SailorStar9: You ladies wanted this chapter, so here goes. This is Chapter 13 of this fic; and please be a dear and review.
Disclaimers: I do not own the animes. But I do own the pairing, I hope.
Chapter 13: The Power of a Shining Star! Chibi Chibi's Transformation
Time passes...
"Ami, have you decided which sport you want to play?" Makoto inquired, the three girls stood in front of the upcoming class-vs-class ball game poster.
"I haven't been good at ball games since I was a child." Ami admitted. "Minako, you're playing volleyball, right?"
"Of course!" Minako replied. "On top of that, with Taiki! I'll make a love-love toss. Taiki will make a love-love attack. In the end, we'll..."
"Oh please." Ami sighed. "Someone please do me a favor and check her for a fever."
"Okay, okay." Makoto soothed. "That's alright."
"So, what are you going to play, Mako?" Ami thought to ask.
"Well, I'm not going to play basketball just because Yaten is..." Makoto stammered.
"You'll make a love-love pass and he'll make a love-love dunk?" Ami joked. "Oh god, what if Usagi found out?"
"It's mixed boys and girls, right?" Usagi cut in.
"Usagi!" Ami and Makoto exclaimed.
"So, how you, Ami?" Usagi inquired.
"I haven't..." Ami stammered.
"Water-drops is going to play softball with me." Seiya interjected.
"And since when did that happen?" Ami raised a brow.
"I told your teacher about it." Seiya informed. "And he gave the a-okay."
"It's mixed boys and girls." Usagi reminded.
"OI!" Ami protested.
"You haven't decided on anything, have you?" Seiya guessed.
"I hate softball!" Ami exploded.
"I'll give you special training." Seiya stated.
"But do you even have that kind of time, Mr. Idol?" Ami gave Seiya a smug look.
"I'm going to spend my very scarce free time with you." Seiya retorted. "You should be appreciative!"
"I can't talk myself out of this, can I?" Ami sighed in resignation.
"No you can't." Seiya smirked.
"Who are they?" a jealous fangirl fumed. "They're always hanging around Seiya."
"I can't stand it!" another fangirl agreed.
"Please stop it." Ijuuin Sonoko cut in.
"Sonoko-sama!" the fangirls gasped.
"I have a good idea." Ijuuin stated. "Let me handle it."
After school...
"So, you're going to play softball with Seiya?" Rei twitched.
"That's right." Ami sighed. "I told him I hate it."
"Then why don't you refuse?" Rei demanded. "Isn't Thomas you fiance?"
"Why are you mentioning Thomas?" Ami wondered.
"What do you think of Seiya?" Rei fumed.
"Rei, it's not use." Makoto soothed with ChibiChibi on her lap, the little girl having moved into Ami's place sometime earlier.
"Ami doesn't understand his position as a star." Minako added.
"What?" Ami pouted.
"Hey!" Seiya called. "Let's get started."
"By that way, do you think it's normal to have special training?" Makoto wondered as Ami headed to the field.
"Is he planning to win the games?" Minako mused.
"He is." Taiki confirmed.
"Yaten!" Minako blinked at the two Lights. "Taiki!"
"Hello." Taiki greeted.
"He doesn't like losing anything." Yaten supplied.
"But I don't think they can win." Rei replied.
"Why?" Yaten wondered.
"Well, you'll see." the girls chorused.
On the field...
"Ready, Water-drops?" Seiya posed.
"Bring it!" Ami glared as Seiya stuck the first ball, catching it effortlessly. "Too slow!" she shouted, throwing the baseball back at Seiya. "Is this all you've got?"
"Water-drops..." Seiya sweatdropped, astonished at Ami was about to catch every single of his throws.
On the sidelines...
"I take my last sentence back." Rei stated.
"It's always the quiet ones you have to look out for, huh?" Yaten mused amusedly.
On the field...
"I thought you said you hate softball?" Seiya mused.
"I do." Ami replied, readying for his next strike.
"But you're doing too well here." Seiya pointed out.
"Just because I'm playing well, doesn't mean I have to like it, right?" Ami reminded.
"Point." Seiya nodded when a series of laughter cut them off.
On the sidelines...
"With that skill level, you really don't think you'll win the games, do you?" Ijuuin mocked. "Don't make me laugh."
"That rosy 'Love-love Three Lights' is..." Minako blinked.
"That's right." Usagi confirmed. "Captain of the Jubaan High School softball tea as well as the head of the Three Lights bodyguards, Ijuuin Sonoko in Class Two of the third year."
"She's also number one in the fan club." Makoto supplied.
"Number one?" Rei echoed.
On the field...
"Hey, you gals!" Seiya objected. "I'm on my own time."
On the sidelines...
"I know that I'm sticking my nose in, but we can't stand something." Ijuuin stated. "That impudent girl!" she pointed to Ami.
On the field...
"What?" Ami exploded. "I have a much better fiance than Seiya, dammit!"
On the sidelines...
"Better than Seiya?" Ijuuin echoed.
On the field...
"What are you doing?" Ami muttered when the girls tackled her to the ground.
"Don't provoke them." Minako warned.
"They're scary when they're mad." Rei added.
On the sidelines...
"We'd be willing to keep quiet if Seiya was with a nice lady." Ijuuin noted. "But there's no way in the case of that insolent girl!"
On the field...
"What can I do for you then?" Seiya posted a question.
On the sidelines...
"How about deciding the issue in a fair manner by the results of the game?" Ijuuin challenged.
On the field...
"Results of the game?" Seiya echoed.
On the sidelines...
"If we win the upcoming games, don't associate yourself with that girl." Ijuuin placed her conditions.
On the field...
"And if we win?" Seiya smirked.
On the sidelines...
"Then we'll accept your relationship." Ijuuin replied.
On the field...
"Fine, we'll win this." Seiya confirmed.
On the sidelines...
"Now it's all set." Ijuuin remarked.
On the field...
"Interesting." Ami smirked. "I won't be holding back, and I'll make sure you," she pointed at Ijuuin. "Don't get any points!"
On the sidelines...
"What?" Ijuuin growled. "I'm looking forward to seeing you at the games." she stormed off.
On the field...
"Water-drops!" Seiya called. "Let's show them our love-love power."
"Love-love?" Ami twitched.
"Alright." Seiya declared. "Let's go back to your special training."
"Seiya..." Ami growled in warning. "Three seconds... run!"
In her throne room...
"Aluminum Siren, haven't you found the real 'Star Seed' yet?" Galaxia inquired.
"Yes." Aluminum Siren replied.
"Yes?" Galaxia frowned.
"Galaxia-sama, Siren is doing her best." Lead Crow defended.
"I'm not asking you!" Galaxia barked.
"I'm sorry." Lead Crow apologized.
"I wont' tolerate incompetents." Galaxia warned. "Understood?"
"Yes, madam." Aluminum Siren replied. "I'll do my best."
On the field...
Seiya was increasing the speed of his throws with Ami catching each and every ball successfully.
"Too slow!" Ami snapped, tossing the ball back to Seiya. "We can't expect a total-win at this rate!"
"ChibiChibi!" ChibiChibi cheered.
"Okay, let's go!" Seiya stuck the ball again.
That night...
"Good job." Seiya handed the two girls two drink cans.
"Thanks." Ami took her can.
"Thanks." ChibiChibi repeated.
"You had a good workout today, didn't you?" Seiya asked.
"Compared to what Demon-nii and Angel-nee put me through, this is a walk in the park." Ami shrugged. "Beautiful stars." she looked up at the night sky.
"All life in this galaxy has a shining star within itself." Seiya stated. "A legend in a faraway country, everyone has one. You and me too, Water-drops."
"ChibiChibi?" ChibiChibi echoed.
"Of course, you have one as well, Chibi." Seiya patted the child on her head. "The stronger the star, the more they shine. Yours shine like a nova. No, like a quasar." he corrected himself. "The only one who can compare is..."
"Kakyuu." Ami supplied knowingly.
"Yes." Seiya nodded absentmindedly. "I like your light. So, I don't want to lose this game."
"I know." Ami replied. "She may be the captain of the softball team, an ace pitcher and the clean-up pitcher, even I can see how good she is. But I won't give up."
"That's right." Seiya agreed. "If you give up, it means you lost before you played."
"Lost! Lost!" ChibiChibi cheered.
"You know better Chibi, don't you?" Seiya chuckled. "I'll tell you this, I hate giving up."
"Hate giving up?" Ami let out a chuckle. "Shiva, don't ever change, okay?"
Commercial Break.
Voice-Off Announcer: If you thought Pokemon was taking too much time to end, then you'll just love this.
The camera zooms in to a card duel arena, where Yugi is facing Kaiba. His side is devoid of cards except for the Dark Magician Girl, while his opponent has the Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon and Obelisk.
VOA: Yugi must face new challenges and new foes, along with the usual losers that just can't die. Can his improved deck defeat his opponents?
Yugi produces a card from his duel disk and smirks. As it shows it to Kaiba, the 'villain' does his best not to run away crying. Yugi use the card, which caused the DMG to turn into an armored, railgun-wielding version of herself.
VOA: [As the improved DMG vaporizes the BEUD and Obelisk.] I guess that's a yes. Watch the Dark Female Marine and the Green Eyes Uber Exodia face off in 'Yu-Gi-Oh: Lamer Than Pokemon!' Coming sooner than you'd want it to.
End Commercial Break.
"The softball tournament here at Jubaan High School is coming to a climax!" the MC declared. "What are you doing?" he demanded and Minako snatched the microphone away.
"The teams headed for the final game are our class one of first year and class two of third year, led by Ijuuin." Minako declared "Oh which side will the Goddess of Victory smile upon? By the way, today's report is delivered by school idol, Aino Minako, together with her guest..."
"Hino Rei!" Rei added.
"What?" Ami sighed, seeing the real reporter the girls had bundled up on the back of the reporting tent. "Remind me again why I put up with them?"
Outside the school...
"Do you really think that the host of a 'Star Seed' is here?" Reiko wondered.
"Right there." Akane replied. "A youth with a white ball! A star in softball."
"Softball?" Reiko echoed.
"Hey!" Akane fumed when Reiko bit into her chip. "Stop eating when you're listening to somebody."
"Do you want some?" Reiko offered.
"Shut up!" Akane snapped. "Do you really understand your situation? If you don't show results..."
"Don't worry." Reiko assured. "I'll figure it out somehow."
"Oh dear." Akane sighed. "I feel like an idiot. Anyway, I'll take care of this and return with a 'Star Seed'. Wait here."
On the field...
"Right side!" Seiya hollered at the opposing team stuck the ball.
Looking up at the ball, Ami did a quick mental calculation to estimate the right spot and caught the ball effortlessly.
In the reporting tent...
"Amazing!" Minako gushed. "Mizuno was right on target yet again! Seiya stuck out the rest of the batters!" she declared after Seiya batted.
"The scoreboard show zero, zero!" Rei added. "The wonderful pitching of his counterpart, Ijuuin, never allows the batters to come close!"
"It's a batters' duel, right?" Minako inquired.
On the field...
I'll win for sure! Seiya was determined.
In the reporting tent...
"Both sides never compromised!" Minako announced. "It's the last inning, tied at zero! Oh? It's rain! It started raining! It seems we'll have a short break."
At the lockers...
"Amazing Ami!" Rei gushed.
"Do your best." Makoto encouraged.
"That's right." Minako agreed.
"Good luck, Ami." Usagi smiled.
"I won't let you have a date with Seiya though." Rei joked.
"You guys." Ami blinked.
"ChibiChibi!" ChibiChibi tugged Ami's shorts.
"Are you cheering me on, too?" Ami asked. "Right, right, the washroom." she caught ChibiChibi's intention. "There." she carried the child.
"Water-drops." Seiya voiced. "Let's win."
"Yes." Ami nodded.
Outside the washroom...
"Can you do it yourself?" Ami asked.
"I can." ChibiChibi replied.
"Will it stop raining?" Ami wondered.
"It will.?" Ijuuin replied.
"Sonoko." Ami blinked.
"You kept your word in not allowing my team to score." Ijuuin informed. "I have to admit, I'm impressed. But, my batting order is coming up in the last inning. I know Seiya's pitching style. I'll be hitting them to you."
"Do that, and I'll most probably end up slicing the ball into half." Ami joked. "Just kidding." she winked playfully. "But I don't want to lose this game." she stated determinedly. "For Seiya who helped me train and for myself."
"ChibiChibi!" ChibiChibi called.
"Are you done?" Ami asked.
"Chibi!" ChibiChibi beamed.
"Mizuno." Ijuuin stated.
"Yes?" Ami blinked.
"Let's do our best." Ijuuin remarked.
"Yes." Ami nodded. "Okay, let's go." she turned to the child.
"Go, go"! ChibiChibi echoed.
"Excuse me." Ami stated and followed the child.
"'I don't want to lose.'" Ijuuin quoted. "She shines."
"You shine more." Akane remarked.
"Who are you ?" Ijuuin demanded and screamed when Akane removed her 'Star Seed'.
"Sonoko's voice." Ami gasped. "ChibiChibi, stay here, okay?"
"Horrible rain." Reiko pouted as Ami hurried in front of her. "My suit is soaking wet."
"Holy Mercury Power, Make Up!" Ami transformed.
That's... Reiko gaped at the bright light emitting from the Senshi. That shine! Maybe... the real 'Star Seed'!
"It's another blank!" Akane cursed when Ijuuin's 'Star Seed' turned black. "What should I do?"
"Stop right there!" Mercury declared.
"What?" Akane turned.
"You attacked Pink Southpaw Sonoko before the end of the game!" Mercury announced. "I can't forgive you! Agent of justice and life, pretty Senshi, Mercury!" she twirled her Caduceus."In the name of Mermaria, I'll punish you!" she posed.
"Again?" Akane echoed. "You'll be charged for interfering with my business. Sailor Leader, take care of her." she retreated via her phone box.
"Sailor Leader!" Leader posed.
"Sonoko!" Mercury gasped and jumped to dodge the bat t hat flew at her.
"Let's have a match, Mercury!" Leader declared.
"Can we do this on the ground?" Mercury sweatdropped.
"There's no use in talking!" Leader let loose a series of fastballs.
"Tsunami Freeze!" Mercury released her attack, freezing the baseballs before they hit their targets. "There's no reasoning some people." she sighed. "Mercury..." she barely had the time to finish her attack cry when Aluminum Siren blasted her weapon out of her hands.
"What a surprise." Aluminum Siren started. "I should have suspected the one who healed Iron Mouse had a real 'Star Seed'. No wonder I couldn't find it. I'll take your shining star! Be obedient and give me your 'Star Seed'!" she demanded, forcing Mercury into a standstill.
If only I could reach the Caduceus... Mercury looked over at her weapon. "No!" she warned when ChibiChibi ran over the the wand.
"Where are you going, little girl?" Leader blocked ChibiChibi's path.
"ChibiChibi!" ChibiChibi stated.
"ChibiChibi!" Mercury shouted.
"Come here!" Leader attacked the child.
"Chibi!" ChibiChibi charged.
"NO!" Mercury screamed in horror, only to see ChibiChibi leapt over the Phage and took the Caduceus into her hands. The Sid want then exploded in a burst of bright light, forcing Aluminum Siren off Mercury.
"What's that?" the Animamate gasped.
A pillar of light then scattered the rainclouds.
Elsewhere in the school...
What is this feeling? Rei wondered.
My heart is... Usagi added.
Hot! Makoto mused.
This light is... Minako thought.
"The birth of a new star." Seiya concluded.
"This wave is..." Taiki trailed.
"The Princess..." Yaten added.
In her throne room...
"The light which will change my destiny?" Galaxia too felt the energy wave. "Was it sleeping on this rural planet?"
In a sea of stars...
So warm... Mercury mused. "ChibiChibi, you're a Senshi?" she wondered, looking at the child before her, now dressed in a Senshi's suit.
"ChibiChibi!" ChibiChibi Moon reached out her hand to Mercury. Mercury pressed her palm against the chibi Senshi's and she transformed into her Mermaria form.
A new power... the Goddess mused. A very gentle wave. ChibiChibi, who are you? You're... she Goddess realized from the flood of memories. Galaxia-nee-sama's...
"Don't make such a scary face." Aluminum Siren chided when both girls appeared after the burst of light died down, Mercury now in her 'Aeon' form, her boots had vanished, replaced by stylish strapped-on sandals, with a pair of wings sprouting on each heel. "It's not going to work! Leader, get them!"
"Alright , head coach!" Leader replied, readying her spiked baseball.
"ChibiChibi!" ChibiChibi looked at the upgraded Senshi.
"Right!" Mercury nodded, producing the 'Cálice of Life' and merging it with her Caduceus to form the 'Hermes Life Caduceus'. "Mercury Glacial Restoration!" she released her new attack.
"Beautiful!" Leader squealed when she was encased in a glacier and instantly covering her head to toe in pure ice. She stood there frozen, utterly still, then the ice shattered, revealing a fully healed Ijuuin in its wake and her 'Star Seed' returning to her body.
"Not bad. "Aluminum Siren noted. "Now, I'm getting serious."
"Stop right there!" Star Fighter barked, before Aluminum Siren could attack Mercury.
"Starlights!" Mercury blinked at the newly-arrived Senshi.
"It seems I've gotten more of you interrupting me." Aluminum Siren pouted.
"Wait!" Mercury called.
"I have to go for today." Aluminum Siren replied. "I'll see you again. Bye!" and retreated via her phone box.
"Some things never change." Mercury muttered.
"What happened?" Star Fighter inquired.
"Don't ask me." Mercury shrugged. "I'm pretty confused myself."
"Myself, myself!" ChibiChibi beamed.
After the weather cleared...
"At last, the balance has been broken!" Minako declared. "A home-run by Seiya in Class One of first year made the score one to zero!"
"However!" Minako and Rei chorused. "In the bottom half, he's in a pinch as there's a runner on third with two outs! On top of that, the next batter up is this person!
Here I come, Seiya. Ijuuin readied herself. Mizuno!
"A hit!" Minako announced. "The ball is going down to the right side!"
"Ami!" Rei hollered.
Her mind already working, Ami calculated the exact spot the ball would land and raised her glove at the precise point. With a smirk, she raised her glove with the ball in it.
"Well done!" Seiya whooped.
"She did it!" Minako yelled. "With her precise play, Class One of first year won the game!"
"Well done!" the girls glomped the victorious genius.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review. In the next chapter, Aluminum Siren gives Ami tickets to a special flight with the Three Lights, intending to trap her and steal her 'Star Seed'. Starlights and Senshi reveal each others' identities.