Freaky Friday Sailor Moon Ch 9
By: LowFlyer1080
DISCLAIMER: I do not, have not, nor ever will own Sailor Moon, so now you can't sue me! -THBPPPTT!!!- :PPP go stick your government cheese some place where the sun don't shine.
!!!Author's Note!!!: Okay, finally here is chapter 9. This story should be coming to an end soon though, as I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The following review flame was submitted to my story; the following response sent back in reply. I have gone to the reviewer's profile and have checked through his/her favorites (Authors and Stories) as well as his/her stories written. 99 percent of them are one-shots or single chapter stories. My response is mainly sent to him, however, anyone who reads it will know that it applies to anyone reading this story.
(Reposted for grammatical errors within the chapter)
As always, any words in double quotes are spoken, single quotes and/or italics are thoughts.
First flame:
From: On Soaring Wings
I'm sick of people like you, with your stupid sub-plots dragging this pointless story along. There point to all this crap, and I'm sick of it. All this story reinforces is the fact that LIFE SUCKS! PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS OUT TO SCREW YOU OVER! I was hoping this latest chapter would raise my spirits, you've done the opposite. I hope you're satisfied with the way this story is turning out, cause I sure as hell am not.
My Response:
out of 50 some reviews and this is my first flame.
You certainly have the wherewithal to say what you have said, and yes, at times life does suck. But realize this:
Good cannot exist without Evil;
Evil cannot exist without Good;
Light cannot survive without Darkness;
Darkness cannot survive without Light;
Nature is about balance.
There was a point to this battle. I was originally going to write it as just a normal battle where the senshi whoop ass all over the place and where Ami and Makoto can't transform because of something dealing with the switch that has yet to be revealed. However, i needed a closing for Rei's proposal to Minako. And you have to realize that, while Good should always prevail over Evil, the war between said sides isn't always one sided. The Senshi are immortal in spirit, not in body. They can suffer casualties just like normal people.
The 3 or so paragraphs of Rei losing it popped into my head and wouldn't leave me alone, thus i wrote them down, and expanded this chapter to flow into the scene. Was this the wisest choice i could have made? i don't know. But i did it anyway.
While i am sorry to hear you don't like my story, realize that no one is holding a gun to your head and forcing you to read it, or to review it. But i do thank you for your input, regardless of whether or not it was constructive criticism or not.
The heart monitors in the ICU room let out a steady beep, their green lines spiking every time heartbeats were detected from the pulse monitors. The steady, quiet click and hiss of the respirator came every few seconds, keeping fresh air flowing through the machines that kept one girl alive. The other laid upon the bed, her body wrapped in clean bandages. The two young women who had been brought in that night had been placed in the same room together so that their friends could stay with them both. The ER doctor had made sure of that. The other young women silently kept watch over their two friends. Mamoru had sat down in a chair, Usagi on his lap. Ami and Makoto sat next to each other in the large windowsill of the room, holding onto each other for support. Michiru and Setsuna sat together on a small padded bench in the room, Haruka leaning against the wall beside them. Chibi-usa held Hotaru from behind, supporting the girl who had expended most of her energy keeping the blonde alive, both of them standing next to Mamoru and Usagi.
No one said a word.
They were both in comas, Elaine had told them after four hours in surgery fighting for Minako's life as it hung in the balance. She had been the doctor on call that night at the hospital and had nearly passed out from the shock at seeing not one but two of Ami's friends rolled in on stretchers. The blonde one had been immediately rushed into the operating room, the miko sent to the burn unit. Elaine had immediately scrubbed up, heading for the OR as just by looking at the two, she knew the blonde was in more trouble than the miko. The small band of friends had been forced to stay in the waiting room as the doctors and nurses stabilized Rei's vital signs and treated the severe burns that covered most of her body. None knew, however, of the struggle that happened in the OR, as Dr. Mizuno and others worked frantically to save the young woman's life: they had lost her pulse six times, having to use the defibulator on her to restart her heart.
After surgery, she had both Minako and Rei put into the same room, side by side. Dr. Mizuno had informed them that if they made it through the first night, they would mostly be in the clear. The first night was crucial. One look at her 'daughter' had told her all she needed to know. The injuries suffered by the two girls weren't an accident. There had been another battle…and this time there were casualties.
All the senshi were lost in their own thoughts, and as such didn't notice Rei's slight movement on her bed. Her arm twitched as her eyes fought to open. Squinting, she forced her right arm to do her bidding, lifting it to shield her eyes from the light given off by the small lamp in the corner of the room. She grunted lightly as pain shot through her, her muscles and skin protesting the motion, the heart monitor beeped faster as her pulse picked up from the agony she now felt her entire body was in. Usagi looked up at that moment, hearing the change.
"Rei!" She exclaimed quietly, hopping off her boyfriend's lap and rushing to the miko's side, "Don't move, please! You were badly injured and suffered burns across your entire body. You have to lie still."
"Usagi is right, Rei." Ami said quietly, moving from the windowsill to kneel by the priestess' side. "Try not to move or your wounds will open up again."
Usagi gingerly took hold of the miko's hand, helping her to lie her arm back down at her side. The princess noticed the tears in her eyes and her heart broke at the sight of her long time friend in so much pain.
"Wh-wh…where am I?" the priestess choked out dryly. God almighty, it hurt to even breathe. The heat must have burned her lungs and windpipe as well.
"You're in the hospital where Ami's mother works, Rei-chan. You were injured in a battle at the park across town." Michiru said as she and the others stood up to stand near the priestess' still form.
The memories flooded back through her mind as her eyes shut tight, the senshi continue to speak to one another as the pain returned anew.
-FLASHBACK, Rei's Thoughts-
A blast of dark energy burst forth from the monster's palm and threw me backwards.
The youma brought his sword around, stabbing clear through Venus' left shoulder.
It raised its hand to strike her. Bringing it down, driving its claws deep into her stomach.
Her cry of pain and anguish…my soul has never felt so frozen, so petrified, so lifeless…just from one sound.
Blood. Her blood sprays everywhere as the youma wrenched its claws out of her. I couldn't believe what was happening.
It howled again as it brought another energy ball up.
Point-blank…it was going to attack her point-blank.
The thing blasted her off its sword.
Kill him…destroy him…take his life…take his soul…burn him to ashes…wipe him out…
I hear the others call out their transformations. My mind is numb from what my eyes have seen.
Everything seemed to blur around me then. I felt my body move on its own; without commands from me.
I feel the warm fluid on me, soaking my skirt, staining my fuku red. Her blood is all around me.
I can't even make out what the others around me are saying.
The clash of battle rings in my ears as the fresh memories flash before my eyes once more.
Kill him…destroy him…take his life…take his soul…burn him to ashes…leave nothing left…
Heat. Extreme heat. Burning heat. Searing heat. I feel it shred and tear its way through me. Kill him…destroy him…take his life…take his soul…burn him to ashes…
Suddenly I hear someone screaming…
It sounded so chilling…so cold and uncaring…so frightening…but then…
I realize it's me who is screaming…
I felt as though I was watching a movie.
The sword; the lightning; the power coursing through me. The pain. The anger. The cold-blooded rage.
Flames engulf Minako's sword as I watch myself go on the attack.
Steel clashing against steel. Flying sparks sting my skin. The stench of blood…of gore…of death…it is all around me.
I swing so fast I can barely keep up…I hear the wail of the sword as it splits the air, as if it too mourns its master's injuries…
I feel the heat burn through me again, spiking painfully. I've cleaved his sword in two. I cut the blades from the now broken hilt.
I can feel the sword in my hand run him through; I can hear the white-hot metal sizzling as it melts his flesh.
I hear his growl of anger; the crackle of his now melting hand as he grips the blade. Kill him…destroy him…take his life…take his soul…burn him to ashes…
Vibrations of him sliding himself down the blade, moving closer, reach my grip. He raises his clawed hand to strike me.
More power. More pain. More hatred. More rage.
Flames arc around me. I hear him howl in rage as the hand is sliced from his arm. But most of all, I want him to die…and I tell him that.
More arcs; slashing through him; cutting through him; piercing through him.
His blood splatters on me. It's cold. Ice cold. Minako's is warm…
Minako…the sword…the claw…the blast…the blood. So much blood…
I see him on the sword. Impaled upon the sword of my fallen love. I want him to cry out in agony…I want him to vanish…I want him to disappear…
My power flares around me, reaching its peak.
I can feel it burning me. My own powers are hurting me…the pain is overwhelming.
A column of flames…a pillar of fire…a tornado of burning heat…an attack spell passes through my mind…
I can no longer see the others around me, the flames hiding them from my vision.
All I can see is the bloody form of the youma impaled upon the sword, its flesh melting and sizzling, and the stench unbearable.
It lets loose a ghostly howl of pain as it finally realizes that it will cease to exist…for I will destroy him…
…For destroying her…
…For destroying me…
Kill him…destroy him…take his life…take his soul…burn him to ashes…show no mercy…
"FIRE…SOUL…CRUSHER!" my voice, it sounds…it sounds…my own voice scares me.
The heat is replaced by a bitter cold…I lose track of time as the flames warm up and die down…he is gone…
Ash falls all around me…the sword is gone…pain wrenches through my body…blood and tears cloud my vision…
I make out her image on the ground and I began walking towards her, every step is total agony…
But I realize no amount of physical pain can match what my heart feels like now. I notice I have fallen to the ground.
I hear someone call out to me, but I silence them, forcing myself to my feet.
My heart pounds in my ears…a copper taste fills my mouth…I have reached her. I fall to my knees before her…
'Minako, I'm sorry. I have failed you.'
Blackness surrounds me…the pain fades away as I allow myself to be lifted, into the cradling arms…of darkness…
-END FLASHBACK-
"I've failed her…" Rei's hoarse whisper interrupts the senshi. They turn their attention to her, no one says a word. More tears came as she turned her head to the right, unconsciously sensing the weakened aura of her beloved lying next to her. The tubes of the ventilator were taped to her mouth, the tube keeping her alive as IVs dripped nutrients and antibiotics into her system. She lay there, completely still, her face pale as the moon; her hair pooling gently around her head. Upon her left hand, Rei noticed something golden, twinkling merrily in the lowlight of the lamp, as though oblivious to the terrors that had just occurred. It was the ring she had given Minako. Even throughout the battle, it had remained. Usagi spoke up then.
"You did not fail her, Rei. You protected her as best as you could. What happened occurred because of battle fatigue you both were experiencing. You had been fighting non-stop for a good ten minutes after Ami received your call for help. That's how long it took us to get there after she and Makoto radioed the others on their way to you." Usagi said in a firm but gentle voice. "You did not fail her, Rei. As long as you love her, you have not failed her. You will never fail her."
"But I swore…I swore to protect her. And now because of me she was nearly killed…" Rei shut her eyes at the pain in her chest and throat.
"Rei-chan…" Makoto stepped up to her side, "You did everything you could. But because of who we are, the risk of this happening will always be there, no matter how much we try to avoid it. For example, look at what happened to Ami and I. We have no idea how long we'll be like this. We can't transform at all, so the loss of our powers renders us completely defenseless. Be thankful you are both alive and that you will make a complete recovery."
"But how could Minako forgive me for breaking my promise to her?" Rei whispered through the physical and emotional pain that wracked her body.
"Because Rei, she loves you." Hotaru spoke quietly. "She's a strong woman, Rei. So are you, and you love her as well. You'll both be alright. Your senshi healing will come back once your power returns. Both of you used a lot of it in that last fight. But for now, you both need to rest. I know it's hard, Rei, but try not to think about it."
Chibi-usa gently squeezed her girlfriend, tears in her eyes. She whispered into Hotaru's ear, and in return a tear dropped from her eye as well. "I love you too, Chibi-usa."
The senshi stayed a little while longer, however Rei spoke no more after Hotaru's words had echoed between them. A nurse came in shortly and informed them that they had already been there long past visiting hours and that they needed to leave. Reluctantly, they said their good byes to Rei, wishing her to get better soon and to get some rest before they left the room. Rei lie awake in the bed, listening to the beeps of the heart monitors, and the slow rhythmic sounds of the ventilator. The memories continued to repeat within her mind; a slow, haunting video.
"Minako. If you can hear me, my love…please forgive me for having failed you. I swore to protect you, but…I failed. I couldn't protect you. It should have been me in your place." Rei whispered out into the darkened room. A small fluorescent light between the two beds the only light available. Tears fell from her eyes as she turned her head away from the sight of her fiancé barely holding onto life with the help of machines. An hour later she finally cried herself to sleep, the sounds of the monitors and the respirator lulling her into a dreamless state.
The senshi had all returned back to their respective homes, save for Ami and Makoto. They walked quietly through the darkened streets headed for Ami's house. The sky was crisp and clear, the stars twinkling merrily alongside the crescent moon. A light breeze rustled the leaves of the trees along the street, and the few sounds of the city at night flitted through the air in an attempt to soothe the two troubled souls. But the city's song could do nothing to ease the confusion and pain the two girls suffered from. Makoto leaned into the taller Ami, whose arm wrapped around her shoulders, holding her close. Makoto in turn linked her arms around Ami's waist. They walked like that, slowly but surely, each drawing on the other for strength.
"Ami? I know Minako and Rei will be okay, but something's still bothering me…" the shorter girl trailed off.
"You mean us not being able to transform?" Ami said in reply.
"Mmm." Makoto responded.
"I've been wondering that myself. Since our power auras have switched places along with our minds, you would think it wouldn't make a difference…perhaps it does."
"I'm not quite sure about that, Ami. I wonder if our powers are linked with our bodies."
"I don't understand."
"We've been senshi for a long time. And we know from our memories that our bodies of our past selves have always looked almost identical to which we are today. I'm wondering if the power aura that Setsuna saw is really a power aura…"
"You're thinking that the auras she saw were just our souls? Not our actual energy?"
"Exactly, and that would mean that the power of Jupiter still rests in my old body. And the power of Mercury still rests in your old body." Makoto stated.
"That would imply that the Sailor Senshi's powers are genetic. And from what we know, that's not correct."
"Hey, it's the only explanation I can think of and until we come up with something better, I think we should trade henshin wands, just to be safe. Even if I'm wrong, it won't matter since we still won't be able to transform. So we can't hurt our situation any more than what it already is." Makoto said, stopping and pulling slightly away from the taller girl.
"…I guess you're right…" the hesitation was apparent in her voice as she drew her wand from her pocket. Makoto drew hers out as well.
They both looked at their respective wands, both unsure about giving up their respective keys to their power. Memories of past battles flooded through their minds as the cruel mistress of nostalgia tinged with doubt surfaced within them. Ami took the first step and held her right hand out to Makoto, her wand resting in it. Makoto followed suit, with nary a word, extending her own right hand and wand. Simultaneously, they each took the other's wand with their left hands. The trade was completed, Ami speaking up.
"Take care of my wand. It's gotten me through a lot."
"I will, and same to you." Makoto replied.
"I will."
They pocketed the wands and Ami again put her arm around the shorter Makoto's shoulders, who in turn wrapped her arms once again around Ami's waist. They continued their walk in silence for a while before Makoto piped up, "Did you know about your mother?"
"Excuse me?"
"Did you know about her knowing who we really are?"
"…"
"You don't need to lie about it, Ami. She found out on her own you know. I guess I half expected it I suppose, I mean we don't even have masks to cover our faces. It was only a matter of time before someone who knew us pieced it together."
"How did you know?"
"She mentioned it yesterday afternoon before she left for tonight's shift at the hospital." Makoto replied, recounting what was said to her.
-FLASHBACK-
The elder Mizuno smiled again and opened the door, half way through, she stopped. Without turning around, she asked a question that shocked Makoto to her core.
"How is everything in your other…job? Have things been quiet lately?"
Not really knowing how to answer but fearing the worst, she played it safe, feigning surprise, "Excuse me?"
"You don't need to keep trying to hide it, Ami. I knew a long time ago when I first saw you on the T.V. I just want you to know I'm proud of you and that I love you very much. And every time I hear about the battles, I worry for you, and for the other girls. I don't know what I'd do without you. However there's not much I can do about it, except support you as best I can. It was what you were destined to be…" she looked over her shoulder at Makoto with darkened eyes full of emotion, "Sailor Mercury…"
-END FLASHBACK-
"I should have told you, Mako-chan. I should have warned you what to expect. I apologize." Ami hung her head.
"Hey now," Makoto lifted her chin with a steady hand, "We had just gone through an ordeal, mistakes happen."
The two reached Ami's house and walked up the sidewalk to the door. Elaine's car was in the driveway, a light on in the living room.
"Should we tell her?" Makoto asked.
"Tell her what? About the switch or about us?"
"Both."
"Well, since she already knows we're two of the Sailor Senshi, it can't really hurt to tell her about the switch. Who knows, maybe she can help us find a way to switch back." Ami contemplated, her hand resting on the doorknob.
"Do you think she will accept us? As a couple?"
"She's seen my room, and she knows about my preferences. She's been supportive, and she already knows you, so…" Ami trailed off, 'And that I was practically in love with you.'
"I guess you're right. Besides, she knows about Haruka and Michiru too so why would we be any different?" Makoto replied, following the taller girl as Ami opened the door and walked inside. They turned off into the living room and found Elaine to be fast asleep in her chair. She stirred at hearing them enter and opened sleepy eyes.
"Ami-chan! Makoto-san! Welcome home. I know it's pretty late, but can I get either of you anything?" she made to get out of the chair but a hand from Makoto stopped her. "Is something wrong?"
"Mom, I think it's time we talked about some things." Ami piped up, from Makoto's body, earning a confused look.
"Makoto-san, I'm honored that you think that way, but you're not my biological daughter."
Makoto sighed, "This is gonna give me a headache."
Elaine turned to what she thought was Ami, "Do you have your pills with you, Ami-chan? If not, there's a spare bottle in the bathroom medicine cabinet."
"This is going to be harder than I thought." Ami said as she and Makoto sat down on the couch opposite Ami's mother.
End Chapter 9
A/N – Yeah yeah. It's not a whole lot but I've got a lot of stuff on my plate right now. Things didn't quite work out in this chapter like I had wanted them to, so this story may be a little longer than previously anticipated. R and R please, flames will be redirected to sender via my dream girlfriend, the Dark Magician Girl, and her trusty Magic Cylinders.
