"Heart Stands Still"
Here it is, the second to last chapter!:::
Past
"Every second I spend with him is not enough!" Princess Serena said. "What am I to do? I must see him again! Rei, you must help me. I shall be miserable if you don't!."
"Are you CRAZY." Princess Rei yelled, before she could stop herself. "Weren't you listening when I told you there is a WAR on Earth?!"
"Don't you want to see Jaedite,your fiancŽ then? We could both go... War or no War!"
"I do want to see him, but I won't...I'll wait." Rei said. "Besides, your situation is different. Once was enough, but it can't continue."
" Oh yeah? Why can't I be with my Endymion?" The Moon Princess retorted, folding her arms across her chest.
"Because Moon brain, He's engaged...and not to you. He's from Earth. His Fiance's kingdom is under attack! That alone is enough of a problem." Rei disrespectfully shot back. Princess Lita frowned, stepping forward. "Rei, let up. But she's right Serena. Earth means trouble right now."
"Oh! What about Neflite, don't you want to see him? You've got to help!?"She pouted..."If you won't help me-- I'll go by myself!"
"DON"T YOU DARE!" Rei stormed "IF you do, you'll prove yourself more of an idiot than I thought!" Her mind filled with visions of Serena being killed by ignorant earth peasants, while Rei and the others serached frantically for her.
"But I love him!" Serena said. "You're my friends, how can you not support me? Have you no faith in love?" She began to wail loudly. "I want to see my Endymion!"
"I've given you the advice that duty and honor demand... but as the Princess you can choose to follow it or not.. ." Rei said. Her voice softened. "I don't want you to be miserable, Princess....don't make everyone miserable as well."
Serena's eyes grew large, her voice grew quiet. "Rei, my mother has said she will put up a magical shield tonight.....if I do not see him tonight it'll be too late..."
Rei frowned... "What do you mean?"
"Even if she does, I'm sure this time it is a temporary, precautionary measure... She'll take the shield down eventually.." Ami interjected, over her book. She wasn't really following the conversation--but the bit about the shield caught her attention. "She won't return to the former Shielded policy, I'm sure. "
Lita nodded. "Sure Serena...you just need to be patient."
Mina swept in hurridly. "Artemis just said that Earth Generals Malachite and Zoicite transported here unexpectedly..." She exclaimed... "Does anyone want to go greet them?"
Lita's face fell, "Are you sure it was just those *two*?"
Ami's eyes glazed a bit, as her book fell to the ground unnoticed.
Tears welled up in Serena's eyes. "I...don't know.. I just have this feeling...it has to be tonight...Rei, you know why." She pleaded
Rei frowned. How had Serena known of the dreams and dark visions she'd seen the last few nights? She hadn't told anyone.
"I can't stand your whining anymore moon-brain. So I can get some peace I'll help you. If the Shield is to go up, Queen Serenity will have to allow me to transport to see Jaedite-you can go when I do. My spell will cover yours."
Rei didn't even blink before she felt herself swamped by two bouncing blonde pigtails, and all of Serena's joy. "OHhhHH THANnnnnnnnKKKKKKK YOU!!!!" Serena said.
Serena and Rei shook their heads.
"We need to go work on something." They said dissappearing.
A few hours later, a white and red light blurred and formed the figures of Serena and Rei. "Now, hurry Serena...you can't be late this time." Rei warned her. "I'll leave in half an hour--with or without you." She really didn't mean it-- but that was when the shield went up so she knew she needed to make a credible threat.
Serena nodded. "I'll be here."
"Good." Rei turned and dissappeared into the gardens of Endymion's palace. She smiled, thinking of all the stealthy meetings over the last few weeks where she and Jaedite had played "chaperone" to Serena and Endymion.
Tonight though, she wanted her privacy... He stood, waiting for her by the Cherry Blossom Trees as always. She ran to him, and he enfolded her in his arms.
"My love." He whispered. "I was surprised when Malachite gave me your note today....why did you risk coming if the shield is to rise tonight?"
" Queen Serenity has officially declared the Moon Kingdom's neutrality ...Jaedite,if the scourge attacking the Mineral Kingdom and the borderlands moves to your kingdom..."
Jed laughed. "That won't happen..."
She was somber. "It may..." Her color faded... "I've seen it in the fire's winds."
He nodded..."Neflite seems worried as well. I should have known. This war...it came up so suddenly...." He cursed low..slaming his fist into his hand. He turned to look at her again. She smiled bravely up at him. "Queen Serenity may be overcautious, but I'll rest easier if you are safe behind shields. I suppose it is good she refused to help." He said. "Though I admit I was angry at first, as were the other Generals. Queen Serenity is not in favor here on earth, at the moment."
"I didn't realize...is that why Malachite and Zoicite came to see her?"
"Yes...she refused to hear them out. She simply said the Moon would not intercede in the war on Beryl's behalf or on Ours... A Gracious refusal, but refusal all the same." He sighed....fingering her face..."But Rei, my love, promise me that no matter how long we are separated, that you'll wait for me?"
She kissed him..."Jaedite I don't think I could love anyone but you! Our souls are bonded now...even if we can't wed until after this war. But..." She pulled something out of her cloak "Take this..."
He stared at wonder at the small silvery scroll. "What is this?"
"Jaedite--show that to no one. Not even Enydmion. I...haven't told anyone about it--but with this you can bypass the shields of the Moon Kingdom and transport in...but use it only if you are in mortal danger!! If Queen Serenity knew..." Her eyes were large.
He tucked it behind his Jacket, next to his heart "Don't worry--I'll keep it safe..."
"Let it keep *you* safe....I must leave now..." She said sadly, as she grabbed his hand and held it next to her heart. She then pressed it to her cheek and he pulled her in to kiss her.
"Hey, don't cry...it's not forever." He said...as he tasted the tears trailing down her cheeks, stealing into their kiss. "This little war will blow over-and I'll be back up on the Moon with you, dancing in the Grand Hall at our Wedding. You'll see..."
She nodded yes, smiled weakly. "Promise me...you'll pray to the winds of fire, so I can feel you in it?"
He nodded.
He stared at the spot where the red glow faded long after she'd transported back to the moon.
They arrived back at the temple to find the police swarming around. Chad was slumped over in a corner, and Grandpa was about to start yelling at the cops for disturbing sacred rituals. Rei quickly moved to intercede and prevent him from getting arrested.
Lita looked about, unsure what to do, when she felt her elbow tapped. She turned, her eyes meeting those of Wolf Malder. He smiled, and she flushed. He was exactly her height, so their faces were very close.
"Why'd you run off before, Miss Kino?" He asked.
"We went to find Jed....but, we didn't catch him."
"Ahh...spoke with him already...interesting man... Doesn't seem to know much about himself."
"He was in an accident awhile ago..." Lita said. "Rei took him in out of...kindness."
"Is that what they call it in Japan?"Malder said, looking over at Rei and Jed. Rei was obviously furious, but too much to even say anything. Jed kept apologizing, and even handed her one of the roses that had fallen on the ground. That amused her even less.
"What do you mean?" Lita said.
"Look, Miss Kino, your friend doesn't seem to feel like talking, but there have been some mighty strange events around here...Again, your friend is attacked by two career criminals, and though one got away, she took down the other."
"Are you saying women can't defend themselves?" Lita countered "Would you like me to try me?" She challenged.
"Some other time" He said quickly. "Fine. If you feel like....talking, here's my card." He handed her the same type of card he'd handed Rei.
"Chief" One of the officers called. "Headquarters just got a tip that paid off-they found the other guy that was partner's with this one--and get this! The sailor girls tied him up like a present for us!"
The Chief swore, as he took the phone. He spoke quietly for a few minutes, and then came to speak to Chad.
"Mr. Yuchiro, I'm very sorry..but we have no leads yet on Miss Tamaguchi...it makes sense that these attacks on you and Miss Hino are connected to the kidnapping, but then again, . these guys refuse to talk.... Someone may be threatening them into silence. Can you think of anyone at all that would do this?"
"No...I can't...there's been no note?" He asked.
"Mr. Tamaguchi says just the one--that his daughter will have a funeral ceremony instead of a wedding if he does not deliver the 10 million Brittish Pounds..."
"We don't have that kind of money...not without selling the companies! And even then!"Chad threw his hands up. "What are we going to do!"
The chief frowned. "I need to go back to the station now. Maybe something will turn up. Malder, " he said addressing the man. "You may be some hot shot back home, but that's the last time you demand we come see something...this was a waste of time."
Malder swore... "Miss Hino has been the center of two strange attacks--supposedly overcoming some very dangerous thugs.. And the way those two girls ran off... I'm telling you, Sir. There's something strange going on here at this shrine."
"Yeah, you going on about your theories is strange. I've had it. All we have is an attack--maybe connected with the kidnapping. That second girl looks rather ...er, tough, and I'm sure Miss Hino's black belt in Karate would certainly explain her defensive capabilites. Nothing odd at all...Stay out of my way Malder." The Chief dismissed the man. "We have real work to do here." The Chief left, while Malder stared pensively after him.
Rei approached him. "I think you should leave now. We have things to do."
As he was walking away, Lita swore and looked at Rei "Come on, he was *cute* you didnt need to send him away like that!"
"Why don't you follow him then!" Rei said, not too nicely.
"All right then, I will...don't have to meet Joe until six!" She laughed and hurried down the steps to catch up to the dissapearing figure.
"Watch what you say Lita!" Rei screamed out.
She turned towards Chad. "A Sailor Scout handed this to Jed...any idea where 53 Grain-- something street is? Should be a wharehouse.... SailorMars told me the thugs were to take Sora there."
Chad shook his head. He fingered the ripped sheet of paper. "I can't believe the scouts would help with something like this...but its the first good thing I've heard all day."
"Chad, I could try reading the fire if you want."
"You've already done so much Rei...thanks." He said kindly. Rei wondered not for the first time, if he knew she was Sailor Mars...Maybe he did...but, she smiled to herself...Maybe he maintaied Ôplausible deniability on purpose.' She thought. Or maybe he really was that dense. "I feel like I haven't done enough." She said.
"I better go check with Mr. Tamaguchi...and if there's word, he'll have it. I felt better being here for awhile...this place always is peaceful."
"You should always feel free to come here--you and Sora both." She said brightly. "You'll get her back, you'll see."
Chad smiled weakly, and left. "Well, if they got her, at least they won't attack you anymore."
Rei narrowed her eyes and thought to herself-- not unless I attack them first!
Jed fingered the scroll that had been inside of his jacket, which had been inside the motorbike's back seat when it had been stolen. He hadn't been able to tell Rei of its existence...it was the one posession he had that linked him to his former life. He hadn't noticed it before, but the other day, when he'd felt those weird powers, he'd suddenly found the scroll. And then he'd remembered....it had been instinctual to him not to lose the small object...Cradling the scroll, he tucked it inside his shirt, resolving not to put it somehwere secure this time. He still hadn't unraveled it...something stopped him everytime he started to untie the knot.
His memories were almost within his reach. The longer he held the scroll, the more the layers of fog slipped away. Underneath one of the lamps, and bathed in the fuzzy moonlight, he could make out some words...what were they? His frustration made his breath spill out sharply. And then suddenly, he was not himself. A rush of memories swirled about his head, and he felt himself fading....into another world.
He knew without knowing how, that he was on the moon but there was no kingdom--it was a devastated ghost world, now. Not the grand palace he remembered.
"General Jaedite, I wish your return to the Moon Kingdom could be under better circumstances." The voice came from a small ball of light--it was Queen Serenity. He knelt.
"I do not deserve to be here--I caused this."
"Beryl caused it. Do not take that blame on your shoulders. There is too much misery there already." The queen said gently.
"I did not protect Endymion--I betrayed your faith in me!" He said.
"If you are here now, then you did not betray the Moon Kingdom." She smiled. "You had the power to give Beryl entry to our world--but you refused."
"I didn't stop her--I fought with her!"
"With your body...but not your soul. She never had that...or else your love for Rei would never invoke the spell that brings you to me now." Queen Serenity shimmered briefly. "I once gave Rei permission to love you...I do so again."
"Why? She must hate me." He said.
"Just as my daughter and Endymion are bound for eternity, so are you and Rei. You complete her. Go to her." The Queen shimmered again, and a moonbeam enveloped him. He found himself back at the shrine. In his palm lay a ring...carved of gold, adorned with moonstones and rubies in an infinity sign.... He had given this once to Rei...His wondernment at the newfound knowledge was short lived...a sudden sense of panic enveloped him. Rei was in trouble.