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Chapter 5 – Memories

It was cold and it was dark. And it was quiet. He couldn't move no matter how much he tried. He willed his eyes to open but they just wouldn't budge. And then, it started. Something was attacking his mind. It was sifting through his memories faster than he could keep track of. Memories from a lifetime ago flashed before his eyes faster than he could make sense of them. Usako looking startled in a long flowing white gown, a white haired man with a soft smile holding a hand out to help him up, a room full of well-dressed people all looking to him, Usako looking up at him with big hopeful eyes, Usako across the room in dancing in the arms of some faceless man, Usako lying in his bed, Usako laughing as he reached for her, Usako hovering above him, her face the most heartbreaking thing he'd ever seen, hundreds of different moments with her flashed rapidly by.

"Serenity," whatever it was in Mamoru's head growled. Serenity? "Endymion, you will defeat Serenity." What? Never. He wanted to scream. He desperately tried to take control of his racing thoughts. He focused on the only thing he could think to, Usako. He brought up his favorite memory. The day they had started their almost relationship. The first time he had dared to reach out and pull her to his side. To move his arm from around her shoulders and down her arm to interlace their fingers. She had looked up to him and graced him with the most amazing smile he'd ever seen, her eyes twinkling with… The memory was violently ripped from him and he found himself on a balcony watching the world burn. Her world, Serenity's.

"Endymion, you will join us." Pain shot through his entire body then. He couldn't shut out that horrible voice. He couldn't regain control of his memories. He couldn't tear his eyes away from the fires. "Find the princess and bring her to me. All the pain will stop once you bring me the princess." Never, he thought. I will never betray her. I'll die first. "Not yet. First you will be mine. Just like the rest of your subjects. So easy to corrupt. You will bend to my will, Endymion. Just like the rest." Mamoru's head filled with horrible grating laughter. He did his best to think of Usako. Whatever happened, he couldn't, he wouldn't forget that he loved her.

Rei couldn't stop biting her lip. She'd never seen Usagi look so…wrong. It was like all the light that normally shone out of her closest friend had been snuffed out. She knew she was hovering, but it looked like Usagi hadn't slept at all and they were currently climbing an awful lot of stairs to get up to the shrine. But Usagi was determined to make it to the top and seemed to be determined not to speak. She hadn't said anything since Rei had picked her up at her house this morning. Luna had bound off ahead of them after giving Rei a concerned look. She hadn't known what to say to Usagi, so she hadn't said anything. They just fell into step side by side. Rei loved Usagi more than she'd ever loved a friend. If she really was honest, Usagi was her first friend. She couldn't really describe it. They were meant to be friends. Like the universe created the perfect person for her to bounce off of. It hurt seeing Usagi this broken. And, if she was honest, it also hurt that she hadn't known about her and Mamoru. She'd had her suspicions. Her instincts told her something was going on with the two of them. But they really kept up the mortal enemies appearance around everyone. Usagi made it seem like she hated Mamoru. Even if it was pretty obvious that she was completely disarmed by him. It hurt that Usagi didn't tell her, but at the same time, she knew that if she had decided to tell someone, it would have been her.

When they got to the top everyone was already there waiting on the deck. Ami and Makoto looked just as lost as Rei felt. Luna and Artemis were sat side by side at Minako's feet. Usagi walked right up to Minako, holding her chin high and said, "I'm ready." Minako offered a small, sad smile and said, "We should go inside."

Rei led everyone into her bedroom where they all sat around her table. All eyes were on Minako.

"Luna," the blonde started, "how much do you remember?"

Luna's tail twitched nervously as she said, "Nothing. All I know is that I had to find Sailor Moon. It was a need. Everything after that, I've just somehow known what to do. I didn't question it."

"Artemis," Minako said. The white feline leapt onto the table to stand in front of Luna. The crescent moon on his forehead began to emit a soft light that shot forward and connected with Luna's crescent moon. Luna's eyes closed and she let out a small whimper that had Usagi reaching across the table, but Rei's arm reached out to stop her.

"Look, Usagi," she said.

Luna was smiling as a lone tear rolled down her face. Suddenly her smile was gone as she let out a strangled gasp and snapped her eyes open to meet Artemis's steady gaze. The two cats kept their eyes locked as the connection faded. Luna slowly turned to look to Usagi. The despair in her eyes made Usagi's blood run cold. She pushed herself away from the table and quickly stood fleeing the room. She ran outside and collapsed against the deck's wood railing. She didn't want to remember. From the flashes of memory she'd received so far, she knew the story didn't end well. She wasn't this "Serenity" anyway. She was Tsukino Usagi, Sailor Moon, someone's daughter, someone's sister, someone's…

"Usagi?"

"I didn't say it back."

"What?" Rei asked, startled.

"He told me he loves me. And I didn't say it back."

Rei came to stand right beside Usagi as she stared unseeingly into the distance.

"Do you love him?"

"…yes."

"Then you'll find him. You'll bring him back. You'll save him, Usagi." Rei took Usagi by the soldiers and turned her to look into her eyes. "Usagi, do you think he doesn't know?"

Usagi's eyes finally found Rei's violet ones.

"W…what?"

"Usagi, he knows. You wear your love right on your face. I'm sure he could see it."

"Rei…"

"Minako thinks that getting our memories back will help us win this fight. The dark kingdom, they were around back then too. We need all the information we can get to help Mamoru now."

"Rei…I…I don't think I can…"

"You are the bravest person I know Usagi. You were Sailor Moon all on your own. You found all of us. You can do this."

But that wasn't true. She'd had Tuxedo Mask, right from the start…

"…I'm not ready."

"It's ok. I'll go first."

When they were all seated once more, Luna moved to sit in front of Rei. Her crescent moon started to glow just as Artemis's had. Usagi watched as a torrent of emotions came across Rei's face. When the connection faded, she took a deep breath and wiped a tear from her eye. Ami-chan went next, followed by Mako-chan. Usagi shuddered as Luna came to sit before her. The soft glow of Luna's crescent beam slowly reached out to her and she began to remember.

"Serenity," it was a crisp command and she hated when Venus used that tone. "Where do you think you are going?"

"Venus," she said, working to keep her voice calm. "I was just-"

"You weren't just anything. Weren't you listening at the senshi meeting? You need to get some sleep tonight. Tomorrow is a big day. Tomorrow is the beginning of the rest of your life."

Serenity didn't need the reminder. Tomorrow she would join her mother in the throne room. Tomorrow she would officially begin her duties as the heir to the Silver Millennium. She would take on new responsibilities and lose the small amount freedom she'd enjoyed up until now.

"Venus, please," Serenity gave her guardian her most desperate look. "I just want to go and watch the Earth for a little while." She could tell that Venus was starting to soften, like always. "Please, afterwards I'll still get some rest. I just want this last night to myself."

Venus's shoulders relaxed as she let out a small sigh. "Alright, I will cover for you. But make it quick!" Serenity beamed and took Venus's hand between her own as she pulsed up and down on the balls of her feet with excitement.

"I will!"

As Venus stood guard outside the Princess's bedroom door, the Princess in question wasn't heading out to one of the balconies to gaze at the stars and the distant Earth like she so often did. She had something else in mind. She didn't know what was going to happen tomorrow. She didn't know how much of herself she'd need to lose to step into her role as heir. She didn't know when she'd be able to visit Earth again. It was her favorite place to be, and she'd been secretly teleporting down there for months now. She was amazed that none of her guardians had caught her. An uncontrollable smile slide across her face as she stepped onto the teleportation pad and felt the familiar embrace of the magic that would take her to Earth.

She landed just outside of the garden and immediately felt the Earth's gravity pulling down on her. She loved the feeling. She always felt so secure and attached to the Earth. She looked up at the full moon in the sky. She could smell the flora on the evening breeze that blew her long pigtails back from her face. She closed her eyes and breathed the glorious scent in deeply. With a satisfied sigh she started walking toward her favorite landmark, the lake. There were no bodies of water on the Moon. The closest she ever came to flowing water was watching Mercury practice her attacks. She asked the water senshi many times if she wished there was water on the Moon. Mercury had always replied, very logically that "there is no water on the Moon, Serenity, what good would wishing for it do?" But Serenity did wish for it. She was full of wishes. One such wish had led her down to Earth for the first time and she had fallen in love with the planet. There was so much life here. The plants, the wildlife, the breeze, even the water had life inside of it! She was so excited to get to her secret oasis that she almost didn't notice that there was someone already there. She stopped abruptly, her blood running cold. An earthling! All the times she'd come here she hadn't come across an earthling. For a moment she was completely mesmerized before she snapped out of it and ran on silent feet to hide behind the nearest tree. She held her breath as she peaked around her cover at the earthling. It was a man. He had short dark hair that looked a little disheveled. He was tall, with long arms and legs and broad shoulders. He had a relaxed posture as he stared across the water. Serenity continued to watch him as he bent down and picked something up off the ground. With a graceful motion he drew his arm back and threw it into the water where it seemed to hop across the surface. Serenity was completely enthralled and longed to know how he'd done that. She found herself leaning further around the tree as the earthling drew her in. He seemed…sad somehow. He ran a hand through his hair and Serenity found herself longing to comfort him. How strange, she thought. Suddenly something shifted in the branches above her and a loud "Hoo, Hoo, Hooooo" cut through the night.

Serenity let out a short shriek and pushed herself away from the tree trying to run away. But her foot caught on her dress and she fell sharply onto the forest floor just barely catching herself with her hands, scraping one of them on the underbrush.

"Ow," she muttered to herself.

"Who's there," the earthlings deep voice called out through the darkness. She could hear his heavy footsteps quickly approaching and she absolutely panicked. She was completely frozen in fear as he came into view above her. "Kunzite, I told you that I wanted to be…"

His face was in darkness, but his body language was shocked as he abruptly came to a stop. He just stood there looking down at her and she could imagine the ghastly sight she must be. Frightened eyes, tousled hair, rumpled dress fanned out around her. She'd never felt so embarrassed in her life! Remembering who she was, she composed her face and drew her shoulders down her back, making herself as dignified as possible while sprawled out on the ground. She did avert her eyes though, and that seemed to bring him out of whatever shock he was feeling at finding her there. She thought he might be about to offer to help her up, but he shocked her by kneeling before her instead.

"What are you doing here?" His face was still in shadow, but his proximity to her was doing strange things to her insides. She could see now that his hair was a deep ebony, and his shoulders were just as broad as they had seemed. He was wearing well fitted black trousers and a lose fitting white tunic that was slightly open and revealing part of his well-muscled chest.

"Taking in the sights," she said while still staring at his chest. It was true, after all.

He let out a small snort. "In the middle of the night?"

"Um… apparently," she retorted, trying to make out his face. He just hovered there, on his knees before her while she sat on the forest floor.

"What's your name?" he quietly asked her.

Should she give this stranger her name? Not many earthlings would know the Moon Princess's name, but she should still be cautious. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, but she wasn't afraid. "Serenity," she whispered. "What's yours?"

"Endymion." He offered her a hand and she tentatively reached out and took it. It felt like a jolt of electricity went from their connected palms straight to her heart beating almost painfully in her chest. He hesitated a moment longer before standing and lifting her with him. She let out a small hiss as his hand slide across the scrap on her palm.

"Are you alright?" he asked her, concerned. She pulled her hand away and cradled it to her chest.

"It's nothing, just a scratch."

"Let me see." He reached out and gently took her wrist in his large hand, moving it into the moonlight to better see the damage. He took his other hand and lightly placed it overtop her injured one. She felt a warmth and a slight tingling that made her palm itch. When he removed his hand, she saw that the scrap was completely healed.

"Wow!" she exclaimed, "Thank you so much." She looked up and met his eyes that were finally revealed by the moonlight and time stopped. His eyes were a deep blue and she felt like she was falling right into them. He had a chiseled face with high cheekbones and full lips and his eyes… his eyes were like nothing she'd ever seen. She had no idea how long they stood there just staring at each other. She swallowed and asked him "How did you do that?"

"It's something I've always been able to do. It's part of my connection to the planet."

"No, not healing my hand. What you did earlier, by the water?"

He looked confused for a moment and then seemed to realize what she meant. "You mean skipping rocks?" he said with a brilliant smile. She decided she loved his smile.

"Skipping rocks? Is that what it's called?" she asked with a smile of her own.

He laughed and took her hand as he started walking back to the water's edge.

"Here, I'll show you." He dropped her hand as he bent down to find the perfect rock. Her hand felt cold suddenly, but soon he was pressing a stone into it. He had a boyish twinkle in his eyes as he explained how she should hold her arm and when to release the stone to get the trick to work. She got frustrated after several useless attempts that had her almost landing in the water herself. He laughed heartily but stayed patient with her. She was becoming more and more frustrated, but she decided his laugh was even better than his smile. When she finally got her stone to do one little skip he was so excited that he grabbed her waist and lifted her off the ground. As he lowered her back down they both froze again, eyes locked his hands on her waist, hers on his shoulders.

"I've never skipped rocks before," she said dumbly. "We don't have water to skip rocks where I'm from."

"Where is that?" he asked.

Uh oh, she thought. "Umm…"

"It's ok," he said, hands still on her waist. "I know you're not from around here. I've never seen anyone like you."

She took a step back out of his reach. "What, do you mean like me? Clumsy? Bad at skipping rocks?"

"I've never seen anyone so intriguing or so beautiful."

She felt herself blink rapidly. "What?"

He took a step closer to her and ran a hand through his thick hair. "Who are you? Please tell me, I have to know."

"I…I…" She had no idea what to do. She couldn't possibly tell him who she really was. But oh, she wanted to.

"You don't know who I am, do you?"

"I… what? Should I?"

He let out a short laugh, "Most people from here do." He looked down and then back into her eyes and her heart stuttered. "Prince Endymion at your service."

"Prince… you're the Earth prince?!"

"Are you disappointed?"

"Just, surprised is all." This was bad! She couldn't possibly tell him who she was. She wasn't allowed to be here! The Earth and the Moon weren't on the best terms at the moment and he would certainly know that better than anyone. She had to get out of here. "I…I have to go!"

She started to run away from him, but he grabbed her arm stopping her.
"No, please don't go. Please tell me who you are. I must know! I've never met anyone like you." His gorgeous eyes were pleading with her, and she knew she'd crack if she stayed here a moment longer. In a move that would have made Jupiter proud she twisted herself out of his grip and started to run back to the garden. Unfortunately, she wasn't very fast, especially under Earth's gravity. He caught up with her all too soon and gently took her arm again. She stopped, turned away from him.

"I have to get home. I wasn't supposed to stay this long. Venus is going to kill me."

"Venus?" he repeated. "Serenity, when can you come back?"

She turned to face him once more. "Tonight was the last time I'll be able to get away."

"No," he said, taking both of her hands in his. "Promise me you'll come again."

"I can't. Everything is changing for me in the morning. I won't be able to come again."

"Then tell me who you are. I'll find you."

Serenity felt her eyes begin to water, though she didn't understand why. "I can't."

"Please," he begged.

Serenity squeezed his hands before stepping away from him once more. She closed her eyes and thought of home. As she felt the magic of teleportation surround her, she opened her eyes for one last look at him. He looked so grief-stricken that it caused a pain in her chest. As she felt herself start to teleport, she said. "I am the Moon Princess. And I will return."

She saw his eyes widen in shock and maybe relief at her statement and then she was back home. She was shocked to feel a hot tear escape her eye. As she reached up to wipe it away, she heard the unmistakable tapping of a high heeled shoe.

"Exactly how close did you get to 'watch the Earth', Princess?" Serenity cringed as she turned to face Venus.

"I…"

"Not. Another. Word. You lied to me! You probably lie to me all the time! Serenity, anything could have happened to you! What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking that I wanted to be free for just a little while."

"Free? Don't be so dramatic, Serenity."

"You don't understand!"

"No, I suppose I don't. But what you will understand is that I don't trust you right now. You're going to have to work hard to regain my trust."

"Venus…" Serenity wanted to tell her what had happened tonight. Who she had met, how she was feeling. But she knew this was something Venus wouldn't be able to protect her from. She had really gone too far this time. And she knew she'd be keeping her promise to him. She would return to him. Some of what she was feeling must have shown on her face because Venus took several steps closer to her, eyebrows coming together.

"Serenity, what have you done?"