Serena stepped up to the entrance of the large mansion, dressed in the party gown she had used the Disguise Pen for.

Even standing here, Serena couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated. These people probably made more money in a day then she'd e ver see in a lifetime. At the same time, the glamour was intoxicating, and Serena nearly lost her balance.

She composed herself. She needed to act like a princess, a real lady. She strode up towards the mansion's doors.

"Excuse me, miss. Do you have your invitation." A suited, wiry looking man stated beside her.

"I am the Countess Rhodes!" Serena delivered petulantly, hoping to be provoking enough for it to work. This guy better be used to dealing with stuck-up royalty

"Err...yes, ma'am. Just a moment." The man began to look in his book of listed party guests. Serena simply strode in with her head held high. By the time they caught on to check, she'd be in the party proper, and they wouldn't create such a disturbance on this evening. At least, that's what Serena was hoping for.

Once she made it into the ballroom, she was enchanted. Rows upon rows of dolled-up ladies, tuxedoed gentlemen, and all weaning masks. It was just like out of a fairytale, and Serena lamented the fact that she was here on business, and couldn't dance the night away.

Jedite must have already infiltrated the mansion by now, and was on his way to the crystal. Serena reasoned that it would be best if she stayed as the lookout, and kept an eye out for Nephrite. Maxfield Stanton was his name, and Molly was hoping he'd be here.

"Speaking of Molly, that's a good place to look." Serena thought. Molly would be hoping to see him, so she'd be more attentive for him. Had he arrived already?

Molly was going to be wearing a teal dress. With all of these masks, it was hard to look for anyone, but she definitely wanted to look for teal.

Serena headed over to the hors d'ouevres table, hoping to see if she could catch a glimpse of Molly there. But the food smelled quite good, and Serena felt it her obligation to sample. It would go to waste otherwise.

"May I...have the next dance?" A male voice called from behind her. Serena was nearly paralyzed when someone spoke to her. She knew no one here aside from Jedite, and Jedite wouldn't do such a thing, he was busy finding the crystal.

Expecting to see some random admirer, Serena stopped in her tracks when she saw the elegant Tuxedo Mask standing right in front of her. What was he doing here? Was he after the crystal too? He always showed up when the Scouts were in danger, was there about to be a battle?

Or was it merely a chance meeting, like always running into that jerk-wad Darien. How Raye could date him, and Jedite be friends with him, was truly boggling.

It took all of Serena's willpower to prevent herself from melting into a puddle as he took her by the hand.

"You may." She tried to muster with as much class as she could. Her voice was the only thing classy about her at this point. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute, and her head was awash in crazy thoughts.


Jedite shuddered a bit once he was alone. He could sense two different dark presences nearby, but neither of them belonged to a youma.

Beryl must have been taking this very seriously: Did she send two of her generals to handle the job? Whom? Jedite hoped Malachite was not rearing his ugly head, a battle there would be horribly one-sided. Jedite knew he had gotten stronger, thanks to battling youma and his own training, but Malachite possessed a power greater than Queen Beryl herself. He would not want to fight him without an army by his side.

But Beryl knew of the infighting brought on by the petty Zoicite, the primary reason why Jedite refused to allow him to accompany him. Beryl would risk this petty man, who'd sacrifice all for ambition? Nephrite and Malachite was a possibility, particularly if Queen Beryl believed this rumor about the Imperium Silver Crystal.

Jedite knew he'd have to work quickly. He followed the guards for a moment up winding stairs and corridors, and then they returned to their posts outside an elegant wooden door.

"Do you mind if the new guy asks a few questions?" Jedite asked.

"What's up, newb?" One of the guards asked.

"Princess Diamond. What kind of girl is she?" Jedite asked. "I've...I've taken a few jobs before this where my charge would...suddenly feel ill, order us out of the room, and disappear to...slum. Is she like that, if so, I hope we're stationed properly." Jedite had read many human books in order to prepare for his mission harvesting energy, and this was a theme he had seen done before.

The man laughed.

"Like she'd do that!" The man laughed. "Princess Diamond's gotta be scared of her own shadow!" The man spoke quietly, and Jedite wondered why. Perhaps she lurked beyond this very door, and they didn't want her to overhear. But he couldn't ask that question, lest he seem an intruder.

"Easily scared?" Jedite asked.

"Nah, just bad with crowds." The man clarified. "Her father's pretty down about that. I mean, she's gonna be a queen, and she can barely address a crowd of people who would love her no matter what she said."

"Well." The other guy shrugged. "That's not our job. We're just here to keep the rich folks in line and look good in monkey suits." The two guards chuckled again. Jedite wasn't sure whether to appreciate their candor or find them utterly ridiculous.

"Perhaps Princess Diamond needs a pep talk." Jedite executed his plan.

"Heh, I doubt it. Girl's been seeing counselors since she was six. Where's your post, anyway?"

"Outside the princess's door. This place can get so confusing sometimes." Jedite was worried he had backed himself into a corner now.

"Well, unless you're trying to steal some smokes from us, you better head back upstairs." The man replied.

"Right, I'll get on that." Jedite nodded to the guys. "Thanks for making the new guy feel welcome." He laughed at them to match their candor, and headed in the direction they indicated. As he began to walk down the hallways, he could feel one of the dark presences again. In the direction that Princess Diamond, and that crystal, where supposed to be.

Time was now Jedite's enemy.


Zoicite crept silently through the hallways, avoiding security whenever he could.

This was almost too easy. From the outside, he had seen a completely darkened room on the third floor. A darkened room in a house with a party meant only one thing: it wasn't in use. No use meant no people. Once a suitable hidden place was found, Zoicite teleported into that empty room.

He laughed to himself. Nephrite was such a failure, and it was only because he was, in fact, powerful that he merited any sort of consideration by Beryl.

But all his power amounted to was little. Just like Jedite, who wasn't very powerful, Nephrite faltered against these Sailor Scouts. Zoicite was smart enough to know the reason why: Their own arrogance and vice cost them. Jedite saw the Scouts as rivals, and would halt his progress to deal with them, rather then do the proper thing of getting the energy back to Beryl. Nephrite was too concerned with doing things his way he couldn't think of alternatives. Jedite may have been a failure, but at the very least, he understood innovation. He merely lacked the power to pull it off properly.

Zoicite was not like them. She was trained by the great Malachite, who's power was eclipsed only by the great Queen Metallia. Perhaps even Metallia herself would see Malachite as greater than Beryl, and would take a new ruler. That new ruler would need someone by his side, and Zoicite knew that the role was one he'd best fulfill.

But until then, Beryl was in charge, and Beryl wanted to see if this crystal was actually the Silver Imperium Crystal. This would be easy enough to find. All Zoicite had to do was look for the room surrounded by the most guards, knock out the pathetic humans and the princess with his power, then ascertain for herself.

Beryl's ordered would be followed, but what Zoicite didn't understand was why Nephrite had to be around on this mission. Beryl had claimed it was because the Sailor Scouts might interfere, which Zoicite would not deny. But why Nephrite, who had failed miserable. Malachite would have made an excellent partner, and he was so handsome wearing what the human's called "formalwear"

But for now, Zoicite had to concentrate on the crystal. If he brought that home, then the position of second of the Shitennou would be assured.

Zoicite paused as he moved through the corridors. He could hear no one, but he could feel something. Feel something coming closer. A dark energy, a familiar energy. Was Nephrite attempting to move for the crystal first? That would be so like him. Zoicite paused. The hallway was empty, and the power was coming closer. He could deal with it, whatever it was.

"You're not supposed to be here!" A male voice called towards her. Zoicite said nothing as the figure came into the hallway. A tall, blonde man, dressed like one of the many security guards here.

"I paused for a mere human?" Zoicite criticized himself. He must have been jumpy, thinking Nephrite would strike so soon.

"Do you have an invitation?" The guard asked.

"Right here." Zoicite noted. "Zoi!" He attacked him with a wave of energy, a wind of powerful rose petals sharp enough to slice through skin, a gust strong enough to knock a grown man prone. The man rose up his hand, palm facing Zoicite, and the wave of petals was deflected harmlessly away from his body.

"What!" Zoicite wondered. While it was true he didn't put his full energy into that attack, no mere human should have power like that even weakened as the attack was.

Was this the dark presence he was feeling, and Nephrite hadn't struck yet? Or was this a plot of his?

Now the evening started to get interesting.