Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ The Saga of Mercury ❯ Quartzia Changes Sides ( Chapter 27 )

The Saga of Mercury

Chapter 27

"Quartzia Changes Sides"

Written by Jose I. Ramos

Portions based on "Mercury Knight stories" by Ryuuen No Miko

"Sailor Moon" and all related characters are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha, TOEI Animation and other agencies.

Storyline © 2003 Jose I. Ramos

ATTENTION SAILOR MOON FANS

Would you like to hear some of the best music from Sailor Moon? Then tune into the Internet's newest radio station dedicated to this benchmark Anime series.

From the author of The Saga of Mercury, it's

SILVER MILLENNIUM RADIO

Silver Millennium Radio features only the best Sailor Moon music, from an extensive music play list that rotates on a regular basis.

It also features special programs such as Moonlight Evenings, Starry Night Karaoke and Sailor of the Week.

For more information and to view a programming calendar, visit our website: http://jrhorse.keiichi.net/smradio

Or, launch Silver Millennium Radio now!!

http://www.live365.com/stations/jrhorse2002

DISCLAIMER

As usual, "Sailor Moon" and all related characters are copyrighted by Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha, TOEI Animation and other agencies.

The Saga of Mercury story is copyrighted by me, however content in some chapters is based on the Mercury Knight Stories as described in the Chapter 1 Introduction.

For this chapter: The name and likeness of Lance Burton is a trademark of Lance Burton Merchandising, Inc.

Chapter 27 - Quartzia Changes Sides

"I'M NOT FINISHED WITH THEM!" Quartzia yelled to Sorinya.

"Silence," said Sorinya. "You're all bruised up after that last battle. You need some rest. After all, you are one of my most loyal servants, and I don't want to lose you now."

Quartzia growled. "I don't need, and I won't have, ANY rest! AND I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT IT!" she said before turning around and starting out of the chamber in a huff.

"QUARTZIA!" yelled Sorinya.

But Sorinya's call went on deaf ears, as Quartzia left the chamber, apparently getting prepared to start an attack again.

Sorinya signed and put her hand on her forehead. "This is yet another fool who does not want to wait," she said aloud. "I still need more time to come up with my ultimate plan…"

Sorinya paused when she turned to see a picture of herself with her cousin Bertie on the dark, black wall.

Sorinya left her throne and walked over to the picture.

"Bertie," she said to the picture, "I will avenge your loss from our family… I promise you…"

Meanwhile…

The other sailor scouts were gathered inside the Italian restaurant where Ken and Lita were supposed to meet up at several days ago. This time, however, everyone was either wearing a suit or wearing a beautiful dress… to celebrate love and friendship.

Lita and Ken were at the seats of honor, farthest away from the entrance. To the right of Lita were Amy, Sasha, Greg, Darien, Serena and Rini. Next to Ken were Raye, Chad, Jamie and Mina. Two empty seats completed the circle between Rini and Mina.

Ken stood up first and addressed everyone.

"Thanks for coming, guys," he said. "I'd like to take this opportunity to raise a glass to you all, my close and dearest friends. Without your moral support, I wouldn't have made it…"

"Here, here," Greg said to applause.

"Thanks," said Ken. "I'd also like to honor someone here, who has been with me from the very start…"

"Lita!" yelled Sasha.

"Sssh!" said Amy.

Ken winked at Sasha before continuing. "This someone has comforted me, and I have comforted her. In all the good times, and in all the bad…"

Lita was beginning to blush.

"She's got brown hair, and so do I," he said to laughter. "And…"

Ken paused.

"And, she…"

"She what?" asked Mina.

Ken looked down at Lita.

"She… saved my life… twice," he said. "Folks, I give you Lita Kino."

With everyone at the table applauding, Ken urged Lita to stand up. After a bit of hesitation, she did.

"Thank you everyone," she said, smiling and bright red, before sitting back down.

Then Greg thought of something, and immediately he and Darien excused themselves from the table. Greg took his index finger and moved it in circles, as if to tell Ken to keep going.

Ken nodded back to Greg, then turned back to Lita. "So I give you my promise, Lita, since you saved my life twice, that I will save…"

Ken was no longer audible as Darien and Greg were making their way toward the exit.

"Greg, I'm going to trust you that they're here…" said Darien.

"Relax, the man's leaning against a street lamppost and his daughter is right beside him."

Darien and Greg exited the restaurant… and turned towards their left.

"You win again," said Darien.

Indeed, there was a white-haired man leaning against the lamppost. He was dressed in his blue suit and was carrying a white lab coat in his arm.

Next to the man was a short girl, about Rini's size, who was wearing a black shirt and a plaid dress. She had short black hair.

Darien stepped forward to the two.

"Professor Tomoe?"

"Darien!" said the Professor. "How wonderful to see you again. To think that you were Tuxedo Mask all along."

Darien quickly stepped back. "Tuxedo Mask?" he said with a surprised look on his face.

The girl stepped forward. "I told him," she said.

"Hotaru!" said Darien. "How have you been?"

The three exchanged pleasantries, then Darien introduced Greg to the Tomoes.

"Pleased to finally meet you," said Greg. "I understand you have a special relationship to the sailor scouts' battles."

"Too many that I don't want to remember," said the Professor.

"Me neither," said Hotaru.

"Well then, they're inside the restaurant now," said Greg.

"Great," said the Professor. "Does Lita's girlfriend… uh, Ken… is he going to…"

"Yes, he will, don't worry about it though, only the guys know about it," said Darien.

The quartet made their way back into the restaurant.

"These two are with us," said Greg to the host.

"Ah yes, that completes your table's attendance, thank you!" he said.

As they approached the table, Rini was already speaking.

"…the one close friend that I've had was Hotaru," she was saying. "I always liked the times that I spent with her."

"We all know what happened with her," said Amy.

"She turned out to be the Soverign of Silence, and Serena saved her," Rini said.

"And I'm right here!" said a voice.

Rini turned her head, and immediately her eyes went wide open when she saw someone who looked very familiar.

"I… I'm sorry," said Greg jokingly, "who were you talking about?"

Everyone else, in on the secret, smiled.

Unintelligible sounds of astonishment were coming out of Rini's mouth… and a tear out of one eye.

Suddenly, Rini could not hold back.

She jumped into Hotaru's arms. "HOTARU!" she screamed.

Everyone else stood from their chairs to welcome Hotaru and the Professor.

"You're totally clean now?" asked Jamie to the Professor.

Smiling, the Professor responded, "No evil influences, trust me…"

"All right, now that we're all here," said Darien, taking his seat, "why don't we have one last toast before we go here… all of us?"

Everyone raised his or her water glasses.

"To the future," said Darien.

"To the future!" said everyone else.

The entire group then settled down for a wonderful lunch, all supervised by the restaurant's head chef.

When it came for dessert, one of the waiters carted in a tray filled with sumptuous delicacies.

Ken seemed to browse over the display quickly…

"You might want to finish off this cherry pie that we have here on the top," said the waiter. "Is there anyone at your table who likes cherry pie?"

Ken looked at Lita.

"I like cherries!" said Sasha.

"I know," said Greg, "but Lita's always had something about cherry pie. I'd give her the last piece."

"Why?" said Amy to Greg.

"Listen, Sasha, they sell desserts at the entrance. I'll buy you one whole pie when we leave, okay?"

"Yippie!" said a smiling Sasha.

"All righty then," said the waiter. "Here's your…"

The waiter turned to his display… and noticed that the cherry pie slice had disappeared.

"Wh… where's the slice?" said the Waiter.

"Oh, no," said Ken. "Look over there!"

Ken pointed down the hallway, where Serena was walking over to the bathroom.

"Serena!" yelled Ken. "Come back here!"

Serena quickened her pace to the ladies room.

"She's got the cherry slice!" yelled Raye, who quickly left her seat and chased after her.

"IT'S ALL MINE!" yelled Serena, soon finding herself being chased all around the restaurant by Raye.

"I'm surprised at their behavior," said Professor Tomoe from the table.

"Surprised?" said Mina, lowering her head. "Oh, you shouldn't be, really…"

After a wild runaround, Serena was running back toward the table, the pie slice and saucer occupying both of her hands.

Serena ran and ran with an evil look on her face… until she tripped on her long dress.

She went tumbling to the floor… and the cherry pie slice was tumbling high into the air.

Chad screamed, "GET THAT SLICE!"

Chad, Ken and Jamie were running over to try to catch the slice, now at its peak of ascent over the center of the table.

Darien closed his eyes, thinking about the worse.

But he was relieved by a sigh from everyone, when Ken caught the slice with one hand… and it was still intact.

Ken took the slice and put it on one of the clean saucers that was on the table.

"Let's wait for Raye to help Serena up," said Ken.

Raye was struggling to lift Serena…

When all of a sudden, the windows of the restaurant were blown apart by a strong driving wind.

The shattering of the windows was followed immediately by piercing screams from within the restaurant… including from Serena, Raye and Amy.

A yellow mist then began to make its way through the restaurant, the strong winds accompanying it.

Within no time, all of the people at the restaurant were blown to the floor, including Raye and Serena… with the rest of the sailor team, and the professor, finding themselves immobile against the wall.

"It's Quartzia!" yelled Amy through the wind.

Through the yellow smoke, the evil presence made itself known.

"CARE FOR A BITE?" said Quartzia. "Yes, behold, it is I, the one you couldn't get rid of!"

Lita tried to move her arms and legs from the wall but couldn't. "OH, WHEN I GET MY HANDS ON YOU!" she yelled.

"You won't!" yelled Quartzia, who shot a beam of yellow light at Lita.

Lita growled… strained… and fell unconscious as she succumbed to the yellow beam.

"LITA!" yelled Ken.

"Oh, shut up," said Quartzia, knocking Ken out with the same beam.

One by one, Quartzia silenced Lita, Ken, Mina and Jamie.

Greg had enough…

"MERCURY SUPER ICE SHIELD!"

"Ha, how can you do that when you can't reach your transformation device?" said Quartzia to Greg.

But Quartzia appeared stunned as a ray of blue light began to shine from Greg's right hand, which was still pressed on the wall. The blue light soon began to encircle everyone who was on the wall… conscious or not… until the light froze into a transparent barrier of ice.

With the wind no longer having an effect, those who were against the wall slid down until their feet were on the ground… except for the four unconscious ones that slumped to the ground.

Greg then turned his closed hand around to reveal… his open cell phone.

"Ha, Quartzia! Haven't you heard of Lance Burton?!" yelled Greg. "I think it's called sleight of hand…"

"I'll silence your hand tricks… and ALL your tricks… with just ONE BLOW!" yelled Quartzia, as she readied her yellow beam.

"NOT SO FAST!" yelled two girls.

Quartzia turned around.

"How dare you try to come in here and spoil our fun!"

"And how dare you try to ruin my life!!!"

"For love and justice, I am the pretty-suited sailor soldier of love and justice! I AM SAILOR MOON!"

"And I'm the sailor soldier of fire… I'M SAILOR MARS, and I'm going to melt you down!"

"And in the name of the moon, we will right wrongs and triumph over evil…"

"THAT MEANS YOU!" they both yelled.

"So, the fate of friendship comes down to the two who always argue with each other, eh?" said Quartzia.

"Well… yeah…" started Sailor Moon

"We may not agree on many things," said Sailor Mars, "but there's one thing we do agree on… that you're nothing but a piece of garbage! It's time to throw you in the trash!"

"Oh, then I'll have to do something about that," said Quartzia, who immediately shot her yellow beam of light toward Sailor Mars.

Sailor Moon pushed Sailor Mars out of the way just in the nick of time.

"Gah!" yelled Quartzia. "Missed them both!"

Quartzia tried several more times… but agile Sailor Mars, and yes, even clumsy Sailor Moon, were able to dodge her attacks.

Quartzia was trying so hard to get rid of the two… that she had no clue what was happening behind her.

Behind the barrier of frozen water, Tuxedo Mask, Sailor Mini Moon, Sailor Mercury, Mercury Knight, Sailor Mini Mercury and Mars Knight had already transformed.

As Sailor Mercury was heading over to revive Lita, Ken, Mina and Jamie, Hotaru turned to her father.

"It's time for me to become a sailor scout again, daddy," she said.

"Well, don't do anything that will get you weak, I don't want anything like before to end up happening to you," Professor Tomoe replied.

"You have my word," Hotaru said.

"In that case," he said, reaching into his suit pocket, "you'll need this…"

The professor pulled out the Saturn transformation stick and handed it to Hotaru. He then kissed Hotaru's forehead. "Good luck."

Hotaru raised the transformation stick high in the air… yelled "SATURN PLANET POWER!"… and became Sailor Saturn.

"Sailor Saturn… how are ya?" said Mars Knight.

"There is no time to talk, Chad," said Saturn. "When everyone is ready, you need to burn down the ice wall so we can attack Quartzia from behind."

Mars Knight took out his fire blade. "Right-o!" he said.

"I'll stay here to protect them," said Sailor Mercury, referring to those that were on the floor.

"Protect who," said a groaning voice.

Sailor Mercury looked down. "Ken!"

"And Jamie, too," said Jamie.

Lita, Ken, Mina and Jamie started to struggle to their feet.

The Professor was amazed. "What stamina they have," he said.

"What do you expect," said Mercury Knight. "They're sailor scouts!"

Sailor Mini Moon ran over to where Sailor Saturn and the Professor were.

"I wanna help you protect the professor," said Sailor Mini Moon.

"That's a great idea," said Sailor Saturn. "I guess I still have to save my strength…"

Sailor Mini Mercury ran over. "Don't forget me!" she cried out.

"Sasha!" said Saturn. "You're Amy and Greg's future child?"

"Mm-hmm," replied Mini Mercury.

"Well, we'll talk later, Mars Knight is getting ready to burn down the ice wall," she said.

"Wait for us!" yelled Lita, who along with Ken, Mina and Jamie, were standing and ready to go.

"VENUS STAR POWER!"

"JUPITER STAR POWER!"

"JUPITER KNIGHT POWER!"

"VENUS KNIGHT POWER!"

"Mars Knight, we're all ready!" yelled Tuxedo Mask. "Go ahead!"

"OK, let's see how this does… MARS FIRE BLADE CHARGE!"

Mars Knight's fire blade cut through the ice like knife through butter, and in a few seconds the ice wall became water puddles on the floor.

The sailors wasted no time.

"VENUS LOVE-ME CHAIN!"

Quartzia was startled when the love chain encircled her entire body.

"She's motionless!" yelled Mercury Knight. "Give her all we've got!"

"SPARKLING WIDE PRESSURE!"

"BURNING MANDALA!"

"SHINE AQUA ILLUSION!"

"SHABON FAN!"

"MOON TIARA ACTION!"

A couple of targeted hits from Tuxedo Mask roses, combined with these attacks, brought Quartzia down to the ground.

Quartzia was yelling in agony and pain as the four knights gathered together to prepare their super attack.

"All right, it's time to hit a home run! MERCURY ICE…"

Mercury Knight stopped when he heard Quartzia's screams.

"AAAAH! STOP, PLEASE!!! PLEASE STOP!!! I DON'T WANT TO BE A BAD PERSON AGAIN!!! PLEASE DON'T HURT ME!!!"

Mercury Knight lowered his sword, a quizzed look spread across his face.

"PLEASE… Please…" said Quartzia, catching her breath… "I… I really didn't want to be a bad person… It… was Sorinya's fault… It was her fault all along… she was the one that brought me through all this…"

Mercury Knight said to himself, but audibly, "All right, finish her or screw it?"

"What are you waiting for?" said Jupiter Knight. "Finish her!"

"Yeah, we haven't got all day…" said Mars Knight.

Mercury Knight thought long and hard…

"Screw it!" he yelled. "Sheathe your swords."

"WHAT?!" yelled Venus Knight. "Come on Greg, you can't be serious…"

"No, wait," said Sailor Mercury. "Guys, please… If Mercury Knight is doing this… then he has a reason…"

Mercury Knight walked up to face Quartzia and crouched down, while the other knights reluctantly placed their swords back into their holders.

"I have a feeling that you're being sincere to us," he said.

"Yes…" said Quartzia, "Yes, I am."

Sailor Mercury looked at Mercury Knight.

"She… she sounds sincere to me," Sailor Mercury said.

"All righty Quartzia, I'm giving you a chance to explain yourself…"

A horrific-faced Quartzia looked at the sailor scout team that was surrounding her.

"I… I've had it with evil," she said. "I want to change… I don't feel like I've done anything right… I… well… to tell you the truth, I always wanted to be like the member of my family that came before me… who turned to the good side… Avarie…"

Sailor Venus almost choked. "Avarie? You knew her?"

"Yes," said Quartzia to the sailor of beauty. "She was supposedly my distant relative, but I've always looked up to her because of the true goodness in her heart…"

"All right, all right," said Sailor Moon. "It just comes down to this question: if we turn you to our side, will you promise to be good?"

"Living a new life of goodness," said Quartzia, "is all I ever wanted."

"Sailor Moon," said Mercury Knight, "you can trust me on this one."

"Well," said Tuxedo Mask, "if Mercury Knight says it's okay, then I guess there really is no point in arguing."

Sailor Mini Mercury was ready to run over to Quartzia to welcome her over to the side of good.

"Not so fast," said her friend Mini Moon, holding her back. "Sailor Moon has to use her Spiral Rod to heal her."

"That's right…" said Sailor Moon, who, after a bit of hesitation, moved into position.

"MOON SPIRAL HEALING ACTIVATION!"

A stream of hearts began to encircle Quartzia… not the kind of hearts that would attack her like the Venus love chain, but the kind of hearts that would clear her mind and body of all evil.

Sailor Mercury knew the sign that would indicate Quartzia was fully healed… she had to wait for the Negamoon symbol to disappear from Quartzia's head.

Sailor Moon was increasing her strength to heal Quartzia…

"ERRR," said a straining Sailor Moon. "I don't think it's gonna be enough…"

"Sailor Moon," said Sailor Saturn, stepping forward with her staff. "Allow me…"

"You?" said Sailor Moon.

"It makes sense," said Sailor Mars. "She's the most powerful of any of the Sailor Scouts!"

"And she can make people feel better," said Sailor Mini Moon.

"I am going to try," said Sailor Saturn.

After handing her staff to Professor Tomoe to hold, Sailor Saturn approached Quartzia.

"Thank you," said Quartzia, as Sailor Saturn placed her hands on Quartzia's forehead.

Sailor Saturn closed her eyes… and within moments, Quartzia's skin tone began to lighten to a regular peach color.

It was obvious, based on what the others saw, that Sailor Saturn's healing was working… and working quickly.

When it was done, Quartzia was smiling with joy.

And Sailor Saturn was collapsing onto the floor.

"Hotaru!" yelled the professor, dropping the staff and running to aid his daughter.

Sailor Venus also ran over to help.

Sailor Saturn was weakened by the power she just used.

But when it was all over, Sailor Mercury looked at Quartzia's head…

"You're all cured, Quartzia!" she said.

Quartzia looked around. "Who? I don't know who you're talking about," she said.

Mercury Knight looked at Sailor Mercury. "Slight amnesia, but I think she'll be ok."

"Here, let me help you to your feet," said Sailor Venus.

Sailor Venus helped Quartzia up, while Professor Tomoe took his transformed daughter into his arms.

As Sailor Venus was about to lead the re-born Quartzia out the exit…

"Wait, Sailor Venus!" said Jupiter Knight.

"What is it," said Sailor Jupiter.

Jupiter Knight pointed down to the slice of cherry pie.

"It still hasn't been touched," he said. "Promise me, Lita, you'll take a bite now so we'll get this over with?"

"Might as well," said Sailor Jupiter, "if all of you were making such a fuss about it before…"

Tuxedo Mask and the knights looked at each other with confidence as Sailor Jupiter took an unused fork off the table and cut into the p…

The p…

The p…

"Ech, this isn't cutting through," Sailor Jupiter complained.

"Maybe… something is obstructing it?" Jupiter Knight suggested. "You know, in the way?"

Sailor Jupiter reached into the cherry pie slice with her fingers.

"Are you guys playing a trick on me? Is that why… oh… my…"

Sailor Jupiter gasped loudly… and the other sailors followed suit… when Sailor Jupiter pulled out what appeared to be some kind of ring.

Jupiter Knight immediately splashed some water from a cup to clean it up.

The ring was a sparkling diamond, surrounded by a ring of emerald.

"No, Ken, no!" said Sailor Jupiter, who was starting to cry and turn red.

Jupiter Knight smiled as he took the ring from her, and got down on one knee.

The other sailors were caught off guard, and were starting to tear up as well.

Professor Tomoe smiled, as did Tuxedo Mask, Mini Moon, Mini Mercury, and the other knights.

"No, Ken!" Sailor Jupiter said through tears.

"Yes Lita," said Jupiter Knight. "Hopefully this proves how I really feel about you… how I've always felt about you… and how I always will feel about you… deep inside my heart…

"I love you, Lita."

"I… love you, Ken," a broken Sailor Jupiter said.

"Will you marry me?"

A few nods from Sailor Jupiter's head were all that was needed for the cheers to begin from those assembled.

Jupiter Knight placed the ring on Sailor Jupiter's left ring finger, rose up, and gave her a kiss.

"I think with that, we're finished with our day!" said Mercury Knight. "Why don't we leave before everyone else in the restaurant starts to get up?"

Everyone agreed.

Sailor Venus and Quartzia led the group out of the restaurant, followed by a very happy couple from Jupiter, Professor Tomoe with Sailor Saturn, and everyone else.

The last two to exit were Mercury Knight and Venus Knight.

"So what's going to happen to Quartzia?" asked Venus Knight.

"Dunno, Jamie," replied Mercury Knight, "maybe something similar to what Avarie has been doing ever since she was healed. I'll be sure to check up on her for you."

"And look on the other bright side!" said Venus Knight with a smile. "That's two down and three to go, IF you know what I mean…"

"That's right!" laughed Mercury Knight.

The two chuckled as they walked through the restaurant exit.

Mercury Knight then told Venus Knight, "And you know what? YOU'RE NEXT!!"

Venus Knight stopped with a frozen look on his face.

"I… I… I… I…" he said.

By the time he said this, Mercury Knight was already a step ahead of him.

"You, you, you. Don't worry, it'll be easy," said Mercury Knight, walking back to his friend. "I'll help you out… I'll think of a way that you can get to Mina without her even noticing…"

It looks like Jamie has to make the next move to fulfill his destiny. How will he do it? How will Greg help him?

And what will be Sorinya's reaction to Quartzia's "defection"?

Find out in the next chapter of, The Saga of Mercury.

The Saga of Mercury Chapter 27 - Quartzia Changes Sides 16

PDF conversion services provided by FastPDF, LLC