Chapter 1: The Consequences of Battle

The soft green void was soothing. She was floating, unaware of anything but the light around her. Yet, somehow she know she was not alone.

“Mother?” she asked hesitantly. “Mom?” her voice becoming stronger.

“I am so proud of you,” a voice answered.

“Is it you, Mom?” Tears were flowing down her cheeks, she realized absently.

“Yes. I am always with you.”

“Am I dead?”

Soft laughter rewarded that question. “No. The use of the crystal has left you very drained, Leda. You are in the middle of a deep, recovering sleep.”

“Then you are dead?”

“Yes,” the voice more comforting, “but only in a physical sense. Because of my children and my friends, I shall live on.”

“I’ve missed you so much. I didn’t know what to do or what I should try to do. I tried to follow your example and make you proud and . . .”

“I am proud of all that you and your sisters have accomplished, Leda.”

“That means so much to me.”

“Rest, Leda. You will need your strength. I love you.” The voice was growing fainter. “Always.”

* * * * *

Paul propped his elbows on his knees, vigorously rubbing his eyes. The stubble on his face scratched his arms, reminding him that he hadn’t shaved in days. Not that it matters, he thought, turning to glance at the reason for his vigil.

Leda was still in the bed beside his chair. The sunlight streaming in from the windows highlighted her face. There were very few signs that she had been involved in battles for the past several days.

He brushed a stray tendril from her face. The was a faint pink mark on her cheek was all the remained of her mad rush to confront Nadomus. Amazingly, the burns on her legs and arms were completely healed, with no visible scars to serve as reminders.

He shifted in the chair, reaching for her hand. She had been asleep for so long. Sleeping Beauty, he thought bitterly. Nothing had even caused her to stir in her sleep.

He rose, stretching cautiously. Even his injuries were mending quickly. He knew he had cracked several ribs from taking the attacks from Nadomus, yet, a few days later, only a faint bruise and a small amount of stiffness remained.

“Why did you have to use the crystal?” he asked aloud, addressing the slumbering woman. He almost expected her to wake up and argue with him.

He recalled when they were they were children. They had been playing in the royal garden, when they realized they were alone. He had addressed her as “Lady Leda” as court courtesy demanded.

Angry, she had bounced the ball off his head, informing him that when they were alone, he was to call her Leda as their friendship called for. She had been strong-willed even then, he mused.

The moment of happiness died when he saw that his best friend was still motionless in the nearby bed. Disheartened, he resumed his vigil. She seemed to be ready to wake up at a moment’s notice.

He looked at the hand that he held again in his. Those delicate hands held so much strength. He raised his head, rubbing her hand gently and watching for any sign of wakefulness.

“Okay, Leda, your turn.” His voice was husky. “Please, wake up. If not for me, then for Jupiter.”

He waited, hoping for a miracle. The minutes ticked by, eating away at his hope. He wearily settled back into his chair, preparing for a long wait.

* * * * *

She slowly opened her eyes, immediately noticing the ruby sky of the setting sun. Gently sitting up, she realized that she was in her bed in her nightgown. She lifted an arm, noticing that were no scars and no evidence of any battles.

“Did I dream it all?” she asked aloud. Paul instantly jerked, waking from a light doze. Realizing that she wasn’t alone, Leda yanked the blankets up to her chin.

“Leda? You’re awake.” Tears were welling in his eyes. Her confused expression made him regain control of himself.

“What happened?” She shifted to face him better, absently lowering the blankets.

“What’s the last thing you remember?”

“Great. A question answered with a question.” He smiled at the familiar sarcastic bluntness. “Okay, the last thing I think I remember was leaving Charon, if it wasn’t a dream.”

“It wasn’t a dream.” She gaped at him, her half-hope of the whole thing being a dream shattered.

“So, what’s happened?” She looked at him expectantly, waiting for an answer.

“You used the Jupiter Moon Crystal to send all of us home-you, me, and your sisters.”

She nodded. “I remember that.”

“Good. Well, we arrived in the garden nearly two days ago.” Her eyes grew wide in shock. “Yes, you have been asleep for nearly 48 hours. You collapsed immediately after we arrived.”

He paused, allowing her to process the information. “Your sisters are fine, back to their normal selves with no memory of what had happened on Charon. Doing some thinking on my feet, I told them that you had all caught a really dangerous virus and had been quarantined. The doctors had said that you all were fine, but you were still weak from the disease and the cure.”

She looked at him with new respect, causing him to be a little embarrassed. “It turned out to be a pretty good story. The whole quarantine and the dangerous disease story explained to everyone why we had disappeared a week ago. Duthbert and the other ministers have kept things running quite smoothly.”

She played with the edge of the blanket, trying to process the situation. She looked at him cautiously. “So my sisters don’t remember our journey?”

“No. The only ones who know are you, Queen Serenity, King Endymion, and me.” He had added himself reluctantly.

“How much do you remember?”

He sighed, looking off at the disappearing sun before facing her again. “I remember being Ganymede, Cynthia, the courtyard, Nadomus, the Princess of Jupiter --the whole thing, really.”

“You remember the kiss?” Her face only betrayed casual curiosity.

“I am sorry, Leda. I took advantage of you during a horrible situation.”

She shook her head. “Don’t apologize, Paul. I don’t regret it. You shouldn’t either, unless you feel you need to.”

He simply stared at her, not knowing what to do. Sensing his uneasiness, she leaned across the bed and kissed him briefly.

“I said that I would love you always and that especially means now, Paul.” She took his hand. “Thank you for everything, especially taking care of my sisters. Where are they?”

“They are on Ananke with Rand, recovering from the after-effects of the virus.”

She smiled at the mention of the deadly virus. She found the description of Nadomus very accurate. Her smile became more thoughtful as she recalled her sisters and her step-father. “They need some time with Rand. He would have missed them terribly while they were gone.”

“Actually, they have invited you to go to Ananke when you are able.”

“Maybe I will,” she said hesitantly, “though I always feel so odd around Rand. But, there are some things I need to do first.”

“After you recover,” he added, his tone warning her not to argue.

“I am recovered.” She held up her hand, cutting off any protest from him. “We will need to leave for Crystal Tokyo in two days. They will need to know what has happened.”

“Yes, we do need to go, but we will see about the two days.”

“Paul, I am fine. I feel I can take on anything.”

“You have taken on quite enough to satisfy me for a long time, Leda.” His concern both annoyed and pleased her. “Besides, it looks like you need so more rest.”

“I look that bad?”

“No,” a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, “you’re yawning.” Laughing, he kissed her on the forehead and rose to leave the room. “I will check on you in the morning.”

“I will see you at breakfast,” she corrected.

He shook his head, smiling at her stubbornness. “I love you, Leda. Your awful temper included.”

“I love you, too, Paul Rodan, even if you don’t always let me have my way.”

Glancing at her one last time, he turned off the light and softly closed the door. Laying back in bed, she gazed out the window at the garden that held so many memories for her. Before she slowly drifted back to sleep, she murmured, “Thank you, Mom.”


The Consequences of Battle The soft green void was soothing. She was floating, unaware of anything but the light around her. Yet, somehow she know she was not alone. “Mother?” she asked hesitantly. “Mom?” her voice becoming stronger. “I am so proud of you,” a voice answered. “Is it you, Mom?” Tears were flowing down her cheeks, she realized absently. “Yes. I am always with you.” “Am I dead?” Soft laughter rewarded that question. “No. The use of the crystal has left you very drained, Leda. You are in the middle of a deep, recovering sleep.” “Then you are dead?” “Yes,” the voice more comforting, “but only in a physical sense. Because of my children and my friends, I shall live on.” “I’ve missed you so much. I didn’t know what to do or what I should try to do. I tried to follow your example and make you proud and . . .” “I am proud of all that you and your sisters have accomplished, Leda.” “That means so much to me.” “Rest, Leda. You will need your strength. I love you.” The voice was growing fainter. “Always.” * * * * * Paul propped his elbows on his knees, vigorously rubbing his eyes. The stubble on his face scratched his arms, reminding him that he hadn’t shaved in days. Not that it matters, he thought, turning to glance at the reason for his vigil. Leda was still in the bed beside his chair. The sunlight streaming in from the windows highlighted her face. There were very few signs that she had been involved in battles for the past several days. He brushed a stray tendril from her face. The was a faint pink mark on her cheek was all the remained of her mad rush to confront Nadomus. Amazingly, the burns on her legs and arms were completely healed, with no visible scars to serve as reminders. He shifted in the chair, reaching for her hand. She had been asleep for so long. Sleeping Beauty, he thought bitterly. Nothing had even caused her to stir in her sleep. He rose, stretching cautiously. Even his injuries were mending quickly. He knew he had cracked several ribs from taking the attacks from Nadomus, yet, a few days later, only a faint bruise and a small amount of stiffness remained. “Why did you have to use the crystal?” he asked aloud, addressing the slumbering woman. He almost expected her to wake up and argue with him. He recalled when they were they were children. They had been playing in the royal garden, when they realized they were alone. He had addressed her as “Lady Leda” as court courtesy demanded. Angry, she had bounced the ball off his head, informing him that when they were alone, he was to call her Leda as their friendship called for. She had been strong-willed even then, he mused. The moment of happiness died when he saw that his best friend was still motionless in the nearby bed. Disheartened, he resumed his vigil. She seemed to be ready to wake up at a moment’s notice. He looked at the hand that he held again in his. Those delicate hands held so much strength. He raised his head, rubbing her hand gently and watching for any sign of wakefulness. “Okay, Leda, your turn.” His voice was husky. “Please, wake up. If not for me, then for Jupiter.” He waited, hoping for a miracle. The minutes ticked by, eating away at his hope. He wearily settled back into his chair, preparing for a long wait. * * * * * She slowly opened her eyes, immediately noticing the ruby sky of the setting sun. Gently sitting up, she realized that she was in her bed in her nightgown. She lifted an arm, noticing that were no scars and no evidence of any battles. “Did I dream it all?” she asked aloud. Paul instantly jerked, waking from a light doze. Realizing that she wasn’t alone, Leda yanked the blankets up to her chin. “Leda? You’re awake.” Tears were welling in his eyes. Her confused expression made him regain control of himself. “What happened?” She shifted to face him better, absently lowering the blankets. “What’s the last thing you remember?” “Great. A question answered with a question.” He smiled at the familiar sarcastic bluntness. “Okay, the last thing I think I remember was leaving Charon, if it wasn’t a dream.” “It wasn’t a dream.” She gaped at him, her half-hope of the whole thing being a dream shattered. “So, what’s happened?” She looked at him expectantly, waiting for an answer. “You used the Jupiter Moon Crystal to send all of us home-you, me, and your sisters.” She nodded. “I remember that.” “Good. Well, we arrived in the garden nearly two days ago.” Her eyes grew wide in shock. “Yes, you have been asleep for nearly 48 hours. You collapsed immediately after we arrived.” He paused, allowing her to process the information. “Your sisters are fine, back to their normal selves with no memory of what had happened on Charon. Doing some thinking on my feet, I told them that you had all caught a really dangerous virus and had been quarantined. The doctors had said that you all were fine, but you were still weak from the disease and the cure.” She looked at him with new respect, causing him to be a little embarrassed. “It turned out to be a pretty good story. The whole quarantine and the dangerous disease story explained to everyone why we had disappeared a week ago. Duthbert and the other ministers have kept things running quite smoothly.” She played with the edge of the blanket, trying to process the situation. She looked at him cautiously. “So my sisters don’t remember our journey?” “No. The only ones who know are you, Queen Serenity, King Endymion, and me.” He had added himself reluctantly. “How much do you remember?” He sighed, looking off at the disappearing sun before facing her again. “I remember being Ganymede, Cynthia, the courtyard, Nadomus, the Princess of Jupiter --the whole thing, really.” “You remember the kiss?” Her face only betrayed casual curiosity. “I am sorry, Leda. I took advantage of you during a horrible situation.” She shook her head. “Don’t apologize, Paul. I don’t regret it. You shouldn’t either, unless you feel you need to.” He simply stared at her, not knowing what to do. Sensing his uneasiness, she leaned across the bed and kissed him briefly. “I said that I would love you always and that especially means now, Paul.” She took his hand. “Thank you for everything, especially taking care of my sisters. Where are they?” “They are on Ananke with Rand, recovering from the after-effects of the virus.” She smiled at the mention of the deadly virus. She found the description of Nadomus very accurate. Her smile became more thoughtful as she recalled her sisters and her step-father. “They need some time with Rand. He would have missed them terribly while they were gone.” “Actually, they have invited you to go to Ananke when you are able.” “Maybe I will,” she said hesitantly, “though I always feel so odd around Rand. But, there are some things I need to do first.” “After you recover,” he added, his tone warning her not to argue. “I am recovered.” She held up her hand, cutting off any protest from him. “We will need to leave for Crystal Tokyo in two days. They will need to know what has happened.” “Yes, we do need to go, but we will see about the two days.” “Paul, I am fine. I feel I can take on anything.” “You have taken on quite enough to satisfy me for a long time, Leda.” His concern both annoyed and pleased her. “Besides, it looks like you need so more rest.” “I look that bad?” “No,” a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, “you’re yawning.” Laughing, he kissed her on the forehead and rose to leave the room. “I will check on you in the morning.” “I will see you at breakfast,” she corrected. He shook his head, smiling at her stubbornness. “I love you, Leda. Your awful temper included.” “I love you, too, Paul Rodan, even if you don’t always let me have my way.” Glancing at her one last time, he turned off the light and softly closed the door. Laying back in bed, she gazed out the window at the garden that held so many memories for her. Before she slowly drifted back to sleep, she murmured, “Thank you, Mom.”


Chapter 2: The Question of Family Jupiter's Gone