"You guys really need to quit worrying so much!" Jun Jun teased, however, as though on cue, a sceam errupted from the room the Queen and Princess were in. The large glossy double doors were thrown open, inside the princess lie sprawled out on the floor. Neo Queen Selenity was crying out as she went to her daughters side, it was visible through the hole in her dress that the queens wounds had been completely healed. Chaos errupted as everyone pushed into the room, asking questions and trying to revive the fallen princess.
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Disclaimer: I don't own Sailor Moon or any associated character, nah!
A/N:Not sure how long it is but it will be wrapping up some things... The Epilogue should just be a little extra something to make you feel all happy inside, Hopefully! Lets get down to business...
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Everyone gathered in the Grand Hall, this was normally used ony for special banquet occasions but today they were there for a much different reason. The room was lengthy and white with gold trimming the ceiling, marble pillars supported the massive structure of the ceiling with a large mural of each planet and the moon smiling down upon the room. Enough chairs had been set out on the crimson tiles to accomodate the senshi and they filed in with anticipation and concern. The queen was sitting alongside the king near the far end of the large room, their faces showed the distress they had been dealing with for some time now, their eyes were both puffy with tears though they tried their best to hide it. There was a few minutes of silence before Neo Queen Selenity cleared her throat and spoke up, "I'm sure you are all wondering why I called you here." Her voice shook a bit though she attempted to keep it steady, "As you know my daugther passed away two weeks ago to this day... what you don't know though is why she passed. Its been difficult to deal with and I haven't been able to bring myself to speak of it until now." She bit her lip to try and supress the dismal wave that swept over her body, "I want you to know what happened back in the room on that day."
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Princess Selenity watched as the raven haired Hotaru shut the door with a satisfying click before she turned back to her mother, "Mom, Iamsosorrythatthishappened! Idon'tknowwhatIwasthinkingorhowIletthishappenandIwantyoutoknowthatIreallydidn'tmeanitandIloveyou!" Her words were one long breathless string as she blurted out her appology.
Queen Selenity offered a smile and was able to manage a small laugh, "I forgive you! It wasn't your fault, you were upset and had not control over your actions at the time. I'm just sorry that you got hurt..."
"I deserved it, I wasn't being rational and I turned on you. There was no reason for me to do that... But... I still want to know why you tried setting up the arranged marriage mom..." Small Lady had moved to sit at the side of her mother's bed.
"So you really did forget." The queen sighed, "Don't you remember that conversation we had, when you said that if you hadn't found your true love then I could pick one for you?"
There was silence for a few moments, "Well yea but I was just joking... I hadn't really expected you to do it."
"I see..."
"Another thing, why did you decide that you needed to do that anyways?"
"You seemed so lonely and you were always so down in the dumps... when Neroli came back I was so happy." she looked at her daughter with a smile, "But when he asked for marriage with you I told him it would need to wait and that you were still too young. Thats why I brought up your marriage at dinner that night."
"Wait a minute, what do you mean when Neroli came back?" The Princess asked with a frown, she didn't particularly enjoy talking about him.
"You mean you forgot? I suppose you were pretty young..."
"What are you talking about?" She prodded as her mother trailed off into thought, and how could her mom not tell that she didn't know who he was?
Queen Selenity smiled, "Back when the kingdom had just been born we had many other royal families visiting to meet us and form ties and alliances with out kingdom. Neroli came with his family and above all the other children there you formed a strong friendship with him... it was so cute you would follow him around and you were always asking questions although there was a language barrier since he was only just learning Japanese-"
"Mom!" She growled as her mom drifted off topic.
"Sorry, well when it was time for him to leave you were so upset. So we decided that we would arrange time for the two of you to get together and be kids once in while. But after about a year there was trouble in his country, people were uprising and there was a civil war on the verge of taking place. Eventually it became impossible for him to travel outside the country, and it was far to dangerous to send you there... we hadn't gotten word from them for a long time." She was feeling a bit drained by everything and the wound was starting to ache, "One day though, he showed up here and told us how things had been settled, but his father was getting on in years and pressuring him to wed. He said the only person he was interested in marrying however was you. No matter how much his father pressured him to choose and accept a wife he refused." The princess seemed to be trying to remember this boy, however it still seemed she was paying attention to the story, so Queen Selenity continued. "I knew there was only one that you loved... but when Neroli showed up here asking for your hand I didn't want to say no, but I also knew that you were far to young to marry at that time. So I told him that in three years he should come back for an answer and he left with the understanding that in three years time he would have his answer. When he arrived however it had caught me off guard and I had to beg your father to accept the agreement... I thought maybe you would be understanding or that you might remember him but I see I was wrong in my assumption."
Princess Selenity's face was gloomy as she processed the information she was given, "But why didn't you just come to me? You didn't have to do this behind my back you know." Her voice was sullen and a bit hurt that her mom had gone behind her back.
"I thought maybe things would get straightened out on their own or that maybe you wouldn't reject the proposal... I let it go to far." She shook her head, "I just hope you can forgive me..."
"Of course... you're my mother, I mean yeah I am still a little upset about the whole thing but... I can always forgive you." She said with a smile before gently hugging her mom. A single tear ran down Queen Selenity's cheek. The princess stepped back, "And as penance," She softly said, "For hurting you..." She placed her hands delicately at her chest and the ginzuishou seemed to materialize right from her flesh. "I will help to make things better." She smiled warmly and raised her hands above her head, "Ginzuishou, give me strength... Please help me so I can make my mom better!" There was a bright flash from the crystal hovering above her palms.
The queen gasped, "No! no!" She cried and tried running forward but was stopped by her injury, the light from the ginzuishou slowly enveloped both women and caressed the entire room with its heated white shine. It became a blinding force and then flashed one last aweing moment before fading completely. When Queen Selenity opened her eyes her daughter lie lifeless on the floor, she screamed as she knelt down next to her and the doors burst open.
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"S-so... she used the crystal to save you?" Minako asked, her lip was quivering and it was obvious she was fighting the urge to cry.
"I... I can't believe it..." Rei said, shaking her head in disbelief.
Palla Palla thought a moment, "So... she really is gone?" She asked in her ever ignorant voice.
"Palla Palla!" Ves Ves scolded, "That really isn't appropriate to ask!" She was trying to keep it low as she reprimanded her friend.
"Isn't it amazing how our queen used the ginzuishou so many times but it cost both her mother and her daughter their lives?" Haruka didn't ask the question too loud but still recieved an elbow to the ribs and a trying glare from Michiru.
"It is a tragedy that things happened that way... I only wish it could have been me instead of her." Neo Queen Selenity stood, it was quite obvious that the conversation had upset her something fierce and she quickly hurried away, the eyes of the senshi watching distressfully as she disappeared through the doors.
"Sorry," King Endymion broke the unrestful silence, "This has just been really hard on her... she has blamed herself for everything thats happened."
"But how was she supposed to know?! She didn't expect the Princess to react that way." Makoto interjected, a bit upset that the queen was disturbed by the events.
"I know, I've told her that many times already but she won't listen to reason." He sighed, everything was giving him a great sense of fatigue, he was under the weight of a great burden, though in fact the load was heavier than one would think. Not only had he lost his only daughter but he had almost lost his wife and when his daughter died he had never gotten his chance to make amends with her. He was also feeling some amount of guilt and responsibility for the things that had happened, if he had been more aware of his daughters feelings then maybe things could have been different. The thoughts plagued him relentlessly. "I'm afraid it is something she will have to work out on her own."
At that everyone split up to deal with the information in their own fitting way. King Endymion arrived in his room to find his wife already asleep, he was having the same thoughts and hoped that conciousness would soon pale as he was quite tired.
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King Endymion found himself in a familiar dream world of white clouds, it was serene and beautiful, but he was soon traveling. First he was on the moon at the ruins of the once elegant and grand Moon Kingdom. He then found himself gazing upon his own brilliant kingdom, the crystaline walls shimmering with the sunlight that danced down upon each creavase. Not moments later he was in a vast land with lush green trees and beautiful blue sparkling lakes, the air smeeled fresh and fragrant and he noticed a group of horses off in the distance, "Where is then place?" He asked himself, hearing his voice send back a small echo.
"I don't know..." He turned to see his lovely wife standing behind him, she smiled, "Are we sharing a dream?" She sounded happy as she asked this, Endymion was just glad she was smiling. He almost feared he would never she her make that small gesture again.
"We must be." He said, offering a small smile back.
The pair was distracted as they heard approaching footsteps, they quickly turned to face the source and were overcome by the sight. Princess Selenity stood there, her hand grasped in that of a familiar pale blue haired young man, she giggled lightly at her parents as they gawked at her with incredulity. "Hi." She laughed, "Sorry that I was a little late... but mom I came to tell you who my true love is." She looked over to Helios before looking back to her mom, "I couldn't let things end the way they did... and after I used the ginzuishou I was left with a choice, one that I had neglected for a long time... only this time it would have to be permanent. I had the choice of returning to life as a true adult and living the rest of my days there... or dismissing my former body and staying here in Illesion. Since there would be no way for me to return after I made my decision I decided to stay... Helios is the one I love and I want to remain with him, I'm sorry Neroli was mislead by a childhood friendship I hardly remember." She sighed as stepped forward, "I wanted to say goodbye one last time, and let you know that we may be able to meet again in our dreams... And just know that I am safe and I love you both." She walked up and hugged her mother and then her father, "Please don't cry for me anymore, okay? I promise we will be together again if you just be patient." She quickly kissed them each on the cheek, "I have to go now, tell everybody not to worry and that I will see them all again one day too!" She turned around and took Helios' hand once more and as quickly as the had come they were gone yet again.
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Endymion and Selenity awoke insintaneously with a start, they looked to each other, "Did you?" She nodded.
"And did you..." He nodded as well. Queen Selenity sighed and began crying, quickly whiping at the tears.
"W-wh-what's wrong?" Endymion asked, taken aback by her sudden outburst.
Selenity cleared her eyes, "She found her happiness..." She said with a teary smile and with a laugh gave her husband a tight hug.
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Okay okay, it was a sappy ending, but I have a bit extra to share so don't tune out just yet! The Epilogue will be written once I get some sleep!