EPISODE 13-GODSPEED, AMY ANDERSON
I do not own any of the main characters in this story except for Gilded Rose. They are owned by someone in Japan. However, with the exception of Serena Campbell and Amy Anderson, I do own the Americanized names of the characters, as well as many of the supporting characters and villians. To make things easy, we'll just say that anything that has appeared in the manga or anime version of Sailor Moon is owned by someone in Japan, most likely Toei or Naoko Takeuchi.
Monday, 14 July, 1986
It was a sad day for the Sailor Soldier team. It was the day they buried one of their own. Only a few days earlier, they had defeated the Darkness, but during the battle, Sailor Mercury had been killed. "I still can't believe Amy's gone," Serena Campbell said.
"None of us can," Susan Makoto said.
Friday, 18 July, 1986 Susan Makoto's house, 11:45 p.m.
Susan awoke suddenly from the dream. In her dream, she was reliving the final battle against the Darkness. Sailor Moon had just destroyed Eudial, and the Darkness had shot a bolt of energy at Sailor Mercury. Sailor Jupiter had tried to knock Mercury out of the way of the blast, but for every step she took towards her friend, Mercury was moved two steps away. When the blast hit, time seemed to move in slow motion, and Jupiter could only watch in horror as her friend died. "No," Susan said. "I could have saved her."
Elizabeth Minako's house
For Elizabeth, it wasn't a dream that made her wake up suddenly. It was the words, echoing in her head. "You should have been there," they said. "If you were there, Amy would still be alive."
Tom Chiba's house
Like Susan, Tom relived the final battle against the Darkness in his dreams. However, his dream was different. In his dream, he delivered the fatal blow to Sailor Mercury. But he didn't stop there. He proceeded to destroy the other members of the Sailor Soldier team. He didn't stop there. He then went on a murderous rampage, killing everyone in sight, deriving more pleasure from each killing. As he was about to kill a small child, he awoke in a cold sweat. "I can't believe I tried to hurt my friends," he said.
Jake Slater's house
Jake wasn't having nightmares. For to have a nightmare, one must be asleep, which Jake found it almost impossible to do. He lay awake in bed, with his conflicted feelings. He still loved Amy, but he couldn't ignore the feelings he had for Rae. He and Rae had been friends for over ten years, and Jake had a crush on her for a couple of years, but was too shy to admit it to anyone, especially Rae.
The next afternoon, Joe's Burger Shack
"Is anything wrong?" Joe asked Jake.
"I didn't get any sleep last night," Jake said. "You see, there's this girl I kinda have feelings for, but it's only been a little over a week since. . . "
"Your girlfriend got killed?" Joe asked. "I know it hasn't been that long, but I'm certain she'd want you to be happy. If there's someone else, I'm sure she'd understand. I'll tell you what. You're off in a half hour anyways, I can handle things here until Yolanda shows up, why don't you take off early and clear your head a little."
Fifteen minutes later, Jake's house
Fortunately for Jake, when he got home, nobody was there. The state of mind he was in, the less human contact he had at that moment, the better. He had a lot of heavy soul searching to do. He went up to his room, and lay on the bed, on hos back, with his hands behind his head. He closed his eyes and started reliving the events of the previous couple weeks in his head. He was so engrossed in thought that he didn't notice when his dad, stepmom, and brothers came home an hour later. Two hours after that, he finally woke up, to the smell of fried chicken.
"Oh good, you're awake," his stepmom said. "Dinner'll be ready in a few minutes."
That night, Tom Chiba's bedroom
Tom had the same nightmare he had the previous night, the one where he was still evil, and giong on a killing rampage. This time, when he woke up, Amy, or more precicely Amy's ghost, was standing at the foot of his bed. "What did I become?" he said. "It could have been me who killed you," he said to Amy.
"It wasn't your fault," she said. "You were being controlled. An evil presence took you over."
"But I attacked you all," he said.
"It wasn't you," she said. "It was someone else. They were just doing it through you."
"I never thought of it that way," he said, as Amy disappeared, and he drifted off to sleep, knowing the nightmare would not return.
Elizabeth Minako's bedroom
Elizabeth was lying in bed, trying to sleep, but unable to. She had one thought going through her head. "I should have been there," she said.
"No you shouldn't," Amy's ghost said. "Without your powers, you would have lasted about half a second out there. Besides, we would have been too busy trying to protect you to fight. It was better that you weren't there."
"But. . . " Elizabeth said.
"But nothing," Amy said. "If you'd have been there, I'd be talking to your ghost right now."
"I see your point," Elizabeth said. "I just wish you weren't dead."
"That makes two of us," Amy said. "Well," she continued, "I have to go."
"So soon?" Elizabeth asked.
"I have a few more people to visit tonight," Amy said.
"Well I guess this is goodbye," Elizabeth said, as Amy's ghost disappeared. "godspeed, Amy Anderson." Elizabeth began to cry.
Artemis came into the room and wiped away Elizabeth's tears with his paw. "If you were gone, who'd remember to get the sardines I like?" he asked.
"Oh Artemis," she said, rubbing his belly. "I'd miss you too, you know that. I got to get some sleep." She drifted off to a peaceful slumber.
Serena Campbell's bedroom
"I still can't believe Amy's gone," Serena said.
"I'm sure Amy wouldn't want you sitting around moping about it forever," Luna said.
"Besides," Amy's disembodied voice said, "I knew the job was dangerous when I took it."
"I guess I can live with that," Serena said.
Susan Makoto's bedroom
Susan was having the dream again. They were fighting the Darkness, and it fired at Mercury. Jupiter tried to save her friend, but couldn't. As the blast struck its target, Susan awoke with a start, only to see Amy's ghost standing at the foot of her bed. "Amy," she said. "I just had the worst dream. I dreamt we were fighting the Darkness, and it fired at you, and I tried to get to you, to throw you out of the way of its blast. I was unable to save you. The blast killed you almost instantly."
"I wish it was only a dream," Amy's ghost said.
"So you're. . . ?" Susan asked.
"Dead," Amy said.
"But you wouldn't be dead if I was a step faster," Susan said.
"You couldn't have saved me," Amy said. "It was my time to go. That was decided the day I was born, and there was nothing you or anyone else could have done to change it. You can't change fate, so don't beat yourself over it."
"I guess you're right," Susan said. "But I'm glad to have been your friend."
"And I'm glad to have been your friend," Amy said, as she disappeared.
Susan went back to sleep, knowing the nightmare was over.
Rae Lincoln's bedroom
Rae couldn't sleep. She was thinking about Jake. She and Jake had been best friends since they were in first grade. She wished they could be more than friends, and she wondered if he wished that too. Before she knew what she was doing, she got out of bed and went to unlock the veranda door. "You sure this will work?" she asked.
"Well, if I weren't dead, I'd bet my life on it," Amy's voice said.
Next door, Jake's bedroom
Jake couldn't sleep, either. He was still conflicted about his feelings for both Amy and Rae. He still loved Amy, but he harboured a small crush on Rae for a couple of years. He wanted to tell her how he felt, but for some reason, was afraid to.
"You love her," Amy's ghost said. "You're in love with Rae, aren't you?"
"How'd you know?" Jake asked.
"Being dead odes have its advantages," Amy said.
"But I still. . . " he said.
"I know," she said. "But in case you've forgotten, I'm dead. You know, deceased, dearly departed, passed away, pushing up daisies, six feet under, dirtnapping, taking up permanent residence in the Pinebox Hotel, bought the farm. . . "
"I get the picture," he said. "But why are you here?"
"I want you to be happy," she said. "If that means being with Rae, I couldn't be happier. I jus twant you to do me one little favor. I want you to go to her right now and tell her how you feel."
"Now?" Jake asked, looking at the clock on his nightstand. "It's one o'clock in the morning."
"I'm well aware of the time," Amy said. "Just trust me on this, okay?"
"I guess you know what you're doing," Jake said, as Amy disappeared. He got out of bed, threw on a pair of cut-off sweats, a robe, and a pair of slippers, and went next door. Looking around to make sure nobody was watching, he climbed up the trellice, and onto the veranda. Instinctively, he opened the door, and entered her bedroom. "Listen Rae," he said, "I have something to tell you." He sat on the bed. He started to get nervous.
"So what do you want to tell me?" Rae asked, knowing exactly what he was going to say, but wanting him to say it himself.
Jake realized the only way to get over his nervousness was to come right out and say it. "I love you, Rae Lincoln," he said. "I've loved you for a couple of years, but I've been too afraid to tell you."
"Shut up and kiss me," Rae said, as she pulled Jake in, and planted her mouth on his, and the two friends shared a passionate kiss. Afterwards, they drifted off to sleep in each other's arms.
THE END. . . FOR NOW
Now that the Darkness is no more, the surviving members of the Sailor Soldier team have their whole lives ahead of them. They say life's a journey, not a destination, so join us soon for more of their journey.