Chapter Twenty Five: Keep Going, and Don't Look Back

"Fighter? Healer? What's wrong?"

Healer's head snapped up and she met the gaze of their princess.

"Hime..." She said quietly, standing to reveal Fighter, still sitting on the floor crying miserably. Kakyuu's brow furrowed in concern. True, she hadn't known Fighter all that long, but she knew the starlight was a strong girl- it was unlike her to show such weakness.

"Are you in pain?" Kakyuu asked, although she knew the only pain that could make Fighter break down would have to be purely emotional.

"Ie, I'm fine, really." Fighter said standing up. Fighter swallowed hard, closing her eyes harshly, smearing her tears away with her gloves. She couldn't just let her princess see her in such a state. She needed to pretend she was strong, even if every fiber of her being felt like it was falling apart.

"Fighter..." Kakyuu said, gently placing a hand on her starlight's shoulder.

"I am fine." Fighter insisted, walking away slowly.

"She heals fast, doesn't she?" Kakyuu asked rhetorically. Healer's response was just a sad smile as she headed to the library, where she'd undoubtedly find Maker. That girl had some serious explaining to do.

Fighter went to the training area, and did a once around sweep to make sure there was no one around who might tattle on her. She needed to blow off some serious steam.

She approached a battle dummy, which happened to be a glorified sand bag, a red 'x' marking it's chest, the best place to hit.

Fighter raised her hand above her head.

"STAR SERIOUS LASER!"

Fighter blinked stupidly as the attack whizzed past the dummy and hit the wall beyond, leaving a black charred mark.

Since when did she miss?

Fighter took a deep breath, trying to focus. She could do this. It wasn't a moving target, after all.

"STAR SERIOUS LASER!"

A satisfied smirk graced her lips as her laser blasted through the dummy. She felt a lot calmer, and more collected now. Now would be a good time to approach Maker about what had happened then night before, then what had transpired in the hallway.

"It would seem I underestimated you."

Fighter turned on her heel and gasped as panic coursed through her veins.

"D-destroyer.."

A malicious smirk graced the woman's lips. "The one and only."

Fighter immediately took a battle stance.

"My, my, you sure are hasty. You'd think she'd learn after getting beat by me once." Destroyed mocked, cocking her head to a side and turning, as another figure entered the room.

"Your magesty!" immediately Fighter dropped down onto one knee in a bow, right hand over her chest.

"So you are well, Fighter?" the queen asked.

"Yes, I have recovered significantly."

"A relief to us all I'm sure." the queen said, masking a frown that tried to form upon her lips.

Fighter remained silent, her mind working away, why was Star Destroyer here? Didn't the queen know what she had pulled last night?

"I would like to introduce you to the new starlight leader, Sailor Star Destroyer, although it would seem you've already met."

Fighter prided herself on containing her surprise. She kept her head tilted down, and managed to ask in a relatively polite tone, "Your majesty, I do not understand the meaning of this."

"You are relieved of your position. You may choose to work under Destroyer's command, or you may leave. The choice is yours. Enjoy the rest of the day." and with that, the Queen flounced out of the room, no doubt to attend royal matters. Fighter rose slowly from her position on the ground, fury reaching it's boiling point.

Destroyer laughed heartily.

"What're you going to do now, Fighter? Run like the coward you are? Or do you honestly think you can stand up to my...rigorous...training?"

Fighter narrowed her eyes.

"Watch you back Destroyer, I assure you I will not do it for you." and with that, Fighter left, the leather of her gloves creaking under the strain of her clenched fists.

"Yes, run and go see you Star Maker, maybe she can protect you from me!" Destroyer taunted.

Fighter whipped around, arm in the air.

"STAR SERIOUS LASER!"

Destroyer gasped in surprise as the laser knocked the wind out of her, and she fell to the ground gasping for breath.

"Next time, I'll use all it full strength." Fighter warned, as she left the room, door slamming shut behind her. Now she really needed to talk to Maker.

Romance would have to be put aside for now.

Healer made her way to the library, immediately spotting Maker. Standing behind her, she snatched away the book, slamming it closed on the table.

"Healer! I was reading that!" Maker protested.

"Coward."

"What?" Maker looked at Healer with surprise, her lilac eyes blinking several times, in obvious confusion.

"I saw what you pulled in front of Fighter, you coward." Healer seethed.

"I haven't a clue what you're talking about, please leave." Maker said coldly, her hand reaching for her book. Healer slapped her hand away.

"Do you understand what it's like to have someone collapse into tears in your arms over something your best friend has done?" Healer hissed, "You need to apologize to her right now, and cut the crap!"

"Healer, this doesn't concern you. I politely ask that you stay out of my business."

Healer growled angrily. Why was it that she was stuck with the two most stubborn people she had ever met? Healer examined Maker carefully, her expression was neutral, blank almost, but in her eyes Healer thought she saw something, turmoil? Agony? Confusion? She reached forward, if she could just make physical contact, she'd know exactly what was going on in Maker's head. A hand gripped her wrist tightly, and Healer tried not to cry out in pain.

"I ask that you respect my privacy, Healer." Maker ground out, standing up. Healer was really getting on her nerves today. She slowly released Healer's wrist, she hadn't meant to cause pain, but she definitely didn't want Healer prying. Healer just watched Maker leave with a sad expression on her face. That was two friends Maker had hurt today, while trying to protect them from the intense pain they'd suffer later if they continued this.

Maker was just not somebody that either of them should love.

"Oof!" Fighter cried out as she collided with Maker in the doorway.

Instinctively, Maker grabbed onto Fighter so the smaller light wouldn't be sent on her rear from the collision. The result was Fighter's head buried in Maker's chest, an enjoyable, yet embarrassing position. Maker quickly let go of Fighter once she was stable.

"Maker, we've got big trouble." Fighter said, hastily looking over her shoulder, concern etched on her face.

"I don't want to hear about your problems." Maker spat, pushing past Fighter. She'd had enough of this today!

"What's wrong with you, Maker?" Fighter yelled. Maker seemingly ignored her.

"Fine! Shirk your duty, see if I care!" Fighter ground out, turning down the hallway to the dormitories. Surely Healer would listen. Maker stopped in her tracks. Fighter hadn't been referring to their petty fight?

"Fighter, what-"

"Just shut up!" Fighter screamed, not wanting to deal with Maker any more. Damn that stubborn, foolish, bookworm! Fighter stormed off quickly down the hall, in search of Healer. Maker felt something hot splatter on her breast. She looked down, and saw a tear. She brought her hand to her face, and upon removing her hand from it, saw moisture on her leather glove. Pain stabbed through her heart as she heard Fighter's words echo in her head.

"Just shut up!"

Maker was unaware that three words could hurt so much, although she was certain there was worse. She brought a hand to her chest, walking down the hall aimlessly, never noticing Healer's quizzical look aimed at her back.

Was this the pain she was putting Fighter through?

Healer watched as Maker walked away slowly, having heard most of the fight. She took off where she knew Fighter had gone to, deciding to see what she had come for. She didn't feel like dealing with Maker right now. Or ever, really...

Healer quickly caught up to Fighter.

"Fighter!"

Fighter stopped in her tracks and turned around.

"I was just going to get you." Fighter said, her voice was strong and determined, she didn't seem phased at all by the fight that had just transpired.

"Why?" Healer asked as she closed the distance between them.

"Destroyer's in the castle."

Healer gasped in surprise. "We must tell her majesty, the Queen!" She immediately decided, ready to run down the royal corridor.

"Ie." Fighter said, blocking her path. "It seems the Queen has invited her to stay."

"There must be a misunderstanding! Destroyer tried to kill you! If the queen knew that, then she'd surely..." Healer trailed, looking up into Fighter's indigo eyes.

Fighter smiled bitterly. "The Queen knows."

"Yet she still wants that murderer in the castle? This is an outrage!" Healer all but screamed.

Fighter looked off, distant almost. Healer had never seen her look so unsure of herself.

"Well, leader, what'll we do?" Healer asked hopefully. Pain flicked across Fighter's face for a brief moment, before her expression went to her usual, steely combat one.

"I am no longer considered the starlight leader."

"What?" Healer spat, stomping her foot on the ground pointedly.

"The Queen has relieved me of my duty. I may either work under Destroyer, or leave."

"Fighter..." Healer looked up at the girl, who seemed so much more like a woman in this very moment, with unshed tears filling her green eyes. Healer embraced Fighter tightly as the sobs came.

"You'll always be the leader to me..."

Fighter smiled softly. "Arrigatou..."

"Does Maker know?" Healer asked, her voice choked.

"Ie, I was going to tell her when she snapped on me. She'll figure it out eventually." Fighter said with a small shrug.

"Fighter, I think you should leave." Healer said distraughtly.

"Nani?" Fighter asked incredulously. "I'm not leaving my best friends with that monster!"

"Fighter...Destroyer has it out for you...she'll probably kill you the first chance she gets."

Fighter sighed, running a hand through her hair.

"I can't just leave you guys though. Especially the princess..."

"Bring her with you."

"Eh?" Fighter looked at Healer.

"I don't think the princess is safe anymore, she'll most likely protest Destroyer's presence, and if what I remember from the past is true, she won't be safe."

Fighter nodded slowly. "I'm leaving then. I'll find the princess and we'll leave at once."

Healer nodded. "Take care, leader." Healer planted a kiss on her comrade's cheek.

"Sayounara." Fighter said as she took off jogging, waving over her shoulder.

"Aren't you going to say goodbye to Maker?" Healer shouted after her. Fighter turned her head slightly, her expression speaking a thousand words as a single tear slid off her face, splashing onto the ground.

"If you said goodbye to her, it'd make leaving impossible, ne?" Healer whispered softly, understanding her leader completely.

Healer sighed heavily, deciding it was her duty to inform Maker of these recent developments.

"Princess." Fighter said, knocking on her door, where the Princess was presumably staying.

"Come in, Fighter." came the voice on the other side.

Fighter entered her room, noticing how the décor had changed quite a bit.

"Princess...we must leave the castle." Fighter said, approaching the girl, whose fiery hair was spilled freely down her back.

"Why? What has happened?" she asked worriedly. She hadn't heard any sounds of battle.

"Sailor Star Destroyer has been inducted as the leader of the Sailor Starlights. I do not believe anywhere on the premise is safe."

The princess gasped. The only one with the ability to do such a thing would be..her mother.

"I'll talk to my mother, surely she'll understand!" Kakyuu said, breezing past Fighter, reaching for the door.

Fighter jumped back, blocking the door.

"I don't think you understand the situation, hime." Kakyuu looked into the eyes of her most trusted protector. She trusted her judgement more than anyone's, and it seemed Fighter knew more of the situation than she did.

"Your mother knows that Destroyer attacked me, and still chose her as the leader. She gave me an ultimatum- work under Destroyer or leave. Healer and I decided that since Destroyer has it out for me, it'd be best if I left. We also decided that you should come with me. Who knows what Destroyer is plotting. She's not the Destroyer we used to know. She's back with a vengeance." Fighter said, as she slowly walked towards her princess, backing her up until the princess had no choice but to sit on the bed.

"What does Star Maker say?" Kakyuu asked. Fighter clenched her fists against the sting in her heart that the name of her comrade brought.

"Maker refused to speak civilly with me, so she is blissfully unaware of the situation, that is until Healer speaks with her. We don't have much time. We must leave at once."

Kakyuu looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding. Over all these years, Fighter had never led her astray. She would just have to believe in her once more.

"Help me with my hair." Kakyuu ordered, and Fighter mentally sighed. Hairstyling was the least of her concerns, and a talent she lacked in considerably.

"Just put all of it up so it's out of our way, and makes me unrecognizable."

Fighter nodded, now that she could do. A few minutes later, and they were out the door, with a few necessities and a change of clothes each. Kakyuu's hair was pinned into a mass ontop of her head. It certainly wasn't befitting a princess, but for a commoner it was passable. Fighter undid her transformation, so that they could leave the castle with a chance of being anonymous. Kakyuu restrained a giggle.

"Nani?" Seiya asked.

"Oh, Fighter! You're dressed like a man!"

Seiya blinked repeatedly. "I like it better this way, and stop calling me that! Call me Seiya from now on, or you'll blow our cover!"

"Hai, hai!" Kakyuu agreed. They had made it across the drawbridge now, and Kakyuu glanced sadly over her shoulder at the life she had just left behind without a proper goodbye. Seiya's hands were on her shoulders now.

"Don't look back. Keep going."

And so they did.