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Power Failure

"Mercury Eternal Make-Up!"

Silence filled the small room, the air remained still. The moonlight continued to pour into the room, along with a few droplets of rain. She waited, and she waited. Nothing came of the magical spell that the Mercurian had known to work quite a few times in the past. Her lips pressed into a heavy frown. She would try again.

"Mercury Eternal Make- Up!"

Nothing.

Ami's face grew pale as she looked at her empty hand that was once outstretched towards the wooden cieling. Only now did she hear the gentle drumming of the rain on the roof, which was only drowned out by the raging bellow in her chest as her heart raced. Deep blue eyes continued to stare blankly at her pale, but slowly Callusing hands.

The beautiful brooch she had been given only a few months after the Negaverse's defeat was not there. There was no beautiful pearl surface glimmering in the clouding light that bled into the room, no ocanic reflection off of the cold gem that was incrusted into it's surface. No carved in designs of banches and stars, and definately no symbol of her home planet. There was only her pale flesh starring back at her in silent mockery.

"I-it didn't work," she heard her voice stutter out in shock. Her knees grew weak, and without her knowing she was on the floor, sitting helplessly onto her knees, still staring at her empty hand. "I-it didn't work..."

For the first time in years, Ami Mizuno felt utterly helpless, as if a piece of her had just been stolen away in the night along with her charge. Many question should have ran through her mind. Questions such as why she wasn't able to transform as she knew she was supposed to, or how she was to find her princess now that her scanner was out of reach, or even how she was supposed to defend herself without her full powers to tap into. Instead, her mind settled on that single phrase that was now chanted into her mind as some sort of mantra that unwillingly mocked her.

It didn't work, it didn't work, it didn't work.

Slowly she felt the walls of dispair close in on her.

Ami had always been the weaker of the group. Always the physically weakest in a fight, even compared to Hotaru before her rebirth. However, she was never completely defenseless, not as she was now. Not as she was before she became aware of her heritage, her destiny.

This is what you wanted though, isn't it? a voice echoed in her mind. Her brows furrowed at it, the all to familiar voice.To be normal, so that you could live out your life, have a normal future with him? Isn't this what you wanted for yourself? So selfish to think you could have something and not give something in return.

"No!" Ami found herself shouting in anger at these thoughts, her motionless hands now balling into fists. She beat them into the wooden floor in her anger. "No! Not like this!"

The voice was right however. Many a time, since the realization that she would have to give up everything normal in her life, did she wish this duty had not been bestowed upon her, had she wished that she had never encountered the Beautiful Sailor Soldier Sailor Moon. Even if the girl had become her closest friend, inside her mind she also cursed her for finding her. For giving her that transformation pen, for waking her up from her blissful dream of normalacy.

Now, however, it was clear that the foutain of her power was stripped from her, that it was all selfish, childish thinking. The duty was bigger than her, there was too much at stake. How foolish was she to think she could ever have survived as long as she had without her abilities as a Sailor Soldier. And now her bestfriend's daughter was missing, and it was all but her fault.

Ami knew she was overreacting, but she could not help it. In her mind it was well deserved if not needed tenfold. She would punish herself, and pray that she could figure something out before things got worse.

"Miss. Mizuno?" A voice drifted into the room and Ami lifted her head from where it now rested on the wooden floor.

She pushed herself back into her sitting position, never turning to look at the intruder, and quickly wiped her eyes of her tears. Squaring her shoulders she finally spoke:

"Yes Mr. Chichiri?"

"Is everything alright?" The monk inquired. He did not dare open the door any further than enough to fit in his head. His cheerful, but clearly worried face peered at her back, something was amis. "I heard you screaming, No da. I wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I'm fine," Ami offered. She slowly turned to show the monk her tearless face and a smile, however red rims around her eyes were the taletell signs of her anguish.

Chichiri watched her for a long moment, his eyebrows furrowing in worry. After glancing into the empty hall he slipped into the room and slowly shut the door behind him. With careful steps, as if worried about disturbing the very air of the room, he made his way to the woman's side. Slowly he sat himself next to her, facing her, indianstyle. A small frown graced his cheerful face.

"It's not your fault, no da," He offered knowingly. "You couldn't have known this would happen."

Ami turned her gaze away from him. She felt anger stir at his words, she felt her shame also rise. "I should have expected it though, of all of us I should have expected it."

"How would you though?" Chichiri offered, "There was no sign to tell. You are too hard on yourself, no da."

"You don't understand," she spat angrily, allowing her usually hidden emotions to rise up from their slumber, "I'm the smart one, I plan the battle plans, I was the one that was supposed to know someone would try something to get to her. I should have kept a closer watch!"

Chichiri thought to speak, but kept his mouth shut. Instead he would let the woman vent, his ears remaining attentive, and his face unjudgemental.

"Out of all of us, I was the one who always insisted on being prepared for the unexpected," Ami began without invitation. Far too much had happened for her not to vent to someone, even if it was a strange monk, in a strange world that was not her own. If she didn't vent, she'd drive herself mad, she knew. She spoke as though it were to Greg, as if the monk knew the ones she spoke of. He didn't, but she didn't care, she just rambled. It was all she could do now.

"I wasn't a fighter like Makoto, Rei, or Haruka," Ami started feeling the tears begin to well up once more," I didn't have the powers Hotaru, Setsunna, or Michiru have. I surely didn't have the cleverness or cunning of Minako or Mamoru, and I didn't even have the heart of Usagi, or the determination. I did have my brain though. Top of my class, smartest girl in school, and brains that made our machine work. I made out the training schedules, I made the rules of battle, and I, of all of them, was the defensive. I bought them time, I protected them while they got their attacks together... I could confuse an entire brigade of monsters, but I can't keep one girl from being snatched up by a damned doll! I can't even use my powers now to save her! What good am I!"

Chichiri closed the distance between them as she broke down into waves of uncontrolable tears. His arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her into his chest. She did not fight it as she burried her face into his chest and allowed her fingers to entangle themselves into his tunic. Gently he stroked the back of her hair, and allowed her to do as she must to relieve herself of the emotions that plagued her.

Chichiri did not understand the extent of her ramblings, or her explanation. What he did understand was that she was a guardian, soldier, of some sort who had failed in her duties to protect her charge. He knew how that had felt, even before becoming a Suzaku warrior. The difference, however, from then and now was that the girl was alive, and there was still a great chance of getting her back.

"You are tired," Chichiri finally spoke after sometime of stillness from the girl. When he did not get a response he peered down at her and realized the girl had passed on to slumber. He smiled. She was so young, around Miaka's own age if he could guess. It was such a shame that she would have to bear such trials as these. He could only guess at the trials of the young Miss. Usagi who now was in the cluthes of an unknown enemy.

"Master" the woman stepped into the black throne room and to in center, "They have gathered for the ceremony."

"Good, give them room and board, treat them as kings," the voice answered easily. The shadowed form waved his pale hand to his left, motioning to the motionless girl whom stood there. "Feed her and dress her, and prepare her for the ascension. The Jade Emperor, I'm sure, knows by now what we plan, we need to make haste."

"Yes M'lord," The woman replied and bowed deeply. She soon went on to do as instructed.

Morning came with no warning, for there was no sun to be had this day. Clouds covered the sky, and rain covered the ground. The town moved slowly, lazily setting up their shops and shaking off the covers of sleep.

As soon as ready, the Trio, set off to their next destination. They had stopped to see if perhaps the cart of dolls had been set up, but there was nothing. Ami's mood had faired not better from this find. Tasuki would try to cheer the girl up a bit by offering her a few amusing stories of his adventures as both Genrou and as A Suzaku warrior. They only offered a temporary solace to her worry.

When they stopped for breaks she wandered off by herself, insisting not to be followed. Everytime, she wandered back looking ever more disheartened. Chichiri and Tasuki grew worried, but did not press her for answers. She would not give them any, they knew. This continued throughout the next week or two, until they finally spotted the borders of the capital. And it was indeed a sight for soar eyes.

Ami looked upon the great city from their distant path and could not help but smile a hint of satisfaction. Here she would be able to bath properly, Chichiri had told her, and eat to her fill as Tasuki also pointed out. She may even be given traveling clothes more comfortable then the baggy mens clothes she currently wore. After all, they weren't as comfortable she would have liked. Far too much loose fabric, leaving far too many saddle burns on the inside of her thighs.

When they entered the city limits, they were given the first sights of the city. Busy streets as peasant went to and fro, and merchants shouting up at them to buy their wares. Apparently this had once been the slums of the kingdom. However since the Emperor's been on throne things had gotten better, and better jobs were being supplied allowing the jobless a better chance at life.

"For a kid he's doin' alright," Tasuki offered with a smirk.

"A kid?" Ami inquired curiously tilting her head towards him.

"He's what seven now Chichiri?" Tasuki inquired. The monk laughed.

"Thirteen," Chichiri corrected and Ami could only nod. She knew that Emperor's sometime assumed the thrones at young ages, but to have such control and apparently influence? It was amazing.

"And he rules alone?" Ami wanted to be sure.

"For the most part, He goes to the Empress now and then for advice, but recently he has taken it upon himself to make decisions of his own," The monk said. Ami nodded.

The Emperor, Reizeitei, was the son of the Suzaku warrior, and former Emperor, Hotohori if she remembered the tale correctly. He was a somewhat shy boy who was coming out of his shell and learning quickly the tasks of being a king. At times he could be childish and then at times he could seem the wisest of men, Chichiri had told her. She could not help but think of Usagi when she was told this. The blonde did have her moments after all.

After the long ride through the city streets they reached the castle gates where they dismounted their horses. There Chichiri talked to the guard who reluctantly let them enter. Upon entering Ami could only gasp at the size of the palace. Its red walls stood tall, and were detailed in gloden paintings and carvings of all sorts. The court yard was vast, leaving a large empty space of cement for the yearly celebrations or gatherings that were known to happen.

At the entrance steps the red wooden doors slid open, and almost immediately Ami had to smile. A boy, garbed in the richest of robes, his long grayish brown hair a mess about his shoulders, came sprinting from them. A large smile adorned his young face as he shouted his greeting.

"Master Chichiri!" He squealed as he ran to the man and nearly tackled him into a hug. Of course, behind him, trailed to very unhappy maids both carry hair accessories that would be used to fix the emperor up to a more respectable standard.

"You are back earlier then you said!" The boy pointed out as he pulled back from the hug and looked upon the monk.

"Yes," Chichiri offered with a smile. "Somethings have come up which calls me back this way, no da. And I've brought friends with me, You remember Tasuki don't you?"

The boy looked upon the wild red head whom bowed his head just enough to him before nodding. "Yes, but who is she?" He pointed boldly to the woman.

"This is Mizuno Ami," The monk then offered motioning to the girl she smiled a little, unsure what really to do. "She's is from Mayo's world."

"Another priestess?" The boy asked with an all too excited look.

"I don't think so,no da," Chichiri offered as he rested a hand upon the boys head.

The boy looked at the girl for a long moment, then turned his full attention back onto the monk. With a sweep of his arm through the air, he motioned toward the palace entrance.

"Please," he said happily," Come, I'll have my servants prepare you rooms and we shall feast tonight."

With that said the smsll band entered the palace and were soon shown to their rooms. There they were tended to with baths, fresh clothes, and whatever other needs may be tending to. For now, all was quiet in the world, with only a choice few aware of the dark stirrings beneath the surface of it all.

Review Responses:

Crystallynne: Thank you so much for the review. It's good to know that at least one of my old readers is still attentive to my story. It's really encouraging.

lil-saturn-godess: Thanks so much for the review.

Author's Note: So sorry for the delay, internet's been down. Alas here's the next chapter. Not very long, and not very exciting, but here nonetheless. I hope you enjoyed.