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Chapter 12

Once upon a memory...

It has been a couple of days since the return of Jadeite...and well the manor has never known a moment's peace since then. The mutants had underestimated the warning, that Amy and Zoicite had given them concerning the fiery nature of Raye and Jadeite's relationship. Even though he was slowly gaining strength and returning to normal, he used his powers of persuasion much to Raye's annoyance, to bring her to him and often.

Chuckling as the wounded general runs from another whacking to be delivered by the young woman, he lucks out by running into a new friend. It seems despite his more serious nature, he has found an ally in the teleporter from Germany, Kurt. Known for his pranks and erstwhile curiosity to which Kitty could attest, the young man also called Nightcrawler had teleported in, during a conversation with Jadeite.

Flashback...

Forgetting about the inducer, to be turned on he nearly regretted it as Jadeite near lunged at him, saying something about monsters. Restrained by both Raye and Zoicite as Amy reassures the mutant, the three explain about the evolution that the humans of Earth are undergoing and that Kurt was just one of many.

Listening as he does so, they hear a familiar buzzing as Kurt had been originally sent to tell them that they were leaving for school in a moment.

"Are you guys coming or what? School starts in twenty minutes!" An irate Scott yells over the intercom as he had been pacing around. It seems he had wanted to catch up to a particular red head, who had left moments ago with the others.

Amy and Zoicite both shoot out of the room, much to the extreme laughter of Kurt. Never before has he seen anyone much interested in attending school. About ready to go himself, Raye stops him for but a moment.

"I have to go Jadeite..."

Nodding his head in understanding, she takes his hand in hers and gives it a squeeze. As she begins to depart he uses that as an excuse to pull her to his side and press a demanding kiss upon her lips. As he separates from her breathless look, he says one sentence that causes her to fluster.

"To get me through the day without you..." He says in such a way that makes her shiver. Looking behind as they part for a moment, she latches onto Kurt's hand and the mutant simply nods his head and disappears.

A few hours passed and as the general anxiously awaits the return, he is surprised as he sees Kurt running from an irate girl who is throwing fireballs at him. Recognizing his temperamental Fire Princess, eh dashes to her side and restrains her long enough for Kurt to get away.

"LET ME GO JADEITE!"

"No...my firebrand...what did he do this time."

"Nothing...he's just a pest!"

Getting a little jealous as she had once thought that of him, he notices, the familiar warmth in her eyes as she looks at the panting teleporter that she reserves for those who she considers family. It is different from the look that she gives him, and he is reassured.

"You like him...don't you?"

"I do not!" She denied vehemently. But yet, he sees the sisterly concern in her eyes, for the teleporter, and he can't help but smile. Allowing her to cool down, he approaches the German and begins what he hopes will be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Flashback ends...

Eric and Charles watch and just shake their heads in amusement. It seems the young man, had found a kindred spirit in Kurt. Both were often at the end of Raye's temper. Having installed the multiple smoke alarms inside various rooms, they have certainly paid off more than once, because of those two aggravating the young priestess they were forced to place extinguishers as well.

Still, after having managed to avert the fires in some places of the manor that were inadvertently started, the children have never been happier. Turning to walk away they pause and look around as they hear what appears to be a scream of anguish erupting from Jadeite's throat.

Approaching the spirit general, Charles places his hands upon the now heated cheeks and senses the turmoil in his mind.

"He is beginning to remember... Kurt go and fetch Luna and Artemis. Jean come with us."

"Yes Professor." The two reply in unison. Jean follows as Kurt disappears. As they approach his office, Jadeite seems ready to pass out from the pain rolling through his mind as memories seem to roar to life inside mind. As they approach, Luna and Artemis notice and the white haired shape shifter runs and lends the youth an arm. Grateful for the support, they manage to get him inside the Professors office and stretch him out upon the couch in there.

"Professor, what's going on?" Raye cries out. The look of worry is increasing as he seems to be thrashing around. Sending Kurt to go fetch one other person, the teleporter disappears moment's later to come back with Logan, who is one of the few that the Priestess respects.

"Come on Raye...let the Professor and the others see what they can do."

"Let me go Logan! I have to help him!"

As Logan manages to pull a struggling Raye away from Jadeite, the general bolts upright and calls out the name of someone who both Senshi and the Generals hold dear.

"ENDYMION!"

Merging with the Professor and the now unconscious Jadeite, they merge in to see the memories of the General of Spirits.

Jadeite's mind...

Looking around the Professor notices as the mind within this general, is full of turmoil and pain. Various images fly by him, and all seem to have two things in common. The young woman, who is Mars and the image of a handsome young man...Prince Endymion...

"Jadeite!" The Professor calls out. In the world outside, his voice is filled with concern as Raye continues to struggle to break free. She doesn't want him to remember...

Still struggling, they all still as a very faint and weak answer erupts from the lips of the blonde stretched out.

"Here..."

Back in the mind, the images slow and coalesce into one of beauty. The stones glimmer whitely, and the gardens around him have a shine all their own. Looking around, he senses the young man crouched in fear as he watches something off in the distance.

"Jadeite..."

"P..P..Professor?"

"Yes..."

"How did you get here...my mind shield should have stopped you?"

"I know...but Luna and Artemis as well as one of my students is supporting me."

"I see..."

About ready to comment, he hears a commotion of footsteps and Jadeite seems to lighten up a bit as his liege and his friend approaches.

"Hello your highness..." He bows extravagantly.

"Greetings Jadeite and will you knock that off..." The Prince grumbles. Noticing the look of worry upon the young man's face, the general pauses in mid thought.

"What is it?"

"Kunzite and the others have not returned...they should have been back by now..."

Nodding his head, he turns and forms a whirling portal in front of him. Stepping inside, he finds himself at the camp where the other generals supposedly were to be only to find it deserted.

"So what happened here...?"

"I...was betrayed..."

Watching as the spirit, is stunned as he is surrounded by all sides, he fights back to not only defend himself but to find his friends. As he takes a blow from behind, he begins to turn and collapse, only to find the pale silver grey eyes that once were hardened only in thought, were now in hate...

"Kunzite?"

"Greetings Jadeite...the Queen wishes to see you..."

"Why Kunzite...why did you betray us...why..."

"The Queen will show you the way...as she has shown us." Someone answers from the side. He barely manages too turn, as he is greeted by Nephlyte and then Zoicite."

"What about the Prince..." He manages to whisper out. "He needs us...we are his friends...and his guards."

Noticing a flicker of emotion, in the eyes of his comrades, he manages to focus and sees the turmoil within their energy.

"She has done something to you..."

"Yes...she has given us power!"

"But at what cost!"

""No cost at all Jadeite...you will soon see...no cost at all..." The young general reels in pain as the darkness beckons him.

Watching as the blackness surrounds him, he is once again joined by the image of Jadeite, who seems to be struggling.

"I don't want to remember..."

"Jadeite, it is killing you this pain. You must confront it..."

"I can't...I killed him...I killed him..."

"Jadeite listen to me...I am going to give you something, something that Amy had said to Zoicite and that I am sure Raye feels the same..."

Placing the image in his mind, Jadeite sees an image of his fellow general and the young ice Princess that his friend adores.

"I remember...I remember everything now..." He cries out as with that one memory invading his senses, the actions that caused the downfall of his Prince and the woman that he loved now weigh heavily upon his heart.

At his outburst, Amy shoots up and looks at him, with a little worry and fear.

"Zoicite...?"

"Amy...why...why didn't you let me die?"

Looking at him softly, she doesn't say anything as she realizes that he remembers all that had happened. Reaching out for him, he tries to push her away.

"Don't touch me..."

"Zoicite please..."

"Just don't Amy...how could you stay...knowing what I done? I led an army to destroy you...and I killed Endymion! I killed my best friend!"

"That really wasn't you Zoicite. That wasn't the man I cared for so much who destroyed my friends and I, who murdered the man who was his prince. That was a monster inside of a shell."

Looking at Jadeite, who stares at those images, Charles brings the young man to his feet. "Tell me Jadeite, would Raye not react the same?"

Looking at the elder man, with confusion, he starts to give the slight hint of a smile. "You are right...but the memories..."

"That is all they are...just memories..."

"But how can she look at me after what I have done...or even you after what you have seen...how can you?"

Charles stares at the young man, and simply shakes his head. "Because I agree with young Amy...that wasn't you...that was a monster inside you. You have been given a second chance to redeem yourself in not only their eyes, but in the eyes of your Prince. Will you accept that as your fate?"

At those words, the general's spirit looks at the telepathic mutant... "You think we are being given a second chance...?"

"Yes..."

As Charles offers his hand, the general looks down upon himself, and then reaching out he takes it...

Back in the real world...

The others observe as the Professor's hand reaches out as if in acceptance. Jadeite seems almost reluctant by his senses, but he takes the hand offered. As they begin to come around, Charles feels a twinge of something deep in his mind. Shaking it off...he let's go as the General sits up. Raye finally free of Logan's hold, runs to the young man, with concern in her eyes.

"You all right..."

"I am my firebrand..."

Her eyes narrow a little bit at this and the others back up wary of her reaction. Still as she looks at his bluish grey eyes, she can't help but be relieved.

"I am glad...if it wasn't for what you just went through I would blast you right now..." She threatens playfully and the general gives a weak and yet loving smile.

Standing up, he almost falls to the ground again, but he is surprised as a pair of arms encircles him.

"I got you..." Raye replies as he leans on her.

"It should be the other way around..." Jadeite replies softly and seriously as he looks into her violet eyes.

Blushing, she stiffens as she notices the others around them. Placing a hand over his descending mouth, she halts his need to kiss her. He seems hurt for but a moment, when he looks around and sees the reason why she hesitated.

Looking rather annoyed now, he chuckles. "Can't a guy get a little respect here?"

"This is my office...Jadeite..." The Professor replies, with a look of amusement. The others laughing as Raye this time does proceed to smack him upside the head, in embarrassment.

As she stomps off in annoyance, the young man follows, hoping to regain her favor with a smile. The others watch with amused smiles and leave one by one to gaze upon the opposite and yet matched pair.

Elsewhere...

Deep in the fields of the Kansas, a state known for being in what is called Tornado alley...A storm begins to rage... Emerald spires begin to appear from the heavens and as the thunder strikes all around...a palace of crystal stands...floating upon a cloud of...

Its spires, despite what is believed are attracting the lightening to it as if absorbing the energy. As it does so all around the life seems to bloom in the land, its powers steadily flows and as it does, the plants are welcoming in it serene light. Hence marks the arrival of the Eternal Senshi of Thunder, the one is with Nature... Sailor Jupiter...