Picking up where the Chapter 12: The Search for the Moon Kingdom left off, Ami, Makoto, Minako, Nephrite, Kunzite, Luna, and Artemis have found the door to the Moon Kingdom. While they are there, Makoto is fraught with memories. What do she remember? And can she and Neph make peace?
Chapter 14: The Sailor Guardian of Protection
(Sunday Afternoon)
As Ami, Makoto, Minako, Nephrite, Kunzite, Luna, and Artemis stepped through the ethereal door from Earth to the Moon, they were all surprised at how well the Moon Kingdom had stayed pretty much intact after almost a millenia. When Ami looked around, she wondered if it was the material that was used to build the palace, and she was aware, according to her research from her past life, the palace was created using the Legendary Silver Crystal.
"I wasn't expecting how the palace stayed this much intact after all this time," Artemis said, impressed, also noticing Ami's reaction.
"I think we're all impressed," Minako said, after taking note of everyone's reactions to their surroundings.
Both Nephrite and Kunzite looked at the door leading back to Earth. They both felt the pull toward the ethereal door. "Okay," Nephrite said. "That's a little weird."
"Do you feel the pull now?" Ami asked the Shitennou Knights. "Like we felt the pull on the other side of the door?" She looked over at the ethereal door with curiosity as she no longer felt the pull.
"Yes," Kunzite answered her. "I'm sure the further Nephrite and I walk away from it, it'll start to dissipate. It's the same way the three of you hadn't felt it until we had reached Mugen Academy. Though, if we lose our way, both Neph and I can find our way back here."
When they looked around, they saw the chamber that had held the doors to the other planets were still intact. "Would these still work?" Nephrite asked.
Ami shook her head. "No," she said. "Once when there was an alert, they would have been immediately put out of commission."
"Do you think other than Earth there is life on other planets of this universe?" Minako asked, pondering over the question.
"That's a good question," Ami said, musing at the question, but also remembering the reason why they were here, "but we can't worry about that now."
"We have a job to do," Makoto agreed.
Ami walked toward the chamber door as the others followed. She tried to push it open, but realized she couldn't and needed assistance to open it. "I need some help here," Ami told her friend.
Makoto started to push it open after Ami had stepped back and realized she needed some help herself as well. "Looks like this will need to be a group effort," she commented.
Kunzite and Nephrite moved on one side of the door and Ami, Minako, and Makoto moved to the other side of the door. As a team, the five of them had pushed the door open, Luna and Artemis let out a sigh of relief as they opened the door with ease.
When the door was completely open, they saw there was indeed some destruction inside of the Moon Kingdom itself. Minako, Ami, Makoto, Luna, and Artemis had to shake it off as they had something else to do.
Kunzite looked over at Nephrite. "If I'm going through the Moon Kingdom, I would rather be myself," he said.
"I agree," Nephrite said.
Both Kunzite and Nephrite had released their transformation.
"I'm a little rusty about where the library is in the castle," Makoto asked, cutting through everyone's thoughts.
"I remember where it is," Ami said and pointed in a direction. "It's that way." Even though she had said it, Ami still looked down at Luna to confirm.
"That's correct," Luna said.
When the five of them continued going in the direction Ami indicated and Luna agreed, Makoto didn't move, or rather couldn't move, as if something wanted her to go on a different path. She stayed in the same spot looking in one direction, and when nobody had noticed, she continued in the direction she was compelled to go.
It took them a few minutes to notice Makoto was no longer with them, and it was Neph who had realized she was no longer with them.
"Mako?" Neph called out, but there was no answer. "Where are you?" When she didn't answer, he looked back at the others, especially glancing over at Kun. "Did you see where she had split off from us?"
Kun shook his head. "I did not," he said, feeling guilty he hadn't noticed when Makoto had split off from them.
"She was just right here," Minako said, very insistent.
"I'll find her," Neph said, volunteering for the role of finding her. "Once I find her, we'll catch up with you guys in the library."
Luna walked up to him and looked up at him curiously. "You think you're up to the task of figuring out what is on Mako's mind?" she asked.
"Luna," Artemis said, saying her name like it was a warning. He was already really tired of seeing how Luna was treating the Shitennou Knights, especially since they didn't do anything to deserve it. Since they had been healed or resurrected, both Kun and Neph have been nothing but helpful with their thoughts and opinions as well as inside knowledge about Queen Beryl.
"Artemis, it's alright," Neph said, hearing the warning in his tone. "I think I understand what's going on with Mako. Her heart knows and accepts one thing, but her head hasn't quite gotten there yet." He looked over at Minako. "How close am I?"
"On the nose, actually," Minako said, agreeing. "I know my team almost as well as Usagi does." She looked over at Kun before she said the next part. "It's the same for the Shitennou Knights, isn't it? You know your team almost as well as Mamoru, isn't that right, Kun?" She looked over at him.
"I'd like to think so," Kun agreed. "Minako, let him go. If your instinct is telling you she will listen to Neph, then let him go."
Minako made a face and then nodded after realizing what the advantages may or rather would be. "Luna, let him go," she said. "You helped Usagi find us and made us a team. Now, our team is expanding to add the Mamoru and the Shitennou Knights, and just like us, they will need time to figure out the dynamics of their team as we did." She looked over at Kun. "We're not perfect, but we love each other."
"I don't want to talk about this," Luna said. She didn't like the way the group was expanding and wanted to stop it. As she saw, the Shitennou Knights caused the problem in the first place, so they should even be part of their team to begin with. At the first opportunity, she was going to push Usagi and Mamoru apart as well.
"I know you don't, but you have to admit our dynamic is working with them being a part of it, part of our team," Minako said. "We, the Sailor Guardians, are good at what we do, but having their assistance, the Shitennou Knights' assistance, has been more of an advantage than a disadvantage, Luna." Minako didn't like having this kind of confrontation, but if it wasn't dealt with, it would have just become a bigger problem which is what she, what they, wanted to avoid.
"We're making a team to include Mamoru and the Shitennou Knights," Ami said. "The Shitennou Knights' assistance has been more valuable than I can say."
"And you can't deny the results the recovered Shitennou Knights have produced, Luna," Artemis put in, knowing he was putting his foot in what he considered should have been something Usagi should have dealt with.
"You too, Artemis?" Luna asked with shock. She was surprised at the fact her counterpart would agree with and side with the Shitennou Knights to continue assisting the Sailor Guardians, to assist their Princess. As she saw it, they were doing just fine without them.
Before either Ami or Minako could say anything and without answering Luna's question, Artemis asked, "Luna, what was our original mission?"
"To find the Sailor Guardians," Luna answered without hesitation, "so they can protect the princess."
"And isn't that what they are doing?" Artemis asked. He knew his tone was harsh, but he couldn't help himself. "I know you heard what Ryo said yesterday when he told us everyone had sacrificed themselves to save this planet. Do I have to remind you about that part? Do you want Usagi to die?" Artemis understood Usagi was as close to Luna as he was as close to Minako, knowing it took them a while to get to that point.
"Artemis…"
"Get on board, Luna," Artemis said, not surprised she didn't like the question so she didn't answer it either. "Yes, the team is expanding, but if we want the future Ryo talked about, promised us, we have to let the Sailor Guardians open their hearts, trust each other, and trust the Shitennou Knights which looks like including resolving their feelings toward their counterpart Shitennou Knight and vice versa. Of which, by the way, the same way Usagi did for Mamoru and vice versa. Get on board or get left behind. We don't have time for this as we don't know what the Dark Kingdom is planning since she longer has access to Dark Prince Endymion and Kunzite." Artemis turned to Neph. "If you know where Mako is, find her and have whatever conversation you need to have with her and bring her back." He turned to look at the rest of the group. "Let's go." He walked away from the group toward where he had an idea where the library is.
Minako just stared after Artemis, amazed, as he stormed off. He never got angry like that. He was the more even tempered of their motley crue and always thinking about what he was going to say before he said it. This was not her partner, her advisor. "I have never seen him so angry," she said, impressed. "I didn't think he would have it in him."
Neph ignored Minako's amazement. "Luna, come with me," he offered. "Maybe, if you hear what I say to her, perhaps you won't be so apprehensive of me, Kun, or the other Shitennou Knights when they come along."
"Are you sure?" Luna asked, already feeling guilty for the valid points her counterpart had presented to her.
"Go on, Luna," Ami said, urging her to assist Neph. "Maybe it's time for you to see why we, the Sailor Guardians, trust the Shitennou Knights the way we do. The reason why we fell in love with them back in our past lives."
The group split up. Ami, Minako, and Kun followed Artemis, hoping to catch up with him, to the library while Neph and Luna went to find Makoto.
xXx
Neph and Luna were walking, but they weren't sure when exactly Makoto left the group. He was even more confused as to why Kun, who was the most observant person he has had the pleasure of knowing, hadn't seen her separate from the group. He pondered on that while he went looking for Makoto.
"Any idea where she might have gone?" Neph asked Luna. "You know where she might have gone when people lived on the Moon nearly a millennium ago." He looked down at the black cat.
Luna paused and thought for a moment. "The armory," she said.
Neph smirked. "That makes sense," he said. "She does like to fight." Though, he had some other memories about the different armory when the Golden Kingdom was a thing on Earth. He was fighting the smile that wanted to come. "Where is that?"
Luna didn't say anything, but she did permit herself to make one tiny little huff. "This way," she said.
Neph considered it progress that she didn't complain and followed her. He kind of knew his way around, but he was always with Sailor Jupiter when he was in the palace. He did wonder if any more of his memories would unlock.
xXx
Makoto didn't know why she had decided to veer off from the others. It was as if something had compelled her to go this direction. It was as if someone was telling her she needed to go this way. She had followed it, and she would find out what it wanted from her.
Makoto came to a balcony, and when she looked up, she saw Earth, and she now understood why Princess Serenity had looked up at it so many times and gave her such calmness. The people she now loved lived on that planet
Makoto looked in both directions on the balcony. She remembered this balcony quite well from her past life. It was one of many Sailor Jupiter and Nephrite's rendezvous spots. She smiled and closed her eyes as she remembered all the times she had been with him.
When she opened them again, Makoto was in her Sailor Guardian uniform as Sailor Jupiter, and she was in front of Nephrite who was holding a lance. She knew, even in her current life, it wasn't his typical weapon of choice; he would always pick the sword, even if it was skill both Prince Endymion and Kunzite were better at than him.
"I'm going to kill you," Nephrite promised her. "You would be a fine addition to the deaths for the Dark Kingdom."
"This isn't you, Nephrite," Sailor Jupiter couldn't help but say. "You are not like this. You're a knight. The Knight of Intelligence of Comfort. One of Prince Endymion's Shitennou Knights."
"How do you know this isn't me?" Nephrite said, disgusted at her character analysis.
"I've known you for months, Nephrite," Sailor Jupiter answered, "almost a year now. You wouldn't betray Prince Endymion or Princess Serenity or me." She was scared and tears were falling from her eyes.
"You're wrong on all accounts," Nephrite said, disagreeing, "and I'll show you why." He took his lance and stabbed her in the abdomen without a second thought.
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" Sailor Jupiter screamed.
xXx
"Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo!"
From their position inside of the Moon Kingdom, both Neph and Luna heard the scream. "Did you hear that?" Luna asked. "Do you think it was Mako?"
Neph heard it as well, and he knew, like Luna believed, in his heart, it was Makoto. He didn't answer nor did he wait for Luna; he just booked it toward where he heard the scream. As he ran, he realized this wasn't the first time he had been through this pathway; he remembered the hallway leading toward the balcony where Nephrite and Sailor Jupiter would have their rendezvous.
Neph found Makoto passed out on the balcony on the ground where they had several of their rendezvous. "Oh, my God, Mako," he said. He ran over to and knelt down in front of her checking her vitals as if it were second nature.
"Neph, is she okay?" Luna asked him, when she finally caught up to him. If she had doubted Neph's love for Makoto, Luna didn't anymore just by the way how fast he got to her and by the way he was holding her.
"Yes," Neph said with a sigh of relief after checking her vitals. "She's breathing, but I don't think she's one hundred percent." He shook Makoto gently trying to wake her. "Come on, Beautiful, wake up."
When she started to wake, Neph sighed with relief and brought Makoto into his arms. "Neph?" she said, confused.
"There you are," Neph said, with a sigh of relief. Her eyes were still clouded, and it worried him a little knowing he was going to keep a very close eye on her. He held her close to him, more for him than for her. "You scared me. What happened?" He could still feel her heart pounding and wondered what had frightened her so much, but he knew, eventually, she was going to be alright. "Mako, I'm right here, and I'm not leaving you. Not again. Not ever." He kissed the side of her temple.
Makoto looked up at Neph. "Neph, can I sit up?" she asked him.
"Yeah," Neph said and gently sat her down on the ground then sat down next to her. He knew he was going to deny her anything for a little while longer. "What happened?"
"Something pulled me over here," Makoto said, certain that was how she had gotten separated from him and their friends. She brought her legs to her chest to hug them close and laid her head against Neph's always ready to use shoulder, knowing he wouldn't push her away or deny her the comfort she desperately needed.
"I have some memories of Nephrite and Sailor Jupiter making out here in this spot," Neph said, remembering all the times they got hot and heavy.
"I remember as well," Makoto said with her voice starting to crack.
"Mako, what's going on?" Luna asked, walking over to her opposite side of her, hearing the crack in her voice. "We want all of it even if it's only to unload."
"Something pulled me over here; I know it because I remembered Nephrite killing Jupiter," Makoto said as tears started to fall from her eyes. "She felt betrayed because he betrayed Prince Endymion, Princess Serenity, and…" She couldn't finish.
"And Sailor Jupiter," Neph said. The memory unlocked for him as well. "Nephrite stabbed Sailor Jupiter with his lance." It gave him a stab to his heart he could do such a thing to someone he had claimed to love. "That's not going to happen. Not again."
"How do you know?" Makoto asked.
"Because Makoto, despite everything, or perhaps in spite of everything, I love you," Neph said, deliberately using her full given name. "I'm not going miss telling you again."
Makoto took a breath knowing Neph said her full given name because he wanted to prove to her she was important to him. She closed her eyes, trying to steady herself and borrowing some of his strength to do so. "I know," she told him. "I love you, too."
Neph smiled. "Are we going to be okay?" he asked her.
Makoto's breath hitched. "Yes," she told him. Then she started getting angry. "But I would like to know what brought me over here to give me that memory in the first place."
"You and me both, Mako," Neph said as he stood up and then offered her his hands to help her up.
"Thank you," Makoto said after she accepted his assistance in helping her stand.
For an extra moment for both of them, Neph brought her into his arms.
"I'm going to be alright," Makoto promised him, knowing exactly why he had brought her into his arms, but she indulged him anyway.
"Maybe I needed it," Neph reminded her and then kissed her temple before releasing her.
Luna looked around. She could feel something, and this something felt very familiar. However, she couldn't explain why.
"Come on," Neph said. "Let's get back to the others." He looked over at Luna. "Do you know the way to the library from here, Luna?"
Luna didn't look at him, but she did answer him. "Yes, Neph, I remember the way," she said.
"Luna, are you okay?" Makoto asked when she realized her feline friend was only paying half attention to them.
Luna turned Makoto and Neph. "I'm fine," she said, "but I sense another presence than just the three of us, Minako, Ami, Kun, and Artemis."
"I've felt it too," Neph said, knowing it has to do with his ability to take over people which is why he could feel the presence. "I wonder if it's the same presence that lured Mako over here."
Makoto looked up at Neph. "You think that's a possibility?" she asked him.
Neph looked down at her. "May I remind you that we're dealing with monsters and magic?" he reminded her. "Anything is a possibility."
"I don't think it's either," Luna said, disagreeing, "but we should get to the others." She looked back up at her human friends. "It's this way."
xXx
Ami, Minako, and Kun followed Artemis. When they finally caught up to Artemis, Minako had asked him, "Are you okay, Artemis?"
Artemis stopped and turned to look at Minako. "You don't think I was too hard on her?" he asked, aware Luna had gone with Neph to find Makoto. He was perhaps a little worried about their reaction.
"No, I'm impressed," Minako said.
"Minako," Ami said with a sigh. "Artemis, it was a bit too hard, but it did get her to be a bit more open."
Artemis looked at Kun. "And what is your opinion?" he asked, wondering what the male opinion is.
Kun's opinion landed between Minako and Ami's opinion, but he refused to voice his opinion and side with either of them. "Wise enough to keep my opinion to myself," Kun said, after looking at each of the girls. "In any case, I appreciate you saying something, Artemis, because it came best from you."
"I disagree," Artemis said. "Usagi would've said something if it had gotten worse, especially if it was directed at Mamoru."
"Even as Princess Serenity, she's always been loyal," Minako pointed out.
"The library is close, isn't it, Artemis?" Ami asked him. She thought it was interesting she remembers parts of the Moon Kingdom and remembered mostly how to get to certain rooms.
"That's correct," Artemis replied and they continued forward.
As they started walking, Kun, who had placed himself intentionally behind everyone because Makoto had disappeared that way, was compelled not to go that direction of where his friends and the love of his life were going. Kun walked a different path.
xXx
It took a little bit of time for Makoto, Neph, and Luna to catch back with the team. "Where's Kun?" Neph asked.
"He's not here?" Minako asked and sighed, knowing why he had separated from them. "His chivalry gets him into trouble more times than I care to count."
"I wonder if it's the same force that compelled me to go the direction I went," Makoto said, wondering. She mused at the thought.
"I wonder what this is about," Luna said. "If this presence is doing this intentionally…"
"Presence, Luna?" Artemis asked, musing at her choice of words.
Luna gave him a look. "Are you still mad at me?" she asked him.
"Yes," Artemis said, "but I'm also saving you from Usagi's wrath."
Luna rolled her eyes. "I hate when you're right," she said, in a way of an apology. "It's always just been the girls, you, and me. When we found out the men were the Sailor Guardians' true loves, I found it unacceptable." Luna hung her head. "It felt like the Sailor Guardians did not do their jobs, and from what I see in this life, I feel like that is not the case." She looked over at Neph. "You and Kun care. Not just for Mamoru or Usagi, but you care about all of us."
"Apology accepted," Neph said. "Though, I should warn you that this presence had drawn Makoto to where Jupiter had been murdered."
"Murdered!?" Ami and Minako exclaimed at the same time.
"That was not really how I wanted to do that, Neph," Makoto said, giving him the side-eye look with a sigh. "By Nephrite." Then she noticed Luna and Artemis's reaction. "What are you not telling us?"
"Luna, we need to tell them," Artemis said. "I know what we said before, but we can't keep this a secret anymore."
"Fine," Luna said with a huff. "Each of the Generals had killed a Sailor Guardian."
Artemis looked over at Minako. "Do you understand what she is saying?" he asked her.
Minako teared up and started to fall when she realized. "Kunzite killed Venus," she said.
"Zoisite killed Mercury," Ami said as teared up as well, but she was able to not allow them to fall.
"And Jadeite killed Mars," Artemis said.
"But Prince Endymion didn't kill Princess Serenity," Neph mused. "Because they were aware of their love for each other, he was rewarded in this life." He rubbed his hands down Makoto's back.
"If anyone was," Neph said, "I'm glad it was him. Like Usagi is to you three, Kun and I have found we view Mamoru the same way."
"Where do I even find Kun?" Minako asked.
Artemis walked over to his partner. "Do you remember where Venus had died in that life?" he asked her.
Minako stopped completely as the simple question unlocked her own murder. "Yes," she said as the tears continued to fall.
Artemis walked over to her and rubbed against her legs. "Come on," he told her. "I'll go with you, Minako."
"Artemis…"
"Minako, he's going to need you," Artemis informed. "He's going to need you to keep it together."
Minako used her long sleeves to dry her eyes. "Okay," she said and then turned to Ami and Luna. "You got this?"
"I know where to go," Luna promised her. "You go find Kun." Luna rubbed against her other leg. "It'll be alright."
"Thanks, you two," Minako said. "Come on, Artemis. I'm ready."
As Minako and Artemis walked away, Ami, Makoto, Neph, and Luna watched, and when they had left their field of vision, Luna asked, "Do you think she's going to be okay?"
"Once, when she has him back, she'll be alright," Ami said. "It's him I'm going to be worried about."
"Why is that?" Luna asked.
"I know why," Ami said. "Usagi, Minako, and Neph may have fallen in love first, but Mamoru, Makoto and Kun fell in love harder." When she realized what she said out loud, she turned to Makoto and Neph. "I'm sorry."
"That's a fair assessment," Neph said.
"Hey!" Makoto said.
Neph smiled and grabbed to hug her close and even continued to hold her as she tried and failed to pull out of his arms. Though, if truth be told, she didn't try very hard. "It is," he said. "You, Mamoru, and Kun are very protective over your significant other, and you know what, Mako?"
"What?" Makoto asked, giving him the beady eye look when she looked up at him.
"It's one of my favorite things about you," Neph confessed. He turned her around, and because he couldn't resist, he did the tango dip and kissed her.
Makoto huffed more for show than out of anger. "You drive me crazy," she told Neph when he had righted her.
Neph gave her a quick smile. "I know," he said, "and I wouldn't want you any other way."
"I don't mean to interrupt your romantic interlude," Luna said, interrupting their banter, "but we have something we need to be doing."
"This wasn't a romantic interlude," Makoto argued. "Far from it."
"Could've fooled me," Ami muttered. It reminded her of the way Sailor Jupiter was with Nephrite in their past lives. She liked Ryo just fine, but it made her remember and miss Zoisite. It left her feeling confused, and she didn't know what she wanted. She knew eventually she would have to decide on her feelings. She did wonder if finding the information about Metalia was her excuse not to think about Ryo or Zoisite.
"What was that?" Makoto asked as she turned to look at Ami confronting her. She knew exactly what her friend had said.
"Mako!" Luna said. "Let's go."
Makoto huffed. "I'm coming," she said.
