He was one of Earth's finest Generals before Beryl, before Jupiter. He was clever, strong and totally loyal to his Prince, Endymion. He never wavered in his duty and never wanted to. He loved Earth and wanted to protect it and so he strove to rise among it's protectors until he was surpassed only by Malachite and Endymion himself. He wanted nothing more than to live out his days as Endymion's Protector and he knew that he would carry out that duty even to the cost of his life.

But then he met Jupiter. On patrol inside the palace he spotted her sneaking past his guards and immediately engaged her in battle, only to find that she was a far stronger fighter than he. In a matter of moments she pinned him to the floor but as he lay helpless expecting the death blow at any second he felt her release him. He sprang to his feet but she was gone, the hallway echoing with her laughter and all he could remember was the flash of pink on her ear as she'd turned to face him.

From that time on he saw her frequently but always at a distance and never for more than a few seconds. It was only months later that he discovered she was one of the legendary Sailor Scouts, a Protector of the Moon Princess but also a Princess in her own right (The Princess of the Planet Jupiter no less). Her identity revealed, he lost all hope of meeting her on equal ground for he was but a commoner, a soldier and she was Royalty, a part of the Silver Millennium. One such as he had no right to even speak to her let alone love her. For love her he did, and it cost him.

As negotiations with the Moon for Earth's entry into the Silver Millennium came to a close, Prince Endymion was called to the Moon in order to celebrate their conclusion and as such his Generals went with him too. They stepped from the shuttle onto the telepad on the moon and beheld a wondrous sight. Waiting to greet them were six ladies of the Moon Court. Queen Serenity herself came forward to greet them but Nephrite had eyes only for the four Sailors who flanked Princess Serena and one in particular. Sailor Jupiter caught his eye and winked, her ponytail bouncing and her pink rose earrings shining as she did so. But their shine paled in comparison to the smile she then bestowed on him. It lit her face like the sun at noon and Nephrite knew then that loving her was the only option left to a man bestowed with such a priceless gift and even as his heart yearned for another such gift his mind told him it would never be.

At the ball that night he and his fellow Generals were relieved of their duties as Protectors of Endymion for Queen Serenity herself guaranteed his safety with the Imperium Silver Crystal. Dressed in their formal regalia as Generals of Earth they joined the crowds of guests enjoying the occasion. Uncomfortable in situations like this and unable to enjoy them as his fellow Generals did he withdrew to one of the enclosed balconies to gaze out across the Moon Kingdom and behold the splendor of Earth as it shone in the sky above.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" A voice said next to him.

"Yes it is, I only wish that such beauty could lift my spirits for they are weary of being low," he turned to see who was speaking and immediately dropped to his knees before the Princess of Jupiter, blushing at being caught miserable on such a happy occasion.

"Oh stop that," she said, irritated. "I'm not some goddess to demand worship. Stand up and look me in the eye. Goodness knows you were able to six months ago."

Nephrite slowly rose and reluctantly looked her in the eye, "I did not know who you were back then My Lady and I should not have hindered you as I did for you must have been on an important mission. Please forgive me for giving you such a grave insult."

To his great surprise, she burst out laughing. He stood there his facing going red with embarrassment and she only had to look at him to set herself off again. When she was finally able to catch her breath, she was leaning against the balcony for support. Finally she grinned at him.

"Important mission huh? Nope it wasn't anything of the sort. I was dragging Miss Head-Over-Heels Princess Serenity back to the Moon Kingdom. Again. She and lover-boy are quite the handful."

Nephrite was puzzled, "What do you mean? The Princess has never been to Earth. How could she fall in love with someone from there?"

Jupiter grinned at him again, "Oh you think so huh, then explain this."

She peeked out the curtain and then grabbed his arm. Pulling him over she pointed through the curtains to the dance floor. Princess Serenity was dancing in the arms of none other than Prince Endymion and from the way he held her it was clear that this was more than a courtesy dance for the two ambassadors. He drew back from the curtains even more confused than before

"But how?" he asked

Jupiter grinned again, "They met each other when Serenity snuck down to Earth in order to see what it's really like. They fell in love at first sight and from then on it's been pure hell trying to keep them apart long enough for negotiations to safely conclude."

He finally put two and two together and his mouth fell open in astonishment, "So that's where Endymion's been disappearing to all this time! He'd disappear for hours and then come back with this dreamy look on his face and he made us swear not to tell anyone."

He stepped back to the curtain and gazed at the couple, wishing he and Jupiter could become that close.

"They're quite the couple you know. Serenity's been breaking hearts since she turned 14, unintentionally of course but your Endymion there swept her right off her feet," Jupiter sighed. "Isn't it romantic? I wish someone could do that to me. It must be so much fun to be in love."

Nephrite did a double take. 'Where had the stern controlled Sailor Scout gone? This girl was a hopeless romantic and not at all concerned with the impropriety of Prince Endymion sneaking off to meet with the Princess of the Moon, especially during such delicate negotiations!

Jupiter obviously could read his mind or something because as soon as those thoughts passed through his mind she said "You know it's not as bad as you think, him sneaking off to see her. They are engaged, it's only natural they should want to get a little privacy in order to get to know one another."

Nephrite stared at her "Can you read minds?" he asked her.

She laughed again, not the high tinkle of the highborn ladies on Earth but a full laugh that sounded as sweet to him as music.

"No but from your expression it was pretty easy to guess what you were thinking."

"Oh, that makes me feel better."

"Do you want to dance?" she asked suddenly, and Nephrite nearly fell over once his mind finished processing the words, only saving himself from disaster by grabbing the balcony's waist high balustrade.

"What?" he exclaimed.

Jupiter sighed and tapped her foot impatiently, "I said do you want to dance with me?"

"But, but I can't I'm only a soldier and you are a princess how can I dance with one who is akin to the stars where I am a shadow on the ground?"

Jupiter looked as if she was considering his statement. "Well I'll note your protest" she said cheerfully then grabbed his arm and dragged him off the balcony and out onto the dance floor anyway.

She swirled into his arms in a rush of silk and then they were off. Nephrite had learned the dances of the Moon as a matter of course when he found out that Endymion's presence would be required near the end of negotiations and he was quite a good dancer. Jupiter laughed as they performed the steps to a particularly difficult dance, flawlessly moving from step to step they matched each other perfectly and slowly Nephrite began to enjoy himself.

With the exception of Serenity and Endymion, the pair put the other couples to shame dance after dance as they floated across the dance floor, and as the opening bars of a slower tempo song began Nephrite automatically pulled Jupiter close. Their bodies fit together perfectly and though he felt himself blushing at being so close to such a perfect woman yet another part of him rejoiced at being able to hold her at least just this once.

Jupiter rested her head against his chest and put her arms around his neck as the music continued and slowly a glimmering of hope sparked in his chest. Maybe he was worthy of her. He was a General of Earth after all, second only to Malachite and also a Protector of the Prince. Was Jupiter not also a Protector? The thought gave him courage and as he led her off the dance floor at the end of the dance he dared to smile at her. She nodded at him and smiled back, once again lighting up the room with her radiance. As they walked out onto the balcony again she took his hand.

"So you have done the math and realised that we are not so far apart?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Then you will not mind if I do this." Suddenly she rose up on tip-toe and kissed him full on the lips. Instinctively Nephrite's arms went around her, pulling her close to him while her arms went around his neck, deepening the kiss.

From that moment on Nephrite and Jupiter were as inseparable as the ones they guarded, indeed it made it infinitely easier for everyone because although Jupiter and Nephrite's relationship was frowned upon at first by members of the court Queen Serenity immediately gave them her blessing and by official extension gave it to Endymion and Serena as well.

Time passed and the love between them grew deeper and ever stronger but then the news of tragedy on Earth reached the Moon and Endymion and his Protectors were summoned home. The parting between the couples was heart-breaking for all yet they drew strength from each other. Correspondence was thick between all of them as time passed, letters were written daily and visits were occasionally allowed; however the evil on Earth grew stronger and stronger until finally Queen Beryl and Metallia made their attack on the capital city of Earth.

All were evacuated to the Moon and Endymion stayed until the last child was gone before preparing to leave himself. Beryl reached the Palace just as he was about to leave, she destroyed the Palace Gates with one blow and her armies poured inside killing all they came across. As his four Generals fought off Beryls' warriors and they retreated to the telepads Beryl attacked herself. Endymion entered the last carrier wounded and assisted by one of his Generals the other three faced Beryl while he prepared the carrier for launch. Beryl howled in fury as protected by the three the carrier disappeared from beneath her attack, winging its way to the Moon and taking Endymion to safety while his Generals fell to Beryl's wrath. They would return only a month later but they were no longer Protectors.

Serena and her four Guardians watched in horror as the four previous Generals of Earth led Queen Beryl's armies against the Moon Kingdom and the Silver Millennium. They laid waste to the Moon and its cities and as the final battle raged Jupiter found herself facing Nephrite. Alone and already wounded she fought hard and well. She called to Nephrite, begging him to fight the evil influence of Metallia but he couldn't hear her. All he heard was the sound of Metallia's voice ringing in his ears commanding him to kill the one he'd loved. Finally as she lay beneath his blade bleeding and defeated Jupiter raised one hand and touched his face.

"I love you Nephrite," she whispered "I always will and I know this isn't your fault. I forgive you for what you've done. Break free Nephrite, I give you the last of my power."

A spark jumped from her fingertips to him and he felt a tiny piece of his frozen heart start to melt under its influence, warming slightly from the cold depths where Metallia had imprisoned it. However Metallia's power rose once again and extinguished the spark in an instant. As he felt the cold consume him once more he howled his grief at losing it for that spark had lit up the empty corners of his heart and now he was left in darkness.

Jupiter's hand fell to the ground and the light in her eyes went out. As Queen Serenity's power blazed throughout the Moon Kingdom it reflected off the pink rose earrings she wore, searing its way through his eyes and into his soul. The power of the Silver Crystal burned him out of existence, sealing his heart and soul within itself and sending him along with all the other combatants into the future, there to be reborn.

As he fell into golden light he heard Queen Serenity's words "You will be free again.