Head Trip - A Minako Story

Chapter Five: Five Minakos All in a Row. Oh, and Lightning!

"Do you think we had a guy in our life?" Venus asked idly, as she trudged along beside Princess. "Our very own knight in shining armour?"

The sky was growing dark overhead, streaks of vermillion and burnt orange marking the setting of the sun. It made little sense, of course; she'd passed out after sundown in the real world, making all this a by-product of her dream world's oddball nature. Or some ploy on Goddess' part, she admitted silently, though I can't really imagine what difference the time of day would make to her.

"I would certainly hope so." Princess tapped her cheek thoughtfully as she considered Venus' recent question. "We could hardly be so unlucky in love across two lifetimes."

"Mm, I know, right?" Her harmonious response didn't last long as the true meaning behind Princess' words finally occurred to her. "Hey, wait a minute! Now I've gotta worry about you teasing me too?"

Her gown-wearing double flashed a mischievous smirk. "Tis most entertaining…"

"Traitor."

Sailor V, the first such 'split personality' Venus had encountered inside her own head, dropped back to join them. "So, I'm totally not sorry to interrupt this little…whatever it is…but I have a relatively serious question for you."

Venus spared one last mock glower for Princess before nodding. "Shoot, V."

"What does our life look like back in the real world, after we finish our business with Goddess?" The masked Senshi studied her intently. "What will it mean to be Minako Aino?"

Princess raised a curious eyebrow. "A most pertinent question."

"I, uh…" Venus nearly tripped over her own feet as she considered the question, trying to gather her thoughts on the subject. "I suppose, at least for starters, I want to get my life back on track. It'd sure be nice to show everyone I'm not an idiot." A brief swell of pride followed as she remembered being just Minako in life pre-Sailor V. "Yeah. It'd be nice to get everyone off my back for once. Maybe even patch things up with Mother, show her I'm not a complete failure." She couldn't help but giggle as it became clearer in her mind. "Poor Artemis won't know what to make of me, but I had decent grades once before and I can do it again."

"A beautiful, talented and intelligent agent of Love and Justice?" V gripped her chin thoughtfully, the prospect obviously an intriguing one. Finally, she nodded her approval. "I can get behind that."

"Oh, boo!" Other Minako popped up out of nowhere, far less receptive. "It sounds like a whole lot of extra, boring homework to me!" Despite her grumpy tone, however, she softened quickly. "Still…if it really means that much to you, I guess I'm with you."

Venus felt her smile blossom again. "Thanks, Other Me."

"Maybe it won't be so bad. Sure, there'll be less time for fun stuff…but extra homework means extra stress." Her eccentric double's eyes widened in delight. "That means you'll need me more than ever, doesn't it?!"

"That's right," she agreed with a giggle. "I…" Once again, Venus trailed off mid-sentence, this time in response to what she saw as they rounded a corner. "Seriously?!" She recognised her own neighbourhood immediately, even with the damaged houses and streets. As terrible as that was to see, however, it wasn't what drew her attention.

Other Minako summed up her thoughts well. "Is that…our house?!"

Venus nodded, recognising it immediately though not its surroundings. It sat atop a rocky hill all its own, looming over the devastated houses around it like a queen atop her throne. The familiar cloud signalling Goddess' presence hung above it, a swirling mass of black and grey.

Even V seemed taken aback. "That's unexpected."

"My house is the Big Bad's stronghold?" Venus asked, shaking her head slowly. "I mean, sure, it fits…but doesn't this feel just a little anticlimactic?"

As dilapidated as the surrounding neighbourhood was, her house seemed completely unscathed. As they stepped forward, Goddess' angry voice erupted from the very heavens themselves. "You might have escaped the void, but the body is mine now and you are not getting it back!" With the terrible crack of thunder, a bolt of lightning hit the street at their feet. The asphalt cracked under the onslaught and began sinking into the ground. Another followed, wrecking another slab of bitumen to open up another chasm.

Venus swallowed nervously as a concerning thought occurred to her. "So, hey, it's not like all of this is causing actual damage to my brain...right?"

V just shrugged helplessly, her mouth agape in the same awed terror as the rest of them.

"Real comforting, V."

The earth began to shake violently beneath their feet, a low, grinding rumble filling the air. Princess gathered up her long gown, looking incredibly nervous as Other Minako and V backed in closer. The rumble reached a crescendo as the street broke apart, sending chips of asphalt and concrete flying as a large, grey structure tore its way out of the ground.

Princess' eyes snapped wide open as she pointed in disbelief. "That…that's the wall! The one around my memories!"

"It's Goddess! She's trying to block us!" V cried, breaking into a run. "We have to get over it now!"

Stunned into inaction by the wall's appearance, Venus broke from her reverie and followed. "Come on!" Large chunks of falling asphalt provided convenient, gravity defying stepping stones; she leapt from piece to tumbling piece as the wall continued its way skyward, struggling to keep pace. Princess fell behind as they neared the top, her gown caught up on a wayward piece of sidewalk.

Safely atop the wall, Venus watched in horror as she slowed and began to fall. "Venus Love Me-"

"I've got her!" Other Minako pushed off the final chunk of falling street and leapt into the air, snagging the falling Princess' wrist and pulling her along behind her. "Come on, ya ditz! Keep up!"

Venus joined V in leaning down to catch the duo, pulling them to safety. The shaking slowed, the wall seemingly reaching its designated height, and they all slumped as the stress faded.

Princess gulped down a huge lungful of air and turned to Other Minako. "My thanks." Her smile turned into a frown quickly, though, and she began tearing at her gown. "This will not do! Not at all!" With a final, excruciating tear – it looked quite expensive – she was left wearing a rough but functional skirt. She flexed a leg experimentally and smiled. "There. Much better."

"Well, you won't win any awards for your fashion sense," Other Minako observed with a giggle, "but you can't put a price on freedom of movement, huh?"

Venus took a moment to breathe, her relief palpable. As her heartrate settled once again, she took a look down at the other side of the wall. The street was bent and broken, jagged asphalt spires jutting out from the wall's base. She dropped down, careful to avoid them, and took a closer look. Princess' earlier observation was accurate; this wall did look an awful lot like the one Venus had seen with her on the Moon.

"Could this Goddess be responsible for my muddled mind?" Princess wondered, placing her hand on the smooth, stone surface.

After careful consideration, Venus shook her head. "I don't think so. She said she only woke up as herself recently."

"And you believe her?" V asked, her tone making it clear what she thought of that.

"I do," Venus agreed, with a final, wary glance at the massive structure. "If anything, I think she was inspired by the same wall we saw. Someone or something else is responsible for the other one."

A chorus of high-pitched, melodic giggling rose up behind them as a dozen or so glass figures rippled into view. They started to move, gliding across the street as razor sharp claws extended from their fingers.

"Minako Paredri!" V cried, dropping into a defensive stance.

"Hey!" Venus objected, unable to hold back her pout, "I'm not sure how I feel about that particular nickname for them!"

She was too late; the masked Senshi was already gone, halfway to their tittering opponents. Twirling through the air – completely unnecessarily – she landed foot-first on her target's chest, crushing it into the street. In one fluid motion, she swung around with a reverse forearm to another's face, just as a third leapt for her unprotected back...

"Venus Love Me Chain!" Venus flung her arm forward, acting without thinking. The golden links of her chain wrapped around the Paredri's wrist, stopping it cold as it snapped around to face her. The temporary hesitation at a successful attack passed, and she pulled hard with all her might, flinging the creature into Goddess' wall. It shattered, now a collection tiny shards scattered across the pavement.

V buried her toes in another Paredri's chin, taking its head off completely, before flashing her a quick V sign. "Nice one!"

Other Minako and Princess weren't exactly idle, either. The physical manifestation of her hyperactive side was a literal blur, moving with the same superhuman speed she'd demonstrated earlier. Physics appeared to have very little meaning inside Minako's mind – something even she would admit was unsurprising – and Other Minako was taking full advantage. She dove at one of the Paredri with near-reckless abandon, flattening it with a flying clothesline before rolling back to her feet. It was an impressive display; she continued on in continuous motion, flipping over another. It screeched loudly as she gripped its shoulders in mid-air and, using her momentum, catapulted it into the wall.

Princess, for her part, may not have been quite as impressive from a sheer energy level, but she was no slouch at all. Now free of her cumbersome gown, she kept a pair of Paredri at bay with a series of twirling kicks. Venus found the display more reminiscent of a dancer than a warrior; she marvelled at her past self's grace and refinement, something she'd always felt she lacked. It never let up, either. A Paredri finally grew impatient, lunging forward impulsively only to lose its head as Princess landed an inspiring heel kick. Despite her lack of uniform, this was very clearly Sailor Venus in action.

With all four members of 'Team Minako' on the same page, they made short work of the remaining Paredri, leaving a mass of shattered glass in their wake to glisten in the dwindling sunlight. Above, the swirling mass of cloud flashed angrily. No lightning followed, though, and Goddess was silent.

Venus twirled her chain idly before letting it dissipate, impressed with their victory. "I guess you had a great point after all, V. We really are best as a team. One, unified Minako."

Her masked self rolled her eyes exaggeratedly. "Please. When am I ever wrong?"

Other Minako made a retching noise. "I am so glad we grew out of that arrogance," she grumbled. "I can't believe how annoying it is up close like this."

"Indeed," Princess murmured, her disdain clear as she fidgeted with a loose thread hanging from her new 'skirt'.

"Oh, sure. You're all just jealous that I'm the beautiful and talented agent of love, Sailor V."

Other Minako wrinkled her nose in confusion. "But I am Sailor V."

"As am I," Princess agreed, blinking slowly. "Aren't I?"

"They've got you there, V," Venus added, with a shrug. "You're me, and so are they. Therefore, all of us are also you."

V's brow furrowed behind her mask as she began to fidget. "Well, yeah, but…I get to wear the mask, and the cool uniform, and…" She eventually trailed off into an awkward silence. "Oh, shut up."

It was all Venus could do to stifle a laugh as she turned her focus to her home. Well, the dream version of it anyway. It looked so normal from here, but she knew it was likely anything but. This is Goddess' home, her stronghold. I need to remember that. With just a hint of trepidation, she exhaled and took a step towards the front door.

"Well," Other Minako murmured, bringing her arms up around herself. "Isn't this cosy?"

Venus was forced to agree. It was certainly her home as she remembered it yet, at the same time, it was not. The living room was a jumbled mess of odd lines and angles. Like 'Not London' before it, all the walls were off, the doorframes and joinery askew and imperfect. The lighting was wrong, casting the room in a nightmarish mix of reds and blues. Adding to the eerie image was the furniture; it was all out of place, including a random armchair hanging upside down from the ceiling.

"Is Goddess really this random," V wondered, as she cautiously entered the room, "or is this all some weak attempt to scare us?"

"I suggest the latter," Princess replied, her left eyebrow rising as she stared at the inverted chair. "Tis like a carnival house of horrors, dreamed up to frighten children."

"Exactly. And it's not going to work on us!"

Other Minako wasn't as confident. "Speak for yourself. This place gives me the creeps…"

Venus saw familiar pictures on the walls, a younger Minako beaming with her equally happy mother and father. Things weren't always so strained between us, she remembered sadly. I've really made a mess of things the past few years. Maybe I had no choice, maybe I had to lie…but I'm so tired of it all. She continued exploring, eventually finding something out of place on the corner bookshelf. A photo of her, performing on stage in a familiar green and orange outfit. "This is…the idol contest I entered? The one judged by Yaten…" A brilliant white flash obscured her vision for a moment…

The Ginga TV executive was a mousy woman in her mid-forties. "Regretfully, Miss Aino, you haven't been accepted into the second round." She adjusted her glasses and shrugged dismissively. "We do hope you'll apply again next year."

Just like that, Venus was back in the living room. "What?! Did…did anyone else just…?" Several nods confirmed it wasn't just her, leading to a frown. "But I made it past the first round. I got a letter and everything!" Another flash was her only answer…

"Maybe I was wrong, Minako. Maybe you're not cut out to be a Sailor Senshi after all." Artemis had never looked so disappointed the entire time she'd known him. "I regret ever giving you that wand."

"That's a load of bull!" V snapped, bringing her back to reality. "Artemis has never given up on us like that before! He never would!"

"Sure, he's been disappointed," Other Minako agreed, "but he loves us and he would never say such hurtful things." She turned to Venus and patted her forearm. "It's all Cloudface. She's trying to mess with your head. Our head."

"I know…" That much seemed obvious, yet Venus couldn't shake the notion there was more at work here than simple mind games. What is this? What's Goddess trying to show me? With another bright flash…

Mai knelt screaming before a burning school bus, the screams of children filling the air. "Why weren't you able to save us, Sailor Venus?! I believed in you…and you let us all die!"

Venus fell to her knees, resisting the sudden urge to be sick. "But I did save you! I looked deep inside myself and…" She went silent as it began to dawn on her. "And I found that next level. The drive, the will to be better." The living room seemed to brighten just barely around her. "Is that what this is? A reminder of the times I needed that drive? Her determination?"

A young Chibiusa screamed for help as the needle-armed youma stalked her through the corridors. It was too much, though. Cold, pale and shivering, Minako slumped against the wall as she finally succumbed to the effects of illness. "I'm so sorry, Chibiusa. I just…I can't go on anymore…"

"But I didn't give up," Venus murmured, rising to her feet again. "I fought through it. With her help, I dug deep…and willed myself on!"

Princess smiled faintly. "Just like the proud Sailor Senshi we are."

A low growl burst from V's throat as the masked Senshi span in place, clearly searching for Goddess. "Enough with all the 'last time on Sailor Venus' nonsense! Come out and face us!"

A swirling mass of angry black storm cloud roiled down the stairs, finally coalescing into the familiar visage of Goddess. She still wore the same green dress; its simple, even cute appearance contrasted terribly with her grim expression, and Venus still struggled to believe she'd ever looked that angry and mistrustful in her life.

"Goddess, please. We came to talk."

Her rogue double's eyes narrowed. "So talk."

Venus almost missed it, but there was a clear undercurrent of fear in her voice. Goddess is afraid…of me?! She swallowed carefully and took a small step forward. "I made…a mistake. I was wrong to cast you aside. I didn't understand myself, and I certainly didn't understand you, but-"

"Pretty words," Goddess growled, unfolding her arms, "but that's all they are, and I'm not buying it." She flicked her wrist, summoning a crackling ball of lightning above her palm. "I know the real you. I know you're just waiting for the right moment to destroy me. Heck, you already tried ditching Other Minako; how long until you destroy her too?!"

"I would never-"

"She would never-"

Their combined denial was cut off by a crack of thunder as Goddess stepped forward. "Save it! We're all playthings to you, aren't we? Expendable pieces to be thrown away when you're done with us?!" The lightning intensified, enveloping her completely. "Well, I refuse to play along anymore, and I will not go back to the void!"

As if for emphasis, Goddess hurled a bolt of lightning right into Venus' chest. The pain was intense, a horrible burning, but it was nothing compared to the guilt she felt now. It wasn't fear she could hear in Goddess' voice, it was sheer, unbridled terror! I did this to her, didn't I? I made her this way. She's right; I am the bad guy in here!

More blasts followed, lashing the room along with her allies. V took the full brunt of the second blast followed by Other Minako and Princess. Venus dodged to the right but still felt the burn of one more bolt across her ribs. This wasn't what she wanted, but she had no choice. "Crescent Beam!"

It was swallowed up by the mass of cloud around Goddess, diffused with no effect. "I didn't want to destroy you," she admitted, almost sad, "but you leave me no choice!" Another bolt began building, growing in size and strength until it surrounded her entirely.

"Here!" V tossed a small, golden object to Venus. "Take it!"

"My compact?"

V grimaced as she nodded. "Reflect…her attack!"

That wasn't a bad idea…but it led Venus to another immediately. Artemis once told me the compact would reveal the enemy's true form. A stray bolt interrupted her, barely missing her face as it burned into the living room wall. "Stop wrecking my brain! I don't wanna be a vegetable!"

Princess' voice cut through the din, her confusion clear. "What…?"

The crackle of electricity reached almost unbearable levels. Goddess was now sheathed in cloud and lightning, all traces of her familiar appearance gone. Venus rolled back to her feet and thrust out her hand, the open compact in her grasp, as the pulsing bolt was unleashed. It struck the glass and was sent straight back at Goddess, overwhelming her defences and dispersing the cloud around her. She shrieked in pain, seizing repeatedly as the energy danced around her form.

Venus stood and, without any of her usual flair, called the compact's original attack. The name is the same, but the effect is very different. "Crescent Beam!"

An overwhelming blast of golden light streamed from the mirror, momentarily obscuring Goddess. It faded slowly, revealing a very different persona. The righteous, anger-fuelled villainess was gone, leaving a sobbing, broken Minako in her place.

She looked up, tears streaming down her cheeks as she shook her head. "It's no use. No matter what I try, you're just too strong. I…I can't beat you." With one last pronounced sniffle, her head slumped in defeat. "Go on, do it. Get it over with."

Venus stared down at her, unsure what to say. This Goddess was far more recognisable. How many times have I looked in the mirror and seen the same me?

"You heard her," V called, shakily pulling herself to her feet. Her uniform still smoked after Goddess' earlier attack. "She won't be satisfied until she's running the show. We have no choice."

"I never wanted any of this," Goddess muttered bitterly, wiping at her eyes. "I just wanted to help, to live…"

"Aw…" Other Minako sounded sympathetic…until Venus realised she was inspecting her now-burnt overalls. "I really loved this little ensemble, too…" She glanced up awkwardly and blushed right red. "Oh, right. Goddess."

The only sound in the room was the smack of V's hand hitting her forehead.

"Sure," their eccentric self continued, cringing as she fiddled with one of her shoulder straps, "she can be a real jerkface at times, but I'm not sold on banishing her completely. She is a part of us, after all."

"Indeed," Princess agreed, rising from behind the couch. She seized Venus' forearm gently, and for the first time it became clear that she was somehow completely unscathed after the fight. "We are Sailor Venus, Minako. We made a vow to defend life; will you now break that vow in the pursuit of vengeance?"

"She already tried to do the same to us!" V countered, pointing angrily at the kneeling Goddess with clear disdain. "It's not vengeance, Princess, it's justice!"

"I…" Venus stared down at the rogue personality that had caused her so much trouble…and faltered. She tried to take over, yes…but only after I pushed her away. After I buried her in that…whatever that darkness was.

"Justice?" Princess responded, with an extremely undignified snort. "How little you understand. It seems you really are but a pretender!"

"Do you want this to happen again in a few years? She's a monster, Minako, you said so yourself! She's crazy, she's completely self-absorbed! She-"

"She's me." Venus hesitated just a moment before placing a hand on Goddess' shoulder. "She is me, V. Just like you. All this time I've been ashamed of that selfish, obsessive side of me, so ashamed that I felt I had to throw it away so I could grow…but it's what pushes me to challenge myself. She pushes me, V, to reach for goals I could never have imagined. Moving to a new city in London? Goddess gave me the courage to try. It was her fire and determination that got me through that idol contest. When tempered with your leadership, Other Minako's kindness, and Princess'…um…?"

"Refinement?" her past self offered helpfully.

"Sure, Princess' refinement," Venus agreed. "When combined with all that, V, Goddess is no monster at all. She's just…me…and I won't abandon her again."

Goddess' tears abated as she glanced up, apparently confused.

"I thought I had to change if I wanted to be successful," Venus admitted wistfully. "I thought nobody would like me if they saw the ugly, selfish side of me…but all of this has shown me the truth." With a grand, twirling pirouette, she beamed widely and proudly. "I like me! Other Minako, Princess, V…and Goddess; it's been a crazy journey through my own head, but you've all helped me realise I like me, and that's all that matters."

V stared at her for a moment…then smiled faintly. "How can I argue with that?" With that, she faded from view, her iconic mask the last thing to vanish. Princess and Other Minako followed suit, with an archaic curtsy and finger-wriggling wave respectively.

"Thank you," Venus whispered, with a sad smile herself. "I'm going to miss our talks...and there'll never be so much awesome in one room at the same time again."

Goddess cleared her throat awkwardly. "So, are we still…?"

"Oh, right!" She took a knee opposite her and clasped her hands together. "Look…I really do want to change. I want to grow up, become a better person…but I see now that getting rid of you won't help that. It was never going to. If anything, I'm going to need you now more than ever!"

There was obvious suspicion in Goddess' eyes as she dabbed at her tears, but she remained silent.

"I'm tired of being the dumbest Sailor Senshi. Well, maybe tied with Usagi. We are make-up exam buddies after all…"

Goddess sighed wearily. "Geez, you really are missing my focus, aren't you?"

"Yes!" Venus agreed, nodding furiously. "Exactly! That's what I need, Goddess. If I'm actually going to get my grades up, I'll need your focus and drive and determination because god only knows Other Minako's gonna be kicking around in my head trying her best to distract me!"

"She is pretty good at that…"

Venus felt another faint smile tug at the corners of her mouth. "So, what do you say?"

Goddess now looked more uncertain than she'd been the entire time. "I…how can I trust you to keep your word? How do I know you won't just bury me again when you've got the life you want?"

"Because I understand now. I've seen that void I sent you to, and I would never wish it on anyone." A chill ran down her spine as she remembered the sensation of total nothingness. "I'm sorry, Goddess, so sorry. I do need you. I will always need you. Please come back. Help me to become the Minako I want to be."

Finally, for the first time since they'd met, she saw Goddess actually smile. "You really want my help? After everything I've done?"

"Yes," Venus said, allowing her own smile to blossom. "You're a part of me, an important part, and I promise I'll never forget that again." She hesitated a moment, then leaned in to hug her once-enemy.

Goddess stiffened at first, but slowly relaxed and brought her arms up around her. "Thank you..."

Minako realised her uniform had faded again, leaving her and Goddess as identical twins. Right down to their wrinkled green dresses. A golden shimmer surrounded them as they embraced, accompanied by a warmth far more intense than any she'd felt with her other personalities. Somehow, impossibly, she felt Goddess began to melt into her…

…and she began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered, finally opening to reveal the welcoming ceiling of her bedroom. There was no trace of the headache she'd passed out with, nor the nausea it had brought with it. She reached for her forehead with a trembling hand, discovering a cool, damp cloth. I'm lying in bed like I'm sick, but I was on the floor…wasn't I? A faint meow drew her gaze, and she found Artemis on the foot of the bed, staring back at her with obvious relief.

"You're awake!"

Minako flinched at her mother's voice, not expecting the proximity or volume, and found her sitting up on a re-purposed dining chair beside the bed.

"Honestly, Minako," she grumbled, evidently just waking up herself. "What were you thinking? Why didn't you tell me you were really sick?"

The blonde girl sat up slowly, not entirely sure what was going on. I was…have I been here all along? Wasn't I somewhere else just now…with…me? A flash of images danced before her mind's eye; her own face looking back at her, Sailor V's mask, her favourite pair of overalls, and a storm cloud. Did I imagine all of it? Was I dreaming, or…?

"Well?" Her mother was still waiting for an answer. "Nothing to say?"

"I…I'm sorry, Mother, I just…wait a minute! I did tell you I felt sick and you told me to-" An odd little thought popped into Minako's head as she took in her mother's dishevelled appearance. "You…you sat here with me all night?"

"Well, of course I did." Her mother shuffled, evidently uncomfortable with the conversation. "You're my daughter, Minako. We may have our disagreements, but that doesn't change the fact that I love you. Is it really so strange?"

Minako blinked slowly, digesting that…before leaping out of bed to hug her with a wide smile. "No, I don't think it's strange at all!"

"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?" It didn't seem to stop her from returning the hug. "Are you on drugs?"

Even that little dig couldn't bring Minako down. "No, Mother, I'm not on drugs. I'm just…I'm so sorry I let things get so bad between us! I don't want that anymore; I don't want that life anymore." She let out a wild, excited laugh. "I'm going to really try at school from now on, you'll see! I'll get my grades up, and I'll start playing volleyball again, and-"

Her mother stared back at her with a mix of amusement - and some concern. "That's great, honey, and I'm glad to hear it...but don't you think you should rest a little first?"

"Nope, there's no time for rest!" Minako declared, glancing at her clock. "I have to get ready for school. I refuse to be late another day!" She rushed out of the room, leaving a very confused Fumiko Aino behind. "Operation New Minako starts now!"

Artemis let out a low 'meow' as she vanished into the bathroom, shaking his head in an impressively human fashion.

"You said it, Artemis. I raised such a strange girl…"

Minako hummed to herself as she practically skipped along the sidewalk. Everything was great, all of it! She couldn't remember the last time she'd been this excited about her day. It's all going to change from here. I'm taking back my life!

"I must say I'm impressed," Artemis admitted, riding along on her shoulders in his usual manner. "You're going to be early, and you still managed to fit in a shower and breakfast without having to run. Not even a little." With that, his ears flattened warily. "What's come over you?"

She shrugged in response. "I just feel like I need a change, you know?"

"And you're sure this has nothing to do with what happened last night?"

"I don't really know what happened last night," Minako admitted, trying to remember even now. "I was home, on the floor of my room, when my Sailor Crystal pulsed…and then it's all blank. Just little flashes. Scattered sights and sounds, you know?"

"Of what?" he asked curiously.

"Sailor V, the arcade, one of those creepy glass dolls Nehellenia used...and I think I was wearing some sort of ball gown at one point. All while a storm raged overhead."

"That's it?"

"That's it," she agreed, with another shrug. "More than anything, I just remember feeling...content." That was about as well as she could describe it. "It's like you said, Arty; I can accomplish anything I set my mind to, and I believe it now. Right now, I want to get my grades up. I want to make Mother proud of me again." She grew pensive. "I want to make you proud of me again."

"Oh, Mina..." He brushed against her quickly. "I am proud of you. Always."

She gave him a scratch behind the ear in response, giggling at an odd thought. "The lack of running could become a problem, though. My traditional dash to school is the only real cardio I get right now." She tapped a finger against her cheek, deep in thought. "I may need to wake up even earlier and start jogging…"

The cat's eyes nearly popped out of his skull. "That does it! Who are you and what have you done with the real-"

"Minako?!" Usagi screeched to a halt beside her, falling in step as she huffed and puffed for air. "You're, uh…you're on time?"

"I woke up early," she answered casually, "so I figured I might as well get in early for a change. Who knows, I may even start making a habit of it."

Her friend managed a confused nod before her eyes widened. "Oh, I almost forgot! How's your head?"

For reasons Minako didn't quite understand, the question made her giggle. "It's great. I'm great. Like I told you last night, it was nothing a little sleep couldn't fix."

Usagi looked to Artemis, eyebrow raised. "Seriously, is she okay?"

He managed a pretty good approximation of a shrug. "She seems to be…despite some very unusual behaviour."

"Well…" It took a few seconds, but Usagi finally relaxed. "If you're happy, Minako, then so am I. Even if it is weird to see you walking to school like this." She dropped into a hushed grumble. "I though we were make-up buddies. At this rate, your grades will lift too and I'll be left all alone!"

"Never mind all that," Minako cooed, dismissing her concerns with a quick wave. "I'd much rather hear all the juicy details from your date with Mamoru last night. We had a deal, didn't we?"

Usagi glanced briefly at her watch. "I guess we still have a little time, don't we?" Without any further delay, she launched into an excited description of the last night's events, even acting out some moments...much to Artemis' chagrin.

Minako just smiled. I still don't know exactly what happened to me last night, but somehow I know it will all be okay. Artemis nuzzled her cheek reassuringly as she pet him in return, silently thanking him for his ever-present belief. I can't wait to see what the future holds for Minako Aino.

END

AN: Well, that's it for Head Trip. Short by my usual standards, I know, but it was always intended to be short story. I nailed my planned five chapters but still managed to exceed my expected word count by about three thousand or so! I hope you enjoyed this little diversion - and a look at how Minako became her Last Guardian Knight incarnation. I'm so psyched to finish this because, as entertaining and mojo-regaining it was to write, I'm getting the urge to commence the continuation (and finale) to Order of Black. I know a lot of you have been waiting for that notification - it was a pretty cruel cliffhanger, I know! - and rest assured work will now begin in earnest on getting the first chapter out. Keep a look out for an update on my profile OR a good old fashioned chapter notification in your inbox! Thanks as always for your support and your readership!

Lisseas