After Prince Endymion had flickered, the rest of the Sailor Guardians and Shitennou Knights are worried their may be an unexpected consequence. After realizing everything is alright, there get even more unexpected consequences than they bargained for.
(Monday Evening)
Inside of the force field, Zoisite materialized and was coughing uncontrollably. The items were returned to the proper owner. All of a sudden, the force field disappeared.
Prince Endymion collapsed holding his head as if he were in pain. As their men felt the pain of the ritual, Princess Serenity ran to Prince Endymion while Sailor Mercury ran over to Zoisite.
Sailor Mercury kneeled down and laid her hand on Zoisite's shoulder as he was having his coughing fit. "Zoisite?" she said slowly, afraid of what she was going to find, afraid of what she was going to see.
Zoisite looked up at her. He felt everything shift and fall into place, like how it should have been all along. He couldn't help it, he brushed his fingers along Sailor Mercury's face before he said her name. "Mercury," he said and grabbed her to hug her. "Mercury." He kept saying her name as if it were his lifeline. "I remember you. I remember us. I remember…" He looked over at the group that was surrounded by Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion. His eyes widened before he looked over at Sailor Mercury. "I did that!"
"Zoisite, it's not your fault," Sailor Mercury told him in a stern voice. She knew which memories Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion used for their parts. Knowing what memories were used, it was as if it were part of her. "And Zoisite, I love you." When she said those words, she realized it felt right and true. They were always meant to be said to him.
Zoisite looked from the group up to Sailor Mercury. "I don't deserve it," he said, looking back at the group. "I've done such an unspeakable act against my prince and his true love, your princess." He just stared over at them as they huddled around Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion. "How could you, any of them, forgive me?"
"Zoisite," Sailor Mercury said. "Look at me." When he did so, she continued. "You remember our princess, right? Princess Serenity?"
Zoisite nodded.
"Because of her, because of who she is, I can forgive you," Sailor Mercury said, "and tell you that I love you."
Zoisite closed his eyes and felt his heart understand the meaning of her words, and they enveloped him. "But Mercury…"
"I love you, Zoisite," she said again. Sailor Mercury would continue to say until he realized he was worthy of her love.
"Mercury, I hurt them," Zoisite said with such regret in his voice. "I can't, shouldn't be forgiven for that."
"Zoisite, I don't believe that," Sailor Mercury said with a no nonsense tone. "And neither do they." She glanced over at their friends. "Nobody believes that, including Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion. Everyone was in my corner the whole time knowing and believing I could figure out what I wanted. They knew what I needed, but they knew I needed to figure out what that was on my own." She took his hands then. "And Zoisite, because I love you, I can forgive you."
Zoisite knew Sailor Mercury was actually telling him the truth, and he couldn't shut that down anymore. He needed to tell her what was in his heart. Something he should've said so long ago. "Mercury, I love you too," he said. He gave in and wrapped his arms around her. "I've missed you. I've missed you so much." He breathed in her scent for another moment. "What's going on with Prince Endymion?"
"I don't know," Sailor Mercury said. "You were having a coughing fit while he collapsed. I couldn't help, but run to you. The same way…"
"Princess Serenity would've run to him," Zoisite concluded, remembering how much he loved his prince in the Silver Millenium. "One other thing, Mercury."
"Yes?" she asked.
"The Yellow Rainbow Crystal?" Zoisite asked.
Sailor Mercury tilted her head at him. "Ryo?" she asked. "He's the one who put this together. He's the one who helped us figure out that you were Shitennou Knights."
"Mercury, he was my little brother in our past life," Zoisite said.
Sailor Mercury stared at him as the memory of meeting him in the Silver Millenium hit her. "Wait. What?" she said. "How?"
"Apparently, Queen Serenity has a sense of humor," Zoisite said. He started to stand and realized his feet and legs weren't working.
"Here," Sailor Mercury said. "I'll help you." She took on some of his weight, knowing she would always gladly take on some of his weight.
xXx
"My love?" Princess Serenity said, laying the Moon Stick next to them without thinking, more concerned over the love of her life. She crouched down to look over Prince Endymion, taking his face in her hands. "What happened?"
"I'm alright, Serenity," Prince Endymion said, waving her and her concern away.
"No, you're not," Princess Serenity said, disagreeing with him. She looked around to look for Kunzite, and when she saw him, Kunzite was already walking over to them. "Kunzite!"
"My prince," Kunzite said, also crouching down and using Sailor Mercury's mini computer to analyze and monitor his vitals.
"I'm alright, Kunzite," Prince Endymion said. He hated having all of this attention and worry centered on him, especially when they needed to check on Zoisite.
"Sire," Kunzite said, addressing him. "Something happened while you were doing your part of the ritual."
"What do you mean?" Princess Serenity asked when she looked up at the Shitennou Knight of Purity and Affection.
"He flickered before he flashed gold," Sailor Jupiter answered, speaking up. "I know he didn't do that with Kunzite or with Jadeite as I had watched both rituals. None of you did until this one."
Zoisite, while using Sailor Mercury as a crutch, came over. "He used the battle here as his memory," Zoisite replied. "Sir, I'm so sorry for what I did to you and your true love."
"Zoisite, it's alright," Prince Endymion said. "I'm not angry."
Zoisite just looked at him. "The memory you chose was a violent one," he told his prince. "Princess Serenity and Mercury's weren't violent." He leaned over to kiss the side of Mercury's temple. "Mercury chose her first kiss in the library." He gave a small smile to Princess Serenity and winked at her. "Princess Serenity chose the time I gave her a pep talk."
"What are you getting at, Zoisite?" Jadeite said annoyed. He was starting to remember why the youngest Shitennou Knight drove him crazy from time to time, but damn him if he didn't miss the craziness.
"He's saying our memories weren't violent like the prince's," Sailor Mercury replied, simplifying what Zoisite was explaining. "In fact, if I'm getting this right, none of the memories that were chosen were violent either." She looked over at each Shitennou Knight to see any indication.
"Are you worried about the consequences, Zoisite?" Kunzite asked him. He knew the Shitennou Knights well and had a feeling that may be the case with Zoisite.
Zoisite sighed as he looked over at Kunzite. "Honestly, Kunzite," he said. He had a feeling nobody wanted to be in Starlight Tower anymore, and he believed he may receive some pushback. He had a feeling both him and his prince needed it. "I believe Prince Endymion and I need to have a conversation in private, and I think we need to have it now."
Kunzite studied Zoisite carefully. "Alright," he said, trusting him with their prince.
"Princess Serenity?" Zoisite said. He unwrapped his arm around Mercury and took her hand to squeeze and kiss her palm to let her know he was going to be alright. When she nodded, he knew he had her forgiveness and her trust.
Princess Serenity didn't want to leave her beloved, especially if his head was still going to be in so much pain. However, she saw the advantages. "Alright," she said when Prince Endymion nodded to let her know it was okay. She kissed Prince Endymion. "I'll be close if you need me."
"Always," Prince Endymion said on a half-chuckle. "I love you." He leaned over to kiss her one more time.
"I love you, too," Princess Serenity said. She made herself stand up and walked away from him forgetting to grab her Moon Stick, so he could have a much needed conversation with his Shitennou Knight of Purification and Healing.
"Her love for you hasn't changed, sir," Zoisite said as he watched Prince Endymion keep his eyes on her.
"It hasn't," Prince Endymion agreed, continuing to watch her. She made him feel at ease with all of this, and he didn't know if he would have made it through without her. "And mine for her hasn't changed either."
Zoisite's eyes widened. "I realized you're not the only one I need to have a conversation with," he said and looked over at Nephrite.
Prince Endymion chuckled as he watched him look over at the Knight of Intelligence and Comfort. "You've got a lot of making up to do all around," he agreed. "But everyone is glad you're here and have forgiven you for what happened here."
"You're still angry at me," Zoisite said, disagreeing. "It's not just what happened here, but for what happened while…"
"Zoisite," Prince Endymion said, stopping him from continuing. "I promised myself when it was your turn I was going to put everything aside and forgive you."
"Sir, it's not just that," Zosite said. "I'm the reason why me and the Shitennou Knights were brainwashed in our past lives. We were in a cave, and I heard Mercury's voice calling for me."
"The rumors," Prince Endymion said, remembering their past and where he and his father sent his Shitennou Knights. "You actually found the cave?"
"I did," Zoisite said. "Well, we did." He was lumping his fellow Shitennou Knights with him. "It memorized me because of Mercury's voice. I was feeling guilty because I hadn't told her how I felt."
"You rectified that, right?" Prince Endymion asked. He didn't want to hear about what happened in the cave just yet. He wanted to make sure Zoisite understood he was forgiven and worthy of this forgiveness.
"I did," Zoisite said. "She forgave me. I don't deserve any of this, yours, the princess's, anybody's, forgiveness." He felt so much of it started making him feel guilty.
"Zoisite," Prince Endymion said. "You all were my best friends, but you and I were closer because we were the same age." He smiled at the memories of his past life. "Now, you're two years younger than me."
"How do you know that?" Zoisite asked. He watched his prince carefully. He tried to understand how he would know such a thing.
"We've had a busy weekend," Prince Endymion said nonchalantly. "I like your dad, and if I missed my mark, so does Mercury. Though I think that's mutual." He looked over at Sailor Mercury who was speaking with Sailor Venus and Kunzite. They watched as Kunzite passed her mini computer back over to her. "It was the only way she could have made the decision. You already had my forgiveness, Zoisite; it was hers you needed. If she hadn't forgiven you, then this ritual wouldn't have worked until she was ready to forgive you."
"Mercury is the first Sailor Guardian Sailor Moon had found," Zoisite said, realizing why that would have mattered in the ritual. He understood what Prince Endymion explained to him. "I had hurt her best friend because I almost killed you and assisted in your kidnapping."
"Now, you're catching one," Prince Endymion said. "I needed that memory because I needed to realize that I loved her since I laid eyes on her again."
"Princess Serenity in this life," Zoisite said, understanding what his prince was going with the information.
At that moment, they turned to look over at Princess Serenity. They saw Queen Beryl behind Princess Serenity. "Serenity, behind you!" Prince Endymion shouted.
It was too late. Queen Beryl already had her arms around Princess Serenity. "So this is where you've been, Endymion, Kunzite," she said. "And I see you've found out the truth about my generals."
"My Shitennou Knights," Prince Endymion corrected. "They were never yours." The Shitennou Knights already had their swords out ready for a fight. The Sailor Guardians were ready to use their attacks. They were just afraid to unleash anything because they didn't want to hurt the princess.
"One move, Endymion," Queen Beryl said, "and I'll snap her throat." She had a good grip on Princess Serenity's neck just to prove she would do it.
"Nephrite!" Prince Endymion shouted.
"I can't," Nephrite said, understanding what Prince Endymion wanted him to do. "She's too strong of an individual."
"Thinking of possessing me, Nephrite?" Queen Beryl asked.
"You only wish," Nephrite said angrily. He wished he could possess her in order to save Princess Serenity. "You brainwashed us for your own evil purposes. So are you planning on stealing The Legendary Silver Crystal from Princess Serenity?"
"The Legendary Silver Crystal should be mine," Queen Beryl replied. "And will be mine." She knew Princess Serenity was in possession of it.
"You only think that," Princess Serenity replied, slowly. "Because you're just jealous."
"Serenity!" Prince Endymion called out. "Don't hurt her, Beryl!"
Queen Beryl loved the power she had over the Prince Endymion, the Sailor Guardians, and the Shitennou Knights. "You don't even remember me, do you?" Queen Beryl asked Prince Endymion, almost sneering at him.
Kunzite's eyes widened as he did. "You were supposed to be his betrothed," he said with realization. "You caught them once at the fountain."
"I believe you were on duty," Queen Beryl said, smirking at Kunzite. "With Sailor Venus."
"We saw you too late, and you left in tears before we could even catch up to you to make sure you were alright," Sailor Venus said, remembering. "Kunzite even went to your home to check on you, but it turned out you hadn't returned home."
"Then, shortly after, rumors of Metalia had surfaced and started to swirl around," Zoisite replied, also remembering.
"You were never found," Nephrite finished.
"The cave," Prince Endymion said and then looked over at Zoisite.
"So this memory is just now starting to fill in for you, is it, Zoisite?" Queen Beryl asked, enjoying his guilt. "While I do enjoy going down Memory Lane, I have other things that need to happen." She held onto Princess Serenity even tighter. "And don't follow me, and I will take her for insurance."
Princess Serenity kept her eyes on Prince Endymion's. It was the only way she knew to keep him calm and not fight against this and someone get injured. "I love you, Endymion," she said, giving him a lifeline to hold on to.
"Serenity!" Prince Endymion shouted, wishing he could do more, as they disappeared into the portal behind them. "Serenity, I'll find you! I promise!"
Once when Queen Beryl and Princess Serenity disappeared into the portal and the portal evaporated, Prince Endymion ran forward. "SERENITY!" he shouted in dismay.
"Now I know why I had that feeling," Jadeite said to Nephrite.
"Feeling?" Sailor Mars said turning to Jadeite, clinging on to that word. "What feeling?"
Jadeite looked over to Kunzite for assistance.
"You're on your own," Kunzite said to him. "Though, since we're no longer under King Minos's rule, we can technically tell them."
"Thanks, Kunzite," Jadeite said, sarcastically.
"Jadeite, what feeling?" Sailor Mars said a little more urgently. She wanted to understand what he meant by that.
"Same as you," Jadeite told her, shoving his hands into his pants pockets. "Apparently, just as refined. I forgot about it until Kunzite said something about it minutes before the ritual. I shared it with these three." He pointed to each of the Shitennou.
"You can share it!?" Sailor Mars asked with amazement. "You know how much smoother this could've gone if I had known I can share it with these three?" She pointed to each of the Sailor Guardians. "Do you even know how to do that?"
Jadeite shrugged and looked over at Zoisite. "Ask him," he said. "He's the one who figured out how to do that."
"Mercury?" Sailor Venus asked, using just her name.
"I'm on it," Mercury said, understanding what Sailor Venus wanted, and turned to Zoisite. "Do you mind?"
"I don't mind," Zoisite said as he shook his head and took her hand. He explained how it could be done, but there was something that was nagging at him at the back of his mind.
"Kunzite," Sailor Venus said. "The Tsukinos?"
Kunzite knew exactly what the love of his life wanted. "I know," he said. "We're going to have to tell Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino what happened here." He looked over at Sailor Venus. "No more lies."
Sailor Venus thought about arguing with him, but she weighed the pros and cons. "Alright," she said. "No more lies." She looked over at Prince Endymion who was now on his knees and still staring in the direction Princess Serenity had disappeared.
Prince Endymion was unmoving and not believing what just happened. He couldn't do anything to save his true love, and if he could, it would have meant someone's death. "Ryo," he said. He got up.
Kunzite walked over to Prince Endymion, knowing his prince needed this. "We'll find her," Kunzite said, hearing the anger in his prince's voice. "I know it."
"Kunzite, he knows something," Prince Endymion said with anger and just a touch of fear and desperation in his voice. He didn't want to be in the prince form. He just wanted to be himself. "Screw it." He de-transformed. "I'm going to go talk to Ryo; he knows something. I know it."
Since Prince Endymion had de-transformed, the others looked over at Sailor Venus and Kunzite who nodded. They all de-transformed.
"Mamoru," Kun said in a soothing voice because he knew that was what he needed, and the best one who could do such a thing is the one who had been kidnapped. "We'll find her. We'll find Usagi." He was trying to make Mamoru believe it. "Mamoru, we didn't come this far just to fail now."
"Ryo knows something, Kun," Mamoru said. "And I'm going to get it out of him." He turned and ran toward the elevator.
"Neph!" Kun said as he watched Mamoru had hit the elevator to go down.
"I got it," Neph said with understanding. He raced after Mamoru.
Makoto looked over at Minako who nodded, understanding the unasked question. "Go with him," Minako agreed.
Makoto, without a second though, raced after the two men.
After the conversation he had with Ami, Zoi stood in the same spot he was when Queen Beryl showed up. He had turned to scan the area for Kun, but something else caught his eye, realizing this is what was nagging him. "Um…" he said, realizing he doesn't know anyone's name in this life, only their past life's names, except for Mamoru. The only thing he could do was call for his commander in the name he knew. "Kunzite!"
"What is it, Zoi?" Kun asked, walking over to him.
"Princess Serenity's Moon Stick," Zoi said.
"What about it?" Kun asked, thinking Princess Serenity had taken it with her when Queen Beryl had kidnapped her. "She took it with her."
"No, she didn't," Zoi said, disagreeing with Kun. "I know this because I'm looking right at it."
Kun looked over at Minako who also started walking over to them. "Is that a help or hindrance?" he asked.
"I don't know, my love," Minako said. She wondered if that would be a Ryo question and hoped he could tell them. "At least, it hasn't fallen into the enemy's hands." Since it belonged to her princess, she picked it up. She looked over at the closed portal. "Usagi, I'm going to keep it until I give it back to you. I promise."
Kun took her hand. "Minako, we'll find her," he said. "I know it."
Minako looked up at him. "I know," she said. She leaned up to kiss him. "Thank you for being so positive." She was scared for her friend and princess, but she felt calmer because she was able to lean on him.
"Someone has to be," Kun said. He looked over at Ami. "Do you mind catching Zoi up on who is who?"
Ami shook her head. "I can do that," she promised Kun. "Though the way he's been looking at Jae, I'm pretty sure he knows who he is." She grinned over at Zoi.
"Are you telling me that's Jae Taitou, the lead singer from Desolation?" Zoi asked him. He secretly idolized Jae, always wanting to get to know him. He kept his eyes on Jae.
"Yes," Ami answered for Kun. Ami shared a smile with Kun. "The odds are high that all of us are fans of Desolation."
"Another connection," Kun agreed. "Jae will love that." Kun knew Ami and Zoi knew he was being sarcastic; in fact, Jae would hate it.
Zoi was able to tear his eyes away from Jae to look at Kun. "That's the answer, isn't it?" he asked. Even thinking about how his ritual was done, he knew that was the answer. "Love and connections?"
Kun smiled at Zoi. "I've never had to explain anything to you twice," Kun said, remembering the Silver Millenium.
"My love, we probably should scoop everyone up and go to the Tsukinos," Minako said. "I heard…"
"I spoke to my mom this morning," Kun said. "Dad told her he was going to pick up Mr. Tsukino. I have a feeling, as does my mom, they may have an idea where Usagi is at."
"You mean you don't remember?" Ami asked.
Zoi shook his head. "I don't have any recollection. She had given us powers to teleport, so we didn't need to know the exact location," he said. Then his eyes widened. "The cave." He looked at Kun.
"Damn it, Zoi," Kun said with annoyance, realizing he needed to get used to the fact he will now forever be second on figuring things out. "I was almost there." He realized Zoi and Kun were thinking about the same thing. The cave where Metalia had been rumored to be had to be the same cave where Queen Beryl had set up her headquarters.
Zoi grinned at him. "I think I've missed all of you yelling at me for being ahead of you," he told Kun. He realized he truly missed his fellow Shitennou Knights and Prince Endymion.
Minako ignored the comment. "Cave?" she prompted.
"It makes sense," Kun said. He took Minako's hand and kissed her inner palm. "When we're at the Tsukinos, we'll go over everything."
Minako watched him. "Alright," she said. "We're getting out of here." She looked around the observation deck. "If I have to see this place again, it'll be too soon."
"I'm starting to feel the same way," Zoi told her.
"Rei, Jae," Minako called, and when they looked over at her, she continued, "We're getting out of here." She turned, and knowing everyone followed, to the elevator.
Rei and Jae went over to them. "Where'd Mamoru go?" Rei asked when they met the group at the elevator.
"To question Ryo," Minako replied. She hoped that was all what Mamoru was doing. "Don't worry. Kun and I sent Mako and Neph after him to make sure that's all he was going to do."
"The Sailor Guardian of Protection and the Shitennou Knight of Intelligence and Comfort?" Jae said. "Probably a smart idea."
"Probably?" Kun asked, giving him a look.
"You know what I meant," Jae said. The way Zoi kept giving him odd looks, he knew he had to say something. "Why do you keep looking at me like that? You know I'm Jadeite, Zoi."
"I know," Zoi said. "It's just I'm starstruck."
"Oh, for the love of…" Jae said and then looked at Kun. "Another connection?"
Kun grinned at Jae, unashamed, knowing it was going to irritate Jae. "Apparently, we're all fans of Desolation," he told him. "There's probably more, but we have other things to worry about."
When they hit the ground floor, the elevator door opened. "Where are we going, anyway?" Jae asked as they made their way to the door.
"The Tsukinos," Kun said. "No more lies." He looked over at them.
Rei nodded. "Alright," she said. "No more lies." She gently ribbed Jae.
"Ow, what?" Jae asked when Rei elbowed him in the ribs.
Rei gave him a look before she said, "You know what."
Jae looked at Kun and then sighed. "No more lies," he promised. He looked over at Rei. "Happy?"
"It's a start," Rei said as they entered the park.
Up ahead, they could clearly hear Mamoru yelling: "You son of a bitch, you predicted her kidnapping? And didn't think to let us know that could have been a possibility? You know exactly what it took for her to get here? Know exactly what it took for both of us to get here?"
"Mamoru," they heard Makoto say. "He just told us if we had made a move on Beryl, we all would have been dead. Usagi wouldn't want that."
When the group finally had walked up all the way, they saw Neph restraining Mamoru, and Makoto standing in front of him. "Mamoru, he's helped us all along," Neph reminded him. "You have all of your Shitennou Knights because of this boy."
"But I promised her nothing would happen to her," Mamoru said, sliding to the ground. He felt defeated. "I looked at her and told her I would protect her. We had the advantage, and none of us were injured and she was still able to kidnap her." He looked up at Neph. "I promised her. I promised Usagi."
"Mamoru," Kun said and then looked over at Minako who he knew would have a better idea of what to do and say.
Minako nodded in understanding. "Usagi, without realizing, gave us an advantage," Minako said as she walked over to him. "Is this what you were trying to tell him?" She looked over at Ryo as she pulled the Moon Stick.
"Yes," Ryo said with relief. "I've played around with this premonition. In every scenario, I was a hindrance." He looked over at Ami who he knew would be his lifeline here. "Everyone would've died. When I took myself out of the scenario, I knew this would be the best scenario. Though I took myself out of it, I tried to see if there was any way, but I couldn't." He looked at Mamoru. "I couldn't find another scenario. This was it."
"Ryo," Zoi said, realizing his brother from a past life knew something else. He walked over to him. He could see the guilt eating at him. "Brother, you did what you had to do." He leaned down and hugged his brother from his past life.
"Zoi," Ryo said with relief. "I couldn't tell anyone. I couldn't tell any of them because if I did, your ritual wouldn't have worked." He hugged him right back.
"Brother?" Minako asked, looking at Kun.
"I didn't remember until Zoi said the word," Kun replied.
Ami sighed. "Yeah," she said. "Zoi told me before everything happened with Usagi."
"If I've got this right," Jae said thinking about the Moon Stick, "the whole scenario was to make sure Beryl didn't get the Moon Stick." He looked over at Ryo.
Ryo nodded letting go of Zoi thinking it was best to get back to business, but he could admit to himself that he missed his older brother. Even though they were only children, he missed his older brother from his past life. "If Beryl got the Moon Stick, it was game over," he said. "We would have lost." He looked over at Mamoru. "There was no way we could have saved Usagi and kept the Moon Stick in our possession."
"We better find her," Mamoru told him.
"We will, or rather you will," Ryo said and then tilted his head over at him with a smirk on his face, knowing he had forgotten he had the ability because they had been in each other's arms throughout most of the weekend. "Where do you sense her? Where do you sense the love of your life?"
"Sense?" Jae asked, confused.
Ami's eyes widened as remembered and realized what he was asking of Mamoru. "I had forgotten because I didn't see it," she said. "Ryo, you're so clever."
"It seems Usagi and Mamoru have been given gifts in regards to each other," Rei explained to the Shitennou Knights.
"Handy," Jae said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Mamoru stared at Ryo. "You know I can really hate you right now," he told him. He started to feel a little calmer because he can sense the love of his life. He realized that if he felt any anger his sense to know where she is would be turned off.
"I can live with that," Ryo told him.
Mamoru stood up. He realized she was so far away from him he had to close his eyes to concentrate. "Come on, Usagi, where are you?" he asked. When he was able to gauge which direction, he was able to point. "That way."
"Mamoru," Kun said, knowing him well. "We need to regroup first and come up with a plan before we can go running in."
"Come on," Minako said. "We're going to the Tsukinos to regroup."