Saw this coming from a long way off

[odango_hime]

To the casual observer, Usagi seems to be just taking a nap, but upon closer inspection, one can easily see the strain on her face as she fights with an unseen terror. Occasionally, the symbol of Venus flickers faintly on her forehead, but the illumination doesn't last for long, and, whenever it does show up, there's edges of darkness around the

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[waterfell]

She has no confidence in her voice being heard. It was once, but that was... different. She was different. And yet so much the same, the girl's senshi power trying to fight off- Trying to fight off what no one ever helped Mercury to fight! Instead, she has the scar on her chest to remind her that there is no help, there is no such thing as being saved.

Now, Mercury knows Usagi will never hear her. She knows her voice can't reach anyone. There's nothing good she can do. And even if she could... why help Usagi? No, why help this Usagi, who's haunted her for these past years?

Nonetheless, she says a single word, a name: "Usagi."

[odango_hime]

Usagi's eyes flutter open, and at the sight of this Mercury, the hostility, bolstered by Metallia, comes back to life. Only this time, it's Metallia who speaks through her lips. "Why hello, Mercury," she greets, sitting up and looking at the senshi with red-speckled black eyes. "Such a pleasure to lay eyes on you again."

[waterfell]

Mercury gives a slight smile; of course she hadn't reached Usagi. How much better that she knew it from the start, and isn't disappointed by some stupid false hope.

"It's been awhile, Princess!" she retorts cheerfully.

[odango_hime]

"Princess? What princess?" Metallia steps forward, allowing Mercury to see how much she's altered Usagi's form to suit her own tastes. "I'm afraid your princess isn't here, Mercury. She's sleeping, and she'll never awaken. So it's you and me now. I wonder how long it will take before you're on your knees swearing fealty to me, hm?"

[waterfell]

To Mercury, the princess' power and Metalia's are the same from the beginning. Each time the ginzuishou had appeared and given off its light, Metalia had also grown. She begins to understand the two have merged.

"To end you, she can also be killed," Mercury points out coolly. Mamoru's sacrifice hadn't ended as he'd hoped it would, but Metalia had ended with his life. Mercury raises her sword to a ready position.

[odango_hime]

"Are you so sure of that?" Metallia purrs, flexing her hands. "Her death will avail nothing. I can still exist in this time and place, even without the aid of a human body to give me substance."

[waterfell]

"You're weak in yourself," Mercury says. "I'll drive you out just like before."

If Metalia has really found a way to move like that... she must be ended before she enters other worlds. But the back of her mind begins to wonder: Usagi had woken up that time. She'd come back to herself other times. Why isn't there any sign of her now?

Well. It's easier this way. Mercury still has a heart that could be swayed if she heard that girl's voice. And what she has to do is not easy, no matter how much she pretends it is.

[odango_hime]

Metallia snorts. "And have you so much power?" she asks. "Really, I find it laughable that a weak girl like you can do something like that." She flexes her hands again. "Try me. You'll find I'm not easy prey."

[waterfell]

She can't stand up to Metalia, not eye to eye; she knows that. Youma, daimon, they're different. Metalia is still powerful. So what can she do?

She finds her idea. Mercury takes a deep breath.

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody!" The shimmering harp suddenly in Mercury's hand plays a watery glissando. The attack is designed to disrupt the dark energy present, to buy her time and hopefully keep Metalia still. Then she can follow through.

[odango_hime]

Metallia backs away, arms raised to try and protect herself from the energy coming from Mercury. Try though she might, however, she can't concentrate, and for an instant, her control starts to slip. "Mercury!" Usagi's voice begs, seeming to come from outside her possessed body. "Help me, please!"

[waterfell]

There's only one way Mercury wants to help Usagi right now. She directs her sword straight for the other girl's body.

The blow is aimed for where Usagi's sailor crystal would be. If Mercury strikes true, the corruption will leave Usagi and leave behind only an injury to remember this by.

[odango_hime]

Metallia reacts a fraction of a second too late, and she screams as the sword's driven in. Darkness explodes in all directions, and Usagi slumps to the floor, with Metallia hovering in the air above, her face furious. "How dare you?" she screams.

[waterfell]

"Didn't I tell you I'd drive you out?" Mercury reminds Metalia. She shifts her eyes only momentarily, just enough to check that Usagi is still breathing and, very relatively speaking, unhurt. She'll probably need medical attention later, her doctor's mind notes.

[odango_hime]

"And now what?" Metallia taunts. "Do you think you can defeat me just as easily?"

[waterfell]

"We'll find out shortly, right?" Mercury smiles unpleasantly, and pulls back her arm with her sword again.

[odango_hime]

Metallia gathers every last shred of energy that she can muster, and hurls herself at Mercury. "We will, won't we?" she cries.