"Hey, Serena!" Molly was quite cheerful when she invited Serena in. Molly wasn't in the whole rest of the day, so she had to settle with visiting her the day of the event. She just hoped it went well.
"Hey, Moll!" Serena noted. She knew exactly what Jedite and Amy had said to do: Somehow get Molly to give her the invitation to the party. It would accomplish the task of her getting into the party, as well as keeping her away from Nephrite.
"What's up?" Molly asked.
"I just wanted to talk about that fancy Princess Diamond party." Serena remarked.
"Oh." Molly immediately turned sour.
"Why are you so down on that? You don't wanna go?" Serena asked.
"No, I don't. Those things are totally boring." Molly returned.
"All those hot guys in tuxedos, how's that boring?"
"But they aren't interesting people, all rich snobs. Oh, if only I knew Maxfield Stanton was going. At least then it would be bearable."
"Moll, if you don't wanna go, you don't have to." Serena noted. "I'd go in a heartbeat."
"Serena, my mom's making me."
"I'd go in your place!" Serena remarked. "I'd even study jewels and all that stuff."
"Serena, my mom wouldn't allow it." Molly remarked. "Just give it up. If it's any consolation, I'll be bored out of my skull while you can do something fun with your friends."
"Oh, Molly, put your foot down with your mom. You should have fun too."
"No chance of that." Molly sighed. "Now I have to change into my dress." Molly stood up and sighed.
"Well, I tried." Serena thought. Now she had to think of another way to get there. Jedite might be able to sneak in on his own, but he was anticipating trouble, and it wouldn't do to have him all alone without backup. Sailor Moon protected her friends, and Jedite may have been a rival before, but now he was a friend. Serena marveled for a moment, that she could consider Jedite that.
Once Serena headed home, she was greeted by her father.
"Hi, Serena!" Her father was wearing a tuxedo, an unusual choice of wardrobe for him.
"Hi, Dad. All dressed up?"
"With somewhere to go." He immediately finished. "Got an invite at work to Princess Diamond's gala!"
"That glamourous high-society event!" Serena tried to play it cool.
"Sure did, the boss needed someone to take all the pictures, and who better than your old man!" Her father pointed to himself and laughed.
"Oh Dad, please tell me I can go." Serena asked wistfully.
"Sorry, pumpkin, the brass only gave me one invitation. I'm still hearing about it from your mother."
"Oh." Serena moped.
"I'm sorry, honey." Her dad kissed her forehead. "I'll tell you all about it when I get home, and I'll take some pictures just for you. Now wash up for dinner, honey. We have to eat early."
"Are you sure I can't go?" Serena pleaded.
"No, precious." Her father patted her on the head, and then headed into the kitchen. Serena sighed and headed into the living room.
"What's wrong, Serena? Did talking to Molly not go so well?" Luna, perched on the couch, asked.
"No. Now we can't get in."
"Serena, wasn't plan A to have Jedite sneak in there?" Luna asked.
"But the bad guys are going to be there, we can't just have one person go it alone. We're a team and we stand together. There's got to be another way in."
"Short of sneaking in like he is, how do you plan on getting in. It's a high-society affair." Luna noted.
Serena thought for a moment.
"I've got just the thing!" Serena cheered.
"Do I even want to hear this?" Luna asked. Serena continued to giggle as she pulled out the Luna Pen.
Why hadn't she thought of this before? The Luna Pen could make her look and act just like a princess. No one would question royalty.
"Serena!" Luna chided.
"Disguise Power! Turn me into the most beautiful princess the world has ever seen!" She invoked the pen's power. Her fuku had become a gorgeous long gown, complete with fancy shoes, jewelry, and parasol.
"What do you think?" Serena asked.
"You certainly look regal." Luna noted. "But I don't see how that can help."
"I'll walk right in through the front door, make up some bigwig name, and by the time they catch on, I'll be well on my way finding the crystal. After I nosh on some hors d'oeuvre, of course."
"Well, I have no idea if this will work or not, but I don't really have any other plans, and having backup is always a good thing. For now, though, you should transform back before your mother comes in."
When the sun fell from the sky, Jedite was all ready to spring his plan into action. While it would have been simple to simple teleport where the crystal was, things were not that easy. To properly teleport, one had to know where it is one was going. While Jedite was certain the crystal was inside the stately manor in front if him, that manor was quite large, and where the crystal was in that manor, Jedite had no clue. He could inadvertently teleport into a wall if he was not careful. No, this required Jedite to be careful.
There was a crowd assembling as guests began to arrive, but Jedite cared not for them, he looked closely at the guards at the door. All wore tuxedos, there was slight bulges underneath their suit jackets, indicating shoulder holsters for pistols.
They seemed quite prepared for trouble, at least, that of a mundane threat. A handgun would be useless against any of Beryl's generals. Jedite found a hidden place in order to assume his disguise, so that his clothes could look exactly like the ones of the guards. While still hidden, Jedite teleported to a dark corner of the courtyard, hidden by the shadows and by a large tree.
It was quiet, and mostly empty. There were two men standing by a shut side door. They appeared to be talking, although Jedite couldn't make out what they were saying. In their hands, they each had a lit cigarette.
"That'll work." Jedite thought. In addition to a few other abilities, all of Beryl's generals had the ability to work illusions. Just like with his telekinesis, the more he knew about the thing he wished to create, the more believable the illusion. He had seen humans smoking these things before. Why they would willingly poison themselves with it was another thing entirely, but humans were pretty stupid.
Jedite walked towards the men. While they reacted nervously at the sound of his footsteps, they seemed to relax a bit when they noticed he was as they were: Dressed the same and out for a cigarette break.
"Evening." Jedite replied.
"Who are you?" One of the guards asked.
"A new guard." Jedite replied expertly. He had to act like he belonged there, like he was supposed to be around. Working with Saffron and that crew was paying off immensely.
"I thought I heard something. Turned out to just be a squirrel." Jedite acted professionally.
"Newbies. Give it time." The other guard returned to his cigarette.
"What a night, huh?" Jedite attempted to make conversation, to act friendly towards them. Humans were always so simple when it came to relationships.
"Yeah, but too many high-society chicks." One of the guards shrugged. "All act like they're so dignified and ladylike. Not a single one's up for a quickie in a guest room. Course, once the party gets started, who knows." The two men laughed, Jedite chuckled to keep the charade, but he knew he should not speak. He might reveal himself.
"Well, tobacco's over." The men put out their cigarettes in a nearby trashcan with an ashtray on top.
"Time to get back to work. You comin'?" The man offered Jedite.
"Yeah." Once the men turned back to the door, Jedite willed his illusionary cigarette away, and then, as a gentleman, held the door open after the man unlocked it.
"Was it always this easy. How is this crystal not stolen already?" Jedite thought. If it was easy for him, than it would be easy for Nephrite and whoever else. He had to be cautious.
He wondered if Amy had thought of an idea to bring themselves into the party. Jedite hadn't the time after work, he quite literally had come straight to the gala.
Molly and Serena both had mentioned Nephrite's human identity was a wealthy man named Maxfield Stanton. He would attempt to come in that way. If the Scouts thought of a way in, they would be going as guests as well. It went quite well, then. While Nephrite was distracted with the Sailors, Jedite could get the crystal. It was an almost perfect plan.
But Jedite had thought that about many of his plans, plans Sailor Moon was quick to upend. He would need to move quickly.
