THE MISTRESS SAGA
by Jessica Door

        Birds chirped happily in the trees, heralding another dawn as
the sun sent shining fingers of rose and gold into the morning sky.
Everything was peaceful and quiet.  One particular bird landed on a
slender branch overhanging an open window.  It let out one especially
loud chirp. With a start Serena sat bolt upright in bed and peered at
her alarm clock.
        "Ohmigosh!  I am so late!" she shrieked.
        In a panicked frenzy she wrestled herself out from under the
covers and stumbled onto the floor.  She yelped as her feet touched the
cold floor and she scrambled desperately for her socks.  "Why...
didn't... the alarm... go off?" she grumbled under her breath as she
hopped on one foot, struggling to pull her stubborn sock on.  As she
finally got it on she lost her balance and crashed to the floor.  She
angrily got her other sock on and got up off the floor.  Then she threw
her school uniform on, took the pink bows out of her hair, and dashed
into the kitchen.  To her surprise, no one else was in it.  She wasn't
that late.  As she stood in the middle of the floor, panting, with a
slightly confused look on her face, her mother strolled in, still in her
robe, with her hair slightly rumpled.  As Serena watched, her mother
slowly walked over to the counter and made a cup of instant coffee.  She
took a sip.  She sighed and her eyes slowly blinked open.
        "Well, good morning Serena.  What on earth?  It's Saturday! What
are you doing in your school uniform?"
        "Saturday?  Saturday?!"  Serena turned around, threw her arms
into the air with disgust, and stomped back to her room, mumbling.
*****
        Serena threw open her bedroom door with a bang.  "Luna," she
whined as she reentered her room to change into some more casual
clothes, "Why didn't you tell me today is Saturday?"  Her voice was
muffled as she pulled her school uniform off.  "Here I am, in a complete
panic, and you can't even bring yourself to tell me?"  She waited
expectantly for an indignant disclaimer, but it never came.  She pulled
her shirt on over her head and looked at the bed.  Luna lay curled in a
small black ball at the foot of it, still asleep.  Concerned, Serena
knelt next to her and shook her gently.  Luna opened one eye with a
moan.
        "What?" she asked softly.
        "Luna?  Are you okay?"
        Luna opened her other ruby eye slowly.  "Actually, I'm feeling a
little under the weather," she responded with a sneeze.  "I think I'll
just sleep today."  She put her head back on her paws and closed her
eyes.  Just before Serena tiptoed out of the room she opened one eye
tiredly.  "Give my excuses at the Sailor Scout meeting at Rei's in
fifteen minutes."
        Serena blushed.  "I almost forgot.  Thanks for reminding me
Luna!" she shot behind her back as she dashed out of the room.
*****
        As Serena ran towards the temple she passed Darien's apartment.
She slowed to a jog as she looked up, but shook her head and
determinedly began to run again.  She had a duty to the Scouts.  It
would be wrong to let them down-again.
*****
        Darien glanced at his window a second time.  He thought he'd
seen Serena a moment ago, but she was gone now.  He puttered around for
a few minutes, half expecting her to knock at his door, but after five
minutes passed without incident, he shrugged and went back to his
computer.
*****
        Serena trotted up the slate gray stairs to the temple, trying to
catch her breath.  She leaned against a cold stone pillar and tried to
stop gasping.  As soon as she did, she strolled casually into the
courtyard.  Amy, Lita, and Rei were already talking animatedly.  She saw
with pleasure that Mina wasn't there yet.  So she wasn't the last to
arrive after all!
        "So, you're not the last to arrive after all!" Rei commented
when she noticed Serena, "Though it's not terribly impressive to beat
Mina.  She's late as often as you."  Lita rolled her eyes and Amy
daintily covered a smile with her hand.
        "Well, at least I don't nag!" Serena retorted, glad to have a
quarrel-she was still vaguely worried about Luna and a good argument
would take her mind off of her.  Mina ran up the walk to the temple
steps just before everything degenerated into shouting and rude faces.
        "Where's Artemis?" Amy asked, stepping between Serena and Rei,
effectively ending their quarrel.
        "That's why...I'm so...late," Mina replied.  She was bent over
with her hands on her knees.  Her long, loose blonde hair hung over one
shoulder.  When she stopped wheezing she stood up straight and
continued.
        "He's sleeping right now.  He's never been sick before!  Have
you ever heard a cat sneeze?  He sounds ridiculous!"
        "Is it serious?" Amy asked, worried.
        "I don't know," Mina shook her head.  "I called the vet but my
appointment's not until Monday.  I'm a little worried about taking him,
though.  What if they realize there's something different about him?"
        Lita's eyes widened.  "I'd never thought of that!" she
exclaimed.  "Let's hope it's not a problem."
        "Hey, where's Luna?  We can't have a meeting with one of the
cats missing, let alone both!" Mina said as she looked around.
        "I haven't had time to tell you guys yet, but Luna's sick too.
I haven't had a chance to set up an appointment for her, though.  She
said she'd be fine..." Serena's voice trailed of slowly.  "Maybe I can
bring Luna to the vet when you bring Artemis."
        Mina shrugged, "You can try.  So what should we do now?"
        "You probably didn't even think of making a vet appointment for
Luna, Serena.  I swear, you are so irresponsible."  Rei turned to the
other girls just before Serena could thumb her nose at her.  "Maybe we
should go see Luna," she suggested.
        "I don't know, she could barely talk."
        "Maybe we should ask each of them to explain their symptoms, and
then we can compare them.  I find it very suspicious that both Luna and
Artemis get sick at the same time, when neither of them have ever been
sick before."
        Lita nodded.  "I think so too, Amy.  It's too unusual.  Just
think about how much we depend on them-we can't have a meeting without
them!  It could be an attack of the Negaverse!"  Her eyes narrowed
slightly.
        Mina smiled,  "Well, we're having a meeting right now, but I
agree with Amy as well.  Artemis was talkative when I left.  Let's go
talk to him first!" Serena nodded smartly, and they all took off toward
Mina's.
*****
        "Artemis?  Are you feeling any better?"  Mina sat down next to
him and began petting his white fur gently, with a concerned expression
on her face.
        He cracked open his eyes.  Bright blue met light blue as he
looked at Mina.  "Not really."
        "Oh!  Poor Artemis!  Do you want me to cook you something?"
        He closed his eyes and shook his head slowly.  Lita chuckled
quietly and have a Mina a friendly punch on her shoulder.
        "Of course he doesn't!  Your cooking is as bad as Serena's!  She
leaned in close to Artemis.  "I'll cook you something, Artemis, if
you're hungry."
        He whispered, "I'm not hungry.  I just want to sleep..."  He
buried his nose under his curled tail.
        "Can you tell us what's wrong?  Do you have a headache or
stomach ache?  Do you have a cold?"
        "Just tired..." he mumbled and fell silent again.
        Rei touched Mina's shoulder with a finger.  "Let's let him rest.
We should go see Luna now."
        Mina nodded in agreement, but Rei and Serena had to lead her
out.
*****
        Serena knelt next to her bed and began to pet Luna.  She set one
arm on the bed and rested her chin on it so her eyes were level with
Luna's.  "How are you feeling?" she asked softly.
        Luna didn't respond at first.  Serena was about to shake her
when she sighed and asked, "What?"
        "Luna!  What's wrong?!  Can you tell me what is making you ill?"
The other Scouts crowded closer.
        "I'm just tired-after a nap I'm sure I'll feel better."
        "Okay, Luna, we'll leave you alone now," Amy said and herded
Serena and the other worried girls out.
*****
        A subdued group sat down around Serena's living room table.
Serena put her chin in both hands and looked down at the table.
        "Well, I guess there's nothing to do about this until Monday,"
she said.
        Rei looked up.  "I can consult the fire and look for a cause,"
she looked around the table, "but if they're just sick, the fire isn't
going to tell us anything."
        Lita's eyes sparked.  "It has to be a Negaverse plot-Luna and
Artemis wouldn't get sick at the same time."  Her lip curled slightly.
        "They don't seem sick..." Amy mused softly.
        "It seems odd that a Negaverse attack would start like this,"
Mina protested.  She tossed a long strand of blond hair out of her face.
"They've never used a tactic like this before."
        They were all silent for a second.  Mina noticed Amy staring off
into space, distracted.  Her eyes lit up.
        "What'd you say, Amy?"
        Amy smiled at Mina.  "You see it too?"
        "Not... quite-oh!"
        "What?!"
        "I missed something."
        "What are you-wait, I understand!" Rei cried.  "I should have
seen it sooner."  She looked all around the table.  "They both said they
weren't sick, just tired.  My guess is that their energy has been
drained and that implies-"
        "The Negaverse!" Lita snarled.  She slammed a tightened fist
into her open palm.
        "Wait!" Serena cried, "If they knew enough to find Luna and
Artemis, why haven't they attacked Mina and I?"
        Amy nodded.  "That's why I didn't say anything-I can't answer
that question.  I'm still trying to figure this all out."
        "Well, if we all agree it's probably the Negaverse, I think we
should consult the fire.  Maybe it will give us some answers."  Mina
shrugged.
*****
        "Are you all right, Serena?  You seem distracted."  Darien
leaned in close and whispered in her ear, "Any troubles a certain masked
man can help with?"
        Serena looked up at him with wide eyes.  "I wasn't going to tell
you," she began with a small shake of her head, "but both Luna and
Artemis are sick.  Amy and Mina thought it was a Negaverse attack."  She
looked back down and her feet and wiggled her toes.  Her long hair
obscured her face.
        "What make them think that?"
        "They said that they weren't ill, just tired and weak.  It
looked like their energy had been drained.  We went back to the temple
and Rei inquired of the fire, but all she got was that Artemis and Luna
were being attacked somehow, and that there's more trouble coming."  She
shivered and clung to Darien.  "I'm so worried.  I'm supposed to be in
charge, and I feel so helpless without Luna or Artemis to turn to."
        Darien lifted her chin with one finger until she looked up at
him.  "You underestimate yourself and your friends."  He smiled, "And
me.  We're all aware something's up, and now we're all on our guard."
        Serena blinked the doubt out of her eyes and smiled back.
"Mmm-hmm," she nodded sharply, and they both turned to gaze up at the
Moon's pale face.



The Mistress Saga: Part 2

        Serena woke up with a start.  She jerked her head over to look
at Luna's still-sleeping form.  She rubbed her eyes tiredly and looked
at the clock.  She groaned.
        "I've only slept for three hours.  Oh, well, I might as well get
up.  I can't sleep at all."  She smiled faintly.  "I'll get to school
early-that'll surprise everyone!"
        She'd stop every few minutes while she got ready to check on
Luna, but there was never any change.  Her family walked into the
kitchen and stared in shock when they saw that she was finishing
breakfast.
        "Honey, what are you doing?"
        "Eating breakfast, Mom."
        "Well, I can see that - why are you up?"
        Serena put her spoon down.  "Luna doesn't look any better.  Even
with her appointment later today, I'm very worried.  I'm up so early
because I couldn't sleep that well.  I kept waking up, so I decided to
stop trying to sleep."
        "I'm sorry, dear, but you know, I think sleeping is more
important than your pet.  If you don't get enough sleep then you won't
do well in school.  She's just a cat, after all."
        Serena's eyes brimmed with tears.  She ran back to her room,
snatched up her backpack and ran out again, to school.
*****
        Amy, Mina, and Serena strolled down the busy street, a corridor
between the rows of glass skyscrapers.
        "So, Serena, why did you get to school so early?"
        "I couldn't sleep so I just got up and ready early." Serena
frowned, slightly annoyed as she remembered the surprise everyone
couldn't help but express at her early arrival-over and over again.  "I
didn't think it would be such a big deal!"  She tossed her head and
decided to change to subject.  "It was nice of you to come to the vet
with us, Amy.  I'm so worried."  Mina nodded in agreement.
        Amy smiled, recognizing Serena's ploy.  "I could tell the
teacher was shocked.  You didn't even arrive out of breath.  I thought
Molly's eyes would never return to their normal size."  Mina covered her
mouth with one hand.  Then she pointed to an office building ahead of
them that had reflective glass walls.
        "The vet is in there-on the second floor.  Our appointment's in
ten minutes.  I hope the vet doesn't mind you coming."
        Serena ran her hand between Luna's limp ears.  "I hope so too.
I'm sure they have the same problem.  If she won't see Luna, at least
we'll know what's wrong."  Amy reached out and patted Luna too.
*****
        While the vet poked and prodded the two cats Serena uncertainly
eyed various tools that the vet had brought into the room.  She made a
face when she noticed a particularly long needle mounted on a syringe.
Amy and Mina watched the vet examine the cats, concerned.  Finally the
vet looked up.  "Well, Miss, I don't really know what's wrong with your
cat, or the white one here.  Do they live in the same house?"  The vet
lifted his glasses and settled them more firmly on his nose.
        "No, sir," Serena looked up from the veterinary instrument she'd
been examining and shook her head vigorously.  Her pigtails whipped back
and forth.
        "Well, I'd like to keep them here under observation for awhile.
What?  Oh, yes.  Girls?  This is our orderly."  He waved in the
direction of a tall woman with brown bobbed hair.  She smiled widely and
nodded at the girls.  "She'll be watching your pets while they're here.
Excuse me for a minute-I'll be right back." He bustled out of the room.
The orderly smiled at the girls, then she bent down to look at the two
still sleeping cats.
        "Oh, what interesting marks!  What's this on their foreheads?" A
forefinger softly traced out the crescent moon.
        "Uh... nothing.  We should have given them baths before we
brought them."  Mina chuckled uneasily.
        "And what beautiful long blonde hair you have!" she continued.
She walked toward Mina, who backed away until she was cornered flat
against a wall.
        "Well-thank you."
        Mina looked so uncomfortable that Serena took a step toward her.
Amy pulled her back and whispered, "This doesn't feel right.  I think-"
        Just then a flash of bright light filled the room.  Serena
blinked furiously to clear her vision.  She heard Mina cry out.
        "Mina!" she cried.
        "What's happening, Mina?!" Amy called.
        Finally Serena's eyes cleared.  "Oh, no!"
        Instead of an ordinary orderly, a giant octopus-like creature
was clutching Mina with three tentacles.
        "Get out of here!" she shrieked.
        Serena whirled to face Amy.  She grabbed the front of her shirt
with both hands and pulled her close.  "If you help me, we can defeat
it.  If we get rid of it, it won't be able to tell the Negaverse our
identities!" she hissed.
        Amy shook her head, still concentrating on the creature. "But-"
        "I can't wait-it's leaving with Mina."  Serena's distress at
Mina's peril was palpable.  "You call the others and come after us.
I'll change!  Moon Crystal Power... Make Up!"
        Amy opened her compact communicator and whispered urgently
"Lita, Rei- come in!  Come in!"
        "Lita here, what's up?"
        "What is it, Amy?"
        "There's trouble at the vet's office, get here now!  Serena's
changed, and I'm going to, but a nega-monster's got Mina.  Hurry!  Out."
        Amy stuffed her compact into her pocket and pulled out her pen.
        "Mercury Star Power...Make Up!"
*****
        "Well, nega-trash, what do you think you're doing?"  A figure
stood silhouetted in the doorway, arms akimbo and feet braced a shoulder
width apart.
        "And whoooo," it hissed, "are yoooooou?"
        "I am Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice.  You shouldn't
be kidnapping helpless girls.  In the name of the Moon, I'll punish
you!" Sailor Moon cried with a flourish.
        "Aaahh, yessss, I have hearrd of yooou, Sssailor Moon."  With a
yell it threw Mina to the floor and rushed at Sailor Moon.  Mina cried
out when she hit the floor, then lay still.  Sailor Moon leaped out of
the creature's path with a shriek.  She landed next to Mina.
        "Mina!" she shook her, then glanced up as the monster snarled.
"I wasss under the missstaken impresssion that she wassss yoooou."  Its
beak cracked a smile.  "She wasn't as clumsssssy or ssstupid assss
yoooou." Sailor Moon ignored the jibe as Mina opened her eyes.  Suddenly
Mina gasped.
        "Behind you!" she pointed.
        Sailor Moon whirled around in a crouch.  "Moon...Tiara...Magic!"
she yelled as she threw her tiara at the advancing creature.  It dodged,
and the tiara missed on its first pass but nicked one of its tentacles
as it flew back to Sailor Moon.  She caught it, and was about to throw
it again in hopeless desperation.
        "Shabon Spray!"
        An dense fog enveloped the room.
        "Hurry!" Sailor Moon hissed as she lifted Mina up to her feet.
Mina shook off her help.
        "You use the Moon Scepter-I'll handle myself," she gasped.
"Venus Star Power...Make Up!"  While she transformed Sailor Moon took
out her scepter and readied it.  She may not be able to see yet, but as
soon as she could, that monster was toast!  She noticed a dark shadow
moving toward her.
        "Moon Princess-"
        "Sailor Moon, it's me!"
        "Mars!  Over here!"
        "We're coming!" Jupiter called out.
        Suddenly a concussion shook the building.
        "Guys?  Guys!  Are you all right?" Sailor Moon shrieked.
        "Can't see, can't shoot.  This tactic didn't work," Venus
mumbled to herself as she intently scanned the room.
        "Fire Soul!"
        An orange glow filled the room and the fog burnt off.  Sailor
Moon strained to see the monster.  She gasped in horror as she saw
Mercury sprawled out on the ground.  Mars stood in front of her,
crouched defensively.
        "Burning..."
        "Venus..."
        "SSSSSStop!" the creature thundered, "or I'll kill your
frrrrriend here."  He shook one tentacle violently, and the Scouts
gasped to see Jupiter clutched within it.
        "Kill it!  Don't worry about me!" she cried as she struggled to
free her arms.
        Venus got a determined look in her face.  Sailor Moon turned to
her, and gasped as she realized what was going through Venus' mind.
"Don't!" she pleaded.
        "I can aim it carefully..." she was tracking the monster's
movement with her index finger.
        "But-"
        "I have to try-no more time for discussion.  Crescent Beam!"
With her cry she pointed directly at the creature's head.  It dodged and
with a keening scream it threw Jupiter at the wall with all its
strength.  She crashed into the wall and slid down it slowly until she
reached the floor.  She slouched there, unmoving.  Still screaming, it
shot three tentacles each at Mars and Venus.  With a couple vicious
snaps it tossed the Scouts at Jupiter's still form.  Venus was already
weakened, and didn't move.  As the monster turned toward Sailor Moon,
Mars struggled to her knees.  With a negligent flip he slapped her
across her face and she fell back, silent.
        "Mars!" Sailor Moon tried to run for her, but the octopus-like
monster stepped into her path.  Determinedly she lifted up her scepter.
        "Moon Princess Hala - ouch!"
        The creature held her scepter as Sailor Moon clutched her
injured arm.  "Weeeeell, Ssssailor Moooon?  What nooow?  Yoooou are
defencsssselessssss.  I thought it woooould be mooore difficult to
defeeeeeeeat you."  It tossed the scepter behind its back.  Sailor Moon
tensed apprehensively as it hit the floor with a hollow clatter.
        A red rose appeared in the air, and embedded itself in the
sterile tile floor to quiver few feet in front of the monster.
        "Stop right there!  I don't know your purpose for being here,
but I won't allow you to hurt these ladies while I am here to prevent
it!"
        "Tuxedo Mask!"  Despite the danger Sailor Moon flushed a little
when she saw his dark figure step between herself and the monster.
        He flashed her a quick smile before he waded into the fray.  The
creature shot a tentacle out at him.  He whirled his cane around and
with a sharp snap he repelled the blow.  They traded blows back and
forth but the creature's eight arms were too much for him.  He began to
retreat slowly.  Suddenly Sailor Moon noticed a tentacle sneaking
through Tuxedo Mask's defenses.
        "Watch out!" she cried, too late.
        Tuxedo Mask went down heavily.  In a desperate move she dived
for her scepter, but the nega-monster snatched her up.
        "Now I have yooooou!" it growled.
        "Tuxedo Mask!  Darien!" Sailor Moon cried out as the monster
wrapped more slimy sucker-covered tentacles around her.
        "Darien!!!!!"



The Mistress Saga: Part 3

        Sailor Moon grunted as she struggled within the grip of the
tentacled monster.
        "Hurricane Blast!"
        A giant wind whipped up and hit the creature.  The concussion
blew the creature through one wall and into the vet's waiting room,
which had cleared out a while ago, due to the sounds of battle emanating
from the examining room.
        The monster slumped against the second wall it hit and its limbs
went slack.  Sailor Moon struggled to fight her way out of the massed
tentacles.  She gasped.
        There stood a new Sailor Scout!  The brown suited Sailor ran up
and helped Sailor Moon out.
        "Who are you?" she asked breathlessly.
        The girl smiled, "We don't have time for lengthy introductions.
First, do whatever you were going to do to that creature with that
scepter, then we'll have time to talk."
        Sailor Moon nodded and made a dash for her scepter.  She
snatched it off the floor and whirled to face the monster just as it
began to struggle to its feet.
        "What are you doing?!" it shrieked as it looked from the new
Sailor to Sailor Moon, "I thought-"
        "Moon..."
        "-I had-"
        "Princess..."
        "-already-"
        "Halation!"
        "AHHHHHH!"  With a final scream as the energy blast hit it, the
monster contracted into a glowing ball, and with a flash of light it
disappeared.
        "Whew!" Sailor Moon sagged for a second in relief.  The she
jerked her head around the room.  With a cry she ran for a still, dark
form sprawled on the floor.  "Tuxedo Mask!  Tuxedo Mask!  Are you okay?"
        He stirred slightly and his eyes cracked open.  "I'll be fine,
the breath just got knocked out of me.  Go check on the girls.  They
took some nasty hits."
        Sailor Moon gave Tuxedo Mask a quick squeeze of affection and
helped him sit up.  Then she ran towards Mars, Venus, and Jupiter.
Jupiter's strong constitution served her well.  She was already trying
to get untangled from the others.
        "Good job, Sailor Moon!  Hey-who's that over by Mercury?"
        Sailor Moon glanced back over her shoulder.  "I don't know.  She
saved us all, though.  There hasn't been time to find out.  Mars?  Mars?
Wake up, please." She knelt down by Mars and held her head in her lap.
"C'mon, wake up-tell me you're all right."
        "Mmmmm," Mars shifted around a little, "I'm supposed to nag you,
not you me," she protested foggily as she began to wake up.
        "Mars!" Sailor Moon cried out with joy, and helped her up too.
        "Wait-who's that walking toward us?"
        "Is it over?" Venus asked weakly and then she too noticed the
brown clad sailor.
        A grin split her freckled face and she flipped her long red
braid back over her shoulder.  Her green eyes sparkled.  "I'm glad to
meet you all finally.  I'm Sailor Earth."
        "Really?"
        "How come we didn't meet you before?"
        "How'd you find us here?"
        "What're your special powers?"
        She held up a hand with a laugh.  "Hold it!  I've never been in
Japan until now.  My family just moved here.  As for finding you, once
I'd heard about a strange creature loose in this office building, well,
I couldn't ignore that.  It was good that I got here in time."  She
shrugged.
        "I'll say!" Mercury rubbed a sore spot on her head.
        Sailor Moon took Earth's hand.  "Thank you for coming.  Oh!  Do
you know Tuxedo Mask?"
        "Him?" Earth pointed at Darien, who by now had stood up and was
walking across the room to retrieve his cane.  "I didn't know who he
was, but he seemed to be your friend."  She looked up at him and made a
gesture of apology as he walked in their direction.  "I regret I didn't
get here in time to help you," she said.
        Tuxedo Mask looked back at her.  "I'm just glad the monster was
defeated."
        She nodded.
        Sailor Venus spoke up, "I think we should have a Scout meeting
to talk about this attack."
        "At the temple?"
        Venus looked at Earth.  "Do you know where it is?"
        "The one in the middle of town?"
        "Yes."
        She nodded, "When?"
        Sailor Moon spoke up, "I'm already late for supper.  How about
in two hours?"
        The others nodded.  Then Mercury looked around.  "Where are the
cats?"
        Venus gasped and looked about frantically.  Mars brushed a few
dark strands out of her face and pointed.  "There they are!"
        Sailor Moon sprinted over to the still forms of the two cats and
shook them.  Then she looked at the others.  "There's no change-but they
don't seem any worse."  Venus knelt on one knee to scoop up the snow
white cat while Sailor Moon picked up Luna.
        "Are they the reason you were here?" Earth asked.
        "Yes, they're under attack by the Negaverse.  We don't know what
to do.  That creature was involved somehow." Mercury gestured in the
direction of the damaged wall that the monster had hit.
        Venus nodded, "If you hadn't helped us kill that monster, we'd
be in great danger.  In order to save Artemis and-"
        "Luna."
        "How'd you know her name?"
        "She told me who I was three years ago.  I think I was the
first.  She said she had to leave to find some others.  Anyway, what
were you saying, Venus?  It sounded important."
        "I was just thanking you.  We had to reveal out secret
identities to that creature.  If it hadn't been defeated, the Negaverse
would have known where I lived, as well as Sailor Moon and Mercury."
        "I'm glad I could help.  I'll be at the meeting.  See you girls
in a few hours.  I can't wait to get to know you all.  Hey, where's
Tuxedo Mask?"
        "Oh!" Sailor Moon said, "He must have left already."  She looked
at her feet.  "I hope he's all right."
        Jupiter placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.  "I'm sure he
is.  You should get home with Luna before you get in trouble."
        "Mmmhmm.  I will.  See you guys later.  Thanks again, Sailor
Earth." Sailor Moon walked out of the building as Serena and off toward
home.
*****
        Rei looked up from her seat on the temple steps as the sharp
clap of hard shoe soles hitting stone disturbed her meditation.  A girl
walked toward the temple.  She was wearing jeans and a brown sweater.
Rei stood up.  "Can I help you?"
        She smiled at Rei.  "I think so.  Are you-are you Sailor Mars?"
        Rei forced a laugh.  "Of course not, I-oh!  You're Sailor
Earth!"
        She smiled back with a sparkle of emerald eyes and nodded.
"Yes."
        "Are you Mars?"
        "Rei."
        The other girl stuck out her hand. "Erin.  Pleased to meet you,
Rei."
        Rei looked at the proffered hand for a second, then understood.
"Oh!" she said as she took Erin's hand.
        "Sorry.  Guess I have to get used to things here.  I've been in
the States too long."
        Rei nodded at her clothes.  "I can tell."
        She held her arms out and looked down at herself. "Do you think
it looks bad?" she asked, worried.
        "No, don't worry about that, Earth," Amy laughed as she walked
up.  "That red hair is distinctive.  I'm Amy, and this is Lita."
        "I'm Erin."  She half thrust out her hand again, the stopped.
"Oops, sorry."
        Lita reached out and took it.  "No problem.  Hey, we're all here
together." Amy nodded. "No need to feel embarrassed."
        "Well, Serena and Mina are last again."
        "But we're not late!" Serena called out as she trotted up the
steps.
        "Hey guys, this is Erin."
        "Oh!  Hi!"
        "Pleased to meet you!"
        As they chatted they all went inside Rei's house.
        "You mentioned you knew Luna.  How long ago was that again?"
Serena asked, interested.
        "About three years ago.  I heard about Sailor V a lot.  I kept a
low profile." She looked at the floor, then up again.  "I heard about a
Princess.  Who is she?"
        Serena blushed.  "That would be me."
        Amy was listening closely.  "Where'd you hear that?"
        "Oh, uh-from Luna, of course.  How does Tuxedo Mask fit in?  Who
is he?"
        "His name is Darien.  He's-well-he watches out for us."  Serena
turned even redder.
        Lita laughed, "You mean he watches out for you.  The rest of us
barely matter!"
        "Oh, so that's how it is!" Erin laughed along with the others.
        "I hate to ruin the mood, but we're all here for a specific
reason," Amy said softly.
        Lita flicked her ponytail behind her head.  "Let's get down to
business."
        "Amy, did you find out anything about the creature?"  The girls
all turned to Amy.
        "I was knocked out too early.  It was emanating nega-energy, but
I think we already knew that."
        "Ummmmm... I have something to offer," Erin said hesitantly,
obviously uncomfortable with talking about such things openly.
        "What is it, Erin?  We're at a loss," Serena automatically tried
to make her feel more comfortable.
        "Well, I've fought these creatures before.  These monsters are
just foot soldiers.  They work for someone bigger.  I've heard them
refer to their leader as a woman, but that's all I know."
        "A foot soldier?  That monster was tough!"
        Erin nodded.  "That's the strongest octopus I've seen yet.
Usually my attack will kill one off without a problem.  That one barely
felt it.  I've never met one that strong before."
        "I think it drains energy," Mina ventured.  "It had a hold on me
for a while and I felt weak even after it let me go."
        "Did you know they can disguise themselves?"
        Erin nodded.  "If you watch, you'll notice a necklace with a
large black stone.  That's what allows them to change."
        Mina nodded.  "At least we have something to watch for, but why
would this creature attack us?"
        "They search for energy.  I think they bring it back to their
leader, but I don't know the plan.  They're not very active.  I don't
encounter them often."
        "Well, that's good.  Maybe whatever they were doing here is
over."  Serena ventured hopefully.
        "Serena!  Have you forgotten Luna and Artemis?  We're under
attack this very second."
        Serena looked away.  "I know, Rei."
        "Hey, I've been wondering, how do you guys all coordinate your
arrival when you're far apart?"  Erin watched the other girls for an
answer.  Serena was still to subdued to answer.  Lita pulled out her
communicator. "We use these to talk to each other.  See, they have
speakers and a little screen."
        Erin looked at it with interest. "I think I've seen that
before," she mused.  Mina turned to Amy.  "Hey, I just thought of
something.  If those creatures or their leader is taking energy from
Luna and Artemis, couldn't you trace it to its destination?"
        "I don't know, but I've been trying.  No luck so far, but I'm
not giving up yet."
        Mina looked around.  "Anybody else have any ideas?"  Everyone
shook their head.  "No?  Then I suggest we all go home and get our
rest."
        Lita nodded. "We've all had a tough day."  As she got to her
feet she patted Erin on her shoulder.  "Nice to meet you, Erin."
        "It was great to meet all you guys," she responded with a wide
smile.



The Mistress Saga: Part 4

        "I'm so tired!" Serena whined.  "Luna still hasn't moved, and I
just can't get a good night's sleep!  Amy, have you found anything yet?"
        Amy watched the ground in front of her as she walked.  "No, but
I think I may have found a signal that connects both Luna and Artemis to
something else." She looked into Serena's eyes.  "I can't trace its
source yet.  It'll be a while longer, I'm afraid."
        Serena smiled sadly.  "It can't be helped.  We wouldn't even
have that much without you, Amy.  Thanks."
        The rest of the walk to school was silent.
*****
        Amy jerked her head up and tore her eyes off the softly glowing
computer monitor.  Something was making noise outside.  She saved all of
the data and walked over to turn on her bedroom light.  As she moved she
glanced at the clock.  Two AM.  Everyone else was probably asleep by
now.  She flipped on the switch.  The noise continued right outside her
window.  Suddenly she heard a muffled cry for help.  She came to a
decision and ran out of the house toward the noise.  In the alley behind
her house she skidded to a stop.  A woman lay on the ground in a pool of
something red.  "What happened?" she asked, shocked.  The woman slowly
raised her head.  Oddly, she was smiling.
        "Nothing, yet."
        Amy heard a foot fall behind her.  Before she could face her
attacker, all went black.
*****
        "Don't let the chemicals wear off.  Record what I need and put
her under again," the sultry voice crooned to the creatures scurrying
beneath.  "She can't remember anything, or the Scouts could suspect some
sort of subterfuge.  As soon as you've recorded the message, put her
back.  We'll need her later."
        "Yes, M'Lady."  The creature's pale hair fell across its face as
it bowed to the shrouded woman.
*****
        "I didn't see Amy at school today," Lita said to Serena, "Have
you heard anything?"
        "No," Serena said around the pastry she'd just stuffed into her
mouth.  "Mmm, these are good.  I know, let's take these over to Amy's
and ask how she's doing.  Maybe she's sick.  These would cheer her up."
She wiped crumbs off her face.  "I suppose it's good that I don't cook
as well as you, Lita, or I'd never stop eating."
        Lita laughed as she picked up the plate of pastries.  "You never
stop anyway!" she teased, and then set off.  Serena sneaked up behind
her and snatched another as they walked down the sidewalk.
*****
        A soft knock sounded at the bedroom door, and then it slowly
swung open.  Serena stuck her head in.  "Amy, what are you doing in
bed?!" she asked, shocked.  The walked into the room, and Lita followed.
"Your mom said you'd been hurt!"
        "Well, I went outside to investigate a noise late last night,
and I woke up here in bed with a doctor saying they'd found me asleep in
the alley behind my house."  She shrugged.  "I don't remember what
happened.  Though I had some rather strange dreams."
        Serena gingerly touched a bright white bandage wrapped around
Amy's forehead.  "Why's this here?"
        "Oh, I have a bump on my head," she laughed softly.  "It's
nothing."
        "Are you sure, Amy?"
        She smiled and looked over at Lita.  "What's that you've
brought? Oh! How about a pastry for me, Lita?  Unless Serena made them!"
Her ploy worked- Serena was distracted.
        She stuck her tongue out at Amy.  "Yep, she's feeling better,
all right."
        Lita held one out to Amy with a chuckle.  "No, I made them.  I
saved one for you.  It wasn't easy, you know!"  They all laughed.  Amy
took a generous bite and chewed it with obvious enjoyment.  Then she
turned her head to face Serena.
        "I think I've found something on Luna and Artemis.  I'll have to
work on it a little more but as soon as I know, I'll tell you."
        Serena smiled and patted her hand. "I know you will."   She
looked down at her watch.  "Oh!  Look at the time!  Mom's going to be
mad I'm not home yet.  I didn't tell her I'd be coming here.  I'd better
go.  See ya later, guys.  Glad everything's okay, Amy."  With a brief
touch on Amy's hand, Serena turned and dashed out of the room-without
her coat.
        Amy looked at it with amusement and shook her head.
        Lita smiled briefly.  "And how much do you want to bet she won't
notice it's gone until tomorrow."  She put the plate of pasties down on
Amy's bedside table and picked up Serena's coat.  Then she turned back
to Amy fast enough that Amy couldn't cover her grimace of pain.  Lita
sat down on the side of the bed.  "You can't fool me, Amy.  I don't even
think you fooled Serena.  Something else is wrong.  Spill."  She crossed
her arms stubbornly, making it clear she wouldn't leave without an
answer.
        Amy sighed.  "I don't know why, but I'm very nervous.  I think
something very serious happened,"  Amy's voice took on an
uncharacteristic hint of complaint as she touched her bandages, "but I
can't remember a thing.  I shouldn't be forgetting things from the size
of this injury.  And look here," she bared her arm, and Lita leaned in
close.
        Lita gasped in shock.  "Amy!  What happened?"  There were
bruises all along her upper arm.
        "I can't see it too well, but it looks like someone injected
something into me.  I'm just glad the doctor didn't see it, or who knows
what he would think." Amy put down her sleeve again.  "The last thing I
remember it was about two in the morning.  I was found at about
seven-thirty.  Who knows what was done to me in those five and a half
hours?"
        "Amy," Lita said with worry, "I think you should tell the
others.  This is too much trouble for you to keep it to yourself."
        "I knew that but-I didn't want to worry Serena.  You know how
worried she is when anyone of us has a problem."
        "I do, but they all do need to be told," Lita insisted, knowing
how stubborn Amy could be."
        Amy finally nodded.  "Bring them here tomorrow for a meeting and
I'll tell everyone."
*****
        That night as Serena was about to get ready for bed her compact
went off.  She picked it up and opened it.
        "Serena!  It's Amy.  I've found out where the signal originates
from.  It's at the public park next to school.  I'll call the others and
we'll meet you there."
        "Thanks Amy-" Serena started, but Amy had already signed off.
"Hmph, that's odd.  Well, I already know there's going to be trouble
so-" she grabbed her broach and held it up, "Moon Crystal Power...Make
Up!"
*****
        "Message sent, M'Lady."  The white hair of the humanoid glowed
in the monitor's pale light.  "I don't think she suspected anything was
amiss, even though we had to cut off the transmission when she started
to respond."
        "Good, good.  The plan is proceeding." The woman turned
with a swirl of inky black cloth.  "I will inform my mother of our
progress."
*****
        Sailor Moon looked around.  She didn't see the others.  Maybe
she was just the first to arrive.  She decided to start looking by
herself before the others got to the park.  After a few minutes she was
in the middle of a grove of trees.  Suddenly a swirling black and green
vortex opened in front of her.  A few octopus creatures stepped onto the
grass.  She backed away in fear as they spotted her.  Just before she
turned away and ran she saw a dark figure step out of the portal.  She
heard the monsters crashing through the woods after her as she felt
something hot creep up on her with a deep ominous crackle.  She spun to
face whatever was coming after her, and a blazing fireball roared into
her.  She got her arms up defensively just in time, but the force of
contact threw her up against a tree.  She looked up only to see the
advancing creature getting closer.  In desperation she stumbled off
again.  She looked over her shoulder and saw the dark caped creature
gesture, and a flicker of fire appeared in its cupped hands.  She put
her head down and ran faster.
        Where were the others?  Amy had said they'd be coming!  The
sharp snap of a cracking twig told her the octopus creatures were almost
on her.  She looked ahead and saw she'd run in a circle.  She was coming
up on the vortex.  She felt another fireball behind her.  With gasping
breaths she spun around to face it, and backed away.  Crack!  She hit
her head on a low hanging branch, and she noticed she was falling for
far too long as darkness overwhelmed her senses.
*****
        Lita was worried.  She had told everyone but Serena about the
meeting at Amy's, but Serena hadn't shown up at school.  She'd walked
over to Serena's house, but her parents thought Serena had gone to
school early again.  Now, as a last ditch effort, she was walking to
Darien's apartment.  She rang the bell at his door.
        "Yes?" he opened it.  "Lita!  What brings you here?"
        She held her books in front of her and her shoulders slumped.
"Have you seen Serena lately?"
        "No, actually, I haven't.  Why?  What's wrong?" he said loudly,
worried.  Lita looked over her shoulder uncomfortably.  Darien stepped
back.  "You'd better come in so we can talk."
        She walked in and stood just in front of Darien's closed door.
"I'm really worried, Darien.  No one's seen her since last night!  She
never showed up at school."  She looked up at Darien's worried face.
"There's some unknown Negaverse plot going on right now.  We need her as
our leader, especially since Artemis and Luna aren't awake yet."
        Darien shook his head.  "I don't know where she could be.  If I
see her, I'll tell her to call you."
        "Thanks." Lita got up to leave.
        "How's Amy, by the way?"
        "She'll be fine.  She's trying find the source of the attack on
Artemis and Luna.  Maybe that information will give us some answers."
        "If you find out, maybe you could give me a call-if you want the
help."
        Lita smiled in an attempt to soothe the worry written across his
face.  "We'll probably do that.  See you."
        Darien opened the door and let her out.  "Good-bye.  I-I hope
you find her."
        "I'm sure we will."  Lita slipped out, even more worried.
*****
        Rei looked at Lita in surprise.  "What do you mean she's gone?"
Her hair whipped around her shoulder, she turned her head so quickly.
        "Nobody knows where she is!"  Lita's frustration was obvious by
the slight growl in her voice.
        Erin looked around and the Scouts gathered with her in Amy's
bedroom.  "It must have something to do with what's happened to Luna and
Artemis.  We have to consider that she might have been taken somehow."
        "No!" Amy gasped.
        Erin kept a determined look in her eyes.  "We have to know where
those signals converge.  It's our only chance to find out what's
happening."
        Amy got out of bed and began to walk over to her desk.
        "Amy!" Lita got up and walked over to her.  "Should you be up?"
She lowered her voice, "Are you sure that you're really okay?  You
haven't told the other girls about those needle marks yet, but I know
they don't mean anything good."
        Amy shrugged out from Lita's grasp.  "I have to finish.  I think
I've gotten enough data to be able to find where the signals converge.
It'll just take a little more time in front of the computer.  It's no
problem."
        Mina nodded.  "It has to be done, but don't hurt yourself doing
it.  We'll need you for the fight when you find them."
        "This shouldn't take too long," Amy responded.
*****
        "Is she always so stubborn?" Erin asked after they had left
Amy's house.
        Mina shook her head.  "No, she's just worried about Serena."
Mina looked into Erin's eyes.  "Serena can seem a bit..."
        "Flaky," Lita offered.  Erin smiled.
        "I have noticed that.  I thought it was something of a facade.
I mean, the leader of the Sailor Scouts wouldn't really be like that,
would she?"
        "She is," Rei commented with a roll of her eyes.  Lita flashed
her an annoyed look.
        "She forgets things a lot, and is-well-flaky, but we are
important to her, and she will fight to defend us."  She tossed her head
and her brown ponytail swished behind her head.  "She has the biggest
heart of anybody I've ever known."
        "I think I speak for all of us, even Rei, when I say she is the
most important person to each of us-ever."  Mina looked around at the
girls around her, a hint of moisture in her eyes.
        Erin too scanned the small circle.  "I've only known you guys
for a little while, but I think I already know what you mean."  Her eyes
glazed over, and as she spoke she seemed different somehow, almost
childlike and insecure.  "Where I come from, everything was so
competitive.  I've never had someone be my friend out of kindness.
Before, they've always wanted something.  Serena is my friend
because-because she really cares."  She blinked, took a deep breath, and
pulled herself together with flick of her long thick braid.  "Sorry,"
her chuckle sounded forced and strained, "didn't mean to get so morose."
        Rei touched her tightly clenched hand.  "I think we all
understand," she said, pity in her eyes.
*****
        The next morning Amy called each Scout.  "Erin!  You have a
communicator too?" she asked, surprised.
        Erin smiled and nodded, "I never used it because I didn't know
you guys, and I wasn't sure what it was for until that meeting, but Luna
told me I'd need it one day.  Guess she was right."  Her eyes crinkled
as she smiled her characteristic wide grin.
        "Great.  Listen, everyone, I've found out where the signals
converge.  We'll all meet there."
        "Where is it, Amy?"
        "It seems to be near the public park over by school.  Everyone
know where it is?"
        "Yes."
        "Uh-huh."
        "Got it!"
        "See you there!"
        "Over and out."  Amy closed her compact and ran out of the
house, toward the rendezvous.
*****
        "As you suggested, M'Lady, we monitored their transmissions and
succeeded in fooling them-they shouldn't suspect anything."
        The woman's hood shadowed her eyes, but the light illuminated
her smug smile.  "Good."
*****
        "We're all here now, Amy."  The girls stood in an indecisive
group, waiting, as she arrived.
        "I know.  Unfortunately I don't know what we're looking for.  We
should search the park."
        "I suggest we stick together," Erin said briskly.  "If this is
our enemy's base of operations we should at least stay in sight of each
other while we comb this park."
        "Good idea!"
        "All right."
        "I'll be right over here."
        Lita grabbed Amy before they started searching.  "Are you okay?"
        Amy smiled.  "I caught a cat nap, I'm fine."
        Lita examined her face carefully, then let her go, satisfied.
"I'm just doing what Serena would want.  She wouldn't let you work
yourself to death, so I won't either."  She covered her concern with her
usual abrasive manner.
        Amy understood. "Now we need to help Serena.  Let's look over
there." She pointed.  All of the girls walked through the park quietly,
trying to find something.  After about ten minutes of searching Erin
called out, "Over here!"  The girls rushed toward the sound of her
voice.
        "What'd you find?"
        "I-I hope this isn't what I think this is.  Look, over at this
tree-see the burn marks on the bark?  There's the outline of a person
here."  She pointed at the scorched tree trunk.
        "Oh no!" Mina cried out, "You don't think Serena..."  She
covered her mouth with both hands, as if to keep the words behind her
lips, unspoken.
        Rei looked carefully at the tree, then turned her head away with
a small sound.
        "Actually," Erin looked up with tears in her eyes, "it was-" she
held up something-charred but recognizable- "Sailor Moon because this-"
she handed it to Lita, "is her Moon Scepter."



The Mistress Saga: Part 5

        Sailor Moon heard footsteps coming toward her.  She frantically
looked for a hiding place, and ran toward a small crag in the cave wall.
She pressed up against the cold stone as she watched a troop of
nega-creatures march by from the shadows. She seemed to be underground.
The air was slightly stagnant and cold.  She'd come back to
consciousness here, wherever here was.  She assumed she'd stumbled onto
the Negaverse somehow, since sickly gray-green rock wasn't common
anywhere in her universe.  Somewhere she'd lost her Moon Scepter, and
now here she was, trapped and virtually defenseless.  She shakily
brushed at her tattered suit as she struggled to think clearly on what
her next step should be.
*****
        "What do you mean you didn't get her?"
        "One of my monsters saw her fall into a gateway.  She's down
here in the tunnels under our control-we just have to find where,
Mistress."  The creature was on its knees and bowed over as far as it
could bend before the older woman.  Though her face was unlined, her
steel gray hair was a testament to her age.  "I have five troops already
combing the perimeter."
        "I don't know exactly what she's capable of.  My agent in the
universe above-my daughter-is to report back to me soon.  Until then I
want no one- I repeat- NO ONE to open a gate.  I don't want her to
escape.  Leave me now!" The woman's voice was pleasant to listen to even
when harsh with anger.  The creature bowed even lower, got to its feet
and ran out of the dark audience chamber.
*****
        "She's not dead!  I know it!"
        Amy put a comforting arm around Rei's shoulders.  "I don't think
so either, Rei."
        Mina looked at the two sadly. "I don't think she'd let go of her
Moon Scepter willingly."
        Rei looked over to her as moisture brimmed in her eyes.  "You
know Serena-she'd forget her head if it weren't attached."  She looked
down to the ground.  "She has to be fine!" Rei asserted vehemently,
almost violently.
        "I feel the same way you do, but it doesn't look good."
        Stray tears scattered as Rei vigorously shook her head.  "You
don't understand.  I know she's not dead, Lita.  I can feel it.  But
she's in horrible danger.  I need to consult the fire.  I think it will
tell us something."
        "Consult the fire?"
        "There's a reason Rei lives at the temple, Erin.  Let's go!"
Lita pulled urgently on Erin's arm, and they all sprinted to the shrine
with newfound hope in their eyes.
*****
        From her vantage point in the crag in the cavern wall Sailor
Moon examined a group of nega-creatures that looked very human.  They
all wore dark red uniforms and had white hair with large, strange, and
luminous sea green eyes.  Finally she had an idea.
        She fished out her transformation pen.  "Moon Power ...ni nare!
Make me look like one of those nega-creatures!"  After she transformed
she scurried nervously after the large troop of creatures.
*****
        "I was right!  She's not dead, but she's trapped
somewhere-somewhere dark and cold.  I couldn't get any more than that.
We'll just have to find her." Rei was slightly wobbly after gazing in
the fire.
        "How are we going to do that?  She could be anywhere!"  Lita was
grateful for a chance to vent her frustration, since they'd all had to
remain silent while Rei had meditated in front of the flames.
        "Cold and dark.  That sounds bad."
        Amy nodded.  "I think we're all thinking the same thing."
        "The Negaverse!" they exchanged worried looks as they shouted in
unison.
*****
        "Mistress!  A portal has been opened!  Someone is entering near
here!" Just behind the agitated monster a figure wearing a cape and cowl
strolled calmly into the chamber.  The monster gasped, "Oh, it was you,
M'Lady!"
        "Sable!" thundered the old woman,  "I have been waiting for you.
What news?"
        "I have watched the girls carefully since I found out their
identities."
        "I want to know who they are, but first things first.  What
happened last night?"
        "They have found Sailor Moon's Moon Scepter.  I assume then that
you have her?"
        "No, I do not!  She escaped my clutches!  She stumbled into a
gateway, so she's somewhere in the caves.  I have all of my army
searching the area, but she still eludes them."  Her voice dropped to an
annoyed growl.
        "I don't know how she could do this, but I have found that there
is a lot to find out about the Scouts.  They have a long history and
many skills.  The information we gathered before undertaking this
mission was woefully inadequate.  They would be formidable even without
their powers.  Maybe there's more to Sailor Moon than we thought."  The
dark figure tilted her head.
        "You work for me.  I order you to find her.  She's ruining
everything! Even the Crimson Guard is exhausted with searching for her."
        "I will try." Sable bowed slightly.
        "You will do more than try.  Do not think that just because you
are my daughter, you can get away with failure.  I have other children
who would be glad to replace you.  I don't enjoy waiting.  Our energy
reserves are starting to run dry."
        "I cannot stay here long, or the plan won't work, and all your
waiting will have been for nothing.  You know that, Mistress, as I'm
sure you know that I am saying this because it is my most earnest desire
that you succeed."
        "Mmmmm.  Very well.  But when you open a gate make sure it is
well guarded.  She must not escape above."
        "Yes, Mistress."  Sable clasped her fist to her chest and was
about to back out the room.
        "Wait!" the old woman's voice rang through the audience chamber.
        Sable halted.
        "I have an idea.  I want you to continue with our plan as if we
did have Sailor Moon.  The Scouts can't know whether or not she is our
prisoner.  If she is not captured by then, we'll use them to get her to
come to us.  Either way, we get what we want.  Yes, that will work
nicely.  There will be a few details for you to iron out.  Proceed as
ordered, Sable."
        "As you have ordered, Mistress."
*****
        Serena hid in a fold of scarlet curtain as the mysterious Sable
stalked out.  She was grateful her wine-red uniform blended into the
shadows perfectly.  For some reason the Mistress wanted all the Sailors
together.  She had to find out what was going on, before anything hurt
them.  She considered following Sable and trying to sneak through the
gateway with her, but she decided against it.  She didn't want to see
what "well guarded" meant.  She'd try to hook up with the Scouts when
they came here.  If she could, then they would be able to unite and
surprise the enemy in her lair.
*****
        "I'm so worried about Luna and Artemis!  I think we have to go
back to that park today and search it by daylight.  Maybe we can find a
clue that will lead to Sailor Moon, or at least a cure for the cats.
They're getting weaker by the hour."  Mina wrung her hands with worry.
"He's too weak to even stir in his sleep."
        "That's a good idea, Mina," Erin approved.  "Let's go now.  We
can call the others on the way.
        The two girls took off, running.
*****
        "I don't see anything," Lita said, tired.
        "Wait!  Is that a piece of paper?" Rei pointed, excited.
        "Let's check it out."
        "Stop!" Amy hissed as she opened her minicomputer. "I'm getting
some very ominous readings from that direction.  Some sort of demonic
energy is over there.  Before we walk into anything we should
transform."
        "Good idea!" Erin approved, and held up her brown pen. "Earth
Star Power...Make Up!"
        "Mercury Star Power...Make Up!"
        "Venus Star Power...Make Up!"
        "Mars Star Power...Make Up!"
        "Jupiter Star Power...Make Up!"
        Mercury reached up and brought down her virtual reality visor,
to the surprise of Earth.  Flashing numbers poured across it.  "Careful,
everyone," she warned, "the readings are peaking!"
        They all nodded acknowledgment and stalked forward slowly.
        Venus began to climb the tree toward the bright white object
caught high in a branch.  "Watch out, Venus!  Here it comes!" Mercury
called out.
        Air shimmered around the Scouts.  Venus leapt down to them and
they formed a defensive circle, back to back.  "It's another one of
those octopus creatures!" Mercury said, worried.  "Don't let it drain
you or we'll never defeat it!"
        "Yooooou have noo chaaance!"
        "Fire Soul!"
        "Supreme Thunder!"
        The octopus creature flung three tentacles out to an adjoining
tree and pulled sharply.  It whipped around the trunk to the other side
and ripped the tree out of the ground.  It flung it at the Scouts.  With
cries of panic they all jumped out of its path, but the tree trunk
caught Mercury in her right leg and she went down.  She desperately
tried to release her leg from under a heavy branch as the monster made
for her with a yell.
        "Crescent Beam!"  Venus swung her finger after the monster in
order to stop its advance.
        "Mars!  Help Mercury!" Earth cried.  She whipped her head around
toward the creature.  Her long auburn braid flailed against her back as
it began to become undone. "Hurricane Blast!" she screamed, and held her
spread palms out to the creature.  A shockwave shot out from her hands
toward the monster.  It dodged quickly and two tentacles snaked out to
catch her in their grip.  She struggled desperately, and Jupiter noticed
her plight.  She sprinted toward the creature.
        "Sparkling Wide Pressure!"  She lobbed the scintillating orb at
the octopus, and it cut through one of the tentacles that grasped Earth.
Jupiter knelt beside her as she collapsed.  "Are you all right?"
        "I'll be fine, help the others!" Earth waved her off weakly, and
Jupiter nodded and ran to help the others.
        "Weeeeell, yoooou five arrrre mooore difficult than the otheeeer
one wasssss." The monster gasped as it danced out from under another
magical attack.  Venus was thrown to the ground by a few arms and her
head cracked against the ground.  She lay still.
        Jupiter swore, "Another one to protect.  Mars, can you get
Mercury out from under that branch if I hold off this creature?"  Mars
ran off to help Mercury out.
        "What do you mean the other one?" Earth cried as she struggled
to her feet.
        "Ahhh, the one we captured a night agoooo." It hurled another
tree at Jupiter.
        "Burning Mandala!"  Mars chopped the tree into small burning
chunks, but Jupiter was caught up by the monster.  "I'll take care of
yooooou!"  it hissed angrily.
        "No, you won't!" Venus said, on her knees and rubbing her sore
head.  "Venus Love Me Chain!"  She sliced through another tentacle, and
Jupiter threw off the severed limb, and ran over to the Scouts just as
Mercury finally freed herself from under the offending branch.
        "Hurricane..."
        "Mercury Ice Storm..."
        "Venus Love Me..."
        "Burning..."
        "Supreme..."
        With a shriek of fear the monster ran away through the wood.
"Follow it!  It knows something about Sailor Moon!" cried Earth as she
sprinted after it.  They all took off running.  The monster jumped into
a swirling vortex of black and green, and with a cry the Scouts
followed.



The Mistress Saga: Part 6

        Serena heard an alarm go off.  Somewhere a red light began to
flash warningly.  She grabbed a stray creature that was running by.
"What's going on?" she demanded.  A while back she had discovered that
she had taken on the disguise of the Crimson Guard, an elite and feared
fighting force of the Mistress.  She got instant results in her
disguise.
        "The targets of the Mistress have arrived.  They came through a
portal not long ago." The small furry thing shrank as far from her as it
could while it stammered out its answer.
        "Where?"
        It pointed down a now empty passageway. "Down that way."  The
second she let go it was running again.  She ignored it and pelted in
the direction the creature had pointed.  She had to get to the Scouts
before something happened to them.  As she ran she heard crashes and
cries ahead of her.  Worry lending her strength, she ran even faster in
the direction of the disturbance.  A small distance further she skidded
to a halt.  She'd arrived in a huge cavern and the same kind of
fireballs that had been hurled at her in the park were flying at the
five Scouts in the back of the cavern.  The Crimson Guard was closing in
on the beleaguered girls, but they were keeping a safe distance back,
waiting for the fireballs to do their work.  Serena ran toward the
girls.
*****
        Mars grunted as she held her arms out in front of her.  She was
holding off the fireballs with her own fire, but everyone could see she
couldn't keep it up forever.  Jupiter suddenly tensed.  "One of those
white haired freaks is coming this way!" she called.  "Supreme-"
        "Don't!" Mercury cried as she looked at the advancing creature
through her visor, "It's not who you think!"
        The red suited creature stopped and held out a small object.
"Moon Crystal Power...Make Up!"
        "It's Sailor Moon!" cried Venus happily.
        "But how-can we disguise ourselves too?" Earth asked, looking
confused.
        "No, only Sailor Moon," Mercury responded.
        "Guys," Mars gasped, "I need help!"
        "Gotcha!" Mercury cried.  "Mercury Ice Storm Blast!"
        "Hi, guys.  Watch out, it's a trap!  The Mistress of those
octopus creatures lives here-and those are her elite guard."
        "How'd you manage to find that out?" asked Earth with interest,
still scanning the slowly advancing Crimson Guard.
        Sailor Moon smiled.  "Hey, even I can think on my feet if I'm
forced to."  Her smile faded.  "Uh, guys?  I lost my scepter
somewhere..."
        "We found it," Jupiter interrupted, "It was a bit scuffed up.
We thought- well, we all thought you were dead.  Here."  Jupiter handed
her her scepter, all cleaned up.
        "Thanks.  I'm sorry you guys were worried.  I got a message from
Mercury that the signal originated from the park.  I gotta tell you
guys, some of the things I overheard really worry me."
        "I didn't find the origin of the signal until after you
disappeared, Sailor Moon."  Mercury looked worried and glanced at her
still slightly bruised arm.  She noticed that Jupiter couldn't resist a
glance as well.  Sailor Moon smiled at Mercury.
        "I'm sure you didn't.  Don't worry, Mercury, I trust you.  We'll
figure out what happened later."  Suddenly Jupiter hissed a warning and
Sailor Moon turned to face the now close Crimson Guard.  With a twirl of
her scepter she anchored her feet a shoulder width apart.  "All right,
nega-trash!  I am Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice!  In the
name of the Moon, I'll punish you! Moon Princess Halation!"  She swung
the wand around the cavern and cut a swath through the guard.
        "Crescent Beam!" Venus chased off the last few.
        "Do you know where this `Mistress' is?" Jupiter asked, cracking
her knuckles in expectation.
        "Yes," Sailor Moon nodded.  "Follow me!"
*****
        Tuxedo Mask leaned against the damp tunnel wall in relief.  When
Lita had told him about finding Sailor Moon's scepter and going back to
search the park a second time, he'd been sick with worry.  Now he knew
she was all right.  He'd been about to enter the fight in the park, but
the girls had defeated that ugly octopus creature before he ran in.
Maybe it was good that the enemy didn't know that he was here yet.  The
girls seemed tired and a little drained, despite Jupiter's bravado.  He
pushed off the stone and set out to follow the Sailor Scouts.
*****
        Sailor Earth looked around at the other five faces.  "Ready?"
she whispered.
        "Ready!"
        "Let's do it!"
        "All right!"
        "Yeah!"
        "C'mon!"
        With Sailor Moon's determined nod they burst into the dark
chamber.
        "Mercury!  Do you see anything?"
        "No, I don't-"
        "WELCOME, SAILOR SCOUTS!"
        "Who's there?"  Venus crouched as she scanned the room.
        "Show yourself!" Jupiter bellowed.
        "As you wish," chuckled the woman's voice.
        The girls gasped and took a shocked step back. The woman was
beautiful beyond belief, in a blood red dress and white hair. In her
cupped, delicate hands she held a pulsing white ball of energy.
        "Hmmmmm...do you children really think you can handle me?"
        Sailor Moon held up an angry fist.  "We did well enough against
your minions!  We're not afraid of you!"  The other Scouts formed a
semi-circle behind her and nodded sharply.  "Who are you, and what do
you want with us?"
        "Ha! I'm just another powerful resident of the Negaverse after a
choice piece of real estate."  With a yell she hurled the orb at the
Scouts.  They dived out of its path, and it left a smoking pit in the
middle of the floor.
        "She's too strong, Sailor Moon-I don't know if we can beat her!"
Earth sounded worried.
        Mars grabbed her.  "Don't give her any ideas!  You may make her
use the Silver Crystal!"
        "What?"
        "Oh, there's no time to explain.  Let's just concentrate on the
fight." She glared at the woman.  "Fire Soul!"
        The fireball enveloped the woman, but she walked out unharmed.
"Is that the best you can do?" she taunted.
        Jupiter glared at her angrily.  "I'll keep her busy, Sailor
Moon, and you use the scepter.  Supreme Thunder!"
        "Crescent Beam!"
        A lightning-laced laser tore through the air, toward the slight
woman.  She closed her eyes and seemed to shimmer slightly, and the beam
went through her without doing any damage.  Mercury's shout rang through
to cavern.
        "Mercury Ice Storm Blast!"
        A miniature glacier of sparkling ice formed around the enemy,
and with a calm expression she again shimmered and strolled unharmed
from out of the ice.
        "Moon Princess Halation!"  With a determined expression on her
face Sailor Moon leveled the tip of the scepter.  The energy blast had
no discernible effect on the woman.
        "What a pretty fireworks show you children put on!  Now," for
the first time an expression akin to amusement crossed her features,
"watch what real power can do!"  Her arms rose into the air
theatrically.
        "Now what?" Earth whispered to Jupiter nervously.
        Sailor Moon cupped her hands around her transformation broach.
"I don't seem to have a choice," she whispered.
        "No, you can't-we'll be able to manage her!" Venus cried, "I can
already see we can't.  This is all I have that is more powerful than my
scepter."  Her eyes pleaded for understanding.  "Please, I can't let
anybody get hurt, and we have to stop her from taking over the Earth."
        The Scouts gathered behind her.  "We support you, you know
that."
        Earth looked around. "What's going on?"
        Mars looked at her with tears in her eyes.  "We're going to
attempt something very dangerous.  Just follow our lead."
        Earth nodded.  Sailor Moon closed her eyes and concentrated.
With a glimmer her skirt lengthened and turned snow white.  A stand of
pearls adorned her hair, the golden crescent moon appeared on her brow
and she held the Silver Crystal out separate from the broach, ready to
do battle.
        "I will not allow you to take over my world!" she proclaimed in
a voice suddenly, somehow, more refined.  She lifted her cupped hands
and thrust the Silver Crystal out toward the red clad woman.
        Mercury lifted her bowed head.  "Mercury Star Power!"
        Jupiter grinned wickedly at the enemy.  "Jupiter Star Power!"
        "Mars Star Power!" Mars cried, looking with worry at Princess
Serenity.
        "Venus Star Power!" Venus called and looked at Earth
expectantly.
        Earth looked ahead with determination.  "Earth Star Power!"
        Princess Serenity felt the sailor's encouragement and support.
Strangely, having Sailor Earth didn't make her feel any stronger, but
she could feel her presence in the link.  She took a slightly shaky
breath.  "Moon...Crystal...Power!"
        A red globe of energy grew around the Silver Crystal, and slowly
enlarged as Princess Serenity fed more and more of her energy into it.
The dainty red clad woman stood in front of her with the same abstracted
expression on her face.  Serenity gritted her teeth as she prepared to
send her attack.
*****
        Tuxedo Mask ran into the room he'd followed the Scouts to.  He
stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Serenity holding the Silver
Crystal.  He was about to run to her side and offer any help he could
when he noticed something odd.  He rearranged the mask atop of his nose
as his eyes strained to pierce the murk in the back of the room.  It
seemed as if someone was hiding behind that strange looking white-haired
woman.
*****
        Earth broke ranks and ran up toward the still serene enemy.
        "Earth!  What are you doing?" Venus cried out, shocked.
        Earth held out her open palm toward Princess Serenity, and
suddenly snapped closed her fist.  Serenity screamed and fell to her
knees.  The Silver Crystal hovered above her head as her hands fell to
the ground to hold her up.  "Serena!  What's wrong?!"  Mercury broke
away and stumbled to Serena's side.  She seemed too weak to answer.
Mercury looked up at Earth.  "What's going on?"
        Earth snapped her fingers, and a cape and cowl swirled over her.
The exquisite woman with white hair and red dress shimmered and
disappeared.

        "Sable?!" Serenity gasped.
        "That woman was only a hologram!  How'd you fool the computer?"
Mercury asked, surprised, as information flashed across her visor.  "I
see you saw much more than I thought, Sailor Moon. I may have
underestimated you," Sable proclaimed.
        "But, your power!  You helped us!" Jupiter cried angrily.
        Sable shook her head and the hood fell back to reveal her face.
She smiled as the Scouts gasped.  "Recognize me?  Ann and Alan weren't
the only ones of their kind to survive, only the weakest-the ones least
able to make it on their own without the tree.  Only the weak and stupid
ones bothered with the tree when it refused to give energy only to the
strongest of us."  She shook her head of pink hair arrogantly and
clenched her fist harder.  The red globe of energy contracted and
Serenity cried out again.  "As for my power, surely that is familiar as
well.  It's something we all posses, even poor little Ann and Alan," she
laughed.
        "Why us?" Mars cried out.
        "We need energy.  Humans really are the perfect source.  But you
Sailor Scouts would get in our way, we already knew that from observing
your bout with Ann and Alan.  Oh, and your battle with Beryl did not go
unnoticed.  We've been watching you almost since you appeared.  Both
your ability to face Beryl, a strong foe, and the outpouring of energy
you produced when you purged the tree were hard to miss, so we've
researched you all.  We had to get rid of you before we could exploit
Earth, and I came up with an ingenious plan.  This-" she held up her
hand and the globe of energy flew up to her as Serenity gasped, "-is
just a plus of getting rid of you Scouts.  We got not only the Silver
Crystal, but all of your combined energy as well.  I just had to be
included in your link in order to steal it."
        Jupiter stood up straight with obvious effort.  "I won't let you
get away with this!  Supreme Thunder!"  A weak thunder bolt aimed itself
at Sable, but she teleported out of its path.  Jupiter collapsed to the
ground, completely spent.
        "You are all helpless before me.  I hold all your energy within
my hands."  She looked over her shoulder.  "Have I pleased you, Mother?"
        "You've done well, child.  Now don't gloat, it's unseemly.
Destroy them."  The voice seemed to come out of nothing but shadow, then
a creature like Sable only with gray hair strode forward and watched
with crossed arms.
        "As you command, Mistress."  Sable turned to the horrified
Scouts.  "Enough boasting.  Good-bye, Sailor Scouts!"  She let loose a
high pitched scream as she turned her open hand in their direction.
"AAAAH!"  Her hand came up to her face, a line of blood etched on her
pale skin.  A red rose quivered between her feet.  "You!" she shrieked
as she saw Tuxedo Mask step into the light.  "You are too late!  I will
destroy you now as well!"
        Serenity looked over at him with mingled joy and fear.  "Be
careful." She forced out between gritted teeth.
        He wasted no time, and jumped in front of Sable.  She laughed at
him.  "There's no way you can defeat me with nothing but that poor cane.
I have more power than you've ever dreamed of!  You don't know what
you're messing with!"  Tuxedo Mask took a step back.
        "Neither do you," he responded quietly as he transformed into
Prince Darien.  He pulled out his sword and chopped at her.  She
teleported back a few steps and aimed a concussion at him, but he leapt
out of its path to safety.
        "Did you see that?" Mercury's visor was still down and she lay
on the floor furiously typing on her computer.  "It seems that she's
holding more power than she safely should.  When she teleported, her
control wavered."
        She looked up at the Scouts around her.  "If we distract her
enough, she'll lose hold of the power and Serena can regain control.  We
have to help him distract Sable, even if it's just by yelling!"
        Mars and Venus nodded.  Jupiter was still out cold.  Mercury
looked down at Serenity.  "Will you be okay for a few seconds?" Serenity
nodded.
        "Help him," she forced between gritted teeth, her eyes riveted
on the furious battle raging between Darien and Sable.
        Mercury looked up, running her hand through sweat soaked blue
hair to brush it out of her face.  "Let's do it."
        "Fire..."
        "Crescent..."
        "Shabon..."
        Serenity struggled to her feet and grasped the Silver Crystal.
"We can do it..." she mumbled.
        "...Soul!"
        "...Beam!"
        "...Spray!"
        A weak fire-laced beam shot out at Sable as a light mist
appeared in the air.  She was so busy concentrating on her bout with
Prince Darien that she didn't notice what the Scouts were doing until
the beam hit.  It didn't do any serious damage but it did what was
intended.
        Serenity straightened as she felt her control of the energy
return.  With a cry she thrust Sable out of the link and dissolved the
energy back into the Scouts.  She transformed back into Sailor Moon and
collapsed once more to her knees.
        "Sailor Moon!  Are you all right?"  The Scouts leaned over her,
concerned.
        "I'm just tired.  Help Darien."  She waved them away.
        "Gotcha!"
        "You bet!"
        "Don't worry, Sailor Moon!"
        The three turned in unison toward Sable and Darien with renewed
energy.  Jupiter fought her way back to her feet, and strode forward
with the other three.  Sable looked up to see the advancing Scouts.
With a cry she turned around and fled into the dark, while the Scouts
and Darien pursued.  A few seconds later they returned.
        "She's gone," Tuxedo Mask said shortly.  "It seems my eldest
offspring was not worthy of the honor I bestowed on her." The older
woman's voice reached their ears, "I have invested too much in this
battle already.  You are lucky, Sailor Scouts.  You get to live.  Until
we meet again!  Just remember how close we got this time-and how much
closer we will get next time."  An ice cold wave of darkness enveloped
the group, and passed.  The cavern was still dark, but the shadows
somehow seemed less deep and impenetrable.  The older woman was gone.
        Tuxedo Mask looked down at Sailor Moon, "We should leave.  We're
all tired, and there's nothing else we can do here."
        Mercury looked up at him.  "Already on it.  I think I've almost
got it...there!"  She pressed one last key and a vortex opened in front
of her.  "Hurry!  I can't hold it open forever!"
        They all ran through, with Jupiter and Tuxedo Mask assisting
Sailor Moon.
*****
        They sat in a circle around Mina's bed.
        "Oooohhh, what happened?"  Luna groaned.
        "There was a major attack by the Negaverse.  They attacked you
to keep us from learning the truth about their plan.  It's okay now,
though.  We stopped them."
        "Well, I'm glad you stopped them," Artemis said.  "I'm beat-I
feel like I took the brunt of the fighting myself.  I think I'm going to
take a nap.  Good night."  He closed his eyes again, and let out a small
snore.
        Luna yawned.  "That sounds like a great idea," and she followed
suit.
        Amy smiled. "They should be okay now.  They're just rebuilding
their reserves.  Let them sleep."
        Serena laughed.  "I think Luna's lazier than me!  Even I don't
wake up from a week-long nap only to take another one."
        Rei looked at her and stuck out her tongue.  "Only because
you've never had a chance!"
        "Hey!" Serena bellowed, outraged.
        Mina, Amy, and Lita rolled their eyes as Rei and Serena began to
quarrel in earnest.
*****
        "Well, my children, your late lamented sister has failed me.  I
wonder if any of you think you are capable of doing better."
        "Mother, just give me the chance, I know I can succeed."
        "Very well, child.  I give you my blessing."



The Mistress Saga: Part 7

        Serena huddled safe inside Darien's arms.  She was quiet for a
while as she thought about everything that had happened over the last
few days.  There was not sound but the occasional rustle of cloth as one
or the other of them shifted position.  After a few minutes her voice
broke the silence as she asked a question she'd been wondering about for
a while. "So, when you said that Sable was gone, what exactly did you
mean?" Serena asked.
        "She just disappeared.  There was no way for us to chase her, so
we turned back.  I was worried about you."  Darien looked at her.
        Serena looked down and blushed faintly.  They were both silent
for a while.  Suddenly she shivered.
        "What is it?" Darien asked.
        "I was just remembering what that `Mistress' said before she
left.  I felt so good about defeating Sable right after the battle, but
now I'm thinking about what nearly happened.  She got to Luna and
Artemis, and fooled all of us completely.  What next?  How much does she
know?  Oh, I'm just so worried!"
        "I don't know what to say.  We'll just have to keep our guard up
and be ready."  He hugged her, and she clung tightly to him.
*****
        "Miss?  Miss?  Are you all right?"  The concerned woman reached
down to lightly touch the hunched shoulder of the huddled figure on the
curb.  The lights of the city shone off the wet pavement, and cars
splashed by, oblivious to both figures.  "Do you need help?"  The girl's
shoulder shook slightly, whether with cold or with tears, the woman
couldn't guess.
        "Yes, please," came the muffled reply.  The small figure lifted
its bowed head to look up at her.  The girl's face was thin and drawn.
"I'm hungry."
        "Oh!"  The woman backed up, for some reason afraid of a glint in
the girl's eyes.  The ragged girl climbed to her feet slowly, and the
woman's eyes widened as her bedraggled red hair turned light pink, and
her pale white skin took on a greenish sheen under the dirt.  "What-"
Her question was cut off with a scream as the girl jumped her.  The girl
bowled her over and sat on her, with her hands around the helpless
woman's neck.  A pale glow shined off the girl's hands, and her eyes
closed slowly as a smile chased across her lips.
        "Ah!" she exclaimed with a satisfied look on her face, "Much
better.  I almost feel-" she giggled softly as she returned to her
former appearance, "human again."  She got to her feet and absently
kicked the unconscious woman's body aside as she looked down the neon
corridor of the busy street.  "And now, I can set about getting revenge
on not only the Sailor Scouts, but on my traitorous family as well."
With a snarl she ducked out of the circle of illumination under the
orange street light and made her way through the darkness.
*****
        "No, Cerulean, I won't allow you to try to steal the Scout's
energy again. I just want them destroyed so I can have control of Earth.
We don't have the energy reserves we had, and Sable alone had most of
our collected information on the Scouts.  They are already on their
guard and our resources are too low.  I don't want to waste much time-we
don't have enough to go about wasting any of it."
        "As you wish, Mistress."  The young man backed out of the
audience chamber.  After he was out of her sight he grimaced angrily as
he stalked back toward his workroom.
*****
        The girls sat around Serena's table, while Luna sat on it, her
tail daintily curled over her toes.  Artemis was crouched down next to
her, his tail whipping from side to side with agitation.  "I called this
meeting because Artemis and I are very worried over what little we heard
of the battle you had yesterday.  We desperately need to be filled in."
Luna looked to Artemis.
        "Yes.  If the Negaverse knew enough to put Luna and I out of
commission, then they already know way too much.  We need to debrief
you.  Try very hard to remember everything that happened."  The Scouts
settled down for a very long session.
*****
        "Wow!  I'm beat!"  Rei shook her heavy black hair back out of
her face.
        Amy nodded, "That was very intense."
        Mina's blue eyes scanned the others as they walked down the busy
sidewalk.  "Artemis and Luna looked very worried."
        Serena's head jerked up as she took her eyes off her feet.  "I'm
very worried.  I know Sable never got the chance to tell the Mistress
what our secret identities are, but she knows, and the Mistress got to
Luna and Artemis once-what if she does it again?"
        Lita nodded, "And we don't know where Sable is-what if she comes
after us?"
        The girls were silent for a few minutes.  Serena finally spoke
up, "What are all those people doing there?"
        "Let's go look," Mina pulled Serena's arm.  They headed for the
crowd.
        "Oh!  Look!  A new store!  Those clothes look so cool!  It's a
grand opening sale!  Let's go look, everyone!"
        "I can't believe you, Serena!  We have a huge problem here, and
you want to go shopping!"  Rei tossed her head with disgust.
        Serena stuck her tongue out at Rei.  "I can't worry all the
time."  Her eyes shined with excitement. "I haven't spent a dime of my
allowance yet! I wonder how much I can buy..." Rei rolled her eyes as
Serena practically skipped into the store, but the other girls looked at
each other as Serena's infectious happiness caught on.
        "We can't spend our whole life worrying-I wish I had Serena's
ability to recover from misfortune like that," Amy mused, and walked in
after Serena, a little bounce back in her step.  The others followed too
after a second, willing to forget their problems for a few minutes.
        "Look!" Mina exclaimed happily, "This place is so modern!  These
mirrors make it look so cool!"  She wandered off slowly, her head
turning slowly from side to side as she scanned the new store.
        "They have all the latest styles here.  Oh, Amy, this will look
wonderful on you!"  Serena hopped up to Amy, Rei and Lita.  "C'mon, you
have to try this on!"
        The girls walked through the store as Serena insisted on trying
on millions of outfits. While Serena was trying out a new shirt Mina
slid in next to Rei.
        "Hey, Rei, you've been awfully quiet-I was wondering, do you
feel like something's wrong?" she asked.
        Rei turned her dark eyes to Mina.  "Actually, I do feel as if
things aren't quite right, but I didn't want to spoil everyone's good
mood."
        "That clinches it. I thought I was just being too suspicious and
jumpy after what's happened the last few days, but I think we should get
everyone out of here."
        "Why?"
        "Do you remember what Erin-I mean, Sable said after we were
attacked in the vet's office?"
        "She said a lot of things, as I recall," Lita had seen the two
girls whispering and joined the conversation.  "and most of them were
lies."
        "What she said about the black stones!  I saw one of the store
clerks wearing an odd piece of jewelry, and I couldn't imagine why it
caught my attention until I remembered that Sable told us that was how
the octopus creatures disguised themselves."
        "I see what you mean."  Rei grabbed the back of Serena's shirt
just as she was walking toward another shirt she'd spotted.
        "Hey!  What's the idea-"
        "We have to go, guys.  There's something seriously wrong here."
        "But I haven't decided which-"
        Lita interrupted, "We've gotta go now, Serena.  C'mon, we'll
explain outside."
*****
        "I assume that you have taken into account that the Sailor
Scouts are no doubt on their guard since our recent meeting?"
        "Of course, Mistress.  I was privy to Sable's plan, and one of
the ways she was going to gain the Scouts' trust was by giving them
information helpful in defeating our octopi."
        "Ah, yes!  But the Scouts proved more capable than we thought,
and we had to shorten our timetable and take Sailor Moon before the
Scouts discovered our base independently.  We never had to use that
planted information to facilitate another Sailor Scout victory."
        "We never used that ploy, no, but Sable did plant the
information.  I plan to take advantage of that."
        "Hmmmm... How clever. Very well, I have decided that you know
what you are doing-I trust you to carry out this plan you've briefed me
on.  Just don't forget the price of failure."
        Cerulean's eyes gleamed with ambition at the word of his
mother's foolish trust.  "I hope I don't disappoint you, Mother."  He
bowed his head to hide his sneer of contempt behind false humility, but
the exhilaration in his voice gave him away.
        The Mistress' lined face darkened and her eyes glowed red with
anger.  "I may be old, boy, but I am not senile enough to trust you
completely or take such disrespect from you.  Get out of my sight!"  She
waved her hand sharply and her wickedly long nails glinted in the pale
light emanating from a glowing green globe above her head.  Cerulean
backed quickly out of the chamber, suitably chastened.
*****
        "Ah!"  The tall, short-haired blonde peered around the lamppost
at the group of five girls standing in a tight circle.  They were huddle
close together in intense conversation, and they kept stealing covert
glances at a nearby clothing store.  "There they are.  I wonder what
they're up to?"  She casually strolled over to them, so intent on trying
to hear their conversation that she didn't notice the babble of people
around her or the chirps of the birds in nearby trees.  "They seem very
interested in that store.  I think I'm going to see what's got them so
riled up."  She continued to walk, passing them and going toward the
store.  She involuntarily tensed up as she got closer.  Out of the
corner of her eyes she saw Rei's head snap up sharply and she felt her
eyes on her back as she continued walking.  She breathed a sigh of
relief when she entered the store, and stood just inside, unmoving,
while her eyes adjusted to the dimmer light.
        "Oh, my!  How very interesting!" she mumbled to herself as she
spotted the black necklace the store clerk was wearing.  "How very
interesting indeed."
*****
        "You mean this store is somehow involved with those Negaverse
aliens?" Serena cried.  "But it was so cool, and full of great deals!"
        Amy already had her minicomputer out and was collecting data.
"I don't see anything unusual happening-maybe it's just a coincidence.
No energy drain-or anything else."  Amy put her computer away.
        "Maybe it's just an unusual necklace," Lita ventured.
        Rei looked over at a tall, blonde girl strolling out of the
store with an odd look on her face.  "What's wrong, Rei?" Mina asked.
        "That girl-I feel something's odd about her."  She cocked her
head as she looked in the girl's direction.  Suddenly the girl fainted.
With gasps the girls ran over to help her.
        "Are you all right?"  Mina knelt down next to the prone girl.
        Her eyes fluttered open.  "Oh, I'm so tired..." Her forehead
wrinkled as she took in her surroundings.  "Why am I on the ground?"
        "You just had a little fainting spell."  Amy was down next to
her too by now.  "That's a nice shirt, did you just get it?" she asked
gently.
        The girl still seemed slightly confused as she looked down at
her shirt.  "Yeah... I spilled on my shirt and so I stopped at that new
store..." she groggily turned to look back at Mina.  "They were so nice,
they let me wear it while I walked out of the store.  Isn't that nice
of..." she trailed off and passed out again.  Other bystanders were
around now, so the five girls backed off and gathered a few feet away.
        "Well Amy?" Serena cocked her head.
        "That was most definitely not natural," Amy chewed the inside of
her cheek.  "But we can't go there now.  We have to get rid of the
clerks.  How many were there, Mina?"
        "I saw two with the necklaces, but there were more in the store
that I didn't get a good look at."
        "We should watch the store, and wait for the customers to leave,
and then attack!" Lita said.  "I'll stand here for a while and watch."
The other girls nodded in agreement.
        "Sounds like a plan!" Serena said.  "We can't let them drain all
these people, and maybe this will weaken the Mistress."
        Amy looked at her watch.  "Oh!  Look at the time.  I have to get
my homework done and study for a test I'll be taking next week.  You'll
call when it's safe to attack those nega-monsters, right Lita?"  At
Lita's nod she said, "Well then, see you guys then.  I've gotta go.
Bye!" and took off at a slow jog.
        Serena had a slightly sour look on her face.  "Why's she
studying for a test next week?  I just cram the few minutes before the
test."
        Lita smiled and raised an eyebrow.  "I think, judging from the
difference between Amy's grades and yours, that I'd follow Amy's example
rather than yours."
        "But, her way wastes so much time!  I'd rather go shopping or
stop at the arcade."  Serena stuck her nose in the air stubbornly.  Rei
and Mina both looked at their watches and shifted their feet
uncomfortably.
        "Uh... I have to go," Mina said. "It's nearly dinner time, and I
can't be late again."
        "Grandfather's going to wonder where I am soon, so I have to go
too."
        "Oh!  Well, since Lita volunteered to stay, I guess you both had
better go."  Serena smiled at Lita.  "I'll stay here and keep you
company."
        Rei and Mina walked off in opposite directions while Lita and
Serena settled down on a nearby bench to wait.
*****
        The blonde girl melded into the crowd of people that had rushed
to her aid and with a quick disorienting shimmer her hair darkened to a
mousy brown, she suddenly got five inches shorter, and a huge ugly pair
of black rimmed glasses appeared out of thin air to settle on her nose.
She squirmed out of the huddled mass of people and watched as the five
girls talked intently for a few minutes.  The one with short blue hair
left, then the blond and black haired girls went in opposite directions.
        "So, they're going to wait for the patrons to leave."  She
sighed and settled down on another bench that faced the two girls.
"I'll stick around.  Maybe I can think of some other mischief to cause
for either the Sailor Scouts or my family."
*****
        "Hey!  Serena!"  Lita nudged Serena with her elbow.  Serena
started up from her nap[ with an indignant snort.
        "Huh?"  She sounded confused.  "What?"
        "It looks like they're gonna start closing up soon.  I'm going
to scout out what's going on in there.  You call the others."  Lita
pushed up off the bench and strode into the clothing shop.  Serena began
to contact the others.
*****
        With a wicked chuckle the short girl got up off her bench too.
She was hidden in shadows, but her glasses reflected in the artificial
light as she strolled toward the nearly empty store.
*****
        Lita tried to avoid letting the clerks notice her, which was
difficult not only because of her height, but because the store was
almost empty of customers.  A short girl walked up to one of the clerks.
Lita noticed that the clerk was wearing a black crystal necklace.
Something about the way that girl with glasses moved rang a bell in her
memory.  She stiffened as she realized who the girl reminded her of.
First she tried to sneak toward the exit, but she stopped when she saw
it was blocked by a clerk.  The girl snapped her fingers and an odd
expression crossed her face.  A flash of light blinded Lita for a second
and by the time she'd blinked her eyes clear an octopus creature was
standing where the clerk had been.  The girl now wore a blood red cloak
and strands of pink hair peeked out of the hood.
        "That tears it!" Lita mumbled, and then she hurriedly ducked
behind a rack of clothes and sprinted, still bowed down, to the dressing
rooms.  "I can't wait any longer for them to show up."  She desperately
fumbled for her transformation pen, and thrust it into the air.
        "Jupiter Star Power... Make Up!"
        She peeked under the dressing room door and when she saw that no
feet or tentacles were in sight, she slipped out of the dressing room,
and announced in a loud, confident voice, "I am Sailor Jupiter, here to
defend the good people of Earth from your evil designs in the name of
the planet Jupiter!"
        The creatures turned to face her.
        "Supreme Thunder!" she bellowed and aimed a crackling ball of
lightning at a tight knot of three octopus creatures.
*****
        Serena stood hunched over her communicator.  "Amy?" she said,
"You're the last one I have to reach.  The store's about to close down,
and- "  Before Serena could finish her sentence she heard a familiar cry
and suddenly a huge concussion rocked the street.  She spun her arms
wildly and shouted in a vain attempt to keep her balance while standing
on the rolling ground.  She landed on the ground and hurt her leg when
she fell on it.  She began to sniff in preparation for a crying fit, but
Amy's tinny voice emerging from the compact still tightly clutched in
her hand brought her mind back to what was important.
        "Serena!  Serena?!  Answer me!  What's happened?!" Amy's voice
was leaden with worry.
        "I-I think I'm okay, Amy.  I've gotta go.  For some reason
Lita's transformed and used her Supreme Thunder Attack.  Get here as
fast as you can!"  She snapped the compact closed with one hand and
yanked out her transformation brooch and shouted, "Moon Crystal
Power...Make Up!"
*****
        "M'Lord!  M'Lord!"  The agitated creature dashed up to Cerulean
slightly fearfully.
        "What is it?" he snarled, striding confidently into the
situation room.  High-tech monitors and computers flashed and whirred
throughout the room, bathing the stone walls with faint, cold light.
        "We received an emergency transmission from one of our energy
draining bases.  It was hard to decipher, and the transmission was cut
off before it finished, but it seems at least one of the Sailor Scouts
has made an appearance."
        "What?!" shrieked an enraged Cerulean.  "I ordered them not to
drain any human energy until our products had been in place for a while,
so wider distribution could take place."
        "Yes, M'Lord, I know," the creatures head bobbed in earnest
agreement, "but it seems they discovered this store at least, maybe
others."
        "Wait, didn't Sable tap into their communication frequencies?
Use her equipment to listen in on the Sailor Scouts, and we can find out
exactly how much they know."
        "I'm afraid that's impossible, sir."
        "What?!"  Sparkles of angry red light zoomed around his tightly
clenched fists as Cerulean's rage threatened to get out of control.  The
reporting creature cowered.  "Why not?"
        "Well, you see..." it began timorously.
        "Out with it!"
        "Uh... well, ummm, your sister had some servants loyal only to
her, and only they could understand or run the equipment we used to tap
into Scout transmissions.  When your sister was defeated, the Mistress
had them-" its voice dropped to a whisper, "executed."
        "So we have lost the ability to listen in to their
conversations?"
        "Yes, M'Lord."
        Cerulean's eyes glowed with barely suppressed ire.  "I must
speak with my mother."  As he was leaving his head turned back to face
the creature. "Ready a rescue team, but don't send it through a gate
without my express permission.  I don't want to lose any creatures
unnecessarily."  Then he was gone.
*****
        "Sparkling Wide Pressure!" Jupiter wiped sweat off her forehead
as she desperately dodged another octopus tentacle.  "Yah!  Take that,
you nega-creature!" she cried angrily.
        The cloaked girl slipped through the surging mass of
nega-monsters, constantly worming her way toward Jupiter.
        A sparkling white discus flew through the air, and in the tight
quarters of the fight it seriously hurt several octopi.  Most of the
rest turned to face this new threat.
        A figure stood in the doorway, hand extended to catch the
returning tiara.  As she placed it back onto her head, the ruby in it's
center flashed and sparkled under the harsh fluorescent lights in the
store ceiling.
        "I am Sailor Moon, champion of love and justice, and defender of
the people of Earth!  In the name of the Moon, I will punish you!"
        The octopi backed away in fear.  Rumors about the Sailor Scouts
had abounded back in the nega-caves.  Jupiter was still crouched
defensively, breathing hard and watching the monsters back off.  She
felt a feathery touch on her shoulder.  She batted at it with
absentminded annoyance, but the touch returned.  She turned to look, and
caught a glimpse of a pale green face and blue streaked pink hair as the
cloaked girl placed her open palm on Jupiter's forehead.
        The words "Revenge is so sweet," echoed in her mind as her
thoughts were swallowed by oblivion.



The Mistress Saga: Part 8

        Sailor Moon remembered how strong the octopus nega-monsters
were, so she held out her scepter right off and cried out, "Moon
Princess Halation!" With a grunt of effort she swept the energy beam
through the store, slaying every octopus creature the beam caught.  Most
of them had contracted into little balls of light and popped out of
existence by the time Mars and Venus appeared at the front entrance of
the store, out of breath.
        "Fire Soul!"
        "Crescent Beam!"
        The two Scouts defeated the last few octopus creatures.  Venus
flipped her hair over her shoulder in an unconscious motion.  "Those
creature were a million times easier to defeat than the last few we've
run into!" she exclaimed.  Mars nodded and looked for Sailor Moon, but
she was searching the store.
        "Jupiter?  Jupiter?"  She dashed between rows of clothing racks,
looking back and forth.  Mars and Venus exchanged looks and went over to
help her look.  Sailor Moon exclaimed with worry and dropped to her
knees.
        "Over here!" she cried.  Mars and Venus sprinted over to her
side, and found her cradling Jupiter's head in her lap.  She looked up
with tears in her eyes.  "She won't wake up.  I don't know what
happened..." She closed her eyes and a tear traced a shining track down
her cheek.  "I was too late."
        With comforting murmurs Mars and Venus tried to calm Sailor Moon
down.
        "Hello?  Hello-o-o..." a faint, uncertain call originated from
the front of the store.  Venus stood up and called out, "Mercury! Hurry!
Over here!" Mercury scrambled over to where the Scouts were huddled
together.
        "My God!" she gasped with shock.  "What happened?"
        Sailor Moon looked up and shook her head.  "I don't know.  When
I burst into the store she was still standing, but after Mars, Venus,
and I got rid of the octopus creatures she was down here like this.  I
didn't even get to talk to her!" Sailor Moon wailed.
        Mars shook her vigorously.  "Stop that!" she scolded.  "Crying
won't do Jupiter any good right now.  We've got to find out what
happened to her and find a way to help her."
        Mercury pulled down her visor and brought out her computer.  She
looked up at the Scout's faces.  "Tell me everything you can.  I need
information to work with."
        "Well," Sailor Moon began shakily, "I heard some explosions
after she went in to investigate.  I called all of you and then
transformed.  When I burst into the store, there were a ton of the
octopus creatures all around.  I used my tiara to get them off Jupiter,
and then I got out my scepter and used the `Moon Princess Halation'
right off.  I remembered how difficult they were to defeat last time, so
I decided it was my only choice.  Mars and Venus got here in time to
stop the nega-monsters I hadn't already gotten rid of, and then I found
Jupiter lying here."  She looked up at Mercury's intent face.  "She was
up when I walked in. I don't understand what happened."
        "Mercury, the octopi were much easier to defeat this time.  We
had a tough fight with one not that long ago, and now we got rid of
about ten.  Something's changed, and I think it's important we find out
what," Venus said with a concerned tone of voice.
        "From what I can see, whatever's wrong with Jupiter is similar
to what happened with Artemis and Luna.  Her energy's being drained
somehow." Mercury looked up.  "I'm going to collect some data here, so I
can examine it later, but someone's bound to come here soon and
investigate the fight.  We have to leave soon."  She wandered off around
the store and left the other girls to figure out some way of moving
Jupiter.
        Mars looked at the others.  "Venus, I think you and I are
strongest-we'll carry Jupiter between us."  She eyed Sailor Moon's
tear-stained face with sympathy.
        Sailor Moon jerked her head up.  "I want to help too.  It's my
fault she's-"  She looked about ready to break down and sob.
        Venus bent over and pulled Sailor Moon to her feet.  "Pull
yourself together.  We don't have time for this.  We have other
concerns.  While Mars and I pick up Jupiter, you try to think of what
we're going to do next. You are our leader, after all."  Venus hoped
that harshness would shock Sailor Moon into leadership, since kindness
hadn't worked.  Without looking at Sailor Moon she motioned Mars over to
Jupiter's prone form and they heaved her up.  Mercury wandered back
towards them.
        "Ready?"  She focused her eyes on the other Scouts.  "Good, I
got all the reading I need.  We should go."
        "Where?"  Venus looked pointedly at Sailor Moon.
        "Um, Mars, is the temple empty this time of night?"
        Mars nodded.  "Yes, and Grandpa should be asleep by now."
        "I think we should go there and get Artemis and Luna.  We can
decided what to do next there.  We'll have a little while to think thins
over."
        Mars looked with approval at Venus and Mercury before saying,
"That sounds like a great idea, Sailor Moon."  With a final, "Let's go,"
the girls slowly made their way to their destination with their burden.
*****
        "What is going on, Cerulean?  I am hearing some very
disappointing reports."  She turned menacing eyes on her nervous
offspring.  "I see that a certain amount of arrogance is lacking in your
stature today.  I want to know what's happened.  Now," Cerulean flinched
at the flat tone her voice took on.
        "It seems that the Sailor Scouts discovered one of our energy
collecting projects in the universe above.  They-ah-they shut it down."
He cleared his throat uncomfortably.
        "Well what about the survivors you rescued.  How many lived?"
        "None.  They were defeated very quickly, according to our most
accurate reports."
        "I do not have unlimited resources, you fool!  The whole reason
we are conducting this campaign is because our energy resources here are
nearly exhausted, and soon I will no longer be able to hide our
precarious position from the other denizens of the Negaverse.  Tell our
remaining facilities to very circumspect.  Drain energy slowly, and tell
them to draw no attention to themselves."  The Mistress thoughtfully
tapped her forefinger on her chin.  Cerulean tried to back out of the
audience chamber before she noticed him.  She pinned him down with an
angry glare.  "I have not forgotten your insolence or your failure, but
I will give you another chance.  I suggest you watch everything more
carefully, and become personally involved.  Your forces will have a
better chance of defeating the Scouts if you are available to help them
do battle."  She dismissed him with a wave of her hand.  "You may go
now.  Do not fail me again."
*****
        "She's still in her Sailor armor," Mina said with worry.  "We
can't let anyone see her like this!"
        "We'll have to hide her somehow.  I don't know what to do."
Serena shook her head.  "And where are Luna and Artemis?  I called them
hours ago!"
        "It's barely been five minutes Serena."  Rei thought for a
second.  "I pretty much run my house.  Grandpa's too busy with the
temple to bother much with it.  I think I can keep her there for a
while, but we have to do something other than hide her."
        Amy nodded.  "I'm no doctor," she started
        "Yet," Mina mumbled and rolled her eyes.
        "But she's going to need an IV soon, or she'll die of
dehydration."
        "We can't bring her to a hospital like this!" Rei protested.
        Serena was sitting next to Jupiter and quietly smoothing her
bangs with her fingers.  "Can't you get her back to just plain Lita,
Amy?"
        "I've never had to do it before, but I will most definitely try.
When Luna and Artemis get here, maybe they can help."
        A slight gust of wind blew through the room.  "Help with what?"
Luna asked.
        "Luna!" Serena cried happily.  "I'm so glad to see you.
Jupiter's unconscious, and we can't get her out of her uniform.  Can you
help?"
        Artemis trotted over to Jupiter and left Luna to deal with a
nearly hysterical Serena.  "What happened, Serena?" Luna asked.
        "Lita went into the store alone-do you know about the store?"
Serena asked suddenly.
        Luna nodded impatiently.  "Mina told Artemis. I must say,
Serena, you should have informed me.  It's dangerous when you leave me
out of the loop.  What I want to know is, why didn't you tell us you
were about to launch the attack?"
        "I, uh didn't think of it in time."  Serena's face reddened with
embarrassment.
        "What's done is done," Luna sighed.  "Continue with your story."
        "Well, she was in the store, and suddenly I saw her attack.  I
don't know what set her off, but I figured I'd better get in there, so I
called the other girls and transformed.  Jupiter was fine when I got in.
I threw my tiara to give her a little breathing space and then I used
the Moon Princess Halation to get rid of them.  Mars and Venus got rid
of the last few and then I found Jupiter like this."  Her hand fluttered
in Jupiter's general direction.
        "Amy," Artemis turned from his futile attempts to rouse Jupiter,
"have you been able to determine anything?"
        She looked up.  "Aside from the fact that she was completely
unconscious right from the beginning, her symptoms seem remarkably
similar to what happened to you and Luna.  It appears that her energy is
being drained at a much higher rate than your was, however."  Amy
glanced at Jupiter.  "She's in much greater danger.  We don't have much
time."
        Rei spoke up, "We need to get her to a hospital.  They can help
her hold on for a little while, at least, but we can't bring her there
when she's still in her armor."
        "How can we explain what happened when we bring her to a
hospital?" Mina asked.  "And what will we tell the doctors about her
lack of a guardian? They're going to force us to stay in the mental
illness department there if we tell them the truth about how she got
hurt, and who knows what will happen if they find out she's living
alone!"
        "We can just say she collapsed.  I doubt any hospital's medical
equipment will refute that.  I don't know what to tell the staff about
guardianship, though."  Rei shrugged.  "Can you get her out of her
armor, Luna?"
        "Artemis is better with that sort of thing," she responded.
        Artemis padded over to Amy.  "I'll tell you what to do," he said
to her.  She looked at him and nodded.  Then she looked at everyone
else.  "I think we can tell them my mom is watching out for her.  She's
usually good about stuff like that, and she already knows something of
Lita's problems.  Don't worry about that angle."  Then she looked back
down at Artemis and they settled down for an extensive whispering
session.
        Serena had been amazingly silent.  Luna was worried something
was wrong-she hadn't had a major guilt and sobbing session yet.  She
walked up to her and sat on her lap.
        "Serena?  What are you thinking?"  Serena looked at her.
        "You know how nega-creatures always want to get a hold of my
Silver Crystal, because it possesses great energy?"  Luna nodded.  "Can
I use it to help Jupiter?"  She closed her eyes and pounded a clenched
fist on one knee in an uncharacteristic expression of frustration.  "I
want to do something! I got her in this mess, I want to fix it!"  A lone
tear slipped down her face.  She'd pretty much cried herself out
already.  Luna stood up and licked away the tear.
        "I'm proud of you, Serena.  It's important to try to fix what
went wrong, not just bewail a tragedy."  Serena opened moisture
brightened eyes and gazed steadily at the inky black cat.
        "I've done my share of complaining today," she said a little
sheepishly.
        "Tears aren't wrong, just don't let them stop you."  Luna's
obvious satisfaction at a sign-any sign-of Serena's maturity made her
end her sentence with a rumbling purr.  "About using the Silver
Crystal-it may work, but it's only a delaying tactic, not a solution.
We'll have Amy monitor Jupiter and if she reaches a critical energy
level, we may have to use your idea.  It should be a last ditch effort,
though.  You'll need you energy for upcoming fights, since it's obvious
the enemy hasn't given up, yet."  Serena hugged Luna tightly.
        "Thanks," she whispered.
        "Got it!" Amy shouted in triumph.  Serena jumped and looked over
at Jupiter as she shimmered into near invisibility and her casual
clothes appeared back on her.
        "Lita!"  Mina ran up to her and shook her, but there was no
response.  She looked up.  "Do we bring her to the hospital ourselves or
call for an ambulance?"
        "An ambulance would be faster," Artemis pointed out.
        Amy spoke up,  "I'll go with her.  If the paramedics ask awkward
questions, I'd most likely be able to answer them believably."
        Serena ran up to Amy.  "I want to go too-I want to see what
happens, and I want to be there if she wakes up."
        Mina looked around.  "I think we all want to go-but I don't
think they'll allow the cats.  Sorry guys."
        The cats exchanged looks.  "It's no different than what we
expected." Luna sighed.  "Rei, why don't you go in the house and call
for an ambulance?"
        Rei set off and the concerned girls sat around Lita and waited.
*****
        Amy strode back to the waiting room where the girls were
dispersed around a small table.  She sat down.  "The doctors don't know
what's wrong, which is understandable.  They're thinking exhaustion is
the cause of her collapse, which is close enough.  If she doesn't wake
soon they'll put in an IV.  We can't visit her until they know what's
wrong, or at least think she's stabilized.  They haven't given me any
problems about a guardian-Lita looks old enough that they haven't
worried about it yet.  I can play a dumb kid for a while, and I suggest
all of you do too for as long as possible.  If worse comes to worse just
use my mother's name, but I don't want to do that if it's not
necessary."  Her eyes had dark circles underneath them.  She sighed and
rested her head face down on her folded arms.  She stayed there for a
minute, seeming to gather strength.  The other girls looked at each
other silently.  It seemed that just about everything that could be said
had already been beaten to death.  Amy lifted her head back up and
pulled out her minicomputer.  She began typing intently.
        Curiosity won control over Serena.  "What are you doing?"
        "I'm examining the energy data I collected at the store.  I need
to do something."  She tossed her head with irritation.  "This is all I
can do that's useful."  She kept typing.
        Mina suddenly pushed her chair back from the table.  "I'm going
to get a soda," she announced.  "Anyone else want one?"  Rei and Serena
looked up at her.  Amy continued typing, seemingly oblivious to her
surroundings.
        Rei nodded with obvious relief.  "That sounds like a great
idea!" she said enthusiastically.  She half got up as she fished around
in her pocket for spare change.  "There you are," she proclaimed with
satisfaction when she found enough and put it Mina's hand.  Serena
smiled as a thought occurred to her.
        "Do you think the cafeteria is open?  I'm awfully hungry."
        "No," Mina shook her head, and her long blonde hair swayed from
side to side.  "It closed hours ago.  It's after eleven by now, Serena.
Do you want me to get you a soda too?"
        Serena nodded.  "Yeah.  Here," she dropped some change into
Mina's palm as well.  "Some sort of cola, please."
        "Okay."  Mina set off in search of a vending machine.  The
silence became oppressive once again.
        A tall man in hospital scrubs wandered into the waiting room and
scanned it, looking for someone.  He spotted Amy and made his way over
to the table.  Serena spotted him and elbowed Amy.  Amy looked at Serena
with slight annoyance, then saw that her attention was riveted on
someone else.  With a start she turned to face whoever was coming toward
them.  When she saw who it was she stood up.
        "Doctor!" she said.  "Has something happened to Lita?"
        The doctor stopped in front of the table and looked at the three
girls.  "You all brought Lita here?"  Serena and Rei stood up and
nodded.  Mina rounded the corner with three cans of pop in her arms.
When she saw the doctor talking to the three girls she ran up to them.
        "What's going on?" she gasped out, worried.
        "We don't know what's wrong with your friend yet.  We won't get
test results until tomorrow.  She seems to be stable, so you can all go
in and see her, but after that I think you should all go home.  You all
look exhausted.  Can any of you give a phone number to call if anything
drastic happens?"  The girls stole glances at each other, then Amy spoke
up.  "Here," she fished out a scrap of paper and wrote her home number
on it.  "you can reach me here.  What room is Lita in?"
        The doctor pointed and the girls ran off to see Lita.
*****
        "Serena!  You're going to be late for school!  Get going, young
lady!" Serena's mom burst into her room, and refused to let Serena drop
back off to sleep.
        "Aw Mom," she complained, "I was out late-just another fifteen
minutes."  With a groan she tunneled back under the covers.
        Her mother reached down and yanked all the blankets and sheets
off the bed.  With a grim look on her face she pointed to the kitchen.
Serena got up and with a grumble stumbled in the direction her mother
pointed.  She sat down at the table and shoved a few spoonfuls of the
breakfast her mom had made into her mouth.  Her dad was eating as well,
but Sammy was already done.
        "Why in the world were you out so late?  You didn't get home
until after midnight!" her mother scolded as she came back into the
kitchen.  "I was awake half the night, waiting to hear you come home."
        "Midnight!" Serena's father looked up at her with a disapproving
look on his face.  "A girl you age should never be out that late.
Especially on a school night!  If I had known you were going to be that
late, I would have stayed awake too!"  He started to get worked up.
"Were you with anybody else?"
        Serena had closed her eyes while she was being scolded.  She
nodded silently in answer to her father's question.
        "Who?" her father asked suspiciously.
        "Lita, Amy, Rei, and Mina."
        "Oh."  Her father went back to eating, reassured that she hadn't
been with Darien.
        Her mother, however, wasn't yet satisfied.  "What were you
doing, Serena?  You haven't answered me yet."
        "We went to check out this cool new store that opened.  We
stayed there for a long time, until it closed, and then we started back.
On our way, Lita collapsed.  We called an ambulance, and brought her to
the hospital, but they didn't know last night what had happened to her.
They said they wouldn't get any test results until today, so they sent
the rest of us home."
        Her mother saw the distress on her face and instinctively knelt
next to her and gave her a hug.  "Oh, honey, I'm sorry. You've had a
difficult week.  Both your pet and Lita have gotten seriously ill.  I'm
sure this has been difficult for you, but you can't miss school today.
Tell you what, come home right after school and we'll buy a get well
present for Lita, and go to the hospital to see how she's doing."  She
gave Serena a small shake.  "Okay?"
        "Sure Mom."  Serena smiled weakly and got up.  "I better go get
dressed," she mumbled, and went into her room.
*****
        "I'm home, Mom!"
        "How did school go?"
        "Uh-okay," Serena had been feeling pangs of guilt and worry all
day, and hadn't been able to concentrate that well.  She hadn't even
been able to finish her own lunch.  Without Lita there to mooch fresh
cooked food off from, things just hadn't felt right.
        "I see.  Well, get ready, and we'll go get something nice for
Lita." Serena dashed into her room and changed, then ran right out
again, with Luna on her heels.  "Ready?  All right, then, off we go."
        They bought her a beautiful card and a small bouquet of flowers.
"She'll love these," Serena said.
        When they arrived at the hospital Amy, Mina and Rei were already
by Lita's bedside. They looked up as Serena and her mom entered.  The
electronic beeping of monitoring equipment echoed throughout the silent
room.  Her mom took in the sober mood and smiled.  "I'll just leave you
girls alone.  Serena, all I ask is that you get home at a decent hour
tonight."  She turned with a wave and left.
        "Wow, that's nice of her," Mina said with a smile.
        Serena looked at all of them.  "How is she?"
        Amy frowned, "They won't tell us much, but I don't think they
know what's going on yet.  We're going to have solve this problem
ourselves." She leaned over and patted Lita's hand.  "We have to go
somewhere else to discuss this.  We'll need Luna and Artemis too."
        "Luna's waiting outside the front entrance to the hospital."
        Mina spoke up, "And Artemis is waiting at Rei's temple.  I
figured we'd want to meet there after we paid Lita a visit."
        Amy shrugged.  "Let's go, then."
*****
        "We're all here, now.  Why don't you tell us what you've
discovered, Amy?"  Luna was still perched on Serena's shoulder.
        "I examined that data I collected last night.  Those octopus
creatures were very weak.  About three times weaker than the first few
we met up with." She scanned everyone's face.  "I think the reason that
the Mistress is attacking humans is similar to the reason Ann and Alan
attacked-they are in desperate need of energy.  I would guess that if
the monsters are still around, then the Mistress and her family won't be
weakened much themselves, yet, but they have to be desperate.  They
would probably let their foot soldiers die before they allowed
themselves to be drained."
        "Well, can't we do the same thing we did to help Ann and Alan,
then?" Serena asked.
        "I don't see a spare Doom Tree around, do you?  Honestly,
Serena!" Rei tossed her head.
        "And," Mina spoke up, "these aliens don't seem as if they'd want
to go back to the Doom Tree even if it was here.  They were very
contemptuous of Ann and Alan's dependence on the tree."
        "But this is very good news," Artemis said.  "If the aliens are
weakening, then we can defeat them, and break their hold on Lita like
you broke their hold on Luna and I."
        "We can't take our time doing it, though," Amy spoke up, "I
examined Lita again this morning.  She's not going to last much longer."
        Serena gasped, then looked over at Luna.  "Luna, remember what I
asked you about-do you think I should do it?"
        Luna looked at Amy without answering, "How long do you estimate
Lita has?"
        Amy thought for a second, "I would say she'll be safe for two
more days."
        Luna nodded.  "Not yet, Serena.  We want you to be as strong as
possible.  In two days, if we have no other options, we'll do it."
        "Do what?" Mina asked, curious.
        Serena opened her mouth to answer but Luna jumped in.  "Don't
worry about it yet.  If we have to go through with it, we will, but for
all practical purposes let's assume that we only have two days."
        "Then what's our next step?"
        "If what I've guessed is true, then the Mistress is not going
stop searching for energy.  Either she's already got another place where
she can drain energy, or she's going to set one up soon.  I suggest we
canvas the area and look for people who feel weak or tired."
        "Why not just wait for news of people passing out-then we could
find the common denominator between them and that would be where the
Mistress' base is," Mina shrugged.
        "I don't think they're going to be draining that much energy
from anybody-after your last successful attack they're going to go to
great lengths to avoid detection until they build up enough energy to
defeat you," Artemis spoke up, "We have to find them now-before they are
confident enough to give irrefutable evidence of their presence."
        Amy nodded.  "We should concentrate our efforts on finding suspect
stores.  Stores where what the person buys is in direct contact with
them, such as clothing or jewelry stores."
        Serena bounced up and down in her chair.  "I think I'm going to
like this assignment!" she said brightly.
        "Just make sure you pay attention to what's going on, and not
what's on sale," Rei drawled sarcastically.  Serena turned her head and
pretended she hadn't heard anything.
        Luna looked up suddenly as if a new idea had occurred to her.
"Amy, you said you were able to trace the signal that transferred my
energy and Artemis' to the Negaverse to its origin, right?"  At Amy's
nod she continued, "Can you do the same with Lita?"
        "I don't know.  I'll visit her again and try."  She shook her
head.  "I must be more exhausted than I thought.  I should have thought
of that myself."
        Artemis looked at all the girls.  "You all know what to do?
Good.  We don't have any time to waste.  You'd better get going."
*****
        The tall nurse checked Lita's chart and smiled with pleasure.
"Now, which one should I get rid of next?  I don't want to weaken them
too much, or I can't use them to cause trouble for my family.  Hmmmm.
Oh!  I have a delicious idea!"
*****
        Amy typed as quickly as she could at her computer.  There was so
much to do, and time was slipping through her fingers at a furious rate.
Since the there was a much larger amount of energy being transferred
from Lita to whatever was draining her, it was much easier to find the
signal.  Yet, for some reason, the origin kept moving-almost as if some
person who was walking around in this universe was the origin.  She
shook her head and called the other girls on their communicators.  "Hey,
guys?  Where are you?"
        "We're all at a phone booth, looking up clothing and jewelry
stores in the area," Mina responded for all of them.
        "I've traced the source of the signal again-it was relatively
easy to find because the strength of the signal is much higher this
time.  The problem is, the source keeps moving.  It's as if the signal
is directed at a person walking around town instead of going through an
immobile gateway to the Negaverse."
        "You mean a single person is doing this?"
        "I don't know, but the data makes it look that way."
        "Amy?"  Artemis' face appeared next to Mina.  "Why don't you
come to this phone booth, and we'll talk about it."
        "Okay," Amy nodded, then a thought occurred to her.  "Guys? I've
just thought of something.  Remember that the Negaverse somehow used my
image to send a counterfeit message?  Be careful.  I guess the best
check is that if the other person won't respond to questions, don't
trust the message."
        Artemis nodded approvingly.  "That's a good point, Amy.  We'll
wait for you here."
        "Be right there!" she responded, and closed her compact.  She
saved all the information she'd collected on a disk, and slipped it in
her pocket.  "I'm going to meet up with Serena and everyone else
downtown, Mom!" she called out as she left.
        She walked quickly through the empty streets, her head down.
Suddenly she bumped into someone.  "Oh!  I'm sorry, I wasn't watching
where I was going!" she exclaimed as she looked up.
        "That's quite all right. I knew exactly where I was going," Amy
gasped as she recognized the person's voice.  A wide, expectant grin was
on the person's face.  "Well, aren't' you going to say `hi,' to an old
friend, Amy?" With that, she grabbed Amy's arm in a tight grip.  "I need
your help on something."
        "On what, Erin?" Amy kept her voice calm and even.
        "I think I'm going to make you send another false message.  It
worked so well last time.  I'll just drop in on my old family, use their
equipment, and leave again.  I must say, Lita is a remarkable source of
energy."  With a shimmer she reverted to her true form.
        "It won't work, Sable.  We have a new security procedure, and I
can't fake it when I'm drugged up."  She took a small amount of pleasure
in the wince of surprise that crossed Sables face at her words.
        Sable's smirk recovered quickly, however, and her smile widened.
"Oh, well," she sighed, "then I guess I'm reduced to simply doing this-"
        She slapped her palm onto Amy's forehead, and a rushing wall of
black velvet seemed to engulf her.



The Mistress Saga: Part 9

        Serena stuck her tongue out and pulled her bangs off her
forehead.  "Ugh.  It's so hot.  Let's go find some shade already."
        "We told Amy we'd wait at the phone booth, and there's no shade
near here.  You'll just have to wait it out like the rest of us." Serena
made faces at the back of Rei's head.
        Mina shifted from foot to foot uncomfortably.  "It's been too
long.  I'm calling her.  Stand in front of me while I use my
communicator."  She pulled it out of her pocket and tried to get a hold
of Amy.  "She isn't answering.  Something's wrong."  She closed her
compact and put it away.
        "Call her house on the phone.  Maybe she hasn't left yet for
some reason.  With the phone, you can always get her mom if she's not
answering." Artemis did a close approximation to a shrug.
        "Good idea!" Serena snatched the phone off the hook and started
dialing, glad to do something.  "Hello?... This is Serena, is Amy still
there?... Oh, no reason, I'll just tell her later... Yeah... Thanks,
good-bye!" She hung up the phone and shook her head.  "She left home
about half an hour ago."
        "We should backtrack along the route she'd take to get here.
That way we can meet her on the way."
        "Great idea, Mina.  C'mon!"  Now that they were on the move,
Serena's nearly inexhaustible reserves of energy kicked in again, and
she dashed down the street.
        "Serena!" Mina called out, "Stop!  That's the wrong way!"
        "Oh boy," Luna bowed her head.
*****
        "Well, we sat there so long that I lost my sense of direction."
Serena tried desperately to defend herself.  Rei opened her mouth to
make another snide remark when Mina shot a glare at her.
        "I'm tired of listening to you guys argue.  We're almost to
Amy's and we haven't seen her yet.  We should have left someone behind
in case she showed up at the phone booth," Mina fretted.
        "What's that up there?"  Serena pointed at a huddled shape on
the sidewalk ahead.  They ran up to investigate.  "Amy!" Serena
shrieked, "Oh no, not again!"  She collapsed on her knees by Amy's side
and shook her.  "Amy, c'mon, fight it!  Answer me!"
        Rei laid a hand on her shoulder.  "Let's get her to her mom.  We
can't do anything for her right here."  She knelt next to Serena and Amy
and took one shoulder.  Serena sniffed and picked Amy up from the other
side, and they began to carry her home.
        Artemis stole a glance at Luna.  "This is starting to look very
bad.  I'm worried."  Luna nodded.
*****
        "Thank you, sir."  Mina hung up the phone.  She turned to
Serena, Rei, Luna, and Artemis.  They'd gone over to Mina's house to
wait for news on Amy's condition.  "It's the same story," she reported
as she sat down on the bed in her room, "The doctors don't know what's
wrong.  They can't help her."
        "Now what?" Serena wailed.
        "Don't fall apart on us yet-we still have most of today and
tomorrow to find the Negaverse energy collection sites and shut them
down.  While they're weak we can stop the aliens for good.  We need you
to help us fight." Luna tried to keep Serena from breaking down.
        "That's right-we can't give up!"  Rei slammed a fist into her
palm.  "We have to get out there and stop them.  Mina, do you have a
phonebook here?  We can split up all the new stores in the area into
three groups, and when we find something suspicious, call for backup."
        "Here," Mina gave Rei a phonebook, and with renewed
determination they assigned stores to each other and left to search
through them for clerks sporting black crystal necklaces or customers
with an odd weak feeling.
*****
        "Serena!  Mina!  Come in!" Rei hissed urgently into her
communicator.
        "Yes?"
        "Yeah?  What?"
        "I think I've found another suspicious store-you should get here
as soon as you can."
        "Coming!"
        "On my way!"
        Rei snapped shut her communicator and settled down for a short
wait.
*****
        The three girls stood huddled behind the building in a small
alleyway.  "So, how do we approach this?" Rei brushed a long black
strand out of her face.
        "It's already late-you said there was almost no one inside,
right?"  At Rei's confirming nod Mina continued.  "We should go in
now-we don't have time to waste."
        Luna and Artemis gave nods of approval, and all three girls held
up their hands.
        "Venus Star Power...Make Up!"
        "Mars Star Power...Make Up!"
        "Moon Crystal Power...Make Up!"
        The three Sailor Scouts ran into the store.  Two clerks looked
up as their shadows crossed the threshold.  One immediately transformed
into its normal form, and the other's eyes widened.  It ran into the
back of the store, and four more octopi walked forward to face the
Sailors.
        Sailor Moon readied her scepter, Venus and Mars took defensive
postures as they prepared to attack.
*****
        "M'Lord!  M'Lord!  I just received a report.  The second
facility is under attack by the Scouts!"  A functionary ran into
Cerulean's room waving a sheet of paper.  He snatched from the
creature's hand and scanned it.  With a curse he jogged off to the
transport room.
*****
        "Fire Soul!"  Mars destroyed another octopus.  "Are there any
more?" she panted at Venus and Sailor Moon.
        "I don't know-they're hard to keep track of in the heat of
battle."  Sailor Moon shook her head.
        "So, I finally meet the famed Sailor Scouts!" an unfamiliar
voice called out.  The girls gasped and scanned the store, peering
between rows and racks of sports wear.
        "Who are you?" Venus called out, "Show yourself!"
        "Well, how can I refuse such a polite request!" the voice said
sarcastically, and shimmered into sight.  He looked almost exactly like
Alan, with light blue hair and pale green skin.
        "You didn't answer my first question-who are you?" Venus
repeated.
        He bowed flamboyantly.  "I am Cerulean-and you are on my turf!"
With a yell he aimed a blast at the group of girls, but they were ready
for him, and leapt out of his attack's path.
        "Moon Tiara Magic!"
        "Crescent Beam!"
        "Fire Soul!"
        The tiara was sheathed in fire and the crescent beam made it
glow as bright as the sun as it flew toward Cerulean with a metallic
ring.  He teleported out if its path, but it caught him with a glancing
blow on its return trip.  He flickered out of sight.
        "Did I kill him?" Sailor Moon asked breathlessly.
        Venus shrugged, "I don't know, Sailor Moon."
        "Of course you didn't, Serena," a voice mocked.  Sailor Moon
spun to face the source of the voice, and pulled up her scepter, but too
slowly.  With an evil glow in her eyes Sable used her blasting attack on
Venus.  The concussion made Sailor Moon lose her balance.  She shook her
head to clear her ringing head.
        Sable strode over to Venus and Artemis, and by the time Sailor
Moon struggled to her feet, Sable had stepped back again.
        "What did you do?!" she screamed.  "Leave them alone!"
        Sable cocked her head.  "Why?  You couldn't protect Lita.  You
failed to keep Amy safe.  And now, while they're right in front of you,
you fail to save Mina and Artemis."  Sable smiled as each cruel
accusation made Sailor Moon jerk as if she'd been slapped.  Theatrically
she raised a forefinger and tapped it against her chin as she stared at
the ceiling in a caricature of musing thought.  "I'm wondering if you
protect your family as well as you do your friends," she drawled.
        Sailor Moon looked up at her with panic her eyes.  "You leave my
family alone!  They've never hurt you!  I never hurt you!  I was-I was
your friend!" she wailed.
        Sable smiled at Sailor Moon's near paralysis.  She opened her
mouth to aim more painful words at Sailor Moon.
        "Fire Soul!"  Mars had slipped in right behind Sable, and Sable
didn't have time to react to Mars' cry. Mars' attack struck her full
force in the back.  She flew forward with the impact and landed on face
down.  Sailor Moon was so angry she immediately brought up her scepter.
        "Moon Princess Hala..." Sable stirred as Sailor Moon began to
shout her incantation, and she roused enough to teleport to safety
before Sailor Moon could bring all her rage and power to bear on Sable.
Sailor Moon's cry trailed off and she dropped her scepter to the ground
in despair when she saw that Sable had escaped.  She fell to her knees
and sobbed uncontrollably.  Mars looked at her with concern, but walked
over to Venus and Artemis first.  She nudged them both, but they didn't
respond.  She looked over at Luna.
        "What happened to Venus and Artemis-I couldn't see or hear that
well while I was circling around the back."
        "It seems Sable is behind what's happened to Lita and Amy-and
now Mina. We have to sneak her into her room-I need Artemis' computer to
get her out of her armor, and then we'll drop her off at the hospital,"
Luna's voice cracked as she looked at Artemis, and Mars picked her up
and hugged her in sympathy.
        "We'll figure something out, Luna," she said, "but right now we
have to get Sailor Moon back together, and get Venus out of here."  She
strode over to Sailor Moon. "Sailor Moon-get up!  We need you, and
you're no help to us like this."
        Sailor Moon just cried harder.  Mars knelt by her side and put
her arm over Sailor Moon's shoulder.  "Serena," she whispered, "I know
this is hard. Do you think I don't feel the same sort of pain you do? I
was the one bawling on the floor when we thought you were dead."  That
got Sailor Moon's attention.  Her sobs calmed a bit.  "I don't know what
she said to you-it must have awful-but if we're going to stop her we
don't have time for this.  We only have one more day before Lita dies-we
have to move now!"
        "She-she said she was after my family next," Sailor Moon
sniffed.
        "Oh no!  I'm sorry Serena, that has to be terrible.  We have to
take care of Venus, then you can go home and guard your family.  C'mon,
I know you can do it," Mars urged as Sailor Moon began to get up.  They
picked up Venus and Artemis and walked to Venus' house.
*****
        "Serena, are you all right?"  Serena's mom asked, concerned.
"You're not eating at all.  And why are you so nervous?"
        "Oh, I don't know, Mom.  This is delicious, I'm just not
hungry."
        She pushed back her plate.  "Can I be excused?"
        Her mother smiled at her.  "I know you're concerned about Lita,
dear.  Go ahead."
        Serena went outside and sat on the front porch.  After a while
she saw Darien walk up the sidewalk.  She watched him approach her
house.  He strode up the walk to the porch and sat down next to her.
        He looked down at the top of her bowed head.  "I missed you
tonight.  We were supposed to meet for ice cream."
        Serena gasped, "Oh my gosh!  I can't believe I forgot.  I'm
sorry, I should have called you!  Things have-things haven't been good
lately."
        Darien leaned close in concern at the catch in her voice.
"What's wrong?  Want to talk about it?  Is that Sable causing trouble
again?" Serena hugged him with a sob.
        "Sable got Lita and Amy and Mina and Artemis.  She's draining
their energy, and Amy said Lita only has one day left.  And the Mistress
is after Rei and I too.  Everyone's in the hospital, but they can't help
them.  And then today Sable said she was going to get my family, so I
have to stay home and make sure they're-make sure they're-"  Serena lost
it, and just clung to him.  After a while she cried herself out and with
a few sniffles she sat back up and wiped her eyes dry.
        Darien looked at her with worry.  "That's horrible.  I had no
idea things were so bad.  Serena, you can come to me with troubles."
        "It all just happened so fast, I haven't had time.  I'm sorry I
didn't tell you I couldn't make it today."
        "Well, I know you can't leave the house on a whim, but if you
need me for anything, just give me a call.  I'm here for you, Serena."
        She smiled tremulously.  "Thank you."
*****
        "I don't even feel comfortable going to school," Serena fretted
to Rei.  "I was sure I was going to come home to an empty house.  I wish
I could search stores with you, but I don't dare."
        Rei smiled.  "I know, Serena.  I'm worried about Lita.  Today is
when Amy said we'd be cutting things close.  What were you and Luna
talking about at that one meeting?  I seem to remember you had something
that could give us more time."
        Luna nodded from her place on Serena's shoulder.  "I guess it
doesn't matter if you know. I think Serena has to visit Lita at the
hospital tonight, and you'll need to guard her home.  She's going to use
the Silver Crystal to replenish Lita's reserves of energy.  We need more
time, and this is the only way we can get some.  You're going to have to
watch her house while she's gone." Luna instructed.
        "They won't let you in the hospital, Luna, so you'll have to
tell me what to do," Serena ventured.
        "Just say Moon Crystal Power-but instead of using all the
energy, just concentrate on directing a small trickle at Lita.  The
second you feel any resistance from her, stop," Luna instructed.
        Serena nodded.  "I'll go now-I don't want to put her in danger
by waiting too long."  Her recurring pangs of guilt prompted her to add
the word "again", but she knew she couldn't have saved Lita, so she
forced her thoughts to other avenues.  "I'll be back as soon as I can."
She left.
*****
        "You have to sleep, Serena," Luna scolded.  "You're too tired to
be any use to your family.  You have to build back up the energy you
expended in giving Lita more time."
        Serena shook her head.  "I can't fall asleep or Sable will
come-I have to stay awake."
        "I'll watch the house, Serena.  It'll be safe for you to sleep.
You really have to-it's been more than a day.  You're going to collapse
soon!"
        Serena shook her head vigorously, partly to disagree with Luna,
partly to keep herself awake.  "If Rei's out there looking for the
Mistress' forces, I can at least stay awake.  I won't let the Mistress
take anyone else, or hurt anyone else."
        Luna stared at her, but couldn't think of anything else to say.
*****
        Sable waited in front of Serena's house.  All of the lights but
the ones in Serena's room were off. She smiled. This was the second
night in a row that Serena hadn't slept-Sable knew she'd have to fall
asleep tonight-it was physically impossible to stay awake much longer.
She settled down to wait.
*****
        Serena drooled peacefully into the pillow while Luna watched.
She'd finally fallen asleep, and Luna had been prowling the house to
make sure nothing happened. She took off to make another round.  As she
padded from room to room she heard a rattle at the window.  She leapt
toward it, and stopped face to face with Sable.  "Sere-"  With a snarl
Sable grabbed Luna and slapped her palm to Luna's crescent marked
forehead.  The black cat went limp.
        "Now for her family," Sable crooned.  She put her hand to both
parent's heads, and established a link with them.  Then she made for
Sammy's room.
        When she saw him, she reached out her hand, and then stopped.
"No, I have a wonderful idea.  Why don't I take you with me?" she asked.
She leaned over and picked him up.  He woke up when she jostled him, and
when he saw her, he opened his mouth to scream, but she teleported them
both out before a sound issued from his throat.
*****
        Serena yawned and rubbed her eyes tiredly.  Then she sat up
straight.  "Oh no!  I fell asleep!  Luna!  Luna!  Where are you?"  She
dashed through the house.  She stopped at her parent's room.  Luna and
her parents hadn't gotten up yet.  When she tried to wake them, they
didn't respond.  "Sammy!"  She ran to his room, and stopped so suddenly
she almost fell forward.  His bed was rumpled, but empty.  "No!"  She
ran through the house and stopped at the front door-a note was pinned to
it.
        ~I was here-where were you?  I took your brother on a trip.  See
you soon, -Sable.~
        She collapsed on the floor.  "No!"
*****
        Rei rubbed her sore feet.  She'd done nothing but visit stores
for almost two days now, and her feet were protesting.  She looked up
with a sigh as the throbbing in her feet faded to a slight soreness.
Just a few more stores today- thank goodness things wouldn't get
desperate until tomorrow again, when Amy would be in real trouble, if
her energy drain followed the same schedule as Lita's.  She began to
walk to the next store on her list when she was inexplicably overcome
with a desperate desire to go see Serena.  Something was wrong.  Rei was
about to run to Serena's house when she noticed a sign up ahead-the
store she was searching for.  She decided to stop at the store, and then
go see Serena-it was almost on the way to Serena's house.
        She wandered in nonchalantly.  It was an accessory store, with
scarves and hats and belts and jewelry.  She pretended to browse while
she waited for a clerk to come into view.  When one walked by she almost
dismissed the bulge under her shirt and moved on, but for some reason
she stopped.  She searched for another clerk-and there it was-the black
crystal pendant.  She walked out of the store and set off for Serena's
at a run.
*****
        "Cerulean, I cannot afford to lose my last facility for draining
energy from humans.  Those blasted Scouts destroyed the other two, and
who knows whether or not they'll find this last one.  I hope you have
taken pains that it not be discovered!"  The Mistress was
uncharacteristically pale.
        "I told the Crimson Guard to hide their shape-changing crystals,
but it is nearly impossible when they are activated.  That is the only
way the Scouts could detect them.  We are draining very little energy at
a time in order to avoid detection."
        "If they go after the last one, you must personally stop them.
Even the Crimson Guard is weakening by now."
        "But Mistress, they almost defeated me last time."  He pulled
back the hood covering his head and hair.  One half of his hair was
white from the shock of the battle.  "Even if I go there personally
again, that doesn't come close to guaranteeing success."
        "I will give you unlimited access to all our combined energy
resources," the Mistress began.  Cerulean bowed, surprised at her trust.
"Use this gift wisely. If you draw too much, all of us here will die.
While that may appeal to your desire for advancement, remember if there
is no one to uphold the kingdom until you return, you are too weak alone
to regain it."  She smiled as he blanched, "Good, I am pleased you see
the true enormity of the situation.  I suggest you monitor the remaining
facility personally."
*****
        Rei walked up and knocked on Serena's front door.  "Serena?
Serena?" When she didn't get an answer she took out her communicator.
"Serena? Answer me!  It's important!"  As a last resort she tried the
doorknob.  The door was unlocked and it opened right up.  Serena sat on
the floor, silent and staring into space.  Rei sat down beside her.
"Serena!  Why didn't you answer?" she waved her hand in front of
Serena's face and she didn't even blink.  Rei looked around for a clue
as to what had brought Serena to this state, and noticed the note on the
door.  She read it.  "Oh my god," she whispered.  She whirled back to
face Serena and shook her violently.  "Serena, I found another store.
Wake up!"  She shook her harder.  "Damn it, I need you!"  She slapped
her as hard as she could.  Serena didn't even make a sound.  "What about
Darien?" she nearly shouted.  "What about me?  We're still here, Serena!
Don't freeze up while you still have a chance to save everyone!"  Rei's
voice cracked with passion.  "Serena, there are still people here who
need you..." Her voice trailed off when Serena didn't acknowledge her at
all.  She wrapped her arms around her stomach and bent close to the
ground with a sob.  She cried softly on the floor next to Serena.
        Serena blinked and her eyes focused slowly on Rei's rocking
form.
        A tear ran down her face and she got up to hug Rei.  "I-I'm
sorry, Rei.  I'm here.  I-I'll try to keep going."
        "I'm just as frightened as you are!" Rei wailed,  "I can't
always-always be the strong one."  Serena closed her eyes.
        "I know," she whispered.
        Rei sat up abruptly.  With a few sniffs she wiped tears off her
face.  "I don't know if you heard," she said, implying she didn't want
to talk about the events of the last few minutes, "but I found another
Negaverse store."
        Serena attempted a watery smile.  "Why don't we go kick some
Negaverse butt, then."
        Rei smiled back.  "That sounds so preposterous coming out of
your mouth, Serena," she teased, and they set off.
*****
        Sailor Moon stood straight and tall in front of the store.  "I
am Sailor Moon!" she announced, "Champion of love and justice, and I'm
here to get rid of you!"
        "And I am Sailor Mars, and in the name of the planet Mars I
protect Earth from nega-sleaze like you!"  Mars pointed angrily at the
surprised store clerks.  With a glance at each other and the two girls,
they all disappeared in a brief flash of light.  Sailor Moon and Mars
were ready for it and shielded their eyes.  When they put their arms
down, a group of the Crimson Guard stood before them.
        "Now what?" Sailor Moon hissed at Mars.
        "It's a good sign-the octopi are probably too weak to fight.
Don't run out on me now!" Mars shot back.
        Sailor Moon brought out her scepter.  "Moon Princess Halation!"
She began to slice through the Crimson Guard ranks.
*****
        Cerulean looked up with a jerk of his head.  His mother's voice
echoed from his private intercom.  "Cerulean!  Get to the last facility.
It is under attack and in imminent danger of being overrun.  Move!" With
the snap in his mother's voice, Cerulean shot up from his seat and
dashed to the transport point.
*****
        "Get up, Sailor Moon!" Mars urged.  "Fire Soul!" she cried as
she strove to hold off the remaining members of the Crimson Guard.  They
were inhumanly agile, and very strong as well.
        Sailor Moon Struggled to her feet.  She spotted a light-footed
monster moving around Mars' guard. "Moon Tiara Magic!"  She whipped her
tiara at the creature, and it went down heavily.  The two remaining
creatures pulled back suddenly.
        "There seems to be a few of you missing," a taunt rang out.
Sailor Moon whirled toward the familiar voice.
        "Cerulean!" she cried, "I can see I left you with a souvenir
from our last meeting. I'm not fooling around with you this time
either!"  Mars peered over at her, surprised to hear actual anger in her
voice.  Then she decided to try circling around behind Cerulean as she
had with Sable while he was warily watching Sailor Moon's angry form.
"I'm really angry right now, and if you don't get out of my way, I'll go
through you!"  With a sharp flourish she brought her scepter up.  "Moon
Princess Halation!"  She swung the energy beam after Cerulean as he ran
out of its path.
        Mars watched how he moved and aimed her fingers at where he
would be in a few seconds.  "Fire Soul!"  He turned with a swirl of
sky-blue and snow-white hair and when he saw the fast approaching
fireball he teleported out.  Sailor Moon was still angry, and she turned
the scepter on the last two Crimson Guard.  One jumped over the beam and
pulled out a wickedly long black scimitar.  With a yell it held its
blade over its head, and it was about to cleave Sailor Moon in two when
Mars shrieked out, "Burning Mandala!"  The last creature was sliced up
and fell down, unmoving.  Sailor Moon stood a foot out of its reach, her
chest heaving as she gulped for breath.
        Mars walked up to her.  "Don't let anger get the better of you,
Sailor Moon."  She hesitantly touched Sailor Moon's shoulder.  "You have
to think clearly."
        Sailor Moon looked down at the ground for a second.  She closed
her eyes and changed back into Serena.  When she looked up the rage in
her eyes was almost gone.  "If I think clearly, I freeze," she whispered
as she wrapped her arms around herself.  "Everything's gone so wrong."
        "Don't say that!"  Mars changed back to Rei.  "Look, I know
things are really bad right now, but look at what we've accomplished.
We've almost completely defeated the Mistress, despite what's happened
to us."  She hugged Serena.  "We still have a chance-don't give up yet."
        Serena tightened her arms around herself for a second, and with
a deep breath she stood up straight again.  "That's right!" she declared
with a toss of her head.  "We've almost defeated them.  We don't dare
stop now.  Let's go!"
*****
        Cerulean stood up with a groan.  That teleport had taken a lot
out of him.  He changed into a nondescript young man with a pale streak
in his hair, and waited at the entrance of the store to see who came
out.  He didn't dare go back home yet-his mother would have his head.
His only chance at redemption was to stay away until after he'd defeated
the Sailor Scouts, so he decided it was best if he waited for the two
Scouts to leave and then follow them.
        A couple minutes later he saw two young girls walk slowly out of
the building.  The blonde with the strange hairstyle was determined,
while the raven-haired girl behind her looked exhausted.  They were so
unprepossessing that he dismissed them at first sight.  He was about to
watch the door again when he thought.  No one could have stayed hidden
in the store during that fight-it had ripped just about everything to
bits.  These young girls had to be the Sailor Scouts.  With a malicious
grin he set off to follow them-on foot.  He was tired, after all.



The Mistress Saga: Part 10

        Sable absently twined a lock of cotton-candy pink hair around a
finger.  She looked at the terrified boy that was bound and gagged in a
chair.  He watched her with wide open eyes.  A smile twitched her lips.
"My, but do I have some amazing surprises in store for you, Sammy!" she
gloated.  "It's rather nice to be able to tell you about my wonderful
plans."  She cocked her head.  "I was getting tired of talking to
myself-some people look askance at that, you know."  She twirled her
finger out of the lock of hair and stood up.  She strode over to Sammy
and stood over him.  "I think it's time we paid your dear sister,
Serena, a visit, don't you think?"  She knelt and picked him up off the
chair.  "Yes, I think it's time."
*****
        Cerulean watched with interest as the two girls split up.  It
would be much easier to defeat them one at a time.  He decided to follow
the blonde-he was sure she was Sailor Moon.  He rubbed his hands
together in anticipation as he thought of the welcome he'd receive at
home when he finally succeeded in defeating the Scouts.
*****
        Rei stopped in front of Darien's apartment building.  She'd
never completely gotten over her crush on Darien, but he and Serena were
so right for each other, she knew they belonged together, and she knew
she'd never really had a chance with Darien.  She walked up the stairs
and knocked on his door.  He opened it instantly.  He looked a little
haggard.  "Yes, Rei?  Is everything all right?  I had a feeling you guys
could've used a little help, but the feeling left before I could do
anything about it.  Is Serena all right?"
        Rei nodded.  "Yes, she's fine, but her family-Sable got them.
She nearly fell apart. I think you should go see her-she needs someone,
and since Serena and I don't always get along so great..." Rei shrugged.
Darien nodded.
        "Thanks for letting me know.  I'll go see her right now.  Is she
at her house?"
        "That's where she said she was heading."  Rei suddenly doubled
over with a gasp.  Darien knelt at her side.
        "What's wrong?" he asked concerned, when it suddenly hit him
to.
        "Oh..." he groaned. "Serena's in trouble!" Rei nodded in
agreement.  "Let's go!"
*****
        Serena sat down on the park bench for a while, trying to keep up
her own spirits. She needed to be alone for a while, and this nearly
abandoned park was perfect.  A shadow obscured the sun.  She peered up
into the face of some man she didn't know.  He had an odd-looking white
lock in his hair.  She scooted over to the far side of the bench and
didn't say anything, but he didn't move to sit down.  She looked up in
irritation.  "Yes?" she asked.  He smiled, and a faint shimmer of energy
formed around him as he transformed into Cerulean.  Serena gasped, and
in a panic scrambled over the back of the bench.  "What are you doing
here?" she stammered.
        "Serena!"
        Serena's head jerked up.  "Sammy!" she cried, and then she saw
Sable behind her younger brother.  Cerulean turned and saw Sable as
well.
        "Well, Sable, hello. So it's been you that has been taking down
the Sailor Scouts one by one," Cerulean said.  Serena desperately tried
to think of some way to get out of this mess.  She couldn't let Sammy
know who she was! "Thank you.  You've helped us.  I'll remember that
when I rule the Earth and the Negaverse," Cerulean smirked.
        Sable tossed her head angrily.  "I am also the one that revealed
your plan to those poor helpless children."
        "You!  Why?"
        "You abandoned me to those Scouts!  I was barely able to escape
with my life!  I want to take you both down!  The Scouts are almost
gone, and now, so are you!"  While the two aliens argued Serena tried to
back away from them, but Sable spotted her ploy.  "Stop!" she thundered,
"Or you little brother is dead!"  Serena froze.
        "I am Sailor Mars, defender of the people of Earth in the name
of the planet Mars!"  Mars jumped between Serena and the aliens.  "I
want you to leave these people alone now, nega-trash!"  Sable stepped
behind Sammy, and Mars was forced to concentrate on Cerulean.  "Burning
Mandala!"  Rings of fire singed Cerulean, but he jumped out of the way
of major harm.  Sable reached over Sammy's shoulder and blasted Mars to
the ground.  With a leap she jumped to Mars' side and knelt down.  She
reached out toward Mars' forehead.
        "No!" Serena screamed at the top of her lungs, and she lunged
toward Mars.
        "Be careful, Serena!" Sammy cried, and Sable's hand fell on
Mars.
        A brief light flared around Sable's hand, and she stood up with
a satisfied smile.
        "Now for you, Serena!" she said greedily.
        "I won't give in to you!" Serena cried, and backed away slowly
as Sable approached.
        "What can you do?  Do you want your brother to know the truth
about you?"
        Serena looked over at Sammy, and then her determination firmed.
"If I have to let him find out I will!"  Her chin lifted defiantly.  She
lifted her brooch.  "Moon Crystal Power... Make Up!" she shouted, and
she looked over at her confused brother for the split-second before the
transformation took over.
*****
        "Be careful, Serena!" Sammy cried, and then to his horror he saw
the pink haired woman do something to Sailor Mars.  Now what?  He and
his sister were doomed.  He just couldn't figure out what this person
wanted with Serena.
        "I won't give in to you!" Serena cried, and Sammy was
astonished.
        His sister, Serena, standing up to these powerful creatures?
What was she thinking!?
        "What can you do?" the pink haired woman-wasn't her name Sable?-
shot back. "Do you want your brother to know the truth about you?" Sammy
looked at Serena, wondering what this creature was talking about.
Evidently there was something, because Serena looked a little
frightened.
        Then she got a stubborn look in her eyes.  "If I have to let him
find out, I will!"  She reached for that brooch she always wore and held
it into the air.  Sammy shook his head.  She was crazy if she thought
that would do anything.  His sister had always been weird, but not
insane.  "Moon Crystal Power... Make Up!" Sammy's eyes widened. That
clinched it. She was nuts!
        But wait!  What was happening.  Sammy gasped as he saw his
sister float into the air a little ways.  She looked at him
apologetically, as if she was sorry for something, and then she became
somehow translucent.  His chin dropped as he watched her slowly
transform into... Sailor Moon! "I don't believe it!" he mumbled,
shocked.
        Sable shook her head.  "I can't believe she'd do it."  She made
as if she was rolling up her sleeves.  "No matter, I can still defeat
her."
        Cerulean looked at Sailor Moon angrily.  "You are all alone now.
All of your friends have been defeated-and I can take you down alone
now! I'll make you pay for ruining my plans!"
        Sailor Moon-Serena!-looked past Cerulean at Sable.  She pulled
off her tiara and it began to glow.  "Let go of my brother, Sable.  Your
problem's with me, so let's fight it out-alone!"
        Sable smiled, and it looked like she was going to let Sammy
leave.  Then she laughed and said, "I have all the advantages.  Why
should I give them up?"
        "Moon Tiara Magic!" Sailor Moon shot the tiara at her so quickly
that though Sable had time to jump out of the way, but she had to leave
Sammy behind.  With a triumphant cry Sailor Moon ran to Sammy's side.
"Are you all right?  Has she hurt you at all?"
        Sammy looked with wide eyes at his sister.  "You're Sailor Moon?
You're my sister!"  Sailor Moon smiled sadly.
        "I am."  She grasped his hand.  "C'mon, both of these aliens are
too much for me to take on alone.  Run!"  As they ran Sailor Moon
reached up and snatched her returning tiara out of the air.  Sable let
out an outraged shriek and ran after them.  Sammy's mind raced as he
tried to piece things together.
        "Lita and Amy and Mina and Rei... They're the other Scouts,
aren't they?" His sister's head bobbed.
        "Yes, they were, but now-I don't know how much longer they can
stay alive.  I need you to hide."  Sammy's eyes were bright with
excitement, Sailor Moon's with tears of worry.
        "Sure thing, Sis.  Wow, my sister, a superhero!"  He looked up
at her, and was about to go find someplace to hide when Sable appeared
in the air above them.
        "How cute-a family reunion.  Look at him carefully Serena!  He's
the last family you have left, and you won't have him for long!"  She
held both of her outstretched palms out.  A blast left them, and Sailor
Moon and Sammy gasped as it sped at them.
*****
        Sailor Moon jumped in front of Sammy, hoping she could at least
spare him, when something grabbed her, and dragged her out of the
concussion's path. She looked up.
        "Tuxedo Mask!  Thank goodness.  Oh!  Sammy?!  Where's Sammy?!"
She frantically looked around.  Tuxedo Mask smiled, and Sailor Moon
looked.  Tuxedo Mask had scooped up her little brother with his other
arm, and had gotten them both out of harm's way.  Sammy's eyes looked
like they were permanently widened with all the shocks he'd received in
the last few minutes.  She looked at him.  "Run away, Sammy.  This is
dangerous." He nodded absently, but seemed to be mesmerized by all the
excitement.  Sailor Moon didn't have time to make him leave, since Sable
and Cerulean were already stalking toward her and Tuxedo Mask.  Tuxedo
Mask stood in front of her protectively.  Her mind raced, but without
the other Scouts, she and Tuxedo Mask didn't stand a chance.  She
shuddered with fear at what she was about to do, but she was determined.
She closed her eyes and her hands went toward the Crystal encased in her
brooch.  Tuxedo Mask turned and saw what she was considering.
        "No, Serena, don't!"
        She looked up at him.  "We can't stop them without it."  She
shook her head.  "I don't see any way out, especially without the other
Scouts." She closed her eyes and felt a swirl of energy caress her.  Her
blue pleated skirt stretched out down past her ankles and bleached to an
ivory white froth, and her body armor became a lacy bodice.  Pearls
swirled around her hair and her tiara disappeared in a sweep of sparkles
to reveal the golden crescent moon on her forehead.  She looked over at
her brother, who still hadn't left the battle scene.  He was watching
her with something akin to awe in his eyes.  She sighed to think of how
all of this would change her life.  Then she turned her eyes to Sable
and Cerulean.
        "It won't do any good Serena-I hold the Scout's energy, and they
aren't able to link up with you.  Even with the Crystal, you are
helpless," Sable laughed triumphantly.  Serenity stopped, uncertain.
        Cerulean looked at Princess Serenity with amusement, then turned
to Sable.  "Congratulations, Sable.  I will see that you are given
credit for your help in defeating the Sailor Scouts."
        Sable twirled around to face him, and her eyes glowed red with
rage.  "And what makes you think that I would share my victory with
you?!" she bellowed  "I have defeated the Scouts alone, and I will
defeat you as well.  Then I alone will rule."
        "Fight me at your peril, Sable," Cerulean warned, frightened by
her anger.  "Mother has given me leave to draw energy from the family.
You can't compete with that."
        Sable threw back her head and laughed with scorn.  Suddenly she
teleported over to Sammy.
        "No!" Serenity began to run for Sammy, but she was too late,
Sable drained him, and he dropped to the ground, unconscious.  She
stopped short and her throat closed around a forlorn sob that struggled
to escape.  She put her clenched fists to her lips to hold in her cry of
pain.  Tuxedo Mask walked over to her and enclosed her in his arms.  She
gripped the front of his coat and cried silently as she buried her face
in his chest.  Sable talked on to Cerulean, ignoring Serenity and Tuxedo
Mask.
        "You may have the family's energy, but I have the Sailor Scouts'
and Serena's family. And you are running short of reserves.  You have no
idea how much energy these humans possess."  She began to concentrate,
and her whole body was suffused in an eerie pink glow.  Cerulean backed
off, obviously disconcerted by her display of energy.  His eyes went
blank and he stared off into space, and then he began to glow a pale
blue.
        Princess Serenity lifted her head to watch the fight, and Tuxedo
Mask tenderly wiped the tears off her face.  "There's hope," he
whispered.  "They'll weaken themselves fighting each other.  We can
still win."  His eyes turned to the aliens as well.
        "Sable seems to be stronger than Cerulean," Serenity commented
as she compared the intensity of their glowing auras. Tuxedo Mask
nodded.
        "Don't drop your guard, Serena," he said, "Be ready to fight
whoever's left when this is over."  She nodded.
        Sable and Cerulean seemed to throw energy around at random, and
they formed shields of energy to stave off blows.  Every once in a while
they'd teleport out of the path of the other's attack.  The noise was
nearly deafening as they alternately flew and ran and teleported, and
concussions shook the ground so hard that it brought Serenity and Tuxedo
Mask to their knees.
        "I'm surprised, Cerulean.  You're actually holding up rather
well," Sable remarked, slightly out of breath.  "By the way, I love your
new hairstyle.  Life been a little stressful for you lately?" she
taunted.
        Cerulean's response was a particularly fierce attack, and the
battle started again in earnest.
*****
        One by one the Mistress' Crimson Guards dropped as Cerulean drew
more and more energy.  "What is that boy doing?!" the Mistress bellowed.
All of the creatures in her domain were dying except children of the
tree and her children. Suddenly she felt energy drain from her.  "Stop,
Cerulean!" she cried as she felt herself begin to die, "I trusted you!"
her final cry was transmitted to her battling agent as she and all the
others in her kingdom dropped dead, completely drained.
*****
        Sable aimed a blast at Cerulean, and he tried to bring forth a
shield.  Suddenly he heard a despairing wail.  "Stop, Cerulean!  I
trusted you!" he gasped.  He'd used up the last of his reserves without
realizing it. The blast hit him with its full force, and he went down.
Sable managed to stay standing, but she was visibly weakened from her
fight as well.
        "I don't believe it," she gasped.  "He drained everyone."  She
took a deep breath.  "Ah, yes."  She opened her eyes.  "I must say, you
Sailor Scouts have a lot of energy."  She stood straight, infused with
new energy drained from the Scouts.
        Serenity gazed up into Tuxedo Mask's eyes, and then looked over
at Sable with a glare.  "We have so much energy because we understand
what love is.  Human love each other, and that's how we create our
reserves of energy.  All you can do is steal it, because you don't love.
Where else do you think the Doom Tree got its energy, but from its love
for you and yours for it?" Princess Serenity pushed herself upright and
stood straight.  She pointed an accusing finger at Sable.  Her white
dress stood out against the dark backdrop of the trees and forest
shadow, and she looked like an avenging angel.  "You will never be able
to live a real life until you learn to love, and can stop causing pain
and misery for others by stealing the energy of their love!"
        Sable was stunned by the certainty in Serenity's voice.  She
thought back to the wonderful feeling she'd had when Serena had been
kind to Erin, and called her a friend.  She'd felt stronger then, and
happier. Maybe there was something to what Serena was saying.
        Cerulean had struggled back to his feet while Serenity had been
talking.  "Ha!" he scoffed, "That's just the sort of excuse I'd expect
from weak humans. We have the power to take what you have, and that's
all that counts.  Might makes right.  That is the ultimate truth."
        Princess Serenity closed her eyes and concentrated on the Silver
Crystal.  She sent a desperate thought out, and used the Crystal to
amplify it.  "Doom Tree!  Doom Tree!  We need you!  Please come and help
us!"  She kept her eyes closed for a few seconds, but she felt no
response.  She opened them hopelessly and looked at Tuxedo Mask.  "I
tried to get Ann and Alan through the Doom Tree, but I don't think they
heard me.  We'll have to fight this out."
        Tuxedo Mask looked down at the ground in concentration and a
ring of light went down his body, replacing his costume with the uniform
of Prince Darien.  Then he walked back up to her.  "You know I'm here
with you," he said.  She smiled and nodded.
        While they talked Cerulean was talking earnestly to Sable.  "You
can't believe that garbage she was spewing out, Sable.  We're so much
more powerful than her-what she says can't be true."
        "But I've felt what friendship can do.  I think she has a
point..."
        "Think?!  Think?  Don't you think that if what she said was
true, you would know?  The rest of the family is gone, and if we're
going to have anyplace to stand in the Negaverse, we have to get rid of
her!"  He grasped her shoulders and shook her, and she began to agree
with him.  Some of her anger at being defeated resurfaced.  "We'll rule
a domain in the Negaverse together- all we have to do is destroy Sailor
Moon."
        Sable shook off the last of her doubt.  "All right, I guess
you're right."
        Cerulean nodded, satisfied, then they both turned to face
Princess Serenity.
        She held out the Silver Crystal and felt Darien's supporting
presence lending her his strength.  She began to call forth the raging
power of the Silver Crystal, and as she struggled to hold the energy
within her with her will her nerves were rubbed raw with the sheer might
she grasped.  She could feel Cerulean's hatred of human emotion, Sable's
suppressed doubt, and Darien's deep fear for her safety as she prepared
to let loose the energy of the Silver Crystal in a last desperate
attempt to save Earth, and her friends and family.  She closed her eyes
and concentrated on the battle to come...
*****
        Darien was so worried for Serenity, he almost didn't want to
support her in this, but he knew that their first responsibility was to
save Earth. He felt the muscles in her shoulder tense as she took the
power of the Silver Crystal into herself. He himself tensed with worry
as the battle was about to join.  An aura of bright energy formed around
the crystal, and he looked over at the aliens, and they were suffused in
a bright nimbus of light as well.  He waited for a cataclysmic clash
when-
        "STOP!" a voice echoed in everyone's head, and it was so
commanding it was impossible to ignore.  Princess Serenity and Darien
looked up.
        "The Doom Tree!" Serenity gasped in relief.  "Doom Tree, thank
you for answering my call.  Can you help?"  She scanned the sky for the
source of the familiar telepathic voice.  A dark spot in the sky slowly
grew.  Cerulean turned to Sable.
        "Quick!" he shouted, "We have to defeat her now, before
reinforcements get here!"  Sable nodded and the intense glow reappeared
around their joined hands.  Ann and Alan appeared between Serenity and
Darien and the aliens.  Sable and Cerulean sent an attack at Ann and
Alan.  With a negligent glance they extinguished it.  Sable gasped.
        "Where did you get such power?" she asked with awe.  Ann and
Alan didn't answer but looked up into the sky as if they were waiting
for something. Serenity and Darien looked up as well.  The small dark
spot in the sky slowly grew until it was close enough to be
distinguishable.
        "Look!" Princess Serenity pointed happily.  "The Doom Tree has
grown!  It's almost four feet tall!"  She turned to Ann and Alan.  "How
are you doing?"
        Ann and Alan smiled back at her.  "We've been getting along
well.  Since we rediscovered love, we've grown stronger and closer." Ann
smiled.  Serenity did too.
        "I'm glad things have worked well for you."
        "AND I'M SORRY SOME MORE OF MY CHILDREN HAVE CAUSED YOU GRIEF,
SAILOR MOON."  The tree landed on the ground.  "I WILL ATTEMPT TO SET
THEM BACK ON THE RIGHT TRACK, BUT THEY HAVE BEEN TRULY WARPED, NOT JUST
NEGLECTED."  Sable and Cerulean went to their knees with cries of pain
and clutched their heads. It seemed as if the Doom Tree was talking
privately to them.  Sable began to sob.
        "I glimpsed some of that through Sailor Moon," she cried, "but I
thought it was weakness, not strength to love someone, and depend on
them like that."  She was silent for a few moments, as if someone else
was talking.  Then she started to speak again through her tears.  "I'd
like to try to have a life like that-I'm willing to try for more than a
glimpse."  A bright smile transformed her face.  "Thank you!  I will!"
        She stood up and walked over to Serenity.  Ann and Alan looked
as if they were going to stop her advance, but then their gaze became
abstracted and they nodded as if at an order and let Sable pass.  She
stopped and looked at Princess Serenity with a hint of moisture still in
her eyes.  "I-I want to apologize for all the pain I put you through.
I've seen your capacity for love and friendship, so I can only imagine
what your suffering must have been like through all of this.  I'm-I'm
releasing your friends and family from the energy drain, and they should
be recovered in a few days."  She looked down.  "I'm sorry for what I've
done."
        Serenity grasped her hand with a bright smile.  "Thank for
letting them go.  And I'm glad you can see the joy in life, not just the
struggle." Sable nodded and walked over to stand by Ann and Alan.
Through all of this Cerulean said nothing, but watched everything that
happened.  As Sable walked over to Ann and Alan he cried out in rage.
        "No!  I won't be defeated!"  With a roar he stood up, as if
tearing out of bonds that held him to the ground.  Sable fell to her
knees with a gasp.  Ann and Alan rushed over to her side.  "We're still
linked, and if you're not willing to use the humans' energy, then I
will!  Yah!" He aimed an angry blast at Tuxedo Mask, and Alan jumped up
in an effort to stop the blow, but he didn't move fast enough.
        "No!"  Princess Serenity threw herself in front of Darien.  "I
won't let you hurt him too!"  She spread her arms and absorbed the full
impact of the blow, then she fell backwards into Darien's arms.
        Darien knelt and lowered her gently to the ground.  "Serena!" He
brushed her bangs out of her face, and whispered to her.  Cerulean stood
shocked, watching.
        "Why would she do that?  It wouldn't have hurt her if she'd
stayed out of its way!  It's just like I've said, love is stupid.
Without it she'd be just fine!"
        Alan stood up, and his face was darkened with anger.  "Isn't
there anyone in your whole misbegotten life that you would save like
that?" he asked, outraged.
        "Of course not, unless my life depended on them.  And I make
sure that I depend on no one."  Cerulean tossed his head.  Ann looked up
from where she was supporting Sable.
        "Then if you have so little capacity for kindness, we will have
little capacity for mercy."  She began to stand up.  She and Alan moved
toward Cerulean threateningly, but her was riveted, watching Serenity
and Darien.
        "Serena, please answer!"  Darien shook her desperately, and
tried to remain gentle despite his desperate worry about her.  "Serena!"
        Her eyelashes fluttered.  "Ohhhh... Darien? Are you okay?"
        "How can you ask that?  You're the one that got hurt!  Don't
ever do that!  You could have been killed!"  He hugged her tightly.
        She smiled weakly.  "How do you think I feel when you jump in
front of danger for me?  I'm just glad you're okay.  It would have been
as worse then death for me if you had been hurt."  She reached up weakly
to lightly touch his cheek with a finger.  Cerulean trembled as he
watched them.
        "I wouldn't have done that for anyone," he whispered, barely
audibly, "but I want-I want to feel that way about something other than
myself-it's so beautiful."  Ann and Alan exchanged looks.
        "Let go of the energy you're stealing from the humans.  The
first step to understanding love is not hurting anything for your own
gain," Alan urged.  Cerulean looked at him.
        "You'd be willing to give me a chance after everything that I've
done?"
        Alan nodded, and waited.  Cerulean closed his eyes.  "It's done.
They should all recover, in a while."
        Ann walked over to Serenity and Darien.  "Are you all right,
Serena? We can heal you, if you need it."  Serenity looked up.
        "No, I'll be fine.  I'm already feeling better, my strength is
returning." She struggled to her feet and transformed back into Serena.
She swayed once or twice, the gained a firm footing before
Darien-transformed back to normal as well, could hold out a steadying
hand.  "You guys had better get going.  It looks like you have your work
cut out for you with those two."
        Ann smiled.  "Yes, it looks like we do, but I think there's a
lot of hope.  But it's true, we have to get going."  She reached out and
clasped one of Serena's hands.  "I'm glad we were able to help you." She
cocked her head in a listening manner.  "And the Doom Tree is glad it
could repay you as well.  We may meet again.  If you ever need help
again, just call."  She walked back over to Alan, Sable, Cerulean and
the Doom Tree.  They all floated away in a flashing translucent bubble,
and with a final wave they were gone.
        Serena walked over to Mars' side and shook her.  "Mars, wake up.
Are you going to be okay?"
        Mars' eyes were moving slightly underneath her eyelids, and her
eyes cracked open.  "Serena? What happened?  Is everything all right?"
        "Everything's fine.  We're all safe now.  Let's get home."
*****
        "Serena?"  The doctor stuck his head in the door.  "Your brother
just woke up.  You should see him.  He's over in that room."  The doctor
pointed to a room a little way down the hall.  Serena smiled her thanks
at him and walked slowly toward her brother's room.  This was something
she'd been dreading for a while.  She walked into his room.  He turned
to her with a smile.
        "Hey, Serena," he said quietly.
        "Sammy," Serena started right off, nervous and desperate to get
everything worked out before anyone else talked to him, "I know it won't
be easy, but I was hoping you wouldn't tell anybody about what you saw,"
she started.
        "What do you mean, Sis?  I don't know what you're talking about.
I remember something weird about this girl with pink hair, and it's all
really wild, but I already told the doctors about it.  They said it was
probably just some odd dreams I had while I was unconscious."  Sammy
shrugged.
        Serena shot him an uncertain look and wondered if he was trying
to trick her, but he seemed to really mean it.  "Oh, well, never mind,
then," she said with a smile, much relieved.
*****
        "I wish I could remember what made me start attacking, Serena,
but for some reason I can't remember the last few hours before I was
attacked.  It's really odd."  Lita shook her head.  "I don't like this
feeling."
        "Everyone's saying that," Serena said, "It must be a normal side
effect of whatever Sable did."
        "That sounded like a tough battle.  Sorry I wasn't there to
help," Lita apologized.
        "Everything worked out, that's what's important, I guess."  Mina
looked around at the rest of the Scouts.
        Serena looked at Rei.  "Things got pretty bad for a while,
there, Rei, and you were a great friend. Thanks.  I had a rough time
there."  She looked down and twiddled her thumbs.
        Rei looked away, trying to be haughty, but she just came off as
being embarrassed.  "Anyone else would have done the same," she
protested.
        Serena smiled.  "But they weren't there, and they couldn't.  You
did."
        Rei relented and smiled sweetly at Serena.  "Any friend would."
        Serena widened her eyes.  "You're my friend?" she asked,
pretending shock.
        Rei stuck out her tongue.  "Well of course I'm you friend,
numskull! Why else would I be so nice to you all the time?"
        Serena pounded the side of her head as if she thought her ears
were clogged.  "Excuse me, did I hear `all the time'?  Is that what I
heard?"
        "I'll have you know, Serena, that I am the best friend-" Rei
started in heatedly.
        Amy shot an amused glance at Lita and Mina.  Luna looked over at
Artemis.
        "At least they're feeling better, right?"

THE END

