(Later, Minako, Shuttle room)
Venus Minako found herself alone in her new shuttle room. The place was fairly quiet-- only the sounds of circulating air could be heard in the background. It was too quiet for Minako’s liking; the Goddess paced around for a moment, stopping in front of the desk, briefly tapping her fingers on the chair, before she sighed and walked over to the window to gaze out of it.
There are so many stars out here... She thought to herself as she leaned onto the window’s ledge. I wonder how Rei’s doing right now.
She paused, half-expecting to hear a sharp retort any second. But when she didn’t hear anything, she sighed again.
I haven’t heard anything from her in awhile. Did we lose the connection because of the distance? She was disappointed, but, inside, she also, strangely, felt like a part of her was relieved.
“Hah. Oh well. I guess... that’s just how it goes sometimes.” She tried to smile, but in her reflection she could see past her own facade. The smile was there, but there was sadness in her eyes.
Minako pressed one hand to the glass and felt its coolness under her fingertips. She couldn’t get their parting on Pluto out of her head.
I almost kissed her again... It nearly happened after they had left Venus and now it nearly happened on Pluto as well. She was disappointed, but in herself.
“What was I thinking…?”
Isn’t this why this tragedy happened in the first place? My family and all of those people who died for us...! They’re all dead now because...because... “...Of me.”
The woman felt her chest tighten painfully. It wasn’t fair.
If only I had been strong enough to defeat it. I know what I saw. That aura that I sensed in the Queen’s Chamber...There was so much bloodlust in it. And his laughter! It was so very vivid in her memory that it almost brought her to shiver. There’s no doubt about it. That power belonged to a God, and there’s only one God who’s missing amongst us.
Ares.
Ares killed my family. Minako concluded with certainty. However, along with that certainty was another uncertainty of its own; one that she could not stop herself from thinking before it reached her consciousness.
And Rei... is Ares’s heir. Her blue eyes widened at the implication. “No, what on Venus am I thinking? Rei wasn’t the one who murdered them! She’s nothing like Ares… She’s better than that murderer; she’s kind and caring.”
She saved me...
She’s my friend!
... But still. Oh, I don’t know! The blonde woman gave out a small, frustrated sigh. There was just so much to consider. She said that we were friends, so... she couldn’t ever like me in that way, could she? The only reason she lets me get away with ‘it’ is because she thinks it’s a Venusian tradition. It was the only reason Rei let her that close. She did feel a bit guilty about it. But, even if she ever did fall for me someday...things are different now. I’m no longer the same person that I used to be. I have a lot more responsibilities now! Can I really forsake my duties just because I’m in love?
I’m the only survivor of my family. Mother said that I was supposed to succeed her... And it’s true, my body feels so different. I’m really a Goddess now. A true Goddess. But...why am I still running away? Because of my weakness, Taya is stuck with the huge mess that I left behind! Everyone is undoubtedly struggling at home. There was just, so much destruction...
It wasn’t fair.
While they’re all hurting, I’m thinking about myself. It feels like, I’m betraying everyone for being like this, for liking her... It’s not right. It’s incredibly selfish of me, isn’t it...?
The blonde took in a deep, shaky breath, trying to calm her guilty heart. There seemed to be no way out of it. She was cornered, chained by this false newly acquired freedom.
I’m a terrible person.
Someone outside knocked on her door.
“Come in.” The door slid open and she could see that it was Haruka.
“Hey. I hope I’m not disturbing anything, but we’re all meeting in the bridge right now. Can you come?”
(Minako, Bridge)
Soon they were all in the bridge. Makoto, Ami, Haruka and Michiru were all grouped around the center table. They were all actively discussing their plans for their mission. It was an ongoing cycle that appeared almost comical to the mute Venusian: Haruka would suggest something and then Makoto would agree. Then the idea would be quickly shot down by Ami and Michiru’s logical/analytical reasoning. Normally Minako would have laughed at their silliness, at how they argued with one another over a dead point. Normally she would have said something that was even more ridiculous than the argued suggestion, but not this time. She was still trying to wrap her thoughts around the seriousness of their situation--of what her goal was now.
That’s right. We’re in a war right now… We have to find Hotaru’s heart. We have to win! Otherwise... countless of people will continue to die. I don’t want that. I don’t want anyone else to be sad. Her hands tensed in her lap. I have to find Hotaru’s heart, no matter what the cost… I have to do everything I can to help end this war. I have to concentrate…only on…
Minako scanned the faces around the table and found herself once again envious of her friends. It was no longer their difference in strength or the issue of them being the chosen heirs that would lead their people-- she was envious of their happiness. Each and every one of them was a great and experienced leader. But, more importantly:
They can love whoever they want to love. I’m a bit envious of them.
Minako was not naïve as she once was, and it saddened her. Being ignorant wasn’t this painful.
“Mina, is something wrong?”
The voice caught the blonde woman off guard, momentarily startling her. Did she hear what she thought she had just heard?
“…Rei? Is that you?”
“No. This is just the random voice in your head and you’re going insane. Of course it’s me! Who else would it be?”
“Wow, someone’s cranky.”
“I heard that.”
“Hey... I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just...you never called me that before. It made me really happy.”
“...”
“So, where were you? You just stopped talking for awhile there. I was getting a bit worried.”
"I didn’t mean to make you worry. I didn’t say anything for awhile because I was trying to keep track of your presence. It’s just... this distance. As the distance between us increases, it becomes harder to maintain the connection. But it’s nothing to worry about. It won’t break. It just means that when we talk to each other, you have to consciously want to.”
“Oh, I see. So instead of automatically hearing my every thought, you’ll only hear what I want you to.”
“Yes, exactly.”
Heh, I kind of like that idea.
“It works vice versa as well.”
Darn...
“But even if you don’t talk to me, I’ll still be able to sense your thoughts. Like just now, it felt like something was troubling you. Is there something on your mind?”
Now that Rei had mentioned it, she could detect the small bit of warmth mixed in with her aura. It was just fainter, that’s all.
She still cares about me. It dug the guilt in further.
“I’m fine Rei. Really.”
Before Rei could protest, someone else had noticed the blonde’s strange behaviour.
“Minako?” Ami asked.
“Huh?” The woman’s head shot up to see the rest of her company watching her intently.
“Is there something wrong?”
“What? O-Oh no! It’s nothing really!” She laughed. However, this time it wasn’t very convincing. “Umm...Why do you ask?”
“Well, you haven’t said a single word since you got here,” Makoto gently pointed out. “We were wondering if you were feeling okay.”
“Well...”
“Yes, if there is something on your mind… we would be more than happy to listen if you wish to talk about it,” Michiru offered.
Their kindness touched her, really. However, it was making the Venusian feel bad.
Look at me. I’m worrying everyone again…
“I’m sorry guys. I’m fine, really. I guess...I’m still trying to wrap my head around everything. It’s kinda a lot to take in.”
“Yeah, I can’t argue with you there.” Haruka quipped.
“Anyway, so what were you saying?” Minako quickly changed the topic.
“Hm? Oh… Well, we were just discussing the terrain conditions on Saturn,” Haruka filled in. “Just speaking from experience, it’s brutal. There’s no other way of putting it. The land there is cold and barren, and there’s purple smog everywhere! There no way a normal person could possibly survive it. I mean, we were lucky as it was. At first, I couldn’t help but wonder if Michiru had somehow gotten the reading wrong, that the key—I mean… that Hotaru was there. You see, when we first started looking for her we weren’t even sure of what to look for. We never imagined that it would look like a kid, or that it could possibly exist on a place like that.”
“So, then how did you find Hotaru? Wouldn’t her heart be near where you found her?” Minako reasoned.
“We were just wondering about that too,” Makoto agreed.
“Yes, it would be the most logical place to look first.” Ami nodded.
“Normally that would be the case,” Michiru said slowly. “However, we were not the ones to find Hotaru. She found us.”
“…Okay. So what you’re saying is that we have some serious searching ahead of us. But there’s no way we can search the entire planet, especially with our time crunch.” Makoto followed up.
Minako saw the corners of Haruka’s mouth tug upward. “Hm? Well, you look confident about something. Do you have a plan?”
“It’s all taken care of.” Haruka admitted with a nod. “Our ship’s computers have already minimized our search to one area. Granted, it still might take awhile... but then again it might not. Who knows? It’s all we’ve got though. Did Rei get all of that?”
“Rei…?”
“…Yes, I did.”
“She did.” Minako confirmed.
“All right then,” Uranus yawned and stretched her arms. “I don’t know about you guys, but I think there’s no point in worrying about it right now. Until we get to Saturn I think we all should get some rest. Do everything you need to do now… you know, eat, sleep, think... go to the bathroom, whatever… just get it done because Saturn is a hell of a dangerous place.” Haruka yawned again sleepily. “Hmm… I sure could use a nap.”
There was a moment of silence and odd stares; the ‘supreme warrior of wind’ looked like she was about to pass out. How could she be so relaxed?
Groggily the shorthaired blonde walked past her friends and paused at the doorway.
“Get some rest.” She turned her head and shocked the group with suddenly intense green eyes. “Got it?”
“Mm.” The others nodded.
(Rei, Pluto)
“What is the status of their progress?”
Rei opened her eyes to mere slits, only enough to stare at the familiar back. In front of her Setsuna had taken a position to maintain Hotaru’s barrier. She was holding her staff vertically upright in the air with both hands in front of her; the reflective jewel at its end was glowing brightly.
“They are closing in on Saturn.” Rei reluctantly replied. A bead of perspiration finally broke loose and ran down her the side of her cheek. The Martian’s entire face was flush as it was when Minako had left her earlier. For the last five hours, at least, she had stood upright, legs shoulder width apart, with her hands interlocked in symbolic meditation.
Setsuna carefully peered over one shoulder, cautious not to break the bond that she held, to briefly inspect her sole companion.
“You... are struggling.”
Rei was taken aback by the blunt comment. It was rare for someone to be so forward with her, but she supposed it wasn’t impossible if the individual was a silent snob.
“I never asked for your opinion!” She retorted. When Setsuna said nothing, Rei growled, “Would you please stop staring like that? Look, I’m fine, okay?! Do you want to know their ‘progress’ or not?”
“Is that your true motivation? To act as a line of communication for someone such as myself?”
What? The raven-haired woman’s eyes widened further, so fast, that she almost lost the connection.
“To reach across the universe with one’s soul, one must first possess an amazing spiritual gift… A gift with the strength to reach across time and space despite the distance, its heavy burden. As the soul ventures forth and embarks on a journey outside the limits of the physical, the connection to the body wavers. Do you not feel such a strain…?” Crimson eyes met intense amethyst. “The distance will continue grow. Can you maintain your balance, and not fall along the way?”
“I told you, I’m fine.” Rei repeated sternly. What on Mars is she going on about now? She had no patience or concentration to spare for deciphering the cryptic sayings of a stranger she had only met. “If anything, I think you should be worrying about yourself first. If that barrier goes, then we’ll both be in trouble.”
Setsuna returned her gaze to her charge, leaving the Martian to concentrate.
Heh. Potential indeed… The former advisor contemplated in a rare moment of amusement. Although her companion was struggling to uphold her pose, the woman’s aura had not decreased one bit since the group had left. Her energy still burned strong. However, Setsuna’s own…
Setsuna felt the burden continue to build steadily upon her shoulders. It has been some time now since she had initiated the barrier. Even she was aware that she was not immune to physical exhaustion.
Please return quickly…
“They’re there.” Rei’s voice rang out.
(Minako, Saturn)
“We’re here.” Haruka announced as the shuttle door extended to the barren ground below. “Be careful to watch your step. The smog looks even thicker than the last time we came here.”
One by one the group descended down the metal steps, their footsteps clanging loudly until they reached the planet’s dirt surface. It was just as Haruka and Michiru had promised—there was a thick fog that shrouded the entire area. It pooled the most heavily along the ground, but there was enough of it in the air to terribly diminish their vision and make it difficult to breath.
Almost immediately Makoto, Ami and Minako all coughed violently in reaction to the mist.
“O-Oh dear...” Ami squeaked. Her blue eyes were beginning to water. Makoto wasn’t fairing much better.
‘W-What is this stuff made of?”
Minako, however, struggled with the condition the hardest.
I-I can’t breathe! The air-- it’s so heavy…! The blonde let out another string of coughs, her chest was heaving heavily for some respite. She never thought it would be this hard. She was beginning to panic.
“Minako, listen to me. Try to relax.” Haruka advised. “I know it might sound stupid, but you have to trust me on this. Your body is adjusting to the atmosphere right now. The best thing you can do is let it happen. If you try to fight it, the poison will just spread faster through your system. It will only hurt more!”
Despite the warning, Minako instinctively felt her mind trying to resist the process. It registered pain and panic, nothing more. As a result the poison was spreading at a dangerous rate, faster than her body could convert it.
A cool hand found its way under her chin. Minako was coaxed to look up to see Michiru’s gentle, but firm gaze focused on her.
“I know it is difficult… However, you must calm down. Concentrate, and slowly release your aura. What you need to fight against is not yourself, but against your natural instincts towards fear.” Neptune advised.
“She’s right. You need to try and relax.” Rei encouraged.
But I AM trying! Minako protested. She couldn’t understand why her body was as stiff as a board.
Rei sensed the woman’s confusion.
“When our muscles become too tense, our aura is restricted. Right now, you’re too tense to release a sufficient amount of power. That’s why you need to relax!”
From Pluto, Rei could feel Minako’s powers continue to diminish. With a grit of her teeth, she shot off a mental command.
The Venusian was startled when the connection between them suddenly sparked. The red threads inside of her began to glow and flow into her muscles, soothing her frazzled nerves and dilating the veins and arteries. As a direct consequence, the poison infiltrating Minako’s system abruptly slowed in its advance against the Goddess’s vengeful, rapidly building immunity system.
A few seconds passed, followed by moments of final resistance before Minako’s body suddenly went limp and crumpled to the ground.
“Minako!” Everyone cried.
“Minako, say something!”
Is she…? Haruka thought fearfully. Already she could feel herself regretting the decision to bring Minako along; maybe she hadn’t been ready after all. The woman’s green eyes scanned the younger woman’s body in search of signs of life.
Ah! Wait a second.
Upon closer inspection she could make out the soft rise and fall of the Venusian’s chest. Minako’s breathing rate was beginning to stabilize. After another minute, the Goddess stirred and immediately went to push herself back onto her feet.
Thank the Gods. Uranus sighed in relief.
Michiru heard her partner softly sigh behind her and she felt her own relief washing over her.
“Are you all right?” Michiru asked.
“I-I think so…” Minako blinked back in confusion. Her blue eyes were a little unfocused, but their intensity was quickly returning. “But...what just happened?”
“It’s like I said. Your body was adjusting to the smog.” Haruka told her. “It’s like a poisonous gas, so it’ll really give your system a nasty jolt if you’re not ready for it.”
Yeah, but it really felt like I was going to die. Am I the only one who had this much trouble adjusting?
“I wouldn’t worry about it. The very same thing happened to Haruka as well,” Michiru said, as if she had read the younger woman’s mind.
“You mean she actually collapsed too?”
“Mhm.”
“Hey!”
“Hush now, love... as you said, it’s not a big deal. I think... the reason why the two of you had more difficulty than the rest of us is because you had only ascended recently.”
“Oh yeah... I think you mentioned something about this before.” Haruka nodded thoughtfully.
“Well, I don’t,” Minako said. “Would someone please explain to me what you’re talking about?”
“Actually, it’s kinda of a long explanation.” Haruka laughed nervously. “Some of the terms are kinda long and complicated, and we’re kinda on a time crunch, but all you need to know is that this is the reason why we couldn’t bring Rei with us.”
“You mean, only Gods and Goddesses can survive here.”
“Yes. That’s precisely it,” Michiru confirmed. “However, it would be rather rude of us not to tell you why. First of all, I’m sure that you’ve noticed that when an individual ascends to the position of a God or Goddess there is a fundamental change in the user’s body. One of these changes is the addition of a mechanism to the individual’s immunity system. It is constantly changing and adapting to accommodate for the prevention of diseases. This fog, for instance, is a poison. It’s not directly a disease, but it does attack the immune system. Therefore... since none of you have ever encountered something like this prior to now, your body had to adjust to it. Even as we speak now, you are still adjusting.”
“I see. So, if Rei was here... She would have died.”
“...”
“Yes.”
“Hey, guys, we’re on a time limit, remember?” Haruka pointed out “We really need to get this search on a roll.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’m sorry...”
“Not a problem. Anyway, the three of you should be fine from here on out. But if anything suddenly feels strange, let us know immediately.”
“Right.” They all nodded.
“All right. Now what to do...” The wind ruler changed her focus onto their surroundings. It was still as bleak as she had last remembered it. “I don’t think we should be splitting up in these conditions, so I want us all to move as a group. If by any chance one of us gets separated, then stay where you are and throw out a handful of aura threads. That’s how we’ll find you if you get lost. And lastly... if you sense anything strange, and I mean anything, alert the group right away. Just because a person can’t survive out here, it doesn’t mean that there aren’t any other dangers lurking around.”
Who knows what could be lurking out there since I was last here.
“’Kay, it sounds like we’re all set. Where do we start?” Makoto questioned.
“Michiru?” Haruka passed on the leadership role.
The Goddess’s gaze went momentarily vacant and was filled by a strange light until she raised her arm and pointed to a general direction.
“There is a foreign presence in that direction…” She slowly analyzed. “However, I cannot distinguish whether or not it is Hotaru’s. This entire planet is inhabited by a strange energy. It is everywhere and appears to be constantly fluctuating. My suggestion is that we investigate with caution.”
“Fair enough. Let’s go then.”
As they all ventured out after Michiru, a movement in Minako’s peripheral vision caught her eye.
The blonde turned on the spot.
“Huh?” She paused, silently scanning the area with furrowed eyebrows. “Did I just...? I thought-- I just saw something…”
“Mina, they’re leaving you behind!”
“Ah? Oh!”
And while the blonde raced to catch up to the group, she wondered whether or not Rei had sensed it as well.
“Rei…?”
“What is it?”
“Did you…”
“?”
“I thought... I saw something out there.”
“Did you see what it was?”
“No. I’m afraid not.”
“Keep an eye out for now. If you sense something again, let the others know right away.”
“Right.”
(Rei, Pluto)
“Setsuna, was it?”
The green-haired woman was so focused on her work that she had barely heard the other woman call to her. The request for her attention would have fallen onto deaf ears altogether if it had been by any other title, anything other than her name. Being alone for so long, she supposed that her name would have vanished into the flow of time altogether. Thus it was a shocking surprise to hear it resurrected again.
Setsuna kept her surprise to herself, but she answered the Martian nevertheless.
“Is there something that is disturbing you?”
“I have a question for you. Saturn is a dangerous place. It’s so poisonous, that it’s impossible for any living being to set foot there. However...is it possible for something, non-human to inhabit the place?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“Why? I thought that was pretty obvious. You have more than enough power to block out Michiru’s spells, and you can hold Hotaru back single-handedly. As much as I hate to admit it, that means you’ve got a lot of power. It might even be possible...for you to see the future.”
Setsuna was silent for a moment. “You and the successor of Neptune do not seem to get along.”
Rei twitched. Butting into my private life AGAIN! “That’s not the point. Do you know the answer or don’t you?”
“...”
Not going to say anything, huh? “Fine. Then how about this? What will happen to them once they find Hotaru’s heart?”
“…I do not know.”
“What do you mean you don’t know?!”
“It is as I said. The young lady is mysterious in her own way. The future…” She continued, “…is clouded, even to my sight.”
So I was right! She can see the future! Rei supposed she shouldn’t have been as surprised as she was; after all, the former chief advisor of Apollo must have had some special abilities to inherit such a position.
“So you really can’t see anything.” The raven-haired woman pursued.
“Nothing of the future is certain. All one may see are its possibilities. That woman… Lady Neptune, I suppose I should say, has gained the ability to glimpse these possibilities as well.”
Yeah, isn’t Michiru special? The Martian instantly retorted. If Setsuna had sensed the her companion’s displeasure, she ignored it.
“However… Even as talented as she is, she cannot reach the same distance that you are currently exhibiting.”
Rei was knocked speechless. “What? What are you getting at...? It’s not like it’s a big deal or anything.” She would have averted her gaze if she could, but she was currently upholding the spell. “I’m sure she could do the same thing if she tried.”
“Do you really believe that?” Again, she surprised her. “There is a power that you possess...that only a few know of.”
“Oh... you mean that.” Rei said quietly. “Heh, I wouldn’t really call it a power. It’s more like a nuisance if you ask me.”
“It is a God’s technique... one that was forged by Ares himself.” By now, Rei didn’t even bat an eye. “Due to its...adverse effects, it should be impossible for a normal individual to wield it. However, you can and have. Thus, it is also the reason for your current ailment. If it continues, in due time you will--”
“Stop.” She heard the woman pause. “Whatever you do, please don’t tell the others about this. They don’t know about it.”
“...Do you ever plan on telling them?”
“No.”
“Then what do you intend to do about it? I thought that you were concerned for their safety.”
“I am.” She thought about Ami’s gun tucked in beneath her clothing. “But as long as I have this medication, they should be safe.”
“I’m afraid...That alone won’t be enough.”
Rei was lost for words. “W-What did you just say?!”
“The medication that you use now is only a temporarily relief. It will not be enough to spare you from your fate.”
There was a frown on Rei’s lips. “I know. But you don’t have to say it like that. I know...better than anyone what it’ll do to me!”
“Yet you would not search for the only cure?”
Rei felt as though the wind had been kicked out of her.
“You told Uranus that there was no cure. That was a lie. You...do know of one.”
All of this talk was really starting to piss Rei off.
“Back off!” She snarled. “That’s none of your business! Why on Mars do you care about it so much anyway?!”
“You just reminded me of someone. That’s all...”
Huh? The confession caught the Martian off guard. “Who?”
“One who also believed that their fate could not be changed,” The green-haired woman replied solemnly.
“Fate...” Rei wondered aloud. “Are you saying that you really believe in something stupid like that?”
“You don’t?” Setsuna calmly asked.
“Well, what about you?” Rei countered. “From the sounds of it, you’ve lived for quite some time. I’m sure you have something to say about it.”
“I had once believed that some things were inevitable, that some are impossible to change,” Setsuna finally said. “However...she believed that this was not the case.”
“She?”
“...A good friend of mine.”
Rei was starting to get a bad feeling about this. “So, this good friend...Where is she now?” She noticed that the former advisor wasn’t even looking at her now. “...I’m sorry. It wasn’t any of my business to ask.”
Rei was about to lose herself in work again until something else came to mind. Her eyes shot back open.
What if--?
“Setsuna!”
“I am fine.”
“But--”
“Rei!”
Minako?
(Minako, Saturn)
“What’s wrong?!”
“Something really weird is happening! I don’t know what’s going on! We were just walking, and all of the sudden the fog started to get really thick!”
Minako squinted at the mist, trying to keep an eye on her friends. Erg--this mist! What’s going on here? She shivered. It was so cold that her teeth were almost chattering.
Up ahead, everyone else was having similar thoughts. Ami, Makoto, Haruka and Michiru were all doing their best to keep their guard up.
It is just me, or is it getting colder?
I really don’t like the looks of this...
Something’s definitely feels fishy about this place.
We must be getting closer.
The air around them was changing. But what’s more, it felt like the mist was closing in around them.
For the next few minutes, no other sound could be heard except for the sound of their hearts pounding loudly in their ears. Eventually, the distinct noise became so pronounced that they all thought they were having trouble hearing; was it just them, or did it sound like their hearts merged into one beat?
Rei… do you hear that? Minako tensed up fearfully.
“It sounds like a… heartbeat?!”
They all came to a stop, but the mist continued to get thicker.
“Damn it! I can’t stand it anymore! Come out, wherever you are!” Haruka summoned up a portion of her power. “Take…this! HAAAH!”
CRACKLE!
The golden bolt charged through the smog, but it hardly had any effect on the entity. But she wasn’t about to let that deter her.
“Come on--!”
CRACKLE!
“Why isn’t this---”
CRACKLE!
“--doing anything?!”
CRACKLE!
“ARGH!” Haruka let out a frustrated roar as the fog rose higher into her line of vision. She was already so blinded that she never noticed the other’s disappearing from sight.
“It’s--” Ami disappeared behind the veil.
“--Too fast!” Makoto shouted, and she too disappeared.
Minako watched horrified as her friends disappeared from sight. For a brief moment she could still hear Haruka stomping about in a fit of rage, but eventually that too was swallowed by the fog. She suddenly found herself very alone.
“Guys...?” Minako whispered. Unconsciously she stepped back when she meant to step forward. “W-Where did everyone go?”
“Don’t move.” Rei advised.
Huh? Oh, right! Haruka said we shouldn’t move if we get lost! The woman gathered her power and was about to send out a beckon when Rei interrupted her.
“Forget about that! We aren’t alone! Can’t you feel it? There’s a huge energy heading this way!!”
“What?!”
Ping!
Oh my Goddess-! I-It’s huge!
Minako whirled on the spot when she thought she saw movement from the corner of her eye again.
“W-Who’s there?” This time, however, the blonde woman was certain that she was being watched; a shadow of a person flickered in and out of the mist. Every time the Venusian ruler thought she spotted the figure, it retreated promptly into the foggy veil. Their movements were almost ghostly, too fluid to be a normal being. It gave Minako the chills just thinking what this entity could do if she were ambushed.
Damn. Everytime… I think I… See them… THEY MOVE!
“AHHHHHHHHHH!” Someone screamed.
“What was that?!” Rei demanded.
“T-That…”
“That sounded like Ami!”
More screams filled the air. Quickly after there followed explosions and sounds of a fierce battle.
Minako was momentarily paralyzed. W-What should I do? The ground beneath her suddenly began to shake. Before she knew it the vibrations were gaining power, as if the wave was charging towards her.
RMM…RMM…RMM…
SHROOOM!
A large object flew through the fog and blinded Minako. The blonde barely let out a screech when something wrapped tight about her waist and threw her up into the air within its clutches.
“Minako!”
“AHHHHHH!!!!!!”
Her movements abruptly halted mid-air, and finally she was able to see what had ambushed her.
W-What is that? She gasped. Is that, a tree root?!
Below where she was held the blonde woman noticed that the smog below had cleared. Tracing the root down to where its source was she could make out a cage-like aggregate of similar vines. Out of her peripheral vision Minako could make out the others engaging combat with the enemy, but her true focus was on a glimmering light caught between the mass of branches below. As soon as she laid eyes on it, her heart skipped a beat.
Is that it?!
The enormous vine-like entity immediately tightened its hold on its victim, crushing Minako hard. She screamed again.
“Hold on!” Haruka shouted to her. But the tall ruler already had enough on her plate as it was. She could barely make two steps towards the Venusian before another root cut her off.
“Damn!” Not again! “HAH!”
Crackle!
“Ah… A-AHHHH!” Minako repeatedly gasped. She could swear that she could hear her bones cracking inwards.
Am I going to die? She desperately tried to move her arms, to do SOMETHING! That was when it really begun to sink in; she couldn’t expect anyone, especially her brave brother, to save her again. Eros...
“Mina, hold on, I’ll---”
“DON’T!”
“What?” Rei remarked incredulously. Did she hear what she thought she heard?
“Don’t do anything Rei! Don’t interfere! Let me… ugh… do this by myself!”
“But you’ll die if you don’t do something soon!”
“Heh. Don’t worry. I won’t die.”
Fwoooooo---
“What are you doing?!”
Minako clenched her fists by her sides and felt the rest of her muscles tensing up in unison. As her power became restricted, the pain from the fog increased. C’mon Minako...Concentrate on the power, not the pain.
Rei freaked when Minako suddenly went limp in their enemy’s grip.
“Minako!”
The crushing grip that sought to initialize the finishing blow was rebuffed violently by a orange light. All of the pent up energy was unleashed like a flood; its levels was soaring to great heights and materialized around the Venusian with dangerous intensity.
“Take… THIS! HAAAAH!”
CRACKLE-------KABOOM!!!
The blonde woman fell to the ground as the leftover pieces of the root scattered lifelessly below her. As soon as she touched the hard, rocky surface, Minako sprinted forward with her eyes on the goal-- the glimmering light. She wasn’t about to get there easily however; more branches at its base shot forward to challenge her.
“Minako, what are you doing?!” Makoto cried out. The tall woman swung her spear around and destroyed the root that had been aiming to pierce her athletic frame. “Hah!”
SLASH!
“Look out!” Michiru warned the Venusian as she took out another root.
CRACKLE!
Tup! Tup! Tup! Tup!
Minako ignored the surprised cries thrown her way. The others must have not seen what she had.
As she encountered the first vine, she heard Rei shout,
“Go right!”
She faithfully followed the instruction. As the large snake-impersonating object flew past her, Minako flicked her hands and summoned up two large, golden chains. She didn’t hesitate to put them to use.
“HAH!”
SWING!
Watch me Rei. I can do this myself!
She gasped when one of the root pieces began to squirm again. Goddess, these things
regenerate?!
SWING!
SWING!
“…Do you still think that I’m trying protecting you? That I’m trying to baby you?”
“…”
“I’m not fighting for you! I’m fighting with you! Don’t go dismissing an advantage in the battlefield so easily!”
“Jeez… You’re just so STUBBORN!”
Neither woman could help but smirk at this turn of events.
“Ready?”
“Ready!”
Tup! Tup! Tup! Tup! Tup!
“Left!”
“Up!”
“Watch your
back!”
“Right!”
Swing!
Swing!
Swing!
Swing!
As Minako closed in onto her target, and the roots were taken out one by one, the other Goddesses finally caught a glimpse of the glimmering light as well.
That’s what she’s after! Haruka, Michiru, Ami and Makoto realized.
Uranus smirked; no matter how many they destroyed these things kept coming back. Why wasn’t the solution obvious?
“Okay! So why don’t we show these things what we’re made of?!” She roared.
Following Uranus, everyone charged up their powers. There was a brilliant flash of light as four blasts of energy all converged and disintegrated all resistance.
Crackle—
Crackle---
Crackle---
Crackle---
Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen-
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Minako braced herself against the blast as a rush of air flung up into the atmosphere. Before the roots could regenerate, the blonde woman shot forward with one outstretched hand and touched the light within the cage.
I-I got it!
FLAAAAAASSSSSSSSH!
Another bright light lit the area, blinding everyone in the vicinity. However, when the light faded away it left behind small shimmering lights in the air. They rained down all around them, twinkling and sparkling mysteriously in the absence of the dangerous tree roots. It was such a sight that all the Goddesses couldn’t help but awe at the scene.
“Hey. Look, over there,” Ami pointed out. There was a stranger amongst them.
The figure was transparent, but her features could still be clearly made out. Short raven coloured hair, and dark eyes. Her attire resembled the outfits that Haruka and Michiru donned when using Planet Power. Beside figure’s bow was the heart crystal; it was shining brightly, composed of several smaller crystals. But more importantly, in their right hand, the youth held a glaive that radiated with frightening, dark power.
“H-Hotaru…?” Minako whispered. No way! But that’s—It’s really her!
The vacant gaze in the addressed party fled, and was immediately replaced by forlorn sadness. In a listless tone, the woman spoke whispery words.
“Who are you...? All of you…?”
“Hotaru…” Haruka muttered. She had never seen that expression in the girl’s eyes before. She looked much older and almost detached. If this was Hotaru’s heart, her true self, then it was like Haruka never knew her at all.
“Who are you?” Hotaru repeated again, more firmly this time. She appeared to be becoming agitated.
“Hotaru, w-we came to get you.” Minako licked her dry lips uncertainly. “Setsuna asked us to.”
“Setsuna…” She considered the name sadly. She knew Setsuna would not send untrustworthy souls for her.
Hotaru then slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry. But I cannot go back.”
“But, why not?!”
“Because I… I committed a terrible crime.”
“But that—it wasn’t your fault! Apollo forced you to do it, didn’t he?!” Haruka protested. “You were kidnapped and he forced you to destroy the Moon Kingdom! We know what happened! It’s not your fault!”
“You’re wrong.” She whispered in response.
“Wha? What do you mean, I’m wrong?”
Hotaru closed her eyes. She could feel the sorrow rising within her once again. It was like a scar that her soul was forced to bear for the rest of eternity. And now, these people were about to rip it open again.
“I was not kidnapped. I went with him...on my own accord.” The youth ignored the predictably shocked expressions of her audience.
“What?”
“But...why?”
“The people… the citizens, the palace staff, everyone who I thought were my friends…feared me because of my power. They greeted my twin sister and myself with smiles, but behind our backs, they called me the ‘devil incarnate’. At the time, I couldn’t understand it. What was so different between myself and my sister? Why did they praise her but condemn me...? After some time, I came to the conclusion that I must’ve been lacking something important. So I trained harder. I truly believed that, perhaps.., if I worked harder, they would come to praise me sincerely as well.
So I practiced harder, and grew stronger, without realizing that it was my mere existence that drove them to hate me so…
Apollo... I had heard of him one day while my mother and Setsuna were engaged in a private conversation. I had overheard that he was my uncle. He was the only other relative that I had aside from my mother and sister.
Thus I was not surprised in the least when the man appeared before me that day, many centuries ago. He offered to give me a home, a place away from those who loathed my existence. I didn’t hesitate… I accepted.
Therefore, you see...I was not kidnapped. That is why you are wrong.”
Haruka was feeling her heart break all over again.
“Then, but why… The Moon Kingdom…” Michiru couldn’t help but ask.
The raven-haired youth looked each of the Goddesses in the eye. It seemed that they genuinely wanted to know.
“Please keep in mind, that you were the ones who requested this.”
Similarly as with Setsuna, a bright light filled the area.
FLAAASSSSSSSSH!
The image of the Moon Kingdom came to view. From the point of view, it appeared that the person was viewing the majestic place from the outskirts. There, near the borders beside a grove of silver leafed trees, Apollo came into sight. Beside him at his side, with one of the God’s mighty arms wrapped about her slim shoulders, was Hotaru. The girl looked to be in her late teens.
“Do you see that Hotaru?” Apollo directed gaze towards the bright lights. “This is the ‘home’ that you once spoke so fondly of. You’ve slaved away your entire life for their sake, but look at how they repay you. They ridicule you behind your back, and condemn you as the devil’s spawn. Yet what have you done to deserve this sort of treatment? Nothing... because, my dear niece, you have done nothing wrong. Even now, look at how happy they are now that you’re gone. It looks like they haven’t missed you at all.”
Sadness reflected in the woman’s dark eyes. As much as she wished to, she could not find the voice to protest against her uncle’s observations; the place she had called home looked exactly the same as the day she had left. It hadn’t changed at all. But she had.
“You have grown considerably in power. You have mastered your unique form of Planet Power and have even surpassed the Gods and Goddesses of my court! But do you not think...that it is time to use that power...?”
Apollo gave Hotaru’s shoulder a gentle squeeze, acting as if he actually cared about the individual that was born as his niece.
“It hurts, doesn’t it?” The God prodded. “Watching them like this, without you… You belonged there but they didn’t want you. They called you the ‘devil’, rejected you and betrayed me. They also betrayed ‘Uncle Apollo’.” He stressed.
“Betrayed…Uncle Apollo…” His niece repeated in a trance-like state. She was confused. Where had all of these emotions come from so suddenly? She never believed she would feel like this ever again.
The man ignored the inward cringe of having been called ‘uncle’ however he believed it would be worth while it in the end. After many years of meticulous planning, the child’s loyalty now solely belonged to him. After all, he was the one who cared for her, who watched over her and taught her everything that she knew—it was him who molded her into what she was now! And that sort of person, who else could possibly be within her heart other than him? What possibly could be left behind from her past, other than those delightfully, painful memories? After all, no being would readily remember the ‘good’ times when there were ones that were so much more painful!
He then leaned down and whispered into Hotaru’s ear to solidify the spell.
“Is it fair?” His niece gasped. “Make the pain...disappear.”
Hotaru didn’t know what hit her-- suddenly all the pent up frustration, sorrow and anger--something inside snapped. To Apollo’s delight, his niece’s hidden power was unleashed. It was growing at an exponential rate, all the while the girl’s consciousness was ever becoming swallowed within a swell of emotion. Just as planned, he smirked. It wouldn’t be long before he would set her upon the traitorous dogs that had deserted him.
But what of the twin sister? Ah… He had not forgotten the other brat. She would be easily deposed of. She had taken after Artemis after all, his sister. Surely the child had no experience of battle whatsoever. What’s more, it mattered not if the two siblings would destroy each other in the end or if Hotaru perished while executing the deed. What did matter...? The only thing that did was that the threat to him would be obliterated! The Gods and Goddesses of his court would come to see that they could be just as easily disposed of if they also chose to foolishly betray him. After all, they were nothing but weak pawns to him!
Apollo almost felt like laughing. His hate felt so good!
“Destroy the Moon Kingdom Hotaru… Kill all who stands in your way! Destroy! Destroy! AHAHAHAHAHA!”
RMM…RMM…RMM…
Many scenes flashed before everyone’s eyes. The buildings that Setsuna had mentioned were being destroyed; the once majestic structures were disintegrating into rubble and were thrown up into the air where they would be swallowed up by the dark sky. The air rang loud with people’s screams and cries for help as their blood was spilt onto stone streets. It was like a work of art to the Sun God’s eye. Red was staining everything. It was the best red colour that he had ever witnessed in his long existence.
Crumble…
Hotaru tread unblinkingly through the streets, her powers covering everything she passed and hungrily swallowed it whole. With a swing of her weapon, she brought down entire buildings. She could have demolished the entire city single-handedly if she chose to, but that would be child’s play. These people weren’t her true target. Her clouded sight was set at something bigger, something that almost begged to be destroyed by her merciful hand: The Palace.
The young woman ventured onwards and left behind her path of destruction until she reached the palace grounds, her birthplace. There she found her mother awaiting her arrival.
Tup. Tup. Tup…
“Hotaru!” Queen Serenity called to her misguided child. “Please stop this!”
Hotaru then did something her mother did not expect. To the woman’s horror, the girl grinned. The garden structure beside her abruptly exploded, but it did not slow the youth down at all. That was just a warm up.
“Oh no… She’s released too much power. She can’t control it!” Serenity realized. “What should I do…? She’s already beyond my limit!” The ruler was about to make the biggest decision of her life, and her heart was torn because of it. “Apollo...did you do this? Why...? My dear Hotaru...you really don’t recognize me, do you?”
The young woman continued forward with killer intent. Queen Serenity was running out of time.
“It is my biggest regret to see you in so much pain. I never expected for this to happen. To see our time of peace brought to an end by one of my own children. But...despite all of that, I do not hate you. No. As your mother, I shall save you. I will... stop you.” She vowed. “My life... This is all that I can do for you.”
“Wait! You mustn’t use that power! Think about what you’re doing!” Another voice rang out.
“Setsuna?!” The Queen exclaimed in shock. “What are you doing here? You were supposed to guard--”
The advisor shook her head at her Lady. “It’s all right. She’s safe. But I simply cannot allow you to fight alone!”
“But--”
Setsuna turned her sights onto Hotaru. The child was beyond reasoning now; all they could do was hope that they could jolt the woman out of her detached state. However, it would not be an easy task to accomplish and it deeply disturbed Setsuna concerning who they were dealing with. The stakes were high; if any harm were to befall Hotaru, the Queen would be devastated. However, on the other hand, if they failed they would all perish. Weighing out the consequences, there was only one logical choice.
“Forgive me.”Raising her garnet rod into the air, Setsuna called forth a planet-shaped ball of energy. It built upon her rod and gained more power as large quantities of aura poured into it. Yet as she was about to unleash her attack, Serenity cried out,
“NO!”
Wrrrriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiir!
Setsuna’s attack flew far away from her target, leaving herself momentarily wide open. Hotaru saw this and, unlike Setsuna, attacked without hesitation.
A bolt of purple light promptly sent her guardian flying to the side, severely injured.
CRACKLE!
“AHHHHHHHHHH!”
“Setsuna!” Serenity looked on horrified at the result of her actions. She hadn’t meant for that to happen! “Hotaru.” The mother turned her hurt gaze at her child. It appeared that she had no in the matter after all. “This… must end here.”
Queen Serenity gathered all the power she could muster into the palms of her hands and charged up. Hotaru, as she watched this display, knew exactly what was about to happen. With an unconcerned expression the dark-haired youth gathered her own power into her glaive. The power she had acquired earlier was overwhelming her; she was so consumed within it that she was addicted to the feeling. She wanted more, to destroy more, and finally bring an end to the pain that had ravaged her heart for so long.
“HAAAAAH!”
CRACKLE!
CRACKLE!
FWOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOOOOOOSHHHH!!!
The two powers collided and battled against one another. Already Serenity sensed their difference in power. There was no way that she could…
“Mother?!” Shouted a distressed voice. A golden-haired woman in a white dress stepped onto the grounds. “H-Hotaru?! You’re home?! What’s going on here...?”
Lubb Dubb!
“Stay back!” Serenity shouted to her daughter.
Lubb Dubb!
Finding another golden opportunity, Hotaru pulled out all the cards and poured in the rest of her power.
Lubb--
KABOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Serenity, her mother… and the Kingdom, all perished within a brilliant flash of white light.
The scene disappeared and reappeared within the desecrated garden of the Moon Palace. Hotaru sat in its center on a piece of unstained marble. The youth was quiet. Her dark-hair hung over her eyes, shielding her sight from the horrific view that she created.
Everything was ruined.
“Why…?”
The blood…
“Why?”
The corpses, the buildings becoming one with the sky…
Her lips quivered. “Why?!”
And then she remembered her mother…
“WHY?!” Hotaru screamed. She threw herself to the ground sobbing and choking on her own tears. She hit her fists against the hard surface and cut her hands. But it didn’t help; she couldn’t feel the pain. It was nothing compared to the guilt that she felt. It was no good, no good at all!
Frustrated, Hotaru finally punched the ground so hard that there was a loud crunch as her bones broke. It hurt, and a scream was torn from her throat. After she was able to calm down a little, she hunched over, her shoulders slumped, and weakly tried to hug herself. It was so cold.
“…Why… did it happen…?” She whispered to herself more quietly. The tears just wouldn’t stop flowing.
“I did this… I did it all! Everything! I killed them! ...I killed them! I--I killed… them… all…” Her sobbing was renewed. The sliver of sanity she still possessed grew dim. “Please, please…” She begged. “If only there was a way that I could repent for my sins.”
Behind her, Setsuna stood with tearful crimson eyes; she had somehow managed to stagger up onto her legs, only to find herself too late. Her Lady, Queen Serenity and the Kingdom, were all gone. Why was she the only one to survive?
The advisor was sorely tempted to bring her wrath down onto her Lady’s murderer. It would have been so easy to do so, given the state of Hotaru’s mental and physical health. However, the woman knew by logic that it was not the ‘child’ that should be blamed. Apollo-- that vile name instantly came to mind. He was the one to blame for putting Lady Hotaru, for all of them, through such a traumatizing ordeal.
Setsuna’s crimson eyes focused on the particles drifting off of Hotaru’s form. She was... disappearing? The chief advisor immediately understood; Hotaru had pushed too far past her limits.
“He took away everything important to me…” The green-haired woman angrily scowled. None had ever seen the woman this expressive. None that were alive now, that was…
Another small movement from the corner of her eye drew her attention to another body. Lady Hotaru’s twin…
“She’s alive?”
Hotaru’s ears perked up immediately. “Alive?” The word rang in her mind. “Who…?” She turned her head until her dark eyes spotted her sister. So she wasn’t dead!
“We need a medic.” Setsuna mumbled under her breath. Frustration laced her words; she knew the chance of finding a person with such a skill was even less than finding another person in these ruins alive!
Tup.
“Hotaru?”
“I’ll… disappear soon…” Hotaru was well aware of her own predicament. She could already feel her strength waning. But she couldn’t bear to leave things like this. Not like this. If there was one thing she could do that was good with her powers…
Before Setsuna could protest, Hotaru outstretched an open palm with her uninjured hand towards the golden-haired girl and infused her with her remaining energy. The wounds beneath her administrations began to heal.
With her energy finally depleted, Hotaru faded with a small smile surfacing onto her tear-stained face.
“My true power…” She whispered...
… and vanished.
“Good-bye.”
. . .
FLAAASSSSSSSSH!
The light faded, but instead of being greeted by expressions of hate or loathing that Hotaru had anticipated she saw nothing but tears on the Goddesses faces. She couldn’t understand why they were crying, but she wished they would stop. They almost made her want to cry as well.
“I see…” Ami was the first to speak. “Afterwards, you must have known that you would be reborn. So you sealed your heart away here. You had no desire to be found…”
“It’s…still not your fault Hotaru.” Haruka repeated. Her hands were clenched at her sides. None of them realized the emotional impact the destruction had based on what Setsuna had shown them, but now… now that they knew…
“I understand that’s why you want to stay here. But that’s exactly why you need to come back.” Minako whispered with a grim face.
“What?”
“Your body, your spirit is incomplete without your heart! Setsuna is trying to hold you back with her power, but if you don’t return soon, you’ll repeat the same tragedy again without even knowing it! So, please Hotaru! Please come back with us!”
“I’ll repeat that...again?” Hotaru’s dark eyes widened in realization.
Wait a second. Now that I think about it, I do recall sensing an unusual disturbance some time ago. However, it was somehow different from the rest.
Many lights were put out every day. Some were more pronounced than others. But the pain that was akin to hers awoke her memory. She had been awake ever since without truly realizing it. But since the Moon Kingdom’s destruction, Hotaru had no intention of going back and had gone through the trouble of setting up these defensive measures to ensure it. She was supposed to sleep forever. However, the connection that she had severed with her newly reborn-self had sparked alive again in her brief moment of weakness.
Could it be really true? Has the connection between myself and my body
have been resurrected? If it is... then...
“Please come back Hotaru...”
Everyone watched her with pleading eyes.
In truth Hotaru was still scared. If she regained her physical body she would be more than capable of repeating the rampage from long ago. The responsibility that came with such a freedom was a great burden. However, there was one thing that she knew for certain: If she remained here, and her body had indeed awakened, then tragedy would undoubted come full cycle.
I can’t allow that to happen ever again!
“All right…I will go with you.” Hotaru’s eyes flashed with determination now. The spectre held out her free hand, beckoning to her heart crystal and sent it forward. Although the woman’s transparent image had disappeared, the group of Goddesses noticed the lingering warmth that now radiated from the heart crystal. It was different somehow, almost more hopeful.
“We have Hotaru’s heart! Rei!” There was a silence. “Rei…?”
(Rei, Pluto)
I’m-- reaching my limit! Rei gritted her teeth. Her body was in a terrible condition after enduring hours without food, water or rest. Any minute now her stance or concentration will break, whichever happened first, and break the spell.
“Damn. Setsuna, I—I don’t think I can hold it for much...longer!”
…ping…
Rei froze. She had only left Setsuna unattended for a few hours, but the woman looked even more ragged than herself. The former advisor was trembling in a desperate attempt to keep her garnet rod lifted and her powers strong, but it came with a price and now Rei could truly see the toll that it took on her. Setsuna was perspiring badly, undoubtedly suffering from dehydration.
Wait a minute. How long has she been holding that barrier?! “Setsuna!” This is bad!
Amethyst eyes shot back to Hotaru. The barrier was weakening and Hotaru knew it. The Martian’s blood ran cold seeing the signs of consciousness from the drowsy woman inside. After witnessing that vision on Saturn, she did not want to ever encounter that.
If the barrier breaks, then--!
“Ugh…!” Setsuna’s stance faltered and the barrier wavered briefly. The place around them shook slightly, off balance.
“Mina, we’ve got trouble!” Rei told the blonde.
“Trouble?! What’s going on? Rei?!”
“I’m sorry,” but I have to break the link.
“REI?!---”
Snap
Rei regretted cutting the connection, but there was something dire that she needed to attend to first.
“Setsuna! Hang on!” The Martian rushed to the woman’s side. She promptly gave one quick look at the situation before attempting to focus her powers where Setsuna was.
Fwooooosh!
“We do not… have enough strength between us…” Setsuna gasped out. With Rei in her weakened state, it would only briefly prolong the inevitable at best.
“But what else can we do? We can’t give up now!”
I guess, we’ll need to use that after all… The former advisor darkly thought. She had sincerely hoped to return to that place under better circumstances.
“Concentrate on the barrier!” Setsuna instructed. “Do not lose focus, no matter what!”
“What? Hey! Where are you going?!” Rei grunted under the burden placed upon her shoulders. It was insane-- she never realized how much energy the other woman was expending for the procedure. “W-Whatever you have in mind, you better do it fast!!!”
Setsuna took a few steps back and took a deep breath. Her heart was still pounding, but she knew the punishment otherwise would be much more severe if she didn’t act now. With that, she transferred the remainder of her power and summoned a spell.
“Setsuna?!”
FWOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
(Rei, Moon Kingdom Ruins)
Rei’s stomach did flip-flops as they landed into a foreign setting. She didn’t know what Setsuna did, but the Martian knew that they were no longer on Pluto.
Rei barely blinked before she saw Setsuna speeding away into a large building structure up ahead.
“Set--”
Huh? Is that--a palace…? Ruins...? N-No way! It--It can’t be!
Tup! Tup! Tup! Tup!
Inside the palace Setsuna urgently sought out the throne room. The past memories assaulted her as she crossed the empty corridors, past the ornaments that used to hang from the walls that now lay on the floor in pieces, until she reached it.
The green-haired woman had to suck in breath when she finally stood before the throne room door. It broke her heart. Behind these doors, she would never see that person smile at her ever again. But it had no relevance to their current situation. There was only one person that she sought now.
There’s only one person who can help us now!
Creeeeeeak.
Tup. Tup. Tup. Tup.
Setsuna strode up the red carpet, following it to her destination. For up there, on the throne and held by a wall of crystallized ice…
“We are in need of your aid…”
The woman looked the sleeping figure in the face.
“Usagi.”
DOOOOOOM
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