[Episode 26915] [Episode 26915]Back on top of the mountain, four exhausted Darkstalker-Senshi cuddled with each other.
Rei and Usagi were whispering while Setsuna and Minako slept. "I'm sorry, Usagi." Rei said with downcast eyes. "I... I just..."
Usagi shook her head slightly. "I understand. You are still adjusting to your true self. You know I love all my senshi." She placed a hand over Rei's heart. "Calm your jealousy, Rei. I would sooner cut my own head off than forsake any of you."
"But I..."
"Shhh... no. You did nothing wrong, sweet Rei. Neither did I. I will not apologize, but you are owed an explanation. I went to Setsuna first... because she needed this the most."
Rei didn't say anything, but her eyes communicated her confusion.
"She was never reincarnated, Rei. She's spent thousands of years, with nothing but a hollow duty to keep herself going. She, more than any of the others, needed to be changed."
"The fact that she was the one most likely to be able to undo these changes didn't even cross your mind, right?" Rei meant that as a joke, but one look into Usagi's eyes told her the truth. She had meant it.
Succubus or not, this was still Usagi. And she made her decisions by her heart. Rei's eyes misted, as she truly understood that while things had changed... the core of who they were had not.
But before she could say anything else, a soft sobbing alerted them than Minako was awake. They both turned to her.
Minako was crying, tears of pure energy seeping from the fluctuating orbs of her eyes. "Princess... I... I'm sorry... I attacked..."
Usagi just smiled and gathered Minako in a hug. "I forgive you, Mina-chan. You weren't in your right mind."
Minako began shaking her head. "N..No! I attacked you! My Princess! And I will again!" She began weeping uncontrollably, that even Setsuna got up and joined them. "I can already feel it, my father's hatred. It wants me to destroy you!"
"I'm sure things will work out, Mina-chan..." Rei ventured, but stopped when Minako said something that made Usagi's face grow still. "What?"
"Kill me. It's the only way." Minako said with a voice of despair.
Usagi frowned at that. "I do not accept that. I will not kill someone I love."
"Please! Usagi! I can't fight this forever!"
Usagi just shook her head. "I will not. But I won't let you face this alone, either." She gestured for Setsuna and Rei to join her.
"What do you mean?" Minako asked.
Usagi smiled again, and kissed a tear off of Minako's cheek, ignoring the slight burn it gave her. "Your father's hatred is a part of you, just as much as the powers of Venus are. I can't take it away... but I know we can help you fight."
To Minako's amazement, the Silver Crystal appeared, and began glowing. Without missing a beat, Rei and Setsuna began providing their own power to assist Usagi in her efforts. Then a shape formed before the Crystal, a glowing chain.
With trepidation, Minako watched as the chain moved, and began wrapping her up. But just as she was completely bound... the chain shrunk, becoming nothing more than a necklace and pendant.
Minako looked at the golden chain and the pendant - a golden heart, adorned with three gems - a diamond, a ruby, and a piece of jade. And she realized that she no longer heard the booming voice of her father, telling her to destroy, or felt his unending hatred. She looked up amazed at Usagi.
"While that chain binds you, our love locks away your father's hatred. And only you can take it off, Minako." Usagi smiled brightly. "When the others are awakened as well, we'll reforge the chain again, with all of us this time."
Minako just blinked in amazement. Somehow, she never thought even Usagi could fix that. She could only think of one response.
Minako leapt to her feet and tackled Usagi, kissing her all the wile. Rei and Setsuna looked on, pleased that the Senshi of Love was once again whole.
Then they moved to join Minako and Usagi. They weren't going to miss out, after all...
(Posted Thu, 06 Feb 2003 21:24)
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