(Rei)
“Huff…Huff…Huf—ahh..ah…”
My entire body hurts.
In the face of fatigue the proud woman forced her eyes open and squinted up at the darkness through hazy eyes. She hated it. She truly, undeniably, loathed it. In the beginning there had only been darkness. It had been everywhere she looked; as she ventured through life as a child she watched in disgust as that same darkness festered within the souls of men. And now, as she lay here as a ragged mess, was she to be forever trapped by the same darkness?
Rei exhaled a deep breath and her body was cold, but in the distance she could hear the crackling of fire.
What happened to me? I remember that I was chasing after Hotaru, but then... she suddenly disappeared from sight. Everything went black. The next thing I knew, there were these big, glowing eyes staring down at me. A monster! It was that thing that I saw in my dreams... And that flame, I never felt anything so powerful! I-I couldn’t move!
…Was I shaking?
I was trembling, wasn’t I? Why am I trembling now?
Am I afraid?
“REI!!!!!”
“Rei.” Her eyes snapped open. “Rei. Get up! This is no time to be lying around,” someone impatiently snapped.
The Martian weakly craned her head to get a better look at the irritated voice. Fierce aquamarine eyes met hers, and were threatening to burn a hole through her own if she didn’t promptly comply.
Great. I died and went to Hell and she’s still here.
“If you can move, then I would suggest standing up. I can sense that our foe is nearby.”
“You don’t have to tell me that!” Rei snapped as she moved to stand. Her legs were somewhat shaky, and she immediately noted a dull throbbing against her temples. It made concentrating that much more difficult in her somewhat weakened condition.
“Require any assistance?” Neptune’s ruler arched an eyebrow. Her offer was shot back with a glare of contempt.
Come on, Rei. Don’t lose your temper. She isn’t worth the energy! Rei pulled an arm across her chest and stretched the stiff muscles. She then proceeded to loosen up the rest of her equally stiff limbs in a similar manner, all under the irritating watchful eye of her companion.
Twitch
“Do you have to stare?” She threw over her shoulder.
Rei knew that Michiru was normally a patient person, but if her tight lip and the glint in her eyes were any indication then the Goddess was losing that virtue very quickly.
“In case you haven’t noticed, Rei, we are the only two people here.”
“You were waiting for me? What a surprise,” Rei turned on her heel and faced the woman. “I was under the impression that you would ditch me if you ever had the chance! After all, you think that you’re so superior and mighty to everyone else just because you’re a Goddess! Why would you waste your time on someone who is only human?”
Michiru clenched and unclenched her fists, struggling to fight down the swell of aura threatening to break her control. She couldn’t believe how insolent this… this child was!
“We don’t have, time for this!” She stressed urgently. “Yes, I admit that I would have preferred to be with anyone else other than you. But unlike you, I, for one, am willing to put my personal feelings aside for what’s important.”
Rei was momentarily taken aback. All of the pent up anger that she had revelled in seconds before suddenly seemed so shallow. She opened her mouth—she wanted to say something back, anything, to lash out and repay this sickening feeling that the other woman had inspired within her. But no, at the last minute she bit the bullet and suppressed it.
As much as I hate to admit it, she’s right. Our first priority is to survive. If we can somehow get out of here and reunite with the others then we may stand a chance against Apollo.
“You said that we were the only ones here. Are you’re sure about that?” Rei asked again.
Michiru closed her eyes and drew in a long, deep breath. “Yes.”
“But… they aren’t dead, right? No, they can’t be. We’ll just have to believe that they’re all right! For now, we should concentrate on finding a way out of here!” The Martian swung her gaze around the void, but was met with a dead end no matter where she looked.
Geh.
It all looks the same! What’s going on...? Why are my senses going crazy? My head is buzzing! How in the name of Mars are we supposed to find a way out of here?
“This place…” Michiru narrowed her eyes, “...is nothing, yet is everything at once. Although it appears to be empty, I can feel our enemy’s presence throughout every inch of this space. Most likely, we are being watched as we speak.”
“Then what should we do? Other than blindly walking into an enemy trap, do you have any bright ideas?” She was irked by the woman’s smile. Behind all of those sparkles, there was a smug look and Rei knew it. “What with that look? If you have an idea then just spit it out already!”
“I do have one proposal…” She began.
“And?”
“It is likely to fail.”
“What do you mean?” Rei crossed her arms in impatience. She disliked these guessing games.
“To put it in simple terms, it is because I am with you.”
“What?! Are you trying to pick a fight?”
“No. Not at all,” Michiru patiently reassured her. “All I am stating is the facts. Judging from our predicament, it appears that we have been thrown into a separate dimension. I imagine that it was likely created by Apollo.”
“So?”
“It means that he has a connection with this place,” she elaborated. “With a spirit as powerful as his, he would have undoubtedly left behind some kind of spiritual trail. If we could somehow exploit one of these trails and track his presence, then we may be able to escape from this place to where he is truly hiding.”
“So, you mean like teleportation in a sense. You want to turn his trap against him.”
“That is correct.”
“It’s not bad...but there’s one problem with it.”
“And that would be?”
“If your plan succeeds, then it’ll take us straight to him! Do you really think it’s a good idea to try and face him with just the two of us? What about the others?”
“There is no need to worry. They will be there.” There was a strange light in the Goddess’s eyes as she said this.
“You sound pretty confident about that. How do you even know that they’re still alive?”
“...I can feel it. Haruka is still alive, I can assure you that much. Can you not feel it?” Behind her, she saw the Martian turn her head. “As for the others, they are all accomplished individuals. I have faith in their abilities. They will find a way.”
“And me...?” She dared to ask.
“Well, that I can’t do anything about.”
Why you...!
Rei sighed. “Never mind, I won’t even bother. Anyway, back to this plan of yours...Let’s say that we find Apollo’s spiritual trail. What happens after that?”
“Nothing.”
“I’m afraid I don’t quite follow. I thought you said we were supposed to teleport.”
“Hypothetically, yes. Speaking practically, then no, it will be impossible.”
“Then why did you--”
“What I am trying to say is...even if I am somehow able to locate a trail, it will be impossible to create the portal to follow it. We do not have the sufficient energy between us.”
So, it won’t work because we don’t have enough energy?
“When you say that it’s because of me that the plan would fail, is it because…”
“Yes. If it were any of the others, I am confident that it would succeed.”
Rei ignored the stabbing pain she felt in her heart. She was determined not to let this get her down.
“Why don’t we give it a try anyway?”
“What? You can’t be serious! Do you understand what you’re proposing? If we fail, then we will both deplete a good portion of our power reserves for nothing.”
“And standing around doing nothing is that much better? Just one time! That’s all I’m asking for.”
Michiru sighed and shook her head. She couldn’t believe she was going to do something so irrational.
“One time,” She emphasized. “Now, give me your hand. Concentrate on channelling your energy into mine. I will handle the rest.”
Rei felt the pull on her power as soon as she touched Michiru’s hand. The woman’s aquamarine eyes dimmed in concentration as she searched out for an appropriate target. Once she had found one that was satisfactory she began to fuse their two energies together; a pink-ish light enveloped them. Rei watched in amazement and winced when a single beam of their combined effort blasted out into the space ahead of them. She had almost expected something to happen, but it whooshed straight on through without colliding with anything.
I knew it. “It’s not enough.” Michiru muttered tiredly. Rei felt her hopes sink; she had only half believed in Michiru’s words, but to hear that their attempt failed so miserably deeply bruised her pride.
“W-Well, if we can’t use that method…Then we should stay put.”
“Stay put? And ‘do nothing’?”
“Well, from what you told me…wandering around would be too dangerous. Our detection spells are useless in here... and chances are we’ll be ambushed if we go searching for an imaginary exit that may not exist. It’s better to be prepared and let them come to us.”
“...Point taken.”
Rei stepped a few meters away from her reluctant partner, and turned her back to her.
“I’ll watch this direction. You take my back.” When the Goddess did not move, she reluctantly added, “…Please.”
Michiru arched a delicate eyebrow, and complied with her comrade’s request. Soon the two fighters were facing back to back.
“That was usually courteous of you, but it was not necessary.” Michiru remarked. “This is, after all, the only plan left at our disposal. However…I must admit that it does pique my curiosity. I was under the impression that you didn’t trust me.” She mused.
“You talk too much.” Rei growled. “As you said, we’re the only two people here. Does it look like I have much of a choice?”
Don’t misunderstand me. I might not like you, but I trust your abilities.
“I see.”
(Michiru, a bit later)
With narrowed eyes the ruler of Neptune stared ahead into the monotonous darkness for signs of movement. They had been waiting for hours now, yet their perseverant resolve was rewarded by the increasing hostility of their environment; the atmosphere had grown to be so hot and dry that she thought they might as well be standing in the middle of one of Jupiter’s great deserts.
The enemy is no fool. Michiru wiped away the beads of sweat forming upon her brow and rapidly blinked to help ease the itchiness of her eyes. If we won’t move, then neither will they. They won’t have to. With the ability to warp the dimension to their specifications we are left with two alternatives: To stay and continually be weakened, or leave and risk ambush. In the latter they would go after the weaker of us. That would be…Rei. Though I doubt she is better off in our current predicament.
If a Goddess such as herself was suffering the dizzying effects to this degree then she could only imagine how the Martian was cooping. Curiosity soon got the better of her and Michiru peeked over her shoulder at her unexpected partner. Contrary to what she had thought, Rei was still standing tall with her head held high.
She’s still standing? The woman was trying to hide her weakness, but Michiru saw right through it; Rei was trembling slightly due to a combination of exhaustion and mild dehydration. She was clearly struggling to keep her pride intact.
Michiru felt a stab of guilt to say the least. The person that she saw was not the childhood acquaintance she had befriended many years ago or the person she felt obligated to protect, but the murderer who took away the only family that she knew. Ares, the God of War; although they were not the same individual, the child behind her was his heir. She was his chosen successor. Deep down inside, watching her suffer in his place gave the Goddess a sickening sense of satisfaction; to watch her tremble as the beads of sweat matted her black tresses, to see that clear liquid of life leave her mortal body agonizingly slowly and fall to the ground in waste. It ignited a chilling flame within the depths of her soul. Michiru’s breathing hitched.
No. No! Don’t think about that! She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to quell her rampant emotions. I am Neptune Michiru, the ruler of Neptune. Above all else, I shall remain loyal to my people and fulfill this mission to the best of my capabilities. I must stand firm! I mustn’t allow my personal feelings to distract me, no matter how difficult it may be!
But when she glanced at Rei again, a lump had formed in her throat. Echoing screams and the fatal glint of a sword, splattered with blood, played itself before her mind’s eye. She dropped her gaze in shame and instantly regretted it; from out of nowhere, there was bloody river flowing against her feet. Michiru’s hand flew to her mouth to stifle a shocked cry.
“Ah--?!”
Blood? Her heart pounded madly within her chest. But where did that come from?! The direction in which it was flowing from made her pulse race faster.
“Rei…?” Her voice fell to a whisper.
The armed figure behind her stood motionless, exhibiting no indication that she had heard the woman.
The blood…Why is it flowing out from under her feet?!
Lubb Dubb!
No, that isn’t Rei. She blinked and a tall, muscular figure with short dark hair stood in her place. He was wearing the Martian armor.
“Who are you?!” Michiru demanded. “And where is my companion? What did you do with her? Speak now or I will strike you down!”
I didn’t sense him at all! Rei. Where’s Rei?!
Lubb Dubb!
Lubb Dubb!
Lubb Dubb!
…shssss…
The armor creaked as the figure began to turn their head. Michiru froze when orange glowing eyes met her shocked ones.
No! It can’t be--
FwoooOoOoOsh!
“Auhh?!”
A blast of hot air blasted throughout the area, signalling the awakened presence. Michiru recoiled back and instinctively initiated an aura shield to ward off the effects.
“Michiru?! Michiru, what’s wrong?! MICHIRU!” Rei’s cries were drowned out over the roar of the wind.
Michiru could feel it now. His piercing gaze slipped through her mental barriers. It was plunging deep down inside her mind, into that infinite, dark well until he found what he sought. He found her. The Goddess was overcome by a nauseating sensation that threatened to buckle her knees as the voice of a child emerged. The child was screaming, demanding revenge with a vicious passion.
Suffer!
Suffer! Suffer! SUFFER!
“Does it hurt…?”
What?
All went white and silence ensued. Somewhere in the distance her consciousness began to awake once again.
...
...I remember.
…I remember hearing their screams of panic...
Incoherent shouts and yells that intermingled with the disbelieving sobs. Their voices sounded jumbled to me, yet I knew why they cried. Why my people grieved. It was for the same reason that I suddenly found a gaping hole in my heart. That day, when my mother passed away…
(Palace courtyard)
Overlooking the courtyard there was a lone terrace, partially hidden from view in the palace’s shadow. A girl stood there; her shoulder length aquamarine hair waved fluently in the breeze, each silky curve cradling the mischievous entity before gently shooing it off to play. Her dress was seemingly perfect if not for the dried crimson stains that marred its back and her barefooted legs. It felt heavy—unlike the soft petals of the rose bouquet lying at the terrace entrance. A sympathy gift that had arrived early that morning, yet what was it to her? To lie there broken, its beauty fated to wither away until it crumbled into an unrecognizable mound of ash. She would have gladly lain there too, broken. Yet unlike the flowers, her beauty shall not fade. She would not die. For she was a Goddess…
Silently… Enviously…She unblinkingly gazed down into the courtyard below. She eyed her sobbing peers as they pressed against their guardians in both exhaustion and shock.
…I remember the day that they all left…
Yesterday, they arrived as children. We were all children back then, blissfully living in ignorance, and shielded from the future duties that we were destined to perform one day. Yet today, this day… while they left as children, I was left behind. Even she, Haruka, had unknowingly left me as well.
The people cannot embrace security without a ruler. And without my mother, who else was there to fill that void, but I? The sole heir to Neptune’s throne?
Only a child… I shall no longer be one with tomorrow’s rising sun.
Something then piqued her interest. Mar’s heir; she stood a far distance away from the group as though she were abandoned, cut off from the rest of the world. Yet the girl regarded it all with indifference. She did not cry.
Feeling someone’s gaze, Rei turned her head to confront the intruder of her space.
Her eyes…
“…No… Don’t think about that…”
Michiru allowed her gaze to linger a second longer, then retreated into the sanctuary of her chamber.
(Bedroom)
…I remember the days that I spent within my room…
I rarely ate.
I could not sleep. Yes, it was that precious sleep that I pined for most dearly.
“Sleep, oh dear sweet slumber…How I’ve longed to be cradled in the soothing embrace of thy carefree rest. For one precious chance, my only hope is to preserve this sliver of myself before I lose all that I am. But if I am destined to slip, then allow me to drown within thee like the ocean waters of my home…”
While the maids and the palace staff periodically checked on me I pretended to be unaffected by Mother’s passing.
Sit up straight, keep your head high… Look the person directly in the eye as you speak to them.
Shush, only soft tones befitting for a lady. Allow a touch of a smile to grace one’s lips.
“Please.”
“Thank you.”
“I understand.”
… 'I understand'… I understood myself all too well…
With the creaking of the door, the signal of their dismissal, the world crumbled once again.
Knock-knock.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
“My Lady?” A woman’s voice inquired from the other side of the door.
Michiru inwardly sighed; the courtyard she had been staring so intently at these past few days was empty. A part of her acknowledged this, yet another did not. Phantom images of crying children reflected coldly on the surface of her deep, aquamarine eyes.
“My Lady--”
“Yes, I am here. You may enter.” The Goddess turned as the door opened and saw a young woman, perhaps in her late teens, standing in the doorway. She paused at this; there was something about the individual that she could not quite put her finger on. The girl was indeed tidy—she kept her long, chestnut hair tied back into an enviable long braid that ran all the way down her back. She was also tall and slim, and appeared to be a few years older than herself, but the girl’s dark-brown eyes regarded her, the ruler to be, this ‘child’, with a hint of fear.
Michiru, despite herself, felt a stab of guilt. Her eyes slightly lit up in recognition as she recognized the maid’s uniform. Perhaps this young girl was simply an unfamiliar face? Perhaps she had run into her in the past and had not taken particular notice of her features. The palace staff was comprised of a large body of individuals after all. Considering her duties, it wasn’t as though she had the time to spare to memorize every servant’s identity.
“I had specifically said that I shall not see anyone else today unless it was a matter of urgent importance.” Michiru said as she regarded her coolly. All around them the room temperature began to drop, and the servant visibly shuddered. “Speak now. For what reason have you disturbed me?”
The girl stuttered, momentarily at a loss of what to say.
“I--I was worried for your Majesty’s health.”
“Pardon me?” Michiru’s eyes flashed, her voice never betraying her quickly rising anger. “Is that why you have defied my wishes? Come now, it is no secret that a God or Goddess cannot become ill. It is a physical impossibility.”
“But that has nothing to do with your heart!”
There was a heavy silence. A million different responses flashed through the Goddess’s mind: Outrage, indignation, calm forgiveness… but in the end, she drew a blank. She was at a loss for words.
“My Lady, please, you haven’t left your room for days! You think we don’t know? That we don’t worry? You haven’t been eating lately... Your food almost always comes back untouched!”
Goddess’s don’t need to eat.
“You haven’t been resting either, have you? Every time someone comes in, you’re always staring out from that terrace!”
Goddess’s don’t need to sleep.
“Haven’t you already realized it yet? They’re already gone! Everyone left a long time ago!”
…I should be getting angry. But why do I feel…
…only pain…?
“What good does it do to keep yourself locked away?!”
“It doesn’t.” It doesn’t do me any good.
“H-Huh?” The maid was startled that she hadn’t felt her Lady’s wraith. The young Goddess, instead, seemed to be preoccupied in thought.
“Perhaps I will take a walk. But where to…?” She hated to wander around without a destination in mind.
“If I may make a suggestion, how about the palace garden...?” Her servant suggested. “The gardener worked so hard on them this year… and the flowers are in full bloom as we speak. It would be a shame to not see them once more before the rains come. Please, perhaps it would cheer your Majesty up?”
“…Yes. Perhaps it will…” Michiru smiled. She hoped it would.
The girl stepped towards the door, watching the slightly taller woman scuttle out of her way, and then paused to meet her eyes.
“What is your name?”
“…Chisaki, My Lady.”
“I see. Would you care to join me?”
(Palace Gardens)
“It’s beautiful, isn’t it My Lady? Though the flowers aren’t as varied as they are in the Lunar gardens, they still take my breath away. Don’t you agree?”
“I suppose so.”
Michiru stepped up to the corridor railing and placed her hands onto the cool marble surface. They were nearly there-- the gardens were just a few scant meters below. Despite her attachment to the sorrow that plagued her endlessly these past few weeks, she could not help but feel her spirits rise a little at the sight; already she was drowning in the flowers’ scent, her senses revelling in their life. She was staring out at a sea of pure white flowers underneath a brilliant clear, blue sky.
(Rei)
“Michiru, what’s wrong?!” Rei hoarsely screamed at her. The frustration mounting on the Martian’s pale face began to betray the fear in her dark, amethyst eyes.
I don’t understand it! All of a sudden she just created an aura shield! W-What’s going on damn it?! Michiru isn’t the type of person to spook easily! Something wrong… But as long as her barrier is up, there’s nothing I can do to help her...! I have to somehow convince her to let it down!
“Michiru! Drop the barrier! There’s no reason to--” Rei felt herself stop mid-sentence as a wave of aquamarine aura rippled across the void. In an instant the barrier fell. “Michiru…”
Had she finally come to her senses? The Goddess’s outline soon became clear as the light fell away. Yet something was amiss; why hadn’t she suppressed her powers? The spiritual energy surrounding her was crackling with dangerous intensity.
“Hey, what was that just now?” Rei demanded. “Why did you suddenly do something like that? Do you want to give our position away?!”
“...”
“Answer me!”
Michiru silently raised her hand up in Rei’s direction and startled the woman. Without a word of warning, she fired a bolt of energy and speared the Martian squarely in the chest. Rei opened her mouth in a wordless gasp as she felt her body fly back.
CRACKLE!
“GaaAAHHHHH!!”
Thud! Roll…
Pain. That familiar sensation greeted her once again. Rei bit her bottom lip and tasted a faint metallic taste there. Blood. In less than a second, over half of her wounds had re-opened. The smell was beginning to drive her instincts insane, but she didn’t dare to stop and administer her medicine. She was being attacked. She needed to defend herself.
Cursing herself for her carelessness, Rei managed to drag herself into a kneeled position. Her bloodied, right hand went for her sword but ended up hitting her side.
Rei gasped. My sword! Her eyes darted down to her side and then to the distant right where her weapon had fallen. The sound of crackling energy demanded her attention once again. She turned her head in time to see her ‘partner’ readying to discharge another gift in her direction. Rei narrowed her eyes. Her heart was racing wildly in her chest as those long, slender fingers twitched with malicious intent. It would be any second now-- she intently anticipated the deciding movement.
“Why?” Rei felt her throat constrict. Her eyes aren’t clouded, so it’s not mind control? “Why won’t you say anything?”
Was everything you said back there just a lie? But if that was true, then why didn’t you attack me as soon as I turned my back to you? Why aren’t you using your true power?! Rei gritted her teeth as the light filled the void. So help me… I will get an answer from you yet! Even if I have to beat it out of you myself!
CRACKLE--
“HAH!!” Her hand shot out and released a bolt of crimson lightning.
CRACKLE--
-------KABLAM!!
(Michiru)
A fresh, cool breeze broke across the gardens and showered the two women with a flurry of white petals. Silently, Michiru gracefully took a delicate blossom into her waiting, pale hand. As if a touch of a Goddess could make one blush, the petal bashfully deepened with a reddish-pink color.
Smooth…
…soft, and… delicate…
A strange light flickered in her aquamarine eyes as she glimpsed the slivers of crimson refracting from its flawless, smooth surface.
If I should wish it… Her long, slender fingers slightly curled about it.
Unlike with humans or ascended beings such as myself… if this fragile existence should come to an end by my hand, then it will simply be that. It will disappear without inquisition. Yet why would one care if a speck in the universe were no longer there? The wind began to blow softly once again. This gentle blossom… what purpose does it possess other than to grow to the specifications of its gardener? To remain rooted in the ground and merely exist to display its beauty to love-struck admirers? Now that it is free, it has lost that one, true purpose…
A shadow fell over the petal as an aquamarine light enveloped it.
Tell me… What do you have left now?
She waited, and intently listened to the wind. Amongst all of its whispers she searched to distinguish a voice, a plea… one, in her expectation, to be the quietest of them all. Yet as time flowed forward, she heard none. Would it not beg for its life?
The barest of smiles made its way to her lips.
“Hm.”
As she turned her attention back to her company, her maid glimpsed the petal behind the Goddess. It danced; swirling and twirling with all it could muster until it finally disappeared into the magnificent background of blue sky.
“It’s strange…” Michiru mused. “To think that time would last forever and then, in a blink of an eye, you realize how fragile things truly are.”
“Are you referring to… the passing of Her Majesty, your mother?” The Goddess was silent. “That flower petal back there… You let it go. For a moment there it looked like—O-Oh! Please forgive me My Lady! I--I didn’t mean to insinuate…”
“No, please… go on. I would like to hear what you were about to say.”
The taller woman hesitated for a second, and then gulped at the insistence she heard in her Lady’s tone.
Under the Goddess’s watchful eye, she carefully continued, “I--I mean, I suppose what I meant to say is… why did you stop? You seemed to be in deep thought for the longest time… And then, when it looked as though you had made up your mind, you suddenly just changed! Did something else cross your mind?”
“Does it matter ‘why’ I chose to do what I did? Is it not true that my word is law?”
“W-What?” The servant gaped and was quickly turning red in the face. “Ah--yes! Of course it is! Please forgive me for my rudeness!”
Michiru narrowed her eyes as she continued to watch the girl’s embarrassed expression with a stern face.
“…You just apologized.” Her words made the other girl freeze. “Why… would you apologize for something that I had asked you to do? Was my request, to ask you to voice your opinion, wrong?”
The maid’s eyes widened in horror. “NO! That’s not what I meant!” She panicked. “What I meant--! What I meant was…”
“…That blossom… it had no voice.”
“I-I-I… I mean… whaaaaat?”
“You asked me why I spared it. It cannot beg for mercy like those who do possess a voice.”
“But, it’s just one blossom, isn’t it? There were many others. It was going to wither up and die soon anyway.”
“If that is to be its fate, then why not allow it to be so? Why end its journey sooner than necessary?”
“…Your Highness is merciful…” A shadow fell over the woman’s face. “However, those who are merciful may someday regret that kindness. Their enemies may take advantage of that weakness... extort it. In the end, it may very well be the very thing that destroys them. Her former Highness--”
“My Mother’s passing was indeed sudden.” Michiru cut her off. She approached the railing—tapping it gently, twice-- before once again turning her back to the woman. “It happened so suddenly, that even now I can scarcely believe it. Or why it happened.”
The wind began to shift.
“Why it happened?” She heard the maid question from behind her. “My Lady, whatever are you talking about? Everybody knows that it was Ares, the ruler of Mars who had committed the deed.”
“Is that so?” Michiru held her hands front of her chest and a ball of light erupted between them. Her guest squeaked in alarm and instinctively threw her arms up to cover her face. But past her arms, she could make out the materialization of a shimmering mirror between the Goddess’s hands.
You of all people should know the true reason…
“Submarine… REFLECTION!”
FwoooooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOSH!!
Light shot out of the mirror and washed over the entire area. For an instant, she saw the scenery’s true reflection. The flowers wilted and crumbled to ash, melding in with the barren ground. The sky above darkened to a starless night, and her childish body reverted back to its true form. But more importantly, the maid was had stood before her was finally forced to revealed ‘himself’.
“Apollo.” Michiru barely managed out the dirty name without letting her fury slip from her control. Her eyes were dangerously narrowed.
The silver haired man laughed in amusement as he eyed his own white-suit attire. “Even the hair and the eyes… that mirror is truly something,” he mused.
“You are a very arrogant man to try and trap me within an illusion, an illusion involving my past of all things. Did you truly believe that you could modify my memories without my notice? There never was a maid named Chisaki.”
Silver eyes glinted in approval. “Very good. Well done indeed! I must admit that I am impressed, Neptune Michiru. It is a pleasure to see that you resemble your mother not only in appearance, but in talent as well.”
“My Mother was a great ruler.” Michiru asserted, unfazed by his flattery.
“Indeed. The Lady of Neptune was a magnificent Goddess. She possessed a grace and intellect that was like none other within my court. But then she…” His voice dipped.
Michiru tensed as an intense wave of anger swept the area. Such hatred…! She secretly breathed a little easier when the sensation subsided.
“But never mind that.” Apollo smiled. “Please be at ease. I did not come here to fight you. In fact, I am here… to make a business proposition.”
“A business proposition?” She tightened her grip on her mirror when his silver eyes fell upon it.
“That mirror of yours…Yes, I know all about it. The Deep Aqua Mirror is said to possess the ability to reveal the ‘truth’ regardless of any illusion. A truly useful power... You see, I would like to ‘borrow’ it. There is a certain something that I would like to confirm. To see if a certain individual is really…deceased, if you know what I mean.”
Michiru’s heart skipped a beat.
“Oh, but I wouldn’t worry. This is a matter concerning an old friend of mine.” He gestured with open arms. “With that said, in exchange for your mirror, I am willing to make you an offer that you may be interested in.”
“...Such as?”
“The death of the Martian girl.”
DOOOOOOOOM
(Rei)
“HAA----AAH!!” Rei screamed as she unleashed another blast of power and watched it collide with the aquamarine bolt.
CRACKLE--
CRACKLE--
------KABLAM!!
(Michiru)
Apollo sensed an unspoken change within the Goddess, and was delighted by it. Even the calmest of personalities could not completely hide their deepest, darkest desires from him.
“It’s no secret that you want her dead. The sheer animosity between the two of you as you forced yourselves to watch one another’s back…was acting at its best! You may tell yourself that she is your comrade, and that you would do anything to protect her if it was within your power to do so… But both you and I know better. Deep inside, your true wish is to tear her to shreds with that very same power, isn’t that right, Lady Neptune? You want pay her back for all the pain she inflicted to you and your family. If you so desire, I can help you accomplish that.”
The temptation that flickered in her eyes encouraged the God to continue. Just a little more, he thought to himself. As it is, I do have a strong hold over her body… But it seems that I had under-estimated her will. She is unconsciously refusing my commands to use her true power against the Martian brat.
“After all, what is one more casualty in war? People go missing unexpectedly all the time. Who would blame you for the disappearance of some human girl...? After all, she is only human… they’ll likely conclude that she died because of her own weakness. Really, when you think about it, humans who willingly fight in a Battle of the Gods are foolish. Don’t you agree?” He paused. “They think they can do whatever they want. When things are going well, they forsake you...but when things go wrong, suddenly, they have a change of heart. They only cling onto you and drag you down... like right now. You could have left by now if it weren’t for her, isn’t that right? Not to mention, she is not an ordinary human. She is a Martian, and the heir to the one who murdered your mother.”
This time, Michiru did not protest.
“As part of my proposal, if you wish to be charitable, you will have the option of being merciful and giving her a quick, precious warrior’s death. That is what those Martians value the most, is it not? War…bloodlust… murder. Between you and me, that little friend of yours is no different. There is a secret that she is keeping from all of you, a very dangerous one at that. I see that you doubt me, but I can assure you that it is the truth. She is a blood-thirsty animal that is just waiting for the ample opportunity to strike. So I ask this of you... will you continue to allow such a monstrosity to roam free? For all you know, the wind ruler may be her next victim.”
Michiru saw flashing images of her dying mother and the savage hunger in the War God’s eyes as he committed the foul deed. Her grip on her mirror tightened.
“...How?” She finally asked.
“Hm? How, you ask? It’s rather simple, really. In exchange for some of your powers, I will give you some of mine. Does that sound like a fair exchange to you?”
“How do I know I can trust you?”
The Sun God met her gaze straight on. “Oh, you will…”
…Because this is too good of an opportunity for you to pass up!
(Rei)
CrAcKLE!
“AUUugGHHH!!”
THUD!
Rei hit the ground head-first, and was all too aware of splatter of blood beginning to soak into her sweat-drenched bangs. The two intermingling, putrid scents automatically prompted the woman to twitch her sore nose in disgust as she rose from the ground and back onto her feet. Her breaths were already coming in and out with pained rasps; she was lucky that Michiru’s initial strike hadn’t pierced anything important, but it still had done damage; it had badly startled her. She was torn inside as she continued to battle against Goddess and her own instincts.
This isn’t good! Rei planted her feet into the ground in an attempt to focus despite the dizzying effects of the fall. It wasn’t going as she had planned. Michiru was still going strong, but she was becoming weaker as the fight progressed.
C’mon! …Geh--!! Get a hold of yourself! She’s coming!
Rei unconsciously gulped as Michiru motioned to raise her hand once again. It didn’t take a genius like Ami to know that another direct attack could very well kill her. But as the energy began to materialize in the woman’s hand, to Rei’s great surprise, the Goddess’s hand abruptly fell limp by her side.
What?
“Rei…”
“Michiru!” Rei rasped out. But her brief respite quickly gave way to shock once she sighted the dark energy pulsing in Michiru’s aquamarine eyes. They were darker, yet strangely clearer than they were a moment ago. She froze.
“Michiru, what do you think you’re doing?! Have you lost your senses? We’re supposed to be fighting Apollo together, not against each other!”
If I can talk to her, then just maybe--
“Don’t you see? This is exactly what he wants! Don’t go playing into his hands!”
She paused, and stumbled back as the dimension around them began to warp. The black surface that they stood upon became a rigid, rocky surface, while the darkness above transformed into a cloudy sky. A fresh breeze whipped by and sent strands of her dark hair whipping behind her.
Now what?!
“Be quiet.” Michiru commanded.
Shing
BAM!
“AHHH?!” Rei gagged as an enormous force hit her from all sides and immobilized her to the spot. Through heavy eyelids she watched as her sword fell to the ground like a block of lead, leaving her vulnerable. It hurt; the sickening feeling of helplessness was threatening to drown her senses. She couldn’t move; her arms were plastered to her sides, and it was taking every ounce of her strength just to stand.
“What am I doing?” Michiru’s mocking tone drifted across the plain. “Nothing...other than to bear witness to your death.”
No! ...Michiru! Rei shut her eyes tight in disbelief. “You can’t be serious Michiru! You can’t be! You—you aren’t thinking straight!”
The Goddess smiled. It was an empty smile without any warmth at all, but a touch of pity.
She didn’t need to say anything. At once, Rei knew that it wasn’t simple mind control. Michiru, the individual standing before her now, was painfully aware of what she was doing.
She wanted her dead.
“Why you…” Rei’s body quivered with emotion. The past, this present, and the bleak future that suddenly loomed before her—everything—it all pained her. “All of the sacrifices that were made just for us to get here! Did none of that matter to you?!” How many more lives are going to be lost while I’m standing here doing nothing? “Do you really feel nothing for them? What about your own people? Are you really going to abandon them...because they’re human...?!”
Rei drew deep within herself and searched for the remnants of her power. At the end of the darkness there were a few threads left. Seizing onto them, she ripped the energy from the field around her and forcefully pulled it into herself.
“Are you really that heartless, Michiru?!”
The smile, long gone from the Goddess’s face, was replaced by a frown as the crackling energy surrounding her former comrade continued to expand.
She’s using the barrier’s energy to replenish her own. She calmly realized.
“I would worry about yourself, Rei.” Michiru flatly advised. “You’re becoming emotional. That’s not like you.”
“Emotional?! Is that what you think? I…No, WE trusted you!” It was not the answer she had been waiting to hear.
“Is that so?” Michiru walked right up to her captive. They were standing at an arms-length apart now. She began to raise her hand. “I must admit, it’s quite amusing to hear that coming from you.”
Rei flinched and shut her eyes tight when the woman’s hand shot forward, but when she opened her eyes again there was no noticeable pain. The Martian blinked back as she watched the Goddess calmly walking away. Why hadn’t she killed her? When she saw what was in Michiru’s hands, she suddenly knew why.
“Don’t touch that! Give it back!” she demanded.
Michiru turned the gun in her hands with a critical eye. “So...it was true. He wasn’t lying after all.”
“What? Who?! You aren’t talking about Apollo are you?”
“That is none of your concern.” She squeezed the gun in her grip and her power danced threateningly around it. Rei instantly went silent. “What does is...you lied to us. You were keeping a secret from all of us, one that endangered our very lives. Myself...Haruka...Minako’s...you didn’t just have to kill my family, but you were willing to put my friend’s lives at risk as well? How low have you fallen...you scum.”
The word brought Rei to flinch. It wasn’t what she had intended, but she knew that Michiru was right; she had put lives at risk due to her selfishness. However, the words somehow came out of her mouth regardless.
“...I didn’t mean...”
“As Haruka would say... ‘Stuff it’. I have no intention of listening to any more of your excuses. I have... other things in mind for you.”
Crackle!
Rei gasped as Ami’s gun was blasted into bits. Michiru let the remains fall to the ground, appearing to be quite satisfied by the other woman’s expression.
...No. “Do you even realize what you’ve done?!”
“I do.” She was met again by a surprised look. “However, I believe the occasion called for it. You deserve to be destroyed.”
Rei was shaking so hard now. Her power was beginning to slip out of her control. “...So, that’s it, is it? You’re going to join up with that murderer just to kill me, is that right? What are you going to tell the others? Or...are you just going to pretend that it never happened?”
“I suppose that depends.”
“And you really trust him? He’s just using you! As soon as I’m dead, what guarantee do you have that he won’t kill you too?”
How well do you know me?
She was surprised when Michiru smirked at this. The Goddess lifted her hand, this time with the intent to finish the job. Their gazes locked.
You’re such a fool.
“Grr… TRAAITORRRRRR!”
C-R-A-C-K-L-E!
BLAMblamBLAMblamBLAMblamBLAM!!
In a single, electric explosion, the area within a twenty meter radius about the Martian was instantly vaporized. Michiru’s attack had been knocked far off course.
Michiru remained unfazed as the dust clouds settled. Rei was now free of her constraints, but at a price; the raven-haired warrior appeared to be a little short of breath.
“Out of breath already, are we?”
“S-Shut it.” Rei growled. Her amethyst eyes glinted dangerously.
“Hm.” Michiru smiled. “How much longer will that bravado last, I wonder?”
Without giving the Martian a chance to speak again, the Goddess of Neptune closed her eyes and began to concentrate deeply. Rei sensed it first, an invisible wave rippling throughout the area that shook the very stability of the space around them. Her stomach lurched as the gravity shifted.
This feeling!
“It can’t be!” She gaped in disbelief.
Crackle!
No sooner had the words left her lips a single explosion lit the sky above them. The entire sky took on a reddish, orange hue, igniting with seemingly endless energy. Rei felt a chill run down her spine as she watched the small flames streak across the sky in soundless horror. Memories of her visit on Venus and the fiery sky of that day blurred with the present.
Ahh…haaa…
Her breathing hitched as the ground began to roar.
Rmm!!!…Rmmm….Rmmm…Rmmm!!!!!!!
Sheeeennnn--
“Rrg!” Rei leapt back when a blinding light erupted between the two women. At Michiru’s feet, a swirling portal of dark energy opened. Both combatants felt the pull towards it instantly; a massive presence was about to emerge.
No! It--It can’t be! Rei’s heart hammered wildly within her chest. She gulped as a pair of slitted, red eyes glowered at her through from the portal entrance. And as if it was able to smell the delicious aroma of fear, a joyous laugh boomed with another release of energy. Snakes of blue fire bellowed with the resounding battle cry, and hungrily lunged forth and encompassed the Martian girl within a rectangular ring. Amidst the choking fumes and merciless heat, Rei quickly found herself isolated from the Goddess of Neptune.
“Are you ready Rei?” She heard Michiru’s voice drift through the fire.
A shiver ran down her spine as heavy, armored footsteps punctuated the silence. On instinct Rei fumbled for her sword, grabbing it and hastily raising it into a defensive position as a dense spiritual presence neared. Every fiber in her muscles tensed as she braced herself for the worst. Her adversary, a blazing spirit, emerged from the wall of blue flame with Hell’s escorts. Bit by bit, the flames dismissed themselves to reveal their mighty Lord-- the right side of the fiery shield extinguished-- a long, trailing glint of metal reflected in dark amethyst eyes. Then the mid-section, where the proud symbol of Mars lay engraved within the red armor; the nauseous churning in Rei’s stomach was elevated by the sadistic smile of the black-haired warrior who challenged her now.
I-It’s you…
FWOOOOSH!
“Ares!”
Beyond the fire, Michiru wordlessly watched the reunion between student and mentor with cool indifference.
“To prove that I am true to my word, I will fulfill my end of the bargain first. Kill the Martian girl in whichever way that pleases you. Then, once you have found it to your satisfaction, I will come for the mirror.”
“That is correct Rei. He is the God of War…” Michiru lifted her hand. There was a brief moment where the determination in her eyes flickered with uneasiness, but it was quickly swallowed by the flick of her hand.
“ARES!” She commanded.
The air about the God of War grew dense, and was becoming increasingly distorted. A light humming filled the air as invisible shackles crackled and evaporated. Ares stretched his head to the side in one rigid movement, as if his entire body was stiff due to lack of use. Rei gulped, and heard the heartbeat filling her ears. The God took a slow step forward and then another. Leaning down into his left shoulder lightly, with one smooth movement the ground exploded. Crack! The tip of his blade cleaved the ground, engraving a jagged crescent emblem into it—the unspoken promise that its next target would reap greater rewards.
Dry particles tapped Rei in the face, but still she could not move. The hungry obsession burning in the man’s orange eyes hypnotized her.
Ares paused in his step, and drew back into another striking pose. A taunting silence hung in the air when the God unleashed a wild burst of energy into the atmosphere.
What?! Where did he go?!
The God watched his opponent stagger back in confusion. Without hesitation he lunged forward, cutting through the wind and lashed out with a horizontal strike.
Stomp! Stomp! Stomp!
“HWOOOOOO!”
“…?!” Mid-heart beat, with the roaring wind in her face and his anxious cry hanging in her ears, she felt a chill run down her spine. A thin, horizontal shadow raked across her mid-section.
FWOOOssssssh—
No!
TING!!
“Ugh!” Rei clumsily shoved her sword to the side and made a pathetic attempt at a block. But it wasn’t enough; she clenched onto her weapon for dear life even as she was toppled over. WHOMP! An armored-bound foot sunk into her cheek and drilled her face into the unyielding rock.
THUD!
Damn it!
The foot tauntingly continued to beat against her head. She could hear his mocking laughter.
Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!
Bam! …Bam!
Why?!
…Why…?
I was positive that I would find him if I hunted after Apollo. Find him… Kill him... Find him. Kill him. It was all I could ever think about ever since he disappeared. I told myself over and over that when I find him I’d kill him without a second thought. So… why am I hesitating now?
How in the name of Mars did Michiru ever get this power? Unknown to her, Michiru was no longer smiling.
Rei let out an involuntary wheeze when Ares abruptly stopped his beatings and dragged her up to his face. He held her about the collar with a powerful fist, ignoring her wheezing for breath, and proceeded to inspect his catch as one would do with goods. Male or female, Rei knew it was irrelevant to the man; he judged his opponents through other means.
“D-Damn you…”
She unconsciously gulped, and trembled as anxiety spiked though her. She knew what he saw. Trash-- a worthless hunk of meat that only served the meaningless purpose of taking up space. Less than how he viewed her before…
Stop looking at me like that! Rei gritted her teeth. In the back of her mind, she was fighting the urge to unleash that other side of her.
Ares reached down to try and pry the sword from her clenched fist, but paused when a light pressure on his arm attracted his attention.
Who do you think you are?! Rei gripped down harder on his forearm, adding electric punch into it. The God’s grin widened as his armor began to melt under her touch. I don’t need your approval!
Crackle…CrACkle…
Her amethyst eyes flashed.CRAckLe! “You… HAVE NO RIGHT TO JUDGE ME!” She roared.
CRACKLE—BOOM!
The War God was forced to release her as the energy blast pummelled into his chest. Given this opportunity, Rei thrust her blade forward and discarded his breastplate with a clamor.
There! She pushed again.
TING!A small curse left her lips as her path was blocked. This time the mild approval flickering in the God’s eyes infuriated her.
“…!” She heaved her sword, “HAAAAAAH--!!”, and threw him back. The God slid to a stop a distance away.
“Both of you…” She eyed Michiru and then Ares, “…disgust me! I had no idea how alike you two were!” She paused to catch breath. “But you, Michiru! At this moment, you’re worse than he is. You won’t even fight your own battles! Only a coward would sit back and watch!”
“Do you believe that your opinion matters to me?” The Goddess coolly stared back. “As far as I’m concerned your words are meaningless.”
“What?!”
“This noble front that you’re trying to portray…That in itself is laughable. There is no such thing as a noble Martian. I have heard enough of your people to know them for what they truly are-- blood-thirsty, instinct driven animals! Still don’t believe me...? Why, look at your proud leader over there.”
Rei was bewildered. “You really think that you know everything just because you’ve ‘heard’ about it? That was the past!”
“Regardless. Enough of this meaningless chatter... You may call me whatever you wish, Rei, but in the end what good is your noble charade if you are dead?
Lubb Dubb!
“…Wouldn’t you agree?”
Only the strong survive… Hmph. That’s not surprising to hear that from you. “I’ll show you who’s dead! After I’m done with him, you’re next!”
Michiru flicked her wrist, and Ares rushed forward once again. This time Rei was ready for him. As the God leapt up and fell towards her with his sword cocked, she threw her weight into her right shoulder and swung.
“RAAAAAAAAAAH!!”
“HAAAAAAH!!”
TZING--ssssSSSSsssssSSSSSss!!
I’ll show you!
Their blades met in a resounding clash of metal, prompting a deadlock while their crimson auras spat at one another furiously!
“And you!” Rei glared as she was met with orange eyes. “Allowing yourself to be controlled by Apollo… for a proclaimed God of War, you’re… pretty weak! PATHETIC!” She grunted and shoved him back.
Ares took the force in stride and smoothly stepped back, only to be assaulted by lightning quick strikes.
“Here I come!!”
Tzing!Tzing!Ting!Ting!Fwoosh!Crash!TIIIING!!
“Is this all you have?” Michiru whispered from the sidelines. Behind her cool facade, there was genuine worry. Her hands were effectively tied; it was all up to Rei now. And if she didn’t pull a trick up her sleeve soon then they both may succumb to this trial.
Jingle
The Goddess remained unfazed as a long, slender shadow materialized from behind her.
TING! TING! TING—WHOMP!
Rei narrowly dodged Ares sword, allowing the heavy blade to impale the ground instead. In the split second his guard was down she thrust an electrically charged hand into his face.
Crackle- bam!
“RaaaAAAAH!!” Ares let out an animalistic roar and gripped at his watering eyes with insurmountable fury. But before Rei could sink her blade through his exposed chest, the man hurriedly retreated out of her range; her blade bit thin air.
“You--!!” She growled. “What’s the matter? Turning coward because you got poked in the eyes?” Damn! …I almost had him!
But her frustration couldn’t match the God of War’s. He shuddered violently as drops of blood were excreted from his bloodshot eyes and dripped down his face and cheeks. There was enough that the ground was soon defiled with his blood.
Rei’s heart skipped a beat. No...T-This feeling! The blood-lust in her was beginning to awaken despite her best attempts to keep it at bay.
The God wiped the nuisance from his cheek, smudging it as he did so, and stared at the sticky fluid drying on his palm. His eyes lit up with inspiration.
“What?!” Rei startled when Ares impaled his own hand with his sword! She then scowled, “You… bastard!”
The God chuckled with amusement. Ignoring the pain and swelling he wretched the blade from the injured flesh, and allowed the blood to spill. This action even prompted Michiru’s questioning.
“Blood magic,” Rei breathlessly uttered. So, you’re really going to use it after all!
The man pressed his wound against his blade and dragged it agonizingly slow across the surface. The smeared trail of crimson blood began to ignite with an eerie golden glow.
“Michiru, did you ever wonder why we Martians valued blood so much? So much that some even lusted for it? Not even once when you’ve heard the stories, you’ve never questioned why we were the only humans to act this way?”
Michiru was silent.
“I’m not denying that our soldiers weren’t as good as animals. But that was in the past. Before the Great War with Apollo our people were weaker than the average humans. We might have developed the strong mentality that was necessary to survive in the harsh climate of Mars, but without proper nutrition and constant training, there was only so much that could be done.”
“So, your leader was too proud to ask Apollo’s Court for aid?” She took the woman’s silence as an affirmation. “If your people were truly that weak, then why the sudden transformation in the War? The Martians were respected as the greatest of warriors amongst the Planetary Alliance.”
“…In preparation for the Battle of the Gods, Ares revived an ancient technique that is said to exponentially increase one’s power. He had perfected it himself.” Rei felt the beads of sweat on her brow multiply with the increasing temperature. There wasn’t much time left.
“It’s only requirement was…blood. It draws on its life energy. The more blood there is to draw from, the greater power one could obtain. However the effects are only temporary, and to use it safely the user needed a strong will. Because of the continual fighting during the Great War, many Martians eventually succumbed to its power lust. It’s dangerously addictive, almost like a drug! Soldiers infected by it would go to any length to have its power again, even after the War ended. To prevent this in the new era, the secret was restricted to the Martian ruler…while those who had gone insane were executed on the spot. Many people died… That. Was our sacrifice for peace!”
A contemplative look fell over the ruler of Neptune’s eyes.
“So don’t go about talking like you know everything there is to know about us. Some truths are kept out of history for a reason! Blood magic is… a God’s technique. And it’s killing me...”
“What...?”
“This secret... I know I don’t deserve to be forgiven. I know that I’ve put your lives at risk! But even if I had told you about it, there’s no cure! Except...”
“...You said that it preyed on life energy.”
“Because I don’t take others, it takes mine.”
“But if you had an infinite lifespan...”
Rei fell silent. Michiru calmly regarded the woman for a minute, but she hadn’t forgotten her mission in the slightest.
“If it is as powerful as you claim it to be, then what will you do?”
Ares whipped his sword around and took on a striking stance. Rei narrowed her eyes.
“I’ll fight.” I have to stop him before it’s too late! “Take… THIS!” She yelled.
CrACKLE!
As the crimson lightning charged forward, Ares unexpectedly dove into it and cut it down with his sword. In desperation Rei discharged several more, only to feel her confidence slipping with each deflection.
Crackle! Ting!
CrAcKle! TING!
CRACKLE! FWooooooOSH!
Her last attack ricocheted back and tore through her left shoulder, severing the clasp that held her chest plate and shoulder armor together.
“Ah…AHHHHHH!!”
Orange eyes gleamed in delight to see the blood spilt by the wound. But he didn’t have an infinite amount of time to admire it. The foe that he had only injured rashly ripped off the dangling piece of armor and lunged forward, making wild swings in his general direction. One stab to his right, down at his leg and then directly into his blade, he caught them all with impeccable precision. A thought, a fluttering desire to mock the poor fighting style flickered in his mind but it had slipped away.
At first the God only needed the tip of his blade to block the feeble attempts of an assault, but with passing time his opponent was quickly honing their strikes. His grin widened; there was enjoyment in this.
Ares parried a close call and unleashed an aura barrier. The circular shield expanded rapidly, forcing his unwilling opponent away.
“No!” A hint of panic entered Rei’s voice as she summoned her own barrier to counteract the effects. The two shields collided, leaving only a five-meter breathing room radius around the woman.
“Rrrrg-----AHHHH!!!!” Wait. What’s he doing?
The God of War then sunk his blade into the ground, cracking the rock, and lifted his arms towards the fiery sky. His fluctuating energy skyrocketed towards the Heavens and rounded down into itself, combusting into the form of a flaming sphere. Helplessly, his heir watched it accumulate in size. Growing bigger and bigger, heating the air… Once it became so hot that Rei thought she was going to suffocate, the sphere began to pulse. The sound of twined heartbeats echoed throughout the chamber.
His most fearsome attack... I’ve never seen it myself, but… Rei panted. Fragmented memories of carnage following the previous actions he had performed awoken to her mind.
The God gave a mighty leap and landed atop of the spherical entity.
I have to stop it. I have to stop him! Her senses screamed in her mind. But how?! His power has more than doubled since we last exchanged blows! She gripped her injured shoulder in frustration. If I only had Michiru’s help! No, even then it wouldn’t be enough. And if I attempted that technique, there’s still no guarantee…
…Is… Is this it? I can’t beat him?
Lubb Dubb!
-- Lubb Dubb!
Lubb Dubb!
-- Lubb Dubb!
Lubb Dubb!
- Lubb Dubb!
The pulsing was gaining momentum.
No…
There’s no choice! “I-- I have to give it a try!”
(Michiru)
“What do you plan to do, Rei…”
Jingle
There was the swish of a long braid, and then the shadow was gone.
“Hm?”
(Rei)
Ares smirked as his greatest art was nearing completion. It would be any moment now he would finally claim another victory.
“Heh… Don’t think you’ll be smirking for much longer.” Rei mumbled. Despite her trembling, she drew upon the last of her power reserves and fuelled her barrier.
Fwoooooooosh!!
“Do you really hear nothing Ares?” She cried over the wind. “Are you really ignorant of what you’ve done, or of the people you’ve hurt?! Why do you let Apollo control you?! I know you aren’t weak enough to be controlled!”
Although I resented you...There was no stronger fighter that I had looked up to…
“…” The God of War stared blankly at the woman he had deemed his heir.
“Ares!”
The wind picked up speed and drowned the rest of her words; above the two fighters, the ball of energy was beginning to crack. Rei knew it was a matter of seconds before ‘they’ would be released.
She raised her sword up in front of her with both hands, and closed her eyes. Everything around her dimmed: The sound of the howling wind, the ache of her body due to her wounds and dehydration, her fear, and the pain of betrayal. She became numb to all of these things. The cold sensation chilling her senses now originated from a greater loss. In this one moment, she could only think,
I’m sorry Mina… If there was only another way! If I was only a little stronger...No... But, then again, I’ve always said that. I’ve always been making up excuses, haven’t I?
‘This should be enough’... ‘Maybe I’ll wait a little longer and see what happens’... You said that you liked me because I was an honest person. But... to be honest, I’m not. I’ve been running away this entire time, even up to the point of our departure.
But after this, I won’t anymore. I’m going to win this fight, even if it means beating him and her! ...Because... there’s still something that I have to tell you.
...I...
“…love you.”
Stab--SHPLOOOSH!!
“!” Michiru gasped.
With a grunt, Rei twisted the metal blade buried in her midsection. Once, twice, her insides churned with blinding, searing pain. Rip! She withdrew the weapon and released her life with it. It drained down her front and back, it soaked her hands, legs and clothes.
Feeling weak, Rei reflexively pressed a shaky hand to the gaping hole in her front.
“This… should be enough! It just—has to be!” So, what do you say? All or nothing...?
Summoned by her will, the droplets on her armor lit up with a golden hue. Her blade, the one she had recently re-acquired, was held tightly within her grasp and also began to resonate with similar power. With a single sweep of her swords-arm, the spilt blood along the ground shot out and threaded together in the form of a net.
Simultaneously, Ares also readied his arsenal above. The energy ball in the sky exploded and two fiery wolves materialized. They howled their battle cry, shaking their fiery manes with bold confidence. Rei unblinkingly stared up at the two beings; the animals bared their fangs, the saliva dripping between their jaws was unable to express the uncontrollable desire engraved within their orange eyes. Still, they patiently held for the command from their master-- her former mentor.
Briefly their eyes met.
TWEEEEEEEET!
“AROOOOOOOOWL!!”
Without hesitation Rei leapt into action. With a silent command she doubled the strength of her barrier, pushing it forward until it met Ares’s in equal strength. The winds collided and intermingled into one chaotic whirlwind. The wolves howled in confusion as their movements were significantly slowed.
The smirk on Ares face faded slightly; the golden light emitted from the maze of blood below was gaining in intensity. Perhaps it was because her senses were unusually heightened but Rei could have sworn that she had felt something stir in the God. But what did it matter to her now?
“AROOOOOOOOWL!!”
This is it! She drew in a deep breath. This is the end for you!
Sheeen…
FwooooooOOOOOOOOSSSSH!!
The net of blood below sprung to life, scaling upwards towards the two hounds. Both dogs whipped around wildly, desperately trying to avoid the golden thread. But it was in vain. In a blink of an eye the net overcame them, trapping them within a suffocating grasp. Not even the flames that comprised their being could melt their captive bonds.
Shnk.
“HaaAAH!”
SLASH! SLASH!
“AROOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”
Shroom! Shroom!
Both hounds instantly disintegrated with the sweep of Rei’s blade. But she couldn’t stop there. Using the momentum of their de-materialization she propelled herself higher and higher up to her true goal.
“ARES!” She drew back her glowing blade. The God of War didn’t hesitate to brandish his own before catapulting himself towards her.
I’m going to kill you!
Lubb Dubb!
I’m going to kill you!
Lubb Dubb!
I will… end this!
LUBB DUBB!
“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!”
TING. SLAAAA--SH!! KABOOoooOOooOOooOOOOOOOOM!!!
The greatest explosion yet ripped through the area with full force. Michiru braced herself against the shearing wind, scarcely believing what she had just witnessed.
A human versus a God…
A different light emerged in the sky above. The fiery hue that swirled over the center of the battlefield was drowned in a pool of aquamarine light. The Heavens were no longer devoid of emotion or burning with anger, but were quelled into a breathless calm.
Michiru recognized the presence instantly.
Mother…
The Goddess soon felt the rain, and was glad for it. Her breathing hitched uncontrollably as she caught sight of her friend. Rei lay motionless against the crumbled rock, her drenched bangs folded over closed eyes. The blood from her fatal wound had yet to cease.
Is she…?No... I-I didn't think it would go this far!
“Rei!” Michiru called to her.
“Girl.” A deep voice echoed. Michiru startled when the God of War came into view. The man past her and stopped in front of his heir’s limp body, never moving to kneel or to touch her. His dark eyes were no longer in a trance. They shone with recognition and pride.
“You’ve done well, girl... Just as I’ve expected.” He eyed the gaping wound along his right side. “But don’t disappoint me now. I didn’t spend all those years raising you to have you die on me.”
Ares craned his neck up towards the sky, allowing the water to spill over his being. After listening for a moment, he silently thanked the entity that had granted him this brief moment of free will.
“This isn’t over yet!” He declared with a roar. With that there was a brilliant flash of light; crimson flames wrapped about the Martian heir and gently lifted her from the ground into a cocoon of warmth. Rei stirred lightly as golden threads flew across wounds, cleansing them with unbelievable ease.
It feels so warm… She peered out from under heavy-lidded eyes. Although she couldn’t see what was happening around her, she could feel the pain melting away.
What is this…?
“Ares…?” She spotted him and nearly had a heart attack. You aren’t dead?!
“It can’t be…” Michiru whispered. She felt her own powers were resonating with the flames.
“Don’t lose focus!”A voice in the rain advised.
“What’s going on?” Rei tried to move but found her that her movements were restricted.
“You still have a job to fulfill.” Ares reminded her. “Don’t lose sight of that.”
“What do you--? Ah! Fire?! Where am I?” She gasped. “It’s… Aaaahhhh...getting so hot--!!”
Her pulse accelerated as the energy around her fused into her own. Soon her entire body was brimming with power.
What’s happening to me?! She could feel his eyes on her.
“I, Mars Ares…” His voice boomed. “…hereby relinquish both my throne and title. Use it wisely… Mars, Rei… GODDESS OF WAR!”
FWOOooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!!
The flames flew up into the sky, evaporating all of the rain with their re-kindled might. And at the center of it all, Rei’s presence dominated the plain; behind the fire, her steely determination resounded powerfully in her eyes and materialized the flames to greater heights.
She’s truly a force to be reckoned with, the former God of War mused, greatly pleased. However, with the last drop of rain gone he felt the call resonate deep within him.
Ping!
“Gah--!” Ares’s hands flew to his head.
“What?” Rei reeled her power in and the wall of flames diminished. I feel so strange! Better than I’ve ever felt before! But, how is this even possible? I thought...When he taught me that technique, he didn’t want me to be his heir.
“Rei!” Michiru rushed to her side.
“Michiru! You--!”
“There’s no time for that! HE’LL be here any minute!”
“Huh? Who? You can’t mean--” Apollo?! "But weren't you working with him? I don't understand!"
“You both… should have enough power now.” Ares uttered to Michiru. “However, it would be useless without a guide! Agh!” The pain inside his head was growing. The call was gaining strength.
My mother must have told him. But nevertheless, he’s right. “Locating a trail that would take us to Apollo would take a considerable amount of time. I haven’t the faintest idea of where to start looking! The new fabrication of this dimension has destroyed any previous paths.” Michiru analyzed aloud.
“Then use me!” Ares proposed.
“Excuse me?”
“I still have a connection with Apollo. If you destroy my body, you can track his presence back to him!” His struggles for mental domination escalated to greater heights. “Gah—AHHhH!”
“Wait a second!” Rei interrupted in confusion. “You mean this entire thing... You, and Him… this was a set up?!”
Michiru was silent for a moment. “…There was much that was taken into consideration. I found an opportunity while conversing with the Sun God. I thought that I might be able to undo the mind control he had over Ares if we were in close proximity, but I quickly realized that I could not. It was too strong, and at that point I could not stop what had been set into motion. If I had come to your aid even once during the battle, Apollo would have instantly regained control over Ares. However, once you were able to weaken him enough…”
“Forget about that! What about now?!”
“He’ll be taken over again.” Michiru eyed the dry ground where puddles had resided moments earlier.
“Destroy me!” Ares demanded.
Rei was forced to step away from the God as his flailing grew wild. She hesitated, but a gentle hand on her shoulder brought her to look into firm aquamarine eyes.
“There is nothing that we can do for him. Apollo has controlled his mind for so long that his presence has left a permanent imprint. He will continue to summon Ares until he submits.”
“Indeed.” An unimpressed voice dryly agreed.
“Apollo!” Rei and Michiru shouted at once.
…Apollo! Michiru stood tall and unyielding to his intimidating gaze.
“Now what do we have here? A Goddess, a traitor, and a human who has ascended to the rank of God? I do not recall this as part of our agreement.” The Sun God eyed the trio with sour dislike. “You’re a traitor, just like your Mother!” He spat.
A human ascended to a God? Rei stared at the Sun God in disbelief. Is he talking about me? But that would mean--! That I--!
“My mother was the tactician that led to your eventual downfall. What less did you expect from her daughter?” Michiru looked him in the eye.
“…!” The man clenched his hands into fists by his sides. “Well, she isn’t around to protect you this time! Ares!”
“NO—ARRGH!!” An orange hue started to surround his body until a lightning bolt assaulted the Sun God.
“What?!” Apollo’s concentration was broken as the aquamarine lightning-bolt warped and wrapped about him. “Impossible! You still dare to defy me, even after death?! What a nuisance!”
“Do it now! Before it’s too late!” Ares commanded them.
“Rei!” Michiru grabbed a hold of the other woman’s hand. Reluctantly Rei felt her newfound power begin to surge and intermingle with Michiru’s as before.
No. No, no, no! Things are going too fast! I’m a Goddess?! Ares, what?! Amethyst eyes watched as the fused powers rise like a fiery spirit and descend upon the fallen God.
This isn’t fair! She wanted to scream at him. I still haven’t beaten you yet! You think you can just go off and die and make everything better like that?!
She couldn’t suppress the hot tears that fell freely now. “ARES!”
ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAARRRRR!! KABLAAAAAAM!
The man’s body disintegrated within the explosion and consequently warped the small space where he once stood. Rei and Michiru lunged towards the newly created portal, with Michiru tightly gripping onto her comrade’s white-knuckled hand.
Rei… Her own heart ached at her friend’s loss.
“…” Rei clung onto Michiru’s hand so tightly that she was numbly aware of their approach to the portal. It was a spiral of orange light, the last gift her mentor left behind.
As the two women passed through it, the new Goddess of War heard his voice echo distantly,
“Lead them well…”
…All right... I can promise you that much. I won’t fail!
FwoooOOOOOOOOSH!
“DAMN IT!” Apollo cried in outrage. In a fury he grasped the accursed energy about his waist and broke it with a twitch of his hand. “Two more got away!”
Without hesitation the Sun God retreated. Even as his presence vanished from the area, remnant dust particles of the explosion continued to shower the area. Black eyes watched the breathless sight in distant wonder.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” A woman quietly inquired from behind. The former Goddess of Neptune patiently measured the God’s reaction expectantly.
“Neptune.” Ares turned to face her. He peered down at his hands, finding them transparent like the rest of his being. “Neptune, I… I’m…”
“It’s all right… I understand.” She shushed him, and reassuringly touched his cheek.
The God’s face visibly relaxed. “It’s not over yet, is it?”
“No…” She eyed him sadly. “But soon... The children have grown strong.”
Ares hesitated, considering this for a moment. He then eyed his blade, still sunken in the brittle rock.
“Yes, they have… And it is every God’s wish to one day see their student surpass them.” He touched the blade and watched as it broke and crumbled back into ash.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhsssssssssssssss….
Soon…
…We await the day when we will no longer need to fight…
Next up in HFD, Ch. 39: Against the Sun: Setsuna
Apollo appeared fairly anxious to get his hands on Michiru’s mirror...but what was it that he wanted to check up on so badly? In another corner of the spiritual realm, perhaps the God’s fears were not unfounded.
“Tell me, Setsuna. Do you...harbour any regrets?”
Back to Heartfelt Desires Index - Back to Sailor Moon Shoujo-Ai Fanfiction