Authors Note: My greatest thanks to Purple Rose for allowing me to adopt this story, and
then being my Beta reader when I needed one. I also thank everyone who has read
this, whether they reviewed or not. Your support means a lot to me.
Even Angels Can Fall
By: Lirial Raito
Chapter 12: And So We Say Goodbye
"This is giving me a headache," she muttered softly, glaring balefully at the pile of
affronting papers stacked neatly on her mahogany desk. The pile was at least a foot
high, and each accursed piece was an official validation of the things Endymion had
hinted at earlier.
That she had this pile of papers was her own fault. After all, she had asked to Ami to hack
into the World Council's database to look for any piece of information that could
confirm Endymion's threats. She had expected that Ami would find a few pieces of
information from the most disgruntled of the politicians, a few snide conversations
and nothing more.
Her expectations had gone straight to the negaverse in a matter of minutes.
Ami had found popularity polls taken of how people currently felt about Serenity and the
Senshi, a popularity that was rapidly falling into oblivion. There were detailed files
on each Senshi and their abilities, as well as detailed damage reports and toned down
heroics for every known fight they'd been in. Expected life spans and power
increases where listed. Goals, loves, education, political beliefs and religions,
personality analysis, everything there was to know about the Senshi was listed.
And if that wasn't bad enough, there are those damned propaganda videos…
And that, really, made things even worse for Usagi. Someone had gotten a hold of video
footage of many of the Senshi's battles, from the earliest fights against Beryl's
minion to the battles against the Sailor Animates, each one to deliver the message
that 'absolute power corrupts absolutely.' The last were the most damning, and
sounded like a Jerry Springer show, 'When Good Senshi Go Bad!'
The amount of information was staggering, and most of it the senshi couldn't deny as
truth. But it had been presented in the worst possible light, and the messages were all
quite clear. And some of the most private information in those files could only have
been obtained by one source.
Endymion.
Despite the calm face she presented to her Senshi over the situation, she felt like
screaming at the top of her lungs, or wailing and crying out all of her frustration, but
neither action would bring her any real relief. Her friends would only worry about
her more than they were now, and for their sakes at least she had to be, or appear,
strong. If it were only me, I could use the Ginzouishou to make anyone who
encounters me forget who I am, and go into hiding… I wouldn't want to, but I could.
She sighed and massaged her temples, a wistful glance cast at her bed. It'd be nice if I
could go to sleep now… but I can't I have to think of some valid options for my Senshi.
She gave another glare at the pile and felt her anger rise. Really, how can that bastard
be so high handed with us? Just because he wants to control my power…guess some
people just can't take rejection well.
Her eyes narrowed, and she promised herself one thing: she wasn't staying here on Earth.
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The eight planetary Senshi and three Starlights sat arranged into a circle, each one
glancing nervously at the others as silence lengthened uncomfortably among the
group. Luna, Artemis, Diana and Shingo had left a few moments before, processing
the information in their own ways.
Ami had just finished giving her report on the World Council, and included a few things
that she had left out of the report she gave Usagi.
"So he's stooped this low," murmured Minako, frowning as she studied the papers Ami
passed to her. "He really does want all of her power, and ours, tied into a shield
around the Earth…"
"And he doesn't care that the drain would probably kill us after a few years, nor that the
shield would come down again if we died." Rei gripped a stress ball in both hands,
and was squeezing them both as hard as she could.
"After all we've been through…" Makoto gripped a wooden spoon, mixing up a batch of
chocolate chip cookie dough, "how can people be willing to trust him, when he so
easily betrays us?"
"No one really remembers that he was once Tuxedo Kamen. All they remember is us,
and the battles we fought," Michiru said, leaning her head on Haruka's shoulder,
"and more than the good things we've done, they remember the destruction that
fighting causes, especially with youma and Senshi."
Haruka snorted derisively, "And why should anyone remember him? He barely did
anything to help us. He should have stayed evil, and Usagi should have let him die
with Beryl."
Hotaru turned questioningly to Setsuna. "Setsuna-mama, is there anything more that you
can tell us?"
Setsuna considered for a moment before answering, "There isn't much I'm allowed to tell
you, other than that, without Helios' and Usagi's cooperation, Endymion cannot
utilize the full potential of the golden crystal."
"That doesn't really tell us much," said Yaten.
"Actually it does," replied Ami. "It means that Endymion can't force Usagi into anything
she isn't willing to do, because her crystal unlocks the full power of his. Well, her
crystal and Chibi-Usa's pink moon crystal. And both crystals gain their greatest
power from the hearts of Usagi and Chibi-Usa."
Minako raised her hand to catch the groups attention, "So, everything he agreed to with
Chibi-Usa… Do you think it was just so that he could have access to her Pink Moon Crystal?"
"Probably," said Ami, with a deep sigh. "With everything he's done that we know of, I
certainly wouldn't put it past him anymore, and I'm afraid to try and find out what
things he has done that we don't yet know about."
"That bastard! Maybe Haruka and I should pay him a visit…" Makoto grinned, thinking
of all the ways she could hurt him back for harming her princess.
"I wouldn't mind, but you know Usagi wouldn't want us too," Haruka said.
"You could just leave here for awhile… let things die down. Kakyuu-hime wouldn't mind
if you visited her," suggested Yaten.
A chorus of 'no's!' followed afterwards and Yaten grimaced. "Stop shouting already, it
was just a suggestion!"
"And we will visit Kinmoku, eventually." Usagi dropped down gracefully beside Seiya as
she smiled reassuringly. "But the Council would see that as a concession of defeat."
"What options do we have, Usagi?" Minako asked, relieved to be able to turn leadership
back over to their Princess.
She was silent for a moment before answering. "A few at least… we could do as Yaten
suggested and leave this Solar System, probably go to Kinmoku. We could also go to
any of our mother castles and live there, though the Moon Palace is closest. We
could overthrow the Earth's government and try ruling here. I could marry
Endymion, and tie his power into the shield rather than my own. We could go back
into time and disguise ourselves, and live somewhere remote. I can use the
Ginzouishou to erase any memories people have of us, and then Ami and Taiki could
create us new identities. And we could seal our powers away deeply enough that
Endymion wouldn't be able to sense them, and give up being Senshi. That would
eliminate the Council's reason for wanting us to leave."
"It'd also give us mortal life spans," Hotaru added softly, "But I don't think anyone
would mind that, really."
Silence settled once more over the room as Usagi stood, "Get some rest, minna. You can
think about those options in the morning, and we'll decide what to do."
One by one the others stood and departed for their rooms, minds already working
furiously to decide the best course of action.
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She stood on the balcony of her room despite the cold, her pale nightgown glowing in the
moonlight that was shining gently despite the clouds in the sky. The effect gave the
view before her a serene and magical appearance. There were no harsh edges here at
night, nothing to hurt her, or cause her loved ones pain… only the quiet, subtle
breeze that rustled in the leaves. Even the shadows seemed inviting now, with her
world once again turning upside down.
She really wasn't angry anymore, and had accepted the current situation as gracefully as
she could. But she still wondered why things had been turning out the way they
were… Is Fate being cruel or kind? She wondered. I didn't want to be
tied down by Destiny… I wanted to be free so that I could choose the paths I would
follow. Was my desire granted, or are I and my Senshi being punished for trying to
make our own destiny?
She shook her head, uncertain of the answers. Questions of Fate and Destiny were always
hard to find the answers to. Fate and Destiny were oppressive in the finality they
represented, and figuring out the reasons behind everything was far more than her
tired mind could handle at the moment.
From time to time she had dreamed of leaving Earth and returning to the Moon, and
perhaps that was a part of her true Destiny… not be to the Queen of Crystal Tokyo,
but to rebuild her lost Silver Millennium. Either way, her mother had decreed that
Usagi was to find love and be happy, and ultimately, that was what she was choosing
now. She would go where she would be happy.
"This is the path I choose," she whispered, the words hanging in the air around her.
She straightened, standing as tall as she could and repeated the words. "This is the path I
choose."
Her words hung in the air, filled with determination and promise, decisive with her course
of action.
She stood there, content with her chosen path, until the sun rose once more.
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With an air of finality she placed the jeweled coronet of Moon Royalty on, setting it in
place perfectly on her first try. She smiled serenely at the mirror while smoothing
down the side of her dress. She nodded once as she turned from the mirror, and with
every once of grace she had been born with and had trained to perfection she made
her way down to the living room.
"Good morning everyone… I take it we're ready to go now?" Her voice resonated with a
greater inner strength than she had thought possible the previous night, as she had
wondered what decision her dearest friends would make.
"We're ready, Serenity," Seiya said, stepping to her side as she reached the bottom of the stairs.
She nodded once, acknowledging the use of her royal name, and surveying her friend's
clothing. Everyone was dressed in their own princess dresses, the planetary colors
somehow soothing to her. Artemis, Luna, and Diana where in their respective human
forms, and someone, probably Minako, had found something suitable for Shingo to wear as well.
He's giving up a lot to come with us…
Seiya, Taiki, and Yaten wore dresses that matched their eye colors, and again they
probably picked out from Minako's vast collection of clothing. All in all, everyone
looked wonderful. Even Haruka managed to look graceful, serene and ethereal.
Minako and Yaten both probably helped Michiru pull that off…
"Minna, are you all certain this is really what you want to do? The Moon Palace will have
many things, but you're giving up a lot." She knew the question was unnecessary,
that they each had decided to go to the Moon with Serenity the night before, when
she herself had decided to leave.
"Don't worry Usa-chan," Minako said, taking the task of spokesperson for the group. "I
mean, it's not like we're missing much… we have the power now to recreate
anything on the moon that Earth has, with a few modifications, and as for movies
and television, well… Ami?"
"We can get any movie or television program that shows on Earth, anywhere. Music too,
and I've managed to write a program that will allow us to us the Internet from the
Moon." Ami smiled gently, pleased with what she had been able to accomplish in
only a few short hours.
"We're lucky that the Ginzouishou restored the buildings on the Moon when Usagi
accepted herself as Princess Serenity," said Seiya, smiling sweetly. "If it hadn't done
so, we'd be spending a lot more time preparing to leave then these past few hours."
"That was certainly unexpected," Ami said, her voice contemplative. "The Mercury
Computer didn't predict that occurrence."
"Is that something to be worried about?" asked Usagi.
"Don't worry so Princess, Queen Serenity made sure that the Ginzouishou would restore
the Moon when you accepted your role as the Moon Princess. She did try her best to
make sure that you had every foreseeable opportunity and option to lead a happy life.
And we'll have everything we need… and then some, you'll be surprised in a few
months…" Setsuna trailed off, leaving her sentence and thought unfinished. For
once, no one pressed her for more information.
Sometimes she was as unforthcoming about events of the past as she was about events of
the future.
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How many sad memories did we have?
She leaned against Seiya, watching as people passed them by with only a cursory glance.
No one really paid attention to the two of them, absorbed in their own private
worlds. She smiled, relaxing as Seiya wrapped her arms around Usagi's waist,
pulling her closer. Had she really once had to do without her golden angel?
What kind of happy days are we going to hold onto preciously from now?
"I'm glad we could get a quiet moment to ourselves," she whispered softly, shifting her
weight so she could tilt her head back and look into Seiya's eyes. Those deep blue
depths soothed her nerves better than anything else could, infinitely soothing and loving.
We always gathered at the nearby park
Seiya smiled and kissed the top of Usagi's head. "We've had a lot of time together, but
not much of it private or quiet lately. Too many issues to deal with, here on Earth…
but it's all been interesting, from an off-worlders point of view, and anything is
worth getting to spend even a second in your presence."
She shifted again and gazed out at the small but peaceful park. The flow of people
gradually decreased, until Seiya and Usagi were alone. This was her favorite park
now, because this was the park Seiya and the others had come to, when they first
returned to Earth.
and laughed out loud in the middle of the night,
"We'll build a park like this on the Moon for you Usa… complete with the tree where we
tied Taiki and Ami to, when they didn't want to admit their feelings for each other."
Seiya pointed to the tree she meant, a large oak that seemed to dominate the park's landscaping.
always... always...
She laughed softly and nodded, eyes sparkling with mischief. Remembering Ami's
violent reaction to love letters, Taiki had been warned off of giving one to her… and
then had failed to tell Ami in another manner what her feelings were. After a few
weeks of awkward encounters between Taiki and Ami, Minako had decided to play
matchmaker, and enlisted everyone's help in the endeavor.
The end result had been an embarrassed Ami and Taiki, tied together with a Venus Love
Chain, and left hanging in the tree. Once they confessed their love for each other the
Love Chain had lengthened until they were standing on the ground, and then dispersed.
Because I'm really happy for the miracle
"We've had so many good times here…" she murmured.
of being here when you are.
Seiya turned Usagi around until they were facing, and leaned forward until they were
almost kissing. "I know, Usa, and a part of all of us will remain here. But you more
than anyone should realize that the most important thing now is to just be where the
people you love are. We'll have good memories wherever we go, as long as we're together."
Let's laugh together again,
"Home is where the heart is?" Usagi questioned, her mood suitably lightened again by
Seiya's words. She always knew what to say to make Usagi feel better.
The next time we meet.
Seiya smiled and brushed her lips against Usagi's, "Yes, home is where the heart is. And
you're my heart, as well as the true heart of your Senshi. Wherever you choose to be,
Usagi, we'll be there with you, and we'll be happy."
She leaned her head against Seiya's shoulder, leaning against the star senshi's strength.
After awhile she pulled back slightly, meeting Seiya's supportive gave with a loving smile.
"Well," she whispered, her lips gently brushing against Seiya's, "we have some time left
to kill, so why don't we use that time productively?"
What kind of dreams are we going to talk about then?
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Someone had determined that music would be appropriate for the televised conference
meeting with the World Council and Endymion that Serenity had arranged last
minute. Those viewers who paid attention to video game music would have
recognized a song from Final Fantasy XI as the music that played in the background,
and certainly many people wondered what the song was as they listened, waiting.
Rumors spread like wildfire when the new stations begun to broadcast, especially when
preliminary pictures of Serenity and the Senshi were shown, each person sitting
calmly and quietly, hands clasped gracefully in their laps.
Serenity sat with her eyes closed, smiling slightly as she listened to the music.
Minako probably chose it…She listened quietly to the murmur of voices
around her, picking up what rumors she could from the reporters who dearly wanted
to know what was going on.
She opened her eyes as the faint voices stopped when Endymion entered the room,
followed by the Council leaders. For a moment she wanted to laugh at the
triumphant look on Endymion's face as he took in the sight of her, in her Neo Queen
Serenity dress and crown. She almost shook her head, but kept still, the stubborn part
of her refusing to show anything but her absolute best behavior here.
She rose along with her Senshi and shook hands with the Council members as manners
dictated, sitting back down the moment she could do so politely. Endymion sat
opposite of her, still looking too smug for her pleasure, and began things.
"Princess Serenity and all, welcome. Please, tells us what it is you wished to discuss with
the Council and I?" He couldn't quite keep the smirk out of his voice, something that
caused his popularity level to drop with his realizing it.
She had folded her hands and placed them in her lap once more, gracing him once more
with a smile that wouldn't falter here, on t.v., with millions of viewers watching.
He really should stop being so arrogant on television… the people don't want a
prince who can't be properly humble, and grateful for the people's support.
Now she leaned forward, her position projecting her honesty and earnest feelings.
"Endymion, I used to love you with all my heart, and you pushed me away while saying
that I was to clingy. You broke up with me, and left. I was devastated by this. For
awhile. Then, as the saying goes, time healed my wounds I moved on."
She turned slightly to the side to reach out and take Seiya's hand. "I moved on and found
my soul mate, the one I want to be with forever."
Still holding Seiya's hand she turned back to Endymion and the Council. "Endymion,
dear Council, politics has never been my true forte… my only redeeming quality
when I even thought of being a Queen here on Earth is that I love… well, I love
everyone. That is the nature of my bloodline, the legacy of being a Princess of the Moon."
She extended a delicate hand in his direction, her voice now tinged with sorrow. "I
wanted to be your friend Endymion, and had you left me be, I would have continued
to serve the Earth as Sailor Moon, asking only to be left alone to spend my days with
my friends and loved ones. You should know as well as I Endymion, that while we
will no longer age, we could still be killed. I wish you had simply let my Senshi and
I enjoy what time Fate left to us."
Serenity withdrew her hand again and shook her head, tears sparkling in her luminous
blue eyes. "But you couldn't… you covet my power, and have tried to bind my wings."
She stood as she said this, and with a slight bit of power she spread her wings out and
fanned them slightly. She turned away from Endymion to face the reporters and the
public, and smiled sadly again as her friends stood up behind her. "Truly, I wish
things could be different, we love life here on Earth. Yet, we will not stay where the
government does not trust us, where the everyday freedoms that every person is
entitled to is denied us, simply because we have a power that the bureaucrats do not."
She extended a hand out to the crowd as her Crystal began to glow. "I will miss living
here, where the wind blows freely and the seasons change so wonderfully. Maybe
one day, when you, the people of Earth, are ready, we could return. I shall leave that
day up to you."
Amid the resulting clamor and questions thrown out by reporters, and Endymion's
disbelieving look of shock, she invoked the magic of the Ginzouishou, and
teleported herself and her friends to courtyard of the Moon Palace.
They stood gazing around at the courtyard, taking in the beautiful architecture, fountains,
gardens, and the small animals that were running about, completely unfazed by the arrival of people.
"Welcome home, minna," Serenity said softly.
"Welcome home."
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|Epilog|
~~~~~~
** Small Lady's POV **
All my life I have been raised on the Moon, the sole Heir to our throne, though not the
The Moon is a quiet place, one without crime or troubles, and we lead a peaceful life. But
Seven years ago Mother sent me back in time, to 'preserve some of the timeline' she said.
Meeting Mother's past self was quite interesting, since I would never have though Mother
Though the most interesting events for me were getting to meet my father, and spend time
He wasn't the cold man I see on television, when I bother watching the events on Earth at
I couldn't really believe, for awhile, that the cold man I see on the news, the man who
But I know he is.
His way of thinking, of isolation, has led many people to seek refuge here on the Moon,
Father hates it.
He's buried his head in the sand, so to speak, and refuses to pull it out again. He won't
Can't? Probably just won't…
The few times I've been down to Earth to visit him he's tried to find a way to force me to
I wish I knew some way to help him, but I can't… my Senshi team support me when I feel
How would life had been if the future Mother and Father were supposed to have had
Still, I have accepted that things are the way they are, and despite my youthful rebellious
Perhaps one day something will happen to shake Father out of his stupor, but my life
And of course, there's Seiya.
She loves me like I'm her daughter by blood, instead of by choice, and she spoils me
I get treated more as an adult from Seiya, I suppose because I comprehended and
I respect Seiya more than I ever tell her, and though I don't tell her so often, I love her as
She's letting me grow up and learn from my mistakes, and forcing Mother to do so as well.
The period of time I lamented my parent's lack of a relationship, and my resentment of
Yes, I'd say that resentment lasted about a week. And in that week I was the most awful
I tried to get him to notice me, I tried to get him to care… and he ignored me, as if I
I was devastated.
I fled home and hid in the garden maze, sobbing and feeling rather worthless. 'How
Yes… even though things aren't fairytale perfect, this is my life, a life I love. Would I
Life is good.
sole Princess. No, all of my mother's Senshi are Princess', and all of my friends here
are as well.
my life hasn't been boring! No, the solitude here is wonderful, because life isn't
always so on Earth.
That day was my seventh birthday, and at the time she presented me with the Moon
Prism Compact. I was really sent back to train as a Senshi, since things here are too
peaceful for real life experience.
could ever be so childish! For a while I didn't really believe that Usagi was my
Mother, Serenity, and I fought with her past self a lot. It was fun though, and I
learned quite a lot. I made friends, and eventually earned the title Neo Sailor Moon.
with him.
all. He was warm to me, caring, and he protected my beloved mother. But of course,
I knew the future, and I saw how things would be that first time he broke up with
her.
wants to isolate Earth from everything and everyone else, could be that man I met in
the past.
as well as on the other planets. Already each on is developing into stereotypical
molds, where the people are 'known' for something. Venus has the beautiful people,
Mars has great entertainers (who'd have thought? I expected tacticians…), Jupiter
has a mass of gourmet chefs, Neptune produces musicians, Uranus athletes, Pluto
scientists, and Saturn, despite what anyone thinks, has the most hospitable people
ever! Then Moon draws a mix of everybody, and a general 'Silver Millennium' has
started once more.
speak to Mother, or any of the Senshi, and I feel so sorry for him. Mother spoiled the
plans he was so fixated on, apparently he can't change his ways.
stay, even though I don't want to stay. He isn't the king he wanted to be, and he
hasn't been able to stop people from leaving the planet, or stop trade from flowing
from the Silver Millennium to Earth, so how can he believe that he can trap me there?
down about the situation, and Helios is always here to lend me a shoulder, but I wonder…
actually occurred? Would my life be better, or worse? I can't imagine it being any
worse, and only in that one area can I see it being better… to have a loving
relationship with my birth father.
stage, I have forgiven my parents for being people, for being individuals with faults.
It's not as though my childhood is lacking, after all, I do have Mother and Seiya,
and my wonderful friends. I've earned my place among the Senshi, and gained my
own Senshi team, and I've found my soul mate in Helios.
won't suffer if he never does revert to the person I met in the past. No, I won't suffer
one bit because Father doesn't act like a father. How could I? I have the
most wonderful Mother in the world, a dear uncle, the most wonderful 'Aunts' that
any person could ask for…
every bit as much as Endymion did in the past. She never forbids me to do anything,
she sneaks me sweets when Mother is punishing me for some rebellious thing I've
done, and she gave me the 'Talk' when I started dating Helios. Mother had blushed
so hard and began stammering that she couldn't deliver the 'Talk' herself, but I
didn't mind. I know how much they both care.
accepted her relationship with my Mother at such an early age. Then again, what
did they expect, with Minako and Yaten, and Ami and Taiki around? I was, after all,
a very bright child.
well. She has never once bad mouthed Father in front of me, or tried to make me
dislike him as Makoto and Haruka have tried to do. When I asked her opinion of my
Father she only said that she would refrain from telling me what that opinion was
until I had made my own. She's always encouraged my interests, however capricious
and momentary they were, and rather then telling me 'no' to some of the things I ask
to be allowed to do she only says that she would prefer I not, but that it is my choice to make.
Seiya for being my Mother's soul mate, lasted about a week. I wanted a Father in my
life, like I saw children on television, and the children I saw on my visits to Earth, had.
brat anyone could ever be. I yelled at Seiya, cussed her out, told her I hated her and
wished she had never met my mom. The end of that week was the first time I met my
Father, in all of his idiotic glory, flocked by hanger-ons and media folk, and bearing
the worst personality I had ever encountered.
didn't exist. When he did pay attention to me, which was after the media had
dispersed, he said I was never to approach him in public again, because I made him look bad.
could he feel that I made him look bad?' I'd wondered. Suppertime came, and Seiya
was the one who brought me dinner, taking the time to hunt for me in the maze. And
she told all the events that led up to Mother falling for Seiya, and what Father had
done to make them flee Earth. Then she sang to lullabies, ballads, happy songs and
sad songs, and anything that came to my mind and I wanted to listen to. After that,
any resentment I had felt toward her had vanished, and we've had a great
relationship ever since.
change some things if I could? Yes, I would. I'd make my Father a more open person
if I could, one who wouldn't try to pull Earth away from the rest of the universe. If I
could go even further back in time, would I change the course of events that led
Mother to being with Seiya, instead of Endymion? No, I wouldn't. There is nothing
wrong with the way things are, and a good many things that are right. I am loved, I
have my soul mate, I have true and loyal friends, and the ability to choose what I
want my destiny to be.
~ Fin.