Punishment and Justice
Jadeite was in his sleep of torment for what seemed like years. The nightmarish images have come to dominate his existence as had the cold from his crystal prison, the only that kept his sanity intact was his hatred of the Senshi.
"Do you know?"
The voice echoed inside his head with such clarity nothing else existed for him.
"If the question who are you than I don't know." He said in his mind.
"Oh you know me."
It took him a second but he remembered her with all of his hatred. "Sailor Mars, Rei Hino."
"So you do remember me."
"How did you find this place?"
"That doesn't matter; what matters is that soon this punishment of yours will end."
"What part of the Eternal Punishment don't you understand? And I thought you would be happy to see me is this state."
"I don't take pleasure in the suffering of others; I won't sink down to your level."
"Is that why you want to free me, to prove your own moral superiority?"
"Answer my first question; do you know why you are in there?"
"I failed my queen, I failed to defeat you. That is why I must endure this sleep for eternity."
"And these nightmares of yours, do you see your victims in any way?"
"What do those worms have to do with this? My queen could care less about them when putting me here."
"As I thought, if it was different I would leave you to this punishment. But there is something missing both from your queen's intentions and your regrets."
"What?"
"This has nothing to do with all the people you hurt or the pain they felt. You are just here for failing an evil witch not for your misdeeds."
Jadeite began to feel afraid, even more afraid than was alone in the eternal sleep; but he couldn't determine why.
"There is a difference between Punishment and Justice it because of that difference I have to put an end to this eternal sleep, and you along with it."
Jadeite had more confused feelings within himself, he had wanted out even if it meant his death, but now something about Mars releasing him just made him wish she never came.
"Wait, I must fill my duty to my queen."
"This eternal nightmare means nothing if there is no justice in it for everyone you hurt or destroyed. So while it may seem like less of a punishment at least this will give at least some sense of justice. I can tell what you really are afraid of now is facing justice, but I won't let Beryl have the last word in the fate of black hearted fiend like you."
Mars formed a fiery bow and arrow.
"MARS FLAME…"
"No wait!"
"SNIPER!"
Mars realized the arrow which shattered the crystal prison and embedded itself in Jadeite's heart. He stood in knelt position clutching the arrow but was racked with so much pain he could not pull it out. He tried to scream but didn't have the strength to open his mouth so it came out as a pain filled growl. The arrow's flames spread around him until both were obscured by a column of flame. When the flames dissipated there was not even ash was left where Jadeite once stood.
Mars then turned around without a word and left the cold void.
Rei found Usagi waiting for her when she returned to the shrine and felt a bit of shame. "I know how you feel about destroying enemies, but I felt it had to be done."
"Actually under the circumstances, I say that was probably the most merciful thing that could have been done for him. At least his Star Seed can now go back to the cauldron and it can be born again one day."
"But how can we be sure he won't become another enemy?"
"We can't, but you should never let fear keep you from tempering justice with mercy. If we don't then we risk becoming like those we fight."
"Maybe you're right."
"Come on. I think we both need some ramen."
Rei then followed Usagi, ready for a new day.