Today is a very special day and, as a shopkeeper prepares the gift for her favourite customer, she ponders the similarities between the gift and its future owner… Manga Canon. Written for Usagi's 30th Anniversary.
Rated: T - Spiritual/Drama - Words: 4,463 - Luna, Mamoru C./Darien S./Tuxedo Kamen, Usagi T./Serena/Bunny/Sailor Moon, Inner Senshi/Inner Scouts
A/N: When it comes to some of the dialogue I've broadly deferred to the English translations provided in the Eternal Editions released from 2018 onwards, including when they throw in bold, italics, etc.
A BIG thank you to Lillie Bell for not only betaing this fic for me but also doing it last minute and putting up my pedantic ass, lol. Check out Lillie's work on Ao3 and also her tumblr (lilliebellfanfics) chock full of great writing advice!
This fic is a gift for moonchildoh8 along with FloraOne, Nari, Kakuyuu, ninjette twitch, brownsugarheart attack, daikon, and everyone else behind the Drops of Moonlight Discord who's upcoming fanzine helped inspire the idea for this fic.
Between the impending cold and the dark of the winter evening, not to mention the slow business day, the shopkeeper might have considered shutting early and heading upstairs to bed. But she was expecting a very special customer within the next hour or so, and she would be damned if she was going to be easy-going today of all days.
She prided herself on her professionalism, and knowing her trade well. Not just how to maximise profits or acquire the best quality stock, but also the deeper, more sentimental side of her work, too. She took immense satisfaction in pairing up her customers with the 'right' items; not simply the most expensive ones.
On too many occasions for her to count, her granddaughter had inevitably questioned her about this tendency of hers. "What do you mean, the 'right' items?"
She had explained that she believed in the symbolism and so-called superstitions attached to various stones and metals. It was an idea many people had often rolled their eyes at over the years; although, not as often these days given how the world had changed in the last two decades or so.
Above all else, the shopkeeper believed in the relevance of birthstones, and the traits they were said to bestow upon anyone who belonged to them. Of course, she also believed some of those traits manifested in different ways for different people. Observing her newest item, she pondered how those traits manifested for her very special customer.
The first of the traits that came to her mind was… innocence…
Taking quick huffs of breath, Usagi practically galloped down the street.
"Ugh, why does it always have to be morning?!" She whined. "I'm so sleepy! I don't wanna go to school!"
Stepping on something squishy, Usagi lost her footing and, with a SPLAT, fell face first onto the ground.
"Owww!" she groaned, getting back up, "What did I step on?" Through tear-stained eyes, she looked around for what had caused her to trip. Finally, she spotted:
"No way! It was a cat?!"
The poor creature was sprawled on the floor, every line of Usagi's Mary Jane's practically embedded upon its back.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! Did I hurt you?!" Usagi cried apologetically. She rushed over to the animal and, gently as she could (which was perhaps not gently enough), raised the ebony feline's face to her own. "A little black kitty cat!" She exclaimed lovingly. "You don't look so good. "Oops, I guess that's 'cause I stepped on you," she muttered.
"Meow!" replied the dark feline, her eyes still tightly shut in pain.
Despite the pitious sound the creature made, Usagi couldn't help but giggle. "Tee hee hee! You're so cute! Forgive me, 'kay? Mmmm!" Instinctively, Usagi closed her eyes, embraced the creature closer, and planted a kiss upon its furry lips.
A split second later she screamed in pain as tiny, yet sharp, claws frantically scratched her face.
The shopkeeper moved out from behind the counter and poked her head out the door. The streets were pretty empty, likely due to the weather, especially this early into the working week.
She also saw no sign of her special customer, not that she had really expected to. That woman was late to everything. Given her occupation it was supremely lucky her troubles with time hadn't spelled disaster. But then, if her birthstone was to be believed, luck was one thing her customer had in abundance.
... Where am I? It's so dark… Am I alive? Am I dreaming?
Like Metalia's ebony form, Usagi's vision was naught but black until a silver glow came into focus through the darkness. Suddenly more energised, Usagi's eyelids lifted completely, exposing her blue irises to the glittering crystalline teardrop levitating above her hands.
... The Mystical Silver Crystal.
The crystal continued to float in the air even as her gaze drifted to the figure lying in front of her.
"... Endymion?"
I… stabbed myself in the chest. Why aren't I hurt?
Reflexively, Sailor Moon raised a gloved hand to her heart, feeling something hard and slightly sharp beneath her uniform. Fishing the item out she peered down at its broken body. Mamo-chan's pocket watch… it's falling apart. Then… realisation hit her.
Did it block the sword?!
Certain she was unlikely to have much more business today, the shivering shopkeeper withdrew inside and headed back behind the counter.
She remained idle for about thirty seconds before taking out the item again. Compared to the rest of her stock it was incredibly simple, though beautiful for that simplicity.
Removing the item from the box she brought it up to her eye and began examining its key components. How funny it was to think that each piece had once lived alone amidst the darkest depths, and yet now here they were sparkling together in the bright light. Their old existence re-purposed for a bold new beginning. Fitting really…
Exhausted though she was, Usagi did as Luna instructed. Taking hold of the Moon Wand, now infused with the Mystical Silver Crystal, she closed her eyes and prayed. She felt a warm tingle emanate out from her core, and sensed light building around her, crescendoing with a flash.
Usagi opened her eyes, in awe of the miracle before her. Standing tall, and glowing white against the dark veil of space was:
"The Moon Castle, It's-!"
"That's right, Usagi-chan."
Usagi's focus shifted to the small, smiling furry figure of Luna.
Behind her, almost as pearly white as the castle itself, Artemis smiled up at her, too. "The Silver Millennium has been restored."
With her trained eye, she zeroed in on a patch upon one of the components. Its gleam seemed a little duller compared to its 'sisters'. It wasn't long until she spotted similar flaws and let out a tiny, defeated groan.
From the day she had taken the order she suspected it was never going to live up to her personal standards. Though she did not want to accuse anyone, the fault in this case lay with her nearly three dozen suppliers, who hadn't exactly coordinated in getting all the pieces she needed in good time.
Then again, to any of them, or even the intended owner, such flaws would go unnoticed. But… she noticed.
Shaking her head at herself, she prepared the item for a last minute buffing and polishing session.
"The things I do for peace of mind," she sighed out.
As she inhaled again, she caught the sweet scent of cinnamon wafting in from a nearby store, heard the soft chuckling of children on their way home, and caught a glint of sparkling light from beyond the window. For just a second, guilt gnawed at her.
These days, peace of mind was the only kind of peace she, and most everyone else, had to worry about. But she remembered a time when that was not the case. A time when she spent many nights as a little girl awake and afraid that the world would be consumed in the fires of one war or another.
But, thanks to her special customer, everyone, the shopkeeper included, could forever sleep with peace in their hearts and minds.
Glancing back at the item, she supposed she shouldn't be surprised at that.
Malevolent smiles adorned the faces of the three Outer Senshi.
"Do you really want to die that badly?"
"In that case, let's fight. We'll grant your death wish."
"We'll finish you ourselves."
The Inner Senshi shot back looks of purest loathing.
"You think you can talk down to us?!"
"Well we're going to kill you!"
"Girls?!" Usagi yelled. "What's gotten into you?! Snap out of it!"
Her eyes shot over to the witch with the black star mark upon her forehead. Did Cyprine put them under a spell?!
"Heh heh!" Cackled the witch. "My magic amplifies the darkness living deep within every heart!" Her wicked smile cracked wider as she thrust her staff out her staff again. "Give in to your true feelings and tear each other apart! Ah ha ha!"
Desperately, Usagi tried attacking the witch with her Spiral Heart Moon Rod. But her would-be assault was neutralised when the witch manifested a twin seemingly out of thin air.
They laughed, clearly delighting in the war breaking out amongst the seven Senshi.
"WE'LL KILL YOU!"
"DIE!"
Sailor Chibi-Moon arrived on the scene, unleashing her own modest attack upon the bewitched combatants, attempting to bring them back to their senses.
"Stay out of this!"
Usagi watched horrified as Jupiter (or was it Mercury) savagely countered Chibi-Usa's attack, her daughter only narrowly avoiding injury. A split second later an explosion erupted in the space between the two factions.
"ALL OF YOU STOP IT!" Usagi screamed, though her plea fell on deaf ears.
"You little-!" Sailor Venus exclaimed as Mars just barely intercepted a blast aimed at the blonde.
Uranus charged her hand for another strike. "You just won't quit! You still wanna fight?!"
Despite the cacophony of noise, Usagi could still hear the witch twins cackling over the carnage. The sound chilled her to her core; but not nearly as much as the doubt creeping into her mind.
Why are we doing this? Why do we have to fight each other?! Is it because deep down, we really see each other as enemies?! NO!
The battle faded from her vision, replaced by the still and elegant visages of Sailors Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Moments later, she felt two hands clasp hers, looks of silent understanding passing between them all.
Combine our hearts… as one.
From the air above their hands, materialised a glittering winged chalice, topped with a crescent moon.
Everyone, lend me your strength. Let our hearts… combine as one!
The thought was so much more than a thought. So much more than words given voice could ever be. They rang within the very essences of the guardians, utterly drowning out the shrill noise of hate, rage and malice from their souls.
The brief yet brutal Sailor War… had finally ceased.
As she worked slowly, carefully, the shopkeeper kept envisioning her customer's delighted face when they finally received the item.
However, a sudden, horrible thought crept into her mind. She had been so concerned with making sure the item was ready on time, that it was of the highest quality, that she hadn't considered if her customer would even like it in the first place. She could hardly be blamed for that though. Although she had been more than happy to take the order, she hadn't been the one to initially suggest it. Her imagination ran away with her and she saw her customer's face fall upon laying eyes on the item.
Feebly, she tried to reassure herself that, even if her customer disliked the item, she at least wouldn't have to endure the shame and embarrassment of their disappointment. Most people would simply have enough manners and decorum to avoid expressing themselves that way, especially if they knew the trouble and effort she had gone to. But then… most people were not nearly as open and honest as her customer.
Eying the item again the shopkeeper huffed out a tiny laugh. Of course her customer was honest.
Chaos raged all around them and, not for the first time that day, Usagi shielded her foe's fallen form.
"Why did you help me?"
"Galaxia!" Usagi exclaimed. She had at last regained consciousness since Usagi had pulled her back from the maw of the Galaxy Cauldron.
"Finish me!" demanded the auric armoured warrior.
Despite the obvious burns and bruises upon her body, it was plain that Galaxia's pride had endured the greatest wound of all.
"I reached out because I saw a lonely version of myself in you," she finally replied, sincerity lacing each and every word.
"I don't want to lose any more fellow Senshi," she said simply.
"I'm your enemy! This is war!"
"... I can't fight any more."
Usagi was no longer looking at Galaxia. She had turned away from her, now staring off into the dark maelstrom swirling around them.
"My friends all vanished- They're gone. All this time… I haven't been fighting for peace, or justice. It was for the people I loved. For my friends. I was only fighting for them."
She tilted her head up ever so slightly, almost mesmerised by the cosmic dance unfolding in the sky above.
"But now… it's all gone."
She was barely addressing Galaxia, the words meant more for herself.
"Everything I cared about most is gone."
Through the maelstrom, through the dance, Usagi's eye somehow zeroed in on a singular point of still, empty black space.
"So who… or what is there to fight for now?"
The shopkeeper's lips formed into a thin line, practically willing her rationality to the forefront of her mind.
Whether her customer liked the item or not, it was too late to do anything about it now. She would just have to run the risk, hope for the best, and endeavour to try again in the future. That would be the wisest course of action.
She supposed, in its own way, her customer's open honesty was also a form of wisdom too. Though, she was sure, not the only way her customer, or anyone else, might be wise…
Galaxia was gone. They were all gone now, save one. One who wanted Usagi to do the unthinkable. One who wanted her to end all the fighting and death and suffering by destroying both Chaos and the Galaxy Cauldron once and for all. One who, despite her youth, spoke with an absolute certainty beyond her years.
One whom Usagi loved… but could not bring herself to believe.
"ChibiChibi," she whispered. "I won't give up." Usagi's voice began to grow louder, stronger. "I can't. My friends taught me, again and again." Her tone now carried with it a renewed conviction. "At the end of the battle, there is hope, and a future," she declared resolutely. "I will build that future… with all of them in it." Certainty laced Usagi's words as assuredly as they had ChibiChibi's.
She locked eyes with the child. Despite her words, Usagi's expression was not one of defiance nor rejection. It was as kind, open and welcoming as it had ever been. As it always would be.
"So don't give up hope, either." Tears welled in Usagi's eyes. "Don't give up on your future."
The tears began to slowly, steadily fall. "Have faith." The child's own eyes widened slightly, and Usagi knew her words had taken root in the girl's heart.
"Our star of hope will never burn out," she said with a tearful smile. "As long as that star keeps shining, we'll be okay. We won't lose…"
Her work complete, the shopkeeper cleaned the item and returned it to its box beneath the counter. She still had no customers and closing time was near. More to stave off boredom than anything else, she poked her head out the door again but saw no sign of her customer, or anyone else who looked interested in coming inside. No one except a gaggle of middle school girls who had stopped by her window.
She let out a tiny huff of laughter. She remembered that age, dreaming of owning even one of the items in her stock. If only her younger self could have seen her now. Having said that, she had to admit there were more than a few days where the gap between her adolescent fantasies and her adult reality was almost depressing.
Doing inventory, keeping track of profit margins and market research was a far cry from the thrill she'd had imagined as a youngster. Then again, it wasn't entirely different either, she had invested much time in researching her passion just for fun. Birthstones had been her favourite, of course, but she had always gotten snagged when a stone was said to represent both 'innocence' but also 'purity'. In a way though, her own journey had ultimately provided her an answer.
Yes, her occupation wasn't exactly what she had envisioned for herself as a girl. But she hadn't been drawn to this line of work merely for the superficial glamour of it all. Beneath that had been an indescribable attachment and affinity for stones, metals, etc. They had simply fascinated her all on their own, and that innocent affection had never truly gone away. Or rather, it had ultimately endured despite her having grown older and wiser.
Whilst her experiences weren't quite in line with what her books had spoken about, she felt she now fully grasped the distinction they had neglected to spell out for her. She smiled at the school girls as they moved away, before looking back over to the counter. To be innocent was to be kind and naive. But to be pure - that was to be all too aware of the harshness of reality and yet remain as kind and loving as you were before. And, of course, to act accordingly…
Arms spread wide, Usagi stood upon the precipice hanging over the Galaxy Cauldron. Through the maelstrom, baleful eyes, like headlights through a thick fog, fixated on her. A dragon glaring upon an ant.
Chaos. Queen Metalia. Death Phantom. Pharaoh 90. Nehalennia. And Galaxia. I finally understand. I know… Usagi's brooch began to glow bright...why you were so desperate for my power.
Usagi closed her eyes.
It's the same feeling that made me need my beloved-
She hugged herself, crossing her arms over her chest, resting her hands upon her shoulders.
-That makes me so desperate to be with my beloved friends.
From her back bloomed soft, white feather wings.
We're all… lonely stars. That's why we seek each other out. We want to be united. Together as one. Because that is how we were in the beginning. The Galaxy Cauldron flashed in her mind's eye. So now, I, too.. Will seek you out…
Instinctively, Usagi leapt off the precipice.
... And embrace you…
For just an instant as she descended, she felt a slight tickle across her lips. Almost as if they had kissed a soft, black, furry face.
As the shopkeeper crossed the floor, something niggled at the back of her mind. Something she knew to be unimportant, and yet it felt annoyingly relevant somehow.
Moving back behind the counter, she suddenly spotted two people outside the glass doors. One was a tall, handsome dark haired man, the other a slender woman with long ponytails descending from twin buns affixed to the top of her head.
It was then that the shopkeeper's mind finally clicked and she stole a quick glance at the box beneath the counter.
Of course. The final, most fitting, trait of all.
Love.
Usagi's hand flew to her mouth as her boomerang connected and the monster disintegrated.
"Well, I didn't find the Mystical Silver Crystal. But I did get to see a very interesting show."
Usagi gasped.
It's that voice again… The same deep, confident voice that, moments ago, had told her to stop crying and take advantage of her enemy's disorientation.
Fleeing out the store's doors she looked up into the moonlit sky. There, framed against the stars and city lights, practically flying upon his cape, was a masked man garbed in a tuxedo.
Usagi gazed up at him, open mouthed as his top hat elegantly fell from his head, revealing thick dark hair. He seemed unphased by the loss of the garment. On the contrary, he looked over his shoulder and smiled down at her. Neither his mask, the darkness, nor the distance between them prevented Usagi from noticing how blue his eyes were…
The dark haired man opened both doors wide before retreating behind the woman, taking her by the shoulders and guiding her inside. For her part, the woman had her arms extended out, no doubt compensating for the blindfold about her eyes. Laughing and distracted as they were, they left the doors wide open behind them. Typically this might have annoyed the shopkeeper, but she was more than willing to make an exception on this occasion.
"Can I finally take this thing off, Mamo-chan?" The woman giggled.
"Yes, but allow me Usa."
When the blindfold came off, the shopkeeper smiled warmly at the pair of them.
"Greetings, your Majesties."
She had barely begun to bow, when she spotted Neo-Queen Serenity laughing and waving her hand at her. "Mrs. Osaka, for the last time you don't have to do that. I've known you since me and Naru-chan were in middle-school."
"Sorry," tittered Mrs. Osaka. "I just get such a kick out of serving royalty."
"You should see Asanuma," muttered King Endymion.
"Wait though," exclaimed Serenity. "What're we doing here anyway?"
Behind his white mask, Endymion rolled his eyes. "Forty-four years old and still a bit scatterbrained, eh bun-head?" Serenity stuck her tongue out at her husband. "Like I said back at the palace, today is a special day so we have to mark the occasion." With a smile, he nodded to Mrs. Osaka.
All too happily, she brought out a white jewellery box from beneath the counter. Upon the box, rendered in gold lettering was a gleaming logo that read 'Osa-P'.
She handed the box over to Serenity who took it curiously, Endymion and Mrs. Osaka watching expectantly. Opening the box, she let out a soft gasp, her eyes sparkling brighter than any of the sapphires in the store.
From out of the box, she withdrew a necklace consisting of thirty gleaming pearls, each as round and white as the buns upon her head.
"Oh Mamo-chan," she whispered breathily. "I don't know what to say. Thirty pearls." She looked up at him dofully. "One for every year since we met outside those doors?" She planted a quick kiss on his lips. "You shouldn't have."
"Well, actually, I didn't."
The blissful enchantment that had possessed Serenity's features gave way to confusion. "I don't understand."
With his thumb and forefinger, Endymion lightly pinched the two largest pearls towards the centre of the necklace. "I got these two. They're from me and Small Lady."
Serenity's brow furrowed. "I… I'm still not following."
"Naru-chan got this pearl," Endymion replied, moving his finger over a few pearls to the left. "And this one was from your mother. These three I think came from Shingo, Luna and either Kuri or Yumiko. Those ones were Motoki, Umino and, if I recall correctly, your old teacher; Ms. Haruna right? Oh, and Ami and the others got these of course. And… um…"
"That one is from me actually," piped up Mrs. Osaka.
From the way she was tilting her head, it was clear Serenity was none the wiser. "But… why would all those people help you buy me something for our anniversary?"
Now Endymion smiled dofully at his wife. "Because Usa it isn't for the anniversary of the day we met. At least, not just for that."
"Then wha… oh…"
As realisation dawned, Serenity's mouth formed into a smile. A smile not unlike the crescent Moon shining down upon her through the open doorway.
Through the open doorway of Osa-P, silver light from the crescent Moon shone down upon Usagi. A moment ago, when questioned by the nightmarish creature within the store, she had been nervous, utterly lost for words. Now though, she smiled, knowing exactly what to say.
"I am the pretty sailor-suited soldier! I am the guardian of love and justice. SAILOR MOON!"
A/N: So I confess I cheated a little with this one.
The first cheat was that I didn't go through the manga flashbacks beat for beat, focussing only upon the relevant bits and 'strategically choosing' when to end each flashback to sync up with the pearl trait it was exploring.
Those traits namely being innocence, luck, new beginnings, peace, honesty, wisdom, purity and love.
This brings me to my second little cheat. A number of places I consulted listed 'honesty' and 'sincerity' as two separate traits for people with pearl birthstones, but after trying to make that work it became just neater and more effective to treat them as the same trait, hence I mentioned 'sincerity' in the flashback referencing honesty.
So originally I was considering releasing this story as part of the upcoming Drops of Moonlight fanzine (keep your digital eyes for that!), which will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Sailor Moon over all.
Since a 30th anniversary is also a pearl anniversary, and Usagi's birthstone is also a pearl, highlighting ways in which Usagi possessed the traits of her birthstone was irresistible, as was marking the occasion she first became Sailor Moon.
A big thank you to SO many people over at the Drops of Moonlight and Moonlight Legends discord servers for their invaluable help in figuring out examples for every trait I listed above, most of which I did not come up with on my own at all.
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!
With that, all that's left to say is… Thank you Naoko Takeuchi. And Happy Anniversary Usagi!