This is it! I wanted to get this up before I evacuated for Hurricane Frances...God, living in Florida can be a real hassle sometimes! I'll be sure to bring something to you peoples to let you know I made it back okay...ENJOY!
"Sailor Pluto?" Mamoru said as he entered the room where Ami and Pluto were sitting talking quietly. "Ami-chan?" Both sets of eyes shot up as they saw Mamoru with his arm around Usagi's waist. "Someone wants to talk to you."
The two women stood as they each tried to find words. Ami was the first one to speak. "H...how are you feeling?"
Usagi smiled broadly as she ran to wrap one of her best friends in a gigantic bear hug. "Ami-chan! I feel terrific!"
"Usagi-chan?" Ami asked in disbelief as she hugged back and fought down the tears. "Oh, it's so good to have you back!"
Usagi pulled away slightly, and then set her sights to Sailor Pluto. "Setsuna-san!"
She dropped her staff as she enveloped the smaller girl in her arms. "Princess! Thank the Gods! Oh, I am so relieved that this ordeal is now over!"
Usagi turned serious. "But Setsuna-san, it isn't over at all."
"Usagi-chan?" asked Ami. "What do you mean?"
"Cadmus could come back for her at any time," Mamoru said as he folded his arms. "Or for any of us. We have to stop him now when he's not at full strength."
"Cadmus?" asked Usagi. She scrunched up her nose and scratched her head. "Sorry, but the cobwebs aren't quite cleaned out yet. Who's Cadmus?"
"He's the leader of those Brutes that kidnapped you, Usako," Mamoru replied. "But a thousand years ago, he was my father's jealous younger brother." He unfolded his arms, went over to her, and grasped her shoulders gently. "It's a long story, and I promise I'll tell you later."
"Okay, okay," Ami said as she held the bridge of her nose between her index finger and thumb. "We didn't do too well against them last time and we had eight people fighting them. How are we going to beat them with just the four of us?"
"What do you mean four?" Usagi asked as she spun around to face Ami. "You three are the fighters, I'm just a cute little princess."
"Usagi-chan? Don't you remember Sailor Moon?"
"Sailor Moon?" Usagi tried to remember anything, but could not. "I remember you, Pluto, Mars, Venus, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune and Saturn...but no Sailor Moon." She fell to her knees, pouting. "I guess that's what the Angel Queen meant by not having all of my memories back yet."
"Angel Queen?" Pluto asked.
Usagi nodded. "She had to be an angel. She said that she was me, but I can't for the life of me figure out how."
Mamoru kneeled and put his arm around Usagi. "Relax, Odango. We're gonna get all your memories back really soon."
She turned and looked him in the eye. "You think so?"
He smiled as he nodded in response. She threw herself into his embrace, and as he squeezed her back another thought entered his mind. "Hey, are you still up to perform tomorrow, Usa?"
Her eyes grew round, and she raised her head off of his chest to make sure he wasn't joking. "Are you serious? That was Serena's dream, not mine."
"I don't know, Usagi-chan." Ami forgot for the moment about the current crisis. "I seem to remember when we first started high school that you wanted to join a club where you could sing, dance, eat lots of fun snacks and go to America. Looks like your dream HAS come true!"
"That was different, Ami-chan!" Usagi protested. "That was because I wanted to be able to visit Mamo-chan."
"Well, I'm here now," Mamoru whispered. "And I've already paid for the both of us, so what do you say?"
"It may lure the Brutes out of the woodwork as well," Pluto suggested. "We could confront them on our own terms."
"Oh, so we get to be live bait?" Usagi said with a sarcastic cheerfulness. "Goody, extra bonus!"
"The odds are already in their favor, Setsuna-san," Ami said quietly. "They really don't need any opportunities."
"Let ME worry about the odds, Ami-chan," Pluto replied just as quietly as she picked her staff up of the floor and began to walk into the darkness of the time warp. "I'll just have to make sure our other friends are ready to fight."
"Wait a sec, Pluto," Mamoru called to Pluto. She turned around to address him. "Could you open a portal back to where we just were? The two of us have arrangements to make for tomorrow."
She smiled as she nodded. "Certainly, Prince. I can't wait to see the two of you in your singing debut!"
"You're gonna come, Setsuna-san?" Usagi squeaked with a mixture of happiness and anxiety.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world, Princess!" Sailor Pluto raised her staff as yet another ominous-looking door appeared in front of Usagi and Mamoru. She put on a worried expression. "But all the same...be extremely careful." They both nodded solemnly as they passed through the door.
"So, how are we going to get the others there in time?" Ami asked as she followed Pluto closely through the creepy darkness of the time corridor.
"There is much that even I don't understand about the time warp," she replied ambiguously. She then turned to her younger, blue-haired comrade. "It's remarkably resilient. For as much damage those Brutes caused to the fabric of time and space, the time stream has remained constant." Another door was opened in front of them as they continued along their path toward Tokyo and the rest of the Senshi.
"So, it's managed to heal itself to the point that it's as if nothing ever happened?" Ami asked. "And we're going to bring the other Senshi back through here?"
"Yes," Pluto replied. "This whole territory I've protected since the Silver Millennium is no less an enigma to me than it was the first day I came here." She smiled to herself.
"Do you ever regret taking this post?" Not even the hyper-curious Small Lady had asked Pluto the question that everyone wanted to know. But now, Mizuno Ami looked at her with expectant eyes, waiting for the answer to her question.
Pluto didn't know herself, to be perfectly honest. She knew how important it was that she be here in the lonely, desolate time warp. Protecting the delicate balance of time was the best way she could serve and protect her precious prince and princess, and similarly, her King and Neo-Queen. But with the exception of the recent battles with the Deathbusters, the Dead Moon Circus, and Galaxia, poor Pluto rarely saw any action, much less any of her dear friends. But did she truly ever regret taking this eternal assignment? "No, Ami-chan. It's been really rough at times, but this is a really tough job. I like to think that I've become more disciplined because of it."
"I'll say!" Ami said as they exited the portal and walked right in the middle of a bunch of extremely surprised Senshi. "And you've done an awesome job so far! You really are the best one for this job!"
As Mamoru and Usagi emerged from the portal in the exact spot they had left when the Brutes attacked, they scanned the area warily noticing that, although the craters were still in the asphalt, no Brutes were to be seen.
"Do you think they're still around here somewhere, Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked in a small voice. She cowered behind her protector's towering frame.
His narrowed blue eyes scanned every inch of their surroundings several times before he turned to her, smiling comfortingly. "They have to be. I don't think those are the kind to give up after a thousand years of waiting for revenge." He traced her warm cheek with his index finger as she began to whimper. "They're not here now. I say we forget about them for a while so we can figure out what exactly we're doing for tomorrow."
She nodded meekly as she turned to the storefront. Behind the huge plate glass window were rows and rows of stunning evening wear, but her eyes stopped at the window as her altered, sad reflection stared back at her.
"Usako?" He went up to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "Are you okay?"
"This is all so incredible," she replied as she turned to him with a forced smile on her face. "We get to sing OUR song tomorrow for a bunch of strange people. Some of them don't like me very much, and there are others somewhere out there who want to kill us. Just two days ago I was thinking about how boring my life was. I guess I'm just a little overwhelmed."
"It's understandable," he said as he took her hands. "You went through something traumatic when you got those memories back."
He looked into the store window and saw the rows of dresses. "Do you want to go in? Maybe it'll get your mind off all this."
A genuine smile lit up her face. "Okay! I need a dress for tomorrow anyways!"
"Sailor Pluto?" Rei asked as she stood from her perch on the Hikawa Shrine's steps. "Ami-chan? What are you two doing back?"
"Is something wrong?" Makoto echoed as she cracked her knuckles.
"Do you need our help?" Minako stood and clasped both hands to her chest.
"Is Odango okay?" Haruka asked in a determined tone. "She isn't hurt is she?"
"Did Mamoru-san manage to get through to her?" asked Michiru.
Ami and Pluto gave sidelong glances to each other as they sighed and sweat dropped. "Well, hello to you guys too," Ami said sarcastically.
"Get past the greetings!" Rei shouted. Both Ami and Pluto jumped several feet back. "Answer our questions!"
"We've been on pins and needles ever since you left!" Minako added just as impatiently.
"Okay, okay," Ami said as her heart rate calmed down from a tympanic tremolo to normal. "One at a time: Why are we back? We're back for you guys. Yes, Minako-chan, we need your help."
"To answer Mako-chan's question," Sailor Pluto said after taking several deep breaths. "Nothing has happened yet, and if we can get back in time, we can help the Prince protect our Princess."
"Usagi-chan is fine," Ami continued, answering Haruka's question. "And finally, yes, Mamoru-san was able to get through to her. She doesn't remember everything, but her memories are coming back rapidly."
"What do you mean she doesn't remember everything?" Minako asked worriedly. "Was the brainwashing really that bad?"
"We don't know," Pluto replied softly. "I suspect it has something to do with the level of trauma she went through when the Brutes altered her. It may just be a defense mechanism. She did mention an Angel Queen returning her memories to her, however."
"Angel Queen?" asked Michiru. "An angel returned her memories?"
"Usagi-chan was attacked by the Brutes," Ami clarified. "And while she was still out of it, the Silver Crystal healed her and gave her back some of her memories."
"I guess that could have been an image that her subconscious and the Silver Crystal conjured up while it was healing her," Pluto reasoned.
"Maybe it was Neo-Queen Serenity projecting herself through the crystal," Makoto offered.
Pluto froze at the suggestion. "If that's the case, then the Queen knows what the King told us not to tell her." She sighed and shook her head. She knew that a secret as great as this would never stay away from the Queen's ears. King Endymion from the future probably just didn't want Pluto to have to suffer the consequences of breaking a taboo. She opened another portal. "I guess it doesn't really matter now. We must help the Prince protect the Princess. Follow me!"
"How's this one look?" a salesclerk asked as she held up the twentieth dress for Usagi to inspect. She blew several stray tendrils of hair out of her flushed face as the blood slowly drained from her hand, extended high into the air to keep the dress's hem off of the floor.
Usagi chewed the inside of her cheek as she scrutinized every square inch of the dress. It was delicate white satin with a sheer glimmering fabric flowing from the empire waist down to the floor. Several short puffs of lace served as the sleeves, and the low, square neckline was accented with an intricate gold weaving around a shimmering golden lace bow. It looked much like the dress that the Angel Queen wore. Having realized that, she smiled brightly and carefully took it into her hands. "I'd like to try this one on, please."
"At last," the salesclerk muttered under her breath. She began violently shaking her wrist to get the blood to flow back into it as she stepped around Usagi to unlock the fitting room door. "Right in here, ma'am. If you need any help..." she paused before finishing the statement, weighing the consequences. She took a sidelong glance at the nineteen other dresses draped neatly on top of one another on the counter nearby and made a face as she finished her sentence. "Just call."
Usagi smiled in response as the clerk hurried to help another customer, who was conveniently looking at tuxedos on the other side of the store. She then turned to Mamoru who was seated in a plush chair in front of a row of mirrors. "What do you think?" she asked as she raised the hanger up so she could show him the dress.
His eyes, which had held a rather amused look seconds before, widened slightly and he leaned forward in the chair. "It's gorgeous."
"Glad you agree!" she chirped as she closed the changing room door behind her. Various rustling was heard as she tried the dress on.
Mamoru's pulse calmed down as he sat back into the chair. A few moments later, he heard a gasp come from the room followed by slight sobbing. "Usako?" When she didn't answer he got up from the chair and went over to the door and rapped on it softly. "Usako, are you okay?"
She sniffled. "Uh huh."
"Does the dress look all right?"
"Uh huh."
"Could you show me?" The only response he got was another choked sob. "Usako, sweetie, what's the matter? Can I come in?"
"Uh huh," she replied as she turned the doorknob for him.
He slid through the door, closed it behind him, and found Usagi in the fetal position leaning against the wall. He kneeled beside her and put his hand on her shoulder, barely crumpling the lacy sleeve. "Usako?"
"Oh, Mamo-chan," she whispered as she lifted her eyes to meet his. "It's perfect."
He nearly toppled over with what she said, but instead, he just chuckled. "So, stand up and let me see." She allowed him to help her up and she modeled the dress for him. "You look absolutely breathtaking. So, what's the problem?"
"The problem is that this dress is way too nice," she replied as she pouted. "I mean, I know that back on the moon, I wore beautiful dresses like this one, but now I don't know how to handle myself in one."
"Is that the only problem?" he asked as he took her hand. She nodded meekly. "Then don't worry. I think this one is absolutely perfect. It looks terrific on you, and I have something to go with it." He pulled the Eternal Brooch from his pocket and carefully attached it to the bow. He stepped back a little and drank in the beauty that stood in front of him. His eyes shone with unshed tears from her radiance. "Perfect."
She turned to look at herself in the mirror and her eyes went directly to the golden heart with a tiny crescent moon just at its point. "I...I remember this. I told you to hold onto it when I was taken." Her fingers touched the smooth gold and she looked back at Mamoru. "It holds the Silver Crystal."
"Yes," he replied with a serious face. "And it's extremely important that you hold onto it now. Even if you don't remember your power, you must be in possession of the crystal."
"My power," she echoed. "The power of the soldier of the Moon." Her brow furrowed as she tried to make the memories resurface. "Ai to segi no sailor fuku bishoujou senshi...Sailor Moon." Her concentration was broken when Mamoru wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.
"Usako, don't try to force the memories out. You will remember everything in time."
"I just hate having holes in my memory, Mamo-chan," she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
He smoothed down her hair as he pulled away. "I understand. So, is this the dress?"
She blinked a few times before she smiled. "Yeah, I really like this one." She let out a whistle as she looked at the price tag.
Mamoru batted her hand away from the dangling tag. "Don't stress over it, I'll take care of this one." He exited the changing room to let her get changed, and soon they paid for the dress and were on their merry way.
"So, are you going to wear your tux tomorrow?" she asked with a happy gleam in her eyes as she tucked the Eternal Brooch into her purse.
He turned to her and smiled back. "I guess so, why do you ask?"
"Well, I have your cape at the dry cleaner," she said as she remembered. "Maybe we should swing by there."
"We can do that," he said with a nod. "Besides," he added with a wink. "It's kinda hard to be intimidating without that thing." He spread his arms and arched as if to pounce on Usagi.
She nudged him in the ribs with her elbow. "I'll say!"
"What was that?" he demanded in mock-anger. "I'll get you for that, Miss Odango!" He made a move to trap her in his strong arms, but she was too quick. She draped the bag with her dress in it over her arm as she took off running down the street. He was close behind her and made a final, successful move to catch her. "Gotchya!" He tightened his grip around her waist as his ragged breath came out in white puffs.
She was breathing heavily as well and she squirmed until she was facing him. "And now you're gonna have to pay for that, Mr. Baka!" The sly grin plus the loving shine in her eyes gave away her plan, and Mamoru slightly loosened his grip on her. Both sets of eyelids fluttered shut as their faces neared each other. As they both enjoyed the sweet kiss, more memories began to seep through Usagi's mind. Memories of several other happy times such as this. Some of them included Mamoru as Tuxedo Mask, but mostly they included both Usagi and Mamoru in their civilian forms. She sighed happily.
They pulled apart, rather reluctantly, took each other's hands and resumed walking down the street. When they neared the dry cleaner, Usagi noticed three girls walking out of the store each with a bag over their shoulders.
"Ugh," Usagi groaned when she recognized the girls. "Let's try to get past without them seeing us." Just then, they all turned around, and she groaned again.
"Well, well, well," Natasha said with a cruel smile as she placed a hand at her hip. "If it isn't the Frog Princess and her Prince Charming."
Shannon rolled her eyes as she approached Usagi and Mamoru a bit more civilly. "Don't listen to her. We had a really bad practice. How are you, Serena?"
"Um," Usagi replied. "I'm doing okay, how about you guys?"
She shrugged as she leaned in to whisper to Usagi. "I don't think Justice is getting anywhere personally. If we don't get our act together before tomorrow, there's really no point in us even showing up."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Usagi replied truthfully.
Shannon snickered. "I'm not. Natasha's been a real dictator. She even had her dad pay for Jasmine and my entrance fee. So, what are you entered for?"
"Well, actually," she replied as she squeezed Mamoru's hand in hers. "WE'RE entered for duet vocal."
"Oh WOW," Shannon replied with a smile as she looked from Usagi to Mamoru. "I can't wait to see that! Well, I need to get going. See ya tomorrow, Serena!"
Usagi waved back as Shannon left with her gossiping friends. She and Mamoru turned and walked into the dry cleaner and retrieved his cape. "Tomorrow is going to be interesting!" she said with a sigh.
"You can say that again, Usagi."
Usagi's eyes turned into large blue saucers as she clutched to Mamoru to keep her from passing out. "Rei-chan?"
The raven-haired beauty smiled warmly and only had a few seconds before Usagi crashed into her in a huge bear hug. She giggled as Usagi sobbed in her arms. "I'm glad to see you too, Usagi! But I'm not the only one who came to see you."
"Huh?" she asked as she looked up into Rei's warm violet eyes. She then looked over her shoulder at the rest of her friends each with big smiles on their faces. "Everyone's here?" She even noticed that Sailor Pluto had morphed back into Meiou Setsuna.
"That's right, Usagi-chan!" Minako said with a smile as she gave Usagi the V for victory sign.
Usagi untangled her arms from around Rei to see if they weren't just illusions. "Everyone?"
"We're here for the battle, cute kitten," Haruka said with a serious look in her stormy eyes. Her seriousness melted away as a loving grin spread across her features. "We couldn't let the enemy spoil your big performance!"
"It's going to be a wonderful show," Michiru said with a warm smile of her own. "I can't wait to hear you two sing!"
"Haurka-san, Michiru-san?" Usagi's flabbergasted expression melted and a bright smile replaced it. "You came to hear ME make music? Isn't THAT a switch!"
"Well, not much of anything will be getting done," Makoto said as she approached Usagi with a stern look and her arms crossed. The tough look was difficult to maintain as Usagi turned her smile on her. She winked and held up an index finger. "Not unless you practice and let us help you to get ready!"
"Oh, Mako-chan!" Usagi flung her arms around a very surprised Makoto and hugged her fiercely. "I'm so glad to see you! All of you!" Then Makoto's words sank in. "Omigod! You're right!" She turned to Mamoru, who had been left to hold two garment bags while Usagi met back up with her friends. "We have to practice, practice, practice!"
"Well, of course we do!" he replied with a big smile. "But isn't it nice to know that you have someone to practice for?"
Usagi woke up in the bed that she had been sleeping in for the past few days, but the night before had been the first sleepless night she had in it. Last night's practice was downright frightening. Her timing was way off, and it wasn't until the last run-through that she finally remembered all the words and harmony.
Michiru had been patient and told her that it would come as easily as second nature when they were on stage performing. She also promised to play her violin to accompany the vocalists. Something about having another live body other than a CD making music. "It makes it easier to perform knowing that a person is backing up your sweet voices," she had said. "Those CDs that they have to play the music for these events do nothing to compliment a human voice."
Usagi had thought the opposite. In fact, when turned up to the appropriate volume, it would completely drown her out. At one point during practice, she actually broke down into tears. "I can't do this at all! Why did I think that I could?"
Mamoru, who had found the whole rehearsal rather amusing, dropped the sheet music he had been holding and went to get Usagi a glass of water. "Here, Usako. Something to heal your voice." He smiled as she took the glass with a blush. She downed the drink quickly, resulting in hiccups. He took the glass from her hand and wrapped her into his embrace. "And something to heal your soul. WE can do this, Usako. If we can defeat an enemy that destroyed a millennium of peace, then we can do this!"
Usagi had snuggled into the warmth of his arms, hiccups forgotten, and sighed. "This is way harder than I thought, Mamo-chan. I don't know if you would want to embarrass yourself this badly."
"Nonsense!" He chuckled as he squeezed slightly tighter. "Now I know you know these words." He took the sheet music she had clenched in her fist away from her. "Now close your eyes and picture the music." She sighed again and closed her eyes obediently. Michiru's violin swept its hauntingly beautiful voice over them and they quietly -- almost under their breaths -- sang the whole refrain with no problem.
"No matter how distant
our separation, my love,
our hearts now can shine as one.
No matter how many wounds we bear
that cause us to cry, my love,
because if we're together, we are able to smile.
You are just my love."
When they opened their eyes, they saw everyone, including Michiru and Haruka, with tears flowing down their faces. "That was the most beautiful sound I have ever heard in my entire life!" Minako had said as she wiped her eyes with her handkerchief. "You guys are totally set!"
"I hope you're right, Minako-chan," Usagi said quietly to herself as she left her bedroom. Waiting for her in the living room was a pile of bodies, each sleeping soundly on any scrap of floor they could claim.
"Good morning, Usako," Mamoru's softened voice came from the kitchen.
She smiled as she turned to him and carefully stepped around her friends so as not to wake them. "Good morning, Mamo-chan!"
"So are you ready?" He wrapped his arms around her waist and lowered his forehead to hers.
"As ready as I'll ever be," she said uncertainly, but with a smile nonetheless.
"So everyone managed to get seats right up front?" Usagi giggled happily as Minako did her makeup and Rei tried tying her shoulder-length hair into smaller versions of her traditional buns. Makoto and Ami sat nearby gossiping happily in the small, but ornate dressing room set aside for Usagi.
"Yep," replied Makoto. "We'll be able to see the sweat on your foreheads!"
"She'd better not sweat!" Minako sniffed as she applied the last touch to Usagi's makeup. "You're now flawlessly gorgeous!"
She handed Usagi a hand mirror to view her masterpiece. "Well, almost flawless," Usagi sighed. Minako looked crestfallen, and madly went about trying to find the offensive smudge. "Oh! It's nothing that you've done, Minako-chan!"
"Then what IS it?" Minako shrieked.
"It's just this body, I guess," she replied.
Rei placed the last bobby pin into Usagi's red hair and anchored it down with hair spray. She then placed a hand on her shoulder. "Usagi, you are flawless no matter whose body you have. You sparkle like a thousand stars!"
"Yeah," Makoto replied as she went over to Usagi and helped her out of the chair and into her shoes. "You really don't look all that different. This morning, I noticed that your hair had grown a few inches and that it's starting to turn blonde again!"
"And besides," Ami added as she pinned Usagi's brooch onto her bow. "You just have gotten a little extra baby fat on you. You'll work that off in a week just running to school!" They all stepped back to admire their princess, who had a glow of pride about her all of a sudden.
"Thank you guys!" Usagi said as she gave each of them a hug. "Now, don't say the stage curse, but let me hear the famous phrase!"
"Break a leg!" they all chorused. Just after they got the words out, Usagi tripped over her shoes into a pile of giggles. "We didn't mean it literally, Odango Atama!" Rei snapped playfully as she helped her up.
Just outside the door, Mamoru checked the time. They needed to be on stage in five minutes with music ready, set to sing. Just then, the door opened and Usagi's friends, guardians, and court maidens presented his princess. He straightened his jacket unconsciously as his pulse rose to a thundering thumping. She was an absolute vision. He bowed politely, and eventually found his voice. "You look stunning, Usako."
"And you look handsome, as always, Mamo-chan!" she echoed as she accepted his outstretched arm. "Are you nervous?"
"Not anymore."
"Hey, where's Michiru-san with the music?" Ami asked.
"She was just here," Mamoru replied. "She left to go warm up. We have a few minutes, so we shouldn't worry."
"Well, we're gonna go grab our seats now," Rei said as she patted both Usagi and Mamoru on the shoulder. "You guys have fun!"
"Break another leg!" Makoto said with a wave. Then they were gone.
"Who is this angel that has the Prince by the heartstrings?" Michiru asked as she approached them from behind. "Usagi-chan, you look absolutely radiant!"
"Michiru-san!" Usagi said as she turned to greet the older senshi. She noticed that she was dressed in a simple, yet beautiful aqua gown that reached the floor. The sleeveless bodice had no ornaments, but the intricate embroidery accented every curve. "You look wonderful!"
"Thank you!" She smiled. "Now, let's get going. It's always best to be early when you're about to perform."
Haurka stifled a yawn as the song and dance group "Justice" plodded clumsily across the stage. Makoto noticed the act of boredom and leaned over to whisper. "At least we know that Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san put SOME effort into practicing."
The older woman smiled slightly and nodded. "Thank God they're next. I don't know how much more of this amateur poo I can take."
Scattered applause followed the embarrassing conclusion to Justice's act, and Usagi squeezed Mamoru's hand as they prepared to take the stage.
The announcer made a face as he passed the fuming, bickering members of the song and dance act. "Uh, Justice, everyone! Let's give them a hand. Yeah...okay now on to our next act! Let's give these two a real Star Quest welcome. Serena and Darien singing a song called, You Are Just My Love."
Michiru was the first one on stage, and she received the biggest applause from the row of senshi. She bowed gracefully, and cued the music to start. As the beat began, she pulled the bow across her violin and began to create the atmosphere. After the count of four, Usagi strode out on stage and clutched her microphone desperately. After first noticing that her voice was clamped, she took a deep breath and dove into the lyrics with both feet.
"I look up at the moonlit sky,
and see you floating there."
Mamoru was right on her heels, and as soon as he was on stage, his mellow baritone voice followed in the next phrase.
"I close my eyes,
and whisper your name."
Usagi turned to him after his line, and smiled brilliantly, just as they had rehearsed.
"Tears are like ripples in crystal,
filling my heart with loneliness."
As they both realized that this was getting easier, they pounced on the harmony, and it drove through to everyone else listening.
"For example, no matter how distant
our separation, my love.
Our hearts now can shine as one…"
Usagi added the next line slightly softer, effectively enhancing the already thick emotion.
"You are just my love."
And it continued as such, with Michiru putting her pure heart into her violin's voice, and Usagi and Mamoru bringing everyone to tears with their angelic voices.
Usagi: "I want to be at your side, to gaze at you. Please grant this wish..."
Mamoru: "I want to fall asleep, holding you in my arms."
Usagi: "In the same night, we share the sorrow. Because I want to believe in love."
Both: "For example, no matter how many wounds we bear that cause us to cry, my love. Because if we're together, we are able to smile."
Mamoru: "You are just my love."
Michiru then had her stirring violin solo as Usagi and Mamoru moved tantalizingly closer together, moving as if in a dream. Then as soon as the key changed, indicating it was time to sing again, their eyes opened, and they were in each other's arms. They brought their microphones to their mouths simultaneously and went into the last, perfect harmony.
"No matter how distant
our separation, my love.
Our hearts now can shine as one.
No matter how many wounds we bear
that cause us to cry, my love.
Because if we're together, we are able to smile.
You are just my love!"
Michiru played a few more bars of drifting ending music, but the thundering applause overshadowed much of it. She didn't mind at all, because she knew the people they were applauding so vivaciously for deserved it. Even if they weren't aware of it. Usagi and Mamoru were too involved in the kiss they were sharing. As they pulled away, they were overcome by even more applause, and the announcer had to take a few minutes to regain his ability to speak.
"That was absolutely wonderful! Give Darien and Serena another round of applause!"
"I'd rather give them the Plague!" a booming voice croaked. Screams replaced the applause as everyone turned to see where the voice was coming from. The senshi each felt the presence of Cadmus and his followers.
"We have to get somewhere and transform!" Haruka cried over the confusion.
"They're all in danger!" Makoto cried back. "There's enough confusion, we can transform here!" She pulled out her henshin stick, and the others followed suit. "Jupiter Crystal Power..."
"Venus Crystal Power..."
"Mercury Crystal Power..."
"Mars Crystal Power..."
"Uranus Crystal Power..."
"Pluto Crystal Power..."
Every senshi's voice chimed in on the last word of each incantation. "MAKE UP!"
Meanwhile, Usagi had latched onto Mamoru. "It's him, isn't it?"
"I think so," he replied through clenched teeth. "Michiru-san, take Usako and get her out of here!"
"No, Mamo-chan! I want to stay with you!"
"You can't," he said softly as he looked at her with tears in his eyes. "It's too dangerous."
"Come on, Usagi-chan," Michiru said gently as she took Usagi by the arm. "We need to find the ladies room." She hurried Usagi backstage, and as she tucked her violin back into its case, she reached into the secret compartment behind her bow and retrieved her henshin stick. "I know that you don't remember, but please believe me. The power is in your heart. We need your light and power now!" She stood up and held the stick high. "Neptune Crystal Power...MAKE UP!"
As she watched Neptune's transformation, something clicked in Usagi. She didn't know how, but she knew that she must return to Mamoru. She clasped the Eternal Brooch into her hand, and rushed back onstage.
"No!" Neptune screamed. "Princess! Come back!"
Usagi heard Neptune's cry, and stopped at the curtain. She looked behind her to see the senshi of the deep sea come up to her. "I have to save everyone!"
"I understand, Princess," Neptune replied as she put a gloved hand on Usagi's heaving shoulder. "But take a look at what's going on out there." She used her other hand to pull the curtain away. Chaos was reigning with three Brutes and six Sailors hurling attacks at each other, and on stage, Tuxedo Mask was holding off Cadmus. "There is so much commotion. If you were to be in danger, none of us would be able to protect you. There's nothing for you to do right now."
"But, Michiru-san!" Usagi turned to her with tearful eyes. "Those are my friends! "I have to do something!" She looked at the brooch in her hand, and closed her eyes. "I don't want everyone to die!"
Neptune grabbed her and ran away from the approaching blast. The attack completely destroyed the whole area they had previously occupied. "And nobody wants you to die!"
Usagi peeked through another fold in the curtains and saw that Tuxedo Mask was fighting a losing battle. "NO! Mamo-chan!" She squirmed right out of Neptune's protective hold and ran out on stage.
"Usagi-chan!"
Tuxedo Mask wasn't fast enough to block a powerful kick from Cadmus, and went flying across the stage. "And now the final blow, Endymion," Cadmus said as he prepared an attack. "It's a damn shame you won't see the judge's score!"
"Deep...SUBMURGE!" Neptune cried out in desperation. Her attack knocked Cadmus off of the stage, and gave her a chance to get in between him and Usagi, who had just rushed to Tuxedo Mask's side.
"Mamo-chan?" Usagi asked as she clutched his body close to hers. Tears ran down her cheeks as a memory went through her mind of him being near death and in a similar position.
"Usako," he grunted in return. He wrapped his arms around her as he gathered the strength to stand again. "You have to get out of here. I beg of you."
"I'll never leave you," she stubbornly replied. "You should know that by now. Just like the moon will never leave its eternal embrace with the Earth." Several words stuck out in her mind after she had finished speaking. Moon...Eternal...
"Usako," Tuxedo Mask croaked, voice breaking with emotion. Just then, Sailor Neptune was hit fiercely and was thrown back to where Tuxedo Mask and Usagi were seated.
"Michiru-san!" Usagi cried. She reached her free hand over to touch her hand.
As soon as Michiru felt Usagi's gentle touch, she opened her eyes and smiled weakly. "Please. Please...remember your light."
"A light that will be extinguished," Cadmus growled deeply. "Along with the lives of her love and her Senshi." He prepared another attack, and just as he released it at the three on the ground, Usagi thrust her hand that held the Eternal Brooch forward.
"That won't happen," she said with a determination that surprised her. A bright light erupted from the brooch, and protected her, Tuxedo Mask, and Sailor Neptune. "It won't happen because I have embraced my light, my power, and my past."
She stood, and helped Tuxedo Mask do the same. She turned to him and smiled. "I just remembered now, Mamo-chan. I think it's a terrible shame that you must be injured badly for me to remember and get my act together." Tuxedo Mask smiled slightly in response as he stepped back to let Usagi transform.
She took a deep breath as she channeled all of her power through the crystal within the brooch. "Moon Eternal...MAKE UP!" Everything else fell silent as a huge burst of light engulfed Usagi and changed her back into a slender girl with long blonde hair done up in "odangos."
"Sailor Moon!" the other Senshi cried. They all left their fighting with the other brutes to go team up with Sailor Moon. Even Sailor Neptune, with Tuxedo Mask's help, joined the group that had surrounded Cadmus.
Cadmus spun around and saw a Sailor Soldier around every turn. There was no escape. He also noticed that his Brutes had gathered around as well, though a far distance away from the Senshi and their combined power. "What is this?"
"This is the end, Cadmus," Eternal Sailor Moon said softly. She held out her hand and the Moon Tier materialized in it. "This is what you've wanted for a thousand years."
"What?"
"We're going to heal you, Cadmus," Sailor Pluto replied.
"You know that we could never kill a relative of our Prince," Sailor Mars added.
"No matter how much he deserved to die," Sailor Uranus echoed as she looked at Neptune out of the corner of her eye.
"A curse has befallen you, Prince Cadmus," Sailor Neptune said shakily. "And it's time that you be released from it."
"Your pure heart was contaminated with negative energy and turned your passion for warfare into a bitter hatred for those of the Silver Millennium," Sailor Mercury reasoned.
"We have the power to return the purity to your heart," Sailor Venus said.
"But you have to be ready to release the negativity and embrace the light again," Sailor Jupiter said.
"I have seen the future of Earth, and it's a glorious one," Tuxedo Mask said, in a desperate attempt to reason with his uncle. "But it only will be if everyone learns to let go of petty differences and hatred."
"So, what's it going to be, Cadmus?" Sailor Moon asked.
"Don't do it, Yukio-sama!" Bara shouted from behind him. "They're trying to trick you!"
"Do you want to have wasted a thousand years worth of planning revenge on surrendering weakly?" Yemon cried. "They must be dealt with!"
"If you agree and forsake us again, Yukio," Kin threatened. "We will never forgive you. You will die with no honor right along with your nephew!"
"These baneful youma," Cadmus said, referring to his Brutes. "Are just pawns of Metalia, aren't they? Do they even have a soul?"
"The question is," Pluto said. "Do you?"
"I'm not sure," Cadmus whispered as he lowered his head.
"There's one way to make sure," Neptune said as she drew out her Submarine Mirror. "This mirror reflects all evil souls! Submarine Reflection!" Bright green lights lit up the three Brutes' chests, illuminating their evil, unreachable souls.
"Mars...Flame Sniper!"
"Space Sword Blaster!"
"Venus...Love and Beauty Shock!"
The three attacks hit the Brutes, and blew them away to rest along with Metalia.
"Your soul didn't light up, Cadmus," Jupiter said with a smile.
"Then," he said as he lifted his head. "That means..."
"That you can be healed," Sailor Moon replied with a smile. She raised the Moon Tier as all of her senshi and Tuxedo Mask closed their eyes and lent her their power. "Silver Moon...Crystal Power...KISS!"
Cadmus howled as the purifying energy swept over him, but soon, he saw that his spirit was rising to the light. And as the light of Sailor Moon's crystal died down, Cadmus was securely in the grip of the same light that held Endymion's parents, and Serenity's mother. He had passed into the next dimension, as he should have a thousand years earlier.
"His spirit is finally where it belongs," Tuxedo Mask sighed. He looked over to Sailor Moon, who had tears in her eyes for his loss. With a smile, he stroked her face and ruffled her bangs. "And you're back to where you belong too."
"Oh, Mamo-chan," Sailor Moon sighed. She then looked over the faces of her Senshi. "It's all over now. I wonder if we could fix this place up and continue with the Star Quest show."
"We all know that you won," Sailor Neptune said with a laugh. "I think that today, we discovered that there is nothing the two of you can't accomplish together."
"Which is the true source of their power," a gentle voice said as the Angel Queen appeared in the center of the circle the Senshi still had formed.
"Neo-Queen Serenity!" Sailor Pluto gasped as she fell to one knee. The others followed suit except for Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask.
"Sailor Pluto," Neo-Queen Serenity's image said as she turned to the Senshi of Eternity. "Thank you for setting all of this into motion."
"Majesty?" Pluto looked up with a confused expression on her face.
"Without you and your gentle understanding of the time warp, Sailor Moon would have been lost," she replied. "Though somehow, I doubt Tuxedo Mask would have given up very easily. The taboo of time travel has been broken before, and so has the taboo of knowledge of your existence. Perhaps it is time that the taboos be re-written."
"Thank you, your majesty."
"Good luck to you, Usagi, Mamoru!" The Neo-Queen said as she disappeared.
There was an uneasy silence for several moments as everyone looked to each other to figure out what to do next. Then, Sailor Venus found something on the ground that caught her eye. It was a ring. She bent over to retrieve it. "Hey, what's this?"
"This," Sailor Mercury said as she took it from Venus. She carried it over to Mamoru. "Is Mamoru-san's opportunity. Don't blow it this time." She winked as she placed the ring into Tuxedo Mask's open palm.
He looked at the ring that he had planned to propose to Usagi with, and decided that the present was the best time to do everything. He picked the ring up with his other hand and showed it to Sailor Moon. Her eyes grew wide as she recognized the adornment. "I don't plan on screwing this up this time," he said as he fell to one knee and gently took Sailor Moon's left hand, drawing a gasp from her and the rest of the Senshi. He removed his hat and mask and looked directly into her cerulean eyes that were as wide as saucers and full of happy tears.
"I've always had a hard time expressing my feelings towards you," he began. "And when I first gave this ring to you, I guess I just assumed that you realized the importance of it. But just in case you didn't, let me tell you. It took me approximately four seconds to consider buying this ring for you for this question I'm about to ask you. But it took me almost four years to build up the nerve to actually purchase it. It sat in the OsaP store the entire time, and I'm sure the people who work there were tired of me coming in just to check on it from time to time."
"Nice speech, Mamoru-san," Sailor Uranus said while she cupped her hand over her mouth. "Now ask the damn question!"
"Way to add to the mood, Haruka," Sailor Neptune said as she rested her head on Uranus' shoulder.
This caused everyone to laugh, and it made it easier for Tuxedo Mask to continue. "That said," he said with a laugh as he tugged on Sailor Moon's glove until it slipped off. "Will you marry me, Usako?"
"Mamo-chan," she gasped as the tears fell from her eyes. "Of course I will! Yes! I'll marry you!" She waited until Tuxedo Mask slipped the ring onto the appropriate finger before she fell to her knees and embraced her prince.
"Yay! He didn't screw up!" Sailor Venus cheered. She felt the love sweep over the entire room as the princess and her prince shared their first "engaged" kiss, and watched as the power radiating from that kiss sweep up the walls of the auditorium, repairing it. It continued to run up the walls and up to the ceiling, and soon, they heard thunderous applause.
Everyone turned around to see the audience of the Star Quest show standing to applaud the two lovers. They also could hear the last few bars of the song that Mamoru and Usagi had sung being played. They all looked back to Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Mask, and saw that they were now in the same clothes that they had been in when they were performing. Usagi had maintained the look of the slim, odangoed girl, but miraculously, her dress had shrunk with her.
The senshi looked around, but could not find Sailor Pluto. "Did she send us back in time?" Sailor Jupiter wondered out loud.
The announcer of the show came onstage and had to wait a few moments before he could find the words. "That was absolutely wonderful! Give Darien and Serena another round of applause! That was our last act, so please stick around for the awards ceremony, sponsored by Justice Supermarkets!"
The "Best of Show" cup and the grand prize plaque were Neo-Queen Serenity and King Endymion's favorite trophies that they had displayed in the Crystal Palace trophy room.
The lyrics for "You Are Just My Love" are rough translations from the original song done in Japanese. I did not do these translations, and I don't remember who did. I got this from sailor music dot net (damnation....no link EVER works!!).