Tokyo Public Library
"…We need to talk."
Ami stared at Zoicite. "Talk," she repeated, incredulous. "What could you possibly want to talk about? You served Queen Beryl!"
To her very great surprise, he stared at the floor. "I did. I remember doing those things and some days I can't believe it was me. " He looked up at her. "I don't expect you to believe me, but if you heard the whole story…"
"Why should I listen to you? You fought against us once."
"Twice," he said softly. "I fought against you twice."
There was such grief in his voice that Ami felt her disbelief flowing away. She took a deep breath. "I'll listen."
"You just have to- what?"
"I said I'll listen. But I don't promise that I'll believe you."
"Of course." Zoicite gestured at the door to the garden. "Can we sit by the fountain? The water helps clear my head."
Ami nodded. "Mine, too." She followed him outside and sat on the edge of the fountain.
Zoicite paced along the path, looking nervous. "Let- let me start at the beginning. You don't have any memories of your past life, do you?"
She shook her head. "Not really."
"When you lived in the Moon Kingdom, I was an advisor to Prince Endymion on Earth. Queen Serenity came to Earth, with your princess. My prince took one look at her and fell hopelessly in love. The other generals and I tried to make him forget her, but he couldn't. He was always sneaking out of the palace to see her."
"I remember as well," said Ami. "It- it comes in flashes, but I remember that. Serenity fell just as hard for him. The Senshi and I weren't any more successful than you."
"Right. Eventually, your princess convinced her mother to allow them to meet. That was when I met you. Endymion and your princess wanted their advisors to work together. There were problems at first, but eventually, we became friends. Then, Beryl came. She was a citizen of the Moon, but not a member of the Royal court. Queen Serenity had the Silver Millennium Crystal, but Beryl had learned dark magic. She used it to control our minds. No, more than just control. She twisted our ideas, so that we would believe her cause and betray our prince." Zoicite stopped pacing and faced Ami. "I shouldn't have listened to her. I should have been stronger. But I wasn't." He looked pleadingly at her. "I said before that I didn't need you to believe me, but I do. You must believe that I'm telling the truth. I never meant to hurt you."
Slowly, she nodded. "I believe you, Zoicite."
"You- you do?"
"Yes. I can't sense any negative forces in you. You're as human as I am. But, how? I thought Queen Beryl killed you all."
"Not quite. When we failed, she turned us back into rocks of jade. Mamoru collected them when Sailor Moon defeated Beryl and brought us back."
"Amazing." Ami's blue eyes were wide with what Zoicite recognized as scientific wonder. "Mamoru had the power to bring you back? But you have memories of your past life?"
"Not entirely. I know the main events, but I can't remember any of the details. I have no idea what I did on a daily basis." He managed a smile. "I'm sorry. I don't even know your name here."
She returned the smile. "Mizuno Ami. Yours?"
"Just Zoicite. We're staying with Mamoru- Kunzite, Jadeite, Nephrite and me."
Ami nodded politely, then thought of something. "But, Zoicite, the others don't know you're here. What will happen when they find out?"
"I don't know. Mamoru was going to talk to Usagi first."
"Oh. Are you sure that's a good idea?"
Zoicite laughed. "That's what I said! But Mamoru wouldn't hear it."
Ami smiled. "I'm glad you're on our side, Zoicite."
"Me, too. I'm having fun talking to you." He stopped, frowning slightly. "Is it just me, or does it feel like we've had this conversation before?"
"Not this exact one, but a conversation like it. But I can't remember. In the library, when we reached for the same book, it felt for a second that I was in a memory."
"I did too. Do you think it will work again?"
She nodded. "Yes, it should work."
"So, we just need to touch?" She nodded again and he held out his hand. "Ami?"
"Ready." Ami took it gently and blinding light flashed around them. When it faded, their clothes had changed. Zoicite wore gleaming silver armor edged in blue with a long cloak. Ami was clad in an ankle-length gown of blue silk.
"Our clothes," said Zoicite. "Just like in the Moon Kingdom."
Ami swirled her long skirts. "This didn't help our memory. Give me your other hand."
Their fingers touched and the light flashed again.
Royal Moon Palace
There was a party at the palace. Guests walked about, talking, laughing and dancing to the sounds of an Earth orchestra. Ami stood against the wall, watching the dancers. Serenity, her princess, was waltzing with Prince Endymion. She looked around for her fellow Senshi. Makoto of Jupiter and Rei of Mars were talking to the Mercurian ambassador. Minako of Venus was dancing with one of Prince Endymion's generals. Ami fiddled with her ribbon necklace and glanced over at Serenity. The princess always insisted that the Mercurian attend diplomatic functions, but she hated them. At the moment, though, Serenity was listening to something the prince said. Ami could slip into the garden without being noticed. The Mercurian grinned and eased open the door.
On the far side of the room, Zoicite was bored. Endymion had told him he had to dance with at least one court lady. His current partner was a blonde who was babbling incoherently about how pretty she thought Earth was. Zoicite tried to keep an interested look on his face as he surveyed the room. Kunzite was chatting with Minako, the blonde Venusian princess. Jadeite and Nephrite were nowhere to be seen. Zoicite excused himself from his dance partner and moved to the edge of the room. He thought he had seen a garden near the palace and wondered if there was a door nearby. The general had gone halfway around the room when he saw a blue-haired woman leaving the hall. He recognized her as Princess Ami of Mercury, the Moon princess's chief advisor. After a moment, Zoicite followed her.
Ami went down the narrow garden path, winding a way she knew by heart. She smiled at the scent of the moonflowers that hung overhead. In the distance, a fountain gurgled cheerfully. She lifted her skirts to avoid the bushes along the path and walked a little faster. Ami reached the fountain and sat on the rim, idly dipping her fingers in the water.
She looked up sharply as she heard footsteps coming down the path. Branches snapped and a man's voice muttered darkly. Ami rose, trying to see through the bushes. "Is anyone there?" she called.
The muttering stopped. "I seem to be stuck."
Ami followed the voice and saw a tall blonde man in the middle of the path. He was holding his cloak with both hands, but the branch it had tangled in refused to let go. "Are you all right?"
He smiled sheepishly at her. "I was just walking down the path when this bush grabbed my cloak. No matter how hard I pull, I can't get it lose."
"Don't pull." Ami came up beside him and took hold of the cloak. "It's caught at the very edge. All you have to do is unwind it." She suited action to word and held up the freed edge with a smile. "See?"
"Thank you. I don't believe we've been introduced. I'm Zoicite."
She smiled and held out a hand. "Ami."
He returned the smile, then bowed and kissed her hand. "A pleasure, Your Highness."
