"Are you Sailor Mercury?" A voice came and Ami froze, fear paralyzing her body for a moment.
Slowly regaining her courage Ami turned around to see a tall man with dark hair wearing a tuxedo even though it was the middle of the day.
Endymion her mind supplied for her. This was the reincarnation of the Prince of Earth Endymion. Meaning he also was Tuxedo Mask someone who to be honest she had completely forgotten about.
Ami's hand's twitched as she stared at the man. She didn't know what to say. They were in public and she couldn't answer his question here someone might hear. Ami didn't even know if she should answer his question.
"Oh sorry, I shouldn't have asked that. But if you see Ser-Usagi, could you apologize to her for me? I made her upset and I didn't mean to."
Ami blinked, listening to the man's words a bit confused. She had no idea something had happened between Usagi and him.
"Sure." Was all Ami could bring herself to say, really unsure what else she should say.
Ami watched as the man bowed his head slightly,
"Thank you. I'm Chiba Mamoru by the way. It's nice to meet you."
Ami nodded slowly, her stance rigid as she stared at the man in front of her. He had been able to recognize her outside of her transformation; nobody she knew had ever been able to figure it out. Not even her mother, but this man who she barely knew at all recognized her. Maybe it was because he had seen her with Usagi? Ami didn't know but she did know she wanted to get out of here.
"Likewise." Was all Ami managed to say in return, as she stared at a Mamoru she was frozen in place.
"Here's my number if you or the other Senshi ever need help just call." Mamoru said, holding out a folded slip of paper.
Slowly Ami took the piece of paper with shaky hands before giving Mamoru a nervous smile.
"Well, I better be going! It was nice talking to you." Ami said, lying through her teeth.
Ami didn't hear Mamoru say goodbye as she walked away immediately as she was done speaking.
_
Usagi glared at the test paper she held in her hands. She had half a mind to rip it in half, but she'd get in trouble with her mom if she did that. Which was something she could just not handle right now. Especially not after what happened with Haruka. She hadn't seen either of the older girls since then and so she hasn't had a chance to apologize and tell Haruka that she didn't really mean those hurtful words she had spoken. Her heart ached knowing that they were probably avoiding her, because why wouldn't they after what she said? Usagi knew they wanted her to be happy so they were probably staying away. But how could she be happy without them? She just couldn't.
It was also especially hard to be happy when she got a 33 on this test. Just looking at it made Usagi want to scream.
Then there was Ami, who got the top score again. Usagi wouldn't admit that she was kind of jealous. It was then Usagi heard Ami sigh,
"There's been so much rain lately it's kind of depressing."
Usagi let out a long, and overly dramatic, sigh.
"Yeah- and we have so many tests and our midterms it's super depressing." Usagi said her eyes were still locked on her test grade.
Out of the corner of her eye Usagi saw Ami walk closer and put a hand on her shoulder and quickly glance at her test grade. Usagi was pretty sure she saw Ami wince.
"Well of course we have lots of tests. We have entrance exams next year!"
Usagi really wished Ami didn't have to bring that up…again.
"Don't remind me…" Usagi spoke through gritted teeth, and slowly inched away from Ami. If she stayed around too long Ami might drag her to cram school, and that was quite literally the last place Usagi wanted to be.
"Speaking of which, would you like to go to the newest cram school with me?"
Usagi knew it. It was just like Ami to try and get her to go to cram school with her, but nope! She was not going! She'd never go! Never never never never!
"Ami!! You don't really need to go! Anyway you know I don't like going to those places!" Usagi quickly turned away, hopefully free of the possibility of Ami dragging her along.
Usagi wasn't too far away from the group so she could still be here when Makoto chimed in.
"Are you talking about the Mugen cram school by any chance?"
Usagi perked up at that, Mugen? Like Mugen Academy that Haruka and Michiru went to?
"Yep! It looks as though they do all their entrance exam testing there! It'll be hard to beat these other students for a spot in the Academy!"
Usagi listened a bit confused. Why would Ami want to go to school at Mugen Academy? It was dangerous there wasn't it?
_
"Mizuno Ami, correct?" A voice said and Ami's attention was quickly turned to the paled-skinned girl with icy blue hair in front of her. The girl wore a Mugen Academy uniform was something Ami noted immediately. She needed to be careful then.
"I'm Bidou Yui. It's nice to meet you I guess you could say I'm the girl genius of this cram school. So! Miss Mizuno, are you applying for Mugen Academy?"
Ami took a breath and slowly nodded. She didn't like this girl. Something about her was off, something about her was wrong. She didn't know why but Ami didn't feel like she could trust this girl.
"Why not a tour of our facilities then, Miss Mizuno?"
Ami froze at her words. What should she do?
_
"You're going to Mugen Academy?! The enemy will easily trap you!" Minako shouted at Ami, her voice echoing through the control center.
Surely this was a bad idea. Ami knew that right? Minako bit her lip. This was too dangerous if Ami was found out….
Ami gave her a reassuring smile, and held up her wrist showing off her communicator.
"It's fine I won't let myself be found out so easily. But in case anything does happen I'll be in touch."
Minako slowly found herself nodding. Right. This was Ami she was talking about. She knew Ami could handle herself. Everything should turn out alright shouldn't it?
_
The sky surrounding the tall imposing building of Mugen Academy was filled with dark clouds, and Ami could hear the low rumble of thunder in the distance.
This was nerve-racking, and Ami found herself intimidated by the large building in front of her.
Slowly she took a deep breath before walking into the building.
Standing at the front desk Ami looked at the receptionist who gazed back at her blankly.
"Mizuno Ami, you're a middle school student, correct? Well then go to the science class on the thirteenth floor."
Ami blinked, unsure of what to make of the receptionist's strange attitude…it was almost as if the woman was in a trance of some kind. Maybe not fully present?
Ami quickly shook her head, and made her way to the elevators. She would have time to dissect all of this later. Now wasn't the time for that.
All the halls of Mugen Academy looked the same, even these halls on the thirteenth floor look identical to the ones on the first. It was irie, and something about it made Ami nervous. This school didn't feel right. It didn't feel natural. Something about it was just wrong. Wrong like the girl at the cram school.
Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity of walking past classrooms that all looked identical to the next she finally arrived at the science class. The door was already partially open so Ami stepped into the room, and when she did her eyes were immediately drawn to something in the middle of the room.
Pitch black, filled with stars that glistened with a irie light, was the sights of a miniature solar system in front of her. A solar system which at the sight of it made something inside Ami feel afraid.
"Welcome Miss Mizuno!" Ami blinked at that and noticed that she now stood directly in front of the model solar system, and that standing next to it was the girl from the cram school.
"What is that?" Ami asked, despite all her instincts telling her to run.
Bidou Yui, the girl, smiled at her with a wicked glint in her eyes.
"It's a miniature solar system I made for an experiment. It's called the Tau Nebula."
Ami listened to the girl speak, and yet she couldn't pull her eyes away from the model solar system. Why? Something was wrong.
"You know many of our professors are professionals in many fields. They are also expected to follow the same code of conduct."
Ami found herself slowly nodding at the other girl's words still staring into the pitch black of the model solar system in front of her.
"Well I have a lecture I must not miss. So I'll be going, Miss Mizuno." With those words Ami heard the platinum haired girl's steps as she left the room, and Ami was alone.
It was then she felt a shudder creep its way down her back. She knew this feeling of somebody watching her. But who? Finally Ami was able to pry her eyes away from the solar system in front of her and her eyes quickly darted around the room.
But nobody else was there.
Ami's uneasiness grew and she turned and was met with the sight of a blinking red light on a camera attached to the wall.
_
Kaolinite kneeled in front of the fountain staring into its murky waters. She felt it. She felt the great power of a guardian planet! But where was it coming from? Desperately Kaolinite continued to stare into the waters hoping it would reveal the answer she seeked to her.
Slowly the water rippled and an image emerged on the water's surface. A girl with short vibrant blue hair who stood inside a classroom in their school.
Surely this girl must be one of the Senshi of a guardian planet. What ideal vessel she would turn into.
"She came here alone, Kaolinite." A voice broke through Kaolinite's thoughts and she turned to see Viluy standing behind her.
"As I am the head of science class, Bidou Yui. Please leave this to me Kaolinite. While Eudial and Mimete might have failed. I will succeed in turning the Senshi into vessels in the name of our Master." Viluy spoke with a cruel and calculating smile on her face.
A grin grew on Kaolinite's face; she knew she could trust Viluy with this.
Quickly Kaolinite's attention was turned back to the fountain as the water splashed violently and the image of the girl disappeared. What had happened?
_
Ami stared at the camera on the wall as it cracked and fizzled with sparks of electricity. She had thrown her pencil at the camera, and succeeded in breaking it. So now no one was watching her. Ami quickly broke into a spirit, she needed answers.
_
Michiru stopped in her tracks as she saw a familiar blue head of hair speed past her. Was that Mercury? What was she doing here? Michiru watched with wide eyes as the girl sped down the stairs.
"Haruka!"
They needed to follow her.
_
Ami had entered a room that had been labeled 'danger' probably not the smartest idea but she needed answers.
But the sight before her shook her to her core. Monstrous purple beasts with glowing eyes and slimy tentacles…without a doubt those were the enemies that attacked them!
So Mugen really was the enemy stronghold?
Then somebody grabbed her arms and Ami struggled to get free of the person's grasp.
"Welcome to our class Miss Mizuno. First we teach about turning your body into a vessel for our master!" Bidou Yui spoke, and Ami was confused.
Vessels? Master? What did all of it mean?
"We're also interested in how you create vessels." A voice came, and Ami strained her head to see who it was.
Standing there were Haruka and Michiru donning Mugen Academy uniforms. She had honestly forgotten they went to school here.
It was then that Haruka and Michiru were grabbed by some brainwashed students and Ami only watched helplessly unsure of why she didn't fight the grip of the students holding her.
"Take them to my classroom!" Bidou Yui yelled, and Ami felt herself being forced to move.
_
Now in a classroom filled with computers there were students on them seemingly in a daze and chillingly enough Ami could see the energy being sucked right out of these students.
Then she saw a window. That would be her escape route! Taking a deep breathe Ami yanked her arm out of the brainwashed students grasp before breaking into a sprint heading right towards the window.
"Guys! Mugen Academy is the enemy's stronghold!" Ami yelled into her communicator not waiting for a response. Without even a moment of hesitation Ami jumped out the window.
As she fell she quickly pulled her pen out of her pocket and yelled,
"Mercury Planet Power Make Up!"
_
Michiru stood kneeled hidden within a tree next to Haruka. And took a breath, this situation was escalating quickly.
"Haruka, we can't stay here any longer."
Michiru watched as Mizuno Ami or rather, Sailor Mercury, fought the Death Buster in the air. Should they help her? Or should they run. It was then that Michiru watched as Sailor Mercury was encased in some type of force field and Michiru heard her scream in pain.
Then a voice drew her attention away from Sailor Mercury,
"Ami!"
Michiru looked and saw Usagi standing there. Her sweet Princess, whom she treasured, loved, someone who Michiru never wanted to hurt. But they had hurt her. So they needed to stay away. The thought of Haruka's recounting of the conversation she had with Usagi really did break the older Senshi's heart.
They hadn't been trying to but they hurt her.
Oh how she wished they hadn't.
Michiru's eyes widened as she saw Daimon's lounge at her Princess and her group. They needed to stay away but she couldn't not…she just couldn't not protect her Princess!
Michiru jumped down in front of them, alongside Haruka, who probably shared her thoughts, and raised her hand in the air.
"Neptune Planet Power Make Up!"
_
Usagi stared at Haruka and Michiru…Uranus and Neptune who stood in front of her. Where they helping them?
"My demonic Talisman! Relinquish your power to me!" Haruka yelled, and Usagi watched eyes wide.
Haruka had the second Talisman?
"Space Sword Blaster!" Haruka called out and orbs of light fired out of the sword, and shot through the chest of the Death Buster woman.
The woman screamed and disappeared, and Ami fell to the ground. But Usagi's eyes were locked on Haruka and Michiru, as they ran away. No! She didn't want them to leave yet she wanted to talk to them!
"Uranus! Neptune!"
"Haruka! Michiru!" Usagi screamed after them , and only watched as the two Senshi she loved disappeared from her sight.
_
Reika unlocked the door to the Mineralogy room, and was about to open it when she noticed a woman reaching into boxes by the room next to her. She stopped when she saw this curious, and found herself walking over to the woman.
"Hi! Are you a new research assistant?" Reika asked from behind the woman.
The woman turned and smiled at her, and Reika felt her heart speed up, and the sight of the beautiful woman in front of her. This woman was beautiful enough to win over even a queen. The woman had a dark complexion and dark green hair, and beautiful eyes.
"No, I'm not. Just a first year student in the science department that helps out some of the faculty. My name is Meiou Setsuna. It's nice to meet you."
_
Usagi wasn't very surprised that neither Haruka or Michiru answered her calls. They were probably trying to stay away from her after what she said.
Usagi waited instead of putting the phone they gave her down. She'd leave a voicemail then. So even if they didn't answer they knew she was sorry.
"Hey Haruka, and Michiru too probably. Cause you'll probably both hear this. I wanted you guys to know that I don't…I didn't mean what I said about wishing I never met you. I'm actually really happy I met you. I know a lot is going on right now and you probably don't want to see me. But do you think we could talk sometime? Well I don't have anything else to say…I…I…really love you guys."
With that Usagi closed the cell phone, and put it down and sighed. Why did everything have to be so difficult?