Earth...fire...water...air...
Light...
"Here comes the sun, here comes the sun, and I say it's all right." – George Harrison
AVATAR
The Celestial Sailors
BOOK THREE: DEATH
24: The Last Night of the World
Tensions were understandably high as everyone beheld the Death-Bender. Most of the girls recognized her from when they had defended Mishkin, and were on high alert for anything suspicious. Haruka and Michiru were like cornered cats, muscles tense and eyes sharp, as they, too, braced themselves for the worst. Mamoru remembered this creature as well, from the stormy day she had assassinated General Orrumus, and regarded her with a cold politeness. Only Setsuna and Usagi smiled, the latter even going so far as to hug their visitor. Hotaru stiffened and withdrew bashfully.
"Oh, I'd better make introductions first," Usagi said, arbitrating between the two parties as only an Avatar could. "Hotaru, these are my friends: Rei, Mina, Mako, Ami, and Setsuna. Haruka and Michiru are sort of newcomers to the team, so don't judge them too harshly. And this," she exclaimed, forcefully grabbing Mamoru, "is my dear sweet Mamoru. Oh, uh, Mamoru's a king, but I don't think he'll mind if you don't bow or anything. Everyone, this is Hotaru Tomoe!" Usagi smiled cheerfully, but nobody was eager to make friends with her. It was difficult to tell whether they should trust Hotaru or not, even with Usagi's support and approval. Mamoru decided that someone must break the ice, so he cleared his throat and bowed.
"You are welcome, lady Hotaru. Due to the rather unusual circumstances we find ourselves in, I am willing to overlook our...last encounter, and focus on what we may do for each other in the future. If you can help us sort our problems out, then we would be grateful to you." Hotaru simply nodded. Rei took a deep breath and approached next, bowing with her hands clasped.
"The Avatar trusts you, Miss Tomoe, so I will, too. May the flames keep you and light your way." She flinched and remarked, "Uh, sorry, poor choice of words. It's a common blessing in the Fire Nation."
"No offense taken," Hotaru assured her. One by one the other members of Usagi's group welcomed their guest—stiffly, perhaps, but cordially—leaving only the elder ladies. Setsuna simply nodded, and a shared understanding was exchanged between the two. Haruka and Michiru both crossed their arms and kept their distance.
"Desperate times indeed," Michiru muttered. Louder she said, "We were told you have knowledge of our enemy's whereabouts."
"Yes," Hotaru said. "Is there a place nearby where we may examine a map? It would be difficult to find if I simply told you."
"Well, we're on Air Temple Island," Minako explained, "and if I know my air temples, there should be a few atlases in the temple library. There's one pretty close by; I spotted it as Artemis and I first came in. Oh! This is Artemis!" She showed Hotaru the shaggy bison, who grumbled a little as he was wont to do around strangers. Hotaru extended her hand, which he sniffed at, before slowly lumbering off. Luna fared better, giving Hotaru an appreciative purr as she scratched behind the cat's ears.
Minako was able to smooth things over with the resident sifus and librarians, and was given the largest and most detailed map the temple had to offer. Hotaru traced her finger over the paper for a moment, snaking her way southwest of Omashu, southeast of Fire Fountain City, and northwest of Whaletail Island. Her finger rested on a wide-open portion of the ocean, where there was no land or even any marking.
"Here. This exact spot."
"But there's nothing there," Rei said. Hotaru's eyes shimmered.
"Did the Avatar not explain it to you?" All eyes turned to Usagi, who blushed and tried hiding behind a table.
"Aheheheh, heheh, heh...I, uh, guess I forgot to mention that part, heh..."
Eight palms made their way to eight faces. Hotaru just frowned.
"Iblis can be found on Mount Sumeru. There are no maps or guides to it, and no other soul I'm aware of that knows about it. Even Wan Shi Tong does not know of its whereabouts, though I suspect he's heard of it."
"I've heard of Sumeru, too," Rei said, a little startled. "Isn't it supposed to be the legendary mountain of the gods?"
"In a sense," Hotaru said. Everyone else looked impressed.
"You've heard of this place?" Haruka said. Rei shook her head.
"Only in myths and poems. I always assumed it referenced some other mountain that the ancients associated with godly traits. I never thought that it would be real."
"That's how Iblis prefers it," Hotaru said. Michiru frowned sternly.
"Al right, but if nobody else knows about this place, then how do you?"
"'That which is hidden from the light may be found lurking in the darkness,'" she quoted ominously. That didn't settle well with anybody, so Hotaru smirked and added, "The Primordial Yanluo told me, although I doubt that name will mean anything."
"No, which is why I don't like it," Haruka spat. She looked over at Usagi and grumbled, "Are you sure we can trust her? My skin's been crawling ever since she dropped in." Usagi tittered nervously, planting herself between the two and waving her hands dismissively.
"Wha?! Of course you can trust her! We're all after the same thing here! Hotaru said that she wanted me to help her, so why would she lie? You trust me, right?" Haruka didn't feel satisfied with that answer, but she did relent a little, and closed her eyes in resignation.
"All right, bun-head. I said I'd put my life on the line for you, so that's what I'm going to do. Mount Sumeru it is. I'm guessing we'll need a ship to get there."
"Supplies, as well," Michiru added. She looked at Minako and Haruka pensively. "If we ask the monks here for help, do you think they'd cooperate, no questions asked?"
"Cooperate, yes," Minako pointed. "But no questions asked? Probably not." Miciru glanced at Haruka, who could only shrug. She let out a frustrated sigh.
"Well, we can't exactly explain what we need them for, now can we?"
"Why not?" Makoto said. "We'll need all the help we can get!"
"But we'll be asking air-benders to help us fight a Lion-Turtle," Michiri reasoned. "Not only that, but the eldest and most powerful of them all—the very scion of Light. If the Avatar herself hesitated to do it, how much help do you expect we'll get from monks? Or anyone else, for that matter?"
The group fell grimly silent. The full scope of what they were about to do had only just hit them. It was one thing to commit themselves to whatever the Avatar was doing, but to ask other people to help them? This wasn't like overthrowing an evil monarchy, or defending from an army of inhuman creatures. Usagi and her companions were now contesting the very light itself, and allying with a Death-Bender as well. Not many would take up arms with them.
"Motoki would help us," Makoto muttered. Minako balled up her fist.
"Of course he would! And so would my dad, and Ami's mother, and Rei's grandfather! And correct me if I'm wrong, but don't we have the King of Ba Sing Se with us?" All eyes turned to Mamoru, whose expression was still grave. He was, as kings will, deliberating the matter carefully.
"You do," he answered slowly. "In theory, I could gather supplies and assistance for this endeavor, even raise an army if need be. But I would either have to lie to my people about its purpose, which would ruin me forever, or tell them the truth and have my sanity questioned. Motoki would almost certainly feel the same...and I fear our other allies would, as well. Oh, we could gather a few people to our side, but if Iblis can summon Lightbringers at will, and if we're to confront him directly..." He trailed off despondently, begging for understanding and forgiveness from his companions. "Could you live with yourself if you asked your loved ones to join you in this fight?"
Everyone was silent once more. Mamoru took a deep breath and sighed.
"That doesn't mean I won't try. I can at the very least secure a good ship for us. After that, I'll do my best to convince my Generals and advisors for assistance. If they refuse, then I'll abdicate and join you by myself. I don't suppose it would really matter all that much by then. If I'm going to fight...and die...then I'd rather do it with you all." He smiled sadly at Usagi, taking her hand. She clutched tight, weeping gently.
Once again the weight of their endeavor pressed upon them. Eventually Ami looked over at Setsuna.
"You haven't said much. How do you feel about all this?" Setsuna was slow to react, as if she were waking from a deep sleep. A smile gradually stretched across her face, though her eyes glowed melancholic.
"I'm merely thinking, and listening."
"Can you...could you...I mean, do you know anything about...our futures? I know you said you can't tell us—"
"You are wondering if we emerge victorious?" The group was silent, fully attentive. Setsuna's smile faded. "I have seen futures where we are, and futures where we are not. I have seen futures where many people are killed, myself included, and futures where the Primordials themselves intervene, and break the world apart. I have even seen futures where we do nothing at all."
"And you can't help us? Not even a little? Just this once..." Setsuna's eyes closed again.
"I've already helped far more than I should have. The rest, I'm afraid, will be up to you. I will fight by your side, naturally, but..." She shrugged, and chuckled sadly. "Very well. If you want my advice, accompany Mamoru to his kingdom, at least as far as the port. That's all I'll say." Everyone looked confused; weren't they going to do that anyway? In any case, Setsuna resumed her vigil. The future was never completely certain...but there were things she could do to nudge it in a desirable direction. A few bells rang outside, sounding out the hour. It was getting late, in spite of the light outside, and everyone was getting hungry. Makoto volunteered to cook for everyone, but Usagi stopped her.
"Wait, Mako. This time...let me cook for everyone. Just this once, okay?" The taller girl's face blanched. The last time she had tried Usagi's cooking, she had only managed to swallow one bite, and had regretted it for the next several hours. She offered to help, but even then, Usagi refused.
"Better do it anyway, Mako," Rei insisted. "We don't want to come down with food poisoning before the big fight."
"Rei." She felt Usagi touch her hand, a look of respectful determination on her friend's face. She was neither angry nor upset, only driven. "Trust me, okay? I can do this."
Rei hesitated. Of course she trusted Usagi, implicitly and completely. Just not her cooking. Against her better judgment, however, she assented. Usagi smiled and marched off, leaving the others to anxiously watch. Haruka leaned back and crossed her arms.
"Is she really that bad at cooking?"
"She...could definitely use some help," Ami offered. Makoto sighed and stood up.
"I'll see what I can do. No promises, though. Haruka, Michiru, I hope you've got a cast-iron stomach!"
…...
Usagi came into the dining room wearing two oven mitts, carrying a huge iron pot and smiling proudly. She set it down in the center of the table with a grunt and opened the lid with a flourish, encouraging everyone to dig in. Makoto intervened before anyone could risk their digestion and ladled out a sample for herself.
"Let me try. If I can keep down Mina's seaweed stew, then I think I can handle whatever you've cooked up."
"I take some offense to that, you know," snorted the air-bender in question. Usagi waited patiently as Makoto slurped the concoction, swishing it around in her mouth as her face scrunched up. She winced in confusion, tapping the ladle on her shoulder as she tried evaluating what she had eaten.
"How is it?" Rei said. Makoto shook her head.
"I'm not sure. It's watery and grainy; it almost has a sludgy consistency. It's nice and hot, and it goes down easy, but I'm not sure what to make of it."
"Let me try," said Ami. Usagi's attempt at cooking resembled grits or gruel or oatmeal, both in appearance and flavor. Ami attempted to smile and murmured, "Aah, is it supposed to taste like that?"
"It should," Usagi replied. "I made it the same way I always do."
"What is it?" said Rei as she cautiously sniffed it.
"Firefly gruel. I thought it was appropriate."
"Oh, really?" Minako said. She poured herself a bowl, sipped it carefully, and lit up. "Oh, wow, this is amazing! Usagi, where'd you learn to make this?"
She shrugged. "I just picked it up on my travels. It's the only dish I'm really good at."
"That's an understatement!" Minako exclaimed as she slurped it down. "I've never had firefly gruel like this before! It's perfect!" Makoto stared at her incredulously.
"Wait, you actually like this?"
"I love it!" she grunted, consuming the rest like a bear-pig at trough. "Firefly gruel is an air-bender staple. Even my father can't make it this good, and he's one of the best!" Rei smiled serenely and poured herself a bowl. She pressed her hands together in thanks before daintily sipping. As she swallowed, her face glowed; she looked Usagi in the eye and smiled warmly.
"It's good. I've had firefly gruel before, but I was never a fan of it. I apologize for my earlier remark. The next time I want some, I'll be sure to ask you." Usagi grinned and nearly squealed for joy.
"Really? You think it's that good?" Rei nodded and took another mouthful.
"They say that rice prepares the body," Setsuna said, "but firefly gruel prepares the soul. I approve." She raised her bowl and sipped; Ami took some more.
"Hmm...it's not what I'd call good, but it's not bad, either. It's just...hot and nourishing." The others eventually followed suit, Makoto shrugging as she poured herself another serving.
"Okay... I guess if you all enjoy it, then my palate needs some work." She swallowed a few spoonfuls, nodding in approval as the full texture of the food was brought out. "Now that I think about it, it's sort of...airy, but earthy as well. It's also hot and watery."
"Hey," Mamoru grinned, "the four elements. A true meal of an Avatar." He upended his bowl, sopping up the rest with some bread. His eyes met Usagi's; she was nearly overcome with happiness. Even Haruka seem impressed.
"Wow, Sunshine, you weren't kidding. This is divine. I've eaten a lot of excellent firefly gruel in my time, but this tops it all."
"I respectfully disagree," Michiru muttered. She cringed and forced herself to swallow a spoonful. "It's so bland! You should probably add some butter next time, and maybe a few herbs."
"You savage," Haruka grinned, nudging her gently. "It's perfect just the way it is." She winked at Usagi, who could only blush.
"Yeah, don't blaspheme, newcomer!" Minako called, waving her wooden spoon at Michiru. The older woman seemed taken aback. She looked around and noticed that even the Death-Bender was enjoying it.
"They're right," Hotaru said with a meek smile: "It's perfect."
"Thanks, guys," Usagi gushed. She sat down and ate with them, and in this fashion, the group dined in comfortable reverence. Then it came time for dessert. Usagi unveiled a tray of cookies which she had also made, but these raised a much higher bar of doubt. Everyone was encouraged to take one—there was just enough for that many—though they stared at their treats warily. Finally Rei bravely took the plunge, announcing "they couldn't be that bad" as she bit in. She immediately regretted it, and had to call upon all her years of Fire Priestess training not to immediately spit it out. She chewed, wincing in pain, and only swallowed after emptying half a glass of milk. Even then, she coughed.
"Is it that terrible?" Usagi murmured, fearing the worst. Rei made a face, ignoring the rest of her cookie.
"Yeah," she choked. "It's all dry and burnt! It's like eating sand."
"I can't believe you actually bit through it," Minako said as she examined her treat. "You could probably cut through glass with these."
"They are a bit coarse," Ami remarked, cringing through her smile. Makoto had bravely eaten half her cookie, but only after a considerable amount of effort.
"I think you confused baking soda and baking powder. Also, did you use table salt?"
"Yeah, the recipe called for salt." Makoto cringed.
"That explains it. There's different kinds of salt you use for cooking, Usagi. You also left it in the oven too long at a low temperature. Oh, and you're supposed to use cocoa, not milk chocolate."
"Wait, there's a difference?"
Everyone else stared at each other in horror. Haruka shoved her plate away, her cookie untouched.
"Sorry, that's gonna be a hard pass for me." Michiru nodded.
"I don't mean to be rude, Usagi, but this really is the worst thing I've ever eaten."
"I don't think it's that bad," said Hotaru. She nibbled hers daintily, washing it down with milk every so often. Setsuna, ever gracious, smiled through her gastronomic pain.
"It's a fine first effort, Avatar. Next time, perhaps her majesty may assist you." Usagi grumbled in defeat, accepting her loss with heavy resignation. She brightened considerably as Mamoru dauntlessly choked down his cookie.
"My lady...nnnh, kff-kff, put a lot of work into...into...ugh, excuse me, into this. It would...be a shame to...oof, not eat it all. I-I-I'm looking forward...nnngh...to your next batch, Usakkkt!" He finished an entire glass of milk and dug deep into a second before he could speak properly. Usagi was genuinely touched by his efforts, and vowed to do better next time. Makoto decided that now was a good time to save everyone, so she pulled out a batch of cookies she had made. The difference was incredible; everyone consumed Makoto's offering zealously, until there wasn't even a crumb left. Makoto gave Usagi a cheerful grin as consolation, and admitted that at least with one dish, she was the better chef. Usagi hugged her and stole the cookie she had been keeping for herself.
…...
It was nightfall, or whatever passed for night now, when they boarded the ship for Ba Sing Se. It would only take a day and a half to reach land; Mamoru would proceed to the palace and attempt to rally reinforcements while the rest of the group went straight for Iblis. Hotaru announced, regretfully, that she wouldn't be able to join them just yet, as she had other tasks to do. When pressed for an explanation, she stared back with frosty intensity.
"I simply have a few last-minute tasks to complete. Fear not, Avatar: I will keep to my vow."
"I know you will," Usagi replied. "Oh, and don't forget to say hello to Shingo! He really misses you." Hotaru flinched, unable to keep herself from smiling.
"I...may do that. Look for me soon, Avatar. The time when we must fulfill our destinies draws close."
"Right," she nodded somberly. "But call me Usagi from now on, okay? You're a member of Team Avatar now." Hotaru's face brightened considerably, then she left as abruptly as she had appeared. Still unable to trust the girl, Michiru approached Ami, arms crossed.
"Where do you think she's really going?"
"I couldn't say." She gave a shrug of resignation. "Off to fight stray Lightbringers, I suppose." Michiru nodded; it was a sound hypothesis. Makoto paced around, stretching.
"One thing's for certain: that girl can take care of herself. Well, it looks like we've got some time to kill. What do you all want to do?"
"Sleep," Haruka stated. "I've been on my feet for over two days now. I'll see you girls in the morning. Your highness." She bowed to Mamoru and entered the crew's quarters, Michiru following. Usagi blinked, wondering why Michiru would accompany Haruka to her bedroom, especially since there were plenty of rooms for everyone. She expressed as much, and some of the others just blushed in response.
"Well, umm...I mean...they might be, um...you know... Isn't it obvious?"
"Not really," Usagi grumbled. Mamoru coughed loudly.
"I think we should all follow their example and get some sleep. We'll need to be rested for what's to come. My friends, my ladies, a pleasant night to you all." He bowed and made his way below deck, everyone else filing suit. Usagi grumbled and scratched her head, then looked out at the stars. The moon was full, although it shouldn't have been, and that was enough to get her in bed as well.
A few hours passed. Usagi found herself unable to sleep. Her thoughts were disorganized and chaotic, her body restless and anxious. She contemplated going out and sitting in the breeze, but remembered how unnatural the moon seemed, and decided against it. Something caused her feet to shuffle over to Mamoru's room, and this same force caused her knuckles to gently tap against the door. She whispered his name. She told him she couldn't sleep. She asked if she could talk, just talk; he didn't have to do or say anything. The last thing she wanted was to be by herself. She was afraid.
He let her in. He wore a robe. Their eyes met.
"Can I stay with you tonight?" she whispered. He provided a chair. She sat next to him on the bed. The King and the Avatar looked at each other, forgetting and forsaking everything else. "Can I stay here...all night?"
"My lady," he called to her, enveloping her face with his hands. "Usagi," he whispered, barely able to hold himself back. He kissed her eyes. She unraveled her hair. He had never seen her like this before. Mature. Womanly. Wanting. She opened up and revealed herself fully. He swallowed.
"Mamoru," she said, her words barely more than a breeze, "I want to give myself to you."
"Are you sure?" he asked. Last chance. She smiled, nodding. They kissed. The robe came off. No turning back now.
They joined, loving, absorbed in one another, two worlds uniting, united, the only true beginning possible, everything else ended. They became one, indistinct. They loved. I'm in love with you, Usagi. Hopelessly in love. And I'm in love with you, Mamoru. I feel like I'm only half a person when I'm not...when we're not...
But not anymore. Their hands clasped. Kissing, kissing. Joining, joined. Two became one.
Crescendo. Crescendo. Crescendo. Apex.
Deep breaths. Heartbeats. Deep breaths. Shared heat. Smiles. Kisses. Calm.
She could sleep now. He had no idea she snored so loudly. But right now, it was better than music itself. So he slept, too.
It was still dark when their repose was lifted. Their eyes mirrored each other. They kissed again.
"So when did you realize you were in love with me?" she asked. He laughed.
"When you called me a lemur-faced snotrag." She chortled, almost choking from her laughter.
"Seriously? That's what did it for you?!" He grinned at her, cocky and boyish and beautiful.
"What can I say, nobody's ever called me that before." She was warm, and he drew her in, possessive, not caring if he burned. "For most of my life, women only seemed to care about me because I was a Tellurian. 'Oh, Mamoru, you're so handsome! Oh, Mamoru, I just love a man in uniform! Mamoru, I'd do anything for you!' Stuff like that. It felt like they were nothing but caricatures, just...one-dimensional vapid shrieking ninnies. And to be honest, that was my first impression of you. But then you let me have it. Lemur-faced snotrag. Nobody had ever talked to me like that before. It was so startling and refreshing that I had to laugh. I thought to myself, 'This girl definitely isn't like anyone else I've known! She's special. She could stand up to a Thunderhorn and come out unscathed.' After that, I was ruined for other women. The happiest moment of my life was when I found out you felt the same."
He kissed her nose, her eye, her cheek, her lips, and asked when she had fallen in love with him.
"Well," Usagi drawled hesitantly, "it wasn't anything instant like with you. I fell for you in stages. Remember when you saved my life by protecting me from that arrow?"
"I still have the scar." He held up his bare arm, and although Usagi couldn't see it well in the dark, she knew exactly where it was. She kissed it reverently.
"And then when you squeezed my hand so tight I thought my bones would break?"
"My greatest regret," he sighed, cradling her hand.
"Don't worry about," she smiled, "I'm tougher than I look. And it's the least I could've done. Then there was...our conversation in the yurt, and...when I fought Beryl."
"But I wasn't involved in that."
"I know, but I thought about you: what you were doing for everyone, what you gave up, how precious to me you had become... And then, when I reunited with you and my family... Oh, Mamoru, I should have kissed you right then and there! I wish I could go back and—"
He cut her off sweetly, winking as he withdrew. "Like that?"
"Yeah," she laughed. "And then, when you agreed to go on a date with me, even after I failed to knock that stone off... When you were first training me..."
"I remember. So it wasn't just one moment for you."
"No," she grinned, weeping from happiness. "Just a lot of little ones." He brushed the hair out of her face, staring intensely at the woman he loved, the woman he wished to spend the rest of his life with, to raise his children with... Usagi Tsukino, the Pronged Hare.
The Avatar. He squeezed her close.
"I wish you could be my wife," he murmured softly. Usagi twitched.
"What?" Before another word could be spoken, before another breath could be drawn, a loud shout startled them.
…...
In spite of the warmth of the summer night, Rei shivered a little as she wandered out on deck. A strange dream, or perhaps a nightmare, had stirred her, and now she found herself unable to rest. She thought a brisk walk in the night air would do her some good, so she headed out, putting a robe over her nightclothes. She noticed she wasn't alone, as Setsuna was standing on the deck, head craned skyward to bathe in the glow of stars. Rei was glad to have a bit of company and approached her.
"You can't sleep, either?"
"Oh, good evening, Priestess Hino. I thought I'd relax with a little astronomy. Would you care to join me? It's a fine night for it." Rei smiled and stood next to the taller woman. For a very long time they shared in the comfortable quiet of lapping waves, a gentle breeze, and the vastness of the universe. Rei knew a little astronomy but couldn't see her birth sign, the Inflamed Stallion, anywhere.
"Look," Setsuna pointed, indicating several rows of perpendicular stars and a circular cluster of stars below it. "The Pronged Hare is out tonight, in all his glory. Legends say that he helped a young prince hide from his murderous brothers, in exchange for patching his fur up."
"I know that story," Rei smiled. "Grandpa told it to me a few times. Have you heard the one about the Inflamed Stallion? Once upon a time, a giant was trying to build a wall around the world, but he couldn't finish because his horse was lured away by a trickster. Later, that same horse gave birth to the Inflamed Stallion, who bears the songs of war and poetry on his back across the sky." Setsuna's eyes twinkled.
"It sounds like you're familiar with lots of old stories." Rei humbly shrugged.
"The benefits of being a Fire Priestess. I learned to read and write at a very early age. I also learned to sing, but...that's private."
"Oh? Would you care to give me a sample?" Rei blushed and shook her head, and even though Setsuna didn't say a word, her presence encouraged Rei to break away from bashfulness. Rei cleared her throat, looked into the night sky, and took a breath:
I run in the wind of the desolate land and in this instant I feel something
Reaching the horizon that appeared vaguely at the boundary.
Homesickness disappears slowly from my heart,
Somewhere there will be someone who waits for me,
And now I will speak till the dawn of my dream of fire burns with my life.
Setsuna bowed her head in thankful reverence. Rei blushed; she wasn't used to having an audience.
"That was the song of Yue He, the Iron Whistle, wasn't it? He sang it to Avatar Sung Jiang on the eve of battles."
"Sounds like you know a lot of stories, too." The two ladies smiled at each other, and were silent for a time.
"Usagi and Mamoru are in love," Rei stated suddenly. "So are Motoki and Makoto. Even Ami and Mina hooked up, and they seem happy with each other. I overheard Usagi mentioning her brother liking Hotaru a lot. Do Haruka and Michiru..." She looked up at Setsuna, who nodded her head.
"They wouldn't classify it as such, but yes. They are trothed to one another."
Rei looked out at the sea. She remembered her mother, and how she had loved her husband, Rei's father Takashi, but...had he ever loved her back? Rei was happy being single, but was being in love, or rather a loving partnership, so undesirable? A part of her wished for and even envied that life.
"I've never been in love before. I don't even know if I'd be able to understand it, or parse it from my other feelings. What about you, Setsuna? Have you ever been in love?" The older woman closed her eyes and smiled wistfully.
"Yes, I have: in another time, and another place, farther back and further away than you could imagine." She could sense Rei's curiosity piquing, and opened her eyes, expressing sorrows and joys that plumbed the depths of time itself. "It was as wonderful and as painful as people say. Love was life for me, but it was death also; I could not have one without the other."
"Do you think you could ever love again?" Setsuna shook her head somberly, and returned to staring at the sky.
"No. One cannot climb the same mountain twice..." She trailed off, suddenly squinting, her posture going from relaxed to tense as her fists clenched. Rei peered out to see what the trouble was, and felt her stomach turn to liquid as she beheld the impossible:
In the dead of night, at the latest hour, the sun rose out of the west, banishing the last of the world's darkness. Rei stared gawking in disbelief for a long time before yelling:
"EVERYONE COME OUT HERE QUICK! GET OUT HERE RIGHT NOW!"
Makoto came bounding out first, ready for battle, but froze as she saw the sun defiantly brightening the midnight sky. Haruka and Michiru were next; they ambled next to Setsuna and stood staring in disbelief. Mamoru burst out, tightening the sash on his robe, and Usagi followed, her long golden hair billowing loose. Ami and Minako came out last, their own tryst interrupted; they were so shocked by what they saw that they let go of each other's hands, and stood there numbly. For a long time, nobody could say or do anything, except stare at the midnight sun, wondering what it portended.
Later that day, the real sun rose out of the horizon, and for a moment, there were two flaming orbs in the sky. The imitation set soon but the real one lingered; then, when it set later still, the imitation rose. Iblis had done it: he had banished the darkness. There would never be another night again.
The End of "The Last Night of the World"
Next time: "Girls' Day Out"