#maybe it weakens her enough for the senshi to get some choice licks in

[magical-gull]

Yes Keet pls write up that separate post about how a Mio vs Galaxia showdown would look, I'm VERY interested!

This nonsense is surrounded by a whole mess of modified canon (there's like three+ versions of this story canonically, dont ask for specifics) and intentional Removal Of Everyone Else Who SHould Probably Be Around And Doing Things For Simplicity, but I'll throw in notes if stuff is relevant to this particular scenario.

Galaxia does A Thing which prompts Mio to become pensive about the senshi’s actual chances against her, and comes up with a plan in secret. Secret partly because she isn't too concerned about the Starlights (”sucks to be you but more pressing issues“) but also partly because the others won't agree to it. She does have a lot of close talks with Setsuna and (oddly) Hotaru, but they're the most open minded to things so no one suspects too much. Everyone just assumes she agrees with the Outer Senshi, which is... broadly correct.

By this point in the story, Mio already knows a lot about previously being Beryl, and a lot about the kingdom and elysium and all that from Helios, mostly private conversations. Again, not HIDING it from the senshi, but they don't ask directly so she doesn't tell. Mio asks Helios about... well, a lot of things, and goes over the things they've already learned. Like how Helios had protected part of the Golden Crystal (long story, but basically a combo of both versions of official canon) that was damaged when Beryl was injured a long time ago but he didn't return to her due to personal doubts (ed. SuperS revision) how that obviously means a starseed doesn't necessarily have to be in a body if it wasn't completely in HER body, and hasn't been until recently, but being in Elysium (which is the guardian’s realm, sort of) seemed to protect it just fine if not for The Troubles with QN...

Helios tries to keep a cool head as he already guesses the path of the conversation, but after hearing the plan, goes a little hoarse.

Mio also learns from Hotaru further starseed oddities; Hotaru did in fact give back the Outer Senshi their powers during the previous story (ed. SuperS) but not out of nowhere; she literally split parts of her own 'starseed' (she doesn't know the word, but the implication is there) to get around the magic of the eclipse. This means she's as bound to the three as they are to her, and also why she's significantly powered down now.

Maybe she learns about how Galaxia's goons are powered too, but I don't know if she'd be that close to the Starlights, assuming they even know.

Anyway things get Extra Desperate, and she somehow gets around the other senshi - Setsuna and Hotaru caution her but don't stop her, Mission and Sacrifices amirite girls? - long enough to get alone. She returns to the physical entrance of Elysium (somehow) which is at the metaphorical doorstep of what's left of the ruined underground Golden/Dark Kingdom; there's been no cleanup crew, so the rather interesting ruins are still marred by where Metallia exploded out of the earth, QN's fuckery, etc. Being here is helping her remember the layout of the place, and for once she lets the memories get closer. Poking at the dust around makes her aware there are... things. Not youma, not quite ghosts, but all things with memory of her and they aren't happy. She admits they have no reason to owe her anything, and that while in every life she wanted to protect what she had she's been a lousy Guardian so far. But that Things are arriving and she needs their help. A compromise is made.

Mio somehow gets Galaxia over to where she is for a big confrontation (you can just imagine Beryl trying to look dignified on a ruined throne or something, thumping a septer) huge and melodramatic and full of cheese like she's good at. Galaxia's impressed despite herself and offers... well, whatever villains like to offer. Or would she like something else? Mio almost seems to agree with Galaxia's ultimatium, or at least find them reasonable, but admits a problem. She smells something around Galaxia, something INSIDE of her, very familar, that was once in her and who exactly is she pledging loyalty to? Words like 'puppet' and 'lackey' are thrown around, and G isn't having it. SHe has a show of force, which Mio deflects...

And Mio's there. But a lot more than her. Much in the way Serenity is there when Usagi needs it, she has the other self. It's Beryl, seemingly, but not the death-warmed-over skulking redhead full of bitterness. Maybe the person she was *supposed* to always be, the real queen under the mountain, mixed with Mio's self and cleverness and mind and heart. Not full of shadow, but gold and metal and glory and strength. A *real* Gold Queen, she can't resist thinking. Well, there’s some purple underneath. And some fine cloth. Namesake after all. AMazing all this dust isn’t getting all over her clothes. An outside observer might wonder about the clashing, tacky necklace of rough, green stones but wouldn’t have much time to do so. She fires everything. WHatever magic was still in the rotting kingdom, whatever her own crystal could give, whatever her sheer tendancy and spite can make, and it's fine if she's greedy, she'll keep all the things she has and loves and that's fine, she'll stomp out a fire even if she has to do it barefoot because they’re hers and no one will take away things she can protect.

If you are a fan of the pyrotechnic confrontation Usagi has Beryl at least in one universe, the allusion is very intentional. The irony is not lost on Mio, who thinks at least now she can draw level with Usagi. BUt at some point Mio knows it's not going to work. Maybe she always knew. But whatever power is coming out of the earth, it's holding Galaxia in place, if briefly . In a flash, Mio-Beryl is next to her, almost tenderly giving her a nudge down to force her on one knee and whisper something.

What you do if you're meeting a real queen, is kneel.

It's probably best the explosion that rocks the place is mostly underground, or a lot of questions would be raised. Helios should not really be able to hear the commotion behind the Door, but FEELS it, which is his cue. Galaxia pulls herself from the rubble. She's a bit of mess, but not dead. She's not going to be killed by that. But angry. Frazzled in a way she hasn't in a while. The cracks in her armor might as well me cracks in the flesh; they're oozing something more unpleasant than blood. It wriggles and moves, and she slaps it down. Mio is back to being Mio, completely worn out, has enough energy to think aloud to Helios. Tell him to protect all their dreams.

Galaxia controls herself long enough to do her starseed trick - or perhaps doesnt have to, heroes seem to get out their own doodads for these dramatic proceedings - and is left gaping when it suddenly vanishes into thin air. Well, into a hand she can't see. Helios can't say anything besides being glad to have met Mio. But Mio is content with knowing at least THAT'S a starseed that won't be stolen. And she got Galaxia to kneel. That was a great line. "Loser." And she laughs, laughs and laughs as Galaxia is torn between anger and boggling at her as she fades away.