AUTHOR'S DISCLAIMER: DO I REALLY NEED TO SAY IT AGAIN? OH WELL I DON'T
 
MUCH FEEL LIKE GETTING SUED. SAILOR MOON ISN'T MINE SHE WAS CREATED BY
 
TAKEUCHI NAOKO, AND THE COPY RIGHTS ARE HELD BY PIONEER AND CWI ET AL.
 
SEAN HUNTER (APOLLO) HOWEVER IS MY CREATION. JUST ENJOY THE STORY. OH
 
AND ANY COMMENTS (GOOD, BAD, OR INDIFFERENT), FLAMES, AND YES EVEN
 
DEATH THREATS *CHUCKLES* CAN BE E-MAILED TO ME AT:
 
BIGMOUTH@UNSPACY.ORG.
 
**********************************************************************
 
                  APOLLO AND MARS: ETERNAL FRIENDSHIP
 
            CHAPTER ONE: MEMORIES OF SILVER (BY INVID HELLCAT)
 
Tokyo, Japan Present Day:
 
Rei Hino sat dressed in her ceremonial robes chanting words that she
 
has spoken many times. Behind her sat eleven girls and one guy
 
anxiously awaiting the outcome of this fire reading. A young girl had
 
appeared at Makoto's doorstep a few days ago and claimed to be Makoto's
 
sister. The assembled Senshi wanted to know if the child was telling
 
the truth or if this was some kind of trap that was being set by an
 
enemy, or if the child was herself an enemy. As Rei continued to chant
 
images started forming in the fire, but they weren't the images she was
 
hoping to find. Instead they were images of one her closest friends
 
that lived a world away. A friend that was like the older brother she
 
never had. Theses images were not of the here and now they were of a
 
time long ago, and far away. Then in one instance the flame flared up
 
coming within inches of the young Shinto priestess's body but never
 
touching her Rei let out an audible gasp that startled the others then
 
she collapsed to the floor unconscious.
 
 
 
Clearwater, Florida Same Moment:
 
Sean Hunter was also sitting in front of a fire chanting familiar
 
words and phrases. The difference being he was alone in his house, and
 
he was looking for any probable enemy that might cause problems in the
 
near future. He saw similar images to Rei. Images of a place and time
 
that was far removed from today. Images of a young girl that he had
 
grown to love as a sister. Images of others as well that he was given
 
the responsibility of training. He would not only be their teacher but
 
their friend as well, but the one girl he would always have a much
 
closer relationship to than any of the others. A smile slowly crept to
 
the young Shinto priest's lips as the images reminded him of his
 
friendship with the girl. It was a friendship that had truly survived
 
the ages. Then in one spilt second the flames flared almost touching
 
Sean. Sean didn't move didn't so much as flinch as the flames nearly
 
touched the tip of nose. Then with a sigh Sean fell to the floor.
 
 
 
The Moon of Ganymede, Silver Millennium:
 
The Solar General Apollo was watching over a group of four Sailor
 
Senshi in training. Yes, technically as royalty of their respective
 
moons they out ranked him, but right now they were merely students and
 
he was their teacher. A young woman stood beside him she was dressed
 
in her Sailor fuku she had already completed all of the training that
 
was necessary. "What do you think Princess? Any hope for them?" Apollo
 
asked with a smirk on his face. The young woman next to him giggled.
 
"Why General Apollo was that a joke?" Princess Mars said. "Well, you
 
and Prince Endymion's Generals have been trying to get me to lighten
 
up. I guess you're starting to rub off on me." He told the young Senshi
 
as he took her hand in his. "Well, it's about time I was beginning to
 
think you were hopeless." Mars giggled as she squeezed his hand softly.
 
Apollo chuckled as he said that miracles do happen. Sailor Mars giggled
 
again then the two stood in silence watching the four Senshi complete
 
their training for the day. Apollo turned to Zoicite. "General Zoicite
 
you wrap things up here and let them know to be at the same place
 
tomorrow but an hour earlier than today." Apollo spoke to the Earth
 
General. "Right I'll see you tomorrow then?" Zoicite replied. Apollo
 
gave a simple nod of his head and then turned to the Princess of Mars.
 
"Rei, come and take a walk with me there's something I want to show
 
you." The Princess was stunned to hear the Solar General use her first
 
name something he rarely did. She nodded at him and the two started
 
walking away from the training ground. Of course this departure didn't
 
go unnoticed by another of the generals. Nephrite put a hand on
 
Jedeite's shoulder. "Don't worry Apollo isn't going to steal your girl
 
away from you. They're just very close friends almost like brother and
 
sister." Nephrite said as he walked over to where Zoicite and Kunzite
 
were standing. Jedeite just sighed not saying anything aloud, but
 
saying quite a lot to himself. He knew that he shouldn't be jealous but
 
he just couldn't help himself.
 
 
 
The Asteroid of Ceres:
 
There wasn't a whole lot to see here. There was a house made of the
 
same yellow sun ruby that was common to find on Sol. There were a few
 
small plants and trees that were trying to grow. Princess Mars was
 
looking around surprised that anyone would try to build anything on
 
such a small planetoid. "I never knew anybody would be interested in
 
this rock." She mumbled half to herself. Apollo just laughed at the
 
comment. "Yeah, that's why I took it nobody else wanted it. I do like
 
some time alone from time to time. Especially when Princess Sol is on
 
the Moon with the rest of you Senshi." Apollo started to say. "You know
 
how much I hate those balls that the Queen puts on almost daily."
 
Apollo then added dryly. Mars just laughed. She couldn't understand how
 
anybody could not like them. She usually found herself dragging her
 
friend away from his work. It seemed like Apollo was the only one in
 
the entire Moon Kingdom that didn't care to have a good time. She took
 
his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Oh believe me I know
 
better than anybody." She said with a grin on her face. They both
 
looked each other in the eyes and chuckled. The two friends walked
 
hand in hand to the small house. To no surprise on Princess Mars's
 
part the place was rather dull as far as the interior decoration was
 
concerned. It was rather plain and utilitarian but then again it
 
matched its owner perfectly. A plain brown grandfather clock stood next
 
to a large oak desk. There was a couch but it was plain white and a
 
coffee table was in front of it. A small bed was off to the side of
 
the living room, and the kitchen was also sort of small with a little
 
breakfast table in the far left corner of the room. "Well, this place
 
fits you like a glove. Rather sterile." Mars said as she looked around.
 
Apollo just laughed. "Yeah, but that's how I like things." He
 
responded. Mars just shook her head. "Sean sometimes I wonder if there
 
is any part of you that likes to relax and have fun." Mars shot back.
 
Apollo didn't respond other than to just shake his head. The princess
 
took both of Sean's hands in her own and looked the Solar General in
 
the eyes. "Sean, I'm just worried about you. You're always so wrapped
 
up in your work I'm just afraid that you'll push all your friends away
 
with out meaning too, and I don't want to loose our friendship. I love
 
you Sean." The Princess of Mars sighed. This brought a smile to the
 
general's lips. "I love you too Rei you know that. Rei you're really
 
the only close friend I have. Prince Endymion's generals are friends
 
but it's too professional between us. The Outer Senshi well they
 
respect me but don't really care for me, most of the Inner Senshi can't
 
see me as anything other than their trainer, and thus they too respect
 
me but they are also somewhat intimidated by me. The Lunar Senshi, well
 
they just down right fear me, and go out of their way avoid me when
 
they can." Apollo exclaimed before he could continue Mars hugged him
 
tightly. Mars eyes were tearing up she never really knew how lonely
 
Sean's life cold seem. 'The loneliness must be unbearable no wonder he
 
looses himself in his work.' She thought to herself. The two friends
 
just stood in each other's embrace for several moments neither saying
 
a word. The silence was broken by the clock chiming once to signal the
 
bottom of the hour. The two of them broke their embrace. Apollo wiped a
 
tear from his friend's eyes. "Don't cry for me Princess, I've got all I
 
need, all I want already." Apollo said with a smile on his face. Mars
 
didn't believe him but let it rest for the time being. She simply
 
smiled back at him. "So, what did you want to show me?" She asked. Sean
 
took her hand in his and led the Martian Princess out the back door.
 
What she saw was an archery range; again no surprise Apollo's skills
 
as an archer were legendary. Where most of the Moon Kingdom liked to
 
relax by ice-skating, Apollo liked to relax by shooting archery. In
 
fact Apollo never finished worse than third place in every archery
 
tournament he ever shot in. "Like I told you when you first started
 
training; you'll go though several transformations you're almost at
 
your third one now. First your Chibi-Transformation, then Regular, then
 
your Star, and when the time is right and your accepted by the Golden
 
Crystal of Prince Endymion your Super Transformation. When you
 
transform into Super Sailor Mars you'll have an archery like ability
 
so I'm here to give you a little archery practice." He told Mars as he
 
handed her the protective gear to wear. Once she had all of the gear
 
on he handed her a bow, and a quiver of arrows. He then showed her the
 
proper way of loading and firing an arrow. Princess Mars followed
 
Apollo's instructions and after nearly an hour of shooting the she
 
stopped. Apollo looked at the Princess and smiled. "You did pretty well
 
for a first timer, in fact you did better than I did on my first time."
 
Apollo said as he put a hand on her shoulder Mars just smiled at him.
 
"I don't believe you." She laughed as she turned around to face him.
 
He just shook his head and told her she was free to believe whatever
 
she wanted. He then asked her to join him for a walk around his newly
 
acquired asteroid. During the walk the Princess noticed that for the
 
most part it seemed pretty barren, but then a few miles from the house
 
there was a lush forest. A small stream ran through the middle of the
 
greenery, a small waterfall poured into a small lake from which the
 
stream originated. Fish could be seen swimming in the stream and lake.
 
The sheer beauty of it all awed the princess. "Sean this is incredible
 
how were you able to get all these plants to grow here?" Princess Mars
 
asked. "I didn't this little oasis was here when I was checking the
 
place out; however, I did have the lake stocked with the fish." He
 
replied. He then told her to follow him. The two friends walked around
 
the lake and behind the waterfall. Apollo had a grin on his face the
 
entire time. As soon they were behind the waterfall Apollo turned to
 
face his friend. "Rei, Princess, I told you that there was something I
 
wanted to show you and it wasn't the house, it wasn't the archery
 
range, nor was it this oasis. It's this." He said as he pulled a small
 
felt covered box out from in between two rocks. Rei took the box from
 
Sean's hand and opened it. Inside was a ring that was pink gold and had
 
a sapphire in the middle of it on the top of the box was the words 'To:
 
my beloved Nova to whom I wish to spend the rest of my life with. Love,
 
Apollo.' Princess Mars looked at the ring for several seconds then up
 
at her best friend. Then she hugged him as tightly as she could.
 
"You're really going to ask her to marry you?" She said hardly able to
 
keep her joy in check as tears were making there way down her cheeks.
 
"Yes, but don't let anybody else know just yet." Apollo responded as
 
he hugged the young girl back. "I'm so happy for you big brother." Mars
 
almost shouted. "Thank you little sister." He replied as the two stood
 
in an embrace for a several moments. "Do you remember the first time
 
you ever called me big brother?" Apollo asked as he gently wiped a few
 
tears off the Princess's cheek. "How could I ever forget? It was
 
shortly after we first met." Princess Mars answered. A smile was
 
tugging at her lips.
 
 
 
Several Years Previous:
 
The young Princess of Mars was looking on in awe at the semi-translucent
 
yellow castle that now stood before her. This was her first trip to
 
Sol, the sun of her solar system. Yes, the palace on Mars was
 
stunningly beautiful but this was in a class by itself. She had to
 
admit the only place she had ever seen that exceeded this was the Moon
 
Palace. The reason for her visit today was there was a meeting to
 
discuss a trade treaty between the planet Mars and the Elemental Planes.
 
The Princess wasn't really going to be a part of those treaty
 
negotiations but this would be her first time meeting the Princess of
 
Sol. From what she had heard it sounded like she was somewhat different
 
than the other Princesses that she had met from the Inner Planets. It
 
was said that the Solar Princess had little to no respect for
 
formality, and that she spent the majority of her time among the
 
commoners rather than at the castle. The inside of the palace was just
 
as stunning as the outside. Gold, silver, and platinum statues were all
 
over the place, paintings and sculptures of past kings and queens of
 
the Sun were on every wall. Chandlers made of gold and sun ruby and
 
gold hung from the ceiling. Servants, diplomats, bureaucrats, and
 
solders scurried around the castle doing various tasks and chores. Then
 
a small honor guard of three formally dressed solders approached the
 
Martian royalty. The three solders bowed as one. "On behalf of the King
 
and Queen of Sol we bid you welcome. Now your highness if you would
 
follow us we shall take you to meet with the delegation from the
 
Elemental Planes." The solder at the head of the honor guard spoke in
 
a baritone voice. "Now Rei stay in the castle and we'll see you after
 
we're done." The Queen of Mars said as she kissed her daughter on the
 
forehead. "O.K. mommy I will." The Princess responded a fourth solder
 
then walked up to the Martian trio. "Princess if you'll follow me I
 
shall take you to Princess Alhana's room." The solder stated as he
 
bowed slightly. The princess just nodded her head and followed the
 
solder. The entire first and second floors of the palace was pretty
 
much the same hustle and bustle of activity in every room, but the
 
living quarters on the third floor was much more sedate. There were
 
a few servants here and there cleaning the floors, and windows, and
 
taking dirty laundry to the washroom. The solder stopped in front of
 
a dark brown door with a small silver crown carved into the door.
 
"This is the princess's room she is awaiting you so, go ahead into
 
her sitting room and she'll be with you shortly." The solder told her
 
as he bowed again then left. She walked into the sitting room. The
 
room was immaculately decorated a bed was on the far side of the room
 
the bed frame was platinum; a gold frame picture of a young girl was
 
hanging just above the bed. Two silver phoenix statues were on either
 
side of the door that led into the bedroom. A gold, silver and platinum
 
chandler with sun ruby and crystal hanging from the bottom hung from
 
the ceiling, and a hand made carpet depicting a phoenix and griffon in
 
flight adorned the floor. To finish out the room there was a wooden
 
couch and chair that had gold trim just opposite the bed. Rei was
 
impressed by the way room looked. She took a few steps closer to the
 
bedroom door when she noticed it was opened a crack. Rei could hear
 
voices, one male and one female, coming from inside the bedroom. "You
 
found her where?" She heard the male voice shout. "She was in a patch
 
of sleeping nettle in one of Ariel's forests." The female voice
 
replied. "Well, at least she's safe thank you for bringing her back
 
Haruka." The male voice said in a more conversational tone. "Well, I
 
don't have time to stick around" The female voice said; seconds later
 
then the Martian princess saw a tall dark blond leave the sitting room
 
at a fast pace. Then she saw a young man enter the room. He stood
 
almost six feet and had brownish-black hair that was cut very short.
 
He was wearing a navy blue tuxedo that had bone white cape and navy
 
dress boots. On each shoulder was a yellow gold sun symbol. This young
 
man was obviously a solder of the Sun Kingdom, but his uniform was
 
quite different then the other solders she had seen. "I'm sorry miss
 
but the princess is not going to awake for a while. You will have to
 
come back at a later time." The young man said sternly. "I'm Princess
 
Rei of the planet Mars I was supposed to be shown around the Sun Palace
 
today by Princess Alhana." Rei stated. After she had finished speaking,
 
she noticed that the young solder was staring at her. "My apologies
 
princess I failed to recognize you. I am Apollo the commander of the
 
Royal Family's honor guard." He spoke formally. "Well, since the
 
princess is currently incapacitated I will show you around." Apollo
 
said as he motioned for her to follow him. Rei smiled at the young
 
solder and they both stated walking out of the room to start the grand
 
tour.
 
 
 
Two Hours Later:
 
Apollo and Princess Mars had just finished watching some new recruits
 
train, and were headed back inside the Palace. In the short time that
 
the two had known each other it was obvious to both that a bond had
 
formed between them. They sat down in the commander's private breakfast
 
room. "Commander Apollo you know that it's forbidden for a solder and
 
Planetary Royalty to be alone together." Rei chided. Apollo just sat
 
down and shook his head. "Maybe so in the Inner Planets but not here
 
on the Sun."  He said his voice unwavering and nearly emotionless. The
 
Martian Princess just giggled. Then she looked Apollo directly in the
 
eyes, and what she saw made her own eyes tear up. "Do you have any
 
friends?" She asked as she reflexively extended her hands out to
 
Apollo's. Apollo just took a sip of his drink. "As the Commander of
 
the Royal Guard I don't have the time. Besides in a few short months
 
as the General of the Sun Kingdom's Honor Guard I will be responsible
 
for the training of the Sailor Senshi of which Princess you are one."
 
He said dryly it was then he noticed a single tear making its way down
 
Princess's Mars cheek. "Why are you crying Princess?" He asked concern
 
evident in his voice. Rei couldn't find her voice for several moments.
 
"I just... I just can't help it hearing you say that you have almost no
 
friends. How can you stand the loneliness?" She choked out as her
 
sobbing increased. Apollo just shook his head. "It's the life that all
 
of my predecessors have been born into and I'm no different, and soon
 
you'll find out that you're also in a similar position." The Solar
 
commander said as he gently wiped a tear from Rei's cheek. He then
 
took a step back and looked almost like he was stunned at his own
 
action. Even when Princess Alhana cried he never tried to ease her pain
 
nor wipe away her tears. He was too be her guardian, her body guard not
 
her friend. And, yet here he is treating a total stranger like the
 
friend he never had. Princess Mars just smiled at him. "Don't worry
 
Apollo it's not a crime to have feelings, and it's not a crime to make
 
friends." She declared as smile tugged at her lips. She walked up to
 
the young solder and took his hand in hers. "From almost the first
 
second that I saw you I felt like somehow the two of us have some kind
 
of connection. I'm an only child but I almost feel like you're the
 
older brother I've never had." Princess Mars continued as she gave
 
Apollo's hand a gentle squeeze. Apollo didn't move didn't do anything.
 
All his life he had been trained to protect the Royal Family of the Sun
 
and train and protect the Inner Senshi. Duty and honor had been all but
 
drilled into his psyche he was never taught how make and maintain
 
friendships. He was also an only child but he couldn't deny the
 
feelings for this young girl in front of him. He felt like he needed to
 
do more than just protect and train her. Her words had made something
 
click in his head. He had to agree it almost felt like the Martian
 
Princess was a younger sister. Apollo was a loss to explain the
 
feeling. Finally after a long silence Apollo spoke. "I don't know how,
 
and definitely don't know why but I feel the same about you." The Solar
 
commander said as Rei embraced him. "I love you big brother." She
 
whispered. "And, I love you little sister." He replied his voice also
 
barely above a whisper.
 
 
 
Present Day Silver Millennium:
 
The two friends didn't say a word as they started to walk back to
 
Apollo's house. Words weren't necessary all that needed to be said had
 
been. This was a day that Princess Mars would never forget her best
 
friend, her "big brother" was going to marry the one he was in love
 
with. She was happier than words could describe. Apollo knew that his
 
"little sister" was happy for him how could she not be she was the one
 
that gave him the idea to ask Nova for her hand in marriage to begin
 
with, and soon that would become a reality. He felt lucky to have a
 
friend such as the young raven-haired princess now at his side and
 
holding his hand. For the most part his only other true friend was
 
Nova's twin brother. Apollo may not have very many people he would
 
call true friends but the ones he did have more than made up for that.
 
"Sean, no matter what I'll always be there if you need a friend."
 
Princess Mars said. Apollo looked at his friend with a smile on his
 
face. "The same goes for me Rei." Apollo responded. Unbeknownst to
 
them both a gray fog slowly descended upon them, and if one listened
 
close enough one could almost hear a laughter coming from the fog.
 
 
 
                          TO BE CONTINUED.
 
 
 
Well I hope you all enjoyed my newest Fan Fic. I had to do this one
 
it's been screaming at me ever since I finished "The Fox and the
 
Sailor Scout" This Fic is something of a break for me it's only my
 
second "character" driven fic and yes even though it ends with a
 
strange laughing gray cloud of fog it is still a character fic. You'll
 
see what mean in the next chapter. #winks# And, don't worry just
 
because I've started this new fic doesn't mean I've given up on "Year
 
One" and "Fourth Light" there will be more to come soon. Scout's Honor!
 
Well, it's time for this Eagle to fly. If you have any comments or
 
flames you know my addy. bigmouth@unspacy.org Peace out ya'll
 
Invid HellCat
 

GO TO CHAPTER TWO