Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Princess Mercury: her past and her promise ❯ The truth revealed ( Chapter 6 )
[ A - All Readers ]
By: The Mysterious Traveller 
In the darkest hour Emperor Mu uses his telepathy to enter Fargo's memories and the mysterious young mans darkest secret is finally revealed...
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.02.2002 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 199 | Status: Completed
In the darkest hour Emperor Mu uses his telepathy to enter Fargo's memories and the mysterious young mans darkest secret is finally revealed...
Anime/Manga: Sailor Moon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Angst | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 10.02.2002 | Pages: 6 | Words: 3.5K | Visits: 199 | Status: Completed
Chapter Seven
The Truth Revealed
"Venus is gone!"
Fargo snapped out of his reverie.
One moment he had been rubbing his bloodied nose and the next he had joined the Sailor Scouts who were gathered around the Planet Power Detector.
Looking at the small screen Fargo realised that Sailor Moon was right.
For the last few seconds the Scouts had been watching as Sailor V and Sailor Universe's PP readings had soared and now they were taken aback.
Suddenly Sailor V's power reading had faded until it was zero and her blip had vanished from the screen.
"What happened?" Sailor Moon whispered sounding frightened.
"There could be a number of reasons." Fargo spoke up. "Sailor V could have just transformed back into her alter-ego. Or she could just be so deep inside the building that the machine can't reach her. Or…"
Fargo trailed off as he realised that what he had been about to say wasn't really what they wanted to hear.
An icy chill ran up the Scouts spines.
"Let's go!" Sailor Moon burst out suddenly as she snapped at the prospect of losing another friend. "NOW!"
~*~*~
In his inner-sanctum Mu grinned in satisfaction.
For the last five minutes after giving Merula her orders Mu had been using his telepathy to listen in on Fargo and the Sailor Scouts.
Now he was glad he had taken the trouble.
"They are coming. But I'll be waiting." Mu spoke aloud rising to his feet and opening his golden eyes.
Against three Sailor Scouts there was a chance that even Sailor Universe would not be enough to stop them.
Mu decided that he would deal with them personally.
~*~*~
Amy looked up startled as the door was flung open.
She jumped to her feet as Mina was shoved into the room.
Sailor Universe stood in the doorway with a grim look on her face.
"You were lucky! Don't think that Mu will always be around to save your hash!" she snapped at Mina.
Mina jumped back to her feet and lunged for the door but Sailor Universe slammed it shut in her face.
Amy and Mina heard the key turn in the lock.
"You shouldn't have come Mina." Amy whispered.
Mina turned to stare at her friend and she was struck to see the guilt in her face.
"What are you talking about? And what are you wearing?" Mina stared blankly at Amy's scantily clad body.
Amy closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
She didn't deserve friendship like this.
Amy had sold herself but now because of her Mina was in it as well.
"It's a long story." Amy replied as they sat down on the bed.
"Well save it for later." Mina cut in. "Listen all we have to do is wait for the Scouts…"
"The others are here?" Amy cried leaping to her feet in dismay.
"What's wrong with you?" Mina demanded getting up. "You're acting totally weird!"
"You don't understand! You have to use your communicator to tell the other Scouts to go before it's too late!"
"I can't. That turn-coat Scout took my communicator and Transformation Pen. But that isn't the point!" Mina snapped. "What do you mean, if you mean anything?"
Amy breathed deeply again and she started to tell her story…
~*~*~
The double-doors were hurled open and crashed into the wall.
Fargo walked into the hotel lobby flanked by the Sailor Scouts.
A quick glance around told Fargo that no one was around in the darkened hall.
"We're going up!" Sailor Mars pointed to the stairs leading up to the balcony.
"Hold on! I'll see if I can find them." Sailor Jupiter drew the PP detector out of her shirt.
Before she could activate it though a small spark dropped from above and landed on it.
With a cry Sailor Jupiter dropped the tiny machine as it caught fire and was burnt away into nothing.
"Now that was fun!"
They all looked up to see Sailor Universe standing on the balcony, her finger pointed at the smoking remains of the detector.
"Greetings! Welcome to my humble lodgings Sailor Scouts!"
Turning his head to the right Fargo jumped as he saw Mu standing on the other side of the balcony.
"Why don't we all have a cosy little chat?" Mu whispered as Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter whirled around to look at him. "I think that would be very nice. Don't you?"
~*~*~
That's awful!" Mina exclaimed as Amy concluded her tale of how she had agreed to be Mu's bride.
"I know." Amy whispered. "Mina…now do you see why I have to do this?"
"That guy has no right to do this to you!" her friend protested.
"Yes he does. I promised him and he's holding it over me."
"Amy you don't have do to anything you don't want!"
"I do! Don't you understand? Mu made a bargain with me. I can't break my word! If I did I'd never be able to look at myself in the mirror again!" Amy cried.
"And if you do your life will be ruined forever!" Mina retorted.
"I have no choice! And anyway it's happening first thing in the morning." Amy whispered closing her eyes again.
Mina shook her head slowly.
Amy had lost it and she was just going to have to get her out of here herself.
But how could she do that without the power to become Sailor Venus?
~*~*~
"I watched as the three of you all marched right up to the front door in formation." Mu remarked as reclined on the balcony and looked down at the Sailor Scouts. "Very brave. Very colourful!" then his tone changed and as he smiled Sailor Moon Mars and Jupiter suddenly felt cold inside. "Very VERY foolhardy." the Emperor smirked mockingly at them.
"Tell us where our friends are!" Sailor Moon demanded.
The emperor just chuckled insolently. "You think you can give me orders? The Moon Kingdom was destroyed eons ago." He taunted her. "To me you're just another lowly rat!"
Sailor Moon gasped unable to believe that anyone would have the nerve to speak to her like this.
"You're supreme arrogance has always been your supreme weakness!" Fargo snapped.
Mu looked at Fargo noticing him for the first time.
"Ahhh Fargo! Have you come to say a few last words to my future bride before her wedding day?" Mu sneered.
Fargo's eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?" Sailor Mars demanded.
"He means Amy." Fargo said quietly. "She agreed to marry him many years ago to save your lives on the Moon."
"What?!!" the three Scouts were stunned.
"Fargo, although he is the biggest loser who ever existed in the history of the galaxy is quite right." Mu agreed. "Our big day is tomorrow. Any of you care to be her maid of honour? I'm sure it would mean a lot to her!"
"I don't think that's gonna be necessary!" Sailor Moon snapped in reply.
"It's too late Mu." Fargo dropped into his fighting stance. "You can't screw with our heads. Let's go! I'll take you and your lap-dog out here and now!"
"Before we do that grant me a boon." Mu raised his hand for a chance to speak. "Let me use my telepathy to see your past."
"You must think that I'm the biggest fool who ever lived!" Fargo sneered. "You'd fry my brains the moment you touched them!"
"No. I just want to find out why Queen Serenity chose a diseased rat like you to be Princess Mercury's knight." Mu explained.
Fargo stopped.
Mu was offering him the chance to find out all he wanted to know about himself.
Finally he could find out what had led up to him making his promise to Queen Serenity.
Of course he had no guarantee that it wasn't just a trick…
"Go for it. Fargo said.
Mu's eyes glowed once more as he levitated Fargo into the air with his immense mental powers.
Now that Fargo was on eye-level with him Mu reached out to touch his forehead.
The emperor glanced at the Scouts standing below.
"I'll let the three of you, your other friend, the bride to be and those flea-ridden cats see as well. No reason you ought to miss the fun."
As he spoke Mu contacted Sailor Universe telepathically.
- Get ready! -
Sailor Universe grinned and waited for her chance.
Mu touched Fargo's forehead taking the minds of Fargo, the Scouts, Amy and Mina and also Luna and Artemis far away at the temple and also himself back to the final day of the war between the Negaverse and the Moon Kingdom.
Then - The day of the Moon Kingdom's destruction a few seconds before Queen Serenity used the Silver Crystal to vanquish the Dark Queen and the Moon kingdom was destroyed...
"Your Majesty, you're alive! I can't believe it!" the boy cried.
Queen Serenity wished she could feel as glad as he was.
Serenity knew that she would not be alive in another few minutes.
Adding to the tragic deaths of Charon Universe and Estrella as well as her own close death was the knowledge that she had sent Princess Mercury to Earth to be forcibly married to an unspeakable tyrant.
In her despair as she had watched Mu follow the escapees to Earth Serenity had discovered something.
When Mu had channelled some of his power into her he hadn't realised that he had left some of the energy inside her.
Now seeing the teenage boy standing there amid the rubble Queen Serenity remembered it and an idea flashed through her mind.
"I'm glad to see you are alive." Serenity began. "I would like to ask a large favour of you."
She had recognised him as soon as she had seen him.
At the dance the day the war had begun she had found him engaged in a scuffle with the royal guards who had caught him trying to gatecrash the dance.
In a moment of the renowned kindness that had made her one of the most loved rulers of her time Serenity had asked the guards to stop and had allowed the teenager to come to the event.
Over the evening she had found her gaze drifting over to him with genuine amusement as he had gotten mindlessly drunk and made plays for most of the Princesses.
Princess Charon had merely pretended to be watching the dancing too intently to notice him.
Princess Universe had smirked and, taking him by the arm and turning him around, had sent him on his way in the opposite direction.
Then he had spied Princess Mercury who had been standing away from her friends in a secluded corner feeling overwhelmed.
As Serenity watched he had crossed the dance floor to her and asked her to dance with him in the blink of an eye.
Naturally Princess Mercury had let her shyness take control and insisted that she could not dance.
The traveller however had brushed her protests aside and reaching out and taking her hand in his own he had led the Princess into the middle of the dance floor.
Mercury had turned a gorgeous pink but had allowed him to lead her through a few minor dance numbers.
As Queen Serenity had watched in astonishment Mercury's pace had started to pick up in grace and confidence until she and the young traveller were dancing as if she had been practising to do so her whole life.
Serenity had NEVER seen the Mercury Princess enjoy herself like that at an event.
Oblivious to what the queen was thinking the boy spoke.
"Of course! You only have to ask your Majesty!"
"You don't know the acute size of the favour I am about to ask you. It would require a great sacrifice on your part." Serenity began. "Please listen for we have very little time left. Princess Mercury is going to be forced to marry emperor Mu!"
The traveller's single gasp of horror woke the echoes of the ruined hall.
"But…she can't! He's…" he faltered recalling the tales he had heard of Mu's tyranny. "She just can't!"
"I know and I won't allow it. But there is nothing that I can do about it myself for soon I must use the Silver Crystal to destroy the Dark Queen though it will cost me my life. But you can stop it from happening."
"How can I help?" he asked incredulously.
"By preventing the marriage from being an honourable one." Serenity placed her hands on his shoulders. "I want you to agree to marry Princess Mercury!"
His mouth was agape as he realised what she'd said.
The queen bit her lip. She knew that she was taking liberties with the futures of both Mercury and this boy but she just knew that any husband would be better for her than Mu.
"There is another thing. When one marries a Princess his soul becomes interwined with hers and becomes unable to leave her planet for the rest of his life. If you agree to do this you would be trapped on planet Earth forever!" her eyes were pleading. "I know that no-one has the right to ask for this much of anyone and I know just how much you would lose in doing this but I am begging you. Not as a queen but for Princess Mercury's future. Will you do this for her?"
For a split second he turned it all over in his mind.
His freedom was the thing he cherished the most and if he lost that…
But the thought of Princess Mercury being trapped like a canary in a golden cage by that terrible emperor was far worse.
No contest.
"I will my queen!" he vowed standing tall before her. "I promise to you faithfully that I will protect the Princess Mercury from emperor Mu even if it costs me my very life!"
"Thank you!" Serenity whispered her eyes shining with gratitude and relief. "From the bottom of my soul I thank you gallant one. The Princess Mercury is now your bride. Protect her well. Now go for I have much work to do."
That brought what she had said about using the Imperium Silver Crystal back to him in a rush.
"NO!" he exclaimed stepping forward impulsively. "If you use the Crystal then..."
He did not finish, didn't need to.
"I know." Serenity nodded her head, a look of sorrow etched in her flawless face. "I will die. But is just the way things are in the world. Hopes die. An end comes. Do not feel sad for me for those who live all must die one day."
"NO! I don't care if you are the Queen! There's got to be another way! You just can't die Queen Serenity!" he cried esperately.
Serenity's eyes were calm as she put her pale hand on his shoulder and he fell silent, calmed by her comforting touch.
"Do you remember what I told you in the garden?" she asked gently. "I said that when I became Queen I knew that I would have to put the lives of all who I rule my kingdom to protect before my own. And that is why I do not feel sad because I will soon die for I know that I have not failed in my trust and duty. That my life has not been in vain. My daughter as well as the princesses, Prince Darien and you too will be safe. So please...don't say a word. Just live. That's all I can say to you."
There was a great sadness in the boy's eyes but she knew that he accepted what she said and felt relieved that his young heart would not always be burdened by what she must now do.
Spreading her arms and closing her eyes Queen Serenity summoned the last of the energy that emperor Mu had given to her.
Perfect! There was just enough left for her to send him to Earth.
"Power of Earth! Heed my wish and send this man of pure virtue to the planet Earth!"
A magical bubble formed around the boy ready to take him on his journey.
Queen Serenity planted a warm kiss on his forehead and then sent him on his way to Earth.
As she watched him disappear into the darkness of the starry sky a solitary tear sparkled in the beautiful light as it travelled down her pale cheek.
Now - The lobby of a top class hotel in Japan
"So that's what happened…" Fargo murmured his eyes closed.
"Amy's married to you?!!" Rei screeched staring at Fargo as if her eyes would fall out of her head.
"Guess so from what we just saw." Fargo replied.
"No!"
Mu's eyes burned with mindless psychotic fury as he thought about what he had just seen.
The emperor had not known what he was going to see but he had never dreamt of what he had!
Mu felt as if he were going mad.
Something snapped inside.
"I could kill you here effortlessly." he hissed at Fargo venomously. "And who would know that I had taken another man's woman? After all who will be any the wiser?"
"You dirty rat!" Lita exclaimed.
"Who will stop me? You three little girls?"
"We may be female buster but between the three of us we have more power than you credit us with!" Serena declared.
"Oh really?" Mu laughed out loud. "Maybe you ought to take a good look at yourselves."
Glancing down at themselves the girls realised that they had reverted back to Serena, Rei and Lita!
Around each of their wrists were Anti-Planet Power handcuffs.
Sailor Universe laughed.
It had been an easy job for her to cast Arrow-Snake on the three while they had been in the trance with Mu.
"You filthy skank!" Lita shrieked.
"A skank I may be but clever I am!" Sailor Universe grinned.
"If I ever get out of this I'll burn every inch of your dirty hide!" Rei swore.
Mu laughed mockingly as he stood over the defeated Scouts in his hour of triumph.
"Know now that I have now defeated all of you. Come the morning you will kneel before me in chains as I take the Mercury Princess as my own."
"No." Fargo spoke with a voice filled with steel as he finally opened his eyes. "You will not."
~*~*~
Luna and Artemis had seen everything as well.
Mu had also included in their vision the same events he had shown Amy about her promise to him.
"I understand." Luna whispered closing her eyes as her entire body ached with guilt and remorse. "I understand at last. Amy I'm sorry. I am truly truly sorry."
~*~*~
Amy and Mina had also experienced Fargo's past and Mina was breathless with excitement.
"You see Amy? Queen Serenity tricked him!" Mina cried. "You see? You don't have to marry Mu at all now, promise or no promise!"
"I…" Amy blushed as she thought of what had just been revealed to her. "That is…I…"
"You owe him nothing! He can't marry you if you're already married!" her friend repeated.
Amy shook her head slowly from side to side.
She had been resigned to the fact that she would be forcibly married at day break.
Now she knew that she did not have to marry the emperor because she was married to Fargo of all people!
She did not know what to think.
"C'mon. Lets get out of here." Mina resumed.
"How?" Amy stammered.
Mina grinned. "I've been thinking about that! I've got a hair pin in my back pocket. See if you can get it and…"
~*~*~
"You dare to oppose my will?" Mu roared at Fargo. "Insolent peasant! I could crush you like the worm you are!"
"Nothing like blowing your own trumpet." Fargo retorted.
All the while he was thinking about his memories which had finally been restored.
The dance in the royal palace of the Moon Kingdom…meeting Princess Mercury…dancing with her…his promise to Queen Serenity…arriving on Earth…meeting Amy…
He finally understood everything.
Fargo realised that he hadn't been able to remember his past because of the hex that Mu had added into the spell that would rob those who it was used on of their memories.
And now the emperor had been the one who had restored them to him.
Talk about irony.
Tuning his eyes heavenward he spoke more to himself than to anyone else.
"Queen Serenity I understand at last. I'm sorry that it took me so long to find out the truth but my mind was so full of confusion."
Fargo raised his arms in a gesture of determination and purpose.
"Queen Serenity…I will now carry out your last wish! I will defend the honour of Princess Mercury with my dying breath!" Fargo roared with a voice of mighty thunder.
The Truth Revealed
"Venus is gone!"
Fargo snapped out of his reverie.
One moment he had been rubbing his bloodied nose and the next he had joined the Sailor Scouts who were gathered around the Planet Power Detector.
Looking at the small screen Fargo realised that Sailor Moon was right.
For the last few seconds the Scouts had been watching as Sailor V and Sailor Universe's PP readings had soared and now they were taken aback.
Suddenly Sailor V's power reading had faded until it was zero and her blip had vanished from the screen.
"What happened?" Sailor Moon whispered sounding frightened.
"There could be a number of reasons." Fargo spoke up. "Sailor V could have just transformed back into her alter-ego. Or she could just be so deep inside the building that the machine can't reach her. Or…"
Fargo trailed off as he realised that what he had been about to say wasn't really what they wanted to hear.
An icy chill ran up the Scouts spines.
"Let's go!" Sailor Moon burst out suddenly as she snapped at the prospect of losing another friend. "NOW!"
~*~*~
In his inner-sanctum Mu grinned in satisfaction.
For the last five minutes after giving Merula her orders Mu had been using his telepathy to listen in on Fargo and the Sailor Scouts.
Now he was glad he had taken the trouble.
"They are coming. But I'll be waiting." Mu spoke aloud rising to his feet and opening his golden eyes.
Against three Sailor Scouts there was a chance that even Sailor Universe would not be enough to stop them.
Mu decided that he would deal with them personally.
~*~*~
Amy looked up startled as the door was flung open.
She jumped to her feet as Mina was shoved into the room.
Sailor Universe stood in the doorway with a grim look on her face.
"You were lucky! Don't think that Mu will always be around to save your hash!" she snapped at Mina.
Mina jumped back to her feet and lunged for the door but Sailor Universe slammed it shut in her face.
Amy and Mina heard the key turn in the lock.
"You shouldn't have come Mina." Amy whispered.
Mina turned to stare at her friend and she was struck to see the guilt in her face.
"What are you talking about? And what are you wearing?" Mina stared blankly at Amy's scantily clad body.
Amy closed her eyes and breathed deeply.
She didn't deserve friendship like this.
Amy had sold herself but now because of her Mina was in it as well.
"It's a long story." Amy replied as they sat down on the bed.
"Well save it for later." Mina cut in. "Listen all we have to do is wait for the Scouts…"
"The others are here?" Amy cried leaping to her feet in dismay.
"What's wrong with you?" Mina demanded getting up. "You're acting totally weird!"
"You don't understand! You have to use your communicator to tell the other Scouts to go before it's too late!"
"I can't. That turn-coat Scout took my communicator and Transformation Pen. But that isn't the point!" Mina snapped. "What do you mean, if you mean anything?"
Amy breathed deeply again and she started to tell her story…
~*~*~
The double-doors were hurled open and crashed into the wall.
Fargo walked into the hotel lobby flanked by the Sailor Scouts.
A quick glance around told Fargo that no one was around in the darkened hall.
"We're going up!" Sailor Mars pointed to the stairs leading up to the balcony.
"Hold on! I'll see if I can find them." Sailor Jupiter drew the PP detector out of her shirt.
Before she could activate it though a small spark dropped from above and landed on it.
With a cry Sailor Jupiter dropped the tiny machine as it caught fire and was burnt away into nothing.
"Now that was fun!"
They all looked up to see Sailor Universe standing on the balcony, her finger pointed at the smoking remains of the detector.
"Greetings! Welcome to my humble lodgings Sailor Scouts!"
Turning his head to the right Fargo jumped as he saw Mu standing on the other side of the balcony.
"Why don't we all have a cosy little chat?" Mu whispered as Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars and Sailor Jupiter whirled around to look at him. "I think that would be very nice. Don't you?"
~*~*~
That's awful!" Mina exclaimed as Amy concluded her tale of how she had agreed to be Mu's bride.
"I know." Amy whispered. "Mina…now do you see why I have to do this?"
"That guy has no right to do this to you!" her friend protested.
"Yes he does. I promised him and he's holding it over me."
"Amy you don't have do to anything you don't want!"
"I do! Don't you understand? Mu made a bargain with me. I can't break my word! If I did I'd never be able to look at myself in the mirror again!" Amy cried.
"And if you do your life will be ruined forever!" Mina retorted.
"I have no choice! And anyway it's happening first thing in the morning." Amy whispered closing her eyes again.
Mina shook her head slowly.
Amy had lost it and she was just going to have to get her out of here herself.
But how could she do that without the power to become Sailor Venus?
~*~*~
"I watched as the three of you all marched right up to the front door in formation." Mu remarked as reclined on the balcony and looked down at the Sailor Scouts. "Very brave. Very colourful!" then his tone changed and as he smiled Sailor Moon Mars and Jupiter suddenly felt cold inside. "Very VERY foolhardy." the Emperor smirked mockingly at them.
"Tell us where our friends are!" Sailor Moon demanded.
The emperor just chuckled insolently. "You think you can give me orders? The Moon Kingdom was destroyed eons ago." He taunted her. "To me you're just another lowly rat!"
Sailor Moon gasped unable to believe that anyone would have the nerve to speak to her like this.
"You're supreme arrogance has always been your supreme weakness!" Fargo snapped.
Mu looked at Fargo noticing him for the first time.
"Ahhh Fargo! Have you come to say a few last words to my future bride before her wedding day?" Mu sneered.
Fargo's eyes narrowed.
"What are you talking about?" Sailor Mars demanded.
"He means Amy." Fargo said quietly. "She agreed to marry him many years ago to save your lives on the Moon."
"What?!!" the three Scouts were stunned.
"Fargo, although he is the biggest loser who ever existed in the history of the galaxy is quite right." Mu agreed. "Our big day is tomorrow. Any of you care to be her maid of honour? I'm sure it would mean a lot to her!"
"I don't think that's gonna be necessary!" Sailor Moon snapped in reply.
"It's too late Mu." Fargo dropped into his fighting stance. "You can't screw with our heads. Let's go! I'll take you and your lap-dog out here and now!"
"Before we do that grant me a boon." Mu raised his hand for a chance to speak. "Let me use my telepathy to see your past."
"You must think that I'm the biggest fool who ever lived!" Fargo sneered. "You'd fry my brains the moment you touched them!"
"No. I just want to find out why Queen Serenity chose a diseased rat like you to be Princess Mercury's knight." Mu explained.
Fargo stopped.
Mu was offering him the chance to find out all he wanted to know about himself.
Finally he could find out what had led up to him making his promise to Queen Serenity.
Of course he had no guarantee that it wasn't just a trick…
"Go for it. Fargo said.
Mu's eyes glowed once more as he levitated Fargo into the air with his immense mental powers.
Now that Fargo was on eye-level with him Mu reached out to touch his forehead.
The emperor glanced at the Scouts standing below.
"I'll let the three of you, your other friend, the bride to be and those flea-ridden cats see as well. No reason you ought to miss the fun."
As he spoke Mu contacted Sailor Universe telepathically.
- Get ready! -
Sailor Universe grinned and waited for her chance.
Mu touched Fargo's forehead taking the minds of Fargo, the Scouts, Amy and Mina and also Luna and Artemis far away at the temple and also himself back to the final day of the war between the Negaverse and the Moon Kingdom.
Then - The day of the Moon Kingdom's destruction a few seconds before Queen Serenity used the Silver Crystal to vanquish the Dark Queen and the Moon kingdom was destroyed...
"Your Majesty, you're alive! I can't believe it!" the boy cried.
Queen Serenity wished she could feel as glad as he was.
Serenity knew that she would not be alive in another few minutes.
Adding to the tragic deaths of Charon Universe and Estrella as well as her own close death was the knowledge that she had sent Princess Mercury to Earth to be forcibly married to an unspeakable tyrant.
In her despair as she had watched Mu follow the escapees to Earth Serenity had discovered something.
When Mu had channelled some of his power into her he hadn't realised that he had left some of the energy inside her.
Now seeing the teenage boy standing there amid the rubble Queen Serenity remembered it and an idea flashed through her mind.
"I'm glad to see you are alive." Serenity began. "I would like to ask a large favour of you."
She had recognised him as soon as she had seen him.
At the dance the day the war had begun she had found him engaged in a scuffle with the royal guards who had caught him trying to gatecrash the dance.
In a moment of the renowned kindness that had made her one of the most loved rulers of her time Serenity had asked the guards to stop and had allowed the teenager to come to the event.
Over the evening she had found her gaze drifting over to him with genuine amusement as he had gotten mindlessly drunk and made plays for most of the Princesses.
Princess Charon had merely pretended to be watching the dancing too intently to notice him.
Princess Universe had smirked and, taking him by the arm and turning him around, had sent him on his way in the opposite direction.
Then he had spied Princess Mercury who had been standing away from her friends in a secluded corner feeling overwhelmed.
As Serenity watched he had crossed the dance floor to her and asked her to dance with him in the blink of an eye.
Naturally Princess Mercury had let her shyness take control and insisted that she could not dance.
The traveller however had brushed her protests aside and reaching out and taking her hand in his own he had led the Princess into the middle of the dance floor.
Mercury had turned a gorgeous pink but had allowed him to lead her through a few minor dance numbers.
As Queen Serenity had watched in astonishment Mercury's pace had started to pick up in grace and confidence until she and the young traveller were dancing as if she had been practising to do so her whole life.
Serenity had NEVER seen the Mercury Princess enjoy herself like that at an event.
Oblivious to what the queen was thinking the boy spoke.
"Of course! You only have to ask your Majesty!"
"You don't know the acute size of the favour I am about to ask you. It would require a great sacrifice on your part." Serenity began. "Please listen for we have very little time left. Princess Mercury is going to be forced to marry emperor Mu!"
The traveller's single gasp of horror woke the echoes of the ruined hall.
"But…she can't! He's…" he faltered recalling the tales he had heard of Mu's tyranny. "She just can't!"
"I know and I won't allow it. But there is nothing that I can do about it myself for soon I must use the Silver Crystal to destroy the Dark Queen though it will cost me my life. But you can stop it from happening."
"How can I help?" he asked incredulously.
"By preventing the marriage from being an honourable one." Serenity placed her hands on his shoulders. "I want you to agree to marry Princess Mercury!"
His mouth was agape as he realised what she'd said.
The queen bit her lip. She knew that she was taking liberties with the futures of both Mercury and this boy but she just knew that any husband would be better for her than Mu.
"There is another thing. When one marries a Princess his soul becomes interwined with hers and becomes unable to leave her planet for the rest of his life. If you agree to do this you would be trapped on planet Earth forever!" her eyes were pleading. "I know that no-one has the right to ask for this much of anyone and I know just how much you would lose in doing this but I am begging you. Not as a queen but for Princess Mercury's future. Will you do this for her?"
For a split second he turned it all over in his mind.
His freedom was the thing he cherished the most and if he lost that…
But the thought of Princess Mercury being trapped like a canary in a golden cage by that terrible emperor was far worse.
No contest.
"I will my queen!" he vowed standing tall before her. "I promise to you faithfully that I will protect the Princess Mercury from emperor Mu even if it costs me my very life!"
"Thank you!" Serenity whispered her eyes shining with gratitude and relief. "From the bottom of my soul I thank you gallant one. The Princess Mercury is now your bride. Protect her well. Now go for I have much work to do."
That brought what she had said about using the Imperium Silver Crystal back to him in a rush.
"NO!" he exclaimed stepping forward impulsively. "If you use the Crystal then..."
He did not finish, didn't need to.
"I know." Serenity nodded her head, a look of sorrow etched in her flawless face. "I will die. But is just the way things are in the world. Hopes die. An end comes. Do not feel sad for me for those who live all must die one day."
"NO! I don't care if you are the Queen! There's got to be another way! You just can't die Queen Serenity!" he cried esperately.
Serenity's eyes were calm as she put her pale hand on his shoulder and he fell silent, calmed by her comforting touch.
"Do you remember what I told you in the garden?" she asked gently. "I said that when I became Queen I knew that I would have to put the lives of all who I rule my kingdom to protect before my own. And that is why I do not feel sad because I will soon die for I know that I have not failed in my trust and duty. That my life has not been in vain. My daughter as well as the princesses, Prince Darien and you too will be safe. So please...don't say a word. Just live. That's all I can say to you."
There was a great sadness in the boy's eyes but she knew that he accepted what she said and felt relieved that his young heart would not always be burdened by what she must now do.
Spreading her arms and closing her eyes Queen Serenity summoned the last of the energy that emperor Mu had given to her.
Perfect! There was just enough left for her to send him to Earth.
"Power of Earth! Heed my wish and send this man of pure virtue to the planet Earth!"
A magical bubble formed around the boy ready to take him on his journey.
Queen Serenity planted a warm kiss on his forehead and then sent him on his way to Earth.
As she watched him disappear into the darkness of the starry sky a solitary tear sparkled in the beautiful light as it travelled down her pale cheek.
Now - The lobby of a top class hotel in Japan
"So that's what happened…" Fargo murmured his eyes closed.
"Amy's married to you?!!" Rei screeched staring at Fargo as if her eyes would fall out of her head.
"Guess so from what we just saw." Fargo replied.
"No!"
Mu's eyes burned with mindless psychotic fury as he thought about what he had just seen.
The emperor had not known what he was going to see but he had never dreamt of what he had!
Mu felt as if he were going mad.
Something snapped inside.
"I could kill you here effortlessly." he hissed at Fargo venomously. "And who would know that I had taken another man's woman? After all who will be any the wiser?"
"You dirty rat!" Lita exclaimed.
"Who will stop me? You three little girls?"
"We may be female buster but between the three of us we have more power than you credit us with!" Serena declared.
"Oh really?" Mu laughed out loud. "Maybe you ought to take a good look at yourselves."
Glancing down at themselves the girls realised that they had reverted back to Serena, Rei and Lita!
Around each of their wrists were Anti-Planet Power handcuffs.
Sailor Universe laughed.
It had been an easy job for her to cast Arrow-Snake on the three while they had been in the trance with Mu.
"You filthy skank!" Lita shrieked.
"A skank I may be but clever I am!" Sailor Universe grinned.
"If I ever get out of this I'll burn every inch of your dirty hide!" Rei swore.
Mu laughed mockingly as he stood over the defeated Scouts in his hour of triumph.
"Know now that I have now defeated all of you. Come the morning you will kneel before me in chains as I take the Mercury Princess as my own."
"No." Fargo spoke with a voice filled with steel as he finally opened his eyes. "You will not."
~*~*~
Luna and Artemis had seen everything as well.
Mu had also included in their vision the same events he had shown Amy about her promise to him.
"I understand." Luna whispered closing her eyes as her entire body ached with guilt and remorse. "I understand at last. Amy I'm sorry. I am truly truly sorry."
~*~*~
Amy and Mina had also experienced Fargo's past and Mina was breathless with excitement.
"You see Amy? Queen Serenity tricked him!" Mina cried. "You see? You don't have to marry Mu at all now, promise or no promise!"
"I…" Amy blushed as she thought of what had just been revealed to her. "That is…I…"
"You owe him nothing! He can't marry you if you're already married!" her friend repeated.
Amy shook her head slowly from side to side.
She had been resigned to the fact that she would be forcibly married at day break.
Now she knew that she did not have to marry the emperor because she was married to Fargo of all people!
She did not know what to think.
"C'mon. Lets get out of here." Mina resumed.
"How?" Amy stammered.
Mina grinned. "I've been thinking about that! I've got a hair pin in my back pocket. See if you can get it and…"
~*~*~
"You dare to oppose my will?" Mu roared at Fargo. "Insolent peasant! I could crush you like the worm you are!"
"Nothing like blowing your own trumpet." Fargo retorted.
All the while he was thinking about his memories which had finally been restored.
The dance in the royal palace of the Moon Kingdom…meeting Princess Mercury…dancing with her…his promise to Queen Serenity…arriving on Earth…meeting Amy…
He finally understood everything.
Fargo realised that he hadn't been able to remember his past because of the hex that Mu had added into the spell that would rob those who it was used on of their memories.
And now the emperor had been the one who had restored them to him.
Talk about irony.
Tuning his eyes heavenward he spoke more to himself than to anyone else.
"Queen Serenity I understand at last. I'm sorry that it took me so long to find out the truth but my mind was so full of confusion."
Fargo raised his arms in a gesture of determination and purpose.
"Queen Serenity…I will now carry out your last wish! I will defend the honour of Princess Mercury with my dying breath!" Fargo roared with a voice of mighty thunder.