Chapter Five: Mu's Revelation
Sometime later...
He could feel the warmth all around him.
Comforting him.
A short while ago his body had been frozen solid. His blood reduced to a sickly trickle and his heart slowed down to an impossible rate.
He was alive...!
Fargo had felt certain that his time had come.
So how was it that he now sat up weakly but all too alive somewhere that certainly wasn't the train station?
Fargo found that that he was lying on a comfortably cushioned sofa in the living room of a house somewhere in the suburbs.
He was perfectly well and felt strong enough to take on the world.
Considering the fact that he ought to have been a frozen corpse right now this was remarkable to say the least.
Still, if anatomy had decided to drop its tradition of continuity then who was he to argue?
Looking around though Fargo saw that he was not alone.
Four teenage girls stood over him watching him inquisitively as he sat up.
Two were blonde. The first had a hairstyle that leapt out at him, not only because it looked so unusual...but because it also looked so familiar to him.
The other blonde was far more graceful than the other.
The third girl had dark hair, which cascaded down to her waist. She was wearing a red floor-length frock. He guessed that she had just come back from a temple or something.
The last girl was surprisingly tall for her age and had remarkably well developed muscles and chestnut brown hair.
Fargo found his voice.
"Lying on a sofa, in a classy living room, surrounded by beautiful women. What is this, my heaven?"
This was not a very clever thing to say.
Even he realised this when the girls each nailed him with a cushion.
"Okay, maybe I asked for that." He admitted, clambering out of the cushions.
"You only have to ask for seconds." The tall girl snapped.
Fargo sat up and stopped short as she loomed over him.
"Sit tight, Red. You're not going anywhere beyond the area of this room until you tell us what you've done with Amy."
"Um, can I talk to you for a sec', good looking?" Fargo leaned closer conspiratorially. "Hey, listen, Amy's just a friend okay? I know we're at a delicate stage in our relationship but there is simply no need for you to react like this to me seeing other women." He whispered loud enough for the whole room to hear.
The eyes of the others were instantly turned upon the tall girl.
"You're seeing this guy, Lita?" the girl with the unspeakable hair was goggle-eyed.
The girl called Lita looked like she'd been struck by lightning.
For a moment she couldn't muster a defence and the others took this as a sign of guilt.
"I can't believe you!" the dark haired girl was indignant. "The other day you swore that you weren't seeing anyone!"
Lita finally squeaked in a strangled voice.
"It's a lie!"
She glared at Fargo, who desperately tried to stifle the delighted grin that had bubbled up on his face at the unexpected result of his wind-up.
Lita's eyes filled with murder and she went for his throat.
"That will do, Lita!" a voice that could have belonged to a forty year old school mistress snapped.
Lita froze and the others breathed sighs of relief.
Fargo searched the room for the owner of the voice.
He had been sure that the girls were the only people here other than himself.
Then his eyes chanced upon the dinner table and his mind reeled.
"Ugh!" he gasped staring agog. "There's a talking cat on the table!"
A frosty silence followed.
"Actually," Luna began with more snap than usual in her voice. "One prefers to think of herself as 'humanly challenged'."
"Can we slaughter him yet?" Lita snarled eager to get on with it.
"I don't think so," Mina stepped between Fargo and Lita. "Aren't pigs a protected species?"
"Oh my, how original!" Fargo took this opportunity to get up from the sofa. "Like no-one's ever called me a pig before! My gosh, you're the most clever person I've ever met in my whole life!"
"QUIET!" Luna screeched, making everyone leap. "Thank you. Now first things first. What is your name?" she asked Fargo.
"Bobbin Threadbare. Are you my mother?" Fargo responded, determined to get the last word in.
Mina shoved Lita back as she made a lunge at Fargo and Rei and Serena caught her.
"No more fooling around, gotcha. My name's Fargo."
"Fargo?" Luna echoed.
"Fargo." Fargo established.
"You've got a bus pass in the name of 'Fargo'?" Rei didn't sound convinced.
"Never mind that. What happened at the train station? Did Amy do that to do you?"
"Luna!" Serena's voice was shocked that Luna could think such a thing.
"Serena I'm sorry but we have to look into every possibility." Luna snapped but this time there was no waspishness in it.
This exchange between Serena and Luna reminded Fargo of the seriousness of the situation.
Deciding that he'd had his fun and that it was time to take things seriously he cleared his throat for everyone's attention.
"It's okay," He assured Serena. "Amy wasn't responsible for it. Amy and I were attacked by a Sailor Scout."
Everyone was stunned at this so he plunged onward.
"She called herself Sailor Universe and she took Amy with her."
Everyone heard Luna breath out deeply as if she were casting off doubts of some kind and turned to her for explanations.
"Then it's as I feared. Sailor Universe is actually alive and she has sided against us with someone." Luna intoned like a prophet of doom.
"You knew that there was a sixth Scout all along!" Lita accused the cat.
"Yes. Artemis and I believed that she was killed during the last battle between the Moon Kingdom and the Negaverse but it seems that our predictions were wrong."
Fargo interrupted.
"That's right. While she was making her threats Sailor Universe mentioned that she was taking orders from someone. She meant Mu."
"What's the deal with YOU anyway?!" Lita's suspicion of Fargo was revived. "How do you know Amy?"
Fargo sighed. He'd hoped and prayed that no one would ask this question but now he could see that the hope had been useless.
How could he answer a question to which he didn't even know the answer himself?
Fargo breathed deeply.
"I don't know how I first met her. All I know is that I remember promising to Queen Serenity that I would protect her."
The astonished silence that followed was as solid as a wall of ice.
"You knew Queen Serenity?" Luna asked after a while.
"Yup."
"Then..." Luna glanced around at the girls and then stared intensely at Fargo.
"Yup," Fargo repeated. "I know that you're the Sailor Scouts. I know that Amy is Sailor Mercury. I know everything about the Negaverse's final battle with the Moon Kingdom eons ago that left the moon a lifeless ruin. I know all there is to know you guys."
"How?" was all that Mina could manage.
"I don't know." Fargo sighed again. "The truth is that I lied to Amy. I made up my story about my past. The only thing about my past that I can remember is that promise I made to Queen Serenity. I don't even know who I really am. I just assumed the name 'Fargo'."
Fargo hesitated for just a little longer and then decided that they deserved the entire truth...so he told them.
It had all begun on the day when Amy had been discovered by Luna and Serena – as she had transformed for the first time ever, the young man calling himself Fargo had been drawn almost entranced to the window of her class-room like a bee to a honey-pot. (Or, as he put it, Ryoko to Tenchi...) From there he had seen her, watched her fight for the first time...and then return to her civilian identity and talk with Serena and Luna about what this meant for her future and that of the world.
And Fargo had KNOWN from that day on...known that it was his duty to watch over and protect her.
And he had – the Negaverse, the Negamoon Family...he'd fought them all from the shadows without ever alerting the Sailor Scouts to his involvement in their war against evil or even his existence.
Knowing it to be his duty, though not knowing WHY, Fargo had fulfilled his purpose...until the previous night, when he had been powerless to prevent Amy from being taken by evil.
Serena, Lita, Mina and Rei stared at him – it was hard to believe but perhaps it was the glimmer in those grey eyes which persuaded them to at least entertain the notion that beneath the shabby clothes and then irreverent disposition existed the soul...of a knight.
Luna shook her head.
The situation was too bizarre for words but all this had to wait right now.
Amy was in serious trouble and they had to act at once.
"Well, Fargo, or whatever your name is, listen to me. As you know Amy has been abducted by Sailor Universe. Since you seem to know more about this than any of us we could really use your help. Do you have any idea where this 'Mu' could be keeping her?" Luna asked.
"Of course," Fargo replied. "They're holed up at an upper-class hotel on the other side of town. I'll take you there. How does that sound?"
Luna, Serena, Rei, Mina and even Lita agreed, and thus was an uneasy alliance formed.
x x x x x
Back at the Hotel Splendide...
"These aren't clothes! These are pieces of yarn with a glandular condition!"
Emperor Mu looked from the brim of his white hat and raised an eyebrow.
He sat beneath a shade in a deck chair, in the courtyard of the plaza of the Hotel he had entirely hired for his sinister purposes in Tokyo, next to a swimming pool.
As he heard that shriek he looked up.
The double-doors swung open and two girls in their teens stood in the doorway.
Merula, now in everyday clothing, sighed and then spoke to Amy, who stood beside her.
"It's not as if any of your friends are here!" she smiled slyly. "Of course, you shouldn't worry about exposure in the present company."
Mu's eyes had gone straight for Amy - she was the only one in his mind right now.
As soon as he had heard her voice through the door he had awaited her arrival with ecstatic anticipation – and as she was revealed Mu was not disappointed.
Amy stood in the doorway, clad in a light blue bikini and briefs, a vision of skimpy blue material and creamy skin in the sunlight – Mu had instructed Merula to ensure that his guest would arrive 'dressed for the occasion' and he now realised just how much his Sailor Scout ally knew him since she had been able to predict where he would WANT to meet Amy.
A glance from Mu prompted Merula to administer a one-handed shove to Amy and send her staggering into the courtyard – in her other hand, incidentally, the purple-haired girl held Amy's Transformation Pen and Scout Communicator, which she had confiscated earlier.
As Amy stopped herself from falling she felt a pair of hands clutch her own, steadying her – looking up she realised that Emperor Mu had risen to his feet and was now standing over her.
Mu smiled warmly as he held her hands in his own, enjoying his close contact with her.
Amy scowled, torn between her feeling the discomfort caused by her scanty attire combined with her close proximity to this man and the discomfort that she felt just BEING anywhere near this man - she was also wearing a pair of blue sunglasses and, letting go of one of her hands, Mu reached up and removed these from her face.
Amy's mesmerising eyes of crystal blue were revealed – oh how long he had waited for the day he would be able to remain in the gaze of those beautiful eyes for all eternity!
"Princess Mercury - I am grateful to meet you again," Emperor Mu greeted her. "I am inexpressibly honoured to be back in your presence after so long."
Mu's manners were polished and very good - he needn't have bothered, however.
"Why have you brought me here?" Amy asked quietly – as she spoke the blue-haired girl looked around the courtyard, the inspection revealing that the wall that surrounded the pool were about ten feet high and perfectly smooth, impossible to climb and that the only door that led out of here was the one through which she'd just been shoved...the one currently guarded by Merula.
For the moment Emperor Mu didn't answer her – he was inspecting her even more closely, more closely than she felt she could bear and there was just the hint of a discontented frown on his face.
"This won't do," He declared with a click of his tongue – addressing Merula he added, "Here – give her this to improve it."
Merula's eyes were expressionless as her master held out his hand – a small glass bottle containing a shimmering blue liquid appeared in his open palm and he tossed it to the purple-haired girl who caught it, barely needing to TRY.
As she watched, from the corner of her eye, Merula slip the mysterious substance into her pocket, Amy felt a creeping dread...what lay in store for her?
Amy had spent the rest of the previous night, after being recaptured by Merula, brooding...then she'd received a wake-up all from her purple-haired guest who'd tossed her morning attire on the bed and told her to get dressed.
As she'd been escorted down the stairway that led down to the lobby of the Hotel Splendide – Merula's otherwise empty hand encircling her wrist in a grip of steel – Amy's plan had been to make a run for it as soon as she was back in open air. However that idea now lay in ruins as she realised that she was trapped from all sides...
"You still haven't realised, have you?" her eyes jolted back to Mu and away from whatever was inside that bottle as he shook his head. "Don't you remember the promise you made to me long, long ago? The trust you entered upon?"
"What? I've never met you before yesterday!" Amy exclaimed as she tried to pull her hand free – since Mu was seemingly unwilling to break contact however she placed her free hand on his chest and used the leverage to push herself away and out of his grip and, to her chagrin, he seemed to enjoy this.
"Oh yes you have." Mu breathed as he moved toward her once more.
Amy watched him warily.
"Don't you remember? I'm talking about the days before the fall of the Moon Kingdom. We met during the rule of Queen Serenity." As he spoke Mu moved for her hands once more...
Amy couldn't believe what she'd just heard.
"You're lying!" she protested, backing away as she noticed the subtle advancement of Mu's black-gloved hands in the direction of her own. "If you'd been alive back then you'd be..."
"Thousands of years old?" Mu laughed quietly at Amy's naïveté – he made no further move toward his 'guest' since he knew that she had nowhere to run. "Well yes, I suppose I am. Still, Princess, you made a vow to me back then."
"What vow?"
"Now that you mention it I do believe that introductions are in order...after all, you should know me, my sweet. I am - or I suppose that I should more honestly say that I once WAS - the supreme ruler of the Earth."
Amy stared at him, almost disorientated with amazement and disbelief - him, this hateful man, the ruler of Earth, the world that she and her friends had fought and suffered, even DIED in order to protect?
"Then why did you lose rule over it?" she asked, suddenly fascinated but more NEEDING than WANTING to know more.
Mu scowled and narrowed his eyes so that they became almost birdlike - now his face had the expression of a vulture that had circled above a jackal crawling painfully across the desert, dying of thirst only to be cheated of its meal as the jackal found a spring of water with its last vestiges of strength.
"It happened on the night..." he paused and decided that he'd talk about THAT particular night in a short while. "...all that you need to know is that I lost the throne when my upstart people rose up and overthrew my legions. To avoid death at the hands of the treasonous vermin whose lives, fates and deaths I had once held power over I fled to the ends of this world and hid myself for many ages. When I returned so many generations had come and gone that the memory of my glorious reign was all but forgotten and I could do nothing but watch as the era that I had dominated continued, different than any and everything that I had once known and since those responsible for my downfall had died long ago I had no hope of ever taking revenge upon them."
As he had recounted his history, the history of the Earth during the Silver Millennium, Mu had made sure not to look at Merula, who was standing a short distance away from them - on her face was a spiteful sneer and her eyes were openly mocking as they stayed fixed upon the former tyrant's face.
"Only one thing kept me sane throughout the long years...it was that one prospect which gave me the will to endure the long centuries after I lost everything." Mu concluded as he gazed at the blue-haired girl - the corners of his smirking mouth drew up revealing the points of his teeth and all of a sudden he had become the big bad wolf.
Amy had frowned as she had listened to Mu's account of the story of how he had lost his position as ruler of the Earth - something about all that she had heard seemed to be nagging away at her, something about it was significant; though what it was...
Whatever it was, it was deeply important to somebody else she knew but she just could not put her finger on it...
"What do you mean?" Amy asked quietly - whatever troubled her about the story she had just heard she forgot all about and felt a coldness in her heart as Mu looked at her, grinning like this.
Mu sighed.
"Here, let me explain everything to you...directly."
Before Amy knew what he was doing Mu touched her forehead with his gloved finger.
A feeling of being outside her body seized her.
Mu had separated her soul from her physical being and was beginning to show her visions and images.
He was unearthing Amy's past...or rather what he desired for her to see of her past.
x x x x x
Then - Countless ages ago, in the days of Queen Serenity's rule of the Moon Kingdom, the day the Negaverse declared war.
All was chaos in the royal palace.
Queen Serenity's courtiers and guests had been watching the Moon Princess dancing with the strange masked man in the blue armour and red velvet cloak a moment ago.
The next thing she knew all hell had been let loose.
The Queen's advisers Luna and Artemis came running across the dance floor crying that the Negaverse was staged to attack the Moon.
Princess Mercury stood amid the chaos that ensued as the courtiers tried to arrange the Moon's defence.
"Over here!"
It was Princess Mars who reached out grabbed Mercury and pulled her clear of the crowd.
Now Mercury stood with Mars out of the upcoming battle against the forces of the Dark Kingdom.
Although the power of Queen Serenity was great and had ensured the prosperity of the Moon Kingdom for eons Mercury could not help but feel the darkest foreboding.
The Princess Mercury knew in her heart that a formidable tragedy was playing out before her eyes...and that she was part of it.
Two Hours Later...
"This is really bad." The Moon Princess's voice was empty of hope.
Mercury agreed with this sentiment.
The vast enemy that was the Dark Kingdom was going all out in its attack on the Moon Kingdom.
The battle was lasting hours and the forces of the Moon lay in ruins around them.
The Seven Shadows, the Dark Queen's most powerful warriors, had devastated Queen Serenity's army.
The masked stranger who had been dancing with the Moon Princess had revealed himself to be none other than Prince Darien of Earth.
Had the circumstances been different then Mercury would have giggled at the annoyance on the Queen's face.
It was a long held custom of the Moon Kingdom that the princess was strictly not to see the man with whom she was to be married a week before the day of their wedding and Mercury was sure that Serenity's annoyance had been because Darien had taken it upon himself to come to the dance in disguise.
The Queen had long perceived how deeply he and her daughter felt about one another and Mercury was sure she would have stretched a point for them.
Not that any of this mattered here and now.
As powerful as Darien was even he seemed like falling before the might of the Negaverse.
All seemed lost...
"They are strong," Queen Serenity stated gravely. "We may not be able to last much longer."
Luna and Artemis were forced to agree...another attack and it would be all over for the Lunarian Army, the Moon Kingdom and THEM.
The Dark Queen was going to win...
Queen Serenity stood in the centre of the ruin of her kingdom and surveyed the situation.
Stood by the Queen's side was a serving-girl who was most striking – she was approaching adulthood, clad in a pale-blue frock that was laced up at the back and her hair was as sleek and dark as a raven's wing. Her dusky face was quite reserved, concealing well the worry that ate away at her as she stood with Serenity in this dark hour…her name was Emilia and she was no born native of the Inner Moon.
"My daughter is with Prince Darien confronting the Dark Queen. The Princesses of Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury are together," the Queen's brow clouded. "But what of the other two? Where are Princess Universe and Princess Charon?"
Luna and Artemis were silent. Their expressions were bitter and the queen was alarmed - she noticed also that their companion Estrella, the youngest of her advisers, was not with them.
"Well?" Serenity pressed them.
It was Artemis who fought back the pain and spoke.
"Princess Universe left the others to return to the palace and rescue a child who was trapped there." Artemis's voice was wracked with grief - He didn't speak further until Serenity prompted him, her own heart sinking into a mire of cold and grey grief. "Princess Charon and Estrella left the other princesses to venture back into the palace, believing that you were still inside. She wanted to protect us but she did not know that we were all safe and together here." Artemis took a deep breath. "Universe was crushed by falling rubble inside the palace. Charon and Estrella were caught in an explosion."
The shock in Queen Serenity's face forced Luna to speak.
"They're dead, Your Majesty," Luna's voice was drawn and tired. "All three of them."
Emilia stood as still as a statue carved from ice, her body suddenly filled with an infinitely greater coldness…her eyes were wide and filled with shock.
Princess Universe…dead? The dark-haired girl thought, numb with horror and disbelief – she shook her head slowly from side to side, dazed by what she had just heard and feeling the tears burning her eyes as they formed. No…no, no, no! It can't be true…
But the dark-haired girl could feel in her heart that it was…that Princess Universe was dead.
Emilia's friend, the Roguish Princess with whom she had experienced so much laughter and so many tears, was…gone.
And Emilia felt that she'd go on crying until she was red, raw and shrivelled up inside…and it wouldn't change a thing.
Universe was dead…and was never coming back.
Serenity's grief, however, was intruded upon even as it came to the verge of overwhelming her.
"The future seems dark, my dear Serenity."
The Queen looked around startled, her eyes narrowing as she caught sight...of HIM.
Luna and Artemis hissed.
Emperor Mu stood a short way off, looking cheerful amid the destruction going on all around them.
Emilia's eyes narrowed at the sight of him – pure loathing was etched into her hardened face as she stared at the tyrant of Earth, the man who spread pain and misery wherever he went and delighted in doing it.
Though he was aware of her presence and her hatred, Emperor Mu totally ignored the dark-haired girl – normally he would have made a mental note to think of some way to punish the lowly wench for her insolence in the near future.
However, the Moon Kingdom had no future…and so he allowed the little upstart to glower if she wished.
And Emilia did.
Serenity regarded him grimly - she did not like the arrogant Earthling emperor but since he was such a powerful ruler who may have been able to aid her one day she had felt obliged to invite him to the event.
The Queen cringed inwardly remembering how he had not stopped at kissing her hand when greeting her but had continued up to her shoulder.
"Mu," she greeted him coldly. "I see you are still alive."
"I have a proposition for you, Serenity." Mu moved closer.
"Oh?"
"The Moon Kingdom is doomed. That is clear. But a small few may still survive."
"How?"
"I can restore your strength by sharing a little of my own with you...with it you could send all of your charges to safety: your daughter. The Princesses. Prince Darien. Your advisers," Mu leaned closer. "On one condition."
Serenity knew what was coming.
"What condition?" her eyes narrowed even further.
"I want Princess Mercury as my bride." Mu leaned back and smiled charmingly but Serenity wasn't smiling.
Luna and Artemis gasped, as if struck by thunder.
They weren't surprised for long and their faces quickly filled with outrage.
Queen Serenity was not surprised in the least.
She had long watched the long looks Mu had bestowed on Mercury.
She knew how intensely he had been infatuated with her from the moment he had first seen her.
"My answer is no, Mu. Princess Mercury is her own person and I will never force her to marry against her will. Even to save my kingdom. Her hand in marriage is not mine to give, never was and never will be." Serenity snapped.
But the decision was taken out of her hands.
"I accept the proposal."
Everyone turned to see Princess Mercury standing a short way off.
In her face was great sadness but also resolution.
Mercury had come to find the Queen and had heard what Mu had offered.
Queen Serenity looked upon her with concern.
"Mercury! Do you know what you're saying?" she demanded.
"Yes. If this can save my friends then I have no choice in the matter." Mercury replied quietly.
"NO! You CAN'T!"
Emilia's mouth had fallen open as she stood there, staring at the Princess of Water…Princess Mercury to wed Emperor Mu??
The dark-haired girl's heart filled with horror…for she of all the people standing here knew well what would happen if Mercury went through with this. The sweet and gentle Princess would become little more than a glorified slave, who the tyrant would use and abuse as he saw fit.
Mercury's face was calm but deadened as she met Emilia's intense gaze.
"I must," she replied softly and simply. "I must, Em…I am so sorry."
And Emilia (or 'Em', as she was called by her close friends) felt fresh tears flowing down her face…for she knew that there was no dissuading the Princess of Water from this decision.
Mu smiled as he enjoyed the dark-haired girl's misery…what a sublime parting gift from him to her!
Mercury faced Mu who was on the verge of laughing with sheer satisfaction.
"I'll be your bride if you fulfill your promise." She promised to him.
"Of course you will, Princess, and of course I will." Mu gave Queen Serenity a sneering glance as he said this.
Serenity's eyes narrowed but there was nothing she could do and so she bid Mercury, Luna and Artemis farewell.
"Well, I'll be needing your assistance for this, Your Majesty." Mu wore a smug smile as he turned to face the Queen. "You see, I have the ability to generate the needed magic for the spell but you'll have to be the one who will channel it. Give me your hand."
Serenity nearly choked as the emperor extended his hand.
Not only was he forcing one of her subjects to marry him against her will and taking great pleasure in mocking her but now he was even asking her to help him do his dirty work!
Princess Mercury gave the Queen a pleading look which was not lost on her.
Breathing deeply swallowing her true feelings, which were too deep for words, Serenity took Mu's gloved hand in her own.
Mu closed his eyes and summoned his mental power.
The two connected hands crackled with golden light which became silver as it flowed into Serenity's hand and into her body.
Queen Serenity stood in an aura of white light.
When Mu opened his eyes again they saw that they were pure gold and possessed no pupils.
Not liking it one bit Serenity gathered together the power she had been given all at once and holding up her Crescent-Moon Wand she cried:
"Power of Earth! Do my will and send my daughter, Prince Darien and the rest of the Inner Galaxy Princesses along with my two advisers here to the planet Earth in the distant future!"
Almost instantly Mercury, Luna and Artemis felt light-headed as shimmering light surrounded them and the three of them were encased in magical bubbles.
On the other side of the palace the Moon Princess and the others were also enchanted this way.
"Now, you too, Emilia." Serenity bade the dark-haired girl softly as she turned her mind and magic towards her. But Em backed away, shaking her head so quickly that her hair whipped her cheeks.
"No…" she exclaimed, "No, Your Majesty, no."
"Do not be foolish…do as I say and at once!"
Emilia stood firm.
"No." She said simply.
Serenity breathed deeply.
"Emilia…I do not want you to get hurt."
"Your Majesty…I am of THIS time. I have a life HERE and NOW…and I want to LIVE it. I WILL return to Earth…MY Earth, the Earth of this time," Em said softly, "And besides…" she smiled, her eyes suddenly twinkling. "I must stay here to the end…"
"Why?"
"Well…SOMEONE had to look after you!"
Serenity blinked…and then, with a smile and a sigh, she gave in.
"Oh, very well…" she sighed, "After all, you have the power to get yourself to safety when the time comes."
Em felt a twinge of guilt…she could have enlightened the Queen on the subject of her 'power' but if she had done so then Serenity would have absolutely INSISTED upon sending her away with the others.
"Very well then…" Serenity slid her arm around the dark-haired girl's shoulders and sighed. "You shall remain with me for the time being…and, truly, I cannot think of anyone else with whom I would rather face the end of my Kingdom."
"Em…" Mercury breathed and, as their eyes met for the last time ever, Emilia felt her heart rip in half.
Both of them knew what their respective decisions meant…that they would never see each other again.
"Oh…MERCURY!"
The two young women, Princess and serving-girl, each raised their hands to touch the glowing surface of the magical bubble that held Mercury…and silently bade each other farewell for the final time.
Emperor Mu watched sourly…and silently vowed that, when he found her again, he would MAKE his bride forget about THEM.
ALL of them…just as soon as he had his Imperial Sorceress divine the whereabouts and identity of the Princess of Water in the future era.
Serenity's eyes were slits as she stared at the tyrant, knowing full well what was passing through his mind…and feeling powerless to prevent it.
As the spell kicked in, Mu bestowed Princess Mercury with a dashing grin before she vanished.
"See you soon!" He promised his future bride, blowing her a kiss with a flourish of his hand.
x x x x x
Now - Beside the pool of the Hotel Splendide...
Amy wanted to disbelieve it.
She wanted to throw back her head and scream to the skies that it was not true.
But she just couldn't.
Deep down in her heart Amy knew that she had just been shown her past and as much as she wanted to believe that it had just been a twisted illusion created by Mu's sick mind she knew that it was the truth.
Amy knew for sure that Mu's claim on her was real...that she had made a serious promise back then and was now bound to keep it.
Mu had been watching Amy's changing expressions as he had shown her the visions from her past with intense satisfaction.
Shock, disbelief, horror and finally mute acceptance had crossed her face one after the other.
Mu fixed Amy with his golden eyes.
Amy felt like a rabbit that was about to be bitten by a snake. Aware of the deadly danger but helpless to do anything.
"You pledged yourself to me that day," Mu's voice was gentle but he felt deep pleasure in spelling out Amy's fate for her. "Now I'm calling you in. You're mine, Princess Mercury, MINE."
These words drove home the truth to the shocked and stunned girl.
Maybe this was her destiny...her fate, to be the bride of this tyrant - she had done this to save the lives of her friends and she did not regret it but now that the time had come it seemed to overwhelm her.
Amy had thought of her future many times. She had made so many plans for herself but now all that was gone.
Her life was over.
Amy's breath shook but she stood firm as she accepted what she was convinced was her fate – sensing the diminishing of her defiance Mu narrowed his eyes a touch as they glowed softly.
The air around Amy shimmered and suddenly the blue-haired girl was clad in a magnificent bustier gown that was made of dark blue silk, strikingly similar to a starless midnight sky, its chest encrusted with jewels and a long, wide slit climbing up the side of her leg – she instinctively knew that this was to be her wedding-gown and just as instinctively she HATED it.
"Mine..." whispered Emperor Mu with a wolfish grin. "...now and FOREVER."
x x x x x
Later...
It was midnight and the stars were out.
Fargo, Serena, Mina, Rei and Lita stood on the roof of Rei's grandpa's temple... preparing for the long night ahead.
As one the girls spread out their arms, each holding their Transformation Pens in their hands.
"Moon Crystal Power! Make Up!"
"Mars Star Power! Make Up!"
"Jupiter Star Power! Make Up!"
"Venus Star Power! Make Up!"
In an instant the girls disappeared in a pink glow and were replaced by Sailor Moon, Sailor Mars, Sailor Jupiter, and Sailor Venus.
The Scouts stood in the night, ready to risk their lives for the sake of their friend.
Fargo had watched the mass transformation blankly.
Now he turned his face, which was almost unrecognisable because of the seriousness in it, into the night.
He would have quite liked the wind to have blown his hair back over his head but at the moment the wind was fooling about with some leaves on the street below so there was nothing doing.
"Okay, let's go rescue Amy!"