Chapter 4 - Letting Go
At the mall - Usagi walks around with her friends for hours. They've been to six dress shops but still can't find that perfect wedding dress and with the big day just a week away, they need to find the perect wedding dress fast.
"Oh, Why don't we go in here? My mom said that this is a great dress store." Ami suggested.
The rest agreed and went in the new dress store. As they look around, they find lots of beautiful dresses and started trying each one. They were having so much fun that they didn't notice Haruka and Michiru entering the shop.
"Looks like they're having so much fun." Michiru pointed out.
Haruka smirked at the sight of Rei, Minako, Makoto and Ami trying on dresses but she was kinda disappointed not seeing Usagi there. I wonder where she could be, she thought.
"Michiru-san, Haruka-san, have you been there long?" Rei asked when she saw the two lovers.
"Not long. We just got here, I needed to find a dress for the wedding too. My friend told me that they sell beautiful dresses here." Michiru replied.
"What about you, Haruka-san? Are you looking for a dress too?" Makoto asked.
Haruka was caught off guard with Makoto's question that she blushed. "I-I..uh..." she stammered.
Michiru giggled at the sight of her lover, "Haruka likes to look at girls in pretty dresses than to wear one." she replied.
Ami, Rei, Minako and Makoto laughed with Michiru as Haruka feels like she's slowly sinking in embarrassment.
"Uh...where's Usagi? She told me that she's going to look for a dress with you guys." Haruka quickly changed the topic.
"Oh, she's in the fitting room. She'll be out in a bit." Ami replied.
Just then, Usagi comes out of the room in a stunning, princess cut - wedding gown with simple bead work around the dress. Haruka felt her heart beating faster, she felt her face getting warm at the sight of Usagi in that gown. Usagi saw the two and began to blush.
"Oh, Michiru-san, Haruka-san...I didn't know you were here. I'll change." Usagi said.
"No," Haruka started. Everyone, including Michiru was surprised to hear Haruka's outburst. "Uh...you look great. Just like a princess." she smiled.
"It's not often that Haruka will comment on dresses so you better treasure this one." Michiru smiled. Haruka looked at her lover and was a bit surprised that eventhough she was smiling, Haruka could still see the saddness in her eyes. As the girls gather around Usagi, Haruka pulls Michiru to the side to talk to her.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"I-I don't know. Seeing Usagi in that dress, I guess it made me feel like I'm missing out on something." Michiru replied.
"Y-you...you mean...y-you want to..." Haruka stammered. She couldn't believe what Michiru said.
"You look funny when you don't know what to say...have I told you that?" Michiru asked, enjoying Haruka's expression.
"I-it's just that...I-I didn't think that..." Haruka started. Michiru placed her finger on Haruka's lips.
"Shh...I don't expect to get married now or even to get married at all. I'm happy just being here with you." Michiru smiled. Haruka lets out a sigh of relief and smiled back.
Back in the store, Usagi caught a glimpse of the two lovers and smiled. I wish that Mamo-chan and I will be as happy as they are, she thought. Still, Usagi felt a bit jealous of Michiru and she couldn't figure out why. She knows that Haruka is good-looking and that eventhough she's a girl, there are still alot of young ladies who wouldn't mind being with Haruka. But somehow, she felt a bit jealous and hurt that she's with Michiru. Usagi shrugged of the feeling, thinking that she just wants that same closeness with her beloved Mamo-chan.
That night, while Usagi is getting ready for bed - she stumbles upon an old music box that Mamoru gave her on her 16th birthday. Inside the music box was a prince and princess dancing. She winds the music box and listened to the sweet melody. She gets her wedding gown out of the box and puts it on. She looks at the mirror, admiring her gown. She closed her eyes and began to sway with the music pretending to be dancing with Mamoru. Suddenly, her surrounding changed. She was no longer in her room but she seems to be in front of a big door and her gown is now different. She was no longer the day dreaming Usagi but she was Princess Serenity.
"Are you ready?" Uranus asked.
"I'm no sure I should be here. I want to go home." Serenity replied.
"You can't turn back now. You're already here. Besides, what will Prince Endymion think if you don't show up. He might think that you're a snob. Is that what you want?" Uranus said.
"No. But I'm scared." Serenity said. Uranus could see how upset and scared her Princess is. She looked around, checking to see if they're alone. She then wraps her arms around the Princess giving her a loving embrace.
"Don't be scared. Whatever happens, I will protect you. If you don't feel like you're having fun, we'll leave." Uranus assured her. Serenity looked at her lover and smiled.
"You better go, they'll announce me soon." Serenity said.
"Ok, I'll be inside. I won't stray far from you." Uranus replied and leaves.
Serenity took a deep breath and calmed herself as the big doors opened into a beautiful hallway filled with guests from all the planets. People began to stare at her as she was announced. She began to hear whispers, this only made her nervous. As the music played and the guests began to dance, Serenity stood near the balcony looking at them having a good time. She tried to look for Uranus but it seemed that she was busy talking to the generals. She stares lovingly from across the hall. Then, to her surprise, she felt warmth and love but it wasn't coming from her lover.
As if it was written in a story book, the dancing crowd parted and Serenity's heart jumped. There he was, the reason why Earth was full of wonderful things, Prince Endymion. The two stared at each other for the longest time. Serenity never felt this way before, not even with Uranus. It was different somehow, it felt right. Prince Endymion walked towards her and held out his hand.
"May I have this dance, Princess?" he asked. Serenity smiled and gave her hand to the Prince. The two started dancing. The crowd started to look at them and admiring them. They began to talk about how much the two felt so right together. Endymion and Serenity didn't notice any of this. For them, they were in their own world and in that world, there were no hate or war but genuine warmth, love, joy and peace. After their dance, the two walked over to the balcony for privacy.
"I'm glad you came. Thank you" Prince Endymion said.
"Thank you for having me." Princess Serenity replied. Endymion looked at her and smiled.
"Do you remember our first meeting?" he asked. This stomped Serenity. "From the surprise look in your eyes, I think it's safe to say no." he smiled.
"Oh...I-I'm sorry. I just thought..." Serenity started.
"It's ok," Enymion laughed. "You were still young. I think you were about 2 or 3, I was 7."
"Do you remember then? C-Could you tell me?" she asked. Endymion looked at her and held her hands. Serenity looked deep into his loving eyes, she could feel her heart pounding. What is this I'm feeling? she asked herself.
"I remember it like it was yesterday." he smiled. "I received an invitation for your birthday party. I didn't want to go because I thought that it will not be fun. I was kicking and screaming - telling people that I won't go. But then, a friend of mine...she told me that I should go. That I should meet you because if I don't, I'll regret it. I hesitated but went anyway. Everybody was having a good time in that party but me. I felt out of place. I saw you running around, playing with your guardians. It was silly but I thought you were an angel. I felt great comfort when I saw you. From that point on, I swore that eventhought you don't know me, I'd protect you with my life and my soul."
Serenity couldn't believe what she just heard. Her heart was pounding faster. Endymion brushes a stray hair off Serenity's face. Their faces gets closer and closer and as expected, the prince and princess kissed for the first time under the light of the moon. As their kiss grows passionate, Serenity suddenly realizes what she was doing and cuts the kiss off.
"What's wrong?" Endymion asked.
"I-I'm sorry...I can't." Serenity runs out of the ballroom and into the hall. She can't believe what just happened. She didn't mean to kiss him but somehow it felt so right. No...I love Uranus...My kisses are for her only. she thought. She was running so fast that she didn't see Uranus and bumps into her. Uranus was surprised that Serenity was crying.
"What happened? Are you ok?" She asked.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it." Serenity cried.
"What?" Uranus asked.
"We were dancing and after that we talked for awhile in the balcony. He told me how we first met and...I-i don't know, but I felt something...I...h-he...we kissed. But it meant nothing, please believe me." Serenity pleaded. Uranus sighs and rested her back on the wall. She takes Serenity's hand and pulls her into an embrace. Serenity began to cry some more.
"Why are you crying?" Uranus asked.
"I don't deserve this. I don't deserve you." Serenity sobbed.
"Don't say that. I have a confession to make." Uranus replied. Serenity looks up to her lover, tears streaming down her face. "I-I knew that this will happen. I expected this to happen, that's why I wanted you to come."
Serenity frowned and pushed herself away from Uranus. "W-What?" she asked.
"There's a reason why the moon gravitated towards earth. When the prince was born, it was written in the stars that one day, he'll find his princess but not of his kind. Her light shines so bright that it lights up the entire galaxy. I was the one who told him to go to your birthday. I was the one who told him about you. That's why I wanted you to go to his birthday. It was about time that you two should meet, again. I always knew that what we were not meant to be together but you have to know that no matter what, I will always love you." Uranus explained.
"What are you talking about? Do I even mean anything to you? I can't love anyone else but you!" Serenity exclaimed.
"Yes you can...you do. I've seen you dreaming about earth. I know what you're thinking when you look at it. I know that eventhough you just met him, you love him." Uranus replied. Serenity looked at her lover, speechless. She knew that Uranus was right. There was something in that kiss with Endymion that felt so right. She never even felt that with Uranus.
"Listen, I love you. God knows I'll do anything for you...I'll die for you. A part of me wants you to be with me...to not go to him. But I know that after this, you'll come running back to him and realize that he is your soulmate. I don't want you to feel like you want me because I want you to want me. I'm happy knowing that you love me and that you were with me even for a short time. I don't regret any moment with you." Uranus said. Serenity looked at her, understanding what she must do. Uranus smiled and wiped off Serenity's tears.
"Now go, your prince is waiting." she continued. Serenity smiles and kissed her lover for the last time.
"I will never forget." Serenity whispered and ran back to the ballroom to meet her prince.
Uranus sighed heavily. "How long have you been standing there?" she asked.
A figure in the shadow walked into the light, it was Neptune. "Long enough." she replied.
"What do you want?" Uranus asked.
"What you did...it was the right thing to do. But why?" Neptune asked her partner.
"When you love someone, it doesn't matter what happens to you. You want that someone to be happy and free to love anyone. Sometimes, you have to let go." Uranus answered.
"Everyone says that you're a cold-hearted soldier who only thinks about herself...and here you are, letting go of the one you love." Neptune said.
"It was for the best. Besides, there might be someone out there for me." Uranus looked at Neptune and smiled. "C'mon, let's go back inside and celebrate the prince's birthday." Uranus took Neptune's hand and led her to the ballroom. I'll always be here for you. Neptune thought as they walked towards the room.
Back in the present day - Usagi wakes up from her dream with realization in her face. She looks at the mirror and smiled.
"You had to let me go." she whispered to herself.
She takes off her wedding gown and slipped into something comfortable and went back to sleep. She knew what she had to do.