The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episode 49 of the PGSM Live Action.
Chapter 25 TWO OF US
When I next awoke, I had been in a desert. Or at least, what looked like a desert. I had stood up and looked around in confusion.
Why am I still alive? Or is this heaven?
It was then I heard a voice. In my head.
Endymion. Prince of Earth.
"Who's that?!" There was no one else around and I was beginning to question my sanity.
I am the Spirit of Earth.
My jaw had dropped as I tried to process the information. I had not even known such an entity existed.
I am the one who revived you. I need your help.
"My help? How can I help you? What can I possibly do that you cannot?!" I had blurted in accusation. My brain had still not been functioning properly then. I had an excuse. I had been dead after all.
The Moon Princess has used the Ginzuishou to destroy the planet. Everything on Earth has been obliterated. Look around you. This is what Earth looks like now. All living beings are dead. All things reduced to sand and dust.
Usagi. We had not managed to stop the destruction of the planet after all. I knew the reason. My death had probably been the trigger again.
I dropped to my knees in anguish.
But you can help to restore everything.
"What?!" I had abruptly stood up as hope flared within me. "What can I do? Tell me!"
Go to the Princess. With the power of the Ginzuishou, with you, the prince of Earth, serving as a focus, she can restore everything to its original state. But there is a price. With such enormous use of power, both your lives are forfeit.
"Usagi is here?" I had exclaimed in surprise before focusing on my link to her. I was able to feel the connection. I had known where she was.
"I will go to her. I know Usagi will never forgive herself if she has caused the destruction of the planet. We will both set things to right again."
Thank you.
"Just one last question. Why have you not come to me before? I didn't even know you exist.
It was not necessary for you to know. And I am not allowed to interfere except in the most desperate of situations. My task is simply to keep the planet alive so life can go on.
Even though there was no one in front of me, I had bowed deeply before squaring my shoulders and setting off. It had been time to find Usagi.
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I found her sitting forlornly on the sand. Her wails echoed into the empty expanse of the desert. I looked upon her with mixed emotions. I had not thought that I could see her again and like a man deprived of water for days, I drunk in her appearance greedily. I could never blame her, despite what she had done. I could never bear to see her cry.
"Usagi."
She had lifted her tear-soaked face and her eyes filled with desperate hope when she saw me.
"Mamoru!" She clambered up and rushed into my embrace. Sobbing brokenly, she had whispered in a stricken tone, "I'm simply horrible, aren't I? We both promised to stop the destruction of the planet... but... I didn't keep my promise..."
Her whole body trembled with her distress. My heart clenched. I had known she would blame herself. Why did she, one tiny girl, have to carry the weight of the whole planet on her shoulders?
"Usagi. It's not over yet. The Ginzuishou can restore the planet. This time, let us try our best to save the planet." I told her what she had to do. She should not have to be burdened with this guilt.
"I'll do it! Whatever it takes, I'll do it!" Usagi had answered without hesitation.
"But you would probably die."
"If I can exchange my life for those of others, it'll be worth it. Usagi's gaze had been clear and determined.
I smiled. It was a typically Usagi answer. "Perhaps this is what we are meant to do. To be totally free of our past lives."
"For the people who died in our past lives," I added as I pulled her close, savouring the feel of her in my arms, "actually, it's my fault. I should have been able to save you from this. I'm sorry, Usagi."
"It's I who should be saying sorry," Usagi had murmured. Her voice was still laced with sorrow. She had not forgiven herself. I had not wanted her to end her life while feeling so sad. It was then I made a decision.
"Usagi." I paused, suddenly nervous.
"Hmm?"
"Usagi. I know this is probably not the best time and there's nobody else around and I can't provide you with any finery and it's not going to be official or recognized..." I had begun to babble.
Her expression was puzzled as she lifted her face from my chest.
"Usagi, what I want to say is... let's get married. Here. Now. Before we start our task. To fulfill what we couldn't in our past lives." My words tripped over one another.
Her look was one of shock before her whole face flushed a deep red.
"Yes." Her voice had been so soft that I had barely caught the word. But it was enough. My heart exploded with happiness. If we were to die, that was the one thing I had wanted - to make her mine. We would be able to leave the earth, happy.
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We had a simple ceremony in our royal attires, simply consisting of us pledging our love to each other and I, slipping a ring on her finger. It had been enough for us.
As we nestled together after the ceremony, I had enjoyed the brief respite before our task, simply having her near me. My thumb traced lazy circles on the top of her hand, intertwined with mine. Surprisingly, she had been the one to break the silence.
"It's time."
I had looked at her and kissed her one final time before she unleashed the power of the Ginzuishou.
Everyone, I'm so sorry. I wish time will reset itself to before we became the senshi. Everything would be back to what it was, but without the Dark Kingdom, without the fighting. Mamoru and I won't exist but Rei, Minako, Ami and Makoto will find each other again and be happy. No one will remember us but they are no longer lonely and Minako is not ill. The Shitennou can also live normal lives once more.
That had been Usagi's wish and it had been granted.
That was the last thing I remembered.
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When I next woke, I had been in another strange place. It was getting to be a habit. At least Usagi had been beside me.
"Why?" Usagi had asked. Why are we still alive? Where are we? were her unspoken queries. I was not able to answer her.
It was then footsteps sounded, a jarring note in the wide expanse of emptiness around us. We had turned to look.
Princess Serenity. Usagi's past life.
"As long as your friends still remember you, despite the spell you put on them, you can be revived. The Ginzuishou is shattered but it still has enough power to restore one person's life. Please... go back. The past life... has ended at last."
She disappeared after saying those words. My feelings had been conflicted. I had wanted Usagi to stay with me but I knew I could not be so selfish. Usagi could still have a full life, with her family and friends. It was what I wanted for her.
"That's wonderful, Usagi. You can go back home." I smiled as I urged her to leave.
"But, what about Mamoru?"
"Don't worry about me." I had made sure my voice sounded normal.
"But... just me alone? I... I can't..." Usagi had been on the verge of tears.
"Master."
I had been startled. That can't be... can it?
Turning around, the Shitennou had appeared behind me.
"Master, this is your life force. We're here to return it back to you." Jadeite had announced proudly. He had been the youngest and always the most animated. With that, they produced the painting that Beryl had used to store my life force so long ago.
"Master, with this, you can also return back to life. Please, live. We'll be waiting for you on Earth," Kunzite had added.
"We'll always be with Master." That had been Zoisite.
"No matter what happens, we'll always follow you," Nephrite had chipped in with his usual flair.
I had been overwhelmed. The Shitennou, alive once more. And no longer brainwashed. They were my friends once again.
I was not able to speak and instead turned towards Usagi. Her eyes were filled with happiness for me. She had understood.
Somehow, we both knew what we had to do. Taking her hand, we had ran towards the light.
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EPILOGUE
We were both revived and that day was one of happiness as Usagi reunited with her friends.
It had only been much later that I was able to have Usagi to myself. Looking at her, I still had not totally believed that we had survived against all odds and were together again. There were so many things I had wished to say at that time, but ultimately, all that I had wanted to articulate was a whispered "I love you, Usagi."
She had looked up at me, her face aglow with happiness. Knowing I had placed that expression on her face had put me on the top of the world. As her next words lifted me directly to heaven.
"I love you too, Mamoru," she had murmured before burying her face in my chest, her cheeks tinted with red.
Caressing her cheek, I gently lifted her face before brushing my lips across hers. Her instant response had been gratifying. Rising on her tiptoes, she had linked her arms around my neck and had pressed herself closer to me before responding to my kiss. Our lips met in a soft, lingering kiss.
Before I met Usagi, I had not known it was possible to feel so deeply about a person.
As I walked her towards her home, I had interlaced her fingers with mine. We were going to be together and I was never letting go of her hand again.
"Are we going to have our happily ever after now?" Usagi had asked before she slipped into her front door.
Yes. We'll have our happily ever after. I will make sure of that. I had vowed to myself that day.
It has been four years since that day. I never did regain any more of my memory of Prince Endymion, but it does not matter anymore. My past life does not matter. I only know one fact. I was irrevocably in love with Tsukino Usagi and I will spend the rest of my life loving and protecting her. It is enough.
Tsukino Usagi. A slight girl whose head does not even reach my chin, but holds my entire existence in her hands.
A girl whom I am going to propose to tomorrow. It is time for an official wedding where I can proclaim loudly to all that she belongs to me.
Wish me luck.
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A/N:
Finally! Whew... the last chapter's done. And I must admit, I'm relieved. At times, I thought I'll just stop halfway, but I realized that I really hate it when other authors do that, and so no matter how busy I am, I still try to update every week or so.
Well, it's finally complete, unless I suddenly decide to write an outtake or something (don't hold your breath though... ). Thank you, all of you, for accompanying me through my first journey as a fanfic author. Your reviews had given me the incentive to go on. I hope that I did not disappoint, or at least not too badly. =P And thank you for reading my fic. Bye now!!!
