Title: A New Crystal World - Part 1
Author: Sereko          (aka. Princess Serenity, Serenity, Kirei) 
Rating: PG-13


Hey there! Looks like I’m at it again, ne? This story was inspired by
all of the things that I have seen, heard, and read about Rei
getting together with Mamoru and then Usagi running off depressed. It
starts in the present and moves, quite rapidly, into the future. While 
reading, I know you’ll think that it is stupidly melodramatic and 
sad...but oh well, that’s how I ended up writing it. It is also 
slightly confusing in the beginning and at the end. Just pay
attention to the words said and you should be ok. Hope you like it, 
regardless! Ja ne! (This hasn't been edited...so I'm sorry in advance
for any errors...)

IMPORTANT: For those of you who have read some of my other work, you 
will notice that my name has changed *again*. I realize this is getting
annoying. Heck, I think I’m more annoyed than anyone else. The initial 
problem with my *first* fanfic author name was that someone stupidly 
decided to use the same name *without* checking to see if someone had 
already used it. So, the pen name ‘Princess Serenity’ was then stolen 
from me. To prevent people from getting confused with my stories and 
hers’, I changed my name to Kirei. I wasn’t very happy, however, with 
that name. So I have finally come to the conclusion that ‘Sereko’ will 
be my pen name for my stories when they are posted anywhere *but* on 
my site (on my website, I am and will always be ‘Serenity’). I’m very 
sorry for all of the confusion. 

Please take a look at my site: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Harbor/2366/
My fanfics can be found at: http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Harbor/2366/fics.html


All of the SM characters are copyrighted to the wonderful anime
genius who made them up (and thank god for her, ne? ^_^). 




-------------------------------
A New Crystal World - Part 1
-------------------------------

[{ Imagine that, for weeks now, Rei has been mad at Usagi for having
Mamoru. The senshi have been dropping into depression since they won’t 
have anyone in Crystal Tokyo. This depression has turned into subtle 
hatred towards their leader. Finally, after three weeks of punishment, 
the senshi -including the outers- have gathered at the temple. Rei 
just completely erupted at Usagi, mentioning how Usagi has had a 
wonderful love-filled life and none of the others have. This speech 
gets a different reaction out of the princess than what everyone was 
waiting for -except for Pluto, of course-. }] 

"Damn it! Why didn’t Queen Serenity send *us* to solid happy
families?!?" Rei came upon Usagi quickly and slapped her across the 
face. The force was huge and sent Usagi sprawling on the ground.
She shook her head and stood up slowly, maintaining eye-contact with 
the fire senshi. 

"I’m sorry to have led a happy life, majesty." Her blonde pigtails
hit the ground as she bowed her head in respect. Her ‘majesty’ just 
spit on the ground by Usagi’s feet. 

"Don’t you *dare* try and give me any false respect!" Rei’s shoes
clicked on the gravel as she took a few steps forward. Usagi raised 
her head to look her friend head on. The blatant fire in her friend’s 
eyes simmered for a second. A pause in her heat only long enough for 
the words that she would utter next. "I love Mamoru. I always have." 
Usagi took a step back, shocked (though she was kind of expecting this). 
"I only backed down because you were there. The others wouldn’t have 
thought it very great if I took away what you had just gained. He 
hated you, Usagi-san." 

Usagi immediately clenched a fist and held it to her heart. "He liked
me. Once upon a time, when you were still the most air-headed, whiny 
brat that there ever was, he favored *me*!! Why did you take him away, 
damn it!!!" The hand was fast, the leader was faster. 

Usagi grabbed Rei by the arm and shoved her in Mamoru's direction.
"Fine! Just have him! You wanted him, he wanted you...might as well 
just make everyone happy!! I’m sorry to have ever stood in the way, 
Rei-chan." Tears glistened in the princess's eyes, but no one dared 
approach or speak. They all just stood, stock still, and stared. 

"Gomen nasai for all that I have done to hurt you, minna. Gomen nasai
for ever even thinking of giving my soul to this man. I know it's not 
fair that you can never marry. But-But you can!!! You just haven't 
meet them yet! I swear...*sob*..they will come to you when you are in 
dire need...and then..then you will be together for eternity. Just 
like me. You were never destined to be alone, I know that. Even 
Sesu-chan wasn't destined to stand alone, guarding the lonely and 
quiet gates of time. I know things that all of you don't. Sesu-chan 
has been given clues...but even she is not allowed to see what I know. 
Right, Sesu?" 

Everyone looked to the green-haired woman, who, for the first time in
her life, had a look of shock on her face. "H-Hai.." 

"SEE?!?! I was born with knowledge that I didn't want! I was born
with memories that haunted me for eternity!! Bu-But I put it all away..
I didn't want it all to come true...the pain, the suffering...it was 
too much for me! I was only *two* when I was able to understand 
everything that continuously rushed through my head. A TWO-YEAR-OLD!! 
It was so painful...*sob*...to see you all...in the past...in the 
present...in the future. I couldn't handle it...so I put it away. I 
sealed it into the far reaches of my mind...That's why I am what you 
see today. *sob* The clutzy, irresponsible, whining, crybaby. I became 
that because of my holding back." 

"Even when you all disapproved of my attitude...my insolence...my
stupidity with the obvious. I couldn't change...I couldn't let on
to the fact that I knew it all. That I knew about the Silver
Millennium when I was still in my earth-mother's womb. I was born
with a crescent moon on my head!!!! My mother dismissed it...but that
symbol has haunted me forever. Every night of my life I have had a 
dream. One of the past, of the present, of the future...it didn't 
matter...but I always had at least one! I had to witness your deaths 
on the Moon when I was but five...*sob*...I watched the world perish 
and be reconstructed under Crystal Tokyo when I was ten...*sob*..." 

Rei couldn't take it anymore. She realized her deep mistake and the
tears coursing down her cheeks were tantamount to that. It was just 
too painful to know of what her princess had gone through...of what 
the angel, who still remained sweet and loving, had suffered. 
"Usagi..onegai..." 

Usagi looked at her, directly in the eye. Rei could barely distinguish 
if it was pain, love, or determination that coursed through those
blue orbs. "No, Mars. You were right. It isn't fair for me to be
happy, for me to have Mamoru. You all have no one, right? Gee..you 
must all just stay single forever then, ne? You don't..I’ll tell you 
that much now. But, take him. Take the only thing in my life that has 
any ability to draw out the real me. Take the only power in the 
universe that can heal my tattered soul." 

"He doesn't need me, you all don't need me. I should have realized
that sooner. I am not Pluto...I can not see all the possible
time-lines. I can only see the real one...but even now...even I can
not witness what will happen after I do this. For I will give you
my power, firechild. Here..." She held out her left hand and
concentrated. In a few seconds a bright light began to form. It looked
as if a star was sitting in Usagi's hand. With the blink of an eye,
the silver crystal was there. It morphed into a small model of what
the future Crystal Palace would look like. "See this?" A small,
child-like smile formed on Usagi's lips. "This is the heart of
Crystal Tokyo." A little giggle escaped the blonde's lips as she tried 
to forget the seriousness of the situation. The others just stared at
her, then her hand, and back to her again. 

Pluto could sense the impending danger and took a step forward.
"Usa-chan...don't. You don't want this...we don't want you to do
this. For me...onegai..." 

Without looking up from her model, Usagi replied, "Iie, Sesu-chan..I
have to...I need to...you know that it has finally come to this. I
will cry to the heavens for them to make it stop...but it is too
late. Their faith in me has finally disappeared. Don't worry,
onee-chan..." Usagi looked up into Setsuna's eyes lovingly. "You
always were my big sister...so sweet and caring...looking out for
me all the time... Nothing will change..not much. I will not die-" 

"Yet" Pluto cut her off and a collected intake of breath could be
heard. 

"True, not *yet*...but, it does not matter. I do not matter. I have
reached a point where so much is true. As I was saying before.."
She returned her attention to Rei, who was subconsciously clutching
to Mamoru's shirt. A single tear traced it's way down Usagi's
cheek at the sight. "Rei-chan...my advisor...I know you feel betrayed..
I know the pain you suffer." 

"How??? You have someone to love! One that can last the expanse of
eternity!" Usagi sighed...another tear tracking down her cheek. "I 
felt your pain, once. Long ago...it wasn't as you think in the Silver 
Millennium. Endymion and I went through more than I can remember to 
be together. But I was alone, just like you. For longer than you were. 
It was the opposite of now, back then. That doesn't make any sense, 
but it will in time. Anyway...since my love has parted with you, I 
wish you luck and joy." 

She glanced up at Mamoru. His eyes were so against the events taking
place. Silence pervaded the temple as they gazed into each other's 
eyes. He said so much, begging to her, pleading to her. Slowly her 
resolve was crumbling, but she looked away to stop it. She simply 
whispered, "No. My heart and soul will always be yours, love. But 
things have changed. For the better or for the worse, I can not be 
sure. She loves you. Or at least, she thinks that she does. I cannot 
deny what she says. She does not know the whole truth anyway. But, my 
dear, this must happen. The previous events have willed it so." 

She looked into his burning eyes once more, noting that he could no
longer hold back his tears. "Do not cry, love. All will be well.
You will have your queen and your daughter soon enough. It will,
however, not be me or Chibiusa. Endymion-sama, your highness, forgive 
and forget, then learn to live on." The formality seemed quite fitting 
for the moment and it led Mamoru to fall to his knees in a bow. 

Usagi bit her lip as the sobs fought to come forth. She looked
towards Rei. "You have done it, my friend. Therefore, it shall be
yours." Usagi's hand raised slightly, bringing attention back to the
miniature floating palace. "I have constructed this since I was born. 
It is the Crystal Palace, and even under your rule, it cannot change 
shape. I now pass myself unto you. You wish to take my love. I must, 
therefore, obey you. My heart and soul shall always be locked within 
the destiny of Mamoru. He knows that. But, he can forget it. He can 
subdue the link that has been our unintentional bond. There is one 
way. He knows it. Therefore, he will be fully yours. You will then, 
in truth, also have my essence (her heart and soul, ya know!)." 

"Rule fairly, Neo-Queen FireBird. Fire for your power and passion,
Bird for your free and willing spirit." Usagi reached outward
with her hand and the crystal model turned into the true silver
crystal. Her moon insignia formed and shot silver and gold energy
into the crystal. When she had stopped, her sigil was gone and a tiny
ball of silver and gold energy was now floating inside the center of 
the silver crystal. 

She looked Rei in the eye, one last time. Surpassing the look of
regret and pain, she still saw a small shimmer of anger towards
Usagi. That was it, there was no turning back. Deep down, this is
what Rei wanted. She may not realize it, she may cry about what 
happens...but eventually, she will take the 'gift'. 

The second the crystal left Usagi's hand to float over to Rei, Usagi
fell to her knees. The crystal wavered in its flight, but Usagi
quickly concentrated and it finished its trek. "Tre Lunarius oui
Martious, engrane werthous." (it's ancient lunarian, k? 'From Lunar
to Mars, enter within.') The crystal entered into Rei’s chest, right
in-between her breasts. Rei stumbled back and bit and Usagi slumped 
on her knees. 

"Usa-chan!" 
"Usako!" 
"Rei-chan!" 

The screams filtered through the air. Pluto (during the transaction,
everyone had miraculously transformed) knelt by Usagi. She
lifted her head and wept. Usagi's eyes had turned gray. Not silver,
not even blue..just gray. "Imouto...iie...doshite? doshite?!" Usagi
looked up within Pluto's embrace. "Gomen, ne...sesu-chan...aishiteru.
Remind everyone of that...i love them all...so much..." Pluto held her 
closer and looked up startled when she saw a shadow upon her. All of 
the senshi were either shocked into place or helping Mars, but not 
the prince. 

He was standing before the two girls very uneasily. His body was
shaking and his tears were spilling onto the cement below him.
"U-sa..ko.." The name barely came out before he fell to his knees.
"Doshite? I love *you*, not her...." Usagi didn't look up. She could 
barely move her head anyway. She knew that she had destroyed a part of 
him. She *was* a part of him. He, too, was a part of her. But she made 
sure that Mars could fill at least some of the gaping whole that was 
within him. As for her, her gray eyes showed the damage. 

Her power and her life...the crystal and him. They were both gone.
Sure, the crystal didn't carry more power than she, herself,
did...but she had put her own power into it with the energy that had
flowed from her birthmark. She barely had enough power to stay alive, 
for the crystal was also most, if not all, of her life-force. Finally, 
slightly able to move, she looked at Prince Endymion. She reached out 
a shaky hand and brushed away his tears. A sad, sympathetic smile 
etched upon her face as she looked at his silky black hair and deep 
ocean eyes. "Ma..mo-chan....gomen nasai, dearest...I love you, too.." 
Her head fell with that and both she and Pluto disappeared. 

"NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
There was nothing to stop the cry. It came from a beaten soul that had 
now lost half of itself. In the depths of the time stream, a similar 
cry could be heard. They felt each other, still, even with the spell 
that would break their link. He had to put the bond away, but if he 
didn't, she would. He had to join with FireBird now, it was what was 
to happen. But he couldn't do it. Half of his soul was gone, he 
wouldn't lose half of his heart, too. Uranus and Neptune ran to him 
after he screamed. They stopped a few feet short as their jaws hit the 
ground. 

One final time, Mamoru became Prince Endymion, then Tuxedo Kamen,
then King Endymion (those stages being in order of time, not strength). 
In a silver flash, all of that was gone. He was wearing a deep red 
outfit. Not a tuxedo, more like ancient Chinese wear (ya know, Fushigi 
Yuugi?). Across the top was a flaming orange and black bird. It's tail 
wrapped around his waist and his legs, leaving specks of fire around 
it. That was enough to make Uranus and Neptune faint on the spot, but 
they held themselves. "End-y..mion??" 

He looked up at them. His eyes were gray. Emotionless. Painful.
Desperate. Yet, somehow, Strong in every way. He choked on the next 
words...not wanting to have to say them. Not wanting to accept what 
had happened. Two streams of tears still trailed down his face in a 
sorrowful dance. "I am not he anymore.." He shook his head as if in 
pain of his own words. "My name is...is...." The two senshi knew that 
he was not trying to figure out what his name now was, more like he 
was trying to accept what it was. 

They had long since kneeled next to him. Uranus holding his upper arm
to show support, and Neptune gently caressing his hand. "It's ok, 
Mamoru-san...it's ok." He looked at Neptune, grateful for not having 
to say the dreaded reference. He then shook his head again. 

"Iie...U-Usa..ko...she..wanted me to accept...I have to...." He
looked both senshi in the eye and saw the pain that they were both
feeling. They did not want to lose Usagi, either. "My name
is....FireStorm." His shoulders shook even as he said it. Neptune
cried out and hugged him with all her might, while Uranus rubbed his 
back. "We know how hard it is....trust us...just remember,"
FireStorm looked at the determined face of Uranus. She continued,
saying something that would always hold true for at least the
three of them..and *possibly* the rest, though they were doubtful,
"You will always be Endymion to us." 

Saturn had walked over by now and nodded her head. "Always, prince."
He stared at Saturn and noticed her look of remorse. They were all 
close to Usagi, but Saturn was also quite close Chibiusa. They were 
like sisters. "We will miss them." She fell to the ground with them, 
letting out a heart-wrenching sob. "They were our saviors, in more 
ways that one." FireStorm nodded, gently released Neptune to give 
Saturn a fatherly hug. She cried harder at the move of affection. 
She repeated, "You are Endymion, always and forever." 

He hugged her a bit tighter causing her to cry out more, with the
sorrow she felt in him. After a pause of silence, Hotaru thought
of something. "Can you be my papa?" He drew back and looked into her
eyes. She looked back hopefully. Neptune and Uranus were slightly 
shocked, but understood. They would always be in her heart, but 
Endymion reminded her of Chibiusa and she needed that. She needed 
comfort like a male-father. 

He nodded his head. "Of course." He hugged her again and glanced at
the other two outer senshi. Attempting to lighten the moment he 
whispered, "You'll help me, right?" The false-scared face he put on 
was too much and they all giggled. "Oh, of course, Mamoru-san. Can't 
have our little girl causing you trouble! hehe." 

"AHH!!!" The four looked over and saw the inner senshi in disarray.
Mars was in the middle of them all, sweating profusely. Her brow was 
creased and her hands in fists, pounding on the ground. "AHHH!!!!" 
With the scream, a small object started to protrude from her chest. 
FireStorm's eyes went wide. He quickly stood up and was about to run 
over to Mars, when the outers stopped him. 

"Let her be. It will hurt more if you go over there." He stared at
Uranus. They didn't understand. They didn't see what was happening. 
Only he could know because he had not diminished the link yet. Ahh! 
The link! Mamoru grit his teeth to get past the pain. She was being 
torn apart and that hurt...a LOT. 

He looked fiercely into Uranus's eyes. "You don't understand. She's
rejecting Usagi. She's trying to rid herself of the crystal." 

Saturn spoke up, cheerful. "Well, that's good! Then we can get Usagi
back, right? And Chibiusa!!" Her face bubbled over at the concept but 
she immediately froze when she saw FireStorm's gaze. 

"No. It's not good. We won't get either back if she goes through with
it. Instead of Usagi being powerless, among other things, she...she 
will die...Mars is going to kill her..." Leaving the outers with that, 
he ran to Mars, screaming out. "NOOOOO!!!!!" It was too late. The 
silver crystal had already exited Mars' body. Mamoru looked at her, 
frightened beyond belief. "What have you done?!?!" Mars looked 
quizzical. 

"I was trying to get Usagi-chan back." Her curt reply was cut short
when Mamoru fell to the ground. 

"NOOOOO!!!!!" He screamed in pain as he felt the tearing again. He
looked up at the hovering crystal and snatched it from the sky. 
Enclosing it in both hands, he pressed it up to his heart. "Come on, 
baby. Come on...stay with me, baby...onegai....stay here now..." 

Mars crouched down beside him. "It's ok Mamoru. She'll be fine. I
just released her." She smiled slightly. She was happy for what
she had done? How could she be happy that she was killing Usagi!?! 

"No! You don't get it!! You're killing her! The power transfer has to
harvest inside of you for a week until you can even *think* about getting 
rid of the crystal. It-It's too weak...too early...she'll die now. 
Before, she could have lived with some of her power because it still 
existed..it was in you, but it still existed. Now...when this 
disappears, the little amount of life-force that she kept won't be 
enough to compensate for the loss of the crystal. You have 90% of 
Usako in this crystal!!!" He lowered his head and held the crystal a 
bit tighter. "Onegai, Usako...come on, baby...come on..." 

Mars stared down at him. She was taken back from his explanation, but
her eyes glazed over with slight jealousy as she saw him so intent on 
Usagi and not her. She was trying to help Usagi, after all. How was 
she supposed to know that her help would kill the princess? FireStorm 
looked up at her desperately. "You might be able to stop it. I think 
if you put the crystal back into your body, she might be able to live still." 

Mars looked down at him again. "But I don't want the crystal! I don't
want to be the Neo-Queen! I ju-just want you...FireStorm...*sob*" 
She fell down beside him and held his arms. He shook a little at the 
thought that Mars might not help him save his love. His only love. 
He never loved Mars in the slightest. He liked her a little as a girl 
to hang out with...but when did he ever say that they were an item? 
or that she was the one he wanted to spend his life with? He never 
even hinted the idea! He didn't lead her on by not shoving her off of 
him when she would latch herself onto him arm, did he? Trying to be 
nice to a girl is now considered going out with them???? Mars had 
wrapped her arms around his waist and had rested her head on his 
shoulder. He shook again at the feel of the foreign person in such a 
position with him. The crystal started to fade in intensity and he 
grew worried. He stood up and out of Mars' grasp and walked towards 
the outers. 

The look on his face let the three know that he was baffled by Mars's
behavior. He shook his head, to clear it, and sat down on the cement. 
He held the crystal gently in between his hands and fed it warmth with 
his terran-born powers. "Usako...do not die...onegai...come here....
come back...let me save you..usako...." A golden glow encompassed him 
(also making Mars move away from him as she tried to get near him) 
and out of the light there were now two bodies. He smiled happily as 
his plan had worked. "Usako." The girl in his arms was motionless. He 
shook her gently, yet she did not stir. 

"She will not wake, prince." He looked up to see Pluto. 'She must
have come with Usako.' 

"Doshite?" 

She looked forlornly at her 'imouto'. "Because she doesn't have enough
strength. She was very weak after her transfer of power...but now...
now..oh, I don't know what will happen to her!!" The time guardian 
rubbed the blonde's cheek sadly. "Usa-chan..." 

Mamoru had enough. This day had gotten way out of hand and he didn't
want anything more to happen. First Mars's anger at Usagi, then Usagi's 
lost will, then the transfer of all that was his beautiful love to 
another, then Mars's insistent 'love' for him, and now...'Oh, Usako.' 
"I won't let you die, my dear. I promise you...I *will* protect you." 
He looked once more at his princess and then closed his eyes. 
"Terranti stragin, oui amora." ('Terran strength, to my love.') 

"Mamo-c.h..an.." his eyes flew open. 

"Usako? Usako?" The gray of her eyes could barely be seen looking up
at FireStorm. 

"Iie, my love...this cannot be..." The crystal took on a mind of its
own as it flew wildly to Mars. "ECGETATI!!" ('Accept!') With
Usagi’s final scream, the crystal shot into Mars and all knew that
there was no way out of it now. Usagi disappeared once more
with Pluto. To where? No one was quite sure, but to the two, they
would be in the time stream together, untouched, for a long
time. 

---
(five years later):
---

"WHAT?!?!?!?!?!" Neo-Queen FireBird erupted within the throne room.
As Usagi had warned, FireBird hadn't the ability to change the Crystal 
Palace, or Crystal Tokyo for that matter. Everything looked just as it 
had when they had first been sent to the future with Chibiusa. The 
throne, however, could be changed. Instead of a modest oaken chair, 
the throne of FireBird was heavy gold with lavish jewels embedded in 
it. The plush red velvet cushions had finally made a dent from constant 
use by the Neo-Queen herself. 

"Gomen nasai, your highness. He would not let me stop him." The queen
glared evilly at the blonde senshi. Her short bangs falling in her 
eyes allowing Mars to see a single earring. It resembled a crescent 
moon to the point. 

FireBird walked down the steps toward the bowed senshi. "Did you even
try to stop him, Uranus?" The senshi looked up and nodded. 

"Of course, your majesty. I begged, pleaded-" 

"No physical force was used?" Uranus held back a gasp at the
prospect. 

"Well, no maje-" 

"That is where you failed. My dear husband needs to be taught that he
can not leave the palace in pursuit of *her* grave." Uranus looked 
disgustedly at the ground. 

"Hai, majesty. I will remember next time-" 

The Queen cut her off again. "Iie. There shall be no next time. You
are to go after him right now. I want him back in this throne
room within the hour. Your stealth will allow you to make such a
speedy journey." 

"But surely, he-" 

"No buts. Get him here ASAP. Even if you have to beat him into
submission. My husband will *not* be found by a commoner's grave, 
weeping. Fetch him." Uranus nodded dejectedly and stood up, keeping 
her eyes on the floor. As she turned, she yelped with pain. FireBird 
was holding her by her earring. With a swift motion, the earring was 
off and in the queen's hand. Drops of crimson blood landed on the top 
of Uranus' fuku. "I thought I told you to rid yourself of such things." 
Uranus glared at FireBird with all her strength and received a hard 
slap in return. She reached up to touch her bruised cheek. "Don't you 
dare look at me in such a way. King FireStorm will be here in....twenty 
minutes. No more, no less. Leave." 

Uranus quickly nodded and ran along the long red carpet to the door.
When she exited the room, she quickly tried to teleport herself to the 
outskirts of Tokyo. It didn't work. A voice within her mind told her 
why..'No, my dear. You must be punished for your insolence. Running I 
think would be the greatest choice, now.' Uranus suppressed a deep 
growl and sprinted out of the palace. 



To be concluded...
---------- 
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