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Chapter 9

The Flames of Fury...Mars Awakes Part 2...A Lasting Impression

"I am the Eternal Senshi of fire...I am Sailor Mars..." She replies and then with unnatural speed, she turns and runs down the hall towards the battle. Taking off after her, he eventually catches up to watch as she studies the mist. He can see the hint of a smile upon her features.

"Mercury is here..."

"How did you?"

She turns around and smiles. "I just know..."

He watches as she closes her eyes and stands still. Her body is loose and tense at the same time as if she is searching for something. He stands back as she opens her eyes all of a sudden, holding her hands out she manifests what seems to be a bow and arrow entirely made out of flame.

"Mars Flame SNIPER!"

She releases it deep into the mist...

In the meantime as they continue to dodge, Mercury stills with Magneto right next to her as a voice, a very familiar and welcome voice in Mercury's eyes calls out her attack. Watching as the flaming arrow hits the baby dragon; it roars and pain momentarily causing the mutant that is aiding it to whirl around at the sound of distress from her 'pet'. Diving as the flames surround her the mist is driven away and she gets a long look and smile at her long missed friend.

"MARS!"

Smiling as she latches on to the youth the young woman leaps and meets up with her friend and the older man.

"Mercury it's been ages!" Mars exclaims hugging her friend momentarily. As they do so a growing bond of power seems to be emanating from between the two young women. The sense of trying to remember something has gotten stronger within the older man as he observes them.

"Damn you! You hurt my friend!" A voice calls from underneath and she flies into the air, she forms a fireball and launches it at them with amazing speed and power. Mars, her eyes narrowing at this affront in her home, simply steps forward and with a raise of her hand she absorbs it into her body and begins to launch an attack of her own...

"Mars wait!"

"Not now Mercury!"

"She's a human sort of! Just trust me if not trust Phobos and Diemos, they have been keeping her busy while we kept her pet away from you as you slept."

Mars growls and senses for her two guardian friends who flap around her now. Both look a little singed and somehow through their cries she understands.

"So she is possessed..."

They all watch as the young woman seems to glow with a powerful red aura. Gazing at what seems to be a piece of paper appears in her hand glow with red writing, she begins to chant.

"Evil Spirits Disperse!" Leaping and catching the fiery mutant in mid air, she plants the paper upon her brow, causing the young woman to scream in pain. As they fall Magneto prepares to catch them, but he is stopped as a pair of wings erupts from the back of Mars. Long and white as they flap, she lowers her and the now unconscious young woman upon the ground.

Gently placing her down, the others look to Mercury, who shrugs. "We all can..." She replies and for emphasis a pair comes out of her back as well. As she wills them to disappear the others are amazed.

"It is just easier to jump than to fly sometimes."

Watching as they come down, they observe as Mars begins looking over at the baby dragon, who growls at the sight of his hurt friend; in response she croons a soft melody, having an affinity for those animals that breathe fire.

"Phobos...Diemos please see if it is all right. This one was never possessed."

Responding, the two crows seem to shimmer and become the twins once more. And as they look for injuries, they see the glittery scales and begin to look at it with love and adoration.

"Oh Lady Mars..."

"We can not hurt it, by moving it..."

"It is just a baby!"

Smiling as the two twins plead with the Lady of Fire, the others approach the female mutant slowly, for as she begins to come around, the unusual potency of her flame dies. Instead of the red eyes, she retains her looks but they become a startling blue, which focuses on them. The paper falling, she seems to have regained the life that is definitely her own.

"Where am I?" She asks softly. "And who are all of you?"

"Mars?" Mercury asked looking over at her friend. Pausing momentarily from her discussion with the twins, she smiles and nods her head. "Right now she is free. She will not be able to succumb again unless he gets his hands directly on her."

Turning to the confused young woman, she gives a gentle smile and replies softly. "We are friends."

"I am called Mercury and the one who freed you is my friend Mars. The two behind us are called Magneto and Pyro."

"Nice to meet all of you..." She replies looking at each one in particular, especially John who seems to be at a loss for words looking at her. "They call me Firestar."

She looks towards the other woman and the twins and she can't help but cringe in fear. "Elohim is he all right?"

"Is that his name?" The twin in the light colored suit asks. "He is so adorable." Nodding her head, the twins scratch the baby around its eye ridges and the great beast seems to almost growl gently in pleasure. Looking thoughtful, Mercury and Mars share a look that the others observe and as their tiara's start to glow with their individual colors, they become confused as the palace seems to shake.

"What's going on?"

"The palaces will be merging soon." Is all Mercury says and with a sound, of what seems to be a minor rumble the others feel as something is happening. They watch as the crystals shimmer as red and blue become one. New doors are opened as others are closed.

Smiling as it feels complete the two Senshi turn to the twins and the dragon within. "As much as it pains me, you two and the baby Elohim seem to be getting along. With his help you two can guard the palace and those who seek the aid of the Moon...until we return." Mars says as she hugs both girls to her body.

"Yes Lady Mars." The twins reply in unison. Crooning with the baby, who playfully blows steam at them, the twins occupy its attention as they seem to float and fly around it. She then turns to the mutant who was once evil.

"Tell me what it is that you last remember...?"

Closing her eyes, the young woman starts too think. Wondering as the mutant remains silent; Pyro takes a chance to check out the one called Mars. The incredible legs and the dark hair are singing to him.

"Keep your thoughts to yourself you pervert..."

"Huh...how did you...?"

"Just trust me I knew and if I catch you thinking that again. I will show you what it truly means to be called Pyro...okay..." Mars replies earning a little smack from Mercury on the arm.

"You have got to quit that..."

"It's kind of hard when he was broadcasting it!" She retorts.

"Mars!"

"He was!"

"I don't remember...I don't remember anything..." She cries out softly. Turning to look at the young woman, who begins to cry, Mars places her hands to the girls cheeks with a gaze of caring.

"We will find a way to restore that which was lost to you..."

Looking to the others, she nods her head. Once again Mars begins to croon a soft melody, to the baby, who with a little growl of understanding despite its youth, doesn't chase after them as they whisk his friend away. Approaching the jet as it hangs almost in mid air, Kurt approaches with questions.

As he starts launching them one right after another, Mars as she returns to her normal outfit, of a Shinto Priestess begins to twitch in anger. Trying to calm her friend down, Amy moves to hush Kurt, who has not noticed her motions, with the hands to slow down on the inquisition.

Still as he continues on, the others back away, as Amy gives up and waits. Reaching for something, anything to use the one known as Mars, simply finds a broom. No one knows how she came up with it, but they all watched as she slammed it over Kurt's head.

As the now unconscious German teenager rests on the floor, she proceeds to step over him and take a seat with the broom close by. Eric and Scott, who had heard the commotion, turn around and gaze at the young woman, who shrugs.

"He wouldn't stop bugging me..." It is all she says as Amy looks sheepish; John, having watched the whole event gulps at the fellow mutant who is out cold. He vows then and there to make sure, NOT to get on her bad side.

The others on board are shaking their heads, for as Eric strides forward and joins Scott in the cockpit, he begins using the radio to call ahead to the mansion, with one thought in mind.

"Make sure to have extra bandages..."

In the meantime, becoming a familiar figure that she would recognize, Artemis peeks out from the cockpit, and he finds himself scooped up in the young woman's arms.

"ARTEMIS!"

Not letting go of him right away, the young woman holds on as the others watch with amusement, the newly awakened woman's reactions to two old friends.

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Several hours later...(along with a couple of whacks)

They have arrived at the manor an incensed Priestess is greeted by thoughts of confusion as in front of her is someone who used to be an enemy. But yet her senses say this is not the same person...

"Um Raye...this is Zoicite...the real General Zoicite..." Amy says slowly.

"No it isn't, Beryl killed that one after he tried to kill Darien remember."

Hearing as the two girls talk as Amy tries to convince Raye about his loyalties. He freezes at the words that had just been emitted from her mouth.

"Beryl killed that one after he tried to kill Darien..."

Somehow deep in his soul, he knows that this Darien must be the Prince... Letting loose a scream of pain and agony as the memory that is not wholly his along with the others resurface in his mind. The things he has done to his Prince and to the woman he loves as they are now is painful to his mind.

At this scream both Raye and Amy look at Zoicite and somehow even without having to see his spirit she knows her friend is correct. Something had happened to Zoicite before. She can't remember for the life of her what it was, but something had happened. Running towards the fallen general, the two Senshi hold him close as the memories seem to erupt.

"I'm sorry...I can't...I didn't know..." He cries out.

Looking at the arrival of an older man in a wheel chair, Raye senses something about him that makes her feel extraordinarily at peace. "It seems he has remembered..."

"Unfortunately Professor." Amy replies sadly. Her arms wrapped around the young man as Raye looks at the man now known as the Professor. Her senses are going wild with acceptance.

"My name is Raye...Raye Hino, and somehow I know I am supposed to be talking with you..."

He just does a simple smile, and turns to look at someone whom although in human form, she recognizes very well.

"LUNA!"

"Hello Raye..." The older woman replies smiling as the priestess flies into her friend's arms. As they separate, Luna looks deep into her mind, and sighs.

"You are just like Amy..."

"What do you mean Luna?"

"It means Ms Hino..." The Professor starts to reply.

"Please call me Raye..."

"All right Raye...that although you remember much of your past...that somewhere in your mind there is a door to your past you haven't opened yet."

Nodding her head quietly and confusedly, she follows them back to his office, as they enter they are joined by another figure, who she can't help but smile curiously. "Artemis...?"

"Yep...I think besides the outers, you were the only one who hasn't really seen me human..."

Giving him a little whack, but one of affection, she turns her head to the Professor. "It seems like Zoicite, Raye, there is one we must find, but before we do so, we must open the door in your mind..."

"Who is it that we are searching for...?"

Looking at one another quietly, trying to figure out the best way to say it, Luna stares down at the young woman who sits quietly. "It's Jadeite..."

"What does he have to do with us awakening...?" The young woman says icily.

"Everything the reason why, Raye is because something is about to pass and along with Zoicite and the other two generals, he will be needed."

"For what?"

"To save the Earth..." Artemis replies. He then begins to explain about Chibi and Galaxia's warnings. As he stops, Charles professes the problems they have had with one called Apocalypse, who has been indestructible, because Chaos had merged with him as it had once done with Galaxia.

Raye as she listens, trembles to the words uttered. In the past it seems Amy and Zoicite had a relationship. When they had been facing Jadeite though, Raye knew there had been some connection between them, as he did and yet...still neither one acted upon it. Wanting to know more deep down, she nods her head...

"Please...I want to remember...all those times we faced him in the past...I knew...we were connected somehow. Please...I want to remember..."

Luna once more, sits, by one she guides as Artemis remains next to Charles. Summoning Jean for a moment to monitor their progress, they wait for the young red headed woman to attend. As Jean arrives though, so does Amy and Zoicite...

"Amy smiles warmly and sits on the other side of Raye with Zoicite close. Clutching her hand within hers, Raye feels a small measure of comfort.

"It will feel strange at first...remembering them...but in the end...it heals them as well as us."

"Thanks Ames..."

Smiling softly the blue haired girl nods her head. Zoicite simply responds with a gentle squeeze of his hands to which somehow Raye can't help but find herself responding to, despite what she remembers.

As she turns to look at Luna, the moon upon the woman's forehead starts to glow as does Artemis's and soon the walking of the minds begin once again.

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Unlike Amy's cool breeze and warm gentle heart, Charles finds himself within fire, but one that welcomes him warmly as he walks around. Approaching the flames he reaches it out to find it grasping his hand.

"Greetings..."

"Who are you and what are you doing here..."

"I am a friend Raye...remember..."

Looking behind him, he sees another image of the young woman. She is proud and regal...

"I remember...still what are you doing here..."

"You have asked me to help you...there is a door in your mind is there not...one that you have tried to open...?"

"All the doors in my mind are open..."

Looking at her dubiously an image appears once more. "Almost all...there is one, we could only open it a little, but it refuses to go any further..."

"What is it about this door that you feel?"

The three images look at one another, and each one emits a different word.

"Confusion"

"Hatred"

"Love"

All three different from one another, Charles reaches out his hands and the three merge and become on who takes it. "Show me this door..."

As she takes the lead, he follows. With put a simple reassuring touch, that whatever is behind it he will be there to help her understand...she reaches for it and with the barest touch it opens wide.

Within a swirling portal has erupted and the image of a handsome young man, with a teasing smile takes its place. His short blonde hair and blue-grey eyes are reflected with warmth as it seems to call out to her. He then steps back into the portal with but a hand out waiting.

Hesitantly walking forward, Raye starts to reach out, but stops. "I...I...I'm scared."

"Why are you scared?"

"Memories...too many painful memories..."

"Raye...those memories...they are a part of you...with them no matter how much they hurt you can only become stronger, by facing them."

"I know...but why must I...and why him!"

"Maybe because a part of you seeks to understand that which you have always known..."

"Which is..."

"That you cared for him and that possibly you hope he did as well."

Looking softly, she grasps his hand with hers and then with the other, she takes the hand that has emerged from the portal and the two are pulled through by a memory.

"Jadeite..."

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Death Valley...

This once vast desert that was home to a multitude of life sings with the spirits of those it has taken. Within the sands something begins to rise...unnoticed by any and all except for those whom it may involve. It is of stone and like its predecessor it has two incantations upon it. One in a language meant for those who can read it and the other is a story...

Loved by she who is of fire

He is of Spirit

Known for his temper

He is calmed by the Prince

Tricked and betrayed into destroying both

Here lies General of Spirit...Jadeite...

May the one who loves him...

Set him Free...