Soul Mates
by Lady

EPILOGUE
The First of Celebrations: A Return to Happier Times

Usagi awoke with a start, her hand grasping the crystal pendant that hung about her neck. Clutching it in her palm, she looked around the room, fully expecting to see the phantom that continued to haunt her dreams. She found nothing out of place in the quiet room, except for the few pieces of furniture best suited for a teenage girl. Slumping back on the pillow, she sighed, swallowing the fear that remained as vestiges of her nightmare lingered in her mind.

A drop of perspiration trickled down her temple and she put up a hand to wipe it off. Suddenly feeling stifled in the heat of the room; she got up and opened a window, enjoying the feel of the clean, fresh air as it wafted on her face. Over the horizon, the first rays of the rising sun were starting to become visible, giving the promise of another warm day. She smiled as she watched the sky lighten; only turning away when the phone started to ring.

"Hello?"

"Today's the day! Aren't you excited?" a cheery voice said from the other end.

"Oh, it's you, Rei." Usagi sat down and rested her head on the wall.

"Is something wrong, Usagi-chan?" her old friend asked when she heard her tone. "You sound...odd."

That was just like Rei lately, very perceptive. "I'm fine," she reassured her. "I just had another dream."

"Oh, Usagi, not that nightmare again," was the exasperated reply. "It happened several months ago. You should start letting it go."

"I did let it go, Rei," she answered, but wondered if it was true. "It's only when I'm excited or depressed that it suddenly recurs again. I guess it has something to do with my emotions."

"And of course you're getting the jitters today," the other woman said, sounding excited again. "Hey, that's normal. It's not everyday you get to marry one of the most gorgeous men in the world!"

Usagi couldn't help but laugh at her friend's outrageous comment. It was just this kind of attitude that had helped her put behind the events that happened six months ago, and the picture of the man who managed to put all their lives in turmoil.

"Seriously, Usagi-chan, you should try to put it all behind you. Morgon is long gone, and Galen—Galen wouldn't like you feeling guilty about anything."

"Thank you, Rei. I think I needed to hear that."

"Well, you've heard it. Now get off that bed and start getting ready. You don't want to be late for your own wedding!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

Usagi gave the phone a mock salute and was still laughing when she put the handle down. She almost missed the soft knock that sounded at her door.

"Usagi? Are you awake?" she heard her mother say. She had opted to stay in their house for the last month, giving her mother the chance to enjoy helping her prepare for the wedding.

"Come in, Mama."

The older woman was smiling when she entered the room. She found Usagi wide-awake and still sitting on the bed. "So you couldn't sleep as well. I know it's very early, but would you like to have some breakfast before getting ready?"

"Sure thing. You know I could always eat anytime."

Her mother's smile widened. "That's something that hasn't changed, at least. Freshen up and come to the kitchen. Kyle's already eating his breakfast."

"Really? What about Mom and Dad?" she asked, referring to her surrogate parents, Professor Stanton and his wife Michelle. They were in Japan to attend the special occasion and were talked into staying with them by her parents.

"They're not up yet," Ikuko answered as she closed the door on her way out.

Usagi sat on the bed for another moment, thinking how much her life had changed in the past year. She was glad the hard times were finally over and that things were definitely changing for the better. She smiled as she got up, knowing that her life was about to take another giant leap.

* * * * *

The church was packed to the fullest and the crowd murmured among themselves as the time to begin came ever nearer. The nervous groom stood at the altar, pulling at his shirt collar to relieve some of the heat that permeated the enclosed space. A hand settled on his arm and he turned to find Justin standing beside him. As Mamoru's best man, it was his job to support the groom, but he, too, was anxiously awaiting the start of the ceremony. Together they looked towards the back door as the first few strains of a soft tune was struck by the pianist.

The women wore black at the wedding--long elegant gowns with smoky gray accents designed to fit each lady's individual style. Silver jewelry hung upon their slim necks and wrists, and sparkled from every delicate earlobe. The men beside them also wore black, their white shirts gleaming in stark contrast. Smoky gray bow ties and matching cummerbunds mirrored the colors of their partners, making each couple a perfect blend.
The first one down the aisle was Rei holding on to the crook of Kyle's elbow. He was thrown in as her partner when Justin was chosen as best man, and the other man had not been too happy to note that Usagi's 'brother' was way more attractive than he was led to believe. Following them were Nathan and Makoto, looking at each other like they were the ones being wed. Ami and Zach came up next, with Kenjo and Minako right behind them. Drake and Hotaru, Ashe and Michiru, and Logan and Setsuna brought up the rear before Haruka finally started her own march. She was Usagi's maid of honor and looked very serene as she walked down the aisle just before the bride herself.

In a room nearby, Usagi sat in her wedding dress, looking at her reflection in the mirror. She took a calming breath when she heard the knock at her door and got up from her relaxed position.

"Usagi, it's almost time. Are you ready?" a deep, male voice called through the door.

"I'm coming!" She took one last look at herself in the mirror before grabbing the bouquet that was on the dresser. She was out of the room in the next moment and facing the man who was waiting for her. "I'm ready."

He looked down at her with a smile, noting the brightness of her eyes. She was obviously very happy and he was glad that everything turned out wonderfully for her. He wouldn't have been satisfied if her happiness wasn't complete.

Usagi took note of his smile and knew she had chosen correctly. Nobody else had more right to give her away at her wedding than the man who was standing before her. He was the only one she had ever belonged to, and the one who cared for her the most. Even now she could see his love shining out from his emerald eyes...

 

She sat on the ground, exhausted, and didn't bother trying to move. Time didn't seem to matter much as she closed her eyes and tried to keep her mind on nothing. The inconsolable grief, which suffused her body earlier, was still very much in the background, but she knew that if she let it take over, she was going to have a breakdown.

A pair of strong arms enclosed her from behind, and she leaned back against Mamoru, finally accepting the support he so wanted to give her. She had hoped that the feel of his warmth around her would ease the ache of losing Galen, but nothing seemed to be able to accomplish that feat. The 'shiro-kage' general had been so much a part of her life, his essence imbedded in her soul, that to rip it out now meant leaving a gaping hole. She felt so empty inside, so incomplete, and she didn't know how to cope with it.

Mamoru sensed her emotional struggle, but he didn't know how to ease it. There was nothing he could say that would make everything better, so he just held her closer and gave her what comfort he could. Behind them, the others watched silently, trying to deal with their own losses, and hoping against hope that things could be undone.

Usagi finally got up, knowing she eventually had to do so. With numb legs and weary body, she took the first step that would bring her closer to the man she had first loved. He lay unmoving in Haruka's embrace, seemingly in sleep, his features arranged in gentle lines. Her eyes were drawn to his solemn face, still handsome even in death, and she couldn't wait to see his smile again. Knowing that she will never be able to do so brought fresh tears to her eyes and she dropped on her knees beside him.

"Galen..." she whispered, stretching her arm to touch his face. He still felt warm to her touch, and she had to tamp down the hope that he could still be alive. There was no use in longing for something that could never be. Not when it was too late.

Haruka watched Usagi's face crumple in tears from behind Galen's form. Knowing how much pain the other woman must be feeling, she reached out and clasped her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.

Usagi looked up when she felt Haruka's touch and saw her old friend's sympathetic gaze. She grasped the hand that held hers tightly and whispered the words that needed to be said. "I'm sorry, Haruka-san," she told the other woman earnestly. "I didn't realize what would happen. I didn't know—"

"Stop, Usagi, it isn't your fault." Haruka interrupted. "It was Galen's choice. He did what he wanted to do--what he needed to do. Nothing you could have said or done would have changed his mind."

"But—"

"Shh. It's over now. There's no use discussing it anymore." She paused to brush the hair away from Galen's face, holding a hand to his cheek for a moment and savoring the warmth that remained. "I know it hurts," she finally continued, looking at Usagi through the blur of tears, "I know it's difficult to accept, but we have no other alternative. Life goes on, even if we don't want it to."

"Haruka..." Usagi saw the torment on the other woman's face, but didn't know the words that would ease her friend's burden. So she took the hand of the man who had sacrificed his life for her, and, together, they grieved for the loved one they had lost. All was quiet in the cave as the others bowed their heads and showed their respect for the man who had given his all to save them.

Haruka had her arms around him, her head touching his as it rested on her shoulder. The tears flowed freely from beneath her closed eyelids, trickling down her cheek to land softly on Galen's left shoulder. She was no longer aware of Usagi kneeling in front of her, nor of the others hovering nearby. All her thoughts were focused on the man in her arms as she tried to say a final goodbye to him. When the words wouldn't come, she just held him a lot closer, and suddenly felt a heartbeat that wasn't supposed to be there.

Usagi saw Haruka give a start and wondered what had spooked the older senshi. She was looking at Galen like she had seen a ghost, and the younger woman couldn't see any reason for her reaction.

"Haruka-san, is something wrong?"

Haruka looked at her, her expression still startled, and finally shook her head slightly. "It's probably just my imagination, Usagi. Don't worry about it."

"Don't worry about wha—oh!" She dropped the hand she was holding when it suddenly contracted in her palm. With big, startled eyes, she watched as it moved on the ground, contracting into a loose fist before straightening once again. She covered her mouth to stop herself from blubbering and looked at Haruka with renewed hope shining in her eyes.

The other woman also couldn’t believe what was happening and met Usagi’s gaze across Galen’s form. "I thought I felt a heartbeat, but I knew it couldn’t be," Haruka told her in wonder, the grief on her face slowly turning to joy. "It’s so faint, Usagi, but I can still feel it!"

Usagi couldn't say a coherent word since she was laughing and crying at the same time. The other senshi and generals gathered around them as the news of Galen's recovery filtered though the group.

Hotaru knelt beside Haruka and touched the other woman's shoulder. "Let me see what I can do for him before he wakes up completely." She gently pulled Galen from Haruka's arms and, together, they laid him carefully on the ground. His back was still a hideous sight, the skin charred in most places, but the profuse bleeding had obviously stopped some time before. Hotaru called upon her healing powers as she let her hands hover over the numerous injuries.

Galen groaned after a few moments, his hands clenched again as they lay on the ground. His face slowly gained back some of its color and the gray hue that tinged his skin completely disappeared. Everyone
breathed a sigh of relief as his eyelashes fluttered against his cheek, and the emerald eyes they knew so well finally appeared from beneath his lids. They were dull and full of pain, but still very much aware of his surroundings.

"Galen, can you hear me?" Haruka said from somewhere nearby. The words sounded too soft to the man on the ground, but he understood them nonetheless.

"Haruka?" he said, blinking a few times to clear his vision.

"I'm right here." She reached out and grasped his hand gently, bending down so he can see her.

"Morgon, is he--?"

"He's dead."

"And Usagi?" he continued, worry overlaying his words.

"I'm right here, Galen," Usagi answered before the other woman could do so, moving closer to his line of vision. Galen turned slightly to look at her more fully and noticed the tears falling down her cheeks. A quick glance behind her showed all his other friends wearing worried looks, and he turned to Haruka in puzzlement. She, too, looked like she had been crying.

"What's going on?" he asked of the group in general. "Why all the long faces?"

"You really don't know?" Haruka wondered.

"Know what?" he repeated, confused.

"You died, Galen," she finally told him, "or at least we thought you were dead. I couldn't feel your heartbeat even though I was holding you close."

He could hardly believe what he was hearing. "Is that true?" he asked of Ashe.

His best friend nodded and he had to believe him. Ashe's face was totally serious, so unlike his usual demeanor.

"I don't remember anything after transferring my energy to the crystal," Galen explained, trying to make sense of what had happened. "I thought I must have blacked out, because the next thing I recall is feeling heat moving around my back. After that, I opened my eyes and here we are."

"I don't understand it either," was Setsuna's quick rejoinder. "I thought there could only be one outcome to your giving your life force to the crystal in your condition."

"Maybe Falcon was much stronger than all of us thought," Mercury surmised, earning everyone's attention as they waited for her to continue. "He could have given most of his energy to the crystal, but retained enough to remain alive. The amount left must have been too small to maintain all his body functions for the first few moments, but built up quickly because his body was at rest."

"But his heart wasn't beating," Usagi insisted.

"His heartbeat could have been so faint, it couldn't be detected without a heart monitor," Ami reasoned out. "It doesn't really mean it isn't beating just because you can't feel it."

"Then he was alive all along?"

Ami looked at the older senshi who had spoken the question. "That seems to be the case, Haruka. I'm sorry I wasn't thinking clearly enough earlier to realize it was possible."

"Don't be sorry, Ami-chan," she replied with a watery smile. "I'm not. I'm just happy he's okay." She looked down at Galen with a tender smile, before raising her head at Hotaru's touch. The younger senshi nodded her head and Haruka moved out of the way then as both Ashe and Logan came forward to help their leader to a sitting position.

When he was facing them once again, a slight smile lifted the corners of Galen's lips. "I guess I just can't die so easily," he told the group lightly. "There are still so many things I haven't done yet." He gave Haruka a meaningful glance and slowly raised the hand that he was holding. As his lips lightly touched the soft skin of her
knuckles, their eyes met across the short distance and a look of absolute tenderness passed between them. So lost were they in the private moment that Usagi's next question gave them a little start.

"Why did you do it, Galen?" the young woman demanded, her brow creased in part worry, part anger. She was suddenly furious at the knight for risking his life, now that she knew he was going to be alright. "Why did you almost kill yourself trying to save me?"

The shiro-kage general was a bit surprised at the question, but didn't think twice before saying, "Do you really have to ask, Usagi?" He looked her in the eye and she saw his answer shining out of his own--all the love he had always had for his little princess.

"You fool," she cried tearfully, lunging forward to be enfolded in his arms. "I don't want you to die."

Galen held her close and ran a hand down her back in a soothing motion. "I'm not keen on dying myself, Usagi," he started jokingly, but quickly turned serious, "but if it's the only way to save you, then I will do it. You know I've always protected you from any harm. I guess I always will. It's not something I can stop myself
from doing. Do you understand?"

He felt Usagi nod her head against his chest, before she moved away from him slightly. "Just try not to do it so dramatically next time, okay?" she pleaded. "I don't think my heart can take it."

"I'll try my best," he answered solemnly, then broke into the smile she had been longing to see--the smile she thought she would never see again.

 

That same smile was once more leveled on her as Galen took her hand and placed it on the crook of his arm. Together, they moved towards the open doors, which led to the room where all their friends and family were waiting. As they stood at the entrance for a moment, waiting for the music to begin, a sea of familiar faces looked back at them, but a certain few stood out from the rest.

Usagi's parents were seated near the front on the left side, her father smiling proudly while her mother cried tears of joy. Right beside them was her brother, Shingo, who was presently giving her a thumbs up sign. On the pew behind them was her other set of parents, William and Michelle Stanton, who were looking very happy to be in her wedding. They had been quite surprised to hear from her after so many months, and more than a little shocked to learn that she was getting married.

Sitting towards the back of the church was Naru, her best friend in junior high school. She was now working as a flight attendant and had come home several months ago when she had a couple of weeks off. Needless to say, she'd heard that her old friend was back in Japan and they had a long, tearful reunion. Afterwards, Usagi had given her a tour of the Silver Millennium and had blithely introduced her to all her new friends. Everything had been going great until Naru came face to face with Nathan, who to her had looked exactly like her Nephrite. The expression on her face then had been totally indescribable, and Usagi smiled slightly as she recalled it now. Strange, it didn't seem funny at all when it was happening.

The sound of the wedding march forced her thoughts back to the present and she took a quick deep breath before hearing her cue. Usagi's smile was bright as she took the first step towards the altar, and all her
attention was focused on the man standing at the end. Waiting for her there was Mamoru with a smile of his own, all nervousness gone as he watched her walking down the aisle.

When Galen finally placed her hand in his, the two men paused to look at each other eye to eye. In that moment, a new understanding was formed between them and the bond they shared was doubly strengthened.
Usagi watched as they nodded at each other, the two most important men in her life, and she knew that no woman could ask for anything more. She had all the love she needed right here in this tightly knit circle.

The priest smiled fondly at the young couple when they finally turned around to face him. Hand in hand, they listened to his voice as he spoke the words that would bond them together forever.

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join this man and this woman in holy matrimony..."

The ceremony that followed was both solemn and special, not only to the two people being married, but to their closest friends as well. As they said the vows that would join their lives together, the promises they spoke were also echoed in the hearts of the other eight couples. Each pair looked forward to their own wedding ceremony, and the day when they would finally be together and never have to part.

When all the words were spoken and the priest declared them man and wife, Mamoru turned to Usagi and gently lifted the veil over her head. The face he revealed under the cloth was radiant with joy, the eyes that looked up at him brilliant with tears of happiness. He lifted a hand to gently cup her face, wiping at a stray tear that rolled down her cheek, before bending his head to seal their promise with a kiss.

As Usagi felt his warm lips moving gently upon her own, she finally let herself believe that this was no dream, but wonderful reality. She was well and truly married to her Mamo-chan, and she need never be apart from him again. She lifted both arms and placed them about his neck, savoring the knowledge that he was now her husband. Mamoru reacted by deepening the kiss and putting an arm about her waist to hold her a lot closer.

Moments of silence passed before the first clap was heard, quickly followed by a number of others. Soon the church was thundering with the sound, along with a few whistles and catcalls from the guys in front.

The couple broke apart hesitantly and looked around in confusion for a moment. At the sight of all the people, they quickly realized where they were and both blushed a becoming red. With a sheepish smile to his new wife, Mamoru offered his arm to Usagi and they started to walk towards the back door.

The reception was held at the Silver Millennium Restaurant and the menu, personally prepared by Nathan and Makoto, was a food connoisseur’s dream. The decorations were done by Usagi the day before, and the others worked together to put on the finishing touches. The restaurant looked more like a ballroom when they were done and everyone who attended appreciated their efforts.

Mamoru sat on the main table, watching Usagi dance the first two dances with each of her fathers. As the music glided to an end, he stood up and walked to her side, offered a hand and led her to the middle of the dance floor. The band in the corner struck a mellow tune and the couple swayed slightly to the music. They were looking into each other’s eyes and were not aware of anyone else except the partner in their arms.

After a minute had passed, the other couples joined them one by one, until all of their friends were also on the dance floor. No one else thought of following their lead, but watched, mesmerized, as the nine elegant pairs moved about the ballroom. It wasn’t so much the women’s beauty nor the men’s good looks that caught everyone’s attention, but the fact that they were looking at each other with so much love and were totally oblivious to anyone else. The people watching couldn’t help but envy the closeness between them.

Soon the music ended, and the cutting of the cake was done with as much flair as possible. More music followed after the meal, but none of the main group participated very much. The women were helping Usagi hostess, while the men gathered in a corner and were discussing something important.

"Okay, men," Justin was heard to say, "are we going with the bouquet or the garter?"

The others didn’t seem to find this question odd and talked among themselves to see if they could come to an agreement. After a few minutes, Mamoru walked up to them and asked, "Well?"

"We’re going with the bouquet," Ashe replied and the others nodded their confirmation.

"Good choice. Do the women know yet?"

"No, but I’ll go tell them," Nathan volunteered.

Ten minutes later, everyone’s attention was focused on Usagi as Mamoru gently removed the garter from her leg. He smiled at the group of men gathered on one side, before turning his back and throwing the item. None of his closest buddies made an effort to catch the garter, but it hit Logan’s shoulder and he caught it as it fell. The rest of the group offered him wide grins as they clapped him on the shoulder in congratulation.

The next event was the one they were all waiting for. The men were more anxious than the women were, as they watched the ladies gather on one side of the dance floor. Assessing the group to see where her friends were, Usagi turned around and found the guys following her every move. She smiled at them and held on to the bouquet a moment longer, watching them shift impatiently as they waited for her to act.

What a way to decide who was getting married next, Usagi thought as she prepared to throw the bouquet. She couldn’t believe that Galen and Nathan, and even Zach, agreed to Justin’s scheme. So whoever catches the bouquet gets married next, wasn’t that their plan? She wondered what they would do if someone else caught it.

Usagi took a deep breath, held the bouquet a little tighter, and then tossed it with all her might over her right shoulder. She knew that that was where all her friends were gathered, and she watched the men follow it closely with their eyes. Moments later, a delighted scream was heard from behind her, followed by a loud whoop by one of the men in front.

Usagi smiled as she realized who had caught the bouquet, but she knew that it didn’t really matter. Somewhere, some way, somehow, all her friends were going to come together, and nothing in this world would be able stop them. Nothing out of this world could do it either, for that matter, she thought with a laugh.

There were a lot more adventures ahead of them, and, unfortunately, a lot more battles. She didn’t believe for a moment that the Dark Kingdom was finished with them. They will surely be back to try to invade the universe again, and if not them, then some other evil force will be there to replace them. Usagi wasn’t really worried. She knew that all her friends would stand by her side to fight them off. Nothing was going to defeat their small, but valiant, group.

A moment later, she shook her head to clear it, wondering what she could be thinking. Whatever was going to happen will happen, and no amount of contemplating was going to change it. The future, with all its problems and rewards, was best left in the hands of fate. There was only today to worry about, and for this moment, this hour, this day, she was content.

 

The End