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Prince in White - A Mamoru Story by Aph

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The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episodes 33-36 of the PGSM Live Action.


Chapter 16 – HAPPILY EVER AFTER?


Next in line was getting things in order. I had contacted the University administration in London to let them know I was deferring my studies. I certainly could not leave Japan or Usagi when the situation with the Dark Kingdom was getting serious. I would still achieve my dream of studying abroad for a business degree later, when the danger had passed.

Then was Uncle Takeda. I had thought it would be hard to let him know about Hina and I, but I should have known. Hina had already informed him. He had such hopes for us and must have been disappointed, but being the kind man he was, he had not let on any of those sentiments.

As I stood before him in his office, feeling smaller than I had ever felt, he had simply looked at me and said somberly in his deep baritone voice, "As much as Hina is my daughter, you are my son too. I don't know what happened between the two of you but as long as you two are happy with the path you have chosen, so am I."

He had let me walk my own path. Without any recriminations, any censure. I was not able to speak.

He is not my father, but he may as well be.

************************

After that was the trickiest character of all... Motoki. I still laugh whenever I recall Motoki's face when he first saw us and realized what had happened. It was simply priceless.

When I stepped into the Crown with Usagi that day, I had already prepared myself for the inevitable barrage of questions. I was not disappointed. Luckily I had my Usagi there to face it with me and she did not disappoint either, able to match Motoki's intensive interrogation with her own overblown imaginary account... we could not tell the truth after all! All I had to do was to sit by, nod at appropriate moments and watch my Usagi.

My Usagi.

I was full of joy during those few weeks we were officially together. I was able to see her every day, hear her voice whenever I wanted to, think of her without feeling guilty. Life had seemed so free and bright. And we were happy, more than happy. I laughed more than I could remember. We dated like any other normal couples, and just enjoyed being with each other. I had finally gotten the white muffler from her. It was over-long and not too well knitted in some areas but it was full of her love for me. It was a reminder of how I had first found out that she liked me. It was the best gift I had ever received.

And I had given something in return, a token of my love. That day, we had gone out to buy a 'get-well' present for Venus, or Minako, as Usagi called her. We did not know then that she was suffering from a serious illness and only thought that she was overworked. We even bickered as per normal for us, this time over the difficulty she had in calling me by my name. I remember being quite annoyed by that. I wanted to hear my name from her lips but for some unfathomable female reason, she had not done so.

Females. I can never understand them, even till now.

In any case, Usagi had liked a pocket watch we saw from a shop, and I immediately wanted to buy that for her as well. It was a delicate pentagon-shaped object, polished in rose gold and hung on a slender gold chain. There was something about that watch which called to both of us. It was much later that we realized how important it was to us - a symbol of our love which helped Usagi alleviate the suffering she had to go through during a difficult period of her life.

I had nervously presented her with the watch, trying to be nonchalant about it.

"As an exchange for the muffler... I have never given you anything," I had said.

Her whole face had lighted up as she murmured her thanks. Then when she gently rested her head on my shoulder, I had felt pretty close to heaven.

Those days, I almost felt as though I was living a fantasy, if not for the fact that there had been dark clouds near. The Dark Kingdom and the unknown of our past life could not be forgotten. Zoisite was constantly there to remind me of that (besides trying to persuade me to stay away from the princess). But I had been determined that Usagi felt no fear of that. I could worry for us both. I wanted her to stay the same girl she was, a ray of sunshine, who brought light into the life of anyone who crossed her path. Her light should not be dimmed by any troubles.

Moreover, we were still in the dark then, which meant that we were not able to do anything about it in any case. Zoisite had not been able to provide me with more information on our past and why they believe that Endymion's relationship with the princess had destroyed the planet. He did warn me that Queen Beryl was plotting something, though we both did not expect it to come in the guise of an idol named Kuroki Mio.

The first time I met her was when she 'fainted' right in front of me and I had to send her to a hospital. Of course I did not know who she was then. It was later that I found out that she was a sort of projection of Queen Beryl, a shadow warrior created specially by her to spy on Usagi.

Once she had found out about me though, she did not take long to change her target and set her sights on me instead. I would never understand why she was so obsessed with me. It was not as if I was a prince anymore. She was the powerful Queen of the Dark Kingdom while I was simply an ordinary student, albeit with some memories of my past life and some skill with a sword. Yet, she had still been obsessed and tried ways and means to get me to her Dark Kingdom.

The first attempt she made was through Kuroki Mio, by means of mind control. I had not been prepared and almost immediately fell under the spell.

Come with me. Follow.

Those were the only words that I heard while under the spell. It was as if I was in a daze; my mind was fogged and I could only obey. A small corner of my mind had realized something was wrong though and tried to fight back, but it had been futile to struggle against the bonds. Help had come from an unexpected source.

Kunzite.

He appeared just in time, distracting her enough such that I was able to reassert control over my own mind. Not that Kunzite was trying to help me at that time. He had his own agenda, as usual. Yet, it was fortunate that he did. I might not have been able to escape otherwise. Once Kuroki Mio's control over me slipped, my memory of Usagi had been enough to help me break free.

Then Sailor Moon was there in person and her presence alone had been enough to give me strength. Kuroki Mio shimmered out but Kunzite and Jadeite remained. The fight that ensued between them and us had been fierce and might easily had gone badly were it not for first, the appearance of Sailor Venus and later, Queen Beryl’s summoning back of the Shitennou.
I was just relieved that Usagi was safe.

We did not know then that it would be our last reprieve.

************************

The second time I saw Mio, she had simply stated one word to get me to go with her.

Shitennou.

I might not have remembered much about them at that point, but I did instinctively know that they were important to me. Or perhaps to my past life. I had to follow.

She led me to a plain meadow, directly into the presence of a tall woman with flame-red hair before disappearing. Automatically, I had tensed. The stench of evil surrounding her was the strongest I had ever encountered.

"At last. After tens of thousands of years, Endymion! I've waited for this moment for a very long time... we're finally reunited!"

Her whole countenance exuded smugness.

Her voice... the fiery hair...

A flicker of recognition.

She was...

Queen Beryl.

My senses screamed danger at me.

"I see that you still remember me. As I you. I have always been watching you," she almost purred.

I felt goosebumps on my arms. Watching me? How? I could not imagine anything more horrifying.

At that point, Sailor Moon had arrived, with the rest of the senshi. She had been as surprised to see me as I was to see her. My first thought had been that I did not want her to be near Beryl. She’s not safe!

"Princess!" Beryl had addressed Usagi directly. "You can start saying your goodbyes. From now on, your Endymion belongs to me!"

My jaws had dropped in shock. What...??!!

Beryl then declared to me, "I have received power from Queen Metallia. Come rule the planet together with me!"

Her smirk had been superior. I was insulted.

I was certainly not a boy toy to be passed around to the winner of some competition of power.

"Stop your nonsense! Why should I listen to you?!" I had snarled back.

Yet there had been fear in my words too. I understood that she was not joking.

She proved my fear with her next actions.

She summoned the Shitennou.

Not to fight us. She was more diabolical than that.

She threatened me with their lives.

My Shitennou. Under Beryl's control. Pointing their swords to their own throats.

"I gave the Shitennou back their lives. At one word from me, they will take their own lives. Endymion, if you don't want the Shitennou to die, you'll have to come willingly to me!"

Her gloating smile had been dreadful to behold.

"Endymion," she had continued, "since our past lives, I have only you in my heart. Only you."

I had received my share of love confessions in the past. That was the absolute worst. My hair had stood on end.

"You will come! You will not desert them, will you? Your subordinates had sworn loyalty to you!"

With a wave of her hand, Kunzite's sword came closer to his neck. He struggled futilely.

"Stop it!" I had yelled. The sword stopped moving.

She knew me well. I could not let them die. Jadeite. Nephrite. Zoisite. Kunzite. I did not remember them but I knew they had been to Endymion what the senshi was to Usagi. They were part of my past, and so they were intricately linked to my present too. Especially Zoisite, who, despite everything, had been trying to protect me as best as he could. They were my responsibility, whether they or I acknowledged it or not.

I took one step forward.

"Wait!" Usagi had cried, a desperate tone to her voice. She knew me too. She knew what I would do. "This has no meaning! Even if you force him to go with you, you won't be able to change his heart!"

Silly Usagi. She really believes that Beryl loves me?

I had known it was just about possession and hence what Usagi said would not make an iota of difference. Instead, it had angered Beryl and she unleashed an attack on Sailor Moon.

There was a huge impact as the senshi was thrown to the ground. Sailor Moon, being protected by the other senshi was the only one left standing. My heart had stuck in my throat.

"Endymion! How long are you going to keep me waiting?!" The swords were back at the Shitennou’s throats.

"Wait!"

Fear. Resignation. Defeat.

"I'll go." It was the most terrible two words I ever had to say.

As I trudged to Beryl, forcing my feet to move forward one step after another, I did not dare look at Usagi, nor think about her. I did not dare imagine how heartbroken she had to be.

Instead, I compelled myself to focus on the enemy. On Queen Beryl. On my hatred for her.

It was then Usagi first transformed into the Princess Sailor Moon.

---------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: I believe that this is one of the saddest scene in this show but I don't think I did it justice. In any case, from now on, the chapters will be filled with angst, so be prepared. =(

Please review and let me know how you like thic chapter! Thank you!



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