Elegy for the Heavens
By Asura
(Faded_Seraph@yahoo.com)
This is an edited version, in a way. Really, I'm just
adding in this section right here. In addition to the
typical notice that Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animation own
the Japanese rights while DiC, the masters of darkness,
and Cloverway, the leprechaun nightmare brigade, are the
owners of the North American dubbing rights, I'd like to
thank my girlfriend Kei-chan for the picture of Jadeite
and Hotaru at the celebration she did. Her picture is the
source of the description of her dress in the ballroom
scene at the end of the chapter. For those who wish to see,
her web site is listed below:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~staindglass/index.html
It can be found in her fan art section, though I encourage
taking a look at all of her beautiful pictures and
perhaps leaving a note on her little message board. ^^
Chapter 4: Toui Kessaku: Kinchou Shiteru Kokoro no
Shinjitsusa - Jadeite's Trial
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Moon Palace had been rebuilt several times over
the course of history, its architecture evolving with each
new incarnation to match the times that saw its rise. In
the wake of the Wiseman and his private war against the
beginnings of the Shin-Muun Kingdom the Moon Palace had
once more been rebuilt. Like most of Moon Palace City, the
Palace itself was made of crystal. While the other
buildings saw a variation between opaque, clouded tints and
vibrant, prismatic crystal, the Moon Palace was forged of a
brilliant, opalescent crystal that made the structure seem
to almost be made of light when the sun struck its surface.
Together with the Crystal Watcher's Spire, it lit up Moon
Palace City like a beacon that could be seen for great
distances.
The actual shape of the Moon Palace was that of a
graceful, curving cluster of towers that were connected to
one another almost like a mountain range that had been
condensed and stretched upwards. Unlike most of the
buildings in the city, the Moon Palace actually had windows
carved into its surface, the openings covered by stained
glass that depicted a variety of scenes ranging from some
that honored the Silver Millennium and Queen Serenity to
scenes that showed moments of great battles against
villains the Sailor Senshi had fought in the past. Despite
their colored nature, the stained glass windows were
transparent, allowing those within the Palace to look out
upon the city.
It was below, at the gates, where Sailor Saturn and
Jadeite stood. The Moon Palace was surrounded by an about
waist-height wall that was made out of the more mundane,
clouded crystal that made up many of the buildings in the
city. Planted before it were rows of rose bushes, which
also lined the path leading to an archway built to rise up
from the wall and give a vantage point to the guards who
were constantly positioned there. A wrought gate of bronze
provided a barrier to those who would enter without
permission in times of conflict, but its open state and the
short wall made it rather ineffective as anything more than
a psychological deterrent. The guards did seem attentive to
their duty, though, calling into the great foyer of the
Palace for a detachment of guards to escort the pair in.
The inside of the Moon Palace matched the outside
well, its areas well-lit and made of cleanly polished,
smooth crystal that was inlaid with a grid of white marble.
Tables, chandeliers, and shelves alike seemed to literally
grow out of the surfaces to which they were affixed, and,
amazingly, the chairs were even still easily moveable, even
if they were not able to be lifted from the floor. Walking
through the foyer and into the large waiting room that set
outside the throne room, the color of the interior lighting
changed from the white glow of sunlight outside to a soft,
peaceful blue. It was there that they were asked to wait
for admittance to the throne room.
"King Endymion will most assuredly ask you many hard
questions," said Sailor Saturn as she stood next to
Jadeite. "Be sure that you are ready to answer them." She
knew Jadeite was an intelligent man, but the King was also
well learned, in addition to being a person who possessed a
long memory. He was fair, but that almost made the
situation more difficult, for it would make Jadeite's past
actions more difficult to counter by words alone.
"If he is as he was when I knew him before, then I
believe you are correct. However, I have had a long time to
play this situation over in my mind. The results, good or
bad, are inevitable." Jadeite did not want to even consider
the possibility of failing in convincing the King that he
deserved a second chance, but the possibility was there,
lingering despite Pluto's strong statement that he must
succeed. Moreover, he knew that if he failed that it would
disappoint Hotaru greatly, and he had no desire to be the
source of any sorrow for the young woman.
"I know you have," Saturn responded, closing her eyes
for a moment and sighing quietly. He had put great amounts
of time and thought into what he was going to say, and she
knew that succeeding meant more than anything else did to
him. The idea of him failing was one that, to her surprise,
made her feel much worse than she expected. "I'll go ahead
and speak to them first, to make sure that he will listen
to you. Then, you can say your peace. I'm sure that he'll
give you the chance to have your powers and position back
once he hears what you've been through and decided."
"I am sure my faith in his ability to judge character
is well placed," Jadeite said. He had to believe that King
Endymion would be able to see through to Jadeite's heart
and not simply judge him on the past. Again, it was his
dedication towards fairness that concerned Jadeite. "If
things don't go well, at least I have a life on which to
fall back for now," he added, allowing himself a faint
smile of appreciation at the fact.
"That's right, you do," said Saturn, and though it
looked like she might have added something to that thought,
it was cut off by the opening of a pair of large double
doors forged of silver-gilded crystal before them. Through
the open portal the main hall of the Moon Palace could be
seen, from the long red carpet that led up to the raised
platform at the far end of the hall to the large, ornate
pillars that provided support for the ceiling. Vines, grown
from the base of the pillars, ascended the massive columns
and ran along the vaulted ceiling, providing a balance of
magic and nature in the room. Guards, clad in white
uniforms trimmed with black and silver, were lined up
before the pillars and along the carpet, keeping a watchful
gaze on the newly opened door. Finally, at the end of the
hall was the throne platform, with a pair of simple but
elegantly carved crystal thrones with soft cushions and
gold inlays.
"Her and His Majesties, Neo-Queen Serenity and King
Endymion, will now see you. Please advance slowly and show
proper respect," said one of two guards who stood just
inside the massive doorway, a gesture of his hand
accompanying the words to beckon Saturn and Jadeite onward.
Like all the other guards, a visor of reflective, silver-
tinted glass covered his face, making his features
impossible to determine aside from his trimmed brown hair.
A nod from Jadeite was given to the man, and he began
to advance into the room slowly, with Saturn taking the
lead a short distance in front of him. As he advanced, he
could see the forms of King Endymion, clad in the mix of
silver armor and black cape with white dress clothing
beneath, along with his strange glasses with their flared,
white frames. His expression was grim, his jaw set firmly
and his arms resting on the arms of his throne, and Jadeite
could feel the King's slightly narrowed light blue eyes
focused on him already.
Next to King Endymion sat the matured Neo-Queen
Serenity, her long blond double ponytails trailing down
from the small styled spheres on either side of her head.
She wore the elaborately embroidered white dress of the
Neo-Queen, and a simple white necklace adorned her neck.
She, like her husband, the King, had her blue eyes on
Jadeite as he walked along the red carpet towards them. Her
gaze, unlike King Endymion's, switched back and forth
between Jadeite and Sailor Saturn, however, and she seemed
to be almost curious at what was going on, rather than
suspicious.
In addition to the King and Neo-Queen, the figures of
Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus flanked the thrones, each
mirroring the general expressions of the member of the
royal family they stood next to; Sailor Mars held the grim,
slightly suspicious gaze of the King, while Sailor Venus
held the more curious and slightly compassionate gaze of
the Queen. It crossed Jadeite's mind, as he approached,
that things might become less difficult since he wasn't
regarded with outright hostility by at least half the
people in power who were present. However, knowing the
stubbornness of Sailor Mars, he didn't expect to have a
chance of converting her to his point of view.
"Sailor Pluto regrets that she cannot be here to
speak with you, Your Majesties, but she has business of
urgent nature to which she must attend. I am performing the
part of her liaison for this encounter," spoke Sailor
Saturn in her soft, serious tone. She had stopped several
meters from the base of the risen throne platform, offering
a slight bow to those assembled before her. Jadeite
mirrored the motion, though he held the bow a moment
longer.
"It is obvious that the situation is more complicated
than it seemed at first, and so I admit that I am very
interested in what reasons there could be for bringing
before us a man who so horribly betrayed the White Moon
Kingdom here," spoke King Endymion, settling his hands on
his knees as he spoke. His voice was that of a man who held
authority, deep and even with a hidden melody to its
timbre. "I was not inclined to hear whatever arguments or
reasons there may be at first, but the unique qualities of
the situation and the arguments of other Senshi have
convinced me to at least hear this matter out."
"I appreciate your willingness to listen, King
Endymion," said Saturn, controlling her surprise at the
fact that another Senshi had spoken on both her and
Jadeite's behalf. It could not have been Mars, she
imagined, which left either the Queen, who she imagined was
possibly behind it, or Sailor Venus. Venus seemed the more
likely one to have spoken on their behalf, since the Queen
knew little about the situation as of yet. After a short
pause to analyze the possibilities, she spoke. She had
known for some time what she was going to say here, and so
she needed no preparation to begin.
"Jadeite was still imprisoned in crystal when I found
him several months ago at the request of Sailor Pluto. Our
reasons for doing so are, admittedly, rather hard to
discern, but it was a decision that we made with the belief
that there would be no risk involved. After I freed him
from the stasis in which Queen Beryl had placed him for
failing to take your lives, I kept watch on him. Even now,
I continue to keep him under my supervision." Saturn's
words drew the attention of all those who were present with
little difficulty and it became apparent to Jadeite that
she was capable of being quite a speaker when she wanted
to. In fact, he admired the way that she defeated her
natural shyness to speak in that way.
"It was Jadeite's decision to come to this place, and
I have supported him in it, as has Sailor Pluto. His
reasons for being here, however, are better explained by
himself, rather than by me. I ask that you lend your ears
to him and consider what he has to say in a serious
manner." Overall it sounded very proper and considerate,
Saturn decided, and she was proud of herself for being able
to speak as well as she had. Though Jadeite did not know,
she had never before directly addressed the King and Queen
in a formal situation, despite having talked to both them
and their daughter in relaxed situations many times.
"We will both listen to what he has to say. Have no
fear, Hotaru-chan," spoke Neo-Queen Serenity, seemingly
cutting off whatever the King was about to say. A soft
smile was given to her husband though to console him at her
apparent overruling of whatever he had meant to say, and it
apparently succeeded, as he did little beyond shifting so
that he could rest his chin in the palm of his hand. "Go
ahead and speak, Jadeite," she said, turning her eyes back
to him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Jadeite as he offered
another bow. He momentarily found himself irritated that he
had gotten no chance to change into the more formal wear
he'd been given as a present by Hotaru before they went to
the Moon. The unexpected acceleration of their schedule,
however, had allowed him no time to change into the higher
quality outfit, though, and it left him in a simple white
T-shirt and jeans to address the rulers of the entire Shin-
Muun Kingdom. If it weren't so serious a situation, he'd
have laughed at the idea for quite some time. His wandering
thoughts were put to rest, though, when he rose up from his
bow and collected himself. Like Saturn, he had prepared for
some time the words he would use to address the King and
Queen, but unfortunately they were still hard to make sound
right. Regardless, he was refined and intelligent enough to
know that hesitating would make things more difficult.
"To lose track of time is an unsettling experience,
to say the least," Jadeite began, looking up towards the
King and Queen with steady, steel gray eyes. "It was quite
difficult to fully comprehend all the time that had passed
when I was awakened by Sailor Saturn, for when she finally
explained the recent history of the Earth and the Moon, and
when things had been worked out, I found that I had been
without contact with anything in the world for well over
fifteen hundred years. For all that time, I had been
imprisoned in a crystalline hell thanks to Queen Beryl, who
took offense at my failure to defeat you."
"Fifteen hundred years is a long time to have only
your own thoughts to keep you company, and certainly enough
to drive a normal man insane." The thought of spending time
frozen in cold darkness was one with which all those
present could sympathize with, but fifteen hundred years
was far longer than they had spent frozen during the
Silence. The idea was sufficient to make even the King
shudder, if only slightly. Jadeite only paused for a moment
before continuing, though. "That is all I am now; a normal,
human man. I am not a King of the Dark Kingdom, and I have
no Youma blood infecting my body anymore. All that time has
allowed me to think and to look back on the events that led
to the fall of the Silver Millennium, and the part I played
in it."
"Most of all, I apologize to you, those to whom my
loyalty was owed and from whom never should have shifted
away from, my King Endymion." It had taken a few moments
for Jadeite to bring up the force of will to get the words
out of his mind and into his mouth, but once he spoke them,
he felt immensely better. The rest of his words began to
come out with ease that he had to fight to keep them
controlled. "To your beloved, also, I owe my apology, and
all the other Sailor Senshi, whose deaths were the result
of my failure. It was my responsibility to protect the
interests of the Earth, and the King, yet I allowed myself
to be drawn to the promises of things that were too good to
be true. I can only hope that you will believe me when I
say that I seek your forgiveness and that I do not wish to
ever find myself in conflict with any of you again."
Finally, Jadeite was able to pause and take in a deep
breath. For a moment, his thoughts had been temporarily
spent. It had taken a great deal of effort to speak even
after he'd been able to freely let his words go, and it
only really hit him then that he should pause. However, he
wasn't done yet. There was still one more matter he had to
address before he could allow them to speak again.
Thankfully, they all seemed to be surprised by his words,
which seemed to have been totally unexpected. He found the
King looking at him with an unusual expression that seemed
to combine a hint of suspicion with surprise and almost
relief. The Queen held an air of compassion about her that,
when he considered it, seemed very similar to that which
her mother had possessed. Sailor Mars seemed to be in more
of a state of outright disbelief and shock than anything
else, while Venus allowed herself a faint smile. Perhaps
she'd expected it. Jadeite allowed himself a quick
speculation that perhaps she had learned something about
Jadeite during the times she'd spoken with Kunzite long
ago, though it surprised him that she might remember them
after all the time that had passed.
"To make up for my actions in the past, I wish to
once again take the rank of a Guardian of the Earth and
protector of the King. I have several reasons for
requesting this, but most importantly it is from a sense of
duty and a desire to repair my mistakes so that such a
thing can never happen again. I ask that you please grant
me this one request." Jadeite fixed his eyes on King
Endymion as he spoke those last words, matching steel gray
to light blue in a moment that he hoped could convey the
genuine desire to redeem himself. Beyond that, though, he
could only wait and see what the response was.
"The last time I saw you I was fighting for my life,"
said King Endymion after several long, tense moments during
which the silence hung so heavily in the room that it
seemed it might freeze everyone permanently. "You were not
always like that though, which is a fact I will concede to
you. You have to understand, though, that this entire
situation is one that comes as quite a surprise. I want to
trust you, quite truthfully, but I can not be certain that
my trust will not be misplaced as it turned out to be in
the past. What guarantee do I have that such a thing will
not happen again beyond your word?"
"Only that I have not yet sought to do anything
harmful. I can give you no guarantee beyond that of my
actions in the future," responded Jadeite, his shoulders
lowering slightly. The tone of the King's voice was one
that he remembered as being the kind that typically led to
a denial on condition of circumstances with which he did
not agree, but knew necessitated the response.
"I have watched him now for these several months, and
I have not known him to do anything that would put him in
doubt, Your Majesty," spoke Saturn before the King or
Jadeite could say anything else. She possessed a strong
talent for putting her words in at just the right moment to
keep them from being awkward while having the most effect
from the context of the conversation, and it was a skill
that she would probably need in the future.
"I do not doubt that you regret your past," said the
King, who sighed quietly before continuing. "The problem
lies in the fact that I have no way of being sure that you
will be completely loyal and unable to be turned away from
the side of which you choose to be a part." He shook his
head slightly as he spoke, for he did want to believe and
accept Jadeite's words as truth. He could not let such a
potentially great risk be allowed in the Shin-Muun Kingdom,
however.
"I understand, Your Majesty," Jadeite replied,
lowering his gaze ever so slightly. Despite the motion, he
managed to retain his proud stance and let his shoulders
settle back so that he appeared upright and strong. The
rejection that he knew was coming, though, was more painful
than he could possibly hide completely. Then, he raised his
gaze again as Pluto's words came to his mind again,
reminding him that he couldn't allow himself to fail. "I
would ask that you provide me a chance to prove myself,
then. It is of infinite importance that I succeed and once
more take that position."
"You propose a test?" asked the King, shifting from
his throne to his feet. "Have you anything in mind?" If a
solid way of proving Jadeite's intentions could be found,
then the situation would turn out far superior to the
current probably resolution, but Endymion couldn't think of
any possible ways to test him off the top of his head.
Perhaps the Neo-Queen or some of the other Senshi would
have an idea. Then, an idea struck him, causing him to look
over to his wife. "Do you know where Elios is, Usa-ko?"
"You needn't ask me, Mamo-chan," replied the Queen,
smiling to her husband before turning and directing his
gaze towards the double doors at the opposite end of the
throne room. The King's gaze followed her own, and he
allowed himself a sigh of relief at the figure that greeted
his gaze.
Through the doorway came a short, slender figure of a
man with short but flowing hair of a soft white shade that
seemed to hold the faintest pale blue highlights. He wore a
simple but elegant, long-sleeved outfit of white that was
decorated with a series of five tassels on the chest and
highlights of a dark green shade. His features were smooth
and angular, with an almost fox-like quality to them that
made him rather beautiful in his own way. The effect was
enhanced by his oddly colored golden eyes, which even then
met those of King Endymion.
"King Endymion, there should be no need to think of a
trial for Jadeite," spoke the new arrival, his soft voice
filling the hall easily. "As I'm sure he also knows, the
act of becoming a Guardian of the Earth is a trial in
itself. I suspect he didn't want to mention that since it
would seem as though he were trying to trick you into
giving him the position."
"If that is the case, then we should be able to
proceed with it. It will give him the chance he needs to
prove himself that he wants, and it will provide us with
the truth, whichever way it turns out. I assume that you
have to oversee the trial and ceremony, Elios?" King
Endymion did not question Elios on whether he was certain
of the nature of the trial or not, for he knew that he was
the High Priest of the Earth, putting such things within
the realm of his knowledge.
"As I did in the past, yes, it is my duty to oversee
the ceremony, though you will have to complete it. I will
speak with you about it as soon as you like. Jadeite
already knows the procedures, since he has gone through it
once before." No one questioned how Elios knew that Jadeite
was there, either. His powers put him in a close bond with
those who had been touched by the power of the Kinzuishou,
the Golden Crystal. Guardians of the Earth were given their
more unique powers and knowledge from that crystal, and as
such Jadeite had been left with its signature upon his soul
even through all his time in the Dark Kingdom.
"How long will it take to prepare?" asked Endymion,
stepping down to meet Elios as he neared the base of the
throne platform.
"About a day," said Jadeite, speaking again for the
first time in several long minutes. "It would only take
half a day if we rushed, but it'd be easier to take it
slowly." Endymion was slightly surprised at Jadeite's
sudden words, but the calm expression on Elios face made
him believe that Elios had expected the response to not
come from himself.
"There you have it, Your Majesty. I would recommend
allowing him to get some rest tonight, so that he will be
able to get ready properly in the morning," said Elios,
offering a soft, warm smile. "It will take us some time to
prepare you for your part in the ceremony, so I suggest you
also get some rest. I do have a matter I'd like to discuss
with you before you go, though. It's one I'd prefer to
discuss alone with you."
"If that's what you think, then I will agree to it.
Feel free to come with me to the recreation room on the
next floor. We can talk there." The King turned and began
to head for a door hidden behind the massive row of pillars
on the side of the room, pausing a moment before he opened
it and disappeared beyond. "You shall have your wish,
Jadeite, and know that I have at least for the moment given
you my forgiveness."
"He's not such a bad fellow, is he," said Elios, who
still stood near Saturn and Jadeite. His eyes turned away
from the retreating King to sweep over the Queen and the
two Senshi that stood next to her, before finally resting
on the pair next to him. "I'm sure you'll come out just
fine tomorrow, Jadeite. I'd say not to make the same
mistakes you did last time, but it's always different each
time the trial is conducted. Now, wish me luck." In a
commentary of reassurance, the final short note caught
Jadeite by surprise.
"Good luck, Elios. I'm sure he won't say no," said
Saturn, smiling to him, then giving a sidelong glance at
Jadeite. "Just wish him luck. I'll explain it to you while
I escort you back to the hotel."
"Usagi, I think someone should at least keep an eye
on him," said Mars quietly, leaning towards the Queen as
Jadeite gave the quiet affirmation to Elios, who moved off
to join the King. Mars had been quiet throughout most of
the exchange, having at first not believed that Jadeite
could have been telling the truth as he spoke. As he had
gone on, though, she knew what he was saying had to be
true. Distant memories of the blond Guardian of the Earth
spoke of his original nature, and she found she couldn't
keep herself angry with him any longer. Instead, she felt
an understandable, distant disappointment and a strange
sorrow.
"Hotaru seems to be keeping a very close eye on him,"
said Venus, giving a knowing grin in the Queen's direction.
"Don't worry, Rei. She won't let him cause any trouble."
The tone of her voice switched from slightly teasing to
calm and reassuring as she looked towards Mars.
"You should have been able to tell just by looking at
him, of all people," said the Queen, looking towards Mars
as well. "His eyes were sincere. Now, it's getting to be
time to eat something for dinner. I'm sure they've made
something good in the dining hall, so why don't you both
come with me and have dinner."
"I should have known this would all come down to
food," said Mars, sticking her tongue out at Usagi. Even
though they were hundreds of years old, they still had the
same spirits they'd possessed in their younger years. While
not quite as jumpy and erratic as they'd been, they
occasionally were still prone to a bit of silliness and
teasing. However, it was always in good spirit, for they
were, after all the battles and close encounters they'd
had, a group like sisters.
"Oh, quiet. It's time to eat dinner! Come on, and
let's go," said Usagi, giving a mock glare towards Rei as
she headed towards the same door that the King and Elios
had gone through. With Venus and Mars beside her, soon it
was just Jadeite and Saturn in the massive throne hall,
along with the guards. Jadeite and Hotaru hadn't heard the
majority of what had gone on between the three women on the
throne platform, instead having been starting on their way
out. The length of the hall ensured that they were the last
ones to leave.
"You've got your wish now, Jadeite," said Hotaru as
they neared the double doors. It had been perilously close,
but Jadeite had been given the chance he'd sought in the
end and that meant that he would soon likely claim the
title of a Guardian of the Earth once again. "Would you
like to stop and eat something on the way back to
celebrate?"
"I haven't made it through the trial yet," Jadeite
responded, smiling faintly. "It will be a hard test, and
while I'm sure I'll succeed, I don't want to be jubilant
until after its official. However, if you would still like
to eat dinner, then I am not averse to going along with the
idea."
"Good, because you didn't have a choice anyway," said
Hotaru, smiling towards him as they passed through the
foyer, past the gates, and out into the evening air of Moon
Palace City. The Earth hung on the horizon, much like the
Moon appeared from the Earth, though greatly larger, and
the stars could be seen glowing like a million fireflies in
the night sky. It seemed that the day, which had grown
tumultuous and chaotic, would be saved by the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time passed, and once more the sun's light
illuminated Moon Palace City with its gentle touch. The sun
journeyed through the sky, heralding the time until finally
it reached a low point on the horizon at about noon. The
position of the moon made the sun highest closer to ten in
the morning and four in the afternoon rather than noon,
hitting a low point in between before rising up and then
sinking back down again at nightfall.
To suit its needs, Moon Palace City was active
without fail, people working at all hours and arranging
their sleep and recreational schedules around their
occupations. At all hours, one could find people wandering
the streets or shopping, with most of the businesses open
for business and ready to serve their customers' needs.
Jadeite found it particularly impressive that there was no
drop off at all in the percentage of people working at any
given time, a fact he attributed to the fact that people
came from all over the Earth to the Moon, despite always
leaving from Tokyo. It provided them a much more natural
schedule to adhere to.
The process of preparing for the Trial of the
Guardians was more a mental feat than anything else, which
led to Jadeite's decision to look out of the clear crystal
window of his hotel room to watch the bustling city below.
The people lived a variety of lives, following paths that
they had chosen without any pressure from the Shin-Muun
Kingdom that in turn gave them unparalleled chances at
happiness. Even the waitress at the restaurant he had dined
at the previous evening with Hotaru had seemed content in
her position, and had been happy to explain that she used
the money she made there to help pay for her education.
The memory of dinner made his mind stray from his
current observation of the city, his thoughts focusing on
the image of Hotaru sitting across from him in the dimly
lit restaurant. It had mainly been a quiet experience, but
it had been more comfortable than he could remember being
since he'd gotten to the Moon. The thought drew a quiet
laugh from him, as he realized that he'd not even been on
the Moon more than a day, but he admitted to himself that
it had seemed to be considerably longer with the conflict
interlaced throughout his brief visit. Regardless, the
dinner had been a welcome respite from the general chaos of
the day, and he had even been able to talk to her, though
it was not particularly long in duration, given their
dispositions towards silence. What their conversations had
lacked in length they made up in depth, however, and he
found it surprising that he was able to talk as freely with
her as he was able to.
Jadeite scolded himself slightly when he realized
that he'd let his thoughts drift, for he remembered well
that the Trial of the Guardians required explicit mental
clarity about several details. A person who was going to
take the trial was required to have the utmost
concentration and focus when they began the process, but
almost more importantly the person had to have a clear
image in their mind of what they were trying to obtain the
title of a Guardian of the Earth in order to do. If the
reason for their seeking the position was pure and noble,
and they were able to pass the physical and mental tests,
then they would be granted the full power and
responsibility. If the reason was not focused in their
mind, or worse yet, harmful to the Earth and the King, then
they would find themselves in a coma for the remainder of
their natural life.
Jadeite's line of thought had put him in to a serious
quandary without warning, he discovered. He sought to be a
Guardian of the Earth at first to reclaim the strength and
moral righteousness inherent to the position, as well as
the opportunity to counteract his dark past, but he
suddenly realized that those were not the only reasons he
wanted to be a Guardian. Hotaru had seemed so happy for him
when they were at dinner, going so far as to tell him that
she felt almost as though it had been herself on the line
as well, despite the knowledge that his failure to get the
chance would not have harmed her in any way. Could it have
been possible that he wanted to succeed to prove to her
that he hadn't been freed to no good, or was it that
growing idea in his mind that he wanted to succeed simply
because it would bring a smile to her face?
With all his mind, Jadeite wished that it could just
be his original reasons that were driving him. He had spent
all his time preparing with that focus in mind, but it was
quite possible that he'd made an error in what he was
solidifying in his thoughts as his motivation by not
including that simple idea of succeeding to please Hotaru.
With part of the preparation ensuring that you had your
mind fully focused on the reason you sought the title of
Guardian of the Earth, it was necessary to make sure that
it was the only thought in one's mind when they went to
take the actual trial, so that there was no confusion
during the process.
It occurred to Jadeite, as he turned and took notice
of the clock on the wall, that it was too late for him to
try and correct his thoughts in any way. They were going to
most likely be stuck in the same place they were, meaning
that it would possibly be very difficult to pass the trial.
Regardless of the possible difficulty, though, he knew he
had to try and pass it, since if he didn't, he'd not be
able to accomplish any of the things he'd set out to do.
All he could do at that point was get ready to go and be on
his way. The outfit he'd been given by Hotaru and her
father was at least fitting for the occasion, he decided,
with its color so similar to his old Dark Kingdom clothing,
though a shade darker and given a hint of more light by the
silver cords and tassels that adorned each shoulder.
Dressed and firm of mind and heart despite his
concerns, Jadeite stepped out from his room at the hotel
and began his journey to the Moon Palace, where he would
meet Endymion and Elios once again. Once they were
organized, they were to travel from the palace to a remote
location on the Moon so that they could begin the trial's
process, and once the final preparations were complete,
they would run the trial itself. Jadeite could only hope
that he hadn't destroyed his sense of intent by dividing it
as he had.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Moon had, over time, been able to develop its own
atmosphere thanks to the powers of the Ginzuishou. It had
been deemed necessary that the satellite have air that
could be safely breathed so that the entire surface could
be used if necessary. In addition to that, they had
considered and decided, once more through the power of the
Ginzuishou, to provide the Moon with the feel of Earth's
gravity, so that people who traveled between the two would
not have to adapt to such severely different sensations.
The changes in atmosphere had also allowed for the
Moon to develop its own plant life that, while similar to
what was on Earth, held its own unique traits. Trees were
scarce on the Moon, and in general the main life consisted
of pale blue moss that covered most of the surface. Grass
tended to grow on the borders of the Moon's lakes, which
had filled with water on the revival of the Moon. It was
around the lakes that most of the other settlements on the
Moon were placed, since most of the people held a fondness
for the grass that grew there and provided a reminder of
the Earth.
After meeting at the Moon Palace, the trio consisting
of Jadeite, King Endymion, and Elios had left that place
for the shores of one of the Moon's lakes. They had arrived
not long ago, and were at last free to prepare the final
few details of the Trial of the Guardians before proceeding
with the actual process. It was only those three who were
able to be present, with Hotaru, Minako, Usagi, and Rei
remaining behind out of respect for the fact that it was a
sacred ritual of the Earth not seen in well over two
thousand years. Sailor Pluto, Setsuna Meiou to those who
knew her outside of her Senshi form, had in the end been
the one to convince the others that they should not attend.
She knew more about the actual trial than any of the other
Senshi, and had explained that it would be virtually
pointless for them to go along for a variety of reasons
that included mainly the fact that for most of the trial
two if not all three of those involved wouldn't even be
doing anything.
"King Endymion, you remember your part in the trial,
correct?" asked Elios, who stood before the forms of the
King and Jadeite, both of whom were standing with their
arms at their sides. Truthfully, it was a very nostalgic
image to Elios, who was able to match it to the same sort
of occasion so long ago.
"I will be ready. It doesn't seem to be too difficult
a task," responded the King, his form unwavering as he
spoke. His part in the trial was comparatively small next
to those of Elios and Jadeite, but it was integral to the
process, which could not go on without his participation.
"It will be somewhat more tiring than it sounds, but
I am sure you will have no trouble with it," said Elios,
smiling in a reassuring manner. "What of you, Jadeite? Are
you ready for the trial?" The odd, golden shaded eyes
shifted their focus to the blond former King of the Dark
Kingdom and former Guardian of the Earth, where they met
his gray eyes.
"As much is possible, I am prepared, yes," responded
Jadeite. "Will it make a difference that we're on the Moon
for this?" he then asked. The question had occurred to him
on his way to the Moon Palace, but only know had he
remembered to ask due to his constant consideration of his
dual goals in seeking the position once again.
"Truthfully, though you won't remember it, the
majority of the trial itself will take place in Elysium.
That has always been the case, whether the trial is done on
the Earth or whether we do it elsewhere in the Solar
System. There was only one recorded occasion of the trial
being done on another planet, but it worked without
difficulty there on Venus." Once more Jadeite was reminded
of Elios' impressive knowledge of the various trials and
old rites of the Earth Kingdom, which he found surprisingly
relieving.
"I apologize for asking. I should have known you'd
have already considered that," responded Jadeite, bowing
his head slightly.
"Do not worry about it. It has been a long time since
we last saw one another, and I think the time can take the
blame for you not remembering everything with perfect
clarity." Elios then turned to look at both of the men at
the same time. "Now, shall we begin the process?"
"I am ready, Elios," said King Endymion, who moved to
seat himself on the soft grassy shore of the lake in a
traditional manner, his legs folded beneath him and serving
as a sort of seat.
"So shall it be," spoke Jadeite, confirming his
readiness for the trial as he sat down in a position to
match the King. "At your word, Elios."
"Good luck, Jadeite," responded Elios calmly, before
he closed his eyes and held his hands together before him.
Each index finger rose from his clasped hands, one bent to
touch the middle of the other. His brows furrowed then, and
his expression became one of concentration as he began to
focus the energies needed for the trial. Jadeite and
Endymion followed suit by closing their eyes as well, an
act that was necessary it seemed, for soon, there was a
distinct golden globe of light that flashed out from
Elios' fingertips to envelop the trio.
Jadeite found himself dealing well with the sense of
uneasiness in his stomach that suddenly swept over him, and
found himself surprisingly pleased that neither he nor
Endymion seemed to have any major trouble with the
sensation. Then, as he knew it would, Jadeite found the
world changed completely. He couldn't remember opening his
eyes, but he knew that in all likelihood he hadn't done so.
From past experience, he knew what to expect at that
moment, and he was not disappointed when once more vision
came to him.
White, green, and blue filled the world around
Jadeite, and though he knew what was coming, he still found
himself slightly awestruck by the archaic beauty of his
surroundings. Amidst a massive forest of vibrant green that
stretched on for lengths that Jadeite figured were beyond
simple comprehension, he stood on a floor of white stone
that he assumed to be either an odd form of granite or a
high grade limestone. Rising up before him was the central
structure of the clearing, its surface surprisingly well
polished and in good condition when one noted the lack of
people in the place.
The building before him was a simple temple that was
reminiscent of ancient Greek structures such as the
Parthenon, with its columns providing the 'walls' of the
structure, shaped as a hexagon. A second structure adorned
its roof, tall and rectangular in nature with no roof to
speak of and a raised platform at its base. Each of the
corners also had projections, which almost seemed to be
observation points, with single columns rising up to
support them. There were many more similar but much more
simple structures about the clearing as well, but none were
as commanding as the one before him.
"This will be one of the places you'll have to
protect, but you already know that," came the voice of
Elios' from within the structure before Jadeite. "In fact,
you are unique in your situation. No one has ever taken
this trial twice in the entire history of the Earth." Soon,
Jadeite could see the form of the High Priest of the Golden
Kingdom stepping forth from the shadows of the building,
his eyes focused on Jadeite in a critical manner.
"It's an honor that I have mixed feelings in
accepting," said Jadeite, standing with his arms at his
sides as he watched Elios in return. "I'm grateful for
being given this second chance, but I wish it'd never been
necessary in the first place." It wasn't something he'd
planned on having happen to him when he took the trial for
the first time those many years ago. He'd gone into it with
pure intent and a strong sense of pride. Unfortunately,
that pride had been his downfall in the end.
"Yet you must have some strong reason for wishing to
go through this ordeal again. Why are you doing this? You
could have simply led a quiet life upon receiving your
freedom from the past." It was the first part, the current
part, which would be the most difficult for Jadeite, but he
knew he had to respond to Elios as truthfully as possible,
for the High Priest was empowered by the trial with
perception that exceeded his already formidable powers of
sensing motives and truths in people he spoke to.
"There is no simple answer, I'm afraid," spoke
Jadeite after a momentary silence. "At first, I believed
that my only desire was to simply find a way to give back
as much as I could of what I was responsible for being
lost. I have never lost my sense of pride, though it has
been wounded grievously by my failures, and that demands
that I redeem myself in the eyes of those who I served and
protected. To succeed would allow me to once more serve the
greater good, and now I feel that there is another reason
besides those that I once more am willing to go through
this."
"And what is that reason?" asked Elios when Jadeite
fell silent suddenly. There was almost a faint smile on his
face as he asked that, but he knew Jadeite would be too
lost in his own response to notice it.
"Hotaru, Sailor Saturn, freed me from a nightmare I
thought wasn't ever going to end. She's given me the chance
to even walk on the Earth's surface again, and by virtue of
that, she's why I'm here now. If I failed, I would feel
that I've disappointed her, or worse, made her feel that
there was no reason to have freed me, and that it was
wasted effort."
"Very well then," said Elios almost immediately after
Jadeite had finished speaking. "Let us continue with the
trial. Since it's been so long since a trial has been done,
I decided to change it a little bit. Recite to me the base
principles of the arcane arts from their original
transcripts in the order which they were discovered, if you
please."
"What?" responded Jadeite, staring at Elios as if
he'd gone quite mad. The arcane arts that were known to all
the Guardians of the Earth had been discovered early in the
Silver Millennium, and while they were expected to be known
they were exceedingly long. It had taken Jadeite the better
part of a year to memorize the full writings, which were
well over five hundred hand-written pages if one didn't add
in their various diagrams and appendixes.
"Sorry, just kidding. I haven't done this in a very
long time, and believe it or not, it's a rather satisfying
experience. It's been far to long since we've had a
Guardian of the Earth. However, I haven't lied about
changing the trial slightly." Elios paused for a moment
before elaborating, tugging his shirt down snugly into
place before continuing. "I know you have the knowledge of
all our magic still in your mind, even if it's locked away
still. The end of the trial will most assuredly unlock
that, and you were always known for your skill in that
area. Your power, too, was without question, and your
abilities to think in a fight were proven at least twice in
the last month."
"What is it you mean then?" asked Jadeite, trying to
comprehend the sudden turn of events. He didn't know how
Elios had learned about both of his fights, for while the
battle against Sailor Venus had been common knowledge his
participation in the battle with the youma had been secret.
"You will be taking only the two final parts of the
trial, Jadeite. You have no need to take the other parts,
since your skill in those sections has been proven time and
time again. This means you will be going to the crucible
now. Are you prepared for what that entails?"
"I'd like just a couple of minutes to prepare myself,
if that's to be the case. I appreciate your considerations,
though, Elios. Thank you." Jadeite would never forget the
crucible, for it was the most difficult part of the trial
and also the most important. The first time he'd faced that
part of the trial he'd nearly lost his life in battle with
an old neighboring star system's warriors to save the then-
prince Endymion. Of course, it had all been a staged act,
specially arranged due to Jadeite's abilities to see
through illusions.
"All right. I'll be waiting for you inside the
temple. Let me know when you're ready. So you know, the
illusion will be strong enough to defeat your senses this
time. Your powers were enhanced by the Earth, and since you
don't have that right now and we're operating from the
Moon, you won't be able to tell."
"I thought you said the Moon wouldn't make a
difference," said Jadeite, looking to the retreating form
of Elios.
"I did, didn't I? We all make mistakes." Sometimes,
though, Jadeite suspected they were made on purpose, and
Elios' casual response did nothing to dispel that theory.
To Jadeite, though, it really didn't matter in the
end. He was going to have to face the last part of the
trial regardless of the circumstances and succeed in spite
of them. In all his time, he hadn't worked out the exact
way the crucible actually worked, and that made it an
unknown factor. He was accustomed to dealing with such
things, but he did find it somewhat unsettling that he had
almost no idea at all what he would face. Finally, he rose
up and turned, heading for the form of Elios within the
temple.
"I am prepared. Begin as you will."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jadeite woke up to find himself in pain. It was
becoming all to familiar an occurrence for him, he noted,
though it was not nearly as severe as most of his other
recent conflicts had been. Where before he'd had an
unpleasant tendency to be injured very specifically and
with great amounts of pain, it was more comparable to dull
aches that simply wouldn't release their hold on his body.
Gathering his bearings, he shot up quickly, fractured
images of the last few hours invading his mind.
Hotaru's face was twisted into a scream that did not
suit her, and she was shielding the fallen form of the
King. Jadeite then saw the form of Queen Beryl, her hand
held out to him. He could remember seeing a silver object
laying on the floor, light gleaming off a long blade, and
then he could remember the sensation of pain as he was
stricken by dark energy, a sword in his hand warding off
part of a great blast. The last image he could recall was
his dragging the forms of both Hotaru and the King away as
everything was enveloped in flame.
Jadeite's vision cleared then, and he saw the forms
of Elios and Endymion kneeling on either side of him, their
eyes focused on him intently. It was an odd sight that made
him almost thing he was back in the Silver Millennium, the
time when he'd first woken up to a sight such as that in
his trial. Still, there was an unmistakable smile on
Elios' face, and a slightly surprised expression on
Endymion's.
"There's only one part left, Jadeite," said Elios as
he helped Jadeite to his feet along with Endymion. "The
last test of your skill, and the only one we need to
perform." As soon as the slightly weary blond was on his
feet, he felt something pressed into his hand. Looking
down, he saw that it was a sword that was distinctly
familiar to him. Forged of silver, every portion of the
weapon down to the hilt and guard were polished and
gleaming in the light of the sun above.
"I'm told this is normally a little different, but
I'll give it my best," said Endymion, holding a matching
sword in hand. "You're tired, I know, but I expect you'll
give this your best effort. Do well, and the trial shall be
over." Stepping back a short distance, the King raised his
sword and let the light gleam on its edge.
"As you wish, my King," said Jadeite, mirroring the
posture with his own raised sword. "Flat of blade, I
assume?" He tried hard to keep his voice steady, but the
words of the King could only make him assume that he'd
succeeded, and that was an idea that he could scarcely put
down his joy at the thought of.
"On your life, Jadeite," responded Endymion, who then
lunged forward. Jadeite's blade deflected the thrust and
came up in a sweep towards Endymion, who drew back to parry
the attack. The clearing echoed with the ring of blades
then, their blades gleaming in the sunlight as the King and
Jadeite exchanged strikes for a period of time that seemed
to last forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day after the trial had been completed was for
many in Moon Palace City was one like every other. For
Jadeite, though, it was much like beginning a new life.
Soon after the finishing of the last part of his trial,
Elios had allowed Endymion to perform his part in the
trial. A finalizing of ceremony more than anything else,
the King had been walked through his part and, through the
power of the Kinzuishou, he had given Jadeite his powers
and title back.
With the trial finished, Elios had returned them to
the Moon, where they found themselves in the same positions
they'd been in when they left. Try as he might, Jadeite
could not recall any of the crucible portion of the trial
beyond those shattered few images he'd had when he awakened
from it. It surprised him that he'd succeeded with the
answers he'd given, and Elios refused to explain the exact
reasons that had allowed him to pass the test of intent.
Endymion meanwhile had taken on a much friendlier attitude
towards Jadeite, which he imagined was a result of his
success.
Once they'd returned to the Moon Palace, Jadeite was
surprised to hear King Endymion announce a celebration was
to be held on the coming Friday in honor of not only the
first Guardian of the Earth to be announced in the Shin-
Muun Kingdom, but also the occasion of Elios' engagement to
Endymion's daughter, Chibi-Usa. A wave of surprise and
excitement was the immediate result of that announcement,
and it made it clear rather suddenly to Jadeite why Elios
had asked to be wished luck several days before. He had
been there to ask Chibi-Usa's father's blessing for the
marriage, and had apparently been granted just that.
Since he knew it would be next to impossible to
escape attending the celebration, and that it would be a
pleasant occasion to be a part of anyway, Jadeite had
arranged to meet Hotaru there so that they would be able to
see one another again. Since his becoming a Guardian of the
Earth once more, Jadeite had found his immediate attention
held by the sorting out of all his recovered powers and
duties. Fortunately, he'd encountered a brilliant stroke of
luck while doing so that would allow him a definite peace
of mind in the future.
For Hotaru, it had been a simple matter to give her
consent to meeting Jadeite at the celebration ball. She had
found herself hoping that she'd have the chance to see him
again and that they wouldn't be separated by his achieving
his goal, and therefore had welcomed the chance to attend
with him. It was an easy matter for her to prepare, though
she decided that she would take a great deal of time to
ensure she was in top condition for the ball, even making
sure that she'd have a new dress ready for the occasion. It
wasn't a common thing for her to do, and she found herself
wondering more than once why she was so intent on appearing
beautiful for the occasion. The majority of the reasoning
fell on her assumption that it was in honor of her friend
Chibi-Usa's luck in finally being engaged, though she also
found herself wondering often how Jadeite would regard her
appearance.
When the time for the ball finally arrived, Jadeite
found himself amidst what must have been hundreds of people
dressed in their finest dress clothing. The King and Neo-
Queen always opened their celebrations to the public, which
allowed the people to become closer to the rulers of the
Shin-Muun Kingdom while also allowing them to more easily
sense the mood of the people as a whole. Most of the Sailor
Senshi were present as well, easily notable in their
elegant dresses and with their arranged hairstyles. Jadeite
was only able to count the missing as Sailor Pluto, who
only rarely attended such occasions of that nature. He
hadn't yet seen Hotaru either, though the throngs of people
made it easy for her to have slipped by without his
noticing.
If he'd had the choice, Jadeite would have certainly
spent his entire time searching for Hotaru, but he couldn't
seem to avoid being pulled into chatting groups of people
as he passed, many of whom wished to share a drink and
congratulate the new Guardian of the Earth. The media,
though certainly not on par with that on Earth, had made
the entire Moon knowledgeable about his new position, as
well as the new engagement of the royal daughter. It was
only with considerable effort that he finally managed to
pull himself away from the crowds and rest at the side of
the room. It also gave him the chance to properly take in
his surroundings, which he'd not been able to do amongst
the throngs of people earlier.
The celebration was being held in a large, open
ballroom that was part of the Moon Palace. Like the rest of
the building, it was forged of shimmering crystal, but
rather than the typical blue hue, the area held a distinct
golden shade that made it seem to be mixed with gold.
Several crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, which
was high and vaulted with stained glass skylights patterned
along its ridge. A graceful staircase occupied the far end
of the room, descending from both sides of the room to join
into one wide, flared landing before forming a final
stretch towards the ballroom's floor.
While the room certainly had enough beauty on its
own, there were also various decorations strung about that
seemed to suit all of the different planets of the Solar
System. Finely crafted ice sculptures were in place to
honor Mercury, and golden tinsel was wrapped around columns
that lined the ballroom. Sharing the space on the columns
were vines of ivy that interlaced with the tinsel to honor
Jupiter, and torches hung on the walls, flames dancing
within them for Mars. The Outer Senshi were represented by
varying tapestries on the walls to match their respective
homes, each of the four pieces of art depicting their
respective planets with stunning quality.
Caught in his admiration of the ballroom's
decoration, Jadeite almost missed the slight form of Hotaru
moving among the crowds in a search for him. A gleam of
light caught his attention, though, and he suddenly had a
fleeting glimpse of her. He wasn't certain of what he'd
seen, but he had to track her down both to find out and out
of his obligation to meet her. Taking a sip of the glass of
wine he'd acquired in his conversations, he began to move
into the crowds once more. More than once he had to
politely excuse himself as he maneuvered towards Hotaru.
Thankfully, he had decided to set his glass down after that
drink, so he wasn't able to spill the drink on himself
during several small bumps with other guests at the
celebration. When he finally reached her, he was forced to
pause, and almost lost her amongst the crowd again.
Hotaru's hair was the same as always, its black
shoulder-length threads holding a distinct violet sheen to
them. Dancing among the locks of hair were a pair of small
earrings designed to match the appearance of her guardian
planet, Saturn, complete with rings and slender teardrop
shaped pieces below them. Her neck was wrapped with a thin
band decorated by a silver starburst in front, the fabric a
deep violet satin. It also appeared to be the same material
of the dress she wore, which was an elegant design that
left her shoulders bare, held up by a descending pair of
straps wrapped around her neck and forming an 'x' in the
front above her bust. A slender diamond shaped cutout
separated the front of her dress, while the straps
continued on to form the tops of what were the barely
present sleeves. Those consisted mainly of gossamer leaf
shaped petals that hung from the straps, their surfaces
always holding a different hue depending on the way the
light struck them. The skirt portion of the dress was very
similar to the sailor fuku worn by the Senshi, but its
material was the same violet satin that made the rest of
the dress, and hung softly to swirl about the halfway point
of her calves.
Such was the sight that left Jadeite quite speechless
and lost in his vision for several moments. Finally he
recovered his wits and pursued the young woman, softly
touching her shoulder when he caught up to her, a motion
that caused her to turn and focus her beautiful violet eyes
upon him.
"Jadeite! I was trying to find you, but there are so
many people I was beginning to think it was hopeless," she
said, smiling to him. "Have you been enjoying the ball?"
she then asked. She remained rather close to him, a fact
that didn't go unnoticed by either of them. They found
themselves unable to get any further apart, as well, due to
the number of people within the ballroom.
"It's been a whirlwind of discussions and meetings.
The people of the Kingdom are very pleasant, but to be
honest I'm beginning to wonder if I can stand another
polite conversation," replied Jadeite, finding words once
more. "I suspect it'd have been a bit easier if I'd found
you sooner. However, I cannot say I mind finding you now.
You are a very beautiful sight." It almost surprised him
that he spoke such words, but it was a compliment well
deserved, and so he felt secure and safe from any potential
embarrassment at pointing it out.
"Thank you," said Hotaru, and she couldn't help but
blush slightly. It was an unusual reaction for her, and she
did her best to hide it without seeming awkward. "You look
very regal and handsome in your outfit as well." It was not
a lie, for the blond Guardian of the Earth seemed to be
well accustomed to wearing such ensembles.
"I appreciate the compliment, Hotaru," he said. As he
looked about, he began to notice the people in the ballroom
slowly drifting into pairs or to the sides of the room. A
group of musicians had also set themselves up near the
stairway, and were preparing their instruments for use. "It
seems that the time has come for the dancing. As there's no
one else around, would you care to take a few moments to
dance with me?"
"I would be honored to take this dance with you,"
said the young woman, offering her hands up to him so that
they could prepare themselves for the dance. "I apologize
in advance, though, as I've not had the chance to do this
much in the past beyond a few times with my father."
"Don't worry. I'm certain you'll be just fine, and
I'll lead to make it simple. I have some experience in
this, though it has been a long time," Jadeite responded,
taking hold of one of her hands while letting the other
rest on her shoulder. "We should be fine as long as we
don't step on one another's feet," he then added, smiling
softly towards her.
It was then that the first song began, its gentle
tune sweeping through the ballroom with a subtle,
unyielding presence. Jadeite led off with the steps, and
soon he and Hotaru found themselves slowly moving about the
ballroom amidst the many other dancing pairs. It seemed all
too soon that they had gone through several songs and the
music came to a gentle halt that heralded the main event of
the night.
As the King and Neo-Queen spoke to the people of
their daughter's new engagement from the landing of the
great staircase, Jadeite and Hotaru took refuge at the side
of the room next to one of the columns to observe and
listen. Hotaru was rather excited to get the chance to see
her old friend and Elios as they descended from the
opposite sides of the stairs to meet in the middle.
"In two months time, my daughter shall marry Elios.
In all my years, this is one of the happiest moments of my
life, and I can't begin to express my happiness for my
daughter," came the voice of Neo-Queen Serenity as she
stood behind the pair with her husband, King Endymion. "I
hope that you all can be happy for them as well, since this
is a truly wonderful occasion."
"Has this been long in the making?" asked Jadeite
quietly of Hotaru as he stood behind her.
"Longer than I think either of them realize, though
most of us imagined it would happen at some point,"
answered Hotaru, leaning her head back slightly to look at
the taller Jadeite. "They're good people, and deserve one
another."
"We'd like everyone to give them a chance to dance
together for one song in honor of their new status, and we
ask that you all enjoy the chance to watch them. Our
daughter is an excellent dancer, and I have it on good
authority that her soon to be groom is quite proficient as
well." It was King Endymion speaking that time, and as he
finished, Chibi-Usa and Elios began to descend the
stairway. At the bottom, they paused and looked back to
him, and he gave a slight nod. "Also, I would like to
formally introduce the new Guardian of the Earth and my
bodyguard, Jadeite." As he spoke, he extended his hand to
gesture towards Jadeite, who lifted a hand in recognition
of his being highlighted.
"A man who has been around for many years, he is a
strong and wise man who will be an invaluable member of the
Kingdom. Treat him with respect, for he has earned it
well," finished Endymion. Along with the Neo-Queen, he
descended to the bottom of the stairway to stand next to
Elios and Chibi-Usa, who advanced out onto the center of
the ballroom's floor. The music picked up, and soon the two
were slowly dancing about the room in a magnificent and
sweeping act that enraptured the crowd present.
"You see, Jadeite? It's things like this that you
will live and fight to protect in the future," said Hotaru,
leaning back to look at Jadeite once again. "Welcome to the
Shin-Muun Kingdom." She was very glad for him, but she
couldn't help but look down slightly at the thought of him
living constantly on the Moon. It was, she assumed, one of
his duties to stay near the King since he was also his
Bodyguard, and it meant that she would not be able to see
him very often, since she still lived with her father in
Crystal Tokyo.
"Thank you, Hotaru," said Jadeite in response. "I
will do all I can to protect the Shin-Muun Kingdom and all
those in it." He allowed himself a pause, lowering his hand
to take her wrist and lift it slightly in a comforting
gesture. "But I will be doing so from Crystal Tokyo. I am a
Guardian of the Earth, and that is my place, as dictated by
the King."
"You'll be on Earth?" she responded, lifting her head
once more and looking towards the still dancing pair in the
center of the ballroom. She almost found herself doubting
the possibility of something of that nature she hoped for
being true.
"I will. I still have many things to talk with you
about, and I owe you for giving me all of this. It would do
no good to be ever distant from one another if I intend to
pay you back," he said, lowering his head slightly so that
it was closer to her own. "King Endymion agreed when I
asked for the chance to work from Earth, and so that is
where I will be."
"Thank you, Jadeite," was her only response. She knew
it must have taken him effort to actually ask the King,
even if he agreed without any difficulty, and she couldn't
help but hope, in a small but ever growing part of her
heart, that he had done it because he simply wished to be
near her for her.
By Asura
(Faded_Seraph@yahoo.com)
This is an edited version, in a way. Really, I'm just
adding in this section right here. In addition to the
typical notice that Naoko Takeuchi and Toei Animation own
the Japanese rights while DiC, the masters of darkness,
and Cloverway, the leprechaun nightmare brigade, are the
owners of the North American dubbing rights, I'd like to
thank my girlfriend Kei-chan for the picture of Jadeite
and Hotaru at the celebration she did. Her picture is the
source of the description of her dress in the ballroom
scene at the end of the chapter. For those who wish to see,
her web site is listed below:
http://www.crosswinds.net/~staindglass/index.html
It can be found in her fan art section, though I encourage
taking a look at all of her beautiful pictures and
perhaps leaving a note on her little message board. ^^
Chapter 4: Toui Kessaku: Kinchou Shiteru Kokoro no
Shinjitsusa - Jadeite's Trial
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Moon Palace had been rebuilt several times over
the course of history, its architecture evolving with each
new incarnation to match the times that saw its rise. In
the wake of the Wiseman and his private war against the
beginnings of the Shin-Muun Kingdom the Moon Palace had
once more been rebuilt. Like most of Moon Palace City, the
Palace itself was made of crystal. While the other
buildings saw a variation between opaque, clouded tints and
vibrant, prismatic crystal, the Moon Palace was forged of a
brilliant, opalescent crystal that made the structure seem
to almost be made of light when the sun struck its surface.
Together with the Crystal Watcher's Spire, it lit up Moon
Palace City like a beacon that could be seen for great
distances.
The actual shape of the Moon Palace was that of a
graceful, curving cluster of towers that were connected to
one another almost like a mountain range that had been
condensed and stretched upwards. Unlike most of the
buildings in the city, the Moon Palace actually had windows
carved into its surface, the openings covered by stained
glass that depicted a variety of scenes ranging from some
that honored the Silver Millennium and Queen Serenity to
scenes that showed moments of great battles against
villains the Sailor Senshi had fought in the past. Despite
their colored nature, the stained glass windows were
transparent, allowing those within the Palace to look out
upon the city.
It was below, at the gates, where Sailor Saturn and
Jadeite stood. The Moon Palace was surrounded by an about
waist-height wall that was made out of the more mundane,
clouded crystal that made up many of the buildings in the
city. Planted before it were rows of rose bushes, which
also lined the path leading to an archway built to rise up
from the wall and give a vantage point to the guards who
were constantly positioned there. A wrought gate of bronze
provided a barrier to those who would enter without
permission in times of conflict, but its open state and the
short wall made it rather ineffective as anything more than
a psychological deterrent. The guards did seem attentive to
their duty, though, calling into the great foyer of the
Palace for a detachment of guards to escort the pair in.
The inside of the Moon Palace matched the outside
well, its areas well-lit and made of cleanly polished,
smooth crystal that was inlaid with a grid of white marble.
Tables, chandeliers, and shelves alike seemed to literally
grow out of the surfaces to which they were affixed, and,
amazingly, the chairs were even still easily moveable, even
if they were not able to be lifted from the floor. Walking
through the foyer and into the large waiting room that set
outside the throne room, the color of the interior lighting
changed from the white glow of sunlight outside to a soft,
peaceful blue. It was there that they were asked to wait
for admittance to the throne room.
"King Endymion will most assuredly ask you many hard
questions," said Sailor Saturn as she stood next to
Jadeite. "Be sure that you are ready to answer them." She
knew Jadeite was an intelligent man, but the King was also
well learned, in addition to being a person who possessed a
long memory. He was fair, but that almost made the
situation more difficult, for it would make Jadeite's past
actions more difficult to counter by words alone.
"If he is as he was when I knew him before, then I
believe you are correct. However, I have had a long time to
play this situation over in my mind. The results, good or
bad, are inevitable." Jadeite did not want to even consider
the possibility of failing in convincing the King that he
deserved a second chance, but the possibility was there,
lingering despite Pluto's strong statement that he must
succeed. Moreover, he knew that if he failed that it would
disappoint Hotaru greatly, and he had no desire to be the
source of any sorrow for the young woman.
"I know you have," Saturn responded, closing her eyes
for a moment and sighing quietly. He had put great amounts
of time and thought into what he was going to say, and she
knew that succeeding meant more than anything else did to
him. The idea of him failing was one that, to her surprise,
made her feel much worse than she expected. "I'll go ahead
and speak to them first, to make sure that he will listen
to you. Then, you can say your peace. I'm sure that he'll
give you the chance to have your powers and position back
once he hears what you've been through and decided."
"I am sure my faith in his ability to judge character
is well placed," Jadeite said. He had to believe that King
Endymion would be able to see through to Jadeite's heart
and not simply judge him on the past. Again, it was his
dedication towards fairness that concerned Jadeite. "If
things don't go well, at least I have a life on which to
fall back for now," he added, allowing himself a faint
smile of appreciation at the fact.
"That's right, you do," said Saturn, and though it
looked like she might have added something to that thought,
it was cut off by the opening of a pair of large double
doors forged of silver-gilded crystal before them. Through
the open portal the main hall of the Moon Palace could be
seen, from the long red carpet that led up to the raised
platform at the far end of the hall to the large, ornate
pillars that provided support for the ceiling. Vines, grown
from the base of the pillars, ascended the massive columns
and ran along the vaulted ceiling, providing a balance of
magic and nature in the room. Guards, clad in white
uniforms trimmed with black and silver, were lined up
before the pillars and along the carpet, keeping a watchful
gaze on the newly opened door. Finally, at the end of the
hall was the throne platform, with a pair of simple but
elegantly carved crystal thrones with soft cushions and
gold inlays.
"Her and His Majesties, Neo-Queen Serenity and King
Endymion, will now see you. Please advance slowly and show
proper respect," said one of two guards who stood just
inside the massive doorway, a gesture of his hand
accompanying the words to beckon Saturn and Jadeite onward.
Like all the other guards, a visor of reflective, silver-
tinted glass covered his face, making his features
impossible to determine aside from his trimmed brown hair.
A nod from Jadeite was given to the man, and he began
to advance into the room slowly, with Saturn taking the
lead a short distance in front of him. As he advanced, he
could see the forms of King Endymion, clad in the mix of
silver armor and black cape with white dress clothing
beneath, along with his strange glasses with their flared,
white frames. His expression was grim, his jaw set firmly
and his arms resting on the arms of his throne, and Jadeite
could feel the King's slightly narrowed light blue eyes
focused on him already.
Next to King Endymion sat the matured Neo-Queen
Serenity, her long blond double ponytails trailing down
from the small styled spheres on either side of her head.
She wore the elaborately embroidered white dress of the
Neo-Queen, and a simple white necklace adorned her neck.
She, like her husband, the King, had her blue eyes on
Jadeite as he walked along the red carpet towards them. Her
gaze, unlike King Endymion's, switched back and forth
between Jadeite and Sailor Saturn, however, and she seemed
to be almost curious at what was going on, rather than
suspicious.
In addition to the King and Neo-Queen, the figures of
Sailor Mars and Sailor Venus flanked the thrones, each
mirroring the general expressions of the member of the
royal family they stood next to; Sailor Mars held the grim,
slightly suspicious gaze of the King, while Sailor Venus
held the more curious and slightly compassionate gaze of
the Queen. It crossed Jadeite's mind, as he approached,
that things might become less difficult since he wasn't
regarded with outright hostility by at least half the
people in power who were present. However, knowing the
stubbornness of Sailor Mars, he didn't expect to have a
chance of converting her to his point of view.
"Sailor Pluto regrets that she cannot be here to
speak with you, Your Majesties, but she has business of
urgent nature to which she must attend. I am performing the
part of her liaison for this encounter," spoke Sailor
Saturn in her soft, serious tone. She had stopped several
meters from the base of the risen throne platform, offering
a slight bow to those assembled before her. Jadeite
mirrored the motion, though he held the bow a moment
longer.
"It is obvious that the situation is more complicated
than it seemed at first, and so I admit that I am very
interested in what reasons there could be for bringing
before us a man who so horribly betrayed the White Moon
Kingdom here," spoke King Endymion, settling his hands on
his knees as he spoke. His voice was that of a man who held
authority, deep and even with a hidden melody to its
timbre. "I was not inclined to hear whatever arguments or
reasons there may be at first, but the unique qualities of
the situation and the arguments of other Senshi have
convinced me to at least hear this matter out."
"I appreciate your willingness to listen, King
Endymion," said Saturn, controlling her surprise at the
fact that another Senshi had spoken on both her and
Jadeite's behalf. It could not have been Mars, she
imagined, which left either the Queen, who she imagined was
possibly behind it, or Sailor Venus. Venus seemed the more
likely one to have spoken on their behalf, since the Queen
knew little about the situation as of yet. After a short
pause to analyze the possibilities, she spoke. She had
known for some time what she was going to say here, and so
she needed no preparation to begin.
"Jadeite was still imprisoned in crystal when I found
him several months ago at the request of Sailor Pluto. Our
reasons for doing so are, admittedly, rather hard to
discern, but it was a decision that we made with the belief
that there would be no risk involved. After I freed him
from the stasis in which Queen Beryl had placed him for
failing to take your lives, I kept watch on him. Even now,
I continue to keep him under my supervision." Saturn's
words drew the attention of all those who were present with
little difficulty and it became apparent to Jadeite that
she was capable of being quite a speaker when she wanted
to. In fact, he admired the way that she defeated her
natural shyness to speak in that way.
"It was Jadeite's decision to come to this place, and
I have supported him in it, as has Sailor Pluto. His
reasons for being here, however, are better explained by
himself, rather than by me. I ask that you lend your ears
to him and consider what he has to say in a serious
manner." Overall it sounded very proper and considerate,
Saturn decided, and she was proud of herself for being able
to speak as well as she had. Though Jadeite did not know,
she had never before directly addressed the King and Queen
in a formal situation, despite having talked to both them
and their daughter in relaxed situations many times.
"We will both listen to what he has to say. Have no
fear, Hotaru-chan," spoke Neo-Queen Serenity, seemingly
cutting off whatever the King was about to say. A soft
smile was given to her husband though to console him at her
apparent overruling of whatever he had meant to say, and it
apparently succeeded, as he did little beyond shifting so
that he could rest his chin in the palm of his hand. "Go
ahead and speak, Jadeite," she said, turning her eyes back
to him.
"Thank you, Your Majesty," said Jadeite as he offered
another bow. He momentarily found himself irritated that he
had gotten no chance to change into the more formal wear
he'd been given as a present by Hotaru before they went to
the Moon. The unexpected acceleration of their schedule,
however, had allowed him no time to change into the higher
quality outfit, though, and it left him in a simple white
T-shirt and jeans to address the rulers of the entire Shin-
Muun Kingdom. If it weren't so serious a situation, he'd
have laughed at the idea for quite some time. His wandering
thoughts were put to rest, though, when he rose up from his
bow and collected himself. Like Saturn, he had prepared for
some time the words he would use to address the King and
Queen, but unfortunately they were still hard to make sound
right. Regardless, he was refined and intelligent enough to
know that hesitating would make things more difficult.
"To lose track of time is an unsettling experience,
to say the least," Jadeite began, looking up towards the
King and Queen with steady, steel gray eyes. "It was quite
difficult to fully comprehend all the time that had passed
when I was awakened by Sailor Saturn, for when she finally
explained the recent history of the Earth and the Moon, and
when things had been worked out, I found that I had been
without contact with anything in the world for well over
fifteen hundred years. For all that time, I had been
imprisoned in a crystalline hell thanks to Queen Beryl, who
took offense at my failure to defeat you."
"Fifteen hundred years is a long time to have only
your own thoughts to keep you company, and certainly enough
to drive a normal man insane." The thought of spending time
frozen in cold darkness was one with which all those
present could sympathize with, but fifteen hundred years
was far longer than they had spent frozen during the
Silence. The idea was sufficient to make even the King
shudder, if only slightly. Jadeite only paused for a moment
before continuing, though. "That is all I am now; a normal,
human man. I am not a King of the Dark Kingdom, and I have
no Youma blood infecting my body anymore. All that time has
allowed me to think and to look back on the events that led
to the fall of the Silver Millennium, and the part I played
in it."
"Most of all, I apologize to you, those to whom my
loyalty was owed and from whom never should have shifted
away from, my King Endymion." It had taken a few moments
for Jadeite to bring up the force of will to get the words
out of his mind and into his mouth, but once he spoke them,
he felt immensely better. The rest of his words began to
come out with ease that he had to fight to keep them
controlled. "To your beloved, also, I owe my apology, and
all the other Sailor Senshi, whose deaths were the result
of my failure. It was my responsibility to protect the
interests of the Earth, and the King, yet I allowed myself
to be drawn to the promises of things that were too good to
be true. I can only hope that you will believe me when I
say that I seek your forgiveness and that I do not wish to
ever find myself in conflict with any of you again."
Finally, Jadeite was able to pause and take in a deep
breath. For a moment, his thoughts had been temporarily
spent. It had taken a great deal of effort to speak even
after he'd been able to freely let his words go, and it
only really hit him then that he should pause. However, he
wasn't done yet. There was still one more matter he had to
address before he could allow them to speak again.
Thankfully, they all seemed to be surprised by his words,
which seemed to have been totally unexpected. He found the
King looking at him with an unusual expression that seemed
to combine a hint of suspicion with surprise and almost
relief. The Queen held an air of compassion about her that,
when he considered it, seemed very similar to that which
her mother had possessed. Sailor Mars seemed to be in more
of a state of outright disbelief and shock than anything
else, while Venus allowed herself a faint smile. Perhaps
she'd expected it. Jadeite allowed himself a quick
speculation that perhaps she had learned something about
Jadeite during the times she'd spoken with Kunzite long
ago, though it surprised him that she might remember them
after all the time that had passed.
"To make up for my actions in the past, I wish to
once again take the rank of a Guardian of the Earth and
protector of the King. I have several reasons for
requesting this, but most importantly it is from a sense of
duty and a desire to repair my mistakes so that such a
thing can never happen again. I ask that you please grant
me this one request." Jadeite fixed his eyes on King
Endymion as he spoke those last words, matching steel gray
to light blue in a moment that he hoped could convey the
genuine desire to redeem himself. Beyond that, though, he
could only wait and see what the response was.
"The last time I saw you I was fighting for my life,"
said King Endymion after several long, tense moments during
which the silence hung so heavily in the room that it
seemed it might freeze everyone permanently. "You were not
always like that though, which is a fact I will concede to
you. You have to understand, though, that this entire
situation is one that comes as quite a surprise. I want to
trust you, quite truthfully, but I can not be certain that
my trust will not be misplaced as it turned out to be in
the past. What guarantee do I have that such a thing will
not happen again beyond your word?"
"Only that I have not yet sought to do anything
harmful. I can give you no guarantee beyond that of my
actions in the future," responded Jadeite, his shoulders
lowering slightly. The tone of the King's voice was one
that he remembered as being the kind that typically led to
a denial on condition of circumstances with which he did
not agree, but knew necessitated the response.
"I have watched him now for these several months, and
I have not known him to do anything that would put him in
doubt, Your Majesty," spoke Saturn before the King or
Jadeite could say anything else. She possessed a strong
talent for putting her words in at just the right moment to
keep them from being awkward while having the most effect
from the context of the conversation, and it was a skill
that she would probably need in the future.
"I do not doubt that you regret your past," said the
King, who sighed quietly before continuing. "The problem
lies in the fact that I have no way of being sure that you
will be completely loyal and unable to be turned away from
the side of which you choose to be a part." He shook his
head slightly as he spoke, for he did want to believe and
accept Jadeite's words as truth. He could not let such a
potentially great risk be allowed in the Shin-Muun Kingdom,
however.
"I understand, Your Majesty," Jadeite replied,
lowering his gaze ever so slightly. Despite the motion, he
managed to retain his proud stance and let his shoulders
settle back so that he appeared upright and strong. The
rejection that he knew was coming, though, was more painful
than he could possibly hide completely. Then, he raised his
gaze again as Pluto's words came to his mind again,
reminding him that he couldn't allow himself to fail. "I
would ask that you provide me a chance to prove myself,
then. It is of infinite importance that I succeed and once
more take that position."
"You propose a test?" asked the King, shifting from
his throne to his feet. "Have you anything in mind?" If a
solid way of proving Jadeite's intentions could be found,
then the situation would turn out far superior to the
current probably resolution, but Endymion couldn't think of
any possible ways to test him off the top of his head.
Perhaps the Neo-Queen or some of the other Senshi would
have an idea. Then, an idea struck him, causing him to look
over to his wife. "Do you know where Elios is, Usa-ko?"
"You needn't ask me, Mamo-chan," replied the Queen,
smiling to her husband before turning and directing his
gaze towards the double doors at the opposite end of the
throne room. The King's gaze followed her own, and he
allowed himself a sigh of relief at the figure that greeted
his gaze.
Through the doorway came a short, slender figure of a
man with short but flowing hair of a soft white shade that
seemed to hold the faintest pale blue highlights. He wore a
simple but elegant, long-sleeved outfit of white that was
decorated with a series of five tassels on the chest and
highlights of a dark green shade. His features were smooth
and angular, with an almost fox-like quality to them that
made him rather beautiful in his own way. The effect was
enhanced by his oddly colored golden eyes, which even then
met those of King Endymion.
"King Endymion, there should be no need to think of a
trial for Jadeite," spoke the new arrival, his soft voice
filling the hall easily. "As I'm sure he also knows, the
act of becoming a Guardian of the Earth is a trial in
itself. I suspect he didn't want to mention that since it
would seem as though he were trying to trick you into
giving him the position."
"If that is the case, then we should be able to
proceed with it. It will give him the chance he needs to
prove himself that he wants, and it will provide us with
the truth, whichever way it turns out. I assume that you
have to oversee the trial and ceremony, Elios?" King
Endymion did not question Elios on whether he was certain
of the nature of the trial or not, for he knew that he was
the High Priest of the Earth, putting such things within
the realm of his knowledge.
"As I did in the past, yes, it is my duty to oversee
the ceremony, though you will have to complete it. I will
speak with you about it as soon as you like. Jadeite
already knows the procedures, since he has gone through it
once before." No one questioned how Elios knew that Jadeite
was there, either. His powers put him in a close bond with
those who had been touched by the power of the Kinzuishou,
the Golden Crystal. Guardians of the Earth were given their
more unique powers and knowledge from that crystal, and as
such Jadeite had been left with its signature upon his soul
even through all his time in the Dark Kingdom.
"How long will it take to prepare?" asked Endymion,
stepping down to meet Elios as he neared the base of the
throne platform.
"About a day," said Jadeite, speaking again for the
first time in several long minutes. "It would only take
half a day if we rushed, but it'd be easier to take it
slowly." Endymion was slightly surprised at Jadeite's
sudden words, but the calm expression on Elios face made
him believe that Elios had expected the response to not
come from himself.
"There you have it, Your Majesty. I would recommend
allowing him to get some rest tonight, so that he will be
able to get ready properly in the morning," said Elios,
offering a soft, warm smile. "It will take us some time to
prepare you for your part in the ceremony, so I suggest you
also get some rest. I do have a matter I'd like to discuss
with you before you go, though. It's one I'd prefer to
discuss alone with you."
"If that's what you think, then I will agree to it.
Feel free to come with me to the recreation room on the
next floor. We can talk there." The King turned and began
to head for a door hidden behind the massive row of pillars
on the side of the room, pausing a moment before he opened
it and disappeared beyond. "You shall have your wish,
Jadeite, and know that I have at least for the moment given
you my forgiveness."
"He's not such a bad fellow, is he," said Elios, who
still stood near Saturn and Jadeite. His eyes turned away
from the retreating King to sweep over the Queen and the
two Senshi that stood next to her, before finally resting
on the pair next to him. "I'm sure you'll come out just
fine tomorrow, Jadeite. I'd say not to make the same
mistakes you did last time, but it's always different each
time the trial is conducted. Now, wish me luck." In a
commentary of reassurance, the final short note caught
Jadeite by surprise.
"Good luck, Elios. I'm sure he won't say no," said
Saturn, smiling to him, then giving a sidelong glance at
Jadeite. "Just wish him luck. I'll explain it to you while
I escort you back to the hotel."
"Usagi, I think someone should at least keep an eye
on him," said Mars quietly, leaning towards the Queen as
Jadeite gave the quiet affirmation to Elios, who moved off
to join the King. Mars had been quiet throughout most of
the exchange, having at first not believed that Jadeite
could have been telling the truth as he spoke. As he had
gone on, though, she knew what he was saying had to be
true. Distant memories of the blond Guardian of the Earth
spoke of his original nature, and she found she couldn't
keep herself angry with him any longer. Instead, she felt
an understandable, distant disappointment and a strange
sorrow.
"Hotaru seems to be keeping a very close eye on him,"
said Venus, giving a knowing grin in the Queen's direction.
"Don't worry, Rei. She won't let him cause any trouble."
The tone of her voice switched from slightly teasing to
calm and reassuring as she looked towards Mars.
"You should have been able to tell just by looking at
him, of all people," said the Queen, looking towards Mars
as well. "His eyes were sincere. Now, it's getting to be
time to eat something for dinner. I'm sure they've made
something good in the dining hall, so why don't you both
come with me and have dinner."
"I should have known this would all come down to
food," said Mars, sticking her tongue out at Usagi. Even
though they were hundreds of years old, they still had the
same spirits they'd possessed in their younger years. While
not quite as jumpy and erratic as they'd been, they
occasionally were still prone to a bit of silliness and
teasing. However, it was always in good spirit, for they
were, after all the battles and close encounters they'd
had, a group like sisters.
"Oh, quiet. It's time to eat dinner! Come on, and
let's go," said Usagi, giving a mock glare towards Rei as
she headed towards the same door that the King and Elios
had gone through. With Venus and Mars beside her, soon it
was just Jadeite and Saturn in the massive throne hall,
along with the guards. Jadeite and Hotaru hadn't heard the
majority of what had gone on between the three women on the
throne platform, instead having been starting on their way
out. The length of the hall ensured that they were the last
ones to leave.
"You've got your wish now, Jadeite," said Hotaru as
they neared the double doors. It had been perilously close,
but Jadeite had been given the chance he'd sought in the
end and that meant that he would soon likely claim the
title of a Guardian of the Earth once again. "Would you
like to stop and eat something on the way back to
celebrate?"
"I haven't made it through the trial yet," Jadeite
responded, smiling faintly. "It will be a hard test, and
while I'm sure I'll succeed, I don't want to be jubilant
until after its official. However, if you would still like
to eat dinner, then I am not averse to going along with the
idea."
"Good, because you didn't have a choice anyway," said
Hotaru, smiling towards him as they passed through the
foyer, past the gates, and out into the evening air of Moon
Palace City. The Earth hung on the horizon, much like the
Moon appeared from the Earth, though greatly larger, and
the stars could be seen glowing like a million fireflies in
the night sky. It seemed that the day, which had grown
tumultuous and chaotic, would be saved by the night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Time passed, and once more the sun's light
illuminated Moon Palace City with its gentle touch. The sun
journeyed through the sky, heralding the time until finally
it reached a low point on the horizon at about noon. The
position of the moon made the sun highest closer to ten in
the morning and four in the afternoon rather than noon,
hitting a low point in between before rising up and then
sinking back down again at nightfall.
To suit its needs, Moon Palace City was active
without fail, people working at all hours and arranging
their sleep and recreational schedules around their
occupations. At all hours, one could find people wandering
the streets or shopping, with most of the businesses open
for business and ready to serve their customers' needs.
Jadeite found it particularly impressive that there was no
drop off at all in the percentage of people working at any
given time, a fact he attributed to the fact that people
came from all over the Earth to the Moon, despite always
leaving from Tokyo. It provided them a much more natural
schedule to adhere to.
The process of preparing for the Trial of the
Guardians was more a mental feat than anything else, which
led to Jadeite's decision to look out of the clear crystal
window of his hotel room to watch the bustling city below.
The people lived a variety of lives, following paths that
they had chosen without any pressure from the Shin-Muun
Kingdom that in turn gave them unparalleled chances at
happiness. Even the waitress at the restaurant he had dined
at the previous evening with Hotaru had seemed content in
her position, and had been happy to explain that she used
the money she made there to help pay for her education.
The memory of dinner made his mind stray from his
current observation of the city, his thoughts focusing on
the image of Hotaru sitting across from him in the dimly
lit restaurant. It had mainly been a quiet experience, but
it had been more comfortable than he could remember being
since he'd gotten to the Moon. The thought drew a quiet
laugh from him, as he realized that he'd not even been on
the Moon more than a day, but he admitted to himself that
it had seemed to be considerably longer with the conflict
interlaced throughout his brief visit. Regardless, the
dinner had been a welcome respite from the general chaos of
the day, and he had even been able to talk to her, though
it was not particularly long in duration, given their
dispositions towards silence. What their conversations had
lacked in length they made up in depth, however, and he
found it surprising that he was able to talk as freely with
her as he was able to.
Jadeite scolded himself slightly when he realized
that he'd let his thoughts drift, for he remembered well
that the Trial of the Guardians required explicit mental
clarity about several details. A person who was going to
take the trial was required to have the utmost
concentration and focus when they began the process, but
almost more importantly the person had to have a clear
image in their mind of what they were trying to obtain the
title of a Guardian of the Earth in order to do. If the
reason for their seeking the position was pure and noble,
and they were able to pass the physical and mental tests,
then they would be granted the full power and
responsibility. If the reason was not focused in their
mind, or worse yet, harmful to the Earth and the King, then
they would find themselves in a coma for the remainder of
their natural life.
Jadeite's line of thought had put him in to a serious
quandary without warning, he discovered. He sought to be a
Guardian of the Earth at first to reclaim the strength and
moral righteousness inherent to the position, as well as
the opportunity to counteract his dark past, but he
suddenly realized that those were not the only reasons he
wanted to be a Guardian. Hotaru had seemed so happy for him
when they were at dinner, going so far as to tell him that
she felt almost as though it had been herself on the line
as well, despite the knowledge that his failure to get the
chance would not have harmed her in any way. Could it have
been possible that he wanted to succeed to prove to her
that he hadn't been freed to no good, or was it that
growing idea in his mind that he wanted to succeed simply
because it would bring a smile to her face?
With all his mind, Jadeite wished that it could just
be his original reasons that were driving him. He had spent
all his time preparing with that focus in mind, but it was
quite possible that he'd made an error in what he was
solidifying in his thoughts as his motivation by not
including that simple idea of succeeding to please Hotaru.
With part of the preparation ensuring that you had your
mind fully focused on the reason you sought the title of
Guardian of the Earth, it was necessary to make sure that
it was the only thought in one's mind when they went to
take the actual trial, so that there was no confusion
during the process.
It occurred to Jadeite, as he turned and took notice
of the clock on the wall, that it was too late for him to
try and correct his thoughts in any way. They were going to
most likely be stuck in the same place they were, meaning
that it would possibly be very difficult to pass the trial.
Regardless of the possible difficulty, though, he knew he
had to try and pass it, since if he didn't, he'd not be
able to accomplish any of the things he'd set out to do.
All he could do at that point was get ready to go and be on
his way. The outfit he'd been given by Hotaru and her
father was at least fitting for the occasion, he decided,
with its color so similar to his old Dark Kingdom clothing,
though a shade darker and given a hint of more light by the
silver cords and tassels that adorned each shoulder.
Dressed and firm of mind and heart despite his
concerns, Jadeite stepped out from his room at the hotel
and began his journey to the Moon Palace, where he would
meet Endymion and Elios once again. Once they were
organized, they were to travel from the palace to a remote
location on the Moon so that they could begin the trial's
process, and once the final preparations were complete,
they would run the trial itself. Jadeite could only hope
that he hadn't destroyed his sense of intent by dividing it
as he had.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Moon had, over time, been able to develop its own
atmosphere thanks to the powers of the Ginzuishou. It had
been deemed necessary that the satellite have air that
could be safely breathed so that the entire surface could
be used if necessary. In addition to that, they had
considered and decided, once more through the power of the
Ginzuishou, to provide the Moon with the feel of Earth's
gravity, so that people who traveled between the two would
not have to adapt to such severely different sensations.
The changes in atmosphere had also allowed for the
Moon to develop its own plant life that, while similar to
what was on Earth, held its own unique traits. Trees were
scarce on the Moon, and in general the main life consisted
of pale blue moss that covered most of the surface. Grass
tended to grow on the borders of the Moon's lakes, which
had filled with water on the revival of the Moon. It was
around the lakes that most of the other settlements on the
Moon were placed, since most of the people held a fondness
for the grass that grew there and provided a reminder of
the Earth.
After meeting at the Moon Palace, the trio consisting
of Jadeite, King Endymion, and Elios had left that place
for the shores of one of the Moon's lakes. They had arrived
not long ago, and were at last free to prepare the final
few details of the Trial of the Guardians before proceeding
with the actual process. It was only those three who were
able to be present, with Hotaru, Minako, Usagi, and Rei
remaining behind out of respect for the fact that it was a
sacred ritual of the Earth not seen in well over two
thousand years. Sailor Pluto, Setsuna Meiou to those who
knew her outside of her Senshi form, had in the end been
the one to convince the others that they should not attend.
She knew more about the actual trial than any of the other
Senshi, and had explained that it would be virtually
pointless for them to go along for a variety of reasons
that included mainly the fact that for most of the trial
two if not all three of those involved wouldn't even be
doing anything.
"King Endymion, you remember your part in the trial,
correct?" asked Elios, who stood before the forms of the
King and Jadeite, both of whom were standing with their
arms at their sides. Truthfully, it was a very nostalgic
image to Elios, who was able to match it to the same sort
of occasion so long ago.
"I will be ready. It doesn't seem to be too difficult
a task," responded the King, his form unwavering as he
spoke. His part in the trial was comparatively small next
to those of Elios and Jadeite, but it was integral to the
process, which could not go on without his participation.
"It will be somewhat more tiring than it sounds, but
I am sure you will have no trouble with it," said Elios,
smiling in a reassuring manner. "What of you, Jadeite? Are
you ready for the trial?" The odd, golden shaded eyes
shifted their focus to the blond former King of the Dark
Kingdom and former Guardian of the Earth, where they met
his gray eyes.
"As much is possible, I am prepared, yes," responded
Jadeite. "Will it make a difference that we're on the Moon
for this?" he then asked. The question had occurred to him
on his way to the Moon Palace, but only know had he
remembered to ask due to his constant consideration of his
dual goals in seeking the position once again.
"Truthfully, though you won't remember it, the
majority of the trial itself will take place in Elysium.
That has always been the case, whether the trial is done on
the Earth or whether we do it elsewhere in the Solar
System. There was only one recorded occasion of the trial
being done on another planet, but it worked without
difficulty there on Venus." Once more Jadeite was reminded
of Elios' impressive knowledge of the various trials and
old rites of the Earth Kingdom, which he found surprisingly
relieving.
"I apologize for asking. I should have known you'd
have already considered that," responded Jadeite, bowing
his head slightly.
"Do not worry about it. It has been a long time since
we last saw one another, and I think the time can take the
blame for you not remembering everything with perfect
clarity." Elios then turned to look at both of the men at
the same time. "Now, shall we begin the process?"
"I am ready, Elios," said King Endymion, who moved to
seat himself on the soft grassy shore of the lake in a
traditional manner, his legs folded beneath him and serving
as a sort of seat.
"So shall it be," spoke Jadeite, confirming his
readiness for the trial as he sat down in a position to
match the King. "At your word, Elios."
"Good luck, Jadeite," responded Elios calmly, before
he closed his eyes and held his hands together before him.
Each index finger rose from his clasped hands, one bent to
touch the middle of the other. His brows furrowed then, and
his expression became one of concentration as he began to
focus the energies needed for the trial. Jadeite and
Endymion followed suit by closing their eyes as well, an
act that was necessary it seemed, for soon, there was a
distinct golden globe of light that flashed out from
Elios' fingertips to envelop the trio.
Jadeite found himself dealing well with the sense of
uneasiness in his stomach that suddenly swept over him, and
found himself surprisingly pleased that neither he nor
Endymion seemed to have any major trouble with the
sensation. Then, as he knew it would, Jadeite found the
world changed completely. He couldn't remember opening his
eyes, but he knew that in all likelihood he hadn't done so.
From past experience, he knew what to expect at that
moment, and he was not disappointed when once more vision
came to him.
White, green, and blue filled the world around
Jadeite, and though he knew what was coming, he still found
himself slightly awestruck by the archaic beauty of his
surroundings. Amidst a massive forest of vibrant green that
stretched on for lengths that Jadeite figured were beyond
simple comprehension, he stood on a floor of white stone
that he assumed to be either an odd form of granite or a
high grade limestone. Rising up before him was the central
structure of the clearing, its surface surprisingly well
polished and in good condition when one noted the lack of
people in the place.
The building before him was a simple temple that was
reminiscent of ancient Greek structures such as the
Parthenon, with its columns providing the 'walls' of the
structure, shaped as a hexagon. A second structure adorned
its roof, tall and rectangular in nature with no roof to
speak of and a raised platform at its base. Each of the
corners also had projections, which almost seemed to be
observation points, with single columns rising up to
support them. There were many more similar but much more
simple structures about the clearing as well, but none were
as commanding as the one before him.
"This will be one of the places you'll have to
protect, but you already know that," came the voice of
Elios' from within the structure before Jadeite. "In fact,
you are unique in your situation. No one has ever taken
this trial twice in the entire history of the Earth." Soon,
Jadeite could see the form of the High Priest of the Golden
Kingdom stepping forth from the shadows of the building,
his eyes focused on Jadeite in a critical manner.
"It's an honor that I have mixed feelings in
accepting," said Jadeite, standing with his arms at his
sides as he watched Elios in return. "I'm grateful for
being given this second chance, but I wish it'd never been
necessary in the first place." It wasn't something he'd
planned on having happen to him when he took the trial for
the first time those many years ago. He'd gone into it with
pure intent and a strong sense of pride. Unfortunately,
that pride had been his downfall in the end.
"Yet you must have some strong reason for wishing to
go through this ordeal again. Why are you doing this? You
could have simply led a quiet life upon receiving your
freedom from the past." It was the first part, the current
part, which would be the most difficult for Jadeite, but he
knew he had to respond to Elios as truthfully as possible,
for the High Priest was empowered by the trial with
perception that exceeded his already formidable powers of
sensing motives and truths in people he spoke to.
"There is no simple answer, I'm afraid," spoke
Jadeite after a momentary silence. "At first, I believed
that my only desire was to simply find a way to give back
as much as I could of what I was responsible for being
lost. I have never lost my sense of pride, though it has
been wounded grievously by my failures, and that demands
that I redeem myself in the eyes of those who I served and
protected. To succeed would allow me to once more serve the
greater good, and now I feel that there is another reason
besides those that I once more am willing to go through
this."
"And what is that reason?" asked Elios when Jadeite
fell silent suddenly. There was almost a faint smile on his
face as he asked that, but he knew Jadeite would be too
lost in his own response to notice it.
"Hotaru, Sailor Saturn, freed me from a nightmare I
thought wasn't ever going to end. She's given me the chance
to even walk on the Earth's surface again, and by virtue of
that, she's why I'm here now. If I failed, I would feel
that I've disappointed her, or worse, made her feel that
there was no reason to have freed me, and that it was
wasted effort."
"Very well then," said Elios almost immediately after
Jadeite had finished speaking. "Let us continue with the
trial. Since it's been so long since a trial has been done,
I decided to change it a little bit. Recite to me the base
principles of the arcane arts from their original
transcripts in the order which they were discovered, if you
please."
"What?" responded Jadeite, staring at Elios as if
he'd gone quite mad. The arcane arts that were known to all
the Guardians of the Earth had been discovered early in the
Silver Millennium, and while they were expected to be known
they were exceedingly long. It had taken Jadeite the better
part of a year to memorize the full writings, which were
well over five hundred hand-written pages if one didn't add
in their various diagrams and appendixes.
"Sorry, just kidding. I haven't done this in a very
long time, and believe it or not, it's a rather satisfying
experience. It's been far to long since we've had a
Guardian of the Earth. However, I haven't lied about
changing the trial slightly." Elios paused for a moment
before elaborating, tugging his shirt down snugly into
place before continuing. "I know you have the knowledge of
all our magic still in your mind, even if it's locked away
still. The end of the trial will most assuredly unlock
that, and you were always known for your skill in that
area. Your power, too, was without question, and your
abilities to think in a fight were proven at least twice in
the last month."
"What is it you mean then?" asked Jadeite, trying to
comprehend the sudden turn of events. He didn't know how
Elios had learned about both of his fights, for while the
battle against Sailor Venus had been common knowledge his
participation in the battle with the youma had been secret.
"You will be taking only the two final parts of the
trial, Jadeite. You have no need to take the other parts,
since your skill in those sections has been proven time and
time again. This means you will be going to the crucible
now. Are you prepared for what that entails?"
"I'd like just a couple of minutes to prepare myself,
if that's to be the case. I appreciate your considerations,
though, Elios. Thank you." Jadeite would never forget the
crucible, for it was the most difficult part of the trial
and also the most important. The first time he'd faced that
part of the trial he'd nearly lost his life in battle with
an old neighboring star system's warriors to save the then-
prince Endymion. Of course, it had all been a staged act,
specially arranged due to Jadeite's abilities to see
through illusions.
"All right. I'll be waiting for you inside the
temple. Let me know when you're ready. So you know, the
illusion will be strong enough to defeat your senses this
time. Your powers were enhanced by the Earth, and since you
don't have that right now and we're operating from the
Moon, you won't be able to tell."
"I thought you said the Moon wouldn't make a
difference," said Jadeite, looking to the retreating form
of Elios.
"I did, didn't I? We all make mistakes." Sometimes,
though, Jadeite suspected they were made on purpose, and
Elios' casual response did nothing to dispel that theory.
To Jadeite, though, it really didn't matter in the
end. He was going to have to face the last part of the
trial regardless of the circumstances and succeed in spite
of them. In all his time, he hadn't worked out the exact
way the crucible actually worked, and that made it an
unknown factor. He was accustomed to dealing with such
things, but he did find it somewhat unsettling that he had
almost no idea at all what he would face. Finally, he rose
up and turned, heading for the form of Elios within the
temple.
"I am prepared. Begin as you will."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jadeite woke up to find himself in pain. It was
becoming all to familiar an occurrence for him, he noted,
though it was not nearly as severe as most of his other
recent conflicts had been. Where before he'd had an
unpleasant tendency to be injured very specifically and
with great amounts of pain, it was more comparable to dull
aches that simply wouldn't release their hold on his body.
Gathering his bearings, he shot up quickly, fractured
images of the last few hours invading his mind.
Hotaru's face was twisted into a scream that did not
suit her, and she was shielding the fallen form of the
King. Jadeite then saw the form of Queen Beryl, her hand
held out to him. He could remember seeing a silver object
laying on the floor, light gleaming off a long blade, and
then he could remember the sensation of pain as he was
stricken by dark energy, a sword in his hand warding off
part of a great blast. The last image he could recall was
his dragging the forms of both Hotaru and the King away as
everything was enveloped in flame.
Jadeite's vision cleared then, and he saw the forms
of Elios and Endymion kneeling on either side of him, their
eyes focused on him intently. It was an odd sight that made
him almost thing he was back in the Silver Millennium, the
time when he'd first woken up to a sight such as that in
his trial. Still, there was an unmistakable smile on
Elios' face, and a slightly surprised expression on
Endymion's.
"There's only one part left, Jadeite," said Elios as
he helped Jadeite to his feet along with Endymion. "The
last test of your skill, and the only one we need to
perform." As soon as the slightly weary blond was on his
feet, he felt something pressed into his hand. Looking
down, he saw that it was a sword that was distinctly
familiar to him. Forged of silver, every portion of the
weapon down to the hilt and guard were polished and
gleaming in the light of the sun above.
"I'm told this is normally a little different, but
I'll give it my best," said Endymion, holding a matching
sword in hand. "You're tired, I know, but I expect you'll
give this your best effort. Do well, and the trial shall be
over." Stepping back a short distance, the King raised his
sword and let the light gleam on its edge.
"As you wish, my King," said Jadeite, mirroring the
posture with his own raised sword. "Flat of blade, I
assume?" He tried hard to keep his voice steady, but the
words of the King could only make him assume that he'd
succeeded, and that was an idea that he could scarcely put
down his joy at the thought of.
"On your life, Jadeite," responded Endymion, who then
lunged forward. Jadeite's blade deflected the thrust and
came up in a sweep towards Endymion, who drew back to parry
the attack. The clearing echoed with the ring of blades
then, their blades gleaming in the sunlight as the King and
Jadeite exchanged strikes for a period of time that seemed
to last forever.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The day after the trial had been completed was for
many in Moon Palace City was one like every other. For
Jadeite, though, it was much like beginning a new life.
Soon after the finishing of the last part of his trial,
Elios had allowed Endymion to perform his part in the
trial. A finalizing of ceremony more than anything else,
the King had been walked through his part and, through the
power of the Kinzuishou, he had given Jadeite his powers
and title back.
With the trial finished, Elios had returned them to
the Moon, where they found themselves in the same positions
they'd been in when they left. Try as he might, Jadeite
could not recall any of the crucible portion of the trial
beyond those shattered few images he'd had when he awakened
from it. It surprised him that he'd succeeded with the
answers he'd given, and Elios refused to explain the exact
reasons that had allowed him to pass the test of intent.
Endymion meanwhile had taken on a much friendlier attitude
towards Jadeite, which he imagined was a result of his
success.
Once they'd returned to the Moon Palace, Jadeite was
surprised to hear King Endymion announce a celebration was
to be held on the coming Friday in honor of not only the
first Guardian of the Earth to be announced in the Shin-
Muun Kingdom, but also the occasion of Elios' engagement to
Endymion's daughter, Chibi-Usa. A wave of surprise and
excitement was the immediate result of that announcement,
and it made it clear rather suddenly to Jadeite why Elios
had asked to be wished luck several days before. He had
been there to ask Chibi-Usa's father's blessing for the
marriage, and had apparently been granted just that.
Since he knew it would be next to impossible to
escape attending the celebration, and that it would be a
pleasant occasion to be a part of anyway, Jadeite had
arranged to meet Hotaru there so that they would be able to
see one another again. Since his becoming a Guardian of the
Earth once more, Jadeite had found his immediate attention
held by the sorting out of all his recovered powers and
duties. Fortunately, he'd encountered a brilliant stroke of
luck while doing so that would allow him a definite peace
of mind in the future.
For Hotaru, it had been a simple matter to give her
consent to meeting Jadeite at the celebration ball. She had
found herself hoping that she'd have the chance to see him
again and that they wouldn't be separated by his achieving
his goal, and therefore had welcomed the chance to attend
with him. It was an easy matter for her to prepare, though
she decided that she would take a great deal of time to
ensure she was in top condition for the ball, even making
sure that she'd have a new dress ready for the occasion. It
wasn't a common thing for her to do, and she found herself
wondering more than once why she was so intent on appearing
beautiful for the occasion. The majority of the reasoning
fell on her assumption that it was in honor of her friend
Chibi-Usa's luck in finally being engaged, though she also
found herself wondering often how Jadeite would regard her
appearance.
When the time for the ball finally arrived, Jadeite
found himself amidst what must have been hundreds of people
dressed in their finest dress clothing. The King and Neo-
Queen always opened their celebrations to the public, which
allowed the people to become closer to the rulers of the
Shin-Muun Kingdom while also allowing them to more easily
sense the mood of the people as a whole. Most of the Sailor
Senshi were present as well, easily notable in their
elegant dresses and with their arranged hairstyles. Jadeite
was only able to count the missing as Sailor Pluto, who
only rarely attended such occasions of that nature. He
hadn't yet seen Hotaru either, though the throngs of people
made it easy for her to have slipped by without his
noticing.
If he'd had the choice, Jadeite would have certainly
spent his entire time searching for Hotaru, but he couldn't
seem to avoid being pulled into chatting groups of people
as he passed, many of whom wished to share a drink and
congratulate the new Guardian of the Earth. The media,
though certainly not on par with that on Earth, had made
the entire Moon knowledgeable about his new position, as
well as the new engagement of the royal daughter. It was
only with considerable effort that he finally managed to
pull himself away from the crowds and rest at the side of
the room. It also gave him the chance to properly take in
his surroundings, which he'd not been able to do amongst
the throngs of people earlier.
The celebration was being held in a large, open
ballroom that was part of the Moon Palace. Like the rest of
the building, it was forged of shimmering crystal, but
rather than the typical blue hue, the area held a distinct
golden shade that made it seem to be mixed with gold.
Several crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, which
was high and vaulted with stained glass skylights patterned
along its ridge. A graceful staircase occupied the far end
of the room, descending from both sides of the room to join
into one wide, flared landing before forming a final
stretch towards the ballroom's floor.
While the room certainly had enough beauty on its
own, there were also various decorations strung about that
seemed to suit all of the different planets of the Solar
System. Finely crafted ice sculptures were in place to
honor Mercury, and golden tinsel was wrapped around columns
that lined the ballroom. Sharing the space on the columns
were vines of ivy that interlaced with the tinsel to honor
Jupiter, and torches hung on the walls, flames dancing
within them for Mars. The Outer Senshi were represented by
varying tapestries on the walls to match their respective
homes, each of the four pieces of art depicting their
respective planets with stunning quality.
Caught in his admiration of the ballroom's
decoration, Jadeite almost missed the slight form of Hotaru
moving among the crowds in a search for him. A gleam of
light caught his attention, though, and he suddenly had a
fleeting glimpse of her. He wasn't certain of what he'd
seen, but he had to track her down both to find out and out
of his obligation to meet her. Taking a sip of the glass of
wine he'd acquired in his conversations, he began to move
into the crowds once more. More than once he had to
politely excuse himself as he maneuvered towards Hotaru.
Thankfully, he had decided to set his glass down after that
drink, so he wasn't able to spill the drink on himself
during several small bumps with other guests at the
celebration. When he finally reached her, he was forced to
pause, and almost lost her amongst the crowd again.
Hotaru's hair was the same as always, its black
shoulder-length threads holding a distinct violet sheen to
them. Dancing among the locks of hair were a pair of small
earrings designed to match the appearance of her guardian
planet, Saturn, complete with rings and slender teardrop
shaped pieces below them. Her neck was wrapped with a thin
band decorated by a silver starburst in front, the fabric a
deep violet satin. It also appeared to be the same material
of the dress she wore, which was an elegant design that
left her shoulders bare, held up by a descending pair of
straps wrapped around her neck and forming an 'x' in the
front above her bust. A slender diamond shaped cutout
separated the front of her dress, while the straps
continued on to form the tops of what were the barely
present sleeves. Those consisted mainly of gossamer leaf
shaped petals that hung from the straps, their surfaces
always holding a different hue depending on the way the
light struck them. The skirt portion of the dress was very
similar to the sailor fuku worn by the Senshi, but its
material was the same violet satin that made the rest of
the dress, and hung softly to swirl about the halfway point
of her calves.
Such was the sight that left Jadeite quite speechless
and lost in his vision for several moments. Finally he
recovered his wits and pursued the young woman, softly
touching her shoulder when he caught up to her, a motion
that caused her to turn and focus her beautiful violet eyes
upon him.
"Jadeite! I was trying to find you, but there are so
many people I was beginning to think it was hopeless," she
said, smiling to him. "Have you been enjoying the ball?"
she then asked. She remained rather close to him, a fact
that didn't go unnoticed by either of them. They found
themselves unable to get any further apart, as well, due to
the number of people within the ballroom.
"It's been a whirlwind of discussions and meetings.
The people of the Kingdom are very pleasant, but to be
honest I'm beginning to wonder if I can stand another
polite conversation," replied Jadeite, finding words once
more. "I suspect it'd have been a bit easier if I'd found
you sooner. However, I cannot say I mind finding you now.
You are a very beautiful sight." It almost surprised him
that he spoke such words, but it was a compliment well
deserved, and so he felt secure and safe from any potential
embarrassment at pointing it out.
"Thank you," said Hotaru, and she couldn't help but
blush slightly. It was an unusual reaction for her, and she
did her best to hide it without seeming awkward. "You look
very regal and handsome in your outfit as well." It was not
a lie, for the blond Guardian of the Earth seemed to be
well accustomed to wearing such ensembles.
"I appreciate the compliment, Hotaru," he said. As he
looked about, he began to notice the people in the ballroom
slowly drifting into pairs or to the sides of the room. A
group of musicians had also set themselves up near the
stairway, and were preparing their instruments for use. "It
seems that the time has come for the dancing. As there's no
one else around, would you care to take a few moments to
dance with me?"
"I would be honored to take this dance with you,"
said the young woman, offering her hands up to him so that
they could prepare themselves for the dance. "I apologize
in advance, though, as I've not had the chance to do this
much in the past beyond a few times with my father."
"Don't worry. I'm certain you'll be just fine, and
I'll lead to make it simple. I have some experience in
this, though it has been a long time," Jadeite responded,
taking hold of one of her hands while letting the other
rest on her shoulder. "We should be fine as long as we
don't step on one another's feet," he then added, smiling
softly towards her.
It was then that the first song began, its gentle
tune sweeping through the ballroom with a subtle,
unyielding presence. Jadeite led off with the steps, and
soon he and Hotaru found themselves slowly moving about the
ballroom amidst the many other dancing pairs. It seemed all
too soon that they had gone through several songs and the
music came to a gentle halt that heralded the main event of
the night.
As the King and Neo-Queen spoke to the people of
their daughter's new engagement from the landing of the
great staircase, Jadeite and Hotaru took refuge at the side
of the room next to one of the columns to observe and
listen. Hotaru was rather excited to get the chance to see
her old friend and Elios as they descended from the
opposite sides of the stairs to meet in the middle.
"In two months time, my daughter shall marry Elios.
In all my years, this is one of the happiest moments of my
life, and I can't begin to express my happiness for my
daughter," came the voice of Neo-Queen Serenity as she
stood behind the pair with her husband, King Endymion. "I
hope that you all can be happy for them as well, since this
is a truly wonderful occasion."
"Has this been long in the making?" asked Jadeite
quietly of Hotaru as he stood behind her.
"Longer than I think either of them realize, though
most of us imagined it would happen at some point,"
answered Hotaru, leaning her head back slightly to look at
the taller Jadeite. "They're good people, and deserve one
another."
"We'd like everyone to give them a chance to dance
together for one song in honor of their new status, and we
ask that you all enjoy the chance to watch them. Our
daughter is an excellent dancer, and I have it on good
authority that her soon to be groom is quite proficient as
well." It was King Endymion speaking that time, and as he
finished, Chibi-Usa and Elios began to descend the
stairway. At the bottom, they paused and looked back to
him, and he gave a slight nod. "Also, I would like to
formally introduce the new Guardian of the Earth and my
bodyguard, Jadeite." As he spoke, he extended his hand to
gesture towards Jadeite, who lifted a hand in recognition
of his being highlighted.
"A man who has been around for many years, he is a
strong and wise man who will be an invaluable member of the
Kingdom. Treat him with respect, for he has earned it
well," finished Endymion. Along with the Neo-Queen, he
descended to the bottom of the stairway to stand next to
Elios and Chibi-Usa, who advanced out onto the center of
the ballroom's floor. The music picked up, and soon the two
were slowly dancing about the room in a magnificent and
sweeping act that enraptured the crowd present.
"You see, Jadeite? It's things like this that you
will live and fight to protect in the future," said Hotaru,
leaning back to look at Jadeite once again. "Welcome to the
Shin-Muun Kingdom." She was very glad for him, but she
couldn't help but look down slightly at the thought of him
living constantly on the Moon. It was, she assumed, one of
his duties to stay near the King since he was also his
Bodyguard, and it meant that she would not be able to see
him very often, since she still lived with her father in
Crystal Tokyo.
"Thank you, Hotaru," said Jadeite in response. "I
will do all I can to protect the Shin-Muun Kingdom and all
those in it." He allowed himself a pause, lowering his hand
to take her wrist and lift it slightly in a comforting
gesture. "But I will be doing so from Crystal Tokyo. I am a
Guardian of the Earth, and that is my place, as dictated by
the King."
"You'll be on Earth?" she responded, lifting her head
once more and looking towards the still dancing pair in the
center of the ballroom. She almost found herself doubting
the possibility of something of that nature she hoped for
being true.
"I will. I still have many things to talk with you
about, and I owe you for giving me all of this. It would do
no good to be ever distant from one another if I intend to
pay you back," he said, lowering his head slightly so that
it was closer to her own. "King Endymion agreed when I
asked for the chance to work from Earth, and so that is
where I will be."
"Thank you, Jadeite," was her only response. She knew
it must have taken him effort to actually ask the King,
even if he agreed without any difficulty, and she couldn't
help but hope, in a small but ever growing part of her
heart, that he had done it because he simply wished to be
near her for her.
