Racing Against Time: Save the King and Queen!

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Miaka looked over towards the party and glanced quickly at Setsuna and Tigers-Eye before stepping out onto the terrace and closing it's doors. As she paced back and forth, she started to regret saying all those things to Setsuna-San and her husband. Her request had obviously upset them both, something she hadn't considered before speaking her thoughts aloud. She continued to pace, pondering her actions, when Mila's teasing, prodding voice sounded in her head without warning, and Miaka's crystal shimmered with the slightest dark aura.

"You poor, lonely little girl. Once again you stand alone, feeling miserable and no one to console you. Just another day in the pitiful life of Miaka, isn't it?"

"Shut up, Mila." Miaka responded.

"Just look at you! Why, you're so ashamed of yourself that not even the former shenshi of time can reassure you of your sanity. Why don't you be a good girl and simply let me be in charge? We both know you don't have the courage or the guts to rely on yourself for anything, much less other people."

"I will never let you take over my mind, or my body, Mila." Miaka spoke quietly for fear of being overheard, but fiercely. "Do not forget that if I die, you will die along with me. And as long as I can control you, you will never be able to be reborn."

"And just how do you expect to die? Do you honestly think that matted half-human half-animal creature can kill me?!" Teasing no longer colored Mila's voice; it had grown sharp, cold. "Me, who once ruled the kingdom of darkness, who will do so once again once I can free myself from this accursed body I must share with you?"

Mila's voice pierced Miaka's head, the aura around her crystal grew darker just a little more, and her chest began to hurt so that Miaka was panting slightly.

"This...this body belongs to me, and me alone Mila!" Miaka panted. "I will not allow you to harm anyone I hold dear to me, especially my grandmother and my sister!"

Miaka paused, unsure as to why she suddenly spoke those last few words. She did not have a sister; would never know what it would be like to have one.

"Heed my words, little girl! You will eventually succumb to the darkness, and once you do you will realize that is exactly where you belong! You have no one to go to, no one to help you, because they are all afraid of you!" Mila's laugh echoed in Miaka's mind as she sank to her knees.

"Hey, are you alright?" A young girl's voice asked.

Miaka looked behind her shoulder to see Princess Rina and Ayami standing behind her; she hadn't noticed the sound of the doors opening during her discussion with Mila. She smiled weakly as Rina and Ayami knelt beside her, concern in Rina's eyes, aprehension in Ayami's

"Yes, I'm alright. It must be the air pressure in this planet. I'm not used to it." Miaka forced a short laugh before attempting to stand.

Princess Rina gently took Miaka's elbow and helped her while she steadied herself. "You're Princess Miaka Kino, of Planet Jupiter, right? I met you only once before, years ago." Rina smiled at Miaka's confused expression.  

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

Despite the great challenge of fighting against a heavy burden of emotions, Setsuna was able to hold back her tears, but only with great effort.

She acknowledged Tiger's nearness to her by taking his hand once more, and lowered her eyes to rest upon the floor of the palace. She overheard the announcement, but did not turn her head as she continued to ponder.

As one who had lived for far longer than she felt she had reason to, she knew that this was again one of those hard, life-altering decisions. She had taken lives for the greater good, and often had to make these hard decisions. It was however, something she could never take lightly. Each time it was a great battle within herself.

The young Miaka was a precious young woman, who had a solemn destiny before her. Setsuna could only hope she could figure out a way to save the girl before the end.

Setsuna was jolted back to reality from the motions of the child within her, for as she discovered from becoming a mother, she learned that her children would react to her emotions and her aura, on every scale. She did not wish to burden her child further with her stress, and she refocused her efforts as she collected herself.

She finally nodded, turning to look her husband in the eye, placing emphasis on her decision. "I am sure." She noticed she was clasping his hand tightly, and consciously released her grip. "Can you ever forgive me for doing this to you?" She gazed at him with complete seriousness, but she knew that he would be able to see the sorrow within her eyes.

* *

 

[GS Tiger Eye]

He listened to her and frowned. "Dont." He grabbed her hand back and put a aggressive kiss on it. "Its not your fault, Setsu." He looked back at her eyes. "If I have to I'll do it." He looked over where miaka left and his addams apple bobbed when he swallowed.  

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Miaka smiled weakly at Princess Rina and Ayami as she clung to the balcony railing for support.

"Yes, I remember you, Your Highness." Miaka bowed in a quick curtsie before grabbing onto the railing again. Ayami took her elbow as Miaka steadied herself to ward off the dizziness.

"Thank you. I hope I'm not being a burden, especially since today is your birthday." She smiled at Rina.

Rina smiled in return, but her eyes still showed concern for the foriegn princess. "It's no trouble at all, Princess Miaka. Ayami and I just saw you coming out here alone and wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Who were you talking to just now?" Ayami looked directly at Miaka as she looked over."Right before you fell, we saw your mouth moving, but nobody was near you. Were you talking to yourself?"

As Miaka started to respond, the pain in Miaka's chest returned, her crystal glowed once again with the dark aura, and Mila's voice spoke from Miaka's mouth.

"Hahaha! Of course she wasn't talking to herself. She was talking to me." Mila laughed again as both Rina and Ayami scrambled back from Mila. "Oh please, give me a break. I just wanted to get to know Miaka's sister a little better." Mila turned to a confused and shocked Ayami. "Pleased to finally meet you. Ayami Kino, the second princess of Planet Jupiter, daughter of Queen Nebula Kino and sister to my friend Miaka here." Miaka's mouth stretched into a horrible grin as Mila's presence become more open.  

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

Setsuna felt a spark of electricity suddenly resonate within her chest, then sharply settle within her mind. "Did you feel that?" She said aloud, moving to quickly stand, though it did not bode well for her back, which caused her to grimace in pain.

"Someone's aura has changed. It must be Miaka." She continued, ignoring the discomfort as she looked off towards the direction in which Miaka had exited. "Tiger..." She absently clutched at the fabric of Tiger's shirt as she looked on, her concentration focused perhaps too much on the new aura that was resonating from within that direction.

This aura was dark and terrible, and while it felt a great deal similar to that of an ordinary youma, it emitted a certain essence that echoed the aura of the evil Nehelenia. Could it have been possible that Nehelenia had locked away a piece of her power within the young Miaka those twelve years ago?

The answer was obviously unclear, but the sooner they could find out what they were dealing with, the better.

* *

 

[GS Tiger Eye]

"I didn't feel it that much." He frowned and put his arm in front of her. "If something's up your staying right here, Setsu."  

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Neo-Queen Serenity, who'd been chatting with her husband and a few guests, suddenly felt the same dark aura and looked towards the balcony. King Endymion glanced questioningly at his wife before politely excusing themselves from the group.

"Serenity? What is it?" Endymion looked over, noting that Setsuna and Tiger's-Eye too were staring in the same direction. His eyes narrowed as he spotted his daughter and son-in-law hurrying over to them.

Mother! Father! Do you feel that energy? Queen SL Serenity asked. "It came from the balcony outside."

King Helios looked around the ballroom before asking, "Where's Rina and Ayami? I don't see them anywhere. He looked over to Setsuna and Tiger's-Eye. "Maybe they know something. I'll be right back. He started over to them.  

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Suddenly the doors burst open with a fierce gust of wind; loud screams echoed as Ayami and Rina were blasted into the ballroom. King Helios quickly changed directions to aid his daughter.

Rina! Rina! He gently shook her, breathed a small sigh of relief when she opened her eyes. "Rina, what happened? Who's doing this?"

Rina grabbed Ayami and hunched over and struggled to raise her voice over the growing howling of the wind. "Daddy, we didn't mean to upset her! We only wanted to help! To be friends!" She looked over to the balcony doors as a figure appeared in the doorway.

".....hahaha! Ahahahahahaha!!!!!"

Miaka appeared in the doorway; her eyes crimson red, her hair now flowing freely behind her where her ponytail used to be. Her eyes swept across the stunned and frightened crowd, amusement the prominent emotion as some guests began to run from the ballroom. Queen Makoto slowly walked to where Helios stood protecting his daughter and Ayami; her eyes filled with suppressed tears as she looked at the young girl who looked so familiar, yet so different.

"Mi..Miaka?" Queen Makoto took a quick step back as the crimson eyes met hers. "Miaka, I..."

"Your precious Miaka exhists no longer! I have finally taken control of this accursed body, and with the help of this girl's depressed soul, I will finally be reborn as the rightful ruler of this planet; as the Eternal Queen of Darkness! All bow before Queen Mila, successor to Queen Nehelenia! Ahahahahahaha!!!!"  

[GS Tiger Eye]

He wanted to go and say hi to his sensei Helios and catch up sometime but stuff kept on going wrong especially when little miaka came back into the ballroom but she was different this time. "HOLY....." He felt a rumbling growl in his gut and his claws came out. His blue eyes flashed in anger and his fangs grew a little when he bared his teeth. "Back Setsu." He stayed in front of her to protect her and thier little cub.  

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

Setsuna's first instinct was to brace for action, her hand immediately going for the key pendant that hung around her neck, which, upon activation, would become the Garnet Rod. She did, however, have to remind herself that she could not participate, and slowly lowered her hand.

Setsuna felt her stomach sink, and in a sudden response to her stress, she felt her child make a sudden turn inside, knocking the wind out of her. As she hunched over for a moment, she felt Tiger move in front of her, and she reached for him blindly, pressing her palm against his back for support.

"No...Miaka." Setsuna murmured as she caught her breath, clutching the back of Tiger's shirt as she stood up straight, feeling her eyes burning in concern to see Miaka in such a state. The energy was even more terrible upon direct contact, and it took everything she had to keep her tears back. "...Miaka."

* *

 

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Mila spared a brief glance towards Setsuna and Tiger-Eye, one eyebrow raising at Tiger-Eye's response to her entrance before returning her attention to Queen Makoto, who was still struggling to reach her. Mila raised a hand; a small dark sphere appeared in her hand to reveal a black transformation pen.

"Prepare to witness the powers of darkness! Dark Evolution Power, Make-Up!"

Another dark sphere surrounded Miaka's body; black lightning sparked around it as Mila stepped out of the sphere. Her appearance resembled that of a sailor senshi. Her hair was suddenly up in a ponytail tied back with a hairtie and two white baubles; her long white boots stopped at the short black skirt which connected to a black and white bodice topped with a black bow and a small broach that held Miaka's tainted crystal. Black transparent cobwebs substituted for gloves on her arms. And in her hand was a staff that was similar to Setsuna's Garnet Rod; the difference being the crescent moon with a black star in the center of a clear sphere.

"Hahahaha! This is wonderful! Not only do I possess this girl's body, I can also possess her powers an twist them around for my own personal use! I had no idea this girl held such power. It's marvelous! From now on I will be known as Mila Kino, the Sailor Soldier of Destruction and the new Queen of Darkness!!!  

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Queen Makoto sank to her knees at the sight of Mila's transformation. Tears streamed from her eyes as she stared at the body that until just a few moments ago was her grand-daughter's.

"Miaka....Miaka!!! Queen Makoto hunched over in anguish and despair as Mila laughed. Queen SL Serenity knelt beside her as Mila's laugh suddenly stopped; her eyes almost seemed to glow and her smile became pure malice, revealing pointed teeth.

"Well now, how about I get down to business. Who wants to die first?"

Mila looked around the ballroom. The only people who remained were the original senshi and the two princess still being protected by King Helios.

"Oh come now, no volunteers? Mila shrugged. "Fine then. I guess I'll just have to choose."

Mila raised her staff; black lightning surrounded her as she looked at every person before her eyes settled on Tiger-Eye, whom she had all but forgotten. She stretched out her free arm and curled her fingers in a 'come and get me' gesture.

"So, you wanna play, little kitty? Then let's play. Come forth, my lovely demon. Fira!!!"

Mila raised her staff again; a small hole appeared in the floor and what appeared to be a giant wolf with blood-red fur emerged from the hole. Fira's deep golden eyes looked at her master with reverence before turning it's attention to Tiger-Eye.  

[GS Tiger Eye]

"Well well. This should be fun." He flicked his hair and snickered a little. His teeth were still bared and his fangs still sharp and his claws were still out. He turned to check where Setsuna was before he turned back and let a growl erupt from his throat. He took off at a sprint toward the beast and with his claws he aimed a swipe at the demons neck.  

[Crystal Sailor Pluto]

"You've done such a cruel thing to an innocent young girl." Setsuna stated in revulsion towards the evil aura of Nehelenia enclosed within Miaka's body. She was surprised to see her summon a youma, but then again, seeing Miaka in such a state was nearly too much to swallow in the first place. She knew that her husband was powerful, but it was too soon to tell if he could handle this demon on his own. These thoughts caused her hands to shake as she stood there, nervously wringing them uncharacteristically for herself.

Setsuna could hardly blink before she noticed that Tiger had headed off in the direction of the youma at top speed. She could do nothing but stand there, and in great frustration as she clenched the key that hung about her neck. She glanced over towards Makoto, noticing her distress, and she wished with all her heart that she could have done something to comfort her, despite the hopelessness that stared them all in the face.

She lowered her head as she stood there, gritting her teeth as she muttered under her breath. "I will never forgive you for this."

* *

 

[Crystal_Sailor_Jupiter]

Fira let out a growl of her own before racing towards Tiger-Eye with a matching sprint. She easily dodged his swipe, countering with a fierce swipe of her own before her fur turned to fire.

"Fira! Use your fire spin, and finish him off!" Mila shouted to her demon, before turning her attention to Setsuna.

"So, you will never be able to forgive me, huh?" Mila grinned over at Setsuna, not noticing that Queen SL Serenity had silently been making her way towards Mila. "Well, it's not like I care, really. You'll be dead before the day is over."

Mila glanced over at the battle still in progress, pleased that Fira was shooting rapidly spinning fireballs at Tiger-Eye, tracking his every movement. "Well, since your precious husband will be dead in a matter of moments, I think it will only be fair if you die along with him. You two will be my first victims. Enjoy your stay in hell!"