Chapter 2:
Ami wandered the halls of the Canadian university, searching for a way to the dorms. She read each new sign. Each was written in both English and French. For fun, she would alternate languages as she searched. She needed to keep her mind sharp.
The university wasn't large, but it had been emptied for the summer. It seemed infinitely larger because it was so empty, void of the noise that usually filled schools. It was almost eery. The little hairs on the back of her neck rose. Ami tightened her fist. She looked around, but could see no one.
Amy had room 603 in the west ward. The door wasn't locked. Ami pushed it open, and went in. The girl looked up at Ami, panic flashing across her face. She had gone very pale. She had long purple-black hair that was pulled into a tight braid. The braid was tied off with a green ribbon that clashed with her blue flowered sun dress.
"Hello," said Ami, giving the girl a friendly smile.
"Hi," squeaked the girl. She looked to be sixteen or seventeen. She was acting oddly shy and nervous. Ami was struck with the image of a child when the girl smiled tentatively.
"I'm Ami," she continued. "I guess I'll be your room mate for the week. What's you name?"
"I'm Kyaranna," the girl replied shyly. "My friends call me Ky."
"Can I call you Ky?" A ghost of a smile crossed the girl's pale face.
"Sure."
Amy plunked down heavily on her bed. She was tired and sore. She had decided that she did not like flying in air planes one little bit.
"D'you want a warm up game of chess before the tournament starts tomorrow?" asked Ky.
"Sure. But my board is still packed."
"No problem. We'll use mine." Ky waved her hand toward the board.
Ami felt her mouth drop open. She had never seen such a finely crafted chess set. Each piece seemed to be hand crafted from smooth stone. Ami picked up the black-stone queen. The queen's face even had detail. There were folds in the queen's dress that made it look like she was standing in a light breeze. The folds in the white-stone's dress went in the opposite direction. Ami wondered if that was done purposefully. She reasoned it was.
Ky picked up two pawns, one white, one black. She put the behind her back.
"Pick a hand, Ami." Ami smiled. She crocked her head. She preferred to have white, as it meant she would go first.
"Left," she replied. Ky flipped over her left hand. In it was the white pawn. Ky smiled.
"Good choice, Ami."
Ami made her first move, blocking the only was Ky would have for a four-move check mate. She followed Ky's hand as it rested over a pawn. Her hands were very smooth and soft looking. Perfect, just like her chess set.
Ami narrowed her eyes as Ky took her knight. She was expecting it. She could tell Ky was holding back. Then again, so was she. Ami moved her bishop.
"Check," she said, trying to hold back the confident tone in her voice. Ky made the only move she could.
"Stalemate," Ky observed. "You were holding back."
"So were you. Besides, I wouldn't want to give you an edge now, would I?"
"I suppose not," replied Ky with a smile. She seemed much more relaxed now.
Ky stood up, packing away her beautiful chess board.
"Come on, I'll show you to the dining room."
"Do you attend this university?" asked Ami, surprised at the ease Ky had going through the university.
"No. I'm not from Toronto. I'm not old enough to go to the university yet." Ky brushed a wayward piece of hair off her face. "I just wanted to get a taste of being away from home before I go on my exchange trip."
"Wow, where to?" asked Ami. She was impressed.
"Japan. The culture fascinates me." Ami grinned.
"I live in Japan."
"Really? Your English is wonderful."
"Thank you."
They had reached the dining room. Ami was surprised at the number of teens that were there. All of them were there for the contest. Ami worried that she would not get very far. With this kind of competition it would be very difficult.
Ami sat with Ky. She hardly ate any of the food. The spaghetti sauce looked too watery for her liking. Besides, she was more tired then hungry. Ami just wanted to drop her head and fall asleep.
The doors burst open. Ami looked up, startled. A man came in. He wore a dark green suit that looked almost black. He looked very much like Tuxedo mask, except he was wearing a silver crown on his head. Ami tried to comprehend what his face looked like, but she forgot what he looked like even as she stared at him. She felt her blood run cold.
"I know you're here, Senshi!" he called. He held out his hand. "Earth Triumph Blast!" Out of his hand shot a long, thin beam of energy that wrapped around three students near the door. The students were turned to stone.
"Some out, Senshi, and I'll release them. You know what I want." He grinned. "The rest of you losers, get out of here."
Ami joined the crowd in its frantic rush to escape the powerful madman. Ami slipped away from the others, into a deserted hall.
"Mercury Crystal Power!" she cried. She transformed into her Senshi uniform, and hurried back to the dining room.
Ami threw open the doors. The male-senshi stared at her.
"Who are you?" he asked, crocking his head.
"I am Sailor Mercury. You want a Senshi, you got one. Now let them go."
"I've never heard of you, Mercury. You are not the Senshi I seek." His eyes narrowed. "You must be a Lesser Senshi. How you got here is completely beyond me. If you'd like a fight, I'd be glad to oblige you."
Ami looked around. She pulled down her visor. She wished the others were here. They were all much stronger fighters then her, even Mini-Moon.
"Mercury Bubbles Blast!" she cried. The room filled with grey-blue mist. Ami moved, careful to avoid the male-Senshi. She could see him, but he could not see her.
"Nice trick, for running away." Ami would not let him goad her into doing something stupid.
"Aqua Rhapsody!" The blast of icy water incased the male senshi as the bubbles drifted to the ground.
Ami consulted her computer. She could not figure out who this guy really was.
"Wait! Don't destroy him!" called a voice from above. Ami looked up. A senshi jumped down from the rafters. "He's human!" The senshi landed between Ami and the male senshi.
"Who are you?" asked Ami. The senshi smiled, fiddling with her dark purple outfit, and stretching her long staff toward the frozen man.
"I am Sailor Kotanam. He is the Gaurdian of Earth. He was after me." She smiled bitterly. "Stand back, Princess, or you may get sucked into my vortex too." She touched the ground with the tip of her staff. "Kotanam Gate!" Out of her staff snaked a black light. The light swallowed up the Guardian of Earth. he disappeared.
The Senshi turned back to Ami.
"I am sorry to cause you trouble, sister Senshi. I had hoped they couldn't follow me here." She sighed. "Get going. I will free the captives from the Guardian's magic." Ami stepped back, and headed toward the door. She stopped, and turned to ask Sailor Kotanam a question. But, the strange senshi was already gone, and the three stone students were returning to normal. Ami thought it best to leave.
