Sailormoon Neo: #17 - Watashi-tachi Makerarenai! Toki o Koeru Tatakai - We Cannot Lose! The Battle that Crosses Time - By: Janelle Jimenez (miaka@bishounen.org) Official Webpage: http://www.sailormoon-millennia.net/ [http://bishounen.org/smmillennia/] Note: Remember, the use of -chan by Queen Rage is like...rude, patronizing, etc. Most of the Japanese used in this episode should be really easy to understand. I hesitate in translating everything, because I know it must be rather demeaning to people who have a good memory...anyway.... Another important thing here introduced from Sailormoon Zodiac...ya shoulda read it if ya didn't! *************************** There was a cold silence for what seemed to be an eternity, then Queen Rage shifted her eyes upward and gazed directly at Sailorsaturn. A small smirk grew on Rage's face, her frightened red eyes turned defiant. She reached up and shoved the blade of the Silence Glaive away from her neck, she took a step forward, filled with new confidence, "You are so pretty, so fragile, Seishi-chan...Are you sure you're fit to fight the Silent Angel?" Rage inquired, cocking her head to the side. Anger flashed in Saturn's eyes momentarily, "Don't patronize me. I could destroy you with three words." she replied coldly. Queen Rage floated backwards and giggled childishly, "So, why don't you do it? I know you could easily destroy me, however, you'd destroy the world in the process. Your little Death Song won't work on me." she smiled, twirling a loose strand of red hair. Neo Sailorsaturn took a step towards Queen Rage, her eyes locked on the former Princess, "Don't toy with me, Lady 9. I come from a line of Soldiers, destroyers and creators. What makes you think I won't sacrifice the world to keep the great evil of the Tau Ceti away? My mother did it, and my mother's mother did it." she whispered. Annoyance shined in Rage's eyes, but also a slight hint of fear. Queen Rage raised her right hand to the sky and a glaive materialized in her hands, it was almost identical to Neo Sailorsaturn's except Rage's was made entirely of gold. "Quiet! You are no longer the Silent Angel, Seishi-chan! Only I have the power to Silence!" she shouted almost hysterically, she held the glaive with two hands and thrust it above her head. Energy surrounded her and the room began to shake, tiles from the ceiling rained upon the Neo Sailor Senshi. Queen Rage threw down the Glaive and flew over to Neo Sailormercury, pinning her against the floor, "Give me the Opaque Prism, NOW." she ordered. Neo Mercury spat in her face and pushed Rage off, quickly restraining Rage down as she had done to Mercury seconds before. "Don't you want to Silence the Earth?" she asked sarcastically, "Why are you wasting your time with the Opaque Prism when you don't need it to Silence?" Neo Mercury demanded, Queen Rage suddenly stopped fighting, her face taking a look of fright and anguish, "Help me, Kasumi-chan. Give me the Opaque Prism so I can heal myself." she begged in a pathetic voice. Neo Sailormercury slapped Queen Rage across the face, "We aren't stupid. No one is going to fall for that." she hissed, Rage's eyes flared, she violently shoved Neo Mercury off of her, the Opaque Prism fell from her hands and landed near Neo-Queen Serenity. Serenity bent down and picked it up, cradling it in her hands. Serenity gazed into Rage's eyes, and held the Opaque Prism out for the taking. "Your Majesty! What are you doing?" Neo Sailormars cried out, Serenity did not answer, her face held a blank expression. Her eyes glassy with tears and torment. Queen Rage greedily reached for the Opaque Prism and snatched it away from Serenity. Rage clutched it tightly against her body. Suddenly, her eyes widened in pain and horror. She screamed out in agony and released her grip on the Opaque Prism, but it remained attached to her. Serenity turned to Neo Sailormars, her blue eyes filled with tears, but she remained speechless. It was as to say that what was happening to Rage was explanation enough. A small figure appeared in the corridor of the room, hair like snakes. Princess Stella walked into the room and gazed sympathetically at Queen Rage who was writhing on the floor, crying out in pain. Stella turned to the Neo Senshi, slowly lifting her eyes to theirs, "You see, there were three treasues from the Golden Millenium. Each with special powers." she began, "The Iridescent Jewel gives a person the weakest strength, but has the amazing power to distort time and space. The Silver Crystal can give a person alot of strength, and the power to give life. The Opaque Prism contains the most immense power, which shadows even the Silver Crystal. However, it's usage is much more limited. It can do nothing else but give strength. It must also never be touched by anyone who is not pure of heart. Those who do, shall die." Neo-Queen Serenity turned away and started to cry. Neo Sailormercury looked from Serenity to Queen Rage who was still screaming, she shuddered slightly, "Can't we do anything to save her?" she whispered. "If you take the Opaque Prism away from her, Lady 9 will heal in just a few minutes. If you do not take it away, she will be dead in the same amount of time." Princess Stella replied. "Your Majesty, Serenity-sama, what do you want us to do?" Neo Mars asked. Neo-Queen Serenity did not answer, she just continued to cry. Queen Rage let out a low cry, she struggled to her knees, "Kiisamaa.." she whispered, crawling towards Serenity. "You never loved me. How dare you...you look at me in pity like that...instead of saving me, your own daughter...kisama." Serenity took a step back in fear, Rage clawed at her dress and grabbed her leg. Rage curled into a small ball and coughed violently as tears streamed down her cheek. The Opaque Prism's light faded into a dull glow as Rage slowly withered into nothingness. "That isn't hurting Queen Rage at all," Neo Mercury murmured, "it's hurting Usa-chan.." Jupiter Kamen took a step forward, towards the cringing Queen and the dying Princess. He bent down and took Queen Rage into his arms, closing his fingers around the Opaque Prism and releasing it's hold on Rage. "Usa-chan," he whispered, shaking her gently. Rage's red eyes half opened and looked up at him, "Help me, please." she whispered, "Please don't kill me...I don't want to die.." "Hayaku, minna, while Lady 9's hold on Usa-chan is weak." Neo Mercury said, rushing to Jupiter Kamen's side. The rest of the Neo Senshi quickly moved towards them. "You need to give all your faith and love to Usa-chan." Neo Mercury commanded. She closed her eyes and began to concentrate, the rest of the Neo Sailor Senshi followed suite. Queen Rage cried out in pain, suddenly, and grabbed her head. "It's not working," Neo V shouted, "Lady 9's getting stronger again!" "Why isn't it working? Wasn't this how Hotaru-san was healed?" Neo Sailormars asked. "It's because none of us have a bond that close to Usa-chan. None of us are what you would call her best friends and we haven't really known her long enough to have complete faith in her." Neo Mercury anwered, her voice begining to fill with hopelessness. "If we can get her best friends here, then we can save her, right?" Neo Pluto suggested. "Usa-chan's best friends were from her childhood. All of them are gone now, and the last one alive....was my mother." Neo Sailorsaturn whispered. "Oh god.." Neo Neptune whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. Neo Queen Serenity took Queen Rage's hand and held on to it tightly, "Chibiusa.." she whispered. Neo Sailorsaturn closed her eyes and began to concentrate, "Okaa-sama...can you hear me wherever you are?" she whispered, "We need your help. Please help your best friend...please help Usa-chan fight Lady 9..." "NE! What's happening with Queen Rage?!" Neo Sailor V said hysterically. Neo Saturn's eyes snapped open, Queen Rage was standing now, grabbing onto her head, screaming, ripping out her hair. Neo Sailormercury looked at Neo Sailorsaturn knowingly, "She's fighting..." * * * * "Chibiusa-chan? Chibiusa-chan? Can you hear me?" called a sweet, gentle voice. "Hotaru-chan?" "Hai, it's me.." replied the voice. Usa-chan looked around. Where was she? She was in a void, floating naked. She looked and saw Hotaru, floating towards her, but it was a young Hotaru...maybe twelve years old? "Where are we?" Usa-chan asked, "In your mind. I'm here to help you, Seishi called for me." "Seishi-chan? Why?" she asked. "There isn't much time for this, Lady 9 may find out that I'm in your mind. You must fight her." "Oh, but Hotaru-chan, I'm so tired. I don't want to die, but I don't want to fight either. Oh how I miss you! I'm so alone, I'm sorry that I wasn't there for you!" Usa-chan cried, "Chibiusa-chan, you cannot give up. The world depends on you. If you let this go on, then you'll be the cause of thousands of deaths, and in a way, my own. You'll die knowing what you did." Hotaru replied, "But destroying Lady 9 won't bring you back either, will it? Even though it'll change history.." "No, it won't. Queen Rage's going back into time had already caused a paradox. Nothing can be changed anymore..." Hotaru answered solemnly. Usa-chan remained silent. Hotaru's spirit floated over to her and wrapped her arms around her, "Princess," she began, "We all love you very dearly. I gave my life to keep the world safe. It was a sacrifice in the name of love. Because I loved Masaya, because I loved the world, because I loved you." she whispered as she began to fade out, "Don't let my death be a waste." * * * * "Everyone give Usa-chan love! Give her all of your strength!" Neo Sailormercury shouted, "If we do that, we'll be left defenseless if Lady 9 tries to attack us!" Neo Sailoruranus exclaimed, "It's a risk we must take." Neo Sailorsaturn answered as she put her hand on Queen Rage's body, "Arigatou, Okaa-sama." she whispered. Neo Mercury put her hands on Queen Rage's arm, she closed her eyes and began to concentrate. The sign of Mercury appeared on her forehead, and a blue aura began to surround her. Queen Rage cried out in pain, "Stop! You're hurting her!" Neo Sailorneptune shrieked, Neo Saturn shot her a look of exasperation, "That isn't Usa-chan, that's Lady 9." she replied, she then closed her eyes and began to concentrate. One by one, the remaining Sailor Senshi gave Queen Rage their power. Rage continued to scream hysterically, suddenly her back arched upward as she let out a horrific cry. From her body rose a screaming spirit of a woman. The Silver Crystal rose up from Queen Rage's body, tearing her dress into shreds of light. Queen Rage's hair came undone and fell around her, the light bleaching the red hair to a soft shade of pink. Neo-Queen Serenity picked up the Silver Crystal and stood before the spirit, "Return to Hell, Lady 9." she whispered, the Silver Crystal shined in her hands and a burst of light shot forth from it, striking the spirit. Princess Stella took the Opaque Prism from Jupiter Kamen and also stood up, the Prism instantly reacted in her hands and a green light eminated from it, surrounding Lady 9. "Don't think that this will be the last time Tau Ceti strikes!" Lady 9 shrieked as her spiritual body was ripped by the light, "You will be destroyed! When Earth become peaceful, your ultimate fate will be destruction!" Lady 9's voice echoed several times before finally going silent. The light from the Silver Crystal and the Opaque Prism diminished, leaving nothing but two glowing rocks. Neo-Queen Serenity turned around and carefully placed the Silver Crystal back on Usa-chan's chest, she carefully waved her hand over it causing it to react. Usa-chan was bathed in light, the dress of a Princess forming from the strands of the dress of shadows. Slowly, she opened her eyes. "Usa-chan!" Neo Sailormars exclaimed, throwing her arms around her. Usa-chan's eyes widened with surprise, "Karei.." she whispered, "We're so glad you're back, Princess!" Neo Sailor V exclaimed. "You're so strong, I could have never fought Lady 9 by myself." Neo Neptune sighed. "I didn't fight her alone." Usa-chan replied, looking up at Neo Sailormercury, who was standing by herself, far from the crowd. Neo Mercury blushed slightly and looked down, "I couldn't have done it alone. I had the help of friends here," she said, shifting her gaze to Jupiter Kamen. Her eyes moved towards Neo Sailorsaturn, who like Neo Sailormercury, was standing alone, "I also had the love of friends gone away." Neo Sailorsaturn looked up and for a brief moment there was an understanding between them that had never existed before. A common bond which they never had before, the very beginnings...of friendship. * * * * A handsome man with beautiful long blonde hair and green eyes walked along the streets of Crystal Tokyo. Everywhere he went, girls stopped and stared. He looked like one of those heroes of the old days that older women talked about. With him was an adorable little child with oval-shaped odango with little black curls hanging from them. She had piercing, mischeivious blue eyes that shined brightly as she skipped along with her older male companion. The man looked to be around eighteen years old, and the girl about eight. They made a very odd looking couple. Brother and sister? But they look nothing alike... "So this is Crystal Tokyo?" the man asked, as they turned into a park and sat down on a bench. "Haaai, Masaya-sempai." the little girl answered sweetly. The man, Masaya, cringed slightly. "Don't do that, Asako. It's eerie. Don't talk like that..and I'm not your sempai." he murmured. The girl giggled, "It's *U*sako." she corrected. "So, Kage Masaya, how does it feel to be back in Tokyo?" she asked. Masaya leaned back in the bench, "It's been a long time since anyone has called me Masaya. It's been awhile since I've been here. I can't say I like it." he answered. She giggled and hopped to her feet, eye-level with Masaya. "Don't worry, once I find Mommy we'll go home." she said in a lustful, reassuring voice. Usako's face took on a mischeivous look as she leaned forward and kissed Masaya fully on the lips.