Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Princess Mercury: her past and her promise ❯ Mu's revelation ( Chapter 4 )

[ A - All Readers ]

Chapter Five
Mu's Revelation


"These aren't clothes! These are pieces of yarn with a glandular condition!"

Emperor Mu looked from the brim of his white hat and raised an eyebrow.

Mu sat beneath as shade in a deck chair in the court-yard of the hotel plaza he had hired next to a swimming pool.

As he heard that shriek he looked up.

The two double-doors swung open and two girls in their teens stood in the doorway.

Merula now in everyday clothing sighed and was speaking to Amy who stood beside her.

"It's not as if any of your friends are here!" she smiled slyly. "Of course you shouldn't worry about exposure in the present company."

Mu's eyes had gone straight for Amy.

She was the only one in his mind right now.

As soon as he had heard her voice through the door he had awaited her arrival with ecstatic anticipation.

Mu was not disappointed.

Amy stood in the doorway clad in a light blue bikini and briefs, a vision of blue and creamy skin in the sunlight.

A glance from Mu prompted Merula to shove Amy and send her staggering into the court-yard.

As Amy stopped herself from falling she looked up at Mu.

Mu smiled warmly.

Amy scowled.

She was also wearing a pair of blue sunglasses and reaching forward Mu removed these from her face.

Amy's mesmerising eyes of crystal blue were revealed.

How long he had waited for the day he would be able to remain in the gaze of those beautiful eyes for all eternity!

"Princess Mercury I am grateful to meet you again."

Emperor Mu greeted her.

Mu's manner was of the very essence of polished good manners.

He needn't have bothered.

"Why have you brought me here?" Amy asked quietly.

"You still haven't realised have you?" Mu shook his head. "Don't you remember the promise you made to me long long ago? The trust you entered upon?"

"What? I've never met you before yesterday!" Amy snapped.

"Oh yes you have." Mu rose to his feet and walked slowly toward her.

Amy watched him warily.

"Do you remember? I'm talking about the days before the fall of the Moon Kingdom. We met during the rule of Queen Serenity."

Amy couldn't believe what she'd just heard.

"You're lying!" she protested. "If you'd been alive back then you'd be..."

"Thousands of years old?" Mu laughed quietly at Amy's naivety. "Well yes I suppose I am. Still Princess you made a vow to me back then."

"What vow?"

Mu sighed.

"Here. Let me explain everything to you...directly."

Before Amy knew what he was doing Mu touched her forehead with his gloved finger.

A feeling of being outside her body seized her.

Mu had separated her soul from her physical being and was beginning to show her visions and images.

He was showing Amy her past.


Then - Countless ages ago in the days of Queen Serenity's rule of in the Moon Kingdom the day the Negaverse declared war.


All was chaos in the royal palace.

Queen Serenity's courtiers and guests had been watching the Moon Princess dancing with the strange masked man in the blue armour and red velvet cloak a moment ago.

The next thing she knew all hell had been let loose.

The queen's advisors Luna and Artemis came running across the dance floor crying that the Negaverse was staged to attack the moon.

Princess Mercury stood amid the chaos that ensued as the courtiers tried to arrange the Moon's defence.

"Over here!"

It was Princess Mars who reached out grabbed Mercury and pulled her clear of the crowd.

Now Mercury stood with Mars out of the upcoming battle against the forces of the Dark Kingdom.

Although the power of Queen Serenity was great and had ensured the prosperity of the Moon Kingdom for eons Mercury could not help but feel the darkest foreboding.

The Princess Mercury knew in her heart that a formidable tragedy was playing out before her eyes.

And she was part of it.


Two Hours Later...


"This is really bad!" The Moon Princess's voice was desolate.

Mercury agreed with this sentiment.

The vast enemy that was the Dark Kingdom was going all out in its attack on the Moon Kingdom.

The battle was lasting hours and the forces of the Moon lay in ruins around them.

The Seven Shadows, the Dark Queen's most powerful warriors had devastated Queen Serenity's army.

The masked stranger who had been dancing with the Moon Princess had revealed himself to be none other than prince Darien of Earth.

Had the circumstances been different then Mercury would have giggled at the annoyance on the Queen's face.

It was a long held custom of the Moon Kingdom that the princess was strictly not to see the man with whom she was to be married a week before the day of their wedding Mercury was sure that Serenity's annoyance had been because Darien had taken it upon himself to come to the dance in disguise.

The queen had long perceived how deeply he and her daughter felt about one another and Mercury was sure the queen would have stretched a point for them.

Not that any of this mattered here and now.

As powerful as Darien was even he seemed like falling before the might of the Negaverse.

All seemed lost.


"They are strong." Queen Serenity stated gravely. "We may not be able to last much longer."

Luna and Artemis were forced to agree.

Another attack and it would be all over for them.

The Dark Queen was going to win.

Queen Serenity stood in the centre of the ruin of her kingdom and surveyed the situation.

"My daughter is with Prince Darien and confronting the Dark Queen. The Princesses of Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury are together." the queen's brow clouded. "But what of the other two? Where are Princess Universe and Princess Charon?"

Luna and Artemis were silent.

Their expressions were bitter and the queen was alarmed.

She noticed also that their companion Estrella the youngest of her advisors was not with them.

"Well?" Serenity pressed them.

It was Artemis who fought back the pain and spoke.

"Princess Universe left the others to return to the palace and rescue a child who was trapped there."

Artemis's voice was wracked with grief.

He didn't speak further until Serenity prompted him.

"Princess Charon and Estrella left the other princesses to venture back into the palace believing that you were still inside. She wanted to protected us but she did not know that we were all safe and together here." Artemis took a deep breath. "Universe was crushed by falling rubble inside the palace. Charon and Estrella were caught in an explosion."

The shock in Queen Serenity's face forced Luna to speak.

"They're dead your majesty." Luna's voice was drawn and tired. "All three of them."

Her grief was intruded upon.

"The future seems dark my dear Serenity."

The Queen looked around startled.

Luna and Artemis hissed.

Emperor Mu stood a short way off looking cheerful amid the destruction going on all around them.

Serenity regarded him grimly.

She did not like the arrogant Earthern emperor but since he was such a powerful ruler who may have been able to aid her one day she had felt obliged to invite him to the event.

The Queen cringed inwardly remembering how he had not stopped at kissing her head when greeting her but had continued up to her shoulder.

"Mu." she greeted him coldly. "I see you are still alive."

"I have a proposition for you Serenity." Mu moved closer.

"Oh?"

"The Moon Kingdom is doomed. That is clear. But a small few may still survive."

"How?"

"I can send them to Earth. Your daughter. The Princesses. Prince Darien. Your advisors." Mu leaned closer. "On one condition."

Serenity knew what was coming.

"What condition?" her eyes narrowed.

"I want Princess Mercury as my bride." Mu leaned back and smiled charmingly but Serenity wasn't smiling.

Luna and Artemis gasped as if struck by thunder.

They weren't surprised for long and their faces quickly filled with outrage.

Queen Serenity was not surprised in the least.

She had long watched the long looks Mu had bestowed on Mercury.

She knew how intensely he had been infatuated with her from the moment he had first seen her.

"My answer is no Mu. Princess Mercury is her own person and I will never force her to marry against her will. Even to save my kingdom. Her hand in marriage is not mine to give never was and never will be." Serenity snapped.

But the decision was taken out of her hands.

"I accept the proposal."

Everyone turned to see Princess Mercury standing a short way off.

In her face was great sadness but also resolution.

Mercury had come to find the queen and had heard what Mu had offered.

Queen Serenity looked upon her with concern.

"Mercury! Do you know what you're saying?" she demanded.

"Yes. If this can save my friends then I have no choice in the matter." Mercury replied quietly.

Mercury faced Mu who was on the verge of laughing with sheer satisfaction.

"I'll be your bride if you do what you promise." she promised to him.

"Of course you will Princess and of course I will." Mu gave Queen Serenity a sneering glance as he said this.

Serenity's eyes narrowed but there was nothing she could do and so she bid Mercury, Luna and Artemis farewell.

"Well I'll be needing your assistance for this your Majesty." Mu wore a smug smile as he turned to face the queen. "You see I have the ability to generate the needed magic for the spell but you'll have to be the one who will channel it. Give me your hand."

Serenity nearly choked as the emperor extended his hand.

Not only was he forcing one of her subjects to marry him against her will and taking great pleasure in mocking her but now he was even asking her to help him do his dirty work!

Princess Mercury gave the Queen a pleading look which was not lost on her.

Breathing deeply swallowing her true feelings which were too deep for words Serenity took Mu's gloved hand in her own.

Mu closed his eyes and summoned his mental power.

The two connected hands crackled with golden light which became silver as it flowed into Serenity's hand and into her body.

Queen Serenity stood in an aura of white light.

When Mu opened his eyes again they saw that they were pure gold and possessed no pupils.

Not liking it one bit Serenity gathered together the power she had been given all at once.

"Power of Earth! Do my will and send my daughter, Prince Darien and any Princesses and any of my advisors who are still alive to the planet Earth!"

Almost instantly Mercury, Luna and Artemis felt light-headed.

Shimmering light surrounded them and the three of them were encased in magical bubbles.

On the other side of the palace the Moon Princess and the others were also enchanted this way.

As Mercury and her friends were transported to Earth

Mu bestowed Princess Mercury with a dashing grin before she vanished.

"See you soon!" he promised his future bride kissing her modestly.


Now - Beside the pool of a Hotel at the far side of the city


Amy wanted to disbelieve it.

She wanted to throw back her head and scream to the skies that it was not true.

But she just couldn't.

Deep down in her heart Amy knew that she had just been shown her past and as much as she wanted to believe that it had just been a twisted illusion created by Mu's sick mind she knew that it was the truth.

Amy's memories of her past life as the Princess Mercury had been locked away but now that they had been released they came flooding back.

Amy knew for sure that Mu's claim on her as his bride was real.

Amy had made a serious promise and she was bound to keep it.

Mu had been watching Amy's changing expressions as he

had shown her the visions from her past with intense satisfaction.

Shock, disbelief, horror and finally mute acceptance had crossed her face on after the other.

Mu fixed Amy with his golden eyes.

Amy felt like a rabbit that was about to be bitten by a snake. Aware of the deadly danger but helpless to do anything.

"You pledged yourself to me that day." Mu's voice was gentle but he felt deep pleasure in spelling out Amy's fate for her. "Now I'm calling you in. You're mine Princess Mercury. Mine now and forever."

These words drove home the truth to her.

Maybe this was her destiny. Her fate to be the bride of this tyrant.

She had done this to save the lives of her friends and she did not regret it but now that the time had come it seemed to overwhelm her.

Amy had thought of her future many times. She had made so many plans for herself but now all that was gone.

Her life was over.

Amy's breath shook but she stood firm as she accepted what she was convinced was her fate.

~*~*~

He could feel the warmth all around him.

Comforting him.

A short while ago his body had been frozen solid. His blood reduced to a sickly trickle and his heart slowed down to an impossible rate.

He was alive...!

Fargo had felt certain that his time had come.

So how was it that he now sat up weakly but all too alive somewhere that certainly wasn't the train station?

Fargo found that that he was lying on a comfortably cushioned sofa in the living room of a detached house somewhere in the suburbs.

He was perfectly well and felt strong enough to take on the world.

Considering the fact that he ought to have been a frozen corpse right now this was remarkable to say the least.

Still if anatomy had decided to drop its tradition of continuity then who was he to argue?

Looking around though Fargo saw that he was not alone.

Four teenage girls stood over him watching him inquisitively as he sat up.

Two were blonde. The first had a hair-style he'd never seen in his life or wildest or feverish imaginations.

Two braids beginning in a pair of pool ball-like bunches that stuck out on the top of her head like Tony the Tiger at a pedigree cat contest.

Fargo chose not to even think about it.

The other blonde was far more graceful than the other.

The third girl had dark hair, which cascaded down to her waist. She was wearing a red floor-length frock. He guessed that she had just come back from a temple or something.

The last girl was surprisingly tall for her age and had remarkably well developed muscles and chestnut brown hair.

Fargo found his voice.

"Lying on a sofa in a classy living room surrounded by beautiful women. What is this my heaven?"

This was not a very clever thing to say.

Even he realised this when the girls each nailed him with a cushion.

"Okay maybe I asked for that." He admitted clambering out of the cushions.

"You only have to ask for seconds." The tall girl snapped.

Fargo sat up and stopped short as she loomed over him.

"Sit tight red. You're not going anywhere beyond the area of this room until you tell us what you've done with Amy."

"Um can I talk to you for a sec good looking?" Fargo leaned closer conspiratorially. "Hey listen Amy's just a friend okay? I know we're at a delicate stage in our relationship but there is simply no need for you to react like this to me seeing other women." He whispered loud enough for the whole room to hear.

The eyes of the others were instantly turned upon the tall girl.

"You're seeing this guy Lita?" the girl with the unspeakable hair was goggle-eyed.

The girl called Lita looked like she'd been struck by lightning.

For a moment she couldn't muster a defence and the others took this as a sign of guilt.

"I can't believe you!" the dark haired girl was indignant. "The other day you swore that you weren't seeing anyone!"

Lita finally squeaked in a strangled voice. "It's a lie!"

She glared at Fargo who desperately tried to stifle the delighted grin that had bubbled up on his face at the unexpected result of his wind-up.

Lita's eyes filled with murder and she went for his throat.

"That will do Lita!" a voice that could have belonged to a forty year old school mistress snapped.

Lita froze and the others breathed sighs of relief.

Fargo searched the room for the owner of the voice.

He had been sure that the girls were the only people here other than himself.

Then his eyes chanced upon the dinner table and his mind reeled.

"Ugh!" he gasped staring agog. "There's a talking cat on the table!"

A frosty silence followed.

"Actually" Luna began with more snap than usual in her voice. "One prefers to think of herself as 'humanly challenged'."

"Can we slaughter him yet?" Lita snarled eager to get on with it.

"I don't think so." Mina stepped between Fargo and Lita. "Aren't pigs a protected species?"

"Oh my how original!" Fargo took this opportunity to get up from the sofa. "Like no-one's ever called me a pig before! My gosh you're the most clever person I've ever met in my whole life!"

"QUIET!" Luna screeched making everyone leap. "Thank you. Now first things first. What is your name?" she asked Fargo.

"Bobbin Threadbare. Are you my mother?" Fargo responded determined to get the last word in.

Mina shoved Lita back as she made a lunge at Fargo and Rei and Serena caught her.

"No more fooling around. Gotcha. My name's Fargo."

"Fargo?" Luna echoed.

"Fargo." Fargo established.

"You've got a bus pass in the name of 'Fargo'?" Rei didn't sound convinced.

"Never mind that. What happened at the train station? Did Amy do that to do you?"

"Luna!" Serena's voice was shocked that Luna could think such a thing.

"Serena I'm sorry but we have to look into every possibility." Luna snapped but this time there was no waspishness in it.

This exchange between Serena and Luna reminded Fargo of the seriousness of the situation.

Deciding that he'd had his fun and that it was time to take things seriously he cleared his throat for everyone's attention.

"It's okay." He assured Serena. "Amy wasn't responsible for it. Amy and I were attacked by a Sailor Scout."

Everyone was stunned at this so he plunged onward.

"She called herself Sailor Universe and she took Amy with her."

Everyone heard Luna breath out deeply as if she were casting off doubts of some kind and turned to her for explanations.

"Then it's as I feared. Sailor Universe is actually alive and she has sided against us with someone." Luna intoned like a prophet of doom.

"You knew that there was a sixth Scout all along!" Lita accused the cat.

"Yes. Artemis and I believed that she was killed during the last battle between the Moon Kingdom and the Negaverse but it seems that our predictions were wrong."

Fargo interrupted.

"That's right. While she was making her threats Sailor Universe mentioned that she was taking orders from someone. She meant Mu."

"What's the deal with YOU anyway?!!" Lita's suspicion of Fargo was revived. "How do you know Amy?"

Fargo sighed. He'd hoped and prayed that no one would ask this question but now he could see that the hope had been useless.

How could he answer a question to which he didn't even know the answer himself?

Fargo breathed deeply.

"I don't know how I first met her. All I know is that I remember promising to Queen Serenity that I would protect her."

The astonished silence that followed was as solid as a wall of ice.

"You knew Queen Serenity?" Luna asked after a while.

"Yup."

"Then…" Luna glanced around at the girls and then stared intensely at Fargo.

"Yup." Fargo repeated. "I know that you're the Sailor Scouts. I know that Amy is Sailor Mercury. I know everything about the Negaverse's final battle with the Moon Kingdom eons ago that left the moon a lifeless ruin. I know all there is to know you guys."

"How?" was all that Mina could manage.

"I don't know." Fargo sighed again. "The truth is that I lied to Amy. I made up my story about my past. The only thing about my past that I can remember is that promise I made to Queen Serenity. I don't even know who I am really am. I just assumed the name 'Fargo'."

Luna shook her head.

The situation was too bizarre for words but all this had to wait right now.

Amy was in serious trouble and they had to act at once.

"Well Fargo or whatever your name is listen to me. As you know Amy has been abducted by Sailor Universe. Since you seem to know more about this than any of us we could really use your help. Do you have any idea where this 'Mu' could be keeping her?" Luna asked.

"Of course." Fargo replied. "They're holed up at an upper-class hotel on the other side of town. I'll take you there. How does that sound?"

Luna, Serena, Rei, Mina and even Lita agreed and thus was an uneasy alliance formed.

~*~*~

A short while later Fargo, Serena, Mina, Rei and Lita stood on the roof of Rei's grandpa's temple preparing for the long night ahead.

It was midnight and the stars were out.

As one Serena, Rei, Mina and Lita spread out their arms holding their transformation pens in their hands.

"Moon Crystal Power! Make Up!"

"Mars Star Power! Make Up!"

"Jupiter Star Power! Make Up!"

"Venus Star Power! Make Up!"

In an instant the girls disappeared in a pink glow and were replaced by Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus.

The Scouts stood in the night ready to risk their lives for the sake of their friend.

Fargo had watched the mass transformation blankly.

Now he turned his face which was almost unrecognisable because of the seriousness in it into the night.

He would have quite liked the wind to have blown his hair back over his head but the wind was fooling about with some leaves on the street below so there was nothing doing.

"Okay. Lets go rescue Amy!"