            Past Loves: Part Five by Fushigi Kismet (Gomen!)
<hsun@erols.com>


Happy New Year, minna!
Author's Notes
This Part is rated PG-13 for violence and mild profanity.
Uh, read this and have a nice day!  (I've got nothing to say,
grumble, grumble . . .)

Well, except . . .

After reading Ninx's conclusion to her 'fic, "Happiness is Like a
Phoenix" (Part 5 as well, btw), Lianne's conclusion to "Surfacings",
Janelle's Episode 16 of "Sailor Moon Neo," Laurel Anne's new part to
"Memories of Past and Present," and Jeff Hosmer's Part 12 of
"Zodiac," etc. etc. I rolled up my sleeves and vowed to write
something at least half as good as the above.  (Besides, I can't keep
my readers waiting much longer.  I don't like to let you down!)
Anyway, what I'm trying to say is:  Here (finally!) is Part Five.
   Hopefully, all questions have been answered in this part.  Some
may still be vague but I can't give *everything* away!  (Maybe in
another 'fic . . .)
Thank you, Renee, Mimin, Nicole, Anastasia, Sue Mei, Connie,
Chibi-isa, Becky, Glenda, Jay, Jade, Michi Kenshi, Ki Yong Choi (I
hope that's right), Zeena, and anyone I missed, this Part is for you
guys!  Especially Lianne-sama (You deserve the title!), who never
fails to move me with her writing.

        and

I hope you have a couple of hours to spare.

P.S. Sorry I posted up the wrong name, Anastasia!  You're being quite
angelic about the whole thing.  Uh, say hello to your mom for me,
*hehe*.  *HUGE* sweatdrop.

Anime Quote of the Day: "It's that dream again!  The same one that
I've been having every night!"Darien to himself, Sailor Moon.

"It's your destiny."Luna to Serena.
"My destiny?  I must be dreaming!"Serena to Luna.
"It's no dream."-Luna to Serena, Sailor Moon.


Come, *your* destiny awaits.

SAILOR MOON: PAST LOVES
*DESTINED LOVE*

For dreamers, and lovers, and those who feel joy . . .
To my readers, who give me the strength to carry on . . .


The beginning of "Moonlight Densetsu" starts playing.

A painting of the Moon Kingdom appears.  The camera pans away from it
and we see Minako, Rei, Makoto, Ami, Usagi, and Mamoru looking at it
in a store window.  Yumeno Yumemi comes out and invites them in.
They walk in and are instantly surrounded by dozens of paintings of
the Moon Kingdom.  Usagi sighs as she sees one of Queen Serenity.
Mamoru puts an arm around her and holds her close.  She leans on his
shoulder, looks up at him while he is looking down at her and they
smile.  The screen flashes BISHOUJO SENSHI SAILORMOON PAST LOVES (in
Japanese) and pans away until it is centered and surrounded by
flashing colors.

"Gomen ne sunao ja nakute,"

Princess Serenity glares at Queen Beryl from across a room and
screams defiantly at her.  She is obviously restrained by something.

"Yume no naka nara ieru,"

Cut to a shot of the Inner Senshi, Mamoru, and Usagi still asleep in
the hospital.  'Elios is watching over them from Elysion.

"Shikou Kairo wa shotto sunzen,"

Cut to a split screen of the Senshi and the Guardians running towards
the center.  The picture resolves around until it solidifies as
another split screen with Princess Serenity on one side and Prince
Endymion on the other.

"Ima sugu aitai yo."

The Senshi, the Guardians, Endymion, and Serenity gaze at each other
on the Moon when there is a huge blast of light and there is an
enormous explosion.

"Nakitaku naru you-na Moonlight,"

Princess Serenity weeps as Luna watches her silently.  There is an
emotional struggle in Luna's eyes until she finally makes a decision
and runs out of the room, looking determined.

"Denwa mo dekinai Midnight."

Endymion and his Guardians are gathered in a circle in the rose
clearing, the full moon directly overhead.  They begin to glow.

"Datte junjou dou shiyou?"

Princess Serenity gazes out at Earth, then clasps her hands together
and shuts her eyes tightly, praying silently as tears trickle down
her cheeks for the safety of Endymion and his Guardians.

"Haato wa mangekyou."

The Inner Senshi come up behind her and place comforting hands on her
shoulder.  She weeps in their embrace, then they all turn worried
eyes to look at Earth.  The world spins really fast and the scene
turns into something else . . .

"Tsuki no hikari ni michibikare,"

There is a split screen with the Senshi on one side and the Guardians
on the other.  A brilliant silver light washes over the Senshi and
Guardians.

"Nandomo meguri-au,"

The stars seen between the moon and the earth sparkle.

"Seiza no mataki kazoe uranau koi yukue."

There is a four-way split screen.  On one side the Inner Senshi in
civilian dress (Minako in a princess gown) and the Guardians meet.
On the other the Inner Senshi in their princess forms and the
Guardians in their prince forms meet.  The Inner Senshi and the
Generals (Yes, Generals!  I did *not* mess this up.) stare at each
other in another one.  In the last one, the Inner Senshi in their
present-day reincarnations and four men who look suspiciously like
the Guardians take each other's hands.

"Onaji kuni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu."

Prince Endymion kneels on bended knee in front of Princess Serenity.
He holds her hand in his and the look in his eyes is earnest and
loving.  She smiles sweetly and they embrace as he slips a ring on
her finger.

"Mo ichido futari de Weekend,"

The Inner Senshi and the Guardians walk holding hands in the Royal
Gardens of the Moon.  Jadeite whirls Rei around and she laughs.
Makoto and Nephrite share a quiet, loving smile.  Ami sits down on a
swing attached to the branch of a tree and Zoisite pushes her high
into the air, grinning as she smiles with delight.  Kunzite puts his
arm around Minako and she leans into him, sighing happily.  She puts
a hand to his face and as he turns to look at her, she leans upward
and kisses him.  The others all laugh at the flustered expression on
his face.  Then he catches Mina in his arms and carries her as she
giggles and kicks her legs in the air, her arms wrapped around his
neck.

"Kami-sama kanaeta Happy-end."

Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion dance together in each other's
arms, not having eyes for anyone else as the Senshi and the Guardians
giggle from a corner of the room.

"Genzai kako mirai mo,"

Usagi, Ami, Rei, Makoto, Minako, and Mamoru stand in front of a long
line of mirrors.  As they stare into them, their reflections stare
back at them and the reflections of the four Dark Kings seem to
appear behind them.  Their reflections switch to those of their past
selves and the reflections of the Kings also change to those of the
Guardians.  Then their reflections change again to those of their
future selves and the images of the Guardians seem to fade until they
are barely shadows.

"Anata ni kubittake."

Minako, Ami, Makoto, and Rei sit in a field of flowers, watching as
the dandelion fluff blows away on the wind, swirling in front of the
sun.  They shade their eyes and four figures sneak up behind them,
taking them by surprise.  They turn with a smile to see the
Guardians.

"Deatta toki no natsukashii,"

Then the four Senshi push the Guardians over and run away laughing.
The Guardians scramble to their feet and chase them, unable to keep
stern expressions on their faces as they break into laughter.

"Manazashi wasurenai,"

The stars sparkle again in the sky and Princess Serenity turns to
Prince Endymion with a serious expression on her face.  He takes her
hand in his.

"Ikusenman no hoshi kara anata o mitsukerareru,"

The Inner Senshi and the Guardians embrace, then part tearfully.
They whisper "I love you" to each other, then the Guardians and
Endymion join hands and disappear in a teleport.

"Guuzen mo chansu ni kaeru ikikata ga suki yo."

Queen Serenity glares at Queen Beryl, then raises her crescent moon
wand aloft and the world disappears in the sparkle of silver light.

"Fushigi-na kiseki Kurosu-shite nandomo meguri-au,"

Princess Setsuna looks up at the brilliant night sky, tears
shimmering on her cheeks.  Princess Serenity walks hesitantly up
behind her and offers her her hand.  Setsuna takes it and smiles
slowly as she looks at the princess.

"Seiza no matataki kazoe uranau koi no yukue."

The light of the moon bathes the sleeping face of Prince Endymion.
He opens his eyes to see Princess Serenity bent over him, looking at
him lovingly.  They both shut their eyes and kiss.

"Onaji juni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu."

Usagi and Mamoru kiss.  Then, holding each other's hands, they walk
off together.

"Shinjite-iru no,"

Queen Serenity and the cats gaze at Earth, Sailors Pluto, Uranus, and
Neptune standing behind them.  Freeze screen.

"Mirakura Romansu."

The Senshi and the Guardians stand together, holding hands, Endymion
and Serenity in the foreground, as the malevolent force of the Dark
Kingdom appears over the horizon of the Moon.  They all have
determined expressions on their faces.  Freeze screen.  Fade to
black.


DESTINED LOVE

Note: This Part takes place over the course of a year.  The ages that
follow are those of the characters at the beginning of this year.
Endymion is nineteen.  Serenity is sixteen.  Rei, Ami, Makoto,
Minako, Haruka, and Michiru are all nineteen.  Kunzite is
twenty-four, Nephrite is twenty-three, Zoisite is twenty-two, and
Jadeite is nineteen.  Setsuna is *really* old (sorry), and Hotaru
would be eighteen, but she was put back into eternal sleep and is
thirteen.  Queen Serenity is three hundred and twenty-six.  Luna and
Artemis are seventeen years old.  (They are alien cats with long
life spans.)  Their maturity level should be that of twenty-eight
year olds, but that is left up to speculation on the part of Artemis.
Kenji is twenty-seven, Ikuko is twenty-two, and Shingo is one.

*In the Past*
*One month later*
*Earth*

   Night had fallen several hours ago.  The stars twinkled in the
sky, but to Endymion, their light seemed cold and harsh.  Nothing
could brighten his spirits but the light that came from his Usako.
The light of her love.  Without her, he despaired.

   'Do you believe in destiny?' she'd asked him once.
   'Yes, and no,' he'd answered.
   She'd laughed, then asked him how he could have it both ways.
   He taken her by the shoulders, gazing into her eyes, and he'd
said, 'I believe in destiny, in that some things can't be helped or
avoided and some things are fated to happen, like our meeting, but I
also truly believe that we are in charge of our future.  We make it
what it is.  There is nothing that says that "this is what's going to
happen and that's that."  *We* make the difference, we can change
things.  Our future isn't set down in stone, we have to make the
right choices to insure that everything'll turn out all right, or it
won't.'  He laughed at himself then.  'Listen to me be so serious.
I'm sorry.'
   She'd put her arms around his neck and smiled at him, but her eyes
had been serious.  'I think you're right about destiny.  But are we
making the right choices now?  *Should* we be together?'
   'Don't worry, I have faith in us.  I have faith that the right
path is with both of us together.'
   Her eyes lost some of their seriousness and she asked in a low,
quiet voice, 'If you don't believe in destiny, then what do you
believe in?'
   He'd whispered in a loving voice, 'I believe in you, Usako.  I
love you.'  Then he had leaned forward, as had she, and their lips
had met in a kiss.

   Gazing into the night sky, Endymion clenched his right hand into a
fist.  "I don't care if you're from the moon!  I will always love
you, Usako.  Even . . . if it's from a distance."  Listening to the
words he had just uttered, he realized that he was giving up.  He
couldn't give up!  He couldn't lose her!
   "No!  There must be something that I can do.  There has to be."
The stone that hung around his neck caught his eye.  "Of course!  My
Guardians and I will see if the old Earthen magic still works."

   Beryl paced impatiently, her eyes scanning the ground as though
studying the cracks in the floor would help alleviate her
frustration.  "When will we begin the assault?!!!" she demanded of
the empty air.
   Slowly, slowly, Metallia's nebulous form materialized and her
voice rang out, "Patience, Beryl!  The time drawssss near."
   Beryl frowned.  "That is what you always say and we are no closer
to our goal!"
   "You are not, but *I* am.  Sssso, sssso closssse.  I can almosssst
tasssste ssssuccessss.  It will be ssssoon, Beryl, and then you
sssshall be Queen of thissss world, even assss I am Empressss of the
Universssse!"
   "Queen," Beryl said, licking her lips.  "Queen Beryl.  Yes, with
Endymion at my side!"
   "Ssssoon.  Our minionssss are almosssst gathered.  Thosssse
foolissssh humans have given ussss their ssssoulssss sssso that we
may defeat their enemiessss.  Thosssse youma will sssserve you well."
   "What will our kingdom be called, Empress?"
   "It already hassss a name.  We are the Dark Kingdom . . ."

   The Guardians were gathered in their conference room.  Kunzite was
staring at maps and muttering about Cathal, borders, and inadequate
defenses, while Zoisite was throwing darts at a bullseye, and Jadeite
was practicing sword-fighting techniques with Nephrite, who had taken
a break from charting the stars.  However, no one's attention, save
Kunzite's, was focused on what they were doing.  They were each
thinking of someone special that they had met recently.  As a result,
Zoisite kept missing the bullseye completely and Nephrite and
Jadeite's combat was sloppy.  Kunzite was just about to ask what was
troubling them all so much when the door slammed open with a bang and
Prince Endymion strode through.
   Everyone froze as Endymion eyed them.  Kunzite arched an eyebrow
in inquiry.  "Yes, my prince?"
   Endymion turned to the leader of his Guardians and said in a low
but authoritative voice, "I need to see you-all of you-outside, in
the gardens immediately."
   "Any particular reason?"
   "I must speak with you."
   "Can you not simply speak with us here?"
   "Don't question my orders!  Just . . . just come outside,"
Endymion faltered for an instant, then grabbing hold of his cloak,
strode out.
   Kunzite turned to exchange a look with the other Guardians.
"Well, *that* was certainly interesting."
   The others were already scrambling to strap on their weapons.
Jadeite sheathed his sword, then turned to Kunzite with a worried
expression on his face, "He *ordered* us.  What do you think he wants
to talk to us about?"
   Kunzite frowned.  "Trouble.  Or something else.  Well, let's get
going, anyway.  The heir apparent would not appreciate being kept
waiting."
   "You can say that again," Zoisite grumbled.
   Kunzite carefully hid a smile.  Not just anyone could ruffle
Zoisite's feathers.  Endymion was one of the few who could.

   They gathered outside in the gardens, awkwardly standing about.
Endymion started to pace, not speaking.  The Guardians wondered if he
was finally willing to reveal what had happened during his absence.
Sensing no immediate danger, they relaxed a bit, carefully watching
their prince.
   Finally, Endymion stopped and turned to face them, drawing in a
deep breath before he began.
   "Kunzite, Jadeite, Zoisite, Nephrite, I kind of need your help."
   "As always," Kunzite replied, patting the sheathed sword resting
at his hip.
   Endymion ignored him.  "Here's the thing, I've . . . um . . .
fallen in love."
   "Took you long enough!" Zoisite said, smirking.
   "Well, that's not really the problem . . ."
   Zoisite wagged a finger at him.  "Endy, what have you been doing?
Nothing naughty, I hope."
   Endymion glared at him.  "Of course not!  You've been hanging
around Kunzite too much!  Anyway, the problem's a bit more
complicated."
   "More complicated than that?"  Jadeite asked.
   "Zoi's been a bad influence," the Prince muttered under his
breath.  "Anyway, the girl that I've fallen in love with isn't from
around here."
   "A foreigner?  That could be a bit complicated," Kunzite said
thoughtfully.
   "More than you know.  She's not from this planet."
   "WHAT?!!!" Zoisite, Kunzite, and Jadeite cried.
   "She's from the Moon."
   While the three Guardians made incoherent sputtering noises and
looked disbelieving at their Prince, Endymion turned to the one
Guardian who as of yet had said nothing.  "You don't seem surprised."
   Nephrite shrugged easily.  "I do not find life on other worlds
odd.  The stars rule everything.  Everyone's destiny has been written
in them.  A fated romance lies in your stars.  I have seen it.  The
universe is a mysterious place.  Besides, it is not as though a
prince has never fallen in love with a girl from an enemy land
before.  The stars tell all of their tales, and they are many."
   "Uh, okay," Endymion replied, confused, but trying not to show it.
"I haven't exactly gotten to my favor yet.  I need your help to get
to the Moon."
   This time even Nephrite looked taken aback.
   Jadeite swallowed and said in a small voice, "Are we going to have
to pack for this trip?"

*The Moon*

        "Star bright,
         Silver light,
         Shining with all my love and might,
         Shining with all my love tonight."

   Luna sighed as she looked at her princess.  Princess Serenity had
done nothing but sing that old song ever since she had returned to
the moon, her eyes bright with tears.  She would not speak of
anything that had happened and refused to answer any questions.
Reluctantly, everyone had decided to let the incident slide once
again.  Everyone but Sailor Venus.
   Venus had returned from wherever she had disappeared to only
moments before the Princess had arrived home.  She, like the
princess, refused to speak of what had happened to her, except for
her mutterings about a terrible evil that was returning.
   Luna took very little stock in her warnings.  Venus was
distraught; they all were.  Ever since that incident . . .

   Princess Serenity arrived in the Center Courtyard of the Moon
Palace.  She was sprawled on the ground, dressed in strange foreign
clothing.  She was weeping profusely, her delicate frame racking with
violent sobs.
   Queen Serenity had rushed forward to comfort her daughter, only to
be repulsed by her sharp words.  "Leave me alone, *Mother*!  Just
leave me alone!"
   "Serenity, whatever is the matter, dear?  Aren't you happy to be
home safe and sound?  Whatever possessed you to run off again?  You
know that Earth is forbidden!"
   "You wouldn't understand!  Stop judging me!  Stop making my
decisions for me!  This is *my* life, not yours.  Why can't you ever
let me be happy?!"
   "Sere, I"
   It was then that Sailors Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury appeared in
the swirling colors of their auras.  They hesitated only an instant
to bow quickly to their Queen, Mars saying, "We were recalled."  No
other explanation was needed.  Then they rushed to their princess,
Mars rocking her in her arms as she wept bitterly.  "Shhh.  Sere,
it'll be okay."
   The princess jerked her head up.  "No, it won't!  It never will!
Not as long as I'm apart from"
   "It will never be all right again," a hard voice said as she
approached the scene.  Queen Serenity stepped aside to let her pass.
   "Venus," Jupiter said steadily, looking up at her leader.
   "So once again the princess has flaunted the laws of our esteemed
court.  Haven't you learned better by now, princess?  You have to
grow up and take your duties seriously!  Earth is dangerous."  Venus
looked down at Serenity, and no one but Artemis saw the flash of pain
in her eyes.  <I'm sorry, my princess . . .>
   Princess Serenity burst into another spate of crying.
   "Stop it, Venus!  You have no right to do this to her!" Mars cried
angrily.  She hated seeing Sere get hurt, especially by her friends.
She and Sere had their own share of disagreements, but the princess
always knew that Mars never meant anything that she said, not really.
   Venus gave Mars a cold stare.  "I have every right.  It's the
truth and the princess will have to face up to it sooner or later."
   "What do you know about this?" Mercury asked, staring up at Venus
from where she knelt at her princess's side.
   "An evil is returning and we must be ready to face it.  Especially
Sere.  She is the princess, and her duties are far greater than ours.
She can't let herself get distracted."
   Looking into her eyes, Sere knew that Venus *knew*.
   <<Do you knoweverything?>> she thought at her, dully.
   <<Everything,>> Venus replied.  <<Princess, it's not allowed.>>
   <<I don't care!>>
   Aloud, Venus said, "All princesses must make sacrifices.  Earth is
forbidden to you, forever."
   "No!"
   Queen Serenity moved towards her daughter, feeling helpless.
"Serenity, the Earth is forbidden to everyone on the moon.  A
princess cannot be exempt from such a law.  You are the Moon
Princess.  Our people look up to you.  You have to do your duty and
obey the laws that have been set."
   "Well, maybe I don't want to be a princess anymore!" Serenity
cried, getting to her feet and running off.
   The Senshi stared after her silently.
   Queen Serenity watched her daughter's fleeing form, her eyes wide
with disbelief, her lips trembling, "She can't have meant that!"  But
she knew in her heart of hearts, as they all did, that Sere had.

   Luna sighed again.  It was going to take them all a *long* time to
get over that.

   Artemis watched Luna from high atop the column that he was lazily
draped across.  He knew that she was troubled and so was he.  He
wanted to go to her and comfort her, but there was nothing he could
say or do to stop her heartbreak.  Sere was drifting away.
   However, he knew too that something had upset Venus greatly and he
was determined to discover what it was.  <Mina may seem flighty
sometimes, but she would never speak to Sere that way without reason.
Something terrible has begun, and she knows what it is.  I'll have to
keep my eye on her.>  He cast one last lingering look on Luna.  <I'm
sorry, Luna, I can't tell you what I suspect.  Not yet.  First, I
must speak to MinakoGuardian Cat to troubled charge.  You wouldn't
believe me if I told you, anyway.>  He turned to go, then looked back
once more at her.  <Keep safe, love.>  Then he got to his feet and
sprang away.

   Luna looked behind her.  She could have sworn that there was
someone . . . watching over her.  Catching the flash of moonlight
against a white fur-covered body bounding away from column to column
in the moonlight, she smiled.  <Artemis.  Thank you.>

   Ami flipped through the pages of the ancient tome.  After a
moment, she realized that she had merely been staring at the pages
for the last several hours without absorbing what the book actually
said.  Her heart was not in studying.  <Zoisite,> her mind whispered
treacherously, no matter how hard she tried to block it out.  <I
can't think of him now!  It would never have worked anyway.  I'm from
the Moon, and he . . . he's from Earth.  Earth is forbidden to us.
Still, I love him so very, very dearly.  I wonder if I'll ever see
him again?  I did promise . . .  And I always keep my word!>
   That resolved, she turned back to her book, but found her thoughts
drifting to a memory of a pair of sharp green eyes.  <<Zoisite . .
.>>

   Makoto ran her hands through the newly-turned soil and patted it
lovingly around the seedling.  She tried to forget, but everything
reminded her of him.  The color of the soil was the color of his
hair, the touch of the wind was like the caress of his hand . . .
Angrily, she kneaded her hands through the soil, and gradually she
relaxed as the simple process of planting took all of her attention.
   'I love you.  I want to spend my life with you,' rang through her
head, and again she stopped, staring blankly at the plants.
   "He meant it, you know," she said conversationally to them.
"That's why it hurt so much."  Her lower lip began to quiver and no
matter how she tried, she couldn't stay the moisture that sprang to
her eyes and trickled down her face.  Unable to suppress the pain any
longer, she curled up into a fetal position and cried, in between the
roots of an ancient tree.  It was silent save for her sobs, for a
long, long time.  When she finally stopped, she had only the strength
to whisper, "I love you, too," before she passed out from exhaustion.

   "It's WRONG!!!" Rei said angrily, pacing in her room.  "Wrong,
wrong, wrong!"
   Minako looked up at her from where she sat painting her nails on
Rei's bed.  "What's wrong with it?"
   Rei stopped her pacing to glare at Minako.  "You know perfectly
well what's wrong!  It's forbidden," she hissed.  "You told the
princess so yourself."
   Minako shrugged.  "So?  When's that ever stopped us before?"
   "You're incredible."  Rei seated herself next to Minako.
   Minako smiled brightly.  "I know.  Anyways, the princess is the
princess and she needs to be protected, but we can take care of
ourselves!  Besides, you've been obsessing over this guy so much that
I really have to see if he's as cute as you say."
   "But we can't just sneak back down to Earth!  Someone would catch
us for certain."
   "Hey, only you'd be sneaking *back* down!  *I* haven't been there
yet, remember?"
   Rei glared at her.  "You're not funny, you know."
   Minako just grinned.

*Back on Earth*

   The Guardians spent the next couple of days preparing for their
trip.  Kunzite was gathering weapons and reviewing information on
what was known about the Moon and its so-called Moon Kingdom.
Nephrite was seeking guidance in the stars, and devising the best
path to reach the Moon.  Jadeite had the most work, as his realm was
the Realm of Soul, which was the most closely connected with magic.
He spent hours researching the dusty old tomes in the Royal Library.
Zoisite sometimes gave him a hand.  Zoisite himself was making
contingency plans in case the Lunars were hostile.
   Endymion was thinking up the actual plan, and putting his kingdom
in order, so that when he left there would be no unforeseen
situations that could not be adequately handled.  It was an
undeniably difficult task, but the thought of seeing his Usako again
kept him going.
   As he was still officially not old enough to take charge of his
kingdom yet, the ministers of state and his advisors still ruled.
Thus, even though that matter was *still* difficult, it was simpler
than he had thought it would be to receive permission to leave on a
"diplomatic" mission.  They had wanted Kunzite to remain behind, but
Endymion had insisted on his presence and they had acquiesced
reluctantly.
   The only thing that worried Endymion was that the kingdom of
Cathal was still seeking to invade his borders.  He had sent in part
of his army though, and they had managed to drive the Cathals from
the captured town of Edmunston.  There had been no survivors of the
citizenry reported.
   He and all four of his Guardians had swore viciously at the news
and had redoubled the number of troops stationed around the border.
Neither Endymion nor his Council had been willing to go to war over
it . . . yet.  Still, the Cathals had seemed to settle down and
several spies reported that they were truly sorry for what they had
done.
   Endymion believed none of it, but now was the time for his own
personal mission.  With Cathal momentarily at peace and the threat of
an all out war sometime in the near future, he figured that his last
time to seek out his Usako would have to be now.

   Endymion turned to his Guardians who stood waiting for him.  "Are
you ready?" he asked.
   All four of him placed their right fist over their hearts in a
warrior's salute as they bowed their heads slightly.  Kunzite
answered for all of them.  "As we'll ever be."

*The Moon*

   Princess Serenity paced about the Royal Gardens of the Moon.  She
gazed up into the sky to stare at the blue-green earth that spun
there.  <So beautiful.>
   "Cookie for your thoughts?" a voice asked quietly.
   Serenity turned to see that Venus did indeed stand there, a cookie
in her hand.  The princess tried to smile, but found that she could
not.  With a sigh, she turned away, looking once again at the Earth.
   The forced smile that had been on Venus's face faded and she
looked at the cookie critically.  <The princess is refusing food.  I
must have hurt her more than I meant to.>
   The princess's clear voice broke through her thoughts.  Venus
looked up to see her still staring up at the blue planet.  "You told
me once not to be your friend.  You also told me that if I wanted
things to happen, then I should go out and make them happen.  Your
advice seems to have its flaws."  The princess smiled fleetingly,
just for an instant.  Venus wondered at the lack of bitterness in her
voice.  But Sere . . . Sere could never be bitter.  It was against
her nature.
   "I wondered, you know, for a long time why I was a princess.  I,
of all people, daughter of the Queen of a solar system.  And then,
one day I knew."  She turned to face Venus, her eyes sparkling with
tears, not of grief or pain, but those of joy.  "It was the day I
looked into his eyes, Venus.  I knew then that I had to be a princess
to deserve *him*."  Her eyes got a far off look in them and Venus
could only watch silently as she continued.
   "The way he looks at me, talks to me, holds me in his arms . . .
It is too much for me!  It is as though when I am with him, I am safe
in a land that is beyond anger, fear, or pain.  There is only love
there.  His love for me and mine for him.  He loves me."  Her eyes
focused on Venus again.  "I love him."
   She turned away and again began walking, Venus trailing behind
her.  "I do not deserve him.  He is all that I have ever dreamed of.
Love is so wonderful, why can't everyone feel it?  Have you ever been
in love, Venus?"
   Sailor Venus stopped short in her tracks and managed to speak
around the large lump that had formed in her throat.  "Yes."
   "Then you know the feeling.  Do you know the heartbreak, too?"
   In a very quiet voice, "Yes."
   "I never want to be apart from him, Venus.  I don't care if his
world is forbidden!  No one can forbid love.  It is not possible.  If
there was no love in the world, then we would be nothing.  We would
be monsters, lifeless, uncaring *things* not people!  We would be-"
   "The Dark Kingdom," Venus interrupted.
   Serenity fell silent.  After a moment, "They attacked once, didn't
they?"
   Venus nodded even though Sere still had her back turned to her.
"They will attack again.  They need energy, but it is emotions that
they crave.  They can feel nothing but anger, hatred, and pain.  Love
is alien to them, and though they will not admit it to themselves,
they want it."
   "I pity them," Serenity's voice rang out.  "Poor creatures, what
kind of a life is that which they lead?"
   "Do not pity them, Sere!  Hate them!  Hate them with all of your
heart and soul!"
   "Hate them?  Then would I not be just like them, Venus?"
   Venus was silent for a long time, letting the statement sink in.
<Have I become just like them?  Am I no better than they are?>
Without realizing it, tears began to trail down her face. In a weak
voice she responded, "Perhaps."
   Serenity shook her head slightly.  "No, Venus, you are not like
them.  You can still love, can't you?  You can still feel joy, and
hope, and sorrow.  *You* are still a human being, with all the flaws
there of."
   Venus sighed.  "There is one thing that I care about, princess."
   "What, only one?"
   "Yes.  You.  It is my duty to protect you.  It is my obligation to
myself.  To protect you . . ."
   "From myself?"
   "If I must."
   "Mayhap I do need protection from myself, but there is one thing
that you need never protect me from."
   "Him?"
   "That's right.  He would never hurt me, Venus."
   "You're wrong.  Everyone hurts one another.  You hurt the ones you
love.  It's human nature.  Everyone can't help but betray everyone
else, and destroy all of the good things that they have."
   "Well, maybe you're right and I'm wrong, but he would never betray
me . . . in his heart.  As for forbidding me to see him . . . that is
nonsense and both you and I know it.  It is not human nature to let
itself be kept from what it wants."
   "Is he what you want?"
   "I need him.  I love him.  Isn't that enough?"
   Venus had no answer, instead she said, "Your mother will be
expecting you at Court soon."
   Princess Serenity turned around and smiled her first truly genuine
smile in days.
   <Probably because she know that she's won,> Venus thought sourly
to herself.  Serenity winked as though she had overheard and Venus
couldn't be sure that she hadn't.  Somehow though, just talking with
the princess had made her feel better about the whole thing.  The
danger might still be coming, but they would both be ready for it.
   "Come now, Venus, the Lunar day is beginning.  We can't keep
everyone waiting, now can we?  Escort me to Court."
   "Yes, my princess."
   They began to walk back towards the Moon Palace when Princess
Serenity stopped suddenly.  "Venus?"
   "Mmmm?"
   "Where's my cookie?"
   A sweatdrop formed on Venus's head as she laughed inanely.  "Uh,
uh well . . ."
   "You ate it, didn't you?" the princess asked flatly.
   Venus laughed nervously, put on an innocent face, then hung her
head and said, "Yeah."
   "SAILOR VENUS!!!!"  Serenity shrieked.
   Venus dashed into the palace and took of running down the
hallways, Serenity right on her heels.  The princess tripped, fell on
her face, then scrambled to her feet and continued to chase the
errant Senshi.
   From high atop a pillar, Luna stared down and slowly a feline
smile spread across her face.  <It looks like things are *finally*
getting back to normal.>  With a contented purr, she settled down and
curled up for a nap.
   From the next column over, Artemis gazed a Luna with a worried
look on his face.  <Somehow, I don't think it's going to be that
easy.>  He bounded off as Luna slept.  <Not that easy at all.>

   Beryl looked at the Seven Shadows that she had called forth from
her dark crystal and dismissed them.  "*THESE* are my vaunted
warriors?"
   Metallia let out a hiss.  "They are extenssssionssss of mysssself,
Beryl.  Are you mocking me?"
   "I, mock you?  Never, my empress."
   "You had better not be, Beryl.  You had better not be."
   "So what can they do, my empress?"
   "They are capable of massss desssstruction and together they can
form an extenssssion of me that hassss power comparable to mine.
They will desssstroy the ssssorceressssessss for ussss."
   "The Moon Princess is mine!" Beryl screamed in rage, having long
ago ascertained with the help of Metallia the true identity of the
princess.
   "Of coursssse, Beryl.  In thissss *only* may you have rightssss
over me.  I promissssed her to you, Beryl, and Endymion, in return
for your sssservice.  Sssshe issss yourssss to kill and he yourssss
to have assss you will."
   "Yes," Beryl hissed, satisfied for the moment.  "Will I have no
other warriors?"
   "The Youma-"
   "The Cathals are idiots!  Already Endymion's forces have defeated
them!"
   "Do NOT interrupt me, Beryl!!!  The new batch will be an
improvement.  Do not fear, Beryl, they will be strong enough.
However, you have need of thosssse who can control them.  You cannot
be everywhere at once."
   "And who would control THEM?" Beryl asked spitefully.
   Metallia chose her next words carefully.  "You have need of . . .
Generalssss.  Dark Kingssss for your Dark Kingdom."
   "Generals?" Beryl asked, an idea forming in the back of her mind.
"Kings?"  She broke into malicious laughter.  "No, not kings at all,
but princes!!!  Kings indeed!!!"
   "Beryl, what are you thinking?" Metallia asked, annoyed that she
could not for once read Beryl's thoughts.
   "Endymion would not suspect that those most loyal to him would
serve us!  Oh yes, I shall have these Kings that you speak of
Empress, and destroy any last thoughts of rebellion in Endymion!"
   "You would take *THEM*?" Metallia asked, catching on.
   "Who better to serve under Endymion and myself?"
   "Beryl, I did not give you enough credit.  You sssshall sssserve
me well, and sssso sssshall they."
   "But first," Beryl said, swirling her hand in the air, "I will
send out a probe to the so-called Moon Kingdom to test their
defenses.  I have the feeling that Endymion will soon be there as
well.  What better time?"
   "It will give them warning that we are coming," Metallia warned
her.
   "So what?  Let them know.  Let them live in perpetual fear for
their miserable lives.  Nothing they can do can stop us.  I will send
my minion . . . when I am sure that Endymion is there."

*On Earth*

   Endymion and his Guardians stood together in a circle in the rose
clearing.  The full moon shone directly over them.  He had not wanted
then to invade his treasured private spot, but Jadeite had insisted
that the magic would be stronger if performed at a spot that had
already been exposed to magic.  As the Guardians already knew where
the clearing was, he had had no choice.  Besides, he would take any
advantage that would help him reach his Usako.
   <This will work!>  Endymion thought determinedly.  <It has to.>
   Taking each others hands rather uncomfortably, the five of them
concentrated together.
   Nothing happened.

   "Focus!" Endymion said.
   "We *ARE*!" they yelled back.
   Endymion sighed.  <Please, please, let this work.  I wish for
nothing more than for the five of us to be able to harness our magic
so that we can get to the moon, and Usako and I can be together.  We
swore that we would.  Don't make me go back on that vow.  I love
her.>
   The script on the archway began to glow silver in the moonlight.
None of them noticed.
   Slowly, slowly, each of them began to feel their power growing,
flowing through and filling them.
   "I feel it!" Zoisite cried, exuberant.  "My power!"
   "Good, now concentrate," Endymion returned.  They did.
   Endymion felt the blood inside of him burn with fire as the power
in him grew, and he could feel the magic of the other four begin to
reach him as their auras rose about them.  Then, all of a sudden,
their power peaked and with a flash of light, they were gone.
   The moon shone after them.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

   Setsuna frowned.  <It begins.>  Nevertheless, she felt strangely
at peace once she knew that this future was set.  <I can change
nothing now.  Forgive me my Queen, my princess . . . my prince.  I
know now that this is what Destiny had intended at the start.  Even I
am helpless against *her* machinations.  What must be . . . will be.>

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
*The Moon*

   The group of five appeared with a blinding flash of light in the
throne room, directly in front of Queen Serenity.  After ascertaining
their surroundings, they stood and bowed in unison to the Queen.
   Queen Serenity rose up from where she sat in indignation.  "Who
are you and why have you come here?"  She motioned the guards over to
the intruders.
   The pair of guards moved as though to apprehend the strangers but
were repelled by another flash of light.
   "Sorry," Jadeite said with a rueful smile.  "I guess the spell
hasn't quite worn off yet."  He had been the one who had researched
the actual spell, and the shield they had cast about themselves as
added protection would take a moment or two to wear off.
   The guards looked quite taken aback.  Queen Serenity frowned.
"Just who are you?"
   Kunzite straightened and bowed again as the other four dropped to
a half-kneel, half-crouch, the right leg down and the left leg up, in
a carefully planned square formation around him.  Kunzite smiled
respectfully at the Queen as he said, "I am Prince Endymion of
Earth."

   The Sailor Senshi raced down the hallway to the throne room.  They
had all transformed as soon as Luna had arrived to tell them of the
intruders.  All except for Minako, who as the leader of the Senshi
had elected to carry out her own *personal* duty to protect the
princess.  So three Sailor Senshi ran down the hallway, and one
princess look-a-like, her hair gathered up in two buns with two long
blonde ponytails flowing down from each one, and dressed in the royal
gown.  "Princess Minako on her way," she muttered under her breath.
She hated this duty.
   As Kunzite rambled on to the Queen about the numerous factors that
had pushed him into making the decision to visit the moon on an
exploratory and purely "diplomatic" mission, Endymion couldn't resist
looking around.  He noticed that the other Royal Guardians were
looking around as well.  The difference between him and them, he
thought to himself, was that they were not looking for anything in
particular, while he was looking for something very important indeed.
   His gaze wandered around the throne room until it came to rest on
a figure half-hidden in the shadows.  He couldn't be sure . . .  The
Odangos were the same, but then it seemed as though that particular
hairstyle was very common on the moon.  The Queen even wore her hair
that way.  Then their eyes met and as he gazed into the deep blue of
hers, something like an electric current shot through them both.  It
was her, he was sure of it.  "Odango Atama," he breathed, so low that
no one else even realized that he was speaking, "I've lost you once
before, but I swore to myself that I would never lose you again.
I've found you, Usako, and this time, it's for keeps."

   Serenity pulled back into the shadows.  It couldn't be.  "Mamoru?"
she whispered to herself.  She risked another look and his eyes met
her.  An electric shock surged through her.  "Mamo-chan."  <How is it
possible?  I've missed you so.  Can you really be here?>  She mouthed
"later" to him, and he nodded imperceptibly.  Her eyes shone as she
mouthed the next words before leaving the room.  "I love you."
   Endymion watched her go and whispered softly.  "I love you too,
Usako."

   As the Senshi entered the room, all of the Guardians and Endymion
turned to look.  Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Jadeite, Nephrite, and
Zoisite all gasped simultaneously as they saw each other.
   "That's him," Sailor Mars said in astonishment.
   "Hey, who?" Minako asked eagerly.  She looked at where her friend
was staring as though she'd seen a ghost.  "Hey Rei, he *is* cute,
she said in a happy whisper.  Butwaitaminute," she said in a rush,
"what's he doing here?"
   Sailor Mars didn't answer her, continuing to stare at Jadeite who
was staring at her.  Minako sighed, looked at the other Senshi who
were in the same shape then turned to look at the intruders.  Rei was
a lucky girl, Jadeite *was* cute.  Ami and Makoto were lucky too, the
guys *they* were staring at were gorgeous.  She looked at the
dark-haired one staring with a dazed expression on his face.  Now
that was what she called handsome.  The tall one who was standing
turned to look at her and their eyes met with a crackling electric
shock.  No, *he* was handsome.  She sighed, looking at him dreamily.
Maybe she was going to like this assignment after all.

   "So you're from the Golden Kingdom?" Queen Serenity asked.
   "Yes, Your Majesty."
   "The last I heard, the Golden Kingdom was ruled by King Gaian and
Queen Terra."
   "They are deceased."
   "Oh, I'm sorry to hear that," Queen Serenity said regretfully.
They had been nice enough people and good rulers.
   "What of the young prince that I met on my last trip to Earth?  I
believe his name was Endy?"
   "Um," Kunzite thought fast.  <I don't look a thing like the real
Endymion!  Why didn't he tell me he'd met her before?>  "The young
son of King Gaian and Queen Terra is regretfully no longer with us,"
he said slowly, covertly looking at Endymion from the corner of his
eye.  He was staring off into nothing and mumbling something to
himself.  <Well, his *mind* certainly is not with us!>

   Rei stared at Jadeite, barely aware that she had spoken to Minako.
What had she said?  It did not matter.  Neither did the fact that
Minako was replying to her.  All that mattered was that Jadeite was
before her.  It could not be he, that was an impossibility, and yet .
. .  It was his face, his eyes.  It was Jade, it was!  <Jadeite!>
   She drank in the look of him, as he faced her, his eyes burning
with his love for her. He looked so handsome, kneeling there, his
gray cape pooling about him, his black gold-trimmed armor newly
polished.  His blonde hair was a little unruly and she wanted nothing
more than to run her hands through it.  <Oh, Jade!>
   An uneasy feeling nagged at her, though.  Why was he here?

   Jadeite stared at Rei.  At least, he thought it was Rei.  He
couldn't be certain having never seen her dressed in something that .
. . ahem . . . *short* before.  Still, he managed to wrench his gaze
to her face, and that held all of his attention.  It *was* his Rei
that stood before him, it could be no other.  No one else, in his
mind, possessed such unparalleled beauty.  Her eyes bespoke him
eloquently as he stared into their fiery violet depths.
   <Rei, Rei,> his mind sang.  It took all of his self control to
stop himself from leaping up and running to her, to enfold her in his
arms.  He could not tear his gaze away from her.  He did not want to.
<What is it about you, Rei, that you make me love you so?>  He could
not say what it was, only that he did love her with every ounce of
his being.  <I will not lose you again, my dark-haired goddess, my
red-hot flame.>
   Still, a thought rose unbidden at the back of his mind and try as
he might, it would not leave.  Why was she here?

   <Goddess,> Makoto thought, involuntarily putting a hand to her
mouth.  Realizing what she was doing, she took it away in the same
instant.  <He's here.  Why is he here?  I drove him away!  Goddess,
Goddess, he looks at me with such eyes - eyes of reproof, full of
pain.  Have *I* done this to him?  Does he love me this much?  Then I
must be doubly sure this time to drive him away!  Oh, but how . . .
can I bear the reproof in those eyes?  Nephrite, Nephrite, I'm
sorry.>
   She looked away, her eyes shadowed.  If they had been visible,
anyone could have seen that they were dark with pain.

   <It's her,> Nephrite thought, dully.  <Is this some type of cosmic
joke?  Do the stars in the heavens enjoy my pain and suffering?>  He
continued to stare at her until she looked away from him.  All of a
sudden he was angry, and then the anger had fled and he was left only
with an unshakable sensation of loss.  <I have lost her . . . for
good.>
   He began addressing himself.  <Stupid.  I am so stupid to have let
her slip through my fingers.  Fool!  You have loved twice and lost
both times.  Can you not accept the fact that you were not made to
love?  Your kind of love is worthless.  What are you willing to give
up for your love?  Nothing.  And that is what you should receive in
turn.  I'm sorry.  I'm sorry I hurt you, my love.  You deserve better
than to be loved as one such as I.>
   <Why, oh why, are you here?>

   <ZOISITE!> her mind shrieked, before she could restrain herself.
Ami bit her lip and forced herself to calm down.  <How in the Nine
Worlds did he get here?  How did he know that I was here?  Oh, it
doesn't matter!  He's here!  Zoisite . . .>
   She looked at him as he shot her a look full of meaning.  She
blushed.  <Goddess!>  His green eyes twinkled maddeningly at her and
she saw him hide a smile as his face adopted a suitably serious
expression.  <Hah, him be serious?!  Get serious!>  Her expression
turned wistful.  <I wanted to see him so . . .  Maybe the princess is
right.  Maybe if you wish hard enough, wishes do come true.  Ami!>
she berated herself.  <That is *the* most unscientific thing you have
ever thought in your life!  I don't care!> she shot back at herself.
<I don't care . . . as long as he's here, science can take a hike!>

   Zoisite stared at Ami, *his* Ami.  Same blue hair, blue eyes . . .
a shorter skirt though.  <Hmmm . . . not bad.>  He quickly silenced
that errant train of thought.  <She's here.  I never thought-Don't
think.  You could never outthink her, you twit!  Did she know?  Did
she know somehow that I'd come?  I think I knew.  I knew that somehow
I'd find her.>
   Her eyes spoke volumes to him and he could feel his heart leaping.
<She's glad I'm here!  I'm glad she's glad.  it doesn't matter why
either of us are here, everything would be perfect if only she would
just smile . . .>  And then she did and for Zoisite, everything *was*
perfect.

   Queen Serenity sighed.  This whole situation was impossible.  She
would have to deal with it, though.  She beckoned impatiently to her
Senshi as they stood in the doorway.  Why weren't they coming in?
   They saw her gesture and entered slowly, flanking Minako as they
had been trained to do, both when she was in this guise and when she
was their commander, Sailor Venus.  They ascended the stairs up to
the dais her throne was positioned atop and ranged themselves behind
her.
  She gestured to the silver-haired Prince Endymion.  "Prince
Endymion, this is my daughter, the Princess Serenity."
   Minako took a step forward and curtsied gracefully, as she had
been taught.  Queen Serenity watched as the prince's eyes lighted on
her, then flickered away.  He rose a fluid motion, his Guardians with
him, and bent over the princess's hand.  "It is a pleasure, Princess
Serenity," he said, kissing it as per court etiquette.  Minako's eyes
became hearts and the Queen cleared her throat meaningfully.  Minako
immediately dropped her hand and curtsying again, she backed into her
place.
   "These are her Guardians," the Queen said, gesturing as the Senshi
came forward, ignoring the Earth Guardians flinch at the word, "the
Sailor Senshi.  Mars," Rei bowed, "Mercury," Ami bowed as well, "and
Jupiter."  Makoto bowed, but no one missed the tortured expression in
her eyes as she gazed at Nephrite save Nephrite himself.
   "Allow me to introduce my Guardians," Kunzite said smoothly.
"Jadeite, Zoisite, Nephrite, and . . . Mamoru."  Kunzite cursed
inside.  Why couldn't Endymion simply have taken his name?  But no,
he had insisted on Mamoru.  Queen Serenity didn't seem to notice the
dissimilarity in the names, though.
   "Very well," she said.  "I shall have quarters prepared for you
and your men, for the course of your "diplomatic" mission."
   Kunzite did not miss the emphasis that she had placed on the word
and he fervently vowed that the mission would be as diplomatic as
possible.  After all, it wasn't like his men were going to start
mingling with all of the Lunars.
   Then he took a look at the Guardians and watched the peculiar way
in which they were looking at the Senshi.  They looked smitten.  He
felt like slapping himself in the forehead.  By the King, what had
they gotten themselves into?

   It was later in that day when Endymion finally managed to slip
away to meet Serenity.  Somehow, he knew where to find her.  It was
if his heart was leading him to her.  He found her where he knew she
would be, among the roses in the Royal Gardens of the Moon Palace,
even if he had had no idea at the time where they were.
   He crept up behind her and enfolded her in his arms.  She gave a
little cry, then a smile crept across her face as she whirled about
in his arms and flung her arms around him with an exclamation of
happiness.  "Mamo-chan!"
   "Usako," he murmured in her ear.
   "You came, you came," she cried.
   "How could I stay away from my Usako?  My bunny of the moon."
   "Don't.  I'm not a bunny."
   "Oh, but you are, Usako.  You're *my* bunny.  When I look up at
the Moon, all I see is you."
   She pulled away a little and smiled.  "I wish that I was all that
you saw.  You are all that I see.  Your Earth, it is as blue as your
eyes."
   "Then you *did* think of me when we were apart!"
   "Could I think of aught else?  Why would I want to?"
   "Usako . . ." he whispered, kissing her.
   She closed her eyes and sighed in pleasure.  This, this was where
she wanted to be.  Safe in his arms.
   They parted a little and gazed at each other lovingly.  Her eyes
were bright with tears.
   "How did you get here?" she asked, softly.
   "Usako, I never thought I'd see you again.  I couldn't bear it!  I
*had* to find a way to get to you."
   "Mamo-chan, I'm not . . .  Well, I'm-"
   "MEEOORRROWWRRRR!!!" the vicious black blur of fur, teeth, and
claws screamed, leaping towards Endymion.  It landed on his head and
tried to claw at him unsuccessfully as he stumbled backwards in
surprise and knocked the cat off of him.
   She landed on her feet and glared at the Prince.  "Stay away from
the princess!"
   "LUNA!  What do you think you're doing?" Princess Serenity asked,
perturbed and more than a little irritated.  She went to check on
Endymion to see if he was all right.
   He was holding a hand to his head and looked rather dazed.
"Usako, did that *cat* just talk to me?"
   "She certainly did," Serenity replied, sticking a tongue out at
the cat.  "Nasty, *NOSY* thing, isn't she?"
   "I am not nosy!" the cat said, affronted.  "That is Artemis's
department.  I am simply looking out for your well-being."
   "Well, don't!  I am perfectly well right here with Mamoru and *he*
is doing quite a good job of insuring my well-being, thank you!"
   Luna scowled.  "Your mother will *not* be pleased!"
   "Humph!  That's exactly why you are *not* going to tell her,
Luna."
   The cat snorted.  "And how did you come to that conclusion?"
   Serenity smiled and Luna backed away a step at the pure
devilishness in her eyes.  "Luna, would you like me to tell Mother
what *really* happened to the fish that was to have been the main
course at the feast last week?"
   Luna's eyes narrowed and she hissed.  "You wouldn't!"
   "Wouldn't I?"
   "Artemis ate most of it!"
   "Ah-ah-ah, Luna.  Aren't you always telling me that it's not nice
to blame one's own mistakes on others?"
   Luna shot her a dirty look, then stalked off, muttering darkly to
herself.  <Now, when did she start getting so smart?!  Oooo, that
girl is *SO* infuriating!>
   Princess Serenity burst into infectious giggles as she watched her
Guardian stalk off and soon Endymion joined her.

   Jadeite snuck out of his room, looking warily around him.  <Good.
No one in sight.  If Kunzite caught me, I'd be a dead man.  Now, if I
can just get away without being seen . . .>
   "Well, hello, what do we have here?" a low voice whispered in his
ear from behind him.
   Jadeite stiffened, then whirled about, taking his discoverer by
surprise and swinging her around.  "REI!"
   She laughed, but quickly quieted down.  "Shhh!  Jade, they'll
hear!"
   He immediately set her down.  "You're right, of course."  They
both looked about the deserted hallway anxiously.  There was no one.
They were alone.
   "Jade," Rei said, as soon as she was sure no one was watching
them, "what are you doing here?!"
   He took her in his arms again.  "Well, first I want to kiss you to
make sure that you're real, and then I'll answer your questions."
   Rei let out a giggle as he bent to kiss her and his lips brushed
hers, but then they both stiffened as a chuckling sound was heard.
Jadeite cautiously opened one eye, and let Rei go in a swift movement
as he saw who was watching them.
   "Uh, Zoisite . . .  Hi!"
   Zoisite chuckled louder.  "You certainly do put on quite a show,
Jade!  Hahaha."
   "Shhh, you fool!" Rei and Jade both said, then exchanged a quick,
wry look at one another before turning back to Zoisite.
   He smiled.  "Who's to hear?!"
   "The Guards?  Any of a million Lunars?  The Queen?  Nephrite?
Ku-The Prince?" Jadeite rattled them off.
   Zoisite stopped laughing at the mention of the last and his voice
dropped as he looked anxiously around.  "Oh yeah, *him*.  I nearly
forgot."
   "Forgot?  How can you forget something like that?!!!" Jadeite
shouted.
   "SHHH!" Rei, Zoisite, and Ami cried.
   Jadeite shut his mouth, then stared with Rei at Ami who had been
standing behind Zoisite.  "Uh, hi?" she said, giving a little wave.
   Rei rolled her eyes.  "Not you too, Ami!"
   "Well, you're one to talk, Rei!"
   Rei opened her mouth to reply, then shut it.  Since when had Ami
had enough backbone to speak back to her?
   Ami smiled smugly.  <Reach for the sky, Zoisite.>
   The foursome exchanged a despairing look then all began to talk at
once.
   "What's going on-?"
   "I think we shou-"
   "Zoisite, why're you-?"
   "Let's get organiz-"
   They sighed.
   "Look," Zoisite finally said, "let's discuss this all later."
   "The first intelligent thing you've said," Jadeite replied.
"Let's."
   Ami smiled.  "Good, now that that's settled, I have something to
*talk* to you about, Zoisite."
   "Coming!" he said with a smile, as she dragged him off down the
hall.
   Rei and Jadeite exchanged a quiet laugh.  Then Rei smiled as well.
"Well, what'll we do now?"
   "I think we should follow them and get them back for disturbing
us," Jade said, his eyes lighting up, as he rubbed his hands
together.
   Rei sighed and put her arms around him again.  "I can think of
*much* better things that we could be doing, Jade.  After all, they
*did* interrupt us."
   Jadeite's eyes lighted up more and a smile spread gradually across
his face.  "I think you're quite right.  He opened the door to his
quarters and took Rei's hand in his.
   "What are you doing, Jade?" she asked, unable to hide the laughter
in her voice.
   "We're going to be somewhere where we *can't* be interrupted."
   She was only able to get out one cry of laughing protest as he
yanked her in and shut the door behind them.

   Zoisite and Ami walked down to the lake.
   "It is very peaceful here, Ami."
   "Yes, it is."
   "Why are you here?"
   "Why are you?"
   "Does it matter?"
   "Does it matter to you?"
   He knelt and picked up a rock, skipping it on the surface.
"Questions, questions, it is always questions with you, Ami.  Never
answers.  Every time I ask one, you have to ask me another.  You are
trying to confound me."
   "Perhaps I am.  I have never been close to anyone before," she
said, picking up rock and skipping it further than his.
   He picked up another one and skipped it still further.  "Are we
close?"
   She skipped another stone further out, "You know the answer."
   "You see?  Never a straight answer."  He picked up at rock and
when he threw it, it hurtled across the surface.  "You told me you
believed in love at first sight.  Did you mean it?  You never
actually told me you loved me, you know.  Do you?"
   "What do you think?"  She picked up another stone but before she
could throw it, he caught her arm and held it firm.  "Zoisite, let
go."
   "Just answer this one question, Ami, and I'll never make you
answer another."  His eyes pleaded with her.
   She faltered, as he lowered her arm.  "I-I . . ."
   "Ami?  Please, just an answer!"
   "Oh Goddess, yes!" she burst out, tears appearing.
   "That wasn't so hard, now was it?" Zoisite asked gently, tipping
her face up to his, seeing the love in her eyes that he had known was
there.  "Why are you so afraid of love, Ami?"
   "I don't know.  I just am."
   "You don't want to get hurt by it.  I won't let you get hurt.  I
love you, Ami.  Now, smile," he murmured, tipping her face more, his
lips almost touching hers.
   "Zoisite, I-" she began to protest.
   "Smile," he said, kissing her, drowning out her protests and her
tears.
   When they pulled away, he said again, "Smile."
   She did, and it was the most blindingly beautiful smile he had
ever seen.  "Kiss me again, Zoisite," she said, "and I'll smile as
much as you want.  I love you."
   He allowed himself a smile as he kissed her again.

   "Nephrite."
   He stiffened at the sound of his name, said by *that* voice, *her*
voice.  He forced himself to relax and slowly turned to look behind
him.  He looked at her standing slightly in the gray stone archway
that led into the Gardens.  Her hair was down for once, tumbling
about her shoulders in rich dark waves.  Her stance was uncertain but
her eyes were clear and calm.
   "Mako," he said softly.  It seemed like a millennium since he had
last spoken her name or had even dared to think it.
   She walked forward slowly, one hesitant step at a time, as though
fearing to get too close, too soon.  She stopped a foot away from him
and simply gazed at him.
   They did not speak.
   Finally, Nephrite turned away, gazing up at the stars that looked
so different, so very different than they had on Earth.
   "I was wrong," she said in a voice void of emotion.
   Again he stiffened, but this time he could not relax as he
replied, his throat choked with emotion, his eyes shut against the
pricking feel of his tears, "No.  You were right."

   Makoto felt her throat thickening and tears forming as he said
that.  <Goddess, I'm too late!  I pushed him away, and now that I
want him back, it's too late!>
   "Why, did you decide that, all of a sudden?" she asked, her voice
deceptively calm.  Inside, she was screaming.
   "I was in love, once," he replied.  "It was several years ago, but
I have never forgotten it, or her.  She was very special to me.  She
was the only daughter of a good friend of my mother's.  As she grew
up, I had been like a big brother to her, but when she was grown, she
began to see me as something else, and truth be told, I saw her as
more than a little sister as well.
   "Somehow, we found that we loved one another, and nothing could
have been sweeter . . . that is, until I was called away . . . by
duty."
   "Duty?" Makoto asked, her throat dry.  "What duty?"
   "At the moment of my birth, it had been foreseen that it was my lot
in life to serve the Prince of Earth, Endymion.  There are four of
us, Guardians as you are, who have been chosen to protect our prince.
When I was born, Endymion had not yet been conceived, but as I said
before, it had been foreseen.  I was a prince as well, eldest son of a
monarch who ruled one of the four kingdoms that made up Endymion's.
My realm was the Realm of Stars, the Realm of Strength.  And so, I
was chosen.
   "However, though I was of the order, and I was one of Endymion's
protectors, I had never been called upon to serve him until . . .  My
love and I had planned to marry.  Can you believe that?  I was to
marry her.  Nevertheless, before we could wed, I was called away to
take up my duty as his protector.
   "I went.  I could do nothing else.  My love wept as I left.  I
promised her that I would return, that we would be together.  That
was a promise that I was not to keep.  As soon as I met my prince and
the others, I realized that it was my *duty* to protect him.  Nothing
could stand in the way of that.
  "I, like the others, have devoted my life to serving my prince.  He
is first in my life and always will be.  That is why I had to let
Naru go.  She deserved, as you do, Mako-chan, to be loved
unconditionally.  Umino, her childhood friend, loved her with all of
his heart and she learned to love him as well.  They can be happy.
We can't be . . . not together."  He looked away from her.
   "Idiot," she whispered, stroking the side of his face and turning
his face to her, "the two of us, we are the same.  I, too, have
devoted my life to another.  I will serve my princess now and
forever.  *She* is first in my life, as much as your prince is to
you.  I understand, as nearly no one else could, what you are
feeling."
   "Mako" Nephrite began, but Makoto gently placed a finger on his
lips to silence him.
   "And I know, too," she whispered softly, her eyes shining, "that
neither of us will ever be happy apart.  Because we each understand
the other, we can be together.  We can love each other.  And I do.  I
love you, Nephrite."
   She bent her head and kissed him, softly, lingeringly, lovingly,
and without even realizing it, he found himself returning the kiss.
When they finally separated, they stood a little ways apart,
Nephrite's hands on Makoto's shoulders, as she stared up at him, eyes
filled with love.  Looking into Makoto's eyes, Nephrite felt the
truth of her words, and the strength of his love for her and he said,
his heart full, "I do love you, Mako-chan.  I love you, too."
   She smiled as he drew her to him, and as their lips met again, he
felt the singing of the stars.

*The next day*

   Minako stared at her hands.  She had let him be killed.  She had
let him be killed not because he had plotted against the Queen and
Princess, not because he had chosen another over her, and not because
he had trusted her so much and so littletelling her his plans, but
hiding his lover from herbut because she loved him and no matter how
much he pretended, he hadn't loved her.  So in one lightning quick
haze of scorned love and rage, that one instant of indecision, she
had let him be killed.  She saw again his broken body, being torn
into pieces, the blood-red eyes of the youma glaring balefully out at
her from where it crouched over the body of her beloved.  She closed
her eyes tight against the memory. <I killed him with my indecision
as surely as if I killed him with these hands.  I killed him.>  Her
eyes snapped open.  <I killed him because *I* was a fool for
believing in him!>
   She stared dry-eyed at her hands.  <Now, neither he or Onee-chan
can be happy.  Everyone's just as miserable as I am, and I don't feel
any better.  I feel worse.>  She remembered her Onee-chan's scream of
anguish as she learned of his fate.  Then she had plunged a dagger
into her own heart, so that she might join her lover in death.
Sailor Venus had just stared, horror-stricken at this second horror
and had screamed in despair.  Despair that she could not kill herself
and join them.  She had a duty more important.
   She leaned her head back against the rough stone.  <I didn't have
to kill him, even to protect the princess.>  She knew perfectly well
in her heart of hearts that he would never have gone through with it,
and knowing hurt.

   "Are you all right?" a rough voice asked.
   Minako started.  "What?" she asked her hands.  Then she looked up
and saw Kunzite.  <How did he get there without my noticing?!  I must
be getting soft!>
   "I said," he repeated gently, sitting down next to her, as she
inched further away, "are you all right?"
   "Yes, I'm fine."
   "Are you quite sure, Princess Serenity?"
   "Yes," she replied, getting to her feet.  "Thank you for your
concern, Prince Endymion.  Now, I must be going, I had not realized
how late it had gotten.  I have duties that I must attend to."
   "Of course," he replied smoothly, bowing as she swept by with a
swish of her skirts.  When she had passed, he straightened and looked
after her.  <Late?  It's only seven in the morning!>

   Kunzite resigned himself to another long session with Queen
Serenity.  The "diplomatic" meetings were taking a lot out of him.
This time, he did not even have the others with him.  He had tried to
gather them all together, but they had all ignored his summons and he
had seen them walking around like lovesick idiots, arm in arm with
the Senshi.
   Well, at least his prince had found what he was seeking.  That had
been the whole reason for the visit and the ruse in which Kunzite
pretended to be Endymion to protect him and allow him time to find
the girl.  He *had* found the girl that he was looking for and she
was indeed lovely.  Kunzite could not fault him.  Endymion had the
right to fall in love.  The others though . . .  Oh, the fools!  What
did they think they were doing?  They had a duty to perform!  They
had no time to be off whispering romantic nonsense in the ears of the
girl-warriors of the Moon Kingdom.
   "Is something troubling you, Prince Endymion?" a soft voice asked.
   He looked up, startled to see Queen Serenity staring at him with a
peculiar expression on her face.  "Uh, no, no, Your Highness.  Just
lost in thought, I suppose.  Your kingdom really is quite lovely," he
said, skillfully changing the subject.
   He could tell that he had not fooled Serenity at all, but she
played along saying, "I'm glad that you think so.  It took a lot of
time and energy to make it as beautiful as it is now.  Still, it is
not Earth."
   Kunzite thought that he detected a note of wistfulness in her
voice.   "You have been to Earth?"
   She outright laughed.  "Of course I have been to your Earth."  She
sobered, wiping the tears of laughter from her eyes and saying in a
quiet voice, "You see, it is my Earth as well.  Once, a very long
time ago, I lived there as well.  In fact, I was Queen of it.  Yes, a
very long time ago," she said, her eyes getting a far away
expression.
   "Mother, perhaps we should get back to the point?" the princess
asked plaintively.
   Kunzite's attention shifted to the princess as the Queen
responded, "Of course, dear.  Forgive me."
   "*Me* forgive *you*?" the princess sounded incredulous.
   Kunzite managed to catch her eye and she flashed him a coy look as
he winked at her (completely against protocol).  She smothered a
giggle.
   Kunzite was rather surprised at himself.  He *never* went against
the rules.  Not even a little.  Well, maybe a little.  But to wink at
the princess of a foreign land?  Whatever had possessed him?  Still,
something about the girl had attracted his interest.  She could seem
so happy and cheerful one moment, but this morning, she had seemed so
sad.  Her sadness drew him as readily as her laughter.  He wanted her
to laugh, to forget that sadness existed.  What was she doing to him?
   She smiled at him, and forgetting himself, he smiled back.  It was
at that moment that he tossed all of his other concerns aside as a
new feeling, warm and bright, bubbled up inside of him.  Kunzite, the
most hard-hearted of the four Guardians, was falling in love . . .
with the Princess of the Moon.  And he swore to himself that she
*would* love him in return.

   Minako stared at Kunzite.  <There's something about him.  About
his eyes . . . the way he looks at me.  No, stop!  You can't have
feelings for him!  You can't!> she yelled at herself.  <You're
supposed to be the Princess!  He's the Prince of Earth, if you have a
relationship with him . . . where will it lead?  You're not *really*
the Princess!>   Looking up at him though, she couldn't help but feel
the long silent emotion stirring in her heart.  <Oh, Selene!>

   As they were leaving the conference room that day, he caught her
hand and drew her aside, whispering softly to her as she paused, "I
wish to speak with you later.  Will you meet me in the Gardens?"
   "No," she whispered back, but before Kunzite's heart could begin
breaking, she continued, "By the Fountains."  Then she was gone, but
it didn't matter to Kunzite because she had agreed to meet him!  His
heart skipped a beat, before he brought himself under control.  <Calm
down.  You're acting like a child,> he chided himself, then broke
into a grin anyway.  He started whistling and strode out the door,
completely missing the flash of two blue eyes who had been observing
the scene intently.
   Artemis glared at the Guardian, then slipped out the way he had
come in.  <Luna was right, those Earthers are nothing but trouble.>

*Later that afternoon*

   Kunzite strode over to the largest of the fountains, presumably to
look at the fascinating display of sparkling water.  He ignored the
couples that strode about arm in arm, including his own men and the
Senshi, who bolted for cover when they caught sight of him.  He
rolled his eyes.  <Like that would help.>  He would really have to
have a talk with them, later.
   Princess Serenity was waiting for him as she had promised, her
back to the fountain, gazing out at the sky.
   "Princess Serenity," he said without preamble.
   He had expected her to start in surprise as other women would do,
for she was surely not aware of his presence, but she simply raised
her left arm and pointed at the blue sky.  "Look, isn't it pretty?"
She didn't look his way.
   Kunzite looked up and saw that she was pointing at a cluster of
white clouds near the horizon.  He supposed it did look nice and said
so.
   "They're simply clouds," she said absently, "but if this whole
world had not been created through magic, there would be nothing but
barren rock and the night sky.  Sometimes, I wonder what it'd be like
to set foot on a *real* world, a normal world.  Not one molded to fit
someone's fantasies, but one that was simply made to be what it is.
No more, no less."
   Kunzite gazed back at the sky.  <The whole world created by magic?
All this, the trees, the plants, the animals, the splendor all about
him?>
   "Oh yes," the Princess said, "its all created by magic.  Every
last bit of it."
   Before Kunzite could wonder if she had read his mind, she glanced
at him from the corner of her eye.  "Why did you ask me here?  And be
quiet about answering . . . it's inappropriate for me to associate
with you alone."
   Kunzite opened his mouth to ask about the freedom of the Senshi,
then shut it again.  Of course the Senshi would have more freedom
than their princess!
   She looked at him, amused, her long golden hair cascading down
past her waist, and shining like the sun as she said flippantly,
"You look like a fish when you do that."
   Immediately, he felt rather offended, but his anger faded as he
realized the humor in the situation and he began to laugh, low
rolling chuckles of amusement.
   "SHHH!" she said desperately, glancing around at the passerbyers
who stopped to stare and whisper a giggled comment to one another.

   Minako found her temper rising and she began to stalk off,
contemplating going to the practice ring and demolishing a couple of
targets.  Prince Endymion caught her wrist, his gray eyes sparkling
in amusement and pleading with her as he said, all humor carefully
wiped from his voice, "Please stay."
   "I can't," she said shortly, turning away again.
   "Please?" he asked.
   She stood there, her wrist beginning to burn from the feel of his
hand around it, and she wanted to do nothing more than to give into
her impulse to turn back to him and kiss him.  But she knew that she
couldn't.  <I am the Princess,> she reminded herself, <and I must
break this off as quickly as possible.>  "Let me go," she said
quietly, putting as much steel into her voice as she could.
   He dropped his hand and pulled away from her, sighing.  "I'm
sorry.  I didn't mean to offend you, Your Highness.  It's just . . .
I haven't had a good laugh in ages."
   Minako felt a blush creeping across her face.  <This is too much!
Stop it!>  "I'm sorry," she said shortly.
   She saw the Prince shut his eyes and wince in pain, from the
corner of her eye.  <Oooo, Goddess!>
   "So'm I," he said in an emotionless voice.  Then, "May I see you
again?"
   "You may see me whenever you like.  I am often about in public."
   "May I see you alone again?"
   Unable to resist, Minako uttered the tantalizing, "Perhaps," then
fled as fast as she could for the safety of the Palace.
   "Perhaps," repeated Kunzite with a rare smile on his face.
"Perhaps, indeed."

   The Guardians gazed out of the brush at him in amazement.
Nephrite and Zoisite exchanged a look while Jadeite simply gaped.
Then all three of them turned to each other and said, "Kunzie's
*interested* in somebody?!!!"  Then each clapped a hand over the
other's mouth, peering over the brush to make sure that he hadn't
heard.  He hadn't.
   "Can we go now?"
   "Are you three done playing spy?"
   "Is this the way you like to spend your free time?" three
impatient-sounding female voices asked, and the three Guardians
turned to see their three Senshi gazing at them with annoyed
expressions on their faces.
   The Guardians gulped, then submitted themselves to being dragged
to their feet by the women they loved and hauled off to wherever they
were taking them.

   Princess Serenity giggled as she watched the three couples go.
Endymion, who was standing right behind her so she could lean on his
shoulder, couldn't help but wonder why she looked so mischievous all
of a sudden.  "What's going on, Usako?"
   "Ooo, Rei-chan looked SO mad!"
   "So?"
   "Do you know where they're heading, Mamo-chan?"
   "Where, Usako?"
   "My guess would be the pools.  They're the only things over
there."
   "Ah," Endymion said, catching on.  "I take it several "someones"
are going to get a dunking?"
   "Ami-chan's favorite form of torture.  It's her week to devise
torture, anyway."
   "There's a schedule?" Endymion asked, apprehensively.
   "That's right," Serenity replied, turning to face him, "and you
better not make me mad.  My torture's the worst."
   "Is that so?" he asked, moving his lips closer to hers.
   "Mmm-hmmm," she murmured as their lips touched . . .
    . . . then there was the sound of three gigantic splashes and a
couple of loud, "YEOWS!!!"
   Serenity and Endymion exchanged a look and burst into laughter.

*Later that evening*

   Minako sat at the desk in her quarters, staring dismally out the
window located over her desk, as the curtains around it blew in the
cool night breeze.
   A soft footstep sounded in the doorway behind her.
   Long white hair swung softly in the breeze as the curtains
fluttered still more, and without turning Minako knew who it was.
   "Did anyone ever tell you that you have green eyes like a cat?"
   Artemis smirked.  "All the time."
   "Do you think you're related?" she asked and Artemis knew who she
meant.
   He sniffed.  "Not likely.  Your people and mine don't mix.
Often," he added as an afterthought.
   "Why ever not, Artemis?" she asked lightly, trying to keep the
conversation from becoming too serious.  She did not want to talk
about *him* and yet she did.  One thing was certain, she did *not*
want to hear what Artemis would have to say about him.
   Artemis frowned, missing his whiskers in his human form.  "You
know why not.  It is inconvenient.  But this is not what we are here
to talk about."
   "I don't know what you mean, Artemis.  This is *my* room and I was
just about to go to bed, *not* to talk about anything."
   "Meana!"
   She flinched at his use of that old nickname and the peculiar way
that he said it that made her know that he was saying "Meana" and not
"Mina".  "I told you not to call me that."
   "The Senshi do."
   "But they're saying it as Mina, and they *never* say it when I'm
around.  I am Venus."
   "But you're not.  You're Minako.  Well, Serenity for awhile, but
for right now, you're Meana."
   "Artemis!"
   "Remember, you may be the leader of the Senshi but I am one of the
Queen's advisors and I *trained* you.  I still outrank you, and I
always will.  So if I say you're Meana, then you are.  Regardless,
your clever ploy to get me off-topic is not working.  Talk."
   "Can I refuse?"
   "Me"
   "All right, all right.  What do you want me to say?"
   "Prince Endymion.  What do you feel for him?"
   She felt tempted to reply that it was none of his business, but
she knew that she couldn't.  "He's an *interesting* man."
   "Meaning that you're interested."
   Minako sighed.  <I shouldn't be so attracted to him.>
   "Be careful, Sailor Venus.  He's hiding things from you."
   "Aren't we all?" she asked, again interjecting that light tone
into her voice.  "Don't worry, I'll watch my back.  You have nothing
to fear."
   "If only I could be so sure," he said, morphing back into a cat in
one swift motion.  "Remember, Venus, we're all counting on you."  He
shot her a sharp look, then gracefully leapt out her window.
   "I won't forget," she whispered to herself.
   Then she laid her head down on the desk and cried herself to
sleep.

*The next morning*

   Minako walked about the Gardens, still in her princess dress,
still pretending to be Serenity.  She twisted her hands nervously as
she walked, her gaze downcast.  <Artemis told me to stay away from
him, and I should . . . or else, *it* could happen, again.  Forgive
me,> she thought quietly to herself, her heart twisting in her chest.
<Forgive me.>
   She stopped and knelt by a pretty bluish flower growing along the
path.  <Wildflower,> she thought immediately, then her gaze was
arrested by the sight of it.  <Her favorite flower.  Oh, Goddess, it
only grows at the time of year when they . . . when they . . .>  She
quickly calculated the date in her head, then let out a tiny
despairing cry.  <It's been four years, already?!  For years with
them . . . without *him*.  Selene, *why* did it have to happen?>  She
slowly got her feet, and sat down on a nearby out of the way stone
bench.
   She placed her face in her hands and expected to start weeping any
instant, but the tears wouldn't come.  <I've cried too much,> she
thought, lifelessly.  <I can't cry anymore.  Why can't I cry for
them?!>
   A hand touched her gently on the shoulder, and a low, concerned
voice asked, "Are you all right, Princess?"
   She turned to look at him, torment and despair warring in her
eyes.  "No, I'm not."
   Kunzite looked at her steadily and again the feeling rose up in
him, the ache in his chest, the *need* to protect her and be there
for her.  <Why do I feel like this?>
   She looked away from him, her hair falling forward as she stared
at her hands in her lap.  "Do you know what it's like to see someone
die and *know* that you could have stopped it?" she murmured quietly.
   Kunzite said nothing, he simply sat down next to her on the bench.
   "I wish I could forget.  Oh stars, I wish I could forget!  But I
can't.  I can't."  The last came out in no more than a whisper.
   Kunzite hesitantly put his arm around her and said, "I am a
General as well as a Guardian and a prince.  I am also a human being
and I understand what you are feeling.  I know that some things can
never be forgotten no matter how you try.  People die, Princess
Serenity, and there's nothing that will ever lessen the feeling of
loss, but that's just the way life is.  You have to hurt to feel
better, and sometimes, you just have to let go of the pain."  Saying
these words, Kunzite realized that he had, finally, let go of the
pain from his past.  And it was because of . . . her.
   She looked up at him, her eyes oddly trusting.  "You understand.
You do.  I-Thank you.  You've helped me."
   Unable to break his gaze, he responded in a voice thick with
suppressed emotion, "Thank you, my lady.  Anything . . . anything for
you, Princess Serenity."
   She knew that he meant it.  They found each other pulled closer
and closer together . . . and then their lips met and Minako shut her
eyes tightly, losing herself in the sweetness of their kiss.  Their
hearts were full.

   She only wished that the name on his lips was hers.

*Later that afternoon*

   "WHAT?!" Princess Serenity cried out jumping to her feet.
   The others nodded their assent to what Rei had just said.  Minako
hung in the back of the group, smiling a little as she touched a hand
to her lips without the others noticing.
   "There's really going to be a ball *TONIGHT*?!!!" Serenity
exclaimed, grabbing Rei by the shoulders.
   "Yes, now GET OFF OF ME, SERE!!!" Rei shouted back, her temper
flaring.
   Serenity didn't hear her.  She did remove her hands, though, but
only to clasp them together in excitement, her eyes shining.  "A ball
. . .  There hasn't been one in ages!"
   Makoto smiled, "Sere, there was one last month."
   "Oh, that doesn't matter!  Who cares about that one?  The point is
. . . there's a ball TONIGHT!"
   Ami looked at her princess in amusement. "Of course there is.
It's the only polite thing to do when ambassadors from another world
come.  It *is* in honor of the Terrans, you know."
   Serenity turned to her, her face alight, then suddenly said, "Huh
Ami, did you say something?"
   The others face-faulted in disbelief.
   "Sere, don't you listen to anything?!" Rei asked, annoyed.
   "Of course I do!  There's-"
   "We know, we know," Rei interrupted acidly, "a ball-"
   "-in honor of the Terran ambassadors," Ami continued.
   "-tonight," Makoto finished.
   "Tonight," Minako repeated slowly, the word tasting strange on her
tongue.
   The five girls exchanged a look then suddenly screaming broke out!
   "Omigosh . . . tonight!" Minako shrieked.
   "We'll never be ready in time!"
   "Aaaah!"
   Several loud crashes resounded from the Princess's quarters.

   Jadeite and Nephrite, who were passing by, exchanged an
exasperated look and shook their heads.
   "Just ignore them," Jadeite said.
   "That's what I was planning on doing," Nephrite responded.

*Later that evening*

   Princess Serenity and her Senshi had managed to dress adequately
for the ball.  Serenity was more nervous than she should have been
since she was *not* expected to be *the* Princess tonight, merely a
minor Lady.  That was always the case when potentially hostile
ambassadors came to visit.  The Senshi insisted that it was for her
safety and the Moon Princess could not argue the point.  So Minako
*became* Serenity for the duration and the real princess faded into
the background.  No one noticed as Minako and Serenity did bear such
a close resemblance that they might have passed for sisters.  A
little illusionary magic didn't hurt matters either.
   Serenity enjoyed the playacting since as a relative "nobody" she
did not have to be as stiff and formal as she usually did and her
mother could not keep as close an eye on her and her activities.
Thus, she usually did not care about how others viewed her as much,
but tonight it was different.  Tonight, Mamoru would be there as
well.  Serenity nervously brushed imaginary dust off of the skirt of
her dress as her Senshi reassured her that she looked lovely.
   Ami was dressed in a lovely sky blue dress and Princess Serenity
was amazed that she had even attended.  The Princess Mercury rarely
attended any balls, preferring to study or continue her research.
Serenity didn't even know whether she could dance.
   Makoto was wearing a rather (in Serenity's opinion) low-necked
emerald-colored dress, that brought out the sparkle in her green
eyes.  It was no surprise to the princess that the Princess Jupiter
was attending since she had never, in Serenity's memory, missed a
single one of the balls or celebrations on the moon.
   Rei was attired in a red dress that brought out the purplish
highlights in her hair.  The Princess Mars looked ravishing in her
gown but to Serenity's eyes, she was just as nervous as Serenity
herself.  Rei flashed a smile Serenity's way, the worry in her eyes
fading a little.  Serenity smiled back, then turned her attention to
the last member of the group.
   Minako outshone everyone else, save Serenity herself, in the white
and gold dress she wore.  The Princess Venus had chosen something out
of Serenity's own closet (with her permission) to wear, and Serenity
enviously admitted to herself that it looked better on Minako.  It
was mostly white with gold embroidery along the hem of the skirt and
on the short sleeves.  She looked the least happy of them all to be
there, though.
   Princess Serenity nodded to the others, then she nodded at the
doormen.  The doors of the ballroom swung open for the five
princesses.  Minako entered in the lead, flanked by Rei, Ami, and
Makoto.  Serenity trailed several feet behind.  As they entered, they
were all assailed by the obnoxious fanfare of trumpets and the
bellowing of their names and titles, all save Serenity, who was
mentioned as a Lady of the Court and no more.  She didn't care at all
as she caught sight of Endymion.

   Princess Serenity made an angelically beautiful vision as she
stepped into the doorway.  The light fell on her in such a way that
it seemed to make a golden halo of her hair, and it made the white
color of her dress blaze into being.  Her blue eyes were shining
softly with her love for Endymion as her eyes alighted upon him from
across the room.
   He caught his breath as he gazed at her, the sweetness of the
smile on her face, the open adoration in her eyes.  She had never
looked so beautiful to him as when he saw her there, and to him, she
was lovelier then any of the others in the room, the world.
   He strode up to her and bowed over her hand, kissing it gently.
"My lady, may I have this dance?"
   She flushed prettily and curtsying elegantly to him, responded
with a soft, "Yes, yes you may."
   Endymion and Serenity both straightened and he drew her onto the
dance floor, a smile of pure joy on her face.

   The Senshi watched their princess dance with her prince in a
mixture of envy and misgiving.  They had earlier come to accept that
their princess cared for this particular "Guardian" as much as they
cared for theirs.  Once they had begun associating with their
Guardians, they could not help but notice how much time their
princess was spending with the man known as "Mamoru."  Venus had
seemed to know something but had refused to comment.
   As they were all in relationships with Earthers themselves, they
could not possibly refuse their princess, and when they saw how much
happier she seemed with him, they could not say anything at all.  So
they stood near the entrance to the ballroom, watching her dance with
him.
   "May I have this dance?" a voice asked, interrupting their
thoughts and the four women turned to see a blonde-haired man bowing
to the Lady Mars.  Three other men, were ranged behind him.
   Rei smiled at Jadeite, and with a whispered, "Stop that, you
idiot," she took his hand and walked onto the dance floor.  One by
one the other men claimed their ladies for the dances until only
Kunzite and Minako were left.
   "Would you care to dance?" Kunzite asked, as he and Minako gazed
out at all of the other couples dancing.
   "It *is* customary for the Princess to be asked *first* and *not*
last, Prince Endymion," Minako chided gently.
   "Still, I think it is even less customary for the Princess to
refuse," Kunzite said smoothly, still looking out at the couples.
   Minako gazed wistfully out at all of the other Senshi dancing, and
the lords and ladies as well.  <They sure *look* like they're having
fun.>  "C'mon," she said determinedly, grabbing his hand, "we're
wasting time."
   He followed willingly and before he knew it, they had danced three
dances straight.

   Queen Serenity frowned as she watched the couples dance, then she
turned to Luna who rested at her side.  "Who *is* that young man that
Serenity has danced with non-stop, Luna?"
   Luna twitched her tail in slight agitation, "*That*, Your
Highness, is Prince Endymion's Guardian Mamoru."  <They're dancing
too close for my liking!> Luna thought disapprovingly to herself.
   "Hmmm, Luna, keep an eye on them, all right?"
   "Huh?" Luna asked, turning to Serenity.  "Aren't we *already*-"
   "I meant a *closer* eye on them."
   Serenity gestured to the dance floor and Luna backed away.  "Oh
no, you're *not* getting me to dance!"
   "Luna," Serenity said in a firm tone, "I am your Queen."
   "But-but Your Highness, I-"
   "Don't have a partner," Artemis interrupted breezily, as he walked
to them.  He was in his human form, dressed in his traditional white
suit.  He wore his crescent moon medallion of state and his green
eyes sparkled devilishly.
   Luna had to admit that he looked quite dashing.  <But he's *still*
not getting me to dance!>
   Sensing Luna's frame of mind, the Queen shot Artemis a glance and
thought, <<Dance,>> at him, then turned about and left.
   Artemis broke into a grin and looked down at the cat sitting in
front of him.  "Now, don't be ridiculous, Luna.  You don't want Queen
Serenity to *order* you to dance."
   Luna sighed, then gave up.  With a flash of light she turned into
a dark-haired, long-legged, human woman, dressed in a black and
yellow dress, also wearing her crescent moon medallion of state.  <If
I must, I must.>
   "You must," Artemis said, grinning wider.
   "Don't read my thoughts!" Luna snapped, then reluctantly took his
hands and began to dance.

   Zoisite lead Ami in the dance.  "You dance very well for someone
who hasn't danced before," he commented.
   Ami bit her lip to keep from grinning, which would have been
*most* unlady-like.  "You're a very good teacher, and you lead well."
   "Do I?" he said, gazing intently at her.
   "You do."  She smiled.

   Jadeite winced as Rei's sharp heel dug into his foot.
   "Oh Jade, I'm sorry!" she said immediately.
   "It's all right, Rei," he replied, trying not to groan.  <Maybe
she should take lessons.>
   "I'm not very good at dancing," she admitted.
   "Yeah well, you have other talents that more than make up for it,"
he countered.
   Her eyes twinkled with mischief.  "I do, don't I?"
   Jadeite merely winked at her in reply.

   Nephrite and Makoto had somehow managed to dance out onto a
balcony.  It was deserted but for them and as they swayed to the
music, Nephrite began to lead her in a different dance.
   "We're not dancing to the music," she noted.
   "Yes, we are.  The music of the stars.  Can you hear it?"
   Makoto cocked her head to listen and slowly . . . slowly . . . she
heard the soft strains of celestial music.  "Oh, I hear it!"
   "Good," he said, kissing her forehead.  "Let's just dance to that
melody, shall we?"
   "It's lovely," she whispered.  "Let's."

   Kunzite and Minako danced slowly together.  She was dancing with
unconscious grace.  Whenever she pretended to be Serenity, she seemed
to adopt all of her mannerisms unconsciously.  Minako just hoped that
she wouldn't start falling on her face.
   "Would you like to stop?" Kunzite asked.
   "You're not quitting on me so soon, are you?"  She felt
disappointment lance through her.
   "Not as long as you avoid stepping on my foot."
   "Deal!" Minako said, and cautiously avoided getting anywhere near
his feet for the next several hours.

   As the evening wore on, Serenity and Endymion continued to dance
unceasingly.  The others were all taking a break, and had gathered in
a corner of the room, goblets of wine in their hands as they gazed
out at the other couples.
   Minako couldn't help but giggle and the others turned to her in
surprise.
   <She had better *not* be drunk,> Rei thought sourly, then broke
into a smile as she felt Jadeite rest his arm about her and she
settled into the crook of his arm.
   "What's so funny, Princess?" Ami asked.
   Minako gestured out at the dance floor.  "Oh nothing, just that
Luna and Artemis haven't stopped dancing yet."
   "Luna?" Makoto asked, stifling a yawn.  "You've got to be kidding.
Luna never dances."
   "Well, she is now, and it doesn't look like she has any plans of
stopping!"
   The other Senshi gaped as they saw it was true.
   "No way," Rei exclaimed.  "I must be seeing things."  She put down
her wine abruptly.  "Jade let's dance the effect of the wine off."
   He shrugged.  "All right."
   The others snickered in amusement.

   Luna let Artemis lead, resting her head on his shoulder.  <I
really should be keeping a closer eye on the Princess . . .  But who
knew lazy old Artemis could dance so well?  I'm actually having fun,>
she admitted to herself.
   Artemis hid a smirk.  <Ah, here I am dancing at an elegant ball, a
beautiful lady on my arm.  What could be better?  Who knew bossy old
Luna could actually lighten up and have a good time?  I'll have to
thank Queen Serenity.
   <Hmmm . . . we really should be keeping a closer eye on the
Princess . . . both of them.  I don't trust that Prince Endymion or
that Mamoru guy.  Something just seems a little odd about them.
Well, one more dance, then we'll go see what they're doing.>

   Queen Serenity looked at the dancing couples and sighed in
contentment.  Everyone was having a good time.  She shot several
looks at the Senshi who had the decency to look guilty.  Some people
could have *too* good of a time.  She alleviated their fears by
smiling benignly at them.  Everyone deserved the chance to cut loose
once in a while.
   Her attention turned to the Princess Serenity, the *real* Princess
Serenity.  She was still dancing with that so-called "Mamoru".
Something struck her as odd about him, as though they had met before
. . .  She looked over at the rest of the Guardians and Prince
Endymion.  There was something out of place with all of them.
Something that she should know . . .  She dismissed the thought for
the evening and promised herself that she would think of it later.
Right now, it was almost midnight and time for the ball to end.
   She was quite glad that everyone had enjoyed themselves.

*Five days later*

   Princess Serenity sighed in pleasure.  She and her "Mamo-chan"
were walking arm and arm through the Royal Gardens for what must have
been the fiftieth time since he had arrived on the moon.  They never
tired of looking at the elegant beauty of the flowers, and Serenity
had surprised him with her knowledge of their names.  She had
especially pointed out the Forget-me-not, which she had informed the
amused young man, meant "true love".  He had good-naturedly informed
her that he would *never* forget her and that his love was very
*very* true.
   She smiled at the memory of the kiss.  Ah, this life was so sweet.
She wished that she could stay forever as a nobody and spend every
waking moment with her love.  That would make her life perfect.  She
suppressed the twinge of guilt that hit her as she thought of how she
had *still* not told Mamoru the truth.  But . . . he seemed so happy,
just the way things were.  She didn't want to change anything.
   The Senshi seemed happy too.  The other men that Mamoru had
arrived with had seemed to take to them instantly, and vice versa.
It was almost as if they had all met somewhere before . . .  Serenity
didn't dwell on it.  The fact that everyone was content was enough
for her.
   The past few days had passed in a flurry of picnics, outings,
tours of the City of Selene, the capital city on the Moon, and
various other antics.
   Serenity hid another smile at the memory of when Jadeite had
gotten it into his head to serenade his love at two o'clock in the
Lunar morning.  It had been very sweet and romantic and his voice had
been pleasing, but Rei had *not* been pleased at being woken up and
had promptly thrown a shoe at him.
   There was also the time when Zoisite had decided to get Ami back
for his dunking and had replaced all of her volumes of literature and
science with copies of "Miscellaneous Quotes From Various Court
Jesters Throughout the Ages (While They Were Drunk)."  Needless to
say, she had also *not* been amused, and another dunking had ensued.
   Then there had been that impromptu star reading that Nephrite had
performed, unknowingly in the midst of the sporting fields.  He was
*still* nursing the bump from the ball that had hit him in the head
from behind.  Makoto had been very upset since she had been the one
who had hit the ball . . .
   Prince Endymion . . . Endymion had by far gotten into the most
trouble.  Unintentionally, of course.  He had done his best to be as
charming as possible in his (rather public, not-so-secret) pursuit of
Minako.  His surprise had been very great when no less than THREE of
the Ladies at Court had thought that he was interested in *them*.
One had sent her husband out to hunt him down, the other had hurled
insults at him, and the third had started chasing *him*.  Once
everything had gotten straightened out, everyone involved was
suitably embarrassed and Minako had locked herself in her room for an
entire afternoon and had refused to come out until Kunzite had
recited three volumes worth of love poetry in an apology.
   Serenity sighed happily and clung tighter to Endymion's arm.
Things had certainly been anything but dull since Mamoru, his fellow
Guardians, and their prince had arrived.  And she wouldn't want it
any other way.

   The malevolent dark cloud of energy that Beryl had called into
being and sent out days ago massed itself.  It send out dark tendrils
to find what the nearest source of energy.  It found it.  Instantly.
The strength of the energy called out to it . . . and it came.

   Rei gazed up at Jadeite from where she sat on his lap, her head
resting against his shoulder, on a bench in the Royal Gardens.  "I
have waited all of my life for someone to love."
   He looked back down at her, his eyes soft with his love.  He could
barely speak to say tenderly, "And have you?"
   She reached up for him and he bent down, so that she could twine
her arms around his neck, and he could put his arms around her.  He
held her for an instant, uncertain, before she replied, "Of course I
have."
   "And he is?"
   "You, Jade, only you," she whispered, her lips curving in a smile.
   He smiled, long and slow.  His hold on her turned loving as he
swept her to him so that their lips could meet.  "Do you love me?" he
murmured as he kissed her.
   "I do.  I do."
   "That's good, because I could not live without you, my Rei."
   "Ja-"  Rei pulled away, slipping off of his lap to stand.  She
looked around uneasily.
   "Rei, what is it?" Jadeite asked, concerned.
   "I have the oddest sensation that we are being watched."
   Jadeite rose to his feet, reaching for the sword sheathed at his
side.  He growled, "If it's Zoisite again, I'll-"
   "You'll what?" a voice rang out, amused.
   "Zoi," Jadeite grated out.
   Zoisite appeared in a swirl of pink cherry blossoms, Ami clinging
to him.  They dropped to the ground and stood there.  "You really are
quite amusing, you know," Zoisite said with a laugh.
   "Zoi," Jadeite said in a warning voice.
   Zoisite looked rather annoyed.  "Don't call me that."
   Rei frowned.  "And why shouldn't he?  What were you doing, spying
on us?  Aren't you two ashamed of yourselves?  Honestly, Ami!" Rei
berated the blue-haired girl.
   Ami looked rather abashed and Zoisite moved to stand in front of
her.  "Now, now, Rei, no need to get nasty.  Ami hasn't done
anything.  It was all my idea."
   "She doesn't need your protection!" Rei snapped.
   Zoisite opened his mouth to argue, but Ami put a restraining hand
on him.  "She's right, Zoisite."
   "Ami-"
   "No, she is and we had no right to be invading their privacy,
anyway."
   Rei looked a tiny bit mollified.  "At least *you*'ve realized
that.  I forgive you.  As for Zoisite here-"
   "But you were so hilarious!"
   "Zoi!" Jadeite said, angrily.
   "Oh come on, Jade.  You should have seen yourselves!"  He batted
his eyelashes and said, "Oh Jade, I love you *so* much.  Forever and
ever and ever . . ."
   "THAT'S ENOUGH!!!" Jadeite thundered, jumping on Zoisite.  Zoisite
let out a startled shriek, then the two of them began pummeling the
living daylights out of each other.  Ami and Rei exchanged a look,
and rolled their eyes.
   "Boys will be boys," Rei said caustically.
   "Yes, but will men ever grow up?" Ami asked.
   "Ow!  That's my eye you son of a-"
   "Shut up, you lily-livered pansy!  You had it coming!"
   "Who's a pansy, you wuss?!"
   As the sounds of the scuffle reached them, they both sighed.
Heavily.
   "No," Rei said in answer to Ami's question.  They sighed again.
They both walked over to the two brawling boys and Rei started to
say, "Look boys, it's time to sto-"  She never finished.

   The dark energy had found what it had been seeking.  The
dark-haired one, she shone like a beacon with her energy.  Angry
energy.  Energy that it could use.  The others, their power was great
as well, but this one . . . this one it had sensed first.  This one
it would have for its own.
   It entered her.

   Rei screamed as the dark energy enveloped her for an instant then
was absorbed into her body.  Ami could only stare in shock as her
friend was consumed.  Zoisite and Jadeite stopped brawling, Jadeite's
eyes turning instantly to his love.  "Rei, NO!"
   He leapt to his feet, Zoisite forgotten, everything forgotten, but
Rei, who needed him.  "My God, what is happening to her?!" he
shouted, staring at the dark cloud that seeped into her.  Her hair
floated up, her eyes became dark, darker, until they were nothing but
pools of darkness.
   "Ami, what's going on?!" Zoisite demanded.
   Ami whipped out her mini-computer and began typing away, though
she was already fairly certain of what had happened.  Her fingers
faltered as she hit the last button and the answer scrolled up.
"NO!" she shrieked.
   "AMI, WHAT IS IT?!!" Zoisite yelled.
   Jadeite could only stare at his Rei, but he listened as she
replied in a shaky voice, "It's negative energy.  Dark energy.  The
Dark Kingdom has returned.  It sent out a scout, seeking a vassal . .
. and it chose Rei.  Selene, help us, it chose Rei!"
   "What will happen to her?" Jadeite asked, not taking his eyes off
of Rei who had quieted down for the moment and merely stood limply in
front of them, her eyes shut.
   "It will consume her," Ami replied.  "It will destroy her soul,
binding her to the Dark Kingdom forever.  The Dark Kingdom is
relentless and it is returning and by Selene, Venus knew.  She knew.
Rei is lost to us, Jade."
   Jadeite had not moved since Ami began to speak but at her last
words he threw himself at Rei in an animal fury.  "NOOO!!!
REIIII!!!!"
   Rei's eyes snapped open and she cackled as she raised a hand and
shot out a blast of malevolent purple energy at Jadeite.  He flew
backward twenty feet and slammed into the ground with a sharp cry.
   "JADE!" Ami and Zoisite screamed.
   <<JADE!!!!!  NOOOOOOO!!!!  STOP IT!  STOP IT, YOU DEMON!>>
   The thing that had possessed Rei laughed.  It was a hollow sound.
She raised her hand again and shot out another larger blast of energy
at Ami and Zoisite.  They cried out and plummeted to the ground,
landing sprawled on either side of Jadeite.
   Zoisite reached out and touched his stone.  <<Nephrite, Kunzite,
we have need of you.>>
   Nephrite and Makoto appeared almost instantly.  They took one look
at the situation and gasped.  Rei saw them and laughed, blasting dark
energy at them.  Luckily, both of them dodged in time and both sent
out blasts of their own energy back.  Not enough to kill her, but to
stun her for a moment or two.  Rei avoided them easily and shot
back.  They began to battle each other, Jupiter pleading with her
friend, Nephrite quiet and determinedly moving to strike.
   Kunzite and Minako arrived an instant later and no one took the
time to wonder why *they* had arrived together.  They moved to
surround Rei with Nephrite and Makoto as Rei laughed insanely,
sending out more blasts of energy.
   "Jade," Ami murmured, her eyes barely opened and filled with pain.
"It's up to you.  Only you can reach her."
   "I, how?" Jadeite asked in despair, too weak to get up.
   "She cried out for you," Ami whispered.  "I heard her.  You heard
her, too.  Rei is not completely possessed.  The demon has her, but
she can be reached.  She is fighting to get free.  Help her,
Jadeite."  Ami's eyes closed as she lost her hold on consciousness.
   "Ami," Zoisite said softly, looking past Jadeite at Ami's battered
body.  His eyes focused on his fellow Guardian.  "Do you love her,
Jade?"
   "I would give up my life for Rei.  You know that.  It is the same
with you and Ami."
   "It is, it is," Zoisite said in assent.  "She needs you now, Jade.
It is up to you."
   "But HOW, DAMMIT?!"
   "You know how," Zoisite said softly, his eyes closing.  "Your
realm is Soul, Jadeite.  You can save her.  You *must* save her.  To
save us all."
   Makoto and Nephrite flew back with a blast of dark energy, Minako
and Kunzite catapulting backwards an instant later, the energy
crackling along the length of their bodies.  Their anguished cries
rent the air.
   "You must," Zoisite insisted.  "Save her.  Save us."  And then he
was silent.
   Jade stared at him for an instant, then shored up his resolve,
thinking of Rei with all of the love he felt for her.  He struggled
to his feet, stopping for a moment to look at Zoisite.  "I will, my
friend.  I will save us all."  He turned to Rei.  "Rei, my love, come
back to me!"
   Rei laughed, but was cut off mid-laugh.  She crumpled over,
holding her head.  "Jade, Jade it hurts!" she sobbed.  "Make it stop!
Make it go away!"
   "Rei," Jade said, coming closer.  <God, I hope this isn't a
trick.>  "Rei, fight it!  Fight it with me!  I'll help you."
   She looked up, her eyes dark with suffering.  "How, Jade?  How?
The pain, it won't stop!  The demon . . . I fight and fight . . . and
still it has control of me!"  She let out a shriek of pain.
"JADE!!!!"
   Jadeite took her hands in his.  "I give you my strength, Rei.  I
give you my love.  I am the Prince of the Realm of Soul.  I can save
your soul, Rei, but you must see me as I am.  Do you see me, Rei?"
   "Jade, you are Jade."
   "No, Rei, I am Phoenix."
   Rei stared up at him as his eyes began to burn with a clear blue
light.   "Phoenix?"
   "I am the Guardian Phoenix of Prince Endymion of Earth.  I am of
the Blood and I was chosen to be one of the Four Who Guard.  Soul is
my Realm and Soul is my Essence.  Your soul is Fire, Rei, as is
mine."  There was a flash of light and a Phoenix rose around him,
crimson and gold and burning with eternal fire.  Its eyes were like
jade though, green and sparkling.  It surrounded him and clothed him
with itself and his armor sparkled golden in the fire, and his hair
glittered and shone like burnished copper.  His gray cape burned and
turned a brilliant scarlet and through it all his eyes blazed with
the fire of his love for her.
   "What are you, Jade?" she asked in wonder, her pain nearly
forgotten.
   "As I said, I am Phoenix.  I am Fire.  I am Soul.  Do you see me
now, Rei, my love?"
   "Yes, Jade.  I see you."
   "Good.  Then we must drive this evil from you, Rei.  There is only
one way.  Your soul must join with mine, if you are willing.  Are you
willing?"
   "Jade, I-"  She let out a cry of pain as the dark energy within
her tried to regain control.
   "Rei!  Tell me that you are willing!  Mean it, Rei or this will
not work!  I cannot do this without your consent!  Let yourself go,
Rei!  Let yourself become one with the flame, one with the Phoenix!
Let yourself become one with me."
   Looking into his blue eyes burning with his love and concern for
her, she could refuse him nothing.  The demon needed to be destroyed.
"I-I give you my consent, Jade."
   He reached out for her hand and shut his eyes, concentrating.
Dully, she wondered why she was not burning, then remembered that
she, Sailor Mars, was the flame.  "I am the flame," she whispered.
"You are my Phoenix.  Drive away the evil from me.  Cleanse the
eternal flame."
   Jadeite opened his eyes and smiled into hers.  "I take thee into
myself, Rei.  I am the Phoenix and you are the flame.  Let yourself
become one with me and together we will be consumed by the fire and
be reborn."
   "Jade," she whimpered, as the pain overtook her, the dark energy
 fought her.  She feared for him.  What if he could not destroy it?
What if it destroyed him?  "No . . ."
   "Shhh, Rei, you must.  It is too late for doubts."  He kissed her
hand.  "I will not fail you, my love."
   Reaching out for him she let out one last cry of pain, then let
her soul reach out and join with his, the fire rising around them as
the Phoenix cried aloud, and the dark energy was burned away in the
brilliant blaze of the flame.
   "It is done."

   Queen Serenity flinched as she felt the build-up and release of
power.  "What was that?!"  She directed her question at Luna and
Artemis, but didn't bother to wait for an answer.  She knew.  <It's
Earth magic.>  This would bear some serious investigation.

   The Guardians and Senshi groggily came to.  The first thing
Kunzite saw when he opened his eyes was Jadeite's bronze eyes staring
into his own.  "Are you all right?"
   "YEEAAA!" Kunzite cried, backing away.  "Don't *DO* that, Jade!"
   "Huh, what?" Jadeite asked, confused.  Then his expression cleared
as he realized why Kunzite was so disconcerted.  "Oh, the eyes,
right?"
   Kunzite nodded vigorously.
   "What's wrong with his eyes?" Rei asked, coming up behind him.
"They may be a bit darker, but other than that, they're the same as
always.  They're a perfectly good shade of blue."
   "They're bronze," Kunzite corrected.  "You mean you don't see it?"
   "What're you talking about?"
   Kunzite turned his gaze from Jadeite to look at Rei and again his
mouth fell open in surprise before he snapped it shut.  "Uh, I guess
you wouldn't."
   "What?" Rei asked suspiciously.  "What're you looking at me like
that for?  Hey, what's the matter with me?" Rei demanded, turning to
Jadeite.
   He chuckled.  "Nothing love, you're perfectly fine."
   That's when the others woke up and the first thing Minako did when
her eyes opened was scream.  "REI, WHAT HAPPENED?!"
   "WHAT?!" Rei shouted.  "I DON'T KNOW!  SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT'S
GOING ON!!!"
   As the others were still making incoherent sputtering noises,
(even Ami) Makoto silently looked at her for a moment, then dug out a
hand mirror and handed it to Rei.  Rei took one look at herself and
promptly fainted into Jadeite's arms.  Jadeite looked helplessly at
the others.  "She's . . . uh, still getting used to it."
   When Rei finally opened her eyes, she turned first to Ami and said
weakly, "It was a dream, wasn't it, Ami?"
   "Um, no."
   Rei looked ready to faint again, but instead sat up and grabbing
Jadeite's arm, growled out, "Okay, what the HECK happened to me?!"
   "Well, you were possessed by a demon and-"
   "I *know* all that!  Get to the part where my hair and eyes turned
RED!!!"
   "You did give me permission," he said meekly.
   "What did you do to me?" Rei asked in a defeated tone of voice.
   "We are bound, Rei dearest.  As you should know by now, I am
Guardian Phoenix and fire is my power.  To save you, I had to
transform into my "advanced" state, and after we bonded our souls,
you got accelerated into an "advanced" state as well."
   "How do I get back to normal?!"
   "You've got to think yourself back to a normal state."  He
demonstrated by closing his eyes and concentrating and he felt
himself losing his golden armor and becoming ordinary Jadeite once
more.  His eyes returned to their customary blue, not that Rei
noticed, but everyone else did.
   She tried it and much to her relief found herself back to her old
self.  "I *never* want to do that again!"
   "But Rei, your powers are ten times as powerful when you are in
that form."
   "Really?" she asked, perking up.  "How do I get back?"
   "You've got to think yourself back," he replied, and again he
demonstrated.  This time Rei noted the darkening of his hair to a
fiery copper and his eyes to their bright bronze color.
   "Why didn't I notice the change in you before?!" she asked.
   "When we are both in our bound state looking at one another, or
even ourselves, the changes cannot be noted.  It's only if you see
yourself in a reflected surface that you notice the changes.  That's
just the way the magic works."  He shrugged.
   "Fascinating," Ami said, peering closely at Jadeite.
   He backed away nervously.  "Hey, the others can do it, too!"
   The other three women turned to glare at the Guardians.
   "So when do WE get our powered-up forms?!"  Makoto pinned Nephrite
with a glare.
   "What *I* want to know is why Serenity is dressed in the uniform
of a Senshi!" Kunzite's voice rang out.
   Everyone turned their gaze on Minako.
   <Ooops.>
   Rei felt like smacking herself in the head.  <Venus, you idiot!>
   "Well, I'm a Senshi too!" she declared.  "After all, I can't
depend on the *others* for my protection ALL of the time!"
   The Senshi sweat-dropped, but the Guardians seemed to buy it.
   "But, Princess Serenity, why did you shout out "Venus Power" back
in the garden?"
   Makoto looked at her incredulously.  <I don't believe it!  She
*transformed* in front of him?!  Oh, brother.>
   "Um, well you see . . . I'm kind of an *honorary* Senshi and since
the Moon isn't a planet, it doesn't have any Senshi.  Venus needed
one, though, so they accepted me."
   "Oh," the Guardians said.
   Ami calculated the odds of their buying this ridiculous story in
her head.  <Odds: One in five thousand.  That is, unless they're
incredibly dense.>
   "Well, that's okay then."
   The other Senshi looked at the Guardians in disbelief and one
thought echoed among them all.  <Incredibly dense!>
   Minako thought to herself, <Whew.  That's unbelievable.  I lie
better than I thought.>
   Now that that matter was over with, the Senshi turned back to the
Guardians.  "So how 'bout it?  Where're *our* powers?!"
   The Guardians sweat-dropped and shot Jadeite deadly looks.
   The smug smile vanished from Jadeite's face.  <Uh-oh.>

   Beryl screamed in outrage.  "They've destroyed it!  My probe, it's
gone!!!"
   "Calm down, Beryl.  Now issss not the time to be thinking of
ssssuch thingssss.  You have more important matterssss to attend to.
Esssspecially now.  Get back to work, Beryl.  The youma armies need
their orderssss . . ."
   Beryl bowed her head.  "Yes, my empress."
   She cast a satisfied look at her enormous army of minions.  "We
will destroy all that stands between us and total domination of the
universe.  First Earth, then the Moon Kingdom!  I WILL HAVE MY
REVENGE!!!  Go now, my servants, and spread the seeds of death and
destruction!"

*Later that day*

   Kunzite walked to his Prince's quarters and knocked firmly on the
door.  Endymion opened the door.  "Yes, Ku-my prince?" Endymion
asked, glancing about nervously.
   "May I enter?" Kunzite requested.
   "Do come in," Endymion said, standing aside and ushering in his
Guardian.
   Kunzite strode in and Endymion closed the door behind him.  Once
they were alone, they dropped the charade.
   "What is it, Kunzite?" Endymion asked wearily, recognizing the
troubled look on his Guardian's face.  "Have a seat."
   Kunzite ignored the proffered chair and began to pace.  Endymion
flopped into the chair himself, propping his head up on his hands,
his elbows balanced on his knees.  "What's the matter, Kunzite?"
   Kunzite glanced at his prince as though afraid to broach the
subject.  "My lord-"
   "None of that nonsense!" Endymion said absently.
   "Endymion, then," Kunzite said, "I bring ill tidings."
   "What of?" Endymion asked, immediately sitting up straight and
becoming more alert.  "Not Usagi?"
   Kunzite sighed.  "No, not your Lady, Your Highness."  <He thinks
of her before his kingdom.  That's not right!>  "It's . . . Earth."
   "Earth?"
   "The Cathals . . ."
   "They've encroached on the borders again?"
   "No, my lord prince, they have not."
   "Then what's the trouble?" Endymion asked, relieved, settling back
into his chair, one arm draped idly over the back.
   "They've . . ." Kunzite swallowed, "declared war, sir."
   "Damn!" Endymion sat bolt upright.  "Are you sure?" he asked, his
voice and blue-eyed gaze intense as he looked at Kunzite.
   "Yes, my lord."
   "How did you find out?"
   "One of my soldiers . . . sent a message."
   Endymion's eyes narrowed.  "How did he manage *that* particular
feat?"
   "I told him how to 'port a message before we left . . . in case
anything happened."
   Endymion glared at him for another moment, then the enormity of
the situation overcame him and he got to his feet.  He stared out the
window at the serene beauty outside, then asked quietly, "It makes
you wonder, doesn't it, how much better our world might have been if
we had allowed them to stay?  They've accomplished all this through
use of their magic.  They've made the moon and the other worlds into
regular paradises, calm oases in our turbulent times.  They're all
peaceful too, nary a single dissent amongst them.  It's all so unlike
Earth, the world from whence all of this was first born.  There,
people still fight and hate and kill.  Why can't we be like the
Lunars and the rest?  Why must Earth be a world of strife?  Tell me,
Kunzite, why can't we be at peace too?"
   "I don't know, my prince," Kunzite answered softly.
   "What name are the Cathal forces going by, Kunzite?"
   "The same as their allies: The Dark Kingdom."
   "Who is at their head?"
   Again Kunzite hesitated, "My prince, this is rather difficult to
believe . . ."
   "WHO?"
   "She calls herself . . . Beryl.  Queen Beryl."
   "Lady Beryl," Endymion whispered, shutting his eyes as if in pain.
   "Yes, my lord.  That is what all of the reports say."
   Endymion opened his eyes.  "Get out, Kunzite."  Then realizing
that he might have sounded rather harsh, he softened his words a
little by adding, "Tell the others.  We will be leaving soon."  As
Kunzite left the room he could hear his prince as he swore under his
breath, long and fluently.  He was still swearing when Kunzite shut
the door.

   "Where're you going?" a soft voice asked from behind him.
   Endymion stiffened from where he was packing the clothes that
Jadeite had 'ported up right after they had arrived on the Moon.
"Back home.  Back to Earth."
   "But why, Mamo-chan?!"  Princess Serenity asked, her lip
trembling.  "Don't you want to be with me anymore?"
   "You know I do," he said, continuing to pack.
   "Then why are you going?!"
   "This isn't about us, Usako!  There's a war on!  I have to go back
. . . to my kingdom, my people.  It's my duty.  You'll be fine
without me.  Let me go, Usako."
   "Don't you know that I love you?" she choked out.  "That I need
you?"
   He turned back and pulled her close to him, stroking her hair.  "I
need you, too."  He tipped up her face.  "I love you."  Then he
kissed her and it was as though all of the feelings and emotions
locked in their hearts spilled out and enveloped the other.  They
parted slowly, tears in both of their eyes.
   "I don't want to leave," he murmured, turning his head to gaze
beyond her.
   "I don't want you to!  It would be too much like my dream . . .
We're always being separated!  Why can't we ever stay together, my
prince?!"
   "My princess," he said in a low rich voice as he gazed at her
intently.  Her eyes lifted to meet his and blue swam into blue.  "It
 *is* you!" Endymion said.
  Serenity gasped and put her hands to her mouth, as she realized
what had just occurred.  She spoke the words from her dream, as she
remembered the boy's eyes.  Mamoru's eyes.  "My prince . . .  You
were the shield that protected me."
   "You were the light that guided my path.  I've found you, my
princess, and this time . . . I won't let you go!"  He took her hands
in his.  "Usako-"
   But before he could get any farther, Mercury burst into the room.
"Princess-!"  She stopped short as she saw Endymion, then plunged on.
It was too late to worry about trivial matters like that.  "Princess,
your mother has summoned you, the Senshi . . . and the Terrans to
appear in the throne room.  She is to issue a decree."  Mercury
swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, looking away from
the couple, blotting out thoughts of Zoisite.  "The summoning is . .
. urgent.  Do not delay.  The . . . the Seventh Council has
gathered."
   Serenity tried to speak, but found her throat unaccountably dry.
"The . . . the Seventh?" she managed to whisper.
   Mercury nodded, still not meeting her eyes.  "And Pluto."
   Serenity's eyes widened and she felt suddenly rather faint.  A
sense of foreboding overcame her and she took a shaky step forward.
"Thy will be done," she intoned, following as Mercury led the way out
of the room.
   Endymion caught her about the shoulders, stopping her.  "Wait, the
Seventh Council?  I don't understand."
   She stroked his cheek, and went past him, walking through the
door.  "You shall.  Come now, you were summoned as well."
   Endymion followed.

   They ran down the corridors, heedless of anyone else in their
path.  Serenity had gathered up her skirts so she could move faster
down the hallways, though Endymion had to steady her several times
before she could fall.  Mercury had gone to alert the others to their
Queen's summons.
   "Who *are* the Seventh?!" Endymion gasped out as they ran.
   "They are the Ruling Council of Planets!  Earth is not a member,
and being the head, the Moon is not permitted to join.  Pluto
declined, and only shows up in times of crisis, or when *something*
is about to happen.  Nothing good can be expected from the Council."
   "Why are they summoning *me*?"
   "As I said, nothing good can be expected from the Seventh.  Unless
they want Earth to join, which I very much doubt, then it must be
dire indeed."
   "What could be so terrible?"
   Serenity slid to a stop and straightened her skirts.  She nodded
to the doormen who opened the huge wood paneled doors and swung them
open with a bang, the light from the room spilling out.  As the
trumpets blared out the princess's arrival, she whispered in answer,
"We are about to find out."
   And that was the last thing Endymion heard before he entered the
room and the doors shut solidly behind him.

   The next thing he heard, well it *seemed* like the next thing
since the rest of the audience went by in a blur were Queen
Serenity's fateful words, "It has come to my attention that you five
are not who you say you are."  The Guardians and the Senshi had
arrived earlier in the beginnings of the audience that seemed more
like a trial to Endymion and was still hazy in his mind.
   Serenity paced on a dais, and the Seven Seventh Council members
and Pluto stood ranged behind her.  "You are Prince Endymion, are you
not?" she asked, turning to look Endymion straight in the eye.  <I
remember you now.  you were only a child when last we met.  You made
my Sere so happy, even then.>
   "Yes, Your Highness," Endymion responded and barely heard
Serenity's astonished gasp.
   "And these are your Guardians, are they not?"
   "Yes, Your Highness."
   "They are also the Four Who Guard.  Am I correct?"
   "Yes, Your Highness."
   "You *do* realize that it was long ago forbidden for the formation
of the Four to ever occur again, do you not?"
   "Yes, Your Highness."
   "The power they wield is *very* deadly, Earth Prince.  They are
also not permitted off of Earth.  Were you aware of this as well?"
   Endymion swallowed.  He had been, but he had simply shrugged it
off as an old story.  Now, though, he wished that he'd listened.
"Yes, Your Highness."
   "I am not without a heart, Endymion," she said, looking at him
briefly.  <Your men saved one of my Senshi and possibly my whole
kingdom from destruction.>  "Regardless, laws are laws and you have
violated several of the *most* sacred in the practice of magick, and
who have deceived us.  Neither I, nor any member of the Seventh, can
permit that.  Prince Endymion, I hearby banish you and your Guardians
from the Moon.  You will leave in six hours and will not been seen or
heard from again on pain of death.  Do you understand?"
   Endymion swallowed, then lifted his head high.  "Yes, Your
Highness."
   Princess Serenity stared with unbelieving eyes at the scene
unfolding in front of her.  <<Prince Endymion?  Mamo-chan?  Mother,
why are you doing this?  Why can't I be happy with the one I love?
Why can't we just be together?!>>
   "Commander Venus, I entrust the duty to you to make sure that they
are seen safely off of the moon without mishap."
   Minako was about to protest but something in her Queen's eyes, the
desperation and need for consent, stayed her words.  She bowed in
acceptance.  "Yes, my Queen."
   Kunzite stared at her in denial.  <No, no, this can't be!  She
can't have deceived me!  Serenity!>
   Minako met his eyes and they both flinched away.
   Endymion and his Guardians turned heel and strode out.

   When both Serenitys were alone in the Queen's audience chamber,
there seemed to be nothing to say.  Neither could bring herself to
speak to the other.  The sat in silence for several moments, then
Princess Serenity turned to her mother, her eyes bright with angry
tears.
   "Always alone!" she screamed at her mother, no longer caring.  "It
is what you leave us-always alone!  It is never enough for you that
whatever happiness I have is so fleeting that it disappears the
instant that I have it in my hand, you must destroy that which I have
found as well!  Oh I know, it is not a princess's duty to be happy,
the people's needs come before hers and that is all very right and
true, Mother, but when do mine come before yours?  Must I sacrifice
my happiness so that you can be content?  I am not a child any
longer.  The world cries out to me.  I can have it, Mother, in my
hand if I dared.  It is so tiny and so perfect, and yet it is flawed.
Nevertheless, I love it still.  I love it for him, Mother.  It is his
world; it is him that I love.  Love, love, that is what I feel.  You
felt it once, you knew it once, but it has left you, hasn't it?  Is
that why you cannot understand the love that I feel for him?  No.  I
see it in your eyes, you do understand.  You understand only too
well, and that is why you are keeping me from him.  All the other
reasons, they are nothing but pretenses!  You are keeping us from
each other so that I will never have to suffer as you have, but it is
too late.  I suffer when I am not near him.  I ache to feel his
touch.  I cannot bear to be parted from him.  My only wish is to be
with him.  And so Mother, you see, it is too late.  All your plans .
. . all for nothing.  It is too late," she whispered.  "It is too
late."  She turned and fled the room.
   Behind her, Queen Serenity dropped her head to her arms and wept.

   Minako and Kunzite stood facing one another.
   "You are Sailor Venus, are you not?" he asked, unconsciously using
one of the Queen's own phrases.
   "I am," she replied.  "I am Minako, Leader of the Sailor Senshi.
And you?"
   "I am Kunzite, Commander of the Earth Guardians."
   "Well," she began hesitantly, "a fine mess we've made of things."
   "How could you do this?" he asked fiercely.  "How could you lie to
me?!  I trusted you, damn you, I let myself love you!"
   "*I* did this to *you*?!" she asked, her eyes tearing.  "We did
this to each other!"
   "I can't trust you!  You're a liar!  Everything we had-It's all a
lie!  There never was any *us*!  There was nothing but lies!!!  How
could I have made myself believe that I loved you?  You're nothing,
nothing at all!  You're a bright figment of my imagination, no more!"
   "No," Minako whispered, her heart aching.  "You can't mean that!"
   "I do!  Love?  We NEVER loved each other!  I can't stand the sight
of you!!!"
   Minako burst into tears and fled from him.  <Damn you, Kunzite,
damn you all to pieces!  I loved you!  I still love you.>
   Kunzite watched her go and suddenly the magnitude of what he had
done hit him.  <Oh God, oh God.  Minako, what have I done?>

   For the others, it was nothing but tears and long good-byes.  Ami
and Zoisite, Rei and Jadeite, Makoto and Nephrite, each of them
promised that they'd be together again and that they would always
love each other . . . forever.

   Kunzite stood a dozen feet away from the edge of an overlook.  It
had taken him over an hour to track her down.  Now, he simply stared
at her back, her long golden hair softly blowing out behind her on
the breeze.  She did not move at all, but instead stared out at the
distant horizon.
   <Mina,> he thought, the name feeling right somehow.
   He saw her shoulders start to shake and couldn't stop himself from
moving forward, feeling helpless.  He came right up to her and saw
that she had her face buried in her hands and was sobbing brokenly.
"Oh Artemis!" she cried, turning to him and burying her face in his
chest.
   For an instant, he felt like correcting her, but seeing how much
she needed to be supported, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Instead, he awkwardly put an arm around her and held her as
comfortingly as he could, rocking her gently as his mother had with
him so long ago.  That too felt right.
   She cried for a long time against him, until his shirt was wet
with tears, but he didn't care.  The heart within him was breaking.
<Oh Minako, how could I do this to you?  How could I have hurt you
like this?>
   Eventually her sobbing slowed and she whispered, her eyes shut in
pain,  "Why, Artemis?  Why does it hurt so much?"
   "Mina," he said softly, anguish in his voice.
   Instantly, she knew that the man holding her was *not* Artemis.
The way he said her name, it wasn't right.  Only one person said her
name like that.  <Please Selene, no, not him,> she thought
desperately.  <Not him.>   She looked up, her eyes widening in
despair.  "You," she said quietly, pain filling her voice.
   "Mina"  He wanted to explain, apologize, anything.  He had hurt
her and he was sorry, but what could he say to her to make the hurt
go away?  What could he do that would make everything better?  He had
torn her heart out and discarded it in an instant.  Could a lifetime
make up for that type of pain?
   "You held me," she whispered.  "You hurt me and then you hold me.
Why do you do such things?"
   "I wanted . . . I wanted to hold you again, to comfort you."  <I
wanted you to stay in my arms and never leave.>
   "How dare you," she whispered, her voice low.  "How dare you!" Her
voice rose to a high-pitched shriek and she slapped him hard across
the face.  Sobbing, she ran away.  "How could you?!"
   Kunzite stood, his hand to his face, stung.  "Mina."
   Without realizing it, he started to chase her, yelling, "MINA!"
He finally caught up to her and stood in her way so that she couldn't
get by him.
   He held her fists still as she tried to hit him.  She yanked away
and started walking off.
   "Minako, wait!"
   "Why?  So you can break my heart all over again?  I thought that
you felt something for me, but I guess it was all an act.  Funny, it
was a pretty good act.  I bought it."
   "Mina, I do feel something for you."
   She laughed bitterly.  "I don't need your pity."
   "Mina, I was wrong."
   "About what?"
   "The fact that you didn't tell me the truth doesn't matter.  I
didn't tell you the truth either.  And . . . I care about you!"
   "No!  You don't know me!  You cared about *her*!  You cared about
the person I was *pretending* to be!  You don't care about me at
all."
   "You're wrong.  I do . . . care about you.  You can't change who
you are, Minako.  I didn't see Serenity when I looked at you.  I saw
*you*.  I saw you, Minako, as you really are, and *that* is who I
cared about, not any seeming that you put on."
   "That's very nice and all, but why should I care?  I don't love
you."
   Kunzite flinched at the cold words.  "All right, I understand now.
I hurt you so now you hurt me.  Is that how it goes?  Well, Minako,
you're hurting yourself a whole lot more!"
   "What the HELL do you know about anything?!  You broke my trust!
This is the second time!  How can I ever trust anyone again?  I can't
let myself feel anything.  Love is a lie."
   "No, love is the truth and we were both too scared to see it.  You
can't shut yourself out, Mina.  Life doesn't work that way.  The
world doesn't work that way.  How can you be happy if you're never
sad?  Love isn't something that you can just try and make go away.
If you stop loving, then you stop living."
   "And how do you know?" Mina asked, her voice low and hoarse.  "How
do you know?"
   "Because I stopped loving and I was dead for three years before I
met you, and then . . . I started to live again."
   Minako was silent.
   Kunzite turned to leave.  "Well, I've had my say.  Good-bye,
Minako."  He began walking away.
   "Kunzite . . . wait!" the voice rang out, the sweetest to ever
reach his ears.
   He halted.  "Yes?"  <Please,> he prayed.
   "You were wrong . . . and I was wrong.  Maybe . . . we can start
over.  I don't want our last hours together to be like this.  I want
to make this work.  I'm willing if you are."
   "Yes, Minako."
   She bounded over to him, dashing the tears from her eyes, and
looked up at him with a bright earnest smile.  Her eyes were anxious
and searching as she said.  "Hello, I'm Minako, Princess of Venus and
Commander of the Royal Guard/Sailor Senshi of the Princess Serenity.
I'm also Sailor Venus."
   Kunzite smiled down at her.  "I'm Kunzite, Prince of the Realm of
Power on Earth and Commander of the Guardians of Prince Endymion.  I
am his First General."
   They smiled at each other for a moment, then Kunzite said, "I'm
very pleased to meet you, Minako."
   "Likewise, but please . . . call me Mina-chan."
   She put her hand in his and together they walked off.

   Princess Serenity stood in the doorway to the ballroom gazing at
Endymion's back.  Idly, she wondered why she was spending so much
time standing in doorways lately.  He was standing, gazing out the
windows standing the circular pattern with its star in the center on
the floor.
   "Why did you not tell me . . . Endymion?"
   "And you, Serenity?" he asked, knowing her for who she truly was.
   "It seems we have the same reasons for everything, love, does it
not?"
   "It seems that we do."  He drew close to her and took her hands in
his, eliciting a tentative kiss from her.  "I am still who I was,
Serenity.  Are you?"
   "I am."
   "Then why do you fear me?"
   "I do not."
   "You fear my touch."
   "I crave your touch."
   "And yet you pull away," he said as she drew away from him,
walking across the room to stare out the huge glass windows.
   "I ache for your touch, for your love, but I do not know if it
will be the same.  How can we both deceive each other, and still
promise with each breath that we love each other more than anything?
What is truth and what is fiction?  We were both living a lie.  Are
we still?"
   "Would you have preferred it if you were the only one deceiving?"
he asked quietly, making no move to get near her.
   She began to pace in a wide circle around him and answered
truthfully, "Yes."
   "How is it any different from the both of us being deceivers,
Serenity?"
   "I do not know, but it is.  I would be able to trust you then."
   "But princess, if you had been the only one to utter falsehoods,
then how could I have trusted *you*?"
   She sighed.  "Stop, stop, you make my head spin."
   "Oh, I can do better than that without words."
   She stopped and glanced at him, a smile tugging at the corner of
her mouth.  "You are a rogue."
   He flourished and bowed down to her from the center of the
invisible circle her pacing had drawn about him.  "Was there ever any
doubt?"
   Serenity swept the smile from her face, and put on a studied
serious expression, though her eyes still twinkled with barely
suppressed merriment.  "Quiet, no comments from the questionee."
   "If my princess commands it," he said, mock-seriously.
   She whirled to face him, the light expression suddenly wiped from
her now dark blue eyes.  "I do," she said in a low voice.
   Endymion fell silent and Serenity resumed pacing.  "I am your
princess, and you are my prince.  You have been for my entire life.
As long as I can remember, the dream has always existed for me.
*You* have always existed for me."
   "I still do.  I exist for you, as you have always existed for me."
   "What are we, Endymion?" she asked, a tremor in her voice.  "What
is it that makes us this way?  It is as if there was never anything
for me before there was you.  You are my reason for being."
   "As you are the reason mine."
   "So what does that make us?  What are we?"
   "The Achians say that everyone is born with a soul that is split
in two at birth.  When those two people, carrying that one soul,
meet, then that is love at first sight.  You carry one half of my
soul, my princess."
   "And you carry half of mine.  That still does not explain what we
are."
   "You are my princess, that is all I need to know."
   "And here I thought that I was your guardian angel," she said
lightly.
   "And I am yours.  That's the way it was, isn't it?" Endymion asked
slowly, slightly unsure of what he was saying.  "That was the deal."
   "Deal?"
   "Deal."
   "Double deal."
   "Triple deal."
   "Quadruplet deal."
   "Quintuplet deal," they said together, softly.
   And then, as she lifted her eyes to meet his once again, a white
hot light exploded in both of their minds, and the flood gates
opened . . .

*Flash*

   The two children collided, the six-year old prince of Earth, and
the three-year old princess of the Moon.

   "OW!" Endymion yelled, rubbing his sore head.
   "Ouch," Serenity said, painfully.
   "WHY DIDN'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU WERE GOING?!!!" they both shouted.
A bird squawked in fright and flew off.
   The two children glared at each other.
   Then they burst into laughter.  When their laughing had slowed,
they both apologized and smiled at each other.

   Princess Serenity stared curiously at the older boy.  "What's your
name?"
   "I'm Endy," he said smiling.  "Who're you?"
   "I'm Sere."  She giggled.  "Do you live here?"
   "Uh-huh.  In the big palace."
   "Oh.  I live in a palace too, 'cept it's up there."  She pointed
towards the sky.
   "Up where?" Endy asked, confused.
   "On the moon, silly.  Where else?"
   "You live way up there?  Wow.  Are you an angel?"
   She giggled again.  "No, but I wish I had wings so I could fly."
She spun around and fell down, laughing.
   Endy laughed too.  "Well, I'll tell you what, Sere."
   "What?"
   "You can be my guardian angel, 'kay?"
   "'Kay.  An' you can be mine, right?"
   "Sure."
   "It's a deal."  Sere got to her feet and stuck out her hand.
   Endy took it and shook it.  "Deal."
   "Double deal," Sere said.
   "Triple deal," Endy countered, not to be outdone.
   "Uh, uh, quadruple deal."
   "Well, er, qu-qu-quin"
   "Quintuplet deal!" they shouted together and laughed.
   Then Sere turned serious all of a sudden.  "We're friends, right
Endy?"
   "'Course we are.  We promised to protect each other."
   "Good."

*Flash*

   "My memories," the princess murmured wonderingly, putting a hand
to her head.  "How could Mother take them away?"
   "My memories," the prince said in disbelief.  "How could I have
forgotten?"
   They looked at one another, and suddenly none of that mattered.
   "Sere?" he asked.
   "Endy?"
   They stared as though they had never seen each other before.
   "We promised," Endymion said quietly, "to always protect each
other."
   Serenity ran into his arms and he held her tightly.  "We did!  We
did.  I know we did."
   "Sere," he said gently, "there's a war on and I have to go.  I
have to fight."
   "I know you do, Endy, but I don't want you to go!  I couldn't bear
the thought of ever losing you."  Tears streamed from her eyes.
   "Never," he murmured into her hair.  "We'll never be apart for
good, Sere.  I'll be back, and we'll be together again."
   "Promise," she cried.
   "I do.  I promise."
   "Then it's a deal."
   "Deal."
   "Double deal."
   "Triple deal."
   "Quadruple deal."
   "Quintuplet deal!" they shouted together, then parted, laughing a
little and in the case of Serenity, crying a lot.
   Endymion looked at her with eyes too full of emotion for him to
hide any of it.  "Sere, wait for me."
   "From now till forever, I swear it!  For forever and a day!"
   A smile quirked at the corners of his lips for an instant, but it
faded quickly.  "Even ifwhen," he corrected himself, "I make it
through this war, it is still forbidden for us to be together.  A
Lunar and a Terran can't be together."
   "Don't be an idiot!  Of course we'll be together.  I don't care
what Mother or anyone else says, I'm going to be with you.  I love
you, Endy, and I always will."
   "I love you too, Sere."
   "Ahem," she said loudly.
   "What?" he asked, surprised.
   "When it's just the two of us, like now, won't you call me Usako?
*That* was always your name for me, and because of that, it's
special."
   This time he smiled a real smile.  "Only if you'll call me
Mamo-chan."
   "Deal."
   "DealWait a minute, we don't want to start this again!"
   Serenity laughed.
   "I'll miss you, Usako."
   "I'll miss you too, Mamo-chan, but we'll see each other again,
soon."

*Three months later*
*Earth Kingdom's western border*

   Endymion fell back with a look of surprise on his face, which
quickly changed to one of agonizing pain.  <Damn!  I should've seen
that one coming.> A sword protruded from his middle, buried up to the
hilt in his flesh.  "Arghhh," was the only noise he could make.
   The soldier, staring at him, smiled in apparent satisfaction that
he was dead or dying and moved forward to retrieve his sword from the
fallen.
   <Wrong move!> Endymion thought grimly, as he blasted him with the
bit of magic he was able to summon up.  He watched as the man fell,
then Endymion relaxed and waited to die.  <I wish I'd been able to
see you again, Usako.  I'm sorry I have to break our promise.>

   Princess Serenity jerked as though something had hit her in her
midsection.  She staggered to her feet and fled from the room where
she had been attending a lesson.  Luna stared after her, worried.
   Serenity ran outside of the palace, to the gardens and commanded,
"PRINCESS TELEPORT!"  In a swirl of petals and leaves, she was gone.

   Endymion stared up through the haze of battle that raged around
him.  <I wish I could get up to help them fight,> he thought, staring
at where those under his command were valiantly fighting off two or
three enemy soldiers at a time.  He struggled uselessly to pull free
the sword and get to his feet, but his weak tugging made no impact on
the blade.
   He closed his eyes to block out the sight of one of his men
falling to his death.  When he opened his eyes again, he saw the
sweetest face imaginable.  "Usako," he whispered.
   "Mamo-chan!" she cried, her face full of distress.  She was clad
in a concealing gray cloak and had he not seen her face and her blue,
blue eyes, he would not have known her.
   He struggled to speak.  "Why are you here?"
   "II felt your pain," she said kneeling next to him, though the
battle kept raging about them.
   "How did you get through the fighting?"
   "I just teleported to where I felt your presence."
   "Usako, get out of here!  It's dangerous!  This is war!"
   "I don't care!  I have to make sure you're safe."  She stared at
the sword sticking out from his torso.  "Who did this to you?"
   "It's . . . it's all right, he's dead."
   "What should I do?" she asked.
   "Pull the sword out," Endymion told her.  ". . . can't have it in
there."
   The moon princess looked at the sword and awkwardly put her hands
around the grip.  Then a determined expression came over her face and
she pulled it out in one swift move.  Endymion let out a pain-filled
grunt, biting his lip to keep from screaming.
   Serenity tossed the sword away, then doubled over in pain.  "Ah,
it hurts."
   "Are you all right?" Endymion asked worriedly, blood pooling
around him and soaking the ground.
   She took one look at him and said, "I'm all right."  Staring at
his bloody wound, she forced herself not to turn away.  "You need a
healer.  I have to get you out of here!"
   "No, I'm okay now.  You can just leave me here.  Someone will find
me."
   She shot him an incredulous look.  "Someone will find you?  Like
who?  The enemy?  I'm not letting them get anywhere near you so they
can finish the job they started!"  She gingerly took the remains of
his already blood-soaked cape and wrapped it tightly around his body.
"Well, maybe that'll hold the bleeding for a while.  Now to get you
home!"
   "I . . . can't leave my troops."
   She stared at the scenes of fighting around them, then at him
where he lay.  She gently wrapped her arms around him as he tried to
sit up and held his head in her lap.  "You can't do anything in this
state," she said gently.  Then more fiercely, "Don't be an idiot!"
   "Why haven't the soldiers attacked us yet?" he asked, noticing for
the first time that they were being ignored.
   She looked at him smugly.  "I've got a shield up around us if you
hadn't noticed.  A little trick Mercury taught me.  Anyway, it looks
like reinforcements for your side are coming, so the enemy's got
their hands full.  Don't worry so much."
   "Jadeite," he managed to breathe.  Only Jadeite and his army were
near enough to have arrived in time to assist them.  "Tell Mars she
should appreciate him."
   "She already does, but not half as much as I appreciate you.  I
would do anything for you."  Her eyes began to fill with tears.
   "I would die for you," Endymion whispered weakly, looking up into
her concerned blue eyes.  He felt his hold on life slipping.
   She cradled his head in her lap.  "Don't die for me, you idiot.
Live!  If you love me, then live for me.  You promised we'd be
together!"
   "Usa"
   Before he could finish, she bent and kissed him full on the mouth.
When she pulled away, he looked up at her and smiled.  "I will live,
Usako," he said.  "I promise you that."
   And she believed him.
   "PRINCESS TELEPORT!" she cried, and they vanished from the scenes
of battle.
   Jadeite, who had just arrived with his army, saw them go.  Then
with a newfound determination, he turned his attention to the battle
and gave the signal.  "CHAAAAAARRRGGGE!!!"

*On the Moon*

   Princess Serenity burst into Ami's room.  "Ami, you have to help
me!"
   "What's the matter, Sere?"
   "It's Endymion, he's been hurt!"
   "Princess, you know the consequences for bringing him here!"
   "I know . . . but I don't care!  Ami, he's going to die if we
don't do something!!!"
   "Take me to him," Ami ordered.
   "I left him in my room . . ." Serenity began as they both ran off.
   Ami gasped as she saw the state that Endymion was in.  "You did
right to bring him, Sere.  I could *never* refuse anyone in *that*
condition."
   "Will he be all right?" she asked, the worry showing on her face.
   Ami rolled up her sleeves and winced in sympathy as she pulled
open his shirt and saw the wound.  "He needs medical attention,
that's for sure."  She turned to her princess.  "Sere, I can't do it
alone.  I need help."
   "I'm willing," Serenity began, moving towards Ami.
   The next words she heard stopped her dead in her tracks.  "No.
Not you."
   "But, Ami, I would do anything to help him!  *Anything*!  You know
that!"
   "I know, but Sere, you don't have any training in the Healing
Arts.  What we need is a healer.  A Master Healer."
   "But Ami, you *ARE* the only Master!"
   "No, there's one more."
   "Who"
   "I'll help," a voice spoke up from the shadows.
   Sere and Ami turned to look.  The princess gasped as the light
fell on the face of the speaker.
   "Minako," she whispered.
   Minako stared steadily back at her, her eyes calm and collected,
her face betraying not a single emotion.  <I'll do this for you,
Sere.  And for myself.>
   "What do you want me to do?" she asked.

*On Earth*

   "Where's the prince?!" Nephrite yelled over the melee of battle,
clashing his swords against an enemy captain.  With a powerful slice,
he finished him off and waded further into the battle.  Nephrite and
his army had arrived just in time to help Jadeite's faltering troops.
   "Endymion's" Jadeite ducked as his opponent swiped at his head
with a mace.
   "Princess" Jadeite ducked and rolled to one side, coming up
behind his opponent.  He ran forward to thrust his sword into the
soldier, but the soldier turned at the last instant and twisted out
of the way.
   "Got hurt" Jadeite twisted back at the same instant, narrowly
missing a slice at his ribs, and swung his sword at his opponent.
The soldier brought his sword up to bear.
   "Who, the princess?" Nephrite asked, confused, as he directed a
blast of energy at an enemy squadron that was getting too close.
They flew backwards with a cry of pain.
   Jadeite pulled back his sword and avoiding a desperate lunge at
him, neatly thrust his sword into the man and dispatched him.   "No,
you fool!" Jadeite yelled, pulling his sword free.  "Endymion got
hurt, the princess got to him, and took him out of here!  I don't
know where they went, but he was hurt pretty bad and if she hadn't
come, I don't think he'd have survived."  <He still might not.>
   "I heard that!" Nephrite yelled back at him, once more in the
thick of battle.  "I want happy thoughts!  No more of this
pessimistic junk!"
   "Yeah, well, you didn't see 'im," Jadeite mumbled under his
breath, getting ready to fight with another soldier.
   <<I heard that too, Jade.  Keep it up and I'll have to beat *you*
up after this battle!>>
   <<If we're still alive!>>
   <<JADE!!!>>
   <<All right, all right, happy thoughts.  Sheesh.>>

*On the Moon*

   Ami gazed at Minako for a moment.  <<Are you sure?>>
   <<Dammit, Ami, he's *dying*!  If we can't save him, Sere'll . . .
Well, I don't want to think about what Sere'll do.  They have the
right to be happy!  I *owe* this to her.  I *owe* this to him.  I owe
this to myself.>>
   Ami turned to look back at her patient.  "All right, wash up and
we'll get to work."
   "Right."
   Serenity looked at Minako gratefully, her blue eyes shimmering
with tears.  "Thank you, Mina-chan."
   Minako started at the name, then flashed Serenity a rueful smile.
"I haven't failed you yet, Sere, and I'm not about to start now!"

   As she turned away from her princess, the memories came back . . .

*Flash*

   "Minako," the voice said laughingly, as eleven-year old Minako
looked up at him with brightly loving eyes.  "You're so silly."  He
bopped her on the nose, making her giggle.

*Flash*

   "Minako," the voice said, deeper and more serious now.  "I care
about you.  I'm happy when we're together."
   Thirteen-year old Minako looked up at him, understanding in her
eyes shining with love.  He took her in his arms and she sighed,
happy.

*Flash*

   "Minako!" two voices called, a man and a woman's.
   "Onee-chan!  Onii-chan!" Minako cried out happily, running through
the field toward the two of them, waving something wildly in the air.
"I got it!  I got it!"  She came to a breathless stop in front of
them.  "I got it!"
   "Congratulations!" they chorused, laughing.
   The woman took the scroll from her and unrolled it reading, "This
scroll hereby documents the ascension of Princess Minako of Venus,
age fourteen, to the position of Healer, Master class!"  She
neglected to read the part about keeping Minako as far away from sick
people as possible and only letting her attempt to heal the *dying*
as a last resort.
   Minako smiled.
   The woman handed the scroll back to her, her eyes bright and
happy.  "You worked really hard for that!  I'm so proud of you,
imouto."
   "Thanks!" Minako said, but her attention was not on the woman.
She turned to the man whom she called her brother but was no more
related to her than the woman.  "Are you proud of me, 'Nii-chan?" she
asked softly, her eyes shining with expectation.
   "Very proud," he replied, bending down to kiss her.
   Happy, Minako returned the kiss, but out of the corner of her eye,
she saw something like pain flash through her Onee-chan's eyes . . .

*Flash*

   "Minako, the Royal family is too powerful!  Someone has to do
something!" the man said heatedly.
   "But they're good rulers!  They're fair and just!"
   "But for how long?"
   "Forever!"
   "You're such a child, Minako."
   "I'm fifteen!"
   "The world is a whole lot less perfect than you think!  Someone
will have to stop the Queen before she turns into a tyrant!"
   Minako stared at the man, her eyes wide with horror.  "'Nii-chan .
. ."

*Flash*

   "Are you all right?" the woman's voice asked.
   "Yes, I'm fine," the man replied.
   "How did she take it?"
   "Oh, she's just a child!  I don't think she understands at all."
   "Well, *I* understand."
   "I know you do, and that's why I love you . . ."
   Minako slumped to the ground outside of the closed door, opening
her fist from the position in which it had been poised to knock.
   <'Nii-chan.  Onee-chan.>  Tears gathered behind her eyelids,
spilling to the ground in a muffled sob.  <Why?>  She scrambled to
her feet, running off down the hall, unable to stop the tears.
<WHY?!>

*Flash*

   *EMERGENCY*!
   Sailor Venus ran down the hallways of the Moon Palace, until she
reached the courtyard, and was stopped short by the sight of a huge
slavering monster lurching towards her.  "STOP!  Who do you think you
are?!"
   A voice boomed out throughout the Palace grounds.  "WE ARE THE
DARK KINGDOM AND WE HAVE COME TO CONQUER YOUR UNIVERSSSSE!"
   "Well, you won't succeed!"
   She turned to the youma.  "LOVE!!!!" she shouted, sending out a
golden beam and killing it.
   She ran forward looking around for another of the beasts.  She saw
*him* and stopped short.  "'Nii-chan."
   He looked up at her, "Mina" he started to say, a look of
apprehension in his eyes.  Then, before he or she could do anything,
a huge blurred shape dove for him.  In a heartbeat it had dug its
fearsome jaws into him and ripped out his heart.  He fell without a
sound as Venus looked on in horror.
   "No!" she cried, what seemed like a lifetime later.
   The youma looked up, its blood-red eyes glowing against its
shadowy hide, its jaws dripping with his blood.
   "NO!!!!" she screamed again, rage and helplessness building in
her.  "LOVE!!!!!!!!"
   The brilliant beam of light sliced through it, killing it
instantly, but Minako didn't care as she stared at her 'Nii-chan's
unmoving form.
   She barely heard as off in the distance her Queen shouted, "YOU
SHALL NOT SUCCEED, METALLIA!!!  BY THE POWER OF THE SILVER CRYSTAL, I
BANISH YOU FROM THIS REALM!!!"
   "I SSSSHALL RETUUUUUURRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNN!!!" the menacing voice
screamed as the huge shadow looming over the kingdom disappeared.
   Mina cried.

*Flash*

   "Onee, he's dead," Minako said, dully as she stood in the entrance
to the woman's room.
   "No," the woman said, unbelieving, with a little laugh.  "Whatever
do you mean, Minako?"
   "He's dead."
   "No, no you must be mistaken.  He . . . can't be."
   Minako screamed in anger, her voice hoarse with pain, "HE'S
DEAD!!!!"
   She turned away.  "And I couldn't save him," she whispered.
   "NO!" the woman screamed defiantly, her voice breaking.
   From the edge of her field of view, Minako saw the flash of metal.
<What is she>  "Onee, NO!!!" she screamed whirling around.
   The woman simply smiled at her as she raised the dagger above her.
"I can't live without him."  She plunged the steel into chest, and
with a little gasp, she died.
   Minako stared, her eyes wide filled with despair as she fell to
the ground, the strength leaving her body.  "I couldn't save you
either, Onee.  What kind of a Healer am I?"
   Her eyes took on a self-loathing look as she averted her gaze from
the bloody scene.  "WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?!!!  I can't heal!  My life
is worth nothing!  I forgo the Healing Arts!  I brand myself
forbidden to heal!"  She pulled out her ceremonial dagger and stared
at the razor sharp blade as she slit her wrist and emotionlessly
watched her blood pool about her.  "I swear, on my life's blood, that
if ever the evil returns, that my life's blood will bleed until I
die, or until someone who cares enough to stop it does.  She placed a
hand over the wound, willing it shut with a burst of Power.  <But
until then, I will live for my princess.  Always.  *She* is my life.>
She stood, and walked away.  But she would always carry the scar of
what had occurred.

*Flash*

   . . . Minako finished washing her hands and turned back to the
others, looking at Endymion.  She drew in a deep breath.  "All right,
let's start."

   The hours dragged on as Serenity watched fearfully.  Minako and
Ami had first begun by trying to heal some of the wound, then they
had begun the actual stitching needed.  Endymion had woken up but had
mercifully passed out an instant later.  The two women had resumed
their operating, Ami stitching and Minako using more and more power
in an attempt to heal Endymion since Ami had acidly informed Minako
that her stitching was like a five year-olds.
   Makoto had wandered in on them, taken one look at the scene before
her and had immediately volunteered to guard the door.  Serenity had
let her, seeing as there was nothing she could do.
   It hadn't taken Rei long to notice that everyone else seemed to be
missing and she had eventually found her way to Serenity's room.
After the others had explained the situation, she had readily agreed
that no one should be told and had gone on with her duties, trying to
keep others from wondering where all of the Senshi and the Princess
had gone too.
   Still, all of them had forgotten one important fact.  Guardian
cats are not so easily persuaded to let a topic drop.

   Luna and Artemis crouched in the hallway.
   "Artemis," Luna hissed.
   "What?"
   "What're we doing here?"
   "We have to see what they're up to!  It's something fishy, that's
for sure."
   "Why don't we just ask them?"
   "Duh, Luna, they're *hiding* something.  It's not like we can just
saunter up to them and say, "Excuse me, Sailor Senshi, Luna and I
would like to know what you're hiding in Serenity's room."
   "Well, I, for one am getting tired of hiding in this hallway!  I'm
going to go *see* what they're hiding."  With a flash of light she
morphed into her human state.
   "No, Luna!" Artemis cried, but it was too late.
   "Jupiter," Luna addressed the Senshi at the door, "stand aside."
   Makoto shifted uncomfortably, "Uh . . . well, I can't."
   "Don't make me order you as your superior, Jupiter!"
   <That could get messy.>  "But Luna, my orders come from Serenity
herself."
   "Queen or Princess?"
   "Princess."
   "Jupiter, you know perfectly well that I outrank the Princess
until she is seventeen and is legally recognized as heir to the
throne."
   "Yes, Luna."
   "Then stand aside."
   Sailor Jupiter could do nothing but obey.  She let Luna in.
   The others ignored her entrance at first, save for Ami who said,
"Oh, Rei, is that you?"
   "No, it is not."
   They all turned in apprehension.  "Luna!"
   She had a slightly irritated look on her face.  "Yes, now what
*are* you hiding?"
   She strode forward and caught sight of Endymion swathed in
bandages and the blood-smeared hands of Ami and Minako.  <Goddess!>
She found that she had trouble speaking, "What-What happened?"
   "Endymion was wounded," Serenity said, stepping forward, her chin
raised high in half defiance, half reluctant acknowledgment.  "I
felt his pain.  I brought him here."
   "Serenity, that's not allowed!"
   "I know.  I could not let him die, Luna!  The only people who
could've helped him were here.  I could *not* let him die.  I would
rather meet death in his place."
   Luna sighed.  "Sere . . . Serenity, I cannot fault your reasons
but there is more at stake here."
   "Nothing is more important than life, Luna.  Not rules, not laws,
not even what the Seventh proclaims.  Nothing is more precious than
life."
   "Princess," Luna began, then fell silent.
   From behind her she heard the padding of soft feet.  Artemis . . .
and another.
   "Queen Serenity," Luna said, not turning.
   "Luna," the queen said in acknowledgment.  "Sere," she said,
turning to look at her daughter.  The Senshi had frozen in place.
   "Mother."
   "You're right, Sere," the Queen said.  "Life is the most important
thing.  I cannot go against the Seventh, but neither can I allow the
needless suffering and death of others.  I forbid this love you feel
for the prince, Sere, but I will not stand in his way of a recovery."
<<You cannot love him, Sere, I forbid it.  I am truly sorry.>>
   <<You let him live, Mother.  For now, that is enough.>>
   Queen Serenity looked at her daughter one last lingering instant
more, turned and began to walk out, then stopped as the Princess's
voice reached her ears.
   "Mother."
   "Yes?"
   "Thank you."
   "For what, Sere?  I have seen nothing here today."  She strode out
and it was only then that Princess Serenity realized that her mother
had not once looked at the bed where Endymion lay.

*On Earth*

   Kunzite rushed into battle with his forces, turning the tide at
last.  Nephrite and Jadeite breathed a sigh of relief.
   "Thank goodness *that's* over."  Jadeite wiped his sweaty brow.
   "Yeah-" Nephrite started to say, then stopped.
   "What?" Jadeite asked.
   Nephrite simply pointed at where Kunzite was riding to them with a
none-too-pleased expression on his face.  "Where's Endymion?"
   "With Serenity," Jadeite replied bluntly.
   "He was injured," Nephrite added.
   "Well, no time to worry about that now.  Zoisite's army needs some
reinforcements.  He's being overrun on the northern border."
   "Ah, c'mon.  We just fought for three days straight!" Jadeite
complained.  "My troops are weary.  They're on their last legs.  The
Cathals will slaughter us!"
   "The Dark Kingdom," Kunzite corrected.  "Still, Nephrite's troops
are fairly fresh and Endymion's seem all right.  If we can find
someone to command them, then . . ."
   "I will command them," a voice rang out and the Guardians turned
to see their prince striding over the battlefield towards them.
   "Endymion!" the three Guardians cried.
   "You're back!" Jadeite exclaimed.
   Endymion allowed himself a tiny smile.  "Thanks to a certain
princess who has captured my heart and two Senshi that I owe my life
to.  They all send their best, by the way," Endymion informed the
weary men.
   "Are you in one piece, Endy?" Nephrite queried.
   "More or less."
   "Can you fight?" Kunzite asked, his eyes on his prince.
   Endymion winced, then turned to Kunzite, his eyes blazing and said
in a dangerous and determined tone of voice, "I can always fight."
   "All RIGHT!" the Generals, for they all were generals now, shouted
as they clashed their swords together.
   "We will be victorious," Jadeite proclaimed.
   "Of course we will be," Endymion responded absently, his eyes on
the blue sky, where surprisingly he could see the moon.  "Is there
any other way to be?  Besides, I promised Usako that I'd make it out
of this thing alive, and I intend to keep my word."  He turned back
to his men.  "Now, all of you, mount up!  Zoisite needs our help!"
   He turned to Jadeite, "You and Nephrite will remain behind in case
the Dark Kingdom decides to renew the attack.  Send a messenger, or
use your stones if you need help.  Now, men, we have a war to win."

*On the Moon*

   Serenity meandered slowly down the corridors of the moon palace.
Endymion had left nearly a week ago and she remembered only his eyes
as he had said, "Usako, I must go," and had kissed her.  "I love
you."
   "I love you, Mamo-chan," she whispered into the silence, an echo
of what she had said a week ago.  "With all my heart."
   She saw Princess Setsuna standing at a balcony overlooking the
Garden a little ways off and she walked over.  One did not usually
see Setsuna at any time, especially standing on a balcony enjoying
the scent of roses in the evening.
   "Princess Setsuna," Princess Serenity said, uncertainly.
   Setsuna did not turn around.  "Hai, Princess."
   "What do you see?" she asked curiously, staring at Setsuna's still
form.
   "See?  I see nothing but stars and space and stillness."
   "Not even the Earth?" she asked lightly.
   "The Earth?  I do not need to see that.  It is inside of me.  No
princess, truly I see nothing that you do not."
   <That is not what I meant,> Serenity thought to herself, but
before she could voice her thought, Setsuna replied.
   "Yes, I know that is not what you meant, Princess.  I can tell you
many things, but never that . . . never that.  You should not know
your own future.  There is danger in knowing too much."
   Serenity made a face.  "Tell Ami-chan that."
   "That would be a useless endeavor.  She would not listen."
   "If you cannot tell me . . . then, what is it like?  To see?  To
know?  To understand everything?"
   Setsuna snorted.  "Everything?  I cannot even begin to know, let
alone comprehend everything.  Even immortal, I am still a mortal."
   "You have contradicted yourself."
   "No.  It is truth, even as it is with you, with the others, with .
. . Endymion."
   "So you do know," Serenity said softly.
   "I know.  It has occurred.  I know it."
   "Was I right?"
   "Right?  What are right and wrong, Princess?  Is anything ever
completely right or wrong?"
   "Yes."
   "You have a simple mind."
   "I'm sure I do.  Some things, though, some things are right.
Endymion and I . . . are right."
   "Perhaps."
   "Do you love him?" Serenity asked suddenly.
   Setsuna started.  She had *not* foreseen this.  "Princess, it is
best not to ask those kinds of questions."
   But Serenity went blindly on.  "Do you, Setsuna?"
   Silence.  Then, "Hai."
   "I know you do."
   "I do not love him as you do, Princess.  No one can love him as
you do.  Do not worry, little Princess, I will not take him from you.
I cannot."
   "Why?  Why can't you?  You did not swear your allegiance to
anyone."
   "No, I did not."
   "You do not serve my mother."
   "In that, Princess, you are wrong.  I do serve her, as her friend.
I promised her that long ago.  It is a promise that I have not
broken."
   "Any yet, in truth, when did you serve anyone but yourself?"
   "I have never served myself.  Time is my master, Destiny is my
mistress.  Against them I can do nothing.  I can not protect your
mother against them.  I can not protect your kingdom."
   "And yet, I remember that on the day that I awakened, you promised
to protect *me*."
   Again Setsuna was startled, but this time, she did not allow her
surprise to show.  "How can you remember such things, Princess?  You
were but newly born and awakened."
   "I remember because I must.  What other reason is there?"
   "Yes, I did promise, and that promise too, shall I keep."
   "That is good.  Is that why you will not allow yourself to love
Endymion?"
   Setsuna smiled.  "You are good, Princess, very good.  No matter
where the conversation goes, you can bring it back to what you wish
to discuss.  That is a rare talent."
   "I have learned from the best teacher.  My mother is very skilled,
is she not?  I have heard that she learned from you."
   Setsuna's smile faded.  "Everyone learns something from me
eventually.  Even you, my princess."
   "I would learn of what you feel for Endymion."
   "Yet again princess, you are good.  I shall answer your questions
for I tire of this game.  I do love Endymion, my princess, and I
allow myself to love him.  But as I said, I do not love him as you
do, not in the same manner, nor in the same way."
   "In what way do you love him, Pluto?"
   "In the only way that I can.  Ah, Princess Serenity, you are so
like, and yet so unlike your mother.  You are both of you, very
giving with your love, and yet, you are both as possessive as you are
giving.  How can any two be give so much, and take so much at the
same time?  She gives less and takes less than you, though, my
princess."
   "Am I selfish, Pluto?" the Princess cried.  "Was my gift to him
nothing more than a gift to myself?"
   "Who did you do it for?  Him or you?"
   "In honesty, I do not know, but I think . . . it was for me.
Because I cannot bear to live without him.  Still, he said the same
and felt the same, but yes, I was more selfish than selfless."
   "You are mortal, Serenity.  It is a failing, but it is also a
blessing."
   "You contradict yourself again.  How many times do you say the
opposite of what you mean?"
   "Why, never.  I always mean what I say, and I do not contradict
myself.  Now, as for what you did for yourself, for him-yes, it was
for both, you are so easy to forgive-it was both a wondrous and a
terrible gift.  Both a blessing and a curse.  He is bound to you now,
Serenity, more than he ever was before, and he was bound even then.
There is no stronger tie than that of blood, not love, not hate.
Blood.  The taste of it, the feel of it, the sight and smell of it as
it spills . . . Or the flowing of it through your veins.  There is
nothing stronger.
   "It drives people to kill, to hurt, and to love above all else.
In this you have bound him to you for all eternity.  He had no say in
the matter, and yet, he forgives you.
   "It always surprises me how easy it is to forgive those of your
line.  You are so easily forgiven.  No matter what wrongs you commit,
those who love you are always willing to forget them.  I wish it was
that simple for me.  He will not forgive me so easily."
   "What did you do, Pluto, that he must forgive?"
   "I loved him.  Isn't that enough?  You understand now, though you
do not know it, and you will understand more fully in time.  It will
be clear to you what wrongs I have committed, the harm that I have
done.  So clear.  And then, you must forgive me as well.  But I do
not fear you as I fear him, Serenity, for you forgive as easily as
you are forgiven.  It is him that I fear, for he cannot forgive as
you do.  It is in his blood.  But . . . your blood flows through him
now, so perhaps he can forgive."
   "What do you say to me?  I understand none of it.  You confuse me
on purpose, Pluto, to hide the true meanings of what you say.  It is
all there in plain sight, but I cannot see it.  The truth is truth,
and yet it is not!  I do not understand what you say."
   "Oh Serenity, you understand more than you know.  You know all,
and yet you understand nothing.  How can this be?  Do not trouble
yourself, it will all be clear in time."
   "Can you not speak plainly?  Must all your words be as riddles?"
   "That is the nature of *my* blood, Serenity.  Time reveals nothing
until it is too late."
   "You, daughter of Cronus, are infuriating!"
   Setsuna laughed.  "More than Mars?"
   "More than Mars."
   "I am sure Princess Rei would appreciate that."
   "Perhaps.  Or perhaps not."
   Setsuna sighed.  "You are still wondering."
   "Of course I am.  You have answered nothing and everything all at
once."
   "That is the nature of Time."
   "No.  That is the stubbornness of Setsuna."
   "You wish to know what I think of your blessing . . . your curse."
   "That was not a question.  And you know the answer."
   "I am glad."
   "Glad?"
   "He needs you, Serenity, you need him.  An eternity of one without
the other is meaningless.  Your love will sustain you both.  I am
happy for you."
   "And yet, you still love him."
   "Of course I do.  As I said, it could not be any other way."
   "And you do not condemn me for condemning him to an eternity of
life?"
   "Of course not.  How can I condemn you?  No one could.  You are
forgiven, eternally."
   "Condemned and forgiven for all eternity, is that my existence?"
   "Only if you will it to be that way.  It is up to you."
   "Are you?"
   "Condemned and forgiven?"  She clicked her tongue on the roof of
her mouth.  "You should know the answer to that, child."
   "Since when have I been a child to you?"
   "You have always been a child.  Except at the beginning.  Then,
you were not a child."
   "Do not confuse me again."
   "It is too easy to confuse you, Princess.  You let yourself be
confused."
   "You are condemned.  I am condemned.  And we are both forgiven,
but I . . . more readily than you."
   "Very good.  Now, you are making sense of this conversation."
   "Not much.  Your conversations never make much sense until much
later.  But . . . I suppose that you will tell me that that is the
nature of Time?"
   "Ah!  I have misjudged you.  If you are reading me so easily, you
are truly not as much of a child as I thought.  You do your mother
proud.  Now, before you can cleverly divert the conversation back to
the topic, I shall save you the trouble.
   "Immortality is a hard, hard way of life.  Eventually, it is *not*
life any longer, merely existence, and that is when death lends a
hand.  You, and he, and I we are lucky that we do not have *true*
immortality, merely the closest thing.  Death can still snatch us at
anytime, though it will be much MUCH harder.  So no, my princess, you
did not condemn your love to life forever.
   "As for the other things you wonder, well, Princess, let me tell
you this.  Endymion needs your love.  He needs the love of women.  He
desires nothing more than a woman's love.  Your love is dearest to
him, never fear, little princess.  Take him in your arms, love him
with all of the love in you, for he sorely needs it.  His need is
devouring him inside, and only your love has saved him.  You are his
savior, his guardian angel, his only love.  You reclaim him from the
darkness of his soul.  That is good, for no one other than you can do
it.  Do not let him stray far, let your love keep him safe.
   "The wolves would take him if they could have him, but as long as
your love keeps him safe, they cannot.  Love him, love him, for as
long as you can.  For you, I know that that is eternity.
   "He will always need you, and you will always need him, for as
much as he takes from you, he returns as well.  Your love is his
love, he loves you as much as you love him.  The two of you, sustain
each other.  That is right.  That is good.
   "I thought once that your love was wrong, that it would destroy
one of you, or both.  But then I saw that without it, its loss would
destroy both of you.  Its existence can do nothing but bring more
love, for that is the way of love.  The more love there is, the more
it brings.
   "I do not envy you.  I am grateful for the love that you feel for
him.  I love you both, Serenity.  You are my princess, he is your
prince, and your love is what brightens up the universe.  I cannot
deny you.  I have no wish to.  What is Destined is destined.  What
must be, will be.  Love is love, Serenity.  Love is love."
   "But *still* you love him!" Serenity cried.  "And you never can!"
   Setsuna sighed.  "You are as I thought, a child.  Have you
listened to nothing that I have said?  I love Endymion, and I will
always love Endymion.  Nothing will stop that.  Do not feel sorrow
for me, it is misplaced.  I would not have things any other way.  We
are all content this way.  Let things stand as they are, Serenity.
As I said, I do not love him as you do.  I do not feel for him as a
lover, or even as a friend.  I welcome your love for him.  It is
needed.  Do not weep for my unrequited love.  It is not as you think
it.  It never was."
   Serenity stared at her with wide, confused eyes, but partial
understanding dawned.  "You love him in another way . . .  You are
drawn to him for other reasons."
   "I had a claim on him long before you did, except for at the
beginning."
   "Of Time?"
   "There are some questions that I cannot answer, Serenity."
   "But in refusing, you have."
   Setsuna gazed back calmly at her.  "Have I?"
   Serenity gazed calmly back, sure of herself for once.  "You have."
   Setsuna looked away.  "You loved him at the beginning, Serenity.
That is all I will say.  But still, my claim on him is older.  My
love for him is older.  My love for him is as infinite as yours.  I
am bound to him in all things, as are you, save I was bound in one
more way.  And now, you are bound to him that way, and more.  I could
give him all things, but one, and you gave him that, my princess.
The one thing that I could not.  And so, the two of you are bound as
close now, as I am to him, though he knows it not."
   "What *are* you to him, Pluto?"
   "You should know by now, Princess.  You should know by now."  And
with that, she disappeared.
   Serenity turned to gaze out over the balcony at Earth.
"Endymion," she whispered, letting a single tear trickle down her
face.  "Mamo-chan . . ."

*On Earth*
*The northern border*

   Kunzite raised his hand as he heard the faint rustle of the
door flap to his tent.  "Yes, come in," he called out, gesturing.
   The person at the door paused as if unsure how to proceed.
   "Come in already," Kunzite called, rather irritated that he hadn't
been obeyed instantly.
   The soldier walked in and stood before Kunzite where in sat on a
crate, scribbling notes to himself in his journal, and marking areas
on a map pinned to the wall.
   "Yes, what is it?" Kunzite asked, not looking up.
   "I wished to speak with you about something, Lord Kunzite."
   Kunzite glanced up, putting aside his work for a moment.  He
recognized that voice.  It was his prot?g?, whom he had been training
personally.  He had certainly proved himself in the last battle,
blocking a blow meant for Zoisite.
   "You seem troubled," Kunzite commented, for lack of anything
better to say.
   "Yes, milord."
   "Well, tell me, what's troubling you?"
   "That foreign woman of the prince's . . ."
   "Yes?"  Kunzite thought he had a glimmer of what was troubling the
boy.  Ever since Endymion's return, rumors had been circulating that
he was involved with a woman from the Moon Kingdom.  The rumors were,
of course, absolutely true to a certain extent, but many of the men
were rather xenophobic.  He looked to the soldier to see what his
reply would be.  He did *not* expect such a violent outburst.
   "Don't trust her.  Don't trust any of them!"
   "Them?" Kunzite asked confused.
   "The foreigners.  They're not here for peace, all of the things
that they've been spouting are lies!  The princeall of usare in
danger."
   Kunzite thought of Minako's smiling face and shut his eyes in
quiet despair and denial.  <No, it cannot be.>
   "It is, my lord!" the boy insisted and Kunzite started, unaware
that he had spoken his thoughts out loud.
   "I cannot believe it to be so.  My duty lies to my lord Prince,
and he trusts them with his life."
   "Don't let him!" the boy hissed vehemently.  "It will only lead to
his downfall.  Keep them as far from him as possible."
   Unable to banish Minako from his mind and the sweet sincerity of
the love that had shone in her eyes, Kunzite firmed his resolve and
turned to the boy.  "I'm sorry, but I must trust in my Prince's
judgment."  He stood, gathering his things.  He needed to discuss his
latest strategy with Endymion.
   The boy looked up at him in defeat.  "Will you at least think over
what I have said?" he asked quietly.
   Indecision surfaced in the Guardian's eyes for a moment before he
turned away and said so softly that he was barely audible, "Yes, I
will . . . Clinden."  Then with a sweep of his cape, he was out the
door of the tent.
   Clinden stared after him, triumph and doubt warring in his eyes.
The need for vengeance won over the two and he whispered, "Thank you,
Lord Kunzite."  <I will have my REVENGE ON YOU!!!  I WILL!!!>  His
eyes blazed red, and somewhere an evil voice laughed.

*Two weeks later*
*The southern border*

   The battle being waged was fierce.  Everywhere men were dying, run
through by youma swords or simply ripped to pieces.  It was a scene
that Minako would have remembered well, still did remember in fact,
and she would have wept at the sight.  Still there cannot be a war
without casualties and in this war, there were more than enough . . .

   Clinden lay dying, Kunzite kneeling at his side, desperately
trying to staunch the flow of blood.  Clinden coughed and red blood
trickled down the side of his mouth.  With one begrimed hand he
pulled Kunzite's hand away from the wound and forced the General to
look at him.  "Milord Kunzite, I will pass to the Other Realm soon.
My time grows short, but before I go, you must promise me . . .
something."
   Kunzite stared at the bloody, battered soldier that had once been
his friend and prot?g? and whispered, "What?  What must I promise
you?"
   "Promise," Clinden coughed out, "that you will avenge the death of
my family . . .  That those who killed them shall pay."
   "Yes, yes, anything!"
   "Promise that you'll kill them . . .  Don't let yourself be hurt
like I was.  The strangers . . . can't be trusted, no matter how
sincere they seem.  There is evil at work in the land of the living,
but soon, I will be beyond those cares.  Promise me . . ."  Clinden's
eyes took on a glazed look and whispering, "Promise . . ." he died.
   Kunzite stared at the body for an instant, then he let out an
inarticulate cry of grief.  He pulled off his cape and draped it over
the body, then knelt before the still form, head bowed, sword laid in
front of him  "I promise," Kunzite swore solemnly, fighting his
tears, "that your family's murderers will pay.  I don't know how or
where, but you and your family will be avenged.  I, Kunzite, Guardian
Griffin of Prince Endymion of Earth, First General of Earth, and
Prince of the Realm of Power, swear it on my life and the lives of
everyone that I hold dear."  He stood, sheathing his sword and,
turning to stare at the second advancing horde, he repeated to
himself, "I swear it."

*Four days later*
*Back at the Earth Palace*

   "We cannot trust the Lunars.  They are the enemy and must be dealt
with."
   "WHAT?!!!" Jadeite shouted, slapping his hands down on the table
as he surged to his feet.  "What do you mean, "*dealt with*"?!!!"
   Zoisite murmured something to Jadeite which seemed to calm him
down some.
   "What exactly are you saying?" Nephrite asked in a dangerous voice
as Jadeite flopped back in his seat and refused to look Kunzite in
the eye.
   Zoisite looked up from where he stood next to Jadeite.  "What *do*
you mean, Kunzite?"  He eyed him oddly, seeming to say, 'How can you
think such things?'
   Kunzite drew in a deep breath.  Then let it out in a long, tired,
sigh.  "Look, I'm simply saying that maybe we should make certain of
who is the true enemy."
   All three of the other Generals shot him the same look at the same
time.  The one that said, 'How the HELL can you even SUGGEST that!'
   Again Jadeite was the first to speak.  He sprang to his feet and
walked up to Kunzite, glaring at him.  "I don't like want you're
insinuating, Kunz."  The other two Generals drew in a quick breath at
the malice in his tone and the term of disrespect.
   Kunzite's eyes narrowed as he glared back at Jadeite.  "I'm not
"insinuating" anything.  I'm stating a fact.  The Lunars are
dangerous and their presence on Earth cannot be tolerated."
   "I think you have more things to worry about on the *home* front
before you start blaming our troubles on others!  You want a fight?
We've already got one.  We have to stop the Cathals.  *They're* the
enemy, not the Lunars!"
   "The Lunars are a greater threat-especially the Sailor Senshi."
   "Are you INSANE?!!  The Senshi are our allies-our friends."  <<And
more,>> his brain silently added as he recalled memories of Rei and
him.  "They're on OUR side."
   "You think I don't know that?  But for how long?  We both know
that Queen Serenity wasn't too thrilled with our presence.  This was
*her* kingdom.  How long do you think it'll be before she decides she
wants it back again?!"
   "Serenity may not like us much, but she would never-I mean for
Earth's sake she's been away from it for nearly THREE HUNDRED
YEARS!!!  What makes you think that she'll even want it back?  She's
got the whole moon.  Why would she even bother with this kingdom?"
   "Because it's home and nobody can stay away from their true home
for long.  Who says that she just wants *this* kingdom?  She's got
the power to take over the whole world.  And absolute power corrupts
absolutely, or haven't you learned that by now?  Just because you
don't want to believe it doesn't make it any less true."
   Jadeite's eyes sparked.  "What is wrong with you?  Does any of
this make any sense at all?!  LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!!!  Rei
and the others are incapable of doing any of what you said.  They're
the same as us.  They're people, Kunzite, not the monsters that
you're making them out to be!  They're our *friends*!"
   "Don't act more like a fool than you already are.  You're not
thinking straight.  That *girl* has addled your brains.  You're
better off without her kind, Jadeite."
   Jadeite's eyes burned a little brighter.  "That *girl*, as you so
put it, is the love of my life, and I'll be damned if I'll let you
talk that way about her!  I've followed you for the last fifteen
years of my life, served under you, taken your orders like a good
subordinate; I've even been your friend, but if you don't apologize
*NOW*, then we're through, and leader or not, I will not serve under
you."
   Kunzite growled out through gritted teeth.  "I don't need to
apologize.  Dammit, Clinden is DEAD!!!" he found himself shouting and
tried to calm down but found that he couldn't.  "His death is the
Lunars' doing, them and your "love"  If you don't want to serve under
me, then don't.  Get out."
   "Fine," Jadeite breathed, vehemently, his bright blue eyes still
glaring into Kunzite's, "I will.  And you . . ." he licked his lips,
savoring the words with a savage satisfaction as he pronounced each
syllable, "Can.  Go.  To.  Hell."  He whirled about on his heel, his
cape flapping behind him and stalked out.  As he reached the doorway,
he stopped for just an instant, his back still to Kunzite and said in
a low voice, "Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell Venus what a traitor
you are."  Then without another word, he went through the door and
was gone.
   Kunzite, who had stiffened at the sound of "Venus", a sharp pain
stabbing through him, now simply glared at Jadeite's retreating back,
angry.  He was angry at Jadeite, at the world, at himself.  He turned
away only to be faced with the stony stares of his other two comrades
in arms.
   "You bastard," Nephrite hissed.  "You had no right!"
   "I had every right!"
   Zoisite spat defiantly at his feet, an unreadable look glittering
in his green eyes, as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Not anymore.  Until you realize that what you did was unforgivable,
I'll have nothing to do with you.  I hope you realize exactly what
you've done . . . and the consequences."  He ducked his head away but
whipped it back to face Kunzite, his green eyes bright with barely
contained fury.  "You know, I'm sorry that Clinden died, but that
doesn't give you the right to say what you said!  Clinden was a good
man, but turning on your friends isn't right!  It never is.  At any
other time I'd feel sympathy for you, but right now, I can't."
Shutting his eyes, he breathed in, then said, "I step down from your
service, Lord Kunzite."  Then he slowly walked out.
   Now only Kunzite and Nephrite were left alone in the room
together.  The brown-haired General spoke first, his eyes cold.  "I
trust Mako with my life.  Even more, I trust her with my heart.  And
in doing so, I trust and respect her people, which is a helluvalot
more than I can say about you right now.  They're good people, and I
used to think that you were, too."
   Kunzite felt his resolve faltering, "I-" but then he straightened
and pulled himself together.  "The Lunars deserve nothing but
contempt from us."
   "And you," Nephrite uttered steadily, almost sorrowfully, his
resigned gaze never wavering, "deserve nothing but contempt from me."
Then he too turned his back on Kunzite and exited the room.
   And Kunzite was alone.  Again.
   And it was not a pleasant feeling.

*On the Moon*

   Rei felt the breeze and turned as she sensed a familiar presence.
<It can't be.>
   "Rei."
   "Jade."
   They looked at one another, the battered warrior and the shining
beauty.  Then Rei said
   "I don't know whether to kiss you or to kill you, you imbecile!"
   Jadeite smiled, his first one in a long time.  "If you kiss me
first then kill me, I'll die a happy man."
   Rei's lips quirked in amusement, then she obligingly gave him his
reward for returning.
   After the kiss, she looked up at him anxiously.  "What's the
matter?  Where're the others?  Is everyone all right?  You're not
here to bring ill tidings, are you?"
   "Only that Kunzite is a damn fool."  He strode to a bench and sat
down.
   Rei followed him.  "You had better not let Venus catch you saying
things like that.  She's head over heels in love with him."
   "I know," he muttered morosely, glaring at the ground.
   Rei suddenly thought of something.  "In fact, we can't let anyone
catch you *here*!  You're *still* not allowed here, Jade!"
   He looked up.  "You're right.  Damn, I forgot.  All right, what'll
we do?"
   "Well, you could go home, but I wouldn't like that very much."
   "Neither would I."
   "I'll simply hide you in my quarters until it's safe for you to go
home."
   "Actually, it's safe now . . ."
   "But you have to tell me all the news first!  And, I don't want
you to leave so soon."
   Jadeite smiled.

*Back on Earth*

  "You did WHAT?!!!"  Endymion paced about agitatedly.  "What the
Hell were you thinking, Kunzite?"
   "I guess I wasn't, my prince."
   "I guess you weren't.  There's only one thing to do.  Go apologize
and retrieve Jadeite from wherever he went."
   "I can't do that, my lord."
   "What?"
   "Not until I am sure."
   "Well, *I'm* sure and you had better be!  Your accusations are
nigh treasonous."
   "I know."
   Endymion arrested Kunzite's eyes.  "Can you truly tell me that you
are absolutely certain of this, in your heart of hearts?"
   Kunzite found that he could not answer.

*On the Moon*

   Princess Serenity walked through the gardens, pausing in front of
the forget-me-nots, a newly cut rose in her hand.  "Forget me not,"
she whispered, thinking of Endymion.  She inhaled the wondrous scent
of the rose and sighed.
   Her calm wonderings were interrupted when a whirlpool of darkness
swirled open behind her and snatched her up.  She left out a cry,
dropping the rose which fell to the ground, its petals scattering in
the wind as the darkness engulfed her.
   "MINNA!" she screamed.  "MAMO-CHAN!"

   Rei and Jadeite, who had been passing through the gardens since
they were a shortcut to Rei's quarters, paused.
   "Something's wrong," Rei murmured, then a wave of fear washed over
her.  Serenity's fear.
   "Goddess, Sere!" she broke into a run, Jadeite right behind her.
As she reached the spot where Serenity had been, she stared aghast at
the rose with its petals seemingly ripped from it.
   "Selene," Rei sobbed, "Selene, no . . ."  Jadeite helplessly put
an arm around her as the other Senshi ran to the scene.
   "What happened?" Ami demanded, pulling out her computer and
scanning the area.
   "I don't know," Jadeite said in confusion.
   "What're you-Never mind," Minako said, in her commander's voice.
"Ami, what does your "device" say?"
   "Serenity *was* here.  Judging by the readings, someone or
*something* took her.  Rei you got here first, what did you sense?"
   "Ami, it was awful.  It felt like . . . I don't know, something
without a soul.  The power was definitely feminine, though, that's
all I have to tell you."
   "Feminine?"  Jadeite ran the word over his tongue, then spat.  "I
know what it was."
   The others turned to him.  "Tell us, Jade," Minako said in a rough
voice.  "What took Serenity?"
   "Beryl," he snarled.  "I'd bet my life on it.  It was Beryl."
   "Where would she take her?" Makoto asked all of a sudden, her eyes
gleaming with determination.
   "To her stronghold, but NO ONE knows where it is."
   "Well, we'll just have to find out!" Makoto said, her voice
sounding like steel.  "We'll get Sere back!"

   "What do you want with me?" Princess Serenity asked the tall
evil-looking woman in front of her.  Her wrists and ankles were
energy-cuffed to the cold stone wall.
   "Your soul," she said with a hungry smile.
   Serenity shuddered.  "What kind of a person *are* you?"
   "One who hates you very, *very* much."
   "What have I ever done to you?"
   "You took Endymion from me.  He was mine, and you took him.  For
that, you deserve to die!"
   "You would kill me for daring to love another?  You would kill me
for listening to my heart?  What a twisted creature you are, Beryl. I
pity you. It must hurt not to be able to love."
   "You pity *me*?!  Oh no, little princess, pity yourself more."
   "What will killing me accomplish?"
   "Nothing, which is *exactly* why I am not going to kill you . . .
yet.  You are my bait.  My bait for Endymion."

   Queen Serenity had to be informed of her daughter's abduction of
course, and she had been quite distraught with grief.  Luna hadn't
taken it so well, either, looking rather ill.  Artemis had (for a
change) been the only level-headed one of the lot.  However, he had
insisted that he accompany the Senshi and only after a long screaming
match with Minako had he finally agreed to stay behind.
   The Senshi had left immediately afterwards, Jadeite
inconspicuously joining them.  It had been decided that it was much
better for all involved if he was not seen.  That could bring up
unpleasant issues and further delay their rescue of the Princess.
   They teleported to Earth and with Jadeite's reluctant agreement,
arrived at the Earth Palace to inform Endymion and the rest of the
Guardians.
   Endymion did *not* take it well.

   "Serenity's in *BERYL'S* clutches?!  She won't last long.  Let's
go.  We have to find her before it's too late!"
   It was only with the combined effort of the Guardians and the
Senshi that they were able to restrain him from dashing out that
instant and saving his beloved.
   "Endymion, we can't go now!  We have to find out where Beryl's
holding her!" Nephrite pleaded with his prince.
   The prince of Earth calmed down a bit.  "Of course, forgive me."
   "Do you have *any* idea as to where Beryl might be?" Minako asked
desperately.
   "No," was Endymion's flat reply.  "All I've been able to find out
is that it's somewhere North."
   "North?"
   "North."
   "Let's get started then.  I don't care if we have to search the
entire northern regions of this planet.  We're finding Sere!" Minako
declared, staring at the map of Earth spread beneath her hand on the
table.
   "I think you may need more help than that," a quiet voice said
from the doorway.
   Minako looked up, her eyes shining.  "Kunzite!"
   "Kunzite," Jadeite snarled out.
   The other Guardians looked up to see their former leader paused in
the doorway, carrying a heavy pack over his shoulder.
   "What do you want?" Jadeite demanded angrily.
   "To come with you.  To save the princess."
   "After what you said?!"
   "I was wrong.  Minako can attest to this.  I always seem to find
myself saying things that I don't mean.  I want you to forgive me,
Jade, I want to earn back the respect I've lost in your eyes."  He
turned to the others.  "All of your eyes."
   "Welcome back," Zoisite said softly, from where he had his arm
around Ami.  He smiled.
   "I'm glad that the old Kunzite is back," Nephrite murmured.
   Kunzite turned his eyes to Jadeite.  "Jade?"
   Jadeite hesitated for a moment, then softly his gaze softened and
he took Kunzite's hand pulling him into a good-natured embrace
between men.  "You bull-headed fool.  Thank God you know who your
friends are, Kunzite."
   "I always did."
   Endymion smiled.  "All right now, we've got a princess to save!"
<My princess,> he added silently.

   The Senshi and the Guardians arrived in the North in a bright
flash of light.
   "Can you get a fix on her location, Ami?!" Minako shouted over the
howling winds.
   "Not yet!" Ami shouted back.  "Give it another couple of seconds!"
   "I'm freezing to death, Ami.  Hurry it up!"
   "All right, here it is.  She's six miles due north of here."
   "Doesn't it get colder as you go further up north?" Makoto asked.
   Ami nodded.
   "Great, just great," Rei muttered under her breath.
   "I suggest another teleport!" Endymion yelled.
   "Good idea!" the rest of them chorused.

   "You'll never win, Beryl!" Serenity declared.
   Beryl whirled from her study of the large images playing across
the wall in front of her, images of battle.  "Oh no?  Look how well
your prince's armies are faring without him and his Generals.  Earth
will soon be mine as will Endymion.  Then I will have the pleasure of
seeing you die!"
   "NO!" Serenity screamed, wrenching free of the energy that held
her in place.  The brightly glowing yellow energy disappeared as she
stumbled to the ground.  "I WON'T let you win, Beryl!"
   "What *is* this?!" Beryl shouted in a mixture of outrage and
amazement.  <How did she get free so easily?>  Beryl grabbed the
princess's arm and twisted it behind her, painfully.
   "Endymion," Serenity sobbed.  "Mamo-chan, where are you?"
   "Shut up!" Beryl snarled, backhanding Serenity across the face.
"Your pitiful whines are annoying me."
   "Why are you doing this?" Serenity asked, holding a hand to her
face.  "Why can't you just leave us alone?"
   "Because I love him!  And he should be mine, not yours, moonbrat.
You don't deserve him."
   "Maybe I don't," Serenity whispered, "but we deserve each other."
   "You don't seem to understand.  He belongs to me."
   "People who love each other don't belong *to* one another, they
belong *with* each other!"  <We belong together, Mamo-chan.>
   Beryl's face was suffused with red in anger.  "Shut up!  Just SHUT
UP!"  An ugly expression crossed Beryl's face and she snickered as
she raised her arm and pointed her index finger at Serenity and shot
forth a blast of power.
   Serenity was blown, screaming, across the room.  Her momentum
ceased when she slammed into the wall.  She slumped to the floor and
lay motionless on the floor.
   Beryl stared at the motionless form in disgust.  <Maybe I should
just kill her now.  No.  Endymion will come for her and will fall
prey to my trap.  If I kill her, he will feel her demise and all of
my plans will be ruined.  I must wait and bide my time.  Come to me,
Endymion.  Come try and save your beloved.>
   She motioned to a pair of youma to take the Princess's unconscious
body away.

   Endymion, the Senshi, and the Guardians arrived outside of the
entrance to the caverns that led to Beryl's stronghold.  With one
last determined glance at each other, they entered the caverns and
began their plunge into darkness.

*Several hours later*

   "Are you all right, Nephrite?" Rei asked as Makoto continued to
tear off strips of cloth with her teeth and bandage his arm.
   "It's nothing . . . just a scratch."
   Rei did not look convinced.  "That was more than a scratch and you
know it!"
   "No, look, I'm fine," he said trying to flex his muscle then
abruptly stopped with a grunt of pain.
   "You idiot, let it heal before you try to use it or you're never
going to get better!" Makoto yelled.
   "Yes, Mother."
   "I don't like seeing you get hurt," she said, her eyes misting
over.  "Take better care of yourself."
   Rei turned away with a sigh and looked at Ami who was still
looking at Zoisite's head wound, and Kunzite who was busily wrapping
up Minako's dislocated shoulder.  It seemed that none of them were
going to get out of this mess without a few scratches at least.
Surprisingly, only she and Jadeite had managed to escape completely
unscathed thus far, and she had the distinct impression that it was
because they had both "powered-up."
   Minako's voice interrupted her train of thought.  "Well, it's been
five hours and we're still not any closer to finding, Sere.  Any
ideas?"
   "Yeah, we'd better hurry and fins her before we run into *another* 
one of those youma hordes!"  Ami glared at Zoisite glib remark.
   "Haha, very funny.  Seriously, any ideas, people?"
   Endymion spoke up.  "She's close, Venus."
   "That's very nice Endymion, but it's not getting us anywhere."
   "NO.  I mean she's CLOSE.  I can feel it."
   "Ami, check your com-pu-ter," she ordered abruptly, but having 
trouble with the odd word.
   Ami ignored the last and pulled her computer from the sub-space 
pocket she kept it in and tried scanning for the princess.  "You do 
realize that the negative energies are so great that the chances of 
this actually accomplishing anything without the princess being 
within a three foot radius is pretty much nil."
   "Huh?"
   "She means, the princess would have to be within three feet of us 
for this to work," Zoisite translated.
   The others nodded their thanks.
   The computer began to beep.  "Goddess Selene above!" Ami 
exclaimed.
   "What?!"
   "She's here!  She's here!"
   "Well, of course, she is Ami, that's why we're *searching* here."
   "No, I mean she's through that door."  Ami pointed.
   The rest of them looked at one another and began to smile.  "We 
found her!"
   Endymion didn't wait for the others.  He dashed through the 
doorway, his eyes searching anxiously for Serenity.  He saw her laid 
out on a slab of stone and all of a sudden he felt rather choked up 
with emotion.  <Usako.>

   He bent over her prone body and tenderly kissed her eyelids, the 
tip of her nose, her lips.  It was the instant that his lips touched 
hers that she reached up and put her arms around his neck.  Startled, 
he pulled away and she rose to a sitting position, her arms still 
about him.  Her blue eyes fluttered open and soft sigh escaped her 
lips.
   "Mamo-chan," she breathed, looking at him with such utter 
adoration in her eyes that he was forced to swallow the lump in his 
throat, "I knew you'd come for me."
   "Of course, Usako," he said, tracing the curve of her face with a 
loving finger.  "I will always come for you.  I will always be there 
for you as long as you need me."
   "Eternity is a long time," she whispered, smiling up at him.
   "Not for me, not for us," he replied, taking her still-weak form 
in his arms.  He bore her up and carried her to where the others were 
waiting.
   "Minna," Serenity said softly, her eyes resting on the concerned 
faces of her Senshi, then on the Guardians.  "Domo arigato, minna."
   "For what?" Rei asked, suddenly too choked with emotion to respond 
with her usual condescending flare.  Jadeite put a comforting arm 
around her and she made no move to remove it.
   "For coming," Serenity smiled again, as if that was perfectly 
obvious.
   "How could we do anything else?" Rei asked.
   "It's our duty," Makoto said with an arch look at Nephrite who 
flushed a little.
   "You're our princess," Ami added, "and our friend."
   "We love you, Sere," Minako murmured, gazing at her princess 
steadily.
   "I love you too . . . minna," Serenity said, smiling at everyone, 
the Guardians included.
   "Come on, we have to get out of here," Endymion ordered, but his 
voice was still tender with his love.
   "Hai," eight voices chorused in reply.
   "Usako?" he asked, but she did not respond.  She was asleep.  He 
kissed her on the forehead, <<Sleep well, my princess,>> then looked 
up and addressed the others.  "Beryl isn't too far away.  She'll be 
here any moment.  Can we manage a teleport?"
   Ami glanced around at all of them.  "We're all really tired, but 
with all of us together-"
   The loud sound of hundreds of footsteps pounding their way decided 
for them.
   "I guess there's really no choice," Ami responded with a shrug.
   "I guess not."  Endymion frowned.  "All right, everyone in a 
circle.
   "You're in the middle, Endymion," Minako directed.
   "Huh?  Why?"
   "You're carrying the Princess," Kunzite pointed out with a 
strained voice.
   The others looked at him and Endymion took a deep breath.  "Oh 
yeah, you're right."
   He stepped into the center, still carrying the princess, and the 
others formed the circle around them.  Looking at their tired faces, 
he had only time to ask, "Are you sure you can manage teleporting 
both of us?"
   Jadeite flashed him a wry smile, "No choice, Endymion, remember?"  
The noise of the youma sounded closer.
   They exchanged one meaningful look, then they all concentrated, 
their auras rising about them.  "SAILOR TELEPORT!!!" the Senshi 
cried, just as the Guardians shouted, "GUARDIAN TELEPORT!!!"
   The army of the Dark Kingdom burst into the room but could only 
watch, aghast, as rainbow colors scintillated about the room and the 
intruders vanished in an overwhelming flash of white light.

   They arrived back at the Earth Palace and Endymion immediately 
laid Serenity down in a soft bed and had Ami check her over.
   "She'll be fine," Ami said, relieved.  "She just needs to rest."
   Everyone breathed out the breath that they had been holding.  The 
worried look on Endymion's face cleared.  "Thank the goddess."
   The others looked at him in astonishment.  Endymion had never 
before shown any indication that he believed in Selene.
   He turned to look at them, gently brushing aside a stray lock of 
hair.  "If she can believe, I can, too.  She knows what is truth and 
what is not.  She can see into people's hearts and find the goodness 
there.  Is that not an aspect of Selene the all-mother, Selene the 
benevolent?"
   Nephrite nodded.  "Hai, sir."
   Endymion smiled.  "For her, I can believe.  Selene brings 
miracles?  Serenity is a miracle.  The old faiths are still valid.  
People may practice whatever they will, as long as they do not 
worship the dark goddesses."
   His eyes lingered an instant on Serenity.  "No, even then.  
Everyone must choose his or her own path."  His eyes were a lighter 
blue as he looked up again.
   "Isn't that right?"
   The others nodded.
   "I will wait here until she wakes," he declared, kneeling at her 
bedside, her hand in his.  "The rest of you, get out of here."  He 
smiled good-naturedly at the couples.  "Go get your wounds tended to 
and," his voice sobered a little, "check on the progress of the war, 
will you?  I fear for my people."
   "Hai, sir," the Guardians said, bringing their fists to their 
chests in a warriors salute.  They left, the Senshi trailing behind 
them.
   "Endymion?"
   He looked up to see Mars looking at him from the door.  "Take care 
of her."
   He nodded, then resumed his vigil over his sleeping love.

   When Serenity awoke the first thing that met her eyes were 
Endymion's blue ones.  "Mamo-chan."  She opened her arms and they 
embraced.

   The Senshi returned to the Moon, but Serenity lingered.  She was 
loathe to go.  Every so often one of the Senshi would pop up bearing 
a message from the queen begging her daughter to return.  Serenity 
would smile at whatever Senshi it was and each time her answer would 
be the same.  "When I'm ready."
   The Senshi and Serenity would exchange a smile, before the Senshi 
would bow and say, "As you will, my princess," before disappearing.

   One day Nephrite introduced Naru, his first love, and Umino, her 
husband to Serenity.  "I'm quite pleased to meet you, Lady," Naru 
said politely.
   "And I'm pleased to meet you too," Serenity said with a smile.
   When they had gone, she turned to Nephrite and said in a quiet 
voice, "Had things been different I think we might have been friends.  
She's such a sweet girl.  Perhaps we will be friends, in another 
life."
   Nephrite looked at her gravely, "I fear for her safety, and for 
his.  The war might very well intrude upon their pleasant lives.  
They've had a sheltered existence and I couldn't bear it if anything 
happened to them.  They've both been my friends for a long time now."
   "Send them to the moon," Serenity said immediately.  "I doubt the 
war will reach that far."
   "And if it does?"
   "Well, all we can to is hope that it doesn't.  Nephrite, make 
something to track her.  Just in case," she said with a little smile 
of assurance as she left him.
   He stared up at the stars outside then summoned forth their power 
and produced a shining black star crystal.  "Find Naru, always," he 
commanded the crystal.  Then he turned to look where Naru had gone 
and whispered, "I'm always looking after you, and I always will be."

   Serenity knocked hesitantly on the door to the farmhouse, Endymion 
behind her and ill at ease.
   The door opened and a man's face peered out.  Seeing her, he swung 
it open.  "Oh, it's you!"
   Ikuko came running to the door crying, "Kenji, Kenji, what is it?"  
Then she caught sight of Serenity and let out a cry of delight.  
"Princess!"
   She stopped abruptly, catching sight of Endymion.  "Princess?"
   Kenji growled.  "Get in the house, Ikuko."
   Serenity smiled soothingly.  "It's all right, Ikuko, Kenji.  You 
know Prince Endymion, I assume."
   "Your Highness," Ikuko said curtsying deeply and elbowing Kenji 
who bowed reluctantly.
   "It's all right," she said again.  "Is Shingo in, I'd like to see 
him."
   Ikuko ducked into the house and reappeared an instant later, her 
infant son in her arms.
   Serenity tickled the baby, making him laugh, and Ikuko smiled in 
strain.
   "Are you all right?" Serenity asked, her blue eyes soft in their 
concern.
   "Oh Princess, I'm just so frightened for my baby, what with the 
war and all!"
   Serenity smiled her benevolent smile again, her eyes shining with 
joy.  "That's why I've come.  If you wish it, I will send you to the 
Moon to live.  Mayhap, the war will not reach that far."
   "Oh, great Goddess Selene, the heavens surely smile down on us!  
Serenity, you must be a child of the Goddess."
   "I?"  Serenity looked amused.  "Why would the Goddess have a child 
as clumsy as me?"
   The two women exchanged a wry smile, then burst into a flurry of 
giggles.
   Serenity placed a hand on Ikuko's arm.  "Go now, Ikuko, Kenji, 
Shingo.  It is your place to be on the Moon.  May you find safety 
there."
   The three of them knelt before her and looked up at their 
princess, and Ikuko could only smile tearfully and say, "Thank you, 
Serenity.  Thank you."

   Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion toured his Gardens one last 
time together.  "I must return tomorrow," she said, gazing up at the 
Moon shining silver in the sky.
   "I'll see you off," he said lightly.
   They walked companionably for a moment, Endymion taking Serenity's 
hand in his.
   "The war is faring badly, isn't it?" she asked almost fearfully.
   He nodded but did not speak.
   "You have to return to the fighting, don't you?"
   Again he nodded, his throat tightening.
   "Be careful."  The words were soft but they held so much emotion 
that Endymion had to hold back his emotions or he feared his heart 
would break.
   "Usako?"
   "Mmmm?"
   Endymion brought out two golden bands.  Serenity looked at him, as 
if to discern his meaning.  "They're wedding rings," he explained, 
hesitantly.  "I thought that we could exchange them before I have to 
go off to fight, as a promise."
   "A promise?" she asked softly.
   "A promise that we'll each make, to save ourselves for each other.  
They're enchanted so that we'll both know if anything's happened to 
the other."  He smiled weakly, "Not that we wouldn't already know.  
They are for all intents and purposes real wedding rings and if we 
exchange vows, then we will be legally married.  Of course, it
wouldn't be official, but"
   He looked at her, then gulped.  His next words came out in a rush.
"Serenity, I love you, more than anything in this world, but I 
understand if you don't feel the same; if you can't share my 
feelings.  But I just thought that maybe"
   "Hush," she said, placing her finger to his lips.  Her deep love 
for him was evident in her voice.  Endymion relaxed, relieved, but 
still his eyes questioned her.  "Hush," she said again.  "I do love 
you, Endymion.  That is the one thing that you should never doubt."
   "Usako"
   She smiled at the use of that name.  "Mamo-chan."
   He knelt down and took her hand in his.  He looked up at her, 
earnest and loving.  "Would you consent to be my wife, my dearest 
Usako?"
   "With all my heart."
   He rose up and enfolded her in a tender embrace, slipping a finger 
onto her hand, as he kissed her with all of the love in her heart.
   She stepped back, her eyes shining.  She was the most beautiful 
that Endymion had ever seen her.  She looked at the ring on her hand 
and regretfully took it off, handing it back to him.  Before he could 
protest, she said lightly, lovingly, "Now, shall we exchange vows?"
    He looked at her smiling face and couldn't stop himself from 
smiling back.  "I, Endymion of Earth, do take thee, Serenity of the 
Moon, to love and to hold, for better or worse till death"
   "No," she whispered, her eyes serious.  "Even that shall not part 
us."
   "For better or worse for all of eternity as long as our love for 
each other shines in our hearts.  I will protect her with my life, 
for she is dearer to my heart than anything else," he finished.
   "I, Serenity of the Moon, do take thee, Endymion of Earth, to love 
and to hold, for better or worse for all of eternity as long as our 
love for each other shines in our hearts.  I will give up my life for 
him if I must, for he is dearer to my heart than anything else."
   Endymion slipped one of the golden rings onto Serenity's ring 
finger.  "With this ring I thee wed, Usako."
   Serenity took the other golden ring and placed it on Endymion's 
ring finger.  "With this ring I thee wed, Mamo-chan."
   Their lips met in a kiss, and bound together forever, they were 
adrift in their love.

   Endymion did see her off the next day, but she had never expected 
him to come to the Moon with her, but he had insisted.  "You're worth 
a little risk, Usako, and this is a *little* risk.  You know as well 
as I do that I can outrun all of your Royal Guards and the Senshi 
wouldn't dare arrest me."
   "They had better not!" she had responded fiercely.
   So they had gone to the Moon.

   When they arrived it was evening and Serenity had Endymion wait 
for her on a balcony outside her room as she ducked inside to 
retrieve something.
   Endymion looked out over the calm beauty of the Moon, wonderingly.  
He had never expected to see it again.  <Usako, this is where you 
belong, but someday, I hope that you'll belong on Earth, with me.>
   "I already do," Serenity said, stepping out of curtains of her 
balcony.
   "Can you discern my thoughts?" he asked without surprise.
   "Silly, of course I can.  I am you, and you are me.  We have the 
same blood flowing in our veins now."
   "Serenity, is it true what they say?  Are Lunars immortal?"
   "We are mortal and immortal.  We can die, we *will* die, but I 
suppose our souls are eternal."
   "So you will live, my beautiful Serenity, and I will not.  I am 
glad that you will endure."
   "Have you listened to nothing that I have said?  We share the same 
blood, Endymion."
   "Then-"
   "Yes," she placed a finger on his lip and it was only then that he 
noticed she was hiding something behind her back.  "Forgive me?" she 
asked.
   "For what?"
   "For the gift and the curse that I have laid upon you, for that is 
what immortality is."
   "If I can be with you, I don't care."
   Serenity's eyes shone.  She brought out the object that she had 
hidden behind her back.  It lay flat on the palm of her hand, the 
chain dangling down.  "My gift to you, beloved."
   Endymion stared at the locket as it shimmered gold in the 
starlight.  He hesitantly touched it and it began to play a melody.  
"Eternity," he managed to say.
   "Eternity," she repeated.  "It's an old, old tune.  I've claimed 
it for us, Mamo-chan, because it has endured and will endure as long 
as our love."
   He placed his hand over top of it, covering hers completely.  "No, 
our love will endure longer."
   She smiled.  "Of course, for forever and a day, if need be."  She 
looked down at their hands, trying to hold back the tears forming at 
the corners of her eyes.  <Why am I crying?  He won't be gone for 
long.>
   Suddenly she found herself being pulled tightly into an embrace, 
Endymion's arms wrapped securely around her.  She rested her head on 
his shoulder and cried through her tears, "You won't forget me?"
   He murmured into her hair, his chest tight with emotion, "Could I 
ever?  My Usako, my princess, my wife."
   "Mamo-chan, I don't want you to go!"
   "I'll be here for you, whenever you need me to be.  In spirit if 
not in body.  I'll always protect you.  I'll always love you."
   She sniffled as they separated a little, wiping at her tears with 
the back of her hair.  "I must seem childish.  I'm your wife now-I'll 
be brave!"
   "That's good."  He tipped her face up and once again her eyes 
threatened to overflow with tears, but she held them in check.  "You 
know, I'd be worried if you didn't miss me."
   "No kidding.  I'd . . . be worried too."
   They stared at each other for an instant, then pulled her to him 
and they kissed with all of the passion and love they possessed.  And 
then they parted.
   "Good-bye, my love."
   "Farewell, beloved."
   "My princess."
   "My prince."
   "My wife."
   "My husband."
   They looked at each other for one last lingering instant, then 
Endymion wrenched his gaze away and strode quickly off into the 
night, the locket clenched tightly in his hand.
   Serenity watched him go, the evening breeze playing with her hair.  
"Until Destiny sees fit for us to meet again, my love."

*Four months later*

   Endymion pulled out his sword and brandished it at Beryl.
   She floated above her army of youma, her eyes bright with an 
insane light.  All about Beryl and Endymion the battle raged.  All 
four of his Generals and their armies were in it and he could only 
hope that Beryl had not planned another attack at the same time 
elsewhere.
   "Why can't you love me?!" Beryl screamed.  "I always loved you, 
ever since we were little.  No one ever loved me.  My parents didn't 
love me at all.  They beat me, Endy.  When you and I met, I thought 
*finally* here's someone I can love who will love me back!  But you 
don't!  You love her, that snippety little princess.  What did she 
ever do to deserve you, Endymion?  I loved you.  You were my life, 
but you were always too busy thinking of *her* to think of *me*!"
   "B-Beryl, I'm sorry, I didn't know."
   She softened.  "I can give you another chance, Endymion.  You can 
forget all about her and love me and we'll be happy.  I can make you 
happy.  She could never make you *really* happy, and after I kill 
her, you won't ever have to think about her."
   "You can't kill her, Beryl!  I love her.  I'm sorry, but I could 
never love you in place of her.  Love doesn't work that way."
   "Well, fine!  If you can't love me then I'll have to kill *both* 
of you!  I won't let her have you!  I won't let you be happy while 
I'm miserable!"
   "Beryl, we can be your friends!  We can help you!" Endymion said 
desperately.
   "Forget it!  Now, how should I kill you?  Maybe I should kill you 
the same way I killed your parents!!!"
   Endymion's eyes widened in horror.  "You didn't?" he pleaded, 
hoping she was just making that up.  Maybe he could redeem 
*something* in her.
   She scowled.  "Of course I did."
   Endymion tried to restrain the anger boiling up in him, the grief, 
but still his voice came out taught and shaky with anger.  "How could 
you?  HOW COULD YOU?!  THEY WERE MY PARENTS!!!"
   Fed up, Beryl screamed, "BECAUSE THEY KILLED MY MOTHER!!!"
   Endymion stopped short.  In a voice drained of all emotion he 
asked, "What do you mean?"
   She began to speak, rapidly, distractedly, shying away from the 
memory and Endymion suddenly saw things the way she must have seen 
them fifteen years ago . . .

*Flash*

   Eight-year old Beryl watched as the soldiers dragged her 
struggling mother away.  She started to run to her, but her father 
yanked her back, holding her arm, with a grip that hurt.  "It is up 
to the King and Queen to decide her fate now," he intoned, 
dispassionately.  "And unless you want to join your mother in her 
fate, little Beryl, you'd better mind me."
   Beryl struggled some more against her father, "Momma!  Momma!  
MOMMA!!!"
   Her father wrenched her arm and said, hatefully, "Look, I never 
wanted you, brat, and I don't want you now, so if you want to go to 
your death like your Momma, then go ahead and join her in Hell!"
   Beryl sobbed, staring through the open door of their broken down 
shack.  She whispered, "Momma."

   Later that day, Beryl ran into the town square just in time to 
hear the town crier say, "For the heinous crimes she has committed, 
King Gaian and Queen Terra of the Crystal Kingdom and the Golden 
Millennium of Earth have decreed that Morganite, last sorceress of 
Earth, should be put to the stake and burned."
   Beryl's horrified gaze shifted to where her mother stood, bound to 
a wooden pole over a pile of easily lit branches.  "No," she 
whispered in a tiny voice.
   A man bent with a flaming torch in his hand and set fire to the 
kindling.
   Morganite gazed across the square into her daughter's eyes and 
smiled smugly.  <<You have the power, little Beryl.  Use it.  Save me 
and one day we will rule this world together and take our revenge on 
those who would seek to destroy us.>>
   Beryl tried, she tried to feel the magic within her, but all she 
felt was a cold emptiness.  <<I-I can't!>>
   The smile left Morganite's face, her eyes widening in panic and 
fear.  <<Beryl!>> she cried, the flames inching closer.  <<BERYL!>>  
She screamed, her hair rising straight into the air, fire-red, as the 
rising flames engulfed her, devouring her body in their hunger.  
"BERRRYYYLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
   "NOOOOOO!!!!!" Beryl screamed.  "MOMMA!!!!!!"
   "Look, it's the witch's daughter!" She dimly heard someone say as 
she stood there, tears streaming down her cheeks.  Her father 
appeared behind her and yanked on her arm.  "Come on, Beryl.  Your 
Momma got what she deserved.  Now let's go!"
   She roughly pulled her arm free and kept staring at the charred 
and blackened corpse in the flames that was all that remained of her 
mother.  A mob of villagers started towards her.  She didn't notice 
them until they blocked out her view of the horrible, flickering 
flames, and then the rage within her built, and peaked, and spilt 
out, until she was overflowing with it and the sweet, sweet feeling 
of power was rushing through her.
   Then she raised her arm into the air, the earth sign blazing on 
her forehead and pointed an index finger at her father.  "Die," she 
whispered, then blasted him with all of the surging emotions within 
her, her hatred for him bubbling out.  The bolt of power hit him and 
trapped him in agonizing spasms as it ran across his body, until it 
finally destroyed him with a flash of destructive light.  He screamed 
the most agonizing scream that Beryl had ever heard any living thing 
make, and she relished every moment of it.
   Then she turned her attention to the villagers who were fleeing 
now in abject terror for their lives.  Beryl smiled, her father's 
screams still echoing in her ears and said, "I let him die easy, but 
you let my mother die, and I am going to kill you *very* *very* 
slowly."  She called forth her power again and directed it at the 
fleeing villagers  until the whole village was awash with her 
destructive power and everywhere there were the screams of those 
dying in profound torment.  Men, women, children, Beryl spared no 
one, her auburn hair flowing about her like the flames that had 
destroyed her mother.  Her eyes flashed eerily red and her laughter 
rang out.  Hours later, the village in flames, there was no one left 
but Beryl.

   A soldier found her outside the remains of the village and took 
her to the palace where she was tended to.  When she awoke, Beryl 
began making her plan for revenge against those who had ordered the 
death of her mother.  It would take a long, long time before her 
plans came to fruition, long enough for them to trust her, and for 
her to not be one of those suspected, but Beryl could wait.  She 
could indeed, for one day there would be a reckoning.

*Flash*

   As Beryl finished her tale, Endymion stared at her with horror-
filled eyes.  "I remember hearing of that village, that woman.  Your 
mother cast a spell and in doing so destroyed a city, KILLING OVER 
THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE!!!"
   Beryl snarled, her eyes filled with animal rage and loathing.  "I
DON'T CARE!!!!"
   Endymion swallowed.  "Whywhy did you spare me?"
   "Because, like me, your parents didn't love you.  Andand you're 
different, Endy, like me.  We have the power and others fear us, but 
we're better than them, Endy!  We can rule the world, the universe, 
if we want!  They think that we're not good enough for them, but 
they're the pathetic ones, lacking power.  I could teach you how to 
use your power, Endy.  We don't need anyone else.  Together we could 
be gods!"
   Endymion stared at her in disbelief, at the red light in her eyes.  
A sinking, despairing feeling formed in his gut.  <This changes too 
much, we can never be the same again, Beryl.  Isn't there any way to 
save your soul?>
   His only answer was the sound of her maniacal laughter.
   The battle raged on.

*One month later*

   Endymion's confrontation with Beryl had shaken him to his core.  
He simply could not believe that his former friend had turned so 
evil.  He was forced to believe it, however, when she launched an 
attack on the capital and captured it, the Earth Palace, and him.

   The Guardians, who had been elsewhere at the time, fled to the 
Moon where the Senshi hid them as they planned how to bring about 
Beryl's downfall and rescue Endymion.  When they had finally finished 
their planning, they prepared to leave.

   The Senshi found them as they were preparing to teleport back to 
Earth.

   "Let us come with you," Rei said intently, putting her hand over 
Jadeite's as she looked into his eyes.  "You helped us save our 
princess, now let us help you save your prince."
   "No, Rei.  The war is coming to *you* now.  You must guard your 
princess, Rei, and your kingdoms.  If we cannot stop Beryl, then she 
will go after your worlds next.  She hungers for power, for death and 
destruction.  She will not hesitate to kill you."
   Rei's eyes began to water as she looked at him.  "It is suicide to 
go alone.  Let me come, Jade," she pleaded.
   "No, my love, this, we must do alone.  Take care, my heart."  He 
touched her face, then turning, he joined the others.
   "Guardian Teleport!"
   "JAAADE!!!" Rei cried, falling to her knees.
   "Nephrite!"
   "Zoisite!"
   "Kunzite," Minako whispered.

*Earth*

   Endymion was chained in the dungeon.  The irony was that it was 
*his* dungeon, of *his* palace.  Beryl had taken up residence there.  
His whole body hurt.  Beryl had had her youma lash him several times 
after he had refused her . . . offers.  His willpower remained 
strong, though.  All he could think of was Serenity.  He filled his 
mind with images of her.  Sweet Serenity, beautiful Serenity, clumsy 
Serenity, his princess, his wife.

   That is, that was all he could think of until his Guardians burst 
into the dungeon, followed by Beryl's enormous army of youma.
   "What the-?" Endymion began, before Zoisite slashed his wrists 
free of the iron and Nephrite pushed a sword into his hands.
   "How's it going, Endy?" Zoisite asked.
   "How did you-?"  He never got a chance to finish as more and more 
youma poured into the dungeon.
   "Hurry, get the Hell out of here, Endy!" Jadeite cried, slashing 
through them, his Guardian armor blazing forth.
   "Go ON, my prince!" Kunzite cried, his own Guardian armor flaring 
forth.
   "But, but-"
   "Don't wait for us, Endy!  We're just *dying* to dance with these 
goons!"  Zoisite's Guardian armor shone as it appeared.
   "The Princess!" Nephrite shouted, his own armor brilliantly 
appearing.  "Get out of here for her!"
   The four of them shoved him toward an exit.
   "GO!!!!!!"
   Endymion went.  He ran through the familiar halls of his palace, 
dank and filthy now from their occupation by the youma, his breath 
catching in his throat.  <Good luck, my Guardians.>  From behind him, 
he could hear their battle cries sounding out.
   "PHOENIX!!!"
   "GRIFFIN!!!"
   "Ugh, do I *really* have to say this?  Oh fine, UNICORN!!!"
   "DRAGON!!!"
   The Prince of Earth stumbled out of the palace and continued to 
run until he was half a mile from the palace then turned to look 
back.  <My Guardians . . .>

   <<"RRRREEEEEEEEEIIIII!!!!!!!!">> Jadeite howled his last defiant 
cry, his whole body and soul crying out in anguish.  <Rei . . .>  
Then he succumbed to the darkness, her smiling face before him.

   <<Mako, our love will have to be enough, after all . . .>>

   <<Be happy, Ami.  Don't cry for me.  All I ever wanted to do was 
make you smile . . .>>

   <<I love you, Mina-chan.  I never admitted it, but it's true.>>

   The structure burst into flame, then crumbled and collapsed in on 
itself behind him.  Endymion stared, his eyes wide with horror and 
denial.  "No," escaped from his lips.  <No no no no no no 
"NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!">  Then with an incomprehensible cry of loss, 
he threw himself to the ground and wept.  "Jadeite.  Zoisite.  
Nephrite.  Kunzite.  NO!  NO, DAMMIT!!!  DON'T LEAVE ME!!!!"  Then 
raising his tear-streaked face to the sky, he vowed, with all of the 
strength left in his body, "I WILL DESTROY YOU FOR THIS, BERYL!!!  I 
WILL MAKE YOU *PAY* FOR WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!!!!"

   Beryl snatched the stones from the lifeless bodies, cackling in 
triumph.  <Finally, I have them!>  Then with a vicious manipulation 
of dark energy, she wrenched their souls free and trapped them in 
their stones . . . forever.  She implanted the stones in their 
foreheads and smiled in dark pleasure as the eyes of the corpses 
sprang open and glowed red in the darkness.
   "Welcome to the Dark Kingdom, my Dark Kings . . ."

*The Moon*

   Endymion stumbled wearily into the throne room and collapsed.  Her 
eyes widening in shock, Princess Serenity dashed forward and knelt at 
his side, disregarding the stern looks that her mother and the rest 
of the court were giving her.
   "Endymion," she pleaded, cradling his head in her lap.  "Wake up 
now, dearest."
   Endymion groaned and turned his head and Princess Serenity's hands 
flew to her mouth as she saw the bloody gash on his temple.  "Selene, 
help him."  She knew that it was not as bad as his sword wound had 
been, but here, surrounded by her mother's court, he looked so 
vulnerable and Serenity knew that he must have been desperate to come 
here.  She felt his pain as acutely as if it were her own, but she 
bore it and set it aside.  It was not his wounds that troubled him 
most, it was his heart.  It was broken, and Serenity feared what that 
foretold.
   "Mamo-chan," she asked him softly, staring at his unconscious face.  
"What has occurred?"  She turned to her mother, tears, which she did 
not seem to notice, trickling silently down her face.  "Mother," she 
said, in a sad, quiet, little lost voice, her eyes sending her mother 
such an eloquent look of despair and pleading that the Queen could 
deny her nothing.  "Help him, please."
   Queen Serenity flinched.  How could she not when he was in such a 
state?  When her daughter had asked it of her in such a voice?  Even 
the sorrow could not hide the newfound maturity, the strength and 
purpose in it.  The princess *would* have her way.  Briefly, Serenity 
wondered what had happened to her little girl to change her so, but 
she knew the answer.  Sere had grown up.
   She gestured regally, and her guards moved forward.  "Take him," 
she said and swallowed a lump in her throat as Sere clung to him, 
shielding his body as though they would do him harm, "Take him to the 
Healers."
   The guards advanced and carefully lifted him body between them.  
The princess let him go reluctantly, and kissed him tenderly before 
they carried him away.  She watched as they left the room, then 
turned to her mother, and before the Queen could say a word, she said 
simply, her eyes filled with truth,  "I love him, Mother."
   And Serenity could not say a word in response, especially when her 
daughter held up her left hand and the Queen saw the band of gold 
that shone there.
   "You cannot separate us, Mother.  Endymion and I, are one.  
Throughout eternity."
   Queen Serenity smiled sadly, unable to stop looking into her 
daughter's resolute eyes, "I know, Sere.  I know."

   "Endymion," came a clear, loving voice and Endymion propped 
himself up to see Princess Serenity seated at the foot of his bed.
   "Usako."
   "Why did you come?" she asked, looking at him worriedly.  "I mean, 
I'm certainly glad that you're safe, but why did you come alone?  Why 
did the Guardians not accompany you, my love?  You were badly injured 
. . ."
   Endymion looked away.  "Serenity, something's happened."
   She stood and walked to the head of his bed and knelt down before 
him.  She put her left hand on his and reached up to touch his face.  
He flinched as though in pain.  "What is the matter, love?  Tell me 
what it is that pains you so."
   "Can you not guess?" he countered, his voice hard as he gazed off 
into the distance, unseeing.
   Her hand squeezed his a little tighter, and rising she said as she 
turned to leave, "Yes, I can, my love.  Your pain is mine.  Mine is 
my Senshi's even as your Guardians' is yours.  I can guess, Endymion, 
and the thought makes me weep inside and my heart breaks into a 
million pieces over them.  How shall I tell my Senshi, Endymion?"
   Endymion winced at the bitterness in her voice.  Serenity had 
never before been bitter.  It was not in her to be anything but happy 
or sad.  Bitterness was as alien to the sweetness of her nature as 
the forces of the Dark Kingdom on Earth.  "Serenity!" he called out 
before she could leave.  "I don't know what to do without them!  They 
were my friends . . . and more than that!"  He tasted salt on his 
lips and realized that he was crying.  "They were like . . . brothers 
to me."
   "I know," she said, turning and he saw that she was fighting 
tears.  She ran to him and wrapped her arms around him.  They both 
wept quietly for a time and even after her tears had stopped, his 
still would not slow.  <<I love you, Usako.>>
   <<I know that, too.>>  She held him as the tears coursed down his 
cheeks and he wept for the first time in her embrace.  "Mamo-chan," 
she murmured, rocking him slightly, as a mother would rock a child, 
"I love you, too.  With all of my heart, I love you.  'Till the end 
of time."
   Then she raised his face to hers and kissed away his tears.  <<My 
love, my love, someday, we will all be together again.  You and your 
Guardians and I and my Senshi.  I promise you that.  Someday.>>
   <<Usako,>> he thought, as she laid him down in his bed and pulled 
the covers up around him, kissing his lips.
   "Good night, my husband," she murmured sadly, "Good night, my 
prince."
   And he slept the sleep of a child who has found peace at last.

   "Come, my Shadows," Beryl shrieked.  "The time has come to destroy 
this pitiful Moon Kingdom once and for all!   Endymion will not 
escape me again!  The Moon Princess will be made to PAY for what she 
has done!  Queen Serenity will BOW before me and offer up her 
daughter's life as a sacrifice!!!  COME MOTHER, AID ME!!!  I, BERYL, 
YOUR DAUGHTER, SORCERESS OF EARTH DO SUMMON YOU!!!  MOTHER, HEED 
ME!!!!!!"
   A dark shadowy figure seeped up from the ground, the outline of 
long wavy hair barely visible.  <<You *failed* me, Beryl.  Did you 
think that I would forgive you for that?!  My death, it is on YOUR 
shoulders!!!>>
   Beryl laughed.  "You cannot harm me now, Mother.  Your power, it 
is now MINE!!!  You placed too much faith on a scared little girl.  
You should have known that as long as you lived I could not have full 
use of my powers!  You were using me, Mother, and now I will use 
YOU!!!  SHADOWS!!!" she screamed.
   The Seven came forth from the darkness, surrounding the dark 
spirit.
   "DEVOUR HER!!!" Beryl laughed, her eyes blazing red in enjoyment.
   The Shadows massed forth and overtook the lone spirit, consuming 
her.  As she died for the second time, the spirit wailed, 
<<BERRRRRRYYYYYLLLLLLLL!!!  MY DAUGHTER!!!>>
   "Yes, Mother, I am your daughter," Beryl said, her eyes burning 
brighter.
   <<CURSE YOU!!!  CURSE YOU, BERYL!!!  MAY YOUR EXISTENCE BE 
*DAMNED*!!!>>
   "It already is, Mother.  It already is."
   The spirit let out one more cry and then it was gone.  The Seven 
Shadows turned blazing hungry red eyes on Beryl.  She smirked.  "Now 
that you have had your snack, it is time for the feast to begin.  The 
Moon Kingdom will be nothing more than dust when I am through with 
it, and Endymion will be MINE!!!  HAHAHAHAHA!!!!!"

   Endymion paused beneath her balcony.  "Princess Serenity," he 
called.
   "Prince Endymion," she responded, astonished to see him up and 
about.
   "Princess, I should not be here," he murmured, and she suddenly 
knew why he was being so formal.  Her mother may have accepted the 
fact that they were in love, but she didn't have to like it.  "I must 
speak with you, though.  That sorceress, Beryl, is even now leading 
her armies against Earth.  I fear she has already taken my kingdom 
and brainwashed my subjects to her cause."
   <No!> Serenity thought desperately.
   "Serenity," he said, a pleading look suddenly in his eyes, "you 
must be cautious.  She is coming after the Moon next!  Serenity, 
promise me-"  He turned and they both heard the clatter of armor.
   "I must go," he said shortly.  "Good-bye, my princess.  We may 
very well not meet again."  He looked at her one last lingering 
instant more, then took of down the path.
   Serenity watched as the Royal Guard clattered after him, yelling 
for him to "Halt, in the name of the moon!"
   <He'll get away,> she thought confidently to herself.  Then she 
spoke aloud, her voice sounding suddenly frightened in the stillness 
of the room.  "Beryl, coming here?  No, it cannot be!  She will not 
take over the Moon!  I, Serenity, daughter of Serenity, do swear that 
Beryl will never have the Moon for her own.  By Selene, she shall not 
if I and my Senshi have any say about it."
   She determinedly swept from the room.  <I will tell the Senshi.>  
Then she stopped short.  <I cannot face them . . . not now.  They 
will want news of the Guardians and I have nothing to tell them.   
How can I tell them?  How can I crush their dreams-break their 
hearts-in such a way?  No, it is better to wait as Endymion and I 
decided.  Soon, we may all be dead anyway, and then it will not 
matter who went first.  But I do swear that if we all die trying, 
Beryl will *not* get the Moon.>  "I will not allow that witch to take 
my kingdom from me."  She strode on.
   Luna watched her from a shadowed corner in the corridor.  She saw 
what Serenity had seen earlier.  <You've grown up, my princess.>

   Princess Serenity swept down the stairs, her hand trailing along 
the banister.  She felt someone catch hold of her wrist and arrest 
her motion.  She turned, startled, and the sight that met her eyes 
startled her even more.  "Endymion," she breathed.
   He gave a gallant bow and said, "May I be so bold as to request a 
dance, my princess?"  His eyes looked up at her through his mask and 
their intense blue gazed on her lovingly.  "It could be our last," he 
said in a low voice.
   Serenity wanted nothing more than to fling herself into his arms 
and hold him until the world came to pieces around them, but instead, 
she only nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
   He drew her onto the dance floor and they danced together to the 
music.  As they danced, Serenity was aware that she and this 
mysterious masked man were drawing stares, but she cared not in the 
least.
   "You came," she whispered, when he was holding her in his arms.
   "How could I miss the last dance of the millennium?" he replied, 
holding her closer.  "As I said before, it could be our last and if 
it is, the only way I want to end my life is holding you."
   Serenity rested her head on his shoulder.  "I don't want this to 
ever end.  This dance . . . this life."
   "But dearest," he murmured, "all things must end.  It is the 
nature of life."
   "But not so soon," she countered.  "Not so soon.  Our time has not 
yet come, my prince.  We have our whole lives ahead of us, why can't 
we live them?"
   "We've done more living in this past year than most people have 
done in their whole lifetimes.  Don't fret, love, we're not going to 
give up without a fight."
   "Will you fight, Endymion?"
   "For you, for my people, for Earth, for the Moon, yes, I will 
fight.  Till the bitter end if I must.  I won't let you go without a 
fight.  I've said that before and I meant it, and I mean it now."
   "Endymion, do we really stand a chance against Beryl?  Can we 
truly defeat her?"
   "We have weapons that she will never possess, angel of my heart.  
We have our love.  For that I am willing to fight her and her minions 
alone."
   "You are not alone," she whispered, resting her cheek against his.  
"You are never alone, Endymion.  Mamo-chan.  Never forget that."
   "I won't."
   "But Endymion, she has love too.  She loves you.  Isn't that 
enough for her to prevail?"
   "There is a difference between love and lust.  She may have loved 
me once, but when the true Beryl was destroyed through her own evil 
and Metallia took over, there is nothing left but hatred, jealousy, 
rage, and the need for revenge.  She can no longer feel love.  She 
has become a minion of the Dark Kingdom in more than name.  They have 
her soul."
   "Can she not be saved?"
   "You are so trusting, Serenity.  So innocent, still.  I want you 
to stay that way, forever.  I want you to always be my Usako."
   "I always will."
   "No, darling, you are already beyond that.  You are not mine, I am 
yours, my beautiful, beautiful, Serenity."
   "No, Mamo-chan, we do not belong to each other.  As I told Beryl 
once and as she could not understand, we belong *with* each other.  
For eternity."
   "Eternity, my Usa."
   They kissed and as their lips met and they both felt the 
outpouring of love from each other, a huge resounding explosion was 
heard from outside.  It shook the ballroom and pieces of the ceiling 
began falling.  Endymion held Serenity tightly to him, and shielded 
her with his body from the raining rubble.
   "Serenity!" he yelled over the raucous din as people began 
screaming and Luna and Artemis ran through, shouting for everyone to 
get to battle stations and fend off the attack.
   She looked up at him with frightened but strangely resolute eyes.  
"She's come hasn't she?"
   "Yes, my princess.  Now, you have to get to safety!"  Towing her 
along, he began pushing his way through the panicked crowd.
   "I don't want to leave you!" she cried.
   He pulled her to him again and murmured into her hair, "I love 
you, Usa.  I will always love you.  Now, GO!"  He pushed her through 
the crowd towards an exit and started off in the other direction 
towards the sounds of the attack.
   "ENDYMION!" she cried as the crowd carried her away.
   He turned, looking at her searchingly.
   "I love you!  Forever, my prince!  Forever, my husband!"
   He nodded, then turned about again and ran towards the fighting.  
Serenity let the crowd carry her away now, but as they went, she 
couldn't help but worry for his safety, for the safety of the others, 
and she offered up a prayer to the Goddess Selene.  <<Please Selene, 
keep them safe, especially Endymion.  I love them all.>>

   Ikuko knelt, the silver robes flowing about her as she pressed her 
hands together in prayer.  <Great Goddess Selene protect your 
children this day.  Help defend us against the encroaching evil . . 
.>
   Kenji, holding Shingo in his arms, watched her silently.  <Good 
luck, love.  Pray, for all of us.>
   <For the princess, daughter of Serenity, descended of Cynthia, 
descended of Eurynome, child of the Moon and of Selene, may the Gods 
have mercy open us.>
   Kenji knelt next to her, gently placing Shingo on the ground 
slightly in front of both of them.  He took her hand in his and they 
exchanged a shaky smile.  Then together they bowed their heads and 
murmured, "Selene the merciful, Goddess of the Moon, protect this, 
your kingdom, against the forces of darkness . . ."

   Princess Serenity wept into her hands, her slender frame shaking 
and racked from sobs.  She had found her way to her own quarters 
where she was awaiting the end of her world in darkness.  "If only . 
. ." she sobbed,  "if only I could protect him . . . like he always 
protects me.  I can't let him go . . . I would give up my life . . . 
to protect the one I love!"  She broke down completely, crying her 
heart out.
   Luna watched her from the shadows.  <'I would give up my life . . 
. to protect the one I love!'> she thought to herself.  <Do you 
really love him that much?  Well, I can't help him, but I can help 
you.  You will have your wish.  You *will* be able to protect him.>  
She turned and ran down the hallway.  <I hope I am doing the right 
thing.  The Sailor Senshi of the Moon will be born this day.  I will 
create a henshin wand for you, Princessno, Sailor Moon.>

   Beryl laughed in amusement as she sent forth her Dark Kings.  
"Find the Sailor Senshi and DESTROY them!!!"
   "Yes, my Queen," they intoned.
   And Beryl laughed . . .

   Mars looked at Jadeite as he entered the room.
   "Does our love burn brightly now?" he asked with a bitter laugh.
   Sailor Mars's gaze was steady, as she said slowly and sadly, "Yes, 
until there is nothing left but ashes."
   He stared at her for an instant, unbelieving as she raised her 
hands in the gesture he knew all too well.  <<REI!>> the soul within 
him cried in torment.
   She heard him, he knew that she did, but she simply bit her lower 
lip until it bled and lowered her tear-bright eyes for an instant in 
pain.  He struck.
   He charged forward, knocking her off balance and pinning her to 
the wall, his hand tight around her neck.  She struggled, crying out 
as he hurt her, desperately searching for the *real* him in his eyes.  
All she could see was the darkness in his soul, the red power 
flickering in his eyes and she knew that he had at that instant been 
totally consumed.  He was dead to her.
  With a cry of pain, she knocked him away and wrenched free of his 
grip.  They stared at each other from across the room.
   He laughed madly as she struggled for breath.  She had hoped with 
all of her heart that this moment would never come, when the two of 
them would be forced to choose sides.  But it had.  As she raised her 
hand to kill him, Rei knew that she was killing herself.
   <<For the princess . . . and her prince.  For you, Jade, this is 
what I must do.  I love you.>>
   "FIREEEEEEEEE!!!!!"  The rivers of flame shot forth, consuming him 
as the evil had before.  His form flickered in the blaze and the 
stone, glinting green, fell from his forehead.  His eyes flashed to 
life for one last instant as he looked on his love.
   He smiled as his head fell back and he fell, the flames burning 
with a clear light along the length of his body.  He stretched a hand 
out to her as he lay on the ground, striving to reach her through the 
flames.  She reached for him but could not touch him.  A tear trailed 
down his cheek as he viewed his love for one last time before his 
eyes closed forever.  <<Rei,>> was his thought, quietly loving.  
<<Rei.>>
   Then the flames blazed higher and engulfed him.  Rei buried her 
face in her hands and wept, sinking to her knees.  <<Selene help me!  
What have I done?  What have I done?!>>  "JADE!" came the broken 
scream.  "JAAAAADEEEEEE!"

        ~Fly, Firebird, into the reddened sky.
         Fly, Firebird, upon your wings up high.
         Blaze with flames of our passionate love.
         Take the world by storm from the fires above.

        ~Burn, Firebird, with the heat of my love.
         Burn, Firebird, from the blazes above.
         Flames engulf you like the fire in my heart.
         I'm nothing without you.  Why must we part?

        ~Blaze, Firebird, with the spark in your eye.
         Blaze, Firebird, with the flame from you and I.
         The heat of your flames is burning up my soul.
         We're both burning up, out of control!

        ~Fly, Firebird, into the darkening sky,
         Fly, Firebird, from our passion on high.
         Flicker with the ember that sizzles in my soul.
         Setting me aflame, burning out of control!

        ~Fly, Firebird, into the reddened sky.
         Fly, Firebird, upon your wings up high.
         Flames engulf you like the fire in my heart.
         I'm nothing without you.  Why must we part?

        ~Firebird, why can't we be
         The flame that burns throughout all eternity?
         Firebird, why must we part?
         I don't why, but you are breaking my heart.

        ~Why must we part?

        ~Firebird~

   Sailor Jupiter let the tears fall as Nephrite glared at her.  "The 
stars know all, and today is the day of your death!"
   "Nephrite!"
   "Do not address me with such familiarity!  I am a Dark King!"
   He gathered forth a large mass of dark energy and blasted her 
with it, chuckling as he did so.
   She screamed as she fell, her vision nearly blacking out.  
"Nephrite, listen!  The stars . . . can you hear them?  Their song is 
*so* beautiful," she pleaded with him.  "It is *our* song!  The song 
that we danced to!  Do you remember?"
   He paused for an instant, then, "No."  He blasted her again.
   Sobbing with the effort, she got to her feet.  "I-I can't let you 
go.  You'd hurt, Sere, and Endymion.  Duty, Nephrite!  Do you 
remember your duty?  We're, both of us, people of duty before 
anything else . . . even love.  You were right again . . . and I know 
that you'd want this, because you would NEVER betray your prince!  
I'll do this for duty and for love!  Love first, Nephrite."  She 
staggered over to him and kissed him full on the lips.  Their eyes 
met as she said, "Then duty."
   Unable to look away from his eyes, she called forth her power.  
"LIGHTNING!" and struck him down.
   Then he whispered out, "Mako . . . chan."
   "Nephrite?!" she shrieked, the tears coursing down her cheeks.
   He reached up a hand and she took it and as she did so his eyes 
closed.  <Duty or love?  Those were my choices and now that it's too 
late, I choose . . . love.>
   "NEPHRITE!"

        ~The stars only shine
         in the darkest of night
         I won't be beaten
         without a fight!

        ~The crash of the thunder
         The flash of the lightning
         Why do you insist
         that we keep on fighting?

        ~I would fight a thousand battles
         I would die for you
         I would wish upon a star
         To make our dreams come true!

        ~The light of the stars
         Shines in your eyes
         The way that you love me
         Is no surprise

        ~We can love as only those can
         Who know the stars' wanderings
         I open up my heart to you
         And it flies on gilded wings

        ~This is my love for you.
         Let it shine pure and true.
         I want to be held by you
         My only love.~

   Sailor Mercury flinched as Zoisite struck her again and again, as
he laughed.  "Zoisite," she moaned, "stop, please . . ."
   "What, you don't like it?!"
   "Zoisite . . ."  She looked up at him and through her tears . . . 
she smiled.  "I love you.  No riddles now, just the truth.  I love 
you more than I've ever loved anyone."
   He stopped for an instant frozen by that smile.  <Ami . . . a 
smile . . .>
   "If you kissed me, I would smile.  You're the only one, Zoisite,
who's ever been able to make me do that.  You told me to overcome my
limitations and I have.  I can say it now, Zoisite.  Do you want to 
listen?  I love you."
   Zoisite found that he still could not move.  It was as though a 
willpower stronger than his own was holding him in place.  <<Now, 
Ami!>>
   "ICE!!!!!"
   And then he was frozen forever in that position, a bewildered look 
on his face as he gazed out of a block of solid ice.
   The smile melted off her face and she fell to her knees in front
of him, curling herself up into a little ball.  "Zoisite," she
sobbed.

        ~The cold
         Why does it hurt in such a way?
         The cold
         Why can't I make it go away?

        ~I will smile through my tears
         Shaking off my bitterness
         I will smile at my fears
         Waiting for your kiss

        ~The warmth of your touch
         Melts the ice of my heart
         When I'm with you
         I never want to part

        ~I just want to be
         In your embrace
         Why can't you just see
         That I'll win this race?

        ~Nothing can stop me when I smile for you!
         Nothing can stop my dreams from coming true!
         I will always love only you!
         And my smiles are forever . . . yours.~

   Sailor Venus stared at Kunzite as he moved towards her, evil in 
his eyes.  "We will kill the Serenity and the Princess for our Queen, 
and then this Kingdom will be ours, and so too shall the universe!"  
He laughed, a sickening sound.
   Her strength evaporating in an instant, she fell to her knees in 
despair.  Torment engulfed her disbelieving eyes.  <No,> she thought 
desperately to herself.  <No, this can't be happening!  Not again!  
Don't make me have to kill the one I love again!!!>
   He advanced stealthily, wary of her even when he could not think 
for himself, the darkness in his eyes terrible to behold.  <The light 
of his soul is gone.  He isn't himself.  Metallia's controlling him!>  
But even so, there was only one course of action, and she couldn't 
bring herself to implement it.  <I can't!  I CAN'T!!!>
   "You will die, Sailor Venus," Kunzite whispered menacingly.  He 
had forgone his weapon as he knew that no weapon could harm her.  He 
raised his arms, blue energy glowing about his fingertips as he 
massed his strength for one powerful blast.  He was still watching 
her warily, but the Senshi made no move against him.  In fact, she 
did not move at all.
   Sailor Venus was still in the position that she had fallen to 
before, her arms braced against the floor to hold her up, but she was 
not facing Kunzite.  She was staring, unseeing, at the ground, tears 
falling unnoticed from her eyes, her hair hiding her face from view.  
She was as still as a statue, trapped in her indecision between her 
love and her duty.  <I'm sorry, my princess, I have failed you.>  
Then the princess's terrified scream could be heard and Minako shut 
her eyes to block out all of the images of the princess in distress 
that her mind conjured up.  <Kill me quickly, my love, I am not 
worthy enough to live.  I have failed her.  I have failed everyone.>  
But the princess, she couldn't let the princessshe couldn't let 
Serenity die.  <I swore an oath to protect her.  A cause greater than 
myself, greater than anything in my life, is my duty to protect her.  
You're going to destroy her if I don't stop you, Kunzite.  I know 
that.  You've betrayed her, me, your prince, everybody, but I also 
know that it's not your fault, so I forgive you.  I forgive you 
because I CAN'T FORGIVE MYSELF!!!>
   Kunzite brought down his arms, ready to blast her apart where she 
sat, kneeling on the floor beneath him.  "DIE!" he screamed, 
releasing the tremendous force of his energy, enhanced by Metallia's 
control over him.
   Sailor Venus brought her head up rapidly, turning to face him and 
the huge blast of blue energy headed her way.  <I'm sorry, but . . . 
I'm a soldier now.>  Her face was wet with tears and the agony in her 
eyes was horrible to behold as she stuck out her right hand, fingers 
splayed apart, and whispered, "Love . . ."
   The beam of yellow-gold power that grew and shot forth from her 
hand was so intense that it completely obliterated the wash of blue 
energy and, not even slowing, continued racing toward its target.  As 
soon as it slammed into Kunzite, it burned a hole through him, 
killing him instantly.
   Minako could only see the look of surprise in his eyes as he died, 
and the light of his soul returned.  Then he was stretched out on the 
ground, dead, with a strangely peaceful expression on his face.  The 
grey uniform that he had been wearing melted away to reveal his armor 
underneath, and as his clothes reappeared, so too did his stone.  
Minako did not see it fall from his forehead, into its accustomed 
place around his neck.
   The chain that held the green stone he wore around his neck 
snapped, and the rock fell to the ground.  Unnoticed, a watery blue 
light engulfed it and in that instant it was as though something was 
saying, "At last, peace."
   Feeling that she had just destroyed any chance of redemption, 
Minako buried her face in his body and wept, knowing that she would 
never stop mourning his loss or the loss of her soul.  But, it was 
for a greater cause, a greater purpose.  Serenity was the meaning to 
her life.  The only meaning left now . . .

        ~Golden light
         Shining from my heart
         You look into my eyes
         And make me fall apart

        ~How do you do it?
         How can you make me feel this way?
         How do you manage
         To just by smiling, brighten my day?

        ~I wanted nothing
         I didn't want be with you
         But somehow things changed
         And without you, I don't know what to do

        ~I never wanted to ever hurt you
         I knew you never wanted to hurt me
         But sometimes, you hurt the ones you love
         And the hurt you cause, you just can't see!

        ~Why must we go on
         Hurting one another?
         Why must we go on
         Without each other?

        ~I can't stand it!
         Let's never part
         A promise that's made
         Straight from the heart

        ~I don't where to start
         But I know that together
         Anything that tries to stop us
         We can weather

        ~Don't kiss me good-bye
         I would never leave you
         Keep faith in my love
         I would never deceive you
 
        ~We're two of a kind
         Loving each other
         Never knowing what's in store
         Troubles light as a feather

        ~Keep me in your heart
         And we will never part
         We'll make a brand-new start
         Just remember me~

   Mars stared down at the heap of ashes that was all that remained 
of her love.  "Jade," she whispered, her strength spent.  Off to one 
side, the light struck the edge of a green stone and in a trance-like 
state, Mars picked it up.  Then scrambling to her feet, she ran off 
in search of the princess.

   Makoto gently closed his eyes and averted her face, the tears 
starting fresh.  She couldn't bear to see him like *that*.  As she 
started to stand, her fingers brushed against something hard and 
picking up the stone without knowing why, she let herself look at him 
once last time, then fled the room, searching for the princess.

   Ami stared at his frozen form, forcing back the tears.  She 
brushed a hand over the surface of the ice.  It contorted into a fist 
and she pounded on the ice, tears pricking at her eyes as she slid 
helplessly to the ground.  As she landed on her knees, still facing 
the ice, her hand touched something warm and looking down she saw a 
green stone.  Picking it up, she stared at it, then tightened her 
grip around it.  Slowly, she rose, still struggling with her tears 
and left to find the princess.

   Venus lifted her tear-streaked face from his body as she felt 
someone, no *something* call for her.  She felt strangely drawn to 
the stone and picked it up, clutching it tightly to her with her hand 
as she ran off to find the princess.

   Endymion doubled over in pain as the pain that he had felt before 
at his Guardian's deaths overcame him again.  "Oh gods, not again.  
Images flashed before his mind.  Red, burning, searing fire.  One 
last look . . .  <<She is so beautiful . . .>> said a thought that 
was not his own.  Blazing, crashing, brilliant lightning.  The feel 
of her hand in his . . .  <<We *do* belong together . . .>> came 
another thought.  Clear, cold, freezing ice . . .  <<Tears don't suit 
you, please just . . . smile . . .>>  Golden, arching, pure energy.  
The look in her eyes that told him how much she truly loved him.  <<I 
love you, forever . . .>>
   And Endymion knew what had occurred.  He screamed at the sky.  
"WHY?!!  WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THIS TO THEM?!!!  THEY WERE HAPPY!!!  
They were happy."  He crumpled to the ground, his loss overcoming 
him.

   The Senshi came upon him like that, as they each ran into six-way 
intersection in the corridors and saw the others.
   Endymion did not look up when they all, by silent mutual 
agreement, walked to him.
   "Endymion," Sailor Venus said softly, placing her hand on his 
shoulder as she came up behind him.  "Endymion, get up.  It is too 
late for this, they were loved, they will be mourned, but not now.  
The time when we could afford to be that selfish has passed.  The 
princess needs us now.  Endymion, get up."
   The prince craned his neck to look at her, at them all, but mostly 
at her, Venus.  Tears ran down her cheeks, but for once there was no 
despair in her eyes, only love, bright and shining.  For an instant 
she looked like his Usako.  "He loved you, you know," he said, 
tiredly.
   She smiled back slowly, tears dripping from her eyes.  She 
answered in a quiet voice, "I know."
   And Endymion knew why the despair had vanished, even if the pain 
had not.  Venus knew, they all knew, that they had loved and been 
loved in return, and for them, it was enough.  They had a duty now, 
one that could not wait, the princess needed them.
   "Give me a hand up," he said.  Venus held out a hand to him and he 
clasped it, getting to his feet.  They stood there for an instant, 
looking into each others eyes.
   <<You gave him a lot.>>
   <<He gave me more, Endymion.  He gave me more.  Love is a gift, my 
princess's prince.  Remember that.>>
   <<I will, I do.  We must all give our love freely.>>
   <<That we must.>>
   A scream rent the air.  "Princess!" everyone cried.  Endymion and 
Venus let go of each others hands with a start.
   "This way!" Endymion shouted, pointing down a corridor.  He could 
feel her, his Usako was close.  Everyone nodded, then began to run.
   "Here, Endymion," Venus shouted tossing something at him as they 
ran.  He felt a jolt as he caught it, then gazed down at it in 
disbelief.  "It's-"
   "Kunzite, I know!" she cried, naming the stone.
   Endymion glanced at her for an instant, then looked back down at 
the stone.  <No, you don't, Venus.  Not at all.  This is *Kunzite*.>  
"Why are you giving me this?" he managed to choke out.
   "I found it with Kunzite when he . . ."
   "I know."
   "I-I don't really know what drew me to it, but somehow, it just 
felt right that I take it . . . and giving it to you is the right 
thing to do."
   "Venus, no, I can't take this.  Kunzite-he would want you to have 
it."
   "But it is for you.  It is meant *for* you.  Take care of it for 
me.  It will give you strength."
   <<I will give you strength,>> a familiar voice echoed in his head.
   Venus flinched for an instant, then shook her head and kept 
running.
   "Thank you, Venus.  You don't know what you're giving me."
   <Oh, but I do, Endymion, I do.  His stone, his link to you, if I 
had kept it it would have been my link to him.  But I relinquish him, 
Endymion.  I let him go.  It was his duty to serve *you*.  It was his 
right to love me.  He loved me, and I loved him, and now I am letting 
him go.  Back to his duty.>
   "Endymion here!" the other three Senshi called.
   He looked up to see three green stones hurtling at him from three 
different directions.  He let out a blast of white energy and the 
stones slowed and gracefully full into his outstretched hand.  He 
whispered their names as he came in contact with each one.  "Zoisite, 
Nephrite . . . Jadeite."  He looked around at all of the Senshi.  
Their eyes were moist with tears.  "Thank you, minna.  Thank you."
   "We loved them," Mars said, turning her gaze away from him.
   "They knew that," Ami added, likewise turning away.
   "We knew that," Makoto finished, glancing away.
   "The stones are yours, Endymion.  Their duty is not finished yet," 
Minako said calmly.  <Take care of their souls.>

   Then ran outside where they found Serenity being confronted by 
Beryl who was blasting her again and again with dark energy.
   "SERENITY!!!" Mamoru screamed, throwing a rose, that he had 
suddenly discovered in his hand, between the two.  He quickly took 
advantage of the distraction it caused to move in front of the 
Princess to take the blasts.
   The Senshi launched their attacks but she shrugged them off and 
shouted, "SHADOWS!!!"
   The Seven Shadows appeared and surrounded the Senshi, eager to 
devour them, souls and all.  The Senshi threw attack after attack at 
them, but nothing affected them and they kept coming closer and 
closer and closer . . .
   The Senshi soon found that they were too involved in trying to 
survive to do anything else.

   "Leave her," Beryl shouted, "and I will spare you!"
   "Never!  I love Serenity with all of my heart!  She is my wife!!!"  
He lifted his left hand and Beryl saw the band of gold glinting at 
her.
   She gave a howl of anguish and screamed, "Fine then, if you choose 
to stay with the pitiful Moon Princess, then I shall just have to 
*DESTROY* YOU BOTH!!!  Starting with you, ENDYMION!"  Beryl snickered 
as she struck Endymion with her dark power, lifting him up with a 
vortex of winds.
   Princess Serenity ran after him, despair in her face.  "Endymion, 
NO!!!  I want to be with you!  *Nothing* will ever separate us!  I
LOVE YOU!!!"  She took a deep breath and leapt into the winds and
they carried her up . . . up.
   "SERENITY, NO!!!!"  But it was too late.
   "MAMO-CHAN!" she cried, *her* name for *him*.
   "USAKO!" he screamed back, stretching out his arm.
   She reached for his hand, and they just touched before Beryl 
blasted them apart.  But it was enough, to have been touching when 
they died.  Not even Beryl heard them whisper "I love you" as the 
blast hit them.
   There was a flash of light as their wedding rings disappeared.  
They floated upwards, toward Beryl.  Tears fell from Princess 
Serenity's closed eyes; her last, shed not for herself, but for her 
love.

   Dying, the Senshi stared in shock as the victorious Seven Shadows 
loomed over them.  It had been their duty to protect the queen and 
the princess, the princess and the queen, with their lives if 
necessary, but having given their lives, the truth that presented 
itself to them was not a pleasant one.  They had given their all . . 
. and they had failed.
   Failed.  The word echoed in their consciousnesses as though they 
were all one being, erasing any nobility that their deaths might have 
had at another time.  There was no nobility in an unforgivable 
defeat.  <The solar system is doomed, most likely the galaxy, and 
perhaps the universe itself.  The princess is dead.  We have failed 
and the queen will soon follow her daughter to the grave.>  The 
thought could have been voiced by any of them, but was voiced by all.
   "I'm sorry, Sere," Rei said weakly.  "I wasn't strong enough to 
save you, my friend . . . my best friend . . ."  And then the flame 
that was Sailor Mars flickered out.
   " . . . should've held out longer . . . I wasn't good enough!  
Sere, forgive me . . ." Thus, Sailor Jupiter finally lost the 
strength that had kept her alive and gave in to her terrible wounds.
   "Sere, I should have known how to defeat them!  I should have been 
able to find their weaknesses.  I'm sorry.  That's all I can say, and 
I know that it's not enough."  And so Sailor Mercury slipped into a 
cold oblivion.
   "I know I'm unforgivable.  I've forgone any kind of redemption.  I 
have sinned and no amount of cleansing can ever purify me.  My soul 
is lost to me, but I don't regret killing for you.  I loved him, but 
I loved you more, my sister-in-spirit, my princess-friend.  You were 
the only meaning in my life, and I only regret killing for myself and 
failing you.  Of my two faults, I regret failing you more.  I am 
ashamed, Sere.  I-I am unworthy of serving you, protecting you, but 
you gave me back a little of my humanity.  Thank you for that.  My 
princess, I guess you found yourself.  In the end, your life had more 
meaning than mine.  You lived my life the way *I* wanted to, but 
couldn't.  I'm glad you got the chance to be happy . . . I'm sorry 
you couldn't stay that way.  Sere, if ever I get the chance again, 
I'll make sure that you're always happy!  Always, Sere . . ."  The 
life that was Sailor Venus ended, but her love did not dim.  It shone 
and grew until her spirit could be felt, happy for once.  Her love 
did not die, would never die, imbuing the fallen with golden light.

   Queen Serenity rushed up, too late, and fell to her knees at the 
sight before her.  "NOOOO!!!" she cried, grief-stricken with loss.  
"Not my daughter!  SERENITY!"
   The two cats ran up behind her and stared at the scene.  Tears ran 
down Luna's face.  "Not the princess!  Beryl, you witch!  There's no 
heart in you."  <I was too late.  I could have saved her, but I was 
too late!  Princess, if ever I get the chance again, I will *never* 
fail you!>
   <I have humbled her,> Beryl thought wickedly.  <Even the great 
Queen Serenity kneels in front of me, for I am far, far greater.>
   She missed the flash of defiance in Serenity's eyes; the anguish, 
the same that had been in her daughter's.  Serenity however, had a 
weapon, and she knew how to use it.  She got to her feet.  Steel rang 
in her voice as she spoke.  "You have defiled Earth, destroyed my 
kingdom, killed my foster daughters by turning their loves against 
them, and killed the prince of Earth, BUT YOU SHALL NOT TAKE THE ONLY 
THING I HAVE LEFT!!!!  YOU SHALL NOT TAKE MY DAUGHTER, YOU HEARTLESS 
DEMON!!!"  She raised the crescent moon wand aloft and shouted, "MOON 
HEEAALLING ESCAAALAAATIIIOOOONNNN!!!!!"
   And they were gone.  They were all gone.

   Serenity heard their screams as she removed them from existence, 
saw them all melt away into the light of the silver crystal, the 
seven shadows being captured first, but the only thing she cared 
about at that moment was Serenity, Princess Serenity.  <<Daughter, I 
couldn't save you, but I can give you a chance to live again.  Live, 
and be happy.  Live, and be free!>>
   She felt a wave of weakness wash over her.  <<Setsuna was right, 
there was indeed a great tragedy . . .  But perhaps it can be avoided 
again and the future can be brighter because of it.>>

   She sent the Silver Crystal forth, glittering with the light of 
the stars.  It hovered above her, above the ruin that had been the 
Silver Millennium, and then it sent forth a brilliant white light.

   Serenity stared up at it, the light blinding.  <<Good-bye, my 
Serenity.  Good-bye, my daughter.>>  Then she was overcome with 
weariness and the crescent moon wand fell from her grasp.

   As she slipped into oblivion, a figure appeared to her, shining 
and outlined with light.  <<Serenity, I have been waiting for you, my 
love.>>  He held out a hand to her and she took it, smiling.
   Her eyes shone as she said, <<We are together again, are we not, 
my husband?>>
   <<Yes, and this time we shall not be parted.>>

   Men can be weak, and so can women, but each can be as strong as 
the power they hold within themselves, in their hearts.

   Luna and Artemis watched as their Queen made her last, ultimate 
sacrifice.  They were awed, and they were humbled.  Most of all, they 
were proud.  Proud that their Queen had been willing to make such a 
sacrifice.  Proud that the princess had found something worth living 
for, worth dying for.  Proud that the Senshi had done their duty, to 
protect the princess, no matter what, even if it was in death.  But 
Luna had a different duty.  Hers, was to live for her princess, to 
advise her, to remain when all else had passed away.  Her true duty, 
though, the one entrusted to her and hers throughout the ages, was to 
find the one, the Senshi who could never be defeated, even in death.  
And Luna knew that she had found her.

   The crescent moon wand, falling from their Queen's grasp, let out 
a light and placed the two cats into two cat capsules.  They began to 
rise into space, and below them they could imagine the atmosphere of 
the moon bleeding off into the vacuum of space, the plants and 
animals already dead and dying from Metallia's attack.  And they 
wept.  The Moon Kingdom was no more.  It had returned to barrenness 
from which it had begun.

   Luna and Artemis drifted in their cat capsules, floating along the 
path that the children of the moon had taken to Earth . . . and the 
future.  Luna looked over at Artemis fondly, he was already asleep.  
Ah well, he deserved it for once.  Luna struggled to raise her head a 
little and look up, through the cat capsule to the starry heavens.  
She caught a glimpse of a figure, dressed in white and she smiled as 
best a cat could, before closing her eyes.  Her thoughts drifted from 
her to the princess as she herself drifted off into the oblivion of 
sleep that was promised her until she needed to awaken again, so that 
she in turn could awaken the Sailor Senshi and the power within them.  
She let out a quiet purr as she thought of the princess.
   <<An unbeatable star seed, an unbeatable heart . . .  I have found 
them, little princess, in you.  There are Sailor Senshi all over the 
universe, wherever there is life.  The sorceresses of these planets 
took it upon themselves to become the Sailor Senshi for these worlds.  
But, Earth had no Sailor and neither did its moon.  Until now.  You, 
little princess are the Sailor Senshi of the Moon, and someday, in 
the future, you will wield the full power of the Ginzuishou.  And as 
there is no longer any life on the moon, so too shall you be the 
Sailor Senshi of the Earth, the planet you so loved for your Prince.  
We will help you and guide you, princess, and the legend of the 
eternal utopia will be fulfilled by you.  So sleep, little princess 
with an unbeatable heart, and let your love guide all of us.  We will 
meet again, and whether we remember each other or not, it makes no 
difference . . .  I will know you.  In the future, we will be 
together and as I advised your mother, so shall I advise you.  Now, I 
must sleep, though the centuries they pass but slowly.  Someday, this 
life, this existence, will seem no more than a dream.  We will all 
live again, in the future.  As long as your love shines eternal, we 
will all live in its glow.  Farewell, my princess, until . . . we 
meet again . . .>>

   They all drifted in the void of space toward Earth, their 
destination.  Tears gathered in the corners of the Inner Senshi's 
shut eyes.  <<We will be reborn, but you, our loves?  How will you 
fare?  We loved you dearly despite all that you did.>>
   Their voices drifted to them, as they too, floated towards Earth.  
<<Our love cannot die, no matter how much we have betrayed you.  You 
forgave us.  Forgive us again.  Our fate will not be a kind one.>>
   <<You are forgiven, our loves.  Our only loves.>>
   <<No matter if our souls belong to Metallia now, our hearts are 
forever devoted to you.>>
   <<I love you, Rei.>>
   <<I love you, Jadeite.>>
   <<I love you, Makoto.>>
   <<I love you, Nephrite.>>
   <<I love you, Ami.>>
   <<I love you, Zoisite.>>
   <<I love you, Minako.>>
   <<I love you, Kunzite.>>
   <<And I always will . . .>> all of the voices whispered, before 
there was a flash of silver light, and they were . . . reborn.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

   The Inner Senshi awoke from where they had fallen asleep in the 
hospital.
   Rei moaned from where she had collapsed next to Makoto in the 
waiting room, when she had gone to give them an update.  Makoto 
roused herself from where she had fallen unconscious of the blue 
couch.  Ami stirred on the other couch, and Minako groaned from the 
chair, a fashion magazine falling from her lap.
   "What happened?" Minako asked, blinking.
   "I don't know," Makoto said.  "I just fell asleep."
   "Me too."  Rei rubbed her eyes.
   Ami yawned.  "I did too."
   Minako's eyes suddenly snapped open.  "Energy drain?" she asked 
quietly.
   The others stared at her then each other.  "Nah," they all said.
   "Still, Ami, maybe you'd better check with your computer," Makoto 
suggested.
   Ami complied but shook her head in a negative.  "Nothing, sorry."
   "Don't be," Rei said.  "I don't want to have to worry about some 
monster at a time like this."
   Everyone nodded in agreement.
   "Hey, you guys," Rei began slowly.  "I had a really weird dream"
   "About the Moon Kingdom?" Mako asked quietly.
   "And the Guardians?" Ami added.
   "And love?" Minako murmured in a low voice.
   Rei nodded, her eyes wide.  "You guys didn't"
   "We did."
   They all stared at each other for a long moment, then Minako 
sobbed out, "I miss him!  And we killed them!"
   The four girls began to cry quietly, comforting and holding each 
other as they sought relief through their tears for their grief.  
When they all finally stopped crying, they whispered their thoughts 
to one another.
   Rei rubbed away her tears roughly and said, "It's not over.  We'll 
meet again someday."
   Makoto agreed.  "Yeah, things can't end this way."
   "I have faith that things will be all right."  Ami smiled.  A weak 
smile to be sure, but it helped.
   "We *all* have faith," Minako said, more serious than anyone had 
ever heard her, "but right now, we all have to be strong, for Usagi."
   <For our princess,> was the unspoken thought of all of them.
   Rei got to her feet.  "It's been hours since I left.  Mamoru must 
be wondering where I've gotten to.  I'll go get that pot of coffee I 
promised him.  I'll tell you how she is when I see her."
   Minako let a ghost of a smile cross her lips.  "We'll all talk
later.  Usagi too.  I bet we're not the only ones with weird dreams."
   "No takers on that bet."  Makoto stretched.  "C'mon Ami-chan, 
let's get something to eat."
   "All right, Mako-chan."
   "You coming, Minako-chan?" Makoto paused to ask.
   "Naw, I'm not that hungry."
   Mako shot her a sympathetic look.  "We'll bring you back 
something."
   The four of them parted ways.  Rei to look for a pot of coffee, 
Makoto and Ami to get something for the cafeteria, and Minako to just 
sit and think.  As they each left, all of them wondered, <Can life 
ever be the same, now that we know?  Can we ever love like that 
again?>  The answer that came to all of them was no.
   Minako sat in the chair, her knees pulled up against her and her 
arms wrapped around them as she rested her chin on her knees.  
"Kunzite," she whispered.  "My love . . ."

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

   A white light blazes and two rings fall into Sailor Pluto's 
outstretched palm.  They gleam gold in the light of the Place that is 
Beyond all Places, the world apart from Time.  <Perhaps someday you 
will wish the return of these.  When you have need of them again, my 
Prince, my Princess.  My King and Queen.>  Sailor Pluto stares at the 
rings for an instant, then closes her hand tightly and gripping her 
staff she disappears.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

   There is a flash of silver light.  Two voices drift in the void.  
<<Endymion, my love, we will meet again.>>
   <<Whether in this life or in the next.>>
   <<I love you, for all eternity.>>
   <<And I you.>>
   Then his presence is gone, but her essence smiles.  <<We *will* 
meet again . . .>>  Then she too is gone.

   The glitter of the stars was visible as the children off the moon 
bridged the gap between the moon to the earth.  Encased in their 
spheres of frozen moonbeams, they shone like the very stars in the 
heavens.  As they reached the earth, each winked out of existence and 
out of that time, into the future.  Into their new lives . . . and 
they were reborn.

   The crystal sparkled in space for an instant, then with a bright 
flare of white light, and trailing silver sparkles, it exploded into 
seven gems, each containing one of the colors of the rainbow and the 
essence of a shadow.  They too flew towards Earth . . . to be reborn.

   A thousand years after the destruction of the Silver Millennium, 
two sparkling capsules came to rest in an alley in Tokyo, Japan and 
two cats stepped out.  Luna looked at Artemis, Artemis looked at 
Luna, and though they remembered little of their past lives, they 
knew their mission.  Running off in different directions, they set 
off, their mission firmly in mind.  The Search begins anew.

   Three year-old Usagi stirred and sat bolt upright, staring up at 
the moon.  <It's pretty.>
   Six year-old Mamoru stirred and sat bolt upright, staring up at 
the moon.  <It's pretty.>
   They stared at the moon.  <Something familiar.  Something I knew, 
long long ago.  I will remember, someday . . .>
   They slept and voices echoed in their dreams.  <<We will meet 
again.>>

   Mamoru sat on his cot in the hospital, crying.  His parents were 
dead and he was all alone.  His best friend was leaving him.  There 
was no one who cared about him.
   He felt a touch and heard a voice.  Looking up, he saw a three-
year old girl looking at him.  Their eyes met and both knew, they 
were going to be friends.  They talked for a little while.  The girl 
offered him a rose and then she left and he was alone again.  But in 
his heart, there was something new, and he knew that they would meet 
again, and so did she.

*Eleven years later*

   Usagi balled up the test and threw it behind her.  It hit Chiba 
Mamoru on the head.  He let out a yelp of annoyance and she turned in 
surprise.  He was looking at her test, but once he felt her eyes upon 
him, he looked straight at her and insulted her.  Annoyed, she 
snatched back the test, but as their hands touched, she hesitated for 
just an instant and so did he.  Then she had the test in her hand and 
stormed off, muttering imprecations about him under her breath.
   He stared after her.  <Something familiar . . .  Nah.>
   Later, as their meeting crossed her mind, she would think, 
<Something familiar . . .>

   And so it began again.  The timeless story of a timeless love.  
Fated to repeat throughout eternity until at last, they could be 
together, forever.

* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *

   Usagi's eyes fluttered open as her dream came to an end.
"Mamo-chan?" she asked weakly.
   He looked up at her, relief in his eyes.  "Usako.  Usako, you're 
all right!"
   She smiled at him.  What was he talking about, of course she was 
all right.  They had all been reborn, given a second chance at life.  
At love.  Then she remembered the monster and the fire.  Leaping . . 
. leaping to protect him.  "Oh," she said as she remembered.  "Yes, 
I'm all right."
   He leaned over to kiss her.  "I'm so glad."
   "I had the strangest dream . . ."
   Mamoru looked at her.  "What about?"
   "It was all about usour past selves that is.  Except, it was so 
clear, it wasn't like a dream at all."
   Mamoru looked at her in hesitant understanding.  "I don't suppose 
it had me saving younumerous timesand us meeting in a clearing 
filled with roses a lot?"
   "Yes, and Lady Beryl was in love with you, and I called myself 
Tsukino Usagi and you called yourself Chiba Mamoru when we met for 
the second time when we weren't little kids."
   He looked at her, "And Pluto came after you passed out one time to 
take you back to the moon but later you came back  . . ."
   " . . . And then I went back again and you and your Guardians went 
to the moon!"
   "And Luna attacked me!"
   They looked at each other, and exhaled loudly.  Usagi smiled.  "I 
don't suppose it was just a dream."
   "No, I don't suppose it was."
   Her locket, which had been carefully placed on the dresser, opened 
and started to play.
   "Eternity," she whispered, gazing at Mamoru.
   "Eternity," he said back, taking the locket and placing in her 
hand.  It continued to play their melody as they lost themselves in 
each other's eyes.  Blue gazed into blue.
   An instant later, they both smiled and the mutual gaze was broken.  
Usagi looked around and started to sit up.  Mamoru gently pushed her 
back down.  "Don't get up, you're still weak."
   "But where's everyone else?" she asked, stubbornly propping 
herself up a bit more.
   Mamoru quirked a smile at her as he adjusted the bed so that she 
could sit up easily.  "You've been in critical for a week.  
Everyone's in the waiting room, except for my dear sister Rei who 
went to get me some coffee."
   "Your "dear sister"?" she asked incredulously, settling herself 
against the bed.
   "I'll explain later.  Oh and if anyone comes in and asks while I 
go get them, I'm your husband, Chiba Mamoru."
   At that she smiled again.  She remembered what she had done that 
time with the motorcycle accident as well.  "Of course you are,
Mamo-chan."
   He smiled back at her and took one of her hands in his.  "I really 
shouldn't make them wait any longer, but I don't want to leave you."
   "I don't want you to leave, either.  Maybe we should just wait 
until "sister" Rei comes back with your coffee."
   "I guess so."  He smile faded and his eyes grew concerned again 
and filled with anguish.  "Usako, I have to know, why did you get 
between that flaming rafter and me?"
   "I would give my life to protect you," she answered simply and 
truthfully.
   "Then that wasn't just a part of the dream."
   "No, it's the truth."
   "Usako, I don't want you to die protecting me.  I don't want you 
to even try.  I couldn't ever bear losing you.  And I really couldn't 
bear losing you if you died for me."
   Usagi looked at him not looking at her.  She said very softly, 
"You'll always protect me won't you?"
   "Of course."
   "And I'll always try to protect you too.  You don't know how much 
it hurts, seeing you get hurt because of me.  I can't bear it.  I 
won't lose you, because you're too busy watching out for me to watch 
your own back.  We're partners, and that means taking a fair share.  
If I ever lost you again, then I would have nothing left."
   "Usako," he said, his voice hard, "don't try to protect me.  You 
don't have to.  I want to protect you, because you're the most 
important thing in the world to me."
   Usagi's eyes started to flash angrily.  "I won't stop trying to 
protect you, Mamo-chan.  I know I don't have to protect you.  Like 
you, I *want* to.  You can't expect any less of me."  She smiled to 
try and lessen the tension between them.  "That's what Sailor Moon 
was created for, after all.  To protect the one I love from harm."
   He looked down at her and took her in his arms, holding her close 
to him.  "I love you.  You're my everything, Usako."
   Tears streaming down her cheeks, she whispered back, "And you're 
mine, Mamo-chan.  I love you, too.  For all eternity."

   The door opened and Rei came in carrying a pot of coffee.  She was 
muttering to herself.  "Stupid hospital staff!  Who says I can't take 
the whole pot?  Anyway it's not like *I'm* going to drink the whole 
thing and who are they calling a bad-tempered witch, anyway?!  I 
mean, the nerve!  Mamoru-san, I'm back!"  She looked up at where 
Mamoru and Usagi were embracing.  She nearly lost her grip on the 
coffee pot and as she ran forward.  "Hey Usagi, you're awake!"
   Ami, Minako, and Makoto spilled into the doorway behind her.  "She 
is?!"
   Rei looked over at them, annoyed.  "What were you doing, following 
me?"
   Usagi pulled away from Mamoru and looked up.  "Minna!"
   "Usagi-chan!" they all cried and ran to embrace her.
   Usagi looked up at Mamoru as he looked down at her.  Their eyes 
met and they smiled.

To be concluded . . .


"My heart says to me,"

Usagi smiles at Mamoru.

"I love someone so dearly,"

He lifts her out of the bed.

"That I know,"

The Senshi smile good-naturedly at the two of them.

"There's no one for me,"

They embrace.

"But you."

They kiss.


"I would like you to see,"

The Guardians gaze at the Senshi.

"What is wrong and what is true,"

There are suddenly two sets of Guardians, the Dark Kings and the
Generals.

"I am in love,"

Ami kisses Zoisite.

"(I am in love)"

Rei kisses Jadeite.

"I am in love"

Makoto kisses Nephrite.

"With you."

Minako kisses Kunzite.


"Angel light,"

Six year-old Endymion smiles at three-year old Serenity.

"Please bathe me in your love tonight,"

She smiled back.

"I am longing for a glimpse"

They whirl around in a field of flowers.

"Of your Angel light."

They hold each others hand and suddenly there is a bright expanding
white light . . .

"I will be forever yours tonight,"

Prince Endymion gazes out at the clearing where he sees the silvery
form of Princess Serenity.

"Just smile at me,"

She looks at him.

"With that Angel light."

He looks at her.


"Angel light,"

The bright white light expands and fades.

"You are like an angel in my sight,"

There is a picture of Princess Serenity with wings.

"I have never felt a love as bright,"

A silvery light emanates from her and envelops Endymion.

"As your Angel light."

The white light expands . . .


"Angel light,"

. . . and fades.

"You bring love to lift the darkness in my life,"

Endymion holds Serenity close to him.

"I am enveloped by your Angel light,"

A bright light surrounds both of them.

"Please say that it's all right,"

Prince Endymion kneels and proposes to Princess Serenity.

"That I let you in my life."

They exchange vows.


"Angel light,"

The bright white light expands and fades.

"As I hold you in my arms tonight,"

Serenity holds Endymion as he weeps for the Guardians.

"I won't let your dreams give you fright,"

She lays him down in the bed and gazes on him sadly.

"You don't have to fight,"

The Guardians fight the horde of youma, shouting at Endymion to
escape.

"It'll be all right,"

The Senshi and the Guardians rescue Serenity.

"My Angel light,"

A white light bathes a scene of everyone together.

"My Angel light."

It expands.


"Angel light,"

It fades.

"I am filled by love when I get you in my sight,"

The Guardians and Senshi look at each other.

"I just want to forever hold you tight,"

They embrace tearfully.

"'Cause together just it feels so right,"

Everyone smiles.

"So just bathe me in your"

Endymion kisses Serenity.

"Angel light,"

The white light expands.

"I will be forever yours tonight,"

Everyone holds hands as they teleport Endymion and Serenity away.

"Shining in your"

The white light expands and fades.


"Angel light."

Endymion, Serenity, Jadeite, Rei, Nephrite, Makoto, Zoisite, Ami,
Kunzite, Minako, Artemis, and Luna all stand together, being held by
their lovers and gaze out at the screen, smiling.  Setsuna, Haruka,
Michiru, and Hotaru stand in the background.  A breeze softly blows a
few stray red rose petals across the screen.  Once the petals are
past, the picture freezes, fades to white and then to black.

A crescent moon shines in the darkness.



How did you like Part Five?  Was it worth the wait?  Part Six (the
epilogue) is up, you can read it now.  Don't worry, it's *short*!
(In comparison at least.)
Now, *EVERYONE* must write me about this Part and tell me what you
think.  Pretty please?  And no, feedback is not why I write, it's
simply appreciated.
Thanks.
Ja! (For now)
Fushigi Kismet


