"Our kingdom, the Silver Millennium... Our previous lives... And the Mystical Silver Crystal... To discover all the secrets... To the moon!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ ] Act 10 - Moon / Tsuki Originally appeared in Nakayoshi, November 1992. Written by Takeuchi Naoko. Translated by Alex Glover. Version 2.0, 4.98. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "To the moon!!" Luna turns to them. "Well, now that it's decided, we have to prepare! We will carry out the plan on the night of the next full moon." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The crescent moon shines down. Ami reads from a book, with Usagi looking on. "'The moon. Mass is 1/80 that of Earth. Surface gravity is 1/6 that of Earth. Diameter is approximately 1/4 that of Earth. It is a satellite of Earth that revolves around Earth in about 28 days.'" She sets the book down. "Luna said we'll go to the moon, like it was simple. But I wonder how on earth she plans to do it. Is she going to prepare a space shuttle or something? 'Escape velocities: Earth - 11.2 km/s. Moon - 2.4 km/s.'" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Naru plays the Sailor V game. "Usagi! Come here! Hurry!" Usagi runs over and starts playing for her. Naru and Umino watch her, cheering her on. Ami and Makoto watch her from across the room. "I'm glad Usagi's feeling better," says Ami. "She can't be sad," says Makoto. "Because we're going to the moon no matter what." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Usagi stares out her window at the waxing moon. "The moon's expanding rapidly. And expanding with it is the throbbing of my feelings. I want to go there quickly, and know my previous life... Everything... And I want to save him quickly..." "Usagi, dinner!" "Okay!" calls Usagi. Her dad looks in her room. "Usagi," he says. "Look, like you asked, I got this made into a pendant for you." He hands her the crystal attached to a necklace. "Wow!" "You're treating it so carefully," says her dad. "Did you get it from some guy you like?" Usagi stares at the crystal. "Yeah." "What!?" says her dad. She looks out at the moon. "That may just be it..." - Luna walks into the house. "I've been staring at that monitor for so long, my eyes are worn out. Today I'm going to get some rest." Usagi's mom picks Luna up and holds her in her lap. "You know, honey," says Usagi's dad. "What is it, dear?" says Usagi's mom. "Sometimes Usagi seems like a different person. Without us realizing it, she's become an adult woman, and it feels like we're going to lose her soon." "Don't say that! Usagi will always be... our little girl..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Mako-chan," says Minako. "I'll have oolong tea." "Okay," says Makoto. She presses the button on the vending machine. "Plum juice for me," says Rei. The three girls walk along the street in the moonlight. Makoto looks at the moon phase watch. "Moon's age is 13.7," she says. "So one more day until the full moon." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Everyone gathers at the Crown Game Center. "Everyone physically prepared?" says Luna. "Then let's go to the park." "The park?" "That place..." thinks Usagi. "Where I made the trade with Mamo-chan for this watch... Every time I happened to meet him in the city... I was stubborn, and got into arguments, and never said what I wanted to... Actually, I was really happy, and my heart was pounding. When we met, we were charmed by each other... I want to see him again while I'm in uniform... This time we'll talk about lots of things. About me... About him... I promised I'd return this to him..." "Usagi...!" says Makoto. Usagi buries her face in her hands. "I will save him for sure!" she thinks. "What's happening to him now...? Mamo-chan...!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ami looks up at the full moon. The girls stand in Ichinohashi Park. "The moon's age is at 15," says Ami. "It's right above this park. There's not one cloud. Best conditions for going to the moon." "The waning moon causes hatred and discord," says Rei. "The new moon causes death and destruction. If you want visions of the future, the full moon is best. The white light provides strength." "Let's transform," says Minako. "We can transport using that power." Luna steps forth and speaks a cryptic phrase in a another language. A circle of light appears on the ground before her, energy swirling around it. "Now, enter this circle and transform," she says. "After transforming, all of you join hands. It will create a shield." "Moon Prism Power!" "Mercury Power!" "Mars Power!" "Jupiter Power!" "Venus Power!" They join hands and hold them in the air. "Make Up!!" Light shoots from the ground high into the sky. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The girls float through space in a sphere of light. The planet looms large before them. "Wow..." says Makoto. "That's Earth..." "Mako-chan, look," says Minako. "You can see flashes of lightning." "It's unbelievable," says Makoto. "This is the planet we were on up until a moment ago..." "Look," says Ami. "It's the moon... It really is full of craters. It looks like Mercury..." "Where are we landing, Luna?" "Mare Serenitatis," she says. "The Sea of Serenity." They set down on the surface, and the light around them disappears. "This is the moon...!" "It's pitch-dark," says Minako. "No sound at all... Feels strange." Usagi holds onto Makoto's arm. "Hey, Usagi," says Makoto. "Now you're really... 'Tsuki' no Usagi." The others groan. "Mako-chan..." "Oops, bad joke?" ['Tsuki no usagi' meaning 'rabbit of the moon'.] Usagi looks up at the black sky. "Darkness like a cloth of velvet..." she thinks. "So quiet... The pale, crumbling ruins... This is the moon..." They approach the fallen pillars and worn columns. "The Silver Millennium... The place where our kingdom was..." "Those broken pillars," says Ami. "Is this where the sanctuary was?" "Yes," says Luna. "The Moon Castle. And here is where the room of prayer was, that only the queen was allowed to enter. And here is the center of the Moon Castle. Where the tower of prayer was. The Crystal Tower." A spire rises high above them, its top crumbled away. Usagi looks at the ground in front of the tower. The hilt of a sword sticks out of the ground, its blade buried in the rock floor. "That..." "Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, Venus," says Luna. "Pull it out." The four girls rush over to the sword and try in vain to remove it. "What?" says Ami. "It's petrified..." "I can't pull it out!" says Makoto. "It's impossible, Luna!" "Put in all your strength!" says Luna. "You can do it!" The sword slowly slides out of the ground as Minako pulls on it. She holds the rusted blade in her hands. "A sword of stone!?" A small figure rises from the ground where the sword was. The figure wears a smooth white dress with wings extending from the back. Her hair is tied back in two ponytails in balls of hair. "That is the legendary holy blade, to protect the princess," says the figure. "Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Venus. It is yours. Luna, you have done well in bringing everyone here. I called to you on Earth as an incarnation of the moon goddess, Selene. I am the past queen of the Silver Millennium, Queen Selenity." "Queen Selenity...!?" thinks Usagi. "From my previous life... My mother...?" She bends down in front of the small figure. "You're so pretty, Selenity," says the queen. "I can see your form." "She can talk back and forth!?" says Ami. "My body has already been destroyed," she says. "But when the Moon Castle's main computer became inactive, I activated the sub-computer and was only able to leave behind my will, like this. This image is generated by the computer. I had Luna and Artemis revived from their cold sleep. I kept in contact with them, watched over you, and waited for this time to come. Now everything is in ruin, but do you remember? When this Moon Castle was beautiful... We were inside the dome, but greenery and wind blew through here. But, Princess Selenity, instead of that you longed for the true greenery and wind, and often went down to Earth. And then you found love..." Sailor Jupiter grabs Princess Selenity by the hair. "Princess!" "You went to Earth in secret again, didn't you!?" says Sailor Venus. "As successor to the Silver Millennium," says Sailor Mercury, holding a stack of books, "there is a mountain of things you must learn!" "Yes..." thinks Usagi. "Wanting to see him, I often went down to Earth in secret." "Born on the moon," says Queen Selenity, "we enjoyed longevity in our lives. Protecting the holy stone of the Mystical Silver Crystal, handed down on the moon. We removed negative elements on Earth, and guided Earth in a positive direction. Our mission was to observe and aide the evolution there. Even now, I remember it well... That year... The activity on the sun was violently strong... That abnormal sun... There is no doubt that it brought about catastrophes. Suddenly, it crept into Earth, trying to make Earth its own... That thing... Your enemy... It is surely Satan." The girls stare at her in silence. "It had its eyes on the enormous power of the Mystical Silver Crystal. It took advantage of the spirits of humans, who wanted longevity like we had. And manipulating people, it came to attack the moon. At that time, only the young, strong prince of the Kingdom of Earth, Endymion, persuaded until the end, without hesitation, the manipulated people of Earth. But it was too late. He fell protecting you." Selenity screams as the blade cuts through Endymion. "Overcome with sorrow, you took your own life..." She picks up the sword, and plunges it into her own chest. "Do you remember that...?" Tears well in Usagi's eyes. "With great difficulty, I was able to seal it away," says the queen. "All of this Moon Castle was turned to stone and broken apart. Then the Kingdom of Earth was destroyed as well, and Earth followed evolution from the beginning once more. That is the story of ancient times... But Satan was resurrected again. From here I cannot search to find where on Earth it is now hiding, but it is squirming deep inside. With the shock of losing you back then, in confusion, I created the seal with a weak spirit of sorrow and delusion. Because of that, I did not use the full power of the Mystical Silver Crystal, and the seal became defective. But now I can no longer do it over. There is no one but you! The one who can use the true power of the Mystical Silver Crystal and seal that thing away is the princess! Only you!" "The true power of the Mystical Silver Crystal?" thinks Usagi. "Queen!" says Minako. "There's something strange about the appearance of the Mystical Silver Crystal! Its contents were absorbed by Prince Endymion's body, and now it has lost its brilliance!" "Its contents were absorbed!?" says the queen. "That...! Perhaps... Your will must be working for that, Princess Selenity, to save him. Worrying about him, your eyes are uncertain, Selenity. It's all right. He must be alive. Don't worry." "Right..." "Don't worry." Usagi smiles as tears fall from her face. "Right!" "Princess Selenity, remember this. The Mystical Silver Crystal depends entirely on you. Strong faith, harmony, and deep love... If you don't have those, you will not be able to vanquish that Satan. Please, take pride and self-confidence in being the princess and the soldier of justice, Sailor Moon. And don't forget about your being a girl, as well... The true meaning of your being reborn is in that..." Her image begins to flicker. "-orget..." "Queen!?" "Sailor Mars, Jupiter, Mercury, and Venus," she says. "Combine your strength, and please protect the princess. And make this kingdom... This Moon Castle once again... I don't have any more power... I can only speak a little longer... Selenity, find happiness..." The image fades. "Queen!?" Usagi grabs the crystal and holds it out. "Wait!! If you need power, use..." She reaches out as the image disappears entirely. "Queen...!" She drops the crystal to the ground and cries. "In this precious time..." she thinks. "The Mystical Silver Crystal doesn't help... The power of the Mystical Silver Crystal... Does it all depend on me...?" "Morning will come on Earth soon now," says Luna. "Shall we return...?" They float back through space in a sphere of light. "Earth looks like a glass Christmas tree ornament..." They land on their planet as the sun rises. "Sounds all around, not like on the moon," thinks Usagi. "The shining sea... The wind with the scent of greenery... We weren't observing Earth... We were dreaming and longing for a planet like this... And watching over it..." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kunzite looks over the three shattered glass coffins. A small stone lies in each of them. "What a thing... Awakening to see you all in such a form...! Jadeite, Nephrite... Zoisite!" He picks up the three stones, and walks into another room, where a single body lies. "I've finally found our master, but..." He kneels before the body. "Endymion-sama...!" He turns around. "Queen Beryl!?" He sees her walking silently down a hallway. "Where's she going?" He follows her downstairs, and sees her speaking before a large doorway. "This deep in the ground...?" he thinks. "That door...!?" Gas begins to fill the room. "What's this!? This heavy, strange odor of decay...! I can't breathe." His eyes widen as he sees an enormous cloud of dark energy, taking a vaguely solid shape. "Is that our great ruler!? It already has such substance!? What's that? A black mark on its forehead..." He turns and runs from the room as Queen Beryl kneels. "Queen Metallia," she says. "There is nothing to think but that the Mystical Silver Crystal absorbed by Tuxedo Kamen has disappeared. There is no reaction at all." "Beryl, have you not begun to take the Mystical Silver Crystal carried by the princess...!" "There is still value in using the body of Tuxedo Kamen we managed to obtain," she says. "After all, I do not believe we'll have Kunzite for long. Please, leave this to me." "Beryl, still more energy is necessary for us to make this world ours. Now that the princess has fully awakened, there is not a moment to lose. Eliminate those in our way! Then steal the Mystical Silver Crystal!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Her hand caresses the face of the body. "Queen Beryl," says Kunzite. "You said that if we obtained the Mystical Silver Crystal, all the four generals would come back to life." "His body does not carry it. Since he has been destroyed, there is nothing else we can do." Selenity screams as the blade cuts through Endymion. "Noooo! Endymion!!" The four generals stare at the prince in horror. "Even if I regret choosing to live like this," thinks Kunzite, "does that mean it's too late?" "What to you intend to do with Prince Endymion's body...!" he says. Queen Beryl raises her hand at him. A jewel appears on his forehead, glowing. "Don't forget," she says. "You pledged your loyalty to our great ruler. You handed that body over to me. No matter how many times you're reborn, you are one of my subordinate four generals! Kunzite, go! This time I will not allow failure! Attack the humans, and steal their energy. The princess will surely appear. Steal the Mystical Silver Crystal!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- A huge blast of water sprays out from the sea, crashing onto the land. The people scream. "What!? The sea!! A tidal wave!? As the water flows over them, the people are frozen in blocks of ice. The water crashes over buildings, encasing them in ice. "Emergency alert! Emergency alert!" Kunzite looks down over the city, the jewel on his forehead glowing. "Heh heh heh... I will make all of Tokyo a desert of ice! A desert of ice packed with energy. Our great ruler will surely be pleased. Now, Princess, show yourself here!!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The girls gather in front of a console in the command center. "Recently," says Luna, "the movements of Earth's crust have been even more active than before. Even a little in the area of the Arctic Circle, but there is an abnormal heat reaction. From quite deep in the ground... A reaction that wasn't there before. While I was investigating, little by little, the reaction became stronger. It must somehow be related to the Dark Kingdom..." "Luna! Everyone!" says Ami. "Enemies!! Look!" The monitor displays the image of an ice-covered building. "The city's frozen!" "What was that!?" "Everyone, head out!" says Luna. "Hurry! Transform!" "Moon Prism Power! Make Up!" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- "You're late, Sailor Moon!" calls Kunzite. "That is, Princess!" "That man...!!" says Usagi. "Are you planning to make Tokyo into the North Pole!?" "Certainly!" he says. "I'm making it suitable for our great ruler whenever it is revived!" "You can't do that!" says Usagi. She grasps the moon stick. "Moon Healing Escalation!" The ice melts, freeing the people trapped inside. Kunzite sees the crystal dangling from a chain around Usagi's neck. "There! The Mystical Silver Crystal!!" He reaches for it. Usagi grabs it and flies into the air. Kunzite flies after her. "Sailor Moon!!" calls Minako. Usagi flies higher. "If I keep rising like this...!" She stops above Earth, out in space. Kunzite follows right behind her. "Where have you taken Tuxedo Kamen!?" she shouts. "Give him back!! You haven't hurt him, have you!?" "If you give me the Mystical Silver Crystal obediently, I'll return him." He laughs. "His corpse, that is." Usagi gasps. "Sailor Moon!" the others call as they reach her. "Heh heh," says Kunzite. "I wonder if your attacks will work in this vacuum of space. Before your eyes, I will instantly eliminate the princess." "You're out of luck!" says Minako. "This is our second time in space! Everyone, put your strength together! Venus Power!" "Mercury Power!" "Mars Power!" "Jupiter Power!" "Sailor Moon!" says Minako. "Make a barrier with the stick!!" "No!!" yells Usagi. "There's still Tuxedo Kamen...!" The four soldiers shout in unison. "Sailor Planet Attack!" Four beams of energy shoot at Kunzite. His body disintegrates, leaving only the jewel floating in space. "Sailor Moon!" says Minako. "Are you all right!?" Usagi holds her crystal, her eyes watering. "Tuxedo Kamen....!" she thinks. "I didn't get any information...! Where is he? Is he safe?" --------------------------------------------------------------------------- The jewel falls to the ground at Queen Beryl's feet. "Poor Kunzite," she says. "Now the bodies of all my pretty four generals have been destroyed, reduced to stones..." She raises her arms. "Our great ruler, Queen Metallia! Present that power to me! Give me the power! The power to waken!" His eyes open. Queen Beryl smiles. He stands and picks up the jewel at his feet. The three other stones appear in his hand. "Prince Endymion," she says. She caresses his face. "You are now my, Queen Beryl's, puppet. Now go to the surface. Eliminate the princess of the Moon Kingdom, the Silver Millennium. Steal the Mystical Silver Crystal." --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Birds chirp. The sun shines. He walks up to the Crown Game Center. He tosses his jacket over his shoulder, and smiles, his eyes completely black. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Original manga copyright © 1992 Takeuchi Naoko. English translation copyright © 1998 Alex Glover. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sailor Moon Translations | Sailor Moon Volume 3