Drowning darkness pressed down on him, thick as smoke, hard as stone, suffocating every cell. Mamoru floated, suspended between waking and oblivion, in a void where time held no meaning. The world was blurry and distant, like watching a dream through foggy glass.
No matter how he struggled, he remained adrift, untethered, a ghost in a realm where shadows whispered and light was a forgotten memory.
The only thing that burned dimly was the spot behind his ribs. Usagi's pull remained a faint warmth in the overwhelming cold. Desperately he grasped at it, suddenly starving for her.
He tried to move, to breathe, but his limbs felt like lead, heavy and unresponsive. Nothing felt solid. His lungs frantically tried to inhale enough oxygen. Fingers hungered for something to grasp, but they remained isolated. Straining, his ears searched for even the faintest sound, desperate for anything to pierce the suffocating silence. His skin ached for a touch—something warm, something real—but the air felt numb and empty. Blurred vision made it impossible to see through the thick, cloying darkness surrounding him.
Am I dead?
He tried to move, to breathe, but an unbearable weight pinned down his limbs, making them heavy. Everything felt too solid, pressing into him from all sides. His lungs strained, struggling against the oppressive air, every breath a laborious fight. His fingers curled, desperate to release the crushing pressure closing around them. Deafening sounds rang in his ears, each one a sharp crack in the suffocating silence. His skin burned under the force of it all, the air thick and stifling against him, smothering every inch. His vision was clouded, distorted by the overwhelming presence of darkness closing in.
Did Kunzite kill me?
Does that mean… is Usagi mourning me?
Something akin to panic drifted through his mind, but even that felt distant, disconnected. There was a sense he was on the edge of something—teetering between life and death, caught between the pull of warm, radiant light and the cold embrace of the stone enveloping him.
That black nothing was both comforting and terrifying, a paradox that held him captive. It cradled him in its abyss, yet threatened to consume what little remained of his fading consciousness.
But I just got her back.
He struggled against the paralysis, desperate to reach out to Usagi, to return to her. A faint ache stirred within his chest, an almost imperceptible longing that pulled him toward the light. It was a delicate thread, barely there, but it resonated with a familiarity that sparked a flicker of awareness. Images of Sailor Moon, of Usagi flashed in his mind. Her eyes shimmering with determination, her smile like the dawn breaking the night.
Usako.
Frantic, he clung to those images, convinced they'd pull him back to her. Then he'd wake, and they'd hold each other while they cried. Finally, after all this time, he would reunite with his princess. Finally, after all this time, he would reunite with his love.
I've got to return to Usako.
I have to hold her while she cries.
She has to hold me as I cry.
He strained to reach out, to return to her, but his body refused to obey. His mind screamed to wake up, to break free from the hold that bound him. The urgency clawed at him, desperation mounting as he realized how truly helpless he was. The darkness tightened its hold, pressing against him, seeping into every corner of his being.
It was relentless, as it continued to seep into every corner of his being. Isolation wrapped around him like a shroud, amplifying the sensation if disconnect. He couldn't tell where he ended, and the void began. Time stretched interminably, each second bleeding into the next without meaning.
I'm going to lose myself.
Just when I remember who I am.
Just when I found her.
Despair, sharp and poisonous, swept across his soul. Yet amidst that, a subtle flame burned. A beacon in the gloom. It was her. It had to be. The bond they shared was more than mere emotion; it was a lifeline, a tether anchoring him to the world he was slipping away from. But as much as he yearned to follow it back to the light, the darkness held him fast, an immovable barrier he couldn't breach.
Is this what it feels like to disappear?
The thought chilled him more than the void ever could. The idea of fading away, of leaving her unprotected, was unbearable. But everything remained heavy, his voice silenced before it could form words. He was trapped, a prisoner in a jail he couldn't perceive. Caught in the in-between with no escape.
Anguish threatened to overwhelm him, but he refused to surrender. Even if he couldn't move, couldn't speak, couldn't fight, he wouldn't let go of that burning desire to return to her. Instead, he'd focus his entire will on that single point of light within him, clinging to it with everything he had left.
Usako.
A faint sound pierced the suffocating silence—a soft, distant echo that sent a jolt through his immobilized form. It was Sailor Moon.
"Mamo! Wake up. Open your eyes."
She was calling out to him, the sadness in her tone cutting through the fog like a beacon. A sharp surge of emotion cut through the oppressive gloom. Love, warm and bright, flooded his heart, chased by a crushing wave of guilt. She was calling for him, and he was powerless to respond.
Usako, I'm so sorry.
I've hurt you once again.
His heart lurched, emotions flooding his chest. A tumultuous mix of love, desperation, and gnawing guilt. Her voice turned soft as she continued to beg him. He had to reach her, to ensure her safety. Harder, he strained against the darkness, every fiber of his being crying out to break free.
The ache to reach her, to reassure her, was overwhelming. Yet, his body refused to obey. Everything felt like tar, thick and sticky, holding him in place with unyielding force. Each attempt to move was like pushing against an invisible wall.
Usako.
It was like trying to wade through quicksand—every movement only seemed to sink him deeper into the abyss. Her voice came again. Now the pain in her words was like a dagger to his heart. All he wanted to do was hold her, tell her it would be alright.
Now her words were a fragile thread woven with glass. It vibrated with a sorrow so profound it teetered on the edge of shattering ruin. He needed to comfort her, to erase the sadness from her voice, but nothing obeyed him.
Why! Why has fate denied us love again?
Frustration clawed at him, sharp and relentless. He was Tuxedo Mask, her protector, her guardian, He was supposed to be there for her, to shield her from harm. But now, when she needed him the most, a trap ensnared him, rendering him unable to help. His mind screamed against the confines of his paralysis.
Please. He begged.
Let me reach her.
Let me protect her.
Let me hold her.
Then, in the suffocating darkness, a pinprick of light appeared. At first, it was barely perceptible, a mere flicker against the vat expanse of shadow. It spread through him like a gentle flame, as if a beam of light had broken through the impenetrable void, wrapping around him like a warm blanket.
The moment the light touched him, everything blossomed. It spread through his body like liquid sunlight, chasing away the chill of the void. Relief washed over him in waves, so intense it was almost painful.
Sailor Moon!
The Legendary Silver Crystal!
For a brief, blissful moment, he felt safe, anchored by the familiar warmth of her power. The glow enveloped his soul, pushing back the shadows inch by inch. It was soothing, melting away the numbness that had settled into his body.
Hope sparkled within him, a fragile ember rekindling amidst the ashes of despair. He could almost feel her near, her light reaching out to pull him back from the edge of ruin.
Usako, your love has reached me.
Even in this desolate, godless land.
Just as hope swelled, something changed. A sudden chill cut through the warmth like a blade of ice. The comforting heat retreated, replaced by a sharp and biting cold that seeped deep into his bones. The light fled, its glow dimming as stone overtook it. A sinking dread settled in his stomach.
What now?
A dread, cold and heavy, settled across his soul. The chill spread rapidly, like frost creeping over a windowpane, turning the remnants of comfort into a numb ache. A sense of foreboding replaced the safety he had felt moments before. Confusion mingled with fear as he struggled to comprehend the changes. The contrasting sensations left him torn, his emotions seesawing between hope and despair.
What's happening?
Panic rippled through his mind. The light had been so real, so reassuring, but now it was gone, vanished without a trace. Desolation pressed in on him from all sides, heavier and more oppressive than the darkness had been. It was a sensation that went beyond physical—it pierced his very soul.
He grasped at the last tendrils of the warmth, to the connection he felt with her, but it was like sand slipping through his fingers. The more he struggled, the faster it seemed to fade. The cold stone was relentless, snuffing out the light and leaving him enveloped in an even deeper shadow. His heart raced, each beat echoing through his body.
Did someone trick me?
Was that not Sailor Moon?
The thought of being pulled back into the void, of losing that connection with her, was unbearable. He wanted to cry out, to fight against the new torment, but his body remained motionless. Still, he fought the encroaching chill, mustering every ounce of willpower he had left. But the stone was unyielding, its icy tendrils wrapping tighter around him.
It spread faster, turning the light to ice. It crept up his throat, choking him. It cascaded down his lungs, suffocating him. It gripped his muscles, rendering him useless. He felt more isolated than ever, cut off from the light and hope it had brought.
I'm going to die. Without being able to tell her how I feel.
She'll be alone again. Once more forced to fight without me.
I'm a failure.
Dread deepened, settling like stone in the pit of his stomach. Not only was he still trapped, but somehow the situation had become even more dire.
Usako.
Her name was a silent plea. But the darkness gave no answer, the cold offering no comfort. The fear that he might not escape this time tainted the initial relief. He might never escape from the darkness.
I won't give up, Usako.
Somehow, I'll return to your side.
He turned inward. Maybe he had some latent power. Something to fight the growing cold before he succumbed to it forever. As he searched, all he found was that encroaching chill, a void where warmth had once been.
A realization took hold. A nagging sense that this wasn't just a mere shift in his perception. Something external was affecting him, turning the light to ice, hope to despair. The cold wasn't natural; it felt invasive, foreign.
As if another presence was the void, and it sought to snuff out the light entirely. Fear tightened its grip, but beneath it, a flicker of defiance sparkled. If something was trying to devour goodness, then he'd fight back.
You'll never defeat me.
Now the sensation of falling enveloped him. A never-ending descent into an abyss with no end. The darkness overtook him completely; it became a tangible force, heavy and consuming. Cold stone pressed against his back, rough and unyielding, as if the very foundations of this void sought to consume him.
The fleeting flicker of hope was now a distant memory, replaced by an all-encompassing nothing that emanated from everything around him. There was a stark finality to it, an unforgiving dread that seeped into his bones. His muscles twitched, a primal reflect to fight against the encroaching destruction. But his body betrayed him now.
The commands from his mind fizzled out before they could ignite action. The more he tried to resist, the heavier the darkness became until it pinned him in place. An ocean of shadow trapped him, each layer a crushing force rendering him immobile.
Usako.
There was nothing he could do, nowhere he could turn. The weight of his impotence more crushing than the darkness. Slowly, the first physical sensation prickled his awareness.
Where am I?
Stone dug into his skin, cutting through the fabric of his clothing. Every sharp edge and rough surface registered dully, a distant discomfort overshadowed by the encompassing numbness. He tried to scream. Tried to thrash against the grip of the void. Yet nothing happened. The disconnect between his racing mind and unresponsive limbs was maddening, a torture all its own.
The darkness wasn't just around him. It was inside him, creepy through his veins like ice. It crawled over his skin like a spreading cancer. The sensation grew until he couldn't tell where he began and the void ended. It was unnerving, like being dragged beneath a frozen sea, the surface—and any hope of escape—receding further out of reach with each passing moment.
Is this how I'm going to die?
Consumed by stone and despair?
A wave of helplessness crashed over him, heavier than any physical weight. There was nothing he could do but succumb to the darkness, to let it pull him under. The realization struck him with a hollow finality. For someone who had always fought against the odds, who had stood between danger and the ones he cared for, the inability to act was a torment all its own.
No. No! No!
His mind rebelled against this surrender. Instinct screamed at him to fight, to claw his way back to the light, to her. But his body was unresponsive, a vessel emptied of will. He was a warrior trapped within his own failing form, unable to even lift a finger in defiance.
Stone bit harder into his back, urging him deeper into the abyss. The sensation was grounding in the most unsettling way—a stark reminder of his physical existence even as he felt himself fading. That thick darkness pressed into his chest, a vice tightening around his heart, each beat growing fainter against the encroaching chill.
Thoughts blurred, their edges fraying. Memories flickered—glimpses of laughter, of sunlight glinting off golden hair, of a smile that could banish the darkness. He grasped at the fragments, desperate to hold on to them, but they slipped through his fingers like shattered crystal.
If he could cry, then tears would be falling. He'd promised to protect her, to stand by her side. And now, he couldn't even protect himself.
A sudden clarity pierced the suffocating haze enveloping him. The oppressive sensations. The palpable malevolence pressing in from all sides.
The Dark Kingdom.
He wasn't wandering in some formless void between life and death. He was in the Dark Kingdom. As the realization took hold, his heart sank. He'd been captured, torn away from those who needed him the most. He'd failed.
Serenity. You're alone and unprotected.
The thought sliced through his mind like a blade. His chest tightened painfully, each breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps. The weight of his inability to protect her bore down on him, heavier than any physical burden he'd ever known.
I've failed her.
The darkness wasn't just around him—it was inside him, a reflection of his despair and self-reproach. Again, he tried to fight against the void pressing down on him. Again, his body refused to move.
Is this how it ends?
Is this how I pass from this life?
The question lingered, heavy with regret. The notion of being powerless, of leaving her to face the darkness alone, was almost more than he could bear. Yet determination sparkled to life deep within him. It flickered, small but defiant, that refused to be extinguished.
I'll never give up.
Not while I draw breath.
Not while she waits for me.
The darkness might have him in its grasp, but he had not yet been defeated. And he'd fight with everything he contained for as long as he could.
I'll find a way back. I'll protect her.
Drawing a shaky breath, he focused inward, reaching for any semblance of strength. The image of Serenity filled his mind—her eyes bright with courage, her smile imbued with hope and mischief. The memory of her strengthened his resolve, pushing back against the cold bearing down on him.
I'll return to her. I am Mamoru Chiba. I am Prince Endymion. I will not be defeated so easily.
The darkness surrounded him, vast and unforgiving, but now he'd fight with everything he was worth. He would fight. He would survive. He'd return to her.
In the depths of Endymion's soul, two ancient powers stirred. The Golden Crystal, guardian of Earth's beautiful dreams and protector of its prince, awoke to the radiant glow of the Silver Crystal's fragment. For ages untold, it had rested, its ancient power slumbering yet ever vigilant.
Now, sensing the encroaching darkness and with the gentle caress of power, the Golden Crystal awakened. Its energy thrummed with a timeless wisdom, a resonance that echoed like the distant song of celestial spheres.
The golden light flickered to life, steady and strong, like the heartbeat of the earth itself. The sweet prayers of Elysion joined it soon after, and the golden light intensified.
The cool brilliance of the Silver Crystal welcomed it. Whispering songs of the collapse of distant stars and the foundations of ancient civilizations. The soft light emanated a purity that soothed the discordant notes of darkness.
The two energies reached out, intertwining in a harmonious dance. Golden and silver lights melded seamlessly, familiar and unbreakable, their reunion a convergence of destinies long entwined. Millennia passed since they were this close, lifetimes since their energies had mingled so intimately. Yet their bond remained unchanged, untouched by the passage of time.
They shared a silent understanding, a purpose that transcended time and space: they would save Endymion, for without him, Serenity would fall. The fate of two kingdoms, of Earth and Moon, hung in the balance.
The Golden Crystal pulsed with a beaming determination. Not only did it threaten its bearer, but also the very harmony of existence. The Silver Crystal's fragment echoed this resolve, its cool light intensifying as it joined.
Together, they assessed the dire situation. The darkness of the Dark Kingdom pressed in from all sides, trying to consume Endymion entirely. His body was already weakening, succumbing to the shadows seeping into his body. But his soul—his essence—remained pure, untouched by the encroaching evil.
They'd form a bastion of light within the deepest depths of Endymion's bond with Serenity. Create a sanctuary that the darkness could not penetrate. Saving his body was beyond their reach; the grip of the Dark Kingdom was too strong, its tendrils too deeply woven.
Safeguard his soul.
The decision was made, not through words, but through the melding of their ancient powers. With a silent accord, they wove their energies tight around that bond, retreating deeper into the unassailable fortress of his bond with Serenity.
I'll protect you, my prince.
So the Golden Crystal wrapped around the bond, warm and protective, like a shield forged from the very heart of the earth. Its golden hues shimmered with steadfast resolve, each pulse reinforcing the barrier against the darkness.
The Silver Crystal's cool light intertwined gracefully with it, threads of silver weaving through gold, their energies complementing and strengthening one another. Together, they formed a luminous cocoon, a harmonious blend of power that encapsulated Endymion's very essence. Within this refuge, his soul remained untouched, hidden away from the malevolent forces that sought to claim him.
Now the shadows came. Darkness surrounded the light, battering it with its cold stone tendrils and icy hatred. But the crystals' protective light remained steadfast. They would ensure a part of him remained beyond the reach of corruption, tethered to the love and memories he shared with Serenity.
And so they watched as Endymion's body succumbed to the shadows, vanishing into the Dark Kingdom.