[SM][Fanfic] Sun and Moon -- Part 8

[Danny Howlett]

Author's notes:

Hello there everyone. I said that the next three parts (7, 8, and 9)
were going to connected together in what would seem to be like a single
episode but I've decided against it. Part 7 is out and I've combined
part 8 and 9 together. I figure it works better this way. Sorry I
haven't updated in awhile, I just finished my exams! Yeah! Hip Hip
Hooray! I got somewhere in the low eighties in physics and I got a 94 in
math! As you can tell I'm walking on cloud nine! So here's the next
part, I hope you enjoy it! PS I hope I can get more time to write this
fanfic, I've already got an idea for a new one. I'm thinking along the
lines of "If Angels had wings". It's going to be centered around the
Outer Senshi, a big step for me considering I've never actually seen them
in action and know how they speak or anything. Plus it's going to be a
swing from my usual, more based on emotion rather than battle scenes. A
real big step in my case but I'm hoping it will be good. That's if I can
ever get Sun and Moon finished. Anyway enjoy the part 8!

Sun and Moon
------------
Part 8

Amy shook her head as the near by blast woke both her and
Derrick from their shared trance. Both had been sitting in the same
position for who knows how long.

"What was that?" Amy said as she put her hand to her head.

Shaking the cob webs from his mind Derrick got up from his
chair and checked out what was going on. Behind the shelf of
books was a glowing women hovering a few feet in the air.
A number of shelves lay in ashes on the floor, the fire still burning
brightly. Holding out her palm before her a bright beam scanned
the room.

"Amy we have trouble, we better transform!" said Derrick.

"Mercury Star Power!"

"Hermes Power, suit up!"

On the other side of the book shelf people lay dazed on
the ground, the beam moved to a young teenage girl. After
finding nothing unusual about her it moved on to the next.

"Hey, fire bug, who do you think you are?" Hermes said. He was
standing back to back with Mercury. Phoenix's attention snapped to look
at him.

"How dare you attack these people? For Mercury I will punish you!"
Mercury said as she turned her gaze towards the latest threat.

"And on behalf of Hermes, god of science and knowledge, I will
see that you pay for what you have done here."

Phoenix mearly blinked her eyes, her expression like an animal
trying to figure out what the two new arrivals wanted.

"Shining Aqua Illusion!" Mercury stated while she spun around
and sent a blast of ice at the strangely quiet women. Phoenix didn't
move as the blast sped towards her.

"Yeah got her!" Mercury said with triumph after the blast seemed to
envelope the stranger.

"Maybe not Mercury!" said Hermes as he pointed to Phoenix hovering
high above them.

"She's fast!" Mercury said, trying to determine her next move.

Grasping the long flowing robe Phoenix tore it away to reveal what
lay beneath. The women had long flowing hair which wove out from under
the elaborate headdress of feather upon her head. She wore a slim red
battle dress, it was sleeveless and as it approached the waist slit into two
pieces one down the front and the other down the back. The dress was covered
with ancient runes from a far away world. Around her wrists she wore
many wooden bracelets that made a sound like rain when she moved. In form
and symmetry she was animal and human in one. From her back rose great red
wings, almost like those of a dove. The only thing that contrasted with her
appearance was a cold metallic collar, encrusted with gems, around her
neck. Phoenix looked down at the two warriors, her eyes blinked as
before. As she moved there was a rustle like rain. Before their very
eyes she turned into a streak of red light. Appearing behind them she
spread out her palms and created a blast of energy knocking the two
warriors to the ground.

Rising to his feet Hermes called upon his daggers, "So you want to
play rough? Hermes flash freezing!" As Hermes called out the words he
moved like a blue beam of light. All around the room two beams, one red
and one blue, spun seemingly to be locked in battle.

"Hermes?" Amy said as she too got to her feet, "I've got to help
him! But what if I hit him by mistake?" Mercury's head began to whirl a
little as she tried to pick out the spinning colors of light around her.
As she tried to concentrate she could hear the rustling of rain, it was the
Phoenix's bracelets.

"Think back to your training!" Mercury said to herself, she closed
her eyes and began to go into a deep concentration. She could hear the
bracelets even louder now they were almost like the sound of a water
cascading over a water fall. Waiting patiently she bided her time.

"Shining Aqua Illusion!" she declared into the air letting a blast
of ice escape from her hands. The blast pierced the air like thunder and
slammed into Phoenix sending her flying through the wall.

"Way to go Mercury!" said Hermes as he came out of his attack.

"It's not over yet!" said Amy as she noticed Phoenix had once again
rose to her feet. Phoenix's stare bore deeply into Mercury's.

"Phoenix dark purification!" the words echoed like a thousand voices
as Phoenix began to rise in the air. The runes on her dress began to glow
brightly as the power inside her exploded with fierce viscosity. A giant
wave of fire, exploded from her palms, with a bone chilling scream of death
accompanying it.

"Hermes Flash Freezing!" Hermes shouted as he pulled Mercury out of
the way. The blast knocked both of them through the air, if not for Hermes
quick thinking both of them would have been killed.

"Are you O.K. Mercury?" Hermes asked as he helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, I'll be fine, but we have to take her out! Let's double
team her!"

Hermes nodded in approval and both sailors turned to attack.

"Hermes December Aurora!" Hermes' hands began to glow a bright
white as he raised them above his head. In a quick thrust of his arms he
expelled a ball of white energy.

"Shining Aqua Illusion!" Mercury said as she joined him in the
assault. Catching Phoenix off guard the blast engulfed her in ice, in a burst
of blue and white light she was gone.

Mercury jumped with glee as the attacked worked, "That almost seemed
too easy! Hermes, Hermes what's wrong?" Next to her Hermes was on his
knees holding his hand to his chest.

"Nothing, it's nothing!" he lied, keeping the pain deep inside him,
concentrating he put it out of his mind and got up off ground. It had been
the same pain he had felt when they were battling Rahorkahty. Putting his
mind to the task at hand he rose to his feet.

"I don't think it's over quite yet!" he said as he began to see
a wave of fire appear where Phoenix once stood.

"Damn!" Hermes cursed, "I should have realized it! She's part bird,
part human, her power is fire! It's a Phoenix! You can't destroy a
Phoenix, from it's death rises a new one!"

"I'll scan it and see if she has a weakness!"

Mercury tapped the side of her head and her visor appeared over her
eyes, "She's really strong, even in this state. I don't see any, wait!
The collar around her neck, it's having an effect on her mental status."

"Effect on her mental status? Could it be mind control?"

"I think that's it! If we could destroy it we maybe able to
reason with her! But we need to attack it up close my power won't work!
We need you to go in with your daggers. Are you sure you can handle it?"

"I'm fine!" he repeated, "You distract her while I take out the
collar!"

"Mercury bubbles blast!" Mercury said creating a thick fog.

"Now it's my turn! Hermes Flash Freezing!" Flying through the air
Hermes attacked the collar with his daggers. With each strike a piece of
the collar began to freeze solid until it was one piece of ice. Hitting it
hard he broke it into a million pieces.

"You did it!" Mercury said as Hermes came out of his attack. On
the floor before them the Phoenix lay on her knees. Holding her hands to her
head she screamed with terror, trying desperately to control the raging
thoughts and emotions going through her head. With one quickly motion
her head looked upwards to the sky, tears falling from her eyes. Gaining
control she rose to her feet.

"Sailors I am in your debt. That collar has controlled me for
countless centuries. It robbed me of all conscious thought, I would have
done anything the cult of Ra would have asked."

"Who are you? Where do you come from?" Amy asked the now
kind eyed woman.

"My name is Queen Vos, I am the ruler of a planet millions of light
years away! The cult of Ra had attacked my people and has enslaved them
with those collars. I was the leader of the attack against the cult, they
knew they could not destroy us for we are immortal. Instead they froze
us with ice and then harnessed our minds with those damned collars. I am
forever in your debt!"

"What will you do now that you're free?" Hermes asked.

"I will return to my people. I feel them call out to me, I must
deliver them! I wish you all the best in your fight against the cult, know
that your struggle is in my thoughts."

"And yours in ours!" Mercury said. Queen Vos turned and spread her
large winds. Floating upwards she flew off towards the horizon, her bright
shining light mixing with that of the setting sun.

"She's free, she's free." Mercury said as she watched Queen Vos
disappear into the sky.

"Mercury..." Hermes said the words sounding very faint and full of
pain. Mercury turned around to see Hermes falling to his knees, his Sailor
suit dissolving away.

"Derrick! Derrick!" she shouted as his eyes closed and he slumped
to the ground.

**********************

Amy sat quietly next to Derrick's bed. They were in the east side
hospital and Derrick was resting comfortably in the pale white hospital cot.
When Derrick had fainted after the battle Amy had called for an ambulance.

The room was typical for a hospital, the walls were a off white
and to both sides of the cot were night stands. On one of the stands
were a plain set of manufactured flowers that were customarily placed in
ever room.

Outside the wind was blowing slightly through the trees, the trees
were beginning to turn heralding in winter's approach. The last moments of
the crimson sunset began to slip over the horizon as darkness began to settle
over Tokyo.

Amy held Derrick's hand as she patiently waited with him. She still
had not yet been able to make sense of all the memories that had came
flooding back. She could see places and people she couldn't begin to
understand. Yet some of the images felt shadowed, as if they only
had been partially restored. The one thing she was sure of was that
Derrick was a part of her past. Amy studied his quiet expression as he
slept, a face that she had know much longer than any other. He was from
the silver millennium, he had been there she knew this for a fact.

"But why hadn't Serena remembered him? Why hadn't she remembered
any of the shogun?" she had been trying to find the answers to these
questions as soon as they arrived to the hospital and her mind had
settled.

"Derrick!" said a tall thin woman as she entered the room. Her hair
was long and straight like Derrick's except hers was black. Following her
came the doctor. He looked like he was in his late forties. He wore a black
pair of glasses and had a gray beard.

"How is he doctor?" the woman asked as she sat down next to the
bed.

"He's resting quietly for now. We've down some tests and he seems
to be physically unhurt by the attack. We've done some x-rays on his chest
to see what the problem may be. Amy here said he was having pains in his
chest just before he collapsed. Amy this is Derrick's mother, Mrs.
Matthews this is one of Derrick's school friends, Amy."

Derrick's mom shook Amy's hand and thanked her for calling the
ambulance, "Amy, has Derrick ever complained about pains before this?"
Mrs. Matthews asked.

"No, it was the first time I've heard anything about it. One second
he was fine and the next he collapsed."

"Knowing Derrick he probably wouldn't have told anyone. He hates
hospitals," Mrs. Matthews replied, "ever since his father died he hasn't
gone near one."

"Excuse me doctor, the x-rays have come back." said a nurse from the
doorway.

"If you'll excuse me." the doctor said leaving the room.

"So how did you and Derrick meet?" Mrs. Matthews asked Amy.

"We met in our Computer Tech class, we've been friends ever since."
Amy answered, she slowly let go of Derrick's hand. Mrs. Matthews saw the
motion and smiled warmly.

"Thank you for waiting here with him Amy. You don't know how much
I appreciate it. If he had to wake up in the hospital alone I would have just
died. He can't stand these hospitals!"

"I'm sorry about your husband Mrs. Matthews." Amy said offering her
condolences.

"It's been 8 years now, I've learned to go on with life, mind you
it isn't easy but I've made it thus far. Derrick on the other hand hasn't
had it so good, you know he sometimes still has nightmares."

"I can't understand how you can handle something like that, I've
never truly lost someone I was so close to. My parents are divorced but
it's not the same. How do you get over something like that?"

"You don't, you just go on with it." Mrs. Matthews replied as she
took Amy's hand.

"Does it ever stop hurting?" Amy asked.

"No, not if you truly loved the person. What hurts the most are the
little things. All the things you hated about the person you would give
anything to see again." Derricks mom wiped a tear away from her eye as she
answered.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have,"

"No, don't be silly!" she said cutting Amy off, "It's good to
remember him, sometimes it gets hard but remembering the good times is what
keeps him alive, in here." Derrick's mom put her hand over her heart as she
spoke, "His epitaph said, 'Remember me, but let me go', he had picked it
out before he died."

"Don't worry Mrs. Matthews, Derrick will be fine!" Mrs. Matthews
squeezed Amy's hand and smiled. Taking a tissue from the night stand she
wiped her eyes.

"Mrs. Matthews, would I be able to talk to you." said the doctor
from the doorway.

"Watch over him for me." she said to Amy as she got up and went with
the doctor.

Amy took Derrick's hand in hers and smiled. She had began to cry
silently over Mrs. Matthews' story. A single tear fell from her cheek and
landed on Derrick's palm. It began to glow a bright blue and as before the
symbols of both Mercury and Hermes appeared on their foreheads. A warm
blue glow filled her vision as once again she was immersed in a dream from
the past.

**************************

"Amy, you are prepared to meet the prince, are you not?" asked
Queen Mercury. Amy was stood with her arms straight out as the royal
seamstress put the last preparations on Lady Mercury's formal gown. They
were in one of the many rooms of the palace. The room was a sky blue
and adorned from wall to wall with paintings. Each painting depicted the
king and queen that was ruling at the time of their creation. Amy's eyes
would often follow each picture backwards, she would trace the people back
from daughter to father to his mother, and so on down the line. As they
went farther back in time the paintings seemed to fade and become less
coherent. The very last picture depicted the a mere shadow of it's former
self. Yet through the time and age the form and symmetry of the painting
was still intact. It was believed that this was of the first Queen of
Mercury; many had commented that Princess Amy resembled her greatly, saying
that Amy looked like the first Queen more than her own daughter had.

Amy still stood with her arms out straight as the seamstress put
the last touches on the dress. Amy wore a light blue gown that was made of
silk, the dress had a long train that during the ceremony would be lifted by
her entourage. Around her neck was a choker of the same color. The last
thing the seamstress had to do was dawn the veil and then her duty was done.
Taking a silk blue veil from a near by counter she placed it over Amy's face.

Queen Mercury was sat on a chair in front of them. In her lap was a
reef of green leaves adorned with small blue flowers, "You are aware of
what you must do, I trust you memorized the motions."

"Yes your highness," Amy replied. In the presence of the public
she had to use formal titles, only when they were alone were she allowed to
use such formalities like 'mother', "I first walk down the hall of
Antiquities. Half way down I will meet my fiancÈ. He will then lift my
veil and we shall bless each other with the water of patient. I will make
the sign of my house on his forehead and he will do the same. Then we turn,
hand in hand, and walk down the hall to the fountain of knowledge. We take
the chalice of Mercury and drink from the fountain of knowledge."

"And then?" Queen Mercury queried, "What happens next?"

"Then we kiss sealing the engagement." Amy was not looking foreword
to this ceremony. Before all the houses of Mercury she would declare that
she would wed a total stranger.

"Correct! I think we are ready! All is left is the reef." Queen
Mercury stood and placed the ring of leaves entwined with blue flowers on
Amy's head, "These flowers are called Forget-Me-Knots. When I visited
Earth a few weeks back I fell in love with them and had to have them for
you engagement ceremony."

"I hope Derrick's not there," Amy prayed silently, "I would just die
if he saw me."

"My darling Amy, what is wrong? Today is your engagement day, you
should be happy. Yet you look so upset!" Queen Mercury asked. Gesturing
she dismissed the seamstress so they could talk in private.

"Nothing Mother, it's just..."

"It's just what?" Queen Mercury asked as she sat Amy down. Queen
Mercury was a little taller than Amy and had dark violet hair. Her was done
up in streaming curls, it was almost like a holy nest that surrounded the
glimmering crown upon her head. The crown was silver and in the center was
a blue stone that had bore the mark of Mercury in it. She was dressed in a
white flowing dress that bore the ever so slight tint of blue.

"It's just," she paused summoning up all her courage, "It's just I
don't know if I can marry someone I don't know." She had said it, it took
all her courage but she had said it. The room was dead silent, Amy tried to
study her mother's face as she waited for her reaction.

"Amy, this has been a tradition since the beginning of the Order.
The house of Mercury has always wed with one of the noble houses to produce
the next ruler." Queen Mercury was sympathetic but her tone was one of
determination and authority, one that Amy was well too aware of.

"But mother how can I marry someone I do not love!" Amy said in
protest, her courage was rising but she didn't know how much she could defy
her mother.

"Your father and I were a product of an arranged marriage and we
learned to love each other. I'm sure the same will happen for you."

"But mother it goes against everything I believe. I can't just say
I love someone and devote my entire life with them. My life would be based
on a lie! I can't do that!"

"Amy you are royalty, your life is not your own. The people of
Mercury do not serve us, we serve them. It is our duty, our role to
protect and guide them. I'm sorry my daughter but your destiny is not yours
to control, this is your birth rite! Like it or not you have a duty to
Mercury, a duty that must come first and foremost in your life!"

"But mother," Amy said in protest.

"Enough, you will marry the prince, end of story. You think too much
like an individual. You are a lady of the house of Mercury, you are a
future Queen, your life is not yours to command." Queen Mercury rose from her
chair and headed for the doorway, she was not willing to entertain any more
arguments, "My daughter I love you and I'm only doing the best for you. The
ceremony will begin in 15 minutes. Your procession will escort you to the
hall, I suggest you think about what I've said." Queen Mercury left the
room, closing the doors behind her.

"I'm sorry my daughter but this is the price of being a queen."
Amy's mother whispered gently as she lay her head on the door. She knew of
her daughters struggles for she too had them as a young girl, but she knew
that the crown came before her own wishes. As much as she wished she could
save her daughter from this she knew she could not. Turning she lifted her
head high and went to greet the houses.

******************************

The hall of antiquities was a large room that seemed to stretch on
forever in all directions. The vaulting ceiling rose up and was pointed at
the top. Chandeliers hung from the ceiling almost like flowers from a
garden. The chandeliers spread a warm light over everything, the entire hall
seemed to shine with an ethereal radiance.

The floor was of a white and blue marble. On both sides were many
pews which seated the two wedding families. On the two opposing walls were
8 balconies that sat the heads of each house and their children. Down the
center of the hall was a path of purple petals which lead to an awe
inspiring fountain in the far back.

The fountain rose up almost as high as the ceiling. From the center
of the bottom pool rose another pool that opened upwards like flower. The
fountain continued like that upwards, each pool getting smaller with the
assent. Water flowed like a wall of light from each section to the next. At
the base of each water spouted upwards creating a dazzling effect as
it came to rest in the twinkling waters far below. In the center of the
highest pool was a statue of a women.

The crystalline statue was alleged to be that of the first Queen of
Mercury. The first Queen was told to have fantastic powers that made her
almost one with the planet. From generation to generation these powers
were passed on, however, for a time the powers had been a forgotten lore.
Centuries ago they were rediscovered and all of royal blood were trained
to use them. Each house had a guardian but the powers were always
greatest in the house of Mercury and one other, which alternated with each
generation.

The statue was seated and with her she held a giant crystal harp.
On her head she wore a tiara with a blue stone in the center. The stone
shone making the entire crystal structure glimmer with an unearthly light.
Water spouted upward all around the statue, only adding to it's majestic
presence.

Half way down the hall stood a boy, his back was turned from her and
he was facing the fountain, as tradition acknowledged. She couldn't exactly
make out what he looked like through the veil. Lowering her eyes she
proceeded to walk foreword. As she began to walk foreword she could feel as
the attendants began to lift the long train. Behind her were four girls
dressed in purple robes that carried the dress.

As she walked by a pew those seated rose to their feet in respect.
Peering upwards she examined the balconies on each side. In each of those
were the representatives of each house. One balcony lay empty for it was the
house which she was intended to marry. Part of her was hoping that Derrick
would appear from that balcony and rescue her from this life. Part of her
wished for the brave hero to rush out and bring her safely to a life with
him.

"That's impossible!" she thought to her self, "He doesn't know who
I am!"

Amy kept walking and soon she was standing next to the bride-groom.
She could feel her arm brush against his as she took her position next to
him. Keeping her eyes downward as her mother had shown her she turned to
face him. She still had no idea what he looked like and was eager to find
out.

Raising his hands slowly he lifted her veil, she could feel him
tremble as he did it. She was thankful that she wasn't the only one who was
nervous. As he raised her veil she felt his hands shake as if he was
startled. At last she was allowed to open her eyes and see the person she
would spend the rest of her life with. Standing before her was Derrick
dressed in attire fitting the house of Hermes.

His hands shaking he proceeded to dip them in the small bowl of
water next to him, "Daughter of Mercury, angel of wisdom, wife, I bless you
with the sign of Hermes." Gently his fingers touched her forehead and he
made the sign of Hermes.

Regaining her thoughts she too dipped her fingers in the bowl, "Son of
Hermes, guardian of knowledge, husband, I bless you with the sign of
Mercury." As he did she made the sign of Mercury on his forehead.

Both turned and hand in hand they walked down the long path towards
the fountain.

"Derrick, what are you doing here?" Amy asked just loud enough
so only Hermes could hear.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here?" he asked as puzzled
as she was.

"I'm getting engaged!" she replied ever so softly.

"Why didn't you tell me you were royalty?" he whispered.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"Because I thought you wouldn't have treated me the same if you knew
I was of royal blood."

"Why didn't you say something when you knew we were both to be
engaged today?"

"There was a misunderstanding. I just found out today that I was
to be engaged. I thought I was going to be in two weeks. I didn't
say anything about it because I didn't want to lay my problems on you.
You seemed to have enough worrying you." Continuing down the aisle
they both remained silent soaking in what had just happened.

"So what does this mean?" she asked. For the first time she looked
at him since they blessed each other.

"It means..." he began. They had reached the fountain of knowledge.
The fountain rose up much higher than they had ever guessed. To the right
were Amy's parents and to the left were Derrick's. On the edge of the
giant pool were two silver goblets. Each took a goblet and filled it with
the water of the fountain. As tradition went they entwined the arms
that held the goblets and drank from the water.

When they drank a great cheer went up among the crowd, applauding
the future marriage.

"Hail Lady Mercury, Queen hereafter! Hail Prince Hermes, King
hereafter!" The crowd cheered. From the ceiling high above floated a
shining silver material almost like snow.

"It means I love you!" said Derrick as he looked Amy deep in her
eyes and kissed her.

********************

Amy's eyes fluttered open as she began to awaken from her trance.
Shaking her head slightly she awoke totally. Everything made sense now,
she could remember her life in the silver millennium, she remembered who
Derrick was and how he fit into her destiny.

Derrick's eyes began to open slowly. The first thing he saw was
Amy smiling down on him.

"Amy, Amy? Did you? I mean was that a dream?" he asked as he began
to sit up in his bed.

"No," she paused, "it wasn't." Leaning in she kissed him.

"Everything makes sense now! I can remember where I came from,
the silver millennium, Mercury, the Moon Kingdom!" he said so overjoyed,
"you!" Reaching foreword he gently caressed her cheek with the back of his
hand. Derrick kissed Amy, holding her close to him.

"Now we can be together again." Amy said as the kiss ended.

"Forever." he replied taking her hand in his.

*******************************

Derrick's mom and the doctor went into a near by room so they could
discuss what the x-rays said. The room had a glass wall that looked on to
the hall they just exited from. There were blinds that rose the entire
length
of the wall in case those inside wished some privacy.

"What's wrong with him, Doctor?" she asked.

"Maybe you should sit down Mrs. Matthews," the doctor began. Mrs.
Matthews knew this wasn't good. She sat down on one of the couches, she could
feel as her legs began to shake.

"Mrs. Matthews there's no easy way to say this. We don't know how
it got this far undetected. He should have been in the hospital months
ago. There isn't much anybody can do at this point."

"What is it doctor? Tell me!" Mrs. Matthews repeated, with each
moment she became more frightened.

"I'm sorry Mrs. Matthews but Derrick has Cancer."

To be continued...

--

-~Danny~

"I saw you as you walked across my room.
You looked out the window, you looked at the moon.
And you sat on the corner of my bed, and
you smoked with the ghost in the back of my head."
-from Lisa Loeb's "Do you sleep?"