Chapter Text
Usagi blinked.
Rei.
The haunted expression on her face.
The awful memory that had put it there.
It was like her mind had skipped a beat and was now catching itself back up.
She blinked again and finished raising her hand to Rei’s. However, rather than giving it a comforting squeeze, Usagi grabbed Rei’s wrist and began to run, dragging the shrine maiden along behind her.
“Hey bun-head, what’re you doing!?”
“Heading for the concert! Music, dancing, fun! Weren’t you the one complaining that we were gonna be late?”
Was she being selfish? Maybe. But deep down, Usagi somehow knew that what she needed right now was something to make her feel alive. And she was pretty sure that’s what her best friend needed too.
She shot a look back and spotted Rei’s expression change. The haunted look morphed first into confusion, before finally giving way to a confidant smirk.
“Well then, we’d better move at my pace if we don’t want the whole day to be a lost cause.”
She sped up and laughed as she became the one now dragging Usagi along.
“No way,” giggled Usagi, “I know we’ll save the day! After all...don’t we always!?”
Usagi stood before Ami, taking in the apprehension on the blunette’s face.
Suddenly, the words came all too naturally to her.
“Yes. I will definitely be there to see you off, Ami. And don’t you dare try to leave early this time.”
Both girls began to tear up slightly and hugged one another.
Usagi knew she meant every word. She knew she would be there. She would see her off with a smile. Because, within her kind heart, she had the strength for it. Now, tomorrow, and forever.
Sunlight glittered through the palace window. For a moment Serenity was lost in the pleasant warmth the light cast upon her skin.
Then she heard a voice.
“Please believe me your majesty, you are definitely not a...um...an ennpeecee…Is that the right word? ” Artemis added with a mutter.
Serenity let out a sigh. One full of gentle satisfaction.
“You’re right.”
“...About it being the right word, or about-”
Serenity fixed him with a small smile.
“Both.” She gave a casual shrug. “I took a loss or two. It happens. But you can’t let that stop you, right?”
“Er... no. No you cannot.” Artemis said in a somewhat confused tone.
She stood up and exited to the balcony.
“Somehow, someway, I can always make a difference. Whether it’s the Black Moon clan, Shaman Apsu or maybe...maybe someone worse...”
Artemis’s ears twitched a little nervously. “Someone worse?”
Serenity drifted off for a moment, her gaze drawn upwards towards the soon to be night sky. “Who knows. There may well be someone worse out there. And if there is, all I can do is keep trying my best. Keep doing whatever I can to protect Crystal Tokyo and everyone I love.”
She locked eyes with Artemis who gave her a polite, yet friendly grin. “Would you like me to put that into the official records, your majesty?”
She shook her head. “That’s alright. I think that is best left for another story...”
Despite simply standing in the middle of the street, Usagi had the sudden sensation of being overwhelmed by the sights and sounds surrounding her.
The bright sunshine.
The hustle and bustle of the Juban shopping district.
And, of course, the small face of Chibi-Usa before her.
Gently, she raised her hands and placed them upon the young girl’s shoulders.
“Tell you what? Why don’t we all go shopping together. But…only after we’ve seen that movie? ‘Kay?”
Chibi-Usa tilted her head in confusion. “Why’re you acting so different all of a sudden?”
The truth was, Usagi wasn’t quite sure herself. All she knew was that she no longer minded Chibi-Usa tagging along on her date. “Does it matter?”
Chibi-Usa hesitated for a split second before shrugging. “No. I guess not.”
“Great.” Usagi straightened up, taking Chibi-Usa’s hand as she did so. “C’mon, we don’t want to miss the trailers. I hear there’s going to be a preview of ‘Cosmic Crystalline Eternity Part III’ ahead of this movie.”
“Where do they come up with these names?” chided Chibi-Usa.
Hand in hand, mother and daughter continued down the street together, Diana happily trotting behind them.
Luna blinked again.
Usagi stood in the kitchen, the Crystal Star still gripped in her hand.
“Kousagi…” she said quietly, trying to regain her train of thought.
“Yeah? What’re you going to do about her?” inquired Luna.
Usagi gave a tiny shake of her head. Her eyes fell upon the brooch. Curiously, the pink and gold colouring seemed much brighter than it had a moment ago. Nonchalantly, she traced the star pattern with her other hand.
Usagi’s mind returned to the battles she and her friends had fought. All the injuries they’d endured. All the times they’d almost died. All the sacrifices they’d made.
And the faces of all the people they’d saved.
“Maybe… Maybe Kousagi being a Senshi isn’t the worst thing in the world. At least… not if she has someone there to guide her along.”
Luna sighed deeply. “And here I thought I was going to have a long and happy retirement.”
“I was referring to me!” Usagi scowled. “I’ll fight alongside her. I’ll protect her no matter what. And make sure she has at least some normalcy in her life.”
“Usagi...” Luna began tentatively. “That seems like a lot for you to take on.”
Usagi shrugged. “Just doing my job.”
Luna cocked her eyebrow. “Your job as a Senshi?”
Usagi shook her head. “No...as a mother...”
“You haven’t gone back to sleep have you?”
Usagi shook her head slightly before retrieving the cell phone from the mattress.
“Sorry Mako, I must’ve dropped my phone by accident.” The thread of their conversation suddenly came back to her. “Listen Mako! You mustn’t question you and Motoki like that! I know his turtle thing can be a little annoying at times. But just because things can be less than ideal doesn’t mean they aren’t something precious!”
“I…er…Usagi, calm down.” Mako said, sounding utterly taken aback. “I wasn’t being that serious. Are… are you alright? Has something happened with your new hubby?”
“I…” Usagi considered the question. She considered where she was, who she was with, and what would happen when they got home. A calm, contented feeling suddenly spread through her body. “I’m fine Mako.”
Gently, Usagi placed a hand on her stomach.
“We’re both fine...”
“Usagi? Hey, did you hear me?”
“Huh?”
Usagi found herself staring wide-eyed at the somewhat cloudy sky. She swiftly diverted her attention to her left where she found Minako looking at her befuddled, and slightly annoyed.
“I said we should make a wish!”
“I...Yeah! You’re right!”
Usagi looked back towards the inky black sky and the shooting star making its way across the dark void. Closing her eyes, the words rang out strong and true in her mind.
“Sooooooo…?” Minako said a few seconds later.
“So what?” replied Usagi.
Minako rolled her eyes. “What did you wish for?”
“Oh...you know…”
Minako raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, I bet I do. I suppose it’s safe to presume it involved a certain ‘special someone’, right? A rather cute guy kind of 'special someone’?”
Usagi blushed and nodded. She didn’t know why exactly, because nothing had actually changed. And yet, for now at least, her chest was a little lighter.
She felt even better when a silvery orb appeared from behind some clouds.
“Yeah…a certain ‘special someone’…”
In perfect unison they breathed out gently, both invigorated by their dance.
One of the figures rested her head upon the warm skin of the other’s chest.
“Be honest. Did you ever have any doubts?”
The words stirred the woman. Looking up, she beheld the dark, handsome face of her partner. Behind him, bright white stars seemed to twinkle through the darkness of space. They evoked the affection in her lover’s eyes.
She didn’t have the heart to lie, especially not to him.
“Yes. Actually, I did…Did you?”
He shook his head.
“How come?”
“Because I knew, I’ve always known, that no matter what you will never burn out. You are…Eternal…”
They leaned in, the Earth hanging massive behind them as his lips met hers.
I’m Tsukino Usagi. I’m over fourteen billion years old and in my second incarnation. I’ve been a princess, a queen, a klutz and, I have to admit, sometimes a cry-baby. But the truth is, I am a pretty sailor-suited soldier of love and justice. Sailor Cosmos...
…Although, in my heart of hearts, I’ll always be…Sailor Moon…
