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The Healing of Senshi Urre

by John Biles

Based on the final chapter of Book 7 of Mort d'Arthur, by Thomas Mallory 
and on Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon, by Takeuchi Naoko.  (Did I spell that 
right? :))

[Author's note:  This story works from the joint background worked out by 
Chris Davies and myself for several Sailor Moon/Arthurian crossover 
stories we're planning to write.  This is based on one of the Arthurian 
tales only found in Mallory, the healing of Sir Urre of Hungary.  I 
realize this story will be somewhat confusing to those not highly 
familiar with Arthurian lore, but it's also short, so give it a chance 
:)  I hope I've done justice to this story, it's one of the most powerful 
in Malory.  It takes place after the Quest for the Holy Grail, but before 
the exposure of the love of Lancelot and Guenevere, or in this case, 
Senshi Lancelot and King Mamoru :), by Mordred and Aggravaine.  Enjoy!]


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      Thousands had come that day.  When Senshi Urre of Hungary arrived 
at Queen Rei's court, the word had soon gone out that he had suffered a 
grevious wound, a wound that only the greatest Senshi in the world could 
heal.  

      Seven years ago, he had battled the Daimon of Pest, driving it from 
that city.  But the daimon's controller, a sorceress named Haga, had 
cursed him so that the wounds it had inflicted on him could only be 
healed by the greatest senshi in the world.

      Since that day, his retainers had carried him from court to court 
across Europe, seeking the one who could heal his wounds.  His journeys 
had finally brought him to the court of Queen Rei Pendragon.  The Queen 
ordered that all of the Senshi be given a chance to see if they were the 
one destined to heal him.  

      One by one they came, all those who had survived the wars of the 
reign, survived the Grail Quest, and survived the uneasy peace that 
followed.  

     They laid on hands.  They prayed.  They poured potions down his 
throat.  They waved wands.  They probed his wounds with their hands.  In 
serried ranks, they stood, dozens of them, waiting their turn and watching.

     "Senshi Sagremor, Haruka of Byzantium, daughter of the Emperor,"  read 
the herald.  Senshi Sagremor strode forward to the man and kneeled next 
to him.  

     "Get up out of that bed, man!  You'll never heal if you just lounge 
around all day!"  Several people chuckled.  Senshi Sagremor wasn't too 
fond of men anyway.  Her helm was open, revealing her short blonde hair.  

      The man sighed wearily.  "I would if I could..."

      "Have you even tried?"

      "It worsens my bleeding."

      "Try it."  Senshi Sagremor helped the man stand.  Well, more like 
forced him to his feet.  He visibly paled.  Senshi Sagremor said, "Maybe 
if you walk a bit."

      Senshi Dodinas put a hand on Sagremor's shoulder.  "I don't think 
it is helping, Haruka..."

      Sagremor muttered something about lazy men.  "I suppose you're 
going to play him a song and see if that works, Michiru?"

     "Yes.  What songs do you like, Senshi Urre?"  Dodinas smiled at  
Senshi Urre, who lay back down.

     The crowd was growing restless.  While everyone was trying, they all 
really expected one person to do the job.  Everyone knew Senshi Lancelot 
was the greatest Senshi in the land.  She had battled virtually every 
Senshi here and beaten them all in Tournaments.  She and Senshi Tristam 
had dueled for over a day, ending only when the sun set and they couldn't 
see to fight anymore, and everyone knew he was the second best knight.  
She had defeated the vicious Chicken of Bristol.  She had cleansed her 
castle of Joyous Garde of evil spirits, rescued many Senshi from Senshi 
Carados' prison, and saved the King himself from death on many 
occassions.  Most Senshi found appointments elsewhere, like to have their 
hands cut off, if they were put in a situation where they had to face her 
alone in battle.  

     In many ways, the whole ordering of the lineup was a tribute to her, 
for she was the final one.  If all others failed, it was up to her to do 
the trick, to heal the man who could only be healed by the greatest 
senshi in the world.  Everyone would cheer, the man would be healed, and 
her reputation would be sealed for all time.

      So why was she hiding inside the castle, instead of waiting out in 
front of her eager fans?  Why was she watching and crying as one by one 
the Senshi failed to heal Senshi Urre?  Because it was all a sham, that 
was why.  She wasn't the greatest senshi in the world.  Not any more, if 
ever.  She was incompetent, she thought.  Only the blessing of God and my 
pure heart sustained me through all those victories, she thought.  I 
threw that all away with my foolishness.  First I let Demand trick me, 
then I broke my faith with Queen Rei...with her husband, my...love.  Why 
can't we be together, she thought for the hundredth, maybe thousandth 
time.  I should have forgotten him...but I thought we could scrape by.  
No one would ever know.  I could love him withough lust, I thought.  At 
least some good came of my first failure...my daughter.  He named her 
after me...She found the holy grail when I couldn't...I've lost my 
daughter...probably the only child I'll ever have.  

     Is this how it must be?, she wondered.  I can't heal this man...not 
any more.  I don't have the pride to want to try, not anymore...I saw how 
bad I'd become...so wrapped up in my own glory, on the quest.  I've tried 
to change that...but I know I'm not good enough to heal him.  I'm just a 
crazy girl...a crazy woman, who used to be something special.  

      She looked down at herself.  Her hair was starting to grey, her 
figure was still good, but not as good as it had once been, and she could 
feel her age on her.  The best years of her life had gone by in battles, 
battles she had won as much by luck as by any skill of her own.  Luck 
wouldn't help her here.  This was not a battle she could count on others 
to help her, nor luck to aid her.  She felt the weight of sin on her 
soul, of past mistakes, of the love that she could neither afford to 
express, nor was able to deny.  Most of all, she felt the burden of the 
loss of her innocence.  Her only child had left her, gone to be with 
God.  Her only love could never truly be hers, only stolen for a brief 
while from her best friend, her liege lord, the Queen.  Her friend, 
Senshi Tristam, had been in the same situation.  Only days ago, the word 
had arrived of his death--King Mark had finally killed Tristam in yet 
another of his jealous rages.  Was that how it would end with us, she 
wondered?  Will Rei slay me...or I her?  Am I to destroy all that I 
love?  She wept with fear and pain.  

     Through the window, the line of waiting Senshi dwindled.  There were 
not as many as there would have been once.  The Round Table had lost 
many, some slain by mischance, others who failed and were too shamed to 
return, and a few...who succeeded and never returned.  Senshi Percival 
should have been called next.  She could have done it with her healing 
power.  Many had found Percival's pale skin and dark hair creepy, but 
none could deny that she had the power to heal.  She was my daughter's 
closest friend, Senshi Lancelot thought, and now they're both gone.  They 
found the Grail, and left this world.  I wish I'd left with them.  

     She watched the herald call her cousin, Senshi Lionel.  He actually 
got down and prayed over Urre.  He had changed since the Quest, if not as 
much as her or Senshi Bors.  Maybe...maybe he could do it.

     He couldn't.  There were only five knights left.  Huge Senshi 
Gawaine towered over Senshi Urre.  She tried feeding Senshi Urre.  Senshi 
Lancelot smiled.  Senshi Gawaine always said her food could help anyone 
heal from anything.  Not this time, though.  Urre's bloody bandages would 
only get worse.  

     A pageboy ran in.  "Senshi Lancelot!  They're expecting you!  Better 
get out right away!  Queen Rei wants to talk to you."

     I should have hidden better, she thought.  "I come as my Queen 
commands."

     By the time she got out to the platform where Queen Rei and King 
Mamoru sat, only two Senshi remained to go before her.  The crowd cheered 
as she appeared.  Her cousin Ami, Senshi Bors, turned and waved to 
her, then stepped forward to Senshi Urre and started feeding him some 
kind of medicine.  Senshi Lancelot smiled.  Bors was a skilled healer.  
She could do it!  If anyone could find a cure, Bors could.

     Queen Rei smiled at Senshi Lancelot.  "I was beginning to think 
you'd been called off on some quest again...or did you just forget the 
time?"  There was just a hint of irritation in her words.  Senshi 
Lancelot was not the best Senshi in the world for her punctuality, though 
she had improved on that very much over the years.  

     Senshi Lancelot tried to ignore the cheering crowd, which was 
ignoring Senshi Bors now and watching her.  "Must I do this?  I 
can't...I'm not a healer.  I'm just a Senshi, not a doctor.  I fear he 
will soon be starting his journeys again."

      "You're the greatest Senshi in the world, Senshi Lancelot,"  King 
Mamoru said.  "You are the one who does what they say can't be done.  
This is nothing compared to the wonders you have worked.  I know you will 
not fail."  

     He smiled at her and her heart tried to sink and sing at the 
same time.  He loves me...but we can never be together, she thought.  Not 
again.  No matter how much I want it...he wants it.  We can't.  We 
will.  Deep inside, she knew her efforts to stop would fail, that he was 
the one for her.  None other could satisfy her, drive away the doubts, 
the fear, the pain.  Yet that one was the one she could not have.  

     The herald called out, "Queen Rei Pendragon, daughter of Martius 
Pendragon."  Senshi Lancelot stared in shock.  

     "I...you...shouldn't you go...after me?  I mean...I'm just a 
senshi...you're the Queen...it's ...I mean..."

     Queen Rei smiled at Senshi Lancelot.  "We both know which one of us 
is going to succeed here.  And don't forget you too are royalty, if ever 
you cared to claim your kingdom back from King Claudius who conquered 
it.  Benoic awaits its ruler.  I have not accomplished half of what you 
have.  Only my rank puts me at this point in this list.  Believe in 
yourself, my old friend."  She turned and strode down the steps, holding 
her spear high, the spear in which the Empyrian Crystal had been set so 
long ago, on the day she had recieved the spear from the Lady of the 
Lake.  The same crystal which had recognized her in the courtyard of a 
church fifty one years ago.  She had pulled the Mallet of Justice from 
the stone in which the great cat wizard Merlin had set it, and by doing 
so proved herself to be the rightful Queen of Logres.

     She was older now, her black hair mostly grey, her legendary beauty 
fading, though not yet gone.  The crystal preserved her, so that her 
sixty five year old body looked more like forty or even younger, despite 
her greying hair.  Few wrinkles marked her face.  Moving with the 
confidence of fifty one years of rule over a land to which she had 
brought peace and prosperity, side by side with the man she loved, her 
husband, King Mamoru.  

     She walked over to Senshi Urre and touched the spear to his 
forehead.  Her eyes closed and she spoke wordlessly.  Senshi Lancelot 
clenched her fists.  This has to do it!  If the Empyrian Crystal can't 
heal him, nothing can!  

     The crystal shone brightly and all had to turn and look away.  Yet, 
it was not enough.  Senshi Urre's wounds endured.  The crowd turned and 
looked to the platform.  Everyone turned, Senshi, onlookers, the King and 
the Queen herself.  

     Senshi Lancelot stood and tried not to cry.  I'm going to fail, she 
thought.  I can't possibly heal him.  I don't have the power, the 
faith...I can't do it.  They'll all know what a sham I've been.  

     Queen Rei smiled at her and the Herald spoke.  For Senshi Lancelot, 
it was like torture in slow motion.  "Senshi Lancelot, Usagi of Benoic, 
the Senshi of the Lake, daughter of King Ban of Benoic."  All eyes were 
upon her.  The crowd began to chant.  "Lancelot!  Lancelot!  Lancelot!"

     Somehow, she made her way to Senshi Urre.  He looked up at her, 
trust in his eyes.  "You came.  I've heard so many stories...I was afraid 
you wouldn't be here...that I'd die before I found you.  Now I know I 
will be healed.  Your touch alone..." 

      For a moment, Usagi simply stared at him.  He had faith in 
her...such total faith.  He didn't know the things she had done, the lies 
she had had to tell, the betrayals she had committed.  He knew she was 
the greatest Senshi in the world, the one destined to heal him.  For 
seven years, he had been looking for her and his life was in her hands.

      She shook with fear and knealt by him.  Struggling to hold back the 
tears, she said, "I'm just a Senshi like any other.  I'm not perfect, not 
the best.  Maybe I thought I was...but that was just my pride 
talking...I...I hope they didn't make everything worse for you...I 
mean...all this waiting and the..."

     He simply smiled at her.  "It was worth it.  I have faith in you."

     She closed her eyes and prayed silently,  "I know I'm not 
worthy...that I don't deserve to heal him.  I have no rights to make 
demands of you, Kami-sama.  I've lied to my best friend, cheated, 
bragged about myself...I've tried to stop, but I can't.  I don't deserve 
to do a miracle...but I can't bear to break his heart.  He shouldn't die 
because I'm not worthy to heal him.  Oh, Kami-sama, for his sake, heal 
him.  I can't promise I'll change...I know you can't be bribed.  I want to 
change, to let go of the love I can't have...I just don't know how.  Just 
please, heal him.  No one deserves to suffer like he does.  Free him of 
his wounds, Kami-sama.  Please...heal him now."

     Her eyes still screwed shut, she reached out and touched his chest.  
The tears came freely now, dripping from her eyes, shining with a white 
light as they struck the bandages that wrapped the wounds he had endured 
for seven long years.

     Through tear-shrouded sight, she saw the bloody stains on the 
bandages fade.  The color came back into his pale face and he sat up, 
removing the bandages.  His flesh was whole, untorn, though soaked with 
her tears.  His wounds were gone.

     For a moment, all were silent, then the cheers began.  "She's done 
it!  She's healed him!  Senshi Lancelot is the Greatest Senshi in the 
World!"

      The musicians began to play a spritely tune, and the Senshi, the 
gathered onlookers and the King himself began to dance for joy.  Queen 
Rei reached out and hugged the still kneeling Usagi, while Senshi Urre 
took her hand.  "See, I told you you would succeed.  You healed me.  You 
are indeed the greatest of all Senshi living."

     Usagi knew better, knew to give the glory to Kami-sama, not 
herself.  She had been only the vessel of his power, of destiny.  Once 
again, she had triumphed, but not through any power of her own.  The one 
thing she had achieved by her own merits was the one thing she could not 
have, she felt.  While others gloried in that day, she wept like a child 
who had been beaten.

 


John Walter Biles :  MA-History, Ph.D Wannabe at U. Kansas         
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu   http://falcon.cc.ukans.edu/~ranma/falcon.html 
                            http://www.dhp.com/~wraven/john/index.html

If you've ever watched the game warden through a gun sight...
     You might be a redneck.