Sailor Moon; Avalon Part 7 - A Single Wish by Justin Anderson Sunday, March 7th, 1999. 5:11 AM Jacob awoke, in pain. "Oh...god... what's wrong with me." He stumbled off the couch, to the kitchen. He remembered the blast. 'I was supposed to die, but I lived...' It was then that he noticed that his left arm refused to move. 'The mechanism's stuck,' he thought, trying to move his own arm. He knew what was happening to himself. Looking out his window, he knew it would be the last sunrise. Locking his door, he sat on the floor. He would not let them watch him die. 5:37 AM Jacob's door was unlocked. "He locked his door," Makoto pointed out. "I think he knows..." He was asleep, leaning against his chair. Ami pulled her computer. "I should be able to scan him and see what may be causing this," she said, tapping away at it. "His biomechanical systems are firing rapidly. It seems to be a small device in his chest. I believe it's the metabolic generator he told me about... it's out of control. His body's destroying itself. He doesn't have long. Mako-chan, please, we should go and try to think of something we can do. I know it hurts, but... we can't help him by standing here and crying." "I know." They left the apartment. 6:22 AM Ami flipped through numerous textbooks, comparing her notes. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do, medically. The technology is unknown to us, I believe some of the metals his components are made of don't exist in our universe. Even if I could remove them, I'm not sure if his body could survive without them." "I will return to the shrine, and pray for him. Perhaps if I can draw on kind spirits, they may have answers." Rei left Ami's apartment. 7:13 AM Jacob stumbled against the wall, barely able to stand. Bracing himself, he noticed a face in the window. It was his own, but not his reflection. "You are not who you think you are..." The face vanished, leaving is own reflection. 'It's worse than I thought.' 2:34 PM "Come in!" Makoto let herself in Jacob's apartment. "How are you feeling?" she asked. "Just fine... a little dazed, I need to sleep it off. Don't worry, I'll be better in the morning." "We thought you were dead last night, but you stood up. And you took on Damion by yourself." "I did?" he asked. "But... all I remember is the flash of light, I don't remember getting up." "Are you sure you're all right?" "Yes," he said. "That's good. I need to run to the store for a few things, I will pick you up a few things as well." She left. Down the hall, she joined the others. "... he knows." They left the building. From behind his door, Jacob watched. Sure they had gone, he pulled a key to Makoto's apartment, slowly opening her door. Lifting a plant, he took a small key from under it. Locking her apartment, he slowly crept to his desk, unlocking the drawer. "Home... if I wasn't so tired." 8:22 PM "Come on, we don't have much time!" Luna shouted. "I know that!" Rei shouted back. "We've been trying all day, but nothing..." "Then I have to heal him," Usagi said. Mamoru shouted, "Usa-ko! You'll die if you use the full power of the Ginzuishou!" "I know, Mamo-chan, but I can't let him die!" "WAIT! I have it!" Artemis said. "It was the easiest solution and we never thought of it. His star seed!" "Can we do that, Artemis?" Minako asked. "I believe so." Setsuna added, "but it won't be easy. We'll all have to concentrate to extract it from him, and it might not work if his star seed is damaged or not strong enough." "He's going to die if we do nothing... I don't want to be responsible for the death of the one I love," Makoto said. "Let's go!" Luna shouted. "We wait any longer and we might not have a chance!" Makoto unlocked Jacob's door. They found him lying on his bed. "He's still breathing..." "Good," Luna said. "Everyone, transform now!" They did so. Quickly, a circle formed around him, the seven concentrating. The light grew, until a small pod formed on his forehead. The star seed lifted from his body, floating away from it. Hovering in the center of the room, a form took shape around it. Within seconds, Avalon stood before them. "What happened? Why are you here?" he asked. Jupiter grabbed his hand. "Mako-chan, I don't..." He realized something was different. She was holding his left hand. He could feel her touch. Grabbing his own arm, he made sure he wasn't dreaming it. His arm was made of flesh. "What's going on? I don't understand." Sailor Moon pointed to the bed. His old body was still lying on it. "You were dying. It was the only thing we could do to save you," Makoto explained. "Yes... I was. But how?" "Your star seed, the life force in all of us. We willed it out of your ailing body. All of us except for Usagi-chan have gone through this. Even when the body dies, the star seed lives on. Those of us with special star seeds live on when our bodies are gone. It's what makes our kind immortal," she explained. "I see. But, how did I get a special star seed? I'm not one of your kind..." "Yes, you are," a voice said. They turned in shock. Jacob's body had stood from the bed, and was looking out the window. He looked at them. "I think I can explain. Shortly after I arrived, my body was inhabited by a spirit, a soul waiting to be reborn. You see, I suffered a near fatal heart attack shortly after I arrived. I would have died, but that soul sensed me. I was born without one of my own... I never woke up. You took my place. You didn't mean to, it was an accident, but you and I are two different people." "But why did I think I was you? Why do I have all your memories?" Jacob asked. "That," he replied, "was possibly a side effect. You entered a mind with knowledge, you weren't born a child. You filled in the details. I did not know this myself until last night, when Damion tried to kill you. When you almost died, I awoke for a moment. That's when I gave that Damion a beating he'll never forget. But I quickly blacked out. You'll find you don't remember anything prior to arriving here. My memories have been purged from your mind. But who you are, and why your soul was waiting to be reborn, I can't tell you. I simply do not know." He walked to the desk, removing the device. "I have to go home... but there is one more thing..." he said. "What is it?" Mars asked. "To explain in full detail would take too long. But Sailor Moon, I made a wish on your crystal. When I step through to my own world once again, none of you will remember me. It is best I am forgotten." "You can't do that!" Jacob shouted. "But I have." "The Ginzuishou... but you'll die," Usagi said. "I'm going to die regardless. Besides, you were thinking of doing the same for him. "I have to thank you all for giving me peace in my final days. I once thought that when I died, it would be meaningless. But you have shown me that there are good people left. Makoto, you have shown me love. Minako, you have shown me beauty and kindness. Rei, you have shown me passion. Ami, your intelligence and compassion will serve you well. And Usagi... you have allowed me to be at peace." "What will happen to you?" Usagi asked. "Hopefully, I will return home and die amongst friends. If only I could see the sun rise one more time..." "What of your wish? Why die to give us false memories?" Makoto asked. "I'm afraid... it's not that simple." "You're not altering our memories, you're going to alter the past!" "Yes, Sailor Pluto... but merely to correct a mistake, and to set things right. I'm sorry, but I don't feel so well. I'm in pain. And if I stay, that wish will never be fulfilled." Taking the device, he punched in the sequence. "Don't feel bad, or grieve for me. Giving my life to save you is the greatest gift I can give to you, and it is something I could not die peacefully if I did not do..." Pressing the button, the gateway opened. He dropped the device on the floor. "You dropped something," Jacob shouted. "I know!" he replied. "All I brought with me will cease to be, and that is not something I can allow into the hands of anyone... goodbye." He stepped through. ... Makoto saw him in the hall. He was unlocking his door. She approached slowly, saying, "hello." He turned. "Hi." You just moved in, right?" she asked. "Yes," he replied. "I'm Jacob. Jacob Adams, that is. I moved here from the United States." "I'm Makoto Kino..." she said. "Nice to meet you." "Makoto-san, please forgive me if I sound rude, but I just moved here, and I'd like for someone to show me around the city..." he said. "I... I would love to." Usagi dragged Mamoru from booth to booth. She was loaded with prizes and cotton candy. Mamoru had watched his money dwindle. "Usa-ko, don't you think you've had enough candy today? You've had more than I've eaten in my lifetime..." She laughed it off. "Mamo-chan, you don't mean that... oh! Win me a goldfish, please?" He sighed. "I'll buy you one tomorrow. With a tank," he said. She began jumping around in glee. "Huh? Mako-chan!" Makoto stopped in front of them. "Usagi-chan!" "You're Jacob-san, right? Motoki told us about you working at the Crown." "That's right," he said. "Jacob, this is Usagi-chan and Mamoru-san." "Hello." Makoto finished setting the table. Jacob had had no real cooking skills, but had learned fast. She pulled out a chair for him. He held his bowl out while she filled it with soup. "So, why did you move to Japan?" She asked. "I have no family left there. My parents died in a house fire long ago, and my grandparents are gone as well. I have no one there." "When did you learn Japanese?" she asked. "I finished my studies only before moving here," he said. "You've been planning this trip for some time, then?" "Yes, actually. For a few years." Two of the creatures had attacked. It was an obvious ploy to separate the Senshi, but it had worked. Sailor Moon and Sailor Venus chose to keep the first busy, keeping it away from the public. The others went after the second monster, which had ran. "Where'd it go?" Mars asked. "I don't know- WAIT!" Mercury saw a bright flash down the alley. Jupiter led the way. "We'll keep it busy until Sailor Moon can destroy it," she ordered. They found the creature. It was laying on the ground. A figure in blue jumped out of the alley before they could reach him. It had only been an hour, but two of the creatures had attacked this time. Sailor Moon had destroyed the first easily, but the second kept her, Mercury, and Mars busy. "Mars! Duck!" Mercury shouted. A tendril was headed for her. It grabbed her, squeezing and slowly drawing energy from her body. Before the others could do anything, a burst of energy severed the tendril. Others followed in quick succession, slamming the creature into a wall. Finally, a large burst hit the creature, reducing it to dust. "There! It's him," Mercury shouted. "Get down!" he shouted, jumping towards the creature ready to jump them. "Energetic Pulse!" The creature fell. "I believe that's all of them... are you three all right?" "Yes, but... who are you? And why have you been helping us?" Mars asked. "I've been wondering that myself. But you may call me Avalon." "Avalon. Are you an ally?" Moon asked. "I seem to be. At least, I am now. I'm still not sure what's happening, exactly," he said. "Perhaps you can explain it to us tomorrow," Mars suggested. "Can you meet us at the Hikawa Shrine?" Usagi was waiting for him. "Jacob-san! Over here!" "Usagi-san?" he asked. "Yes. The others are waiting," she replied. She led him inside. He took notice of each one. "Mako-chan?" "Yes, Jacob... I mean, Avalon." "Yes. I think I should explain. I moved here recently, unsure of why I wanted to move. But some time after I arrived, I developed some new power, something awaking inside of me. I don't know why, but I believe it had something to do with you, Usagi-chan." "You could be one of us!" she said joyfully. "Then consider me a part of your team. We need to learn who this new enemy is, and fast. Do you think we can?" "We're trying. But you've helped us already, Jacob-san! We trust you." Jacob held Makoto close. "I didn't mean to deceive you... but I didn't know what was happening." "I understand. But we're allies now, and we know each others' secret." "Mako-chan..." They kissed for the first time, under the moonlight. The kiss seemed to last into the night. Jacob took the cup from Mamoru. "We both seem to have the same ability. What do you think it is?" "Something from a past life. I was once known as Prince Endymion of Earth. This awakening could mean you are from the same era. Do you remember anything?" "No," Jacob said. "You may, in time." Damion stood on the rooftop. Two of the battle units were below, the other two with him, waiting. "And here they come," Damion muttered, watching as Sailor Pluto destroyed the two below. "Put those blasters I installed into you two to good use! Leave no one standing!" The creatures immediately attacked the group. Damion ducked away while the Senshi were occupied. Venus and Mars teamed up against one, destroying it quickly. Damion quickly found a target. Adjusting his weapon to full power, he pointed it at Avalon and fired. He missed. "NO!" Avalon jumped towards him. "Energetic PULSE!" Damion's mechanism failed. "No... how could I miss? You were so close... No, Lord Asmodeus, do not call me back now, I am so close..." Damion vanished in the teleporter's haze. The final battle unit was defeated. They met at the shrine. "You're very lucky," Makoto said. "Damion could have killed you." "He could have, but he didn't. Let's not think about that. I don't even want to think about what might have happened. Tomorrow, we'll spend the day together having fun." Urawa ran up the steps. "You did it! You didn't die, you defeated Damion! You proved the future can be changed!" "Time is as it should be," Setsuna said. ... Jacob sat next to Makoto in the park. The moon was bright overhead. "I had a fun time today," she said. "I thought you would." Makoto saw someone walking along the path. "Ami-chan!" "Mako-chan, I didn't know you and Jacob-san were still out," she replied. "Looks like I'm not the only one," she said, motioning to Urawa. "I see someone else went on a date." "Yes. I took Ami-chan all over the city, we haven't seen each other in years." "Urawa-san," Jacob said, "thank you for telling us about your visions. I might not be here if not for you." "You're welcome, Jacob-san!" Ami and Urawa left the park. "We should go home soon," Jacob said. Makoto replied, "soon. Just a few more minutes under the stars..." Copyrights: Sailor, Tuxedo Mask, other Bishoujo Senshi Sailor Moon characters, and settings are copyright Naoko Takeuchi/Toei/Kodansha, and are used without permission. Jacob Arden is my sole copyright. This site is not for profit and not intended to infringe on existing copyrights.