Okay, Rob showed me a snippet he posted here, and my mind sort of sat up and said, "it's about time you used this for something more than compost" (Yeah, that happens, and I also lose more arguments than I win, which on reflection is sort of worrying...
Anyway, after mulling it over for about half a second, I came up with this:
===
The door opened, letting in light and the sound of garish music. As the door closed, the music cut sharply, the door's clang resounding like a axe-strike in the enclosed space.
Usagi walked through the middle of the space, noting images around her. Some tall, some small. A few were rounder than usual, while others made her look wavy. The hall of mirrors. Exactly where she needed to be.
She walked into the middle of the house. The dim lights illuminated her only faintly. Behind her, she could sense Chibi-Usa and Mamoru in the scaffolding above. They didn't know what she was about to do next, but she could sense their confidence, and trust, like a wave of warmth over her.
"I'm stuck," she called out to the hall. "I need help. From all of you."
As the others watched, she began to chant:
"Looking back to long ago,
"I seek the one from whom I grow
"Calling her who became me,
"Serenity! Serenity! Serenity!"
With the last word, she wasn't alone. With a flare of light, she was surrounded by Usagi's. But not all the same one.
One wore the silver and pearl dress she remembered herself wearing a few times. She stood with a white-clad version of Mamoru, and they watched her intently. Others stood around her, clad in a variety of outfits. Some were taller, some smaller. One wore the full regalia of Sailor Moon Eternal, all the way to the tricolor banding on her skirt, usually the sign of a goddess or other supernatural being. Usagi spared a moment to envy the extra leg inches that version of her enjoyed.
"I'm stuck, and I can't figure out a way out." She looked at all the others. "In the past, our solution was always the Great Reset. But I don't want to do that again. My friends and I lose so much every time we start over. There has to be a way to save our friends and not reset the universe!"
Sailor Moon Eternal smiled sadly. "There's always a way. I figured it out in my reality. Here's the kicker though. You are the linchpin. The fulcrum this particular see-saw rests upon. The only real answer I think we have for you is this: What price are you willing to pay to guarantee everyone else their happy ending?"
Usagi swallowed hard. "I worked out a plan earlier," she admitted quietly. "But the cost..." She looked up. "Was it worth it?"
Sailor Moon Eternal looked up as a young man stepped up behind her. Mamoru, dressed as a nobleman, glowing with golden light from a scepter he carried. a scepter with a glowing golden crystal Usagi had never seen. "yes," Eternal Usagi said with a smile. "It was touch and go a few times, but it was worth it."
Usagi blinked, and pointed, "What is that?"
Eternal Usagi grinned mysteriously. "You'll have to figure that out yourself. Who knows? Maybe it'll open another door?"
Usagi's began to disappear, one by one, until finally, Eternal Usagi was the last one left. "Good luck, little one."
With that, Usagi was alone in the hall again. No, not alone, as Chibi-Usa and Mamoru walked up behind her, eyes full of questions.
Usagi took a deep breath and spun around. Pointing a finger at Mamoru, her eyes narrowed. "Are you holding out on me mister?"
"No. Wait... I don't..." Mamoru stammered and backpedaled as Chibi-Usa giggled from the side.
Anyway, after mulling it over for about half a second, I came up with this:
===
The door opened, letting in light and the sound of garish music. As the door closed, the music cut sharply, the door's clang resounding like a axe-strike in the enclosed space.
Usagi walked through the middle of the space, noting images around her. Some tall, some small. A few were rounder than usual, while others made her look wavy. The hall of mirrors. Exactly where she needed to be.
She walked into the middle of the house. The dim lights illuminated her only faintly. Behind her, she could sense Chibi-Usa and Mamoru in the scaffolding above. They didn't know what she was about to do next, but she could sense their confidence, and trust, like a wave of warmth over her.
"I'm stuck," she called out to the hall. "I need help. From all of you."
As the others watched, she began to chant:
"Looking back to long ago,
"I seek the one from whom I grow
"Calling her who became me,
"Serenity! Serenity! Serenity!"
With the last word, she wasn't alone. With a flare of light, she was surrounded by Usagi's. But not all the same one.
One wore the silver and pearl dress she remembered herself wearing a few times. She stood with a white-clad version of Mamoru, and they watched her intently. Others stood around her, clad in a variety of outfits. Some were taller, some smaller. One wore the full regalia of Sailor Moon Eternal, all the way to the tricolor banding on her skirt, usually the sign of a goddess or other supernatural being. Usagi spared a moment to envy the extra leg inches that version of her enjoyed.
"I'm stuck, and I can't figure out a way out." She looked at all the others. "In the past, our solution was always the Great Reset. But I don't want to do that again. My friends and I lose so much every time we start over. There has to be a way to save our friends and not reset the universe!"
Sailor Moon Eternal smiled sadly. "There's always a way. I figured it out in my reality. Here's the kicker though. You are the linchpin. The fulcrum this particular see-saw rests upon. The only real answer I think we have for you is this: What price are you willing to pay to guarantee everyone else their happy ending?"
Usagi swallowed hard. "I worked out a plan earlier," she admitted quietly. "But the cost..." She looked up. "Was it worth it?"
Sailor Moon Eternal looked up as a young man stepped up behind her. Mamoru, dressed as a nobleman, glowing with golden light from a scepter he carried. a scepter with a glowing golden crystal Usagi had never seen. "yes," Eternal Usagi said with a smile. "It was touch and go a few times, but it was worth it."
Usagi blinked, and pointed, "What is that?"
Eternal Usagi grinned mysteriously. "You'll have to figure that out yourself. Who knows? Maybe it'll open another door?"
Usagi's began to disappear, one by one, until finally, Eternal Usagi was the last one left. "Good luck, little one."
With that, Usagi was alone in the hall again. No, not alone, as Chibi-Usa and Mamoru walked up behind her, eyes full of questions.
Usagi took a deep breath and spun around. Pointing a finger at Mamoru, her eyes narrowed. "Are you holding out on me mister?"
"No. Wait... I don't..." Mamoru stammered and backpedaled as Chibi-Usa giggled from the side.