Sailormoon- Another story revisited
by Aer_seph4eva
Chapter 1- Search for the stones. Mercury's quest.
Senshi/Shitennou
Sailor scouts/ Prince Darien's generals
Star signs/personalities.
Sailor Moon/Usagi- Cancer
Tuxedo Mask/Mamoru- Leo
Sailor Mercury/ Virgo
Zoisite/ Gemini
Sailor Mars/ Aries
Jadeite/ Scorpio
Sailor Jupiter/ Sagittarius
Nephrite/ Pisces
Sailor Venus/ Libra
Kunzite/ Taurus
Whenever I create a fic, I have found that the best way to keep characters, well... in character is by sticking to the personality of their star sign. Believe me, it works!
As some of you may have realised, the generals were never given Star signs so I gave them the star signs which fit to which senshi they are paired off with to the planet they ruled under.
i.e.. The planet Venus is ruled under Libra, which is Minako (Sailor Venus) and Taurus which I made Kunzite into. Come on, I can't be the only one who thinks Kunzite acts like a Taurean?
Anywho.....
If anyone wants to know how I worked out the generals/Shitennou star signs, you can look at my other SM fic that I have yet to finish (or start). 'What should have been..'
Romance/ Humour/
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Disclaimer......
I'll put it simply. 'Me. No. Own. Sailormoon.' (I wish I did though, then I could create many Senshi/Shitennou story plots and put them in my own episodes list! ^_^.)
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Hey Aer_seph4eva here. Some of you may have realised that the title of this fic is the same as one of the Sailormoon RPGs. If you did realise this, congratulations, as you are right. Out of all the SM video games I have ever played, I truly believe that 'Another story' had the best story plot and more hinting of romance and interaction with the generals and the senshi. The reason why I have had the inspiration to write this fic is due to the ???s if the generals were revived or had a main part within the story plot, other than reviving Mamoru with the Hi stones. And also, how would the inner senshi react after finding out the kind side of each of their 'beloveds'.
I want to keep the my plot as close to the original storyline as possible except with the change that if the generals had more important roles within the game and with their loves.
Since I am rather keen to go straight to the action in 'SM,AS' chapter 2 'Search for the stones.' where the senshi have been sent to travel to different parts of the world to find the Hi stones Zoisite, Kunzite, Nephrite and Jadeite, I will write a short description on what has happened so far in the game for the people who have not yet played it.
After having a premonition of a meteor about to hit the earth, Usagi finds out that all of the youma she has killed in the past have somehow resurrected themselves. That the strange goings on are linked by an unknown woman named Sin who is a leader of her own senshi, possessing powers similar to that of the Inner senshi. Although little is known about Sailormoon's enemy, she knows that whatever Sin and her master are trying to accomplish, it is linked with the idea of 'changing destiny and to rule the future and the past'.
Sin is then given a plan from her master Apsu to obtain Usagi's Ginzuishou and the Barazuishou from Mamoru. Since Sin knows who all the senshi are, Sin lures Sailormoon, Chibi-Usa and her friends into a trap, and as Sin was about to give Chibi-Usa and Sailormoon a final blow, Tuxedo Kamen intervenes and takes the negative hit head on, rendering him into a coma. Sin and her senshi then teleport out of sight.
After a large discussion on how to cure Mamoru, all of the Sailor senshi are surprised when they get a sudden image of Beryl's old generals in Mamoru's living room.
After a short debate of whether or not the generals had came with good causes, Kunzite gives the senshi vital information on how to heal his master Endymion.
'The only way to heal him is to undo the negative energy inside of him with positive energy. This positive energy can be found within the lost 4 Hi stones of my generals, Zoisite, Jadeite, Nephrite and myself. These crystals that hold the goodness and kindness from each of the us unlike our 'Kage' stones that held all our cruelty and maliciousness.
So as Usagi stays in Japan to take care of her beloved Mamo-chan, and the Outer senshi are tending to an injured Hotaru, the Inner senshi have now been given a mission to find the Hi stones of the dead generals. Each senshi chose a certain Hi stone to find and a different country to go to.
Amy chose to go to Switzerland to find Zoisite's Hi stone. and was given the Zoisite's Kage stone.
Rei decided to go to 'Nepal' to find Jadeite's Hi stone and was granted Jadeite's Kage stone.
Makoto decided to go to Canada to find Nephrite's Hi stone and was handed Nephrite's Kage stone.
Minako decided to go to Turkey to find Kunzite's Hi stone and so like the rest of the senshi, was given the leading general's Kage stone to help her find his Hi stone...
Now I hope that most of you guys now know what's going on, and the ones who already did, I hope that this small brief just refreshed your memory. I know much more happened within the space of what I have written but I just wanted to write the basic outline of what has happened.
And now without further wait, on with the fic ^_^!
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Anyone who had ever travelled to Switzerland would have known the country for its strong winds, and the heavy snow which fell almost constantly through the winter seasons. The air, was fresh and clean unlike the polluted air from the many vehicles and factories that Amy had grown so used to in her own country of Japan.
When Amy was given a choice of finding the Hi stone 'Zoisite', she instantly rushed to find up research on the country of Switzerland on her Mercury computer. Information such as its inhabitants and other interesting facts upon the area that she believed that were useful. It wasn't like she knew nothing about the country, on the contrary, Amy knew that Switzerland was one of the places that seemed to interest her after she had recently written a assignment on the country in Geography and gained a A*. Although she knew that she was unable to admit it, she had always felt a pull towards Switzerland and the pictures of the snowy mountains seemed so familiar. Images of village Christmas candle festivals, nights of endless ice skating, and the heavy scents of cherry blossoms and toasted chestnuts were constantly within her thoughts when she thought of Switzerland yet she could not fathom why since she had never been there before. Especially the idea the smell of cherry blossom.
"The land is too cold a climate for such trees. I think maybe Usagi-chan's right, I have been over studying. That could explain why my brain and imagination is working on overload," The ice senshi sighed to herself, pulling a blue bang out of her vision as she stared out at the sight of endless snowy mountains, their iced peaks looking as if they were blended in with the snow falling from the sky.
Since being attuned to the element of ice, Amy naturally felt a pull towards frosty winters, white snowflakes dusting the lands. Her natural element which could create so much happiness and joy with all children. Young boys making snowmen and young girls making snow angels to their hearts content. Their 's cheeks and noses a rosy red, smiles beaming with happiness from the beautiful gift from the heavens. Amy knew herself that she would always prefer a cold winter day than a bright, hot sunny day in Juuban. What she wouldn't do to trade in the hot weather for eternal snowflakes falling from the sky, cooling the skin. The satisfying crunch it made with each rise and fall of footprints. Yet as the Ice senshi, being gifted with the power of Mercury's element, knew all to well what cataclysmic destruction could be summoned with a mere flick of her wrists. She shuddered lightly at the thought of an Avalanche, and that she, she held the power to create one. But she knew it was her duty, her birthright from times during the Silver Millennium. It wasn't like she was the only one though. All of her other friends knew how she felt as they were gifted with the same duty.
"Or maybe cursed," Mercury mused, watching as two birds sailed far into the distance disappearing past the snowy mountains, before watching a small bird quite a distance behind struggling to catch up with the rest of its kind, none noticing that it had grown so far behind and that it would never be able to catch up.
Mercury smiled sadly, feeling sympathy for what the bird was going through. She knew herself how it felt. Trying so hard to fit in with the rest of the world, desperately trying to keep in with the crowd but finding no place to stand. She had realised long ago that the 'dreamists' such as Usagi-chan believed that true love and soul-mates were true. But she knew that she was no dreamer. She was a realist and she knew the upsetting fact that although Usagi-chan maybe right for the majority of the people had soul-mates and fell in love, Amy knew she was the minority. She personally believed that she had no chance with love. She had not yet had the experience of what a single kiss feels like let alone having a boyfriend. The ice senshi rubbed her arms to sooth herself, feeling a shiver run across from her that she knew was not from the weather.
"Why was I chosen to be alone, to feel such a coldness and loneliness in my heart like that of the element I possess?" Mercury spoke softly to the winds, hearing the slightest whisper of an echo soon after.
"I am just like these snowy fields. Silent and still with no pigment of colour. Sometimes I just wish that I had the power of fire like Rei-chan, she has such a colourful personality..... to feel the passion of love at least once, to have the excitement for danger and change...... but I don't think I could ever find the courage to expose my true feelings.....to step out of the confines of security and shyness I have built around myself." Mercury sighed deeply, letting her shoulders sag at her sides as she thought of her friends, girls who were so beautiful and who could easily get any guy they wanted, something which she so desperately wanted to possess. But she wasn't jealous of them. She knew that she could never be envious of her friends for their talents that she didn't possess, as she knew herself that her talents came from her mind and brain unlike the rest of the senshi.
"....well I guess, I don't really mind about having no boyfriend since I am rather busy with all my school work and all of my senshi duties." Mercury tried to convince herself but she knew that she knew it wasn't so. An old memory came to mind in her earlier years of being a senshi when she was in the fairground with Greg, the thought of the rides she had with him brought a light blush to her cheeks on how close they sat on the wheel and the dodgems. However the thought came crashing down when she remembered how he and his family had moved to another country and she had yet to hear a phone call or email from him after all the time that had passed.
Mercury sighed to herself. "Why am I so inexperienced with love? Usagi-chan's so lucky to have Mamoru-san.... and Rei-chan, she is so pretty that she can get any man she wants even though she says that she doesn't want one....and Mako-chan and Mina-chan.... they both have the courage to ask out any boy they like. I just wish that I held the courage to do the same but I know I would lose my nerve. I just.... don't like the idea of trying to open up and be so close to someone, yet....I don't want to end up being old and lonely."
She only noticed then how much time had passed, as she stared down at her boots and saw how her shadow had considerably moved since she had last looked at it earlier.
"Oh my! I have been just standing here like a lemon when I should be searching for Zoisite's Hi-stone so Mamoru-san can become healthy again." Mercury chastised herself brushing away a few snowflakes that had fallen into her hair and beginning to slowly walk East, taking in the smell of alpines and freshness as she walked slowly across the barren lands of snow. Just fifteen minutes ago, she was in her own room in Japan, using the senshi teleport and landing in her chosen destination in Switzerland. Her short fuku swayed gently with the wind as she took in her surroundings. Her sapphire eyes stared attentively at the view that was so different than her home in Japan.
"....it feels so nice to be out here in this weather," Mercury commented to herself as she felt a snowflake fall onto her white gloved finger before melting on contact.
"Even so..... I cannot picture how Zoisite could ever live in a place like this. He seemed like the type who loved the excitement and action such as America or something, not a place like this," The ice senshi pondered, pulling out the Kage stone from her pocket and inspecting it closely. The stone seemed almost flawless, bearing no scratches or dents. It's colour like that of the blackest ebony yet there seemed to be a light tinge of purple glowing from within the rock.
"It is rather astonishing that this 'Kage' stone is the reason why Zoisite and the rest of the generals were evil when they worked for Queen Beryl. It was because they did not have the Hi stone to balance out their actions. Maybe the Hi stone is like a conscience, holding back the Kage which is the darkness inside everyone's hearts."
"Hmm," Amy pondered, looking thoughtful. "I'll have to research about that theory later..... but for now Sailor senshi work needs to be done and Zoisite's hi stone to be found..... but.....where should I begin?" Mercury thought as an idea popped into her head.
"Lets see what my visor can pick up at the moment," Mercury stated as she concentrated for a moment before feeling her visor slide down into position. Numerous numbers and statistics filled her vision.
"Now lets see... from where I am standing, there seems to be no sort of life whatsoever, and no sign of concentrated energy...no wait..... I see a reading...a .....a....youma behind me?" Mercury questioned, unsure whether or not she had read correctly. She turned her head slowly, her eyes widening in shock as she saw not one but a swarm of youma heading her way.
"Oh gosh. there are... so many," Amy stuttered, watching as her visor counted up fifteen of the youma heading her way. She slowly began to unconsciously walk backwards, keeping her eyes fixed upon the enemy. That was one lesson she learnt from Makoto, Sailor Jupiter. 'Never keep your eyes off a opponent. When you do, that will be your downfall." She moved the visor away from her face, thinking frantically for her next course of action, the youma's luminous red eyes and long, sharpened scythes were downright frightening to the ice senshi when she had none of her friends behind her.
"I could try and use Shabon spray and freeze the front line of youma, which would then slow the ones from behind.... making me have the chance to hide....but where can I hide when all there is.... is snow?" She unconsciously bit her lips, gnawing it slightly. "I could use my Shine Aqua Illusion to create a smokescreen...but then I may just end up with the same problem as my other....'.
Mercury didn't even have time to finish her thoughts as she felt one of her feet stepping into emptiness, making her lose balance before falling backwards and off the cliff.
All the youma watched her passively as she made her fast descent downwards to what they believed to be her death.
"KYAAAAHHHH!!!!!" Mercury screamed, her arms and legs flailing around as her blue eyes dilated in horror, as she waited for the inevitable when her body would collide to the ground........
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The first thing that Mercury realised after a moment's shifting was how hot and sweltering she felt. She felt a scratchy wool-like material rub against her bare arms and legs making her feel rather uncomfortable. Placing a hand to her forehead, she was somewhat surprised to feel a wet rag upon her brow. It was at that moment that realisation kicked in, memories of the youma and falling... and that now she was inside someone's bed, within a hot house which had a roaring fire in the far side of the room.
"Ugh...I feel like I am inside one of Mar's Burning Mandalas." Mercury groaned as she crawled out of the blankets, kicking out a hot water bottle which came in contact with her bare leg. Getting to her feet, the ice senshi felt somewhat relieved that her attire had not been removed as she had a feeling that whoever had rescued her must have been a male to have gone all out of his trouble to keep her warm. 'Even though I prefer the cold,' the girl mused.
She counted three hot water bottles in her bed.
"Yep definitely male.," Amy stated surely, as she noted the pile of clothing on the floor and a few cobwebs hanging from a few corners of the room.
'This room definitely lacks a woman's touch,' Mercury said quietly, giggling at her own comment when a certain green eyed brunette came into her mind, and how fanatical she was with housekeeping and tidy spaces. Pulling a lock of hair behind her ear, she timidly walked across the room, still unsure whether or not she was in safe grounds and what type of person could be waiting outside the door.
'I guess whoever who has saved me must be a kind person since they went out of their way to help me,' Mercury concluded, idly walking over to a bureau and stared self-consciously at her reflection in the mirror. She noted with partial surprise that there was a small bandage across the left side of her face. She trailed her gloved hand against the thin fabric, lightly wincing at the pain that made itself known in her cheek.
"Don't touch that!" Came a low shout causing the ice senshi to jump in surprise, her head whipping over to the door which had now opened, with a male figure leaning against the doorway. His face was half bathed in darkness making the Ice senshi unable to see the features of his face.
"I..I'm sorry," Mercury apologised automatically moving her hand to her side. She knew all too well that it isn't such a good idea to prod a wound when it was trying to heal, and she felt somewhat embarrassed to be caught doing so.
"It's alright...I guess you are just confused to where you are," the male answered brushing back a blonde lock of hair from his face for it just to move back into the same place again.
"Darn hair..." he groaned sighing with defeat, watching the girl out of the corner of his eye smile softly at his antics.
"I get that too," Amy laughed lightly, pointing to her own blue bangs, "...it's just a sign for when your hair need to be cut."
"Probably...." the male blonde grinned, already beginning to like the girl, and not just for her looks either. "But enough about that.....what is your name miss and where did you come from? It's been a long time since someone so pretty like you has came to Kainess village." The male teen questioned, folding his arms in interest to what the blue haired enigma would say.
Mercury blushed lightly, shifting her weight rather uncomfortable about being praised in areas she believed she wasn't so.
"..... My name is Am... Mercury.... Sailor Mercury..." She answered, wincing lightly at her slip up of her real identity, yet relieved when he seemed to take no notice of her blunder, if anything, his smile widening as Mercury slowly began to feel rather uncomfortable.
"Mercury... that's a pretty name, for a very pretty girl." the blonde winked as the senshi knew that her face must have looked a flaming red.
"Well...I...." Mercury stuttered, fumbling over her words. "....who.....are you?...I mean...what's your name?"
"Heh heh, how rude of me to not introduce myself..... my name is...." The blonde chuckled as he took a step forward into the room, a slight look of confusion on his face when he saw the girl in front of him widen her sapphire eyes in what looked like recognition and disbelief.
'Zoisite? It can't be...'
"....Han from the village of Kainess. Pleased to meet you Mercury." the blonde said smoothly, lifting his hand up, waiting for the girl to accept it.
Mercury held a hand to her racing heart. The resemblance between Han and the eccentric, egotistical general that she had fought so long ago was so alike it was almost spooky. They both had the honey blonde hair, which was set in waves, with such dazzling forest green eyes that seemed almost effeminate due to their long, dark eyelashes. Yet Han held a more defined squarish chin and whereas Zoisite had a more softer, pointed face, an almost elfish look... well..... that was what Mercury grew to believed.
Heck, even the way that Han held his posture, strong yet graceful was so much like that of the cocky general.
If it weren't for the difference of length of hair, Han had his sandy blonde hair combed back in a rather simple yet boyish style, while Zoisite used to keep his hair in a loose tie, while his unruly blonde curls cascaded down his back The ice senshi would swear that Han was a doppelganger of Zoisite. She stared down at Han's hand before realisation kicked in that he wanted her to shake it. She felt her face gaining colour once again as she gracefully accepted it, hearing a low chuckle from the blonde teen due to her slow response.
"It's nice to meet you....Han," Mercury said after a moment as she retracted her hand from his, trying to shake away the thought a certain emerald eyed general.
"The pleasure's all mine Mercury," Han replied smoothly as he ran a hand through his hair before moving down to place them in the pockets of his blue denim jeans.
Mercury eyes trailed down with the movement of his hands, eyeing the blue shirt and the firm washboard stomach which undoubtfully laid beneath.
"So.... you said this is Andeng village?" Mercury stated, saying the first thing that came to mind to prevent from delving into thoughts that she would rather not delve into.
'Oh thank the gods that my friends are not here. I would have never been able to live this down...'
The blonde shook his head, "No.... that is the neighbouring village. This is Kainess, do you come from Andeng?"
Mercury blinked a few times in confusion, as Han repeated the question again.
"......no," the ice senshi stated slowly, baffled to why Han would ask her such a question before realising that it was her who indeed brought up the word.
' I....have never heard of that place Andeng... yet.....how did I know it's name?'
The blue haired girl shook her head, sometimes certain things were better left unknown and she didn't have time to think about trivial things. Mamoru-san's life was on the line. " But anyway, 'Han'... the reason that I am here is because I'm looking for something. A stone." Mercury explained, "..it's called Zoisite."
Han rubbed his chin in thought. "Well, the name is awfully familiar. Isn't that the name of a mineral or something?"
"Yes, that is correct." The blue haired senshi responded idly rubbing the Kage stone that was within her pocket.
"So why are you looking for this 'Zoisite' stone?" Han questioned, placing his arms akimbo
"I have a very sick friend at home and I need to find this stone for him to become healthy again," The ice senshi responded to which the blonde nodded his head in understanding.
"...I see," Han answered as he rubbed his chin in thought.." A stone for healing.... Maybe Dr Schwartz may know?"
"Dr Schwartz?" Mercury questioned her eyes sparkling with interest.
"Yeah. He's the doctor in Andeng village. If anyone knows about healing items, its him, besides I need to go see him too!" The blonde stated firmly with a nod.
Mercury gave him a look of questioning. "You do?"
Han looked down at his hands, his lips turning into a frown. "Yeah, my mother. She is very ill and I've been taking care of her for the last few days, but for the last few days... she has been getting worse."
Amy's eyes sparkled with sympathy, a look of concern in her face. "....Where is she?"
The blonde looked up and gave a sad smile. "In the next room...there... you see her?" Han whispered softly as he pointed in the direction of the door and a bed which could almost be just seen from where she was standing.
"Oh.... maybe I can be of help. I know a little bit about nursing since my mom is one." The senshi stated walking past Han, through the doorway towards the bed where the blonde's mother lay. The old woman's face, looked a rather unhealthy ashen grey while her chest rose just slightly signifying that she was still alive. Mercury frowned slightly, trying to recollect the procedures her mother had taught her when dealing with such symptoms. She placed her gloved hand to the old woman's face, her frown increasing when she felt the heat that had almost burnt her hand.
"It's not good.. she has a fever," Mercury pointed out as she searched her inventory of items that she brought along in case of emergency reasons.
"Here I have got some cold medicine and...." Mercury stated before being interrupted by the blonde.
"It won't help. My mother needs Dr Schwartz to cure her. In fact, I was actually on my way to see him before I found you.." He replied shaking his head as he stared at his mother, her long locks of hair which used to hold such a vibrant gold looked pale and thin.
"Oh..." The senshi responded, everything was beginning to make sense. "So are you going to see Dr Schwartz now?"
Han nodded slowly. "Yeah. but...." he said slowly turning to look into the direction of where his mother was resting,
"..you don't want to leave your mother," Mercury responded as Han nodded regretfully, closing his eyes with sadness.
"I don't want to leave her but if she doesn't get the medicine from Dr Schwartz, then..." he paused not even wanting to finish the sentence.
Mercury chewed her lip in thought, thinking a way of sorting out the awkward predicament before a sudden thought rose into her mind.
"I know!" the senshi exclaimed, turning to Han once again.
The blonde raised an elegant eyebrow. "What is it Mercury?"
The senshi of ice placed he hands at her sides, looking directly into the blonde's eyes. "I'll go to Andeng village and bring Doctor Schwartz here, since I too need to see him if he has knowledge of the Zoisite stone,"
It took Han a moment for the information to sink in.
"I cant let you do that!" He said soon after flailing his arms upwards with incredulity to what the girl was trying to propose.
Mercury frowned lightly. "Why?"
"Why? There are monsters who live in these snowy mountains, and I couldn't live with myself if you got hurt because of me." The blonde stated sternly, not even wanting to think about how a girl such as Mercury could survive alone in the cold, monster infested grounds.
Mercury blushed lightly taken back by his act of apparent concern for her. "I'll be fine..." she started before being interrupted mid sentence by the blonde.
"But the monsters..." Han protested.
The senshi shook her head. "I have fought many monsters in my own hometown. Don't worry. I will be alright. I have to do this anyway to pay you back for saving me,"
"But Mercury..." the blonde tried to object weakly, knowing that there was no chance that she was going to listen to what he said.
Mercury sighed, she herself had never thought that she could ever be in a predicament such as this. She now began to understand how Usagi-chan felt when Mamoru-san was being over protective over her. The thought that someone was worried about her safety made her smile inside.
"Don't be silly, you have to stay here and take care of your mother. I won't be long. Just tell me where Andeng village is and I'll go as soon as possible."
The blonde bent his head down contemplating. ".........."
"Han...." The ice senshi stated calmly, placing a hand on his shoulder.
'I'm the senshi of ice and water. I can fend for myself....'
The blonde sighed regretfully, knowing that the girl had won. "Alright Mercury.... the Town is east from here. Just keep following the snowy path 'East' and you'll get there within a hour or so." 'I've never been able to say no to pretty girls' Han groaned to himself, but couldn't help but smile slightly how Mercury's eyes began to sparkle with happiness and how her smile showed off her white teeth.
Mercury bent her head down with gratitude. "Thank you Han. I'll try to return as soon as possible."
"Okay, since I will be waiting here, I think I should start tiding up around here," Han stated sweat dropping slightly when he stared at the clutter that was all over the room.
Mercury looked around the room, noting the mass amount of mess that even Makoto would even loathe to tidy. "Good luck," The senshi said, winking as she pointed over at the messy pile of clothes on the floor to which the blonde chuckled at, shaking his head in amusement.
"I think that you need it more than me Mercury. The monsters outside the town are very dangerous. Please be careful." the blonde stated tenderly, his green eyes, sparkling with concern for the blue haired girl that he had recently grown so fond of.
Mercury nodded her head once more, taking one last look at Han and his mother before turning towards the door. "I will. And Han...thank you,"
"Safe journeys Mercury," and with that, the ice senshi walked out the door. Her face set in a look of determination since she now had a clear road ahead of her, and another task that she knew she was going to fulfil, for Han and his sick mother.
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After trekking across the meandering snowy pathways and engaging in more than a few battles, Sailor Mercury managed to get to the neighbouring village of Andeng with just a few minor injuries. After searching the town's shops for a few recovery items to stock up on, Mercury decided to look for the Doctor. But unfortunately, when she searched for Doctor Schwartz's clinic, she was told by a young maiden in the town that he had long gone away, up into the northern snowy mountains. Knowing that she had no other choice than to find the Doctor, if Han's mother were to become healthy again, the senshi of ice began to walk up north before finding a mouth of a cave. Mercury entered the cave, her blue eyes alert as she searched the darkness for any form of danger or youma.
"I sense a lot of dark energy around here," Mercury whispered to herself as she began to slowly walk forward, one hand rubbing against the side of a wall as she tried to find readings within her visor.
She kept on walking up the narrow pathway before coming to a divide within the path.
"Now lets see, I can either go left or right." Mercury mused to herself searching her visor for any sign of danger.
"Maybe if I leave some sort of mark here then I can easily make my way back here and not get lost," Mercury pondered to herself, looking behind her shoulder at the way she came in.
"Yes, that seems like the best course of action," Mercury concluded to herself as she took a few steps to a nearby wall and placed her glove hand upon its cold surface.
Closing her eyes in concentration, the ice senshi summoned her energies into the palm of her hand before pressing it to the wall, watching with interest as a large stalagmite protruded from the ground glowing slightly with a azure hue.
"There now if I come to any dead ends, I can just return here," Mercury smiled, before turning towards the dual pathways and choosing to turn left. To her mild surprise, when she turned around the corner she saw that the pathway came to a dead end and that there was a small treasure chest inside the otherwise empty room.
"What's this, could this box hold Zoisite's Hi stone?" Mercury questioned as she bent down to place a hand upon the bronze lock, brushing away at the ice which had crystallised around it.
"Huh what's this?" The senshi said in confusion as she saw a blue symbol upon the front of the chest, half covered with ice. She rubbed the rest away and was shocked when it revealed a symbol she very well knew.
"It's the sign of my Mercury symbol..... but why is it on this box?" The senshi questioned brushing her fingers across the symbol, confusion clearly written across her face.
"Was I meant to find it?" Mercury questioned staring at the intricate patterns of blue and gold among the sides of the box.
'I guess there is only one way to find out," the senshi concluded as she bent down directly in front of the chest and placed both hands at the sides of the lid.
"Here goes..." And then with a short take in of breath, Mercury opened up the lid and gaped at the treasure which laid inside surrounded by folds of midnight blue fabric.
"Oh my," she gasped, blinking a few times with awe at the large sapphire earrings that were nestled in the middle of the dark velvet materia. Mercury reached down to pick up a earring, awing at the craftsmanship of white gold surrounding the large jewel.
"This is so beautiful. Never have I ever seen such jewellery like this in the OSAP store in Juuban," Mercury breathed turning to look at the back of the earrings which to her amazement were in the shape of the symbol of mercury.
The senshi stared down at the jewellery for a moment as if contemplating.
"Should I take this? they seem that they have been kept away in this cave for a long time" the senshi pondered, picking up the other earring and holding it with her other hand. "But maybe I could study them or something. It feels strange but when I hold these stones, it makes me feel like I have seen these before in another time."
After a little more thought, Mercury gave an uncharacteristic shrug and put the earrings on.
"Well Usagi-chan and the others said that I should be a little more spontaneous and daring," Mercury sighed, still unsure whether she was doing the right thing as she turned to walk back the way she came. She passed her glowing stalagmite and continued right down another winding pathway, her eyes attentive as her recently 'acquired' sapphire earrings twinkled in the darkness.
After a few more turns of endless walking, Mercury was thinking about turning back before she heard a shout soon followed by a curse from beyond the wall she was standing by.
"Huh?" Mercury thought, turning around the corner to see a brightly lit area which had various science apparatus scattered around on discarded tables, and a figure clad in white hobbling around, his hands grasping his booted foot.
"Das war sehr Doof! Mist! Owaaa!" the figure spat in his German tongue, groaning as he rubbed his toe after stubbing it against a table, unaware of the female figure just around the corner.
Mercury watched carefully as she saw the figure turn around revealing an old haggard face, tinted glasses and a long mane of white hair.
'Could this be the doctor? It makes sense since Schwartz is a German name," Mercury mused as she stepped out of her hiding place and into the makeshift lab waiting for the doctor to recognise her yet to her surprise, the man did not acknowledge her and began to continue on with his work.
The ice senshi was beginning to get annoyed after she had called, coughed and pretty much did everything that was possible to get the doctor's attention but none failed. When she was about to give up and just waltz over to him and give him a 'Sailor Mars greeting', the Doctor turned in her direction and looked up from his sitting place. Their was silence when their eyes met.
Mercury coughed, trying to bring sound back into the room. "Um excuse me, Are you Doctor Schwartz?"
The man grinned a toothy smile, displaying a set of yellowed teeth behind an overgrown beard and moustache. Mercury couldn't hide the look of disgust that crossed her face. "Why yes I am he!" Dr Schwartz announced bending down with a formal greeting. Mercury sweat dropped.
"Um...I need to ask you something for you see..."
And with that Mercury told her story on how she was sent from Kainess village to find him as Han's mother was very ill. She deliberately left out the parts of looking for the Zoisite Hi stone knowing that Han's mother's health was more important than a stone, since it meant life and death. After asking the doctor to come with her to Kainess village to which Schwartz eagerly agreed, the pair walked out of the cave and down the snowy path, heading west, back to Han's village.
What seemed to really unnerve the ice senshi though, was how the doctor kept on trying to hold her hand at every chance he could, and the way he seemed to stare at her and not care that she knew he was. Mercury couldn't help but sigh in relief when she entered the village of Kainess, as Schwartz's constant attention on her was changed to that of Han's mother when he saw how ill she was. After the doctor had examined Han's mother, he told Han and Mercury that the only way for her to be cured is if he had some Halyomoss to give her, a green plant which grew behind his lab in the cave. After a short dispute on who should go, Han decided to go along with Mercury to get the Halyomoss as Doctor Schwarz was there to tend for his mother.
After running for over two and a half miles, Amy and Han stood panting against the mouth of the cave. Being the ever careful and wise senshi that she was, Mercury refrained from using her powers as not wanting to prevent an unwanted situation and having to explain who she truly was to Han.
"Man that was rough!" Han panted, sweat beading from his forehead after there last escape from a youma that relentlessly chased them before tiring and leaving them to be. Mercury shrugged, grateful for all the training that Rei-chan and Luna had given her.
"Think of it on the bright side, at least we were given a little exercise that kept us warm." Mercury joked lightly as Han chuckled slightly at her words.
"This is the entrance to the cave where I found Doctor Schwartz. It is a little dark but I know my way around," Mercury stated as the blonde nodded, following the senshi into the mouth of the cave. As Mercury kept on walking she immediately realised that Han had been staring at her constantly causing her to blush lightly.
"Um...Han, why are you looking at me?" The senshi questioned, glad to know that it was dark so that the blonde wouldn't be able to see her blushing.
There was a moments silence as Mercury and Han still trudged onwards in the cave.
"Mercury...is it alright if I ask you a personal question?" Han stated, coughing lightly on the word 'personal'.
Mercury turned to look up at him, slightly taken back at the question and what he could be truly thinking so she decided to voice her thoughts.
The blonde shook his head, his bangs covering the die of his face. "Nah, it's not like that, I just wanted to ask if you were cold?"
The ice senshi stopped mid step. "Pardon?" Han repeated his question as Mercury couldn't help but laugh.
'The ice senshi cold. That's like saying does Rei-chan dislike the heat?'
Han furrowed his eyebrows, not understanding the joke. "Well....I just thought that you would be cold since I know I'm freezing my socks off, and I've got a jacket and all...but...you...you're.. in a skirt thing."
"Fuku," Mercury interrupted watching as Han coughed at his mistake. "I have always enjoyed cold weather. More than the heat anyway." Mercury shrugged as the blonde nodded, half understanding.
"But anyway, we have to move on. We cannot loose concentration as there could be youma hiding here," Mercury stated calmly before slapping a hand over her mouth at her slip.
Han's face held a look of confusion. "Youma? What's that?"
"I meant monster."
The blonde shrugged, "...you say some very odd things Mercury,"
She sighed softly, once again walking through the cave. " Han Look! We are in Dr Schwartz' lab!"
"I can see, so that must be the back of the lab like Schwartz said?" Han announced staring towards the pathway which he would not have seen if it weren't for Schwartz telling him it was there.
"Yeah," Mercury nodded before changing her brisk walk into a jog towards the back of the lab, her eyes alert and ears listening to any irregular sounds.
"Let's try to stay close since its very dark," Mercury stated softly.
Han nodded in agreement. "Good idea Mercury," he stated as he put his hand in her gloved on.
"Alright. lets go."
After meandering around a few more paths Han and Mercury were both surprised when they came to a dead end yet there. Small gaps of light filtering within the room.
"Hey can you see it Mercury. It's the Halyomoss!" Han cried out, letting go of Mercury's hand in an instant as he rushed towards the wall, jumping up and down to reach the moss before finding out that he was unable to reach it..
Mercury sighed softly to herself. She was happy to see that Han had found the Halyomoss for his mother..... yet.... she still had not yet found Zoisite's Hi stone, and she had a feeling that time was soon growing short. Her hand unconsciously went into the pocket of her fuku as she once again handled the Kage stone as if it were to show her a way.
Han swore quietly to himself as he slammed his palm against the wall. "It's too high, maybe if I climb up to reach it?" The blonde stated as he looked at the outcrop of rock and slowly began to climb upwards as Mercury called over from where she stood to 'be careful'.
'Heh, don't need to tell me that,' the blonde thought to himself, testing his footing, as he tried yet again to reach for the moss this time succeeding.
"Hey Mercury! I've got it! I've got the Halyo-" Han was unable to finish his sentence as he felt a tremor below him causing him to loose his footing on topple backwards onto the stone floor with a hard thud.
The ice senshi's eyes widened in surprised as she rushed towards her fallen friend.
"Han! Han! Are you alright?" Mercury cried, bending down to the blonde who was shaking his head, trying to reorient himself.
"Ugh.. yeah...I'll be fine....what happened anyway?" Han asked, rubbing his head while groaning in soreness. Mercury seeing that there was no major damaged, helped him up to his feet.
"That was no ordinary tremor," Mercury stated, a thoughtful expression on her face as the blonde looked over to look at the wall he recently climbed, before jumping back in shock, surprise clearly evident on his face when he saw that a passageway had miraculously appeared when there was none a few minutes ago.
"Mercury Mercury! Look at the wall! There's a new passageway!" Han exclaimed, his forest green eyes wide in disbelief.
"What?" the ice senshi gasped, as she too noticed the dark pathway that clearly wasn't there before.
"Maybe this is some sort of secret passage?" The blonde said openly, rubbing his chin in thought.
Mercury nodded as she slowly began to walk towards it. "Maybe.."
"Whoa, Mercury, you're really gonna just gonna walk in there?" Han stated incredulously, dusting his clothes off and putting the now acquired Halyomoss inside his left breast pocket.
Mercury stopped to look at him, her blue eyes dark and stern while her mouth drew in a thin line.
"I 'have' to Han. Maybe the item that I am searching for is down this passageway. You don't have to follow me Han.... you should go back to your mother and give her the Halyomoss. She hasn't got much time left."
The blonde shook his head, his eyebrows furrowing into a frown.
"No Mercury. I'm not leaving you alone in this place. Since you helped me find the Halyomoss, I will help you find your stone!" Han said sternly, the tone of his voice giving no room for further discussion. Mercury sighed, knowing that he wasn't going to change his mind.
"Thank you....Han."
The blonde shrugged rushing over to where Mercury was standing and giving her one of his best debonair smiles.
"You're welcome. But lets hurry and find your stone."
"Yeah," Mercury replied, giving one of her own shy smiles before proceeding onwards and down the new passageway, her mini computer showing signs that condensed energy was nearby. After feeling like there road was never going to end, Han and Mercury were both surprised when they came into an empty room, a highly beautiful, golden pedestal laid in the centre of the room casting a glow to the otherwise dark cave walls.
"Look Mercury is that it?" the blonde said with awe, pointing over at the golden stand as Mercury started furiously typing on her computer as she walked over towards it.
"There are high vibes of positive energy emanating from this very room," Mercury said softly to herself as she finally made her way over to the pedestal and looked over it to see what was held on top. In a crystal glass casing was a large stone, the colour of a dark jade jewel, flawless and shining with natural beauty.
"This must be it. Zoisite's Hi stone!" Mercury exclaimed in excitement, pulling out the Kage stone from the depths of her pocket and placing it within view of the other stone.
"They look exactly alike except for the colour...." Mercury started before stopping as she saw how the stones began to glow.
"The Ki stone and the Kage stone. They're resonating," the ice senshi stated with awe as Han looked over her shoulder, curious to find out what was going to happen. Neither expected what came next. All of a sudden the ground violently trembled beneath Mercury's feet. The senshi too absorbed in her finding of the Zoisite stone was only aware until it was too late that the floor was crumbling beneath her. Letting out a high pitched scream, Mercury tried to move out of the way, but it was too late. In just a few seconds, the floor disappeared beneath her and she felt herself falling hearing Han's fading voice crying out her name before falling into darkness.
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What do you guys think? I have tweaked a few parts of the plot slightly around, but I am still trying to stay loosely on the original plot. What's going to happen to Mercury? How the hell is Zoisite going to be revived? When will I ever update the next chapter?
Oh by the way, Zoisite WILL be present in the next chapter fighting it off with a certain blue haired Oppositio (is that spelt right?) senshi Nabul.
Please read and review. I would very much appreciate it to see whether or not you guys like it.
Ja ne
Aer_seph4eva
Any questions? Comments?
Email me at Aer_seph4eva@yahoo.co.uk