Disclaimer: As much as I wish I did, I did not come up with these characters. All of them, including the settings and Young Blades itself, are owned by PAX TV. What is mine, however, is the complete love of the program, although I am forced to share that opinion with millions of others. I don't mind, though: I'm willing to share this once!

Prologue

Gerard has been gone for four months now, Jacqueline thought, kneeling by her brother's grave. She looked down at the little wooden cross that d'Artagnan had helped her bring over and smiled weakly. At least she still had her friends.

Two weeks later, Jacqueline had been back for another visit to her farm. Only this time, it was for a different reason. She hadn't told anyone of her departure; she just sneaked out of the garrison after dark with the intention of being back before dawn. It's funny how nothing quite turns out the way we expect it to, though.

A Journey to the Past

The forest was a dull grey; soon it would be too dark to see. Jacques had meant to be back hours ago. She groaned slightly as she thought about the length it would be until she reached the garrison. Duval would be pissed. D'Artagnan would be, too, she thought, after he got over the initial shock and questioning. She knew she shouldn't have gone, but there was something inside her that would not let it go. She had to see if the stone was still there. It had meant so much to her all those years ago. She couldn't believe she had forgotten about it. The message from the Americas informing her of Gerard's illness brought all of the memories flooding back. She had remembered that day very clearly. It was a Sunday morning six years earlier, right before mass.

Memories

"Come now, Jacqueline! You can't win every match." Gerard whined. "But I can try!" Jacqueline suddenly thrust her wooden rapier forward, its point landing directly in front of her brother's nose. "Ok, I'll yield this time. But only because it's your birthday." Jacqueline smiled as she lowered her weapon, "Merci". Gerard suddenly laughed at his sister. "You're filthy! Maman will be upset with me again if I let you go off to mass looking like that."

"Don't call Mere Esther 'Maman', Gerard. She is not our mother." Jacqueline sighed. Gerard realized that she was thinking about their mother again. It had been ten years since her passing, but they both missed her so much. Especially on days like this. It wasn't fair. A mother should be there for her daughter's twenty-first birthday. Now it was his turn to sigh. "I've got something for you." Jacqueline's worried face softened, smoothing out her forehead and showing off too-rosy cheeks. "I know it's not much, but…" He reached into his pocket and began pulling out a chain. Slowly, it unraveled out of his pocket. As the end appeared, Jacqueline could see a slight shimmer. "It was mother's. She had it made into a necklace and told me to keep it safe for you. She thought you might find it someplace else. She wanted me to give it to you when I thought you were ready. She would have given it to you herself but…well, anyway, I have it still and now it's yours." Jacqueline could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. "You've kept it for ten years?" "Over, actually. The stone is from the beach on which you took your first steps. You wanted me to get it for Maman." Jacqueline's tears were spilling over now. "But you wouldn't," she remembered, "I did it myself and then you noticed I was walking and began to scream. The other people thought you were drowning or something."

"I was still on the beach"

"You were ten years old. You got into so much trouble that year that anything could've been happening. I started to cry, thinking you'd been hurt. Father ran over and saw me, too."

"Then he began to scream!" They laughed at the memory. "Maman never forgot about it. She cherished that stone and wanted you to have it." He attached the clasp and smiled down at her. He placed a kiss upon her forehead, hands on her shoulders, and then looked at her for a moment. "You look like her, sister." She smiled. "Now, let's go. Mother Esther will tell Papa if we are late."