Chapter 8: "Enter NeoMoon Jewel"
"No! Why now?" Nicholas' eyes became filled with fear.
The Jewel Staff shone bright and broke off the dark energy. The Staff's energy then engulfed Brandy herself, "What's happening to me?"
"Brandy!" Jessi called to her friend through the piercing wind. Sapphire was just as worried.
"Brandy!" Meg shouted, "Hold up the Jewel Staff and yell, 'Neopian Jewel Power'!"
"What?!?" Jessi and Sapphire gasped.
Brandy nodded, "I guess I can trust her. Neopian Jewel Power!"
"She can't be..." Jessi said under her breath.
Ruby smiled, "I'd like to introduce you to... NeoMoon Jewel."
NeoMoon Jewel emerged from the light, her green skirt whipping in the wind.
Meg said to Brandy, "Now, finish him off for good! You'll find the power inside of you!"
"Right..." NeoMoon Jewel whispered and pointed the Jewel Staff towards her father, "I'll find the power... Sparkling... Jewel... Prism!!"
The Jewel Staff emitted a green light, which blasted toward Nicholas.
"No!" Nicholas yelled, trying to defend himself, but it was useless. His end was inevitable.
The power easily shattered his dark shield. The energy struck him and he disenigrated into the wind.
It was then that Jewel fainted and turned back into Brandy.
Jessi ran to her and looked at back at Meg, "You knew?"
Meg nodded, "Ever since Ruby told me that she overheard Brandy talking about the Jewel Staff to Sapphire."
Sapphire nudged the tired Brandy, "I was there all those years ago... and yet I didn't even know this would happen."
"That's why Jessi wasn't destined for the Jewel Staff, because it had that extra power: NeoMoon Jewel." Meg said.
"I still can't believe it... Brandy's the NeoMoon Princess and a NeoMoon Scout." Jessi was still shocked.
Sapphire thought about something Brandy said earlier.
-flashback-
"My mother told me after I was old enough to understand. Ruby, I do know that I could die. I was lucky when I first used it. I accidentally activated it and since I was so young, I didn't lose my life. But this time..."
-end of flashback-
"Why didn't she die after she used it this time?"
"Her NeoMoon powers must have protected her." Amber said, "But enough about this. We have to go!"
"Right." Meg said as she picked Brandy up, "I'll carry Brandy."
Jessi leaded the way and Amber and Ruby cleared it if anything got in their path.
In about half an hour, they reached the warp hole Rachel had created. They each jumped through, the Neopets first, then Jessi and Meg.
"Ah, you're back." Rachel said and closed the warp hole. She saw Brandy in Meg's arms and the Jewel Staff in Sapphire's jaw. She took the Staff into her own grasp, "So I assume she realized the other power?"
Jessi nodded, "Yes, Nicholas was defeated by NeoMoon Jewel.
"Here." Rachel stretched her palms out and Brandy was good as new, "Welcome back, little one."
Brandy opened her eyes, "Tell me I was dreaming. Tell me that didn't just happen..."
"It happened." was all Rachel said.
"Mom?! But... I thought..."
-flashback-
"Mom, don't die! If you die, I'll be an orphan! I'll miss you! You can't die! No!"
Rachel was losing life fast, "You can live... with Jessi and Meg... and remember... I'll always love you..." That was her last words.
-end of flashback-
"I did not die completely. I had just enough strength to lay there. From there I regained my strength and led your friends to rescue you. But now... I must go back to the NeoMoon Planet. I used all my energy keeping the warp hole open. But first, there is something I must do."
She walked up to her daughter, "Brandy, my daughter."
She gave Brandy the Jewel Staff, "This is the symbol of your power. I now give you your birthright. From the moment you were born, you were known as the NeoMoon Princess. And now, now that you are older, you should know that when I die, you are to be the NeoMoon Queen. NeoMoon Crystal and NeoMoon Star are to be your faithful friends and servants."
She looked down at Sapphire, "And you, Sapphire... You shall be NeoMoon Jewel's advisor and helper just as Amber and Ruby are to Jessi and Meg."
"No, mom! Wait! I-I need you!" Brandy said with tears in her eyes.
Rachel was getting further away, "I believe in you, Brandy. You just need to believe in yourself..."
That was her last words to the future NeoMoon Queen.
Sapphire went to Brandy, "It'll be OK, Brandy. I promise..."
And just as her mother disappeared, Brandy saw things. It was a vision, she realized. The visions were of the future. The NeoMoon Scouts' future...
And she realized everything was going to be OK...
-vision-
The Queen, Brandy, was sitting at her throne, Sapphire at her side. She was watching two small children. The girl with bouncing brown hair hair was chasing the blonde haired one.
"Come back here, Michelle!" the browned headed one called to her friend, "Just because you're the NeoMoon Queen's daughter doesn't mean you're the best!"
And they both laughed and continued chasing each other.
-end of vision-
"Yes..." Brandy smiled, "Everything will be OK..."
There you go! The end! But don't fear! There will be another installment in the NeoMoon Star series entitled, "NeoMoon Star 3: The Innocence of a Child." It will feature Jessi and Brandy's daughters.