Usagi patted her stallion's mane. She had taken to calling him Phoebus since she still hated "Thrasher". Zoisite had laughed and proclaimed that Urawa would just have to be very put out when his horse wouldn't respond to his old name.
Usagi rode next to Jadeite as Zoisite had rode ahead to talk with over people in the other wagons. Jadeite had taken her company with a grin but mostly he was silent which suited Usagi fine-she was still worried about the slowly recovering Mamoru.
"No need to worry about him, Usagi. Strong willed man like him isn't giving up that easy!" had declared Zoisite as Jadeite had shaken his head in agreement. But still his strong will didn't him awake for most of the day. Mamoru would wake briefly each day to be fed and the men would help him to the restroom. He was regaining color though so Usagi had stopped hovering and his temperature had gone down as well.
"He can't stay awake!" she had cried. Jadeite had patted her hand and smiled.
"Can't be helped-he was poisoned, Usagi." he reminded her gently. She had nodded but that had not been the end of it.
"Usagi."
Said girl jumped a little, startled from her thoughts and stared up at Jadeite. "Yes, Jadeite?"
"I was just wondering...you've never told us about yourself, Usagi."
Usagi looked up him then turned her gaze back to the trail. "I will. Just not now...soon, though, I promise. Soon."
"...Alright, Usagi, keep your secrets for now." he said then stared up at the sky. "My, it's getting dark soon, eh, Usagi."
"Yes, Jadeite. Soon."
He wondered if she had even heard him.
---------------
Jadeite turned to Zoisite that night and told him about earlier. "It's strange the way she was acting."
"Moon lunacy. Happens on the trail-you can get a little stir crazy and when a big full moon comes." he shrugged as if it spoke for itself. "We'll keep an eye on her, just in case. I doubt it's anything serious. She could have just been thinking she didn't feel like talking to you about it."
Jadeite frowned and got up from the fire side. "It's time to go feed Mamoru-I'll do it."
"Alright." agreed Zoisite as he flopped back. Jadeite glared and gave him a small kick to his side. "Ah! Alright, alright, I'll help! Stop that!" he snapped. Jadeite quickly danced away from his hands and hurried to the wagon. Zoisite was cursing as he followed him. It took a moment to get Makoto's soup ready for him but he then he swings up into the wagon back and is surprised to see only Zoisite and Mamoru.
"No Usagi?" he asked as Zoisite shook Mamoru awake and helped prop him up.
"Nope. She wasn't even in when I got here." Zoisite remarked. Mamoru's eyes were glazed but then he sat up farther on his own.
"Where 'm I?" he grunted rubbing his head.
"Oh, awake huh?" drawled Zoisite. "Well, this time try to stay awake through most of the meal, eh?"
It was a messy, two man job to feed Mamoru-sometimes three people if you counted Usagi, who would help. One person was forced to hold him up and slap him awake while the other had the messy job of force feeding him. Many times he fell asleep while chewing, and a messy glob of drool and food would slither out. Jadeite had been voted the position of feeder the first night-Zoisite didn't have the patience and Usagi had trouble trying to force him to eat. Jadeite, who had raised Hotaru, had known what it was like when a child refused to eat realized it wasn't that different(besides the obvious age difference) and he gracefully accepted the position even if he did grumble about from time to time.
Tonight was barely different-all that meant was that Mamoru had stayed awake through most of it and had at least drooled a bare minium of times. Zoisite and Jadeite took this as a good sign-he was definitely on the mend and improving now.
After laying Mamoru back down the two men exited the wagon, stretching and groaning-feeding Mamoru was no easy task. When they arrived back at the fire they were surprised to discover Usagi there fast asleep. Zoisite had half a mind to wake her up at yell at her for leaving and falling asleep dangerously close to the fire with no one around to help her if she caught fire. That and neither Zoisite nor Jadeite trusted everyman here with a pretty little thing like Usagi. But they both shook their heads, pulled back from the fire and kept vigil for most of the night before deciding to turn and take Usagi with them.
Sitting there by the fire, Zoisite had turned to Jadeite to pose him a question. "Do you think Lethe will be so willing to help us?"
Jadeite took a moment to answer, stirring up the fire to stoke it. He sat back but his eyes remained trained on the fire. "If only for Mnemosyne, she will."
Zoisite sat there staring at him a moment before tossing a stick that was jutting out back into the fire. "I suppose so-Lethe did swear it."
---------------
"Usagi!"
"Eh?" she murmured as she sat up. She was laying on the floor of the wagon, wrapped haphazardly around her legs, pillow tossed aside. She sat up, elbows propping her up, and looked up. Zoisite was grinning at her from the driver's seat of the wagon as it lurched about. "Uhh! Zoisite, what do you want?"
"Oh, how sweet and cheery of you, Usagi!" he laughed and turned back. "I thought that you might want to know that Encarnación is in sight at the moment-"
"What! Really?" she yelped and pulled herself up and flung herself up to see. Not so far on the horizion she could see a large dark blob. She squinted and made two flat sides like a fort with a long front side. "I can't really see it..."
"Here." laughed Jadeite as he handed her a collapsing telescope. She blinked and opened it.
The city took on definite shape then-it seemed like a four corner fort after all. Raising up from the corners, watch towers peered out onto the city and into the distance as well. They rose like rickety giants into the morning. In the center a large, multistory building rose up. It was a nine storied building, with platforms at each story. Widening through the large, fort city was a pristine river. The caravan had been following the river all the way, never drinking, bathing, or dirtying the water. When Usagi had asked why Zoisite had feverishly explained.
"The people of Encarnación believe the river is a god-to upset the waters will bring disastrous events."
"Like what?"
"Droughts. The occasional flooding maybe, but mostly droughts." he explained. "There's a giant temple in the center-" Now, Usagi realized that the multistory building was the temple. "-and it is the main services to that god. There's also lots of little shrines along the way-the caravan leader has to leave offerings for each of them. So whenever one's spotted, he sends out a page and has them leave offerings for safe passage."
Usagi had shrugged it off then but now when she looked at the shrine she couldn't help but feel surprised at the people's devotion to their river god. It made her heart ache to think of it.
It was making her homesick.
She blinked away a sudden wave of tears and sucked in a deep breath to calm herself. Zoisite and Jadeite noticed, shared a silent look, but neither of them commented on it. It was a long, quiet morning until they reached the gates. When they entered into a large courtyard, Usagi, Jadeite, and Zoisite pulled up to a motel. Zoisite quickly elected himself head haggler and ran in to argue the price of two rooms down for the night. He back out grinning widely and swaggering. "Alright-I got two rooms for the night. We'll have to double up though."
Since there wasn't enough room for the three men in one room, Zoisite had elected Mamoru as Usagi's roommate with Jadeite's, chuckling, agreement. Usagi had sat there slightly mortified but they had quickly persuaded her saying it was the only way unless she wanted either Zoisite or Jadeite as a roommate. She had agreed quick enough and had allowed herself to be transferred into the room as they lugged Mamoru into the building.
Usagi sat on her bed, watching as the two of them lugged Mamoru's prone body onto the bed aside from her own. "So, how long do you suppose we'll be in the city?"
"Oh," grunted Jadeite. "A week or so...maybe two if things take longer than planned."
Zoisite gave Mamoru one last heave and panted, cursing under his breath. "When he wakes up...he is so going on a diet."
Usagi giggled at him while Jadeite rolled his eyes as he covered Mamoru up. "I do hope you're not out of breath-we've still got to unload the wagon." Zoisite began to curse colorfully as he and Jadeite trodded out. Jadeite turned and waved goodbye with a grin that she returned.
She sat there, swinging her legs back and forth as she pointedly looked away from Mamoru's bed. It took several minutes for her to work up her courage before peering at him.
When Jadeite peeked in later at the night to see who they were doing, he grinned when he saw her sleeping rather soundly while leaning against his bed.
---------------
Usagi blinked as she was awoken by a gentle shaking on her shoulders. She yawned and turned to see Jadeite grinning cheekily down at her. "Comfy, Usagi?" he asked, grinning as he chuckled. She stared confusedly at him before glancing about.
She quickly realized why he was laughing-she was half lying on Mamoru's bed, scant inches from him. She blushed three different shades and yelped, trying to jump away. She yelped even louder when she stepped on the trim of her skirt and fell hard backward against the ground. Jadeite had stepped back and was now staring openly at her as she sprawled against the floor.
"Ahh...Usagi, you should be more careful when recoiling in shock."
"I was not recoiling!" she snapped as she dragged herself up. "And what do you want!"
He grinned at her before answering. "Just wanted to know if you wanted to attend a very important meeting-I think you might just enjoy yourself."
She stood there blinking, confused.
"Usagi, don't make me order you to come."
"Yes sir!"
---------------
Usagi wasn't sure if she was enjoying the meeting per say-but she was certainly shocked at how they met at the meeting. It was the ruler of Encarnación herself, a young twelve year old girl, Queen Lethe. She was a slender, sour faced girl with long hair and teal robes. She glared up at them and tapped her foot impatiently. Usagi had found herself oddly chastestied in her presence like she was a waste of time for the young ruler. She was glad it was Zoisite and Jadeite talking.
"My queen Lethe," greeted Jadeite. "I come to tell you news of our status."
Lethe stopped tapping her foot and sat up straighter if possible. "And what say you to report?"
"I report that we shall need your troops-at the time return with them we shall strike Diamond from his throne and give you your vengeance." he proclaimed, gesturing to her. Lethe let a smirk slide upon her face as she nodded.
"I grant your request-my troops shall assist you in ridding this world of that man! May my sister's spirit and the River God give us bless our cause!"
Usagi gave Zoisite a confused look. He leaned to her side and muttered to her. "Do you remember when we mentioned Diamond's last head wife?" Usagi thought hard for a moment and then remembered something Rei said in passing.
"Big wife?" repeated Usagi.
"She means one of the main ones-there's usually only three or four-the Skeit already has six!" harumphed Rei. "Why another one? So soon after the last one-" she trailed off.
"Yes!" she answered with a nod. Zoisite continued.
"Lethe's twin sister, Mnemosyne, married Diamond per treaty some months ago-"
"Twin sister!" she gasped silently. "She couldn't have been more then eleven or twelve!"
Zoisite rolled his eyes at the interruption. "Girls as young as eleven can get married in our society, Usagi, we've told you that before. Anyway, she married him a six months ago, but was only married to him for two months before he had her killed."
"Killed!"
"Yes-for adultery. He just didn't care to have such a young wife, who wasn't yet old enough to bare children." Usagi stared at him for a moment in quiet thought before turning to look at the young queen Lethe as she shouted orders to some of her men.
"And queen Lethe helps us to get revenge?"
"Mmmhmm." he murmured. Usagi looked sorrowfully at the young queen before she was lead out with Jadeite and Zoisite.
---------------
Usagi yawned as she leaned against the wagon's wall behind the driver's seat. "Can't wait to get back home, eh, Usagi?"
"Yes." she answered and was pleasantly surprised with herself. She had realized when she had started thinking of the White City as her home but it felt good to think of it as such. She turned to look at Mamoru who slept upon his cot. It had been a surprising day; he had been awake for most of the day and insisted on trying to feed himself. She had right by his side all day, glad to speak to her dear friend agian.
"Eh, Usagi?"
"Hmm?" she murmured as she stuck her head out the wagon. Zoisite grinned back at her.
"Come on, sit up here with me!" he laughed. "C'mon, look at those stars and that moon too!" She smiled slightly and slipped out and onto the board that served for the driver's seat. The next half hour passed peacefully. They talked of their past week in Encarnación and about the troops that were now hidden in many of the caravan wagons. When the hour was nearly done they had dwindled into comfortable silence as they stared ahead. Her eyes drifted to the side were she looked out to see the many dunes rising in the distance.
She was smile slightly as her eyes followed the rises and falls of each dune when her eyes caught something upon on one of the dunes. Her eyes widened and she sat up. Zoisite blinked and stared at her a moment. "Eh? Usagi? Are you-USAGI!"
He stared in shock. Usagi flung herself off the wagon and ran like a madwoman out into the distance. He cursed and drew the horses to the side as the other wagons passed by. Jadeite galloped up to the wagon concerned. "Zoisite! What's wrong!"
"Usagi's taken off!" he cursed as he grabbed Usagi's stallion and prepared himself to ride after her before he heard a quiet voice.
"Zoisite." grunted Mamoru, as he swung down from the wagon. He stumbled over to Jadeite's horse and pulled himself up. The two other men stared at him in surprise. "Hurry, she's stopped at that dune." The two of them turned to see Usagi staring up into the night's sky apparently. They spurred the horses to gallop hard after her. When they finally reached her, atop the dune, they pulled back in surprise when the saw what was there.
Usagi stood silent as a young, fair haired man kissed her hand. Behind them, a white stallion pranced from hoof to hoof. The young man, who barely looked like he was pushing seven, then murmured a surprising thing.
"My lady Serenity..."
Mamoru slowly slid off the horse and stepped forward uncertainly. "...Usako?"
Usagi whirled about and gasped as she saw Mamoru tip forward. She caught him before he fell and slid down, letting his head rest in her lap. Zoisite and Jadeite shared an uncertain look before Zoisite spoke.
"Usagi? What's going on? Why is he calling you Serenity?"
Usagi took a moment before turning to them. "This...may take awhile."
Zoisite bit his lip and stared at the caravan-it had not yet entirely passed them but if they waited very long they would be left behind. Jadeite rested his hand on Zoisite's shoulder. "We'll catch up." he said to them with a nod.
Usagi sighed and nodded. "Alright."
---------------
Serenity, at age fourteen, was grinning as she hid behind a white rose bush as her guardians ran about searching for her. Selene looked particularly harried as she searched for her young princess. The Maenads, Selene and Lilith, searched, checking every nook and cranny. Serenity giggled quietly as she slipped away. She did feel a bit bad for giving her guardians the slip but then she had a chance to have her own fun exploring by herself.
Serenity wasn't a mischievous child trying to be a bother-she was just trying to find some fun.
She grinned and raced up the stairs. She climbed and climbed until she reached the Holy Tower. She smiled as she peeked about to make sure no one saw her as she tip toed about.
Someone did.
"Serenity!" protested a young Helios as he tugged on her sleeve. "You shouldn't be here!"
"What?" she giggled to him. "Don't like seeing your friend every day?"
His frowned deepened guiltily. "Serenity, you're going to get in trouble!" he murmured tugging at her had. At five years old, he didn't look like the solemn boy like the man who was his father; Helios did have the look there that usually emitted calm, serenity-unlike now where a frown marred his face. But she gave his white hair an affectionate rustle before walking. Behind her, he didn't pout but looked on disapprovingly before hurrying after her.
Serenity slipped up to the white door and tugged it open so it swung forward. Her slippered feet whispering against the white marble floor that covered all of the Holy Tower. Behind her, Helios frowned but followed his friend as she peered into the sanctuary. Both of them peered curiously in until they saw what they had been looking for: shining silver on a plush purple pillow glistened the Ginzuishou.
"Wow!" they gasped. Serenity and Helios both watched until he saw her presently edging her way into the room.
"Serenity!" he whined, tugging hard at her dress. She brushed his hands away as she moved to enter the room. "Serenity! Serenity-!"
"SERENITY!"
Both of them jumped as if they had been shot before whirling around. Serenity gulped loudly as her mother gave her a severe glance. Below her, Helios' knees were nearly knocking together as he saw his father just behind the queen glowering at him.
"Serenity! Away from there!" her mother commanded. Serenity quietly shuffled over looking like the kicked puppy who had been yelled at. Helios kicked at the marble for a moment then marched quietly up to his father, head bowed. "Serenity! How many times must you be told? The Ginzuishou is not to be trifled with as such!"
"I wasn't trifling with it...ish." she finished lamely, kicking at the floor.
"My name was Serenity the Second. I was the daughter of the queen of Silver Kingdom, Serenity the First. I frivolously spent my days unaware of the world outside my castle's walls and hardly gave a thought to the places outside of my country none the less.
"That was until my marriage Proposal came."
"Serenity, come." soothed her mother, already pivoting on her heel. "There is some matters at had that I must discuss with you."
"With me?" gasped Serenity. "Mother, you have matters to discuss with me?" Serenity was very young and carefree-it had bothered from time to time that her mother didn't really involve her in the important businesses of the kingdom but then again stuff like that usually gave her headaches. To be asked to discuss such topics with her mother was unusual-if not a bit exciting.
"Yes, Serenity, come." answered her mother. Serenity blinked and hurried after her mother as they left the Holy Tower.
"The marriage proposal?" repeated Zoisite.
"Yes, my hand was being asked for by a royal foreigner."
Serenity slowed as she watched her mother ascend the steps to sit on her throne, a marvelous white marble and silver affair accented in pearls the size of her fist. Her mother eased herself into the throne and looked down at her daughter. Her mother gestured her forward and put into her hand a star locket. "A gift, my dearest, from the one asking for you."
Serenity stared down in wonder at the locket. It was a golden affair, with a small "door" upon it. She slid her nail in between and popped it open; a wonderful melody began to pour out of it. She turned back to her mother.
"Mother, who is this person asking for me in marriage?" she asked, heart in her throat-a marriage proposal! Oh, why now? She didn't want to marry some foreigner-her youthful ideas of love still held sway but she felt them gradually giving way as arranged marriages loomed closer in the ever hastening future. It seemed on of these marriages was arriving now.
"It was a simple question but my mother avoided it for nearly the entire discussion. What she did tell was that was a marriage of state to help seal a treaty between us a country warring on itself-the bizarre part was that we where on the rebels' side. Our country was a pacifist nation-we believed in that all people were brothers and sisters and should be treated as such. Amor vincit omnia - Love conquers all, as they say.
"She told me that I would marry this man and our country would support his efforts in the war. His name, she finally told me, was Endymion."
"What!" bursted Zoisite.
"You mean, our Endymion and yourself were going to be married?" asked Jadeite.
"Yes. We were to marry in a little more than a year...
"Diamond would strike my beloved country far before then."
Serenity laughed as she rode hard on her white horse-the white stallions of her people were glorious animals, patron animals of their gods. Behind her, her guardians called her to wait as they rode on. She waved and laughed before they caught up with her. "Milady! Please, stop that at once!" panted Selene. Lilith, her sister, gasped deeply but still as they crested the hill.
"What's wrong, Lilith?" murmured Serenity. She turned and looked out over the hill. Her jaw dropped and her eyes widened.
The smoke rose thick and black, spiraling from behind the capital's walls. She could barely make out the jumping flames, crackling into the sky. For a minute she sat in shock, looking at her once glorious city. Then a single thought ran through her mind. "Mother!" she gasped and spurred the horse into a fast, hard gallop as her maids shouted after her as she left them in the dust.
It was a hard ride, one that never seemed to end. As she neared the gates she saw that they dangled from their hinges. She rode on sparing glances at the houses lining the streets-they were all a blaze and it seemed not a single soul had survived. She went around the many squares of the city, terrified at what she would find. She nearly broke down in tears when she saw the Palace's gates shattered and dangling. She jumped off her horse and ran as fast as she could through her burned out home.
It was nearly impossible to reach the throne room-collapsed pillars and raging fires stopped her. Her hand slid into her shirt and pulled out her locket as tears threatened to fall. Slipping her nail under the hinge once more, the melody swam out, soothing her. She snapped it shut and began again the search to get to the throne room. She finally found the servant's passage and looked out into it. No one was in the large, smoke filled room. She backed out again and nearly started crying again before a single thought hit her.
The Holy Tower.
"The Holy Tower was the safest place in my entire land-blessed by the gods themselves, no invader could ever breach it's inner sanctum."
Her legs pumped hard as she ran up the stairs. She panted and hacked but at last she saw the opening. She flew out into the hall, sliding in her slippers against the marble.
Even the Holy Tower had received heavy damage-pillars lay about like giants had haphazardly tossed them there. Smoke poured out into the windows and the once white marble was smeared in soot and ashes. Tears threatened her once more-if even the Holy Tower had been breached...
She made her way to the Holy inner sanctum, tugging on the white doors. The doors swung inward.
Even her the pillars had been shaken, but no fire nor smoke had penetrated the room. She walked on, looking about and calling for her mother. She realized distantly that the pedestal that usually housed the Ginzuishou was smashed and the crystal gone.
"I wandered about searching for my mother. When I did find her, I knew it was far too late..."
Serenity peered around the room and saw for a single moment, a small patch of white cloth. She blinked and rushed to the spot. "Mother-!" She gasped as she saw her poor mother's prone form on the floor. By her side the Ginzuishou was dull. As she bent to her side she knew what had happened-her mother had come to try and beg the god's for safety, rely on the Ginzuishou to save her country but had failed. A meaningless sacrifice.
For a moment, a memory triggered in Jadeite's mind. "The stars...were hidden by smoke...and a crystal fell and shattered and then...a cross..."
"A cross?" echoed Rei, prompting her daughter to continue.
"It was...not burning...but it was falling..."
"...And about the cross...a lost cause about a sacrifice, or a meaningless sacrifice."
Serenity wept hard against her mother's stomach, praying to the gods to undone what had been done. As she wept she heard a small noise. Her head whipped up to see a small person hiding behind a pillar. "Who's there!"
"...Serenity?" came a small voice and Helios appeared from the shadows. Serenity covered her mouth as the small boy wept and ran to her side. "Serenity! Father is-"
"Oh gods, Helios!" she wept. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...I'm sorry...!"
They held each other for many moments before Serenity turned to the Ginzuishou at her side. She let Helios go and he watched as she picked up the crystal. "Serenity...?" She stared at it a moment before taking out her locket. Her gaze traveled from both of them before she slammed the locket on the floor. Helios wondered for a dizzying a moment if his princess had gone mad with grief as she dug the small mechanisms out of the inside of the locket. Finally, she slipped the crystal into the empty locket and put it back in her shirt.
She stood and took his hand. "Come along, Helios, we can't stay here any longer."
"Serenity?" he started, curious as to where they could go in the first place.
"I won't let this happen again, Helios. Not to us nor anyone else! I understand why mother wanted me to marry Endymion-to stop these wars and attacks." she stated as she walked out with him from the inner sanctum.
"What shall you do now, Serenity?" he asked.
"I shall go to the Imperial White City of the Zojotentian Riders and meet the one mother wanted me to marry." she answered. "I'll bring justice to this world, Helios, to make safe even if it kills me! I swear it!"
---------------
"And so I left, searching for Endymion and the White City. I traveled to many places, and ended up in Miran. When I saw you, Zoisite, buying those rugs I recognized you as a Rider and slipped in between the carpets when your back was turned. When Kunzite found me, that's why I asked if you were heading to the White City-I needed to find Endymion." she finished. Her fingers were entangled in Mamoru's hair at this point and she felt lighter having told all her secrets and exposed her own lies.
"Kunzite mentioned that Minako had told him that you were from the Silver Kingdom-she knew you lied about not being from the capital but none of us ever expected..." trailed Jadeite, eyes narrowed in thought. Beside him, Zoisite looked flabbergasted.
"All this time our Usagi was the Princess Serenity?" he said, shaking his head and then grinned. "Well, this explains it!"
Usagi frowned. "What does?"
"Why you're too clumsy to be a maid and too good a rider to be one either!" he laughed. Her jaw dropped and she glared.
"Why you-!"
"Good to see you're back to your feisty self, Usako." murmured Mamoru, as he slowly tried to sit up. She fussed a bit but helped him ease up into a sitting position. He gave her a slight grin. "So many secrets, Usako! Maybe even more than myself!" he laughed as her expression turned confused.
"What secrets?" she asked.
Zoisite grinned and chuckled. "Usagi, may I introduce his majesty, Endymion?"
Serenity's eyes widened. "You!" she gasped. "But everything you told me-"
"Were not lies." he said. "Just selected parts of the truth-the only lie was that I was a simple stablemen."
"But then who in the world is at the palace parading as you!" she yelped.
"Oh!" he laughed. "That was one of my best plans ever."
"Usagi," started Jadeite. "You see Mamoru's mother was actually a little wife until she gave birth to a son-then his father promoted her to Head Wife status. But shortly after she gave birth to him, she had an affair with a man of the Kou house and later had a daughter named Seiya. Seiya and Mamoru were nearly identical so, when Seiya joined the resistance against Diamond, she and Mamoru switched places so Mamoru could be near the action were he could plan best while she paraded around pretending to be Endymion in disguise as he was in exile!"
"So the man-sorry, woman-in the palace is Seiya pretending to be Endymion." she summed up. "Well...I suppose that was a good plan!" They laughed.
Slowly, Mamoru struggled to his feet, Usagi popping up right after him to help him steady. Helios behind them, half forgotten, spoke again. "Serenity, what will you do now? You've found your fiance, so what shall you do?"
It was Mamoru who answered. "We shall return to the White City and fight."
"Mamo-chan!" started Usagi, worried about him. He shook his head and continued.
"You swore to bring justice to Diamond-and that is exactly what must be done! He's abused his power long enough and it's time for us to strike! We have our troops now, and the time is now." he said firmly. His face softened and he took her hands in his. "I don't have a lot to offer you know in marriage and I probably won't for a long time, but hear this-I shall bring you your revenge." He gave her hands a soft squeeze before loosening his hold on one while his hand firmly griped the other. Jadeite and Zoisite exchanged glances. Looks like a marriage is coming!
Helios nodded. "Serenity." She turned to him. He bowed low and spoke again. "I shall return home once more, our people need my help. I shall pray for your safety, milady." spoke the little priest. She nodded and waved goodbye as he swung up onto his horse and rode hard into the night.
For a moment there was silence as they watched the small priest riding away. "So..." started Zoisite. "Let's get this show on the road-the rebellion waits for no three men and a woman."
The others shook their heads at him and started on their way back to the wagon.
---------------
Mamoru sat on his cot with Usagi at his side. It was a bit awkward at first but then he had reached over and taken her hand and she had leaned against his shoulder, eyes half hooded sleepily. "Usako-or should I call you Serenity?"
"No no," she murmured. "Usako. I'm to used to it now-...can I still call you Mamo-chan?" she asked shyly. He grinned at her and wrapped his arm around her.
"Of course. Usako, do you..." he trailed off. He shook his head and tried again. "Usako, I really don't have anything to offer you but-"
"Well," she interrupted. "Neither have I. My country's still rebuilding itself and my treasury's in ruins. I have nothing at all for you and you have nothing for me so I'd say were even."
He grinned at her slightly and bent forward a little to see her pink face. "So do you accept me still, even now?"
She closed her eyes, looking content with the world. "Mmmhmm." He smiled down at her as she began to slip into slumber.
"Alright, Usako. But I'm going to hold you to."
"...Wouldn't have it..." she started and yawned. "...any other...way."
Mamoru grinned down at his bride to be.
Wah, that's a lot to write-this thing takes up nearly twelve pages! Well, happy-alright, so I'm one day late-Thanksgiving!
Alright, the omake's coming up! I plan on doing a FAQ so end in your questions-remember there is no bad question so send them in!
searchingformydarien-Hush! They deserve the love-bask in the glow of their love!
Friends1004-The secrets are out-for both Mamoru AND Usagi! I'll send either send it to you in a message or I'll just posting it with an omake I've been planning.
AmberJupiter-Yep, all that's left is the last chapter and epilogue-and an omake! So, technically, it's THREE chapters! And I go those stories to make soon.
sailor lunakitty-Thanks! Send in some questions for that omake, please!
KeraJeir-Long chapters really quick, eh? Well, I hope to hope to have Chapter 19 by Christmas! Jingle, jingle!
Megan Consoer-Sorry, honey, but after the omake this baby is SO over. Might make a prequel though.(and possibly a sequel but doubtable.)
whitey9h-Hee, they deserve some cuddle time! Yep, I've actually started all three stories and I plan to post snippets with the omake and have people vote which should go first.
hatami-Your question's been answered but if you're still confused on anything send in questions for the omake!
Eo-Thanks!
X00001-What a pen name! Thanks!