Reading Time: 131 Minutes

Title: Moonlight Destiny
Author: Lalaith Quetzalli
Fandom: Sailor Moon, Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon
Genre: Angst, Drama, Established Relationship, Het, Hurt/Comfort, Romance
Relationship(s): Usagi Tsukino/Mamoru Chiba, Naru Osaka/Kunzite, other minor pairings.
Content Rating: R
Warnings: Past Major Character Death, Referenced/Implied Past Rape/Non-Con, Violence-Domestic (Implied), Violence-Against Children (Implied), Past Minor Character Death, Reincarnation, Implied Suicide, Violence-Canon Level.
Author Note: This fic is centered on the PGSM show (the live-action version of Sailor Moon), though it can be read without having watched that. Please see further notes about what you really need to know of that, and the liberties I’ve taken with canon in the story master post.
Glossary & Translations: See story master post.
Beta: Junos Cauldron
Word Count: 93,378
Summary: Being Sailor Moon isn’t easy, that should be obvious; being a warrior, being alone even while surrounded by people, is never easy. But what if she weren’t, alone? What if she had her soulmate by her side? How different would her life be then?
Artist: Silver Dragonfly

---

---

Chapter 7. Secrets…

Clashes can be heard as they echo around the mostly empty public park as two figures battle strange-looking creatures while a third stands behind them, looking dubious. The man moves his cane right as one of the creatures comes too close to the immobile girl, it goes right through it.

“This is making me really, really annoyed.” The man hisses.

He moves his cane harshly again, this time effectively hitting the youma.

“I know what you mean.” The fighting woman tells him with a grimace. “At least half of this youma are mere illusions, but we have no way of knowing which are real and which aren’t until after we make contact… or not.”

“The senshi have arrived.” The girl behind them informs them softly.

“Late, as always.” The fighting woman sneers.

“I don’t think it was really their fault this time.” The shorter girl points out. “I have a feeling this isn’t the only place this youmas have been appearing in.”

The man nods, he felt it, the same kind of youmas have been popping up everywhere; as a matter of fact this is the third fight they’ve been involved in, in just the last two days!

Two of the senshi enter that part of the park right then, walking backwards as they fend off at least half a dozen youma. They are so distracted with their current fight they don’t realize when one of the youma that the trio have been fighting moves against them instead.

Jupiter turns to the side, knowing she won’t manage to actually block the attack going her way, until she sees a red-fletched arrow hit the youma through the head… or what passes for a head at least. The youma turns to dust then and the arrow vanishes.

Jupiter and Mercury turn around in time to see the woman dressed in a tunic notch another arrow into her elegantly carved bow and fire it at an approaching youma; the bolt goes through it, making the figure fuzzy, it dissolves into the air before hitting anything.

“You!” Jupiter cries out.

“Us.” Molly, for she’s the fighting woman, drawls. “Who were you expecting?”

“Not sure.” Jupiter admits. “So you’ve been fighting these creatures too.”

“Yes, thrice in the last two days.” Darien steps in.

He knows well enough that, with the latent anger Molly still has in regards to the senshi, if he doesn’t interrupt they’ll end up in a verbal war… again.

“I didn’t know priestesses fought…” Jupiter comments, her eyes fixed on the bow.

“Well, now you do.” Is Molly’s scant reply.

Mercury for her part simply narrows her brows.

“M…Darien!” They hear Serena call out suddenly.

A youma, a real one, has managed to slip past the young man’s guard and slice into his arm.

Serena, totally ignoring her own safety, rushes to his side; he’s holding his right arm with his left, cane on the floor as the wound was deep enough to make it impossible for him to move his arm at the moment.

“Serena beware!” Molly calls.

And it is that the youma, seeing the girl distracted, goes to attack her next. Darien tries to push her away, to protect her, but Serena refuses to budge; it’s her turn to protect the man she loves.

“Waning Moon!” Serena calls as she raises one hand.

A shimmering, curve barrier appears but a couple of feet before the girl, blocking the youma, it isn’t very strong, barely lasting for a few seconds; but it’s enough to stop the youma from moving for a few precious seconds, allowing Molly the opportunity to fire three arrows in quick succession at it.

The two senshi are left gaping in shock, they were preparing to help, but by the time they so much as began their attacks it was already too late.

Right then the youma disappear as suddenly as they arrived.

Sure the danger is over Serena guided Darien to sit by the nearby fountain, there she makes him take off his jacket and pull up his slashed sleeve so she can have access to his wounds.

“You’ll need some bandages, and maybe even help.” Mercury pointed out, approaching them. “That cut is serious and…”

She stops short when she sees the silver-tinted glow that’s suddenly coming from her hands as she holds them less than an inch from the wound. The ice-blessed senshi watches, transfixed, as muscle and skin knit back together, leaving Darien’s arm as good as new.

As she finishes, Serena staggers briefly before Darien holds her and steadies her again. The two smile, until she stopped being Sailor Moon it was so rare for her use her healing, as well as her lunarian magic, that she still got dizzy at times. Besides, the shield she created right before the fight ended, she didn’t prepare beforehand for it, just calling her magic forth; that’s why it was so unstable and didn’t last long.

“Your gift is amazing…” Mercury cannot help but say in awe.

Serena flushes, half in embarrassment, half in pleasure, never before have any of the senshi complimented her on anything. It feels good.

“But I didn’t know you were also a spell-weaver.” Mercury adds, furrowing her brow.

“Spell-weaver?” Jupiter doesn’t seem to be familiar with the word.

“Like a sorceress, sort of.” Mercury tries to explain. “From what I’ve been able to find, spell-weavers were born with the gift to see and manipulate magic, they could use the energies of the elements in many different and mostly undocumented ways.”

“The elements?” Jupiter questions. “Like with our attacks?”

“No.” Mercury shakes her head. “The basics are there, yes, but we are no spell-weavers, we have specific things we can do with our elements, we might even be able to influence our elements when we’re strong enough; but for spell-weavers all the energies in the world can be moved, changed, manipulated as if they were a part of themselves…”

“Wow…” Jupiter is truly awed.

How come they never known Usagi was capable of something like that?

“You never told us this when we talked last.” Mercury points out turning to Molly

The priestess is standing a couple of feet away from her friends, her posture mostly relaxed, but bow still in hand in case another enemy appears suddenly.

“You said she was a healer, and an untrained priestess.” Mercury continues. “But the kind of ability she must have to create that shield, and the ease with which she just healed Darien…there’s more to her abilities than what you’re telling us.”

“I told you before, I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Molly hisses. “Whatever our powers may be are none of your concern.”

“And now that you mention yourself.” Mercury presses on. “I’ve been doing some research, there’s no ancient order of priestesses that dressed the way you do; and priestesses were never fighters, at least not physically.”

“Shows how much you know.” Molly says derisively. “Let me guess, you got that from the library, or maybe the internet?” she laughed mockingly. “Even the oldest records of mankind only go back as far as nine thousand years; the Silver Millennium stopped existing ten thousand years ago… what does that tell you?”

“That there’s no record of anything of that time…” Mercury answered almost automatically as she gasps. “But, but we were told that it happened a millennia ago…”

“Yes, a lunarian millennia ago.” Molly says, as if the difference should be obvious.

From the puzzled looks on the two senshi it’s obvious they have no idea.

“Lunarians had such long life-spans, they were believed to be immortal by the people of Earth.” Darien chooses to be the one to explain, he has more patience, at least at the moment. “They weren’t, but still, that’s one of the reason Terrans didn’t get along very well with those from the Moon; all most of them could see was a kingdom of beautiful, powerful individuals that had the power, technology and most of all the time to impose themselves over anyone they wanted.” He shook his head. “It was an irrational fear, but then again I think it’s the norm even now as far as most of the human race is concerned, to fear what they do not understand.” He shakes his head again. “Anyway, the time called the Silver Millennium lasted for tens of thousands of terran-years; at least I think so, I don’t remember the Golden archives going back that far, really… When Molly says it ended a lunarian-millennia ago, she’s talking, once again, about ten thousand of Earth-years.”

The senshi are wide-eyed, why have they never been told any of this?

“So, as you can probably realize now, you’ll never find any records that date that far back, because the oldest ones only go back nine-thousand years or so.” Darien continues. “A thousand years after the Silver Alliance, and the Earth fell… I imagine that’s how long it must have taken for the Earth to fully heal from the tragedy and humanity to start anew.”

“Start anew?” Jupiter asked.

“You don’t know?” Now Molly is about to begin ranting again. “You have honestly no idea about what happened a millennia ago? Why we call it the Fall? Just what have you been told by your princess and those cats?”

Mercury and Jupiter are wondering the very same thing.

“I’m not about to give you two a history lesson.” Molly snaps, spinning around. “Ask those cats.” She curses softly in a low voice. “I honestly can’t believe you’re out here fighting, without even knowing the reason why you’re doing it…”

“Molly wait!” Serena calls.

She’s recovered enough to be able to move on her own, so with a nod of her head in the senshis’ direction she rushes after her friend, Darien following after them.

Neither senshi try to stop them, they are still too puzzled about everything that was just said. Just how many secrets are being kept from them? And why?

xXx

Molly doesn’t de-henshin, or even speak until she’s a couple of blocks away.

“There, that should keep them busy, for a while at least.” She declares, satisfied.

“Is that the only reason why you made such a big deal about them not knowing their own history?” Mamoru questions as he too goes back to normal.

“No.” Naru shakes her head. “I honestly think it’s insane that they’re around fighting youmas without knowing the real reason, without knowing about Beryl, about Metalia, their plans, the serious threat they represent, the tragedy that already happened once because of them…” she sighs. “How can anyone be so ignorant?”

Mamoru just shrugs, he too has been wondering the same thing for a while now.

“I don’t know how much Luna honestly doesn’t remember, and how much she kept from us just because.” Usagi admits as she holds her boyfriend’s arm. “I mean, we didn’t even know there was someone above the generals until a week or so before I quit. And even then, it was because Beryl appeared before us, mocked us for our lack of knowledge and real power…”

“You didn’t…” Naru’s getting close to snapping… again. “What did that spirits-forsaken cat tell you when she recruited you then?”

“Luna told me I was senshi, that it was my mission to fight against the Dark Kingdom, as well as find and protect the princess…” she ponders for a moment and adds. “And might I add, we didn’t even know what she was supposed to be princess of until after we met Beryl. We knew nothing of a Moon Kingdom, or a past life until then…” she pauses again and revises. “Okay. That’s not exactly true, the others didn’t know before then; I’m a different case…”

“Because you already had your memories before then.” Mamoru deadpans. “If not, you would have been as ignorant as the rest.”

Usagi nods, she can barely imagine how she’d have felt if she suddenly learned she’s the reincarnation of an ancient warrior, that she doesn’t really belong to this time; at least, not fully. She can already picture it, with as sensitive as she is, she’d have immediately feared this meant her family wasn’t really her family, maybe even that she isn’t supposed to actually exist, or at least not as Usagi. It would have been awfully traumatic. And then there’s the fact that she would have had to deal with just third-hand knowledge; not really having memories to confirm what was said to her. Suddenly she feels sorry for her former comrades; for what they’re going through. They aren’t as lucky as she is to have two totally amazing people as her boyfriend and best-friend to help them through their hard times. As it is, the only reason she wasn’t permanently traumatized by everything when recovering her memories was because Mamoru was there; and even with all the changes that went on back then, and keep happening, she still has him, and now Naru too. She’s truly blessed indeed.

“Usagi-chan?” She hears Naru call.

She turns to see the worried expressions on both of those amazing people.

“Are you alright, Usako?” Mamoru questions, concerned.

“Yes, I was just thinking.” She replies honestly.

“Really?” Naru pretends to seem skeptic. “What a miracle!”

Usagi blows a raspberry at her and they both laugh.

“But really, what were you thinking about?” Naru questions once she stops laughing.

By the inquisitive look on her boyfriend’s face, it’s obvious he too wants to know.

“How blessed I am to have two people as wonderful as you in my life.” She answers with a bright smile on her face.

Mamoru holds her tighter against his body, depositing a lingering kiss on her hair.

“Oh, Usagi-chan…” Naru smiled too. “I think I’m the one blessed.”

“I think we all are blessed.” Mamoru corrects as he buries his head in his girlfriend’s neck. “Very blessed indeed…”

xXx

Luna’s the last to arrive at the Hikawa Temple the following day, Ami and Makoto called a senshi meeting and the cat still doesn’t know why; she already knew about the strange youma that has been appearing around town the last three days so that cannot be it, but she honestly can’t think of anything else. It surprises the advisor when she finds herself surrounded by the other three senshi the moment she sets foot inside Rei’s bedroom. Artemis is there as well, to the black cat’s surprise, though the princess is absent.

“Artemis, what’s going on?” Luna questions, confused.

“I honestly have no idea.” Artemis replies. “As you should already know it wasn’t I who called this meeting but your charges.”

Rei snorts quietly.

“Rei?” Luna wonders what’s going on.

“Do you really consider us your charges Luna?” Ami asks, trying to be polite.

They told Rei everything they talked about with the other three before calling the two cats for that meeting; Rei has been understandably upset; which is why Ami insisted on being the one to approach the subject. Rei’s temper has been worse than ever in the past couple of months or so, and Makoto is about to blow a fuse as well. Ami too is certainly upset, but she believes herself to be rational enough to control herself, or so she hopes.

“Of course, Ami, what kind of question is that?” Luna really doesn’t seem to understand. “You know I care deeply for you, all of you.”

“Hmm… if that’s how she treats those she cares about I don’t wanna imagine how everyone else would fare…” Makoto grumbles.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Luna feels really offended.

Artemis eyes narrow, he knows something’s very wrong with the senshi; never, not even the night that Sailor Moon quit, has he seen them this upset, especially not all of them at once. Whatever’s going on cannot be good; and it sure involves both he and Luna, since Rei was so insistent on him being there for the meeting even if his charge couldn’t.

Rei…she’s at the moment the only one who knows Princess Sailor Venus’s civilian identity; that is if Serena’s and Molly’s powers don’t allow them to somehow know such things. In any case, he wants to believe that no matter if he and Minako are right or not, if those three once belonged to a royal court they must know better than to go make such secrets public. Rei too falls under the same category; though in her case there’s a risk of her discovering more than just Venus’s civilian identity, after all, that’s really the least of all the secrets they keep…

“It means that we wanna know what the hell is going on?!” Rei snaps. “We want answers, and we want them now!”

Luna practically jumps at the flare of temper from the miko.

“Makoto and I had a very interesting talk with Molly, Darien and Serena yesterday, Luna.” Ami informs her in a calm yet cold manner. “We know you, and I guess Artemis as well, have been keeping things from us. Like the real time of the Silver Millennium, what is known as the Fall, the reasons why this war against the Dark Kingdom began in the first place.” She begins pacing. “Oh, we’ve always known you kept things from us, after all, we didn’t learn about our princess hailing from the Moon, or even the fact that the Generals weren’t the highest in the chain of command until Beryl herself appeared before us and mocked us for our lack of knowledge about ourselves. Back then we didn’t care that much, it didn’t seem like it changed our mission that much. But now… now we have a former-leader who seems to be even more powerful now that she’s using her own powers than when she was a senshi; a Moon Princess who refuses to allow us to do our duty, which is protecting her, and instead goes around by herself; enemies that know more about us than we know about ourselves; a mystical war we know nothing of; and so-called advisors that do nothing but keep secrets from us!”

Yes, things are really bad when even Ami losses her temper.

Both cats blink in astonishment for a few seconds, neither having expected that.

“Well,” Makoto presses. “What have you to say for yourselves?”

“It is true we… no, it is true I have kept things from you, from all of you.” Luna admits calmly. “But I only did it because I believed it to be for the best, when you just became senshi you weren’t ready to know everything, even now you aren’t.”

“Shouldn’t we be ones to decide if we’re ready or not for something?” Ami inquires.

“It’s not something that has to be decided, it’s something definite.” Luna insists. “You are just not ready to know a few things.”

“What gives you the right to decide what we can and cannot know?” Makoto demands. “These are our lives we’re talking about!”

“Precisely the way you’re acting right now.” Luna began.

“So we can stake our lives on your war, but not know why there’s even a war in the first place?” Rei demands hotly. “I think we have the right to be upset when people, or cats, whatever, when individuals we trust keep things from us, and even outright lie to us!”

“Your temper certainly isn’t helping.” Artemis murmurs, then continues in a professional manner. “You proved how unprepared you are to learn some things just with the way you reacted to the explanation of why you’re weakening. You all thought little of Sailor Moon, didn’t seem to care that she quit, not until you realized you depended on her to have your powers. And even then, some of you…” he doesn’t need to say Rei’s name. “Continued seeing her as little more than a nuisance… I have to tell you the princess is very upset about that.”

“The princess?” That catches all of them, even Luna, by surprise.

“Have you never wondered why Sailor Moon was chosen as leader?” Artemis inquires. “I mean, aside from the ability being the senshi of the moon grants her, which we mentioned before; that can be considered a technical reason to be made leader, but it’s not the real one.”

“The real one?” Ami asks, what more could there be?

“Yes.” Artemis nods. “Even with the ability she has, Sailor Moon could have been like any other senshi, if another had proven to be a better leader…”

“Please…” Rei huffs. “You cannot tell me you honestly believe Usagi, Usagi of all people to be more capable to be leader of the senshi than m… than any of us!”

“And that there is why we keep saying you’re not ready to know the truth…” Luna sighs.

“So Sailor Moon has leader-capabilities, which we obviously didn’t see.” Ami deduces.

“Oh, you did see them, you just aren’t seeing them as such now.” Luna declares.

“Really?” Rei’s voice dripped sarcasm. “Like what?”

“Tell me Rei, what do you remember of your life before meeting Usagi?” Luna then turns to the others. “What do all of you remember the most of your lives before you first met Usagi?”

After several long seconds, in voices barely audible, Ami and Makoto finally answer:

“Loneliness…”

And while Rei refuses to speak, she knows it to be true too.

“Exactly.” Luna nods. “Usagi brought you out of your respective shells, she befriended you, gave you someone to go to, someone to trust, she helped you in any way she could. It’s true that your friendship eventually turned into comradeship, but tell me, did you choose to become senshi because I told you it was your destiny, or was there another reason for it?”

“It wasn’t just what you said.” Ami is the first to admit. “In fact, at first I couldn’t care less what you said, I just hated the idea of having to fight against monsters…” she sighs, eyes closed, remembering. “Then that youma was there, and I fell, but before anything could happen to me she was there, Usagi, Sailor Moon, she caught me, she put herself in danger attempting to help me, even when I had refused to help her… That was when I decided I would fight, I would do it to pay her back for what she did for me; but also because I truly admired her, I wanted to be like her: brave, and friendly, and selfless…”

“I know what you mean.” Makoto nods. “All my life I’ve felt like people would always leave me. Like there had to be something wrong with me because no one would stay around for long. So I became cold and self-sufficient; when rumors began about me being a troublemaker, that I had been expelled from school for fighting and such things, I just didn’t care; as far as I was concerned if no one approached me then at least I wouldn’t have to see them leave…And then I met her. Usagi befriended me on my very first day in Crossroads High; she seemed to be awed at me, about my height and my proficiency at sports, and then when she learned I liked cooking… she kept telling me how she admired me, and wanted us to hang out together. At first I thought it was too good to be true, but as time passed I realized that she wasn’t going away; even when she would still spend time with her boyfriend and other friends, she always had time for me… I wasn’t alone anymore. That’s why, when I was told I was supposed to be a senshi, I never doubted, it would be just one more thing that would tie me with that wonderful girl I knew to be my best friend…”

Rei doesn’t say a word, instead turning away; but running through her mind are the memories anyway; the way Usagi defended her from her classmates when being accused about the missing girls. Usagi, who hadn’t even met her before, interfered in her argument and defended Rei, just because. And then went after her, to help, running the risk of being either exposed or killed… it was almost like the girl just didn’t care, she would put herself in danger time and time again trying to help others, it was just part of who she was.

“Bravery, Friendliness, Loyalty, Selflessness, a caring nature, all of those are qualities a leader ought to have.” Luna enlists. “Those are qualities we all know Usagi possesses.”

“It was never accident, or a coincident that she was chosen as Sailor Moon, and as your leader.” Artemis continues. “It’s highly probable that even her healing abilities, and other magical abilities you’ve mentioned, are related to her destiny.”

“And yet you let her quit.” Makoto really doesn’t understand.

“We couldn’t force her to stay.” Luna explains. “Just like we couldn’t have forced any of you into accepting this mission. It had to be your decision.”

“So, we had a great leader and we pushed her away, we didn’t see how much she was worth until it was too late.” Ami summarizes. “Now we’re leaderless, and growing weaker every day, with an enemy who, in turn, seems to become more powerful as time passes.”

“That still doesn’t change the fact that there’s much we don’t know.” Makoto adds. “Much we should know, things that are relevant to the mission. Like why our princess refuses to stay where we can protect her? Who Beryl is really? What is the Dark Kingdom? How did this war begin in the first place and why?”

“I told you you’re not ready to know the whole truth.” Luna insists.

“But at least the basis of those questions we can answer.” Artemis interrupts.

This seems to surprise even his counterpart.

“In regards to Princess Sailor Venus, I’m afraid that you’ll just have to accept that this is how things have to be, at least for the time being.” Artemis begins. “Venus and I have a mission that is separate from your own; you’ll understand everything in due time, I promise. In regards to Beryl and the Dark Kingdom; truth is that probably the Priestesses and the Shadow know more about this than we do. Even back in the Silver Millennium not much was known about it except that Beryl was once a Terran woman, a sorceress of some talent, it is believed that she might have been rejected by Prince Endymion and her anger pushed her to use the dark magics, what’s known as the NegaForce; somehow she ended up being contacted by a force called Metalia. Now, we know even less of Metalia than we know of Beryl, except for the fact that she is… well, we could say ‘evil incarnate’, or she was once, until the most powerful spell-weavers of the System joined together and sealed her; that was around the time the Silver Millennium was just beginning. No one thought Metalia could ever be free again, we have no idea how Beryl gained access to her, what we know is that it happened, Metalia helped Beryl corrupt human minds, enough to turn them against the planet’s own Royal Family, including Prince Endymion. A few who remained loyal tried to fight back, but it was useless. In the end, when the Golden Palace fell only two people survived and managed to get to the Moon, to warn us of the threat that was on the way.”

“Those were the Prince, and that girl, the priestess.” Ami deduces.

“Yes, Prince Endymion and Lady Molly.” Artemis nods. “I honestly don’t remember much of what happened that day. Only that there was a ball, not sure why, but the two Terrans’ unannounced arrival sent everyone into a panic. Still, we had less time than we thought we did, Beryl and her armies attacked the Moon that very night. We had so little time to prepare, the White Armies were sent out, but it was useless. As the enemy got closer to the Palace, the people panicked, and in their attempt to escape even more ended hurt or dead. I’m not really sure what happened with the Princess, or even with the two Terrans, I wasn’t there, I just know they died, before Queen Selenity used the Ginzuishou to seal the Negaforce and at the same time grant all of those who died so tragically, a second chance.”

“Wait, you mean that this crystal the enemy wants, is the reason we were reincarnated?” Makoto is in shock.

“Yes.” Artemis nods. “The Ginzuishou is the Moon Queen’s birthright; Queen Selenity last used it to save you all, as well as put Luna and I into stasis until the time came for us to find you. She hoped you would get the chance to live normal, peaceful lives; but at the same time she prepared for the possibility of the Negaverse returning.”

They all nod.

“You mentioned something about time before.” Luna steps in right then. “This, you need to know, wasn’t exactly a secret. More an honest mistake, Artemis and I are so used to the lunarian measure of time, that we forget it’s different here. Like Lady Molly already told you, lunarians have pretty long life-spans, at least ten times what the healthiest human is expected to live. So, a long time ago, time in the Moon started being measured differently, it’s more like the lunarians didn’t care as much about it. What they considered a century or a millennia was ten times as long in Earth…”

They all nod; that part they knew already after Molly’s lecture; though it’s good to know that Luna wasn’t really trying to keep everything a secret from them, some things were just honest mistakes on her part.

“Anything else?” Artemis asks.

“There’s one thing bothering me.” Ami replies. “You said you don’t know what happened to the princess, because you weren’t there… but what about she? I thought she remembered everything from our previous lives…”

“Ami!” Luna interrupts her, scandalized, then adds in a somber tone. “Some things can be too hard to talk about at times…”

Ami flushes and lowers her head as she apologizes; her curiosity was so great she didn’t stop to think about the fact that, really, she was talking about people dying, and about them remembering how they died… if her princess really does remember…that must be one truly horrible memory to have. In that moment Ami is really grateful she doesn’t remember.

Artemis, on the other hand, can only be thankful for Luna’s words. It’s not like he could have explained that no, Venus doesn’t remember what happened to the princess, because she isn’t really the princess.

Yes, a few secrets have been revealed already, and yet so many still remain…

 

Moonlight destiny
Hohoemi mo kanashimi mo wakeaeru ne to (Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together)
Mune de sou kanjite iru anata to nara (In my heart that’s how I feel, when I am with you)

 

Chapter 8. Black Ice

She knew something was wrong, knew and yet did nothing about it, not until it was too late anyway. For three nights straight she dreamed of the same thing: black ice, all the while having no idea what it meant. On the last night, however, instead of just the ice, she saw it covering a silhouette, one that changed considerably once fully covered by the black ice. And while no details were visible, she still has perfect recall, and once conscious was capable of realizing who the figure was, and also give a plausible reason for why it changed once covered by the ice.

Even with all of that, it wasn’t until Naru dashed out of her own bedroom a minute later screaming that there was trouble that Usagi fully realized how wrong what was going in her dream really was! Not so much the ice, a part of her consciousness can explain that part easily enough… no, what’s wrong is the fact that the ice was black!

Perhaps if she realized the situation sooner, or was faster, maybe if she were more powerful…she has no idea if anything could have changed what already happened; and in the end it already happened so none of her brooding will change it, and yet she can’t help but feel guilty.

Naru wasn’t the only one who sensed trouble, Mamoru did too, and was able to pinpoint its origin better than either girl, so the three shifted into their alter-egos without a word and rushed in the direction he indicated. They had arrived to what looked like a cabin in the middle of a small forest or reserve, the small place filled with what looked like old sculptures, damaged furniture and other odds and ends. They weren’t the only ones there either.

Darien froze in place just a few steps inside the cabin, Molly having to give a couple of steps and a twirl to the side to avoid crashing into him, while Serena couldn’t help but slam against him, only Darien’s quick move and his arm preventing her from falling to the ground. Neither girl needed to ask why he stopped so suddenly, they could see it as soon as they directed their eyes to the front: there, slightly to a side, stood two of the senshi: Mars and Jupiter. While in the very center of the room stood the Dark General they had most recently gotten acquainted with: Kunzite. But what left them all in shock was the one who stood next to him, too calm for it to be normal: it was Mizuno Ami, in her senshi outfit, except it looked different, with touches of a darker blue than was normal, as well as black; also, the expression on her face was like none either of those present had ever seen before.

Serena didn’t even get the chance to let out a gasp before the Dark General and the girl disappeared in a swirl of black petals.

“Oh Spirits…” Molly finally mumbled, a hand over her mouth.

While she’d known something was going on, something bad, nothing could have prepared her for what they just witnessed.

“What have you just done Kunzite?” She asked in a whisper to no one in particular.

She flat out refused to call him Shinichi, not until he went back to normal; she simply refused to use the name of the man she loved body and soul to refer to the dark parody that was standing before them just seconds before.

Serena, on the other hand, didn’t say a word, just dropped to her knees, too shocked to speak, or to even cry. The senshi noticed their presence right then and stared at them skeptically.

“What are you doing here?” Mars finally demanded.

“We knew something was wrong.” Darien was the one to answer, as he seemed to be the only one fully there at the moment. “We came as fast as we could…but we didn’t make it in time.”

“As if you could have made a difference…” Mars snorted.

“Maybe Serena could have.” Jupiter reminded her softly. “You remember that she could save the last girl Kunzite tried to poison with his power…”

“This isn’t the same.” Mars snapped, frustrated. “That girl… he only used his power on her once, we have no way of knowing how long he’s been poisoning Ami, only that’s it’s been days since it began and…”

“Three days…” Serena’s voice got them all out of their thoughts.

“What?” Both Molly and Jupiter seemed surprise by that.

“Oh goddess…” Serena gasped as tears finally began falling from her eyes. “My dreams… the black ice… I should have known…”

“Dreams?” Jupiter asked, turning to the others. “What is she talking about?”

“I honestly have no idea.” Molly admitted.

“I do.” Darien nodded. “She’s been having dreams the last few nights, we couldn’t understand what they meant, she never saw anything but black ice…”

“I should have known, should have realized…” Serena kept babbling. “It’s so obvious now, the ice… her power… the black… the darkness… the corruption… Why didn’t I see it?”

“I doubt I would have understood it even if I’d had the same dream as you for a week straight.” Molly tried to comfort her best friend. “Besides, premonitory dreams are never clear; true, in hindsight things always seem pretty obvious, but not when you actually have them.”

“Premonitory dreams?” Mars’ eyebrow rose. “You saying she can predict the future too?”

“Premonition is one of the most common gifts among those like us, you should know it, Hino Rei.” Molly declared seriously. “After all, even if you aren’t part of one of the Ancient Orders, you still have some gifts… there’s a chance that, if the Order still existed, you would have been called to join.”

“Who says I would even agree to it?” Mars wanted to know.

“Being a priestess of the Elysian Order has always been one of the greatest honors possible.” Molly said serenely. “I never knew of anyone refusing.”

“Why is U… Serena blaming herself like this?” Jupiter wanted to know. “I mean, it’s not like its her fault or anything; I mean, yeah, you might have arrived late, but Mars and I were here and there was nothing we could do anyway.”

“Serena…” Molly sighed tiredly. “I guess that’s just who she is. No matter what may have happened in the past, what may still be happening, she’ll always care for her friends, she’ll always care for all of you. With this happening to Ami… and with her realizing that her dreams were some sort of warning… she just feels she should have done more.”

“But that’s the thing!” Mars hissed. “Nothing more could have been done.”

“There’s no way you’ll be able to convince her of that.” Molly shook her head as she watched Serena’s almost hysterical expression. “That’s just how Serena is…”

“The only thing we can do is prepare ourselves.” Darien stepped in. “The fights to come won’t be easy, not just because Beryl now has another very powerful ‘ally’; and before you say anything, the moment Sailor Mercury was corrupted she stopped being in control of her actions, she’ll follow Kunzite’s orders, no matter what they are, no matter how she would have reacted had she been herself.”

“It won’t be easy to have her as an enemy…” Molly pressed the bridge of her nose, things were certainly worse than she originally thought.

“She’s not an enemy.” Serena stated, suddenly recovering and getting on her feet. “Ami-chan is not enemy.” Her eyes narrowed in conviction. “We need to get ready, not to fight against her, but to get her back.”

No one dared say anything, while some may have believed she was being a bit too optimistic for their current situation, it was better to see her like that than all broken in the ground; also, there was a part inside each of them that really wanted to believe that she was right, that they could get Mercury, Ami, back… Hope, that was all they had left anymore, and not even all of them were really feeling it.

That was just the beginning.

A week later the new school-year began and several people were understandably surprised when seeing Ami. However, it didn’t take long for them all to understand the whole thing was meant as a form of psychological torture. The corrupted Ami seemed to have done something so everyone in their class would follow her lead as if she were the school queen or something like that. Usagi and Naru, while not really affected by this decided to go along with it so as not to call attention on themselves. Makoto however, was unable to, as the class was particularly hostile towards her.

They concluded that was the objective, to estrange the senshi from those around them, and since Makoto was in the same class, she was the main target. Still, that didn’t really answer why Usagi was spared…

“Ami-chan is still in there…” Serena whispered.

The senshi just finished a battle against yet another youma, and the trio emerged from their hiding spots right at the very end so Serena could use her magic to heal those that were affected. They would have stepped into the battle itself, but with the ‘princess’ among them, the senshi seemed to be capable of handling the situation.

“What?” The question took everyone off-guard.

“She’s Dark Mercury now, an enemy.” Venus declared coldly.

“I know it must be hard on all of you, but you can’t pull back your punches, right now she’s your enemy, and you must treat her as such.” Artemis indicated.

Jupiter flinched but didn’t say anything.

Darien would have hissed something, seeing how Serena too winced, but his girlfriend stopped him with a hand while she turned to face the pseudo-princess.

“Your enemy she may be, but she isn’t mine.” The healer declared serenely. “No matter what you may believe, I know Ami-chan is still there, and I’ll find a way to bring her back.”

“Can’t you help her?” Mars asked to the princess. “I mean, with all your power you should be able to do something.”

“What makes you so convinced she even wants to be saved?” Venus asked dismissively. “We have a mission to fulfill and no time to go chasing after someone who could very well simply be a traitor and…”

“Ami-chan isn’t like that!” Both Jupiter and Serena screamed at the same time.

“She didn’t go dark by her own choice.” Mars hissed coldly. “I believe in her.”

“I cannot believe what I just heard here…” Molly spoke in a disbelieving tone. “A princess, giving up on one of her own, on a guardian, who supposedly used to be like a sister. You really don’t believe in her at all? What kind of princess are you?”

Venus didn’t get the chance to reply, or Artemis to defend her, because after shaking their heads sadly once all three friends were gone.

Even several days after that conversation Usagi still cannot believe Venus said that; the worst part is that since Luna, Mars and Jupiter believe her to be the princess they’ll feel compelled to follow those orders. They’re leaving Ami all alone just because her decoy doesn’t believe in her senshi enough to want to fight for them… and really, how can she believe in them when she doesn’t even know them? But it doesn’t matter, because Usagi knows her, knows all of them, believes in all of them. If she has to save Ami all by herself, she’ll do it, thankfully she isn’t really alone.

Once back in Mamoru’s flat after the very tense conversation with the princess Serena takes to pacing in her love’s living-room while mumbling things in at least three different languages.

“Okay, one language is obviously Japanese, the other is Ancient, but what’s the other?” Molly asks Darien with curiosity.

“Lunarian.” Darien answers. “It’s the language she speaks when using her magic. I thought you had heard it before…”

“To be honest I never pay much attention when she’s using magic.” Molly admits. “And I imagine the senshi don’t either, otherwise they would have discovered our ruse long ago.”

Darien nods, it’s another part of the very long list of reasons he’s convinced the senshi have to be blind and at least a little stupid. There could be no other reason why they would be in Serena’s presence as she casts spells at least once a week and still not realize at least that she isn’t Terran but Lunarian. That’s why their original planned worked around them working in secret, in places and moments where they wouldn’t be seen. He never planned on working alongside the senshi again once his beloved quit; but it became a necessity. Part of their team or not, his soul-mate just loves those girls too much to leave them to fully handle things on their own. Unlike a certain ‘pseudo princess’ he can mention… That brings him back to the matter at hand, and the reason why his beloved is upset, this time. And yet, that isn’t everything, he can still remember the comment that started that particular conversation, and he isn’t the only one.

“You said Ami-san is still there.” Naru declares suddenly. “And it isn’t hope speaking, I’m sure of that, what did you truly mean with that comment.”

Seeing her standing there in her casual clothes reminds the couple they need to power down as well, otherwise they risk their home ending up marked by their aura and that would be very dangerous if the Dark Kingdom ever thought to track them down that way. It’s strange actually, thus far the Dark Kingdom seems to only care about them when they try to stop their youma. Never really going after them when they were in the civilian identities. Mamoru isn’t sure if that makes him feel relieved, that they at least aren’t in a full-out war just yet; or worried, that the enemy is too busy doing something else, something dangerous and doesn’t really see them as much of a threat.

“Haven’t you wondered why Ami-chan put the whole class against Makoto-chan, but not against us?” Usagi asks.

“She doesn’t know it’s me, I mean, that Molly and Naru are the same person.” Naru points out. “And I think it would have seemed more suspicious if she acted against more than one student; there’s a chance others would have noticed.”

“And she, or someone else, would have brainwashed them just the same as the others.” Usagi replies with a sigh.

“Maybe she doesn’t care…” Mamoru suggests, but even as he says it he knows that’s not it.

“Then what?” Naru asks.

“She’s protecting us, or at least me.” Usagi replies. “That’s what I think. True, she may not know for sure you are the priestess, though someone as intelligent as she is, she at least must suspect the truth about your civilian identity. But me, she definitely knows already who I am… was, and she knows I’m still doing what I can to help. That I’m still very much an enemy of the Dark Kingdom, yet she didn’t do or say anything against me, not even when you and I went and pretended to act like everyone else.”

“You think she knew we weren’t really brainwashed?” Naru guesses.

“She may not have the kind of powers we do, but, like I said, she’s intelligent, and we were the last people to arrive to class that day.” Usagi reminds her, then exhales. “No, Ami-chan is still there, she knows who I am, and she’s protecting me.”

“Yet she still acted against Makoto.” Naru points out.

It’s not that she wants Usagi to be wrong, just for her to consider all possibilities.

“I’m not saying the darkness isn’t there.” Usagi replies. “But it hasn’t fully consumed her, a part of the real Ami-chan remains, it’s a part that knows me, and that’s hiding that information from the corrupted side so I’ll be protected.”

“And you believe you can heal that corrupted part and bring the real Ami back.” Mamoru can very easily guess where the whole thing is going.

“I still don’t know how I can do it.” Usagi admits. “I’m sure it’ll be a lot harder than with that girl in the concert hall; but I know I can, and it needs to be done. Ami-chan is in there, suffering, someone needs to save her, and if the one pretending to be the Moon Princess can’t bring herself to care, I still do. I’ll save Ami-chan.”

“And we’ll help you.” Mamoru promises as he holds her to him. “I promise you, Naru-san and I will always be here for you.”

Naru doesn’t say a word, just nods, nothing else is really needed.

xXx

That night Luna cannot help but wander. Since Usagi quitting she’s been living with Ami, since she was the other girl she knew and liked best. Now that’s no longer an option. For some strange reason, even though being corrupted, Ami still goes home every night and acts as if nothing changed, making it so her mother didn’t noticed a thing after her return from a conference in Europe. Still, Luna’s quite sure she wouldn’t be as lucky if she were to arrive to that place. At least not until Ami returns to normal, because Luna wants to believe that will happen, somehow. That the sweet, shy girl that cared so much about everyone the estrangement that began with Usagi quitting caused her to hurt so much. Luna wants to believe she’ll be back, that there’s some hope left still.

Which is why she has such a hard time dealing with what’s been said among the senshi, and her counterpart… yes, she knows how important the mission is and yet… it still hurts. For the princess to be so cold, to disregard the safety of one she once saw as a sister… It makes Luna wonder if she’s gone soft after everything that happened in the last millennia, or if there’s something else wrong and she just isn’t seeing it.

In any case, she’s sure she won’t forget that night, not for a long time.

The conversation after that night’s battle was very tense; especially when, for some reason, the senshi seemed to wordlessly decide to hang around until Serena finished treating the few victims there had been. Luna would have thought things would have ended right afterwards, but instead a conversation began: the situation with Sailor Mercury, Ami, being the main topic.

Luna was very happy to see that Usagi, though no longer a senshi, no longer an official part of the team, still cared so much about Ami; and, ever the optimist, the girl believed the currently dark senshi could be saved. That she still existed, trapped inside what came to be known as Dark Mercury. What Luna wasn’t expecting was for her to be the only one to believe this. Yes, she expected some skepticism, doubts in regards to how exactly to save the ice-blessed senshi. But she certainly never expected a straight-out denial, she especially never expected for the princess herself to say nothing could be done.

It made her sad, so very sad. So much she turned to Serena, wondering how she would react, and got yet another surprise: the expression in the girl’s face wasn’t one of anger, like in the priestess behind her and the man by her side, instead she looked… disappointed? Yes, that was it, she was disappointed in them, and the expression didn’t look foreign in her at all, as if she had every right to have that kind of reaction. Luna wondered what that meant, who was Serena really? What was she missing?

Still, there wasn’t much time to wonder, as the trio took their leave right then, shortly followed by the remaining senshi.

In the end only Luna remained behind. And even then both Artemis and Venus could see the disbelief in her expression (which considering she was a plushie was something serious).

“Luna…” Artemis began.

“I… I just… I can’t believe you said that…” She whispered in shock. “That you really believe that.” She looked as if she wanted to cry, yet couldn’t. “I know Sailor Mercury… I know Ami. She is no traitor. If she’s in this position, it’s not by her choice… and yet you… you would leave her alone… you don’t believe in her. Do you believe in any of us?”

“Luna.” Venus spoke in an emotionless tone. “I don’t want to do this, I really don’t. But we have a mission to fulfill, we cannot get distracted. Mercury being in such a situation is sad, but we must remember what our mission is. If we allow the enemy to get ahead of us, while we’re distracted with this… it would be catastrophic…”

“I understand.” Luna nodded, but it was obvious she still didn’t agree.

Without even saying goodbye, she left.

As she went, a sudden question filled her mind: would things have ever been this bad if Sailor Moon didn’t quit? She isn’t actually sure, what she’s most definitely sure of is that, even if Mercury was taken, Moon would have never allowed the others to give up on her. She’s proven it already, with her reaction earlier. She’ll never give up on Mercury, and Luna honestly believes the same goes for all of them. That’s why they keep seeing her, Darien and Molly around. When they could easily wait until the youma are dealt with and just help the people, they still go and helped when they can… despite whatever misgivings she might have had before, at this point Luna cannot help but admire them, and be grateful that they’re around, she has no idea what would be of her and the senshi if they weren’t.

Luna stops in her tracks when she realizes just where she’s ended up: she’s in the Juuban district, right across the street from the Tsukino home… the home of Tsukino Usagi. Except she no longer lives there, weeks back she moved out and into an apartment, where she lives with a friend, one Luna has never met except from a distance: Osaka Naru.

The Lunarian advisor has reasons to believe that girl is in fact the priestess called Molly, but she has no real proof of it; and it’s not like knowing would change a thing. So much changed when Usagi quit, probably too much. Luna at times wonders if things will ever go back to how they were before, and yet… and yet seeing Usagi, when as Serena… the way she smiles, the way she shines… it makes Luna believe that the girl is exactly where she ought to be, doing what she needs to. Never before has the cat seen the girl so happy, never. It makes her wonder if perhaps she made a mistake of some kind, maybe Usagi was never really meant to be Sailor Moon… But then, who is?

Too many questions, and no answers seem to be forthcoming; Luna just hopes that, with answers or without them, things won’t turn into a tragedy, not like the last time…that’s all she asks for…

xXx

It’s a Saturday night and a young couple arrives to the flat after going on a date. Usagi’s smiling, and this makes Mamoru happy, his girlfriend just hasn’t been the same since Mizuno Ami was taken. The worry and guilt wear on her, and Mamoru feels useless as he knows nothing will make the young woman worry any less, or feel less bad about the situation her friend’s in. So instead he tries to distract her, if only for a few hours every day, with outings, dates and such; he can’t let his girlfriend brood for long, it just isn’t right.

That particular night they knew they wouldn’t be getting back from their date until after midnight, and he suggested she simply spent the night with him. Nothing’s going to happen of course, he respects her too much to do anything without her consent. And even if he had it, a part of him (if it’s influenced by his past as Endymion or not he honestly has no idea, nor does he really care), believed on doing things a certain way, a way that includes Usagi being his wife before anything intimate happens between them. And while he knows, that legally he could ask her, and in the affirmative case marry her already; he also knows her family has a hard enough time with all the changes that have happened since he and Usagi began dating. They aren’t ready yet for her to be married, so he waits…though he honestly doesn’t know for how long he’ll be able to wait, or to make her wait…

The smiling couple has just stepped into the foyer when suddenly a particular melody reaches their ears, a melody that shouldn’t be playing.

“That is…” Mamoru has trouble believing what he’s hearing.

“A piano.” Usagi nods.

But it isn’t just any piano, and they both know it.

In a minute they both rush through the main hall before reaching the sitting room. There, right before the closed glass-doors that open to the terrace, a semi-transparent and clearly incorporeal Zoisite sits on a stool behind his grand-piano, playing a tune both reincarnated royals know pretty well, for it was composed specifically for one of them.

“Zoisite…” Mamoru calls in a strong tone.

The man raises his head, but doesn’t stop playing, as he seems to take his time to observe the two standing before him, meeting the eyes of each briefly as he acknowledges them.

“Master…” He, of course starts with Mamoru, but when he turns to Usagi he seems somewhat surprised. “Moon Princess…”

Almost automatically Usagi does a small curtsy, as expected of someone of her rank.

“So I was right then.” Zoisite says with an almost-sad smile. “You do remember…”

The two nod silently.

“Then it’s too late already.” The Shitennou declares with a slow exhalation. “Destiny has been set in motion already…”

And before either royal can question what he means by that, he’s gone.

 

Moonlight destiny
Itsu made mo dare yori mo soba ni itai no (Forever, more than anyone, I want to be with you)
Kono hiroi sora no shita de meguriaeta anata (Below this spacious sky above, you who I met by chance)

Chapter 9. Broken Mirror

Usagi’s kneeling next to the sofa where Sailor Jupiter lies, both hands held less than an inch away from her side and leg, where the worst of her injuries can be seen.

“Love, you should take a break.” Mamoru whispers standing next to her.

“I will, as soon as I’m done here.” Usagi replies stubbornly.

“You are exhausted already Usako, more than exhausted.” Mamoru says softly. “You saved Venus’s life, you know, without you she would have died…”

“And it would have been my fault…” Usagi whispers back just as sadly.

Mamoru shakes his head as he closes his eyes, that isn’t what he meant and his love knows it, still, that won’t change the guilt he knows she feels.

He can remember clearly what happened:

Ever since the disaster with Mercury Usagi’s been obsessing about her dreams, trying to find any kind of explanation for every minute thing she sees in them; it got to the point where both Naru and Mamoru were beginning to go nuts; she was totally paranoid! And while a part of them understood why she was acting that way, that she really wanted to be sure if anything else came upon them they would be able to prevent it, they also knew she was going to make herself sick at the pace she was going. Which is why they were so insistent on her drinking hot tea before bed, so she would relax, and Naru went as far as adding a very light sedative to help her sleep.

Of course, it just was their luck that it was precisely after that, that trouble happened.

It was a bit over a couple of weeks since their last meeting with the senshi; while there were a few attacks, they made a point of not actually meeting them, not after what happened last time…

Mamoru woke up early, even though it was Saturday he was used to an early morning jog; and usually his girlfriend accompanied him, though with what Naru planned he imagined she would still be sleeping. Which is why he didn’t find it strange when he jogged and then had breakfast all alone. It wasn’t til around noon, when Naru phoned him, that he knew something was wrong.

Usagi wasn’t waking up, she’d been sleeping for more than twelve hours and still wouldn’t wake up; Naru had already tried anything short of forcing her awake with a spell. The worst part was that, for the last half an hour or so Usagi had been restless, twisting and turning in her bed, opening her mouth as if to say something, yet with no words coming from her lips.

“Naru…” Mamoru called to her even as he knelt beside his girlfriend. “What is going on?”

“I don’t know…” Naru admitted as she stood on the other side of the bed. “This wasn’t supposed to happen. The tea, and the sedative, it was supposed to let her sleep deeper, rest better, not make it impossible for her to wake up, or give her nightmares…”

“Is it possible that you overdosed?” Mamoru suggested.

“No!” Naru was scandalized. “I am a priestess, by the spirits! I knew what I was doing when I prepared that tea! This should have happened…it shouldn’t have…”

“Easy, easy, I believe you.” Mamoru assured her. “I just had to ask.”

Naru nodded, she knew he didn’t really blame her for what was going on, he was just worried about Usagi, as was she. At times like this she wished she’d gotten further in her training over the Ancient Arts in the past. While she was very good with plants and knew some archaic spells for healing, tracking and protecting; she was no expert in any of the High Arts.

‘I wish my mistress were here…’ she couldn’t help but wish.

Meanwhile Mamoru was calling to his girlfriend, uselessly trying to coax her into waking up with just his words and touch. This would have worked easily enough under normal circumstances, but it was pretty obvious these circumstances were anything but normal.

Naru was about to suggest the unthinkable, that they get some help, probably from Luna or one of the senshi; when suddenly something changed:

Usagi’s aura, usually so carefully wrapped around her, making her almost invisible to anyone with the necessary senses, spiked harshly, almost exploding. Naru shivered almost violently as the ripple of power went through her, an instinct deep inside reminding her harshly of what happened the last time that power touched her.

And then Usagi sat up in the bed, so fast she must have gotten whiplash, but she didn’t seem to care about that in that moment, as her eyes opened wide in an instant and her mouth opened this time allowing the scream to come out:

“MINAKO!!!”

Usagi can feel her strength faltering, she knows she’ll lose consciousness soon, but she has to keep going. Then she feels it, warmth filling her, coming from the hand on her back, she knows what it is without having to really think about it: her beloved is lending her some of his own power, so she can finish her self-imposed task.

She knows he’d prefer it if she took a break already, after all, she spent almost all her awake time in the last forty-eight hours healing. But she can’t stop, she just can’t, she feels too guilty for what has happened. He knows that, just as he knows she witnessed it all:

She knew what her friend did from the very first sip of the tea; yet she didn’t say anything. She knew both Naru and Mamoru were very worried about her, and she supposed that, in any case, it wouldn’t affect her to sleep a few hours longer.

The dream took her completely by surprise: As her usual, inconsequential dreams shifted into something entirely different. She noticed she was suddenly standing in some room in the Music Academy downtown, the two remaining senshi stood there, fighting against a youma and Kunzite, the senshi were losing, badly.

With the arrival of Princess Sailor Venus they managed to destroy the youma, but it was evident how tired they were already. Soon enough Dark Mercury arrived too and began attacking Mars and Jupiter, leaving the princess to Kunzite; who seemed pretty satisfied with the situation.

Anyone could see Venus really wanted to go to her two comrades, but had realized she wouldn’t be able to do so. Even Luna had been injured already trying to verbally convince Dark Mercury to stop fighting against them.

“What are you waiting for, princess?” Kunzite inquired mockingly. “Fight me.”

Venus was obviously trying to make some kind of plan and kept coming empty; Kunzite was a tough enemy, and she knew it; defeating him wouldn’t be as easy as the youma.

“I’ve heard wonders of the Moon Princess’s power.” Kunzite began baiting her. “Her magic is said to be more powerful than that of a dozen of Terra’s best sorcerers; and the Ginzuishou, it was once said to be the most powerful object in the universe. Were they wrong? Or perhaps there is something you’ve been keeping from us, from your own senshi?”

The realization came to Usagi quite suddenly: Kunzite knew the truth, he knew, or at least suspected, that Sailor Venus wasn’t the real princess, but a decoy. As such she wouldn’t have the Ginzuishou, wouldn’t know lunarian magic, and wouldn’t really have the power to fight a Shitennou one-on-one. Except, Sailor Venus did have the power to fight a Shitennou, even the High General, one-on-one; or at least she should, there was something else going on, a reason why even though she had all, or most of her past-life’s memories, she still couldn’t access her full power. Usagi wished she knew what that reason was, but in that moment the reasons weren’t what worried her: the facts were Venus was facing Kunzite, while on a level of power where she couldn’t be expected to win, unless a miracle took place she could very well die in that fight…Usagi couldn’t allow it.

“Wake up… wake up… wakeup… wakeupwakeupwakeup!!!” She kept screaming at herself.

She began fidgeting and then practically thrashing, she had to find a way to wake from that dream-vision, had to find a way to return to the real world and get moving before it was too late…before someone ended up dead…

The fight progressed, and it was bad, Usagi kept screaming and trashing, knowing no matter what she did she wasn’t really there, so nothing she did could change things; and finding it impossible to actually wake up. It was stressful, she was hysterical already, and nothing seemed to be working…

And then Kunzite released a dark wave against Venus, and another, and another…

The first two she managed to dodge, the third and fourth she blocked, but she was too tired already, and even when she managed to block the attacks they still hurt, soon her gloves were in tatters, as well as the sides of her fuku, as part of the attacks still hit her. By the fifth she could do nothing except close her eyes as the attack hit her.

Usagi went over the edge as she watched the blonde senshi hit the wall painfully before, with a golden flash, reverting to her human form. That was bad, because it meant she had no energy left to keep her henshin up… it meant she was in an extremely bad condition.

Usagi couldn’t help it, even knowing she wasn’t really there, she screamed the name she knew belonged to that girl, even if they’d never been formally introduced:

“MINAKO!!!”

Usagi blinked a couple of times in the second it took her to realize she was finally out of that dream, except she also knew it was no dream. In an instant she jumped to her feet and was rushing to her own balcony, her pajamas shifting into her ‘Serena attire’ a fraction of a second before she jumped off the balcony.

“Serena!!!” She heard both Darien and Molly call to her.

They were fast, but panic was making her even faster; she knew they were worried, but there was just no time for explanations.

“We have to hurry!” She yelled at them without stopping. “Before M… someone dies!”

No more questions were asked as they all hurried as fast as they could across the rooftops; Usagi hadn’t thought to wonder about the Music Academy’s address; she didn’t need to, in that moment she was so stressed she was tapping into her princess powers without actually transforming into her, and because of this she was able to track down the senshi. Their auras were already low, and diminishing by the minute, there was so very little time left…

A tear falls down Usagi’s eyes even as the silver-glow of her hands remains steady; she will never forget what they found upon their arrival to that place; cannot help but think about what would have happened if they had arrived just a few seconds later…

They made it, though barely. Minako was unconscious, had even stop breathing by the time they made it there; Jupiter’s legs were encased in ice, and the rest of her body was covered in ice-burns, she was also half-unconscious already; while Mars only remained up due to sheer will, holding one of her arms gingerly, as part of it was encased in ice as well, most of her body covered in the same kind of burns as her comrade.

The moment the trio stepped into the room they split, knowing they had to stop the two agents of the Dark Kingdom before they hurt anyone anymore.

Molly materialized her bow, firing three arrows in quick succession, the first breaking the ice holding Jupiter in place, the second dissipating Dark Mercury’s latest attack, and the third hitting her in an arm; she didn’t like hurting someone she once called a friend, who she wanted to have back as one; but still, it was preferable to someone ending up dead.

Darien reinforced his cane and used it to block Kunzite’s sword before it could fall on the unconscious ‘princess’; the movement also seemed to shock the Shitennou, either because he hadn’t expected the cane to stand that kind of strike, or because he hadn’t been expecting the three who just arrived.

Serena dropped to her knees next to Minako, performing CPR to get her breathing again; she could barely hold herself back from using her full power to heal her right away; but what little of her brain still worked despite her panic reminded her Kunzite couldn’t see her using such powers, not yet.

At the same time another part reprimanded her, it was that mentality which caused the whole situation in the first place, if she hadn’t quit, hadn’t insisted on not telling the senshi she was the princess, then Kunzite wouldn’t have used such a trap, wouldn’t have been about to kill Venus…

In the end the gods and spirits were on their side, as Kunzite seemed to decide he’d done enough already and ordered Dark Mercury to leave. They both did.

The moment Serena was sure he was gone and wouldn’t come back she called upon her power and began healing as much of Minako’s injuries as she could.

“Serena?” Darien called worriedly.

“She’s on the edge.” Serena answered honestly through her tears. “She… she wasn’t breathing, her heart nearly stopped… I… Oh Darien, I can’t fully heal her, I’m not powerful enough… this is going to take a lot of power, and time…”

“Don’t worry my love, we’ll handle it.” Darien reassured her. “We got here on time. We saved them. We have time for them to heal, and Molly and I will make sure they aren’t attacked until their injuries are gone. Everything will be alright. I promise you.”

Serena nodded, then went back to focus on her healing, so focused she was on making sure Minako would be alright she didn’t realize she was pushing herself too far until she collapsed.

The only reason Usagi doesn’t have to sleep more than fourteen hours is because Naru pours enough of her own energy into the healer to almost lose consciousness herself.

The moment the black-haired girl is awake Mamoru has to practically force her to eat something before she goes back to healing Minako. Now that the reincarnated leader of the senshi is stable Usagi knows to take things slower; she knows that healing too quickly can be as traumatic for the body as the injury itself. She half-heals Venus’s worst injuries, and some of the minor ones before moving on to Jupiter and Mars, whom she both heals about halfway; enough for them to be able to sleep peacefully and let their own senshi-healing help the rest of the process along.

Afterwards Usagi is so tired she goes back to sleep, waking up shortly before noon. This time Mamoru’s able to convince her to eat a hearty-meal and take a long and relaxing bath before getting to work on healing the senshi. It does help her, as the food gives her more energy and the bath washes away not just the sweat but also the stress.

That’s how, two hours after waking up Usagi sets to work again, this time choosing to help Jupiter and Mars first; she manages to do enough for them to actually be able to move around with barely any help, so they can eat, take showers themselves and be more comfortable. They are still hurt, but it isn’t any worse than how they get after any fight against a youma. Venus is still in a delicate condition, but no longer in actual danger. Usagi spends quite some energy healing her and pushing her own special healing further before going to the terrace to spend some time lying on one of the hammocks, her boyfriend’s arms around her. It’s very relaxing.

Shortly before sundown Naru orders some takeout and, after eating Usagi heals all three senshi a bit more, and even Luna, though she isn’t nearly as bad as any of the others. That night Usagi, again, spends it in her boyfriend’s arms, and after a late hearty-breakfast and another long bath she once again works on healing Venus.

On Monday morning she skips school, though with the situation as it is she really can’t bring herself to care that much; and she knows Naru will cover for her.

At least by that point the other senshi are mostly healed already, they too decided to skip school that day, but are moving around and mostly just have a few bruises, almost-healed cuts, and are very sore all over.

Venus’s injuries are going nicely, Usagi’s sure she’ll be well enough by morning; she’ll be pretty sore, and probably with a few bad bruises; but if the reincarnated princess heals too much, then there’s the risk the senshi’s system will grow used to not having to heal too much, and that would be counterproductive during any fight or difficult situation. In any case, any wounds Usagi doesn’t heal will mostly finish healing by the end of the week.

xXx

Like Usagi predicted, Minako finally wakes the next morning. The whole group has a late breakfast together, sitting around the living-room table, since there’s no way Minako can stand sitting on a hard chair for any period of time.

The breakfast is spent in an awkward silence, which Minako can’t help but spend mostly watching those who saved her and the other two senshi; she can see Naru, who they all finally confirmed was the priestess Molly, silently eating her breakfast and periodically looking around the room, most likely keeping watch over everything and everyone. Mamoru and Usagi are sitting in a love-seat, practically lying against each other and every once in a while sharing some piece of their own breakfast with the other. It’s a very casual, yet intimate scene, and the ease of their moves seems to speak of a long married couple, rather than two young adults who’ve barely been dating for less than two years.

Finally Minako is seeing what Makoto was talking about the day Moon quit; how Usagi looks different when she’s with her boyfriend, older, more mature, more beautiful, better all around. It’s as if something in him makes her shine brighter than she ever could on her own. It’s certainly a pretty sight to watch.

“Are you alright?” Usagi’s voice pulls her out of her musings.

She can hear the worry in the black-haired girl’s voice and almost can’t believe it; that after everything that’s happened in the last few months, all their disagreements, Usagi can still worry so much about her, about all of them…

“Yes, I’m fine.” She finally answers.

“Are you in pain?” Usagi asks, setting her dishes down.

According to her calculations Minako should be pretty sore, but nothing too bad; still, if she’s wrong she’s ready to treat the girl some more.

“I’m fine, really.” Venus insists.

Still not fully sure, Usagi decides not to push it; in the end, if she’s in any bad condition someone will notice it sooner or later and she’ll act then.

“Thank you.” Those two words, coming out of the ‘pseudo princess’s’ mouth seem so surprising, and yet at the same time not at all.

“It was nothing.” The healer assures her with a soft smile.

“It wasn’t… nothing!” Rei cannot help but hiss. “You… you… you saved us! If it weren’t… if you hadn’t… we would have all died without you!!!”

It’s obvious, by the tone of her voice, and the way she hesitates with her words that she’s feeling very uncomfortable; she’s thankful for what Usagi has done, yet doesn’t know how to express herself, she hasn’t been in such a situation before and she doesn’t like it, doesn’t like not knowing how to do something.

“I’m just glad I could get there in time.” Usagi whispers with a hint of sadness. “I… We almost didn’t make it… I was so afraid…”

“You speak as if you knew what was going to happen…” Artemis comments.

They know she’s had a premonition of sorts before, and cannot help but wonder if this was something similar; and if so, why they got there so late.

“Not really, not before it happened.” Usagi isn’t sure how to explain it, fearing she might end up giving away too much.

“It was partly my fault.” Naru interferes. “Usagi-chan hadn’t been sleeping enough in many nights, so I added some herbs to her usual hot tea, they were to act as a sedative, allowing her to sleep longer and deeper, so she could rest more. It seems that, somehow the mix of the herbs from the original tea, with the sedative, and her own magic caused her to go into some kind of trance right around the time she should have woken up.”

“A trance?” Rei asks, having a feeling where this is going. “A vision?”

“I saw what happened in the Music Academy.” Usagi admits. “Though I wasn’t physically there, I could see it all. From the moment you stepped in, and until Minako was thrown against the wall by Kunzite’s insistent attack.”

Minako can’t help it, she flinches; even though she’s already mostly healed and in no danger at the time, she can still remember the pain that ran through her body, and the fear, fear not of her own death, but of failing the mission, that’s her whole reason for living, the mission of the past-life, and she failed…

“She woke up screaming your name.” Naru continues, looking at Minako. “Didn’t even say a word to us before she jumped off the bed and rushed out; I’m in fact surprised she even remembered to shift into her alter ego before she began hopping across rooftops.”

“Neither Naru nor I knew what was going on until we entered that room.” Mamoru adds. “All she would tell us was that we had to hurry, before someone died.”

“And we would have… died… hadn’t you been there.” Makoto admits, mostly to herself.

She’s never felt so useless in her whole life. She’s so used to her almost inhuman strength, even before becoming a senshi. Never did she imagine being in a situation where she couldn’t defend herself, and those she came to care for. But then again, after her parents died in that plane crash, and her uncle sent her away to live on her own she grew so used to people simply walking out on her, to always being alone; which was why she won’t allow Motoki to get too close; she never imagined caring about someone as much as he cares about those in the room in that moment.

“There’s one more thing.” Rei declares quite suddenly.

This calls everyone’s attention back to the present.

“Do you remember?” Rei asks, her eyes fixed directly on Minako’s. “What the Dark General said, after throwing Minako against that wall, before he moved to deliver the final blow…”

Usagi has no idea what she’s talking about, she was already awake by that point, and didn’t get there until he nearly decapitated the unconscious girl. The cats and remaining senshi seem to be as confused as everyone else about what’s going on, but somehow, just with the look directed at her, Minako seems to understand.

The pseudo-princess is suddenly looking very pale, but she doesn’t say a word, neither encouraging nor stopping Rei from continuing her speech.

“He said: ‘I know you aren’t her, that you aren’t the Moon Princess.’…” Rei quotes

Everyone gasps, but Rei isn’t about to stop now.

“He said: ‘The question is: are you acting as her decoy while keeping her hidden, or is it that not even you know where the princess is?’…” Rei finishes.

“What?!” Makoto and Luna can’t help their cry.

And it’s that the situation is just as unexpected for them.

“That can’t be…” Luna refuses to believe it.

“Come on, this is a Dark General we’re talking about.” Makoto tries to lighten up the situation. “Lying is pretty much their prerogative…”

“He wasn’t lying…” Minako’s words leave them all mute.

“Minako…” Artemis whispers.

They never wanted this; the others weren’t supposed to find out she wasn’t the Moon Princess until the real one woke up; by that point her deceit would be unimportant; but at this point, at this point it’s critical.

“Why did you lie to us?” Makoto asks, feeling hurt.

“I am Sailor Venus, leader of the Sailor Senshi, the Royal Guards of the Moon Princess.” Minako enlists in an almost emotionless tone. “I’m also the princess’s decoy…”

“Her decoy?” Luna questions.

“I don’t know why you don’t remember, Luna.” Artemis declares. “That has always been Venus’s duty, to take the princess’s place whenever there is danger, to protect her no matter what the peril to herself…”

“So that was why you were telling everyone you were the princess.” Makoto understands. “You were keeping the Dark Kingdom’s attention on you, and away from her… That’s why you refused to allow us to protect you, said you had your own mission to fulfill, this was it.”

Minako nods, thankful that at least one person is being so understanding.

“But why lie to us?” Rei wants to know. “We’re senshi too, we’re supposed to all be comrades, why were we lied to so blatantly?”

“The more people that knew the truth, the more likely it was that the Dark Kingdom would find out.” Artemis tries to defend his charge. “Imagine if Mercury had known the truth when she was turned into Dark Mercury.”

“Well, the Dark Kingdom ended up realizing the truth anyway, didn’t they?” Rei snaps.

They all have to admit she’s right. And it’s then that they all seem to remember the three that haven’t said a word since the revelations began.

“You don’t seem to be that surprised…” Luna comments as she watches them carefully.

“Oh, that’s because we already knew.” Naru deadpans.

“What?!” No one expected that. “How?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Naru rolls her eyes. “I told you already, I was there, at the end, and I remember, everything.”

“You remember what the princess really looks like…” Minako understands. “From the very first time, you always knew I wasn’t her… That’s why you said you didn’t answer to me…”

Naru nods several times, it’s about time they understand!

“So then, does that mean you would follow the real Moon Princess?” Artemis inquires.

“I would… I do…” Naru declares simply.

“Then the only question that remain is, where is the Moon Princess?” Luna asked.

“I don’t know…” Minako lowers her head, ashamed.

Heads snap up all through the room, no one having really been expecting that answer… even though three of them knew this beforehand, they weren’t actually expecting her to admit it. Though there’s no way of knowing what kind of explanation or excuse, or anything else she could have given at that point.

“I thought I did.” Minako continues. “While still being Sailor V, shortly after recovering the memories of my past life, I was sure I had found her. That’s why I began acting as her decoy, to make sure no one else would notice her.”

“And where is she?” Rei wants to know.

“You don’t understand.” The decoy whispers. “I was wrong, she’s not who I thought. It took me a while but finally I realized it, but it was too late to stop the act, too many people were already trying to find the princess, so I kept pretending, and now…”

“And now the enemy both knows that you aren’t the princess, and that we don’t really know where she is.” Rei finishes for her.

Minako nods, she feels ashamed, she failed… Her feelings are interrupted by a hand on her arm; she’s surprised to find Usagi suddenly in front of her, the compassion coming from her wide hazel eyes so great it leaves Minako breathless, and at the same time totally calm for the first time in what seems like forever.

“Relax…” Usagi whispers, thought it’s wholly unnecessary by that point. “Everything will be alright, you’ll see.”

Minako cannot help it, she believes her.

xXx

Minako stays with Naru in the apartment most of the week, while Usagi sleeps in Mamoru’s arms and checks on the senshi-leader every morning before walking to school with Naru. By Wednesday Minako is still sore, but most of her bruises can no longer be seen; in the end she has to leave because she has work to do and her manager can no longer cancel it.

Thursday night is the first in a whole week the three friends have some peace, they were planning on watching a movie marathon all three of them together, of course, they should have known better than to try and make any plans… They’re starting to relax when suddenly a piano melody reaches their ears.

“Again…” Mamoru and Usagi whisper at the same time.

Truth is they haven’t heard Zoisite at all for a whole week, and were beginning to wonder if he simply lost interest in them; it could have also been that he knew the senshi were around and didn’t want to call their attention. It takes a few seconds, but finally the white-haired general projects his image into a corner of the room, as always playing his piano.

“Zoisite…” All three of them greet the newcomer.

The Shitennou nods respectfully at the royal couple, and then turns to the auburn-haired girl; while he knows about her, he hasn’t seen her before.

“So the Spitfire is here too…” He says with a ghost of a smile. “I’m sure you-know-who would be very interested in this development… if he were in his right mind of course…”

Those words cause a knot to form in Naru’s throat, as she fights with everything she is to keep the tears from flowing.

“What brings you here now, Zoisite?” Mamoru wants to know. “You know I’m here, I have my memories, and my princess by my side…”

“And while I wish some things weren’t, I also know what’s happened already cannot be changed.” Zoisite finishes. “But what you don’t know, is what’s yet to come.”

“And what is that?” Usagi wants to know.

“Metalia.” Zoisite answers. “Kunzite has been working with Dark Mercury on gathering enough energy to free her; and is coming very close to that goal… too close.”

“But, that cannot happen.” Usagi starts shaking her head almost frantically. “Metalia cannot be allowed to be free. If that happens… then the Earth… everything will…”

“Everything will die, the animals, the plants, the humans, the planet itself.” Zoisite finishes.

Usagi’s going hysterical, she knows that if Metalia is freed, it’ll be even worse than when the Silver Millennium ended.

“There must be some way to stop her.” Mamoru declares, frustrated.

“If there is one, I do not know it.” Zoisite admits. “And there’s very little I can truly do with the Negaforce still upon me.”

“We’ll find a way to free you, all of you.” Mamoru promises. “You have my word.”

“You shouldn’t bother about us, Master.” Zoisite shakes his head. “You have more important things to worry about…”

“You are important…” Usagi declares as she embraces Mamoru. “We’ll find a way to help you, by Selene we will.”

Zoisite cannot help it, he smiles. He used to be so against his Prince being again with the Moon Princess. And yet, seeing them there in that moment, seeing the compassion the young girl has; and for someone she’s never really known that well. It’s enlightening, it makes him wonder if perhaps he was wrong, maybe his prince does belong by her side?

“Thank you…” He whispers.

And before anything else can be said, he’s gone.

Naru’s about to say something to try and break the somber mood, when suddenly the door opens, all three spin around at the same time, only to freeze. The person standing at the door is one they weren’t expecting to see, not again, not after so long. Her hair is short, barely reaching her shoulders, very straight, a darker-shade of brown than Naru’s, but still lighter than Mamoru’s; dressed in a khaki almost-knee-length skirt, cream-colored blouse, brown-leather jacket and equally brown-leather knee-high boots; by her side is a suitcase, and on her arm a bag, it’s obvious she just arrived from wherever she came from, and judging by the expression on her face, she means business.

“Where is he?” She asks strongly before anyone can say anything. “Where is Alexei? Where is my husband?”

Her words are a big shock, but at least Mamoru’s still trapped by his first one:

“H… Hina?” He asks, not quite believing it.

She blinks, as she finally realizes the shock she’s caused, it makes her smile.

“Yes, Hina.” She nods for a moment, and then in a melodic yet formal tone of voice she adds. “Though for this, the name is Katrina…”

 

Moonlight destiny
Hohoemi mo kanashimi mo wakeaeru ne to (Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together)
Mune de sou kanjite iru anata to nara (In my heart that’s how I feel, when I am with you)

Chapter 10. Promise of the White Moon

As the bell rings to announce the end of classes for the day many people can be heard cheering around, it’s obvious that they have plans for that weekend and can’t wait to get away from the high-school. Kino Makoto doesn’t really have plans for the weekend, and for those in the know, it might surprise them that the reason isn’t her duty as a senshi. Truth is that when first becoming Sailor Jupiter it had become pretty common for her to hang out with friends, go to sleepovers, the Crown Karaoke, and such; of course, that could also have been because the friends she hung out with were precisely the other senshi.

Things have changed in the last few months though: first when her first friend and leader of the senshi, Sailor Moon, chose to quit. While Makoto knew things were going to get bad if people kept bothering her friend about her love relationship, she never expected it to go that far. And then… it was as if without the bubbly black-haired girl the group couldn’t hold on, as if she were the sole reason they were all together. They began drifting little by little. And then Mercury was taken and turned into an agent of the Dark Kingdom… Things certainly seemed to have been getting progressively worse recently…the worst of course being a week before…she nearly died.

And that’s exactly the reason why she’s standing there in that very moment, to properly thank the person responsible for her still being alive, and not just her but her friends as well.

What happened that Saturday was like a wake-up call. Luna and Artemis told them they were getting progressively weaker with Moon’s absence; and it’s made worse by them not working as a team, as they should, and yet none of them would listen… Not until their lives were nearly lost. Really, if Serena, Darien and Molly didn’t arrive precisely when they did, Makoto’s sure they all would be dead.

Minako might have died anyway if Usagi weren’t such a powerful healer, and with such a great heart as to give her all to heal them. It’s shocking how they were so blind to what a wonderful person the girl is, until she was no longer a part of their team. Before they always saw her as a caring, friendly, lovable, yet also clumsy, easily distracted, weak, crybaby; and yet, she’s nothing of the sort. Capable of standing before a Dark General even when having no power to really fight against him, risking her all to protect and heal everyone around them… and she has loyal friends to back her up, loyal friends that aren’t her and the other girls… because they were too stupid to see the jewel she is…

Finally Makoto pulls herself out of her morose thoughts as she sees Rei standing at the school-gate, her classes ending half an hour before theirs; surprisingly enough, it was the miko’s idea for them to formally thank their former comrade and give her a token of sorts of their gratitude and hopefully renewed friendship. Yes, even Rei has finally realized how wrong she was by treating Usagi so poorly.

“She hasn’t come out yet, has she?” Rei asks. “I just got here.”

“No, when I got out of the classroom she was still helping Naru-san put some materials away.” Makoto answers. “I decided to come and wait with you.”

Rei nods, satisfied.

They’re still waiting when suddenly a very nice car parks just a few feet away from them: it’s an ice-blue color, and obviously of the latest model. Everyone turns to look in surprise, never before having seen someone so obviously rich in the area. From the driver’s side of the car a woman steps out, in a simple knee-length white skirt, sand-colored peasant-blouse and leather boots of the same tone; her hair is straight, barely reaching her shoulders and chestnut brown, she keeps it back with a simple white bandanna and she wears no jewelry. While everything is very simple, the clothes are clearly expensive; adding to the image of rich and beautiful young woman.

Rei’s about to ask what’s going on when suddenly the voice of the very person they were waiting for pulled her short.

“Hina-nee-san!!!”

Like a bullet Usagi dashes past them, her pigtails flying behind her and she stops barely in time so as not to crash against the new arrival. Immediately Usagi starts babbling happily, speaking so fast that no one except herself and maybe Hina understand.

“Usagi-chan, take it easy, you’re making a scene.” Naru informs her as she joins the other two. “Hello, Hina-nee-sama…”

“Hello Naru-nee-san, Usagi-chan.” Hina smiles sweetly at both girls.

“Who is that?” Rei finally dares ask.

It’s obvious Usagi and Naru both know her, but she doesn’t remember having met the older girl though, by the way they speak to each other, it’s obvious they’re close.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Makoto questions as she smiles as well. “That’s Kusaka Hina.”

Rei does a double take as she finally realizes what that means.

“That’s Mamoru’s ex?” The miko can hardly believe it.

The older woman is gorgeous, obviously rich and refined, and kind considering how she answers several questions from Usagi’s classmates, who are obviously curious about her presence there. Yet Mamoru chose Usagi over her…yes, Rei no longer sees Usagi as a weak, useless, crybaby; but still, Mamoru has to have seen something more to choose the black-haired girl over the woman that stands before them.

While Rei’s mind is busy with those thoughts Makoto chooses to go say hello; while she has no idea what Hina’s doing back in Tokyo after so long, she’s still happy to see the older girl again.

“Hello, Hina-sempai.” Makoto greets the girl.

“Oh, Makoto-san!” Hina obviously isn’t expecting the tall brunette. “It’s good to see you here, I didn’t know you still attended the same school as Usagi-chan and Naru-nee.”

“I do.” Makoto replies simply, then changes topic. “It’s such a surprise to see you, Hina-sempai; I didn’t know you were back in Tokyo.”

“I just got here last night.” Hina answers, then smirks slightly. “Gave a certain someone a little surprise…”

“Little surprise?” Usagi snorts.

“Nee-sama, that’s the understatement of the century.” Naru adds with a giggle.

“I’m guessing you’re talking about Mamoru-san.” Makoto declares, she knows she’s missing something. “He didn’t know you were coming?”

“No, my return was kind of a last minute decision.” Hina admits. “I had been considering it for a couple of weeks already, but didn’t make up my mind until I actually got on the plane.”

Naru and Usagi can’t help it, they giggle again; while Hina just smiles. Yes, Makoto’s definitely missing something, and she just has no way of knowing what that is, not yet anyway:

It took a couple of minutes for Mamoru to fully function again; and while all three females found the situation extremely funny; they did realize he was having a hard time dealing with the fact that his ex-fiancee was not just in town but in his apartment, and then there was the rather unexpected demand she made upon arrival. When Mamoru finally reacted the friends decided to forgo the movie-night and instead sat down to talk about what had brought Hina back.

“Did you say Katrina?” Usagi asked what was bothering her.

“Yes, that’s what I said, Princess Serenity.” Hina bowed her head respectfully at the girl.

Then it was Usagi’s turn to be shocked, though apparently the situation, and the surprises, weren’t over just yet.

“I knew I recognized you.” Naru declared with a smile.

In a second she shifted into Molly and with a hand over her heart, ankles crossed, she lowered her head until her chin touched her chest.

“Mistress… I welcome you back.” She spoke in Molly’s soft, melodic voice. “It’s an honor to have you among us again.”

“You know you need not bow to me, little sister.” Hina said, her voice taking a melodic, yet firm quality. “And it’s my pleasure to be back.”

“I’ve done my best to fulfill my duty to the Master and his princess.” Molly continued. “I’m certainly delighted we’ll have you with us…” she finally raised her head, a bright smile on her face. “I’m so happy to see you again, big sister…”

The two women embraced tightly, and it was as if Molly’s aura turned a switch in Hina herself, when her elegant clothes suddenly changed: she was then left wearing an ancient tunic, it looked much like Molly’s except for a few details: it only had one slit, and it was located slightly more to the front, allowing her right leg to be seen, though it didn’t reach as high as Molly’s, going only to mid-thigh; also, the tunic wasn’t in a deep-v around the neck, but the opposite, with the triple straps in a burnt-gold tone holding the tunic up from the very middle of it, both in the front and the back (all in all, it was a much more modest look); she had the same kind of bindings on her feet and around her middle was a blood-red sash. Finally, her hair was still the same in length and style as before, but with some added golden highlights and what looked like an olive-and-laurel crown.

Letting go of Molly, the other priestess turned to where Mamoru and Usagi had unconsciously stood and shifted into their alter egos. The older woman raised a delicate brow, obviously due to the fact that, while she could identify their auras easily enough, her memories told her that wasn’t the Earth Prince’s and the Moon Princess’s look. In the end she decided that was a topic to be discussed later.

“I am Katrina, daughter of the Earth, servant of the Spirits.” She began formally, in very much the same manner as Molly once had. “I’m a High Priestess of the Ancient Elysian Order.” She dropped to one knee suddenly, head bowed. “And on this new age I’ve returned hoping to serve you faithfully, as I once did back in the Silver Millennium, Master Endymion.”

As she introduced herself suddenly the two reincarnated royals recalled certain memories and understood who she was, and had been. While they had pretty much all the memories of their previous life, they had never gone through them all; it was complicated enough dealing with one life in which they already had alter egos, and the few memories of the Silver Millennium that were too strong to ignore. One day they might fully review their previous life, but that wouldn’t be happening any time soon. Still, for the time being, they recalled enough.

“On your feet, High Lady Katrina.” Darien began in a formal voice, which soon softened. “You know that more than a subject, you’re family, always have been, always will be.” He moved to embrace her as soon as she was on her feet. “Welcome back cousin.”

Serena just smiled from a side, delighted that his beloved had at least a part of his family back.

The four talked well into the night, after going back to their civilian personalities. Hina explained how she began having dreams around three weeks before, but wasn’t able to truly begin putting the pieces together until recently.

Katrina, like Molly, is an Elysian priestess, the difference being that she’s a rank above the younger girl, which means she’s considerably more powerful in her magic; also, she’s actually been trained as a warrior-priestess, meaning she knows how to use several different weapons and hand-to-hand combat. Another thing is that Katrina is actually Endymion’s first-cousin, her mother having been the queen’s sister. Her parents died early in her life and Katrina was raised by the King and Queen of Earth, she came to see Endymion as a brother. This explains the way Hina felt about Mamoru. A part of her always knew they were meant to be family, being so young just made her confuse the love of a family with that of a couple. But that’s alright, because things went right in the end. Mamoru found his own soulmate in Usagi and Hina… well, she’s waiting, and hoping.

“Where is Mamoru-kun?” Usagi asks suddenly.

It actually took her a while to remember that her boyfriend is usually the one to pick her up from school on Fridays.

“Not sure,” Hina answers coyly. “Probably still in the mall looking for me…”

“The mall?” Naru’s confused.

“Looking for you?” Usagi adds.

“Yeah, I convinced him I needed to buy some clothes, after all, the weather here is very different from that in London.” Hina points out. “We had an early lunch and I told him I would be taking the two of you with me this afternoon. He didn’t seem to agree with me very much, so I decided to get on the move before he could!” she giggles. “Actually, maybe we should get going before he gets here.”

“But… Mamoru-kun…” Usagi isn’t sure.

As if her words were a spell, Hina’s cell rings right then; she doesn’t even need to check the ID to know who it is.

“Hello, Mamoru…” She greets him in a bright tone. “Oh, I’m outside Crossroads High, picking the girls up… yes, even Usagi-chan… Come on Mamoru don’t be a party-popper, we deserve a girl’s day, or afternoon, at least… Well, if you play your cards right we might allow you to take us all some place tonight… Yes, all of us… Glad that you see it my way!… See ya then… Usagi-chan sends her love…”

The mentioned pig-tailed girl probably would prefer to speak to her boyfriend herself; but still, truth is that she really likes the idea of spending an afternoon with two of her best friends of her whole life; and it’s not like she’ll be staying for too long away from her beloved, she’ll see him again tonight. Seeing that Usagi’s no longer going to complain, Naru is all for the outing.

“So, where are we going?” She asks excitedly.

“Well, I made appointments for all of us at a spa downtown: facials, massages, the whole treatment, then we’ll have a friend of mine waiting for us at her boutique and we can choose what to wear tonight for the theater.” The older girl informs them.

“Theater?” Usagi was really interested at this point.

“Yes, the Ballet Company of Tokyo is presenting ‘Windows Of Time’ it’s supposed to be a mix of key scenes from several famous plays through history, just the most iconic ones.” Hina announces. “I’ve been told it’s a very good show.”

“I love the idea.” Naru declares immediately.

“Me too.” Usagi sighs with a hint of melancholy. “I haven’t been to a ballet since…”

Since the Silver Millennium, but, thankfully, she remembers Makoto and Rei are still way too close and doesn’t want to risk revealing her secrets too soon.

“I’m sure it’s been way too long.” Hina saves her. “Now come on, we have appointments to pamper ourselves, and then make ourselves beautiful… more. Then, tonight, we’ll knock some socks off!”

All three girls giggle at once, Usagi also blushing brightly.

“Well, I’m sure you’ll knock Mamoru’s, and Naru-nee and I…” suddenly, she interrupts herself, and for just a fraction of a second her eyes seem sad. “We’ll see…”

xXx

The next several hours are definitely great for all three girls. Hina wasn’t joking when she said she made appointments for them to get the whole treatment; and there’s also the fact that everyone in Tokyo knows just how rich and important the Kusakas are, and since the appointments were done under that name… The girls are treated as princesses as different people pamper them in all and every way possible. After several hours and being thoroughly relaxed they walk to the boutique, which is actually just two buildings away from the spa. There they spend a couple more hours choosing the perfect outfits as well as accessorizing.

A last minute decision has them going to a beauty salon right beside the boutique where they get their hair styled and their makeup done. It takes some effort, but they manage to convince Usagi to get her hair off the usual pigtails, instead she has half of it up in a fancy twist and the rest falling down her back like a black silky curtain. With the help of some pins Hina gets her hair pulled away from her face and into a very small bun at the nape of her neck. While Naru’s is left in loose ringlets framing her face. Their makeup is pretty simple, barely some base, light eye-shadow and gloss, they’re already very beautiful and any more makeup would have ended up working against them.

After that Hina drives them all to the girls’ apartment, where they start getting dressed.

Hina is the first to be ready, she’s wearing a Chinese style high-necked dress the shade of green so dark it’s almost black, it also has a pattern of leaves in a slightly lighter green going around her neck and on the trim, no sleeves and a slit that goes to the high part of her thigh, around her waist goes a sash in a slightly-glimmering emerald-green tone, it ties to the side, letting the excess hang over the uncovered part of her leg; a golden cuff-like bracelet, choker and emerald green flats finish off the look.

Naru is wearing a blue-chiffon skirt that reaches her ankles, then there’s the turquoise corset-style top, the separation of the two pieces leaving the barest hint of her midriff to be seen, a scarf the same shade of blue as the skirt rests upon her shoulders, hiding the fact that, in normal circumstances with such clothes she would have been showing quite some cleavage; she wears several small bronze bracelets around her wrists and strappy kitten heels.

Usagi is a vision in a coral-pink dress with a heart neckline, the torso is form-fitting but from the hips down it flows freely, the sleeves are bell-like and half-transparent, allowing her porcelain-like skin to be seen; she has white heels on and the only piece of jewelry on her is the antique-looking clock hanging from a golden-chain around her neck, it’s called moon-phase and was a gift from Mamoru on their first anniversary.

When Mamoru receives them at the apartment’s entrance, in a white suit with a black shirt his jaw nearly drops (would have if he weren’t so practiced at keeping his emotions in check, and even then it almost did). It takes him a few seconds but finally he hands a flower to each: Naru (a white orchid) and Hina (a pink camellia); and then a bouquet of eleven red roses to Usagi; the twelfth, they all soon find out, has been wired to a hair clip and with some help of Hina is added to the blushing girl’s hair.

“So, are we ready to have some fun tonight?” Naru asks, though the answer is obvious.

“I’m sure I’m going to be the envy of every man in Tokyo tonight.” Mamoru announces as they leave the apartment. “What with three goddesses accompanying me.”

Usagi blushes as red as the rose in her hair while the other two laugh in delight. They haven’t been together and having fun in so long…

They hire a car to take them to the theater since neither Hina nor Mamoru want to drive, especially not after midnight, when they expect the play to end. They rarely ever make such expenses and it’s not like they can’t afford it.

xXx

The night is incredibly amazing for all four of them. Hina has actually bought balcony tickets for them all, and for the duration of the play they can almost feel as if they were back in the Silver Millennium, in one of the many events they enjoyed while two of the Shitennou pretended to hate (while enjoying it as much as them) and the others just sat through in total silence.

They are just stepping into the lobby of the theater, and about to call the car to pick them up when three heads snap to the side at the same time, almost immediately followed by the fourth of them. No need to ask any questions, they all know what they’re feeling. Discreetly so as not to call the attention of all the others leaving the theater the four make their way down the street, thankfully in a direction where there seem to be no passersby. Three blocks down they finally find the battle.

By then Naru is about to complain about going running down empty streets, in fancy clothes and heels; though she doesn’t because she knows the situation is serious, and Usagi’s heels are worse than hers. They arrived to the site of the battle precisely as Jupiter crashes rather forcefully against a wall barely a few feet away from them.

“Seems to me that they might need our help.” Naru suggests.

This calls everyone else’s attention as they turn in time to see the four elegantly dressed individuals change into three warriors they have come to know pretty well in the last couple of months, and one they’ve never seen before.

One of the youma is about to punch Mars straight in the face when a staff stops it.

“Who are you?” Mars demands.

“Name’s Katrina, and for the rest I suppose you could wait until this youma has been dealt with…” Katrina declares.

She doesn’t really wait for an answer, instead using her staff to push the youma away before delivering a strong kick on its side. It doesn’t matter that she wears no shoes, she has enough training to be able to kick enemies without hurting herself. Right then she looks the same as she did the night before in Mamoru’s living-room, the only addition being the long staff she’s holding in her hands.

The shift in the battle is pretty obvious once the four friends arrive, the youma simply doesn’t stand a chance against them. Serena doesn’t even need to use any of her magic except to heal the bruises Jupiter got after her crash against the wall, and some minor scratches and bruises on Venus and Mars. All in all it isn’t that bad.

“At least this time there weren’t any innocents involved.” Molly points out.

Serena nods, she was really grateful about that, while she has no problem healing people, she actually enjoys helping, she prefers it when no one’s hurt in the first place.

“Thanks for the help.” Venus smiles at them.

“It’s our pleasure.” Darien assures her.

“I see you have a new comrade.” Artemis comments, as he watches Katrina up and down.

“My name is Katrina, like Molly I am an Elysian priestess.” The woman decides to forgo the formal speech and get to the point.

“The crown on your head…” Luna begins, knowing it’s important. “It’s different from the flower in Molly’s.”

“That’s because while Molly is a priestess, I’m actually a High-Priestess, that’s a rank above her.” Katrina explains. “The only rank above mine is that of Head-Priestess, which I have no idea if anyone held at the time of the Fall.”

“You were there as well?” Jupiter asks, surprised.

“Not at the very end.” Katrina answers, almost emotionlessly. “I sacrificed my life so my Master could leave Terra without having to experience its downfall. The last thing I remember is him and Molly teleporting to the Moon to warn t…you, of what had happened in the Golden Kingdom…”

The two Advisors nod soberly.

“The sash you wear, does that mean something too?” Jupiter can’t help but be curious.

The silence lasts for a while, so long most start to believe Katrina won’t be answering the question at all, until…

“It means I’m a married woman.” She answers finally.

And before any more questions can be asked, she turns and starts walking away, Molly immediately hurrying after her. Serena and Darien are about to do the same when they hear someone calling.

“S… U… Serena wait!” Venus calls.

Serena turn back to them in time to see the three senshi approaching, Venus standing in the middle, holding something Serena recognizes after a few seconds: her transformation locket.

“Here,” Venus extends it to her.

“Wha… Why are you giving me this?” Serena asks, confused.

“I don’t really have the power to make you a senshi again, no matter how much I may wish to.” Venus explains. “And in the end, you may not wish to go back to being Sailor Moon. Still, the fact is that no one but you can be her so, senshi or not, no one but you has the right to have that.” She smiles almost sadly. “I also thought it could work as a token of both our gratitude and the hope that one day we’ll go back to being a team.”

“I don’t know if I could ever go back to being Sailor Moon.” Serena admits as, slowly, she reaches for the locket. “But I promise to always be there, and help whenever I can.”

“That’s more than we would dare ask for.” Artemis declares.

Nodding Serena holds the locket tightly before, with some help from her beloved, getting it around her neck.

“Goodnight.” She tells them before turning around.

“Good luck.” Darien adds as he falls into step beside her.

xXx

Katrina runs all the way to the apartment complex, where she immediately locks herself in what used to be Usagi’s room; they agreed the night before that, at least for a while, she’ll stay there with Naru, while Usagi spends the nights with Mamoru (only sleeping).

“Katrina!” Serena calls repeatedly as she knocks on the door.

True, she could slip in through the balcony, or use a spell to unlock the door, but that would mean violating a friend’s privacy, something she isn’t willing to do. A few feet from her Molly sits on the ground, looking as lost as she, Darien just sighs, his head resting against the wall. They all know why Katrina is like that, and there’s little they can do to change it; still, that won’t stop Serena from at least trying.

“Katrina, please…” she insists.

Finally the door opens, just enough for them to see her, she’s still as Katrina, not having changed back into Hina, but her eyes are red and tears can still be seen on her cheeks, though it’s obvious she tried to wipe them before opening the door.

“Please, Serena, all of you, just leave me alone right now.” Katrina pleads.

It’s so strange for her to talk like that, in either life, it shows them just how bad the current situation is… not that they didn’t known it before.

“You’re hurting…” Serena doesn’t really know how to explain herself. “And that’s precisely why you shouldn’t be alone right now.”

“Please Serena…” Katrina insists.

She knew that if she demands it the other two will leave her alone, even if they don’t like it, but Serena is more stubborn.

“Trina…” Serena cannot help but whisper the endearment she has for the woman who, even a lifetime before, was like an older sister, one who could understand her in ways that neither her senshi, her advisor, or even her own mother seemed to.

“Serena, you have Darien here with you.” Katrina reminds her. “Whatever may have happened in the past you’re here now, together. But Alexei isn’t here. He won’t be no matter how much I wish it were different. Enjoy the amazing opportunity you were given, and please let me grieve the lack of my own.”

Serena nods, she doesn’t like it, she downright hates it, but she also knows there’s no way she can ever understand what Katrina’s going through, having just recovered her memories, having hoped to regain her soulmate upon that awakening… only to learn that, while he’s indeed alive, he serves the witch who seeks to destroy everything she stands for. Chances are, he doesn’t even remember her (it’s actually hard to tell how much Zoisite knows and remembers; as well as how much control he has over his actions at any given time). Katrina is about to close her door again, having gotten through to the princess, when the next words to come from the Moon’s Heiress’s mouth shake her to her core.

“I promise you, we’ll get him back.” She declares. “Alexei, Shinichi, and the others as well. We’ll get them back, we’ll make things right. By Selene this I promise.”

The words are said with such conviction, such power; they aren’t the words of a seventeen year-old girl, or a young healer; they’re the words of Princess Serenity of the White Moon. And because of that, all of those present cannot help but believe her. As hard and almost impossible as achieving such things seem, they believed it can be done, because she does.

xXx

Hours later Usagi stands on Mamoru’s balcony, hair down, dressed in a pearly-white sleeveless nightgown, she’s holding her transformation locket in both hands, while keeping her eyes on the almost-full moon high in the sky.

“What are you thinking, my love?” Darien inquires as he snakes an arm around her waist.

Her answer is quite surprising, and yet at the same time so like her:

“I think I have a plan to get Mercury back.”

 

Moonlight destiny
Itsu made mo dare yori mo soba ni itai no (Forever, more than anyone, I want to be with you)
Kono hiroi sora no shita de meguriaeta anata (Below this spacious sky above, you who I met by chance)

Chapter 11. Harp Lullaby

Luna and Artemis rush through different parts of Tokyo this night, moving as fast as their small paws allow; it isn’t an easy task, but they consider it necessary. And the reason is the sound that can be heard echoing through at least half of Tokyo in that moment, as the full moon shines above them. It’s the fifth time that sound is heard in a little over a month and the two Lunar Advisors know it’s no mere noise, it’s a harp, and one they’re sure they have heard before…a long time ago.

‘Moon Princess… Serenity… You’re alive…’ The same phrases keep repeating themselves over and over again in their minds.

xXx

In another part of Tokyo, one still lit by the same full moon, and where the soft, almost ethereal melody can be heard, another figure stands. This a dark senshi, standing in the middle of a fountain, her vacant eyes directed to the night sky, she seems to almost not notice what’s going on around her. She must be in some kind of trance, otherwise she would have noticed the clearly female figure standing in an opening of the wall behind her, dressed in what looks remarkably like a senshi uniform, there’s an instrument in her arms… a harp… and she’s playing it, the melody is being created by her.

“Come back…” She whispers, her voice so low it seems to be lost among the notes of the harp. “Return… Khione…”

As if those words actually reached Dark Mercury, her eyes open wide as she spins around to face the opposite side, but the harp-player is no longer there, and there’s nothing left of its melody but a vague echo in the wind.

“Sere…” The dark senshi begins, in a voice much softer than usual lately.

And then it’s over, as if some switch has been flipped, her eyes darken once again and the nega-agent looks around her with evident distaste.

“Again…” She whispers.

And then she’s gone.

xXx

In yet another part of town, a young woman stands in the private balcony of her beloved’s penthouse, dressed in nothing more than a sky-blue nightgown, barefoot; tightly held in her hand is a golden locket.

“Please, come back to us… Ami-chan…” She prays, eyes fixed on the moon.

xXx

It’s still very early that Saturday morning when Makoto and Minako arrive to the Hikawa Jinja, the last one carrying Artemis, as Luna is already with the miko, waiting for them.

“Want to explain why we were so harshly pulled out of bed today?” Makoto asks as she tries to hold back a yawn.

While she isn’t exactly one to sleep until late, she still needs her sleep to recover the energy used when fighting against a youma, or worse, one of the agents of the Dark Kingdom.

“I agree with Makoto there,” Minako admits. “Though whatever it is I hope it won’t be too long, Shachou won’t be too understanding if I keep disappearing on him.”

While being an idol is useful in her mission of acting as a decoy, since it gives her an excuse to be moving around constantly, while at the same time being in the public eye. It can also be bothersome when she has to attend meetings or go fight, and it’s not like she can explain the situation to her manager.

“I believe I may have found the princess…” Luna begins.

She really should have expected the madness the whole room descends into the moment those words are pronounced. Questions like how?, when?, where?, are you sure?, how is she? does she remember? where has she been? where is she now? why isn’t she here? And on and on…

“Wait!” Luna has to scream several times before she’s obeyed. “It’s not that simple. I haven’t actually seen her…”

“But you said you found her!” Rei cries out.

They’re all really stressed, have been for several months now; none of them are up to one of Luna’s games…

“I heard her, and felt her.” Luna tries to explain.

No one seems to really get it.

“Have any of you heard a strange melody during the nights? At any point in the last five weeks or so, I mean?” Luna inquires.

This makes them all thoughtful.

“Maybe…” Makoto’s the first to answer verbally. “I’m not actually sure if it’s something I heard or if I just dreamt it. It was a very beautiful music, thought it had somewhat of an…”

“…unreal quality to it.” Rei finishes for her.

“Yes, kinda unreal, like something that is there but at the same time isn’t.” Makoto confirms, then she turn to her fellow senshi puzzled.

“I’ve heard it too, a few times now.” Rei explains. “And I could also feel the power it carries, it is warm, caring, almost like… light.”

Minako just nods, Artemis knows she’s heard it too, it helped her sleep after all the recent stress. And in that very moment, the leader of the senshi understands something else as well.

“It’s her isn’t it?” The idol questions, a sudden light in her eyes. “That melody, she’s the one playing it… it’s her harp!”

“I think so, yes.” Luna nods.

“That’s why I found the music so familiar, a part of me remembered it from so long ago.” Minako is getting more and more excited by the second. “She’s here, she’s actually here, alive and awake… Oh goddess…”

“Okay… can one of you please bring us up to speed?” Makoto asks. “I don’t think Rei or I have the slightest idea what you’re talking about…”

Rei doesn’t like to admit ignorance, but knows her comrade is right, it’s obvious whatever this music is, it’s something important, very much so. Rei has been able to feel the power behind it, and gets the feeling that she should recognize what’s happening, but somehow can’t.

“It’s simple really.” Minako’s so thrilled she starts explaining everything immediately. “As you know, we’re the Sailor Senshi, the Guardians of the Heiress of the Silver Millennium, the Moon Princess, Serenity. What you probably don’t remember is that, while the royalty of the White Moon haven’t been warriors in a very long time, since the beginnings of the Silver Millennium, I think, that doesn’t mean they’re powerless…”

“Because of the Ginzuishou…” Rei guesses.

“In part, but not only that.” Artemis continues. “The Ginzuishou is very powerful, indeed, according to legend it was created by the very first Queen of the White Moon, who was said to be truly immortal, in it she poured all her power and even a part of her own soul; her intentions were for that power to be wielded by her descendants, so a part of her would always protect her Kingdom, her people. As time passed the Ginzuishou became well-known in all the galaxy as the heirloom of the line of Selene…”

“Wait a second, Selene? As in the honest-to… as in the goddess of the moon Selene?” That shocks Makoto.

“Where do you think the ancient human myths come from?” Minako asks with a giggle. “That’s why I love mythology, it’s so funny to see what stories they’ve given to people who are now believed to have never existed and yet they did, a very, very long time ago.”

“Like I said, that’s a legend, even if it were true, it happened at least a hundred thousand years ago, maybe even more.” Artemis continues. “What is true is that the Ginzuishou was given to every Moon Princess as she ascended to the throne and she was meant to guard it, and if necessary use it to protect the galaxy.” He exhales. “Yet using the Ginzuishou isn’t an easy task, like I said, it’s a very powerful object, so much that if used carelessly it could even cost the life of the princess in question. That’s actually how, in the end, there were only Queen Selenity and Princess Serenity left…”

“But if the Ginzuishou is so dangerous, why keep it?” Rei inquires.

“Because its power was needed for the Silver Millennium’s continued existence.” Luna answers. “It’s no coincidence that there’s no life in the Moon anymore. Earth had the proper conditions to heal itself and for life to start anew. The Moon…without the Ginzuishou it just isn’t inhabitable.”

The girls nod, it actually makes sense.

“Anyway,” Artemis continues with his lesson. “While Moon Princesses were discouraged from using the crystal unless under extreme circumstances, they were taught other ways of harnessing its power without actually having to wield the Ginzuishou itself. The line of Selene was known for spell-weavers of great power, and each of them possessed a tool they used as the focal-point when using magic. Queen Selenity’s was the Moon-Wand…”

“The Moon Wand?” Makoto stops short. “You mean the one U… Sailor Moon wielded?”

“How could she wield the magical tool of the former Moon Queen?” Rei demands.

“Since a senshi of the Moon couldn’t have existed without the approval and blessing of the Moon Queen, it’s obvious she herself allowed it.” Luna points out calmly. “It was certainly a great honor, and probably one of the reasons Moon’s attacks were always noticeably stronger than any of yours…”

“What about the Princess?” Makoto asks. “Shouldn’t she be the one to wield the Wand?”

“Not necessarily.” Minako shakes her head. “She could, of course, but she has no need of it, for she has her own tool.” She smiles. “It’s a harp… a magical instrument that, when she plays it, she can call on all kinds of powers, depending on the tempo and strength she uses to play.”

“The melody from last night, and from those other times, you think that’s the Moon Princess using her powers…” Rei understands suddenly.

“That’s my belief, yes.” Luna nods.

“And I will agree that this is a very likely possibility.” Artemis nods. “Princess Serenity loved playing her harp, whether she was doing magic or not; if we manage to track the player of this harp, we might be able to find her.”

“But it won’t be easy.” Luna continues. “I’ve tried to track the origins of this music the last three times I’ve heard it, and each time I’ve been unable to find the slightest trace of her before the melody ends.”

“Maybe if more of us work on looking for her we’ll have better luck.” Makoto suggests.

They all agree and it becomes their official plan of action; now all they need to do is wait for the melody to be played again.

xXx

They hear the melody again that very night, each of the girls and cats then start tracking it down from their respective homes; soon realizing they’re getting closer to each other, and to the origin of the music.

“I just realized something.” Makoto declares.

They all have their Teletia S on, in hand-less mode, which allows them to talk to each other as they run down the streets of Tokyo.

“What?” Luna inquires.

“Have you seen the moon tonight?” Makoto asks in turn.

“It’s full.” Artemis answers as if it were obvious.

“Yes,” Makoto agrees. “I had a hunch, and consulted a moon calendar less than an hour ago, the full moon was actually yesterday; but due to how slight differences are from one day to the other, the moon looks full the night prior to the actual full moon, and the night after as well; making it seem as if we had three nights with a full moon instead of one.”

“What has that got to do with anything?” Rei doesn’t get it.

“According to my calculations, the first time the melody was heard was around a full moon too, last month.” Makoto points out. “And, following that idea, it’s possible that the other three times were on significant nights too, considering the time lapses between each…”

“You think the Princess is following the moon phases?” Luna inquires, still confused.

“Not exactly following them.” Makoto answers. “Though I’m sure there must be a reason for this specific nights to be used.”

“Her magic!” Minako calls out in delight.

“Minako-chan is right.” Artemis agrees. “It might be easier for the princess to call on the magic of the Moon during the nights of certain moon phases… especially the full moon.”

“But if what Makoto guesses is true, then she’s played her harp in every single moon phase in the last month.” Rei points out. “That would imply you’re wrong…”

“…or that she’s doing something so powerful it requires the power of every single moon phase.” Minako interrupts.

“What could require that much power?” Makoto’s shocked at the prospect.

There’s no answer, as in that very moment the three girls and two cats finally meet, in one of the parks in downtown Tokyo. They follow the music until they reach what looks like a wall of sorts, it has a circular hole in it, almost at the very top, and when standing in the right spot, they can see the moon shining through it. And that’s not everything, because with the light of the moon they can see the outline of a figure sitting in that very spot, a figure dressed in a fuku of indiscernible colors, a harp held in her hands…

“Moon Princess!!!” They all call out at the same time.

It’s as if their voice break the spell, for just a second later nothing’s left except the moonlight, now shining unimpeded on them, and the echo of a melody in the air.

“Wha…” Makoto’s shocked.

“She just… she disappeared…” Rei can hardly believe it.

“Why?” Minako could cry.

It hurts them, almost physically, but before they actually have enough time to brood about it, another voice calls their attention:

“Not again…”

They spin around, until then realizing they aren’t alone, for in the very center of the fountain behind them another figure stands, this in a senshi fuku, dark…

“Ami-chan…” Makoto whispers.

“No…” Minako shakes her head, correcting her. “Dark Mercury…”

And suddenly they understand, the reason why the melody has been played for so many nights in the last several weeks; the reason why the princess needs to use such power; it’s standing right there in front of them.

“Girls, henshin yo!” Luna orders.

xXx

In a private balcony Usagi drops to her knees, both hands still holding tightly onto the golden locket hanging from her neck. It takes just a second for her beloved to join her, kneeling behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist; he’s clearly worried.

“Usako?” He questions.

“It didn’t work…” Usagi sobs.

She turns her head just enough to cry into her beloved’s nightshirt; she hasn’t felt so distressed in a while, especially since she was so sure, felt so close to success…

“Didn’t work?” Mamoru repeats, surprised. “But, you planned all this so carefully…”

“I did…” Usagi nods.

“Is Kunzite’s hold really stronger than yours?” Mamoru can hardly believe it.

While he knows the Shitennou are powerful, after all, they were chosen to be the personal guard of Terra’s Crown Prince… there’s no way they, or rather one of them, can be more powerful than the Heiress of the White Moon and of the Silver Millennium.

“No, at least I don’t think so.” Usagi answers, beginning to calm down.

“Then what’s the problem?” Mamoru asks.

“They got there early!” Usagi exhales in a mix of defeat and anger.

“They?” It takes a second for Mamoru to understand. “The senshi? They found you?”

“Yes, and no.” His soul mate answers. “They managed to follow the melody to the park, all they could see was a silhouette, but that was enough for them to decide to call for m… the Moon Princess. The way their auras spiked as they yelled was enough to break my concentration, I couldn’t hold the spell. And I had almost finished too!”

“And couldn’t you finish it tomorrow? Or on the next moon phase?” Mamoru asks.

He doesn’t understand much about Lunarian magic, he just knows it’s important for his beloved to do this, and so he’ll help her in any way he can.

“It’s not that simple.” Usagi shakes her head sadly. “This spell has to be started and ended under the full moon; I’ve been gathering power for it by playing under every single moon phase. I’d finally reached the climaxing point of it too, all that was needed was for Mercury to accept the power…”

“Which wouldn’t have been an easy thing…” Mamoru reminds her.

“No, but in the trance she was, and with her having been there every night I played, I believe I could have done it.” She sobs brokenly again. “But now it’s all ruined!”

“Is there no way to salvage this?” He just hates seeing her so broken. “I mean, can’t you play again? Just enough to finish this?”

“I don’t think I can.” She shakes her head. “It took enough of my power doing things from such a distance; doing what you say would imply projecting my soul, gathering all the power again, and even if it is still in the area, it won’t be an easy task, and then pushing that power at Mercury, who won’t be in a trance anymore, and hoping she’ll accept it.” She exhales. “I might be able to do two out of those things, but not all three.”

“Very well.” Mamoru nods.

She’s shocked when he suddenly moves just enough to scoop her into his arms, shifts into his alter ego and jumps off the balcony with her in his arms.

“Darien!” She cries out in a mix of delight and confusion over his actions. “What do you think you are doing?”

“Arranging the first part of your plan so you can deal with the other two.” He informs her simply.

She smiles then, if Darien can get her close enough to Mercury she might be able to pull this off.

xXx

In the park the three remaining senshi are barely managing to hold themselves against Dark Mercury. She’s powerful, way more powerful than she seemed to when being part of their team; and while they’ve weakened so much in the last few months, she seems to be in her prime.

“Crescent Beam… Shower!” Venus calls suddenly.

They all stop in brief shock when, instead of the usual single ray of golden light, about a dozen or so appear to fall from the point in the sky where she signaled.

“That was…” Luna is surprised.

“A new power…” Artemis adds.

“And way more powerful.” Venus declares, thrilled.

Taking the chance Jupiter lets herself go into her main attack, feeling the moment the level of power shoots far beyond what’s usual.

“Supreme Thunder… Storm!” She calls.

It’s as if a dark cloud has suddenly appeared over her, and just like with Venus’s own attack, hers seems to multiply several times from what’s usual.

“Have they awakened as senshi?” Luna questions.

“No, I don’t think so.” Artemis shakes his head. “I mean, they all may be halfway there, but still, those aren’t any of the high-level attacks they were capable of in the Silver Millennium. It’s different, it’s like…”

“Like the power we already had has been upgraded.” Venus finishes for him. “I think the Princess’s magic touched us as well, and it has affected our powers… We’re more powerful than we were before. Not yet as powerful as I know we used to be in the Moon, but still several times better than we were just yesterday.”

“And I no longer feel the permanent weakening feeling that has become so common.” Jupiter adds. “It’s like…”

“Like becoming senshi for the first time… all over again.” Mars finishes.

And even with such upgrades to their powers, it still isn’t enough against the dark version of their once fellow senshi.

At some point Mars is so focused on preparing her next attack that she doesn’t notice when Dark Mercury moves to strike her with her black-ice blade; the only reason the fire-blessed senshi doesn’t end up badly hurt is due to the cane that blocks the blade.

“Tuxedo Kamen-sama!” Mars calls out in relief.

It’s funny really, how they refused to give him an ounce of trust during the whole time Sailor Moon insisted on it; yet now that there’s no longer a Sailor Moon, and Tuxedo Kamen rarely even participates in battles, they actually accepted. A very twisted way for things to have happened, but it’s the truth nonetheless. That’s what it took for them all to realize how valuable both him and his beloved are as allies. And talking about beloveds, the others can see Usagi standing behind him right then, as herself, not as Serena; this confuses and scares them at the same time.

Many things happens almost at the same time, as Darien taps into a small part of the strength the Earth puts at his disposition, just enough to be able to overpower Dark Mercury and send her stumbling backwards, barely able to hold onto her ice-blade.

“Usako, now!” He yells at his soul-mate as soon as he’s done his part.

The rest of the girls could scream at what happens next, as Usagi, still in her civilian form, hurries to the dark senshi, at the same time she raises her blade again.

“Ami-chan!” She cries out, a hint of something in her voice that cannot be entirely felt, not clearly, not yet, but is still there.

“Usagi/Usagi-chan!” Everyone calls at the same time.

To everyone’s surprise, the black-ice blade falls, as Dark Mercury’s arm trembles, it’s as if something were preventing her from attacking the black-haired girl. Usagi doesn’t need anyone to say anything, as she throws her arms around the other girl, holding her as tightly to her own body as she can.

“Come back to us… Please…” Usagi pleads into her friend’s ear. “Ami-chan…”

And yet as she says those words, a part of Dark Mercury’s mind brings some very different ones up, as if she were hearing them in that very moment, like she did night after night for what seemed like so long…

“Come back… Return… Khione…”

What looks like a pillar of water rises around both girls at the same time, too fast for anyone to do or say anything; in the next second that same water freezes, encasing the two girls inside; and a moment later the ice breaks, leaving only mist to spread all around them. The senshi and cats around can barely hold back their screams as they see the dark-blue almost-black water as it rises around the girls. It’s even worse when it turns to ice, by which time the senshi are already starting to call the girls’ names repeatedly, they’re panicking very fast.

The only reason Mamoru isn’t panicking himself is because he can still feel his beloved in his heart and knows she’s alright, in a psychic battle for the very soul of one of her almost-sisters, but fine nonetheless.

Finally, after almost a full minute, the mist disperses enough for the two girls to be seen again. They all watch as one of them collapses to her knees, pulling the other along; and even as both kneel on the ground, barely holding themselves up, they won’t let go of each other. A heartbeat later the two black-haired girl’s turn, allowing the others to see them, they’re alright, both of them; and it isn’t even Dark Mercury there anymore, but Mizuno Ami…

“Ami!” Mars, Jupiter and Luna cry out as they rush to their comrade.

Venus is just starting to feel left out, since she isn’t as tightly connected to them as they are to each other, when suddenly Jupiter takes her arm and pulls her to join the hug.

“I’m so glad you’re alright, Ami-san…” Luna whispers as she lies on the girl’s lap.

“I’m very happy to be back, Luna.” The genius girl assures them all.

And then all eyes turn to Usagi, who’s currently taking deep breaths, it’s very hard for her to even stay awake after using so much power, but it’s so worth it.

“Thank you, Usagi-chan…” Ami whispers in tears.

“I told you all before, I will always be there for my friends…” Usagi whispers back.

“Usagi/Usagi-chan…” They all whisper.

A moment later Usagi finds herself at the center of a group hug, all the while with Mamoru still holding her up. And she can only smile, happy that things worked out alright.

 

Moonlight destiny
Hohoemi mo kanashimi mo wakeaeru ne to (Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together)
Mune de sou kanjite iru anata to nara (In my heart that’s how I feel, when I am with you)

Chapter 12. Gifts and Celebrations

Four teenage girls and two young children are together in their hideout in Crown Karaoke on that rather calm Friday afternoon; it’s been exactly three weeks since Usagi managed the miracle of freeing one of their own from the claws of the Dark Kingdom, and since then there hasn’t been a single attack. It’s Luna’s theory that, even in such a short time, they grew so used to counting on Dark Mercury that they probably need some new plans now. Rei has a feeling it isn’t that exactly but decides not to ruin the others’ good mood with her own bad feelings.

“I thought Usagi-chan was going to be here…” Ami comments as she looks around.

“She couldn’t.” Makoto explains. “It’s her birthday tomorrow night, but her father is being sent to Hong Kong or something, so they decided to celebrate it tonight; also, I believe Mamoru-san is planning something special to celebrate her birthday.”

“Her birthday…” Luna whispers almost wistfully. “Time passes by so fast. I can hardly believe she’s turning eighteen already.”

“Hey Luna, you met Usagi around this time last year, right?” Minako inquires, interested.

“Yes I did.” Luna nods. “The day after she turned seventeen, I think.”

“It’s going to be hers and Mamoru-san’s second anniversary soon too.” Makoto adds. “Sometime in the second week of July…”

“You seem to be very well informed of all this.” Rei points out suspiciously.

“Well,” Makoto cannot help but blush slightly. “Motoki-kun wanted to organize them a surprise party of sorts, but Hina-san beat him to it; she’s setting everything up for a private romantic dinner for them.”

“That sounds nice.” Minako smiles.

She’s long given up on the idea of trying to separate those two, just like she’s given up on the thought of Usagi being Princess Serenity. On the one hand, it’s not like she has a right to interfere in their lives; and on the other, even if those two were the prince and princess, and she could somehow claim to have the right to get involved, she knows it wouldn’t amount to anything, they just loved each other too much…

“So a birthday and an anniversary in the span of three weeks… Usagi is so lucky…” Rei says with the slightest hint of jealously.

“Maybe now, but it’s not always been like that.” Makoto points out. “Around this time last year things were anything but good.”

She sighs sadly, she can still remember it, the pain in Usagi’s eyes, it was there no matter how hard she tried to hide it. It lasted almost full weeks on two separate occasions; and while one time she’s sure was related to her becoming Sailor Moon, she still has no idea what the other one was about. There’s still so much neither of them know about Usagi…

The biggest question, even three weeks after the fact, remains how exactly she managed to bring Mercury back. They were so sure they would see their Princess, and yet she vanished. After seeing Dark Mercury there it was their belief that their princess was trying to get the senshi back to the right side, and began fighting while waiting for their princess to return, to finish what she began. And yet she didn’t, the Moon Princess didn’t appear again. Instead Darien arrived, with Usagi as a civilian, and he allowed her to approach the still Dark Mercury with no protection whatsoever and then… simply… embrace her. They were so afraid something was going to happen… and it did, except not in the way they were expecting.

Darien left, unconscious Usagi in his arms. In the end the spell proved to be too much for her. Of course the senshi didn’t know just how much the black-haired girl had done, they were so thrilled to have their comrade back that none of them stopped to ask how exactly Usagi did it; thankfully.

Once Darien was out of sight the senshi turned to find their comrade immobile, on her knees, with her forehead touching the ground at Venus’s feet.

“Ami…!” Makoto began.

But before she could do or say anything Luna stepped in front of her, shaking her head, knowing this was something that needed to be done. Mars knew it too, even with no memories, the instincts were there; what Ami, no, Sailor Mercury was doing in that moment, was necessary for them to be able to work together again.

“Do you know what you’ve done?” Venus interrogated the kneeling girl.

“I… I have an idea…” Ami hesitated in her answer.

“Let me rephrase.” Venus interrupted. “Do you have any conscious memories of what you’ve been doing the last two months and a half or so?”

“Two months and…” They could barely hear as Ami gasped.

“Do you?” Venus pressed.

“I… no, not really.” Ami admitted after a long silence. “I can see, snippets, like flashes through what seems like a dream, dark mist, black ice and such.” She let out a breath. “I had no idea it had been so long…”

Venus nodded, as if confirming something, the other senshi just hoped that whatever that was it did not have harmful implications on their friend. Yes, even after everything that had happened they still saw Ami as a dear friend and a very valuable comrade.

“On your feet, Mizuno Ami.” Venus ordered in a very martial voice.

Immediately Ami did as ordered, almost not being totally conscious of her moves until she’d already done as ordered; even then, she kept her head bowed.

“Henshin!” Venus demanded.

“Bu…” That, the girl wasn’t expecting.

“Henshin, it’s an order.” Venus insisted.

Trying not to look at the still blackened transformation bracelet Ami raised her arm and focused on her traditional transformation as she called the words:

“Mercury Power… make up!”

At first it seemed as if the darkness were trying to envelop her as it usually happened with her transformation into Dark Mercury, until suddenly there was a flash and the shadows retreated as if stricken, leaving the real Sailor Mercury standing in place. Ami seemed deeply shocked when realizing she managed it, she transformed into Sailor Mercury, after so long; and there wasn’t an ounce of darkness left in her.

“You are Sailor Mercury,” Venus began her speech. “Senshi of water and wisdom. You’re an honorable guardian of her majesty: Princess Serenity of the White Moon. Bear that name with pride, you haven’t failed me, you haven’t failed Serenity, and you haven’t failed yourself. You remain, now and forever, a Sailor Senshi…”

Unnoticed to everyone else, an ethereal voice reached the newly-purified senshi’s ears, almost as if she were hearing it from inside her head and heart instead of her ears:

“Welcome back, my friend…”

“Khione…” Mercury couldn’t help but whisper.

“What?!” Artemis couldn’t hide the shock as he almost screamed. “What did you just say?”

“Khione.” Mercury repeated.

Artemis was shocked, even Luna looked odd, as she tried to recall something just out of her reach; the rest sensed some kind of familiarity at the name, but had no idea what it meant.

“Where did you hear that name?” Artemis wanted to know.

“It’s what she called me.” Mercury answered.

“She?” Artemis asked. “Who? Beryl? Usagi?”

“No, neither of them.” Mercury shook her head. “Usagi-chan has always called me Ami-chan, and Beryl… I don’t actually remember if I ever spoke to her.”

“Then who called you that?” Artemis insisted.

“Artemis, calm down, why is this so important?” Makoto asked.

But Artemis didn’t answer her, his eyes remaining fixed on the newly returned senshi.

“I have no idea.” Mercury answered honestly. “I don’t remember ever seeing this person, only hearing her voice, she was telling me to come back, to return, and I wanted to; even when trapped inside Dark Mercury, I still could hear that voice, wanted to reach out to her, to do as she bid…” her voice caught with feeling. “There was something in her voice, a kind of power, of warmth, of invisible light… I felt I could do nothing except obey her, and that doing so would bring me great delight… I would have done anything that voice asked…”

“That’s something dangerous…” Rei gasped.

Makoto nodded in agreement.

“No it isn’t.” Minako shook her head.

She, like Artemis, understood, and couldn’t help but smile.

“How can you be so sure?” Luna almost hissed.

It frustrated her, knowing there was something she was supposed to know but couldn’t quite grasp, it was there, in the corner of her mind, and she couldn’t reach it.

“That voice Mercury heard,” Minako continued, marveled. “It was the voice of our Princess, it was Serenity’s voice…”

“What?!” All the other senshi were left in shock.

“Are you sure?” Luna demanded to know.

Minako nodded, she was very close to crying in happiness.

“How can you be so sure?” Rei asked.

She wanted to believe it, she truly did; but was afraid of getting her hopes up only for it to end up being another lie.

“No one else would call Mercury that name.” Minako explained, still smiling.

“Khione?” Mercury repeated.

With each repetition of the name something seemed to build up inside of her, some kind of warmth, but she still didn’t know what it meant.

“Yes,” Artemis nodded. “Back in the Silver Millennium, that was your name, your birth-name, Lady Khione of Mercury…”

The senshi almost drowned in their own delight, realizing their princess is truly alive, and awake, at least somewhat, and she hasn’t abandoned them. Even if she isn’t physically among them, she’s still there, in soul, mind, and heart, she’s still looking after them, in a way only she can. It makes them all extremely happy.

And that isn’t all either, there’s another, more material proof of that care:

They saw them as soon as they entered their meeting place: first were the four yellow-and-pink star-shaped objects, each had a crystalline heart in a different color at the top, holding up a smaller golden star. The colors of the hearts were their respective senshi colors: blue, red, green and orange. Besides those were what looked like two small star charms. Each had the shape of a golden star, with a silver moon engraved.

The moment Artemis laid a paw on one there was a sudden flash of white light, and when everyone blinked what they saw left them shocked. In the corner of the table, instead of the white cat they were all used to, was a young boy, no older than maybe ten years old at most, with messed-up fully-white hair, slightly long for a boy and the most vivid blue eyes; he was dressed in gray slacks and a very light blue button-up shirt, around his neck was a delicate golden chain, and from it hung the star charm.

“Ar… Artemis?” Luna seemed to be the most shocked of them all.

“Yes.” Artemis smiled brightly. “Go ahead Luna, take the other charm.”

Still hesitating slightly Luna did as she was told, in a second she was engulfed in a lilac glow, and when it cleared instead of the plushie-like cat there stood a girl with blue-purple hair in two pigtails, cerulean eyes and a yellow sundress; she looked to be around the same age as Artemis, and from her neck too hung a star charm.

“This is…” Luna seemed to have no words to express herself.

“Amazing.” Artemis finished for her. “We ought to thank the princess for this.”

Luna nodded emphatically, she hadn’t felt so thankful to anyone in very long.

And that’s how they found themselves in their new situation, with the girls’ mind constantly straying, as they think about everything that’s happened since becoming senshi; and then the things that have changed, in less than half a year…

“So, that’s what the charms were for, what about the tambourines?” Rei asks after a while. “I hope no one expects us to go around playing music and singing.”

“Oh come on, Reiko-chan…” Minako cannot help but tease her comrade. “We both know you sing so well…”

“Just like we both know I don’t like to sing.” Rei almost snaps. “You are the one who likes being an idol Minako, not I.”

Minako pouts at the miko but decides not to insist; she still believes that, someday, she’ll be able to make the other girl believe in herself as much as Minako already believes in her; one day… she just hopes she’ll have enough time… Things have been better lately, a lot better actually, she’ll have to go in for some more tests soon. But the fact remains…

“The tambourines, I cannot remember if they existed during the Silver Millennium.” Artemis pulls her attention back to the present. “But somehow I have a feeling I know what they are for, almost as if some instinct were telling this to me.”

“And what is it telling you?” Ami really wants to know.

“That this are meant to be your magical tools.” Artemis answers, his brow furrowing somewhat, as if even he were having trouble with that fact.

“But we aren’t spell-weavers.” Ami points out.

“Yes, we discussed this with Serena and company before.” Makoto agrees.

“Could the princess have made a mistake with this gift?” Rei hates suggesting it, but knows someone has to do it.

“No.” Artemis insists on his denial of this. “These tambourines are meant to be yours, the colors are there, and I have a feeling your symbols will be incorporated once you learn how to use them to their full potential…”

“But Artemis,” Even Luna is unsure. “How are the girls supposed to use magical tools when they aren’t sorceresses?”

A flash goes through Artemis’s eyes as he himself seems to understand it.

“Because they won’t be harnessing their own magic, but Serenity`s!” He declares suddenly. “That’s what she created them for.”

“To act like how Sailor Moon used to?” Luna guesses.

“Yes.” Artemis nods. “At least, that’s my best guess.”

“Now that you mention Sailor Moon.” Rei speaks. “How is it that in the last battle we not only recovered our usual level of energy, but were even able to call on new and more powerful attacks, when Sailor Moon still isn’t back with us?”

“I’m not quite sure.” Artemis admits.

“I have a theory.” Luna points out. “We all know the Princess was there, she tried to bring Mercury back to us, a job Usagi miraculously managed to finish. I think there was enough of her power still left in the air, due to the extremely sudden way in which she left, that it affected all of you, allowing the regularization, and even a slight upgrade to your powers.”

The girls nod, it makes sense.

“But don’t grow complacent.” Artemis says strongly. “You may have grown stronger, but you still haven’t fully woken as senshi, and until you do, you won’t be as powerful as you could be, as powerful as you need to be before you face the Negaverse.”

They all nod again, they know he’s right. Still, knowing they’re no longer getting weaker, and that they’re even a bit stronger than before, it feels good.

xXx

Like the girls said, Usagi spends the evening with her family, they have dinner in a nice restaurant and everyone has the chance to talk about what they’ve been doing. Like how Shingo is doing well in Middle-School, and there’s a chance he would be offered a sports-scholarship for High-School. Ikuko-mama is a housewife, and while she gave it a try to become a home-reporter, it didn’t worked very well; still, she’s very happy with her life. Kenji-papa is a journalist, and his bosses are finally beginning to recognize just how good he actually is; which was why he’s being sent to cover a Leader’s Conference in Hong Kong for the next two weeks. Usagi… she loves photography, though she believes it’s a miracle she’d been able to keep up with her classes and freelance job since becoming a senshi. At least since quitting she doesn’t have to hide what she does those afternoons, and some Saturday mornings. It’s not that she doesn’t trust the other senshi, but she just doesn’t think they’d understand if they knew everything she hides, everything they don’t know about her. The fact that Usagi isn’t the happy-go-lucky, careless, crybaby they see her as. She knows the time will come for her to show them, just not yet.

Those are the kind of thoughts still going through the now eighteen-year-old girl the following night as she gets ready for her birthday-date with Mamoru; in a beautiful short-sleeved, off the shoulder dress that starts in a bright pink that grows lighter until fading to white at the end, just above her ankles; she’s also wearing white flats and her hair in a loose twist, the only pieces of jewelry on her being the moon-phase and the heart-locket.

Mamoru for his part is dressed in black dress-pants, white button-up shirt and black shoes; simple but elegant.

Hina and Naru guide them to the terrace, where they arranged everything for a private dinner; the first thing that they notice however, is that the terrace is full of roses, mostly red ones. They’re all around them, giving the place a look and a scent that delights both of them, even as it brings back memories of the past.

During the time of the Silver Millennium, Serenity loved all the different flowers she could find on Terra, so different from what she saw on the Moon, so many colors she’d never seen before. Her favorite soon became the red rose, something Endymion knew. And then her beloved surprised her one day by having a part of her own private garden in the moon, filled with rosebushes. She didn’t known anything until it was all arranged, and when he showed her she was delighted; convinced that every single thing that man did made her fall more and more in love with him.

“Oh Hina-nee, Naru-chan, this is beautiful!” Usagi cries out as soon as she’s out of her memory. “Thank you so much.”

“Anything for you, Usagi-chan.” Naru assures her.

“Now sit down, Usagi-chan, Mamoru-kun, the night’s just beginning.” Hina announces.

They leave as Mamoru moves the chair for Usagi to take a seat, while they go into the kitchen to bring out the first course of the dinner. Most of it Hina and Naru prepared themselves, or Hina got through some friends (like the red-wine); the only exception being the triple-chocolate cake they asked Makoto to prepare, knowing desserts are her specialty.

About an hour later Usagi and Mamoru are finally completely alone, Hina and Naru having announced they were retiring once they finished cleaning up everything in the kitchen and put the rest of the chocolate cake away for a later date. That leaves the happy couple on their terrace, surrounded by red roses, with the moon and stars shining above them and Mamoru’s stereo playing some slow instrumental music.

“Dance with me, my princess.” Mamoru says suddenly.

It wasn’t really a question, both know it doesn’t have to be, there’s nothing she won’t do for her beloved. It starts awkwardly, she’s never danced in her current life, and like with so many things since being human, she’s being very clumsy.

“Oh, Mamoru-kun, this isn’t gonna work.” She murmurs sadly as she stops moving completely. “I’m awful at this.”

It really seems that way, she’s already stepped on him half a dozen times and not even the first song has ended yet.

“You need to stop thinking about every move so much, Usako.” He tells her softly. “That’s your problem, you try to focus on being graceful, but in the end you think about every move so much you trip. It’s not meant to be like that, it’s meant to be natural.”

“Well, for me it isn’t.” Usagi responds.

“It is, you just haven’t noticed.” Mamoru replies with a small smile. “Or tell me, have you ever fallen as Serena?”

Had he asked about Sailor Moon, the answer would have been a definite yes; but he purposefully specified the one identity in which she has never fallen, unless it was due to weakness. And she realizes it then too, as Serena she always seems to be so very graceful, like back in the Silver Millennium. It isn’t like in the Moon, of course not, there she practically floated instead of walking, but like when she’d sneak down to Earth to visit Endymion. Then the gravity still had a hold on her, but that didn’t stop her from moving as gracefully as ever.

“You see?” He asks, realizing what’s going through her mind. “You can be graceful, you just need to stop thinking about it. Let go, let your body move the way it knows it can.”

As a new song begins he pulls her closer to him and starts dancing again. And this time she does as he suggested, stops thinking about every step she gives, every motion, she lets go; and then they’re dancing…

“See?” He asks again as the song ends and he dips her low. “I knew you could do it.”

The moment the last note fades he pulls her back up, flush against his body, and captures her mouth in his for a long, tender kiss.

“I love you so much, my Usako…” he whispers against her lips.

“Just like I love you, Mamoru-kun…” she whispers back, her hands holding tightly onto his neck as she kisses him again.

They continue dancing for several more songs, until neither of them are really paying attention to their moves, or even the music; in that moment nothing but each other, being in that instant there, together, matters. Eventually, without any verbal agreement needed, they stop dancing. Usagi walks to the limit of the terrace, from where she has a spectacular view of Tokyo; though, more than the city, she loves watching the night sky, the stars as they twinkle high above them, and the almost full-moon… she can almost imagine her mother, her other mother, Queen Selenity, watching her, and her beloved from up there.

Mamoru walks behind her, winding his hands around her waist and allowing her to lay her weight on his chest. He feels such peace in that moment, and he knows he needs nothing else in life, if only it allows him to keep his beautiful princess forever in his arms. And then he remembers something else: it’s time.

“Usako…” He murmurs softly, as he lets go of her.

The black-haired girl is very confused when he lets go of her and turns around, wondering what’s going on, her breath catching in her throat as she sees the position he’s adopted, and what it implies: he’s on one knee before her.

“I love you…” Mamoru begins in a soft, yet powerful voice. “Usagi, Serena, Sailor Moon, Serenity, whichever your name might be, whatever your position may be; and whether I am Mamoru, Darien, Tuxedo Kamen or Endymion. I love you, always have, always will. We’ve already proven that not even death can keep us apart, and that with or without memories, our attraction, our bond is just too strong to be ignored. Now, I get the opportunity to ask you a question I already asked once, hoping once again the answer will be positive; but most of all, hoping this time I’ll actually get the chance to call you my wife.”

He produces a rosebud from seemingly out-of-nowhere, with a flick of his hand the flower opens and then seems to fall apart to reveal another object that has been hidden inside: a ring, the band is made of platinum, with an intricate crown on top, and in the middle a pink diamond. Usagi’s soul recognizes the style of the ring, it’s almost identical to the one Endymion gave Serenity when he proposed, the only difference being that that one had a blue diamond. The similarity is so symbolic, just like its slight difference; the fact that he loved her as much Endymion loved Serenity, but not just for who they once were, he also loves her for being her…

“I promise to love you for all eternity.” Mamoru continues as he offers her the ring. “If you grant me my greatest wish: to have you, my love, as my wife.”

Usagi cannot help it, she starts crying. They might have been in a similar situation before, but it doesn’t make this one any less special; in a sense she thinks it’s even more so; regardless of time, of their deaths, of their changes, he still wants to marry her!

“Yes…” she whispers as she finally finds her voice. “Yes, I would love to be your wife.”

And as the beautiful ring is slid onto her finger, destiny is set in motion, again.

Moonlight destiny
Itsu made mo dare yori mo soba ni itai no (Forever, more than anyone, I want to be with you)
Kono hiroi sora no shita de meguriaeta anata (Below this spacious sky above, you who I met by chance)

Chapter 13. Not Alone

The youma attacks renew shortly after Usagi’s birthday and with a strength that make the senshi believe they might be trying to make up for lost time. It’s specially complicated when one night attack ends with Ami and Rei, thankfully in their civilian forms, being seen by a patrolling officer; as they were in private property. They aren’t arrested or anything, but their parents are called, which brings the actual complications, as Rei’s father: the politician Hino Takashi and Ami’s mother Mizuno Saeko, express a common desire to get their daughters away from their ‘bad influences’.

“And just when I thought things were finally getting better…” Makoto thinks out loud.

She went to Crown hoping to see her friends, but it soon proved to be useless, as both Rei and Ami sent apologies, explaining they were unable to go for the time being; and Minako has work so she cannot be there either.

“Ah, Makoto-san…”

Makoto’s about to step outside when Motoki’s hesitant voice make her turn back.

“Yes, Motoki-san?” She asks, turning to him.

Only in her mind does she ever dare call him Motoki-kun.

“I was wondering…” He’s obviously having a hard time expressing himself, but he at least tries. “Well, are you busy tonight? I was just wondering, I mean, if you aren’t busy, if you would be interested in having dinner with me?” he blushes immediately. “It doesn’t have to be anything formal, just a dinner between two friends would be enough and…”

Makoto sighs, this isn’t the first time Motoki tries to ask her out, and as much as it pains her to constantly reject him, she just doesn’t want to get him involved in the mess that is her life, it’s too dangerous. Besides, what would she do if a relationship ended up interfering with her duty as a senshi? So no, no matter how much a part of her wants to accept, to go out with Motoki, to enjoy herself, maybe even consider the possibility of there being something more between them… she knows better than to allow any hopes to bloom inside her.

“Motoki-san…” She begins.

She really doesn’t know how to let him down gently anymore; she has rejected his offers so many times it’s a wonder he still asks! And as much as that fact makes her extremely happy, it also makes her infinitely sad.

“Ah…I see…” His expression goes down immediately. “It’s okay Makoto-san, I understand. I shouldn’t have assumed you would have time, or be interested and…”

Makoto wants to scream at him that yes she wants to go out with him, but her reasons quiet her heart; it’s easy, especially with the added ring of her Teletia S…

“I’m sorry Motoki-san, really, I gotta take this.” She tells him hurriedly.

She’s out of the place before he can say anything else, answering the Teletia S on the way.

“Hello?… Luna?” She wasn’t expecting that. “A youma?… Where?… I see… Don’t worry, I’ll be there right away.”

Thankfully, the place of the attack isn’t far so she won’t have to run much… at least, that’s what she’s thinking until she hears a voice behind her.

“Makoto-san!”

It’s Motoki! For some reason he’s running after her.

“Makoto-san, you forgot your bag!” Motoki calls to her.

Makoto stops abruptly, not because of what he said, but because of what she’s seeing before her. She just reached the entrance to the park, and there’s the youma; surrounded by several groups of people who obviously were enjoying the afternoon in the park until the youma appeared, now they’re all unconscious. It’s also obvious the youma is moving to get out of the park, in search of more people it can drain, Makoto can’t allow that. But how can she transform with Motoki standing just a couple of feet behind her?!

“Motoki-kun, run!” She yells as she turned to look at him briefly.

So stressed out she is by what’s happening she doesn’t even notice she called out-loud the name she’s never dared call him.

“No!” He refuses. “I won’t leave you Makoto-san!”

He’s trembling in fright, that much she can see from the corner of her eyes, even as she keeps most of her attention on the approaching youma; and yet he refuses to leave her. The youma seems to notice them right then and rushes in their direction; Makoto’s wondering how effective she’ll be against the creature without transforming when suddenly she feels arms around her waist. Great is her surprise when she finds herself being pushed aside strongly; she stumbles a few steps, managing to catch herself on a nearby tree; but what she finds when she turns around is unexpected.

“Motoki-kun!!” She cries out in shock and panic.

It was Motoki who moved her, in the last possible moment; but while he barely had the strength and time to save her, the same cannot be said about himself; he finds himself in the way of the youma, and is viciously hit on the side. Motoki barely manages to swallow his scream as he feels what he’s sure are at least a couple of bones breaking at the same time he falls to the ground; he hits his arm and head harshly on the fall, and aggravates what he believes are a couple of broken ribs. Still, as bad as his condition may be, there’s something far more important in his mind:

“Makoto-chan…run…” he whispers.

It hurts to speak, it’s even beginning to hurt just to breathe; he wonders if that means at least one of the broken ribs has punctured a lung, probably.

Makoto gasps, her eyes tearing up; there Motoki is, hurting and bleeding on the ground, and yet he’s more worried about her than himself. Just a few seconds before she was wondering about the wisdom of revealing herself to him, but now she knows there’s nothing else she can do. How can she not trust him after what he’s just done? But beyond that, there’s no way she can let the youma get away after having hurt the man she cares for! She’ll make it pay.

“Makoto-chan… run… please…” He keeps insisting.

The youma is distracted briefly by a few people passing by and Makoto takes the chance to hurry to Motoki, just for a second, just to reassure herself he’ll be alright.

“Shhh…” she whispers with a sad smile. “Relax Motoki-kun, I promise you, everything will be alright, trust me.”

“Mako…” He begins.

But she doesn’t allow him to say anything more, as she jumps onto her feet, hand high in the air, demanding the power that’s only hers. She can barely see the shock on Motoki’s eyes before the electricity envelopes her, changing her appearance into that of the thunder-blessed senshi.

The moment the flash of electricity and leaves ends Motoki gasps, but this time not because of pain, but because of the sight before him. He knew about the Sailor Senshi, always believed they are people to be admired, putting their lives on the line to save the people of Tokyo and fight against those horrible creatures; and now to find out he’s known one of them for so long…

“Mako-chan…” He can’t help but whisper.

Sailor Jupiter is all business as she turns to face the youma; usually they’re just a duty, something she must destroy so the planet and its inhabitants are safe; this time it’s different, this time it’s become personal, because the monster dared hurt the one person she truly cares about besides Usagi, her almost sister. She’ll make the youma pay.

“You won’t get away with this…” She mutters, furious. “I won’t let you.” She raises her hands to the sky as she calls her attack. “Supreme Thunder!”

xXx

On the other side of town Serena can feel the moment the fight between Jupiter and the youma begins; she knows the senshi’s alone, and doesn’t like it; still, she can’t exactly be of any help, as she and the others are stuck in a battle themselves.

“This cannot be coincidence…” Katrina comments.

The two priestesses together are facing against a considerably strong youma, while Darien duels Nephrite in a sword-fight; the reincarnated prince is obviously better, even if he has to use a cane instead of his actual sword. Fencing has never been Nephrite’s specialty, he rather prefers hand to hand combat.

“What?” Serena asks Katrina.

“You feel it too, don’t you?” Molly says instead. “The fight that just began in Juuban Park.”

“Jupiter is alone…” Serena whispers forlornly.

“Exactly.” Molly agrees. “The other senshi are caught up with something in their civilian lives; I believe it must be related to the cop that found them early this morning. Venus is obviously busy with her job, and we’re stuck in a battle, on the opposite side of Tokyo… it’s just too much to be a coincidence.”

“They did it on purpose.” Serena sees the logic in that.

“They’ve probably realized that, with Mercury back on the right side, their chances to defeat all the senshi at once are extremely low, so instead they’ll fight them separately.” Katrina points out. “Strong as Jupiter may be, she hasn’t yet fully woken as a senshi, there’s no way she can handle a full-fledged youma on her own.”

“I need to do something…” Serena whispers, suddenly very worried about her friend. “I have to help her, somehow.”

“What do you think you can do?” Molly questions. “Even if you rush there, fighting isn’t really your specialty, and we’re too far away for you to even hope to get there in time.”

She isn’t trying to be negative, just honest. The talk pauses for a few seconds as Molly finally manages to fire an arrow instead of just using her bow as a sort of short-staff to protect herself. While they’re two and the youma’s just one, it’s still considerably strong, and isn’t giving them the chance to gather enough power to purify it.

“If you can think of a plan, go for it.” Katrina tells her as she starts focusing her power. “Molly and I will cover up for you, just remember to be careful, after all, there is a Shitennou present, while he may be the one to have the least memories of our past lives, it doesn’t mean he won’t notice anything suspicious if your aura flares too much.”

Serena nods seriously, she actually has a plan; she knows she won’t be able to do much, but it’s really the only thing she can think of in their situation, she just hopes that it’ll be enough. With that she takes a last look at Darien as he turns briefly at her. Through their soul-bond, faint as it may be, he knows she’s about to do something, he mouths a quick ‘good luck’ before going back to his duel with Nephrite, making sure to release enough of his aura to keep the Shitennou’s senses focused on him and away from his beloved. Serena silently thanks him for the help. Katrina and Molly have just finished the youma with a combined attack, channeling their purifying powers through their weapons, when Serena’s hand rises to hold onto her locket and her eyes closes; she starts whispering a spell in lunarian, it’s a bit long, and requires a fair amount of power, especially since she’s doing it in broad daylight instead of under the moonlight, as she should, but it’s really the best she can do for the time being.

xXx

Jupiter crashes almost violently against a tree, holding onto her right arm. She’s exhausted already, has a few wounds, and it seems like she hasn’t managed to do much damage to the youma thus far. It’s just too powerful for her to handle on her own.

“Mars… Mercury… Venus…” She grumbles under her breath. “Why did you all have to be busy at the same time?”

Without a thought more to her absent comrades she throws herself to fight again. It doesn’t do much good, as in less than two minutes she’s leaning against the same tree once again, this time with a limp. She briefly spares a look at Motoki, he’s still laying on the ground; has managed to painfully pull himself near a shrub, to be out of the way from the fight. She wishes he could get away, wishes she could make sure he’s safe; but as things are going she doesn’t stand much of a chance of defeating the youma, much less saving him. Soon she’ll have no energy to keep fighting, soon the youma will try to drain her of her energy, maybe even kill her…

Is this how it’s supposed to end? Is this her destiny, being a senshi? Is she meant to just fight hard, die fast? Maybe so, maybe that’s why she’s never had anyone.

“Maybe so…” She doesn’t even notice when she starts expressing her thoughts out-loud. “Maybe I was meant to lose everyone, to be all alone. So I would have nothing to lose when the time came to fight, so nothing would be holding me back, so no one would have to cry for me… Maybe it’s my destiny to be all alone, until the day I die… Alone, always alone…”

“You’re not alone…” A voice whispers from behind her.

“Wha…” She’s shocked.

Really, she has no idea what’s going on. Every single human in the park with the exception of Motoki and her are unconscious, have been for a long while. And as she stumbled against the tree she made sure there was no one too close, so a stray attack wouldn’t end up hitting an innocent. Yet there’s that voice, it sounds so close, as if someone were whispering at her from behind the very tree she’s lying against.

“You’re not alone, never have been, not really.” The voice insists.

“You are my imagination.” Jupiter decides after a few seconds.

“Your imagination?” It sounds befuddled.

Jupiter would swear the voice giggles then, a feminine laugh.

“Yes, my imagination, or a hallucination due to exhaustion.” Jupiter argues. “You’re nothing but a creation of my own mind, you cannot be…”

“Well, then you must be pretty crazy, huh?” There’s a smirk in that tone. “After all, don’t they say that talking to yourself is the first sign of insanity?”

“I’m crazy then!” Jupiter snaps.

She’s tired, and moody, and very afraid for Motoki; she doesn’t really want to be arguing, and with someone who doesn’t even exist.

“No you aren’t.” The voice suddenly sounds very serious, yet at the same time caring. “Nor are you alone.”

“You’re wrong.” Jupiter hisses.

As crazy as she knows it is to continue that discussion, she just doesn’t think anyone can ever change her mind; she should have known the ‘voice’ would take that as a challenge.

“I know what you’ve suffered, Sailor Jupiter.” The voice says in a very soft, yet powerful voice. “I know everything and everyone you’ve lost in the years you have lived. Your parents, the baby brother you could never see be born, the aunts, uncles and cousins that could never see beyond the lonely orphan, the teachers and classmates who let rumors keep them away from you, all the people who could never understand the real you, the you that hides behind the facade of the strong, independent, tomboy…”

“How do you know all that?!” Jupiter demands.

“I know, because I’ve seen it all.” The voice answers, empathically. “I’ve seen it all, I’ve cried with and for you, Jupiter. For all that you have suffered, all the pain that can never be totally erased. But know this, you’re never alone. Your parents, though they may no longer be in this world, always loved you, and that is a kind of love that not even death can erase. And even without them, there’s still people that care for you, people that want to be there for you, even if you sometimes don’t let them, people that would love to know the real you, that are just waiting for a chance… people who would grieve if they were to lose you…”

“Are you one of those people?” She cannot help but ask.

It should have been crazy, really, she doesn’t even know who the voice belongs too, yet a part of her really wants to know.

“I am,” there seems to be a smile, somehow in the voice. “I care very much, so do your friends, trust me.” A sigh is heard. “And, I don’t think I need to name the other person, he’s still there, praying for your safety, you know that he would risk his own life to save you if he just could…”

“He already has…” Jupiter whispers.

She will always be able to remember, with sharp clarity, the moment he put his life on the line in an attempt to protect her; it’s something that at the same time brings her great joy and grief, the first for knowing someone cares that much, and the second for having that person hurt for her.

“See, you’re not alone…” The voice insists.

The thunder-blessed senshi cannot help it, she smiles just slightly.

“I know you take your duty seriously Sailor Jupiter.” The voice surprises her once again. “But you don’t have to be alone to be a good senshi. You’re not just a warrior, you’re also a human, a woman; you deserve to love and to live… do it, for those who care for you, but mainly for yourself… don’t pull away anymore…”

The voice sounds almost pleading, but Jupiter ignores that, she suddenly has a very good idea of who that voice belongs to, and as crazy as it seems to the conscious part of her mind, her heart instantly knows it to be true:

“Princess?” She asks.

For a few seconds silence reigns; Jupiter fears she might be wrong, and that her mistake might have upset the owner of the voice. Or maybe she’s right, and for some reason the princess doesn’t want to be found.

“It is I.” She says finally.

“Why can I not see you?” Jupiter can’t hold back her question.

She knows she might not like her answer, what if her princess doesn’t want to be seen? But she just needs to know.

“That’s because I am not here in person.” The princess answers her. “And my power isn’t yet strong enough for my soul to be visible to you, not in broad daylight at least.”

“That other night…” Once again Jupiter’s mouth is running ahead from her mind. “You disappeared on us.”

“It wasn’t yet time…” The princess seems to be having a hard time explaining herself. “There are many things going on right now Jupiter, some that you and the others aren’t ready to deal with just yet.”

“How can we deal with something we know nothing about?” Jupiter wants to know.

“You’re right, of course.” The princess sighs. “Maybe I’m being a little selfish, or a coward; but I just know that once certain truths come out, I won’t be able to take them back; I don’t want to put this burden on you, to have you deal with such great pain… not yet…”

“Does this have anything to do with the Fall?” Jupiter asks, curious.

There’s a gasp from the princess, and for the longest time she doesn’t answer.

“Yes…” She finally responds in a very low voice.

“I’m guessing it was bad.” Jupiter continues. “I don’t remember anything, and whatever Venus and the two Elysian priestesses remember they haven’t told us that much… I guess you have your right to keep your secrets. But how can we be expected to be good guardians when we don’t even understand everything that’s going on?”

“You’re right, I know that, but it’s not easy.” The princess insists. “I will let you know soon, I promise, just not yet.”

Jupiter nods, satisfied, and anyway, it’s not like she could have forced the Moon Princess.

“Now remember, you’re not alone…” The princess repeats to her. “Not now, not ever… You will always have people who care… Astrape…”

Jupiter doesn’t need to ask what that name means, not after what Mercury related to them, though she has the feeling that even if they hadn’t talked about that, it would still have been instinctive, just like the power that’s suddenly rushing through her.

Somehow, throughout the whole conversation the youma remained a certain distance away, not attacking her again, and not leaving either; Jupiter briefly wonders if the princess did something, and in the end decides it doesn’t matter much, she’s about to show the monster what she’s truly capable of.

At once she feels the combination of the strength of the earth rushing at her through the soles of her feet, at the same time dark clouds cover what just seconds ago was a clear sky, thunder crashing all around her, even if there’s no rain to accompany it; she knows what’s happening, the essence of her power is responding to her need, they’re ready for her to direct it in a new, and way more powerful attack. The brunette senshi doesn’t hesitate as she raises both hands, catching a bolt of lightning as it strikes right over her head, she flicks her hands several times, molding the energy into the right form before calling out her attack:

“SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!!!”

The effect is instantaneous, while the attack’s in a more compact form than her usual thunder, it is also way more powerful, and manages to totally annihilate the enemy with just that one hit. Jupiter drops to one knee, it was tiring, very much so, but at least she’s managed to defeat her enemy; and more importantly, she managed to protect Motoki.

From behind her she can hear the soft sound of a harp begin; the melody different from the one she heard when Mercury was being healed, though it’s still very beautiful; she knows without a doubt her princess is doing something to help, and the what exactly becomes clear as she feels energy rushing back into her body, and not only that, all the victims around her begin to return to consciousness as well.

In seconds Jupiter has rushed to Motoki, and she could have cried as she sees him move, slowly, almost fearfully at first, until a wide smile lights up his features.

“I’m healed!” He announces with a mix of surprise and joy.

Jupiter’s delighted too, knowing that he won’t be suffering for saving her anymore.

“We need to get out of here, before I’m seen.” She declares then.

Motoki nods, suddenly serious. She waits until they round the corner, and after making sure there’s no one else around, she allows her henshin to fade.

“Beautiful…”

She hears as Motoki whispers the word, and it makes her blush, it also reminds her that she’s stepping into the unknown now, never before have they had a civilian knowing that they’re senshi; they have no plan in place for such eventualities.

“Makoto-san…” Motoki whispers.

The moment she raises her head she’s shocked to see him bowing to her.

“Motoki-kun…” After everything that’s happened she just cannot bring herself to call him in a formal way again.

“I’m extremely sorry that I got in your way like that.” He apologizes, still bowing. “I never meant to be a bother. I totally understand now why you were never interested in going out with me. I guess I always knew I had very little to offer such an awesome woman, and now I learn you’re a heroine to boot!”

He laughs, though it’s obviously fake.

“Motoki-kun…” She begins.

“I promise I won’t reveal your identity to anyone,” Motoki doesn’t seem to hear her, as he continued his tirade. “Your secret is safe with me and…”

“Motoki-kun!” She finally interrupts him. “It’s alright, I trust you. I know you won’t betray my secret. You also don’t need to apologize to me, you’re not a bother, you saved me…”

“You didn’t need saving.” He points out.

“What I needed or didn’t need is irrelevant.” She replies calmly. “You placed yourself in danger, to help me, that was very noble, and I’m thankful to you for doing that.”

Motoki smiles, this time a true smile, at her.

“Guess I should take my leave now then.” Motoki declares after a few more seconds. “You must be very busy and…”

“Actually,” She interrupts him with a sudden smile. “I have nothing to do tonight, if you’re still willing to go out for that dinner…”

The shock and absolute happiness on his face is such as to make her very happy as well; she suddenly knows without a doubt that, regardless of the difficulties she might have to face in the future, she’s doing the right thing.

‘Thank you, princess…’ she whispers in her mind.

And on the other side of town, a tired but very happy black-haired girl just smiles…

Moonlight destiny
Hohoemi mo kanashimi mo wakeaeru ne to (Through all the joy and the pain, we will share it together)
Mune de sou kanjite iru anata to nara (In my heart that’s how I feel, when I am with you)

---