AN: I dedicate this chapter to my good friend Jeff (Prince Neptune, go read his fic!) for inspiring me in the creation of Mineralia's intentions.
Chapter 17: The Ultimate Power
Addy and Usagi woke up the next morning. "Good thing it's a Saturday," Usagi thought. "After last night's battle, I wouldn't be surprised if Addy doesn't want to get up at all!"
"Good morning, Usagi!" Addy said pleasantly. "How are you this morning?"
This burst of cheerfulness was not what Usagi was expecting. In fact, she thought she was going to be the one who had to be cheerful. "I'm… uh… ok, Addy. How are you?" Usagi asked this last part unsure of what Addy's answer would be.
"I'm feeling great! Hey, it's a beautiful day! Do you want to go shopping around the city?"
Usagi had no idea what was going through Addy's mind at that moment, but she was happy that Addy wasn't feeling helpless, like she was when the Dark Kingdom took her Mamo-chan. Usagi remembered that she couldn't eat or sleep for days and even if she had fallen asleep, she would be haunted by nightmares of the whole event. All she could think about was how her and her Mamo-chan had just been reunited before he was snatched by Beryl. The thought brought a tear to Usagi's eye.
"Hey Usagi… are you ok?"
Usagi snapped out of her little daydream. "Oh sorry, Addy. Shopping sounds like a great idea!"
When the two girls finished getting ready they walk out of the house. They went to many different places. They stop by Fashion Ave. just for the hell of it even though they both knew they couldn't afford anything in there. But they were having fun trying on all of the expensive clothes and feeling like movie stars.
After shopping, Usagi and Addy stopped at a local café. Everything about this day, although it was fun, felt weird to Usagi. "Are you sure you're ok, Addy?" Usagi asked. "I mean especially after last night…"
Addy cut her off, "What do you mean 'especially after last night'? It was a normal battle. We fought the monster and destroyed it then we went home."
Usagi stared at Addy in dismay. "What? That's not what happened at all Addy! Don't you remember what happened to Leo?"
Addy blinked, "Leo? Who's Leo? I don't know anyone named Leo."
"Addy! How can you say that! You and Leo have been inseparable since that day at the soup kitchen. You went on a double date with me and Mamo-chan!"
"Usagi, I'm sorry but I think you have lost your mind! I don't know anyone named Leo! Never have! Now if you don't mind, I have a headache and would like to go home."
Usagi didn't say another word for the rest of the day to Addy. She didn't know what to say. "She is taking this whole thing harder than I thought," Usagi thought. "Maybe I should tell the others… no… I'll wait. Maybe this will go away by tomorrow." And with that, Usagi allowed Addy to take her back to her place.
* * *
In Mineralia's Palace…
Mineralia sat at her throne awaiting patiently the awakening of her new servant.
"CELESTINE!" she yelled.
"Yes your majesty?" Celestine bowed as she was saying this. Celestine had long light blue hair that would have been touching the floor if it weren't held up in high ponytail braid. She wore a long purple dress with high slits on the sides and ice trimmings. There were no sleeves on the dress, but she did have long gloves reaching above her elbows. Her cold eyes matched her hair.
"How is our fine friend doing?"
"He's a stubborn one your majesty. The treatment is taking longer than usual but I'm sure he will be ready for testing in a matter of hours."
"Excellent. Now watch over him until he is ready. At that point, I want you to bring him to me for examination. I will be in my chambers for the time being."
"As you wish." With that Celestine left the room and Mineralia went into the adjacent room behind her.
Mineralia looked into her mirror. Through this mirror she could see just about anything except the future, which greatly annoyed her. She would have loved to have the mirror tell her the result of her attacks. Not that it would have made such a difference; she already knew what the future was for Earth. Everywhere she had visited, she had conquered. She had been searching for the Ultimate Power, the power that shall rule all.
In order to possess this power, one must have all four of the legendary crystals in possession. According to legend, an evil menace, named Hexes, held the Ultimate Power and ruled the world in chaos and destruction. However, four saviors ended his reign: Serenity, Morissa, Pirro, and Naiya. With their combined powers, they trapped Hexes in another dimension and possessed control over the Ultimate Power. The four had decided that this power was too great for any one person to have, so they split the power into four crystals: red, blue, black, and silver. The four separated unto the farthest regions of the universe. This way, it would be very difficult for someone to try to collect the crystals. Should the crystals be reunited it would release the Ultimate Power and Hexes and the world would come to an end.
"I thought the Sol system would be an easy system to conquer…" Mineralia said to herself. "That's why I sent my sister, Metallia to claim the Silver Crystal." She tightened her hand into a fist and shook, filled with hatred. She quickly calmed herself down. "No matter. I will conquer this remote system. I will gain the Silver Crystal and combine its power with the other three. Then I shall bring back Hexes and with his power, I shall rule the universe. Those who have killed Metallia will pay!" There was a soft knock on the door. "Who is it?"
Celestine entered the room gingerly. "Your majesty, he is ready."
"Excellent bring him before me at once."
Celestine entered further into the room, dragging Leo right behind her. He was still wearing his princely garments from before but anyone could tell that there was something different about him, something wrong with him. His eyes were not their usual shade of blue. Instead they were black as coal. There was no feeling behind them, no emotion.
He walked up to Mineralia and lowered himself unto one knee and lowering his head. "I am here to serve you my queen."
"Prince Apollo. What is your mission?"
"To obtain the Silver Crystal."
"Excellent." She turned to Celestine. "You have done well, Celestine. You shall be rewarded for your dedication and hard work. You are dismissed for now."
"Thank you, your majesty." Celestine left the room.
"Now, Prince Apollo, how about you and I discuss some ways in which you can obtain the Silver Crystal…"
* * *
Usagi was in the nearby diner with the rest of the senshi. She was concerned about Addy.
"Oh with all of these battles going on I forgot to tell you guys something!" Makoto exclaimed. The others gathered closer to hear what their friend had to say. Makoto stayed quiet for a second just to annoy her friends.
"Well don't keep us in suspense!" Minako yelled. "Tell us!!"
"Well, about a week ago, I got a call from Haruka and Michiru and…"
"Really?!" Usagi exclaimed. "How are they? Is everything all right? What's going on? Is it true that…"
"USAGI!!!" Rei yelled. "Let her speak!" Usagi sank back into the seat and became quiet as she sulked. "Baka!"
"Well, they said that they are coming to New York! But they didn't say when. I told them that we are always at this diner and if they want to meet us here then…"
"Then it's not a problem!" a voice said behind her.
"HARUKA-SAN!!! MICHIRU-SAN!!!" Usagi screamed and got up to hug Haruka and Michiru. "What are you doing here? How was your flight? How long are you staying…"
"Slow down, kitten!" Haruka said. "One question at a time please."
"First off, I'm holding a concert at Carnegie Hall," Michiru explained. "Our flight was fine, and we are staying for the rest of the time you are here. We don't want you getting into any trouble." She winked at Usagi after saying the last part.
"Sit down with us," Ami suggested. "And we will tell you of the current trouble that we are in."
Ami told Haruka and Michiru about the flower soldiers, Leo, everything that had happened thus far. "So now we are discussing what we should do with Leo."
"Nothing," Haruka said coldly. Everyone, excluding Michiru, looked at her in shock.
"What do you mean nothing?" Rei said. "He's in trouble! Who knows what that evil woman is going to do to him!"
"I mean just that. Nothing. He is of no concern to us. Usagi, soon you will be queen. If you take this on, you will be endangering your life and the future of the Earth. You are not going to risk yourself for him and neither are we."
"And what do you think, Michiru-san?" Usagi asked hoping for some support.
"I'm afraid that I must agree with Haruka. With your marriage and crowning close at hand, we cannot risk you being killed."
"But… but… he's royalty! He is the prince of the Sun! Surely that must count for something!"
"Don't misunderstand me. Because it is the prince of the Sun, it poses as a great loss, but if it were anyone of you, excluding Usagi or Mamoru, my feelings would be the same. You should know by now that is how we do things. It is how we feel about these matters."
"Why should I be special? Doesn't everyone deserve a chance to be saved? To be able to live their life as they were meant to be? I never did understand your sense of duty Haruka and I don't believe I ever will!"
"You are special Usagi!" Haruka yelled back. "You are the future queen of the Earth. We cannot risk your life for some…" She was interrupted by screams from outside.
"I don't care what you say, Haruka. I have a duty too. It is my duty to protect every person on this Earth to the best of my ability. And that means rescuing Leo!" She ran outside and transformed. "MOON ETERNAL… MAKE-UP!!!"