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Chapter 4

Finding Mercury...Part 2

"Mercury Aqua Rhapsody"

At the sound of the voice, that is soft and almost musical, the X-men look and duck just in time to avoid a wall of ice water ramming into them. Watching as it strikes a large glacier forms around the creature freezing it in its place.

As they look up and behind them, a young girl is walking forward, in a blue and white sleeveless outfit. It has blue bows on the front and the back, along with a star shaped crystal on the front. Her short blue hair swaying in the breeze, they watch as she touches her finger to her ear and a visor of some sort appears over her eyes.

"He will not stay frozen for must destroy it now."

"That's easy for you to say girlie...the smaller version nearly killed me" Logan replied. His growls are evident, as the fact that despite his healing abilities he still smarts from the fight.

"Wolverine?" Iceman whispers softly into the older man's ear. "She took out the little one when she woke."

"She did?"

"Yes I did...but let him explain that to you later." She responds without looking at them. Her gloved hand reaching towards her ears, the visor disappears as the first cracks show in the icy prison. She turns to look at Cyclops and as her eyes widen a little bit she smiles. "Your power should be enough, but it will require teamwork. There is a weak point in its scales at the base of its neck. If we distract him enough can you hit it?"

Looking a little insulted, causing the others to smile ruefully, they watch as she turns to the two felines in the human forms. "As much as I would like to hug the two of you now, it will have to wait...until after."

Luna and Artemis nod their heads. Shifting into the larger cat forms, they growl as the ice starts to break and the creature roars free.

"The Prince and Princess must have as safe a return that we can make. We must destroy this thing..."

Together the X-Men move in a plan formulated by the young woman. Meanwhile the X-Jet makes it trek and sensing somehow things are about to change, the professor halts them.

"Stop right here..."

"But Professor?" Kitty replies with a worried glance towards what appears to be a battle.

"Yeah Professor, we have to do something!" Kurt exclaims as he is about ready to teleport.

"We will if need be Kitty, Kurt. But right now something tells me we would be more of a hindrance now..."

Reluctant to stay put, but listening never the less they turn toward the battle and wait. Storm having heard the conversation, agrees with the teenagers on their sentiment, but something tells her as well that the Professor is right. Her powers seem to be tingling due to the presence of the palace off in the distance. It isn't very strong, but yet...it's there.

Looking towards the battle with an utmost need, she senses the thoughts of the Professor in her mind.

:Storm:

:Yes Professor:

:You go...I sense they need your help:

Nodding her head, she heads towards a lift that will take her outside. Using the elevator, she promptly lets go of the bars as her eyes glow silver and the winds lift her up into the sky. Resolutely she begins to head towards the battle.

Back at the site, Mercury and the others are dodging the hits as the larger creature growls and swipes at them with it s claws. Hissing in rage, as it misses the Senshi again. It feels as the claws of one of the men dig itself into its shoulder.

"So bub, you don't like that..." Wolverine growls with a smile as he digs in the other one. Growling in rage it thrashes about as he holds on with a grin upon his animalistic features.

As the creature thrashes with Wolverine, Cyclops tries to hit and aim but with no such luck. "I can't get a clear shot!"

Mercury understanding his need, is about to say something as she notices someone out in the distance. Sending her Senshi powers out as she scans the person, she smiles as a Plan B forms in her head almost automatically. "We will still go with the Plan but with some slight alterations. Artemis, Luna...tell her that if she can she needs to be able to lift the Lizard long enough for him to blast him, while I get him."

Hearing her orders, the cats send out a call to a startled Storm, who begins to still as she approaches. The winds, as she does so, begin to pick up and lift around the creature who is stunned for a moment as its feet leave the ground.

Floating in mid air, her eyes gleaming silver, and as her white hair whips around her features, Storm strains as the creature lifts higher and higher into the air. Her powers straining, the others watch as Mercury leaps and yanks Wolverine from the air as the creature struggles in rage. As they fall, Iceman causes the snow to rise up and become a cushion with his mutant powers.

"What the hell do you think your doing girlie!"

Ignoring his rudeness for now, she looks to Cyclops as she shouts out. "DO IT NOW!"

Cyclops, Hearing his words, as Storm manages to flip the struggling creature over, with the winds at her command, lets loose an intense blast from his visor hitting the lizard like creature square at the base of its neck. Watching as it blasts through with no problem at all through the weaker scales. The thing fills its life ending.

"Sssspare me..." It hisses as its form is lowered down, by a tired and pained storm, who flies over towards them. "Sssspare me now..."

About to say something, towards it as it had brutally attacked them, the X- Men watch as the young woman, smiles with a gentle gaze and approaches. Her short outfit fading to that of the blue dress she had on when they found her.

"The base of your neck was where they controlled you didn't they?"

"Yesss... I was ssuummoned by Lord Chaos..."

"Summoned. What world are you from?"

"Wooorld destroyed...by Chaosss years ago... Chaosss supposedly saved me...turned me into thiss.."

"You were once one of us...a Senshi." She looks on with sadness and pity, for the sensation of what was once a being like her had been hidden underneath was a feeling she could not get rid of. The X-men hearing this look down at the being and for once see the pain and agony in its eyes. For once they feel guilty.

"Yessss. I was once Sailor Rehoboth"

"I can not return you to your former state, Sailor Rehoboth. Only my Princess can with our aid...but I can do this my friend..." She begins to whisper a spell of unknown origin, to all but the felines. The ice palace shimmers and begins to shake and soon, the being vanishes.

"Till the Prince and Princess awaken...may you rest in peace."

Looking at the blue haired woman, she smiles as she looks up at them. "Come I believe you all have much to ask me. Let us return to your home, where we can treat your wounds and we all can rest for a while." Smiling, as she turns and wraps her arms around two now smaller cats, who purr in delight as they are hugged.

"Artemis, Luna, how I have missed you both! Are any of the others awake?"

"No Mercury...you were the only one we knew about. It was for our protection that we only knew one, for as Pluto was disappearing she told us where to find you. We figured it was because you can help us locate the rest of the Senshi as well as..."

"As what?"

"We'll talk about it later. For right now let us return to the manor..." Artemis replies quickly as he perches on her shoulder. Luna does the same but perches herself upon Jean's much to the telekinetic's surprise. Still she smiles as Luna starts up a conversation with her and Scott learning about the two and the X-Men as they travel back to the waiting X-Jet.

She smiles and nods her head. Using her innate powers over the ice, which Iceman can not help but admire, she makes a path of ease for the snowmobiles to travel through. Stopping a little ways to allow Storm to ride back with them, they approach the X-Jet where three others await.

Loading the snowmobiles on, the now six people start to head towards the passenger area, when Kurt teleports in with Kitty. The curiosity is evident on their faces.

"Hello?" They both reply as they take in the blue haired girl, who smiles shyly all of a sudden.

"Give me a moment please?"

They watch as the newcomer closes her eyes and soon the dress disappears to be replaced by regular clothes of a blue dress with a yellow jacket.

"I must reintroduce myself, I am Amy Mizuno."

"Kitty Pride!"

"Kurt Vogner" (could someone tell me how to spell Kurt's last name?)

Smiling as the girl had turned towards the other two teenagers, who have taken a liking to her. Logan looks at this event with confusion. His senses had detected the change in her scent almost as she moments ago felt alien, yet now she is almost human. Wondering how she did it...he is about to ask when the Professor in his chair approaches from behind.

"Logan, please introduce me to our new guest."

Startled and still confused by the change in the blue haired girls scent, he watches as she turns and walks towards the man in the wheelchair. "You must be the professor Luna and Artemis told me about you and what you are attempting to do here..."

Nodding his head, they converse as Logan and Scott return to the controls and as the others strap in, Luna and Artemis carefully placed in the laps of both Amy and Jean, who is feeling good as both felines have agreed to help her telekinesis become stronger.

Storm just watches and smiles as the other two teenagers sulk a little as they had hoped to interrogate the mysterious young woman of her life before. Looking out the window, they drink in the sight of the amazing palace as it begins to fade due to a blizzard surrounding it.

"To hide it from prying eyes..." The young woman says mysteriously and the two look sheepish. The conversations on board become more animated as the small group continues on towards Bayside and the School for the Gifted.

About six hours later...

Having conversed with the young woman as they land, Xavier realizes that there is much he will be doing to aid her and the others. One of the first things he knows having heard her story of the battles against the Generals from before, he knows that the task to find the four men will not be easy, especially if all the Senshi feel the way she does.

Already his mind has sensed a door on part of the young woman's memories that refuses to budge even an inch and that must be the part that involves the young man, that he will need her help eventually to find.

"Zoicite..." He whispers as they enter the manor. He watches as she whirls on him, her symbol flashing and for but a moment he can detect the pain and sorrow in her eyes.

Luna and Artemis knowing that the time has come, step forward and join the professor, in what he must now do against the will of an unwitting Senshi. "Forgive us Amy...according to Chibi and Galaxia we must do this. The memories concerning him are locked away..."

"Luna, Artemis what are you talking about...I have met him but once, and he tried to kill me for it when I wanted to protect Greg remember."

Looking sorrowful, Charles looks up as the symbol remains, and it is as if the girl struggles within the memories that are seeking to resurface. The two felines shimmer into their human forms, and gesture silently for the young woman to understand.

"They are right...I do sense a door on your mind, Miss Mizuno."

"Please call me Amy..."

"All right Amy...for lack of a better phrase. Part of your mind is closed off to me and I am sure by now as your two friends can attest, they to sense it as well."

"Luna, Artemis?"

The two look at one another and nod their heads. "We don't understand why we didn't sense it at first back then, but it is there now. The Professor with our help can unlock the door for you...but we will leave it to you to go into..."

Thoughtful as she tries to merit out the pros and cons of this, she sighs in confusion for the first time in her life. "As much as I would like to say no, Chibi and Galaxia would never say that they were necessary unless they meant it. When do we begin?"

"Follow me then..." Using his chair and gesturing for the other two plus Jean to follow him, they head towards his office, where she sees a couch in the corner.

"Please make yourself comfortable Amy?"

Hearing his words, she sits upon it, and stares longingly at the rows of books. Chuckling a little as she seems distracted, Artemis and Luna whisper something in his ear that Jean picks up on and smiles.

"I take it that you love to read..."

"Yes...very much."

"You and Kitty should have something in common. This is nothing compared to what she has in hers and Rogue's room."

Looking up in delight at the thought, she watches as Luna sits next to her and Artemis remains close to the professor and Jean. "Amy are you sure about this?"

"Not really, but if we need them...I have to be yes?"

Smiling at her nervousness, the Professor nods to Luna and Artemis, and their hands placed upon each one's shoulders he soon finds himself placed into a mind filled with the coolness of ice, yet with the quick wit and warmth of a normal girl at the same time.

Xavier walking around is startled as a hand reaches out and taps him onto the shoulder.

"Who are you?"

"I am a merely a friend who wishes to help you open a door."

"What door?" Another version of the girl asks him from behind. "I do not know exactly, but it is one that has remained locked for so long it does not budge."

"Oh...can you help us move it?" A third figure asks, and he nods his head.

"Only if you are willing for it to be open..."

Seemingly agreeable, the three versions of Mercury guide him. Eventually he comes to a door pulsating with a light of hope and also of pain.

"We are afraid of the door." One reluctantly says.

"Why is that?" He asks.

"It causes us pain..." Another replies as they look upon it warily.

"The pain is too much..."

"Pain is often needed though...what if I was to help you understand that Pain?"

Looking sorrowfully...the three look at him and become one figure. "I don't know if you can..."

"What else can I do but try?"

Seeing his point, the figure approaches the door, with a little nervousness. Looking back at the older man, who nods his head almost paternally, he places a comforting touch upon her shoulder, and as he does so the door opens...

A Swirl of Cherry blossoms seems to emanate from within and envelop them both. In the real world as others look on a name is uttered from both lips in unison.

"Zoicite..."