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Chapter 9 - Dark Endymion

She couldn't bear to have him look at her that way. Even in the beginning, when she thought he really did hate her, he never looked at her like that. And yet, her heart still leapt at the sight of him. And she let herself hope. But before she could do more than stare back at him, Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars were blocking her from his view.

"Endymion," Venus said evenly. And yes, he was dressed in Endymion's armor and he held himself as Endymion had. It wasn't the time for such a thought, but Usagi was struck with the realization that Endymion was quite different from Mamoru.

His jaw clenched along with his fist, and he coldly replied, "Prince, Endymion. And you are just a senshi standing in my way." He dropped to one knee and slammed his palm into the ground causing the earth below Sailor Venus and Sailor Mars to blast apart, casting each senshi to either side.

"Jupiter Supreme Thunder!"

Fearsome bolts of lightning shot from Sailor Jupiter, but Prince Endymion manipulated them with ease, redirecting them to shoot harmlessly into the sky.

"Mercury Bubbles Blast," shouted Sailor Mercury, obscuring the battlefield in her thick fog. Sailor Moon used the cover to dive behind one of the undamaged vehicles along the street. She put her head in her hands and tried to calm down her breathing. How was she going to fight Mamoru? She didn't know what the ginzuishou was capable of yet. What if she really hurt him, or worse? She had to come up with a way to get Mamoru and Kunzite to leave. She needed Amy and Luna to come up with a plan! Now that they knew what happened to Mamoru, she was certain they could figure out how to bring him back.

"Sailor Mars," Mercury implored, "Get up! We have to find Sailor Moon!"

Mars pushed herself off the pavement with the arm that wasn't numb. She could feel the abrasions all along her left leg, but thankfully, she was mostly unhurt.

"No," she said, "we have to fight Endymion. Sailor Moon won't. Not today. We must get them to retreat."

Sailor Jupiter pulled Mars the rest of the way to her feet, "I agree. Let's do this."

"A unified attack should be enough to make them want to regroup," stated Mercury. "But it would have a greater chance of success with Sailor Venus as well."

"We'll have to start without her," declared Mars, "Let's go."

Sailor Venus blinked hard trying to correct her double vision. She must have hit her head on the pavement. Or any of the other things she'd flown by after Endymion's blast. He definitely hadn't been that powerful in the past. Though, she'd only ever seen him fight on the moon, far away from his planet and the source of his power. And he hadn't been brimming with dark energy then either. Why was that evil juice always so powerful? She had to get to the princess. She knew Usagi wouldn't fight Mamoru, not yet at least.

Her vision back to normal, she stood and tried to orient herself in Mercury's mist when she heard the gravel crunch to her right. She called her power to her palm as Kunzite materialized from the mist.

But he stopped and just stood there studying her. So, she stared back at him.

"How do you know me?" he asked her in the softest voice she'd heard him use in this lifetime.

She felt her lips part but refused to give anything else away with her face. "Do you remember something?" she asked him in a steady voice.

He charged toward her so suddenly, she barely had time to raise her arm, but her power faded as he caught it in a vicelike grip with his huge hand. She gasped as he slowly pulled her closer and lowered his face until it was inches from hers. He looked back and forth between her eyes as if trying to figure something out.

"The moon, a secret, a strong desire to do my duty," his deep voice reverberated through her, "your voice, these eyes…a gazebo…" He trailed off and knew he could feel her tremble with how close they were and how he still held tightly to her wrist. Her past self had been so good at hiding what she was thinking and feeling, but this version of herself had never had that need or that training. In that moment, nothing could have gotten her to tear her eyes away from his face.

He looked down and with his free hand reached to her waist and delicately grasped the end of a lock of her hair. He brought it closer to his face and studied it with an expression like he was trying to solve a difficult puzzle. He let the hair fall and looked back into her eyes.

"What is my duty?" he asked her.

She felt a single tear slide down her face as she said, "To protect Endymion. The real Endymion."

And with that, Kunzite released her and disappeared into the mist as though he had never been there.

"Sailor Moon," Endymion called out, still in that robotic voice. "Come and face me!"

She crawled along the parked cars, away from his voice. Hoping desperately to run into the girls. She flinched as she heard his sword go through another vehicle. He seemed to be destroying things at random on the off chance that he'd hit her. Which she took as a good sign for her current situation. Tuxedo Kamen always knew where to find Sailor Moon. They hadn't talked about it much, but Mamoru had told her that he always just knew when she was in trouble and could follow the feeling directly to her. She was glad Endymion didn't seem to have that ability, but she was also upset by it. Because it meant that Mamoru was buried deep inside, if he was there at all. Stop, she told herself. Mamoru is in there and I will save him.

"Mars Fire Soul!"

"Mercury Bubbles Blast!"

"Jupiter Supreme Thunder!"

Usagi heard Endymion yell out in frustration as the senshi's attack caught him by surprise and he was thrown back several feet. But he looked completely unharmed as he raised his arm and brought it down violently causing a huge gust of wind to dispose of Mercury's mist. Sailor Moon dived into the alleyway to the side of the Crown just as the last of it cleared. She didn't think he'd seen her. His focus was completely on her senshi as he regained his full height. He was preparing another attack when Kunzite grabbed him by the shoulder.

"Another time, Endymion," he commanded. "We've done what we set out to do today."

Endymion looked daggers at Kunzite, "Hardly, Kunzite. My task is incomplete."

"Another time, Endymion," Kunzite said more firmly, and they both shimmered away.

Sailor Moon let out a shaky breath and turned to continue down the alleyway. Her hands felt numb, and she was nauseous. She'd heard Ami-chan talk about what shock did to the body before and vaguely wondered if that's what was happening to her. And then he was there in front of her. He shoved her by the chest until she slammed up against the alley wall and he held her there by the base of her throat.

"Sailor Moon," he said emotionlessly. "Hand over the ginzuishou."

"Mamoru!" she cried out, grabbing onto his arm that held her in place. But there was no reaction from him. Just a cold menacing stare.

Mamoru kept thinking things couldn't get worse, but watching himself hurt Usako was absolutely unbearable. He howled inside his prison and used all his mental capacity to command his body to stop. But it was having no effect.

"Mamoru! Stop," a new voice shouted. Usagi and Endymion both turned their heads to see Motoki running towards them through the alleyway.

"No, Motoki," Sailor Moon shouted, "Run! Please! Go!" But she was too late, Endymion released her to send a blast of energy at Motoki and then pinned her to the wall once more, this time with his palm to her stomach. Motoki flew backward into a dumpster and Usagi thought for sure he wouldn't be able to get back up. But he did.

He stumbled to his feet and reached out toward them, "Mamoru, stop." Endymion's eyebrows furrowed for a moment as he pressed Sailor Moon even harder into the wall.

"You will never forgive yourself. Don't you know who you are?"

Endymion turned to fully glare at Motoki and Usagi could feel him building power for another blast.

"No," Sailor Moon pleaded. She grabbed Endymion's arm and pulled it toward her with all her might, causing him to painfully press her into the wall even further. It got his attention as he turned his glare on her. "Please," she begged. "He's your best friend. Please."

Mamoru couldn't overpower Endymion. So, he stopped trying. Instead, he started to beg as Usako was now. "Look at her," he pleaded. "Look at her. You can't hurt her. Look. Really look."

Endymion's glare turned to confusion, and then Usagi watched his face go blank. His eyes became less hard as they bored into hers and then traveled her body down to her feet and back up to her face. His eyes narrowed.

Mamoru felt the change in Endymion. His body was reacting to Sailor Moon. But Endymion didn't seem to be drawing the conclusion Mamoru was hoping he would. As he released Sailor Moon and teleported away, Mamoru was overwhelmed with dread.

Sailor Moon slid down the alley wall, all the energy leaving her body at once. Her head started to loll when she felt Motoki grab onto her.

"Usagi," he hushed. "Are you ok?"

"Motoki," she said. "Are you crazy? You shouldn't have done that. He could have killed you."

"He could have killed you as well."

Usagi collapsed forward and felt Motoki's arms around her as her forehead hit his chest. She tried to speak. To make Motoki understand that she couldn't possibly lose anyone else. To tell him how important he was to both her and to Mamoru. But she couldn't get the words out. She could hardly control her breathing as she clung to Motoki.

And suddenly, she knew the girls were there. She couldn't tell if they'd called her name. She was so tired, so she decided to let her eyes close. She felt the weightlessness that meant she was being carried, but whether it was by Motoki or one of the girls, she couldn't tell. She hoped it wasn't Motoki. He'd been thrown so hard against that dumpster. She should make sure he was ok. That was her last thought before drifting away.

Prince Endymion charged down the hallway. He was furious. Not only did he fail in his task, but he also felt a crippling confusion. Who was this little girl, and why did she control him so? He desired nothing more than to do his Queen's bidding. He'd had Sailor Moon right there. It would have taken seconds to end her life and take the ginzuishou. His brain screamed at him that he desired nothing more than to obey his Queen. Desired. That was it. When he was close to that girl, he did desire something more. Her. When he had really looked at her, his heart throbbed painfully in his chest, and he could feel the heat of her body through his palm. He could imagine with what felt like perfect clarity exactly what she would taste like. And when that man had tried to defend her? That pathetic human man? Something territorial had ripped through him. But why? These feelings were illogical.

"Endymion," Kunzite called. Endymion repressed a growl. Kunzite kept him from completing his task as thoroughly as the girl had.

"Kunzite," he replied cooly, stopping his feet.

"You went back," Kunzite stated.

"Yes."

"And do you have the ginzuishou?"

"No," Endymion did growl then.

"And why is that?"

Endymion whirled around to face Kunzite fully prepared to defend himself. But Kunzite was looking at him strangely. He was looking at him as if he already knew the problem Endymion was having. As if he knew of this strange power Sailor Moon had. The rage he'd felt a moment ago retreated, replaced by confusion.

"She called me by another name," he said, studying Kunzite's reaction. But the man gave nothing away. He just continued to look at Endymion as if he was all-knowing.

"What name?"

"She called me Mamoru."

"Mamoru," Kunzite repeated as if tasting the name. Then he moved closer and placed his hand on Endymion's shoulder. Endymion's brain demanded he shove Kunzite back, but from somewhere deep inside himself he felt a strong desire to trust Kunzite. "Things are not as they seem, Prince Endymion." And with that, Kunzite walked away leaving Endymion more confused than ever.

There's never been a more handsome man, she thought as she studied his profile. Endymion was leaning against her balcony railing staring out at his home planet rising. And then it was Mamoru's profile as he leaned forward against the counter at the Crown, studying a book as always. Usagi bit her lip and thought that it was criminal how good looking he was. People just didn't look that good outside of movies. He smirked, as if he could read her thoughts, and then turned his beautiful face to make eye contact with her. His eyebrows raised slightly, and he glanced out the front doors. She jumped up immediately, milkshake forgotten as she gathered her things and made a beeline for the exit. She heard his soft chuckle as she passed through the sliding doors. She walked a couple blocks toward the park and stopped to wait for him. She felt his gentle touch on her shoulder, but when she turned to face him, he was Endymion once more. He took her face in his hands, and he kissed her, hard. Like he couldn't get enough of her. Like he was saying goodbye. And when he pulled away, he was Mamoru.

"I plan on spending the rest of my life making it up to you, but we have to go, right now. They're tracking me."

She opened her mouth to tell him to run far away, to say anything that would change what would happen next, but nothing would come out.

"Serenity," a new voice was saying. "Serenity. Serenity."

She turned to see Kunzite standing next to her, but oddly, she wasn't afraid.

"Serenity," he said seriously. "It isn't safe here tonight. You should not have come."

"But I had to see him," she heard herself say. "It's been so long, and I've been so worried about him. About all of you."

"I understand princess," Kunzite said with a small smile. "Endymion hasn't been able to take a break for several days. The King has needed him to tend to several situations himself. Endymion is the only member of his family able to use the Golden Crystal. He's the only one who can attempt to heal what's infecting our people."

There was a commotion down the path from where they stood now. The sounds of angry men and metal where rapidly approaching.

"Princess, this way," Kunzite said quickly, tucking her into his side. He led her off the path into the forest, his hand going to his sword.

"Kunzite, I don't want you to fight your own people for me."

"Princess, my people are unwell. And even if they weren't, I would defend you with my life if they tried to harm you." He must have seen her questioning look because he went on. "Princess, Endymion loves you. That fact alone grants you my protection and loyalty. But I have also come to know you well these past months and would not see you harmed. And of course, the greatest reason of all…"

"What's that?"

"The leader of your senshi would never forgive me if something happened to you while you were in my care."

As if Kunzite had summoned her, Venus appeared.

"Serenity, listen to me very carefully," she commanded. "You must get to the Chamber of Prayer. You'll be safest there. You must go straight there and wait for me." She was looking into the distance, where the fires were brightest. "There is something I have to take care of, and then I will be with you." She shoved Usagi forward. "Go! Quickly!"

Pain. Horrible pain. It ripped through her entire being. He was gone. She couldn't put him back together. Something shiny caught her eye. She picked it up. A different pain, that also brought relief.

Usagi screamed and jolted awake.