Sailor Moon Fan Fiction ❯ Love and Lament ❯ Chapter 15

PinaPoe's notes:: I have to say, I loved writing this chapter. This one has been in my head since the end of Waking Ami. Yes I know I made up some of Merci's attacks, and I will continue making up more, I likes it! Thank you everyone for your review on the last chpt. I was very nervous about that and you eased my doubts away. Which is good because next chpt. We are going back to The Silver Millennium for a few unanswered questions.

 

 

Love & Lament

 

Chapter fifteen

 

“So, it is time.” The dread lord Jadeite whispered to himself as he felt the energies of yet another of his Yoma expire. Though he was fuming inside, he kept a cool exterior as he made his way toward one of the many hidden chambers in his palace.

 

“A pity, Kigaan would have made an adequate commander in my legions.” Jadeite walked towards what appeared to be one of the many dead ends of his palace halls. He waved his hand in front of several stones in crisp precise motions, before pushing on one of the stone bricks that made up the wall. The block slid aside triggering a hidden door to open. The whole end of the hall sunk into the ground revealing a purple, misty, portal.

 

“SS-Hauptsturmführer, Mengele, Josef.” Jadeite whispered, causing the mists to clear away opening up the true entrance to a stairwell. Once he started to descend, the mists reformed behind him. Had he not spoken the password the mists would have melted his flesh faster than the strongest acids.

 

The stairs led to a huge steel door that only opened when he used a combination of technology and magic. A digital pad was built into the center of the door which registered his palm print and retina scan. In order to avoid magical tampering it also required his energies set to a specific key to activate.

 

The steel door shifted aside at the positive recognition only to reveal another haze of purple mist. “Ran, Asuka” Finally, the last of the doorways and portals opened to allow Jadeite into one of his many laboratories.

 

This one differed from his many others because it was very modern and sterile. The entire room was brightly lit with high powered fluorescent bulbs. The floor was tile, and the many counters and cabinets were made of stainless steel. The room seemed a tad out of place for his palace. In fact, the room was not in his palace at all, but in a top secret American research facility. Several years ago, he had dominated several American scientists and had them build this underground research facility, after which he killed them and used his powers to mask the facility from anyone who might look for or stumble upon it. Now the only way to access it was through three separate portals all of which had many different safeguards. Jadeite was also the only person to know where all three were located.

 

Jadeite donned a smock and gloves after washing both physically and magically. In the center on the room was a large walk in safe of sorts. Entering yet another code the safe opened with a hissing sound; a cold rush of air poured from it. Jadeite entered the refrigerated safe and opened a vacuum sealed chest that was stored within.

 

Inside the padded chest was a crystal sphere; the contents of which brightened the refrigerated safe more than the outside laboratory. Jadeite felt a chill run through his body as he grasped the basket ball sized crystal and lifted it from its protective safe.

 

Jadeite held his breath, before swallowing deeply as he gazed upon the spheres contents. Within the sphere he held the power to transcend mortality.

 

“Soon.” The dark general whispered reverently as he stroked the side of the crystal. His pupils dilated lustily as he gazed upon its contents, a heart. A human heart, smaller than an adults, and radiating a light and power so bright it required the crystal to contain it.

 

“My experiments and decades of research will finally pay off. I will not allow that ghoul Beryl to deny me what is my destiny.” Jadeite trembled as he returned his prize to its safe. He felt both charged and spent, like he had just spent hours having really great sex.

 

“Once Beryl is out of the way I will have all the time and energy I need to complete this life's work.” Freshly motivated by his prize Jadeite resealed all of the locks and wards to his laboratory. As he returned to his palace in the dark kingdom he was all business. With the crisp efficiency of a military upbringing Jadeite dressed himself in his finest dress uniform, making sure to include all the old medals and markings of rank and allegiance. The uniform, and the time spent earning it, was the only part about his “human” life that he was truly proud of.

 

Once dressed Jadeite teleported to his weapon room where he prepared a pocket portal with various weapons should he have the need for them. Once he was fully prepared, Jadeite summoned a portal that would transport him to earth.

 

“Lord JiJi, let's see how mistress time has treated you.”

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

Ami and Hino's eyes shot open simultaneously as the memory of the dying Merci abruptly ended. Neither of them spoke for a number of minutes as their bodies fought to assure their minds that they had not just been burned alive.

 

“Now,” Hino spoke in a wavering voice. “Let us rest for the night.”

 

Ami nodded mutely in agreement. Both had just gone through the vision feeling and seeing everything through Merci's eyes. That, unfortunately, included being burned to death by the undead Beryl. Even for the demon JiJi, that was not an experience one just brushed off.

 

Ami and Grandpa Hino made no indication toward moving. They sat still until the blazing heat of the sacred flames became too uncomfortable to bare. Beads of sweat pooled down their bodies, and Ami at least was in desperate need of hydration. Hino needed to re-supply his energies through meditation, though he needed privacy to do so. He was too distracted to notice that the flames burned brighter than normal, nor the warning that foretold.

 

“Miss. Ami, why don't you go get a breath of fresh air and bring up a pitcher of ice water. I need a moment to meditate and clean up this sacred place.” Hino rasped as he wiped the beading sweat from his forehead and stood up. Once he was standing, the old man extended a hand and helped Ami to her feet as well.

 

Ami nodded her head in thanks before walking from the room in a daze. The young genius was tired and disoriented; walking through the halls to the kitchen was proving to be a bit of a challenge. Figuring that she was still a bit unsteady, Ami passed by the kitchen in favor of stopping outside for a few moments of fresh air. She hoped that would help clear her mind and calm her nerves.

 

By, passing the kitchen Ami missed Makoto, who was just finishing putting together a snack tray to share with Fiore. Ami's friends were spending the evening watching TV and enjoying each others company.

 

::So that is how things were.:: Ami thought to herself as she took a seat on the steps leading out of the Hino's living area.

 

::But, I still have so many questions. What was that light, what happened to Radiance, Queen Serenity, and Merci's sister?::

 

Ami placed her head in her cupped palms as she thought. ::Is Usagi Vileal?::

 

As Ami sat under the night sky thinking of her past life, Grandpa Hino was deep in meditation. Except for the rare occasion, the ancient demon refueled his energy reserves through meditation and the endless power of the temple's sacred fire.

 

As the old priest's energy refueled, he began to once again notice the discomforting feeling that had been plaguing him throughout the day. Hino's eyes widened as he finally recognized the scrying for what it was. As recognition of the magical observation dawned on him the energy in the room started to change; the air became static, charged and crackled as a portal fought to break the many wards and seals he had protecting his home.

 

Hino leapt to his feet already beginning the words and hand gestures necessary for a masking spell. He had just a moment to finish and prepare himself. The wards he had protecting his temple were extremely powerful and only someone whose powers surpassed his own could ever hope to break them. Hino knew a very short list of beings who could accomplish this, most of which he did not want present when Ami returned.

 

As the final ward shattered, Hino immediately recognized the aura of his unexpected, and unwelcome guest. “General Jadeite.” Hino acknowledged his one time comrade as he stepped from the portal formed in the center of the sacred fire room.

 

“Lord JiJi,” Jadeite answered as he saluted the former Lord of Mars in the ancient fashion used by Earth armies before and during the final battle on the Moon.

 

Hino casually returned the salute, feigning nonchalance. He needed time to feel out this man that he did not expect to ever see again.

 

Jadeite looked to be of European heritage and stood several inches shy of six feet. The twisted scientist had handsome features complimented by blonde hair and blue eyes. Any bit of attractiveness this might have roused was erased by the obvious look of cruelty and the manic, if not psychopathic aura that shown clearly in his eyes.

 

The Dark General's uniform gave away his origins in this life. Apparently he had been alive and quite proud of his actions some sixty, seventy years past. Jadeite was dressed smartly in the full dress uniform of an officer in the Nazi military. The uniform bore all the symbols of allegiance and a large array of medals and signs of rank. Hino had little doubt that the uniform was genuine and that each medal was earned.

 

“I heard rumor that you were active again in the Dark Kingdom.” Hino spoke in a slight condescending tone, as he returned to his seat in front of the fire.

 

Two thousand years ago, Jadeite had been the only one of the Shitennou to rival his power. That was so long ago however, and it was obvious that the Dark General's powers have grown far beyond his own. Still, Jadeite, as far as Hino knew, could not tell their power difference. The ancient demon had to gamble that he had the ability to bluff Jadeite into believing they were still equals.

 

“What do you want?” Hino asked curtly as he made a show of returning his attention to the sacred flame.

 

“Cheerful as ever I see.” Jadeite spoke in a casual, almost friendly manor. It seemed as if he had none of the apprehension that Hino now felt. Hino focused his attention on the fire, purposefully ignoring Jadeite and making it seem as if he and not the insane General was in charge.

 

Jadeite waited for a moment for some sort of acknowledgement. Hino was correct in thinking that Jadeite could not differentiate between power levels. Even if he could, Jadeite needed the former Mars Lord as an ally, he did not wish to insult him. “Very well then, straight to business. The objective of my visit is to obtain your aid, and allegiance.”

 

“Hmpf” Hino snorted. “In what matter? I have no interest in conquering this world. The people are soft and it would hardly be worth the battle.”

 

“You would be surprised at what strength the humans hold. You are also incorrect in your assumption, I hold no ambitions towards that end.” Hino sensed that Jadeite was being candid with him, and that surprised him.

 

Hino willed himself not to tense as Jadeite crossed the room and knelt next to him in front of the sacred flames. Unable to help himself, Hino turned to look upon his one time ally. A slight smirk played upon the Dark General's lips as he locked gazes with the Mars King. “If it is truly a worthy battle you desire, then join my cause. I seek to destroy what remains of Beryl.”

 

Hino's eyes widened both in surprise at Jadeite's boldness, and out of panic, for he could sense Ami returning to the room. “An impossible battle!” Hino spoke with bravado. “You know I am interested.”

 

“Now then.” Hino turned away from Jadeite, who grinned madly at Hino's acceptance. “If you will return at this time tomorrow, we can discuss strategy. For now, I have a woman I am expecting.”

 

“Ever the ladies man eh? Ha!” Jadeite laughed out loud as he turned and started to summon the portal that would return him to his castle in the Dark Kingdom.

 

Hino's face dropped as Ami walked in at that very moment. The young woman was carrying a tray with a pitcher of ice water and two glasses. Jadeite immediately ceased his portal summoning and focused his attention on Ami.

 

Ami looked up, finally noticing that Hino was not alone. She gasped when the stranger's uniform registered to her and she turned to Hino for an explanation. The young genius screamed in surprise when smoke started ripping from tears that started to appear along the old man's skin. Hino had for a second hoped that Jadeite would not notice Ami's energy signature, but it was obvious that he had. Not having any other options he was dropping his mask and preparing to fight.

 

Without a word Jadeite's face became a mask of manic rage as he unleashed a massive energy drain that ripped throughout the temple draining the life force of its occupants, and anyone unlucky enough to be near it.

 

The energy drain, thanks to a safety mechanism left by Garoben, had the opposite effect on Ami. Instead of draining her life force and leaving her helpless, the energy drain triggered Ami's dormant powers. Ami's eyes glowed brightly and her body lifted several feet into the air, surrounded by a glowing blue energy.

 

Hino was aware of Garoben's safety measures, but he also knew that Ami needed time for her “other self” to completely awaken. Jadeite was already summoning a charge of dark energy to destroy Ami. Hino knew the only chance his young friend had to live was for him to engage Jadeite himself.

 

“JADEITE!” An inhuman roar sounded from the old man, startling the Dark General for but a moment. That gave Hino the final seconds he needed for his transformation to become complete.

 

Jadeite backed away from Merci trying to pinpoint his former ally. When Hino had transformed a billowing sulfuric smoke erupted from his mouth and the rips in his skin. It not only broke any concentration Jadeite might have had, it also kept JiJi hidden.

 

Jadeite spun around, trying to hear where his adversary was. He could still see Ami by the glow she was emanating, but he knew if he tried to kill her now he would be exposed to attack by the Mars King.

 

“Lord JiJi!” Jadeite called out in a slightly trembling voice. Mad as he was, Jadeite still had a sense of self-preservation. He willed himself to be calm, trying to find anything that might give away the Demonic Martian's location.

 

“When did the leader of the Seven Deadly Shadow Warriors cast his lot with the enemy? Is the taste of her honey that good?” Jadeite yelled out into the smoke, his heart thundering as he could begin to hear JiJi's deep heavy breath's sounding from all around him. He was hoping to goad his opponent into making a mistake and attacking too early.

 

“Or could it be you've gotten weak, and could not even tell what she was?” Jadeite coughed and whirled around when the floor behind him groaned. JiJi's massive fist answered the Dark General's insult.

 

Jadeite was caught off guard and could do nothing but brace for impact as a massive red fist, larger than his torso slammed into him. The impact was tremendous, rattling Jadeites bones and sending him spiraling through two temple walls and out into the crisp air of the courtyard.

 

Stone bit roughly into Jadeite's cheek as he slammed and rolled along the cobblestone. He pushed himself to his knees the second he stopped rolling. His hand covered his gut as he heaved and vomited a puddle of blood. The one punch had staggered him, and broken several ribs.

 

Heavy breaths and the heavy thump of JiJi's footsteps forced the General to try and orientate himself. His eyes widened in a second of fear, the first time since his rebirth. Even when Beryl had tortured him, he knew he would live and eventually have the upper hand. This day, he was not prepared for a full assault from one of the only beings that ever rivaled his power.

 

JiJi, completely free of the Hino mask barreled through his temple wall into the hall and again through another wall to follow Jadeite into the courtyard. The hulking red demon stopped as his massive head, a demonic mix of ape and lion, swung back and forth trying to locate his prey.

 

Jadeite swallowed hard before coughing up another mouthful of blood. The Ancient Mars lord looked more imposing now than he ever had before. The giant apelike demon was well over eight feet tall, even though he was hunched over, walking like a gorilla would. The great beast's head, framed by a white mane, and crowned by two massive gore covered horns, was nearly as big as Jadeite. Two bulging free roaming eyes rolled around in their sockets, and the remnants of the Hino mask's skin hung nightmarishly along JiJi's leathery red hide.

 

JiJi's sickly pulsing eyes locked on the General, who for the moment stared at him with shock and awe. The Martian Lord's maw opened wide erupting in a roar and an acidic spray of gore, bile, and vomit. The burning mixture coated Jadeite, searing his exposed flesh and burning his uniform.

 

Wasting no time JiJi charged the General, scooping him up in a massive paw, before he could even react. The ancient demon's hand covered Jadeite's head and upper torso. With unforgiving ferocity, JiJi flung Jadeite back and forth like a rag doll. JiJi's confidence built as Jadeite's body went limp. The Mars King knew that he could not match the Dark General's dark powers, but if he never gave him a chance to use them then Jadeite could not hope to match him in a purely physical conflict. Or, so he thought…

 

Jadeite's body erupted in pain as the Mars King's grip crushed him and flung him about in an attempt to rend muscle and shatter bone. The Dark General knew that if he could not get out of this than all of his plans to transcend mortality would be destroyed forever. Unfortunately for JiJi, Jadeite's lust for power far outweighed the fear that he inspired within him.

 

Gathering his wits Jadeite reached into the small pocket plane where he had prepared a weapons cache earlier. With quick movements he withdrew two daggers, which glistened as the moonlight illuminated the green liquid coating them. Not wasting any time, Jadeite plunged both daggers deep into the Demon Lord's enormous wrist.

 

JiJi roared at the sudden sharp pain. This was the first time his flesh had been pierced in hundreds of years. The poisons coating the daggers started taking effect immediately. Pain and anger clouded The Mars King's thoughts as he hurled Jadeite across the courtyard. Seconds later the poison rendered his mighty paw useless.

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

Left in the fire room, forgotten by the two combatants, Ami's awakening was for the first time uninterrupted. Ami's unrecognizable body was cocooned in a glowing blue orb of light. Already the changes in her were incredible, her skin had become a bluish green and her eyes a brilliant blue. Her hair had also grown several feet in length. Once again an archaic symbol was illuminated from beneath the skin of her forehead.

 

Twice before Ami had started this transformation, but it was interrupted before it could be completed. The light intensified as Ami's clothes vanished, to be replaced by the uniform of the Planetary Guard from her memories. Once the transformation was finally complete and the cocoon of light cracked open, it was Lady Merci, not Ami, who emerged.

 

Before she hit the ground Merci's eyes shifted as she orientated herself, landing with finesse. Ami's thoughts faded as Merci took over and she fell into a deep slumber.

 

“Where?” Merci scanned the room in a panic, her last coherent thoughts had not been pleasant ones. She remembered dying, and after that falling into a deep sleep in which she had a fragmented dream of a bizarre life on Earth, many years in the future.

 

A bright light and a piercing screech startled Merci, who jumped away from the source and prepared use her now inborn control over her element, to attack whatever stepped through the portal that was opening.

 

Merci's eyes widened as a familiar face she never thought to see again, emerged from the portal. The woman, also of Mecurian decent, ran through the portal looking around panicked, until she noticed Merci.

 

The woman was over half a foot taller than Merci, and where Merci was thin, this woman's body was all lean, wiry, muscle. She was dressed in a long t-shirt and boxer shorts that looked a few sizes too small. The Mecurian woman's most striking features were her bald head, and the massive scar that marred half of her face. Half of one of her elf like ears was shredded off, and where one eye used to be was now a glowing, golden orb.

 

“Bruuna!” Merci yelled as she ran to her former body guard and best friend's side.

 

“Lady Merci!” Bruuna gasped in surprise.

 

“I thought you were dead!” Both Mecurian women gasped in unison as Bruuna scooped up Merci into a crushing embrace.

 

A loud roar and the sound of an explosion pulled both women from their reunion. Bruuna, instinctually pushed Merci behind her, before crouching in a defensive stance. She gasped as a familiar weight filled her open palms. Before her eyes, her massive trident materialized in her hands.

 

“What was that?” Merci spoke as she moved to stand beside her friend, whose face looked grim.

 

“I recognize that roar.” Bruuna's voice hardened and her face became angry.

 

“I have a debt that needs be repaid!” Bruuna spoke harshly as she charged blindly through the ruins of the temple's walls.

 

“Bruuna wait!” Merci called out before she too, albeit a bit more cautiously, plunged foreword.

 

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

“COWARD!” JiJi roared as Jadeite smashed into the cobblestone, uprooting several along the way.

 

“You would use poison?” JiJi's voice was so imposing that even when he struggled to draw breath it was near deafening. The giant red demon swayed once before settling his weight on one arm. The veins in his body started to throb as the poison penetrated his system.

 

“You are too honorable.” Jadeite spat as he struggled to his feet. His flesh was blistered, and his uniform was partially eaten away by the acid-like substance JiJi had regurgitated on him. His arm hung grotesquely at his side, obviously pulled from its socket.

 

“You're sense of honor will be your death. And I… I… ARGH!” Jadeite cried out in pain as he used a surge of dark energy to shove his arm back into place.

 

“I WILL LIVE!” Jadeite faced JiJi, withdrawing from his pocket plane the very blade he wielded on the attack of Serenity's kingdom two thousand years prior.

 

JiJi looked upon the madman one more before a green froth started bubbling out of his mouth and his pupils dilated. The pain of the poison coursing through his veins robbed the Mars King of his senses, with a bellowing roar he lowered his horns and charged the Dark General.

 

Jadeite watched the charging demon with an amused smirk. His fear was gone, replaced by his normal confidence in the destiny that awaited him. Like the matador waits for the last second to move out of the way of a charging bull, so too did Jadeite. As JiJi approached, Jadeite nimbly dodged to his side while simultaneously hacking downward with his sword.

 

With a loud chink The Mars King's massive horns were severed. Thrown off balance, and finally overcome by the poison, JiJi stumbled foreword, somersaulting and landing with a mighty crash onto his back. Once prone upon the cobblestone ground, JiJi's body began to twitch and spasm as the deadly poison went to work in earnest.

 

With a grin of pure ecstasy, Jadeite stalked forward preparing to end the Mars Lord's life with the stroke of his blade.

 

“YOU!” Jadeite spun around, distracted from his deadly work. His forehead crinkled in annoyance at the sight of the Planetary Warrior Mercury. He had known what Ami was when he had first saw her, but she had slipped from his mind while fighting JiJi. Had she been Radiance or the Martian, he might have been worried, but his dark powers were far beyond anything the Lady Merci could throw at him.

 

“Finally awakened to this lifetime?” Jadeite found Merci's presence amusing, and he found himself slowly sauntering toward the shocked, enraged soldier.

 

“Murderer! You, you were the one who killed Vileal!” Merci trembled with rage as her body temperature began to drop and the moisture around her began to freeze.

 

“You'll have to forgive me for not placing a face with that name.” Jadeite spoke nonchalantly.

 

“She obviously left no impression upon me.” Jadeite smirked as he fired off a globe of dark energy.

 

“Bastard!” Merci flipped out of the way of the dark globe. The globe of darkness crackled with electricity as it sailed through the air, slamming into and destroying a good chunk of the temple's wall.

 

“Ice Dagger Storm!” Merci focused her inborn powers to create a cone of dagger like projectiles which she hurled toward the Dark General.

 

Jadeite stopped his advance his eyes, and grin, widening. “Oh!” He mocked as a wall of flame shot up around him, destroying Merci's attack.

 

“Fiend!” Jadeite felt a shift in the air and stumbled backwards. Less than a millisecond later and Bruuna's trident would have split open his head like a melon. The ancient Mecurian warrior had slipped behind Jadeite before he had erected the cone of dark fire, which now burned in a ten foot radius surrounding the combatants.

 

Wasting no time, Bruuna whirled her trident over head and thrust down toward her prone opponent. Jadeite, having at one time been one of the earth's most feared generals and top swordsmen, met her thrust with a parry of his broadsword. Both weapons locked as a test of strength ensued. Bruuna struggled to push the trident down into her foe, while Jadeite sought to push it up or to the side.

 

“I know you.” Jadeite managed to speak through the strain of holding off Bruuna's attack. Lucky for him, the encompassing wall of flame he built was keeping Merci out of this combat.

 

“You.” The manic General seethed as he struggled upward, managing to get to his knees. “You, I remember.”

 

“You should.” Bruuna spat at the man as every muscle in her body screamed in protest as the Dark fueled General matched her strength and more. “I was a second away from killing you.”

 

“Yesss.” Jadeite purred as he positioned his footing to gain the upper hand.

 

“Allow me to reciprocate!” Jadeite, with all his might, and a surge of dark energy, thrust forward, throwing Bruuna's trident wide and leaving her open.

 

“Urk…”

 

“BRUUNA!” Merci screamed as through the flames, she watched Jadeite fire a massive burst of dark energy into her friend's chest.

 

Determined not to die here, Bruuna yanked down on her Trident as hard and as fast as she could. Muscle stretched and pulled all along her arm, but she did not feel it. The Dark burst of energy hit her point blank, just as she managed to pull her blessed trident down in front of her.

 

A bright aura shown from in front of Bruuna as the energy slammed in front of, but did not hit her. The force of the impact however, was so great that she was thrown halfway across the court yard, through the searing flames and into a brick wall which collapsed on top of her.

 

“Aquatic Storm!”

 

“Ice Winds Freeze”

 

“Aqua Rhapsody!”

 

“MERCURY AQUA MIRAGE!”

 

Thrown into a rage at seeing another one of her loved ones fall to Jadeite's blade, Merci fired off a volley of attacks, each building in strength and intensity. Jadeite was amused at first, until the third attack extinguished his flames, and the fourth slammed into his body at full strength.

 

“Arrrrggg…” Jadeite screeched as the Icy projectiles careened into him, freezing his clothing and flesh. Unthinking, Merci stole moisture from the air to form a massive spear which she intended to drive through the heart of the madman.

 

“Hahahahahaha!” Merci skid to a halt as the Ice statue that was Jadeite began to laugh. Within a split second the icy madman reverted back to flesh and bone. Merci wasted no time in hurling her weapon at the General, in the hopes that it would strike him dead.

 

Jadeite stared at the weapon as it hurled toward him. As a mocking gesture toward his opponent, Jadeite dropped his sword and lifted his palm too intercept the icy spear. As the weapon hit his flesh it evaporated into a harmless puff of steam.

 

Merci's eyes widened in frustration, and disbelief. Her body tensed, as the steam from her destroyed weapon cleared, and Jadeite was nowhere to be seen.

 

“Ahh” Merci cried out in surprise as the General materialized mere inches in front of her.

 

“Urk” Merci had no time to react, and was caught off guard by the General's quick, brutal attack. Jadeite lashed out with his right fist, slamming Merci in the gut. As the Planetary Warrior doubled over he grabbed the back of her head and guided it to his rising knee. Merci's head thudded backward at the impact, blood shot from her split lip and nose.

 

Jadeite was not finished, as Merci stumbled backward, he followed her with two hits across her face, one with each hand, followed by a devastating uppercut that sent her reeling and flying to the ground.

 

“Hahaha! Is that all the great Serenity's Senshi are made of?” Jadeite laughed in amusement as he strut to the prone Warrior of Mercury's side. Kneeling beside her, Jadeite grabbed a handful of Merci's long blue locks.

 

“You know,” The Dark General Whispered into her ear. “I already killed one of you, and you are about to die as well. You really should take lessons from your guard dog; she at least put up a fight.”

 

“Hmpf!” Merci's eyes were open, but saw nothing. Jadeite let go of her hair: her face thumped onto the cobblestones.

 

“I suppose this game is over.” Jadeite rose to his feet, while simultaneously creating a massive globe of dark energy. “Oh how beautiful this will be!”

 

Jadeite lifted the globe, preparing to drive it down on the back of Merci's head.

 

“Huh… Urk…” The ball of energy dissipated and Jadeite stumbled forward as his chest and stomach began to split open. The Dark General's eyes clouded in pain and delirium. Protruding several feet from his torso were eight thin spikes.

 

“Blaargh!” As the skies quickly withdrew from his body, Jadeite pitched forward, coughing up a mouthful of blood while he stumbled to his knees. An unseen force slammed into him before he could orientate himself, tossing him through the air and onto his side.

 

Through blurred vision, Jadeite looked into the eyes of his approaching attacker. He was a thin young man with pale green skin and long color streaked hair. He had pointed ears and almond shaped eyes, that shown with fear and uncertainty.

 

“Impossible…” Jadeite gurgled through a mouthful of blood as he struggled to his knees.

 

“Your race was wiped out before there was a Serenity.” As Jadeite spoke, his eyes began to glow and his tattered uniform billowed around him.

 

Fiore looked at Jadeite in shock. When he had reached out to yell at the madman, his nails had extended and pierced through him. The young man did not know how he had done that. While he looked at the mutilated man in front of him, he became rooted in place, too shocked to move.

 

“FIORE PROTECT YOURSELF!” A booming voice behind him prompted Fiore to raise his arms, and a small telekinetic field around himself. Behind him, JiJi's massive form hurled forward to cover Merci's unconscious body.

 

A split second later a blinding explosion shot forth from where Jadeite's body was, destroying the courtyard and hurling it's occupants through the air.

 

JiJi dug his massive paws into the earth and cobblestone, using his body as a shield to protect Merci. Fiore had avoided being killed outright, but when he slammed into the remainder of the brick wall that Bruuna hit earlier, it was his body and not the wall that crumpled.

 

When the dust cleared, three bodies lay, haphazardly strewn across the ruined courtyard. Jadeite was nowhere to be seen.