The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episode 43 of the PGSM Live Action.
Chapter 21 – LAST REDEMPTION
I was rudely woken up from my sleep when I felt the dread again.
Usagi!
And again, I had felt the shrieking of the Earth. Then, a jolt of insight had electrified my brain.
It was not the princess. Usagi was the one who had been causing all the negative power rampaging the Earth. Her fury and anguish, all her negative emotions had affected the Ginzuishou, which in turn had affected Metallia and increased the evil power on Earth.
I have to help her. I have to stop her.
Struggling to my feet, I had dragged my battered body to Beryl. I had to convince her to let me see Usagi.
"Let me see the princess!" I had demanded as soon as I caught sight of Beryl.
"Endymion. Why should I? I know you are not able to kill the princess. That much is obvious."
"There's no need to! I can calm her down! I just need some time. So, please, for a while, stop the power of the crystal in me. I need to be able to function!" It had been immensely difficult to keep the desperation from my voice, but I had forced myself to speak as persuasively as I could, drawing upon every last vestige of strength that I had left.
"No!" Beryl had screeched. "Don't you know why I'm taking your life?! I will not let the princess have you again! If she has your heart, then I'll have your life!"
I had to force myself not to shudder at her words, to think logically.
"I will definitely come back!" I vowed, trying to convince her, "If I wanted to escape... I would already have left long before this."
"Enough! Go back to your room!" At that, I was sent back to my room. I snarled in frustration even as my exhausted body dropped onto the bed like a dead weight.
My thoughts had churned furiously as I attempted to devise a way to help Usagi, but all that was in vain if I could not even have strength to walk properly, much less teleport to her. I had felt my life force draining away with each passing day until I was almost even too weak to stand.
And then, the familiar dread in my heart again but I was not able to help her. It had been hopeless and I was beginning to despair.
Just then, Mio had came into my room. I would never have imagined her to be the bearer of good news, but that time, she was one.
"Mamoru-kun, you can go see the princess. I will suppress the power of the crystal in you. In fact, Queen Beryl will even remove the crystal from you if you're good."
I had been taken aback. It had been such a turnaround from my previous encounter with Beryl that I had trouble believing my luck.
"After all, we can't have Usagi-chan destroying the Earth now, could we? Before we can even rule over it?"
That had been Beryl’s true motive. I could not care less as long as it got me to Usagi. But of course, there had been the sting in the honey.
Mio had warned, "This is the last time you'll be seeing the princess though, Mamoru-kun. And if you do not get back at the appointed time, your life will be forfeit. Queen Beryl will not remove the crystal and it will suck away at your life force more than ever. You can accept that, can't you?" Her overly-bright smile was back in place. Beryl, in her limited or perhaps, non-existent understanding of love, had thought that I needed an incentive to follow her orders. She would never understand that I would willingly do anything that could help Usagi.
The appointed time was before sunset. I had nodded, anxious to see Usagi and with that, Mio had delivered me to her.
She had been in her Princess Sailor Moon mode, but her transformation had dissolved as soon as she saw me.
When she saw Mio following behind me though, an unexpected expression had crossed her face. It was an expression of hostility... of hatred. It had been worse than I thought. My Usagi had only loved before but because of me, she had learnt to hate as well.
"Mio. You're our enemy as well, aren't you?" she had stated harshly.
Chills had run down my spine as I watched her glare at Mio. There had been no room for compassion or understanding in her cold eyes. Abruptly, I pulled her away. I could not bear to have her so bitter anymore. I had to do something.
I brought her to the only place I could think of at that time - the place where I had first realized that I had fallen in love in Usagi. The nearby beach.
As the sea breeze blew across our faces, I was reminded once more of that perfect day together. Before everything had turned complicated with the revelation of our past lives.
Usagi had also been caught up with remembrances as she snaked her arms around my waist from behind me and pressed her cheek to my back. I had clasped my hands around hers, reveling in the moment but after a while, she abruptly let go off me and said anxiously, "Are you all right? Why are you here? Didn't she say that the crystal will suck away your life if you come near me again?"
I had been drawn back to reality.
"It's not a problem anymore. The crystal's gone." I had replied evasively. There was an odd tremor in my voice that I hoped she didn't notice. It had not been a total lie. If I got back before sunset, Beryl had said she would remove the crystal. It had been more important to reassure her.
"Really?" Usagi had been overjoyed. "I've been working hard as well, trying to keep the Ginzuishou under control."
And that had been why I was there.
"Then, what happened just now?" I had questioned her.
"Ermmm... well, although I've been trying really had, the princess is sometimes stronger than I am." Usagi had looked shame-faced.
I realized that she had not understood the real situation and turned to her, determined to explain what had been happening when a youma came crashing in. I had been frustrated beyond measure even as we both transformed.
Why at this time? When I have so little time left with her?!
The youma had been an immensely powerful one and it had taken all our strength to battle it. In the middle of it, Usagi's bottled up emotions had come to a boiling point. She had grabbed my sword and plunged it viciously into the youma.
"This is unforgiveable! Youma! And Queen Beryl!" She begun to glow golden.
"Calm down! Usagi!" I had hurried to her side, urging her to release her anger. Desperation was thick in my voice.
She startled at my voice and managed to suppress the power.
It had taken us a lot more time to finally vanquish the youma and when we finally did, it was near sunset.
"If you do not get back at the appointed time, your life will be forfeit. Queen Beryl will not remove the crystal and it will suck away at your life force more than ever. You can accept that, can’t you?"
Mio had told me that and I had no doubt that Beryl would carry out her threat. But... I had not been able to leave Usagi. Not after witnessing her fury and hatred, and her struggle to contain the Ginzuishou. So, yes, I was able to accept the consequences. I had to let her know what was going on and that time was the only chance I would get. Beryl would not let me see Usagi again. I would not be able to get back on time. If it were to be the last moments of my life, I had planned to spend it all with Usagi.
As I stared at her intensely, memorizing her every feature, I had wondered once again how it was that a small slip of a girl had stolen so completely into my heart. Catching my intent gaze, she had looked at me, puzzled. Unable to contain myself, I had pulled her roughly into my arms, holding her close.
"Usagi, listen to me... the one causing Metallia to become so strong now is not the princess! It's... you."
At that, Usagi had gasped in surprise, stiffening in my arms before pulling away to face me. Her eyes flickered to me uncertainly.
I had hated to cause her even more burden, to make her feel guilty, but it was necessary to let her know, and so I had plowed on.
"It's your extreme hatred that is affecting the Ginzuishou. Usagi, don't become like Beryl! Don't be trapped by your tragic past life. No matter what happened, the only thing you need to do is to smile. Like you’ve been doing all along. Smiling like a baka... aren't you best at it?" I tried to make her smile.
Catching on to my attempt, Usagi had managed a watery smile, before trying to lighten the mood herself by saying, "You don't need to add on that part about being a baka." It had been a poor imitation of our usual playful banter, clearly not successful at all on both our parts.
She had turned somber again quickly, weighed down by all the problems. Hesitantly, she had whispered, "Mamoru, you still can't come back yet, can you?" Her eyes had held on to hope by the tiniest thread.
I had turned my back to her, not wanting to see her dashed hopes. What can I say? That I'm going to die? It will only make things worse.
I was only able to deflect her query. Looking deeply into her eyes, I had stated, "Don't worry. My heart will never leave you. My heart will forever be with you." It had been nothing less than the truth.
Her eyes brimmed with emotions. There had been no need for further words as I wrapped my arms gently around her, before freeing one hand to lift up her chin.
As she tilted her chin upwards, I leaned down slowly and pressed my lips to hers gently. It was our very first kiss and lasted but for a moment, yet it had been sweeter than anything I could have imagined and all the more poignant because of all we’d gone through. Still had been going through.
Her cheeks had taken on the color of cherry blossoms by the time I straightened up. It had been the most beautiful sight I had ever seen. Not wanting to let go just yet, I had held her close once more, laying my cheek against the top of her head. She had sighed contentedly.
I had wanted to preserve this memory, the way she had looked, the way she had felt in my arms, the way she had sounded, to remember when death came to claim me.
However, as soon as I had thought of that, I decided to banish that emotion and every other dark shadow lurking in my mind; I had been determined that we would enjoy our last time together and nothing was to disturb it, not if I could help it.
"Usagi, I have a little more time here. What do you feel like doing?"
She lifted her head from my shoulder and her whole face had lighted up.
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We had spent the rest of our time frolicking about the beach like a couple of children. Usagi had laughed again, a joyful tinkling sound that filled my heart with joy. And I had chuckled at her antics, drinking in her vivacious spirit. Until I was finally summoned back by an irate Beryl.
Yet whatever was going to happen, I had known I would accept my fate with equanimity. As long as she retained that laugh, everything I did would be worth it.
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A/N:
A poignant chapter, and a taste of more angst to come....
Review are very very welcome and very much appreciated! ^_^
