Part Four
-by Delilah

Zoisite tried not to yawn as his father and mother went through the usual
greetings between them and the king. It was dull. He could recite the
entire dialogue in his sleep. At least, he noticed, the prince seemed to be
of the same mind as he. Endymion had declined their invitation to shop
stating that he had work he had to do but promised to come next time. The
dark haired man leaned over and whispered something to Nephlyte who grinned
wickedly and poked the prince in the ribs. Malachite gave the two a
scathing glance and both settled but not before Nephlyte gave the older
general a glare of his own. Realizing that it was to be his turn to speak
with the king next Zoisite cleared his mind and stepped forward reciting
the lines flawlessly and executing the necessary gestures. He was aware of
his father's pride at his accomplishment and he allowed himself a brief
moment of pleasure before finishing his speech and stepping down. 

Malachite watched the blond man give the usual greetings but with a slight
Venetean twist to them in surprise. The normally shy man seemed in complete
control and went through the entire thing without one skipped line or
slipped word. Even he couldn't do that. He wondered how it could be that
one who had trouble speaking privately could give such a flawless
performance with no trace of hesitation or nerves. He decided to discuss
that with Zoisite once they managed to speak again in private. 

The entire company made their way to the banquet hall where they quickly
arranged themselves. Zoisite found himself surrounded by familiar and
unfamiliar faces alike. Naru sat next to him and was easily chatting with a
younger boy who kept straightening his glasses. Slightly farther down
Jupiter and Nephlyte were in conversation with Malachite putting in a word
every so often. Endymion and some blond boy sat across from each other and
were discussing what sounded like a math problem with the occasional
comment about the boy's taste in fiery women. Confused Zoisite decided to
ignore that conversation. Mercury sat across from him and regaled him with
tales about her and the other girls of Serenity's court. Most of their
problems seemed to arise with Venus's outgoing nature and she even got
Zoisite to smile a few times. 

Half way through the dinner Zoisite became aware of an older man who
slipped in and took a seat next to him. Zoisite noticed that he wore a
general's uniform and he searched his mind trying to figure out which
general this could be. He considered the possibilities and came up with
only one name. Rowan. It had to be this man's name since he remember
someone saying that General Tyers was a woman. The older man turned towards
him and tried to con him into a conversation but Zoisite's quiet nature
soon took over and the makeshift conversation soon ground to a halt.
Feeling even more uneasy at the silence Zoisite looked around trying to
find something to speak about. His eyes fell on the medallion around
Rowan's neck and he cocked his head. 

Rowan noticed the boy's glance and turned slightly to see his face. "What
is it boy?" He asked. 

Zoisite jumped and looked away. "I was just looking at the medallion around
your neck. It looks like one I saw earlier." Zoisite muttered. 

Rowan was glad that the boy spoke in an undertone. It wouldn't do to have
him shouting out that he had seen a medallion similar to his laying about.
"Really?" He asked. A thought entered his head and on a spur of the moment
decision he took off the medallion and held it out to the blonde boy.
"Would you like a closer look?" Rowan caught his breath as the boy reached
out to take the medallion. Only the one chosen by the medallion could ever
touch the medallion itself. He wasn't sure why he was doing this but
somehow it seemed the right thing to do. He watched closely as the boy's
fingers got closer to the metal and prepared to wrench it away if the
medallion gave any indication that it was going to attack the boy. 

Zoisite watched the spinning pendant and reached out. He was drawn to the
thing and for some reason it felt right to take it. His fingers lightly
brushed the cool metal then carefully he took it in his hands. Pulling the
medallion out of Rowan's hands he held it and watched the light play over
the metal. It was really quite pretty. An urge came over him to put it
around his neck but he fought it down. Reaching out he handed the medallion
back to the old man and noticed the startled look on his face. "Are you all
right?" He asked. 

Rowan blinked and took the medallion back. "Yes. I'm fine. I have to go,
but I insist upon seeing you later." He replied as he stood and hurried
from the room. 

Zoisite blinked then shrugged and turned back to the conversations at the
table. As he did he noticed that only three of the people at the table had
noticed the actions between the general and the young boy. Malachite,
Nephlyte, and the king watched him closely then slowly turned back to their
own conversations but not before glancing at each other to make sure that
they all knew the gravity of what had just occurred. 

---<---<@ 


Rowan sat in the darkness watching his pendant give off a faint glow. Now
he knew. He hadn't been sure of what he was feeling but he knew. He sighed
and lay the pendant on the table and lifted up a large book. It was very
old and it had taken him half a lifetime to find it. Flipping through the
pages he re-read what he already thought he knew just to be sure. When he
was finished he closed the book and lay back. 

"Oh, Tyers. Why did you have to die so young? I fear that your death has
off set our medallions' plan." 

"And what plan would that be, old man?" 

Rowan didn't even turn. "I'm not much older then you, your majesty. By
insulting me I fear you do harm yourself. Besides, don't you have a banquet
you're supposed to be attending?" 

The king sat down next to him and studied the ceiling of Rowan's tower. "I
pleaded dismissal for matters of state." 

"Ah, what times are these that the king lies to be excused from a banquet
called by his own hand." Rowan replied slipping into a reverie of sorts. 

The king shook his head. "I lie not. When strange events such as the one I
just saw occur and effect my generals then those are indeed dire affairs of
state." 

"Yes, Rowan, tell us what the hell just happened back there." 

"Really, Nephlyte, that temper is going to be the end of you some day."
Rowan scolded. 

He was able to make out Malachite's shape among the shadows as well. He
sighed and reached for the book once more. "Do you know what this is?" He
asked. 

The king looked at the book and nodded. "It is the only extensive research
done about the medallions. It was written shortly before it was deemed too
dangerous to learn too much about the medallions." 

Rowan nodded. "It was hidden away a long time ago. It took me forever to
find it. But I digress. I have found something very interesting in it that
I think you should all know. As I'm sure you are all aware by now, that
young boy has the making of a general." He flipped the pages carefully. 

Malachite nodded. "But how can Zoisite be a general when you are still
alive? Nothing like this has ever happened before." 

Rowan shook his head sadly. "No, it has happened once before. A time of
great trouble descended upon the Earth and the medallions chose new
generals while the old still live. According to the one who wrote this
desperate times call for new blood." 

Nephlyte frowned. "But, if Zoisite is to take your place, whose to take
Tyers's? Why would one medallion chose a general when it already has one
before the vacant position is filled? Why not allow Zoisite to have the
other medallion?" 

Rowan nodded. "I've been wondering that and the best I can come up with is,
the medallion is attuned to the person it chooses. Its powers complement
the person. Malachite, you said Zoisite was fascinated with the gardens,
right?" 

"Yes." The silver haired general nodded. 

"Well part of the power that comes with this medallion is that over plants.
My Ice Rose Shatter for example not to mention my roses. Nephlyte. You were
an astrology and astronomy teacher when you received your medallion. That
medallion heightens the person's own power and allows them to tap into the
power of the stars. Malachite, your powers were always in plasma energy.
Did you not study the effects of radiation on certain stars and planets?
And Tyers. She was a geologist who specialized in volcanoes. Was her
medallion not a perfect match for her as well?" 

The king nodded. "It was the same way in my father's day as it is now." 

Nephlyte snorted and leaned back against the wall. "So what happens to you,
Rowan?" 

Rowan smiled sadly. "I take a much needed retirement and allow you
youngsters to take your future in your own hands. Malachite, you are the
oldest general now, therefore you are the leader." 

Nephlyte chuckled as Malachite lost his smile and stepped forward. "You
teach, Malachite. Surely being the head general can't be all that bad." He
said. 

Malachite shook his head. "You'd be surprised." 

"So, all we have to do is find some geologist to take Tyers's place and
teach Zoisite all he needs to know about being a general!" Nephlyte said
clapping his hands. 

Rowan laughed. "My boy, you make it sound like a walk in the park." 

----<---<@ 


Zoisite stared at the three generals before him. "You have got to be
kidding me." he replied, slowly backing for the door. 

Nephlyte shook his auburn hair out of his eyes. "Nope. Rowan's medallion
chose you so you're the new general." 

Zoisite cocked his head. "Do I look like a warrior to you? I weigh a
hundred and thirty pounds and I'm a head shorter then all of you. How am I
supposed to be a guardian of the kingdom?" Zoisite crossed his arms and
watched as the three glanced at each other for support. "That's what I
thought; now if you'll excuse me I have plants to water." He turned to
leave but was pulled back into the room by Rowan. 

"You were chosen by the medallion. It thinks that you out of everyone else
in the kingdom are perfect for the job," he replied gruffly. 

Zoisite shook his head. "The medallion's wrong. I'm not a warrior, I hate
violence. Believe me it's not worth trying to train me." 

Rowan glanced over the boy's head to Malachite who stepped forward and
grabbed his shoulders. Zoisite tensed at the sudden contact and began to
struggle. Malachite easily held him at bay while Rowan removed the
medallion from his neck and slipped it over the boy's golden head. Zoisite
had had just about enough of this and was more than ready to leave. He fell
limp in Malachite's arms and waited. As he hoped Malachite was caught off
guard and he fell forward at the sudden weight he was supporting. Zoisite
rammed his elbow into the general's stomach and winced as the top part of
his arm hit Malachite's ribs. He felt the general's grip loosen and he
slipped between his arms coming up behind him. He saw Nephlyte reaching for
him and he reached out for anything he could use a weapon. His hands closed
upon a metal staff that seemed to appear out of nowhere. Not really caring
where this staff had come from, he expertly swung the staff low and under
his arm tripping the large man as he came forward. Nephlyte landed in a
heap upon the floor as he tried to figure out how he had gotten there. 

Rowan nodded at the way the boy had picked up on how to call the staff. He
winced slightly as Nephlyte went down but wasn't overly worried. That boy
had a way of bouncing back. Malachite had managed to get control of himself
and was cautiously stalking Zoisite around the room, angling him away from
the door. Zoisite was slowly twirling the staff through the air prepared to
strike if Malachite foolishly came too close. Nephlyte waited as Malachite
circled again bringing to boy closer to him. When Zoisite's back was
towards him he leapt trying to grab the staff. He managed to get both hands
on it but was off balance and when Zoisite dropped to the ground and kicked
he found himself on his back with the wind knocked out of his lungs.
Malachite cursed and made a mental reminder to have Nephlyte meet him in
the training area. The auburn haired man was obviously out of practice.
Zoisite was busy making sure Nephlyte was going to stay down and too late
saw a flash of silver coming at him. He wasn't sure what made him do it but
for some reason he turned and shouted, "Ice storm strike!" Malachite cursed
as hundreds of little icy spears were blown into him by a high powered
Arctic wind. He covered his eyes to protect them and stumbled backwards. He
took a deep breath and forced himself to shield. The sound of the spears
being deflected told him he had succeeded. He looked up at Nephlyte's cry
of warning and just managed to dodge a crystal dagger easily as long as his
arm demolished the wall where his head had been. 

Rowan watched as Malachite shielded from the ice storm and nodded in
approval. Zoisite was a natural at this. He was wondering what would happen
next when he heard Nephlyte's warning. Too late he saw the ice dagger the
younger man had produced and flung at the blocking general. Realizing that
the game had just turned deadly he hurried forward and grabbed Zoisite's
mane of hair forcing his head back. He pressed the man to his knees by
placing pressure on his spine and he easily twisted staff out of Zoisite's
hands. Years of battle training had taught him how to subdue a youngster
that had gotten carried away with the training. This was one of the reasons
he insisted that his students had long hair. It made it easier to grab
them. He was about to release the young man when suddenly he found himself
holding onto nothing but a bunch of cherry blossoms. "What the. . ?" He
glanced about wondering where Zoisite had gone to. There was a flurry of
petals by the door and Zoisite reappeared. He warily eyed the other three
men. 

"Well, now I hope you see, my boy, that you are indeed perfect for the job.
There are few that can keep these two running like you did, and fewer still
who can master the medallion's powers as you have." Rowan replied hoping to
regain the man's trust. 

Zoisite watched them in silence before looking down at the medallion laying
on his chest glowing faintly as though that was where it was meant to be.
"Perhaps there is something to what you say. I will consider it." Zoisite
turned to leave then paused. "Alone."

 


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