Fire. So much lately had depended on it, with the birth of Aragonite, her training, and the dangerous plan she hardly dared attempt. She still couldn't believe she pulled it off. Jedite had hardly cooperating though. Inconceivable! Having to drug one of her own generals? Aragonite certainly had quite an effect on the boy. He had actually been advancing in his training, which was unusual. She would allow this "friendship" to continue. But perhaps moving Rei into his quarters was a mistake...
She focused her mind back on Aragonite. That fool girl was going to cost large amounts of time and energy to train...physically she was no problem. The Scouts were excellently trained from their days on the Moon, but mentally she needed to learn light years. But how was she to be turned? Obviously, she was just playing along. Brainwashing was out of the question. Rei's memories from life with the Scouts were exactly what they needed most, to learn the Sailors weaknesses, and how best to attack them. Besides, with brainwashing, their was always the chance they would accidently insert some of the Moon Kingdom memories...the Queen balked at the thought. If Aragonite knew the generals were once lovers with the Scouts...complications would arise. Her resolve would stengthen, her spirit's raise, and her false front improve. At all costs those precious memories must be protected and hidden from her.
The present. That is what was important. Aragonite needed training, and special classes with Zoicite for fire needed to be arranged. Many long discussions with Kunzite were ahead also. With a sigh, Queen Beryl relit the flame on her staff. Yes, fire... she smirked. Burn...
Rei winced as she felt the next slash, and more of her raven black hair dropped to the floor.
"What's the purpose of this?" she screeched. "Chopping off my hair isn't going to change anything!"
Laughing, Jedite exclaimed, "I wouldn't talk if I were you, unless you want me to accidently chop it all off!" Rei slumped down in the chair and sulked at this change of events. The Queen had decided that some "changes" were needed so that Rei wouldn't feel "out of place". Most of them she didn't mind, but this had no purpose whatsoever. The orders were to cut off her hair to her shoulders!! Unbelievable! But, for the sake of peace, she had to grit and bear it.
The other orders included some more interesting things, such as a general outfit for her. It was grey with a dark yellow lining, and a large strip of red material that tied off on the side formed the belt.
"OW!" she winced. "Jedite, you dolt, that's my NECK not my HAIR!"
"Oh, sorry Rei!...um...Aragonite," he smiled. "That's going to take some time to get used to." Rei felt another snip of her hair flutter to the floor. "THERE!" Jedite exulted. "DONE!"
"Uh oh," Rei giggled. "I'm afraid to look." Turning to the mirror, she gasped in surprise. "Jeddy! It looks great! How did you...?"
A look of confusion crossed his dark eyes. "What did you just call me?"
"I called you Jeddy!" she winked. "Suits ya, doesn't it?"
"Just don't let the guys hear about it." he grinned. "Oh...I have something for you." He left the room and quickly returned with a box. Lifting the lid, he brought out a beautiful necklace. A mysterious green stone hung on a small cord as black as the night.
"It's beautiful, Jeddy," she breathed. "Where did you...what...?"
"It's jadeite," he explained with a grin. "Now you can take me wherever you go!" Smile fading, he suddenly looked sad. "I want you to know that whatever happens, I will never betray you," he said softly. "You know something, I know you do, and I want you to know that you can trust me." He put his hand on her shoulder. "I...".
Cutting off abruptly, he bowed and left the room. Rei stood alone in the awkward silence, with a thoughtful smile on her face, thinking of a thousand plans and adventures that lie ahead.
In the following weeks, Aragonite was under intense training with Jedite and Zoicite. Jedite taught her strategy, and his art of Illusion. Although he was by far the weakest general, his tricks were a great asset to the four generals. Zoicite, of course, gave Aragonite special training in fire.
Although she had been trained in the Silver Millennium to be a Sailor Scout, there was many more aspects of fire that had never occured to her. The Scouts tactics were always fair play - Zoicite's were not. The Rei deep inside of Aragonite had to fight hard to make sure she didn't let herself get carried away with all this evil fighting.
Keeping focused on her goal of restoring the generals was becoming much more difficult as time went on. She found herself slipping more and more frequently - thinking of ways to outwit the Sailor Scouts and collect more energy. Because she had worked with them, and been their friends, she knew of their weaknesses and was the key to destroying them. Of course, this was the Negaverse's plan all along, and she had to stuggle to keep herself from falling off the edge. It had seemed to easy a month ago...but now she found herself comforted in the daily routines - and the presence of Jedite.
This was the way things were on that fateful day when Queen Beryl called Rei and Zoicite to the throne room.
Zoicite shifted restlessly as he waited for Aragonite to arrive. An audience with the Queen was nothing new, but he had never been called in with Aragonite before.
Training her had been surprisingly easy. She was intelligent and ready to learn, and was able to teach him things he had never thought of. A strong warrior, indeed, and an asset to the Negaverse. But was she worth all the trouble it was taking them to make sure that she would not turn against them when the time came? He wasn't sure.
He turned as Aragonite's footsteps entered the room. She bowed gracefully. "Yes, my Queen?"
Zoicite snickered. Only a few days ago had she given up curtsying - she must have read too many novels about palaces and imagined herself in a dress. It was a very comical sight, a girl trying to curtsy in pants. Thankfully she'd stopped all that.
The Queen's commanding voice echoed throughout the chamber as she began to speak. "Zoicite, Aragonite - I know that you have been training very hard together, teaching one another in the area of fire. But what will happen when you've both mastered it? Two generals of fire would hardly do me any good.
"But neither would killing one of you. The only way to gain from this is to make one of you stronger - and the only way to be sure of that is a duel to the death."
The air was as still as death. Several moments passed before the outburst began.
"My queen, you can't possibly throw me away for this girl! I still have so much I could do! I-!"
"You can't think that I could ever beat him! Why did you waste so much time on me if you are going to-!"
Even Kunzite stepped out of the shadow of a pillar and began protesting in his smooth voice. "Queen Beryl, please be reasonable, of course two warriors is always better than one-"
"SILENCE!" The Queen screeched. "I did not ask for your opinion, nor will you recieve answers! How dare you question my judgement! I have reasons that don't need to be explained to you!" She glanced at Kunzite. "But perhaps you should know - yes. The duel will take place tomorrow at sunrise. Kunzite, stay after and we will talk. You are all dismissed," she raised her voice slightly. "And that includes, you Jadeite, hiding behind the pillar." He stepped out sheepishly.
Zoicite held back a heated comment. He would win the duel anyhow, and none of this would matter, but he couldn't imagine what the Queen was thinking when she came up with this absurd plan. How could she even think of eliminating either of them? He stalked out of the room with a fiery look at Aragonite and headed for the training room. Perhaps he could convince Nephrite to train with him. Though he detested being around that fool.
He cleared his head. Battle, he thought. I must think about the battle...
