Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Love and Lament ❯ The Demon Is Born ( Chapter 21 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Whooosh!

A sphere of water formed amidst the tightly packed cover of trees. Within seconds of appearing it burst, expelling its two young occupants. As disoriented as she was, Ami still had the presence of mind, or perhaps instinct, to maneuver her falling body underneath Rei’s.

“Ooof!” Ami wheezed out as she slammed onto the ground. The force of the impact with Rei’s added weight atop her pushed the breath forcefully from her lungs. Ami lie there dazed, until she remembered that Rei was laying atop her. With panicked movements, she quickly set the other girl aside and checked for a pulse or breath.

“She’s alive.” Ami sighed after a momentary scare. She sat in silence, trying to calm her raging heart. She was lost in her confusion and fear, quite unaware of her surroundings.

Whooosh!

Another watery bubble formed and burst slightly to the side of where Ami sat. Without any pause, the bubble collapsed in on itself, and a horribly wounded body was unceremoniously dumped to the ground.

“Tetisu!” Ami cried as she pushed herself up and toward her past life’s sister.

Ami’s eyes widened in surprised horror as she approached the fallen demon’s side. Tetisu’s once beautiful skin was blistered and cracked in many areas. The majority of her body was covered in severe burns, and blood. Tetisu’s long thick hair was reduced to a few smoldering clumps, hardly masking the ruin of her demonic featureless face. The majority of her wounds would in time prove fatal, but one in particular guaranteed her end at any moment. Tetisu’s abdomen had been torn open in an apparent coup de grace.


Ami almost turned away at the sight, as she moved her hand to cover her mouth. Tears welled up in her eyes at the sheer devastation that was delivered upon the woman before her. Even if she did not know her, the pathetic state she was in would have been enough to bring her to tears.

::Merci:: Ami hesitated for only a moment before scooting next to Tetisu’s side and gingerly grasping her remaining hand, pressing it lightly to her bosom.

::Sorry... For what… I did…::: Tetisu, struggled to form the words in Ami’s mind. Ami grimaced as tears streamed freely from her eyes. She looked upon Tetisu’s face for only a second before turning away. One of the Demonic Mecurian’s eyes had burst, while the other was covered in bruising and swollen shut.

With what had to be an extraordinary effort, the dying Youma lifted her ruined hand to lightly stroke her beloved sister’s cheek. ::Watch for… Jadeite… I… He is too strong…::

::I love you Merci.:: Ami clutched tightly to Tetisu’s ruined hand, covering it in her tears. The ancient Youma’s final words caressed her mind as her ruined body faded into energy and dispersed into the night.

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Jadeite groaned loudly from the exquisite pain wracking his battered body. His face was destroyed, and a massive gash had been torn up his stomach and into his chest. Up until a moment ago, the hand that ripped him open had still been lodged in the wound.

His wounds were already on the mend, but he knew his time was running short. He had just killed Tetisu. Tetisu! The ancient Yoma was Beryl’s favored servant, and if it was even possible, the withered wraith called the deceased Yoma friend.

“Aaaarrrgh!” Jadeite screamed in both pain and rage. He knew that Beryl was plotting against him, but by killing her beloved companion, he had sped up the time table of his demise. The Dark General struggled to sit up, his mind already dissecting a hundred different scenarios. He was not a stupid man, in fact, the psychotic General was quite brilliant. Within minutes he had pushed himself to his feet, and struggled toward the chambers hidden within the many portals of his palace. His life’s work was about to come to fruition. It was too early, but, if his plan succeeded, he would have all the time in the world.

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“How is she!” Three voices chorused when Grandpa Hino finally emerged from Rei’s room.

After Tetisu had died, Ami sat by Rei’s side unsure what to do. She was lost in a forest that she had no hope of recognizing. An hour passed when Sailor Moon and Luna appeared seemingly out of nowhere. This once, Ami was filled with a pathetic sense of grateful relief at seeing the girl that fostered so much strife within her. Still, she felt more than a little ridiculous to find that she was in a dense forest park within the city limits.

Embarrassment set aside, Ami helped Sailor Moon to transport Rei to her temple. Usagi had wanted to take her to a hospital, but Ami insisted on the Hino’s shrine. During this time Ami did not once forget about the lost ship, or the hundreds of people that died. She had to push that aside as she needed to help the one that she was able to rescue.

Grandpa Hino had met Luna, Ami, and an untransformed Usagi, at the entrance to the shrine as soon as they had arrived. Phobos and Demios honked loudly from nearby, while Makoto hovered frantically at the sight of her suddenly fragile looking sensei.

Without an acknowledgement of thanks or the courtesy of an explanation, Hino lifted Rei into his small arms and spirited her away into the temple. The others, after a moment of stunned and confused silence, followed him. They found him inside Rei’s private rooms, though the door was closed and they could not follow. Four hours had passed as they sat and worried.

When he finally emerged from the confines of Rei’s quarters, Hino’s skin was a dark red and covered with a generous sheet of sweat. He looked exhausted and haggard, but still managed to remain standing.

Despite his appearance, the three waiting teens, Ami, Usagi, and Makoto, immediately pressed him for answers. As the three gathered around him, Hino felt a moment of disorientation, but calmed himself enough to speak.

“My Granddaughter is going to be alright. I have helped her as best I can, but she needs rest.” Hino, who looked on the verge of collapse, was struggling for breath as he spoke.

“AMI!” Everyone, except Hino, jumped in surprise as Ayanee’s voice sounded from the end of the hall. Ami’s panicked mother was by her daughters side in a second crushing her in a concerned and panicked embrace.

“Luna just called me! I have been frantic with worry for the last hour when I heard about the wreckage on the news. Why didn’t you call me? Don’t you realize how scared I was?” Ayanee scolded her daughter while she hugged her and kissed her forehead. She was oblivious to the others around her, or the curious look on Makoto’s face when she said Usagi’s cat had just called her.

“Grandpa!” Makoto shouted suddenly as a loud thud, followed by a slight tremor shook the hall. Ayanee and Ami turned to see Hino lying face down on the buckled floorboards of the hallway.

Ayanee was quickly at his side, ready to appraise his condition. She reached out to check his vitals when the heat from his skin burnt her fingers. “My god, this man is burning up!”

In full paramedic mode Ayanee turned to Usagi and started barking out orders. “Go get some cold water and some towels. Ami, call and ambulance. Miss. Makoto, help me roll him on his back.”

Usagi ran off, though Ami stood back unsure of what to do. She was very aware of Hino’s demonic alter ego, and was not sure that the hospital was the best place for him. In the meantime, Ayanee and Makoto had moved to his side and were prepared to flip him. They each caught a hold of his robes, feeling the heat even through the layered garment.

“Ok, on three we roll. One, two, three!” Ayanee and Makoto gasped and strained and were stunned to find that Hino had not budged even an inch, much less flipped over as they planned.

“What the hell! How much does he weigh?” Makoto gasped, as Ayanee thought the same thing.

Makoto stubbornly moved to try again when a loud voice startled her. “Move!”

Makoto was so shocked by Rei’s uncharacteristic snarl that she immediately backed away. The young Miko stumbled into the hall. Ami gasped as she looked over her friend, not sure what she was seeing. Rei’s normally serene eyes were an obvious rich violet that swirled with a frenzied almost bestial haze. Rei’s whole demeanor had changed, her skin was flushed, and her hair was wild and thick. Everyone looked on in shocked awe as the slight temple maiden lifted her Grandfather up without so much as a grunt. Embracing the tiny man to her, Rei started to walk toward the courtyard. The floor creaked with every step.

“Wait! Miss. Hino, your grandfather needs to go to the hospital! We need to call an ambulance.” Ayanee pleaded with Rei as she and the others followed behind.

Rei continued forward, ignoring Ayanee completely. She did not stop until she was in the sacred fire room and her grandfather was resting on his back in front of it.

“What are you doing?” Ayanee shut up immediately, as Rei’s suddenly dangerous eyes focused on her.

“All of you get out of here now!” Everyone, panicked and confused, scrambled out of the room. Rei’s voice was much deeper and seemed almost a roar. It scared them.

Rei followed them to the door, and they backed up even further, nervous and uneasy. Rei spoke again, this time in her normal serene demeanor. “Please do not disturb our rest. We will be fine, just make sure we are undisturbed for at least eight hours.”

The Miko’s sudden shift left everyone wondering if they had just imagined what they saw. Emboldened, Makoto moved forward. “But Sensei…”

“No my sister. Leave us be.” Rei bowed politely then slowly pulled the door to the fire room shut.

The three women stood there staring, not sure what to make of what just happened.

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“Now… Now is the time.” Jadeite’s heart raced as he entered his sterile safe and gazed upon his golden prize. Once again he looked upon the beating golden heart with awe and a lust for the power he knew it would bring.

With trembling anticipation, the dark general removed his blood stained jacket and shirt. With trembling hands, he reached for the crystal orb that housed his prize. He placed his hands on hidden markers and twisted counterclockwise while whispering an ancient incantation.

A loud hiss, followed by a silver smoke began to erupt from the container as it split open and fell to the floor. Jadeite’s breathing stilled as he waited for the smoke to clear.

“Oh, my love.” He whispered reverently while gazing upon the golden heart. Even as the crystal container lay upon the ground split in two, the golden heart remained floating in the center of the room. The energy permeating off of it could be felt with each of its unnatural beats.

Jadeite had studied this for all the years he had it in his possession, ever since he harvested it from a girl during the end of World War Two. He had created the crystal shell for it at the time with his still developing powers. Before this moment he had never chanced to open it. Now that he had, he did not know what he was supposed to do.

“Yes!” Jadeite hissed as something touched at the corners of his diseased mind, caressing him and enticing him.

“I understand!” Jadeite’s face twisted into a mad grin as he began to laugh insanely. His pupils dilated as he started to perspire heavily. “Why did I wait for so long?”

“But… I will wait… no longer!” Spit flew from the crazed man’s mouth as he started to laugh in a loud high pitched voice that wasn’t his. With a sudden roar he clutched at the flesh above his heart and tore deeply into it.

With a savage fury, built upon by his mounting ecstasy, Jadeite tore away flesh, and ripped out bone until he grasped his own blackened heart. “Now… My… Love…”

“I AM FOR YOU!” Jadeite screamed as he tore his heart from his body and crushed it within his palm. In that split second, before the light left his eyes, the golden heart shot from the air into his bosom, replacing bone and flesh and healing the new body that had become it’s host.

Jadeite fell over onto his knees without a sound. As his wounds sealed, a golden light enveloped him. His hair deepened to a rich golden hue, his skin became a lightened version of the same color, his eyes became bright almost ethereally blue, and his cruel features softened, became gentle.

“I am alive again.” The being that was, but wasn’t jadeite whispered. “But I am not whole… I need time.”

Another flash of gold enveloped the new being, when it faded Jadeite appeared as he was before he entered the chamber. Knowing what awaited him, Jadeite walked confidently out of his hidden chambers. Within the walls he was protected from all forms of scrying, even those of the mighty Beryl. Knowing this, he still exited the protected walls with the utmost confidence in himself.

“Arrrgh!” Jadeite screamed as soon as he was free of the protective shell of his laboratories. Even with his newfound power, his mind was wracked with a searing pain.

::Where is she?:: Beryl’s raspy voice ripped through the reborn general’s mind.

::Where is Tetisu?:: All of his newfound confidence fled under the mental assault from Beryl. The pain was unbearable, and Jadeite knew without a doubt that if he did not choose his words carefully, he would die before his new powers had a chance to mature. He knew this, and he was scared.

“Slain!” Jadeite shouted out through clenched teeth. “The soldier of Mercury slew her, and maimed me!”

The pain ceased immediately, jadeite wept openly in relief. Without knowing it, the new power, the new life, inside him had altered his memories to prevent Beryl from discovering the truth. It had saved his, now their, life.

::You have twelve hours. Bring me that soldier’s heart, or I will take yours in her stead.:: Beryl’s presence in his mind vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Jadeite was drenched in a cold sweat. His new power needed time to mature, time he did not have. He had twelve hours, no time to waste, and no margin for error. It was do or die time, with nothing short of Godhood at stake.


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::Authorities are at a loss to explain the tragic loss of the 666 passengers and crew aboard the Ocean‘s Bloom. When the newly christened romantic cruise liner failed to make its docking time, a search crew was sent to locate it. Only a small portion of the ships cargo was found floating, but the ship and presumably all of its passengers have gone under. We will bring you more on this story as it unfolds.::

Ami sat limply in her mother’s lap. She no longer had any tears, all she could do was stare at the wall and listen to the endless stream of coverage from the radio. After Rei had shut everyone out of the fire room, it was decided that they would take turns watching in case one of the Hino’s needed anything. They had drawn straws and Ami took the first watch while Usagi and Makoto got some sleep. Ayanee had insisted on staying up with her daughter, and was now lying with her back against the wall, while Ami rested against her.

Ami was devastated by the tragedy, she took responsibility for the ship sinking and the tremendous loss of life. Logically she was not at fault, had she not been there the passengers would have been slain regardless, but Ami could not look at it that way. All she saw was the ship sinking because of her involvement with Tetisu and Jadeite. What’s worse, is that had she done as she promised and worn her transformation ring, she might have been able to do something. She had left it on her dresser in a small tray in front of her vanity mirror. Ayanee had retrieved it for her shortly after the Hino’s locked themselves away. She would not take this ring off again, she did not like to make the same stupid mistakes.

Ayanee tried to help Ami to see that the tragedy of the Ocean’s Bloom was not her fault, that there was nothing she could have done, but Ami would hear none of it. She might have, were it not for the constant updates on the radio that Ami refused to turn off.

“Ms. Mizuno?” Usagi’s groggy voice sounded from down the hall as the young woman made her way toward the seated Mizuno’s. Ayanee absently noted that undone, Usagi’s hair brushed her ankles.

“It’s four Am. I’ll take my watch so you and Miss. Ami can get some sleep.” Ayanee smiled gratefully. Even though Ami took great pains to avoid her, both Ayanee and Makoto found that they liked the Naïve pigtailed girl. Her innocence and cheer was refreshing, and unlike the suspiciously absent Luna, she seemed genuine and without secrets.

Ayanee stood up and helped her listless daughter to her feet. Just as they were about to walk away the radio squawked loudly as an emergency bulletin was announced.

::We are bringing you live breaking news from Tokyo international airport. Moments ago, this bustling airstrip where weary travelers packed in for their early flights has become a bloody battlefield. Sporadic reports indicate that the destruction you can hear behind me is the sound of Army and police opening fire upon a single individual. This man is being described as a foreigner with incredible supernatural abilities. Wait, we are switching now to our traffic helicopter. Our reporter Sanjiro Kenjo is directly above the battle being waged.::

::This is Sanjiro, Kenjo in the 710 traffic helicopter. The scene below me is absolute chaos as police and army try desperately to get to the remaining living civilians that are trapped within the airport. Reports have indicated that the attack on the airport has been perpetrated by one man, and from what we can see below these reports are proving to be accurate. It is hard to see through the smoke and ash from the burning planes and terminal, but we can confirm that the man seems to be floating twenty feet above the ground and has some sort of energy shield arou… Wait, wait, Hiiro, mic this area, he’s shouting something, try and get what he’s saying!::

Ami and Usagi grabbed their heads as the man’s words blared loudly as if it was coming from right next to them. “Sailor Senshi, if you do not wish to see the whole of your precious city torched to the ground you will come and face me. Let us end this battle between us now! The longer you dally the more your precious humans will suffer!”

::Did you hear that? Who are these Sailor Senshi, and where are they at…:

“Aaargh!” Ayanee kicked the radio against the wall where it shattered. Ami had stood up during the report and had already started fidgeting with the ring Luna had given her. Ayanee knew what she was thinking and wanted her daughter to have no part of it. “Ami, Honey, you don’t need to go out there.”

Ami’s face was resigned, but resolute. “Yes Mom, I do.”

“No damn it!” Ayanee ran up to her daughter and grasped her shoulders fiercely. Ami’s eyes widened in surprise at the sudden move and the pain of her mother’s grasp. Usagi gasped and quickly covered her mouth. She was scared too.

“Ami, Sweetie…” Ayanee’s voice was pleading, the look in her eyes, frantic. “You don’t owe these people anything, you hear me. We can just use your money and we can leave Japan… We can go to Germany or America where you can go to school, where these people have never heard of you, where you can be safe! Please Ami…. Please!”

Ayanee was a strong woman, Ami never doubted that, nor did she now. She knew however, that her mom was faced with her greatest fear, loosing her daughter. Ayanee did not care if she looked like a coward or that innocent people would die, all she cared about was her daughter being safe.

“But I do owe them.” Ami calmly spoke as she gently cupped her mother’s cheek. “Since all this started over six hundred people died because of me. Two of those people I loved. I have been running away from this for too long. It is time I accepted my responsibility as a soldier.”

Ayanee tightened her grip on her daughter’s shoulders as she fought back her tears. She struggled with her emotions, and bit her cheeks to keep from crying out. She thought briefly of knocking Ami unconscious and taking her away by force, but she could not bring herself to hit her daughter.
“I am happy that you have come to accept that Miss. Mizuno.” Ami and Ayanee turned to see Luna standing by Usagi. “We do not have much time. Raise your hand to the sky and say…”

“MERCURY PLANET POWER… MAKE UP!” Ami shouted at the top of her lungs, finishing Luna’s sentence for her. The blue stone ring on her finger pulsed once, and for a moment time stopped. Ami felt a tranquility about her as her clothing vanished and the uniform of the Planetary Guard of Mercury, sealed around her body. A second later, and the transformation was complete.

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Rei, upon hearing the commotion from the hall, struggled to a semblance of consciousness. Her Grandfather lay on his back beside her, still and quiet, save for the faintest of breaths.

With tremendous effort Rei was able to stand. Not a moment later the world around her spun and everything went dark. She was unconscious before she hit the floor.

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“Miss. Mizuno, I know you do not trust, or like me, but please, let us help you.” Luna pleaded with her soldier. “Fight by our side, let us work as a team as we were meant to.”

Ami nodded once, Luna felt a welling of pride within her. “Usagi, go wake up Miss. Kino. We need someone to watch after Miss. Rei while we are gone, and she is all we have.”

Usagi sprinted away and Luna turned to speak with the Mizuno’s. Ayanee stood behind her daughter, looking upon her in amazement. Her little girl looked different in this suit, not like Ami at all, and yet she knew it was her.

“Now then,” Luna Began. “I have been studying how you were transformed into Lady Merci, and I think I can repeat it. If I am correct, then Ms. Mizuno, you will also transform into Bruuna, and be able to help your daughter.”

“Isn’t the transformation permanent if it is used for too long?” Ayanee asked, she was concerned more for Ami than herself. She would die to protect her daughter. If she was transformed into her past life permanently, then she would do it without a second thought so long as it helped keep Ami safe.

“Do it.” Ami spoke abruptly, and with determination. “I have seen what this man can do. I recognize his voice. He is the same Foreigner who destroyed the courtyard… The same man who killed all the passengers of the Ocean’s Bloom. We can not afford to take any chances.”

Luna nodded her respect for Ami’s bold decision. “Sailor Mercury, grab hold of your mother’s hand tightly. Good, now both of you look into my eyes.”

Both Mizuno’s looked into the feline’s eyes as the crescent moon shape on her forehead started to glow. Luna focused her energies then sent a mild equivalent to an energy drain focused on Ami. She crossed her claws in hope of success. She had already tried this on Usagi without any success, but she felt something different from Ami, and felt that it had too work.

Sure enough, and much to Luna’s relief, Ami was pulled into the air and cocooned in a blue energy shell. Ayanee stood where she was, staring dully into space. Luna watched in fascination as the energy shell began to glow and Ayanee started to transform. Her already short hair seemed to meld into her scalp and her faded scar became more prominent. Her creamy skin darkened to a deep blue and her muscle’s tightened and became more defined, her ears elongated, and finally her eye vanished and was replaced by a glowing golden orb. By the time Merci emerged from her shell Bruuna had summoned her trident and while wearing Ayanee’s clothing stood at attention waiting for her mistress.

“General Moux.” Both women saluted the feline general. The three turned at the sounds of voices entering the hall.

“C’mon Bunny what’s going on. Is Sensei awake yet?” Usagi walked up to the transformed Mizuno’s looking on in awe. Makoto stumbled along behind her yawning and wiping the sleep from her eyes. As soon as she finished she glanced at everyone for a second before she found herself completely awake.

“Holy Shit! Ami, What the… How did… Huh?” Makoto obviously did not know how to react to the situation. Merci, wearing the Mecurian Fuku, turned towards Ami’s friend and gave her a courtly bow. Luna watched with interest, wondering how Makoto knew that lady Merci was Ami.

“Miss. Kino, I am Merci, Chancellor of Venus and Planetary warrior of Mercury. This is my friend and Commander of the moon’s armies Bruuna.” Bruuna also nodded in Makoto’s direction.

“But…” Makoto looked up and down Merci’s body. Her skin was a light blue, lighter than Bruuna’s dark coloration, and her knee length hair was an intriguing mixture of dark blues and sea greens. Her face was more angular, her almond shaped eyes were at a deeper angle than Ami’s and her ears had become tipped like an elf. Makoto looked dazed and very confused. She felt like she was going to puke. “What the hell! Is everyone I know a fucking alien?”

“No, I am a physical manifestation of Ami’s previous life. She is a separate consciousness from me.” Makoto glared at Merci, the explanation obviously did nothing to calm her.

“My lady,” Bruuna interrupted. “The more time we waist here, the more innocents the Dark General will slay.”

“Dark General?” Luna questioned, immediately very concerned.

“The Dark Lord Jadeite, General. He is the fiend that so soundly defeated us at the temple a week ago.”

Luna’s face and demeanor became grim. “Usagi transform now. As soon as we get to the airport, you will stay by my side at all times. This opponent is far beyond anything you have ever faced before.”

“Moon Prism Power… Make up!” Usagi shouted her transformation phrase, unlocking the power of the pink stone ring she wore.

Makoto looked on with wide eyed confusion as Bruuna and Merci conferred with Luna. “General she has not fully awakened yet, are you sure she is ready for this?”

“Are you?” Luna shot back. “Are any of us? Look, I know the strength of the enemy we face. I know the only reason Bruuna got close to killing him back on the moon was due to surprise and luck.”

Luna snorted and scratched the tip of her nose with her paw. “I know what we are up against, and regardless of our odds, we need to try. I already snuck in and checked on Rei, she will be of no help this time. We just need to work together and make sure there is a next time. I will stay by Usagi and guide her shots, the two of you do your best and be careful.”

“We will do what we can General.” Merci said softly. “I more than anyone want this bastard to pay for what he has done, and who he has killed. But… His power is beyond anything I have ever…”

Merci stopped at the look in Luna’s eyes. “If you go in defeated you will not leave alive!” The cat hissed.

“Jadeite is a mortal like anyone else, and he can be defeated. He will be defeated, and no matter what happens, you and Usagi will be walking out of there alive!” Merci noticed that Luna had said nothing of herself or Bruuna.

“Luna, what are you talking about?” Sailor Moon interrupted.

“What the hell is anyone talking about?” Makoto finally snapped. She yelled trying to sound angry, but ended up sounding more scared and desperate.

“Ami’s an alien, Bunny is Sailor Moon, and, and that cat is talking!”

Merci walked to the scared teen’s side and firmly grasped the tops of her arms. She could easily feel the trembling in Makoto’s muscular frame. “Miss. Kino, look at me. Everything is going to be alright. The man who hurt Rei has called us out. If we do not stop him now, then he will go on a killing spree the likes of which this planet has never seen. I need you to be strong, Ami needs you to be strong. Your family needs you right now. We will not be able to watch over Rei or her grandfather, so it is up to you. Watch over them Makoto, and I will return Ami to you as soon as this mad man is dealt with.”

Merci gained confidence as she spoke, and she could see that Makoto did as well. At least, the scared teen nodded bravely and tried her best not to have a nervous breakdown. When Merci turned away from Makoto, she almost believed everything she had just said. Bruuna griped her shoulder and nodded in support.

Sailor Moon looked nervous and confused as Luna leapt to her shoulder. “Everyone join hands.”

Though confused, the three did as they were told. “Now, Lady Merci, because you have an absolute synergy with your ring and element you should be able to transport us to the airport. Close your eyes and focus on it, and I will do the rest.”

Trusting in the general, Merci and the others closed their eyes and thought of the airport. Merci and Bruuna had never seen an airport before, but Ami and Ayanee had. Drawing upon their memories, the two were able to picture it clearly. Without realizing it the four companions were covered in a blue light and slowly dispersed into the air. Their bodies had transformed into pure energy, and with a speed beyond measurement they bounced from molecule to molecule toward their destination.

Makoto watched as the four melted into thin air. She slowly moved in front of the fire room door before slumping down while leaning against the wall. She wrapped her arms around her knees and unconsciously began to rock herself slowly back and forth. She was more scared than she had ever felt in her young life, despite all the hardship and tragedy she has seen the thing that scared her the most was to have her new life shattered while it was just starting to look up, to have her best friend taken away from her when they had met only months before. She was afraid that she would never see Ami again, and if she did, that she would not be the same.

::God… You have never listened to me before, but if you are out there then please, please bring her back to me. Please keep her safe.::

As time ticked by, Makoto’s fear only grew worse. She wished now more than ever that Fiore had chosen to remain by her side.


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