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!" 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. 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!" 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. 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. 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, <> 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, butÑ" 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 maybeÑ" "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." "UsakoÑ" 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 deathÑ" "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. "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. 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. <> Beryl tried, she tried to feel the magic within her, but all she felt was a cold emptiness. <> The smile left Morganite's face, her eyes widening in panic and fear. <> she cried, the flames inching closer. <> 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. "Why-why did you spare me?" "Because, like me, your parents didn't love you. And-and 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. 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. 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. <<"RRRREEEEEEEEEIIIII!!!!!!!!">> Jadeite howled his last defiant cry, his whole body and soul crying out in anguish. Then he succumbed to the darkness, her smiling face before him. <> <> <> 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. 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. 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. <> <> 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. <> <> 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. <> 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, <> "Yes, Mother, I am your daughter," Beryl said, her eyes burning brighter. <> "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." 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!" 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. Then she stopped short. "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. 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. <> Ikuko knelt, the silver robes flowing about her as she pressed her hands together in prayer. Kenji, holding Shingo in his arms, watched her silently. 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. She turned and ran down the hallway. 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. <> 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. <> "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. <> was his thought, quietly loving. <> Then the flames blazed higher and engulfed him. Rei buried her face in her hands and wept, sinking to her knees. <> "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. "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. "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. <> "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. she thought desperately to herself. He advanced stealthily, wary of her even when he could not think for himself, the darkness in his eyes terrible to behold. But even so, there was only one course of action, and she couldn't bring herself to implement it. "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. 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. But the princess, she couldn't let the princessÑshe couldn't let Serenity die. 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. 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 . . . <> said a thought that was not his own. Blazing, crashing, brilliant lightning. The feel of her hand in his . . . <> came another thought. Clear, cold, freezing ice . . . <> Golden, arching, pure energy. The look in her eyes that told him how much she truly loved him. <> 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. <> <> <> <> 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. "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." <> 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." "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. 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 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." Beryl thought wickedly. 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. <> She felt a wave of weakness wash over her. <> 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. <> 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. <> He held out a hand to her and she took it, smiling. Her eyes shone as she said, <> <> 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. <> They all drifted in the void of space toward Earth, their destination. Tears gathered in the corners of the Inner Senshi's shut eyes. <> Their voices drifted to them, as they too, floated towards Earth. <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> 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 dreamÑ" "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'tÑ" "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." 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 talkÑ 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, 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. 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. <> <> <> <> Then his presence is gone, but her essence smiles. <> 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. Six year-old Mamoru stirred and sat bolt upright, staring up at the moon. They stared at the moon. They slept and voices echoed in their dreams. <> 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. Later, as their meeting crossed her mind, she would think, 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 usÑour 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 youÑnumerous timesÑand 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 loveÑ" 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 glimpseÑ" 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 yourÑ" 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 yourÑ" 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