You guys please review. I can see that people are reading. It is truly depressing that no one is reviewing this story. Please say something, anything. I'm begging here. Please, please, please... I don't know what else I can say. If you don't like the story, tell me what bothers you and I'll try to fix it. If you do like it, words of encouragement are nice. Guys please, anything...
The senshi were quick to recover. Mika's attacks had been very powerful, but so were the senshi. They had used their powers to protect them from the blows. Aiko and Hoshi were pretty much physically unharmed. The senshi had purposely contained their powers when attacking, so that damage would be minimal. They put the two youngsters to bed, so they could sleep off their exhaustion. Mika was also extremely tired, but she refused to go to bed until she was sure everyone was okay.
"Mika, stop hovering and go rest," Mars ordered her daughter.
"I'm fine," Mika insisted, wrapping a bandage around Mars' injured arm.
"You did well, Mika," Venus said. "Now do you see that you can do this?"
Mika hesitated. "It's not the same. You guys weren't using your full powers."
Jupiter laughed. "Mika as far as physical power goes, you are far stronger than any of us. You have the power of both the royalty of the moon and the earth. On their own they are formidable, but together they are unbeatable as long as you learn how to focus and use them. Remember who and what you are fighting for and no one will be able to defeat you."
"What do my thoughts have to do with this?" Mika asked.
Mars answered, "Your powers respond partially to strong emotions. You used them when you were attacked by the enemy and you used them here. One responded to fear, which is a relatively weak way to access them. You'll only get a small blast of power. It was the desire to protect your friends that made you so powerful this time."
"Now we'll work on focusing that power and fine-tuning your fighting style. The power you just displayed is only the tip of the iceberg," Venus said. "You're well on your way to being ready to face the enemy."
"We should work with it then before I can't reach it anymore," Mika said anxiously.
"It doesn't work like that," Mercury said kindly. "You need to be rested to access it at will. Now it would only come out if there was no other choice."
"Come sweetheart," Mars said, motioning for Mika to follow her. "Let's get you something to eat. You must be starved after using that much power."
"I am a bit hungry," Mika admitted, following her mother. She thought back on the battle. Never before had she felt such power and it scared her. She had barely been able to contain it. What if it had gotten out of control? It also worried her that she didn't seem to have easy access to it. One of her biggest worries is that she wouldn't be able to call it out and everyone would die. "Take a deep breath, Mika," she thought to herself. "Pull yourself together. You can do this. You have to do this. Everyone is relying on you."
Rei noticed Mika's silence, and saw the look of trepidation on her face. "Earth to Mika," she teased, trying to lighten the mood. "You okay, sweetheart."
Mika snapped out of her trance-like state at her mother's question. "I'm fine, Mom," she responded quietly. She didn't want to burden her mother with anything else. She had enough to deal with already.
Rei smiled. "Baby, I have known you all your life, and I am more than capable of seeing that something is wrong."
Mika squirmed under her mother's steady gaze. She had never been able to hide anything from her for very long. She looked into her mother's eyes and asked, "Will I be able to access those powers again?"
Rei sighed as she looked at Mika, the insecurity was plain in her eyes. It was a lot to ask of anyone, but it was truly unfair to ask a fifteen year old to take up this burden. "I explained that they respond to your emotions. I know they'll come to your aid when you need them."
"And if they don't?" Mika asked. "What if I'm not strong enough? Everyone will be destroyed because of me." Tears welled up in her eyes, but she fought to hold them back. She had to be strong.
Rei hugged Mika tightly. "I knew this plan wouldn't work, but the others thought we might be able to show you just how strong you are. Mika, you are the strongest person I have ever met. I have watched you overcome every obstacle that life has thrown at you, big and small. You have grown into an amazing woman right before my eyes. There isn't anything else I can say to convince you that you can do this. It's something you'll have to realize on your own. All I can say, and I say this in all honesty is that I have faith in you, baby."
Mika thought about her mother's words, and wiped away her tears. "Thank you, mom."
Hoshi woke up with a start. Frantic thoughts ran through his mind. Where was he? Where were Mika and Aiko? Had the enemy gotten to them. He was particularly worried about Mika. Hoshi's stomach twisted itself into knots with worry. He was aware that he had feelings for her that went beyond friendship, but wasn't sure how to deal with them. He wasn't sure he should even try. Mika had never shown more than friendly feelings for him, but she also rarely allowed herself to show emotion. It would be horrible if he confessed his feelings and she didn't feel the same. He could lose her as a friend. Hoshi had decided long before that he'd rather be just friends than risk losing her. Now horror flooded through him, as he wondered about her fate. He sat up and looked around him. Aiko was resting in a bed beside him. The area appeared to be a medical center of some sort.
"Oh good you're awake," came the familiar voice of Mercury. "Mika will be happy to hear that. She's been worried sick. I keep having to kick her out because she is spending to much time here."
Hoshi was beyond confusion. Mercury could see this and laughed a little. She explained to him about the test and what Mika had done.
"So everyone is okay?" Hoshi asked carefully, trying not to shout for joy. Mika was alive and well.
"Everyone is fine," Mercury said. "You and Aiko did well. You exerted so much energy that you exhausted yourselves."
"Some guardians we turned out to be," Hoshi grumbled.
"You did just fine. The biggest problem was that you released too much energy at once, and this left you to tired to fight later on. Hoshi, if you and Aiko had been able to defeat us so easily, then I think we'd have to resign our positions," Mercury laughed. "We've been doing this much longer than you have. Your power is actually very impressive. At first we figured you two would just be here to keep Mika together, but now that we've seen what you can both do we would like you to help us guard our princess. We'll need all the strong fighters we can get and you and Aiko are two of the strongest I've seen in a while."
Hoshi straightened up proudly. "I'll do whatever it takes."
Mercury smiled. "As soon as you are strong enough, we'll begin training again."
"Let's go now," Hoshi said getting out of the bed. Having not yet recovered all his strength, he almost collapsed and had to grab the edge of the bed to hold himself up.
"Get back into bed," Mercury ordered. "I'll decide when you are ready."
Hoshi did so reluctantly. Later that night when Mercury wasn't watching, he snuck out. His strength was coming back quickly and he was beginning to feel cooped up. Hoshi figured he'd go out quickly and get some fresh air before Mercury realized he was missing. The cool air felt good against his skin. He took a deep breath, and walked down to the courtyard. It was the most beautiful place he'd ever seen with flowers and fountains everywhere.
To Hoshi's surprise, he saw Mika sitting beside the largest fountain in the center of the courtyard. She had stopped by to visit him when she heard he was up. Then she had been all smiles, but now she sat there like a beautiful statue. The smile was gone to be replaced by a look of fear and sadness.
"A pretty lady shouldn't look so sad," Hoshi said, walking up behind her.
Mika jumped a bit, but relaxed when she realized it was him. She quickly pasted a smile on her face. "Hoshi, you're up. That's great. I'm surprised Aunt Ami let you out of her sight. She can be quite bossy when it comes to medicine."
Hoshi smiled. "She doesn't know I'm gone yet," he admitted. "I kind of snuck out."
Mika's eyes twinkled. "I wouldn't want to be in your place. You're about to get the lecture of the century."
"So what are you doing out here all by yourself?" Hoshi asked, sitting down next to her.
"You aren't the only one who can sneak out. I needed some time to think," Mika said, looking into the water as though some answer would be revealed there.
"Want to talk about it?" Hoshi asked. Mika started to say no and get up, but Hoshi grabbed her hand. "Please Mika. I hate seeing you sad. Let me try to help," he whispered, meeting her eyes.
Mika hesitated, but she really did want to talk to someone. "I'm worried. Everything depends on me. Not only do I have to command the defense of the kingdom from this new enemy, but even afterwards I have to be queen. What if I don't have what it takes? I would have let everybody in the kingdom down. My decisions don't effect just a few people anymore. They effect everyone. One bad decision could destroy the lives of so many people." She could feel the tears begin to fall from her eyes, and looked away. Hoshi was always so together, so she had tried to never show weakness in front of him. He must be disgusted with her. Hoshi stood up and pulled Mika toward her.
"Mika, look at me," Hoshi said quietly. Mika continued to avoid his eyes. "Mika, please look at me."
She finally did so and was shocked by what she saw in his eyes. There was no disgust or anger like she had expected. There was only love and compassion. "Mika, why do you insist on doing everything on your own? You don't have to be alone in this. You know Aiko will be by your side every step of the way. The senshi will be there to guide and advise you, your mother especially. And I..." his voice trailed off as the words he couldn't say tried to come out.
Mika stood on her toes and kissed him, the feelings that had been bottled up for so long bursting out. "I love you, Hoshi. I want you with me forever."
Hoshi's heart jumped. She loved him! "Mika, I love you too. You will never have to be alone, because I'll always be there with you."
The two young lovers stood there wrapped in each others arms, wishing that this moment would last forever.
