Hello, again, everyone! Well, it's been a fun ride, hasn't it? Meeting a strong, but still innocent and sweet Usagi… scheming to get the General's from Beryl… meeting the Outers in the first season… Usagi's wish… and her struggle to maintain even while her soul mate was divided…
Man, I've loved writing this. And I hope you've enjoyed reading it even a fraction as much.
The Final Review Replies for Escaping Oblivion!
Vi3t Babii: I'm glad you liked it! Here's the final chapter! Enjoy!
CatDemon1: Here's a Christmas present for you! The story is completed, but the saga has one more book! I hope you like this chapter, and I hope to see you in the third book!
angel313: I'm glad I wrote it, too. It's been a very fun learning experience for me! Thank you so much for reading!
Serenity Darkness: I'm mean, I know! Gomen nasai! But here's the end! I hope you like it!
Moosagi: Aw, man, I was so close to updating before Christmas, but because I didn't finish before, I thought I could try and make it up to you by posting ON Christmas! I hope you didn't have to wait too long!
karone-sakura: Ah, one of my most dedicated faithfuls! I hope to see you in the third book, too! Thank you so much for all the support and encouragement you gave me in your reviews!
Izzy: Wait no more! Here's the end! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
Midnight: Hey, glad you liked it! We've finally come to the end, ne? Hope you like this last chapter too! Thanks for reviewing!
MoonPrincess: Oh, yes, don't worry, the next book will come very soon. I've already written a detailed outline! So I won't be able to wait very long because I'm already excited about writing it. Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Starlit Warrior: Thank you soo much for all the encouragement and support you gave me in your reviews throughout this story! I can only hope to see your name again in the next story! Your reviews meant a lot to me! Thanks again, and I hope you enjoy the last chapter!
JadesRose: Thank you so much for all the encouragement, support, and helpful hints you've given me throughout this story! I can't thank you enough for all the encouraging reviews! I hope you enjoy the final chapter, and I hope to see you in the next book!
Mai: Thanks! Your review means a lot to me! So that means I'll see you in the next book? Great! I hope you enjoy this chapter! Thanks for reading!
WingsofaDream: Repetitive Whack!!!! ROTFL! Omigosh. I can't thank you enough for all the hilarious reviews. They brightened my day many times and I looked forward to posting just so I could read what would happen to you in the review story! You'll have to keep a look out for the next book, so you can start a new review story! Thank you so much for everything! And I hope you get home!!!
the online dreamer: Thank you so much! There will be more, actually! In the next book! Hope to see you there! Thanks again for reading and reviewing!
pure-sweet: Yes, they will remember everything now! Finally, right? I hope you like it! And thanks for all of your wonderful reviews!
Goddess-Princess-Serenity: Thanks for reviewing! I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long! Here's the final chapter of this story! I hope you like it! Thanks again for reading and reviewing!
rockfreak2003: Don't worry, I'm not done with FF yet! Thanks for reading, and I hope you like the end!
Ashlee Shields:D: Thank you so much! Merry Christmas to you too! Thanks again for reviewing! Hope you like the ending!
smoondigiboy: In fact, there is going to be a sequel!!!! I hope to see you there! Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Mango-moo: Thanks! Your reviews really encouraged me as I was writing this story! I hope you like the ending, and again, thank you!
cardcaptor eternity: Glad you liked it! I celebrate Christmas as the birth of Jesus! And I hope you have a wonderful holiday as well! Thanks for tuning into my story; your reviews have meant a lot to me! Thanks again!
Nazi Hater: Ah, man, I know its confusing, but the Generals as of last chapter don't remember their pasts—as in Silver Millennium or the past before Usagi's wish. But I'd never leave off without restoring them. And don't worry, the Outers will be playing a big role in the next story, as will the Shitennou. Anyway, your reviews have been very important to me, and I thank you again for all the help you gave me! Enjoy the last chapter!
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MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL MY PRECIOUS READERS AND REVIEWERS! CONSIDER THIS MY GIFT TO YOU! MERRY CHRISTMAS!
And may God bless all of you! Thanks again for everything!
And now, without further ado, here is the Epilogue, the final installment of this story! See you all in the third book!
-rosa lunae
EpilogueWhen the ambulance reached Tokyo General, the paramedics intended to send patient 1, a 16-year-old female, into intensive care, and patient 2, a 19-year-old male to x-ray. The two patients were holding hands. The male regained consciousness, and dazedly refused to let go.
"Sir, your girlfriend is good hands, but every moment you detain her from proper care puts her in more danger."
The young man opened his eyes. They were deep blue, and bright with intelligence. "Really, now? Well, doctor, I am a pre-med major, but I cannot explain this. Already I've learned to accept that there are things even science cannot explain. Watch."
He gently loosened his hold on the girl's hand, and as soon as their hands were no longer in contact, a wail pierced the air. Her heart had stopped.
"Holy…" the paramedic whispered, awed.
The young man quickly took her hand back in his own, and her heartbeat returned, weak and irregular.
"My name is Mamoru. I'm a pre-med student. And I know enough to know that your priority is to the most critical patient. I have a broken arm and a mild concussion at most. Usagi is in deep shock with a re-fractured patella, a severe concussion and possible internal injuries. She could go into a coma at any moment. She is your priority."
The paramedic raked a hand through his hair. "When you're right, you're right." He turned to his staff. "Get the girl in a stretcher fast! We're going to ICU!"
He turned back to Mamoru, and tossed him a sling and two quarters. "For some coffee," he said shortly.
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When they reached ICU, Mamoru had to be sterilized before he could enter, but as long as Usagi was near him, her condition remained stable. After he was sterilized, he was allowed to enter. The ICU team was warming her and stimulating her heart to get her blood flowing. He asked permission to touch her—it was reluctantly granted. The heavily right-brained medical staff had trouble believing in miracles with all the deaths they'd seen.
He gently put his hand over hers.
A few moments later, her pulse became steady.
"I don't believe it," breathed a nurse.
Mamoru looked up, tears in his eyes. "Believe it," he whispered. "She knows when I'm here, and it gives her the will to keep fighting." He smiled half-heartedly. "Besides, if anyone asks questions, I'm a qualified pre-med student present to observe the techniques for treating shock."
The presiding doctor shook his head, amazed, but barked out a laugh. "He's already physician material."
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The next day, Usagi was released from the ICU when they drew her out of shock. Next she and Mamoru were both sent to orthopedics to have their bone injuries examined. The Senshi and the Generals could only camp out in the waiting room.
Usagi remained sedated because they discovered her patella (kneecap) had not only been re-fractured, but also partially dislocated. Mamoru had to turn his head when they reset it. And much to his chagrin, her leg had to be re-casted.
When they x-rayed his arm, they discovered his wrist had been fractured in several places, and also had to be casted.
Both were monitored for concussions, but Mamoru's faded with a passing day. Upon further examination, physicians discovered a moderate case of whiplash in Usagi's neck (from where Ann had yanked her neck back by her hair) and fitted her with a neck collar.
"That's about it," Dr. Mizuno said to Mamoru. "All we can do is wait for her regain her strength. In a day or two she should wake up."
Mamoru opened a closet and pulled out a cot with his good arm. "I'll be here."
About an hour later, Usagi's eyes fluttered open.
"Oh, no they didn't."
Mamoru looked up. He grinned, and moved to sit next to her on the bed. "Yes, love, I'm afraid they did."
Usagi looked up indignantly. "Geez, Mamoru, you could have like tied them all to chairs and threatened their families or something! Anything but this stupid cast!"
He laughed, running his hand through her hair. "Well, if it makes you feel better, I've got one, too."
He showed her his arm. She smiled tenderly, and kissed his hand. "All better?"
"Yep, I'll go tell them to take it off right now." He said, laughing. "How are you feeling?"
She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Fine. When do I get this dumb collar off?"
"When the soreness and tenderness in your neck is gone."
"It's gone."
"Usako."
"Ugh. Fine. That's what I get for falling in love with a med student." She looked around. "Where is everyone?"
"The girls and the guys and your family are all in the waiting room."
"How long have I been out?"
"A few days."
"And the girls haven't blown the building down?" Usagi asked incredulously, sitting up slowly. Mamoru helped her, a chuckle playing in his eyes.
"Well, with the guys there to restrain them, no. But your parents are something different. We don't know what to tell them."
"Oh, boy."
Mamoru pulled her close, and kissed her forehead. "It will be okay, princess." He leaned over to whisper in her ear. "But don't you EVER scare me like that ever AGAIN!" he hissed in her ear.
She just giggled. "No promises. It comes with my line of work."
He laughed, and kissed her fondly.
She took a deep breath. "Well, I know what I have to do. Tell Ami to use her computer and block all the cameras going into this room. And tell the nurses not to come in because I'm having a private conversation with my parents. Keep Shingo in the waiting room."
Mamoru gazed at her for a moment, then nodded, and slowly left the room, squeezing her hand once more for support.
A moment later, Mr. and Mrs. Tsukino entered the room.
"Usagi! What in the world happened, baby? Are you okay?" Mrs. Tsukino rushed in, hurrying to the bed.
Kenji paused, and looked at his daughter. There was something different about her. Her eyes were bright and sparkling, and she couldn't seem to stop smiling, despite the neck brace, full leg cast, and iv line in her wrist. Her cheeks had a delightful pink tint to them.
"Mom, Dad… I'm going to ask you a strange question, but I want you to answer honestly… I promise I will explain everything in just a minute. Will you tell me the truth?"
They nodded uncertainly.
"Have you ever had any strange dreams about living on earth… a thousand years ago? Just the two of you and Shingo in a small hut in a village outside of palace where Tokyo is now?"
They were taken aback by the question—not by its strangeness, but by the sheer uncanny accuracy of it.
They looked at each other, then Ken answered. "Hai. We both have. Why do you want to know, Usagi? How did you know to ask?"
Usagi pressed on. "Do you ever dream of a girl who looked like me?"
Ikuko looked at her daughter strangely. "Why, yes… in my dream, I called you 'Rose'."
Usagi reached for a crutch on the wall, hoping Ami had blocked the cameras. She sensed Mercury's power in the room and assumed she did.
"Baby, stay in bed, you must be delirious…" Ikuko protested.
Usagi rose uncertainly, making sure her IV line was steady, leaning heavily on a crutch. "No, no, it's fine."
She took a deep breath. "Mother, Father, it's time that both of you knew the truth… remembered the truth."
Usagi touched her locket, took one more deep breath, then whispered, "Moon Crystal Power!"
Some bright lights and feathers later, the Tsukino's found that the Pretty Soldier Sailor Moon had replaced their daughter.
"Of course…" Kenji whispered. "That explains everything…"
"Mother, Father, I am Sailor Moon. And Mamoru is Tuxedo Kamen. You must tell no one what you are seeing, not even Shingo until the time is right."
Ikuko finally found her voice. "Of… of course, sweetie. But how, when? How long? How many times have you been hurt like this?"
Instead of answering these questions, Usagi chose to go even further. "There's more. Those dreams of yours… are not dreams at all. They're memories… of your past lives. I can give you back all of your memories, but you must make me two promises."
The two adults nodded, dazed.
"Promise me you will not tell anyone what I am about to tell you…" The warrior's face softened. "And promise that you will not think of me any differently… because I will still be your daughter."
The couple looked at each other, nodded, then looked back to Sailor Mon. "We promise."
"So be it."
Sailor Moon touched both their foreheads with her two index fingers, and they both closed their eyes, and began to glow with a pure white light. A moment later, it faded, and Sailor Moon detransformed and sank back onto the bed, letting the crutch clatter to the ground.
Ikuko spoke first, her eyes filling with tears. "Our daughter is… Princess Serenity? The heiress to the White Moon? Oh, baby! You are Queen Serenity's daughter! And Sailor Moon!"
Usagi raised her hand tolerantly. "Remember your promise, Mom. I am your daughter now just as I was her daughter then. Queen Serenity chose the two of you because you were citizens of the only town in the Golden Kingdom that remained loyal to her. And because I knew you and trusted you."
"And you saved our son," Kenji added, amazed at the situation. "Can you still do that, Usagi?"
Usagi laughed, eager to break the awkwardness. "Please. I'm Sailor Moon."
They laughed.
"Do you remember everything now? Understand everything?"
Kenji nodded, but Ikuko looked puzzled. "One more thing. Does that mean that Luna… the cat… talks?"
Usagi burst into giggles. "Yeah, that's nothing weird. Getting her to be quiet is the miracle."
Ikuko smiled. Now, Kenji's eyebrows were furrowed.
"Wait. So Mamoru… your boyfriend Mamoru… is our Prince, Endymion?"
Usagi nodded patiently.
"Man. How can I tell the Prince of Earth how and how not to treat my daughter?!"
Usagi laughed heartily. "Don't worry, Dad, he's still plenty scared of you!" she joked. "Nah, just kidding. Nothing has changed. It's still the same as it used to be. But now I no longer have to explain any injuries or the sudden need to leave to the two of you. I'll give Shingo his memories back when he's older. And Naru, too. She's also from the Silver Millennium."
"So those four friends of yours are the Sailor Senshi, aren't they?"
"Yep. I'll tell you anything else you want to know when we get home. Right now, I want to concentrate on getting out of this hospital."
The couple laughed. "Yes, she's still our Usagi!" They all hugged. When Mamoru peeked back into the room, they pulled him into the hug as well.
Only Usagi noticed the happy tears in his eyes.
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Two days later, Usagi was released. The neck collar was removed, but the cast was to be kept on for a month this time.
The day of her release, even though she was tired and sore, Mamoru took her to the secluded woods behind Rei's temple, where they had trained all those weeks ago, and Usagi had been suspicious of Minako.
They parked at the temple, then Mamoru proceeded to sweep Usagi into his arms and carry her into the woods. The Sailor Scouts and the Shitennou were waiting on them.
Mamoru very carefully set Usagi on the ground and turned to hand her the crutch he'd dropped, but when he turned back to her, she was Princess Serenity. And with a closer look at how her dress was falling, he noticed her feet were not touching the ground.
"Well. That works." Mamoru whispered to himself, before transforming into Prince Endymion.
The Scouts bowed before the prince and princess, holding their breath as the royal pair approached the four men.
The Generals bowed uncertainly. Sure, they had no memories, but instinct told them that these two deserved respect.
"Please, rise, gentlemen," Princess Serenity said soothingly. "We have always been both friends and equals."
Prince Endymion stepped forward. One at a time, he made eye contact with each man. "Jadeite. Nephrite. Zoisite. Kunzite." They nodded as their name was mentioned. "The four of you have been given powers to use for the fight against evil, but you still have no memories of your past life. In your past life, the four of you were my head Generals. I can give you these memories back, that is, if you want them. Some parts of your past will be difficult to live with; others will be difficult to live without. But the Senshi and the Princess and I face the struggle. No one can make this decision for you, nor can you make it as a group."
The four were silent for a moment. The first to speak was Zoisite. "Prince Endymion, I would like my memories back so I can return to my place at your side," he said quietly, glancing at Sailor Mercury.
"Very well," Endymion said, grinning widely. Ironic—the most soft-spoken of the Shitennou is the first to speak. "Step forward, Zoisite."
Sailor Mercury sucked in a deep breath.
He did. Endymion began to glow with a pure golden light. The light focused in his right hand. He reached out to the Strategist, as if to shake his hand.
Zoisite didn't hesitate. He took Endymion's hand, and slowly, the light in the Prince's hand transferred itself to him. When it faded, Zoisite knelt, a fist over his heart.
"Zoisite, you are the Strategist. Do you swear to use your sharp intellect and fighting skills to fight against evil?"
"I do, Prince Endymion."
Princess Serenity also stepped forward. "Do you also swear to protect Prince Endymion at all costs?"
Zoisite looked up, smiling. "I do, Lady Serenity. I will also protect you alongside the Sailor Senshi if the need should arise."
Prince Endymion grinned. Smooth. "Then, rise, Zoisite! Welcome to your new life!"
Zoisite stood, and immediately ran to Sailor Mercury, wrapping her into his arms, and kissing her hair tenderly.
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So it went with the other three. Each was questioned and each swore to the affirmative that they would fulfill their duties.
"Jadeite, you are the Seer. Do you swear to use your keen intuition and combating abilities to fight against evil?"
"Nephrite, you are the Contender. Do swear to use your daring bravery and battling skills to fight against evil?"
"Kunzite, you are the Vindicator. Do you swear to use your righteous leadership and martial arts skill to fight against evil?"
Each said yes, and each also swore to protect the Prince and Princess. And then, each ran to their princess and embraced.
Throughout this tearful reunion, Prince Endymion swept Princess Serenity into his arms and kissed her passionately. Then, both detransformed into Usagi and Mamoru, and their plaster casts were visible again.
By now, the moon was out. It was full and bright, and lit up the forest.
"Have I ever told you how beautiful you are, Usako?" Mamoru whispered into his ear as he made his way to his car.
Usagi smiled contentedly, resting her head against his chest. "Flattery will get you everywhere."
"I love you, Usako," he breathed, kissing her ear.
"I love you more, Mamo-chan," Usagi whispered back mischievously, kissing his neck.
"Oh, no you don't…"
"Yes, I do…"
"Oh, no you…"
"Oh, yes…"
"Uh-uh."
"Yes, huh."
"Fine, Princess, whatever you say," Mamoru whispered huskily, then ravaged her lips with his own. When they had to part for air, Usagi's face was glowing.
"Ok, so, we'll call it a draw."
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Tsukino Usagi and Chiba Mamoru faced many more challenges, such as the Black Moon Family, the Dead Moon Circus, Queen Nephrenia, the Witches 5 and Pharaoh 90, Sailor Galaxia, and a pink-haired imp named Chibi-Usa, to name a few. Their relationship faced hardship, as did those of their comrades, the Sailor Senshi and Earth's Shitennou. Eventually, they reunited with the Outer Senshi, and after the fight with Galaxia was over, Mamoru proposed to Usagi in a rose garden with the full moon over head. They were married, and the time came for the Crystal Millennium to be born.
Neo-Queen Serenity placed the solar system in a deep sleep. As they slept, the people of the Crystal Millennium were given knowledge of the future to come and, if applicable, memories of the past.
Then, the sleep was completed, and Neo-Queen Serenity awakened the system and gave everyone in it the choice of living in the utopia known as the Crystal Millennium. The only group to protest called themselves the Black Moon Family, and when they started causing trouble in Crystal Tokyo, Neo-Queen Serenity was forced to relocate them on a planet named Nemesis, the barren planet where Beryl had come from.
After that, life continued peacefully in the Crystal System. All citizens were given long lives, and the reign of the Neo-King and Queen was serene.
Not long after taking the throne, Neo-Queen Serenity faced her first real danger.
But that's another story.
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TO BE CONTINUED in the third book, Time Flies.
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Wow. I don't whether to laugh or cry. Escaping Oblivion, my longest and most popular contribution to FFnet is finally finished.
I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did. And I hope to see you all in the final book!
Merry Christmas!
-rosa lunae