A Run From Destiny
Chapter Twenty-One
"What's that Mina?" Artemis asked, as the blonde opened an envelope she had pulled from the mailbox. Mina sighed.
"I reached the final round in the Jubann Idol contest" Mina said, gasping. Artemis smiled, but it faded to a frown as Mina dropped the letter in the trash and walked out of the living room.
Mina and Artemis met up with everyone at the Fruit Parlor.
"It must be hard for the Three Lights" Lita commented.
"What do you mean?" Serena asked.
"Well, they are idols, but they spend time as super heroines" Lita said. "They have to deal with searching for a lost princess while holding onto the pain of the destruction of their home, all the while trying to make the fans happy with their music which has a dual purpose of reaching out to Kakyuu and the fans"
"Well said, Lita" They turned to see Yaten, Seiya and Taiki standing by the table. Lita blushed a little. Mina sighed.
"How do you do it?" She asked.
"Do what?" Yaten said.
"Be both an idol and a warrior?" Mina replied. Yaten shrugged.
"We're only idols in hopes that our voices reach Kakyuu" He explained. Mina looked down.
"I see" She said. She grabbed her purse. "I have to go"
"What's wrong with Mina?" Amy asked. "She seems depressed" Artemis sighed.
"Mina made it into the final round of that idol contest being held at Jubann Hall" He said.
"That's great!" Lita said. " I had forgotten that she had entered" Artemis shook his head sadly.
"She feels that with the planet in jeopardy she must focus on her responsibilities as a Sailor Soldier" He told them. Yaten thought about this.
"I'll see you guys later" He said quickly. He ran out of the parlor to catch up with Mina. He saw her walking down the sidewalk.
"Mina, wait-up!" He shouted. Mina turned and watched as Yaten ran towards her.
"Don't give up your dreams" He said. Mina's eyes widened. He placed a hand on her shoulder. "I believe in you" Mina's eyes filled with tears and she threw her arms around him.
"Thank you" She whispered. Yaten smiled.
"Dreams are just as important as duty" He said. "And I know you have it in you to follow your dreams and lead the Scouts into battle"
Following Yaten's advice, Mina decided to go to the final round. Artemis went with her for support. When she got there she saw that Yaten was one of the judges. He waved her over to him.
"Nervous?" He asked.
"Just a little" Mina admitted. Yaten smiled.
"Don't worry. You'll be fine" He said. Mina smiled back.
She got up on stage and began to sing.
"On a tree-lined road filled with spring leaves
I saw that person for the first time and...
Something rang in my heart
Without moving or thinking, I watched him leave
In the summer that shone like gold
I saw him perform a perfect somersault
On that tree-lined road full of memories
I gazed at him as the autumn days drifted by
But still, but still, that person...
He still hasn't said anything to me
Now, even now, I still love him dearly
He's already graduated... my first love..."
When she got back stage Artemis smiled at her.
"You've got talent" He said. "Now go out there and shine!"
In the next round while dancing, Mina nervously knocked over another dancer but happily helped her up and then continued to dance with lots of energy. The judges including Yaten were very impressed.
"Why do you want to be an idol?" Yaten asked. Mina took a deep breath.
"I want to inspire people like the Three Lights do" She said. "And I believe it is important to follow my dreams" Yaten smiled at her and gave her a thumbs up.
Elsewhere in the studio Serena, Luna and Chibi Chibi arrived to cheer Mina on but got lost. They continued to wander around throughout the entire competition.
Back stage, Mina and Yaten talked.
"How was I?" Mina asked.
"You were great" Yaten replied. "You definitely could be an idol" Mina smiled and kissed his cheek, causing him to blush.
"Thank you" She said.
Suddenly Sailor Tin Nyanko attacked one of the other judges, a man named Terrence. Yaten and Mina both transformed. Princess Sailor Moon appeared first on the scene.
"In the name of the moon, I demand that you stop right there" She said. Sailor Venus then stepped up behind her followed by Sailor Lead Crow who Tin Nyanko had tied up so she could get the Star Seed. The two Animates retreated in their phone booth when they saw the Star Seed wasn't a true one.
Terrence transforms into the Phage, Sailor Musician.
"Venus Love and Beauty Shock" Venus attacked.
"Star Sensitive Inferno" Sailor Healer also attacked. The attacks slowed the phage down long enough for Princess Sailor Moon to heal him.
After the battle, Yaten walked over to Mina.
"You shone the brightest out of all the contestants" He told her. Mina blushed.
A few days later, Mina got another letter.
"I won the contest" She told Artemis. He smiled.
"I knew you could" He told her. Surprisingly though she put the letter back in the envelope. "What are you doing?"
"I'm confident that I can be an idol whenever I want" She told him. "Right now though, it's more important to be with my friends" Artemis smiled as she picked him up. "Thank you for believing in me" She told him and he purred.