Only room for ONE Nightmare(Hinoiri Kirara)

From Radiant Heart MUSH

Only room for ONE Nightmare(Hinoiri Kirara)
Date of Cutscene: 14 January 2024
Location: Obsidian Tower
Synopsis: Sunbreaker's got a new mug! She's very proud of her new mug. It shows how important and special she is. Gaaaaaze upon her mug. However, during her display... she uncovers something about a certain moon princess. And a way to repay an old debt.
Cast of Characters: Hinoiri Kirara
Tinyplot: Usagi's Abyssal Nightmare

Sunbreaker rarely went to the employee breakroom. Very rarely. She was a busy girl. Very busy. She had a lot of work to do and breaks were for normal people. Office gossip for pathetic people.

Normally.

But today was special. So she was, just this once, allowing herself a bit of a break. Enjoying the fact that she was amazing and drinking some warmed apple cider… Why?

Because Easter, in their infinite wisdom, had gotten her a thank you gift. A mug with ‘World’s Best Employee’ written on it. Sure, she wasn’t a part of their division, but she was doing a lot of work for and with them right now. And, as she was their only magical combatant since Ikuto left, well… it was nice for her to, FINALLY, be noticed.

Sure, it was a novelty mug they spent like, fifty yen on. But she didn’t know that. And she was so incredibly desperate for some recognition for all her hard work, you had no idea. She was so gosh darn proud of her fifty yen mug. It didn’t even hold heat well.

A laugh made her glance over towards a few of the employees gossiping. Maybe she should… no. No. Talking like that wasn’t--

It took a moment and then she recognized one of them. The crystal ears gave her away. Maria. A talented ice mage, servant of Gaito. She inched over, sipping from her mug. Time to show off just how valuable she was.

“Long time no see,” Sunbreaker said to Maria.

Maria glanced towards her and the smile only grew. “Sunbreaker! Oh, it has been a while, hasn’t it? I take it you’ve been busy?”

“Quite,” Sunbreaker said. “Yourself?” Taking another sip. Come onnnnn. Notice her amazing muuuuuug.

“Of course! My Beloved Lord Gaito has had me working hard! However, I have some news I am sure you’ll be delighted to hear,” Maria said, standing up slightly taller and giving an enthusiastic wave of her hand. “Finally, that Sailor Moon will get what she deserves for destroying his precious magical book.”

Sunbreaker paused, staring at the other girl. Them? Defeat Sailor Moon? Preposterous. Still… she was curious, now. “Oh? And how is that?”

“Through her very dreams,” Maria said. “He has already begun an assault on them, turning even her most beautiful dream to one of fear and despair! Oh, my Beloved Lord Gaito truly is magnificent, isn’t he? And you know the best part?”

“What?” Sunbreaker asked, her heart pounding a little faster…

“There’s nothing she can do about it,” Maria said, giving a small laugh. “The focus of the connection is in the underwater castle. And without the key, even the mermaid princesses can’t hope to enter. Now she can suffer wild, sleepless nights without any hope of relief until, finally, she gives in to my Beloved Lord Gaito’s desires and turns over that terrible Yellow Pearl Voice in compensation!”

“Ah, right, trapping her in a fish bowl? Heh,” Sunbreaker said. “Sounds brilliant.”

Maria seemed quite pleased with herself, though…

Sunbreaker was anything but. While the two gossiped, her mind was now focused on one thing. Well, two things.

She LOATHED those fish bowls. Sure, she… she didn’t like friends, either. But if there was one thing she understood, it was being betrayed by those who you trusted. Who you cared for. Sara… Sara was no better than Sora. And that infuriated her.

But second, this was an opportunity. Finally, a way to pay back Sailor Moon. The girl had saved her life… and now? Now she had a way to pay it off. And cause trouble for the fish bowl lady. Showing off her super amazing mug would have to wait.


OKAY OF ALL THE STUPID IDEAS SUNBREAKER HAD HAD, THIS HAD TO BE ONE OF THE DUMBEST!

Sure, get the key, give it to Sailor Moon, who could give it to the princess. Fine. That wasn’t so stupid.

She’d been here before and, as such, could enter the castle. So that was sound.

She’d even made sure that Gaito was distracted at the time, best of all.

However. She was, currently, a FIRE BASED MAGE. In an UNDERWATER CASTLE.

And she was going to die. Sneaking through a castle she had no right to be in. If they found out she was here, they’d likely be furious. Or, at least, curious. She’d concoct some story about looking for the Dark Lovers for some musical information… But she’d lose this chance if that happened. She just--

She quickly hid behind a pillar, narrowly avoiding being seen by… Sara? Wait, why was she leaving her office? Was she--

No, Sunbreaker didn’t have time to question why the princess was leaving. This was her chance. She watched the mermaid swim away, unaware of the spy in her midst…

And then she raced to her room, heading inside and looking around. She’d been here once. She could figure this out. She just had to find the key. She quickly raced around the room, opening the drawers to the desk and--

And pausing when she saw a few pictures of Coco and Sara. Together.

They’d been friends once. Cared for each other once.

And Sora had betrayed her. Sara. Sara had. Such things were wasted on Sora. SARA!

Not that she cared. Yellow Pearl Voice was a fool for… caring. That was what… happened… when you… cared. You ended up trapped. Imprisoned… in a fish bowl.

Well, buck that. Sara could just learn the lesson that Sora would learn one day. Finally, she found it. A key shaped like a seahorse.

She picked it up and paused. Why? Sailor Moon wasn’t her problem. Why… risk herself for… No. It wasn’t for them. It was for her. For her and her only. She just didn’t like Sara. Those fish bowls were disgusting. And Sailor Moon helped her and… so… this was just paying off a debt. That was all. Nothing else. Then she’d finally get her out of her mind and… and could do whatever she needed to. Debt paid. That was all.

Sunbreaker clutched the key before, once more… disappearing.