Earth
Guardian Prince Endymion:
By Senshi
of Ruin and Mizu no Senshi
Part Eight:
To look upon them as they were now… Endymion took a deep
breath. “Kunzite, Zoisite, Nephrite, Jadeite” he whispered as, one by one, the
Shitennou materialised before him.
“Master” Kunzite replied to this steadily as they each drew their swords and took steps towards him.
Endymion stepped back, struggling to hide his pain as they
advanced towards him, their swords drawn and pointing at their former Prince.
Swallowing hard, Endymion’s hand found the hilt of his own
weapon once more but was reluctant to draw it against them. How could he? Not
with the memories he had… memories that were still so raw…
Kunzite saw this hesitation and smirked slightly, the
coldness in his eyes chilling Endymion to the bone.
Slowly, his gaze wandered from the leader of the Shitennou
to Nephrite and Jadeite. Their eyes were narrowed into almost slits as they
gazed hatefully at him. Even Zoisite… there was nothing… they knew nothing of
their time fighting on his side.
Even so… Endymion knew he had to try… to try and reason
with them.
“Kunzite” he said, very hesitantly, “What is this? Why are
you doing this? Surely you remember when we used to fight for the same side?”
“The past life is dead,” he answered, dismissing
Endymion’s words in an instant.
“No. Not the past life. Here in this life! Surely you
recall this? We only spoke mere hours ago!”
“I know nothing of which you speak,” Kunzite declared,
nearing enough to take a swing at Endymion with his sword.
Endymion parried this attack and leapt backwards, just now
out of reach of the blade. Kunzite snorted scornfully at this, “Coward. Why
won’t you fight me?”
Endymion shook his head, now turning to Jadeite and
Nephrite instead, knowing that he would not get through to Kunzite.
“Surely you must remember? You did not believe in the past
life repeating! You said yourselves that it is this world that matters.”
They exchanged glances but said nothing to even deny what
he was saying. Spurred on by this, Endymion took them by surprise and, lowering
his weapon, he went to their sides.
“Remember Kanaye?” he said to Nephrite before turning to
Jadeite, “Remember Tori and Haru?”
At the mention of Haru, Jadeite’s sword hand started to
shake ever so slightly and he clenched his hand tighter around it so that he
would not drop the weapon.
“What foolishness is this?” Nephrite snapped, and then
adding to the blonde, “Jadeite, don’t be tricked by these names. He is trying
to confuse us into letting our guard down.”
The youngest Tennou nodded and stepped back, the confusion
gone now.
Disheartened, Endymion turned to the remaining Tennou,
“Zoisite?” he began, whilst keeping an eye on Kunzite, who had been observing
him in silence, knowing that he had to stop allowing his words to be uttered in
panic.
The white haired Tennou frowned slightly as Endymion cut
himself off from saying anything more and, instead, reached out and grabbed the
stunned King by the arm and repeated his name: “Zoisite.”
Why he reacted in this way, Endymion did not know. Perhaps
he was trying to reach out to the powers that he had possessed in the old
kingdom or awaken the loyalty inside the Shitennou once more, but his actions
appeared to have an effect on Zoisite. The man did not shake away Endymion’s
grasp, but met his gaze, before uttering:
“Master?”
“Master?” Nephrite repeated, his voice quieter and lacking
the hostility of before.
For a second no one moved. Endymion staying still for fear
of, by moving alone, he would break the spell and the Shitennou out of
confusion. Zoisite’s gaze darted from Endymion to Kunzite and then back to the
hold that the Prince had on his arm before, in one defiant movement, he pulled
away.
“Master” he continued softly, “That’s who you were… once…
in the past life…”
“Zoisite--”
“But not anymore” Kunzite answered for him, “You are, in
this world, our enemy.”
Endymion flinched at this, despite himself and Kunzite
picked up on this.
“Master” he began mockingly, “Yes, there was a time when
you were worthy of that title, but you forsaken your claim to the Shitennou the
day that you betrayed us… the day the kingdom fell.”
“Kunzite is gone. You were right. I have brought a
terrible destruction down upon the world. I abandoned my people once before. I
will not do so again.”
“You are the Prince.”
“I am and I chose to do this.”
“You are going to die! Master--”
In the past life… he had chosen to stay and fight
alongside them rather than retreat to the Silver Millennium with Serenity. He
had wanted to stay and fight with them, but to the Shitennou this had been a
misguided and foolish mistake. As the Prince and last surviving heir he was
bound by a duty to keep himself from harm and the Shitennou had to protect the
heir at all costs.
At all costs… Endymion thought to himself bitterly. His
true memories of the past life told him that Jadeite, Nephrite and Zoisite paid
with their lives for the unwise decision made by their Prince and, in these
newly created memories, Endymion knew that the Shitennou had been captured by
Beryl that day… all because they refused to leave their Prince.
Despite the latter memories being false, it still pained
Endymion so. It pained him that he was never able to remain loyal to the Shitennou
and his heart. One would always suffer because of this. He was always forced to
choose between them.
“Yes, I betrayed you” Endymion said, to himself more than
the Shitennou, “But… in this world I had hoped that I would be given the chance
to make amends.”
I was given the chance to make amends and now it has been
ripped away from me once more. Taken away before I could even realise what was
happening…
“Then make amends” Kunzite said steadily as he drew his
sword, “Be killed without protest.”
Slowly, Kunzite began to advance forward, holding his
sword out in front of him so that the tip pointed directly at Endymion.
Still loath to draw his own weapon against him, Endymion’s
gaze darted from Kunzite to Jadeite and Nephrite.
Nothing… Jadeite only smirked slightly at his panic whilst
Nephrite seemed a little uncomfortable but was too wary of his leader to say
anything.
Zoisite looked away as Endymion’s gaze met his own, not
even willing to make eye contact with him.
If I die then there will be no chance to put this right.
Endymion gasped softly at this realisation and drew his
blade and Kunzite raised his above his head and then swung it down towards him.
The two swords clashed heavily against each other, the
sound causing Endymion’s ears to ring and he stumbled back slightly under the
heavy weight of his former friend’s blade.
“Still weak” Kunzite commented coolly, “You haven’t
changed, Master.”
Frowning, Endymion thrust upwards with his blade, managing
to break the stalemate and push his former guardian back slightly.
There was no way to get through to them now, Endymion
knew. They would no longer listen to him and even if they did there was no way
for him to make them believe that this life was wrong. That someone/something
had been altering their lives in this world. That someone/something had handed
them back to Beryl in return for the Dark Senshi being returned to Sailor
Moon’s side.
So they continued to fight. Endymion being unable to break
away and the other Tennou simply watching curiously as, slowly, Kunzite began
to gain the upper hand.
Aware that he was being forced further and further back,
Endymion struggled to go on the attack, but Kunzite parried his every attempt.
He still possessed the skills that he had learned from the past life. Skills
that he had passed on to the other Tennou and Endymion.
Endymion could recall these lessons well. He often sparred
with Kunzite, observed by the others somewhat enviously. Endymion also recalled
that he was closet to Kunzite, which was why this current situation pained him
so much.
Mamoru opened his eyes, wincing slightly at the harshness
of the light streaming in through the window. He was on a bed, dressed in his
normal clothing. Usagi and Taro were kneeling beside him, the relief clear in
their eyes when he sat up and gazed around the rest of the room.
“We had to move you” Taro explained quietly, “When Beryl
left the hotel returned to normal. You’re in Komoro-san’s room.”
Mamoru nodded, his gaze now locking on the forth of his
Shitennou. Seiichi was standing beside the window, looking out across the
street, seemingly absorbed in the comings and goings of the people below them.
Masaki sat in a chair by the door, staring at the floor in
silence, stunned by this latest turn of events.
“Kisho?” Mamoru asked softly, wanting to know where his
other friend had gone.
“He left when we brought you up here” Taro explained,
“He’s probably shocked that…” he broke off and looked away.
“That I am… the Prince?”
And in the true present… Kisho had never liked Zoisite
when he thought that he was the Prince. When he found out that I was Endymion
he left. He hated me for what happened in the past life. This is simply a
reflection of what it would be like if Beryl had taken the Shitennou instead of
the Dark Senshi.
Then it was over. With one swift movement, Kunzite knocked
Endymion’s sword from his hand. The blade clattered to the ground behind him and
out of reach.
Endymion swallowed hard as Kunzite pressed the tip of his
sword to his throat. Again he searched the others faces for any kind of
remorse. Any help that they might have offered in the past life was not forth
coming now…
“Master” Kunzite smirked, “This is… the end…”
“Moon tiara… boomerang!”
Kunzite cursed and withdrew to shield himself from this
new attack. As he did so, the four Senshi cartwheeled between Endymion the
Shitennou, whilst Sailor Moon stood, poised behind him, her magical tiara
flying in a full circle and back to her outstretched hand.
“The Senshi of water and wisdom, Sailor Mercury.”
“The Senshi of flames and passion, Sailor Mars.”
“The Senshi of wood and courage, Sailor Jupiter.”
“The Senshi of love and beauty, Sailor Venus.”
“The Senshi of love and justice, Sailor Moon, and on
behalf of the Moon…”
“On behalf of Mercury.”
“On behalf of Mars.”
“On behalf of Jupiter.”
“On behalf of Venus.”
“We will punish you!”
“Sailor Senshi” Kunzite snorted scornfully, “Such a
nuisance.”
Then, nodding to the others, he regained his composure and
drew his sword once more. Jupiter reacted to this instantly by calling upon her
Supreme Thunder Attack, which Kunzite promptly blocked. Breaking the spell, the
other Senshi each fired attacks at the other Tennou. All were blocked and they
paired off to fight: Mercury against Nephrite, Mars against Jadeite, Jupiter
against Kunzite and Venus against Zoisite whilst Endymion looked helplessly on.
Sailor Moon took this opportunity to race to Endymion’s
side, “Daijobu?” she uttered softly as she had, not long before when Endymion
had fought with her, Nephrite, Kunzite and Zoisite.
Sailor Moon smiled shyly and requested to know if he was
hurt, such was the expression on his face.
Endymion shook his head, not being able
to speak as the battle raged around them.
“I’m glad,” she said with a smile.
******
“Mercury aqua… mist!” the blue haired Senshi cried out, as
she let fly her attack at her foe. Nephrite took a step backwards, raising his
cape to shield himself from the worst of the onslaught of blue mist that came
towards him.
Behind her, Mercury could hear Mars calling out her own
attack and, to her right, Jupiter and Venus fought on, their leader
occasionally shouting out orders, but mostly concentrating on her own opponent.
The Shitennou were strong, Mercury could recall this from
the past life, too. The guardians of Earth were far stronger than the Senshi
combined had been and if things continued the way they were…
Vaulting backwards as Nephrite gathered his powers and
aimed an attack of red energy at her, Mercury drew a breath; sweat already
beading on her brow as she glanced towards the Princess.
Sailor Moon fought alongside Endymion, both of them
deflecting any attack that came too near striking one of the Senshi but,
curiously enough, Endymion refused to send these attacks back at the Shitennou,
preferring to fire them off wild when he could, on many occasions, have struck
them down.
Mercury herself, did not hold back. It took most of her
energy to even block the Tennou’s stronger attacks. Again, cartwheeling to one
side to avoid being struck by a flash of red light, she was continually aware
that her own powers were growing weaker. Venus knew this too and called out for
the Senshi to pull back. Mercury understood her leader’s strategy. They had
enough energy left to try one combined attack with the Princess.
Pausing her offensive, Mercury struggled to do as her
leader commanded but Nephrite must have guessed her plan and lunged forward,
grabbing her tightly around the throat.
“Ami-chan!” Sailor Moon cried out, but none of the Senshi
could do anything as the Shitennou, too had been on retreat and Mercury’s back
was facing her comrades, If they tried to attack now then she would be struck
too.
Gagging as his grip tightened, Mercury raised her head
slightly, to stare up at her captor. Nephrite stared coldly back at her and
started to slowly lift her up off the ground. As her feet left the floor,
Mercury let out a small cry and reached up to grasp and hand around her neck.
As her palm made this contact, the strangest thing
happened. For a moment or two, her world flashed white before her eyes and when
Mercury opened them, not having been aware of them ever being shut, the scene
had changed.
“Aren’t you going to try to kill me?” she questioned after
another silence between them.
“Why? For saving my life?”
“We are enemies.” Mercury pointed out she then added in a
bid to ease the uncomfortable atmosphere. “Are you all right now?”
“The burns healed” Taro allowed, as their eyes met before
he leant down, cupping her chin in his hand and placed a tentative kiss on her
lips.
Mercury gasped, drawing back, at first, in shock and then,
once she had got over this, she smiled shyly and stepped forward again,
wrapping her hands around his neck to pull him into another embrace.
Crying out, Mercury suddenly felt herself drawn from this
recollection as Nephrite released her and hurled her back into Jupiter. The two
Senshi went sprawling on the ground at Moon’s feet, as Nephrite staggered away,
one hand pressed tightly to his forehead as his face contorted with rage.
“You bitch!” he screamed at Mercury, “What did you do to
me?”
Was it the past life?
No, it can’t have been… this was… this was the present…
“Ami-chan, daijobu?” Sailor Moon cried, leaning down to
help her too her feet. Jupiter, already gathering herself, joined Mars and
Venus in taking a defensive stance as Nephrite stumbled back to join the other
Tennou. Zoisite and Jadeite looked on in some confusion and, what Mercury,
decided was some concern whilst Kunzite snapped at Nephrite to get a hold of
himself.
To this, the red king snarled something under his breath
before turned back to the Senshi. Mercury hid from his gaze, as she accepted
Sailor Moon’s help.
Stumbling to her feet, she heard Venus call out:
“Mercury, what happened?”
She shook her head, slowly, as it pained her to even move,
such was the intensity of the flashback.
“Minna!” Venus called, taking this as assurance that
Mercury was fine, and then instructing them on their next attack.
Shaking off the feelings of doubt that were threatening to
overcome her, Mercury grasped hold of her star tambourine, getting into position
as were the other Senshi, but she did it as though still imprisoned by these
memories.
“This is wrong,” he snapped as she reached out towards
him, “We’re supposed to be enemies!”
“I know” Mercury replied, letting her arm fall to her side
once more, “I know.”
“Taro” Mercury whispered softly, even as Sailor Moon cried
out:
“Moonlight attractive---”
“Yameru!” Endymion cut into her thoughts by crying out and
stepping between the Senshi and the Shitennou.
Meeting his stunned gaze, Sailor Moon slowly lowered her
Moon Wand, the power fading gradually from it. Lowering her own weapon, Mercury
glanced hesitantly towards Venus, as did the other Senshi, looking to their
leader of guidance.
Venus shook her head gently, and then nodded towards the
Shitennou. One by one they were fading away before her eyes, becoming nothing
but air. To this, Endymion cried out again, confirming his anguish.
Again, glancing at her comrades, a soft cry escaped
Mercury’s own lips. She was, too, gradually fading away. Her skin had taken on
a translucent tone and, as she held her hand up to eye level, she watched it
disappear right before her eyes.
“Ami-chan! Rei-chan! Mako-chan! Minako-chan!” Sailor Moon
cried out as with the Shitennou, they disappeared completely. Minako was first;
Makoto followed her and then Rei. Finally, her eyes widening in horror, Sailor
Moon raced forward as Mercury held out her hand towards her Princess, as though
silently calling her for help.
“Ami-chan!” Sailor Moon screamed as their hands, for a
fleeting moment, touched and then Mercury found herself lost to nothingness.
******
Endymion watched,
paralysed by a mixture of helplessness and shock as, one by one, the Senshi and
Shitennou disappeared. Sailor Moon struggled to grab hold of Mercury’s fading
form, failing to do so and sprawling to the ground as a low sob racked her
body.
As she cried out, Endymion de-transformed, discarding his
past self somehow gave him a better hold of the situation and he raced to
Sailor Moon’s side tentatively placing his hands on her shoulders as she pushed
herself up onto her knees.
“Usagi?” Mamoru whispered as, slowly, she reached up with
a shaking hand and touched his cheek.
“Endymion.”
As she spoke his past name, Mamoru withdrew as though her
touch had burned him. Bolting up he saw what he should have seen from the
beginning.
Slowly, the shocked and pained look on Usagi’s face
hardened and, as she gathered herself, her transformation changed into that of
Princess Sailor Moon’s.
“Usagi…”
“You…” Mamoru breathed, “It can’t have been”
Kisho knew… he knew that the Princess had been behind this
after all. Why hadn’t he said anything?
Would I have believed it? I always wanted to see the best in Usagi… I wouldn’t
have believed it.
This isn’t Usagi. She would never do this… it is the
Princess who…
“Endymion” she repeated, taking a step towards him, her
gaze fixed on her own even as Mamoru demanded to know what she had done with
the Shitennou and Senshi.
“I did nothing” she answered coldly, “Your remembrance of
what had once been caused a rift in the world as it is now. Mercury regaining
some of her memories triggered this. Time has frozen until I chose the path
that we will all take.”
“You have that power?”
“The Ginzuishou is---”
“As strong as the heart of the wielder” Mamoru finished
for her, “But why? I don’t understand.”
“In the past life my Senshi were taken from me. Snatched
from my side by the Dark Kingdom, but they were not its true targets. Queen
Beryl, driven by her jealously and rage, desired the Shitennou. She wanted to
turn them against you, to hurt you. Look deep inside yourself and you know that
my words are true.”
They were, Mamoru knew. In the past life Beryl had barely
acknowledged the Senshi’s existence and the Shitennou were the most powerful of
the guardians. It was the Shitennou whom she had been hoping to ensnare in her
trap that day and it was only by fate itself that they had been forced to
return to the palace. Beryl made the best of the situation and knew that the
Senshi’s betrayal would hurt the Princess deeply.
“So you decided to change that” Mamoru whispered steadily,
“You used the Ginzuishou to alter history. Why not save them all? Why force the
Shitennou to change places with them?”
“You cannot change destiny. One set of guardians were
destined to betray this planet. It did not matter which. Fate always has one
outcome. The guardians will pay for their betrayal with their lives in the end.
I wish to spare my Senshi this.”
“I think you’re lying. How can destiny become the same if
some parts of history are re-written?”
“Destinies differ depending on who is living but the
outcome will always be the same. This planet will be destroyed, be it by
Beryl’s hand or my own.”
“I don’t believe you! Usagi would never allow this!”
Holding his furious gaze, Princess Sailor Moon slowly
raised her harp and started to play as she spoke her next words: “She did allow
it. After the loneliness that she had endured to wait for you, finding out that
Beryl would never let you be together was too much.”
Drawn by the sound of the harp playing, Mamoru slowly
closed his eyes as his world changed perspective and he started to see things
through Tsukino Usagi’s eyes:
“I am…” Usagi whispered, a single tear running down her
cheek as she glanced up at Mamoru, “The destroyer of worlds…” with this she
turned and ran.
“Usagi!” she heard Mamoru calling after her, but this only
caused her to run faster. He wouldn’t come after her… why would he? Hina was
dead and Beryl had made her intentions fully clear. Between her and the
Shitennou, they would never allow Usagi to be with Mamoru. No matter how many
times she was reborn… no matter how much she wanted it.
Before she knew it she had reached home. Roughly pulling
open her front door she fled upstairs to her room, ignoring Ikuko’s worried
cries as she did so.
Throwing herself down onto the bed, Usagi angrily tore her
locket from around her neck and hurled it against her closed bedroom door.
What was the use of her power if she couldn’t control it?
She had been unable to save her friends and she could no longer be with the man
she loved. How could she go on? Queen Beryl had taken everything from her.
You should not risk everything for someone you don’t
understand.
Someone had told her this once and Usagi knew it to be
true. She had very often laid her heart on the line for Mamoru. When she was
with him nothing else mattered and when she was apart from him her world seemed
incomplete. She loved him now, more so than in the past life, and not just for
being Endymion. She loved Mamoru for being himself. The Prince was still a part
of him, but they were both more than simple reincarnations of their former
lives. They were reborn so that they could be granted a second chance, a chance
to do things differently and yet the sadness and pain of the Silver Millennium
was following them and Usagi knew that Beryl would never cease to shadow them.
Beryl would never give up her hold on the Senshi or her desire for the Prince.
Locked in the past life, unable to let things go, Usagi
knew that this would consume them all. Her past self was dangerous, desired
Endymion also and Usagi had seen already how far she would go to keep him from
the Queen of the Dark Kingdom. The Princess would never give up Endymion. She
wouldn’t stop and, if Beryl tried to take him again, she would destroy the
planet to get him back.
“If you understand this so well then why don’t you give
up?” the Princess asked softly, as light pulsed out from her locket and slowly
shimmered to take the form of Princess Sailor Moon once more.
Usagi shuddered slightly, wanting to look away, a part of
her recognising her own desires reflecting in the face of the Princess and
hating it.
“Because you hurt people. You nearly killed the Shitennou
as well as Beryl” Usagi answered her quietly.
“The Shitennou should have been taken, not my Senshi.”
“I know, but--”
“But nothing. The Shitennou are walking free whilst my
Senshi suffer. This is not how it was meant to be.”
“Why must you be like this? Things are different in this
world.”
“The past will always repeat.”
“Not if we resist its pull. Mamoru doesn’t believe it!”
“He does. You saw that look in his eyes as clearly as I
did. You will never be together. We will never be together.”
Mamoru… It is true… we can never be together, for the sake
of the planet we must stay apart but…
My power… the power to save the Senshi. Is this what she
is offering me?
If I had them then perhaps giving up Mamoru would be that
little bit more bearable. If I don’t save them soon then they will die.
“That is true” Princess Sailor Moon confirmed softly,
“They betrayed the planet so they are destined to pay for this treachery with
death.”
Mercury… Mars… Jupiter… Venus…
~~~~~~
“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.
“Endymion!” Beryl shouted over the roar of the flames as smoke
clouded the atmosphere, “Do you wish for the Shitennou to suffer further?”
Mamoru shook his head, casting his gaze away from Sailor
Moon’s heartbroken one as he prepared to step through the portal.
“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
~~~~~~
“Save them,” Usagi whispered brokenly. Maybe with the
Senshi, she could master the Ginzuishou’s powers. Once she had done that then
she could truly set everyone free of the past life. That was all she truly
wanted. She just wanted to take the pain away…
******
“She did allow it. After the loneliness that she had
endured to wait for you, finding out that Beryl would never let you be together
was too much.”
“Usagi” Mamoru whispered as this vision
faded. He was aware that he had stepped back in shock and some fury as he gazed
at the Princess once more.
Usagi didn’t know that Kisho-tachi would have to pay this
price… how could she have? She would never have allowed this if she had known.
“Nothing in this world is for free,”
Princess Sailor Moon answered, as though guessing his thoughts.
As she spoke these words, slowly, one by
one, the Senshi appeared at her side once more. Mars and Mercury stood either
side of her, with Jupiter and Venus knelt down in front of them.
“Endymion” Princess Sailor Moon took a
step towards Mamoru once more, her hand reaching out to him. With a lightening
quick reaction, Mamoru slapped her hand away. Her eyes widened at this reaction
and instantly the Senshi sprang into defensive poses, still in thrall to their
Princess. Princess Sailor Moon held out a hand, a silent plea for them to step
down as she gazed questioningly at Mamoru.
“You said, once, that you cannot change
someone’s heart” Mamoru started, trying to crush his anger towards her. He
understood her pain; indeed he felt it now the Shitennou were gone, but this
was… this was not how things were meant to be.
“Beryl wanted me to do this, but it
would not have been real. Surely this” he gestured to the Senshi, “This is not
real. Your power is not infinite. Your powers did not block my memories of
Kisho-tachi completely and some memories of the Senshi’s time in the Dark
Kingdom remain. You cannot change what is, all you do is mask it. You must be
able to see that?”
As he spoke, for a brief second, the
Senshi’s images flickered slightly before the Princess’s hardened frown
reinstated them. “This is no matter. Over time you will forget.”
“No. I’ll never forget and neither will
they, not truly. Already they are starting to recall their true past. You
cannot continue to keep this from them forever. Soon they will remember and
when they do you will lose them as they will never forgive you, and neither
will I.”
“You will never forgive me?”
“I will never forgive you.”
“No. You are Endymion. We are meant to
be together.”
“Not in this lifetime. You forced me to
choose you over them before. I will not do so again. If you truly believe that
we are supposed to be together then leave things as they are meant to be.
Perhaps the Senshi were taken for a reason. How can you be so sure about the
outcome of this battle? How can you be sure that we will lose?”
“Beryl will never give you up.”
“As will you. If you become like her
then your jealousy and hatred will destroy the planet. Stop this. What is this
going to accomplish?” with these words, Mamoru reached forward and took hold of
her shoulders. This time the Senshi did nothing to react and allowed him to
pull their Princess forward slightly, “Let this go” he urged her, “Let this go…
Usagi…”
“Endymion.”
“Usagi!”
Tuxedo Kamen raced forwards as Sailor Moon fell. All he
could think about was saving her and did not give a thought to his own safety
or the cries from his friends as he lunged forwards to grab the sailor suited
soldier by her left arm. She gasped as he leant far over the edge, struggling
with her weight as well as his own. Then it was over. He felt himself slip and
Sailor Moon let out another scream as they fell.
Even as they began their downwards decent to certain
death, Tuxedo Kamen did not let go of Sailor Moon’s hand. She gripped onto his
just as tightly and in the other she held her Crescent Moon Wand. As she held
this, the silver moon began to glow until a pinkish light covered them both.
Tuxedo Kamen gasped as their fall slowed until they were being lowered down the
side of the building.
Sailor Moon gasped and then started to hum the Moonlight
Sonata as their feet touched the ground. Such a silly girl, Tuxedo Kamen
thought with a smile as she ceased her tune and looked adoringly up at him.
“Thank you” she whispered shyly. “You saved me again.”
“M-Mamoru?” the Princess whispered as
she gazed up at him as a tear slowly trickled free from her left eye and ran
down her cheek to drip onto her locket. As it made this contact, her locket
shone a golden glow, engulfing them and the Senshi. Pulling Usagi tightly
against him, Mamoru held her as, one by one, the Senshi disappeared as the
light touched them.
“Minna” she whispered brokenly, “All
I’ve done… how will they forgive me? This is unforgivable!”
“They will forget” Mamoru answered her,
“This world was created by the Ginzuishou and the will of the Princess. It will
go back to how things were when you ran away after becoming the Princess for
the first time.”
“They won’t remember?”
Mamoru silently shook his head.
“I’m sorry. You must hate me…”
“You were lonely” Mamoru whispered as
the light grew stronger around them, “And for that I’m sorry.”
“Mamoru” she sobbed, her grip on him
tightening and Mamoru said nothing more. He was sorry that she had been lonely,
but how could he promise her that things would be different when he would
forget that he ever made that promise?
Instead he did the only thing that he
could do. Leaning down, he captured her lips in a gentle kiss. This was all he
could do. He could give her this memory with the promise that, one day, they
might be able to have something more than a fleeting moment. That, when the
past was no longer dictating their lives in the present, they could be together
once more…
******
Mamoru…
“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.
The memory of their treasured kiss and that he had cared
enough to bring her back to this point. It would never be enough and Usagi
would never stop hoping for more…
“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.”
He doesn’t love me, he can’t love me in this present but
maybe, one day, we can be together. For now I will keep on fighting for this…
for our present and for my Senshi… for this is all I have left…
*******
>>To be continued in Act 37