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"Koi wa lonely lonely heart.
Hitoribotchi yo
Lonely lonely heart.
Yorokobi mo kanashimi mo itsu datte
Koi wa lonely lonely heart.
(Love brings a lonely lonely heart.
I'm all alone now
Lonely lonely heart.
All the joy and pain I feel
Dreaming it by myself
Love brings a lonely lonely heart.)"
Chibi-Usa listened idly as the song filtered over the speakers of her mini-disc
player. It was a very old
song, ancient to most people, but to her, it seemed like it was
only yesterday that she
first heard it playing on the radio at Rei's shrine. She'd liked it so
much that Mamo-chan...she
blushed. No, Daddy. ...had bought it for her on cd. She'd
brought it back with her
to Crystal Tokyo after she returned from her senshi training in
the 20th century. Since
cd players were more than a bit outdated in the 30th century, she'd
had the song transferred
to mini-disc. That was six years ago. Even though she was
seventeen now, she still
loved that song. She was certain the disk should've worn out by
now, but had retained its
crystalline sound through the many playing sessions. The song
evoked a feeling of sadness
in Chibi-Usa. Sadness over what might've been, over what was
lost to duty. She got off
her bed and went to her window. She could see most of her
parent's realm from here.
She thought of how she had never really understood her
mother, Neo-Queen Serenity's,
and her father, King Endymion's, great attachment to each
other. She would see them,
when they thought no one was watching, kiss passionately and
then spend quite some time
murmuring "I love you"s and "I would die for you"s to each
other. When she discovered
who they were, what they'd had to go through to be together,
she had been moved to tears,
believing that no one should have to endure what they did,
and then she'd had to endure
it herself, and with a less happy result. She sighed. The song
ended. A knock came at her
door. "Come in."
The door opened and in walked her mother in all her elegance. Chibi-Usa
had a
momentary flashback to how
her mother had been, a clutz and a ditz. It was amazing
she'd ever grown out of
it and become the refined lady who now stood in front of her.
"Small Lady, " she began. "I have a feeling that you have been unhappy
as of
late." She walked to Chibi-Usa
and stood behind her. Running her fingers through
Chibi-Usa's long, pink locks,
she continued. "If you are ever upset about anything,
you know you can tell me,
my daughter. Your father is worried about you as well. If there
is anything upsetting you,
please tell us."
Chibi-Usa remained silent.
Serenity smiled gently. "I understand. Do as you feel is right, Small Lady.
Only
remember, your father and
I are here for you, should the time come that you may tell us."
She turned to leave, and was at the door when Chibi-Usa said "I miss him,
Momma." Tears glossed over
her eyes. "I miss him a lot."
Her mother looked at her, sympathy in her deep blue eyes. "Miss who?"
"Ellios!" Chibi-Usa cried as she ran to her mother and buried her face
against
her chest. "I miss Ellios
so much!" she sobbed.
Serenity embraced her daughter. She stroked her hair with one hand. "Small
Lady..."
*****
"Endymion."
King Endymion turned around at the sound of his wife's voice. He had been
tending to the lavendar
roses that only he could grow with their glossy and fragrant petals.
He set his pruning shears
down on the table next to him. "Yes, love?"
Serenity blushed. She hadn't outgrown that particular habit, and probably
never
would.
"There!" Endymion said happily, smiling. "I got you again."
Her face turned an even deeper shade of pink. "You are always choosing
just the
right words to make me feel
flattered, but then, it doesn't take much for you to make me
feel special. I feel special
just knowing that you love me."
Endymion's expression softened. "Serenity...Usako..."
Serenity smiled. "Now that's something you quite literally haven't called
me in
ages."
"A millenium, to be exact."
Serenity's smile faded. "I came to tell you about Small Lady. And to ask
you a
favor."
"I'd move planets for you and Small Lady."
Serenity shook her head. "This may be an even more monumental task. But
first...
Small Lady has told me why
she's been moping these past few months. She misses Ellios."
Endymion looked startled.
"Ellios?!"
"Do you remember? He was the protector of beautiful dreams, Pegasus. He
and
Small Lady had a special
relationship."
"Yes, I remember." Endymion put his hand to his chin thoughfully. "He is
also
guardian of my lost kingdom
on Earth, Illusion. That's where he is now."
She looked at her husband sadly. "He must be lonely there. Do you think...perhaps
we could set him free of
Illusion? He could stay with us in the Crystal Palace."
"I don't know. Illusion is a ruin, that's true, but it must be protected
because of the
positive energy it emits.
It is Earth's energy. If no one is there to defend it, it can be taken
and Earth would fall."
Serenity looked down at her hands. These hands have done so much for others.
Can they also do something
for my daughter? "I could protect Illusion."
Endymion's head snapped up and his hand dropped to his side. "What?!"
"With the Silver Crystal's power, I can erect a shield over Illusion just
as I have
done for Crystal Tokyo."
"But isn't that stretching your powers a bit too far?" he said skeptically.
"I can do it." Serenity responded passionately. "With every strong desire
I have,
the Silver Crystal's power
grows. If I desire this enough, I can do it safely. However, you
are the one with the power
to release Ellios. Illusion is your domain, which he is bound to
until a member of your family
releases him. You are the last of Earth's royal family. You
are the only one who can
do it. If you don't, then when you...forgive me for being morbid
...die, he'll be trapped
there forever. Please, my husband..."
"I've never thought of it that way. It is certainly a weighty decision...."
"Please...Mamo-chan..."
Now it was Endymion who blushed. "It took me forever to get used to that
name,
and since I haven't heard
it for a thousand years, it's made me start all over again." He
turned away from her for
a moment. When he turned back around, he grinned broadly.
"I'll grant it."
*****
Ellios knelt in front of the only structure in Illusion that, throughout
the millenia, had remained
completly intact. It was
a towering obelisk constructed of pure ruby. Carved into its base was a
blossoming rose, the symbol
of Earth's royal family. There were some ancient runes there as well,
but they had long since
lost their meaning to all but Ellios. They read:
"I dream, therefore I exist.
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."
Ellios found special meaning in these words. He had never had a dream other
than to protect the
dreams of others. Now, he
had a dream other than that. It was a much stronger dream, one he had
dreamt each day for the
past six years. He shook his head, the golden horn sparkling in the eternal
sunshine. He knew that his
dream wouldn't, couldn't come true. His very existance was to protect the
beautiful dreams of others.
No, he would never leave Illusion again.
I'll never see my pretty girl again.
He stood and shook his head again, as if to clear from it the thoughts
of his 'pretty girl.' He would
attend to his duties as
Guardian of Illusion, Guardian of Dreams, as he had done for as long as
Time had
been moving forward. Ellios
knew he was ancient, as old as Time itself, but he aged very slowly because
he
lived in Illusion, where
Time seems to have no power. He had never dreamt of a world outside Illusion
until
he was taken from here by
a wicked queen of the Dead Moon named Nehelina. She sought to take the
Golden
Crystal from him and use
it to destroy the White Moon kingdom of Queen Serenity. She imprisoned
his soul when
she discovered that she
could not take the crystal from him by force. He'd only been able to escape
after he was
attracted by his pretty
girl's beautiful dreams. He'd thought she was the maiden who could use
the power of the
Golden Crystal and defeat
the Dead Moon. She had released that power, and saved everyone, almost
at the sacrifice
of her own life. He shuddered.
I never should have put her in that danger. She didn't deserve it. My pretty
girl,
Chibi-Usa-chan, was so
brave. I'll never forget her.
Ellios felt a presence behind him. He turned his head, golden eyes seeking
the person which he knew
was there.
"Prince Endymion-sama."
Endymion smiled. "Nice to see you again, Ellios. It's King now."
Ellios nodded. "Forgive me. I lose track of time here. How long has it
been?"
"A thousand years. Did you not feel it when Earth went to sleep?"
"I did feel something," Ellios began. "but it was so brief that I dismissed
it."
"I guess a thousand years is like the bat of an eye to you, isn't it?"
Endymion said, a bit sadly.
"It seems that way."
"Well, my visit to you was not to socialize, Ellios." Endymion met his
eyes. "I have come to
ask something of you."
Ellios straightened. "Yes, King Endymion-sama?"
"Will you come back to Crystal Tokyo with me?"
"Anything you ask, sir."
"This isn't for me." Endymion said sternly. "This is for you. Make your
own decision. Do you, Ellios,
wish to return to Crystal
Tokyo with me, to live, for the rest of your natural life?"
Ellios was taken aback. "yes, but sir, I cannot leave Ilusion for any long
period of time. It would be vulnerable to-"
Endymion cut him off. "That's no longer your concern."
"How-?"
The king smiled. "My wife is taking care of that problem. As for your problem
about being bound to this place,
you are free. As of this
moment, you are no longer the Guardian of Illusion."
"What....?" Ellios could scarcely believe his ears. At that moment, a radiant
white light bathed Illusion, illuminating
the ruby pillar. Ellios
looked around him, drinking in the benevolent energy of the light. "This
is..."
"The Silver Crystal's power. It is now shielding Illusion." Endymion raised
his staff and pointed it in front of him.
A portal
appeared before him. "Shall we go to your new home?"
Ellios nodded. Endymion gestured for him to go first, and Ellios stepped
into the portal.
*****
When he emerged on the other side, he found himself swamped by...
Women!
"Oh my!! He's grown so much since we last saw him." A girl with short,
blue hair observed.
"He's gotten so handsome!" A tall brunette exlaimed.
"Is that possible, for him to be more handsome?" said a girl with long
blonde hair.
"Small Lady is so lucky to have him!" fussed another with long black hair.
"Who are you? Who is Small Lady?" was all Ellios could manage to get in.
The blonde shook her finger at him as Endymion stepped through the portal.
"Now now, you can't have
forgotten me, Venus-chan?
Or my very good friends, Mars, Jupiter, and Mercury?"
It suddenly dawned on him. "The Sailor Senshi!"
They nodded in unison. "That's us!" said Jupiter.
Ellios was still confused about one thing. "Who is Small Lady?"
Mars grabbed him and gently began to pull him to another room as she nodded
at Endymion. She looked at the
other senshi. "Okay guys.
What can we do to spruce him up for his meeting with Small Lady?"
"Who is Small Lady?" Ellios asked insistantly, but his question was ignored.
"Ouch!"
"Watch that horn, V-chan." Mercury said.
"Anyway," Venus said as she rubbed her offended elbow. "We need to get
him into something more ap-pro-po."
They hauled him into what was obviously a dressing room. There were ornate
suits of all styles and sizes lying
around on furniature, hanging
in closets, on doors, and thrown over chairs. Ellios had never seen so
much clothing.
"How about this?" Jupiter asked, holding up a suit of shining green armor
resembling the armor Endymion once
wore.
The others shook their heads.
"This?" Mercury held a blue suit that was more suited to a scholar than
to someone going to dinner.
Another negative.
It went on this way for two hours while Ellios just sat in a chair and
wondered what the heck was going on.
Finally, he emerged from
the room clad in a long silvery dress jacket that reached to his knees,
with a high stiff collar,
and light blue trim. He
wore shimmery white pants beneath, and polished white shoes. All of this
complemented his
golden eyes and horn.
"Now you're ready." Mercury said.
Ready for what? Ellios thought.
*****
Chibi-Usa whimpered as her mother led her down the hallway to the throne
room. "Why do I have to meet this
prince? I don't want to
meet him. You won't even tell me his name or where he is from!"
Neo-Queen Serenity spoke to her daughter gently. "He is from a very ancient
kingdom on Earth. You will like
him very much."
"No I won't." Chibi-Usa grumbled as the queen opened the great double doors
and entered the throne room.
King Endymion was already inside and as his wife came to the raised platform
on which the three thrones of the
royal family rested, he
offered his hand to her and together they climbed the stairs and sat. Chibi-Usa
grudgingly followed.
Chibi-Usa was decked out in her finest dress and jewlery for the occasion.
She was even wearing her small crown.
She knew that this meeting
must be important if her mother were making her wear the crown.
"Now Small Lady, " Endymion began. "Please behave yourself for our guest.
He will be here momentarily."
A knock came at the doors to the chamber. "That must be him." Serenity
said, smiling a smile full of secret meaning
to her husband.
This was not lost on Chibi-Usa. "What are you two thinking?" she exclaimed.
At the same time, her mother bid
those waiting on the other
side of the door to enter. Chibi-Usa quieted, and did her best to look
as composed and regal as
possible.
The heavy doors swung open slowly, and Chibi-Usa refrained from straining
to see who was still concealed behind
them. In walked Mercury,
clad in her formal blue gown of state. Following her was Mars, glad in
her red gown, Jupiter in
a long green gown, and lastly
Venus in a golden one. Then came Luna, Artimes, and Diana...in their human
forms, no less!
This must be important,
for there to be this much fuss. Chibi-Usa thought. I wonder who this prince
is. Then came an
honor guard, clad in the
traditional armor of Earth. The Senshi along with Luna, Artimes, and Diana,
took up their assigned
positions around the throne
platform. The guards formed a double row along the path up to the throne.
Chibi-Usa swallowed.
The anticipation of finally
learning the identity of this mysterious guest was killing her. A gong
sounded, and a boy, his head bowed, about her age stepped into the room.
His golden horn glimmered with an inner light.
His golden horn...Chibi-Usa thought.
Glimmered...
A golden horn...
Could it be?
"Ellios?" Chibi-Usa choked out.
The boy raised his head. His golden eyes fixed on hers, then widened in
stupified surprise. "Chibi-Usa-chan?"
Queen Serenity and
King Endymion shared another smile. "Small Lady, allow me to present to
you Ellios,
Prince of Illusion."
she said.
Both Ellios and Chibi-Usa were speechless.
Ellios couldn't believe what he was seeing. Small Lady was his pretty girl.
Only, she was even prettier than she
had been when he first met
her. Her soft pink hair, still done it its rabbit-ear odangos, now
fell to her ankles in soft waves.
Her eyes were still the
same bright red, but they had gained a look of wisdom and spirituality
within their ruby depths.He
could tell from her regal
bearing that she had matured considerably, both physically and mentally.
He saw the small crown
atop her head...she was
a princess! How fitting for her, he thought. Approaching the thrones,
he knelt before the Royal
Family of Crystal Tokyo.
"Your Highnesses."
Queen Serenity spoke regally. "Prince Ellios of Illusion, I herby grant
to you permanent quarters at the Crystal
Palace. You shall live here
until it is your wish to leave. And..." she looked at Chibi-Usa, who, breaking
her regal posture,
nodded her head ethusiastically.
"...I shall make you the offer of my daughter's hand in marriage."
Ellios was speechless. He raised his head. "Your Majesty...I..."
"Please, rise." Endymion said. "It is your decision."
Ellios rose. He looked at Chibi-Usa, his golden eyes searching her face,
trying to discern what she was thinking. She
was smiling at him. She
wanted to marry him. She loves me as well? He smiled at her, and
she blushed. Finally, he spoke.
"I must
know what the Princess thinks of this. I would never do anything against
her wishes."
Serenity and Endymion nodded at Chibi-Usa. She spoke, softly at first,
but with increasing passion. "I've always
regretted not telling you
about my dreams, Ellios, so I'll tell you now. I've always dreamed of being
married. Married to
a wonderful boy. You are
that wonderful boy I've dreamed of."
"Chibi-Usa-chan..." Ellios whispered. He turned to the King and Queen.
"I accept. I will marry your daughter. Not
for wealth, nor power, nor
destiny. For love."
King Endymion rose from his throne. His deep voice boomed around the room
and echoed down the halls. "Then let
it be announced. There is
a wedding to be had!"
Chibi-Usa looked at her mother pleadingly. Serenity nodded her head, and
Chibi-Usa went flying down the stairs
to the floor. She ran to
Ellios and he swept her up in his arms. "Ellios....I missed you..." she
sobbed into his jacket. "...I love
you..."
Ellios held her as tightly as possible. "My pretty girl, my beautiful dreamer...I
missed you as well." He closed his eyes, trying to hold back the tears,
but one escaped and slid down his cheek and into her hair. "I love you."
Life truly is but a dream.
~El Fin~
