Hello! This story is about the Generals and it
is related to the Manga, taking place not long after the
Dark Moon Kingdom.
This story is rated PG (Nothing serious, so don't worry) ^_~
Everyone please email me, I really really would like some input on
this story. Besides, I love to receive emails from ya' all! ~_~
Usual disclaimers: Sailor Moon and all its characters and likeliness
belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha/Toei. English translation is made
possible by DiC.
My email address: ml_eclipse@hotmail.com
= thoughts
[ ] = author's note
All right, on with the show!
============================================================================
GEMSTONE'S OATH
========================= By Cosmos ==================================
Chapter 6: Reawakening
Dark energy swirls around her like a twister pulling at her hair and choking
her with its long incriminating fingers. "You shall die this time,
Selenity," a familiar voice hisses, "This time I will win and your little
city would be mine."
"NO!" she screams, "You will never win! I have defeated you once and I will
defeat you again! You hear me?! I will defeat you again!!!"
"Without your little friends, who will help you fight against me? Besides,
sitting on the throne has made you weak!"
"What?…W-what have you done to them you witch? If you so much as singe a
single hair off of any of them, I will…"
"You will what?" the dark voice interrupts her with a challenging tone.
"You are already too late, little Queen. As we speak, your friends are
dying!" The shadow gives a bone chilling laughter and quickly dissolves
into the dark swirling wind.
"NOOO!"
[end of dream]
"NO!" she screams as she jerks up in bed.
"Selenity?" a sleepy voice beside her calls out with concern, "Honey, are
you all right?"
"An evil has awakened," she says, her voice filled with dread and fear, "We
must get back to Crystal Tokyo…but even then we might be too late."
Meanwhile…
The setting sun bathes the palace in an orange curtain of light. Here and
there people busily stroll through the beautiful streets toward their
destination, whether it be the malls, their friends, or to the comfort of
their homes. Yet, within the very building that stands as a symbol of their
peaceful world, peace is no where to be found. Sorrow and despair now
occupies this once lively place; and to add to the atmosphere of misery,
the last rays of the setting sun dives beneath the horizon, leaving the city
dark and cold. The cloak of night sweeps over the land and drowns out the
lovely songs of birds. Once again, the moon conquers the midnight heaven
and the shadows of night invades the crevices in alleyways and hidden
corners. Among these misty silhouettes stirs a dark shadow unlike any
other. This one is alive, moving with such stealth and silence that no one
around it is aware of its presence. This creature of the dark slowly heads
toward the gateway of the Crystal Palace.
Within the protective walls of the crystal building, four spirits awaken
from their imprisonment within the cold hard walls of beautiful gems. For
years now, the night has become their dawn, and the dawn, their night.
Once again, their ghostly wandering continues until the coming of dawn
forces them back into their prisons.
"All right," Kunzite says, "tonight we go see Mars. Jadeite, you know
where she is, please lead the way."
Jadeite does not reply but does as he is asked to. He leads them out of
the room, down the long hall that contains the mural of a battle he now
remembers all too well, and stops abruptly in front of a majestic door
leading to her room.
"This is it," Jadeite whispers silently with his hands clenched tightly
at his sides. His mind screams at him to turn tail and run…run away from
the past…run away from this cursed night wandering…run away from an endless
death that he now leads…but his heart questions…is he to run away from her
as well?
Yet, before he could answer his heart, Kunzite-noticing his friend's slight
hesitation-quickly grabs his arm and pulls him inside. Once again, the
elegance and warmth of the room meets his gaze, but another picture quickly
captures his attention. A beautiful maiden with long raven colored hair
spread out around her like a pool of dark water sits meditating in front of
a large fire. Her eyes are closed as her soft lips whisper abstruse
enchantments meant only for her ears alone.
"Perhaps we shouldn't bother her now," Jadeite whispers nervously to the
others. Upon the sound of his voice, Mars abruptly stops. Her back
straightens like a vertical pole and her muscles tense as she focuses her
ears to the sound she thought she just heard…and a voice she recognizes.
"It seems she already knows you're here," Kunzite says in a normal tone.
Jadeite jumps and places a palm across his mouth to quickly silence him,
but that is a useless gesture because Mars can only hear him. She can only
hear what her heart hears.
Nephrite looks at Kunzite struggling against a nervous Jadeite and, no
longer able to contain his laughter, breaks out bellowing uncontrollably.
Zoisite notices that Mars is still sitting in the same position despite the
ruckus Nephrite is making. He frowns and says, "Hold it Jadeite."
Jadeite freezes. He turns his attention to Zoisite; his grip on Kunzite's
mouth loosens. Seeing this as an opening, Kunzite quickly breaks away from
his hold. "What is it Zoisite?" Jadeite asks with a frown.
"Jadeite?" Mars whispers with disbelief. "I-is that..you?"
"She can only hear you Jadeite," Zoisite says matter-of-factly.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jadeite shouts in frustration. "She
can hear you guys too."
Zoisite shakes his head, "Nope, only you."
"And why is that?"
"Why is what?" Mars asks. "Jadeite….?"
"I told you-"
"Don't…even say it," Jadeite interrupts him.
"Don't say what?" Mars asks in bewilderment. She looks wildly around her,
but all she can see is the empty air around her. "Jeez, I must be losing my
mind," she says to herself. "I'm actually believing I heard him."
"Jadeite," Kunzite says, "speak to her, comfort her before she believes
that she is truly going crazy."
"Hearing him," Nephrite says, "anyone would."
Jadeite glares threateningly at Nephrite then he turns and glides toward
Mars. "Mars," he whispers her name into her ears.
"Jadeite?"
"It's me."
"Am I going crazy? I'm actually hearing your voice."
"No, my love," he says in a distraught tone, "I am truly here."
"But…but I can't see you," Mars cries. "W-why can't I see you?" He gazes
at her mournful face and detects faint droplets of tears forming in her
beautiful eyes.
Oh, what can I say? He thinks, I can't just say, 'Well Mars, the
reason you can't see me is because I'm dead and you're not.' No…
"Jadeite, are you still here?" she asks the thin air when he fails to answer
her.
"Yeah…yeah I'm still here."
"Jadeite, stop playing around and show yourself!" she says in irritation.
"I really can't show myself."
"Why not?!"
"Because I'm only a shadow of what I used to be." That should do it, he
thinks, that is a good answer.
"What are you talking about? Jadeite, this is not funny!"
Guess not.
"Don't you remember the conversation we had yesterday night? I told you then
why you can't see me."
"Yesterday night? You mean…I was not hallucinating yesterday?"
"Afraid not, love."
"Why is this happening, Jadeite? Why are you here?"
He can hear his heart crack at the question she just launched at him.
Oblivious to the other three around him, he focuses all his attention on
the beautiful goddess before him. His mouth turns from a sad frown to a
thin stubborn line. He is determined to find out, once and for all, if she
still loves him,…or has time washed away that love.
"Don't you want me here?" he asks her, his tone contains slight anger and
sorrow.
"What? No…I mean yes…I mean…oh I don't know what the hell I'm talking about
here," Mars says in misery. "Jadeite," she whispers in a tone revealing a
confused soul, "I have always wished that you are here with me. Do you
remember what you promised me long ago?"
"I do."
"And so do I," she continues, "and I have waited for so many years holding
onto the hopes that you will return…but you never did."
"Mars…"
"No, I understand."
"Look, can we skip this and get onto business?" Nephrite says in agitation.
"Hang on will you?!" Jadeite shouts to him.
"What?" Mars cries indignantly.
"No, no," Jadeite cries, "Not you Mars, I mean Nephrite here."
"Nephrite?" Mars looks around her again, "Is he here with you?"
"Yeah, all three morons."
"Why you…you," Nephrite launches at Jadeite with a fist aiming for his
face. Kunzite quickly holds him back and thus preventing an all out
slugfest.
"Jadeite!" Mars reprimand, "Be nice."
"Ha-ha" Nephrite laughs, "Thank you so much, most kind maiden." He bows low
to her.
"Sorry."
"Jadeite, what is going on here?"
"We…we need your help," he says, "since you are the only one who can hear
us,
actually only me, we thought maybe you might be able to help us. We need
you to find out what is happening to us. Kunzite believes that something
from the past is awakening, and it is seeking something. We all think that
its target is us."
"I don't know," Mars says insecurely, "I may have spiritual powers, but
actively helping ghosts…"
"Please Mars," Jadeite pleads, "you are the only one we can turn to.
Please love, help us…help me."
"Oh, Jadeite," Mars cries, tears escaping from her eyes, "I want to. I
really do, but I don't know if I can."
"Believe in yourself," Jadeite whispers comfortingly to her, "You must
believe."
'You must believe.' Venus's words echo in her mind.
"All right," she sighs heavily, "I'll help you as much as I can. Now,
tell me what is happening to you. Tell me the whole story."
"You must be cautious," a dark voice whispers to her, "the Sailor Soldiers
are much stronger than when you have last encountered them. Their powers
have increased tenfold. Also, there are four other soldiers whom have
joined them. You must make sure they do not enter the fight, or you will
surely lose."
"I will not lose this time," a cruel voice hisses. "Are all the soldiers
in the palace?"
"No," the embodied voice replies, "only the four inner guardians."
"Good, then this will not be so tough after all."
"Metallica!" the other voice reprimands, "I will warn you only one more
time. Do not underestimate them. The four alone can destroy you without
any outside help."
"Then how am I to defeat them alone?" the shadow hisses back.
"I thought you were more intelligent, Metallica," the other says
satirically.
"Do not mock me!" the shadow growls. "I have more power then you will
believe!"
"And you should remember who brought you back, dark Queen," the hidden
voice snaps. "Don't irritate me! Now shut up and listen! I said the four
of them can destroy you, but alone they are weaker then you. Are you
getting that into your little brain?"
"Got it," a sinister smile spreads across her dark face, "and soon I will
get them also."
"And that is what is happening so far," Jadeite finishes his recounts of
their endeavors in the night past.
Mars sits quietly listening to Jadeite's voice. She does not stir even when
he finished. So that is how they remembered, she thinks. So that is why
he did not return…and why they fought for Beryl. She cringes at the words
she had shouted at him long ago…words that sliced so deep into his trapped
soul…words that rang with falsehood. They notice her hands suddenly
clenching tight in her lap. Jadeite looks at her face wondering what she
is thinking about right now that causes the incredible pain and hatred he
sees in her eyes.
Beryl, she thinks, damn you Beryl. How could you have done such a thing?
So many lives have been destroyed by your dark hands and you stood so low as
to pit the ones we've loved and trusted against us? If you are here now, I
would love to show you all the pain and misery you have caused. A sorrow
that will forever be carried in the hearts of those whom had survived…and
survived unto today.
"Mars?" his voice drifts into her thought, awakening her from her raging
hatred.
"Yes?"
"Well, can you help us?"
"Uhh…I don't know if I can, but I think Neo-Queen Selenity can."
"Selenity," he whispers, "is she here?"
"No, the royal family have taken a vacation to the moon. They won't be
back until next week. You'll have to wait until they return."
"Great," Nephrite mumbles.
"Look Nephrite," Kunzite says, "We've waited for over two thousand years,
we can wait for another week."
"Don't worry," a voice hisses from within the shadows, "I don't have to
wait for long."
"What?" they exclaim. Turning quickly around, they see a large dark shadow
looming over the doorway.
"Where upon the moon?" Mars cries out in surprise.
"Nice to meet you again Sailor Mars," the shadow seethes.
"Again?" Mars says in bewilderment, "and where have we met before?"
"My, my," the shadow shakes its head, "what poor memories you sailors have,
but I'm not surprise for such a tiny brain. I should refresh your memory,
now shouldn't I?" A dark tentacle quickly reaches out and wraps itself
around Mars's neck.
Mars gasps in surprise and tries to jump out of the way, but soon realizes
that it is too late. The slimy appendage tightens painfully around her
throat.
"MARS!" Jadeite shouts. He reaches out to grab the tentacle that holds
Mars, but his attempt proves to be useless. His misty hand simply flew
right through them both. "NO!" he screams. He strove to grab the tentacle
again, but again his hand passes right through it.
"Jadeite!" Mars manages to cry through her choked throat, "please help me!"
"Mars, hang on!" he shouts. Again and again and again he launches at the
tentacle that is now slowly squeezing her life away, but once more he passes
right through like the ghost he is.
The others have tried to help Mars also, but their attempts proved to be as
fruitless as his. Kunzite realizes that there is nothing they could do.
They stand pale faced and clenched hands watching their desperate friend
fighting a useless fight.
Jadeite notices his friends standing dejectedly around them watching in
silence as horror upon horror reflects in their eyes. He turns around and
shouts angrily at them, "What the hell are you guys doing? Why aren't you
helping her?"
"There is nothing we can do," Kunzite whispers sadly.
"We are only ghosts, Jadeite" Zoisite says, "We can't even touch them."
"Well, try!" he screams at them with such hatred in his eyes.
"We tried!" Nephrite shouts back, "Do you think we did not try? We are in as
much despair as you are. She is as much of our friend as she is your lover,
but there is nothing we can do! Give it up, Jadeite."
"NO!" he shouts stubbornly, "I refuse to give up! I *will never give up!*
Mars hang on! Hang on love! Please hang on! I can't let you die…not this
time."
Kunzite watches with a heavy heart for he knows that they are helpless to
save Mars. Damnit, he thinks, his fists clenched tight against his
sides, There must be something we can do. We can't let this monster
simply kill her! Jadeite's heartbreaking cries reverberates through
dark air around them tearing at the hearts of his friends.
Never have Kunzite seen such pains and despair on a person's face as he
sees on his friend's. Turquoise eyes burning with such fear, hatred,
hopelessness, and love simultaneously. Reflecting on Jadeites face as
clear as the moonlit sky, the turmoil in his heart. One after another,
various emotions fight each other to conquer his soul as he is fighting
to free her. Two battles raging at once in one torn soul.
Desperate. Futile. Hopeless. Lost. Such words can not even describe
what he is feeling inside…nothing would ever describe what he is going
through…seeing his love dying before his eyes…and he can do nothing.
"Mars!" another voice screams her name. All turns around to see three
Eternal Guardians standing in the doorway, looks of impossible hatred sits
on their faces.
"Mars hang on," Jupiter shouts. Her words echo what he said only moments
before.
"Mercury Eternity Freeze!" the blue soldier shouts, her voice determined
and strong. A blast of arctic storm freezes the shadow's several tentacles.
They break under their own weight thus freeing Mars from the death grip.
Mars fell unconscious to the floor, but her descent is quickly intercepted
by Jupiter. She hastily pulls Mars away from the raging shadow looming over
them. Jadeite watches with relief…but also with pain and envy. Jupiter
saved her, he thinks. She can touch her. She was able to help her, when
I could not. A tear slowly slid down his cheek as sorrow pounds in his
heart. "I'm sorry Mars," he whispers to her when he rushed to her side,
"I'm sorry I could not help you when you've asked me to. I'm sorry…sorry
for everything."
"Jadeite," she barely whispers before the depths of unconsciousness claim
her.
"Mars?" he cries, "please open your eyes, my love. Oh God, no…no…NO!" He
screams her name again and again, but to no avail. Stinging tears of sorrow
and his inability to help her overcomes his soul. From within the distant
room, the turquoise gem begins to glow eerily. Suddenly he feels a sudden
rush of power jolt through his being like lightning through the stormy sky.
"W-what is…happening?" He looks down at his fingers, and to his surprise,
sees them beginning to solidify ever so slowly.
Meanwhile, Jupiter hears Venus gasp in shock as she puts the images of her
dream together with that she is confronting right now. "This can't be," she
cries with disbelief. "You! You're in my dream!" In the wake of her shock,
Venus does not see a free tentacle swinging at incredible speed toward her.
"VENUS!" two voices scream her name simultaneously, but their cry of warning
comes too late as Venus gets struck down by the darkness. At such speed and
with such strength, her body is sent flying toward the wall on the far side
of the room, to land in a heap at the foot of her unseen lover.
Kunzite looks down with unbelievable horror darkening his handsome face.
"Venus!" he cries again. Bending down he reaches for her face with a pale
hand, but, like Jadeite, is unable to touch her. "God no," he whispers in
a broken voice echoing the pain and despair in his heart. "Venus wake up!"
he cries, but he knows that she cannot hear him. Nonetheless, he continues
to call her name, to urge her to awaken…to fight for her life. "Lovely
Aphrodite," he whispers, "please open your eyes. Please Venus! I beg of
you…on my knees…I beg of you to awaken." But she does not move. "Venus,"
he cries now angry at her silence…and at his helplessness, "wake up damnit!
Don't you dare die on me! You will live do you understand! You will live…you
must live!" All the time he yelled at her, his hands constantly reach out to
grab her, hoping to heavens that somehow…someway he will be able to touch
her and possibly shake her to consciousness. Incredible emotions overpower
his senses as he struggles along with her to save her life. Yet, as he
calls her name, he somehow knows that she is fading away fast. If only he
can touch her, possibly transfer some of his life energy into her, then
maybe he can save her. He fights against the invisible hands that hold him
back. He struggles to break the barrier between death and life. He fights
with all his strength to be with her, to comfort her, to protect her, to
help her, to save her.
In the distant, caressed by the soft light of the pale moon, a lilac
colored gem begins to glow with unbelievable power. Feeling a foreign
source of energy flowing through him, he looks down at his hands in
confusion. He sees them glow slightly at first, then stronger
as the flesh upon them slowly solidify.
While Kunzite and Jadeite tries desperately to awaken their love, two other
friends are trying to protect them. "Jupiter Razor Leaf Everlasting!" the
green soldier screams at her attacker, but the monster manages to avoid the
onslaught of razor sharp leaves flying swiftly toward it.
"Mercury Ice Daggers Penetrate!" Again, the attack is evaded. The strange
dark creature is too fast and too strong for only the two of them to
overcome. The monster's swift counterattack sends them both rearing
toward the far side of the room near the open balcony. Jupiter struggles
to regain her footing, but falters as incredible pain burns in her chest
where the attack struck her. Mercury can only raise her head to glance
hopelessly at the monster. Realizing that retreat is inevitable, Mercury
searches for an opening for them to escape, but found none.
Nephrite and Zoisite too struggles to help the two people they love so
deeply. Unseen and unheard, they try to reach out to the female soldiers
fallen nearby. Much like Kunzite and Jadeite, their will to protect their
loves trigger a hidden source of power from deep within, from a place they
never knew exists. What was once seen only as their prison, is now their
source of life. The four gems glow with incredible strength, channeling
the stored power to the four Generals. With great surprise, the four find
themselves, or actually their bodies, slowly solidifying before their
eyes…and other eyes as well.
"What the-?" Mercury hears Jupiter's cry of surprise. She looks quickly in
the direction Jupiter seems to be entranced at and gasps in shock. Like a
disappearing-reappearing act from some old magic trick, four men dressed in
the old soldiers uniform of Earth slowly becomes visible before them.
"Nephrite? Kunzite?"
"Zoisite? Jadeite?"
"The Generals?" the shadow whispers, "How can this be? Beryl said you were
destroyed!"
"Beryl?" Jupiter wonders aloud. "Who are you?"
A sinister laughter rings in the air like a wolf's howl under the full
moon. "Haven't you figured out yet foolish soldiers? I will give you a
hint. Your little Princess manages to destroy me years ago, but now
another power has awakened me so that I can seek my revenge against you
all! Unlike the weakling Beryl, I cannot be stopped!"
"No," Mercury whispers in disbelief, "it can't be. You were dead! You
couldn't have survived that attack."
"I told you, I have strong allies."
"And so do they," Kunzite speaks up pulling attentions back to them once
again, "Queen Metallica."
========================================
[Remember to email me! I always respond, so please do email me
All right, Chapter 7 on its way!]
is related to the Manga, taking place not long after the
Dark Moon Kingdom.
This story is rated PG (Nothing serious, so don't worry) ^_~
Everyone please email me, I really really would like some input on
this story. Besides, I love to receive emails from ya' all! ~_~
Usual disclaimers: Sailor Moon and all its characters and likeliness
belongs to Naoko Takeuchi, Kodansha/Toei. English translation is made
possible by DiC.
My email address: ml_eclipse@hotmail.com
= thoughts
[ ] = author's note
All right, on with the show!
============================================================================
GEMSTONE'S OATH
========================= By Cosmos ==================================
Chapter 6: Reawakening
Dark energy swirls around her like a twister pulling at her hair and choking
her with its long incriminating fingers. "You shall die this time,
Selenity," a familiar voice hisses, "This time I will win and your little
city would be mine."
"NO!" she screams, "You will never win! I have defeated you once and I will
defeat you again! You hear me?! I will defeat you again!!!"
"Without your little friends, who will help you fight against me? Besides,
sitting on the throne has made you weak!"
"What?…W-what have you done to them you witch? If you so much as singe a
single hair off of any of them, I will…"
"You will what?" the dark voice interrupts her with a challenging tone.
"You are already too late, little Queen. As we speak, your friends are
dying!" The shadow gives a bone chilling laughter and quickly dissolves
into the dark swirling wind.
"NOOO!"
[end of dream]
"NO!" she screams as she jerks up in bed.
"Selenity?" a sleepy voice beside her calls out with concern, "Honey, are
you all right?"
"An evil has awakened," she says, her voice filled with dread and fear, "We
must get back to Crystal Tokyo…but even then we might be too late."
Meanwhile…
The setting sun bathes the palace in an orange curtain of light. Here and
there people busily stroll through the beautiful streets toward their
destination, whether it be the malls, their friends, or to the comfort of
their homes. Yet, within the very building that stands as a symbol of their
peaceful world, peace is no where to be found. Sorrow and despair now
occupies this once lively place; and to add to the atmosphere of misery,
the last rays of the setting sun dives beneath the horizon, leaving the city
dark and cold. The cloak of night sweeps over the land and drowns out the
lovely songs of birds. Once again, the moon conquers the midnight heaven
and the shadows of night invades the crevices in alleyways and hidden
corners. Among these misty silhouettes stirs a dark shadow unlike any
other. This one is alive, moving with such stealth and silence that no one
around it is aware of its presence. This creature of the dark slowly heads
toward the gateway of the Crystal Palace.
Within the protective walls of the crystal building, four spirits awaken
from their imprisonment within the cold hard walls of beautiful gems. For
years now, the night has become their dawn, and the dawn, their night.
Once again, their ghostly wandering continues until the coming of dawn
forces them back into their prisons.
"All right," Kunzite says, "tonight we go see Mars. Jadeite, you know
where she is, please lead the way."
Jadeite does not reply but does as he is asked to. He leads them out of
the room, down the long hall that contains the mural of a battle he now
remembers all too well, and stops abruptly in front of a majestic door
leading to her room.
"This is it," Jadeite whispers silently with his hands clenched tightly
at his sides. His mind screams at him to turn tail and run…run away from
the past…run away from this cursed night wandering…run away from an endless
death that he now leads…but his heart questions…is he to run away from her
as well?
Yet, before he could answer his heart, Kunzite-noticing his friend's slight
hesitation-quickly grabs his arm and pulls him inside. Once again, the
elegance and warmth of the room meets his gaze, but another picture quickly
captures his attention. A beautiful maiden with long raven colored hair
spread out around her like a pool of dark water sits meditating in front of
a large fire. Her eyes are closed as her soft lips whisper abstruse
enchantments meant only for her ears alone.
"Perhaps we shouldn't bother her now," Jadeite whispers nervously to the
others. Upon the sound of his voice, Mars abruptly stops. Her back
straightens like a vertical pole and her muscles tense as she focuses her
ears to the sound she thought she just heard…and a voice she recognizes.
"It seems she already knows you're here," Kunzite says in a normal tone.
Jadeite jumps and places a palm across his mouth to quickly silence him,
but that is a useless gesture because Mars can only hear him. She can only
hear what her heart hears.
Nephrite looks at Kunzite struggling against a nervous Jadeite and, no
longer able to contain his laughter, breaks out bellowing uncontrollably.
Zoisite notices that Mars is still sitting in the same position despite the
ruckus Nephrite is making. He frowns and says, "Hold it Jadeite."
Jadeite freezes. He turns his attention to Zoisite; his grip on Kunzite's
mouth loosens. Seeing this as an opening, Kunzite quickly breaks away from
his hold. "What is it Zoisite?" Jadeite asks with a frown.
"Jadeite?" Mars whispers with disbelief. "I-is that..you?"
"She can only hear you Jadeite," Zoisite says matter-of-factly.
"What the hell are you talking about?" Jadeite shouts in frustration. "She
can hear you guys too."
Zoisite shakes his head, "Nope, only you."
"And why is that?"
"Why is what?" Mars asks. "Jadeite….?"
"I told you-"
"Don't…even say it," Jadeite interrupts him.
"Don't say what?" Mars asks in bewilderment. She looks wildly around her,
but all she can see is the empty air around her. "Jeez, I must be losing my
mind," she says to herself. "I'm actually believing I heard him."
"Jadeite," Kunzite says, "speak to her, comfort her before she believes
that she is truly going crazy."
"Hearing him," Nephrite says, "anyone would."
Jadeite glares threateningly at Nephrite then he turns and glides toward
Mars. "Mars," he whispers her name into her ears.
"Jadeite?"
"It's me."
"Am I going crazy? I'm actually hearing your voice."
"No, my love," he says in a distraught tone, "I am truly here."
"But…but I can't see you," Mars cries. "W-why can't I see you?" He gazes
at her mournful face and detects faint droplets of tears forming in her
beautiful eyes.
Oh, what can I say? He thinks, I can't just say, 'Well Mars, the
reason you can't see me is because I'm dead and you're not.' No…
"Jadeite, are you still here?" she asks the thin air when he fails to answer
her.
"Yeah…yeah I'm still here."
"Jadeite, stop playing around and show yourself!" she says in irritation.
"I really can't show myself."
"Why not?!"
"Because I'm only a shadow of what I used to be." That should do it, he
thinks, that is a good answer.
"What are you talking about? Jadeite, this is not funny!"
Guess not.
"Don't you remember the conversation we had yesterday night? I told you then
why you can't see me."
"Yesterday night? You mean…I was not hallucinating yesterday?"
"Afraid not, love."
"Why is this happening, Jadeite? Why are you here?"
He can hear his heart crack at the question she just launched at him.
Oblivious to the other three around him, he focuses all his attention on
the beautiful goddess before him. His mouth turns from a sad frown to a
thin stubborn line. He is determined to find out, once and for all, if she
still loves him,…or has time washed away that love.
"Don't you want me here?" he asks her, his tone contains slight anger and
sorrow.
"What? No…I mean yes…I mean…oh I don't know what the hell I'm talking about
here," Mars says in misery. "Jadeite," she whispers in a tone revealing a
confused soul, "I have always wished that you are here with me. Do you
remember what you promised me long ago?"
"I do."
"And so do I," she continues, "and I have waited for so many years holding
onto the hopes that you will return…but you never did."
"Mars…"
"No, I understand."
"Look, can we skip this and get onto business?" Nephrite says in agitation.
"Hang on will you?!" Jadeite shouts to him.
"What?" Mars cries indignantly.
"No, no," Jadeite cries, "Not you Mars, I mean Nephrite here."
"Nephrite?" Mars looks around her again, "Is he here with you?"
"Yeah, all three morons."
"Why you…you," Nephrite launches at Jadeite with a fist aiming for his
face. Kunzite quickly holds him back and thus preventing an all out
slugfest.
"Jadeite!" Mars reprimand, "Be nice."
"Ha-ha" Nephrite laughs, "Thank you so much, most kind maiden." He bows low
to her.
"Sorry."
"Jadeite, what is going on here?"
"We…we need your help," he says, "since you are the only one who can hear
us,
actually only me, we thought maybe you might be able to help us. We need
you to find out what is happening to us. Kunzite believes that something
from the past is awakening, and it is seeking something. We all think that
its target is us."
"I don't know," Mars says insecurely, "I may have spiritual powers, but
actively helping ghosts…"
"Please Mars," Jadeite pleads, "you are the only one we can turn to.
Please love, help us…help me."
"Oh, Jadeite," Mars cries, tears escaping from her eyes, "I want to. I
really do, but I don't know if I can."
"Believe in yourself," Jadeite whispers comfortingly to her, "You must
believe."
'You must believe.' Venus's words echo in her mind.
"All right," she sighs heavily, "I'll help you as much as I can. Now,
tell me what is happening to you. Tell me the whole story."
"You must be cautious," a dark voice whispers to her, "the Sailor Soldiers
are much stronger than when you have last encountered them. Their powers
have increased tenfold. Also, there are four other soldiers whom have
joined them. You must make sure they do not enter the fight, or you will
surely lose."
"I will not lose this time," a cruel voice hisses. "Are all the soldiers
in the palace?"
"No," the embodied voice replies, "only the four inner guardians."
"Good, then this will not be so tough after all."
"Metallica!" the other voice reprimands, "I will warn you only one more
time. Do not underestimate them. The four alone can destroy you without
any outside help."
"Then how am I to defeat them alone?" the shadow hisses back.
"I thought you were more intelligent, Metallica," the other says
satirically.
"Do not mock me!" the shadow growls. "I have more power then you will
believe!"
"And you should remember who brought you back, dark Queen," the hidden
voice snaps. "Don't irritate me! Now shut up and listen! I said the four
of them can destroy you, but alone they are weaker then you. Are you
getting that into your little brain?"
"Got it," a sinister smile spreads across her dark face, "and soon I will
get them also."
"And that is what is happening so far," Jadeite finishes his recounts of
their endeavors in the night past.
Mars sits quietly listening to Jadeite's voice. She does not stir even when
he finished. So that is how they remembered, she thinks. So that is why
he did not return…and why they fought for Beryl. She cringes at the words
she had shouted at him long ago…words that sliced so deep into his trapped
soul…words that rang with falsehood. They notice her hands suddenly
clenching tight in her lap. Jadeite looks at her face wondering what she
is thinking about right now that causes the incredible pain and hatred he
sees in her eyes.
Beryl, she thinks, damn you Beryl. How could you have done such a thing?
So many lives have been destroyed by your dark hands and you stood so low as
to pit the ones we've loved and trusted against us? If you are here now, I
would love to show you all the pain and misery you have caused. A sorrow
that will forever be carried in the hearts of those whom had survived…and
survived unto today.
"Mars?" his voice drifts into her thought, awakening her from her raging
hatred.
"Yes?"
"Well, can you help us?"
"Uhh…I don't know if I can, but I think Neo-Queen Selenity can."
"Selenity," he whispers, "is she here?"
"No, the royal family have taken a vacation to the moon. They won't be
back until next week. You'll have to wait until they return."
"Great," Nephrite mumbles.
"Look Nephrite," Kunzite says, "We've waited for over two thousand years,
we can wait for another week."
"Don't worry," a voice hisses from within the shadows, "I don't have to
wait for long."
"What?" they exclaim. Turning quickly around, they see a large dark shadow
looming over the doorway.
"Where upon the moon?" Mars cries out in surprise.
"Nice to meet you again Sailor Mars," the shadow seethes.
"Again?" Mars says in bewilderment, "and where have we met before?"
"My, my," the shadow shakes its head, "what poor memories you sailors have,
but I'm not surprise for such a tiny brain. I should refresh your memory,
now shouldn't I?" A dark tentacle quickly reaches out and wraps itself
around Mars's neck.
Mars gasps in surprise and tries to jump out of the way, but soon realizes
that it is too late. The slimy appendage tightens painfully around her
throat.
"MARS!" Jadeite shouts. He reaches out to grab the tentacle that holds
Mars, but his attempt proves to be useless. His misty hand simply flew
right through them both. "NO!" he screams. He strove to grab the tentacle
again, but again his hand passes right through it.
"Jadeite!" Mars manages to cry through her choked throat, "please help me!"
"Mars, hang on!" he shouts. Again and again and again he launches at the
tentacle that is now slowly squeezing her life away, but once more he passes
right through like the ghost he is.
The others have tried to help Mars also, but their attempts proved to be as
fruitless as his. Kunzite realizes that there is nothing they could do.
They stand pale faced and clenched hands watching their desperate friend
fighting a useless fight.
Jadeite notices his friends standing dejectedly around them watching in
silence as horror upon horror reflects in their eyes. He turns around and
shouts angrily at them, "What the hell are you guys doing? Why aren't you
helping her?"
"There is nothing we can do," Kunzite whispers sadly.
"We are only ghosts, Jadeite" Zoisite says, "We can't even touch them."
"Well, try!" he screams at them with such hatred in his eyes.
"We tried!" Nephrite shouts back, "Do you think we did not try? We are in as
much despair as you are. She is as much of our friend as she is your lover,
but there is nothing we can do! Give it up, Jadeite."
"NO!" he shouts stubbornly, "I refuse to give up! I *will never give up!*
Mars hang on! Hang on love! Please hang on! I can't let you die…not this
time."
Kunzite watches with a heavy heart for he knows that they are helpless to
save Mars. Damnit, he thinks, his fists clenched tight against his
sides, There must be something we can do. We can't let this monster
simply kill her! Jadeite's heartbreaking cries reverberates through
dark air around them tearing at the hearts of his friends.
Never have Kunzite seen such pains and despair on a person's face as he
sees on his friend's. Turquoise eyes burning with such fear, hatred,
hopelessness, and love simultaneously. Reflecting on Jadeites face as
clear as the moonlit sky, the turmoil in his heart. One after another,
various emotions fight each other to conquer his soul as he is fighting
to free her. Two battles raging at once in one torn soul.
Desperate. Futile. Hopeless. Lost. Such words can not even describe
what he is feeling inside…nothing would ever describe what he is going
through…seeing his love dying before his eyes…and he can do nothing.
"Mars!" another voice screams her name. All turns around to see three
Eternal Guardians standing in the doorway, looks of impossible hatred sits
on their faces.
"Mars hang on," Jupiter shouts. Her words echo what he said only moments
before.
"Mercury Eternity Freeze!" the blue soldier shouts, her voice determined
and strong. A blast of arctic storm freezes the shadow's several tentacles.
They break under their own weight thus freeing Mars from the death grip.
Mars fell unconscious to the floor, but her descent is quickly intercepted
by Jupiter. She hastily pulls Mars away from the raging shadow looming over
them. Jadeite watches with relief…but also with pain and envy. Jupiter
saved her, he thinks. She can touch her. She was able to help her, when
I could not. A tear slowly slid down his cheek as sorrow pounds in his
heart. "I'm sorry Mars," he whispers to her when he rushed to her side,
"I'm sorry I could not help you when you've asked me to. I'm sorry…sorry
for everything."
"Jadeite," she barely whispers before the depths of unconsciousness claim
her.
"Mars?" he cries, "please open your eyes, my love. Oh God, no…no…NO!" He
screams her name again and again, but to no avail. Stinging tears of sorrow
and his inability to help her overcomes his soul. From within the distant
room, the turquoise gem begins to glow eerily. Suddenly he feels a sudden
rush of power jolt through his being like lightning through the stormy sky.
"W-what is…happening?" He looks down at his fingers, and to his surprise,
sees them beginning to solidify ever so slowly.
Meanwhile, Jupiter hears Venus gasp in shock as she puts the images of her
dream together with that she is confronting right now. "This can't be," she
cries with disbelief. "You! You're in my dream!" In the wake of her shock,
Venus does not see a free tentacle swinging at incredible speed toward her.
"VENUS!" two voices scream her name simultaneously, but their cry of warning
comes too late as Venus gets struck down by the darkness. At such speed and
with such strength, her body is sent flying toward the wall on the far side
of the room, to land in a heap at the foot of her unseen lover.
Kunzite looks down with unbelievable horror darkening his handsome face.
"Venus!" he cries again. Bending down he reaches for her face with a pale
hand, but, like Jadeite, is unable to touch her. "God no," he whispers in
a broken voice echoing the pain and despair in his heart. "Venus wake up!"
he cries, but he knows that she cannot hear him. Nonetheless, he continues
to call her name, to urge her to awaken…to fight for her life. "Lovely
Aphrodite," he whispers, "please open your eyes. Please Venus! I beg of
you…on my knees…I beg of you to awaken." But she does not move. "Venus,"
he cries now angry at her silence…and at his helplessness, "wake up damnit!
Don't you dare die on me! You will live do you understand! You will live…you
must live!" All the time he yelled at her, his hands constantly reach out to
grab her, hoping to heavens that somehow…someway he will be able to touch
her and possibly shake her to consciousness. Incredible emotions overpower
his senses as he struggles along with her to save her life. Yet, as he
calls her name, he somehow knows that she is fading away fast. If only he
can touch her, possibly transfer some of his life energy into her, then
maybe he can save her. He fights against the invisible hands that hold him
back. He struggles to break the barrier between death and life. He fights
with all his strength to be with her, to comfort her, to protect her, to
help her, to save her.
In the distant, caressed by the soft light of the pale moon, a lilac
colored gem begins to glow with unbelievable power. Feeling a foreign
source of energy flowing through him, he looks down at his hands in
confusion. He sees them glow slightly at first, then stronger
as the flesh upon them slowly solidify.
While Kunzite and Jadeite tries desperately to awaken their love, two other
friends are trying to protect them. "Jupiter Razor Leaf Everlasting!" the
green soldier screams at her attacker, but the monster manages to avoid the
onslaught of razor sharp leaves flying swiftly toward it.
"Mercury Ice Daggers Penetrate!" Again, the attack is evaded. The strange
dark creature is too fast and too strong for only the two of them to
overcome. The monster's swift counterattack sends them both rearing
toward the far side of the room near the open balcony. Jupiter struggles
to regain her footing, but falters as incredible pain burns in her chest
where the attack struck her. Mercury can only raise her head to glance
hopelessly at the monster. Realizing that retreat is inevitable, Mercury
searches for an opening for them to escape, but found none.
Nephrite and Zoisite too struggles to help the two people they love so
deeply. Unseen and unheard, they try to reach out to the female soldiers
fallen nearby. Much like Kunzite and Jadeite, their will to protect their
loves trigger a hidden source of power from deep within, from a place they
never knew exists. What was once seen only as their prison, is now their
source of life. The four gems glow with incredible strength, channeling
the stored power to the four Generals. With great surprise, the four find
themselves, or actually their bodies, slowly solidifying before their
eyes…and other eyes as well.
"What the-?" Mercury hears Jupiter's cry of surprise. She looks quickly in
the direction Jupiter seems to be entranced at and gasps in shock. Like a
disappearing-reappearing act from some old magic trick, four men dressed in
the old soldiers uniform of Earth slowly becomes visible before them.
"Nephrite? Kunzite?"
"Zoisite? Jadeite?"
"The Generals?" the shadow whispers, "How can this be? Beryl said you were
destroyed!"
"Beryl?" Jupiter wonders aloud. "Who are you?"
A sinister laughter rings in the air like a wolf's howl under the full
moon. "Haven't you figured out yet foolish soldiers? I will give you a
hint. Your little Princess manages to destroy me years ago, but now
another power has awakened me so that I can seek my revenge against you
all! Unlike the weakling Beryl, I cannot be stopped!"
"No," Mercury whispers in disbelief, "it can't be. You were dead! You
couldn't have survived that attack."
"I told you, I have strong allies."
"And so do they," Kunzite speaks up pulling attentions back to them once
again, "Queen Metallica."
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[Remember to email me! I always respond, so please do email me
All right, Chapter 7 on its way!]