Rei screamed as the dark energy enveloped her for an instant then
was absorbed into her body.  Ami could only stare in shock as her
friend was consumed.  Zoisite and Jadeite stopped brawling, Jadeite's
eyes turning instantly to his love.  "Rei, NO!"
   He leapt to his feet, Zoisite forgotten, everything forgotten, but
Rei, who needed him.  "My God, what is happening to her?!" he
shouted, staring at the dark cloud that seeped into her.  Her hair
floated up, her eyes became dark, darker, until they were nothing but
pools of darkness.
   "Ami, what's going on?!" Zoisite demanded.
   Ami whipped out her mini-computer and began typing away, though
she was already fairly certain of what had happened.  Her fingers
faltered as she hit the last button and the answer scrolled up.
"NO!" she shrieked.
   "AMI, WHAT IS IT?!!" Zoisite yelled.
   Jadeite could only stare at his Rei, but he listened as she
replied in a shaky voice, "It's negative energy.  Dark energy.  The
Dark Kingdom has returned.  It sent out a scout, seeking a vassal . .
. and it chose Rei.  Selene, help us, it chose Rei!"
   "What will happen to her?" Jadeite asked, not taking his eyes off
of Rei who had quieted down for the moment and merely stood limply in
front of them, her eyes shut.
   "It will consume her," Ami replied.  "It will destroy her soul,
binding her to the Dark Kingdom forever.  The Dark Kingdom is
relentless and it is returning and by Selene, Venus knew.  She knew.
Rei is lost to us, Jade."
   Jadeite had not moved since Ami began to speak but at her last
words he threw himself at Rei in an animal fury.  "NOOO!!!
REIIII!!!!"
   Rei's eyes snapped open and she cackled as she raised a hand and
shot out a blast of malevolent purple energy at Jadeite.  He flew
backward twenty feet and slammed into the ground with a sharp cry.
   "JADE!" Ami and Zoisite screamed.
   <<JADE!!!!!  NOOOOOOO!!!!  STOP IT!  STOP IT, YOU DEMON!>>
   The thing that had possessed Rei laughed.  It was a hollow sound.
She raised her hand again and shot out another larger blast of energy
at Ami and Zoisite.  They cried out and plummeted to the ground,
landing sprawled on either side of Jadeite.
   Zoisite reached out and touched his stone.  <<Nephrite, Kunzite,
we have need of you.>>
   Nephrite and Makoto appeared almost instantly.  They took one look
at the situation and gasped.  Rei saw them and laughed, blasting dark
energy at them.  Luckily, both of them dodged in time and both sent
out blasts of their own energy back.  Not enough to kill her, but to
stun her for a moment or two.  Rei avoided them easily and shot
back.  They began to battle each other, Jupiter pleading with her
friend, Nephrite quiet and determinedly moving to strike.
   Kunzite and Minako arrived an instant later and no one took the
time to wonder why *they* had arrived together.  They moved to
surround Rei with Nephrite and Makoto as Rei laughed insanely,
sending out more blasts of energy.
   "Jade," Ami murmured, her eyes barely opened and filled with pain.
"It's up to you.  Only you can reach her."
   "I, how?" Jadeite asked in despair, too weak to get up.
   "She cried out for you," Ami whispered.  "I heard her.  You heard
her, too.  Rei is not completely possessed.  The demon has her, but
she can be reached.  She is fighting to get free.  Help her,
Jadeite."  Ami's eyes closed as she lost her hold on consciousness.
   "Ami," Zoisite said softly, looking past Jadeite at Ami's battered
body.  His eyes focused on his fellow Guardian.  "Do you love her,
Jade?"
   "I would give up my life for Rei.  You know that.  It is the same
with you and Ami."
   "It is, it is," Zoisite said in assent.  "She needs you now, Jade.
It is up to you."
   "But HOW, DAMMIT?!"
   "You know how," Zoisite said softly, his eyes closing.  "Your
realm is Soul, Jadeite.  You can save her.  You *must* save her.  To
save us all."
   Makoto and Nephrite flew back with a blast of dark energy, Minako
and Kunzite catapulting backwards an instant later, the energy
crackling along the length of their bodies.  Their anguished cries
rent the air.
   "You must," Zoisite insisted.  "Save her.  Save us."  And then he
was silent.
   Jade stared at him for an instant, then shored up his resolve,
thinking of Rei with all of the love he felt for her.  He struggled
to his feet, stopping for a moment to look at Zoisite.  "I will, my
friend.  I will save us all."  He turned to Rei.  "Rei, my love, come
back to me!"
   Rei laughed, but was cut off mid-laugh.  She crumpled over,
holding her head.  "Jade, Jade it hurts!" she sobbed.  "Make it stop!
Make it go away!"
   "Rei," Jade said, coming closer.  <God, I hope this isn't a
trick.>  "Rei, fight it!  Fight it with me!  I'll help you."
   She looked up, her eyes dark with suffering.  "How, Jade?  How?
The pain, it won't stop!  The demon . . . I fight and fight . . . and
still it has control of me!"  She let out a shriek of pain.
"JADE!!!!"
   Jadeite took her hands in his.  "I give you my strength, Rei.  I
give you my love.  I am the Prince of the Realm of Soul.  I can save
your soul, Rei, but you must see me as I am.  Do you see me, Rei?"
   "Jade, you are Jade."
   "No, Rei, I am Phoenix."
   Rei stared up at him as his eyes began to burn with a clear blue
light.   "Phoenix?"
   "I am the Guardian Phoenix of Prince Endymion of Earth.  I am of
the Blood and I was chosen to be one of the Four Who Guard.  Soul is
my Realm and Soul is my Essence.  Your soul is Fire, Rei, as is
mine."  There was a flash of light and a Phoenix rose around him,
crimson and gold and burning with eternal fire.  Its eyes were like
jade though, green and sparkling.  It surrounded him and clothed him
with itself and his armor sparkled golden in the fire, and his hair
glittered and shone like burnished copper.  His gray cape burned and
turned a brilliant scarlet and through it all his eyes blazed with
the fire of his love for her.
   "What are you, Jade?" she asked in wonder, her pain nearly
forgotten.
   "As I said, I am Phoenix.  I am Fire.  I am Soul.  Do you see me
now, Rei, my love?"
   "Yes, Jade.  I see you."
   "Good.  Then we must drive this evil from you, Rei.  There is only
one way.  Your soul must join with mine, if you are willing.  Are you
willing?"
   "Jade, I-"  She let out a cry of pain as the dark energy within
her tried to regain control.
   "Rei!  Tell me that you are willing!  Mean it, Rei or this will
not work!  I cannot do this without your consent!  Let yourself go,
Rei!  Let yourself become one with the flame, one with the Phoenix!
Let yourself become one with me."
   Looking into his blue eyes burning with his love and concern for
her, she could refuse him nothing.  The demon needed to be destroyed.
"I-I give you my consent, Jade."
   He reached out for her hand and shut his eyes, concentrating.
Dully, she wondered why she was not burning, then remembered that
she, Sailor Mars, was the flame.  "I am the flame," she whispered.
"You are my Phoenix.  Drive away the evil from me.  Cleanse the
eternal flame."
   Jadeite opened his eyes and smiled into hers.  "I take thee into
myself, Rei.  I am the Phoenix and you are the flame.  Let yourself
become one with me and together we will be consumed by the fire and
be reborn."
   "Jade," she whimpered, as the pain overtook her, the dark energy
 fought her.  She feared for him.  What if he could not destroy it?
What if it destroyed him?  "No . . ."
   "Shhh, Rei, you must.  It is too late for doubts."  He kissed her
hand.  "I will not fail you, my love."
   Reaching out for him she let out one last cry of pain, then let
her soul reach out and join with his, the fire rising around them as
the Phoenix cried aloud, and the dark energy was burned away in the
brilliant blaze of the flame.
   "It is done."

   Queen Serenity flinched as she felt the build-up and release of
power.  "What was that?!"  She directed her question at Luna and
Artemis, but didn't bother to wait for an answer.  She knew.  <It's
Earth magic.>  This would bear some serious investigation.

   The Guardians and Senshi groggily came to.  The first thing
Kunzite saw when he opened his eyes was Jadeite's bronze eyes staring
into his own.  "Are you all right?"
   "YEEAAA!" Kunzite cried, backing away.  "Don't *DO* that, Jade!"
   "Huh, what?" Jadeite asked, confused.  Then his expression cleared
as he realized why Kunzite was so disconcerted.  "Oh, the eyes,
right?"
   Kunzite nodded vigorously.
   "What's wrong with his eyes?" Rei asked, coming up behind him.
"They may be a bit darker, but other than that, they're the same as
always.  They're a perfectly good shade of blue."
   "They're bronze," Kunzite corrected.  "You mean you don't see it?"
   "What're you talking about?"
   Kunzite turned his gaze from Jadeite to look at Rei and again his
mouth fell open in surprise before he snapped it shut.  "Uh, I guess
you wouldn't."
   "What?" Rei asked suspiciously.  "What're you looking at me like
that for?  Hey, what's the matter with me?" Rei demanded, turning to
Jadeite.
   He chuckled.  "Nothing love, you're perfectly fine."
   That's when the others woke up and the first thing Minako did when
her eyes opened was scream.  "REI, WHAT HAPPENED?!"
   "WHAT?!" Rei shouted.  "I DON'T KNOW!  SOMEBODY TELL ME WHAT'S
GOING ON!!!"
   As the others were still making incoherent sputtering noises,
(even Ami) Makoto silently looked at her for a moment, then dug out a
hand mirror and handed it to Rei.  Rei took one look at herself and
promptly fainted into Jadeite's arms.  Jadeite looked helplessly at
the others.  "She's . . . uh, still getting used to it."
   When Rei finally opened her eyes, she turned first to Ami and said
weakly, "It was a dream, wasn't it, Ami?"
   "Um, no."
   Rei looked ready to faint again, but instead sat up and grabbing
Jadeite's arm, growled out, "Okay, what the HECK happened to me?!"
   "Well, you were possessed by a demon and-"
   "I *know* all that!  Get to the part where my hair and eyes turned
RED!!!"
   "You did give me permission," he said meekly.
   "What did you do to me?" Rei asked in a defeated tone of voice.
   "We are bound, Rei dearest.  As you should know by now, I am
Guardian Phoenix and fire is my power.  To save you, I had to
transform into my "advanced" state, and after we bonded our souls,
you got accelerated into an "advanced" state as well."
   "How do I get back to normal?!"
   "You've got to think yourself back to a normal state."  He
demonstrated by closing his eyes and concentrating and he felt
himself losing his golden armor and becoming ordinary Jadeite once
more.  His eyes returned to their customary blue, not that Rei
noticed, but everyone else did.
   She tried it and much to her relief found herself back to her old
self.  "I *never* want to do that again!"
   "But Rei, your powers are ten times as powerful when you are in
that form."
   "Really?" she asked, perking up.  "How do I get back?"
   "You've got to think yourself back," he replied, and again he
demonstrated.  This time Rei noted the darkening of his hair to a
fiery copper and his eyes to their bright bronze color.
   "Why didn't I notice the change in you before?!" she asked.
   "When we are both in our bound state looking at one another, or
even ourselves, the changes cannot be noted.  It's only if you see
yourself in a reflected surface that you notice the changes.  That's
just the way the magic works."  He shrugged.
   "Fascinating," Ami said, peering closely at Jadeite.
   He backed away nervously.  "Hey, the others can do it, too!"
   The other three women turned to glare at the Guardians.
   "So when do WE get our powered-up forms?!"  Makoto pinned Nephrite
with a glare.
   "What *I* want to know is why Serenity is dressed in the uniform
of a Senshi!" Kunzite's voice rang out.
   Everyone turned their gaze on Minako.
   <Ooops.>
   Rei felt like smacking herself in the head.  <Venus, you idiot!>
   "Well, I'm a Senshi too!" she declared.  "After all, I can't
depend on the *others* for my protection ALL of the time!"
   The Senshi sweat-dropped, but the Guardians seemed to buy it.
   "But, Princess Serenity, why did you shout out "Venus Power" back
in the garden?"
   Makoto looked at her incredulously.  <I don't believe it!  She
*transformed* in front of him?!  Oh, brother.>
   "Um, well you see . . . I'm kind of an *honorary* Senshi and since
the Moon isn't a planet, it doesn't have any Senshi.  Venus needed
one, though, so they accepted me."
   "Oh," the Guardians said.
   Ami calculated the odds of their buying this ridiculous story in
her head.  <Odds: One in five thousand.  That is, unless they're
incredibly dense.>
   "Well, that's okay then."
   The other Senshi looked at the Guardians in disbelief and one
thought echoed among them all.  <Incredibly dense!>
   Minako thought to herself, <Whew.  That's unbelievable.  I lie
better than I thought.>
   Now that that matter was over with, the Senshi turned back to the
Guardians.  "So how 'bout it?  Where're *our* powers?!"
   The Guardians sweat-dropped and shot Jadeite deadly looks.
   The smug smile vanished from Jadeite's face.  <Uh-oh.>

   Beryl screamed in outrage.  "They've destroyed it!  My probe, it's
gone!!!"
   "Calm down, Beryl.  Now issss not the time to be thinking of
ssssuch thingssss.  You have more important matterssss to attend to.
Esssspecially now.  Get back to work, Beryl.  The youma armies need
their orderssss . . ."
   Beryl bowed her head.  "Yes, my empress."
   She cast a satisfied look at her enormous army of minions.  "We
will destroy all that stands between us and total domination of the
universe.  First Earth, then the Moon Kingdom!  I WILL HAVE MY
REVENGE!!!  Go now, my servants, and spread the seeds of death and
destruction!"

*Later that day*

   Kunzite walked to his Prince's quarters and knocked firmly on the
door.  Endymion opened the door.  "Yes, Ku-my prince?" Endymion
asked, glancing about nervously.
   "May I enter?" Kunzite requested.
   "Do come in," Endymion said, standing aside and ushering in his
Guardian.
   Kunzite strode in and Endymion closed the door behind him.  Once
they were alone, they dropped the charade.
   "What is it, Kunzite?" Endymion asked wearily, recognizing the
troubled look on his Guardian's face.  "Have a seat."
   Kunzite ignored the proffered chair and began to pace.  Endymion
flopped into the chair himself, propping his head up on his hands,
his elbows balanced on his knees.  "What's the matter, Kunzite?"
   Kunzite glanced at his prince as though afraid to broach the
subject.  "My lord-"
   "None of that nonsense!" Endymion said absently.
   "Endymion, then," Kunzite said, "I bring ill tidings."
   "What of?" Endymion asked, immediately sitting up straight and
becoming more alert.  "Not Usagi?"
   Kunzite sighed.  "No, not your Lady, Your Highness."  <He thinks
of her before his kingdom.  That's not right!>  "It's . . . Earth."
   "Earth?"
   "The Cathals . . ."
   "They've encroached on the borders again?"
   "No, my lord prince, they have not."
   "Then what's the trouble?" Endymion asked, relieved, settling back
into his chair, one arm draped idly over the back.
   "They've . . ." Kunzite swallowed, "declared war, sir."
   "Damn!" Endymion sat bolt upright.  "Are you sure?" he asked, his
voice and blue-eyed gaze intense as he looked at Kunzite.
   "Yes, my lord."
   "How did you find out?"
   "One of my soldiers . . . sent a message."
   Endymion's eyes narrowed.  "How did he manage *that* particular
feat?"
   "I told him how to 'port a message before we left . . . in case
anything happened."
   Endymion glared at him for another moment, then the enormity of
the situation overcame him and he got to his feet.  He stared out the
window at the serene beauty outside, then asked quietly, "It makes
you wonder, doesn't it, how much better our world might have been if
we had allowed them to stay?  They've accomplished all this through
use of their magic.  They've made the moon and the other worlds into
regular paradises, calm oases in our turbulent times.  They're all
peaceful too, nary a single dissent amongst them.  It's all so unlike
Earth, the world from whence all of this was first born.  There,
people still fight and hate and kill.  Why can't we be like the
Lunars and the rest?  Why must Earth be a world of strife?  Tell me,
Kunzite, why can't we be at peace too?"
   "I don't know, my prince," Kunzite answered softly.
   "What name are the Cathal forces going by, Kunzite?"
   "The same as their allies: The Dark Kingdom."
   "Who is at their head?"
   Again Kunzite hesitated, "My prince, this is rather difficult to
believe . . ."
   "WHO?"
   "She calls herself . . . Beryl.  Queen Beryl."
   "Lady Beryl," Endymion whispered, shutting his eyes as if in pain.
   "Yes, my lord.  That is what all of the reports say."
   Endymion opened his eyes.  "Get out, Kunzite."  Then realizing
that he might have sounded rather harsh, he softened his words a
little by adding, "Tell the others.  We will be leaving soon."  As
Kunzite left the room he could hear his prince as he swore under his
breath, long and fluently.  He was still swearing when Kunzite shut
the door.

   "Where're you going?" a soft voice asked from behind him.
   Endymion stiffened from where he was packing the clothes that
Jadeite had 'ported up right after they had arrived on the Moon.
"Back home.  Back to Earth."
   "But why, Mamo-chan?!"  Princess Serenity asked, her lip
trembling.  "Don't you want to be with me anymore?"
   "You know I do," he said, continuing to pack.
   "Then why are you going?!"
   "This isn't about us, Usako!  There's a war on!  I have to go back
. . . to my kingdom, my people.  It's my duty.  You'll be fine
without me.  Let me go, Usako."
   "Don't you know that I love you?" she choked out.  "That I need
you?"
   He turned back and pulled her close to him, stroking her hair.  "I
need you, too."  He tipped up her face.  "I love you."  Then he
kissed her and it was as though all of the feelings and emotions
locked in their hearts spilled out and enveloped the other.  They
parted slowly, tears in both of their eyes.
   "I don't want to leave," he murmured, turning his head to gaze
beyond her.
   "I don't want you to!  It would be too much like my dream . . .
We're always being separated!  Why can't we ever stay together, my
prince?!"
   "My princess," he said in a low rich voice as he gazed at her
intently.  Her eyes lifted to meet his and blue swam into blue.  "It
 *is* you!" Endymion said.
  Serenity gasped and put her hands to her mouth, as she realized
what had just occurred.  She spoke the words from her dream, as she
remembered the boy's eyes.  Mamoru's eyes.  "My prince . . .  You
were the shield that protected me."
   "You were the light that guided my path.  I've found you, my
princess, and this time . . . I won't let you go!"  He took her hands
in his.  "Usako-"
   But before he could get any farther, Mercury burst into the room.
"Princess-!"  She stopped short as she saw Endymion, then plunged on.
It was too late to worry about trivial matters like that.  "Princess,
your mother has summoned you, the Senshi . . . and the Terrans to
appear in the throne room.  She is to issue a decree."  Mercury
swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat, looking away from
the couple, blotting out thoughts of Zoisite.  "The summoning is . .
. urgent.  Do not delay.  The . . . the Seventh Council has
gathered."
   Serenity tried to speak, but found her throat unaccountably dry.
"The . . . the Seventh?" she managed to whisper.
   Mercury nodded, still not meeting her eyes.  "And Pluto."
   Serenity's eyes widened and she felt suddenly rather faint.  A
sense of foreboding overcame her and she took a shaky step forward.
"Thy will be done," she intoned, following as Mercury led the way out
of the room.
   Endymion caught her about the shoulders, stopping her.  "Wait, the
Seventh Council?  I don't understand."
   She stroked his cheek, and went past him, walking through the
door.  "You shall.  Come now, you were summoned as well."
   Endymion followed.

   They ran down the corridors, heedless of anyone else in their
path.  Serenity had gathered up her skirts so she could move faster
down the hallways, though Endymion had to steady her several times
before she could fall.  Mercury had gone to alert the others to their
Queen's summons.
   "Who *are* the Seventh?!" Endymion gasped out as they ran.
   "They are the Ruling Council of Planets!  Earth is not a member,
and being the head, the Moon is not permitted to join.  Pluto
declined, and only shows up in times of crisis, or when *something*
is about to happen.  Nothing good can be expected from the Council."
   "Why are they summoning *me*?"
   "As I said, nothing good can be expected from the Seventh.  Unless
they want Earth to join, which I very much doubt, then it must be
dire indeed."
   "What could be so terrible?"
   Serenity slid to a stop and straightened her skirts.  She nodded
to the doormen who opened the huge wood paneled doors and swung them
open with a bang, the light from the room spilling out.  As the
trumpets blared out the princess's arrival, she whispered in answer,
"We are about to find out."
   And that was the last thing Endymion heard before he entered the
room and the doors shut solidly behind him.

   The next thing he heard, well it *seemed* like the next thing
since the rest of the audience went by in a blur were Queen
Serenity's fateful words, "It has come to my attention that you five
are not who you say you are."  The Guardians and the Senshi had
arrived earlier in the beginnings of the audience that seemed more
like a trial to Endymion and was still hazy in his mind.
   Serenity paced on a dais, and the Seven Seventh Council members
and Pluto stood ranged behind her.  "You are Prince Endymion, are you
not?" she asked, turning to look Endymion straight in the eye.  <I
remember you now.  you were only a child when last we met.  You made
my Sere so happy, even then.>
   "Yes, Your Highness," Endymion responded and barely heard
Serenity's astonished gasp.
   "And these are your Guardians, are they not?"
   "Yes, Your Highness."
   "They are also the Four Who Guard.  Am I correct?"
   "Yes, Your Highness."
   "You *do* realize that it was long ago forbidden for the formation
of the Four to ever occur again, do you not?"
   "Yes, Your Highness."
   "The power they wield is *very* deadly, Earth Prince.  They are
also not permitted off of Earth.  Were you aware of this as well?"
   Endymion swallowed.  He had been, but he had simply shrugged it
off as an old story.  Now, though, he wished that he'd listened.
"Yes, Your Highness."
   "I am not without a heart, Endymion," she said, looking at him
briefly.  <Your men saved one of my Senshi and possibly my whole
kingdom from destruction.>  "Regardless, laws are laws and you have
violated several of the *most* sacred in the practice of magick, and
who have deceived us.  Neither I, nor any member of the Seventh, can
permit that.  Prince Endymion, I hearby banish you and your Guardians
from the Moon.  You will leave in six hours and will not been seen or
heard from again on pain of death.  Do you understand?"
   Endymion swallowed, then lifted his head high.  "Yes, Your
Highness."
   Princess Serenity stared with unbelieving eyes at the scene
unfolding in front of her.  <<Prince Endymion?  Mamo-chan?  Mother,
why are you doing this?  Why can't I be happy with the one I love?
Why can't we just be together?!>>
   "Commander Venus, I entrust the duty to you to make sure that they
are seen safely off of the moon without mishap."
   Minako was about to protest but something in her Queen's eyes, the
desperation and need for consent, stayed her words.  She bowed in
acceptance.  "Yes, my Queen."
   Kunzite stared at her in denial.  <No, no, this can't be!  She
can't have deceived me!  Serenity!>
   Minako met his eyes and they both flinched away.
   Endymion and his Guardians turned heel and strode out.

   When both Serenitys were alone in the Queen's audience chamber,
there seemed to be nothing to say.  Neither could bring herself to
speak to the other.  The sat in silence for several moments, then
Princess Serenity turned to her mother, her eyes bright with angry
tears.
   "Always alone!" she screamed at her mother, no longer caring.  "It
is what you leave us-always alone!  It is never enough for you that
whatever happiness I have is so fleeting that it disappears the
instant that I have it in my hand, you must destroy that which I have
found as well!  Oh I know, it is not a princess's duty to be happy,
the people's needs come before hers and that is all very right and
true, Mother, but when do mine come before yours?  Must I sacrifice
my happiness so that you can be content?  I am not a child any
longer.  The world cries out to me.  I can have it, Mother, in my
hand if I dared.  It is so tiny and so perfect, and yet it is flawed.
Nevertheless, I love it still.  I love it for him, Mother.  It is his
world; it is him that I love.  Love, love, that is what I feel.  You
felt it once, you knew it once, but it has left you, hasn't it?  Is
that why you cannot understand the love that I feel for him?  No.  I
see it in your eyes, you do understand.  You understand only too
well, and that is why you are keeping me from him.  All the other
reasons, they are nothing but pretenses!  You are keeping us from
each other so that I will never have to suffer as you have, but it is
too late.  I suffer when I am not near him.  I ache to feel his
touch.  I cannot bear to be parted from him.  My only wish is to be
with him.  And so Mother, you see, it is too late.  All your plans .
. . all for nothing.  It is too late," she whispered.  "It is too
late."  She turned and fled the room.
   Behind her, Queen Serenity dropped her head to her arms and wept.

   Minako and Kunzite stood facing one another.
   "You are Sailor Venus, are you not?" he asked, unconsciously using
one of the Queen's own phrases.
   "I am," she replied.  "I am Minako, Leader of the Sailor Senshi.
And you?"
   "I am Kunzite, Commander of the Earth Guardians."
   "Well," she began hesitantly, "a fine mess we've made of things."
   "How could you do this?" he asked fiercely.  "How could you lie to
me?!  I trusted you, damn you, I let myself love you!"
   "*I* did this to *you*?!" she asked, her eyes tearing.  "We did
this to each other!"
   "I can't trust you!  You're a liar!  Everything we had-It's all a
lie!  There never was any *us*!  There was nothing but lies!!!  How
could I have made myself believe that I loved you?  You're nothing,
nothing at all!  You're a bright figment of my imagination, no more!"
   "No," Minako whispered, her heart aching.  "You can't mean that!"
   "I do!  Love?  We NEVER loved each other!  I can't stand the sight
of you!!!"
   Minako burst into tears and fled from him.  <Damn you, Kunzite,
damn you all to pieces!  I loved you!  I still love you.>
   Kunzite watched her go and suddenly the magnitude of what he had
done hit him.  <Oh God, oh God.  Minako, what have I done?>

   For the others, it was nothing but tears and long good-byes.  Ami
and Zoisite, Rei and Jadeite, Makoto and Nephrite, each of them
promised that they'd be together again and that they would always
love each other . . . forever.

   Kunzite stood a dozen feet away from the edge of an overlook.  It
had taken him over an hour to track her down.  Now, he simply stared
at her back, her long golden hair softly blowing out behind her on
the breeze.  She did not move at all, but instead stared out at the
distant horizon.
   <Mina,> he thought, the name feeling right somehow.
   He saw her shoulders start to shake and couldn't stop himself from
moving forward, feeling helpless.  He came right up to her and saw
that she had her face buried in her hands and was sobbing brokenly.
"Oh Artemis!" she cried, turning to him and burying her face in his
chest.
   For an instant, he felt like correcting her, but seeing how much
she needed to be supported, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Instead, he awkwardly put an arm around her and held her as
comfortingly as he could, rocking her gently as his mother had with
him so long ago.  That too felt right.
   She cried for a long time against him, until his shirt was wet
with tears, but he didn't care.  The heart within him was breaking.
<Oh Minako, how could I do this to you?  How could I have hurt you
like this?>
   Eventually her sobbing slowed and she whispered, her eyes shut in
pain,  "Why, Artemis?  Why does it hurt so much?"
   "Mina," he said softly, anguish in his voice.
   Instantly, she knew that the man holding her was *not* Artemis.
The way he said her name, it wasn't right.  Only one person said her
name like that.  <Please Selene, no, not him,> she thought
desperately.  <Not him.>   She looked up, her eyes widening in
despair.  "You," she said quietly, pain filling her voice.
   "MinaÑ"  He wanted to explain, apologize, anything.  He had hurt
her and he was sorry, but what could he say to her to make the hurt
go away?  What could he do that would make everything better?  He had
torn her heart out and discarded it in an instant.  Could a lifetime
make up for that type of pain?
   "You held me," she whispered.  "You hurt me and then you hold me.
Why do you do such things?"
   "I wanted . . . I wanted to hold you again, to comfort you."  <I
wanted you to stay in my arms and never leave.>
   "How dare you," she whispered, her voice low.  "How dare you!" Her
voice rose to a high-pitched shriek and she slapped him hard across
the face.  Sobbing, she ran away.  "How could you?!"
   Kunzite stood, his hand to his face, stung.  "Mina."
   Without realizing it, he started to chase her, yelling, "MINA!"
He finally caught up to her and stood in her way so that she couldn't
get by him.
   He held her fists still as she tried to hit him.  She yanked away
and started walking off.
   "Minako, wait!"
   "Why?  So you can break my heart all over again?  I thought that
you felt something for me, but I guess it was all an act.  Funny, it
was a pretty good act.  I bought it."
   "Mina, I do feel something for you."
   She laughed bitterly.  "I don't need your pity."
   "Mina, I was wrong."
   "About what?"
   "The fact that you didn't tell me the truth doesn't matter.  I
didn't tell you the truth either.  And . . . I care about you!"
   "No!  You don't know me!  You cared about *her*!  You cared about
the person I was *pretending* to be!  You don't care about me at
all."
   "You're wrong.  I do . . . care about you.  You can't change who
you are, Minako.  I didn't see Serenity when I looked at you.  I saw
*you*.  I saw you, Minako, as you really are, and *that* is who I
cared about, not any seeming that you put on."
   "That's very nice and all, but why should I care?  I don't love
you."
   Kunzite flinched at the cold words.  "All right, I understand now.
I hurt you so now you hurt me.  Is that how it goes?  Well, Minako,
you're hurting yourself a whole lot more!"
   "What the HELL do you know about anything?!  You broke my trust!
This is the second time!  How can I ever trust anyone again?  I can't
let myself feel anything.  Love is a lie."
   "No, love is the truth and we were both too scared to see it.  You
can't shut yourself out, Mina.  Life doesn't work that way.  The
world doesn't work that way.  How can you be happy if you're never
sad?  Love isn't something that you can just try and make go away.
If you stop loving, then you stop living."
   "And how do you know?" Mina asked, her voice low and hoarse.  "How
do you know?"
   "Because I stopped loving and I was dead for three years before I
met you, and then . . . I started to live again."
   Minako was silent.
   Kunzite turned to leave.  "Well, I've had my say.  Good-bye,
Minako."  He began walking away.
   "Kunzite . . . wait!" the voice rang out, the sweetest to ever
reach his ears.
   He halted.  "Yes?"  <Please,> he prayed.
   "You were wrong . . . and I was wrong.  Maybe . . . we can start
over.  I don't want our last hours together to be like this.  I want
to make this work.  I'm willing if you are."
   "Yes, Minako."
   She bounded over to him, dashing the tears from her eyes, and
looked up at him with a bright earnest smile.  Her eyes were anxious
and searching as she said.  "Hello, I'm Minako, Princess of Venus and
Commander of the Royal Guard/Sailor Senshi of the Princess Serenity.
I'm also Sailor Venus."
   Kunzite smiled down at her.  "I'm Kunzite, Prince of the Realm of
Power on Earth and Commander of the Guardians of Prince Endymion.  I
am his First General."
   They smiled at each other for a moment, then Kunzite said, "I'm
very pleased to meet you, Minako."
   "Likewise, but please . . . call me Mina-chan."
   She put her hand in his and together they walked off.

   Princess Serenity stood in the doorway to the ballroom gazing at
Endymion's back.  Idly, she wondered why she was spending so much
time standing in doorways lately.  He was standing, gazing out the
windows standing the circular pattern with its star in the center on
the floor.
   "Why did you not tell me . . . Endymion?"
   "And you, Serenity?" he asked, knowing her for who she truly was.
   "It seems we have the same reasons for everything, love, does it
not?"
   "It seems that we do."  He drew close to her and took her hands in
his, eliciting a tentative kiss from her.  "I am still who I was,
Serenity.  Are you?"
   "I am."
   "Then why do you fear me?"
   "I do not."
   "You fear my touch."
   "I crave your touch."
   "And yet you pull away," he said as she drew away from him,
walking across the room to stare out the huge glass windows.
   "I ache for your touch, for your love, but I do not know if it
will be the same.  How can we both deceive each other, and still
promise with each breath that we love each other more than anything?
What is truth and what is fiction?  We were both living a lie.  Are
we still?"
   "Would you have preferred it if you were the only one deceiving?"
he asked quietly, making no move to get near her.
   She began to pace in a wide circle around him and answered
truthfully, "Yes."
   "How is it any different from the both of us being deceivers,
Serenity?"
   "I do not know, but it is.  I would be able to trust you then."
   "But princess, if you had been the only one to utter falsehoods,
then how could I have trusted *you*?"
   She sighed.  "Stop, stop, you make my head spin."
   "Oh, I can do better than that without words."
   She stopped and glanced at him, a smile tugging at the corner of
her mouth.  "You are a rogue."
   He flourished and bowed down to her from the center of the
invisible circle her pacing had drawn about him.  "Was there ever any
doubt?"
   Serenity swept the smile from her face, and put on a studied
serious expression, though her eyes still twinkled with barely
suppressed merriment.  "Quiet, no comments from the questionee."
   "If my princess commands it," he said, mock-seriously.
   She whirled to face him, the light expression suddenly wiped from
her now dark blue eyes.  "I do," she said in a low voice.
   Endymion fell silent and Serenity resumed pacing.  "I am your
princess, and you are my prince.  You have been for my entire life.
As long as I can remember, the dream has always existed for me.
*You* have always existed for me."
   "I still do.  I exist for you, as you have always existed for me."
   "What are we, Endymion?" she asked, a tremor in her voice.  "What
is it that makes us this way?  It is as if there was never anything
for me before there was you.  You are my reason for being."
   "As you are the reason mine."
   "So what does that make us?  What are we?"
   "The Achians say that everyone is born with a soul that is split
in two at birth.  When those two people, carrying that one soul,
meet, then that is love at first sight.  You carry one half of my
soul, my princess."
   "And you carry half of mine.  That still does not explain what we
are."
   "You are my princess, that is all I need to know."
   "And here I thought that I was your guardian angel," she said
lightly.
   "And I am yours.  That's the way it was, isn't it?" Endymion asked
slowly, slightly unsure of what he was saying.  "That was the deal."
   "Deal?"
   "Deal."
   "Double deal."
   "Triple deal."
   "Quadruplet deal."
   "Quintuplet deal," they said together, softly.
   And then, as she lifted her eyes to meet his once again, a white
hot light exploded in both of their minds, and the flood gates
opened . . .

*Flash*

   The two children collided, the six-year old prince of Earth, and
the three-year old princess of the Moon.

   "OW!" Endymion yelled, rubbing his sore head.
   "Ouch," Serenity said, painfully.
   "WHY DIDN'T YOU WATCH WHERE YOU WERE GOING?!!!" they both shouted.
A bird squawked in fright and flew off.
   The two children glared at each other.
   Then they burst into laughter.  When their laughing had slowed,
they both apologized and smiled at each other.

   Princess Serenity stared curiously at the older boy.  "What's your
name?"
   "I'm Endy," he said smiling.  "Who're you?"
   "I'm Sere."  She giggled.  "Do you live here?"
   "Uh-huh.  In the big palace."
   "Oh.  I live in a palace too, 'cept it's up there."  She pointed
towards the sky.
   "Up where?" Endy asked, confused.
   "On the moon, silly.  Where else?"
   "You live way up there?  Wow.  Are you an angel?"
   She giggled again.  "No, but I wish I had wings so I could fly."
She spun around and fell down, laughing.
   Endy laughed too.  "Well, I'll tell you what, Sere."
   "What?"
   "You can be my guardian angel, 'kay?"
   "'Kay.  An' you can be mine, right?"
   "Sure."
   "It's a deal."  Sere got to her feet and stuck out her hand.
   Endy took it and shook it.  "Deal."
   "Double deal," Sere said.
   "Triple deal," Endy countered, not to be outdone.
   "Uh, uh, quadruple deal."
   "Well, er, qu-qu-quinÑ"
   "Quintuplet deal!" they shouted together and laughed.
   Then Sere turned serious all of a sudden.  "We're friends, right
Endy?"
   "'Course we are.  We promised to protect each other."
   "Good."

*Flash*

   "My memories," the princess murmured wonderingly, putting a hand
to her head.  "How could Mother take them away?"
   "My memories," the prince said in disbelief.  "How could I have
forgotten?"
   They looked at one another, and suddenly none of that mattered.
   "Sere?" he asked.
   "Endy?"
   They stared as though they had never seen each other before.
   "We promised," Endymion said quietly, "to always protect each
other."
   Serenity ran into his arms and he held her tightly.  "We did!  We
did.  I know we did."
   "Sere," he said gently, "there's a war on and I have to go.  I
have to fight."
   "I know you do, Endy, but I don't want you to go!  I couldn't bear
the thought of ever losing you."  Tears streamed from her eyes.
   "Never," he murmured into her hair.  "We'll never be apart for
good, Sere.  I'll be back, and we'll be together again."
   "Promise," she cried.
   "I do.  I promise."
   "Then it's a deal."
   "Deal."
   "Double deal."
   "Triple deal."
   "Quadruple deal."
   "Quintuplet deal!" they shouted together, then parted, laughing a
little and in the case of Serenity, crying a lot.
   Endymion looked at her with eyes too full of emotion for him to
hide any of it.  "Sere, wait for me."
   "From now till forever, I swear it!  For forever and a day!"
   A smile quirked at the corners of his lips for an instant, but it
faded quickly.  "Even ifÑwhen," he corrected himself, "I make it
through this war, it is still forbidden for us to be together.  A
Lunar and a Terran can't be together."
   "Don't be an idiot!  Of course we'll be together.  I don't care
what Mother or anyone else says, I'm going to be with you.  I love
you, Endy, and I always will."
   "I love you too, Sere."
   "Ahem," she said loudly.
   "What?" he asked, surprised.
   "When it's just the two of us, like now, won't you call me Usako?
*That* was always your name for me, and because of that, it's
special."
   This time he smiled a real smile.  "Only if you'll call me
Mamo-chan."
   "Deal."
   "DealÑWait a minute, we don't want to start this again!"
   Serenity laughed.
   "I'll miss you, Usako."
   "I'll miss you too, Mamo-chan, but we'll see each other again,
soon."

*Three months later*
*Earth Kingdom's western border*

   Endymion fell back with a look of surprise on his face, which
quickly changed to one of agonizing pain.  <Damn!  I should've seen
that one coming.> A sword protruded from his middle, buried up to the
hilt in his flesh.  "Arghhh," was the only noise he could make.
   The soldier, staring at him, smiled in apparent satisfaction that
he was dead or dying and moved forward to retrieve his sword from the
fallen.
   <Wrong move!> Endymion thought grimly, as he blasted him with the
bit of magic he was able to summon up.  He watched as the man fell,
then Endymion relaxed and waited to die.  <I wish I'd been able to
see you again, Usako.  I'm sorry I have to break our promise.>

   Princess Serenity jerked as though something had hit her in her
midsection.  She staggered to her feet and fled from the room where
she had been attending a lesson.  Luna stared after her, worried.
   Serenity ran outside of the palace, to the gardens and commanded,
"PRINCESS TELEPORT!"  In a swirl of petals and leaves, she was gone.

   Endymion stared up through the haze of battle that raged around
him.  <I wish I could get up to help them fight,> he thought, staring
at where those under his command were valiantly fighting off two or
three enemy soldiers at a time.  He struggled uselessly to pull free
the sword and get to his feet, but his weak tugging made no impact on
the blade.
   He closed his eyes to block out the sight of one of his men
falling to his death.  When he opened his eyes again, he saw the
sweetest face imaginable.  "Usako," he whispered.
   "Mamo-chan!" she cried, her face full of distress.  She was clad
in a concealing gray cloak and had he not seen her face and her blue,
blue eyes, he would not have known her.
   He struggled to speak.  "Why are you here?"
   "I-I felt your pain," she said kneeling next to him, though the
battle kept raging about them.
   "How did you get through the fighting?"
   "I just teleported to where I felt your presence."
   "Usako, get out of here!  It's dangerous!  This is war!"
   "I don't care!  I have to make sure you're safe."  She stared at
the sword sticking out from his torso.  "Who did this to you?"
   "It's . . . it's all right, he's dead."
   "What should I do?" she asked.
   "Pull the sword out," Endymion told her.  ". . . can't have it in
there."
   The moon princess looked at the sword and awkwardly put her hands
around the grip.  Then a determined expression came over her face and
she pulled it out in one swift move.  Endymion let out a pain-filled
grunt, biting his lip to keep from screaming.
   Serenity tossed the sword away, then doubled over in pain.  "Ah,
it hurts."
   "Are you all right?" Endymion asked worriedly, blood pooling
around him and soaking the ground.
   She took one look at him and said, "I'm all right."  Staring at
his bloody wound, she forced herself not to turn away.  "You need a
healer.  I have to get you out of here!"
   "No, I'm okay now.  You can just leave me here.  Someone will find
me."
   She shot him an incredulous look.  "Someone will find you?  Like
who?  The enemy?  I'm not letting them get anywhere near you so they
can finish the job they started!"  She gingerly took the remains of
his already blood-soaked cape and wrapped it tightly around his body.
"Well, maybe that'll hold the bleeding for a while.  Now to get you
home!"
   "I . . . can't leave my troops."
   She stared at the scenes of fighting around them, then at him
where he lay.  She gently wrapped her arms around him as he tried to
sit up and held his head in her lap.  "You can't do anything in this
state," she said gently.  Then more fiercely, "Don't be an idiot!"
   "Why haven't the soldiers attacked us yet?" he asked, noticing for
the first time that they were being ignored.
   She looked at him smugly.  "I've got a shield up around us if you
hadn't noticed.  A little trick Mercury taught me.  Anyway, it looks
like reinforcements for your side are coming, so the enemy's got
their hands full.  Don't worry so much."
   "Jadeite," he managed to breathe.  Only Jadeite and his army were
near enough to have arrived in time to assist them.  "Tell Mars she
should appreciate him."
   "She already does, but not half as much as I appreciate you.  I
would do anything for you."  Her eyes began to fill with tears.
   "I would die for you," Endymion whispered weakly, looking up into
her concerned blue eyes.  He felt his hold on life slipping.
   She cradled his head in her lap.  "Don't die for me, you idiot.
Live!  If you love me, then live for me.  You promised we'd be
together!"
   "UsaÑ"
   Before he could finish, she bent and kissed him full on the mouth.
When she pulled away, he looked up at her and smiled.  "I will live,
Usako," he said.  "I promise you that."
   And she believed him.
   "PRINCESS TELEPORT!" she cried, and they vanished from the scenes
of battle.
   Jadeite, who had just arrived with his army, saw them go.  Then
with a newfound determination, he turned his attention to the battle
and gave the signal.  "CHAAAAAARRRGGGE!!!"

*On the Moon*

   Princess Serenity burst into Ami's room.  "Ami, you have to help
me!"
   "What's the matter, Sere?"
   "It's Endymion, he's been hurt!"
   "Princess, you know the consequences for bringing him here!"
   "I know . . . but I don't care!  Ami, he's going to die if we
don't do something!!!"
   "Take me to him," Ami ordered.
   "I left him in my room . . ." Serenity began as they both ran off.
   Ami gasped as she saw the state that Endymion was in.  "You did
right to bring him, Sere.  I could *never* refuse anyone in *that*
condition."
   "Will he be all right?" she asked, the worry showing on her face.
   Ami rolled up her sleeves and winced in sympathy as she pulled
open his shirt and saw the wound.  "He needs medical attention,
that's for sure."  She turned to her princess.  "Sere, I can't do it
alone.  I need help."
   "I'm willing," Serenity began, moving towards Ami.
   The next words she heard stopped her dead in her tracks.  "No.
Not you."
   "But, Ami, I would do anything to help him!  *Anything*!  You know
that!"
   "I know, but Sere, you don't have any training in the Healing
Arts.  What we need is a healer.  A Master Healer."
   "But Ami, you *ARE* the only Master!"
   "No, there's one more."
   "WhoÑ"
   "I'll help," a voice spoke up from the shadows.
   Sere and Ami turned to look.  The princess gasped as the light
fell on the face of the speaker.
   "Minako," she whispered.
   Minako stared steadily back at her, her eyes calm and collected,
her face betraying not a single emotion.  <I'll do this for you,
Sere.  And for myself.>
   "What do you want me to do?" she asked.

*On Earth*

   "Where's the prince?!" Nephrite yelled over the melee of battle,
clashing his swords against an enemy captain.  With a powerful slice,
he finished him off and waded further into the battle.  Nephrite and
his army had arrived just in time to help Jadeite's faltering troops.
   "Endymion'sÑ" Jadeite ducked as his opponent swiped at his head
with a mace.
   "PrincessÑ" Jadeite ducked and rolled to one side, coming up
behind his opponent.  He ran forward to thrust his sword into the
soldier, but the soldier turned at the last instant and twisted out
of the way.
   "Got hurtÑ" Jadeite twisted back at the same instant, narrowly
missing a slice at his ribs, and swung his sword at his opponent.
The soldier brought his sword up to bear.
   "Who, the princess?" Nephrite asked, confused, as he directed a
blast of energy at an enemy squadron that was getting too close.
They flew backwards with a cry of pain.
   Jadeite pulled back his sword and avoiding a desperate lunge at
him, neatly thrust his sword into the man and dispatched him.   "No,
you fool!" Jadeite yelled, pulling his sword free.  "Endymion got
hurt, the princess got to him, and took him out of here!  I don't
know where they went, but he was hurt pretty bad and if she hadn't
come, I don't think he'd have survived."  <He still might not.>
   "I heard that!" Nephrite yelled back at him, once more in the
thick of battle.  "I want happy thoughts!  No more of this
pessimistic junk!"
   "Yeah, well, you didn't see 'im," Jadeite mumbled under his
breath, getting ready to fight with another soldier.
   <<I heard that too, Jade.  Keep it up and I'll have to beat *you*
up after this battle!>>
   <<If we're still alive!>>
   <<JADE!!!>>
   <<All right, all right, happy thoughts.  Sheesh.>>

*On the Moon*

   Ami gazed at Minako for a moment.  <<Are you sure?>>
   <<Dammit, Ami, he's *dying*!  If we can't save him, Sere'll . . .
Well, I don't want to think about what Sere'll do.  They have the
right to be happy!  I *owe* this to her.  I *owe* this to him.  I owe
this to myself.>>
   Ami turned to look back at her patient.  "All right, wash up and
we'll get to work."
   "Right."
   Serenity looked at Minako gratefully, her blue eyes shimmering
with tears.  "Thank you, Mina-chan."
   Minako started at the name, then flashed Serenity a rueful smile.
"I haven't failed you yet, Sere, and I'm not about to start now!"

   As she turned away from her princess, the memories came back . . .

*Flash*

   "Minako," the voice said laughingly, as eleven-year old Minako
looked up at him with brightly loving eyes.  "You're so silly."  He
bopped her on the nose, making her giggle.

*Flash*

   "Minako," the voice said, deeper and more serious now.  "I care
about you.  I'm happy when we're together."
   Thirteen-year old Minako looked up at him, understanding in her
eyes shining with love.  He took her in his arms and she sighed,
happy.

*Flash*

   "Minako!" two voices called, a man and a woman's.
   "Onee-chan!  Onii-chan!" Minako cried out happily, running through
the field toward the two of them, waving something wildly in the air.
"I got it!  I got it!"  She came to a breathless stop in front of
them.  "I got it!"
   "Congratulations!" they chorused, laughing.
   The woman took the scroll from her and unrolled it reading, "This
scroll hereby documents the ascension of Princess Minako of Venus,
age fourteen, to the position of Healer, Master class!"  She
neglected to read the part about keeping Minako as far away from sick
people as possible and only letting her attempt to heal the *dying*
as a last resort.
   Minako smiled.
   The woman handed the scroll back to her, her eyes bright and
happy.  "You worked really hard for that!  I'm so proud of you,
imouto."
   "Thanks!" Minako said, but her attention was not on the woman.
She turned to the man whom she called her brother but was no more
related to her than the woman.  "Are you proud of me, 'Nii-chan?" she
asked softly, her eyes shining with expectation.
   "Very proud," he replied, bending down to kiss her.
   Happy, Minako returned the kiss, but out of the corner of her eye,
she saw something like pain flash through her Onee-chan's eyes . . .

*Flash*

   "Minako, the Royal family is too powerful!  Someone has to do
something!" the man said heatedly.
   "But they're good rulers!  They're fair and just!"
   "But for how long?"
   "Forever!"
   "You're such a child, Minako."
   "I'm fifteen!"
   "The world is a whole lot less perfect than you think!  Someone
will have to stop the Queen before she turns into a tyrant!"
   Minako stared at the man, her eyes wide with horror.  "'Nii-chan .
. ."

*Flash*

   "Are you all right?" the woman's voice asked.
   "Yes, I'm fine," the man replied.
   "How did she take it?"
   "Oh, she's just a child!  I don't think she understands at all."
   "Well, *I* understand."
   "I know you do, and that's why I love you . . ."
   Minako slumped to the ground outside of the closed door, opening
her fist from the position in which it had been poised to knock.
   <'Nii-chan.  Onee-chan.>  Tears gathered behind her eyelids,
spilling to the ground in a muffled sob.  <Why?>  She scrambled to
her feet, running off down the hall, unable to stop the tears.
<WHY?!>

*Flash*

   *EMERGENCY*!
   Sailor Venus ran down the hallways of the Moon Palace, until she
reached the courtyard, and was stopped short by the sight of a huge
slavering monster lurching towards her.  "STOP!  Who do you think you
are?!"
   A voice boomed out throughout the Palace grounds.  "WE ARE THE
DARK KINGDOM AND WE HAVE COME TO CONQUER YOUR UNIVERSSSSE!"
   "Well, you won't succeed!"
   She turned to the youma.  "LOVE!!!!" she shouted, sending out a
golden beam and killing it.
   She ran forward looking around for another of the beasts.  She saw
*him* and stopped short.  "'Nii-chan."
   He looked up at her, "MinaÑ" he started to say, a look of
apprehension in his eyes.  Then, before he or she could do anything,
a huge blurred shape dove for him.  In a heartbeat it had dug its
fearsome jaws into him and ripped out his heart.  He fell without a
sound as Venus looked on in horror.
   "No!" she cried, what seemed like a lifetime later.
   The youma looked up, its blood-red eyes glowing against its
shadowy hide, its jaws dripping with his blood.
   "NO!!!!" she screamed again, rage and helplessness building in
her.  "LOVE!!!!!!!!"
   The brilliant beam of light sliced through it, killing it
instantly, but Minako didn't care as she stared at her 'Nii-chan's
unmoving form.
   She barely heard as off in the distance her Queen shouted, "YOU
SHALL NOT SUCCEED, METALLIA!!!  BY THE POWER OF THE SILVER CRYSTAL, I
BANISH YOU FROM THIS REALM!!!"
   "I SSSSHALL RETUUUUUURRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNN!!!" the menacing voice
screamed as the huge shadow looming over the kingdom disappeared.
   Mina cried.

*Flash*

   "Onee, he's dead," Minako said, dully as she stood in the entrance
to the woman's room.
   "No," the woman said, unbelieving, with a little laugh.  "Whatever
do you mean, Minako?"
   "He's dead."
   "No, no you must be mistaken.  He . . . can't be."
   Minako screamed in anger, her voice hoarse with pain, "HE'S
DEAD!!!!"
   She turned away.  "And I couldn't save him," she whispered.
   "NO!" the woman screamed defiantly, her voice breaking.
   From the edge of her field of view, Minako saw the flash of metal.
<What is she->  "Onee, NO!!!" she screamed whirling around.
   The woman simply smiled at her as she raised the dagger above her.
"I can't live without him."  She plunged the steel into chest, and
with a little gasp, she died.
   Minako stared, her eyes wide filled with despair as she fell to
the ground, the strength leaving her body.  "I couldn't save you
either, Onee.  What kind of a Healer am I?"
   Her eyes took on a self-loathing look as she averted her gaze from
the bloody scene.  "WHY DOES THIS HAPPEN?!!!  I can't heal!  My life
is worth nothing!  I forgo the Healing Arts!  I brand myself
forbidden to heal!"  She pulled out her ceremonial dagger and stared
at the razor sharp blade as she slit her wrist and emotionlessly
watched her blood pool about her.  "I swear, on my life's blood, that
if ever the evil returns, that my life's blood will bleed until I
die, or until someone who cares enough to stop it does.  She placed a
hand over the wound, willing it shut with a burst of Power.  <But
until then, I will live for my princess.  Always.  *She* is my life.>
She stood, and walked away.  But she would always carry the scar of
what had occurred.

*Flash*

   . . . Minako finished washing her hands and turned back to the
others, looking at Endymion.  She drew in a deep breath.  "All right,
let's start."

   The hours dragged on as Serenity watched fearfully.  Minako and
Ami had first begun by trying to heal some of the wound, then they
had begun the actual stitching needed.  Endymion had woken up but had
mercifully passed out an instant later.  The two women had resumed
their operating, Ami stitching and Minako using more and more power
in an attempt to heal Endymion since Ami had acidly informed Minako
that her stitching was like a five year-olds.
   Makoto had wandered in on them, taken one look at the scene before
her and had immediately volunteered to guard the door.  Serenity had
let her, seeing as there was nothing she could do.
   It hadn't taken Rei long to notice that everyone else seemed to be
missing and she had eventually found her way to Serenity's room.
After the others had explained the situation, she had readily agreed
that no one should be told and had gone on with her duties, trying to
keep others from wondering where all of the Senshi and the Princess
had gone too.
   Still, all of them had forgotten one important fact.  Guardian
cats are not so easily persuaded to let a topic drop.

   Luna and Artemis crouched in the hallway.
   "Artemis," Luna hissed.
   "What?"
   "What're we doing here?"
   "We have to see what they're up to!  It's something fishy, that's
for sure."
   "Why don't we just ask them?"
   "Duh, Luna, they're *hiding* something.  It's not like we can just
saunter up to them and say, "Excuse me, Sailor Senshi, Luna and I
would like to know what you're hiding in Serenity's room."
   "Well, I, for one am getting tired of hiding in this hallway!  I'm
going to go *see* what they're hiding."  With a flash of light she
morphed into her human state.
   "No, Luna!" Artemis cried, but it was too late.
   "Jupiter," Luna addressed the Senshi at the door, "stand aside."
   Makoto shifted uncomfortably, "Uh . . . well, I can't."
   "Don't make me order you as your superior, Jupiter!"
   <That could get messy.>  "But Luna, my orders come from Serenity
herself."
   "Queen or Princess?"
   "Princess."
   "Jupiter, you know perfectly well that I outrank the Princess
until she is seventeen and is legally recognized as heir to the
throne."
   "Yes, Luna."
   "Then stand aside."
   Sailor Jupiter could do nothing but obey.  She let Luna in.
   The others ignored her entrance at first, save for Ami who said,
"Oh, Rei, is that you?"
   "No, it is not."
   They all turned in apprehension.  "Luna!"
   She had a slightly irritated look on her face.  "Yes, now what
*are* you hiding?"
   She strode forward and caught sight of Endymion swathed in
bandages and the blood-smeared hands of Ami and Minako.  <Goddess!>
She found that she had trouble speaking, "What-What happened?"
   "Endymion was wounded," Serenity said, stepping forward, her chin
raised high in half defiance, half reluctant acknowledgment.  "I
felt his pain.  I brought him here."
   "Serenity, that's not allowed!"
   "I know.  I could not let him die, Luna!  The only people who
could've helped him were here.  I could *not* let him die.  I would
rather meet death in his place."
   Luna sighed.  "Sere . . . Serenity, I cannot fault your reasons
but there is more at stake here."
   "Nothing is more important than life, Luna.  Not rules, not laws,
not even what the Seventh proclaims.  Nothing is more precious than
life."
   "Princess," Luna began, then fell silent.
   From behind her she heard the padding of soft feet.  Artemis . . .
and another.
   "Queen Serenity," Luna said, not turning.
   "Luna," the queen said in acknowledgment.  "Sere," she said,
turning to look at her daughter.  The Senshi had frozen in place.
   "Mother."
   "You're right, Sere," the Queen said.  "Life is the most important
thing.  I cannot go against the Seventh, but neither can I allow the
needless suffering and death of others.  I forbid this love you feel
for the prince, Sere, but I will not stand in his way of a recovery."
<<You cannot love him, Sere, I forbid it.  I am truly sorry.>>
   <<You let him live, Mother.  For now, that is enough.>>
   Queen Serenity looked at her daughter one last lingering instant
more, turned and began to walk out, then stopped as the Princess's
voice reached her ears.
   "Mother."
   "Yes?"
   "Thank you."
   "For what, Sere?  I have seen nothing here today."  She strode out
and it was only then that Princess Serenity realized that her mother
had not once looked at the bed where Endymion lay.

*On Earth*

   Kunzite rushed into battle with his forces, turning the tide at
last.  Nephrite and Jadeite breathed a sigh of relief.
   "Thank goodness *that's* over."  Jadeite wiped his sweaty brow.
   "Yeah-" Nephrite started to say, then stopped.
   "What?" Jadeite asked.
   Nephrite simply pointed at where Kunzite was riding to them with a
none-too-pleased expression on his face.  "Where's Endymion?"
   "With Serenity," Jadeite replied bluntly.
   "He was injured," Nephrite added.
   "Well, no time to worry about that now.  Zoisite's army needs some
reinforcements.  He's being overrun on the northern border."
   "Ah, c'mon.  We just fought for three days straight!" Jadeite
complained.  "My troops are weary.  They're on their last legs.  The
Cathals will slaughter us!"
   "The Dark Kingdom," Kunzite corrected.  "Still, Nephrite's troops
are fairly fresh and Endymion's seem all right.  If we can find
someone to command them, then . . ."
   "I will command them," a voice rang out and the Guardians turned
to see their prince striding over the battlefield towards them.
   "Endymion!" the three Guardians cried.
   "You're back!" Jadeite exclaimed.
   Endymion allowed himself a tiny smile.  "Thanks to a certain
princess who has captured my heart and two Senshi that I owe my life
to.  They all send their best, by the way," Endymion informed the
weary men.
   "Are you in one piece, Endy?" Nephrite queried.
   "More or less."
   "Can you fight?" Kunzite asked, his eyes on his prince.
   Endymion winced, then turned to Kunzite, his eyes blazing and said
in a dangerous and determined tone of voice, "I can always fight."
   "All RIGHT!" the Generals, for they all were generals now, shouted
as they clashed their swords together.
   "We will be victorious," Jadeite proclaimed.
   "Of course we will be," Endymion responded absently, his eyes on
the blue sky, where surprisingly he could see the moon.  "Is there
any other way to be?  Besides, I promised Usako that I'd make it out
of this thing alive, and I intend to keep my word."  He turned back
to his men.  "Now, all of you, mount up!  Zoisite needs our help!"
   He turned to Jadeite, "You and Nephrite will remain behind in case
the Dark Kingdom decides to renew the attack.  Send a messenger, or
use your stones if you need help.  Now, men, we have a war to win."

*On the Moon*

   Serenity meandered slowly down the corridors of the moon palace.
Endymion had left nearly a week ago and she remembered only his eyes
as he had said, "Usako, I must go," and had kissed her.  "I love
you."
   "I love you, Mamo-chan," she whispered into the silence, an echo
of what she had said a week ago.  "With all my heart."
   She saw Princess Setsuna standing at a balcony overlooking the
Garden a little ways off and she walked over.  One did not usually
see Setsuna at any time, especially standing on a balcony enjoying
the scent of roses in the evening.
   "Princess Setsuna," Princess Serenity said, uncertainly.
   Setsuna did not turn around.  "Hai, Princess."
   "What do you see?" she asked curiously, staring at Setsuna's still
form.
   "See?  I see nothing but stars and space and stillness."
   "Not even the Earth?" she asked lightly.
   "The Earth?  I do not need to see that.  It is inside of me.  No
princess, truly I see nothing that you do not."
   <That is not what I meant,> Serenity thought to herself, but
before she could voice her thought, Setsuna replied.
   "Yes, I know that is not what you meant, Princess.  I can tell you
many things, but never that . . . never that.  You should not know
your own future.  There is danger in knowing too much."
   Serenity made a face.  "Tell Ami-chan that."
   "That would be a useless endeavor.  She would not listen."
   "If you cannot tell me . . . then, what is it like?  To see?  To
know?  To understand everything?"
   Setsuna snorted.  "Everything?  I cannot even begin to know, let
alone comprehend everything.  Even immortal, I am still a mortal."
   "You have contradicted yourself."
   "No.  It is truth, even as it is with you, with the others, with .
. . Endymion."
   "So you do know," Serenity said softly.
   "I know.  It has occurred.  I know it."
   "Was I right?"
   "Right?  What are right and wrong, Princess?  Is anything ever
completely right or wrong?"
   "Yes."
   "You have a simple mind."
   "I'm sure I do.  Some things, though, some things are right.
Endymion and I . . . are right."
   "Perhaps."
   "Do you love him?" Serenity asked suddenly.
   Setsuna started.  She had *not* foreseen this.  "Princess, it is
best not to ask those kinds of questions."
   But Serenity went blindly on.  "Do you, Setsuna?"
   Silence.  Then, "Hai."
   "I know you do."
   "I do not love him as you do, Princess.  No one can love him as
you do.  Do not worry, little Princess, I will not take him from you.
I cannot."
   "Why?  Why can't you?  You did not swear your allegiance to
anyone."
   "No, I did not."
   "You do not serve my mother."
   "In that, Princess, you are wrong.  I do serve her, as her friend.
I promised her that long ago.  It is a promise that I have not
broken."
   "Any yet, in truth, when did you serve anyone but yourself?"
   "I have never served myself.  Time is my master, Destiny is my
mistress.  Against them I can do nothing.  I can not protect your
mother against them.  I can not protect your kingdom."
   "And yet, I remember that on the day that I awakened, you promised
to protect *me*."
   Again Setsuna was startled, but this time, she did not allow her
surprise to show.  "How can you remember such things, Princess?  You
were but newly born and awakened."
   "I remember because I must.  What other reason is there?"
   "Yes, I did promise, and that promise too, shall I keep."
   "That is good.  Is that why you will not allow yourself to love
Endymion?"
   Setsuna smiled.  "You are good, Princess, very good.  No matter
where the conversation goes, you can bring it back to what you wish
to discuss.  That is a rare talent."
   "I have learned from the best teacher.  My mother is very skilled,
is she not?  I have heard that she learned from you."
   Setsuna's smile faded.  "Everyone learns something from me
eventually.  Even you, my princess."
   "I would learn of what you feel for Endymion."
   "Yet again princess, you are good.  I shall answer your questions
for I tire of this game.  I do love Endymion, my princess, and I
allow myself to love him.  But as I said, I do not love him as you
do, not in the same manner, nor in the same way."
   "In what way do you love him, Pluto?"
   "In the only way that I can.  Ah, Princess Serenity, you are so
like, and yet so unlike your mother.  You are both of you, very
giving with your love, and yet, you are both as possessive as you are
giving.  How can any two be give so much, and take so much at the
same time?  She gives less and takes less than you, though, my
princess."
   "Am I selfish, Pluto?" the Princess cried.  "Was my gift to him
nothing more than a gift to myself?"
   "Who did you do it for?  Him or you?"
   "In honesty, I do not know, but I think . . . it was for me.
Because I cannot bear to live without him.  Still, he said the same
and felt the same, but yes, I was more selfish than selfless."
   "You are mortal, Serenity.  It is a failing, but it is also a
blessing."
   "You contradict yourself again.  How many times do you say the
opposite of what you mean?"
   "Why, never.  I always mean what I say, and I do not contradict
myself.  Now, as for what you did for yourself, for him-yes, it was
for both, you are so easy to forgive-it was both a wondrous and a
terrible gift.  Both a blessing and a curse.  He is bound to you now,
Serenity, more than he ever was before, and he was bound even then.
There is no stronger tie than that of blood, not love, not hate.
Blood.  The taste of it, the feel of it, the sight and smell of it as
it spills . . . Or the flowing of it through your veins.  There is
nothing stronger.
   "It drives people to kill, to hurt, and to love above all else.
In this you have bound him to you for all eternity.  He had no say in
the matter, and yet, he forgives you.
   "It always surprises me how easy it is to forgive those of your
line.  You are so easily forgiven.  No matter what wrongs you commit,
those who love you are always willing to forget them.  I wish it was
that simple for me.  He will not forgive me so easily."
   "What did you do, Pluto, that he must forgive?"
   "I loved him.  Isn't that enough?  You understand now, though you
do not know it, and you will understand more fully in time.  It will
be clear to you what wrongs I have committed, the harm that I have
done.  So clear.  And then, you must forgive me as well.  But I do
not fear you as I fear him, Serenity, for you forgive as easily as
you are forgiven.  It is him that I fear, for he cannot forgive as
you do.  It is in his blood.  But . . . your blood flows through him
now, so perhaps he can forgive."
   "What do you say to me?  I understand none of it.  You confuse me
on purpose, Pluto, to hide the true meanings of what you say.  It is
all there in plain sight, but I cannot see it.  The truth is truth,
and yet it is not!  I do not understand what you say."
   "Oh Serenity, you understand more than you know.  You know all,
and yet you understand nothing.  How can this be?  Do not trouble
yourself, it will all be clear in time."
   "Can you not speak plainly?  Must all your words be as riddles?"
   "That is the nature of *my* blood, Serenity.  Time reveals nothing
until it is too late."
   "You, daughter of Cronus, are infuriating!"
   Setsuna laughed.  "More than Mars?"
   "More than Mars."
   "I am sure Princess Rei would appreciate that."
   "Perhaps.  Or perhaps not."
   Setsuna sighed.  "You are still wondering."
   "Of course I am.  You have answered nothing and everything all at
once."
   "That is the nature of Time."
   "No.  That is the stubbornness of Setsuna."
   "You wish to know what I think of your blessing . . . your curse."
   "That was not a question.  And you know the answer."
   "I am glad."
   "Glad?"
   "He needs you, Serenity, you need him.  An eternity of one without
the other is meaningless.  Your love will sustain you both.  I am
happy for you."
   "And yet, you still love him."
   "Of course I do.  As I said, it could not be any other way."
   "And you do not condemn me for condemning him to an eternity of
life?"
   "Of course not.  How can I condemn you?  No one could.  You are
forgiven, eternally."
   "Condemned and forgiven for all eternity, is that my existence?"
   "Only if you will it to be that way.  It is up to you."
   "Are you?"
   "Condemned and forgiven?"  She clicked her tongue on the roof of
her mouth.  "You should know the answer to that, child."
   "Since when have I been a child to you?"
   "You have always been a child.  Except at the beginning.  Then,
you were not a child."
   "Do not confuse me again."
   "It is too easy to confuse you, Princess.  You let yourself be
confused."
   "You are condemned.  I am condemned.  And we are both forgiven,
but I . . . more readily than you."
   "Very good.  Now, you are making sense of this conversation."
   "Not much.  Your conversations never make much sense until much
later.  But . . . I suppose that you will tell me that that is the
nature of Time?"
   "Ah!  I have misjudged you.  If you are reading me so easily, you
are truly not as much of a child as I thought.  You do your mother
proud.  Now, before you can cleverly divert the conversation back to
the topic, I shall save you the trouble.
   "Immortality is a hard, hard way of life.  Eventually, it is *not*
life any longer, merely existence, and that is when death lends a
hand.  You, and he, and I we are lucky that we do not have *true*
immortality, merely the closest thing.  Death can still snatch us at
anytime, though it will be much MUCH harder.  So no, my princess, you
did not condemn your love to life forever.
   "As for the other things you wonder, well, Princess, let me tell
you this.  Endymion needs your love.  He needs the love of women.  He
desires nothing more than a woman's love.  Your love is dearest to
him, never fear, little princess.  Take him in your arms, love him
with all of the love in you, for he sorely needs it.  His need is
devouring him inside, and only your love has saved him.  You are his
savior, his guardian angel, his only love.  You reclaim him from the
darkness of his soul.  That is good, for no one other than you can do
it.  Do not let him stray far, let your love keep him safe.
   "The wolves would take him if they could have him, but as long as
your love keeps him safe, they cannot.  Love him, love him, for as
long as you can.  For you, I know that that is eternity.
   "He will always need you, and you will always need him, for as
much as he takes from you, he returns as well.  Your love is his
love, he loves you as much as you love him.  The two of you, sustain
each other.  That is right.  That is good.
   "I thought once that your love was wrong, that it would destroy
one of you, or both.  But then I saw that without it, its loss would
destroy both of you.  Its existence can do nothing but bring more
love, for that is the way of love.  The more love there is, the more
it brings.
   "I do not envy you.  I am grateful for the love that you feel for
him.  I love you both, Serenity.  You are my princess, he is your
prince, and your love is what brightens up the universe.  I cannot
deny you.  I have no wish to.  What is Destined is destined.  What
must be, will be.  Love is love, Serenity.  Love is love."
   "But *still* you love him!" Serenity cried.  "And you never can!"
   Setsuna sighed.  "You are as I thought, a child.  Have you
listened to nothing that I have said?  I love Endymion, and I will
always love Endymion.  Nothing will stop that.  Do not feel sorrow
for me, it is misplaced.  I would not have things any other way.  We
are all content this way.  Let things stand as they are, Serenity.
As I said, I do not love him as you do.  I do not feel for him as a
lover, or even as a friend.  I welcome your love for him.  It is
needed.  Do not weep for my unrequited love.  It is not as you think
it.  It never was."
   Serenity stared at her with wide, confused eyes, but partial
understanding dawned.  "You love him in another way . . .  You are
drawn to him for other reasons."
   "I had a claim on him long before you did, except for at the
beginning."
   "Of Time?"
   "There are some questions that I cannot answer, Serenity."
   "But in refusing, you have."
   Setsuna gazed back calmly at her.  "Have I?"
   Serenity gazed calmly back, sure of herself for once.  "You have."
   Setsuna looked away.  "You loved him at the beginning, Serenity.
That is all I will say.  But still, my claim on him is older.  My
love for him is older.  My love for him is as infinite as yours.  I
am bound to him in all things, as are you, save I was bound in one
more way.  And now, you are bound to him that way, and more.  I could
give him all things, but one, and you gave him that, my princess.
The one thing that I could not.  And so, the two of you are bound as
close now, as I am to him, though he knows it not."
   "What *are* you to him, Pluto?"
   "You should know by now, Princess.  You should know by now."  And
with that, she disappeared.
   Serenity turned to gaze out over the balcony at Earth.
"Endymion," she whispered, letting a single tear trickle down her
face.  "Mamo-chan . . ."

*On Earth*
*The northern border*

   Kunzite raised his hand as he heard the faint rustle of the
door flap to his tent.  "Yes, come in," he called out, gesturing.
   The person at the door paused as if unsure how to proceed.
   "Come in already," Kunzite called, rather irritated that he hadn't
been obeyed instantly.
   The soldier walked in and stood before Kunzite where in sat on a
crate, scribbling notes to himself in his journal, and marking areas
on a map pinned to the wall.
   "Yes, what is it?" Kunzite asked, not looking up.
   "I wished to speak with you about something, Lord Kunzite."
   Kunzite glanced up, putting aside his work for a moment.  He
recognized that voice.  It was his protege, whom he had been training
personally.  He had certainly proved himself in the last battle,
blocking a blow meant for Zoisite.
   "You seem troubled," Kunzite commented, for lack of anything
better to say.
   "Yes, milord."
   "Well, tell me, what's troubling you?"
   "That foreign woman of the prince's . . ."
   "Yes?"  Kunzite thought he had a glimmer of what was troubling the
boy.  Ever since Endymion's return, rumors had been circulating that
he was involved with a woman from the Moon Kingdom.  The rumors were,
of course, absolutely true to a certain extent, but many of the men
were rather xenophobic.  He looked to the soldier to see what his
reply would be.  He did *not* expect such a violent outburst.
   "Don't trust her.  Don't trust any of them!"
   "Them?" Kunzite asked confused.
   "The foreigners.  They're not here for peace, all of the things
that they've been spouting are lies!  The princeÑall of usÑare in
danger."
   Kunzite thought of Minako's smiling face and shut his eyes in
quiet despair and denial.  <No, it cannot be.>
   "It is, my lord!" the boy insisted and Kunzite started, unaware
that he had spoken his thoughts out loud.
   "I cannot believe it to be so.  My duty lies to my lord Prince,
and he trusts them with his life."
   "Don't let him!" the boy hissed vehemently.  "It will only lead to
his downfall.  Keep them as far from him as possible."
   Unable to banish Minako from his mind and the sweet sincerity of
the love that had shone in her eyes, Kunzite firmed his resolve and
turned to the boy.  "I'm sorry, but I must trust in my Prince's
judgment."  He stood, gathering his things.  He needed to discuss his
latest strategy with Endymion.
   The boy looked up at him in defeat.  "Will you at least think over
what I have said?" he asked quietly.
   Indecision surfaced in the Guardian's eyes for a moment before he
turned away and said so softly that he was barely audible, "Yes, I
will . . . Clinden."  Then with a sweep of his cape, he was out the
door of the tent.
   Clinden stared after him, triumph and doubt warring in his eyes.
The need for vengeance won over the two and he whispered, "Thank you,
Lord Kunzite."  <I will have my REVENGE ON YOU!!!  I WILL!!!>  His
eyes blazed red, and somewhere an evil voice laughed.

*Two weeks later*
*The southern border*

   The battle being waged was fierce.  Everywhere men were dying, run
through by youma swords or simply ripped to pieces.  It was a scene
that Minako would have remembered well, still did remember in fact,
and she would have wept at the sight.  Still there cannot be a war
without casualties and in this war, there were more than enough . . .

   Clinden lay dying, Kunzite kneeling at his side, desperately
trying to staunch the flow of blood.  Clinden coughed and red blood
trickled down the side of his mouth.  With one begrimed hand he
pulled Kunzite's hand away from the wound and forced the General to
look at him.  "Milord Kunzite, I will pass to the Other Realm soon.
My time grows short, but before I go, you must promise me . . .
something."
   Kunzite stared at the bloody, battered soldier that had once been
his friend and protege and whispered, "What?  What must I promise
you?"
   "Promise," Clinden coughed out, "that you will avenge the death of
my family . . .  That those who killed them shall pay."
   "Yes, yes, anything!"
   "Promise that you'll kill them . . .  Don't let yourself be hurt
like I was.  The strangers . . . can't be trusted, no matter how
sincere they seem.  There is evil at work in the land of the living,
but soon, I will be beyond those cares.  Promise me . . ."  Clinden's
eyes took on a glazed look and whispering, "Promise . . ." he died.
   Kunzite stared at the body for an instant, then he let out an
inarticulate cry of grief.  He pulled off his cape and draped it over
the body, then knelt before the still form, head bowed, sword laid in
front of him  "I promise," Kunzite swore solemnly, fighting his
tears, "that your family's murderers will pay.  I don't know how or
where, but you and your family will be avenged.  I, Kunzite, Guardian
Griffin of Prince Endymion of Earth, First General of Earth, and
Prince of the Realm of Power, swear it on my life and the lives of
everyone that I hold dear."  He stood, sheathing his sword and,
turning to stare at the second advancing horde, he repeated to
himself, "I swear it."

*Four days later*
*Back at the Earth Palace*

   "We cannot trust the Lunars.  They are the enemy and must be dealt
with."
   "WHAT?!!!" Jadeite shouted, slapping his hands down on the table
as he surged to his feet.  "What do you mean, "*dealt with*"?!!!"
   Zoisite murmured something to Jadeite which seemed to calm him
down some.
   "What exactly are you saying?" Nephrite asked in a dangerous voice
as Jadeite flopped back in his seat and refused to look Kunzite in
the eye.
   Zoisite looked up from where he stood next to Jadeite.  "What *do*
you mean, Kunzite?"  He eyed him oddly, seeming to say, 'How can you
think such things?'
   Kunzite drew in a deep breath.  Then let it out in a long, tired,
sigh.  "Look, I'm simply saying that maybe we should make certain of
who is the true enemy."
   All three of the other Generals shot him the same look at the same
time.  The one that said, 'How the HELL can you even SUGGEST that!'
   Again Jadeite was the first to speak.  He sprang to his feet and
walked up to Kunzite, glaring at him.  "I don't like want you're
insinuating, Kunz."  The other two Generals drew in a quick breath at
the malice in his tone and the term of disrespect.
   Kunzite's eyes narrowed as he glared back at Jadeite.  "I'm not
"insinuating" anything.  I'm stating a fact.  The Lunars are
dangerous and their presence on Earth cannot be tolerated."
   "I think you have more things to worry about on the *home* front
before you start blaming our troubles on others!  You want a fight?
We've already got one.  We have to stop the Cathals.  *They're* the
enemy, not the Lunars!"
   "The Lunars are a greater threat - especially the Sailor Senshi."
   "Are you INSANE?!!  The Senshi are our allies - our friends."  <<And
more,>> his brain silently added as he recalled memories of Rei and
him.  "They're on OUR side."
   "You think I don't know that?  But for how long?  We both know
that Queen Serenity wasn't too thrilled with our presence.  This was
*her* kingdom.  How long do you think it'll be before she decides she
wants it back again?!"
   "Serenity may not like us much, but she would never-I mean for
Earth's sake she's been away from it for nearly THREE HUNDRED
YEARS!!!  What makes you think that she'll even want it back?  She's
got the whole moon.  Why would she even bother with this kingdom?"
   "Because it's home and nobody can stay away from their true home
for long.  Who says that she just wants *this* kingdom?  She's got
the power to take over the whole world.  And absolute power corrupts
absolutely, or haven't you learned that by now?  Just because you
don't want to believe it doesn't make it any less true."
   Jadeite's eyes sparked.  "What is wrong with you?  Does any of
this make any sense at all?!  LISTEN TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING!!!  Rei
and the others are incapable of doing any of what you said.  They're
the same as us.  They're people, Kunzite, not the monsters that
you're making them out to be!  They're our *friends*!"
   "Don't act more like a fool than you already are.  You're not
thinking straight.  That *girl* has addled your brains.  You're
better off without her kind, Jadeite."
   Jadeite's eyes burned a little brighter.  "That *girl*, as you so
put it, is the love of my life, and I'll be damned if I'll let you
talk that way about her!  I've followed you for the last fifteen
years of my life, served under you, taken your orders like a good
subordinate; I've even been your friend, but if you don't apologize
*NOW*, then we're through, and leader or not, I will not serve under
you."
   Kunzite growled out through gritted teeth.  "I don't need to
apologize.  Dammit, Clinden is DEAD!!!" he found himself shouting and
tried to calm down but found that he couldn't.  "His death is the
Lunars' doing, them and your "love"  If you don't want to serve under
me, then don't.  Get out."
   "Fine," Jadeite breathed, vehemently, his bright blue eyes still
glaring into Kunzite's, "I will.  And you . . ." he licked his lips,
savoring the words with a savage satisfaction as he pronounced each
syllable, "Can.  Go.  To.  Hell."  He whirled about on his heel, his
cape flapping behind him and stalked out.  As he reached the doorway,
he stopped for just an instant, his back still to Kunzite and said in
a low voice, "Don't worry, I'll be sure to tell Venus what a traitor
you are."  Then without another word, he went through the door and
was gone.
   Kunzite, who had stiffened at the sound of "Venus", a sharp pain
stabbing through him, now simply glared at Jadeite's retreating back,
angry.  He was angry at Jadeite, at the world, at himself.  He turned
away only to be faced with the stony stares of his other two comrades
in arms.
   "You bastard," Nephrite hissed.  "You had no right!"
   "I had every right!"
   Zoisite spat defiantly at his feet, an unreadable look glittering
in his green eyes, as he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"Not anymore.  Until you realize that what you did was unforgivable,
I'll have nothing to do with you.  I hope you realize exactly what
you've done . . . and the consequences."  He ducked his head away but
whipped it back to face Kunzite, his green eyes bright with barely
contained fury.  "You know, I'm sorry that Clinden died, but that
doesn't give you the right to say what you said!  Clinden was a good
man, but turning on your friends isn't right!  It never is.  At any
other time I'd feel sympathy for you, but right now, I can't."
Shutting his eyes, he breathed in, then said, "I step down from your
service, Lord Kunzite."  Then he slowly walked out.
   Now only Kunzite and Nephrite were left alone in the room
together.  The brown-haired General spoke first, his eyes cold.  "I
trust Mako with my life.  Even more, I trust her with my heart.  And
in doing so, I trust and respect her people, which is a helluvalot
more than I can say about you right now.  They're good people, and I
used to think that you were, too."
   Kunzite felt his resolve faltering, "I-" but then he straightened
and pulled himself together.  "The Lunars deserve nothing but
contempt from us."
   "And you," Nephrite uttered steadily, almost sorrowfully, his
resigned gaze never wavering, "deserve nothing but contempt from me."
Then he too turned his back on Kunzite and exited the room.
   And Kunzite was alone.  Again.
   And it was not a pleasant feeling.

*On the Moon*

   Rei felt the breeze and turned as she sensed a familiar presence.
<It can't be.>
   "Rei."
   "Jade."
   They looked at one another, the battered warrior and the shining
beauty.  Then Rei said-
   "I don't know whether to kiss you or to kill you, you imbecile!"
   Jadeite smiled, his first one in a long time.  "If you kiss me
first then kill me, I'll die a happy man."
   Rei's lips quirked in amusement, then she obligingly gave him his
reward for returning.
   After the kiss, she looked up at him anxiously.  "What's the
matter?  Where're the others?  Is everyone all right?  You're not
here to bring ill tidings, are you?"
   "Only that Kunzite is a damn fool."  He strode to a bench and sat
down.
   Rei followed him.  "You had better not let Venus catch you saying
things like that.  She's head over heels in love with him."
   "I know," he muttered morosely, glaring at the ground.
   Rei suddenly thought of something.  "In fact, we can't let anyone
catch you *here*!  You're *still* not allowed here, Jade!"
   He looked up.  "You're right.  Damn, I forgot.  All right, what'll
we do?"
   "Well, you could go home, but I wouldn't like that very much."
   "Neither would I."
   "I'll simply hide you in my quarters until it's safe for you to go
home."
   "Actually, it's safe now . . ."
   "But you have to tell me all the news first!  And, I don't want
you to leave so soon."
   Jadeite smiled.

*Back on Earth*

  "You did WHAT?!!!"  Endymion paced about agitatedly.  "What the
Hell were you thinking, Kunzite?"
   "I guess I wasn't, my prince."
   "I guess you weren't.  There's only one thing to do.  Go apologize
and retrieve Jadeite from wherever he went."
   "I can't do that, my lord."
   "What?"
   "Not until I am sure."
   "Well, *I'm* sure and you had better be!  Your accusations are
nigh treasonous."
   "I know."
   Endymion arrested Kunzite's eyes.  "Can you truly tell me that you
are absolutely certain of this, in your heart of hearts?"
   Kunzite found that he could not answer.

*On the Moon*

   Princess Serenity walked through the gardens, pausing in front of
the forget-me-nots, a newly cut rose in her hand.  "Forget me not,"
she whispered, thinking of Endymion.  She inhaled the wondrous scent
of the rose and sighed.
   Her calm wonderings were interrupted when a whirlpool of darkness
swirled open behind her and snatched her up.  She left out a cry,
dropping the rose which fell to the ground, its petals scattering in
the wind as the darkness engulfed her.
   "MINNA!" she screamed.  "MAMO-CHAN!"