Epilogue: Tomorrow is Another Day

"You're all back!" Luna screeched.

The Sailor Scouts had just staggered up the steps of the temple, followed closely by Fargo and Tuxedo Mask.

It was the crack of dawn and they were all dishevelled and fatigued by the night's action.

Luna and Artemis had waited up all night for the Scouts to return and they were relieved to see them safe and sound.

"Looks like it, doesn't it?" Sailor Mars replied cheerily, despite her roughed up condition.

"I think we're back. Not sure though!" Sailor Jupiter added.

Luna had eyes for only one of them.

Sailor Mercury noticed Luna looking at her intently and lowered her gaze uncomfortably.

Luna's heart sank as she realised that Amy had not forgotten their row the night before. Not that she could blame her.

Artemis was also gazing at Amy – however his attention was more focused on her Mina-like hair. "Wow..." he gasped, almost falling over in shock. "A-A-Amy, your HAIR...!"

"It's so good to be home," Mars sighed. "There were a few times tonight when I thought I'd never see the temple again."

"For sure! We came close to being beaten! Too close!" Venus nodded.

"Tell us what happened." Artemis instructed her – he was gawping at Amy as if he couldn't believe it and that worked out quite nicely since he simply COULDN'T.

Sailor Moon cut in.

"Oooh, can't it wait 'til morning? I'm dead on my feet!" she wailed.

"It's morning now." Artemis pointed out.

"I mean morning at ten o'clock when I've had a long crash!"

Sailor V nudged her cat with the toe of her shoe.

"Let her have her way, Artemis. You know she'll be totally impossible if you don't." she whispered.

Artemis sighed and gave in.

"Do you have anything I can change into?" Mercury asked Mars, speaking for the first time since they'd gotten back.

Sailor Mars understood and nodded. "Go along the corridor and into the second door on the right. I left some spare clothes in there." She instructed.

"Thank you." Mercury nodded gratefully.

With that she turned and walked through the wooden doors that led into the temple followed by several curious gazes. As they looked at one another again though none of them noticed Luna run quickly after the Mercurian and through the doors just before they closed.

"Walk you home?" Tuxedo Mask offered Sailor Moon.

"Wouldn't have it any other way, muffin!"

Just then Artemis remembered the vision that everyone had seen last night - he looked at Fargo who was gazing after the departed Mercury wistfully.

While they had all been walking back from the hotel Fargo had come to a decision. He had decided that Amy was something fantastic. Something he could never have. Also she had been acting nervously around him since the hotel and although he knew that she liked and trusted him Fargo also knew that Amy just didn't love him like that. The one thing he never wanted to do was to force himself upon her against her will. There had been only one thing to do.

"Fargo, you lucky dog!" Artemis laughed. "You really fell on your feet when Queen Serenity chose you to be Princess Mercury's husband! You must feel like you've won the lottery!"

"No, I don't." Fargo muttered. Everyone stared at him, stunned.

"What!" Venus exclaimed.

"You heard what I said. I don't expect her to stay with me when she obviously doesn't want to. Simple as that."

"Whoah!" Jupiter grinned. "I don't believe it! You're a real gentleman!"

"Who cares what you think?" Fargo snapped.

"Hey, I'm just saying that maybe I was wrong about you...that's all."

Looking from one to the other, Sailor Moon suddenly snickered.

"What's that meant to mean?" Fargo demanded.

"Oooh, nothing. Nothing at all." Sailor Moon replied airily as she left with Tuxedo Mask.

x x x x x

Sailor Mercury closed the door behind her. Believing herself to be alone she transformed back into Amy and her Sailor suit disappeared.

Now that she was all by herself for the first time in a while a grave frown crossed her reflective face as she remembered the startling truth that she had worked out the night before...the secret that she alone in the Sailor Scout team knew.

The brotherhood of Darien and the now dead Emperor Mu...

For a considerable while Amy stood still thinking about what the truth would mean to the group if she were to reveal it – what it might mean for Darien. As she debated with herself on what was best her eyes wavered between resolution and indecision more than a few times...then she shook her head as she decided what she would do about what she had learned.

Nothing at all.

It was the best decision that she could think of...one thing she did know was that Darien was definitely better for not knowing that his brother, his only remaining family, had been the cruellest and most heartless tyrant in the history of the Earth.

Amy had made up her mind...for the sake of Darien and Serena's happiness she would never speak of it. The truth would be hard for her to carry alone but she knew that she could do it...for the sake of her friends peace of mind.

Looking around the room she saw one of Rei's floor-length red frocks that she wore while sweeping away the dust on the temple porch lying on the floor.

"Amy?" Amy jumped. Luna was sitting on the floor looking up at her.

There was something in Luna's eyes that Amy had never seen there before in all the time she'd known her.

"Oh, hi Luna!" she stammered.

"I hope that you are alright after everything that happened." Luna said in a strangely humble voice.

"Oh I'm fine! Really, I am. Don't worry about me, Luna." Amy reassured the cat.

"I can't help it. But I'm glad that you are safe, Amy. I really am."

"Thanks." They both stood for a while in awkward silence.

"That's a new look for you, isn't it?" Luna teased her eventually.

Amy blushed slightly remembering the bikini and her drastically enhanced mane and giggled a little.

"Yes. It is really, isn't it?" she replied.

"Amy, there's something I have to say to you. Something very important."

"What is it?" Amy asked worriedly.

"Amy...last night I said some things that I didn't really mean. I was angry with you but that's no excuse. I had no right to say what I did. Amy, can you ever forgive me?"

Amy stared at her.

It was not in her heart to bear malice, bitterness or grudges against anyone, especially a friend. And after what she'd been through over the past few days Amy was happy to be free and just couldn't feel angry with anyone.

"Luna, it's alright." She whispered. "Really it is."

"Are you sure?"

"Like I said, it's in the past. Forget all about it." Amy stroked Luna behind the ears like she usually did to show her that there no hard feelings between them.

x x x x x

Mina stepped out from behind the tree, having just transformed back from Sailor V. As she began to make for her front gate she stopped and stared.

There was a moving van outside the house next to hers.

Someone was finally moving in next to her.

As Mina walked up to get a closer look a girl of about her own age climbed out of the van.

She looked around and smiled when she noticed her. She had long dark green hair which cascaded over her shoulders and down to her waist quite like Rei's. She was remarkably beautiful and had the most gorgeous blue eyes Mina had ever seen.

The girl looked into her eyes and something happened.

Something truly extraordinary.

As they gazed into each others eyes both Mina and the girl felt an inner flash as their eyes met like two pieces of a magical puzzle.

The girl's ice blue eyes were startled as she looked at the blonde girl in surprise. She had no idea what had just happened but one thing was clear to her at once:

It was right.

Mina cleared her throat.

"Hi! I'm Mina and I live next door." She greeted her new neighbour.

"Good morning! My name's Alexia." The girl replied. "Good to meet you, Mina!"

"Same here! Which school will you be going to?"

"I'm not really sure." She paused for a moment as a voice sounded from within her new home. "I have to go into the house now but I'll see you around, huh?"

"Yeah uh-huh!" Mina enthused. "I hope we'll be friends. See you around, Alexia!"

"Bye for now, Mina!"

Mina watched as Alexia opened the gate, went to the front door and into the house. She liked Alexia already and she just knew that they would be friends.

She didn't notice a small orange cat sitting on the roof of the van looking down at her.

As soon as she had seen Mina the kitten had realised who she was.

Princess Venus AKA Sailor Venus.

Then the other Scouts lived around this area and if they did then Luna and Artemis who would as well!

There was no way that Alexia wouldn't come into contact with them sooner or later.

Oh well.

The cat licked herself carefully. It would all come out in the wash. She'd reveal herself to the others and tell Alexia Risolto, or rather Sailor Charon, about her true destiny when the time came.

Satisfied with this, Estrella, the third adviser of Queen Serenity, jumped down onto the fence and began to preen herself.

x x x x x

"So, no sign of Fargo then?" Rei asked as she swept up the porch with a scraping broom.

"No." Amy replied. She was now wearing one of Rei's frocks and there was a troubled look of thought on her face.

Ever since she had found out that she was married to Fargo the previous night Amy had felt uncomfortable around him.

It wasn't that she didn't like Fargo. He was funny and deep down he was sincere and considerate. He had risked his life to protect her when he hadn't had to. Amy supposed that he was also kind of good looking in a ruffled, worse for wear kind of way. But she just didn't love him like that. And now she wondered what she was going to do now he and she knew the truth.

"What happened to Sailor Universe?" Artemis asked.

"Gone," Amy replied briefly. "She just vanished without a trace while we were watching the fight. We don't know where she went."

That was another worry. Sailor Universe was still out there somewhere. She knew that Amy was Sailor Mercury and could strike at any time. And now Mu wasn't around to keep her in check...

No sense worrying about it now.

Amy decided that she'd just have to wait and see how it turned out.

"Great! So we have a renegade Scout on the loose." Luna growled. "The most dangerous thing imaginable!"

They all fell silent as a shadow fell across the porch.

Amy looked up to see Fargo standing there in front of her.

"Fargo." Amy whispered so quietly he could hardly hear her.

"Amy...we need to talk." Fargo said simply. Amy nodded mutely.

Rei, Luna and Artemis watched as they walked away. They all knew what Fargo was going to tell Amy so they weren't worried at all.

"Are you okay?" Fargo asked her.

"I'm fine." Amy stammered.

There were butterflies in her stomach.

"Really?" Fargo raised an eyebrow and looked at her keenly. Amy went red to the tips of her ears.

"Yes. I'm alright." She struggled out.

"Glad to hear it. I've been thinking about a lot of things."

"Oh?" Amy's heart was beating three times its usual rate.

"Yep, a lot of things. You mostly."

There was a short pause.

"Yes?" Amy managed.

Fargo was gazing at her with an odd searching look on his face – then he smiled.

"Hmm...you look lovely with your hair like that!"

"OH!" Amy's hand flew to her head. "I-I'd forgotten it was like this..."

"The reason I wanted to talk to you..." Fargo went on and she looked at him again as she detected the return of his seriousness. "Was to say that I've come to release you from your ties to me."

Amy stared at him. She felt an immense tide of relief wash over her. Whatever she had been expecting it had not been this.

"But why? We're married..."

"Thanks. I'm not Mu!" Fargo retorted.

"I don't mean..."

"No don't worry about it. Listen, Amy, I only did it to save you from Mu. Now he's dead and my job's over. I've fulfilled my promise to Queen Serenity."

Fargo kneeled down before Amy formally. He had never done this before so it nearly didn't work.

"Princess Mercury," He announced as his eyes sparkled. "The marriage is over. I cannot take you any further. Consider yourself divorced."

"Thank you." Amy smiled and met his eyes for the first time.

Fargo's breath left him as he saw that same smile, the beautiful eyes and the rosy blush that had drawn him to her that night so very long ago on the Moon Kingdom. Then he shook himself, sternly telling himself that he couldn't afford to feel that way about her.

"There's no need at all for you to thank me," Fargo stood again. "I'm honoured to have been able to help you, Amy. For the first time in his life Fargo has done something and given something up for the sake of someone else."

"Will you be able to leave the planet now that we're not married?" Amy asked, remembering Queen Serenity's words.

"No. That's the one part of all of this that's forever. But even though I've lost the freedom of the stars I don't regret it. I never will. It's more than anyone like me could ever hope for."

"No., you're wrong," Amy cut in. "There's more in you than you know, Fargo. Don't put yourself down like that."

He looked long and hard at her...and then sighed, shaking his head ruefully. "Fargo..."

"Pardon?"

"Fargo..." he repeated. "You know I still feel short changed after all of this. You see I found out about my purpose but I never found out what my real name is. Neither Queen Serenity nor myself mentioned it in our vision."

"Is it really important?" Amy asked. "Is your name really important if you're already a good, sweet person?"

Fargo stared at her wide-eyed.

"What's wrong?"

"You know...that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me!" he exclaimed.

"I think that someone had to say it. Whatever you call yourself, nothing can ever change who you are. That's all that's really important." Amy finished.

"Prin...Amy." Fargo corrected himself. "Thank you. For more than you can ever realise."

Amy just smiled and his insides felt funny. Not funny to laugh but an odd kind of funny.

"I have to be going now." Fargo said after a few moments had passed.

"Where will you go?"

"Not sure. Goodbye, Amy, be happy. And thank you again for everything."

Amy's face was concerned as he turned to leave. Already she was worrying about what would happen to him; how he would live and where he would go.

"Well...keep in touch, okay?" she said. "And if there's ever anything I can..."

"No." Fargo said abruptly. "You'll never see me again."

With that he walked down the steps and was gone.

After a long sad look in the direction he had departed in Amy turned and went back to the others.

Rei, Luna and Artemis watched as she arrived.

"Is he alright?" Rei asked concerned.

Amy nodded.

"Yes." She whispered. "He...he found what he was looking for. And so did I." Sighing, she shook head. "Rei, would you mind at all if I used your phone? It's just that I need to book an appointment with the hair-salon..." As the raven-haired girl looked at her in surprise and a little disappointment, Amy concluded, "It...just isn't me you know? I'd rather be myself than Mu's perfect woman..."

Rei stared at her and then grinned. "That's for the best." she replied sincerely.

Some time later...

Outside the Dead-Zone Vortex Fargo stopped.

A sparkling red Harley Davidson was parked just outside. A short way off a massive cue-ball like man who was obviously the owner of the bike drank like a fish.

Fargo instantly recognised him as the man who had humiliated him a few days before.

His eyes drifted back to the bike.

The keys were in the ignition.

Didn't the guy think anyone would dare to take it? Then again, who ever would?

A guy with a death wish, that was who.

With a grin bubbling up on his face Fargo jumped onto the bike.

The man turned as he heard the sound of an engine and stared at what he saw.

With a merry laugh and a cry of "EXCELSIOR!" Fargo blazed away down the road on the bike.

Not once was he tempted to look back.

So he naturally didn't see just what happened next - for a second that seemed like forever the cue-ball could only gawp, slack-jawed after the flash of red as it retreated into the distance – then his confusion seemed to activate the alpha-male chemical-reaction that resulted in extreme rage.

"I'll, I'll, I'll...KILL him!" he growled as he reached over and grabbed the nearest motorcycle within grabbing-range in order to give chase to the thief who'd strolled off with HIS bike.

"Hey!" exclaimed the real owner of the motorcycle hijacked by the cue-ball – a large man wearing a leather jacket. "Who the hell do you..."

The cue-ball paid no attention as he mounted the bike, kicked it into life and began to rumble up the road – his mind was totally bent on getting his hands around that kid's throat that he totally forgot for the moment that other people existed in the same world as him and the young thief.

He was so enraged that he didn't notice the slight 'thud' that gently rocked the motorbike as he rolled up the road – however the casual tap on his shoulder made his heart jump right up into his throat.

Merula, perched on the tips of her toes in a very precarious position on the back of the bike, smiled charmingly as she balanced her chin on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around one of his brawny limbs.

"Yoo-hoo!" she purred at the thunderstruck cue-ball. "Say big-boy...I kinda need a ride outta this small-town berg...care to help me out here?"

As the smouldering eyes of his unexpected passenger made his fingers tremble on the handlebars the cue-ball noticed that she was wearing leather pants and a skimpy crop-top that bared most of her midriff, chest and also revealed that her belly-button was pierced by a silver ring.

"Heh...sure, babe." He stammered, a foolish grin slowly crossing his face.

The change in Merula's manner was electric – her eyes narrowed and her arms tightened around his.

"My hero." She smirked as she used her arm-lock to hurl him from the bike – as the cue-ball sprawled on the road and found himself gazing up at the posse of the legitimate owner of this bike the purple-haired girl slid herself down into the seat and took the handlebars into her own hands. "Hmm...a 'Harley', huh?"

Squinting ahead and catching a flash of red in the far-off distance the purple-haired girl smirked and turned right at the next junction – so that she headed down the opposite route to the one that Fargo had chosen to take.

As she headed straight out of Tokyo and the lives of the Sailor Scouts Merula felt a thrill of exhilaration as the wind blew her hair back of her shoulders – she could FEEL her time as it truly began and it felt GRAND. Still...she couldn't help but feel regret as she said her last goodbye to the life that she had decided to leave behind in Tokyo.

Amy, my Mercurian beauty... Merula thought as she faded over the horizon. ...will I ever forget?

The End

Author's Note: That's it, it's over! Or is it? Of course we havent seen the last of Fargo yet...ciao for now!