Backlash (Nephrite)
| Backlash (Nephrite) | |
|---|---|
| Date of Cutscene: | 23 August 2023 |
| Location: | Star Chamber |
| Synopsis: | Nephrite is attempting to find someone with surging potential when... |
| Cast of Characters: | Nephrite |
The Star Chamber underneath the ruined Starlight View Mansion is still usable. Nephrite, Second of the Four, Dark General, and enthusiastic imbiber of varied and assorted poisons, is trying to perform a Star Reading while drunk. Okay, attempted-drunk. His damned healing factor keeps purging the toxins. Sighing after his mild buzz is already gone after a minute, he just looks at the magic circle on the floor. He isn't going to look at the wall, or the writing on it, it will just spook him and also maybe make him a little bit mad, he's just going to do his job, and find the Silver Crystal.
He's thinking this right up until his vision explodes into sparks. Sparks that form dots behind his suddenly closed eyelids as he drops to one knee. Those dots connect with each other, forming patterns, constellations, people and place and things, and then he's watching his life, the one he remembered while helping Usagi Tsukino with her cat, Luna.
It isn't as sad this time, because he's just remembering what has been stolen from him twice before.
Not until the attack on the Moon, and the darkness screaming behind his eyes.
KILL THEM. KILL THEM. KILL THEM. FOR QUEEN METALLIA!
Leo the Lion leapt upon men and women, mauling them, while Orion the Hunter stood high atop the burning marble of the Lunar Palace, picking off targets one by one with shining arrows made of stars. Never before had Nephrite been able to summon more than one Constellation Avatar at a time, but with the power surging through him, burning in his veins like black fire, he could do anything.
Lupus the Wolf, a giant beast terrorizing and killing, not the noble spirit of the forest he once was. He was so much more useful this way.
Finding a familiar form among the crowd, fighting with hand and thunderbolt, Nephrite teleported to stand at her back once she was alone -- running to her Princess's side -- and how good it felt to stab the Senshi of Jupiter through the back. How much he wanted to keep feeling that sensation at the time. How could it possibly feel so good to murder someone he loved?
Getting caught up in all that, in that vision, is not something he will do a second time.
No, now Nephrite just sighs. He knows the rest of the story. He knows the sins that are his and the ones forced upon him. He'll try to remember it, but there are still those hooks in his soul. He is meant to be the Guardian and protector of Prince Endymion, not Beryl's creature or Metallia's puppet.
And he doesn't think he's going to remember this either.
Something, some way to leave a record so he can remind himself later.
He is already in a magic circle, isn't he? He holds his hands out and begins to perform his chant. "The Stars know everything..."
A short time later, a Constellation Avatar appears within the ruins of Masato Sanjouin's mansion. A large eagle, made of stars, night sky, and the lines that link them together. "Aquila the Eagle. Carry this journal to a place I will not recall, but that Hematite will know." The construct accepts the journal in its beak of stars, and then flaps its huge, powerful wings, before taking off into the air.
Nephrite watches it go. Aquila was the eagle of the god called Jupiter in Roman mythology. How appropriate, that he now has a chance to make up for betraying her.
Even if it costs his life.
