The House of Mercury Chapter 7, a sailor moon fanfic

The House of MercuryThe House of Mercury Chapter 7

SsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSsSs

Disclaimer: Sailor Moon (aka Tsukino Usagi),Sailor ChibiMoon/ Chibiusa (aka Chiba Usagi), Tsukino Ikuko, Tsukino Kenji, Tsukino Shingo, Sailor Mercury (aka Mizuno Ami), Dr. Mizuno, Sailor Mars (aka Hiro Rei), Sailor Jupiter (aka Kino Makoto), Sailor Saturn ( aka Tomoe Hotaru ), Sailor Uranus (aka Tenou Haruka ), Sailor Neptune ( Kaiou Michiru), Sailor Pluto (Meiou Setsuna), Sailor Saturn (Tomoe Hotaru),Tuxedo Kamen (Chiba Mamoru), Oosaka Naru, Uwara Ryo, Kenichi, Kumada Yuuichirou, Umino Gurio, Palla-Palla/ Sailor Pallas, Mrs. Haruna, and the Hikawa Shrine/ Cherry Hill Temple (Americanized) and Juuban Junior High School are the copyrighted Property of Takeuchi Naoko, Toie, and DiC. They are not mine.

NOTE: The song featured in this chapter is "A World of Our Own", a hit in the 1970s for County singer and guitarist Sonny James.

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The afternoon sun was making its final descent towards the Sea of Japan as Usagi made her way to the garden. Fortunately, Haruna-sensei had not put her on detention. In fact, her teacher was a bit shocked at how quiet Usagi had been. Usagi was able to leave her classes on time, only to be met at home by Shingo. Shingo had tried to talk his sister into takling him along, but Usagi had refused. Shingo understood the reasons why. The test was Usagi's to take, and Usagi was as concerned for her little brother as he was for her.

"Shingo," she had said, "I want you to do one thing for me. If I cannot come from this alive, promise me you'll look after Mom and Dad." Shingo had a hard time listening to this. She may be Sailor Moon and the fabled Moon Princess, but Tsukino Usagi was his sister! But, since it was his older sister asking him, he would honor her request.

Tsukino Usagi made it to the gates of the garden with two hours of sunlight left. She thought of how she might be tested.. and trembled. The thought of traps scared her. She needed to be all she was. But was she ? With the Ginzuishou gone, she could nor call on the powers of the moon. Sailor Moon's strength and agility could not be hers. Usagi quickly put that thought behind her. Her friends- including her daughter- needed her. She entered along the path to the teahouse.

"Usagi come !" Kelly smiled and chuckled low. "Test begin now."

As Usagi walked along the path of the garden, a - shabon mist ?- seemed to grow up out of the ground and overcast the sky. It dimmeed the view and chilled Usagi. The chill dulled Usagi's reactions to where she had to concentrate to even walk and tell derection. To make things worse, it seemed the very plants of the garden and mountain were fighting her, impeding her way to the teahouse. Bridges, she found, became living enemies, exuding water gathered from the streams they crossed. The water threatened, and finally did, cause her to slip into a stream ! The stream was now deep, but Usagi felt a sudden fear that the rushing water was trying to drown her ! She could feel the icy water keeping her under as her lungs began to scream ! Then Usagi regained her mind, and slowly, painfully, made her way out of the stream and onto the bank.

Shivering now from the shabon-fog and the stream, Usagi stepped on a rock outside the garden path.. and jumped back as it exploded into flames and she stepped on it. "IIIIIIIIEEEEEEE ! Nani ? How did THAT happen !"

"Ah, good ! Test start ! Maybe Usagi make it. Maybe not." Kelly smiled. "Think she make it !"

"WHAT TEST ?" Rei asked, her anger finally surfacing over her pain. "Hasn't Usagi been tested enough ?"

"IIE !" Kelly spun around to confront Rei. "Usagi never been tested ! Test all for Sailor Senshi of Moon or for Moon Princess ! Usagi never be tried !" Rei was stunned at this revelation.

"But.. aren't they the same ?" Rei asked in a quivering voice.

"Ask Chibi." Kelly then turned to an awakened Chibiusa. "Chibiusa! Who father?"

"My .. Daddy?" Chibiusa asked. "K.. K.. King Endymion of Earth, also known as Mamoru Chiba!"

"Good !" Kelly said. "Now.. who mother ?"

"My .. mom ?" Chibiusa stammered. "My mom is.. mom is.. is..." Chibiusa's eyes began to tear and her voice waver and crack. "I.. do not know. I.. I.. can see her.." her voice trailed off, "but I do not know her." Chibiusa let out a heartbreaking cry. One Naru had not heard since she had cried for Nephrite.

"Nani ?" Minako asked, suddenly shocked back to life. "NANI ? How can this be ? Isn't Chibiusa Usagi's daughter ?"

"Wh.. Who ?" Chibiusa sniffled.

"Chibi tell Senshi of dream now." Kelly told Chibiusa.

"IIEDE ! IIEDE ! IIEDE !" Chibiusa cried so hard her chest heaved. "Do not make me go back there!" Chibiusa's voice dropped to a whisper. "Onegai?"

"Me be here for chibi." Kelly reassued her. "Now- tell."

"In.. my dream.." Chibiusa started in a shaky voice, "I am running. I'm scared ! I want my mommy ! Where's my mommy ?" Chibiusa started to cry very hard, and choked a bit on her tears. "I.. think I see her. I.. call out. 'Mommy ! Mommy !' But she can not hear me ! I grab her arm. Then she turns around. And I see. Kami.. where's her face ? WHERE'S MY MOMMY ?" Chibiusa now cries so hard she can barely breathe. Kelly stands by, trying to calm her down, and Hotaru starts to reassure her she was not alone.

"Nani ?" Rei asked accusingly to the Priest. "What kind of game is this? What trick do you play now ?"

"Trick not mine." Kelly said. "Dream not mine to give ! Though me know dream. Me have same dream !"

Ami gasped, as much from shock as from her crucified position. "Why did you not tell us, Kelly ?" She managed to ask.

"Tell who?" The priest scoffed. "Senshi who trust Timeguard?" Kelly turned around. "Iie! Ami I trust.. BUT! Dream given to me.. cannot tell! Cannot tell every dream. Cannot tell this dream. Dreams not my game," Kelly than turned sharply to face Rei, "not my TRICK!" Then, he hissed, "Dream be trick demo, dream be game. Start long ago. Game trick of TIME! Hai." He pointed to Pluto.

"Jealously gaurd timeline! Keep safe! Nevermind results !" He turned back angrily to Rei. "Think me want test Usagi ? Me not want ! Me hate test ! But Usagi MUST take test ! Must WALK through fire ! And... Me must TEST her ! Even.." Kelly's voice trailed off, "if mean me destroyed." The Inner Senshi, Chibiusa, Naru, and Hotaru hung their heads at this. And cried.

Usagi found herself back on the path somehow. Unfortunately it was very near the trees in the garden that seemed to be determined to hinder her rescue! Fortunately, she was growing accustomed to peering through the fog, so she always kept an eye on the teahouse.

It was one of those times when she was searching for the teahouse that she stepped on another rock. Instead of blazing fire, however, this rock sent a bolt of electricity throught her leg and body ! This time, the rock shattered under her foot instead of burning to cinders. Somehow, Usagi managed to avoid the shrapnel. Somehow... because her leg grew numb and it was all Usagi could do to crawl away from the warzone ! Then, Usagi tried to stand and walk.. and fell again in a stream !

This time, the rushing waters did not force Usagi down for long. She allowed the current to take her along as she moved to the bank nearest the teahouse. But, the chill in her body, while it eased the electrical burn, seemed to freeze her muscles even more. Moving on her own was slow.. and painful.

Usagi then concentrated, and ran off the bewildering, entangling garden path and across the exploding pebbles and rocks:

"POW!", "kaPOW!", "POP! POP! POP!", "BOOM!", "FWOOOOSHHH!", "kaPOW!"

Usagi scampered over the igniting pebles and exploding rocks, keeping the teashouse in view through a mix of smoke and fog. She finally reached the door of the teahouse, breathing hard from having to outrace stone-shrapnel!

"What's that noice ?" Jupiter asked Kelly.

"Sounds of war !" The Priest replied. "Cindiery and shrapnel !"

"The Priest calls us murderous ", Haruka smiled weakly.

"Hai." Kelly said. "Me say somthing of sort. Uranus and Neptune not question 'why' of taking life. Just take it. Not look back! Me question before even come to Japan. Me try back out. Try not come ! Advise who listen to help Usagi when possible. What Senshi do to avoid blood on hands ?"

Haruka fell silent once more.

"Kelly." Makoto asked, "What if Usagi can not pass this test ?"

"Usagi not pass tests, Princess gain complete control. Princess now yet ready to lead. Never ready to rule as one."

A shudder ran through Ami and Naru instantly. The weight of Kelly's full statement took a couple of minutes to sink into Rei and Makoto. The rest of the Senshi took this news as best they could. Fortunately, Chibiusa was under the narcotic-eefect of the Sands of Mercury once more.

"Princess will rule as one." Kelly turned accusingly to Sailorpluto. "Will try.. if not stopped. Will fail! When fail? All.. die..."

The dwarvish-priest then turned back to Ami and Naru:

"Usagi pass first test", he smiled slightly, "now to pass second."

Usagi stood before the doors of the teahouse. She stared at a large puzzle-block.

In her mind, she heard Kelly speak:

"Friends in teahouse..

"Solve puzzle - unlock door..

"Unlock door - enter teahouse..

"Enter teahouse - find friends."

Each word Usagi heard, the spoken as softly as a feather, felt like a hammerblow to the girl.

Usagi steadied herself, then studied the puzzle-block. It looked complicated. And Usagi always seemed to have trouble with even the easier cubes. She started to panic. "Ami-chan says that there's always a logic to these puzzles. That they can be as easy as math. But I'm no good at math ! Or Logic ! The Princess is the logical one !" As she said this, she suddenly heard her- self say, 'Wait a minute ! You ARE smart, Usagi ! True - you pay as little attention as possible in class, but you are a smart one, Usagi ! Ami has even said so, although she wishes you did better in school ! As for this box- all it is is a puzzle !' Usagi then heard Ami's voice- a memory: 'It really is simple, Usagi ! Try the pieces to see if anything happens, and remember the order in which they happened!'

Usagi started testing eack puzzle piece to see if any gave way. Most of the time, she met with frustration. But, then, she'd hear another voice.. Rei's. 'Don't worry, Usagi ! Any road will have some holes in it, but that shouldn't stop you from traveling !'

"I'll do it, Rei !" Usagi whispered. "I'll stay on this road."

A hour passed. Usagi took careful note of the pieces tried.

A puzzle-piece gave a bit. Then another, and then another.

Finally the linch-piece gave way ! the puzzle-pieces fell from the doors, dissolving into the ground.

Usagi opened the doors to the teahouse and stepped inside.

"Welcome, Usagi !" Kelly's voice sang from out of the darkness. "Pass first two tests ! ready for third ?"

Usagi's eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness. Usagi gasped in frieght as she saw the Senshi, including her daughter, and Naru hanging from ten crosses.

"Nani ?" Usagi asked.

"Prepare for third test." Kelly smiled. "Corners mine," he gestured to the teahouse and garden. "sides mine," gesturing to the Senshi and Naru, "and center mine !" Kelly finally pointed to a pale blue ord in a nest on the floor.

"Third.. test ?" Usagi gulped.

"Hai !" Kelly smiled. "First test strength. Passed. Good. Second test mind. Passed. Also good. Strength not all Moon Sailor. Mind not all Moon Princess. Now," Kelly bent down to pick up the orb, "last test of heart. Crystal show two futures .. what can be .. what may be !" This drew a collective gasp from the occupants of the crosses. "Crosses sap energy to resist orb from Senshi ! Visions Usagi see.. Senshi cannot alter. Usagi must see, finish test. Now, take around to Naru and Senshi."

Slowly, tentatively, Usagi picked up the crystal orb. Then, slowly, she walked towards the crucifixes. As she held up the crystal to Naru, images flashed on the ball:

Naru: a happy wife and mother, and as much a spring of love as she ever was.

Naru: a lifeless soul, haunted by the love that could have been.

Chibiusa: surrounded by love and happiness, and growing into a caring young woman.

Chibiusa: surrounded by loneliness and doubts, and turning into The Black Lady... many times over.

Hotaru: In the arms of one who loves and cherishes her, surrounded by friends, and confident in all she sets herself to do.

Hotaru: despondent in all save her duty, driven by fearful memories, and bitter dreams.

All could see that the scenes were having an effect on Usagi.

Ami: The happiness she deserves. She and Uwada Ryi-san make a perfect wife and husband ! And Ami had grown alot from when she was a shy, retarding little girl. And she is one of the most open of Senshi.

Ami: The loneliness she feared. Although she tries to be stoic about it, and is fiercely loyal to the royal family, the bitterness seeps out at times. Or the Senshi, Mercury can be the most withdrawn. There are many things she will not even tell her queen, much less her sister Senshi.

Rei: In the arms of Yuuichirou, Rei finally finds the family outside the Senshi she longs for and needs. Always aa friend of the Royal Family, the Senshi of Mars was now able to open up to others also.

Rei: The years of loneliness, and the battle, have taken their toll. The Senshi of Fire does not hide the pain well. Where Mercury hides behind a mask of seeming passivity, Mars wears her steel armor for the world to see.

Usagi stumbled under the wait of the visions, but she perseveres. Her feet are sure as they to the next station. Usagi is no longer being entirely prodded by Kelly, but is drawn by a need to witness. 'Whatever these dark visions mean,' Usagi thought, 'I will not see my friends hurt because of me!'. She stepped in from of Makoto:

Makoto: A woman stands upon the cliffs, cheerfully meeting a new day. Gone are the fears and terrors that were plagues on her childhood. In there place is a woman who is able to face any challange that it thrown at her.

Makoto: The Senshi of Thunder and Lightning is a sullen and quiet as any of the other Senshi. Her memories and fears haunt her to this day. She is often compared with the thunderstorms. When she is not raining down tears, she is letting loose of her own thunder and lightning. She has been called, at times, the most-dangerous of the senshi.

Minako: Her laughter and joyfulness is matched by few, and only exceded by the Neo-Queen herself ! The caring heart she has proves her worth as Captain of the Palace Gaurd !

Minako: The loneliness and weariness the Senshi of Love has felt have taken their toll. Minako's mind seems to have gone schizophrenic, sometimes psychotic, only barely covered-over by her duties as Captian of the Gaurd.

Usagi moves to the three last Senshi, who no longer have a will to even resist, much less strngth. The bloodstones and garnet have testified well. Kelly causes the crystals to fall with the merest of waves. Usagi then turns a bit fearfully to the crosses.

Haraka's and Michireu's future-paths play out the same:

Guards of the Crystal Millenium, Neptune and Uranus are, nonetheless, two of the brightest of shining stars in the Senshi. They still seem a bit distant to all, but they are among the most-trusted of Senshi in the Kingdom.

The two Senshi are the most-haunted of the Millenium, save for Pluto. They are the most inward-searching of those who still call themselves loyal Senshi. It is said the introvertedness of the two is because they care so much for each other. But, it is also whispered that their introversion is a defence against the ghosts of their pasts.

Usagi at last stands before Setsuma:

The Senshi of Time has finally learned to take time as it comes ! With Usagi's help, the yoke of guarding the time-gate and it's worries have slowly been lifted. And Setsuma has never been happier.

The Senshi of Time is looked on by some as the Comspirator of Time. Many view her now as an enemy. It does not help that she stays in the Time Portal, where she claims to feel safe, like a hermitess in her cave. "The timestream is all ! Nothing else matters !"

"Iiede." Usagi whispers as she stares transfixed into the blue-green orb.

"Usagi ?" Ami finally managed to whisper. "Do not.. let.. the Princess win.. Omegai?"

"Usagi-san.." Setsuma murmurred. "Help us!"

"IIEDE !" Usagi screamed started to turn and run. Then she stopped short. Usagi ran back to the orb's stony nest, kneeled, lifted the orb high over her head, and smashed the orb, shattering the stone to myriad pieces!
"I CAN'T !" Usagi cried hard. "I.. I.. I can't help my friends !" She sobbed softly now. "Forgive me... Gomen?"

"Usagi pass test", Kelly smiled, "prove heart strong enough to harness Sailor-strength and bridle Princess' mind ! All left now is rescue Senshi." Kelly picked up the Ginzuishou that had been buried in the scrying-ball and presented it to Usagi.

"IIE!" Usagi cried. "I do not want to see that again ! keep it ! It's not mine ! It never was, and never will be!"

"Iie." Kelly smiled. "Ginzuishou your by right now ! Heart proved ownership, As much your's as Princess' ! Besides," Kelly continued. "Only you can release Senshi, and Ginzuishou is key ! Now, release friends, hold daughter tight." Usagi took the Ginzuishou into her.

"Release my friends !" Usagi commanded. In response, the crosses let go of their prey.

"Mama !" Chibiusa cried and ran on wobbling legs, falling into Usagi's protective embrace. "I was so scared..", Chibiusa cried, "I dreamed I lost you !" She buried her face in her mother's breasts.

"It's OK, Chibiusa, it's alright." Usagi softly reassured her future-daughter with a whisper and kiss. "I'll always be here."

Kelly moved toward Hotaru. "Hotaru-chan alright ?"

"I am alright." Hotaru replied.

"Good." Kelly said with a smile. " Senshi of Saturn best choice for next Gaurdian of Time ! Senshi of Death- and Rebirth ! End- and Beginning ! Yes.. good choice... Just learn from current Gaurd." He pointed to Setsuma. "No make same mistakes ! Now, go to Outter Senshi ! Care for them."

Hotaru went to Haruka, Michiru, and Setsuma. Kelly turned to the others.

"What happened ?" Makoto asked with a look of total confusement.

"Usagi win." Kelly smiled. "Senshi free."

"But .. HOW did she win ?" Asked Rei. "She said she couldn't help us !"

"That what Usagi think !" Kelly said to the Senshi of Fire and Thunder. "Not what Usagi feel." He pointed three fingers at Usagi, now cradling Chibiusa.

"Three spirits ! Three tests ! Three answers ! Usagi stay ? Accept visions ? Sailor's answer.. Princess win ! Usagi run, hide ? Princess' answer .. again Princess win. Usagi fight visions ? Usagi's answer .. Usagi win ! Usagi turn, break ball- fight visions, fight fate."

"So.. Usagi win ?" Minako asked.

"Hai." Kelly bowed.

"So, that's the end ?" Minako asked.

"Iie. Not yet." Kelly said. "In time, Princess come, take control. But. Usagi's spirit stay now, not run. Usagi guide sister-spirit as friend to friend. Everyone win !"

"You have helped me greatly, Kelly !" Usagi smiled. "And the Pincess. More, I guess, than any of us knew. It is time, then, for your healing." Usagi gathered the crystal to her palms.

"Moon.. Healing.. "

"Iie !" Naru cried out suddenly.

There was an audible gasp from each Senshi.. and then a deafening silence. One finally broken by a dwarvish, misshapen Texan.

"Me understand." Kelly said in a voice barely above a whisper. "Me.. hurt.
Priestess too much. Me always know. No matter. Usagi win. Princess win. Kelly loose." Kelly choked back a tear. "Can never go back. Pain too great. At least, mother have younger son to help her."

Naru gently took the Dragon of Mercury from Kelly's neck. And, then, she placed it back around herself.

"What.. Naru do ?" Kelly asked in astonishment.

Naru kissed the rough dwarf and smiled. "Kelly-san," she said through her tears, "I said to myself I would be here for you. I meant that through the darkness, too. I told myself that I would take you back however you were. However this tuirned out. Let me take you back now."

There was a moment that said more in the smiles in the room than a thousand words could say. Kelly finally broke the silence with a whisper:

"Usagi-Sama? Kelly ready."

The last two days in Japan saw Kelly and Naru as an inseperable set. Sometimes, they could be seen with Ami and Ryu. Other times, they were alone. They enjoyed the parks and the shops, the gardens and teahouses, the cliffs and the beaches. Mostly, they enjoyed each other's company.

"I wondered," Kelly said, "if it could really end like this. If I would be allowed this much happiness." He smiled at Naru, that same impish smile of an old man.

"This was meant to be, Kelly-san." Naru smiled back and squeezed his hand. "It will be"
"He will be alright, Ami-chan !" Ryu reassured Ami as they sat in the shade, hidden from Kelly and Naru.

"Hai. I know." Ami smiled at Ryu. "I just worry. He is aniki."

"And you stood by him as I said you should." Ryu smiled. "Becuse of that, he will be alright. And so will Usagi and Chibiusa."

"Hai." Ami rested her head against Ryu's shoulder. "And what of us ?" Ami looked at Ryu. "What have you seen in our future."

Ryu smiled at the blue-haired Senshi. "There will be time to speak of that.. later."

Both Ami and Ryu burst into giggles from their hiding-place.

"I owe so much to Kelly-Sama !" Usagi said as she and Chibiusa walked in the garden that had been Usagi's testing-place. "I hope he will be alright ! He has been through so much."

Chibiusa hugged her mother tighly. "Do not worry, Mama-san! Naru-oba and Kelly-haku will be alright."

Usagi smiled and hugged her daughter-to-be. "Arigato, Chibiusa !" She whispered.

They headed towards the teahouse.

Kelly and Naru watched the moon rise over Toyko Bay ansd listened to the surf. "Will you be coming back to Nippon ?" Naru asked Kelly as the breeze blew off the ocean.

"I do not know." Kelly mused. "Maybe. Maybe not. Will you be coming to the States ?"

"I cannot tell," Naru sighed, "Many things can happen. We best get back home. You plane leaves early tomorrow."

Then, with the waves rolling in a fast rhythm upon the beach, Kelly turned to Naru,
took her face in his hands, and sang: