uardians of the Millenium: Into the Fire
Chapter Two: "Day when love appears"
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Author's Notes:
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1. Note: this has two time frames--Silver Millenium
and the present, picking up with the events after
Jaedite was found to be alive.
2. Comments? alinasan@yahoo.com
GOM: 9 should be fixed now, if you were
wondering about the end of that story.
3. Usual disclaimers + despite my intention to
keep the spellings of the names consistent I
think I reverted to Rei (rather than Raye).
Sorry. I forgot, and I'm too busy to change it
(I'd rather read the wonderful stuff that's
out there or write more!)
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Silver Millenium @)-->---------------
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The hot winds of Mars swept over Jaedite as he ran
after the black haired Princess. She'd swept
him away as easily as she had the stone
steps of the sacred circle. Indignation
mixed with desire and surprise, exploding
in utter confusion in his mind. He wasn't sure
why he followed her--to beg forgiveness or to
knock her off that high platform of power
she seemed to be on? He just knew he
had to follow her.
"Wait" he cried out at last, as they neared the
base of the palace.
She turned and met his gaze easily. "Are you
willing to apologize? Or do I really need to
explain your behavior to Endymion..."
"Go ahead..." He dared, knowing Endymion
would side with him, and laugh at the pretentious
Princess.
"or my father?" She added "You may be a guest
on this world, and we treat guests honorably
when they have their own honor. It is a grave
matter to approach the Princess as you did,
and in a sacred spot. If you were a Martian,
your punnishment would be more severe."
"Such a strict world." Jaedite said. "I
think cleaning the canals way below my
dignity..."
"So was your behavior...We are not unfair or
unjust--but respect must be learned.
Are you going to clean the
east canal?" She asked then.
"NO!" He said...Her expression went
blank, and she trudged off towards
the canals.
She sighed. "Then I suppose
I will have to do it myself."
"Wait...why would *you* do that?"
He asked, following her.
She looked over at him under her eyelashes,
"Because my father thinks the task builds
my character...and because it takes so long
to turn all the wheels that I can never make
it to the dances. I'm always so tired
after it!"
Jaedite nodded..he could see why her father
didn't want his beautiful daughter around
the distracting attentions of ...well, men
like him. He grinned at that thought..
In response she gave him a radiant
smile. "All you do is turn a set of wheels,
to allow the water to flow...it's hard to
describe but easy to do....it's actually
quite a beautiful sight, at sunset."
"So you were going to stick *me* with
your duty?" He inquired as they neared
the first wheel. The thing was massive, and
he marvelled at how the slight girl
turned the heavy golden wheel. She smiled at
his expression. "Isn't that hard?" he asked,
wondering if he should offer to help.
Nervously, he crossed his arms, and sat down on
the canal wall. The sun sat, casting
a bronze glow over the girl and the large wheel.
"On Mars we have a saying: Even the heavy wheel
of destiny is light when turned in the right
direction" She said as she spun the wheel.
He laughed. "What does that mean?"
"No task is beyond you, if you get
the technique right" She beamed as the
wheel turned smoothly.
"I suppose then, you don't need any help"
He said. She moved to the next wheel,
patently ignoring him. Yet she kept
glancing at him.
When she wasn't looking, he moved
so that he stood behind her. She
didn't notice, and a slight scowl
was on her face as she looked at where
he'd been sitting. Her head turned to see
if he'd left--then she noticed he was standing behind
her.
He smiled slightly, but the expression of his eyes
was hidden by the faded light. "If I help you, maybe
we'll make it back in time for the dances?"
His breath tickled the back of her neck, as his low
voice flickered over the words like a candle flame.
She wasn't sure if it was deliberate, but his hands
touched hers lightly on the sun-warmed gold.
Craning her head around, she saw that his
face was near hers, so she ducked a little
when she responded "I'm glad you decided to
accept your punnishment after all."
He laughed, and said in a low whisper
she wasn't really meant to hear, "My Lady,
if this is how you punnish, I can't promise
to behave."
"Rewards are better--do a good job,
and I'll see you when you're done." She
squirmed out from under him as the wheel opened,
heading back to the palace. He groaned
as he noticed how many more wheels there were.
What had he gotten himself into?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Present Day ----%@
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He wanted to remember. He didn't want to be alone--he was
distanced from even the memory of people who might have loved him.
Who had he left behind? Why didn't they try to find him?
Why couldn't he find himself?
Too many questions, and no answers. Rei had told him
little about how he'd originally come to work at the temple.
She claimed he'd showed up, worked hard, and without a word
dissappeared just as mysteriously as he'd come.
She left out the details. Vague clouds of doubt surrounded
everything he knew.
And then last night, he'd had this dream:
He was standing in a garden, a palace rising up in the distance.
Rich green tendrils of plants and roses in rainbow
of colors surrounded him. Yet despite the peace of the scene,
he'd felt this uneasiness. He was tense. A beautiful woman with
long dark Raven hair, a soft red gown stood
before him. She said "Be safe my love--"
"Your visions--why won't you tell me what you see? It hurts
me that you carry this burden by yourself." He told her.
"I must learn...for what am I to do when I am
cut off from you--who knows how long it will be--"
Came her reply.
"What do your visions say?' He asked her.
"Forever" she said under her breath, but forcing a
bright smile. "You must keep a positive attitude--you
will win, you must. And then, I'm just worryng needlessly.
It's just with the moonshield--and the cessation of travel
between our worlds..the war on yours...I'm feeling out of
sorts...Oh, just hold me...that is why I came." She said.
He opened his arms to his beautiful love.
"It will be lonely without you." She said, her head nestled
in his chest..
"You are in my heart--so I cannot be lonely." He replied,
jokingly chastizing her. "Don't be so serious.
I want to hear your laugh."
"You are never serious. But take this." She said,
handing him a scroll with silverly writing on it.
"What is it?" He said fingering it.
"If you are attacked--if your life is in danger,--use
this and you can teleport right into the MoonKingdom,
despite the shields. It...will only work for you once--but"
"Does Queen Serenity know of this?"He asked.
"No....I didnt tell her or anyone else...but only use this
if you are in desperate need..or else you will be in grave
danger!" She mock threatened...the sadness and fear were
too strong for her threat to seem real.
"Keep safe my love," She said, as she vannished in a red
light, her clothes instantly changing
to a short skirt adorned with bows.
"Remember I love you." He called. "And with that love
--nothing bad can happen."
** **
What the dream meant, he didn't know. The level of d
etail made him feel as if the dream was more than just
a dream...Was he looking at shadows for meaning?
Jaedite pondered his situation, as he entered the meditation room.
Perhaps soothing his mind would lead him to know more about
himself...or at least ready himself for the knowledge.
What would he do, he asked himself again, if he didn't like
the answers? That is if he ever found any...
Resolutely he narrowed his eyes, willing the world away.
A sharp catch of breath brought the world, and Rei sharply
into his focus. She was usually cool or angry, but she was
definitely neither now.
"I didn't mean to disturb you..." she said, visibly disturbed
herself.
"What's wrong?" He said, his own worries forgotten...that
something was burning into her was obvious. Hot tears had
recently streaked down her delicate face, and her eyes were
limp, their usual sparkle hiding under the emotion that
overpowered her.
"Nothing...I..."She murmurred softly.
"Then why were you crying?"
"I wasn't--I ...oh, I stubbed my toe." The lie was obvious.
" Are you done?" She said, though her reply was not as snappy
as he was used to. "I want to meditate...alone"
He was tempted to say fine, forget her, if she does not
want his help. Yet he could see that beyond that
wall, she was shaking inside. She did not
want to ask for help but she needed it.
"So what weren't you crying about?" He asked softly.
"Where were you?"
Maybe she would have started to tell him, but her
grandfather came in.
"AH! Jed...you did a good job on the trees--but
now I have another chore for you. You must find
more pretty young girls, for the ceremony...and
.oh, hello Rei." He said noticing his granddaughter
.."And of course ...he stopped, noticing her angry look.
"Grandpa, have I not told you to stop..."
"I'm not doing a thing--it is for a traditional celebration... "
"Oh really? Which one? " she said.
He smiled... "You should tell me. " He said mysteriously.
"Where did you go today, young lady?"
"I went to see Chad...but Grandfather..."
Her grandfather was beaming, though he still cut her off. "Ah,
yes, the life here has not been the same without him...it will be
good for it to return to normal..."
"Normal?" She asked, her voice tearing.
"Someone from his family called to reserve the temple for a
wedding....I should be angry with you Rei, for not telling me!"
Her grandfather scolded. As he left the room, .."And at him for
not asking permission! He'd get it of course..But I am so happy..
I have so much to do to prepare for the wedding!"
"Congratulations Rei." Jaedite said dryly. Why did it bother him to
know this girl was to be married? He had no claim on her life....or
her heart...he pushed that emotion aside. "Who's the lucky guy?
When's the wedding?"
Rei looked as if she were about to explode. "Stop it! Stop it!
Don't congratulate me!!" She screamed.
"Why not? What's wrong? Don't you want to get married?"
"Yes!"
"Then what's the problem?"
"Because, you dimwit, *I*'m not getting married!" She ran to
her room.
"Then why are we having the ceremony?"He called after her
as he followed her there.
"Chad wanted my grandfather and I to have the wedding
here..his wedding to Sarah...." She put her head in her
hands, mumbling the sounds.
"Who's this "Cad?" He asked.
"Chad. "
"Whatever...who is he?"
"he's...he was a discpile here...he was my friend....
outside of the Sai, er the girls, he was my best friend..
He was part of my life....."
"And?" he asked, coming closer. He knew what she meant--
she didn't let everyone into her life--like the walls that
surrounded her temple, she gaurded herself.
For whatever reason, she'd let this Chad in, and he'd walked out...
Jed wanted to hold her, physically hug the pain out of her...but
he knew he couldn't get too close too soon. He wasn't
behind the walls yet...and like fire, Rei needed
careful handling, if he ever was to gain entry to her world.
"And he was in love with me!" she looked up, her black
eyes wet with tears. "I told him I couldn't love him.
.and he left..."
"So you turned him down..he found someone else....you
should be relieved."
"Should be...but I'm not...I ...feel like I just
woke up--and its too late. I love him."
Jaedite paused..He hadn't expected that. The
thought occured to him, that he had an opportunity
here--she was vulnerable...she'd been hurt..
but, no, he didn't want to win entry that way.
He wanted her respect, her friendship...and if that was
what he wanted, he had to deserve it.
He edged away, and leaned against the chair.
"It seems to me, that if you love this guy
, then you can't just give up."
"What do you mean?"
"It's never too late for love, so don't give up." He said in an
offhand tone...like he was reading a greeting card. It was
trite and meaningless, and he knew it.
"He's the one that gave up."
"No...he may just be confused and lonely--Did you
tell him how you feel?" He was more serious, his voice
low, comforting.
She paused as if thinking of something..or someone...
"Why would that matter? Destiny guides you to your love."
She said softly. "But not everything is meant to be...
no matter how you feel."
"Exactly...I don't think you should give up like this--arrange
the wedding and smile all the while your heart is breaking?
I'm just a stranger, and I don't know you...but I
know that is not you."
"No...I don't suppose it is...but neither is disrupting things
that are meant to be. You don't know me if you think I would
do that "She said... "It's not as if I've never stepped aside
before....what if they're destined to be together? How could
I stand in the way of destiny?"
"You can't....but only cause it has no way.. Destiny exists
only retroactively. It's merely what we call
a chain of past events."
"I don't believe that. Some things are just *meant* to be."
"Maybe...but how do you know which? Who's version do you want
to believe? One that makes you happy--or one that
condemns you? Be fair to yourself."
She laughed dryly, without amusement. "What do you know?
A man without memory, morals or honor...what do
you know about duty...love...justice" She said.
To his credit, he let the unprovoked attack roll off him. He knew
she wasn't angry at him but at the situation.
"I don't remember myself enough to disagree with you." He smiled wryly.
"Look, Rei, I'm only telling you what I believe...because I
can't see life as worth living if my choices didn't matter....
We can't get in destiny's way--we create it."
"I have a friend who'd disagree with that..." She said calmly.
"Destiny is set"
"In that case, even better, because you can't mess it up." He smiled.
"You need to make yourself happy."
"Happiness is most fleeting when pursued for itself" She said.
"That is the difference between you and I. I believe that
other people's happiness matters as much as mine."
"Actually, that's not the difference. I think we both
know people who's happiness matters more to us than
our own" He paused, his tone lowering again ".but that doesn't
mean sacrificing our own will make others happier...it may make
things worse" He continued. "Your assuming they're meant to
be without even, I bet, having seen them together or
telling him how you feel. Right?"
She lowered her head, staring at her hands "How could
I say anything?"
"How could you not? Rei, this is your heart... Give him a
choice, and give yourself a chance..." He edged out the door.
"And while your at it, Lady Rei, give me one to prove
I'm not evil."
Confused she stared after him.
* * *
Early the next morning, as Jed practiced the
sunrise exercises, he turned to find Rei watching.
She had to admire the graceful and powerful figure
he made--he'd certainly caught on to the practices
much quicker than Chad...
"I'm going to do it." She said. "I'm going to get him back."
Jed looked up and pushed away the urge to
ask himself what he had done..And what he was doing?
But the renewed sparkle in her eyes made him feel
he'd continue. "Good. Now you need a plan."
"A plan?" She asked..."Why?"
"You have to time these things...its a delicate situation.
Have you even met the fiance?"
"Chad asked me to have tea with her tomorrow." Rei said.
"There you go. Meet her, and maybe you'll see a reason why
they're not right together. At least you'll see the competition."
Jed smiled to himself. That was something he'd like to do--
meet this Chad. For he'd started thinking of him as the competition.
"I won't view this as a contest." Rei said....though
she couldn't stop picturing herself, crowned champion,
with Chad as a trophy..embarrased
she shook off the picture..
"No, it's war..."He said winking at her. Annoyed, but not
sure why, she shoved him out of her way. His low, sonorous
laugh followed her down the stairs of the temple.
* * *
"So, Rei why the sudden interest in how I make these things?"
Lita said as she helped Rei prepare special sweets.
"I have a tea tomorrow." Rei said, frowning as she tasted
her product--still not quite right. "I have to try again.
This isn't perfect..."
"Of course not" Lita giggled. "This is hard, and took a
lot of practice for me to make! Why don't we try something
more basic?"
"NO. It has to be *this*. " She said adamantly.
"Why is this Jaedite's favorite?" Lita asked.
"No, it's Chad's---"Rei said before she thought.
"Chad?" Lita's eyes widened. "What about Jaedite?"
"What about him? He was our enemy, now he's a
man without a home, studying at my temple"
"But you have memories..you and he were..."
"He knows none of that." She said.
"But you do..."
"I try to forget it...The Jaedite I loved betrayed me.
It's ancient history anyway...Jed's just Jed to me."
"If Nephrite were alive..." Lita said dreamily.
"You'd what? Don't tell me I should just welcome him
into my life--Serena and Darrien weren't easy to get
together...and they were *destined* for each other."
"So, maybe we were destined for them" Lita said, her tone
still dreamy but unsure. "It's what we've all thought...
and you have a second chance.."
"Second chance? There's no chance I will *ever* *love*
that traitor...he may seem a different person, as if he's
cured...but I can't trust him, let alone love him!" Rei caught up,
went on "Don't you see-- I gave him my love, and
he served BERRYL. ..we died twice trying to defeat her,
or don't you remember?"
"He's a new person now, Rei." Lita said, calmly despite
her irate friend's tone, Lita didn't want to battle.
"Just like we were reborn."
"I don't care. That time of my life is gone.
They're gone. It was never meant to be..." Rei said
pounding the unfortunate tea delicacy.
Lita's anger flared up at that. "Well, Miss Perfect,I think
you're ungrateful. We saw what happened in the past--what you
meant to each other. You can't walk away from that."
"He walked away the day he betrayed me." She said with finality
"And beside's, Jed's not the man I love...."
Lita tried to calmm herself...."And who is?"
Rei also snapped a lid on her temper. "Chad." The word came out
like a sob.
Lita's eyes went wide again..."When did you decide that?"
"When I heard he was getting married." Rei confessed." To someone else"
Lita slumped, gasping against the counter...aghast,
she declared "I don't believe it!" She paused..."
So that's why your not interested in Jed?"
"No." She looked at her watch. "I have to go, or I"ll be late."
"I can't believe it...Chad's getting married...." Lita sighed.
"He always was so cute with you...too bad you didn't know
how you felt about him before he found someone else.."
Rei nodded....gathering her things.
"didn't take long though."Lita added, earning a
death glance from Rei.
"Thank's a lot Lita" Rei sputtered, opening the door.
"Still...Jed sure is cute...kind of like
my old boyfriend..." Lita said, her eyes fogging up
with thoughts of romance. "I wonder if
he'd go for me?"
"NO. STAY AWAY FROM HIM" Rei snapped. A second later,
she calmed a bit, embarrased at her overreaction.
She added "Goodbye, thanks for the cooking tips"
Lita mumbled " Yeah...Bye....Well...how do you like that" she
muttered to herself. The phone began to ring. Before
answering it, she mumbled to herself, "She doesn't want
him for herself, but won't let me have a shot...
she's as bad as Serena was four years ago!"
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