Chapter Two

"Ami!"

Ami was jolted out of her reverie by her friend Rei, Princess of Mars. "You've been daydreaming again."

Ami sat up. She and Rei were sitting in a field with their other friends, Makoto, Princess of Jupiter, Minako, Princess of Venus, and Serenity, Princess of the Moon. Minako poked Serenity in the ribs. "You have too, Princess."

Serenity looked around nervously. "Just thinking." she lied.

Ami was fidgety, too. In one hour, she was supposed to meet her new friend, Nephrite. She needed to sneak away from the other girls, for if they followed, they'd discover her secret. How can I be sure he can be trusted.? She thought. I must be sensible. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears. He seems safe. I trust him.

Endymion slid his sword into his belt. "Nephrite, you don't have to go with me this time."

Nephrite adjusted his flame-colored cape and cleared his throat nervously. "Of course I have to go with you, Master. Someone has to look after you."

Endymion tried to fix his midnight-black hair. No matter how much he battled with it, it always stuck out in some places. "It's okay. Maybe I'll get one of the others to come. Or, I could go by myself. I'm a big boy."

Nephrite snarled in protest. "I'M going with you, got it?! Master?" he added in a squeak.

Endymion gave him a quizzical look. "Okay." he shrugged. "You can come." He went down the palace steps and stepped out onto the grounds.

Nephrite sighed. "Control anger, control anger," he muttered. I must be nonchalant. I wouldn't want anyone to notice. Why am I getting so excited, anyway? I hardly know her. I hope no one else sees me. Then we'll all be in trouble.

Endymion and Nephrite materialized in the exact spot they had the night before. Nephrite turned to the Prince. "Master, where do you intend to go?"

Endymion gave a dreamy smile. "Here and there." he replied vaguely. "I think I shall explore some more."

"Master, can we trust the Lunarians? What if they plan to ensnare us in some sort of trap?"

Endymion's expression became stony. "Do not be so accusatory, Nephrite! We must exert some trust, or how will we ever make new friends? Caution is required, of course. Just don't be so careful that you forget to live."

As Endymion wandered the grounds, Nephrite pondered at his words. "We must exert some trust, or how will we ever make new friends?" Should I trust Ami? He thought. But, she seems so pure, so innocent. I can't help but not feel at ease around her.

Ami gracefully strolled up to him.

She's beautiful, Nephrite felt a blush tinge his cheeks. When did I start blushing? I hardly know her!

"Hello, Nephrite. How have you been?" she asked warmly.

"Hello, Ami. I've been well, thank you. And you?"

"I'm fine. My friend, Princess Minako, has been working us hard, as usual." Ami said with a smile.

"Princess Minako?" Nephrite asked.

"The princess of Venus. She is very sweet, once you get to know her, but strict. Would you like me to show you around?"

Nephrite smiled hesitantly at Ami. "What if we're seen by someone? I don't think we should get you in trouble. You know how people are."

Ami smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. I know the Moon Palace by heart. We'll take the deserted halls, where people don't go at this time of day."

She guided Nephrite and showed him the wonders and beauties of the enormous Moon Palace. She showed him the music room, the astronomy wing, and her favorite, the library, which was filled to the tall, rounded ceiling with books on every subject you could think of.

Nephrite stared at the huge room. "You like reading?"

Ami nodded enthusiastically. "I love it! I like reading about things I've never seen, places I've never been." She picked up a book about the sea. "My friends think I'm silly. But Princess Serenity doesn't. She agrees with me about other places. About Earth, too. She longs to visit it."

"That sounds like Master Endymion about wanting to see this place." Nephrite made a sweeping motion with his gloved hand. "I, however, can sometimes be, well, too stubborn for my own good."

Ami laughed merrily. "I can't see that. You've been very willing to explore with me."

She's right, Nephrite thought. While I've been with her, I've been loose. he straightened up. I must not! Lest something happen, I'd be too off guard to notice. But it's difficult, his thoughts added, She's so gentle, so trusting.

Ami happily led the second-youngest Shitennou to the grounds outside. The landscape was beautiful. In fact, everything here was gorgeous. Rich, lush green grass, flowers in bloom, everything alive and bright.

Ami gracefully sat on a hill, then patted the ground beside her. Nephrite carefully sat down next to her. She brushed a stray wisp of dark hair out of her chocolate eyes with her left hand.

Nephrite noticed the bracelet on her hand. "Ami? What is that bracelet?"

Ami fingered it. "Hmm? This?" She held up her wrist for him to see the piece of jewelry better. "This is my transformation bracelet. With this I can become Sailor Mercury, one of the Sailor Soldiers. My friends and I, Princess Rei of Mars, Princess Makoto of Jupiter, and Princess Minako of Venus, become the four Sailor Soldiers, protectors of the Silver Millennium, and our Princess, Princess Serenity, along with the Mystical Silver Crystal."

"Mystical Silver Crystal?" Nephrite repeated.

Uh-oh, Ami thought, I shouldn't have mentioned that. What if he hungers for the Mystical Silver Crystal's awesome power? "Yes. That is what keeps this civilization alive and thriving."

"Oh. I was wondering what kept everything so alive and beautiful."

Ami sighed with relief that Nephrite did not ask any more questions about it. How could I think that?! That was awful. Nephrite is not some jewel hunter. He was just curious, who wouldn't be? The crystal is very mysterious. Sometimes even I am mystified by its wondrous powers.

She decided to break the silence. "We each have powers," she told Nephrite, who listened intently, "Each soldier has their own element. Sailor Venus, Minako, she's our leader, is the Soldier of love. Rei, Sailor Mars, she's second-in-command, controls the power of flame. And Sailor Jupiter, Makoto, is the Soldier of thunder and nature."

"And what about you?" Nephrite wondered.

Ami blushed. "I am the Soldier of water. I think that's why I love water so much."

Nephrite's icy eyes met Ami's dark ones. "That's like me," he said after a moment. "The four Shitennou protect our Master, Prince Endymion, and the Earth. We don't have elements, but it's the same basic idea. Protecting our Prince, or Princess."

Ami nodded warmly. "We're not so different, after all. If only others would see that Earthlings and Lunarians can work together, become friends. But it would be far too dangerous. People have a certain idea burned in their brains, and you can't seem to change their minds."

Nephrite nodded sadly, and turned to stare at the illuminated palace behind him.