Notes: This was written in response to the July 2000 Songfic challenge at Crimson Legend
Warnings: Mild Language

The Brightest Stars
By Moonsong
tsukinouta@yahoo.com

Damn, I'm bored! You'd think since I have all this power I could at least find something interesting to do. But noooo... there's nothing to do up here. Absolutely nothing.

Heh, right now Suzaku's over there staring up at his stars. He does that every freaking night! You'd think he'd have memorized them by now! What does he think, that they'll disappear if he doesn't check on 'em?

Now you guys, I know where you are. There. Right there. All seven of you. In the Eastern part of the sky. And you guys are much brighter too, hehehe.

Sa hajimaruze SATURDAY NIGHT choshi ha dodai?
[Let's get started, it's Saturday Night. How're you guys doing?]

Just look at you. All bright and sparkly... you guys are gonna make me so proud, I know it. Yeah, you've all had your ups and downs but you've managed to live through this far. You're all survivors.

LET'S STAND UP, BEETO wo kanjirukai
[Let's stand up, do you feel the beat?]

Awww, come on, you're not gonna let whatever happened to you bring you down are you? You guys are better than that! Stuff happens for a reason. All that crap you guys had to go through, all it did was make you stronger.

Kokowa soratobu PARADAISU wasurekaketeru ENAJI
[We're flying high in paradise, but the energy's drainin' away.]

You gotta be strong in this world. That's the only way to survive. You gotta be better than the rest. Stronger than the best. Hey, that rhymed! And they say Suzaku's the poetic one... ha! Life's full of little surprises, isn't it?

NOW HARRY UP torimodosoze
[Now hurry up we're starting to turn back]

Remember that and be prepared. No matter what life throws at you, you have to be able to deal with it. You have to have those instincts. Hone your skills. I gave you the raw materials. It's up to you to make weapons out of them.

NO MORE WASTIN' TIME Maru de yume no youni
[No more wastin' time.]

You have to be ready. When the time comes, it'll hit like a wave and you won't have the chance to dither around and pack your stuff. You have to be out there when the call comes to defend your country. Delays can and will get you killed.

Nanimo kamo nagasare te shima umae ni
[Hurry up and move, before everything drifts away.]

When all hell breaks loose, go with your instincts. That's why most of you had such hard lives. Being a seishi is no picnic. You're gonna be hurt. You're gonna bleed. You're gonna have to be strong. I had to make sure you guys could handle it.

HEY EVERYBODY Hikari wo mezase
[Hey everybody shoot for the light]

And I know you can. You guys all have it in you. No matter what anyone says, you guys aren't weaklings. Believe that. The only one who can make you strong is YOU. And me too but I can't do much from up here.

Odorouze DANCIN' ON THE PLANET DANCE
[Let's dance Dancin' on the Planet Dance]

You gotta learn to rely on yourselves. Not on me, not on anybody. Assume the worst and be ready for it. When all of you are gathered, the world will grovel at your feet. You guys will be unstoppable.

Akirameno SAD SONG usotsuki wa utau
[A liar sings a sad song of surrender]

Giving up is not an option. Surrender is worse than defeat. I'd rather see you guys killed than in chains. Wouldn't you? Would you want to be tied up as a slave, groveling in front of a master just because he let you live?

NO THANKS! Oyobi jya nai ze
[No thanks! You're of no help]

If that's the way you feel, you'd better leave now. Losers don't belong on my side of the lines. You just tuck your tail between those knobby legs and run back home to mommy. I need to know I can count on you. That no matter what, you won't let me down.

Kawari tzuzukeru seizato mienai ase to namidaga
[Ever-changing consellations and invisible sweat and tears]

When the time comes, I want the world glowing with blue flames. No matter what they throw against you, no matter what stands in your way, I want to see you all glowing brighter than your stars. I want to see you guys charged up and rearing to fight.

INTO MY HEART yuuki wo kureru
[Into my heart courage starts to flow]

That's what you gotta live for. The rush. The moment when everything just snaps into place and you are the most powerful thing in the universe. Lose yourself in the power and nothing can stand in your way.

NO MORE WASTIN' LOVE Aiwo mudanisuruna
[No more wastin' love don't keep wasting love]

Focus. You have to focus on the task at hand. All that exists has to be you and the mission. You can't have any distractions. No worrying over families, no pining away for old lovers. You can't fight if you're heart's somewhere else.

Omaedakewo darekaga mitsumeteruhazu
[Someone out there is looking at only you]

'Cause you know what else? There's always gonna be someone out there who will kick you when you're down. They'll hunt out your weaknesses and play on your fears. So you gotta learn not to have them. You always have to be in control. You have to be strong.

HEY EVERYBODY Kokoro no mamani
[Hey everybody! Let loose and let yourselves go!]

No matter what happens, I want you guys to keep going. Some of you might die along the way and you'll definitely get hurt. This is war remember? That's what happens. At least you have it better than those poor saps who go out and fight and die in unmarked graves...

Sakebouze JUMPIN' ON THE PLANET DANCE
[Let's shout! Jumpin' on the Planet Dance!]

Remember, you guys are heroes! Legends! People all over the world will remember and worship you. Children will read about your exploits for generations to come! Won't that just be great? It'll be worth it, you'll see.

NO MORE WASTIN' LOVE Omae wo aishitai
[No more wastin' love I want to love you]

What's wrong? Scared? It's okay. Everyone gets scared every now and then. You just gotta get over it and move on. Believe in yourselves. Heck, I believe in you and I should know what you're capable of, right? You'll all do fine.

Ashita eto nagetsukeru kono BEETO wo
[This beat that I send to you into the future]

I'll make sure you all find each other and point you in the right direction. For now, that's all I can really do. But when the time comes, I'll be there. You're going to be fighting for me and I'll be behind you all the way. You can count on that.

HEY EVERYBODY Hikari wo mezaseM
[Hey everybody shoot for the light]

But that's enough talk. You gotta act! Say that as your mantra every morning when you wake up. Talk all you want, plan all you want, but when push comes to shove, your carefully crafted plans will go right down the drain and you'll have to wing it.

Odorouze DANCIN' ON THE PLANET DANCE
[Let's dance Dancin' on the Planet Dance]

So let's go out there and show them what we got! I mean it! I want you guys to kick some serious ass! It doesn't matter what the outcome is as long as we give it our all. I want no broken promises, no regrets. You guys are better than that. You deserve more than that.

You've all been trained, groomed within an inch of your life, to be my warriors and to fight for your land. I'm not going to kid you. There will be a lot of pain, a lot of suffering. It's not going to be pretty. Some of you aren't even going to make it through alive.

But that is the nature of war. I leave it to you to decide. At the end of the day, will you be the one left standing? Or will you be the one left to die on the battleground? Will you remain the brightest stars in the sky?


OWARI

Author's Notes: Hmmm... a little different... out of character, you think? Personally, I don't see Seiryuu taking much of an interest in his seishi. He is the god of war and as such, would probably be more concerned over... well, the WAR, not individuals... but hey, that's just me. Disagree? Good! Go write a fic and send it to me. Either way, comments and feedback onegai!! tsukinouta@yahoo.com

Disclaimers: Fushigi Yuugi and its characters belong to Watase Yuu. Rights are also held by Flower Comics, Shogakukan, Bandai, TV Tokyo, Movic, Studio Pierrot; US rights by Viz Communications and Pioneer.

"PLANET DANCE" is from Macross 7 and is copyright to Victor Music. The lyrics were romanized by Koji Kiyokawa, Matt Francis, and PsyKORps. The translations are a combination of those done by Unknown (from usenet- Mach3?); Hiroaki Fukuda, Cathedral Animation; and PsyKORps. Both are posted on Rik Newman's website: http://www.macross.co.uk/77077/default.asp

No copyright infringement is intended. This story was written purely for the entertainment and enjoyment of other fans and I am not making any profit from it. I do ask, however, that my permission be obtained before posting this somewhere else.

"The Brightest Stars" Copyrighted © July 8, 2000 by Moonsong. All rights not previously claimed by the above are reserved.