Jessie was in the park, stretched out on her stomach. Enjoying the sun, she was quite upset when a shadow suddenly loomed over her face.
Without opening her eyes, she muttered, "I don't care who you are, just go away."
"That's very rude, Rosa." A familiar voice responded, sounding hurt. "Queen Beryl is likely to kill Malachite and Zoisite for letting me go before gaining permission."
"My name is Jessie." she snapped. "How many times do I have to tell you that, Jedite?" Her eyes flashed open as she realized what she'd just said. "Jedite? Is that really you?" No, it can't be. This is just some kind of sick joke. Tell Zoisite and Malachite that it was a good try, you even look like him. But it won't work. If this is to be my punishment for betraying them, then so be it. They've made their point. But at least I didn't hurt them like this. I'm going home." Jessie stood up and walked away quickly before her emotions could control over her. She felt the tears prick at her eyes and blinked hard.
"Wait..." Jedite called after her, trying to remember her new name. "Jessie, please wait. It's no joke. I am Jedite. Zoisite and Malachite risked their lives to free me from the Eternal Sleep that Queen Beryl placed me under. How can I convince you of that?"
She didn't pause, didn't say anything, only continued to walk away. 'I know it's you, Jedite,' she thought. 'But I cannot admit it except to myself. Thank you, Zoisite, Malachite. You knew how much I missed him and so you set him free. You had your own reasons for what you did, but I still thank you, my friends.'
When she reached her house a few minutes later, she unlocked the door and went down to the basement.
She placed her favorite CD into the boombox and began the warm-ups needed for a long gymnastics workout. They might be able to prevent her from receiving any formal training at the school, but she knew most of what they'd been teaching anyway.
Finishing the warm-up, she started on the real work, slowly forgetting all of her problems.
*@*@*@*@*@
"How did she take it?" Zoisite asked.
"She is in a deep state of denial." Jedite sighed. "She honestly thought that it was a sick joke. She figures that you're trying to punish her for choosing against the Negaverse."
"That's not it at all." Malachite responded. "We're trying to protect her. We should talk to her. Where is she?"
"She said she was going home."
"Let's go." Malachite ordered. "I want to clear this up before she gets angry."
*@*@*@*@*@
"What's wrong, Serena?" Luna asked. "All you've done this morning is stare at the Crystal."
"I'm alright, Luna." the blond girl assured her. "I'm just finding it hard to believe that I'm the Moon Princess. I mean, let's face it, I'm the last one anyone would have suspected as being the Princess."
"So what? You're right, it's a surprise. But it's your destiny. We'll get this done somehow. And, you are our leader. It's good for you."
"Whatever you say, Luna." Serena moaned.
*@*@*@*@*@
"I didn't know she could move like that." Zoisite whispered, watching Jessie twist and turn into graceful dance-like positions. "I wonder what Earth culture this is from. She didn't learn it from us."
They watched her for a few minutes before she stopped.
"What are you doing here?" she demanded, turning off the music. "I knew exactly what I was doing when I gave the Crystal the Princess yesterday. There was no way I'd ever let Beryl get ahold of it. I'd have destroyed it first. You know how I feel about her."
"It has nothing to do with that." Zoisite protested. "We wanted to tell you that it really was Jedite in the Park. It wasn't just a trick."
"So what?" Jessie replied. "I knew that an hour ago. I also know why you released him. You lose. I'm a Sailor Scout, and I'm staying that way. Oh, I figured out why I stopped caring."
"Why?" Malachite's voice wasn't very interested.
"The same reason you're here trying to convince me to join the Negaverse. I never stopped caring to be honest, I just seemed to so that I could protect you." Her eyes showed a sadness far beyond her years. "Why is my life so important to everyone? I'm the Princess of one tiny planet, so what? All the Scouts are Princesses. Why am I so different?"
"You know why far better than we do, Jessie." Zoisite answered. "Perhaps you could tell us."
"It shouldn't matter who I am in politics. I've avoided everything about *that* even more than I've avoided Beryl. Tell her that. And also tell her that I don't like to fight, but I will if she insists on attacking my home. I'll see you two later."
Jessica Klinto walked back upstairs to the living room and flopped down on the couch to finish her weekend homework. After about half an hour, she realized that she'd finished everything the day before. She also noticed that there had been no interruptions. Perhaps they had left after all.
Didn't matter if they had, she needed to warn the Scouts. They had to know that Jedite was back, and that Beryl had a new plan.
*@*@*@*@*@
"I thought you said that only Beryl could release Jedite from whatever it is that she put him under." Rei said after Jessie had finished her summary of what had just happened to her.
"I did." Jessie agreed. "So either Beryl changed the rules-which isn't very likely, or she knew exactly what was happening and did nothing. In that case, she wanted Jedite to be freed for some reason."
"Why didn't you attack when you first saw him?" Lita demanded.
"I'm not sure." Jessie admitted. "He came up on me by surprise. When he started talking, it was as if we were continuing a conversation from yesterday. It never even crossed my mind to attack him."
Luna had been listening right alongside Artimis. "You know a lot more than you're admitting, Jessie." she accused.
"I know who they used to be." She whispered. "But memory often causes a person to believe their friends were different than they truly are. How can I hide false memories? Serena, have you remembered anything?"
Bits and pieces." Serena answered. "But they're more like dreams than memories. Most of them are about Darien. I can't believe how much we loved each other."
"I think you still do." Rei sighed. "Remember how protective of you he's always been? Way more so than with the rest of us."
"I know. It's just weird to think that my dream hunk and my worst nightmare are really the same guy. I'm not sure if I should love him or kill him."
"I wouldn't recommend killing him." Jessie smiled. "At least, not just yet. We might need his help later on. Now, I really hate to change the subject, but what are we going to do about the Negaverse?"
"We could just attack them." Lita suggested. "Give them a taste of their own medicine."
"Alright." Jessie agreed. "You tell me where they are and I'll be first in line to kill Beryl."
"You don't know where they are?" Ami looked surprised. "I thought you knew everything about the Negaverse."
"As stupid as Beryl is, she isn't stupid enough to tell a Sailor Scout where the Negaverse entrance is located. Not even if that Scout refuses to fight." She grinned without humor, but said nothing more.
"If you're a Scout that refuses to fight, then why does Beryl want you so badly?" Ami asked.
"I'm not sure." Jessie lied, shaking her head. "She thinks that I've got some great and powerful influence over every member of the Negaverse."
"Can you think of any way to find out where they are?"
"Why yes, Luna, I can. I'll just ask someone to tell me where Beryl, insane Queen of the Negaverse is holed up. Assuming I ask someone who knows, I'll either be killed on the spot or I'll be personally escorted into Beryl's presence. Depending on her mood, she'll kill me herself or take over my mind." Her tone was self-mocking and bitter. "Of course, if I ask someone who doesn't know, then I'll probably be sent off to the nuthouse. The break from school and the chance to convince people I'm really insane would be a lot of fun. Would one of you kindly point me in the direction of the most populated part of Tokyo?"(AN: Doesn't that sound like fun?)
"There's no need for you to get snide about it, Jessica." Artimis stated coldly. "She was just asking."
"I know, Artimis." Jessie acknowledged. "I guess I went a little far. I'm sorry, Luna. But maybe Ami can figure something out."
"I've tried before." Ami replied. "But one more try wouldn't hurt. Tell us what you know about Beryl and we'll see what the computer comes up with."
"All right." Jessie agreed. "She'd more than likely hide somewhere where there aren't very many people- none if possible- some place that's out of the way." She paused, trying to remember something from when she'd lived in the Negaverse. "And cold." she recalled. "She always had the castle as cold as an ice cube. She must have believed that the colder you are on the outside, the colder you become on the inside. She's an idiot."
"Does that help at all Ami?" Rei asked eagerly.
"The computer's narrowed it down to three places: Greenland, the North Pole and the South Pole. I'd be more willing to bet she's at one of the Poles. There's no one there at all."
"Unless you count the penguins." Lita nodded. "But that still leaves two places at opposite ends of the planet. Which one is she most likely to be at, Jessie?"
"I'm not sure. I guess we could always try one, then go to the other if we're wrong. We can start looking right now if you'd like."
"Hey!" Serena protested. "I thought we were going shopping."
"I'll personally take you on a one hundred dollar shopping spree when we get back." Jessie promised.
"Okay!" Serena cheered.
To Be Continued...
Okay everyone, I'm really sorry for how long this part took, and if you want, I can make up a million different excuses, but in reality there's only three. One: I wanted to wait until after the holidays since no one said how they liked the last chapter. Two: I'm very lazy. And finally, I had this huge brainstorm on the Moon Kingdom prequel I've been working on for about a year now. That'll be coming out sooner or later I'm sure. Anyway, reviews are always welcome. Type at you next time!