Notes: Episode 111, "The Grail's Divine Power! Moon's Double Transformation". Or, "The one where Usagi gets the Grail".
Episode 111
This was a bad day.
Not the worst. Rei knew way too much about worst days to lump this in there. But pretty damned bad.
Usagi was fine, at least physically. Rei had made Ami check twice (it would've been three times, but Ami had given her THAT LOOK and Rei had backed off). She was still asleep, and that was worrying, until Rei's brain reminded her that this was USAGI and maybe sleep shouldn't be considered a symptom of anything but extreme Usaginess.
But Rei worried all the same.
Mamoru perched on the edge of Rei's bed, not hovering exactly, but near. He'd carried Usagi from the Cathedral himself, despite Jupiter's offers to take over. Tuxedo Kamen had shaken his head, and if he'd found her a burden, he never let it show. They'd stayed transformed all the way back to the Shrine, a mixture of speed and protectiveness making it the only real choice. Sailor Moon, too – regular Sailor Moon, not whatever she'd become for a few minutes there – until Venus had whispered into her ear that they were safe. Sailor Moon hadn't woken up, but some part of her had heard, and with a shimmer she was just Usagi in Mamoru's arms.
Now she was snoring in Rei's bed. Would probably drool on Rei's pillow soon.
SUCH a bad day.
Rei could feel the pull and knew what she needed to do. One look at the others, and she also knew it would be tricky.
Ami and Minako sat at the table, discussing the piles of new information that had dumped all over them. Mamoru listened keenly, having arrived too late for Uranus's dying confessions. Chibi-Usa had been just as interested, reflecting her father's intelligence and curiosity for a moment, until her mother's influence kicked in. Now she was sprawled at the foot of the futon with her head in Mamoru's lap, snoring in perfect unison with Usagi. Rei couldn't entirely hide her smile.
"Haruka and Michiru had talismans." Minako shook her head in disbelief. "Did NOT see that coming."
Makoto snorted as she entered the room. "I want to say it serves them right." She expertly balanced a tray of sandwiches and picked her way through the minefield of pillows and overnight bags. "I can't though. What a mess."
Mamoru leaned forward, careful not to jostle Chibi-Usa too much. "Tell me again what they said about the Messiah."
The Messiah.
The world turning to rubble. People frozen in place, terror chiseled into their features. Everything bathed in blood.
"But they don't think it's Usagi."
"They also didn't think they were carrying Talismans. I'm not sure how far we can trust their interpretation."
Three stars. Three Talismans. It was all coming true and she couldn't stop it.
"But The Grail did SOMETHING."
"I for one think she should share the love. It's been forever since WE got a power-up. Quit hogging everything, Usagi!"
"Please! You're the Messiah! You have to help them!"
That brilliant light of salvation. She asks of it everything. But it is only one light. She is overcome with grief as it fades.
"That initial burst aside though, Usagi didn't seem anywhere near powerful enough to prevent the 'Silence', whatever that is."
"We clearly need more information. What do you think, Rei?"
Minako is always first. She knows it's over in an instant, but her mind seems to delight in slowing it down, in dragging out every second. It begins with her fingers. Absurdly, though this is the hundredth or perhaps thousandth time she's seen it, she always holds out hope.
"Rei?"
This time she'll know what to do. This time she won't just stand there in horror. And every time cracks appear in Minako's fingers and she's already too late.
"Rei!"
Rei jumped, visibly shaking herself free from the vision. "What? I'm fine. What?"
They know she's lying. She knows they know she's lying. They won't let her protect them much longer. They're such good friends, and at the moment she kind of hates them for that.
God, she just needs the fire. Things changed tonight. Maybe this time, finally, the fire will cooperate and give her answers.
She won't stop until it does.
Minako looked like she's going to say one thing, then changed her mind and said something else. "What do you think about Usagi being this Messiah?"
Rei turned to Usagi. As though feeling her scrutiny, Usagi rolled onto her side, facing the wall. Great, pillow-drool was a definite thing now.
The Messiah. Rei still wasn't sure exactly what that was, but The Vision has said enough. The Messiah alone was responsible for the world.
Dammit, hasn't the world already asked enough of this one girl? Couldn't the world find somebody else to save it for a change?
"Usagi, The Messiah?" Rei laughed and pretended she wasn't telling her second lie of the night. "Usagi can't take three steps without falling. What kind of Messiah is that?" Too quickly she was at the door to her room. "Anyway, I have … late night chores and stuff. You guys keep going and fill me in later."
She kept herself from running to the sacred fire, mostly. It was already late and she had school in the morning. If she managed to get one or two hours of sleep, she'd be lucky.
Such a bad day.
... ... ...
Usagi rolled over. A smile broke across her face, but only the wall saw it.
Haruka and Michiru were alive.
They'd found the talismans, so nobody else would have their heart crystal torn out.
Sailor Pluto was here.
Mamo-chan carried her.
She was warm and in a comfortable bed.
Her friends were all okay and nearby.
This was such a great day.