Chapter Text
A Ghost of Mommy
“It was a ghost.” The words of her youngest daughter rang through Rei’s mind as she investigated her wing of the castle. “A ghost of mommy.”
O.O.O
“I’m sure you were just seeing things,” Jadeite insisted as he hugged little Reina close in his arms. Both he and Rei had run into her room upon hearing Reina cry out in terror. “Mommy is very much alive and I’m looking at her.”
“Get her some warm milk and honey,” Rei instructed her husband as she pulled out her transformation pen. “I'll go have a look around to make sure everything is fine.”
O.O.O
“My ghost is scaring my child,” Rei, now Sailor Mars announced to herself as she made her way through the dark hallways. “Something doesn't seem right…I don’t sense any evil.”
Though there was no evil aura, Rei still felt a foreign presence. As she got closer to it, she kept her talismans at the ready. Eventually she came to a stop where the presence was at its peak. Rei finally paused to take in her surroundings and realized she was in her office.
“Show yourself!” Rei demanded, as she fanned out her talismans ready to throw them at her opponent.
“Greetings,” A voice proclaimed. Rei watched as a figure materialized into the room. It was indeed her but things were different. This version of her had longer hair and looked much older.
“Who are you?” Rei asked her doppelganger.
“You,” The other Rei replied simply. “Or should I say another version of you. One who dedicated herself to advancing her skills as a miko.”
“Projection? Through another dimension?” Rei asked, lowering her talismans. “Ami proposed it could be possible but we’ve only been able to view such worlds with the use of Setsuna’s garnet orb.”
“Reliance on others is a sign of weakness,” The other Rei shook her head. “I thought that was a tenant all Sailor Mars’ subscribed to.”
“Sometimes,” Rei agreed as she took a seat in her desk chair. “But no woman is an island.”
“No, but a person can easily get lost in a crowd,” The other Rei commented as she floated next to Rei’s desk. She sneered as she observed all the photos there. “I see you are one of those who not only forgave Jadeite, but you allowed him to breed you. More than once even.”
“Please don’t make it sound like I’m some prized show dog,” Rei chastised the other Rei. “I love what Jadeite and I were able to achieve together, all while diligently serving the Queen and King. I love having a family.”
“Distractions!” The other Rei snapped. “You swore a vow of chastity.”
“A vow MY Serenity revoked,” Rei explained, beginning to reconsider the use of her talismans. “Insisting she would not grant eternal youth to her friends and at the same time curse them with loneliness.”
“Bah,” The other Rei insisted as she floated away. She touched a control console causing a holographic display of all Crystal Tokyo to form in the center of the room. “Still, I will give you credit. Despite engaging in distraction you have succeeded in ensuring the legendary Utopia came to fruition.”
“So is this the whole reason you came here?” Rei asked, wanting this conversation to be over as soon as possible. “To chastise me for actually having a life.”
“I am looking for a student,” the other Rei answered, turning off the hologram of the city. “Someone to pass on my knowledge. And I was unable to find someone worthy in my timeline.”
“You want me to be your student?” Rei wondered, contemplating the proposal.
“Astral projection through the multiverse is only one of the many new abilities I have been able to achieve,” The other Rei mused as she floated in front of the desk. “Together we can help each other achieve new heights of power.”
“Tempting,” Rei acknowledged, resting her chin on tented fingers, as she leaned on the desk. She reflected back to when she tried something similar. How she had used the sacred flame to see other realities to the point she nearly passed out. She had been saved from going too deep thanks to Jadiete’s assistance. “…but I’ll pass”
“You stupid girl!” The other Rei roared. “I am offering you unimaginable power and you simply dismiss it so you can indulge in your own selfish needs?!”
“What about you? Look at yourself,” Rei retorted, gesturing at her other self’s body. Their little chat had given her more than enough time to take in the projection and all its faults. Her hair wasn’t the only thing her doppleganger wore longer, her nails looked like they hadn’t been trimmed in months. She appeared to be way too skinny to be eating regularly, and her clothes looked shockingly unkempt. “You got so lost in your quest for power, you look like a damn corpse. What is waiting for you when you get back? Children? A spouse? Friends even? When was the last time you were with them in the physical world?”
The other Rei paused, as she stared down at her hands. Her eyes went wide, as if she was only now becoming aware of just how long her nails had become. Despite their length, she managed to clench her fists and stare at Rei with determination. “This is my duty.”
“No, it's your obsession,” Rei disagreed, as she stood firm on her principles. “You got so paranoid about potential dangers that could be approaching, you shut yourself off from the world. I’ve had those thoughts before, but those around me, my friends, my family, my husband and my kids, kept me here in the moment so I didn’t lose myself to an insane quest for unnecessary power. My answer is thanks but no thanks and I hope you find a way to reconnect with those you sacrificed so much for.”
“Very well,” The other Rei responded, shaking her head in disappointment. “Know you will regret your decision.”
“I doubt it,” Rei commented as she watched her other self fade away, leaving her alone in her dimly lit office. She took some deep breaths as she felt tears roll down her face. They were not tears of regret. She was mourning the decisions of the other Rei, seeing someone so lonely. It hurt because it was a version of her who had made different choices, some of which she had considered at one point. She could have turned out like her so easily it chilled Rei to the bone.
Composing herself, Rei dissolved her transformation and made her way back to the living room area of her wing of the Palace. She found Jadeite reading a book on the couch, waiting for her return.
“Hey. Reina went right to sleep a few minutes after I gave her the milk and honey,” Jadeite announced as he watched Rei enter the room. He put down his book,standing up, and flashed her the cocky yet reassuring smile she loved. “Did you find the ghost my love?”
Rei nodded, as she approached her husband and wrapped her arms around him. Jadeite returned the gesture and began to stroke her back. Rei sighed, “It was just a poor woman who got lost in the flames instead of engaging with the world around her.”
“Can I do anything?” Jadeite asked, having a decent idea what Rei was talking about.
“Make sure Reina and Vesves are indeed asleep and join me in bed,” Rei replied as he reached up, cupped Jadiette’s cheeks, and kissed him firmly, as if to remind not only him but herself of the happiness her choices had produced. “I need you to be the big spoon.”
“Anytime my love,” Jadeite responded, as he let his wife go so he could check on their daughters. He watched her walk back towards their bedroom, himself feeling grateful for the choices Rei had made. “Anytime.”