Usagi knelt over Mamoru's prone form. "Please." She whispered as she took his wrist feeling for a pulse.
"NO!" She cried in anguish, dropping the lifeless hand. It wasn't there. No pulse. No gentle throbbing to reassure her that her beloved was still alive.
She tilted his head back and began to try and breathe life back into the clammy body. Then she positioned her hands and pressed firmly down on his chest, willing his heart to start beating on its own. Her entire world focused on being the heart and lungs for two people.
"And one and two and three and four..."
Tears were streaming down her face. "Come on." She cajoled him. "You're too stubborn to die. Who's going to tease me, call me Odango Atama?"
"Kami, what I would give to hear that name one more time."
The air turned distinctly chilly as a figure swathed in black stepped into the clearing. "He's dead you realize." The voice that came from the thin lips held a note of triumph.
Usagi didn't pay any attention to him; in fact, she made no sign that she had even heard the apparition. Her entire concentration was centered on trying to make Mamo-chan breathe again, through the miracle known as CPR.
Death's visage grew slightly annoyed when he realized that the blonde was ignoring him. "Didn't you hear what I said?" He demanded, his voice full of ice.
Usagi spared one moment from her important mission to gaze up at the apparition up. She studied the wraith calmly, decided he couldn't help her; so she glanced back down and ignored him.
Death wanted to stamp his foot in frustration. In the entire history of the Universe, NO ONE had dismissed him so easily. It just wasn't done. "He's dead. Leave him be."
Just then Mamoru sat up coughing. Usagi patted his back, helping him to clear his throat. As soon as she assured herself that he was okay; Usagi stood up and stared at Death indignantly.
The royal princess was thoroughly pissed off and felt the need to shed blood.
"Leave us alone." She ordered, transforming instantly into Sailor Moon, a golden crescent flashing on her forehead.
Sailor Moon stepped in front of Mamoru, blocking any chance Death had of reaching him. She gripped her tiara tightly, prepared to use it against the person who had tried to let her Mamo-chan die off. "Go now before I decide to moondust you."
Death stared back at her, his face unchanging. The darkness coalesced into a single pinprick of nothingness. "Dust!" The voice called, echoing in a cacophony of voices. "How appropriate!" With that the figure disappeared leaving silence behind.
Mamoru cried out in pain. Usagi turned around, wishing to comfort him; but she could only stare at the sight that met her eyes. Mamoru had changed, aging thirty years in only a moment. Wrinkles lined his face and his hair was shot through with silver.
"Usako." He whispered reaching his hands towards her.
"You're bleeding." She whispered as she knelt down, took his hands into her own, and examined them. Miniscule cracks were forming at his finger joints, dripping blood slowly. The cracks continued on up his arms to his neck and over the rest of his body. The blood oozed out slowly, until most of his body was covered in a crimson mass, saturating his clothes.
Usagi was near tears; she had no idea how to stop this. "Unless I cover him up like a mummy, there's no way I can bandage his entire body." She cried in relief as the blood stopped flowing and began to dry up. "I love you." Mamoru whispered as he lifted his blood-encrusted hand to his soulmate's face.
Usagi kissed the hands quietly, ignoring the bitter taste.
"Don't worry, we'll find some way to change you back."
Mamoru shook his head gently; he knew what was going to happen to him. "I'm dying, Usagi. Let me go."
Usagi pulled back as she heard Mamoru calmly accept his fate. "You're fine." She insisted. Usagi moved closer and buried her face in his jacket, willing him to comfort her. To tell her that everything would be all right. "Ami will find a way to change you back. You'll see."
"My little optimist." Mamoru thought as another wave of pain hit his body. He shuddered slightly, feeling his strength begin to drain away. He didn't have much time. An intense heat crept over his body, hotter than any inferno. He pulled Usagi closer to him, nuzzled her hair gently, and then pushed her away.
Only their hands touched. But Mamoru knew that soon, very soon; he would have to go. He was thankful that he was at least given the chance to say goodbye.
"Usako." He whispered the word, but his voice held a commanding tone. Usagi looked up at him fearfully.
His face was even more wrinkled.
"Remember..."
His hair became even more silver and his face began to shrivel up.
"That I love you."
With that he stiffened and his eyes closed, his wizened body collapsed to the ground. Usagi gripped his frail hand and tried to feel for a pulse. The hand turned to dust. Usagi watched horrified as the empty shell of a body disintegrated.
Grief struck her and a keening sound replaced the unnatural silence. Usagi didn't know how long she knelt there, trying to cradle the pile of dust, unable to figure out how to put it together. Light fell upon the clearing as the sun swallowed up the darkness. A light breeze wafted through the air and scattered the ashes to the four winds.
Usagi fell to the ground and pounded it in frustration. "NO." She moaned, the anguish nearly tearing her apart. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!"
A hand came to rest on her shoulder. She screamed in surprise and turned around bringing her hands into a defense position, ready to defeat her attacker.
"Are you ok?" Blue eyes gazed at her intently. Mamoru stood before her: whole, untouched.
Usagi shook her head in disbelief as she stared at the mist-covered waste and then back to the form of her beloved. She looked down at her hands and realized that they were no longer stained scarlet.
"Mamoru." She cried in relief, allowing him to pull her up. Once on her feet she threw herself into his arms. "You were dead. I saw you." The black-haired man lifted his hands up and stroked her head soothingly.
"That wasn't me, it was another one of his tricks."
Usagi stepped back and stared at the man who she realized wasn't Mamoru. True they looked exactly alike, but the inflections in his voice were entirely different from the ones in Mamoru's.
"Who are you?" She asked suspiciously, wondering if this was another way Death had come up with to torment her.
"Don't you remember Serenity?"
For a brief instant, a picture flashed before Usagi's face. A crystal balcony, her beloved's blood flowing across it in a small rivulet.
"No." She cried refusing to remember.
Endymion sighed as he glanced at his beloved. "This is going to be harder than I thought." He whispered to himself. Then he began to wonder the best way to make his beloved face their deaths. "Kami, do I have to make her go through that again? It was hard enough the first time."
"Usagi. You must remember." He said it quietly, but his voice was full of pain.
Usagi glanced up at the stranger who looked so much like Mamoru. "Please don't make me." She begged knowing that he could persuade her to. "Do you know what happens?"
"Yes, Serenity. I do."
Endymion's heart broke and doubt flitted through his mind. But he stepped forward, pulled Usagi close to himself and forced her to remember.
Usagi's eyes were closed, but she saw each image clearly, they had been imprinted on her retina so long ago.
Serenity stood before the full-length mirror and coolly examined hers reflection. Tonight was the ball celebrating her eighteenth birthday and the reaching of her majority. Her outfit was perfect; except for one thing. She clutched the moonstone that hung around her neck. The necklace was beautiful, the most precious treasure that the moon kingdom possessed. If you didn't count the ginzuishou, of course.
The princess fingered the necklace and sighed heavily as she took it off. She replaced it with a simple locket. "Mother better not comment on this. I've done everything else that she wanted."
Yes, Serenity had done everything that her mother could wish for. She'd given up her one true love, her forbidden lover, all for the sake of the Moon Kingdom. It was most likely that tonight at the ball, her betrothal to some other prince would be announced. A last ditch effort to cement the ties of the kingdom with one of her allies.
The locket was her act of defiance. By tradition the jewelry that the moon princess wore on her coming of age was to be the most prized possession that she owned. That is why the moonstones were so special; they were a reminder that one-day the heir would possess the ginzuishou and be queen.
So Serenity had decided to defy tradition and wear the locket that Endymion had given her at their last meeting. Serenity took one last look at herself and smiled slightly. A smile of sadness. "I'm sorry Endymion, please forgive me."
With that thought she left for the ball.
The ball was spectacular; the queen had spared no expense. Halfway through Queen Serenity made her way towards the corner where her daughter had been sitting all evening, ignoring anyone who asked her to dance. "Serenity, please don't do this." The queen's voice was tinged with annoyance and an overwhelming sadness. "You know that nothing could ever come of that union."
Serenity stared at her mother and then looked away. "He was never our enemy. The others on earth might have turned against us, but even now he is suing for peace."
The queen turned away from her daughter, hiding the tears that had sprang to our eyes. Even now the queen regretted what had been a rash decision at the time; banning all earthlings from the moon. It was partly in response to the threat that the earth had begun to be; but it was mostly the fact that she had found out about her daughter's clandestine visits with none other than the prince of earth himself.
The decision had proven true; much to the queen's sorrow. The Earth was the one place she had never worried about being enemies with, until the darkness had begun to overtake it. If she had been more vigilant, she might have been able to stop it, heal the people of the dark spirits they possessed, but now it was too late. The Earthlings were too blinded by darkness to see reason. War had been declared.
Queen Serenity stepped away from her daughter, paused for one moment, and then looked back. "When you are queen you will understand."
Princess Serenity made no sign that she had heard her mother. She hunched up her shoulders, turned away, and let the tears fall freely.
"Why does such a rare beauty weep?"
The voice broke the princess out of her reverie. "That voice." She thought turning. "It sounds just like Endy..." She truly wanted to cry when she saw that the masked stranger wasn't her beloved.
"Too tall, the wrong color of eyes, and BLOND hair." He was most definitely not her prince.
The tall stranger bowed deeply. "Perhaps the princess would honor me with a dance."
She was about to say no, but the man took her hand and kissed it lightly, pressing something into it, before he took a step back. Serenity turned her hand over and looked at the red rosebud. She lifted it to her face and smelled the sweet blossom. Roses, they were the gift that Endymion had given her to signify their undying love.
"Remember." The stranger whispered. "Things aren't always what they appear." As he said this his form... flickered, would be the best word. For a brief moment Serenity saw his true self: ebony hair and sea blue eyes that she could drown herself in.
"Endymion." She whispered taking his hand, letting the rose be crushed. "How?" The word was full of many questions; she couldn't decide which one to ask.
Endymion smiled. "That name shouldn't even be whispered. There are spies everywhere."
Serenity nodded her understanding.
"It is said that there is a device that makes it possible for illusions to seem real."
Serenity eyes widened. "My transformation pen." She thought, it had been invented by Luna, her Mother's counselor. The queen or princess used it when they had a need to disguise themselves. Serenity had used it to disguise her identity when she went to Earth.
"You left it behind once and I decided to study it." Endymion looked at his stunned princess and smiled, he loved to shock her. He leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "Shall we dance, Serenity? Or will you unmask me before everyone?"
Serenity shook her head no, lifted her hand, and allowed Endymion to sweep her onto the dance floor. They danced two dances before one of the courtiers cut in. It was three dances before Endymion could reclaim her.
At the end of the dance he gazed down at her and felt his heart break. "Promise me that you won't give yourself to another." His eyes were stormy, pleading. "I don't know how, but I will find a way to redeem my planet in your mother's eyes. I will be worthy of you."
"Please Sere."
During his impassioned speech they had made their way out to the balcony. Together they glanced up at the earth.
"I promise." Serenity murmured. "I will wait for you Endy, even if it be an eternity."
They kissed, not noticing as the minutes flew by.
"SERENITY!!!"
Endymion and Serenity broke apart guiltily as they glanced at the reddened face of the Senshi of Mars. Rei stared at the two of them, her eyes widening as she realized who the Princess' companion was. Mars had the ability to see inside people's souls; it was impossible for her to ignore the love that shone between the two before her.
She swiveled her head quickly looking for spies. "It is forbidden for you to be here." She informed Endymion, and then she turned to Serenity. "If the guards find him, they'll kill him."
Serenity sighed in relief as she realized that Rei wasn't going to alert the guards. Endymion kissed her one last time, pressed another rose into her hand and whispered. "Remember."
With that the prince leapt away into the bushes, leaving his beloved to face her enraged friend. Serenity didn't listen to anything Rei said as she made her way to her bedroom.
"This night was perfect." She thought as she drifted off to sleep, forgetting that the ball was supposed to go on until morning.
A sharp pain awakened her. It was a throbbing that began in the pit of her stomach and then crescendoed until it covered her entire body.
:Mother: She sent the thought, using their psychic link. :What is happening?:
The Queen didn't respond, but images were forced upon Serenity's mind. A large force of humans and monsters were advancing on the city's outer walls. They had come under the cover of darkness.
:Hide yourself: The queen commanded. It was all the attention that she could spare; the rest was focused on her crystal trying to fight off the horde that was advancing on them. She was also trying to relay her orders to her generals.
Serenity broke the link, then formed a new bond. :Senshi, you are needed. The kingdom is under attack:
Surprise, shock, and fear made their way back along the bond. The attack had been so sudden that the Senshi were unaware of it until now.
:We will protect you, Princess: Minako said as she transformed and then made her way toward Serenity's chambers.
:NO!: Serenity halted each of the Senshi. :I am protected, the people need you more: At this the princess showed her guardians what her mother had seen of the half-human horde. "These monsters won't be felled by normal means. Take up your places on the city's inner wall. Use your powers to hold them back. We can't let them get through:
Each of the Senshi nodded and then reluctantly teleported to defense positions along the inner wall.
"May Selene protect you." Serenity murmured as she glanced at her ballgown. She hadn't taken the chance to change out of it, before going to bed. It was going to be awkward to hide in. A scratching at the window alerted her to the stranger's presence. She fell back fearfully from the knight dressed in black armor, outlined by the pale starlight.
The knight broke the glass in the window and stepped through effortlessly. The frightened girl stepped back, her eyes searching for a weapon. The stranger lifted his visor, then ducked just in time to allow a vase to fly over his head.
"Sere." Endymion murmured. "By the gods, you're still alive."
"Endy." Serenity flung herself into her beloved's arms and kissed what little of his face she could reach, ignoring the cold feel of the metal.
The Earth prince kissed her once and then loosened his hold. "We need to get you out of here right now. Beryl means to kill both you and your mother." He swore softly under his breath. "Had I known about the attack, my love, then I would have warned you."
By this time they had made their way to the ballroom. It was deserted; the leftover decorations made it appear haunted. "Is there anywhere that you can hide?"
"Yes, we have a hid-" Serenity was cut off abruptly as a vision of redness overwhelmed her; she collapsed to the ground screaming in pain.
Endymion supported her as she came to her knees. "What is it?"
"Ami." She murmured as a picture came to her mind of the blue-haired Senshi's broken, bloody body littering the ground. Being trampled by a trio of monsters. "Mercury has fallen; she was not strong enough."
Serenity had felt her Ami as she died, heard her last thoughts, felt the final blow. Tears came to her eyes. "My friend." She cried. "Please forgive me."
Endymion looked at Serenity. "Grieve later." He told her harshly as he pulled her along after him. They made it two steps before she collapsed again. "Rei." The name was torn from her grief-stricken body. "NO!" She screamed as she felt the monsters tear her friend apart and begin to feed.
Jupiter was next, and then Venus. Serenity was unable to move; Endymion carried her along and then rested at the doors to the balcony. "Take me outside." Serenity commanded.
Endymion looked at her as if she had gone crazy. "We need to hide you."
"It's too late. They're already too close; I refuse to hide from them." She pulled a brooch from out of nowhere. "I will fight as well."
She whispered her transformation phrase and moments later she stood before Endymion, outfitted as one of her Senshi.
Endymion stared at her in shock. "S.. S.. Sailor Moon." He muttered the phrase. "How can you be her?"
Serenity looked down at her change of clothes and grimaced. She realized why Endymion was surprised. Who the Senshi were was a closely guarded secret. None knew they were actually the royalty of each planet. Each of the Senshi could be recognized by the color of her uniform; which was why Endymion knew who she was.
"Will you help me fight?" Her eyes pleaded, begged him to help her.
Endymion nodded and together they made their way out to the balcony. Only to be greeted by a gloating Beryl.
She looked at Sailor Moon and smirked evilly. "So another Sailor brat wants to try and defeat me." She lifted her hands and aimed a blast of pure power at her adversary.
"No." Endymion cried as he pushed her out of the way and took the brunt of the blast. He fell to the ground, his helmet popping loose and skittering across the flagstones.
Beryl was shocked. "Prince Endymion."
Sailor Moon ignored Beryl as she detransformed and knelt over Endymion's fallen form. He opened his eyes slowly and glanced up at her. "I guess we were never meant to be together Sere. At least I'll die in your arms."
"No!" She cradled his head in her lap; not paying attention to the crimson pool that was spreading at her foot. Serenity concentrated and formed a clear dome over the two of them. It would protect them, while Endymion was healed. Next, she took down all of her shields and forged a link with Endymion. It tied their life-forces, their souls, together.
Serenity felt the cold fingers of death, as they tried to rip Endymion's soul from his body. "Stay away." She ordered as she drained her own life-force trying to protect them. It was a losing battle. Very slowly, she felt the ebbing away of her own soul. It was too late, the damage too extensive.
Endymion's magical armor disappeared and he pulled his princess closer. "We're together now. Death can't separate us."
He kissed her lips softly.
"I love you." With that his body stiffened and his spirit floated free.
:Goodbye Mother: Usagi sent as her soul hastened to follow its mate.
Queen Serenity had felt the blow of each of the Senshi died, and now her daughter. There was no hope left, her kingdom had fallen. The queen raised the ginzuishou and poured everything that she was into it. She knew that it would be her death, but at least she could give her daughter another chance at life.
"Take care of her. Let her be reborn into a world where she won't have to worry about being a princess. Let her find her beloved and her friends, let them be happy."
The crystal glowed silver; the light slowly crept across the face of the moon. When it touched a youma or a possessed human, they screamed in pain. It engulfed everything. The body of the princess, her prince, and the Senshi floated above the pool of silver fire and came to rest in front of the Queen. With her last conscious thought, she sent them to the future, a future unmarred by the hand of the Dark Kingdom. She also made sure to send her two councilors along infusing them with memories that would arrive if the time were ever needed.
A flash filled the air and then all was silent.
Usagi fell out of the link and stepped back fearfully from Endymion. "I'm not the princess." She denied, refusing to believe the images that he had shown her.
Her form shifted. First she was Princess Serenity, then Sailor Moon, and finally plain old Tsukino Usagi. "No." She shook her head at the pictures that refused to leave.
A silver light infused the air and a tall figure stepped into the darkness. The silver light spread revealing the ruins of the Moon Kingdom. "Why do you deny your destiny?" The spirit of Queen Serenity asked. "It is your responsibility to bear the ginzuishou."
Usagi glanced from Mamoru to Queen Serenity. How could she tell them that she feared death?
As if the thought had summoned him, the black shade appeared. He laughed mockingly. "She openly refuses her birthright, therefore she is mine."
A slender chain erupted from the ground and attached itself to Usagi's leg.
"Mamoru, help me."
Prince Endymion's form shifted, until Mamoru stood before Usagi. He came up to her and hugged her tightly. Then he changed into Tuxedo Kamen, his cloak enveloped them. He pressed a rose into Usagi's hand. She glanced up at him.
"Remember, Princess." He said it softly and then stepped away, leaving her to face her demons.
Usagi gazed at the rose, and then she looked up, prepared to face death. Her form waivered and she transformed into Sailor Moon. Sailor Moon stared at death coldly and then held out her hand. "I believe you have something of mine."
Death smiled softly. "So you've grown teeth. Do you truly want it Serenity? Remember what will happen?"
Usagi was assaulted by images of her and the other Senshi, dying in a cold land; far away and alone. Usagi gritted her teeth and then accepted her true transformation. Her skirt lengthened and paled as the fabric took on a gossamer effect. Her bodice became jeweled and glowed with a soft light. The tears were wiped away and she faced death calmly.
"Give me the ginzuishou." She commanded, pouring all of her power into the order.
Death screamed as seven clear crystals were ripped from his body. They flew towards Serenity and then floated in a circle, coming together to form the ginzuishou. Serenity cradled the crystal against her chest.
"BEGONE!" She ordered the specter. Death uttered another painful cry as it exploded into nothingness. The dress melted from Serenity's body, until only Sailor Moon stood there. She clutched the crystal protectively, leaning into Tuxedo Kamen as his arm came around her.
Together they faced the sovereign of the moon.
Queen Serenity smiled. "I am proud of you, daughter. You will face death again, but you shall be strong enough to overcome it." She looked at Mamoru. "Please protect her, Son of Earth."
Mamoru nodded.
The queen stepped back and slowly disappeared.
"I love you, my daughter."
I can now shout in relief because:
MY FIC
IS FINALLY
DONE!!!
YEAH!!!!!
Oh wait, I still have to write the epilogue and the author's notes.
You guys go write your reviews and I will think up a fitting end to the story. This chapter is for all of you that wanted angst. Just so you know. The italics were a dream and the regular print was a flashback to the moon kingdom. Everything will be wrapped up nicely in the epilogue, promise. (Especially for those of you who just read this chapter and are going....HUH!!!)
