Mercury Shadow--The Quiet Ones

It was too quiet, and all blue.

Ami slowly lifted her head and looked around. The class was silent but she could see that everyone was speaking. But there was no sound, no voices, nothing but blue and people who were ignoring her and…

"Ryou," she said the name and suddenly everyone turned to her. She stopped and looked down, taking on the look of a studious person, waiting for everyone to stop looking at her before she once more cast a look around for the white-haired boy. His head slowly raised and she put a hand to her mouth, warning him for silence. He nodded and slowly moved over to where she was. He seemed to be trying to hide his left eye, and she suddenly knew why.

Ami reached up and touched his hand, then moved the hair away to see the dull golden eye. She paused for a moment and reached for it, feeling the cool item pop out easily. Ryou blinked and took the Item with a small smile, then looked around the classroom as the teacher came in and everyone moved to stand at their desks and take their seats. The two stayed near each other, sitting and watching as the teacher gave a lecture with no words before a silent bell sounded and everyone seemed to leave for the day. With no one there, the two sat and looked at each other, Ryou and Ami both unsure if they should speak.

Ryou finally held out the Millennium Eye and focused on seeing if he could do a Mind Scan with it, to reach Ami.

Ami?

It was a jumble and he released it, Ami turning to him and nodding, showing she had noticed the word. He smiled and then opened his hand to see that the Millennium Eye seemed to start imbedding itself in it. He looked scared but Ami once more put her hand over his and smiled, allowing him to know that he wasn't alone.

They both got up when they saw it. A dark force, one that Ryou recognized from the miniature that his dark self had used against Yugi-tachi when they had first met.

Zork.

He grabbed Ami's hand and ran, heading for the back door as Zork let out a laugh and he was pushed away. Zork slowly started to move on them, and Ryou clenched his left hand, where the Millennium Eye was.

I can do this. I can protect someone.

He held out the Millennium Eye and now felt a change within him. The Eye turned bright gold and then the light from it seemed to cover him, changing him from the dull blue of everywhere else to his own coloring before his clothing changed as well, taking on a golden hue and lines, becoming more like that of a priest or something. Had he looked in a mirror he could see that his left eye took on a golden glint and his hair flew up from the energy that he was producing.

I won't let you hurt her! Shadow Power!

The Millennium Eye flared and his power channeled through and hit the oncoming Zork. Zork let out a yell of pain and Ryou allowed himself to quickly scan the dark being's mind.

It wanted Ami. It wanted to kill her…why? Zork was a being of darkness, who came from the underworld and could only be called by the seven Millennium Items. If the one holding the Millennium Eye was killed, then the Eye would now become useless, as it had attached itself to him. Thus Ami had to be killed to better allow the darkness within the Item to take over, to allow Zork to manipulate him.

Ryou's blast had sent Zork back and he now turned and grabbed Ami with his right hand, running out of the classroom, their path now cleared. He knew that he couldn't allow his power now to disappear, and to think a bad thought as to if he deserved it or how he could control it was beyond the question.

They made their way to a deserted part of the place and caught their breath. Ami looked over at him and he sighed. "He wants to kill you."

Ryou cursed himself for being so idiotic, but he had to tell her and knew now that Mind Scan wouldn't allow her to hear him telepathically. They quickly raced off again, this time hiding in an abandoned warehouse.

Ryou sighed as they sat down to catch their breath. What could he do now? How were they going to get out of this?

"I could tell you," Akunadin's voice came in, " I had the power of the Millennium Eye. I could tell you how--"

He turned towards Ami and Ryou quickly considered before trying a Mind Scan again, then tried to see about using it to direct her thoughts towards his own. It worked, he felt her seeing his thoughts on what he knew and what he had heard. She shook her head at him and he gave her a smile, telling her that he wasn't even considering Akunadin's offer for help. She returned the smiled and then frowned. He held her hand, reading her worry that she wouldn't gain her power and be able to help him. Ryou gave her a smile then leaned in to kiss her, deepening it for the first time. She wrapped her arm around his neck for support as he slightly leaned in and they at one point found themselves on the ground with him on top of her.

Ryou broke the kiss for air and looked at Ami. She looked at him and then nodded. She knew what he was thinking without the help of the Millennium Eye. They could gain both the power necessary, and would escape from this to go back and help their friends.

They had been lucky enough to not run into Zork or make a sound while running around, and Ami knew that even if it didn't last, what luck they had was good to go on for now.

They once again stopped and Ami saw the worried look on Ryou's eyes. He was worried about her still. Ami knew that she had to find a way to get her new power so that Ryou wouldn't be doing all the work: she and he could fight together to beat Zork, and destroy this illusion. But she didn't know what to look for. This place had no sound, and she was unsure as to if she would find it.

I can't give up. I fought the illusion created by Fish Eye and the Dead Moon Circus, I gained my power, and I can do so in here as well! I can't give up! For Ryou and the others sake, I can't give up.

They moved once more to another house, only to stop when they saw the dark form of Zork appear. The duo turned but stopped short when they saw the wall form before them. Zork laughed and started to form a large ball of dark fire.

Ryou drew a wall of power between the two with the power of the Millennium Eye, but knew somehow that it wouldn't hold up too long.

Ami swallowed and closed her eyes, searching inside of herself. Her powers before had at some points seemed useless, but despite that they had somehow helped others no matter what.

I am not the weakest one. I am strong in my own way…

The symbol of Mercury glowed faintly, then brightly on her forehead and her eyes opened as Zork raised up the ball of dark fire.

"Mercury Eternal Power, Make-up!"

The flow of water surrounded her and she opened her eyes to have an outfit much like the one she had before, only white wings on her back and a blue heart gem with wings on her bodice, as well as the blue symbol of Mercury instead of a tiara. She held out her left hand, creating a ball of water and lifting it above her head, the water seeming to take on the form of a lyre.

"Mercury Waterfall Melody!" The lyre fell down and she ran her hand along the strings, creating a physician's symbol, the two snakes intertwined on a rod, with it and then a large wall of water that flowed towards Zork. Ryou saw this and his wall of power disappeared as he held out his left hand as well and changed it into a stream of energy. The ball of dark fire, as well as Zork, were thrown against the nearby wall, Ryou and Ami standing in their new forms.

"Shadow Power,"

"Mercury Power,"
"Unite!" they shouted as one, holding up their items, Mercury's lyre and the Millennium Eye, "Melody of the Mind!"

The wave of golden water filled the room in a roar and quickly Zork was engulfed, then destroyed. From him came a burst and the color and sound once more appeared in the world. The water slowly disappeared and left the two standing.

Eternal Sailor Mercury turned to face Ryou before looking around. "That door," she pointed to one with the Wedjet Eye as well as the Mercury symbol on it. Ryou nodded and the two walked over, Ryou taking the handle and opening it, both walking through as the door closed behind them.