(Author's Note: If you haven't read the previous story, Senshi Vacation, I'd highly recommend reading that before starting this story.)
Chapter One
Sugar, Spice, and a Bit of Ice
It'd been just over six months since everyone had returned home from their vacation in Texas, and things had gone very smoothly for everyone, especially for a sweet little bluenette. "Come on Ami, last stretch, kick it into high gear and finish strong!" Mako yelled as she sprinted down the sidewalk.
"I'm trying Mako! I'm really trying!" Ami yelled as she raced after Mako.
"Come on Ami, less than a hundred meters, really push it!" Mako shouted as she looked behind her at Ami.
"I can do this, I can do this." Ami said to herself through her heavy breaths as she continued chasing Mako.
"This is it Ami, finish strong!" Mako shouted as she dashed past the crown with Ami passing the same spot just seconds later.
"What...what's...what's the time?" Ami asked as she hunched over gasping for air.
"Twenty-nine minutes and forty-five seconds! Nice Ami, you shaved thirty seconds off your previous record! Holly crap, you are really cooking Ami. Nice job." Mako cheered as she gave Ami a high five.
"That's not all I've shaved off." Ami said with a grin as she looked down at her stomach.
"Gonna be honest Ami, I miss that soft doughy frame, but this new one is solid. Both figuratively and literally." Mako said with a grin as she lifted Ami's shirt slightly, marveling at the obvious definition in her ab muscles. "How you did this in just six months is absolutely beyond me Ami, but I'm definitely not complaining. Rump a pump pump, my girls got a six pack." Mako said with a grin as she ran her fingers over the defining lines in Ami's abs.
"Come on Mako, it's cold. Put my shirt down." Ami whined as she lightly pulled her shirt and coat down.
"How can you be cold with a body that hot?" Mako chuckled as she patted Ami's stomach. "I can't believe you ran three miles in less than forty minutes, and it only took you six months to get to that level. You're amazing Ami." Mako said with a smile as she looked into Ami's eyes.
"I can't take all the credit, I did have a really good coach. Not to mention a pretty attractive one, they say people will do anything for a pretty woman. Guess that's true." Ami giggled as she gave Mako a kiss. "You get your Christmas shopping done yet?" Ami asked as she held her hand out to Mako.
"Pretty much, still gotta get some flowers for ma and pa's graves though. I'll do that Christmas Eve though, otherwise they'll wilt before then." Mako answered as she took Ami's offered hand in her own. "What about you, you get your shopping done yet?" Mako asked with a small smile as she walked down the sidewalk with Ami.
"Almost, I just have to figure something out for Usagi and Naru. It's their six month anniversary remember." Ami replied with a smile.
"That's right, they still seem happy together." Mako said with a smile as she looked up at the sky.
"Yeah, and Mamoru's doing well to. He started dating Satsuki a couple months ago." Ami informed with a smile.
"Really? I haven't talked to her since before our vacation to Texas. She still doing well in her gifted classes?" Mako asked as she lead Ami into a coffee shop.
"Very well, she's expected to graduate early actually. I talk to her once in a while, she's much happier now. She ditched the bad crowd and made some new friends in her new classes." Ami explained as she sat down at a table next to a vent.
"That's good to hear. I sure was wrong about her, I guess people really can change. They just need someone to believe in them, someone like you." Mako replied with a smile as she put her hand over Ami's.
"You're too sweet to me Mako." Ami giggled as she stared into Mako's eyes.
"No one can be too sweet to you Ami, you're the perfect partner. You've got just the right amount of what girls are made of, sugar, spice, and everything nice." Mako said with a smile as she gave Ami a kiss.
"Ah. It's back." Ami groaned as she rubbed her forehead.
"See anything new?" Mako asked as she squeezed Ami's hand.
"No, just the usual colors and stuff. I don't understand this, I've been having these visions for almost six months and nothing's happened. I just don't get it. What does any of it mean, what triggers it? I don't know, maybe I'll figure it out eventually." Ami said with a sigh as she gently shook her head back and forth.
"Why don't I grab our usuals, you want a piece of cream cheese pumpkin bread?" Mako asked as she stood up from the table.
"Not today, thank you though Mako." Ami answered with a small sigh.
"No problem Ami." Mako replied as she walked up to the counter and ordered for herself and Ami. 'Beep. Beep. Beep' Ami's communicator suddenly beeped.
"Yep, it's about that time." Ami said to herself as she answered her communicator. "Hey Kaede, try and be brief, Mako's just getting our drinks." Ami informed as she stared at her communicator screen.
"Let me guess, the coffee shop on elm." Kaede said with a grin as she stared back at Ami.
"That predictable am I?" Ami chuckled as she looked at Kaede's face on her screen.
"Yep. Best be careful Ami, keep eating there every day and you'll be extra doughy when we see each other again." Kaede chuckled to herself.
"Speaking of that, is everything still all good?" Ami whispered with a small smile.
"Yeah, we've got the tickets and we'll be there by six on Christmas Eve." Kaede answered with a smile.
"Hey, ya talking ta Ami?" Sarah asked as she poked her head in front of the screen.
"Hi Sarah." Ami greeted with a smile.
"Hey Ami, how's it going? Y'all getting ready fer Christmas?" Sarah asked with a smile.
"Yep, Kaede and I were just talking about our secret gift for Mako." Ami whispered with a smile.
"Can't wait ta see y'all again." Sarah said with a smile.
"We can't wait to see the two of you either. Oh shoot, Mako's coming. I'll see you Christmas Eve, bye." Ami whispered as she quickly hung up her communicator and put it away.
"Here you go Ami, one hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows." Mako said with a smile as she set Ami's drink in front of her.
"Well there goes all my progress for the day. Thanks Mako." Ami giggled as she took a sip of her drink. "You alright Mako, you look a little down today?" Ami asked with a small frown as she stared at Mako.
"Maybe a little, I just miss sis. I haven't seen her in over six months, well not in person anyways." Mako replied with a sigh. "Akiko mama misses her a lot, but she's glad that Kaede's doing better. I talked to Kaede yesterday and she's been going to a counselor out there, the same one Sarah saw after she lost Jenny. She said he's really nice and understanding, and nobody's giving her any grief about what happened. I asked her how school was going and she said it was going well. She decided to transfer to Sarah's school about a month after we left. She's made some new friends and her and Sarah are on the derby team together. I don't know what that is, but she always sounds excited when she talks about it." Mako informed as she took a nibble of her pumpkin bread. "I really wish I could see her again, but I know that she has a life in Texas now and that she's safe. That's really all I could ask for." Mako said with a sigh as she looked out the window.
"Don't worry Mako, I'm sure the two of you will see each other again one day." Ami quietly said as she put her hand over Makos.
"Thanks Ami, I hope we do. But even if we don't, as long as sis is safe and happy that's all I care about." Mako replied with a sad smile.
"You're a good sister Mako, Kaede's lucky to have you." Ami quietly said as she got up and walked over by Mako, then hugged her. "Now say ah." Ami instructed with a smile as she held a piece of pumpkin bread out to Mako.
"Ah." Mako said as she opened her mouth. Ami gently put the piece of bread in Mako's mouth, then put a chunk in her own.
"MMM! This is even better than usual, fresh and warm. Perfect for a cold winter day." Ami said with a content sigh as she took another bite of the bread.
"And you said you didn't want any." Mako giggled as she chomped on her own piece.
"Well I'm glad you changed my mind, because it was delicious." Ami said with a smile as she finished her chunk of bread. "Oh shoot! It's quarter to noon, we've gotta get to Rei's." Ami informed as she looked down at her watch, then jumped up from the table.
"Oh that's right, we told her we'd all help her decorate the shrine." Mako replied as she quickly stood up.
"Can we stop at home on the way there, I need to grab something?" Ami asked as she slipped her coat back on.
"Sure, but be quick." Mako answered as she threw her coat on and walked over to the door.
"I will, thanks Mako." Ami replied as she quickly followed Mako out the door.
"Alright, let's see what you're made of. It's about a quarter mile to the house, last one there's a melted snowman." Mako said with a grin as she took off running.
"No fair, your legs are longer!" Ami yelled as she tore after Mako.
"But you're more aerodynamic!" Mako yelled back with a grin.
"That a flat joke?!" Ami yelled with a smirk.
"Could be!" Mako chuckled as she kept running.
"Well I may be flat, but I'm fast thanks to that! Have fun lugging those watermelons home babe!" Ami yelled as she blew past Mako like a fighter jet.
"They're closer to cantaloupes, and you should know that with as much as you touch 'em!" Mako yelled back with a smile. "There she goes, gone with the wind." Mako giggled as she slowed down to a light jog. While Mako jogged home, Ami was sprinting like a cheetah, determined to win.
"Eat my dust Mako!" Ami cheered as she came over a hill and turned the corner. "Yes! Victory is mine!" Ami cheered as she planted her feet on the steps of her apartment. "Wow, I really smoked her. I have no idea where she went. Oh well, I just have to grab my gear and then I'll meet up with her on the way to Rei's." Ami said to herself as she walked into her apartment building. "Morning." Ami greeted as she walked past the building manager.
"Morning Ms. Mizuno." The manager greeted as Ami walked over to the stairs and started climbing them.
"She's getting too fast for me." Mako said with a breath as she burst through the front door.
"So Ami finally beat you home?" The manager asked with a smile as Mako jogged past him towards the steps.
"I might've held back just a little." Mako chuckled as she started up the steps. The building manger just chuckled as he took a sip of coffee.
"Here it is, home sweet home." Ami said to herself as she dug her key out of her pocket and unlocked the door.
"Hey honey, how was yours and Mako's run?" Saeko asked with a smile as Ami entered the apartment.
"Very nice mom." Ami answered as she walked towards her room.
"You shave any time off your previous clock?" Hiroto asked with a smile as he flipped through the paper.
"Sure did papa Mizuno, thirty whole seconds!" Mako yelled with with excitement.
"Shut up! Did you really?! That's my girl, or my girls I should say. Well done you two." Hiroto said with a smile as he set his paper down and looked at the two of them.
"Thanks dad. We'll see you guys later, we're gonna go over to Rei's and help everyone decorate the shrine." Ami informed as she ran towards her room.
"Why'd you come back here if you were planning on going to Rei's place? Isn't her house closer to your coffee shop than ours is?" Saeko asked as she looked at Mako.
"I don't get it either mama Mizuno, but she did have another vision, no new information though." Mako informed with a small frown.
"I wish she could figure this all out, it's hard to watch her struggle so much with all of this." Saeko replied with a small frown.
"I'm sure she'll be fine dear, you know Ami. She's as smart as they come, if anyone could look at a puzzle that's missing eighty percent of its pieces and still figure out what the picture is, it's our daughter." Hiroto said with a smile as he looked at Saeko.
"That's for sure. Would you mind cleaning up for me dear, I've got an all nighter tonight and I start in about forty-five minutes?" Saeko asked as she stood up from the table.
"No problem hun, have a good night." Hiroto replied as he stood up and started clearing the table.
"Thanks dear. See you tomorrow girls, have fun at Rei's." Saeko said with a smile as she walked past Mako towards the bathroom.
"Sure thing mama Mizuno." Mako replied as she watched Saeko go into the bathroom, just as Ami came out of their room. "You really did see something scary if you're wearing that." Mako quietly said as she looked down at Ami's ODM rig.
"I know, I haven't worn it in almost five months. I had to tighten the straps on it because they were too loose around my waist." Ami giggled as she looked down at her waist and hips.
"You have lost a lot of weight Ami. But more importantly, what'd you see that you think you'll need that?" Mako asked with a small frown.
"I don't know, that's what scares me. The not knowing, so I'm just gonna assume that I'll need my gear." Ami quietly said with a small frown.
"Okay. I'm not gonna grab mine though, I've really tried to let that part of my life go." Mako informed with a small frown.
"That's fine Mako, I'm actually glad you're not grabbing yours. It makes me feel a little more secure knowing that you don't feel a need to grab yours as well." Ami replied with a smile as she started walking towards the door. "Now come on, if we take much longer Rei's gonna blow a fuse." Ami chuckled as she lead Mako out of the apartment.
"She's probably already pissed that we're taking so long." Mako chuckled as she followed Ami. "Your tank full, it's no use to you empty?" Mako asked with a grin as she looked at Ami's ODM gear.
"To the brim." Ami answered as she wrapped her knuckles on the tank.
"We should hurry, it looks like it might storm." Mako said as she looked up at the sky, noticing that it was starting to get dark.
"Agreed. Let's pick up the pace Mako." Ami replied as she started jogging towards the shrine.
"Right behind you." Mako said as she matched Ami's pace and jogged next to her.
"I don't know why, but I'm suspicious of those clouds. They feel...ominous." Ami said as she looked up at the clouds again, noticing they were swirling into a giant circle.
"What do you mean?" Mako asked in a confused tone as she looked at Ami.
"I can't explain it, but...I don't know, something just doesn't feel right about them." Ami explained as she continued to stare at the clouds.
"I think you're being a little paranoid Ami, they're just dark clouds. Probably a winter storm." Mako replied in an encouraging tone.
"I suppose you're..." Ami started saying, until a bright green beam shot down from the center of the clouds. "Look out!" Ami shouted as she pushed Mako to the side, just as the beam shot down towards them.
"AMI!" Mako screamed as the beam slammed into Ami, enveloping her in a glowing green light.
"MAKOOO!" Ami screamed as the beam suddenly vanished, and her along with it.
"What the fuck just happened?! Ami! AMI! Where are you?! AAAAMIIIIII!" Mako screamed at the top of her lungs, but Ami was nowhere to be found, she was gone.
Fifteen minutes earlier in an alternate universe
"Yes. Yeeees. My universal transporter is nearly complete, and with it I, Mojo Jojo, will send the puny puffs into an alternate reality, leaving me, Mojo Jojo, unopposed! Then I shall take over Townsville, and Townsville shall be ruled by me, Mojo Jojo!" The maniacal villain laughed as he made the final adjustments on his device.
"Not so fast Mojo Jojo!" A young and girly voice called out.
"You're too late puny puffs! Now face the wrath of I, Mojo Jojo!" The crazed villain yelled with another maniacal laugh. "Have a nice trip girls, see you never!" Mojo yelled as he pressed the button on his machine.
"Watch out!" The girl yelled as she jumped to the side of the machine's tip, narrowly dodging a long green beam.
"You're asking for it now Mojo, no one shoots at my sister!" Another girl yelled as she charged at the villain.
"Then how about I shoot at you!" Mojo yelled as he pointed the laser at the other girl and fired it. The girl dodged it by millimeters, watching it as it blew through the roof of the building and soared into the sky.
"Take this!" The girl yelled as she kicked Mojo in the stomach.
"Nice one Buttercup! Your turn Bubbles!" The first girl yelled as she looked over at her other sister.
"You've been a very bad monkey!" Bubbles yelled as she kicked Mojo in the head.
"Finish it Blossom!" Buttercup shouted as she looked at her sister.
"You're going back to jail Mojo!" Blossom yelled as she grabbed Mojo and threw him into a wall.
"Nice one Blossom." Buttercup said with a grin as she stared at Mojo's broken body.
"Thanks, now let's haul him off girls." Blossom instructed as she flew down and scooped Mojo up.
"Hey, this machine thing plays music. Beep beep beep." Bubbles giggled as she flew over by the laser.
"You're going to get it punny puffs. That machine will pull a beast of epic proportions from it's home universe, and it will destroy you all." Mojo laughed as he stared at Buttercup.
"Bubbles, get away from there!" Blossom shouted as she stared at Bubbles.
"What?" Bubbles asked as she looked at the machine, seeing that it was starting to spark and rumble.
"Watch it Bubs!" Buttercup shouted as she pushed Bubbles to the side just as the machine exploded.
"Buttercup!" Blossom and Bubbles both shouted as they stared into a cloud of black smoke.
"Ha ha ha, one down." Mojo cruelly laughed as he stared at the smoke. "Just two more to go." Mojo said with an evil smirk as he stared at Blossom and Bubbles, reveling in their fear as they waited for their sister to reply.
Present Time
"AH!" Ami shouted as she slammed the back of her head into a hard metal floor. "Nnng. Damn it, that hurt like hell! You okay Mako?" Ami asked as she looked around. "Mako? Mako?! Mako, where are you?!" Ami screamed as she frantically looked around the area she'd ended up in.
"Don't you move!" Someone shouted from behind Ami.
"Who's there?!" Ami yelled as she grabbed her gun.
"What have you done to Buttercup?!" A second voice called out in an angry tone.
"Buttercup? What the heck is a buttercup? Like one of those chocolate peanut butter disks?" Ami asked as she slowly stood up.
"That's not funny!" The first voice screamed in rage, a moment later Ami felt what she could've sworn was a train slamming into her stomach. "What are you?! What did you do with our sister?! Where is she?!" The voice yelled as Ami was battered with a series of solid and painful strikes.
"Enough!" Ami screamed as she held her hand out and formed a samurai sword of ice, then slammed it into her attacker's head.
"Blossom!" Bubbles shouted as she watched her sister crash into the ground at Ami's feet. "You hurt my sister!" Bubbles yelled as she charged at Ami.
"She attacked me you psycho!" Ami yelled as she dodged Bubble's attack.
"You hurt Buttercup first!" Bubbles shouted as she looped in a crescent, then soared back towards Ami.
"Woah!" Ami yelled as she narrowly dodged Bubbles's attack. 'These things can fly? They're not human.' Ami thought to herself as as she watched Bubbles fly back towards her.
"This is for Buttercup!" Bubbles yelled as she flew towards Ami and kicked her in the stomach.
"AH!" Ami yelled in pain as she stumbled backwards. "That's it. Mercury crystal power, make up!" Ami shouted as she grabbed her wand and held it in the air.
"Get away from her Bubbles!" Blossom shouted as she stared at Ami.
"Yes! Destroy them my new minion! Crush the puny puffs into a fine paste!" Mojo cheered as he watched Ami transform in Sailor Mercury.
"I don't know who you people are, but either leave me alone or die!" Mercury screamed as she took a fighting stance.
"Never! Especially not after what you did to our sister you monster!" Blossom yelled as she slowly got to her feet.
"Did to your sister? What are you talking about, you people are the ones who dragged me to wherever this place is! I didn't do anything!" Mercury yelled as she stared at Blossom with a confused expression.
"Dragged you here? What does that even mean?" Blossom asked as she stared at Mercury.
"I was just minding my own business back home with my girlfriend. We were heading to one of my friend's places to set up the Christmas decorations when this beam came out of the sky and poof, now I'm here. I don't even know where here is or who you all are. All I know is that I'm scared, last time this happened to me I was almost eaten by something. I'm sorry if I attacked all of you, but you did attack me first." Mercury quietly said as she stared at Blossom.
"You're right, we're sorry. When it comes to Mojo and his evil plans we always punch first and ask questions later, but I guess we should've at least given you a chance." Blossom quietly said as she floated down by Mercury. "I'm Blossom Utonium, what's your name?" Blossom asked as she held a stubby arm out to Mercury.
"Ami, Ami Mizuno. In this state I'm better known as Sailor Mercury though." Mercury answered as she gestured to her outfit with one hand and shook the girl's with her other. Ami stared at the young girl for a moment, studying her. She was definitely the thing from her vision, she was about three feet tall and had stubby limbs with no digits, huge pinkish red eyes that took up probably close to eighty percent of her face, they had black circles in the middle of the red parts, as well as white pupils. Her hair was long and orangish red, it stretched almost to her feet. She was wearing a dress that was similar in color to her eyes and had a black stripe across the middle of it, she was also wearing a pair of white stockings with black shoes, and she had a bright red bow atop her head.
"Nice to meet you Ami. This is my sister Bubbles." Blossom introduced as she gestured to Bubbles. Mercury looked at the next girl, she was cute looking. She looked identical to the first in overall body shape, she was wearing a similar outfit as well, expect that her dress was a sky blue and she had no bow on her head. She had blonde hair tied in pigtails, and her eyes were blue like her dress.
"Hello." Bubbles greeted in a cute and squeaky voice.
"Hi there, it's nice to meet you." Mercury said as she held her hand out to Bubbles.
"You to, I like your pretty outfit." Bubbles giggled as she shook Mercury's hand and checked out her senshi outfit.
"Thank you, your outfit looks cute as well." Mercury complimented with a smile.
"And this is our sister Butter...cup? Blossom started to introduce, until she noticed Buttercup wasn't anywhere around them. "Oh no! I totally forgot, Buttercup got caught in the explosion!" Blossom yelled as she looked around for Buttercup. "Buttercup! Buttercup!" Blossom shouted as she flew around the room.
"Buttercup!" Bubbles yelled as she started doing the same thing.
"She's over here!" Mercury yelled as she grabbed a huge chunk of metal and threw it to the side. "Hey! Wake up kiddo! Can you hear me?!" Mercury yelled as she lightly patted Buttercup's cheek.
"I don't know how anyone couldn't." Buttercup grumbled as she slowly sat up.
"Are you hurt?" Mercury asked as she stared at Buttercup.
"I'm fine alright, back off. I'm not a baby." Buttercup grumbled as she slowly got to her feet. Mercury looked her over, she was similar in appearance to her sisters, but her eyes were a shade of green that many might consider forest green. Her hair was short and black in color, and her outfit was the same as her sisters except that it was green, the same shade as her eyes.
"Sorry, it's instinct." Mercury apologized with a small smile.
"Whatever." Buttercup grumbled as she slowly floated over by her sisters. "Can we get Mojo to jail now and go home?" Buttercup grumbled as she stared at Blossom.
"You don't have to be so rude all the time Buttercup, Ami was just trying to be nice. No wonder you're always getting into trouble." Blossom scolded as she glared at Buttercup.
"Tsk. Leave me alone Bloss, I've got a monkey to put in a cage." Buttercup grumbled as she grabbed Mojo's unconscious body, then flew out of the hole in the roof.
"Sorry about her, she's...well she's Buttercup." Blossom apologized as she looked at Mercury.
"It's okay." Mercury replied as she turned and looked at what was left of Mojo's machine. "Something tells me I'm not going home anytime soon." Mercury quietly said with a sigh.
"We're sorry Ami." Blossom quietly apologized as she stared at Mercury.
"For what? You didn't bring me here, or even break the machine. Even if you did though, it was the right call. I'm sure I'll find a way home, this isn't my first trip in the multiverse." Mercury said with a smile as she let her transformation down. "Still though, finding a place to stay is gonna be tough. I don't even know what country I'm in, let alone what universe." Ami quietly said with a sigh.
"This is the city of Townsville, it's located in America, but I don't know which state. We haven't learned that yet." Blossom informed with a smile.
"That's okay, it's more than I knew a moment ago." Ami said with a smile as she looked at Blossom.
"If you need a place to stay I'm sure the professor would let you stay with us." Bubbles chirped as she floated over by Ami.
"I don't know girls, I wouldn't wanna impose on you and your family." Ami replied with a straight face.
"It's fine Ami, after all, we did kind of break your only way home. It's the least we can do for you, at least until you figure out how to get back home." Blossom said with a smile as she held her hand out to Ami.
"Thank you, but only if it's okay with...the professor? Is that what you called him?" Ami asked with a smile as she took Blossom's nub in her hand.
"Yeah, he's pretty much our dad. He made us in his lab by accident." Bubbles said with a giggle.
"In a lab? Are you girls androids?" Ami asked in a shocked tone as Blossom picked her up.
"No, we're human." Blossom answered with a smile as she followed Bubbles out of the hole in the roof.
"Your father made living humans in a lab? You were biologically engineered?! That's incredible, that's way beyond anything science is currently capable of in my universe! It's no wonder you're so strong and powerful, I can't wait to meet such a brilliant scientist! So do you know what kinds of things he used to create all of you?" Ami asked with a huge smile.
"Simple, what all girls are made of. Sugar, spice, and everything nice. Plus he accidentally added some chemical x to the pot." Bubbles answered with a giggle.
"Awe, that's cute Bubbles. I'm serious though, I'm curious about what he used to make all of you." Ami said with a sweet smile as she stared at Bubbles.
"She just told you, sugar, spice, and everything nice. Then he accidentally added chemical x. That's it." Blossom explained with a smile.
"Wow, this universe sure is different from home. It's a good thing my world doesn't work like that, who knows what kinds of things all the creeps and maniacs in my world would make or do with a formula like that." Ami said to herself with a shudder.
"What do you mean Ami?" Blossom asked with an innocent smile.
"Nothing, forget I said anything." Ami replied with a small smile. "Any idea where your sister went?" Ami asked as she looked at Bubbles and Blossom.
"Probably back home, either that or she went to the derby park." Blossom grumbled in response.
"You sound upset about that." Ami said with a small frown as she looked at Blossom.
"She's been such a pain lately, we're sick of her attitude. All she does is grump around and brood in her room, she's really getting on our nerves." Blossom informed as she landed in front of a large house. "Here we are, home sweet home." Blossom said with a smile as she set Ami down.
"Wow, it's beautiful." Ami complimented as she stared at the house. It was a two story white house with three round windows on the front towards the top, it had a garage attached to the right side and another section on the left side, and there was a smaller section attached to that one.
"Thanks. Come on in." Blossom said with a smile as she floated up to the front door. "Professor!" Blossom yelled as she opened the door and flew inside, followed by Bubbles and Ami.
"Welcome back girls! Did you take care of Mojo?!" A man yelled from the kitchen.
"Sure did, and we brought a friend home!" Blossom answered in a happy tone.
"A friend?! You know you're not suppose to have friends over this late on school nights girls." The man scolded from the kitchen.
"But she had nowhere else to go professor!" Bubbles yelled back in a sad tone.
"What?" The professor asked as he poked his head out from the kitchen. "Who are you?! What are you doing with my girls you creep?!" The professor yelled as he glared at Ami.
"I-I'm so sorry sir! I wasn't trying to do anything to them, they told me to come with them because I didn't have a place to stay! If you don't want me here then I'll leave without trouble sir! I'm very sorry if I caused you any issues!" Ami yelled as she backed away from Bubbles and Blossom.
"No professor! You can't kick Ami out, she needs our help. We messed everything up for her." Blossom said with a frown as she hung her head in despair.
"What are you talking about Blossom?" The professor asked as he kneeled down by Blossom.
"She's not from our universe, she's from an alternate reality. Mojo pulled her out of her home universe and we destroyed the machine he used to do it, now she has no way home." Blossom quietly explained with a sad expression.
"Is that true Bubbles?" The professor asked as he looked at Bubbles.
"Mhm." Bubbles answered with a sad nod.
"My apologies Ms., I thought you were some weirdo taking advantage of my girl's innocent minds." The professor apologized with a small smile.
"It's okay sir, I'd feel the same way if I were you." Ami replied with a smile as she looked at the professor. He was a taller man with black pants, black shoes, and a white shirt with a black tie, he was wearing a white lab coat over his shirt that contained a pen and a marker in the left chest pocket. His hair was short and black, and his eyes were just white orbs with black pupils, there was no color to them.
"My name's John Utonium, but everyone just calls me professor." The professor introduced himself with a smile.
"My name's Ami, Ami Mizuno." Ami introduced herself with a similar smile.
"You're welcome to stay with us for as long as you need to Ami." The professor said with a smile.
"Are you sure sir, I don't wanna be any kind of trouble or anything to you." Ami quietly said with a small frown.
"It's no trouble at all, but you'll have to sleep on either the couch or the floor because I don't have any spare bedrooms." The professor informed with a small smile.
"That's fine sir, thank you for your kindness." Ami thanked as she bowed to the professor.
"You're welcome young lady. Say, you never said exactly where you were from. What country did you come from, or does your universe not have countries?" The professor asked with a smile.
"I'm from Japan, specifically from the Juban district in Tokyo." Ami answered with a smile.
"Fascinating. You speak perfect English though, is that your second or first language?" The professor asked as he stared at Ami.
"Second language, Japanese is my primary language." Ami answered as she stared back at the professor. 'He's studying me.' Ami thought to herself as she continued to stare at the professor.
'She's studying me, very peculiar for an average teen.' The professor thought as he continued to stare at Ami.
'What is he looking for, dumb question. I'm a stranger who came home with his kids, of course he'd be suspicious of me, especially with a crazy story like the one I just gave him.' Ami thought as she continued to stare at the professor.
'She can't really think I'd buy that whole multiversal jump right? That's just science fiction, she's up to something, or at the very least she's hiding something from me.' The professor thought as he glared at Ami.
'He knows I'm not telling him everything, should I show him my guardian form? No, that could be perceived as a threat, I need to tread carefully. No telling what those super kids of his will do to me if they think I'm a threat to him or the rest of them.' Ami thought as she continued to stare at the professor.
"Are you two having a staring contest? That sounds like fun." Bubbles giggled as she jumped between Ami and the professor.
"Oh, um, yes. Yes we were Bubbles, and I think your dad won this one." Ami giggled as she looked at Bubbles.
"It was a close match though." The professor replied with a smile as he also looked at Bubbles.
"Yay, Professor!" Bubbles giggled as she jumped into her dad's arms.
"Why don't you get your pjs on while I get to know your new friend here a little better." The professor said as he looked at Ami.
"But, I wanna show Ami our room." Bubbles pouted as she looked at Ami.
"I'll check it out later, but for now I think your dad and I need to have a little talk." Ami informed as she looked at the professor, who nodded at her.
"Okay, but come look when you're done talking please." Bubbles pleaded with puppy dog eyes.
"I promise." Ami replied with a smile, and with that Bubbles and Blossom were floating out of the kitchen towards the stairs.
"Alright, what are you hiding from me. Spill it or you're out of here young lady." The professor ordered as he narrowed his eyes at Ami.
"I had a feeling you knew I wasn't telling you everything. The multiversal travel thing was true, but I didn't tell you about my super powers because I figured your girls would've said something when they introduced us. Bubbles seems like the kind of happy spirit who would've told you that right away. Would you like me to show you Mr. Utonium?" Ami asked with a smile.
"Please." The professor replied as he crossed his arms.
"Okay." Ami replied as she pulled her wand out. "Mercury crystal power, make up." Ami quietly said as she held her wand in the air. The professor took a step back as he stared at Ami's transformation. "In this form I'm known as Sailor Mercury, my powers are ice and water based." Mercury explained as she stared at the professor.
"Incredible. I knew you were hiding something from me, but I never would've pictured this. So in your universe, I assume you're a superhero, not a villain." The professor said with a smile.
"I try to be, but we all make mistakes professor. We all make mistakes." Mercury quietly said as she looked at her ODM handles.
"What kinds of mistakes?" The professor asked with a small frown.
"The kind that put you in therapy." Mercury quietly answered as she continued to stare at her gun, images of her time in Mikasa's world flashing through her mind.
"I see. Well, you don't seem like you wanna talk about it. Why don't you rest for a bit, dinner will be ready shortly. I hope you like meatloaf." The professor said with a smile as he looked at Mercury.
"Thank you, I appreciate your hospitality Mr. Utonium." Mercury thanked with a small bow before letting her transformation down.
"You're welcome. There's a shower upstairs if you wanna use it before dinner, not that I think you need to or anything. I just didn't know if you'd feel more comfortable if you did." The professor said with a smile as he checked on the meatloaf.
"Thank you sir, I actually would like that. But I don't have anything to change into." Ami replied with a small frown.
"That's right, sorry about that. I'd offer you some clothes, but I don't think we're the same size." The professor replied with a small smile.
"That's okay. I just put this outfit on this morning, though I did jog in it. Hopefully it's not too gross." Ami giggled as she walked towards the steps. "Thank you Mr. Utonium, you have no idea how much this means to me. I really appreciate your hospitality." Ami thanked with a smile as she walked upstairs.
"Yay! Ami, come look at our room!" Bubbles yelled as she dashed up to Ami so fast that she was nothing but a blue streak for a moment.
"Okay." Ami giggled as she started following Bubbles to her room.
"Tada!" Bubbles yelled as she floated into her room.
"Oh my, this is such a pretty design. Especially the bed." Ami said with a smile as she looked around the room. It was a decent sized room with a dresser in the corner that had a heart shaped mirror attached to it; there was a toy box on the opposite end of the room just across from the bed, a slightly rounded bed with sheets that distinctly matched each puff's color, and a small table with three chairs at it towards the center of the room. "What's this cute toy?" Ami asked as she pointed at a red and white phone with a smiley face on it.
"That's our hotline, it's how the mayor calls when something bad happens." Bubbles answered with a smile.
"Interesting. Does that happen a lot?" Ami asked as she stared at the phone.
"Every darn day." Buttercup grumbled as she floated into the room, then plopped down on the bed.
"It's not that bad Buttercup, it's part of the reason we were created. To keep Townsville safe." Blossom said as she ran a brush through her hair.
"Yeah yeah, whatever." Buttercup grumbled as she rolled face down on the bed.
"Buttercup, I've had it with your attitude this past week! Whatever your problem is, get over it! We're sick of it! Right Bubbles?" Blossom yelled as she looked at Bubbles.
"Yeah Buttercup, you've been even grumpier than usual, and extra mean! Are you still mad that the professor took all your money to pay for your dentist appointment?" Bubbles asked as she glared at Buttercup.
"It's your own fault Buttercup, you shouldn't've been so greedy. Stealing teeth for quick cash was wrong Buttercup, even if it was from villains." Blossom scolded as she ran her brush through her hair a few more times.
"Whatever." Buttercup grumbled as she left the room.
"Sorry about her, she's been a real grump since she had to go to the dentist. She's just mad about her secret stash of quarters that the professor used to pay for her dental bills." Blossom said with a straight face as she continued brushing her hair.
"When did that happen, if you don't mind me asking?" Ami asked as she looked at Blossom.
"About three days ago, why?" Blossom asked with a curious expression.
"Just curious. You mind if I ask what she went to the dentist for?" Ami asked as she looked at Bubbles.
"Because the villains paid her back, she knocked their teeth out so they knocked hers out." Bubbles answered as she set her brush down.
"They knocked her teeth out? How many of them?" Ami asked with a horrified expression.
"Pretty much all of them, she looked liked a baby. All gum and no teeth." Blossom giggled as she pictured Buttercup's mouth after her teeth were knocked out.
"Yeah, she really did look like a baby. She had maybe three teeth left, she looked so dorky!" Bubbles giggled as she also thought back on what Buttercup looked like.
"Why are you laughing about that, that sounds horrible. God, the pain she must've felt when that happened. Even if what she did was wrong, she's just a kid. That's not how you teach a lesson to a child. No wonder she's acting so off from what you guys are use to, she's probably in pain...or worse." Ami quietly said as she looked down at her hands.
"She'll be fine, she's just being dramatic. Now come on, dinner smells like it's ready." Blossom said with a smile as she dashed out of her room.
"Come on Ami." Bubbles said with a smile as she stared at Ami. "Ami." Bubbles said again as she floated over by Ami.
"What? Oh, sorry Bubbles. Yeah, I'm coming." Ami replied as she stood up and followed Bubbles out of the room.
"Girls, dinner's ready!" The professor yelled from downstairs as he finished setting the table.
"Yay! The professor's meatloaf!" Bubbles cheered as she floated over to her chair and sat down on it.
"Here Ami, you can sit next to me." Blossom offered as she pulled a chair out for Ami.
"Thank you Blossom, how very sweet of you." Ami thanked with a smile as she sat down.
"Buttercup, dinner's ready!" The professor yelled as he poured some milk for everyone.
"Be right down!" Buttercup yelled back from upstairs. "They're getting worse." Buttercup grumbled as she pulled her shirt down and floated out of the bathroom.
"Come on Buttercup, it's gonna get cold!" The professor yelled in a slightly annoyed tone.
"I'm coming!" Buttercup shouted back as she floated down the steps.
"Don't use that tone with me young lady, you're already in enough trouble as it is." The professor scolded as he waved his finger at Buttercup.
"Yes professor." Buttercup sighed as she floated to her spot and sat down.
"So Ami, why don't you tell us a little about yourself. You still in school?" The professor asked as he sat down across from Ami.
"Yes sir, though technically I'm on winter break right now. I've noticed that our two universes appear to be about six months apart, it's around June right now, isn't it?" Ami asked as she took a bite of her meatloaf.
"Almost, it's the end of May. Another week and the girls are on summer break." The professor said with a smile as he looked at his girls.
"Yay! We get to go camping again!" Bubbles cheered as she threw her arms in the air.
"I hope I catch a big fish this year!" Blossom yelled with the same amount of enthusiasm.
"What about you Buttercup, are you excited to go camping again this year?" The professor asked as he looked at Buttercup. Buttercup only shrugged in reply.
"Why are you such a grump Buttercup?!" Blossom yelled as she glared at Buttercup.
"Yeah Buttercup, no one likes you when you're crabby like this!" Bubbles yelled as she glared at Buttercup.
"Well I don't like it when you two gang up on me!" Buttercup shouted as she slammed her fists on the table.
"We wouldn't if you weren't such a brat!" Blossom shouted back in an angry tone.
"You think I'm a brat?! I'll show you a brat, come here Blossom!" Buttercup shouted as she reached across the table to try and grab Blossom.
"Hey! That's enough, all of you! The professor shouted as he grabbed Buttercup and pulled her away from Blossom. "That's it young lady, I don't know what's gotten into you lately but it stops now! Finish your dinner and then go to bed, you're obviously tired and cranky and you need some rest!" The professor yelled as he glared at Buttercup.
"UH! Fine!" Buttercup shouted as she forcefully pushed her chair out, then hopped off of it and started walking towards the stairs.
"I'm sorry you had to see that, Buttercup's been very difficult the past couple of days and I'm not sure why. But then again she's always difficult." The professor said with a sigh.
"It's not my place professor, but have you asked her what's wrong?" Ami asked with a small frown.
"Once or twice, but she just keeps saying that she's fine and to leave her alone. So I figured she needed some space, girls can be very difficult sometimes, no offense." The professor answered as he looked at Ami.
"None taken." Ami replied with a soft smile. "Still though, you should try pushing a little harder. She might open up if she realizes you're not gonna just give up on the subject. That's how people got through to my friends and I, we didn't wanna talk about what happened with the titans and everything. But they kept pushing and eventually we cracked, and when we did we were finally able to start healing. So maybe prod a little more, you might be surprised by the results." Ami suggested with a smile as she took a bite of her meatloaf.
"Thank you Ami, I'll keep that in mind. For now though it's almost bed time for the girls, so wash up and get to bed, you have school tomorrow." The professor instructed with a smile.
"Okay." Blossom and Bubbles both replied as they finished their meals, then brought their dishes to the sink.
"Thank you for dinner professor, it was very good." Ami thanked with a smile as she picked her plate up.
"I'm glad you liked it, don't worry about the dishes. Just go and rest, I'm sure you're exhausted after your ordeal today." The professor said with a smile as he stood up.
"Thank you sir." Ami thanked with a small bow.
"You're welcome. Unfortunately I don't have a spare bedroom for you to sleep in, but the couch isn't too uncomfortable if you'd like to sleep there. Otherwise I could always grab a sleeping bag and just lay it out on the floor for you." The professor offered as he started clearing the table.
"Thank you Mr. Utonium, I'll be fine on the couch. I really appreciate what you're doing for me, not a lot of people would let a stranger sleep in their house with them, especially one with a crazy story like mine. I really owe you and your family." Ami quietly said as she continued to bow to the professor.
"It's no trouble Ms. Mizuno. Now get some rest, let me know if you need anything." The professor instructed as he went back to cleaning up dinner.
"Thank you sir." Ami quietly thanked as she walked into the living room, then laid down on the couch. The second she closed her eyes she was out like a light for the rest of the night.
"I best go check on the girls and see if they're ready for bed." The professor said to himself as he quietly walked towards the steps. "Girls." The professor whispered as he poked his head into their room.
"We're ready to be tucked in professor." Bubbles said in her usual squeaky and happy tone as she stared at him.
"Where's Buttercup?" The professor asked as he walked over to the bed.
"Here." Buttercup mumbled as she floated into the room.
"Are you all washed up and ready for bed?" The professor asked with a smile.
"Yeah." Buttercup mumbled as she laid down and rolled over.
"Alright. Goodnight girls." The professor said with a smile as he gave each of them a kiss on the head.
"Goodnight professor." Blossom and Bubbles said with smiles as they closed their eyes.
"Goodnight Buttercup." The professor quietly said as he looked down at Buttercup.
"Night." Buttercup mumbled as she closed her eyes. The professor let out a light sigh before turning the lights off and leaving the room.
"You should be nicer to the professor Buttercup, he was just trying to tuck you in." Blossom snarked as she rolled over and stared at Buttercup.
"Whatever Bloss, just leave me alone and go to sleep." Buttercup grumbled as she pulled the blanket over her head.
"You're such a baby." Blossom grumbled as she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Author's Note: I own nothing. Sailor Moon is created and owned by Naoko Takeuchi, and the Powerpuff Girls are created and owned by Craig McCracken.