Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion
Act Thirty Six Recap:
(Mamoru’s POV)
Since the past life, Beryl had strived to make me her own.
Using my love for Hina and the Shitennou as her hostages she set out to do
this.
“Endymion. Since the past life I have yearned for you to
be by my side and now that day has come.”
The light from the portal almost blinded him, that and the
sickening dread that was beginning to well up inside his soul. Mamoru knew
where the portal led, even before Beryl enlightened him with its destination.
“This leads to the Dark Kingdom. Go through it and I will
let the Shitennou live… if not…”
He heard them cry out again as Beryl sent another wave of
dark magics at the dome. Mamoru almost cried out with them. She was right… the
Shitennou were precious to him in this life also, perhaps more so than in the
last. They were not only the Shitennou but also his friends.
How could I watch them die? No matter what they might
think of the past life, they are also as important to me in this world.
“Princess” Beryl smirked, “I see you are just in time to
witness my triumph. Endymion will belong to me, as he should have all those
years ago.”
“By threatening him?” Sailor Moon demanded, aghast, “You
can’t change someone’s heart!”
“Silence!” Beryl commanded, this remark obviously cutting
her deeper than she would ever care to admit. With these words she hurled an
attack at Sailor Moon. The Princess shrieked as it exploded in front of her,
knocking her to the ground.
Usagi, too, was forced to witness Beryl’s triumph over us
until…
“No” she whispered in a small voice and then louder, “No!
Endymion!”
As she screamed, the entire field was lit up in a blinding
white light… the energy suddenly pulsing out from the locket on Sailor Moon’s
fuku. Mamoru stumbled backwards, and even Beryl uttered a stunned cry as the
sheer power of this new energy shattered the dome surrounding the kings.
“Usagi” Mamoru whispered as the light started to fade as
quickly as it had come, withdrawing back until it was but a shimmering
crystalline glow, silhouetting Sailor Moon.
She stood, carefully, staring down at her transformation.
The bodice of her fuku had changed. Now, underneath was a thin layer of lace, a
very similar lace bow was attached to the back of the fuku, trailing down like
butterflies wings almost to the ground. Her skirt was still royal blue, but was
made of silk; as was the light pink bow she wore on the front of her fuku. A
tiara made of pearls now sat upon her head. Though Mamoru had never seen this
transformation before, he recognised it.
The Princess was unstoppable, or so we thought. She has so
much power… more than the Shitennou and Beryl combined. Even so…
“I am… the destroyer of worlds…”
Usagi… I won’t believe that! Not in this world. I can’t…
she is not the same person in this lifetime.
*****
Act Thirty-Seven:
“Is this the burden of the past life? Will she continue to
suffer for it? Even in this world?”
“So” Artemis whispered softly, “The Princess has awoken
her true powers.”
Seiichi nodded, “And still the Master refuses to see that
she must not be allowed to keep the Ginzuishou in this world.”
Artemis shook his head and Seiichi sighed. He knew that,
even since Venus awakened her memories of the past life once again, he wouldn’t
be able to count on Artemis’s support anymore. He was now well and truly alone.
“Usagi-chan has a good heart. Perhaps we should trust in
her intentions concerning the Ginzuishou”
Trust… Seiichi shook his head. The plushie hadn’t been
present when the Princess appeared. She was just as dangerous as she was in the
past life, perhaps more so now. How could they trust her? Indeed Seiichi had no
intention of doing so.
“She has to give up the Ginzuishou,” he told Artemis, “And
if she refuses then we shall take it from her.”
“We?” Artemis echoed, “You cannot expect Endymion to agree
to that and nor do I. I am still one of the guardian cats, remember?”
Seiichi knew this was true. The Master would never agree
to take the Ginzuishou from the Princess and he could hardly go against
Endymion…
The bedroom door opened, and Artemis leapt underneath the
bed as Tetsuya entered, carrying a suitcase, “Seiichi-kun, I have to catch my
plane in an hour” he said, his voice betraying his fury at his younger charge.
Seiichi shrugged, “Then shouldn’t you be going to the
airport now?”
Tetsuya’s eyes narrowed angrily at his tone and Seiichi
knew he was out of order, but was passed caring. “It isn’t too late if you
would like to come with me.”
“I have things to do here.”
“Such as?”
“Just things.”
“Seiichi, what am I supposed to tell them? You have to
come to Kamakura with me!”
“I don’t have to do anything.”
“You are not to blame for what happened” he said quietly,
“No one blames you so why must you blame yourself like this?”
Seiichi turned away, all the anger and hurt and
frustration of the mission were threatening to overwhelm him. He couldn’t… he
couldn’t take much more of this.
“You don’t know anything about me,” he said slowly,
struggling to control the obvious internal pain that echoed in his voice. “So
do not presume otherwise.”
“Seiichi--”
“Just don’t… don’t…”
“You’ve changed, Seiichi. There was a time when you used
to care about other people. When did you become so selfish? Well you can drown
in your senseless self pity for all I care!”
Tetsuya left and Seiichi let him go. What the hell did his
manager know anyway? How dare Tetsuya judge him? Seiichi didn’t have to answer
to anyone except the Master.
“Seiichi?” Artemis broke into his anger once more,
“Daijobu?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you?”
“Yes!” Seiichi snapped. It was growing dark outside, he
noted and as he hurried towards the door, transforming as he did so. Now that
the Princess had awakened there wasn’t much time…
“Where are you going?” Artemis called after him.
“To get the Ginzuishou.”
“Zoisite, you can’t!”
Zoisite ignored the plushie. Even though it did go against
his Master, Zoisite knew he had to obtain the Ginzuishou. The Princess had
already awakened once and caused destruction. Next time… who knew what the
scale of the damage could be.
******
“Is this the burden of the past life? Will she continue to
suffer for it? Even in this world?”
Taro slammed the front door behind him, the day’s events
whirling around inside his mind until they became nothing but a kaleidoscope of
colours and stricken voices. He ignored Kanaye’s angry shouts and even his
brother’s request to find out what was wrong. After Mamoru had left the
Shitennou had also gone their separate ways. Only Taro had remained with
Masaki, helping the younger man to get home before he came back here.
Thankfully Masaki’s parents had been out, a social event, or so Masaki
explained. His friend had all but collapsed when they had got through the door
and a part of Taro was angry with Seiichi for allowing Masaki to get hurt.
It wasn’t his fault, Taro reminded himself. How could he
know that Beryl would turn on Masaki? He supposed that he was still furious
over their confrontation of before. Well, it wasn’t really a confrontation,
Taro thought awkwardly. Obviously Seiichi had some issues and it wasn’t in
Taro’s nature to question what these might be. As long as they didn’t affect
the mission, that was.
Taro stormed upstairs, unable to control his fury at
Mamoru for allowing Sailor Moon to keep the Ginzuishou, despite himself. It was
obvious that Kisho had been right. The Princess was too powerful and the
Ginzuishou was the source of her power. Surely even Tsukino Usagi could
understand why they had to take such lengths to protect their planet? If she
truly cared for the fate of the Earth then why didn’t she just hand it over?
“I am… The destroyer of worlds…”
She had even as good as admitted it! Taro, at one time,
had been for letting her keep the Ginzuishou and saving the Senshi, but now he
didn’t know. It pained him to think that he might have to choose between
Mercury and the mission. It was a choice that Taro didn’t feel that he was
ready to make.
He slammed his bedroom door behind him and then turned
around in shock. As though guessing his thoughts, Mercury was standing by the
window, staring up at the full moon. She was shaking slightly and Taro’s first
reaction was to go to her and draw her into an embrace, whilst whispering:
“You shouldn’t be here. What if Kanaye had found you?”
Mercury pulled free, her distress clear in her eyes and
this made Taro all the more concerned for her.
“In here is safe enough” she said softly, forcing a gentle
smile, “So this is where you live.”
Taro blushed at the various items of clothing, CDs and
magazines that littered the floor and the unmade bed. “If I had known you were
coming over I would have tidied up a bit” he answered hurriedly.
Mercury giggled and then her expression became deadly
serious once again, prompting Taro to ask:
“Has something happened?”
She nodded, again seemingly tortured by what she was about
to tell him and she was silent for several minutes before answering, “It’s
Venus.”
“Venus?”
Mercury took to pacing up and down the room, chewing
nervously on her lower lip, “I was worried about you. The Princess has now
awakened her full powers and I was coming to see you anyway when I heard them
talking.”
“Who?”
“Beryl-sama and her shadow.”
“Talking you said?” Taro prompted again when she refused
to elaborate.
“Do you remember when I didn’t warn you of Beryl’s plans
concerning Endymion before? You were so angry with me despite that I kept it
from you to save you. I gave you the seal of the old Kingdom to prove that I
love you and that you are the only person that matters in this world.”
“Yes? Do you still mean this?”
“Of course! But… the Senshi also matter to me… I just
didn’t realise it until now. Venus is… Venus is a traitor.”
“A traitor?”
“She seeks to steal the Ginzuishou for Beryl. She has been
using the Princess’s loneliness in order to get close to her. She is going to
take the Ginzuishou tonight.”
Taro started towards the door, knowing that, if Mercury
spoke the truth (which he knew she must do), that he had to get to Tsukino
Usagi’s house and stop her from making yet another foolish mistake. Mercury
raced after him, clamping a hand down on his shoulder and forcing him to stop
in his tracks.
“You mustn’t hurt her. Venus is being used by Beryl. Deep
down she is still my leader. Please… promise me that no harm will come to her.”
“You know I can’t promise you that” Taro answered her,
though the wounded expression upon her face pained him to even gaze upon. It
had taken a lot for Mercury to come here and tell him this, Taro knew, but he
also knew that he couldn’t make such a promise simply because he did not know
if he could keep it.
“Taro--”
“I won’t fight her unless I have too” he settled on at
last and Mercury seemed to accept this, though the misgiving upon her face said
more than she ever would.
Planting one last kiss on her lips, Taro left the room,
again ignoring Kanaye’s demands to know where he was going at this time of
night.
“You mustn’t hurt her. Venus is being used by Beryl. Deep
down she is still my leader. Please… promise me that no harm will come to her.”
She was the enemy, Taro reminded himself, but so was
Mercury or so the other Tennou would think. When the Princess had awoken, Taro
had recognised a turning point in their struggle against the Dark Kingdom.
Beryl’s power was not infinite. The Queen of the Dark Kingdom could be beaten,
but he knew Beryl would be out for revenge against the Princess for the
humiliation of today.
“Unforgivable. I won’t forget this!”
She wouldn’t, Taro knew. Beryl would now become even more
determined to capture their Prince and take control of the planet.
*****
Mercury sank back down on the bed, all her energy leaving
her body as she had teleported back to the Dark Kingdom. She had betrayed her
leader.
“Princess. You are a fool. The Senshi serve Beryl and no
other. For a while I could not see this, but now I do. Beryl-sama will reclaim
what is hers. This I shall help her to do, regardless of the cost.”
Ever since Venus’s cold words, Mercury had followed the
blonde Senshi. Watching in secret as she tricked the Princess into following
the Shitennou to Endymion. She had watched in pain as Venus laughed at
Serenity’s stupidity and seen the Princess take over Sailor Moon. No matter
what Mercury’s feelings regarding the past life might be, ever since she first
met Taro she knew that she had feelings and now, seeing what Beryl was doing to
them all, she had the strength to confront those feelings and want to help her
friends. By betraying Venus, a nasty voice in the back of her head reminded
her. Taro would have to fight her if she truly intended on stealing the
Ginzuishou. There was no way around this. Venus would be injured or worse if
she tried to take the illusionary gem that was the cause of all their fighting
and suffering.
Clasping the pendant that Taro had given her tightly in
one hand, Mercury simply prayed that she had done the right thing.
*****
“So” Beryl said, waving her hands delicately over her
shimmering red crystal as she addressed those before her. “Venus intends on
tricking the Princess into handing over the Ginzuishou.”
“Yes, Beryl-sama” Mars answered, bowing as low as she
could before her Queen and refusing to meet Mio’s sullen gaze. Both her shadow
and the Queen herself had been beside themselves with fury when the Princess
awoke her full powers and thwarted Beryl’s perfect plan to make Endymion her
own. Since then she had calmed somewhat and this calm was almost as dangerous.
Mars didn’t like it and she didn’t like the fact that Venus was always in the
spotlight. Why should she be? Anyone could see that she, Dark Mars, was much
better suited to being leader of the Dark Senshi.
Mars sighed to herself. Venus would fail… she always did
and then perhaps Beryl-sama would look more favourably upon Mars once again.
“Venus is becoming a liability,” Beryl said suddenly,
startling Mars out of her thoughts though the Queen was speaking to Mio now.
“If she succeeds she will be of little use to me and if she fails…” Beryl
smiled, showing off her fang-like teeth, “Failure is no longer an option for
her. You will go and see that the job gets done properly.”
Mars bolted up at this, “Beryl-sama! Why not let me go?”
She almost choked on her words as Beryl whirled around to
face her. No one had ever dared question the Queen’s decisions before.
“You are almost as dispensable as your leader so hold your
tongue! My orders are not to be questioned. Why not try to earn my love instead
of this constant grumbling!”
Mars lowered her head, meekly, well aware that Mio gave
her a disdainful glare before teleporting away.
“No matter what” Mars vowed to herself, “I shall prove to
Beryl that I am just as worthy as her shadow to have this mission… no matter
what it takes.”
*****
“I am… The destroyer of worlds…”
“Usagi-chan” Luna whispered sadly,
nuzzling her charge’s arm as she did so as though trying to provide just a
little comfort to her. Usagi smiled sadly and petted the cat on the head, not
taking her eyes off of the locket that sat on the desk before her. The
Ginzuishou… it held the power to save her Senshi and yet also gave her the
power to play God. Usagi hated that feeling of nothingness. When she became the
Princess she forgot all about the people she cared about. All the Princess
wanted was Endymion and would do whatever it took to get him. In some respects
Usagi could sympathise with her. Her heart ached as much as the Princess’s did
when she thought of Mamoru, but she had hurt his guardians… Of course the Shitennou were her enemy, but
that didn’t mean that Usagi wanted them dead. Ueda-san, Kimura-san, Tamura-san
and Komoro-san obviously meant a lot to Mamoru. He had been willing to
sacrifice everything for them. Beryl had known this and used it against him.
Usagi started to shake as she felt a
familiar wave of anger threaten to overwhelm her. On the desk her locket began
to glow.
“Usagi-chan!” Luna cried and the
pigtailed girl took a deep breath, willing away her controlling emotions. She
couldn’t afford to think like that… to do so would be… it didn’t bear thinking
about.
The light from the locket died and Usagi
slumped back down, tears filling her eyes. The Ginzuishou… for so long it had
been a source of hope for her and now… now it only brought her pain.
“Princess” she turned around on hearing
Venus’s voice. Venus was the only one of the Senshi to regain her memories of
the past life. Venus was the only one of the Senshi whom Usagi could confide
in.
Sure enough the leader of the Senshi
appeared before her, down on one knee as always as Usagi took a step towards
her, clutching her locket tightly in one hand.
“Venus” she began, her voice wavering in
places as she spoke, “The Shitennou were right. I have a weak heart. My love
for Mamoru makes me weak.”
“You love Endymion? Even in this world?”
“Not just Endymion. He is Mamoru now”
Usagi answered sadly, “And Mamoru doesn’t love me.”
”Because of this other girl? She is dead.”
Usagi winced at Venus’s harsh tone,
“Just because she’s dead doesn’t mean that he will stop caring for her.
Hina-san was a good person and she died because of a past life that didn’t even
involve her.”
“I’m sorry” Venus said quietly, lowering
her gaze, “I simply meant that wounds heal. His love for her could never
compare with what you had in the past life.”
“The past life” Usagi echoed, a little
bitterly. She cared nothing for the past life! She had fallen in love with
Mamoru well before she realised that she was the Princess. Even when she
thought that Komoro-san was the Prince she still loved Mamoru. It was Mamoru
who she loved, not Endymion. Usagi was tired of being tied to the past life.
She was sick of being dictated to by a life that she no longer remembered.
“All this has done is bring us pain,”
Usagi said softly, staring down at the Ginzuishou, “I haven’t been able to use
it to save the Senshi.”
“You just need to learn to control its
power, Princess--”
“No” Usagi cut her off, “It is this
which is the destroyer of worlds, not I.”
“Usagi-chan, what are you saying?” Luna
cried out, aghast.
Usagi opened her locket, staring down at
the sparkling gemstone, its very presence sealing her decision. She pulled the
Ginzuishou free from its setting, feeling its power growing stronger as she
cupped in her bare hand, before reaching out. Usagi pressed the Ginzuishou into
Venus’s gloved hand as she said:
“You are the leader. I will entrust it
to your safekeeping.”
“But--” Venus started to protest but
Usagi cut her off again.
“I will save the Senshi,” she vowed
quietly, “But as Sailor Moon. I have no need for the powers of the past life.”
Venus seemed to understand and
teleported away without another word. Usagi sank back down onto her bed,
blinking back tears. It was done… she had, had the strength to do the right
thing. Luna did not say a word, but Usagi could tell that her friend felt a
little betrayed. Usagi knew that she hadn’t been confiding in her guardian, but
Luna could never understand the frightening and overwhelming power of the
Princess. No one could… not unless they had experienced it for themselves.
“No” she whispered in a small voice and then louder, “No!
Endymion!”
She would not become a slave to the past
life… not in this world.
“Usagi!”
She was jolted out of her thoughts when
Ikuko burst into her bedroom. Luna gave a surprised squeak and hid behind some
other plushies as Usagi turned around. Her mother frowned: “I thought I heard
talking up here?”
“No” Usagi shook her head, “I had my
radio on.”
Ikuko sighed and walked over to her
daughter, pressing a hand to her forehead as she did so, “You look a little
pale. Are you coming down with something?”
“No. I’m fine.”
“Usagi, I know you are worried about
Naru-chan, but--”
“I’m fine, Mama, really.”
Ikuko sighed and then smiled, “Good,
because you’ve got a visitor.”
“A visitor? Why didn’t you tell them to
come up?”
Ikuko smiled craftily, “Now what would
papa say if he thought that I had allowed a boy to see you in your bedroom.”
“A boy?” Usagi repeated, her heart
leaping, perhaps it was Mamoru?
“He’s in the lounge” Ikuko’s grin became
wider, “You didn’t tell me you had a boyfriend, Usagi.”
“I don’t…” she started, trailing off as
she followed her mother back downstairs. Usagi was well aware of her heart
pounding in her ears as she stepped into the lounge, but the person waiting in
there was not Mamoru.
“Kimura-san?” Usagi whispered, taking a
step back.
Ikuko, suddenly sensing the urgency of
the situation left the room, even as Taro jumped up from the sofa and hurried
towards her.
“The Ginzuishou” he hissed, “Where is
it?”
“I…” Usagi trailed off, unsure of what
to say to him.
“Where is it?” Taro repeated.
His tone was angrier than normal, even
for him, and Usagi replied quietly, “I gave it away.”
“What? To whom?”
“Venus.”
“You fool!” Taro shouted before
transforming before Usagi’s eyes and teleporting from the room.
Usagi stumbled back into the closed
door, her heart hammering wildly in her chest. What was that all about? Venus
was her friend. Usagi trusted her, so why didn’t Taro want Venus to have the
Ginzuishou?
*****
“I will save the
Senshi. But as Sailor Moon. I have no need for the powers of the past life.”
“What a fool” Venus mused quietly to
herself as she walked down the dimly lit streets of the suburbs of Tokyo. “She
didn’t suspect a thing. She is completely trusting and handed it right over!
What a fool!”
“Sailor Moon?”
“I’m sorry… I couldn’t save you…”
“Daijobu…”
“Venus?”
Venus frowned slightly. What was that?
That… that memory sparked something inside of her… it was…
“Jupiter, Mercury, Mars. Go back to the Princess’s side.”
“What is this?” she whispered, clenching
the Ginzuishou tightly in the palm of her hand. As soon as she had obtained the
gemstone, Venus had thought of teleporting straight back to the Dark Kingdom
and now… confusion marred her thoughts. She was aware that she was trembling
slightly as she leaned back against the wall of a shop. She was…
“Venus” she jumped at being addressed
and whirled around, automatically taking a fighting stance. Her confusion/memories
were forgotten when she saw him and a cruel smile twisted her lips as she held
the Ginzuishou up as though it were a trophy.
Nephrite’s eyes narrowed when he saw the
stone and Venus’s grin widened, even as he drew his sword and took a step in her
direction.
*****
“I gave it away.”
“What? To whom?”
“Venus.”
“You fool!”
Usagi exhaled softly, clenching a fist
tightly in one hand as she struggled to understand what exactly had taken place
here. What had happened? She had thought that he would be glad that she had
given the Ginzuishou away. The Shitennou did not want her to have the
Ginzuishou after all so why was Taro so angry with her for giving it away? It
just didn’t make sense! Venus could be trusted… couldn’t she?
Usagi’s gaze fell upon her mobile phone, which was sitting
on the coffee table. She could call Mamoru. He would know why Taro was acting
this way… but Mamoru was…
“Why should I be afraid of calling Mamoru?” Usagi asked
out loud, “He’s defended me against the Shitennou before and I need to find out
why Taro was so against Venus.”
Smiling, her momentary panic forgotten at the prospect of
speaking to Mamoru, Usagi leant down to pick up her phone when she felt a hand
clamp around her mouth.
“Princess” she heard a voice whisper in her ear, “Where is
the Ginzuishou?”
Usagi shook her head, which was all she could do, and she
felt the hand be removed. She darted across to the other side of the room and
whirled around to see who her attacker was.
“Seiichi-kun?” Usagi whispered softly and then, “Zoisite?”
she corrected herself as the white haired Tennou stalked towards her, his
expression was difficult to read. He appeared angry, almost as angry as Taro
had been, but there was something more…
“No. It is not their battle and neither is it yours.”
“There is more to it than that. You are afraid of
something.”
“Yes” Seiichi snapped, “That Beryl will---”
“Not Beryl. Something in here” Usagi placed one hand over
her heart, “What can possibly be so terrible?”
For some reason Usagi recalled her words to him in the Okura
a few weeks ago. What an age ago that seemed now, she thought sadly.
“Princess” Zoisite repeated, “Where is the Ginzuishou?
Tell me! I won’t ask again”
“How could I when you put a hand over my mouth?” Usagi
pouted, causing him to halt in his tracks.
Something told Usagi not to tell him about Venus and so
she shook her head, “I won’t let you take it. I told you I need it to save my
Senshi.”
Zoisite shook his head and held out a hand. A gasp escaped
Usagi’s lips when she saw her transformation locket lying open in his palm. She
had left that upstairs….
“Where is it?”
Usagi trembled slightly. Why was he acting like this?
Though she didn’t know Seiichi that well, Usagi was almost positive that
something else was troubling him, something that had nothing to do with the
mission.
Still that didn’t mean that she was going to tell him
where the Ginzuishou was, but Nephrite had gone after Venus… Nephrite might
hurt her… Zoisite had an agreement with Artemis, or so Luna said. Surely that
would involve Venus?
Usagi took a deep breath; it wasn’t like she had much
choice.
“If I tell you, will you let me come with you?”
Zoisite frowned, “Why? You must know I came here for the
Ginzuishou.”
Usagi nodded, “I know, but… you’ll understand when I tell you.”
He considered her words for a moment and then nodded,
dropping her locket into her palm and turning away. Usagi barely had time to
utter where exactly the Ginzuishou was before Zoisite teleported them both from
the room.
“Usagi-chan!” Luna cried, racing into the lounge moments
before they disappeared, “Princess…” she whimpered, “What have you done?”
*****
Mamoru couldn’t
sleep. His present insomnia was brought about by the day’s events and the
events of the weeks before. He shuddered each time he thought about how close
he had come to losing the Shitennou… his friends. He hadn’t even stayed to see
if they were all right! He had just left them!
“Usagi!” Mamoru called after her, but Zoisite reached
forward and grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks as he made to run after
her.
“Master…” he trailed off when Mamoru shook himself free,
rather roughly, and turned on them all:
“Is this the burden of the past life? Will she continue to
suffer for it? Even in this world?”
How could I have stayed? Mamoru thought angrily, they
didn’t give me any choice in the matter. They are my guardians and, I had
thought, my friends. Kisho hates me, Seiichi wants me to force Usagi into
giving up the Ginzuishou, Taro tries to be supportive, but I know he secretly
agrees with the others and Masaki… well who knew what the youngest of the
Shitennou was thinking anyway?
“Usagi!” Mamoru shouted, ignoring
the Shitennou’s protests as he stepped between Beryl and the Princess. “Usagi! Stop this!”
“Endymion” she came to a
standstill, lowering her sword as confusion registered in her eyes.
Glancing behind her, Mamoru saw the
Shitennou had stood, ready to defend him.
“Yameru!” he ordered and they
halted, unsure of what to do.
“Usagi” Mamoru stunned them all
into silence by pulling her into his arms. The Princess did not react to his
embrace, but Mamoru cared little for this new transformation.
“Usagi… come back to me, Usagi” he
urged her.
Now that he had seen the Princess’s true power… Mamoru
still wanted to be with her. He would be lying if he said that he didn’t care
for the fate of the world; he did care. He just didn’t believe that Tsukino
Usagi and the love they had for each other would destroy the planet. It had
destroyed Hina, Mamoru reminded himself. An innocent life… gone because he
didn’t have the courage to end their relationship before… before she was killed.
He still hadn’t been back to the apartment. Mamoru
couldn’t face it. He was going to sell it. Motoki had said that he could stay
with him until---
“Endymion!”
Mamoru was jolted out of his thoughts when he heard
someone calling him. Glancing up in surprise he saw Usagi’s guardian cat, Luna,
standing on the sill outside his bedroom window, frantically gesturing to be
let in.
He did so and was instantly met with lambent fury, and he
actually took a step back, shocked at the plushie’s tone.
“You should keep your Shitennou under control!” Luna
snarled out, “If you still love Usagi-chan in this world then why did you send
them against her?”
“What?” Mamoru frowned, “What are you talking about?”
“She only gave the Ginzuishou to Venus for safe keeping” Luna
continued, “I know that once she has had time to absorb the shock of what
happened she’ll want it back. Why couldn’t you believe in her? Usagi needs to
know that you trust her decisions! Why can’t you--”
“Look!” Mamoru shouted, cutting into the cat’s ravings, “I
don’t know what you are talking about. What am I have supposed to have done?
What’s happened to Usagi?”
Luna looked up, wild panic in her eyes as the truth behind
the situation dawned upon her, “You mean… you mean you didn’t send him?”
“Send who? I don’t know what you’re talking about. Has
something happened to Usagi?”
“Usagi gave Venus the Ginzuishou. Minutes later Zoisite
came after it, too. I tried to intervene but I was too late.”
“Too late?”
“He teleported away, and took Usagi-chan with him.”
******
Already transformed, Endymion was frantically searching
the streets of Tokyo, looking for signs of Zoisite and Usagi or even Venus. He
couldn’t find them and was loath to call the other Tennou for help. What the
hell was Zoisite playing at? Endymion asked himself. Luna was with him,
terrified that Zoisite would hurt Usagi, but Endymion could confidently say
that he wouldn’t. Seiichi wasn’t like that. However, it didn’t mean that
Endymion was any less concerned and, yes, a little angry, too. They had agreed
to allow Usagi to keep the Ginzuishou for now! But yesterday’s display of
power… the Princess had destroyed the world before… Still, no matter how he may
think otherwise, the Shitennou were his guardians. Surely there had to be another
explanation for this?
He found his explanation soon enough.
“Rolling heart… vibration!”
“Venus!” Luna cried as she heard the Senshi calling out
her most powerful attack. They turned the corner, but Endymion halted in his
tracks, feeling both surprise and fury when he saw whom Venus was fighting.
Venus saw them and did a back flip, coming to a standstill
a little way off, the Ginzuishou clenched tightly in her left hand.
Nephrite drew his sword, preparing to attack her again
when a new voice cried out.
“Venus!”
Endymion whirled around, seeing Zoisite and Usagi appear
in a flash of white light. Venus, too, looked surprised and then shouted:
“Princess! Do not be fooled by Endymion’s presence. They
mean to kill me and steal the Ginzuishou!”
“What?” Usagi cried, the hurt clear in her voice as she
stared upon Endymion.
“Master?” Zoisite frowned, taking an almost guilty step
backwards.
Nephrite glanced between Usagi and Endymion and then at
Venus before saying, “Usagi, don’t listen to her. Venus is a traitor. She
tricked you into giving her the Ginzuishou and now seeks to give it to Beryl.”
“He’s lying!” Venus retorted, “I would never betray my
Princess. If anything the Shitennou are going to betray the Prince. They were
going to steal the Ginzuishou from Usagi. How else would they know that she
gave it to me?”
Endymion glanced up at Nephrite and then at Zoisite. The
latter’s expression was hard to read. He kept his feelings guarded, whereas
Nephrite looked furious:
“That’s a lie!” he shouted back at the blonde Senshi, “I
sensed your presence. You called the Princess a fool!”
Endymion looked back at Usagi, helplessly. He didn’t know
what to do. Nephrite and Venus continued to shout at each other, each blaming
the other side for this. He didn’t know what to think… The Shitennou did want
to take the Ginzuishou, but surely they wouldn’t have acted without speaking
with him first? They wouldn’t have… they were his friends, too, in this world.
“They are telling the truth,” he yelled over the arguing,
“Venus is a traitor!”
“No!” Usagi whimpered, and Endymion was forced to look
away when he saw tears shining in her eyes. Then, without thinking, she darted
between Nephrite and the leader of the Dark Senshi.
“Venus is innocent.”
“Are you sure about that, Usagi-chan?”
“Mio-chan?” Usagi whispered as the girl-idol materialised
before them, a vicious and delighted smirk etched across her face as she took
in the scene before her. Endymion felt himself shaking as he gazed upon Hina’s
killer.
“Mamoru!” he heard Usagi crying again, “Stop this!”
He couldn’t stop… how could he let Hina’s killer live?
“Mamoru!” Usagi cried for a third time, “This isn’t
right!”
“Why are you angry, Mamoru-kun?” Mio pouted, “I only
killed her because of you.”
“Mamoru” Nephrite took a hesitant step towards him even as
Zoisite said:
“They are working together, Master.”
“Is this true?” Endymion demanded.
Mio pouted, “Don’t be stupid. I’m not working with her.
I’m simply here to collect the Ginzuishou” with those words, Mio whirled
around, firing an attack of purple magics directly at a stunned Dark Venus.
Both her and Usagi cried out, even as the latter transformed, racing to Venus’s
defence. The leader of the Senshi fell to her knees, the Ginzuishou falling
from her grasp.
Endymion did not see where it went and, mercifully, nor
did Mio.
“Beryl-sama…” Venus whispered weakly, gazing up,
horrified, at what was happening, “Why? I had the Ginzuishou….”
“You are becoming a liability” Mio smiled again,
“Beryl-sama does not take kindly to such failures.”
“Failures? What do you mean? I had the Ginzuishou!”
Mio shrugged, “You are outgrowing your usefulness, Venus.
I will take the Ginzuishou to Beryl” her eyes narrowed, “After I have gotten
rid of you.”
As she said these words, Sailor Moon stepped between them.
“Mou, Usagi-chan. She betrayed you. Why are you always so
quick to defend her?”
“That doesn’t matter. She is still one of my Senshi!” the
pigtailed heroine shouted back defiantly.
“How very noble of you” Mio sneered, taking a step back
and, as she did so, six shapes stepped out of the gloom and headed towards
them.
“Those guys again?” Nephrite demanded incredulously when
the cloaked Youma started to move towards them.
“Mock all you want but these Youma are a symbol of
Metallia-sama’s strength. Each time they appear they are stronger than the last
ones.”
“Metallia?” Endymion repeated, drawing his sword.
“Master, Metallia is fuelled by the Ginzuishou!” Zoisite
shouted as the Youma attacked, the nearest one lunging for the white haired
king as he spoke, “If the Dark Kingdom gets a hold of it!”
He was right, Endymion knew as the battle begun. It didn’t
matter which side Venus was on or why Usagi gave up the Ginzuishou. If the Dark
Kingdom obtained it now all would be lost.
*******
The battle raged around him, as though accentuating the
turmoil that his own mind was in. Zoisite struck again and again, yet more of
these strangely dressed Youma just appeared in the dead ones places.
Each time he cut one down, two more would replace it.
Metallia’s strength was phenomenal and she hadn’t yet utilised the
Ginzuishou…
“Metallia is nearing her full awakening. Those Youma will
continue to appear as her vassals in this world until she awakens fully. The
Ginzuishou is her anchor in this world. It is the Ginzuishou that feeds these
Youma.”
Around him, the Master and Nephrite were also fighting and
Zoisite saw that Endymion was struggling to protect the Princess and Venus as
the Youma went for the leader of the Senshi, Endymion would step in their path,
stopping them from reaching their goal. Sailor Moon faced Mio, blocking the
girl idol’s attacks with the Moon Wand, but the Princess was tiring. Kuroki Mio
was a part of Beryl and was stronger than Sailor Moon as she stood now.
“You’ve changed, Seiichi. There was a time when you used
to care about other people. When did you become so selfish? Well you can drown
in your senseless self pity for all I care!”
Selfish? What was so selfish about wanting to save the
planet? Tetsuya could never understand why he did what he had too. No one could
ever understand why he had to do what he did. The mission was all that
mattered… This was his life now. Everything else no longer mattered. He had
chosen this path long ago and there was no way back from it. Destiny wasn’t
something one could choose and he had, had to accept this a year ago.
Zoisite broke free from the fighting, ignoring the battle
and even the fact that he was supposed to protect the Master. He had come here
for the Ginzuishou and he wasn’t going to leave without it.
Scanning the darkened ground he saw it lying a few metres
away, sparkling in the moonlight. Zoisite turned his back on the battle
completely and took a step in its direction.
“Venus!” Sailor Moon’s scream cut through the din of the
battle and Zoisite whirled back round just in time to see the Princess fall,
the Moon Wand clattering from her hand onto the pavement. Almost immediately
two Youma stepped between her and Venus.
The Dark Senshi was on the ground, bleeding from a wound
in her upper arm, as Mio stepped up to her, a crackling ball of blue energy
floating just above her palm. The blonde Senshi looked up through her mattered
fringe at Mio, her gaze steady and showing no emotion.
“Venus!” Sailor Moon cried again, struggling to push
passed the Youma but they held her back.
“Seiichi!” another voice rang out and Zoisite saw Artemis
standing a little way off, his eyes wide with horror at the scene that was
unfolding before his eyes, “Venus!”
Zoisite turned, torn between his promise to the plushie and
his desire to take the Ginzuishou from the Princess. Then it happened. In that
split second of indecision, Dark Mars appeared, standing right over the
Ginzuishou. Smiling triumphantly she leant down to pick it up, thus making
Zoisite’s decision for him.
“Seiichi!” Artemis shouted as he hurled an attack of blue
energy at the newest arrival. Dark Mars was unprepared for such an onslaught
and fell back, barely managing to shield herself as she hit the ground. Zoisite
raced forwards, snatching up the illusionary gemstone and then turning back to
the battle he saw, with some remorse, that he was too late.
Venus lay on her side, her expression dull and seemingly
lifeless. Nephrite was leaning over her, as Mio laughed in triumph and
teleported away taking the remaining Youma with her.
Mars stood, a small smirk also on her lips when she saw
the fallen leader, and also made her leave.
“Venus” Sailor Moon fell to her knees, tears staining her
cheeks as the other blonde moved slightly, just enough to turn her head so that
she was looking the Princess in the eyes as she spoke:
“I’m sorry.”
“Venus!” Artemis shouted, as her eyes slid closed. Slowly,
her body began to shimmer and break down until there was nothing left. She was
gone.
Zoisite exhaled deeply, feeling a pang of guilt before he
firmly forced it down. There was nothing he could have done. There was nothing
anyone could have done. He looked away, thus accentuating his detachment from
the scene as Nephrite stood. For a moment all that could be heard was Sailor
Moon’s sobs and Luna’s hushed words of condolence.
Artemis, however, was not so easily silenced.