NEVER AGAIN

Chapter 24

That was stupid question to ask of my own sister. She is a seer and from Mars after all. Saturn can foresee a future and she is bound to keep that future to herself, a secret. My sister on the other hand does not. She can interfere if she chooses to. However, she has limitations of that sight as I do.

"My name is Lea. I am Ray's twin sister, older by a couple of minutes. As to where I have been, Jadeite, I was here in Tokyo. Before you ask, I was following my orders and you know quite well I never break them." Turning to her brother Lea spoke once again.

"I did not do the reading of any sort, nor did I see the future, brother. You know me well enough brother and you also know my biggest secret, my ability to speak with our home planet. She was the one who gave me knowledge, not all, but most."

"What about your memories?"

"I have them all. Princess Amy of planet Mercury and Princess Mina of planet Venus please look within and find out what you need to do. Time grows short."

"What do you mean?" both spoke at the same time.

"I am sorry but that is all that I can tell you." Those words were said with finality, both girls and senshi within knew that they would not be able get anything more of this Martian Mistress. However, Lea spoke once more a warning to all mostly to the girls.

"Don't try asking others for explanation for you can make this situation worse than better. Please do try to understand what I am trying to convey."

"We understand." Replied Mina for both girls and continued.

"There are many things that we don't know and we'll need to search for. I know that our memories are still partially locked from us. I am also aware that both Amy and I need to ask Serenity to forgive us. It hasn't been long, but looking at Lita I have realized that there were a lot of changes that occurred to her and now, on top of all of this, Ray has been banished and you are here in her place. I have more to say, but I'll leave that for a later time. It's better that way. Anyways, there are still a lot of questions that you need to answer and they are waiting."

"You have grown a lot Lady Minako. I hope that everything that you have set out for yourself will come to bare fruit."

"Who are you, really?"

"Where have you been?"

"What is your real name in this day and age?"

"Will you be taking Mars place a senshi?"

"I have not changed. I am whom I have been born to be. No more, no less. Serenity has been aware of my presence for some time. There are things that needed to be kept a secret, at least for a time. I still have orders to follow not only from Princess Serenity, but also from the Queen. I believe you understand what I speak of. I have all of my memories intact. How I got them that is a long story and is better left for a later time or date. As I have said previously I have been here in Tokyo, born and raised. Yes, brother I am one of Fay's descendants. No you would have found out about it. Sol would not have told you. I made sure to erase everything. The Solar Knight was sworn to secrecy. I've kept my name as it was during the Silver Millennium, Lea. As to whether or not I will be taking my sisters place as a senshi of Mars it is up to Serenity and the Planet. Tem it is also up to you now, what path you will choose."

"What do you mean by that last statement?"

"Mars has been banished. Stripped of her power. Her death will come soon, within hours, I would say. Tem is a guardian to the senshi of Mars. However, if you remember, every senshi is allowed to choose her own guardian and vice versa. So whomever becomes a new senshi of Mars, Tem can choose to guide her or not. You have to look at it from her point of view, for I know if I were in her place it would be hard on me… Think on that."

Jadeite was the first to understand what Lea was saying for he had the same feelings now as well as during the Silver Millennium. In both his lives he truly loved only one woman, Lea. Right now she stood in front of him. However he also loved her younger sister, Ray. It tore at him, those feelings. How is the one to survive knowing that the one that they truly love and should be with is out of reach.

Terra's Royal Guard understood that first. They loved the inner scouts with all their might, but some were still out of reach. They needed to find their way back and quick. As Lea said the time was running out.

Tam knew that what Lea said was true. She would have to make that decision, sooner or later, but what would happen to her then? Where would she go? What would she do?

"Don't worry Tam everything will work out, just fine." Lea spoke.

"How did you know what I was thinking?"

"You are not the first one to think it, nor will you be the last." Lea said calmly.

"Please explaine. You talk in riddles and I don't understand?"

"Tam, ask yourself this question. Am I the first one to loose a ward? Now think what did that guardian do? How did he/she cope with the situation? Every situation is different but the core of the issue is the same, loss of the scout."

In the Grounds, Serenity and Terrance were resting. That was the reason why Terran as well as Sol brought them there. Terrance's inability to handle the crystal drained him too much, where upon his life hung in between this world and the next. With the help and an unlimited time in the Grounds, he would heal and come back into the world of the living a better man.

Serenity was another story. She was already worn out and needed her rest. However, when duty called she answered without second thought. Everyone there was well aware that they would not have been able to stop her from taking part in the battle, from doing her duty. As Endymonion stated earlier; "Serenity would do anything to protect those that she loved no matter the cost." Life of the others mattered more than her own.

Fallon, Terran, Sol and Hotaru needed to wait and support the Lunar twins in their recovery. It was not easy for them to wait they were also worried, not knowing how the battle in the mansion ended. How many injured or even dead were there. To wait, to know what happened was hard. Time flew by, but no mental contact was ever made. Could anyone even get a word to them? Was it even possible? They were in the Grounds where time flew, but in reality only minutes or hours passed. Would they be able to get answers to their worries soon…