Arieslily17: I'm back! I survived the European heat and am back to give you the final two chapters of my story. Yes, they're both finished. =) I hope you enjoy!
Nix-chan: Don't tell them they're both done! You aren't giving them the last chapter until you get a bunch for this one!
Arieslily17: True, but hopefully that will make them review more. I'm a review junky. I want to hear your thoughts! Once I get an amount I feel is sufficient for my work, I'll post the final chapter. Just don't hate me too much for the events of this chapter. But now, on with this one!
RevelationsAs I sit here now in front of the sacred fire, I realize I should have known that the day would not go well. It was storming violently early this morning. The wind was howling and there were huge crashes of lightning and booming thunder. I almost thought it was some kind of hurricane or something. It was one of those completely ominous, scary-stories-start-on-days-like-this storms. I had an incredibly bad feeling about it, but I shrugged it off as the sun came out and the day became beautiful and clear. By mid-morning the sky was completely free of clouds. Very non-menacing.
Then everything went awry.
In the afternoon I got a call on my communicator. Sailor Venus and Sailor Jupiter were fighting a considerably large gang of youma in the park, and they needed backup. Normally, something like this isn't really a problem if one of us can't make it. I mean, I've taken out legions of youma with a single attack in the middle of a huge battle without breaking a sweat. But when you're not practicing regularly because there has only been routine random youma fights, and it's not long after a fighting a large enemy, it takes a little more to get rid of the scum. Even Sailor Senshi need to recharge their magic once in a while. Although, that makes me wonder where exactly the youmas are coming from. Maybe they are just of above average intelligence and thought to band together to stop us. Though it would take a lot to gather such a formidable number of above average youma, as they are henchmen of the dark side and tend more often than not to not have much in the brains department. I haven't had any visions of a new enemy though…
Anyway, Sailor Mercury, Sailor Moon, and Tuxedo Mask were already on their way, but I had some customers to take care of at the shop in the Temple's entrance hall. I told them I'd be down there as soon as possible. After doing a rush job with the patrons, I was about to transform when I got another call from Sailor Venus.
"Rei, we need you here now! We've got a bigger problem than just the youmas."
"I'm on my way, don't worry." I replied coolly.
"You better be, we have civilians out here trying to help!" She yelled.
Why would civilians be trying to help? Do they have a death wish? I quickly transformed and ran as fast as my super heroine powers would let me. I couldn't let innocent people be hurt, even if they were stupid enough to involve themselves.
If I had entered calmly I might have seen who was there.
Only I didn't enter calmly. That's the thing about me in battle. I involve myself so thoroughly in the action I don't always contemplate the consequences of my decisions. I tend to act rashly and have gotten myself into trouble on more than one occasion. I always manage to get myself out of course, but sometimes it comes at a high cost to my health. Not fun. It's quite painful, actually.
This time was no exception. I was set on getting there and saving people. More specifically the civilians who got themselves mixed up in all of this. I wanted to call the others to see what we were up against, but I also didn't want to waste time or distract them, so I charged straight in.
The minute I was within range and had a clear shot, I let off a rather large "Mars Flame Sniper!" taking out one of the monsters and calling the attention towards myself. Which meant all the other youma, and there seemed to be hundreds, as well as my compatriots turned to look at me…
Then the youmas attacked. That was really not fun.
We entered into a bit of a battle royal and there were flurries of kicks and punches flying everywhere. Subsequently there was the occasional odd blast of magical powers from each of us. I thought I heard someone shout a new attack; something called a "Final Flash!" which at the time didn't make much sense to me, unless there was some sort of special meaning to it. Plus I didn't think we were getting a power boost anytime soon, so the likelihood of a new attack was at a minimum.
I had completely forgotten about our "guests". You know, it's a funny thing. Because you're so focused on helping save someone, but then in the heat of battle you forget any distinguishing knowledge about that person and fight for the goal-life: its preservation and protection. I don't really like not remembering names or faces, but there's so much to concentrate on while fighting. I didn't even give them a second thought.
I almost wish now that I had.
Because once the smoke cleared, the fighting stopped, and the Senshi regrouped, I finally saw who the civilians were.
Scattered throughout the piles of dead youma bodies that had yet disappear was a group of five men and a younger boy. There was a man of average height with short spiky hair and a very short bald man, both sporting orange gi's bearing the symbol of the Kame House, a tall green-skinned man wearing a turban, and the boy had long black hair. Then there was a shorter man who stood apart from the rest. His black hair swept upwards like a flame and he stood with his arms crossed, an angry scowl on his face. His aura gave off bad vibes. But he looked vaguely familiar, and I searched my memory frantically to try and place him.
The answer came to me in a sickening blow. He was Miss Brief's consort, Vegeta. I had only seen his picture once in a magazine, which I think was the only published photo of him ever, but you don't forget a face like that. But if this was Vegeta, that meant he was related to Trunks…and as I looked around I saw what would become my worst nightmare.
Trunks was there with them.
He didn't notice me at first. He was too busy dusting off his hands. He began to look around as well, then as he was scanning the others and I was trying to hide inconspicuously behind my friends, he saw me.
I don't know if there is magic protecting our identities, or if our friends just refuse to believe that we could be super heroes or what, but never before has anyone recognized us while we were transformed. I was hoping that whatever is was would work in my favor this time.
Ah, but when does luck ever work when we want it to?
"Rei, is that you? What are you doing here? And why on earth are you dressed like that?"
It felt like time had stopped right then. I swear Pluto came and stopped it just to save our sorry butts. He has such a struck, hurt look on his face. I must have looked like a deer caught in the headlights. At this, time restarted and my friends took over trying to clear things up.
Venus stepped forward a little and demanded, "We're the Sailor Senshi, who are you?"
The green man spoke, before Vegeta could, I guess to keep him quiet, because he looked really mad and ready to yell.
"I am called Piccolo. This is Yamcha, Krillin, Gohan, Vegeta, and Trunks." He said, pointing in turn to the spiky haired man, the bald man, the boy, and the others. "We are an elite team concerned with the defense of the earth."
Tuxedo Mask just shrugged and said, "Ah. Well that's our job, so you don't have to bother yourselves with it."
Gohan tugged on Piccolo's cape. "But I thought it was our job?"
"It is kid. I don't know who these little girls think they are, but they don't know what they're doing."
"Hey!" Sailor Moon yelled, "I don't know who you're calling 'little', considering the squirt you were just talking to can't be more than twelve, but I don't think that in the more than a millennium we've been doing this we haven't picked up a thing or two about how to take care of this planet." We all turned to stare at the suddenly assertive Sailor Moon.
"A millennium? What the hell are you talking about? You yourselves can't be more than sixteen or seventeen." Vegeta finally spoke.
Jupiter sighed. "Are we going to have to tell them our whole story?"
"I don't know if that is a wise, Sailor Moon. We can't trust them." Sailor Mercury advised.
"We'll tell you our story if you tell us yours." Krillin compromised.
"Fine. But not here." I said, turning to the others and whispering, "We'll take them to the Temple. It's much more secluded and we can avoid eavesdroppers."
"Where are we going?" asked Yamcha.
"The Hikawa Jinja. Do you know where it is?" I returned, all of us making ready for the sprint back.
"Yes, but it will be faster to fly." Piccolo offered.
"I suppose it would be, if all of us had wings. But seeing as Sailor Moon is the only one of us who can sprout them at will, and none of you look like you're part bird, running will have to do." I retorted. I was beginning to lose my temper.
"Don't be ridiculous Rei, we can fly, and we'll carry you." I heard very close to my ear, as strong arms lifted me up, ice blue eyes staring into my own purple ones, and I felt the sensation of rising off the ground.
"It's Sailor Mars, actually, if you don't mind, and you're invading my personal space." I said, curtly. I looked around and noticed the others pair up, except Vegeta and Tuxedo Mask.
"I'm going to get my motorcycle, it's nearby. I'll follow you on land." Tuxedo Mask said, before running off.
I sighed, knowing we were trapped. Then everyone else rose into the air and we headed towards the Temple.
We landed in a clearing in the woods surrounding the main complex. As soon as we were on the ground, the five of us grouped together on one side while the others sort of milled about, and Vegeta and Trunks sat quietly on some nearby rocks. About five minutes later, Tux came running into the clearing, huffing from the long climb up the Temple steps.
Upon observing him, Vegeta grumbled, "Good. Now we can get this over with."
At that, the strangers sat themselves down and began their tale. I have to say. It was pretty interesting. Impressive too, what with all the strange and powerful aliens they've faced. And I think all of us were a little saddened and felt our hearts go out to Vegeta and Trunks when we heard their stories.
Mercury, who had been recording everything on her mini computer for our records, looked up as they all finished and said, "So you have to be wished back to life with things called 'Dragon Balls'? And how many of you have been dead and reincarnated?" All of them except Gohan raised their hands.
"It's not so much reincarnated as resurrected." Explained Krillin.
"Oh. Well, I see then…" was all Merc could say.
"Why do you ask?" He said.
"I was just curious how it works for you, because it's much different for us." Merc clarified.
"How so?" Piccolo asked.
All of us turned to Sailor Moon, as it was only proper for her to begin our tale, considering as ditzy and unqualified as she is, she is still our princess.
"You see, it all began over a thousand years ago, in our kingdom on the Moon during the time called the Silver Millennium…" she started, and an hour and a half or so later, we'd finished.
"So you're the planetary warriors of legend?" Vegeta asked as we ended.
Every single face in both groups turned to look at him.
With an exasperated sigh he said, "My father used to tell me stories before he died, historical legends if you will, of female warriors in a neighboring solar system who were skilled beyond most others and possessed strange gifts. They served the monarchy of a kingdom called the White Moon, a mother and daughter both called 'Serenity'." He turned to our princess, "That would make you the younger one, Princess Serenity, would it not?"
"I am she. You remembered your history well." She smiled.
"Feh. I just couldn't believe there were female warriors that strong."
I had been holding myself back fairly well until then. I hate it when anyone questions our credibility because we're women. It's a pet peeve of mine. When I heard that, I totally lost my temper and started to get up to teach him a lesson, not caring that he was Trunks' father, when Tuxedo Mask grabbed me around the waist and held be down, anticipating my reaction. There was a great build up of angry energy in Trunks' direction, and I swear that his hair flickered golden, but nothing happened. I didn't really care; I just wanted these people gone, as far away from my property as possible.
Tux kept me back long enough for my temper to cool, while the others talked to Trunks' friends. I guess they came to some sort of agreement to not get in each other's ways but to help if either group needed it. I don't know, I wasn't listening. I was caught in the hell of my own mind.
How could he not tell me about this? I knew he was a practicing martial artist, and very strong, but all this stuff about being an alien and from another dimension…a dimension that was destroyed beyond repair by androids and being the last survivor…it's awful. But why keep it from me? It's not like he had a secret identity to protect.
When Venus joined us, and we were all together again as senshi, we made a promise. Protect our secret. At least until the time was right for people to know. That meant no telling family, friends, or boy friends. Not anyone. And we've kept it, with the exception of evil people discovering us, and a few others from being involved. That's why it was so surprising that I had so much difficulty with not telling Trunks. I had to keep reminding my self that it wasn't only my secret; it belonged to the others as well. Not like his. He could have told me without betraying his friends.
"Brat! Your girlfriend is getting upset, her pathetic excuse for a power level is spiking. Do something about it, would you? It's annoying me." I heard Vegeta say to Trunks.
"Pathetic? That's rich coming from someone whose own level is only in the 200,000 range." I myself was in the 500,000 range.
"I am merely at rest. Not even powered up in my normal form. I haven't even gone super Saiyajin." With that, he powered up and jumped to 875,000. Impressive, but when I power up in senshi form, I'm in the 900,000 range, close to 1,000,000. When I attack with magic, I'm well into the 1,000,000s.
So I offered a little demonstration, and he responded in kind, turning up the power as well. His hair turned golden and his eyes turned turquoise. His power level was in the 1,000,000s also, so I charged up a large attack to match us up evenly.
At this, Piccolo jumped in, "You can read power levels Miss Mars?"
"Of course I can. I'm psychic, telekinetic, all those sorts of things. I've always been able to do it."
"Can the rest of you as well?" Yamcha asked, interestedly.
"No, Mars has always had this ability, but the rest of us were not likewise gifted." Answered Merc.
Noticing Vegeta and I were still in the middle of a death glare match, Krillin said, "I think we all know everything we need to. Maybe we should be on our way."
"I think you're right Krillin." Said Piccolo, "Come on Vegeta."
"Yeah Mars, let's go." Said Jupiter.
We both powered down at the same time, not removing our glares from each other until we had to. Each team began to leave, and as Vegeta passed Trunks he said, "Well chosen, brat. She'd make a fine mate for any Saiyajin, strong and tempered." Whatever that was all supposed to mean.
As Venus passed me she smiled and said, "Wow. Trunks is cute. Strong too, so I wouldn't worry about him making our list." By this time I'd told her all about him. She is my best friend, and being the senshi of love and all…well I'd sought her counsel on the matter. Anyway, she and I started making a list when we first became senshi of how many people died after finding out our secret. It's a little morbid, but it helps us deal, and it's surprisingly quite long. It includes four Negaverse generals, as well as several dark kingdom lackeys and a handful of civilians.
I nodded to her and turned to head away so I could circle back around the Temple when a voice stopped me.
"So this is what you weren't telling me."
He sounded angry, which just provoked my own temper.
"As if you can pass judgment." I said crossly, not turning around.
"I'm not the one who lied about having a double life." Trunks said simply.
"Oh, you didn't? Right." At this I turned to face him, "And not bothering to mention that you're an alien prince from another dimension was just and accident. Lying by omission is still lying."
"I'm only half alien! At least I never blatantly lied about having magical powers while being a reincarnated royal from another planet and a member of a vigilante team that fights off magical beasts in short skirts." He yelled. "And just who the hell is that 'Tuxedo Mask' guy!?!"
"No I didn't tell you, but you could have told me about the androids and your mother." I said ignoring the Tuxedo Mask comment, as I didn't feel it had any importance in this conversation.
"You could have told me."
"No, I couldn't. It wasn't just my secret to tell. It belongs to more than five others, the dearest friends I have. My family. I couldn't give them away. Not like you. There was no one you were protecting." I yelled back.
"When, in any of our conversations, would have been the proper time for me to say, 'hey Rei? Guess what? I'm a demi-Saiyajin from the future, one of the most powerful people of my time, and the last surviving member of not only a dead race, but a dead dimension?"
"Any time. I told you some of my deepest and most personal thoughts on life and everything else we ever talked about. You didn't have to shut me out of yours."
"I don't believe this! You know what? I'm done arguing about this. It's over. Done with. Forget it, I'm leaving, see ya." He turned and began walking away.
"Just like that you're leaving?" I whispered, shaking my head in disbelief, "I should have known you'd do this. I should have known. Just like the rest of them. I should have known you'd be just like them. Just get out!" I was in tears then, but I would not give in to the sobs threatening to wrack my body.
He turned, and his face softened just a little as he looked into my pained, sorrowful soul. Then he saw my uniform and a fresh visage of anger overtook him. He jumped into the air and with a blast of power flew away. Out of my life, probably forever.
Then I gave in to the sobs and tears, falling out of senshi form to the ground, a broken mass crying myself into oblivion.
Arieslily17: So…yeah. Depressing stuff. Poor Rei is crying her heart out, and no one is there for her.
Nix: Well, if I'd been betrayed like that, I'd be crying too. And I don't know as I'd really want anyone around. You going to fix things?
Arieslily17: Don't know. We'll have to see. But we won't unless I get enough reviews. Let's just say I need a little motivation for the dramatic conclusion of "Meditations". So please review if you read! Oh! I have some real notes too, but he way. Special thanks go to my faithful reviewers, Fissy for the list, SVZ for beta-ing, and many others. And as far as power levels between senshi and Super Saiyajins go, I have an explanation. I know it probably favors Rei more than it should, but there is evidence. The amount of destruction in comparison of the two groups. Primarily the senshi don't aim to destroy land or anything, but that doesn't mean they can't. And there was an episode of the SM anime, one of the last ones of Super S actually, where Rei really did take out a whole army of youmas with one attack. That one attack of hers didn't even tire her out, either. She went on to fight more later with ease. That has to mean she's pretty strong. I tried to convey that it would take her using magic to almost the fullest potential to even them up, while Vegeta was barely having to breath to be stronger than her in Super Saiyajin form.
