Whoops forgot to put this in up here before. The usual disclaimer apply. If you really want to
read them they can be found in my prolouge/read me. The song "How's It Going To Be" is
copyrighted (c) 1997 to Third Eye Blind, who BTW happens to be the best kick ass rock group
in the world! This story, Courage Under Fire and the character Star Knight, are copyrighted (c)
to me, MCRK.
****************************************
Courage Under Fire Part 4~Secrets Unveiled
By MCRK
****************************************
Chapter Ten
"Whoa, sounds serious," Lita said. "It is." Jed replied. "It also happens to be on a subject
that a few people don't like to discuss, my betrayal to the moon kingdom." The room fell silent as
every one tried to avoid looking at Rei. Either they didn't try hard enough, or something forced
them too, but either way everyone ended up glancing over at Rei. When she heard the words,
"…betrayal to the Moon Kingdom," she immediately stiffened. She sat there trying to hide all the
emotion from her face. She failed. Miserably. Anyone that looked over at Rei would notice that
her eyes were widened with fear. 'Why is she afraid?" Lita though as she quickly glanced away.
'You would think that if anything she would be angry, but afraid? Rei? Never.' Serena cleared
her throat and everyone snapped back to reality. Taking as her duty as leader, Serena was the
first to speak. "Go ahead Jeadite." She said. He took a deep breath. "Ok here goes. I know that
all of you believe that back in the silver millenium, myself and the other three generals were
kidnapped by Beryl, and brainwashed to fight against the Moon Kingdom right?" Everyone
nodded. "That's not exactly the way it happened. At least not in my case." He said carefully. "So
what did happen?" Lita asked narrowing her eyes and preparing herself to attack. Rei leaned
against the wall and closed her eyes, waiting for the blame to come. "Ok see the thing is, none of
us were forced to go." Jeadite said slowly. Rei's eyes snapped open. "So you did choose to go."
Rei hissed softly. Jeadite nodded his head slowly. "How could you do that?" Rei asked
incredulously. "How could you turn your backs on us, on Endymion?" She continued. "I know
what you guys are thinking." Jeadite said glancing around the room. Ami looked confused, Lita
looked angry, Mina looked shocked, and Serena and Darien had looks of disbelief on their
faces. But the worst one was Rei. When he looked over he saw a face filled with pain and
anguish. That he had caused. "I know you guys think that for some reason I decided to go over
to join Beryl just because we wanted to be evil. But that is not what happened. There was a
person that was threatened. Someone I was very close to. Beryl was going to kill her if I didn't
go. I couldn't take that chance." Jeadite explained. Everyone looked at him with confusion on his
or her faces. "Ok let me see if I can explain this."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Silver
Millenium~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Jeadite." A voice called. Jeadite looked around his room to see no one. "Who's there?" He
called. "Show yourself." As he watched a woman slowly came out of the shadows. She had long
hair wild and untamed like a fire. Her eyes burned of the brightest green. She almost passed as
being beautiful. Except for the horrid look in her eyes. A look of pure evil. "You have a lot of
nerve showing your face around here." He spat out. "You're the bitch that took Zoisite." "Zoisite
came all by himself. I did not take him." She said calmly. "Oh and for your information, the name
is Beryl. Queen Beryl." "Do I really care what you name is?" "You will when you are serving me
and obeying my commands." "I would never serve you. I serve Endymion and I plan on
continuing to do so." Jeadite said. "I don't know what you did to Zoisite to make him change his
mind either." "It was quite simple. He was bored with this life. I promised him everything he
could ever want. The dark kingdom will supply you with food, shelter, a family, a job, women,
and protection. I promise you everything you want when you join our forces." Beryl said
promisingly. "No thanks." Jeadite sneered. "I have plenty right here. I have friends, family, a duty,
food, protection, and shelter, everything I could ever need. And I am happy here. So I'll be
seeing you bye." He called. "What about someone to love?" She asked him. "You are talking to
the wrong person about love." Jeadite said with a laugh. "I don't want it, need it, or care for it."
"Oh really?" Beryl asked, almost amused by his speech. "What about her?" She waved her hand
and a holographic image of someone appeared. Jeadite stared at it for a moment before
answering. "I don't love her." He said through gritted teeth. "Really? You could have fooled me."
Beryl said. "So I guess you wouldn't mind if something happened to her right?" Another image
quickly came into place. The woman that had been smiling so innocently, an only moment before,
was now fighting Jeadite and the scouts, and was serving Beryl! "Didn't like that one? Try
another." Beryl said laughing at Jeadite's change of opinion. Once again the image was replaced
with one even worse then the first. This one showed the woman being tortured by Beryl. "You
are not scaring me with these images." Jeadite said. "I know none of this is going to happen. She
would never serve you." "Of course not." Beryl said. "She is too loyal to her loved ones. That is
why I would have to force her to. That is if you turn down my offer." She said with an evil grin
appearing on her face. Jeadite narrowed his eyes at her. "You wouldn't get away with it." He
said trying to figure out if she would really do it. "People would figure out where she is." "Oh but
I will get away with it. Because you and her would be the only ones that know. And she can't tell
anyone can she?" "So what makes you think I will keep quiet?" Jeadite asked. "Oh did I forget
that part?" Beryl asked innocently. "If you tell anyone about this, whether you decide to come, or
if she comes, she will die in a very slow torturous way in which you will be forced to watch."
Jeadite shuddered at the thought of that. "So who is it going to be, you or her?" Beryl asked.
"This is not a fair trade." He said. "Either way she gets hurt. Either she is going to believe I have
betrayed her, or she is going to die." "Yeah well what can I say? Life's not fair." Beryl said
shrugging her shoulders. Jeadite uttered a sigh of defeat. "If I join you." He said slowly. "Will you
promise that she is not going to be hurt?" "Well I am not going to her hurt." She said. "That is not
what I asked." Jeadite said. "Look there is no guarantee that she will be safe. I mean there is
going to be a war against the Moon Kingdom you know. But I can promise you that I have no
plans of singling her out and killing her or hurting her." Beryl said. "I am giving you two days to
decide what to do. Remember tell anyone and she dies." Beryl said pointing to the image as it
disappeared. "Two days." Her voice echoed as she vanished.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Present~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So you gave up your freedom to save someone close to you?" Serena asked wide-eyed.
Jeadite nodded his head. "As you can probably guess I chose to join Beryl. I felt terrible
betraying you guys but I had to save her. I loved her." He said quietly. "But I really don't want to
get into who it was. That is going to cause more problems then it is worth." He said hastily. All
the scouts exchanged knowing glances with each other. "So, do you guys still want me to be a
part of the team?" He asked. After making eye contact with the other scouts Serena spoke up.
"We would be honored to have you fight on our team. You are a skilled warrior and a loyal
person. Welcome to the team Jeadite." Jeadite winced at the name. "Do me a favor guys ok?
Just call me Jed ok? Jeadite kinda brings back some unwanted memories." He said smiling.
"Sure thing Jed." Mina said smiling back. "Well, now that that is done, if you guys will excuse me
I have things to do." Rei said curtly. She stood up and walked off to her room. "Oh man,"
Serena said. "She is really pissed off." "Well shouldn't someone go after her?" Jed asked. "Rei is
not a very calm person." Ami said. "She gets angry a lot." Serena added. "And when she does, it
is better just to let her go off by herself and do whatever till she calms down." "Fine." Jed said. "I
am going to go talk to her." "uh Jed," Darien said. "No offense but I do not think that it will help if
you go talk to her." "Look, she already hates me, so what harm could it do?" Jed stood up and
started to leave the room. "Oh yeah, you guys are welcome to stay as long as you like." "Thanks
but I think we will be leaving now." Lita said. "Don't want to be around during this." She said
under her breath. "Bye!" Everyone called. Jed went to his room and got a package. On the top it
simply said Happy Birthday Rei, Love Jed. The scouts had told him that Rei's birthday was in a
few days so he figured he should get her a gift. He picked it up and went off to talk to Rei.
Chapter Eleven
Rei was sitting in her room fuming. 'How could they forgive him just like that?' she thought.
'He just admitted to choosing to fight on Beryl's side!' Rei heard a knock at her door. Jed poked
his head in and asked, "Can I come in?" "I guess." Rei said. "I have to talk to you about
something." He said. "So talk." "I know that you are really mad at me, but now you understand
why I chose to fight for Beryl." "What difference does it make why?" Rei asked. "You fought for
her. You became evil for over one thousand years. Does it even make a difference why? No one
ever…" "It was you." Jed said quietly, interrupting her. Rei stopped talking and stared at him.
"What are you talking about?" She asked. "I was what?" "You were the reason that I chose to
fight for Beryl." He said. "So now you are going to blame it on me?" Rei asked angrily. "No, no
let me explain. I did it to save you from having to fight for Beryl." "You mean I was the person?"
Rei asked with fear in her voice. "Oh so you finally decided to listen to something I say." Jed
said. 'Please don't joke about this, just tell me the truth. Was it my fault?" Rei asked. 'Yes you
were the person." Jed said. "But that doesn't mean it was your fault." He added quickly. "I can't
believe that you would do that, just because Beryl threatened to take me." Rei said looking at
him. "Are you kidding?" Jed asked. "Of course I would. I would do it now too." He said quietly.
"But I still don't know why she chose me to threaten. I mean what was so great about me?" Rei
asked. "First off you were the Princess of Mars, and second, you only happened to be the most
important person in the world to me. Which Beryl knew somehow. That is why she chose you.
She knew if my choice was me or you, she had a new recruit for her side. The only way I could
stop her was by agreeing to fight for her. She knew that I would do anything to save you. She
knew that nothing meant more to me then you did. That is why I agreed to fight for Beryl. After I
did that, I was brainwashed, which is why I was never able to come back. She was afraid I
would turn on her in battle, so she programmed me to hate the scouts, especially you. I know it
hurt, it hurt me too, but I would rather have faced death then let harm meet you. I loved you and
I still do." "I can understand why you did that and why you told me," Rei said slowly. "And I am
glad you did, and I thank you, and I am sorry for all the trouble I have caused you," She took a
deep breath and finished. "But I still can't forgive you." "Why not?" Jed asked getting annoyed. "I
know that you hated me because you thought I betrayed for no reason, but now you know I did
it for you. And I know you were angry because I never told you how I really felt back in the
Silver Millenium,. That I never told you I loved you, but I am telling you now. What excuse can
you come up with this time?" Jed yelled. "I have my reasons." Rei said quietly. Jed sighed in
frustration. "Rei talk to me! Tell me what is wrong. We ruined what could have been a great
relationship 1,000 years ago because we were both too stubborn to admit our feelings. Don't
push me out again! We have a chance to fix what should have been, please just explain to me
what the hell is wrong!" Jed yelled. "I'm scared ok?" Rei yelled back. "You wanted to know and
now you do are you happy?" "No." Jed answered truthfully. "I can't be happy when you are this
upset. What are you afraid of?" "Of forgiving you." Rei said choking back tears. "I know that if I
forgive you, and we become friends, I will fall in love with you again and I can't do that." Jed
understood what was wrong. "But this time you already know I love you, and I will never hurt
you, so this time, we can be together." "That's what you'd like to believe isn't? But what happens
if another enemy comes along. And he blackmails you into turning evil again." Rei said. "I can't
risk going through all that pain again. I don't want to love you anymore. It hurts too much to try.
Especially if nothing is going to come of it." She said, now allowing her tears to flow freely. "But
it doesn't have to hurt." Jed said. "This time is different." "You don't understand!" Rei said. "I
went through an incredible amount of pain when you left. I kinda guessed it was my fault and
seeing as you gave no explanation, I was hurt. I wouldn't talk to anyone, and I couldn't get close
to anyone again." "I'm so sorry." Jed stammered. "I never realized it had such a horrible affect on
you." "Yeah well it did." Rei said bitterly. "And if you want to know the truth it still has an effect
on me." "What do you mean?" He asked. "I am the reincarnation of Princess Mars. She went
through a ton of pain. That pain never went away. Do you know what emotional problems I
have? You would not believe how hard it is for me to even say this. I don't know who or why I
even am. I don't tell people what I am feeling. Ever. Not even the scouts. Because I can't!" "Oh
god! Rei I am sorry. I can't believe…I mean I never knew." Jed said with horror creeping into
his voice. "Of course not. No one knows." "But look, Rei, this is different. I love you more then
anything. Back in the Silver millenium you used to love me to. If you are the reincarnation of
Princess Mars, and if you still feel all her pain, don't you think you would feel her love too?" Jed
asked. "I…" Rei couldn't finish the sentence. This time he was right. "I, I can't." Rei whispered.
"I'm sorry but my reasons are too strong." "Fine." Jed said. "If you really want to go the rest of
your life never forgiving me, who am I to stop you? I am just telling you know though that that is
it. I am not going to try and convince you anymore. I still love you, but apparently you do not feel
the same way. Before I go though I have something for you. Serena told me your birthday was
coming up so I figured I should get you a present." He tossed the package to her. "I guess you
can tell it's a CD. It is one of my favorite groups, I thought you might enjoy it." He turned and
walked towards the door. He stopped turned around and gave her one more piece of advice. "If
you ever open it, and listen to it, make sure you listen to number 6." He said, and walked away.
Rei looked down at the package that said, "Happy Birthday Rei, Love Jed." She unwrapped it
to find a CD of Third Eye Blind. 'Weird name for a group.' She thought. 'I guess I should put it in
and listen to number six.' She walked over to her CD player and set it up to play number six. 'I
wonder why he said this song?' The song came on and she listened intently trying to figure it out.
How's it Going to Be?
Third Eye Blind
I'm only pretty sure that I can't take anymore
Before you take a swing
I wonder what are we fighting for
When I say out loud
I want to get out of this
I wonder is there anything
I'm going to miss
I wonder how it's going to be
When you don't know me
How's it going to be
When you're sure I'm not there
How's it going to be
When there's no one there to talk to
Between you and me
Cause I don't care
How's it going to be
How's it going to be
Where we used to laugh
There's a shouting match
Sharp as a thumbnail scratch
A silence I can't ignore
Like the hammock by the
Doorway we spent time in swings empty
Don't see lightning like last fall
When it was always about to hit me
I wonder how's it going to be
When it goes down
How's it going to be
When you're not around
How's it going to be
When you found out there was nothing
Between you and me
Cause I don't care
How's it going to be
And how's it going to be
When you don't know me anymore
And how's it going to be
Want to get myself back in again
The soft dive of oblivion
I want to taste the salt of your skin
The soft dive of oblivion oblivion
How's it going to be
When you don't know me anymore
How's it going to be
How's it going to be
How's it going to be
By the end of the song Rei was crying. "Doesn't he get it?" Rei asked herself out loud. "I do love
him, but I am to afraid to let him know that. Besides, it's my fault that he switched sides and I
know everyone blames me. It doesn't matter what he said, I know I was responsible. He even
admitted that I was the cause of it. I don't deserve his love." She said softly. 'She thinks it is her
fault?!' Jed, who had been outside her door listening, thought shocked. "Oh, crap! I have to
explain to her that no one blames her.' His thoughts went back to her last comments. "I don't
deserve his love." Were her exact words. 'How could she even think that?' Jed thought,
somewhat hurt. 'Doesn't she realize how special she is, and that she deserves some one better
than me? Don't worry Rei.' He thought. 'I am going to show you how special you are. I owe us
both at least that much.'
Chapter Twelve
A few days after Jed joined the scouts, he was walking around Tokyo. He was on his
way to Serena's house when someone ran into him. "Oh I am so sorry. I didn't mean..." Serena
started. "Serena. Calm down, it's me." Jed said. "Oh hi." Serena said panting. "I was just on my
way over. I need to ask you a favor." Jed said. "Ok first let's sit down." Serena suggested. The
tow found a benc to sit down on and Serena resumed the conversation. "I take it this is about
Rei?" She asked. He nodded his head. "Well I want the two of you to get together just as much
as you do, so I will do whatever I can to help." "Well, that's just the thing." Jed said. "I told Rei I
was going to stop bothering her about that." "What?!" Serena shrieked. "What made you do
that?" "Well remeber when everyone left and i went to talk toRei? I found out that she is still to
hurt by what happened to forgive me. Also she is afriad that if she does, it will happen all over
again." "Poor Rei!" Serena exclaimed. "Yeah.But I over heard her talking and she is in love with
me." "So what do you want me to do?" Serena asked. "Well she blames herself for what
happened. So I figured someone else could try telling her that it is not her fault. I have tried telling
her but she is determined not to believe me." "And you want me to do this?" Serena asked
laughing. "Rei can't stand me. She never listens to me. I tried explaining to her when you first
came back. There is no way she will listen to me." "Serena I am telling you that that is totally
untrue. No matter how Rei acts towards you, she cares for you deeply. Trust me!" He pleaded.
Serena looked at him curiously. "How do you know that?" She asked. "Rei will explain that to
you evnetually. Trust me. So will you please help?" He asked. "Look, I would like to but I'm
sorry there is nothing I can do." "Maybe you can't," Jed said with a gleam in his eyes, "But I bet
Princess Serenity can!" 'I can not believe Jed talked
me into this!' Serena thought as she headed for the temple. She thought back to their
conversation. "Princess Serenity?" Serena had asked. "What does she have to do with anything."
"Remember how I told everyone that beryl blackmailed me by using someone very close to me?"
"It was Rei wasn't it?" Serena asked, as everything suddenly clicked. "And then she blamed
herself and assumed all the scouts did to. And then when you told her that she was the reason
that you became a traitor, she must have thought you blamed her too right?" "Yeah," Jed said.
"And since this really all started in the Moon Kingdom, I thought maybe the moon princess, who
happened to be one of her best friends, could reassure her that no one blames now, and they
never did. You wouldn't know it just from looking at her but she does not have a lot of faith in
herself." Jed said. "I don't know." Serena said. "As much as I want to see you guys together, I
hate putting Rei through all this." Jed shook his head. "I am not doing this to get her back. I am
doing this just to regain her friendship and her trust. Partly because now we have to work
together when the scouts are needed. And also because I know what my life is like without her
and it is not one worth living. But I am not even doing this for that. Think of what kind of life Rei
will be living if she always thinks her friends blame her for a betrayal. I know her and she won't
be able to take that guilt. She will end up quitting the sailor scouts and throwing her life away. I
restarted this whole mess by going to talk to her, and I am going to fix it. But I can't do it alone.
You brought me back to make Rei happy. If we don't fix this she will never be happy. I need
your help. Please Serena? For Rei?"
'And the next thing I know, I am at the temple, going to talk to Rei.' Serena thought. Serena went
to knock on the door. 'Whoops, almost forgot the most important thing.' Serena thought. She
closed her eyes and concentrated. Soon in her place stood a beautiful woman in a white flowing
gown. Princess Serenity. She knocked on the door and waited for someone to answer. Jed
opened the door and noticed who it was. "Thanks Serena. Rei is in her room." Serena nodded
her head and went on in. Rei was sitting there reading mangas and did not even notice someone
had entered. "May I speak with you?" Rei looked up surprised to see princess Serenity. "Uh,
sure yeah." She said bowing her head. "You need not to bow." She said. "We are both friends."
"Uh, please sit down." Rei said clearing a space on the bed. "I need to talk to you about Jeadite."
Serenity said. Rei rolled her eyes. "Did he put you up to this? I told him that I can not forgive
him." "Do you mind if I ask you why not?" "Well partly because I am afraid of what will happen if
I do, and some how he becomes evil all over again. I don't want to go through all that pain
again." Rei said. "And the other reason is…" the Princess said. "Um…the other reason is,
because I know that it is my fault, and that everyone blames me, and therefore I don't deserve
his love." Rei said. 'How come Rei didn't tell any one about this?' Serena thought. "No wonder
she was so upset at seeing him again. It brought back all of her old memories.' "Rei listen to me."
Serenity said. "No one, not the scouts, not me, and not Jeadite, blame you for what happened. It
was not your fault in any way." "I guess that deep down I know that, but I can't help feel guilty
over it anyway." "That is perfectbly understandable." Serenity said. "You were the person closest
to him so therefore it is only natural you feel it is your fault. But trust me it's not. I know the story,
and I know why Jeadite had to switch sides, and if any one is to blame it is Beryl ok?" "I
understand, but I still can't forgive him. I have already fallen in love with him again and that is
painful enough." Rei said. "Let me tell you a story." Serenity said. "Once upon a time back on the
Moon Kingdom, there was a prince and a princess fell in love. The only problem was that they
were on different sides of the war that was going on. The princess never told the prince what
side she was on and so he assumed they were on the same side. Eventually he proposed to her.
She said no of course explaining that she did love him, but he was on the enemy side. The prince,
furious at the girl for not telling him earlier swore that he would never talk to her again. The girl
begged him to forgive her, saying that the war was almost over and then they could be together.
But the prince, being stubborn refused, and would not speak to her. The princess never forgave
herself after that either. She became a bitter person who never loved again. As for the prince, he
was to stubborn to forgive the girl, and suffered without a love. Later on in life, as he grew older
he realized what a mistake he had made. He went to visit the girl to beg her forgiveness. But
when he arrived, he discovered that the princess had died only moments earlier from a strange
disease. The prince was heartbroken that he had nto forgiven her sooner. He never forgot her,
and was never able to fall in love again." Serenity finished the story. "So you see, the prince
never forgave the princess and when he decided to it was too late." She said quietly. "look," Rei
said slowly. "I know that you are doing this to show me that I should forgive Jed before it is too
late." "That is not it." Serenity said. "I am telling you this story to show you that people make
mistakes. It is only human. But everyone, deserves a second chance. Especially in love. It is only
human though to make mistakes, but we must learn from them. If you let your fears and
stubborness overcome you and control you for the rest of your life, you will regret it later on
when it has become too late. I am not asking you to decide right now to forgive him. I am just
asking you to think about it." "Say, that I was to forgive him." Rei started. "Is it really fair of me,
after all that I have put him through to just say that I forgive him?" "If he truly loves you, then he
will not mind. If anything this has strenghthened his love for you. If he will not let you forgive him,
you two were never truly meant to be. But if he loves he you, he will forget all about it. Because
remember, true love conquers all doesn't it?" Before Rei could answer she was gone.
Authors Note
well after the next part which believe it or not should be out tomorrow or the day after. I am
going on vacation on Saturday and this fanfic is going to be before then! And the sequel is
already written and typed. Just trying to finsih this, and then that will be posted. Look For it
soon. In the meantime pelase keep reading and e-mail me with our coments at
Pekkle9983@aol.com
(
geocities.com/tokyo/gulf/4463) (
geocities.com/tokyo/gulf) (
geocities.com/tokyo)