Sometimes You Just Need to Believe Chapter 26
I still don't own Sailor Moon and I bow to the great Naoko-sensei for giving us such a wonderful world. ^_^ I just enjoy borrowing her characters.
(Ok…This is it…I can't believe its coming to an end. I will make a full thank you list for my readers who have all kept me inspired throughout this little adventure in the epilogue. For now I still remain grateful for each and every one of you. I have already begun my work on the epilogue and I hope that it will set the tone for the sequel. As I said the sequel will focus more on love and friendship. I hope you enjoy this chapter. I know I enjoyed writing it.)
"What exactly are we supposed to do," Jaedite asked.
The news was still in an uproar over the storm now ravaging China. Scientists from all over the world were still trying to figure out exactly what caused the storm to pass over Japan with no logical reason.
Seiya heard Usagi stir in their bedroom and rushed to her side. He remembered how awestruck the Shitennu had been at the sight of her power. He knelt beside Usagi on their bed. Her wings remained in place, but a gown of fine white silk with silver threading and trim was draped over her skin.
Without warning, Usagi sat up so quickly Seiya was almost thrown from the bed. "Seiya-chan, Serenity-hime is coming!" Usagi clasped onto Seiya's hand. She knows where we are now. She knows how to break the veil…Rei-chan said if you must kill them to stop her, that would be better than letting the princess complete her goal. I don't want anyone to die! Seiya, please help me stop them without any more death! I saw too much of it with Galaxia. I can't handle any more of it!" Usagi curled into Seiya's arms crying.
Kakyuu heard her cries and knocked on the bedroom door asking if Usagi was alright. When Usagi emerged a blue glittering mist seemed to fall from her with every step. Not a single face was without shock. Scanning the room she had expected Hotaru, Setsuna, and Helios to be gone, but when she did not see Mamoru her feet faltered beneath her and she nearly fell to the floor. She composed herself enough to stand upright for just a moment as she stared at the blood-stained sofa-bed and felt her heart stop for a moment before she fell to her knees.
"We thought it best not to wake you…"
"Kakyuu, its alright…He's not truly gone…Right Starlights?" Usagi gave the Starlights a tear-filled grin. "He'll be back, I just know it. He always comes back." Usagi could hear her voice cracking under her pain.
Seiya put his arm around Usagi. At once Usagi responded by turning to him and grasping his other hand in her own. "Are you sure you're ok, Odango?"
"Even if he is gone, I know he will be returned to us one way or another," Usagi said with an unexpected wisdom and conviction. It was only seen during certain battles.
Even the Shitennu seemed impressed by Usagi's new found enlightenment.
"I need to speak with Hotaru before Serenity comes looking for me," Usagi said. "Setsuna, open up a window for me!"
The one-way window that Setsuna had been watching Usagi from opened up to her. Usagi stepped through and the gate closed behind her before Seiya could follow.
Seeing the look on Seiya's face Luna decided to comfort him. "She has a plan, Seiya-kun. I'm just sure of it."
"The cat's right," Kunzite said. "I have experience fighting against her. Granted I've never known her to be the one making the plans, but she seems to have changed a lot since we last met."
"I think we should all transform while we wait for her to return…Just in case, you know," Yaten said.
"Hotaru-chan, I need you to find a way to seal Serenity in a different way," Usagi said.
"I did find an alternative…" Hotaru began. "But it would be a bit on the risky side.
Usagi leaned in and whispered something into Hotaru's ear. Hotaru's face lit up with both happiness and confusion. "If you think that is best, I trust you, Usagi-san. If I can't for some reason…I'll have to do it the other way."
"Thank you." Usagi turned to see Makoto and Motoki standing between Setsuna and Helios. "Mako-chan, I'm so happy to see you here."
Makoto smiled. "I just couldn't come without him."
"Usagi!" Motoki's eyes grew wide with shock. "Is that really you?"
Usagi smiled and nodded before she left the void once more to join the Starlights once more.
Fighter fell to her knees in happiness when Usagi returned. She took Usagi by the hand and brought her to their room. "Odango, I know this is poor timing. I know this is going to be a hard battle. I just wanted to let you know how much I love you before we fight."
"I know, Seiya. I love you too." Usagi's shine was growing.
"Odango…What I mean is…I…I didn't have a chance to buy you a ring or anything…but…Odango, Usagi, will you marry me?"
Usagi's eyes lit up with joy. She did not expect to survive this battle, but just knowing that Seiya wanted a future with her reminded her of the strength she had felt from Seiya as she fought Galaxia. "Yes, Seiya-chan, Fighter, I will marry you!"
The couple wrapped their arms around each other tightly.
"It is time to go now…She'll be here in minutes," Usagi said leaving the room never allowing her eyes to leave Fighter's.
"Everyone, to the rooftop," Fighter yelled as she ran for the balcony. "This is it!"
Galaxia and her companion had made it to the ruins of the once prosperous Moon Kingdom and were staring down at the blue planet.
"Galaxia, I need you to make a seal around this planet as strong as you made around the Milky Way. Do not allow anyone through unless they are with me, or I have already come through and given you the go ahead. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Great Guardian Cosmos." Galaxia wasted no time in carrying out the order. She used all the power she could muster and created a barrier that was possibly even stronger than the one around the galaxy. 'If Serenity-hime is going to destroy it again it will not reach out beyond here.' Galaxia remained so she could stay focused on maintaining the barrier.
Cosmos descended rapidly to the Earth. The time was close at hand.
The Starlights, the Shitennu, Sailor Kakyuu, and this new angelic Usagi stood together on the rooftop and waited for the inevitable arrival of Serenity-hime and their captive friends. The air was calm and cool. Fighter didn't like it. This was far too calm for her taste. Serenity was staking out the area and Fighter knew it. Its what Maker would suggest so it was a good way to judge what Mercury, Mars, Venus, Uranus, and Neptune had advised Serenity-hime to do.
The Shitennu had their weapons restored to them. All seemed to favor sword and shield except for Zoicite who was fighting tandem with two short swords.
'I hope he's as fast with those as he is with his mouth,' Fighter thought as she continued to survey the area for any sign of their 'enemies.' She hated thinking of her friends that way, but this was serenity-hime's will and not theirs. Suddenly Fighter felt a small change in the air. A breeze blew across her neck. It took a moment to realize the metal chain binding her throat. Venus was trying to choke her.
Kunzite wasted no time slicing his blade through the chain catching Venus off her guard. 'Where are the others?'
In one blow Jaedite and Healer were knocked back as Uranus emerged from the shadows with her space sword in hand. 'No mercy, Koneko,' Uranus' voice rang in Usagi's head. 'Show us no mercy because we can't show any to you.'
"Kinmoku Royal Flush!" The cards went flying and cut through Uranus' flesh as she tumbled back into Neptune before she could get out her Deep Submerge attack.
Serenity-hime floated across one rooftop to stand face-to-face with Usagi. "This is child's play, wouldn't you agree?" She allowed her sword to materialize and with a twist of the blade it flashed and released Serenity-hime's Harlequins. There were at least four for every senshi and Shitennu. Serenity-hime then floated up into the sky.
Usagi watched in horror as senshi stopped fighting senshi and turned their attention to the menacing Harlequins. The Harlequins were strong. Her friends were taking a beating, and a bad one at that. She did not have much time to survey the scene because of a huge blast sent her flying from the rooftop. Still, Usagi felt no need to transform. She recovered quickly and flew up into the air dodging every attack Serenity threw at her with ease.
Down on the rooftop, the scene was looking grim. The senshi were outnumbered, and it seemed out powered as well. Fighter was too distracted seeing Usagi in danger to put all of her energy into fighting the Harlequins. She wanted to protect Usagi from Serenity. She knew it was futile, but she still wanted to. Her beloved Odango was going to have to face Serenity alone.
As things grew worse the senshi of the solar system each felt a universal prayer. Calling to their guardian planets for assistance something amazing happened. Venus now held a great golden spiked chain whip. Mercury had a magnificent sword made of ice. Mars held two flaming swords. Uranus' Space Sword grew to a glorious two-handed claymore. And Neptune now had a grand trident. The fight was now turning to their side.
Up in the sky above the battle between Usagi and Serenity was just beginning.
"This could all have been avoided," Serenity shouted. "All you had to do was stay with Endymion. I would have remained your prisoner then. At least I could have loved him through your body. Now I shall see my kingdom rise up once more with Endymion by my side!"
"You're wrong, Serenity-hime," Usagi said. "The people of Earth are not ready for that yet!"
"Then they will need to learn to adapt, won't they!" Serenity began gathering energy into a circle in front of her. She drew in her five-pointed star and thrust the attack towards Usagi.
'Good, I'm not too late,' thought the Great Guardian cosmos. With a wave of her hand a grand silver shield was resting on Usagi's left arm and a silvery sword, without bladed edges rested in her right hand…It was a purely deflective sword. Blunted edges meant that the most damage Usagi could do would be to bruise or break a bone.
Serenity's attack was deflected when Usagi raised her shield and flew right back at her. "Clever little brat, but not enough to defeat me."
Serenity rushed at Usagi with her sword. Effortlessly Usagi redirected the attack with her own blade knocking Serenity off balance. Usagi's star seed began to glow. The shine was blinding to everyone on the rooftop.
"No, Usagi-chan!" The cry came from all of Serenity's senshi. "If you use all your power you'll die!"
Upon hearing those words Fighter flew into a complete frenzy. Her laser hit Harlequin after Harlequin as she maintained single blasts across the rooftop. "Odango, don't you die on me!"
"Fighter, believe in me again," Usagi said in a calm voice that still managed to reach Fighter's ears as Usagi deflected yet another blow. 'At this rate maybe she'll tire herself out.'
"I demand that you bring me Endymion. You have him hidden away from me I know it! You were never worthy to stand in his presence! I don't care that it is only a prison body! He belongs with me!" Serenity swung again clashing swords with Usagi.
"Usagi, don't," Sailor Kakyuu screamed.
"Couldn't you feel it in your heart," Usagi asked Serenity.
"Feel what?" Serenity's sword clashed with Usagi's again.
"Mamo-chan…Mamo-chan died earlier today."
"NO! You're lying!" Serenity was now swinging her sword as wildly as Fighter was blasting the Harlequins. She was not even looking at where she was swinging.
The Harlequins disappeared as Serenity lost all control of her emotions. Anger, sorrow, love, loss, pain, and hatred filled her. Her crystal now began to glow too.
A window opened up and the senshi jumped through knowing it was time to seal Serenity. Sailor Kakyuu and the Shitennu all had to drag Fighter through with them, which was not an easy thing to do.
"Believe in Koneko-chan, ok," Uranus said as she actually tried to comfort Fighter.
The portal closed behind them except for the tiniest opening where Saturn stood ready with her glaive absorbing the powers of everyone around her.
It was now a battle of the power of each of their Silver Crystals. Below them buildings tumbled to the ground as Serenity's destructive power flowed from her uncontrollably. Panic-stricken people ran about in the streets, though some stopped to watch the floating woman who was battling an angel in the Tokyo sky in awe.
Usagi's white light shown brightly as did Serenity's tainted light with it's pink tones. Usagi knew she could win now. She had seen the change in her own power once her light changed from pink to white.
Serenity put all of her power into the crystal, but she could not push through Usagi's barrier of white light. 'Then I'll continue to break the veil.' "Endymion! This is for you my love! Earth and Elysion will be one again!" It was a loud sorrowful cry from Serenity as the world around them began to tear itself apart.
Usagi's eyes filled with tears. Her family. Her friends. Her classmates. Luna and Artemis. They were all down there. "Please stop it! Please stop, Serenity!"
As Usagi pleaded and begged, the senshi were still preparing the seal. Uranus had tears welled up since she knew what the seal would do to her little girl…But she knew none of them would live if Serenity took control over this world. Saturn smiled over at Setsuna and then to Helios, and at that very moment a great silver light flashed over Usagi.
"The Dream of Dreams is here," Helios called out.
As the light faded from Usagi's form she remained the angel, but her hair had turned a silvery white. "You will not destroy this world! Not ever again!" Usagi began to use her new found strength to manipulate Serenity's destruction. Usagi was freezing the planet into a dormant state. She would not allow anyone to die.
Serenity continued to try and overpower Usagi, but she was having no luck. "Why must you defy me? I am your true ruler!"
"Because you are corrupted by your greed. I know about your pain. Let me help you, please. Please, Serenity-hime!"
"What could you know of pain? You had friends growing up! You had a family that was around for you! You had the freedom to love who you pleased!" Serenity changed tactics and began to focus her crystal's energy and traced out her five-pointed star. 'Maybe while she's distracted I can overpower her.'
Serenity unleashed the attack. Usagi was too quick for her and deflected the attack with her shield. The full blast hit Serenity and caused her to fall to the ground.
"Now," Hotaru yelled out. "Give me everything you can now!"
Everyone complied as Saturn began the ritual to seal Serenity exactly as Usagi had asked her to.
Much to Usagi's horror, Serenity disappeared into a cloud of pink mist that quickly dissipated.
As the mist faded Hotaru collapsed in the void. Uranus rushed over and caught the dying child. Hotaru was too weak to speak, but she leaned her head into Haruka's chest. Neptune came over to clasp hands with Hotaru.
Not one person noticed the tears that escaped the youngest Shitennu's eyes. Jaedite hadn't told her even in this life. How many would he have to live to finally tell her. 'I love you.'
'I never wanted to kill her,' Usagi thought as she began to cry.
"You didn't kill her," a sweet voice called from high above her.
Usagi looked up and saw the most beautiful woman she could have ever imagined. Her bell-shaped gown glittered around her.
"I have been waiting for you since the Universe was born," Guardian Cosmos said smiling at Usagi. "You are the greatest Sailor Senshi ever to be born."
"But I couldn't stop her…The whole Earth…All those people…"
"Everyone is just sleeping thanks to you. You knew it was going to happen one day. If you hadn't frozen it, Serenity-hime would have destroyed it and the future you know would never come to be." Cosmos smiled at Usagi. "You are Sailor Moon no more."
"Then what am I?"
"You are my partner. I am the Guardian Cosmos. You are now Sailor Cosmos."
Usagi felt a new Sailor Fuku hug her body. It was white and gold. A staff with a great white crystal ball atop it appeared in her hand. "I don't understand. Why me?"
Cosmos laughed gently. "What is there to understand? You have been given the Dream of Dreams. Your heart is too pure, too beautiful to be anything less than my angel of healing."
"Will I have to leave my friends?"
"No. Your friends are where you draw your strength from. You will only need to leave them behind to heal people and places that they cannot. You now transcend all space and time. I'm sure you understand the responsibility in that."
Usagi did understand. She couldn't believe it herself, but she did actually understand this. She was able to accept true responsibility. "But what happened to Serenity-hime? She's been such a big part of me all these years. I don't want to lose her."
"You won't lose her," Galaxia said as she descended to their level. Tears were filling her eyes. 'She said those words about me too. She said she didn't want to lose me even after everything I had done.'
"Serenity's soul has been sealed and is waiting for her time to come. With the veil between Earth and Elysion shattered, it will take a lot of work to create Crystal Tokyo," Cosmos said with a wink.
"Who will become Sailor Moon?" Usagi looked sad. 'Did I really need to exist as Sailor Moon at all?'
"Serenity-hime of course, though that will take time. Hotaru sacrificed herself once again to seal Serenity. But this time, Serenity will be reborn as herself. She will know the love and caring that she so desperately needs to become Neo-Queen Serenity. Usagi…You have proven yourself to be every bit the Goddess that Queen Serenity was. I give that name to you now," Cosmos said.
Usagi bowed her head to Cosmos but a hand gently lifted her by the chin. "Serenity, Usagi, you are my partner, not my subordinate. You needn't ever bow before anyone ever again. You are the Goddess of peace, justice, and love. I have been watching you for some time now. Your will and desire to save your enemies and friends alike even at the cost of your own life is what makes you worthy. You will never age, and you will never die," Cosmos said. "You can save people and planets all over the universe. Can't you hear their prayers?"
Usagi could indeed hear prayers like a wave in her mind, yet somehow, Usagi could pick them out one-by-one and answer the requests. "I don't know what to say, Cosmos. I don't understand."
"I trust you to know who and what to say yes or no to. I too will continue to answer the prayers of the ever expanding universe." Cosmos lit up in a brilliant blue light. "I must be going home now. If you ever need or want to see me, your heart will guide you along your way. Someday we will need another partner, but I believe that day will not come for quite a long while." Cosmos turned to leave.
"Wait!" Usagi could not stand her most pressing and agonizing question.
"Yes, your friends and guardians have been granted eternal life as well. You needn't see them age and die while you suffer to outlive them. Know that they are only protected from disease and old age. They can still be wounded or even killed in battle. Sailor Saturn will still die to be reborn when she uses her destruction and death abilities. But you know her. She will always return to you." Cosmos took off into the air leaving a trail of blue stardust in her wake.
Back at the Gates of Time Uranus was not paying attention to anything but the lifeless body of her precious daughter in her arms. "Hotaru! Open your eyes! Please! Open your eyes." She didn't care who saw her tears anymore and allowed them to flow freely from her. "Damn that Serenity-hime!"
Neptune was the only one who dared bring a hand to Uranus' shoulder. At first Uranus shrank back from the contact, but when Neptune allowed herself to flow into the aqua gown with it's gold trimmings of Michiru-hime, Uranus could not deny her embrace. As the two stood over the body of their adopted daughter Hotaru began to dissolve into a purple mist. Everyone watched in awe as the mist swirled it's way to Michiru and was absorbed into her belly. At once everyone knew what had happened. Hotaru not only wanted to return to her friends, but she wanted to be Haruka and Michiru's actual daughter. All the faces that had shown sorrow were now filled with joy.
In the room that had kept the Shitennu occupied the Guardian of Sailor Saturn pulled out a deck of cards and walked over to Serenity-hime. "Are you any good at gin rummy?"
"I guess I could give it a try." Serenity-hime was grateful that she would not be alone in this dark place. Not for long anyway. No, there were better plans for her on the way. Serenity smiled with true happiness for the first time in a great long while. She was making an honest to goodness friend in Hotaru. It felt nice.
Sailor Pluto opened the window to invite Galaxia and Usagi inside to join them.
"You are the most amazing woman I have ever met, Odango," Fighter said as she took Usagi into her arms for a passionate kiss.
"But Earth…Elysion…The veil is gone," Usagi cried into Seiya's chest.
"The Earth was ready for it's sleep," Pluto said. "Do you remember what King Endymion told you when you first met him?"
"The Earth was plagued by ecological disasters," Rei said piecing the puzzle together. "And then it was placed into a state of dormancy until Neo-Queen Serenity restored it to the paradise that is Crystal Tokyo."
"Exactly," Pluto said.
"You knew this all along, didn't you," Jupiter stated more than asked.
Pluto nodded. "I told you there are some things I cannot reveal. If you had known this it might not have turned out the way it should. Some of it took me off guard though. I never expected to lose…HIM."
"He's not gone," Usagi said. "He'll return to us. I believe in him."
Usagi's smile and confidence relieved Pluto enough to make her smile.
"Koneko-chan," Uranus said. "You may not be our princess, but you deserve to be treated as such. I wish to continue serving you."
Uranus' vow was met with a chorus of more pledges to Usagi who was beet red from embarrassment.
Smiling widely with tears of joy in her eyes Haruka embraced Usagi yanking her from Fighter's arms in the process. "Thanks to you Hotaru is really going to be OUR daughter. Had she not found another way as you begged her…"
"I know," Usagi said with a nod. Her new senshi uniform was replaced by the loose silken white gown she had worn before. Her wings remained in place however.
"Usagi-chan," Mercury asked. "Where will we live?"
"Yeah, I thought we'd all be frozen too," Jupiter pointed out.
"With Elysion in it's present state I cannot recommend we stay here," Helios said. "It is frozen as is the Earth and the two are melding into one world making Crystal Tokyo possible."
"You would be more than welcome to stay on Kinmoku," Kakyuu said sweetly. "I was hoping for an alliance after all." She winked at Usagi and Seiya who were now holding hands.
"I sealed off the Earth the same way I sealed off the Milky Way. If anything tries to get through I will know it right away," Galaxia said.
"As will I," Usagi said. "In fact, Cosmos Just left our solar system."
"But there is no barrier for the forgotten kingdoms of this system," Galaxia said in disbelief.
"I know, but that doesn't mean I don't know these things anymore." Usagi smiled at Galaxia. "I think things are going to be ok for a while. Let's put our efforts into that galactic alliance now, shall we?"
"Odango…" Fighter bent Usagi downwards into a kiss of pure love. "With you around…Nothing can stop us."
(So there you have it. Everything up to the freeze. The epilogue is being written now and I don't think I need to say it but the sequel will be about love, friendship and of course, family. Serenity-hime was promised a life filled with everything she had gone without and Endymion has yet to be born as is with Hotaru. This has been an absolute blast to write and I am truly thankful for all of my readers, reviewers, and subscribers. You make my day every time I see my email inbox filled with your words. Again I did say there would be some Christian references in here that I hope are not found to be offensive. I kind of indicated that Cosmos is the creator of everything and then I made the whole immaculate conception of Hotaru. Again, I mean no disrespect by these things. I just felt that the Sailor Moon universe made sense with Cosmos as the supreme deity.)