Chapter 5

Mamoru drove to the Hikawa Shrine to locate the girls as Serenity had
requested.  When he arrived at the shrine, he found the three girls and
the two cats waiting for him.

"We know about Ami-chan," said Rei as he walked up to them.

"Serenity asked me to come get you to meet her at the hospital."

"When did you see Serenity again?" Makoto asked.

"It's a long story.  I'll tell it to you on the way there."  Mamoru
walked back to his car with the remaining Senshi following behind him.
His heart began to beat faster, and he clutched his chest and doubled
over.  Rei ran up to him and placed a hand on his back.

"What is it, Mamoru-san?" she asked him.

"Serenity," he whispered, "she's in trouble.  I have to find her.  Go
ahead to the hospital, take my car, and Serenity and I will meet you
there.  Don't worry, I'll protect her," he handed the keys to a worried
Rei, transformed into Tuxedo Kamen and disappeared into the darkness to
find his love.

*****

Serenity ran through the park oblivious to the ominous presence ahead of
her.  She turned a corner and found herself face to chest with a very
large man.  She backed away in fear.

"What do you want?" she asked in a shaky voice.

"Well, we can start with that diamond sitting on your head, and then,"
he paused groping her with his eyes, "we'll see what we can come up
with."  Serenity turned and started to run, but the thug was already too
close and had grabbed her by the wrist.  He pulled her roughly towards
him and placed the tip of a knife to her throat.

"Now," he said as he pushed her towards a more hidden area of the park,
"we can do it the easy way or the hard way."  They kept walking until
she was pushed up against a wall and they were hidden behind shrubbery.
Serenity's eyes became wild and she tried to strike him with her free
hand.  The man caught her hand and pulled both her arms above her head
pinning them to the wall with his left hand.  Sensing that she would try
to attack him next with her legs he pinned her feet to the ground with
his own feet.

"Please, don't do this," Serenity begged through her tears.  She watched
in horror as the man waved the knife in front of her eyes.

"Hey, you're the one who wanted this the hard way," he said menacingly
as he placed the tip of his knife to her neck.  He traced a slow line
down the middle of her body.  "You scream and I'll kill you.  I can
enjoy this whether you're dead or alive, it makes no difference to me.
Besides, nobody's going to hear you scream."  He had the knife right
above her stomach as he leaned towards her to kiss her.  She struggled
against his grip, but was startled as a look of pain washed over his
face, and suddenly darkness enveloped her as she felt something carve
into her side.

*****

Tuxedo Kamen rushed to where he felt Serenity was.  He finally sensed
her in the middle of a park.  He gasped in horror as he turned a corner
and found her pinned to the wall by a very large man.  The man was
hidden in shadows, but he knew that Serenity was there.  Her heart
screamed out at him to protect her.  He grabbed one of his roses and
threw it with all his might to the middle of the man's back.  The rose
hit its mark and the man fell forward and was pushed sideways by
Serenity who had slipped to the floor.  He saw Serenity as she finally
moved her hands grasping her side.  As he rushed toward her, he heard
her scream in pain and drop something to the ground.

Finally, after what seemed an eternity, he reached her.  She had
collapsed to her knees and she clutched her side.  He knelt next to her
and held her in his arms.  She was alive.  He looked at the man laying
next to them, and something caught his eye.  Next to Serenity lay a
bloody knife.  He pushed Serenity away and studied her pale face.  She
opened her eyes, and she began to reach for his face.  He looked at her
hand and was shocked to discover that it was drenched in blood.

"Thank you, Tuxedo Kamen.  Please help me get up," she said as she began
to push herself up.

"Serenity," he said returning to his normal form, "you're hurt."  He
helped her to her feet and panic claimed his features.  He still hadn't
seen the wound, but her pale face was all he needed to know that she was
in pain.

"Yes," she said finally standing, "you'll have to help me get to the
hospital."

"Yes, you need medical attention."

"No, Ami-chan needs me more.  Besides, the Ginzuishou is healing me.  It
will just take some time."  She hated to lie to him, but if she used the
Ginzuishou, she wouldn't be able to save Ami.  Maybe after Ami was alive
and well, her mother, Queen Serenity, would grant her the wish of life.

Mamoru lifted her gently into his arms and he ran to the hospital.
Serenity felt safe in his arms, and the thought of dying in the warm
caress of his body appealed to her.  She had to fight the darkness that
seduced her mind with visions of peace.  "No more pain, no more sorrow,
no more loneliness," the darkness whispered.  A brief memory of Ami
smiling invaded her mind, followed by memories of the other Senshi;
finally a memory of Endymion and Chibi-Usa, like a ray of light, pushed
the darkness away.  Her eyes fluttered open and she stared at Endymion's
profile.  His features were contorted in worry, but he was as handsome
as she remembered.  She wanted to reach up to touch his face, but she
lacked the strength.

They reached the hospital quickly, and Mamoru, believing she was already
healed, placed her gently down on the tile floor.  When he looked down,
the floor around her feet was sprinkled in blood.

"I thought you said that the Ginzuishou had healed you," Mamoru said
turning her gently to face him.  He looked down and took her hands in
his pulling them away from her side.  Tuxedo Kamen gasped at the sigh of
the huge gash in her side.  Serenity returned her hands to the wound,
pushing it closed to slow the bleeding, and her pale face turned upward.
The determined look on her face tortured Mamoru's heart, for he knew
what she meant to do.

"If I heal myself, Ami-chan doesn't have a chance.  I won't have enough
strength to heal her.  I need to heal her, Endymion.  She's about to
die."

"So are you," Mamoru whispered the words as his heart tore in two.

"Maybe, but she's more important.  She's not a coward like me.  She fell
in battle and she fell bravely.  I ran away from my problems and
abandoned the Senshi.  She deserves to live."

"So do you, my love," Mamoru said taking her into his arms.

"It is good to hear you say that, Endy- Mamo-chan.  Please help me get
to her room, because I don't think I can walk."  She smiled briefly at
him as he reluctantly let her step away from the safety of the circle of
his arms and pulled her to his side.

They walked in silence side by side to Ami's room.  Serenity huddled to
his body clutching her side, and Mamoru supporting her with his arm.

*****

Tim rushed to the room of the girl Mr. Lester had told him about.  The
Senshi were there when Tim arrived.  They looked at the American and
wondered who he was.  Tim searched his memory for a phrase in Japanese
that he could use, but he couldn't come up with one.  Minako, noticing
his distress spoke up in near perfect English.

"Can we help you?" she asked.  Timothy looked relieved as he smiled
gratefully at Minako.

"Yes, I'm looking for Serenity.  I was told that she would be here to
see her friend Ami."

"I am here, Timothy."  They all turned to see a pale Serenity at the
door held up by Mamoru.  Timothy walked over to her and finally noticed
the pain in her eyes.  He traced the pain to her blood-soaked hands at
her side and a large blood stain painting the white costume.  His eyes
went wide in horror as he dashed to her side.

"Usagi, what happened?  You need a doctor.  What happened, Chiba-san?
How could you let this happen to her?"  Timothy was too blinded by rage
for the man with his arm around Usagi to be rational.  He grabbed Mamoru
by the shirt and pushed him back against the door and away from
Serenity.  Serenity, who had been leaning on him collapsed on the
ground, new pain making her gasp.  Rei and Mina rushed to help her stand
while Makoto pulled Tim away from Mamoru.  Fear was evident in all their
eyes as they held the weak Serenity.  Serenity looked up at her friends.
She found the strength to pull herself up and walked to stand by the
hospital bed.

Feeling Ami slipping away again, Serenity began the healing process.
The Ginzuishou's light surrounded her.  The Senshi transformed and stood
around the bed as well.  Venus at Serenity's side close to Ami's head,
Jupiter facing Venus on the opposite side of the bed, and Mars next to
Jupiter.  Serenity turned to look at the two men standing at the
doorway.  One stared at her with fear and wonder in his eyes, while the
other, with the rumpled shirt, stared at her with recognition and love
in his eyes.  When she spoke, she spoke in English so that the American
could understand.

"Come, Prince Endymion, we need you," she reached out her hand and the
Ginzuishou's power touched Mamoru.  His rumpled clothes were replaced by
his armor as he walked toward his love.  He took her in his arms one
last time before taking her place by the bed.  Serenity walked towards
the awestruck Tim, and as she did so her blood-soaked costume was
replaced by her princess gown.  Her face was calm and her hands were no
longer stained red.  She smiled sadly at him as the crescent moon
appeared on her head.  When he opened his mouth to ask her all the
questions that buzzed in his head, she placed two fingers on his lips.
From her back, two angelic wings sprouted and extended as feathers fell
around her feet.  Tim stared in wonder at the sight of his angel before
him.  She finally stepped away from him dropping her arm to her side.

"Timothy, this does not concern you.  Please know that there are things
not even I understand about myself.  I am sure that I will lose my life
tonight, so this is a final farewell.  Thank you for always being there
for me when I needed you.  Now I must join the others.  Good-bye Tim."
She turned away from him and began walking toward the foot of the bed.

"But, I love you," Tim whispered with tears in his eyes.

"I shall always be with you," she said as she turned and pointed an
index finger to his heart, the power of the Ginzuishou reaching out to
him.  Tim felt her then, in his heart, in his mind, and knew that she
would always be there.  He understood that she wasn't his and that she
was saying goodbye to him.  He still didn't understand her
transformation or the transformation of the others now standing around
the bed in Sailor outfits.  But he did understand that she was a
princess of some kind, and Chiba-san was a prince, HER prince.  He
remembered the shocked look on Chiba-san's face when he handed him her
photo.  In retrospect, he understood his reaction.  She belonged to him,
to her prince.

His selfish heart almost smiled thinking that she wouldn't be
Chiba-san's either.  She would be erased from this world, giving up her
own life for another.  He pushed back the selfish thought as the truth
finally sunk in.  She's performing the greatest sacrifice, and he didn't
even know why.  He fell to his knees, his eyes tracing her every move as
she reached the foot of the bed.  He wanted to run to her, to pull her
away from the brink of death, to hold her back, but his body would not
respond.  Instead he opened his mouth to scream, but found he had no
voice to protest.  He felt helpless, rooted to the ground watching the
woman he loved relinquish her life.

Serenity stood at the foot of the bed, ignoring the pain in her side and
the teary eyes of those around her.  She stared at Ami's almost lifeless
body and she began.  She took the crown from her head and gently removed
the Ginzuishou, holding it in her cupped hands.  The crown clattered
loudly on the floor.  Serenity took a deep breath and stared at the
Ginzuishou in her palms.

She looked up once more to say goodbye to her friends and lover.  Her
eyes rested on Mars who was on her left.  Rei held fear in her eyes, a
fear that Serenity never believed could sully her courageous soul.  Mars
understood the goodbye and dropped her eyes to hide the tears that
flowed over her cheeks.

Serenity looked at Jupiter next who stared sadly into her eyes.  Jupiter
let the tears flow freely, without shame, as she nodded slightly her
good bye.  Serenity's eyes paused briefly on Ami's pale face before
resting on Venus' face.  Her face was so much like her own, yet now it
was twisted in sadness.  Minako could not, or would not meet her eyes
for she understood that Serenity was saying goodbye, and she didn't want
to say goodbye.

Serenity's eyes finally rested on her prince.  His face was a mask of
courage, but in his eyes he held the empty sadness she felt in her
heart.  She wanted to tell him that she would be alright, that they
would be together after this; but she could not lie to herself and least
of all to him.  Their eyes locked and in their hearts, they embraced as
they had done in the past.  Nothing needed to be said.  Their love for
each other was so strong that it was almost tangible.  He stared at her
with loving eyes, trying to memorize her every feature.

His eyes told her of his undying love for her.  She let a tear escape as
she told Endymion with her eyes that she would always love him.  The
tear on his cheek trailed the same path as he closed his eyes and bowed
his head slightly.

Raising her arms, the Ginzuishou cradled in her hands, she shouted the
words that would seal their fates.  "Moon Princess Healing Escalation!"
The power of the Ginzuishou filled the room with light and surrounded
them as it drained Serenity's energy and healed their dying friend.  The
pain in Serenity's side intensified.  Her body beginning to weaken, she
began to lower her arms.  She felt her strength return suddenly as two
hands covered her own.  She looked up to find Endymion towering behind
her supporting her hands and the Ginzuishou.  The Senshi each held a
hand above Ami's body acting as conduits for the raw power of the
Ginzuishou.

"Mars Healing," whispered Rei as the power of the Ginzuishou passed
through her body and into the palm of her hand.

"Jupiter Healing," whispered Makoto feeling the power of the Ginzuishou
in her clenched fist suspended above Ami's chest.

"Venus Healing," whispered Minako releasing the power of the Ginzuishou
onto Ami's forehead.

"Earth Healing," whispered Endymion adding his own power to the
Ginzuishou.

"Moon Princess Healing Escalation," Serenity whispered as the last of
her remaining strength evaporated.  Mizuno Ami frowned slightly as the
sign of Mercury appeared on her forehead.  The power the Senshi felt
dwindled.

Serenity grasped the Ginzuishou to her chest and lowered her head.  They
had done it.  The pain in her side subsided as the light around her
dimmed and suddenly became darkness.  Serenity's knees buckled and she
collapsed backwards against Endymion's body, her wings disappearing upon
impact in a flurry of feathers.  Her princess dress dissolved to her
stained costume, the blood continued to trickle steadily out of the
wound on her side.  The feathers floated down around her feet, sticking
to her spilled blood on the tiled floor.  Serenity welcomed darkness and
smiled slightly; she was happy.

*****

As Serenity fell into the arms of her lover and detransformed, Tim was
free from the invisible shackles that held him in place.  Endymion knelt
on the floor holding on to Serenity's still body, tears streaming down
his cheeks.  The Senshi stood behind him, crying.  Tim rushed to the
side of the fallen angel, but stopped short next to Endymion when he saw
her pale, almost lifeless form.  He fell to his knees at her feet.  She
opened her eyes and willed her stained hand to Endymion's face.

"I love you, Mamo-chan," she said as her hand slipped away before
reaching its intended target.  He pulled her to him and kissed her lips.
When he pulled away she smiled and dropped her head backwards, her eyes
blank and lifeless.  The Senshi sobbed as Endymion rejected her death
with a heart wrenching scream.

Tim wanted to run away from the pain that filled the room, and the pain
in his heart.  He backed up on his knees and almost ran into a teenager
standing behind him.  She was dressed much like the other girls, except
she wore a pink sailor outfit, and had pink hair in the same style as
Usagi's.  She pushed by him and ran to the grieving group.  The words
that came out of her mouth leaving his heart cold, for he understood the
borrowed words.

"Papa," she said as she reached Mamoru.  He turned in amazement to stare
at his daughter who had aged as they had.  *How can she be here?* he
thought.  *Usagi is dead.  There must still be hope.*

Chibi-Usa finally noticed her mother's body in his arms.  "Mama," she
exclaimed happily, walking around Mamoru to hug her mother.  She backed
up in horror when she noticed her mother's lifeless eyes staring into
nothingness. "No, Mama...."

She finally realized the reason why the Senshi and her father were
crying.  Princess Serenity was dead.  Neo-Queen Serenity was dead.  Her
mother was dead.  She reached forward to close her mother's eyes,
touching her cooling skin.  She pulled her hand away, and she began to
cry, collapsing to the floor.

She sobbed into her hands, but surprisingly, as a tear fell a crystal
formed and landed on her lap.  Chibi-Usa stared in awe at the Ginzuishou
on her lap, and instantly knew what she had to do.  She stood, raising
the Ginzuishou high above her head.  Her Sailor fuku dissolved into her
princess gown and a crescent moon adorned her forehead.

"Chibi-Moon Princess Halation!" she screamed through her tears and once
more the power of the Ginzuishou enveloped them as it healed Serenity's
wounds.  The Ginzuishou Serenity still held in her hand began to glow
and her fingers twitched around it.  Serenity felt a distant pain
calling her back.  Her side miraculously healed itself, her skin pulled
itself together, her hands were no longer stained, her blood began
rushing in her body, her heart began to beat softly.  Chibi-Moon
stopped, too tired to go on, but the Ginzuishou in Serenity's hands
continued to glow.  Serenity's life had been restored returning power to
the Ginzuishou.  Serenity's eyes opened slowly and stared up at her
lover's face.

"Mamo-chan..." she whispered as he brought his head closer to brush her
lips with his.

Tim felt his heart soar when she stirred, but as she spoke and kissed
her love, he felt it break.  She lived, but Usagi, the woman, was dead
to him.  Their friendship was all he could ever hope to have.

He had nothing to do there anymore.  She no longer needed him.  She had
her prince, and apparently a daughter.  He had to escape the
overwhelming desire to take her in his arms and run away from that
prince and the rest of the strange women in front of him.  Instead, Tim
walked quietly out of the room in defeat.  No one noticed him leave.  He
leaned against the window of the hospital room staring longingly at the
happy reunion inside.

Now he understood the meaning of the words that had escaped her lips as
he had kissed Serenity just a few days before.  `Mamochan' wasn't a
thing, it was a person.  It was a man and an undying love.

He needed to know the entire story.  He needed to know who they were in
reality, how she had a pre-teen daughter if she was only twenty, and
what happened in that hospital room.  But now was not the time.  No, now
he had to put the pieces of his broken heart back together.

*****

Mizuno Ami sat up in the hospital bed and looked around the room.  She
saw her friends huddled at the foot of the bed.  They looked older than
she remembered.  How long had she been sleeping anyway?  She cocked her
head to her right and was surprised when she felt hair caressing the
side of her arm.  She blinked in surprise when she ran a hand through
her once short hair and discovered that it now reached well below her
shoulders.  Her friends were still oblivious to her presence, obviously
concerned about something on the floor.  Ami crawled to the foot of the
bed and stuck her face in the circle of friends.

"Hey, what did I miss?" she asked cheerfully.  Six pairs of startled
eyes were fixed on her as her smile disappeared.  "What did I say?"

The Senshi jumped on the bed to embrace their friend, while Endymion
gently lifted Serenity off the floor and cradled her in his arms.  He
knew that she was healed to her full strength, but his protective nature
hid the fact that he just wanted to hold her close.

"Welcome back, Ami-chan," Serenity said happily from the safety of her
prince's arms.  The Senshi began the story of the events that had
transpired as Ami sat in shock and disbelief.  Serenity smiled up at
Endymion to discover that he was staring intently at her.  He smiled
pulling her closer to his body and she placed her head over his heart,
her hands still holding the Ginzuishou.  She drifted off to sleep to the
lullaby of the happy voices of her friends and the rhythm of her lover's
heart.

*****

After a quick, confusing explanation to baffled doctors and a phone call
to her mother, Mizuno Ami went home.  On the drive home, sitting next to
her mother, she pondered what the others had told her earlier.  How she
was hurt in one of their first fights without Sailor Moon.  She had been
comatose ever since that day.  She had lost six years of her life, but
finding her friends beside her as she awoke filled her with joy.  She
held no grudges against the others.  How could she? Usagi - no Serenity
- gave up her life to save her.

She still could not believe what the others told her about Serenity.
She was the Princess now.  She smiled as she remembered the clumsy baby
that Usagi was, but Usagi was gone.  Usagi had taken the next step
towards her destiny; Usagi had grown into Princess Serenity.

*****

Serenity opened her eyes the next morning and found herself lying on her
side, her forehead resting on the chest of her sleeping prince.  She
still wore the torn, stained costume and slippers.  Endymion held her
close to his body, much the same way she used to hold her stuffed rabbit
when she was a child.  She smiled at the silly thought.  When she looked
up she was staring into his eyes.  Their eyes locked and they smiled at
each other.  They were finally together.  Nothing could keep them apart
now.  She reached up with her lips as he met her half way.  They were
lost in each other's lips when a pink haired girl burst into his room.

"GOOD MORNING!" she yelled happily as she threw the door open.  She ran
to them and jumped on the bed separating them.  Chibi-Usa gave Serenity
a smug look as she waited for the tirade of insults and angry remarks
from Usagi.  Instead, Serenity smiled at her daughter, kissed her on the
forehead and stood.  She needed to get out of her stained costume.
Endymion followed her with his eyes as she gracefully took one of his
shirts from his closet and slipped into the bathroom.  Chibi-Usa smiled
up at Endymion.

"Mama sure is different," she said proudly.

"Yes, Chibi-Usa, she is different, but she'll always be my Usako,"
Endymion said smiling.

Chibi-Usa followed her father as he stood and walked out of the room to
give Serenity some privacy.  They walked to the kitchen and he poured
his daughter a glass of milk as he began making coffee.

*****

Serenity showered to rid herself of the night's memories.  She examined
her side looking for a nonexistent wound before slipping on Endymion's
shirt.  The wound disappeared off her body without a trace, but the
Ginzuishou, powerful as it was, could not erase the memories of her
attacker.  She could still picture the man's face as he leaned forward
to kiss her.  She shuddered and wrapped her arms around her body
breathing in the scent of Endymion's shirt.  Wearing his shirt was
almost like having him near her, caressing her body.  She smiled at the
thought as she began to knot her silver hair, forgetting all about her
attacker.

She walked out minutes later, Endymion's shirt grazing her knees.
Endymion smiled lovingly at Serenity as she made her way to them.
Serenity stood by Endymion's side and he put an arm around her, kissing
the top of her head.  Looking at her mother and father happy together,
Chibi-Usa became homesick.  Her job in the past was done, and she wanted
to return to her home.  She stood and cleared her throat.  When she was
sure that she had her parents' attention she began.

"Mama, Papa, please love each other.  I disappeared all those years ago
because you were separated.  It was only the strength of your love that
brought me back to save Mama, Papa.  When you cried out in pain over
losing her, her soul heard you and reached out to me.  Please love one
another.  There may be more tests ahead, and you need to be strong and
always remember that the future is not in your hands, but in your
hearts."

"You both made wrong choices six years ago, but somehow you set things
right.  I'm living proof of that.  We all must make choices on a daily
basis; but remember that the choices you make, whether right or wrong,
will determine the future." Chibi-Usa was solemn as she spoke, sounding
wiser than she appeared.  Her parents smiled proudly at her as she spoke
the wise words that Neo-Queen Serenity had told her to say.

"The choice that you have to make is easy," she continued.  "Stay
together, love each other, and let nothing separate you.  I'm sure you
can do that," she smiled and gave them a knowing look reverting to her
usual character.  She pulled out her time key and walked over to her
parents to say goodbye.  She hugged Endymion first and then turned to
her mother with tears in her eyes.  Serenity looked at Chibi-Usa and
felt a mother's love.  She wasn't the annoying little pest who was in
love with her boyfriend anymore.  She was her future daughter who had
brought with her the gift of life.  She smiled at the paradox.  She will
give birth to this wonderful child in the future, but Chibi-Usa would
give her life first in her past.

Chibi-Usa threw her arms around Serenity, knowing that she wasn't
hugging Usagi.  This was Princess Serenity, and future Neo-Queen
Serenity, her mother.  The love and respect she held for Usagi so hidden
within her heart and behind her haughty attitude years ago was apparent
now.  She broke away from her mother's embrace wiping tears from her
eyes as she opened the portal that would take her home.  She waved
goodbye to her mother and father, and curtsied.  Prince Endymion and
Princess Serenity held on to each other as their daughter walked through
the portal into the future.

*****

Tim began packing a suitcase when he returned to Motoki's place that
morning.  He had wondered around unknown streets all night, not really
caring about his safety.  The events of the night before filling his
mind.  When he arrived that morning, the house was empty.  Reika had
gone into labor so she and Motoki were at the hospital.  That was good.
He needed to pack and catch the next plane to America.  Carrying the
suitcase, he walked out of the room and turned off the light.  He had to
write Motoki a note.

Looking for paper and a pen he walked into Motoki's study.  He sat at
his desk writing his thanks on a piece of paper.  Looking up he noticed
a framed picture.  Usagi and Chiba Mamoru sat there staring happily at
the camera, his arms wrapped protectively around her, Motoki and Reika
stood behind them.  This picture must have been taken right before she
went to America.  Her blond hair was tied up in the usual buns and she
was wearing an evening dress.  The childish Usagi looked as beautiful
then as she did now, except her eyes were full of joy in the picture.
That was the only thing Usagi did not have in all the years they were
together.  Her smile never reached her eyes...until last night.  Tim
replaced the picture and walked out of the room leaving the note on
Motoki's desk.

There was a knock at the door and Tim rushed to open it thinking it was
Motoki.  Opening the door, he found a man standing behind a silver
headed woman, his arms wrapped around her waist.  Serenity and Endymion
blinked when they saw the disheveled Tim answer the door.  Endymion
quickly dropped his arms out of respect for Tim's feelings.

"Tim," Serenity began, "what are you doing here?"

"Motoki is the friend I was staying with."

"Oh," she said softly.

"If you're looking for Motoki, he's at the hospital with Reika."

"What happened?" Endymion asked worried.

"Reika went into labor."

"We have to go," Endymion told Serenity urgently.

"You go ahead.  I'll meet you there.  I have to talk to Timothy."
Endymion nodded and squeezed her hand as he rushed off.  He understood
that things needed to be explained to Timothy, and that only she could
do it.  The two watched him drive off.  Serenity turned to Tim.

"Would you like to come to the park with me?" she asked him.  "There is
a lot that I need to explain to you.  Tim nodded and locked the door
behind him following Serenity.

When they reached the nearby park, the two sat on a bench.  Serenity had
her hands folded in her lap, while Tim tapped his thighs nervously with
his fingers.  Serenity looked at him.

"I don't even know where to start," she said truthfully.

"You don't have to tell me anything," Tim said as he watched the
children play in the distance.

"Tim, look at me."  Tim turned to face her.  "Don't you see, I have to
explain everything to you.  I know that the scene from last night seemed
like a dream, that it couldn't be real, and the explanation will seem
even harder to believe.  You see, I am the reincarnation of the Moon
Princess of the Silver Millennium.  I know how farfetched this sounds,
it was difficult for me to believe it too.  You see, long ago there was
a kingdom on the Moon.  I was Princess Serenity, daughter and heir of
Queen Serenity.  Four soldiers, each princesses of their respective
planets, were appointed to guard me.  You see, the four girls that were
in the room were those soldiers.  Sailor Mercury, lay comatose in the
hospital, Sailor Mars in the red uniform, Sailor Jupiter in the green
uniform, and Sailor Venus in the gold uniform.  I was Sailor Moon, that
is until I went to America."

"What about Chiba-san?" he asked her, the pain obvious in his eyes.

"Yes, Endymion.  You see, I fell in love with the Prince of Earth,
Prince Endymion, and he fell in love with me.  Chiba Mamoru is the
reincarnation of Prince Endymion of Earth.  He and I will always love
each other. It is our destiny."

"I left for America all those years ago because he told me he didn't
love me anymore.  You see, he was having nightmares about the future.
Dreams in which I would die if we were together.  He pushed me away, and
I let him.  I ran away from him, like a coward.  I abandoned my friends
and my family and everything I had ever known to be away from the pain
he caused me."

"Who is the pink haired teenager that called you `Mama' and `Papa'?"

"That is our future daughter, and the future Princess.  Chibi-Usa is the
child that Endymion and I will have in the future.  She came from the
future to save me."  Tim put his head in his hands.

"This all just seems so unbelievable.  If I hadn't seen it with my own
eyes I would never believe it."

"I understand, Tim."  Tim looked up again into her eyes.

"Explain what happened last night.  Your transformation, that diamond
and why you were giving up your life for one of your protectors."

"That was not a diamond, it was the Ginzuishou.  The Silver Moon
Crystal.  It has incredible powers, but only the members of the Moon's
royal bloodline can control it fully.  When I use it, I transform into
my princess form.  Actually, I have already become Serenity.  That is
why my royal symbol of a crescent moon appears on my forehead, and why
my hair is silver.  The Ginzuishou brought out my full power though.
I've never had wings before until last night.  That's how powerful the
Ginzuishou is."

"The Ginzuishou's power is immense, but it comes at a price.  The
Ginzuishou's power drains me of my life, so when I use it I run the risk
of dying.  I had already lost a lot of blood because of my attack in the
park, so I was in bad shape when I used the Ginzuishou.  I knew that I
was going to die.  I just needed to return Ami-chan's life.  It was my
fault that she was injured to begin with.  If I hadn't run away, she
wouldn't have been hurt."  Serenity looked down.  Tim lifted her face
with an index finger under her chin.

"That wasn't your fault, Usagi.  You must realize that not everything is
your fault.  They are your protectors, not the other way around.  I know
that you love your friends, but remember that everything happens for a
reason.  You don't know what would have happened if you stayed.  Perhaps
Ami wouldn't have been hurt, but then you may have been killed.  Don't
blame yourself for others' misfortunes.  I'm sure Ami doesn't blame
you."  Serenity smiled.

"You are such a wonderful friend, Tim. I don't know what I would have
done without you in America.  You were the one who gave me the strength
to come back."

"You're not going back with us, right?" It was his turn to look down.
Serenity placed her right hand below his chin and lifted his head.

"I can't, Tim.  My place is here. It's where I belong.  My uncle knew
this, that's why he brought me back by force.  I must fulfill my
destiny.  Endymion and I have to follow the hands of fate that have
guided our lives for so long.  I'm sorry, Tim.  You must understand that
our love has survived countless centuries, and will survive for
countless more.  Please forgive me, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"There's nothing to forgive, Usagi.  I understand.  I just wished that
things could have been different.  I'm leaving for America today."  He
stood suddenly.  Serenity stood and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"The dance company leaves next week.  Please stay until then.  I can
show you my country."  She began walking ahead of him towards Motoki's
house.  Throwing him a look over her shoulder she said, "Besides, I have
four beautiful best friends who'd love it if you stayed."  Tim smiled
and followed Serenity back to Motoki's house.

*****

A week later the Senshi, Serenity and Endymion, and Timothy joined the
dance company in a big cast party.  The party was held in a large hall
complete with balconies and a marvelous view.  Serenity and Endymion,
who sat at their table talking softly, holding hands, were inseparable
as always.  Minako and Tim talked enthusiastically sharing stories.
Minako, who spoke English very well, was delighted in the stories of
Tim's adolescence.  Ami, with a new haircut, was enjoying a conversation
with Robert Lester, Jr. about new medical advances.  Makoto was busy
taste-testing the dishes of the buffet table.  Rei seemed to be building
up her courage as she walked towards Serenity and Endymion.  She reached
them and visibly gulped.

"Prince, Princess, I have something to say," she said looking down at
the floor.

"Go on Rei-chan," Serenity said.

"I just wanted to say that I'm glad that you two finally worked things
out.  I don't mean disrespect, Princess, but frankly I was beginning to
doubt that you two would get together.  When you disappeared, six years
ago, I blamed Mamoru-san.  I still blame your disappearance on him, but
seeing you so happy with him makes me forgive and forget the past.  I
realize that I may have been cruel in my words to Mamoru-san those years
ago and in my treatment of him in the years that followed.  However, I
did so out of love for the Princess.  I do hope, Prince Endymion, that
you make the Princess happy and don't hurt her again or you will have to
answer to the Sailor Senshi." Rei crossed her arms and threw Endymion a
look of defiance, but when he smiled the look melted into a smile.  She
bowed slightly and walked away hastily.

"Apology accepted, Rei," Endymion said loud enough for her to hear.  Rei
winced and stopped suddenly, but continued walking without a look back.
Serenity and Endymion laughed.  Endymion stood and placed his hand in
front of Serenity.

"Would you like to go outside?" he asked as she took his hand.

"I'd love to," Serenity said as she stood, following him as he led her
out to one of the balconies.  They stood at the balcony staring up at
the full moon.  "It seems like a dream."

"A dream I never want to wake from," Endymion added.  She smiled up at
him and he leaned forward to kiss her awaiting lips.  When he finally
pulled away she rested her head on his chest and listened to his
heartbeat.  "Serenity, I've wanted to have you in my arms, just like
this for so long.  I've waited for you all my life."  Suddenly, he took
her hands from around his waist and stepped away from her.  She looked
up, her worried eyes searching his handsome face.

"What is it, Endymion?" she asked

"I need you to make another choice.  Hopefully this one won't be another
wrong choice like the ones we seem to be making recently."  She cocked
her head to the side and gave him a worried look.

"What is it?" she asked curiously.  She watched as he pulled a small box
out of his pocket and held it in his palm.  She gasped when he opened
the box to reveal a beautiful ring in the shape of a heart.  In the
middle of the heart lay a small diamond.  The precious stone reflected
the light of the moon, causing awkward patches of light to dance upon
Serenity's incredulous face.  Her eyes filled with tears.

"Do you accept this ring as a symbol of my love?"  Serenity stood
speechless.  Endymion got down on one knee, took the ring, and slipped
it on the ring finger of her left hand.  "Tsukino Usagi, Serenity, will
you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"  Serenity nodded and knelt on
the ground as she threw her arms around Endymion's neck.

"Oh, Endymion, I thought this day would never come," she whispered in
his ear.  "I'd love to share the rest of my life with you.  That is the
easiest choice I've had to make.  I promise to always love you as I do
this moment."

"I promise to never doubt the strength of our love again, and to make
you the happiest woman on Earth," he whispered in her ear, a solitary
tear tracing his cheek.  His lips found hers and they kissed, finally
sealing their promise of love forever.


The End.


Well, what did you think?  Please let me know.  Send all your comments,
questions, flames to <OTAKU9@aol.com>  Hope you enjoyed it.