Hi everyone, I'm sure everyone's glad that this didn't take as long. Enjoy!

Chapter 4: Mercury Rising

Ami stumbled into the apartment, sore and tired. I can't keep doing this anymore, she thought and sighed. She limped past the kitchen, but stopped when she saw a shape sitting at the table. "Mom, what are you doing up so late?"

"What are you doing out so late?"

Sigh. "Mom, you know I'm a Senshi. You know that this sometimes involves being out late."

"Ami, you should be focusing on school. If you want to be a doctor, you can't keep being out like this."

"What are you saying, that I should quit being a Senshi? Well, I have news for you, the world needs me. I almost quit before, and that was almost the biggest mistake of my life. Trust me, I can handle this."

"Oh honey, I just want the best for you. And I don't think the best for you is running around at all hours of the night, fighting monsters."

"But mom, I only want the best for you too. And I don't think the best for you is a world run by monsters where humans are enslaved."

Mrs. Mizuno stood up angrily. "I thought you were too weak to fight anyway," she said coldly, before angrily walking to her room.

Mercury looked up in horror, at her friends who were almost all unconscious. Their new enemy Phoebus had released their old enemies Ann and Allen, and with devestating consequences. She watched in horror as Serenity slowly stood up bravely, to face the siblings.

"I will not let you win," spat Serenity.

"Darling," Ann chuckled, "You have no choice." She aimed a bolt of black lightning at her. Serenity raised her hands and cried, "Silver Moon Shield!" A shield of silver light rose in front of her, protecting her from the lightning. Suddenly, Allen appeared behind her, and blasted her. The force of the attack made her drop the shield, and she was assaulted by Ann's blck lightning. She collapsed to the ground.

"No!" Endymion and Fireside both slowly stood.

Fireside raised his hand, and a flame appeared. He launched it at Ann, while Endymion launched his own attack of green lightr at Allen.

"Reflect!" Ann and Allen cried together, and their attacks came crashing back at them.

No, Mercury thought helplessly. Those were the last two who could fight.

"Now, Allen, it's time to finish the job" The two joined hands and cried. "Dark Cyclone of Fury!" A black cyclone of energy lifted the fighters into the air, spinning them uncontrollably. Asthey spun faster and faster, Mercury thought, I have failed, before losing consciousnes.

IN MERCURYS MIND

"Where am I?" Mercury found herself floating in an abyss.

"You're trapped in your subconscious, a way for you to escape from the pain being inflicted on you physically."

"Who are you? Show yourself!"

A woman appeared out of no where, a beautiful woman with long blue hair. She wore something akin to a Senshi uniform, though it was a strange one at that.

"What do you want with me?"

The lady smiled. "Don't you recognize me? I'm your mother. The first Sailor Mercury."

Mercury gasped, then said: "Prove it."

"Mercury, can't you tell your own mother? Can't you sense the truth?"

"Why are you here?"

"To show you the way to a greater power, your true power as a Senshi. But, I'm not so sure your ready."

"I am ready!"

"I'm not so sure you're strong enough."

"I am strong!"

"I'm not so sure this is what you truly want."

"If you are my mother, how can you say that!? You sound like..." Mercury trailed off.

"Like your mother on earth? I know you've been having a hard time of late, now that your mother knows the truth. In fact I know that you've always struggled to balance your school work and being a Senshi. You've always had such high expectations. And you always struggled with the fact that you were the weakest of the Senshi. You never felt like you were totally contributing."

A tear rolled down her cheek. "It's been so hard. My mom has been pressuring me all the time now. She doesn't understand why I would choose this life. To her being the weakest of the Senshi means I'm mediocre, and she doesn't let me forget it. She thinks that this is a waste of my life, and you know what, sometimes I agree with her. Is this why you aren't sure I should gain my new powers?"

Her mother nodded. "Yes. A Senshi should have no doubts. Becoming your true form means new responsibility. You must rise above the child you once were, you must rise above the doubts and fears. This is a total commitment. Just like Usagi and Mamoru commited to becoming Princess Serenity and Prince Endymion, so you must commit to becoming Mercury. From then on, being a Senshi is a full time job, not just a part time thing. Can you do it? Can you rise?"

Mercury gulped, and looked back on her memories. Who should I listen to, she thought, my other mother or this mother? She felt torn.

"Mercury," her mother said softly, "You must follow your heart. This is a decision that cannot be made by anyone else. You must decide."

What do I want, Mercury thought. I want to protect the world. I want to be a Senshi with my friends. But, I also want to be a doctor. I want to be at peace with my mother.

"Does becoming a Senshi full time mean giving up on my original dreams?"

"No. But it does mean sacrifice, and postponing many of your dreams at times. It means you commited to putting your planet and your princess first, then personal pleasure. It also means trust. It means trusting that Serenity will have your best interests at heart when she gives you a command, and that she will think of your personal goals and dreams. Can you trust Serenity that much?"

Mercury thought. She really thought. She thought of her mom, how much she loved her. She thought of Serenity and her friends, how much she loved them. Then, she thought of the time she had left the Senshi, and how sad and unfufilled she felt. She took a deap breath. "My dreams are nothing when I'm not a Senshi, not connected to my friends. They aren't enough to keep me happy. As for my mother, whether or not she accepts my decision I know this is right and I'll be happy."

Her mother nodded her approval. "From this point onward you will no longer be the weakest Senshi. For a while, you will be the strongest. At some point you will all be on the same level. Just know that you were the first and always remember your duty, to your princess, fellow Senshi, planet, and heart." She began to disappear.

"Mom!" Mercury's voice became choked with emotion. "I love you!" Suddenly she became caught up in a storm. All around, winds blew. She began to feel trapped and suffocated.

OUTSIDE HER MIND

"NOOOOOO!" Blue light engulfed the are, and suddenly the cyclone disapppeared. The Senshi and the Knights floated safely tothe ground, injuries healed. They looked up into the air where Mercury was floating. But, she wasn't the same Mercury. Her hair was longer and curlier. Her face looked more mature. She wore a light blue top, without straps. A dark blue bow with a star in the middle was on her chest. She was in a dark blue skirt, and dark blue sandals. Around her neck was a blue necklace with a black star charm. Gone was the tiara on her forehead.

She floated to the ground, and looked at Ann and Allen determinedly. She raised her hands, and cried, "Mercury Ice Crystal Shine!" Her attack furst forth with a white light, hitting the stunned Ann and Allen dead on.

Mercury turned to Serenity. "Princess, I am not as strong or powerful as you. Can you finish them off?"

Serenity nodded and took out the crystal. "I will heal them. Please support me." The Senshi, Knights, and Endymion lended their powers to her and she cried, "Moon Healing Activation!"

Ann and Allen were engulfed in white light, then transformed into their child forms. They floated peacefully away.

Everyone turned to look at Mercury. "What happened?" they cried.

Mercury smiled. "I have become as Serenity, Endymion, and the Knights. I am now Mercury full time." As everyone offered her congratulations, Mercury thought of what she woukd do when she saw her mom.

LATER AT MERCURY'S APARTMENT

"I see your out late again, Ami."

Mercury took a deep breath. Then she said firmly, "Mom, I'm not the same. I'm now Mercury, and I've made my decision. This is what I want to do. You must accept this."

Mrs. Mizuno took a closer look at her. "Ami, you've changed!"

"Mom, I'm not Ami anymore. Whether you accept it or not, it's true."

Mrs. Mizuno saw something in her eyes and heard something in her voice. She realized she had lost and sighed. "OK honey, I'll accept it. Though I may not approve, you're still my daughter and I still love you."

Mercury blinked back tears, and realized just how far both she and her mother had risen.

I hope everyone enjoyed this, and I'm happy that I finished this so quickly after the last chapter. This is to pay you guys back for having to wait so long for hte last chapter. Please review.