Flee to Destiny
By: Bethany
Originally Released: 3/2002
Revised: 7/2015

Chapter 15 - Saving Shingo & Epilogue

The entire room lit up with a purple light as Pluto hit Shingo dead on. "Shingo!" I screamed, trying to back up. The wall behind me prevented much movement, though I would have disappeared into it if I could. Vaguely I could see Shingo, palms towards Pluto, blasting energy bolts at her one after another.

"World Shaking!"

"Deep Submerge!"

"NOOO! Yamete!*" My commands carried no weight with the Outer Senshi as they continued to attack Shingo. Tuxedo Kamen was beside me, but I paid no attention to his words. The only thing that I could think of was that they were killing my little brother.

The little brother that I didn't want, because at age twelve I thought my parents didn't need anyone but me. I could remember the day he came home from the hospital. I was so jealous I wouldn't even look at him. Even so, I couldn't help but become fascinated by each and everything he did. Slowly but surely he crawled into my heart. And then I was forced to change roles from sister to mother. But I had failed. And he was dying...

Dying...

"Venus Love-Me Chain!" Venus lashed out with her weapon, but Shingo dodged and then blasted her against the wall. With a groan the Solider of Love passed out, a trickle of blood sliding down the side of her face. With that small act, the rest of the Inner Senshi, who had refrained from attacking, stepped forward and took fighting stance.

"Usako, we can't let him kill us. We have to fight him, just to tire him enough so you can heal him," Tuxedo Kamen was saying to me, trying to calm me down. But I couldn't think past the fact that they were attacking Shingo to understand anything else.

Mars began to attack Shingo and I felt myself snap. I stood up, but I couldn't consciously put my finger on what I was doing, something deeper in myself took over. Calmly I placed my hands in front of my broach and summoned Queen's rod with the Silver Crystal planted in it's core. A warm light bathed me, flowing from my head to my feet. When I reopened my eyes my fuku was gone, replaced with a flowing white dress made of fine silk, different layers moving in an unfelt wind.

Everyone in the room was staring at me, but the one I took notice of was Shingo - tears in his eyes that battled between blue and black.

"Shingo, it's okay now," I said with a confidence and calmness beyond my years. He stared at me with the queerest expression as I walked towards him.

Suddenly he blinked, stepping back from the warm glow of the Silver Crystal. "Stay back," he commanded, but his voice had lost its rough edge and bordered more on the youthful voice of Shingo. He raised his hands and blasted a shot of energy towards me, but it was weaken and I easy deflected it.

"It's okay," I repeated softly, all my love for him poured into my voice. I closed my eyes and began silently pleading for the guidance I needed to restore Shingo back to me and to remove this evil. "Please, Goddess Selene, grant me the strength to heal Shingo," I begged. The stone in my hands grew brighter, but still Shingo's eyes were black.

As I struggled to uphold my stance, and fight against the evil I felt another power mix with my own. A golden light shot out towards Shingo, mixing with my own silver. With the two powers joined, the room became unbearably bright. I heard Shingo scream, the black emptiness giving way to blue again. Beside me stood the Prince of my dreams, armor protectively wrapped around his chest, which he pulled me against.

I pushed harder into the Ginzuishou, the effort beginning to wear my body down. But I couldn't give up, not while there was a breath left in me. Shingo fell to his knees, but the evil was planted deeply in his body and refused to let go of its death grip. His head was thrown back and a continuing howl of pain left his throat.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I heard the Senshi screaming that they room was caving in, but I couldn't stop. My guardians each, in turn, aimed their strongest attacks at Shingo. I barely felt the rocks falling down on and around us. Something peaceful came over me then, and the weariness of using the crystal didn't seem so harsh any longer. I felt as though I were easing myself into a nice hot bath; the promise of complete relaxation just around the bend. Just a few more seconds...

"Usako! DON'T!"

Shingo's eyes stayed blue and a black mist fled out of his mouth, disappearing in the warm light of my powers as water evaporated in the hot sun. His body fell limply to the ground and I smiled. I had saved him; it was okay to let go now. But why wasn't I able to move towards him?

I wanted to run to him, to hold him close - and while I willed my feet to obey, they refused to listen. "Usako! Damn it, don't do this! Listen to my voice, come back to me!"

I could hear Mamo-chan, but I couldn't see him. I looked around, but all I saw in every direction was never-ending white light. I felt a sob rise in my throat; what had I done?

"Princess Serenity."

"Who are you?" I asked, spinning around. It was the same girl who had haunted me for a lifetime. She stood as regal as she had the first time I had seen her clearly... the first time I had meet Mamo-chan. "Mamo-chan?" I called, ignoring her and looking around again. Shaking my head, I lashed out at the Princess in front of me, tears streaming down my face. "What's going on?!"

Her heels tapped softly on the floor as she approached me calmly, the essence of a Princess. While I wanted to scream and rip her hair out, if only for the reason that she possessed such calmness. "I just wanted to thank you, Serenity."

I looked at her like she had grown two heads. I still wondered if I was dead, dreaming or how I came to be here. "Thank me? For what?" I demanded.

She laughed, her voice sounding like a sweet melody that was especially written for her voice. "For setting me free. Now that you have fully come into your powers and therefore your memory - I am free. Free to leave the jumble between life and death and be with my Endymion again."

Her words intrigued me, so that I forgot where I was and what had brought me here. Had she been a prisoner in my mind? Could he be that she longed to be as free from the past as I? "Wait, you're saying that you were trapped... in my mind?"

"Bound by duty and love for my people, I had to stay in this limbo until you destroyed Metallia forever. Now I am free to proceed to the after life where my Love awaits me."

My mind was reeling; so many pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place. "Then you are not me?"

Princess Serenity grabbed my hands within her own, our identical gazes locking as she spoke to me. "We are one, but not the same. And I thank you for helping me, for becoming the Princess that I am proud of. Now, return to Mamoru before he goes crazy." Briefly she hugged me and the next second was gone. "Thank you," her voice resounded through out my mind. With her finally at peace, I new that I, too, would finally find peace with who I was.

- Epilogue -

The sound of the crews working on the cleaning of the site where Tokyo Towers once stood filled my ears as I pushed Chibi-Usa through the park. The wind blew in my hair, making it dance in the air behind me. The sun shinning on my face made me feel alive and wonderful.

Shingo had become withdrawn after we had defeated Metallia and saved him from its evil grasp. He said less now than he did after our parents died. And yet, I was happy just for him to be alive. The rest we could work through.

In the summer of that year, Mamo-chan, Shingo, Chibi-Usa and I flew back to the United States to visit my parent's graves. All of my friends that I had thought enough of to stop and see couldn't get over Chibi-Usa or how handsome Mamo-chan was. But it felt strange seeing the people I thought were my best friends in the world, but who had never written or called when I moved away. I found myself missing Rei, Minako, Ami and Mako-chan, as well as the light and laughter they brought into my life. Even though I felt bad about doing it, I asked Mamo-chan if we could leave early. He looked relieved I had suggested if, even though he didn't say so.

And so returned to Japan, the place I really called home now. I snapped out of my memories and looked at my watch. "Time to pick Papa up from work," I told my three month old.

She grinned at me just like she understood completely. In the distance I could see Shingo pushing himself back and forth on a swing. There were many children around him, but he stayed to himself. Mamo-chan assured me Shingo would come out of his shell soon, but still I worried about him. "Shingo! Let's go!"

By the time I reached the car Shingo had caught up and took the stroller from me, folding it up and placing it in the trunk. He ran around the car and jumped in the front seat next to me and buckled up, not saying a word the entire time.

When I arrived at the laboratory where Mamo-chan worked, I was surprised to not see him standing outside like normal. Curiously I grabbed Chibi-Usa and with Shingo following behind, went to find my boyfriend.

"Hello, Usa," Mamo-chan's lab partner greeted as I approached. Hento Daiki was shorter than Mamo-chan and not nearly as handsome. His stomach protruded over his pants, giving the impression he wore an inter tube around his waist. His hair fell stringy in his eyes and quite frankly, he gave me the creeps. If ever I was sure someone had a body hiding in their basement, it was Daiki.

I absolutely hated running into him when Mamo-chan wasn't around. He always made advances on me and it seemed today would be no different. He stuck his thick finger out to tickle Chibi-Usa and instantly she began crying. I glared at him, but because we were alone, he ignored my harsh look. "Where's Mamo-chan?" I demanded, stepping back. I didn't want to cause problems with Mamo-chan at work, but suddenly I wished I had said something to him about the way Daiki talked to me.

Daiki shrugged and rolled his eyes. "I don't know, he left a couple of hours ago. You know," he said in a syrupy voice as he came towards me and winked. "I would never leave you like that. You should leave Mamoru and go out with me."

I rolled my eyes and with as much sarcasm as I could muster, I said, "I'll tell Mamo-chan what you suggested and see what he says about it." I turned on my heel before he could react and rushed out of the room and away from his lust filled eyes.

I went straight home, a thousand things running through my head at once. But instead of focusing on yet another encounter with Daiki, I wondered why Mamo-chan had left work early and not told me. By the time I arrived home and rushed to our door and inside, I was frantic. Everything from him being sick to him leaving me came and went in my thoughts. I took my shoes off at the door and rushed inside, still holding Chibi-Usa. The house was strangely dark for mid-afternoon, and I noted that they shades were drawn in the living room. I pushed the kitchen door open and reached for the light switch.

"Happy Birthday Usagi-chan!" I heard a chorus of voices ring out. I jumped, nearly screaming. In my arms Chibi-Usa became alarmed and began crying - which in turn caused every person in the room to begin laughing.

The party lasted for hours. Everyone was delighted with the element of surprise, especially since my nineteenth birthday wasn't until the next day. All the Inner and Outer Senshi was there, also Motoki, his sister and my co-worker Naru. I received a mountain of beautiful gifts from everyone, as well. It was truly one of the best birthdays I could remember. But the best present didn't come until after everyone had left and the children were asleep.

I found Mamo-chan sitting in a chair on the balcony, staring at a golden rose he held delicately in his hand. When he caught me staring at him, he blushed and smiled at me. "I had this dipped in gold," he explained, holding it up for me to take. "It's the first rose I ever gave you."

I felt a tear trickle down my face. But as I reached out for the rose, something glittering on his finger caught my attention. "What's that?"

"What?" he asked, his lips curving into a handsome smile. He looked at his hand and pulled the ring off, showing it to me. The outside light made it breathtaking to behold the heart shaped diamond, a small cluster of diamonds outlining the large one. "Oh, this? Well, I bought this for a special woman I just happen to know..."

I began crying harder as he got to one knee. This was it; he was going to ask me to marry him. I felt like I was going to float away on my own personal cloud of happiness. His face turned dead serious, his eyes finding mine and locking there. "I could sit here and name a thousands things that my love for you expands past, but words are too clumsy for what I feel in my heart for you. I say I love you, but it doesn't seem to do it justice." His voice faltered as he tried to build up the courage to continue. I noticed how the hand that held the ring out was shaking. "Please, marry me. I would never ask you for anything else if you would just do this, and make me the happiest man alive."

He began to slip the ring on my finger, but stopped - waiting for my response. At first I didn't know if I could speak, or if I would just start crying my eyes out. "Yes," I whispered, flinging my arms around his neck and pressing my lips to his over and over again. We both fell back, but he managed to hold us both up without his head hitting the floor. "Yes! Yes!" I nearly screamed, just to make sure he heard me and for the sake of hearing myself say it again.

I lay in my love's arms that night and admired my engagement ring. Even in the dark, it sparkled. Every time I laid my eyes on it, I replayed his words over in my mind and felt my heart beat in happy anticipation of our life together. Suddenly I turned to Mamo-chan and grinned. "Again?"

He rolled his eyes, laughing at my pleading face with mock annoyance. "But I've already done this five times, Usako!"

"Please?" I begged, batting my eyelashes at him.

"Okay," he said, holding his hands up in surrender. "Once more." I smiled gleefully and closed my eyes. I felt him slip over top of me and press his lips to mine gently. "Usako, marry me." Gently he kissed my lips again and I grinned widely. "Happy now?"

"Uh huh," I mumbled, nodding my head. Truly I was happy. Happy with who I was and where my destiny had led me. Finally, after traveling the long, hard road of fate - I had what I wanted for over a thousand years. I closed my eyes and fell into the land of dreams.

Only now the demons of my past were gone.

And I was truly home.

-End of "Flee to Destiny".

* - Yamete translates to "Stop"

That's it! I hope everyone enjoyed this story - at least enough to stick around for the next book "No Greater Love". ^_^

disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon.

Thank you all so much for reading my story. I really hope you come back for the next installment. Please leave a quick review with your thoughts, etc.

God Bless,
Beth