The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episode 36 of the PGSM Live Action.
Chapter 17 – PRINCESS POWER
"Don't touch him!" A familiar yet unfamiliar voice.
Usagi!
I had stopped to look back. It was a sight that would always stay in my mind from that time on. Sailor Moon surrounded by a golden glow, so bright that we all were not able to open our eyes. A strong wind began to blow, a warning of the coming storm. As the light died down, a person had stepped forward.
She was Sailor Moon, yet not. Her senshi fuku had became more elaborate, with longer translucent bows and strings of pearls placed at various parts of it. The whole effect had been to make Sailor Moon look more delicate than usual. Yet it had been deceptive. Her whole stance was that of implacable resolve. Of someone with immense power and was comfortable with it.
She had a regal bearing that Usagi never had. She was not my Usagi. She was someone else I did not recognize. Another personality had taken over her. I recognized the signs from my own experience not too long before.
Princess Serenity.
Beryl had been taken aback as well, but did not hesitate in her next actions. Dark power radiated from her and with a sudden blast, she had attacked Sailor Moon.
A huge explosion rocked the meadow.
USAGI!
For one terrifying second, I had feared the worst but before I could take the steps to run to her, a shadow emerged from the billowing clouds of smoke.
Sailor Moon. Or perhaps more appropriately, Princess Sailor Moon. She had escaped from the attack totally unscathed. She radiated power. I almost could not believe my eyes.
Even Beryl had been shocked, right before becoming more incensed than ever.
She commanded the Shitennou to strike instead but it was all to no avail. With a sword conjured out of thin air, Princess Sailor Moon had been able to deflect all their power blasts as she strode relentlessly towards Beryl. She had not even noticed that the senshi were almost hit by the deflected blasts. Her eyes stared only at Beryl.
"Princess! Don't think you're the only powerful one! I'm as powerful as you! No, I'm even more powerful than you now! Do you hear me?! Turn back now and put down your sword!"
There had been a hint of desperation in Beryl's command to the Princess.
Shockingly, I had felt similar emotions. There had been something rather frightening about Sailor Moon at that point. She had never been so powerful but she had never been so unemotional either. My Usagi always felt passionately about anything she did.
There had been something almost... inhuman about the way she was facing Beryl.
Then, in a practiced gesture with her sword, she had sent Beryl's energy blast right back at her. As Beryl and the Shitennou scrambled to evade the blow, I could only stare at her.
Usagi had always been beautiful but at that instant, she had been terrifying in her beauty. She was like a goddess... a goddess of war and destruction.
"The one going overboard, is you."
Her voice was imperial, and icy-cold.
Beryl had been livid. She most definitely was not used to being spoken to in that way. Her eyes had fallen on me.
"Kill her, Endymion! I order you to!"
No! My instinctive response was to defy her, even if it cost my life.
"You already belong to me! If you dare say 'no'...!"” Beryl turned to the Shitennou.
I could only watch in shock as Nephrite’s sword plunged into his body.
Nephrite! Damn it!
As Nephrite's feet crumpled underneath him, I had felt as if a piece of my own flesh had been cut out. I was numb with pain and shock. My eyes moved involuntarily to Princess Sailor Moon. I had needed Usagi’s presence for support.
But Usagi could not be found.
Princess Sailor Moon had replaced her. She maintained the same pose, poised to attack, not in the least moved by Nephrite's death.
This is wrong! My Usagi would never act like this. She will be feeling even worse than me. She will be crying with me. This is not Usagi. I need her back.
My feet had stepped towards Princess Sailor Moon of their own accord.
As I stood before her, she relaxed her stance. Her eyes brimmed with emotions and I almost thought Usagi was back. Yet her expression remained calm and cold.
"Endymion." She addressed me softly. Endymion. Not Mamoru.
An overwhelming sense of need washed over me. I pulled her into my embrace.
I pleaded. "Usagi. You can hear me, right? Enough! Come back! Usagi!" I had not known I could sound so desperate.
A flash of light and Usagi was back. She looked at me with an expression of one who had just woken up. I fought back the tears I could feel forming. It had been the closest I had come to crying from as far back as I could remember.
I had wanted to hold her close again but then, Beryl's voice had cut in.
"Endymion, come back!"
I had almost forgotten about her.
I turned to Usagi and met her eyes. They were wet with unshed tears, full of misery. It had been an expression I never hope to see on her.
I could not say anything. There were no adequate words. I could only convey what I felt with my expression. I had to leave. My eyes begged her to understand.
As I turned to leave, I finally heard it.
"Mamoru!"
It was the first time she had said my name. But how ironic that it was under such circumstances, and in such a pain-filled voice. I had to reassure her somehow.
"Don't worry. I'll definitely come back." I said something we both knew might not be happening.
As I was transported to the Dark Kingdom, I had to believe that she would carry on without me by her side. She knew her mission and she had her senshi with her. Those would have to be enough. Until I could find a way back to her.
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Angst, angst and more angst on the way...
Please review! Please, please? *puppy eyes*
