The scenes from this chapter are taken from Episodes 47-48 of the PGSM Live Action.
Chapter 23 DAY OF DESTINY (PART I)
It had been much later that I finally recovered from the latest bout of pain. I knew I did not have much time left and resolved to act on my plan. I was not going to let Beryl rule the Earth nor was I going to let the Earth be destroyed.
I had marched purposefully to Metallia's cave. Beryl was there but I had ignored her, and instead made a beeline for the pulsing energy that was Metallia.
"Endymion! What are you doing?!"
"I'm going to get Queen Metallia's powers, of course," I had smirked as I easily dodged her energy blast at me while forming a counter attack that forced Beryl to move away from Metallia. Adrenalin pumping through me had negated the loss of strength I had been feeling since the crystal was first planted in me.
Upon hearing my proclamation, Beryl had burst out laughing. "What?! What can you do? You're only an empty shell right now!"
That had been the basis of my plan. "All the better to absorb Metallia in, don't you think?"
"You're an idiot! If you do that, your body will be taken over by Metallia!" Beryl had sneered.
"Don't compare me with you. I am the Prince of Earth! What the Princess of the Moon had been doing, I'm sure I can do it too. I will suppress Metallia!"
Even as I spoke, I had been moving towards Metallia and with a sudden leap, I had jumped directly into the heart of the sphere of energy. Beryl had been too late to stop me.
It had been horrific. My body felt as though it had been burned by the fires of hell. The pain I had suffered from the life-sucking crystal had been nothing compared to that. I did not know how long the process had gone on, but I had known the instant it had stopped. However, the momentary relief I experienced had been replaced by something else. I had felt another presence in my body. An all-consuming evil presence.
Metallia.
Absorbing Metallia inside of me had been beyond horror, beyond description. Her churning mindless thoughts had focused on one thing, and one thing only her voracious appetite to destroy, to consume all in her path, until there was no more. And for that, she had used all means to force me to her will. She dredged up all the painful memories I had in both my lives, all my insecurities I'd ever experienced, all the anger I'd ever felt, all the fears, jealousies, all the negative emotions she could find, and made me suffer through each and every one of them. It was designed to break me, to snap my sanity, to bring me under her total control.
I endured the torture for as long as I could. I fought to regain control... fought harder than I ever did in my whole life. The only thing that had tied me to my sanity was Usagi.
Usagi. She was my sole refuge, the only oasis in the desert of wrath I found myself in, the only person in my memory able to subdue the fires of rage and frustration smoldering deep within my being. I had focused on her, on my memories of the time we spent together, on that day on the beach until slowly, like someone who had been submerged underwater for a long period of time, I was able to surface again. I was able to take control. I had succeeded in suppressing Metallia for the moment.
I had known it would not be long. Metallia would not be subdued for long and I knew what I had to do. But before that, I had first wanted to fulfill a selfish wish to see her once more.
The moment I thought of that, I had teleported myself to Japan almost instantly. The power I had in me had been immense. I had felt invincible and for a second, had dallied with the idea of taking over the world. I certainly felt powerful enough to do that, to consume the whole world. I had forcibly stopped myself from continuing that train of thought. It had not been me talking. It was Metallia. It took every ounce of willpower I had to rein in the overwhelming hatred and uncontrollable greed I had felt.
By the time I became aware of my surroundings, I realized that I was in a shopping district. The enormous screen in front of me had been broadcasting a piece of news that caught my attention immediately Aino Minako s death.
Aino Minako. Venus. She's dead? Oh no, Usagi...
It was then I spotted Usagi walking towards my direction. As always, my link with Usagi had led me unerringly to her.
She had been surprised to see me, but there was a deep sorrow etched on her face, making it difficult for her to express the happiness she usually felt upon seeing me.
I had wanted to console her. "Usagi. I know about Venus..."
She nodded, unable to speak. Her anguish had been palpable, but the corners of her mouth twitched as she tried to force herself into a smile. It had been worse than watching her cry.
She's smiling... forcing herself to smile all the time.
Rei had told me that and I was witnessing that for myself. I had been an idiot! What kind of idiotic advice had I given her?!
Instead of dampening the rage, the anguish that I felt for Usagi had fed the white-hot flame of rage that had been simmering beneath the surface, straining against the chains of my self-control. Only the concern that I had for Usagi overpowered the rage.
Enclosing her within my arms, I had admonished her, "Baka! Just cry! You don't have to pretend anymore when you're with me!" That had been the release she needed. With a heart-wrenching wail, she had sobbed brokenly on my shoulder as I held her close.
The huge shuddering sobs that racked her small frame had been a testimony to the stress and misery she had been holding in her. I could only whisper useless words of consolation. Only after she had calmed herself down did I update her on the current situation in the Dark Kingdom.
"You mean... Metallia is in you right now?" She had been horrified.
"Yes. But that doesn't mean that I've become a demon. It's just that Metallia's trapped inside my body now."
"Would you be all right?" That had been Usagi's central concern.
"Yes," I murmured but did not look into her eyes. I had wanted to let her know something else. "Usagi, you don't have to suppress your power anymore. You can use the Ginzuishou without any fear now. Metallia... leave her to me. I will suppress her!"
It had felt wonderful to be able to lift the burden from Usagi. Even if Metallia had shrieked her defiance at me from deep within my body at the same time.
Usagi had not looked convinced and so I had baited her. "What? Don t you trust me?"
Her response had been as I expected. "No, of course not..." she hastily tried to reassure me and had quickly changed the topic, "So, the Earth would not be destroyed?"
"Yes. Queen Beryl should no longer have the power to destroy Earth."
Usagi's face broke into a grin. "That's wonderful!" Then she had looked at me hopefully.
"Does that mean that Mamoru, you don't have to go back to the enemy anymore?"
I could not bear to wipe that smile off her face. Instead, I had smilingly told her, "Yes, of course. From tomorrow onwards, we can meet whenever we want again."
Usagi s grin had stretched so impossibly wide that it almost split her face into half. Her whole being had glowed with so much joy that I had ached to share the light. It had made the constant contest of willpower with Metallia bearable.
Yet I could not keep on lying to her. It would not be fair if I did not at least give her some form of warning, in case my plan failed in some way. I had struggled on how to approach the topic as I sent her back home on my motorbike.
"Usagi. If someone else who wants to destroy the Earth appears again, you will defeat him, won't you?"
"Of course. If I can use the Ginzuishou, it won't be a problem," Usagi had replied cheerily as she tightened her grip around my waist.
I had stopped the motorbike near her home but watching her walk the short distance back to her house had not been easy. I had not been willing to let her go, knowing that it would really be for the last time. As she had turned to say goodbye at her doorstep, I could not help but pull her back to me again. Wrapping my hands around her, I had kissed her lightly on the lips before letting her go once more. Not unlike the first time, Usagi had blushed and shyly murmured a soft goodbye before stepping through the doorway. I had gazed at her until she completely disappeared from my view.
Goodbye, Usagi.
Then I had squared my shoulders, It had been time to carry out what I had set out to do from the first moment I stepped into Metallia's cave.
Closing my eyes, I had located where Kunzite was and teleported myself to him. It was time to fulfill my promise to him.
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A/N:
I should be finishing in 2 more chapters. ^_^ How do you like my portrayal of all the characters so far? I hoped I had stayed true to their personalities, or at least, what I felt were their personalities.
Reviews are much appreciated. =)
