Disclaimer: In the world of Never Never Land I own Sailor Moon but 
this isn't Never Never Land so I don't, drat.  *All* credit goes to 
Naoko Takeuchi who created these wonderful people that have captured 
the imaginations of millions.  In other words Sailor Moon not mine.  I 
did create some of the minor characters and as always if one of them 
strikes your fancy and you want to use them feel free, just mention me 
in the dislcaimer some where.  Emails, my favorite part, can be sent to 
inspiredthoughts@hotmail.com		


			Chapter Three


	Jadeite watched intently as Sailor Mercury danced nimbly away 
from their leader.  She was good, better than her delicate form 
indicated, but no match for Mars.  He looked over at the fiery woman.  
Her eyes were fastened on the opponents and she was biting her lip in 
what he assumed was worry.  He raked a hand through his mop of hair 
and shot a glance at Zoicite.  His friend was staring fixedly at 
Sailor Mercury, his cheeks still flushed from fighting.
	Jadeite walked over to him and clapped a friendly hand on his 
shoulder.  "How's it feel to be shot down?" he murmured.  Zoicite 
bristled a bit at the barb but then relaxed.  
	"Deserved," he whispered as he continued to watch Mercury.
	"I thought you had eyes for her princess...don't tell me 
you've decided to break another heart."  Zoicite's head snapped around 
as he glared at Jadeite, an even darker flush rising to his face.
	"I...I...I am still very interested in Ami...I mean Princess 
Mercury but something about that warrior..."  His head swiveled back 
to the battle and he winced as Mercury took a blow from Kunzite and 
fell back before regaining her balance and continuing the fight.  "She 
seems so familiar...Like I've seen her before..."  
	Jadeite's own gaze flickered over to Mars.  'I know how you 
feel my friend...She too looks so familiar but I know I've never set 
eyes on her before.'  Remembering Nephrite's words he smiled.  Perhaps 
it was fate that was making her seem so familiar.  He wondered what it 
was like to hold her in his arms, her eyes shining with an inner fire 
that could light the darkest night.  'Whoa, where did *that* come from?  
I thought I was after Princess Mars!'  His heart and body though were 
telling him differently.  
	Suddenly Mercury tripped.  She fell to the wooden floor on one 
knee, arms outstretched to catch herself.  She started to rise but 
stilled when she felt the blunted wooden practice blade at her neck.  
Endymion stopped the fight and declared Kunzite the winner.  
	Jadeite saw Zoicite stiffen, anger momentarily flashing across 
his face before he suppressed it, surprise reigning instead, almost as 
if his own reaction was unexpected.  What spell did these Mercury 
women hold over his friend?  What hold did Mars have on him for that 
matter?  Kunzite though bowed to his opponent and offered her a hand 
up.  Sailor Mercury ducked her head a bit in shyness before taking 
Kunzite's hand and allowing him to pull her up.  She bowed quickly to 
Kunzite and went back to the scouts who clapped her on her back and 
hugged her, all of them apparently delighted at how their friend had 
done, despite the outcome.
	Jadeite rotated his shoulders one last time and stepped into 
the 'court'.  Sailor Jupiter moved away from her friends and walked 
calmly into the lines of the painted box as well.  Jadeite took two of 
the blunted practice blades of the 'weapons' offered to him and hefted 
them, testing their balance and weight.  They were good for exercises, 
slightly heavier than normal ones would be in order to strengthen 
muscles, and could do no more damage to an opponent than a bruise.  
Sailor Jupiter shook her head no when offered 'weapons'.  That was 
interesting.  So far none of the scouts had taken anything and had 
battled solely hand to hand.  Endymion, after checking to see that 
both of the fighters were ready, dropped his arm to start the match.
	Jupiter lunged first and Jadeite was surprised by the brute 
strength she possessed, the power she wielded, that belied her lanky 
form.  These women held many surprises, though most women did, he 
thought with a rueful smile as he ducked one of her punches.  
	Using the swords he kept her at bay for several minutes as he 
studied her technique.  Before long he noticed a pattern, Jupiter had 
a habit of keeping her left backside open.  Eyes narrowing he waited 
for the perfect moment, timing it in between her power punches as he 
distracted her with one sword, he quickly darted in under her arm and 
jabbed her with one blunted end.  
	"Ow!" she cried as she jumped back and rubbed her side, 
daggers in her eyes.  'Oops,' he thought.  If he had truly injured her 
Endymion would have his hide for causing even more tension between the 
Moon and Earth.  He had fallen head over heels for Princess Serenity 
and was determined that they would be together.
	"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to..." Jadeite began as he moved 
forward to apologize.  Sailor Jupiter's face split into a grin.
	"Gotcha!" she cried as she lept forward, taking him by 
complete and utter astonishment at the renewed attach as she bowled 
him over, knocking him flat on his back as all air whooshed out of his 
lungs.  Sitting on his chest, thus efficiently pinning him down, she 
proceeded to 'choke' him as she made it appear that she was ringing 
his neck.  With that same lightning quickness she hopped to her feet 
and looked eagerly at Endymion.
	"Well did I win?"  Jadeite sat up slowly rubbing his throat as 
a dumbfounded expression of dismay flooded his face.  Did that just 
happen?  Endymion stuttered as he searched for an answer, the moon cat 
Luna was looking hastily away, his own friends were trying to hide 
snickers, and when he looked at Sailor Mars she took one look at his 
face and burst out laughing.  Sailor Jupiter stamped her foot 
impatiently as she crossly waited for an answer.
	"Well did I?  I mean I don't want to tackle a guy for nothing!"  
That did it.  Unable to restrain their laughter the scouts collapsed 
into fits of giggles as the generals laughed also.  Of them all only 
Endymion and Luna managed straight faces but smiles tugged at both 
their lips.
	"I'm sorry Sailor Jupiter," Endmion began, his voice stumbling 
a bit as he fought to control his amusement, "but Jadeite's hit to 
your side would have, under real battle circumstances, been fatal.  
I'm afraid he must be declared winner though your valor is most 
impressive."  Sailor Jupiter snorted.
	"Hay buddy, under real battle circumstances that," at this she 
pointed to the still sitting Jadeite and his throat, "would have been 
fatal."  
	"Only if the other side died of laughter," choked out Sailor 
Venus.  Sailor Jupiter whirled, anger flashing in her stormy green 
eyes.  "I'm sorry," Venus giggled.  "But come on Jupiter..."  Finally 
Jupiter's face broke into a small grin as she sighed in defeat.  
	"You guys just can't appreciate a real fighting technique..."  
Still muttering Jupiter left the court and Jadeite stood shakily and 
walked back to the generals, shaking his head dazedly.
	A laughing Sailor Venus went up next and took one of Jadeite's 
discarded swords.  'So Venus is the one who uses weapons...
interesting...'  Nephrite walked up and nodded a no for weapons but 
that was expected.  Of them all he was a master of body fighting and 
was an incredible warrior of pure physical combat.  Jadeite wondered 
if Sailor Venus knew what she was getting herself into.  Once again 
Endymion started the match.  
	Nephrite waited patiently for Venus to come to him and when 
she finally attacked he easily sidestepped her and went at her from 
behind but she wasn't so easily tricked as she ducked under his much 
taller body and managed to trip him.  Nephrite turned the trip into a 
flip as he landed neatly on his feet and watched her out of narrowed 
eyes.  This was definitely going to be an interesting match...
	The two warriors fought valiantly but it was very apparent why 
Sailor Venus was the leader of the Sailor Scouts.  She was awe 
inspiring in battle.  Unlike Mars or Jupiter she fought collectedly, 
not letting her emotions gain utter control of her which made her 
better able to guard herself since wasn't looking solely to attack.  
In fact Sailor Mercury fought much like her but Venus's technique was 
so much more advanced.  Jadeite wondered what she was like when she 
used her powers...  Though in all fairness to Mercury since they 
weren't allowed to use their powers then she couldn't show the true 
range of her abilities.  
	Glancing around to see the reactions of the other onlookers 
the senshi looked smug, the generals interested, and Kunzite was 
flabbergasted.  His leader was looking at Venus, his mouth slack in 
surprise, like she was some creature out of legend that he didn't 
really believe existed.  
	Blonde hair swirling around her she matched Nephrite at every 
turn and then began to best him until finally a well placed kick sent 
him flat on his back, the sword resting unwaveringly on the tip of his 
aristocratic nose.  This time Endymion was smiling with genuine 
pleasure as he announced her the winner.  If anything this woman 
proved that the Moon Kingdom was strong enough to ally themselves with 
the Earth which meant that he and his beloved princess could marry...
	Luna stepped forward, a smile gracing her lips as well.  "Very 
well done!" she said enthusiastically.  "We," at this she nodded to 
Endymion, "are very pleased with the way you all handled yourselves.  
Tomorrow the winners will continue the matches until we have a winner.  
Great job warriors!"  Sailor Venus and Kunzite both bowed respectfully 
to the judges and the matches were over for the day.  
	With that the generals and senshi both went their separate 
ways but Jadeite noticed that all of the generals were watching the 
women as they exited.  'Tomorrow will be a learning experience I 
think...'  Rubbing his neck he smirked.  'Today already was!'
	They made their way back to their quarters, laughing and 
joking among themselves.  He of course received grief from the way 
Jupiter had tackled him though Zoicite received no little teasing for 
the way he lost to Mars.  He was good about it, up to a point, before 
getting angry and snapping at all of them and striding off to his own 
room, slamming the door behind him.  Pride could only be destroyed so 
much...  Kunzite slipped away from the others soon after, a thoughtful 
look on his face and Jadeite knew he was thinking about Sailor Venus.  
Nephrite excused himself also, saying he must go read the stars.  
Jadeite let him go without question since he himself was curious to 
see what they told about their true loves and adversaries.  That left 
him and Endymion alone.
	His prince seemed troubled yet excited.  "End what's the 
matter?"  Jadeite asked.  Endymion's brooding gaze rested on his 
general for a moment before turning away.  His charge sighed gustily.  
	"I want to meet with Princess Serenity but I can't just go.  
It would be disastrous if I was caught in her rooms and just as much 
so if I write her a note and it is intercepted.  People are suspicious 
of us already, I can't make it worse but I want to see her so much..."  
The wistfullness in his prince's voice was almost heartbreaking.  
Jadeite smiled as he remembered his own reaction to Princess Mars and 
even Sailor Mars.  
	"Give me your message and I'll take it to her.  If its verbal 
they can't do anything and if I get caught I can say that I simply got 
lost.  I can act much better than you."  Endymion huffed.  
	"Is that so?"  Jadeite grinned slyly.  
	"You know when you were eleven and I was twelve and Zoicite 
got blamed for rigging the bucket of tapioca pudding that fell on the 
diplomatic ambassadors of Atlantis..."  Endymion's eyes grew large in 
disbelief and he spluttered with laughter.  
	"You didn't?!  I mean that was you?  Jadeite how could you.  
They've broken off all relations with us since then.  We haven't heard 
from them in over ten years!"  Jadeite chuckled.  
	"I know."  Endymion shook his head helplessly.  
	"You're hopeless!  Very well then I will entrust you with the 
message."  Endymion thought for a moment before going into his room, 
motioning Jadeite to follow.  On his bed stand was a huge crystal vase 
full of vermilion roses, brought from Earth.  They were all in full 
bloom and their fragrance filled the room with a sweet perfume.  
	Hand hovering for a moment he pulled the fullest one out.  
Using his small hand knife he quickly cut the thorns off and handed it 
to Jadeite.  "Here, give this to her and tell her that its gardener 
can be found at the main fountain of the gardens in an hour's time in 
case she wishes to give him her gratitude."  Jadeite grinned and 
nodded before chuckling.  
	"Your wish is my command my lord."  Endymion sighed and 
propelled him out the door.
	"My wish is that you get out of here and go deliver my 
message."  Still chuckling Jadeite obeyed.  
	After wandering around the royal's part of the palace for half 
an hour Jadeite truly was lost.  "Of course he couldn't have given me 
any directions...No...just go deliver my message Jadeite...There's a 
good servant Jadeite..."  His mutterings died away as he heard bright 
laughter coming from somewhere up ahead.  He followed the sounds to a 
well lit corridor.  At the end was one room with a splendidly 
decorated door that was cracked open.  He hesitated.  He really needed 
directions but he really shouldn't be here at all.  Deciding to see 
who was inside first he peeked through the crack.
	And saw the princesses gathered around Princess Serenity who 
was sitting on her bed.  They were all sitting and laying, sprawled on 
furniture, rugs, and the floor.  He didn't mean to over listen but he 
didn't want to just intrude upon their conversation.  So he let his 
eyes fix on Princess Mars and listened intently.
	"So," asked Princess Serenity.  "How did it go?"  Her voice 
was bubbly, bright, and eager.  Princess Venus laughed.  
	"Well enough.  Luna was pleased with how we did.  Two wins and 
two losses."  They were talking about the match...not surprising since 
their warriors were involved.
	"I won my match," odd how she spoke of Sailor Venus in first 
person he thought detachedly, "and Rei won hers."  Jadeite smiled 
dreamily.  Princess Mars's name was Rei?  It fit her, it fit her well.  
Venus continued on.  "Lita lost hers but you should have been there 
Ser-chan!  When Jadeite hit her she pretended to be hurt and then she 
tackled him and started pretending to choke him!  It was hilarious."  
Rei laughed as Princess Serenity gasped.  
	"Lita, you didn't?!"  Princess Jupiter blushed as Jadeite's 
mind, stunned from learning Princess Mars's name and her unearthly 
fiery beauty, was trying to grasp something that seemed very important.
	"And our Ami-chan did awesome!" Venus went on.  "She stood up 
to Kunzite and held her own all right.  She may not have won but she 
earned all their respect, you can betcha that!"  
	"Yes," Ami said softly.  "I believe I did well enough.  But it 
was stupid of me when I fell I braced too hard and sprained my wrist.  
I didn't notice until I detransformed and then it hurt like anything!  
Mina helped me bandage it up."  She held up one slender wrist to show 
the tidy bandage that was wrapped tightly around her arm.  Then it hit 
him.
	The princesses were the Sailor Scouts!!!  He bit his lip as he 
tried to contain his gasp of surprise.  He stared intently at Rei, 
Princess Mars.  Her profile was to him and he studied the arch of her 
nose, the set of her eyes, the slightly sweeping arch of her eyebrows, 
and the raven hair that fell like a dark cloak around her full form.  
She *was* Sailor Mars!  That was why she had seemed so familiar.  
	He remembered Zoicite's fascination with Sailor Mercury and 
smiled at the thought of breaking the good news to him.  His princess 
and scout were one in the same and Princess Mars wasn't just a 
princess but a warrior, a fighter.  It all fell into place, and his 
hiding spot proceeded to fall apart as Rei got up and announced that 
she was getting some snacks.  She opened the door and stopped, violet 
eyes large as she stared at him.  Abruptly her gaze narrowed and he 
knew she read that he knew the truth about them.  
	Princess Serenity and the others rose.  "Rei, who is it?" 
called Serenity.  Thinking quickly Jadeite bowed as Rei stepped aside, 
scowling all the while, to let Serenity see him.  She gasped a bit and 
he presented the rose to her wordlessly, keeping his head down.  
Silence reigned in the room for a moment before Serenity shooed them 
all out and ushered him in over the protestations of the princesses.
	"Well?" Serenity asked impatiently as soon as she shut the 
door, dancing from foot to foot in her eagerness.  Jadeite smiled at 
her enthusiasm.
	"This rose's gardener will be at the main fountain in the 
gardens in a half an hour in case you wish to show him any gratitude 
that you may have for him growing this fine flower here."  Serenity 
squealed.
	"Oh my gosh!  Only half an hour...I have to go get ready!"  
She all but shoved him out the door and into Rei's waiting arms.  The 
door slammed behind him and shot up straight to find himself nose to 
nose with Rei.  Her eyes were still narrowed in anger and suspicion.  
The rest of the princesses, scouts, senshi, whatever they were, were 
gone.  
	Wordlessly she took his hand in an iron grasp and literally 
dragged him away.  Jadeite remained still, quiet, and obedient as Mars 
pulled him through the back halls of the palace, places that looked as 
if they hadn't been dusted in years, until they finally stopped on a 
balcony on the second floor.  Sheets were thrown over the benches and 
the rest of the sparse furniture and undisturbed dust covered 
everything like snow.  Finally Rei dropped his hand and turned to face 
him for she hadn't so much as glanced at him the entire time.  He 
could sense her fury at him, it fairly radiated off her body!, and he 
braced himself for her barge of angry words.  Instead she simply 
stared silently at him.
	Jadeite met the coldest eyes he would ever hope to see and 
fell into them.  Suddenly he was swimming in those amethyst depths of 
color, of burning violet orbs of light.  He stopped breathing as 
sudden color flushed Mars's cheeks a charming red.  'I'm staring...I 
should stop...but I don't want to.'   As one their breathing 
quickened and Jadeite acted on a wild moment of foolhardy bravery.
	Taking Rei in his arms he kissed her passionately, letting all 
the years of loneliness and pain wash over him as he crushed his lips 
to hers.  She tried to pull away at first and he knew the anger still 
burned brightly at the knowledge that he had eavesdropped and thus now 
knew their secret but he sensed another anger in her.  Anger that he 
could touch, could affect her in a way that no other man had managed 
before.  The fight slowly left her as she hesitantly returned the 
kiss.  His hands ran through her long tresses of wild onyx colored 
hair as she began to truly respond.  He had *never* imagined that it 
could be like this, had never even dreamed that it would be this 
wonderful.  Finally, gently, he pulled apart as he searched her eyes.  
Reading them he let his courage wash over him again as he bet his 
life, his future, on the gamble he took.
	"Princess Mars, Sailor Mars, Rei..." and at the last her 
purple gaze grew huge, "I have searched the galaxy for a woman like 
you and now that I've found you I never want to let go.  I love you."

Author's Notes:What's Rei gonna say?  Hummm... Guess we'll have to 
wait till next week.  LOL, sorry peeps.  What do you think?  Let me 
know by emailing me.  Email very very good.  Its makes me write faster 
and it motivates me which is a must since I'm a procrastinator.  NEway 
here's the nice people who emailed me this week, ya guys are the best!:

KallieOO, Yoshi, AbboRingo, Jennifer, Mn, SpringAngel16, stargazer173 

I know, I know, tapioca pudding?  I couldn't help it...LOL..I can have 
a twisted sense of humor, I'll try to spare you guys, promise.  
Anyway I'm off, see you next week, ya'll have a good one!