Sailormoon Neo #14 - Muzukashii Sentaku, Kokoro no Tatakai - Difficult Choices, Battles of the Mind - By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/] Morino Ryuu stared up at his ceiling in thought, he carelessly brushed a strand of brown hair out of his eyes. "Sei-chan.." he murmured. He sat up and sighed, "I'm so stupid. How could I let this go on like it has?" he muttered to himself. He couldn't hold it in any longer--he loved Seishi. He needed Seishi. Kasumi meant alot to him, but not as much as Seishi did. Ryuu decided the moment they returned from the Aurora Galaxy almost two weeks ago that he had to tell Kasumi the truth. She was on her way to his house right now...but she had no idea what Ryuu had to say. Ryuu sighed deeply, he wasn't good at telling people no. Especially not girls. He had sort of a weakness in his heart for them. He hated hurting them in any possible way. He had already hurt Seishi, and now he'd have to hurt yet another girl who loved him. "Ryuu, Kasumi-san is heeereee!" cried his little sister Yoseiko, bursting into the room. She smiled at him impishly, "Yoour girrllfriend is heeree.." she giggled and danced around the room. Ryuu smiled at his sister and looked up as Kasumi's figure entered the doorframe. Yoseiko giggled more and danced out of the room. Kasumi smiled brightly, "I love Yosei-chan, she's so cute." she said. Ryuu's smile faded and he looked up at the ceiling. "Kasumi, there's something very important I have to tell you." he began, his voice full of seriousness. Kasumi's eyes filled with worry as she sat down on one of his chairs, sitting on the edge of the seat. "What is it, Ryuu?" she whispered. "It's about Seishi.." he said. Kasumi's face fell, she knew where this was going before he ever had to say a thing. "Oh god..no..I thought you could forget her...Ryuu...please don't tell me.." she murmured, her blue eyes filling with tears. Ryuu looked away, a look of torment on his face. "I can't ever forget Seishi. I love Seishi. She's my best friend, she's everything to me." he said quietly, keeping his eyes down. Kasumi's heart froze. He never loved me, he was just too afraid to tell me no, she thought. Her sadness turned into anger, as it always had. I never win, she thought, I never get anything good. Kasumi wiped away her tears and glared up at Ryuu with icy eyes, "I hate you." she whispered, "I hate you both. I hope you two never get together. I wish that you stay apart forever!" she screamed, she stood up and ran out of the room. Ryuu heard the frontdoor slam moments later. He felt terrible, but at the same time...very relieved. Kasumi's chilling curse rang in his mind, but he pushed it aside. He looked over to his picture of Seishi with the pictures of his family. He smiled at it, "Sei-chan...If her curse is true, I only hope that I can tell you that I love you before it's too late." * * * * Queen Rage stared at the woman in the mirror. She had long red hair tied in pointed odango, the tails so long they were past floor length. This woman had tormented red-eyes that stared back at Rage. She was dressed in crystal battle-armor. "This..this is me.." she whispered to herself. She reached forward and touched the mirror. She slowly brought her hand back, wrapping it protectively around her brooch. In the center was the Silver Crystal, "With you and the Opaque Prism...I can finally become myself again." she said to the Crystal. A sudden pain in her head caused her to grimace. She began to breathe deeply as the pain increased and a black star flashed upon her forehead. The reflection of the mirror showed the same woman, but with eyes filled with evil. "With you and the Opaque Prism," she said in a cold voice to the Silver Crystal, "We will silence Earth." * * * * "So, what happened to Princess Solana?" Neo-Queen Serenity asked, her fork rested in midair as she gazed at the girl sitting before her. The Neo Senshi had brought Princess Stella back to Earth with them, it had taken a week and a half to get her to come to trust her neice, Neo-Queen Serenity, and her story on why Serenity had to destroy the Golden Millennium. Now Stella was talking freely about her life. Her eyes held such wisdom, intermixed with loneliness and sadness. "I'm not sure. Solana disappeared one day and the Star Senshi, my guardians, and Solana's Guardians went to look for her. Also, her fiancee Prince Trent. I was left alone on Star. They swore they would come back in days, but 2000 years have passed since they've left." Stella answered, keeping her blue eyes lowered. Usa-chan frowned slightly and shifted her red eyes nervously to her father. She pretended to be interested in her sushi, however her mind was racing. What if Queen Rage is Solana? she wondered, it would make total sense... "Mother..." Usa-chan began, she glanced over at Stella nervously, "There is still the matter of Queen Rage and the Dark Side of the Moon." she finished. She decided at the last moment not to state her theory. Neo-Queen Serenity turned her head and gazed upon her daughter, "Now that you have the Opaque Prism, it is inevitable that they'll attack, isn't it?" she sighed. "You can handle her, I believe in you, Usa-chan." King Endymion said and picked up his wine glass. He took a sip, "I'm pretty confident we can beat her too, Dad...but, I have a theory...that Queen Rage is good-hearted." Usa mumbled. Neo-Queen Serenity looked up startled, "Good-hearted? How could she be?" "I have a feeling that Queen Rage is someone from our bloodline, Mommy." Usa-chan said, carefully shifting her eyes at Princess Stella. "Who could it possibly be? Someone from the Future?" Serenity asked. Usa her head and glanced downwards, "Actually, Mommy...I was thinking...Princess Solana." she answered, she kept her eyes cast downwards. She heard Princess Stella drop her fork. She heard Stella's chair move outwards, and the young girl standing up. "Excuse me." she replied politely, yet icily. Usa kept her eyes down as she heard the young Princess' footsteps march off. "Usa...that was EXTREMELY rude. That girl has lost her sister, and now you're saying that her sister is causing one of the biggest problems Crystal Tokyo has faced in ages." King Endymion chastised. Usa frowned slightly, "Dad, it's what I truly feel in my heart. I've only seen Queen Rage once, and I've only encountered her henchmen...but I truly believe she's someone of our blood. Someone who used to be good, but was turned evil." Usa said. Neo-Queen Serenity turned her gaze over to her daughter, "Usa-chan...I believe you. If you truly believe she can be saved, we will not spare any expense to save this woman." she replied. Usa-chan nodded slowly, her eyes full of seriousness, "Momma, I truly believe." * * * * Night settled upon Crystal Tokyo. Those who weren't already in a peaceful sleep, where just about ready to fall into the night's trance. Queen Rage and Gallium found this moment the perfect moment for their attack. Queen Rage clutched the Silver Crystal tightly in one hand, to protect her from harm. But only her...it couldn't help Gallium. The pair transported directly into the Crystal Palace, and crept into the throne room. Gallium was amazed at how well Queen Rage knew the palace, she seemed to know exactly where to go. She lead Gallium into a circular room. At the very center was a greenish-blue prism, although it was dark in the room, it still refracted green and blue rainbows along the walls. "Is..is that the Opaque Prism?" Gallium asked as he sucked in his breath, he was awed by it's beauty. It was the strangest, loveliest crystal he had ever laid his eyes upon. Thulium would appreciate this thing, he said to himself. Queen Rage ignored Gallium's comment, in a trance-like state she drifted towards the Prism, "I've waited a thousand years for this moment." she whispered to herself, her eyes greedily latched on the Opaque Prism. She brought her fingers closer to the crystal, "I'll finally..finally become myself again." she said, her voice full of joy. Suddenly, a dark look crossed her face and she brought her hand up to her forehead in pain. Her now evil red eyes glanced coldly at the Opaque Prism, "To Silence the World..." she muttered. Gallium looked at Queen Rage in confusion. He watched as she shifted from wanting to revert back to her normal form, to wanting to 'Silence' the world. Each shift in personality was accompanied with a sharp pain that made Queen Rage squint her eyes and rub her temples. It's like watching two people fighting to control one body, Gallium thought. Suddenly, the lights in the circular room snapped on. Gallium shielded his eyes from the blinding brightness momentarily, and when he opened his eyes again, he found himself and Queen Rage surrounded by Neo Sailor Senshi. "For Love and Justice, we are the pretty sailorsuited Soldiers, the Neo Sailor Senshi! In the name of the Neo Moon, we'll punish you!" Neo Sailormoon shouted. Queen Rage smirked slightly, but pain was obviously showing in her eyes. She stepped back and desperately reached for the Opaque Prism, but she was so disoriented it fell to the ground and rolled towards Neo Sailormercury who gently picked it up. The Prism immediately stopped glowing when it touched her hands. "God please...just give me the Opaque Prism.." she said desperately, she gazed up with pleading eyes to Neo Sailormoon. She then cried out and fell to her knees as another wash of pain came over her. For a moment a black star flashed upon her forehead, and her red eyes turned evil. Black energy charged in her palms which she directed around the circular room. The unprepared Sailor Senshi all took hits and fell. Queen Rage gasped for breath and flashed her red eyes around. "I need..more...energy.." she whispered with each inhale and exhale. She threw her glance towards Gallium. "Your Majesty, how can I help you acquire energy?" he asked obediently. Rage staggered over towards him, from her body, an ethereal arm lurched forward. It wasn't made out of flesh, but a different sort of "spiritual" matter. Gallium screamed out in pain as the hand reached into his chest and pulled out a crystal heart. Gallium's eyes went blank, his mouth forming the words 'Thulium' as his limp body collapsed to the ground. "An impure heart..I cannot use this.." Queen Rage said, she squeezed the crystal with her human hand, shattering it into dust. Her eyes glanced over the fallen Neo Senshi, her eyes landing on Neo Sailormoon. "No...you cannot kill her." a voice whispered in Rage's head. She grabbed her head and started to scream. Her wild eyes flashed, as did a black star on her forehead. Her gaze settled on Jupiter Kamen, whose injured body lay next to Neo Sailormoon's. "A pure heart...to feed the Silent Angel.." Queen Rage mumbled and staggered towards his body. Neo Sailormercury's eyes snapped open and she looked across the room to see Queen Rage with a third arm made of something not fleshy reach into Jupiter Kamen's chest. "NO!" she screamed, outstretching her arm to attack. "Silence.." whispered a gentle, yet icy voice, which caused Queen Rage to stop immediately. Jupiter Kamen's eyes opened at the sound of the viciously cold, feminine voice, "Death Song.." said the girl, Jupiter Kamen looked towards the doorway to see Seishi, not Neo Sailorsaturn, standing. Wind surrounded her as her hand charged with energy, causing her hair to rise up. An eerie wail filled the room as a burst of solidified violet energy struck Queen Rage right in the chest. Rage screamed and grabbed at her heart. The blast had partially disintegrated her own crystal heart. "Help me..Hotaru..." she whispered blindly reaching for Seishi, gone was the evil look in her eyes and the black star. Her red eyes looked pleading. Seishi's eyes darkened at the mention of her mother's name. "I'm not my mother." she answered coldly, taking a step back. Rage crawled on the floor and desperately reached for Seishi's legs, "Hotaru.." she croaked, "Go back to hell." Seishi said, her voice edged with hatred. A dangerous violet aura surrounded her and she held out her hand once more. "SEISHI! Stop it!" Jupiter Kamen shouted, he stared at his best friend, his love, with fear in his eyes. Where was the gentle girl he knew? Who was this vindictive girl that replaced her? "Hotaru! NO! SAVE ME!" Queen Rage screamed, a more dangerous blast of energy came from Seishi's palm. The blast destroyed the remainder of her Crystal Heart. Her red odango began to shrink and pale from red to a more pinkish tint. As Queen Rage's screamed in pain, her fingers released the grip on Her Silver Crystal which fell to the floor and shattered. Rage's eyes went blank and she collapsed, her body disintegrating into dust. However, the screams of her soul still filled the air. Seishi looked away, keeping her violet eyes gazing at the floor. Queen Rage's last pleas resonated through the room as the last of her body was destroyed, "Hotaru...how could you do this to me?"