*Chapter Ten - Moonlight Destiny, or Mamoru's Second Revelation*
"This is magic coming to us from the moon,
I understand, even without a word,
The two of us must be thinking the same thing,
Moonlight Destiny!
I want to be with you more than anyone, forever,
You, who fate drew me to under this vast sky,
Moonlight Destiny!"
Translated from Moonlight Destiny
"What is your father's name, Serenity?"
"Sol. Why?"
"Your father is named after a Roman God, Sol, the Sun-god. What is your mother's name?"
"Serenity, the same as me."
"Yes, that is true, but she has another name, too, that she is sometimes called by."
"You mean her pet name, Selene?"
"Yes, and Selene was the Greek Moon-goddess. One day, a merchant came to Endymion's palace. He spoke of a Kingdom, ruled by King Sol, and his beautiful wife, Selene. So we travelled halfway around the World to find this place. Don't you see Serenity, you are who have been looking for - the daughter of both the Sun and the Moon. You are the One." I was speechless. No way was I their saviour! It had to be a mistake!
"You've got the wrong girl. I'm not the One," I insisted, "It's utterly impossible!"
"Somehow, I don't think so, Serenity."
"Yes, yes it is! My parents' names are just a coincidence! I mean, what other proof do you have that I'm the One!" I cried desperately. Then, Setsuna spoke for the first time.
"Anyone would respond like this in your situation, Serenity," she soothed, whilst placing a comforting arm around my shoulder, "But I think Luna is right. The One was also said to hold the source of pure light. I believe you have something you called a 'Silver Crystal'. Please let us see it, Serenity." I reached to the chain around my neck, and pulled the crystal from where it had been concealed under my dress. Carefully, I handed it to Setsuna. "Please tell us about it," Setsuna requested.
"Well..." I started, "It's is called the Silver Imperium Crystal. It belongs to my father. Only he knows how to use it, but I believe he is able to use it to heal and protect himself and others. When he went away, to fight, he should have taken it with him, but instead he left it behind, so that its power could protect my mother and I. You see how it glows brightly? That is its power protecting us. That's why I am so sure my father is not dead. If he died, it would no longer glow."
"I see..." mused Luna, "Regardless of whether or not you think you are the one, you will still need to fight with us if you are to stay, and because I am so sure you are the one, I'm giving you something which will help you." At this, Luna concentrated hard, leapt upwards, and as she fell, so did a small, round, gold, brooch compact. "Hold it up and call out Moon Prism Power, Make Up! This will give you the power to become one of the senshi. You shall fight under the identity of Sailor Moon!"
Tentatively, I followed Luna's instructions. I felt a blinding light and a spinning sensation, and before I knew it, I was dressed in a blue and red sailor costume, just like the other senshi had been when they had attacked at the tournament. My eyes were covered with a white mask.
"This still doesn't prove anything!" I huffed.
"Fair enough, Serenity, in time you'll see that I'm right. Anyway, there is one more thing that might pursuade you to change your mind..."
"And what's that?" I asked, incredulous that Luna had yet more to waffle about.
"Ah, well..." she looked awkward now, "It is not my place to say. I think you should ask Mamoru-sama instead." I looked to Mamoru for an explanation. He looked at his feet and muttered something about telling me later. Normally I would have insisted someone told me, but Mamoru did not strike me as someone who would cringe easily, and so I thought it might be easier to keep quiet and save blushes all round. Then Setsuna handed my crystal back. I hung it back around my neck.
"Keep it safe," she told me, "Until you've figured out how to use it. Now Luna, isn't there just one more little thing on our agenda before we start our training session?" Training session? I felt a little nervous at hearing this.
"Ah, yes Setsuna, the name..."
"The name?" I asked, looking worried.
"Yes, the name. Don't look so worried! You remember how Endymion changed his name to Mamoru in order to keep his identity as a Prince secret? Well, I think you should change your name, too - to keep Demando off our trail. OK?"
"Yeah, sure. But it better be a good name!" Well, you can guess what happened next! Everyone bombarded me with suggestions - Daisy, Cordelia, Lily, even Titania, not to mention several strange-sounding names which I assume were Japanese! Then Mamoru suggested something.
"Tsukino Usagi," he said quietly.
"Huh?"
"Tsukino Usagi," he repeated, slightly more loudly, "It's from my native tongue, Japanese. It means Bunny of the Moon."
"I like that," I said, "Tsukino Usagi."
"That's settled then," announced Luna, "You must renounce your title of Princess Serenity, and assume the alias of Tsukino Usagi. Now then, Usagi, it's time for our training session. And since Minako, Kunzite and Mamoru are our most experienced fighters, you will work with them today. Rei, Jadeite, Setsuna and Hotaru will also form a team. Michuru, you go with Ami and Zoisite, and Haruka, can join Makoto and Nephrite. Everyone split up and find an area for your team to work in." So Minako, Kunzite, Mamoru and I headed out to a secluded area with good, flat ground. Suddenly, I realised that I felt incredibly thirsty.
"I need a drink," I announced, "I'm parched."
"Me too!" agreed Minako.
"Well why don't I go back and fetch a flask?" suggested Mamoru.
"Good thinking! I'll come with you!" I said, seeing a perfect opportunity to get Mamoru on his own and ask him what the hell Luna had been on about earlier. We started the walk back through the woods, and as soon as we were out of earshot of the other two, I casually dropped the question, "So Mamoru, I wonder what it was that made you so embarrassed earlier - I mean, it must take a lot to get Mr-I'm-so-cool-and-sauve to blush so much! Look! You've gone red again!" Actually, he hadn't but I knew that he would now that I'd said it. Sure enough, his icy complexion melted into a crimson-red hue. I smirked.
"Stop it!" he growled.
"Stop what?" I smiled sweetly, feigning innocence. He said nothing, but glared at me throughed narrowed eyes. "So, do you think I'm the One, or what?" I asked. Mamoru sighed.
"Luna thinks you are."
"I didn't ask what Luna thinks. I asked what you think." Silence. Then Mamoru spoke.
"Usagi...Usako..." He took my hands in his, "In answer to your question, yes, I do think you are the One...when I first met Luna, she told me something. She told me that I would fall in love. And that woman, the woman that I loved, would be the One..." in those first brief moments as the words left his lips, what he was trying to tell me didn't sink in, but then he concluded, "So, you see, you must be the One, because I love you, Usako."
"Oh...Mamo-chan..." I sighed, and then I knew. It was my destiny. I was the One. Because Mamo-chan loved me. And the realisation awoke something else within me. And I smiled, because now I understood these wild and intoxicating emotions that I'd been experiencing lately, "I love you, too, Mamo-chan..."