Soul Mates: An alternate ending Hello, I was bored one day, and I had been reading Lady's 'Soul Mates.' I got thinking of an alternate ending on how Mamoru and Usagi could get back together, plus it explains how they first met. So this is the result. This story only makes sense if you've read Lady's 'Soul Mates,' and assumes that all the couples have gotten together except for Mamoru and Usagi, and that Usagi has already rejected Mamoru's advancements. Enjoy! Black Lady P.s. All standard disclaimers apply. "I don't know what to do about Mamoru." Usagi sighed to Galen. "I see him in the building wherever I go, and I feel bad for giving him the cold shoulder, but I really don't want to see him now." "I could transfer him to another section of the building if you'd like." Galen offered. "Maybe, but I just feel so trapped." Usagi sighed again. "I still love him, I never stopped loving him, but..." she trailed off. "Then why are you afraid of going near him?" Galen asked gently. "I don't know if I can trust him with my heart again." She whispered. "I gave him my heart once, I would've done anything for him, but he threw it back in my face when he didn't stand up for me that day." She looked so distraught that Galen went over to give her a hug. They were like that when Ashe, Logan and Drake walked into the room. Galen looked up to find them looking at them. He mouthed the name 'Mamoru' to them; they nodded their heads understanding and went to the corner of the room to sit down. Usagi pulled away from the hug, drying up her tears. "I'd better go and let you guys start on your meeting." She stood up and walked out of the room. Before she left she turned around to Galen. "Thanks for listening to my problems." "No problem." Galen smiled. Usagi left the room and Galen turned his attention to his friends. "Playing the role of psychiatrist again?" Drake smiled, his eyebrow arched. "She's a little upset over the whole Mamoru thing." Galen answered. "Do you think they'll ever get back together again?" Ashe asked. "I mean, I don't think they've even had a conversation that's lasted longer than ten minutes." "I hope everything works out for them." Galen said, a small crease of worry on his brow. Usagi was in her room that night; she was sitting by her window looking at the full moon. She smiled sadly as she remembered fond memories of the Moon Kingdom. Luna was beside her, she turned her head towards Usagi and noticed the sadness in her eyes. She saw the torment that Usagi was in. "Do you want to talk about it?" She asked gently. Usagi turned around, her eyes full of sorrow. "Luna, I don't know what to do. I can't stop thinking of Mamoru, I see him wherever I go but I just can't face him." Luna heard the sadness in her voice. she thought. "Why can't you let yourself trust your heart with Mamoru again?" "I want to Luna, I want so much to be with him again. I want to forgive him and everything. But no matter how hard I try, I can't see past what he did to me." A tear slid down her cheek. "And I know that's unfair because I know he still loves me and he's changed, but I just can't forget what he did." More tears fell down her cheek. Luna went over to Usagi and was at a loss for words. She wanted so much to comfort and console her, but she couldn't. She thought sadly. There was a meeting in the conference room involving every one except for Mamoru and Usagi. "Who called the meeting?" Rei asked. She held Justin's hand in worry. "All I heard that it was important involving Usagi." "We called the meeting." Came a voice from the floor. Luna and Artemis jumped onto the desk to meet the gaze of all sixteen people. "We need to get Usagi and Mamoru back together." Artemis announced. "I don't mean to sound rude Artemis," Minako said. "But you called an urgent meeting to play matchmaker?" "It's more than that Minako," Luna explained. "Usagi will need the full power of the crystal to defeat Morgon. But she can't use the full power in the condition that she's in." "I get it; get them back together, Usagi's back to her happy little self and she can destroy Morgon." Makoto said understanding. "But how do we get them back together? It's more complicated then sending her flowers in his name. Whatever we do, it has to help them get past what happened." Michiru said "And they may get mad if we interfere with their affairs." "Good point." Ashe said thoughtfully. "If we do set them up, it has to be subtle." "Whatever you guys do, just hurry. Morgon's powers grow stronger as each day passes." Luna said. Everyone nodded their head and left the room. Two weeks later, Usagi was in her office working on a new office design, when she heard a knock on the door. "Come in." She called. Hotaru and Setsuna entered. Usagi wasn't surprised. For the past two weeks she had gotten visits from all her friends. She knew that all the Senshi wanted Mamoru and her back together. She was deeply moved by the Senshi's concern. But Usagi suppressed a sigh. The Senshi knew that she still loved Mamoru and wanted to get back together, but they were saying the wrong words to her. "Remember what is it that you love about him." Ami had said, when she had come with Zachary. "The two of you were destined for each other." Minako had said softly. "Your love for each other has survived a thousand years through death and reincarnation. Don't let it fail now." Makoto had said. "Why are you being so stubborn?" Rei had exploded when she had visited. Usagi already knew what it was that she loved about Mamoru, and she knew that her love for him would last for another lifetime. But she wanted assurance that she could trust him with her heart again. And her friends had failed to see that she wanted help in getting past what happened four years ago. Hotaru and Setsuna walked to her desk. "May we talk to you?" Setsuna asked. "Of course, please have a seat." She said with a smile. "What can I do for you?" "We know that everyone else has talked to you. They've told you to remember your love for Mamoru and to cherish it." Hotaru said carefully. "We want you to remember something too, but it's something else." Usagi didn't say anything, but listened. "We know that you want to get past what happened but you can't." Setsuna continued. Usagi felt a sense of hope. "We want you to think of the times Mamoru was there for you. Not as Tuxedo Mask saving Sailor Moon, but as himself, helping you." Setsuna said in her calm, sage voice. Usagi felt the hope vanish. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply; when she opened them Setsuna and Hotaru saw pain and sadness in her eyes. "I'm sorry, but when has that ever happened?" Her voice was low and soft. "I have helped him numerous times as both Sailor Moon and Usagi," she said recalling the times she brought back his memories. "But he has never helped me as Mamoru. I can only recall Tuxedo Mask helping me." Her voice got softer and sadder. A tear formed and fell from her eye. Usagi wiped the tear and continued. "I appreciate the Senshi's help and advice, but I fear that it won't work. I've never stopped loving Mamoru, but I can't get past what happened." Hotaru turned to Setsuna, she was at a loss of words. But Setsuna knew what to say. "Usagi, I know you feel betrayed and hurt right now, but if you want to get over the pain, you must remember the times Mamoru helped you. That's all we can say or do." Her voice was calm and patient. She stood up to leave. "We'll be leaving now." The two left the room, leaving Usagi alone. Logan and Drake were waiting outside the office when Setsuna and Hotaru left. "How did it go?" Logan asked. "We've told Usagi what she should do," Setsuna said. "But I believe that she'll need help in doing it." "How can we help?" Drake asked. "Call everyone to a meeting." Hotaru said. "We'll need everyone to help Usagi." "Setsuna, Hotaru, what's your idea?" Haruka asked. "I hope it's something good because everyone else has failed miserably in their attempts." "One of the reasons Usagi fell in love with Mamoru in the Moon Kingdom was because of how they got together." Hotaru said in a soft voice. "You want us to reenact when they first met?" Galen asked. "Not quite. I want to make them remember how they first met." "Don't they remember that?" Nathan asked confused. Makoto thought for bit and frowned. She touched his arm. "Actually, I don't remember how they first met. Does anyone else remember?" Makoto asked with her brow creased. Everyone thought for a moment and to their surprise everyone shook their head. "Setsuna, why is that no one remembers when Mamoru and Usagi first met?" Ami asked. "Wouldn't the memory of their first time meeting be something they or we wouldn't forget?" "When Queen Serenity sent everyone to the future, she erased this memory from everyone. It's a very sad and painful memory for everyone." She answered softly. "I don't follow you." Haruka said. "Mamoru and Usagi meeting the first time is a sad and painful memory?" "Mamoru and Usagi getting together is the only good think that comes from the memory." Hotaru said sadly. Everyone was looking at her, not understanding what she was saying. "Does the name Damian sound familiar to anyone?" She asked. "That is so sad." Minako sniffed an hour after Setsuna and Hotaru had explained the memory. Everyone in the room had a look of sadness in their eyes. "Are you sure that this will work?" Galen asked. "It should." Setsuna answered. "We need the two of them together and then we'll use our powers to make them remember. Once the memory has been released, the crystal will use its powers to make it come alive. Everyone will be thrown into the past and we'll be watching everything." "Let's not waste anytime then. We'll do it tonight when the rest of the staff have left." Ashe said. He picked up the phone in the room. "Yuki, will you please tell Mamoru and Usagi to stay after work tonight?" Mamoru was walking to the rec. room after work to meet Galen and Ashe to talk about the new computer program when he saw Usagi enter the room. He thought to himself. Ever since he had seen her at the New Year's party she had avoided him. The many times when he approached her, she had been polite but very distant. But he occasionally caught her looking at him. When he did, he saw her eyes, and he saw the sadness in them. He thought. He entered the room to find everyone waiting for him. "Galen, Ashe, I thought you wanted to talk about the computer program." He said confused. He noticed that Usagi looked confused as well. "Usagi, Mamoru, please have a seat." Galen said cordially. "Galen, what is going on?" Usagi asked, her voice low and slightly nervous. "You said that it was urgent that I come to the meeting to talk about Morgon." Galen said nothing but signaled to the others. Suddenly, everyone transformed into their uniforms. "Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Mamoru asked. "We want the two of you to remember the first time you met." Setsuna answered. Everyone called the name of their powers and Usagi felt dizziness overcome her. She felt something break free in her mind. "Damian." She whispered. A tear fell from her eye and onto her crystal broach. It started to glow brighter and brighter. The entire room was soon flooded by light. Damian and Usagi were walking in the palace corridor to the throne room. Usagi was sixteen and Damian, her older brother was twenty-one. "I hear that the prince of earth, Mamoru, will be coming to the moon soon." Damian commented to Usagi. The two were very close; they told each other their deepest secrets, their hopes and fears, everything. There was a bond between them that they knew would last forever, no matter what. "Why couldn't the prince be a princess instead?" Usagi grumbled lightly. "Then you'd be the one that everyone would be pushing to become married." "Sorry," Damian laughed. He was a handsome prince, always with an impish grin that attracted women. His golden hair fell into his eyes, and he was forever brushing it out of his eyes. "But it looks as if all the pressure is on you." "Thank you for your sympathy." Usagi said wryly. "Anytime." Damian laughed again. The two arrived in the throne room. The Senshi, both Inner and Outer, and the Generals were there. By this time, the Outer Senshi and Generals had discovered that they were soul mates and were happily together with their loved ones. "Look at all the happy couples." Damian whispered to Usagi. "And there's more to come." Usagi gave him a questioning look. "I heard a rumor from the Prophet that the Inner Senshi and Prince Mamoru's Royal Guards are destined to be soul mates." His voice became melodramatic. "It looks as if we'll be outcasts, with not a loved one in sight." He wiped away a false tear. Usagi giggled, but stifled it as she had to follow protocol now. "You summoned us Mother?" She asked Queen Serenity. "Yes, my daughter." Serenity answered. "As you know, the prince of earth, Prince Mamoru will be arriving soon. I know that you feel the pressure of a union, but I hope that the prince and you will at least become good friends." "Yes Mother." Usagi said while bowing. A month later Prince Mamoru and his Royal Guards arrived. Unfortunately, Usagi was not there to greet them. Damian and her had been called away to the Kingdom of the Sun in an emergency. However, by the time that Usagi and Damian arrived, the Inner Senshi and Mamoru's Royal Guards were slowly falling in love. All the Senshi, Generals, Royal Guards and Prince Mamoru had by this time become good friends. "So what is the princess like?" Mamoru asked Galen one day. "She's a wonderful person. Everyone loves her." Galen answered. "Damian and her are very close." Mamoru thought to himself, a slight frown on his face. Galen read his face, and put his thoughts at ease. "Usagi has a very big heart; she loves everyone and would never stop loving anyone." Galen said to ease his worry. When Usagi and Damian arrived at the Moon Kingdom, Usagi didn't have a chance to meet either Mamoru or the Royal Guards. She had fallen ill from a sickness she had caught from the Sun Kingdom. While she was sick, Damian and Mamoru had become friends. By the time she had recovered, the prince and his guards had to return to earth. They would return next year, in hopes that Usagi and Mamoru would finally meet and become soul mates. A few months later, Prince Mamoru and his Royal Guards arrived. They were not due to arrive for another six months, but Queen Serenity had called them to the Moon Kingdom in an emergency. Everyone but Usagi knew that they had arrived. Serenity had requested that Usagi not find out about the day's event. "It's a sign Galen." Usagi joked on the day that Mamoru and his Royal Guards had arrived, to the general in the garden. "I mean, it must mean something if we can't even meet." "Don't worry about it Usagi." Galen said. "It's just a coincidence." Usagi smiled but she suddenly thought of something. "Have you seen Damian lately? He's been traveling a lot lately, and the last time I saw him was only several months ago. I really miss him." She continued walking, not noticing the facial expression on Galen. Galen's face grew darker as they continued walking. He knew how highly Usagi thought of her brother and how much she missed him. He had news of Damian, terrible news. He didn't know whether he should inform the princess of the news. He made a decision. "Damian is right now in the throne room, talking to your mother." He said quietly. "Then why haven't I seen him yet?" Usagi had an unexplainable feeling of dread in her stomach. "I wish I weren't the one to have to tell you this." His voice was serious, too serious. Usagi's face dropped. "What are you talking about Galen? Damian is all right isn't he?" She asked desperately. "It's worse than you think princess." Galen said softly. "He's joined the Negaverse." Usagi's eyes opened. The Negaverse was a growing force in the universe, it was constantly invading and destroying solar systems. Luckily, it had not thought of coming to the Silver Millennium, yet. "No, no." She said while shaking her head. "I have to see him right now." She stood up and ran to the throne room. Galen stood up and ran after her. He thought. In the throne room, Damian stood facing his mother. The Senshi, three Generals, the Royal Guards, and Prince Mamoru were in the room as well. They had all decided to confront him in his decision in joining the Negaverse. So far everyone had tried to persuade him that the Negaverse was pure evil but Damian would not listen. "Mother, the Negaverse is about power." Damian said, his voice cool. "If a few planets must be destroyed to achieve it, then so be it." "You were not raised with such principles." Serenity said in a low voice that was threatening to break. The debate continued. Everyone tried to reasoned with Damian, some even pleaded. But it was no use; Damian's mind was set. Finally, Queen Serenity had no choice. "If you continue to ally yourself with the Negaverse, you will no longer be heir to the Moon Kingdom." Serenity declared after a silence. "And you will be exiled." Everyone was silent, waiting for Damian's answer. Damian thought rapidly while his face and demeanor were calm. Damian looked around the room, everyone was waiting breathlessly for his answer. Damian's faced his mother, his composure poised and placid. "Then so be it." He started to leave the room. Everyone was in shock. No one could believe what Damian was doing and how he could do it so calmly. As he reached the middle of the room, he stopped. Usagi was there, she had heard everything and there were tears on her face. "Damian, you're leaving?" Her voice was full of pain, and tears were falling freely. "I no longer belong here." Damian said, his voice indifferent. "Good bye Princess." Although his face showed no expression, he hated himself for making Usagi cry. Usagi was shocked, in her entire life Damian had never been so distant to her. "But Damian, you know what the Negaverse stands for." She protested softly while crying. "Is that what you really want to do?" She looked into his eyes. Damian looked into her eyes and gave her his answer. "Yes." He started to leave the room again. Usagi was shocked even more. She saw her brother, her friend leaving the room. She knew she had to say something, anything. "No," She ran in front of him trying to block him. "No. It can't end this way, it can't." Damian and everyone else looked at her. "Damian, I can't take away your power or title; the only thing I have is my love. Out of everyone here, I love you the most. You and I both know that. You're my brother, and I would do anything for you. If you leave, then don't ever come back. Don't come near me, or write to me, because I'll just ignore you." Usagi was crying fiercely now, her voice full of pain. "And I mean it. If you leave, then you'll mean nothing to me." She put her hand to her mouth, trying to stop crying. Everyone in the room heard the emotion in her voice, and all had tears in their eyes. No one had ever seen the princess so impassioned before. Damian thought with his face still not moving. Damian looked at his sister. His closest friend and family member. He knew that she was right when she had said that she loved him the most. He also knew that she meant what she said when she gave him a choice, every word of it. He looked into her eyes. They were shining with tears and begging him not to go away. He turned around and continued to walk out of the room. Not once turning around. Usagi watched as Damian walked out of the room. She watched as her greatest hero leave her life. She tried to stop the tears but couldn't. Her brother was leaving her. She turned around and ran towards the staircase by the throne. She ran past all the faces in the room and up the staircase. She didn't stop running till she reached her room. She ran to the window and watched her brother leave the moon, forever. Galen couldn't believe what had just happened. He looked around him and everyone had a look of disbelief in their expression. "I'll go check on her your Majesty." He said to Serenity. Serenity nodded her head, not saying anything. A silent tear rolled down her cheek. Galen went to Usagi's room and knocked on the door. "Go away." Was the response. "Princess, I need to talk to you." "Please, let me be." She cried. "I want to be alone." Galen sighed and turned around. Sixteen sets of eyes looked at him. "I don't think we can do anything." His voice dispirited. For the next week, Usagi wouldn't leave her room. She wouldn't talk to people who tried to comfort her. She wouldn't eat nor sleep. She just sat by her window, staring into the sky, crying softly. "I'm really worried about her." Ashe said to everyone. "She hasn't eaten nor slept in a week. And she won't open her door to anyone. "She's suffered a great lost." Galen said slowly. "She'll come out when she's ready." But Mamoru thought of something. "But what's to keep her from locking herself into another room once she finds out what happened to Damian?" Everyone was silent. Two days ago they had received word that Damian had died in a Negaverse attack on a distant planet. "Just pray that she's strong enough." Was all Galen said. Everyone was silent and left the meeting feeling helpless. Late that night, Usagi woke up from her chair. She had not slept in over a week and had passed out that afternoon. She thought bitterly with pain. Tears threatened to come forth again. Her head felt heavy and dizzy. She walked to the mirror and looked at her reflection. She barely noticed how pale and sallow she looked, all she could think about was Damian. She quietly slipped out the door and slipped out of the palace. She arrived at the royal gardens. She looked for the rose bushes. She turned and she saw red roses, Damian's favorite flower. Every year for her birthday, he had given her a red rose bush. "So that after I'm gone, you'll always remember me." He had said when he had first started the tradition. Usagi had given him a hug. "Promise me that you'll never leave Damian." Damian had looked at her and smiled. "I promise." A silent tear rolled down Usagi's face. She put a hand to her face and her body shook from silent sobs. Mamoru was in the garden watching her. He had volunteered to watch her door in case she left her room. He had followed her to the gardens after she had left out of the palace. Mamoru wanted to stop her pain. Ever since he had seen her in the throne room, he was enraptured by her. He had seen how compassionate and brave she was. He had seen her eyes when she had declared her ultimatum to Damian, and he was captivated. In her eyes, he saw a soul that would always put others before herself, and that would never stop loving anyone. He saw her head in her hand and felt her silent sobs; he couldn't stand to see her like this anymore. He took a step towards her. He silently approached her from behind. "Princess," He said softly. Usagi turned around to find Prince Mamoru looking at her intently. "Please go away." She whispered. "I won't." He said firmly. "Not until I know that you'll be all right." "My family, my life, is falling apart." She cried softly. "I don't know what to do." "I know it's hard to believe that everything will be all right. But you have to believe it." "How can I believe that everything will be all right when my brother will die thinking that I don't care for him?" Her voice shook. Mamoru took a deep breath. He sat down beside her and looked at her with an intense expression in his eyes. "I'm afraid I have bad news Princess. Damian died two days ago in an attack." He said softly. Usagi just stared at him. She didn't say anything but her sobs grew more painful. "Then it's true. He did die thinking I hate him." She sobbed. "That's not true." Mamoru said vehemently. Usagi looked up to his face, and Mamoru saw her eyes. They were full of tears and they were full of pain. Pain that reached all the way to her soul; and it reached Mamoru's soul as well. He couldn't bear to see her in such pain. "What do you mean?" She whispered. "If anything, your brother died knowing that you loved him deeply." "How can you say that?" "Damian knew how much it hurt you to say what you said to him. He knew that what you did, you did out of love. And he died a lucky person, because he knew that he had the love of his greatest hero." Usagi said nothing but cried onto his shoulder. After a while, she looked up to him. "Thank you, Prince Mamoru." She said softly. "You're welcome, Princess Usagi." He said in the same tone. "I don't think this is what our parents had in mind for our first encounter." She said with a weak smile. There were tears in her eyes still, but the pained look had mostly vanished. Mamoru smiled with her. From then on, the prince and princess became close friends. He helped her through the pain over the lost of Damian, and for that she was enormously thankful. They slowly and unknowingly fell deeper, and deeper in love with each other. Eventually, they announced their engagement. Usagi slowly woke from the flashback. She looked around the room, everyone else was still caught up in their trances. She thought to herself. Soon everyone else woke from their trances. They all had tears in their eyes over the sad memory. Mamoru shook himself from the trance. He thought silently. Usagi looked at Mamoru who was beside her. "Mamo-chan." She whispered. She was about to say something when Galen interrupted her. "It's nearly dinner time." He announced loudly. "Nathan, Makoto, why don't you guys fix us ALL something to eat. We can ALL go UPSTAIRS and eat dinner THERE." Everyone got his hint and left the room to go to the restaurant upstairs. Usagi turned to Mamoru again. "Mamo-chan." She whispered again. "Usako." He whispered back. "I'm so sorry." She said as she started to cry. "I'm sorry for putting you through everything. I should've thought of all the times you've been there for me." "I'm the one that's sorry Usako." He said as he silently approached her. "I should've been there for you, I should've believed you..." He trailed off as Usagi put her finger to his lips. Usagi looked at him. "It's all in the past Mamo-chan." She smiled. "You helped eased my pain all those years ago, and for that I will always love you." "I will always love you too Usako." He drew her closer and their lips met. The End Well, what did you think? Comments, criticisms and questions are welcomed at black_lady_@hotmail.com Thanks for reading. Black Lady