(Martian Shuttle, Rei)
Things became pretty hectic after that. Unknown to the celebrating civilians, the preparations had already been long underway.
It took twenty-minutes to declare the unification of our forces, and another ten minutes to give out the orders and commands.
Eight hours after the given commands: Inventory of all our available resources had commenced; food, water, clothing, ammunition and outfit gear. The recruitment list was piling up by the minute and we needed everything we could get our hands on.
Twenty-four hours after the given commands: All participating military combatants were boarded onto the transport shuttles. Fifteen minutes to review the reports, five minutes between piles... Two minutes to send word to Zen to increase docking capacity through the opening of another ten ports. Thirty seconds to sign the signature and grant approval, one and a half seconds to breathe…
…Minako…
The preparation for battle was always strenuous but something at this scale...it’s in a league of its own.
Our strategic meeting came soon enough. Given the extent of our duties we were forced to conduct the meeting online, via projection. It was painfully obvious to everyone there that the mass majority of us were severely sleep-deprived. But that wasn’t about to stop any of us from listening to Setsuna’s careful instructions.
“...Uranus and Mars’s units will concentrate on breaking through the enemy’s front line, while Jupiter and Venus are to provide secondary support. We will delay the second wave until I give the signal. Do not give the command to attack until you are instructed to. Although power is important in battle, patience and strategy is what determines the victor in war.”
While the majority of us would focus on offence, Ami and Michiru’s people would be in charge of the backup support. Mercury, due to their technology and their advanced computer intelligence, will record statistical data on the field and relay those results to the tacticians in regular, periodic updates. Neptune’s forces on the other hand will be split into two units-- a small minority will join the battlefield in the fourth wave, after Earth, while the majority of their force will be assigned to medical aid.
Lastly, in the third wave... Earth will attempt to clear a path through the weakened enemy forces for the infiltration.
“The palace is our main objective. Apollo has hidden himself within it and is using it as his stronghold. It is very likely to be guarded by an army of his assassins. There is also high probability that we may be outnumbered. However… if we can infiltrate and defeat Apollo, their source of power, then the war will instantly end.”
Rei was sitting at the tactician table in the head Martian shuttle. It was a long, rectangular table that sat squarely in the middle of the lower floor in the bridge. Up until now, the room had been relatively quiet; many of her soldiers had been doing self-preparations, ie. final gear checks, weapon maintenance, whatever they needed. She couldn’t be sure if some of them prayed, but she wouldn’t have batted an eye if they did now. The overhead projector in the bridge displayed the Sun, their final battleground. Although they were still at a distance away, the anticipation that it was stirring up in the troops was not a good one—even by Martian standards.
The Sun…
The planet fiercely spat its flames at them upon their approach as if were daring the ‘infant’ alliance to discover what hid behind its imaginary guard. It took a question from one of the troops to snap Rei out of her trance. Once the matter had been dealt with, she remembered that she had much more to do. The pile of papers in front of her had diminished significantly over the past few hours, but there was still a handful and she was beginning to get tired; the words on the papers were starting to blur in her vision.
Suddenly there was a light pressure on her shoulder. She turned her head to see that it was Zen.
“What is it?” The question had come out harsher than she had intended it, but her officer didn’t even flinch.
“Still working away at it Your Majesty?” He gestured to the pile.
“Something like that,” she muttered back.
“You know...if you’d like, I could do those for you while you go and rest.”
“What?”
“You’ve been working non-stop since the alliance’s declaration. If you keep this up, you may not be able fight to your max potential in battle. Besides, isn’t that why you promoted me to the position of Commander? So I could help you with this kind of stuff?”
Rei eyed him with a disbelieving stare. She couldn’t imagine why someone would be so excited to do paperwork, but then again she supposed she was similar, granted, less expressive than he was, when she was given more responsibility for the first time.
“Hmm... All right, since you want to do paperwork so badly, here.” She cut the stack in two and gave one half to him.
“Huh? But--”
“I appreciate your help Zen, but I can finish these by myself.” She rose from her chair. “If you need me, I’ll be in my quarters.”
“Oh. O-Of course! Thank you, Your Highness!”
...Sheesh... The help I have to deal with. Rei didn’t know why she smiled at that. She was on her way to her quarters when she ran across Nozomi. For some reason the child was sitting all by lonesome in the corridor.
Hm? Is that...? What is she sulking about now? Rei had a good enough mind to walk right on by and leave her be, but, despite herself, she stopped right in front of the girl.
“So?” Nozomi didn’t even look up at the question. “What’s the problem now?”
When she remained silent, Rei sighed and dropped against the floor beside her. Nozomi quickly turned her head to stare at her superior with disbelieving eyes; she hadn’t expected her to actually stop on her account.
“I asked you a question and I’m not leaving until you answer it.”
“And you thought I act like a child...” the girl mumbled despite herself.
“Well, that’s because you are one.” She noticed the girl tense. Had that hit the mark?
“...I don’t like it.”
“Hm?”
“I don’t like being a kid! I wish I was more grown up like you and Zen.” She gasped when she realized what she had just said, and then turned her head away in shame.
Oh great, now I did it. She thought to herself. Now she won’t let me do anything!
“Why?”
“Huh?”
“Why do you want to be grown up so badly?”
“W-Well... It just doesn’t seem fair. You and Zen...You’re now the ruler and Zen is the Commander. But me...?”
“...”
“I’m not even a soldier...”
“I thought you didn’t want to be in the military.”
“Yeah, but--!! That was--”
Rei adjusted her sitting position. “Nozomi, do you remember our deal? If you train for five years and prove at the end of it that you’re stronger than your military counterparts, then you’re free to choose. If you really want to become a soldier later on, then you can.”
“I haven’t forgotten. It’s just...I want to fight now. Even though I helped you guys out on Uranus, Zen won’t let me help out this time. He said I was too young...”
Ah, I see. So that’s the problem.
“I agree. You are too young...” she saw the girl lower her head, “...for that position.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
“What you need to understand, is that this battle will be very different from the one on Uranus. Our enemy will not be human, Nozomi. They’re monsters.”
“Monsters?” She saw Rei fall silent and wondered what she was thinking. “But even if that’s true, you’re all going to fight anyway! I want to fight too!”
Rei shot her a sharp look and the girl clamped up. “On Uranus, I acknowledge that you were on the front line with Zen...but you were allowed to go because it was intended to be a peacekeeping mission. But this upcoming battle... it will be a vicious fight where both sides fully intend to wipe the other out.” She looked away and Nozomi felt the pressure around her drop.
Anyone can die in this fight. We were just lucky that none of us have so far.
“Due to the alliance, we have more experienced fighters now. They will be more suitable at the front lines than someone of your caliber. You’ll just get in the way...”
I knew it. Nozomi was so frustrated that she felt tears starting to sting her eyes.
“However...there is something you can do. It’s not as exciting as the front lines, but it’s a very important task.”
“You mean be part of the cheering squad?” She asked sulkily.
“No.”
This piqued the girl’s interest. “You mean I’d actually be doing something?! Well, what is it? Oh, c’moooon...Don’t keep me waiting! Spit it out already!”
“It’s guard duty.” She saw the girl blink, but as she continued on there was excitement growing in her dark eyes. “The person is a friend of mine, but she tends to be somewhat absent-minded at times so I could really use an extra pair of eyes on her. She’s also a Goddess. Are you interested?”
“What...?” So, the person she wants me to guard is a friend of hers? AND she’s a Goddess? “Of course I am! You can count on me, Sir!”
“Excellent. I shall inform her immediately then.” Rei remarked as she stood up. “In the meantime, go to the bridge and inform Zen. Have him equip you with the necessary armor and equipment. If there are any problems, tell him to speak to me. Understand?”
“Yes!” She was about to speed off when Nozomi remembered something. “Oh, I mean...Of course, Your Majesty.”
Rei watched her give a quick bow and then dash off down the corridor in high spirits. She almost chuckled at the sight.
She’s an interesting kid.
“Now, let’s see...I have to make a call and then get back to the paperwork.” She sighed. I guess a ruler’s job is never done.
As she walked towards her quarters, she couldn’t help but wonder how the others were fairing.
(Uranus Shuttle, Haruka)
Haruka gazed out of her bedroom window with a scrutinizing gaze. Beside her, emitted from her communicator, was Michiru’s projection. The ruler of Neptune analyzed her partner with a neutral face, being receptive to every detail and movement that the other woman unconsciously made; the occasional shuffle of her weight, the half-hearted sighs-- even the soft swaying of her sandy blonde hair. The serene atmosphere that the warrior carried about her was being committed to memory.
“Who would have thought…” Haruka finally mumbled. “…that the Sun we see isn’t just a hot, flaming ball of gas, but an illusion?”
“Yes, it does boggle the mind. However, it would explain how Ami’s people were able to design the Planet Core Defence System that all of us use now. I suspect that they must have modeled it after the Sun’s technology.”
“Yeah, that’s true. But knowing that isn’t going to help us. The Sun’s defence system is a lot stronger than any of our own. Setsuna said that it could take all of us to break its barrier and I believe her...You can sense it too, can’t you? The power that’s coming from that thing, he’s really down there...” Haruka shifted her gaze and locked eyes with Michiru. “It could be a rough battle ahead of us.”
The two women silently regarded each other, wordlessly contemplating the other’s stern face. No words were spoken; nothing was said; lips never moved. The warm beating of a heart sped up and cheeks blushed when emotions reached across the space to their other half. In a blink of an eye, their world dimmed and fell away. They were standing before one another now, both of them wrapped in a thin veil of light.
Nothing else, no one else…
Slowly, simultaneously, they both raised their hands and reached out. When hands clasped and fingers intertwined, smiles were finally revealed and eyes softened. One thought, one single precious thought…
I love you…
(Mercury Shuttle, Ami)
Ami typed furious in front of a monitor, completely forgetting everything else as she entered a new series of data points and created the necessary graphs. Figures flashed before her on the blue face-screen; in its center there were varying statistics based on the strength of their forces and their current provisions, while to the side her inbox flashed with a pile of online reports that awaited her approval. In a mechanical like fashion, the woman opened, read and replied to each message. Much of the time she frowned as she requested for additional information from the sender or suggested an alternative to the plan. On and on it went. It seemed to be a never-ending cycle, yet Mercury’s ruler knew she couldn’t stop now; she wasn’t the only one who was working hard. All around her people rushed back and forth-- either they were messengers delivering hand written calculations or they were technicians delivering the essential mechanical parts needed to upgrade the system. It was the everyday routine—but in a heightened frenzy.
Ami finished up the last set of reports. Upon clicking the send button, she leaned back into her seat with a relieved sigh and disengaged her headgear.
Whew. Now, I just need to wait for their replies…
She was about to relax when her inbox blipped again. Ami inwardly sighed, but when she saw who it was from she immediately sat up.
“Oh. It’s from Rei.” She had begun to skim through the attachments when something cool pressed into the side of her cheek and made her jump.
“Wha---?” She whirled on the spot as the cloth was drawn away, and found herself staring up at an innocent pair of green eyes blinking back. She almost couldn’t believe it.
“Makoto? W-What are you doing here?” Oh no... I must have been working on those reports for too long. I’m hallucinating now.
“Ahh…Well, I was supposed to send you my report, but our computers are sorta undergoing maintenance repairs right now. So, I came to give it to you myself! But...I can’t stay long though…”
“Oh, I see...” Ami mouthed as the taller woman handed her a disc. She turned her chair around and popped it into the system. “Hmm...I was wondering where this was.”
“Thought I forgot, didn’t you?”
“Well, it was a plausible explanation.” She lightly joked back.
Ami re-did the upgrades in a blink of an eye. In no time at all, she finished both tasks; she sent an approved documents back to their Martian friend and returned the disc back to its owner.
“It’s really busy over here, huh?” Jupiter commented as she pocketed the disc. There were rushing workers all around them.
“Yes. We’ve been working on the preparations even before the official declaration was made. It is a difficult job, but we are all doing the best we can. It’s all I can really ask of them.”
‘...’
“Umm...Is there... something bothering you, Makoto? Is there something on my face?”
“You’ve been pushing yourself again, haven’t you?” Makoto gently slid a hand under the other woman’s chin and carefully pulled her face up just until she could see her better. It was deceiving at a distance, but Ami was covered in a thin layer of perspiration and her eyes were slightly unfocused.
I thought so. She narrowed her green eyes.
“Hold still.” When she brought up the face cloth again, Ami’s began to protest—only to be shushed and gently pushed back into her chair. Makoto sternly looked at her with an almost motherly expression before shaking her head in a ‘what am I going to do with you’ way and continued with her task.
“Have you eaten lately?”
“Well…No…But I must finish the work that is assigned to me.”
“Yeah… but, you’re entitled to a break every once n’ awhile too, you know? You aren’t a robot.”
“Makoto...”
“I know your work is important, but if you don’t take care of yourself, then you’re just going to burn yourself out. There are people that worry about you, you know?”
Ami averted her gaze. “I’m sorry.”
“No. There’s no need to apologize…”
Makoto carefully considered what to say next. At times, she was uncomfortable with her words. How could express them so that Ami could understand?
“I know that there’s a big burden on you right now. Everyone is sending you all their reports and you have to go through each and every one of them just to make sure that we aren’t exceeding our limit. It’s a big job… there’s no doubt about it. But... can’t you rely on others just a little bit more?”
“…?”
“My father always told me, that taking pride in a skill that you are really good at isn’t a bad thing… but there can be times where that kind of pride can also become an unbearable burden. You start to think that you need to take the whole world onto your shoulders, like you can’t afford to stop or slow down, because if you do… you’d feel worthless.”
…Just being wanted…
…To feel needed…
“…”
“Can’t you see, Ami? You haven’t eaten and you probably haven’t slept at all these last few days. You’re hurting yourself! Can’t you let someone else take over for a bit while you take a short break? I know they might not be as fast as you are but it’s do-able, isn’t it?” She took her hands into hers. “Please? I’m really worried about you…”
Ami wearily stared at the pleading eyes. She did feel tired, and perhaps hungry too if she gave herself a chance to even think about food. Now that she did think about it, she didn’t know how long she had been working. When was the last time she actually relaxed? Her memory of the last few days was like a blur to her. But what she did know was standing right in front of her; the warmth that touched her as it did those many years ago. Understanding, unconditional love…
Makoto heart almost burst with joy when she watched her friend flag someone over and instructed them on what to do. She was secretly even more floored by the smile that graced Ami’s lips as she helped the shorter woman onto her feet.
“Come on, let’s go to the kitchen and get you something to eat. I’ll whip up something special for you!”
Ami weakly nodded and leaned against Makoto for support as she allowed herself to be led away. She couldn’t help but feel calm, and… happy.
With a content sigh she thought to herself,
What would I do without you, Makoto?
(Martian Shuttle, Rei)
Rei’s quarters were usually silent. The stack of papers that she had brought in with her lay atop of the desk, but there was no one sitting at the chair. To the far side of the room, the woman had dozed off on the floor. She was sitting upright against the tip of the bed with her sword by her side. However, it was not a peaceful sleep.
. . .
Her eyes were closed, but somehow she knew it was dark. However, it was not about to stay dark for very long.
Rei opened her eyes a crack when a light flickered in the darkness. There was a small, circular orange flame hovering in the space directly in front of her. Before she could comprehend its meaning, more lights lit up all around her. Soon, she was surrounded by a circle of them.
The woman sunk into a defensive position and waited for one of them attack, but the lights merely hovered in their respective places.
In the distance, something large shifted. Rei was startled when the ground began to shake. A terrible screaming filled her ears as the flames began to alternate between orange and blue.
‘W-What’s going on?!’
She gasped when she caught a glimpse of the being staring back at her from the shadows. The flames instantly scattered when a two-headed dragon lunged forward and began to attack them.
‘No! Get away from it!’
She reached out just as one of the flames was extinguished by the creature’s jaws.
‘No!’
. . .
“No!” Rei awoke with a start. Still a little shaky, the woman scanned her surroundings and recalled that she was in her quarters. She slumped back against the bed in relief. “Hah! Hah...hah...”
I guess I fell asleep... But...that dream!
She was distracted when there was a distinct bleeping coming from her clothing. Rei rummaged through the pocket and pulled out her communicator. She recognized the channel code, but she was reluctant to open it at the time. Did she really want Minako to see her like this? Despite herself, she pressed the button and Minako’s projection appeared.
“Hey. Long time no see.” Minako said wearily. She did a double take at Rei. “Did I call at a bad time?”
“No, not really... I was...just taking a nap.”
“A nap?! Awww... Lucky bum!”
Rei had to smile at that. “I take it that you guys are busy?”
“That’s an understatement.” Minako shrugged. “All of tacticians are in a meeting right now to finalize our strategies. It’s pretty intense in here.”
“Heh, I believe it. Who’s over there?”
“Well, aside from the informants, we have Taya, Setsuna and Michiru.”
“Wait. Did you just say Setsuna?” Rei saw Minako nod. “How long has she been over there?”
“Umm...well, for awhile now. I think ever since our meeting ended.”
...Shit. That stubborn woman is going to work herself to death!
Minako saw her partner frown. “I know. I don’t think she’s taken a single break since this entire thing began. I mean, I’ve tried telling her to take it easy, but she just won’t listen.” She glanced over her shoulder at something behind her and then turned attention back to Rei. “She’s working with Taya right now. I’m not sure what they’re working on, but I’m getting this feeling that something’s...wrong.”
“Wrong?”
“How to put it...? Setsuna is looking calm like she usually does, but...I’m getting the feeling that she isn’t telling us something. It’s not that I don’t trust her, it’s just...She’s been working really hard. It’s like she’s trying to work out every possible ‘what if’ there is since she got here. I dunno, it just might be me.”
“It could be. I mean, she is the head tactician. If there’s a flaw in her plans then there could be some pretty terrible consequences for the rest of us.”
“Yeah...”
The both fell silent.
“...So...what did you want to talk about?” Rei asked.
“Well, Setsuna said that we’ll be moving out soon... So, I was just wondering how you were holding up. I mean, we haven’t spoken since the declaration. And, umm...Also, I just wanted to say thanks for your support the other day. It meant a lot to me.”
Rei blinked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. You pulled through on your own.”
“Hah!” Minako grinned. “In any case...Seriously, how are you doing? I mean...you aren’t nervous at all, are you?”
“No. Not at all...” She saw Minako stare back expectantly.
“Honestly.”
The word made the Martian twitch. “Well...”
“C’mon.”
“I was just thinking...”
“About?”
Rei took a deep breath. It was now or never.
“There’s been something on my mind for awhile. Before we go and fight, there’s something that I need to know. Would you hate me... if I didn’t become a God?”
She could hear a silence from the other end of the line.
“...Why are you asking me this?”
“Think about it. Even though the people of Mars follow me, I’m still only human. If we survive this war, I’ll eventually grow old and die...if I’m lucky.” She added and took a deep breath. “After the war is over, my condition will continue to weaken me and I won’t be able to stop it.”
Setsuna’s right...
“Not even the medicine I’m taking can stop it. In a way...That’s worse than being with a human, isn’t it?”
“...You’re right.”
Rei tensed.
“One day you are going to grow old. You’ll probably get grumpier, and maybe, you’ll complain about your appearance too.”
“Mina, I’m serious!” Does she think this is a joke?
“I am too.”
Rei was startled when the woman met her eyes, nodding solemnly.
“I won’t deny it. Some things will change, no matter what we do...That’s just the way life is. But... even if everything else changes, the important things will stay the same. You’ll still be proud and courageous... You’ll still be protective of the people you love. Not to mention, you’ll always be a stubborn, hot-head who’ll never let me win at a game of cards.” She grinned. “...But... more importantly...you’ll always be honest with me, even if I can’t be honest with myself. I love you, Rei... I’m here for you now and I still will be even after this is all over.”
Rei wasn’t sure if she was breathing anymore.
“Besides, you can’t die on me. We have a promise, remember?” She winked.
When the woman found her voice again she said, “...Yeah...Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten.”
It’s strange...even though this could be the last time we can speak to one another like this...I don’t feel sad at all.
“...Thanks Mina.”
(Earth Shuttle, Usagi)
With a solemn face, Usagi eyed the passing lights from inside of her shuttle quarters. As they approached their destination, there was an orange light filling the room. From the inside it could be mistaken as light from a sunset, but the woman saw its true face. The stars outside became dim due to its intensity, a grim reminder that they too were like the stars. Going against the Sun, it was very possible that they too may be swallowed by its might.
Usagi placed a remorseful hand against the cool glass.
“We’re getting closer...” she whispered.
“Mm...”
Hotaru was sitting on one of the beds with a pensive expression upon her face. Despite the nearing danger, unlike the others, she was calm.
“Did you get Rei’s message?” She asked.
“Mm. She said that she would be sending a guard over. Though, I’m not really sure why...” She never noticed flicker of emotion in her sibling’s eyes. “Hey, Hotaru… I’ve been wondering about this for awhile now, but... what do you think our mother would say, if she knew what we were about to do?”
“…”
“When everyone came to our home, Setsuna showed us a vision. Do you remember it? In it, our enemy, Apollo...said that he had nieces.” Hotaru felt her heart skip a beat. It couldn’t be. “Sir Ares also mentioned your name. He asked Apollo where you were, and...Artemis? That was our mother’s old name, wasn’t it?”
“Usagi!”
“Our enemy...the one who we are to kill is our Uncle.”
Hotaru couldn’t believe her ears. She almost cursed Setsuna for allowing Usagi to see that vision as well; her sister wasn’t as stupid as some people thought she was.
“If you knew all of that then why did you say you’d fight with us?”
Usagi was silent for a moment. “...Because...”
Hotaru stared hard at her twin. She could see the doubt in her eyes. For all her earlier speeches, words were just words after all. However, she strangely found that she was not disappointed by this. In fact, she felt a little relieved.
“Mother was… She was always praising you for your intentions, Usagi. And if she were here now, I truly believe that she still would.”
“Huh?”
“Not only have you re-established connections with Earth, with our people, but you have also taken her place as ruler. I think she would be very proud of you.”
Usagi was momentarily speechless. “She loved us both.” She firmly said.
“In any case... You were right. Our enemy is our Uncle.” Their eyes met. “I’ll be honest with you. You don’t belong in the battlefield.”
Usagi’s blue eyes widened. “What are you saying?”
“Haruka was right. You may have power to fight, but you don’t have the will to use it. You should just stay here and wait until the battle is over.”
“But that’s--” She was about to say more but Hotaru’s raised a hand up for silence.
“It would also be...disrespectful to our mother’s sacrifice.”
“What?”
“She died so that you could live.”
I couldn’t stop myself. But because of her...I was able to snap out of it. That’s the only reason why they’re all alive now. She saved them.
“Stop and think about this for a second. If you go into battle, and somehow we both die...then who will be left to lead? The legacy that she left behind would be dead! And not only that...but you would let our people down as well. The people of Earth have placed their trust in you. If you perish in battle then who will be left to re-build the Kingdom?”
“...I...Well, that is...”
“Apollo’s power… you’ve never seen it before, have you? He is not a being to be taken lightly.”
He’s already seen you. There is no telling what he would do to you if the two of you met. That’s why...!! You must stay behind.
“On the battlefield, Usagi…Once you step onto that soil, into that tension, you will quickly realize that it is impossible to save everyone. In this war, no matter how much power you have, people will inevitably die. They will fall all around you, writhing and screaming in agony if they can scream at all. Do you really think you could handle such a reality? It is not as simple facing against a loved one in a practice match. It is far different from the training you have endured under Setsuna’s tutorage.”
Your heart is still slowly awakening to the reality which embraces you. You have finally accepted that you are the ruler, and there are people who look up to you and rely on you now. Try to understand that.
What am I trying to say is...
“Unlike our Mother you must protect yourself. You have to live! That’s why...I shall go and fight in your place.”
…you cannot follow me anymore.
…I’ll fight for you…
…………..I’ll protect you…
Bleep! Bleep! Bleep!
“Ah. It looks like we are approaching the planet shield. Setsuna is summoning us.” Hotaru muttered. “I should get going. Stay here, all right?”
Without hesitation, Hotaru turned her back on her sister and began walking towards the door. She had reached the doorway when she heard Usagi say, “Wait.” Reluctantly, she turned around as the blonde ran up to her.
“Pinky swear.”
“What?” Hotaru blinked back. She wondered if Usagi was joking, but she was dead serious. The blonde lifted her hand up and determinedly waited for her reply.
“Pinky swear that you’ll come back.”
Oh. A smile lit Hotaru’s face, but she could feel the heart in her chest clench at what she was about to say.
“...All right. I swear that I’ll come back.” She reached out and shook her hand.
Hotaru finally left the room and left her sister behind her. In her mind the promise had been a silly thing to do, but in her heart she was left torn up inside. She hadn’t thought it was possible to bear anymore scars, but she had just received another: The way her sister, the only remaining family that she had, looked at her so innocently as she saw her off—she was completely oblivious to what she was about to do.
Good-bye...Usagi...
(Shuttles orbiting the Sun)
Setsuna gave the signal and all of the rulers began to summon up their powers, leaving the rest of their people watching on in awe. With their auras shining brightly around them, at last contact was made with the shield; powerful streams of energy lashed out from the Sun in response and crashed head on with each individual. There was another flash of light as the energy streams were converted by each ruler into a massive extension of their power. In a blink of an eye the power was hurled back with such a force that the barrier instantly shattered.
“All units move out!”
(Sun, sometime after the landing)
“Bzz…crackle…crack--- enemy radius detected…” Mercury reported.
Just beyond the capital city’s limits, the Planetary Alliance was busily establishing camp. The terrain was as the tacticians had anticipated; there was desert as far as the eye could see, and high gusts of wind upon their arrival. While up above, there were swirling, dark gray clouds.
At the furthest most site Mars and Uranus troops were marching into formation. The soldiers obediently lined up in rows, all facing forwards as the wind blew sand into their faces. Despite the discomfort none of them moved. At the very front Zen and Uranus’s three commanders rallied morale, while Rei and Haruka huddled close together and strained to make-out Ami’s updates from the Ami.
“What was that Ami?!” Uranus shouted into her head speaker.
“She just said hold on,” Rei shouted back over the wind.
(Mercury Shuttle, far south of the City)
From the other end Ami signalled to her communications group to flick a switch on the back wall. The pair of twin turbines outside the station promptly sprung to life. As the blades gained momentum, energy was funnelled towards the radar plates—the crew within the shuttle cheered as a gigantic map of the terrain flew up on the overhead projector. It depicted where their forces had landed with yellow dots and the foreign signatures with red. However, it appeared that their infiltration had not been quite the surprise they were hoping it to be; the City of the Gods was completely surrounded by a growing mass of red, blinking lights.
“Radar initiated! Channels are successfully opened!”
“Red body mass is growing at a steady 2% rate! Error reading is greater than 4!”
“Adjust station one’s instruments to level ten, and lower station two’s to five!” Ami commanded.
“Adjustments complete! Now re-calculating… Red body mass is currently growing at a rate of 0.2! Error reading is now 0.00008!”
Several more adjustments were made until Ami finally re-tried her communications.
(Sun, desert)
“crac—Can everyone hear me now?”
“Yeah, we hear you loud n’ clear!” Haruka shouted back.
“All right, then I will begin with the briefing. At this moment our computers are picking up enemy signatures surrounding the City in a circular-wide radius of approximately 3km. Also, it appears that their numbers are steadily increasing, but we haven’t been able to pin-point where they are coming from yet. Therefore... there is a high probability that our plan of action will continually be shifting throughout the fight. Both Setsuna and myself will relay the messages if there are any changes. I am now switching over to Setsuna!”
Bleep!
“This is Setsuna speaking. As I am informed, the enemy has completely surrounded the City. Therefore, the direction in which we launch an attack is now irrelevant. To successfully infiltrate, we will simply need to clear a path long enough for you to get through. Our current plan of action is as follows. Concentrate heavily on long distance fire and try to draw a portion of their wall away from the main masses. We will try to diminish their numbers for now! …You may begin when you’re ready…”
Setsuna’s words barely trailed off when Haruka transformed.
“Uranus Planet Power, Make-Up!”
FLAAAAAAASH!
“A long distance attack huh?” The blonde loosened up her shoulders. Her green eyes were already flashing eagerly in anticipation. “Okay then! Are we all set to go?!”
Rei glanced behind them at their front line. She was going into battle with the knowledge that, once again, this was going to be it for many soldiers. As hard as it was, she nodded to Haruka and gave her the go ahead.
“World… SHAKING!”
Wham!WhiiiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR-----KABLAM!!
In the distance, a column of dust flew up into the air. From Ami’s side, there was a small hole in the enemy forces depicted on the map. Almost immediately she spotted reactionary movement.
“The enemy forces are on the move!”
“Are they all moving or is it just the front flank?!” Setsuna demanded.
“Hold on... A quarter of their numbers are advancing towards Rei and Haruka’s position! Confirming... Yes, none of the others are budging. It is just the one section!”
“Initiate the Martian ‘Pincer’ formation! Surround them from all sides and then close in!”
“Does it ring a bell, Haruka?” Rei was practically grinning ear to ear as their enemy blackened the horizon.
“Shut it! You just better hope that it works this time!”
“It will if your soldiers can follow the formation!”
“Hmph. Well I guess we won’t know ‘till we try!” She sunk into an offensive position. “Here we go!!”
(Venusian Shuttle)
Where Setsuna was based she could barely make-out the backs of their front line from the camera monitors. There was something about their enemy’s movement that disturbed her.
Why did only the one section move? Do they mean it to be a defensive tactic to test us? Even so, their numbers can be easily worn down if their casualties exceed that of their growth.
Wait a minute.
“Mar and Uranus have engaged with the enemy!” Ami radioed in. “Enemy numbers have been caught within the trap. Their numbers are rapidly decreasing!”
“…”
“From the initial quarter we are approaching twenty-five percent remaining… nineteen percent… eighteen, seventeen…”
“…”
“…Two…one… The enemy unit has successfully been defeated! There are still no movement from the remaining mass.”
The enemy unit has been annihilated, and yet none of the others have moved? Why? Are they purposely going to leave the one side vulnerable?
“Advance the front line one kilometer!” Setsuna ordered.
The green-haired woman stared at the disappearing front line until half a kilometer later…
“Approaching target. Half a kilometer has been gained---Wait! Enemy radius is rapidly expanding! It’s covered the front line! No, the enemy’s territorial influence is passing us!”
It was a trap?!
“Pull back!”
“It’s no use! Current projection has reached five kilometers!”
A scream erupted out of the shuttle’s speakers.
“What is happening out there?!”
(Front lines)
In the battlefield, the frontline was swamped by a red wind. The gust swept through their numbers and instantly induced light-headedness amongst the soldiers. However, it was only the beginning; the longer the Alliance’s troops were exposed to the toxic atmosphere, the greater the anxiety in them intensified. Many of them had begun to shiver despite being outfitted with armor; a sense of overwhelming hopelessness clawed its way deep into their bodies and drew many of them to whip their heads around as if an invisible presence were encircling them.
Rei blinked back against the sea of red, stubbornly resisting its effects. The unknown substance wasn’t quite as thick as she had initially perceived it to be, but it still inhibited her vision nonetheless. It was now nearly impossible to tell which direction to venture in without encountering harm’s way.
“Ami? Ami, can you hear me?” Rei tried contacting the woman. She cursed when all she received was static.
Damn it! Just what is this fog? It’s jamming up the radio signals! The Martian barely noticed the inkling of a shadow forming behind her.
“Rei, behind you!” Haruka cried out. She instinctively dodged the assassin’s downward strike as Haruka lunged forward. The blonde took it down in one strike.
Slash!
Rei break-rolled and ran over to her companion’s side. “W-Where did that thing come from?”
I didn’t even sense it! Does this fog have anything to do with it?
Haruka gritted her teeth and whipped out her sword. “I dunno, but there are a ton more!”
“But that’s impossible! We were at least two kilometers away from where the enemy was, weren’t we?”
“Tell that to them! World… SHAKING!”
Kablam!
(Venusian shuttle)
Back at the Venusian shuttle, Ami was relaying the current statistics to Setsuna.
“Enemy numbers are increasing exponentially within the radius! T-They’ll be outnumbered if this keeps up!”
Our forces should not have encountered the enemy this soon. They were still a distance away from where the sensors were picking up their signatures. However...it appears that the enemy are materializing out of thin air.
...Wait a moment.
“Ami, please perform a spiritual scan on the field!”
“…”
“Scan is complete. It has been confirmed. Spiritual ratings far exceed that of normal dimension perimeters and they are still rising!”
“!” That place is--- “Jupiter, Venus and Neptune units, move out! Earth, remain where you are and continue on standby for backup support!”
“Setsuna, where are you going?” Taya inquired the woman.
“To the battlefield.”
“But you are a tactician! It is far too dangerous for you to go out there!”
“I can assure you that I am not defenceless,” she reassured her. “There is something that I must do. Please take over in my absence. I have faith in your abilities.”
“Wait!”
If my hypothesis is correct, then it will not matter how many of the enemy numbers we defeat. They will continue to multiply endlessly because he turned this ground…
…into a spiritual graveyard!
(Mercury shuttle)
Ami pushed herself up from her desk. She already knew how the situation was turning out but out of morbid curiosity she glanced at the overhead projector again. The numbers were indicating the worst.
“The enemy keeps multiplying, while our own forces are… No, the only way for our plan to succeed now is to force our way into the city in one massive attack. We must break through their line!”
“Your Highness, please wait!”
“Don’t try to stop me.” Makoto is out there fighting right now.
“I-It’s not that!” The technician shuddered. “Our machinery seems to have lost Lady Hotaru’s signal!”
“What? She’s missing?”
“Please forgive us! We don’t know how it happened, but suddenly she just disappeared from detection! The radar cannot sense her presence anywhere!”
KABOoOoOoOoM!
The entire ground beneath the shuttle shook with a tremendous force as a blast sounded in the air. Everyone was sent off balance and was forced to grip onto any solid, stable object for support.
“W-What was that?!” One of the crew members exclaimed.
Ami looked to the overhead map and noticed that a massive hole had appeared in the enemy’s forces. There was another startling explosion before another chunk of the red mass was eliminated.
I think…I’ve just found her… Her expression was stern. But what is she doing down there? Earth’s forces, the current representative body for both the Earth and the Moon, was instructed to stay and guard our back flank.
That was when it dawned on the woman.
Wait! She’s isn’t going to… Oh no! I need to get down there right away!
“Take over while I’m gone!” She shouted over her shoulder as she dashed out of the bridge.
“But—Your Highness!”
(Earth Shuttle, Nozomi)
RUMbLe…
“W-Woah!” The girl clung tightly onto the hallway railing for support. “D-Damn it! What in Mars are they doing out there?!”
Grr… This is just ridiculous! Of all the things to happen when you need to go to the bathroom!
Nozomi continued to grumble to herself as she waited for the explosions to die down in intensity. The girl had started on a self-rant about Hotaru’s miraculous transformation when a pool of black particles began to form in the dim corridor behind her.
--I mean what kind of growth spurt did she hit?! She’s taller than me now! Not to mention she’s miraculously older looking and speaks all intelligently n’ all, and… I wonder if she’s out there fighting right now... She seemed like she was in a huge rush to go somewhere.
“Lucky bum,” The girl sighed. She was a short distance away from Usagi’s room now.
I know Sir Rei meant well but what’s the point in guarding someone who’s already being protected by the entire army? It’s not like the enemy will ever make it back here.
…Artemis…
“Hm?” Did… someone just say something? “Hey. Is somebody there?”
“I don’t suppose you’ve heard stories of the Sun Kingdom, Nozomi?”
The girl peered into the back hall behind her but it was too dimly lit to see anything.
“Look, what is your problem? Stop hiding around that corner and come out! It’s not like I’m going to hurt you.” She took a step towards the dark area. Is it that King guy again? “If it’s Endymion or whatever your name is I already told you! Usagi can’t see anyone right now. I’m supposed to be guar—”
Swip--!
“Aah!!”
A black substance had shot out of the shadows and wrapped tightly around her forearm.
“W-What?! What is this thing?!” She began to panic.
“As the stories go, they say Apollo used an army of children, armed with the knowledge of aura suppression, to spy upon the other Gods and Goddesses in his court for him.”
“Rrg!!! LET GO OF ME!!!” She snapped out of shock and began to struggle against the sludge-like substance. She threw a series of punches, karate chops, and even delivered a direct roundhouse kick to it, but all of her attacks were absorbed like it was rubber. All the while, the girl thought her heart was going to burst from panic; there was a cold chill spreading up her arm and throughout her entire body from the point of contact. Fear and exhaustion spread with it like a virus.
D-Damn… Why… am I get--ting… so tired…?
Nozomi clumsily stumbled onto the tips of her toes in a last ditch attempt to stay upright, but her balanced failed her; all it took was one strong tug to drag the girl down face first onto the floor.
Thud!
Nozomi felt paralyzed. There were voices whispering inside of her head and the world was spinning as she sensed that something was inching towards her. Despite the nausea she attempted to look up for some clue as to what was going on, but she found that couldn’t move her head; the colour in her eyes dulled and they became hollow when another pair of bright eyes found hers. In that instant all sense of consciousness began to fade.
...Sir Rei!
(Earth Shuttle, Usagi’s room)
Usagi remained dutifully in her room as her sister had requested. However, as soon as the tremors had started she knew their source; the woman could already picture her sister in the midst of battle, wielding her silence glaive as she gracefully decimated their enemy’s numbers with unrivalled skill and power.
Hotaru...
The rumbling continued to decrease in intensity. Distance; she was painfully aware of the distance that separated them.
“I’ll be honest with you. You don’t belong in the battlefield.”
Usagi trembled.
“It would also be...disrespectful to our mother’s sacrifice. She died so that you could live.”
She shut her eyes tight.
“The people of Earth have placed their trust in you. If you perish in battle then who will be left to re-build the Kingdom?”
You’re out there fighting this instant, aren’t you? She walked over to the window and peered out of it. In the distance she could make out swirling clouds and hear the distant clashing of blades. From where she stood, the battle didn’t appear to be as grim as her sister had described it to be.
Lately...I can’t help but feel that you’ve been acting strange. When we met with the people of Earth and they attacked us, why didn’t you try to fight back? I asked you many times why you didn’t, and each and every time you’ve avoided the subject. You accuse me of faking a smile, but you also do the same...
“You were adamant about fighting in this war the very moment Setsuna had mentioned it. But, this isn’t just about protecting me, is it?”
Sir Ares had asked Apollo where you were. While you were missing from home, were you with him? But...our Uncle betrayed our mother. Does that also mean that he betrayed your trust as well?
Do you hate them that much?
She thought back to their pinky swear promise. Now that she thought about it, Hotaru had said something very strange during their conversation.
“If you go into battle, and somehow we both die...then who will be left to lead?”
Usagi’s mouth opened in a wordless gasp. It couldn’t be.
No... Don’t tell me you plan on sacrificing yourself!
(Battlefield)
“bzzt—The dimension over the city is warping! Spiritual levels are still rising!”
(Earth Shuttle, Usagi)
“No! I’ve-- I’ve got to stop her!” In haste she stepped towards the door, but was surprised when it abruptly opened by itself. A familiar figured stepped inside and the door slid shut behind her.
“Oh! Nozomi… You frightened me for a moment there. I assume you found the restrooms without a problem?”
“…”
The girl remained motionless. Her chin was tilted downwards so that her bangs hung over her eyes. Usagi unconsciously shivered at the sight of the child. She never found people of other planets repulsive or foreign in any disgusting, alien type of way, but the young Martian’s aura was something else entirely. Unstable—the word came to mind.
Where did this chilling atmosphere come from?
Any second now she expected the young girl to tilt her head to the side and beam up at her with a big grin like she always would. Then she would go into a rant about how great ‘Sir Rei’ was and how the Moon ruler should just be ‘a good girl’ and stay put while she’s assigned to guard duty, thus putting the blonde’s unfounded fears to rest.
Usagi had hoped.
“Nozomi…? Is something wrong? You’re being awfully quiet.”
“…Artemis…”
Artemis?!
A fierce wind suddenly tore throughout the room and Usagi was forced to step back with her arms up to shield herself from the icy entity.
“N-Nozomi?!” To her horror, Usagi watched the young Martian’s head slowly come up and made eye contact with her.
She has crimson eyes.
Nozomi broke out into a maniacal laughter as darkness erupted within the room and swallowed everything.
Hotaru!
“AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!”
(Battlefield)
Ting! Ting! SLASH!
They just keep on coming! There’s no end to them in sight! Haruka grunted as she cut through five shadow assassins.
Meanwhile, a few meters away, Rei was having the exact sentiments.
If we cut one down, three more take its place! It’s just like on Venus, but worse!
“HaH!
SLASH!
“Stay down!” She roared as more tauntingly materialized before her eyes. The newly re-formed group of the enemy charged forward to challenge the enraged soldier, only to disintegrate when an aquamarine light broke through the mist.
Sheeeeen…
“What?!”
“Deep…SUBMERGE!”
WhiiiiiiiiiiiIIIIRRRRRRRRRR----KABLAM!!!
“KREEEEEE?!?! ”
Shroom!
“Push forward!” Michiru shouted to them. Ami and Makoto had also joined the fight behind her.
“What?!” Haruka shot back. “But isn’t that suicide?!”
Can you not sense her? She is already gathering power--!
“Hotaru has left her post with Earth’s forces and is taking matters into her own hands! If we don’t hurry she’ll lock us out! Look!”
“Lock us out?” Uranus whipped her head towards the Capital City and instantly she felt a huge spiritual pressure pull down on her body. What?! Haruka gritted her teeth and felt her eyes go wide. Along the perimeter of the city there was purple lightning crackling in the air.
I see it! Her barrier is still incomplete. Hotaru must be trying to initiate it from a distance! But if she were to make it to the city, then it will be impossible for us to get in!
“HAH!!” Haruka then lunged forward and struck down another group of enemies. No matter what, I can’t let that happen! “Everyone! Ignore the foot soldiers and head for the city!”
“But what about Setsuna?!” Ami shouted.
“Knowing her, she’s probably already on her way here. But whether she catches up to us or not is up to her. We’ll fight without her if necessary!”
“Understood!”
“Setsuna? But what about the others?!” Minako protested behind her. “We can’t just leave them here! Look around you! Can’t you see what’s happening?!”
Fear grew in the blonde’s eyes as the hoarse screams of the fallen tore across the field. They were still falling in droves all around them. No matter where they looked, it was impossible to block out the carnage and destruction from their minds.
“So many have already died! Can you really tell us to abandon them when they need us the most?!”
Minako’s blood ran cold when Haruka whirled on her with a stern expression.
“Don’t make me repeat myself. I said leave them!”
“What?!”
“Our primary objective was to infiltrate the City of the Gods! You already knew that we would have to leave them at some point, and that time is now!”
You are still too inexperienced to understand the priorities…
“Don’t become hung up over what is in front of you! Open your eyes! We can fight here forever and still do nothing for them!”
To their side, Rei guarded herself and counterattacked with a fiery strike. Another three shadow assassins perished. They were replaced by five more, forcing the raven-haired woman to leap back from harm’s way. The two Martian soldiers nearby were not as lucky; they were instantly swallowed up by the multiplying masses.
Damn it!! Rei cursed in frustration.
By now the determination in Haruka’s eyes were casting doubt over Minako’s wavering blue.
“Our real opponent is inside! This is why we’ve been training so hard together! Because it will take every one of us to defeat him! If we stay and fight out here, we’ll eventually tire out and die, just like them!” She pointed to the piles of corpses nearby. Behind her, Michiru, Ami and Makoto concentrated on clearing a path through the enemy numbers.
“Deep…SUBMERGE!”
“Sparking…Wide Pressure!”
“Shine…Aqua Illusion!”
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
“But there is a chance if we defeat Apollo. If we stop him then the war will instantly end. Just like Setsuna said! We can save millions by sacrificing the lives of a few!”
What is crueller in the long run? What method will save the most? Is my command unreasonable? Do you… think that I want to sacrifice any at all?
“Tell me Venus Minako… between staying here and waiting for death… or ordering the leave for a chance… WHAT WOULD YOU DO?!” Haruka roared.
Minako stumbled back and swallowed hard. It felt like a lump had grown in there since the last time she spoke. She knew that Haruka was right, but it wasn’t fair.
I’ve only met my people and was truly accepted for who I am… and now, to save them, I have to abandon them? But, who will die in my absence? They are all precious to me!
SLASH!
The hairs on the back of the Venusian’s neck rose when a cool wind brushed up against her. Venus’s elite guard broke past the line and aided the Goddesses in their goal to farther ahead.
“Clear a path for them! Do whatever it takes!” A male’s voice gave the command. Then, in a softer, reassuring tone he advised his ruler, “There’s no need to worry about us! Rest assured... we will be able to handle this!”
“Render?!”
The young man was panting for breath, but he still wore a confident smile on his face. He was no longer garbed in his regular soldier’s uniform, but wore the special elite guard armor; its golden pieces and Venus’s insignia gleamed proudly upon its new master.
“It is not only our duty, but our wish to serve you! Please go on ahead! Even if we were to fall here, today, keep in mind that we came here willingly. Keep no regrets in your heart, no matter what the outcome!”
White lightning struck in the distance ahead, wiping out the wall of enemies that adamantly blocked their route.
KABLAM!
That power! Minako and the other’s hearts skipped a beat.
“It’s Artemis!”
The man materialized his spear and smiled pleasantly despite being surrounded by the enemy. However the deceiving gesture bared its destructive fangs with a single swing of his arm! They were no longer!
Swish-----
“KREeEeEeE!!!!”
Shroom!
“Like the young man has said, there is no need to worry! I will also remain here and command our forces in your stead!” With that Artemis unleashed another thunderous bolt of energy and split a clear path for his comrades.
“There is it!” Haruka cried out. But her relief shrivelled away when purple lightning to the East Side of the City tore another path through the enemy lines.
It’s Hotaru! The wind ruler briefly glimpsed the dark-haired woman before she disappeared behind the black bodies.
We don’t have any time to lose! Uranus sprinted down the path Artemis had cleared for them only seconds before with Michiru, Ami, and Jupiter following closely behind her.
“Mina!” Rei approached the hesitant blonde and saw her look back uncertainly. She could see the answer in her blue eyes. It was obvious that Haruka had gotten through to her, but the inner conflicting arguments still loosely lingered there.
The Martian gritted her teeth and she seized the other woman’s hand!
“Come on, don’t just stand there!”
It was a race against Hotaru now! Both groups hurriedly cut through the enemy ranks, eager to reach the City of the Gods, while unconsciously denying the other’s party’s sense of mercy and honour. They had all fought and trained as a group, as a team that had persevered through all the struggles for this one chance. Why should that change now? Why should one person be allowed to suffer and fight alone?
Both Hotaru and the other Goddesses broke through the enemy lines and sprinted across the last stretch to the city limits. It all came down to timing and they were both unbelievably close. Whether it was desperation or the strength of their wills, all it took was one step; one step over the invisible line and Hotaru’s spell sprung to life and encased the entire city within one massive, dome barrier.
“Oof!”
WhoooOOOOOOOOOSH!
(Hotaru, Eastside City of Gods)
Hotaru’s balance wavered as she felt the massive pull on her powers. The spell had drained her terribly, but she assured herself that the effort would be rewarded in the long run.
With a curious gaze, she peered at her creation up and down; it stretched over the city, looming over her once to-be home as a new night that had descended with the promise of destruction. At the same time, however, it was not a mere messenger of doom but a shield. Whatever should happen within its spelled walls should stay inside.
It was supposed to be perfect. Her carefully thought out plan was nearly flawless in every aspect except for one, and she had just discovered it.
“Hotaru!”
“Usagi?!” Hotaru whipped her head around in question to the empty space. The call to her heart had been strong and recent. There was no doubt about it; his stench in this deed was undeniable.
Apollo!
Hotaru bit down hard on her bottom lip and curled her fingers into shaking fists. Her aura crackled by her sides like ravenous serpents ready to devour the fallen King of Gods.
“I won’t forgive you!”
(Rei, Southside of City of Gods)
shf…shf…
Rei groaned as she pushed herself up onto her knees. For a brief second, it slipped the Martian’s mind of where she was. But upon quickly scanning the foreign surroundings around her, she proposed that she had been sent flying into a new world.
Ugh...What is this place?
She blinked as she mysteriously felt her spirit being beckoned by the mysterious structures. There were tall, golden buildings that towered over them, guarding the motionless history that remained engrained within their dusty walls. Similarly, the sandy streets below, where they stood, were vacant of all life for possibly centuries now. Only old footsteps of the fallen remained preserved within the ancient grains.
Rei gathered some courage and walked forwards to where she bent down to observe such a mark. The wind scraped across it and shifted the grains of sand a bit, but it could not entirely extinguish its existence. Out of morbid curiosity, she touched it. Instantly, a peculiar sensation flooded into her. In her mind’s eye she could see the backside of a man. He was a golden haired individual and was staring up at the sky in sad thought.
“…Why is it so wrong to want to be with her…?”
He began walking forward into the city.
“--ei...Rei! Hey Rei, are you all right?!” Someone shook her shoulders. The Martian snapped out of it and jumped up to her feet to find the others observing her with curious expressions.
“You were spaced out.” Haruka offered.
“Huh? I was?” But, just now...What did I just see? Who was that person?
“Yeah, but then again, I guess I can’t blame you. This place is pretty amazing, isn’t it? I’m still kinda surprised that we all managed to get through before the barrier came up.”
It was a close call. I wonder if Setsuna made it as well…
“Hey, where do you think you’re going?”
“Well, we can’t stand and wait around just because we made it this far. Things are going to get harder for us from here on.” Rei advised her friends as she walked past them. “We should get moving and try to catch up with Hotaru before she does something she’ll regret… because of her, we’re already down one person. Without Setsuna, it’s two. We can’t afford to lose Hotaru as well.”
It was true. Now that they’ve been isolated from the outside world, it was impossible to escape. They needed all the strength they could get.
Some of them hesitantly peered back at the chaotic battlefield raging on at a distance away. Their dearest friends and comrades were all struggling for survival amongst the thunderous lightning and roaring wind over there.
“Bzz—crack… Uranus Commander Kali Auranos is withdrawing from battle. Condition is unknown.”
“Neptune medical units 20 to 22 are to intercept and provide medical aid!”
“Ksss…kss… A quarter of Venus’s elite guard has been annihilated!”
“Temporary withdraw unit!”
“… Unit refuses to retreat!”
“Then send in Earth’s units four to ten! The rest shall guard our back flank!”
“…Orders have been received and are moving out under the direct leadership of King Endymion!”
“What? That isn’t what I specified!”
“Communications to Earth’s units four to ten have been cut off.”
“…”
“We can save millions by sacrificing the lives of a few!”
“WHAT WOULD YOU DO?!”
The group reluctantly turned their backs to the pain they left behind. It still existed, and they acknowledged that, but they would no longer allow its influence to stray them from their paths.
We must go forward, even if it leads to our destruction.
…But we are never alone. For those who are precious to us, and for the future…
…Together… we will step forward and fight for this one chance!
Back to Heartfelt Desires Index - Back to Sailor Moon Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction