Whilst heading off for a final showdown with Zoisite for the Rainbow Crystals, an injured Mamoru finds himself trapped inside an elevator with Usagi Tsukino a.k.a. Bun-head. But as it turns out…she might just have another name too…Anime Canon. Written for the 30th anniversary of Sailor Moon Classic Episode 34.
Rated: T - Romance/Drama - Words: 1,774 - Mamoru C./Darien S./Tuxedo Kamen, Usagi T./Serena/Bunny/Sailor Moon
A/N: This story is set DURING Sailor Moon Classic Episode 34.
I'd like to thank the following people for their invaluable help in giving this story shape. Please check out their works on FFN and AO3 if you get the opportunity as they are each of them gifted writers: Lin_Lamont, Goddess_Althena and RiverLethe9.
Mamoru gazed out the large window of the Starlight Tower elevator, surprise gripping him.
He had just opened up about his past. About his haunting dreams. About his desire for the Silver Crystal. He'd rarely opened up to anyone about anything, let alone something this personal. Whatsmore, he'd open up to bun-head of all people! And the most bizarre part was that it felt…totally natural.
"Why did I just tell you all that?"
It took a moment for him to realise that he'd spoken aloud. And a moment more to realise he had a tiny smile on his face too.
One half of his brain tried to excuse his openness on the 'highly extenuating circumstances' he was currently in. He was seriously injured, his right shoulder still bleeding from the wound Zoisite had inflicted less than a day ago. In a gamble to get the remaining Rainbow Crystals, he'd foolishly walked into a trap laid by the Dark Kingdom commander. And unfortunately, the ever scatterbrained bun-head, out of concern for him, had unwittingly been ensnared in the trap as well. Now, the two of them were trapped within a rising elevator composed of some green pulsating matter, like the belly of some terrible monster.
The odds of either of them getting out of this alive were slim, let alone doing so with Mamoru's identity intact, or any of the Rainbow Crystals for that matter. Clearly, in what might be his last moments, when Mamoru had little left to lose, he'd simply unloaded some of his emotional baggage. It would have happened no matter who had been caught up in this with him.
The other half of his brain however was uncertain. There was something else that had compelled him to speak. Something deeper even than the knowledge that death might be around the corner.
Bun-head remained silent (a miraculous event unto itself) before turning away, closing her eyes and adopting a somewhat uppity expression upon her face. "I thought you were the most obnoxious guy in the world..." Mamoru admitted he probably deserved the jibe, and wondered if bun-head was beginning to confess herself now. But then bun-head opened her eyes and shot him a sideways glance. "...but now, I'll move you to second place."
At the slight drop in bun-head's tone Mamoru noticed the tiny blush on her cheeks.
Momentarily taken aback he let out a tiny chuckle. Looking away himself, as if to spare bun-head (and maybe himself) embarrassment, although he maintained a tiny smile on his face. "Thank you," he replied simply.
They remained silent for the next few minutes as the elevator continued its steady climb. However, to Mamoru's surprise, the silence was only partially awkward. For whatever reason, despite the horrible danger they were both in, Mamoru found bun-head's presence oddly comforting. And, somehow, he got the sense that she felt the same way too.
The serenity didn't last.
"Power outage?" said bun-head as the elevator suddenly came to a sudden halt.
Mamoru knew better. Dimly, he detected a cold chill running down his spine. Zoisite's trap had reached its final act.
Suddenly, the temperature within the car began to rise. Simultaneously, an ominous crackling, hissing, noise began approaching them.
"What is it!?" exclaimed bun-head.
Instinctively, both of them looked up. Through the translucent ceiling of the elevator car they had a clear view of the shaft above them; and the spiral of flame rapidly winding its way downwards!
What should I do? thought Mamoru. If I transform into Tuxedo Mask, she'll know who I am. But if I stay like this, we'll both die.
The fire was growing closer.
If he transformed, would he even be able to save her?
The car was beginning to glow in the horrible orange light of the flames.
Could his injured shoulder support her weight?
A foul odour began filling the air; the elevator's organic matter was already beginning to burn!
No choice. He had to try. He had to-
"Moon Prism Power!"
What had bun-head just said?
Reflexively, Mamoru turned to look at her. There was a determination in her features he'd never seen before. A determination that burned far brighter than the encroaching flames.
"Make-Up!"
Bun-head threw her hand into the hair, her nails suddenly sparkling pink. Then her body began to glow, her clothes vanishing amidst the veritable kaleidoscope of light.
The flames. The danger. Imminent death even. Everything was banished from Mamoru's mind as he stood, utterly dumbfounded, by the spectacle playing out before his eyes.
Pink ribbons of light appeared from the brooch on bun-head's chest, the brooch he had so often paid no attention to but now seemed hauntingly familiar. But not nearly as familiar as the uniform they weaved themselves into.
Dimly, Mamoru detected the flames had nearly arrived.
A shower of sparkles, manifested a blue skirt around bun-head's waist.
"What!?"
Time seemed to stretch out as Mamoru's mind slowly began to comprehend just what he was witnessing.
His brain continued to process as a dozen needles of light converged upon bun-head's forehead, forming into a gleaming red jewel.
With that...the spell was broken.
As Mamoru's eyes widened in awe, two shakily spoken words escaped his lips.
"Sailor Moon?"
There was no denying it was her.
She was standing right in front of him in all her glory.
Mamoru wasn't entirely sure what happened next. He felt arms wrap around his waist and then the world was consumed by fire.
And yet, he did not burn. He felt no pain at all. Even his vision wasn't obscured. Not that it would have mattered. Mamoru had eyes only for the beautiful, heroic angel carrying him to safety.
But it was impossible. This whole thing was impossible.
Bun-head couldn't be Sailor Moon! Could she…
"You're so mean, I can't do anything about you calling me names, but how could you say such bad things about Motoki?! Waaaaaaaah!"
"Why? Why is this happening to me? Waaaaaah! I wanna go home."
"My friend, Naru, is in love with a bad person, but she doesn't know he's bad….What should I do in such a situation?"
"Oh, Princess Diamond, please wake up!"
"Anyway, what's a guy doing on a toy train all by himself?! Could it be you're actually a really big loser?! You make me laugh! Hahaha! It's so funny, my tummy hurts!"
"Moon Tiara Action!"
Yes. She could. She was.
Sailor Moon was in fact a bubbly scatterbrain who would rather play video games than crack a textbook.
And bun-head…no, Usagi, was actually the brave, beautiful Senshi of love and justice.
The ordinary girl he had harboured a crush for and the hero he was in love with.
Two halves of the same soul, seemingly different, but united by a kind and compassionate heart.
And, to Mamoru's amazement, he found her all the more miraculous for it…
A/N: I've had this story in mind for a LONG time, 2020 at least, but in a way ever since I first watched episode 34 way back in 2010.
In my humble opinion, it might just be the best, most dramatic episode of the entire first season of the anime, maybe even the entire show. Iconic is a word I think entirely appropriate to describe it by.
It also holds a special place in my heart as the DiC dub of it is one of my formative memories when it comes to Sailor Moon. Whilst I wasn't really a fan of Sailor Moon in 2000-2001 (I don't remember what year, but it was for sure one of those two) I had seen the odd clip of the show whilst channel hopping, maybe even a whole episode or two, and thought nothing of it. But, one dark, winter evening after school (and before my Cub Scout meeting) I happened to see this episode and the animation, the atmosphere, the DRAMA of it all just clicked for me. It took like another ten years for me to really give the series a shot, but this episode for sure was a major reason why I did.
…Which is why I must confess to being disappointed in the flashback scenes I did above. See, the entire idea with this story is to not only present Mamoru's POV but make it as much the equivalent of Usagi's realisation of Mamoru's identity as possible. To that end I stuck in six flashbacks, three for Usagi and three for Sailor Moon. Usagi has similar flashbacks to Mamoru and Tuxedo Mask. My intention was to find quotes from Usagi that emphasised her bravery, her crybaby moments and her kindness. The problem is, instances of this where Mamoru is present to observe them are few and far between, especially when it comes to her Sailor Moon side. From Tuxedo Mask's POV, Sailor Moon is brave and kind via her actions, not stuff she says most of the time. So I opted for quotes where Usagi verbally attacked Mamoru and lined it up with her literal attack as Sailor Moon. The other stuff is a bit of a reach I must admit. However, in my defence…the quotes used in episode 34 are themselves a little random.
Also, just to let you know I am involved in a discord called 'Moonlight Legends' which is dedicated to sharing all sorts of Sailor Moon fanworks, including other fanfics. If you would like to join so you can share your own work, get help with your current projects or just connect to other fan creators shoot me a PM and I'll send you an invite. All are welcome!