Disclaimer:I didn't create Sailor Moon, pooh, but Naoko Takeuchi did.
What's more some really big companies own rights,not me, please don't
sue! I *did* create some of the minor characters and feel free to use
them in your own fan fics if they strike your fancy, just mention me
in the disclaimer somewhere. Author Notes as always at the end. They
contain my ramblings, pleas for emails, thanks, and brief glances of
the weeks to come. Email me at inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com !!
Chapter Two
Sailor Mars and Luna entered the white building adjacent to
the palace. The other senshi were already there, all of them chatting
and warming up. The generals were also there, on the other side of
the large room that served as a place for the practice of the soldiers
serving in the army and the senshi. Racks held weapons along the
walls along with armor and other necessities for war. Rei was proud
to note that all of the things were dusted, clean, and looked used
and worn . The Moon Kingdom was powerful enough to take Earth but the
Queen preferred peace. Locker rooms for changing, along with showers,
were also located in rooms that branched off from this main one and a
gym was connected to the weapons room by a covered walkway.
Her violet eyes scanned the room from under lowered lashes.
She strolled forward, greeting the scouts as they waved. They were
quieter, more serious than their normal sparkling selves. Rei's eyes
flickered over to the generals. They were partially out of their gray
uniforms. Instead they wore their gray slacks with boots and white,
sleeveless undershirts. Rei heard snickering and proudly raised her
head as she glared at their averted gazes. She didn't hear the
comments that greeted her arrival but she could guess at them.
She looked down at her vibrantly red high heels. Why on Mars
did her planet's spirit choose high heels for her uniform? If she
heard one more crack...Shaking her head she chuckled. Lita sided up to
her.
"What's so funny Mars?" Rei giggled a bit more before meeting
Lita's twinkling green eyes.
"Wanna trade shoes?" she whispered. Lita laughed as she shook
her head.
"You kidding? I can't walk in those things let alone fight!"
Rei giggled some more. Ami and Mina walked over to them, a
questioning look in their eyes.
"Mars wants to trade shoes!" Lita said fiercely, chuckling all
the while. Rei blushed as Ami and Mina both cracked grins.
"Its just that I get so sick of people making fun of my high
heels..." Mina looked at her, a wicked gleam in her eye.
"Since when did it matter to you what other people say?" Rei
threw her violet hair over one shoulder as she tried to hide her
startlement. "Perhaps someone," at this Mina wiggled her eyebrows
suggestively and looked pointedly at the generals, "has had an effect
on our Fire Princess, humm." Mina elbowed Rei as the other scouts
laughed some more.
"No one has had any effect on me," she hissed furiously and
tried to keep even more color from rising to her cheeks. Mina clapped
her hands together happily.
"Wait till Serenity hears!" she crowed triumphantly. Rei
gasped.
"You wouldn't dare? Mi...I mean Venus please! Anything but
that." Mina looked at her speculatively.
"Promise you'll tell us all the juicy details..." Mina began.
"There's nothing to tell, honest." Mina grinned mischievously,
looking much more like her princess self than her warrior persona.
"Oh Serenity..." she singed in a loud voice that Rei was sure
carried all the way to Pluto.
"Oh all right!" Rei hissed again. "I'll tell you guys later,"
'not that there's anything to tell but to make them be quiet...'
"just keep it from Ser-chan okay? If she hears a word of it I'll never
hear the end of it!" The rest of the girls laughed good-naturedly.
"By the way Venus, where is Artemis?" Mina laughed.
"He's home with mother trying to tame Marcus into a good little
crown prince, its not working well."
"Of course not," Rei quipped. "He's *your* brother after all!"
Luna walked up to them, tail lashing in irritation.
"Are you guys finished chatting? We're trying to make a good
impression here..." The four of them guiltily blushed.
"Sorry Moon Eyes," Rei murmured. Luna snorted but smiled.
"No you're not but its time to get started." Mina looked
around, puzzled.
"But there's no one here but them, us, Prince Endymion and
you." Luna sighed, exasperated.
"No matter how often Princess and Queen Serenity have seen you
guys battle it is considered improper for them to publically come to a
match." Lita raised an eyebrow.
"Bet Ser-chan was furious about that one..." Lita murmured.
Luna's yellow gaze rolled to the ceiling in answer. Biting down more
laughter they turned and got ready to meet the generals. Luna sighed.
"Behave," she whispered fiercely.
* *
Jadeite watched from under his long blonde bangs as he tied
his boots and Sailor Mars walked in. Starting at the top he worked
his way slowly down. God those uniforms were incredible. And those
heels made her long legs seem even longer. Seeing her glance their
way he averted his eyes until she turned to her friends. Freed from
her intense, oddly beautiful violet gaze, he let himself study her
well muscled back and strong legs. He whistled under his breath. He
would bet money that many a man underestimated that woman. He would
bet even more that those men lost any battles they fought with her.
Nephrite clapped a friendly hand on his shoulder. Meeting his
friend's gaze the brown haired man nodded towards Zoicite and Kunzite
who were chuckling.
"They're making fun of her shoes," he said with a smile.
Jadeite shook his head before running a hand through his wild curls.
Damn, he needed another hair cut.
"I bet you a silver piece they end up eating those shoes."
Nephrite laughed, blue eyes dancing.
"You forget my friend that I read the stars." Jadeite cocked
his head.
"And what do the stars say?" Nephrite's gaze grew distracted
as he stared off at some unseen point.
"They say we'll find true love here, on the Moon. And they
say we'll find the greatest adversaries that we have ever know. And
in them we'll find the truest friends we'll ever have." Jadeite
stood, startled. He had known Nephrite forever and the stars didn't
lie, at least not to him.
"And you believe that these Sailor Scouts are these
adversaries?" Nephrite shrugged, muscles rippling across his chest.
"Perhaps, who else could they be?"
"And our true loves? I find it hard to believe that so much
could be found here, on this small rock called Moon." Nephrite
chuckled again.
"There was a reason why I asked Princess Jupiter to dance last
night." Jadeite gasped and rocked back on his heels. He had danced
with Princess Mars. Kunzite, though reluctantly, had danced with
Princess Venus and Zoicite had, at least according to a very blushing
him(an oddity in itself for the arrogant Zoicite), gotten on a first
name basis with Princess Mercury also known as Ami. He wondered what
Mars's name was...something beautiful but full of spirit. He wished
she could have been here today. He hated formal things, he felt so
out of place, and he wanted her to see not just him at his weakest but
also his strongest and there was no other place he was more at home
than in battle. Jadeite frowned.
"How could princesses be our true loves? We cannot marry
them, we're not princes." Nephrite smiled sadly.
"The stars said we'd find true love here, they never said we'd
be happy." Jadeite bristled.
"That hardly seems fair!" Nephrite only chuckled again as he
stretched.
"I don't remember saying the stars were fair either. We live
our lives young Jadeite. In them we know pain, woe, and perhaps a
little happiness. If that joy comes with pain than so be it, after
all there's always a price to pay." Jadeite grumbled darkly but found
himself smiling again at the thought of Princess Mars. She was so
proud, unbowed by the pressures put on her. He had searched the
galaxy for a women like her, one who wouldn't cry at a jest, and who
could give as good as she got. If only she was a warrior then he
would have known for sure! God she was beautiful. The whole time he
had been with her he had kept his eyes glued to her, as if afraid the
lovely vision before him would vanish. He would have been as daring
as Zoicite but he had sensed that she wasn't as nearly attracted to
him as he was to her so he hadn't dared to even so much as peck her on
one porcelin cheek.
Endymion and the cat advisor Luna called the match to order.
Luna stepped forward, every line of her body dignified and
diplomatic. "Are all the warriors ready to begin?" She looked to
Sailor Venus, leader of the Sailor Scouts, who nodded calmly, then to
Kunzite, their own leader, who also nodded slightly, all laughter gone
from his face as he prepared for battle. Luna smiled.
"Very well then we'll go over the rules now. We will pick
names from a hat to decide the four matches. The winner of each match
will battle with the other winners until one is left.
There are to be no powers used. Wooden, blunted practice
'blades' and 'knives' will be allowed. Physical contact can also be
used as a weapon. Prince Endymion will be acting as our referee.
When he sees a hit that would, under real battle circumstances, be
considered a 'kill' or a 'crippling action' then the match will be
over.
We are expecting no broken bones or real injuries. This is a
friendly show of arms only and is designed to show each other some
different styles of fighting and techniques that you may not be aware
of. Please remember that this is to remain a 'friendly' match at all
times. Any questions?" Jadeite dared a glance for Mars. From the
side she almost looked like her Princess... 'Wishful thinking Jadeite,'
he thought to himself. Jadeite inwardly groaned as he saw Zoicite's
gaze glitter and mouth smirk. 'Oh God no, he's going to say something
smart...'
"Does new technique include wearing high heels?" he piqued.
Jadeite sighed and Sailor Mars grew red with embarrassment and anger.
'He always has to say something...' Kunzite reprimanded his general
but Jadeite noticed the small curl to his own leader's mouth.
'They're both going to end up eating their words...I know it! I don't
believe Sailor Mars is the kind of woman to forgive those kind of
comments lightly...'
* *
Rei stalked up to Prince Endymion who held out a black velvet
top hat with small bits of paper in it. He murmured a small apology
to her as she drew and she froze him with an icy glare. Mina at least
had the decency to control them. If she had dared make a smart aleck
remark like that she would have been doing penance for a month when
Queen Serenity heard about it.
'Let it be Zoicite of Kunzite...Please Mars let it be one of
them... I can take Zoicite, perhaps Kunzite even.' Letting her
fingers hesitate over the small bits of paper with all four generals
names on them she felt her mind focus and pull her fingers towards one
of the pieces. Without hesitation now she met Zoicite's arrogant
green eyes and smiled.
Pulling the paper out without looking she unfolded it and
showed it to him before looking herself. His mouth slackened in
surprise as his name started boldly at him. Rei smirked, dropped the
paper to the ground, threw her dark tresses proudly over one shoulder,
and stalked back to where the rest of the scouts waited.
Rei watched Zoicite intently as Ami walked up to draw. He
glanced at the blue warrior of water but looked away, his jaw
tightening. Ami hesitantly drew out Kunzite's name. Rei watched on
as Ami's face froze and her gaze darted towards the powerful general
who was calmly observing the drawing.
'Come on Ami... don't let him intimidate you... We've trained
you better than that girl. I've trained you better than that!' With
a deep breath Ami drew back her shoulders and smiled at Prince
Endymion before walking back to them. She went to Rei's side and Rei
immediately noticed the tension that made her body as taunt as a
strung bow.
"Calm down girl," she whispered soothingly. "You can do this,
we've been practicing. You're much, much better at physical combat
than you were six months ago. There's nothing to worry about, on both
fronts..." At this the downcast Ami looked up quizzically.
"Zoicite didn't so much as check you out as you went up there."
Ami blushed scarlet, glared, but finally answered.
"And that's a good thing?"
"He doesn't know you're Sailor Mercury. If he didn't check
her out then I believe he may leave his eyes only for you." Ami
blushed furiously as Rei blustered on.
"Not that he isn't conceited, pompous, and at times I believe
a jerk. He's way too good and he knows it. When I take him down a
couple of notches we'll watch how he reacts. That will tell more than
anything." Ami's head shot up as she watched Rei with surprised eyes.
"Then you don't think he's bad?"
"He's not Hawrek. I can read people Mercury, you know that,
and I believe deep inside he's much like you, smart, sweet, kind, and
loyal to those he holds dear. Its only strangers that he gives his
cold shoulder too and he opened up to you last night. That's a good
sign I believe."
"What if he was lying, if it was all an act?" Rei snorted.
"Unlikely my friend. You know when people are lying to you.
You knew when Hawrek was lying but refused to notice." Ami bristled
but finally relaxed. "You're really gone on him, aren't you?" Rei
asked. Ami sighed as she let her gaze move to the man almost without
knowing it.
"I don't know," she answered, hesitantly. "Its almost like I
can't help it, I don't want to be but then it just seems to click."
Rei shook her head.
"Click or not you had better promise me you'll go slow and be
careful, you hear? Kissing the first time you guys meet..." Rei
clucked her tongue disapprovingly and Ami giggled.
"You guys are always telling me to be impulsive so I was but
we'll go slower."
"You'd better or I'll go smack him upside his pretty little
head." Ami laughed some more, eyes dancing.
"Then one last question oh mighty one to pose for the fire."
Rei quirked an eyebrow.
"How come you assume you can take him down a few notches?"
Rei's purple eyes widened in shock as she stared at her friend who
simply laughed softly at her indignation.
Lita drew Jadeite's name next but he remained so still that
she couldn't glean anything from him at all. This left Nephrite and
Mina to battle. Since she had drawn first they would have the first
match. The scouts and generals lined the sides of the 'battleground'
which consisted of a box painted on the floor showing the boundaries
allowed.
Rei stepped forward and nodded nay for any weapons. Zoicite
stepped forward and nodded his head also. Both of their faces set in
a cool impassive battle masks they bowed to the judges, Luna and
Endymion, and then to each other. Luna's voice rang out across the
quiet room.
"Let match one begin!"
Rei and Zoicite warily circled each other. Rei saw him tense,
his muscles bulge for a brief second before he sprang towards her, and
dived opposite the way his green eyes flickered. They flew by each
other, a hair's breath away, and Rei shot out a gloved fist. He
ducked the blow but it glanced off his shoulder and he went into a
roll to regain his balance.
Now without any warning at all he dove for her and began to
try to pummel her with his own fists. She blocked each attack with
her arms until at last she caught both fists inches from her face with
her hands. They stared at each other, nose to nose, and Zoicite
smirked and began to bring up his knee to ram her in the stomach.
With that she instinctively flipped back and grinned to herself as she
felt her pointed toes connect with his chin.
He muttered a startled oath and when she finished her flip she
met his respectful gaze as he rubbed his chin ruefully. He bowed low
to her, and pounced. They exchanged light blows, matching each other
in their abilities, until they were both sweating from the effort.
Finally Rei saw an opening and kicked, karate style. She let
her foot pause a breadth away from Zoicite's neck, her heel pressing
into his skin, before looking at Prince Endymion. He nodded once and
Rei dropped her foot. Had it been a real battle and had she gone
through with her full force it could have easily broken his neck, and
more importantly they all knew it.
She pulled back her mane in a tight ponytail, hot from the
fight, and met Zoicite's amused eyes. He strolled over to her and
offered a hand. Rei eyed him warily before finally shaking his
outstretched hand.
"You fight good," he said, in way she knew of an apology. She
snorted and felt her spirits lighten as she grinned inwardly to
herself. He had done much better than she had expected. No shows of
anger at a mere woman beating him. No pleas for a rematch or cries
for revenge. He had lost and accepted it. Perhaps Ami was right...
Perhaps the man wasn't half bad but he still bore watching.
"You don't do so bad yourself. I'll even be nice and let you
borrow my high heels any time you want to train." His green gaze
widened and Rei smirked before Endymion stepped forward and declared
her the winner and the start of the next match.
Rei backed away off of the court and to the other girls. Ami
walked forward confidently enough but Rei didn't miss the slight
trembling of her graceful limbs as Kunzite walked proudly forward.
'Come on Ami,' she though biting one lip worried. 'Earn all their
respect, you can do it my friend.'
Lita handed her a cool towel and she nodded absently in
thanks, her eyes glued to the blue warrior of ice. 'Please let her do
this...Please let Zoicite see and be able to accept when she tells him,
*if* she tells him, that she isn't just a princess but a proud warrior
who is his equal in all things! And Jadeite, that man, drat him. Will
he show his true colors today? Will I really get to see what kind of
man he truly is?'
Author's Notes:Hiya people. Hope your Y2K was okay. Email and let me
know...*impish grin* I love email in case you haven't noticed LOL.
Here's this week's episode. Got next week's written, need to edit
(not fun cause I hate grammar by the way), and its a mini
cliffhanger. Ain't I bad? Neway email me bout this week's episode or
my writing in general. What was decent, what can I improve on, was
this week's better or worse than last, etc. Oh and if you're really
bored you might wanna check out my fanart. Email, email, email...
*crawls on floor begging* Please?! Thanks to the people who did email
me before I got this sent in to Lady Mars who does this neat site
where I don't have to mess with anything but email since I am html
imapired, don't ask or if you do email me *eg*.
People who took time from their busy schedules to email me this week:
ithinya, MCRK, MN, Sailor Tears, Spring Angel16
You're my new best friends!hehe Oh and the shoes thing, sorry ya'll
but that drives me crazy. I mean really, what woman *wants* to fight
evil in high heels? I mean pay me enough yeah but otherwise forget it!
Oh and sorry bout Aretmis peoples, I kinda forgot when I stuck Luna in
the first chapter, hehe. Don't worry he'll show up soon enough.
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