A Sailormoon fan-fiction.
Disclaimer: These characters are not my creation: Crystal Tokyo, Tsukino Usagi/ Sailor Moon/ Neo-Queen Serenity, Mamoru Chiba/ Tuxedo-Kamen/ King Endymion, Mizuno Ami/ Sailor Mercury, Hino Rei/ Sailor Mars, Kino Makoto/ Sailor Jupiter, Aino Minako/ Sailor Venus, Setsuna Meiou/ Sailor Pluto, Ten'ou Haruka/ Sailor Uranus, Kaiou Michiru/ Sailor Neptune, Tomoe Hotaru/ Sailor Saturn, Oosaka Naru, Nephrite, Umino Gurio, Tasukino Shingo, Chiba Usagi/ Chibi-Usa/ Small Lady and Ellios are the Property of Naoko Takeuchi, Toie Animation, DiC, and others I cannot remember.
NOTE: This fan-fiction is a responce to another fan-fic, "Tsukino Usagi is Dead" by Sarah Lynne Thank you, Sarah, for inspiring me.
The Ceremony was well under way and the Presentation was just starting as Chibi-Usa, in her Royal gown, ascended the stairs to the throne. The steps leading to the dais felt like a condemned-prisoner's last taste of life. She reached the top, where stood her future Court. Neo-Queen Serenity and her Court stood in a line behind the thrones. The entire court was present, including King Endymion and the Princesses of Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. The lines were drawn. Chibi-Usa drew in her breath. She sat on the throne. The royal tiara was lowered to her brow.
"NO !" Chibi-Usa cried out as she grabbed the tiara and tossed it to the floor of the ballroom. "I will NOT", she screamed, "rule a realm of lies and mistrust !" The Senshi of Venus, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto moved closer to quell any disturbence. The assemb- lage in the ballroom panicked, the Future Court moved into position, and the Reemaining Senshi filled in the circle around the combatants.
"Traitorous BRAT !" Sailor Neptune ran to Chibi-Usa to stop her. Sailor Uranus then drew her sword. The guests cautously made their way to the exit. Sailor Uranus raised her sword manacingly to Chibi-Usa. The Princess slowly raised her outstretched arms. As she did so, her Silver Crystal appeared to move from her breast to her hands. "You seek a traitor, Uranus ? I will produce one."
Sailor Venus was moving toward Chibi-Usa, when her way was suddenly blocked by her daughter. "Kyoto! Move aside", she warned.
"Okaasan." Kyoto stepped closer. "I cannot. If we wait for the 'right time' for the truth to be spoken, it will never be! And we, our friends, our family, will DOOM ourselves!"
"I see the traitor before me!" Neptune said. "Yield... or DIE!"
In Chibi-Usa's hands suddenly appeared the lost-lost Moon Wand. "If I yield,
Sailorneptune, then, we will all die! Hai." She then turned to Sailoruranus:
"There is treachery here, Uranus, that you and Neptune never SEE! It does not attack the Kingdom. It wounds far more intimately. And the damage is FAR more fatel."
"Enough riddles!" Neptune screamed. She rushed to Chibi-Usa... and was met by the glaive of Saturn.
"You will go no farther." The Dark Senshi's gaze met Neptune's.
"You are a part of this conspiracy, also, Saturn?" Neptune asked.
"Hai." "Small-Lady!" Endymion demanded. "What is the meaning of this!"
"DON'T CALL ME THAT!" Chibi-Usa sceamed through her tears. "My name is Chiba Usagi! REMEMBER? And as for what this means, OPEN YOUR EYES AND LOOK !" She quieted down a bit. "Look at me ! I am Chiba Usagi, daughter of the woman Tsukino Usagi. A woman I have not seen since I met her 1000 years ago! A woman who was banished to Kami-Sama-only-knows- where ! And I have lived in loneliness.. AND deception.. ever SINCE ! Ellios, the King of Illusion and Protector of Dreams, has tried to help me through my darkest times, but I've become a poison to him." Chibi-Usa cried out again. "A deadly POISON!"
The Court and audience were hushed, listening to a Princess' tears. "I know", Chibi-Usa continued, "of the Dark Lady. The Senshi say I am not to blame. That she is not me. That is a lie. I did not summon her. I just gave birth to her. She IS me ! She is all my fears, all my loneliness, all my rage- in one cancer! I do not love her, do not want her, and- I hope- do not NEED her! But my pain COULD call her back one day!"
"I.." Endymion choked, "did not know."
"Of COURSE you did not know! We are STRANGERS! My family left me 1000 years ago!" Chibi-Usa cried. "I just want to see my family again." Her voice grew soft. "Just once more." She raised her hands high.
"MOON HEALING..."
"WAIT !" Neptune cried. "Such powers have not been wielded in a long time! And never by the Princess ! What if we.. ?"
"If the crystal explodes," Neo-Queen Sereneity weeped, "at least we shall all be at peace !" She looked at her daughter. "Sma.. Usa-chan! Do you remember why I sent you back to the Senshi in the past?"
"To train." Chibi-Usa said.
"And ?" Serenity continued.
Chibi-Usa answered slowly. "To.. make friends ? For they would prove important."
"And, Usa-chan, who did you become friends with ?" Neo-Queen Serenity asked. "Who ?" Chibi-Usa asked. "Ahhh... Tomoe Hotaru..."
"And ?" Neo-Queen Serenity continue.
Chibi-Usa answered with assuredness, and maybe a bit of revelation. "Tsukino Usagi-Kaasan!"
"Hai." Serenity answered. "A friend I lost long ago. I make a terrible mistake long ago. In trying to save this world, I robbed Usagi of hers. And, in so doing, destroyed my own. I was never able to speak to my sister-spirit again! So, I used you to try to reach her. She will not speak to me. Maybe she will speak to you. Use the Ginziuzhou!"
Chibi-Usa raised the Moon Wand high.
"MOON HEALING ACTIVATION!"
The platform on which the Courts stood was awash with light. When it faded, where stood 16 people there were now 27: Sailor Mercury and Mizuno Ami, Sailor Venus and Aino Minako, Sailor Mars and Hino Rei, Sailor Jupiter and Kino Makoto, Sailor Saturn and Tomoe Hotaru, Sailor Uranus and Te'nou Haruka, Sailor Neptune and Kaiou Michiru; Sailor Pluto; Neo-Queen Serenity, Sailor Moon, and Tsukino Usagi; King Endymion, Tuxedo-Kamen, and Chiba Momaru; and Chibi-Usa, Mizuno Keiko, Aino Kyoto, Hino Yuko, Kino Naoko, and Tomoe Ikiko.
The first move after the mystic light faded was made by Tsukino Usagi. Usagi collapsed onto the stage. "So.. weak.." She gasped. "Must.. rest.. a little.."
Usagi slowly closed her eyes and her breath grew fainter. When Neo-Queen Serenity reached down fopr her, Usagi kicked at her in a sudden burst of energy. "Get AWAY, you PARASITE !"
"No." The Princess whispered, then screamed. "NO ! Kaasan ! Don't leave me again!"
"Usagi ? USAGI !" Mizuno Ami jumped to life. She ran out of the protective embrace of her daughter and sister-spirit as what seemed a million memories flooded her mind's eye.
"Get BACK, Gaijin !" Sailor Neptune barked, pushing Kaiou Michiru out of harm's way as she glared at Mizuno Ami. "You will NOT harm Serenity !"
"Serenity can go to HELL !" Ami screamed through her tears. "It was NOT Serenity that made friends with me so long ago. It was Tsukino USAGI ! Usagi made me feel loved and needed ! I didn't know who Neo-Queen Serenity WAS for a long time.. but I knew Usagi. USAGI was who I fought with! Usagi was who I walked through HELL for many times over ! Usagi ? Come on ! You'll be all right !"
"Ami speaks for me, too !" Rei stated. "Mars may have the fire power, but ANYONE
makes a move to hurt Usagi, ands I'll toss their sack of broken bones onto the
FLOOR "
"No one speaks to the Senshi that way !" Uranus said. Ten'ou Haruka placed her
hand on Uranus' shoulder. "Hino-san just did, and with good reason !" She looked
into Uranus' eyes. "I let you take command so long ago and do your job. 'It was
the only way', you said. But, Usagi.. yes, Usagi !.. taught differently ! Things
are different now ! The enemy is not without. It is within.. US ! WE are
killing ourselves ! And for what ?" Something in Haruka's told Uranus that she
spoke the truth.
"You know Haruka speaks the truth, too, Neptune!" Michiru's voice was weary. "We all die in this prolonged war. Let us rest."
"Usako!" Momaru said. "You will be all right. Just rest a bit!" He gently held the head of the Girl- no, the woman- he'd given his heart wholly to so long ago.
"What is wrong ?" Sailor Moon asked, in a whisper. "Usagi wanted her freedom, like me, but is she so weak now the she will die from it ? What of me then ?" She sought out the protective embrace of Tuxedo-Kamen.
"NOOOOOOOOooooooooooooooo !" Princess Usagi screamed. "What have I done ? Have I released my mom .. to death ?" She fell to the floor of the platform. "Okaasan ? OKAASAN ? HAHAUE!"
"I.. I'm here.. Usagi..." Tsukino Usagi spoke weakly. "Arigato.. for.. freeing me.. Chibi Usa.."
"USAGI ! Don't go ! Don't die !" Neo-Queen Serenity cried.
"Get away from HER !" Sailor Moon screamed. "Usagi is right !You ar a PARASITE. YOU shut us out ! YOU denied us! After you tried and failed to turn us into you ! So get AWAY from her- away from US !" Sailor Moon moved protectively towards Tsukino Usagi.
"How DARE you talk to your Queen that way !" King Endymion moved against Sailor Moon- only to be SLAPPED down by Tuxedo-Kamen !
"Endymiom ! Believe me when I say if I had the room I'd throw every rose at my desposal at you !"
"Quiet !" Sailor Jupiter commanded. "All of you !" Kino Makoto swept around Chibi-Usa and the Chibi-Court, checking them before moving towards Ami, Rei, and Usagi. The Chibi- Court was reassured by the warm smile and soft touch.
"Quiet ? Quiet ? Why SHOULD we be !" Aino Minako finally spoke up. "We have been quiet too long ! And what has it gotten us ?" She moved towards Neo-Queen Serenity. "I'll tell you what it's gotten us ! Glimpses of our daughters.. strangers to us ! It's gotten us loneliness that would make DEATH bearable ! And all for WHAT ? For a Kingdom of Crystal as cold as Dante's Hell !" She turned quickly toward Sailor Venus. "Is that what you expected ? Is that what you wanted as you waited to take over ? Because that's EXACTLY what you GOT!"
The Senshi were stunned into silence.
"I.. I.. never knew." Endymion weakly stammered.
"Of course we didn't know !" Sailor Saturn said as she leveled her glaive. "The only one who knew would have been the Gaurdian of the Time Gates !" She pointed her glaive accus- ingly at Sailor Pluto. " 'There is always Fate', they say !" She walked toward Pluto. "There is always the big picture to look at. Never mind the small things like people that are often ground up and swept away. The Senshis of Time are not supposed to worry about that."
"Or is it", Tomoe Hotaru continued, walking down the stairs to the audience then turning back around towards Pluto, "that they know no more off the future then we? Can they see the future at all ? Is the future one path ? Is it many ? Certainly, if it were one path called 'fate', then any road we took would lead to the same point. And, then, maybe we could miss some of those dangerous spots. Certainly, the Senshi of Time would be considerate enough to at least WARN us about the bumps and curves ! BUT ! Methinks they BLINDLY lead us through a MAZE !"
"SHUT UP !" Pluto cried at the top of her voice. "You have no IDEA of what you speak of ! Do you think I WANTED this to happen ? Do you think I WANTED this pain ? The job of the Senshi of Time ? We have RULES to follow, just as you ! We have to see the great plans though, no matter the hurt ! To do otherwise is treason !"
"Treason to who, Sailor Pluto ?" Tomoe Ikiko asked. "Treason to who ? Treason to a long-ago age that's now dead ? Or treason to a family that's still here ?"
"Please, everyone !" Neo-Queen Serenity pleaded. "This must STOP !" Serenity turned to Tsukino Usagi. " Usagi, my sister, are you alright ?"
"Iie", Usagi replied weakly, "I am tired. So many fights." She slowly started to drift away.
"Oh, Usagi! My sister!" Serenity cried. "Will you forgive me? I should not have locked you away!"
"I forgive !" Tsukino Usagi smiled. "C..can you forgive me, Serenity, for.. hating.. you so much ?"
"Hai." Serenity smiled. "I was a fool to try to make you me."
"Chibi-Usa.." Usagi called out. "Look after your mother when I'm gone."
"Nani ?" Chibi-Usa creied out. "NANI ?"
"Usagi !" Ami cried out "IIE !"
"You can't die !" Rei pleaded. "Not yet !"
"Rei-chan.." Usagi softly pleaded. "I am old.. and tired. My daughter is grown. My family is gone. Let me sleep. Onegai? The fighting is over."
"Usa-chan !" Makoto cried. "It can not end like this !"
"She is right, Usagi !" A voice came from beside the platform. "It can not end like this. There is much to do."
"Shingo ?" Tsukino Usagi called out.
"Shingo-haku!" Chibi-Usa whispered low.
"Hai !" Tsukino Shingo appeared at Tsukino Usagi's side, stroking his sister's hand to reassure her. "You are still needed here, Usagi ! There is still MUCH to do ! Chibi Usa is an adult, hai ! But, she has not ben allowed to grow. She is Bonsai. She must be loosed."
"Hai." Usagi cried. "I miss you so much demo! Kaasan! Tousan! And.."
"Usagi-chan," came another voice, "we'll still be here !"
"Naru-chan ?" Usagi cried softly.
"Hai. We've always been here. Waiting for you to return like the jasmine ! Winter has been here long enough ! Come out, Usagi." Naru smiled.
"I miss you so much !" Tsukino Usagi cried.
"We will always be here. Just call out." Another voice called out.
"Gurio ?" Usagi asked. "You're here, too ?"
"You would be surprised at how many are here for you, Tsukino-sama."
"Nephrite ?" Usagi called out faintly.
"NEPHRITE !" Endymion, Tuxedo-Kamen, and Mamoru spun around.
"Konnichi-wa, Endymion ! Greetings, Tuxedo-Kamen and Chiba Mamoru !" The General offered a salute. " I am glad to see you three are getting along, expect for that slap a while ago." Endymion and Tuxedo-Kamen looked at each other, and then down at the floor, uneasily. "Do not be ashamed, brothers ! Misunderstandings happen !" Nephrite chuckled a bit, then grew a silent as a stone. "Just don't let it happen again ! Mamoru-san, I look up to you ! You seem to have Sailor Moon's job of shepherding the other two inside of you. And you seem to fare better than she !"
Nephrite turned to Sailor Moon and smiled. "I pray that job will now be made easier."
The ghostly General then turned to Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, and Hotaru. "You are looking well, Mizuno-san, considering what you have lived through. You showed more courage this day than you realize. Hino-san ! You have done your grandfather proud many times over this day. Stay by Usagi. Kino-san ! Aino-san ! Tomoe-san ! I am glad we never met in the last life, although part of me is sad. Your devotion to Tsukino-sama shows well upon you ! Watch over her."
Nephrite then turned to Chibi-Usa and her court. "Ah !" He snapped to attention. "Your Highness ! You have done well these past centuries ! Your caring and bravery will nurse the Crystal Millenium well !"
Chibi-Usa bowed and blushed. "Arigato, Nephrite-sama ! But, I do not know about the Kingdom ! I still have an unfinished task."
"Ah !" Nephrite said. "Your family. Hai. But it will be finished soon enough. And, when you finally take the responsibility of rule, you will do well. Especially," he gestured to her Court, "with such worthy advisors !" Keiko, Yuko, Naoko, Kyoto, and Ikiko blushed.
Nephrite bowed and took his leave. Naru, Gurio, and Shingo rose to take their leave.
"Remember, Usagi !" Shingo said. "We're always around."
"Just call out !" Naru smiled.
"Arigato, Naru-chan." Tsukino Usagi smiled.
As the ghosts vanished, Tsukino Usagi tried to rise to hug her daughter. The strain of the years, however, prevailed upon her to lay back down.
Chibi-Usa went over and picked Usagi up gently.
"Arigato, Chibi-Usa ! I will be alright now." Usagi smiled and kissed Chibi-Usa. Then she turned to embrace Neo-Queen Serenity, and then Sailor Moon, like the dear friends she always hoped she had but feared she'd lost. "Chibi-Usa ! I am tired. Would you put us back together? Onegai?"
"Hai." Chibi-Usa smiled softly.
"Before you do," SAilor Mercury requested, "may I ask one thing of the Lady Mizuno ?"
"What is it ?" Ami asked.
Sailor Mercury looked into Ami's eyes. How many times had she wanted to search through them these past thousand years ?
"Do not run and hide so much, OK ? Nephrite is right. You have more strength and courage than you think you have. Those qualities are not all mine !"
"Hai", Ami said wiping away a tear. "Alright." The two women embraced.
Chibi-Usa raised the Moon-Wand high then arched it around her.
"MOON HEALING ACTIVATION !"
A dazzling white light again filled the room.
After the Presentation had ended, and halfway through the Reception, Neo-Queen Serenity bowed to the fatigue of the day. "I.. WE !.. are tired, I think I'll go to bed early." She turned to her daughter. "Usagi, I am sorry.. about today, about the past thousand years.. but I hope this day can be a new start. And, who knows ? Maybe, one day, Ellios will be able to return !"
"Okaasan !" Chibi-Usa threw her arms around her mother and cried.
"Hush ! Hush, my Usa ! Things will turn out bright for you. I just hope," Neo-Queen Serenity said, rather darkly. "I can live to see it."
"Nani ?" Chibi-Usa looked up with a sudden touch of fear.
"You heard Usagi. The years of fear and loneliness and anger have taken there toll. Not only on Tsukino Usagi, but on me and Sailor Moon, too. I am still strong enough to take over for Usagi. But I will not. I placed that millstone of loneliness around Usagi's neck. I should be there to answer for it when it is taken off. But, until then, we shall be here for each other. And for you."
Mother and daughter embraced ounce more before Serenity disappeared to her room.
Chibi-Usa turned to Sailor Pluto. "Why ?"
The Senshi of Time and Revelation remained silent.
"Still not answering my questions ? Fine. Why should you start answering them now ?"
"You have your answers," Sailor Pluto said. "The scene played out as it was supposed to." Pluto continued. " Hotaru was right. The road of time is dark, and we are forebidden by rules far older than we to interfere."
"Not even to warn ?" Chibi-Usa asked accusingly.
Again there was silence.
"Well," said Chibi-Usa. "You will not have to worry about the 'Rules' of Time and Fate much longer. When my mother steps down from the throne, you will be released from your duties."
"Just answer this, to yourself if no one else," Chibi-Usa finished, "Why did the truth have to wait so long to be revealed ? Why ?"
The sound of retreating footsteps haunted Sailor Pluto.
SAYONARA