Long time no update! I know. Hopefully there is enough here to redeem me. Enjoy! And remember to be on the look out for Sailor Moon Crystal! It started airing July 5th. Two episodes out so far!

Chapter 7

The sun had set on the Terran planet, and the princess' had spent their time prepping for their respective assignments with the general-Kings. The generals of course did not have to prep for much since they were glorified escorts, or at least that is how one of them felt. The others however seemed to have something else on their minds…

"If no one else is going to say it, I will," Jedite started, "Did you see what they were wearing?"

"Keep it in your pants Jed," interjected Kunzite, "They are off limits."

"Says who?"

"Their royal blood line," Kunzite said lifting a brow.

Jedite snorted, "Like that will stop any of you. I saw the gaze you gave Princess Venus. I don't blame you though, if that's royal attire, I wonder what their bathing suits are like."

Kunzite held back that retort he had for Jedite's last comment. He didn't like that his friend was fantasizing about his- My what? Lady Venus is nothing to me.

"Of course I admit it Jed, I am still a man. But unlike you, I don't act like some juvenile male at the sight of a beautiful woman. I know how to control myself."

"Right. Let's see how long that lasts," Jedite mocked, "And Neph over here. I think I finally know why he doesn't talk," the blond said eyeing the long haired general warily, "Who knows what would be unleashed."

Nephrite clenched his jaw and sent his friend a hard glare. "You should perhaps also not speak, lest you show others the fool you are."

Jedite waved his hands in mock surrender. "Alright. I'll stop, but at least I am brave enough to admit that the princess' staying was a blessing in disguise."

Kunzite smirked at that, "You have a point there. The only one who hasn't said much is Zoi. What do you think Zoi?" When Kunzite looked around as did the other generals, they found they were missing their youngest general.

"Where is Zoi?" Nephrite asked.

"Probably out defiling one of the princesses," retorted Jedite.

Kunzite clenched his jaw at the possibility of that. "Which-?"

"-Mercury. Did you see the intense looks he was giving her today?" said Nephrite.

"You go find him," Kunzite said pointing at Jedite.

"Why me?"

"Because you annoy me. Now go."

He knew where she would be. She would be prepping herself for her assignment and that included getting to know Earth's sources of intelligence and bodies of water. He knew this because he would be doing the exact same thing if the roles were reversed. He entered the large library that led to the main Intel room. His domain. However, as he searched he could find no soft feminine body anywhere. There were evidences that someone had been here though. Books had been moved, a chair was placed near another table. There was a step ladder near one of the shelves. Zoicite had no need for that. His height was enough. If she's not here then perhaps she took a break.

Instantly Zoicite's feet moved as the thought entered his head: The lake.

Indeed that is where he found her, but not how he expected to find her. Zoicite stood rooted to the ground as he took in the beauty and peace before him. There was Ami in the same ice blue dress only this time she was sitting on a fountain of water that was coming from the middle of the lake. There were tiny beads of water cascading all around her, glinting in the sun like diamonds. Of course she was not of this Earth. Beauty like hers was found elsewhere. Zoicite walked closer to her and saw that she was sitting with her legs crossed and her eyes closed. The water around the make shift fountain and in the rest of the lake thrived. They had found its kin.

Zoicite watched as Ami stood on the platform of water. She kept her eyes closed as her bare feet walked on the downward steps of water that met her foot as if instructed. She finally reached the shore. The water lapped at her feel as if beckoning her to return; it was sad for her departure. Ami sighed happily as the light blue glow about her left her body. Oh how she loved the water! A rustling caused Ami to turn around. There stood Zoicite with a look of awe on his face. Ami blushed and clasped her hands before her, eyes downcast.

"Lord Zoicite….What can I do for you?" Ami asked finally looked up at him shyly.

Zoicite was still at a loss for words as he kept his awe-filled gaze on her. Truly she was a goddess among men.

"I came to thank you," Zoicite found himself saying.

Ami blushed at the unabashed staring of the general-king. She was curious as to what could have caught his attention so avidly. Surely it wasn't her. "Thank me for what, my Lord?"

Zoicite had been making his way closer to her as she spoke. This was insane! He had just met this woman yesterday! Yet here he was allowing his pure instinctual impulses to lead him. He never did this. Zoicite found that he did not care though he just wanted to know where this would go. Why did the woman fascinate him so? He had been allowed to be interrupted form his duties, from his life in general this day to seek her out….to what? He found there was no actual reason to search for her, other than he wanted to.

He decided to keep letting his impulses control him. They were obviously doing this for a purpose right?

"For staying, my Lady," Zoicite responded taking her hand and entwining it with his. Ami let herself be nervous. Nervous because a man she had just met was touching her intimately. Nervous because he had a hunger in his eyes she did not recognize. Nervous because…she liked it. She liked feeling like this. He made her feel feminine.

"I-Why would you be thanking me for that? My staying was not personal," Ami asked with a voice barely above a whisper.

Zoicite dared once more to be bolder. Using their entwined hands he pulled the small nervous princess to him, wrapping his other arm around her. Ami squeaked demurely as she felt strong arms encase her. Dear Poseidon…

"Because had you not of stayed," Zoicite started bringing his other hand around her waist now so Ami's hands were on his chest, "I could not fathom the antics I would have done to follow you."

"Lord Zoicite I do not believe you should be talking to me with such confidence," Ami reasoned. This was all she could hang on to with his proximity. Reason was all she had right now, because none of this was making sense.

"Some part of my rational brain agrees with you," he replied huskily, "yet I don't care because I have been driven to the point of obsession with needing to know why you intrigue me so. In one day, since the moment I met you, you have invaded my mind and haunted my thoughts. As a man of logic I need to know why. You have consumed all my interest making me pursue you to ask you…Have you bewitched me?"

Ami had closed her eyes to try to calm her over-stimulated senses. She had done this to him? Her? A prudish princess of Mercury had made a man obsessive? No. Now that was illogical.

"I possess no such abilities, my Lord."

"I know that I am being irrational, bordering on insane, but I cannot deny this pull, this need to be with you," He said caressing her face softly with a roughened finger, "Like you're the key to something. The answer to an unasked question."

Zoicite let his forehead rest on hers. "To add to the insanity, I feel that I know you. As if I have forgotten you, but my soul has not." He held her tightly feeling the small princess tremble. Gods, he hadn't thought of how she would be weighing this in her mind and emotionally. She must think him certifiable.

"Please say something. Let me know that I have not frightened you," Zoicite asked tenderly. Ami stayed there in his arms silently. What could she say to him? That he was ludicrous? That she was in fact frightened. Not because of him though, but because of his eerily accurate statements. His last comment resonated within her mind and soul. She too had forgotten him.

"Everything does," Ami said opening her eyes and looking directly as Zoicite, "feel as you say."

The general felt his mouth go dry. "That must be for a reason. Do you feel as strongly for me?"

"Yes," Ami said breathlessly.

Zoicite chuckled relieved. "Then I am not insane. Good. I was beginning to doubt myself."

"If you were, then I would be insane as well."

"Gods, this is not the first time in my life I have met you, I am sure of it. Now that I have you it feels as though I have been enduring every day incomplete," Zoicite said gripping her shoulders. Ami merely nodded not trusting her voice.

"There is an impulse I have been fighting my Lady, since I first saw you."

"Ami please. You may call me Ami. And what is that?" she asked nervously.

"This," Zoicite replied putting a finger under chin and bringing his lips to hers.

Helios felt one of the planetary bonds solidify. He bent on one knee and felt the ground of Elysian. He let the Earth speak to him. Mercury and Zoicite were starting to solidify their bond. It was tentative, but there. He thought about the conversation with the Lunarian keeper. For the sake of the planet and her king. Helios let his awareness flare out. He pinpointed the location of the couple currently locked in an intimate moment. He saw their bond and with his powers, touched the bond to make the solidification complete. The bond reacted and crystalized. There! Now just up to the couple to move things along.

For this couple, now there was no going back.

Mars rounded the corner of the majestic hall she was in. She knew she was somewhere near the War room. She could hear the sound of the water in the lake that was to the right of it on the outside. If anyone were to see the fiery princess now, they would see there was small smile on her face. She had seen the lustful look Jedite had given her in her royal attire. Feminine pride had surged through her at that moment. Was it just a passing fancy though? Sounds halted Mars from her thoughts before making the last turn to go inside the War room. She pressed her back to the wall and peeked around.

Her mouth fell open.

For the second time Mars found Ami with the young general-King named Zoicite. Only this time he was not kissing her friend's hand. Ami was currently pressed against the tree adjacent to the lake. Zoicite was holding her up, his chest pressed against Ami's. The bluenette's leg was hiked up around Zoicite's waist. Her hands were in his hair, while her lips were on his. Mars had never seen a person in such a state of passion. Let alone prudish Ami. Rei blushed as she heard her friend moan.

"Oh Zoi…we should not be doi-," her light voice said breathlessly.

"Don't think Ami," Zoicite replied with a grunt.

"Oh-!" Ami moaned. Rei blushed even harder when she heard her friend call out. Zoicite had hoisted up further on his hips. The skirt of Ami's dress was being scooted up on the leg wrapped around the general. Rei saw his hand gently caressing her friend's leg, but noticed it had only stopped at her mid-thigh.

Oh holy Ares! Rei thought as she tore her gaze away from the passionate scene. Dear Gods! Jeez Ami!

"I take it my friend is…busy with yours?" said a deep voice full of mirth. Rei turned around with a hand to her chest and a look that said she had been caught. Jedite's eyes wandered to the princess' heaving bust. At least one of my friends isn't suffering anymore. These women were enough to cause grown men to have adolescent problems.

"Lord Jedite what are you doing here?" Rei asked trying to distract herself from the images in her head. Had what she seen witnessed with her friend…turned her on? Jedite furrowed his brows in inquiry when he noticed Rei take a calming breath whilst closing her eyes. The moment of her being caught had passed. Why was she still flustered?

"I came in search of my friend. My fellow comrades seemed to be under the impression that he could be befouling a certain blue haired princess."

Jedite noticed the Martian princess blush at the mention of her friend. "I take it by your redness that this conclusion is correct?"

"Please don't say anything," Rei pleaded not bothering to lie. "It is what she wants to do with her private time. I was not supposed to see that."

Jedite again was moved by the amount of loyalty this fiery woman showed. All he desired again was to be spoken of like that. With so much revered devotion.

"Consider it done," Jedite said warmly. Re looked at him then back over her shoulder.

"Would you like to see something?" Jedite offered reading Rei's need to leave this area.

"Oh Mars yes," Rei said gratefully, "Where are we going?"

Jedite offered his arm and Rei took it. They began to walk away from the War room and the palace.

"I remembered when I traveled to Mars that your people have a deep connection with your planet. The essence of your planet being the fire of Mars," Jedite began, "I heard that you were the keeper of the fire. It's Priestess."

Rei gave an impressed smile. "Yes I am. I was given the privilege of that role because of my birth," Rei explained, "My parents said I was born with the sacred touch of Mars himself."

"Well then," Jedite said turning to his left towards a Gothic Cathedral, "You might appreciate this."

They neared the entrance of the cathedral and found two large stone gargoyles with cleavers blocking the entrance.

"I am the general-king Jedite. I wish to pass."

At the strong words of the blond the gargoyles eyes lit with white light and the moved the cleavers so they would open. "You may pass."

Rei just looked on fascinated. When the doors opened there was a just a regular room. There were no obvious decorations or ornaments. The room was unremarkable for it to be held behind such security. Rei looked around with lifted brows. Jedite caught her expression and laughed.

"What? The place seems anticlimactic?"

"Well, yes actually. For there being two large mystic stone creatures guarding this place, there really isn't much to guard."

Jedite laughed again. "That my Lady, is where you are wrong."

Jedite waved his arm over a small circle that was carved on the ground. Rei looked more closely at the floor and realized that there were four small symbols etched into the stone. They made no sense to her, but when Jedite had waved his arm, one of the symbols glowed and then expanded, making the circle large enough for him to stand in. Rei looked at the sandy haired general and placed her hands on her hips.

"What?" Jedite asked in response to her stance.

"You and your friends have been hiding some things from us," Mars accused lightly.

"As any good council to the throne would. One cannot offer up all the secrets of the crown-," Jedite said grabbing Rei's hand bringing her closer, "-though I would gladly commit treason for you."

Rei wiggled a bit to loosen his hold, but Jedite did not let her go. "So far I am unimpressed by what you are to show me."

"Give me just a second, and hold on tight."

"Why-?" Before Rei could finish her question, the circle on the ground that Jedite had expanded was beginning to glow then she was covered by a flash of light. She felt her feet leave the floor and then land back on it. Her arms had gripped Jedite tightly and she had shut her eyes tightly closed.

Jedite chuckled as he rubbed her arms up and down. "It's alright. We're here. Open your eyes."

Rei opened her eyes and saw that they were indeed no longer in the unimpressive room in the cathedral. She let her violet orbs wander around and take in where they were. They seemed to be standing on the cliff of some kind of mountain. There was heat emanating from one side of her. She looked towards it and found a site she had never seen before.

Hues of orange, red, and yellow flowed beneath her like a river. The substance had its own glow of light as it made its way in a certain direction. Heat touched her face like a warm caress. This was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen. It was like fire in liquefied form.

"How is this possible?" Rei asked in awe, "Not even on Mars has there ever existed a method to liquefy fire."

Jedite took in her mesmerized face and responded. "The Earth has this substance already within her. It is not created. It already existed when she was created. It's called lava."

"This is wondrous," Rei said, her voice cracking a bit.

"Do you like it?"

Rei turned to look at the green eyed general. "You have no way of knowing how precious this is to me. Thank you for showing me."

Jedite shrugged, though inwardly he was giddy. "I thought that with you staying on this planet for a while you would get home sick. I just considered this a way to quell your stirrings for home while here."

Rei chose that moment to continue looking at the lava. This general had been more than just considerate when thinking of showing her this place. This was a token of affection. At least that was her suspicion at the moment. I can confirm it, she thought. Keep her eyes downcast, she let her hand that was not on his chest reach for his unoccupied hand. Jedite felt her soft hand clasp his and looked down at them. He let his grip hers back in affirmation that it was ok. Rei had a plan with purpose though.

Through their physical contact she allowed herself to reach for his essence. She was psychic and also through touch could she see into people. It was the ultimate form of empathy; putting herself in another's shoes. She let herself see the world through the person's eyes. It was like she no longer existed and became them. She closed her eyes and allowed her power to work.

The first thing that hit was emotions. Jedite was feeling at peace, joyous, complete. Then came thoughts and vision. Rei mentally gasped at how the general saw her, and what he thought. Jedite was looking at her currently as though she were the most precious blessing life had granted him. It was mere pleasure to just talk to her, but as he was holding her now, holding her hand, he felt euphoric. Rei felt that inside him, a merging of something had just occurred. Something had clicked. She trekked on to find out what it was. Then as if he knew she was asking this question, the answer came to her: Princess Mars is mine. As she heard this thought and felt the rightness of it grab him, she let go of his hand and pulled out of his being. Jedite had been none the wiser of this whole process, so was rightly startled at the actions of the Martian.

"Is something wrong, my Lady?"

Rei controlled her racing thoughts. "No. Just…you have this effect on me sometimes…" she said under her breath.

Jedite chuckled having heard her comment. "If only I could tell you the effect you have on me."

Rei blushed prettily and gave him a play smack on the chest. "Yes well, I think anything in a skirt can have that effect on you."

Jedite let the playful smile slip from his face and took Rei back in his arms. With a purposeful and intense look he said, "I can guarantee you that no one has affected me this intensely before. That is unique only unto you."

Rei was getting overwhelmed. This was all too much for her. After knowing some of his inner workings, and then with his subtly intense flirting she was getting confused and cloudy-minded. She was beginning to feel her strength fall.

"Why do you say those things? I am not….I am not like the other women on Mars, or any other planets," Rei said vulnerably, "I am not one to… entertain."

Jedite knew her meaning fully. He had finally ground the harsh exterior of the fiery princess down. He knew that mentally and emotionally she was naked. Though he did not want her to think that he was taking advantage of her, he also knew that he would never get another chance at this.

Placing a large hand on her cheek he spoke softly, "You are not here for my entertainment. Damn the person that thinks you are. I believe you are here because you want to be. And I am here because I want you."

Rei looked up tentatively and let her eyes become naked to his. She knew he was telling the truth. There were no lies there because she had seen into him. That is what scared her the most. He was being utterly honest. Could she as well?

"Getting a bit too confident aren't you, my Lord?" Rei started jokingly, though her tone of voice was light.

"When you sound as you do, and tremble as you do, especially when in my arms, that does tend to swell the ego, yes," he said with new determination in his eyes.

Rei noticed the gleam in his eye. "What are you scheming in that mind of yours?"

Jedite merely smirked maliciously at her and then moved his hand from her check to her neck, and pulled in her for a kiss.

The lava beside them began to roar.

Helios felt the Earth stir again. Furrowing his brows he knelt on one knee and put his hand to her. The heat of the Earth's core was absolutely searing with blazing heat. He let his awareness reach out for the source of disequilibrium. Somewhere near the Ring of Fire was a source of energy that was attracting the natural heat of the Earth and making it react wildly. Suddenly it made sense. Princess Mars and Lord Jedite have reignited themselves…. Helios now meticulously searched for their tentative bond and lightly touched it with his powers. The bond crystalized and solidified just as Mercury's and Lord Zoicite's.

Here's to hoping those two don't blow up the planet.

This had been a busy night indeed. Yet, Helios knew that that harder work was yet to come. Princess Jupiter and Princess Venus were hard enough on their own to crack. Their personalities, demeanors, and customs were just the tip of the iceberg. Each one had prejudices against the opposite sex. And their corresponding mates were not an easy task either. Lord Nephrite was stoic and disciplined with a rigidity known to no other. Lord Kunzite knew about people and how to read them. He was made immune to most plights and did not bend to mere vulnerability. Helios sighed.

Wise One…you owe me.

I hope you enjoyed! Any questions or comments please feel free to review! Thank you all for reading!

Marina