The halls of the Dark Kingdom were silent except for the clicking of the general's boots on the cold stone. Rounding a bend in the hall, he slowed as he reached his room door. After taking the magic lock off the door, he walked in and crossed to his dresser.

"You don't know what's in store for you Sailor Moon." Malachite smiled as he lifted a silvery dagger off of the dresser. A red aura crept across the length of the blade, making the sun shaped black stone in its handle glint eerily.

In a flash of blue, Malachite vanished and headed towards where he knew Sailor Moon would be.

(^_^) ~~ (^_^)

Sailor Mercury stopped dead in her tracks, almost causing Mars and Venus to run into her. "What's the deal Mercury? Couldn't you have at least warned us you were gonna stop?" Sailor Venus panted.

Mars nodded. "No kidding! That could've really hurt."

Mercury shook her head. "I doubt bumping into each other would have hurt us very much Sailor Mars."

"I was talking about what I would've done to you if we had!" Mars glared. Venus began to giggle as Mercury rolled her eyes.

"Sorry guys," she said as she calmly took out her computer.

"Well? What's wrong?" asked Mars. Mercury tapped at her computer for a minute and then nodded in satisfaction as she started to walk forward again.

"Whatever we're tracking should be right ahead," she answered over her shoulder.

They walked in silence towards the break in the trees that now appeared before them. As they stepped into the clearing, they couldn't help but give startled gasps at what they saw. Directly in front of them was Serena… in the middle of what looked to be an intense make-out session. They couldn't see who she was kissing because his back was to them, but obviously it was someone Serena 'really' liked.

The first one to find her voice was Sailor Venus. "Serena?" She shook her head in disbelief. "Umm…what's going on?" Abruptly, Serena pushed away from and let go of the man, turning bright red as she looked at her friends in wonder.

"Umm…What are you doing here, guys?"

"We could ask you the same thing!" Mars replied heatedly. "We thought you might be in danger, but instead we find you making out with…with…" She broke off as the person with Serena turned to face them.

"Darien!" Mercury whispered. "Serena, you must get away from him. He's dangerous!"

Serena shook her head and placed her hand on Darien's arm. "No, it's okay guys. He has his memories back. He's no longer under Beryl's control."

Everybody flinched involuntarily as Mercury's computer started to beep. "Someone's coming." Mercury tapped a few keys then turned panicked eyes to Serena. "It's Malachite! He's-"

"Right behind you." Serena turned to the sound of Malachite's voice. He smiled evilly. "Sailor Moon."

Darien turned towards Malachite threateningly, lunging his arm forward and grabbing the general by the throat. "What do you want?" he hissed.

"This doesn't concern you." Malachite thrust his hand out and released a blast that sent Darien flying backwards into the Sailor Senshi. "Stay out of it." He brought his other hand up and sent out a wave of black energy that formed into a shield, trapping the four of them.

"Coward!" Mars yelled as she pounded on the shield. "Leave her alone!"

Malachite looked at Mars and narrowed his eyes. "You won't get out of there from the inside. It's impossible." He turned back to Serena. "Now to get who we were really after all those years ago."

Serena stood and held her head up defiantly. "Oh really? And who was it you were after?"

"Why, don't you know yet?" He smiled teasingly.

Sailor Mars watched what was going on in confusion and a growing sense of dread. Why hadn't she sensed Malachite coming? She was distracted by some kind of light glinting of something metal. Something Malachite was partly hiding beneath his cloak. Suddenly, she realized what was going to happen. Desperately she called out to her friend in warning. The words had barely gotten out when Serena screamed in pain and clutched at the dagger Malachite had buried to the hilt in her stomach.

He watched in fascination as her eyes widened and she began to sway weakly, trying to stay standing. He withdrew the dagger slowly, letting the magic it held absorb into her. Putting his arm around her waist, he pulled her against him and whispered into her ear. "Silly Senshi, we were after you."

"No! What have you done?" Darien sank to his knees in shock.

Malachite picked up a now unconscious Serena and turned to him. He looked Darien in the eye, feeding of his torment. "You'll find out soon." He laughed as Darien banged uselessly on the force field. "You know something," Malachite grinned, "she's much prettier then Zoisite." Just to make sure Darien suffered more, he leaned over Serena's limp body and kissed her as he disappeared in a flash of blue.

TO BE CONTINUED