Author's Note
In all seriousness I don't own Sailor Moon or Fullmetal Alchemist, yet the concept is mine. Please don't take it without my consent… PLEASE…
Okay, that's it. I'm ending the rescue mission today! I've taken up SEVEN whole chapters here (seven fun-filled chapters, I hope) talking about the final task. I think that's plenty, don't you? So today, it will end. Any guesses on who should get to read the Book of Doom? I mean, it was a test for everyone, so who will be proclaimed the winner? I've got an idea of who it should be, but I'd like to hear your opinions.
Sailor Moon and the Philosopher's Stone
Chapter 16: Rescue Mission, Part VII
The group was now several yards away from the two happy, SKIPPING, pyro-overlords of death. They seemed too happy to stand anywhere near AND LIVE, especially Roy.
"Who knew he got like this after someone took away his gloves?" Sailor Venus giggled.
"I bet he was feeling really insecure," Winry noted with a smile.
"I'm a little worried that Mars is acting like this," Sailor Jupiter sighed.
"I guess we can only imagine what's going to strike Ms. Version the moment they find her," Al added sheepishly. Amy shivered slightly. "Ms. Amy, what's wrong?"
"I was amazed at the prospect of seeing a REAL alchemist in action!" Amy announced.
"And who knows what happened to Amy," Sailor Jupiter added quietly. "She's not herself."
"Maybe after being rescued by Roy's transmutation she's opened her eyes to a new science," Sailor Venus suggested.
"After all that fighting?" Winry asked quietly.
"So you're concerned too Winry?" Al asked, as Winry nodded. The four had now formed a huddle as they walked. "I thought it was weird that she hugged me. Why not hug Roy?"
"And face the wrath of Raye?" Sailor Venus added with a smile. "I think not."
"Are you all right?" Amy asked, getting serious, as she poked her head into the huddle between Sailors Venus and Jupiter. "Is there something to worry about?"
The group jumped back about ten feet from her.
"Nope! Nothing to worry about at all," Winry exclaimed.
"In fact, we were talking about how cheery they were, and were discussing possible ways to avoid cremation!" Sailor Venus giggled. "But you're safe since you're the scout of water Ames."
"Right," Amy said. "You do have a point though, they are REALLY cheery."
The two pyro-overlords of death stopped, as the group stopped. Their faces went grim.
"Uh-oh," the group whispered.
"Circle?" she asked.
"Circle," he replied.
"Square!" Sailor Venus proclaimed. There are moments when even I question her sanity.
"Everyone, look at the ground below us. What do you see?" Sailor Mars asked. They looked to see one giant circle, literally drawn on the ground.
"Oh! I get it! It must be a trap!" Sailor Venus said, as the group stared at her. "What?"
"No one else move into the circle," Roy commanded. Suddenly, into his arms, bridal-style, fell Sailor Mercury!
"WHAT?" the group asked, looking at the girl in Roy's hands and the Amy who was as shocked as everyone else.
"Ouch," Sailor Mercury moaned. The group was now thoroughly confused. How were there two of them?
"One of them must be a copy," Sailor Jupiter growled. As soon as she uttered the words, ten more Sailor Mercury's and Amy's appeared in the circle. Also, the Amy who was outside of the circle began to laugh.
"This is beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!" she said. "And you fools didn't realize it quick enough."
The group watched in shock as Amy spun around quicker and quicker, until finally stopping, different from before. Now, before them stood a woman, who held a quill in her hand. Her long black hair twitched, moving on its own as if she were alive, and her golden eyes danced with laughter.
"Really should have seen that coming," Sailor Mars sobbed.
"Yeah, should have known Amy would never really convert to alchemy," Sailor Jupiter sighed.
"Or hug me," Al added. The group stared. "What? It's true!"
Winry pulled out her wrench in fear.
"You're Version, aren't you?" she asked.
"Correct," the woman laughed. "Now that I have the two fire-users trapped, you all will have to face my trial without them."
"What do you mean trapped?" Roy demanded, shoving his way through to the edge of the circle. As he was just about to cross, he found out very quickly that he really couldn't step beyond the line of the circle. It was like crashing into a wall of cement, and it hurt. Bad. "OUCH!"
"Flame Alchemist! Have you never even heard of a barrier? Oh they really are quite useful!" Version cackled.
"What do we do?" Al asked.
"We don't have much choice. Do we win this trial by beating you?"
"Maybe, maybe not," Version replied with a smile.
"Where are Serena and Ed?" Winry demanded.
"Why, they are right here," Version crowed, scribbling into the air. Quickly, ten Serena's and ten Ed's fell into the circle. It was now swarming with bodies, as Roy was forced to create two pillars of rock. One for himself and one for Sailor Mars. The two were now elevated above the bodies. "However, only three of those clones are the real deal. So it's probably not a good idea to start torching the place."
"OH MY GOD! THERE ARE TEN OF ME!" the Serena clones screamed.
"QUIT SCREAMING!" the Ed clones shouted at the Serena clones. There was a crack in the pillars of rock, as everyone held their ears, and Sailor Mars grabbed onto the pillar.
"BOTH OF YOU QUIT SCREAMING BEFORE YOU KILL ME!" Sailor Mars shouted
"YOU STAY OUT OF THIS MARS!" the Serena clones cried.
"I'll destroy every single one of your mangas if you don't shut up," Sailor Mars scowled. The Serena clones fell silent, confused, except for one.
"AWW MARS!" she sobbed. "Don't destroy them! I haven't even read what happens to Ashnard yet!"
Suddenly it hit Roy what had happened. These clones knew nothing of Serena's life from home, just of the skills she had displayed while she was here.
"Sailor Mars! That's the real Sailor Moon!"
"Right," Sailor Mars said, pulling out a series of nine charms. "EVIL SPIRITS BE GONE!"
As the enchanted paper struck its mark, every one of the Serena clones vanished in smoke.
"Give me your code name!" Roy shouted to her.
"It's Ed!" Serena cheered happily. "Mars! You are so totally awesome!"
"Now transform and join me on this pillar so that we can take care of the rest," Sailor Mars barked. Meanwhile, the group outside of the circle was in a standoff with Version. She smiled, as Sailor Jupiter set up to bat.
"JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"
"VERSION OAK EVOLUTION!"
The attack roared and struck its target with the best aim Sailor Jupiter had, but had been stopped by a copy of Sailor Jupiter's attack!
"Would you like to know my skill?" she asked, her golden eyes twinkling, a giant grin plastered on her face.
"You can copy our tricks?" Sailor Jupiter asked, shocked.
"Yes, but unfortunately, to get the tricks, I have to come in contact with the host long enough to copy your powers," she replied. "And I've come in contact with both you and Sailor Venus, remember?"
"When you broke our huddle," Sailor Venus whispered, abhorred.
"Precisely."
"And you've copied Ms. Amy's skills too!" Al cried. "Otherwise you couldn't have copied her!"
"Yes," Version said with a smile, as Winry charged.
"NO WINRY!" Sailor Venus cried, as Winry's wrench connected with Version's side, but she smiled, as a large clang filled their ears.
"You copied Al's body," Winry whispered, stepping back. "That's why you hugged him."
"You all are much more intelligent than I took you for," Version laughed.
"But why did you give them back their items?" Sailor Jupiter demanded. "You know they can beat all of your paper clones if they have their powers."
"False sense of security. See, when I copy, it doesn't necessarily mean I copy everything, so I had to ensure you'd believe I was your friend when I showed up."
Deceit was the last thing the four of them wanted to hear. Winry ran back to the others, and moved to beside Al.
"We're pulling a combo. Al, you do what you can to cover us," Sailor Venus scowled. Back in the circle of clones, Roy was grinning.
"I know how to find Fullmetal amongst all the clones," he said, an evil glint in his eye. Sailor Moon and Sailor Mars stood on their solitary pillar, curious.
"AW HELL NO!" the Ed clones screamed. For the first time since he had gotten his gloves back, Roy Mustang snapped his fingers, the alchemic reaction caused by his gloves taking form. An explosion occurred in the crowd of Ed clones.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO TO ED?" Sailor Moon cried, abhorred. On Ed was flying sky-high, as he landed, rolling to put out the remaining flames.
"I knew ONE explosion wouldn't kill the boy," Roy replied smugly. "But since the clones were all made of paper—well, they're doomed."
"That was—diabolic," Sailor Mars whispered, smiling.
"MOON TIARA—ouch! Mars!"
"Meatball Head, we'll deal with him later," Sailor Mars replied. "We're not here to fight with one another. It's safe to assume that Mercury is the last person we need to rescue."
"So you're saying once we Mercury the trial is over?" Sailor Moon asked. "What about Darien and Rini?"
"They're already safe and sound," Roy replied. "Can you two think of anything to ask your friend?"
"I can!" Ed shouted. The group looked at him. "Believe me, it'll work."
"Okay," Sailor Moon said. "Just don't hurt her!"
Outside the circle, the fight was now getting brighter.
"JUPITER OAK EVOLUTION!"
"VENUS LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
The two attacks flew.
"VERSION OAK EVOLUTION!"
"VERSION LOVE AND BEAUTY SHOCK!"
"VERSION AQUA RHAPSODY!"
"Run for cover!" Sailor Venus cried, as their attacks were halted and the others flew towards them at high speeds. "ICE ATTACK!"
The group scrambled, just dodging the fatal ice coming their way. Version laughed.
"Face it. You are out-matched," she said. In an instant, the four realized that she was right. They needed help. Winry looked to inside of the circle, and saw Ed walking towards the Sailor Mercury and Amy clones.
"What's happening?" she whispered. On the inside, Ed walked carefully towards the group of girls. Each of them moved back, except for one. She stayed until the others were all separated, and she was crying.
"Is that you Amy?" Ed asked. She only nodded. "What's wrong?"
"I lost," Amy whimpered. Behind her, Sailor Moon dusted the clones. Ed was confused.
"Lost to who?" Ed asked.
"Version," Amy answered.
"You didn't lose!" Sailor Mars shouted to her. "We all were deceived."
"I lost to it," Amy continued. "I can't believe I lost."
"Okay, chill out and tell me what it is," Ed said, looking at Amy's terrified face.
"Alchemy," Amy replied, looking at the woman outside the wall. "She uses alchemy."
An explosion erupted around all of them, as they all covered one another and screamed. Amy clung to Ed in an instant, terrified. Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, and Roy all fell, their pillars crumbling. Everyone was suddenly covered in a white light, and then, silence…