The Odango and the Baka
Chapter 23
Disclaimer: I do not own Sailor Moon
AN: I'm impressed with myself for getting this next chapter out so quickly given my track record with these things ;) I hope this one will be longer but we shall see where the muses lead me. If you are only just coming back to reading this story, do know that I posted chapter 22 earlier this week so be sure to read it first.
Last Time:
Kunzite looked at the unfolding scene in front of him and began cursing under his breath. He recognized the light from his past on Earth and knew exactly what he was staring at.
The Millennium Silver Crystal.
"What is that glowing thingy, Mercury?" shouted a very confused and rather frightened Venus.
"I'm working on scanning it. The sensors are way off the charts and can't seem to get a fix on what kind of energy it is!"
By this point, all attention was fixed on the glowing figures of the Prince and Princess, though none but Kunzite yet recognized who was standing before them. Princess Serenity lifted her cupped hands and a shining silver orb rose to float above her palms. The Senshi gasped as they saw the beautiful crystal and instinctively dropped to their knees and bowed as they were bathed in the crystal's light.
"Rise, my guardians." The low, smooth tone of the Princess's voice was a tad unnerving coming from the mouth of their lovable but klutzy leader. The Senshi lifted their heads and simply stared at this mature, graceful woman speaking to them.
Slowly, starting first with Venus, with the other Senshi close behind, they rose to stand before their Princess, the memories of their past lives beginning to trickle into their minds as they finally recognized their monarch.
"Are you freaking kidding me?! Sailor Moon is the damn Princess?" Mars was the first to recover the use of her tongue (though not her tact) and voiced what all the Senshi were thinking.
"Why didn't we recognize her?"
"I wonder if Luna and Artemis knew about this?"
"Oh, isn't is so romantic! Endymion and Serenity have found each other again!"
"VENUS!" Mars turned to glare at the blonde Senshi.
"What? I happen to think it is exceedingly romantic to find your soulmate again after a millennia apart." Venus (very maturely) stuck her tongue out at her compatriot and turned back to face the still glowing royal couple.
Serenity slowly raised her hands, keeping them circled around the hovering gem. The glowing light began to expand, encircling every being in the parking lot. The human victims who had been drained slowly began to stir as their energy was restored by the white light.
The remaining youma screamed when the light touched them – rapidly disintegrating as the power of the crystal destroyed them.
Kunzite, who had seen the white light expanding out, had taken to the sky, and watched in frustration as yet again his plan was foiled by this annoying group of teenage girls. Muttering quietly and maniacally to himself, he vanished, escaping before the princess could turn the power of the crystal on him. Beryl was not going to be a happy camper about this latest development and he dreaded being the messenger.
On the ground, with no youma left to fight and the injured citizens quickly being restored to their full health, the Senshi stood staring at their Princess and her Prince. As the light began to fade, they all jumped toward the pair as their royal garb faded and they returned to being a very unconscious Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen.
"OOF! Who would have thought that someone so tiny could weigh so much?"
"Well she does eat enough."
"True…very true."
The girls were struggling to carry their still transformed leader and her masked consort up the stairs of Mamoru's apartment building. They didn't dare carry them in through the lobby and use the elevator whilst still transformed (the reward for their identities was still fresh in the mind of the populace after all) but they also didn't trust their ability to stick a landing on the tiny balcony of Mamoru's apartment, so…the stairs it was.
"How are you girls doing with Tuxedo boy?" Mars, grunting along under the weight of Sailor Moon looked back at the panting and drooping figures of Mercury and Jupiter as they lugged the dead weight of Tuxedo Kamen up 23 flights of stairs.
"We…puff…will…puff…make…puff…it…puff…Maybe." Jupiter, though the strongest and tallest of them all was just as tired as the rest and looked ready to drop to the floor at any moment.
"It's only…two more…flights…Suck….it…up…ladies." Mercury, panting along with the rest of them was doggedly counting down each stair left until they reached their destination.
They finally made it to Mamoru's apartment and let themselves in with a bang. Carrying their unconscious cargo to the couch, they released them ungracefully and collapsed on the floor around the prone monarchs and detransformed.
"I called Luna and Artemis," panted Minako. "They should be here any moment."
"Hopefully they will have an explanation about what we saw happen today. 'Cause I am still very confused." Rei, lying flat on her back and completely exhausted, still managed to sound irked about not having all the information to understand the situation.
"We do." Luna's smooth British accent washed over the girls as they struggled to sit and face their feline advisors. The stood perched on the back of the couch, looking as regal as ever.
"As you are probably beginning to remember, Usagi and Mamoru are the reincarnations of the Princess of the Moon, Serenity, and her love, Prince Endymion of Earth. The crystal you described to me Minako, could only be the Millenium Silver Crystal, the most powerful force in our solar system." Luna paused in her explanation and looked affectionately down at the couple still lying unconscious on the couch below her. "I knew that I recognized the energy signatures that you were seeing on your scans Ami, but I could not yet remember their significance. I began remembering during the battle, at I suspect the same time you also began to remember your life from the Silver Millennium. The crystal's release from its hiding place must also have triggered the release of our memories."
"So Usagi really is the Moon Princess that we have been searching for all these months? Why didn't we even have a clue?" Makoto sounded frustrated as she processed Luna's information.
"I suspect it is because the Queen used the power of the crystal to block our memories so that, if at all possible we could lead normal lives. If the Negaverse and Queen Beryl had not arrived, we would never have known the difference and would have lived our lives in peace." Luna paused, looking sad at the thought that they would never have met each other. "I think the reason we didn't remember once we were together is because the Queen did not want to allow our past lives too much influence over our current actions and perceptions of the situation we find ourselves in."
Luna paused, looking around at each girl. They had all sat up straighter during her explanation and were pensively considering her words.
On the couch, Usagi began to stir, curling her body around her prince, seeking his warmth even in sleep. Mamoru responded in kind, curling his arm around her and gripping her protectively to his side.
"I think it would be best if you all called home and asked permission to stay at the Rei's tonight. Of course we will actually be staying here but I do not think we should not be separated so soon after such a momentous revelation. I have no idea what the Negaverse will do with the information that Sailor Moon is indeed the Moon Princess and again has control of the Millennium Silver Crystal. But it will not be good.
The girls nodded in agreement and went to call their respective families. Luna and Artemis simply stared at each other, their silent communication showing their fear of what was to come only to each other.
Thank you for continuing to read my story, even after such a long delay. I am back in the rhythm of the story I think but I always appreciate constructive criticism to help improve my writing style.
xoxo