AN: Woah! Hey, everyone! It's been a while since I've updated this particular story, hasn't it! Well, you know what they say! Better late than never, am I right?
Now, tomorrow is going to be a very special day for both me and you guys. That is because I plan on updating ALL...I repeat, ALL of my active stories. That's right, from Super Koopalings to Teen Titans; it's all getting an upload tomorrow! I might even use this time to bring some closure to some projects that I abandoned years ago.
Anyway, enjoy your reading tomorrow. I know I will :)
Chapter 6 Is It Love?
I don't know what to do. I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do!
These thoughts ran through Rosalina's head at an alarming rate. They were like little planets revolving around the sun; thoughts revolving around one very important topic. What was that topic, one might ask? Well, that much was obvious. Rosalina really wanted to keep Solar. Really, truly, especially. It had only been a short while, but that little baby had latched onto a corner of her heart and just would not let go.
But if he developed Super powers...if he turned out to be evil like that god….
Oh dear, Rosalina was crying.
"I...I can't breath…" said the Lady of the Shooting Stars. She stopped, feeling a sudden wave of nausea overtake her. She gripped the sides of her head, for it ached. It ached tremendously, stupendously. Her insides felt like they would explode, and her knees shook beneath her despite the fact that she was floating.
Oh man. Was this what a panic attack feels like?
Rosalina knelt down on the floor of her bedroom. She placed her hand directly down on the violet carpet. She felt sick. Honest to goodness, physically sick. She hadn't felt physically ill in so long; the last time she could recall was when she came down with the flu virus when she was a child. But that had been years ago. This was now, and it only increased her panic.
"I...I can't think like this," she told herself. "I need some fresh air. I need a nice, quiet area to think."
A sparkling, pulsating sound occurred up above her head. She looked up and saw the pull star, shining with a blue light that only it could produce. She hoisted herself up and allowed gravity to do its thing. Once she was at the top of the dome, she looked out at the Galaxies that her bedroom dome granted access to.
There was Freezeflame Galaxy. It was known for its extreme temperatures, both of the hot and the freezing variety. Such extreme weather changes would probably not calm Rosalina's nerves.
There was Dusty Dune. Hmm. She could go sunbathing there; that was a very relaxing activity. However, she would have to deal with all sorts of unwanted, unneeded obstacles in order to find the perfect resting spot. Sinking sand, pokeys, twisters; Dusty Dune was just too dangerous for the panic Rosalina.
Finally, the last major galaxy was Gusty Garden. Rosalina smiled just observing it. The true essence of peace, the friend that was there to comfort her in the worst of times. She had frequented Gusty Garden so often that the scent had permanently ingrained itself into her very soul.
That was the perfect spot to relax.
…
Rosalina observed the planets around her as she sat at a bench on the puzzle cube planet. They were very spread out, and were green with the brightest grass. The apple planets also caught her eye; they were obviously ripe and obviously delicious. It was no wonder why a giant Caterpillar had decided to nibble it's way into the planets' cores.
Rosalina looked back down; she had spent so much time looking up that her neck ached something fierce. She noticed a colony of ants, marching in a straight line. One of them, at the very front, was carrying a raspberry in its mouth. All the others had food as well; some bread crumbs, some seeds, some nuts. The ants would surely have a feast when the time was ripe.
"Hey, Mama!"
Rosalina did a double take. She looked up and saw a star bunny. He smiled at her, its ear tips glittering like the sun. Like Solar's hair.
Rosalina could have hit herself. She was doing so well with relaxing; now she had gone right back to square one. Her stomach gurgled. She put her hand there as a way to mitigate the aching, but nothing happened.
The star bunny bounced up and down, completely oblivious to its Mama's agony. "Oh, Mama, it's been so long since I've last seen you! So, so long." Its nose twitched as it smiled. "Do you want to play hide and seek? I can give you a power star I found as a reward!"
Rosalina held her hand up, signaling to the rabbit that now was not the right time. "I...I can't."
"Why not?" asked the star bunny. Rosalina's stomach gurgled again, causing the bunny to become alert. "Mama, why is your body making music?"
"It is because I'm not feeling well, Usagi."
Usagi gasped. "Oh no!" He leaned forward and dug down into the ground, sending soil spraying everywhere. "I'm gonna go get the others! They'll help you feel better, Mama; I promise."
Rosalina shook her head. "While I appreciate the effort, I don't think that will help. My ailments are caused by distress."
Usagi stopped digging and stared at her Mama. "Distress? What's that?"
"It means...well, it means I have a lot to think about. I'm...sad."
"Sad! Oh no!" Usagi bounced over and placed her paws (her dirty paws) on Rosalina's lap. "Why are you sad? Who hurt you? Was it that big bad Bowser again?"
Rosalina, despite herself, chuckled. "No. I am sad because I am faced with an important decision." She figured it would take too long to explain all the details to Usagi, and the naive star bunny wouldn't comprehend the gravity of the situation anyway.
Thankfully, Usagi did seem to comprehend what her Mama was saying, as her face filled with understanding. "Ohh. I see, I see." She put her hand to her chin and tapped her foot at a rapid rate. "That's too bad."
"Yes. It is." Rosalina leaned forward, supporting her face with her right hand. "I don't know what to do," she practically whimpered.
Usagi looked up into her Mama's eyes. "Well...when I make tough decisions, you always tell me to do the right thing."
Rosalina nodded. She did recall that. However, she didn't know what the right thing was. How could she? There was no right answer in this scenario. Either she get rid of the baby; end a life essentially, or she let the baby grow into a monster that will take countless lives. Her conscience wouldn't allow her to kill or even abandon such an innocent life form, but it would also cause her to grieve if that lifeform turned out to be responsible for the deaths of millions. Possibly even trillions.
"I don't know what that is, though."
Usagi's face fell into concern. "Well, then, ask yourself. What do you want to do?
Do you know?"
Rosalina sighed. She wanted to keep Solar. She couldn't deny that; she knew that for an absolute fact.
"Yes. I do know."
"Good! Then why don't you trust yourself, as well as your gut? You have told me that my gut is often the most correct part of my body."
Rosalina laughed. "This is true. This is true."
Go with her gut. Her gut was telling her to keep Solar. Or maybe it was more motherly instinct and caring nature than gut. Either way, she wanted to keep Solar. She wanted to raise him, nurture him. Because, whether anyone liked it or not, he was her son. She knew that about him the minute she found him in the dust heap.
Yes. Her son. There was a reason why he was stuck in her heart. He was a part of her now. If she got rid of him, she would be sacrificing a part of herself. Some would argue that would be for the greater good. But Rose thought otherwise. She was a mother after all, and mothers had to do what was right for their children. No matter what that was.
Rosalina smiled, all of her pain from before fading away. "You're right. I know what I need to do. Thanks, Usagi."
"Anytime, Mama!" With that, Usagi bounced away.
Rosalina let out a breath and stood up. She would raise Solar. She would treat him with all the love her heart was capable of giving, and then some. She would treat him like one of her own, because he was one of her own.
Maybe if she did that, she could avoid the inevitable.