Chapter Three

Zoicite strode up to Endymion, who was staring up at the moon from his spot on the balcony.

The young general sighed in exasperation. "Gazing at the moon again, Master? Haven't you seen it enough? You stare at that silver orb so much I expect it's tattooed to your mind."

"Do you have a purpose for spoiling my enjoyment, Zoicite?" Endymion joked.

"Yes, Master. I came to remind you that we have sword training first thing in the morning."

"I'll remember." Endymion said, once again turning his attention to the moon.

Zoicite hurried down the palace steps. Master spends too much time thinking about the moon and its people! Deep in thought, he bumped into someone else. Brushing silver hair out of his cold grey-blue eyes, he realized that the person he ran into was Nephrite.

"Oh, Nephrite, I apologize." Zoicite said.

"Troubled?" Nephrite guessed.

"Yes. Master Endymion is far too concerned with the moon! He knows it is forbidden!"

Nephrite felt his blood go cold. The color began to wash out of his face.

Zoicite took no notice, but continued to rant. "I tell him, 'Master! Get your head out of the clouds! The Earth is a wondrous place, be happy!' But does he listen? No! Does he care that our world and their world can never, ever be mixed?"

Nephrite's throat tightened. "N-never!" he managed to choke.

"Hmmph. He is far too curious for his own good. Lunarians are nothing but trouble."

"Trouble." Nephrite repeated, sounding like a parrot.

Zoicite looked at Nephrite approvingly. "At least you understand, Nephrite." he walked off towards his piano.

Maybe Zoicite's right, but I can't agree with him. Not everyone is like that. Why am I so trusting all of a sudden? I sound like Jadeite! Naive! Easy to manipulate! Something tugged at the back of his mind. Ami would never manipulate you! You know that! He paced back and forth. Do I? He shook his head of all of his bad thoughts. I'm beginning to understand how Master Endymion feels.

Ami and Nephrite wandered through another enormous garden at the Moon Palace. The sailor soldier knelt before a blue and red plant and inhaled deeply. "These are some of my favorites." she told him, motioning to the scarlet and indigo flowers. "Makoto planted them. She really has a green thumb." At this, Ami began to chuckle softly.

Nephrite furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at her gales of laughter. "What's so funny about that?"

"Well, Makoto is Sailor Jupiter. And her soldier uniform is green." she stared at his stony face. "Green thumb? Green is her color? Get it?"

Nephrite broke into a smile. "Ah, I get it. It took me a moment."

Ami laughed harder. "No sense of humor, huh?"

Nephrite scowled. "That's what my friends say."

Ami stood up and lightly brushed her knee-length dress. "Nephrite, I'm teasing. You should lighten up a little. However, I shouldn't talk. I bother my friends a lot for being so serious. And shy."

"Our friends need to learn that being serious is good." Nephrite pouted. Nothing wrong with that, He thought. But, maybe I could lighten up, a little.

Ami stared at the fiery young general. He's really nice, a great person. She blushed. He's handsome, too.

"Oh, look!" Ami said, walking over to a blossoming pink flower. "It's growing!"

As Nephrite watched the beautiful princess, he thought up a wonderful idea.

Two days later, Nephrite paced nervously in front of the Earth Palace steps. Hurry, Master! he urged silently, We must not be seen! He sighed with relief when he saw Endymion running down the steps to meet him.

Nephrite's hands tightened around the object he hid behind his back.

"Sorry for keeping you, Nephrite," Endymion apologized. "Kunzite was giving me more pointers on my sword fighting skills." he imitated the eldest Shitennou's stern face. "Master, pay attention! That reckless sword won't hit anyone. More likely the enemy will stab you instead."

Nephrite choked back a laugh at the Master's mocking of Kunzite.

"What have you got there?" Endymion asked with interest, glancing at Nephrite's hidden arms.

"Nothing." Nephrite said simply. "Let's go."

"All right!" Princess Minako said as they trudged across the field. "Today we'll work on individual defense! Soldiers, you know what to do!"

Ami, Rei, and Makoto nodded.

Ami thrust her right hand into the air. "Mercury Power! Make Up!" Her once long black hair instantly became short, flipped-out electric blue hair. Water swirled around her body and melted her dress into a sailor suit of deep aqua and sky blue.

Rei stuck out her thumb and pinkie and shouted, "Mars Power! Make Up!" Rei's shoulder-length dark tresses grew down to her waist, and flames rushed around her long sleeved, floor-length gown, burning it into a red and violet uniform.

Makoto put her hands in the air, crossing one over the other. "Jupiter Power! Make Up!" Her brown hair instantly went up into a curly ponytail, and lightning crackled around her collared dress, transforming it into a grass green and sugar pink sailor uniform.

Minako made a 'V' with her fingers and put her hand to her eye. "Venus Power! Make Up!" Minako's midnight black hair turned into waist-length blonde hair in a half-up-half-down fashion. Glitter circled her feathery dress, making a sailor suit of orange and imperial blue.

"Okay, Mercury, you partner Jupiter. Mars shall be my opponent. Sailor Venus directed.

Sailor Mercury and Sailor Jupiter stood several feet opposite one another.

"Ready..." Venus began, "Go!"

Sailor Jupiter came at Mercury with a flying kick. Mercury expertly ducked, then came back with a swift punch.

"Good, Mars!" Venus said proudly, watching Rei's graceful form. " You rebounded superbly! Mercury! Pay attention! You almost got knocked down by Jupiter!"

Ami tried to keep her thoughts on training, but it was hard. She back flipped and gave a swift kick, knocking Sailor Jupiter in the jaw. "Oops!" she exclaimed, "Sorry, Makoto."

Ami walked towards the garden thinking back to her rough training session. Just because I'm going to keep meeting Nephrite doesn't mean I can neglect my soldier duties. I need to keep focused. She stood behind a pillar waiting.

Nephrite and Endymion appeared in the garden.

Is that Nephrite's master? Ami wondered, seeing Endymion. It must be. Once Endymion was out of sight, she stepped out of the shadows. "Hello," she called to Nephrite. He smiled nervously in response. "What's the matter, Nephrite?" Ami asked.

Nephrite shifted his weight from one foot to the other. "Th-these are for you." he stammered, pulling something out from behind his back and handing it to her.

"Oh, Nephrite," Ami breathed. In her hands was a bouquet of the most beautiful flowers she had ever seen. "They're lovely. Thank you."

"Those are flowers from different parts of the world." Nephrite explained.

Ami's smile widened. "But, why-"

"I knew you liked flowers, and that you liked things from other worlds. I thought you'd like these."

"I do." Ami inhaled their sweet scent. "Thank you." she said once more.