Little Ami whimpered, her mother was holding her too tightly. The small girl twisted to look at her mother and was surprised to find two tracks of tears making their way down her mother's face. Little Ami reached and brushed off a tear as it coursed down her mother's pale face. It was so hot. Ami wondered, She stuck her finger into her mouth and the slightly salty taste lingered in her mouth. Ami leaned her small head against her mother's neck. A large hand descended onto her soft blue curls, it was her papa, little Ami automatically beamed. She liked her papa, he always smelled faintly of paint. The smell tickled her nose and she crinkled up her nose and gurgled happily. Her small face lifted up and she began to reach for her father. Her mother turned away sharply and little Ami gave a little mew of disappointment. She looked imploringly at her mother, but her face was firmly set, impervious to any pleading. Little Ami looked back to her father. As she watched, a tear formed in his eye. She felt this sudden urge to touch her father's tear, to find out if his tears were as hot as her mother's. "Ami--" Her father began. But Ami's mother was already starting to walk away, holding Ami firmly in her grasp. As Ami watched over her mother's shoulder, she was the only one to see the solitary tear fall down her father's cheek. A sudden premonition gripped Ami's heart, and she felt like this would be the last time that she would see her father. She twisted in her mother's embrace and wriggled down. Her mother could not stop that small little body from running from her grasp. "Ami! Stop!" But Ami ran as fast as her small legs would take her, but her father's figure was fast vanishing in the fog. "No! Wait!" Mizuno Ami bolted upright, panting. Slowly, she came to her senses. It was a dream. Only a dream. Ami sank back into her pillows, large beads of perspiration still clinging on her forehead. ***************************************************************************** Cue Moonlight Densetsu as the opening music. Gomen ne sunao ja nakute (Shot of Sailor Moon and Tuxedo Kamen, back to back, in defensive poses.) Yume no naka nara ieru (Shot of Sailor Mercury and Starhunter in similar poses.) Shikou kairo wa shotto sunzen (Shot of Mars and Venus is similar poses.) Ima sugu aitai yo (Shot of Jupiter and Laura in similar poses. Macavity tumbles past Makoto and Laura, who both sweatdrop.) Nakitaku naru you na Moonlight Denwa mo dekinai Midnight (Shot of Luna and Artemis, both sitting on their haunches, slowly orbiting each other.) Datte junjou dou shiyou Hatto wa mangekyou" (Macavity suddenly appears between them, douses both from a seltzer bottle, then vanishes, leaving two wet and obviously pissed off kitties.) Tsuki no Hikari ni michibikare (Shot of The Chairman. He is standing against a dark background, and has his hand stretched out towards the camera, a lot like Jadeite did with his energy ball in the first few TV episodes. Instead of an energy ball, The Chairman is holding a globe, which he then closes his hand around, crushing the globe. Throughout, his face is emotionless.) Nandomo meguri-au (Shot of Argent sitting on a tree branch, waving his index finger at the camera in a "No, no, no." motion.) (Brief instrumental (organ?) riff) (Shot of Laura at her equipment, franticly punching buttons and turning dials) (Macavity appears behind her, sneaking up on her. She casually grabs a pillow from somewhere and tosses it behind her, tagging Macavity before he can get close to her.) Seiza no mataki kazoe (Close-up of Eternal Sailor Moon, a sad look on her face) Uranau koi no yukue (The view pulls back. Eternal Sailor Moon is sitting, looking out at a view we cannot see. She's not alone. Tuxedo Mask is right behind her, hands on her shoulder, comforting her.) Onaji kuni ni umareta no Mirakuru Romansu (Continue to pull out. The rest of the cast is now seen. Macavity is at Sailor Moon's feet, while the Inner Senshi and Laura are in a small semi circle behind her.) Shinjite iro no Mirakuru Romansu (Finally show that the whole gang is looking out over a pristine, untouched landscape. A couple of fairies (butterfly girls) fly by as the opening fades out...) Sailor Moon Dark War Episode 5: Amidst The Green Waters Overall Concept By Andy Combs. Story by Sherlyn Lim ***************************************************************************** Ami stabbed listlessly at her bento. For some reason, she had dreamed about her father again last night. After so long... Ami gave a little unhappy sigh. She had better things to worry about. Like how to unravel the identity of their new foe. The last attack had struck too close for comfort. If Mamoru-san did not manage to break Usagi out of that spell, their best friend would have killed them. They needed a handle of this new enemy and that strange leprechaun, Mcavity, the little man who proclaimed to be their ally, bore some close investigation himself. But no matter how much she tried to focus on the problem at and, her mind kept skittering away, to some half forgotten memory that was better off buried. That foggy day... "Ami-chan!" Usagi's chirpy voice broke into Ami's reverie. "Oh. Um. Yes, Usagi?" Ami looked up, startled back into the present. "Gosh, that's the second time you didn't hear me. I've never seen you not pay attention like this before?" Usagi's eyes grew saucer-like. "Are you all right?" Usagi paused, eyes narrowed. Then she proclaimed, "YOU'RE IN LOVE WITH ANOTHER GUY! You are, aren't you?" In a lightning shift so typical of her friend, Usagi's concern melted into classical Usagi behavior as she pounced on a improbable reason behind for her friend's inattentiveness. "I just _knew_ it! Who is it? Is it that cute guy we saw in the arcade, or was it the one we saw in the cafeteria? What about Tom-san? Ooh, this is so exciting!" Usagi caught sight of a familiar tall figure. "Hey Makoto-chan! Over here! Ami-chan is in love!" She yelled across the room. Ignoring the sudden silence, Usagi chattered on, happily oblivious to the fact that the entire classroom was paying rapt attention to her and her friends. "I think it's that cute guy from 12A3. Isn't this cool..." A crimson flush spread over Ami's face and she fought the urge to sink under the table. She shrank under the wide grins of her classmates as they listened to Usagi carry on with her monologue. "... or it could be that guy from that school for TV actors, you know, the one we saw in the arcade the other day. Of course, we have to get Ami prepared for her date-- You know, I think Christian weddings are the best. It's sooo romantic! A bride, dressed all in white, with a veil covering her face and then the groom lifts it up. Oh. Isn't this--" Makoto held up one hand and hurriedly interposed, before Usagi can go on. "I made chocolate chip cookies for dessert today!" The tall young woman gestured slightly to the brightly wrapped bundle. "...exciting... Did you say chocolate chip cookies?" Words trailing off, Usagi's eyes lit up and she spied the brightly wrapped container in her friend's hand. "Makoto-sama! It's my favorite cookies!" In a flash, the container mysteriously vanished from Makoto's grasp and onto the table in front of Usagi. At first, she tried to continue her conversation, but faced with the ambrosia that was Makoto's home made chocolate chip cookies, she soon gave up in favor of the more sacred task of eating. Makoto cast a long level look around the class and the majority of the students quietly slunk back to their seats and went back to their own pursuits. Soon, the normal hubbub of the classroom resumed. She slid into the seat next to Ami and the busily eating Usagi and grinned at Ami's look of unalloyed gratitude. "Arigato, Makoto-chan." As the classroom returned to normal, Ami's blush began to recede. "No problem." Makoto shrugged off the thanks. "So, what's this about your new boyfriend? Are you ditching Tom-san?" "There is no new boyfriend!" Ami answered vehemently, her grip tightening around her chopsticks as she stabbed at her bento with renewed vehemence. "Oh." Awkwardly, Makoto cast about for a change of subject. "Ah... So, have you thought about my theory about that new exchange student? You know, that Laura person." Ami sighed. In her own way, Makoto was as persistent as Usagi once she gets an idea in her head. Makoto had this bizarre theory that every new exchange student was actually a new enemy sent to case out the senshi. Right. Although the last few exchange students that came were rather strange... and Laura probably _is_ one of the most intelligent exchange students that attended their school, but that doesn't mean she's an enemy. It's impossible. "Makoto-chan," Ami's voice took on a resigned, I've-said-this-a-million-times-already tone. "I really don't think that Laura is connected to the enemy." Makoto took on a mulish look. "Well, just in case, I'm still going to keep on a eye on her." Ami shrugged. "That's entirely up to you. C'mon, break is almost over. We have home economics after this, how about you?" Makoto made a face, "English." Makoto got up with a long stretch, "Well, got to go back and face Old Tokuyama. I'll see you after school at Rei's then." She waved at Usagi, "Remember to pass me back the container when you finished the cookies. And try not to be late this time, okay?" Usagi nodded and spoke through the mouthful of chocolate cookie crumbs, "I," swallow, gulp, "don't have, detention today. I'll be on time, today." "See you later, Makoto-chan." ***************************************************************************** Ami looked out of the window, where the scenery blurred into impressionistic smudges of blue, green and gray. The meeting had been a repeat of the past few meetings. Rei scolding Usagi for being late again, Usagi crying and the rest of the senshi having to comfort Usagi. Trying to get behind the truth of the enemy, and failing miserably. Ending the meeting because Usagi was hungry and also because there was nothing they could do except wait and hope that they aren't too late when the next attack arrives. Ami smiled involuntarily as she imagined Usagi's reaction. It'll probably involve lots of wailing and crying until her parents relented. Ami grinned as she tried to imagine herself failing... and shook her head in amusement. It was just too outré a suggestion. There was no way that Mizuno Ami would fail. Ami thought to herself with resignation, Her face flushed automatically as she recalled the embarrassing episode that every morning when Usagi very vocally discussed her love life. Ami regained her composure as she thought of the boy she lost her heart to. Not for the first time, Ami wondered for much of the feelings she felt were due to that long forgotten life in the past-- and how much of it was because of Tom himself... Unconsciously, Ami's face took a sweet, wistful cast as she remember the wonderful times she had spent with her knight in shining armor. There was a certain dependability, a solidity about Tom that Ami knew she could always count on. That was part of what attracted Ami to him in the first place. That and the strange tingling feeling she got when she first laid eyes on him. Ami smiled, apparently, the feeling had been mutual. The train jerked to a stop and Ami realized with a start that she had reached her station. She quickly shouldered her bag and ran out. Outside, the heady scent of flowers hit her as she exited the station. Ami inhaled deeply and her good humor continued all the way back home. As she stepped out of the elevator, Ami was still smiling when she reached into her bag for her keys and unlocked the door. "I'm home!" Ami called out as she bent to take off her shoes. A familiar silence greeted her. "Mama?" No happy greeting, no mama bustling out of the kitchen. Ami shrugged and walked into the quiet apartment. A familiar note lay on the side table, Ami dropped her bag and picked up the note, written in her mother's neat, sparse handwriting. Ami-chan, I have to work late today. Dinner is already prepared. A parcel came for you in the mail, I’ve left it in your room. Mama She shrugged and carefully folded the note away and placed it back on the table. She re-shouldered her bag and went into her room. There, everything was in its place. Stacks of books in neat piles, shoes aligned in tidy pairs at the bottom shelf of her cupboard, stuffed toys sat primly on her bed with the sea blue comforter. A wide desk sat facing the window, so as to get the best light. The soft sounds of the neighborhood children playing drifted into the room through the window. The only thing that seemed out of place was a large flat parcel. With its bold markings and colorful stamps, it seemed out of place, almost alien, in the neat little room with the white fluttering curtains. Ami slung her bag to its normal position between her desk and book shelves and sat on her bed and picked up the parcel. A scrap of memory flitted to her mind, and a small smile crept to Ami's mouth as she held out the parcel to the light and peered at it. ...if you look hard enough, Ami, you can see every secret, every hidden mystery. If you look hard enough... Her smile faded as she remembered that it had been her father who told her that. Ami shook her head. With that, she left the parcel lying forlornly on her bed as she went to change out of her uniform. An hour later, Ami stretched over her completed homework and picked up a book at random. She flipped to the end of the book and started looking at the indices. The phone rang shrilly, breaking the quiet. Ami frowned slightly and went into the living room to answer it. The moment she picked up the receiver, a hysterical, high-pitched voice babbled on the other end. Ami held away the phone for a minute. Even with the phone held three inches away from her ear, she could pick up the words, 'test', 'punishment', 'arcade' and 'grounded for life' blasting out of the phone at high speed. It's Usagi. Ami fought to keep back her giggles. Despite the long familiarity with Usagi's usual behavior, Ami still couldn't get over a person panicking like this over a simple test. Of course, Ami _studied_. Taking a deep breathe, she held the phone back to her ear and shouted, "Usagi!" "Wh... what?" "Usagi, calm down. Where have you studied up to?" "Study?! I didn't know we had a test!" "Usagi, I reminded you three times this week. Don't you remember at all?" "Er, I remember going out to the park, and eating ice cream with Mamoru. Do you remember? He bought me the prettiest flowers." Even through the phone, Ami could hear the sudden smile as Usagi recounted what was to her, the week's most important event. Ami sighed, "Didn't you do _any_ revision at all?" "Er, well... no. Ami-chan, you have to help me. If I flunk, my parents will never forgive me! They'll ground me for life. I'll never see Mamoru-chan and the rest of you guys forever! Please say you'll come over to my place and help me study? Please?" "All right. But you have to really study, okay? No slacking off." "Yay, you're the best, Ami-chan! You can sleep overnight, right? I'll go tell mum. Bye, Ami-chan!" A tell-tale dial tone told Ami that her irrepressible friend had already hung up. Shaking her head, Ami hung up the phone and went back to her room. Staring at the pile of half completed readings that she'd planned to do tonight, Ami heaved a slightly theatrical sign of resignation and started to write a note for her mother. It was going to be a long night. ****************************************************************************** As Ami turned into the corner of the little lane leading to Usagi's house, she could see her friend waiting anxiously at the gate. "Ami-chan! You're here at last!" Usagi ran forward to greet her friend. "Thank you for helping me! Here, let me take your bag for you. Are these are the books we have to study?" Usagi poked at the bag, looking in dismay at the number of books. Ami nodded. "Hai. There's our textbook, and three other assessments books that sensei said were useful in studying. Have you started at all?" Usagi shook her head, the long tails of hair bouncing as she did so. She defended herself valiantly, "I was waiting for you. Mama got Shingo to buy that great strawberry cake at the bakery's when she knew you were coming. Now we can have strawberry cake for snacks when we study!" She smiled with glee. "Usagi-chan..." Just then, a pretty youngish looking woman called out, "Usagi! Is Ami-san here yet?" "Yes mama!" Usagi dragged her friend into the house, "C'mon, Ami-chan, let's go have strawberry cake!" "Don't you mean study?" Ami stifled her smile and corrected her friend gently. "Cake. Study." Usagi shrugged. "What's important is that you're here! Now come on!" Laughing, Ami allowed Usagi to drag her into the house. There, Usagi's mother waited. "Ami-san. Welcome to our home. Thank you for agreeing to help Usagi with her revision." Usagi's mother smiled as she greeted Ami. The smile turned into a fierce scowl as she moved her gaze to her daughter. "Usagi!" Usagi gulped. "H...Hai." "Pay attention when you're studying. Don't make Ami-san waste her time, all right?" Usagi mumbled a subdued "Hai. Okaasan." Her mother nodded with satisfaction, "All right. Now go to your room. I'll bring up some snacks for you girls to eat while you study." The two young girls chorused, "Arigato." Ami bowed slightly but was soon pulled away by Usagi. "Let's go to my room!" As Usagi pounded up the stairs, Ami caught a startled glimpse of Shingo, Usagi's brother staring up the stairs at them, with a strange choked look on his face. Ami nodded politely to him. Usagi increased her speed, towing Ami in her wake. Ami stumbled a little and stubbed her foot against a stair. "Usagi!" She gasped, coming to a stop, "Slow down!" "Ah, gomen!" Usagi blushed and quickly halted. "Are you all right?" She inquired with concern. "I was running because I was scared that Mum would nag some more and embarrass me. We can go more slowly now." As they continued their walk up to Usagi's room at a more sedate place, Ami took the opportunity to look around. It was a neat, comfortable house, a mute testimonial to Usagi's mother's housekeeping skills as well as to its inhabitants. Little brick -braces lined the shelves along the landing, as well as souvenirs that the family had brought back from their holidays together. Snapshots of Usagi eating, family portraits... Ami felt a seldom-felt stab of envy, for her friend. "You're so lucky to be close to your family, Usagi-chan." She murmured, almost under her breath. "Huh? Me?" Usagi looked surprised. "Mama is perpetually nagging me and Dad's overprotective, I have a pain in the neck, smart alec for a kid brother." Usagi grimaced, "Especially at test and examinations time. Boy do they get on my case. But I guess they're all right." They had reached her room, and Usagi threw open the door. "Welcome to the study room of a hardworking teenage girl!" She proclaimed grandly. Ami burst into laughter. Study room? The place looked like Hurricane Usagi hit it. Stacks of comics and clothes and toys littered the room. Ami could barely make out where Usagi's bed is, the only thing that gave its location away was the fact that the piles of things were all stacked higher than the others. "Oops." Usagi sweatdropped. "Ha, ha. I thought I cleaned up the place last week." A stern voice broke into her sentence, "Yes, but you ransacked your wardrobe looking for clothes to wear for your date with Mamoru on Monday, you borrowed Rei's manga books number 3 to 46 and left them lying around on Tuesday and you upended the entire box of stuffed toys all over the room looking for your favourite bunny last night. Hello, Ami-chan." "Hi, Luna." Ami greeted the moon cat politely. The black moon cat padded sedately towards the door, only pausing to shake off a bunny that managed to get entangled under her paws. Usagi, I'm going to see if I could find any clues about the enemy. I'll be with Artemis, so don't wait up. And remember to study. If you don't..." Luna's small cat face suddenly took on a menacing expression, identical to Usagi's mother. "All right! All right! I'm studying, see?" Usagi leapt, bounded and hopped to her desk and swept the stack of comics off onto the floor. She then quickly took out the books Ami brought and opened it. She turned back to Ami and Luna, "Bye, Luna. Have fun with Artemis." "Hurrumph. Ami-chan, please make sure that Usagi studies." Not waiting for an answer, Luna stalked out of the room, her tail held high. Usagi rolled her eyes up and grimaced. "Why is everybody so concerned about me results. It's not that bad, is it?" Usagi looked down at the book and immediately face-faulted. She turned to Ami. " Ami-chan. I don't understand a word on this page!" "Which ones?" Ami asked as she picked her way gingerly across the various piles of assorted mess. "All of them!" "All right. We'll start revising from chapter 3 and keep going until we reach the chapters to be tested." Usagi groaned but obediently started flipping the pages back. After an hour of intense studying, a soft knock sounded on the door. "Whoisit? Pleasecomein!" Usagi called out gratefully, glad for any break in the study. Her brother, Shingo, stuck his head in. "Oh. It's you. What do you want?" Usagi asked, with a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Shingo looked at Ami and quickly looked away when their eyes met. He coughed, and recovered enough of his usual self to start poking fun at Usagi. "Argh, look at this place, you're even messier than me, and I'm a boy! How could you ask your friends to come over when you didn't even clean up? That's why I don't ask my friends over, if they see this pig sty, I'd die of embarrassment!" "Oooh! You shut up, Tsukino Shingo! It's my room! And who asked you in anyway? I'm busy studying, so GO AWAY!" Usagi shouted, her face beet red. She reached out for any handy missile to throw at her brother and held a stuffed teddy bear up, ready to throw. Shingo grinned evilly, "Throw that at me and I eat all the strawberry cake." "What?!" He reached out behind him and brought a tray of cakes and drinks. "Mama wanted me to bring it up to Ami-san since she's a guest and she brought some for you too. But if you throw that at me, I'll just bring it back down and eat it myself." "Oh, you! Well, mama said it's for Ami-chan, so leave it here and go away!" Usagi got up quickly and took the tray from her brother. Shingo stole a peek at Ami, who sat quietly throughout the whole ruckus. He blushed slightly, then gave a quick bow and strode out. His parting words hung in the air, "I wouldn't stay in this pig sty if you paid me. If Ami-san wasn't such a nice, kind person, she wouldn't either!" "Oh that Shingo! I really want to kill him sometimes. Ami-chan, my room isn't that bad, is it?" Usagi turned to Ami and asked imploringly. "Well, it is a little messy, Usagi-chan. But I'm sure you'll clean it up afterwards, won't you?" "Of course I would! I have to, otherwise, you won't have any place to sleep tonight!" "Right. Now let's have some snacks and then get back to work." "Okay!" The rest of the afternoon passed without event. Soon, it was evening, and Usagi's father came back. He and Usagi's mother stopped by the room and saw the girls hard at work. Happily, they exited. As they went out, Ami could hear Mr Tsukino saying to his wife, "Usagi is lucky to have such a good friend like Mizuno-san." His wife's reply floated back, "Yes, I've yet to see Usagi study so hard before..." Ami looked at the topic of their conversation. Her forehead creased as she tried to decipher the question, Usagi had no idea of her parent's conversation. Ami smiled gently. Quietly, so as not to disturb her friend, she padded out of the room, looking for the washroom. As she went down the stairs, she could see Shingo watching T.V with his earphones on. Ami smothered her smile. Despite all his harsh words, Shingo really must care for his sister. He must be afraid that the sound of the TV program would distract Usagi from her studies and so used the headphones instead. Brothers are not all that bad after all. An wave of envy hit Ami as she compared the lively Tsukino household with the quiet of her own apartment. "Mizuno-san! Are you all right?" It was Mr Tsukino. "Ojisan, I'm okay. I just came out for a bit of air." Ami quickly explained. "Oh. Okay. Please take care of yourself. I am very grateful that you are helping Usagi like this. Thank you very much." "Oh, it's all right. Usagi is my friend. She helps me a lot too!" "Well, dinner will be ready soon, perhaps you'd like to come down and rest a while from your studying. I'll call Usagi to come down too, all right?" Mr Tsukino beamed. Ami nodded, and continued down the flight of stairs. Usagi was so lucky to have a father like that! ****************************************************************************** Later that night, as the girls prepared for bed, Ami's computer beeped an intricate sequence. "What's that?" Usagi asked curiously. "That's the program I wrote if anything broke through! Usagi, call the others! Hurry!" Ami typed frantically. A foreign voice broke into her concentration. "Senshi, it's another enemy." "Macavity! What are you doing here?!" Usagi and Ami gasped in unison. The little man hopped up onto the table. He looked around warily, "Lady of the moon, your advisor is not here?" "Luna's gone out with Artemis." Usagi answered, puzzled. Ami wondered to herself. Her fingers not stopping, Ami opened up another window and instructed her computer to take a scan of the little man. She quickly switched back and resumed her original program. "Mr MaCavity, according to my computer, another thing has broken across. Is it another enemy?" "Lady Mercury," MaCavity nodded in respect, "That is accurate, a new enemy had come. The enemy grows cunning and seeks to mask his approach, but I can tell you that it is near the area where you receive your education. And this time it will not be content with merely wreaking havoc. The enemy is testing your limits-- and mine, senshi. And this time, even I may not help." Macavity said regretfully. He bowed lowly and vanished. "Well, you heard him. Tell everyone to meet at our school." "Alright!" The two girls immediately transformed, and Sailor Moon and Sailor Mercury stood in their place. "Let's go!" In the alley next to the house, Macavity watched sombrely as the two figures raced away in the night. "I'm sorry, senshi, but even I can't help you this time. That Argent! He's growing sly in his old age. Blast him. He must know that centaurs can be held in thrall under a leprechaun's music. He must be trying to find out my identity by sniffing out the signature of my music. There's just one catch though-- I am not a leprechaun." Macavity smiled bitterly. "Good luck senshi." ****************************************************************************** "I found it! It's at the park!" Ami reported as she scanned her computer. "All right. Let's go, minna!" "Aw, do we have to? I'm so sleepy." "HURRY UP, USAGI!" "All right, all right, I'm coming." The group started out, Minako and Rei leading the way, while Ami ran beside Usagi. Lithe figures running, almost flying into the night. As they leapt from building to building, their figures silhouetted against the night's bright moon. The senshi turned the corner to the park, even at this distance, they could already see pairs of lovers fleeing the park. Sailor Moon gasped, "Isn't that our sempai-- and WHY IS HE WITH THAT TART?!" "Shut up, Sailor Moon. We're on senshi business here!" Sailor Moon stuck out her tongue, "You're so mean!" "Sailor Moon, pay attention!" Sailor Mercury shouted. Sailor Moon tossed her head and leaped in a long graceful arc. Miraculously, she managed to land on the park gates without falling. The rest of the senshi took out their position around their leader. "Defiler of young innocent girls' sleep! In the name of my precious sleep time, I shall punish you!" Sailor Moon shouted, her long hair flying in the wind. A tall figure stepped out with a strange clopping sound as he walked out of the shadows. It-- for it definitely wasn't human, well, not all of it, stared lecherously upwards. "Defiler of young innocent girls' sleep... well, I guess you _could_ call it that." The centaur, half man, half horse, smirked and leered up at the senshi. The senshi collectively blushed and pulled their skirts closer. Rei was the first to respond, "Hentai!" She hissed as she loosed her attack on the centaur. The man/horse thing jumped with great dexterity and avoided the flames. "Tut tut, temper, my dear, isn't becoming in a lady. But you're not ladies are you?" The centaur laughed uproariously. Rei and the rest of senshi took the opportunity to jump down from the gates. Makoto riposted, "Yeah, and you're no gentleman either! What are you? An experiment gone wrong?" The centaur stopped short. "An experiment gone wrong? I, the strongest centaur in the silver forest, an experiment gone wrong?! When my ancestors built the Stronghold of Equstarine, you humans weren't even around! How dare you cast spurious doubts on my lineage!" The centaurs eyes flared and subsided into a slow burning smoulder. "You will pay for that!" He snorted, and began to paw at the ground. His hooves struck the stones and sparks flew. The centaur reached for the bow slung across his back. His eyes took on a sullen silvery cast. All of a sudden, the senshi felt weak. They could almost see the anger rolling off from his eyes, assailing them, weakening them. Sailor Mercury gasped, "His eyes... Don't look at his eyes!" "You puny weaklings. Think you can defeat me? Centaurs rule the hills and the forests for a time past eternity. We hunt with the bow and the spirit. Today, my prey shall be you!" He fitted an arrow to his bow and drew. "STOP!" A red rose flew through the air and struck, quivering, at the centaur's legs. The centaur drew back sharply, "What is this? Who dares intrude on my hunt?" "I dare!" A caped figure jumped down from a tree. "Tuxedo Mask!" The senshi shouted. "Attack, Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask shouted. "Er, okay. But aren't you going to do your speech first?" Sailor Moon asked in bewilderment. "Sailor Moon!" Tuxedo Mask, the senshi and the centaur turned irritated and disgusted looks on her. "Speeches have no place in the hunt." "Sailor Moon, I don't really like making speeches." "Listen to Tuxedo Mask and attack, Sailor Moon." Sailor Moon protested, "I was only asking!" Everyone sweatdropped. And so, the fight was on. ***************************************************************************** Right from the start, Ami immediately grasped the difference of 'wreaking havoc' and testing limits. While the previous attackers were no pushovers themselves, their usual mode of attacks seemed somehow diffused- as if just sheer destruction was their motive. The senshi had just gotten in the way and so had to be taken out. There were exceptions, of course. The previous attack, for example, had Usagi's name written on it, but that was the exception. This time... Ami shuddered. If this was 'testing their limits', she'd rather not see a full-scale attack. The centaur had fired off shots with blinding speed-and unlike the normal arrows, these are more like arrow-shaped shrapnel. They hit the target with great force and then exploded into a million shards of light. Already, Ami sported a few cuts on her body. Fortunately, the senshi-enhanced speed and agility had enabled them to get off lightly-- so far. The centaur's eyes gleamed. "Hmm, this may prove to be more interesting than I thought." He smiled savagely as he drew yet another arrow. A circle of devastation surrounded him and the senshi and Tuxedo Mask were a wary distance away. "Fools, do you think that distance will save you?" the centaur grinned wildly, his eyes flashing in the moonlight. His eyes took on a strange cast and suddenly flared silver. Everyone was caught in the hypnotic light in his eyes. Dazzled by the light, the senshi found themselves entranced, unable to look away, their movements slowed. Closer to the light and how the eyes glowed and they were oh so tired, their energy was leaving them... Ami thought dreamily. Ami shook her head, trying to snap out of the strange lassitude that came over her. Struggling, Ami activated her visor. Ami felt better almost instantly. The familiar blue visor seemed to be able to screen out the worst of the effects and Ami could feel herself recovering. A quick glance around, however, showed her that none of her friends were as lucky. Usagi was already wavering on the branch she was standing on. Only Rei and Minako showed signs of resistance. Desperate, Ami cast her attack. Fog appeared, thick and heavy. Fog enough to dim the brightest light-or stare. The rest of the senshi could feel the lassitude falling off them, and with the departure of the tiredness came a bright anger. Almost instantaneously, the senshi attacked together. The centaur exploded in cascade of light-- and vanished. The senshi laid panting, "So strong... I'm so tired..." "Me too." "Good work, senshi..." "I'm tired and hungry and sleepy..." "Let's go home." ****************************************************************************** Ami opened the door with relief, she had been craving the comfort of her own bed for the past two hours. The fight at the park had been exhausting and she didn't feel like sneaking back to Usagi's house. If there have to be a place she have to sneak into tonight, she'd rather it be her bed. Too many things had happened tonight. The recurring dreams about her father, the newly forged envy she felt for Usagi with her happy, boisterous family, the latest fight with the enemy. A centaur, for crying out loud! Ami just wanted to crawl under her comforter and sleep for the next twelve days. She'd be satisfied with seven hours. But it was not meant to be. A light shone from the kitchen. Her mother was home at last. "Ami-chan? What are you doing back? I thought you were sleeping over at Usagi's house tonight? Your note..." Her mother asked, surprised at her sudden appearance. "Mama!" Ami's heart sank slightly. "Ah, yes, but I left a textbook that I need in school tomorrow, so I thought I might as well come home and sleep instead," Ami stammered slightly, edging towards her room. "I hope you weren't up studying so late! Did Mr Tsukino send you back?" Her mother asked, concerned. "Oh, it wasn't that far, they went with me to the bus stop and waited with me until the bus came." Ami ad-libbed frantically. But her mother was in a mellow mood that night. She held out her arms and smiled, "Well, I can't help worrying, you know, that's what mothers do when they have pretty daughters." "Oh mama." Ami laughed in relief as she went to her mother for a much needed hug. "Well, it's true." Her mother retorted as she pulled Ami down with her as she sat on the couch. Ami's mother sighed contentedly as she caressed her daughter's wavy blue hair. "All mothers think they have pretty daughters. It's just that it happens to be true in my case. You can't fight genes." She added smugly. The edges of Ami's mouth crept up, as she leaned into her mother's embrace. Then she decided to risk the question that she had been wanting to ask for the past day. "Mama, what was papa like?" She asked, low voiced. "Your father?" Ami's mother asked in some surprise. "What brought that on?" Her eyes crinkled slightly as she pulled back from her young daughter and stared. Ami shifted under that long stare and glanced away. Affecting nonchalance, she shrugged slightly and replied, "I just-- wondered. I mean, you said genes and all." Her mother expelled a soft breathe, "Well, I guess you're old enough to want to know..." Ami's mother leaned back against the couch, eyes blank with memories. And then she started talking. "In the beginning," she started, a tinge of bitterness staining her voice, "In the beginning, we were young and foolish and in love. We were happy at first. So happy. Nothing could separate us-- or so we thought. We had such grand dreams back then, when we were dating. I would go get a scholarship for my medical career, he would go to the Academy of Fine Arts and when we are done, I would cure the world of its diseases and he would paint the most beautiful paintings." Her voice softened, "We were so happy. Nothing could come between us. Never mind that your grandpa didn't really approve of him. We were in love! And so we got married. He had a gift for living, your father. Maybe it's his painting, he saw things that most people miss. And when I was with him, he made me see too. But time passed, I got pregnant, with you, Ami-chan! I remember when I told him, he was so excited. He brought me out to celebrate, even through we weren't very rich. I took time off my studies and stayed home to have you. Those few months, we looked up every pregnancy text I could get in the library. Father, that is, your grandfather, relented when he found out that I was pregnant, and we were happier than ever... And when you were born... I remember, looking at him, with you cradled in my arms, against my breast. His face was... glowing, almost. He was that happy. "For the next five, six years, things went well. To me, anyway. I had gone back to my scholarship and was continuing my studies. We were still dirt-poor. Your papa has pride. He wouldn't accept help from my father. But we managed. We were happy. And you were the most perfect child. But while I had my studies and you. Your father, he seemed stuck at a point in his painting, and he couldn't go on. I knew in the beginning that we had very different personalities, that was part of the attraction in the first place! But I didn't realize how different-- I was content to hold my little part of the world, I was satisfied with my studies in the medical field. But your father, he wanted, no, needed, to see the world. He tried very hard in the last few years to be content with the small part of the world. But it was stifling him. For me to hold him back was to kill his art. And so he left. "I was young then, his leaving seemed like a rejection of us. Of me and the daughter I birthed and I was furious. How could he leave me? Leave us? It took a long time before I understood, and even then, my understanding was imperfect. I couldn't understand--" Her mother broke off, turned away to swallow tears back. "Mama..." Ami reached out tentatively, "Mama." Her hand laid uncertainly on her mother's shoulder. "Oh, Ami-chan, I'm all right." Her mother smiled wanly and touched her hand lightly. "It's just remembering back-- how lonely it was. The anger faded with time, but at night, in an empty bed, it was hard. Loneliness, it's always around. Even when you try to step out of it, it's never far away. But maybe that's good too, so we never take anyone for granted. Sweet Ami." She reached out to cup her daughter's face in her hands, "Your father and I love you very much, even through we can't be with you every minute of the day. You know that, don't you?" Ami looked up at her mother, and said in a soft voice that could barely be heard in that quiet living room, "But papa left us, didn't he?" "Oh! Oh sweetheart, your father didn't leave because he didn't love you! It was never you! I was angry with him for the longest time, and maybe you picked it up, but I promise, it is not because of you that your father left. He needed to go away in order to paint, but he still loves you no matter where he goes. It took me a long time to realise it, but it's true. Ami-chan, I can see it in every painting your father sends to you." "Really?" Ami asked in a low voice. "Then why didn't he come back?" "Baka no Ami-chan, of course it's true. Every brush stroke, every colour was chosen so that even though your papa can't be with you, at least he can let you see what he sees, though his painting." her mother smiled. "If you look hard enough, you can see your father's love for you, within his painting. You're my genius daughter, if I can see it, you should be able to see it too. Okay?" she asked, gripping her daughter's hand. "Okay," Ami smiled, returning her mother's grasp at last. That night, as Ami prepared to go to bed, she was still musing about what her mother had said to her. "I'm content with what I have," she had replied, in response to Ami's question. "Before, I did miss him a lot. But now I have my own friends at the hospital. I have my work. And I have you. I'll never forget him, everyday, when I look at you, because you are the evidence of our love. Ami-chan, I don't think we can get back together, but we can meet peaceably. Because your presence signified our love for each other. Even though it's over, your presence mean that we weren't wrong to fall in love. That our love means something in this world. Because it gave us you." Ami turned over, her eyes were caught by the parcel that had came in for her that day. The parcel that her father sent, without fail, for her. '... every brush stroke, every colour... your father's love for you...' Ami picked up the parcel, and with a deep breathe, reverently tore open the package's wrapping. "Ah." A soft exclamation escaped her lips so she looked upon her father's work. As Ami touched, with gentle hands, the silent gift that her father sends to her, she thought of her mother's words and whispered to herself, "I'm content too. We may not be a conventional, happy noisy family like Usagi's. But then, I'm not Usagi and I don't want to be her either. I am Mizuno Ami and I like my papa and mama just the way they are." That night, Ami slept with a smile on her face. Hanging over her bed, a new painting, of a woman and a blue-haired child standing amidst a pool of green water, gleamed in the moonlight. The End Send comments to Sherlyn