| Chapter 12: An Escape “It’s absolutely hopeless,” Jen said to Apollo and Athena. “She’s been up there for two weeks. She won’t even let the two of you in.” She sipped her coffee at the table and looked at the cats. They looked sadly back at her. “Meow,” Athena offered. Jen began to sob again. “Oh, I don’t know what to do!” She cried. “She came home and was like this. I feel like I’ve failed her as a mother. She won’t talk to anyone she hardly eats or sleeps. She just cries!” She looked up, her eyes red and swollen. “That girl!” Apollo thought furiously. “Look at what she’s put Jen through. She’s in so much pain. If only we could talk to her.” “I don’t even have an inking as to what happened. I wish Griffin were here, he could talk to her,” Jen said, calming down a bit. “Meow,” Athena said again. She looked at Apollo and he nodded at his sister. They both ran up the stairs to try to get through to Jacey. “Open this door!” Athena said, scratching at it. “We’re not kidding!” “Go away!” Jacey sobbed. “I have no reason to come out.” She sniffled and wiped away the tears that were streaming down her face. Apollo sighed. “But Jacey,” he said. “We want to talk. There’s a lot you don’t understand. Like with Griffin and. . .” There were thudding footsteps and they heard the door being opened with difficulty. Athena’s face lit up at the thought of Jacey finally coming out, but quickly fell when she saw her angry scowl. “How dare you!” Jacey seethed. “What?” Athena said. “What did we say?” She looked at Apollo dumbfoundedly. “How dare you come to me and mention Griffin’s name! You try to come in here and tell me that everything’s going to be fine and he’s happy and I should be and a lot of other shit! Well, I’m not gonna take it, not this time! I don’t care who the hell is in danger anymore, Sailor Earth is dead as far as I’m concerned!” she yelled. Apollo opened his mouth to say something, but Jacey cut him off. “No,” she said. “I’m not fit to do it anymore and I won’t be destiny’s pawn.” With that she slammed the door in their faces and threw herself onto her bed. “Ooo! That girl!” Apollo growled. “She’s going to be very confused when this all comes to confront her! Then she’ll be sorry she didn’t listen to us.” He turned and walked back to the kitchen. Athena looked sadly at Jacey’s door where she could hear muffled sobs coming from. “I understand,” she thought. “How horrible it feels to be powerless to help the people you love.” *** Jen saw a car pull into the Castro’s driveway and Griffin stepped out. “Griffin?” she thought, bewildered. Griffin looked at Jacey’s house and smiled. He dashed off and knocked on the kitchen door. Jen answered it and gave him a huge hug. “Griffin!” she said. “What are you doing here? I thought you were. . .” she trailed off in wonder. “I know, I know,” he said. “But I guess this is what destiny, and my mother, wanted!” he laughed. Jen laughed heartily too. “Well, Jace is upstairs in her room. Good luck trying to get her out,” she said smiling. “I’m sure she’ll respond to this unexpected surprise, though!” Griffin smiled and took the stairs up in twos. Apollo and Athena saw this and dashed up the stairs to try to get to Jacey first. But it was too late, Griffin was at her door and knocking with a silly grin on his face. “Go away! I told you I don’t want to see anyone!” she called. Griffin smiled. “No, you never told me that,” he said. Jacey perked up. “Could it be?” she thought. “Griffin?” she said. Griffin just laughed as he heard her footsteps fly across the room and unlock the door. She threw open the door and sure enough, there he was. “Grif!” she screamed and threw her arms around his neck. “Hey! How’s my best girl?” he asked, kissing her on the cheek. Jacey was slightly taken aback by the informality of his kiss, but didn’t give it a second thought. “I’m good,” she said, dazed. “But you, you! I thought you were dead! How could. . .” “What?” Griffin interrupted. “Dead?” Jacey nodded sheepishly. “I know it was pretty silly of me to think that someone as resilient as you would have died. But you disappeared and I didn’t know what else to think. . .” she rambled. “Jacey,” Griffin said, taking her by the shoulders. “I went upstate to visit my grandmother in Poughkipsie. I was only gone two and a half weeks! You knew that! I was supposed to stay another week and a half, but my mom wanted me home for school.” Jacey froze. “Your, your. . .” she stammered. Her hand went up to the spot where Griffin’s necklace should have been, but it wasn’t there. “Where is it?” she freaked, searching around her. “Where’s what?” Griffin asked. “The necklace!” she said. “What necklace?” he asked as if she were crazy. “The one you gave me!” Jacey practically screamed. “Jacey, I’ve never given you a necklace,” he said. Jacey froze where she was and starred frightfully at Griffin. Then Jacey erupted into a fit of giggles. “Just wanted to make sure your sense of humor was still intact!” she said, laughing but trying not to cry. “Well,” Griffin said, half frightened. “I just stopped by to say hello.” He stared at his hands, feeling awkward. “So I guess I should get going. Bye,” he said, kissing her on the cheek again. He walked out the door and Jacey waved as he walked down the stairs. Apollo and Athena looked up at Jacey sadly. “We tried to tell you,” Athena said. “I know,” Jacey said calmly. “But now you have a lot of explaining to do.” *** Jacey trudged up the stairs after Jen’s “Welcome Downstairs” dinner. Jacey was happy about the pick-me-up, but just wanted to find out what was going on. Apollo was typing away on Jacey’s laptop and Athena was munching on some kitty treats when Jacey walked in. “So, explain,” she said. “What on Earth is happening in my already messed up existence.” She laid down on her bed with her hands behind her head. Athena swallowed a mouthful of food. “Well,” she started. “The Midnight Façade ‘died.’ When he was hit, it ultimately killed him and your healing couldn’t help him because he knew you were weak and wouldn’t except your energy.” “I knew he died!” Jacey shouted. She sat up and looked at her hands. “Then how could he be here?” Apollo cleared his throat and piped up. “Well, it was the Midnight Façade, not Griffin that died.” Jacey raised an eyebrow at him. “The Midnight Façade is a spirit inside Griffin, like Sailor Earth is a spirit inside you. Of the body is hurt while the spirit is in control, the spirit leaves the body. So Griffin is just Griffin and he doesn’t remember ever being the Midnight Façade. Anything that happened since then has been replaced by fuzzier normal memories.” Tears began to roll down Jacey’s face. “The day the Midnight Façade showed up was the day he kissed me. He doesn’t remember the relationship at all! So everything that he gave me, like the necklace, is gone.” “Mmm hmm,” Athena said. “You’re just friends now and you have been for the past nine and a half months.” Jacey’s face lit up. “Well, that’s easy enough to fix!” she giggled. “All I have to do is tell him that I love him and we’ll be a couple again. I mean, he obviously felt for me before we were superheroes! Then I can fulfil what Serenity and my mother tried to set up for us here!” “No,” Athena said. “When you both had powers, it could have worked. But now, he’s just someone else you have to defend and in a relationship emotions get dragged into it,” she sighed. “You know I’m only looking out for you.” Jacey smiled weakly. “I know that now. But how can we get the Midnight Façade back?” “Well, he has to find Griffin’s body again,” Apollo said jumping onto Jacey’s shoulder. “But he has to stay on the sun for a while. It’s kind of like a stopover station for Scout spirits. They all go to the sun to keep Sailor Sun company.” “By the way,” Jacey inquired. “What was the deal with my body being possessed by a giant fireball?” “Sailor Sun was the greatest legend during the Moon Kingdom,” Athena said. “Instead of a man on the moon, there was a woman in the sun. She is the spirit of the sun, born upon its creation. She was the sole protector of the universe. But even with her infinite power, she couldn’t protect the planets form evil. So, she created ten spirits, one for each planet and for the moon and they each had a family to posses and defend their planet through. When a Scout would die, the spirit would return to her and search for its body once more. But it was just a legend. No one ever thought she was real.” Jacey looked at Apollo and Athena. “Well, she is.” *** Jacey opened her eyes and let them adjust to the dark room. She quickly identified Apollo and Athena, who were sleeping in their basket next to her bed. Jacey silently pushed off her covers and tiptoed out of bed. Her footsteps never made a sounds as she moved to her desk and grabbed some papers she had been hiding since she found out about Griffin out of the bottom drawer. She crept silently down the stairs and into Jen’s office. Lowering its sound, she turned on the computer and entered Microsoft Word. She opened up one of the year old pamphlets she grabbed from her drawer and thought for a second. Then, she began to type: Dear Mrs. Marson, I am very interested in your student exchange program based in Tokyo. *** “The time draws nearer, little Hotaru,” Trista cooed to the infant wrapped in her arms. “She is ready to return to us and meet her final destiny.” Hotaru gurgled with delight and Trista smiled broadly. “We must welcome her. And if we don’t take this opportunity, she will fall into the wrong hands and the great purpose will never be fulfilled.” Trista sighed and held her finger out for Hotaru to hold. “They’ll never go for it, will they, Hotaru?” she said. Hotaru just shook Trista’s finger back and forth. “Well, we have to get her here somehow, whether Amara and Michelle like it or not.” The door opened and closed and Trista heard keys rattling. “Trista, we’re back!” Amara called through the apartment. “Are you home?” “Here goes nothing,” Trista said and took a deep breath. She popped into the living room where Amara and Michelle stood, talking. “Hey guys! How was the concert?” “Oh, it was so wonderful!” Michelle said, dreamily. “That was violin like I’ve never heard it played before.” She walked over to Trista and bent down so she was looking Hotaru in the eyes. “Hello, Sunshine,” she said gingerly taking her from Trista’s arms. “Did you and Trista have a nice night?” Amara walked over and kissed the baby on its head. “Hey, Kiddo,” she said kindly. Trista smiled warmly at the scene. She’d never been happier, living with her three best friends. But she knew that trouble was coming, a trouble not even Sailor Saturn or Sailor Moon could handle. All she had to do was convince Amara and Michelle to let the only one who could save everyone stay with them for a while. “Amara, Michelle,” she said softly. “There’s something we need to discuss.” “What is it?” Amara asked, concerned. “Is it about Hotaru?” Michelle asked protectively. “No, no,” Trista said, sitting down on the sofa. “It does have something to do with Hotaru, and all of the Scouts. But nothing is wrong with her, if that’s what you mean.” Amara and Michelle sat down on the love seat opposite Trista and their faces took on a look of concern. “Is it the new dark force?” Amara asked. “We’ve been having some dreams, but it seemed too far off to worry anyone. They were inconclusive too.” Trista took a deep breath. “It kind of is. I know what is coming, it’s an evil shadow. It’s almost ten times as deadly as the heart snatchers.” Amara and Michelle gasped. “Sailor Moon won’t be able to stop it, and neither will Sailor Saturn.” All three of them looked at the baby in Michelle’s arms. “Will she be grown again by the time it arrives?” Michelle asked. Trista nodded. “She will be, the evil isn’t coming for about another year, I’d say. But my point was that there is only one person who could stop it.” She turned around and pulled out a book. “Her,” she said, pointing to a picture in the Marson Exchange Program Guidebook. “She’s put in to be an exchange student in Tokyo, and I think we should take her in.” Amara stood up. “Trista, have you lost your mind?” she said. “We are three women and a baby living in a three bedroom apartment!” “So we have the spare bedroom,” Trista said. “Hotaru can sleep in my room and you and Michelle already share a room.” “That’s another thing,” Michelle said. “What is she going to think of me and Amara? We aren’t exactly in a typical boy/girl relationship.” Trista sighed. “Do you even realize who she is?” Trista said, forlornly. “Some girl named Jacey Chiba-Monroe,” Amara said, shortly. Trista looked up at her. “Not only is she Jacey Chiba-Monroe, she’s Tuxedo Mask’s little sister, and Sailor Earth.” Amara and Michelle gaped at Trista. “Please. I believe that she is the only one that will be able to save the world. If we don’t get her here, and train her, this could really be the end.” *** Jacey ran to the mailbox and grabbed the mail out. “Is it here? Is it here?” she thought. Her junior year was drawing to a close and the 16-year-old was anxiously awaiting two important letters. “Finally!” she said, as she raced to her front door. She tore open the first letter. It was her weekly correspondence from Griffin. It bore the same thing it usually did, life is good, school is good, I miss you and all the like. She left the note he always enclosed for Jen on the table for her to see. Then, she looked at the other letter for her that she held in her hand. It was very official looking and intimidating. It had been almost two years since the fight and the Midnight Façade’s ‘death.’ Griffin had gone off to NYU and Jacey had stayed at NYC Academy. Enemy’s came and went and Sailor Earth fought them. She never really felt it anymore, she just fought. There was a part that was numb inside of her, and she didn’t think she would ever be completely whole again. But the exchange program gave her a glimmer of hope. It was a chance to start again, a chance to find Darien. Curiosity overcame her fear and Jacey tore into the envelope that sealed her fate. Her mind and heart raced and her palms started to sweat when she began to unfold the letter. It said: Dear Ms. Chiba-Monroe, I am happy to inform you that you have been accepted into the Marson Exchange Program! You will be attending the Juuban High School and will be staying with Ms. Trista Mayo and her family. All information regarding uniforms, scheduling, and travel information are inclosed. If you have any questions, feel free to call anytime. Sincerely, Mrs. Cynthia Marson “I did it!” Jacey screamed. “This is it! I did it! I’m going to Japan, I’m going home!” She began to sob and tears of joy ran down her face. “My life might finally regain some semblance of normal,” she thought *** “Jen!” Jacey gushed. “Isn’t it so wonderful?” Jacey spun around the kitchen on her heels. “It’s like a dream come true!” Jen smiled warmly. “It is, I’m so happy for you!” Athena perked up from her nap in Jacey’s room. “What’s so wonderful?” she thought. She sighed and yawned. “Who would have ever guessed that they would pick me? Me! Of all people!” she smiled with satisfaction. Jen’s face became serious. “I’m so sorry I never took you back. It was just so painful to even think about it.” Her lip began to quiver. Athena listened closely. “Painful?” “It’s okay Jen,” Jacey said. “Now I finally get to go home!” Athena’s head began to spin. “Home? What does she mean, ‘home’?” She nudged Apollo. “Where’s Jacey’s home?” she asked him. “The one before she lived here.” “Tokyo,” he said groggily and turned over. “Tokyo!” Athena shouted. “She can’t go to Tokyo!” Apollo fell off the bed and gawked. “Why would she be going to Tokyo?” he said in disbelief. “I don’t know,” Athena said. “But nothing good could come of this situation.” Jacey, in all of her excitement, came bounding up the stairs, wielding her acceptance letter. “Guys! Guess what!” she squealed as she closed her door. “I was accepted as an exchange student in Tokyo!” “Congratulations,” Athena said, sadly. “Ouch, someone forgot to take their happy pill this morning!” Jacey giggled. But Apollo and Athena just looked at her. “Okay, or this could be serious,” she said, growing a look of concern. Apollo was the first to speak. “Jacey, we’re very happy and excited for you,” he said. “But. . .” “Oh no,” Jacey cut him off. “No buts, I don’t want to hear it! Being a Scout had prevented me from doing anything for three years! Don't say ‘but’ to me!” “There won’t be anyone to defend New York!” Athena pleaded. Jacey thought for a half a second. “I could do a Sailor Split! Then there would be two of me!” Athena hung her head. “We wouldn’t want to put you in a dangerous situation like that.” She paused for a minute. “We’re not saying no. Just give us some time to find a solution, maybe even get another Scout to come here. We’ll figure it out, Jacey, don’t worry.” Jacey smiled. “I have complete faith in you.” *** “No Scouts to spare?” Apollo asked. “None,” Athena said. “We’ve totally let her down. She leaves tomorrow morning! What can we do?” She began to pace around the room after shutting the laptop. “Can you think of anything?” Apollo sighed. “We could let her do the Split. She’s strong enough to rejoin herself. I don’t want to break her heart.” Jacey walked into the room and locked the door. “And the verdict is?” she asked. “The Sailor Split,” Athena replied. Jacey looked at her quizzically. “I know, I know. Apollo and I failed. We couldn’t find any other way. We don’t want to put you in danger, but we want you to be happy.” Jacey shrugged. “Whatever. As long as I get to go,” she said and raised her hand. “Earth Scout Power!” She finished her transformation and looked to her cats. “I forgot what to do, you’ll have to talk me through it.” “All right,” Apollo said. “Close your eyes.” Jacey did as she was told and began to focus her energy. Soon an aquamarine aura surrounded her. “Now,” he said. “Visualize two of you and said Sailor Split.” As she concentrated on a second Sailor Earth, the transformation key came out of her body. “Sailor Split!” she yelled and the key doubled itself. Then, out of nowhere, a second person began to materialize around the second key. Sailor Earth’s key went back into her own body and she reopened her eyes. There Sailor Earth stood, face to face with an exact replica of herself. “Talk about freaky,” she said as she looked the clone over. “What are we gonna do with her?” “She’s going to stay in the loft we trained you in,” Athena said. “And she’ll go to one of the public schools in the area. We don’t want her to get lonely or anything. But she can’t be killed and she can materialize anything she needs.” The original Sailor Earth dropped her tiara to the floor. “Great! Now you guys can come to Tokyo with me!” Jacey turned to the second Sailor Earth. “Thanks,” she said. “For doing this. I really appreciate it.” The clone just smiled. “Good luck,” Jacey said, giving her a big hug. The second Sailor Earth dropped her tiara to the floor. “I hope you find what you’re looking for,” she said. Then she vanished into thin air. “How come I don’t get to do all sorts of cool stuff?” Jacey asked the cats. Apollo and Athena just rolled their eyes as Jacey babbled on about vanishing into walls and materializing things. “Its going to be a long year,” Apollo said. Athena smiled. “You don’t know the half of it.” |