Hey, all my wonderful, talented reviewers! I'm so sorry about the long delay, but my computer crashed, and I lost everything! All the stories I was working on and everything. I'm so sorry about that, and I made sure my mom was too. So, please accept my most humble apologies!

Disclaimer: Anything new, I own, anything you recognize, I don't. It's simple really.

Chapter Summary: It's Lita's turn! She's in Jermnca, and boy is she in trouble. That's all I can say.

Chapter-The Child of Lightning

Lita split from the group early on, traveling down a quiet mountain road, with little interruption, save the occasional whistling of a bird. She pushed tree branches out of the way gently, trying to avoid hurting her friends.

{No human has ever shown us this much kindness.} A deep voice whispered.

{She is special. Do you see the lightning in her eyes?}

Lita stopped, and whirled around, trying to locate the source of the voice. "Who's there?"

{It's just us, Lightning-Maid. The trees.}

Lita looked around at the trees curiously. "Have you always been able to talk?"

{Of course. Two leggers just never take the time to listen. You're the first.}

"Well, I'm not like most 'two-leggers'," Lita said, smiling. An ominous rumble heralded the approach of rain. Lita gave a silent groan. "Oh, hell. Just what I need, a bloody rainstorm."

{Well, my dear, you ARE in a rainforest.}

Lita grinned ruefully. "You're right, of course." She sighed, as the skies opened up, and a deluge of rain began. She pressed forward, until she came to a clearing, where there was a little hut. She walked to the door, and knocked gently. An elderly man opened the door. Behind him, Lita could see an elderly woman peering over his shoulder.

"Can I help you, my dear?"

"I hope." Lita trailed off, as a knife entered her stomach. The last thing she heard before she fainted was something that sounded suspiciously like Nephrite laughing.

The elderly man gasped, and looked around for whoever had thrown the knife. Seeing no one, he and his wife dragged the unconscious young woman inside their house.

When Lita came to, the first things she saw were a pair of worried golden-brown eyes. She blinked groggily, and tried to sit up. A strong but gentle hand pushed her back down.

"Nay, Lightning Child. 'Twould be dangerous for thee to sit up, with thy stomach injured."

"Where am I?" Lita asked, staring up into a man's wizened old face.

"You're in my house. I am Pedro, and this is my wife, Carmenita. You were stabbed, by a demon, methinks."

Carmenita stood forward, and offered the girl a deep green stone, flecked with lightning. "Whoever attacked you dropped this. We thought it might be useful."

Lita took the stone, eyes shining brightly. "It is my stone." She noticed that half of it seemed to be missing. "Well, half of my stone, anyway."

"Do you need the other half to defeat this evil?" Pedro inquired.

"I don't know. I feel power in my veins, but maybe I need more to take back what is ours."

"You will need to rest, Lightning Child. The wound drained thee, and rest is needed before thy travels continue."

Lita nodded wearily, and fell back on to the bed. Pedro covered her with a multicolored blanket, and left her to sleep.

In Nephrite's room, he was cursing in three different languages. "How did this happen? Dramhnesch fuquit!"

Opal stood, shaking back her hair. "Master, it cannot be helped."

"Now she's even stronger!"

"Again, it cannot be helped. You must simply tell Nephernia that you lost the crystal."

"No one tells Nephernia anything, Opal."

"Well, there must be something you can do."

"Nothing, except tell her the truth and pray I live through it." Nephrite strode from the room.

The next time Lita woke, it was morning. Carmenita bustled into the room, carrying a bowl. "Good morn to thee, Lightning Child. Can you hold a spoon?"

Much to Lita's embarrassment, she couldn't. Carmenita spooned the broth into Lita's mouth with a business-like air. When it was all gone, Lita felt much stronger. She got out of the bed, and walked around, testing her strength. "Carmenita, I feel much better. What did you put in that?"

"Just a few local herbs to boost your energy level. Do you feel better?"

Lita stretched. "Much. I think I'll be able to travel today."

"If you're sure."

"I couldn't possibly impose on you and Pedro any longer."

"At least let us pack you some rations for your journey."

Lita nodded gratefully. "If it isn't too much trouble."

"Of course not." Carmenita left the room. Lita checked her bow and arrows, and hefted her quiver across her back. The bow she unstrung and used as a staff. Carmenita and Pedro came into the room, Carmenita baring a sack stuffed with food. "Lightning Child, there is food, flint and tinder in here. Here is a cloak to ward off the chill. It gets quite cold here at night."

Lita took the bag, marveling at how light it was. "Thank you. I'd best be on my way."

Pedro and Carmenita walked her to the path. "May your road be short and full of good times, Lightning Child."

Lita took both elders' hands in hers. "I thank you for your hospitality. If I ever have a chance to repay it, I will." She set off down the path. Pedro and his wife watched her until she was out of sight, and then went back to their cozy little house.

Lita walked through the forest, using her bow/staff to move the bushes and trees aside. The stone hummed slightly in her pocket, and she patted it, making sure it was still there. It was quickly approaching dusk the following day when Lita spotted the hut. The stone began to vibrate wildly. The closer Lita got to the hut, the worse the stone shook. When Lita set foot in the hut, the stone gave one gigantic shudder, and lay still. Lita caught her breath. There, lying on a pedestal, was the other half of Lita's stone. She was just reaching towards it, when someone shrieked.

"Who are you to enter these holy grounds?"

Lita turned, and was confronted with a short, slender woman. Her skin was pale brown, and her eyes were bright green. "I'm the Lightning Child. Who are you?"

"I am Taima, guardian of the Lightning Crystal. It is a pleasure, Lady Lightning." Taima bowed.

"Likewise, Guardian Lightning. May I have the other half of my stone?"

Taima nodded, and Lita stepped forward and grabbed her stone. Pulling the other half out of her pocket, she held them together, and was rewarded with the sight of the two halves welding back together. She grinned. "YES!"

"Do you mind not shouting? Sound carries in this small hut," Taima said, wincing.

"Oh Li-ta?" A menacing voice called. "Give me the stone."

"Nephrite?" Lita was about to run outside, but Taima stopped her.

"He's been possessed. He'll try to kill you and take the stone if you set foot off of these sacred grounds. Your best bet is to get him before he can get you," Taima whispered. Lita's heart broke, but she nodded bravely, and restrung her bow. Notching an arrow to it, she called Nephrite's name.

"If you want it, bastard, come get it."

"I just might."

"Oh, I'd like to, but Lita, darling, you know that's not possible."

"I know." Lita pinpointed Nephrite's voice, and fired an arrow. A strangled gasp told Lita she had found her mark.

"Lita, you missed. You just killed my servant." Nephrite laughed.

"You've got the stone, Lady, now use it!"

Lita pulled the stone out of her pocket, and closed her eyes. The stone began to glow green, and thunder rumbled outside. Nephrite growled. "I can't do anything while you have the stone, but you have to sleep sometime, my dear, and when you do, I'll be waiting."

Taima crept to the door, and peered out. "He's gone."

Lita nodded. "What now?"

"We meet up with the Pure One, in Catronia. The others will join us."

"Are you coming too?"

"Now that you have the stone, I have no reason to stay. You can teleport us there."

"How?"

"Use the stone, and ask it to take you to the Time Protector."

Lita grasped the stone in both hands. "Take Taima and I to Trista." The stone grew warm under Lita's touch, then both women vanished.

In Catronia, Trista was sitting beside Serenity, waiting for Lita to show. When she did, Trista smiled. "Hello, Lita. I see you've brought Taima with you."

Taima bowed. "Lady Time."

"How did you know her name?"

"I am the Protector of Time, Lita. There's not much that I don't know. Hotaru's still in the Kingdom of the Dead. I believe she'll be there for quite a while."

Queen Selenity, Serenity's mother, stood. "In the meantime, you shall lack for nothing. Miki will show you both to your rooms. If you require food, a bath, anything, you have only to ask."

Lita and Taima bowed respectfully to the queen and left. Upon reaching their new quarters, both girls fairly collapsed on the beds.

In the throne room, Serenity turned to Amara and Michelle. "Could you guys make sure nothing gets to Lita or Taima? I'm afraid someone might try something."

Michelle stood. "I'll do it." She swept away. Amara and Trista started a card game. Serenity and Selenity were content to watch.

"Trista, who's going to be coming next?" Serenity asked.

"Ami, Mina and Rei. After that, we have to battle Nephernia."

Serenity gulped. "Gods help us." She drew the Gods-symbol on her chest. The others followed suit.

In Nephernia's palace, she was upbraiding Nephrite. "What were you thinking? Your incompetence has cost us a stone! You careless imbecile!"

"Accept my most humble apologies, milady. I will prove myself in the battle that is sure to follow."

"You had better. You are lucky I need you to complete my plan, otherwise, you would be dying a slow and painful death."

"I am grateful, my queen."

Nephernia leaned back in her throne. "Get out of my sight, and stay out of my sight until I send for you."

Nephrite bowed and left. Jadeite was waiting for him. "Where's your concubine?"

"The Lightning Bitch killed her. I'll just get another one."

Jadeite smirked. "It'd be a shame for your bed to get cold, since your room is where you'll be spending a lot of your time. You failure." Jadeite turned and left, leaving Nephrite shaking in fury. He stormed to his room, where a gorgeous girl was waiting for him. Her hair was long and dark blue, and her eyes were a little lighter than her hair.

"I am Sapphire, your new maid."

Nephrite circled her, smirking. "You'll do quite nicely." He led her to his bed.

In her temporary room, Lita was crying silently, letting her tears soak the pillow.

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Well, that's the end of that chapter. I've been meaning to explain the whole god and goddess thing to y'all. Okay, it's basically sort of like Ancient Greece. There are several major goddesses and gods. In chapter 2, Lita swears on the name of Tryphaena. That's a goddess of trees and nature. In the same chapter, Jadeite swears by Berenice. That's the goddess of love and relationships. Then, Mina uses the name Cynthia. That's the goddess of beauty. I might use the goddesses mentioned in later chapters, but I'm not sure. Till the next chapter, Ja Ne! (And don't kill me!}