Title: Protect The Princess
Author: Umi Kane
E-mail: ecchimichiru@yahoo.com
Rating: Pg-13


--Chapter Four--

"Usagi...?"

"Come in you guys!"

Haruka, Michiru, and Hotaru entered the dressing room. There stood Usagi looking more beautiful then than she ever had. She was stunning in her wedding dress. She rushed over and hugged each of them individually. The three of them held back tears. Usagi did the same.

"I know... I can't believe I'm getting married either..."

Michiru smiled and nodded. Usagi didn't know and that was how they wanted it. It hurt the three of them to know they would not see their princess, their friend, get married. Hotaru took a step forward, to say her good-bye.

"You will be a beautiful bride, Usagi-san."

Haruka nodded.

"You'll be a great ruler of Crystal Tokyo..."

Usagi blinked a few times. Michiru smiled softly.

"May the future always be bright."

The three of them took turns hugging Usagi gently. Usagi smiled at them, unaware of what was to come. They bid her farewell and walked out of her dressing room, their footsteps in perfect unison. They walked passed Setsuna, bowing to her. Setsuna's eyes filled with tears. She bowed her head, knowing there was no way to stop them. Hotaru stood in between her parents, holding their hands. The three walked out of the church and stood on the step. There was not a soul in sight. Everyone was inside. Hotaru gave her parents' hands a gentle squeeze and looked at them. Haruka and Michiru smiled at her, saying they loved her without one word being spoken. Haruka and Michiru looked to each other and smiled. The three of them were ready. Without a word, the three of them transformed, talismans in hand. Saturn looked up.

"The enemy approaches."

The three braced themselves for what was to come. Inside the church, Usagi walked down the aisle. Her eyes closed, she did not notice her friends missing. She approached the altar, taking Mamoru's hand. Those bright blue eyes opened as she smiled at him. He smiled to her and the priest began the service. Outside, the three senshi felt the demon approaching. They saw the figure flying toward them. Neptune narrowed her eyes.

"It is time..."

Uranus nodded.

"This is it..."

Mamoru and Usagi said their vows and were joined as husband and wife. They turned to walk down the aisle together. It was then that Usagi noticed three of her friends missing. She looked up at the closed doors of the church, fear filling those bright eyes. The shouts of planetary attacks filtered into the church.

"Submarine Reflection!"

"Space Sword Blaster!'

"Silent Wall!"

Everyone stood. The other senshi turned and started to run. Setsuna stood in their way, her time key in hand. Usagi ran down the aisle, but was stopped by her. Setsuna shook her head.

"You cannot save them. They are fighting for you. They are fighting to protect you. They are fighting for the future."

"I have to help them!"

Outside, the three senshi fought with the enemy. It was not an easy battle. The one demon was as strong as the three of them. The battle raged, both sides taking damage. The world outside the church was in rubble. The three senshi were fighting one demon while its minions ravaged the planet. Saturn looked to her parents.

"We will protect the princess."

Neptune and Uranus nodded. The three of them closed their eyes and concentrated. The symbols for Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn took the places of their tiaras. The three of them began to glow their respective aura colors. Meanwhile, in the church, Setsuna lowered her staff.

"I cannot allow them to do this. Princess, please save them."

Usagi ran passed her, throwing the doors of the church wide open, Mamoru behind her. But it was too late. The three senshi surrounded the demon, and looked to the heavens. Three voices called out in unison.

"For the princess! For the future!"

With that the three of them summoned all their power and blasted the youma, destroying it. Usagi smiled, relieved. She had feared the worst. Yet her fears were to be realized soon enough. Three voices spoke softly in unison.

"We call upon the planets Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn... Please hear our call... We ask for protection for our prince and princess... We ask for a new world... Please grant us this last wish..."

A bright white light surrounded the three legendary soldiers, blinding the others. Usagi reached out for them.

"Uranus! Neptune! Saturn!"

Once the light faded, the planet was a new. The people no longer stood in Tokyo. The city had been reborn. Crystal Tokyo now lay before them. The light had not only transformed the planet, but it had transformed the other senshi as well. Usagi stood there, no longer in her wedding dress. A golden crown rested atop her head. Neo Queen Serenity stood at King Endymion's side. The four inner senshi had transformed without even themselves knowing. Setsuna was a special case. Due to her pregnancy, instead of wearing a soldier's uniform, Pluto wore a beautiful garnet red dress fit for a princess. The bodies of Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn senshi lay on the footsteps of the church. The new queen raced down the steps to them, tears filling those bright eyes.

"Uranus! Neptune! Saturn!"

The three senshi smiled but were unable to open their eyes.

The voice of Uranus, the voice of the wind.

"Princess, forgive us..."

The voice of Saturn, the voice of silence.

"We could not tell you..."

The voice of Neptune, the voice of the sea.

"This is our destiny..."

With that the three senshi took their last breaths. Tears spilled from Neo Queen Serenity's eyes. Her voice was filled with pain.

"I will not allow you to die..."

With that the young queen raised her hand, the staff of the moon appearing in her hand. The crescent moon atop the staff glowed bright, giving life to the senshi. Neptune's eyes were the first to open. She sat up. Then Uranus and then Saturn awoke. They looked around. They looked to Neo Queen Serenity. Uranus smiled and tried to untransform. At that moment, the three senshi looked at one another. They each had tried the same thing but were unable. Saturn looked down for a moment, then looked up.

"I understand now... We were to die and be reborn as senshi only... We are unable to untransform... We are pure senshi..."

Uranus and Neptune nodded, smiling. As long as the three of them were still a family, they were happy. As long as they could continue protecting their princess, they were happy. The three of them stood, then knelt before Neo Queen Serenity. Uranus smiled up at her.

"We are at your call, princess... No... Neo Queen Serenity..."

Neptune smiled and lifted her head to look up at her queen.

"We await your command, your majesty."

Saturn's lavendar eyes looked up at Serenity, a bright smile on her lips.

"We are here to continue protecting you."

Neo Queen Serenity smiled down at her friends, thankful they were alive.

"I only want the three of you to continue to live together, love each other, and be with me."

The three senshi bowed their heads, thanking the queen for their orders. They stood and smiled at one another. Saturn walked over and hugged her parents. They held her close and smiled at their queen. A new world was born. The land of Crystal Tokyo is in harmony, ruled by the benevolent Neo Queen Serenity. It is protected by the sailor soldiers.

Pluto gave birth to a baby girl. Her name is Garnet. She is almost three already. Neo Queen Serenity gave birth to the princess about three months after Pluto. She was named Tsukino Usagi. The outer senshi call her Small Lady, as they did when she visited the passed. The mission of Uranus, Neptune, and Saturn has changed. They now watch over the little princess while the inner senshi protect the queen.

How do I know all this? I was there... I am one of those legendary soldiers. I am Sailor Neptune...

THE END