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Chapter 15
Memories of the Star General Part 2...Nephltye's awakening
Back in the real world inside Professor Xavier's study, everyone was watching as the professor and Luna tried to help Lita, as they did the others.
"Do you think it will work?" Kurt asked with a worried expression. He was in there when the Professor was thrown into the air. This tall girl was extremely powerful.
"Kurt if Charles was able to help the girls, then I'm sure he can do the same for her." Magneto exclaimed quietly. He was watching everything with a practiced eye, as he shared similar thoughts with the teleporter. His face expressionless, as the black haired woman and his friend had their hands close to the girl's temples.
"I hate to say elf, but Magneto is right." Logan agreed. "The Professor won't give up on her as long as she is willing to search, he won't give up on her."
"I sure hope so." Kurt replied slowly.
"Kurt have faith in the professor and our friend Luna. If anyone can get through to Lita's hard head they can!" Raye quipped with a bright smile. She whirled a second later and smacked Jadeite whose hands had gotten a little close again.
"Raye that's not fair to say that about one of our friends." Amy replied disapprovingly of the fiery priestess.
"But you know it's true, Lita can be extremely stubborn remember the time the lion attacked with Alan and Ann?" Raye commented.
"Yes I do, but you didn't need to say that out loud!" Amy exclaimed. "Considering she is right there!"
"Okay...okay sheesh you win alright Amy!" Raye said throwing her hands up in surrender as a playful smile greets her shy friend.
"Come on Firebrand; let me take you out to get some fresh air." Jadeite suggested.
Nodding her head at his suggestion, she then stomps on his foot hard causing him to jump and down in pain. "DON'T CALL ME THAT!" She yells at him, before bestowing a kiss upon his lips. "At least not in public..."
"Amy and I will call you should the need arise." Zoicite said chuckling at the passionate looks the mismatched pair is giving one another. Looking down at the slender beauty close to him, he places a hand on her shoulder and squeezes gently. He is rewarded with a gentle touch of her fingers intertwining with his.
"Okay but call us at the first sign of anything" Raye ordered as she left with Jadeite hopping after her.
"Yes O' Mighty Queen!" Amy said in a mocking manner, but with laughter shining in her eyes and a gentle smile on her face.
"Don't start Miss Smarty pants." Raye retorted as she walked back in, only to be yanked back out by a blonde general who earns another smack for the maneuver.
"Come on let's go before you two get into a fight." Jadeite said pulling his fiery love towards the door once more.
Just before the two people walked through the door; however, an all too familiar voice called out one name signaling those who have been in a trance are coming too.
"Nephlyte..."
Everyone turned to see Xavier and the cat known as Luna smiling at a now fully awake Lita Kino, who was trembling as images flitted through her head a mile a minute.
"How do you feel Lita?" Professor Xavier asked as he took a drink. The young woman's mind was full of storms and fear of something that she desperately does not wish to know. But something tells him she must if life was to go on for her.
"Fine but the memories of Nephlyte are a little much to handle." Lita replied as she places her face in her hands. Fighting to remember her pain and sorrow as they flit though her soul.
"Just relax and allow them to come to you trust me I am here for you." He said taking her hand within his. She clutches it gratefully.
Lita closed her eyes and allowed the memories to come to her just as Professor Xavier had instructed and as she did she held on tight and didn't let go.
Flashback...
Lita found herself in one of the Moon Palace's many Flower Gardens a few days after the Prince of Earth and his Royal Guards had arrived on the Moon. Despite the hectic meetings and the constant plans of entertainment to the delegation, the Queen had given her some time to herself when she noticed all the stress was beginning to take its toll.
So she was enjoying a long walk away from all the hustle and bustle of the day's events. It seemed that the Good Queen had decided to throw a ball in the Prince's honor and everyone in the kingdom was excited. She herself was excited by the prospect of finding a male companion at that night's festivities and almost despaired when she thought she would have to work. But thankfully the Queen and the Princess both said no and demanded that she have some fun.
As she was walking Lita didn't see a shadowy figure creep up behind her as she was pleasantly looking forward to the party.
"Don't turn around Princess and I won't be forced to kill you right here and now!" The man told her as she felt a knife pressing deep into her throat. Thinking to stall as she mentally judged his height and everything to escape his grip, she also knew to quiz him on why he was doing this.
"What do you want?" She asked as the guy started pulling her in a direction away from the garden.
"I have orders to kill anyone I come across while I am spying on the Moon Kingdom for my Queen!" The man whispered into her ear as his hands pressed even deeper and the blade nicks her throat slightly.
"Oh so you are a spy and a would-be murderer! Who is your Queen?" Lita hissed the anger becoming evident. "Who would have you betray your home!"
"Since you asked so nicely and soon you'll be dead. I guess I can tell you. Her name is Beryl and she rules the Dark Kingdom, she will be the future ruler of this solar system and finally I will have power that I so richly deserve." The man said.
"I don't think so creep!" Lita said getting even angrier, her hands reaching to grip his arm.
Just before she was about to flip the man over she shoulder though, she felt the knife loosen from around her neck. Turning around, she heard the familiar voice of one of the Prince's Royal Guards.
"What kind of man threatens a beautiful woman with a knife huh?" The man replied with such ease as he lifted the man and threw him off of her, oblivious to her surprise and then her frustration.
"You! You're one of Endymion's guards!" The other man hissed.
"That's right jerk and the name's Nephlyte. You can tell that snake of a queen of yours that she shall not be spilling anyone's blood today!"
"Fine, but don't think this is over human!" The man said as he disappeared into a black portal.
"Good riddance!" Nephlyte said smirking before turning to Lita. "Are you okay?" He asked with a gentle smile. Taking in her long reddish hair and those large wide set eyes, he can't help but notice her slender beauty and the fact that she is almost as tall as him.
"How dare you!" Lita hissed beginning to advance on the guard of Earth, who was taken aback by her rudeness.
"What did I do to cause you such anger princess? I was only trying to help you!" Nephlyte asked backing away from the irate beauty. Her flesh having taken on beautiful shade of pink, almost like the roses that are beside her, he finds that it makes her even more beautiful.
"Did I ask you for your help?" Lita asked angrily.
"You did not." He replied casually. Backing up a little still, he can't help but gaze as she seems to want to take a swing at him. Much like a guy, her stance, but yet she has an air of womanliness about her that he finds hard to resist.
"Precisely you jerk! You came in and thought you'd save the day without checking to see if I even needed your help in the first place! For your information they don't call me the Princess of Jupiter and Senshi of Protection for nothing. I could have taken that guy out all by myself." Lita yelled.
"Fine I was only trying to be a gentleman and help out a beautiful woman." Nephlyte said fuming a little but yet, intrigued by her presence. Still he turned around and began to walk away something telling him, to walk slowly though.
Taken aback by Nephltye's speech about her being beautiful, because in all her time on the Moon no one had ever said that about her. She was surprised.
No man had ever offered to be a gentleman when it came to protecting her honor. Most men knew that she could take care of herself and more or less preferred it that way. Unfortunately, it backfired when it came to love, she had found that because of her size or abilities men would often run away from her claiming that they didn't want anything to do with a girl trying to be a man. This hurt her all the time so she closed herself off to most men unless...they approached her. Which they rarely did, until now...
"No wait!" Lita called out stopping Nephlyte in his tracks.
"What is it now Princess? Or are you not done abusing my chivalry yet?" Nephlyte responded a little annoyed, yet smiling.
"It's not that and I'm sorry that I questioned your motives for coming to my rescue a few moments ago Nephlyte." Lita said looking down towards the ground, a little chagrined at her actions.
"Then what is it Princess?" Nephlyte asked turning around.
"You really think I'm beautiful?" Lita asked while blushing.
"Yes. Has no one ever called you that before?" He replied, shocked by her shaking her head.
"Actually no, you see until today most men run away from me and say I'm too much of a tomboyish woman for them. They don't like it when I can beat them in things that supposedly only men can do. I can't help the way I am; I am the Princess of Jupiter after all. That is the planet where most of the strongest people in the solar system live!" Lita stated proudly as she sat down upon the bench.
"Well Princess, I for one could never think such things about you! I find that everyone is special in their own way and no one can say any different." Nephlyte said taking her hand in his.
"Thank you Nephlyte and you can call me Lita." Lita replied smiling as another blush crept up her face.
"You're very welcome Lita, and may I say you have a beautiful smile as well." Nephlyte commented as he brought her hand up to his lips to place a gentle kiss in greeting. This caused Lita to blush even redder and a small chuckle to erupt from Nephlyte. "That is how I wished to greet you before that little fiasco..."
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Smiling with warmth from that precious memory, Lita finds the images flying through her mind once more, and she begins to tremble as an emotion called pain and heartache wracks her soul
It is a couple of years later and she is sitting on her couch in her suite with Nephlyte pacing back and forth worry evident on his face.
"What's wrong my love?" Lita asked a little voice of concern creeping into those words.
"Something is wrong and the stars are not in my favor." He replied chokingly.
"What do you mean?" Lita asked again becoming scared, for Nephlyte to be nervous and frightened was unusual. Somehow she has to relax him and in doing so she approaches him and wraps her arms around his waist. As her simple action, he can't help but hold her close and place a gentle kiss upon her forehead.
"What I mean my Thunderheart, is that if I go back to Earth I fear that I shall never see you again!" Nephlyte replied, as his hands traveled to her cheeks, his eyes roaming in her features as if trying to drink them in.
"Nephlyte, you know that I trust your ability to read the stars, but it might be a false alarm. Besides, you have to go where Endymion does don't you? And he needs you back on Earth." Lita replied softly, as her hands cover his. Moving one over, her lips press a soft touch to his wrist and he smiles at her show of love. Still he is unsettled...
"I know you are right beautiful, but this has got me scared for some reason."
"It will work out in the end!" She replies with her loving smile. She begins pulling him with her as they head towards the portals that are set up to return him to Earth. "Besides, look at it this way, the faster you get done down on Earth the faster you'll be back here with me! I believe in you..." Lita exclaimed.
Hearing her words, and feeling the faith that she places in him. He nods his head and smiles as he steps on. But not before enveloping her in a passionate kiss.
"To hold me over...till we meet again my Princess...my Thunderheart..." With that...he disappeared.
Flashback ends...
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Lita's eyes came up wide open as her heart began to pound erratically. She remembers the next time she saw him and it was day she would never forget...
For it was a few months later and Nephlyte did indeed return just not in the capacity that he had promised he'd be back in. He along with the other Royal Guards had betrayed their prince and turned against the Moon Kingdom and the women they claimed to love, destroying the peace that they had once found without a single thought of remorse.
"What have I done?" Lita cried as she began to sob.
"Lita what's wrong?" Raye asked.
"It's all my fault." Lita whispered. Her mind filled with his reluctance to leave her. His expression, his warmth, his touch...those memories are filling her heart with love and pain for his loss.
"What is Lita?" Amy questioned softly. Her gentle heart is reaching out for her friend.
"I caused Nephlyte to betray us! But I didn't mean to! I DIDN'T MEAN TO!" Lita said as fresh tears fell down her cheeks.
"What do you mean you are the reason Nephlyte betrayed us?" Raye asked confused. But was startled as the young woman ran out the door, about ready to follow they are stopped as Ororo halts them with a gentle shake of her silvery white mane.
"Please allow me to talk to her." Ororo suggested.
"But...!" The two girls replied with worry in their faces.
"Do not worry girls. I sense that right now she needs someone who is more like a mother, than a friend." Xavier replies softly giving the go ahead for the African woman to leave.
"Thank you professor I'll take her to my room so we can have some privacy." Ororo said as she followed the young woman who ran down the hall in tears.
"Do you think Lita will be okay professor?" Amy asked.
"Yes...I think she will be fine...just fine."
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Puerto Rico
Meanwhile somewhere near the Arecibo Satellite station in this island country. A young scientist was taking a brief break away from his work outside and ran across a strange stone sticking out of the ground. Looking at its symbols curiously, he backs away as part of it becomes readable to his eyes.
Loved by she who is Thunder
He is of the stars and of the clouds
Charming and Chivalrous
He helps all grow
Reluctant to betray, forced to do so
Here lies the General of Nature, Nephlyte
May the one who loves him
Set him Free...
After the scientist read the poem he quickly pulled out his cell phone and called his fellow scientists at the base headquarters. After some time the other scientist comes out and seals off the area and prepares to investigate what was going on with this stone which they had never seen before.
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Xavier's Institute
Back at the institute a couple of hours later. Ororo had helped Lita come to terms that what happened to Nephlyte wasn't her fault, but that of the woman known as Beryl, who had surely taken the young man against his will and forced him to betray her, everyone eventually rejoined in Professor Xavier's study to talk some more when Beast suddenly appeared.
"Professor there has been a sighting by a scientist from the Arecibo Satellite in Puerto Rico. Luckily I am friends with the chief of staff there and according to him it is another stone similar to the ones we found Jadeite and Zoicite under!" Beast informed as the other man listened intently.
"Very well then I think it is time we go and retrieve the next general." Professor Xavier suggested, looking to Lita, who takes on an almost hopeful expression.
"Who do we send in other then the obvious choice being Lita?" Eric asked.
"I shall go." Ororo exclaimed, as she smiled at the young woman, who looked grateful. Eric nods his head as Jadeite gets up as well along with Kitty.
"Us to!" The pair exclaim. Kitty will go as a backup escape should they need one, for she was getting annoyed at Kurt having all the fun. And should Lita be busy if they are attacked, he can help get Nephlyte out of wherever he is. Wolverine nods his head as does Artemis. Both attend on going with Eric and the others to the island.
"Very well Ororo then let us go!" Charles Xavier stated as the X-men and brotherhood prepared to leave.
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Elsewhere...
Chaos and Apocalypse watch as the X Jet takes off from underneath the school. A frown appears on Apocalypse features as he momentarily loses control to the entity inside his body.
: Apocalypse send someone to deal with this at once, but remember to stick to the plan. We want them to wake them up; it will help us in finding the exact location of the Prince and Princess:
"Very well Chaos!"
Apocalypse looked thoughtful and chuckled as he summoned forth a soldier. Using his mind and powers the reluctant being began to scream. The agony and pain wrenching through its body, causes it to lose what is left of its humanity as it becomes a thing of unnatural horror. But at each end of its claws a crackle of energy seems to flow into it...as if it is absorbing...
With a flick of his wrist, it launches into the air at the behest of its Lord and Master...
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Puerto Rico
Later that night in the area of the Arecibo Satellite, the X Jet settled down and the occupants disembarked to head for the stone. Once there Lita saw the writing and looked at the group of people surrounding her.
"It's alright Lita remember we all will be here for you..
Smiling gratefully, Lita clutched her Emerald crystal close to her hear and yelled the incantation. "Eternal Jupiter Crystal Power!" Lita yelled transforming herself into Sailor Jupiter.
Then walking up to the stone with the others right behind her and reading it, Jupiter recited the following phrase.
Thunder that I am
Heart that I feel
Soul that I touch
Stars of the Heaven
Clouds of the Sky
I command thee
Door open!
Just as the door opened the servant of Apocalypse and Chaos attacked.
"Get going you two while we take care of the party crashers!" Wolverine ordered as he and Jadeite began to work as Magneto provided shields of energy around them all.
To be continued...